Irony, shcadenfreude and 1968

I took Mom to get her four month surgical review. I was reading the October issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine and saw a very friendly article about the eco street terrorists called "Critical Mass" who have now arrived in Minneapolis. What impressed me was the cheery, upbeat tone of the Mpls/st.Paul magazine article in light of what's been reported about these two wheel thugs here in Minneapolis. Here's my read on this: it's not a coincidence that radical, liberty hating, left wing anarchy groups are showing up here in Minneapolis and St. Paul. With the national Republican Convention just over nine months away, they are testing the response and resolve of the mayors and police departments in advance to plan maximum disruption of the convention. And they have fertile ground to be encouraged. Read the two linked articles again and see the similarities between the two cities responses. Critical Mass and other fellow travelers are well encouraged and emboldened. Mayors Rybak and Coleman have sown seeds that will bear bitter fruit. And here's what I find ironic: being the leftists they are, the Mayors of the Twin Cities support radical notions, though publicly distance themselves, by the prosecution that they cut short. The message "Don't do this or a nasty letter WILL be sent home in your backpack". Note that the San Francisco motorists and bus riders had had enough. That shows a failure at the city executive level. And shows the incompetence of lefty mayors who are the chief law enforcement officers first and foremost.
I vividly remember the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. A very good friend of mine missed the bus that would have taken him into the center of that mayhem and chaos.
And who, pray tell, was the Mayor of Chicago at the time? One Richard J. Daley. And who became the single man focus for the blame for all the riots that occurred at the Convention? Richard J. Daley. And who will become the foci for any and all riots that occur in September 2008? Mayors Coleman and Rybak.
Watching Coleman and Rybak try to control their left wing friends while trying to keep the limelight on themselves should prove interesting.

Ron Paul and James Janos

I read my friend Ed Morrisey's blog Captain's Quarters . Ed and I meet from time to time. We discuss, what else, politics and an upcoming project attempting to right a wrong for a WWII veteran. That being said, I noticed that he rails against Ron Paul. Sometimes I think wrongly.
I notice the same thing from Michael Medved and especially unapologetic Mitt Romney acolyte Hugh Hewitt. Well, swing away at Ron Paul all they like, he still raises money like no one else. His supporters are incredibly passionate and motivated. I went to the AM1280 The Patriot Republican debate with Rusty Humphrey about a month ago. The Ron Paul Fan Club/MN Chapter was there in force. Congressman Paul won the straw poll at about 45+%.
The question I ask isn't about Ron Paul and his stance on the issues. I take a step back and ask a question that I haven't seen anyone else ask with any degree of honesty. That question is why or what do Ron Paul's supporters like or find so attractive about him? The major bloggers and pundits and talk radio hosts would and do dismissively ask that question. I ask it honestly and reflectively. I find parallels between Paul and James Janos. Janos had incredible support because he was "not either one of them". He wasn't a Democrat nor was he a Republican. His supporters believed that. I found him to be what I called a Democan or Republocrat. But, though he was pilloried and dismissed by the press, his supporters were loyal and passionate.
I believe that Paul's supporters find that same type of resonance with Paul. Paul doesn't nibble around the edges. Many of his statements are about important and sober topics that unfortunately still leave most voters looking for the mute button on the remote.
And so I posit that Paul's supporters find him not to be anything like all the other Republican candidates. That he gives them a reason to be excited and passionate. he gives them a reason to vote for him rather than voting against someone else. Dr. Paul runs all his congressional votes based on the same matrix: Is it Constitutional? Does it conform to my oath of office? Does it conform to my campaign promises? Though there are many things with which I agree with Dr. Paul due to how he votes, I'm also clear he has no hope of getting the nomination or of getting elected. But, again, he has attracted a number of ardent fans and contributors. Dismiss him at a certain risk and peril.
And in case you don't recognize the names James Janos, his ring name is Jesse Ventura.

