When the story of the Orlando Magic's game 6 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the airwaves last night, it seemed no one really cared that the Magic are heading to the NBA finals to play the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, the focus was on the post-game behavior of Cavaliers megastar and NBA MVP LeBron James. After the final buzzer, James left the court without congratulating the Orland players and, horror of horrors, didn't talk to the media.
I immediately thought of another young superstar whose hopes of glory were dashed: Opie Taylor. Young Opie had hopes of winning the 50-yard dash in the Mayberry boys track championships. How could he lose? He even had Barney Fife, the Jillian Michaels of pee wee track trainers, preparing his body for greatness. But, it was not to be. Opie came out of the gate like the 1988 Baltimore Orioles. Opie made a quick exit for home without congratulating his friends or speaking to the Mayberry Gazette. When his dad, Sheriff Andy, found him at home, Opie made it clear: "They're not my friends. They beat me and they took my medal." Andy then gave one of the best fatherly speeches of all-time and, in the end, Opie came back and told his Pa he didn't want Andy to be disappointed in him.
LeBron James is not a bad guy, but last night he made a childish decision after the game. If many of us think back to the age of 24, we made many decisions of which we are not proud. That isn't an excuse for bad behavior. It was childish, selfish and immature. The whole sports world had been building up a Kobe v. Lebron NBA finals and Lebron certainly has enjoyed the hype and all that goes with it. When the final seconds ticked away on Saturday night, LeBron forget that there was more involved than his ego and his fame.
LeBron James has received mostly positive press over the years. This is deserved. He comes off as a very down-to-earth and nice guy. I haven't been much of an NBA fan since the days of Bird and Magic, but I really like LeBron. He seems like he could really be "one of the guys." I have a feeling that this young man is sick inside today, not only from the disappointing loss but from hearing so many negative comments about him. My prediction is that LeBron will get it. I think he values the position he has developed as a public figure and will say the right things to apologize for his lack of judgment in that moment.
Opie Taylor went on to be one of Mayberry's finest young men. LeBron James, too, will recover from this and continue to be a great player and an admirable young man.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Will Sonia Sotomayor Abort Roe v Wade?
Now, this is quite an interesting turn. It seems some of the radical abortionists on the Left are worried that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is not an absolutist on the "divine right" to kill a baby before it is born. Now, there is no evidence that she is ready to overthrow Roe v. Wade. However, Sotomayor has ruled in favor of the Bush administration's so-called "Mexico City policy," freedom of assembly for pro-life protestors. and in favor of a Chinese woman's amnesty due to the specter of forced birth control if the woman returned to China. None of those are radical positions and none point to a justice who will overturn the "Plessy" of human life. Still, there are some interesting nuggets in this mini-controversy.
First, we are once again being treated to the "'Roe' is in danger/the sky is falling" drumbeat from the pro-abortion crowd. The ABC News story linked here mentions that "Roe" has hung on by a narrow 5-4 margin in recent cases. Really? I don't recall the Supreme Court ruling on the general principle of "Roe." They have handled cases involving various laws under the abortion heading, but not the procedure itself. They also refer to a recent CNN poll in which 68% of the respondents said they did not want to see Roe v Wade completely overturned. Did you catch that? Completely overturned. Now, there is no mention of parental consent, partial birth abortion or other issues that often reach the courts. In fact, it is issues like those and physician conscience statutes or foreign aid for abortions that Sotomayor may hear as a Supreme Court justice. Of course, the red herring is the assertion that an overturn of Roe v Wade would make abortion illegal. It, of course, would simply turn over the issue to the states and admit that ending a life is not a constitutional right.
This dust up is also a reminder of the radical anti-life nature of NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and, to be honest, President Barry Vladimir Hussein Soetero Obama. Most pro-abortion (or pro-choice to ease their conscience) people have pure, if misguided, reasons for their stance. However, these organizations celebrate the act of abortion as though it is a religious ritual. They would prefer no limits until the cord is cut, no parental notification, massive foreign aid for international abortions and to prosecute doctors who do not wish to perform abortions. Let us not forget President Obama, as a back-bench wallflower in the Illinois Senate, gave an impassioned speech in an attempt to defeat the Born Alive Act which directed doctors to administer aid to babies that survived botched abortions. To state Senator Obama, the intent to kill the baby carried more weight than any need to sustain its life if it survived the procedure. He can try to mollify his position as a "moderate" on abortion, but his opposition to that common sense protection of life is a matter of record. Former nurse Jill Stanek catalogued Obama's defenses for his vote.
Sonia Sotomayor, despite deciding properly on some life issues, is still not qualified to be a Supreme Court justice. She has made it clear, as has President Obama, that the law is not as important to her as the lessons of her life experience. That is LibSpeak for "I'll advance the causes I believe in, the law be damned." Therein lays the irony. Obama likely assumed that Sotomayor, like most Leftists, would never divert from script. Nothing is more important than advancing their agenda and nothing will get in the way. In this case, while grievance politics and socialism are part of her life story, so is her Hispanic and Roman Catholic heritage. Given her judicial philosophy, one can assume her decisions in the "controversial" cases were a product of her life experiences rather than her fidelity to the law. The question is, how far will those Catholic-influenced sensibilities take her? A number of Republican presidents have been surprised by justices who lurched to the Left after their appointment. Sotomayor will be a dependable Leftist in regard to statism and grievance mongering, but how sweet would it be for an Obama appointment to be the deciding vote in a pro-life decision, especially the overturning of Roe?
First, we are once again being treated to the "'Roe' is in danger/the sky is falling" drumbeat from the pro-abortion crowd. The ABC News story linked here mentions that "Roe" has hung on by a narrow 5-4 margin in recent cases. Really? I don't recall the Supreme Court ruling on the general principle of "Roe." They have handled cases involving various laws under the abortion heading, but not the procedure itself. They also refer to a recent CNN poll in which 68% of the respondents said they did not want to see Roe v Wade completely overturned. Did you catch that? Completely overturned. Now, there is no mention of parental consent, partial birth abortion or other issues that often reach the courts. In fact, it is issues like those and physician conscience statutes or foreign aid for abortions that Sotomayor may hear as a Supreme Court justice. Of course, the red herring is the assertion that an overturn of Roe v Wade would make abortion illegal. It, of course, would simply turn over the issue to the states and admit that ending a life is not a constitutional right.
This dust up is also a reminder of the radical anti-life nature of NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and, to be honest, President Barry Vladimir Hussein Soetero Obama. Most pro-abortion (or pro-choice to ease their conscience) people have pure, if misguided, reasons for their stance. However, these organizations celebrate the act of abortion as though it is a religious ritual. They would prefer no limits until the cord is cut, no parental notification, massive foreign aid for international abortions and to prosecute doctors who do not wish to perform abortions. Let us not forget President Obama, as a back-bench wallflower in the Illinois Senate, gave an impassioned speech in an attempt to defeat the Born Alive Act which directed doctors to administer aid to babies that survived botched abortions. To state Senator Obama, the intent to kill the baby carried more weight than any need to sustain its life if it survived the procedure. He can try to mollify his position as a "moderate" on abortion, but his opposition to that common sense protection of life is a matter of record. Former nurse Jill Stanek catalogued Obama's defenses for his vote.
Sonia Sotomayor, despite deciding properly on some life issues, is still not qualified to be a Supreme Court justice. She has made it clear, as has President Obama, that the law is not as important to her as the lessons of her life experience. That is LibSpeak for "I'll advance the causes I believe in, the law be damned." Therein lays the irony. Obama likely assumed that Sotomayor, like most Leftists, would never divert from script. Nothing is more important than advancing their agenda and nothing will get in the way. In this case, while grievance politics and socialism are part of her life story, so is her Hispanic and Roman Catholic heritage. Given her judicial philosophy, one can assume her decisions in the "controversial" cases were a product of her life experiences rather than her fidelity to the law. The question is, how far will those Catholic-influenced sensibilities take her? A number of Republican presidents have been surprised by justices who lurched to the Left after their appointment. Sotomayor will be a dependable Leftist in regard to statism and grievance mongering, but how sweet would it be for an Obama appointment to be the deciding vote in a pro-life decision, especially the overturning of Roe?
Friday, May 29, 2009
Could Sonia Sotomayor Serve On A Jury?
Andrew McCarthy had a very interesting piece at "The Corner" on National Review Online. It does beg a very interesting point: how can a woman who would be disqualified from jury service because of her racial comments be trusted to remember justice in a colorblind manner? I won't go as far as Newt Gingrich did in calling her a racist, however it is clear she is a product of identity grievance politics and her notion of "redistributive justice" trumps the principle of equal protection under the law.
Farewell To Jay Leno, The Last Nonpartisan Comic
The entertainment industry tends to lurch to the political left and comedians, in particular, tend toward the countercultural. In the tamer times of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, they could take good-natured jabs at politicians of all stripes. No group of citizens creates more buffoonery than elected officials. Heck, even the unelected bureaucrats tend toward the doltish. Since we live in a civilized country that does not allow for tar-and-feathering, ridiculing these buffoons is the best weapon the public has. Good comedy does that for us.
Even in the early years of Saturday Night Live, that incredibly talented group of comic legends took shots at all people with power. There were no sacred cows. I would suspect that the "Not Ready For Primetime Players" leaned to the Left in their politics, but they did not let that limit their satirical targets. They were funny without being vicious.
Today, SNL is incapable of doing satire against the political left. That would be disloyalty. Tina Fey takes great pride in the fact that many Americans believe her over-the-top portrayal of Sarah Palin is the REAL Palin. Dopey Leftists quote Fey's SNL performances as the actual words of Governor Palin. And, then, there is Jon Stewart. He will occasionally satirize a leftwing figure, but the balance sheet is not even close. Of course, the most irritating thing is that he tries to pass as a news commentator who happens to use comedy; at least, that is, until he says something foolish and then he is just a comic. Of course, much like Obama and his teleprompter, Stewart had to shut down "The Daily Show" during the writer's strike because he cannot achieve moderately funny without a team of writers.
That brings us to Jay Leno. I used to watch Leno a lot, but my eyes are usually too heavy by that time these days. Sometimes I do catch pieces of his monologues later. Leno has that touch that the funny men of yore possessed. He (and, yes, since I took a swipe at Stewart, I know he also has writers) sees rich targets in all areas of public life. No one is off limits. Leno was tough on Dubya, but he is also tough on Barack Obama, which is rare in the comedy world. Some have suggested that Obama is so cool, so intelligent, and so "messiah-like" that they cannot come up with anything amusing about him. They should call Jay Leno and "The Tonight Show" gang. They approach comedy with humor as the goal rather than setting a partisan objective and using wit as a way to ridicule their target. The Jon Stewarts, Steven Colberts, Jeannine Garofalos and Tina Feys of the world have more in common with Saul Alinsky than with George Carlin.
So, thanks for the memories, Jay Leno. You have written another successful chapter into the rich history of NBC's "The Tonight Show." Ok, Conan, let's see what you have.
