Sometimes I like to look back at events that shape my life and there have been many.
One in particular was Friday August 28, 1998 exactly one year after my younger brother John succumbed to melanoma cancer at the age of 44. John had warned me earlier in 1997 to get a colonoscopy. I got my test and assured him I was fine.
I had one mission that fateful Friday morning and that was take the dog to the groomer near our house in Cimarron Hills and my wife would pick her up later. I returned home, grabbed a cup of coffee and went down to my home office and jumped on my computer. I was new to computers only had mine for a little over a year and I was teaching myself to build webpages.
I was taking college classes for computer programming at night and working at a teleconferencing company. I was scheduled to start work at 9:00 am and would be leaving for work soon. My wife was working in her home beauty salon. Everything was pretty normal. I’ll call it the calm before the storm.
Suddenly I felt a pain in my chest. It felt like someone had put a brick on my chest and was pressing down really hard. It was like nothing I had felt before. My first thought was to shut down my computer correctly, and I did.
I then staggered into the home salon and the colorless look on my face put everyone in panic mode. I told my wife I didn’t feel well and her customer said get him to the hospital and she’d lock up.
We lived almost 2 miles from the main gate at Peterson AFB and my wife drove as if my life depended on it. We stopped at the gate long enough to tell the gate guard we were headed to the hospital. He waved us through and as we pulled up to the ER entrance I remember reading the huge sign that said NO EMERGENCY ROOM, the hospital had been downgraded to a clinic.
We parked and headed to the door, aided by a guy on crutches going that way too.
As we entered the building the guy yelled something about a guy having a heart attack. Suddenly it seemed like we had every doctor, nurse and hospital staff member being jammed into the former ER. They were asking me how I felt, feeding me nitro and all I could say when I saw my wife’s primary doctor – check on her, she’s the one with high blood pressure.
What really got my attention was when the doctor picked up the phone and called 911.
I thought why is the hospital calling 911 and what are they going to do? It turned out they sent a civilian ambulance to pick me up and take me to one of the local hospitals where the surgeon was standing by for surgery.
All the way to the hospital the paramedic continued to feed me nitro. It still did nothing for me.
My wife stayed by my side all the way into the hospital where our pastor was waiting. I left them as the elevator headed up to the surgery floor. Once upstairs they prepped me for surgery and soon we were in that tiny surgical room. They hooked the wires and tubes and I was able to watch on the monitor as the angioplasty probe was inserted up the artery and then suddenly the pain stopped. I remember saying to the doctor that I was ready to go home now. She didn’t think so and they soon moved me into a recovery room, then into the ICU for overnight observation.
When I came to my normal senses I found that I was extremely hungry. I asked a nurse for something to eat and she came back with an apple. I like apples and enjoyed chomping on it and soon the apple was all gone……..almost. I felt a rumbling in my stomach and soon I sort of exploded sending applesauce all over my partitioned off area. I don’t think the nurse was very happy.
Later that night I felt kind of warm and sticky and pressed the call button. The nurse didn’t seem too happy when she came in. I asked if I was supposed to be warm and sticky and when she pulled the blanket away and yelled for backup as she applied pressure to stop my arterial bleeding.
The next day I was moved into a private room in the ICU ward. That was when they let family in to visit and my parents were there too. They had driven from Boise, Idaho.
My daughters had brought the grandkids and one wanted to know if they took my heart out.
My youngest daughter said I didn’t have to worry about work because she had called and told them I quit (Just kidding she said).
I was released from the hospital on Sunday and turned 49 on Monday. – I am the Real Truckmaster!
I have written several blogs addressing the impeachment process as it related to President Donald J. Trump and many have disagreed with my assessments. Some have questioned my “qualification” to even comment on impeachment. Well I hate to disappoint you but it does not take an educational degree or a professorship, PhD, or even a passing grade in US History to make a comment or assessment on whether or not there were constitutional grounds for impeaching a sitting president or continuing after he became a former president.
My qualifications are that first and foremost I am a US citizen, old enough to know the difference between right and wrong and I have the God given ability to recognize when elected officials have deviated from upholding their oaths of office and turned into a vindictive mob demonstrating their political power.
From the Constitution:
Article 1, Section 2
The House of Representatives …….. and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Article 1, Section 3
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
The second impeachment was an unconstitutional abuse of power by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who formulated Articles of Impeachment accusing President Donald J. Trump of inciting the insurrection into the US Capital building based solely on him speaking at his MAGA rally on January 6th, 2021. It was also an abuse of power by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to even bring it up for a vote after Trump was no longer in office.
