It looks like the president is about to embark on another hair-brained scheme to stick his nose in other people's business. No doubt the latest of missions handed down from the little voice in his head, or as he calls it...God, Bush is over-reaching yet again, claiming he wants to "help people" in the disaster torn gulf coast.
Almost certainly a thinly veiled play for the regions oil riches, Bush announced today he would do everything "in his power" to help the people of the region return to some semblance of normal life. He cautioned however, that recovery could take "years."
Sound familiar?
While, someday in the near future, the uneducated masses are busy planning the erection of Bush statues in capital cities across the area victimized by radical factions of Global Warming, the president's brain, Karl Rove, will have already installed a super-secret oil pipeline running straight into the underground lair of Halliburton. In fact, the subterfuge has already begun.
He said he had ordered steps to cushion the impact on the storm on the nation's oil industry. At the same time, he conceded: "This will help take some pressure off of gas price, but our citizens must understand this storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline."
More likely, Chimpy has planned to siphon off the areas oil for some time, and staged the hurricane, through a brilliant strategy of slowly chiseling funds away from wetlands and global warming research, in order to create a plausible cover story. It is doubtful though, that even in his wettest dreams, that he believed his plan would come to fruiton in only five years.
A rather large hint as to his true intentions can be found in his promise to get the pentagon involved. Indeed, it looks like he is following the Iraq strategy for world domination to the letter. He is even rehashing the same old quotes, albeit with the geographic points altered for the occasion.
"I'm confident that with time you'll get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of New Orleans will get back on its feet and America will be a stronger place for it," he said.
While Bush McChimpy is putting on his "Mr. Nice Guy" act in public, behind the scenes he is planning to increase the damage done to precious Mother Earth, damage that would never have occured if he hadn't stolen the election from Al Gore in 2000.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson announced a temporary nationwide waiver of certain pollution standards covering gasoline and diesel fuels.
Brilliant how he gets the EPA to carry his water for him isn't it?
It would be a tragedy of horrific proportions if the American sheeple were to allow the president to embark on yet another disaster that can only end with even more people dead and the stripping of respect for our nation.
The Europeans are already disenchanted with the cowboy mentality of the Bush administration. Do we really need to alienate the people of the deep south as well?
Call your congressman today and demand that the president follow proper channels before leading us on another wild goose chase down a yellow brick road frought with pitfalls for the future of this nation. At the very least we should allow for the United Nations to sanction the hurricane first, send Howard Dean on a fact-finding mission, and idle back while John Kerry holds a minimum four or five summits before taking action that we can not take back.
The future of relations with the region and our allies is at stake here people. Let us not once again stand silent while our president does something we can't take back.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Enough Is Enough
When I left for work today gas was $2.54 a gallon. When I got home it was a $2.80. I realize that there is a momentary blip due to slow-downs in the gulf as a result of the latest natural disaster and all, but this is getting out of control.
While there are folks out there who will blame the oil companies, or Bush, the Chinese or environmentalists, the point is that it is getting awfully hard to make a living for those of us who work out of our vehicles. There are no trains in my future.
With all the hand wringing and "whatever shall we do" from the politicians, one would think that there is actually nothing that they can do. As usual, nothing could be further from the truth. If we really are approaching a state of emergency regarding gas prices, than government does have a role to play. That role is to do their part and help alleviate some of the pressure.
The federal government takes roughly 18 cents for every gallon that you put into your car. My state, Minnesota, takes an additional 20 cents per gallon. That is almost forty cents per gallon that could be temporarily eliminated in order to help the hard-working people of this country continue to make a living.
No one is suggesting that gax taxes should be permanently eliminated, but with all the politicians out there claiming to be for the "little guy" and the "hard working people of this country," to a person they are eerily silent when it comes to proposing the reduction of their own bottom line for the benefit of the folks they claim they would do anything for.
No doubt someone will soon propose raising taxes to create some ridiculous gas relief program for the poor but the idea of giving everyone who drives a break through these difficult times has not, and I fear will not, be raised.
How much does your state take from every gallon of gas?
Perhaps it's time for the folks to start demanding our political leaders start putting their money where their mouth is. After all, whose bottom line is more important? The state and federal government's? Or the folks who pay their bills year after year after year?
While there are folks out there who will blame the oil companies, or Bush, the Chinese or environmentalists, the point is that it is getting awfully hard to make a living for those of us who work out of our vehicles. There are no trains in my future.
With all the hand wringing and "whatever shall we do" from the politicians, one would think that there is actually nothing that they can do. As usual, nothing could be further from the truth. If we really are approaching a state of emergency regarding gas prices, than government does have a role to play. That role is to do their part and help alleviate some of the pressure.
The federal government takes roughly 18 cents for every gallon that you put into your car. My state, Minnesota, takes an additional 20 cents per gallon. That is almost forty cents per gallon that could be temporarily eliminated in order to help the hard-working people of this country continue to make a living.
No one is suggesting that gax taxes should be permanently eliminated, but with all the politicians out there claiming to be for the "little guy" and the "hard working people of this country," to a person they are eerily silent when it comes to proposing the reduction of their own bottom line for the benefit of the folks they claim they would do anything for.
No doubt someone will soon propose raising taxes to create some ridiculous gas relief program for the poor but the idea of giving everyone who drives a break through these difficult times has not, and I fear will not, be raised.
How much does your state take from every gallon of gas?
Perhaps it's time for the folks to start demanding our political leaders start putting their money where their mouth is. After all, whose bottom line is more important? The state and federal government's? Or the folks who pay their bills year after year after year?
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Surviving Minnesota's Environmental Ground Zero
It's good to be back in the land of blog today, although as I perused the archives of a week gone by it becomes painfully clear that little to nothing happened in the world of politics during my self-imposed exile. Northwest mechanics are still on strike and local Democrats are wasting not a second to take advantage of the situation for some face time. Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Chavez the madman. Cindy Sheehan is still in Crawford.
I almost feel sorry for the poor bastards who were forced to stay home and pay attention to the news this week.
On the other hand, I spent my week sleeping on an air mattress in the largest of Minnesota's state parks. Along the way we had a few adventures. Squeezed in an obscene amount of fishing over the course of the week and pulled a number of attractive smallmouth out of the St. Croix River, despite the park's best efforts to discourage the arcane pastime.
The raccoons started visiting on Monday night, a mama and four babies who knew no fear. Their presence required the locking up of all foodstuffs at night, which we did in the safety of the family van. Nevertheless, the little vermin would stroll around our campsite after dark practically under our feet, careful to stay out of the firelight or wake our two extremely effective watchdogs, who never did detect their presence before we were able to roust them from their slumber and point out the intruders in the beam of a flashlight.
Wedensday we left our youngest daughter in charge of the dogs while mother and I went fishing in the afternoon, and it should not have come as a surprise when, an hour later, she arrived at the shoreline to report through tears that she had somehow let both of them get away. Thus began an hour-long hunt, me on my five-year-old's bike with 12-inch wheels, and the missus in the van. Both were secured, though the retreiver required us to pull nineteen porcupine quills from various parts of his anatomy as a result of their foray.
The wife and I decided at that time that our vacation would be much more like a vacation without the presence of the dogs and road-tripped back home Thursday morning to leave the dogs in the kennel for the final forty eight hours of our vacation. Not only did this improve the vacation greatly, our fake dog-barking at the coons on Thursday night actually proved more effective than the real thing earlier in the week.
A solid trip to be sure, but no one is happier than I to be home again. Slept in my own bed last night and sat on my own throne this morning. I love our park system, but it is a constant battle to appreciate the natural beauty while fighting off the influence of the environmental lobby that attempts to control every thing you do while there. How do you tell a six-year-old boy that he is not suppposed to pick a single flower, throw a single rock into the river, or disturb a single bug? As if the eco-system is so fragile that the tossing of a single stone into the river will lead to the immediate destruction of the entire 30-plus thousand acres.
Even the shower stalls in a state park scold you, by shutting off every 30 seconds as if to say, "How dare you put scrubbing off the day's grime above the precious resource of water."
I don't know how the french do it.
I almost feel sorry for the poor bastards who were forced to stay home and pay attention to the news this week.
On the other hand, I spent my week sleeping on an air mattress in the largest of Minnesota's state parks. Along the way we had a few adventures. Squeezed in an obscene amount of fishing over the course of the week and pulled a number of attractive smallmouth out of the St. Croix River, despite the park's best efforts to discourage the arcane pastime.
The raccoons started visiting on Monday night, a mama and four babies who knew no fear. Their presence required the locking up of all foodstuffs at night, which we did in the safety of the family van. Nevertheless, the little vermin would stroll around our campsite after dark practically under our feet, careful to stay out of the firelight or wake our two extremely effective watchdogs, who never did detect their presence before we were able to roust them from their slumber and point out the intruders in the beam of a flashlight.
