January 31, 2006

Liveblogging the State of the Union Address

8:59--Laura Bush takes her seat, classy as always. Seated with her is a woman in Muslim garb.

9:00--The Supreme Court is announced, and they are joined by newly minted Justice Samuel Alito. Heh. They are followed by the President's cabinet. Yay Condi!

Just saw Joe Lieberman; he has quite the smile on his face.

According to FOX News, Cindy Sheehan, who cadged a pass, was taken out of the gallery a few minutes ago because she tried to unfurl a banner. Rumor has it she was the guest of Lynn Woolsey. She is in cuffs outside and being detained, but has not yet been arrested.

9:08--President Bush is announced and is running the gamut on his way to the podium. He's hugging and shaking hands with people on the aisle. He just shook hands with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

9:11--He is officially announced by the speaker. John Kerry must be eating his heart out. Bush's first remarks were dedicated to Coretta Scott King who died today.

9:14--"We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom...The only way to protect our people...is by our leadership so the United States of America will continue to lead."

9:15--"We seek the end of tyranny of our world...In reality, the future of America's security depends on it...Dictatorships shelter terrorists and...seek weapons of mass destruction...Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer..."

Good. He brought up women voting in Afghanistan and Iraqis getting the vote, as well as Lebanon throwing off Syria's yoke.

9:17--"No one can deny the success of freedom...Terrorists like bin Ladin are serious about...mass murder...They seek to impose...totalitarianism...Their aim is to seize power in Iraq and use it...the terrorists have chosen the weapon of fear..."

He mentions the atrocities visited upon innocent people by terrorists. "There is no peace in retreat, and there is no honor in retreat." Standing ovation when he said we will "never surrender to evil."

Excellent. He's mentioning everything going on in Iraq, training forces, helping to create a government and an infrastructure. Focus on the positive. "In less than three years their nation has gone from dictatorship...to national elections." "We are winning," another standing ovation.

Ooh...decisions about when to bring our soldiers home will be made by our military commanders, "not by politicians in Washington DC." Zing! "Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second guessing is not a strategy." Another zing! John Kerry is looking down. "Members of Congress...our nation has only one option...we must...stand behind our military in this vital mission." Quoting a letter from Marine Sgt. Daniel Clay, who was killed in action, and mentioning his family in the gallery. Nice.

"Leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel...and recognize lasting peace." Boy, does Hillary look sour. Didn't anyone tell her she shouldn't eat lemons before being on TV?

Iran: "The regime...sponsors terrorists...that must come to an end...The nations of the world must not let the Iranian regime gain nuclear weapons...America respects you...our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran."

He stumbled on a few words...I'll bet the Kos kiddies will be jumping all over that.

"Our country must also remain on the defensive...here at home...They (law enforcement) also deserve the same tools they use to fight drug trafficking and organized crime, so I also ask you to renew the Patriot Act."

Bringing up the surveillance program by NSA and how previous presidents have used the authority he is using to prevent terrorist attacks here at home. "If people in our country are talking to al Qaeda we want to know about it, because we will not sit back and be hit again." Another direct hit.

"Together let us protect our country...and lead this world toward freedom." Another lemon puss from Hillary.

Mentions that our economy has created 4.6 million new jobs, more than Japan and the EU combined. "Our economy is preeminent, but we cannot afford to be complacent." Saying some say immigrants are bad for the economy. Uh, no, sorry...the first lame thing I've heard tonight...it's not immigrants, but ILLEGAL immigrants that we have problems with.

$880 billion is in the hands of workers, investors and families due to tax cuts and that has spurred economic growth. "I urge the Congress to act responsibly and make the tax cuts permanent." Hear that Teddy? I haven't seen his bloated form yet.

Says he will cut programs that are not perfoming well and plans to save $14 billion by doing so. "I'm pleased that Congress is working on earmark reform." "Pass the line item veto." Heh.

Baby boom retiring will put an enormous strain on the government budget. Tax or cut? Congress didn't act on his Social Security reform last year. Hillary laughed. "The cost of entitlements is a problem that is not going away. Every year we fail to ask the situation gets worse." Asks for work on SS, Medicare and Medicaid. "Put aside partisan politics...and...get this problems solved."

Discussing immigration and "orderly and secure borders." Duh! "Stronger immigration enforcement and border protection." Brings up a guest worker program. Border protection? He'd better follow through on that one.

Tort reform! John Edwards, are you listening? "I am asking Congress to pass medical liability reform this year."

Says we must concentrate more on technology that can reduce or eliminate our dependence on oil, particularly foreign oil. Coal, sun and wind, and nuclear energy whould be concentrated on. Hydrogen-powered cars, as well as ethanol, perhaps competitive within six years. A pipe dream? Time will tell.

"We must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity...give our nation's children a firm grounding in math and science." No kidding. "Bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in the classrooms."

"A life of personal responsibility is a life of fulfillment." Said regarding the lowering of crime rates, abortion rates, drug use among kids. Brought up activist courts and corruption in government. "We must never give in to the belief that America is in decline...Supreme Court now has new has two new superb members on its bench..." more applause and a standing ovation. "I thank the Senate for confirming both of them..." Gives a salute to retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Against cloning humans for scientific research. "Human life is a gift from our Creator, and that gift should never be discarded...or put up for sale." Uh oh, the lefties are going to have a fit.

Ethical standards of Washington being discussed. Hey, why haven't I seen Harry Reid yet either?

He wants to spend more money on AIDS treatment, but doesn't mention abstinence as a solution to stopping the spread of this insidious disease. Again, John Kerry looks as though someone gave him spinach for dessert instead of a souffle.

Ends on a high note, saying, "May G-d bless America."

Final thoughts: Good speech 51 minutes not counting applause interruptions. I liked his discussion of Iraq, the monitoring of calls to and from Al Qaeda by the NSA in the US, and national security in general. There was wishy washiness regarding immigration (still afraid to offend) and no real answers about securing our borders. His discussion about energy alternatives was probably surprising to many, and I'll bet the left doesn't like that, as it's something they love to bash him on. I don't mind any of that, and as long as he doesn't propose signing the Kyoto treaty I won't complain. I loved the comments about "non-activist courts" that are servants of the law. Some conservatives may not be happy with the speech, and I'm sure plenty of leftists won't, but he made some very good points, and overall I give it a positive rating.

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SF Quake: The Upcoming Anniversary

Joe at Geosciblog points out that April 18th will mark the 100th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake.

He also ponders what would happen if a major quake were to strike Frisco while George W. Bush is still in office:

Al Gore would take to his pulpit and bellow that President Bush's refusal to sign the Kyoto Treaty for causing rising sea level that put more pressure on geologic plates.

John Kerry would seek information on the possibility of impeachable offenses by President Bush for not evacuating people before the earthquake.

Louis Farrakhan and Spike Lee would claim that the government had planted explosives along the San Andreas Fault Zone, to trigger an earthquake that would target blacks and minorities in San Francisco. And Michael Moore would make a movie about it.

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell would blame the San Francisco gay culture and other assorted sinners for drawing God's wrath.

Harry Reid and Nightline, et al, would claim that too much money was being spent in Iraq.

Hillary would pillory the US Geological Survey for "sitting on" seismograms that might have warned the public. Except that I noticed the acting USGS director's name is P. Patrick Leahy. Is he related to "Leaky Leahy"? If so, that might protect him from direct criticism.

The mayor and city council of San Francisco would claim that too many National Guardsmen were in Iraq, while passing resolutions that would ban military personnel from wearing their uniforms and carrying firearms while conducting rescue and recovery operations.

The ACLU and GLAAD would complain and file lawsuits over the wearing of latex gloves and protective masks during rescue and recovery operations.

Hollywood would put together a telethon and Kanye West would say that President Bush sent troops to San Francisco to shoot black people and gays, while ignoring the looting.

And FEMA would be blamed for not being ready for the earthquake.

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Ski Rage: WTF?

What the [bleep] is wrong with people?

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - A 52-year-old man assaulted a teenage girl after a collision between the girl and the man's daughter, according to police.

