So Mrs. Crusader informed me that the director of 2012 cut a scene from his disaster movie 2012 which showed Mecca being destroyed lest he get a fatwa issued against him. So much for free speech. Of course he can still show the statue of Christ above Rio toppling over and the dome of the Vatican collapsing on top of people. That must mean that Christians are much more reasonable than Muslims or we know that holiness does not reside in a place or object but solely with God. I don't foresee the Pope being offended by it. Hmm...world ending disaster movie showing famous places being destroyed; obviously an attack on the Catholic Church!
Speaking of the Catholic Church, have you ever noticed that in movies you only really see Catholics represented? Granted they are generally easy to spot with their collars, their robes, and funny hat collection whereas a Protestant preacher could easily be the guy standing next to you wearing jeans and a leather jacket. Horror movies are always a kick for me because the priest is inevitably faithless or 'wrestling' with his faith to a point that he can't ward off the incoming demon with all his fancy rituals and liturgical chant. Oh how I long to direct the movie where a devoted Protestant minister comes waltzing in, looks at the hapless priest with a roll of the eyes, studies the victim, says "In the name of Jesus Christ you are commanded to leave this body", and poof evil demon leaves without time to give a forwarding address. It would probably be pretty anti-climactic since that would cover ten minutes of movie time and they'd have 80 more to fill without the scary demon around...
I haven't watched the new V series but hear that it is a thinly disguised criticism of the Obama administration which is interesting coming from the All Barrack Channel and so soon. I mean it took well over a year for any seriously overt anti-Bush rhetoric to show up in our 'entertainment' (other than the whole hanging chad thing). I'm pretty sure you won't see that over on the National Barrack Channel. Though outside of Heroes or if you watch the 15 incarnations of Law and Order, I'm not sure anyone sees much of anything on NBC. You know your network is failing when you move your "Tonight Show" style show to Prime Time and your comedy shows are up against Bones and Fringe over on Fox.
Thank Heaven for the Saturday Sci-Fi (sorry that is Sy-Fy now) movies. These B movies with hackneyed plots and writing that looks like it came off the PC's of government run high school creative writing class are about the most entertaining thing on television anymore. Sometimes you get a fairly decent one but most of the time you'll choke on your popcorn as you laugh at the plot holes or make MST3K (Mystery Science Theater 3000 - google it if you don't get the reference) like quips over the dialogue or situation on screen. This weekend's offering, Ice Twister, should be another glorious entry in the endless procession of films that make you wonder why you're wasting your life in front of the television!
I could go on about things that annoy me like how Bones is accommodating to Muslim characters and portrays Christians in a bad light or the propaganda that gets inserted into my entertainment on a regular basis but this is Friday and those are another blog. Enjoy your weekend.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thoughts for Veterans Day
Today is the 91st anniversary of the end of the First World War. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 the tragedy that was World War I ended. Many brave Americans fought, were injured and died in that war; a war that we had no reason to be in; a war that Woodrow Wilson promised he would keep us out of. But even while campaigning with that promise in 1915-1916, America's first Fascist dictator was taking steps to embroil us in that war.
Like other Progressives, Wilson believed that he could and should force societal change and in the war in Europe he saw an opportunity to create that change. Decades later the radical Saul Alinsky would put that idea into his book Rules for Radicals that the radical should let no crisis go to waste. In another perverse tragedy of our age, that has been quoted by several Obama Administration officials including Chicago thug and close adviser to the president; Rahm Emanuel.
But back to Wilson. He got the war he wanted and off American boys went to die in the fields of Flanders ostensibly to "make the world safe for democracy". You know the history of WWI. We arrived in force just in time to tip the scales for the allied cause and by late 1918, the Germans were facing invasion and sued for peace. While the French and (to a lesser extent) the British played sore winners by coming up with ludicrous reparations demands, Wilson rushed to create the League of Nations a naked attempt to impose Progressivism on the entire western world.
What they don't tell us about World War I is the fact that Wilson created a proto-SS that went around intimidating newspapers that printed opinion pieces against war entry. After we went to war, his jackboots intimidated and closed down papers that made even the mildest of dissenting remarks about America being in the war or its prosecution. People went to jail without due process for negative remarks about the war.
You also won't find many history teachers or professors that discuss the ultimate negative impact of America's involvement in the Great War. At the time of entry, the French military and government was exhausted and on the verge of suing for peace with tacit British approval (they were also verging on war exhaustion. So in all likelihood the victorious Germans would have made demands typical of European history after Napoleon (the Alsace-Lorraine was always the main contention between the two nations) and the war that none of the large powers wanted would have ended in the spring or summer of 1917. Victorious Germany would not have lost her Central European lands and empire. Victorious Germany would not have suffered the depredations of the Weimar Republic and a decorated corporal Adolph Hitler would likely have wiled away his life as a mediocre artist or architect floating between Austria and Germany.
In addition, a victorious Germany would never have taken the desperate action of allowing the exiled Vladmir Lenin to travel from Switzerland back to St. Petersburg in their futile attempt to sow enough dissent in the great Eastern power to get it to leave the war; thus the Soviet Union would never have formed.
Yes, that's right. Thanks to Woodrow Wilson not only did brave Americans die in the tragic mistake of World War I, but his actions led directly to the conditions in which Adolph Hitler and (eventually) Josef Stalin rose to power and all of the consequences following those events. Some of the blood of the 6,000,000 Jews that died in the Holocaust must necessarily appear on his hands. The 20,000,000 Slavic peasants that died thanks to Stalin and most of whom probably never heard of Woodrow Wilson should haunt his eternal soul.