Wedensday we left our youngest daughter in charge of the dogs while mother and I went fishing in the afternoon, and it should not have come as a surprise when, an hour later, she arrived at the shoreline to report through tears that she had somehow let both of them get away. Thus began an hour-long hunt, me on my five-year-old's bike with 12-inch wheels, and the missus in the van. Both were secured, though the retreiver required us to pull nineteen porcupine quills from various parts of his anatomy as a result of their foray.
The wife and I decided at that time that our vacation would be much more like a vacation without the presence of the dogs and road-tripped back home Thursday morning to leave the dogs in the kennel for the final forty eight hours of our vacation. Not only did this improve the vacation greatly, our fake dog-barking at the coons on Thursday night actually proved more effective than the real thing earlier in the week.
A solid trip to be sure, but no one is happier than I to be home again. Slept in my own bed last night and sat on my own throne this morning. I love our park system, but it is a constant battle to appreciate the natural beauty while fighting off the influence of the environmental lobby that attempts to control every thing you do while there. How do you tell a six-year-old boy that he is not suppposed to pick a single flower, throw a single rock into the river, or disturb a single bug? As if the eco-system is so fragile that the tossing of a single stone into the river will lead to the immediate destruction of the entire 30-plus thousand acres.
Even the shower stalls in a state park scold you, by shutting off every 30 seconds as if to say, "How dare you put scrubbing off the day's grime above the precious resource of water."
I don't know how the french do it.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
A Week of Environmental Indoctrination
So, we're heading off into the wild northwoods of Minnesota for a week with only a tent, firewood, and three cell phones. I would love to ascribe this trip to the recent news that the world is coming to an end and we are simply trying to get a look at it while we still can, but in reality we have had the trip planned since long before the doomsday reminder.
While we are there we will be paying close attention for any jets dropping needlessly out of the sky.
I'll think of all of you when I am sitting back in a portable recliner, cracking a cold Fosters in the evening. I will return to this blog a week from this Monday, thoroughly saturated with wood smoke, a week of sweat, and covered in wood ticks.
Until then, may your joys be as deep as the ocean and your troubles as light as the foam.
While we are there we will be paying close attention for any jets dropping needlessly out of the sky.
I'll think of all of you when I am sitting back in a portable recliner, cracking a cold Fosters in the evening. I will return to this blog a week from this Monday, thoroughly saturated with wood smoke, a week of sweat, and covered in wood ticks.
Until then, may your joys be as deep as the ocean and your troubles as light as the foam.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Those Evil Bastards
A Louisiana school board wants to open their meetings with a prayer. Naturally the ACLU is looking out for all of us on this one.
"They believe that they answer to a higher power, in my opinion. Which is the kind of thinking that you had with the people who flew the airplanes into the buildings in this country, and the people who did the kind of things in London."
Oh, the champions of liberty. Keeping the world safe from a pre-meeting invocation.
I guess there is only room enough for one God in this country, and apparently ACLU be thy name. Someday, ACLU willing, they might even have the power to stop this spread of evil before such ideas can even be uttered out loud.
"They believe that they answer to a higher power, in my opinion. Which is the kind of thinking that you had with the people who flew the airplanes into the buildings in this country, and the people who did the kind of things in London."
Oh, the champions of liberty. Keeping the world safe from a pre-meeting invocation.
I guess there is only room enough for one God in this country, and apparently ACLU be thy name. Someday, ACLU willing, they might even have the power to stop this spread of evil before such ideas can even be uttered out loud.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Administrative Equalibrium
Ok, I think I have an idea how this is going to work now.
As many might suspect, given that this blog has gone from about three or four posts a day to one a day if I am lucky, I have been very busy with the new job. Busy with a paycheck is a busy that I can live with though, even with the guilt over blog neglect. I may be arriving at a solution however.
If you read the post that immediately preceeded this one, you have an idea of what I really like to do. That is, find some nugget of inspiration and run with it in my own way.
Over the past few months I have been making a desperate attempt to run with the big boys. But, since I lack most of the knowledge that makes the great blogs great, like the legal expertise of Power Line, Malkin's journalism degree, or Blackfive's intimate knowledge of the military, it has always seemed a stretch.
Rather than try to be something I am not, and continue to slave over trackbacks every day in a vain effort to create traffic, I will choose rather to be content with my place in the blogosphere and do what I am most comfortable with. My own thoughts.
Although I will still try to post something every day, we may go a day or two at times without a new post while I dig for the inspiration that only liberals can provide. I hope to see that my faithful traffic will remain so while this blog goes through that transition, with the goal of a better product on the other side.
In the meantime, check out this great post from Republican Jen. She has the inside poop on the "attention vigil" in Crawford, complete with her own deep sources and photos. Go find out who the free-thinkers at DUh call "Snot."
As many might suspect, given that this blog has gone from about three or four posts a day to one a day if I am lucky, I have been very busy with the new job. Busy with a paycheck is a busy that I can live with though, even with the guilt over blog neglect. I may be arriving at a solution however.
If you read the post that immediately preceeded this one, you have an idea of what I really like to do. That is, find some nugget of inspiration and run with it in my own way.
Over the past few months I have been making a desperate attempt to run with the big boys. But, since I lack most of the knowledge that makes the great blogs great, like the legal expertise of Power Line, Malkin's journalism degree, or Blackfive's intimate knowledge of the military, it has always seemed a stretch.
Rather than try to be something I am not, and continue to slave over trackbacks every day in a vain effort to create traffic, I will choose rather to be content with my place in the blogosphere and do what I am most comfortable with. My own thoughts.
Although I will still try to post something every day, we may go a day or two at times without a new post while I dig for the inspiration that only liberals can provide. I hope to see that my faithful traffic will remain so while this blog goes through that transition, with the goal of a better product on the other side.
In the meantime, check out this great post from Republican Jen. She has the inside poop on the "attention vigil" in Crawford, complete with her own deep sources and photos. Go find out who the free-thinkers at DUh call "Snot."
Monday, August 15, 2005
Keep The Liberals Away From the Guns
A Texas neighbor of the president fired a shotgun into the air today, nearby where the Sheehan "attention vigil" is taking place. When something like this happens, most people's first reaction is to wonder what the reaction might have been from the peace-loving collection of dried up hippies in Crawford. Well, it turns out I have some insight into this very subject.
About 12 years ago I found myself in the heart of France with a rock band. I, the lead guitarist in a typical early-90's metal-meets-Thomas Dolby group "with a message." The message, of course, was one of peace and love, racism awareness coupled with a healthy disdain for America. I know, I know, embarrassing.
As one might suspect the band line-up included myself, a liberal at the time, and three other guys who made my liberalism look more akin to that of Tom Delay or Justice Rehnquist. By far the most liberal of the group was "Garlic Drummer," a Canadian ex-patriot living in Los Angeles because, as I am sure he would tell you, it means more to trash America when you actually illegally reside there.
Garlic Drummer was a typical liberal, a vegetarian in a leather coat and leather boots, with a leather day-planner. A friend of animals who couldn't be bothered to train his own dogs, meaning they spent most of their time sitting on your lap breathing on you during dinner. Naturally the dogs came to France, because after all, they were people too.
As one might suspect, we of the rock and roll lifestyle had a great deal of free time during the daylight hours and often spent them wandering through the nearby French countryside. I loved it--the moss covered stones, the foreign foliage, and the knowledge that in the near past American tanks had rolled right through the area beating back the Nazi's. I would actually worry at times that we would come across rotting live ordinance.
On one such day, Garlic Drummer, his hypochondriac girlfriend, the two huskies, and myself embarked on just such a journey over the terrain of our regular route. About a third of the way around our loop we encountered a man dressed in hunting clothes sporting a side-by-side double-barrel shotgun. The dogs, as per their usual reaction, started jumping all over the guy while Garlic Drummer informed the hunter, now covered in paw mud, that it was okay, the dogs were "gentile." Personally I don't think the hunter gave a shit.
After we left the hunter's immediate vicinity I suggested that since hunting season appeared to be open, perhaps it wasn't a wise time to be meandering through the woods. Garlic Drummer's reaction was typical. "Fuck them," he said. "I hate fucking hunters." I just shrugged. Garlic Drummer knew I was an avid hunter.
As we continued on our way, we began to hear the sound of dogs working back and forth beyond the tree-line to our right. And sure enough, we came upon another gun-bearing hunter who would soon enough find himself covered in mud while learning from Garlic Drummer that the dogs were "gentile." Again I suggested that we abort the walk, that we had enjoyed access to the woods many times and we should be respectful on this weekend morning and make ourselves scarce. "Besides," I added, "it really isn't my idea of fun to be walking around the woods while a bunch of guys are hunting."
