Gloom, despair, and agony on me

I was going to stay out of politics, but it's only a week until we find out if we're continuing under a middle-of-the-road Republican lite or a left-wing radical socialist.

And don't talk to me about running a negative campaign. McCain should have hit a lot harder a lot sooner. Thanks to his wishy-washy campaigning, we're dangerously close to a president who believes the Constitution is a negative document which doesn't give us enough "rights." Like the right to a welfare state, government ownership of banks and government run health care.

Most of the framers of the Constitution thought a weak, decentralized government was the safest way to prevent tyranny.

And yes, there were disagreements from the get-go. The Federalists favored a stronger central government. Though I doubt most of them could have imagined the programs FDR instituted, much less what Obama intends.

The Constitution outline the powers and limitations of the branches of government. And it was flexible enough to allow for the inclusion of amendments. Amendments which allowed for some clarification of the rights outlined by the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

"All men are created equal." Amendment 13 -- black people are men too. not property. Voting rights? One citizen, one vote. Amendment 19 -- women are citizens too.

And when Jefferson wrote about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," he was speaking of basic broad human rights. It wasn't necessary or even smart to get too specific. The Founding Fathers trusted adults to behave like adults. Given these basic rights, they could work and plan the best life possible for them based on their intelligence, determination and guts.

None of them ever envisioned government as Big Daddy, handing people everything on a silver platter.

Which brings us back to Big Daddy Obama. But what's the use. People don't seem to care. They don't research, they don't think for themselves. Even though their ignorance is aided and abetted by our Fourth Estate, in the era of the Internet, there's no excuse not to seek out as much info as your mind can hold.

Of course, if you use your new found knowledge to ask a politician a question which puts him on the spot, you risk scrutiny and investigation geared to discourage any other average Joe from speaking up.

What else. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A long time coming, and shouldn't be laid at the feet of the Bush administration. It was mainly Democrats who forced the banks to loosen lending rules so mortgages would be more accessible to low income people. And mainly Democrats who benefited from political contributions by Freddie and Fannie officials.

But there were some Republicans who accepted contributions too. And even though Republicans in Congress and Bush in the White House say they repeatedly to reform the agencies, they maybe didn't try hard enough. The Democrats have only had the majority the last two years.

But Bush has been wimpy on domestic issues and McCain's been wimpy going after Obama, and now we're very close to paying a steep price in lost liberties and self-determination.

And Palin? The only bit of fresh air and hope in an otherwise depressing election.

Inexperienced? Sure. But the vice presidency would be a great tutorial. Much better than learning as you go in the presidency, like Obama would be doing.

Politically, she's more a classic Republican than centrist McCain. And she's not afraid to come out swinging. And that's in the face of some of the most vicious mud-slinging any candidate has had to endure. And having to endure mishandling by McCain's campaign.

Fundamentalist Christian? I've run across more than a few liberal bloggers who say her religion "scares" them. Gosh golly, don't people scare easy?

Unless you think Vice President Palin would make her Evangelical sect the State religion, with squads breaking into private homes to forceably baptize you, exactly what's to be scared of?

And so what if she believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Dinosaurs walked the Earth along with man 5000 years ago? If she's willing to drill for oil offshore and in Alaska, I don't care when she thinks the oil got underground.

That's all my pre-election sermon for today. Stay tuned in a year or two for my "I told you so" sermon. Believe me, I'm from a blue state. I know first hand.

We have a question on our ballot to abolish the state income tax.

Those in favor say our property taxes won't go up (and we'll all see pigs start to fly). Those against it say they will.

But it doesn't really matter, since I've already read (I wish I saved the link) that either the state government or the state Supreme Court says if it passes it's not going through anyway. So much for the will of the people.

Palin's Outmoded Hairdo

I've resisted posting anything about Sarah Palin. I don't have too many readers, and they're more than able to make up their own minds without any prompting from me. But I saw this in The Boston Herald this morning, and can't resist making one small observation.

From the Herald:

But must her hair suffer? With her long, straight, often pinned-up locks, Palin looks one humid day away from fronting a Kiss cover band.

“It’s about 20 years out of date,” said Boston stylist Mario Russo of the Alaska governor’s ’do. “Which goes to show how off she might be on current events.”
Small potatoes, since they've picked on everything they could conceivably pick on.