Randal Berg of Littleton was arrested Sunday for the assault in which he reportedly punched the 16-year-old in the back and head.

The teenager told police she ran over Berg's 7-year-old daughter's skis with her snowboard and then the two fell to the ground. Berg saw his daughter on the ground and began attacking the snowboarder, according to Steamboat Springs Police Captain Joel Rae.

The snowboarder told police she was apologizing to the 7-year-old when Berg attacked her.

Police say Berg hit the girl repeatedly in the back of the head. The teen was wearing a helmet.

A group of witnesses intervened and separated Berg from the girl, police said. The witnesses also corroborated the girl's story, according to police.

After being separated from the snowboarder Berg launched into a tirade and threatened "to (expletive) kill" the snowboarder, police said.

The snowboarder was able to descend to the bottom of the mountain and walked away without serious injury.

Berg was taken to Routt County Jail and booked on charges of third-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was released Monday on $1,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Routt County Court on Feb. 14.

The accident occurred near the base of the ski mountain, where Steamboat Springs police have jurisdiction.

Rae said he has never heard of such an incident.

"There are fights and misunderstandings, but never have I seen anything with that kind of rage in my law enforcement career," the captain said.

Throw the book at the nimrod.

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Caption Contest Over At The Right Place

I entered. Go there now , see the great entries, and make one yourself!

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Blogs for Heather: Patricia Madrid Calls for Troops' Return by Year's End

Patricia Madrid, the Democrat who is running against Republican Heather Wilson for her Congressional seat in New Mexico, has some interesting ideas. From her website:

Responsible Action in Iraq. We must investigate the intelligence that led to the war in Iraq and press the Administration for straight, honest answers on the current state of our operations in Iraq. We must also establish a definite, clear timeline for troop withdrawal that begins bringing our men and women serving in Iraq home by December 2006.

Either Madrid is a military expert who knows something the Pentagon doesn't, or she's a cut-and-run appeaser of the looney left. (I'll bet on the latter.)

Real National Security. The 9/11 Commission recently gave Congress a failing grade on protecting America from another terrorist attack. This is completely unacceptable. We absolutely must protect our borders, our ports, and our nuclear and chemical plants. We must protect both American lives and the American way of life, and again show other nations that we can promote our democratic ideals without betraying our principles. Together, we can reclaim America's leadership role in the world.

Reclaim America's leadership role? I thought Democrats didn't like America being a leader, and want us to blend in with the Eurotrash. "[Again]...show other nations that we can promote our democratic ideals without betraying our principles." Gosh, that sounds great, but how does she propose we do it? Lots of feel-good talk and no solutions.

A tax system that rewards work, not wealth. Tax cuts for corporations and the very wealthy at the expense of working people and the middle class do not benefit this country. The tax system must be changed to ease the burden on the middle class and small businesses and ensure that large corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share.

It's been proven time and again that the wealthy pay their share and more. People on the very lowest rungs of the economic ladder pay no taxes whatsoever. Democrats also don't admit that tax cuts (for the wealthy who pay the taxes) spur economic growth by encouraging people to spend money that they otherwise may sit on. The wealthy are the ones who create jobs. Without wealth, there is no industry. Why do they not get at least some credit? (For more on who the wealthy are, read this by Thomas Sowell.)

Improving access to quality health care and prescription drugs. Too many Americans do not have health insurance, and the recently passed Medicare Plan D drug plan benefits the pharmaceutical industry, rather than our senior citizens. The plan is a failure that does not adequately provide needed services for our seniors; it is completely incomprehensible and must be scrapped. Madrid will work to change the law so that it benefits those who need it most.

Rule number one: Healthcare is not a right. Rule number two: Our framers did not intend for the government to become a nanny to the people. What happened to self-reliance that Americans are supposedly famous for?

Reform and Accountability in Our Government. The Congress and the White House have created a culture of corporate corruption and cronyism - at a real cost to the American taxpayer. Patricia Madrid will fight for real reform to loosen the grip of corporate lobbyists so that government can start tending to the business of the American people for a change.

Will she be sure to scold those Democrats who have also been recently linked to lobbyist cash?

This is the woman who wants to replace Heather Wilson as a New Mexico Congressional representative. If you are a New Mexico resident and you like what you see, good luck to you. If not, keep Heather Wilson in office.

h/t: Lucky Dawg News

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January 30, 2006

Flight 93: The Movie on A&E

I just finished watching the movie Flight 93.

This should be required viewing for every citizen in America.

If a tragic event like this can be made into a movie tastefully, this movie fills the bill. There was no empathizing with the hijackers, no usual Hollywood gloss. Just a straightforward telling of the events, based upon phone calls by passengers, official records from the airlines and other official agencies, and eyewitness accounts. The acting was not overdone, but was so realistic it gave me goosebumps. It helps that there were no well-known actors taking away from the moment.

However, that doesn't mean there weren't plenty of tearjerking moments. I cried throughout the entire film. The most emotional moments were when passengers like Mark Bingham, Jeremy Glick and others said their last goodbyes to loved ones at home. Also, something I didn't realize, was that Todd Beamer of "let's roll" fame was on the phone with an operator at Verizon from the time that the passengers were herded to the back of the plane until it went down. He asked the operator, Lisa, to say the Lord's Prayer with him just before he and the others stormed the cockpit.

Some may think that making a movie about this event is wrong, that it's capitalizing on a tragedy. No, it's not. We need to remember what happened that day. We need to remember that although the passengers and crew of Flight 93 died, they died trying to make sure the lives of others weren't sacrificed as well.

There are some who want to sanitize the events of 9/11. Sanitizing them takes away their impact and only serves to make Americans complacent in the four plus years since then. That day was only the beginning of a long war, one that we are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq today.

The only consolation we can take away from Flight 93 is that the terrorist bastards died too...and died short of their goal of crashing into the White House, Capitol building or whatever their final target was.

If you didn't see the movie, click on the link above to see the repeat schedule. Have a box of tissues handy.

If you are interested in contributing to the Flight 93 memorial, go to the website here.

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Quote of the Day

Regarding Joel Stein et al not supporting the troops:

When they say "I support the troops, get them out of Iraq and home now" respond by saying "Hey I support the Democrats, get them out of Congress and back home now!"

DoubleU, a reader over at Lifelike Pundits.

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Savings Rates Down

It seems Americans are spending more and saving less:

Americans are spending everything they're making and more, pushing the national savings rate to the lowest point since the Great Depression.

Soaring home prices apparently have convinced people they don't have to worry about saving, a belief that could be seriously tested as 78 million baby boomers begin to retire.

The Commerce Department reported Monday that Americans' personal savings fell into negative territory at minus 0.5 percent last year. That means that people not only spent all of their after-tax income last year but had to dip into previous savings or increase their borrowing.

Not good. I hope no one thinks Social Security will bail them out...

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Would You Try to Reason With These People?

From the AP:

From the burning of its flag to a boycott of its brands of butter and cookies, Denmark is feeling Islamic outrage over newspaper cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Angered by the drawings, masked Palestinian gunmen briefly took over a European Union office in Gaza on Monday. Islamists in Bahrain urged street demonstrations, while Syria called for the offenders to be punished. A Saudi company paid thousands of dollars for an ad thanking a business that snubbed Danish products.

The anger is reminiscent of the 1989 wrath that followed publication of "The Satanic Verses," the Salman Rushdie novel that radicals said insulted Islam. Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a death sentence against the British writer.

The cartoons originally were published nearly four months ago in Denmark and reprinted Jan. 10 by the Norwegian evangelical newspaper Magazinet in the name of defending free expression.

Nearly four months ago and Muslims are still having a snit fit about a few cartoons? If Christians and Jews rioted every time unflattering cartoons were published about their religions, the Earth would be engulfed in a giant fireball all the time.

It's one thing to be offended; it's another thing to brandish guns in the streets over the offense. It's apparent these are not people to be reasoned with.

Is anyone on the left taking notice?