Even in the early years of Saturday Night Live, that incredibly talented group of comic legends took shots at all people with power. There were no sacred cows. I would suspect that the "Not Ready For Primetime Players" leaned to the Left in their politics, but they did not let that limit their satirical targets. They were funny without being vicious.
Today, SNL is incapable of doing satire against the political left. That would be disloyalty. Tina Fey takes great pride in the fact that many Americans believe her over-the-top portrayal of Sarah Palin is the REAL Palin. Dopey Leftists quote Fey's SNL performances as the actual words of Governor Palin. And, then, there is Jon Stewart. He will occasionally satirize a leftwing figure, but the balance sheet is not even close. Of course, the most irritating thing is that he tries to pass as a news commentator who happens to use comedy; at least, that is, until he says something foolish and then he is just a comic. Of course, much like Obama and his teleprompter, Stewart had to shut down "The Daily Show" during the writer's strike because he cannot achieve moderately funny without a team of writers.
That brings us to Jay Leno. I used to watch Leno a lot, but my eyes are usually too heavy by that time these days. Sometimes I do catch pieces of his monologues later. Leno has that touch that the funny men of yore possessed. He (and, yes, since I took a swipe at Stewart, I know he also has writers) sees rich targets in all areas of public life. No one is off limits. Leno was tough on Dubya, but he is also tough on Barack Obama, which is rare in the comedy world. Some have suggested that Obama is so cool, so intelligent, and so "messiah-like" that they cannot come up with anything amusing about him. They should call Jay Leno and "The Tonight Show" gang. They approach comedy with humor as the goal rather than setting a partisan objective and using wit as a way to ridicule their target. The Jon Stewarts, Steven Colberts, Jeannine Garofalos and Tina Feys of the world have more in common with Saul Alinsky than with George Carlin.
So, thanks for the memories, Jay Leno. You have written another successful chapter into the rich history of NBC's "The Tonight Show." Ok, Conan, let's see what you have.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
On Sonia Sotomayor, Intelligence and Partisanship
Ahhh, Let the games begin. The confirmation process for Supreme Court justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor is already heading into overdrive. Many Democrats (and, sadly, some Republicans) not so subtly suggest that any criticism of Sotomayor will be portrayed as racism. Conservatives are digging through her background and coming up with some interesting nuggets, some fairly benign but others that demonstrate she is a Leftwing activist who uses a black robe to usurp legislative powers.
Some Conservative columnists and bloggers have belittled Sonia Sotomayor's intelligence, which has drawn angry rebukes from the Left who expect a coronation rather than a confirmation. Look, I assume the woman is likely intelligent in the conventional sense. She achieved advanced academic degrees and has worked in the field of law for nearly 30 years. I seriously doubt she is a dumb woman. She is a serious socialist and knows exactly what she is doing when she advances extra-constitutional or unconstitutional ideas.
However, isn't it interesting that the Moonbats in the media are soiling themselves and referring to a "southern strategy" concerning attacks on Ms. Sotomayor's intellect? These same people just spent eight years advancing the notion that a U.S. President with an Ivy League education was mentally retarded. This same media has never questioned the Left's attacks on the intelligence of Clarence Thomas. In fact, Nevada Senator Harry Reid launched a vicious attack on Justice Thomas on "Meet the Press" in 2004 that he never apologized for. I have always found it interesting that the "diversity party" always cedes to the intelligence of Scalia, Roberts, and Alito, but attacks Thomas as lacking smarts. Gee, it couldn't be his race could it. The Left's outrage over the cerebral agility issue is beyond hypocritical.
As for the Ivy League education and the perception of superior intellect, whether from the Left or from the Right, my response is, who cares? C-Span shows us bumbling fools on a daily basis who possess degrees from the "finest" universities. They are still imbeciles. In fact, in my profession I know plenty of folks with advanced degrees who can't tell their butt from a hot rock. I also know folks of minimal educational pedigree who just plain get it. They may not know the intricacies of calculus or know the difference between Keats and Yeats, but they know there is something wrong when the various levels of government are sucking up half of their paycheck.
Faithfully upholding the United States Constitution is not rocket surgery. In fact, I feel qualified. I'm not qualified to build a house, investigate a homicide, run a dairy farm, administer physical therapy, cook at a five-star restaurant (maybe a two-star), or cut hair. These jobs all require special skills and training. The Constitution is a simple document that you can read three times in an hour. It is much easier to know intricately the Constitution than any one of the Harry Potter novels. Even if you argue that our citizen jurists should also read the Federalist papers and an assortment of writings by the Founders, a significant number of folks could be up to speed in short order.
These judicial arguments always remind what a snake oil business the law has become. The Constitution is simple. Constitutional principles are what they are. Those who wish to make it a mysterious puzzle that only a select few can solve do so for one simple reason: they wish to follow a path that is contrary to the natural law. People are made to feel that they are too simple and uninformed to understand, so they must wait for the "damn dirty apes" from Washington to tell us what the sacred scrolls say about any matter. Balderdash! When justices start telling us what is hiding in the Constitution's "emanations" and "penumbras" they are really saying, "we have no legitimate Constitutional reason for our decision, so just choke on it!"
Honestly, I do not care if a potential justice went to Yale, Harvard, or Hamburger University. In any other profession, after you pass the entry level, your achievements and abilities are all that matter. If you want Sotomayor, Dubya, and Justice Thomas to square off in a Celebrity Jeopardy tournament for charity, have at it. However, for a serious job like a Supreme Court justice we need a serious person who seriously understands what her job is and what her job is not. That is there Ms. Sotomayor is severely lacking.
Some Conservative columnists and bloggers have belittled Sonia Sotomayor's intelligence, which has drawn angry rebukes from the Left who expect a coronation rather than a confirmation. Look, I assume the woman is likely intelligent in the conventional sense. She achieved advanced academic degrees and has worked in the field of law for nearly 30 years. I seriously doubt she is a dumb woman. She is a serious socialist and knows exactly what she is doing when she advances extra-constitutional or unconstitutional ideas.
However, isn't it interesting that the Moonbats in the media are soiling themselves and referring to a "southern strategy" concerning attacks on Ms. Sotomayor's intellect? These same people just spent eight years advancing the notion that a U.S. President with an Ivy League education was mentally retarded. This same media has never questioned the Left's attacks on the intelligence of Clarence Thomas. In fact, Nevada Senator Harry Reid launched a vicious attack on Justice Thomas on "Meet the Press" in 2004 that he never apologized for. I have always found it interesting that the "diversity party" always cedes to the intelligence of Scalia, Roberts, and Alito, but attacks Thomas as lacking smarts. Gee, it couldn't be his race could it. The Left's outrage over the cerebral agility issue is beyond hypocritical.
As for the Ivy League education and the perception of superior intellect, whether from the Left or from the Right, my response is, who cares? C-Span shows us bumbling fools on a daily basis who possess degrees from the "finest" universities. They are still imbeciles. In fact, in my profession I know plenty of folks with advanced degrees who can't tell their butt from a hot rock. I also know folks of minimal educational pedigree who just plain get it. They may not know the intricacies of calculus or know the difference between Keats and Yeats, but they know there is something wrong when the various levels of government are sucking up half of their paycheck.
Faithfully upholding the United States Constitution is not rocket surgery. In fact, I feel qualified. I'm not qualified to build a house, investigate a homicide, run a dairy farm, administer physical therapy, cook at a five-star restaurant (maybe a two-star), or cut hair. These jobs all require special skills and training. The Constitution is a simple document that you can read three times in an hour. It is much easier to know intricately the Constitution than any one of the Harry Potter novels. Even if you argue that our citizen jurists should also read the Federalist papers and an assortment of writings by the Founders, a significant number of folks could be up to speed in short order.
These judicial arguments always remind what a snake oil business the law has become. The Constitution is simple. Constitutional principles are what they are. Those who wish to make it a mysterious puzzle that only a select few can solve do so for one simple reason: they wish to follow a path that is contrary to the natural law. People are made to feel that they are too simple and uninformed to understand, so they must wait for the "damn dirty apes" from Washington to tell us what the sacred scrolls say about any matter. Balderdash! When justices start telling us what is hiding in the Constitution's "emanations" and "penumbras" they are really saying, "we have no legitimate Constitutional reason for our decision, so just choke on it!"
Honestly, I do not care if a potential justice went to Yale, Harvard, or Hamburger University. In any other profession, after you pass the entry level, your achievements and abilities are all that matter. If you want Sotomayor, Dubya, and Justice Thomas to square off in a Celebrity Jeopardy tournament for charity, have at it. However, for a serious job like a Supreme Court justice we need a serious person who seriously understands what her job is and what her job is not. That is there Ms. Sotomayor is severely lacking.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Adam Lambert Is A Class Act, But The Media Is Still Stuck On Stupid
I was not a big fan of Adam Lambert and his 2nd-place run on "American Idol." Two theatrical for me. Not that I am expert on performing, but his performances also seemed uneven. He would have 80% of a great night, but would go off a scream or howl that sounded like something from a bad high school swing choir or a female impersonator cabaret. But, I am a fan of Adam Lambert the man. In the midst of media cries of victimhood, Lambert has downplayed the impact of a couple of AT&T sale weasels and their overeager instructions to some Kris Allen fans at an Arkansas rally. Statistically, it is unlikely to have been a difference maker and Lambert was man enough to say that Allen won, fair and square. I don't know what Lambert's musical future will be, but he has demonstrated himself a man of integrity.
However, the chattering chuckleheads in the mainstream media are still apoplectic. After all, entertainment is just like every other walk of American life in 2009: group identity and grievance should always decide winners and losers. The media elites branded Adam Lambert the greatest Idol performer ever! He was good, but they made Lambert the representative of all things "gay." This became a referendum on whether or not Americans can accept a gay man as an entertainer.
Look, I was a Danny Gokey fan and still think he should have won (the Steven Tyler scream was his Waterloo). Alison, the powerful teen, would have been #2 if I voted (maybe I should have texted in votes to help my faves out). Of course, those are just personal opinions, aren't they? As the competition was being whittled down to the final few, there was little doubt that the young girls would love Kris Allen. He is soooo cute! He can sing, though I don't find him special in that regard. Of course, I don't find much in the Top 40 of any of the music charts today that is memorable.
Adam Lambert was stylish and, yes, he "seemed" like he was probably gay. But, he was not flamboyant and obnoxious in pushing his sexuality down the throats of viewers (DEFINITELY no pun intended). He is what he is. If America was so bigoted in regard to giving a gay man a chance, how did he make it to the final two? The notion that anyone who voted for Kris Allen over Adam Lambert was expressing their hatred for homosexuals is among the dumbest media notions I've heard. Of course, being asinine has never stopped them before.
However, the chattering chuckleheads in the mainstream media are still apoplectic. After all, entertainment is just like every other walk of American life in 2009: group identity and grievance should always decide winners and losers. The media elites branded Adam Lambert the greatest Idol performer ever! He was good, but they made Lambert the representative of all things "gay." This became a referendum on whether or not Americans can accept a gay man as an entertainer.