Perhaps this is the wrong day to point these things out but while we thank those who served and continue to serve we must make sure that their precious lives aren't needlessly wasted. Wilson's dreams of grandeur and social Utopianism killed millions who needn't have died. Because of his ego we mourn for the heroic and selfless Americans who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and here at home sweating over the day they might have to turn a key and end the world. We mourn for the millions who died because of Nazi cruelty and Communist sadism.
Eggheads the world over spend hours contemplating whether it is more tragic to be the first casualty of a war or the last. Mr. Wilson's war has raged on for the better part of a century. It is fitting that we celebrated the fall of the Berlin wall this week as well because it goes hand in hand with the solemn commemorations we should have today. The last Wilsonian casualty was finally counted when the last man to die in the Cold War passed away. It is hard to digest, hard to comprehend and perhaps we defend our psyche's by not thinking about it too hard.
We can't change the past but we can impact the future. Painful as it is we must constantly remember and remind others of Wilson's war and its ultimate costs. We have one of Mr. Wilson's political descendants in office now. He will likely use an instrument other than war to force socialist Utopianism on us. His lackeys in the House and Senate are already working on it. Let us learn our lesson from Wilson and do whatever we can to stop these people now lest someone three generations from now is putting together the list of casualties from Mr. Obama's nationalized health care system, his Depression, and his dithering in Afghanistan.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sacrifices that every American veteran from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan has made for me. Today's point was to lament the fact that one made made the sacrifices of so many necessary. We can't ever fully repay our veterans for the things you have suffered but we will try not to fail you if those who would waste your service attempt to do so again. Thank you to my grandpas one who served in the Pacific and stayed on in occupied Japan, the other who served in Italy and Germany (both came home safe); thank you to my great uncles all of whom miraculously returned home: a Marine who was first ashore in Okinawa; one on a submarine in the Atlantic; and one a bomber pilot in Europe. All are gone now but their stories and legacies live on in two and three generations of my extended family.
Like other Progressives, Wilson believed that he could and should force societal change and in the war in Europe he saw an opportunity to create that change. Decades later the radical Saul Alinsky would put that idea into his book Rules for Radicals that the radical should let no crisis go to waste. In another perverse tragedy of our age, that has been quoted by several Obama Administration officials including Chicago thug and close adviser to the president; Rahm Emanuel.
But back to Wilson. He got the war he wanted and off American boys went to die in the fields of Flanders ostensibly to "make the world safe for democracy". You know the history of WWI. We arrived in force just in time to tip the scales for the allied cause and by late 1918, the Germans were facing invasion and sued for peace. While the French and (to a lesser extent) the British played sore winners by coming up with ludicrous reparations demands, Wilson rushed to create the League of Nations a naked attempt to impose Progressivism on the entire western world.
What they don't tell us about World War I is the fact that Wilson created a proto-SS that went around intimidating newspapers that printed opinion pieces against war entry. After we went to war, his jackboots intimidated and closed down papers that made even the mildest of dissenting remarks about America being in the war or its prosecution. People went to jail without due process for negative remarks about the war.
You also won't find many history teachers or professors that discuss the ultimate negative impact of America's involvement in the Great War. At the time of entry, the French military and government was exhausted and on the verge of suing for peace with tacit British approval (they were also verging on war exhaustion. So in all likelihood the victorious Germans would have made demands typical of European history after Napoleon (the Alsace-Lorraine was always the main contention between the two nations) and the war that none of the large powers wanted would have ended in the spring or summer of 1917. Victorious Germany would not have lost her Central European lands and empire. Victorious Germany would not have suffered the depredations of the Weimar Republic and a decorated corporal Adolph Hitler would likely have wiled away his life as a mediocre artist or architect floating between Austria and Germany.
In addition, a victorious Germany would never have taken the desperate action of allowing the exiled Vladmir Lenin to travel from Switzerland back to St. Petersburg in their futile attempt to sow enough dissent in the great Eastern power to get it to leave the war; thus the Soviet Union would never have formed.
Yes, that's right. Thanks to Woodrow Wilson not only did brave Americans die in the tragic mistake of World War I, but his actions led directly to the conditions in which Adolph Hitler and (eventually) Josef Stalin rose to power and all of the consequences following those events. Some of the blood of the 6,000,000 Jews that died in the Holocaust must necessarily appear on his hands. The 20,000,000 Slavic peasants that died thanks to Stalin and most of whom probably never heard of Woodrow Wilson should haunt his eternal soul.
Perhaps this is the wrong day to point these things out but while we thank those who served and continue to serve we must make sure that their precious lives aren't needlessly wasted. Wilson's dreams of grandeur and social Utopianism killed millions who needn't have died. Because of his ego we mourn for the heroic and selfless Americans who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and here at home sweating over the day they might have to turn a key and end the world. We mourn for the millions who died because of Nazi cruelty and Communist sadism.
Eggheads the world over spend hours contemplating whether it is more tragic to be the first casualty of a war or the last. Mr. Wilson's war has raged on for the better part of a century. It is fitting that we celebrated the fall of the Berlin wall this week as well because it goes hand in hand with the solemn commemorations we should have today. The last Wilsonian casualty was finally counted when the last man to die in the Cold War passed away. It is hard to digest, hard to comprehend and perhaps we defend our psyche's by not thinking about it too hard.