"Oh, fuck them," said Garlic Drummer once again. "I'd like to see them try and shoot me." As before, hypochondriac girlfriend echoed his sentiments.
Then, just as we turned onto the final leg of the walk, the inevitable happened. The dogs passed by rather close and a plethora of shotgun blasts pierced the morning stillness. Having expected it I barely flinched, which was a good thing because had I reacted I might have missed the show.
Garlic Drummer jumped about two feet in the air and started frantically scrambling for any available cover. If the shots had continued much longer I have no doubt he would have started digging a foxhole with his bare hands. Hypochondriac girlfriend started running as fast as she could while screaming and waving her arms around her head. It looked like she was being chased by a swarm of killer bees.
It was one of the funniest thing I have ever seen and I couldn't help but laugh out loud while I continued on my leisurely pace back to the house.
Needless to say, Hypochondriac girlfriend spent the rest of the walk in one stage or another of hysteria while Garlic Drummer, after regaining his color and composure, spent his time on a tirade about those "evil bastards" killing animals and how "someone should hunt them," all the while wearing his leather boots and jacket, and waxing rhapsodic about his enlightened lifestyle.
Thinking back, what I wouldn't give to have been in Crawford today with a camera to capture the grip of fear and throes of hysteria that I am absolutely sure followed the rather harmless "pop" of the shotgun today. Were it anyone else, my mind would be put at ease simply knowing that no one was hit by the blast. But knowing how liberals react to the mere sound of a shotgun, I must confess I am worried for the peace-lovers' present psychological condition.
One can only hope their is a solid ratio of therapists and grief counselors amidst the protesters to help them cope with the trauma of a loud noise.
About 12 years ago I found myself in the heart of France with a rock band. I, the lead guitarist in a typical early-90's metal-meets-Thomas Dolby group "with a message." The message, of course, was one of peace and love, racism awareness coupled with a healthy disdain for America. I know, I know, embarrassing.
As one might suspect the band line-up included myself, a liberal at the time, and three other guys who made my liberalism look more akin to that of Tom Delay or Justice Rehnquist. By far the most liberal of the group was "Garlic Drummer," a Canadian ex-patriot living in Los Angeles because, as I am sure he would tell you, it means more to trash America when you actually illegally reside there.
Garlic Drummer was a typical liberal, a vegetarian in a leather coat and leather boots, with a leather day-planner. A friend of animals who couldn't be bothered to train his own dogs, meaning they spent most of their time sitting on your lap breathing on you during dinner. Naturally the dogs came to France, because after all, they were people too.
As one might suspect, we of the rock and roll lifestyle had a great deal of free time during the daylight hours and often spent them wandering through the nearby French countryside. I loved it--the moss covered stones, the foreign foliage, and the knowledge that in the near past American tanks had rolled right through the area beating back the Nazi's. I would actually worry at times that we would come across rotting live ordinance.
On one such day, Garlic Drummer, his hypochondriac girlfriend, the two huskies, and myself embarked on just such a journey over the terrain of our regular route. About a third of the way around our loop we encountered a man dressed in hunting clothes sporting a side-by-side double-barrel shotgun. The dogs, as per their usual reaction, started jumping all over the guy while Garlic Drummer informed the hunter, now covered in paw mud, that it was okay, the dogs were "gentile." Personally I don't think the hunter gave a shit.
After we left the hunter's immediate vicinity I suggested that since hunting season appeared to be open, perhaps it wasn't a wise time to be meandering through the woods. Garlic Drummer's reaction was typical. "Fuck them," he said. "I hate fucking hunters." I just shrugged. Garlic Drummer knew I was an avid hunter.
As we continued on our way, we began to hear the sound of dogs working back and forth beyond the tree-line to our right. And sure enough, we came upon another gun-bearing hunter who would soon enough find himself covered in mud while learning from Garlic Drummer that the dogs were "gentile." Again I suggested that we abort the walk, that we had enjoyed access to the woods many times and we should be respectful on this weekend morning and make ourselves scarce. "Besides," I added, "it really isn't my idea of fun to be walking around the woods while a bunch of guys are hunting."
"Oh, fuck them," said Garlic Drummer once again. "I'd like to see them try and shoot me." As before, hypochondriac girlfriend echoed his sentiments.
Then, just as we turned onto the final leg of the walk, the inevitable happened. The dogs passed by rather close and a plethora of shotgun blasts pierced the morning stillness. Having expected it I barely flinched, which was a good thing because had I reacted I might have missed the show.
Garlic Drummer jumped about two feet in the air and started frantically scrambling for any available cover. If the shots had continued much longer I have no doubt he would have started digging a foxhole with his bare hands. Hypochondriac girlfriend started running as fast as she could while screaming and waving her arms around her head. It looked like she was being chased by a swarm of killer bees.
It was one of the funniest thing I have ever seen and I couldn't help but laugh out loud while I continued on my leisurely pace back to the house.
Needless to say, Hypochondriac girlfriend spent the rest of the walk in one stage or another of hysteria while Garlic Drummer, after regaining his color and composure, spent his time on a tirade about those "evil bastards" killing animals and how "someone should hunt them," all the while wearing his leather boots and jacket, and waxing rhapsodic about his enlightened lifestyle.
Thinking back, what I wouldn't give to have been in Crawford today with a camera to capture the grip of fear and throes of hysteria that I am absolutely sure followed the rather harmless "pop" of the shotgun today. Were it anyone else, my mind would be put at ease simply knowing that no one was hit by the blast. But knowing how liberals react to the mere sound of a shotgun, I must confess I am worried for the peace-lovers' present psychological condition.
One can only hope their is a solid ratio of therapists and grief counselors amidst the protesters to help them cope with the trauma of a loud noise.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Another Free-Thinker Jumps Ship
Michael Goodwin is just the latest of many, many Democrats to note his disdain for what his party has become now that it is being run by the lunatic fringe. His latest column, "Dem Silence Is Deafening" is inspired by the vicious NARAL ad that essentially blamed John Roberts for an abortion clinic bombing because seven years prior he argued that protesters had a right to protest outside abortion clinics.
One would think protecting the right to protest would be something the left could get behind. But I digress...
Goodwin, pro-choice himself, is disturbed by NARAL's lack of substance and the lack of a Democratic response to it, but notes that what we are seeing is part of a long-developing trend.
For those who support abortion rights - myself included - it is distressing to see NARAL sink to such a level. But it's not the first time. Its Web site has been boiling with anti-Roberts distortions since his nomination. Each twist includes a call for contributions. Nothing fires up the donor base like scare rhetoric about "radical right groups." In fact, as the whole episode shows, it's Democratic advocacy groups that have become the real radicals. From Michael Moore to Moveon.org, and now to NARAL, the left has taken a turn toward the extreme that is as vitriolic as anything on the right.
Sidebar: Goodwin can be forgiven for his off-hand stab at the right. After all, he is just now noticing how radical and empty his own party is becoming. Had he arrived at that obvious conclusion about five years ago, he would be aware that any "vitriol" coming from the right is generally a response to the garbage we hear every day from the left, and have been for some time, regardless of his epiphany. Furthermore, it is a statement without example. I defy him to produce examples that are on par with the following run-of-the-mill illustration of every day liberal actions.
It was a phenomenon I saw in last year's presidential race. When a host on Air America radio advocated violence against Bush, I was shocked that some liberals applauded. One call from a 78-year-old Connecticut woman still gives me chills: Speaking of Bush, she said: "Osama Bin Laden had it right: His throat should be slit."
A New York Times reporter who dared write something nice about Bush got an E-mail from a California man who said he hoped the reporter's child would be killed by a terrorist bomb.
Such ugly views are hardly typical of every Democrat or liberal. But there is no denying that the fringe is starting to dominate the party.
I included the last sentence because it is so typical. It is the "they are out there but they don't represent me" argument. Meanwhile, as Goodwin points out in his column, no one in Democratic leadership seems to be running from the now-common hate speech of the left. One can only hope that Goodwin will continue on his road to enlightenment, despite his party's path to irrelevance.
One would think protecting the right to protest would be something the left could get behind. But I digress...
Goodwin, pro-choice himself, is disturbed by NARAL's lack of substance and the lack of a Democratic response to it, but notes that what we are seeing is part of a long-developing trend.
For those who support abortion rights - myself included - it is distressing to see NARAL sink to such a level. But it's not the first time. Its Web site has been boiling with anti-Roberts distortions since his nomination. Each twist includes a call for contributions. Nothing fires up the donor base like scare rhetoric about "radical right groups." In fact, as the whole episode shows, it's Democratic advocacy groups that have become the real radicals. From Michael Moore to Moveon.org, and now to NARAL, the left has taken a turn toward the extreme that is as vitriolic as anything on the right.
