August 31, 2005

A New Home for an Old Donkey

Gary at Ex-Donkey Blog has made the switch from Blogger to MuNu. Head on over and give him a housewarming gift.

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Christopher Hitchens: A War to be Proud Of

Christopher Hitchens is at his erudite best in this article from the Weekly Standard regarding why the war in Iraq is necessary. As he puts it, if "the Bushies" can't explain the reasoning adequately, he will.

Regarding the (imaginary) Iraqi connection to al Quaeda:

Childishness is one thing--those of us who grew up on this wonderful Edwardian author were always happy to see the grown-ups and governesses discomfited. But puerility in adults is quite another thing, and considerably less charming. "You said there were WMDs in Iraq and that Saddam had friends in al Qaeda. . . . Blah, blah, pants on fire." I have had many opportunities to tire of this mantra. It takes ten seconds to intone the said mantra. It would take me, on my most eloquent C-SPAN day, at the very least five minutes to say that Abdul Rahman Yasin, who mixed the chemicals for the World Trade Center attack in 1993, subsequently sought and found refuge in Baghdad; that Dr. Mahdi Obeidi, Saddam's senior physicist, was able to lead American soldiers to nuclear centrifuge parts and a blueprint for a complete centrifuge (the crown jewel of nuclear physics) buried on the orders of Qusay Hussein; that Saddam's agents were in Damascus as late as February 2003, negotiating to purchase missiles off the shelf from North Korea; or that Rolf Ekeus, the great Swedish socialist who founded the inspection process in Iraq after 1991, has told me for the record that he was offered a $2 million bribe in a face-to-face meeting with Tariq Aziz. And these eye-catching examples would by no means exhaust my repertoire, or empty my quiver. Yes, it must be admitted that Bush and Blair made a hash of a good case, largely because they preferred to scare people rather than enlighten them or reason with them. Still, the only real strategy of deception has come from those who believe, or pretend, that Saddam Hussein was no problem.

Take the 10 or 15 minutes you'll need to read the entire article--it is well worth the time.

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Blogging for Relief: Hurricane Katrina

Tomorrow, September 1, is a day that many bloggers will be participating in Blogging for Relief, a way of spreading the news regarding the various charities that you can donate to in order to help those cope with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The day is the inspiration of Hugh Hewitt.

My designated charity is Lutheran World Relief.

Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit has a master list, and N.Z. Bear at TTLB is doing his part.

Please spread the word!

Technorati tag: hurricane katrina

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False Equivalency: Rolling Stone's Take on Camp Casey

Pat over at Brainster finds an interesting contrast in an article by Matt Taibbi regarding the "Bush Haters" vs. the "Bush Lovers" at Camp Casey (which, by the way, is breaking up today and Cindy Sheehan will embark on her bus tour).

There are people who hate the President too much and there are people who love him too much. Except of course that the hate Bush crowd will blame him for a car stuck in the ditch, while it's doubtful the love Bush crowd will attempt to give him credit when the sun pokes through the crowd.

Click here and scroll down a bit to read the whole analysis...

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German Takes on Katrina

Leave it to the Germans to take up the "global warming" mantra as the American Southeast recovers from the effects of Katrina.

Of course it's all Bush's fault, according to the newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau. And while the paper Die Tageszeitung doesn't blame Bush explicitly, it blames politicians in general for the increase in global warming. Other papers have similar themes about "global warming" and the need to pay attention to vulnerable areas around the world.

Only one paper, Die Welt, blames nature:

"...hurricanes are a natural phenomenon. They occurred long before humans could be affected by them. Whether the frequency and intensity of these storms has truly increased in recent years has not yet been proven with statistics."

It then goes on to praise the modern technology that gave the warning so that thousands could evacuate before the storm hit.

Where's the outpouring of sympathy for Americans in this latest natural disaster? No one cares. I don't see Kofi Anaan jumping to send in the U. N. All we get is the blame for something nature dumped on us. As usual, we're expected to help when other countries face calamity...but the world falls silent when it happens to us.

*I haven't been posting about Katrina for the simple reason that others, like Michelle Malkin, are doing a much better job of it than I could in my limited time. My prayers are with the people of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi who are facing homelessness, power outages, flood conditions and the rest. Keep your eyes on Mean Ol' Meany in the next day or two...Two Dogs managed to escape without major damage, but he will be posting pictures from his town of Jackson, Mississippi soon. Wish him luck--he has to consume about 38 gallons of ice cream!*

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August 30, 2005

Cindy Sheehan: Lost in Translation

Reading between the lines:

"I look back on it, and I am very, very, very grateful he did not meet with me, because we have sparked and galvanized the peace movement," Sheehan told The Associated Press. "If he'd met with me, then I would have gone home, and it would have ended there."

Translation: If he had met with me I wouldn't have become an "icon", I wouldn't have gotten to meet Martin Sheen and Rev. Al Sharpton, and I wouldn't be able to extend my 15 minutes of fame further by taking a "peace tour" bus trip to Washington D.C.

"When I first started here, I was sitting in the ditch thinking, `What the heck did I do? Texas in August, the chiggers, fire ants, rattlesnakes, uncomfortable accommodations' - but I'm going to be sad leaving here," Sheehan said. "I hope people will say that the Camp Casey movement sparked a peace movement that ended the war in Iraq."

Translation: Even though I had to make do with a free haircut, caterers and a concert by leftover hippie Joan Baez here at Camp Casey, my name is surely going to make it into the history books. I haven't just made lemonade out of my son's death, I've made lemon chiffon pie--and I'm enjoying every last bite.

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My Letter to the Editor: Part III

After receiving praise at church for my letter to the editor of our local paper regarding a "peace protest" in my town, the other shoe just dropped. In fact, I'm surprised it took this long.

A friend of mine, whose political leanings (and those of her significant other) are diametrically opposed to mine, sent me this e-mail today:

[The significant other] saw this today, after reading your letter in [the paper] the other day, and asked me to forward it to you.

She then attached an e-mail containing an article about a recent poll that said 90% of Americans support the right of those who wish to protest the war.

My reply:

I saw this article the other day. Of course it's their right if they wish to protest, and I would never say that should be taken away. However, it's also my right to say I disagree and why. That is what political discourse is all about...different viewpoints coming to the table.

You see, I never, EVER said that no one has the right to protest. Snarky little jabs like this serve to avoid actual dialogue, using the ever-present smokescreen of First Amendment rights. Why is it more important for people to be able to protest the war than for me to disagree with their views? This had more to do with trying to shut me up than having an active and productive discussion.

This e-mail, by the way, comes from a woman who is a leftover from the 1960s anti-war movement who loves to send me petitions. In fact, earlier today she sent me one entitled "Save the Arctic."

Sigh...

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Call the Doctor: Gwyneth Suffers from Madonna-itis

Madonna-itis: [n] The overwhelming urge for celebrities who, having attained fame and fortune, feel the need to preach to others about child rearing, personal relationships, and other lifestyle issuesÑeven if they themselves quite publicly made poor choices in the past. It seems that Gwyneth Paltrow has a severe case of Madonna-itis. In a Time Magazine interview, Paltrow chides Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston regarding the extreme publicity surrounding the coupleÕs recent divorce.

"It would have been a lot easier on Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston now if they had not talked to the press about each other and everything to begin with," Paltrow says in this week's Time magazine, currently on newsstands.

The 32-year-old actress went through heavy tabloid coverage herself when she dated Pitt in the nineties. She and Pitt broke off their engagement in 1997.

"I learned my lesson at 24," Paltrow says of the public relationship.

Ah, to be so wise. You know, if she really cared about the situation, she might have given one of them a jingle and offered her advice when the whole thing was blowing up around them, rather than after the fact. And she conveniently ignores the fact that even if Pitt and Aniston hadnÕt themselves talked to the press, there are plenty of people who would. Celebrities do not live in a vacuum. ItÕs one of the prices of fame, and one that they seem to acceptÑeven if they moan and groan about it all the time.

While the fame of Pitt and Aniston may be at a peak, Paltrow sounds almost ready for quiet retirement.

"Everything I wanted to achieve, I achieved," says Paltrow. "I'm not one of those people who keeps raising the bar."

To have achieved it all at the tender age of 32 is truly amazing. Of course, if sheÕs Òalmost ready for quiet retirement,Ó why is she doing the interview thing? Oh thatÕs right, she has a movie coming out in a few weeks and wants to drum up publicityÑever so subtly, of course. Motherhood seems to have had an amazing effect on her. No more of the fast lane for Gwynnie! Like Madonna, she is living the quiet life in England with her English hubby, and seems quite eager to forget she achieved all of her fame and fortune in ÒvulgarÓ America.

I wonder if her disdain for Òraising the barÓ applies to her bank account too.

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August 29, 2005

Honoring a Soldier

As the nine regular readers of this blog know, I went to a wedding over the weekend. (No, Wyatt Earp, I did not crash it!) Amidst all of the usual hoo ha that goes along with such a gala event, I was honored to once again meet Joe.

Joe is a sergeant in the National Guard who recently returned from a year and a half in Iraq. Because of the occasion (and his own modesty), he didn't talk much about his time over there, except to say that he expects to be called back and will go without complaint. (In his civilian life, Joe is a college professor. I wonder how much heat he takes on campus regarding his military duty?)

