Who is Samuel Alito?
I have heard that he is an experienced judge, that he is likely to vote no on abortion, and that the democrats don't like him.
Is there anything else? We're talking about a young man here. He will likely be still on the bench in 2025. What else do we know about him?
What are his feelings about free press, stem cells, evolution, and the separation of Church and State, to name several hot buttons of the moment?
Roe vs. Wade is one case, which will fill maybe one of his 40 years on the bench. The remaining 39 years will shape the way America proceeds and develops.
Tell me about Samuel Alito.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Sunday, October 30, 2005
When do we stop blaming Democrats?
Democrats are a void in the American political system.
They have no spokeman. Or woman, either, despite Hilary's attempts. Their leaders are compromised, buffoons, or charletans.
They are bluster in a cheap suit, barely able to threaten action, much less act. Their worst threat is to filibuster - they cannot do more than stall.
So why do we continue to blame them for Republican failures?
Republicans have control. Polls be damned, indictments be damned, media be damned. The party is STILL able to push through any legislature it wants, just by showing up and voting.
Why aren't they?
is it because they might lose the next election if their popularity falls?
Lose it to whom?
Besides, it looks like a Republican loss next time anyway. What have they got to lose?
Everything, I guess.
The lower ranks have lost faith in the upper ranks. And bloggers don't pass laws.
So, we go out, not with a bang but with a whimper?
One appropriate for whipped dogs?
This, then, is what the men in Iraq are dying for. Their bravery buys time and opportunity, which is then wasted by the Washington benchwarmers.
Shame on you all. Get back in there and do America proud.
They have no spokeman. Or woman, either, despite Hilary's attempts. Their leaders are compromised, buffoons, or charletans.
They are bluster in a cheap suit, barely able to threaten action, much less act. Their worst threat is to filibuster - they cannot do more than stall.
So why do we continue to blame them for Republican failures?
Republicans have control. Polls be damned, indictments be damned, media be damned. The party is STILL able to push through any legislature it wants, just by showing up and voting.
Why aren't they?
is it because they might lose the next election if their popularity falls?
Lose it to whom?
Besides, it looks like a Republican loss next time anyway. What have they got to lose?
Everything, I guess.
The lower ranks have lost faith in the upper ranks. And bloggers don't pass laws.
So, we go out, not with a bang but with a whimper?
One appropriate for whipped dogs?
This, then, is what the men in Iraq are dying for. Their bravery buys time and opportunity, which is then wasted by the Washington benchwarmers.
Shame on you all. Get back in there and do America proud.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
The words of Teddy Rooseveldt
"In “Pilgrim’s Progress” the Man with the Muck-rake is set forth as the example of him whose vision is fixed on carnal instead of on spiritual things. Yet he also typifies the man who in this life consistently refuses to see aught that is lofty, and fixes his eyes with solemn intentness only on that which is vile and debasing. Now, it is very necessary that we should not flinch from seeing what is vile and debasing. There is filth on the floor and it must be scraped up with the muck-rake; and there are times and places where this service is the most needed of all the services that can be performed. But the man who never does anything else, who never thinks or speaks or writes, save of his feats with the muck-rake, speedily becomes, not a help to society, not an incitement to good, but one of the most potent forces for evil.
There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack upon every evil man whether politician or business man, every evil practice, whether in politics, in business, or in social life. I hail as a benefactor every writer or speaker, every man who, on the platform, or in book, magazine, or newspaper, with merciless severity makes such attack, provided always that he in his turn remembers that the attack is of use only if it is absolutely truthful. The liar is no whit better than the thief, and if his mendacity takes the form of slander, he may be worse than most thieves. It puts a premium upon knavery untruthfully to attack an honest man, or even with hysterical exaggeration to assail a bad man with untruth. An epidemic of indiscriminate assault upon character does not good, but very great harm. The soul of every scoundrel is gladdened whenever an honest man is assailed, or even when a scoundrel is untruthfully assailed."
Are we too negative?
I just had a look through several conservative blogs. One common thread was that there was nothing to the Libby story - and then went to town on the Libby story.
Maybe we should forget about the Libby story, at least until it becomes a story.
Maybe we should concentrate on some of the good things going on.
How goes the war in Iraq? I've seen several comments that only the bad things are reported by the MSM. I don't see any of the good things reported, not even by the servicemen blogs. Somebody out in the blogosphere must have some good news.
The one thing I have always hated about the MSM is that it is a bad news transmitter. No good news ever seems to be worth reporting, unless someone else got hurt by it. Why can't someone connected to the sources out there start sending us some heartening news about the Bush government? Lord knows we could use some.
There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack upon every evil man whether politician or business man, every evil practice, whether in politics, in business, or in social life. I hail as a benefactor every writer or speaker, every man who, on the platform, or in book, magazine, or newspaper, with merciless severity makes such attack, provided always that he in his turn remembers that the attack is of use only if it is absolutely truthful. The liar is no whit better than the thief, and if his mendacity takes the form of slander, he may be worse than most thieves. It puts a premium upon knavery untruthfully to attack an honest man, or even with hysterical exaggeration to assail a bad man with untruth. An epidemic of indiscriminate assault upon character does not good, but very great harm. The soul of every scoundrel is gladdened whenever an honest man is assailed, or even when a scoundrel is untruthfully assailed."
