I don't even know where to begin with this story....
"Three males cheered on another as he raped a 13-year-old girl at a party March 4 at the Little Earth housing complex in south Minneapolis, according to criminal charges filed Thursday."
Why was a 13 year old girl out on a school night, drinking brandy and vodka? Then again what were the 16 & 17 year old boys doing at that party? And WHERE WERE THE PARENTS OF THESE KIDS?????
What happened in these kids lives where they thought that this kind of behavior ws acceptable?
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Whatever happened to...
verifying a story? Going for "multiple credible sources"? ABC News ran with this report from Brian Ross about a probe of Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL).
"Federal officials say the Congressional bribery investigation now includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, based on information from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government."
With breathless abandon, the commentors on the ABC blog trash Hastert and climb back on the "Republican Culture of Corruption" meme. One minor problem with this report......
"ABC News, citing unnamed Justice Department sources, reported that information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists now cooperating with the government.
But a Justice Department official told Reuters: "The story is wrong. Hastert is not under investigation." (emphasis mine)
Woops - that's gonna leave a scar! Here is a hot tip for all of you pros, from one of the amateurs. Before you go to print with a rumor - GET MULTIPLE SOURCES!!!!! It's no wonder the people of the US don't trust the major media anymore.
"Federal officials say the Congressional bribery investigation now includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, based on information from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government."
With breathless abandon, the commentors on the ABC blog trash Hastert and climb back on the "Republican Culture of Corruption" meme. One minor problem with this report......
"ABC News, citing unnamed Justice Department sources, reported that information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists now cooperating with the government.
But a Justice Department official told Reuters: "The story is wrong. Hastert is not under investigation." (emphasis mine)
Woops - that's gonna leave a scar! Here is a hot tip for all of you pros, from one of the amateurs. Before you go to print with a rumor - GET MULTIPLE SOURCES!!!!! It's no wonder the people of the US don't trust the major media anymore.
Speaking of irony!
This NY Times op-ed is just amazing in it's ability to spew the DNC talking points with a straight face.
"One way or the other, tax increases are coming. The nation's budget deficits are too big to outgrow, and the latest tax cuts — which Congress is likely to sign off on today — will dig the hole deeper. Neither Congress nor the public has the stomach to slash government programs anywhere near enough to bring spending in line with revenues. The only real question, then is this: Whose taxes will be raised in the future to pay for today's tax giveaways?
Here's a hint: If Congressional Republicans get their way, the people who benefit the most from today's tax cuts — mainly wealthy Americans with lots of investment income — will get special protection from future tax increases. "
Tackling the second paragrah first. What American does NOT have a 401(k) or similar investment platform? If any of you readers out there don't, contact me (ladylogician at hope4america dot net) and I'll get you set up! Seriously folks, personal portfolios were indeed once the sole property of the rich, but they have not been that way in the last 20 years! At one time I had 4 different 401 (k) plans from different employers. 401 (k)s replaced the pension plan back in the 1980's and are now a staple of employment in the private sector. Anyone who does not participate in his/her employers plan needs to remember this. Social Security will be bankrupt in 11 years! You willing to take a chance that this government program will be there for you when you retire?
On to the first paragraph. There is a grain of truth in what the Times writes. The House and Senate do NOT have the intestinal fortitude to slash spending in a manner that is required in order to tame the deficit. There is a solution for that too! It's called the Pennsylvania Earthquake which I wrote about here. If your Senator or Representative will not vote to cut spending then vote them out of office. It's that simple. We have to quit rewarding those who "bring home the pork" by returning them to DC. If they bring home the pork - send them back home to the private sector where they can re-learn what it means to actually WORK for a living!
"One way or the other, tax increases are coming. The nation's budget deficits are too big to outgrow, and the latest tax cuts — which Congress is likely to sign off on today — will dig the hole deeper. Neither Congress nor the public has the stomach to slash government programs anywhere near enough to bring spending in line with revenues. The only real question, then is this: Whose taxes will be raised in the future to pay for today's tax giveaways?
Here's a hint: If Congressional Republicans get their way, the people who benefit the most from today's tax cuts — mainly wealthy Americans with lots of investment income — will get special protection from future tax increases. "
Tackling the second paragrah first. What American does NOT have a 401(k) or similar investment platform? If any of you readers out there don't, contact me (ladylogician at hope4america dot net) and I'll get you set up! Seriously folks, personal portfolios were indeed once the sole property of the rich, but they have not been that way in the last 20 years! At one time I had 4 different 401 (k) plans from different employers. 401 (k)s replaced the pension plan back in the 1980's and are now a staple of employment in the private sector. Anyone who does not participate in his/her employers plan needs to remember this. Social Security will be bankrupt in 11 years! You willing to take a chance that this government program will be there for you when you retire?
On to the first paragraph. There is a grain of truth in what the Times writes. The House and Senate do NOT have the intestinal fortitude to slash spending in a manner that is required in order to tame the deficit. There is a solution for that too! It's called the Pennsylvania Earthquake which I wrote about here. If your Senator or Representative will not vote to cut spending then vote them out of office. It's that simple. We have to quit rewarding those who "bring home the pork" by returning them to DC. If they bring home the pork - send them back home to the private sector where they can re-learn what it means to actually WORK for a living!
Oh the irony
The richness of the irony of this story is so very sweet.
"The American Civil Liberties Union is weighing new standards that would discourage its board members from publicly criticizing the organization's policies and internal administration.
"Where an individual director disagrees with a board position on matters of civil liberties policy, the director should refrain from publicly highlighting the fact of such disagreement," the committee that compiled the standards wrote in its proposals. "
Excuse me???? Isn't this the same ACLU that encourages people who disagree with big business or the Bush Administration to go public with any and ALL criticisms no matter who sensitive to national security?
I loved this quote though.
"Nat Hentoff, a writer and former A.C.L.U. board member, was incredulous. "You sure that didn't come out of Dick Cheney's office?" he asked. "
Ah yes.....hypocricy by any name would still be spelled D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S...
"The American Civil Liberties Union is weighing new standards that would discourage its board members from publicly criticizing the organization's policies and internal administration.
"Where an individual director disagrees with a board position on matters of civil liberties policy, the director should refrain from publicly highlighting the fact of such disagreement," the committee that compiled the standards wrote in its proposals. "
Excuse me???? Isn't this the same ACLU that encourages people who disagree with big business or the Bush Administration to go public with any and ALL criticisms no matter who sensitive to national security?
I loved this quote though.
"Nat Hentoff, a writer and former A.C.L.U. board member, was incredulous. "You sure that didn't come out of Dick Cheney's office?" he asked. "
Ah yes.....hypocricy by any name would still be spelled D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S...
The conservative bloggers best friend and gay marriage
Did you hear where Howard Dean went on the 700 Club and told Pat Robertson that the Democratic Platform opposed gay marriage? Well that angered members of the Gay lobby including the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and they withdrew a $5000 pledge to the DNC. That led the DNC to come out with a "clarification" of what Mr. Dean said. They re-iterated the platform which reads as follows:
"We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protection for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush’s divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a ‘Federal Marriage Amendment.’”
Hot on the heels of Howard's latest case of foot in mouth disease, comes our favorite RINO from Arizona.
"On Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain announced: "I will vote against it because I believe very strongly, first of all, in the sanctity of union between man and woman, but I also believe that the states should make these decisions."
Now technically the senior Senator from Arizona is correct, it IS a states rights issue. Then again so was abortion, but the judiciary took that right away from the states 30 years ago.
"From Oregon to Louisiana, wherever the American people have had a chance to vote, strong majorities have voted to keep marriage as a union of husband and wife. It is the courts that are redefining common sense as bigotry and hate-mongering. Judges in one state have already imposed gay marriage (Massachusetts). Judges in two states (Nebraska and Georgia) have already struck down state marriage amendments. Courts in eight states will soon rule on gay marriage as a civil right."
That is one reason why it is so imperative to get a Marriage Amendment on the ballot in Minnesota. A handful of DFL Senators, including Majority Leader Dean Johnson have bottled up the Marriage Amendment in the Senate for long enough. It is time to send home the DFL's in the Senate who refuse to let the people vote on important issues like marriage! Senator Bachman will not be around to push her bill through the Senate (hopefully she will be in DC representing the 6th CD) next year, so lets replace her with a bunch of Senators that are not afraid to hear the voices of the people!
"We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits and protection for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush’s divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a ‘Federal Marriage Amendment.’”
Hot on the heels of Howard's latest case of foot in mouth disease, comes our favorite RINO from Arizona.
"On Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain announced: "I will vote against it because I believe very strongly, first of all, in the sanctity of union between man and woman, but I also believe that the states should make these decisions."
Now technically the senior Senator from Arizona is correct, it IS a states rights issue. Then again so was abortion, but the judiciary took that right away from the states 30 years ago.
"From Oregon to Louisiana, wherever the American people have had a chance to vote, strong majorities have voted to keep marriage as a union of husband and wife. It is the courts that are redefining common sense as bigotry and hate-mongering. Judges in one state have already imposed gay marriage (Massachusetts). Judges in two states (Nebraska and Georgia) have already struck down state marriage amendments. Courts in eight states will soon rule on gay marriage as a civil right."
That is one reason why it is so imperative to get a Marriage Amendment on the ballot in Minnesota. A handful of DFL Senators, including Majority Leader Dean Johnson have bottled up the Marriage Amendment in the Senate for long enough. It is time to send home the DFL's in the Senate who refuse to let the people vote on important issues like marriage! Senator Bachman will not be around to push her bill through the Senate (hopefully she will be in DC representing the 6th CD) next year, so lets replace her with a bunch of Senators that are not afraid to hear the voices of the people!
Minnesota's Mr. Right!
Thanks to Amendment X, I listened to the Jason Lewis program via the internet today. I had forgotten how totally spot on that man is. How prescient, how intelligent, how unbelievably right he is.
One of the things that Jason was rolling on about today is covered in this, from the always wonderful Walter E. Williams!
"Mr. Secretary: This is an example of the disgusting abuse of state power. Each of us owns himself, and it follows that we should have the liberty to take risks with our own lives but not that of others. That means it's a legitimate use of state power to mandate that cars have working brakes because if my car has poorly functioning brakes, I risk the lives of others and I have no right to do so. If I don't wear a seatbelt I risk my own life, which is well within my rights. As to your statement 'Lack of safety belt use is a growing public health issue that . . . also costs us all billions of dollars every year,' that's not a problem of liberty. It's a problem of socialism. No human should be coerced by the state to bear the medical expense, or any other expense, for his fellow man. In other words, the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another is morally offensive." (emphasis added)
Such clarity....Jason took it a step further today, upbraiding smoking bans, car/booster seat laws, and other regulations designed to intrude into the personal life of the individual. He said that speed limits, mandating working equipment is acceptable for the same reason that Mr. Williams states above, but the state has no business dictating what a business owner will or will not allow (smoking) in his place of business!
Jason, I know that your listeners in Charlotte will miss you as dearly as we in Minnesota missed you when you left 3 years ago. However, I eagerly await the day when I can turn on my radio and hear the intro that we all know and love and hear the clarity that you will bring back to Minnesota politics.
Welcome back Jason! Hurry home soon!!!!!
One of the things that Jason was rolling on about today is covered in this, from the always wonderful Walter E. Williams!
"Mr. Secretary: This is an example of the disgusting abuse of state power. Each of us owns himself, and it follows that we should have the liberty to take risks with our own lives but not that of others. That means it's a legitimate use of state power to mandate that cars have working brakes because if my car has poorly functioning brakes, I risk the lives of others and I have no right to do so. If I don't wear a seatbelt I risk my own life, which is well within my rights. As to your statement 'Lack of safety belt use is a growing public health issue that . . . also costs us all billions of dollars every year,' that's not a problem of liberty. It's a problem of socialism. No human should be coerced by the state to bear the medical expense, or any other expense, for his fellow man. In other words, the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another is morally offensive." (emphasis added)
Such clarity....Jason took it a step further today, upbraiding smoking bans, car/booster seat laws, and other regulations designed to intrude into the personal life of the individual. He said that speed limits, mandating working equipment is acceptable for the same reason that Mr. Williams states above, but the state has no business dictating what a business owner will or will not allow (smoking) in his place of business!
