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March 31, 2005
Thoughts on Thoughtful Political Discourse
Yesterday, I posted about Ann Coulter's speech at the University of Kansas, and Robert placed a comment. He said:Don't forget the part where she specifically asked the College Republicans to use physical violence (a request which they of course obeyed) to silence hecklers who were asking her questions about the things she was leaving out about Bush'f [sic] foreign policy!He included his homepage, Un-apologetic Atheist, and I took a look. Apparently he had been at the speech, and posted a lengthy recap of the evening's events from his perspective.
Obviously, Robert has the right to his opinion. Go ahead and read his post about the evening. However, it's my opinion that many there weren't looking for thoughtful political discourse, but discord.
What were Ann's words exactly?
"Could 10 of the largest College Republicans start walking up and down the isles and start removing anyone shouting? Otherwise, this lecture is over."According to the article, it seemed as though no one in authority was doing anything to keep the dissenters from disrupting the evening. There are no reports of outright violence, although security did eventually escort a handful of people from the auditorium. And if you are familiar with Coulter, you'll know that much of what she says is sarcastic and tongue in cheek. I really doubt she would have stood by and blessed any fistfights or shoving matches had they occurred.
Ann Coulter (and her way of expressing her opinions) is not for everyone. I know plenty of conservatives who don't like her style and her type of biting humor. That's fine...there are lots of different fish in the sea. And those on the Left sure have no use for her, and she realizes it, but she continues because she is passionate about her beliefs.
My problem with the way the evening went is that, rather than waiting until the prescribed question and answer period, those who didn't like what Coulter had to say were shouting as she spoke in an obvious attempt to quiet her. Coulter is known for never backing down, and any questions put to her at the appropriate time would have been answered. Maybe the questioners wouldn't like the answers, but that's neither here nor there.
If you read the linked article, you will also see that there were protesters outside the auditorium with signs, etcetera. Were they forced to leave? No. As long as any kind of protesters stay within the boundaries of the law, they have every right to congregate and let their opinions be known.
So many people these days are averse to opposing opinions being aired. And it seems that many of them are on the Left. Back in February, former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle had a shoe thrown at him during a debate about Iraq with newly-minted DNC Chair Howard Dean. I don't recall Dean denouncing the shoe thrower, even as he was dragged from the auditorium shouting, "Liar, liar!" And just a couple of days ago, conservative commentator Bill Kristol had a pie thrown in his face during a speech at Earlham College. (To the school's credit, the student will face disciplinary action, even possible expulsion.)
That isn't to say conservatives can't be obnoxious...but I haven't heard much about them throwing pies and shoes at speakers during official forums. And if I did hear about it, I wouldn't support it...I would be denouncing it right here.
Everyone has a right to be heard if they want to be. That's the American way. But heckling, although a long-standing tradition throughout world history, shouldn't be encouraged. Trying to shut someone up because you don't like their opinions just shows you for what you are...immature and closed-minded. And, by shouting down the opposition, you'll have less of a chance to change minds, because most people don't like being bullied and heckled. They'll be less likely to listen to what you have to say.
Without thoughtful political discourse, we might as well be living in a country like Cuba, where you can get tossed in jail for 70 years for disagreeing with dictator...er, President Castro. But that means we all have to agree to let the other side be heard, even if we don't like what's being said. If we wait our turn, politely, then we'll get our chance to rebut. And, perhaps change a mind or two.
Thoughtful political discourse...try it...you may like it!
UPDATE: Pat Buchanan was doused with salad dressing as he spoke at a Western Michigan State University. CBS entitled their report as "A Dressing-Down for Pat Buchanan." Can you imagine the uproar if someone had done that to Howard Dean or Michael Moore?
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Minuteman Project Ready to Go
For those of you who haven't heard of it, the Minuteman Project is a movement to document illegal immigrants from Mexico as they try to cross the border.The plan is to spread out along the border between Mexico and Arizona, and report any illegal crossings to border patrol agents.
Of course, this has the Left in a tizzy.
A danger to the country? And why is it that our porous borders aren't a concern? Not only do illegals who get in create a drain on health care, welfare and other public programs, but there is the danger that Islamic terrorists can get in. After all, why would Mexico care?"They are domestic terrorists that represent a danger to the country and could promote a major border conflict that will have serious ramifications and consequences," said Armando Navarro, a University of California-Riverside political science professor and coordinator of the National Alliance for Human Rights, made up mostly of Hispanic activists.
And of course, the whole thing is being blamed upon white supremacist groups. However, according to Michelle Malkin,
Contrary to the ACLU and mainstream media representations of the group as racists and immigrant-bashers, the Minutemen are a diverse volunteer group that includes Americans of Mexican, Armenian, Russian, Lebanese, Indian and Cuban descent; and black and Native American minorities. Also among the volunteers are 19 legal immigrants from Mexico, Peru, Russia, New Zealand, England, Australia and the Philippines.The ACLU seems to care more about the rights of non-citizens than citizens of the United States. What does that say to you?
The Minuteman Project is shedding some much-needed light on a major problem at our southern border. I say more power to them.
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The U.N. Can't Add and Subtract
Captain's Quarters Blog has an interesting post today about the U.N. and its reports on starving children in Iraq.CQ reader Marc Landers thinks he's discovered why the United Nations can't keep track of the money it gets, allowing so much of it to wind up in the pockets of its own managers, such as Benon Sevan, and tyrants like Saddam Hussein. It may not happen through maliciousness -- it might be that they just don't know how to dosimple math.
The post goes on to discuss a report by the BBC that says the rate of malnourished children has doubled from 4% to 8% since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
But here's the kicker, based on a UNICEF report:
So before the war -- "even before the conflict began" -- UNICEF reported that 25% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 were chronically malnourished, and that 12.5% of them died before even reaching the age of 5. Now that the war is over, only 8% of them are chronically malnourished, and the UN doesn't even talk about excess mortality in that age group any more. Somehow that gets transformed in Turtle Bay as "doubling", rather than "reducing by two-thirds".
Unbelievable. The trouble is, the U.N. has been getting away with this kind of lunacy for years! The Oil for Food scandal wasn't just a fluke. Inefficiency and unaccountability are a way of live in Turtle Bay and unless something drastic is done, ain't nothin' gonna change.
The best way to deal with it? Start at the top with Kofi Annan, and the rest of the dominoes will follow.
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March 30, 2005
Wish I'd Been There...
I love Ann Coulter, who spoke at Kansas University's Lied Center last night (Tuesday). Some of her zingers against the Left included:- Calling Sen. Ted Kennedy a "human dirigible" and the Democrats' "spiritual leader."
- She made fun of the Democrats' dalliance with filmmaker Michael Moore.
- She also made fun of former presidential candidate John Kerry, who she said got away with telling "big, fat, enormous lies."
She also had to deal with the unavoidable hecklers and protesters, one of whom was quoted: "I think she's a clown or a witch," 45-year-old Ron Warman Jr. said, as he protested outside dressed up in a clown suit.
You can read about the whole funfest here. Go Ann!
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Anti-War "Activists" Deface War Memorial
Little Green Footballs has a post today regarding the defacement and vandalism of Canal Walk, a congressional medal of honor memorial in Indianapolis.They [the vandals] sprayed names, symbols and even profanities against President Bush at the congressional medal of honor memorial. WhatÕs worse is the damage to the two glass memorial panels which will cost thousands of dollars to repair.It's one thing to be "anti-war." It's quite another thing to defile a memorial to those men and women who have put it all on the line so that scum like these "activists" have the "right" to spread slander and damage property.
What a bunch of morons.
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National Healthcare Ain't What It's Cracked Up to Be
A national health care plan touted by the Clinton administration (dubbed Hillarycare) didn't pass muster in the1990s, but there are many out there who still think it's a great idea.It isn't!
John C. Goodman of the National Center for Policy Analysis has co-authored a book on the subject, from which he has created a stand-alone paper...which you can find here.