Are we too negative?
I just had a look through several conservative blogs. One common thread was that there was nothing to the Libby story - and then went to town on the Libby story.
Maybe we should forget about the Libby story, at least until it becomes a story.
Maybe we should concentrate on some of the good things going on.
How goes the war in Iraq? I've seen several comments that only the bad things are reported by the MSM. I don't see any of the good things reported, not even by the servicemen blogs. Somebody out in the blogosphere must have some good news.
The one thing I have always hated about the MSM is that it is a bad news transmitter. No good news ever seems to be worth reporting, unless someone else got hurt by it. Why can't someone connected to the sources out there start sending us some heartening news about the Bush government? Lord knows we could use some.
Friday, October 28, 2005
What would Reagan Do?
A post by Ann Coulter asked just that question a little while ago.
Today, with the inditement, the suspicions, and the promise of more, we have to ask again.
What would Reagan do?
Actually, we know what he would do.
After the Iran-Contra scandal broke, starring many of these same neo-conservatives - names like Cheney, for one, -
He fired their damn asses. Threw the whole lot of them out of the upper ranks, including their head cheese at the time, Casper Weinburger.
Now, shall we all think about what Jesus would do?
Today, with the inditement, the suspicions, and the promise of more, we have to ask again.
What would Reagan do?
Actually, we know what he would do.
After the Iran-Contra scandal broke, starring many of these same neo-conservatives - names like Cheney, for one, -
He fired their damn asses. Threw the whole lot of them out of the upper ranks, including their head cheese at the time, Casper Weinburger.
Now, shall we all think about what Jesus would do?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Cell Phones
The news today is that, starting in 2006, all new cell phones will have a gps system included. Verizon and the other providers will refuse to activate a phone that does not have a gps.
Naturally, the conspiracy crowd is yelling about Big Brother. May I point out a few things?
1) This will only work as an anti-terrorist (or big brother-ish) system if it is possible to monitor MILLIONS OF CELL PHONE CALLS IN REAL TIME! A caller saying "Now is the time, my brothers! Strike in Allah's name!" is not going to be stopped if the call is only listened to 4 months later.
2) I see a big rush on Canadian cell phones among the secretive set next year.
3) Step one - call your terrorist cell mates. Step two - lose the phone. Step three - run like hell while the authorities home in on the gps chip you just hurled into the Hudson.
This action will no doubt benefit the cell phone manufacturers, who will now be able to charge more for a (non)optional feature. It will benefit the bureaucrats at Homeland Security, by making it look like they are doing something constructive.
It will not help us. Or Big Brother either.
Naturally, the conspiracy crowd is yelling about Big Brother. May I point out a few things?
1) This will only work as an anti-terrorist (or big brother-ish) system if it is possible to monitor MILLIONS OF CELL PHONE CALLS IN REAL TIME! A caller saying "Now is the time, my brothers! Strike in Allah's name!" is not going to be stopped if the call is only listened to 4 months later.
2) I see a big rush on Canadian cell phones among the secretive set next year.
3) Step one - call your terrorist cell mates. Step two - lose the phone. Step three - run like hell while the authorities home in on the gps chip you just hurled into the Hudson.
This action will no doubt benefit the cell phone manufacturers, who will now be able to charge more for a (non)optional feature. It will benefit the bureaucrats at Homeland Security, by making it look like they are doing something constructive.
It will not help us. Or Big Brother either.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Pro Republican
I just saw a blog which nominates Tom DeLay for President. Why? Because he stands up to liberals and Democrats.
. . . and?
Is that what we have sunk to? We laugh at the Democrats for having no focus, no plans, and no vision, and here we are choosing a leader solely because he stands up to such people.
We do not need a pro-Republican leader. We need a Republican Pro.
We need someone with skills that go beyond the gathering of votes. We need someone with vision.
In the whole of the party, can't we find ONE statesman?
Oh, and please don't mention Condi.
She's up north in Canada, telling them that despite the government's recanting the NAFTA ruling regarding the softwood issue, America's word is "as good as gold".
Surprisingly enough, the Canadians aren't buying it - at a ratio of 90-10 against, according to one poll.
. . . and?
Is that what we have sunk to? We laugh at the Democrats for having no focus, no plans, and no vision, and here we are choosing a leader solely because he stands up to such people.
We do not need a pro-Republican leader. We need a Republican Pro.
We need someone with skills that go beyond the gathering of votes. We need someone with vision.
In the whole of the party, can't we find ONE statesman?
Oh, and please don't mention Condi.
She's up north in Canada, telling them that despite the government's recanting the NAFTA ruling regarding the softwood issue, America's word is "as good as gold".
Surprisingly enough, the Canadians aren't buying it - at a ratio of 90-10 against, according to one poll.
Monday, October 24, 2005
The Terrorists Have Won
We dare not use stem cells, lest some evil man somewhere abort fetuses for them.
We dare not invent nanotechnology, lest some evil man use them as weapons.
We dare not invent fire, lest some evil man invent arson.
The terrorists have won, because now we allow them to dictate our actions. We make decisions on what we will and will not develop, create, and exploit, not on whether it will benefit us, but whether terrorists can use what we create to strike at us.