We can't change the past but we can impact the future. Painful as it is we must constantly remember and remind others of Wilson's war and its ultimate costs. We have one of Mr. Wilson's political descendants in office now. He will likely use an instrument other than war to force socialist Utopianism on us. His lackeys in the House and Senate are already working on it. Let us learn our lesson from Wilson and do whatever we can to stop these people now lest someone three generations from now is putting together the list of casualties from Mr. Obama's nationalized health care system, his Depression, and his dithering in Afghanistan.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sacrifices that every American veteran from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan has made for me. Today's point was to lament the fact that one made made the sacrifices of so many necessary. We can't ever fully repay our veterans for the things you have suffered but we will try not to fail you if those who would waste your service attempt to do so again. Thank you to my grandpas one who served in the Pacific and stayed on in occupied Japan, the other who served in Italy and Germany (both came home safe); thank you to my great uncles all of whom miraculously returned home: a Marine who was first ashore in Okinawa; one on a submarine in the Atlantic; and one a bomber pilot in Europe. All are gone now but their stories and legacies live on in two and three generations of my extended family.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Remembering the Berlin Wall
Well surprise, surprise! The Anointed One, Barrack Hussein Obama (mmm...mmm...mmm), is sitting out the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I'm guessing that he couldn't figure out a way to make it about him so why bother going. The other likely reason is that since he doesn't believe in individual freedom why would he celebrate the greatest single event that symbolizes freeing individuals?
In 1985, I had the great good fortune to visit Berlin - East and West. At that time no one, especially a dozen teenagers from small town Idaho, could imagine that the Berlin Wall would be rubble a mere four years later. We could hardly even imagine the powerful statement President Reagan would make two years later demanding that Mr. Gorbachev tear down the wall. The wall looked permanent and immovable just like the Soviet Bloc. Towers shielded by reflective glass looked grimly down on gray concrete wall topped by miles of barbed wire. As if emphasizing the differences between East and West, the buildings of West Berlin looked bright and cheerful while those on the East side of the wall looked like they were built in gray scale. In East Berlin, all colors seemed muted and when visiting the other side, it was as if some unseen creature was sucking the joy from your soul.
Crossing into East Germany and East Berlin was a daunting prospect. Our bus was boarded by soldiers in dingy olive uniforms armed with sub-machineguns at the checkpoint. They checked our passports closely, counted us several times, and checked to make sure we weren't carrying contraband print material (especially bibles) into East Berlin. On the way out, we were counted several times again to make sure we weren't smuggling anyone out.
A small group of us accompanied by chaperons crossed at Checkpoint Charlie to catch dinner and the State run opera company on the East side. Again, there were queues and a maze of narrow halls lined by unnamed and uncounted East German soldiers; all on guard against the 'evils' of western freedom. Then we emerged behind the Iron Curtain, potential prisoners of the state just like the millions of East Germans that the wall was built to contain; blissfully unaware of the Stazi (East German KGB) officer likely trailing us. (And this isn't idle, anti-Communist paranoia; the officer was equally likely there to ensure our safety as to spy on us. After all, the last thing the East German government needed was an international incident involving American teens.)
Then there was the wall itself. On the East side, it was bordered by a no-man's land of bare ground dotted with land mines and a second wall. The wall cut through Berlin with the same disdain of human desire and hatred of freedom as the system that created it. Once busy streets now dead-ended at the wall. Subways were cut off by the wall. German friends and families were cut off by the wall. The western side became a graffiti covered running commentary of Germany's Cold War with itself. In an age before the blog, all manner of people 'blogged' on the wall. Missives against communism and capitalism dotted the wall. Here and there one could find lamentations for those trapped behind the wall, exhortations for unity, disarmament, and peace. Then there were countless names with and without dates.
Berlin and Germany left an indelible impression in my mind; one that has and continues to inform my political opinions. The close experience with the naked totalitarianism of the Soviet system is partially responsible for my conversion from an ordinary center-rightist to a Crusader.
Mine was the last generation of the Cold War. Many of those born a mere five years after me were barely aware of the rest of the world when the Berlin wall fell. If there is a down side to the end of Soviet/Warsaw Pact totalitarianism, it is that the Millenials and beyond will not be able to see firsthand evidence of the evils of Communism. The soft socialism of Europe and the velvet-gloved Communism that Red China projects to the world look far less insidious than they really are. These things make us susceptible to the idea of government as a benefactor. We begin to fall for the idea that we have rights to health care, housing, food, water, cable television, and a whole list of the things most of us know we have to work for. As we begin to embrace soft socialism we will indenture ourselves to the government. We will accept George Carlin's 'happy face fascism' because security is easier than freedom. And one day, we will have given away enough freedoms that government can take off the velvet glove to reveal the iron fist. If that day comes, this time there will be no wall; no bastion of individual freedom left to fight against it. What Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao and like minded individuals failed to do by force, we will do to ourselves through soft words and good intentions.
