The Impudent One

Small Minds in Big Hollywood

2009-01-23T13:45:00.003-06:00

Andrew Breitbart skewers the Hollywood elite for their mind-numbingly stupid and blatantly self-serving pronouncements. This article is definitely a must read.

A Peaceful, Uneasy Feeling

2009-01-23T13:37:00.004-06:00

As usual, Victor Davis Hanson has a way of putting things in an historical perspective. In this case, it is the election of Barak Obama as President of the United States of America.

Closing Guantanamo Without a Plan

2009-01-23T12:56:00.005-06:00

As he promised during the campaign, President Obama has signed an Executive Order requiring the closure of the Guantanamo detainment facility. Aside from being an idealistic and stupid idea, it was exacerbated by Obama's's lack of any plan for dealing with the terrorists housed there. Keep in mind that the Bush administration and the military have released hundreds of detainees from Guantanamo, presumably those deemed least dangerous. About 10 percent of those released have gone back to try and kill our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. What percentage of the hardcore terrorists are likely to go back to attacking our soldiers - or worse, attack American citizens on American soil? This is not just hypothetical. A Guantanamo detainee released in 2007 has just emerged as a deputy leader of the Al Qaeda branch in Yemen. I guess you can take the man out of the terrorist group, but you can't take the terrorist out of the man. Maybe if we all hold hands, think utopian thoughts and sing songs from the 1960's, they will be moved and decide to embrace a completely different world-view. Then again, maybe they'll just opt for the 72 virgins, press the detonator for their suicide belt and try to kill and maim as many of us as they can.

Pacing the Cage

2009-01-23T07:59:00.001-06:00

This one goes out to The Little Finger and his brothers (& sisters) in arms.

Propaganda By the Numbers

2009-01-22T11:59:00.003-06:00

Once again, Hamas has played fast and loose with the facts -- more specifically, the number of civilian deaths in the recent clash between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. A Gazan doctor, who didn't give his name because he wanted to live for at least another 24 hours, told an Italian newspaper:

"The number of deceased stands at no more than 500 to 600. Most of them are youths between the ages of 17 to 23 who were recruited to the ranks of Hamas, who sent them to the slaughter,"

A resident of Tal al-Hawa, who also preferred to not paint a target on his own back, had this to say to the newspaper:

"Armed Hamas men sought out a good position for provoking the Israelis. There were mostly teenagers, aged 16 or 17, and armed. They couldn't do a thing against a tank or a jet. They knew they are much weaker, but they fired at our houses so that they could blame Israel for war crimes."

Read more on this story at Ynetnews.com.

Meryl Yourish has also posted on this story. However, her post also contains links to video evidence of previous fallacious claims by Hamas. I recommend you check them out. You will discover how the UN is used by Hamas and that the "dead" can come back to life!

The Little Finger Is Heading to Iraq

2009-01-22T11:43:00.001-06:00

Some time ago, I wrote a couple posts about my male offspring (aka The Little Finger) shipping out to Fort Jackson for Basic Training. After 3 months of BT and 6 months of AIT, he finally returned home in October 2008 to settle in with his Minnesota Army National Guard unit. In November, he got the word that his unit, the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division, was being activated and would be heading for Iraq. Well, that time is upon us. He will be flying to Fort Lewis in Washington state in a couple days. After a several weeks of pre-deployment training, he and his fellow Red Bulls will head for Kuwait and then Iraq.

This is, obviously, a time of mixed emotions. I am very proud of my son, not only for his military service, but for the man he has become and will be. As a father, I am also concerned for his safety, even though I know things are better in Iraq that two years ago. I am also going to miss having him around. Other than my mother, he's my favorite person with which to spend time. For the next year or so, we'll have to settle for letters, email and the occasional conversation on Skype.

Here are a couple pics of this fine young man:

Richard John Neuhaus, 1936–2009

2009-01-19T13:16:00.003-06:00

I don't know how I missed this news, but I just became aware of the passing of this great man today. Here is link to the announcement that appeared in First Things.

We do not grieve as those who have no hope.

(1 Thessalonians 4:12-14)

Hamas' Crucifixion Revival

2009-01-05T19:09:00.003-06:00

Hamas must be concerned that all the portrayals of them as victims in the recent Middle East unpleasantness is harming their image as terrorists and ruthless thugs. On Christmas Day 2008 (no subtlety intended, I'm sure), Hamas legislators legalized the crucifixion of "enemies of Islam", according to Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick.

Apparently, building a Colosseum and rounding up some hungry lions was too much trouble.

A.G.W. on the Rocks

2009-01-05T18:35:00.005-06:00

Once again, facts fly in the face of anthropogenic global warming dogma. According to the University of Illinois's Arctic Climate Research Center, the sea ice is not melting at an alarming rate, much to the relief of the booming polar bear population. Here's a hint, folks. Climate should be evaluated not by reviewing years and decades of data, but by hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands of years of data. That's the only way to put it in a proper context. Of course, that would leave the global warming Chicken Little alarmists with only one thing to shout: "The sky is normal! The sky is normal!"

And that wouldn't sell very many movie tickets. Right, Al?

HT: Daily Tech

A Birthday Toast to Professor Tolkien

2009-01-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

January 3rd is the birthday of J. R. R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings. The Tolkien Society has issued its annual announcement encouraging fans around the world to join them in a toast to Professor Tolkien:

On the 3rd January 1892 JRR Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. To celebrate this event, on this day each year Tolkien fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast the birthday of this much loved author.

The toast is "The Professor".

For those unfamiliar with British toast-drinking ceremonies:

To make the Birthday Toast, you stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words 'The Professor' before taking a sip (or swig, if that's more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink.

So, offer a toast to the Professor, if you are so inclined.

Postmodernism & the Middle-East

2009-01-02T07:46:00.007-06:00

In his latest article, "The Gaza Rules", Victor Davis Hanson provides an excellent summary of how the usual rules have been turned upside-down when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here is a sample:

Watching both this week's war and the world's predictable reaction to it, we can recall the Gaza rules. Most are reflections of our postmodern age, and completely at odds with the past protocols of war.