The best man, during his obligatory speech, made special mention of Joe and we all applauded him. Later, during the dancing, the band (a great Irish band...unfortunately I didn't get their name) played a wonderful rendition of Amazing Grace and dedicated it to Joe. Again, there was a rousing cheer and a round of applause, and Joe was both surprised and touched. Like most in our military, I'm sure he hears much about those who are doing their best to undermine our efforts in Iraq and little of the great amount of support that is really out there.

I'm hoping to get to ask Joe some questions about what he and his team accomplished in Iraq and more about the people over there. In the meantime, I know he is enjoying his time at home, and will again serve his country when asked to do so because it's what he pledged to do.

We need more people like Joe. Even more, we need to remember to honor their service to us.

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Teddy Kennedy: More Hot Air than a Dust Storm in Iraq

Remember the old E.F. Hutton ads? "When E.F Hutton speaks, people listen." The good senior sentator from Massachusetts wishes he had that kind of reputation.

Here is a statement he released yesterday regarding the latest snag in the drafting of the Iraqi constitution:

"The rejection of Iraq's draft constitution by Sunni negotiators is an enormous setback. No amount of spin from the Administration can hide this basic fact, and the American people understand that. The administration needs to outline a realistic strategy that takes into account what is actually happening on the ground. So far it has not."

Of course, Teddy "Sink or Swim" Kennedy has yet to offer any constructive criticism other than our pulling out of Iraq as soon as possible. This is not surprising, considering Kennedy's history of "cut and run" when the situation gets tough and leaving others to deal with the mess.

Fortunately, President Bush has more integrity than Teddy Kennedy.

*Cross-posted on Lifelike Pundits*

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Martin Sheen Dazzles "Camp Casey"

What the heck took him so long? Photo ops like this don't come along every day:

Cindy Sheehan hasn't achieved a meeting with the president during her three-week war protest, but she met a man who plays one on TV. Martin Sheen, who portrays the president on NBC's "The West Wing," visited Sheehan's makeshift campsite Sunday.

"At least you've got the acting president of the United States," Sheen said as the crowd of more than 300 people cheered. "I think you know what I do for a living, but this is what I do to stay alive."

Har-dee-har-har-har.

I'd love to know what Sheen would do if he was really the president. It isn't all waving to fans, preening before the cameras and sucking up to the populace in general so they'll like you. There are big decisions to be made and important people to deal with--and I don't mean which script will bring in more dollars and producers who kiss your rear end with the hope you'll accept their project over the other guy's.

Oh, and the real president doesn't get his hair combed for him every five minutes in preparation for the cameras. (Perhaps if Kerry had won that would be true...)

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My Letter to the Editor--Part II

Last week, I asked for your critiques on a letter I was planning on sending to my local weekly paper regarding a local "peace protest" at our town hall.

I took the advice of those who said it was too long and chopped it down a bit. Then, I typed it in the paper's website and hit send, with a few misgivings (my husband was convinced we'd have protesters in front of our house, seeing as letter writers' full name and address are printed).

Well no protesters have yet materialized, but there were two other letters in the same paper expressing similar sentiments, AND I had an interesting experience at church: during the giving of the peace, someone made a point of crossing the aisle to shake my hand and tell me I had written a "great letter."

Not to mention, Gary from Ex-Donkey Blog e-mailed me to tell me he liked it too, but to beware of people who might find my e-mail address and haunt me, as he was haunted when he wrote a letter supporting a contractor for a local project!

I'm in a rush to leave for work in five minutes, but later today I'll update this post with what I actually sent to the paper. Next week, of course, I'll let you know if anyone wrote to refute what I and the other letter-writers said.

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August 27, 2005

Off to a Wedding Today!

So, I won't have much time to post. I'll probably post tomorrow (Sunday). In the meantime, please check out the fine blogs and other sites on my blogroll. Each site is one that I check out--not always every day--at least several times per week. Have a great day!

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August 26, 2005

It's Great to be an Illegal in Wisconsin

If you think illegals in Herndon, VA have it good, you should see what they get in Wisconsin:

The first-in-the-nation program, run by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority , is helping to make getting a first mortgage easier Ñfor illegal immigrants.

[...]

"We are not the immigration police. In fact, the IRS won't even allow us to inquire about the status of people who have I-TIN numbers," said WHEDA Executive Director Antonio Riley.

[...]

[State Rep. Pedro] Colon [D] said that if neighborhoods like his largely Hispanic South Milwaukee district are to succeed, home ownership is vital. He also blasts federal lawmakers for leaving illegal aliens in a "no-man's land" in which they are able to pay federal taxes but unable to get permanent residency.

"The U.S. Congress is the laziest place in politics today," Colon said. "[It] doesn't give us the luxury of sitting around and watching our communities fail."

It behooves me to remind Mr. Colon and the rest of the state legislators in Wisconsin that these people are illegal aliens. That means they aren't supposed to be here. That means they have no rights that citizens have. While I agree that the federal government is falling down on this issue, that doesn't mean state governments should be handing out the kind of goodies that bring illegals to this country in the first place--freebies and a blind eye to the law.

If you live in Wisconsin, you should contact your state representative regarding this outrageous policy.

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The Hunter Thompson/Hollywood Irony

From Brent Bozell on Town Hall:

The next time you hear the biggest hearts in Hollywood railing against how the government or corporations waste millions of dollars on their "toys" rather than helping the poor, think of the Hunter Thompson memorial service. Actor Johnny Depp spent a reported $2 million constructing a giant tower (taller than the Statue of Liberty) to shoot Thompson's ashes into the sky with some very loud fireworks.

And his sentiments can be summed up by this quote from Leo Tolstoy:

Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised.

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Al Sharpton Attaches Himself to Sheehan's Circus

What's any great circus without a ringleader? Reverend Al Sharpton will be joining Sheehan for a prayer vigil on Sunday at "Camp Casey" in front of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, TX.

She could really learn a lot from him--most especially how to keep the publicity coming despite her lack of true newsworthiness. Sheehan will be learning from one of the true greats!

As for Sharpton, he has yet to see a photo opportunity he doesn't like.

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August 25, 2005

Cindy Sheehan Takes It On the Road

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Cindy Sheehan announces an upcoming bus tour.

Cindy Sheehan said the day after she leaves Aug. 31, she will embark on a bus tour ending up in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24. Then the group will start a 24-hour vigil in the nation's capital.

Will the bus be run on vegetable oil?

Sheehan said she realizes that Bush has no intentions of meeting with the protesters, but that her vigil has accomplished other things.

"I absolutely think it's worthwhile because we've galvanized the peace movement," she said. "We've started people talking about the war again."

She's also gotten her mug all over television, newspapers, magazines and the Internet.

What will happen to poor Cindy when the MSM and her newfound leftie friends find another poster girl and drop her like a hot potato? What will she do for publicity then?

Reality TV hasn't drawn its last breath yet. Perhaps one of the more "reputable" networks can create a show called "Publicity Seekers." Contestants would have to meet publicity-seeking "challenges" and one would be voted off at the end of each episode. With all of her experience, Cindy Sheehan would make a great host.

C'mon, Hollywood! It's right up your alley!

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$%&@*# Poison Ivy!

I got poison ivy for the first time about six years ago. Since then, I've gotten it once every summer...except this year, because this summer I am blessed enough to have it TWICE! I just noticed the symptoms today while at work. It always starts just under my chin and then spreads in both directions. Of course, I'm going to a wedding on Saturday. I'm going to look really impressive. Fortunately, eyes will be focused on the bride, not the lobster hiding in a rear pew.

Guess what I did yesterday? Worked in the yard.

That's it. No more yard work for me!

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Streisand Blames Bush for 9/11

This is a couple of weeks old, but I just came across an important statment from foreign policy expert Barbra Streisand (empahais mine):

August 6, 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima. The Atomic Bomb, which decimated the Japanese city and its people, was never used in combat again. This day is also the anniversary of another "bomb" that was dropped 4 years ago, this time into the lap of President Bush in the form of a memo titled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US.' While on yet another extended vacation at his Crawford ranch, the President chose to neglect his duties as Commander in Chief by refusing to act decisively and immediately on this impending threat, leading to the worst terrorist attack in American history. These anniversaries remind us to learn from our past actions in order to ensure a safer more secure future.

I guess she hasn't heard of the Able Danger reports:

The federal commission that probed the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks was told twice about "Able Danger," a military intelligence unit that had identified Mohamed Atta and other hijackers a year before the attacks, a congressman close to the investigation said Wednesday.

Guess who was in office then?

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It's True: Anti-War Protesters Sully Walter Reed

It seems that no place is sacred anymore.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where wounded soldiers recuperate, has become the latest battleground in the war of public opinion regarding Iraq.

According to CNS News, these thoughtful people have been staging protests at the entrance to the hospital, using mock caskets draped with flags as props.

Code Pink Women for Peace, one of the groups backing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan's vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford Texas, organizes the protests at Walter Reed as well.

Ooh, shocker. Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin is rumored to have said regarding her trip to Cuba, "It seem[ed] like I died and went to heaven." Why didn't she stay in paradise?

[Anti-war protester] Luke accused President Bush of "exploiting American soldiers" while "oppressing the other nations of earth." The president "has killed far too many people," he added.

