I wonder, how long before we find out the suspect is a radical Islamist.

And then, how long before that affiliation is rejected as vital to the crime.

Witness the murderous acts against our military in Frankfurt: it was only a matter of hours before the killer’s links to radical Islam were exposed.

And it was only a few hours later, that we saw an Administration official dismiss that notion.

Here we have P. J. Crowley, bringing back memories – not only of Tucson, but of Ft. Hood, too.

Reporter: Even if somebody is acting alone, it’s not a terrorist attack?

Crowley: For example, was the shooting of congresswoman Gabby Giffords a terrorist attack. I mean, you have to look at the evidence, you have to look at the evidence and look at the motivation then you make a judgment and that is a process as far as I know that is ongoing.

Yeah. He went there.

P.J., which must stand for “poor judgment,” actually compared a horrible crime linked to radical Islam, to whatever was bubbling in Jared Loughner’s damaged head.

So does P.J. actually believe these crimes are alike? Is he that dim?

I mean, with that hypothetical yammer, Crowley not only minimized the nature of the terrorist threat, but also implied he still may believe the attack on Giffords was part of a greater movement.

And so a killer can shout Allahu Akbar – just like at Ft. Hood – and the Administration still won’t “commit.” They only see a man with no affiliation–because decades of ingrained political correctness have taught them to be fearful of pointing out that affiliation. It’s bigotry, after all.

Look, making no mention of terror won’t make terror go away.

All it does is expose the biggest weakness our country has: leaders with spines like spaghetti.

Tonight:

Tammy Bruce!

Jedidia Bila!

Paul Mecurio!

The conventional wisdom is that it is mere partisanship that is hampering the progress of necessary legislation in Washington (and in state capitols as well).  This is a both wrong and dangerous conclusion, one that misses the real and important point: Americans are divided not just on policy but on their most basic beliefs about the most fundamental of issues, from the nature of man to the meaning of our existence, from the reality of God to the purpose of governance – and at its core, it is a question of one’s beliefs about the existence of the better.

Proof that our divisions run deeper than a mere “hooray for our side” partisanship is that the culture war is raging outside of the halls of governance, with people with no vested interest in the victory of an “R” or a “D” just as adamant and even militant as are the professionals.

In today’s culture war, what determines whether one supports the liberal or the conservative position on any given issue is what they believe about exceptionalism in general and American exceptionalism (and that of Western Civilization) in particular.

On one side of the battlefield are those who reject the notion of cultural exceptionalism.  They are the “multiculturalists” and the “Citizens of the world” who are convinced that those who recognize America’s unique greatness are not only bigots (“xenophobes” and “nativists”) but dangerous bigots whose blind adoration of America’s unique culture can only lead to war and with it the poverty, crime and injustice that war inevitably brings.

Ironically, those who deny America’s unprecedented cultural greatness are forced to believe in American exceptionalism – left with no other choice than to believe that America is exceptionally evil.  After all, if America’s unique constitution, unprecedented Judeo-Christian values and unequalled Protestant work ethic are no better and no worse than any other culture, then one must explain America’s undeniable and unequalled success.  To their way of “thinking,” America’s unparalleled prosperity, ingenuity, creativity, productivity and strength are not just unjustified and unjust, but because of the magnitude and duration of that success, America is the greatest injustice in the history of the world.

To those who deny America’s exceptional greatness the only other alternative is to believe in America’s exceptional evil.

The purpose of the policy of those with this vision, then, is to pursue justice by undermining America at every turn.  Her sovereignty should be turned over to one-world (supposedly non-bigoted) bodies, her wealth redistributed to nations based on nothing other than their violence and economic failures.  After all, to the multiculturalists the failures of other nations serve as proof positive of their victimization.

To those who deny America’s exceptionalism, those who support America (especially those so steeped in bigotry and hatred as to join the military to fight for America’s preservation) can fall into only a handful of categories: so oppressed that they have no choice but to fight on behalf of evil in order to pay their bills, the stupid and the evil bigot.  Those who deny American exceptionalism, then, hold the soldier in pity at best and more likely disdain and hate.

It is not surprising, then, that those who hold this vision are quick to condemn anyone who works in service of America, from members of the CIA to the soldiers shot to death by an Islamist at Ft. Hood.