First is the now-familiar Middle East doctrine of proportionality. Legitimate military action is strangely defined by the relative strength of the combatants. World opinion more vehemently condemns Israel's countermeasures, apparently because its rockets are far more accurate and deadly than previous Hamas barrages that are poorly targeted and thus not so lethal.

If America had accepted such rules in, say, World War II, then by late 1944 we, not the Axis, would have been the culpable party, since by then once-aggressive German, Italian and Japanese forces were increasingly on the defensive and far less lethal than the Allies.

Now go read the other four points that VDH makes in his very timely article.

Good Advice for Husbands

2008-11-12T17:32:00.002-06:00

Fact-checking the fact-checkers

2008-10-06T18:11:00.003-05:00

Byron York's National Review Online article, McCain and the Fact-Checking Fallacy, examines the subjective world of political fact-checking. It seems even the facts provided by the fact-checkers aren't always facts. And that's a fact. Really.

Justice Applied - Simpson Convicted

2008-10-04T16:43:00.004-05:00

There's an old adage "Justice delayed is justice denied". However, I would guess that the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown are feeling a certain amount of satisfaction with O. J. Simpson's armed robbery conviction on Friday. The verdict was delivered exactly 13 years to the day after a Los Angeles jury declared him not guilty of the murders of Goldman and Brown. He may have gotten away with a double murder 13 years ago, but he couldn't get away from his own narcissism which drove him commit robbery at gunpoint to retrieve some of his memorabilia which he believed was stolen from him. Never mind the fact that he still owes the Goldman's over $30 million from the civil suit.

It is certain that Simpson's attorneys will appeal the conviction claiming that the police, prosecution and/or jury were out to rectify the outcome of the murder trial. I don't know if there is any truth in that or not and, frankly, it wouldn't bother me if there was. The fact of the matter is that he either committed an armed robbery or he didn't. If the evidence is there, he should be found guilty.

Simpson can only blame himself (though he certainly won't) for the position he is in. If he hadn't murdered two people 13 years ago, his sports memorabilia would have been in his own display case today and he wouldn't be headed for prison.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Work

2008-09-29T11:38:00.002-05:00

I decided to take a different route to work today. I was running a little late (as usual) and decided to avoid the backed up freeway. As I was winding my way through Edina, I saw a pile of Republican lawn signs by the side of the road. Since I didn't have my digital camera with me and was already late for work, I continued on. However, I have emailed MDE since he recently made the local news with his video of an Ashwin Madia campaign worker removing and attempting to trash Erik Paulsen campaign signs. There were both Paulsen and Norm Coleman signs in the pile that I drove by. Since they were laying flat on the ground, I doubt they were just poorly displayed.

Financial Crisis Could Have Been Solved...In 2003

2008-09-23T22:57:00.004-05:00

Dennis Prager's blog has two posts by Alan Estrin regarding the current financial crisis. One post provides a link to this Kevin Hassett article at Bloomberg.com. Mr. Hassett, it must be stated, is a McCain advisor so one could attribute at least some bias to his view. However, this September 11, 2003 New York Times article, which is referenced in Alan's other post, cannot be dismissed so easily. It is clear that it was Democrats who refused to allow regulation of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which might have prevented the current crisis. Even now, as the President is trying to get legislation that deals with the financial crisis through Congress, the Democrats are playing political games by trying to attach unnecessary and unrelated provisions to the bill. This will only delay the process and create even more uncertainty. There is one very good word for the Congressional Democrats - "irresponsible".

Silencing Sarah

2008-09-23T22:18:00.003-05:00

Sarah Palin was invited to speak at a rally protesting Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance at the UN. The very pro-Israel speech she would have given really puts the wood to ol' Mahmoud. When fellow invitee Hillary Clinton found out Sarah had been invited, she threw a fit and refused to participate. The reason given was that inviting Sarah was a "partisan move". (Isn't it interesting that she considers inviting representatives from both political parties to be partisan.) The organizers of the rally/protest withdrew their invitation to Sarah as a result of Hillary's tantrum.

However, a major news source has published the transcript of the speech Sarah Palin had prepared for the rally. No, it wasn't Fox, the Wall Street Journal, the Weekly Standard or any other traditional "Conservative" outlets. The very Left-wing Israeli paper Haaretz (think New York Times, LA Times or Minneapolis Star Tribune) has made a point to publish the speech. It seems that when you have a soon-to-be-nuclear power, led by an unabashed anti-Semite with delusions of finishing what Hitler started, within missile range or your home, you get a clearer understanding of who is on your side. You can read Sarah's speech here.

HT: Prager

Talk Like a Pirate Day 2008

2008-09-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, one of my most popular posts is Pirate as a Second Language which was originally posted September 18, 2006. Since Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19th, I thought this would be a good time to revisit the whole subject. For those of you who either don't know how to talk like a pirate or are a little rusty, this tutorial will help you get up to speed for the big day.

Lincoln on Expectations

2008-09-17T22:35:00.006-05:00

"If you look for the bad in peopleexpecting to find it, you surely will."

BrainyQuote.com

The Bourne Idiocy

2008-09-17T22:35:00.004-05:00

Actor and college drop out Matt Damon wows us with his political insight into the Republican VP candidate, Sarah Palin. I can't even begin to describe how ignorant this is. Matt really needs to stick to acting.

The Nebulous Definition of "The Bush Doctrine"

2008-09-13T18:09:00.003-05:00

Chuck Gibson's interview of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin was nothing more than a continuation of the attacks on her by the Left-Wing Media elite. The question that best confirms this assessment was, "Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?" Sarah's response, which was to ask "In what respect, Charlie?", was the proper response because there is no single definition for the term Bush Doctrine. All one needs to do is to read the first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry for The Bush Doctrine. The following is the relevant section (emphasis added):

It may be viewed as a set of several related foreign policy principles, including stress on ending terrorism, spreading democracy, increased unilateralism in foreign policy and an expanded view of American national security interests. Foreign policy experts argue over the meaning of the term "Bush Doctrine," and some scholars have suggested that there is no one unified theory underlying Bush's foreign policy. Jacob Weisberg identifies six successive "Bush Doctrines" in his book The Bush Tragedy, while former Bush staffer Peter D. Feaver has counted seven.

