Animate Matters

"The Hobbitt: An Unexpected Journey" Trailer

2012-01-25T23:23:00.001-05:00

Looks good.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:55:00.001-05:00

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. -- Author unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. -- Benjamin Franklin

                 Ring Out, Wild Bells (1850)

                 Alfred, Lord Tennyson

          Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

          Ring out the old, ring in the new,
          Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
          The year is going, let him go;
          Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T11:15:00.001-05:00

I know I've been lax in posting for the last month, but I hope to get back to a more regular blogging schedule after the Christmas holiday is over. In the meantime, I leave my dear readers with some excerpts from the Word of God, which we all would do well to ponder at this time of year -- and year-round, for that matter. Without Christ, there is no Christmas.

Have a truly merry Christmas, and God bless you. Every one.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -- John 3:16

*****

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. -- Luke 1: 30-33

*****

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth -- John 1: 10-14.

*****

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

I and my Father are one. -- John 10:27-30

*****

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. -- 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T03:22:00.000-05:00

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A Vegetative State?

2011-11-19T02:04:00.000-05:00

Those who believe that people in "persistent vegetative states" are nothing more than lumps of meat with no inner lives that are hooked up to machines might want to read this:

Signs of consciousness have been detected in three people previously thought to be in a vegetative state, with the help of a cheap, portable device that can be used at the bedside.

"There's a man here who technically meets all the internationally agreed criteria for being in a vegetative state, yet he can generate 200 responses [to direct commands] with his brain," says Adrian Owen of the University of Western Ontario. "Clearly this guy is not in a true vegetative state. He's probably as conscious as you or I are."

In 2005, Owen's team, used functional MRI to show consciousness in a person who was in a persistent vegetative state, also known as wakeful unconsciousness – where the body still functions but the mind is unresponsive – for the first time. However, fMRI is costly and time-consuming, so his team set about searching for simple and cost-effective solutions for making bedside diagnoses of PVS. Now, they have devised a test that uses the relatively inexpensive and widely available electroencephalogram (EEG).

In three of the people with PVS, brain regions known to be associated with those tasks lit up with activity, despite physical unresponsiveness. This suggested to the researchers that the subjects were carrying out a complex set of cognitive functions including hearing the command, understanding language, sustaining attention and tapping into working memory.

The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street

2011-11-10T03:23:00.001-05:00

Americans have two political protest movements of significance growing around the country at present: the Tea Party movement, and the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Both have legitimate grievances, to a degree, but neither agrees with the other on solutions to our nation's ills, or even on defining the problems plaguing us.

I do not hang my hopes on political movements. I put my faith in God, as He has overcome the world, whether we realize it or not. The best social movement we could ask for right now is revival -- revival of our homeland's love for God, recognition of His sovereignty, a longing for the enactment of His will, and a renewed patriotism that seeks the preservation of our way of life, rather than throwing our heritage at the feet of people who neither understand it nor deserve it.

When the Founding Fathers spoke of securing the blessings of liberty and bequeathing that gift to posterity, they were talking about us. We are posterity. And so are our children. And so are theirs.

The aforementioned protest movements understand, as seeing through a glass darkly, that the blessings of liberty are slipping away. My own take on this is that when the blessings of God fall away, so does liberty, as the two go hand-in-hand. I believe that the United States of America once was a nation blessed by God, but I think that the time of blessings is over, for the most part. Now is the time of judgment.

Who can deny that we deserve judgment? Our ruling elite wages wars around the globe for the most frivolous reasons, wars of such a self-serving nature for that selfsame elite that they cannot even articulate to the populace in a coherent fashion an answer to the question: "Why are we there?" We have slaughtered fifty million unborn innocent children since the advent of Roe v. Wade in 1973. In that time, the powers that be have tried convincing two generations that the selfish killing of their own flesh and blood is a constitutionally-enshrined holy right. Also within that same rough time frame, our "leaders" have transitioned from calling homosexuality a sin or a mental illness to its outright glorification, going so far as to promote homosexual adoption and "marriage," and allow the open serving of homosexuals in the U.S. military.

We are as ripe for judgment as a June blackberry.

That said, let's analyze the two popular political movements mentioned above for a few moments. The targets in their sights are the Wall Street bankers and lenders, and the federal government. These are the correct targets, as both are working together for the enrichment of themselves at the American people's expense. They're crony corporatists, not capitalists. And when they have drained the country dry like the parasites or vampires that they give a bad name, they plan to withdraw into their gated communities and palatial estates and live off the fabulous wealth extracted from people of much humbler means than themselves, while the rest of the nation goes to hell. The written word adequately cannot express my contempt for these people.

I see the Tea Party as the better movement of the two, for what it's worth. My reasoning follows.

1.) A significant segment of the Tea Party seems to understand that Wall Street is as much a thorn in our sides as the federal government. I don't believe that a majority of Tea Partiers have this awareness, but a not-trivial percentage does. I put the numbers at around 20-25%, and I base those numbers on the numerous news articles, blog posts, comments, and video footage I have read and watched involving people who associate themselves with the Tea Party movement.

I see no corresponding sense of awareness that the federal government is culpable for our economy's sorry state coming from the Occupy Wall Street crowd. In fact, the sole criticism that I have heard them direct at the feds is that our government has too little control and isn't left-wing enough to suit them. And as for Obama, I've heard nary a peep of protest aimed at him from the OWS people. That's particularly telling, because Barack Obama is more responsible for the disastrous shambles of our economy and the institution of socialism in every conceivable area of life than any other single individual.

2.) The Tea Party is protesting the federal government for the right reasons. Tea Partiers see the government as too big and unwieldy, too corrupt, with too much regulatory power over the economic market. Taxes are through the roof, and we're drowning in debt that will drag down our children and even our grandchildren, if we sit back and don't take action. The government provides too many handouts at taxpayer expense.

I don't think the Tea Party goes far enough in its criticism, as its leaders focus on the economy to the detriment of other equally important issues, such as immigration, the homosexual agenda, abortion, etc. But within the narrow scope of its protests, its members are right on the money.

They offer viable solutions, as well: hold accountable and remove from office corrupt government officials; loosen or eliminate regulatory controls; lower taxes; stop going deeper into debt and pay off the debts we've accumulated; stop confiscating monies from those who earned them, and giving them to those who consider channel surfing or getting knocked up for the nth time a hard day's work.

As for the Occupy Wall Street protesters, their beef with Wall Street primarily stems from their hatred of free enterprise. They see Wall Street as a bastion of free enterprise; they hate free enterprise; ergo, they hate Wall Street. Why? Because most of these protesters are socialists or communists or hippie types. They're ticked off because the government isn't even more massive than its present bloated, planetoid-sized carcass. They believe in more handouts, more bailouts -- when it comes to student loans -- and less soap.

What are their solutions to the problems we face? Ignore the rotten-to-the-core corruption of the highest official in our land; tighten and increase regulatory controls on the economic market; soak the rich by raising their taxes, though we already have a "progressive" tax system that has done just that (and when I say "Rich," I don't just mean crony corporatists; I mean everyone who makes above a certain dollar amount); go deeper into debt as a nation by handing out more taxpayer-funded goodies like a benevolent neighbor on Helloween; and redistribute wealth so that we all can live in Utopian mediocrity and poverty.

