Most people do not know that chloramine is the tap water disinfectant used in Greenville by Greenville Water System and in Greer by Greer Commission of Public Works. Chloramine is a combination of bleach and ammonia - two cleaners that you are told to never combine when cleaning.

My son and I have experienced burning, red, itchy skin rashes that no doctor could treat and digestive symptoms including nausea, horrible abdominal cramps, and irritable bowel symptoms. I figured out it was the water after going to chloramine.org which tells symptoms that others are having and shows example skin rashes before and after using chloraminated water. I learned that about 1,000 people in an organization called Citizens Concerned About Chloramine (CCAC) were able to prove cause and effect with chloramine. They are dramatically better after avoiding chloramine, but this takes a lot of work.

The announced death of Alexander “Al” Haig brought back many memories of a man who spent six decades of his life in service to his country. Haig was born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Dec. 2, 1924. As a boy he dreamed of a military career, received an appointment to the US Military Academy and graduated from West Point with the class of 1947. He served in combat in both Korea and Vietnam. As an Army Colonel he became a military advisor to Henry Kissinger in the Nixon Administration. President Nixon promoted Haig from 2 to 4 star general, breaking tradition and passing over 240 more senior officers. He served as Chief of Staff for Nixon during the Watergate Hearings and became the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces under President Ford. He resigned from that position when President Carter created the Iranian disaster and was later appointed Secretary of State by President Reagan. He resigned due to bickering within the Reagan Cabinet. George Shultz, his successor at State described Haig as “a patriot’s patriot. No matter how you sliced him, it came out red, white and blue.”

The “sleeping giant” has awakened and has stated its purpose as “taking America back” from the special interest groups and politicians that are moving the nation away from a sovereign republic governed by elected representatives of the people guided by the original intent of the Constitution of the United States.

The Tea Party movement has a unique opportunity during this election year to use its energy to take back control of American institutions that should be serving the people and are now serving the special interests of the central government. Tea Party activists are stepping forward to become candidates for public office and are supporting candidates and incumbents who have a record of service consistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

The “handwriting is on the wall,” 2010 is not going to be a good year for RINOs.  In case you have not been paying attention, RINO is a liberal, moderate or progressive politician that, in order to get elected in a conservative district or state, places an “R” after his or her name, runs in a Republican primary election, and becomes a “Republican in name only” (RINO).

The Republican Party in its effort to become a powerful force for good government was willing to compromise principles in order to gain majority control of the South Carolina State House and Senate and both houses of Congress in Washington, D. C. Republicans not only accepted Democrat office holders into their party, but encouraged change of party label in order to add numbers and become the majority party.

The Republican Party has the greatest opportunity in a decade to change national, state and local government for the better this year. However, there are perilous obstacles along the way that could derail the opportunity and become disastrous for both the party and the nation. An objective look at recent history is beneficial to understand the current situation and plot a way forward.

A large influx of social and fiscal conservatives became involved in the political process during the 1980s through organizations such as the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition. The “Rockefeller” style, country club, establishment republicans distrusted these energetic newcomers, but eventually found a way to harness their energy and build a powerful political movement that eventually controlled the White House and both houses of Congress.

It’s election year. We have a radical in the White House, revolutionaries in control of the Congress and a large segment of the electorate is confused. That makes for a dangerous mixture for law-abiding citizens who don’t particularly care for excitement of the violent variety.

A large segment of my generation don’t even watch violent movies; we saw enough carnage in Korea and Vietnam to last a lifetime. We sympathize with the troops trying to fight a war when the civilian leaders are not interested in winning and don’t have the courage or the integrity to admit it. We detest a civilian population that is disinterested in national defense unless they have a son or brother whose life is on the line in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere.