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Mr. Mercat and I made it to the Catholic cemetery today where my parents are buried. We meant to go yesterday (family tradition to go the day before) but my DIL is in the hospital so I visited her. Man, what a crowd today. Entire families. Almost couldn’t find a place to park. Lovely.

Kids like this make me think there is hope.

I was at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery today. Senators Klobuchar and Franken were there and Gov. Dayton as well. My father and I (he's WWII Navy Air Corps vet) reached the end of our ropes and he's more pissed than I am. We've gone to this ceremony for over 15 years and every year it is the same thing.

Minnesota RATs use the platform to push their agendas under the guise of ‘helping vets and their families.’ Of course, this means federal programs and I even listened to one of the top DC VA bozos, a few years back, tout Obama’s revamped care program because they cared so much. In earlier years I listened to Wellstone blather on about all ‘emergency personnel’ and their sacrifices and our need for national health care. Because of this and so many other stupid episodes of self-aggrandizement, we thought up three main points to ask of the Federal government for Memorial Day services . . .

1. The day is for remembering veterans and their sacrifice on our behalf, therefore, the emphasis should be on veterans - NOT politicians who invariably are “distinguished guests” and given VIP treatment and plenty of photo-ops. In short, this is the perfect platform for self-promoting scum. If politicians want to come to honor the living and dead - sit in the audience with the rest of us grateful citizens instead of lecturing us as people who need guidance and reminders. We elected these fools to represent us and they are our servants - take a cue and shut up.

2. The main speaker should focus his/her remarks on the service and sacrifice of those who have served on our behalf. As I stated above, too many ceremonies have become little more than political speeches for any number of stupid hobby horse projects - usually from the left.

3. Get rid of the Shriners. What the heck do these clowns show up for? Yes, yes, yes, I know. They are doing service stuff. Fine. Do service stuff at an old folks home. Seriously, today (and many times past) I have watched Shriners drive little clown cars (most jeep replicas the size of of a Barbie car) and wave like they are celebrities instead of fat insurance salesmen. There is a horse group that brings in a set of colors after everyone else and their brother has already passed with the colors. In short, the Shriners presence does nothing for the day but promote Shriners. Get in line and join the rest of us in the audience.

Thoughts?