Jason, I know that your listeners in Charlotte will miss you as dearly as we in Minnesota missed you when you left 3 years ago. However, I eagerly await the day when I can turn on my radio and hear the intro that we all know and love and hear the clarity that you will bring back to Minnesota politics.
Welcome back Jason! Hurry home soon!!!!!
Truth as Lies part 2
Following on the heels of my post yesterday, is this from Herman Cain.
"The ignorance strategy apparently worked so well last year to stifle any attempt to restructure the Social Security system that liberals – from both political parties – have extended this game plan to other issues. In George Orwell’s 1984, Big Brother constantly reminded the citizens that “ignorance is strength” to diminish the public’s desire to know the truth. Adherence to this principle kept the government in control and the citizens in the dark. Liberals now employ the ignorance strategy to distort the truth and deceive the public on all manner of issues, including the global war on terrorism, the economy and tax policy, border security and illegal aliens.
In 2005, liberals used the ignorance strategy to deny the fact that the Social Security system is near fiscal insolvency, despite numerous reports to the contrary conducted during past and present presidential administrations. Liberals continue to deny the crisis, and now claim Republicans manufactured a crisis where one doesn’t really exist. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) even said, “Social Security remains sound for decades to come.” The new liberal math evidently rounds up – a lot. The Social Security Trustees recently reported that in 2017 the program begins to pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes. Senator Reid, that is 11 years from now, not decades. "
Read it all and become aware of the games that BOTH sides are playing with the truth. Whether it be Social Security, gas prices, the global war on terror, the economy or tax cuts both sides are playing fast and loose with the facts! It is your responsibility as a citizen, a taxpayer and a voter to educate yourself on what the truth is. By whatever means possible!
"The ignorance strategy apparently worked so well last year to stifle any attempt to restructure the Social Security system that liberals – from both political parties – have extended this game plan to other issues. In George Orwell’s 1984, Big Brother constantly reminded the citizens that “ignorance is strength” to diminish the public’s desire to know the truth. Adherence to this principle kept the government in control and the citizens in the dark. Liberals now employ the ignorance strategy to distort the truth and deceive the public on all manner of issues, including the global war on terrorism, the economy and tax policy, border security and illegal aliens.
In 2005, liberals used the ignorance strategy to deny the fact that the Social Security system is near fiscal insolvency, despite numerous reports to the contrary conducted during past and present presidential administrations. Liberals continue to deny the crisis, and now claim Republicans manufactured a crisis where one doesn’t really exist. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) even said, “Social Security remains sound for decades to come.” The new liberal math evidently rounds up – a lot. The Social Security Trustees recently reported that in 2017 the program begins to pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes. Senator Reid, that is 11 years from now, not decades. "
Read it all and become aware of the games that BOTH sides are playing with the truth. Whether it be Social Security, gas prices, the global war on terror, the economy or tax cuts both sides are playing fast and loose with the facts! It is your responsibility as a citizen, a taxpayer and a voter to educate yourself on what the truth is. By whatever means possible!
Dear Governor Pawlenty..
Governor Pawlenty:
I read today where you'll be signing the horrible Twins Stadium Bill this Friday.
I will urge you to show incredible political courage and even an even greater display of the principle that we as Republicans are supposed to show by not only not signing the bill but by vetoing it outright.
It is immoral and unethical to force people to pay for something they will not use let alone enjoy. The people of the state of Minnesota depend on the finality, the rule and the integrity of the law to be able to live their lives as they see fit. This bill has come into being only because those laws have been specifically circumvented not by the courts, but by those we trusted to keep those laws, as we trust you to enforce them. The legislature has betrayed the trust of the people. I would urge you not to join them in that betrayal.
I will be a delegate to the Minnesota Republican State Convention in just over a week.
Should you sign this bill, I will ask you at the convention to justify why you would force my widowed mother to pay even a dime for a new stadium for Karl Pohlad and the Twins. She depended on you. She and others trusted you to be a man of integrity, a governor for the people who would honor his oath of office to faithfully discharge the duties of his office.
I will also ask to justify the intellectual discrepancy between the Twins Stadium bill and Eminent Domain bill you signed and that Lt. Governor Molnau said prevented government from taking property from one person and giving it to another. I will ask you to justify that in signing both bills how you are being intellectually consistent.
I will await your decision by Friday.
I read today where you'll be signing the horrible Twins Stadium Bill this Friday.
I will urge you to show incredible political courage and even an even greater display of the principle that we as Republicans are supposed to show by not only not signing the bill but by vetoing it outright.
It is immoral and unethical to force people to pay for something they will not use let alone enjoy. The people of the state of Minnesota depend on the finality, the rule and the integrity of the law to be able to live their lives as they see fit. This bill has come into being only because those laws have been specifically circumvented not by the courts, but by those we trusted to keep those laws, as we trust you to enforce them. The legislature has betrayed the trust of the people. I would urge you not to join them in that betrayal.
I will be a delegate to the Minnesota Republican State Convention in just over a week.
Should you sign this bill, I will ask you at the convention to justify why you would force my widowed mother to pay even a dime for a new stadium for Karl Pohlad and the Twins. She depended on you. She and others trusted you to be a man of integrity, a governor for the people who would honor his oath of office to faithfully discharge the duties of his office.
I will also ask to justify the intellectual discrepancy between the Twins Stadium bill and Eminent Domain bill you signed and that Lt. Governor Molnau said prevented government from taking property from one person and giving it to another. I will ask you to justify that in signing both bills how you are being intellectually consistent.
I will await your decision by Friday.
Why I love Prairie Pravda
I remember Tom Barnard at KQRS once saying "I would just once like to read an editorial from the Star Tribune that I couldn't have predicted."
So, this editorial title really grabbed my interest "Stadiums Give State a Competitive Boost" Well, I had to read it. And as I did, there was so much wrong with it, I decided to do an analysis:
So, this editorial title really grabbed my interest "Stadiums Give State a Competitive Boost" Well, I had to read it. And as I did, there was so much wrong with it, I decided to do an analysis:
Not even in the World Series have the Twins scored a victory as important as last weekend's triumph at the State Capitol. - True enough, they did. The taxpayers lost. Score Carl Pohlad 122, Taxpayers 0. A new open-air ballpark in downtown
Bolstered also is the competitive posture of the Twin Cities. I’m holding my breath here, editor girl or boy. Make your best case! In blessing the
The Metrodome, for all its sterile practicality, killed the poetry so essential to baseball –I KNEW something was wrong. Now I know why I never heard Frost or Tennyson at the Dome. Hey, wait a minute editorial girl or boy. If we pipe e.e.cummings into the PA. system at The Dome, well, World Series and BCS Championship-HERE WE COME! And we can waste all that citizens’ money on something else just as stupid and vapid. and to another atmospheric sport: college football. Glenn Mason is the best NCAA Division I Coach in being able to squander a third quarter lead into a losing game. This alone is why he deserves a new stadium. By also approving a new on-campus stadium at the
But the Twins' victory and income earning citizens defeat was especially sweet considering their torturous stadium odyssey stretching back to 1995. Gov. Tim Pawlenty deserves credit for crafting the framework and prodding behind the scenes Oh trust me. I give him all the credit he deserves in this. House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Rep. Brad Finstad, R-New Ulm, the bill's sponsor, were stalwarts, and Senate DFL Leader Dean Johnson came through in the late innings. And seems to me that all these people, including the Timmy, are all
But the real heroes sit on the Hennepin County Board. There are heroes in this? I see many victims. The real heroes are the ones who voted principles. Not these sycophants. Future generations should be especially grateful to commissioners Mike Opat, Peter McLaughlin, Mark Stenglein and Chairman Randy Johnson. They supplied the true courage and foresight. They cast the tough votes. I know it’s tough to spend other people’s money. And when you do you become a hero from doing this and encouraging others to by-pass laws? I’m sure they agonized for milli-seconds on how hard it was to force people to spend their money on something they don’t want, don’t need and will never use. They stepped forward and unfortunately found solid footing rather than a 1000 foot drop-off. where the Legislature had failed. And unfortunately did not keep failing. McLaughlin's insistence that the project benefit youth sports and libraries was important. Johnson and Stenglein built bridges to the governor and the Republican House. Ah yes, the infamous bridges to nowhere.
But Opat did the heaviest lifting. And in so doing developed hernias of the brain, ethics, morals and principles He negotiated a tough deal with the Twins and a tough luck deal for the citizens. Yup, that was some tough deal. Gave Karl only a miserly and bare bones 97% of what he wanted and 0% of what the citizens wanted. I bet Karl and Jerry Bell cursed the day they ever crossed paths with that hard negotiator Mike Opat! Obviously a graduate, with honors, of the
The ballpark, along with light rail, Light rail… now, we finally have the absolute clinching comparative argument that puts all debate to rest represent a turning point for Minnesota in recognizing the need to renew its civic infrastructure, he said. “Civic infrastructure”? Like the politics of meaning, gravitas, speaking truth to power and whatever the next cutsie pootsie left wing turn of phrase might be? We also hope that corner has been turned. And we hope they turn the corner right into oncoming traffic populated by runaway fuel and cement trucks, curb to curb. Life will be better in these parts with Twins baseball under the sun and stars, and with Gophers football back on campus. Minnesotans will one day appreciate these decisions. Of course we will.You know us SO well. Ignore the fact that we loathe all you pukes and what you've forced us to do. After all, don’t you know what’s best for us? We’re such idiots. Please tell me when to floss my teeth. Will you let me tie my shoes? Or, being that I’m so incompetent to run my life, will you buy me slip ons?
Be grateful, you fools-the Legislature has acted!
I came across this article from Anti-Strib on what your legislators think of your gross incompetence after viewing the miserable results of your life so far. Fall on your face in humble gratitude whenever you hear the name of any Minnesota legislator, you dolts! Be pleased that these enlightened people deign look after the likes of us. Oh what have we ever done to deserve their solicitude, let alone such favor?
Jason Returns! Part IV
I called Jason's VM and left my name, number and this blog address. And he called back.
We talked for about 10 minutes. And he is very much up to date on what's happening here in Minnesota. We talked about the vast intellectual hypocrisy between the eminent domain bill and the stadium bill. He went on to mention that as bad as the stadium bill is, light rail including the North Star Line is even worse. We talked about the departure of Ron Ebensteiner a year ago and a number of other topics.
He recommended that we keep in contact and gave me his direct contact information.
Lefties and RINO's beware.
He's BAAAaaack.
We talked for about 10 minutes. And he is very much up to date on what's happening here in Minnesota. We talked about the vast intellectual hypocrisy between the eminent domain bill and the stadium bill. He went on to mention that as bad as the stadium bill is, light rail including the North Star Line is even worse. We talked about the departure of Ron Ebensteiner a year ago and a number of other topics.
He recommended that we keep in contact and gave me his direct contact information.
Lefties and RINO's beware.
He's BAAAaaack.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Issues
After hearing the speeches at the 2nd Congressional District Convention I decided to look up where Harold Shudlick and Sue Jeffers stood on the issues. So I went to their respective websites to see where they stand.
Here is Sue Jeffers issues page. She does a really good job laying out some of the problems here in Minnesota. There are a couple of minor details, like how she is going to get the Taxpayers Bill of Rights and the FAIR Tax implimented, but at least she put the effort into writing out a long descriptions of what is wrong.
Then there is Harold Shudlick's issues page. I really don't know what to say other than, I guess I am going to have to ask him directly what he would do about illegal immigration and spending and tax relief...Stay tuned.
