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Mike Christian: Vietnam War POW with John McCain

John McCain, Our Soldiers, Vietnam 12 Responses »

Nov 122008

We’ve all heard John McCain talk about Mike Christian who was held as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton with John McCain and others. Here is some biographical information about him, a transcript of his story, some photos and a video.

Mike Christian

John McCain has often told the story of one of his fellow prisoners during the years he spent in the Hanoi Hilton. Mike Christian was a Vietnam War POW with John McCain and the two shared quarters for some time. The story is about Christian’s love of country and of his fellow prisoners of war. He had sewn a flag into the inside of his clothing and the POWs pledged allegiance to the homemade flag every morning. Eventually the Vietcong discovered the flag, they destroyed it and beat Christian. Following the horrific beating, Christian was returned to the cell. After some nursing aid from McCain and other prisoners, Christian sat up and started fashioning another flag into his clothing.

I won’t repeat the entire story here. You can read it and listen to McCain tell the story below.

Listening to John McCain tell the story has gotten a lot of people curious to learn more about Mike Christian, including me. I found a statement from him that I found particularly poignant in today’s environment.

My pilot was Lt. Lewis Irving (Irv) Williams. We were shot down 24 April 1967 at Kep Airfield about 30 miles northeast of Hanoi.

I frequently found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got to know the Vietnamese and their methods quite well during five major and various minor pain sessions. Their attempts at propaganda and indoctrination taught me, as it did so many, just how strongly I support the ideals and policies of my country and our system of government. I learned a great deal about myself and my fellow man. I saw Americans function under conditions of great stress and report with pride their tremendous courage and resourcefulness . Perhaps the two strongest lessons I learned are: One, look around and find those who love you. Be aware of their love and react to it while you still can. Two, the International Communist Revolution is a deadly serious business and we MUST become aware of it. We need not panic, but we absolutely must deal with communism from a position of strength. Peace at any price politics will destroy us.

Mike Christian Biography

Michael Durhen Christian was born on October 7, 1940 and died in September 1983. He was 43-years-old. He was from Huntsville, Alabama. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Christian of Huntsville. He had a sister, Pat and a brother Larry.

He attended Butler High School in Huntsville. He went to the University of Alabama and then transfered to Purdue University and got his degree in 1964. He enlisted in the Navy on January 28, 1958 and entered the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) which is a commission program. He spent a year and a half in the surface Navy in the USS Dahlgren DLG-12, received B/N Wings in 1966, A-6A B/N in VA-85 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).

He was a A6A pilot and a member of Attack Squadron 85, USS Kitty Hawk and his rank was 02/US Navy. Lieutenant Commander Christian was shot down over North Vietnam on April 24, 1967 and became a prisoner of war. He was moved around to different locations in North Vietnam until he was placed in the Hanoi Hilton for the duration of his imprisonment. He was released on March 4, 1973 after 6 years of imprisonment. He was one of 591 Americans released from Vietnamese prisoner of war camps in 1973.

He had been awarded two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Christian was married to Charlotte Strong Christian of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They had three children, Deborah Kaye, Sandra Dawn and Pamela Joan. Christian died in a fire at his home in Virginia Beach. He attempted to get out of the house, but bars on the windows prevented him for being able to escape the fire.

You can read more about Lieutenant Commander Christian’s imprisonment here.

Photos, Video and Mike Christian story Transcript

John McCain Talks Sarah Palin on Jay Leno

John McCain 7 Responses »

Nov 122008

John McCain was on Jay Leno tonight for his first public appearance since the election last week. Read about it below and see the video.

John McCain on Jay Leno

I was very pleased that John McCain used a portion of his first interview following the election to defend Sarah Palin. I think he could have gone further, but it appears to me that he sees the hubbub about her wardrobe, etc as being silly nonsense that’s hardly worth talking about.

As he said, everybody who says something ‘anonymously’ to the press is suddenly a ‘top adviser’ or ‘high up in the Republican Party’. He did, however, have nothing but praise for Palin and her family. He didn’t think that the outcome would have been different with someone else as his running mate and he believes she along with some others will be the future leaders of the Republican Party. He named Bobby Jindal and Tim Pawlenty in particular.

LOS ANGELES — John McCain said Tuesday that Sarah Palin did not damage his presidential bid, and he dismissed as typical campaign sniping anonymous criticism aimed at her following their crushing defeat.