Among the myths Goodman takes on are:
In countries with national health insurance systems, people have a right to healthcare.
and
Countries with national health insurance create equal access to health care.
No one's saying the American system is perfect. But after reading Goodman's paper, you'll be glad you live here instead of Canada, Britain, or any other country that supplies "free" healthcare.
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Being a Celebrity Doesn't Always Get You Off the Hook
Being a celebrity often comes with lots of perks...freebies, getting to the front of the line at Disneyland, and so on. However, New Zealand doesn't care who you are when it comes to their strict quarantine laws.Actress Hilary Swank forgot to declare an apple and an orange when flying in to New Zealand in January of 2004. She was fined on the spot a total of $163 American dollars for her forgetfulness.
Did she pay the fine? No. She wrote a letter to the court, asking for the judgment to be overturned, apologizing for forgetting to declare the fruit after a 20-hour flight.
Her plea was denied, and now she has to cough up the cash...over a year later, no less, because of time wasted by her petition.
I'm sure Swank doesn't have a cash flow problem. What makes her think she's so special that she can get around paying a standard fine for what seems to be a standard problem in New Zealand? Any other visitor to the country would just pay up and move on.
Perhaps some day we'll hear her saying, "Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my closeup!"
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March 29, 2005
Quote of the Day!
How about those Leftists?That power only, not principles, is what matters to Leftist movers and shakers is perfectly shown by the 2004 Kerry campaign. They put up a man whose policies seemed to be 99% the same as George Bush's even though the Left have previously disagreed violently with those policies. "Whatever it takes" is their rule.Leftist ideologues are phonies. For most of them all that they want is to sound good. They don't care about doing good. That's why they do so much harm. They don't really care what the results of their policies are as long as they are seen as having good intentions and can con "the masses" into giving them power. The Big Lie of the late 20th century was that Nazism was Rightist. It was in fact typical of the Leftism of its day. It was only to the Right of Stalin's Communism. The very word "Nazi" is a German abbreviation for "National Socialist"Where did I find this? Dissecting Leftism, one of many blogs put out by Australian John Ray. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates thoughtful discourse.
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Steyn on the Consequences of International Law
Mark Steyn takes on international law in his commentary on the UK's Telegraph today, as it relates to the war in Iraq and how the allies have handled it.A year or so back, you'll recall, the Pentagon declared the axis of weasels - France, Germany, Russia - ineligible for Iraqi reconstruction contracts, and an outraged Gerhard Schršder protested that this act was illegal under international law. President Bush took it in his stride. "International law?" he giggled. "I better call my lawyer. He didn't bring that up to me."However, according to Steyn, it seems that British PM Tony Blair seems to be a bit more worried about international law, and opinion, than President Bush is.
For purposes of comparison, George W Bush, widely regarded as the inarticulate schlub of the transatlantic partnership, couldn't have put it plainer. "I made up my mind that Saddam needs to go," he told Trevor McDonald in early 2002. The British government, on the other hand, continued to emphasise publicly that it was not committed to regime change right up to the start of the war. They didn't go quite as far as the Canadian prime minister, who was still insisting he was opposed to regime change even after the regime had been changed. Say what you like about that, but it's more intellectually honest than the Blair-Straw line, which was officially that the invasion was really just a slightly more aggressive inspections team and there's no reason why Saddam couldn't carry on a business-as-usual fully operational dictatorship with the country crawling with foreign troops. Whether or not this was a "lie", it was certainly absurd and an insult to the citizenry. When it came to overthrowing Saddam, Bush was disarmingly honest while Blair stuck to the narrow legalistic technicality of disarming at great cost to his honesty.Blair has been an important ally in the war in Iraq and other issues in the Middle East. However, had he been less worried about international law (about which new US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said, "It is a big mistake for us to grant any validity to international law"), perhaps the ball could have gotten rolling much sooner as Steyn says, and we'd be out of Iraq that much sooner.
Steyn sums things up thusly:
Bush and John Howard are under no illusions about this postmodern concept of sovereignty. Tony Blair is.International law? "I better call my lawyer." Better not to. The civilised world can't depend on the legal niceties of an ersatz global jurisdiction. If the Iraq war turns out to have been "illegal", that's just another bonus.
And that's a bonus I can live with!
(Note: if you want to read the entire article on the Telegraph, you have to register with the site...however, registration is free.)
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A Harvard Professor Speaks Out in Defense of Academic Freedom
In a speech given on March 15 at the meeting of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Science (full transcript on Front Page Magazine here), a professor spoke about the eroding hill that was once the mountain of academic freedom.Specifically, Stephan Thernstrom discussed his concerns about the flap with Harvard President Lawrence Summers, and how those who claim to be propenents of academic freedom are really the academic thought police.
It is amazing to me that many of us here no longer seem to understand that the expression of controversial ideas and the freedom to debate them is at the heart of any greater institution of higher learning. The whole point of tenure, as I understand it, is to protect professors from the thought police. But now they are not just outside, on some congressional or state legislative committee. They are inside too, in our midst.Be sure to read the whole thing for yourself. Considering how much trouble Summers got himself into by going against the PC machine, I wonder how Mr. Thernstrom is faring these days?
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March 28, 2005
Michael Jackson a Persecuted Black Man?
Poor Michael Jackson. The man who has tried to erase his race over the last twenty years or so is now claiming that he is being persecuted because he is black.In an article in today's New York Post, Jackson even goes so far as to compare himself to Nelson Mandela and boxer Jack Johnson (a boxer in the early 20th century who gained "infamy" for his relationships with white women when such relationships were taboo).
These comparisons were made on Jesse Jackson's radio talk show, a man who would never use race issues indiscriminately.
Jackson was quoted as saying:
Mandela's story has given me a lot of strength, what he's gone through. The Jack Johnson story . . . this society didn't want to accept his position and his lifestyle and what they put him through, and how they changed laws to imprisonthe man, to keep him away behind bars. All these stories that I can go back in history and read about give me strength."Somehow, Jackson comparing himself to someone who was jailed for twenty years while campaigning for the end of apartheid, or to a man who sought to have consensual relationships with adult women who happened to be of a different race, doesn't seem to smack of credibility. Having the support of Jesse Jackson, an extortion specialist in the name of racial equality and an admitted adulterer, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement either.
Michael Jackson seems to forget why he is on trial: for the alleged molestation of a cancer-stricken child whom he befriended in the guise of support.
Even if he is innocent without a doubt, his lifestyle of outrageous excesses surely hasn't helped his cause. Changing his skin color, using plastic surgery to change his features beyond recognition, sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, sham marriages that produced children whom he dangles out of hotel windows, and living on an estate that is more like Disneyland than a proper home hardly gives the public a sense of ease about his sense of propriety and appropriateness with children.
And now he cries "persecution" because he is black?
Michael Jackson needs to take the advice of his own song, Man in the Mirror: "I'm starting with the man in the mirror; I'm asking him to change his ways..." When's the last time Jackson truly looked at himself? Does he like what he sees? My guess is no, but he's so caught up in his own "mystery," he can't even begin to take responsibility for what direction his actions have taken him in. Even before his trial, his life was like a car crash: horrible to watch, but impossible to turn away from.
Playing the race card won't fool anyone.
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Extry, Extry...Get Yer G.I. Bracelets!
You know those rubber yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets (John Kerry even wore one...what an endorsement!) that have created a slew of copycat versions for different causes?Well, here's one that is for a great cause...our soldiers in arms. G.I.Bracelet.org uses all proceeds from the sale of the purple bands ($5 each) for the building of homes for seriously disabled Iraq vets, grants to the families of fallen servicemen and more.
Over $10,000 has been raised thus far!
Hat tip: Michelle Malkin
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Another New Site To Check Out...