We dare not invent the automobile, lest some evil man invent the hit-and-run. Yet we live with thousands of traffic fatalities each year, without a need to outlaw, restrict, or hobble the family car. We licence them, we police their use, we punish offenders, and then we let the general public do as they want with them.
Ban the ban. We cannot live afraid of our own genius, and we cannot survive while others develop the technology we deny. There are risks involved. Defeat them. There are fears to face. Conquer them.
Go boldly into the future. Don't creep.
We dare not invent nanotechnology, lest some evil man use them as weapons.
We dare not invent fire, lest some evil man invent arson.
The terrorists have won, because now we allow them to dictate our actions. We make decisions on what we will and will not develop, create, and exploit, not on whether it will benefit us, but whether terrorists can use what we create to strike at us.
We dare not invent the automobile, lest some evil man invent the hit-and-run. Yet we live with thousands of traffic fatalities each year, without a need to outlaw, restrict, or hobble the family car. We licence them, we police their use, we punish offenders, and then we let the general public do as they want with them.
Ban the ban. We cannot live afraid of our own genius, and we cannot survive while others develop the technology we deny. There are risks involved. Defeat them. There are fears to face. Conquer them.
Go boldly into the future. Don't creep.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
When did we become bad?
Why are conservatives the bad guys?
We believe in Jesus, frugality, responsibility, and justice.
We give to charities, are kind to the elderly, and believe in law and order.
Why is our party the one that attracts the loonies?
Sure, the liberals are a little woozy around the edges, but when was the last time you heard a liberal accuse a cartoon character of immorality? Come on - a CARTOON?
Sure, some liberals blame Katrina on global warming, but how many of them blamed God?
Liberals say lots of stupid things. Why do so-called "conservatives" say them on national TV, like Jerry "9/11 was God's revenge on Homos" Falwell - and then deny these RECORDED statements later?
Why do we get these people?
And why can't we get rid of them?
We believe in Jesus, frugality, responsibility, and justice.
We give to charities, are kind to the elderly, and believe in law and order.
Why is our party the one that attracts the loonies?
Sure, the liberals are a little woozy around the edges, but when was the last time you heard a liberal accuse a cartoon character of immorality? Come on - a CARTOON?
Sure, some liberals blame Katrina on global warming, but how many of them blamed God?
Liberals say lots of stupid things. Why do so-called "conservatives" say them on national TV, like Jerry "9/11 was God's revenge on Homos" Falwell - and then deny these RECORDED statements later?
Why do we get these people?
And why can't we get rid of them?
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Syria
So, it looks like Syria WAS behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former president of Lebanon. The response: a call for UN action.
UN action. a couple of years ago, the US government would have laughed at the thought. They would have considered launching an attack, as they did in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Unfortunately, too much of America's military might is now focused on Iraq. The United States can no longer make credible threats against other countries, except in the most dire circumstances. Unilateralism has died.
It didn't have to. America had enough military strength. It could have crushed Iraq and moved on. But it didn't. It went in too weak, and without a plan. It stayed to do a job better suited to ambassadors and bureaucrats.
And now America has to call upon the UN to frighten Syria. Don't tell Bolton. It might kill him.
UN action. a couple of years ago, the US government would have laughed at the thought. They would have considered launching an attack, as they did in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Unfortunately, too much of America's military might is now focused on Iraq. The United States can no longer make credible threats against other countries, except in the most dire circumstances. Unilateralism has died.
It didn't have to. America had enough military strength. It could have crushed Iraq and moved on. But it didn't. It went in too weak, and without a plan. It stayed to do a job better suited to ambassadors and bureaucrats.
And now America has to call upon the UN to frighten Syria. Don't tell Bolton. It might kill him.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Slow Day
It's been a slow day, news wise.
No inditements, no disasters. Wilma's still a ways away.
So I started a new blog.
I've been meaning to for some time now - this blog is devoted to politics, and I have other interests. The new blog will cover them.
So, if you're interested in anything else I have to say, look at
Mental Vitamins and 2 cent Philosophies
over at http://mentalvitamin.blogspot.com
and amuse/educate yourself.
No inditements, no disasters. Wilma's still a ways away.
So I started a new blog.
I've been meaning to for some time now - this blog is devoted to politics, and I have other interests. The new blog will cover them.
So, if you're interested in anything else I have to say, look at
Mental Vitamins and 2 cent Philosophies
over at http://mentalvitamin.blogspot.com
and amuse/educate yourself.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
MSM
As a small town hick, I rely on the mainstream media, the MSM, for a lot of my information. We're not a savvy lot, we hicks. We don't surf a lot, we don't know the trendy websites. We get our fix from CBS and the New York Times.
Which is why we tend to get anxious over Rather and Martin's Laugh-In.
They have lied to us. We know that they have lied to us. And nobody cares.
The government doesn't care - unless the lies are not in their favor. The bloggers crow every time they catch someone in a lie, and predict the end of the MSM.
Dream on, bloggers. You are an elite. The best known among you gather perhaps 100,000 hits, all of them high-end netsurfers like yourselves.
We hicks, we working class bums who have other people program our VCRs and still listen to FM radio, we number in the hundreds of millions.
