A couple things about those Boo Scouts . . .

I skimmed this story last week and wanted to comment on it, but forgot until now. In case you missed it, here's the video:


Not cool. Not consistent with what the Scouts teach (esp. "Boy Scout Law"). Not good that this group of Scouts are getting this much attention. They're "kids," sure, but they should not be heralded. It's much more important that young people learn self-control, respect for authority and discretion than . . . whatever character quality defenders of these boys claim was being demonstrated.

For your consideration . . .

From Jonah Goldberg's lengthy, insightful article, What Kind of Socialist is Barack Obama?:

Surely if fans of President Obama’s program feel free to call it socialist, critics may be permitted to do likewise.

disingenuous or "gaylesbianbitransphobic"?

Obama is such a fake. (Obama Still Against Same-Sex Marriage). Yeah, sure.

Trust the Democratic Party Executive Committee

("Two provisional ballots will decide Henry-Yarbro race" | Nashville City Paper):

Yarbro could also challenge the result — essentially suggesting something went wrong in the voting. A challenge would go before the state Democratic Party's executive committee.

Yikes.

Voting on judges in the TN primary

I think many Tennessee voters will be mildly surprised to see the names of two judges on the ballot when they step into the polling booth tomorrow. That's part of the "beauty" of Tennessee's current (and contra-constitutional) system for filling appellate court and Supreme Court seats. Noone really knows anything of substance about the "candidates," and few faithful primary voters are likely to simply vote for "nobody."

That being said, if you agree that this system is wrong, you'll be able to register your opinion about that by voting "no" for these "candidates." Here's an excerpt from an article by Family Action Council of Tennessee's David Fowler. Judicial Elections - Judging the Judges: ("What Will Your Vote Communicate?"):

So, if you want to make a “negative” statement about things like judicial activism, Tennessee’s method of electing Supreme Court judges, etc, then the best way to make that statement is to vote “no.”

If you approve of the current system and current judicial philosophy that prevails in this country (and state), then the best way to communicate that is to vote “yes.” It would be my opinion that not to vote would leave the Judges, Governor and legislature in a position of not knowing why there were fewer people voting in the judicial elections compared to gubernatorial, congressional or state legislative races. Not to vote will leave them wondering if the low vote totals signify voter apathy or an unwillingness to vote for someone you don’t know anything about.

While I can't really say whether these two judges--Sharon Lee and John McLarty, are "judicial activists," I do think your "no" vote will signify that you disagree with them avoiding contested elections, which are plainly required by our Constitution. Go ahead, they won't take it personally. ;)



Visit the Judicial Reform Coalition Blog for more information on judicial selection in Tennessee.

Who says Big Gov't isn't "Pro-family"?

Interesting point in this NYTimes article about a purported increase in American couples who are indefinitely, and rather amicably, separated but not divorced. ("Why Divorce? Just Stay Separated" - NYTimes.com):

Divorce lawyers and marriage therapists say that for most couples, the motivation to remain married is financial. According to federal law, an ex qualifies for a share of a spouse’s Social Security payment if the marriage lasts a decade. In the case of more amicable divorces, financial advisers and lawyers may urge a couple who have been married eight years to wait until the dependent spouse qualifies.

For others, a separation agreement may be negotiated so that a spouse keeps the other’s insurance until he or she is old enough for Medicare. If one person has an existing condition, obtaining affordable health care coverage is often difficult or impossible. The recession, with its real estate lows and health care expense highs, adds incentives to separate indefinitely.

. . . .

What [Family Therapist, and obvious cultural stick-in-the-mud Toni] Coleman finds surprising is that the primary consideration is practical and financial, not familial. The effect of endless separations on the children rarely seems a priority.

“People split up and have these God-awful joint custody arrangements, so you would think that they stay separated for the kids’ sake, but I’m not seeing that,” she said. “It usually comes down to money.”

Wow.

More for the science-denying Left to ignore . . .

("Adult Stem Cell Research Far Ahead of Embryonic" - NYTimes.com):

For all the emotional debate that began about a decade ago on allowing the use of embryonic stem cells, it's adult stem cells that are in human testing today. An extensive review of stem cell projects and interviews with two dozen experts reveal a wide range of potential treatments.

Ken Whitehouse: THIS time re-districting might be a problem . . .

I agree that the impact of this election is greater than the last four bi-ennial elections, but it sure sounds like Ken Whitehouse is concerned and sounding the alarm . . .
("Election holds key to redrawing the state’s political map" | Nashville City Paper: Nashville's Online Source for Daily News):

Start thinking. This time around, those voted into office could have long-lasting legacies.

That being said, I think some reform to the process of drawing districts--at the least to increase transparency, would be good. Tanner's bill would merely make proposed districts available online for a certain period of time prior to a vote; thus, given the public's apathy and official unresponsiveness Tanner's bill would do little to remedy this problem. I think requiring some measure of "compactness" will take much of the gamesmanship out of the process Here's a fascinating website/game on the subject of redistricting.

Let's "scooter" lil Bradley Manning!

Loser. Okay, Lefties . . . gonna scooter this actual leak as much as this non-leak.

Kagan and the science-manipulating Left

Surgeon General Koop Urges No Vote on Kagan Based on Abortion Manipulation: "Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) --

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has written an extensive letter to members of the Senate calling for a no vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan. The letter focuses attention on the Clinton administration memos Kagan authored showing her attempting to manipulate abortion opinion.

Specifically, Koop refers to the ways in which Kagan influenced the language of a 1997 statement by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists on partial-birth abortions.

Whereas ACOG found no occasion in which the three-day-long abortion procedure is medically necessary for women, Kagan pressured ACOG to include language saying there may be instances where it is and the Supreme Court eventually relied on that language to overturn state bans on the abortion procedure.

That eventually kept partial-birth abortions legal for several years longer until the Supreme Court reversed itself when considering a national ban Congress approved with medical findings that partial-birth abortions are medically unnecessary.

Our senators should vote "no" on judicial activists like Kagan.

Move to Europe if you expect to be compensated after 99 weeks of not working

It is downright disingenuous for Obama to refer to this as a temporary or emergency extension. I'm sorry, but this is money that we don't have. (here) Move to Europe if you expect compensation for not working after 2 years.

As (I think) Jack Kemp has said, "If you want more of something, subsidize it." Unemployment "insurance" in this context is subsidizing unemployment, and I have seen a friend waiting around for the payments to stop before she went to work doing something she didn't prefer to do. Anecdotal, I know, but also logical.

Democrats are SERIOUS about fraud, waste and abuse!!!!

Well, this (here) is an encouraging news story, but the way it was spun by the AP makes my head hurt:

For the first time federal officials have the power to overhaul the system under Obama's Affordable Care Act, which gives them authority to stop paying a provider they suspect is fraudulent. Critics have complained the current process did nothing more than rubber-stamp payments to fraudulent providers.

Maybe we'll let the Dem Fraud hawks keep this lone provision when Obamacare is repealed . . .

I disagree with this decision, but . . .

This (here) might be a good indication that Obama forced McChrystal out . . . waiving off two out of three years required service to still retire as a 4-star general is a pretty sweet deal.

America and the World Cup

Great NYTimes feature (here) on how the USA is--perhaps, affecting the sport of soccer.

Reading this article reminded me of the observation (perception?) during extended periods I have spent in other, non-European, parts of the world that "quit" is particulary lacking in quintessential American culture.

If every Jesus is "historical," then. . .

If every Jesus is "historical," then no Jesus is "historical." Great post by Ross Douthat about most modern efforts to find the "historical" Jesus . . . Choose Your Own Jesus - Ross Douthat Blog - NYTimes.com

Can't buy me class

Well, if you haven't heard, Paul McCartney showed his backside at a ceremony to receive a "Gershwin Prize for Popular Song" ostensibly from the American People.

Connie Hair aptly comments:

McCartney is the third recipient of the Gershwin Prize. Hailing from England and having earned no university degrees of his own, the Beatle may not know W. was the first American president to earn a master’s degree in business administration. (The fact the MBA is from Harvard really irks the left.) Not to mention Bush is married to a librarian.

Have You Read the Law?

Have You Read the Law?

Can't spell "textbook" without TX

Enjoy this major whiff by Newsweek's Barrett Sheridan in an attempt to marginalize Texas' chosen textbook standards. (Texas Cooks the Textbooks - NEWSWEEK's guide to the 10 silliest changes that will likely be in the new Texas textbook curriculum.) Read for yourself. The "10 silliest changes" sound reasonable to me. I wonder if Sheridan has ever heard of Pauline Kael.