Now, put yourself in her place. You are asked if you agree with a term that has several possible meanings. No matter which one you pick, the inquisitor can decide that the definition he meant was one of those you didn't pick. It's a bit like someone holding their hands behind their back and asking how many fingers they are holding up. No matter what number you give, they can arrogantly display their recently altered finger count and proclaim you an idiot for not getting it right.

Well, Chuck did his best, but all he succeeded in doing was to give the Kos-DU-HuffPo crowd something to cackle about. For the rest of us out here in middle America, we saw a confident, composed, strong woman who stood toe-to-toe with an aggressively biased Left-wing Media snob. Could she have done better? Yes, I think there were questions she could have handled better. More importantly, there were no Biden-like gaffes -- or if you prefer, Obama-like gaffes.

And what about Chuck's idea of what the Bush Doctrine means? To his credit, he narrowed the timeframe to, ". . . the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war." Then he defined it (emphasis added):

The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us.

If that is the Bush Doctrine, then virtually every leader of every civilization in history agreed with it. If FDR had received information on December 6th that the Japanese fleet was going to attack Pearl Harbor the following day, is there any doubt that he would have ordered a preemptive strike? Of course he would have. However, Chuck got it wrong according to the previously referenced Wikipedia entry. Again, I will quote the relevant section (again, emphasis added):

Other foreign policy experts have taken the term to mean Bush's doctrine of preventive war, first articulated in 2002, which holds that the United States government should depose foreign regimes that represent a threat to the security of the United States, even if such threats are not immediate and no attack is imminent. This policy was used to justify the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

I am certain, given Chuck's obvious bias, that this was the policy he intended to trap her with. Unfortunately, he couldn't get it right and he failed miserably in trying to make her look bad. In fact, his ineptitude gave her the perfect opportunity to highlight what almost all Americans know in this election: If we want to be safe from enemies, foreign and domestic, the only choice is McCain-Palin.

Dear Mr. Obama

2008-09-12T17:45:00.003-05:00

HT: Hugh

Never Forget

2008-09-11T07:50:00.006-05:00

September 11, 2001

Palin: Can-do, No-excuses Moose-hunting Feminist

2008-09-10T10:09:00.001-05:00

Camille Paglia had an interesting article in Salon.com yesterday. If you can get past the McCain bashing in the first three paragraphs and the cognitive dissonance of her positions on abortion and capital punishment (it's probably not what you think), Paglia makes some interesting observations about Sarah Palin and Feminism. I disagree with Paglia on many things, but often she does make some interesting observations and her writing is usually entertaining. Here's a taste from the above referenced article:

Conservative though she may be, I felt that Palin represented an explosion of a brand new style of muscular American feminism. At her startling debut on that day, she was combining male and female qualities in ways that I have never seen before. And she was somehow able to seem simultaneously reassuringly traditional and gung-ho futurist. In terms of redefining the persona for female authority and leadership, Palin has made the biggest step forward in feminism since Madonna channeled the dominatrix persona of high-glam Marlene Dietrich and rammed pro-sex, pro-beauty feminism down the throats of the prissy, victim-mongering, philistine feminist establishment.

I think I could hear Gloria Steinem scream, "Ouch!" from here. Now, go read the entire article.

The Saudi Arabian Candidate?

2008-09-06T16:15:00.002-05:00

The Investor's Business Daily editorial, Barack Obama — Magna Cum Saudi?, looks at the candidate's links to a Saudi billionaire and the Black Panthers, a 1960s radical group.

Peggy Noonan Explains

2008-09-04T17:22:00.003-05:00

Peggy Noonan has issued an apology regarding the recent unpleasantness which I addressed in my last post. In using the word 'apology', I mean it in the philosophical sense: "a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine." Other than making that distinction, I will let the readers draw their own conclusions.

Noonan's "Jesse Jackson" Moment

2008-09-03T18:27:00.007-05:00

I'd like to think that WSJ columnist Peggy Noonan and Republican strategist Mike Murphy are not stupid. I said that I'd LIKE to think that. However, they apparently didn't learn anything from Jesse Jackson's recent experience with open microphones after television interviews.

After an interview on MSNBC, Murphy and Noonan decided to provide some audio for future Obama campaign ads. Transcript and video here. What makes Noonan's comments so astounding is that she had just written positively about Sarah Palin's candidacy earlier today. Not only that, Noonan also proved to be somewhat prophetic when she wrote:

Let me say of myself and almost everyone I know in the press, all the chattering classes and political strategists and inside dopesters of the Amtrak Acela Line: We live in a bubble and have around us bubble people. We are Bubbleheads.

. . . And when you forget you're a Bubblehead you get in trouble, you misjudge things.

That's right, Peggy. When you forget that you're a Bubblehead, you misjudge the American people. You see, Peggy, most Americans don't rub elbows with the Manhattan Elites or attend cocktail parties in Georgetown. When you look at Sarah Palin, you see a "narrative". When we look at Sarah Palin, we see someone like us. We see a woman of faith who loves this country, loves her family, loves life and will do what she needs to do to protect them all. That may be "political B.S." to the Bubblehead crowd, but to the rest of us out here in "fly-over country" that's who we are.

To end this post, dear Peggy, I remind you of a favorite saying of the late, great Ronald Reagan. It is a quote you, of all people, ought to have remembered:

"Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."

Sarah Palin on Taking Risks

2008-08-29T20:58:00.004-05:00

". . . I didn't get into government to

do the safe and easy things.

A ship in harbor is safe,

but that's not why the ship is built."

Sarah Palin ~ From her speech accepting VP candidacy.

August 29, 2008

UPDATE!!