We're the people who elect governments. We're the ones you elite are counting on to elect a good and wise president in a few years.
And we do not trust anything we hear anymore.
Are Republicans a corrupt bunch of cronies - or an unjustly accused bend of patriots? I've seen both arguments. Both offer proof.
One side is lying. And we have no way - NO WAY - to discover which.
We do not meet the candidates. Those of us who live in Utah or New Mexico cannot afford to take time off to visit Washington and see these people in person. Hell, those of us who live in Baltimore don't have the time.
We don't have the time or money to go to New Orleans and see for ourselves what's going on.
We don't have the documents to screen Miers, or DeLay.
We don't know.
And yet we must know. Democracy is based on the idea that the common people make the decisions. An uninformed decision is a bad decision. And we remain uninformed.
We need the MSM. We need a working MSM. Blogs are fine for some things, but a broadsheet called "Crush the Democrat Traitors", seen by 20 people a month, is not going to fill the gap of a missing news medium.
Which is why we tend to get anxious over Rather and Martin's Laugh-In.
They have lied to us. We know that they have lied to us. And nobody cares.
The government doesn't care - unless the lies are not in their favor. The bloggers crow every time they catch someone in a lie, and predict the end of the MSM.
Dream on, bloggers. You are an elite. The best known among you gather perhaps 100,000 hits, all of them high-end netsurfers like yourselves.
We hicks, we working class bums who have other people program our VCRs and still listen to FM radio, we number in the hundreds of millions.
We're the people who elect governments. We're the ones you elite are counting on to elect a good and wise president in a few years.
And we do not trust anything we hear anymore.
Are Republicans a corrupt bunch of cronies - or an unjustly accused bend of patriots? I've seen both arguments. Both offer proof.
One side is lying. And we have no way - NO WAY - to discover which.
We do not meet the candidates. Those of us who live in Utah or New Mexico cannot afford to take time off to visit Washington and see these people in person. Hell, those of us who live in Baltimore don't have the time.
We don't have the time or money to go to New Orleans and see for ourselves what's going on.
We don't have the documents to screen Miers, or DeLay.
We don't know.
And yet we must know. Democracy is based on the idea that the common people make the decisions. An uninformed decision is a bad decision. And we remain uninformed.
We need the MSM. We need a working MSM. Blogs are fine for some things, but a broadsheet called "Crush the Democrat Traitors", seen by 20 people a month, is not going to fill the gap of a missing news medium.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
What Law?
Scientists from Britain, the United States, and South Korea are to announce in Seoul the formation of a World Stem Cell Foundation. The idea is to collect stem cells from cloned human embryos and sell them to researchers.
So much for banning stem cell research. They just go elsewhere.
Anything else you want banned, people? You'd think we would have learned from Prohibition. Ban alcohol, and people just go to Canada. Result - the Canadian liquor industry is STILL booming, 80 years later.
Today, you go to Amsterdam for drugs, to Singapore for virgins, and now to Seoul for stem cells.
There ought to be an international body that can create and enforce common laws. Oops, we've got one. Oops, we don't cooperate with it. Oops, we left it toothless. Oops, it's become corrupt without proper oversite.
Like it or not, we need a United Nations. A functional United Nations. We thought back in 1941 that the oceans could protect us from the rest of the world. We thought wrong. We were reminded of this on 9/11. We should have been reminded by Ebola, AIDS, and avian flu. We should have known after we had to send our National Guard just to pacify ONE of many terrorist breeding grounds.
A lot of my fellow conservatives are not going to like hearing about this. A lot of my fellow conservatives would like to have control of their own destinies, not have an international organization out there telling us what to do. Well, we've got to live with it, just like we have to live with a bloated federal government and an unweildy body of laws.
Because the alternative is gruesome.
The world is too small now. Everything affects us, from an outbreak in the Amazon rain forest to an uprising in Uzbekistan. We need to be able to influence these events, not just sit and watch our doom develop and be unable to do anything about it.
Kick the crooks out. Reform the hell out of the UN.
Then empower it and support it. Like it or not, we need the support.
So much for banning stem cell research. They just go elsewhere.
Anything else you want banned, people? You'd think we would have learned from Prohibition. Ban alcohol, and people just go to Canada. Result - the Canadian liquor industry is STILL booming, 80 years later.
Today, you go to Amsterdam for drugs, to Singapore for virgins, and now to Seoul for stem cells.
There ought to be an international body that can create and enforce common laws. Oops, we've got one. Oops, we don't cooperate with it. Oops, we left it toothless. Oops, it's become corrupt without proper oversite.
Like it or not, we need a United Nations. A functional United Nations. We thought back in 1941 that the oceans could protect us from the rest of the world. We thought wrong. We were reminded of this on 9/11. We should have been reminded by Ebola, AIDS, and avian flu. We should have known after we had to send our National Guard just to pacify ONE of many terrorist breeding grounds.
A lot of my fellow conservatives are not going to like hearing about this. A lot of my fellow conservatives would like to have control of their own destinies, not have an international organization out there telling us what to do. Well, we've got to live with it, just like we have to live with a bloated federal government and an unweildy body of laws.
Because the alternative is gruesome.
