Land Grab, Your Government Skirts Its Own Laws

Given that Chrome Asylum is a site pretty much dedicated exclusively to the American V-Twin lifestyle, and all the zany, madcap antics that we tend to engage in, it might seem kinda odd to find an article focusing on our off-road riding brothers. Or is it? For the record I ride and have ridden off-road for years, it's a blast, and really sharpens the bike handling skills, my current mount is an '08 KTM XCF250W, lovingly nicknamed "the black hearted bitch", since it seems that every time I take her out, she pitches me on my noggin, the last time cost me a couple of screws in my right hand........more on that another day. See, I've always been of a mind that once we drink the two wheel Kool-Aid, we automatically kind of "opt-in" to a larger family; and like most families we don't always get along, we don't hang out, we make fun of each other, and our reunions might more closely resemble a heavyweight MMA bout than a touching Hallmark moment......but yell, slap and spit as we might (and that's just the grandparents) when the family is threatened we rally, and this is one of those times. We had better push ourselves away from the table and get on with the rallying, because something fundamental is in jeopardy.

Seems to me at the core of what we love most about motorcycles is the simple, yet fundamental concept of freedom..........freedom to ride what we want, when we want. The freedom to go wherever our tiny reptilian brains dictate without undo (read "just about any") interference from family, friends and most of all "The Man". It goes to the very soul of just about every motorcyclist, whether he throws a leg over a Harley Ultra or a clapped out YZ 400..........doesn't matter, it's freedom that we cherish.

And that very freedom is under assault (please do pardon the "hate speech") by the weasels in Washington. Proving that you can "be a pimp and a prostitute too", U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed Secretarial Order 3310 which essentially created a new "land use" designation called simply, "Wild Lands". Why does this matter? Because it's the latest attempt by the Green Elites to circumvent the will of the people and shove their extremist agenda down the throats of the American public, an agenda, we have to be clear here, that has virtually nothing to do with the "environment" and everything to do with governmental control over virtually every aspect of our lives.........the hugging of trees is merely a means to an end my friends. Cap and Trade? Income redistribution, pure and simple.......under the guise of feel good pablum. Don't buy it.

What this new "Wild Lands" designation has the power to do is potentially close off up to 130 million acres of BLM land to responsible motorized recreation. And since the Eco-Fascists have encountered strong resistance to their radical proposals in Congress (remember your eighth grade civics class boys and girls, Congress and only Congress, has the Constitutional authority to manage and control public lands.........our lands) they've decided to avoid the process entirely and seek the aid of fellow travelers in the current administration (EPA is trying the same un-Constitutional ploy with regard to Cap and Trade....in case you didn't know). They're crafty bastards, you have to give them that.

Today it's access to land, tomorrow it's banning motorcycling entirely........think that's too alarmist, too extreme!? Really? Consider for a moment universal, government controlled health care ( hey, we sort of have that now, don't we? heh, heh, heh). Now consider an HHS audit of activities that place undo "strain" and "cost" on the system..........you feeling me now? Where do you think motorcycling would rank in such a study........near the flippin' top, that's where. And with a stroke of a pen, all for the common good mind you, you're prize machine becomes lawn art. And once a right is surrendered, it's pretty tough to get it back, just ask the Brits that would like the right to legally own a handgun.

Now that you're armed (damn, there's that nasty hate speech again) with some knowledge, do more research, understand what's going on, share it with folks.........including your representative in Congress. Let them know that you expect them to do the right thing.

Lastly, join the AMA (www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com), they're out there everyday fighting for our right to ride. I know, as an organization they haven't been too kind to those of us in the club community (One Percenters know what I mean), but we have to get passed it, the stakes are simply too high.....don't tell anyone, or tell everyone, just join up today! Don't let someone else determine your rights as an American..............if for no other reason than that would be profoundly un-American!

 

Sarah's My Homegirl

I love "Sarah Palin's Alaska".............there I said it, get over it, move on. I read that its debut was seen by over five million viewers (some even had college educations analysts say, though none thankfully were ivy league), a record for cable, and it's expected to be a major boost to Alaskan tourism. Whatever. Stunning mountain ranges, pristine waterfalls, float planes, and wildlife......this show's got it all. Or so I've been told.............I haven't noticed. You see, Sarah's my homegirl.

 It started at the RNC in 2008 and it's been growing faster than the Obama fueled national debt........my love affair with Mrs. P. Watching that speech I couldn't help but be reminded of that other uber sex symbol of  all things "right"..........Ronald Reagan. The wit, the warmth, the humor, the hair..........it was all right there. OK, maybe she wasn't quite as sexy as the Gipper; but her ability to propel the loonie left, especially their lapdogs in the shamestream media, into fits of apoplectic, spittle producing tantrums, sealed the deal for me. Or maybe it was the photo of my lovely Sarah cradling an AR-15 like she'd been there before..........ah, no matter. My heart was hers.

Oh, I know. She's stupid. After all, haven't the "best and the brightest" from Harvard to Wall Street, to PBS, been beating on that bongo from day one? The same "best and brightest" we might want to remember, responsible for the mortgage meltdown, the financial meltdown, the auto industry takeover, titanically idiotic levels of debit, and my favorite "health care" (whatever the hell that means). Let's ponder for a moment the "she's stupid" argument.........one, I'm ashamed to admit is not limited to the nitwits on the left, a few of my pals on the right that should know better have slammed my girl too. Proving yet again that elitism and sycophantic snobbery is an equal opportunity parlor game.

Stupid. OK. Let's see. Born into an average family, father's a teacher of all things. No wealth or privilege........sorry Kennedy's, no trust fund to be found anywhere. She's an average student, and an above average athlete......basketball I'm told, no cheer leading cliche's here. Damn.

Sarah goes of to college, alright, a couple of colleges if you must know. Unfortunately none of these institutions were of the ivy variety......horrors! You know the rest, marriage, kids, mayor of a small Alaskan town, Governor of the state (I know, Alaska's not a "real" state, so being Governor hardly counts). I could be wrong here, but does this seem the  life trajectory of a moron? As a matter of fact, I would submit that had this resume been that of anyone BUT Sarah Palin it would have been hailed as the American success story of the century.

Doesn't Sarah's success as a mom, small business person, and politician stand as confirmation of the ideals of the woman's movement in particular, and civil rights in general? So why the hate? I'll tell you why (aside from her unforgivable sin of not claiming Pro Choice status), the simple fact is the left has no equivalent narrative.

They have no self-made woman, no true American success stories of their own.........think about it for a minute. Nancy Pelosi, married a powerful man. Dianne Feinstein, married a powerful man. Barbara Boxer, married a powerful man. Hillary Clinton...........well, you get the idea. Seems like behind every darling Dem is.........egad, a man! More to the point, a man with a bankroll. Not exactly a vision of female empowerment.

Is Sarah Palin smart? Was Ronald Reagan smart? What is smart? Unfortunately, that's a question best left to.............ah, smart people I suppose. But what I can say is that Sarah Palin is real, she's authentic and the American people get that. She has a vision that the average person can relate to, and she can articulate that vision with a clarity not seen since..........well, since Reagan. The more the left tries to demonize and trivialize her, the more powerful she becomes. Sarah Palin is "stupid" because liberals are scared spitless, and they have no counter for her force of character.

Sarah's my homegirl not because she'd be the hottest leader in the free world, or that she loves guns and the outdoors (can you see her on a Harley.......oh mama!), or that she could kick the living crap out of any of her left leaning, concave chested, girlie-men detractors. No, Sarah's my homegirl because she's regular folks............and it's regular folks that made this country great. And that ain't stupid........