However, for all the Democrats and news pundits and feminist icons questioning her fitness as a mom for daring to run for high political office, this provides an answer.

She's been too busy as a mom and a mayor and a governor to give a rat's ass that her 'do is out of date. All that time she could have spent primping and getting facials and massages were earmarked for more important things. She was probably busy enough reading stuff for her jobs and checking her kids' homework to keep abreast of the fashion mags and Madonna's new look.

I love how some Democrats and lunatic fringes are shooting themselves in the foot with all the idiocy and misogyny they're spewing. I've heard from a number of people who are very angry, including some lifelong libs and Democrats.

Funny email from Dr. Sanity's Blog

Pat Santy posted this email from her brother on her blog yesterday:

I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl, and she said she
wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I
asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you
would do?'

She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

'Wow - what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until
you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow,
pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take
you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and
you can give him the $50 to use toward food or a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds 'cause she's only six. And
while her Mom glared at me, she looked me straight in the eye and
asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and
you can just pay him the $50?'

And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'

Her folks still aren't talking to me.

Great speech from Fred Thompson

Better Watch your back in the Bayou

Next time he heads down New Orleans way for some jambalaya, he better have a taster.

The short version (if you only want to hear his pleasure at Hurricane Gustav striking when it does):



The long version of his MSNBC spot with Olberman so you can hear him say more stupid things:



Isn't it sweet he hopes no one will be hurt? I guess that's because our health care system is so far behind Cuba's.

And about how women won't want to vote for Palin because she's "against the very things that women are for and women need."

Because we all know that all women want and need the exact same things. We all have the same desires and opinions and political, social, and religious views, so we naturally will all vote for the same candidate.

What a schmuck. You wouldn't know what women are for and what women need, Mr. Moore, if you had a map, a diagram and an instructional video.

Thank God for Governor Jindal. He started them evacuating early and made it mandatory. And they've provided shelters for the pets too.

Go see An American Carol when it comes out in October! The Michael Malone character seems to be slapped hard and slapped often.

Book Review: The New Destroyer: Killer Ratings

Remo and Chiun are back, as a cable news cycle finds itself in a season of disaster reruns!

read more | digg story

I'm starting a war for peace

I've found two items dealing with childrens' books that I want to blog about. I should go with the annoying one, but the "so idiotic it's funny" one is a better Earth Day post, so I'll go with that.

From USA Today: The Lorax is Back!

And he's going to help save the rainforest this time, instead of the Truffula trees! How is he going to do this? I hear you ask. I picture you straining forward in your seats, holding your collective breaths in anticipation.

Why, by putting out a new edition of his book, naturally.

Now, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is teaming with Conservation International and Random House to use The Lorax to help save the forests.

The book is being reprinted with a special environmental message that describes "The Lorax Project," which is being launched today in honor of Earth Day. Ten percent to 15% of profits from the book and from Earth-friendly consumer products featuring the Lorax's image will be used to stop deforestation in Madagascar, Brazil and China.

The book's depiction of how environmental destruction is bad for everyone is especially relevant to today's world, says Leeanne Alonso, director of Conservation International's rapid assessment program.

She says the disappearing forests are our Truffula Trees. The Lorax "was the harbinger of what's happening now. He's saying, 'Stop cutting the forest now, or you're going to regret it later.' We're protecting the forests that are left, like The Lorax is saying."

Maybe this new edition will have the Lorax cutting down some of the remaining Truffula trees so he can print up handbills and pamphlets decrying their destruction?

Parents Fight Over Which Gang Toddler Should Join

Yes, gang. Not playgroup; not preschool. Not Church. Remember the days when having parents of different faiths would cause problems with the child's upbringing? And the tensions caused by interracial unions? Welcome to the new millennium:

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- A couple fighting about which gang their 4-year-old toddler should join caused a public disturbance that resulted in the father's arrest, Commerce City police said Thursday.

On Saturday, Joseph Manzanares stormed into the Hollywood Video store where his girlfriend worked, threatened to kill her and knocked over several video displays and even a computer, Commerce City police Sgt. Joe Sandoval said.

After he ran out of the store, police were called and the 19-year-old was arrested at his home.

His girlfriend told police that they had been arguing about the upbringing of their son and which gang he should belong to. The teen mother, who is black, is a member of the Crips. Manzanares is Hispanic and belongs to the Westside Ballers gang, the woman said.

