Monday, August 27, 2012

Step By Step



Step by step, it feels like we're losing America's past, present, and even future. And this weekend's loss of astronaut and first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, was another sad step in the wrong direction - and not "one small step," either.

Not simply because he died. He did, after all, live to be 82 - and he packed a lot of living and heroism into that span of years.

But the sad fact is that he died knowing that America's manned space program was over...and that Barack Hussein Obama had given NASA a new primary mission: "to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math and engineering."


In other words, Barack Obama wants the courageous men and women who put a man on the moon to know "You didn't build that - someone else did. Someone Muslim."

Just last year, Neil Armstrong looked at what Barack Obama has done to our space program and declared it to be "embarrassing and unacceptable." But he also said "I am hopeful that, in the near future, we will be doing the right thing."

He did not live to see that future. But this November, your one small step into the voting booth can be a giant leap in the right direction.

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UPDATE: Believe it or not, Barack Obama commemorated Neil Armstrong's passing by releasing a photo of himself (B. Hussein) looking thoughtfully into a darkened sky which is empty except for a freaking crescent moon and single star...the symbol of Islam.
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42 comments:

drjim said...

The 0bama knows no shame!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Drjim- I think Obama is convinced that his own glory is the largest and most important thing to explore in the universe.

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

By all accounts Neil Armstrong was a man of courage, intelligence, fortitude and humbleness. A man who did his duty to the very best of his abilities in an alien environment where any of a thousand things could go wrong and kill him and his crew. He never complained publicly, he never blamed others and he never sought to enrich himself from his experiences. A true American hero. His kind are rare and greatly missed when they pass. Rest well, Neil.

The Digital Hairshirt said...

And may I add, as someone who is an avid hobbyist/sorta professional at photography . . . IT ISN'T EVEN A GOOD PICTURE! Whoa, tweeting a camera phone shot - stay classy, Barry.

Pete(Detroit) said...

Funny, if off color (and untrue) story involving Mr Armstrong.
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/mrgorsky.asp

Hells yes, they were all heroes, and growing up then, we ALL wanted to be be astronauts..

Friend of mine grew up in Moscow, big Tom Hanks fan - saw "Apollo 13" when it came out. Asked her how she liked it... "well, it was a pretty good movie, but the plot seems kind of far fetched".
"Hmm! I was under the impression that it was pretty historically accurate - after all, they HAVE recordings of most of the dialog..."
"That really HAPPENED?!?!"

Heroes, all...

TrickyRicky said...

My dad spent his career in the aerospace industry. Titan missiles, Skylab, designed the parachute for the first Viking Mars lander. He as been spinning in his grave for the last 4 years. I'm afraid that this slap in the face has raised his RPMs substantially. I'm going to be grinding my teeth all damn day. What a piece of crap.

Unknown said...

Amen AHD - when I lived in Houston, I got to know a number of the astronauts, used to kid about them sitting on a bomb designed to gov't specs and built by the lowest bidder - never said that again after 'Challenger'.

NASA did it so well, it became 'expected' and commonplace until that day. Yes, NASA had problems, but I was in high school when JFK made the commitment, and only an organization such as NASA could have pulled it off. It disgusts me to see what has become the mission of America's greatest minds, visionaries, and heroes. Another proud phase of the United States that The One and his handler's, Jarret, Axlerod, and Mooch the Wookie, have reduced to lead from behind status. My philosophy is 'lead, follow, or get the h*** out of the way', no decent commander ever succeeded leading troops from the rear of the line of battle. I used to say that there were no useless people, they could always be used as a bad example, but The One shouldn't even be used as that, Lord forbid that another might possibly emulate him.

Unknown said...

Another side note or two - if no one has seen the actual capsules used in the Mercury/Apollo/Gemini programs, a visit to NASA to see these 'vehicles' is a sobering experience - especially the Mercury capsule that Sheppard rode - talk about the soda can on a skyrocket analogy! Second, we forget, or perhaps credit wasn't attributed to all the technological, medical, and scientific breakthroughs that were given to the civilian world from the space programs. 'Nuff said.