Sidebar: Goodwin can be forgiven for his off-hand stab at the right. After all, he is just now noticing how radical and empty his own party is becoming. Had he arrived at that obvious conclusion about five years ago, he would be aware that any "vitriol" coming from the right is generally a response to the garbage we hear every day from the left, and have been for some time, regardless of his epiphany. Furthermore, it is a statement without example. I defy him to produce examples that are on par with the following run-of-the-mill illustration of every day liberal actions.
It was a phenomenon I saw in last year's presidential race. When a host on Air America radio advocated violence against Bush, I was shocked that some liberals applauded. One call from a 78-year-old Connecticut woman still gives me chills: Speaking of Bush, she said: "Osama Bin Laden had it right: His throat should be slit."
A New York Times reporter who dared write something nice about Bush got an E-mail from a California man who said he hoped the reporter's child would be killed by a terrorist bomb.
Such ugly views are hardly typical of every Democrat or liberal. But there is no denying that the fringe is starting to dominate the party.
I included the last sentence because it is so typical. It is the "they are out there but they don't represent me" argument. Meanwhile, as Goodwin points out in his column, no one in Democratic leadership seems to be running from the now-common hate speech of the left. One can only hope that Goodwin will continue on his road to enlightenment, despite his party's path to irrelevance.
Friday, August 12, 2005
It's Back to School Time Again
The dog days of summer are upon us, and with it comes the anticipation of another school year just around the corner. That excitement is only intensified for the students of Rockwood School District 603 who, despite having their middle school vaporized in the process, welcomed 100 Xenorxian Saucer Being students to the community last year. With that in mind, school administration is looking to improve just a bit on intergalactic inter-school relations.
My administration has worked hard over the summer to design and implement programs to insure student success toward key goals, with a particular emphasis on intergalactic diversity education. If I can be candid, some parents and students within District 603 have been less than welcoming of our growing Xenorxian immigrant community. Without "pointing fingers," this has too often led to unnecessary incidents of misunderstanding and vaporization.
That is why in June I appointed Assistant Superintendent Kevin Harris to head a District Diversity Task Force aimed at building an educational bridge to the Xenorxian community. Over the past 6 weeks Mr. Harris worked closely with community leaders, including Supreme Overlord Q'klogmu, to develop new educational guidelines and teaching materials to foster a district-wide spirit of tolerance.
See Iowahawk for the details.
The Xenorxian Saucer Beings may be coming to a school district near you and their culture, though different from our own, deserves the respect and tolerance which we strive to be renowned for.
My administration has worked hard over the summer to design and implement programs to insure student success toward key goals, with a particular emphasis on intergalactic diversity education. If I can be candid, some parents and students within District 603 have been less than welcoming of our growing Xenorxian immigrant community. Without "pointing fingers," this has too often led to unnecessary incidents of misunderstanding and vaporization.
That is why in June I appointed Assistant Superintendent Kevin Harris to head a District Diversity Task Force aimed at building an educational bridge to the Xenorxian community. Over the past 6 weeks Mr. Harris worked closely with community leaders, including Supreme Overlord Q'klogmu, to develop new educational guidelines and teaching materials to foster a district-wide spirit of tolerance.
See Iowahawk for the details.
The Xenorxian Saucer Beings may be coming to a school district near you and their culture, though different from our own, deserves the respect and tolerance which we strive to be renowned for.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Look Everybody! I'm on Television!
The fake left in this country constantly preaches to the rest of us about peace, non-violent conflict resolution, and tolerance of others beliefs and actions. But, as anyone who has ever had the stones to disagree with their oversimplified "reality-based" vision of a world that simply does not exist, that non-violent tolerance does not extend across political lines.
Take Bob Newman for example. Monday he published a column about Cindy Sheehan, mother of a fallen soldier turned pawn of the far left who believes she is somehow entitled to demand meetings with the president any old time she feels like it. In response to her demands, Newman outlined her positions on the war, the president, and Islamic militants.
...Mrs. Sheehan claims George Bush, not terrorists, killed her son. She didn’t protest when the maniacs of 9-11 killed nearly 3,000 people. She doesn’t fault the mass murderers who continue to butcher innocent Iraqi men, women and children and who continue to kill courageous American military personnel. She didn’t fly to London to protest outside of a mosque. She is in no way shocked by the hundreds of mass graves being excavated in Iraq, graves filled with tens of thousands of bodies of Saddam’s victims. She is not troubled at all by the numerous al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq who want to kill every American man, woman and child on earth. And she could not care less that proud Iraqis, facing death, voted for the first time in throngs for the politician of their choice, defiantly holding up ink-stained fingers to show they had faced down the terrorists. To Cindy Sheehan, it would appear, Arabs, especially Muslim Arabs, should have no right to vote or even live for that matter.
The response from the self-righteous, peace-loving left was exactly what we have come to expect.
In the last 24 hours, I have received hundreds upon hundreds of tellingly hateful emails from liberals who disagree with me. It did not surprise me at all that some of those emails from "peaceful," "anti-violence" liberals said in marvelously profane verbiage that they want me and my family dead. One fellow pulled a classic line from "The Exorcist" and applied it to my mother, saying she was performing certain sexual acts in hell...
...These emails again made it crystal clear that liberals say you deserve freedom of speech so long as your opinion is in sync with theirs. However, disagree with them and they call for your murder and the murder of your family.
Hmmm...That sounds suspiciouly like another group of folks out there. You know, the ones wearing Dupont vests and bathing in flower water.
At the core of this situation is, of course, Sheehan. So what is it about her that the fake left finds so appealing? What "speech" is it that they find worth death threats to Newman's family in order to protect?
Mrs. Sheehan now, in her own words, claims we are using nuclear weapons in Iraq.
She says her son fought for the "Fuhrer," which makes her son a Nazi according to her logic. (U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan re-enlisted to go with his unit to Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for his heroic actions to save some of his men.)
She has totally changed her story since her first meeting with Bush and now wants another ahead of all the other moms. What hubris!
She supports terrorist supporter Lynne Stewart.
She supports Communist Party USA, which wants to overthrow our government and install a Marxist regime.
She also supports Code Pink, which was founded by Marxist Castro supporter Medea Benjamin.
She has publicly attacked the warfighting abilities of our military men and women and claims they are butchering Iraqi civilians. She claims this even though her son was one of those men.
She says it was wrong for us to remove a genocidal maniac (one million dead because of him) from power because, according to her, it was a legitimate government that was none of our business. Specifically, she said sacking Saddam was "unlawful and unprincipled..."
...And she has implied she hopes the Bush twins go to Iraq and die there.
Oh...that.
I wonder what is to be accomplished by scheduling another meeting between Sheehan and Mr. Bush? Perhaps he just needs to hear the hate speech of the left just one more time and he will suddenly change his mind about the war in Iraq, our role in it, and the millions of people who are no longer under Hussein's thumb? Doubtful.
More likely the meeting is sought in order to placate a childish need to throw a tantrum and to cement her standing in the moonbat community for her "courage." Than again, judging by Sheehan's own words, which are predictably published daily by Michael Moore, there might even be something more basic in play here.
It looks like I will be on the cover of People Magazine. Time Magazine, Vanity Fair and Oprah's magazine will be interviewing me also.
Oh...now I get it.
Update: Thanks to Armand for apprising me of the following update to this story. Apparently even Sheehan's own family thinks she is involved in a publicity stunt and has written so to the Drudge Report.
The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation.
The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.
Sincerely,
Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.
I wonder if it will be all right with Cindy Sheehan when her own family starts receiving death threats from her peace-loving followers.
Take Bob Newman for example. Monday he published a column about Cindy Sheehan, mother of a fallen soldier turned pawn of the far left who believes she is somehow entitled to demand meetings with the president any old time she feels like it. In response to her demands, Newman outlined her positions on the war, the president, and Islamic militants.
...Mrs. Sheehan claims George Bush, not terrorists, killed her son. She didn’t protest when the maniacs of 9-11 killed nearly 3,000 people. She doesn’t fault the mass murderers who continue to butcher innocent Iraqi men, women and children and who continue to kill courageous American military personnel. She didn’t fly to London to protest outside of a mosque. She is in no way shocked by the hundreds of mass graves being excavated in Iraq, graves filled with tens of thousands of bodies of Saddam’s victims. She is not troubled at all by the numerous al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq who want to kill every American man, woman and child on earth. And she could not care less that proud Iraqis, facing death, voted for the first time in throngs for the politician of their choice, defiantly holding up ink-stained fingers to show they had faced down the terrorists. To Cindy Sheehan, it would appear, Arabs, especially Muslim Arabs, should have no right to vote or even live for that matter.
The response from the self-righteous, peace-loving left was exactly what we have come to expect.