In terms of effectiveness at reaching its goals, neither movement is a humdinger. Both have myopia regarding the dual nature of our enemy. As I said earlier, both have understandable complaints and feelings of an ill wind blowing through the land. But when we look at the worldviews and political philosophies of the two movements, they couldn't be more different. One is for limited government, and one is for socialism, or its uglier cousin, communism.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast. If a hope is to be found in one of these political movements, however small, I think it is more likely to be found in the Tea Party, or a related offshoot. Either way, our faith in God and His Son and His Holy Spirit should come first. All else follows.

An Improper Attribution

2011-11-03T01:09:00.000-04:00

Atheists' Billboard Falsely Attributes Quote To Thomas Jefferson:

The sign, paid for by atheist group Backyard Skeptics, includes a quote about Christianity attributed to Thomas Jefferson. But further research reveals there's no solid evidence that Jefferson ever uttered or wrote the words, the Orange County Register first reported.

The billboard includes a picture of Jefferson with the quote: "I do not find in Christianity one redeeming feature. It is founded on fables and mythology."

Bruce Gleason, a member of the group, told the Orange County Register that he should have done a bit more research before putting the words on the sign. The billboard was unveiled on Wednesday, the newspaper reports. Gleason explained that purpose of this sign and others around the city was to "expunge the myth that this is a Christian nation," as well as to "share the idea that you can be good and do good without a religion or god."

Typical irrational atheist sloppiness. Setting aside the fact that Jefferson never said the above words, the statement has other problems.

First, it contradicts or does not harmonize with comments or observations Jefferson is known to have made. For example, in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237 (1782), Jefferson said, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event." These are not the musings of an atheist or an agnostic. In a letter to Benjamin Rush on 12 April, 1803, Jefferson said, To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other. Since Jesus is the central "feature" of Christianity, the idea that Jefferson found not one redeeming feature of Christianity is nonsense. He is not the ally that atheists believe him to be, and their usage of him in their quest for the eradication of Christianity and its influence smacks of desperation. Only the most ignorant or manipulable would fall prey to this quality of evidence. Apparently being a "Bright" means drawing as many of the unlearned and the gullible to The Cause as possible.

Second, it's an appeal to authority -- an authority who was one of the least Christian of all the Founding Fathers. His words or thoughts are not representative of the typical Founder's views. So even if Jefferson had indeed spoken those words, we would have no insight into the zeitgeist of early America. We'd have nothing more than his personal, aberrant opinion.

As for the atheist group responsible for the billboard: they must have an anemic case for their beliefs, if the best that they can do is to put spurious words into Thomas Jefferson's mouth.

I'll close with a question: Is attempting the destruction of someone's cherished beliefs with inept research and false information an example of being good or doing good without a religion or god?

All Foam, No Beer

2011-11-02T02:28:00.001-04:00

Here's video of the full speech given by Rick Perry in New Hampshire on October 28, 2011. The man comes across as intoxicated.

I see two possibilities: either he knows that his campaign has gone to hell in a bucket, and he's just enjoying the ride, or he has an intellect rivaled only by garden tools.

From his ardor for criminal aliens, to his inane ramblings during speeches, to his literally incoherent jabs at Mitt Romney during the Republican debates, "Blotto" Perry is about as statesmanlike as Jeff Dunham with dummy in tow. And in that particular relationship, he'd be playing the dummy.

No Accounting for Taste

2011-10-28T02:52:00.000-04:00

I saw NRO's list of the presidential candidates' favorite films, including Obama's: Casablanca, The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

The above doesn't sound right to me, so I've created a list that I think is more realistically representative of Obama's favoritest movies:

-A-

Action Jackson
Adam & Steve
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
All About the Benjamins
Avatar

-B-

B.A.P.S.
Battlefield Earth
Beaches
Beavis and Butthead Do America
Becoming Barack
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
The Birdcage
Bowling for Columbine
Boys N the Hood
Black Caesar
Black Devil Doll from Hell
Blackenstein
The Black Gestapo
The Black Godfather
The Black Hole
Black Knight
Black Like Me
Black Mama, White Mama
Black Shampoo
The Black Stallion
Blacula
Boogie Nights
Breakin'
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Born on the Fourth of July
Boys Don't Cry
Brokeback Mountain
Brother from Another Planet
Bruno
Burlesque
By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

-C-

Che!
Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town
Cleopatra Jones
Coming to America
Crack House
The Crying Game

-D-

Dances with Wolves
The Day After Tomorrow
Deliverance
The Devil Wears Prada
Dirty Dancing
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Dollman Vs. Demonic Toys
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

-E-

Eat, Pray, Love
The Emperor's New Groove

-F-

Fahrenheit 9/11
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest
The First Wives Club
Foxy Brown
Frankenfish
Friday
The Full Monty

-G-

Gang Related
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie
Gigli
G.I. Jane
Godsend

-H-

Halloween III
Hamlet 2
The Happening
Happy Feet
He Got Game
House Party franchise
Howard the Duck
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
How to Be a Player

-I-

I Am Legend
I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka!

-J-

JFK
Juice
Jungle Fever

-K-

Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!

-L-

Lake Placid 3
The Last Temptation of Christ
Leprechaun: In the Hood

-M-

Malcolm X
Mandela
Mannequin 2
Mansquito
Mega Shark Vs. Crocosaurus
Menace II Society
Morons from Outer Space
My Own Private Idaho

-N-

New Jack City
Norma Rae
Night of the Lepus

-O-

Out of Africa
Old Skool Thugz

-P-

Panther
Pinnocchio
Pitch Black
Plan 9 from Outer Space
The Princess Diaries

-R-

Reds
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

-S-

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
The Scarlet Letter (Demi Moore Version)
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Scream, Blacula, Scream
Senator Obama Goes to Africa
Sex and the City franchise
Shaft (1971)
Sharktopus
Showgirls
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
Snakes on a Plane
Something to Believe In
Soul Plane
Stalin
Steel Magnolias
Superfly
Surf Nazis Must Die

-T-

The Terror of Tiny Town
Thelma and Louise
They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!
Titanic 2
To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
Troll 2
The Twilight franchise

-W-

Waiting to Exhale
Wall Street
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
The Wiz

-#-

1984 (both versions)
27 Dresses

First Do No Harm Part II

2011-10-19T01:36:00.001-04:00

Part I

Third, here are some interesting quotes found here:

It is only in extremely rare cases that abortion can even be mentioned as a potential means of saving the mother's life. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, stated in a 1996 New York Times editorial that because of the advances in modern medicine, "partial-birth abortions are not needed to save the life of the mother" (1). Sixteen years earlier, he wrote: "In my thirty-six years in pediatric surgery I have never known of one instance where the child had to be be aborted to save the mother's life." Even Planned Parenthood's Dr. Alan Guttmacher acknowledged, “Today it is possible for almost any patient to be brought through pregnancy alive, unless she suffers from a fatal illness such as cancer or leukemia, and, if so, abortion would be unlikely to prolong, much less save, life.”