John the Econ said...

I was somewhat amused by an AP dispatch yesterday about how the media was caught off-guard by Armstrong's death. (NBC briefly announced that "Neil Young, Astronaut, 82 had died"; no doubt the result of an intern being left in charge over the weekend) It was written off to the fact that unlike many of his compatriots, Neil Armstrong was a very quite and private man. They bemoaned that there wasn't a lot of recent text, photos, or video accessible on the man.

There wasn't, but only if you ignored the fact that in the last year of his life he was very critical of Obama; the last thing the Obama media needs is promoting an American hero and icon who spent the last year of his life condemning the President for dismantling one of the institutions that made America great.

Armstrong came from a generation that could not conceive of a man like Obama, and Obama could not conceive of a man like Armstrong.

FlyBoy said...

I know I shouldn't be (but am), befuddled by the new low Barry seems to set on a daily basis.

It is outrageous that the only way we can now get an astronaut into space is to pony up sixty million bucks to the Russkies.

NASA used set the standard for cutting-edge science & technology; Obummer turned it into another PR firm for his huge ego.

Coon Tasty said...

No surprises that Obama is using the death of a genuine American to promote his own agenda.

CenTexTim said...

FlyBoy beat me to it. I was going to ask if anyone else found it ironic that we beat the Russians to the moon, beat them in the Cold War, and now have to bum rides from them to the space station.

Suzy said...

Actually that's Venus, I think, not a star....but Barry probably doesn't know that. No wonder he doesn't want us to see his college grades...if he has them.

I thought closing down the space program was a horrible thing. I have grown up adoring the space program and feeling like it was one of the glories of America. The money is there to support it...its just going to all the WRONG PEOPLE and the WRONG PROJECTS!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Angry Hoosier Dad- The loss of a quiet hero is all too keenly felt these days, when we need their example so desperately.

@The Digital Hairshirt- Note that the photo (follow the link, folks) was posted to Obama's Tumblr account several months ago...it wasn't even taken for Armstrong. So it's a bad photo that was SELECTED. As to why Obama had previously posed for the picture and posted it, I'm not sure. Perhaps for Ramadan?

@Pete(Detroit)- Makes me think of the flurry of Twitter messages when the movie "Titanic" was briefly re-released, and young movie fans were shocked to discover that there really was a Titanic. Sigh...

@TrickyRicky- Wow! Your father's accomplishments are awfully impressive. Thanks for sharing - and I'm sorry for causing any wear and tear on your teeth.

@SeaDog- I'm not sure how you celebrate something by not doing it anymore. But that's just what Obama mandated: stop putting men in space so you'll have more time to tell Islamics that they were responsible for putting men in space.

And as you say, a lot of consumer products and technological advances came out of the space program. Of course, I'm sure Obama's huge investment in Solyndra will create similar breakthroughs. Albeit in bankruptcy law.

@John the Econ- Let me repeat your perfect summation: "Armstrong came from a generation that could not conceive of a man like Obama, and Obama could not conceive of a man like Armstrong." Yes, exactly.

@Flyboy- Under Obama, we're no longer explorers...we're passengers.

@Coon Tasty- I'm not sure Obama even knows that the Universe isn't just here because of him. There's egotism, and then there's mental illness. Guess which one I think Obama has?

@CenTexTim- Yes, but we're the envy of the world when it comes to giving out food stamps.

@Suzy- I assumed that the dot in the sky was Venus, but it's a "star" as far as the meaningful visual goes (and for all I know, the crescent moon and Venus may have been the original inspiration for the Islamic symbol).

Like you, I hate seeing the manned space program shut down. I can appreciate the fact that we've got to find expenses to cut, but before killing the manned space program, why don't we cut off the estimated $7 billion a year we're giving in "tax credits" (as cash, from taxpayers) to illegal aliens?

Anonymous said...

Neil Armstrong's jock is far smarter and bolder than The One. But that picture he has of the cresent moon and star? I could tell it was The One by the jug-like ears jutting out from the head. Unfortunately, despite having such noticeable ears, he doesn't appear to have the ability to hear the American story clearly.