The Articles of Impeachment were filed by House Democrats mere days before the end of Trump’s term, knowing full well that the process would not be able to run its course with a full-blown trial before inauguration day. It was purely a political stunt with the aim of preventing Trump from being able to run for office ever again.
Once again House Democrats and the media portrayed the MAGA crowd as an angry mob of “Trump Supporters” who invaded the Capital, wreaking havoc thereby filling legislators with fear and trembling as they ran for their lives – All Lies.
I’ve watched the video footage of the MAGA crowd, men, women and children after walking for 45 minutes and arriving at the Capital building and being invited inside by Capital Police. I’ve seen footage of the mayhem happening inside as insurrectionists hammered on doors, broke windows and made their way by force past Capital Police inside the Capital. Those were clearly Antifa and BLM anarchists doing what they have been doing over the past year in Portland, Seattle, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis and even in DC – rioting and attacking those who get in their way.
I’ve read the accounts of folks who watched Antifa protestors dressed in dark clothing being escorted into the Capital building on January 6th as the MAGA crowd began arriving. I’ve watched the footage of someone placing items outside the Capital building the night before the events of January 6th.
I’ve listened to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claiming to be frightened enough to lock herself inside her office bathroom, filled with uncontrollable fear as Capital Police go door to door initiating a lock down of the building and directing everyone to safety and Representative Rashida Tialb who thanked Allah she was not at the Capital building that day. I have also seen photos of her LEADING protest riots.
I purposefully did not watch the congressional clown show which was set to run prolonged until the Republican Senate witness list was to begin with House Speaker Pelosi. Suddenly it was time to vote – Convict or Acquit!
What happened because of House Democrats in their rush to judgement (again) set a precedence that could become the norm to impeach every elected official after they have left public office?
What should have happened was first Congress create a bill from both Chambers sent to the President for signing into law changing Article 1, Sections 2 & 3 concerning impeachment a former President when he is no longer in office.
I used Nixon as an example of a president who resigned when threatened with Articles of Impeachment.
The act of impeaching a president is akin to accusing the president of wrongdoing but it is the conviction of the president that would remove him from office. It is a separate vote after conviction that could bar him from holding office again. Impeaching Trump at the end of his term is like calling a fight after the final bell has rung and saying “YOU’RE OUT!” – I am the Real Truckmaster!
It’s officially over – the unconstitutional impeachment of former President Donald J. Trump. The verdict – Acquitted of the charge of inciting the insurrection on January 6th 2021. Whether you’re rejoicing, rejecting or indifferent depends on what you believe about “the big lie”.
Did President Trump incite his supporters into a rowdy mob of violent insurrectionists? Did his words at the DC rally cause his supporters to turn and run to the Capital building, bust past the Capital Police, tear into the interior of the nation’s Capital and cause mayhem and destruction?
That is exactly what House Democrats have charged in their totally unconstitutional impeachment of a former president. But what has the “evidence” shown?
It was reported several weeks ago that the first Trump supporters to arrive at the Capital after a 45 minute walk witnessed Antifa members being escorted inside the Capital. It was also reported that Capital Police had opened a downstairs doorway and began waving Trump Supporters inside where they were in awe of the Capital, taking pictures and righting overturned trash receptacles and picking up garbage that had been dumped or spilled out while paying careful attention to stay inside the roped area.
A surveillance video surfaced showing someone placing what appeared to be explosives around the Capital building during the night of January 5th or early morning hours of January 6th. How is it possible that law enforcement did not see or apprehend that person(s) at that time? How does someone get close enough to a prominent structure like the Capital building without being detected?
It has also been reported that the FBI, Capital Police and DHS had been pre-warned of threats of violence in or around the Capital building would be occurring on January 6th. President Trump had declared DC unsafe so that National Guard troops could be called up as a backup for Capitol Police to quell any civil unrest that might arise.
My questions are these –
Why was no reinforced fenced-off area established to cordon off the Capital grounds and security check points established BEFORE January 6th?
Why did it take so long for National Guard troops to be deployed AFTER the insurrection?
Why National Guard troops were being “vetted” for white supremists views and having their integrity and allegiance questioned at a time of national emergency? Is not their allegiance to protect and defend the Constitution?
Why are National Guard troops not billeted and fed in a hotel, conference facility or an established bivouac area instead of a parking garage and why are they still in DC?
