A Kinder, Gentler Response

By Don Bendell | 11/15/09

I earned and wore a Green Beret and have sons doing the same now against a different enemy. There still remains a similar Beltway mindset where strategy is planned by military leaders, then discarded by an Administration seemingly bent on the destruction of what we hold dear. I’m a 70% disabled Vietnam veteran and like many suffer migraines, wear hearing aids, groan when arising, and start each day in pain. However, there is no pain... read more »

To Republicans, Libertarians, and America’s Enemies

By Don Bendell | 10/23/09

I just watched a video at Pamela Geller’s Atlas Shrugs blog http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/10/record-lies-in-record-time.html of then-candidate Barack Obama telling 7 outrageous lies in a row in 1minute and 46 seconds time, which helped propel him into the White House. This has to be a world record for a politician lying. The main reason, though that he is in the White House is because the Republican party... read more »

Open Letter to Barack Obama

By Don Bendell | 09/24/09

Dear Mr. President, With all due respect, we need to talk. You are a great communicator and so am I, some say. That is great for picking up women, selling cars, or getting elected. However, it is by no means leadership. A good leader inspires people to believe in him, but a great leader inspires people to believe in themselves. That is the whole premise of the free enterprise system. I’m a cowboy, Mr. President. You can herd sheep and... read more »

RESPECT

By Don Bendell | 09/06/09

In my first job after leaving the army in the seventies, I was assigned Cleveland, Ohio as my sales territory, but that industry was controlled by the mafia, La Cosa Nostra. I knew a man who reportedly was a capo, a captain in the mafia, and bought him dinner in Akron, my hometown. I explained that I did not agree with but understood his lifestyle and friends, which is what they called each other. I said my friends, the US Army Special Forces,... read more »

COAL CELLARS and COMMOM SENSE

By Don Bendell | 08/29/09

As Vietnam veterans; for decades, we were like the shiny black lumps in our coal cellar when I was a little boy. That coal bin was dark, cold, scary, and out of sight of the neighbors. That is where the American public shoveled all of us after Vietnam. Out of sight, out of mind after-all. We were not seen or heard from for years, except as psycho killers in movies and TV shows. War is always hell, but a lot of our real pain came from the... read more »

Open letter to Fox News Watch

By Don Bendell | 07/28/09

I am a fan of Fox News and in fact have been on it before interviewed by Martha McCallum. I was just sickened listening to your panel just now fawning over Walter Cronkite. Walter Cronkite should be labeled, “one of the least trustworthy men in America.” He singularly turned the tide in the War in Vietnam in favor of our enemy which caused untold pain in the lives of millions of Vietnam veterans and their families for... read more »

AMERICA’S GREATNESS

By Don Bendell | 07/03/09

Today, I was listening to a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful,” performed by the late-Elvis Presley, who shares a birthday with me. I really focused on the words, “For purple mountains majesty above the fruited-plains. America, America, God shed his grace on thee, and crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” It suddenly hit me. I’m a real American cowboy with a real horse,... read more »

WE CAN BOUNCE BACK QUICKLY!

By Don Bendell | 03/05/09

Many Americans; democrats, republicans, and independents who actually believe in working are scared, very, very scared. Those who do not believe in working, who think our government is a bottomless money pit, were told they were victims and promised ice cream cones if they voted for a Change to Believe In. Many republicans have given up hope on their own party and our nation. Why? Our economy was doing fine until 2006, when we elected a liberal... read more »

DRAMA QUEENS

By Don Bendell | 11/12/08

My wife and I are never simply hungry at mealtime. We are "starving." We are never tired and ready to go to bed, but instead are "exhausted." Like most men I can play touch football with the guys, break my leg, splint it, suck it up, and keep playing. However, if I bang my shin on the coffee table at 2:30 in the morning, my wife has a two-year old screaming toddler on her hands."Oh, Honey! Help me, I think my leg is broken! It hurts so baaaad! I... read more »

THE OCTOBER SURPRISE!

By Don Bendell | 10/27/08

It is incredible but the major news networks are now conducting one-sided, lop-sided polls in these last few days of the election to try to show Barack Obama far ahead. In actuality, the polls which have correctly shown Presidential races are the IBD and TIPP polls, and they show it almost neck-and-neck. Those with an agenda, such as the networks, try to show a hopeless difference so that McCain supporters will just give in and not even vote.... read more »