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Joke of the Day

Cookiewrangler sent me this one:

Three Arkansas surgeons were playing golf together and discussing
surgeries they had performed.

One of them said, "I'm the best surgeon in Arkansas. A concert
pianist lost 7 fingers in an accident, I reattached them, and 8
months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of
England."

One of the others said. "That's nothing. A young man lost an arm and
both legs in an accident, I reattached them, and 2 years later he
won a gold medal in field events in the Olympics."

The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs.
Several years ago a lady was high on cocaine and marijuana and she
rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour. All I had
left to work with was the horses blond mane and a big ass. Now she's
the Senator from New York."

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January 28, 2006

Sheehan for Senate?

Cindy Sheehan must be getting desperate for attention. She's visiting Venezuela and has only praise Communist "presidente" Hugo Chavez. Now, while there, she says she's considering a run for Senate against California's Dianne Feinstein (D).

"She voted for the war. She continues to vote for the funding. She won't call for an immediate withdrawal of the troops."

Anyone who has been paying attention to politics in the last three years knows that Feinstein is hardly "pro-Iraq." Her campaign manager says she has decided that as long as we're there, she should support funding for troops and that an immediate withdrawal would be a mistake. She's grudgingly doing the right thing.

"If I decided to run, I would have no illusions of winning, but it would bring attention to all the peace candidates in the country."

No, it would be a circus centered around Sheehan. But Sheehan seems to enjoy a carnival atmosphere, so obviously that wouldn't be a problem for her.

What Cindy Sheehan either can't or won't understand is that peace won't happen if we simply pull out our soldiers bring them home for good. The Islamofascists won't say, "Gee, they went home, let's just forget the whole thing." They will see a pullout as a sign of weakness and will continue their assault on not only Iraq, but Israel and Western countries--including America. Think about it: these are people who take innocent civilians hostage and threaten to savagely kill them if their demands are not met (and they have followed through more times than I care to remember).

They are in this to win, to spread Islamic theocracies and Sharia law. They don't accept compromise. In their eyes it's either win or be defeated. There is no middle ground.

I'm not sure if Sheehan would win. If she lived in any other state but California, I would simply laugh, but California is a hotbed of leftist sympathizers. If she were able to raise enough money, who knows? Dianne Feinstein in the Senate is bad news, but Cindy Sheehan in the Senate would be absolutely scary.

Further reading: The Real Roots of Islamic Extremism by Stephen Schwartz for FrontPage Magazine.

tagged: cindy sheehan islamofascism terrorism iraq

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January 27, 2006

Al Gore Suffers Diarreha of the Mouth

Get out the plunger; Al Gore is on a rant again.

This time, he's blasting the recent Canadian election that ushered in a Conservative prime minister and government (although the Conservatives do not have a solid majority). He's claiming that oil money paved the way to victory for the Conservatives.

"The election in Canada was partly about the tar sands projects in Alberta," Gore said Wednesday while attending the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

"And the financial interests behind the tar sands project poured a lot of money and support behind an ultra-conservative leader in order to win the election . . . and to protect their interests."

One: No longer being any kind of leader himself, Al Bore is in no position to comment on Canada's elections with any kind of authority.

Two: Canada's elections are Canada's business. Unlike some of the elections we hear about in African nations, no one was threatened with imminent pain or death if he didn't vote for a particular party or candidate.

Three: Had the Liberals won, I doubt Al Bore would have had anything to say about it except, "Congratulations!"

Four: Look at the venue he chose for his rant. The Sundance Film Festival is to leftists as sewers are to rats. He knew his audience would lap his commentary up (although I can't quite grasp what Canadian politics had to do with independent film debuts).

Al Bore's worry is that the new PM, Stephen Harper, will remove Canada from the Kyoto protocol. However, based on European progress, it's not likely that participating in the Kyoto protocol will do much to cut down greenhouse gases anyway.

Besides, it has not been definitely proven that CO2 emissions from our cars and factories are responsible for the slight warming of Earth. This planet has gone through warm and cool periods before. Does Al Bore blame the dinosaurs for the ice age that followed their demise?

If he keeps up like this, Al might consider signing Kaopectate as his sponsor.

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John Kerry's Swan Song

John Kerry is leading the Samuel Alito filibuster charge in a last-gasp attempt to stay relevant on the national political landscape.

"Judge Alito's confirmation would be an ideological coup on the Supreme Court," Kerry said in a written statement.

"We can't afford to see the court's swing vote, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, replaced with a far-right ideologue like Samuel Alito."

What a laugh! With all 55 Republican senators and three Democrats on record as supporting Alito, where does Kerry think this will take him? Does he think by this asinine move he'll endear himself to the far left fringe in his obvious bid for another nomination for 2008? We expect these things from Ted Kennedy, and now Ketchup Boy seems to be trying to take over the "top lefty" spot.

Kerry was the best the Democrats could offer in 2004. He failed them. What makes him think they'll give him a second chance? Politics is a blood sport, and no prisoners are taken.

Actually, I hope he continues his quest. It's great grist for the guffaw mill. With entertainment like this, who needs reality TV?

Note: As of this writing, a poll you can find at the bottom of the story linked above shows 60% of respondents believing Kerry wants to filibuster because of politics, while 40% say its conviction. Heh.

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January 26, 2006

The BBC and Its Interest in US Executions

This post (from last week, sorry) from Scott over at The American Expatriate asks why the BBC is so interested in the execution rate here in the US?

So, to sum up, for the year 2005 the BBC covered the executions of 5 specific individuals (and clemency grant of 1) with 21 articles, and touched on the death penalty in the US more generally in an additional 7 pieces. This, in a year in which 60 convicted criminals were executed throughout all of the US. Even if we ignore the BBC's Tookie Williams campaign and count all of its 11 articles on him as one, the BBC still averagied more than an article a month about the US death penalty.

The BBC also repeatedly reminded its readers that the US ranked 4th behind leader China in total number of executions for the year 2004, a fact which presents us with an interesting comparison.

A definitive figure on the number of executions in China for the year 2005 could not be found, but Amnesty International estimates that the figure was "at least 3,400". How many articles do you suppose can be found on the BBC website specifically about executions in China?

Take a guess. I wonder how many of those executed in China had 10 years plus in which to appeal their sentences...

Could this interest have anything to do with the quote at the top of Scott's blog?

"America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry, a place lacking in respect for evidence based knowledge. I know that is how it is portrayed because I have done my bit to paint that picture..." BBC's Washington correspondent Justin Webb, in a remarkably frank admission of his role in misinforming the British public about America and Americans

h/t: GD

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January 25, 2006

The ACLU: Upholding Delusions

The ACLU, founded by Communists, has come to the aid of a high school student who wants to wear skirts to school in order to protest a ban on shorts.

The district's dress code bans shorts between Oct. 1 and April 15, but allows skirts, a policy 17-year-old Michael Coviello believes is discriminatory.

"I'm happy to be able to wear skirts again to bring attention to the fact that the ban on shorts doesn't make sense," Coviello said in a statement.

One: does this kid have such a light study load that he has the time and energy to devote to a cause that is so lamebrained as to be laughable? Time to give him more homework.

Two: In taking cases like this, the ACLU is truly making a mockery of itself (if that's possible) and the student. So the kid can't wear shorts during the winter months and wants to wear skirts to protest the ban? It's not like he's been told he can no longer attend his school because of his skin color or religion. It's clothing, for heaven's sake.

When (and if) he ever enters the workforce, this little escapade won't prepare this spoiled little brat for the fact that most places have some sort of dress code--either uniforms, business, or business casual. Sorry Charlie, but most serious businesses don't allow shorts at all. Have fun when you grow up--if you grow up.

And thanks to the ACLU for contributing to this kid's delusion that "everything should be fair" in a world that is decidedly unfair, no matter how much we wish it were otherwise.

h/t: GD

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January 24, 2006

Which Party is More Corrupt?

If you were to guess based on media coverage, it's the Republicans. But Bruce Bartlett begs to differ:

By my count, there have been 70 different members of the House who have been investigated for serious offenses over the last 30 years, including many involving actual criminality and jail time. Of these, only 15 involved Republicans, with the remaining 55 involving Democrats.