Similarly, those who champion American values at home are held in disgust and disdain by those who deny America’s exceptionalism.  They, too, are, at best, stupid and more likely evil bigots who must be contained, their children “reeducated” in the schools to reject their xenophobic love of America and her culture.  These people are convinced that there’s something “the matter” with the people of Kansas and that Americans outside of San Francisco (Hollywood, Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Upper East Side of Manhattan) “cling” to their constitutional rights and religious freedoms out of “antipathy” towards people who are merely “different” than they are.  These people must be controlled by an elite who does not share their bigotry (i.e. respect and adoration for America and Western Civilization): the “multiculturalists” and the “citizens of the world.”

Barack Obama has publicly declared that he is of this ilk, that he does not believe that America is anything special.  Asked if he believes in American exceptionalism he gave one of his typically dissembling answers, claiming that he did, but then quickly adding that he was sure “The British believe in British exceptionalism and the Greek believe in Greek exceptionalism.”  In other words, he believes America is “exceptional” not based on reason and a quest for the better, but merely because of his own bigotries and the accident of his location of birth.

It is not surprising, then, that the one constant of the Obama administration has been to weaken America, to take for the elite (the ruling class) unprecedented powers (including decision-making about who will and will not get loans, control of our essential industries and, if he gets his way, every aspect of our health and well-being), nor is it surprising that he has consistently worked to weaken and ultimately destroy our Western allies and embolden, strengthen and empower each and every one of our enemies.  Obviously, then, it is without regard to the letter next to his name, that those who recognize American and Western exceptionalism, who cherish America’s constitution not out of bigotry but out of intellect, who wish to educate their children in a way that preserves for them the opportunities that America’s exceptional culture has provided generation after generation of Americans (including those tens of millions who have renounced their native cultures and risked all to become Americans) stand in strong (and unflinching) opposition to the policies of today’s Left.

I am speaking of the Fort Hood Report, which the U.S. military’s just released, detailing the shooting that left 13 dead. In the 86 page thingy, here’s what you won’t find: the name of the killer, or his Muslim faith. The dudes who did the review argue that those pieces of information aren’t important – their concern is more with “actions and effects, not…with motivations.”

Here in Sanity Village, we call this “super duper crazy talk.”

Cuz, you know, if there’s one thing I learned from Obama the candidate – is how important root causes are. You remember: before calling someone evil, you need to first understand their motivations.

True, root causes are troubling, because it’s applied only when Obama and others feel comfortable with its conclusions. If the killer was a fundamentalist Christian, his right wing rage would be hammered home. Janet Napolitano created an entire report on such matters. That was quaint.

But in Hassan’s case, pointing out motives only hurts feelings. Citing Islamic extremism as a culprit will simply upset more Muslims, so the P.C. thing to do is to leave it out. It’s one of those “dots” we keep hearing about – but instead of “connecting,” we’re just covering it up with Liquid Paper.

They still make that crap, right?

Tonight we’ve got the delightful Kelly Evans, the Governor/talk show star Mike Huckabee, comedian Jesse Joyce and John Stossel!

And it once was.

All this changed with the “cultural revolution” of the 1960s when objectivity went out of style.  The argument put forth by the Modern Liberals was that the individual is incapable of being objective.  They argue everything a person believes is so tainted by their personal bigotries – bigotries borne of the color of their skin, the color of their hair, the nation of their great-great-great grandfather’s birth, their height, their sex and their weight, etc. — that the only way to eliminate the evils of bigotry is to eliminate all attempts at rational thought.

Since the 1960s, the Modern Liberal has been preaching that rational thought is a hate crime.

Writing about this phenomenon as it relates to one of the communities most infected with the Modern Liberal dogma, the leftist news media, the great Thomas Sowell argued that the quest for objectivity has been replaced with the quest for  ”neutrality.”  What’s the difference between objective reporting and neutral reporting?

Consider a journalist covering a football game and the Jets have just defeated the hapless Patriots 57-3.  (Hey, this is MY post, I can make up the score.)  An objective journalist would write a report about how the Jets are a better team than are the Patriots.  The story would feature key plays and decisions that highlighted New York’s superiority to the New England franchise on that day.

Consider the coverage of Nidal Hasan’s massacre of 14 innocent people at Ft. Hood.   The objective reporter writes about the clear and obvious link between the murderer and his Muslim faith.  But the neutral reporter — the one who has been taught that he cannot imply in any way that one culture or one religion is better or worse than any other — will not only not write the objective truth, but he will seek to invent a narrative that proves the murderer has been victimized.