Mike Huckabee introduces his Foreign Policy advisor: Rodney King

I'm a good driver (one chargeable accident in forty years of driving). That being said, it was God's grace that I was parked in my Mom's driveway when I heard Mike Huckabee's suggestion as to how to deal with Iran: Just talk to them. Like we talk to Mom. Like we talk to Dad:"We haven’t had diplomatic relationships with Iran in almost thirty years, most of my entire adult life. And a lot of good it’s done. Putting this in human terms, all of us know that when we stop talking to a parent, or a sibling, or even a friend, it’s impossible to resolve the differences to move that relationship forward. Well, the same is true for countries. " (Complete transcript here).
The more I thought of this completely inane statement, I thought "How would Huckabee's soon to be good buddy President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad respond if his advisors might suggest that Mike Huckabee be given a chance to dialogue ?" And the following scene kept coming to mind (I apologize in advance for the language) :



Yup. That's how I envision it playing out for Mike Huckabee with the object of his foreign policy attempts.
For another view, Hugh Hewitt and Michael Rubin dissect Huckabee's comments here.
This comment by Huckabee shows me once again why the MSM loves the guy. He would be a total pushover in any presidential race. Now, instead of a single line through his name as a presidential nominee, I'm putting two.

Priorities rethought, innocence found again.

My Mom has had a rough four months. Hip replacement surgery followed by major back surgery. And we had to put her dog Skipper down before the surgery marathon. With Mom not being able to drive, I've been doing double duty for a bit. But, there have been wonderful, and poignant times.
While waiting during Mom's back surgery, I noticed a little girl looking at the aquarium in the reception/waiting area at Southdale Fairview Hospital. She never said a word. She was so intently watching the fish silently pass by her eyes. And I had to catch this pure innocence with my cheap phone camera:
















And I decided to always carry a digital camera to be able to get much better photos than are obtainable with a phone camera.
I never saw her face. She left on her grandfather's lap as he was pushed to the door in his wheelchair. But, she was the picture of what, besides a relationship with Christ, is important.
A few weeks later my Mom was at a transitional care facility. She asked me if I'd wash one of her favorite outfits as it had taken on the aroma of her former hospital room. Well, I had washed one of her outfits after she had hip replacement surgery and put her lip balm through a thorough cleaning cycle (thankfully rescuing it before I put it through the dryer). Vowing not to do that again, this time I went through her pockets. As I was pulling out her ever present lip balm (this one being new, not reconditioned) and tissues, it occurred to me, that fifty years ago, she would have been going through my jeans pockets before washing them. And here I was doing the very same thing for her a half century later. And it gave me cause for pause as I looked at the tissue and the lip balm that I'd just put aside. It reminded me of a poem Mom gave me a few years back after Dad had died. The author was an older woman getting out of a car. As she opened the door, her adult son reached out to take her hand to help her. And she thought of the time when her son, as a little boy would reach up for her hand as he stepped up on a curb. And now the roles had become reversed. And she was relying on him.
And a tube of lip balm and a few tissues brought that idea home to me for good.

Lessons taught but never learned

I've been sober for over 22 years. Before my tenth anniversary sobriety date I took the time to reflect on what my sobriety has allowed me to learn. A few considerations:

1. Never confuse activity with progress. A dog chasing his tail can cover miles and stay in exactly the same place.
2. Never confuse the truth with honesty. People can tell part of the truth and lead people to believe that which is not true. It's called deception. And the deceiver walks away with a clear conscience.
   
3. Never confuse education, knowledge and wisdom. What you've been taught, what you know and how you apply it can all be neatly separate. I've seen people with double PhD's not be able to some seemingly simple tasks.
   
4. Never, ever confuse being taught the lesson with learning the lesson. "Well, I certainly learned my lesson!" is not accurate. It may very well be that the lesson was indeed taught. However, whether or not it was learned, and how well, will only become evident over time.
   

