Obama and ACORN

New video from the McCain/Palin campaign, courtesy of my friends at The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler.

My Take on the VP debate

First off, I think Gwen Ifill did a professional job as the moderator, which was a pleasant surprise. She kept things moving, without being heavy handed about it, and without letting her own personal bias get in the way. So, kudos to Gwen.

Senator Biden

Senator Biden did as I expected him to - attacking President Bush, and being supportive of his running mate, yet doing so in a way that was not personally hostile to Governor Palin. He made a few statements that, if I had been taking notes, I would be able to refute pretty easily, I think - after I got done crying "BS!". But, I didn't take notes - my bad. One area where I thought he was treading on thin ice was talking about his own record, which in the grand scheme of things ain't so hot. Another area where he definitely was treading on thin ice was in claiming that Obama "has repeatedly reached across the aisle" to work with Republicans in a bi-partisan way. Oh, really? When?

I have to admit that I came away from this actually liking the guy, even though I'm adamantly opposed to what he believes in as far as politics is concerned. I was touched by the emotion he briefly displayed when speaking of his personal family loss, wondering if his son was going to make it, and by his graciousness towards Governor Palin even though he's adamantly opposed to her political beliefs. He took the barbs thrown his way with good humor, and didn't allow himself to resort to "playing dirty" in retaliation.

All in all, I have to concede that Senator Biden did fairly well, so kudos to him.

Governor Palin

Governor Palin came across as determined to get her points across, even if it meant not exactly answering the question that had been posed. Although she seemed to check her notes quite often, I don't see that as a negative (unlike the MSM), as it showed me she wanted to get her response correct, whether it was in answering a question, or offering a rebuttal to something Senator Biden said.

She seemed as if she was prepared to really go on the attack at the start, depending on what Senator Biden said, and how he said it, but relaxed when she realized that she wasn't going to come under personal attack (with the only time that I recall that Senator Biden came close to doing that. was when he used the phrase, "bridge to nowhere).

She had a professional air about her during the debate, which was softened by her "folksiness" as the MSM has called it, which is exactly the right thing for her to have done. She presented herself as a capable, no nonsense, leader - whether in business or politics - yet still showed that she is, after all, a human being with feelings, and empathy for others.

What I liked best was when she looked right into the camera and spoke directly to "Joe Six Pack" and the "Hockey Mom's" - your average American. It made you want to - almost compelled you to - listen very carefully to what she had to say about what she thought was important for America, and how she and McCain were going to work to get us there.

All in all, I thought she did a good job with only one real flub - when she transposed "Main Street" and "Wall Street" (no big deal, as everyone knew what she meant, and like me, probably "fixed" it in their own minds). Kudos go to Governor Palin for her performance in this debate, as well.

So, who's the winner in my mind?

Actually, putting my own bias aside to look at this as objectively as I can, neither VP candidate landed any real knockout blows to the other, and in the grand scheme of things, this debate pretty much just let the American public get a better look at both candidates, and I have to declare it a tie.

Will this debate have a pronounced effect on the outcome of the election? No.

Will this debate have at least some effect on the outcome of this election? Certainly, but how much, and for which ticket is yet to be determined.

Nice Doggie

A new link, folks. The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler. If you want 'biting' wit (sorry - couldn't resist) and commentary, check it out.

The outing of Barack Obama

Confederate Yankee has a well written, well sourced, post about Obama and his associates - just in case you're still undecided on whom to vote for this November.

I, for one, have absolutely no doubt whatsoever who I will be voting for.

Autumn Angst: Dems fret about Obama

As reported here, [p]olls showing John McCain tied or even ahead of Barack Obama are stirring angst and second-guessing among some of the Democratic Party's most experienced operatives, who worry that Obama squandered opportunities over the summer and may still be underestimating his challenges this fall.

"It's more than an increased anxiety," said Doug Schoen, who worked as one of Bill Clinton's lead pollsters during his 1996 reelection and has worked for both Democrats and independents in recent years. "It's a palpable frustration. Deep-seated unease in the sense that the message has gotten away from them."

The Dems are positively reeling from the announcement of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCains' running mate, as evidenced by all the vile vitriol being spewed by both the Obama campaign and their surrogates in the MSM and the likes of the DailyKos and DU (and no, I'm not linking to those garbage sites. If you want to go there, look 'em up here).

