Gratitude for and Celebration of Ten Magnificent Years!

My dear, loyal, wonderful readers, today we have reached
a momentous milestone; we have been meeting here at this
online site for ten years to absorb, examine, and discuss
the political and economic news of the day, to discern
the heroes, the heels, those who made things happen,
those who watched things happen, and those who wondered
what the hell happened. The good, the bad, and the ugly
(apologies to Clint Eastwood), the innocent and the guilty.
The effects of the actions taken by the players in the political
arena and the good (or bad) they have wrought. Recognizing
the stars in the conservative movement, both those established
in our firmament and those on the rise. Bidding farewell to
those who left the arena and the world, having helped to
make both better for their having been in them. And certainly
taking time to count our blessings from living in the most
free, the most prosperous, the most welcoming, the most
opportunity affording, the most wonderful country on the
face of the earth --- the United States of America.

When your faithful Peasant began this blog on September 23,
2009, it was for these purposes: to draw attention to stories
from the realms of politics and economics which the lamestream
media either gave little space or air time to, or ignored altogether,
and to rally conservatives around to this blog so as to give them
a place to visit to see these stories presented, and to be done in
a way which doesn't pussyfoot about playing at diplomacy and
niceties, rather getting straight to the heart of the matter and
calling a spade a spade. Your favorite Peasant has endeavored to
state some things in a way that many of you would state yourselves
and do when you are discussing these stories at your dining room
tables, in your local barber shops, at your golf courses, in your
offices, or in your backyards while hosting cookouts. These are
my personal objectives in publishing this very blog, as well as
to give you, my fellow conservatives comfort, succor, humor,
and good cheer, especially at times when we seem to see our
political fortunes slipping away, or at least stymied and stalled.
Always bear in mind, my friends: A war is made up of many
battles, some will be won, some lost. But as long as we do not
tire from the efforts to secure victory, do not lose faith in our-
selves nor our confidence in our ability to keep the pressure
on the enemy, and stay true to our bedrock values which
are the base for our beliefs, we shall gain the victory.

And now we gear up for another ten years (and hopefully many
more after that!) of our vitally important work of defending our
country and our way of life, meeting here each week to study
the relevant topics of the moment and figure out the best way
forward, and having a little levity to lighten our spirits and
indulge in laughter now and then. Think of this blog as being
akin to a USO canteen for weary soldiers, sailors, marines
and airmen; for we are the very warriors who without pause
are fighting to preserve everything we have, cherish and enjoy
as Americans, and to pass it forward to the coming generations.

Your grateful Peasant wishes you, my grand readers and friends,
God's blessings on you and your families. Thank you for your
steadfast support and your wonderful company. And God bless
America!


MEM

Some Positive Bipartisanship?

Recently, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R, La.) and Kyrsten Sinema
(D, Az.) coauthored the first bipartisan plan to create a federal
paid-parental leave program. Its features include a proviso for
new parents to obtain an advance of up to $5,000 on their child
tax credit to lighten the costs in the first year of having a child,
including adopting a child. The bill would offset the expense
by reducing the parents' credit for the next ten years.

The Democrats have a plan of their own, which in true Democrat
fashion is a much more expansive paid-leave program.
The aforementioned bipartisan plan, along with two bills drafted
and sponsored by Republican lawmakers, are creative ways of
repurposing existing funds to facilitate parents' efforts to support
new arrivals, again either by birth or adoption. In addition, this
legislation will force the Democrats to determine and state their
priority: either making family leave easier or, as is their pleasure,
raising taxes. If they choose the former, they will certainly be
helping to effect and promote the bipartisan cooperation and
compromise that they are forever claiming they desire. If they
go with the latter, the Dems will have to go before the public
and defend their decision to impose a further economic burden
on the taxpayers. Oh, the schadenfreude!


MEM

Carol Buckley, R.I.P.

William and Aloise Steiner Buckley had a remarkable family;
ten children, each of whom possessed a powerful intellect, an
unquenchable thirst for knowledge, a love of and undying
fidelity to the Catholic faith, and belief in and support of the
rights of the individual over the encroachment of an insatiable
government with an unquenchable thirst for power. Their
staunchly conservative parents taught them very well.

This brood, which included the late founder of National Review
magazine, William F. Buckley Jr., also numbered Carol Buckley
as its youngest member. The last to be born and the next to last
to depart (James L. Buckley, former U.S. Senator and retired
Senior Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit will have that distinction), Carol Buckley
was a part-time editor and writer, oftentimes a contributor to
her brother Bill's renown journal of conservative political
ideas, as well as an addiction counselor. She wrote one book,
At The Still Point (Simon and Schuster, 1996) in which she
detailed her life as the youngest member of the Buckley
family.

Inheriting the family trait of possession of a lightening-quick
wit, kind-hearted and generous, always willing to assist people
less fortunate than she, Carol Buckley is survived by five
children (one predeceased her) and several grandchildren.
The octogenarian was also an energetic advocate for the
welfare of pets, having been involved with the charity,
Sweet Paws Rescue of Essex, Massachusetts, and has
requested that donations be made to this organization
in lieu of flowers. If any of you, my wonderful readers,
would like to make a donation contact them thus:

Sweet Paws Rescue
P.O. Box 752
Essex, MA  01929

If you prefer to contact and contribute to them online:

https://www.sweetpawsrescue.org/donate

As has her siblings, Carol Buckley made an indelible mark
on literature, journalism, politics, and humanity. She had
done the Buckley family proud. Well done, Madam.
Requeiscat in Pace.


MEM

Gratitude and Applause!

Yesterday, on one of Milwaukee's local conservative talk shows,
U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, my representative in the House,
after a 44 year career in public service, first serving in the Wisconsin
Assembly and the Senate before serving in Congress for 40 years,
announced that he would not seek re-election next year. At 76,
Rep. Sensenbrenner will take life easy but shall still keep abreast
of the political realm in which he has served his Wisconsin 5th
Congressional District constituents long and faithfully.

Having signaled his planned departure on Mark Belling's show,
Sensenbrenner reputation is that of one of the most conservative
and most Constitution-minded members in either chamber of 
Congress. His knowledge of the Constitution has made him a
prime choice of his fellow congressional Republicans for
Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, also having served
immediately prior to that post as Chairman of the House Science
Commitee in which he also performed superbly. His is an act
which will be a tough one to follow.

Sometimes genial, even affable, sometimes crusty, always speaking
plainly without worrying about whether he would offend any
politically correct snowflake types or the establishment press
but always focused laser-like on the needs of his constituents
and on constitutional provisions and strictures, making sure that
constitutional protections of their (and all Americans') rights,
freedom, and prosperity were observed and respected regardless
of which party held the House and regardless of who was in the
Oval Office, Jim Sensenbrenner will surely be missed but will
always be gratefully appreciated. The Peasant wishes you well
in your leisure, sir. Thank you for your many years of unwavering
service.


MEM