Just as the sports reporter could not write that the Jets are a better team and therefore had to turn the good into the bad (the cheater), the neutral news reporter had no choice (i.e. would not be a “good reporter”) unless he ignored the truth, which, in turn, left him no choice but invent a storyline where the mass murderer was the victim and his victims the bad guys.

“Neutrality” is just another form of the indiscriminateness that I write about and another example of how indiscriminateness of thought does not lead to indiscriminatess of policy but rather invariably and inevitably sees the Modern Liberal side with evil over good, wrong over right, and failure over success.

George Clooney in 2005’s  Syriana

Meanwhile the national discussion has segued to our own collective insanity, political correctness, which we are now discovering paved the very way for the massacre. It is this cultural and mental straightjacket that forced a U.S. Army general to say diversity is more important than losing American lives; that compelled our Homeland Security Secretary to reassure the Arab world that we’re doing everything we can to protect against a mythical Muslim backlash; that prevented people from speaking out about red flags that could have saved the lives of everyone murdered at Ft. Hood; and that prevents our officials from even naming the enemy. No such ailment afflicts the jihadists, however, who are celebrating Hasan as a hero, who have no problem acknowledging his ideological intent, and who recognize our political correctness as a self-inflicted fatal wound. Unlike our leaders and media elites, they don’t sap their wartime focus with hand-wringing and navel-gazing.

Also unlike us, they have no problem asserting their values in the war’s crucial cultural front, either, a theater of operations where we are weakest. A burgeoning Arab film industry, for example, in partnership with Hollywood, is set to make unapologetic and positive cinematic portrayals of Islam as important an export as oil. Abu Dhabi is investing $1 billion in movie productions over the next few years. Crash and In the Valley of Elah screenwriter Paul Haggis recently taught a screenwriting master class in Dubai to fifty promising and “socially and politically astute” writers. A Qatari media company is pairing with Lord of the Rings producer Barrie Osborne on a $150 million biopic of the Muslim prophet Mohammed – “a profound genius,” says Osborne, ”who founded a religion whose name in Islam signifies peace and reconciliation. This is what our film will aspire to do.”

Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

Very high-minded, if misinformed. But what’s wrong, you ask, with such multicultural bridge-building in this time of conflict between Islam and the West? Well, here’s an eyebrow-raiser for you about the Mohammed biopic: its “technical consultant” is Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the vastly influential spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni movement whose aim is the imposition of Sharia worldwide and “the destruction of Western civilization from within.” Al-Qaradawi has issued fatwas in support of suicide bombings in Israel, attacks on coalition soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the execution of Jews and gays. With him guiding the project, it’s starting to sound less like an effort to promote ”peace and reconciliation” and more like a propagandistic Trojan horse. Certainly not every film in the forthcoming cinematic wave out of the Middle East will have a dark design; but do not doubt that the Islamists recognize the cultural impact of cinema, or that the seemingly benign partnership is useful to their agenda.

And does the cultural exchange run both ways? Is Hollywood equally as eager to export Western values and a positive portrayal of America? I think we all know the answer to that. And why should we expect otherwise? For decades Americans have been conditioned and intimidated by political correctness, and indoctrinated by its handmaiden multiculturalism, to believe that all cultural values and practices are equally valid – except Western culture, which we’re taught is the domain of white male imperialists, racists, and slavers. And Hollywood continues to be at the forefront of the dissemination of that world view, too often denigrating America and whitewashing radical Islam.

 Hollywood may be out of touch with the “flyover” Americans between L.A. and New York, resulting in war-on-terror box office flops like Rendition and Lions for Lambs, but don’t underestimate the influence of its persistently blame-America-first propaganda on young audiences, on coastal elites, and on those countries that hungrily absorb the culture we export. Every time Hollywood makes a Syriana, which has been used as a recruitment tool to radicalize young Muslims; or a Redacted, which has also been used to inflame Muslim opinion against the raping, murdering American occupiers; or a Body of Lies, whose opening quote – “Those to whom evil is done do evil in return” – asserts that Islamic terrorism is just America’s chickens coming home to roost; or a Flightplan, in which you are manipulated into suspecting that the Muslims aboard an airplane are terrorists (Hitchcockian twist: they’re not!); every time Hollywood makes such thinly-veiled agitprop, the PC message is reinforced here and abroad that we are the bad guys, that America’s geopolitical meddling, not global jihad, is the genesis of Islamic terrorism. And therefore we can only end the Big Overseas Misunderstanding, or however President Obama is euphemizing the war on terror these days, by groveling and making amends – which is indeed his strategy for resolving it (resolving, not winning – remember, he’s not comfortable with the word victory).