The Dem "strategists" continue to make mistake after misstep in their arrogance, and can't figure out why they keep losing. Well, keep up the arrogance and the vicious easily debunkable ad hominem attacks, and we'll give you another four years to play the "what if?" game after John McCain and Sarah Palin take the Presidency and Vice Presidency.

H/T Purple Avenger over at Ace of Spades HQ

Never Forget

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001. I am reposting what I wrote one year ago today - updated to reflect the current year, as I still feel the same way as I did then.

Today, September 11, 2008 marks the seventh anniversary of the attack, not only on our nation, but on our very way of life by “people” bound and determined to enslave not only us, but the entire world.

These “people” want to return us to the time where they controlled vast swaths of the world, imposing their will, and their so-called “Religion of Peace”, through the sword. This is something that we cannot, must not, allow to happen. If a modern, free society, is to survive, we must fight these “people” at every turn, and never surrender. For if we surrender, we shall die.

Yet, there are those in our society who think that these “people” can be appeased, and that, if appeased, they will stop the violence that they inflict upon the world. This is a fallacy, born of a “head in the sand” wishful thinking.

Neville Chamberlain found that out in 1939, when he attempted to appease one of the vilest monsters that has ever walked this earth, Adolph Hitler, when he proclaimed upon his return to London, “Peace in our time!”. Because of Chamberlain’s ill-fated attempt at appeasing Hitler, countless millions were soon subjugated under the jack boots of the Nazi regime, resulting in the deaths of countless millions more, as the world convulsed in total war.

Just as Adolph Hitler wanted the power to dominate the world, imposing his will, so these “people” want to dominate the world, so they may impose their will upon everyone. Whether you realize it or not, the truth of the matter is that we are once again embroiled in a world war, one that we must win, whatever the cost, if our society, our very way of life is to survive.

On this seventh anniversary, take a moment to reflect on what is at stake, for much is at stake. Do not take the freedoms that we enjoy for granted, for if we lose this war, we will lose those freedoms, which is the ultimate goal of those “people”.

I would rather stand and fight as a free man, and risk the possibility of death, rather than surrender and guarantee my death as a slave.

Never forget.

What if we legalized all drugs?

Yet another attempt to try to "put lipstick on a pig" (sorry - I couldn't resist) by postulating that the American economy would receive a boost through the legalization of all drugs, through decreased crime (unlikely), higher tax revenues from taxes placed on the now legal drugs (potentially), and - get this - increased worker productivity. Excuse me, but that's an outright fallacy.

Based on my own personal experience, when you're stoned you tend not to want to do anything but continue the high until you pass out. You don't want to study if you're in school, and you certainly don't want to work if you have a job - trust me on this kids. Increased productivity does not result from using drugs!

The only "increased productivity" I can foresee would be in farming, as farmers, ever conscious of which crops will garner them the most profit, would turn from growing food crops to growing pot, poppies for heroin, and coca plants for cocaine. But then again, that might not even pan out if farm workers turned to sampling their own crops, but that's not where I want to go here right now. My question is, if farmers abandoned even more food crops than they already have to grow corn for ethanol resulting in higher grain prices and more hunger worldwide, what do you suppose would happen to world food supplies? Human nature being what it is, eventually there wouldn't be any world food supplies - only drug supplies.

The thing that really gets me about these efforts to paint a rosy picture about legalizing drugs is that those who promote this idea claim that "... It's harmless anyway." However, that remains unproved. Not only is it unproved, it's an outright lie. Marijuana has a far higher tar and other carcinogen content than tobacco, for one thing, and although tobacco use isn't a good thing, it doesn't impair your ability to drive or operate machinery like marijuana does. Oh, and don't even try to convince me that heroin, cocaine and meth are "harmless", ok?

Could this happen?

How likely is it that street drugs would be legalized?

The possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized in 12 states, meaning offenders might get fined but won't be jailed or given a criminal record. Nonetheless, full legalization of marijuana is hardly likely. In a 2002 CNN/Time Magazine poll, 59% of respondents opposed legalizing marijuana, and 34% favored it. Although attitudes are getting more liberal, marijuana is not legal anywhere in the world.