In the interest of accuracy, I find it necessary to note that at least part of the above quote is not original to Sarah. According to Wikiquote and The Quotations Page, John August Shedd's 1928 book, Salt from My Attic, contained the line:

"A ship in harbor is safe,
but that is not what ships are built for."

In my brief internet search, I found other attributions and variations. However, the attributions to John A. Shedd were the only ones which had detailed information (i.e. title of source material, date published).

THAT'S the Ticket!

2008-08-29T18:49:00.006-05:00

McCain ~ Palin 2008

Pawlenty Out, Palin In?

2008-08-29T07:21:00.001-05:00

Another political prognostication by the Impudent One ends up on the dust heap of history. It sounds like Pawlenty is not likely to be McCain's pick. I am not making another prediction here, but today's buzz that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will get the nod sounds better all the time. She is likely to appeal to women who want to see a woman in the White House. She will definitely appeal to the superficial-male vote...

My McCain VP Prediction

2008-08-27T23:20:00.000-05:00

I have made this prediction in conversations, but have not committed it to paper...I mean, electrons. Since it has been reported that McCain has finally decided on his running mate, I thought the time was right to put myself out on a limb. (As a side note, I predicted Obama would pick Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, which turned out to be oh, so wrong when he announced "Slow Joe" Biden at three o'clock in the morning. Thus far, I'm not doing very well in the area of prophetic utterances - subcategory: VP selections.)

There have been essentially three prominent names bouncing around the last week or so: Mitt Romney, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Joe Lieberman, the erstwhile running mate of Al "Carbon Credit" Gore.

Although Lieberman and McCain may be good friends, I would be shocked if he got the nod. The obvious negative for Lieberman is that, aside from being a national defense hawk, he is a Liberal. That's with a capital "L". McCain cannot afford to alienate the Conservatives any more than he already has. Perhaps the less obvious problem with Lieberman is that any voters he might draw would already be inclined to support McCain.

Romney, has a lot of positives. He has been a governor in a very Liberal state, successfully salvaged the Los Angeles Olympics, has lots of his own money and, as far as we know, is scandal-free. However, given the recent so-called gaffe regarding the number of homes McCain and (primarily) his wife own, having another wealthy guy on the ticket could play right into the Dems "class envy" strategy for demonizing Republicans.

Tim Pawlenty would be a good choice for several reasons. He is young, but not too young. He is a two-term governor with plenty of political and leadership experience. (This is a nice contrast with Obama's youth and inexperience.) He has a blue-collar background, is smart and articulate, is very charming and personable (all in contrast to Joe Biden). Pawlenty is fiscally conservative, pro-Second Amendment and pro-Life. Pawlenty is a bit thin when it comes to foreign policy. Minnesota governors do a lot of foreign travel to promote trade between Minnesota and other countries, which is the main reason I used the word "thin" instead of "non-existent". In my view, this isn't a major problem since McCain has plenty of foreign policy experience.

An area that really bothers me about Pawlenty, may actually work in his favor as VP. A long time ago, in an Iowa far, far away John McCain very famously spoke out very firmly against farm subsidies for ethanol production. McCain has continued to repeat his opposition to ethanol subsidies as recently as this month. Pawlenty, on the other hand, has been a big advocate for ethanol fuel. Although this is what drives me nuts about Pawlenty, it might help McCain in Iowa, Minnesota and other corn producing states to have him on the ticket.

Well, on Friday John McCain will announce his running mate and I'll find out if my powers of prediction are as good as a coin toss.

More Brandi Carlile on YouTube

2008-08-26T17:50:00.002-05:00

I'll be going to see Brandi Carlile perform at the Minnesota State Fair this evening. Here are a few live performances by Brandi for those who can't be there. Enjoy!

Turpentine - Live

Wasted - Live with Special Guest

The Story - Live

Folsom Prison Blues - Live

Have You Ever - Live

The Republican Dream Team

2008-08-23T08:31:00.001-05:00

Well, it's official. Barak H. Obama has selected the gaffe-prone, self-admitted plagiarist Senator Joe Biden. Like Obama, Biden is also an "articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy". Also, like Obama, he is both arrogant and clueless when it comes to foreign policy. On one ticket, we have the only US politician who still refuses to accept that the Surge in Iraq has been successful paired with the main proponent for imposing segregation in Iraq by partitioning the country based on ethnicity. Just think about it. These guys could end up running our foreign policy.

Swedish Whine?

2008-08-14T20:00:00.001-05:00

Anti-definition: Sportsmanship

Spanish Athretes Orympic Brunder

2008-08-14T19:44:00.004-05:00

Oh, those crazy Spaniards. Apparently no one told them that they are supposed to be nervously looking over their shoulders out of fear that they might offend someone. Instead, they foolishly spent a little of their free time between Olympic events goofing off and having fun. What were they thinking?

Family Planning

2008-07-28T19:01:00.004-05:00

My brother and his wife recently informed their children as to the gender of their prenatal sibling. My nephew, as you will see and hear, is thinking ahead.