Look, I was a Danny Gokey fan and still think he should have won (the Steven Tyler scream was his Waterloo). Alison, the powerful teen, would have been #2 if I voted (maybe I should have texted in votes to help my faves out). Of course, those are just personal opinions, aren't they? As the competition was being whittled down to the final few, there was little doubt that the young girls would love Kris Allen. He is soooo cute! He can sing, though I don't find him special in that regard. Of course, I don't find much in the Top 40 of any of the music charts today that is memorable.
Adam Lambert was stylish and, yes, he "seemed" like he was probably gay. But, he was not flamboyant and obnoxious in pushing his sexuality down the throats of viewers (DEFINITELY no pun intended). He is what he is. If America was so bigoted in regard to giving a gay man a chance, how did he make it to the final two? The notion that anyone who voted for Kris Allen over Adam Lambert was expressing their hatred for homosexuals is among the dumbest media notions I've heard. Of course, being asinine has never stopped them before.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Colin Powell AGAIN Promotes "Washington Generals" Republicans
Colin Powell continues to do his best to destroy his reputation as a man of integrity. This phony "I want to save the Republican party" nonsense has become tedious. Powell has made it clear he is not a Conservative. However, the Republicans did not run a Conservative in 2008. They ran Mr. Reach-Across-The-Aisle, John McCain. Heck, McCain was basically chosen by Democrats who crossed over and voted in Republican primaries. But, despite the presence of a very "moderate" GOP candidate, the good general voted for far Left Democrat Barack Obama. Powell got his panties in a wad when Rush Limbaugh intimated that race was a factor. Fine, General Powell, I hate to offend your sensibilities. That leaves us with one other option: Colin Powell is either an imbecile or dishonest. Obama is not just a Democrat; he is a full-blown Socialist who rejects the principles that our country was built upon. Is General Powell's love of country so weak that the specter of associating with pro-life Conservatives forced him into Marxism?
The Washington Generals were the hapless team that traveled with and lost to the Harlem Globetrotters on a nightly basis. This was the status of Congressional Republicans from 1954 until 1994, although they had started to demonstrate some courage in the shadows of Ronald Reagan's victories in 1980 and 1984. Reagan and the Conservatives who ignited the Revolution of 1994 did so with a clear Conservative message, not by promising to be Splenda-crats. The GOP brand has fallen on hard times because its leaders abandoned the ideas that put them in power. I was regularly stuck at how a Republican President and Republican congressional majority behaved like 98-pound weaklings and allowed themselves to be rolled by demagogues like Chuck Schumer and Bahney Fwank.
Since the 2008 election, Republican weasels like Tom Ridge, Arlen Specter, and Colin Powell have whined about how the Republicans need to act more like Democrats. The GOP has tried the brand of Democrat Lite that Colin Powell advocates. George H.W. Bush ran on Reagan's coattails, but was a country club Republican at heart and became a one-termer. Bob Dole was the quintessential Beltway lifer who was happy to be in the minority as long as he could claim a few goodies for his constituents. George W. Bush won elections running as a Conservative, but on too many key issues was no different than the Democrats and was a major reason for the disasters of 2006 and 2008.
Republicans do not need to play the identity politics game that Powell espouses. The do not need to change their values. However, they must demonstrate to individuals that race, gender, disability or sexual preference are irrelevant. High taxes, over-regulation, bloated entitlements, obscene deficits, and creeping Big Brother-ism is a threat to all Americans. This isn't about the tent not being big enough. Republicans who are really big government Statists should move to the Democrat party. Good riddance, General Powell!
The Washington Generals were the hapless team that traveled with and lost to the Harlem Globetrotters on a nightly basis. This was the status of Congressional Republicans from 1954 until 1994, although they had started to demonstrate some courage in the shadows of Ronald Reagan's victories in 1980 and 1984. Reagan and the Conservatives who ignited the Revolution of 1994 did so with a clear Conservative message, not by promising to be Splenda-crats. The GOP brand has fallen on hard times because its leaders abandoned the ideas that put them in power. I was regularly stuck at how a Republican President and Republican congressional majority behaved like 98-pound weaklings and allowed themselves to be rolled by demagogues like Chuck Schumer and Bahney Fwank.
Since the 2008 election, Republican weasels like Tom Ridge, Arlen Specter, and Colin Powell have whined about how the Republicans need to act more like Democrats. The GOP has tried the brand of Democrat Lite that Colin Powell advocates. George H.W. Bush ran on Reagan's coattails, but was a country club Republican at heart and became a one-termer. Bob Dole was the quintessential Beltway lifer who was happy to be in the minority as long as he could claim a few goodies for his constituents. George W. Bush won elections running as a Conservative, but on too many key issues was no different than the Democrats and was a major reason for the disasters of 2006 and 2008.
Republicans do not need to play the identity politics game that Powell espouses. The do not need to change their values. However, they must demonstrate to individuals that race, gender, disability or sexual preference are irrelevant. High taxes, over-regulation, bloated entitlements, obscene deficits, and creeping Big Brother-ism is a threat to all Americans. This isn't about the tent not being big enough. Republicans who are really big government Statists should move to the Democrat party. Good riddance, General Powell!
Sonia Sotomayor Appointed To Supreme Court of Policy Makers
A few thoughts on Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama's appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court:
First, there is the soundbite that will be played over and over on tak radio and possibly FOX News involving Ms. Sotomayor's believe that appeals courts are policy making bodies. The Leftist/Statist media is already claiming her remarks are taken out of context. You be the judge.
I saw and heard the face of Leftist arrogance. Ms. Sotomayor should consult the document that she will take an oath to uphold: the U.S. Constitution. All legislative powers are vested in the Congress. She obviously believes that her own personal wisdom trumps the law. Simply put, the Constitution and the law are irrelevant. The judiciary is an oligarchy where five lawyers can trump the will of the people and their elected representatives.
Second, her personal story is held up as extraordinary. She has overcome obstacles and worked hard to get where she is. Her Hispanic heritage is being celebrated. Maybe I'm missing something, but did Alberto Gonzalez and Miguel Estrada experience the celebration of their heritage when receiving appointments from President Bush? Was Clarence Thomas' remarkable personal story extolled when he was named to the Court by Bush 41? I applaud Ms. Sotomayor's hard work and perseverance, but the media slobbering is a function of her being a dedicated Leftwing judicial activist.
Finally, Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama needs a lesson in empathy. Appointing judges who will replace the law with their personal desire to "stick it to the man" is not empathy. Neither does applying the law fairly with no regard for demographics imply a lack of empathy. No, Barry, empathy is the individual who barely makes enough to get by but still manages to give ten percent to their church or donate money to those who are struggling even more. Lack of empathy is a community organizer-turned politician who would only donate ONE PERCENT of his million dollar income while demonizing people who give far more but who reject his Statist view on government.
First, there is the soundbite that will be played over and over on tak radio and possibly FOX News involving Ms. Sotomayor's believe that appeals courts are policy making bodies. The Leftist/Statist media is already claiming her remarks are taken out of context. You be the judge.
I saw and heard the face of Leftist arrogance. Ms. Sotomayor should consult the document that she will take an oath to uphold: the U.S. Constitution. All legislative powers are vested in the Congress. She obviously believes that her own personal wisdom trumps the law. Simply put, the Constitution and the law are irrelevant. The judiciary is an oligarchy where five lawyers can trump the will of the people and their elected representatives.
Second, her personal story is held up as extraordinary. She has overcome obstacles and worked hard to get where she is. Her Hispanic heritage is being celebrated. Maybe I'm missing something, but did Alberto Gonzalez and Miguel Estrada experience the celebration of their heritage when receiving appointments from President Bush? Was Clarence Thomas' remarkable personal story extolled when he was named to the Court by Bush 41? I applaud Ms. Sotomayor's hard work and perseverance, but the media slobbering is a function of her being a dedicated Leftwing judicial activist.
Finally, Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama needs a lesson in empathy. Appointing judges who will replace the law with their personal desire to "stick it to the man" is not empathy. Neither does applying the law fairly with no regard for demographics imply a lack of empathy. No, Barry, empathy is the individual who barely makes enough to get by but still manages to give ten percent to their church or donate money to those who are struggling even more. Lack of empathy is a community organizer-turned politician who would only donate ONE PERCENT of his million dollar income while demonizing people who give far more but who reject his Statist view on government.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Edgycater’s Liberty Summer Book of the Week: Frederic Bastiat “The Law”
Edgycater has proclaimed 2009 Liberty Summer! As we have been warned since the days of the Founding Fathers (and even back to the Greek and Roman thinkers who influenced them), the enemies within are more dangerous than outside threats. The Chi-Coms will not invade us and establish a Communist regime. Islamofascists cannot ride into America and enforce Sharia law. However, socialist “fellow travelers” have incrementally pushed the United States away from its freedom-drenched origins and have built an entitlement-driven welfare state where citizens do not even understand their own natural rights as sovereign people. Knowledge is power and summer is a great time for Conservatives and those who may lean to the Left but are not totally brainwashed to inoculate themselves with great ideas.
Memorial Day is considered the kickoff of summer for many even though the Summer Solstice is still a few weeks away. Therefore, get your reading glasses and arm yourself for the fight.
Let’s kick the summer off with a short work by French economist and philosopher Frederic Bastiat. Somehow, I graduated from high school and earned a pair of B.A. degrees without hearing of Bastiat. Enter Neal Boortz, the Talkmaster! Somewhere around 2000 or 2001, I was listening to Boortz on WFIR-960 AM in Roanoke, Virginia and he went on a long diatribe about “The Law” and its impact on his thinking. As I find Boortz one of the most intelligent and well rounded hosts in the talk radio genre (even though he can irritate the whiz out of me on the issue of Christians and Christianity), I had to read this book. The edition I bought comes in at a whopping 75 pages, but packs a super heavyweight punch in a flyweight body.
Bastiat was a champion of liberty. His understanding of the nature of government and economics were in sync with the Founding Fathers. The concept of “plunder” is key to Bastiat’s thesis. Simply put, if it is immoral to steal from your neighbor the act does not gain legitimacy if you ask your government to steal on your behalf. “Legalized plunder” is no more moral than petty thievery. The author wrote in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise in socialist influence on French government. He saw the dangers and sounded the call.
Bastiat saw the United States as the most successful experiment in liberty. However, as he write in 1850, he saw two dangers to the concept:
“The Law” is a short, but important read. You will gain an appreciation for the simplicity of basic economics. Although it may be bad for your blood pressure, you will forever look at government intrusions on your life differently.
Memorial Day is considered the kickoff of summer for many even though the Summer Solstice is still a few weeks away. Therefore, get your reading glasses and arm yourself for the fight.
Let’s kick the summer off with a short work by French economist and philosopher Frederic Bastiat. Somehow, I graduated from high school and earned a pair of B.A. degrees without hearing of Bastiat. Enter Neal Boortz, the Talkmaster! Somewhere around 2000 or 2001, I was listening to Boortz on WFIR-960 AM in Roanoke, Virginia and he went on a long diatribe about “The Law” and its impact on his thinking. As I find Boortz one of the most intelligent and well rounded hosts in the talk radio genre (even though he can irritate the whiz out of me on the issue of Christians and Christianity), I had to read this book. The edition I bought comes in at a whopping 75 pages, but packs a super heavyweight punch in a flyweight body.