Based on the evidence publicly available it is my contention that an insurrection did occur on January 6th and that the responsibility rests with the Mayor of DC who’s Capital Police facilitated entry into the Capital and members of Congress who it has been reported had begun writing the Articles of Impeachment even before January 6th as well as every news organization that gave wings to this outrageous and treasonous act against a sitting President of the United States, and later a private citizen so they could make history as being the most corrupt Congress in American history.
The Senate trial phase was a complete farce as the Democratic House circus atmosphere spun some of the most outrageous lies, altered statements to affect the outcome of this impeachment while American’s have seen through everything.
It is time to impeach members of Congress beginning with Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer and EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS COMPLICIANT IN THIS WASTED PROCESS.
Failing that I believe a Convention of States is in order to formally abolish this corrupt government body and give America a DO OVER. – I am the Real Truckmaster!
I urge you to do your own research before you blatantly spout the nonsense fed to you by corrupt politicians and their media lackeys. I keep reading the exact same wording from people who have no idea they are simply repeating political psychobabble.
Case in point:
Your X POTUS WAS A POOR EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN MUCH LESS THAN THE LEADER OF THE USA. HE CAUSED DEATHS ON 6 JANUARY AT THE CAPITAL OF THE USA. YET YOU DUMB A**ES DEFEND HIM. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR LOGIC AND THE BRAIN YOUR GOD GAVE YOU. I AM SURE SHE IS LOOKING AT YOU SHAKING HER HEAD SAYING WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THESE IDIOTS.
The author of that post has most likely not missed a moment of the nonsense broadcast on television this week. I would normally just scroll past and ignore this but not this time.
In response to this “expert” opinion I’d like to know how you figure:
That Trump is “my x POTUS” and not yours too? It’s pretty obvious that whether you like or dislike him the office holder is OUR president none-the-less.
You say he was a poor excuse for a human – like you are a better one? Tell me how someone who has everything we call success, can leave it to fight for you and he’s suddenly a poor excuse? As for the leader of the USA – he most certainly was the best leader of any of our recent ones. Not because he was “special” but because he actually used that brain that God gave him and didn’t place himself above any of us (you included).
You say he caused the deaths on January 6th and I say you’ve been sipping way too much “grape juice” or whatever. The “insurrection” of the Capital was pre-planned and as video has shown weapons were pre-positioned way before the rally at noon on January 6th. So my question is how was that allowed to happen? Was Antifa given a pass by the DC mayor? What about the Capital Police who are charged with protecting legislators, guests and visitors at the Capital? Where were they? Take a good look at the picture taken inside the Capital on January 6th and tell me what you see. Even putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t make it any less a pig. Those were not Trump supporters doing a photo op, those where typical Antifa domestic terrorists insuring they were seen doing what they do best.
Lastly you accuse Trump Supporters of not using our logic and the brain god gave us? You seriously have no understanding or intimate knowledge of the Creator God of the bible or you wouldn’t spout that nonsense that He is a woman or calls what he has created idiots. The bible clearly says that calling someone an idiot is a sin. God is not a man, nor does he lie. To say otherwise shows that God is not in you.
If you cannot see the obvious lies in your statement above I suggest that you humble yourself before God and ask him to reveal himself to you.
As for the rest of the “resistance” crowd or “never-trumpers” that goes for you too.
In my lifetime Congress has become more corrupt than at any time in our nation’s history. We have lifetime legislators whose quest for power is never quenched. It is never enough. They demonstrate their collective ignorance by parading themselves as semi-quasi experts when they have no idea what they are saying. They simply want their 15 minutes of fame.
I have said and continue to say – let their record speak. During their time in Congress what have they done to help anyone other than themselves? Have they gone into their home districts and asked the people who sent them to congress if things are better for them personally since they’ve been in office? I think not. Have they looked at their actions and whether it adversely affects the nation or simply affects their own bank account?
We are suffering in a manmade pandemic, made even worse by politicians who resisted efforts to help Americans through this difficult time. They stand before us on television berating us about wearing masks and facial coverings, while in private they do no practice what they preach.
Instead of opening up the economy, putting workers back to work, children back in schools – as they should, they condemn the good, instill and spread fear to the point that people are taking their own lives as their only way out.
If that shoe fits – wear it!
It is the politicians who have done this to our nation. When President Trump took action – who resisted?
When he said HCQ worked – who condemned it simply as a means of demonstrating resistance?
When medical doctors came out publicly to declare HCQ a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 who then came out condemning them?
What social media “fact checkers” censured, suspended and removed common sense prescriptions and advice from medical experts?
Who have urged everyone to follow the science when clearly there is no science to follow?