Joe-Six-Pack blogs over at geosciblog. He has some interesting points of view on ecoterrorists, socialized medicine and the energy "crisis." Please take a few moments to check him out!Show Comments »
Double Standards? Yes, Please!
In the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal Online today, John Fund discusses the double standards employed by the Left with regard to the Terri Schiavo case...to wit, the Left's complaint that the government doesn't belong in personal family business.The comparison Fund uses? The snatching of little Elian Gonzalez by INS forces, orchestrated by then-Attorney General Janet Reno. Elian, of course, was the boy from Cuba whose mother died as they crossed over the ocean from Cuba to Miami. It was the responsibility of state courts to assign custody of Elian, who was being claimed by relatives in Miami and his father back in Cuba.
To make a long story short, the federal government stepped in when it saw what it considered to be a falling down on the part of the state court system. And, don't forget, then-President Clinton didn't want Cuba to be mad at him, as "world opinion" meant more to him than the needs of a young boy who was about to be spirited back to an oppressive Communist regime.
Here's where Fund makes his point:
Of course, there are differences between the Gonzalez and Schiavo cases. But clearly many of the people who approved of dramatic federal intervention to return Elian to Cuba took a completely different tack when it came to the argument over saving Terri Schiavo. Rep. Frank makes a compelling argument that Congress took an extraordinary step when it met in special session to create a procedure whereby the federal courts could decide whether Ms. Schiavo's rights were being violated. He may have a point when he accuses Republicans of "trying to command judicial activism and dictate outcomes when they don't like" rulings. But where were Mr. Frank and other liberals when the Clinton administration decided to sidestep a federal appeals court and order an armed raid against Elian Gonzalez? While Mr. Frank allowed that the use of assault rifles in the Elian raid was "excessive" and "frightening," he also defended the Justice Department's view that "of course [agents] had to use force."Why was it different for Elian Gonzalez than it was for Terri Schiavo? I have a theory.
Many on the Left are still in the thrall of Communism, thinking that Communism, Socialism, Marxism...anything but capitalism...are the way to utopia. Therefore, to let Elian stay in Miami would be depriving him of a golden opportunity to live in the land of Fidel Castro, champion of the common man. He simply had to go back, and if the state court couldn't guarantee that, then it was up to the feds to do it.
With the Terri Schiavo case, the Left is more of a proponent of quality of life than life itself. The recent Academy Award winning movie Million Dollar Baby is a case in point: if one isn't living the kind of life believed to "have meaning," then that life should be snuffed out. (What kind of meaning? That question is never truly answered.) The courts sided with Michael Schiavo, whose motives to "carry out Terri's wishes" were never questioned by the judges who heard the case. So when the federal government stepped in, the Left sounded its battle cry that the feds need to stay out of state business.
(A good article to read regarding the "quality of life" issue is by John Leo on Town Hall today.)
Which is it? Why was it okay for the federal government to override the state with Elian Gonzalez, but not with Terri Schiavo?
As usual, the Left wants to have its cake and eat it too. And that cake is getting staler by the day.
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A New Partnership!
Just an FYI: In addition to blogging here, I will also be blogging on Lifelike Pundits. Kitty, ProfShade, and Aaron have taken me into the fold along with another newbie, David. There are some great viewpoints on LP, and I look forward to working with them. Be sure to check it out!Show Comments »
March 27, 2005
One-Stop Shopping for Your Ward Churchill Needs
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Bye Bye, Kofi???
The Sunday Times Online-Britain has an exciting report regarding the possible departure of our dear friend, Kofi Annan, at the UN.
One close observer at the UN said AnnanÕs moods were like a Òsine curveÓ and that he appeared near the bottom of the trough.
Near the bottom of the trough? Nice analogy, as the scandals that have plagued the UN on Annan's watch have brought that institution into the slimy mud and muck of the barnyard that is world politics.
Much of Annan's current angst stems from son Kojo Annan's involvement in the Oil for Food brouhaha, and his having received over $400,000 from a Swiss company that received contracts from the Oil for Food program. Kojo, taking his cue from papa, denies any wrongdoing.
Of course, we can't forget about the sexual abuse of women and children in Africa under the guise of UN peacekeeper "protection." It's hard to figure out which situation is worse.
Another tasty quote:
ÒKofi Annan is going to find his position increasingly untenable,Ó said Nile Gardiner, an expert on the UN at the conservative Heritage Foundation. ÒThere is a strong possibility he will resign voluntarily because of his declining credibility.Ó
Let's hope Mr. Gardiner is correct. The old code of the sea said that the captain should go down with the ship. In the case of the UN, the captain should jump off and take his chances with the sharks, and let the rest of the crew try to shore up the ship's damaged hull. And if that's not possible, then the ship should be scuttled and allowed to sink below the waves, with what little dignity she has left.
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March 26, 2005
Ward Churchill Cries Foul (Through His Lawyer, Of Course)...
Mark over at Decision '08 has posted a piece about the "unfairness" that Ward Churchill didn't get a chance to get a defense together regarding the investigation into his academic misconduct. Of course, this is brought to us from the fine folks at the New York Times..."If they had bothered to call Ward Churchill, they would have investigated his response, found the allegations to be baseless, and there would have been no further action taken," Mr. Lane [Churchill's lawyer] said.
Mark's take on it?
No word yet from any of the 'little Eichmanns' that perished on September 11th as to whether they were given the opportunity to present a defense to Churchill's politically motivated slander...
Stay tuned for more fair and balance reporting on the Ward Churchill saga from the NYT.
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Hope Continues in Iraq
In a post today, Iraq the Model discusses the long road still ahead to democracy in Iraq. Here are some choice excerpts:An important point here is that people in Iraq have begun to absorb the democratic practice and they began to realize the democracy doesn't end once they cast the ballots and every new phase requires more time and effort.
What's really special about the post-election phase is the obvious consciousness of most political parties about the situation. They have understood that dialogue is the only way we have and everyone is learning how to sit to the negotiations table and show lots of patience. And despite the tension that we can see now, the talks have remained confined to the circle of civilized dialogue.
At the time the media and the interested observers are busy emphasizing on the violence in Iraq counting bodies (like war reporters do) they're missing a great revolutionary change being made in Iraq towards democracy.The talks for democracy are much louder a sound than the noise of guns; words and logic are the victors beyond any doubt and the effects of the change in Iraq are spreading across the region.
Please read the whole thing for yourself, and be sure to check out this important beacon of freedom often.
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Making Good Sense in Egypt...
LOL...Roger L. Simon links to a post on an Egyptian blog called Big Pharaoh, and boy, is it a hoot!Big Pharaoh takes on multiculturalism in Britain, citing a recent ruling that allows a Muslim girl to wear a jiljab, which is a head-to-toe gown that is one step away from a burqha. Apparently, it doesn't match up with the school's uniform code.
Discussing his recent "conversion" to Nudadism, where he should be allowed to go to school in the buff because to make him get dressed would be a violation of his rights, Pharaoh then comes out with this:
OK. Let us talk serious now. If the school rules set a specific uniform then the Muslim veil must go, the Jewish head cap must go, the Sikh turban must go. If that's not possible, then the Muslim girl must enroll in a school back in Pakistan, the Jewish boy can join a yeshiva in Jerusalem, and the Sikh can return back to India. It is as simple as that.
To all my European friends, your beautiful culture and history are being eroded by this lie that is called "multiculturalism" while you are standing idly like an iceman in a desert. You cannot please everyone. First it was the head veil, then it is the jilbab, in the future it will be the Taliban Burqa (not to mention my nudism!!). Ohhhh, Praise Nudenus!
I think I'll be checking back with Pharaoh on a regular basis...common sense and a sense of humor...I like it!
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March 25, 2005
Race a Factor in Coverage of Minnesota School Shootings?