Mike Porter said...

Nothing pleases the progressive pigs more than ensuring that their vision of misery entraps all without exception - can't have enterprising Americans escaping into space, now can we?

It is ironic that the pre-islamic middle east was responsible for a number of advancements in science and mathematics, with the breakthrough concept of zero as a number representing an actual value being one famous example. However, once that particular religion took hold and spread, all enlightenment in the region ceased, and now it provides us with only negative numbers.

Cookie said...

"...freaking crescent moon and a single star..." Just a continuation of the freak show that comes from the white house on a daily basis.

I don't know that I can add anything to what has already been said about Neil Armstrong. A true American hero. RIP sir! And may the America you once knew rise up again--before it's lost forever.

John the Econ said...

Unfortunately for NASA, the more socialist our nation becomes, the less outward looking we will be. As the middle class becomes more and more usurped into the entitlement class, "democracy" will demand that more and more resources be diverted from forward-thinking agendas (International affairs, space exploration, medical research, etc) and instead spent on goodies for citizens.

But don't believe me. How many ground-breaking health care discoveries or new drugs do you see coming from Canada or Britain these days when compared to the US?

txGreg said...

for a nice article on Armstrong, check out this one at the NY Post (no, really) by Arthur Herman: http://tinyurl.com/9e8ytcx

(Yes, when you view the page your "print" dialog will probably pop up. Just ignore it and enjoy the much more readable version of the page.)

Goldenrod said...


Among the many appreciable points of a real hero is that they don’t have to talk themselves up to others.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Anonymous- The only music to those jug ears, sadly, is what Obama himself calls one of the sweetest sounds on Earth: the Muslim call to prayer.

@Mike Porter- And could we have ever had a president Obama without the concept of a complete and utter zero? I think not.

@Cookie- I'm angry about this topic because I'm pained at the loss of an American hero.

@John the Econ- Perhaps when NASA finishes making Muslim nations feel good about themselves, they can be reassigned to "Project Ouroboros" and work on technologies to allow our nation to more efficiently feed on itself until we disappear entirely.

@txGreg- Haven't checked out the article yet, but will. Thanks!

@Goldenrod- You're right, genuine heroes don't brag about it. And then there's B. Hussein Obama, whose only accomplishments prior to sleazy politics were writing two autobiographies about his own magnificence.

Colby said...

I had just graduated high school and imagined that there was nothing between me and total success. Like so many my age, though, I was against my country’s involvement in Vietnam and was fearful of the draft. But one summer evening not long after graduation, I stared at the moon for quite some time, mesmerized by the thought that there were two brave men actually walking around on it. I will never forget the sense of pride I had in MY country that evening, but this is something my grandkids will never experience with the current occupant of the White House crashing through our moral values, money, and constitution like the proverbial bull in a china cabinet.

Obama would boldly say that we can no longer afford space exploration, but he has no problem flushing trillions of OUR dollars down the drain on one socialist pipe dream after another.

I fear that our (albeit unwilling) hero, Neil Armstrong actually died of a broken heart from seeing his country’s adventurous spirit decline as it has, led by a narcissicistic president.

Here’s praying that we will re-kindle that spirit when we elect an American to the Presidency, after so many years of accepting our current situation as being “normal.”

And this POS had the nerve to call George Bush unpatriotic!

Anonymous said...

I read a comment yesterday at Doug Ross and was wondering if: a) if it was you, b) did I give you inspiration, c) cosmic coincidence?

Love your site and insight.

Sadie (sometimes called anonymous)



Stilton Jarlsberg said...
So the man who said that NASA's mission is now Muslim outreach commemorates Neil Armstrong's passing with a picture of himself looking at a crescent moon and star?!
10:38 PM


Anonymous said...
From the same Preezy who rewrote presidential biographies to include himself at every turn.

I am only surprised he didn't photoshop himself on the moon.
11:07 PM

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Colby- Excellent comment.