And he and his pals aren't exploiting soldiers? Has Luke thought about how many people the terrorists have killed?

Most of the demonstrations have been held on Friday evenings, a popular time for the family members of wounded soldiers to visit the hospital.

That's right--offend as many people as possible.

[Kevin] McCarron said he dislikes having to resort to such controversial tactics, "but this stuff can't be hidden," he insisted. "The real cost of this war cannot be kept from the American public."

The old saw: "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you."

"If I went to war and lost a leg and then found out from my hospital bed that I had been lied to, that the weapons I was sent to search for never existed, that the person who sent me to war had no plan but to exploit me, exploit the country I was sent to, I would be pretty angry," Luke told Cybercast News Service.

First of all, you didn't enlist--others did. And if these soldiers feel exploited, isn't it up to them to make their feelings known? Are you a mind reader, Luke, like Luke in Star Wars?

"I would want people to do something about it and if I couldn't get out of my bed and protest myself, I would want someone else to do it in my name," he added.

Did the soldiers at Walter Reed specifically ask you to provide this public service? There's nothing more righteous than doing something for the good of everyone else--especially when they don't know they "need" the so-called service.

At least one anti-war demonstrator conceded that standing out in front of a military hospital where wounded soldiers and their families are entering and exiting, might not be appropriate.

Ya think? I do notice that this realization didn't stop this guy from waving his "Stop the War" sign about.

But Luke and the other anti-war protesters dismissed the message of the counter demonstrators. "We know most of the George Bush supporters have never spent a day in uniform, have never been closer to a battlefield than seeing it through the television screen," Luke said.

I'd like to know how many anti-war protesters have ever put on a uniform and served in battle? That would be an interesting statistic indeed.

Cheesy and offensive tactics like this are not the way to get the average American on the side of the "war is not the answer" folks. Give us real alternatives and we'll be happy to listen.

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What's New in Fallujah?

Michael Fumento gives us this e-mail from Navy Lt. Cameron Chen, who is stationed in Fallujah:

ÒThe city is slowly rebuilding and returning to life. Some report that it's now the safest city in the Sunni Triangle due to the heavy presence of Iraqi police and army. Every major intersection now has unarmed Iraqi police directing traffic in crisp short-sleeve button down shirts, white gloves, black flack vests, and dark blue pants. More frequently weÕre responding to IEDs [improvised explosive devices] reported by local children, police and informants.

Click here to read more of what the MSM is failing to report. Chen notes both the good and the not-so-good aspects of what's happening in Fallujah, but that's the point--he's telling it all.

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August 24, 2005

Anti-War Protesters Taunting Wounded Soldiers?

From Drudge:

Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim! CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like ÒMaimed for a Lie.Ó The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

If this is true, then the anti-war crowd has sunk even lower than I thought they ever could.

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August 23, 2005

Streisand: Why Can't She Stay In "Retirement"?

Actress, singer and foreign policy expert Barbra Streisand sure has a weird idea of retirement. First she stars in last winter's comedy Meet the Fockers, and now she has an upcoming album with Bee Gees alum Barry Gibb.

One of the songs she warbles is entitled Stranger in a Strange Land, and has to do with the wasted efforts of soldiers currently in Iraq:

You may be someone else's sweetheart/Fighting someone else's war,/And if you suffer for the millions/Then it's what you're fighting for.

I have to say I agree with that. After all, soldiers who suffer in order to keep "Truth Alert" Streisand and her ilk comfy and cosy in their leftist cocoons are unfortunate indeed. There's nothing like putting your life on the line for people who denigrate your efforts!

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The Vioxx Verdict: At What Cost?

John Hawkins over at Right Wing News has some thoughts about our jury system. He then presents views from Stephen Bainbridge regarding the future of not only Vioxx, but other medications, in light of the latest in a long line of huge drug settlements. (click on link above and scroll down to The Jury System And The Vioxx Verdict By Stephen Bainbridge).

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August 22, 2005

Sean Penn Speaks

Finally! Two months after his much balleyhooed visit to Iran to cover the Iranian elections for the San Francisco Chronicle, Sean Penn delivers the first of a five-part series recounting his experiences.

I have one word to say: boring.

The agent whose large hands had rolled my black-inked fingers and palms over several printing forms barked at me to follow him with a wave of his hand. He led me to a men's room, where he swung open the door and indicated I should go in ahead of him. It was a bit of a ratty hole. Water closets, open. Worn, reflectionless mirrors. Where our standard toilets might sit, these are simply holes in the floor, with dark glimmering puddles beneath, and fluorescent light above. He just stared at me. Neither threateningly, nor warmly. Seconds went by as I stared back. Neither threatened, nor comfortable. "Now what?" I said. He raised his hands and wiped his palms over one another. Yes, he wanted me to have the opportunity to wash my hands, rather than to walk, black-handed, into the Persian night.

Read it yourself if you're looking for a cure for insomnia.

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Confessions of a Hollywood Republican

Robert J. Avrech is a Jewish screenwriter in Hollywood who grew up as a Democrat in Brooklyn. But something odd happened:

But as I grew older and watched the Democratic party turn into an alien entity run by vulgar race hustlers and anti-Semites cloaked as "mere" anti-Zionists - an alien entity that increasingly refused to confront, much less despise, communism - I realized that this was no longer the party that reflected my national or my Jewish aspirations.

It was after the Carter administration that he went Republican and didn't turn back.

He discusses the anti-American wave that has swept Hollywood in the last 20-30 years:

It is, I kid you not, a badge of honor in Hollywood to hate America. These airheads who have amassed millions through the free market economy constantly spout nonsense about the need for a Scandinavian style socialist government. They don't even know that the Scandinavian countries are economic basket cases. I'm not making this up. They actually cruise Sunset Strip in their Bentleys and accuse Republicans of being greedy.

Ah, the old double-standard. Hollywood has made it into an art form.

The entire article is a must-read, as Avrech gives us two examples of scripts he was working on that didn't meet the "standards" of the producers: one about the war on terror and one about Rush Limbaugh (who is not directly named but it's obvious). Of course, you can imagine what those standards are and what the outcome of his involvement was.

These Hollywood liberals spend their lives negotiating. They believe that when the time comes they will sit down with Osama bin Laden and cut a deal. Imagine how surprised they'll be when the cold blade hits their necks. Imagine their shock when they realize there is no negotiating with barbarians; that Osama makes no distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, between observant Jew and Buddhist chanting Jew. I hope it never comes to that, but imagine such a story line. Actually, it would make a pretty good movie. I should try and pitch it.

All I can say is, I hope Avrech has a large savings account upon which he can draw upon. If the powers that be in Hollywood see this article, he is probably done for. Yet, I admire his courage, and hope that my prediction is wrong.

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Fences Are Anti-Immigrant?

It sounds ludicrous, I know. Check out my post on Lifelike Pundits to see what the hoo-ha is all about.

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Sheehan's Follies: We've Had Enough

Seems like not everyone is in love with Cindy Sheehan and her views, and they're starting to let her and her followers know about it.

A TV station in Utah has refused to air her ad denouncing the war, saying it would not sit well with their demographic. Of course, some can't understand...after all, what about the First Amendment? Sorry, but the First Amendment doesn't guarantee that a TV station will play your ad if they think its content will offend their viewers. It's a business whose revenue depends upon how many people are tuning in. If viewers don't tune in, other advertisers spend their dollars elsewhere. And the TV station in question goes down the toilet, throwing all of those good people who work there on the steps of the unemployment office. That's not good for the economy. Would Cindy Sheehan's group Gold Star Families for Peace want to contribute toward an economic downturn in Utah?

These people are "asking for a meeting" with President Bush. Heck, I'd like to meet with him too. There are a lot of people who would like to chance to meet with the president, either to support him or chide him. But he doesn't have the time to meet with every kook out there who believes they've earned the right to disrupt his busy schedule with their nonsense. If he met with everyone who wanted to see him, he would never have the time to get anything done.

The father of a fallen soldier doesn't like having his son's name as a part of Sheehan's protest, and he's had to pull the cross bearing his son's name out several times (the cross being put there along with others as part of the anti-war protest). Gary Quall has begun a counter protest, saying the anti-war people are "disrespectful" to soldiers. Disrespectful is only the top layer of the dungheap of dissent. Bless Gary Quall and all who support his efforts.

Please read this excellent article by Mark Steyn (if you haven't already). Here's one of the most powerful paragraphs:

They're not children in Iraq; they're grown-ups who made their own decision to join the military. That seems to be difficult for the left to grasp. Ever since America's all-adult, all-volunteer army went into Iraq, the anti-war crowd have made a sustained effort to characterize them as "children." If a 13-year-old wants to have an abortion, that's her decision and her parents shouldn't get a look-in. If a 21-year-old wants to drop to the broadloom in Bill Clinton's Oval Office, she's a grown woman and free to do what she wants. But, if a 22- or 25- or 37-year-old is serving his country overseas, he's a wee "child" who isn't really old enough to know what he's doing.

Yowch! As always, Steyn hits the nail on the head.

I don't usually want summer to end, but I'm ready for the Summer of Cindy (as Michelle Malkin terms it) to go away. Sooner rather than later, please.