The same article makes this interesting observation about ectopic pregnancies:

. . . if ectopic pregnancy is left untreated, the likelihood that the mother will die lies somewhere between .05%-.119%.

An untreated ectopic pregnancy would constitute a worst-case scenario.

Fourth, here is a brief excerpt from a letter to the editor of a newspaper, written by a neonatologist:

In fact, Ireland — a country where the unborn child is constitutionally protected — has the lowest maternal death rate in the world. More than a decade ago, a group of Ireland’s top obstetricians concluded that “there are no medical circumstances justifying direct abortion, that is, no circumstances in which the life of a mother may only be saved by directly terminating the life of her unborn child.”

To sum up: ectopic pregnancies are a concern, but they usually resolve themselves without medical intervention. Even dealing exclusively with untreated cases, a hair over one-tenth of one percent of women -- at most -- die of this complication. Once one factors in access to proper medical care, the number drops, becoming effectively nonexistent.

First Do No Harm

2011-10-19T00:58:00.002-04:00

A commenter has questions about a claim I made in this post:

You siad, "Numerous physicians have attested that abortion is never necessary to save the life of the mother."

I've never heard this before. I'd love it to be true, though I'll remain anti-abortion regardless. Can you point me towards a source? What about ectopic pregnancies? Aren't they life-threatening to the mother?

A fair inquiry, and one I'll do my best to answer.

First, a declaration that an abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother, signed by 481 medical doctors.

Second, a selection from the Association of Pro-Life Physicians' official position statement:

When the life of the mother is truly threatened by her pregnancy, if both lives cannot simultaneously be saved, then saving the mother’s life must be the primary aim. If through our careful treatment of the mother’s illness the pre-born patient inadvertently dies or is injured, this is tragic and, if unintentional, is not unethical and is consistent with the pro-life ethic. But the intentional killing of an unborn baby by abortion is never necessary.

Most of what passes as a therapeutic, or medically-necessary abortion, is not necessary at all to save the mother’s life. For example, if a mother has breast cancer and requires immediate chemotherapy to survive that can kill the baby, the physician will frequently recommend a therapeutic abortion. Another example: if a mother has life-threatening seizures that can only be controlled by medication that will kill or severely deform her unborn child, the physician will frequently prescribe a therapeutic abortion. In both of these cases, the abortion is not necessary to protect the mother’s health. The necessary medication may injure or kill the pre-born child, but this is no justification for intentionally killing the child. If the child is injured or dies from the medication prescribed to the mother to save her life, the injury was unintentional and, if truly medically necessary, not unethical.

Let us illustrate this principle further: if a rescuer is venturing into a burning vehicle to try to save its injured occupants, and is only able to save one of the two occupants, is it justifiable for him to then take out his gun and shoot the occupant he was unable to save? Of course not! Intentionally killing those you were not able to save is never justified in healthcare. We have the technology and expertise to provide quality healthcare to a pregnant woman without intentionally killing her unborn baby, regardless of the severity of her disease.

The abortion exception for the life of the mother is the exception that most commonly seduces the sincere pro-lifer. The scenario in which this exception is most frequently packaged is an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the embryo attaches somewhere inside the mother’s body in a place other than the inner lining of the uterus. It is argued that in an ectopic pregnancy, an abortion must be performed in order to save the mother’s life.

What is rarely realized is that there are several cases in the medical literature where abdominal ectopic pregnancies have survived! There are no cases of ectopic pregnancies in a fallopian tube surviving, but several large studies have confirmed that time and patience will allow for spontaneous regression of the tubal ectopic pregnancy the vast majority of the time. So chemical or surgical removal of an ectopic pregnancy is not always necessary to save the mother’s life after all.

However, if through careful follow-up it is determined that the ectopic pregnancy does not spontaneously resolve and the mother’s symptoms worsen, surgery may become necessary to save the mother’s life. The procedure to remove the ectopic pregnancy may not kill the unborn child at all, because the unborn child has likely already deceased by the time surgery becomes necessary. But even if not, the procedure is necessary to save the mother’s life, and the death of the unborn baby is unavoidable and unintentional.

A chemical abortion with a medicine called methotrexate is often recommended by physicians to patients with early tubal ectopic pregnancies, when the baby may still be alive, to decrease the chances of a surgical alternative being necessary later, but we have found this to be an unnecessary risk to human life. We offer the following true case to demonstrate this point.

One patient was diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy by her obstetrician, and he informed her that they were fortunate to have made the diagnosis early and that she should have a methotrexate abortion. The patient was pro-life, and did not want to take the medicine, but the physician insisted. The baby was not going to survive, he argued, and a chemical abortion now could prevent the need for a surgical procedure later. The chemical abortion would lessen her chances of a rupture of her fallopian tube and subsequent life-threatening hemorrhage. The chemical abortion was also better at preserving future fertility than surgical removal of the ectopic pregnancy later. Feeling like she had no other reasonable alternative, she took the methotrexate.

However, there was a complication. Two weeks later, she still had vaginal bleeding and pelvic discomfort. A repeat ultrasound confirmed the physician’s worst fears: his patient was pregnant with twins – one in the fallopian tube, and one in the uterus! He missed the uterine pregnancy in his ultrasound examination, and that baby was dying from his prescription.

Holding off surgery and watchful waiting in this case might have resulted in spontaneous resolution of the tubal pregnancy or would have required surgical removal of the tubal pregnancy when the embryo was likely to be dead, but in both cases the uterine pregnancy would probably have survived. Unfortunately, the chemical abortion killed both babies, much to the dismay of this young pro-life woman.

It is only ethical to remove the tubal pregnancy if spontaneous resolution does not occur after watchful waiting and if the physician is 100% certain that there are no twins. At this point, the embryo in the fallopian tube is likely to be dead and, even if not, the death is unavoidable and unintentional, and the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother.

In conclusion, there are no occasions in which the intentional killing of the pre-born child is justified. Scientific fact and divine law are clear: life begins at conception, and there are no exceptions to the prohibition of intentionally killing an innocent human being. We must stand true to these foundational principles through every emotional appeal and in every tragic scenario if we are to have any principles at all for which to stand.

(To be continued)
　

Abortion and Pelosi

2011-10-15T00:54:00.000-04:00

The House approved legislation, the Protect Life Act, to stop abortion funding in Obamacare. Senate Democrats are not expected to approve the bill and, pro-abortion President Barack Obama is expected to veto the measure if it reaches his desk.

This is a step in the right direction, but that's all it is -- a step. With Democratic control of the Senate, and a "president" who would never saddle a woman with something as icky and soul-destroying as a newborn baby, this legislation is a long shot. However, the Republicans can do only the possible, not the impossible.

In reaction to the above news, Nancy Pelosi came out in Perpetual Liar mode and shared her hysteria with the country:

“For a moment, I want to get back to what was asked about the issue on the floor today that Mr. Hoyer address,” Pelosi said. “He made a point and I want to emphasize it. Under this bill, when the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health care providers do not have to intervene if this bill is passed. It’s just appalling.”