In 1985, I had the great good fortune to visit Berlin - East and West. At that time no one, especially a dozen teenagers from small town Idaho, could imagine that the Berlin Wall would be rubble a mere four years later. We could hardly even imagine the powerful statement President Reagan would make two years later demanding that Mr. Gorbachev tear down the wall. The wall looked permanent and immovable just like the Soviet Bloc. Towers shielded by reflective glass looked grimly down on gray concrete wall topped by miles of barbed wire. As if emphasizing the differences between East and West, the buildings of West Berlin looked bright and cheerful while those on the East side of the wall looked like they were built in gray scale. In East Berlin, all colors seemed muted and when visiting the other side, it was as if some unseen creature was sucking the joy from your soul.
Crossing into East Germany and East Berlin was a daunting prospect. Our bus was boarded by soldiers in dingy olive uniforms armed with sub-machineguns at the checkpoint. They checked our passports closely, counted us several times, and checked to make sure we weren't carrying contraband print material (especially bibles) into East Berlin. On the way out, we were counted several times again to make sure we weren't smuggling anyone out.
A small group of us accompanied by chaperons crossed at Checkpoint Charlie to catch dinner and the State run opera company on the East side. Again, there were queues and a maze of narrow halls lined by unnamed and uncounted East German soldiers; all on guard against the 'evils' of western freedom. Then we emerged behind the Iron Curtain, potential prisoners of the state just like the millions of East Germans that the wall was built to contain; blissfully unaware of the Stazi (East German KGB) officer likely trailing us. (And this isn't idle, anti-Communist paranoia; the officer was equally likely there to ensure our safety as to spy on us. After all, the last thing the East German government needed was an international incident involving American teens.)
Then there was the wall itself. On the East side, it was bordered by a no-man's land of bare ground dotted with land mines and a second wall. The wall cut through Berlin with the same disdain of human desire and hatred of freedom as the system that created it. Once busy streets now dead-ended at the wall. Subways were cut off by the wall. German friends and families were cut off by the wall. The western side became a graffiti covered running commentary of Germany's Cold War with itself. In an age before the blog, all manner of people 'blogged' on the wall. Missives against communism and capitalism dotted the wall. Here and there one could find lamentations for those trapped behind the wall, exhortations for unity, disarmament, and peace. Then there were countless names with and without dates.
Berlin and Germany left an indelible impression in my mind; one that has and continues to inform my political opinions. The close experience with the naked totalitarianism of the Soviet system is partially responsible for my conversion from an ordinary center-rightist to a Crusader.
Mine was the last generation of the Cold War. Many of those born a mere five years after me were barely aware of the rest of the world when the Berlin wall fell. If there is a down side to the end of Soviet/Warsaw Pact totalitarianism, it is that the Millenials and beyond will not be able to see firsthand evidence of the evils of Communism. The soft socialism of Europe and the velvet-gloved Communism that Red China projects to the world look far less insidious than they really are. These things make us susceptible to the idea of government as a benefactor. We begin to fall for the idea that we have rights to health care, housing, food, water, cable television, and a whole list of the things most of us know we have to work for. As we begin to embrace soft socialism we will indenture ourselves to the government. We will accept George Carlin's 'happy face fascism' because security is easier than freedom. And one day, we will have given away enough freedoms that government can take off the velvet glove to reveal the iron fist. If that day comes, this time there will be no wall; no bastion of individual freedom left to fight against it. What Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao and like minded individuals failed to do by force, we will do to ourselves through soft words and good intentions.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Random Thoughts and Parting Shots(for the weekend)
Well, the Mafia sponsored (I know, the Mafia doesn't exist; they're just refuse collectors) team won the World Series this year. Of course it cost a billion dollars in payroll and a new stadium for the Sopranos of the baseball world to prove 'victorious'. I was hoping that the decade would clear out before the Bronx Bummers would buy another trophy but we can't have everything.
Speaking of which, somehow Boise State University still manages a high enough ranking to be in BCS competition. I suspect the BCS is run by the Velvet Mafia since it doesn't seem to know anything about football! Now BSU may be a legitimate top 25 team, I won't argue that point; but they aren't a top ten team just based on the weakness of their schedule and certainly should not be contenders for a BCS bowl game. Its way past time for a College Football playoff system.
Of course BSU may have found the proper formula for consistent BCS standings. I call it the Ohio State Stratagem. Play as soft a schedule as possible and only play 10 or 11 games to optimize your chances for a perfect record and wham, bam, thank you Velvet Mafia, you're in a BCS bowl game. Ah, sweet smelly revenue; who cares if you don't deserve to be there.
This may seem insensitive coming one day on the heels of the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood; but I cannot say I was overly shocked to learn that the assailant had an Arabic name and was a Muslim. One would think that in a sane world, he might not have been offered a commission in the United States military but the US government has done little to prove to me that anything they do is sane in the last 20 years. You want a parallel with Rome? Here it is. We have become so hubristic and indolent that we allow the ENEMY to serve in our military just as the Romans allowed Germanic people to serve in theirs. My heart is heavy for the innocent and patriotic Americans that died yesterday and the families that will miss them. My heart is heavier for the nation that allowed this to happen out of some misguided notion of political correctness.
