Evident without proof or reasoning

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Declaration of Independence

No You Can't

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people' s initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

--Abraham Lincoln

Limited Government

(posted by Nic)

Man is not free unless government is limited...as government expands, liberty contracts.
-Ronald Reagan

The Fed

“I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial country is controlled by a system of credit…The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men…we are (now a government) ruled by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.” -- Woodrow Wilson

Democracy

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
- Winston Churchill, 1947

McCain Roasts 'em

McCAIN: And some advocates for Senator Obama are less restrained in their enthusiasm, even in the media. All right, he usually is at table 228, for example, my old friend and Green Room pal Chris Matthews. He used to like me, but he found somebody new -- somebody who opened his eyes, somebody who gave him a thrill up his leg. (Laughter) And we've talked about it. I told him maverick I can do, but messiah is above my pay grade.

McCAIN: You know, it's going to be a long, long night at MSNBC if I manage to pull this thing off.For starters (Applause)....I understand that Keith Olbermann has ordered up his very own "Mission Accomplished" banner. And they can hang that in whatever padded room has been reserved for him. (Laughter) Seriously, Chris, if they need any decorating advice on that banner, ask Keith to call me so I can tell him right where to put it.

McCAIN: So, you know, I had fun with the media and we all know the press is really an independent, civic-minded and nonpartisan group, like ACORN... (laughter) In case you haven't been following my opponent's get out the vote campaign, ACORN is helping to register groups previously excluded, overlooked and underserved -- second graders, the deceased, Disney characters. In Florida, they even turned up an ACORN registration form that bore the name of one Mickey Mouse. We're checking the paw prints.

Even Bill Maher on CNN conceded that McCain was funny. The media also may have given Obama his best joke: "I am also glad to see that Senator Schumer is here, and I see that he's brought some of his loved ones. Those would be the folks with the cameras and the notebooks in the back of the room."

Democracy and Liberty

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
-Benjamin Franklin

In Honor of Columbus

The Great Nations of Europe had gathered on the shore
they'd conquered what was behind them and now they wanted more
so they looked to the mighty ocean and took to the western sea
The great nations of Europe in the 16th century

Hide your wives and daughters, hide the groceries too
The great nations of Europe comin through

The Grand Canary Islands first land to which they came
they slaughtered all the canaries there which gave the land its name
there were natives there called Guanches, Guanches by the score
bullet's, disease the Portuguese, they weren't there any more

now they're gone, they're gone, they're really gone
you never seen anyone so gone
there's pictures in a museum, some lines written in a book
but you won't find a live one, no matter where you look

Hide your wives and daughters, hide the groceries too
The great nations of Europe comin through

Columbus sailed for India found Salvador instead
he shook hands with some Indians and soon they all were dead
they got TB and typhoid and athletes foot, diphtheria and the flu
'scuse me great nations comin through

Balboa found the pacific and on the trail one day
he met some friendly Indians whom he was told were gay
soooooooooooooo
he had them torn apart by dogs on religious grounds they say
the great nations of Europe were quite holy in their way

now they're gone, they're gone, they're really gone
you never seen anyone so gone
some bones hidden in a canyon some paintings in a cave
they're no use tryin to save them, there's nothin left to save

hide your wives and daughters, hide your sons as well
with the great nations of Europe you never can tell

where you and i are standing at the end of a century
Europe’s have sprung up everywhere as even i can see
but there on the horizon is the possibility
that some bug from out of Africa might come for you and me
destroying everything in its path from sea to shining sea
like the great nations of Europe in the 16th century

-- Randy Newman

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
-- John Quincy Adams

Don't Give In

If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. --Prov. 25:26

Six Months at the White House

"...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." Abraham Lincoln - Six Months at the White House

Straight from the Gipper

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Ronald Reagan

Good Government

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson

A Lasting Liberty

"Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. ... The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty." --
John Adams

In other words...VOTE

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." ~ Plato

John Adams on signing The Declaration of Independence

You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that prosperity will triumph in that day’s transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.” John Adams July 3, 1776, the day before signing the Declaration of Independence.

Once they signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, they were guilty of treason. Punishable by death.

Alice Cooper Says it all

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal." - Alice Cooper