The term "wicked witch" is far too kind a descriptor for Pelosi. Think about her repugnant, deceitful statement for a moment: her position is that A.) taxpayers should fund the murders of unborn human infants; and B.) anyone who opposes taxpayers footing the bill for such atrocities wants to see women die. Can you imagine a more perverse, immoral accusation?

As far as women "dying on the floor" goes, it's a myth. Numerous physicians have attested that abortion is never necessary to save the life of the mother. Regardless, the claim is a smokescreen; rougly 99% of abortions are elective. The other 1% encompass rape, incest, and the mother's "health" -- dubious justifications all.

People like Nancy Pelosi can't be taught. They can't be reasoned with or persuaded. They only can be defeated. She will stand before her Maker some day and account for her wanton promotion of the physcal destruction of children made in His image -- whether she likes it or not, whether she believes in Him or not.

On that day, I would not want to be in her shoes.

Columbus Day

2011-10-11T06:04:00.002-04:00

In fourteen hundred ninety-two

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He cruised out from obscurity

Right on into infamy.

He sailed for pillage and for vice.

He picked his nose and scratched his lice.

And when he saw an island fair,

He said: "Curse this mal de mer!

Let's drop anchor over there,

So I can snatch an Injun's hair!"

He added, "It's my solemn duty

To get some native island booty."

So he rowed in, lickety split,

To kill just for the fun of it.

He maimed and tortured, burned and slew,

Stole some 'backer for to chew.

He gifted all the noble reds

With burlap blankets for their beds;

And with intentions none too vague,

He gave them all Bubonic plague.

Now with his purpose all but done,

He floated in a gatling gun.

"Time for missionary work!"

He cried, and watched 'em twitch and jerk.

He cranked it till it ceased to fire,

Then sang a hymn and led the choir.

And as the smoke rose up he said,

"I'm glad those savages are dead.

We found no passage to the East,

But all these buggars are deceased."

And with a laugh, he sailed away.

That's why we have Columbus Day.

I Just had an Idea . . .

2011-10-07T04:57:00.000-04:00

. . . for a new T-shirt. The front will say, in bold Spanish:

If you can read this, thank a wetback.

I mean, we'd might as well have a little fun with our demographic suicide, right?

Anwar al-Awlaki: Did the U.S. Government Murder an American Citizen?

2011-10-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

Well, not unless you believe that anchor babies are U.S. citizens, which entails embracing the modern "living Constitution" brand of jurisprudence. The concept of birthright citizenship -- i.e., that anyone born on U.S. soil is an American citizen, even if his father was Osama bin Laden, and his mother is Lilith -- comes primarily from a distortion of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Before I continue, let's look at the relevant portion of the Amendment:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Anwar al-Awlaki's parents were Yemenis who attended school in the U.S., spawned a squalling representative of the natal Jihad, and later returned to Yemen when Pride-of-the-Red-White-and-Blue was seven years old. He returned to the U.S. at age eighteen, reentering on a foreign student visa and attending school at Colorado State University. The Yemeni government paid his college bills through scholarship funds. During his university years, al-Awlaki went to Afghanistan and trained with the mujahideen. I'm sure there's a Will Rogers anecdote in there, somewhere.

Unless you want to argue that Yemeni nationals and their offspring are subject to U.S. jurisdiction, or that the Fourteenth Amendment applies to non-citizens, then dubbing al-Awlaki a U.S. citizen is a non-starter. The Fourteenth Amendment applied to black Americans and the protection of their rights as freed slaves. The whole purpose of the clause "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," was to recognize a distinction between citizens and aliens, not to make aliens born to aliens automatic citizens. Original intent matters, contrary to the opinions of those who think the Constitution makes an excellent litterbox liner.

If one insists that al-Awlaki was a U.S. citizen, consistency requires that one also accept a woman's right to murder her unborn child, as per the right that materialized before the astonished eyes of the Burger Court, after spending over two hundred years shyly cloistering itself in the penumbras and emanations of the flatulations of the aberrations of that limbic region known as the Twilight Zone. Imagine the surprise of the Bill of Rights' authors as they turned over in their graves in consternation, having scribbled down abortion rights in unwitting quillmanship code for the delight of a later, more enlightened age.

And now, the patriarchy withers and dies, as women sing: "I can kill my infant, this I know, for the baby killers tell me so."

Shall we add a second verse? "Dropped my brat in the Dar al-Harb, cloaked in red, white, and blue garb."

Amen.

"The Tea Party Is Homophobic and Racist."

2011-09-26T02:57:00.002-04:00

Hollywood actor Alan Cumming said that the Tea Party is “full of such hatred in terms of politics,” in a recent interview. He went on to contradict himself somewhat before getting his train of lies back on track, by admitting that the Tea Party has “some quite sensible notions,” but “that kind of seems to be an umbrella thing that just covers up a lot of real homophobia and racism.”

Regarding same-sex "marriage," he observed: “I just think the Tea Party is out of touch with America, actually. That’s the sad thing for them to have to come to terms with.”

In March, he informed the world that, “I wanted to become a U.S. citizen so that I could vote for Obama.”

Let's all take in the above for a moment. Now give this British, leftist, bisexual dual-citizen's words the shrift that they deserve. The guy's a poster-child for why Congress should flush the idea of dual citizenship.

I love the rank hubris of celebrities like Cumming. "I'm rich and famous; therefore, people should invite me on T.V. shows and let me pontificate to the unwashed masses about how they should live and what they should think. After all, name recognition and a sizeable bank account translates to expertise on political and cultural matters."

As for the Tea Party being "out of touch with America" on the issue of same-sex "marriage," perhaps Cumming would care to explain how his opinion harmonizes with the verifiable fact that forty-one states prohibit homosexual "marriage?" Or why the federal government gives no official recognition to same-sex "marriage?" Or why the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed with overwhelming support in the House and Senate in 1996? Or why "The legalization of same-sex marriage has been driven by court rulings and legislative action, rather than voter referendums"? Or why twenty-eight out of twenty-eight state voter referendums approved legislation defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman?

Don't hold your breath waiting for the likes of Cumming to answer any of these questions. You'll be able to sit under a palm tree and soak up the sun while sipping pina coladas at McMurdo Sound before that happens. Being famous means saying or doing whatever you desire, with little or no accountability. It means never having to answer the tough questions, or demonstrate that you have even an inkling of an idea what's going on outside your precious noggin. It means constantly pronouncing, while saying nothing.

I'm typing this in my new flat in the U.K., with citizenship papers running the bureaucratic gauntlet.

Why?

Because I reely want to vote for David Cameron.

1940s Color Photos . . .

2011-09-16T04:11:00.000-04:00

. . . of New York City.

Ending the Threats of Islamic Terrorism and Influence in the U.S.

