"Ring out the old, Ring in the New"  so goes the line in Tennyson's  "A New Year's Poem".  I want to end this year by ushering in something new - a blog redesign and ring out the old with a 2005 retrospective.  This year-in-review tilts more to the personal with some political spice thrown in for good measure.  More so in 2005 than in any previous year, my personal life had become tighly woven with my political escapades in public and in the blogosphere. One has to pause and ask if this is a good thing? Looking back over the year's events, I would have to say:

Yeah..Baby..Yeah!

Before I start with my journey down memory lane, I have to give props to two bloggers who have excelled in rounding up the political news of 2005:

Mikes America

Guardian Watchblog

Both of these bloggers have enlightened, entertained or infuriated readers with their expertise, common sense and wit.

Okay, on with the story:

Thee chill of January 2005 was tempered with a flurry of activity.  Since the 3rd of November, 2004, I had been busily organizing a VirtualTourist meetup to coincide with the Inaugural celebrations in DC on January 20th. Adding more complexity to this meetup, my fellow VT'ers were located in states across the country; California, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida. Another hurdle was obtaining enough passes to allow everyone to view the Inauguration at the Capitol building. The VT meetup award goes to my good friend,  Yubert,  for gleaning 8 tickets from none other than Senator Boxer! With help from a friend who works for State Senator Allison Schwartz, I managed to get 4 Inaugural passes.

On January, 20th 2005, the President of the United States renewed his oath of office. I, along with my friends, were present on the Capitol grounds to witness the swearing in and to take in the spectacle that is Inauguration Day.  The right to peacefully assemble is a bedrock right guaranteed to the American people by the US Constitiution. Unless  the Supreme Court deems it unconstitutional!  Those who were still suffering from Post Election Stress Disorder were out in droves in DC, even Jesus made an appearance on this day.  I missed the opportunity to have my picture taken with Christ, but laughed at the liberal ideology that eschews religion, yet is quick to claim Christ as a liberal who hates President Bush. Whatever your political affiliations are, do not miss out on an opportunity to witness the peaceful transfer of power that is a hallmark of our democracy.  It affirms what makes this nation great, and is always a good time.  Speaking of good times, I was unable to get tickets for the Texas Society Black Tie and Boots Ball.  For the 2008 Allen/Rice Inauguration, I'll make sure to secure my Texas Society Ball tickets early! 

Reading the literature I receIved with my tickets, I discovered an interesting fact regarding the Inaugurations at the Capital. Reagan's Inauguration was the first to be held on the West front of the Capitol. President Reagan remarked in his 1981 inaugural speech "..standing here, one faces a magnificent vista, opening up on this city's special beauty and history. At one end of the Mall are those shrines on whose shoulders we stand." Regan also remarked "that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will NOT surrender for it - now or ever."  -  WOW!

Following on the heels of the Presidential Inauguration was the January 30 election in Iraq. A day that was much anticipated by both those who support the fledgling democracy and those who do not. The vote was held on schedule despite calls by Democratic legislators for it's postponement and threats of bloodshed from terrorists. In spite of, or perhaps because of the threats of violence by terrorists, the Iraqi people sent a resounding message to the world that day.  By their vote,  Iraqis chose life over death, hope over despair and freedom over tyranny.  A message the MSM to this day resists to acknowledge.

March 19 marked the two year anniversary of the begining of the end of saddam and terroristism worldwide.  I chose to mark the day in Central Park, NYC with fellow Protest Warriors counter-protesting the moonbat brigade.  The unwashed patchouli-smelling 60's throwbacks were out in droves pushing the same myths and lies that they hope to pass on to the unsuspecting public. Then they met us, the not-so-silent majority and wigged out. Something about truth is like holy water to these unwashed masses. The day turned out well, the liberal love-in was watched with much amusement by the members of Protest Warrior NYC. A majority of the Protest Warriors showed solidarity with the Iraqis by dying our index fingers purple. I enjoyed flipping the purple peace sign at the uninformed liberals. They all were puzzled by the two finger salute. Typical.  Some of them eventually got the message and decided to color their middle finger purple. Hmmm..what were they really saying about the democratic process in Iraq? 

April showers bring May flowers..or whatever.  The opportunity came about to particpate in a counter-protest at the Constitution Center with Philly's Protest Warrior on May 15th.  Before standing with my compatriots, I took time to wander around the anti-war crowd. Several of them were sporting  placards with a number that represented one of the "100,000" victims of the Iraq war.  This proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the "anti's" have no clue of rudimentary statistics. However, none of them could answer my query: "If peace is priceless, then why count the cost?"  Perhaps my question was too nuanced for them.  It was at this small gathering of Protest Warriors that I met Grizzly Mama, The City Troll and their cubs.  Through Grizzly Mama's blog I discovered Mikes America, Blonde Sagacity and A Tangled Web or more precisely they discovered me :)

TBC....