Avicenna on the Law of Non-contradiction

2008-07-27T14:57:00.004-05:00

"Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned until he admits that to be beaten is not the same as not to be beaten, and to be burned is not the same as not to be burned."

~~~ Avicenna, medieval philosopher

For the record, I enthusiastically accept the Law of Non-contradiction. Absolutely. Without question. No denial here.

Lincoln on Becoming Wiser

2008-07-14T19:13:00.000-05:00

"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."

BrainyQuote.com

Tony Snow Video Tribute

2008-07-12T13:50:00.002-05:00

I decided to do a little tribute to Tony Snow. I couldn't think of anything better than to post some of his better moments as White House press secretary. Take it away, Tony...

Tony takes on Helen Thomas

Tony's marvelous reaction to a reporter's question

Tony gives advice to John Kerry

Tony bangs his head on podium

And to close things out, Tony plays the blues...

Tony Snow, 1955-2008

2008-07-12T12:38:00.005-05:00

Former White House press secretary, journalist, columnist, political commentator, and all-around good guy Tony Snow lost his battle with cancer early this morning. My condolences to his wife, children and friends. There are many people in this world that I'm glad I don't know. There are very few people that I wish I had known. Tony Snow, in my book, you're one of the few.

Full Betancourt Interview

2008-07-11T17:48:00.004-05:00

Former FARC hostage, Ingrid Betancourt, is interviewed by NBC's Ann Curry. I found the interview quite interesting. In the full interview, Betancourt discusses how her faith sustained her and how God answered her prayer. Needless to say, not much of that part of the interview made it "on air".

A Feline Funny

2008-07-01T19:36:00.003-05:00

My close personal friend, Muzzy, has posted a video cartoon that only cat owners can truly appreciate. If you don't laugh out loud, you will at least chuckle (pun intended, for those in the know).

Wesley Clark Does Obama's Dirty Work

2008-06-30T18:39:00.005-05:00

Retired General Wesley Clark appeared on CBS' Face the Nation and had the following to say about Republican Presidential candidate John McCain's military experience:

"Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president"

Using the former General's reasoning, getting your PT boat sunk while you're at the helm would also not be a qualification to be president. That didn't stop JFK from using it to get elected, did it?

I'm a little surprised that he doesn't know that you don't "ride a fighter plane". Also, John McCain flew an attack aircraft, an A-4E Skyhawk to be specific. If he flew a fighter, the nomenclature would begin with an "F" as in F-16 or F-22. I guess basic military knowledge is not a qualification to be a General -- or a failed Democrat Presidential candidate for that matter.

Needless to say, Clark was just doing the dirty work for B. H. Obama. That way Obama can make some vague comments about respecting military service and perpetuate the illusion that he is for "change". This is just regular old sleazy Chicago politics that Obama knows so well.

Scalia on Charlie Rose

2008-06-28T00:09:00.004-05:00

It's a little long, but worth it. After all, it is Scalia.

McCain: Lift Ban On Offshore Drilling

2008-06-16T17:25:00.002-05:00

John McCain has seen the light. He must have read my recent post. Yeah, right.

So You Think You Can Dance?

2008-06-15T18:58:00.004-05:00

Right Here. Right Now. Let's Drill.

2008-06-14T19:44:00.006-05:00

Sign this petition demanding that:

. . . the U.S. Congress to act immediately to lower gasoline prices
(and diesel and other fuel prices)* by authorizing the exploration
of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign
energy sources from unstable countries.

The first thing out of Madame Pelosi's mouth will be that this won't help because it will take 10 years before the oil will flow. That argument is irrelevant for three reasons.

First, even if that is true, all the more reason to start now. Who knows how bad things might be in ten years? Besides, most of those 10 years would be caused by bureaucratic red tape which Congress could easily cut through.

Second, much of the increase in oil prices is due to speculation in the futures market. If the USA begins to tap its own reserves, it will likely result in a drop in oil prices due to the expectation of increased supply in the future. Buy low, sell high.

Third, the oil producing countries which we are currently dependent on will have less incentive to restrict current production. They love the high price of oil and that they have the USA over a barrel (no pun intended). It was embarrassing to watch President Bush go over to our so-called friends, the Saudis, and beg them to increase production, only to be told (and I'll paraphrase here) "Go pound sand." If we start moving towards more domestic production, I think they will be more interested in producing more oil in the hope that it might discourage us from becoming too enthusiastic about cutting the petrol-umbilical cord.

And now, for your YouTube viewing pleasure, a message from Chuck Norris:

HT: Powerline

Habeas Ruling and Election '08

2008-06-12T20:54:00.010-05:00

Hugh Hewitt's column at Townhall.com, The United States Supreme Court Versus America: Awarding "The Privilege of Habeas Corpus To Terrorists", addresses the outrageous, irresponsible and narrow 5-4 SCOTUS ruling handed down today. The following is a portion of Justice Scalia's sobering dissent from Hugh's column:

America is at war with radical Islamists. The enemy began by killing Americans and American allies abroad: 241 at the Marine barracks in Lebanon, 19 at the Khobar Towers in Dhahran, 224 at our embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, and 17 on the USS Cole in Yemen. See National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, The 9/11 Commission Report, pp. 60–61, 70, 190 (2004). On September 11, 2001, the enemy brought the battle to American soil, killing 2,749 at the Twin Towers in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon in Washington, D. C., and 40 in Pennsylvania. See id., at 552, n. 9. It has threatened further attacks against our homeland; one need only walk about buttressed and barricaded Washington, or board a plane anywhere in the country, to know that the threat is a serious one. Our Armed Forces are now in the field against the enemy, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Last week, 13 of our countrymen in arms were killed.

The game of bait-and-switch that today’s opinion plays upon the Nation’s Commander in Chief will make the war harder on us. It will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed.

Like Hugh, I pray that Scalia is wrong, but I have no doubt that he absolutely correct.