2011-09-14T05:19:00.000-04:00

I had intended a post on Monday, in which I would offer a solution to Islamic influence and terrorism in America. After a little searching through the archives, I realized that I already had posted on that very subject in quite some detail. So here, from September 2010, is my answer to the question, "How do we stop Islam from spreading throughout the United States?"

The fleshed-out version: Defeating Islamic Terrorism and Expansionism in America

Here's the short version:

1. Acknowledge, as a society, that Islam is not now -- nor has it ever been -- a peaceful religion, from the time of its founding 1,400 years ago, to this day. Admit that Islam is not just a religion, but a political ideology, and that the two stand intertwined, with no chance of unraveling. Accept that Islam poses an existential threat to Western Civilization -- a threat that, left unchecked, promises the destruction of our way of life.

2. Close and secure our borders.

3. End Islamic immigration to the United States, whether from Muslim or non-Muslim countries.

4. End the building of mosques on U.S. soil.

5. Send all non-citizen Muslims home.

6. Revoke citizenship from and deport all Muslims with known ties to terrorism, jihad, and/or the non-republican institution of sharia.

7. Dissolve and outlaw all organizations that share the ideals of Islamic supremacy.

8. Close all mosques that espouse the aforementioned principles.

9. Provide incentives -- up to and including a possible one-time cash payment -- for naturalized Muslim citizens to return to their nations of origin.

The question is not, "Does this problem have a solution?" The question is, "Do we have the grit and the will to solve it?"

The Legacy of September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T07:02:00.001-04:00

Begin with a man in slacks and a button-up shirt with a collar plummeting through the air -- a man who began his day in an office at a desk, and ended his day and his span on Earth hurtling toward the ground in a ten-second fall at one hundred twenty-five miles per hour. Seek out the photographs online. Look at those still shots of terror taken moments before death swooped in and took its victims away. Yes, viewing such grim reminders is a painful, depressing task, but a necessary one for understanding what September 11, 2001 meant. For approximately three thousand people, that day meant death -- and not a quiet, dignified passing at a ripe old age, in a bed surrounded by family and loved ones; but a noisy, confusing cut-off filled with dread, overshadowed by a backdrop of fire and smoke and raining debris. A proper perspective on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 atrocities begins and ends with a human being plunging into eternity.

Paeans to multiculturalism and platitudes about strength through diversity cannot erase this indelible image. No matter what those who rule over us say -- I dare not suggest that they govern -- multiculturalism and diversity were the unreasoning juggernauts that brought the victims low.

It saddens me to say that we are no better off today, ten years later, then we were on that day in September when Musim jihadists struck in Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon, and brought the World Trade Center towers crumbling into rubble. Indeed, the situation is worse than ever.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it is said that Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said, in effect, that "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." Subsequent events proved him correct. The American people retaliated, declaring war on Japan and defeating the nation in a long, bitter conflict.

Fast-forward to 2001. The evil acts committed in New York City and elsewhere roused the "Sleeping Giant" once again; but this time, the giant's handlers steered its ire in the wrong direction, and dissipated its resolve in fruitless democracy-building projects and assaults on people who had nothing to do with the attacks, while leaving our worst enemies in peace. All the while, people in positions of power assured America's citizenry that the problem was not Islam or Muslims or jihad, but rather "extremism," "terrorism," and the "hijacking" of religion for nefarious purposes. Islam was a religion of peace and goodness and light, and its followers were not that different from Americans. And so after going on an unfocused tear like a drunken sailor on shore leave, the giant settled back down into placidity and sleep.

Today, the "Sleeping Giant" is in a coma. It is an artificially induced coma, brought about by people with motivations as lofty and honorable as those of the man who drags a young woman off the street and chloroforms her into oblivion in the backseat of his car. It is a state of lassitude born in the honied lullabyes of a liar.

Since 2001, the powers-that-be have subjected the U.S. to a daily regimen of pablum regarding the identity of our enemy. We're in a "War on Terror," as if a tactic is an enemy. Listening to the mouthings of liberals and neo-cons like Obama and Bush and their cronies, one would think that the terrorists have no ideology, no over-arching philosophical worldview. They just exercise terror and mayhem for the sheer joy that terror and mayhem bring. They believe nothing. Religion is a tool in their hands, used cynically in the art of destruction. It means nothing to them on a metaphysical level.

Here is a partial post-September 11 list of policies, statements, and positions taken or made by our "leaders":

-- George W. Bush promoted unfettered immigration from the Third World, upping the ante in his second term by supporting amnesty, while lying about his intentions. He did not support true immigration reform, which would entail changes for the better to our chaotic system. He also refused to construct and complete a border security fence of any lasting significance.

-- The Bush Administration launched a war against Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with the atrocities on September 11, 2001. The administration also invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban. After initial victories, Bush initiated democracy projects in both countries, losing far more soldiers in these endeavors than in the earlier fighting. Ten years after the attacks, American troops remain stationed in both nations, in deteriorating conditions. The Iraqi Christian community is under seige, and our Afghani "allies" regularly betray U.S. soldiers and even murder them. Both countries have sharia-based Constitutions.

-- Bush and Obama spent years telling the American people that Pakistan was an ally in the "War on Terror." When the U.S. discovered Osama bin Laden's location, he was living in a compound in the middle of a major city in Pakistan, just down the street from the Pakistan Military Academy, Pakistan's version of Westpoint.

-- In a speech in Cairo, Obama made the statement that "I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

-- Our military -- the finest in the world -- has become infested with welfare cases, thugs, and foreigners.

-- Obama went on record in 2007, saying that the Muslim call to prayer is "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset." That same year, Obama recited from memory a portion of the Muslim call to prayer and profession of faith in perfect Arabic in an interview with Nicholas Kristof. Here are the words:

Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
Come to prayer. Come to prayer.
Come to Success. Come to Success.
Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.

The Islamic call to prayer sounds just like something a Christian would recite in an interview, doesn't it?

-- The U.S. government continues allowing Muslim immigrants into our land and even rewards them with citizenship. The number of Muslim immigrants to the U.S. increased after 2001.

-- The Bush and Obama administrations have enacted security measures that make Americans less free than they were before 2001, such as warrantless wiretapping, and intrusive TSA procedures in airports. The federal government's practical policy is that no indignity or inconvenience endured by American citizens is too great, if such intrusions succeed in protecting Muslims from "discrimination" -- i.e., minimal observance and recognition of their threat potential.

-- Muslims continue building mosques across the U.S., backed by virulent Saudi Wahabbism and funding. These mosques serve as bastions of the Dar-al-Islam in the midst of the Dar-al-Harb (Islamic outposts in a sea of infidels). Evangelical Muslims preach hate from their sanctuaries, spreading Islam within the U.S. -- even in the Bible-belt.

-- Cordoba House, an Islamic development group named after a Muslim victory over the Spaniards, plans to construct a lavish mosque at ground-zero in New York City -- with the blessings of the mayor, most of the mainstream media, and the president.

-- Muslims continue serving as prison chaplains, despite using their positions as proselytization platforms for fundamentalist Islam.

-- Muslims continue as members of our military, despite strong evidence that their religious beliefs pose conflicts of interest.