Michelle Malkin has a post on her blog regarding some complaints that there hasn't been a slew of coverage in the horrific Minnesota school shootings because they happened on an Indian reservation. Malkin highlights some articles in the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.Here is one of the excerpts Malkin notes from the Post:
"From all over the world we are getting letters of condolence, the Red Cross has come, but the so-called Great White Father in Washington hasn't said or done a thing," said Clyde Bellecourt, a Chippewa Indian who is the founder and national director of the American Indian Movement here. "When people's children are murdered and others are in the hospital hanging on to life, he should be the first one to offer his condolences. . . . If this was a white community, I don't think he'd have any problem doing that."
Malkin says in response,
Kneel, kneel, before the gods of political correctness, oh, Great White Father in Washington!Is this an issue of race? I guess it depends on what side of the coin you are looking at. I, for one, think that the more shootings there are, there is less of a general public reaction because it has happened before. I am not saying that the Red Lake Reservation shooting is any less tragic than any other school shooting. Cases like this are always shocking and moving.
Something else we have to consider is this: if President Bush (or any other president) took the time to meet and condole with each and every family who has had a loved one die in violent, tragic circumstances, he would get nothing else done.
There is also the fact that the nation is in the grip of Terri Schiavo fever, and it has been dominating the headlines for several weeks running. It's hard to drum up a lot of public sentiment about the Red Lake situation when the networks and newspapers are using up so much time and ink on the Schiavo issue. And, as the Schiavo case highlights something that is pivotal in our political scene (pro-life vs...well, not-so-pro-life), the media can analyze and discuss to its heart's content.
Part of the problem in this case is the media. The networks and papers pick what they think will sell...and at the moment, the Schiavo case is selling. For all of their boo hooing about corporate America not caring about people, they're out to make a buck just like the corporations they criticize. So for newspapers to allude to racism on the part of the president is really hypocritical.
But then, isn't that what the MSM has proven time and time again?
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No Canadian Asylum for Deserter Hinzman
Poor Jeffrey Hinzman...he's the Army paratrooper who hightailed it to Canada last January as a so-called "conscientious objector" to the war in Iraq. His dreams of staying in the Leftist haven were shattered yesterday when an immigration board ruled against his request for political asylum."Immigration and Refugee Board member Brian Goodman, who wrote the ruling, said Hinzman might face some employment and social discrimination. But "the treatment does not amount to a violation of a fundamental human right, and the harm is not serious," said the report on My Way News.
Of course, Hinzman's lawyer is already planning an appeal, and there are at least seven other known military deserters hiding out in Canada who were no doubt quite interested in the results of this hearing.
Here are my two favorite parts of the story (not in order of appearance):
Hinzman also testified he had been willing to fulfill his full four-year obligation to the Army, but not to participate in combat. "I find Mr. Hinzman's position to be inherently contradictory," Goodman said in the ruling. "Surely an intelligent young man like Mr. Hinzman, who believes the war in Iraq to be illegal, unjust and waged for economic reasons, would be unwilling to participate in any capacity, whether as combatant or noncombatant."
We are an Army serving a nation at war," the Army said in a statement after Thursday's ruling. "Each of us volunteered to serve (emphasis added), and the vast majority serve honorably. AWOL and desertion are crimes that go against Army values, degrade unit readiness and, in a time of war, may put the lives of other soldiers at risk."For once, someone in a legal capacity in Canada makes some sense! If Hinzman (who took off just weeks before his deployment to Iraq) hates war so much, why is he willing to continue on in the Army in some other capacity?
And as the Army said in its statment, each member has volunteered to serve. It's not like past wars (Vietnam comes readily to mind) when civilians were told they had to join up, like it or not.
Did Hinzman truly believe that any war that might come along would wait until he was done with his four-year contract?
People like me are sick and tired of these whiners who join the Army and then decide that they don't want to fulfill their end of the bargain. "Oh, I just joined for the training and the paid education afterward," is the excuse we hear so many times. Basically, these losers are looking for a free education ride, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
So keep on filing for asylum, Mr. Hinzman. It's not like you're seeking asylum from a country like Cuba, where you would be tossed in jail without a trial for seventy years or so. In spite of Canada's negative stance on many things the United States does, for once someone in the Great White North is doing the right thing.
(The link for the full story is below.)
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March 24, 2005
Should the Military Save Terri?
Aaron, who blogs at Lifelike Pundits, has a great commentary revolving around Ann Coulter's article published today:
Who controls our military? Who controls our police? Judges? Or do we? Is this a country of "We the People" or "We the Judges?"
Our presidents and governerors have SWORN to uphold the law. The president took an oath-one that would not have been possibleif 63 million people did not vote for him-to protect and defend the Constitution....Last time I checked it is Congress that passes the law. The President enforces it.
You should not only read Aaron's comments, but the article by Ann Coulter that inspired them.
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Supreme Court Denial of Schiavo Case Right in Line With Their Philosophy
Surprise surprise, the Supreme Court has denied a petition by Bob and Mary Schindler to hear the case regarding their daughter, Terri Schiavo, whose feeding tube was removed last Friday.According to an AP report, "justices didn't explain their decision."
They didn't have to.
It seems that our esteemed justices do what they do in light of what the "international community" thinks is right. This was apparent in their recent ruling banning the death penalty for anyone under the age of 18. "Our determination finds confirmation in the stark reality that the United States is the only country in the world that continues to give official sanction to the juvenile death penalty," wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. Kennedy is obviously in the same camp as former presidential candidate John Kerry, who was constantly bringing up the idea that we should seek the approval of the world at large.
The Schiavo case has sparked worldwide interest, with various international polls showing comfortable majorities against intervention in what many term a "family affair."
Some may point out that polls here in the U.S. also show the majority against government "meddling." However, one such poll conducted by ABC posed the question with innacuracy, including saying Schiavo was on life support when she only had a feeding tube, being able to otherwise function without technological support. How can people give accurate feedback if they are given inaccurate information?
The so-called quality of her life is irrelevant here.
"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" should count for all citizens. Terri Schiavo did not have a living will in place. Her husband Michael, having been living with another woman and fathering her children for ten or so years, has questionable motives in pushing for Terri's death. However, no court seems to have examined this aspect of the case.
Barring a miracle, Terri will likely die soon. I hope "world opinion" was worth it.
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March 23, 2005
It's Official...9/11 Was an Inside Job...
according to the vile website 911Truth.org.Among the scurrilous claims made on this waste of ether are:
- The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq's oil before the 9/11 attacks, sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil, BBC's Newsnight has revealed. Ooh, the BBC...now there's a non-biased source!
- The U.S. Senate's senior Constitutional scholar has correctly equated Bush with Hitler, and the usual attack dogs are howling. But they are wrong, and Americans must now face the harsh realities of an increasingly fascist and totalitarian GOP. This column is written by Harvey Wasserman, a senior adviser to Greenpeace whose accomplishments include helping to shut down a McDonalds...a stellar member of the community. It's interesting to note his bio calls him a grandfather, but the photo posted must be at least 30 years old! Guess he doesn't want to admit his time has passed...
- One of the "top 15 reasons for doubting the official story of 9/11" is "In the months before 9/11, over 23 documented warnings of coming attacks from eleven foreign governments (including Presidents Putin and Mubarak personally) were received and ignored, many specifically mentioning the use of planes, symbolic urban targets, and Washington & New York. The administration never explained what ever became of these alerts and the 9/11 Commission apparently forgot to ask." What about what happened on the watch of the Clinton administration, such as the first attack on the Twin Towers in 1993 and the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen? Weren't they also warnings?
I'm not sure why I didn't learn of this site sooner...but how I did is appropriate. I saw a sticker inside a stall in the bathroom at Grand Central Terminal in NYC today.
Check it out yourself if you have the time to waste.