As for other street drugs, don't even ask. The question of legalization is no more than an interesting academic exercise. [Emphasis mine]

Nevertheless, an "interesting academic exercise" used by some to try to get all drugs legalized. This would be one of the biggest disasters to ever befall not only America, but the entire world, should we decide to fully open this Pandora's box.

McCain chooses well

Senator John McCain, the presumptive Presidential nominee for the Republican Party has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his VP running mate, a choice that in my opinion was the wisest choice he could have made due to her conservative credentials, and what she has been able to accomplish in Alaska as Governor.

As Governor Palin says in her acceptance speech, if you want real change in Washington, D.C., come join our cause.

H/T for the video link goes to hollie-is-right.

Gunman kills Arkansas Democratic Party chairman

As reported here, [a] man barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters and opened fire Wednesday, fatally shooting the state party chairman before speeding off in his pickup. Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase.

Police said they don't know the motive of the suspect, who they described as about 50 years old but whose name has not been released. However, they said that moments after the shooting he pointed a handgun at the building manager at the nearby the Arkansas Baptist headquarters. He told the manager "I lost my job," said Dan Jordan, a Baptist convention official.

Chairman Bill Gwatney died four hours after the shooting. The 48-year-old former state senator had been planning to travel to the Democratic National Convention later this month as a superdelegate.

I just want to say that this is a tragedy that didn't need to happen. I mean, is this what politics in this country has come to? If you're unemployed, and believe that it's the fault of someone of one political party or the other, the solution to your problem is to shoot them? Certainly not!

In our political system, you can disagree with someone on the opposing side, and those disagreements can become quite heated. Republicans have some major issues with the Democrats, and Democrats have some major issues with Republicans as well. But you know something? That's actually ok - as long as we discuss and/or debate those major differences, and do NOT resort to violence.

I never knew, or even heard of Bill Gwatney before today, but he didn't deserve to die because someone else felt he was at fault for some perceived injustice. My heart goes out to the Gwatney family, and those who were also involved in this tragedy.

Five-star hotel planned for Baghdad

As reported here, Iraqi officials say they have approved plans to build a five-star hotel in the Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone.

In another forum, a friend of mine stated that Fox News was reporting this, and wondered - because this really does show how much the situation in Iraq has improved, an improvement you don't hear about from the MSM - whether any other news organizations had also reported about this. I had just finished reading the above linked article when I saw my friends question, and this is what I replied to him when he expressed surprise:

"The reason this is getting the attention it is, is not because of the positive outlook for conditions on the ground in Iraq. No, it's because the MSM is shocked, shocked I tell you, that anyone would be so foolish as to build something like that when there's a "civil war" going on. The MSM is so focused on the negative in Iraq (of which there is less and less) that they find it inconceivable that something like this would even be contemplated, let alone discussed seriously as something that is going to happen."

Yes, the hotel is being built in the heavily fortified Green Zone, and no, the article does not specify a ground breaking date for the commencement of construction which could be (and probably will be) construed as potential misgivings on the part of the contractor building such a grand project in the heart of a war zone. But the reality is that, just like anywhere else a construction project is built, there is a process that needs to be gone through before the first shovel hits the dirt - plans must be drawn, permits obtained, subcontractors lined up, the work force hired, materials pirchased, and in this case specifically, security measures must be formulated and adopted

But think about this for a minute, folks. Despite what the MSM and the majority members of Congress would have you believe, things on the ground in Iraq have improved, and have improved to such an extent that the Iraqi's are making positive plans for the future that doesn't involve constant conflict.

Iraq needs to rebuild, and not just infrastructure and schools, necessary as those are, but for the future as well. A future where they expect people to travel to Iraq, not to take up arms, but to enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Iraq, and to engage in investing in, and building businesses. Those people need to stay somewhere, right? I expect more hotels to come, and in the very near future, in spite of the incredulity of the MSM and members of the current majority in Congress.

H/T to conservative67 for the idea for this post.

D-Day

Today marks the 64th anniversary of probably the most momentous day in modern history, the day the Allied Powers invaded Nazi occupied territory at the beaches of Normandy, France. Among those Allied Powers were Americans, British, and Canadians, all determined to free Europe from the horror of Nazism. To land those troops on those Normandy beaches that day took the largest Naval armada in history, while overhead planes of the various Allied Powers flew in a seemingly never ending stream of bombers and fighters.