And as I read the new energy bill, it becomes all to apparent that those with their hands on the levers of power that force you and I to do their bidding have never , ever learned any lessons at all. The best that can be said is that it is an anti-energy bill. The anti-energy bill authors would be the ones who believe they have the power, wisdom and insight that if they can create and pass just the right bill, and that noisy barking dog next door will finally purr like a kitten and the whole neighborhood can finally get some sleep. Omniscient and omnipotent are terms and beliefs they all hold close to their intellectual breasts...and have, to our great and long term detriment, believed them to be true of them.
The Heritage Institute has a great analysis of the anti-energy bill. And instead of pushing failed ethanol , a real push should be oil shale. And Heritage also has a large number of research papers dealing with the huge oil reserves we have here in America that the anti-energy bill prevents us from using (go to the Heritage Foundation, go to the "search" function in the upper right hand corner and type in "oil" and click on any one of the drop down menu items. Incredible!). This anti-energy bill makes about as much sense as a law preventing a home owner from using his own fire extinguisher to put out a fire in his house.

I got a fever,

I got a fever! And the only prescription is...

http://www.savagepacer.com/node/5460

(Thanks to Nancy at the Savage Pacer)

"Stop the threat"... and the subtlety of agenda reporting

I just heard that the autopsy on the Colorado shooter has determined that the fatal shot was from his own shotgun and was self-inflicted. I've been reading all the screeds from Prairie Pravda and the AP attempting to subtly besmirch New Life Church and the security guard (Jeanne Assam). What her employment history has to do with her ending the threat, I have no idea. And that the AP just had to let us know that New Life Church was once led by Ted Haggard and why Pastor Haggard resigned from his position? Once again, nothing that adds to the story in any way, shape or form.
That being said, I'll lay better than even odds that as the left will tell us that Assam didn't kill the shooter and that somehow, that has significance how? Again, SO WHAT? Assam ended the threat. Murray was hit multiple times from her firearm. He was not able to continue his shooting. Again, she ended the threat. She saved many, many lives. As I've stated before, the only way these shootings end is with the shooter running out of ammunition (saving one last round for themselves) or the arrival or perceived arrival of matching or superior force.
Matching force met Murray.
Threat ended. Good on Assam and armed civilians.

Cars driving themselves again??

Three headlines up on the Strib today about car crashes:
1. "Two killed in crashes in Stearns, Carver counties"
2. "Close call with train and 2 drivers"
3. "SUV fails trying to pass on 2-lane road, hits oncoming car and kills other driver".

I of course read the third one wondering how the SUV was able to pass without a driver.

After reading discovered that the SUV did indeed have a driver, you find out in the fourth paragraph.

I am sure this is part of the Stribs SUVs are evil campaign.

The SUV driver was treated for non-life threatening injuries, the other driver died.

Because one was an SUV, no because, according to the state Patrol,
Both cars air bags deployed.
The SUV driver was wearing a seat belt.
The dead driver was not.

Maybe a more useful headline would have been:
Head on crash, driver not wearing seatbelt dies.

But that doesn't fit the template.

Best Political ad so far

So, I have concerns about Mike and fiscal issues, but still this is a great ad.

Quote of the week

"As always, I rely on the jury system"- Orenthal James Simpson

Why I envy my Mom in Oklahoma

She has a someone acting like a real conservative, her Senator, Tom Coburn.

For many years I have stated that there is no such thing as a moderate Republican.
The term moderate is usually used by some who claims to be a Fiscal Conservative but is a social moderate. But to be a social moderate you have to ignore the limits on the constitution and usually end up supporting some social program (SCHIPs being the latest) that is a massive growth of government.

I would also argue that you can not be a Social Conservative and a Fiscal moderate.
To wit, I quote from TheHill article on Sen. Coburn.

The greatest moral issue of our time isn’t abortion, it’s robbing our next generation of opportunity,” Coburn told reporters at a breakfast meeting Thursday at the National Press Club. “You’re going to save a child from being aborted so they can be born into a debtor’s prison?

While they are not moral equals, death is much greater than debt. I say it is wrong to be compassionate for life. Our government and elected officials should respect all those inalienable rights given by our creator: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To continue the reckless spending, make us slave to the state and attempt to steal our liberty.

More bad News for Norm

Our favorite RINO Senator has always been a big fan of limiting production of US Petroleum sources while spending (wasting) Billions of dollars on Bio-Fuels.