Racism-mongering Dems ought to be ashamed

The number of Democrats who haven't taken the time to familiarize themselves with the AZ law before demonizing AZ is startling. Napolitano, Holder, others. They're demagogues. And this episode demonstrates (a) how little concern they have for being called on it by the Media and (b) how irresponsible, as public officials, they are.

Because plain talk leads to accountability . . .

MUST WATCH: Gov. Christie Destroys 'Thin-Skinned' Reporter | The FOX Nation

Posted using ShareThis

Stimulating home purchases. Not.

Since 2008, some $12.6 billion in credits have been shelled out to homebuyers. This program was supposed to end last Fall, but was extended until today based on the notion that it was providing a key pillar of support to the humbled housing market.

Which, frankly, is mildly true at best. Don't shed a tear for the loss of this program, Fools. The finance blog Calculated Risk put it best when writing, "This [credit] is obviously bad economics, but it must be good politics."

Since day one, there's been fairly widespread agreement from financial and economic experts that the housing credit would do little good. I'm not one to blanketly swear off all stimulus on the grounds that Uncle Sam can only break things. There have been well-thought-out forms of stimulus over the past two years. The housing credit just wasn't one of them. Here are five reasons why. . . .

The Death of a Stupid Stimulus

This Brit ain't Enquiring . . .

I don't know whether any of the The Enquirer's allegations of Obama infidelity are true (I hope they aren't, but know that Liberals' moral relativism is a tar pit); however, this 2008 British article linked at Drudge is hilarious in how Liberally slanted it is. Here are the first few lines of the story.

Barack Obama is the target of a shadowy smear campaign designed to derail his bid for the US Presidency by falsely claiming he had a close friendship with an attractive African-American female employee.

The whispers focus on a young woman who in 2004 was hired to work on his team for his bid to become a senator.

The woman was purportedly sidelined from her duties after Senator Obama’s wife, Michelle, became convinced that he had developed a personal friendship with her.

The allegations were initially circulated in August, just two weeks before the convention at which Obama finally beat his opponent for the Democratic Party nomination, Hillary Clinton.

The woman, now 33, vigorously denies the vicious and unsubstantiated gossip.

Emphasis mine.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1076695/Obama-hit-affair-smears-following-claims-attractive-aide-banned-wife.html#ixzz0mpaKdsF6

Informed consent by any other name . . .

"No exception for rape" blares the headline (("Oklahoma Abortion Law: No Exceptions, Even Rape")) regarding the passage of an informed consent law in Oklahoma. Why would there be an exception . . . if it is an innocent human life we're talking about?

And if you take the time to read the article, I'd be curious to know whether the young women who had suffered serial sexual abuse from her music teacher was encouraged to press charges against him? I doubt it. With proper counseling and full medical information maybe she would not have been into her 30s before she realized it "wasn't her fault" and she would feel zero regret, zero remorse for the abortion.

Mosque in Brentwood . . . thanks but no thanks

I'll be right up front and say, as I've often said, that Muslims love democracy until they're in the majority . . . so I am kind of intolerant of Islam. Just sayin.'

As a result, I certainly understand opposition to making exceptions for the construction of a mosque in one's residential neighborhood.

Here's a story about a proposed zoning change for an "Islamic Center of Williamson County" that might be built in Brentwood. Brentwood closer to building first Muslim mosque - WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee. Those proposing the rezoning are asking for an express exception to an ordinance passed in 2000 (Brentwood City Ordinance 2000-18) that requires a 150 ft buffer between religious buildings and roads.

Here's a link to all the details about the proposal.

I'd let the folks below know if you live in Brentwood and oppose this re-zoning--hearings are scheduled for next week.

Roger Horner, City Attorney.

Mayor Betsy Crossley, Cell phone: 440-9460

Vice-Mayor Mr. Rhea E. Little, III, Cell phone: 417-7733

Regina Smithson, Home phone: 377-0115

Joe Sweeney, Home phone: 373-1546

Anne Dunn, Hone phone: 370-3702

Joe Reagan, Home phone: 370-3730

Paul Webb, Cell Phone: 428-3913

UPDATE: It appears that the Mosque's proponents are no longer asking for a variance. Also, here's some info on the group's spokesperson. BTW, how are 40 families (doctors or not) able to fund this project? To which sect of Islam does this church belong?

Relevant Follow-up Article:
FOXNews.com - Plans to Build Massive Islamic Centers Raise Concerns in Tennessee:

But critics say the Muslims who now call Tennessee home are looking to expand their places of worship far beyond their need. What's more, they say, the organizations building the Islamic centers have provided no account for how they received the massive funding their projects require.

Of even greater concern, some critics say, are fears that a radical Islamic agenda may be behind the planning for these large Islamic centers.

There's got to be a racial angle on bail outs . . .

Sorry, but I'm opposed to the Democrats' plans to "reform the financial system" or "hold Wall Street (duh-duh-duh-duhhhhh) accountable." Of course, there's no other reason than racial animosity for me to oppose this, right? Here's a great article on the subject. GetLiberty.org >> They Dare Not Call it a Bailout An excerpt:

To be certain, it is a bailout. And it perpetuates the moral hazard that causes the so-called “too big to fail” financial institutions to take risks they otherwise would not.

How? In part, the bill expressly includes a revolving $50 billion TARP-like fund designed to capitalize failing financial institutions that might otherwise be finding their way to bankruptcy court — where they belong. Republicans are calling it a "permanent bailout fund."

Dude was just citing data on homosexuality and child rape

You may have heard (Vatican under fire for linking gays to pedophilia) that a big cheese at the Vatican--Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is "under fire" for a comment he made in reference to links between homosexuality and pedophilia:

Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, who is sometimes called the "deputy pope," told a news conference in Santiago on Monday:

"Many psychologists and psychiatrists have shown that there is no link between celibacy and paedophilia, but many others have shown, I have recently been told, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and paedophilia."

"This pathology is one that touches all categories of people, and priests to a lesser degree in percentage terms," he said. "The behaviour of the priests in this case, the negative behaviour, is very serious, is scandalous."

NYTimes obfuscating the obvious

Interesting how David Leonhardt twists this debate from being about too many Americans on the dole, to being about wealthy people whining about taxes. It is rank foolishness to deny that most people are indifferent to the bill when they're not paying it. Economic Scene - Yes, 47% of Households Owe No Taxes. Look Closer. - NYTimes.com:

Forty-seven percent. That’s the portion of American households that owe no income tax for 2009. The number is up from 38 percent in 2007, and it has become a popular talking point on cable television and talk radio. With Tax Day coming on Thursday, 47 percent has become shorthand for the notion that the wealthy face a much higher tax burden than they once did while growing numbers of Americans are effectively on the dole.

Trust us lawyers to pick your judges

This National Journal article hand wrings about campaign advocacy from certain sources. National Journal Online - Big Money Already Flowing Into Judicial Elections:

Close to four months after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling to roll back restrictions on corporate political spending, conservatives continue to downplay its significance.

Predictions that the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling will unleash a torrent of corporate money are wildly overblown, free speech advocates insist. As evidence, they argue that corporate money has yet to flood elections in the 26 states that already impose no limit on corporate spending.

But a closer look at state-level elections suggests that independent political expenditures by corporations, unions and other special interests are substantial. This is particularly true in judicial elections, which have gotten dramatically costlier, nastier and more controversial over the past decade. The Citizens United ruling may impact judicial races even more drastically than federal elections, some experts argue.

Actually, a closer look merely demonstrates that "corporate" expenditures are only a smidgeon higher than expenditures from "lawyers and lobbyists" (ahhh, if only we all were able to, as individuals, give serious money to candidates we supported . . .). But the underlying message of the article (i.e., the message espoused by the experts selected by Eliza Newlin Carney to comment on the subject) is that electing judges is unwise because voters somehow don't appreciate Rule of Law. All the anti-judicial-election commenters imply that we need low-key campaigns for judges because voters cast ballots based on the political positions of judicial candidates. Actually, polling data reflect that voters care more about judicial activism than they do about a judge's position on particular issues.

Vandy pitcher's extraordinary out . . .

I'll bet many people have already seen this video of Vanderbilt pitcher Corey Williams (no relation) making a tremendous play moments after having his knee cap shattered by a Florida Gator line drive.


Which reminds me: why do they play with aluminum bats in college baseball?

Do you mean Mrs. Joe Biden?

This email from The Obama's PR outfit about the Dems' socialization of higher education is peculiar on various levels. First, they act like "Dr. Jill Biden" is being quoted/paraded because she has a PhD in Education. Well, actually she's Joe Biden's wife. That doesn't mean she isn't smart or accomplished in her own right, but she gets her own email because she's married to Amtrak Joe.