Bastiat was a champion of liberty. His understanding of the nature of government and economics were in sync with the Founding Fathers. The concept of “plunder” is key to Bastiat’s thesis. Simply put, if it is immoral to steal from your neighbor the act does not gain legitimacy if you ask your government to steal on your behalf. “Legalized plunder” is no more moral than petty thievery. The author wrote in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise in socialist influence on French government. He saw the dangers and sounded the call.
Bastiat saw the United States as the most successful experiment in liberty. However, as he write in 1850, he saw two dangers to the concept:
Of course, we dealt with the scourge of slavery with the 13th Amendment. However, the plunder of the tariff became the income tax and other various revenue schemes that the federal government uses to squash liberty while feeding the government beast.Look at the United States There is no country in the world where the law is kept more within its proper domain: the protection of every person's liberty and property. As a consequence of this, there appears to be no country in the world where the social order rests on a firmer foundation. But, even in the United States, there are two issues, and only two, that have always endangered the public peace.
What are these two questions? They are slavery and tariffs. These are the only two issues where, contrary to the general spirit of the republic of the United States, law has assumed the character of a plunderer.
Slavery is a violation, by law, of liberty. The protective tariff is a violation, by law, of property.
“The Law” is a short, but important read. You will gain an appreciation for the simplicity of basic economics. Although it may be bad for your blood pressure, you will forever look at government intrusions on your life differently.
A Memorial Day Primer For Barack Obama
Memorial Day is an important and distinct holiday that I believe is largely misunderstood. Many celebrate it as just a patriotic holiday with lots of red, whte, and blue along with cookouts and revelry. It's almost a warm-up for July 4th (I would have said Independence Day, but I'm afraid most people would have no idea what I am talking about). Others treat Memorial Day like Veterans Day. They honor our veterans and celebrate their service. That is never a bad idea. In fact, we should honor these folks 365 days a year. But, there is a Veterans Day in November, though it often gets ignored in the midst of elections and the coming holidays.
Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Throughout our history, young men have taken up arms to defend the liberty that our Founding Fathers envisioned. Many of those brave soldiers have not returned from the fight. However, their courage helped build the foundation that we stand upon today. Don't ever forget that. The greatness of America is due to a citizenry being allowed to operate in freedom. Freedom comes at a price. Whenever we voluntarily give away pieces of our hard-worn liberty we are spitting on the graves of these individuals who took up arms on our behalf.
I heard Barack Obama speak of Memorial Day twice. Did he talk about freedom? Liberty? Courage and valor? Sacrifice? No, Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama focused on increased post-service benefits for veterans. Don't get me wrong, there is a valid argument for expanding benefits for our servicemen and it should be built around where and how they served. The point is that Obama is only in his comfort zone speaking about transferring wealth from one group of citizens to another. In fact, that is the Democrat vision of "national security." When it comes to the military they will cut the funding in every aspect EXCEPT post-service benefits. To Statists like Obama, veterans are just another potential voting block that can be made subservient to the federal government.
For the most part, military veterans are the best America has to offer. They live the principles and ideals that have made this country great. They are not freeloaders looking to exchange a few years of service for a lifetime of living on the state. Now, they do expect a safety net befitting their extraordinary contributions to this country. They also deserve deference in loans and hiring. However, history has shown us that our veterans are the leaders of American society not its leeches.
It would be nice if the President of the United States understood and respected the service and sacrifice that have kept this nation free for 232 years, 10 months and 21 days. But, he does not. He is a Statist ideologue. Why would he celebrate a Memorial Day that preserved a county that he does not like?
Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Throughout our history, young men have taken up arms to defend the liberty that our Founding Fathers envisioned. Many of those brave soldiers have not returned from the fight. However, their courage helped build the foundation that we stand upon today. Don't ever forget that. The greatness of America is due to a citizenry being allowed to operate in freedom. Freedom comes at a price. Whenever we voluntarily give away pieces of our hard-worn liberty we are spitting on the graves of these individuals who took up arms on our behalf.
I heard Barack Obama speak of Memorial Day twice. Did he talk about freedom? Liberty? Courage and valor? Sacrifice? No, Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama focused on increased post-service benefits for veterans. Don't get me wrong, there is a valid argument for expanding benefits for our servicemen and it should be built around where and how they served. The point is that Obama is only in his comfort zone speaking about transferring wealth from one group of citizens to another. In fact, that is the Democrat vision of "national security." When it comes to the military they will cut the funding in every aspect EXCEPT post-service benefits. To Statists like Obama, veterans are just another potential voting block that can be made subservient to the federal government.
For the most part, military veterans are the best America has to offer. They live the principles and ideals that have made this country great. They are not freeloaders looking to exchange a few years of service for a lifetime of living on the state. Now, they do expect a safety net befitting their extraordinary contributions to this country. They also deserve deference in loans and hiring. However, history has shown us that our veterans are the leaders of American society not its leeches.
It would be nice if the President of the United States understood and respected the service and sacrifice that have kept this nation free for 232 years, 10 months and 21 days. But, he does not. He is a Statist ideologue. Why would he celebrate a Memorial Day that preserved a county that he does not like?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
VEA Rep Robley Jones Compares School Vouchers To Segregation
As a public school teacher, I often hear colleagues whining about the public perception of our profession. Now, don't get me wrong. The solutions offered by the mainstream of both major parties demonstrates that neither has a clue about education and the challenges that we currently face. However, the NEA and its state affiliates consistently place professional educators before students. School vouchers should be on the table. Programs of this sort have been successful in many places. In fact, a successful one that has provided life-changing opportunities to nearly 2,000 D.C. children, mostly Black, has been canceled by the Democrat Congress and President Hope and Change. Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama made it clear that elite schools like Sidwell Friends should be reserved for wealthy children like his own and not the rabble from the 'hood. The Tertium Quids blog posted this snippet from VEA lobbyist Robley Jones:
Jones is using the worst sort of fear mongering to make his case. I guess that makes him a typical Leftist/Statist. He clearly wants the reader to compare voucher proponents to white supremacists who used private schools to avoid integration. The purpose of the clause in the Virginia constitution is to protect children from discrimination not to protect the interests of the teacher's union (yes, I know technically it isn't a union in Virginia). Robley Jones would like to ignore the fact that voucher programs most often assist poor and minority children.
The irony of "good liberals" and their opposition to voucher programs is that they are the true heirs to Massive Resistance and other such segregationist notions. It is not about children to them. It is about teachers first and foremost. It is the Leftist/Statist who stands in the door of a failing school and says to the children, "No, you cannot leave for a better school. You must settle for a substandard education."
"Second, our current constitution, adopted in 1971, was written as a consequence of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board decision of 1954. It took Virginia seventeen years to accept that decision.
The last time school vouchers were provided in Virginia was when the schools were closed in keeping with Massive Resistance. Vouchers were provided so that white students could attend private schools when the public schools were closed. So, the constitution does address this issue in Article VIII, Section 10 - “No appropriation of public funds shall be made to any school or institution of learning not owned or exclusively controlled by the State or some political subdivision thereof ….”
Jones is using the worst sort of fear mongering to make his case. I guess that makes him a typical Leftist/Statist. He clearly wants the reader to compare voucher proponents to white supremacists who used private schools to avoid integration. The purpose of the clause in the Virginia constitution is to protect children from discrimination not to protect the interests of the teacher's union (yes, I know technically it isn't a union in Virginia). Robley Jones would like to ignore the fact that voucher programs most often assist poor and minority children.
The irony of "good liberals" and their opposition to voucher programs is that they are the true heirs to Massive Resistance and other such segregationist notions. It is not about children to them. It is about teachers first and foremost. It is the Leftist/Statist who stands in the door of a failing school and says to the children, "No, you cannot leave for a better school. You must settle for a substandard education."
Friday, May 22, 2009
Breaking News: Steroids Causes Reporters Brains To Shrink
Last Friday's Chicago Sun-Times column by Rick Telander was another reminder that the pathetic state of journalism includes the sports department. Chicago Cubs infielder Ryan Theriot has hit 5 home runs in 2009 through mid-May after hitting a total of 7 in his first two-and-a-half seasons. So, Telander has concluded that Theriot must be put on the suspicion list for performance enhancing drugs. There must be something in the water in Chicago that creates such tortured logic.
Maybe we should question former Oakland A's shortstop Bert Campaneris about his 1970 season when he hit 22 home runs. Campy had a total of 24 in his first 6 seasons including 2 the year before his 22-jack outburst. He never again hit more than 8. Bert Campaneris was a juicer! What more evidence do you need?
How about Hall of Famer Rod Carew? He hit a total of 11 home runs between 1971-1974 and then hit 14 in 1975, 9 in 1976, and 14 more in 1977. He didn't hit more than 5 in any of the next 8 seasons. Something funny had to be going on between 1975-1977. Frankly, Carew should probably be removed from the Hall of Fame!
I have a suggestion for Rick Telander and anyone else who now thinks they a baseball game is about as honest as a Vince McMahon production: stop watching. Really, just stop. Baseball is still a great game and will continue to be. Yes, some of the better players in the recent era of the game are suspect. But, the overwhelming majority are great athletes living the dream. Just enjoy.
Maybe we should question former Oakland A's shortstop Bert Campaneris about his 1970 season when he hit 22 home runs. Campy had a total of 24 in his first 6 seasons including 2 the year before his 22-jack outburst. He never again hit more than 8. Bert Campaneris was a juicer! What more evidence do you need?
How about Hall of Famer Rod Carew? He hit a total of 11 home runs between 1971-1974 and then hit 14 in 1975, 9 in 1976, and 14 more in 1977. He didn't hit more than 5 in any of the next 8 seasons. Something funny had to be going on between 1975-1977. Frankly, Carew should probably be removed from the Hall of Fame!
I have a suggestion for Rick Telander and anyone else who now thinks they a baseball game is about as honest as a Vince McMahon production: stop watching. Really, just stop. Baseball is still a great game and will continue to be. Yes, some of the better players in the recent era of the game are suspect. But, the overwhelming majority are great athletes living the dream. Just enjoy.
Liz Cheney Plays Whack-A-Mole With Mainstream Media
I guess Liz Cheney should plan on getting Palin-ed by the Moonbat Left after her thrashing of Lawrence O'Donnell, Anderson Cooper and MSNBC "conservative" Joe Scarborough. Darth's daughter is an good a spokesperson for national security as I have heard outside of her own father. She gets it and she can articulate it. She especially hammered Lawrence O'Donnell, who always seems to need a distemper shot.
Liz Cheney debating Lawrence O'Donnell is a bit like a polar bear batting around a baby seal. What I like best about Cheney is that she doesn't immediately go into defensive mode as so many Conservatives do when asked nonsensical questions or presented with illogical arguments. She first dismantles their faulty premises and misleading arguments before eviscerating them with facts and logic.
