I think Pee Wee Herman would out-poll Obama.

Each year, we honor their memory, and mourn their loss.

This post is to honor the life of Jose A. Guadalupe, a New York City Firefighter who lost his life at the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001 while trying to save the lives of many others.

Jose was a member of Engine Company 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 in Manhattan, one of 15 brave men from that Battalion who perished that day.

From “Portraits of Grief” from the New York Times:

Whenever Firefighter Jose A. Guadalupe saw a cluster of young boys hanging in the shadows of his housing complex, Rochedale Village in Jamaica, Queens, he would leap into his spiel about the importance of school, said his mother, Rowena Guadalupe. “He loved to mentor,” Mrs. Guadalupe said. “He told my neightbor, Jamal, not to hang out in front of the buildings. He would say, ‘Go home and study.’”

He encouraged ohters, too. In his honor, neighbors placed a miniature fire truck and an american flag at the base of a tree outside his apartment building, she said. “Everyone has told me that it will not be removed until the digging at ground zero is over. After that, they plan to have a plaque made for the outside of the building.”

While Firefighter Guadalupe, 37, cut a large figure at six feet and about 200 pounds, he was quiet. He kept to himself, preferring to build model cars, ski, play basketball, sketch and ride his mountain bike. He was an avid reader, enjoying everything from The Adventures of Marco Polo to physics, said Lt. Louis Robinson, who attended the fire academy with Firefighter Guadalupe 10 years ago. They also worked together at Engine Company 54 in Manattan.

Firefighter Guadalupe had recently taken up the guitar. He was captivated by Jimi Hendrix. “Stone Free” was one of the Hendrix hits that left him spellbound.

Elise S. Guadalupe was Jose’s wife, and posted this memorial at the 9-11 Heroes Web site on 9/12/2003:

I’ve always said that it takes a special kind of person to be a firefighter. Tony was that kind of special and much, much more.

Tony was the most intelligent and thoughtful person one could have the pleasure to know. He is my mentor, my friend and my husband. It is because of him that I am the woman that I am today. He means the world to me and will forever be alive in my heart.

Tony loved to read, he loved Jimi Hendrix and had taken up the guitar, he was extremely athletic, playing basketball, skiing, and bike riding regularly, and never hesitated to share his experience with others. Many people considered him a friend and confidant. He is truly missed, but we who knew him best must keep his memory alive for his baby boy A.J., the most beautiful baby in the world.

Tony –

I never imagined living in a world without you. It’s hard to believe that its two years since you were taken away from us, because it feels like yesterday. I always thought you were invincible. I guess that’s why its so hard to believe. I’ve loved you since I was 15 and you looked at me and made me so nervous I dropped my books on the train on the way to school. The child inside me will love you forever and the woman I am is grateful to you for loving me.

Always, Elise.

Jose, thank you for your service to the people of New York City, and your ultimate sacrifice.

We will never forget.

Read and honor other victims of 9/11 at the Remembering the Victims of 9/11 memorial.

Homer Nods

In an item yesterday, we observed that the White House had done the right thing in “defenestrating” Charles Freeman, the unhinged former ambassador who had been President Obama’s nominee for chairman of the National Intelligence Council. Since Freeman was thrown under the bus rather than out the window, we should have said the White House did the right thing in hypovehiculating him. We regret the error.

Senator Gregg Statement on His Withdrawal for Consideration of U.S. Commerce Secretary
Sen. Gregg stated, “I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.

“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

“Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.

“I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.

“As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.

“Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.

“As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”

Awesome.

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.” Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, “but he got $10!” “Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man, “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!” “That’s true!” shouted the seventh man, “‘Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!” “Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison, “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!” The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

The content is factually correct, not distorted. And the Obama objections have only served to induce more people to watch it, and learn of his connections to his friend of 20 years.

The ad is from the American Issues Project.

Their response to Obama’s censorship demand is posted here.

I think this President has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen.

Lots of fun on the Edwards scandal at Hot Air. Check it out.

How effective has it been? Local advocates of gun control are complaining of gun violence. Funny though, the violence is despite the gun ban.

Hmm…

But all the talk about greater freedoms for gun owners doesn’t begin to explain what the ruling means in Chicago, which has seen a recent spate of gun violence.

Nine people were killed in 36 shootings during one weekend this spring. The next week, five people were found shot to death inside a South Side home.

Chicago Public Schools officials say 27 students have been killed by gunfire since September.

Pamela Bosley lost her 18-year-old son two years ago, when a bullet struck him as he helped a fellow student unload instruments outside a South Side Church.

“If you didn’t have the guns, we’d still have our children,” she said.

Annette Nance-Holt, whose 16-year-old son was killed on a city bus last spring when someone sprayed bullets inside it, was livid with the court’s decision.

“I’m still trying to figure out who we are more in love with, our children or our guns,” she said. “It’s crazy. I’m safer being a deer knowing people are hunting you.”

Maybe they can pass a new law and make guns even more illegal!

A ruling by the state Supreme Court has brought an end to San Francisco’s attempts to ban handguns in the city.

In a ruling Wednesday, the court unanimously rejected the city’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that sharply limited the ability of localities to regulate firearms.

The ruling deals a final blow to Proposition H, an initiative voters passed in November of 2005.

The ordinance would have forbidden San Francisco residents to possess handguns, as well as prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of any type of firearms or ammunition in the city.

Only law enforcement officers and others who needed guns for professional purposes would have been exempted.

The National Rifle Association had opposed the measure, suing on behalf of gun owners and dealers a day after the measure passed.

Via Instapundit.

The Yahoo headline has a question mark… I’ve omitted it, as the article itself shows that there is no question that lawsuits are planned to suppress freedom of speech.

The Muslim leaders are attempting to demand redress from nations like Denmark, which allowed the publication of cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad in 2006 and again last month, to the fury of the Muslim world.

These folks really need to lighten up. Heck, the cartoons were quite funny! And as many have pointed out, cartoons are not the real problem.

The head poobah makes the intent clear:

“I don’t think freedom of expression should mean freedom from blasphemy,” said Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade, the chairman of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Um, no, sir, you are incorrect. And we’ve fought many wars to defend and uphold our cherished freedom of speech. We’re not going to let you sue away our first amendment.

This is yet another confirmation that Islamists have some major ambitions.

I have a few friends who are Marines. I’m proud to be their friend.

I’d be proud if my young son someday decides to serve.