Our President, who considers it his duty to combat “negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear,” is openly pursuing a globalist future in which America abdicates as a superpower. Leftist Hollywood marches in lockstep with that post-American agenda (“It’s an Obama world,” said the director of GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, a movie scrupulously scrubbed of pro-American symbolism and real-world enemies – like jihadists). This subversive alliance is a prescription for cultural implosion, and an ascendant Islam is positioning itself to fill the void.

One-way multiculturalism in England

Think this is all alarmist, Islamophobic nonsense? It could never happen here, you say? Well it won’t if we do something about it. But if you want to see what a country looks like that has been gutted by multiculturalism, political correctness, and tolerance of the intolerant, and yet which continues to think “it can’t happen here,” see what has become of England. A hundred years ago the sun did not set on its empire; more recently it still stood tall under Churchill and then Thatcher. Now, harboring radical imams and embracing Sharia, it is teetering on the brink of cultural – and even literal – civil war with an unassimilated, radicalized Muslim population that is aggressively uni-cultural. Who could have imagined that this would be England’s future? Only the Islamists could. Back on our shores, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs believes that the maddeningly tentative official response to the Ft. Hood assault is indicative not just of political correctness, but of de facto Sharia, and that we are already ”witnessing an Islamized America.”

The PC multiculturalist agenda, which Hollywood has often taken the lead in pushing, is a cancer that kills people and corrodes countries. It is the insidious source of all our misplaced “Why do they hate us?” agonizing. Not only is it undermining us in this clash of civilization versus barbarism, but it could prove to be the single most critical factor that will result in America’s defeat. But a Hollywood that unashamedly celebrates the American values that this country and the world hunger for can also take the lead in reversing that agenda’s damage; indeed, I believe such a cinematic wave is coming – but that’s a topic for another day.

* The media report thirteen dead, but one of his victims was three months pregnant, which in my book raises the count to fourteen.

INEVITABLY, ANOTHER SOLDIER SNAPS

Distraught pacifist conscientious objector tormented by horrors of war, as far as you know

Newsroom experts: stress, violence, stupidity, tragedy a way of life for GIs

Former M*A*S*H stars say it’s finally time to disarm the military

Hollywood insiders: Sean Penn early favorite for lead in planned Oliver Stone biopic

Nidal Hassan – not a fan of taxes Fort Hood: Another Black Eye For Teabagger Movement Connecting the dots: 2006-8 Tax returns show anti-government extremist carefully itemized deductions Like many Town Hall protesters, Hassan motivated by rage, pattern baldness Phone records: suspect tried to join Hair Club for Men Tearful Pelosi pushes Congress for new Tea Party regulations: “our lives are at stake”

Closet Dittohead? Investigation: Ft. Hood Killer Had Access to Fox, Talk Radio, Right-Wing Blogs Receipts show killer’s apartment had cable ‘03 Nissan registered to Hassan had AM radio Napolitano: “I told you so” Sources: Despite 17 citations as Countdown’s ‘Worst Person In The World,’ FBI failed to detain Limbaugh Defiant Palin rejects calls to apologize

Hassan: NRA poster boy GUN GOES ON RAMPAGE IN TEXAS Experts say shootings could have easily been prevented if guns did not exist; others argue bullets must share blame Gun facts: scary, loud, shoot people

Reverend Nidal Hassan say Gimme that Old Time Religion Fundamentalist Religion Seen As Motive in Ft. Hood Massacre Devout churchgoer evangelized conservative views Shooter’s former Virginia home was mere hours from Jerry Falwell compound What did Tilton, Swaggert, Osteen know?