In the last 24 hours, I have received hundreds upon hundreds of tellingly hateful emails from liberals who disagree with me. It did not surprise me at all that some of those emails from "peaceful," "anti-violence" liberals said in marvelously profane verbiage that they want me and my family dead. One fellow pulled a classic line from "The Exorcist" and applied it to my mother, saying she was performing certain sexual acts in hell...
...These emails again made it crystal clear that liberals say you deserve freedom of speech so long as your opinion is in sync with theirs. However, disagree with them and they call for your murder and the murder of your family.
Hmmm...That sounds suspiciouly like another group of folks out there. You know, the ones wearing Dupont vests and bathing in flower water.
At the core of this situation is, of course, Sheehan. So what is it about her that the fake left finds so appealing? What "speech" is it that they find worth death threats to Newman's family in order to protect?
Mrs. Sheehan now, in her own words, claims we are using nuclear weapons in Iraq.
She says her son fought for the "Fuhrer," which makes her son a Nazi according to her logic. (U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan re-enlisted to go with his unit to Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for his heroic actions to save some of his men.)
She has totally changed her story since her first meeting with Bush and now wants another ahead of all the other moms. What hubris!
She supports terrorist supporter Lynne Stewart.
She supports Communist Party USA, which wants to overthrow our government and install a Marxist regime.
She also supports Code Pink, which was founded by Marxist Castro supporter Medea Benjamin.
She has publicly attacked the warfighting abilities of our military men and women and claims they are butchering Iraqi civilians. She claims this even though her son was one of those men.
She says it was wrong for us to remove a genocidal maniac (one million dead because of him) from power because, according to her, it was a legitimate government that was none of our business. Specifically, she said sacking Saddam was "unlawful and unprincipled..."
...And she has implied she hopes the Bush twins go to Iraq and die there.
Oh...that.
I wonder what is to be accomplished by scheduling another meeting between Sheehan and Mr. Bush? Perhaps he just needs to hear the hate speech of the left just one more time and he will suddenly change his mind about the war in Iraq, our role in it, and the millions of people who are no longer under Hussein's thumb? Doubtful.
More likely the meeting is sought in order to placate a childish need to throw a tantrum and to cement her standing in the moonbat community for her "courage." Than again, judging by Sheehan's own words, which are predictably published daily by Michael Moore, there might even be something more basic in play here.
It looks like I will be on the cover of People Magazine. Time Magazine, Vanity Fair and Oprah's magazine will be interviewing me also.
Oh...now I get it.
Update: Thanks to Armand for apprising me of the following update to this story. Apparently even Sheehan's own family thinks she is involved in a publicity stunt and has written so to the Drudge Report.
The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation.
The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.
Sincerely,
Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.
I wonder if it will be all right with Cindy Sheehan when her own family starts receiving death threats from her peace-loving followers.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
After Much Soul-Searching...
...I have decided to say goodbye to the world of professional journalism. There is simply no money to be made in the profession at the local level and pride in profession does not put food on the table or Harley Davidson Sportsters in the garage. Therefore, I have turned down the managing editor's position that was offered to me last week and instead have decided to re-enter the raw world of shameless capitalism.
Returning to my roots as they say, bringing visual entertainment to the world through the wonder of modern satellite technology. Just think, every time I go to work I will get to bring some rudderless soul the chance to pipe FoxNews directly into their home.
I feel pretty good about the decision really. The stress that comes along with managing a reporting staff and attending all of the various meetings and schmoozing weren't really for me anyway. I have much more fun in the blogosphere where I can say "shit" if I want to, and don't have to worry if I am offending a sensitive audience with political opinions that are "too strong."
I expect too jump a couple of tax brackets in the next year as well and hope to add a little pleasure to the otherwise drab life of raising nearly a basketball team's worth of kids on money meant only for one.
That is my big news-flash of the day folks. I'm trading in my poison pen and biting wit for a compression crimper and a hopefully obscene paycheck. So, who's looking for a deal on satellite TV?
Returning to my roots as they say, bringing visual entertainment to the world through the wonder of modern satellite technology. Just think, every time I go to work I will get to bring some rudderless soul the chance to pipe FoxNews directly into their home.
I feel pretty good about the decision really. The stress that comes along with managing a reporting staff and attending all of the various meetings and schmoozing weren't really for me anyway. I have much more fun in the blogosphere where I can say "shit" if I want to, and don't have to worry if I am offending a sensitive audience with political opinions that are "too strong."
I expect too jump a couple of tax brackets in the next year as well and hope to add a little pleasure to the otherwise drab life of raising nearly a basketball team's worth of kids on money meant only for one.
That is my big news-flash of the day folks. I'm trading in my poison pen and biting wit for a compression crimper and a hopefully obscene paycheck. So, who's looking for a deal on satellite TV?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Because Children Might Not Get That Abortion is Positive
Planned Parenthood in San Francisco has created it's very own animated super-hero to help kids get the message that abortion is good, while abstinence and faith are bad, bad, bad.
An online animated video sponsored by Planned Parenthood's San Francisco-area branch features a superhero character drowning an abstinence promoter in a trash can and blasting into oblivion several pro-life picketers protesting in front of one of the organization's facilities.
The group's character title is "A Superhero for Choice," by far the most uninspired super-name in all of animated history. Was there no one in the office with an ounce of creativity? How about "The Scrambler" or "The Human Baby Vacuum?"
Aside from the flat name of the character however, the video accurately depicts how the pro-abortion crowd feels about anyone who disagrees with the positive nature of turning tiny human beings into gravy.
The eight-minute "A Superhero for Choice," posted on the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate website, has a bespectacled black woman in San Francisco morphing into a red-suited flying enforcer, bent on making the world safe for the organization's values.
Viewers see three teenagers talking with an ugly green-faced man sporting a top hat and bow tie who tries to tell the kids abstinence is the only sure way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. The teen girl rebuts the man, naming several birth-control methods.
Retorts the little green man: "Those are instruments from the devil's toolbox!"
The superhero arrives in time to fill a trash can with water and dump the pro-abstinence character into it, slamming the cover down. After the man's muffled voice eventually dies off, the superhero tosses the teens a "safe sex kit," reminding the kids: "Safe is sexy!"
The "Superhero for Choice," dubbed Dianisis, next confronts a group of protesters in front of a Planned Parenthood facility. They, too, are ugly and have green faces, carrying signs that say, "Pray for thy sins."
The superhero character uses a "condom gun" that catches each protester in a prophylactic bubble, which subsequently explodes. Though she admits the protesters have a First Amendment right to picket, she glories in the fact that people can now visit the Planned Parenthood facility unimpeded.
You know, every time I have ever tried to describe abortion to my daughters, they have come away with the impression that it is unseemly at best, and downright evil at worst. All this time I thought it was because abortion is unseemly and evil, only to find out that I just haven't put it in the proper context.
Now, thanks to The Superhero for Choice, I don't have to struggle through difficult attempts to describe the process of abortion in such a way that my teenagers understand, that while perhaps clumsy and a bit bloody, abortion is a beautiful thing, and anyone who disagrees is ugly, religiously brainwashed, and deserving of drowning in any handy trash can.
Even more amazing, Planned Parenthood accomplishes this vital public service without even mentioning the word "abortion." So when the kiddies, inspired by their new superhero role model, go to Planned Parenthood to escape the wrath of their ugly, condemnable parents, all they have to do is ask for one of those thing-ama-jigees.
Folks, you'll pardon me if I note that the left in this country has become a sick fucking joke.
Also posting: Cannuckistan Chronicles, Lifelike Pundits, Meira Online
An online animated video sponsored by Planned Parenthood's San Francisco-area branch features a superhero character drowning an abstinence promoter in a trash can and blasting into oblivion several pro-life picketers protesting in front of one of the organization's facilities.
The group's character title is "A Superhero for Choice," by far the most uninspired super-name in all of animated history. Was there no one in the office with an ounce of creativity? How about "The Scrambler" or "The Human Baby Vacuum?"
Aside from the flat name of the character however, the video accurately depicts how the pro-abortion crowd feels about anyone who disagrees with the positive nature of turning tiny human beings into gravy.
The eight-minute "A Superhero for Choice," posted on the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate website, has a bespectacled black woman in San Francisco morphing into a red-suited flying enforcer, bent on making the world safe for the organization's values.
Viewers see three teenagers talking with an ugly green-faced man sporting a top hat and bow tie who tries to tell the kids abstinence is the only sure way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. The teen girl rebuts the man, naming several birth-control methods.
Retorts the little green man: "Those are instruments from the devil's toolbox!"
The superhero arrives in time to fill a trash can with water and dump the pro-abstinence character into it, slamming the cover down. After the man's muffled voice eventually dies off, the superhero tosses the teens a "safe sex kit," reminding the kids: "Safe is sexy!"