Well now a new report calls Biofuels a crime against humanity.

"A United Nations expert has condemned the growing use of crops to produce biofuels as a replacement for petrol as a crime against humanity."

Now while I usually ignore the UN and their weekly "this is a crime against humanity", but what will our liberal Senator do. Save the Farmer or Save the children.

Democrat Dream of Amnesty Act Dies Again - Thank You Norm, for letting us see you as the RINO you are

Let's all call Norm Coleman's campaign office and let him know how much we appreciate him standing up for Harry Reid and supporting the "Dream of Amnesty" Act.

Let him know how his many votes are motivating you this election.

Let him know how much you appreciate his making it clear where he stands - with you or with the Democrats.

Call Norm's Senate office before a vote, but be sure to let his campaign know how you feel after the vote - I know I did.

There you will find sweet, understanding campaign staffers who will treat you on the phone just like Norm treats us in the Senate.

Norm's Campaign contact info:
Contact Us:
Phone: (651) 645-0766
Fax: (651) 233-2405
Email: info@colemanforsenate.com

Tol ya

I've written before about the dollar, euro and oil. Nixon in the early 70's took America off the gold standard as Europe was draining out gold reserves (The Bretton Woods Agreement allowed nations to redeem their dollars for gold. It also established the World Bank and the IMF-International Monetary Fund) . He promised Saudi Arabia that if they allowed oil purchases were acceptable only in dollars, that the U.S. would defend the Kingdom of Saud. Hence, the creation of the "petro-dollar" and all oil was purchasable in dollars only. In other words, we switched backing the dollar with gold to oil.BTW,this is/was one of the sticking points with Osama bin Laden, that a hard commodity, oil, is exchanged for printed paper. Saddam Hussein and Iran have offered to sell their oil for euros. The problem with the dollar is, was, has always been the profligate spending of the U.S. Congress. And how the Congress affords all this spending it is to print more money via the Faustian bargain with the Federal Reserve. The problem is that as the Feds printing press runs, the dollars that reside in Saudi Arabia, China, et al, become worth less and less. So, then the dollar holders will begin to look for something that will hold its value. The alternatives seem to have been chosen: gold and euros.
This is a six+ year graph of the cost of gold delineated in dollars per ounce (compliments of Kitco):
















This graph shows that the dollar has, since January 2000, lost well over half its value (a dollar in 2000 is now worth $.43). A quick gold vs. dollar seminar: in 1907 a $20 gold piece and a $20 bill (silver or gold note) both bought a man's suit. In 2007 a $20 gold piece will still buy a man's suit. A $20 Federal Reserve note may buy the tie.
In other words, people don't trust the dollar.
And the proof? These headlines:
"Canadian Dollar Trades Even with U.S. Dollar for First Time Since 1976"
" Saudi Arabia Fears U.S. Dollar Collapse" (This headline and story is critically relevant).
"Euro Trades at $1.40 US-Highest Ever"
"Gold Hits Highest Level Since 1980"
"Oil at All Time High"- This is a parallel to gold's price, both being a commodity that holds value.
And it's all about Congressional spending and exporting our debt. And it's not Congress' fault. All those Representatives and Senators did all that spending because we sent them to do it. They did at our behest.
Well, at your behest.
I've always been an extreme fiscal conservative, a strict Constitutionalist (spending only according to Article I, Section 8 along with the 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights [aka Amendment X]). Unfortunately, I'm on the same ship where you've elected reckless captains and crew for decades.
This a chickens home to roost story.
We'll see if we can dodge the bullet one more time.
But, I doubt that we'll learn the lesson, though it's been taught many times for many years.
My friend Thomas Brewton has an excellent post about the Federal Reserve, the dollar and the current true economic situation here in America. (Also be sure to read "The Unwritten Constitution")

Jim Ramstad to Retire - I say, good riddance.

While others are talking that we should show some respect for Jim Ramstad, I say good riddance.

Before redistricting I was unfortunate enough to be in his district.
He never was a Republican, did not share our core beliefs and whenever a vote was close you could depend on him to sell out the party and more importantly our ideals.