Billy Ray Hassan – average American Southerner Another Typical Day in Dixieland U.S.A. In the land of cotton, some hear echoes of Civil War in latest violent redneck rampage American-born killer was son of the Jim Crow South NASCAR may have been involved Britons warned: limit U.S. travel to safe areas such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles

Hassan: owned GameStop member card Did Violent Video Games, Rap Lyrics Drive Killing Spree? Video: Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario Cart remain on shelf at Fort Hood PX Lil’ Wayne goes One-on-One with Wolf Blitzer Larry King Live Special tragedy coverage with panelists Nancy Grace, David Hasselhoff, Joan Collins

Tailgater of Terror Caught in the Middle of an NFC East Rivalry Sports psychologists: strain of being a Redskins fan in Cowboy country may have led to breakdown for former DC resident Jurgenson, Staubach team up for NFL sportsmanship pitch Skins fans fear backlash Special “Outside the Lines” interview with NFL Commissioner Goodell: “this is precisely why we banned Limbaugh”

Nidal “Ozriel” Hassan: tormented by popular kids ‘Ozriel’: Portrait of a Bullies’ Target Another Columbine? Sensitive, artistic outsider said ostracized by Army jocks, “in crowd” Found solace in poetry, music, MySpace Weekend “EmoAid” benefit concert to raise awareness about at-risk youth, reunite CSN&Y

Junk food junkie? Twinkies Claim Another 13 Victims Hostess corporate spokesman defends controversial creme-filled sponge cake, but mounting scientific evidence links mass murder to unregulated transfats Witness: Hassan yelled “I want a candy bar” during spree Kraft, Kelloggs, Hersheys bracing for lawsuits Are you raising a potential Cereal Killer? Nutritionists show you how to cut your kids’ sugar intake to prevent another bloodbath

No Country For Old Men From Fort Hood to Waco to Dealey Plaza to Bush Compound, death is a way of life in the Lone Star State Statistic: Texas still lags in access to public broadcasting Download Morning Edition’s exclusive in-depth podcast, complete with mournful banjo dirge interlude

Lessons of Ft. Hood: Military Bases Need More Mental Health Professionals

So, denying the role militant Islam played in the Fort Hood atrocity is like staring at a shark bite and thinking, “bicycle.”

When a fundamentalist kills thirteen innocent people while shouting “allahu akbar,” Islam isn’t just a small player – it’s got a starring role. And now that U.S. intelligence admits Hasan tried to contact al Qaeda, it should make it increasingly hard for anyone to say otherwise.

I say it “should,” but it won’t.

Look at the news.

Over at Time, thoughtful types speculate over a “secondary trauma” that could have driven Hasan to kill. Never mind terror – one news network tells us we should focus more on “a backlash against Muslim soldiers.” On a major website, they want us to ponder the “next McVeigh.” And our very own Homeland Security secretary says she’s hard at work preventing “a possible wave of anti-Muslim sentiment.”

And that’s the drill: concern over crimes that have never happened, as opposed to the terror that has. When Americans are murdered in cold blood, the first step in our screwed-up world is to chant, “backlash.” Never mind that backlash concerns may have allowed this massacre to occur in the first place. Hasan exhibited more signs than a horoscope – yet fears over appearing politically incorrect kept him around.

The fact is, in mosques all over the world, the desire to destroy the west continues – and our administration still worries about what you might do. The PC thing? Avoid “connecting the dots,” but stick to the “square peg in round hole” equation: a troubled man feeling hopeless in a weird world, suddenly snaps and kills people.

But it’s more than that. The defiant Muslim living in America has contempt for modern life, your lifestyle, your beliefs. Add to this a rejection of female equality, which pretty much eliminates any chance for a hook-up – and you’ve got a madman on a mission.

I suppose saying all this makes me a right-wing hate monger. But that’s the point. When a man kills Americans in the name of Allah – and you become a bad guy for pointing that out – then it’s time to be the bad guy.

It’s far better than moaning “why do they hate us.”

tonight, Jim Norton (fun!), S.E. Cupp (yum!), Jonathan Hoenig (rich!) and, other stuff!

His tears flowed from the blessing of the little girl — the one with the angel-voice. And, as we stood in ovation in the American Legion Hall her lyric, “… I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see” reminded him why his military service and the forty-odd years since had all been worthwhile: her Freedom, our Freedom.

As our tearful eyes locked, he restrained in a whisper, “See that? That’s why I lost my legs in Vietnam.” But then he smiled, “losing my legs is the best thing that ever happened to me… it’s why I am here right now, and it’s given me a great life.” 