The world is too small now. Everything affects us, from an outbreak in the Amazon rain forest to an uprising in Uzbekistan. We need to be able to influence these events, not just sit and watch our doom develop and be unable to do anything about it.
Kick the crooks out. Reform the hell out of the UN.
Then empower it and support it. Like it or not, we need the support.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Laws and Facts
The one great problem with the current Intelligent Design case is not whether or not it is a fact.
It is the idea of legislating curriculum.
The proponents of Intelligent Design are, in fact, saying, "We think this should be taught to everybody, because we believe it." They want a law that will allow them to force an unwilling Establishment to promote their idea, regardless.
Can the proponents of Planet X, or the Hollow Earth Society, have their beliefs taught in schools, because people believe in these theories, and current science cannot 100% disprove them? If not, why not?
Shall we teach reincarnation as fact? There is plenty of evidence for it, and science cannot prove it doesn't exist.
The proponents of Intelligent Design will label this as hogwash, of course. All they are saying is that there must be an intelligent designer - nothing more, they will argue. Any of these other arguments are nonsense, unlike theirs.
But look at what their argument states. Their argument is that there is an intelligence directing the development on life on this planet. If the spotted owl goes extinct, then the Designer must have wanted it that way, or he would have prevented it. Therefore, who needs conservation?
If influenza mutates into a killer varient, then the Designer must have done it on purpose. Why would he hate us so much?
It implies that we are meant to be the way we are. If man was meant to fly, then the Designer would have given us wings.
And so on.
We cannot allow a belief - any belief - to be taught BY LAW.
Let the theory work its way through the system, like Newton's Laws, Galileo's moons, and Pasteur's processes did. Truth will not falter.
It is the idea of legislating curriculum.
The proponents of Intelligent Design are, in fact, saying, "We think this should be taught to everybody, because we believe it." They want a law that will allow them to force an unwilling Establishment to promote their idea, regardless.
Can the proponents of Planet X, or the Hollow Earth Society, have their beliefs taught in schools, because people believe in these theories, and current science cannot 100% disprove them? If not, why not?
Shall we teach reincarnation as fact? There is plenty of evidence for it, and science cannot prove it doesn't exist.
The proponents of Intelligent Design will label this as hogwash, of course. All they are saying is that there must be an intelligent designer - nothing more, they will argue. Any of these other arguments are nonsense, unlike theirs.
But look at what their argument states. Their argument is that there is an intelligence directing the development on life on this planet. If the spotted owl goes extinct, then the Designer must have wanted it that way, or he would have prevented it. Therefore, who needs conservation?
If influenza mutates into a killer varient, then the Designer must have done it on purpose. Why would he hate us so much?
It implies that we are meant to be the way we are. If man was meant to fly, then the Designer would have given us wings.
And so on.
We cannot allow a belief - any belief - to be taught BY LAW.
Let the theory work its way through the system, like Newton's Laws, Galileo's moons, and Pasteur's processes did. Truth will not falter.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Trust
Do you trust your government?
Scenario #1:
The FBI announces that an explosive device has been planted in your neighborhood. Do you
a) get the hell out of Dodge, or
b) wonder which scandal the government is trying to distract us from this time, and get on with your life.
Scenario #2:
The FDA announces that the new low price generic medicine you just bought has dangerous impurities. Do you
a) dispose of the medication, or
b) wonder which pharmaceudical company got to them this time, and keep the medicine.
A government cannot function properly without trust. It cannot react promptly or properly, and it cannot do its job.
Trust is a two way street. The people must trust their government, and the government must be trustworthy. All the people, not just members of the ruling party. All the government, not just the senior staff.
How long has it been since the nation trusted its governors? Since anyone trusted their President? I think JFK was the last - and if he hadn't died, the Mob and Marilyn scandals might have toppled him, too.
A news agency is based on trust. We the people can't speak to the confidential sources, we can't fly out to Pakistan or Baton Rouge and verify the latest story. We accept what you say on trust.
So what are we to think when we catch you making things up?
Whether it's paddling a canoe on TV, mishandling a faked document, or writing lies for the Times, lies break our trust. And without trust, you're nothing.
The Small Town Hick relies on trust in his institutions, just like all the other small town hicks. Without trust, how do I decide which action to take? Without trust, who do I vote for?
Without trust, there is no enthusiasm, no extra effort, no volunteering, no confidence. None of the things that make a nation great.
Without trust, there is no nation. No matter what the polls, the blogs, or the bumper stickers say. There are only little pockets of faith, and a large body of pessimism.
Scenario #1:
The FBI announces that an explosive device has been planted in your neighborhood. Do you
a) get the hell out of Dodge, or
b) wonder which scandal the government is trying to distract us from this time, and get on with your life.
Scenario #2:
The FDA announces that the new low price generic medicine you just bought has dangerous impurities. Do you
a) dispose of the medication, or
b) wonder which pharmaceudical company got to them this time, and keep the medicine.
A government cannot function properly without trust. It cannot react promptly or properly, and it cannot do its job.
Trust is a two way street. The people must trust their government, and the government must be trustworthy. All the people, not just members of the ruling party. All the government, not just the senior staff.