-- A Muslim soldier murdered fourteen people at Ft. Hood, Texas, and wounded thirty-one. He shouted "Allahu Akbar!" just before opening fire. In the aftermath, Chief of Staff of the United States Army George W. Casey, Jr had this bit of enlightenment for America: "I'm concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers ... Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse."

-- Between 2002 and 2010, Muslims or Muslim sympathizers committed twenty-five other small-scale acts of terrorism or honor killings in the U.S.

-- Muslims in America demand the installation of footbaths for ritual washing in airports, demand that butchers and restaurants prepare food according to Islamic dictates, and call for the institution of sharia. Prior to 2001, such clamoring happened at a much lower level, if at all.

-- The mainstream media has embraced Islamic agitation groups with ties to terrorism and happily indulges their self-mischaracterizations as groups that want peace and interreligious harmony. An example of this media whitewashing is the front-group, CAIR.

-- The U.S. military burns Holy Bibles sent by Americans to Afghanistan, while teaching soldiers to revere the Koran.

-- The mainstream media and most politicians refuse to admit that Islam is a warlike religion chiefly spread by the sword, that this state of being has existed for 1,400 years, and that the violence endemic to the religion may be found in its founder's actions and Islam's "holiest" writings. They also ignore the important fact that one of Islam's tenets, taqiyyah, is a concept that endorses Muslims lying to non-Muslims, if the purpose of their lies is the enlargement of Islam. Deception is a built-in facet of Islam.

I'll stop right there. I easily could write three or four lengthy posts, perhaps even a book, listing the asinine attitudes, utterances, and policies of our leadership post-2001. My readers may feel free to add to this list in the comments section, if they wish.

In summation, I do not believe that we're better off, now. I do not believe that we're more secure, or stronger. It pains me to say that the three thousand people murdered on September 11, 2001 died in vain. And every American who has died a Muslim-related death since then also has died in vain. We did not take this lemon of a scenario and make lemonade. We did not erect a golden monument to liberty out of the ashes of 2001. We did not find lasting unity, greater resolve, or more clarity of purpose in the wake of those deaths. And an unsung victim of that woeful day was the Truth -- only the jihadists did not slam jets into the Truth. They did not kill it or tuck it away, because the presidential administrations and the Congress and media did that for them. They have spent every single day doing it for them, renewing the lies and distortions and wishful thinking. The Truth fell under friendly fire, as it were.

The one bright spot in all this darkness is that the problem has a solution. It's a hard fix, but a real remedy, nevertheless. Later today or tomorrow, I'll post on how I think we can pull ourselves back from the brink.

How Like a Plague

2011-09-02T02:15:00.002-04:00

A LIBYAN father killed his three daughters after pro-Gaddafi soldiers raped them, in an attempt to rid the family of the shame, a human rights group says.

Soldiers raped the sisters aged 15, 17 and 18 , in the town of Tomina, east Libya, US-based Physicians for Human Rights said.

When they returned home, their father slit their throats in what the rights group said was most likely an honour killing.

Our government tells us that Muslims are just like us -- that they value the same things, long for freedom just as we do, love their children, and want to live their lives in peace with the rest of the world. Then we read stories such as the above putridity, wherein a man murders his own daughters because they had the audacity to let men rape them. What kind of sick, twisted, devil-inspired mind would support bringing down the hammer of vengeance not on the perpetrators of the crime, but on the victims? If the word "satanic" describes any real-world scenario, this is it.

The worst part is that murder of the innocent isn't even unusual in the Islamic world. It happens all the time. Violence is as commonplace as fruit in an orchard. Everywhere on Earth that Muslims rub shoulders with non-Muslims violence erupts, usually initiated by Muhammed's Maniacs. Yet our leaders keep letting them into our country by the tens of thousands. They assure us that these demons in the flesh can be democratized -- as if democracy is an end unto itself, not just a means to an end. They throw our young men and women at this insoluble problem and waste their lives, in hellholes like Afghanistan and Iraq.

I'm tired of the seeming invincible idiocy of those in charge. I'm fed up with the lies and the refusal to learn from history, current events, or Islamic "scripture." We should bar the Religion of Hate and War and Death from our shores. We should close our borders and send them packing back to the hives of insanity whence they came. Let the savages fend for themselves.The plague of Islam has offered the human race nothing of note beyond violence and misery for 1,400 years. Pray for them. Send missionaries amongst them. But keep them away from our people and our lands. You may pray for the killer. You may even visit him in his domain and strive to help him see the errors of his ways. But only a madman invites him into his home and calls him family.

Therein lies self-destruction.

From the "Strange Universe" Files

2011-09-02T01:26:00.001-04:00

Astronomers discover a "diamond" planet.

***

Brazilian scientists find subterranean river 13,000 feet beneath the Amazon.

Today's Scriptural Passage: Proverbs 26:1-3

2011-08-21T17:22:00.003-04:00

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

*****

That last verse tickles me every time I read it. I think it's evidence that God has a sense of humor. Am I warped for finding it funny?

Obama's 2012 Campaign Song

2011-08-21T00:28:00.001-04:00

How D'ya Like Me Now?

I was always the lucky one.
Was my mother's favorite son.
She read to me from Marx and Chairman Mao.
My old man was an absentee,
A truly brilliant deportee,
But he was more than Kenya could allow.

I only wanted every spotlight on me.
More exaltation than the Trinity.
I only needed constant confirmation --
Applause for my innate divinity.

How d'ya like me now?
Now that I'm president?
Up here in the Black Howse,
Folks think I'm Heaven-sent.
Communistic policies
Are all I dream about.
Still don't know where I was born.
How d'ya like me now?

* with apologies to Toby Keith

Money Well-spent

2011-08-18T01:04:00.001-04:00

Taliban, criminals get $360 million from US taxes.

After examining hundreds of combat support and reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan, the U.S military estimates $360 million in U.S. tax dollars has ended up in the hands of people the American-led coalition has spent nearly a decade battling: the Taliban, criminals and power brokers with ties to both.

I'm just glad we're paying them over there, so we don't have to pay them over here.

Robbing Peter to Pay Juan

2011-08-12T01:21:00.003-04:00

Keeping the premeditated economic apocalypse in mind, I'm delighted that the Obama administration has found enough taxpayer dollars for funding community health centers for the treatment of "migrants" and "seasonal farm workers." Now I have a window of insight into the inner workings of "community organization," in which Obama prides himself as an adept. Our unborn great-grandchildren may be in debt when they first pop out of the womb, but at least the undocumented rapists and murderers and welfare cases and drunk drivers and fraudsters will have adequate, inexpensive health care. That's what matters most.

Serving illegal aliens is a conscious objective, as this comment demonstrates:

“Health centers do not, as a matter of routine practice, ask about or collect data on citizenship or other matters not related to the treatment needs of the patients seeking health services at the center,” Andrews said.

“The Program’s authorizing statute does not affirmatively address immigration status,” said Andrews. “Rather, it simply states that health centers are required to provide primary health care to all residents of the health center's service area without regard for ability to pay.”