On a lighter note, I'm looking forward to next weeks release of the movie 2012. Nothing warms the soul like a high cheese factor, big budget, disaster movie. I'm hoping for a lot of gratuitous destruction. But having written my own disaster-piece theatre tome, I'm sure it will disappoint. Oh sure, there will be the obligatory and joyful moments as New York and Los Angeles are destroyed. No disaster movie is complete without the euphoria of seeing the Eiffel Tower collapse and the obligatory destruction of some other easily recognized world landmarks. It has always troubled me that none of these movies ever show anything being destroyed in the Southern Hemisphere (with the occasional exception of the Sydney Harbor Bridge). Maybe its because there isn't anything in the Southern Hemisphere except the Sydney Harbor Bridge worth destroying. Somehow I don't think nature is quite so picky. Just once though, I'd like to freak out a few eco-nuts or bleeding heart 'we owe the third world'ers by having the asteroid/doomsday scenario wipe out Buenos Aires, Nairobi, or Riyadh. Better yet, since we are OBVIOUSLY the world's good guys and THEY aren't, how about some cosmic justice? Lets have it hit Beijing, Tehran, Caracas, or Havana. Now that really would warm the soul!
Enjoy your weekend.
Speaking of which, somehow Boise State University still manages a high enough ranking to be in BCS competition. I suspect the BCS is run by the Velvet Mafia since it doesn't seem to know anything about football! Now BSU may be a legitimate top 25 team, I won't argue that point; but they aren't a top ten team just based on the weakness of their schedule and certainly should not be contenders for a BCS bowl game. Its way past time for a College Football playoff system.
Of course BSU may have found the proper formula for consistent BCS standings. I call it the Ohio State Stratagem. Play as soft a schedule as possible and only play 10 or 11 games to optimize your chances for a perfect record and wham, bam, thank you Velvet Mafia, you're in a BCS bowl game. Ah, sweet smelly revenue; who cares if you don't deserve to be there.
This may seem insensitive coming one day on the heels of the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood; but I cannot say I was overly shocked to learn that the assailant had an Arabic name and was a Muslim. One would think that in a sane world, he might not have been offered a commission in the United States military but the US government has done little to prove to me that anything they do is sane in the last 20 years. You want a parallel with Rome? Here it is. We have become so hubristic and indolent that we allow the ENEMY to serve in our military just as the Romans allowed Germanic people to serve in theirs. My heart is heavy for the innocent and patriotic Americans that died yesterday and the families that will miss them. My heart is heavier for the nation that allowed this to happen out of some misguided notion of political correctness.
On a lighter note, I'm looking forward to next weeks release of the movie 2012. Nothing warms the soul like a high cheese factor, big budget, disaster movie. I'm hoping for a lot of gratuitous destruction. But having written my own disaster-piece theatre tome, I'm sure it will disappoint. Oh sure, there will be the obligatory and joyful moments as New York and Los Angeles are destroyed. No disaster movie is complete without the euphoria of seeing the Eiffel Tower collapse and the obligatory destruction of some other easily recognized world landmarks. It has always troubled me that none of these movies ever show anything being destroyed in the Southern Hemisphere (with the occasional exception of the Sydney Harbor Bridge). Maybe its because there isn't anything in the Southern Hemisphere except the Sydney Harbor Bridge worth destroying. Somehow I don't think nature is quite so picky. Just once though, I'd like to freak out a few eco-nuts or bleeding heart 'we owe the third world'ers by having the asteroid/doomsday scenario wipe out Buenos Aires, Nairobi, or Riyadh. Better yet, since we are OBVIOUSLY the world's good guys and THEY aren't, how about some cosmic justice? Lets have it hit Beijing, Tehran, Caracas, or Havana. Now that really would warm the soul!
Enjoy your weekend.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Election Results
Interesting election results. The Democrats must be stunned by the scope of their loss in yesterday's elections. In Virginia, Republicans won the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General; only the second time in history that all three offices were swept by one party. Only a year ago the left was chirping that they turned Virginia from red to solid blue (while in the same breath they attempted to claim that Obama made us no longer a red or blue nation). Now I know that on Monday I spanked the GOP for moving left of center and I'm still of that opinion but the candidates in Virginia ran on conservative platforms - also a smack in the chops to the Country Club elitist Republicans running the party.
In New Jersey, one of the bluest of the blue states, a modestly Conservative Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine, a self made Goldman Sachs multi-millionaire (remember Goldman Sachs is in thick with the government). Granted Corzine was up to his oversized nostrils in the political corruption Jersey is famous for but that isn't why he lost. He was slightly ahead of Christie until Obama made it his goal to 'save' Corzine. At that point polls fell into a statistical dead heat demonstrating that Jersey was as much a rejection of Obama as it was Corzine.
New York 23 has to be giving both the Democrats and Republican leadership fits. A boring, uninspiring, candidate running as a Conservative came from statistical oblivion within one month to force the hand-picked, liberal Republican candidate out of the campaign and come within a hair's breadth of beating a moderate Democrat. In fact, the Republican candidate has been shown to be more LIBERAL than the Democrat candidate! Though the Democrat won with a plurality 49% it has to be a hollow victory. I think this contest will spur other conservatives to third party campaigns in 2010 especially if the party pushes liberal or moderate Republicans in those districts.
Now to Washington politics.
I-1033 went down 55%-45% but I think that was as much on the unpopularity of its backer Tim Eyman. He has been demonized throughout the state after successfully separating Olympia from your money by getting through a flat fee on license tabs rather than us paying a 2% tax based on the value of the vehicle. Of course the state completely ignored that it received increased revenue from new car sales taxes.