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Blog Takes on Asian Issues
If you're interested in the goings-on in North/South Korea and the Asian region in general, please do yourself a favor and check out One Free Korea. The blogger, Joshua, has no information about himself on the site but he has many interesting links and insightful commentaries on issues he obviously feels very strongly about. Definitely a must-read.Show Comments »
Not All Germans Despise the US
To celebrate his 50th birthday, Manfred Petri took out an add in his local leftwing newspaper extolling the virtues of German-American friendship.In taking out the full-page ad, Petri was giving himself the most expensive birthday present he's ever had. It cost him a little over Û6,000. He did it to express the feelings of those who, like himself, still believe in German-American friendship. He also did it to provoke those who don't share his opinion, particularly the liberal paper's core readers. In all, considered it quite successful and was extremely pleased.Petri spent a year in Ohio as a young man, and retained a warm spot in his heart for America. And while the article in Spiegel Online indicates that Petri is not a fan of President Bush ("I wanted to thank America and the Americans," says Petri, "not their president"), it's obvious Petri believes in the value of what America continues to offer to the world -- freedom and peace.
It's nice to know there are still people like Petri in Germany.
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Washington Times: Annan Too Rigid With Reform
Kofi Annan has a few ideas about reforming that lumbering behemoth, the United Nations. That's fine...but it's reminiscent of closing the barn doors after the horse has run out.In an excellent editorial in today's Washington Times, his reforms and his approach to those reforms are examined.
Some of the proposals offered by Mr. Annan constitute necessary first steps toward making the United Nations a viable institution. But his ideas seem to fall into two main categories: ones that sound vaguely appealing, but lack essential details, and ones that will do nothing to improve things -- and may actually make them worse.What are the proposed reforms? Among them is the creation of a Democracy Fund, apparently to promote democracy across the world. Great, but as the Times says, "it could easily turn into a political slush fund."
Similarly, Mr. Annan wants governments to earmark 0.7 percent of their gross national product (a figure apparently plucked out of thin air) for development and to negotiate a treaty against nuclear terrorism and a convention against terrorism. How these ideas would actually work -- and whether they would function in practice as a means to thwart U.S.-led coalitions from acting against rogue states -- remains unclear.
Not to mention the UN couldn't even bring itself to act upon resolutions it brought upon Saddam Hussein and Iraq...when it was known that Hussein was aiding and abetting terrorists throughout the Middle East. Simply throwing more money at the problem and holding a convention (two things the UN loves to do) won't necessarily solve anything.
Here's the kicker:
Mr. Annan appears to be insisting that the U.N. member states uncritically do everything he says. "The temptation is to treat the list as an a la carte menu and select those that you especially fancy," Mr. Annan told the General Assembly on Monday. "In this case, that approach will not work."I see. Member states might like some, but not all, of Annan's ideas, but they will have to take the whole package regardless of valid concerns that might come up. Annan, who is surely familiar with dining in fine restaurants, seems to be forgetting that the kitchen will gladly make changes to menu selections in order to please the customer.
Annan forgets that the UN is there to serve its members, who pay dearly for the "privilege" of belonging.
Reform should start at the top. And as Kofi Annan is at the top, perhaps it's time to find someone else who is willing to take UN reform seriously...not like a toddler who, by throwing tantrums like a toddler, keeps his parents from acting in a rational manner.
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A Female PhD Weighs In on the Lawrence Summers Flap
Janice Shaw Crouse, PhD, has a guest commentary on Town Hall today regarding the feminist backlash against Harvard president Lawrence Summers. A choice tidbit:For the radical feminists, equality of opportunity is not enough. It is no longer sufficient to have empowerment to achieve their potential. They seek control: acquiring pure power for its own sake. They realize that acquiring power hinges upon successfully demanding equality of outcome. But this aim, this result, can only be justified if men and women are identical in their aptitudes in all areas. Males and females must be interchangeable in their roles, positions and behavior.Go on, read the whole thing...and see that not all academics are in the habit of letting the rabble think for them.
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Musicians for Mugabe Losing Popularity
It seems that the people of Zimbabwe aren't totally cowed by their ruthless "president," Robert Mugabe.According to the UK Independent, Mugabe has enlisted the support of popular musicians to sway the youth vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on March 31. However, those musicians who agree are seeing a major slump in record sales and concert attendance.
Andy Brown, one of Zimbabwe's leading musicians, is the biggest casualty. The dreadlocked Brown was recruited by Mr Mugabe's former spin doctor Jonathan
Moyo to produce songs supporting the President's seizures of white land. "Siyalima" (We are farming), was duly produced, but as the elections approach Brown's stock has never been lower among record-buyers. The singer has been shunned by his own fans and his career has gone into freefall. "Siyalima" is played frequently by the state-owned broadcaster, which enjoys a monopoly. But even Zanu-PF supporters seem to have shunned the record and only a few hundred copies have been sold. At his peak in the late 1990s, Brown was the nation's best-selling artist.
So while it may be dangerous to outwardly campaign against Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, disaffected citizens have found a way to register their displeasure. And while one might feel for the musicians who have been affected, we can continue to hope that the people of Zimbabwe might someday be rid of the evil man who forces his "leadership" upon them.
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March 22, 2005
The Progressive Attitude About Terri...
You really must see the photo attached to this post on AnkleBitingPundits.com...it shows those on the "progressive" side in their best light (preferably the dark).Please keep Terri Schiavo in your prayers.
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Star on Social Security: An Ownership Society
Star Parker is the epitome of the American success story. A former welfare mother, she got off the handout bandwagon, earned her BA, started her own business, and is now founder and president of CURE, Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education.So you could say she knows what she's talking about when she supports President Bush's Social Security reforms in the form of private retirement accounts.
In her latest column, Parker calls the Democratic alternative the "plantation society" that is "characterized by a wealthy class of owners who want to limit the choices, opportunities and freedom of working-class Americans."
What's more, she points out that wealthy Democrats like Nancy Pelosi (worth $16.3 million) and her cronies won't negotiate Social Security until "privatization is off the table." Furthermore, "the owner/masters of today's Democratic plantation reject all attempts to roll back government and give working Americans more choice and freedom."
Second, and perhaps even worse, welfare-state liberals have educated a whole generation of blacks that they can't take care of themselves. Skills in areas such as money management may be in deficit today. But they are in deficit because they weren't learned, and they weren't learned because of hanging on the government plantation. When do we let these folks off this plantation so they can finally start learning the essential skills for improving their lives?Read the whole article for yourself. Parker makes the case that Social Security is best handled by individuals...not the government.
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Simple Home Remedies...
Forget CPR and the ER...these simple home remedies will solve almost any ailment:
1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic. Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat and presto. The blockage will be almost instantly removed.
2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.
3. Avoid arguments with the little woman about lifting the toilet seat by simply using the sink.
4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.
5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough..
7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a hammer and you will forget about the toothache.
Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are:You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get another chance. And finally, be really nice to your family and friends; you never know when you might need them to empty your bedpan.
:-)
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Starving is Painless According to NYT Experts
In a reassuring article today, the New York Times quotes experts who say dying for a lack of food or water can be painless.
Dr. Russell Portnoy, chair of palliative care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York says, "It's usually quite a peaceful death...The person generally looks as if he or she is drifting off to sleep, and then dies.''
This should be good news for Terri Schiavo's parents, who have brought their daughter's case (with the help of Congress) to federal courts. After all, if their efforts fail they can rest easy, knowing Terri will not suffer as she starves.
Her husband, adulterer Michael Schiavo, should also be relieved. Oh wait, I don't think he felt too badly in the first place...at least, not until the $1 million settlement from the hospital came through.
It's also good news for those of us who feel guilty watching commercials for "Save the Children" which feature hungry children in Third World countries, whose large, teary eyes plead with us via the camera to send donations in their names to the world-renowned charity.
The UN is also off the hook for the Oil for Food scandal. If the people who were supposed to get the food (but didn't) died as a result, what's the big deal? They didn't suffer a bit. They simply went to sleep and didn't wake up. Experts say the world is overpopulated anyway. It's kind of like abortion, but after the fact.