Here is Sue Jeffers issues page. She does a really good job laying out some of the problems here in Minnesota. There are a couple of minor details, like how she is going to get the Taxpayers Bill of Rights and the FAIR Tax implimented, but at least she put the effort into writing out a long descriptions of what is wrong.
Then there is Harold Shudlick's issues page. I really don't know what to say other than, I guess I am going to have to ask him directly what he would do about illegal immigration and spending and tax relief...Stay tuned.
Truth as Lies and Lies as Truth
During one recent conversation on the DaVinci Code that I was involved in, one of the group said "I don't see what the big deal is. IT'S A PIECE OF FICTION."
True enough, except for the fact that the author, Dan Brown, has claimed to have based his fictional work on truth. However, the exchange got me to thinking about all the other supposed "facts" that we have been told recently.
There is the "George Bush lied us into this war fact". This fact does not take into account the fact that several other governments believed the same things about Saddam that President Bush did. Does that mean they ALL LIED?
There is the "Saddam had no WMD's fact". This fact too has been debunked time and time again. Most recently by Saddam's own documents!
There is the "Bush pressured the intelligence agencies to doctor the intelligence fact". So President Bush was able to pressure the intelligence agencies of Britian, France, and Russia? Not exactly logical thinking there....
Then there is the lie about the NSA contracts with BellSouth, Verizon and AT&T. BellSouth and Verizon have denied giving the NSA the data. It seems to me that with 3 of the 4 parties involved denying that the arrangement ever happened what are we to think about those that continue to peddle this untruth.
The bottom line is, all lovers of truth need to stand up to anyone who knowingly peddles lies disguised as the truth. Regardless of what lie is being told, we need to stand up to the lies!
True enough, except for the fact that the author, Dan Brown, has claimed to have based his fictional work on truth. However, the exchange got me to thinking about all the other supposed "facts" that we have been told recently.
There is the "George Bush lied us into this war fact". This fact does not take into account the fact that several other governments believed the same things about Saddam that President Bush did. Does that mean they ALL LIED?
There is the "Saddam had no WMD's fact". This fact too has been debunked time and time again. Most recently by Saddam's own documents!
There is the "Bush pressured the intelligence agencies to doctor the intelligence fact". So President Bush was able to pressure the intelligence agencies of Britian, France, and Russia? Not exactly logical thinking there....
Then there is the lie about the NSA contracts with BellSouth, Verizon and AT&T. BellSouth and Verizon have denied giving the NSA the data. It seems to me that with 3 of the 4 parties involved denying that the arrangement ever happened what are we to think about those that continue to peddle this untruth.
The bottom line is, all lovers of truth need to stand up to anyone who knowingly peddles lies disguised as the truth. Regardless of what lie is being told, we need to stand up to the lies!
Jason Returns! Part II
Not being one to just idly sit by, I called Jason on air in North Carolina to welcome him back. I assured him that if he could make the culinary leap from red eye gravy and fried mush to tater tot hotdish, well, the Revolution really needs him.
Whether or not he'll be back here in time for the state Republican Convention next week, he didn't know.
But again, stay tuned.
Whether or not he'll be back here in time for the state Republican Convention next week, he didn't know.
But again, stay tuned.
Jason Returns!
I'm listening to Jason Lewis online from WBT. And the topic?
He's coming back to Minnesota!
Stay tuned...
He's coming back to Minnesota!
Stay tuned...
Jason Lewis?
Ever since his departure in 2003, the return of Jason Lewis has been the/a recurring rumor.
When AM1500 shot themselves between the eyes when they released Jason, I watched as the once mighty King of the Talk Stations became an small baron on the peerage list in jolly short order. They needed a good local conservative personality to take over the time slot. AM1500 never gave Dave Thompson a fair shot. The buzz was that Dave was not Jason. True enough. But then again, Jason wasn't Jason either when he arrived in Minnesota. Jason needed to build an audience and a reputation. It would have been a wise move over at Hubbard to at least have given Dave Thompson more than 39 seconds to do the same. But, no, so AM1500 started flopping around and piling on itself with mistake after mistake.
The problem with a return of Jason would be where would he go? Back to AM1500. Not likely, but it would do them wonders if they did. AM1280 The Patriot? All their broadcasting is national with the exception of Saturday and the rebroadcast on Sunday. AM980? All Christian broadcasting. Where else? Well, perhaps with KTLK FM100.3.
And now this in Prairire Pravda on the potential return of Jason.
I've grabbed the streaming audio of Jason down in North Carolina. Same bumper music, same sign off. And reminds me what once was. And perhaps may be again.
We'll see.
When AM1500 shot themselves between the eyes when they released Jason, I watched as the once mighty King of the Talk Stations became an small baron on the peerage list in jolly short order. They needed a good local conservative personality to take over the time slot. AM1500 never gave Dave Thompson a fair shot. The buzz was that Dave was not Jason. True enough. But then again, Jason wasn't Jason either when he arrived in Minnesota. Jason needed to build an audience and a reputation. It would have been a wise move over at Hubbard to at least have given Dave Thompson more than 39 seconds to do the same. But, no, so AM1500 started flopping around and piling on itself with mistake after mistake.
The problem with a return of Jason would be where would he go? Back to AM1500. Not likely, but it would do them wonders if they did. AM1280 The Patriot? All their broadcasting is national with the exception of Saturday and the rebroadcast on Sunday. AM980? All Christian broadcasting. Where else? Well, perhaps with KTLK FM100.3.
And now this in Prairire Pravda on the potential return of Jason.
I've grabbed the streaming audio of Jason down in North Carolina. Same bumper music, same sign off. And reminds me what once was. And perhaps may be again.
We'll see.
Candidate Profiles in the media part 2
Previously, I wrote about a Star Tribune profile of DFL candidate Keith Ellison. Well, contrast that profile with the profile they did of his opponent. I don't want to say I called it or anything, but...
Where the Strib talked about Ellison's personality...how ""He's humorous. He's serious. There's a lot of dimensions to Keith. ", the profile on Alan Fine focuses on issues. The Strib profile of Fine devotes most of the article to his stands on the issues ("Fine favored the invasion and believes U.S. troops must remain until security has been established."). Compare that to the single sentence that the Strib devotes to Ellison on the issues "Ellison says his campaign will be about peace, economic justice and universal health care."
It is reporting like this that has earned the Strib their reputation of being a journalistic lightweight! They do the citizens of the 5th Congressional District a huge dis-service by not running articles on where BOTH candidates stand. I applaud the attempt they made on Alan Fine, but why didn't Keith Ellison get the same courtesy? Don't the citizens of the 5th deserve to know where both candidates stand on these issues?
Where the Strib talked about Ellison's personality...how ""He's humorous. He's serious. There's a lot of dimensions to Keith. ", the profile on Alan Fine focuses on issues. The Strib profile of Fine devotes most of the article to his stands on the issues ("Fine favored the invasion and believes U.S. troops must remain until security has been established."). Compare that to the single sentence that the Strib devotes to Ellison on the issues "Ellison says his campaign will be about peace, economic justice and universal health care."
It is reporting like this that has earned the Strib their reputation of being a journalistic lightweight! They do the citizens of the 5th Congressional District a huge dis-service by not running articles on where BOTH candidates stand. I applaud the attempt they made on Alan Fine, but why didn't Keith Ellison get the same courtesy? Don't the citizens of the 5th deserve to know where both candidates stand on these issues?
VOTE!
The wisdom in this, from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette is timeless!
"Vote to protest the pay raise. The 16 percent to 34 percent increase was approved without hearings or debate, came on top of a decade of annual cost-of-living raises for legislators and was paid out through "unvouchered expenses" to get around the constitutional ban on raising pay in midterm. For thwarting the democratic process, many incumbents deserve to go.
Vote to elect reformers. Some of them are incumbents who spurned the pay raise and for years have sought better government, like a lobbyist disclosure law, campaign finance reform and a smaller Legislature. Some are energetic challengers who want to replace fossilized politicians.
Vote to test the new voting machines. In Allegheny and other counties, voters will be using a modern generation of electronic units that comply with federal law. No levers, no paper, no hanging chads. Just touch the screen and vote. Maybe some year it'll give cash back.
Vote to show that the people are watching. If you stay home, you give license to elected officials to disregard the public. Show up and you are a force to be reckoned with -- powerful and resourceful, with democracy on your side." (emphasis added)
Last Tuesday, Republicans in Pennsylvania sent a powerful message to their state legislature when two powerful incumbents were ousted for their support of spending increases. To those of you in other states (like Minnesota) who are equally upset I say this - GET INVOLVED! Campaign against those who run as Republicans and govern as Democrats! Run for public office yourself!
If you are that upset, don't sit on the sidelines complaining, do whatever you can to change the system for the better!
"Vote to protest the pay raise. The 16 percent to 34 percent increase was approved without hearings or debate, came on top of a decade of annual cost-of-living raises for legislators and was paid out through "unvouchered expenses" to get around the constitutional ban on raising pay in midterm. For thwarting the democratic process, many incumbents deserve to go.
Vote to elect reformers. Some of them are incumbents who spurned the pay raise and for years have sought better government, like a lobbyist disclosure law, campaign finance reform and a smaller Legislature. Some are energetic challengers who want to replace fossilized politicians.
Vote to test the new voting machines. In Allegheny and other counties, voters will be using a modern generation of electronic units that comply with federal law. No levers, no paper, no hanging chads. Just touch the screen and vote. Maybe some year it'll give cash back.
Vote to show that the people are watching. If you stay home, you give license to elected officials to disregard the public. Show up and you are a force to be reckoned with -- powerful and resourceful, with democracy on your side." (emphasis added)
Last Tuesday, Republicans in Pennsylvania sent a powerful message to their state legislature when two powerful incumbents were ousted for their support of spending increases. To those of you in other states (like Minnesota) who are equally upset I say this - GET INVOLVED! Campaign against those who run as Republicans and govern as Democrats! Run for public office yourself!
If you are that upset, don't sit on the sidelines complaining, do whatever you can to change the system for the better!
Monday, May 22, 2006
The coming hail storm and when like mindeds disagree
I really dislike disagreeing with my friend Captain Ed. But, there are those times when though we are like minded and there is much much more that unites us than divides us, I have a fundamental disagreement over his posting today. He takes the tack of warning disaffected conservatives that if we don't vote, if we sit out, look at history and what happens. He's issuing a dire warning to us. In essence, repeating what I've been hearing for far too long "It could/will be worse with a Democrat!"
May I humbly suggest that he turn the muzzle around and fire the warning shot at the Republicans and warn them to look to history as to what happens when the conservatives are ignored, not when they sit out. Republicans at all levels in the country are voting and acting like Democrats, to spending money as if there's no tomorrow, ignoring laws and oaths. Even going to incredible and rule breaking lengths to stop and stifle any voices of dissension-exactly what lefties are all about.
So, why would I vote for Republican and make them, and me, into a liar? I don't vote for Democrats, they shouldn't run as Republicans and expect to be elected.
Don't warn me what will happen. Warn the Republican leadership and elected representatives what happens when they vote and act like Democrats.
Read the comments on Captain Ed's article
May I humbly suggest that he turn the muzzle around and fire the warning shot at the Republicans and warn them to look to history as to what happens when the conservatives are ignored, not when they sit out. Republicans at all levels in the country are voting and acting like Democrats, to spending money as if there's no tomorrow, ignoring laws and oaths. Even going to incredible and rule breaking lengths to stop and stifle any voices of dissension-exactly what lefties are all about.
So, why would I vote for Republican and make them, and me, into a liar? I don't vote for Democrats, they shouldn't run as Republicans and expect to be elected.
Don't warn me what will happen. Warn the Republican leadership and elected representatives what happens when they vote and act like Democrats.
Read the comments on Captain Ed's article
The Dixie Chicks Legislators and Governor
Saw this headline on Drudge : "Dixie Chicks Take Back Apology".