Given that "illegal immigrants make up an estimated 25 percent of all migrant farm workers," the intent behind this magnanimity with other people's money becomes clear: aiding and abetting lawlessness. Not only does the federal government refuse enforcement of our nation's right and proper immigration laws, but it provides services for criminal aliens at your expense.

That's what I call compassion.

Today's Scriptural Passage: Matthew 5: 43-48

2011-07-31T12:28:00.001-04:00

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Today's Scriptural Passage: Psalm 23

2011-07-17T08:49:00.003-04:00

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T04:50:00.003-04:00

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. -- 2 Corinthians 3:17

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. -- The Declaration of Independence, 1776

"There, I guess King George will be able to read that." -- John Hancock (after signing the Declaration in large, bold letters)

Today's Scriptural Passage: Isaiah 40: 28-31

2011-07-03T04:34:00.002-04:00

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Violation for Violation's Sake

2011-07-03T04:27:00.000-04:00

This news is a few days old, but deserves further comment and contemplation:

Jean Weber of Destin filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security after her 95-year-old mother was detained and extensively searched last Saturday while trying to board a plane to fly to Michigan to be with family members during the final stages of her battle with leukemia.

Her mother, who was in a wheelchair, was asked to remove an adult diaper in order to complete a pat-down search.

So Porn-O-Matics and grope sessions aren't enough. Now the TSA finds necessity in molesting terminally ill nonagenerians who barely can walk.

This situation is perverse and demented. It's nothing less than unvarnished abuse. The TSA cares not a whit about securing our airports and keeping U.S. citizens safe. At the behest of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Documented, such actions exist for one obvious reason:

Showing the serfs their proper place, which is a position of complete subservience to the federal government.

Sometimes it truly is that simple.

The Undocumented Messiah

2011-06-25T05:22:00.000-04:00

Joseph Farah's current column sheds more light on the birth certificate issue:

The one and only document expert consulted by any U.S. media to proclaim Barack Obama's "birth certificate" as legitimate has rejected that position, claiming he was misquoted by Fox News. He has further stated that Fox refuses to answer his demand for a correction.

Tremblay told WND none of his comments to Fox would permit the conclusion that the Obama birth certificate is an authentic document.

Isn't that interesting? The one person trotted out by Fox News in Obama's favor now says that the reporter twisted his words and won't air a retraction or a clarification. Sounds like everything's copacetic to me.

Farah continues:

Meanwhile, every document expert WND has conferred with scoffs at the preposterous notion that the document is somehow valid on its face. Many of them are willing to stake their credentials and their professional judgment on the fact that the birth certificate offered up by the White House is as phony as a three-dollar bill. Others confide their belief there are serious problems with the document but don't desire to cross swords with the most powerful office in the world. (emphasis added)

So not one expert has appeared on Fox News, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, EIEIO, Al Jasmearya or any other major news network touting the legitimacy of Obama's birth certificate. No one has appeared on tv next to a grinning blonde manniquin in a mini skirt. No one has said, "Speaking in my professional capacity as a government document and/or printing expert, let me assure the citizens of these fifty-seven Disunited States that Obama's long-form birth certificate is the real McCoy. He did not get it as an added bonus while ordering Sea Monkeys from the back of Grit magazine. He didn't create the document with a clerk's help at Kinko's. He did not have it airmailed from Kenya or Shangri-la. He did not consult Alex Jones and wade through a tutorial on the proper crafting of a conspiracy. It's the genuine article, and I would stake my sterling reputation on its authenticity. It has the verity of verisimilitude. Vote Obama in 2012."

In related news an Adobe expert weighs in:

"I could have done a much better replica myself, if the president had asked," Poyssick told The Political Sandbox blog when the birth certificate first appeared and he opened the document in Adobe Illustrator. "The guy that did this is a bimbo in that he forgot to 'flatten' his works to soften the background edges so the fake letters blended, softly into the green paper.

Scrutinizing the media cartel's behavior has led me to the conclusion that no genuine interest in the truth exists. More to the point, the media's actions throughout the birth certificate controversy smack of efforts at burying the truth, not ferreting it out for the American people's benefit.

Peter Falk: R.I.P.

2011-06-25T04:28:00.000-04:00

Peter Falk has passed away. He was 83.

I enjoyed him in the role of Columbo. I found the character's eccentricity appealing. I also liked his acting in everything I've seen him in -- from television to the big screen.

It's a shame that we've lost another fine actor, one from the good old days, as it were.

Will the Last Chirping Cricket to Leave Please Turn Off the Lights?

2011-06-17T05:42:00.001-04:00

Sitemeter tells me that I had 69 visitors to my blog in the past week -- more than a fifty percent decrease from a few weeks back.
That's sixty-nine.

LXIX.

60 + 9.

I will not have my blog identified with Lady GAG-a's favorite number.

Now, some might attribute this drop off to my having posted nothing since June fourth, but I know better. The inactivity of a cold and windswept moor is no excuse for not clicking that link at least five times daily.

Something's rotten in the state of Blogmark.

I blame the gaiety of children -- those mischievous little hobgoblins with a penchant for teeter-totters and merry-go-rounds.

I blame fresh air -- the noxious stuff -- and the cloying emanations from spring flowers.

I blame those stingered buzzers bumbling around their petally crowns.

I blame warbling little winged imps dive-bombing me from the trees as they sing odes of joy.

I blame sunshine -- Aie! how it burns -- and dogs slobbering for a walk through suburbs peopled by Mexicans thirty to a house.

I blame spring break -- what a crummy idea. I thought the whole point of school was letting some faceless cog of the machine raise those little demons. Now you're voluntarily keeping them underfoot for a week? Yecch! I hope you have a T.V. It's somewhat more impersonal than a state drone, but it gets the job done.

I blame employment. Keeping up with the Ahmadenijihads and the Velasquezes and the Shamalamawopbabaloobopawopbamboomaputras. I asked my neighbor what he thought about this problem, and he just stared at me with a baffled expression and said, "Que?"

I've always had difficulty communicating with my fellow man. Que sera sera.

I blame unemployment. After all, how are you supposed to comment or visit blogs if you can't pay your phone and ISP bill? Of course, you can go next door and use Gonzalo's computer, but I realize it's not the same. Thirty's company, but thirty-one's a crowd.

So I think there's a fair chance that if you're reading this right now, I can say "God bless the public liberry."

I blame porn -- the expected stuff, and the off-the-meds whacked out junk like midget, clown, Smurf, tentacular, frilled lizard, and Care Bear porn proclivities. Just ugh, you guys.

I blame alien abductions -- both the illegal human variety, and the extraterrestrial Grays and Burnt Siennas and Anunnaki or whatever else they're calling themselves this week. Close Encounters of the Most Unkind.

I blame Our Serengeti Savior. Too Serengeti. Not enough Savior. You knew I'd work this in here somehow. And his birth certificate's as authentic as a pimp whispering sweet nothings in Bambi's ear.

Crap you can believe in.