“I’m so proud of her and I’m very grateful she agreed to run with me. She inspired people, she still does,” McCain told Jay Leno during an “Tonight Show” interview taped for broadcast Tuesday night. “I couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin.”

Asked by Leno about griping about Palin from unidentified McCain operatives in the days following the election, the Arizona senator said, “These things happen in campaigns.

“I think I have at least a thousand, quote, top advisers,” he scoffed. “A top adviser said? I’ve never even heard of … a top adviser or high-ranking Republican official.”

However, McCain never directly addressed the embarrassing controversy over Palin’s expensive campaign wardrobe purchased by the Republican National Committee, or statements by unidentified McCain aides who have reportedly said she was not prepared on foreign policy.

The Alaska governor has said in interviews she did not ask for, or want, the $150,000-plus wardrobe for her and her family.

He disputed that a different vice presidential pick would have changed the outcome against Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

At campaign rallies, “The people were very excited and inspired by her. That’s what really mattered, I think,” McCain said. “She’s a great reformer.”

McCain’s appearance at Leno’s Burbank studio was scheduled to coincide with Veterans Day. It was the former naval aviator’s 14th appearance on “The Tonight Show” but his first TV interview as a vanquished presidential candidate.

John McCain on Jay Leno – Video

Martin Eisenstadt: Palin Accuser Hoax

John McCain, Sarah Palin 4 Responses »

Nov 102008

We’ve all heard all the rumors being spread around about what a horrible vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was. These supposed leaks from a McCain campaign adviser have been relentless. She’s been accused of being a diva. They said she and her family shopped at high end stores throughout the campaign and called the whole bunch of them Wasilla Hillbillies. As if she had TIME and everyone wouldn’t have seen them with cameras following them constantly.

This before now unnamed person in McCain’s campaign accused her of refusing to prepare for debates, said she didn’t know Africa was a continent and was just basically a dumb, ignorant, ditsy female who was chosen for her looks and charisma rather than her talent and capabilities.

Now the guy who has made all these allegations has decided to come forward and take his claim to fame and throw in more accusations just for the fun of it. He has even been quoted on celebrity blogs spreading rumors about Joe the Plumber and various women along the campaign trail.

His name is Martin Eisenstadt and he doesn’t exist. He’s a hoax. He managed to pull off an elaborate hoax. He set up a website and even created a website for the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy, which also doesn’t exist. Someone obviously has way too much time on his hands and is even now rolling on the floor laughing in his grandmothers basement as he watches the uproar he created and damage he did to Sarah Palin’s reputation and John McCain’s campaign.

Unless, of course, it was set up by Obama believers, which is entirely possible. But then, those same people would also be laughing in their grandmothers basements at the big hoax they pulled off.

These rumors and accusations have managed to make their way into news reports on main stream news organizations and countless left wing blogs. Of course, many right wing blogs have picked them up as well. Now they all are having to acknowledge that Martin Eisenstadt doesn’t exist and this whole thing has being nothing more than a Palin accuser hoax. At least some of the blogs are retracting the stories.

Its no surprise that MSNBC ran with the story.

It would be good to remember that whoever controls the media, controls the world. That’s kind of a scary thought in this advanced media world.

Martin Eisenstadt: Palin Accuser Hoax – Video

Thank You John McCain!

John McCain 15 Responses »

Nov 052008

For John McCain, a Great American. Thank you!

Thank You John McCain!

Senator John McCain, you are a Great American. You gave your youth and devoted your life for the good of this country. You are one of the very few American politicians that we could know would put country first. We would sleep better at night knowing you were at the helm.

Thank you for giving us a glimpse of what kind of REAL change could have been brought to Washington. Thank you for your proven record of cleaning up corruption and courageously doing the ‘right thing’ in spite of the political risk to yourself. Thank you for your honor, courage, integrity and grit. You should be President. I truly believe you would be among the greatest of our Presidents.

You inspired many of us to stand up and fight, to work hard and to put country first. You reminded many of us that America still produces real heroes and real patriots. You gave many of us hope for a better future for our country.

As the mother of an American Soldier, I thank you for caring about our military and understanding the sacrifices made by those young men and women that so many in our country have put out of their minds. You, more than anyone, have understood how badly we need and should appreciate that thin green line that stands between us and danger. Thank you for never forgetting them. Thank you for never giving up and never giving in.