How long has it been since the nation trusted its governors? Since anyone trusted their President? I think JFK was the last - and if he hadn't died, the Mob and Marilyn scandals might have toppled him, too.
A news agency is based on trust. We the people can't speak to the confidential sources, we can't fly out to Pakistan or Baton Rouge and verify the latest story. We accept what you say on trust.
So what are we to think when we catch you making things up?
Whether it's paddling a canoe on TV, mishandling a faked document, or writing lies for the Times, lies break our trust. And without trust, you're nothing.
The Small Town Hick relies on trust in his institutions, just like all the other small town hicks. Without trust, how do I decide which action to take? Without trust, who do I vote for?
Without trust, there is no enthusiasm, no extra effort, no volunteering, no confidence. None of the things that make a nation great.
Without trust, there is no nation. No matter what the polls, the blogs, or the bumper stickers say. There are only little pockets of faith, and a large body of pessimism.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Inefficiency
The problem is not that we aren't helping the victims of Katrina - it's that we're not doing so efficiently. Scammers are taking advantage of handouts. Help is being stopped by red tape.
The problem is not that we aren't winning in Iraq - it's that we're not doing it efficiently. The army is still waiting for its armored Hummers. The kits don't protect the bottoms of the unarmored vehicles.
Monies that could be spent on improving roads in Louisiana are being spent building a bridge in Alaska. True, it creates jobs up there - are they going to build a bridge every year to maintain those jobs?
The intelligence czar, whose job it is to co-ordinate between the agencies, is only complicating things. Why?
We need more efficiency.
The problem is not that we aren't winning in Iraq - it's that we're not doing it efficiently. The army is still waiting for its armored Hummers. The kits don't protect the bottoms of the unarmored vehicles.
Monies that could be spent on improving roads in Louisiana are being spent building a bridge in Alaska. True, it creates jobs up there - are they going to build a bridge every year to maintain those jobs?
The intelligence czar, whose job it is to co-ordinate between the agencies, is only complicating things. Why?
We need more efficiency.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
The Good News
The Iraq referendum went off well.
The Katrina cleanup is going well.
Looks like Americans can do some things right after all. Let's keep working.
On the other hand, preparations for the flu season are progressing slowly, and consist mostly of stockpiling vaccine that scientists feel will be ineffective against Avian Flu.
May I respectfully remind the administration that, of all the disasters we've seen so far in the Bush presidency, the flu pandemic stands alone in that it is just as likely to hit the Washington powerbrokers as it is to hit the urban poor, and that, being of advancing age, the members of Congress, the White House senior staff, and the justices of the Supreme Court are all at high risk of contracting, and dying from, Avian Flu?
The Katrina cleanup is going well.
Looks like Americans can do some things right after all. Let's keep working.
On the other hand, preparations for the flu season are progressing slowly, and consist mostly of stockpiling vaccine that scientists feel will be ineffective against Avian Flu.
May I respectfully remind the administration that, of all the disasters we've seen so far in the Bush presidency, the flu pandemic stands alone in that it is just as likely to hit the Washington powerbrokers as it is to hit the urban poor, and that, being of advancing age, the members of Congress, the White House senior staff, and the justices of the Supreme Court are all at high risk of contracting, and dying from, Avian Flu?
Proving my Point
Have a look at my entry two entries down, called "Attack".
Look at the comments - the one by Francis W. Porretto.
See what I mean?
Francis writes a good blog called Eternity Road. From what I have seen, he has not commented on the Miers nomination lately.
However, he reacts to my post by calling me a leftist, and states that attacks by the right are where you "accurately quote them and hold their statements and behavior up to public scrutiny."
This was about Republicans agreeing to work together, rather than get into an insult festival. Is this a leftist idea?
Did you accurately quote me, and show me where my ideas were wrong?
Conservatives have won because they have had a united vision. They will lose if they lose their unity.
That is not a leftist statement.
If you disagree, please accurately quote me, and show me where my ideas are wrong.
Look at the comments - the one by Francis W. Porretto.
See what I mean?
Francis writes a good blog called Eternity Road. From what I have seen, he has not commented on the Miers nomination lately.
However, he reacts to my post by calling me a leftist, and states that attacks by the right are where you "accurately quote them and hold their statements and behavior up to public scrutiny."
This was about Republicans agreeing to work together, rather than get into an insult festival. Is this a leftist idea?
Did you accurately quote me, and show me where my ideas were wrong?
Conservatives have won because they have had a united vision. They will lose if they lose their unity.
That is not a leftist statement.
If you disagree, please accurately quote me, and show me where my ideas are wrong.
Friday, October 14, 2005
The Girls
A lot of people have pointed out that Bush likes to surround himself with yes men and cronies.
Has anyone noticed that the women around him all seem to adore him?
Condi thinks of him as a father figure. Karen Hughes has a habit of mouthing the words George Bush speaks during his speeches. And now we have Harriet Miers, whose paper trail, submitted by the New York Times, seem to consist of mash notes to Governor Bush.
This is beginning to look like a rock star's entourage of groupies. Not the message I'd like to give to America just now.
Has anyone noticed that the women around him all seem to adore him?
Condi thinks of him as a father figure. Karen Hughes has a habit of mouthing the words George Bush speaks during his speeches. And now we have Harriet Miers, whose paper trail, submitted by the New York Times, seem to consist of mash notes to Governor Bush.