And I enjoyed this paragraph highlighting the fact that Democrats smuggled this into law under the cloak of Obamacare:

[The Gov't's takeover of college "loans" is] a tremendous achievement, but the news may get lost in the excitement around the passage of comprehensive health care reform. So we need to make sure that when folks open the local paper to the letters page this week, they'll see notes from their neighbors supporting these important reforms.

And, just to make us think he's delivering on a campaign promise--any campaign promise, the email tells us:

In Spring 2007, on a conference call with students, then-Senator Barack Obama called for major reform to federal student loans:

"We shouldn't be providing billions in taxpayer-funded giveaways to private banks. We should be providing an affordable, accessible college education to every American."

Yay, universal college education!!! Well, even if all Americans don't get college degrees, at least all Americans can pay for college degrees--universal tuition payments!!!

Socializing student loans . . .

Tucked inside the Democrats' 2,900+page healthcare proposal was another socialist-inspired proposal to takeover the student "loan" business. Obama to sign new student aid initiative | Reuters:

The student loan overhaul fulfills a long-time goal of Democratic lawmakers to end the bankers' role as middlemen and replace them with direct federal loans and aid to students.

The parallels between the Democrats' designs on the student loan market and their designs on healthcare are remarkable. And the rhetoric employed for both proposals is more than "parallel"; it is identical.

The Administration's latest screwed up policy

Obama administration revises anti-foreclosure strategy - washingtonpost.com:

"We're not going to stop every foreclosure. It wouldn't be fair. It would be too expensive, and it probably wouldn't succeed anyway," said Diana Ferrell, deputy director of the National Economic Council, which advises the president.

It's amazing to hear a Liberal admit that Big Gov't causes unfairness. And it's amazing to hear the modest-Marxist sentiments of the "Community Re-investment" dude. He makes Obama's people sound moderate by comparison.

Maybe the Democrats' stimulus will "save" jobs after all

» Politics: Democratic Stimulus Haul is Almost Double Republicans - Big Government

Casada highlights Democrats' lack of concern for 90% of Tennesseans

TN Democratic Party News » Blog Archive » TNDP Chair Appalled At Williamson Lawmaker’s Lack Of Concern For State’s Hungry Children:

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said he was appalled by the recent callous statements made by House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada who has introduced legislation ending unemployment benefits for Tennessee families with dependent children.

Casada’s bill, HB3206, was defeated in the House Subcommittee on Employee Affairs on Wednesday despite state Reps. Donna Rowland of Murfreesboro and Mark White of Memphis voting for it.

“Well, I think we all need you to do the best you can to find a job, is what I suggest,” Casada replied during the hearing when asked how affected families should feed their children without the benefits.

Forrester said Casada’s unconcern for the state’s struggling families underscores the fundamental difference between the General Assembly’s Democrats and its Republicans.

“In times like these, many working families are temporarily between jobs, through no fault of their own, and need the help of their friends and neighbors while they get back on their feet,” Forrester said. “I cannot believe someone can be so uncaring."

(emphasis added)
Well, do you think they could ask their "friends and neighbors"--not to mention their family, for the help, instead of the government? And I guess Tennessee Democrats consider 100 weeks on unemployment to be "temporar[]y"?


P.S. This may be nitpicking, but I think Chip Forrester accredits the words of Christ to John the Baptist. In any event, stop ramming your religion down our throats, Chip.

What next for Republicans on healthcare?

I especially like the practical perspectives of Mitch Daniels and Bobby Jindal. ObamaCare: Repeal, Replace or What? - WSJ.com

CNN shamelessly pulling its weight

CNN is providing talking points for the President's and Democrats' campaign to convince Americans that they should have supported recent healthcare legislation. 5 key things to remember about health care reform - CNN.com:

(CNN) -- What? Really? You don't understand the new health care reform legislation? You find yourself confused? If you haven't mastered the minutiae on all 2,309 pages of the health care reform bill signed earlier this week by President Obama, there's nothing wrong with you -- even experts are having a hard time getting a grip on all the details.

So we've done the work for you. If you're going to take away just five things from the new legislation, here they are. If you manage to comprehend these five, give yourself an A+

Glenn Beck was a harmless lil' fuzzball back then

This is a revealing exchange between Lefty James Cameron and Glenn Beck. It's hard not to laugh at the amazingly militant and intolerant sentiments of Cameron, but what so many in the MSM don't realize is that Beck used to be more of a humorous, shock jock-ish personality (the ACLU poster boy type of radio personality) than anything else.
Here's video background from Beck. Glenn Beck wears 3-D glasses, mocks James Cameron - USATODAY.com

And here's a peak behind Cameron's curtain. James Cameron: Glenn Beck is 'dangerous' - USATODAY.com:

"According to The Hollywood Reporter, when asked earlier this week at Avatar home-video release junket what he thought about Beck, Cameron said: 'Glenn Beck is a [bleeping][bleep]. I've met him. He called me the anti-Christ - and not about Avatar.' Cameron was apparently referring to Beck's reaction to his 2007 documentary, The Lost Tomb of Jesus which casts doubt on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

After blasting Beck, Cameron seemed to reconsider: 'I think, you know what, he may or may not be an a--hole, but he certainly is dangerous, and I'd love to have a dialogue with him.'"

No, Beck was making fun of Titanic, and not because of any social or cultural values angle. Beck was particularly affected by 9/11, like a lot of Americans.

Rationed care = DIY care

This story caught my eye (pardon the pun), in light of Democrats' vote late Sunday evening for the gov't to "control costs" of healthcare (read: ration care).

Patient removes faucet from eye socket while waiting for socialized care in China

The X-rays to the right show how the handle to the faucet on which Zhao had impaled himself penetrated about an inch deep into his eye socket. According to a CEN report, Zhao eventually grew tired of waiting for the pipework to be removed and, to the surprise of doctors, pulled it out of his head himself. While the man had suffered a fractured nose and facial bones from the ordeal, doctors said his brain and vision did not appear to be permanently affected. (EuroPics)

Newsflash: infidelity of men related to upbringing

Simplistic, non sequitur-ing, time-wasting article from ABC. I guess they needed an article for the "Tiger Woods" tab over at ABC.com.Raising a Sexually Faithful Son Begins at Home - ABC News:

As Freud said, it's all about mother.

Or, as modern day psychologists point out, fidelity begins at home. Whether a son grows up to be a philanderer, depends a lot on the models he has for parents.

I think author and sociologist Pepper Schwartz has it right:

"This is the worst kind of research you can possibly do . . .. There are 4,000 other reasons why men cheat."

Of course, there are as many "reasons" as there are men, but every man who cheats does so because he wants to.

Tell that to Big Labor

This email from Democrats.com is humorously demagogic given that Unions FORCE people to belong, FORCE people to pay dues and then spend dues money to doggedly campaign against Republicans (only) each election. Sell your stock in ExxonMobil duhduhduh if you don't like how the corporation spends money.

In January, a narrow Republican 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court ruled Corporations have the right to spend unlimited amounts of money to elect or defeat candidates.
That includes the nation's largest Corporations like ExxonMobil, which made $45 billion in profits in 2008 and could easily spend $5 billion to defeat every Democrat in the U.S.

By the way, two of the four justices that were in the minority on this opinion were appointed by Republicans.

TN's ignominious part of the Healthcare reform bill

Kimberley A. Strassel: Inside the Pelosi Sausage Factory - WSJ.com:

Democrats inserted a new provision providing $100 million in extra Medicaid money for Tennessee. Retiring Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon flipped to a yes vote on Thursday.

Wow, thanks Bart!

Well AP, why didn't you SAY there was no good reason not to support Obamacare?!

Obama, Democrats show command of health care votes - Yahoo! News:

WASHINGTON – Triumph in their grasp, President Barack Obama and House Democrats demonstrated command of the votes needed to pass landmark health care legislation Sunday night, a climactic chapter in a century-long quest for near universal coverage.

The House argued its way through a thicket of Republican objections toward a late-evening vote on the bill to extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.

Transformative presidency indeed

Wow, Democrats in Congress are courageous, no?

Yesterday, on C-Span, I heard Steny Hoyer chronicling what he purported to be calls from Republican U.S. Presidents in the past to enact nationalized (aka, "socialized") healthcare. Today, on Meet the Press, I heard Tavis Smiley discussing how it is necessary to do politically difficult (or "wrong") things in order to do morally "right" things, and he even said that such difficult votes are necessary if one expects to "be a transformative president" or "transformative people." According to Smiley, Newt Gingrich even compared this vote on Obamacare to the vote on Civil Rights legislation under LBJ--I seriously doubt Gingrich would make such a comparison (contrast, maybe) and it is ludicrous to compare instituting big gov't healthcare to ensuring blacks' right to vote.