Referendum 71, to expand domestic partnerships looks like a very narrow pass 51%-49%. I wrestled with this a lot. As a Christian, I am opposed to the idea of gay 'marriage' but I also realize that the US is not a theocracy. Unlike certain dogmas, I also don't subscribe to the theory that we have to make the world better in order to please God and make it so Jesus comes back. If Revelation is right, the world is going to suck worse than now when Jesus comes back. The libertarian in me also doesn't really care if Adam and Steve want to visit each other in the hospital. Frankly, I think every person should be able to draw up a list of people that can visit them in the hospital no matter the relation. If I want Natalie Portman on the list, no one should be able to stop that even if Natalie Portman is about as likely to rush to my bedside as Al Gore is to put down a doughnut. I think many people cautiously voted for this but are wary of any group attempting to take the further step of legalizing gay 'marriage'. Of course with all the rain sotted leftist morons in Seattle, I could be wrong...
And fortunately the City of Spokane overwhelmingly rejected what can only be described as a Socialist Utopian (which for real people means Distopian) change the sheets kind of dream in Proposition 4, 75%-25%! Prop 4 is the kind of idiocy that can only come from the likes of SEIU, ACORN, the Mafia run Unions, and the rest of the spectrum of drug addled, STD riddled (all that 'free' love), Wiccan, Vegan, Rainbow flag, Free Tibet bumper sticker on your Subaru Outback or Forrester crowd of Marxists that unrightfully steal oxygen from the rest of us. Don't rest on your laurels though. Envision Spokane will likely be back with more lunacy next year (they have a website so you can see just how out of touch with real people they are) so stay vigilant!
Stay vigilant. Pray for the people of Iran who are valiantly opposing 'President' Ahmedinijad (who cares how you spell it!). Sic Semper Tyrannus!
In New Jersey, one of the bluest of the blue states, a modestly Conservative Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine, a self made Goldman Sachs multi-millionaire (remember Goldman Sachs is in thick with the government). Granted Corzine was up to his oversized nostrils in the political corruption Jersey is famous for but that isn't why he lost. He was slightly ahead of Christie until Obama made it his goal to 'save' Corzine. At that point polls fell into a statistical dead heat demonstrating that Jersey was as much a rejection of Obama as it was Corzine.
New York 23 has to be giving both the Democrats and Republican leadership fits. A boring, uninspiring, candidate running as a Conservative came from statistical oblivion within one month to force the hand-picked, liberal Republican candidate out of the campaign and come within a hair's breadth of beating a moderate Democrat. In fact, the Republican candidate has been shown to be more LIBERAL than the Democrat candidate! Though the Democrat won with a plurality 49% it has to be a hollow victory. I think this contest will spur other conservatives to third party campaigns in 2010 especially if the party pushes liberal or moderate Republicans in those districts.
Now to Washington politics.
I-1033 went down 55%-45% but I think that was as much on the unpopularity of its backer Tim Eyman. He has been demonized throughout the state after successfully separating Olympia from your money by getting through a flat fee on license tabs rather than us paying a 2% tax based on the value of the vehicle. Of course the state completely ignored that it received increased revenue from new car sales taxes.
Referendum 71, to expand domestic partnerships looks like a very narrow pass 51%-49%. I wrestled with this a lot. As a Christian, I am opposed to the idea of gay 'marriage' but I also realize that the US is not a theocracy. Unlike certain dogmas, I also don't subscribe to the theory that we have to make the world better in order to please God and make it so Jesus comes back. If Revelation is right, the world is going to suck worse than now when Jesus comes back. The libertarian in me also doesn't really care if Adam and Steve want to visit each other in the hospital. Frankly, I think every person should be able to draw up a list of people that can visit them in the hospital no matter the relation. If I want Natalie Portman on the list, no one should be able to stop that even if Natalie Portman is about as likely to rush to my bedside as Al Gore is to put down a doughnut. I think many people cautiously voted for this but are wary of any group attempting to take the further step of legalizing gay 'marriage'. Of course with all the rain sotted leftist morons in Seattle, I could be wrong...
And fortunately the City of Spokane overwhelmingly rejected what can only be described as a Socialist Utopian (which for real people means Distopian) change the sheets kind of dream in Proposition 4, 75%-25%! Prop 4 is the kind of idiocy that can only come from the likes of SEIU, ACORN, the Mafia run Unions, and the rest of the spectrum of drug addled, STD riddled (all that 'free' love), Wiccan, Vegan, Rainbow flag, Free Tibet bumper sticker on your Subaru Outback or Forrester crowd of Marxists that unrightfully steal oxygen from the rest of us. Don't rest on your laurels though. Envision Spokane will likely be back with more lunacy next year (they have a website so you can see just how out of touch with real people they are) so stay vigilant!
Stay vigilant. Pray for the people of Iran who are valiantly opposing 'President' Ahmedinijad (who cares how you spell it!). Sic Semper Tyrannus!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Goodbye GOP
I hate to orient this blog on the daily news but news comes and goes so fast these days that its hard to ignore something until I want to discuss it. Tomorrow's elections fall into that category.
In the 23rd District of New York, the RINO (Republican in Name Only) candidate suspended her campaign on the heels of a strong challenge from a Conservative candidate who might actually beat the Democrat (in a show of RINO true colors, she endorsed the Democrat). Conservative independents are making strong showings in several races. While this might have some short term bad consequences, it lays the groundwork for a longer term chance to fundamentally change American politics as much as the Republican party did when it split from the Whigs.