@Anonymous- I indeed commented over on Doug Ross's site and saw your remark - though my cartoon and commentary were already "in the can" at that point so I can't actually say there was additional inspiration. I'd written today's material BEFORE seeing that self-serving picture of Barry... so you can imagine that the image was gas on an already roaring fire.

Colby said...

I wonder if he will have someone take a snapshot of him looking pensively at the back of the moving van as it pulls out of the White House driveway. ... and the other truck pulling in with the Winston Churchill bust.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Colby- Bless you for putting that "pensive moving van" picture in my head!

JustaJeepGuy said...

I once read a book about the space program that was written in the early '70s. The book mentioned the people who were whining about spending money on space exploration and how the money would have been better used here. The book said that NASA spent 70 billion dollars on the entire Apollo program up to then (about 10 years for the whole program at that time). The US government threw 70 billion dollars down the welfare rathole in 1970 alone. Yeah, those liberals who aren't worthy to shine Neil Armstrong's shoes (not to mention any and all astronauts) really know where money should be spent, huh? And Barack Hussein? He isn't worthy of licking Neil Armstrong's shoe soles!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@JustaJeepGuy- And if $70 billion is a huge number, then explain to me how Obama can take $716 billion out of Medicare without affecting service negatively?

John the Econ said...

@JustaJeepGuy, of course the difference between spending $70-billion on the Apollo program and spending $70-billion on welfare is that it was actually possible to send people to the moon. (actually, sending people to the moon was the easy part. It was getting them back that was hard)

As for spending trillions on welfare since the Great Society, all we got was more bitter & angry poor people; a comparatively poor investment if you ask me.

Jazz said...

A Curiosity....

I agree with the assessment that our Pretender-in-Chief meant to subtly infer a link with Islam in his (alleged) pondering regarding the late Neil Armstrong, as he considers the crescent Moon and (yes) "Morning Star" (AKA Venus).

I have seen various representations of the Crescent-and-Star in my years and travels. I have never seen one where the closed side of the crescent Moon is towards the star.

You'd have thought that Barry could've had someone at least photoshop the picture so things would point "properly", lest some radical Imam decree a fatwah for his getting it wrong in the picture. (It may somehow be disparaging that great "religion of peace", don't you know.)

Anonymous said...

Colby, you're inspiring.

I am thinking of not so much of a moving van, but more like: 1-800-GOT JUNK.

Tots said...

well spoken. God speed Neil. Thank you for your bravery.

Ken said...

As an Ohioan who is proud of the big names in space exploration who hail from Ohio, particularly Neil Armstrong (and yes, even John Glenn - although my father always maintained that the equilibrium problems the Mercury astronauts had must have resulted in a head injury during a slip in the bathtub by Mr. Glenn), I cannot begin to express the anger and disgust the Poser-in-Chief's photo awakens in me.

Time to start knocking on doors for Romney-Ryan.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@John the Econ- Saying we've had a bad return on investment for the Great Society programs is perhaps the greatest understatement I can imagine.

@Jazz- The alignment/positioning of the crescent and star do not correspond with the classic Islamic symbol. But I think even Obama would hesitate to give the direction to rotate the moon in Photoshop to "fix it."

@Anonymous- I may have to start work on a Photoshopped garbage truck with a "Mayflower Moving" logo on the side...

@Houston(aka)Tots- I remember that moon landing so clearly; holding my breath during the landing... watching transfixed as Armstrong took those first historic steps... and the almost unbearable suspense of waiting to see if the lunar module would really be able to launch from the moon - or if it would leave our American heroes on the moon to die, with no hope of rescue. When I was young, that was reality television. Armstrong, and all of the other astronauts, had courage that staggers the imagination. And that courage continues to be an inspiration.

@Ken- The insufferable egotism of this president is jaw-dropping. Maybe I'll knock on a few doors myself tonight.

badlarry said...