Of course, I can never truly know the depth of my new friend Duane Wagner’s struggles in meeting his post Vietnam war challenges, but I was privileged to share with him a true moment of ‘amazing grace’ in the knowledge that his sacrifices – and all those of his compatriots — were not in vain.

Duane Wagner (rt) leading the group in Texas

That beautiful moment was but one of countless expressions of dignity and courage that I witnessed during my participation in this year’s Ride 2 Recovery “Don’t Mess With Texas Challenge” – a 350 mile bicycle ride from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to Arlington’s Texas Ranger’s Ballpark, Mar. 30 – Apr. 4, 2009.

Ride 2 Recovery is produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation, in partnership with the Military and the VA Volunteer Service Office, to benefit Mental and Physical Rehabilitation Programs that feature cycling as the core activity.

When Former Marine John Wordin, R2R’s founder and a world-class cyclist, extended me an invitation I jumped at the opportunity to make a journey with some of America’s heroic Wounded Warriors.

Little did I realize the abject humbling ahead, both physical and emotional, once I’d cinched up my cleats, smeared the recommended “liberal amounts” of Chamois Butt’r® upon my “sensitive areas” and saddled up with Purple Heart Veterans ranging from the Vietnam War to today’s Global War on Terror, and our team of fellow riders & supporters from the American Legion Auxiliary and USO.

To ride along the back roads of Texas into 40-50 mph headwinds for 35 miles with such brave men as Nathan Hunt, who gave both of his legs in service to America during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is among the most profoundly exhausting yet uplifting experiences of my life.

Nate and Adam

We barely spoke during those five grueling hours, but Nate’s determination and resolve to endure spoke volumes to me. I will never again hear the words “I can’t” from an able-bodied person without thinking of him. Yes you can, my friends. Yes you can!

Luke “Joe Dirt” Goedert — his lower back shattered by an IED and now held together with titanium plates and screws — was pumping along on his hand-bike one non-descript Texas back road afternoon.

Students from Austin cheer on the heroes

As I pulled alongside he barked, “Hey ‘Animal Mother’,” a character I once portrayed, “thanks for coming… I don’t think too many of those guys in Hollywood would do this. But that’s okay,” he sang out, “don’t apologize for them. They’re the ones missing out!”

And with that truth, we chortled and muscled our bikes onward to the awaiting roadside USO Canteen support vehicle and its welcoming diet of tasty PB&J’s, hot soup, beef Jerky, and ice cold PowerAde.

When you join R2R, you’ll also get to meet American cycling legend Wayne Stetina. Wayne is a three-time Olympian (‘72, ‘76 &’80), and eleven-time U.S. national champion. Among the many things he’ll teach you will be the finer points of drafting in a peloton (look it up), and why it’s so important to keep pace within your group, especially when struggling into a headwind.

And, should you fall behind, Wayne, John or one of the stronger team riders will be there to lend you a boosting hand on your backside to get you caught up.

On day three we were deeply honored with a hot spaghetti dinner hosted by Ft. Hood’s III Corps Commanding Officer Lt. General Rick Lynch, one of General Petraeus’ chief architects of America’s successful surge in Iraq. The next morning, Sgt. Major Ciotolo and a thousand of his loyal troops and support personnel enthusiastically cheered us 60 miles windward towards Waco.

President Bush with the R2R group

Our final stop in Cleburne, presented Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and his constituents — among them our former Commander in Chief, George W. Bush (R-TX). They met, mingled and joked with us. They also listened to the vital transitional rehabilitative concerns and needs of our Wounded Warriors.

These powerful Texas gentlemen, in a bipartisan/nonpartisan show of goodwill, then gave us a hearty send-off on our last day’s ride into Arlington and its Texas Rangers vs. KC Royal’s game.

There, on a glorious Saturday afternoon, our ride’s General David Blackledge, America’s highest ranking officer wounded in Iraq, and Nate Hunt each threw out ceremonial first pitches to the cheers of the assembled crowd.

Congressman Chet Edwards with Chad Fleming

To those of my Entertainment Industry brethren who have until now missed out on contributing their time (and/or cash please) with our American troops and veterans, whom we all support: “You talk the talk”, pace Animal Mother, “Do you walk the walk?” Or better yet, will you please help ride the ride?

Skip your spinning or yoga class for a few days to join an upcoming Ride 2 Recovery event in a show of support to our heroic military men and women and their courageous families.