Hugh puts much of the blame for this ruling at the feet of Justice Kennedy, and rightly so. Of the five justices in the majority, he was the only one who might have decided differently. The next President will likely have at least 2-3 vacancies to fill on the Supreme Court. Barak Obama has stated that his appointments will be in the mold of Justice Ginsberg. John McCain has repeatedly stated that he will appoint justices like Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. Ginsberg has just decided that foreign terrorists who want to destroy us, our country and our way of life deserve the same Constitutional protections that we, as citizens, have. Roberts and Alito, along with Thomas and Scalia, dissented from that view.

I have never been a McCain fan. Not even close. However, there are two issues that will affect this country for decades to come: the GWOT and the Supreme Court. McCain is absolutely right on both issues. Obama is absolutely wrong on both issues. When it comes to my choice for President this year, I have only one option. And it is not Barak Obama.

Come On In Boys. The Water Is Fine.

2008-06-10T18:38:00.002-05:00

Scenes from the film O Brother Where Art Thou?

Steyn On Trial

2008-06-07T11:46:00.003-05:00

Writer, humorist and political pundit Mark Steyn, is suffering the slings and arrows of Canadian political correctness run amok. Apparently, a the Canadian Islamic Congress complained that their feelings got hurt when a portion of his book America Alone appeared in Maclean's. Naturally, the Canadian government told the CIC that there is such a thing as free speech in Canada and to stop whining. Oh, wait a minute. That must have been some other government. No, in Canada they haul you in front of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal and stage what can only be described as a kangaroo court. On the bright side, it's great publicity for his book.

Andrew Coyne Liveblogging the BCHRT
Mark Steyn - But we were getting along so well!
Hugh Hewitt's interview with Mark Steyn (transcript)

WaPo: "Lull in news coverage" of Iraq Progress

2008-06-02T20:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's Washington Post editorial, The Iraqi Upturn, starts out by commenting on the lack of media coverage of the remarkable good news coming from Iraq.

There's been a relative lull in news coverage and debate about Iraq in recent weeks -- which is odd, because May could turn out to have been one of the most important months of the war. While Washington's attention has been fixed elsewhere, military analysts have watched with astonishment as the Iraqi government and army have gained control for the first time of the port city of Basra and the sprawling Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, routing the Shiite militias that have ruled them for years and sending key militants scurrying to Iran. At the same time, Iraqi and U.S. forces have pushed forward with a long-promised offensive in Mosul, the last urban refuge of al-Qaeda. So many of its leaders have now been captured or killed that U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, renowned for his cautious assessments, said that the terrorists have "never been closer to defeat than they are now."

The editorial goes on to mention several areas of significant progress, politically as well as militarily. In the last paragraph, it suggests that "likely Democratic nominee" Obama may need to adjust his strategy to the current situation. The editorial suggests that, instead of withdrawing troops on an arbitrary time table, he should tie "withdrawals to the evolution of the Iraqi army and government". In other words, he should handle it like President Bush and the Republicans have been saying all along.

BRILLIANT!

Harvey Korman RIP

2008-05-29T19:27:00.002-05:00

Read the details here. Harvey Korman was best known for his work as the "straight man" on the Carol Burnett Show and as the dastardly Hedley Lamarr in the film Blazing Saddles. Here are a couple samples of his work:

Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles

Harvey Korman on the Carol Burnett Show

Chesterton on Fences

2008-05-27T19:39:00.001-05:00

"Don't ever take a fence down until
you know the reason it was put up."

The Quotations Page

For Those With Ears to Hear

2008-05-27T18:57:00.004-05:00

John Hinderaker's Powerline post, Are We Safer?, provides the empirical evidence which answers that question for any reasonable person. It is astonishing that, not only have there been no successful attacks inside the United States since 9/11/01, there have also been no successful attacks on U.S. interests overseas for over 4 years. One could attempt to attribute this to the long periods of time that traditionally elapse between al Qaeda attacks. However, that doesn't explain all of the attacks cited by Hinderaker for each year from 1995 through 2001. Also, the longest stretch without an attack was from 1988 to 1991 -- three years. Most of the attacks were within 1-2 years of the last attack. With respect to the lack of attacks abroad, they are significantly more vulnerable than mainland targets. Yet, no successful attacks.

Success in the past does not guaranty success in the future. However, it does indicate that President Bush has been doing something right in preventing further terrorist attacks. There are many reasons to be unhappy with the President, but this is not one of them.

Google: Free Speech for Terrorists

2008-05-22T18:28:00.005-05:00

UPI has reported that Google has refused to remove all terrorist videos from YouTube. In defending their decision, Google issued as statement that, in part, says:

". . . YouTube encourages free speech and defends everyone's right to express unpopular points of view."

Apparently, this policy doesn't apply in Communist totalitarian regimes which have a population of more than 1 billion people and are located in Asia. Fortunately, we live in the good ol' USA where we are free to have the propaganda of our worst enemies -- people who would love to rip your child's face off with piano wire while you watch in horror -- treated the same as some teenager's anti-Archuleta rant.

At least we know that Google won't let any sense of morality cloud their judgment. That task is reserved for "the bottom line".

Back to the (Farm) Future

2008-05-22T18:11:00.002-05:00

With the rising gas prices, a Tennessee farm family decided to park their tractor and hook up Dolly and Molly. Before you get the wrong idea, Dolly & Molly are a pair of mules the family purchased last year. The money quote was uttered by one of the brothers who said, "It's the way of the future."

Ain't progress grand.

When Casualties Equal Progress

2008-05-05T14:51:00.004-05:00

With the recent increase of U.S. casualties in Iraq, many of the usual suspects are citing that statistic as proof that we are losing and need to withdraw immediately. However, this assumes that, in war, casualties always indicate failure. In his New York Daily News article, In Iraq, a Storm Before the Calm, Michael Yon explains why that is not necessarily the case. In fact, in the case of General Petraeus' surge strategy of last summer, it meant exactly the opposite. Michael's article suggests the latest spike in casualties is due to a second phase of what began last summer.

Order Michael's new book:

Frodo Baggins Euthanised

2008-04-27T23:11:00.000-05:00

The thoroughbred Frodo Baggins was euthanised after suffering serious injuries in a Kentucky equine event. Also seriously injured in the accident was the rider, Laine Ashker.