I read the article and see that Natalie Maines took back her '03 apology to GWB saying that she changed her mind and that he doesn't deserve her respect any more and that she just doesn't "feel" the same way she did in 2003 when she made the apology.
Seems the MN State Legislature and Tim Pawlenty "feel" the same way about you and the income earners in Hennepin County. They don't "feel" the same way about the referendum bill that they did when they passed it. They don't "feel" that you deserve to keep your money. They don't "feel" that you deserve the protection of the laws they pass.
Well, how do you "feel" about the way they "feel" about you?
I read the article and see that Natalie Maines took back her '03 apology to GWB saying that she changed her mind and that he doesn't deserve her respect any more and that she just doesn't "feel" the same way she did in 2003 when she made the apology.
Seems the MN State Legislature and Tim Pawlenty "feel" the same way about you and the income earners in Hennepin County. They don't "feel" the same way about the referendum bill that they did when they passed it. They don't "feel" that you deserve to keep your money. They don't "feel" that you deserve the protection of the laws they pass.
Well, how do you "feel" about the way they "feel" about you?
Eminent domain protection proclaimed at CD2...unless the Twins are involved
It's been interesting reading the other blog postings on the this weekend's 2nd Congressional District Convention. Having been there and been an activist in the behind the scenes going ons, it's interesting seeing others perspectives. I was not able to hear many of the speeches as I was late in arriving and involved in some of the dramas that the delegates never saw.
I've waited through the weekend to start my postings. But, let me start with one to show where I'll be going.
Lt. Governor Carol Molnau gave a speech to stand in for the Governor. I was in the first row, having blood trickle down the corners of my mouth after having bit down on my tongue. The Lt. Governor had announced, to the applause of the delegates, that the Governor had signed the bill that "stopped government from taking your property and giving it to someone else" (eminent domain). And I bit hard to prevent myself from asking the Lt. Governor right then and there "And that obviously does NOT mean the property called income that is taken from the income earners in Hennepin County and given to Karl Pohlad!" The absolute incredible irony of her statement was lost on the delegates who roared their approval even as the governor was planning on signing the stadium bill that is exactly what Lt. Governor Molnau was loud and proud about in stating was not going to happen because Tim had signed a bill stating otherwise...except, well, for just THIS once. So far.
Wait a minute Spanky...seems to me that we HAD a referendum bill outlawing local taxes being raised unless there was a local referendum. And wasn't THAT bill by-passed by the legislature to ensure that there was NO referendum on the stadium tax bill?
And so, all you Representatives, Senators , Governor and Lt. Governor,a very simple question:
If you by-passed the referendum statute, what protection do we have that you won't by-pass the Eminent Domain statute ? What is the intellectual difference between the referendum law and the eminent domain law? Both are, oops, sorry, I meant WERE supposed to protect us. But, you all threw away that shield for the Twins. You forced the income earners of Hennepin County to pay for the Twins, but refused to allow private money (TCF's Bill Cooper's offer) for the Gopher stadium? Huh?!?!?!
We were supposed to be a state governed by laws, not the capricious, wanton fickle desires of men.
And we are now ruled by the desires of men, not laws.
I've waited through the weekend to start my postings. But, let me start with one to show where I'll be going.
Lt. Governor Carol Molnau gave a speech to stand in for the Governor. I was in the first row, having blood trickle down the corners of my mouth after having bit down on my tongue. The Lt. Governor had announced, to the applause of the delegates, that the Governor had signed the bill that "stopped government from taking your property and giving it to someone else" (eminent domain). And I bit hard to prevent myself from asking the Lt. Governor right then and there "And that obviously does NOT mean the property called income that is taken from the income earners in Hennepin County and given to Karl Pohlad!" The absolute incredible irony of her statement was lost on the delegates who roared their approval even as the governor was planning on signing the stadium bill that is exactly what Lt. Governor Molnau was loud and proud about in stating was not going to happen because Tim had signed a bill stating otherwise...except, well, for just THIS once. So far.
Wait a minute Spanky...seems to me that we HAD a referendum bill outlawing local taxes being raised unless there was a local referendum. And wasn't THAT bill by-passed by the legislature to ensure that there was NO referendum on the stadium tax bill?
And so, all you Representatives, Senators , Governor and Lt. Governor,a very simple question:
If you by-passed the referendum statute, what protection do we have that you won't by-pass the Eminent Domain statute ? What is the intellectual difference between the referendum law and the eminent domain law? Both are, oops, sorry, I meant WERE supposed to protect us. But, you all threw away that shield for the Twins. You forced the income earners of Hennepin County to pay for the Twins, but refused to allow private money (TCF's Bill Cooper's offer) for the Gopher stadium? Huh?!?!?!
We were supposed to be a state governed by laws, not the capricious, wanton fickle desires of men.
And we are now ruled by the desires of men, not laws.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Notes from the CD2 Republican Convention
Today was the 2nd Congressional Districts Republican Party convention and I was there as a delagate from my precinct. I thought I would bring you a few notes from some of the speakers that addressed the convention.
Harold Shudlick spoke early on. Mr. Shudlick is running for the nomination for US Senate. I have seen him speak once before and I also had an opportunity to speak to him in a small group a couple of months back. This speech was much better than the first one, but I still have the same concerns about him now that I had then...that concern is that he did not discuss any issues. Oh he spoke at length about how the party was denying him his opportunity to run and how he was going up against the "big bucks" of the "rich people and manipulators". My take on the whole speech was that he felt he was "owed" an opportunity to run and he was upset that he wasn't getting it. No indications about how he would work differently than the other candidates (Congressman Mark Kennedy and John Uldrich more on these 2 later). It was a very un-Republican speech in my mind. Lots of whining about how unfair things were and little action to fix it.
Ditto the speech that Sue Jeffers gave. Sue is running for the Republican nomination for Governor even though she was endorsed by the Libertarian Party, although she has not accepted that endorsement. She spoke about how party officials "blocked" her from running against the sitting Governor (and heaven knows he needs a huge kick in the political pants). That's fine, but if she really felt that firmly about it she should have stuck with her plan to go for the Republican nomination instead of filing as a Libertarian! But then again, that's just me!
Congressman John Kline gave a rousing speech to the crowd. This was "his" party after all - his nominating convention! He spoke about how much things have changed in the last 4 years - economy recovering from the post 9/11 recession, how we are making progress in the House getting Republican ideals transformed into legislation that kind of thing. The two things that really hit with me were when he talked about what it means to really support the troops (Congressman Kline is a retired Marine) and that supporting the troops but not supporting their mission is not support at all. He said that there was a huge disconnect between the reality of what is happening in Iraq (he has been there 3 times now) and what we hear in the press. He said that President Reagan's simple solution for the Cold War (We win - they loose) is still applicable today!
Then he spoke on immigration! He said that the May 1 protests was a wake up call for the country. That people who "broke in" are demanding that we give them everything! He harkened back to the days when people came to America and learned English, embraced America and how prosperity followed. He then asked "When did learning English become an option!"
Congressman Kennedy was represented by his brother, as the Congressman was in Indiana at his son's graduation from Notre Dame! Considering I have heard the Congressman's stump speech a few dozen times so far this year, it was not big deal for me.
John Uldrich did not even bother to show up OR send a representative to the convention. How does he expect to win over delegates if he doesn't go to the conventions? I don't think he has quite the race as he had a large sign in the convention hall.
Lt. Governor Carol Molneau (Ma) spoke about the sucesses that she and the Governor have had in the last 4 years - turning a $4.5billion deficit into a small surplus in 3 years, road construction (to reduce congestion) at an all time high, "Women's right to know" bill passed, the elimination of the Profiles of Learning, etc. She also mentioned that the Governor had just signed (last night) an Eminent Domain bill that will ensure that a Kelo type situation doesn't happen here (we hope). I've seen her give better speeches - then again maybe she is aware of just how unhappy the people in this room - the Republican Party Grass roots - are with the Governor right now. His flirtations with the center/left are hurting them badly. She was being the "good soldier".
All in all it was a good convention - we didn't go into the wee hours debating resolutions, for which I am eternally grateful to the Rules Committee and the Resoultions Committee. However, I am anxious to hear what Savage American and Amendment X have to say about it as well.
Harold Shudlick spoke early on. Mr. Shudlick is running for the nomination for US Senate. I have seen him speak once before and I also had an opportunity to speak to him in a small group a couple of months back. This speech was much better than the first one, but I still have the same concerns about him now that I had then...that concern is that he did not discuss any issues. Oh he spoke at length about how the party was denying him his opportunity to run and how he was going up against the "big bucks" of the "rich people and manipulators". My take on the whole speech was that he felt he was "owed" an opportunity to run and he was upset that he wasn't getting it. No indications about how he would work differently than the other candidates (Congressman Mark Kennedy and John Uldrich more on these 2 later). It was a very un-Republican speech in my mind. Lots of whining about how unfair things were and little action to fix it.
Ditto the speech that Sue Jeffers gave. Sue is running for the Republican nomination for Governor even though she was endorsed by the Libertarian Party, although she has not accepted that endorsement. She spoke about how party officials "blocked" her from running against the sitting Governor (and heaven knows he needs a huge kick in the political pants). That's fine, but if she really felt that firmly about it she should have stuck with her plan to go for the Republican nomination instead of filing as a Libertarian! But then again, that's just me!
Congressman John Kline gave a rousing speech to the crowd. This was "his" party after all - his nominating convention! He spoke about how much things have changed in the last 4 years - economy recovering from the post 9/11 recession, how we are making progress in the House getting Republican ideals transformed into legislation that kind of thing. The two things that really hit with me were when he talked about what it means to really support the troops (Congressman Kline is a retired Marine) and that supporting the troops but not supporting their mission is not support at all. He said that there was a huge disconnect between the reality of what is happening in Iraq (he has been there 3 times now) and what we hear in the press. He said that President Reagan's simple solution for the Cold War (We win - they loose) is still applicable today!
Then he spoke on immigration! He said that the May 1 protests was a wake up call for the country. That people who "broke in" are demanding that we give them everything! He harkened back to the days when people came to America and learned English, embraced America and how prosperity followed. He then asked "When did learning English become an option!"
Congressman Kennedy was represented by his brother, as the Congressman was in Indiana at his son's graduation from Notre Dame! Considering I have heard the Congressman's stump speech a few dozen times so far this year, it was not big deal for me.
John Uldrich did not even bother to show up OR send a representative to the convention. How does he expect to win over delegates if he doesn't go to the conventions? I don't think he has quite the race as he had a large sign in the convention hall.
Lt. Governor Carol Molneau (Ma) spoke about the sucesses that she and the Governor have had in the last 4 years - turning a $4.5billion deficit into a small surplus in 3 years, road construction (to reduce congestion) at an all time high, "Women's right to know" bill passed, the elimination of the Profiles of Learning, etc. She also mentioned that the Governor had just signed (last night) an Eminent Domain bill that will ensure that a Kelo type situation doesn't happen here (we hope). I've seen her give better speeches - then again maybe she is aware of just how unhappy the people in this room - the Republican Party Grass roots - are with the Governor right now. His flirtations with the center/left are hurting them badly. She was being the "good soldier".
All in all it was a good convention - we didn't go into the wee hours debating resolutions, for which I am eternally grateful to the Rules Committee and the Resoultions Committee. However, I am anxious to hear what Savage American and Amendment X have to say about it as well.
Addendum to Notes from CD2
I must point out that the Lady Logitian is factually wrong.
Sue Jeffers has not filed as anything, no one can file until July 4th - July 18th.
Sue, when she began to seek the Republican endorsement agreed to file as a Republican if endorsed.
That is the only requirement in the State Party Constitution for endorsement
(Ok, there are three. You must also be legally eligible and more importantly, You must also agree to the objectives of the Party as expressed in the Platform, which is why Mike Hatch can not seek the endorsement)
This is what concerns many in the Party, that the State Party Chair is ignoring the constitution.