*More on this topic over at The Bernoulli Effect*
*Two Dogs over at Mean Ol' Meany throws his two cents into the Sheehan cesspool.*

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August 21, 2005

Officers Fall in the Line of Duty in Albuquerque

A man suspected of killing three other people has been arrested in the shooting deaths of Officers Richard Smith and Michael King in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 18. Both of them leave behind a wife and children.

It's easy to take our police for granted. We grumble about getting ticketed for speeding and we make the usual jokes about graft and donuts. Still, at the end of the day, these men (and women) in uniform take on the dangers of the streets and sometimes pay the ultimate price. Here's hoping their families and friends know how much their sacrifice is appreciated.

(The link to the article has information about a fund for the families. Chris at Lucky Dawg News has also set up a fund if you are interested in contributing.)

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August 20, 2005

My Letter to the Editor

I live in a mid-sized town in Connecticut, population of about 25,000 people. Not big, but not tiny either. We have a weekly paper. You know the kind--most people only get it to see if their kids made the school news page and who's getting married. I read it mainly because my stepfather got me a subscription for Christmas.

In this week's edition, I saw there had been a peace protest in support of Cindy Sheehan in front of our Town Hall. While I have nothing against the idea of political dissent, I do wish people would think a bit more about what they are protesting. Therefore, I decided to submit a letter to the editor. I haven't sent it yet...I thought I'd present it to you for your thoughts before doing so. After all, you don't know me personally, but many of those who get our weekly paper do. Here it is. Comment freely in the comment section!

To the Editor:

Having read the article about the anti-war protest in front of the Town Hall this past week, I felt I had to write. With all due respect to Cindy Sheehan, who lost her son and has a right to her grief, why does it make her an authority over anyone else regarding this war? Why is she suddenly an expert on foreign policy? Does she have a greater claim than the parents of other soldiers who have also died in Iraq? And why is it that those who are protesting the war cannot see that it is this sort of thing that demoralizes our troops more than anything else?

The time for protests was before military action took place. Now that we are in the thick of it, giving our soldiers and their commanders our support is important if we are to get this over as quickly as possible. As history has proven, we were winning militarily in Vietnam. If it hadn't been for the protesting at home, the Vietcong most likely would have surrendered. However, they admit that they hung in there because of the massive unrest back in the U.S. Have we not learned our lesson?

The "Bush lied, kids died" mantra simply doesn't cut it. It's convenient to forget how prominent Senate Democrats such as Carl Levin and Ted Kennedy made references to Saddam Hussein's possession of WMDs before our invasion. The fact that we haven't found any (other than deadly neurological gases, etc.) since the invasion doesn't mean they didn't exist. We gave him so many warnings and pleaded with the useless U.N. for so long that Hussein likely had ample time to get rid of what he had. Don't forget, he also kept U.N. inspectors out for ages. That certainly doesn't give him the impression of innocence. And while we now know certain intelligence was faulty (intelligence gatherers are, after all, only human), we also know that President Clinton knew of the dangers Osama bin Laden posed in 1996. Does that mean he is responsible for 9/11? Of course not, in the literal sense. But his unfortunate failure to take action spelled disaster for us five years later.

Bush took action because Hussein turned a blind eye to the needs of his people and to the terrorists who sought haven in Iraq. Terrorist training camps were found there, and Hussein was also known to give money to the families of Palestinians who blew themselves up in Israel. He tortured and murdered those who dared to oppose his policies. Why is he suddenly being elevated to the status of victim to Bush's bad guy?

For Cindy Sheehan to state that America is not a country worth dying for is outrageous. Her son enlisted in the Army not once, but twice. He obviously felt differently, and was willing to sacrifice himself for the country he loved. The soldiers in our armed forces are there by choice. For anyone to say they didn't expect to go into combat when they enlisted is ludicrous. You don't become a chef if you don't expect to be in a hot kitchen. Those who sign on to become soldiers know the risks. They accept them. Who are we to claim otherwise? I only wish I had that much integrity and courage when I was younger.

In a perfect world, there would be constant peace. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. Sometimes war is the answer because as long as people like Saddam Hussein exist, there must also be people who are willing to try to thwart him. People like us. I'm sorry there are those who believe what the Islamic fascists believe, that America is the "Great Satan." It's sad that some of our own citizens believe it. I always wonder if it's so bad here, what makes them stay?

I expect that my letter will spark some harsh criticism in the next edition of this paper. I am not against dissent or for censorship. What would our political process be without it? I am only asking those who "protest for peace" give another thought to what they are protesting. America is not evil, and neither is President Bush (nor was President Clinton). Saddam Hussein and those like him are. We need to keep a proper perspective.

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August 19, 2005

Camille Paglia: On A Mission

Author, teacher and feminist Camille Paglia is on a mission to restore the arts to their former prominence in this country. On a website called The Morning News, sheÕs interviewed by Robert Birnbaum. The topic is her latest book Break, Blow, Burn: Camille Paglia Reads Forty-Three of the WorldÕs Best Poems, but the conversation eventually turns to the state of the arts and humanities in America. To say the least, Paglia is not encouraged by what she sees. Birnbaum is ready to blame those on the right side of the spectrum but Paglia, surprisingly, has some harsh words for the left. This interview has a plethora of wisdom from Paglia, but for the sake of brevity, I am only going to highlight some of it. Be sure to read the whole thing on your ownÑitÕs worth the time.

CP: IÕm on a crusadeÑitÕs to say to the poets and the artists, ÒStop talking to each other. Stop talking to coteries. I despise coteries in any form. You are speaking to a coterie, OK. Stop the snide references to the rest of the world who didnÕt vote with you in the last election.Ó This is big. Because we have all separated again. After 9/11, everyone was united. We are separated again thanks to what has happened in politics. People in the art world are full of sanctimonious sense of superiority to most of America. But they must address America, learn to address America. Yes, have your friends, have the people who support what you are doing in the art world, but you have to recover a sense of the general audience and the same thing I am saying to the far right, get over the sneering at art, the stereotypingÑ

RB: They started it.

CP: Wait a minute. The far right wouldnÕt have any opinions about art if it werenÕt for those big incidents in the late Ô80s to the Ô90s when some stupid work was committing sacrilege.

Huge, absolutely huge. She goes on to discuss how the artistic left denigrates Catholic symbols in its works, while leaving Islamic, Jewish, and other religions alone. WhatÕs interesting her is that Paglia not only recognizes that the artistic left is looking to be a thorn in the side of the religious right, but she isnÕt afraid to say it. SheÕs not worried about reactions to her words, because sheÕs on a mission. She says that by holding themselves above the Òrabble,Ó the artistic left no longer connect with society at large. And if they no longer connect, why would the ÒrabbleÓ care about their message? She goes on to say that as a result of tweaking the noses of those on the right, public support of arts funding has diminished.

Just take a look at this bombshell regarding the effects of multi-culturalism:

CP: It isnÕt fertile for the arts and therefore something is necessary. Artists, cultural organizations and the universities and primary schools have the obligation to put art more to the forefront. Instead of 30 years of badmouthing Western cultureÑ

RB: [laughs]

CP: And trashing itÑI am for multi-culturalismÑitÕs about the great artistic traditions of the world, whether itÕs Chinese culture, Hindi, whatever it is we are tracing in terms of history, chronologyÑchronology is outÑvalue, greatness, quality. My god, Japanese culture, Chinese culture, high culture. That was about quality. But the idea of quality has been divorced in the discussion of the arts in our universities because, ÒOh itÕs just a mask for ideology. There is no such thing as greatness. These are all completely subjective. For people who want to protect their own power eliteÑdead white European males.Ó This is the garbage that has come outÉ.

CP: But also itÕs up to the teachers to provide the counterbalance of art and thatÕs what American education is failing to do. There is a kind of humanitarian do-gooder mentality abroad in the public schools these days, which is like, ÒWe all get along. HereÕs our quota. We are going to read the poem by the African American, the poem by the Native American. The poem by the Chicano.Ó Like that. There is no more quality. So we are not giving the kids anything to sustain them. Heaven forbid there should be anything about religion or sex. The far right keeps the sexual outÑnudes from the history of painting. And the left keeps anything from religion out. The things that are the most substantive are not there.

Quality. Exactly. Take the good and reject the bad from all cultures. Western culture does have its good points like any other culture, something the left is loathe to admit.

Taking on the issue of Thomas Frank and his book WhatÕs the Matter With Kansas?, Paglia says, ÒThe idea that working people are voting against their interests seems to meÑIÕm sorry, I find that to be one of the most condescending, twisted things that has now taken root. ItÕs now in the media everywhere. That is twistedÉThe people are voting against their interests? Who knows that? Tom Frank knows that? Tom Frank knows what is in the peopleÕs best interest? ItÕs an outrage.Ó When I read this, I almost cheered.

ThereÕs more, much more. Honestly, you have to read this article yourselfÉI simply cannot cover it all. But the final quotes from Paglia, as she discusses the state of the study of humanities in our colleges and universities, really sum up her feelings:

CP: Sweep out all this stuff, this post-modernist, structuralism stuff which hasnÕt led to anything but a lot of very successful, tenure and promotion and salaries. This naivete of the alternative press about the academy. The idea that people who are mouthing leftist platitudes are leftists. Some of these people I knew in grad school. These people are crass materialists, OK?

RB: [laughs]

CP: They boast about having two houses and they mouth leftist platitudes. There was a financial reward to mouthing leftism in this period. The alternative press which should have been the watch dogsÑ

RB: The alternative press is the same way.

