Remember the mini-brouhaha the other day when President Bush spoke about completing the job in Iraq lest we have a recurrence of the disaster we faced after withdrawing from Vietnam in 1973? Democrats blasted the President for supposedly “being against Vietnam before he was for it” while their online sycophants sang chorus with “honesty, consistency and integrity have no meaning to George Bush”. Even a rudimentary perusal of the comments Bush made in 2004 and his speech to the VFW a couple of days ago shows this claim to be woefully ignorant. Context for these folks is irrelevant while soundbites, no matter how contrived, rule the day. This matter aside, however, it is very interesting to note a column that has surfaced online which harshly condemns antiwar Democrats for their antics that doomed Vietnam. As you read this, ask yourself who wrote these words?

This Congress was elected in November 1974, only months after Nixon’s resignation, and it was dominated by a fresh group of antiwar Democrats. One of the first actions of the new Congress was to vote down a supplemental appropriation for the beleaguered South Vietnamese that would have provided $800 million in military aid, including much-needed ammunition, spare parts and medical supplies.

This vote was a horrendous blow, in both emotional and practical terms, to the country that had trusted American judgment for more than a decade of intense conflict. It was also a clear indication that Washington was abandoning the South Vietnamese even as the North Vietnamese continued to enjoy the support of the Soviet Union, China and other Eastern bloc nations. The vote’s impact was hardly lost on North Vietnamese military planners, who began the final offensive only five weeks later, as the South Vietnamese were attempting to adjust their military defenses.

Finally, the aftermath of Saigon’s fall is rarely dealt with at all. A gruesome holocaust took place in Cambodia, the likes of which had not been seen since World War II. Two million Vietnamese fled their country — usually by boat — with untold thousands losing their lives in the process. This was the first such diaspora in Vietnam’s long and frequently tragic history. Inside Vietnam a million of the South’s best young leaders were sent to re-education camps; more than 50,000 perished while imprisoned, and others remained captives for as long as 18 years. An apartheid system was put into place that punished those who had been loyal to the United States, as well as their families, in matters of education, employment and housing. The Soviet Union made Vietnam a client state until its own demise, pumping billions of dollars into the country and keeping extensive naval and air bases at Cam Ranh Bay.

Figure it out yet? The author correctly places blame squarely where it belongs for the betrayal of our South Vietnamese allies and the condemnation of its people to tyranny and bloodshed: leftist Democrats. The only way Iraq and Vietnam may be similiar is the behavior of the very same party that 30 years ago and today believes victory lies in the defeat of our country.

So who wrote the above you may ask? Why Democrat James Webb, a veteran of the Vietnam War and now the Junior Senator from Virginia.

The seething by leftist Democrats over this article should be quite enjoyable as reaction to Webb’s comments start coming in.

(h/t The Corner)

– John (Average Gay Joe)

This is somewhat of a delayed posting from our bankrupting vacation to Las Vegas in May.  As many of you know, two of my favorite country music artists are Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.  Both were honored at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas (with Patriot Family firmly embedded in their seats) as Female and Male Vocalists of the Year, respectively.

PatriotPartner and I had the pleasure of seeing Brad Paisley (plus Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram) play in Charlotte in late July.   Paisley throws an incredible concert which rivals anything I’ve seen recently from Bon Jovi to U2 to the big names in Vegas.  If Brad is coming your way, go to the show! 

So, if George Strait is the current reigning “King of Country Music”, then surely Brad is Country’s Prince.

As a bit of a departure from serious subjects, I draw your attention to this profile of Brad Paisley that was featured in today’s Charlotte Observer.

There’s plenty of humor on “5th Gear” — so much that Blender magazine wrote: “If Brad Paisley weren’t a country superstar, he could be a comedian …Nashville has always welcomed punchline-packed novelty tunes, and Paisley’s well-nigh-perfect new album will deepen his reputation as a master of the art.”

Besides the humor, what sets Paisley apart from most country stars is his guitar playing. Like Keith Urban and Vince Gill, Paisley could be a lead guitarist in any country or rock band.  His influences include Nashville pickers but also big names from the rock world.

When writing tunes for “5th Gear,” he found himself in a reflective mood about his teen years because he was about to become a father.

“It’s the closest I get to a second chance — this little boy,” the proud papa said.

William Huckleberry Paisley was born in February. Dad came up with the middle name, which is what the parents are calling him.

“I threw out the possibility of that name and Kim loved it instantly; I was instantly prepared for five more options,” he said. “We like the uniqueness of it. I love Mark Twain. I love what Huckleberry Finn as a character stood for — this free thinker, sort of outdoor adventurer.”

Long Live Prince Paisley!  (And his cute wife Kim and Baby Huck Paisley, too!)

-Bruce (GayPatriot)