More later - but wanted to correct the facts now.
Sue Jeffers has not filed as anything, no one can file until July 4th - July 18th.
Sue, when she began to seek the Republican endorsement agreed to file as a Republican if endorsed.
That is the only requirement in the State Party Constitution for endorsement
(Ok, there are three. You must also be legally eligible and more importantly, You must also agree to the objectives of the Party as expressed in the Platform, which is why Mike Hatch can not seek the endorsement)
This is what concerns many in the Party, that the State Party Chair is ignoring the constitution.
More later - but wanted to correct the facts now.
An unhappy camper finally speaks out!
I sent the following letter to Congressman Kennedy and the RPM Chairman Ron Carey. I find it increasingly difficult to support a candidate that votes more for his special interests friends and less for the people that he wants to have send him to the Senate!
Congressman Mark Kennedy
1415 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax 202/225-6475
Congressman Kennedy,
Two years ago, during the Bush Campaign, I was one of many grass roots activists who whispered “I sure wish Congressman Kennedy would run for Senator Dayton’s seat!” The week after you announced your intention to run, I contacted your campaign office to sign up as a campaign volunteer. I spent the last 2 years writing letters to the Star Tribune and writing blog posts in your support (I contribute to a blog called The Savage Republican www.savagerepublican.com). I spent many hours talking up your campaign to anyone who would listen to me. I have been one of more your avid supporters.
That all came crashing down this past spring. With gas prices pushing $3.00 a gallon, votes against increasing our domestic production of oil have dampened my enthusiasm for your candidacy. I find it increasingly difficult to support a candidate that cares more for he can do for the alternative fuels industry and less for what he can do for the hard working middle class citizens of the state of Minnesota!
I certainly understand the need for alternatives to oil based fuels, however, as long as hybrid cars cost a full year’s salary for people like me gasoline is a necessity! Voting against drilling in ANWR and voting to continue a ban on off-shore drilling are votes against your volunteers! As long as gas prices continue to hover around $3.00 a gallon I know that I will not be able to drive to your St Paul campaign office very often for volunteer activities – it is simply too cost prohibitive for me and I certainly will not have any extra money for things like campaign contributions.
In two weeks, we will be having your endorsing convention. I am having a hard time justifying my support for your candidacy and I am taking a hard look at your two challengers. Something has to change between now and then if you stand any chance of retaining my (and my husbands) support in the endorsing convention on June 1.
The average hybrid fuels vehicle sells for $25,000 to $30,000. If someone in my circumstance has a hard time justifying that kind of expense, just imagine what the person who only makes $15,000 to $20,000 a year has to go through.
In a poll on the Congressman's website, the Congressman asked "what can Congress do to reduce oil prices?" He gave four options and not one of them included increasing the supply of oil in order to match demand! THIS IS SIMPLE ECONOMICS - something that one would think a Certified Public Accountant and business owner would understand! America puts it's national security at risk when we continue to rely on questionable allies like Saudi Arabia, Canada and Venezuela for the majority of it's fuel oil. Yes, we should continue to do research on renewable fuels. Yes, we should build more refinery capacity. However, instead of rescinding the Federal gas tax, we should be taking that money and putting it into increased domestic production aka more domestic drilling.
As I said, it is Economics 101. Maybe we should send Congressman Kennedy and Senator Coleman a refresher course!
Congressman Mark Kennedy
1415 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Fax 202/225-6475
Congressman Kennedy,
Two years ago, during the Bush Campaign, I was one of many grass roots activists who whispered “I sure wish Congressman Kennedy would run for Senator Dayton’s seat!” The week after you announced your intention to run, I contacted your campaign office to sign up as a campaign volunteer. I spent the last 2 years writing letters to the Star Tribune and writing blog posts in your support (I contribute to a blog called The Savage Republican www.savagerepublican.com). I spent many hours talking up your campaign to anyone who would listen to me. I have been one of more your avid supporters.
That all came crashing down this past spring. With gas prices pushing $3.00 a gallon, votes against increasing our domestic production of oil have dampened my enthusiasm for your candidacy. I find it increasingly difficult to support a candidate that cares more for he can do for the alternative fuels industry and less for what he can do for the hard working middle class citizens of the state of Minnesota!
I certainly understand the need for alternatives to oil based fuels, however, as long as hybrid cars cost a full year’s salary for people like me gasoline is a necessity! Voting against drilling in ANWR and voting to continue a ban on off-shore drilling are votes against your volunteers! As long as gas prices continue to hover around $3.00 a gallon I know that I will not be able to drive to your St Paul campaign office very often for volunteer activities – it is simply too cost prohibitive for me and I certainly will not have any extra money for things like campaign contributions.
In two weeks, we will be having your endorsing convention. I am having a hard time justifying my support for your candidacy and I am taking a hard look at your two challengers. Something has to change between now and then if you stand any chance of retaining my (and my husbands) support in the endorsing convention on June 1.
The average hybrid fuels vehicle sells for $25,000 to $30,000. If someone in my circumstance has a hard time justifying that kind of expense, just imagine what the person who only makes $15,000 to $20,000 a year has to go through.
In a poll on the Congressman's website, the Congressman asked "what can Congress do to reduce oil prices?" He gave four options and not one of them included increasing the supply of oil in order to match demand! THIS IS SIMPLE ECONOMICS - something that one would think a Certified Public Accountant and business owner would understand! America puts it's national security at risk when we continue to rely on questionable allies like Saudi Arabia, Canada and Venezuela for the majority of it's fuel oil. Yes, we should continue to do research on renewable fuels. Yes, we should build more refinery capacity. However, instead of rescinding the Federal gas tax, we should be taking that money and putting it into increased domestic production aka more domestic drilling.
As I said, it is Economics 101. Maybe we should send Congressman Kennedy and Senator Coleman a refresher course!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Protecting the "little guy"
Ya gotta love the hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty of lefties. Strike that. It would be funny if only it didn't lead to economic disaster, real unfairness and loss of freedom.
Today in Prairie Pravda Chris Rasmussen of Minneapolis writes how Sen. Larry Pogemiller should lose his seat in November for proposing a tax on sports memorabilia that is "regressive" because the "little guy". That this tax on the "little guy" will possibly scuttle the stadium deal. That it's only the children and their parents who want a memento of their first twins, Gophers, Vikings, etc game that will have this tax fall on them.
And Rasmussen sees absolutely NO irony in that the stadium bill, as now envisioned, is going to be paid by people who have no choice in the matter. Thousands upon thousands of "little guys". When Rasmussen's "little guy" willingly buys "a cap, pennant or jersey to wear home as a souvenir" that "little guy" pays directly for what he uses. He calculates the total cost of his purchase versus the enjoyment and makes a decision. My widowed mother has no such luxury in the "stadium deal" (which is no deal for her or many other "little guys"). She will be forced to pay for something that she neither wants nor will ever use or benefit from. And she is one of the "little guys" Rasmussen supposedly defends. And sees no irony in Pogemiller's decisions.
Today in Prairie Pravda Chris Rasmussen of Minneapolis writes how Sen. Larry Pogemiller should lose his seat in November for proposing a tax on sports memorabilia that is "regressive" because the "little guy". That this tax on the "little guy" will possibly scuttle the stadium deal. That it's only the children and their parents who want a memento of their first twins, Gophers, Vikings, etc game that will have this tax fall on them.
And Rasmussen sees absolutely NO irony in that the stadium bill, as now envisioned, is going to be paid by people who have no choice in the matter. Thousands upon thousands of "little guys". When Rasmussen's "little guy" willingly buys "a cap, pennant or jersey to wear home as a souvenir" that "little guy" pays directly for what he uses. He calculates the total cost of his purchase versus the enjoyment and makes a decision. My widowed mother has no such luxury in the "stadium deal" (which is no deal for her or many other "little guys"). She will be forced to pay for something that she neither wants nor will ever use or benefit from. And she is one of the "little guys" Rasmussen supposedly defends. And sees no irony in Pogemiller's decisions.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Vive le difference!
There has been a lot of buzz, in recent weeks, about the release of the movie "The DaVinci Code" based on the book of the same name. While I have not yet had the opportunity to read the book (I would need at least 3 more hours in each day in order to add more reading to my plate), I have read enough about the book to have a pretty good idea what it is about, but I digress...
What struck me the most about the discussions was the reaction to the book/movie. Remember that the basis of the book and the movie is that the deity of Christ was "made up" some 300 years after his death. You have Christians writing lengthy scholary papers disputing the allegations in the book, you have Christians suggesting protests or boycotts of the movie, you have Christians talking about lawsuits. Contrast that reaction with the reaction of the Muslim world where they had rioting, looting, burning and murder all because of a series of cartoons that "insulted" Mohammed....
A world of difference, don't you think?
What struck me the most about the discussions was the reaction to the book/movie. Remember that the basis of the book and the movie is that the deity of Christ was "made up" some 300 years after his death. You have Christians writing lengthy scholary papers disputing the allegations in the book, you have Christians suggesting protests or boycotts of the movie, you have Christians talking about lawsuits. Contrast that reaction with the reaction of the Muslim world where they had rioting, looting, burning and murder all because of a series of cartoons that "insulted" Mohammed....
A world of difference, don't you think?
The depravity of Islamists
I have tried to maintain a rather neutral tone when speaking on this subject because I realize that there are a lot of Muslims who are Muslim in name only, just like there are Catholics in name only (that is they were born into a Muslim/Catholic household but they never practiced the faith). However there have been a couple of stories this week that have just about pushed me over the edge.
First is this story. It just stuns me (and saddens me) that ANYONE would rejoice in the death of a child!
The second is this story. What kind of sick, twisted degenerate would string up a wounded 12 year old boy from a power pole - leaving him there to die! As the mother of a 12 year old, this story hit me hardest! I can just imagine the horror that child's mother felt upon learning that her husband had been brutally murdered and her precious child tortured in this manner.
"Terrorist elements named Jundollah (God's soldiers), headed by Abdolmalek Rigi, claimed responsibility for the attack," General Eskandar Momeni, a deputy commander of Iran's police force told Iranian media. "
I'm sorry, but anyone who commits murder in the name of their God, whether it be Islamists or those who shoot abortion doctors, are not speaking in the name of a "peaceful" god (as Islamists claim Allah is). Murder is murder and sick is sick and these people are just evil!
First is this story. It just stuns me (and saddens me) that ANYONE would rejoice in the death of a child!
The second is this story. What kind of sick, twisted degenerate would string up a wounded 12 year old boy from a power pole - leaving him there to die! As the mother of a 12 year old, this story hit me hardest! I can just imagine the horror that child's mother felt upon learning that her husband had been brutally murdered and her precious child tortured in this manner.
"Terrorist elements named Jundollah (God's soldiers), headed by Abdolmalek Rigi, claimed responsibility for the attack," General Eskandar Momeni, a deputy commander of Iran's police force told Iranian media. "
I'm sorry, but anyone who commits murder in the name of their God, whether it be Islamists or those who shoot abortion doctors, are not speaking in the name of a "peaceful" god (as Islamists claim Allah is). Murder is murder and sick is sick and these people are just evil!
Obviously this means we need more gun control
According to KSTP News, Eagan police are looking for a young man who is suspected of armed robbery. According to store surveillance video, the young man is seen walking into the store, pouring himself a cup of coffee and then walking up to the counter to pay for the cup o' joe. When the clerk opens the register, he throws the coffee in the clerks face and grabs a handfull of cash and runs out the door!
Sadly, this is not the first time that this has happened. Thankfully the clerks in both incidents were not badly burned by the coffee.
However, this just goes to prove an old adage that gun control freaks refuse to acknowledge.....take away the guns and crooks will find something else to use as a weapon!