Many of our nation stand proudly with you.

Thank you and God bless you.

Beth, a Blue Star Mother

I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what’s right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God Bless you.

~ John McCain, September 2008

McCain Obama ‘Exit Polls’

barack obama, John McCain 3 Responses »

Nov 032008

Here is your thread for McCain-Obama exit polls and election results for the general election between Barack Obama and John McCain 2008. We will live-blog throughout the day on November 4, 2008, bringing you any glimpses into the exit polls for the presidential race that become available. Use this thread to start the conversation!

McCain Obama Exit Polls

Because of the mockery that was made of them in past elections, early exit polls this year will not be officially released until 5pm EST.

The polls say it is all over but the voting. Well most polls do. Then there are those pesky polls which are giving the Obama team fits, just enough for them not to feel confident. Which is a reminder of why we vote in the United States rather than anoint new pharaohs.

In Kenya, early exit polls show 99% for Barack Obama and 1% for John McCain. The surprisingly high number of voters for McCain tell us that exit polls are not to be trusted. Ha.

On a serious note, remember that exit polls are notoriously poor predictors of winners. They were wrong in the last two elections, falsely predicting that both Al Gore and John Kerry would win in 2000 and 2004, respectively. The reasons are numerous including that Republican voters don’t participate in exit polls as much, and neither do older voters. And the polling outfit, due to funding realities, have an easier time polling in the cities where exit poll workers (and Democrat voters) are more concentrated.

So remember to take this year’s exit polls with a grain of salt.

Exit Polls

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Obama Scrawny Legs

John McCain 7 Responses »

Nov 012008

Arnold Schwarzenegger was in Ohio speaking on behalf of John McCain. He gave an excellent speech. View the speech video below as well as some photos.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke in Ohio for the John McCain campaign. He said a lot of important things during his speech. However, one of the more attention getting things he said was that he plans to invite Senator Barack Obama to his next Arnold’s Classic bodybuilding in Ohio. He says Obama needs to attend next spring “because he needs to do something about those skinny legs” and because he needs to “beef up those scrawny little arms”. Mostly, says Schwarzenegger, Obama needs to put some meat on his ideas.

More importantly, Governor Schwarzenegger talked to the group about the impact Socialism had on Europe. He talked about his own personal success in the United States that would not have been possible any where else in the world. He also mentioned the FACT that the Socialism experiment in Western Europe over the last 30 or so years has failed. All of those countries are moving away from Socialism and yet Obama wants to move the United States in that direction. Even though its proven to be an ineffective form of government.

“I left Europe four decades ago because socialism has killed opportunities there,” he said, sparking an extended round of applause. “In recent years, Europe has realized its mistakes, has begun rolling back some of its ‘spread the wealth’ policies… But now Senator Obama says he wants to pursue those same ‘spread the wealth’ ideas.”

“Now, just because you want to raise a tax, certainly doesn’t make you a socialist,” said Schwarzenegger, who has raised taxes to cope with California’s current budget crisis. “But Senator Obama wants to raise taxes because of ideology.”

The fact that Obama has raised unprecedented sums this cycle and spent it on his campaign, Schwarzenegger argued, is merely proof that he’s not looking out for the public interest.

“He could have bailed out the banks, paid off everyone’s mortgages and saved taxpayers a lot of money,” he said, setting off another round of cheers. “I think there will be a backlash against all this lopsided spending. I think voters will say, ‘Democracy is not for sale.’”

Photos and Video

Zogby: McCain Leads

John McCain 14 Responses »

Oct 312008

John McCain has taken the lead in one day polling conducted on Friday. Read about it below and see a video.

Senator John McCain

John McCain is currently leading Barack Obama by one point. Drudge is reporting a lead of 48 to 47.

ZOGBY SATURDAY: McCain outpolled Obama 48% to 47% in Friday, one day, polling. He is beginning to cut into Obama’s lead among independents, is now leading among blue collar voters, has strengthened his lead among investors and among men, and is walloping Obama among NASCAR voters. Joe the Plumber may get his license after all…

Obama Supporters Heckle at McCain Rally

barack obama, John McCain 5 Responses »

Oct 212008

Obama Supporters – Video

Obama supporters heckle McCain supporters at a rally. Check out the video. Make of it what you will.

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