This is beginning to look like a rock star's entourage of groupies. Not the message I'd like to give to America just now.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Attack!
It's hard to look at the right wing blogs debate the Miers nomination.
For years now, the strategy behind the right has been to attack any opposition. Attack Kerry, attack Dean, attack Kennedy, attack McCain. If they have a different opinion, attack.
And now, with the right divided on their next nominee for the Supreme Court, they have no mechanism for reasoned rhetoric. The two camps cannot communicate, debate, or conciliate.
All they can do is attack each other.
This issue may yet give the left the Christmas gift they've been wishing for - a permanently divided right. And it will be all our own fault if it happens.
For years now, the strategy behind the right has been to attack any opposition. Attack Kerry, attack Dean, attack Kennedy, attack McCain. If they have a different opinion, attack.
And now, with the right divided on their next nominee for the Supreme Court, they have no mechanism for reasoned rhetoric. The two camps cannot communicate, debate, or conciliate.
All they can do is attack each other.
This issue may yet give the left the Christmas gift they've been wishing for - a permanently divided right. And it will be all our own fault if it happens.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Three-fer
The Bush government has recently announced its strategy for the expected avian flu pandemic.
It looks a lot like its other recent strategies.
Essentially, the plan states that a lot of us are going to die, and there's nothing to be done about it. The details are mostly concerned on how to quarantine the diseased and maintain the country's infrastructure until the flu runs its course.
I presume that the strategy for handling a biological attack from terrorists is the same. Everybody pray, ride out the storm, then spend like mad to repair the damage.
Why can't we do better than this? Where are our strategic planners? It's been several years since 9/11, and as the president says, they're still out there. Why haven't we prepared for this? Must EVERYTHING that happens take this government by surprise?
It looks a lot like its other recent strategies.
Essentially, the plan states that a lot of us are going to die, and there's nothing to be done about it. The details are mostly concerned on how to quarantine the diseased and maintain the country's infrastructure until the flu runs its course.
I presume that the strategy for handling a biological attack from terrorists is the same. Everybody pray, ride out the storm, then spend like mad to repair the damage.
Why can't we do better than this? Where are our strategic planners? It's been several years since 9/11, and as the president says, they're still out there. Why haven't we prepared for this? Must EVERYTHING that happens take this government by surprise?
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Not Quite Fanatic
Pakistan has now been hit by a huge disaster. There has been major loss of life, especially among the young. It parallels the disaster in Louisiana in several ways - and differs in a few distinct ways.
One of the ways is that no one has yet blamed God for the events.
I have not read anything anywhere that implies that God has smote this Islamic land for the sin of recruiting terrorists, or for hating God's Chosen, the Americans, or, for that matter, for allowing abortions.
Are we finally starting to grow up?
One of the ways is that no one has yet blamed God for the events.
I have not read anything anywhere that implies that God has smote this Islamic land for the sin of recruiting terrorists, or for hating God's Chosen, the Americans, or, for that matter, for allowing abortions.
Are we finally starting to grow up?
The Smurfs get bombed
This just in.
UNICEF has just unveiled a cartoon for a fund raising effort for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Burundi. It features the Smurfs, those blue guys we all saw in the 70s, being bombed out of existence.
This bothers me on several levels.
1) that there are real people out there who think that we have become jaded by seeing scenes of real kids with real injuries, but that seeing Papa Smurf disemboweled by shrapnel will get us to open our wallets again.
2) that it actually WORKED in Belgium.
3) that it would work in America, but for different reasons - several acquaintences would probably pay good money to see Brainy's legs cut off at the knees, no matter who the money went to.
4) that bombed villages have something to do with child soldiers - maybe if we saw Smurfette forced to carry an AK-74 . . .
and 5)
. . . that somebody will eventually figure out that it would work with our cultural icons, too.
Who do you think they'll kill first - Mickey, Barbie, or Captain Kirk?
UNICEF has just unveiled a cartoon for a fund raising effort for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Burundi. It features the Smurfs, those blue guys we all saw in the 70s, being bombed out of existence.
This bothers me on several levels.
1) that there are real people out there who think that we have become jaded by seeing scenes of real kids with real injuries, but that seeing Papa Smurf disemboweled by shrapnel will get us to open our wallets again.
2) that it actually WORKED in Belgium.
3) that it would work in America, but for different reasons - several acquaintences would probably pay good money to see Brainy's legs cut off at the knees, no matter who the money went to.
4) that bombed villages have something to do with child soldiers - maybe if we saw Smurfette forced to carry an AK-74 . . .
and 5)
. . . that somebody will eventually figure out that it would work with our cultural icons, too.
Who do you think they'll kill first - Mickey, Barbie, or Captain Kirk?
Florida Guns
I am all in favor of the current Florida laws concerning guns. I hope the idea spreads.
But I also hope that manditory training also spreads.
Nobody questions the idea of learning to drive before getting a driver's licence. They even teach driving in some of the high schools.
So why don't they teach shooting before issuing gun licences?
A handgun is possibly the most difficult tool the human race has ever come up with. Thousands of hours of TV and movies have convinced many of us that the hardest part of using a pistol is getting it out of your pants fast enough. they are wrong.