Well, what makes this vote courageous? The same thing that makes it "transformative" . . . this vote is courageous because voters realize that Democrats want to move healthcare away from principles of liberty and toward principles of statism. It is astonishing to me how the Left (mainly Democrats) either (a) disingenuously ignores or (b) doesn't understand economics.

Hey Democrats, you can keep your Liberal or Progressive or whatever "transformation."

Mom, Steny started it!

There are saddening reports about some protestors on Capitol Hill yesterday. Make That the Nas-Tea Party. I do not condone intimidation or racism. I can, however, appreciate the frustration many Americans are feeling in response to the Democrats' democratic hypocrisy, Dems' historic abuse of the legislative process and Dems' seeming disdain for voter opinion. Steny Hoyer, on the other hand, dismisses as "hate" and "incivility" the frustration exacerbated by Democrats' Chicago-style lawmaking. Hoyer was quoted in the above report as follows:

"On the one hand, I am saddened that America’s debate on health care — which could have been a national conversation of substance and respect — has degenerated to the point of such anger and incivility," he said. "But on the other, I know that every step toward a more just America has aroused similar hate in its own time."

Gallup, Braisted and me

Sean Braisted has a nice post up about legislators doing the right thing as opposed to what is ostensibly popular. Of course, Sean is employing this argument in favor of Dems passing big-gov't regulation of health insurance, but I thought of his post when I read a salient article from George Gallup about the perilous abuse of polling data in the law-making process. Gallup's intro is as follows: George Gallup, Health Care and the Peril of Legislating by Polls -- Politics Daily:

Personally, I do not look forward to the passage of the president's package. I would have few qualms about voting against it if I were in Congress. I'd prefer less government involvement in health care, not more, and less insurance, too. (I think Americans should pay out of pocket for routine medical care, that insurance should be for truly expensive procedures, and that the whole thing should be uncoupled from employment. My views were informed by an eye-opening Atlantic Monthly cover story last summer, 'How American Health Care Killed My Father,' an article that should have altered the national debate, but didn't.) My views aren't important, and I only mention them because this is not a back-door argument for the Democrats' bill. It's a front-door argument for better debate and better governance.

Fmr. Obama staffer: experiences helped shape her art

Ironic story about artist, Alexa Meade, who paints human subjects into icons.  The artist who turns people into paintings - CNN.com:

A former staffer on Obama's presidential campaign, Meade has no formal art-school training. She says her projects "spin reality," and that her experiences in politics have helped shape her work as an artist.

"What one experiences cannot always be interpreted at face value; seeing is not necessarily believing," she said.

Eric Holder posing as "tough" on . . . something

Perhaps AG Eric Holder is over-compensating but, it's interesting to read in the WSJ about Holder's attempted tough-talk on terrorism:

Eric Holder's evasive bravado is getting to be a theme. In November, as we noted then, the attorney general dodged a senator's perfectly reasonable question of what the administration planned to do in the event that Khalid Sheikh Mohammad or another Guantanamo detainee had a civilian conviction overturned by saying: 'Failure is not an option.'

He's at it again, the Associated Press reports:

Terrorists in court 'have the same rights that Charles Manson would have, any other kind of mass murderer,' the attorney general said. 'It doesn't mean that they're going to be coddled, it doesn't mean that they're going to be treated with kid gloves.'

The comparison to convicted killer Manson angered Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, who said it showed the Obama administration doesn't understand the American public's desire to treat terrorists as wartime enemies, not criminal defendants.

'My constituents and I just have a deep-seated and profound philosophical difference with the Obama administration,' Culberson said.

Holder, his voice rising, charged that Culberson's arguments ignored basic facts about the law and the fight against terrorists.

'Let's deal with reality,' Holder said. 'The reality is that we will be reading Miranda rights to the corpse of Osama bin Laden. He will never appear in an American courtroom.'

Pressed further on that point, Holder said: 'The possibility of catching him alive is infinitesimal. He will be killed by us or he will be killed by his own people so he can't be captured by us.'

Remember how liberal weenies scorned President Bush for his cowboylike declaration: 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'? At least Bush mentioned 'alive'! And while Holder may be right that bin Laden is likelier to be killed than captured, it is the height of recklessness if the administration really has no plan for dealing with the latter contingency.

But she worked so hard for that title!?!

The Associated Press: Poll: Boxer in tough fight to keep CA Senate seat: "WASHINGTON — California Sen. Barbara Boxer's re-election campaign is shaping up as the fight of her political career, according to a Field Poll released Thursday.

The survey shows a statistical tie in hypothetical matchups between the three-term Democratic incumbent and two of her potential Republican challengers, former congressman Tom Campbell and former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina."

File this under "gender confusion"

In What May Be a Worldwide First, Genderless Person Is ID'd in Australia - News - ABA Journal. "ID'd" is only accurate if they're referring to "issued an ID card." This guy has a gender; he's just been confused about it for several decades.

Big shocker: Dennis Kucinich Will Vote for Democrats' Health Care Bill

Health Care: Dennis Kucinich Switches Course, Will Vote for Health Care Bill - ABC News:

While there are 15 other Democratic members of Congress who remain undecided and 21 who say they will vote 'No' on the health care bill, Kucinich's vote is an important one for Democrats, signaling that even those who are staunchly opposed to the bill can be convinced to vote in favor.

When asked if other skeptical Democrats will also reverse their decision, Kucinich replied: "If I can vote for this bill, there are not many other people who shouldn't be able to support it."

The former presidential candidate was one of the leading critics of the Senate health care bill, insisting that he wouldn't vote for the health care bill unless it included the option of a government-run health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers. The public option was included in the bill that first passed the House, but was taken out in the Senate health care bill.

(emphasis added) This is almost humorous. Kucinich was only "staunchly opposed" to the bill not being more socialist.

Democrat: after "demagogue" and before "demonize"

This article provides great context for the healthcare debate wherein Obama and the Democrats laud Medicare and demonize Private Health Insurers.

Snake Oil For Our Health Care Ills - Forbes.com

If Dubya had said this . . .

American Thinker Blog: Obama: You will see 'premiums fall by as much as 3,000 percent' under Obamacare

What Democrats are up to . . .

Here's a nice explanation of the Democrats' possible scheme for giving more control of healthcare to gov't ("Democrats aren't suicidal. They're self-executing" | Washington Examiner). Aside from the Democrats' foolish contention that this legislation won't result in rationing or higher taxes, as the article's title says, Democrats seem firm in their belief that such a maneuver will not have electoral consequences.

About Bush v. Gore . . . and those wacist wepublicans . . .

In an interesting profile of likely soon-to-depart SCOTUS Justice John Paul Stevens is this Liberal reconstruction of what happened in the Court's 2000 Bush v. Gore decision. What will the Supreme Court be like without Justice John Paul Stevens? : The New Yorker:

In Bush v. Gore, Stevens framed his colleagues’ decision as an insult to the judicial role, one that could, he wrote, “only lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of the work of judges throughout the land.” In words that became better known than anything in the collectively written majority decision, he continued:


Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year’s Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation’s confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.

Uh, it's probably the very essence of "rule of law" is not to change the rules in the middle of a controversy. The Left really struggles with that concept.

And another point needs correcting in the article:

After his clerkship, Stevens returned to Chicago and took a job at one of the city’s first religiously integrated law firms. Abner Mikva clerked on the Supreme Court the year after Stevens, then returned to Chicago to start a career in public life. “Those were the days when there was such a thing as a moderate Republican, and that’s what he was,” Mikva said of Stevens. “He was a pretty conservative Republican on economic issues, but he was always a great progressive on civil rights and social rights.”

Republicans as a party were certifiably more in favor of "civil rights" than Democrats.

And, near the end of the profile, my beef with Stevens comes to light:

Stevens, throughout his years on the Court, has drawn not just on history and precedent but on contemporary values and even on his own experience as a judge. According to Stevens, that approach has its origins in his brief stint as a lawyer on the staff of the House Judiciary Committee. “That was probably one of the most important parts of my education,” Stevens told me. He recalled an incident involving an antitrust law: “I remember explaining one of the tricky problems in the statute to one of the members of the committee. I got all through it, and he said, ‘Well, you know, let’s let the judges figure that one out.’ ”

What that told him was that “the legislature really works with the judges—contrary to the suggestion that the statute is a statute all by itself,” Stevens said. “There is an understanding that there are areas of interpretation that are going to have to be filled in later on, and the legislators rely on that. It’s part of the whole process. And you realize that they’re not totally separate branches of government—they’re working together.”