I have no doubt that any poll of the American people asking which party had more frequently been the subject of House ethics investigations would show an overwhelming majority naming the Republicans, when the truth is that Democrats, historically, have been far more likely to have been investigated.

Read it.

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Joel Stein Doesn't Support the Troops

He's a jerk. But at least he's an honest jerk.

But blaming the president is a little too easy. The truth is that people who pull triggers are ultimately responsible, whether they're following orders or not. An army of people making individual moral choices may be inefficient, but an army of people ignoring their morality is horrifying. An army of people ignoring their morality, by the way, is also Jack Abramoff's pet name for the House of Representatives.

Brought to you by your friends at the LA Times, natch.

tagged: iraq moonbat la times

h/t: Cookiewrangler

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Bush is a Homophobe!

Yes, you heard it here first...George W. Bush is a homophobe. How else would a progressive individual explain the fact that he has not seen the shoo-in for Best Picture, Brokeback Mountain? From Drudge:

President Bush has so far skipped BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN -- the Hollywood hit about two homosexual cowboys.

During a Q&A session at Kansas State University today, a student asked Bush: "I was just wanting to get your opinion on BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN if you'd seen it yet."

The crowd laughed softly before the student said loudly: "You would love it! You should check it out."

"I haven't seen it," Bush said flatly. "I'd be glad to talk about ranching, but I haven't seen the movie," he said to laughter. "I've heard about it."

The president waited a second or two, then said, according to a transcript: "I hope you go -- (laughter) -- you know -- (laughter) -- I hope you go back to the ranch and the farm, is what I was about to say. I haven't seen it. (Laughter, applause.)"

If he hasn't been impeached over spying on us, this should do it for sure.

Be sure to head on over to Mean Ol' Meany for his take on the film (Two Dogs actually saw it).

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January 23, 2006

RNC Continues to Beat DNC in Fundraising

From WaPo:

Despite a lackluster showing in 2005 elections for the GOP, the Republican National Committee raked in better than $100 million last year and enjoys its largest cash-on-hand lead over its Democratic counterpart in more than a decade.

For the year just passed, the RNC brought in nearly $102 million -- give or take a few hundred thousand -- and had $34 million in the bank. The Democratic National Committee raised $51 million in 2005 but showed $5.5 million on hand at the end of the year.

How long before the DNC starts saying the disparity is due to those "rich Republican contributors"?

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Talkin' 'bout a Revolution

The bloodless kind.

While columnist Kathleen Parker may bemoan the blog explosion in the US, it's a sign of (better) times in Wahabbi-controlled Saudi Arabia. It seems that along with men, women are electronically shedding the burqa and reveling in the freedom the Internet provides.

Men and women blogging together, of course, represents a total flouting of Saudi rules mandating sex segregation. And there can be no turning back. Saudi authorities cannot confiscate all the computers, Blackberrys, and cell phones in the kingdom. Nor can they forbid the use of the English language.

Some women are quite bold in their blogging entries. One blogger, Farooha, discusses many of the challenges that women face in Saudi Arabia, and some of the less savory aspects of fundamentalist Islam.

The same article condemns Saudi-Wahhabi incitement to rape non-Wahhabi women: "Imagine that women in the 21st century follow fatwas of scholars who at one point start to discuss the viability of capturing the enemy's women, and then having sexual relations with them. Some even go on to discuss the capturing of this enemy's women at time of peace, as well; and all the while, you do not even know who the enemy in question is."

Discussions like this could never take place in the open, especially by women. But the blogsphere is providing a forum for people to stand up and be heard, albeit anonymously.

The MSM elite in this country dislike the blogosphere because they fear the masses are wresting control of popular opinion away from them. In countries like Saudi Arabia, the stakes are much higher, as an entire way of life is at stake.

The ruling Wahabbists in Saudi Arabia may well be fearing their grip on power. Thanks to modern technology, there's no telling how long they'll stay on top.

h/t: GD

Crossposted at Lifelike Pundits

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January 21, 2006

Jack Cafferty on the Latest Bush Administration Conspiracy

CNN's Jack Cafferty has been awarded the weekly Judge Elihu Smails Award over at Anklebiting Pundits. Why? He believes that the latest Osama bin Ladin tape was produced by the Bush administration in order to deflect attention from the upcoming hearings about the "wiretapping of America's telephones."

The way he puts it, one might think that each and every phone in America has been bugged, and all mundane conversations about the neighbor who is having an affair and what's being planned for tonight's dinner are being logged for future reference. So the bin Ladin tape shows up now. Coincidences do happen.

What's sad is he is not the only person who believes the nonsense about the tape's "coincidental appearance" to be true.

I belong to a community theater group. We had a meeting just this afternoon in order to plan our upcoming season. At the end of the meeting, someone blurted out that very same theory, which then started a maelstrom of anti-Bush, anti-conservative rhetoric. There was derisive talk saying that ecoterrorists shouldn't be branded as such by a group who thinks it's okay to shoot abortion doctors. (Only extremist weirdos consider it okay to shoot an abortion doctor, but try explaining that to these people.) One person actually said that North Dakota's climate is much like that of Siberia, and that we all need to be careful.

As I am the ONLY conservative in the group -- and they know it -- I simply sat quietly until the tirade ended. Being outnumbered by a ratio of nine to one, being silent is sometimes the best thing.

So, hats off to Jack Cafferty and his league of followers, who put an effective damper on meaningful discussion and debate. Keep those tin hats clean and shiny, as you never know when you might be called upon to don them.

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Why Star Jones is a Laughingstock

From the woman who turned her wedding into a circus: Star Jones is now an expert on foreign policy. From the NY Post:

January 20, 2006 -- Size doesn't matter — at least not in the war on terror, according to Star Jones.

Yesterday, the co-host of "The View" told viewers that the war on terror was nothing more than a clash of male egos between President Bush and Osama bin Laden.

"You know what? At some point, one of these men has to put it back in his pants and zip up the zipper," she said during a discussion of bin Laden's latest audio tape.

She then went on to say that President Bush should sit down and have a chat with Osama and see what he has to offer. And this woman was once a prosecuting lawyer? How the heck did she pass the bar? Well, then again, common sense isn't a class you can take at school.

The very idea that this war is about "male egos" is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard. (And I thought the "war for oil" mantra was dumb.) Star: The reason we are fighting al Qaeda is because they want to kill us. And if they could pick and choose, people like you would likely be at the top of the list, because we all know how much Islamists love Hollywood-types--especially the women.

Surprisingly, her co-hosts were intelligent enough to say "you don't negotiate with terrorists."

How they, and the viewing public, puts up with idjits like Star is beyond my ken.

tagged: star jones osama bin ladin al qaeda terrorists

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January 20, 2006

Caption Contest at The Right Place

Even if you don't feel like entering (I did, despite the stiff competition), go check out some of the hilarious captions offered at The Right Place regarding a very scary picture of Dianne Feinstein.

UPDATE 1/21/06 12 pm: Out of the top 20, I made #12. Check out the results here!

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Why We Fight: The Movie

I had not heard of this movie until I read the review by Kyle Smith in the New York Post. I don't believe it's in wide release (it's not playing anywhere around me). Have any of you heard of it?

However, reading Smith's review, I don't think I'm all that eager to see it. The whole thing is worth reading; I'm posting it in its entirety:

I love that "Why We Fight" landed Dwight Eisenhower on the cover of "Time Out New York" — next week, I hope to see Douglas MacArthur spotting visible panty lines for the Us Weekly Fashion Police. But this rehash of familiar pacifist arguments offers neither heat nor light. It's "Fahrenheit: Room Temperature."

Arguing that America is now and has been for decades an imperialist power in the grip of the defense industry, this documentary relies heavily on boring interviews with nerds from the "Carnegie Endowment for Peace" and "The Center for Public Integrity" spouting nonsense about our "attempted democracy."