She dismantled the smarmy Anderson Cooper repeatedly as he compared American enhanced interrogations methods to the Nazis and Khmer Rouge. Yes, using humans for "scientific" experiments is exactly the same as waterboarding three high-ranking terrorists. He wanted to compare Abu Graib to the enhanced techniques used in certain cases at Gitmo. He intentionally (or maybe he really is that dumb) misused an investigative report in trying to link the two. These Moonbat fools somehow manage to forget the reason we know about the abuse at Abu Graib and other incidents involving prisoner abuse is that our military investigates and prosecutes individuals who do these things. That is very different from professional interrogators deciding that more coercive techniques are necessary in certain situations. We need more Cheneys to make the case for putting security ahead of politics.
Liz Cheney debating Lawrence O'Donnell is a bit like a polar bear batting around a baby seal. What I like best about Cheney is that she doesn't immediately go into defensive mode as so many Conservatives do when asked nonsensical questions or presented with illogical arguments. She first dismantles their faulty premises and misleading arguments before eviscerating them with facts and logic.
She dismantled the smarmy Anderson Cooper repeatedly as he compared American enhanced interrogations methods to the Nazis and Khmer Rouge. Yes, using humans for "scientific" experiments is exactly the same as waterboarding three high-ranking terrorists. He wanted to compare Abu Graib to the enhanced techniques used in certain cases at Gitmo. He intentionally (or maybe he really is that dumb) misused an investigative report in trying to link the two. These Moonbat fools somehow manage to forget the reason we know about the abuse at Abu Graib and other incidents involving prisoner abuse is that our military investigates and prosecutes individuals who do these things. That is very different from professional interrogators deciding that more coercive techniques are necessary in certain situations. We need more Cheneys to make the case for putting security ahead of politics.
Dick Cheney KOs Barry Obama In Terrorism Duel
Thursday, May 21 was a historic day in American politics. President Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama gave a speech defending his Sesame Street ideas of national security. Former Vice-president Dick Cheney countered Obama's oration with a no-nonsense review of the Bush administration terrorism policies. For those not suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome, it was obvious which man had the clearest view of what it takes to defend America. The Leftist media did not even attempt to analyze the substance of Cheney's speech. They simply attacked the man who they have spent eight years demonizing. The Alinsky media uses Cheney's name as an epithet, so now they do not need to examine the content. I would love to see one of those Frank Luntz focus groups with the little knobs watch those two speeches. Except for the Moonbats, Cheney would easily score higher.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A Letter From A Dodge Dealer Screwed By Obama Motors
This is a sad, but important letter from a Dodge dealer in Florida. The federal government has aided and abetted the destruction of the U.S. automobile industry for the last several decades. Now, they have taken control of two of the big three and have Ford on a short leash. A Marxist community agitator who has never created a single job in his entire life now controls the future of the domestic automobile industry.
By the way, the Fifth Amendment precludes the federal government from taking private property without just compensation. The final clause of the Fifth Amendment ends with the following phrase:
Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama, as CEO of Obama Motors, parent company of GM and Chrysler, bears the responsibility of compensating George Joseph of Melbourne, Florida and any other dealership owner who is losing their livelihood as a direct result of his decisions. Now that the car companies are a government enterprise, the directives of the Constitution should apply. Of course, that won't mean moving funds from another part of government. It will mean paying off the victims of government excess with the money of our grandchildren. Create one problem and solve it by creating another one.
By the way, the Fifth Amendment precludes the federal government from taking private property without just compensation. The final clause of the Fifth Amendment ends with the following phrase:
nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Barry Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama, as CEO of Obama Motors, parent company of GM and Chrysler, bears the responsibility of compensating George Joseph of Melbourne, Florida and any other dealership owner who is losing their livelihood as a direct result of his decisions. Now that the car companies are a government enterprise, the directives of the Constitution should apply. Of course, that won't mean moving funds from another part of government. It will mean paying off the victims of government excess with the money of our grandchildren. Create one problem and solve it by creating another one.
Californians Say No To The Proposition Of New Taxes
There still may be hope the People's Republik of Kalifornia. The people of the nation's largest state and one of the most politically liberal voted down a collection of Propositions that presented a variety of taxing and borrowing schemes to temporarily rescue the state from a $42 billion budget shortfall. Californians collectively responded "no, we can't!" The Governator called these boondoggles, "budget reform measures." Politicians depend on the people being too ignorant to see through their language. Schwarzenegger is a hardcore Statist. To him, budget reform does not include cutting spending. "Fiscal reform" to the Governator and others of his ilk is to keep spending like drunken socialists while raising everyone's taxes and running the producer class out of the state.
Earlier in the day, Kalifornia's governor was in D.C. mugging for the cameras with Barry Valdimir Hussein Soweto Obama as the Chosen One announced the Kremlin, er, the White House, had twisted arms until they agree to raise auto mileage minimums to 37 mph. After all, Kalilfornia had already "successfully" demanded increased standards. There you go. Let's follow the lead of one of the worst-managed states in the Union. Let's listen to the incompetent governor parroting the nonsense of an incompetent President. By all means, let's make the car companies that we have already bailed out sell more expensive, less desirable, and less safe cars.
Hopefully, Kalifornia's May 19 performance at the ballot box will be a wake up call.
Earlier in the day, Kalifornia's governor was in D.C. mugging for the cameras with Barry Valdimir Hussein Soweto Obama as the Chosen One announced the Kremlin, er, the White House, had twisted arms until they agree to raise auto mileage minimums to 37 mph. After all, Kalilfornia had already "successfully" demanded increased standards. There you go. Let's follow the lead of one of the worst-managed states in the Union. Let's listen to the incompetent governor parroting the nonsense of an incompetent President. By all means, let's make the car companies that we have already bailed out sell more expensive, less desirable, and less safe cars.
Hopefully, Kalifornia's May 19 performance at the ballot box will be a wake up call.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
David Limbaugh On Obama-Speak
Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama is truly a master of the English language. This guy could drive a knife through someone's spleen and have them convinced he is mowing their yard. What he is doing and what he says never seem to gibe. The most pro-abortion President in history talks about an "open dialogue." Is he open to appointing a pro-life justice to the U.S. Supreme Court? Or to any of the federal courts? But, it isn't just abortion. From bailouts to union card check to energy independence to the role of faith in public life, Obama has bipolar stock answers to fit his immediate audience.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Congrats to Roy Clark, Country Music Hall of Famer!
Congratulations to Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell, and Charlie McCoy for last night's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. All are very deserving.
In particular, I was happy to see Roy Clark's induction. As a young'un I loved watching Hee-Haw every Saturday night. In fact, I had a Hee-Haw lunchbox and matching thermos bottle in 2nd grade.
Much later, I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Clark in 1987 when he performed for a convention on the Virginia Tech campus. I was working for a small radio station and he invited me backstage after the show for a lengthy discussion. He was very friendly and accessible. What an incredible talent and person!
Roy Clark performing at the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville.
Gallup Poll Shows Pro-Life Beliefs Are On The Rise
The mainstream media seems to have missed last week's Gallup polling results that show a definite shift in the pro-life/pro-choice (pro-abortion) beliefs of American citizens. The poll shows 51% of Americans identifying themselves as pro-life to only 42% who call themselves pro-choice. A few observations:
It is interesting that after the big 2008 victory of Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama, the most radically pro-abortion president in history, we see this growing trend toward respect for human life. Our president voted against the Born Alive Act in the Illinois Senate on three occasions because of the undue burden attending to the life of a baby that survived an abortion would place on the doctors. A similar bill passed the U.S. Senate with a unanimous vote.
This Gallup Poll is another indication that the Leftists and moderate Republicans who want to bury Conservatism have badly miscalculated the souls of the American people.
- Some believe the shift may revolve around the growth of the Hispanic population in the United States. Mexicans and other Latin Americans are heavily influenced by Roman Catholicism which is strongly pro-life (except on the campuses of allegedly Catholic universities such as Notre Dame).
- One of the ever-present arguments of the screeching pro-abortion zealots is that the pro-life argument is purely a function of a patriarchal attempt to control women and their bodies. The differences between men's and women's responses to the question are fairly negligible. In fact, even when the percentages trended toward the pro-choice side, the differences between male and female responses were not significant. In other words, that argument has always been a straw man.
- I believe the most important reason for the shift is that more people realize that the "aborted fetus" is actually a human baby. The pro-abortion crowd has always tried to use clinical language and vague euphemisms to obscure what the procedure really entails. The use of the word "choice" is the most common example of the need to obfuscate. The focus on the "woman's body" rather than on the distinct life that would be destroyed diverted attention. Medical advances have allowed babies that have experienced trauma in the womb to survive after as little as 20 or so weeks. Imaging technologies allow people to see the development of physical features at early stages.
It is interesting that after the big 2008 victory of Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama, the most radically pro-abortion president in history, we see this growing trend toward respect for human life. Our president voted against the Born Alive Act in the Illinois Senate on three occasions because of the undue burden attending to the life of a baby that survived an abortion would place on the doctors. A similar bill passed the U.S. Senate with a unanimous vote.
This Gallup Poll is another indication that the Leftists and moderate Republicans who want to bury Conservatism have badly miscalculated the souls of the American people.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
News Flash: Mainstream Media Still Hates Sarah Palin
Sweaty, red-faced "journalist" Chris Matthews sarcastically attacked last week's announcement of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's book multi-milionaire book deal. While, this partisan hack experiences tingly feelings running up and down his leg (note: that could be Keith Olberman's hand he is feeling) when he hears Barack Vladimir Hussein Soweto Obama speak he has nothing but venom for any conservative. Of course, Verizon should be the sole sponsor of Matthews' show and his entire network because evidently only friends and family watch as you look at their ratings.
Much of the mainstream media just doesn't get Sarah Palin. Now, I'm not talking about the barking moonbats, but journalists who actually attempt to do a credible job of reporting the news. "Attempt" is the key word as their educational and professional immersion in Leftist ideology makes it difficult for them to understand Real America. Jon Friedman's recent piece on Marketwatch.com, urges the Left (i.e., the media) to try to understand her appeal.
Even in this even-handed article, the real Palin escapes the author. I went to the Sarah Palin rally in Salem, Virginia last October and over 16,000 people were excited about her. Not the John McCain candidacy. Not the Republican party. Sarah Palin breathed life into a dead campaign. Yes, her personal story is incredible. But, her appeal is much more simple: she is a true Conservative.
Palin should be a role model for every American girl and woman. She was an athlete, a beauty pageant winner, a business owner, a regulatory commissioner, a small city mayor, and the governor of the largest state with one of the largest budgets. Oh yeah, and she has raised five children and is still married to her first husband. All this by the age of 45! If she were a slobbering Leftist she would be a media superstar. But, because she is a no-nonsense Conservative she is treated like Ellie May Clampett.
While Leftists constantly blather on above old, evil, white men they have a special level of hatred for Conservative women and blacks. They are treated as traitors. Leftists don't believe in the individual; to these Statists, society is made up of groups who should all share the same interests and goals because of their genitalia, who they have sex with or how much melanin exists in their skin. Identity politics is unforgiving. If one "betrays" their group identity they are a traitor and should be treated as the most extreme form of evil or ignorance, depending on which best suits.