And how about countries who can't (or won't) feed their populations? Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, for example, has been accused of deliberately causing a food shortage and starving those who oppose him to death. That's a small detail. According to the experts quoted by the Times, starving is not a cruel and unusual death.
Finally, the world can stop blaming the U.S. for being "haves" while there are so many "have nots." If we don't send enough money quickly enough when the next natural disaster strikes, what does it matter? Starving isn't the horror it's been cracked up to be.
I don't know about you, but I sure feel better now and it's all thanks to the newspaper of record, the New York Times. Maybe I'll even start subscribing!
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March 21, 2005
More Democratic Name Calling
I am really sick and tired of the Democrats getting away with calling Republicans Nazis, racists, and the like.
Now one of them is comparing Vice President Dick Cheney to Saddam Hussein.
As Cheney prepares to go on a "campaign" trip to drum up support for President Bush's plan for Social Security reform, Senator John Corzine (D-NJ) had this to say:
"He's certainly not being sent on the road to convince Democrats, moderates or Baby Boomers."
Okay, so far so good...just the usual political pandering. Then, apparently:
In a conference call with reporters Monday, Sen. John Corzine, D-NJ, one of the leading opponents of the president's plan, said Cheney had "a virtual career of disdain for Social Security," and compared his appearances to sending Saddam Hussein to campaign for democracy in Iraq.
What is it about the Democrats that they think they can compare Republicans with every two-bit dictator who has roamed the Earth?
Republicans could compare someone like Barbara Boxer to...oh, say Che Guevara. But likely as not, it would be taken as a compliment.
The Right would never get away with calling someone on the Left a Nazi or Saddam Hussein...as well they shouldn't. So why the h*ll do Democrats keep getting a free pass?
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Syria and Iran...Take Heed of the Big Guns
In today's edition of India Daily, we learn that there is a convergence of three air carrier groups in the Mediterranean Sea, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Carl Vinson.
Each carrier group is capable of handling 85 aircraft. These aircraft include anti-submarine, airborne-early-warning and rotary-wing.
In addition, each carrier group is independent...meaning they can hold out for a long, long time.
It seems American are preparing to deal with Syria and Iran in the next several months. The first priority right now is diplomacy in association with the Europeans and the rest of the world. But the leadership in Teheran and Damascus are taking notice of the power build up in the region.
The next step is already being planned. Dictators in the Middle East had best step with care.
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Dean is Delusional
Howard Dean, oh exalted DNC chair, now thinks the Democrats hold a majority in the country.
In a speech to his party last night, Dean made the following observations:
While Dean wants focused policies, he acknowledged some issues aren't clear-cut and his party must work hard to come up with effective messages.
It will be difficult to win over the many Americans who appear to disagree with Democratic policies on social and moral issues, such as abortion, he said.
"The majority is on our side. We need to figure out how to talk differently about these issues."
What majority? Who claimed victory last November 2?
Dean is an MD. Perhaps he should consider prescribing himself medication for schizophrenia...
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Just changed my template...
...the other one was just too green. Bear with me as I get all of my links back up!
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John Leo Tackles Double Standards
One of my pet peeves is double standards. In his column on Town Hall today, John Leo tackles this topic as it relates to politics today. A sample:
Planned Parenthood adopted a more comic double stance on abortion: Young girls are fully capable of choosing to abort without informing their parents, but they could not enter a Planned Parenthood pro-abortion poster contest without parental approval. The fine print on the contest said, "Children under age 18 must have a parent or legal guardian's permission to submit designs." No, you wouldn't want young teens making drastic poster decisions without input from Mom or Dad.
Conservatives don't get away scot-free, as Leo has a few zingers for them too. But definitely read it...he makes many good points.
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March 20, 2005
A "Militant" is Not a Soldier
Janet Schmitdt Zapan writes in the commentary section of today's Washington Post about how her father, a soldier in Vietnam, was captured by the North Vietnamese and tortured to death...literally.
It's a touching, and at the same time, disturbing story. Zapan obviously continues to feel the pain of her father's untimely and horrific death. Anyone with an ounce of pity would sympathize with her, as I do.
The main problem I have with her commentary piece is that she compares what her father went through to what so-called militants in Iraq are going through today when captured by U.S. forces.
These days, the unspeakable aspects of my father's death have reared back into focus through the most shocking of sources: Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan. How many of us trusted in unwavering U.S. adherence to the principles of the Geneva Convention? We committed to the accord, in good part, as a way of securing the protection of our own soldiers. Yet, recent, mounting evidence reveals that the United States has been engaging in abhorrent interrogation methods sanctioned from the executive branch down.
The difference, Ms. Zapan, is that your father belonged to an official army of an official country.
The Geneva Convenion states:
A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present Convention, are persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:
1. Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well
as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.
2. Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfil the following conditions:
(a) That of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
(b) That of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
(c) That of carrying arms openly;
(d) That of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.Please note the contitions. Today's Islamofascists fighting coalition forces in Iraq cannot be recognized for they wear no uniform. They hide explosive devices underneath clothing. They do not follow the recognized ordinances of war. Dare I mention that they also don't do their best to avoid civilian casualties? In fact, they seem to thrive upon it. You remember Nick Berg and the others, don't you? Until the Islamofascists in Iraq (and elswhere) begin playing by the rules, then the rules don't apply to them. Period.
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March 19, 2005
Zut Alors...French Populace Doesn't Embrace EU Constitution
A recent poll in France shows that 52% of those questioned wouldn't vote "yes" on a referendum to ratify the upcoming European Union Constitutional Treaty.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, prime minister, put a brave face on the poll, published on Friday in Le Parisien newspaper, suggesting it would help to galvanise the campaign. "This uncertainty about the result is going to create a debate," he said yesterday. "If the result is known in advance, then people do not feel personally responsible. But with a 50:50 situation, the French will be personally responsible for their choice." The European Commission said on Friday it was "disturbed" by the growing No campaign in France, but denied that its controversial services directive was largely to blame.
Of course they deny it. Why would the elite French politicians admit that the EU constitution is simply unpalatable to the citizens who would be affected by it? With the way French politicians behave, one would think that King Louis XVI was back on the throne. So much for France being an "everyone is equal" republic.
Here's a sample of what French and other EU member citizens can expect if the constitution is ratified (courtesy of the BBC):
What the constitution says:The EU already has rights to legislate over external trade and customs policy, the internal market, the monetary policy of countries in the eurozone, agriculture and fisheries and many areas of domestic law including the environment and health and safety at work. The constitution will extend its rights into some new areas, perhaps most importantly into justice policy, especially asylum and immigration. It does away with the old structure of pillars under which some policies came under the EU and some under "inter-governmental" arrangements.
What it means:
It means a greater role for the EU in more aspects of life. In some areas, the EU will have exclusive competence, in others a shared competence and in yet more,only supporting role.In other words, every time a member EU nation wants to pass policy or law, it has to play "Mother May I?" with the EU politicians. And Mother might not always say yes.
Let's hope the average French citizen continues to surprise us by showing more of such common sense, and that other European citizens will catch on.
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Easter Bunny Out in Florida
A mall in Florida has decided that the Easter Bunny is no longer acceptable, and have renamed him the Garden Bunny.
Why all the hubbub? According to mall General Manager Sam Hosen, it's "because we're such a multicultural community, it's good just to remain neutral."
And although he says his group is not behind this latest development, communications director of Atheists.org David Silverman said on FOX News' Hannity and Colmes that "it's nicer to see."
What's next? How about calling Santa Claus Holiday Harry? After all, we wouldn't want to offend anyone. Never mind that Christians are constantly being offended by this assault on their traditional values.
No, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are not bonafide Christian figures. However, both of them have been associated with their respective holidays for...who knows how long? It's time we started pushing back. Hard.
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March 18, 2005
Creative Deserters Get a Boost from the NYT
An article by Monica Davey in today's edition of the New York Times is entitled "Un-Volunteering: Troops Improvise to Find Way Out." In it, Davey chronicles the struggles of a handful of soldiers in an all-volunteer army to get out of going back to Iraq.