Whatever happened to judicial restraint (read: a proper, limited role of the judiciary) and separation of powers, not to mention textualism?

Get real, Ms. Hunter

Yeah, he committed to that whole "till death do us part" thing with Elizabeth. Rielle Hunter: I Will Love John Edwards 'Till Death Do Us Part' - Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards : People.com:

Does she see herself living happily ever after with him? "I have no idea," Hunter says. "I do know that I will love him and that love is till death do us part, and probably beyond. We have a child together, so at the very least we will be co-parents together."

Great interview with Karl Rove

The BBC article linked to the audio of the interview is headlined "Karl Rove defends waterboarding" . . . an explanation point was judiciously left out of the headline.

. . . because you don't wanna miss a meeting on Capitol Hill with Emanuel

Reid's wife hospitalized after traffic accident - washingtonpost.com:

Reid, D-Nev., went to the hospital after being notified of the accident and returned to Capitol Hill for a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on efforts to pass health care legislation. He went back to the hospital Thursday evening.

But I wish Reid's wife and daughter a speedy recovery.

Leave it to a Mockingbird

I encourage you to read the whole thing, but here's an excerpt from Ann Coulter's latest op/ed ("What's Arabic For 'You're No Atticus Finch'?" - HUMAN EVENTS) From the article:

You will notice a pattern developing: We only hear paeans to the 'American tradition of zealous representation of unpopular clients' when it's being used to defend causes popular with liberals -- serial killers, terrorists and a horny hick who promised to save partial-birth abortion.
. . . .
Not only do Americans have a right to know the legal backgrounds of lawyers setting detainee policy at the Department of Justice, but I personally demand the right not to have to listen to Eddie Haskell lawyers constantly claiming to be Atticus Finch.

"Progressives" love them some marches

Recently I was looking into Mao's "Long March" and into the totalitarian/communist penchant for "forced marches" and militarism in general, so it was poignant to get a email today from former Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe announcing Obama and the Democrats' "Final March to Reform" on healthcare. Reminds me of the iconic Soviet propaganda movie "Our March." Heaven help us.

Can I sue Lohan for gross egocentrism?

I hate to see our family's favorite commercial dragged into court like this: News - Lindsay Lohan Suing E-Trade for Milkaholic "Parody" - Movies, TV & Music - UsMagazine.com

Not >exactly< what Massa said . . .

White House: Eric Massa's Charges Are 'Ridiculous' - ABC News

Obfuscation isn't exactly unprecedented for White House spokesmen (or the MSM) but it's interesting to see the White House's handling of accusations (here) from retiring Congressman Massa . . . for example, they haven't denied that Emanuel jumped down Massa's throat while Massa was showering in the House Gym. And it is probably more accurate to say that Massa's story has actually developed rather than "changed" or "shifted": no one would deny that Massa has a bad health history, and he was definitely in the cross-hairs of Democratic leaders (including the WH) for a vote opposing the Democrats' plans for healthcare in America . . . so it is no surprise that this "ethics investigation" has a David Bonior-like stink about it and it is probably a mischaracterization (and probably willful) to say Massa resigns to avoid ethics probe (Reuters); thus, Massa's claim that he was "set up" and was, in a way, being "forced out" of Congress is not outlandish.

I wouldn't say this isn't a scandal per se, but I think it illustrates the way Chicago politics is played. Some idiot like Massa isn't going to spoil Rahm and Obama's plans to put Americans on forced march to government-controlled healthcare.

No wonder he's gay, CA taxpayers provide his wheels

The Associated Press: Calif state senator says he's gay after DUI arrest:

The next day, reports surfaced that he had left Faces, a gay nightclub, with an unidentified man in the passenger seat of his Senate-owned vehicle.

Dan Rather . . . only on MSNBC

Dan Rather: 'Articulate' Obama Couldn't Even 'Sell Watermelons' | NewsBusters.org:

DAN RATHER: Part of the undertow in the coming election is going to be President Obama's leadership. And the Republicans will make a case and a lot of independents will buy this argument. "Listen he just hasn't been, look at the health care bill. It was his number one priority. It took him forever to get it through and he had to compromise it to death." And a version of, "Listen he's a nice person, he's very articulate" this is what's been used against him, "but he couldn't sell watermelons if it, you gave him the state troopers to flag down the traffic."

Inside the mind of a Liberal journalist--Obama and his critics

Interesting and disturbing article about threats to Obama's security (here). I believe the idiots making these threats are practically harmless (though their stupidity/inability to execute their plans should not diminish their punishment), but I guess I'm not surprised that this behavior exists on such a scale.

That being said, it's doubly disturbing that the article twice links the threat to Obama with American Conservatism. Some of this might be explained by the fact that the writer is a Brit, but aw geez . . .

From the article:( Inside the world of Obama's secret-service bodyguards | World news | The Guardian):

The Southern Poverty Law Center began life in 1971 as a tiny law firm specialising in civil rights cases. It took on the might of the Ku Klux Klan, and was duly rewarded by having its offices razed and its senior lawyers targeted for assassination. But it kept on going and grew to be one of the most respected monitoring groups of rightwing extremism in America today.

What makes the KKK "right-wing"? Or perhaps the question should be, how can they use the term "right-wing" to apply to the KKK and to, say, the GOP?

In the 13 months that Barack Obama has been the occupant of the Oval Office he has been the subject of an extraordinary outpouring of emotion from the American electorate. At the start it was largely adulatory, though more recently the adoration has been drowned out by a cacophony of criticism from tea party activists, birthers, global-warming deniers and viewers of Fox News. At the same time, largely hidden from view, there has been a layer of antagonism towards Obama that lies well beyond the boundaries of reasonable political debate.

Dang, didn't you mean "tea baggers," Mr. Journalist?

I'm only surprised that we're going to have a reasonable debate

Interesting story ("Shelby County's infant-mortality rate 'inflated', new study says"--Commercial Appeal) about use (and abuse, I think) of medical statistics, in this case related to "infant mortality." Various local blogs are discussing the issue:
Post Politics and Tiny Cat Pants and seemingly expressing some surprise at the story. I'm only surprised that we may possibly have a reasonable debate on the relevant issues.

From the Commercial Appeal article:

“The problem is much more of extreme prematurity than infant mortality,” [Professor and study author Bryan L.] Williams said.

The distinction involves more than mere semantics. Fetal and infant mortality arise from much different causes and require entirely different solutions, he said.

Infant mortality often is the result of disease, sudden infant death syndrome, violence or inadequate health care. But fetal mortality typically stems from extreme prematurity.

Since extremely premature births occur in Shelby County at a rate four times the national average, Williams said local officials should focus on possible causes, which could include various stresses during pregnancy, drug abuse, obesity or hypertension.

You know what they say about statistics . . . and the truth is that statistics like these are powerful PR weapons in gaining funding, scoring political points, etc. whether generically trashing America or arguing “how much we need to socialize medicine” or need to “stop oppressing certain populations” or whatever.

I’m glad they did an in-depth study, but it’s a shame that the obvious distinction between “extreme prematurity” and “infant mortality” was previously overlooked.

Gosh, I wonder what this "reporter" thinks oughta happen?

UPDATE 1-US Democrats would kill healthcare over abortion | Reuters:

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - A dozen House of Representatives Democrats opposed to abortion are willing to kill President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan unless it satisfies their demand for language barring the procedure, Representative Bart Stupak said on Thursday.

Jim Bunning's concerned about all those who AREN'T being paid not to work

Bird-flipping Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning blocking checks to 8,000 unemployed New Yorkers:

"As of yesterday, 8,000 New Yorkers are left without benefits," said Leo Rosales, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor. "You can imagine the worry they have right now."

Well, if he wasn't a Liberal Democrat . . .

This whole Governor Paterson story is intriguing . . . to see someone purportedly "strong on [Liberal] women's issues" . . . who followed the resignation de scandal of another "strong on women's issues" Democrat . . . who, as an incumbent, was on the outs with Democrat leaders and has been in the sights for awhile . . .Calls on Governor Paterson tjavascript:void(0)o resign get louder as 'Aide-gate' gets worse. Just do what feels right Governor!

what motivates a man like John Albert Gardner, III

I was privileged to meet James Dobson yesterday afternoon at the Opryland Resort, and upon reading this sobering story ("Man is arrested in San Diego teen's disappearance," Los Angeles Times), as I was contemplating what motivates someone to do this sort of thing, I was reminded of Dobson's groundbreaking interview (here) with serial murderer and rapist Ted Bundy, prior to Bundy's execution in Florida.

It is worth a listen.