Sarah Palin scares the Hillary out of the American Left. She is so dangerous she must be branded as both evil and ignorant. She has the personal charm, the experience, the political skills, the variety of experiences and possesses the traditional values that make her appealing to Real America. The Left understands that even most Democrat voters could find her a compelling figure. So, they have dedicated themselves to invoking Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" #5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon."
Palin may or may not be the GOP candidate in 2012, but her Conservative voice must be heard if the party is to find its way out of the Democrat Lite wilderness.
Much of the mainstream media just doesn't get Sarah Palin. Now, I'm not talking about the barking moonbats, but journalists who actually attempt to do a credible job of reporting the news. "Attempt" is the key word as their educational and professional immersion in Leftist ideology makes it difficult for them to understand Real America. Jon Friedman's recent piece on Marketwatch.com, urges the Left (i.e., the media) to try to understand her appeal.
Palin is "a huge fundraising tool," noted veteran journalist Melinda Henneberger. "People love to read about her. She is very attractive -- and we don't have a surplus of that in American politics. People love to love her and they love to hate her."
Palin was a major story in 2008 because she introduced so many unexpected elements to the political scene because of her gender, age, home state and uncanny ability to charm audiences with her charismatic flair.
She isn't going away, either. By all indications, Palin is now building toward a run at the White House in 2012. That's why the media should take her seriously.
Even in this even-handed article, the real Palin escapes the author. I went to the Sarah Palin rally in Salem, Virginia last October and over 16,000 people were excited about her. Not the John McCain candidacy. Not the Republican party. Sarah Palin breathed life into a dead campaign. Yes, her personal story is incredible. But, her appeal is much more simple: she is a true Conservative.
Palin should be a role model for every American girl and woman. She was an athlete, a beauty pageant winner, a business owner, a regulatory commissioner, a small city mayor, and the governor of the largest state with one of the largest budgets. Oh yeah, and she has raised five children and is still married to her first husband. All this by the age of 45! If she were a slobbering Leftist she would be a media superstar. But, because she is a no-nonsense Conservative she is treated like Ellie May Clampett.
While Leftists constantly blather on above old, evil, white men they have a special level of hatred for Conservative women and blacks. They are treated as traitors. Leftists don't believe in the individual; to these Statists, society is made up of groups who should all share the same interests and goals because of their genitalia, who they have sex with or how much melanin exists in their skin. Identity politics is unforgiving. If one "betrays" their group identity they are a traitor and should be treated as the most extreme form of evil or ignorance, depending on which best suits.
Sarah Palin scares the Hillary out of the American Left. She is so dangerous she must be branded as both evil and ignorant. She has the personal charm, the experience, the political skills, the variety of experiences and possesses the traditional values that make her appealing to Real America. The Left understands that even most Democrat voters could find her a compelling figure. So, they have dedicated themselves to invoking Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" #5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon."
Palin may or may not be the GOP candidate in 2012, but her Conservative voice must be heard if the party is to find its way out of the Democrat Lite wilderness.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Now, Do You Know Why 'No Child Left Behind" Was A Bad Idea?
Democrats always argue that educational achievement will improve if more money is spent. Republicans argue that education will improve if we spend just a little less than Democrats with Republicans running the programs. Both are full of beans. Of course, we know the Dims use public education as an indoctrination center for Leftist ideology. The money is to reward teachers, not to educate children. George W. Bush bought into this nonsense and the GOP lemminged off the cliff with him. Educational spending exploded and now federal intrusion is a given with Democrats running the show. Nice going, guys. "No Child Left Inside" is a massive gift to the environmental extremists who will sport bumperstickers saying "abortion is a choice" and "meat is murder" on the back of their dirty Volvos.
Public education is a mess and the reason is that our culture is a mess and too many of our families are a mess. Government can't fix that. No amount of money or good intentions will change that. Cash ain't the answer. But, by raising the role of federal interference and spending, the GOP has given Democrats an even greater platform from which to indoctrinate another generation of children.
Public education is a mess and the reason is that our culture is a mess and too many of our families are a mess. Government can't fix that. No amount of money or good intentions will change that. Cash ain't the answer. But, by raising the role of federal interference and spending, the GOP has given Democrats an even greater platform from which to indoctrinate another generation of children.
Pelosi Lied and Obama Will Gain From It
The statement from current CIA Director Leon Pannetta concerning Speakerette of the House Nancy Pelosi's scurrilous accusations against the CIA is a huge turn toward her coming Waterloo. Her second in command, Steny Hoyer (S-MD), has already turned on her though later softened his comments somewhat. Former Speaker New Gingrich is correct: Pelosi's behavior is unconscionable. She has made it clear she will put politics ahead of national security and the well-being of our troops.
Conservative pundits are giddy with anticipation that Speaker Pelosi could get politically whacked. It is understandable. She is a vicious, partisan, mean-spirited little troll. But, despite her high position she is a political lightweight. She is not responsible for any landmark legislation. She has never initiated an idea that has moved people, not even Democrats, to act in any proactive way. She represents the freak show that is San Francisco. If the Republican Party can ever figure out how to get out of its own way, Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be a great lightning rod.
Unfortunately for Conservatives, Barack Hussein Soweto Obama is a brilliant tactical politician. He doesn't know his butt from a hot rock when it comes to economics, national security, the Constitution or almost any matter that is essential to the American people. But, he has synthesized the teachings of Machiavelli, Marx, and Alinsky with the cadence and faux sincerity of the world's greatest demagogues into a political powerhouse. While some Conservatives speculate that the Obama administration will pull out all stops to save Pelosi, I think they seriously underestimate his political acumen. He is not the typical Democrat party hack. Yes, he believes in the same Statist goals they do, but he is usually smart enough to avoid sideshows.
Barack Obama will gladly allow the purging of Nancy Pelosi. The successful fascists of the 20th century used purges not only to eliminate enemies, but also to dispatch incompetent or useless allies. Nancy Pelosi is the definition of useless. She brings nothing to the Obama administration and has the potential to do great harm with her half-witted diatribes. She is not a movement leader as Speaker of the House in the way Newt Gingrich was in the 1990's. She is just Chief Moonbat. Steny Hoyer would love the job. I'm sure Obama and Rahm Emmanuel could easily produce a Speaker who would follow the party line without the constant risk of a verbal hari-kari.
The whole "torture" debate means little to Obama. It was great red meat to toss to the party's frothing lunatic fringe. However, Obama isn't just a Democrat; he's a committed socialist. He has his eye on the prize and knows that 2010 could potentially bring a significant swing in the party balance in Congress. He is nationalizing industries and threatening others into compliance. He is ready to force America into a suicide pact with nationalized medicine. He is creating a debt that will never be paid with the command economy he is looking to establish. He is close to pushing forward massive "green" taxes that will cripple industry, tax even the poorest citizens, and do little to improve our long-term energy policy. Barack Hussein Soweto Obama is fixed on turning the United States of America into a European-style socialist state even in the face of many of those countries looking to extricate themselves from their own madness.
Now, with Nancy Pelosi telling a new lie every hour and Conservatives calling for her head, Barack Obama can appear to be that bi-partisan, new kind of politician he was advertised to be. He can take a tough stand and order Eric Holder to initiate an investigation. He can work behind the scenes to convince Pelosi to step down. San Fran Nan is going to take a pounding one way or the other. Obama will look like a true leader instead of a bitter partisan. A new Speaker will enter with strict marching orders. And back on the journey to Utopia we go.
Conservative pundits are giddy with anticipation that Speaker Pelosi could get politically whacked. It is understandable. She is a vicious, partisan, mean-spirited little troll. But, despite her high position she is a political lightweight. She is not responsible for any landmark legislation. She has never initiated an idea that has moved people, not even Democrats, to act in any proactive way. She represents the freak show that is San Francisco. If the Republican Party can ever figure out how to get out of its own way, Speaker Nancy Pelosi would be a great lightning rod.
Unfortunately for Conservatives, Barack Hussein Soweto Obama is a brilliant tactical politician. He doesn't know his butt from a hot rock when it comes to economics, national security, the Constitution or almost any matter that is essential to the American people. But, he has synthesized the teachings of Machiavelli, Marx, and Alinsky with the cadence and faux sincerity of the world's greatest demagogues into a political powerhouse. While some Conservatives speculate that the Obama administration will pull out all stops to save Pelosi, I think they seriously underestimate his political acumen. He is not the typical Democrat party hack. Yes, he believes in the same Statist goals they do, but he is usually smart enough to avoid sideshows.
Barack Obama will gladly allow the purging of Nancy Pelosi. The successful fascists of the 20th century used purges not only to eliminate enemies, but also to dispatch incompetent or useless allies. Nancy Pelosi is the definition of useless. She brings nothing to the Obama administration and has the potential to do great harm with her half-witted diatribes. She is not a movement leader as Speaker of the House in the way Newt Gingrich was in the 1990's. She is just Chief Moonbat. Steny Hoyer would love the job. I'm sure Obama and Rahm Emmanuel could easily produce a Speaker who would follow the party line without the constant risk of a verbal hari-kari.
The whole "torture" debate means little to Obama. It was great red meat to toss to the party's frothing lunatic fringe. However, Obama isn't just a Democrat; he's a committed socialist. He has his eye on the prize and knows that 2010 could potentially bring a significant swing in the party balance in Congress. He is nationalizing industries and threatening others into compliance. He is ready to force America into a suicide pact with nationalized medicine. He is creating a debt that will never be paid with the command economy he is looking to establish. He is close to pushing forward massive "green" taxes that will cripple industry, tax even the poorest citizens, and do little to improve our long-term energy policy. Barack Hussein Soweto Obama is fixed on turning the United States of America into a European-style socialist state even in the face of many of those countries looking to extricate themselves from their own madness.
Now, with Nancy Pelosi telling a new lie every hour and Conservatives calling for her head, Barack Obama can appear to be that bi-partisan, new kind of politician he was advertised to be. He can take a tough stand and order Eric Holder to initiate an investigation. He can work behind the scenes to convince Pelosi to step down. San Fran Nan is going to take a pounding one way or the other. Obama will look like a true leader instead of a bitter partisan. A new Speaker will enter with strict marching orders. And back on the journey to Utopia we go.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Barack Obama and Liberal Fascism
A great piece from today's American Thinker. Barack Obama's career as a "community organizer" definitely followed the path of the Grand Pooba of socialist activists, Saul Alinsky and his "Rules for Radicals.". Alinsky learned well from the propaganda movements in that built fascist regimes in Europe. Mastering the language and controlling the debate are far more important than truth. The name "Bush", to frothing Leftists, creates the same reaction as "Hitler" does to most sane people. Trust me, in my line of work I deal with a lot of highly-educated, but empty-headed Leftists. The word "Bush" turns them red in the face and causes them to just rant. The man was responsible for every evil that has ever befallen mankind. Jonah Goldberg's "Liberal Fascism" is a great expose of the rhetorical tactics of the American Left. Required reading!
The Patriot Post: Religion and Politics Don't Mix?