"They have different ideas on how the baby should be raised. Basically, she said they cannot agree on which gang the baby would 'claim,'" Sandoval said

Manzanares was charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, and domestic violence. He was transported to the Adams County Detention Facility.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to a year of probation. The misdemeanor harassment charge was dropped.

Everyone knows how bad it is for the child when parents don't present a united front. Whichever gang this toddler joins, he's sure to alienate himself from one of his parents. Very psychologically devastating.

There's no mention of Child Protective Services. Or parental counseling. Hopefully that will be addressed later, but who knows?

Fitna

It's only about fifteen minutes long, and isn't that remarkable. If it weren't for the calls for death against Geert Wilders and the server on his web site not permitting him to show the video, no one would have noticed it.

Warning for graphic images of violence.



There are articles about the Dutch government breathing a sigh of release that there has been no outbreaks of violence since the movie went up yesterday.

The Dutch government worked for months before the film appeared to defuse Muslim anger over its theme. In a statement broadcast live on television on Thursday in both Dutch and English, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said he rejected Wilders’ views.

But if Wilders views are wrong, why would the Dutch government need to work so hard to appease the Muslims?

If you've watched the movie, Wilders lets Islamic extremists speak for themselves. Unless you can argue that he took them out of context? The man who said, "[The Jews] are the ones who must be butchered and killed." Maybe he followed that up with a "Just kidding, folks. I love the Jews!" but Wilders cut that out so he could incite anti-Islamic violence?

Are there moderate Muslims? Sure, but there's no way of knowing how many, as they are mostly too frightened to speak out.

Are we at war? Yes, and there are no civilians. When the war is against terrorists -- who target civilians specifically -- there are no civilians.

It’s for our own good

There was an explosion last Thursday at a Times Square military recruitment center.

An explosive device caused minor damage to an empty military recruiting station in Times Square early Thursday, shaking guests in hotel rooms high above.

The recruiting station, located on a traffic island surrounded by Broadway theaters and chain restaurants, has occasionally been the site of anti-war demonstrations, ranging from silent vigils to loud rallies.

The Department of Homeland Security is looking into it. If it was terrorists, it was probably the home-grown kind.

Anti-war protestors have been targeting recruitment centers, usually with picketing and vandalism. Berkeley has received its share of bad press for telling the Marines their recruitment center wasn't welcome there and seeking to pass legislation that would make recruitment centers harder to open within their city limits than porn shops. The mayor of Toledo, Ohio got a lot of flack for denying the Marines permission to conduct military exercises within the city.

I could write about the immorality of using terrorism to advance any cause. I could mention that the ends do not justify the means. I could opine that violence and destruction are never the answer. But most people know that.

What really gets me, what annoys me to the point I feel compelled to blog about it, is the arrogance and condescension of these leftist, anti-war radicals.

Recruitment centers aren't doing the hard sell. They are there, in major cities, for young people who want to explore the option of a military career. ROTC and military recruiters have already been banned from plenty of college campuses and high schools.

Recruitment centers put posters and info in their windows. Maybe some of the officers linger outside the center. I don't know. We have one downtown in my city, but I haven't really paid attention. I do see men in uniform walking along the street from time to time.

These military personnel are not roaming the street, pulling unwary men and women into their center. Marines and sailors aren't roaming Norfolk, VA and San Francisco, press-ganging people onto ships and bases like the British Royal Navy of the 17th and 18th century.

But Code Pink, the council in Berkely, and other protest groups don't see it that way. They feel they have the right to intimidate both the military and prevent young people from making up their own minds. And therin lies the arrogance.

I've said it here: people are stupid. Not so much low IQ. It's just that most people don't think and most people don't want to think.

But I would never suggest that anyone -- aside from the truly mentally disabled -- be prevented from exercising their free will and free choice.

But a lot of these groups think anyone who doesn't think like them are, to put it crudely, retarded.

They obviously can't think for themselves, they reason. If they could, they wouldn't set foot in a recruitment center. Therefore, we have to prevent them from coming into contact with anything that is evil (evil being anything they disagree with). We have to protect them from themselves.

Arrogance. Pure, unmitigated condescension. And a totalitarian mindset that scares the hell out of me. I hope these people never get into postitions of real power, not more than they have already.