In my mind, this journey loudly echoes my new friend Duane the warrior’s sentiment that this experience is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I promise that it will change your life for the better as well.

C’mon, let’s saddle up!

– Adam Baldwin is a Hollywood actor with 30 years experience in film and television. He is currently working on the NBC series “Chuck”, and his credits include the role of “Animal Mother” in Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam War classic “Full Metal Jacket”.

For more information on Ride 2 Recovery including to join Adam or Ed Begley Jr. on an upcoming ride or make a donation: Go to www.ride2recovery.com

You can catch us APRIL 3rd on the Dennis Miller Radio Show

Today was really windy…mostly a cross wind…the wind blew at about 40 mph all day….but the American Legion riders came out for the first time on the Texas Challenge and provided excellent support for the R2R riders.

The ride from Ft. Hood to Waco was the longest of the event, but it was on some of the nicest roads in Texas. The group pulled out from the 3rd Corp Command and were greeted by some of America’s finest cheering loudly with Chief of Staff Mike Tarsa hopping on his Harley to help lead the wounded warriors on their way.

One of the most interesting civilian riders on the tour is CNN contributor Steven Hayes. Hayes also writes for the Weekly Standard and is an avid mountain biker. When he heard about the Road 2 Recovery, he thought it was a natural way for him to get some great riding in but more importantly show his support of our wounded warriors. He spends his off the bike time filing his reports on the Wolf Blitzer show.

Hayes has been able to talk with most of the wounded warriors and spends his riding time getting to know their stories. He is well suited for journalism.

We continue to be impressed by the strength and determination of our seven hand cyclist. With the strong winds today, nobody would have thought badly if they packed it in at any time. But they rode all the way. There is just no quit in them and while they have been training for this for some months, it is still remarkable what they have accomplished.

Tomorrow we head to Cleburne……

Check out this great article.

As we left Austin, the local elementary school gave us a big sendoff as they lined the road to greet the wounded warriors. They really got into it as we did a second pass through the kids giving high fives and waving signs.

Last night, several of the riders paid a visit to a local bike shop to get some gear. Among the most common purchase was new shoes. For those of you who do not ride much, cycling specific shoes make a big difference in both power and efficiency. Comfort also improves greatly with harder soled shoes. If you try to ride a 6 day ride with tennis shoes, your feet are going to hurt. One of our CFI riders was not sure he was even going to ride, did not know if he even liked to ride, and just came along at the last minute. Ryan Clark is an amazing person. He is an engineer and has a Master’s degree. When he is discharged, he will have lots of job offers and as engineers are, very analytical about making decisions.  

After a lot of lobbying, he decided to invest a modest sum into a pair of cycling shoes. After a brief tutorial on how to use his pedals and cleats, he was ready to ride. After about an hour, he was the happiest man in the group. 100% better he gleamed as he headed off the front of the group.  

The riders were outfitted with deFeet arm warmers as part of the gear they received at the beginning of the event. It should come as no surprise that arm warmers are being used for very creative uses by the wounded warriors. check out this photo as arm warmers are used as sun protector’s…..

One of the new rider’s today was General Gary Cheek. He is the director of all of the WTU’s for the Army. The WTU’s (Warrior Transition Unit) are where all of the wounded warriors goes as they rehab. Most of the wounded warriors that participate in Road 2 Recovery come from WTU’s. As the Commander, he is very interested in programs that help rehab the soldiers, whether it is physical or mental rehab that is needed. He had heard some things about R2R and wanted to see first hand about how the program worked.

Gen. Cheek

Gen. Cheek got the full blown Wayne Stetina treatment, kitted up and spent the day talking to the wounded warrior participants to get their perspective on how the program helps or not their recovery.

The ride was fast today with the big tailwind and we got to the finish more than 1 hour early, which gave everyone a chance to get some extra rest before heading off to Ft. Hood for a gala event with Commanding General Rick Lynch. Gen. Lynch was one of the commanders of the recent surge in Iraq. The surge turned around the fortunes of the people of Iraq and the Ft. Hood 3rd Corp. were instrumental in this success.

General’s Cheek, Wenz, and Lynch

More than 400 people paid tribute to the wounded warriors of Road 2 Recovery. It was one of the best evenings in the history of R2R….

Now onto Waco…..

For more information visit: www.TheRoad2Recovery.org