Posted by Michael Mallon on 06/30/09

Adam Kokesh, perhaps most known to members of this website for his stirring call to arms at Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis last September, is running for Congress in his home state of New Mexico. I was browsing his site earlier this morning when I stumbled on an amazing discussion between him and Congressman Walter Jones.

Here, you can hear Congressman Jones speak about his nagging doubts leading up to the vote to authorize President George W. Bush's use of force against Iraq, his failure to heed those personal misgivings, and the potential consequences of that failure in his moving description of a Marine's funeral in North Carolina.

It brought tears to my eyes, and I only hope he retains the courage of his conviction in the years to come. Further, I hope that Adam and other young patriots like him will soon fill the halls of Congress and fight to rein in our outrageous Benevolent Overlords.

Posted by Michael Mallon on 06/13/09

Lidia Schaefer fled her native Ethiopia over thirty years ago to escape from civil war. Since then she has resided in Washington, D.C., working as a manicurist to support her two children.

When she returned to her homeland and saw the deplorable conditions the children of her village and those of other communities nearby had to endure in order to receive an education, Schaefer was compelled to act. She petitioned her clients and co-workers for donations and went from donating all her tips and a third of her wages to eventually selling her home and car and working six 12-hour days per week to make ends meet.

Today, the Lidia Secondary School in Northern Ethiopia educates 1,500 children in a "simple, but nice" learning environment, to quote Schaefer. She is being too modest. It is clean, safe and has electricity, which is leaps and bounds beyond what the kids had to look forward to before Schaefer got involved. What's more, Ehtiopian communities around the United States, inspired by her selflessness, have come together to raise even more money: twelve more schools in that region are slated for completion by the end of next month.

With a big heart, bigger dreams and the willingness to give of yourself to help others, we can accomplish the impossible. Let Lidia's story be a lesson for us all: this is the kind of leadership and initiative we should all aspire to if we want to save our country.

Posted by Michael Mallon on 06/04/09
Last updated 06/04/09

President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and his chief rival in their upcoming election, Mir Hossein Mousavi, squared off Wednesday in a fiery debate on Iranian television. Chief among Ahmedinejad's talking points was a suspected collusion between Mousavi and two of his harshest critics, former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

CNN reports: "I have tolerated all the personal insults and lies for four years and I forgive those responsible for them," Ahmadinejad said. "But I do not have the authority to turn a blind eye when the people and the people's choice and their interests are insulted."

Ahmadinejad accused Mousavi and the two former leaders of standing against the Iranian nation and conspiring against him. Fars reported that he said in the early days of Ahmadinejad's presidency, Rafsanjani sent a message to the king of a Persian Gulf state that said: "Do not worry. This government will fall within six months."

In the rare debate, Mousavi responded by arguing that Ahmadinejad's dictatorial ways have tainted Iran's image.

"There are two ways of confronting the country's problems," Mousavi said. "One is through a management style based on adventurism, instability, play-acting, exaggerations, wrongdoing, being secretive, self-importance, superficiality and ignoring the law. The second way is based on realism, respect, openness, collective wisdom and avoiding extremism."

Hmm. For a second there I thought Mousavi was talking about us, not his own country. Maybe he and Dr. Paul were twins separated at birth.