“Struck sir? I have not yet began to fight!”

“…Before the British fleet could respond, BONHOMME RICHARD lashed out at SERAPIS igniting a bitter struggle that would last the entire night. Early in the battle, the guns of Jones’ main battery exploded, temporarily disabling his ship. Under gunned, Jones’ relied on decisive naval strategies and the might of his crew to out-fight the more powerful SERAPIS. To offset the SERAPIS’ speed, Jones lashed his flagship alongside and continued the fight long after his subordinates regarded the situation as hopeless.

Burning, sinking, and scattered with the dead and wounded, BONHOMME RICHARD lit up the darkness with a constant barrage. Jones struggled to keep his vessel afloat and, in one instance, an overwhelming number of prisoners in hold threatened to rush the deck to save from drowning. Jones defied all odds and continued the fight against Captain Pearson’s SERAPIS.

In the final hour, BONHOMME RICHARD’S mast was hit above the top-sail. Along with her Colors, a large section of the mast came crashing to the deck near Jones, feet. In response to the downfallen colors, SERAPIS called out, “Have you struck your Colors?” Resoundingly, John Paul Jones exclaimed, “Struck Sir? I have not yet begun to fight!” And fight they did. With newfound will, his crew delivered decisive blows from all sides and aloft. Jones’ sent 40 Marines and Sailors into the rigging with grenades and muskets.

Decimated, SEPARIS could not avoid defeat and at 2230 she struck her Colors. Victorious, John Paul Jones commandeered SERAPIS and sailed her to Holland for repairs. Sadly, BONHOMME RICHARD sank at 1100 on September 24, 1779, never to rise from her watery grave. This epic battle was the American Navy’s first-ever defeat of an English ship in English waters! Rallying colonial hope for freedom, Jones’ victory established him to many as “The Father of the American Navy.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, the fight is far from over:

1) Health Care Reform

The Senate continues to try to ram “Health Care Reform” through. In a 60-39 vote on Nov. 21, 2009, the U.S. Senate pushes ahead with the overhaul of our health care system. Debate is expected to begin on November 30th, 2009.

On the House side, HR 3962 has passed the House of Representatives (220-215), hardly what one would call a “mandate”.

2) Environmental Legislation Looming:

  HR 2454 “American Clean Energy and Security Act” (a.k.a. “Cap and Trade”) and the U.N. Climate Treaty

 Big Government just getting bigger; Cap & Trade to regulate behavior through taxation, penalizing industry for production in the name of protecting the environment.
The U.N. Climate Treaty to subjugate the U.S. Government to a global government in the name of protecting our environment.

 Take courage from Captiain Jones, and keep up the fight!

Keep up the pressure!

   Call, Fax, E-mail, and/or visit your Senators and Representatives.

Tell them that these are not the proposals that will fix the problems that we have in our health care system. Let them know that the science behind “Global Warming” and “Climate Change” is a sham; the numbers that support the hysteria were manipulated to a political end, and that if they support this job-killing legislation you will actively seek their removal from office.

Remind them that we are watching and will not support them when their term is up if they support this “Overhaul” of our health care system or taxing production through “Cap & Trade”.