Stilt, wondering what your opinion on this is:
http://thehayride.com/2012/08/hayride-cartoon-do-we-really-want-to-keep-talking-about-akin/

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@badlarry- I can honestly say that I have no idea what the cartoonist was trying to express here. And I'm not being glib; I truly don't know if this cartoon is for Obama, against Obama, or particularly making a point at all. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

JustaJeepGuy said...

@Ken,
I'm a former Buckeye myself. (I lived in Ohio 32 of my first 38 years.) Remember, too, who came up with the FIRST practical airplane--Wilbur and Orville Wright--from Dayton, Ohio! Wilbur was actually born in Indiana but Orville was born in Ohio (Oiho? One of those 57 states?). The first real (self-taught, too!) aeronautical engineers. And the only governmental help they got was from the Library of Congress, where they acquired all known published works on flight, which mostly weren't any help. I know Barack Hussein probably believes that they didn't do that themselves, but they most certainly did!
Re my previous comment: the country got vastly more benefit from the space program than from all the money flushed away on welfare programs since LBJ. All we've gotten from welfare programs is more welfare cases.

Colby said...

I once saw an Apollo command module up close. My eternal admiration goes to anyone who would ride in that with two other dudes for a half million miles! Armstrong and his co-astronauts are all true Americans and really did (and do) have the "right stuff." I wish obama could see himself like we see him. That garbage truck/moving van can't come soon enough!

On another subject, it appears Isaac is going to slam right into New Orleans. Our prayers are with the fine folks down there. Bush got slammed by the media for his handling of Katrina. Now it's Barry's turn; let's see if he can pull himself away from golfing and making up shit about Romney long enough to realize there's a hurricane. I somehow get the queasy feeling this will be the RNC's fault for daring to hold their convention during a hurricane.

Abbey Road Walker said...

@Colby;
Not to worry. No matter what barry does or doesn't do this week for New Orleans, the MSM will prop him up and transform him into a hero, swooping in to save the city from the floods, parting the Mississippi with a wave of his hand, and calming the mass hysteria with that gentle smile of his. And millions upon millions of brain dead Americans will swallow every bit of it whole, and think what a great man he is. It's enough to make me puke right here on my keyboard

Emmentaler Limburger said...

If Ă˜bama's response is as timely as it was over the oil spill, Isaac will be an issue for the next administration...

I was just turned 7 when they landed on the moon. I do recall the images, but the new metallic green WestPoint three speed bike with banana seat I received about a week earlier for my birthday help my attention a bit more firmly. As they say: youth is wasted on the young... Goodbye Mr. Armstrong. Rest well.

Per Mr. Universe's picture, I find it more offensive that he had someone take that picture. Likely has some heyboy follow him around to take potentially inspiring photos of him when he thinks he's in Kodak moment. Friggin' poser... Can't wait to be rid of him.

Pete (Detroit) said...

Lovely tribute - p'shop of the landing site, w/ flag @ 1/2 mast..

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188678604598659&set=a.133361476797039.26402.133352176797969&type=1&ref=nf

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@JustaJeepGuy- Wait, the Wright Brothers got help from the government and it didn't do them any good?! It's lucky I was sitting down when I read such shocking news.

@Colby- I once saw a mockup of a Mercury capsule, and it was unbelievably claustrophobic. And claustrophobia was the least of the astronauts' worries! Unbelievable courage.

Regarding Hurricane Isaac, I'm also hoping that the people in its path will be shown some mercy. I'm sickened by the Hollywood celebs who have wished the hurricane to become a killer as long as enough of their political enemies lose their lives. And likewise I'm not happy about the Lefties gloating about a possible national disaster because it will distract from the GOP convention.

@Abbey Road Walker- You're right, there is no scenario regarding Hurricane Isaac in which Barack Obama will be anything but praised by the MSM. And somehow, somehow, Bush will be blamed for anything which goes wrong.

@Emmentaler- I'm trying to think of what you'd call the job position for a fulltime sycophant photographer. Maybe a "clickophant?" Frankly, I think there'd be more professional integrity in shooting honest porn than political porn...but that's just me.

@Pete(Detroit)- That is great. Here's a clickable link, folks.