"Why We Fight" lazily splices together aspects of "JFK" (which, like this one, hangs its paranoia on Eisenhower's warning about the power of the "military-industrial complex"), the Michael Moore movies (goofy pop songs on the soundtrack cue us to laugh at, say, those dopes who make missiles) and even "Dr. Strangelove" (ironic use of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again").

We're told that the Iraq war was a cover-up. Then come clips showing the massive media access.

"Why We Fight" does have a secret weapon, though: a touching, emotional ex-New York City cop whose scenes are by far the most powerful in the film. The cop lost a son on 9/11 and later turned against the war. But the film's use of this man is a cheap trick. Like the rest of the major media, it grants absolute moral authority to antiwar Americans who lost loved ones in Iraq or on 9/11, but simply ignores those in this group who are pro-war.

When three toothless old T. rexes — Dan Rather, Gore Vidal and Sen. Robert Byrd — creep out of their amber, you pray that they won't make fools of themselves all over again. But alas. Vidal informs us that Japan was "trying to surrender" in the summer of 1945 but "Truman wouldn't let them." Surrender doesn't require "trying." You say, "I surrender," the bombing stops. In reality, Japan rejected our ultimatum more than a week before the Bomb was dropped. Even after Hiroshima, Japan still didn't surrender.

Disgraced former journalist Dan Rather: "What you have here is a miniature version of what they have in totalitarian states." Got the documents to prove it, Dan?

And Sen. Robert Byrd, as dim today as he was when he joined the Ku Klux Klan: "There is no debate, there is no attempt for the nation to lay out the pros and cons of this particular war." If there was a single moment in the last three years when the nation wasn't doing exactly that, I missed it.

He gave it 1.5 stars out of 4. Thanks, Kyle. You just saved me $10.

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Moore Bloviating

Michael Moore's love affair with Canada has suffered a severe setback. Why? It looks like they might vote a Conservative majority into office. Not one to take this with his mouth shut, he has chosen to write an open letter to the good folks in the Great White North to let them know of his displeasure.

These are no ordinary times, and as you go to the polls on Monday, you do so while a man running the nation to the south of you is hoping you can lend him a hand by picking Stephen Harper because he's a man who shares his world view. Do you want to help George Bush by turning Canada into his latest conquest? Is that how you want millions of us down here to see you from now on? The next notch in the cowboy belt? C'mon, where's your Canadian pride? I mean, if you're going to reduce Canada to a cheap download of Bush & Co., then at least don't surrender so easily. Can't you wait until he threatens to bomb Regina? Make him work for it, for Pete's sake.

The next notch in the cowboy belt. Whoo-ee, that's reeeally funny. As if Canadians really care what Americans think. Let them elect their own leaders. I don't appreciate them sticking their noses into our elections; the least we can do is return the favor. Am I saying this because a Conservative government might be voted in? Not really. I can like or dislike whom Canadians elect all I want, but it's really none of my affair, and so I don't take it upon myself to "tell them" whom they should vote for.

Read the whole "letter" if you feel like losing your appetite for lunch. Michael Moore thinks President Bush is an embarrassment to America, but he should take a look in the mirror to see who the real embarrassment is.

tagged: canada michael moore

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MY Son Couldn't Have Done That

Taliban Johnny's father has finally broken his silence and is begging President Bush to reduce the 20-year sentence imposed on him.

"In simple terms, this is the story of a decent and honorable young man embarked on a spiritual quest," said Frank Lindh, swallowing back tears at times during a speech at the Commonwealth Club, a nonprofit organization.

A spiritual quest? Maybe. But it was a spiritual quest that went bad. Had John Walker Lindh been a little more vigilant in his studies of Islam before he headed over to Afghanistan, perhaps he wouldn't be sitting in a jail cell right now.

Most spiritual quests involve becoming spiritual, not joining an army. If he wanted spiritualism, he could have become a devotee of Kabbalah like Madonna and Britney Spears. After all, the worst thing to come out of that is pricey water and bracelets.

Lindh claimed he loves America and would never do anything against his country. However, the judge at his sentencing made an interesting observation.

[U.S. District Judge T.S.] Ellis also noted that Walker Lindh volunteered to join the Taliban fighters, then couldn't leave because he feared for his own life after the United States entered the war in Afghanistan, but he did nothing to warn the United States about future al Qaeda terror attacks planned after September 11.

"You were willing to give your life for the Taliban but not for your country," he said.

Frank Lindh is trying to protect his son, and that is a natural thing. However, his son was an adult when he made his choices, no matter how stupid or misguided. And when we make bad choices in life, we have to suffer the consequences. He was a part of the Taliban when the U.S. declared war on them and now he's in prison for the part he played in that debacle.

See you in 2022.

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January 19, 2006

Suing Spongebob

These groups should join under the moniker People for the Nanny State of America:

Anti-junk food groups are suing Kellogg and Nickelodeon for $2 billion to block Tony the Tiger and SpongeBob SquarePants from pitching sugary cereals to kid viewers.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest and others said yesterday their lawsuit will seek $25 for each time a child sees a commercial about "nutritionally poor" snacks and foods.

The attack is based on a new Massachusetts law that would protect children from product harm — in this case, the ill effects said to be caused by junk food.

I am not surprised this idiocy is happening in the Great Socialist State of Massachusetts.

"Nickelodeon and Kellogg engage in business practices that literally sicken our children," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the consumer group.

Gosh, all of those little kiddies might be exposed to the siren call of Tony the Tiger and Spongebob Squarepants. And what happens then? They beg Mommy and Daddy while at the store to buy Frosted Flakes and other such sugary breakfast concoctions.

Who buys the cereal and everything else? Mommy and Daddy. Who is ultimately responsible for their child's health and well-being? Mommy and Daddy. If Mommy and Daddy can't say no to Billy and Susie, then Mommy and Daddy have some real parenting issues.

Punishing the food industry for trying to sell their products isn't the answer; making information available to parents and kids about healthful food choices is. After that, it's up to the parents.

I don't approve of Frosted Flakes and Cocoa Pebbles either. So I don't buy them. I don't have a problem saying "no" to my kids when I think it's in their best interests.

Unfortunately, there are some people out there who want to impose what they think is acceptable behavior (not buying junk food) on the rest of us by punishing legitimate companies for advertising in an attempt to sell their legal product. While sugary cereals aren't the best choice, they are not lethal.

What's next?

UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has more.

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France Gets Tough

Who'da thunkit? From Reuters via Yahoo:

France said on Thursday it would be ready to use nuclear weapons against any state that carried out a terrorist attack against it, reaffirming the need for its nuclear deterrent.

Deflecting criticism of France's costly nuclear arms program, President Jacques Chirac said security came at a price and France must be able to hit back hard at a hostile state's centers of power and its "capacity to act."

Of course it wasn't mentioned if France would consider a preemptive strike against a known threat.

Could it be that French leaders are finally taking their heads out of the sand?

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January 18, 2006

For Your Reading Pleasure

Looking for something new to read on the Web? Here are a few sites for you to check out and mull over:

Just Hillary: A site devoted to both sides of Her Royal C (as Kitty likes to call her). Do you want the good? the bad? the ugly? You'll find all things Hillary here.

United American Committee: "A non-partisan movement of concerned Americans, promoting awareness of threats which face America from within our very own borders, primarily focusing on Islamic extremism in America. A movement to promote citizen involvement in national security issues, and to awake Washington on the issue of Islamic extremism. A diverse group, all Americans, united, striving for a better tomorrow in America. A tomorrow where our children may be free, free from Islamic extremist threats at home."

Velocity Press: Billets Doux: Letters to the editor with a political bent from a guy in Boston.

Enjoy!

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Capital Punishment and Useful Idiots

Right Wing Prof over at Right Wing Nation has a great post regarding the death penalty and those who oppose it.

We're a nation of fools. Mike Farrell, Sean Penn, Babs Streisand and the Save Tookie squad, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Tipper Gore and the porn is evil squad, all of them fall for this crap because it's what they want to hear. Dobson wants to hear that porn made Ted do it because he's on a crusade and that will further his agenda; Whoopie Goldberg wants to hear what a saint Tookie had become because she's on a crusade and that will further her agenda. All gullible fools — willingly gullible.