If this virus was as deadly as we are told it is, why is there no requirement to wear full protective gear and dispose of discarded masks, gloves and gowns in biohazard containers (which are not available except in certain medical facilities)?
America has become a nation that calls evil good and good evil. That ought not to be.
Politicians have tried running President Trump out of town on a rail, but when that didn’t work they switched tactics and are driving the train to run him over. It is gullible people who simply parrot the media talking points and show their own ignorance.
America – you own it!! – I am the Real Truckmaster!
I have not, nor do I intend to watch the sham impeachment of Donald J. Trump by the “high and mightier than thou” Congressional Democrats. It is obvious that this is not about Trump, the insurrection into the Capitol or the fact that he is no longer the sitting president.
This is like a kid flexing his muscles to show how strong he is. It is about power and control.
Remember when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer met with newly elected President Trump in 2017 in the Oval Office? Pelosi’s words still ring as though she said it yesterday, she was speaking to Trump, “You don’t know the importance I bring to this meeting”.
At that time she had previously been Speaker of the House and acted as if she alone was the relevant one at the meeting. Schumer was her peer buddy as they sought to pressure Trump to do their bidding.
That meeting didn’t go so well and neither has their actions over the past 5 years as they have tried every trick in the democratic playbook to impede Trump from discharging his duties as President.
From the trumped up collusion, the first impeachment and now the unconstitutional second impeachment their goal remains the same – to stop Trump and it matters not that he is no longer in office.
Without thinking it through Pelosi/Schumer have opened up Pandora’s Box and because they failed to follow the Constitution it will come back to bite them in the end (figuratively and literally).
If Hollywood made a movie about this dysfunctional duo and hired the most famous and impressive actors to portray them in action like Batman and Robin – nobody would watch it.
On the other hand if some non-Hollywood types made a movie about Trump fighting for the “will of the people” against the “will of congress” it would be sold out immediately.
Many have said that impeachment is a tool to be used by Congress to remove an elected official from office. When it involved a crooked President, the Chief Justice MUST preside – according to the Constitution. When it involves an elected official who breaks the law it is to be used to remove that official from office. It can also be used to prevent that official from holding any future elected office.
When impeachment is used against a private citizen it is not constitutional no matter if the Senate votes to say it is or not and TECHNICALLY any elected member of Congress who endorses, promotes or otherwise enables this unconstitutional miscarriage of justice should themselves be impeached and removed from office and failing that voters should take notice of which elected official needs to be replaced at the next election because Congressional Democrats are nothing more than actors delving into the art of smoke and mirrors.
I venture to say that EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, LEGISLATOR, GOVERNOR AND MAYOR who has not made the lives of his or her constituents better should resign and go get a real job. VOTE THEM OUT! – I am the Real Truckmaster!
We read about guys going back to revisit the battlegrounds of Vietnam some 40 years after they served. Quite often what they find is vastly different than what they remember. There’s 2 sides to every coin (don’t count the edge).
Let me tell about my first trip alone in 1989 going back to Thailand after being leaving almost 19 years earlier. Any biker will tell you it’s the journey not the destination that makes a trip memorable and mine was no exception.
I left Bangkok on July 31st, 1970 with a dufflebag and my new bride. It was her first time ever leaving her family, friends, customs and her country without a basic grasp on the English language. We settled for a time in Boise, Idaho before returning to life in the Army and traveling around the world together.
In 1988 I was on orders for an unaccompanied tour to the Island of Japan. It was to be my final overseas assignment and it was the first time our family of four was separated in 19 years. The girls were in school, my wife had opened her beauty salon and I was off to still one more foreign land.
I arrived in Tokyo in early January 1989 and as I prepared for this new assignment I figured that a trip back to Thailand was in order. My wife and I had traveled with our elder daughter in 1973 and I figured going back alone would be a piece of cake.
Being the penny pincher that I am I decided to travel the very cheapest way possible – military space available and as there were no military flights from Japan to Thailand I had to get to Clark AFB in Manila and that was easier said than done. I had minimal cash so I used my checkbook on base to get enough money for the trip (I hoped).
I first had to get booked on a flight to the Philippine Islands. I went to nearby Atsugi Naval Base and was told they had no flights, but I should go to Yokota Air Base. I arrived shortly before an unscheduled Navy C-130 was about to take off. Lucky me – I got my boarding pass and soon we were onboard and airborne.
For those who haven’t flown in those cargo net seats alongside each wall of the aircraft, with palletized cargo secured in the middle this was definitely not first class. As I glanced around I found the urinal near the back of the plane. Nice to know when the urge hits you and yes it had a partial curtain for privacy. I began to take notice of the other passengers. They were all dependents, women, toddlers and infants.