Some say he was better than a DFL candidate in that position.
B.S.

He was never there when it mattered.
And he blocked the way for a true Republican (can't challenge and incumbent) so when the conservative wave crossed the nation, Jim was there to help sink it.

And now it looks like some in CD3 want more of the same.

Either you think what you believe is good and right or you are just a politician and want to win.

But what is the point of "winning" if the result for you and the country are the same.


So long Jimmy boy, and don't let the flap on the big tent hit you on the way out.

Greenspan

When I read Drudge yesterday and saw the red screamer headline that Greenspan said the battle in Iraq was about oil, it definitely caught my attention. My thoughts were that in a sense the importance of oil may have been in the mix in some way. I mean, admit it, if it weren't for oil, if oil had never been found in the Mid East, would the Royal House of Saud ever been visited by any world leader? Would the sheikdom of Dubai be able to buy a new Bentley every minute instead of saving up goat skins for a decade to buy a used Chevy? The only reason Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Dubai are even blips is because of oil. And that gave the Arabs and Aryans (Iranians are not Arabs) money and power. So, because of a radical like Hussein and the delicate balance of Mid East politics, Greenspan has a point.
Nixon in the early 70's took America off the gold standard because Europe was demanding gold for dollars as promised in the Bretton Woods agreement. Nixon then promised the Royal House of Saud that if they accepted only dollars for oil, the U.S. would protect the sheikdom. So we created petrodollars and substituted oil for gold to back the dollar. As the world bought oil from the Mid East, and the Saudis determined what happened in all the oil economy and what price would be paid, the dollar again was the world's reserve currency. Saddam Hussein was threatening to accept euros for oil and thereby upset the petrodollar balance. Iran was threatening to do the same at the March oil bourse. Add that to a tyrant that was also willing to invade Kuwait and mix in radical mullahs and there is a recipe for worldwide financial collapse. All because of oil.
So, Greenspan's comments are accurate, but taken out of context. Captain Ed has more on this this morning.
As I searched the internet to find articles, I came across a few that reminded me that the Royal House of Saud is doing a very, very dangerous balancing act. It is seen as corrupt and decadent and is the target of Islamic radicals. And in my next post, I'll tie decadence in the House of Saud and Norm Coleman's stance on bio-diesel.