Word of such cases spread among soldiers. Some reacted with disgust, accusing their colleagues of cowardice: how could they let down other soldiers in a time of war, when, unlike the draftees of the Vietnam War, they had all volunteered? Others, though, say the cases made them think more about their ambivalence. "What I've seen is that soldiers are more afraid to make a stand for themselves than they are to go into combat," said Sergeant Mejia, who was released in February after nearly nine months of confinement at Fort Sill, Okla., for desertion. "Until I took a stand, I was really going against my own conscience. I was so afraid to be called a coward."
Davey conveniently uses no direct quotes from those soldiers who react with "disgust." I suppose it would have ruined the left-wing tilt of her story, and we all know how important continuity is, as presenting both sides of the story might confuse the reader.
It's interesting how so much emphasis is put on these soldiers who, after signing up for a stint in the armed forces, decide now that their conscience can't allow them to go back and do a job they promised to do. And those soldiers who do stay and do their duty, as difficult as it may be, are ignored. Those like Sergeant Mejia, quoted above, are lauded for standing up to the bullies otherwise known as the U.S. Army.
Desertion is nothing new in the armed forces, both in America and other countries. For example, during World War II, there were 40,000 deserters reported from the U.S. Army and 100,000 from the British Army. Of course, a good number of those soldiers were drafted, and the death rate was approximately 1 in 14. Today, the number is much lower, with an early estimate as being only 1 in 1,100 (source: Keeping Down Casualties).
Have we wondered why 6,000 troops from the Army and 1,300 from the Marines (according to Pentagon records) have deserted since the beginning of the war in Iraq? Could it possibly have anything to do with the overwhelming negativity emanating from the left-leaning mainstream media and scads of protests from hate-America faux peace groups like Code Pink? What about former presidential candidate John Kerry, and his so-called support for the troops but not the war?
Why would anyone want to fight for a cause that is ostensibly so unpopular at home?
More citizens support the war than the MSM would like to report. So they ignore the rest of us, and use their power to influence the outcome. By demoralizing our soldiers, the MSM threatens the chance for success in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.
But don't you dare question their patriotism!
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March 17, 2005
The Onion and Michael Jackson
LOL...read this article in The Onion! It finally reveals what went wrong with Michael Jackson!
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Why NOT Paul Wolfolwitz?
The New York Times is still sniveling about President Bush's nomination of Paul Wolfowitz to be president of the World Bank. In an editorial today, the Times says,
Even those who supported the goals of the invasion must remember Mr. Wolfowitz's scathing contempt for estimates that the occupation of Iraq would require hundreds of thousands of troops, and his serene conviction that American soldiers would be greeted with flowers. Like the nomination of John Bolton as United Nations ambassador, the choice of Mr. Wolfowitz is a slap at the international community, which widely deplored the invasion and the snubbing of the United Nations that accompanied it.
But wasn't Wolfowitz right?
We didn't need hundreds of thousands of troops. Nearly two years after we went in, Iraq had their first free elections since Saddam Hussein took control of the country over thirty years ago. Iraqi troops and police are being trained, and while President Bush is (correctly) not predicting when we'll be able to bring our troops home permanently, things are looking a lot better in Iraq now then back in 2003.
Then of course, there's that annoying little word invasion. Usually when one country invades another, it's to take it over...like when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. But of course, we can't expect the Timesto admit that our presence in Iraq wasn't to conquer it, but to liberate it.
Paul Wolfowitz was instrumental in Iraq's success. He laid the groundwork, helping the country to get out of a terrible mess. And that's a big reason why he'd be so great as president of the World Bank. Don't forget, the World Bank is a United Nations institution...and we've seen how well the UN has been doing of late (Oil for Food and sex scandals in Africa come immediately to mind). Some consider the UN to be sacrosanct, above question. But the bloated bureacracy's credibility continues to unravel at an alarming pace. If we won't get out of the UN, at least we should be sending good people there. John Bolton will be another great addition as the US ambassador.
So Wolfowitz made the international community feel bad? Good gravy, when is the Times and the other leftist media going to let go of that old chestnut? It's so tiring to hear of how we need to take the international community's interests in mind before we do so much as sneeze. Should we use Kleenex brand tissue? Scott? Scented or unscented (mustn't annoy people allergic to perfume)? Recycled?
Ugh. We snubbed the UN...boo hoo. The UN and its other member countries couldn't bring themselves to make good on the numerous resolutions it made regarding Saddam's dangerous activities while dictator...er, president of Iraq. Then, when the big bad United States decided to finally do something about it, suddenly Saddam's wasn't such a villain...he's just needed some more time to see the light. "Let the inspectors do their jobs." It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad.
What it boils down to is the Times can barely give Bush credit for all of the good his policies are doing in Iraq and elswhere in the Middle East, let alone having the man who helped carry them out be a part of their precious, progressive UN. They also can't stand the fact that Bush continues to do what he feels is best for the interests of the United States without asking for the world's permission. Did France and Russia ask us if it was okay to sell arms to Iraq when sanctions were supposedly in place? But to ask that question would be tatamount to admitting there's a double standard in place. The Times must do all it can to maintain its lame fiction of being an impartial recorder of "all the news that's fit to print."
The hate America drum corps marches on, with the New York Times up front with the baton. I'm looking forward to its disbanding.
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Ann on She-Cops
Ann Coulter's weekly column focuses on last week's tragedy involving a rapist on trial overpowering his female deputy escort, taking her gun and shooting four people, killing three. Here's her suggestion for future scenarios:
I think I have an idea that would save money and lives: Have large men escort violent criminals. Admittedly, this approach would risk another wave of nausea and vomiting by female professors at Harvard. But there are also advantages to not pretending women are as strong as men, such as fewer dead people. Even a female math professor at Harvard should be able to run the numbers on this one.
Read the whole column for yourself. As usual, Ann is right on the money.
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Justice for Rilya
She didn't get the love and care she deserved in life...let's hope she gets justice for her death.
An arrest has finally been made in the disappearance of 4-year old Rilya Wilson from her foster home in Florida three years ago.
Based on a confession she made to an inmate while in jail on another unrelated charge, Geralyn Graham has been charged with Rilya's murder. Rilya's body has yet to be found.
I hope the prosecution doesn't bungle this...little Rilya deserves nothing less than success.
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March 16, 2005
Free Heroin...Compliments of the Canadian Government
It's good to be a junkie in Canada.
Nurses and doctors in Vancouver are now authorized to administer free heroin doses to addicts in an attempt to lower the crime rate and the number of people who come down with diseases such as hepatitis B...not to mention the dreaded drug overdose.
First free needles, now free drugs. Will they provide a free funeral too?
Addicts just have to show up three times a day, seven days a week. It sure beats spending that welfare check on dope! Now they can use it for real essentials, like cigarettes and booze.
It's bad enough that the Canadian government is essentially condoning drug use through this freebie program. What's worse is there's no word as to whether any kind of rehab program will be offered to addicts who show up for a fix. According to FOX News, "some [addicts] think it's the government's way of killing them, while others say they can't wait for the free dope. But none of them thought it would eventually get them clean."
Can you imagine the outcry on both sides of the border if Canada offered free cigarettes to people addicted to smoking?
Wrapping up this latest disgrace in the guise of "public safety" really takes the cake. Not only are they prolonging the misery that drug addiction brings to those afflicted by it, they take away any sense of responsibility or culpability from the average person on the street. "I'm addicted...there's nothing I can do. Please ease my pain with a free dose."
Another question is, where are they getting the heroin? Are they manufacturing it themselves or buying it from a "reputable" source?
I can only imagine what's next for the Nanny State next door: perhaps they'll offer free lethal injections for those who want to commit suicide in the name of "public safety"? Stay tuned...