CP: What I am saying is they think thatÕs leftism and ÒI donÕt want to join the chorus of people on the right who are decrying whatÕs going on in academe,Ó so the entire two generations of embezzlers and crooks, as far as I am concerned, took over the universities and forced out interesting grad students and faculty and they took up other careers. And destroyed the humanities.

I wish all Democrats and leftists were like Camille Paglia. Then we'd get real political discourse, not ranting and raving.

*Cross-posted on Lifelike Pundits*

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August 18, 2005

Illegals Welcome in Herndon, VA

It seems the town of Herndon, Virginia has a soft spot for illegal aliens. After getting complaints about the illegals who lined up outside of a convience store each day with the hope of getting work, the town council proposed moving them to the police station. Last night, they voted 5-2 to build an official gathering place for illegals.

So, not only is taxpayer money going toward social services for these people, but in Herndon, it is now going toward a gathering place for illegals looking for work.

According to the article from CNS News, employers don't "feel comfortable" finding workers in front of the 7-11. They're not supposed to even hire these people, and the town is supposed to worry about how comfortable they feel about the location? Pass the barf bag, please.

Herndon Planning Commissioner Robert Burk is blaming the federal government for this fiasco, saying, "The federal government has left Herndon on its own. Since the borders are not being enforced, there are a minimal number of INS agents, and they need to make a decision that is best for the town of Herndon utilizing their own resources."

While it's true the federal government is letting us down in this area, does that mean Herndon is going to roll over and accept illegals in their community without question? Sad to say, it sure looks that way.

In New London, Connecticut, legal residents and taxpayers are being forced out of their homes with the blessing of the Supreme Court to make way for a fancy-schmancy complex being built to accommodate Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and its employees (and greedy tax collectors). In Herndon, illegal immigrants are getting a gathering place built for them. Welcome to the other side of the looking glass.

*Cross-posted on Lifelike Pundits*

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August 17, 2005

And Now, For Something Completely Different

Okay, I'm exaggerating. But I don't think I've blogged about international news in a while. Here are some random thoughts on what's going on outside of America:

• It seems that having the requisite four or five weeks of vacation time doesn't mean everyone in France can fully enjoy it. With unemployment maintaining a steady ten percent with no relief in sight, it seems Citizens of the Republic who don't earn big bucks...er, francs...er, euros...are spending more of those precious vacation days at home. Heading for the shore during the dog days of August is out of the reach of many. While the idea of abandoning the high cost of employing workers under their current socialist system as a means of spurring economic growth doesn't seem to occur to anyone, at least the elderly must feel safer this summer than they did two years ago.

• Gerhard Schroeder's days as head honcho in Germany may be numbered. Conservative Angela Merkel's popularity is polled at 42 percent, while Schroder's Social Democrats are at 28 percent--a two point gain. [cue party blowers] Merkel, a member of the Christian Democrats, was quoted as saying, "Now the point is to get out of this misery, we need growth, economical growth is the way we need to grow as we are last in Europe. And that is not right," Merkel told the crowd. "That is not adequate for Germany - Germany can do more." Perhaps it can with Merkel at the helm. The world will be watching with interest.

• Here's a shocker: A recent poll of Mexicans (still in Mexico) shows that a whopping 40% of them would like to move to America. Well heck, I'll be the first to welcome them...as long as they don't sneak over the border, but use the proper channels. Unfortunately, the same polls show one in five would do the illegal thing if given the chance.

• And finally, it seems real democracy may be in the grasp of Egyptian citizens, as their first multi-candidate presidential election is set for September 7. Incumbent Hosni Mubarek, who is considered to be a shoo-in for a fifth term, promises the election will be free and fair. Hmph...we'll see.

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August 16, 2005

No Fly List: Wanting it Both Ways

Not only is Teddy Kennedy being inconvenienced when he flies these days, but it turns out that babies with names similar to those on the "no-fly" list are being grounded as well.

Sure it's silly, but rules are rules. And it seems that the parents, while a bit surprised, are being understanding.

However, the ACLU is being quite snippy about it.

An ACLU lawyer, Tim Sparapani, said the problem of babies stopped by the no-fly list illustrates some of the reasons that the lists do not work.

''There's no oversight over the names," Sparapani said. ''We know names are added hastily, and when you have a name-based system you don't focus on solid . . . leads. You focus on names that are similar to those that might be suspicious."

Sorry, Charlie. This is what happens when ethnic profiling is banned. Despite the fact that all of the bombers have been young men of either Middle Eastern descent, Muslim, or both, looking specifically for people who fit that description is a big PC no-no.

After all, hurt feelings are more important than accurate safety measures. So the rest of us can continue to expect to have to take off our shoes, be patted down, and possibly have our names on a "no-fly" list--because anything more specific just isn't civilized.

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Big News Isn't So Big Anymore...

Stop the presses! Celebrity magazines (People, In Touch, etc.) are outselling news magazines. According to figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), NewsweekÕs newsstand circulation plummeted 14 percent, while celebrity rag In TouchÕs circulation rose by a whopping 49.7 percent.

Am I surprised? No.

I think there may be several factors at work here. With the newer news options available (cable and Internet), people are getting their information almost as it happens. ItÕs not necessary to wait a week to see what kind of analysis Time Magazine will give to a major news story. Some people, in fact, feel that they are oversaturated with news. Why would those individuals go out of their way to read more?

Magazines, including news magazines, also fall under the category of Òentertainment dollarsÓ for most of us. Think about all of the entertainment options available these days: movies at the theater, movie rentals, cable or satellite television, video games, shopping at stores and online, Internet costs, ad infinitum. With such a wide variety of ways to spend money, certain items are falling in importance on the entertainment totem pole.

(ItÕs tempting to say that the left-leaning MSM is finally seeing a revolt by the unwashed masses, but its clout hasnÕt quite gone the way of the dodo. Ah, wishful thinking, but unrealistic at this point in time.)

But why are celeb mags seeing such a large rise in circulation? Surely the reasons mentioned above for the decline in news magazine sales could apply to magazines touting celebrity gossip and photo Òexclusives.Ó They could, but they donÕt. HereÕs why: We, as a society, love gossip. And, some canÕt get enough of whatÕs going on in the lives of the rich and famous. WhoÕs dating who, who dumped who, what so-and-so wore to the awards show, and which celebrity got arrested last week. We want to see it all, and the sleazier the better.

ItÕs fascinating stuff to many who are looking for an escape from their own humdrum livesÑand perhaps a way to feel superior. Crazy antics like Tom Cruise claiming to be an authority on psychology while touting the cult Scientology and his sudden, suspiciously convenient love affair with Hollywood nymphette Katie Holmes are something we can all look down our noses at. After all, heÕs the one making a fool of himself in front of millions of people.

WhatÕs not to like about that, especially when itÕs printed in color on high gloss paper?

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August 15, 2005

Quick Takes: Nonsense from the Left

Here are some of the headlines today, courtesy of our pals on the left side of the road:

According to Howard Dean, women in Iraq as of now stand to be worse off than they were under Saddam Hussein. Yes, Howard, it'll be so hard for those women not to be raped by Uday and Qusay, and not to see their loved ones passed through plastic shredders. They must rue the day they were liberated!

For Cindy Sheehan, it's not really about her son, but it's about Israel and Palestine. Talk about your true colors showing. What a shame she's dragging her son's memory through the mud with her muckraking. Meanwhile, her husband has filed for divorce. Could this get any seedier?

Editors of local newspapers across the country--the ones who can't afford to send their own reporters abroad--are upset with the negative slant of Iraq coverage by the AP. Well, we could have told you that! It's refreshing to know, however, that editors are letting the AP know how they feel about it. Will the AP listen?

She denies she is planning a run for president (actually, she simply ducks the question rather than answer it one way or another), but actions speak louder than words: Hillary Clinton has hired the head of "Draft Hillary for President 2004," a grass-roots organization, for her PAC staff. C'mon, Hillary. Who do you think you're really fooling?

Fidel Castro is celebrated his 79th birthday Saturday. Click on this link and take a gander at the size of that cake. Think the average Cuban "comrade" gets that at birthday time? The best thing about his birthday is that each one means he's getting older and therefore getting closer to kicking the bucket. That'd be the best present the Cubans could get!

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August 13, 2005

It's Vacation Time: Where's Bush?

With the whole Cindy Sheehan debacle, there has been renewed interest in how much time President Bush spends vacationing at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Currently, the president is in the midst of a five-week break. Now when you and I go on vacation, we turn on our out-of-office notifications on our work e-mail, pay a neighborhood kid a few dollars to feed the cat and take in the mail, and we disappear for a week or two of fun in the sun...or wherever our destination might be.

Do you really think a president can just expect to answer e-mails and voice messages when he gets back to the Oval Office? Rubbish. Presidents are always on call, vacation time or not. It's absurd to think that in the event of a crisis he can just say, "It'll have to wait until I get back," or, "Tell Dick to handle it."

Bush still gets his daily briefings, he still meets with his advisors, and he also invites foreign dignitaries and leaders to his ranch in order to discuss world affairs. With today's technology, the president is just a phone call away from important developments, and can get back to Washinton in the course of a few hours if need be.