Al Gore still saves

Ann Althouse has a fisky response to today's what-I-did-this-Winter essay from Al Gore(Althouse: "Al Gore would like you to lie back and accept what the government decides is good for you."):

[Gore writes:]

From the standpoint of governance, what is at stake is our ability to use the rule of law as an instrument of human redemption.

What?! I knew this was religion! We're supposed to believe. And please don't use 'rule of law' as a synonym for government regulation.

"We can't wish away climate change" . . . but can I wish away Al Gore?

Ironically, climate alarmists now leaning on understatement

This article from the NYTimes is funny in its understatement of the situation. Independent Board to Review Work of Top Climate Panel - NYTimes.com. I like how the Reuters reporter dismisses the persistent and embarrassing reports over the last few weeks as "sporadic":

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been under fire since it was pointed out that the 2007 report included a prediction that Himalayan glaciers would vanish by 2035, although there is no scientific consensus to that effect.

That brief citation — drawn from a magazine interview with a glaciologist who says he was misquoted — and sporadic criticism of the panel’s leader have fueled skepticism in some quarters about the science underlying climate change. The climate panel’s assessments are a crucial source of guidance for policy makers addressing global warming.

With their credibility in shambles, what exactly is the basis for the climate alarmism again?

Don't be surprised if you don't hear the term "nuclear option" for a while

Breitbart.tv » Obama & Dems in 2005: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab Against the Founder’s Intent: Then-Sen. Joe Biden:

"I pray God when the Democrats take back control we don't make the kind of naked power grab you are doing."

And the ignorance displayed by people like Christopher Dodd--in relation to the system set up by America's founders, would be funny if it wasn't so consequential.

Haynes only likes him some Partisan Hedy

It's ironic that Joe Haynes, after bashing Republicans and Conservatives disinclined to rubber stamp a proclamation for TN ACLU's Hedy Weinberg, saw fit to distance himself from perhaps the only principled, non-reflexive Liberal stance Hedy has taken over 25 years:

"I haven't always agreed with Hedy... like when she was for the Ku Klux Klan marching (at an event in Pulaski years ago)," Haynes said when asked why he pushed a resolution praising Weinberg. "But I respect her. But she believes in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and has worked hard for 25 years for those principles."

On second thought, it complicates things when you consider the KKK's deep roots in the Southern Democratic Party.

"Family Guy" and the "baser" angels of our nature

The controversy over the Down's Syndrome episode of Family Guy is heating up with the woman who provided the voiceover for the Down's Syndrome character entering the story. (‘Family Guy’ Voice Actor Says Palin ‘Does Not Have a Sense of Humor’ - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com)

While I am uncomfortable with the PC-ish complaints from Sarah Palin, I can certainly sympathize with her concern about her political enemies attacking her through her children (e.g., David Letterman). For the record, I think this is more of a "what-might-a-bossy-Down's Syndrome-teenager-say-to-try-and-impress" joke than anything else.

I'm also amused (somewhat) at how Lefties think anything that mocks or irritates Sarah Palin is a hoot. And it seems in bad taste to use (especially after the fact) a mentally disabled woman as a political tool.

To the credit of the NYTimes, it left off the petty, less-flattering comment from Andrea Fay Friedman's email in making the point that there are differences of opinion among Down's advocates (and Lib commenters are laughably acting as if the NYTimes is conspiring in favor--or fear, of Sarah Palin, see below).

24.
The Other Armenian
Ann Arbor
February 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
I find it very interesting that the NYT neglected to print the last part of Ms. Friedman's letter. The right wing has accused the media of being unfair to Sarah the P. The NYT also seems to be frightened of appearing critical to Palin. Had the media done their job Ms. Palin would have been torn to shreds and left in the dust bin of history in September of 2008.

Speaking of neglect; has anyone else noticed that Bristol Palin appears to be Trig's primary caregiver.


25.
lastcallsally
new york
February 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
I'm sick of this equal opportunity offender defense. The mentally disabled lack the ability to stand up for themselves but if you want to use them for some anti-Palin rant go ahead you tool.

"Hero"? Try "loser" ; Update: another destructive "hero"

Texas Suicide Pilot Joe Stack's Daughter, Samantha Bell, Calls Dad a Hero, Texas IRS Plane Attack 'Inappropriate' - ABC News

As far as I'm concerned, the left-handed condolences of Joe Stack's daughter aren't welcome, and I hope her 15 minutes of attention are over.

But the evolving storyline on Stack et al bothers me. This guy's acts of anti-gov't/anti-tax protest were insane and abominable.  I almost hate to soften the criticism by hinting at insanity, and I'm not sure "abominable" is a strong enough word.

People need to realize that protest is not enough.  We need constructive activism, which does not include blanket-mailing form letter diatribes to Congressmen (ref. Stack's "suicide" note) and flying planes into occupied office buildings.


Update:
Here's another "hero" in Ohio, this time with a bulldozer. Of course, the bank is evil in all this. Dude expects the bank to accept $80k as a payoff of $160k mortgage.

The culture war in the air

"Rapper in flap with Michigan native Mitt Romney" | freep.com | Detroit Free Press. The way these two men have responded after the fact says a lot about this situation.

Is this a joke? . . . Tiger Woods' Mistress Wants Apology - ABC News

Gloria Allred says her client, "this former porn star," demands an apology, by name and an in-person meeting . . . watch the video.

Tiger Woods' Mistress Wants Apology - ABC News

Tiger's near perfect pitch shot

Although the transcript of Tiger Woods' apology today is better than his stilted and near-robotic performance, I have to say that his sentiments were right on.TigerWoods.com: Transcript: Tiger's public statementThat being said, I couldn't help but notice the seeming importance of defending against assertions that there had ever been domestic violence in their home (defending Elin's honor was right, but in relation to himself, Tiger almost seems to be splitting hairs given the extent of his infidelity).

And I'm not sure that (extraneous) rumors about performance enhancing drugs needed to be brought up in this particular forum. Maybe he wanted to be able to include that subject whenever asserting the "old news/zone of privacy" diversion hereafter.

Quote of the day

Regarding the break-up of the three-year-old "U.S. Climate Action Partnership"BP, ConocoPhillips and Caterpillar Pull Out of Climate Partnership - WSJ.com:

"The saying in Washington is that if you're not at the table, you're on the menu," said Whitney Stanco, an energy policy analyst for Concept Capital, a Washington research firm.

Honorable mention goes to Mitt Romney in his opening remarks to CPAC:

I spent the weekend in Vancouver. As always, the Olympic Games were inspiring. But in case you didn’t hear the late-breaking news, the gold medal in the downhill was taken away from American Lindsey Vonn. It was determined that President Obama is going downhill faster than she is.

This just in from the greatest generation . . .

Heartwarming Charles Kuralt-ish video report about an octogenarian and her car.

Tax cuts haven't increased our budget deficit

In the midst of a CBS radio(?) report about Obama's announcement of a "deficit panel" the reporter described all the (external-to-Obama-and-Democrats) factors that have contributed to the current RECORD deficit. The last one mentioned was "tax cuts" . . . well, that's not true. It's the spending, stupid. Hillsdale College - Imprimis Issue:

The real undeniable test of tax policy is not short-term shifts in revenue but long-term shifts in spending that are most clearly manifested by increases in the federal budget. Between 1981 and 2004, current government spending in terms of dollars increased fivefold while the total hovered a little above 20 percent of GDP.

In the mid-1980s, World Bank economist Keith Marsden showed how this is possible: Low tax countries increase their spending three times faster than comparable high tax countries. This is because the low tax economies grow six times faster. For most of the period since World War II, the fastest growing economy in the world, with the fastest growth in government spending, was Hong Kong, with a top rate of 16 percent. A study by Jude Wanniski at Polyconomics extended the analysis through the Reagan era, with the same results. In recent years, Ireland, New Zealand and Russia massively increased spending after drastically reducing tax rates. Russia has increased outlays by some 60 percent after enacting a 13 percent flat tax.

Obama starts looking toward next election

Speaking of audacity . . . President Obama is now decrying deficit spending: UPDATE 1-Obama names deficit panel, gives it wide leeway | Reuters.

Misreading Bayh's departure

John Fund describes how the MSM (not to mention the Left) is misreading Evan Bayh's departure ("Why Evan Bayh Is Quitting the Senate" - WSJ.com). From the article:

At age 54, Mr. Bayh is leaving Congress but declines to rule out another run for office. Should Democrats ever be open to a Tony Blair message, no doubt Mr. Bayh could be persuaded to return to the arena. He's won five times in a red state while compiling a voting record significantly more liberal than Arlen Specter's or Olympia Snowe's. Yet today he's viewed by many Democrats with disdain as a conservative collaborator.

Nothing better sums up the Democrats' self-inflicted problem.