This was my first time on a Navy flight where unaccompanied dependents were transported to the base where the fleet was anchored. Instead of Clark we were headed to the nearby Subic Naval Base but first we had to stop at the Iwakuni Marine base on the tip of the main island in Japan.
When we landed it appeared to be a typical air base with slots in the passenger terminal. After discharging cargo and picking up more headed to the PI we were called over by the pilot who had some weather updates to go over with us. He said there was a storm that could be pretty severe and might upset the little ones. He asked for a show of hands of who wanted to deplane here and wait for another unscheduled flight (should there be one) or brave the storm and head on in to PI? Everyone wanted to continue.
So we were airborne once again. Did I mention that outside the crew I was the only active duty and Army member on the plane? The storm was a bit rough but we made it and landed without incident. I was never so glad to get off that plane that smelled like soiled diapers, vomit and some really sick kids and moms.
It seems that there are no space available flights leaving Subic Naval Base and nothing scheduled out of Clark for Bangkok. I did notice a lone Army VIP aircraft parked near the passenger terminal. I was told it was going to Thailand and I had to convince the pilot to take me. So I figured I’m Army and in uniform and it’s an Army plane – no problem. Wrong! The pilot was on an exercise called Cobra Gold and unless I was too, no dice. He would make no exception, I even told him he didn’t have to land, just touch and roll and I’d bail out? Nope!
I had to purchase a one way ticket from Manila to Bangkok. It was Friday and the flight wouldn’t leave until Monday. So I found that the recreation center had snorkel gear and a bungalow on a nearby beach. Not a problem since I’m scuba certified (Canal Zone in 1976). I rented the bungalow for the weekend.
As I stepped off the small boat on the island I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as this sailor wanted to impress his girlfriend and stepped into the water and into the middle of what looked like a school of jelly fish (That must of hurt)!
I stowed my bag inside and grabbed my snorkel gear I headed for a spot without any jelly fish and began a couple hours of snorkeling. This was the life! What I didn’t count on was coming out of the water with a bad case of sunburn and a touch of sun stroke. I managed to get the girl who had opened the bungalow for me to find some blankets and I spent the next 24 hours in bed covered by blankets and freezing.
I felt a bit better on Sunday and took the bus to the Hilton in Manila. I had reserved a room for $25 per night. The bus stopped in front of the hotel long enough for me to grab my bag then took off. I walked into the lobby like I owned the place. Asked for my room and was told – no reservation found. (They didn’t even have a computerized system either). Soon the desk clerk came back apologizing and said all he had was a suite. He could let me have it for the price of the room I had reserved. I went upstairs to find a living area, a couple of bedrooms and a kitchenette – all to myself.
The next day I got a bus to the airport. I walked in and found a spot on a hard wooden bench. It was too early to check in so I had to wait. I don’t know if you remember the 1986 Michael J. “Crocodile” Dundee movies but the guy next to me was the spitting image, even had the accent “Mate”. He asked me to watch over his luggage as he went to talk to the Sheila at the counter. Soon he was back and it was time to check in.
As I was going through the immigration station the agent checking my ticket tried to get me to buy him a .45 cal. Pistol in the US and bring it back to him. He wouldn’t take “no way” for an answer. I had to wait a couple of hours in the duty free lounge and always had my back against the wall.
I gave a sigh of relief as I sat into my seat on the Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. Nice customer service, hot towel, hot food and a relaxing flight. We landed just before midnight at Don Muang International Airport. Going through customs was simple and soon I found myself outside the terminal.
I was headed north but didn’t want to give away my destination to just anybody. I began walking and this kid (young man) kept after me to use his brother’s taxi. He wanted to know where I was going and when I told him I was going north to Suriburi, he asked why I was walking south? I finally took his brother’s taxi to the bus stop a couple of hours north in Suriburi. The bus to Korat was pulling out and he managed to flag the busser who got the bus to wait for me.
I stood just inside the back door, holding on to the overhead rail for balance. What I found was this bus was a Cha-Cha (very slow) bus that stopped for ANYONE alongside the road. It was a long night. Finally we got to Korat and I changed buses, catching the one to Khon Kaen. By the time I arrived it was around 8AM and I had been up all night.
The town looked familiar and I thought a bowl of meatball soup would be nice. I found the first restaurant open was a fishball soup place that triggered a bad experience I’d had one time in Bangkok, but I ate it and it wasn’t too bad.
