McCain Reno visit promps metaphor

Gannett 5.28.08
Reno Gazette Journal

McCain Reno visit prompts supporter metaphor

Presidential hopeful US Senator John McCain's May 28th Reno, NV visit and Townhall meeting prompted local Blogger and "now" supporter RandomlyRamblingRick to sum up his support of Senator McCain in a down home metaphor.

"McCain's not the one I came to the dance with, but he's the one I'll be going home with."

RamblingRick shared his metaphor in a Townhall floor interview with Reno Channel 2 reporters. RandomlyRamblingRick, syndicated blog name for Richard G. Shuster, from Sparks, says "it is not too bad of an analogy of many GOP, DEM and Independent voters who started this year's Presidential primary elections and caucuses with distinctly different choices, but have, with albeit some reluctance, have chosen Senator John McCain to finish the race, with their first choices out of the race and, Rick added, horrified at the prospects of more of the Clintons known actions or supporting the unknown ones of Obama."

Shuster stated, "I'm a Veteran, and the father of 3 veterans, so I must support McCain and his strong stance on ending the war on terror by winning it. We cannot turn our backs on the body of one fallen comrade and make his death to have been in vain. McCain is the only candidate left with the know-how and stamina to see it through." "Also, Senator McCain, is a former Prisoner of War who was horribly tortured in Vietnam and knows the pain of his fellow veterans, he is the most likely to stand up for appropriate and adequate care of our veterans."

Rick pointed out, "anybody with any concerns about our nation's economic future, burdensome taxes, investment and retirement values and shaky mortgage and home building plights, would have to favor McCain over tax and spenders Clinton or Obama."

Not pleased by several key McCain domestic policies; pro-amnesty, lacking border security, uneven international trade and un-addressed re-building of America, Shuster stated "we will just have to stay on top of things and insist the McCain administration follows the will of the people on these issues."

Rick agreed with McCain's statements of alternative energy sources; nuclear, wind, geothermal, solar, and all other reasonable avenues need to be tapped, "that's something we have all known for decades, must be pursued in earnest"; but taking exception again, Rick said,: "I am disappointed that little or no emphasis was made by McCain to open our underground and underwater petroleum fields and pump and refine and use American oil instead oil from those who are enemies or antagonists."

RandomlyRamblingRick left off with a hopeful note; "Rebuilding America, on many fronts, is necessary to return our country to its former greatness. I am hopeful, President McCain would surround himself with this nation's best and finest, and to address each aspect that is required to restore our republic." "Among the qualified would be those we originally took to the dance, the other fine, qualified candidates, from all parties."

RandomlyRamblingRick, McCain visit prompts supporter metaphor

The sentiment and the meaning of Memorial Day

The sentiment and the meaning of Memorial Day is long entrenched in the history of this old Veteran and proud father of Veterans.


Keeping History Alive©

I was blessed to grow-up in Pennsylvania. I need not tell you of the wealth of this nation’s history that occurred in the Commonwealth colony of Penn’s Woods.

I was exposed, from my earliest remembrances, by family, community and schools to the richness of our history. I was blessed with teachers who took the time to point out our local history, our state’s role in the beginnings of what became the United States and mostly of the people who were part of it all. We learned about not only the well-known’s, but our un-known’s, as well; all the peoples of so many ethnic and religious backgrounds and their origins. We became proud of our diversity through our being united in cause and home and hope for a better future. We did not place our differences ahead of our commonalities. We built our lives on both.

My family, paternal and maternal, has representative histories of most of the early settlers of this continent. Starting in the 1600s, continuing through the 1700’s and 1800’s, they came. They came hopeful, they came brave, they came humble and they came grateful. They adopted and were adopted by the new land they now called home. They built the farms, villages, towns and great cities, they established trade and commerce, they raised and loved their families, they tilled the land, they built their houses of worship, they donned the uniforms of freedom, they depended upon their faith in an Almighty God to see them through and they were part of the development of the greatest experiment in the history of humanity, the experiment of a representative democratic-republic, a land of freedom, a land of expression, a land of liberty, and a land of justice, for all.