In the 1850s the Abolitionists in the Whig party grew disgruntled with their party leadership which had gone wishy-washy and refused to address issues related to abolishing slavery and split off to create the modern Republican party. Like modern RINOs, the Whigs could hardly be distinguished from rank and file Democrats of the day.
Like many former GOPers, I have felt further and further alienated from the party since the moderates used Newt Gingrich's foibles to wrangle control of the party from conservatives. These same moderates wrecked the 1994 Revolution and by 2006 lost control of the House and the Senate. These same self-serving, East Coast, celebrity loving, elitist, Democrat wannabes then opted for the 'media darling' candidate, John McCain in the 2008 election virtually assuring that the Democrat candidate would get elected. In fact McCain's campaign was SO bad that had he picked an equally squishy moderate for VP rather than the unjustly maligned Sarah Palin, it is entirely likely that he would have lost the election by percentages somewhere in the teens rather than 8%. Of course the Party hacks completely missed or cognitively dissociated the lesson from 2008 and continue to pursue a platform of 'me too' globalist-statism while poll numbers continue to show conservatives abandoning the party en masse.
Tomorrow's elections may split the votes between Republicans and Conservative Independents. While the media prognosticators might be rejoicing over this since they are leftists anyway, they are also exhibiting signs of fear. In 1992, Republicans dissatisfied with George Bush 41 sought refuge in Ross Perot and other Independents allowing Bill Clinton to win a plurality vote. In 1996 Conservatives forced the moderate Bob Dole to pick the conservative Jack Kemp as VP in order to keep us from rebellion. In 2000 Conservatives threatened to bolt the party forcing George Bush 43 to run as a Reaganite even though he was probably closer to Lyndon Johnson politically. In 2004 Bush 43 swerved right again to keep another grassroots rebellion at bay. I have already spotlighted the disastrous 2008 election. The last thing the media wants is a unified conservative front with a strong, well articulated agenda that energizes Americans to demand that the government return us to the Original Intent of the Constitution. They shudder in fear that we will stand once again to stop the 'New World Order' they want so desperately.
Well now its 2009 and thanks to the Tea Party movement, continuing GOP marginalization of conservatives, and the actual threat of America goose-stepping down the Fascist abyss, it looks like my fellow conservatives have had enough. Even if we split the vote and let a few more Democrats in this year, the GOP has been put on notice. We have demanded spending cuts for years but the GOP and Democrats have brought us and our children a $12 TRILLION debt (and growing!). Together they have both eroded American rights and sovereignty. Together they have caressed, kissed, slapped, kicked, cajoled, browbeat, and dragged us toward globalist-Marxist-uberStatism. The GOP has one year in which to move back to a center-right party and join conservatives in preserving America or we will leave them just as our political ancestors left the Whig party. This could well be another American revolution IF we stand up as one and remember that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. In another decade, if they are not careful, the GOP might find itself sitting on a museum shelf next to the Whigs wondering how it withered and died so quickly.
When talking about the GOP, I like to paraphrase my political mentor and favorite president: Ronald Reagan. I didn't leave the Republican party; they left me.
So Goodbye GOP. Write me if you ever get your head straight.
In the 23rd District of New York, the RINO (Republican in Name Only) candidate suspended her campaign on the heels of a strong challenge from a Conservative candidate who might actually beat the Democrat (in a show of RINO true colors, she endorsed the Democrat). Conservative independents are making strong showings in several races. While this might have some short term bad consequences, it lays the groundwork for a longer term chance to fundamentally change American politics as much as the Republican party did when it split from the Whigs.
In the 1850s the Abolitionists in the Whig party grew disgruntled with their party leadership which had gone wishy-washy and refused to address issues related to abolishing slavery and split off to create the modern Republican party. Like modern RINOs, the Whigs could hardly be distinguished from rank and file Democrats of the day.
Like many former GOPers, I have felt further and further alienated from the party since the moderates used Newt Gingrich's foibles to wrangle control of the party from conservatives. These same moderates wrecked the 1994 Revolution and by 2006 lost control of the House and the Senate. These same self-serving, East Coast, celebrity loving, elitist, Democrat wannabes then opted for the 'media darling' candidate, John McCain in the 2008 election virtually assuring that the Democrat candidate would get elected. In fact McCain's campaign was SO bad that had he picked an equally squishy moderate for VP rather than the unjustly maligned Sarah Palin, it is entirely likely that he would have lost the election by percentages somewhere in the teens rather than 8%. Of course the Party hacks completely missed or cognitively dissociated the lesson from 2008 and continue to pursue a platform of 'me too' globalist-statism while poll numbers continue to show conservatives abandoning the party en masse.
Tomorrow's elections may split the votes between Republicans and Conservative Independents. While the media prognosticators might be rejoicing over this since they are leftists anyway, they are also exhibiting signs of fear. In 1992, Republicans dissatisfied with George Bush 41 sought refuge in Ross Perot and other Independents allowing Bill Clinton to win a plurality vote. In 1996 Conservatives forced the moderate Bob Dole to pick the conservative Jack Kemp as VP in order to keep us from rebellion. In 2000 Conservatives threatened to bolt the party forcing George Bush 43 to run as a Reaganite even though he was probably closer to Lyndon Johnson politically. In 2004 Bush 43 swerved right again to keep another grassroots rebellion at bay. I have already spotlighted the disastrous 2008 election. The last thing the media wants is a unified conservative front with a strong, well articulated agenda that energizes Americans to demand that the government return us to the Original Intent of the Constitution. They shudder in fear that we will stand once again to stop the 'New World Order' they want so desperately.