The "Superhero for Choice," dubbed Dianisis, next confronts a group of protesters in front of a Planned Parenthood facility. They, too, are ugly and have green faces, carrying signs that say, "Pray for thy sins."
The superhero character uses a "condom gun" that catches each protester in a prophylactic bubble, which subsequently explodes. Though she admits the protesters have a First Amendment right to picket, she glories in the fact that people can now visit the Planned Parenthood facility unimpeded.
You know, every time I have ever tried to describe abortion to my daughters, they have come away with the impression that it is unseemly at best, and downright evil at worst. All this time I thought it was because abortion is unseemly and evil, only to find out that I just haven't put it in the proper context.
Now, thanks to The Superhero for Choice, I don't have to struggle through difficult attempts to describe the process of abortion in such a way that my teenagers understand, that while perhaps clumsy and a bit bloody, abortion is a beautiful thing, and anyone who disagrees is ugly, religiously brainwashed, and deserving of drowning in any handy trash can.
Even more amazing, Planned Parenthood accomplishes this vital public service without even mentioning the word "abortion." So when the kiddies, inspired by their new superhero role model, go to Planned Parenthood to escape the wrath of their ugly, condemnable parents, all they have to do is ask for one of those thing-ama-jigees.
Folks, you'll pardon me if I note that the left in this country has become a sick fucking joke.
Also posting: Cannuckistan Chronicles, Lifelike Pundits, Meira Online
Monday, August 08, 2005
Forgive Me Mother, For I Have Sinned
Kobayashi Maru is highlighting a column by James Schlesinger which discusses one of my favorite theories. The theory that environmentalism has gone way beyond a matter of public policy and has entered the realm of earth worship and therefore should be deemed a religion and treated accordingly.
It was Michael Crichton who pointed out in his Commonwealth Club lecture some years ago that environmentalism had become the religion of Western elites. Indeed it has. Most notably, the burning of fossil fuels (a concomitant of economic growth and rising living standards) is the secular counterpart of man's Original Sin. If only we would repent and sin no more, mankind's actions could end the threat of further global warming. By implication, the cost, which is never fully examined, is bearable. So far the evidence is not convincing. It is notable that 13 of the 15 older members of the European Union have failed to achieve their quotas under the Kyoto accord -- despite the relatively slow growth of the European economies...
Schlesinger's piece is subscriber only, but KM has much of it at his site. It's worth a persusal.
It was Michael Crichton who pointed out in his Commonwealth Club lecture some years ago that environmentalism had become the religion of Western elites. Indeed it has. Most notably, the burning of fossil fuels (a concomitant of economic growth and rising living standards) is the secular counterpart of man's Original Sin. If only we would repent and sin no more, mankind's actions could end the threat of further global warming. By implication, the cost, which is never fully examined, is bearable. So far the evidence is not convincing. It is notable that 13 of the 15 older members of the European Union have failed to achieve their quotas under the Kyoto accord -- despite the relatively slow growth of the European economies...
Schlesinger's piece is subscriber only, but KM has much of it at his site. It's worth a persusal.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Marriage Officially a Joke in Cananda
Thanks to my dearly Befuddled for pointing this one out to me.
In only one short month, Canadians are already soming up with exciting and creative ways to mock marriage based on the recent decision by our neighbor to the north to legalize same-sex marriage.
The proposal came last Monday on the patio of a Toronto bar amid shock and laughter from their friends. But the two -- both of whom were previously married and both of whom are still looking for a good woman to love -- insist that after the humour subsided, a real issue lies at the heart of it all.
"There are significant tax implications that we don't think the government has thought through," Pinn said.
Of course, rabid homophobe right-wing theocrats have been saying for years that same-sex marriage could have massive implications on the tax system, but who listens to them anyway. This latest stunt by two single heterosexual men in Canada though, is at least mockery with a point.
The point, that marriage will simply become a way for single people to take advantage of tax benefits for couples, is being denounced by Canada's gay community.
"Generally speaking, marriage should be for love," he said. "People who don't marry for love will find themselves in trouble."
How is that I wonder. By restricting same-sex marriage to people who can prove that they are in love? Perhaps potential couples will be required to perform some act of love that will prove they are of pure intention?
I suspect that would be most accurately described as discrimination. Face it, same-sex proponents have no way to stop the natural progression of same-sex marriage to include anyone who wishes to reduce their tax burden. And, while these two yahoos are trying to provide an example for the rest of us as to the deep implications of same-sex marriage on the tax system, the next pair and the thousands of pairs after that will be of more serious intention.
Guess who never thought of that?
Yet another example of feel-good liberal policies, badly thought out, creating a burden that the rest of us will be forced to saddle.
Caltechgirl sums it up quite nicely.
I can just see the Gay Elite blowing a gasket over this one, can't you? Same-sex marriage is an advantage for the gay community, after all. An equality step, if you will. And the "Breeders" are taking advantage of it. "That's not fair!" some will whine. I hate to say it, but you all set up this mess. It's your catch-22.
Also posting: Outside the Beltway
In only one short month, Canadians are already soming up with exciting and creative ways to mock marriage based on the recent decision by our neighbor to the north to legalize same-sex marriage.
The proposal came last Monday on the patio of a Toronto bar amid shock and laughter from their friends. But the two -- both of whom were previously married and both of whom are still looking for a good woman to love -- insist that after the humour subsided, a real issue lies at the heart of it all.
"There are significant tax implications that we don't think the government has thought through," Pinn said.
Of course, rabid homophobe right-wing theocrats have been saying for years that same-sex marriage could have massive implications on the tax system, but who listens to them anyway. This latest stunt by two single heterosexual men in Canada though, is at least mockery with a point.
The point, that marriage will simply become a way for single people to take advantage of tax benefits for couples, is being denounced by Canada's gay community.
"Generally speaking, marriage should be for love," he said. "People who don't marry for love will find themselves in trouble."
How is that I wonder. By restricting same-sex marriage to people who can prove that they are in love? Perhaps potential couples will be required to perform some act of love that will prove they are of pure intention?
I suspect that would be most accurately described as discrimination. Face it, same-sex proponents have no way to stop the natural progression of same-sex marriage to include anyone who wishes to reduce their tax burden. And, while these two yahoos are trying to provide an example for the rest of us as to the deep implications of same-sex marriage on the tax system, the next pair and the thousands of pairs after that will be of more serious intention.
Guess who never thought of that?
Yet another example of feel-good liberal policies, badly thought out, creating a burden that the rest of us will be forced to saddle.
Caltechgirl sums it up quite nicely.
I can just see the Gay Elite blowing a gasket over this one, can't you? Same-sex marriage is an advantage for the gay community, after all. An equality step, if you will. And the "Breeders" are taking advantage of it. "That's not fair!" some will whine. I hate to say it, but you all set up this mess. It's your catch-22.
Also posting: Outside the Beltway
Friday, August 05, 2005
Bolton Already Insulting Sensitive International Community
Not surprisingly, Liberal Larry is none too happy with the appointment of John Bolton to the U.N. I would have to agree on this one. After all, there is such a thing as decorum for God's sake, and Bolton has already defied an age-old tradtition at the United Nations.
In a scant 24 hours on the job, Bolton has already insulted Secretary General Kofi Annan by showing up to the traditional introductory meeting without the customary kneepads and suitcase full of cash. Such arrogance will only alienate our allies, and runs the serious risk of forcing trusted friends like France to collaborate with our enemies.
One of the first things every child learns is how to play nicely with others. It's a skill that requires a willingness to compromise - that is, bend over and blindly acquiesce without demanding anything in return. Throughout his career, John Bolton has demonstrated that he cannot play nicely with others. Indeed, he's little more than a playground bully who will put the interests of his country above the needs of the International Community. A congressionally appointed envoy to the United Nations should not be a swaggering cowboy, but rather a nurturing, multi-breasted nursemaid upon whose giant teats developing third-world countries can perpetually suckle. Unless I am mistaken, John Bolton has no teats.
Once this Bolton silliness comes to an end this country will need a qualified replacement. Might I suggest we create a short-list of nurturing, multi-breasted nursemaids now, to both expedite the conformation process and placate the mammary-obsessesed folks at the U.N.
In a scant 24 hours on the job, Bolton has already insulted Secretary General Kofi Annan by showing up to the traditional introductory meeting without the customary kneepads and suitcase full of cash. Such arrogance will only alienate our allies, and runs the serious risk of forcing trusted friends like France to collaborate with our enemies.
One of the first things every child learns is how to play nicely with others. It's a skill that requires a willingness to compromise - that is, bend over and blindly acquiesce without demanding anything in return. Throughout his career, John Bolton has demonstrated that he cannot play nicely with others. Indeed, he's little more than a playground bully who will put the interests of his country above the needs of the International Community. A congressionally appointed envoy to the United Nations should not be a swaggering cowboy, but rather a nurturing, multi-breasted nursemaid upon whose giant teats developing third-world countries can perpetually suckle. Unless I am mistaken, John Bolton has no teats.