A couple things about the Amy Bishop case

Wow. The emerging details about UAH murderer Amy Bishop are fascinating. Survivor: Ala. prof in slayings shot methodically - BostonHerald.com.

1. Though hindsight is 20/20, the facts surrounding Bishop's killing of her brother in 1986 are pretty troubling. It'll be interesting to see how this evolving story will affect the political fortunes of Democratic Congressman William Delahunt:

He said there were no ballistics tests included, and he also thought it odd that there was an 11-day gap between the death and interviews with family members, apparently because they were too distraught to talk sooner.

The Norfolk County district attorney at the time was William Delahunt, now a Democratic congressman from Massachusetts. He was traveling in Israel and could not immediately be reached for comment on the case.

2. Though it is almost impossible to predict how you would react if you had been among the faculty members in that UAH Biology Department meeting, I was stunned to read these details of how they handled the situation:

[UAH Associate Professor] Joseph Ng told the AP the shooting stopped almost as soon as it started. He said the gun seemed to jam and he and others rushed Bishop out of the room and then barricaded the door shut with a table.

Ng said the charge was led by Debra Moriarity, a professor of biochemistry, after Bishop aimed the gun at her and attempted to fire. When the gun didn’t shoot, Moriarity pushed her way to Bishop, urged her to stop, and then helped force her out the door.

'Moriarity was probably the one that saved our lives. She was the one that initiated the rush,' he told the AP. 'It took a lot of guts to just go up to her.'

Ng said the survivors worried she would shoot her way through the door, and frantically worked up a backup plan in case she burst through. But she never did.

(emphasis added). Yes, Bishop could have shot her way back in . . . or started shooting students or others elsewhere in the building.

3. Though I sympathize with the family members and loved ones of the UAH victims, I do not see how a typical hiring process would have alerted UAH to Amy Bishop's past "issues."

Damned if we're post racial, damned if we're not . . .

This article is intriguing in light of Harold Ford, Jr.'s yankee-patronizing comments about how Tennesseans would frown on his inter-racial marriage. The Woman Behind Harold Ford - The Daily Beast:

There were a number of reasons for wanting to keep [Ford, Jr.'s relationship with his then caucasian and now wife] quiet. For one, it was relatively new. For another, a month before his defeat, the RNC put out a now-infamous commercial featuring an actress who claimed to have met Ford at a party at the Playboy Mansion. “Call me,” she mouths at the end. The ad smacked of racism—implying that he was somehow unfit for office because he was a womanizer who liked white girls. (In point of fact, the ad was also deceptive; Ford is said to have been fairly indifferent to race where the women in his life are concerned. He was formerly engaged to a black woman.) Even though the ad was vilified, it did its damage.

The point was that he was a playboy (playa?), not that he dated white women.*

BTW, here's the humorous (and effective) ad:








*Incidentally, there's some interesting dirt in the article about Ford, Jr.'s level of playboy-ness:

About five years ago, [Ford's wife] met Ford at a wedding in New Orleans. At the time, he was known in political circles as something of a player. Says one woman who dated him briefly: “He pursued women vigorously and passionately, there’d be a week or 10 days of him being totally obsessive and then it was over. With me he just didn’t show up for a date.

Wow.


Hat tip, The Agenda.

The "reality-based community's" president.

Rich Lowry highlight's "The president's reality problem.":

Obama came to office under fundamental misapprehensions that hamper him still. It's not true that all that was keeping the Israelis and Palestinians apart was the lack of US engagement, or that the Iranians were amenable to getting talked out of their nuclear program, or that Guantanamo Bay was a pointless contrivance.

Nor is it true that government is a sustainable source of economic growth, or a more efficient allocator of capital than the market. This is why Obama's stimulus program -- inevitably, a dog's breakfast of politically driven priorities -- is such a shambles that his aides never utter the word "stimulus" anymore. It is on to the next program, a nearly $100 billion "jobs" bill that reflects the touching belief that to work as intended a program only has to be named appropriately.

More evidence of weather alarmist science-denying

FOXNews.com - The Next Climate-gate?:

But probably the most damaging report has come from Joseph D’Aleo, the first Director of Meteorology and co-founder of the Weather Channel, and Anthony Watts, a meteorologist and founder of SurfaceStations.org.

In a January 29 report, they find that starting in 1990, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began systematically eliminating climate measuring stations in cooler locations around the world. Yes, that's right. They began eliminating stations that tended to record cooler temperatures and drove up the average measured temperature. The eliminated stations had been in higher latitudes and altitudes, inland areas away from the sea, as well as more rural locations. The drop in the number of weather stations was dramatic, declining from more than 6,000 stations to fewer than 1,500.

D’Aleo and Watts show that the jumps in measured global temperature occur just when the number of weather stations is cut. But there is another bias that this change to more urban stations also exacerbates. Recorded temperatures in more urban areas rise over time simply because more densely populated areas produce more heat. Combining the greater share of weather stations in more urban areas over time with this urban heat effect also tends to increase the rate that recorded temperatures tend to rise over time.

Their report provides examples of how the systematic elimination of stations and unexplained adjustments in temperature data caused measured temperatures to rise for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Many adjustments change what would have been a drop in temperatures into an increase. Take New Zealand, where D’Aleo and Watts note: “About half the adjustments actually created a warming trend where none existed; the other half greatly exaggerated existing warming.”

And Mona Charen opines on the Left's anti-scientific methodism:sums it up nicely:

The entire superstructure of climate alarmism rests on data that are doubtful and possibly fraudulent. The Science and Public Policy Institute has evaluated surface-temperature records and found, among other things, that 1) instrumental data from the pre-satellite era are virtually useless; 2) fewer than 25 percent of the 6,000 temperature stations that once existed are still operative; 3) comprehensive ocean data have been available only since 2003 and have shown no warming; and 4) higher altitude, higher latitude, and rural stations were the most likely to be lost, leading to a further serious overstatement of warming.

As John Hinderaker of the Power Line blog has reported, the U.N. IPCC report itself does not even accurately represent the views of the scientists who signed it. Key sections expressing caveats and acknowledging countervailing evidence were altered after the purported authors had put their names to it.

It isn’t the snow outside that has discredited global warming. It’s the chill the warmists have imposed on scientific inquiry. They are acting as enforcers of orthodoxy, not seekers of truth.

Krugman's semANTICS

I had to comment on Paul Krugman's multiple references (in this NYTimes op/ed Op-Ed Columnist - Republicans and Medicare - NYTimes.com) to "Republican cuts to Medicare" as opposed to "Democratic cost savings" within the same sentence.

That being said, I will admit that I am not comfortable when I see Republicans sugar-coating policies to appeal to older voters--Newt Gingrich is the king of this, by lauding FDR's "Progressive"/Socialist policies/programs like Medicare.

Adjustments to the Leviathan

. . . adjustments like the ones people get from a chiropractor.

Folks are reporting that Sen. Bob Corker is working with Democrats to tweak government regulation of the finance industry. It pains me to hear such a disingenuous boob as Chris Dodd saying positive things about Corker, and I think Dodd is untrustworthy, and I don't think the Democrats' proffered solutions (which, as is often the case, are built upon flawed premises) won't help matters, but maybe Corker can wrest some positive changes from the majority party. After all, officials in the image-over-substance party are DESPERATE to pass something. From the article: Republican Breaks Ranks on Finance Bill - WSJ.com:

WASHINGTON—Republican Sen. Bob Corker bucked his party Thursday and began negotiations with Democrats on overhauling financial regulation.

Winning the first-term Tennessee senator's support is perhaps the White House's best chance of passing a financial-overhaul bill this year. Democrats need one Republican to reach the 60 votes required to pass legislation in the Senate. Democrats hope Mr. Corker's support also could bring along other centrist Republicans.

Mr. Corker's involvement means the Federal Reserve could play a bigger role in any overhaul, because the senator has been less critical of the central bank than other leading Republicans. He also opposes creating a stand-alone consumer-protection agency, an idea already on life support, but might agree to propose other policies governing products such as mortgages.

Here are some ideas as Corker endeavors to manipulate the nation's financial spine.

Maybe Stephanopoulos and wife should go late night on ABC

I don't ever watch GMA, but this birthday greeting from George Stephanopoulos' wife, Ali Wentworth, isn't appropriate . . . for the kids potentially watching GMA at home, much less for the kids right there in the studio. (watch all the way to the end).

Uh, what does Chief Justice Holder know about running for office?

Gender Campaign | The Fly-By | Memphis Flyer:

Last week, the [Memphis Area Women's Council] held its first Run Women Run event with Tennessee representative Karen Camper, Germantown mayor Sharon Goldsworthy, Tennessee Supreme Court chief justice Janice Holder, and attorney Ruby Wharton.