Reflection vs Refusal

"Why are we so amazed when fig trees bear figs?"
This is a quote from a men's book of meditations that I used to read about twenty years ago. I have used it often, especially when it comes to leftists and their radical bastard offspring. They are so precisely predictable. They may use different words or terms, but they are predictable.
I predicted that just as General Petraeus spoke his last sentence, as he was breathing his last comment, as he ended his report, that within milliseconds, if that long, the " I Love America Only When It's Defeated" lefties would predictably shoot from the lip. They would not even attempt to review, reflect and/or analyze any of the Petraeus/Crocker report let alone all any or all the collateral material that came with their reports. And I was not disappointed. General Petraeus hadn't even hit the door push-bar when Senator Klobuchar stated " It's time to chart a new course.... to get our troops out of harm's way.". No analysis, just the typical knee jerk "If Bush is for it, I'm against it!"
Micheal Yon said in NRO that he was asked by many journailsts what he thought of the Petraeus report, before it was delivered. His reply, after stating that the report will have to come out first:" Even this coming week, after listening to the general’s testimony before Congress, I will have to read the report and transcripts numerous times, sleep on the information, and reflect on it in light of my own observations of the situation in Iraq. The outcome of the war in Iraq, and to some extent the greater War on Terror, will largely depend upon our decisions today. The outcome is too important for quick words. Many will try to be the first to report on the report, and their reports likely will be the most unreliable." And which one of the left will be the first to truly do even a minimum,realistic analysis of the report?
The left does not see this conflict in its true light. They never will. It is not the War in Iraq. It is the Battle in Iraq Against Radical Muslim Jihadis. The left sees this as their Big Arrow against GWB. It is here that they can strike a hard blow against GWB and Republicans. This very same thought process took hold of the left in 1974-1975 when they saw Richard Nixon weak from Watergate. The Senate, led by Senator "Water Safety Instructor " Kennedy withheld funds to put the US military back into Vietnam as the Treaty of Paris required . And in the process condemned over 2,000,000 to death so Kennedy and his ilk could score points on Nixon. And those very same people that played politics with Vietnamese and SE Asian lives are now willing to proclaim that very same death sentence not only to the Iraqis and the Middle East but also to us, Americans. These are the same lefties who never consider consequences. The never see beyond the immediate or beyond their feelings. These are the same lefties who always need, require and force others to pay the consequences of someone else's actions. This is an enemy that has no geo-political goals. The VC (Viet Minh) and North Vietnamese wanted the Japaneses, then the French, then the Americans out of their country.The Islamists want us either Muslim or dead. As I wrote last year on the five year anniversary "Never forget who the enemy is. He wants you dead. He wants your neighbor dead. Your wife, husband, children,parents dead. He does not and will not discriminate. There are no negotiations, no compromises. There are no innocents. Not a one. And you will not be spared or shown any mercy."This enemy will kill the lefties- first. The lefties have no concept, none at all of this battle or what it is truly about let alone this war.
And so, they sing their Bush Derangement Syndrome National Anthem "I'm Against It" and risk condemning America and Americans and the West to the whims of radical Islam.
You hear it in their bleatings about Petraeus, their refusal to reflect.
And it bodes ill and danger to all. To all.
Oh and do something guaranteed to drive the left into frenzied deliriums: pray to The Lord:
"Father God, hear our plea. Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank You for those who stand a watch and walk the walls and risk all to keep us from harm. Remember them so kindly Father.We ask that You do not treat us as we so richly deserve. We have forgotten You. We have broken each and every one of Your laws. We chase after other gods. Bring us back to You. For Jesus sake. And in His name, the name that is above all names."

WWHD?

OK kids- let's see how well you've learned your lesson from Professor Amendment X:
It's 2014 and President Hillary Clinton is mercifully in her last two years as President. Chelsea Clinton is running for President hoping to out legacy/dynasty the Kennedy's.
The leading Republican candidate has just found that he has received $1,000,000 in illegal contributions from a front man from a foreign country who has spread the money around so it appeared that a large number of individuals made the contributions.
Now, think for a minute...WWHD? (Imagine or hum Final Jeopardy tune at this point in the exam).................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Pens down.
Answers please:
No, I'm sorry, That's incorrect. She would not do what the Republican administration will do...nothing. Remember that she's a Democrat and knows how to fight. The Republicans are, well, Republicans and are still looking for a pair.
The correct answer is: after having the Department of Justice flay the Republican alive, she would have the IRS become the Republican candidate's new proctologist. She would hamstring the guy badly. Not take him out. Just make sure that instead of running for office all he could do was hobble.
GWB has a golden opportunity for the Republicans here with an easy underhand pitch that he could easily hit into the parking lot if not the next county. But, he won't.
The Republicans have learned nothing. Nothing.
David Horowitz in his book "The Art of Political War" basically states that Republicans think of politics as the Oxford Debating Club. The Democrats see it as a knife fight.
GWB, surprise me for once.
"Carpe Commodum"

Photo of the Day

Why are these people smiling?

Photo by Jeff Wheeler Star Tribune September 12th 2007

Because they, and Governor Pawlenty, just gave away $157,000,000 of your hard earned money to people who made a mistake by living near flowing water. And they feel real good about themselves and their compassion... at your cost.
Now, go out and work just a bit harder today, and well tomorrow...oh, and the next few days to make up the difference to your families. And maybe ask the question "How does something happening to someone else give them a right to my hard earned money?"

One day, two days, three days, a week...or more

Help me with this: It took over two weeks for Hillary to decide to give back Bundler Hsu's $850,000? Any good reason she didn't do it the same day she found out? Couldn't she get in touch with Zipper Gate Willy's focus groups any faster than that? Seems she needs to work on her communications manager to snap it up a notch.