Once this Bolton silliness comes to an end this country will need a qualified replacement. Might I suggest we create a short-list of nurturing, multi-breasted nursemaids now, to both expedite the conformation process and placate the mammary-obsessesed folks at the U.N.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Is It Just Me?
Air America is stealing money from kids and alzheimers patients? "America Coming Together" is folding? Robert Novak lost it on CNN? Is it just me, or is there absolutely nothing very interesting happening in the world of politics lately?
I just can't get excited about the NYT looking into John Roberts adoptions, or the usual Bush-bashers still trying to defeat a second term president who won't even be running for office. That Air America would take money from inner city kids to run it's smear machine doesn't even come as a surprise.
The fun of being a political junkie is the Great Debate, but the left has been absent from this debate for five years. The sniping and the embarrasing displays of mental bankruptcy have grown weary and no longer even offer the inspiration for an argument.
Perhaps it's just my mood lately, but the contemplating the Democratic Party and the liberal establishment feels like chewing on a week old pancake. They simply don't warrant the time and effort needed to demonstrate how silly and stupid they have become.
Maybe what I need is a week off. I'm not sure. I'll get back to you tommorrow.
I just can't get excited about the NYT looking into John Roberts adoptions, or the usual Bush-bashers still trying to defeat a second term president who won't even be running for office. That Air America would take money from inner city kids to run it's smear machine doesn't even come as a surprise.
The fun of being a political junkie is the Great Debate, but the left has been absent from this debate for five years. The sniping and the embarrasing displays of mental bankruptcy have grown weary and no longer even offer the inspiration for an argument.
Perhaps it's just my mood lately, but the contemplating the Democratic Party and the liberal establishment feels like chewing on a week old pancake. They simply don't warrant the time and effort needed to demonstrate how silly and stupid they have become.
Maybe what I need is a week off. I'm not sure. I'll get back to you tommorrow.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Will The Left Care About This?
The American Center for Voting Rights Legislative fund has released an independant report on voter fraud nationwide and the results should be no surprise to those of us on the right. While both parties are susceptible to a certain degree, the report outlines just how good the Democratic Party has become at voter intimidation.
While Democrats routinely accuse Republicans of voter intimidation and suppression, neither party has a clean record on the issue. Instead, the evidence shows that Democrats waged aggressive intimidation and suppression campaigns against Republican voters and volunteers in 2004. Republicans have not been exempt from similar criticism in this area, as alleged voter intimidation and suppression activity by GOP operatives led the Republican National Committee to sign a consent decree repudiating such tactics in 1982. However, a careful review of the facts shows that in 2004, paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression efforts than their Republican counterparts. Examples include:
* Paid Democrat operatives charged with slashing tires of 25 Republican get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee on the morning of Election Day.
* Misleading telephone calls made by Democrat operatives targeting Republican voters in Ohio with the wrong date for the election and faulty polling place information.
* Intimidating and deceiving mailings and telephone calls paid for by the DNC threatening Republican volunteers in Florida with legal action.
* Union-coordinated intimidation and violence campaign targeting Republican campaign offices and volunteers resulting in a broken arm for a GOP volunteer in Florida.
Check out the whole report. It destroys most of the charges made against the Republican Party in 2004. Also, Captain Ed has a good synopsis.
While Democrats routinely accuse Republicans of voter intimidation and suppression, neither party has a clean record on the issue. Instead, the evidence shows that Democrats waged aggressive intimidation and suppression campaigns against Republican voters and volunteers in 2004. Republicans have not been exempt from similar criticism in this area, as alleged voter intimidation and suppression activity by GOP operatives led the Republican National Committee to sign a consent decree repudiating such tactics in 1982. However, a careful review of the facts shows that in 2004, paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression efforts than their Republican counterparts. Examples include:
* Paid Democrat operatives charged with slashing tires of 25 Republican get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee on the morning of Election Day.
* Misleading telephone calls made by Democrat operatives targeting Republican voters in Ohio with the wrong date for the election and faulty polling place information.
* Intimidating and deceiving mailings and telephone calls paid for by the DNC threatening Republican volunteers in Florida with legal action.
* Union-coordinated intimidation and violence campaign targeting Republican campaign offices and volunteers resulting in a broken arm for a GOP volunteer in Florida.
Check out the whole report. It destroys most of the charges made against the Republican Party in 2004. Also, Captain Ed has a good synopsis.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
When You've Got Nothing Else
The DNC's Josh Earnest issued a press release yesterday, in response to the President Bush's excellent physical condition.
Doctors pronounced the President to be in "superior" physical condition, which media reports attributed to his rigorous, six day a week exercise routine. While President Bush has made physical fitness a personal priority, his cuts to education funding have forced schools to roll back physical education classes and his Administration's efforts to undermine Title IX sports programs have threatened thousands of women's college sports programs.
Only the DNC, which is led by the "Great Uniter" Howard Dean, could translate the largest education spending increases since the Carter administration a "cut." Also, note the reference to Title IX, which has been hampering successful mens athletic programs for years through reverse discrimination. What was good law has been hijacked by feminists over the last 10 years, making the legislation, in my opinion, a laughingstock.
Speaking of laughingstock, check this sentence:
While obesity has been declared an epidemic in this country, Bush's education policy is putting children at risk with cuts in physical education and school athletic programs.
Yes, and putting the money into other things...like math and science. This Earnest guy must be in great shape from all the cartwheels he does in this press release. Why, one might think that the president is in such good shape because he goes to P.E. class every day.
Of course, even in school, kids are no longer allowed to have fun while they exercise. Dodge ball is out, and who thinks the "tug of peace" sounds like a good time? How about fake jump-roping? exercise used to be a lot more effective when we called it "fun."
Earnest should go out and get himself a real job. This is that saddest excuse for a press release I have seen in some time. It is a bit sad that the president can't even get his physical without two bit hacks taking stupid potshots at him. Not only is Earnest's release laced with lies and half-truths, it isn't even relevent...except to show how politically bankrupt the Democratic Party has become.
In that sense, it is quite effective.
Doctors pronounced the President to be in "superior" physical condition, which media reports attributed to his rigorous, six day a week exercise routine. While President Bush has made physical fitness a personal priority, his cuts to education funding have forced schools to roll back physical education classes and his Administration's efforts to undermine Title IX sports programs have threatened thousands of women's college sports programs.
Only the DNC, which is led by the "Great Uniter" Howard Dean, could translate the largest education spending increases since the Carter administration a "cut." Also, note the reference to Title IX, which has been hampering successful mens athletic programs for years through reverse discrimination. What was good law has been hijacked by feminists over the last 10 years, making the legislation, in my opinion, a laughingstock.
Speaking of laughingstock, check this sentence:
While obesity has been declared an epidemic in this country, Bush's education policy is putting children at risk with cuts in physical education and school athletic programs.
Yes, and putting the money into other things...like math and science. This Earnest guy must be in great shape from all the cartwheels he does in this press release. Why, one might think that the president is in such good shape because he goes to P.E. class every day.
Of course, even in school, kids are no longer allowed to have fun while they exercise. Dodge ball is out, and who thinks the "tug of peace" sounds like a good time? How about fake jump-roping? exercise used to be a lot more effective when we called it "fun."
Earnest should go out and get himself a real job. This is that saddest excuse for a press release I have seen in some time. It is a bit sad that the president can't even get his physical without two bit hacks taking stupid potshots at him. Not only is Earnest's release laced with lies and half-truths, it isn't even relevent...except to show how politically bankrupt the Democratic Party has become.
In that sense, it is quite effective.
Boy Scouts to Issue Fatwah
Malkin turned me on to this one. It is a letter to the editor in San Francisco in response to a story on youth camps sponsored by Hamas.
Editor -- Yes, it is disturbing that Palestinian children are being taught to chant "Rifle fire! Raise it up!" in Hamas summer camps.
But, hey, we've got militaristic chants going in this country for our kiddies, too. On Sunday, President Bush met with the Boy Scouts, a gathering of 50,000, at their National Jamboree at an Army base in Virginia. Among other things, he went on about patriotism and military service.
Bush's audience had been warmed up by a man wearing an Army T-shirt who, as balloons with military emblems floated about, led the children in chants of "OO-rah" and "U.S.A.!"
Looks like we've got some of our own sun, fun and indoctrination.