Frodo Baggins was best known from film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The horse was used in the "Escape Off the Road" scene where the four hobbits hide under the roots of a tree as a Black Rider rides up.

Scenes From Life 2

2008-04-26T13:54:00.002-05:00

When I was young, my mother always told me to take small bites and chew my food thoroughly or I'd get a belly ache. Unfortunately, that lesson was lost on a hawk found on a highway in California. This also reminds me of another very important culinary rule: Never eat anything bigger than your head.

Bon appétit!

Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love

2008-04-22T07:27:00.002-05:00

Vigilantes of Love ~ Blister Soul

Bill Mallonee ~ Skin

Lincoln on The Obvious

2008-04-21T18:14:00.001-05:00

"For those who like this sort of thing,
this is the sort of thing they like."

BrainyQuote.com

Scenes From Life

2008-04-21T17:59:00.005-05:00

From the "That's Gotta Hurt" file:

As Heard on Talk Radio

2008-04-16T09:02:00.003-05:00

"One lonely synapse firing into nothingness."

Congressman Mike Pence's description of alleged comedian Bill Maher. In his recent anti-Catholic rant, Maher described the Catholic Church as "a child-abusing religious cult". Congressman Pence was filling in for Laura Ingraham on her April 16, 2008 radio show.

Mom's Reading Suggestions

2008-04-15T23:31:00.001-05:00

My mother regularly sends me links to articles that she finds interesting. I usually find them interesting, too.

Michael Yon's Wall Street Journal article, Let's 'Surge' Some More. Michale Yon has probably spent more time in Iraq than any other journalist . . . and certainly more than any of the empty suits inside the DC beltway.

Thomas Sowell's RCP article, A Living Lie, gets past Barack Hussein Obama's thin veneer of election year PR and shows the truth of the real Barack Obama.

In his RCP article, What Price Freedom, Lawrence Kudlow takes on the Left's claim that the war in Iraq is the cause of the current economic troubles.

A Homeschool Family

2008-04-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

In February, I did this post on a video spoof by comedian Tim Hawkins. Here is another video offering by Mr. Hawkins. Enjoy.

A Homeschool Family

Scot Independence? It's Not Crap

2008-04-10T06:17:00.003-05:00

Like objects in your car's passenger-side mirror, Scottish independence from the United Kingdom may be closer than it appears. That is the subject of a Los Angeles Times article by Academy Award winning actor and erstwhile James Bond star, Sean Connery. You can read the entire article here.

Chesterton on Fallacies

2008-04-07T18:59:00.001-05:00

"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions."

The Quotations Page

Krugman Nails Biofuel Boondoggle

2008-04-07T18:40:00.004-05:00

It's rare that I find myself on the same side of an issue with the rather Liberal Paul Krugman. However, in his NYT article, Grains Gone Wild, Krugman succinctly highlights the problem with ethanol and other biofuels:

...even on optimistic estimates, producing a gallon of ethanol from corn uses most of the energy the gallon contains. But it turns out that even seemingly “good” biofuel policies, like Brazil’s use of ethanol from sugar cane, accelerate the pace of climate change by promoting deforestation.

And meanwhile, land used to grow biofuel feedstock is land not available to grow food, so subsidies to biofuels are a major factor in the food crisis. You might put it this way: people are starving in Africa so that American politicians can court votes in farm states.

Not Talking and Talking

2008-02-28T16:41:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, Best In Show:

Lincoln on Welfare

2008-02-28T00:23:00.001-06:00

"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them
what they could and should do for themselves."

BrainyQuote.com

The Answer is Not Blowing in the Wind

2008-02-27T23:17:00.004-06:00

According to this Reuters report, Texas had a power grid emergency on Tuesday. What caused the emergency? Well, let's just say it doesn't always blow in Texas:

A drop in wind generation late on Tuesday, coupled with colder weather, triggered an electric emergency that caused the Texas grid operator to cut service to some large customers, the grid agency said on Wednesday...

[Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)] said the grid's frequency dropped suddenly when wind production fell from more than 1,700 megawatts, before the event, to 300 MW when the emergency was declared.
In addition, ERCOT said multiple power suppliers fell below the amount of power they were scheduled to produce on Tuesday. That, coupled with the loss of wind generated in West Texas, created problems moving power to the west from North Texas.

Here's an idea. Build a few nuclear power plants.

Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself

2008-02-20T19:01:00.004-06:00

As usual, the Left-stream Media has failed to bring this story to our attention. This past Sunday morning, airport security at Tampa International Airport found a box cutter hidden in a hollowed out book in the backpack of a 21 year old man from Clearwater, Florida.

After Baines was read his rights, he said his cousin had cut away the pages to make the hollow section in the book. Later, reports state, he said he had hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates.
Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book. Officers found books in the backpack titled "Muhammad in the Bible," "The Prophet's Prayer" and "The Noble Qur'an." He also had a copy of the Quran and the Bible.

Oh, yes. There is one more thing. The title of the hollowed out book was Fear Itself.

Thanks to Hugh Hewitt (and James Lileks who gave Hugh the "heads up" on this story) for bringing this story into the light.

Castro Steps Down

2008-02-20T12:10:00.002-06:00

Oh, shut up. You know you were thinking the same thing.

The Eyes Have It

2008-02-18T18:06:00.002-06:00

Michael Medved has looked into the eye color of our Presidents from George Washington to Bush 43. The results may surprise you.

Ten Years After

2008-02-16T19:18:00.002-06:00

September 30, 1930 - February 16, 1998

I miss you, Dad.

Translated Video Reveals Jihadist Plot

2008-02-13T07:09:00.004-06:00

Canada's National Post reports on a potentially new weapon of Islamofascist Jihadists: Snowballs.

HT: Jihad Watch

Obama Offices Display Che Guevara Flags

2008-02-13T06:41:00.005-06:00

Little Green Footballs has reported the display of Che Guevara flags at two new Obama campaign offices in Houston as well as Obama's response to the "inappropriate" flags. While no one really believes that hanging the flags was Obama's idea, it does help to understand those who are actively supporting his candidacy and that should be disturbing enough.

The Morphing of AQI

2008-02-13T06:00:00.003-06:00

In his post, The Morphing War Against Al Qaeda in Iraq, Douglas Farah suggests that the recent reports of the beating Al Qaeda in Iraq is taking at the hands of American and Iraqi forces, should not be overstated. AQI is in trouble, but they are not yet defeated. Farah believes that AQI may be changing their strategy:

One of the fundamental truths of dealing with networks, terrorist or otherwise, is that they will morph quickly to survive and adapt as the environment around them changes...

...The strategy [of AQI] may now be to move outside Iraq and wage a different type of war from surrounding countries.

Farah recalls the South American drug wars of the 1980s and 1990s as an example of the difficulty in defeating a network that is intent on survival.

HT: Counterterrorism Blog

Happy Birthday Abe

2008-02-12T23:59:00.000-06:00

February 12, 1809

Lincoln on Being Remembered

2008-02-12T07:13:00.000-06:00

"Die when I may, I want it said by those who knew me best
that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower
where I thought a flower would grow."

BrainyQuote.com

Something Fishy

2008-02-11T13:29:00.001-06:00

The following video by comedian Tim Hawkins is a spoof of Carrie Underwood's Grammy Award winning song Jesus Take the Wheel.

Cletus Take the Reel

For those who aren't familiar with Carrie Underwood's version...

Jesus Take the Wheel

How McCain Might Win

2008-02-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

John Fund explains how John McCain can win in November in his Wall Street Journal article, Getting to 270.

HT: RCP

Staring at the Sun

2008-02-09T23:07:00.000-06:00

The Investor's Business Daily reports that some scientists are predicting a period of global cooling. Is the cause air pollution? A lack of carbon dioxide? The "Evil Trinity" of Bush, Cheney and Rove? Not exactly. The scientists (obviously paid off by Big-Oil and Big-Carbon Dioxide) think it's *gasp* the sun:

Solar activity fluctuates in an 11-year cycle. But so far in this cycle, the sun has been disturbingly quiet. The lack of increased activity could signal the beginning of what is known as a Maunder Minimum, an event which occurs every couple of centuries and can last as long as a century.

Such an event occurred in the 17th century. The observation of sunspots showed extraordinarily low levels of magnetism on the sun, with little or no 11-year cycle.

This solar hibernation corresponded with a period of bitter cold that began around 1650 and lasted, with intermittent spikes of warming, until 1715. Frigid winters and cold summers during that period led to massive crop failures, famine and death in Northern Europe.

You can read the entire article here.

Steyn & Coulter at CPAC

2008-02-09T22:34:00.000-06:00

Townhall.com has video of Mark Steyn at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference). The you can enjoy the wit and wisdom of Mr. Steyn here.

Ann Coulter was also at CPAC . . . sort of. In this video on Townhall.com she rips into John Edwards (of course) and discusses why she said she would join Hillary's campaign before voting for John McCain. It's Ann at her verbal-bomb throwing best. She even accepts a marriage proposal from one of her fans . . . with a few conditions!

Chesterton on Drawing Lines

2008-02-09T22:29:00.000-06:00

"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere."

The Quotations Page

Happy Birthday, Ronnie

2008-02-06T23:59:00.000-06:00

February 6, 1911

Civilization & Its Ignorance

2008-02-06T17:50:00.000-06:00

What do Winston Churchill, Richard the Lionheart and Spiderman have in common? Read Jonah Goldberg's article Western Civilization and Other Fairy Tales to find out.

The Effects of Drugs on Web Design

2008-01-30T17:58:00.000-06:00

And Then There Were Two

2008-01-28T23:06:00.000-06:00

George Smiley of the blog In From the Cold reports that one of three remaining U.S. veterans from World War I has passed away. You can read the entire article here.

Iraqis Taking the Battle to AQI

2008-01-28T08:23:00.000-06:00

Reuters reports that the Iraqi security forces have begun an offensive against al-Qaeda in Iraq.

HT: Pajamas Media

Lincoln on Preparation

2008-01-28T08:20:00.000-06:00

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and
I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

BrainyQuote.com

The Origin of the Surge in Iraq

2008-01-28T08:16:00.000-06:00

Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard relates how President Bush decided on the now famous Surge strategy in Iraq.

Minnesotans for Global Warming

2008-01-28T08:10:00.000-06:00

M4GW is a serious organization with a sense of humor. So, let's turn up the global thermostat and embrace the warmth. And now for you amusement . . .

The Global Warming Song

HT: NARN

Chesterton on Adventure vs. Inconvenience

2008-01-23T21:09:00.000-06:00

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.
An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

The Quotations Page

Thompson Exits Stage Right

2008-01-22T21:17:00.000-06:00

Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson has given up his run for the White House. I still have not settled on a candidate yet, but Fred was high on my list. None of the Republican candidates are perfect. However, Thompson's positions seemed to be closest to my own. I did not catch many of the debates, but from what I did see, Thompson impressed me the most. With his departure, he will likely end up on the short list of possible running mates along with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

As for the other candidates, I will comment on them when I am not so busy at the office.

A Look Inside al-Qaeda In Iraq

2008-01-21T18:41:00.000-06:00

According to this Washington Post article, documents found in northern Iraq are providing some unique insights into the foreign insurgents in Iraq (that is, al-Qaeda in Iraq). From the description in the article, at least some of the documents appear to be job applications. Here are a few things from the article that I found particularly interesting:

Based on the Sinjar records, U.S. military officials in Iraq said they now think that nine out of 10 suicide bombers have been foreigners...
...they assess that 90 percent of foreign fighters entering Iraq during the one-year period ending in August came via Syria...
The extent of al-Qaeda in Iraq's ties to the wider al-Qaeda network has long been a subject of debate within the U.S. intelligence community and military. Although its membership is overwhelmingly Iraqi, it has been led by foreigners with direct ties to al-Qaeda central...

That All Men Are Created Equal

2008-01-19T15:56:00.000-06:00

Dinesh D'Souza's article at Townhall.com explains who has been behind the abolition of slavery in the Western World.

The Obama We Don't Know

2008-01-15T19:10:00.000-06:00

An Investor's Business Daily editorial entitled, "Obama's Church", illuminates some unlit recesses of Presidential hopeful Barak Obama's life. Not surprisingly, the Left-stream Media has little interest in reporting this disturbing background information on a leading Democrat candidate for President. After all, he's hansome and gives a good speech. What more do voters need to know?

A Mighty Gift

2008-01-13T14:11:00.000-06:00

Brandi on YouTube

2008-01-12T08:31:00.000-06:00

Turpentine ~ Brandi Carlisle

The Story (Live) ~ Brandi Carlisle