According to Deborah Clubb, executive director of the local women's council, Run Women Run was held to 'empower women with enough knowledge to know it's not impossible' to be elected to political office.

. . . .

During the non-partisan event, attendees heard advice on running for and serving in a political office. They discussed campaign strategies, financial tips, and the importance of honor and integrity in politics.

Beware Daddy Dearest Baldwin's VM on this one

Alec Baldwin Treated And Released From Hospital - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News:

Actor Alec Baldwin was treated and released from a New York hospital after a young woman believed to be his daughter, Ireland, called emergency assistance claiming her father was unresponsive, according to NBC News. When paramedics arrived at Baldwin's New York City home, he reportedly was responsive and agreed to seek treatment at the hospital.

The "30 Rock" star was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital and was released after about an hour. His condition was undisclosed. The actor's spokesperson, Matthew Hiltzik, issued a statement saying, "This was a misunderstanding on one person's part. Alec was quickly released from the hospital, he's completely fine and will be at work today."

"Misunderstanding on one person's part"? Uh oh. You don't cross Daddy Alec.

Wordsmithing of the Day: Gorewellian

"Gorewellian" by Jonah Goldberg in reference to the Audi Super Bowl Ad. Audi’s Gorewellian Super Bowl Ad - Jonah Goldberg - National Review Online

Best ad? E-trade

I have to state for the record, that it is kind of difficult to watch (hear) the commercials during a Super Bowl party, which is lost on some fellow viewers/ party-goers who will laugh at anything with a crotch shot or underwear or talking animals. 

That being said, I have been able to review some of the ads today, and here's my choice.

I thought the Tebow ad was excellent, and the pro-abortion Left will probably learn something from their overwrought PR effort on this one.

What was Audi thinking?

Doritos wasted a lot of money (not on production though).

But right now, for best ad, I'm leaning toward the E-trade milkaholic ad.

Watch them all here.

Whew, maybe now Liberals can stop pretending to be something they're not

Gallup: Majority of Dems View Socialism Positively - Real Clear Politics – TIME.com:

The Gallup Poll reports that a majority of Democrats, 53%, have a “positive” image of socialism, which includes independents who lean toward the blue party.

Only 17 percent of Republican and GOP-leaners hold socialism in a positive light. In total, more than one-third of Americans, 36%, have a positive image of socialism.

Which reminds me of Jon Stewart's excellent interview with Bill O'Reilly. Stewart gamely made the reductio ad absurdum argument that "we're all 'socialists'" if we don't rail against every gov't funded entitlement program.

Aside, I have trouble comprehending what people "see" in O'Reilly; though Stewart's wit and charm are obvious.

Those anti-democratic Democrats

("Dem. lieutenant governor candidate exits Ill. race" - chicagotribune.com):

CHICAGO - Now that the Democrats' nominee for lieutenant governor has dropped out of the race, the next step is up to the Illinois Democratic Party.

This is too common of an occurrence for Democrats. Torricelli. Kurita. Who needs primaries?

But, as we all know, the end justifies the means . . . right?


Update: Paterson in Democrats' sights . . .

Tim Tebow the square hipster

It was cute to hear my daughter standing up for nerdiness in the middle of "I Spy--the board game" this afternoon (yes, a little daddy time in anticipation of their being Super Bowl persona non grata this eve). This reminded me of Sally Jenkins' somewhat left-handed attaboy for Tim Tebow and a story on abstinence education I just came across.

Commenting on Tim Tebow's chastity, Jenkins writes ("Tebow's Super Bowl isn't intolerant; its critics are":

"Are you saving yourself for marriage?" Tebow was asked last summer during an SEC media day.

"Yes, I am," he replied.

The room fell into a hush, followed by tittering: The best college football player in the country had just announced he was a virgin. As Tebow gauged the reaction from the reporters in the room, he burst out laughing. They were a lot more embarrassed than he was.

"I think y'all are stunned right now!" he said. "You can't even ask a question!"

That's how far we've come from any kind of sane viewpoint about star athletes and sex. Promiscuity is so the norm that if a stud isn't shagging everything in sight, we feel faintly ashamed for him.

And this sentiment was reinforced in an op-ed/report from Mona Charen about abstinence education ("Another Undead Conservative Idea" - Mona Charen - National Review Online) From the article:

Now we learn from a study in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine that another prematurely buried conservative idea, abstinence education, works very well indeed.

The Obama administration had disdained and defunded abstinence education in favor of “evidence-based” programs to prevent teen pregnancy. (Note the assumption that liberal ideas are founded on evidence whereas conservative ideas spring from prejudice, ignorance, or downright orneriness.) No single study settles things, but this one, conducted by an African-American professor at the University of Pennsylvania, will be hard to ignore."

. . . .
Elayne Bennett, founder of the Best Friends program, is delighted that the Jemmott research reinforces her experience with, mostly, African-American adolescent girls. Offering a mixed program of mentoring, dance, music, and role-playing, Best Friends and its new spin-off for boys, Best Men, has had two decades of success in helping kids abstain from sex, drugs, and alcohol until they graduate from high school. She has found that the kids desperately want someone to tell them it’s okay to postpone sex. It’s a commentary on our times, but there it is — we need special programs to give kids permission to say no.

(emphasis added) Yep.

Sally Jenkins and various alternative acronyms for NOW

Sally Jenkins - "Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are" - washingtonpost.com:

I'll spit this out quick, before the armies of feminism try to gag me and strap electrodes to my forehead: Tim Tebow is one of the better things to happen to young women in some time. I realize this stance won't endear me to the 'Dwindling Organizations of Ladies in Lockstep,' otherwise known as DOLL, but I'll try to pick up the shards of my shattered feminist credentials and go on.

BTW: I think Jenkins incorrectly says that Tebow advertised Heb. 12:12 on his eye-black . . . it was Hebrews 12:1,2:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Kudos to Tebow for seeming to live out that verse pretty well.

Me and the Nation of Tea Party

As you probably have heard, Nashville's Opryland Resort is the site for this weekend's Tea Party Nation Convention (here). For the record, I'm skeptical of the "Tea Party Movement." I have hesitated to write on the subject, for various reasons, but one is because I am glad to see more people taking an interest in public policy, and these people are "taking an interest" in a a good sense: that is, for the purpose of smaller government and increased liberties. I and the fam attended a local rally, and I can't say that I don't sympathize with any of "the movement's" stated ideals, but some of the passion or excitement is going to the head of many participants . . . and clouding their thinking on the potential for any lasting or substantive effect on our political system.

That being said, Charles Krauthammer - The great peasant revolt of 2010 - washingtonpost.com; here's an excerpt:

That brings us to Part 2 of the liberal conceit: Liberals act in the public interest, while conservatives think only of power, elections, self-aggrandizement and self-interest.

It is an old liberal theme that conservative ideas, being red in tooth and claw, cannot possibly emerge from any notion of the public good. A 2002 New York Times obituary for philosopher Robert Nozick explained that the strongly libertarian implications of Nozick's masterwork, 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia,' 'proved comforting to the right, which was grateful for what it embraced as philosophical justification.' The right, you see, is grateful when a bright intellectual can graft some philosophical rationalization onto its thoroughly base and self-regarding politics.

This belief in the moral hollowness of conservatism animates the current liberal mantra that Republican opposition to Obama's social democratic agenda -- which couldn't get through even a Democratic Congress and powered major Democratic losses in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts -- is nothing but blind and cynical obstructionism.

By contrast, Democratic opposition to George W. Bush -- from Iraq to Social Security reform -- constituted dissent. And dissent, we were told at the time, including by candidate Obama, is 'one of the truest expressions of patriotism.'

No more. Today, dissent from the governing orthodoxy is nihilistic malice. 'They made a decision,' explained David Axelrod, 'they were going to sit it out and hope that we failed, that the country failed' -- a perfect expression of liberals' conviction that their aspirations are necessarily the country's, that their idea of the public good is the public's, that their failure is therefore the nation's.

I'm not a "Bush follower" but . . .

Terrorism - Salon.com:

. . . Seriously: if you were a Bush follower, wouldn't you feel as though you were owed a major apology for all the accusations and the fuss that came from Democrats and media figures, accusing you of supporting radical and Constitution-shredding policies when, it turns out, they actually crave those policies in order to feel safe? Doesn't all of this bolster the Republican claim that those attacks on the Bush administration for civil liberties abuses were not due to genuine conviction, but rather for partisan gain (in the case of Democratic officials) and cheap, preening, wet-finger-in-the-air moralizing (in the case of media stars)?