Tip of the terrorist iceberg?

After a week of watching the federal, state, and local authorities chase down and subdue the Brothers Tsnaraev -- accused of executing the cowardly and heinous bombing at the Boston Marathon -- we have opened a new week with another alleged terrorist plot, this time north of the border in Canada.

Fortunately, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) thwarted the scheme to attack a passenger train that runs between Toronto and the U.S. The RCMP's joint investigation with the FBI and the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security turned up evidence that the two men accused in the plot were working under the "direction and guidance" of "al-Qaida elements" based in Iran.

Back stateside, U.S. authorities are still working to determine if the Brothers Tsnarnaev planned and pulled off the Boston bombing on their own or if there was some puppet master out there pulling the strings. Some politicians and pundits are tiptoeing around or all together ignoring the "Islamic extremist" term in relation to the Brothers Tsnarnaev. Others of similar ilk are calling for everything from "beefing up" immigration standards to wire tapping mosques and other houses of worship that belong to groups whose religious views could be deemed as "extreme".

Amid the speculation, arguments, and the politicians and pundits falling all over themselves at the sight of cameras and microphones, I have one question. Is this the tip of the terrorist iceberg in North America?

It's a question to which I have no concrete answer, only a gut feeling that it could be "yes". That gut feeling is based on a post-9/11 interview. The name and affiliation of the individual being interviewed at the time escapes me, but I remember clearly what he said in regards to the rise of al-Qaida and similar terrorist organizations. He speculated that one day down the road, we could very well be battling extremists of any stripe in our own streets.

I pray that it is not the case.

National shame

The number of babies murdered by "Dr." Kermit Gosnell -- the Jack the Ripper of Philadelphia -- will probably never be known, but the despicable ignorance of the mainstream media (MSM) is definitely on display for all to see.

Outside of a few conservative media outlets and Christian media, the Gosnell murder trial has been not just under-reported or unreported in the MSM, it has been covered up, until recently when even some left-leaning bloggers and online outlets finally called out the MSM for its disgraceful non-coverage (yes, it's a word for this instance) of this national shame that has been going in the Philadelphia butcher shop being passed off as a "women's clinic."

In today's edition of the "American Thinker," Thomas Lifson offers his view of the empty press section in the Philadelphia courtroom. Here's a link to his column.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/04/media_on_trial_too_as_gosnell_trial_resumes.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Where have I been?

Wow! Just noticed that it's been October 2012 since I've posted anything on my so-called blog.

Guess I'm not much of a blogger.

Or maybe I'm just lazy.

Perhaps preoccupied with other stuff.

Did I forget about it? I am getting old, or at least I feel like I'm getting old. Maybe I'm already old. Hmmm.

So what's happened since my last post on Oct. 25, 2012? Let's see.

Super Storm Sandy. Halloween. President Obama won reelection.

Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Snow.

Tragic school shooting in Connecticut.

Bunch of college football bowl games nobody watched.

Christmas. Snow. New Year's Eve and Day.

Fiscal Cliff (naughty, irresponsible brother of Jimmy Cliff). Gun control debate.

Spring in early January in Ohio. Cold again.

Goodness. Too much bad with the good.

Praying for brighter days in 2013.

Debates, huh, what are they good for?

I'm watching the tail end of the Ohio U.S. Senate debate between Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel (R), and at this point, I'm looking for a third-party candidate for whom to vote.

So I guess I need to learn more about Scott Rupert.

I'm so glad we're just about a week and a half away from election day. This election season has been exhausting from the standpoint of the contentiousness and venom that's been spewed by all sides involved in this thing. I've said it before, there's enough blame to go around for our problems here in these United States of America, but, of course, some bear a little more responsibility than others.

I didn't watch the presidential debates or the vice presidential debate live out of respect for my sweet wife's sanity. She's not a fan of the fiddle faddle and mish mash that's usually associated with the so-called debates. So I watched them on YouTube afterwards.

Naturally, as a conservative, I was pretty happy with what I heard from Gov. Mitt Romney, and not so happy with what I heard from President Barack Obama. But as far as declaring a "winner" in these so-called debates, I'll pass on that. Besides, these things are more like forums than actual debates.
And we're not in college or high school here, there's no "winner" in these so-called debates.

Another reason that I didn't watch the debates live is because I already knew who I was supporting, knew where Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan stand on issues that are important to me, and knew that President Obama's values and stand on those issues don't reflect my own.

So I'm ready to vote. Nov. 6 can't come quickly enough.

Yeah, I know I can take advantage of early voting, but I enjoy the hubbub of election day, so I can wait a little longer.

Southern Baptist panel: Can Christians vote for a Mormon?

Good read about a panel discussion at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38688

Egyptians attack U.S. embassy

Anger about an unnamed video apparently sparked Egyptian protesters to attack the United States embassy in Cairo. The video in question apparently casts Islam and its prophet Muhammad in a negative light, according to the protesters.

Although the video has not been identified, embassy officials issued a statement condemning "the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others ..."

Protesters tore down the U.S. flag atop the embassy, tore it to pieces and attempted to burn portions of it. They then replaced the Stars and Stripes with a black flag bearing the message, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet. The black flag is apparently similar to banners used by al-Qaida.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/11/egyptian-protesters-scale-us-embassy-wall-in-cairo/

Just say no to "allies"?

The White House has declined a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with President Obama during the PM's visit to NYC later this month. Apparently, the POTUS will be too busy fundraising to make time for one of our closest "allies". Story from FoxNews.com.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/11/early-frost-white-house-gives-chilly-response-to-proposed-obama-netanyahu-talk/