Sadly, this is not the first time that this has happened. Thankfully the clerks in both incidents were not badly burned by the coffee.
However, this just goes to prove an old adage that gun control freaks refuse to acknowledge.....take away the guns and crooks will find something else to use as a weapon!
A couple of quick hits to start the day
I have a couple of lengthy posts in the works, but to tide you over I have a couple of quick items to ponder.
Why is it that when Republicans point out a Democrats record on something it is an "attack" but the Dems have no problem making up LIES about his/her Republican candidate in order to get elected?
Why is it that the same organization that can not even come up with an ID card to protect it's own employees, is one that thinks it can impliment "tamperproof" biometric id cards for illegal aliens?
Why is it that when Republicans point out a Democrats record on something it is an "attack" but the Dems have no problem making up LIES about his/her Republican candidate in order to get elected?
Why is it that the same organization that can not even come up with an ID card to protect it's own employees, is one that thinks it can impliment "tamperproof" biometric id cards for illegal aliens?
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Con libertad y justicia para todos
The St Paul Pioneer Press alerts us to this story out of Lakeville.
"Minnesota educators leading students in the Pledge of Allegiance would be barred from using a Spanish version of the pledge under legislation announced Monday by Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall."
What brought this fine example of government "interference" was word that the principal of the Kenwood Trail Middle School in Lakeville was leading the children in the Pledge of Allegiance in English AND Spanish! The principal says he was doing it to "practice his Spanish". OK......
Our ever-judgemental friends at the Star Tribune (Prairie Pravda as Amendment X calls it) had this headline in reporting on the situation.
"Reciting 'Pledge' in Spanish raises hackles"
Compare that the the Pioneer Press' headline which simply said "Bill would bar Spanish pledge in Schools". Just reporting the facts ma'am....no bias here.....
Thankfully, the Lakeville area has a Rep with an ounce of common sense.
"Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said the controversy has stirred much talk in her community. The consensus? "The pledge is not the thing to practice your Spanish on," she said. "I think the majority believe that if you're in this country, you should speak English."
On one hand, I hope that this is just electioneering grandstanding. I would like to think that there is not an overwhelming demand for this. Then again, given that we already have "Nuestro Himno" maybe it is necessary.
"Minnesota educators leading students in the Pledge of Allegiance would be barred from using a Spanish version of the pledge under legislation announced Monday by Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall."
What brought this fine example of government "interference" was word that the principal of the Kenwood Trail Middle School in Lakeville was leading the children in the Pledge of Allegiance in English AND Spanish! The principal says he was doing it to "practice his Spanish". OK......
Our ever-judgemental friends at the Star Tribune (Prairie Pravda as Amendment X calls it) had this headline in reporting on the situation.
"Reciting 'Pledge' in Spanish raises hackles"
Compare that the the Pioneer Press' headline which simply said "Bill would bar Spanish pledge in Schools". Just reporting the facts ma'am....no bias here.....
Thankfully, the Lakeville area has a Rep with an ounce of common sense.
"Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said the controversy has stirred much talk in her community. The consensus? "The pledge is not the thing to practice your Spanish on," she said. "I think the majority believe that if you're in this country, you should speak English."
On one hand, I hope that this is just electioneering grandstanding. I would like to think that there is not an overwhelming demand for this. Then again, given that we already have "Nuestro Himno" maybe it is necessary.
Marginalizing conservatives... and a good toothbrush.
We're all hearing it. Again. "If you sit home on Election Day...", "It will be worse under the Democrats...", "Can you say SPEAKER Pelosi ?", "Don't waste your vote by...", etc., etc., etc....
I hate taking issue with my friend Captain Ed (or with Lady Logician ), however, I'm tired of hearing the threats of my voting lockstep. Captain Ed takes a view like Lady Logician.
He says that we conservatives will be marginalized. And what are we now? When I'm taken for granted, when I'm threatened with the alternative, when rather than being told that I can vote FOR someone instead of voting against the alternative, I've already been marginalized. I've heard the song and dance for over five years. I've endured "No Child Left Behind", "Medicare Prescription Drugs","Ethanol", no border security or even attempts to secure the border, the Gang of Fourteen, Harriet Miers, $200,000,000,000 for Katrina and Chocolate New Orleans, no drilling in ANWR, John McCain trying to kiss and makeup and on and on. And I'm NOT marginalized?
GWB had an small opportunity to at least look like he was making an attempt to try to appeal to conservatives with his Monday night speech. The result? Here, here, here, here and here.
And this from my friend Professor Joe Olson (law professor at Hamline Law School and a national expert on the 2nd Amendment and founder of MNCCRN ). The article has this resounding quote:
"the latest surveys reflect a significant shift in the political landscape as growing numbers of conservatives who have long and loyally kept their brooding private are now going public about their deepest dissatisfactions with George W. Bush [and thereby "moderate" Republicans]. ***, but conservatives won'’t be satisfied this time around with more token efforts on issues like marriage and dire warnings that “the Democrats would be far worse. Conservatives have heard that song before and know it never has a second verse."
And the toothbrush reference? One I've used before. As a child when I had an appointment with the dentist, I brushed my teeth until my gums bled. I was going to brush away every single cavity and put one over on Dr. Schoenleben. And the Republicans seem to have that same childish outlook with their voting records and the appointment they have with me on November 7th.
Brush real hard kids!
I hate taking issue with my friend Captain Ed (or with Lady Logician ), however, I'm tired of hearing the threats of my voting lockstep. Captain Ed takes a view like Lady Logician.
He says that we conservatives will be marginalized. And what are we now? When I'm taken for granted, when I'm threatened with the alternative, when rather than being told that I can vote FOR someone instead of voting against the alternative, I've already been marginalized. I've heard the song and dance for over five years. I've endured "No Child Left Behind", "Medicare Prescription Drugs","Ethanol", no border security or even attempts to secure the border, the Gang of Fourteen, Harriet Miers, $200,000,000,000 for Katrina and Chocolate New Orleans, no drilling in ANWR, John McCain trying to kiss and makeup and on and on. And I'm NOT marginalized?
GWB had an small opportunity to at least look like he was making an attempt to try to appeal to conservatives with his Monday night speech. The result? Here, here, here, here and here.
And this from my friend Professor Joe Olson (law professor at Hamline Law School and a national expert on the 2nd Amendment and founder of MNCCRN ). The article has this resounding quote:
"the latest surveys reflect a significant shift in the political landscape as growing numbers of conservatives who have long and loyally kept their brooding private are now going public about their deepest dissatisfactions with George W. Bush [and thereby "moderate" Republicans]. ***, but conservatives won'’t be satisfied this time around with more token efforts on issues like marriage and dire warnings that “the Democrats would be far worse. Conservatives have heard that song before and know it never has a second verse."
And the toothbrush reference? One I've used before. As a child when I had an appointment with the dentist, I brushed my teeth until my gums bled. I was going to brush away every single cavity and put one over on Dr. Schoenleben. And the Republicans seem to have that same childish outlook with their voting records and the appointment they have with me on November 7th.
Brush real hard kids!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Criminal matter or war?
Last week-end, Coleen Rowley was published by the Star Tribune. The subject of her piece (which I posted on here) was the Moussaoui trial and how it showed we could treat the Global War on Terror in the courts as opposed to on the battlefield. The tenor of my initial post was a bit snarky. What I would like to do here is to show why her theory will not work against the global jihad in which we are currently engaged. Many of the links I have posted here are from Dr. Bruce D.Tefft, Director of Terrorism Assessment Center for CRA-USA in Alexandria Virginia. I got to know Dr. Tefft in a political discussion group that we both belong to. These links are from newspapers and other "open sources". When put together, this information shows why treating the GWOT as a police action (which is the tactic that candidate Rowley espouses) is the wrong action!
1) Public trials in the criminal justice system require revealing intelligence that needs to be kept secret. Names of covert agents would have to be revealed as the agent is required to testify in court. Remeber the furor of Valerie Plame and the leaks of the identities of working agents in the T.J.Waters book? You think that "leaking" Valerie Plame's name was a blow to national security? Just wait until an agent who is working under cover is killed because he testified in court against the cells he had infiltrated.
2) Hurricane Katrina - what does Katrina have to do with fighting terrorism in the courts vs with the military? Simple - take a look at how the government and civilian authorities like FEMA reacted to the devistation of Katrina. Now, look at what happened once the military took over. Do you really think anything has changed since then????
3) The government can't even secure it's own departments - how do you expect them to secure our borders, our ports, our airports and our cities? The government can't even secure it's own databases!
4) The FBI (Ms. Rowley's former employer) is still trying to figure out HOW it is going to tackle terrorism. It has had a huge turnover in leadership that has slowed the re-organization of the FBI into a "terror fighting" organization. The US Senate grilled FBI Director Mueller over the organizations dismal handling of the terror investigations it had worked on. Given the misses that they detailed, how can an organization this inept fight a cold?
5) Intelligence organizations rarely get the "whole picture". They may find out a piece here and a piece there, but rarely do they know the full intentions until it is too late. We had a piece here and a piece that about OBL, but in the end, did anyone really think he would fly airplanes into the World Trade Center towers prior to him actually doing so?
6) Logic dictates that if you can not even secure your own border, you are not going to be very effective at keeping those that want to do you harm OUT. It is a proven fact that we can not control our borders and that our law enforcement officials often do not play well together. As long as this remains the status quo, the law enforcement aspect will never work!
7) TIMING - Criminal cases take time to thoroughly investigate...time that (according to many who know) we simply do not have! When you have a group of people who are actively working at bringing about Armageddon (and wanting it quickly) you don't have the luxury of taking your time - you need to act quickly!
As a Christian, I am taught that Islam is a "cult" - not the true religion. As a thinking person who has read the Koran, I understand what the book teaches (this is the topic of another post). Given what I know about Islam and what Dr. Tefft's organization has shown us, we know that the right thing is to treat this as the war it is and not a criminal matter. Which is why John Kerry was wrong for America 2 years ago and why Coleen Rowley is wrong for the 2nd Congressional District today!
1) Public trials in the criminal justice system require revealing intelligence that needs to be kept secret. Names of covert agents would have to be revealed as the agent is required to testify in court. Remeber the furor of Valerie Plame and the leaks of the identities of working agents in the T.J.Waters book? You think that "leaking" Valerie Plame's name was a blow to national security? Just wait until an agent who is working under cover is killed because he testified in court against the cells he had infiltrated.
2) Hurricane Katrina - what does Katrina have to do with fighting terrorism in the courts vs with the military? Simple - take a look at how the government and civilian authorities like FEMA reacted to the devistation of Katrina. Now, look at what happened once the military took over. Do you really think anything has changed since then????
3) The government can't even secure it's own departments - how do you expect them to secure our borders, our ports, our airports and our cities? The government can't even secure it's own databases!
4) The FBI (Ms. Rowley's former employer) is still trying to figure out HOW it is going to tackle terrorism. It has had a huge turnover in leadership that has slowed the re-organization of the FBI into a "terror fighting" organization. The US Senate grilled FBI Director Mueller over the organizations dismal handling of the terror investigations it had worked on. Given the misses that they detailed, how can an organization this inept fight a cold?
5) Intelligence organizations rarely get the "whole picture". They may find out a piece here and a piece there, but rarely do they know the full intentions until it is too late. We had a piece here and a piece that about OBL, but in the end, did anyone really think he would fly airplanes into the World Trade Center towers prior to him actually doing so?
6) Logic dictates that if you can not even secure your own border, you are not going to be very effective at keeping those that want to do you harm OUT. It is a proven fact that we can not control our borders and that our law enforcement officials often do not play well together. As long as this remains the status quo, the law enforcement aspect will never work!
7) TIMING - Criminal cases take time to thoroughly investigate...time that (according to many who know) we simply do not have! When you have a group of people who are actively working at bringing about Armageddon (and wanting it quickly) you don't have the luxury of taking your time - you need to act quickly!