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Scott Peterson Stares Death in the Face
It's official, folks...a California judge will be upholding the death penalty recommended by a jury on November 13.
Even in whacked-out California, justice is capable of seeping through.
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China Hangs On to Death Penalty
Apparently China still believes in the death penalty...Premiere Wen Jiabo said at a press conference this week, "Given our national conditions, we cannot abolish the death penalty." However, he also says that reforms are in progress that would ensure the death penalty is used with more prudence.The AP article says:
Activists complain that death sentences often are handed out during anti-crimecrackdowns for nonviolent offenses that weren't capital crimes at the time they were committed.
Some of those crimes apparently include not only murder, but tax evasion.
Now while I shudder at the thought of prisoners being killed for a non-violent crime such as evading their taxes (can you imagine what would have happened to a Chinese version of Martha Stewart?), I also notice that China doesn't seem to be worried about that much-sought after world opinion.
Interesting...I wonder if the Dem-keteers and the Supreme Court justices have read this article?
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Moonbats Coming to YOUR Town!
Michelle Malkin is in fine fettle today as she discusses the upcoming weekend protest rallies in New York City and elsewhere to "mark the two year anniversary of the US bombing and invasion of Iraq." How will they do it?
They will do so by clogging the streets, tying up police resources and
leaving behind a trail of anti-Bush propaganda litter. Who says the Left doesn't know how to create jobs?Such bravery! Such dedication! Such a love for country! Not our country, of course, but the countries of those who oppose us. Ain't it great in America? And just think, not a dictator in sight to toss their sorry butts in jail for organizing and protesting. (They probably find that last bit a little disappointing, seeing as their idols Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez do just that in their own little Communist utopias.)
Thank goodness I only work in NYC and can leave on weekends...the sight of so many clueless idjits would probably send me into meltdown mode.
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March 15, 2005
The Bible Goes PC
Michelle Malkin has a blognote regarding the "modernization" of the New International Version of the Bible. My favorite? "Saints" being tossed for "God's chosen people" (because "saints" is too ecclesiastical). Gag me with a spoon!
Do you think the Koran is next in line for modernizing? Stay tuned...
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Political Cynicism
One of my favorite commentators, Thomas Sowell, has a great column on Town Hall today about cynicism in politics, especially when it comes to exposing liberal agendas and its failures. The column is actually a review for Mona Charen's new book, Do-Gooders.
Examples [from Charen's book] range from cynical lies about judicial
nominees to the biggest big lie of our time, the claim that black voters were
"disenfranchised" by Republicans in Florida during the 2000 elections.
Check it out for yourself!
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A Few Germans Get It
German President Horst Koehler is concerned about Germany's spiraling unemployment rate. Blaming it on German and European regulations on businesses and Germany's socialist penchant for high taxes in order to "benefit" the proletariat, Koehler says, "Everything that serves to create and secure competitive jobs must be done Ñ everything that stands in the way must be avoided...Anything that serves other goals, as desirable as it may be, is secondary. I would like to see all who carry political responsibility take this basic position."
It's about time someone in Germany realized that horrendously high taxes don't equate to a booming economy. Because companies in Germany must pay out big bucks when someone is either fired or let go, they tend to hire as few people as possible. This means fewer jobs, more people on the dole, and therefore higher taxes from those who work need to be imposed to meet welfare payments. It's a vicious cycle.
On the bright side, Germany has instituted welfare reform. One of the new rules is that any woman under 55 who has been unemployed for over a year must take an available job registered with the government or face reduction in benefits. And, it turns out that working in a brothel is one of those jobs (prostitution is legal in Germany). A 25-year old waitress faces such cuts because she doesn't want to work in a whorehouse.
It's socialism at work, folks. For Germany's sake, let's hope Koehler's comments carry some weight.
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March 14, 2005
Kweisi for Senate 2006!
Kweisi Mfume, former president of the NAACP, has announced his intent to run for senate in his home state of Maryland in 2006.
Many observers say Mfume brought credibility and stability, working to
institute corporate style-management practices [to the NAACP].During his tenure at the NAACP, Mfume showed support for Cuba. However, it's also said that he really didn't resign, but was pushed out due to his reaching out to the Bush administration.
It should be an interesting race for the people of Maryland and for the candidate who says he "can't be bought."
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Harvard's Latest Boycott
Harvard University has been in the news quite a bit of late. First, university president Larry Summers has been raked over the coals for not playing nice with the politically correct crowd regarding his comments on why men and women might be different regarding math and science aptitude.
The latest brouhaha stems from a student's efforts to earn some honest money. Sophomore Michael Kopko has launched a business called Dormaid, a service for dormitory students who would rather party than clean up after themselves.
It's not the faculty doing the protesting this time...the student newspaper Harvard Crimson is behind the boycotting efforts. An editorial states, "By creating yet another differential between the haves and have-nots on campus, Dormaid threatens our student unity."
Kopka is frustrated and confused regarding the Crimson's stance on his fledgling business. "In a free economy it's all about choice, and the Crimson is trying to take choice away from people," he said in an interview.
The problem is, Ivy League schools such as Harvard are as far away from the real world as you can get. Students, both wealthy and not-so-wealthy, go straight from the arms of mommy and daddy into the arms of their Leftist professors...who themselves have been coddled and insulated from the real world in their scholastic cocoons. And that's how you end up with silly boycotts of legal, honest enterprises. The faculty may not be doing this outright, but it has their stamp all over it.
Do those students who plan to boycott plan on giving all money they earn when they enter professional life to people who are less fortunate than they are?
I can't afford to have someone clean my home, but I know people who can and do. Is that fair? The question of fairness shouldn't come into it. People who don't like to clean and can afford to hire someone may be lazy, but they are also giving someone else a chance to earn money honestly through hard work. Is cleaning someone else's home degrading? It depends on your point of view. I know I would rather earn my living by cleaning up after some other slob than by standing in line at the welfare office to accept a check from bloated bureaucrats who don't really care about helping me in the long-term.
Once again, Harvard University is trying to force the unwilling into goosestepping lockstep.
I, for one, hope Kopka's business thrives. If you want to let the Crimson know what you think, e-mail them at letters@thecrimson.com.
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More UN Follies, Featuring Russia As Star Performer
It seems Yevgeny Primakov, who was handpicked by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is a close buddy of said UN head. So far, he has no official connection to the Oil for Food scandal, but there could be a link through his sister.
And we are surprised why? The mess that calls itself the UN is getting messier by the minute, and yet people like John Kerry continue to hail it as the savior of the world. Oh, wait a minute, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone of Kerry's ilk would be touting the UN. When the heck are American politicians going to wake up, smell the stink that's worse than the East River next door, and get the US out the UN and the UN out of the US
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More on Judges Who Create Law
National Review Online has an excerpt from Mark Levin's new book Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America. For those of you not familiar with Levin, he is a constitutional lawyer who has a great talk show on WABC New York (6-8 pm Eastern). Being aconstitutional lawyer, he obviously knows what he's talking about when he says things like,To be true to its constitutional role, the Supreme Court should refuse to be drawn into making public policy, and it should strike down legislation only when a clear constitutional violation exists. When judicial activists resort to various inventions and theories to impose their personal views on privacy and liberty, they jeopardize the legitimacy of the judiciary as an institution and undermine the role of the other branches of government.
Check it out...and see why we'd be better off with people like Levin on the Supreme Court... unlike Justice Kennedy and Pals, who are more concerned with world opinion than what our constitution does and does not allow.Show Comments »
March 11, 2005
Welcome to my New Blog!
My former website, Inside American Values, will stay up for a while, but I won't be posting to it any longer...I wanted a format that would allow for readers to post comments if they wish. Again, thanks for tuning in...more in a bit...Show Comments »
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Being a Celebrity Doesn't Always Get You Off the Hook
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Steyn on the Consequences of International Law
A Harvard Professor Speaks Out in Defense of Academic Freedom
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