Of the hundreds of thousands of men who landed on that beach that day now so long ago, many never made it off the beach, giving their lives in the fight to liberate an enslaved continent, as the Germans fought fiercely to prevent the Allies from gaining a foothold. But this day belonged to those who fought for freedom, as the Allies did gain a foothold, and from that foothold, eventually pushed the Germans all the way back to Germany in defeat.

Most of those men who landed that day at Normandy were in their early twenties, many even still in their teens. They are now in their eighties and nineties, and we are losing more and more of those gallant warriors - yes, warriors! - as each day passes.

Because of what they accomplished, and the fact that we are losing them at an ever increasing pace, we must never forget their sacrifices in the fight for freedom. For without them, it is highly unlikely we would be enjoying the blessings of freedom as we know them today, and I will be forever grateful to them for what they did.

To those members of the "Greatest Generation" that are still with us, I say thank you.

To those who perished on that fateful day, and those who have passed since, a toast - To Absent Comrades!

Memorial Day

Today we are observing Memorial Day, the national holiday to honor America's war dead. As you go about your day today, please stop for a moment, and think about the freedoms that we all enjoy, that were bought and paid for by the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.

For a brief history of Memorial Day, go here (courtesy of The History Channel).

Obesity adds to global warming, study finds

As reported here, [o]besity contributes to global warming, too.

Bwahahahahahaha! How ludicrous!

Looks like the followers of the Church of Global Warming are having to reach to continue to justify their false beliefs.

What's next on the list? Chewing gum? Blowing bubbles? Breathing?!?! The list just keeps getting longer and longer, and more ridiculous.

Sharpton owes nearly $1.5 million in back taxes

As reported here, ... Government records obtained by The Associated Press indicate that Sharpton and his business entities owe nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.

To both the Feds and New York State.

Hey, Al! Render unto Caesar, eh?

Man charged over Golders Green stabbings

As reported here, [a] man has been charged following a double knife attack on two Orthodox Jews in Golders Green.

Mohamed Jama Ahmed, 37, of North Circular Road, Cricklewood, was arrested after two stabbings which happened just meters apart in roads off Golders Green Road on Friday.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the attacks, which happened at around 6pm, appear to have been random and unprovoked, but were not being treated as faith hate crimes.

Hmmmm. Let me see if I get this right here ... Mohamed Jama Ahmed (I'm presuming from his name that this is a Muslim man) attacked two Orthodox Jews in seperate incidents on the same day in basically the same neighborhood, and this is not being treated as faith hate crimes?

How much you wanna bet that if the perpetrator had been a Jew or a Christian, and the victims Muslim, that the perpetrator would be facing the full weight of Her Majesties Courts through being charged with a faith hate crime?

The bending over backwards of the Europeans/English to not offend in any way, shape, or form, "Muslim sensibilities", is getting to the disgusting stage now, perhaps even beyond.

I'm not an advocate for special "hate crime" legislation - I feel that most of the laws on the books against crimes like this are perfectly adequate without getting all emo about it and throwing in the term "hate" - but this seems to me to be exactly that - a hate crime based on the fact that the two victims were Orthodox Jews. Orthodox Jews are very obvious from their appearance, so it's also obvious - at least to me - that the two victims were targeted for their faith.

Here's hoping that ol' Mohamed gets the book thrown at him - the book of "non-hate crimes" law that is.

H/T kc-anathema

ELF at it again

As reported here, [a]rsonists set fires in a development of multimillion-dollar show homes in a suburb north of Seattle Monday, destroying three and causing at least $7 million in damage.

I heard about this on the radio this morning while I was on my way to work, and my first thought was "ELF!". This is a pattern with those wacko's. Fortunately no one was in the homes when they erupted in flames.

My next thought? What morons! Apparently they don't realize that, in burning these homes down, they are creating more environmental damage than they are purportedly trying to prevent.

How so?

Well, fire produces smoke. Smoke has toxins in it which pollutes the air. Next is the run off from the firemen's hoses, causing erosion to the ground. There is also all of the diesel used by the trucks to get to the fire, adding more pollution to the air. Then there's going to be a lot of gasoline burned by those who will be involved in the clean up, and eventual rebuilding of the homes.