As a Christian, I am taught that Islam is a "cult" - not the true religion. As a thinking person who has read the Koran, I understand what the book teaches (this is the topic of another post). Given what I know about Islam and what Dr. Tefft's organization has shown us, we know that the right thing is to treat this as the war it is and not a criminal matter. Which is why John Kerry was wrong for America 2 years ago and why Coleen Rowley is wrong for the 2nd Congressional District today!
Monday, May 15, 2006
What staying home in November will get you part 2
Earlier I posted this opinion on what will happen if conservative voters stayed home in November in order to "punish" politicians that they deem to be "not conservative enough". Well, Jim Geraughty over at NRO's TKS blog has this insightful take on the subject.
"Who are the Republican lawmakers most angering the conservative base? Well, let’s say Sens. Trent “I’m tired of hearing about Porkbusters” Lott, Ted “Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens, John McCain for cosponsoring Kennedy’s immigration bill and campaign finance reform, Arlen Specter for being a pain in the tushie over judges, Chuck Hagel for being the New York Times’ favorite Republican senator to criticize Bush, and other minimally-conservative Republicans like Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Well, they’re not going to lose in 2006. Most of ‘em aren’t even up for reelection this year."
True enough Jim however I would add one more to that list...President George W. Bush! Now,.what about those that ARE up for election in 2006.
"In the Senate, a bad year for the Republicans would mean the loss of Rick Santorum (who has lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 88 out of a possible 100, and a 92 in 2005) in Pennsylvania, Jim Talent (93 rating lifetime, and a 96 in 2005) in Missouri, Conrad Burns (91, and a perfect 100 in 2005) in Montana and Mike DeWine (80 lifetime, only 56 in 2005) in Ohio. Of course, Ohio voters who sit this one out will replace DeWine with Sherrod Brown, who has a lifetime rating of 8 and 4 for 2005. And they won’t get to revisit that decision until 2012.
If the GOP base doesn’t show up in Minnesota, you get Amy Klobuchar instead of Mark Kennedy (90 rating lifetime, 84 in 2005).
If the GOP base doesn’t show in Maryland, you get Ben Cardin (lifetime rating of 6, 2005 rating of 0!) or Kweise Mfume (lifetime ACU rating of 4) instead of Michael Steele.
If the GOP base doesn’t show in Tennessee, you get Harold Ford (19 lifetime, 21 in 2005) instead of Ed Bryant (lifetime ACU score of 98!) Van Hilleary (lifetime score of 97!). Another GOP candidate is Bob Corker, Chattanooga mayor.
If the GOP base doesn't show in West Virginia, you get Robert Byrd (lifetime rating of 30, 20 in 2005) as Appropriations Committee Chairman, instead of businessman John Raese.
If the GOP base doesn't show in Washington, you keep Maria Cantwell (11 lifetime, 8 in 2005) instead of businessman Mike McGavick.
Okay, maybe Chafee goes down. But you've lost how many solid conservatives to remove this one guy?"
Along that logic, I have this question for my Minnesota readers (and the Logical Husband and Amendment X)...ok, maybe Governor Pawlenty goes down but how many solid conservatives (John Kline, Mark Kennedy, Michelle Bachmann etc) do you take out to get that one person? Punishing these people will leave us with the very same people who are the source of our dis-satisfaction - Trent Lott, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snow, John McCain, Chuck Hagel and Susan Collins! Is that what you really want to accomplish?
That's ok, you say...once they learn their 2006 lesson they will be back in the fold for 2008 and then we can take back over! Well consider some of the things that could happen between now and then...
"what kind of lengths do you think the Democrats will go to in order to keep power once they’ve got it? Does the “Fairness Doctrine” ring a bell? You think Pelosi and Reid wouldn’t try that tactic to hinder conservative talk radio? How about McCain-Feingold 2.0, with a particular focus on controlling “unregulated speech” on the Internet and blogs?
Think the MSM was cheerleading for Democrats in 2004? How much more fair and balanced do you think they’ll be when their task is to defend Democratic House and Senate majorities AND elect President Hillary Rodham Clinton? My guess is, they’ll make the CBS memo story look accurate and evenhanded by comparison.
Think the GOP can prevail in close races once they’re out of power? Ask the members of the military who had their ballots in Florida blocked. Ask Doug Forrester how well his anti-Torricelli campaign worked when he suddenly faced Frank Lautenberg at the last minute. Ask Dino Rossi. Ask Democrat Tim Johnson if he’s glad the last county in South Dakota to report its results just happened to have enough of a Democratic margin to put him over the top in 2002.
Once the Democrats regain control of Congress, a GOP takeover is going to be exponentially harder than it was in 1994. You’re never going to catch the Democrats as flatfooted again."
The Logical Husband has long complained about the Republican Party's uncanny ability to shoot itself in the foot at the most in-opportune times. Yet here we are, conservative voters who are more than willing to shoot ourselves in the foot in order to punish an unresponsive leadership. What kind of logic is that?
As I said before, I understand and share your frustration with those in DC who are deaf to the needs of the American people and only care about how it will get them re-elected! I understand the need to get more conservatives into DC (and St Paul), but sitting home in November is NOT the answer! You want to hold Governor Pawlenty accountable for his pandering to the middle? Get busy and help get a true conservative Majority in the State House and Senate. Ditto DC...you want to hold Lott, McCain, Graham and the rest of the RINO's accountable? Work hard to get true conservatives elected in Minnesota, Washington State and Tennesee! As Captain Ed said - not one dime to the RNC/MNGOP.....only give to the Conservative candidates who are willing to do what is best for the PEOPLE in DC and in St Paul!
"Who are the Republican lawmakers most angering the conservative base? Well, let’s say Sens. Trent “I’m tired of hearing about Porkbusters” Lott, Ted “Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens, John McCain for cosponsoring Kennedy’s immigration bill and campaign finance reform, Arlen Specter for being a pain in the tushie over judges, Chuck Hagel for being the New York Times’ favorite Republican senator to criticize Bush, and other minimally-conservative Republicans like Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Well, they’re not going to lose in 2006. Most of ‘em aren’t even up for reelection this year."
True enough Jim however I would add one more to that list...President George W. Bush! Now,.what about those that ARE up for election in 2006.
"In the Senate, a bad year for the Republicans would mean the loss of Rick Santorum (who has lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 88 out of a possible 100, and a 92 in 2005) in Pennsylvania, Jim Talent (93 rating lifetime, and a 96 in 2005) in Missouri, Conrad Burns (91, and a perfect 100 in 2005) in Montana and Mike DeWine (80 lifetime, only 56 in 2005) in Ohio. Of course, Ohio voters who sit this one out will replace DeWine with Sherrod Brown, who has a lifetime rating of 8 and 4 for 2005. And they won’t get to revisit that decision until 2012.
If the GOP base doesn’t show up in Minnesota, you get Amy Klobuchar instead of Mark Kennedy (90 rating lifetime, 84 in 2005).
If the GOP base doesn’t show in Maryland, you get Ben Cardin (lifetime rating of 6, 2005 rating of 0!) or Kweise Mfume (lifetime ACU rating of 4) instead of Michael Steele.
If the GOP base doesn’t show in Tennessee, you get Harold Ford (19 lifetime, 21 in 2005) instead of Ed Bryant (lifetime ACU score of 98!) Van Hilleary (lifetime score of 97!). Another GOP candidate is Bob Corker, Chattanooga mayor.
If the GOP base doesn't show in West Virginia, you get Robert Byrd (lifetime rating of 30, 20 in 2005) as Appropriations Committee Chairman, instead of businessman John Raese.
If the GOP base doesn't show in Washington, you keep Maria Cantwell (11 lifetime, 8 in 2005) instead of businessman Mike McGavick.
Okay, maybe Chafee goes down. But you've lost how many solid conservatives to remove this one guy?"
Along that logic, I have this question for my Minnesota readers (and the Logical Husband and Amendment X)...ok, maybe Governor Pawlenty goes down but how many solid conservatives (John Kline, Mark Kennedy, Michelle Bachmann etc) do you take out to get that one person? Punishing these people will leave us with the very same people who are the source of our dis-satisfaction - Trent Lott, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snow, John McCain, Chuck Hagel and Susan Collins! Is that what you really want to accomplish?
That's ok, you say...once they learn their 2006 lesson they will be back in the fold for 2008 and then we can take back over! Well consider some of the things that could happen between now and then...
"what kind of lengths do you think the Democrats will go to in order to keep power once they’ve got it? Does the “Fairness Doctrine” ring a bell? You think Pelosi and Reid wouldn’t try that tactic to hinder conservative talk radio? How about McCain-Feingold 2.0, with a particular focus on controlling “unregulated speech” on the Internet and blogs?
Think the MSM was cheerleading for Democrats in 2004? How much more fair and balanced do you think they’ll be when their task is to defend Democratic House and Senate majorities AND elect President Hillary Rodham Clinton? My guess is, they’ll make the CBS memo story look accurate and evenhanded by comparison.
Think the GOP can prevail in close races once they’re out of power? Ask the members of the military who had their ballots in Florida blocked. Ask Doug Forrester how well his anti-Torricelli campaign worked when he suddenly faced Frank Lautenberg at the last minute. Ask Dino Rossi. Ask Democrat Tim Johnson if he’s glad the last county in South Dakota to report its results just happened to have enough of a Democratic margin to put him over the top in 2002.
Once the Democrats regain control of Congress, a GOP takeover is going to be exponentially harder than it was in 1994. You’re never going to catch the Democrats as flatfooted again."
The Logical Husband has long complained about the Republican Party's uncanny ability to shoot itself in the foot at the most in-opportune times. Yet here we are, conservative voters who are more than willing to shoot ourselves in the foot in order to punish an unresponsive leadership. What kind of logic is that?
As I said before, I understand and share your frustration with those in DC who are deaf to the needs of the American people and only care about how it will get them re-elected! I understand the need to get more conservatives into DC (and St Paul), but sitting home in November is NOT the answer! You want to hold Governor Pawlenty accountable for his pandering to the middle? Get busy and help get a true conservative Majority in the State House and Senate. Ditto DC...you want to hold Lott, McCain, Graham and the rest of the RINO's accountable? Work hard to get true conservatives elected in Minnesota, Washington State and Tennesee! As Captain Ed said - not one dime to the RNC/MNGOP.....only give to the Conservative candidates who are willing to do what is best for the PEOPLE in DC and in St Paul!
SB1437
The title of the bill is innocuous enough. SB 1437, entitled "School Instruction: Prohibition of Discriminatory Content" passed in the California Senate easily enough last week. However, the content of the bill should frighten any Christian with a child in the public school system.
"This bill would revise the statutes prohibiting textbooks and other instructional material from containing material adverse to persons based on race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, or handicap, and add sexual orientation to this list of characteristics. These changes would make the statutes consistent with other statutes prohibiting discrimination based on specified personal characteristics, such as the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act."
Under the heading "Need for the Bill" comes this explaination on why the bill is needed.
"The absence from our curriculum of positive images of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people and their many contributions to California and the United States is a disservice to all children."
The question I have for the gay activists is this....WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES A PERSON'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION MAKE? When my child is studying American history, what difference does it make if George Washington was gay, straight or otherwise? I thought we were not supposed to judge people by their race, creed, color etc? But isn't that exactly what you are asking us to do? Judge these people by their sexual orientation?????
Dennis Prager asked (on his program today) why not mention the contributions of those who were married or single, by religion, whether they had children or not...and what about the bad guys? Do we want to know if Timothy McVeigh or Jeffrey Dahmer were gay or straight? How about Al Capone - do we list his ethnicity or his marital status? The bottom line is this - it is no longer good enough to be an American...you have to be a American!
Now apparently Governor Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto this bill should it clear both the California House and Senate. If that is the case, one wonders if the California Senate is sincere about the bill or if they are passing this just to mollify their base.