Read the whole thing.

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January 17, 2006

A Study of the French Elites

Ever wonder how France gets saddled with the leaders it has? My hubby (a.k.a. Husband-dude) did...and he researched the answer. Here's his post on the subject.

The French in general seem like nice people. They have a great culture, cuisine, history, literature. Even their military record isn't as bad as it is made out. While one can fault the leadership, one should never underestimate the fighting ability of their soldiers.

But it is the leadership that time and again seems to be responsible for the worst of French behavior and attitudes. It is then worth asking - who are the people who run France?

After WWII, the grandes écoles (great schools) were established in France. As far as admissions, go, these schools are extremely selective.The intent was to create a system that would shape young people of merit, regardless of means, into the leaders of French business and politics.

Well, that was the thought anyway - since the generation of '68 became the establishment, they have behaved like all self-interested cliques - the majority of students entering the grandes écoles now come from special prep schools, whose students come from the wealthiest neighborhoods.

"The top five or six grandes écoles recruit students from fewer than 50 high schools across France," said Richard Descoings, director of the elite Paris Institute of Political Studies.

One can argue, and be correct, that this is nothing more than someone in the US going to a prep school and then moving up to the Ivy League. But there the similarity ends.

The École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) is the school where many of France's senior officials are instructed. The graduates of ENA are known as énarques. Pretty much any French politician you've heard of the last thirty years has been a graduate of ENA.

Once you are an énarques, it's a given that you will have access to positions to the French civil service. And there is no issue with conflicts of interest if there is an opportunity outside the civil service: those who are elected or appointed to a political position do not have to resign their position in the civil service; instead, they are put in a situation of "temporary leave" known as détachement.

If they are not reelected or reappointed, they may ask for their reintegration into their service (see Lionel Jospin, Bruno Mégret and Philippe Séguin for examples). Everyone's favorite poet, Dominique de Villepin, landed a position as an appointed official after serving as an aide to Jacques Chirac, without ever having held an elected position.

Not only do they have a monopoly on top administrative positions within civil service, but they can go to politics and industry without risk: in case of failure, they have the right to come back to the civil service.

One comment (obviously biased) I read was that such as system based on meritocracy must be far superior to the American model. Hmmm, can you say TotalFinaElf? How about the Oil-for-Food scandal that seems to touch everyone in France?

And, my personal favorite - Jacques Chirac, whose goal it seems is to die in office so he will remain immune from prosecution for his involvement in various fraudulent schemes.

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More Body Armor Flap

This time, it's from an idjit from Connecticut (but thank goodness he's not my rep):

HARTFORD — Rep. Rob Simmons, recently back from a visit to Iraq, said Monday that he will recommend hearings into delays in providing body armor protection for U.S. troops.

"It’s taken far too long to deploy," Simmons, R-2, said. "It’s not getting out to the field."

He singled out armor that protects the shoulders and underarms as particularly needed.

Asked what’s holding up the delivery of the body armor, he said, "bureaucracy. It’s unacceptable."

What is it about being elected to Congress or the Senate that makes you an automatic expert on military matters? He's just looking to score brownie points with the electorate, plain and simple. I'd rather let the Pentagon and each division of the military work out what they need and then make their requests before Congress -- not have Congress decide what's necessary because it's politically expedient.

At least this guy isn't blaming President Bush for the body armor issue like some politicians we know and, er, love. Then again, I don't think a run for president is in the immediate future plans of Rep. Simmons.

Funny thing too, about this article: I heard this bit on the news on the radio on my way in this morning, which is why I sought it out online. On the radio, Simmons was quoted as saying that morale among the troops is high. Somehow that bit didn't make it into this New Haven Register article.

As Gomer Pyle would have said, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

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Sound Familiar?

From Breitbart:

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and China made clear on Tuesday they did not favor U.N. sanctions to induce Iran to scale back its nuclear program, and Tehran urged the European Union to return to the negotiating table.

I wonder why Iran seems to have Russia and China in its pocket? Didn't we go through a similar scenario with Iraq? Why aren't France and Germany in on this bandwagon too?

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January 13, 2006

An Appeal from Center-Right Bloggers

From N.Z. Bear:

We are bloggers with boatloads of opinions, and none of us come close to agreeing with any other one of us all of the time. But we do agree on this: The new leadership in the House of Representatives needs to be thoroughly and transparently free of the taint of the Jack Abramoff scandals, and beyond that, of undue influence of K Street.

We are not naive about lobbying, and we know it can and has in fact advanced crucial issues and has often served to inform rather than simply influence Members.

But we are certain that the public is disgusted with excess and with privilege. We hope the Hastert-Dreier effort leads to sweeping reforms including the end of subsidized travel and other obvious influence operations. Just as importantly, we call for major changes to increase openness, transparency and accountability in Congressional operations and in the appropriations process.

As for the Republican leadership elections, we hope to see more candidates who will support these goals, and we therefore welcome the entry of Congressman John Shadegg to the race for Majority Leader. We hope every Congressman who is committed to ethical and transparent conduct supports a reform agenda and a reform candidate. And we hope all would-be members of the leadership make themselves available to new media to answer questions now and on a regular basis in the future.

Signed,

N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear
Hugh Hewitt, HughHewitt.com
Glenn Reynolds, Instapundit.com
Kevin Aylward, Wizbang!
La Shawn Barber, La Shawn Barber's Corner
Lorie Byrd / DJ Drummond , Polipundit
Beth Cleaver, MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Jeff Goldstein, Protein Wisdom
Stephen Green, Vodkapundit
John Hawkins, Right Wing News
John Hinderaker, Power Line
Jon Henke / McQ / Dale Franks, QandO
James Joyner, Outside The Beltway
Mike Krempasky, Redstate.org
Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com
Ed Morrissey, Captain's Quarters
Scott Ott, Scrappleface
The Anchoress, The Anchoress
John Donovan / Bill Tuttle, Castle Argghhh!!!

And I say, amen.

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What About the Children?

This story literally made me cry. Seven-year-old Nixzmary Brown was beaten to death by her stepfather while her mother sat in the next room feeding another baby.

Apparently Nixzmary had been the subject of physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, for a long time. Her school alerted child welfare authorities in New York City when they suspected abuse, but bureaucracy and incompetence worked against Nixzmary. The reason for her stepfather's final outrage? She had taken a yogurt without permission, after all the other children had gotten some (but she had been denied). Nixzmary was seven, but she only weighed 35 pounds.

If you are especially sensitive, don't read the article. However, if you are at all concerned with child advocacy, you should.

Normally, I am against government meddling in private lives. However, when the health and well-being -- the actual lives -- of innocent children are at stake, all bets are off.

Read More "What About the Children?"

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January 12, 2006

Judging the Judges

Debra Saunders has a great column on Town Hall today regarding the senators' questioning of Samuel Alito during the SCOTUS hearings. In particular, she has some scathing criticism of Ted Kennedy:

I've never understood what senators were thinking in allowing Kennedy on the Judiciary Committee in the first place. While Kennedy seems to consider himself a champion for the little guy, he is a walking tribute to a system that, in its low moments, allows the rich and powerful to get away with crimes that would put others behind bars. He is a discredit to the system.

Read the whole thing. Kennedy lobs questions about Alito's past connections with "questionable" associations, while he himself was allowed to put a terrible incident behind him with a slap on the wrist -- all thanks to money and family connections. Yet bringing up Chappaquiddick is considered to be poor sportsmanship among Dems and other Kennedy supporters. Sorry, but belonging to a club that might have had discriminatory leanings and allowing a woman to die (because even being with her is a blot on a married man's reputation) are two completely different things.

If Kennedy wishes people would stop bringing up Chappaquiddick, perhaps he should stop trying to smear folks like Alito with past associations that probably didn't mean much at the time and mean even less now.

UPDATE: For more on the Alito hearings, check out The Noonzwire and Ex-Donkey.