Last but not least is the rebuilding of the homes. Think of how many more trees will be cut down to provide the lumber for those 4,000 + square foot homes, and the fuel burned to bring the trees to the mills, and the fuel burned to turn those additional trees into lumber.

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot! How about the fuel these idiots burned to get to these homes in the first place (you don't think they walked, do you? Pffft!), plus whatever accelerant they used in their little incendiary devices.

Yeah, ELF. Way to "protect" the environment. Morons.

He's baaaaaaaack!

Nader announces new bid for White House.

Ralph Nader said Sunday he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will "shift the power from the few to the many."

Nader, 73, said most people are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties due to a prolonged Iraq war and a shaky economy. The consumer advocate also blamed tax and other corporate-friendly policies under the Bush administration that he said have left many lower- and middle-class people in debt.

"You take that framework of people feeling locked out, shut out, marginalized and disrespected," he said. "You go from Iraq, to Palestine to Israel, from Enron to Wall Street, from Katrina to the bumbling of the Bush administration, to the complicity of the Democrats in not stopping him on the war, stopping him on the tax cuts."

"In that context, I have decided to run for president," Nader told NBC's "Meet the Press."

You know, there are still some folks out there who blame Ralph for Algore losing in 2000, claiming he siphoned off votes, and they may be looking at this with more than slightly jaundiced eyes.

Clinton called Nader's announcement a "passing fancy" and said she hoped his candidacy wouldn't hurt the Democratic nominee.

"Obviously, it's not helpful to whomever our Democratic nominee is. But it's a free country," she told reporters as she flew to Rhode Island for campaign events.

If Ralph can get himself on enough state ballots this November (and that might be a big "if"), things could turn out to be just a bit more interesting.

Pelosi calls Iraq a 'failure'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said twice Sunday that Iraq "is a failure," adding that President Bush's troop surge has "not produced the desired effect."

I'd like to know what alternate reality universe Ms. Pelosi is inhabiting, because she sure isn't anywhere near inhabiting the same universe I'm in!

H/T specialrpt posting in Quicknews

Fake bomb defendant cites 1st Amendment

As reported here, [a] computer science student who unwittingly created an airport bomb scare by wearing a blinking circuit board attached to her shirt had a First Amendment right to express herself in that manner, her lawyer argued Friday.

Attorney Thomas Dwyer Jr. asked a judge to throw out the charge against Star Simpson, 19, who is accused of possessing a hoax device. East Boston District Court Judge Paul Mahoney took the motion to dismiss under advisement and said he would issue a ruling March 21.

Simpson, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology student from Lahaina, Hawaii, had gone to Logan International Airport last September to pick up her boyfriend.

She was held at gunpoint and arrested by state troopers after an alarm was raised over the battery-powered device on her shirt, which had flashing lights and the words "Socket to me" and "Course VI" (a major at MIT) written on the back.

Dwyer said his client, who is studying electrical engineering and computer science, didn't think her shirt would scare anyone. He said she had worn it on campus without alarming anyone.

"People make these objects part of their identity. It's a part of their personal expression," he said. "They are legitimate forms of First Amendment expression."

First of all, wearing an electronic device that resembled a bomb - even if it was only benign - to Boston's Logan Airport, where 9/11 planes flew from, shows a total lack of elementary thought processes of what others might perceive the device to be, as Simpson found out. This from an MIT student, no less!

Secondly, this act to me, is tantamount to yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theater. You don't have the right to do that in that location, even if you do have the right to stand out in your yard and yell "FIRE!". As a matter of fact, if you do yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, and it is discovered that there wasn't a fire, you'll be arrested. If you stand in your yard and yell "FIRE!", the worst that would probably happen is that your neighbors will look at you and think you're a nutcase.

Simpson should have known better.

McDermott pays damages to Boehner in 1996 phone-tape case

As reported here, Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott has paid more than $64,000 in damages to House Republican leader John Boehner -- the first payment in a decadelong dispute over an illegally taped telephone call involving Boehner and other GOP leaders.

Well, well. It's about time Jim started paying up! The delicious irony of this? McDermott is paying into Boehner's campaign fund!

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Boehner, called it ironic that the payment from McDermott will go to Boehner's campaign account.

"Mr. McDermott is the biggest contributor" to the account, Smith said Thursday.

The money "will be used to defeat fellow Democrats of Mr. McDermott," he said.