"This bill would revise the statutes prohibiting textbooks and other instructional material from containing material adverse to persons based on race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, or handicap, and add sexual orientation to this list of characteristics. These changes would make the statutes consistent with other statutes prohibiting discrimination based on specified personal characteristics, such as the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act."
Under the heading "Need for the Bill" comes this explaination on why the bill is needed.
"The absence from our curriculum of positive images of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people and their many contributions to California and the United States is a disservice to all children."
The question I have for the gay activists is this....WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES A PERSON'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION MAKE? When my child is studying American history, what difference does it make if George Washington was gay, straight or otherwise? I thought we were not supposed to judge people by their race, creed, color etc? But isn't that exactly what you are asking us to do? Judge these people by their sexual orientation?????
Dennis Prager asked (on his program today) why not mention the contributions of those who were married or single, by religion, whether they had children or not...and what about the bad guys? Do we want to know if Timothy McVeigh or Jeffrey Dahmer were gay or straight? How about Al Capone - do we list his ethnicity or his marital status? The bottom line is this - it is no longer good enough to be an American...you have to be a
Now apparently Governor Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto this bill should it clear both the California House and Senate. If that is the case, one wonders if the California Senate is sincere about the bill or if they are passing this just to mollify their base.
Candidate Profiles in the media
Michael over at MDE has been running a series of posts on some of the more outrageous things that Keith Ellison, DFL endorsed candidate for Congress in the 5th Congressional District, has said in the past and on some of the outrageous things that people he has been close to have said. Compare some of these quotes to the profile on Mr. Ellison that the Star Tribune printed today.
Now I fully understand that a lot of these quotes are single lines and that context is missing and those who have debated Scripture with me will know I am a stickler for context. However, a person is judged by the company he/she keeps and if this is the company that Mr. Ellison keeps, the 5th CD is in trouble.
It will be interesting to see what the profiles of Mr. Ellison's opponents look like. These are scheduled to print on the next couple of Tuesdays. I will definately be researching the others while waiting for their profiles to be published.
Now I fully understand that a lot of these quotes are single lines and that context is missing and those who have debated Scripture with me will know I am a stickler for context. However, a person is judged by the company he/she keeps and if this is the company that Mr. Ellison keeps, the 5th CD is in trouble.
It will be interesting to see what the profiles of Mr. Ellison's opponents look like. These are scheduled to print on the next couple of Tuesdays. I will definately be researching the others while waiting for their profiles to be published.
The deeper and subtle meaning.
James Lileks translates the recent letter to GWB from the President of Iran and finds the true intent of President Ahmadinejad :
Dear Infidel Crusader Zionist sock-puppet Saudi-lackey depoiler of Mesopotamia woman-touching pigdog fiendish (293 words excised) Shah-licking son of a toad’s offal: I trust this finds you well. I have much on my mind, and have taken the pen to unburden my breast. I have enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope should you wish to reply.
Dear Infidel Crusader Zionist sock-puppet Saudi-lackey depoiler of Mesopotamia woman-touching pigdog fiendish (293 words excised) Shah-licking son of a toad’s offal: I trust this finds you well. I have much on my mind, and have taken the pen to unburden my breast. I have enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope should you wish to reply.
(429 words concerning Jewish penetration of the Postal System excised)
. . . Do you not realize you are beaten, as a donkey is beaten, but knoweth not his donkeyhood is cursed? Your comics have turned against you in your own lair, and mock you without mercy. We have seen the videos of the Meal of the Correspondents, and we know how your left regards the men of the laugh as prophets and seers. It is only a matter of time before Johnny Carson (applause be upon him) returns from occlusion to request that you, Mr. President, take the Slauson cutoff, get out of your car, and cut off your Slauson, Hi-yo, salaam. And a third part of the Slauson shall be stained with the tears of the womenfolk, and (9323 words excised)
(From Cox and Forkum)
And it's ALWAYS unintended consequences!
And what was that quote from Ringo Starr-"Everything government touches turns to crap!" And demoncrats and RINO's obviously think we enoy crap. Seems that most of us also enjoy crap in wholesale amounts as we keep returning these same people to power.
And now, we have the New and Improved Immigration Bill that will ensure more immigrants. Double the number in fact.
Yup. Sow and reap. Vote for lefties and lefty lites and we get all this. And more.
Lucy,Charlie Brown and a football.
Pogo was right:"We have met the enemy...and he is us."
And now, we have the New and Improved Immigration Bill that will ensure more immigrants. Double the number in fact.
Yup. Sow and reap. Vote for lefties and lefty lites and we get all this. And more.
Lucy,Charlie Brown and a football.
Pogo was right:"We have met the enemy...and he is us."
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Imperial Hubris
I can guarantee you that Hugh Hewitt will be talking and writing about this tomorrow!
"It is worth considering, moreover, that only newspapers have the will, resources and venues in which this sort of journalism can be accomplished on readers' behalf. To an extent too little discussed, the future of the news media is the future of American democracy."
Only newspapers have the "will, resources and venues" to do this. What arrogance! How typical of newspapers who feel that they are the only ones who "know stuff"!
I suspect that Hugh will be talking about this because the author, Tim Ruttan, has been taking many potshots at Hugh lately and this article is not lacking potshots.
"More interesting yet is the way in which these commentators' worldview has slipped unexamined into the currents of the mainstream. Because their own motives are wholly partisan, they assume that everyone else doing journalism is similarly inclined. "
Yep....Hugh's show tomorrow night is going to be entertaining, to say the least!
"It is worth considering, moreover, that only newspapers have the will, resources and venues in which this sort of journalism can be accomplished on readers' behalf. To an extent too little discussed, the future of the news media is the future of American democracy."
Only newspapers have the "will, resources and venues" to do this. What arrogance! How typical of newspapers who feel that they are the only ones who "know stuff"!
I suspect that Hugh will be talking about this because the author, Tim Ruttan, has been taking many potshots at Hugh lately and this article is not lacking potshots.
"More interesting yet is the way in which these commentators' worldview has slipped unexamined into the currents of the mainstream. Because their own motives are wholly partisan, they assume that everyone else doing journalism is similarly inclined. "
Yep....Hugh's show tomorrow night is going to be entertaining, to say the least!
Crime and Punishment?
Rambix over at Rambix and the Red Star has done yeomans work documenting the breakdown of order in Amy Klobuchar's Minneapolis*. The following has all of the earmarks of one of his posts, but it's not.
"Mario Moreno should still have been behind bars the night he climbed into the passenger seat of a stolen car with two fellow gang members.He was carrying a rifle, some cartridges and, in his jacket pocket, a bag of marijuana. "Let's go do this," the car's driver recalled Moreno saying as they headed into the turf of a rival black gang.
They drove by a liquor store at 89th Street and Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. Two older black men were standing outside.Moreno, 18, aimed his weapon out the driver's-side window and fired. One bullet killed Darrell Dennard, 53, a grandfather who slept in an alley behind a nearby fish market and got by doing odd jobs. He had just bought a lottery ticket. It was about 9 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2004."
This is from the Los Angeles Times today. Yahoo has this take on the story! Los Angeles officials are finally coming to the realization of a fact that many law enforcement officials have been trying to tell them for a long time...that catch and release - while fine for fishing - does not work well in law enforcement.
"City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said. "I think criminals have learned from this that there is a way to beat the system. ... For many, a few days in jail has become just a cost of doing business."
Rambix has documented how a large portion of offenders in Amy Klobuchar's Minneapolis* are also repeat offenders. If this is how Amy Klobuchar protects Hennepin County*, you have to wonder just how well she will do her job should she get elected to the Senate. However, KennedyVMachine gives you a hint about what she will do once she goes to DC...she will be fundraising and getting ready to run for her next elected position! Surely Minnesota deserves better than that...
* Hennepin County Attorneys Office Mission Statement - To protect the rights and safety of the people of Hennepin County.
"Mario Moreno should still have been behind bars the night he climbed into the passenger seat of a stolen car with two fellow gang members.He was carrying a rifle, some cartridges and, in his jacket pocket, a bag of marijuana. "Let's go do this," the car's driver recalled Moreno saying as they headed into the turf of a rival black gang.
They drove by a liquor store at 89th Street and Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. Two older black men were standing outside.Moreno, 18, aimed his weapon out the driver's-side window and fired. One bullet killed Darrell Dennard, 53, a grandfather who slept in an alley behind a nearby fish market and got by doing odd jobs. He had just bought a lottery ticket. It was about 9 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2004."
This is from the Los Angeles Times today. Yahoo has this take on the story! Los Angeles officials are finally coming to the realization of a fact that many law enforcement officials have been trying to tell them for a long time...that catch and release - while fine for fishing - does not work well in law enforcement.
"City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said. "I think criminals have learned from this that there is a way to beat the system. ... For many, a few days in jail has become just a cost of doing business."
Rambix has documented how a large portion of offenders in Amy Klobuchar's Minneapolis* are also repeat offenders. If this is how Amy Klobuchar protects Hennepin County*, you have to wonder just how well she will do her job should she get elected to the Senate. However, KennedyVMachine gives you a hint about what she will do once she goes to DC...she will be fundraising and getting ready to run for her next elected position! Surely Minnesota deserves better than that...
* Hennepin County Attorneys Office Mission Statement - To protect the rights and safety of the people of Hennepin County.
The erosion and the landslide
One of the most subtle principles in the pursuit of liberty, freedom and a constitutional republic, which we used to have, are property rights. Frederic Bastiat, in his excellent tome "The Law" takes and proves the point that private property is a direct extension of life:
We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life — physical, intellectual, and moral life.
But life cannot maintain itself alone. The Creator of life has entrusted us with the responsibility of preserving, developing, and perfecting it. In order that we may accomplish this, He has provided us with a collection of marvelous faculties. And He has put us in the midst of a variety of natural resources. By the application of our faculties to these natural resources we convert them into products, and use them. This process is necessary in order that life may run its appointed course.
Life, faculties, production—in other words, individuality, liberty, property — this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.
Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.
From this premise, Bastiat goes on to prove that government is formed to protect the rights of each individual. That when government starts to recognize groups, then there are no longer individual rights, but group priviledges. And at that point, you have groups that raise up to either ensure that their interests are protected or to take more from another group. And we have the descent into democracy where the majority rules over the minority, or sometimes vice versa, and the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle erosion of your individual rights. And consequently property rights. Eminent domain is the hot property rights topic. And how did we get to that point? Slowly, easily... and steadily. What would have resulted in riots a century ago is now regarded as business as usual. When your land can not be developed, when you When your money is forcibly taken from you via taxes, you have had your time, your effort and your property taken from you. And on a larger scale, we have the disaster that the collectivists have forced on General Motors. And on a large scale, what you see happening to General Motors mirrors perfectly the state of the American dependency state (Katrina and the socialist, leftwing hellhole disaster called New Orleans as prima facie evidence). And it comes back to you. You are going to pay for it. All of it. Every penny. How do I know? From my radical lefty friend who admits that the unfunded liability of Social Security and Medicare exists. But he claims it's ONLY $20,000,000,000,000 (not the $60,000,000,000,000-$80,000,000,000,000 that reputable economists tell). And this leftist's solution to the problem? After much thought and reflection and many calculations? A 100% inheritance tax. Total estate confiscation (BTW, the elimination of all inheritance laws is one of the ten points of the Communist Manifesto .I'd also recommend reading down the article and comparing the ten points with the Democratic party platform. Also read how a goodly portion of the ten points has already been implemented). When the WWII generation dies, the government takes all their money. He tries to throw you off the trail by calling it "their childrens' money". So what? It's still someone elses money. NOT the government's.
General Motors doesn't have the force of law behind it to force it's customers to buy it's cars and trucks to pay the huge burden of obligations that have been forced on it by it's unions and with the collboration of the government. Government DOES have the force of law to force YOU to pay for it's follies.
Now, what are you going to do about it?
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