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January 11, 2006

Lamest Excuse Ever

The Blame Bush syndrome has hit a new low. Sean Penn says the "stress of living under the current administration" is at fault for his inability to quit smoking at an Out of Iraq forum in Sacramento over the weekend. Chalk one up for the current culture of victimhood. Goodness only knows if he contracts lung cancer, he'll name President Bush as a co-defendant with the tobacco companies.

He also made a strangely contradictory comment at the blessed event:

Stating that he "was not a pacifist on the inside", he was moved to be one on the outside for the sake of his children and grandchildren's future. He said we have to fight for everything we have.

A guy who's not a pacifist on the inside who is one on the outside who has to fight for everything we have?

Sheesh.

tagged: sean penn iraq

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10 Thoughts for 2006

As we begin a new year, here are 10 thoughts to keep your mind occupied:

Number 10 - Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9 - Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8 - Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

Number 7 - Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6 - Some people are like a Slinky...not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble
down the stairs.

Number 5 - Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Number 4 - All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3 - Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?

Number 2 - In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

AND THE NUMBER 1 THOUGHT FOR 2006 - We know exactly where one cow with
mad-cow-disease is located among the millions and millions of cows in America but we haven't got a clue as to where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of immigration.

Thanks to JB for passing it on!

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January 10, 2006

Wanna Be a Liberal?

Then follow the simple guidelines laid out by Rightwing Prof over at Right Wing Nation.

Heh.

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Mexico and Central America DEMAND More U.S. Immigration

This is rich:

Diplomats from Mexico and Central America on Monday demanded guest worker programs and the legalization of undocumented migrants (illegal immigrants -- ed.) in the United States, while criticizing a U.S. proposal for tougher border enforcement.

Meeting in Mexico's capital, the regional officials pledged to do more to fight migrant trafficking, but indirectly condemned a U.S. bill that would make illegal entry a felony and extend border walls.

"Migrants, regardless of their migratory status, should not be treated like criminals," they said.

News flash: Crossing the U.S. border without a visa or other legal permission means you are here illegally. If making it a felony will help stem the flow, along with extending our border walls, then we have every right to make it so. Our country, our laws.

Perhaps we should demand that Mexico and Central America do more for their own economies, as in creating more job opportunities for their citizens at home, so they don't feel compelled to flee the crushing poverty. Less grandstanding by politicians would also be welcome. It's sad when you realize that the only thing keeping these economies afloat is the American dollars coming in from those who come here to work illegally.

The other alternative would simply to take over Mexico and Central America and make them an official part of the United States. No more Presidents south of the Rio Grande, just governors, senators and some congressmen. Somehow, though, I doubt the governments of Mexico and Central America would like that idea.

So, guys, do something about your own problems and stop expecting us to support you through illegal immigration!

/rant

tagged: illegal immigration mexico immigration reform homeland security

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January 09, 2006

During the Alito Hearings, Think Happy Thoughts!

Wyatt Earp over at Support Your Local Gunfighter reminds us about a few things when we're sick and tired of the rhetoric coming out of the Dems' pieholes. Click here.

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Babs Doesn't Get It...And Never Will

Barbra Streisand is living proof that you don't have to have brains to be rich and famous. Her latest "statement" on her website is vomitworthy in its recycling of old rhetoric about why we should never have gone into Iraq and why we should get out. Check out this bit:

The result of the December election has plunged Iraq into political turmoil. Preliminary results showed the advancement of the United Iraqi Coalition, supported by the Shiite religious figure Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani. Days after the election, Sunni Arab leaders had angrily rejected early election results, saying that the vote has been fixed to favor the Shiite majority party. Sunni Arab politicians have threatened to boycott the political process altogether, which would be a serious set back for the Bush Administration.

The hypocrisy here is simply stunning. Does Ms. Streisand not remember how the Democrats (she being one of their biggest supporters) wailed and howled after the 2000 presidential election, claiming President Bush had stolen it? Five years later they are still kvetching. I should think Streisand would be proud of those dissenting Iraqis, seeing as they are taking a page out of the Dems' playbook.

Babs is missing the big point here: The fact that there was an election and that people who are unhappy with its results are not afraid to complain is the biggest news since sliced bread. Would Babbsy rather go back to the days when Saddam Hussein was "elected" president with 100% of the vote, and if anyone said "boo" he'd be thrown in a plastic shredder feet first?

As Laura Ingraham so aptly puts it, "Shut up and sing!"

tagged: barbra streisand iraq democrats

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January 08, 2006

Congressman Filner: A Moonbat's Views on Iraq

Yet another congressman held a town hall-type forum where supposedly all viewpoints are welcomed. Except, of course, the viewpoints opposite of those held by the person holding the forum (and, apparently, much of the audience).

Smash over at Military Outpost went to such a forum being conducted by anti-war Congressman Bob Filner.

Here's the question Smash asked:

We all want the war to end, and the troops to come home safely -- especially those of us who have been there. But, putting aside for the moment your differences, and the differences of most of those here, with the current administration on the policies that got us to where we are today:

Are you committed to the success of our military in Iraq, or are you resigned to failure?

Click here to read the good congressman's answer.

Frankly, I can't believe that someone like him got elected. Based on the transcript provided, his public speaking skills are horrendous and his grasp of what he's discussing is tenuous at best. Someone buy this guy a clue.

I am not impressed. And he's from California! What a shock.

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January 07, 2006

Birds of a Feather

"They’re frustrated by this mission...Peter Pace told me this last night: They know militarily they can’t win this." Rep. John Murtha, D-PA

"The idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong." Howard Dean, failed Democratic presidential candidate and current DNC chairman.

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "The Enemy." They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win." Michael Moore, self-styled man of the working class and maker of the leftist propaganda film Fahrenheit 9/11.

"I congratulate [the Islamic nation] for the victory of Islam in Iraq." Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Ladin's second-in-command

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January 06, 2006

Soldiers Dying in Iraq: Another Parent's View

We've been hearing a lot about losing a child in war from Cindy Sheehan and now, from Paul Schroeder, who wrote a piece for WaPo entitled A Life, Wasted. These parents are grieving and obviously believe the war is wrong. And the MSM loves to hear from them.

They don't love to hear from folks like Robert Stokely, who also lost a son in combat over in Iraq. Stokely's story appears on Crazy Politico's Rantings. Click here to read it. It's a moving tribute to a loved son who believed in what he was doing and had no illusions about the possible consequences.

Crazy Politico asks, "Will the Washington Post print this?" My guess is no. But if enough of us (as in irresponsible bloggers) link to it, plenty more people will see it than might see it in the WP.

h/t: Brainster

tagged: Iraq media war Washington Post

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The Art World is Going Down the Toilet

Via Breitbart:

A 76-year-old performance artist was arrested after attacking Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" _ a porcelain urinal _ with a hammer, police said.

Duchamp's 1917 piece _ an ordinary white, porcelain urinal that's been called one of the most influential works of modern art _ was slightly chipped in the attack at the Pompidou Center in Paris, the museum said Thursday. It was removed from the exhibit for repair.

The suspect, a Provence resident whose identity was not released, already vandalized the work in 1993 _ urinating into the piece when it was on display in Nimes, in southern France, police said.

During questioning, the man claimed his hammer attack on Wednesday was a work of performance art that might have pleased Dada artists. The early 20th-century avant-garde movement was the focus of the exhibit that ends Monday, police said.

A 2004 poll of 500 arts figures ranked "Fountain" as the most influential work of modern art - ahead of Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," Andy Warhol's screen prints of Marilyn Monroe and "Guernica," Picasso's depiction of war's devastation.

"Fountain" is estimated at $3.6 million.

I have a couple of questions:

1. How is a plain old urinal considered art?
2. How is bashing it with a hammer considered performance art?

These days, a rotten tomato on a cutting board could be mounted on a pedestal with the name "Cultural Decay" and be called art. And performance art is probably one of the biggest scams going. How about the woman who pours melted chocolate all over her naked body onstage? That's just an excuse to get naked in my book. Call me a philistine if you will, but I just don't get it.