The real culprit was the penny dreadfuls - the comic books and pulp novels of the 1890s - which told the stories of Jesse James and the other outlaws. They would relate how these desperados could draw and fire in a heartbeat, and shoot out the pip of an Ace of Spades at 200 feet.
Well, Ol' Jesse started out as a member of Quantrell's raiders during the Civil War, alongside other penny dreadful stalwarts like Cole Younger. After the war, he continued as an outlaw. By the 1880s, he had been using that Navy Colt of his daily, under combat conditions, for well over a decade. You do that, and you'll be able to pick off playing cards, too.
The point is that most people don't train long enough and often enough to use a handgun effectively. If you're one of the majority who go to a range about once every couple of months, then the day you're threatened by a mugger will be you're last. You'll pull your heat, put a slug into the tree across the street, and take a slug in the chest from someone who DOES shoot daily. Like many of Jesse James's victims, you'll find out why plowboys shouldn't pull on gunfighters.
America needs a law that makes it manditory to receive firearms training in order to receive a license - and make it a lot easier to get that training. A voluntary high school program would be nice - as it's voluntary, the left wingers can't yell it out of existance, and it will serve a good purpose both in national defence and in personal defence.
Florida is the perfect place to start a pilot project. Can you hear me, Gov. Bush?
But I also hope that manditory training also spreads.
Nobody questions the idea of learning to drive before getting a driver's licence. They even teach driving in some of the high schools.
So why don't they teach shooting before issuing gun licences?
A handgun is possibly the most difficult tool the human race has ever come up with. Thousands of hours of TV and movies have convinced many of us that the hardest part of using a pistol is getting it out of your pants fast enough. they are wrong.
The real culprit was the penny dreadfuls - the comic books and pulp novels of the 1890s - which told the stories of Jesse James and the other outlaws. They would relate how these desperados could draw and fire in a heartbeat, and shoot out the pip of an Ace of Spades at 200 feet.
Well, Ol' Jesse started out as a member of Quantrell's raiders during the Civil War, alongside other penny dreadful stalwarts like Cole Younger. After the war, he continued as an outlaw. By the 1880s, he had been using that Navy Colt of his daily, under combat conditions, for well over a decade. You do that, and you'll be able to pick off playing cards, too.
The point is that most people don't train long enough and often enough to use a handgun effectively. If you're one of the majority who go to a range about once every couple of months, then the day you're threatened by a mugger will be you're last. You'll pull your heat, put a slug into the tree across the street, and take a slug in the chest from someone who DOES shoot daily. Like many of Jesse James's victims, you'll find out why plowboys shouldn't pull on gunfighters.
America needs a law that makes it manditory to receive firearms training in order to receive a license - and make it a lot easier to get that training. A voluntary high school program would be nice - as it's voluntary, the left wingers can't yell it out of existance, and it will serve a good purpose both in national defence and in personal defence.
Florida is the perfect place to start a pilot project. Can you hear me, Gov. Bush?
Monday, October 10, 2005
Giving the News some time.
I'm back. I've spent the week in Florida, away from computers and the Internet. I've kept myself informed via newsprint and TV. During this time, I made copious notes about what I would write about when I got back.
Guess what? I tore 90% of those notes up.
It's amazing how much political news is either half-baked or a tempest in a teapot. Take the Miers case.
She's in. She's bad. She's out. She's still in. She'll never be in.
All in one week.
The jury's still out (hah!) on the lady. Virtually nothing's known for sure about her. Yet the blogs churned all week about the consequences of her nomination.
I'm not criticizing - I would have churned, too, if I'd had my keyboard. But having watched and waited, I suddenly relearned something from before I started this video correspondence - that some stories take time to become significant. Roberts has yet to make a single ruling, Miers has yet to be appointed, and people are already predicting the fate of the Supreme Court years down the road.
Let's get a few more facts, people. Then we can speculate.
Guess what? I tore 90% of those notes up.
It's amazing how much political news is either half-baked or a tempest in a teapot. Take the Miers case.
She's in. She's bad. She's out. She's still in. She'll never be in.
All in one week.
The jury's still out (hah!) on the lady. Virtually nothing's known for sure about her. Yet the blogs churned all week about the consequences of her nomination.
I'm not criticizing - I would have churned, too, if I'd had my keyboard. But having watched and waited, I suddenly relearned something from before I started this video correspondence - that some stories take time to become significant. Roberts has yet to make a single ruling, Miers has yet to be appointed, and people are already predicting the fate of the Supreme Court years down the road.
Let's get a few more facts, people. Then we can speculate.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
The final quality that makes a conservative great is courage.
Some thing in rare supply these days.
Washington is too obsessed with polls, with money and with special interests - and I am referring to both parties.
We need leaders that will do what's best for the people. Not the people who elected them, not the people they call friends. ALL the people. Even the ones who hate them.
Our leaders need to learn that. Now.
Some thing in rare supply these days.
Washington is too obsessed with polls, with money and with special interests - and I am referring to both parties.
We need leaders that will do what's best for the people. Not the people who elected them, not the people they call friends. ALL the people. Even the ones who hate them.
Our leaders need to learn that. Now.
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