Look at last year's tsunami. Kofi Annan, whom the left simply adores as the head of the beloved U.N., didn't immediately cut short his ski vacation--in fact, he waited three days before heading back to U.N. headquarters in order to muff up relief efforts. Here's what he said in his defense:

ÒFirst of all, there was action. It wasnÕt inaction. We live in a world where you can operate from wherever you are. You know the world we live in now. You donÕt have to be physically here to be dealing with the leaders and the governments I have been dealing with.Ó

That sounds reasonable. But look at the contrast: Kofi waits three days to come back after a disaster. George W. Bush waits for perhaps 20 or 20 minutes after the World Trade center is plowed into by planes, and he's evil incarnate. Give me a break.

Take a look at Bill Clinton. He didn't take as many actual "vacations" as Bush does, but what did he do instead? He traveled all over the world on the taxpayer's dime. This piece helps put a little perspective on the issue. Three trips in 1998 alone

...cost the American taxpayer at least $72 million -- with the Africa trip alone accounting for $42.8 million. Not only did they seriously affect the taxpayer's wallet, these three trips seriously affected America's defense. Fully 84 percent of the $72-million price tag came from the DOD budget. For example, the cost per hour to fly Air Force One, the president's personal plane, is $34,400. Of course, the $72-million price tag paid for a lot more than just flying President Clinton. It also paid for 297 military missions largely for the ferrying back and forth of some 2,400 people and necessary equipment working -- sometimes months in advance -- to assure smooth travel for the President. The trip to Africa alone involved 10 advance trips by military planes and the travel of 904 DOD personnel -- the equivalent of a U.S. Army battalion.

You know, for someone who didn't think our military was terribly necessary, he certainly used it to his advantage. And, when the piece was written (back in 1999, shortly before Bush took office), Clinton held quite a few travel records:

Most Countries Visited (59), Total Foreign Travel Days (186), and Most Days of Foreign Travel Per Year (27.6)

And we paid for it. Now I'm not saying a president shouldn't ever visit other countries. That would be absurd. But folks today who are complaining that Bush spends too much time at his ranch should be thinking about how much Clinton spent--literally--when he went to Africa, China, and other exotic locales in order to get a lot of feel-good time in front of the fawning cameras of the MSM.

Besides, don't liberals think that we should be doing what socialist countries in Europe do by giving everyone at least four or five weeks of vacation per year? In that instance, Bush is simply emulating Europeans which, of course, is what liberals liked about John Kerry.

Oh, and don't forget, our illustrious Senate, whose members are also on the public payroll, get two weeks in January, a week in February, two weeks in March, two weeks in May, a week off in July, and the whole month of August...and all of the federal holidays.

The whole thing is ridiculous. The presidency is an extremely stressful job. Just look at how much the men who hold the office age in the four-to-eight years from first taking the job to leaving it. Who are we, with only our own personal cares to worry about, to criticize a man for trying to relax who has to think about more than we ever will?

*Cross-posted at Lifelike Pundits.*

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August 12, 2005

Howard Dean: New England Republicans "Different"

Wow, what's up with Howard Dean, tossing a backhanded compliment to a handful of Republicans? At a recent appearance in New Hampshire, Deanie had this to say:

New England Republicans are different than most. They are more reasonable and thoughtful," Dean said. "You don't get as many right-wing wackos."

As a New England Republican, I am touched, truly touched. Get out the Kleenex, I think I'm going to cry...

Of course, his main message was for the Democratic party faithful, discussing the Dems' upcoming return to the Oval Office:

"The burden of proof is on us," Dean said. "Our job is not just to say what we don't like about the president. Our job is to make sure that when we get in we earn the right to stay."

This is the most sensible thing I have ever heard him say. But, the key is that they have to get in. It isn't just about how to get the message out, but the message itself. Good luck guys...you're going to need it.

*Cross-posted on Lifelike Pundits*

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Liberals: Conservative Blogs Pose Problem

Check out this story from the Washington Times:

Liberal activist Web loggers have made major advances on the Internet, but they remain far behind their conservative adversaries among the top 250 political blogs, according to a study by a Democratic think tank.

A Democratic think tank? I thought they only existed in the movies.

The study said this was "a serious problem that progressives must confront," if they are going to overcome the conservatives' advantage at the local level.

Could it be because as in real life, liberal bloggers concentrate more on the negative than on the positive? Throwing insults instead of offering solutions? After all, with Howard Dean at the helm, what else would one expect?

Keep on blogging, fellow conservatives. Let 'em have the MSM!

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August 11, 2005

Michelle Malkin: In the Crosshairs of the Left

Today, columnist and blogger Michelle Malkin gives us a sample of some of the truly vile things people e-mail her. Click here to see them...scroll down a bit; there are a lot of updates in the post. The language is extremely foul, so don't say I didn't warn you.

(One of them was sent from an employee at a law firm, and the law firm found out about it--and fired the person who sent it. Integrity is always refreshing. All the details are in the post.)

Aaron, one of my co-bloggers at Lifelike Pundits, mentioned in an e-mail that he can't figure out why Malkin is the target of such blatant hatred from the left. While I agree it's despicable and unfortunate, I do have a theory.

Malkin is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. This automatically makes her a member of a protected class--in other words, as a person of color, she falls under the category of minorities who must be protected by the left against the big, bad conservatives who would otherwise oppress her.

The funny thing is, Malkin is a conservative who doesn't subscribe to the notion that she needs to be protected from anyone. Not only that, she isn't afraid to air her views about anything, from protecting our borders to racial preferences. She even wrote a book that defends the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II...a cardinal sin in the eyes of the left. The fact that she is a successful journalist in spite of her rejection of the ideals of the left makes it even more galling to them.

In other words, Malkin is a marked man (er...woman). Because she disdains the "safety net" the left so condescendingly holds out for minorities, whom they seem to think can't succeed at anything without help akin to a handicap in golf, she must be hanged and quartered. She has to be taught a lesson for her ingratitude for their magnanimousness. When lefties don't have facts to back up their opinions, they turn to personal insults as a way of asserting their superiority. (I have had this happen to me with a member of my own family.) Call it the "class bully syndrome," if you will.

This also explains why minority conservatives like Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Alberto Gonzales and others are vilified by the left. They had the temerity to leave the herd.

Fortunately, Malkin is strong enough to withstand the buffeting of the stormy seas of political commentary. If she wasn't, she'd have been gone a long time ago. As long as there are people willing to listen to her message, then the sophomoric attempts by the left to quash her will continue to be fruitless.

*Cross-posted at Lifelike Pundits.*

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Cindy Sheehan's Family Breaks Their Silence

Apparently the family of Cindy Sheehan (the "I Hate Bush" woman who is using her soldier son's death in Iraq as a publicity platform) doesn't agree with her attitude or her tactics. This letter was received by Melanie Morgan of KFSO (talk radio San Francisco):

Hello again Melanie,

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish.

Thanks � Cherie

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement:

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

Sincerely,

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

The MSM will ignore this, of course, as Cindy Sheehan has become one of their darlings in an effort to undermine Bush, his administration, and the sacrifices in Iraq.

Link freely...but as my friend Pat at Brainster's Blog cautions, there is some dispute as to whether or not this letter is authentic, so be sure to use common sense as well.

*Hat tip: Michelle Malkin*

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"Over There" is Overrated

Former paratrooper Michael Fumento, who was embedded with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, reviews Stephen Bochco's new show "Over There," based on the war in Iraq.

If ÒOver ThereÓ has a true military advisor, he deserves the firing squad. In the first episode a squad is pinned down while besieging a terrorist-filled mosque. The unit remains for about 36 hours with no air support, because ÒAir is dedicated to another area.Ó Never mind that planes or choppers are always available within minutes. They request artillery, again to no avail. ThereÕs no armor.

So much for reality!

Of course, the Kos crowd loves it:

"Wow! Anybody else watch Over There last night?" gushed a writer for the heavily-read antiwar blogsite, Daily Kos. "Within a few minutes . . . it was obvious that Iraq was Vietnam all over again.Ó

Read the review for yourself. As for me, I don't think I'll waste my time "Over There."

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August 10, 2005

Karl Rove: Covert Operator at Independent Sources

According to a blog called Blue Flypaper (located in the "bluest state in the union"), Karl Rove must be working at the website Independent Sources because I.S. added B.F. to Total Fark, a website where you can post links to webpages. (You have to subscribe to get the really good stuff, although there is a free public page.)

We never did anything to them so I don't know why they did that to us. (Karl Rove must work there!)

See? Karl Rove brought into the fray when he's just minding his own business, helping President Bush navigate through the murky waters we call American politics.

Blue Flypaper blogger True Blue makes a most telling statement:

Most of our readers will never have heard of Independent Sources because as a true liberal you should try and stay away from reading non-liberal publications like this.

Yes indeed...heaven forbid a liberal (read: leftist) should actually be exposed to an opposing point of view. Bring out the disinfectant! Isn't that how we learn, how we hone our talking points, how we evolve as a society? Living in a vacuum isn't good for one's mental health.

What you might find most entertaining about this post are the comments. Here are a couple:

• I've dealt with their kind before. They smirk while they tax poor people and take rights away from minorities. They should just be decent people and stop doing those things.