Next I wanted to ride a Samlar (bicycle taxi) out to the village. Found an older taxi guy, agreed on a price and I settled down for the maybe ½ mile ride. When we got to the main road he refused to cross the 4 lanes in each direction highway. (It had been a 2 lane road the last time I was there). So I paid him and grabbed my bag and made my way across the highway and headed up to the temple at the top of the hill.
At least I knew where I was going and this part I could do easily right?
As I walked into the temple yard and exited through the gate on the other side I stopped dead in my tracks.
As I looked around gone was the single telephone and electric light pole for the village that had drastically changed. It was no longer a sleepy little village, but had more houses and streets than I remembered.
I was lost!
Well at least I could converse right? I spotted a small shop and as I approached I asked “Bon Nung Sah Sip Hoke tee ni cop” (where is house #136 madam)? (Loosely translated)
She just stood staring like she was listening to an alien…..I guess she was because after all I was a farong = foreigner. Then a man came up the street and she asked if he could understand what I was saying?
I asked the same question = Where is house #136? I had to repeat it a couple of times before he understood and said to go down this street, 2 cross streets and turn left. I thanked him and headed that way.
After 2 cross streets I turned left and BAM = lost again!
I spotted another shop and asked the same question = Where is house #136?
She had that same deer in the headlight look as the first lady.
Then I remember I had a fairly recent photo of my wife and I in my wallet. I pulled out the photo and her face lite up and she called out to her neighbor “Tian’s husband is here”. (I understood her better than she did my Thai). Immediately my brother-in-law came out from the next house where he was cutting hair (he was a barber). He sent one of the boys to fetch his mother at the nearby rice processing plant.
I had never met him or the two boys before but when I had last seen my sister-in-law she was a lot younger. The next morning I wanted to go out to the old camp. She sent the elder boy with me. I told him get us on the bus to Udorn and when I say stop the bus he would yell “Jot Duey”.
As the bus pulled away we stood looking at several of the old billets that were still standing. Most of the base had been taken down. I took a few pictures and then a man appeared asking what we were doing?
The nephew said this crazy American said this used to be an American base.
The man confirmed what I’d said. He had even been a Thai Security Guard at the base and lived nearby. He invited us over to his house for a glass of water and he explained further about our big trucks.
We caught the next bus back to town, and walked out to the village. I ended up spending a couple of nights but had to call JUSMAG to find out about a flight to Clark. I needed to get on the list and had to do it in person at the JUSMAG compound. I decided I’d splurge on a flight to Bangkok it cost $45 and lasted about 30 minutes, but served a hot towel and a meal.
I found a taxi driver who knew where the compound was and took me there at a fair price. After I signed up on the roster, a van showed up to load the passengers and take us to Don Muang RTAFB. We got on a C-130 and as we were taking off the pilot got a call diverting us to Chiang Mai to pick up a hurt American soldier and his doctor and bring them back to Bangkok. Then after dropping them off at Don Muang we headed for Clark Air Base in the Philippine Islands.
Since I had only taken a 14 day leave when we landed at Clark I was close to being out of leave time. Lucky for me they got me on a flight to Yokota and I called for one of my military taxi drivers to pick me up and take me to Camp Zama to sign in from leave.
I learned some valuable lessons. Plan your trip wisely. Take enough money to last. Use a guide when traveling in a foreign country. Learn to ask important questions “hong nam u-tee ni” (where is the bathroom) and “towlie Cop” (how much)? Thai people are friendly and yes they smile a lot. If you make the effort to communicate they will meet you more than halfway.
I’ve been back to Thailand many times over the years and we generally have a good time, see lots of “non-touristy” things and always the food is good and it is spicy hot.
Our girls are now grandmas and all of OUR grandkids have been to Thailand at least once. They love the people and they really love to eat Thai food. Our house is southwest of Bangkok about 2 miles off the beach and not so much of a touristy place. My favorite part is getting up early grabbing a cup of coffee and watching the sun come up in the east. (Oh and the air condition, I love the air condition) – I am the Real Truckmaster!
We keep hearing “follow the science” when it comes to wearing face coverings and social distancing but what does that really mean? In the context of COVID-19 it translates into do what I say because what I say is the truth because it follows the science of our time.
There are many definitions of “Science” and each one depends upon the context of who the author is and their desired outcome? It’s kind of like practicing law or medicine, even after obtaining the degree, hanging it on the office wall the holder is still “practicing”.
Science is the study of the physical and natural world through observations and experiments.