JUDITH ROSS
San Francisco
For Judith's sake, here is the scout oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
And, here are the stated goals of Hamas:
'The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinianmovement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life isIslam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.' (Article 6)
'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam willobliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.' (Preamble)
'The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews andkill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and therocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behindme, come and kill him.' (Article 7)
'The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [Holy Possession]consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. No onecan renounce it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it.'(Article 11)
'The day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes theindividual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation,it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.' (Article 15)
I was unable to locate the sections on helping little old ladies cross the street or the importance of community service, unless you include killing every Jew in sight a community service.
Judith is an idiot and a liberal; two designations that are increasingly married to one another. What occurs to me is, if a liberal were ever to run for public office on a platform based on true feelings about scouts, America, patriotism, the military, Christians, they wouldn't be able to garner enough votes for dog catcher.
Which is why all liberal politicians are liars. They have to be. Who would vote for a "I hate this country and everything it stands for" platform?
Also posting: Museum of Left-Wing Lunacy, Jeff the Baptist
Editor -- Yes, it is disturbing that Palestinian children are being taught to chant "Rifle fire! Raise it up!" in Hamas summer camps.
But, hey, we've got militaristic chants going in this country for our kiddies, too. On Sunday, President Bush met with the Boy Scouts, a gathering of 50,000, at their National Jamboree at an Army base in Virginia. Among other things, he went on about patriotism and military service.
Bush's audience had been warmed up by a man wearing an Army T-shirt who, as balloons with military emblems floated about, led the children in chants of "OO-rah" and "U.S.A.!"
Looks like we've got some of our own sun, fun and indoctrination.
JUDITH ROSS
San Francisco
For Judith's sake, here is the scout oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
And, here are the stated goals of Hamas:
'The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinianmovement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life isIslam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.' (Article 6)
'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam willobliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.' (Preamble)
'The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews andkill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and therocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behindme, come and kill him.' (Article 7)
'The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [Holy Possession]consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. No onecan renounce it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it.'(Article 11)
'The day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes theindividual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation,it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.' (Article 15)
I was unable to locate the sections on helping little old ladies cross the street or the importance of community service, unless you include killing every Jew in sight a community service.
Judith is an idiot and a liberal; two designations that are increasingly married to one another. What occurs to me is, if a liberal were ever to run for public office on a platform based on true feelings about scouts, America, patriotism, the military, Christians, they wouldn't be able to garner enough votes for dog catcher.
Which is why all liberal politicians are liars. They have to be. Who would vote for a "I hate this country and everything it stands for" platform?
Also posting: Museum of Left-Wing Lunacy, Jeff the Baptist
Monday, August 01, 2005
Put That In Your Bong and Smoke It
Bush gave John Bolton a recess appointment today and my faith is thus restored in the Shrub's dedication to making liberals whine like babies. As a public service, I thought I would translate some of the reaction from lib-onics into english.
Be sure to read this one with a Boston accent:
"The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. ... It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N." — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Translation: When I was a boy, daddy told me I would have more power than this.
"At a time when we need to reassert our diplomatic power in the world, President Bush has decided to send a seriously flawed and weakened candidate to the United Nations. It's an unnecessary result, and the latest abuse of power by the Bush White House. ... Bolton arrives at the United Nations with a cloud hanging over his head." — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Translation: There is a dark cloud over me, so it seems natural to assume that there is one following everyone.
"The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it's the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton's validity and leverage to secure America's goals at the U.N. John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations. This is not the way to fill our most important diplomatic jobs." — Sen. John Kerry
Translation: If I were president, I would have consulted the French. Oh...and I plan on using the very same campaign strategy in 2008 as I did in 2004.
"It's sad that even while the president preaches democracy around the world, he bends the rules and circumvents the will of Congress in appointing our representative to the United Nations." — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg
Translation: I have no idea how democracy or the federal government works.
Bush thinks he's flashing the middle finger at Democrats, but in reality he's setting back his own cause for reform at the United Nations. As for U.S. diplomacy, it's yet another setback. But this administration has done nothing but give F.U.s to the world community for five years running. This is simply par for the course. --Kos
Translation: I have no idea how to make a point without using references to profanity. But I do possess an uncanny ability to turn "bad news" into good news for those not a part of the reality based community.
Mark Coffey has more examples of liberal tantrums.
Also posting: David Limbaugh, Original Musings, Blogs for Bush
Be sure to read this one with a Boston accent:
"The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. ... It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N." — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
Translation: When I was a boy, daddy told me I would have more power than this.
"At a time when we need to reassert our diplomatic power in the world, President Bush has decided to send a seriously flawed and weakened candidate to the United Nations. It's an unnecessary result, and the latest abuse of power by the Bush White House. ... Bolton arrives at the United Nations with a cloud hanging over his head." — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Translation: There is a dark cloud over me, so it seems natural to assume that there is one following everyone.
"The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it's the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton's validity and leverage to secure America's goals at the U.N. John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations. This is not the way to fill our most important diplomatic jobs." — Sen. John Kerry
Translation: If I were president, I would have consulted the French. Oh...and I plan on using the very same campaign strategy in 2008 as I did in 2004.
"It's sad that even while the president preaches democracy around the world, he bends the rules and circumvents the will of Congress in appointing our representative to the United Nations." — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg
Translation: I have no idea how democracy or the federal government works.
Bush thinks he's flashing the middle finger at Democrats, but in reality he's setting back his own cause for reform at the United Nations. As for U.S. diplomacy, it's yet another setback. But this administration has done nothing but give F.U.s to the world community for five years running. This is simply par for the course. --Kos
Translation: I have no idea how to make a point without using references to profanity. But I do possess an uncanny ability to turn "bad news" into good news for those not a part of the reality based community.
Mark Coffey has more examples of liberal tantrums.
Also posting: David Limbaugh, Original Musings, Blogs for Bush
The Definition of Insanity...
...is attempting the same action time and time again and expecting a different result each and every time. Given that, I think it might be time to take a serious look at the state of Howard Dean's mental health.
After making himself a laughing stock last week for laying the Kelo v New London blame at the feet of "Bush's right-wing court," Howard Dean laid himself bare for the most obvious of crticisms. Namely, there are no Bush appointees on the court, and the most conservative of the justices dissented with the majority opinion.
At the time I wondered if Howard was just "feeding the pigeons," but now I am starting to wonder if the poor man hasn't simply lost all touch with reality. You see, as Hinderaker notes, he continues to make the ridiculous charge.
The president and his right-wing Supreme Court think it is 'okay' to have the government take your house if they feel like putting a hotel where your house is. We think that eminent domain does not belong in the private sector. It is for public use only.
Cuckoo. Cuckoo.
Dean goes on to accuse the Republican Party of "stealing" from Social Security and then concludes that he is sick of being "divided" by the GOP, forcing Hinderaker to ask:
Isn't it reasonable to ask, at this point, whether there are any adults left in the Democratic Party? And if so, where are they?
Uh...they became Republicans? Sarcastic and simplistic I know, but at this point it's all I got.
After making himself a laughing stock last week for laying the Kelo v New London blame at the feet of "Bush's right-wing court," Howard Dean laid himself bare for the most obvious of crticisms. Namely, there are no Bush appointees on the court, and the most conservative of the justices dissented with the majority opinion.
At the time I wondered if Howard was just "feeding the pigeons," but now I am starting to wonder if the poor man hasn't simply lost all touch with reality. You see, as Hinderaker notes, he continues to make the ridiculous charge.
The president and his right-wing Supreme Court think it is 'okay' to have the government take your house if they feel like putting a hotel where your house is. We think that eminent domain does not belong in the private sector. It is for public use only.
Cuckoo. Cuckoo.
Dean goes on to accuse the Republican Party of "stealing" from Social Security and then concludes that he is sick of being "divided" by the GOP, forcing Hinderaker to ask:
Isn't it reasonable to ask, at this point, whether there are any adults left in the Democratic Party? And if so, where are they?
Uh...they became Republicans? Sarcastic and simplistic I know, but at this point it's all I got.
This Is Why I Have So Much Respect For Him
For those of you who have been following the injury and recovery of Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss, he received a special visitor very recently. Go here to see who it was.
Blackfive has more on how you can help Captain Z's family.
On a personal note, I can't imagine how hard it must be for the president to take such a personal interest in our wounded heroes. It would be so easy to sit in his office and let others worry about it, but that does not appear to be his way.
Kudos to him for his ability to block out the politics and the raw noise surrounding this war, and have the human-ness to care about the people who serve this nation. It is the mark of a great man and will undoubtedly be his most enfuring legacy.
Blackfive has more on how you can help Captain Z's family.
On a personal note, I can't imagine how hard it must be for the president to take such a personal interest in our wounded heroes. It would be so easy to sit in his office and let others worry about it, but that does not appear to be his way.
Kudos to him for his ability to block out the politics and the raw noise surrounding this war, and have the human-ness to care about the people who serve this nation. It is the mark of a great man and will undoubtedly be his most enfuring legacy.
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