• What's all the fuss about. They are conservative which by definition means they are wrong. Conservatives have been wrong about every single thing from Iraq to terrorism to the economy. We need to raise taxes, raise wages, give free healthcare, leave Iraq, and stop supporting corrupt governments. We also need to lower rents, feed homeless people, and get rid of the (un)Patriot act. Why are these things so hard for Bush & co to understand. Read my lips...

And there are (as of this writing) ten more of these gems. Do I smirk while taking away the rights of minorities? I hope not...I want them to know how serious I am about being oppressive. Oh, and we'll need those higher wages in order to raise those taxes, feed homeless people and give "free" healthcare. We have Canada's healthcare system for a model.

Of course, raising wages means products will become more expensive, which will in turn create more inflation (not to mention the owners of buildings whose rents are magically "lowered" might end up becoming homeless, which means more mouths to feed). I think Economics 101, taught by people like Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell, should be mandatory for all college students. But wait, Williams and Sowell are both black, and since I'm oppressive, I guess I can't use them as examples. You see what difficult positions we conservatives are put in?

Apparently some of Blue Flypaper's readers have been sending some rude e-mail to the Insider over at Independent Sources. And the sad thing is, I don't think these readers realize that Blue Flypaper is most likely a joke site (like Blame Bush, et al). I mean really...you need to see the posts lauding Jane Fonda, John Kerry, Michael Moore and others...just ludicrous.

Taking oneself too seriously is not a good thing. The readers of Blue Flypaper really need to lighten up. If I'm wrong, and Blue Flypaper isn't a joke, then the situation is even sadder than I thought.

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Another Rocker Who Will Be Left in the Rubbish Bin of History

Chris Martin may be popular today but in 100 years, who will care?

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has snubbed British Prime Minister Tony Blair's invitation to meet him at his London residence - because the YELLOW star feared it would damage his image.

Like President Bush, Tony Blair will go down in the history books, but Chris Martin's "image" will eventually go the way of the dodo bird.

The pomposity of windbags like Martin truly never ceases to amaze me!

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Teachers' Unions: Concerned With Everything But Education

Well, maybe that title isn't completely fair. It's what comes to mind, though, when reading this:

The nation's two largest teachers' unions are joining the anti-Wal-Mart campaign, urging Americans to buy their back-to-school supplies somewhere else.

[...]

Speakers at the press conferences will present Wal-Mart with a failing report card, which gives Wal-Mart an "F" grade in five areas: poverty level wages; taxpayer abuse; poor benefits; discrimination; and child labor.

I thought teachers' unions would spend more of their time on actual school-related issues like poor test scores and the lagging of American students behind those other industrialized countries in math and other areas.

Feel-good gestures like the Wal-Mart campaign might make headlines, but they don't help our students. However, scholarship programs like the ones Wal-Mart offers to employees and their families do.

Hmmm...

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August 09, 2005

Over-the-Hill Rocker Realizes History Will Forget Him

That's what the headline should read. What the headline really said was:

JAGGER ROCKS BUSH, RICE: "HOW COME YOU'RE SO WRONG, MY SWEET NEO-CON"

Mick Jagger of the Aging...er, Rolling Stones feels that now our election is over, he has carte blanche to insult President Bush and his advisers with the lyrics in the Stones' new song.

Jagger once vowed not to comment on the political process in the United States.

"I feel very much at home in America. I've spent half my adult life here. I have many personal feelings. But I'm from the school that considers it impolite to comment on other people's elections. Now if I had the vote - and I should have, as I pay so much in taxes - I would have a lot to say."

If only he had kept his promise!

I'm trying to recall any of our celebrities publicly insulting the leaders of other civilized countries, but I honestly can't recall such an incident (unless it's Israel, and that goes without saying.) If any of you can think of something, please add it to the comments section. (The fact that so many of our celebs actually publicly insult our own president is a topic near and dear to my heart, and deserves a separate post.)

Needless to say, President Bush is probably much to busy to worry much about what that dried-up old stick has to say about him. And history will have the last laugh...because while Bush will be remembered (for better or for worse), no one in 100 years or so will give a hoot about Mickey and Pals.

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Dean: Get the Message Out!

Screamin' Howard Dean has some words of wisdom for his party:

"We have to be out there. We have to be vocal. We have to be pushing our version of the facts because their version of the facts is very unfactual."

Unfactual? Is he taking English lessons from Michael Moore?

After visiting 30 states in the first six months as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Dean said Monday he has found "There are Democrats everywhere."

There are rodents everywhere too, but they have about the same amount of influence on national politics these days that the Dems do.

Unfortunately, Dean doesn't seem to understand that the majority of the population (yes, anything over 50% is a majority, like it or not) has rejected the Democrats' "version of the facts."

Keep on screaming, Howard, keep on screaming.

*Gary over at Ex-Donkey Blog has more on this topic.*

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August 08, 2005

Harry Belafonte: Leftist Hack

Okay, I am a bit late in jumping on this bandwagon, but I had to put in my two cents...not worth much with inflation these days!

Belafonte made some outrageous comments over the weekend regarding black "tyrants" in the Bush administration. He also said this:

"Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich. Color does not necessarily denote quality, content or value."

The latter part of his quote can also be applied to blacks in the entertainment business. Had any top 20 hits lately, Harry?

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NASA Astronaut: We Need to Care for the Earth!

From high above our atmosphere, space shuttle Discovery commander Eileen Collins has been making green activists happy with a few choice comments from space. Lucky Dawg News is all over it:

The egg comment and how we are running out of air on Earth ranked up there with the dumbest of Al Gore utterances.

"The atmosphere almost looks like an eggshell on an egg, it's so very thin," she said. "We know that we don't have much air, we need to protect what we have."

Read more of Lucky Dawg's commentary here.

Gee, was she worried about how much the atmosphere was polluted when Discovery's rockets spewed tons of carbon monoxide and other waste when Discovery was shot into space? What about all of the fuel it needs just to get up there?

I guess NASA projects are exempt from such criticism.

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It's a Little Late Now, Doncha Think?

From My Way News:

Two of the jurors who voted to acquit singer Michael Jackson of child molestation and other charges say they regret their decisions.

Jurors Ray Hultman and Eleanor Cook, who both have pending book deals, planned to appear Monday night on the new MSNBC show "Rita Cosby: Live and Direct."[emphasis added--ed.]

Pending book deals, eh? What's that sound I hear?

Oh yeah...ka CHING!

It's too bad their consciences didn't kick in during the deliberations. At the least there would have been a mistrial, and Jackson would have had to be tried again.

Now he's free to hide in his flowing robes at his new home in Bahrain.

Nice job, folks...thanks so much for renewing my faith in our justice system!

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Don't Spam Two Dogs...

unless you're cruisin' for a bruisin'.

Here's his response to spam from JohnKerry.com, asking him for contributions. While it's a shame Kerry himself won't read it, perhaps it gave a staffer a spasm or two.

Here we go. You start this crap not by spelling out your intentions for our country but by once again attacking Republicans. Santorum is a "right-wing extremist"? How does it look when the Democrat Party has an Far-Left, Purple Heart stealing, Lurch-resembling, traitorous, lying, gold-digging, appeasement monkey as its Presidential candidate? Nobody is buying your crap. Oh, and you throw and catch like a girl. No offense to all those girls that can actually throw and catch. You know what I mean.

Hee hee!

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Multiculturalism: Will It Be Our Waterloo?

I read a couple of articles on multiculturalism today...one by Michael Barone and one from the Times Online (UK). Here are some thoughts on both.

Michael Barone:

Multiculturalism is based on the lie that all cultures are morally equal. In practice, that soon degenerates to: All cultures are morally equal, except ours, which is worse. [emphasis added--ed.] But all cultures are not equal in respecting representative government, guaranteed liberties and the rule of law. And those things arose not simultaneously and in all cultures, but in certain specific times and places -- mostly in Britain and America, but also in various parts of Europe.

Absolutely. By giving our own culture the short end of the stick, what is it that we are saying? That our culture is not worth a hill of beans? That it should be eradicated? What about the cultures that we place above ours? Have we really taken a good, hard look at those cultures? Islam, which is not only a religion but a culture, has many facets that go directly against what many of us (the left included) consider to be valuable assets to any society: they do not believe in the moral equality of the sexes, homosexuality is an offense worthy of death, believers of other religions in Islalmic societies are banned from open practice of those religions, and Islamic law precludes secular law.

Is this what we want in a free democratic society?

Times Online (this is an article based on an undercover investigation of a mullah who supports terrorist activities in England):

At Friday prayers, on the day after the second bomb attacks, there was a buzz in the air as Bakri walked into the Selby hall in his brilliant white shalwar kameez.

In the preamble to the sermon he referred to the bombers as the Òfantastic fourÓ. He explained that his lament for the ÒinnocentÓ applied only to Muslims. It was a linguistic sleight of hand which he summarised as: ÒYes I condemn killing any innocent people, but not any kuffar.Ó [kuffar means non-Muslim--ed.]

This entire article is worth the time it takes to read. A reporter (with a Muslim background) puts his safety on the line to expose these fanatics for what they are: people who will take advantage of their host society (in this case, Britain) by living on welfare while refusing to assimilate in any way into English society, while preaching hatred and planning to terrorize and kill "kuffar" in a bid to "fly the flag of Islam over Downing Street." These people also ridicule so-moderate Muslims...the article tells of one being brutally beaten for challenging the views of this Saviour Sect.