Well now its 2009 and thanks to the Tea Party movement, continuing GOP marginalization of conservatives, and the actual threat of America goose-stepping down the Fascist abyss, it looks like my fellow conservatives have had enough. Even if we split the vote and let a few more Democrats in this year, the GOP has been put on notice. We have demanded spending cuts for years but the GOP and Democrats have brought us and our children a $12 TRILLION debt (and growing!). Together they have both eroded American rights and sovereignty. Together they have caressed, kissed, slapped, kicked, cajoled, browbeat, and dragged us toward globalist-Marxist-uberStatism. The GOP has one year in which to move back to a center-right party and join conservatives in preserving America or we will leave them just as our political ancestors left the Whig party. This could well be another American revolution IF we stand up as one and remember that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. In another decade, if they are not careful, the GOP might find itself sitting on a museum shelf next to the Whigs wondering how it withered and died so quickly.
When talking about the GOP, I like to paraphrase my political mentor and favorite president: Ronald Reagan. I didn't leave the Republican party; they left me.
So Goodbye GOP. Write me if you ever get your head straight.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Silencing the Lambs
Well my blood pressure shot up about 50 points this morning when I heard on the radio that some complete moron in Western Michigan was filing suit to stop the annual placement of the Nativity Scene on public property to commemorate Christmas. He gave the standard stupidity line that it was an infringement of his First Amendment Rights. Ho boy...
Let us review the text of the First Amendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Now in this case, the pea-brain du jour is arguing that the placement of the Nativity on public property is a violation of the 'establishment of religion' clause. However this clod, like so many of his anti-religious brethren fail to understand or don't care about the actual text of the First Amendment. "Congress shall make no law..." Did Congress make a law ordering the city to place a nativity on public property? Nope. And if they did, I would be standing next to zippy the slob filing suit.
Other simpletons that file suit like to speak about the 'wall of separation' which is not in the Constitution and was twisted by judicial activists and atheists to force simple acknowledgement of religious convictions out of the public sphere as if acknowledging what 90% of the American people believe was tantamount to establishing an official religion. They misinterpret or actively twist the words of President Thomas Jefferson. Ironically, the 'wall of separation' appears in a letter to a breakaway religious group the Danbury Baptists in Connecticut. The Danbury Baptists were concerned that the state of Connecticut was going to interfere in their worship practices. Jefferson's letter, though rather vague about any help from the federal government, assured the Baptists that the First Amendment established a wall the prevented the government from interfering in their practices. It did not suggest that religious observation had no place in the public sphere. Hence the important and oft ignored clause: ...or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Since Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion, you know, coercive things like Christmas music in public buildings or school concerts, a moment of silence (which is religion neutral and does not imply prayer), Nativity scenes and so on, the leftist anti-religion Progressives have resorted to pushing out religion by judicial fiat. Idiots like this Michgander continue to use activist judges to subvert President Jefferson's words and destroy the intent of the Founders clearly written in the First Amendment.
People like this guy should be shot but since it is illegal, we need to work hard to tear activist judges out of their robes and replace them with men and women dedicated to Original Intent and the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
As a final tweak to the leftist anti-religious zealots out there. If placing a Nativity scene on public property breaks the "establishment clause", how come the same men who wrote the Constitution voted in favor of federal funds to build churches?
Let us review the text of the First Amendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Now in this case, the pea-brain du jour is arguing that the placement of the Nativity on public property is a violation of the 'establishment of religion' clause. However this clod, like so many of his anti-religious brethren fail to understand or don't care about the actual text of the First Amendment. "Congress shall make no law..." Did Congress make a law ordering the city to place a nativity on public property? Nope. And if they did, I would be standing next to zippy the slob filing suit.
Other simpletons that file suit like to speak about the 'wall of separation' which is not in the Constitution and was twisted by judicial activists and atheists to force simple acknowledgement of religious convictions out of the public sphere as if acknowledging what 90% of the American people believe was tantamount to establishing an official religion. They misinterpret or actively twist the words of President Thomas Jefferson. Ironically, the 'wall of separation' appears in a letter to a breakaway religious group the Danbury Baptists in Connecticut. The Danbury Baptists were concerned that the state of Connecticut was going to interfere in their worship practices. Jefferson's letter, though rather vague about any help from the federal government, assured the Baptists that the First Amendment established a wall the prevented the government from interfering in their practices. It did not suggest that religious observation had no place in the public sphere. Hence the important and oft ignored clause: ...or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Since Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion, you know, coercive things like Christmas music in public buildings or school concerts, a moment of silence (which is religion neutral and does not imply prayer), Nativity scenes and so on, the leftist anti-religion Progressives have resorted to pushing out religion by judicial fiat. Idiots like this Michgander continue to use activist judges to subvert President Jefferson's words and destroy the intent of the Founders clearly written in the First Amendment.
People like this guy should be shot but since it is illegal, we need to work hard to tear activist judges out of their robes and replace them with men and women dedicated to Original Intent and the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
As a final tweak to the leftist anti-religious zealots out there. If placing a Nativity scene on public property breaks the "establishment clause", how come the same men who wrote the Constitution voted in favor of federal funds to build churches?
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