Mark Alexander has written some great pieces on the historical connections between the Christian faith and the American political tradition. "Separation of church and state" myth is not only absent from the Constitution, but the "spirit" of that idea as presented by the anti-religion Left is antithetical to the beliefs of the Founders. Barack Obama's decision to essentially ignore the National Day of Prayer was certainly a signal to the anti-faith crowd that they have an ally in the White House. Time to arm yourself with some historical context for the integral relationship between faith in God and a belief in individual liberty.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
California Enviro-fascists Starve Farmers To Save A Fish
This story seems insane. California is preventing farmers from receiving necessary water supplies in order to save a 2-inch fish called the Delta smelt. It's the usual blather about ecosystems and if any one species dies the whole shebang will collapse and we will all die. I've never quite been able to square this extreme paternalism toward every animal specimen in existence while the same folks will argue vociferously about evolution and the disappearance and adaptation of species. But, in the name of one family of minnows, these eco-nuts are willing to put tens of thousands of farmers out of work. Below is the story as presented on "Hannity."
Tea Party Protests Head To D.C. On September 12
April 15, 2009 was just the beginning. Despite the hateful rantings of psychotic B-list celebrities and the incredulous "reporting" of the Democrat media, Americans are still dissatisfied with where the government is heading. Of course, the media was telling us that 120% of the American people were upset with our nation's direction this time last year, now weren't they? Guess what? We still are. While Chris Mathews, Babs Streisand and the rest of the Hollywood-New York axis of Leftists were pining for a Marxist Messiah, most Americans believed the great sin of the Bush administration was too much spending, too much borrowing and too much government growth. Instead of "hope" and "change," Barry Hussein Soweto Obama should have borrowed a line from Jack Nicholson's "Joker" in "Batman": "wait'll they get a load of me." Never in the history of this nation have private property, individual liberty, and the free market been in such peril.
September 12, 2009 will be another landmark. Because the Tax Day Tea Parties were held in large cities and small towns across America it was hard to measure actual attendance. Despite the Democrat media's attempt to belittle and ignore the story, it is estimated that a half million people or more participated. Across the country, folks are asking what they can do next. Email and call your Congressman and Senators. Write a letter the editor. Engage people in conversations and explain what liberty and freedom if necessary. Support local and statewide candidates that support conservative principles. Take part in July 4 protests that are planned in many areas. And, if you can, head to D.C. on September 12 for the Taxpayer March on Washington. The message must be made clear to the people who take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America: live up to your promise!
Make your reservations soon. I have a feeling September 12 is going to make a huge impact on the 2010 elections and beyond. Go to 912dc.org for details.
September 12, 2009 will be another landmark. Because the Tax Day Tea Parties were held in large cities and small towns across America it was hard to measure actual attendance. Despite the Democrat media's attempt to belittle and ignore the story, it is estimated that a half million people or more participated. Across the country, folks are asking what they can do next. Email and call your Congressman and Senators. Write a letter the editor. Engage people in conversations and explain what liberty and freedom if necessary. Support local and statewide candidates that support conservative principles. Take part in July 4 protests that are planned in many areas. And, if you can, head to D.C. on September 12 for the Taxpayer March on Washington. The message must be made clear to the people who take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America: live up to your promise!
Make your reservations soon. I have a feeling September 12 is going to make a huge impact on the 2010 elections and beyond. Go to 912dc.org for details.
Democrats to CIA: Don't Interfere With Our Right To Lie!
The on-going saga of Democrats and their knowledge of the use of enhanced interrogation techniques would be comical if the so-called mainstream media would do its job and call them out. While waging constant attacks against the Bush administration, it is clear that congressional Democrats knew of the techniques from the beginning. A declassified summary of congressional briefings exposed their dishonesty. Nancy Pelosi has changed her version of her exposure to information on at least four occasions. Even her second-in-command, Steny Hoyer has now called for an investigation to include her. Like a schoolyard bully reeling from finally being punched in the nose, these lying hacks now accuse the CIA of picking on them.
In the big picture, the whole torture story is another chapter in the Bush Derangement Syndrome epidemic that still infects Leftist Democrats and their press flunkies. However, if they are truly as outraged as they claim, then full investigations must be made into Democrats who were privy to the information. That would be the principled thing to do, now wouldn't it?
In the big picture, the whole torture story is another chapter in the Bush Derangement Syndrome epidemic that still infects Leftist Democrats and their press flunkies. However, if they are truly as outraged as they claim, then full investigations must be made into Democrats who were privy to the information. That would be the principled thing to do, now wouldn't it?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Colin Powell's Character and Credibility, R.I.P.
So, let me get this straight: Leftwing pundits and Democrat voters are giving advice to the Republican Party about it's future? The GOP should be more "progressive" and move toward the middle which keeps moving further to the Left. How nice! Thanks, guys! You know, as a Washington Redskins fan I would like to suggest that the Dallas Cowboys bring Ryan Leaf out of retirement to be their starting quarterback and hire Al Davis to be their head coach.
Colin Powell was always given high marks for honor and dignity while no one really knew one blessed thing about the man. In 1996, people were begging him to run for President. Why? The only political stand of his that was widely known was that he supported affirmative action. That's not exactly a limited government principle.
Now, Powell has joined the other squishy moderates and Leftists in the hand-wringing over the GOP's alleged move to the right. The notion that the Republican party was moved to the right is ludicrous on many levels and I will address that on another day. But, who was the GOP presidential candidate in 2008? John McCain was the candidate and he is exactly the kind of moderate that Powellinsky claims the GOP should support. Ummmm, they did. And it didn't turn out well. Just as it did not with Daddy Bush, Bob Dole, and Dubya who, despite winning two elections, allowed the Republican party to move the Left in an attempt to appease the crocodiles. In other words, the GOP gave Powell the kind of candidate he demands, but he still voted for Barry Hussein Soweto Obama.
Why did Colin Powell vote for Obama? Since Powell has obviously been dishonest about his fidelity to the Republican party, Rush Limbaugh made the unpopular assertion that race was the deciding issue. Maybe. It's certainly a plausible explanation. Blacks always vote Democrat in ridiculous numbers considering the way the Donkeys have destroyed most urban areas in America, but it was even more true in 2008. I can cede the legitimacy of racial pride for one election as long as folks are intellectually honest enough to admit that Obama's defining color is red (as in Marxist) not black by the time the 2012 election rolls around. The truth is that Powell voted for Obama because he, too, is a Statist. Obama's big-government, paternalistic nanny-state appeals to Colin Powell.
As long as Colin Powell saw opportunity in being a Republican that is where he cast his tent. However, the GOP's embracing of big government solutions sent the party into free fall. Powell is not the kind of guy to be on the losing side. Along comes Barry Hussein Soweto Obama and Powell has a new star to ride. The great general is simply just another political opportunist.
Colin Powell was always given high marks for honor and dignity while no one really knew one blessed thing about the man. In 1996, people were begging him to run for President. Why? The only political stand of his that was widely known was that he supported affirmative action. That's not exactly a limited government principle.
Now, Powell has joined the other squishy moderates and Leftists in the hand-wringing over the GOP's alleged move to the right. The notion that the Republican party was moved to the right is ludicrous on many levels and I will address that on another day. But, who was the GOP presidential candidate in 2008? John McCain was the candidate and he is exactly the kind of moderate that Powellinsky claims the GOP should support. Ummmm, they did. And it didn't turn out well. Just as it did not with Daddy Bush, Bob Dole, and Dubya who, despite winning two elections, allowed the Republican party to move the Left in an attempt to appease the crocodiles. In other words, the GOP gave Powell the kind of candidate he demands, but he still voted for Barry Hussein Soweto Obama.
Why did Colin Powell vote for Obama? Since Powell has obviously been dishonest about his fidelity to the Republican party, Rush Limbaugh made the unpopular assertion that race was the deciding issue. Maybe. It's certainly a plausible explanation. Blacks always vote Democrat in ridiculous numbers considering the way the Donkeys have destroyed most urban areas in America, but it was even more true in 2008. I can cede the legitimacy of racial pride for one election as long as folks are intellectually honest enough to admit that Obama's defining color is red (as in Marxist) not black by the time the 2012 election rolls around. The truth is that Powell voted for Obama because he, too, is a Statist. Obama's big-government, paternalistic nanny-state appeals to Colin Powell.
As long as Colin Powell saw opportunity in being a Republican that is where he cast his tent. However, the GOP's embracing of big government solutions sent the party into free fall. Powell is not the kind of guy to be on the losing side. Along comes Barry Hussein Soweto Obama and Powell has a new star to ride. The great general is simply just another political opportunist.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Faces of Government Health Care: Be Careful What You Ask For!
President Barry Hussein Obama and the Leftists in Congress are pushing their way towards so-called "universal health care." I know, I know, Obama recently said that this isn't an immediate priority. Of course, his relationship with the truth is a bit strained these days. Now, the insurance companies have knelt before King Barack's throne and offered to cut costs. Sounds good on the surface, right? But, do we really want companies making decisions based on fear of being nationalized by a runaway federal government? Are these cost reductions based on sound accounting measures or will they involve tighter rationing of care? The devil is always in the details.
Currently, America has the world's best health care system. Americans get the care they need. Safety net programs exist for those who truly cannot afford care. The numbers of uninsured include many who choose to be uninsured. The bloated number also includes illegal aliens. The idea that government is responsible for everyone's health care is unconstitutional. However, controlling your health care would be just another way to control you. This is about power, nothing more. Many of the factors in the spiraling health care costs are because of government actions from regulation to abusive lawsuit awards. There is much the government could do to make health care more cost effective by simply divesting some of the power it has taken over the industry.
What does government health look like? Be sure to check out the Faces of Government Health Care site. A standard line from England's Primary Care Trust (PCT) reads as follows:
Does that seem like a system that bases its decisions on the worth of the individual? Be sure to listen to the story of Kate Spall's mother. Then think of your own family members. Be careful what you ask for.
Currently, America has the world's best health care system. Americans get the care they need. Safety net programs exist for those who truly cannot afford care. The numbers of uninsured include many who choose to be uninsured. The bloated number also includes illegal aliens. The idea that government is responsible for everyone's health care is unconstitutional. However, controlling your health care would be just another way to control you. This is about power, nothing more. Many of the factors in the spiraling health care costs are because of government actions from regulation to abusive lawsuit awards. There is much the government could do to make health care more cost effective by simply divesting some of the power it has taken over the industry.
What does government health look like? Be sure to check out the Faces of Government Health Care site. A standard line from England's Primary Care Trust (PCT) reads as follows:
"This may seem harsh for individuals, but the PCT has to balance the cost of individual treatment against the needs of the wider community."