That doesn't excuse the idiot who wielded the hammer, however, for his damaging of private property.

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January 05, 2006

Say "No" to Death Wishes

A friend of mine and I were having an IM conversation today, and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) came up. Now both my friend and I share political views, and we find Reid to be a particularly odious member of the Democratic party. So odious, in fact, that my friend wished Reid would "just die."

My reply was that Reid is not evil like Saddam Hussein, just a jerk. She said yes, a "dead jerk."

I said, "You would be having a fit if someone wished President Bush would die," and told her not to fall into the trap of wishing those whom you don't like politically would drop dead tomorrow.

She agreed that I was right. (Now she reads my postings regularly, and her face is probably red reading this right now, but my intent is not to embarrass her--note that I am not naming names--but to make a point. She usually makes many good points during our political discussions!)

This whole "die" thing being hurled at politicians whom people don't like, despise, or just plain hate, is getting to be a little tedious. Criticize the oafs all you want. Call them out on their policies, and help their opponents campaign against them at election time in order to boot their butts out of office. But wishing them dead is not only a waste of time, it smacks of barbarism.

It seems to be popular on the fringe left to call President Bush and his administration evil and wishing for their imminent and painful death. But they obviously aren't really thinking about all of the truly evil people in our world. Here's a sampling of people who are truly evil (alive and dead), who caused endless pain, misery and death for millions:

-Stalin
-Lenin
-Hitler
-Saddam Hussein
-Pol Pot
-Fidel Castro
-Che Guevara
-Mao Tse Tung
-Robert Mugabe

This list is far from complete. But suffice it to say that none of our own politicians, past or present, belong on such a list. There are plenty of useless clods who get elected, but the best way to handle them is to vote them out. The loss of power and loss of face is plenty satisfactory (especially when we get to watch has-been presidential candidates like John Kerry try to keep his hat in the ring).

So keep the death wishes out of American politics--on both sides of the political spectrum.

Crossposted to Lifelike Pundits

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Pray for Sharon...and Israel

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon is gravely ill after suffering a massive stroke. It is believed that he will never return to power.

Not only should we pray for a great man and a great leader, but we should also pray for Israel. I believe that without Sharon at the helm, Israel is in for dark times ahead. Sharon was strong and firm in his dealings with the Palestinians and other threats to Israel's sovereignty...I am afraid his successor will not have the same resolve.

The world will be watching with its breath held.

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January 04, 2006

Illegal Immigration Protest Planned in Danbury, CT

From the Danbury News-Times:

DANBURY — A controversial anti-illegal immigrant group is planning a "Stop the Invasion" demonstration Saturday at Kennedy Park.

Latino day laborers gather each morning around Kennedy Park, between Kennedy Avenue and Elm Street, hoping to be hired by contractors.

Note the use of the word "controversial." What's controversial about wanting to stem the tide of illegal immigrants? The word illegal should imply that simply by being here, these people are violating our laws. No one would call a group like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) controversial, would they? Drunk driving is against the law too.

If you read the whole article, you will see that some who support the cause don't think that this demonstration will do much more than create a wave of publicity, and that other approaches are more effective. Perhaps that is true, but publicity stunts can sometimes have value--if only to draw attention to a problem.

Maria-Cinta Lowe, executive director of the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, said members of Streitz' group are troublemakers who should be ignored.

"They are racist. They are bigots. They are ignorant. We do not need people like them in Danbury, and we do not need them in Connecticut," Lowe said.

Like how the race card is played? If the majority of illegals in Danbury were from another ethnic group, Lowe would not be complaining about racism. There is nothing racist about wanting to tighten our borders and enforce the laws that already exist. I also think it would be nice to be able to round up all illegals and deport them, but how realistic that is remains to be seen.

There is a movement to change the 14th amendment which grants automatic citizenship to any baby born here, regardless of the immigration (legal or illegal) status of its parents. That's a step in the right direction.

As of April of last year, illegals made up 19% of Danbury's population. Considering the drain on public services (i.e. school and healthcare), this is a major issue for Danbury and cities like it. Mayor Mark Boughton has gotten a lot of flak for his attempts to deal with the problem.

Some reading this will automatically say I am anti-immigrant. That is not true. I am against those who sneak in, find work, send that untaxed money back to their home country, and expect to have their children educated and their healthcare needs met. And what about those who have immigrated here legally, jumping through all of the hoops, only to see others taking what they have rightfully earned? It angers a friend of mine, who came here legally from India when she was 11 and became a citizen about 10 years later.

I am going to try to see if I can make it to the demonstration. It could be very interesting!

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More MSM Follies

A longtime columnist for The Baltimore Sun resigned Tuesday amid allegations of plagiarism from other newspapers, The Sun said early Wednesday.

Michael Olesker, who wrote a column that appeared twice a week in the Maryland section of The Sun for 27 years, quit two weeks before his 30th anniversary as a Baltimore columnist. His most recent column had appeared in Tuesday's Sun.

"I made mistakes," Olesker said as he cleaned out his desk in the newsroom, according to an article in The Sun's editions published Wednesday.

"I am sorry to say that in the course of doing those columns, I unintentionally screwed up a handful of paragraphs. I am embarrassed by my sloppiness," The Sun quoted the columnist as saying.

Do you think this is what Kathleen Parker had in mind when she said (in a column critical of bloggers):

Say what you will about the so-called mainstream media, but no industry agonizes more about how to improve its product, police its own members and better serve its communities. Newspapers are filled with carpal-tunneled wretches, overworked and underpaid, who suffer near-pathological allegiance to getting it right.

Maybe the Sun needs Parker on its editorial staff, to help get it right.

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January 03, 2006

Blogmeister USA's Rules About Commenting

I appreciate everyone who takes the time not only to read my opinions here, but those who also take the time to comment. Please keep in mind the following rules I have regarding comments and other stuff. Hey, it's my blog, and I get to make the decisions!

-No foul language. If you can't get your point across without using expletives, you have a problem, and it's one I don't have to put up with. I reserve the right to delete posts containing nasty language and, if necessary, to block the IP of people who consistently violate this rule.

-No personal attacks against other commenters or me. By personal attacks I mean name calling, threats, and other not-so-delightful behavior. Again, I reserve the right to delete such comments and/or block the IPs of the commenters.

-I don't mind off-topic commenting, but please keep it short and sweet.

-Comments made by third parties do not necessarily reflect my views; they are the views of the third party. The appearance of these comments do not mean that I agree with them in any way, shape or form.

That's it! I'm not like bloggers (and you may have come across some of them) who delete and block commenters just because they don't share my point of view. Everyone is welcome to share alternative points of view here. Isn't that the point? However, I'd like to uphold a certain amount of decorum, because I don't like the idea of turning this blog and commenting forum into a sewer.

Thanks again for stopping by, and keep the (clean!) comments coming!

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January 02, 2006

10 Myths: Busted!

John Stossel busts 10 popular myths for your reading pleasure. Click here for the details.

10. We have less free time.
9. Money can buy happiness.
8. Republicans shrink government.
7. The world is getting too crowded.
6. Chemicals are killing us.
5. Guns are always bad for us.
4. We're drowning in garbage.
3. We are destroying our forests.
2. Getting cold can give you a cold.
1. Life is getting worse.

h/t: Weekend Pundit

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John Kerry's Union Connection

Chris over at Lucky Dawg News has a scoop about John Kerry and his sucking up to unions. Now I am not a big fan of unions, but I don't like to see anyone used. Click here to see how Chris connects the dots between Kerry, his wife, and a certain Daniel I. Booker.

Interesting, isn't it?

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Lest We Forget...

After reading this story regarding the ACLU's plan to have citizens videotape police officers in St. Louis (trying to catch them in the act of violating civil rights), all I can say is that we should remember the ACLU's roots.

Here's the philosophy of the ACLU's founder, Roger Baldwin:

I am for socialism, disarmament, and, ultimately, for abolishing the state itself... I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal.

Aaron over at Lifelike Pundits posted something about the ACLU yesterday...check it out.

tagged: aclu

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