Truth be told, I'm not feeling very damned patriotic today, for more than a couple of reasons.

1. American men and women are still dying in a shit hole in the desert called Iraq.
2. The Commander in Chief refuses to bring any of them home.
3. The President just commuted the prison sentence of one of his cronies, in complete contradiction to standing law.
4. The President and his administration refuse to come clean on the warrant less wiretapping program, even claiming executive privilege on conversations that occurred concerning the legality of that program.
5. The President and his administration continue to show disregard for the United States Constitution, continue to disregard the checks placed upon them by that document, continue to do end runs around the Geneva Conventions, and flout pretty much every other piece of domestic or international legislation designed to constrain their wantonly criminal acts.
6. The majority of Democrats seem unwilling or unable to do the necessary work of investigating, and if necessary, bringing this President and his administration to account for his actions. Instead, they'd rather jawbone and continue campaigning for the elections next year.

So you'll excuse me if I'm not sufficiently motivated to fire up the grill, swill some beers, and watch colorful ordinance explode over my head. Or stick a "Support Or Troops" sticker to my gas guzzler and parade around the highways of Columbus. I'm working two jobs just to stay ahead of my bills and to try to save money for school. I cannot even make it home to see my friends and family, whom I miss dearly, because my car continues to make this clunking noise that the mechanics can't seem to puzzle out. That, and I have to work both of my jobs tomorrow, which would leave me little time for the back and forth to my hometown of Sandusky.

In any case, I wish each and every one of you, and your families, a safe and happy Fourth of July. Hopefully you'll celebrate this holiday with a little more gusto than I will.