Does that seem like a system that bases its decisions on the worth of the individual? Be sure to listen to the story of Kate Spall's mother. Then think of your own family members. Be careful what you ask for.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sonia Sotamayor: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Constitution
THe DC Examiner has published short summaries of four potention Obama replacements for retiring associate justice David Souter. Of all the names that I have heard so far, Sonya Sotamayor seems the most likely Obama appointment. First, she is a woman. Second, she is Hispanic. These are vital to Obama's hyper view of identity politics. Thirdly, she shares President Obama's view that the Constitution and federal law are irrelevant if liberal orthodoxy dissents. Barry Hussein Soweto Obama, the "constitutional professor," has made it clear that justice involves redistribution of wealth not equal protection under the law. Sotamayor, too, has made it clear that Article III of the Constitution should be ignored and justices should be legislators rather than jurists. The silver lining is that she, or whichever Leftist Barry Hussein Soweto Obama appoints, will be replacing one of the most consistent Leftist judges on the court.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Is Education A Civil Rights Issue?
According to Newt Gingrich, Mike Bloomberg and Crazy Al Sharpton education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Really? No surprises here from Bloomberg and Sharpton, but Gingrich joining in on this photo op after a meeting with Education Secretary Arne Duncan seems a little bizarre. All seem to want to spend more money on public schools. Crazy Al, of course, goes into the nonsense about how little has changed since Brown v Board of Education. But, is money the answer? The clear answer is no. Family matters. Culture matters. Environment matters. Work ethic matters. Big-spending Democrats control the city governments and school boards of most major cities and have done so for the last 50 years. How did that work out for you? The proponents of maximum government oversight and interference have driven education into the dust. The reason is simple: when Democrats and squishy Republicans talk about "what's good for education" they mean "what's good for teacher unions."
The Obama administration and the Democrat Congress have already killed the popular and successful Opportunity Scholarship Program in which over 1,700 D.C. children have been given the opportunity to attend private schools where the focus is on education. Obama and Duncan talk about a "what works" approach, but so far have flunked their own test. Despite the overwhelming support he received from the Black community and their support for the voucher program, Barry Obama has made it clear that poor Black children don't belong in the same schools as his children.
If "education is a civil rights issue" is anything more than a political slogan, then the focus has to be on what works for kids. Public education is broken because our culture is broken. This is true across the board, not just in urban areas. The SATs and ACTs have been dummed down. Elite colleges have remedial math and English programs and many community colleges have as many students in remedial programs as in regular courses. Advanced Placement courses have diluted content and expectations.
Political debates concerning education are nothing more than a bidding war over who is willing to spend more. Most of the dumb masses will assume whoever wants to spend more money cares more about children. That is how Democrats have won the education debate in spite of appallingly poor results. The problems in public education have to be fixed at home and in the neighborhoods of America. Government schools cannot fix some things regardless of how much money is spent. However, we can allow the families who care enough to do what is right for their children. The D.C. program has brought impressive results for poor, mostly Black, children whose parents want something better for them and are willing to do their part to make it happen. Rather than kill the program, it should be expanded as there have been four times more applications than available scholarships.
Al Sharpton is right about one thing. There are still people standing in the school house door preventing poor Black children from pursuing a quality education. However, instead of segregationist governors like Orville Faubus, George Wallace, and Lester Maddox keeping children out of public schools it is demagogues and political opportunists like Sharpton, Barack Obama and Harry Reid who refuse to allow Black children to leave failing schools for better opportunities.
The Obama administration and the Democrat Congress have already killed the popular and successful Opportunity Scholarship Program in which over 1,700 D.C. children have been given the opportunity to attend private schools where the focus is on education. Obama and Duncan talk about a "what works" approach, but so far have flunked their own test. Despite the overwhelming support he received from the Black community and their support for the voucher program, Barry Obama has made it clear that poor Black children don't belong in the same schools as his children.
If "education is a civil rights issue" is anything more than a political slogan, then the focus has to be on what works for kids. Public education is broken because our culture is broken. This is true across the board, not just in urban areas. The SATs and ACTs have been dummed down. Elite colleges have remedial math and English programs and many community colleges have as many students in remedial programs as in regular courses. Advanced Placement courses have diluted content and expectations.
Political debates concerning education are nothing more than a bidding war over who is willing to spend more. Most of the dumb masses will assume whoever wants to spend more money cares more about children. That is how Democrats have won the education debate in spite of appallingly poor results. The problems in public education have to be fixed at home and in the neighborhoods of America. Government schools cannot fix some things regardless of how much money is spent. However, we can allow the families who care enough to do what is right for their children. The D.C. program has brought impressive results for poor, mostly Black, children whose parents want something better for them and are willing to do their part to make it happen. Rather than kill the program, it should be expanded as there have been four times more applications than available scholarships.
Al Sharpton is right about one thing. There are still people standing in the school house door preventing poor Black children from pursuing a quality education. However, instead of segregationist governors like Orville Faubus, George Wallace, and Lester Maddox keeping children out of public schools it is demagogues and political opportunists like Sharpton, Barack Obama and Harry Reid who refuse to allow Black children to leave failing schools for better opportunities.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
ACORN Nuts To Run The 2010 Census
The amazing thing about the corruption and dishonesty in Barry Hussein Obama's administration is that it is pretty much out there for anyone to see. One would think the media would be all over a story involving a corrupt group of "community organizers" who have been convicted, charged or are under investigation in about half the states being given a critical role in the 2010 census. President Obama has already taken much of the traditional role of the Department of Labor in the census and put it in the hands of his Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel. Never mind that Emmanuel is one of the biggest partisan hacks in D.C. ACORN is a criminal enterprise and has the convictions to prove it. Barry Obama trained ACORN workers in the teachings of his fellow traveler Saul Alinsky. Oh, and by the way, even during the 2008 campaign season where they worked for Obama and other Democrats nearly 50% of the voter registrations they turned in to registrars were fraudulent. I'm sure the mainstream press will start investigating the ACORN plans for the census as soon as the massive death toll from the swine flu in the United States slows.
Ann Coulter Puts American "Torture" in Perspective
Ann Coulter needs to get over her shyness. Her satire is always spot on, but this latest piece on real torture vs. Leftist accusations of torture cuts right to the heart of the idiotic debate.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Phoney Swince Flu Products? Say It Ain't So!
What?? Hucksters are capitalizing on the swine flu (H1N1, to the politically correct) frenzy for personal profit? I'm shocked--shocked, I tell you. I'm glad the FDA and FTC are cracking down on these opportunists. Don't these people understand that only statist politicians and yellow journalists are allowed to exaggerate and hype phony epidemics for personal gain?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Socialism, College Style by Ashley Herzog
Ashley Herzog delves into the contradictory nature of the youth political ideology. Income is to be shared and dispersed, but their grades are earned property. Talk about spoiled brats! You see, grades are earned through hard work, but income is distributed to the fortunate. Check out this video of a Young America's Foundation (YAF) student engaging the dumb masses on campus in this exercise in logic.
Constitutional Rights, You Say?
The Obama administration and American Leftists have made it clear that foreign-born enemy combatants should be afforded constitutional rights. They should have lawyers. They should have speedy trials. They should not endure to enhanced interrogations. In fact, they could soon be free to establish a new terrorist cell in a neighborhood near you.
The soft position on terrorists is certainly consistent with the Obama foreign policy, but there is a bitter irony in the Left’s belated discovery of the United States Constitution. The same administration and the political movement that launched it have declared war on a number of such protections for American citizens.
CLICK TO READ THE REST
The soft position on terrorists is certainly consistent with the Obama foreign policy, but there is a bitter irony in the Left’s belated discovery of the United States Constitution. The same administration and the political movement that launched it have declared war on a number of such protections for American citizens.
CLICK TO READ THE REST
Arlen Specter Disgraces the Memory of Jack Kemp
Arlen Specter's sprint from the Republican Party after the first polls for 2010 showed he was likely to lose his party's nomination was not the end of this coward's antics. He then tried to claim the GOP has moved too far to the Right for a "Reagan Conservative" like himself. Arlen was always more of a "Carter Conservative." His dishonest justifications made most conservatives shout a hardy "good riddance," but this sleaze has taken it to another level. Now, he is blaming Republicans for Jack Kemp's death. When I first heard a comment about this, I thought surely it had to be taken out of context. No one is that contemptible (except Chuck Schumer or Paul Begala). But, Arlen proved he is truly a Democrat. He politicized the death of an American statesman to try to score political points. No matter, that the Bush administration and a Republican Congress greatly expanded federal funding for all types of medical research, the answer that would have saved Jack Kemp's life was definitely in a newly-discarded embryo. Arlen Specter must feel he has a lot of catching up to do to become the most disgraceful member of the U.S. Senate. He is making up ground rapidly.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Mike Huckabee Asks What is Deadlier: Abortion or Swine Flu?
On his program "Huckabee," the former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate puts the government and media hysteria over the swine flu "epidemic" into perspective. Huck is absolutely correct!
The CDC tells us that 36,000 Americans die every year from the flu and as many as 56,000 died in 2006, the last year for which records are available. Of course, we have heard President Barry Hussein Obama use the panic to hype the need for universal healthcare and more federal spending on medical research (I guess if Bush had been more friendly to embryonic stem cell research this strain of flu would not exist). Never let a crisis go to waste, right Barrack? Right, Rahm?
The CDC tells us that 36,000 Americans die every year from the flu and as many as 56,000 died in 2006, the last year for which records are available. Of course, we have heard President Barry Hussein Obama use the panic to hype the need for universal healthcare and more federal spending on medical research (I guess if Bush had been more friendly to embryonic stem cell research this strain of flu would not exist). Never let a crisis go to waste, right Barrack? Right, Rahm?
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tony Bennett: Presidential Historian or "I Left My Brain in San Francisco"
Some things speak for themselves. The entertainment world provides daily proof that intellect is not the only path to fame and fortune. In fact, intelligence is more endangered in Celebrityville than the spotted raptor. Here is singing legend Tony Bennett touting the virtues of Barry Hussein Obama, teleprompter legend.
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=yd6U6Unz4z
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=yd6U6Unz4z
Mike Church is Worth the Price of SIRIUS
I've been a SIRIUS satellite radio subscriber for about two years. I love being able to quickly shuttle from "Outlaw Country" to "Soul Town" to "Blue Collar Comedy" to "the 70's on 7." However, I still got my talk radio from terrestrial stations with a steady diet of Neal Boortz and Rush Limbaugh with some Sean Hannity and Mark Levin sprinkled in. However, a few months ago I finally gave SIRIUS Patriot a shot and I have found a new favorite: Mike Church. Now, Church is not yet a part of the daily routine as he is on from 9:00am to noon, but the several times I have gotten to listen to his program has been enough to put him at the top of the list. When school is out this summer its going to be a tough call between Boortz and Church, but I think the "King Dude", as he calls himself, may trump the Talkmaster.
Why Mike Church? Simple, he gets it. Talk radio has some great conservative voices. Sometimes I think the libertarian hosts slip into libertine ideas on certain issues. Despite the criticism some receive, most of the conservatives do put principles ahead of the Republican party. However, none do that with a greater sense of history and the core principles of American than Mike Church. The host and the show are smart, funny, irreverent and thought-provoking. His song parodies may someday challenge Paul Shanklin. Be sure to check the link to his "Mr. Jefferson" above. If you are a SIRIUS/XM subscriber check out Patriot--if you aren't check out the Mike Church website or subscribe to SIRIUS for pete's sake!
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