The Short Answer: Science consists of observing the world by watching, listening, observing, and recording. Scienceis curiosity in thoughtful action about the world and how it behaves. Anyone can think like a scientist
According to this Wikipedia article that claims the earliest roots of science can be traced to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia around 3500 to 3000 BCE.
So what did people do before that?
Maybe they did what many of us still do today – what is printed on the currency of the United States:
IN GOD WE TRUST
Early man didn’t have the written word of God like we have. However they had the next best thing and actual words from the Lord God creator of everything and the author of life itself.
Once God says something, it becomes fact so when scientists test theories or scientific ideas they are simply proving what God has already deemed as fact. So when politicians say “follow the science” what they really should be saying is follow what God has said.
Humans are created to cluster together, not become isolated “islands” void of outside human contact. That is why it is so important for families to gather together; children to interact in schools; workers to interconnect on the job and is the best reason for opening our nation up and getting back to normal.
The most important science to follow is that of common sense. It’s been tested and tried since the beginning of time and when used properly will enable us to survive a great many trials and tribulations as long as we place our trust in Christ alone.
Where do you place your trust?
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15, NKJV) – I am the Real Truckmaster!
There are a number of things that don’t ring true when it comes to the powers of impeachment given solely to the House of Representatives. In our nation’s history no American president has ever been forced from office due to impeachment.
There have been six times in our history where Congress has held serious discussions of impeachment.
Andrew Johnson was impeached but acquitted in the Senate and remained in office.
Congress introduced a resolution to impeach John Tyler but that resolution failed.
Congress began debating impeaching Richard Nixon until he resigned.
William J. Clinton was impeached but was acquitted in the Senate and remained in office.
Donald J. Trump was impeached but was acquitted in the Senate and remained in office.
Donald J. Trump was impeached just prior to completing his term in office and is to be tried in the Senate as a private citizen.
I was watching a live interview with former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on CSPAN this afternoon and when asked if President Trump’s remarks at the MEGA rally on January 6th did in his opinion fire up the crowd as the media has reported and warrant impeachment for causing insurrection into the Capitol?
It was Sean’s answer that brought things into focus. First he said that before answering that question you must first answer these questions:
Is it constitutional to impeach a President who is no longer in office?
Did his remarks at the rally constitute an impeachable offense?
What is the remedy of impeachment?
Impeachable Offenses
Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
Let’s look at the “crimes” in the case made by the House Managers:
At the rally on January 6th President Trump fired up his supporters into an angry mob and told them to fight Congress to make their voices heard. – Loosely paraphrased by me.
What the President said:
We will go peacefully to let Congress hear our voice. – Loosely paraphrased by me.
So with mere days before the end of President Trump’s term in office the House exercised their full authority under the Constitution to impeach him because he wouldn’t resign and had committed no crime. Remember what happened to President Nixon who was caught up in Watergate and did in fact resign because Congress was discussing impeachment.
So let’s go back to Sean Spicer’s questions – what is the remedy impeachment is supposed to “fix” – according to the Constitution the Senate votes to convict and can vote to remove the President from office.
Once again in their rush to judgement the House Judiciary Committee discussed and forwarded a resolution stating impeachment was warranted and hastily brought it before the floor for a full vote knowing full well that there were only days before the President’s term of office would end. Their goal was to get the Senate to convict, remove from office and prevent the President from holding elected office ever again.
Not to be morbid but it’s like the government taxing a dead man and taking his suit before sealing the casket shut.
So hateful are the Democratic and RINO members of Congress toward former President Trump they will place him in history as the only President to be impeached twice, acquitted once and have his second impeachment declared unconstitutional at the same time. It may be time for House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader to go back and take a second look at Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution as it applies equally to them.
Impeachable Offenses
Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” [Emphasis mine]
The ground rules have been set for the trial phase in the Senate and we are all in for what will be another Congressional circus. – I am The Real Truckmaster!
How do people become offended? What offends you? There are many things in life that tug at the strings of your heart or play with your mind. Being offended is all too often simply a choice.
Advertising companies know just how to present a product in such a way that makes you pick up the phone, jump on the computer or voice your concern over a perceived injustice. Rather than going online and calling for a boycott of this, that or another we should compare it to God’s rather than man’s standard. Rodney King said it best, “Can’t we all just get along?” We could, you know but it requires sacrifice.
We should be offended by what Almighty God say’s is offensive to him.
We are told to have no other gods before the creator God. What is your god?
We are told not to worship things instead of God. What or who do you idolize?
We are told not to take God’s name in vain. Do you bless and curse in the name of God?