This has happened because of multiculturalism. Freedom of religion should be encouraged and allowed. But when people immigrate to a country not to become a part of it, but to become a cancer to destroy from within, that cancer needs to be cut out.

Tony Blair is taking steps to stop this. Will America follow his lead?

*This post also appears on Lifelike Pundits.*

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August 06, 2005

The Outhouse Principle

As I mowed my lawn today, cursing the lush growth that occurs where the septic tank is located, I had a bit of a revelation. It's not as earthshattering as Einstein's theory of relativity, but I'm excited about it nonetheless.

I call it "The Outhouse Principle." It's fairly simple and can be applied to many situations. What is it, you ask?

When either reading or hearing a story about something that's going on in the world, consider the source and think: should this person/news outlet really be preaching about this particular topic?

In other words, there are some who should be paying more attention the crap in their own backyards.

Here are some recent examples where the Outhouse Principle can apply:

• The New York Times' investigation into Justice John G. Roberts' adoption of his two young children. The Times has had its share of recent embarrassments, including the hiring and encouragement of Jayson Blair, liar extraordinaire. Who are they to take it upon themselves to look for irregularities in the adoption of two lovely children by a judge, whom they obviously hope to discredit, because he was nominated by George W. Bush? And why aren't they talking about the next item on this Outhouse Principle list...

• Anything and everything blabbed by the airheads on Air America. Air America received a "loan" from a publicly funded charitable organization, and then failed to pay it back. (Oh, but they're going to pay it back now that the nature of the loan has been made public.) Meanwhile, Al Franken is constanly harping about "lies" and the "lying liars" who tell them. Shouldn't he be 'fessing up to the truth in this matter?

• Idiot celebrities who scream that the war in Iraq is all about the oil. Techno "legend" Moby recently blogged about this subject while in Australia on a concert tour. What he fails to realize is that without oil, he wouldn't be able to get to Australia in a matter of 24 hours and tour the country in a comfortable bus. Unless he plans to begin traveling by windjammer and horse and buggy, Moby should stick to his music (and I use the term "music" loosely).

The possibilities for applying the Outhouse Principle are endless. Heck, I'm sure it can be used to talk about me! In any case, be sure to tune into this blog for future Outhouse Principle alerts. (Like a Barbra Streisand "Truth Alert," but spelled properly.)

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Blogging and Work: Beware!

Remember the chick at the fashion magazine who lost one job and the prospect of another because she "blogged the beans" about the many perks involved in the fashion industry? Here's yet another story about how careful you have to be if you blog (or just post comments on blogs) and talk about work:

A California automobile club has fired 27 workers for posting messages on a popular social networking Web site.

[...]

Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp said comments were made about other workers' weight and sexual orientation.

[...]

Thorp said employees were also dismissed because they discussed online how they planned to slow down roadside assistance at work. [emphasis added]

Even if you blog on your own time, if you discuss your workplace you had better think about possible consequences. Those who blog anonymously and speak about work in only general terms (griping about anonymous coworkers, etc.) are usually pretty safe. However, how stupid can you get to use your name AND talk about how you plan to screw up major operations within your company?

I make it a policy never to discuss anything about where I work. When I first started this blog, I did write one post with a few general complaints about the type of coworker you may have in your office. However, upon reflection, I decided it was best to err on the side of caution and I deleted it. I don't mention my company name or anything else about work because the last thing I need is for some higher up at my company to chance upon my blog and see something that will get his knickers in a twist. I really need my job, and to get fired because of a hobby is not something I like to think about.

Common sense, people, common sense. Use it!

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Sub Crew Rescue: Keep Your Fingers Crossed

The British and American navies are doing their best to save the crew of a Russian submarine that got entangled in cables in the Pacific Ocean.

The Russian navy made contact with the crew late Saturday, and Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Viktor Fyodorov said earlier that their condition was"satisfactory" despite temperatures of 41 to 45 degrees.

Thankfully the Russians called for aid immediately...unlike in 2000, when the nuclear submarine Kursk lost all 118 crew members because their government waited too long before asking for help.

A British remote-controlled vehicle has cut away the cables, and now plans are being made to help the sub to surface.

We're pulling for their safe return.

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Isn't it Great...

to be an American?

That was what I was thinking tonight as I watched fireworks with my kids at my town's tercentennial celebration.

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August 05, 2005

More Thoughts on the NYT Investigation of Roberts' Children

I was thinking more about this topic while in the car today. The Times is digging into personal data regarding the adoption of two children by Justice John G. Roberts and his wife. Both children are from Latin America and are very light skinned...in fact, I wouldn't have realized they were adopted unless it hadn't been for the Times' quaint disclosure of that fact.

In fact, could it have something to do with the fact that these children are light skinned? Could there be an "issue" with the fact that the Roberts may or may not have chosen children whose physical appearances were similar to their own?

What if? And who cares?

When one goes to the local pound or animal rescue society to choose a dog or cat, isn't it customary to choose which animal one prefers? Large dog or small, black cat or calico, young or old...we make our choices based upon what is right for us. The people at the shelter don't usually push a particular animal on those doing the adopting.

And so it goes with the adoption of children. Ethnicity may or may not play a role in the choices adoptive parents make, but isn't that up to them?

Of course, this may have nothing to do with the nature of the investigation by the Times. No doubt they are looking for some impropriety that they can use against Roberts on their editorial page. But is the legal adoption of these children by parents who love them and give them a good home really any business of the Times and its readers?

Here's yet another potential slogan for the New York Times:

All the news that's fit for the bottom of the birdcage.

*As usual, Michelle Malkin has some choice bits regarding this non-story.

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August 04, 2005

The Atheist

This joke was just too good to pass up:

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers!What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.

As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his pawto take a swipe at him.

At that instant the atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..."

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. It was then that bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying: "You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice. The light went out. And the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke, "Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful."

Thanks to my pal Susan for passing it on!

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NYT Investigates Adoption of Nominee Roberts' Children

...but it won't investigate the money (more than ($800,000) Air America "borrowed" from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, which aids poor children and seniors...money it has yet to pay back.

That's right...the New York Times thinks it's more important to dig up details of the legal adoption of the young children of Justice John G. Roberts than a potentially illegal loan of money from a charitable organization to a for-profit enterprise (although how profitable Airhead America is can be debated, I'm sure).

The Titanic couldn't sink any lower...and it's 2.5 miles below the ocean surface in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

There should be an addendum to the Times' slogan:

All the news that's fit to print (as long as it slanders the right and doesn't cast the left in a bad light.)

But that probably isn't catchy enough. How about this:

Aiding and abetting the left for over 150 years.

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The Real Target of the Terrorists

In today's NY Post, Ralph Peters reveals the real target of the Islamofascists:

In Iraq yesterday a roadside bomb killed 14 Marines. Two days earlier, six Marines from the same outfit were ambushed and killed. Yet those Marines were not the terrorists' primary target.

You were.

Why is this simple truth so difficult to understand by those on the left?

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August 03, 2005

So Where Are the Celebs When You Need Them?

You know, I was beginning to count on the rabid rantings of the Hollywood Left for my daily entertainment. Silly spoutings from the likes of Michael Moore and Barbra Streisand, those leaders of the progressive party, made me laugh like no sitcoms ever could.

But Moore and Streisand have been eerily quiet of late.

There hasn't been a "Truth Alert" on Streisand's site since August 11, 2004. And on Moore's site, the last "letter" from "Mike" is dated April 16, 2004 (although there are plenty of misleading headlines entered by the Canadians who maintain the website for Mr. America).

The other usual suspects (Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, et al) have been quiet as well. Where is Sean's brilliantly penned (bad pun, sorry) article on the Iranian elections for the San Francisco Chronicle? The only Hollywood hotshot I can think of recently who has opened her yap is Jane Fonda, who announced an upcoming bus tour (powered by vegetable oil) to protest the Iraq war. We can hardly wait, Jane. Will you be bringing your own anti-aircraft gun to sit on?

Even Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo have been unusually quiet, save for their regular airtime. I guess they are too busy trying to downplay the unfolding scandal regarding Air America's unpaid "loan" from the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs.

So what's up? One theory could be that, in the wake of LaLaLand's recent slump (some say the worst in 20 years) could have the stars more worried about the bottom line than getting involved in politics--something that has the potential to burnish reputations, but doesn't necessarily plump the pocketbook. (Remember Whoopi Goldberg getting sacked from her spokesperson gig over at SlimFast because of her nasty jokes at a Kerry fundraiser? That had to hurt, no matter how nonchalant she was at the time.)

Or how about a more direct reason...the fact that what these pampered airheads have to say doesn't really carry much weight with the thinking American public and they're starting to figure it out?

Whatever it is, I am disappointed that there isn't as much amusing stuff out there as there used to be. In the same breath, it's refreshing not to have to listen to people like Julia Roberts and Cher talk about how "embarrassing" and "stupid" President Bush is.

Like we don't despair at how embarrassing those who (unfortunately) represent America are to us? Oh well...I'm sure one of them will get in a huff about something sooner or later, and use the all-too-willing MSM to trumpet their discontent.

Until then, we'll have to rely on the Democrat Party to keep the laughs coming.

*This post also appears on Lifelike Pundits.*

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