To have lived in the once colonial frontiers where Washington walked as a young man in the King’s service during the French and Indian Wars; To have ancestors mentioned in Washington’s early communications with his commanding officer; To have retraced the lawful immigration of ancestors from multiple places in what was then called Europa, to their new homes in the Middle-Atlantic and New England colonies; To follow those brave soul’s paths to and through the known frontiers and beyond; To be familiar and comfortable with the lands and homesteads of those principled adventurers; To visit the hallowed burial spots of so many kin who fought in every war era from the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War , the War of 1812, the Civil War, Spanish American War, WW1, WW2, & Korea. To have experienced these things has kept their history alive in my mind and heart.I am grateful for the teachers who helped me to learn and understand so much.

I am grateful I learned to read the histories of my ancestry, I am grateful I can count my blessings for all the gifts of freedom I have, I am grateful for the sense of history that gives me perspective for today and tomorrow.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Keeping History Alive©


Who Were Our Immigrant Ancestors? ©

In our family ancestry in America, beginning with 1638 and since, from public records, all our ancestors came in the legal way, from Germany, Normandy, and all over the British Isles; England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales.

They came, they worked, they built, they protected and they cared for their families and became Americans. Some spoke German, others Gaelic, some English and other dialects, too, but all adopted English as their language for it was the language of America. They paid their taxes and contributed to their communities, their churches and those in need.

They shared their children as soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen and fiercely supported and defended their country, America.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Who Were Our Immigrant Ancestors? ©



Richard G. Shuster (from Rick’s Random Ramblings, Memorial Day 2008)

Have a safe, enjoyable and reflective Memorial Day weekend....rgs

rgsjesshuster@att.net

http://www.pmimchat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=868
RandomlyRamblingRick, at Point Man Ministries

Memorial Day Thoughts

Memorial Day Thoughts

Memorial Day Memories©

A serious time, yet one that always brings hope…. It seems like yesterday, when but a lad of eleven, twelve and thirteen, back in Union City, PA. I was a junior member of the VFW Post Drum and Bugle Corps, an adventure I shall never forget and always cherish. A time that I learned of wars and of those who fought them and those who remained at home to await the return of their loved ones. I learned the deepest respect for the old timers and their stories of valor and fear and faith and courage, often in eulogies at graveside. The drums beat cadence, the glockenspiels called the order, and the bugles recalled taps in honor of all who passed in the line of duty, as they hav e done for time beyond my memory and will, I hope, long after I am gone.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Memorial Day Memories©
Vietnam Era Veteran, Father of 3 Gulf War Era Veterans



Memorial Day Ramblings©

Memorial Day Weekend- Please Remember Our Veterans' On Memorial Day, and every day, please pause for a moment or two to consider the sacrifices of all Veterans' who have given freely, so that we all may and may always enjoy our freedom. As it was their job to defend our freedom, so it becomes our job to honor their memories.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Memorial Day 2008©

Memorial Day©

Memorial Day, once a time, to commemorate,those who have fought & died in wars, to keep us great.Those feelings, now I fear, have greatly weakened,instead replaced, by America’s love, of the 3 day weekend.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Memorial Day 2008©

My heart is heavy©

My heart is heavy, but its a better one, because I've known my comrades, and shared their pain....

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, My heart is heavy©

For Our Forgotten Veterans©

For those who served,but were not served in returnwe thank youwe salute youwe pray for youwe offer our hand to you…we pledge you will never be forgotten again.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, For Our Forgotten Veterans©

A Sailor's Uniform©

It seems a long time since this once young sailor wore that unifo rm, but my pride in what it stands for is as new as today?

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, A Sailor's Uniform©

One Veterans Pledge©

When it was my time, I served. My sons served, because I shared with them the value and meaning of serving. I wear the badge of doing the right thing, but also the pain of sending my sons into harms way. Today I can justify that it still is right, but am troubled over the pain my son h as and the pain of so many other sons and daughters and the pain of their loved ones, who, like myself, sent them off to war. So, today, I proudly serve our Veterans in the best ways I can. I am an activist for Veterans issues, I honor our standing military and I help with health and well being issues of our Veterans of all Era’s and for the active duty military of today.

This is the focus, this is our purpose, this is what we owe to our Veterans.

Richard G. Shuster, RandomlyRamblingRick, Memorial Day 2008

Have a safe, enjoyable and reflective Memorial Day weekend....rgs

rgsjesshuster@att.net

http://www.pmimchat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=868
RandomlyRamblingRick, at Point Man Ministries