We are told to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Who is the god of your Sabbath?
We are told to honor your father and your mother. Do we really honor them by disrespectful words or actions?
We are told not to kill. Who have you killed by your tongue or your actions?
We are told not to commit adultery. As a man thinks – he does?
We are told not to steal. What have you taken that wasn’t yours to take?
We are told not to speak falsely against your neighbor? Little white lies included?
We are told not to covet what other people have. Focusing on what others possess makes the grass look greener on their side of the fence. What do you wish you had?
It’s easier to justify why we do that which God has commanded us not to than it is to repent and ask God to forgive up.
Jesus was offended and overturned the money changers tables in the outer courtyard of the temple but told us to be angry but sin not. That’s the hard part. When we see someone being mistreated should we be like Moses and strike down the offender or do as Jesus said to turn the other cheek?
When your relationship with God is in right standing you will be able to do the right thing, in spite of what others say or do, it’s one thing to be led by the Holy Spirit and quite another to let your inner self push you along.
Respect is something everyone deserves, yet it is easier to give and harder to receive.
When your mind is on you everything becomes offensive and you in turn are a living offense.
Luke 10:27 – He (Jesus) answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.”
This Jesus said is the greatest commandment. – I am the Real Truckmaster!
Conspiracy to Commit – a 2nd Look at the TIME’S Article
We were told that Russia interfered with the 2016 election and almost certainly they did, as well as members of our own government under Barack Obama’s administration. What was not expected was that Trump (a virtual political unknown) would get the nod from the GOP, but actually win the elector college votes and thus become the 45th President of the United States.
It was Obama who smiled while telling then president-elect Trump that everyone wished his administration success because America would succeed while at the same time was conducting a massive investigation into pinning a trumped up Russian-Trump Collusion charge to sink Trump’s presidency before it even began.
A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation,[1] while keeping their agreement secret from the public or from other people affected by it. In a political sense, conspiracy refers to a group of people united in the goal of usurping, altering or overthrowing an established political power. Depending on the circumstances, a conspiracy may also be a crime, or a civil wrong.[2] The term generally implies wrongdoing or illegality on the part of the conspirators, as people would not need to conspire to engage in activities that were lawful and ethical, or to which no one would object.
During the 4 years of Donald Trump’s presidency all we heard from democrats and the liberal left was the word “Conspiracy” insinuating anti-American wrongdoing on the part of the president. We have known all along that CONSPIRACY was committed by Democratic government officials and a campaign of misinformation was launched to cover their tracks.
This campaign of misinformation has been carried to fruition by a number of individuals, organizations, groups, government agencies and even from the halls of Congress prior to, during and after the 2020 election. Yet it is only the tip of the political iceberg.
The newly released (February 4th 2021) article scheduled to appear in the February 15th, 20201 issue of TIME, written by Molly Ball and her team of reporters has very precisely shown a light on a conspiracy to commit election interference and worse prior to the 2020 election. Not only was this conspiracy committed, but it was put into action by a loosely coordinated band of left wing activists, private sector and corporate actors, as well as former and current government officials as they proudly proclaim they “fortified” a failed US election process and saved democracy from an autocratic President Trump, preventing him from winning the election.
I have to admit when I first read the article I became angry not so much that such a thing ever existed but that it was allowed to fester like a boil on the backside of our nation. The hatred that spewed from this conspiracy became so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Like everyone I watched as radical leftist groups committed acts of unspeakable atrocities in American cities, attacking innocent citizens, resisting and assaulting law enforcement and destroying public and private property while given the green light by elected officials, even when lives were lost due to this unnecessary and purely avoidable violence.
The TIMES article by Molly Ball went into the belly of the beast. She and her reporters named names, identified organizations, corporations and government agencies. They conducted interviews, had access to documents, emails and the detailed inner-workings beginning at ground zero. I’ve always said follow the money and I’m a bit disappointed that her team failed to follow the money all the way up the chain to the source.
What was exposed was a band of freedom fighters who viewed themselves as “shadow campaigners” who conveniently disbanded or went underground in “standby” mode to be activated again when the time is right as they refer to themselves as defenders of democracy. They compared the United States against other democratic nation states and that is where they errored because our country is not a democracy. They see themselves as patriots when they are nothing more than organized criminals who interfered with the general election and set into motion actions, people and events to obtain their “desired outcome” in the 2020 election and change the course of our nation.
The United States of America is a Constitutional-Republic. It is our Constitution that is the rule of law. It is up to everyone to become defenders of the Constitution. – I am the Real Truckmaster!
