President George W. Bush (R-USA), disturbed by the intelligence reports he’s been receiving on Al-Qaeda planning a large scale attack, directs National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to “figure out what [is] going on domestically.”
That same day, 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta is pulled over for speeding in Delray Beach (!!), FL is only given a warning. Police do not notice there’s a warrant out for his arrest.
05 July, 2011
July 5, 1975
Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win the singles title at Wimbledon, defeating Jimmy Connors. He had won the U.S. Open and the Australian Open earlier in his career. He remains the only black man to win any of these three events.
04 July, 2011
July 4, 1776
There have actually been quite a few happenings in American history on this day. More than I can reasonably post about. But this one stands out, of course.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
On this day, in 1776, those words, along with a few hundred more that are less well known, but equally important, were approved by the Continental Congress. It’s called the Declaration of Independence, but this was, in fact, a Declaration of War against Great Britain.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Happy Independence Day, America. Take a moment to think about what it’s about, and what those fireworks actually represent.
03 July, 2011
July 3, 1886
The very first automobile, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen is unveiled to the public.
This gasoline powered automobile was capable of 2/3 HP @ 250 RPM and an astounding 10 miles per hour.
02 July, 2011
July 2, 1937
It is widely believed that she ran out of fuel and sank into the Pacific, but some contend that instead she may have crashed on Gardner island, now called Nikumaroro.
01 July, 2011
July 1, 2000
9/11 hijackers Mohammed Atta and Marwan Alshehhi move to Venice, FL and enroll in flight training at Huffman Aviation.
On Vacation
Blogging and tweeting will be light next week. I’ll be vacationing at the beach. I have a few “On This Day” updates already scheduled. I also have a few topics I’ve been meaning to blog about for a while, so they might pop up, but mostly I plan on relaxing and catching up on some reading.
Have a great week and a terrific 4th of July. Remember what it’s all about.
30 June, 2011
Two Questions For FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks is a Tea Party group started by former Congressman Dick Armey (R-TX-26). They’re supported by Glenn Beck, and generally they do some pretty good things.
These good folk have decided to make Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) their #1 target for 2012. I realize that Hatch isn’t always someone the right can count on during confirmation votes, and he’s a bit of a big government conservative. But he has a lifetime ACU rating of 89.47 and was one of 12 Senators with a perfect 100 for 2010.
Compare with the other Senators running for re-election in 2012:
| Senator | 2010 ACU Rating | 2009 | Lifetime |
| Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | 8.00 | 0.00 | 8.50 |
| Tom Carper (D-DE) | 0.00 | 4.00 | 11.61 |
| Bill Nelson (D-FL) | 8.00 | 4.00 | 34.15 |
| Richard Lugar (R-IN) | 71.00 | 68.00 | 77.08 |
| Olympia Snowe (R-ME) | 64.00 | 48.00 | 48.39 |
| Ben Cardin (D-MD) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.26 |
| Scott Brown (R-MA) | 74.00 | N/A | 74.00 |
| Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 8.40 |
| Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | 4.00 | 12.00 | 9.00 |
| Roger Wicker (R-MS) | 96.00 | 88.00 | 91.13 |
| Claire McCaskill (D-MO) | 17.00 | 28.00 | 18.25 |
| Jon Tester (D-MT) | 20.00 | 16.00 | 17.00 |
| Ben Nelson (D-NB) | 48.00 | 44.00 | 47.01 |
| Dean Heller (R-NV) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bob Menendez (D-NJ) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.67 |
| Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.75 |
| Sherrod Brown (D-OH) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.77 |
| Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) | 0.00 | 12.00 | 7.00 |
| Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.00 |
| Bob Corker (R-TN) | 92.00 | 84.00 | 85.50 |
| Bernie Sanders (I-VT) | 4.00 | 12.00 | 6.59 |
| Maria Cantwell (D-WA) | 12.00 | 8.00 | 10.30 |
| Joe Manchin (D-WV) | 33.00 | N/A | 33.00 |
| John Barrasso (R-WY) | 100.00 | 100.00 | 99.00 |
Orrin Hatch has the 3rd highest lifetime ACU rating of Senators up for re-election in 2012.
So, my two questions for FreedomWorks are:
- Why in the world is he your #1 target?
- Do you really think you’re going to replace him with someone better?
28 June, 2011
June 28, 1914
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