Last, I blame the news cycle. There's little going on in the world, besides the Qulling of Qadaffy. Or the Idolization of Iraq. Or the Afghanistan Asininity. Or the Economic Extinction Event. Or the Pulchritudinous Pageantry of Politics. Or the Gushing about Goody Gingrich and the Guidance of her Groovy Gigolo Groom Gnewt. How Gauche of me.

Nope. Instead, the "news" story that has carried the last week or two is a rags to riches story. Part One was known as the Waxing of the Weiner. With his announced resignation from the House of
Rep-uh-zentitives, we have come to Part Two of this riveting two-part saga: The Waning of the Weiner. Wax on, wax off, as Mr. Miyagi warned with terse eloquence. This truism applies to the washing of cars, the phases of the moon, or the political career of a six-foot Germanic sausage.

Confucius didn't hold a candle.

James Arness, R.I.P.

2011-06-04T03:13:00.000-04:00

James Arness has died.

I remember him as the hulking creature from The Thing from Another World (1951). He also played in a great little gem of a science fiction movie about giant killer ants called Them! (1954). However, most people recall him in the role of Marshall Matthew Dillon on the television show, Gunsmoke (1955 - 1975).

He appeared in a handful of films with his friend John Wayne in the 1950s.

Mr. Arness passed away in his sleep. He was 88.

Update on Graduation Prayer Ban

2011-06-04T02:57:00.000-04:00

An update on this post.

A federal appeals panel ruled Friday that a judge here was wrong to bar public prayers from today's graduation ceremony at Medina Valley High School.

Biery's order had said the school district must tell its graduation speakers that they can talk about religion and their personal beliefs but can't pray or call on the audience to pray.

He was responding to a lawsuit filed last week by the parents of Corwin Schultz, an agnostic member of Medina Valley's Class of 2011, that said the district regularly allowed prayers at graduations and other school events, which violated his constitutional rights.

Schultz and his parents declined comment and said through their lawyers at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State that they would not attend the graduation.

Discrimination Isn't for Everyone

2011-06-02T06:16:00.001-04:00

A federal judge in South Texas has banned public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony after the agnostic parents of a senior went to court.

Biery's order, released Tuesday, was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz on behalf of their son, Corwin, to block use of prayer. The judge says speakers cannot call on audience members to bow their heads, join in prayer or say "amen."

The federal court system's prescribed cure for a tyranny of the majority is instituting a tyranny of the minority. Now we all get abused in the hopes of appeasing a handful of perpetually offended jerks who believe it is their Constidelusional right to go through life without ever, ever having their mellow harshed. Isn't that nice for them?

I note that the federal government's position is that offending someone is a concern only if the person-in-question holds non-traditional or non-religious (non-Christian) ideas. If you're a Christian or a conservative type, these federal judges have no problem using your beliefs as a doormat, after clod-hopping in cowpie country.

A whole school barred from an official recognition of God's existence, due to the bellyaching of two people. That's what I call fair play.

By the way, the above does not sound like the behavior of agnostics, but of militant atheists.

I can hear the Schultzes now:

"Son, we know you're about to head out into that great big godless world, but we want to make sure that you remain unexposed to such icky praying nonsense. It might hurt your feelings; it sure as no such thing as hell hurts ours.

"We know that you're a delicate little flower, and we're not certain that your fragile sensibilities can handle the bowing of heads all across an auditorium. And the last time we heard the word A-M-E-N, we both came down with a case of the vapors and woke up having lost two hours, with residual headaches.

"Son, we love you very much; that's why we don't want you deciding for yourself about the efficacy or benignity of prayer. That's our job. However, if you must have a higher power to whom you pray, we'll make one exception. We recommend that lovely mocha gentleman in the White House.

"After all, he truly walks on water."

Half Right

2011-05-11T02:36:00.000-04:00

Even after Obama bought a box of Cracker Jacks, rummaged around through the sticky mess, and withdrew the document that he now claims is his birth certificate, more than half of Republicans still don't buy what he's selling.

More than a week after the White House unearthed President Obama's original, long-form, Hawaii birth certificate, only 48% of Republicans polled said they believe he was born in the United States.

In a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling from May 5-8 of 610 Americans who usually support Republicans in primaries, 34% said they did not believe Obama was born in the U.S. while 18% said they still aren't sure.

Ha ha. "Unearthed." I like that. I suppose we won't see the real thing until they find Jimmy Hoffa and check his moldering pockets.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

To all the longsuffering mothers out there.

You know who you are.

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. -- Irish Proverb

Down on the Corner

2011-05-07T01:43:00.002-04:00

Early in the morning
Round about praying time,
Barry runs down to the mosque
And gets himself in line.
Waiting for the Mahdi,
Brand-new world to come;
But if you think he's Muslim, well,
You're a racist scum.

Down on the corner,
Out in the street,
Barry and the goat boys are praying.
Hating infidels is neat.

You don't need a long-form
Just to hang around;
But if you've got a fake one,
Won't you lay that booger down?
'Round here we ain't picky
'Bout where you were birthed:
Kalamazoo or Timbuktoo,
Mars, Pluto, or Earth.

Down on the corner,
Out in the street,
Bammy and the aliens are cooking.
Sauteed birthers sure taste sweet.

Let's go get bin Laden.
Kill him till he's dead.
Put a bullet through his beard
And another in his head.
You don't need no snapshots
Or Youtube video.
You'll just have to take the word
Of the Magical Negro.

Down on the corner,
Out in the street,
"Barry in 2012," they're saying.
"Rigged elections can't be beat!"

With apologies to Creedance Clearwater Revival

Osama bin Laden Reportedly Ventures for Hotter Climes

2011-05-02T01:07:00.001-04:00

The Mendacious Messiah has reported that Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan -- no doubt by utilizing covert operations strategies developed by the president, himself.

It's interesting that this news comes to us a mere four days after Obama released his long-form birth certificate to the American people for the first time. Does anyone find this coincidental?

I suspect two possibilities: either bin Laden has been pushing up daisies for weeks or months, but Obama has kept the story under wraps for a rainy day, or Obama has known of bin Laden's whereabouts for some time, but withheld the killing stroke as a distraction from those other even sillier but damaging distractions -- his birth certificate and eligibility. In fact, given that Obama is the source of this report, taking bin Laden's death with a grain of salt isn't an unreasonable position.

Notice the quickness of Obama in taking credit for the terrorist's death. It's worth noting that Obama gets credited by himself and the media when positive events occur, but when things go awry, Obama shares not one whit of blame.

Initial Thoughts on Obama's "Birth Certificate"

2011-04-29T00:25:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you know by now that The Vaunted One has released a document that looks like a birth certificate from Hawaii. As for its authenticity, I see three possible angles on the issue:

1. It's fake. After all, he has had three years to perpetrate a fraud.

2. It's genuine, but has received alterations.

3. It's genuine, period.

My instincts tell me that (1.) or (2.) are the most likely scenarios, due to the time-frame and willful cover up involved. Politicians do not pay legal teams gigantic sums of money for the purpose of suppressing information from rightful public scrutiny for no reason. If you believe otherwise, you're probably one of those types who also accepts that certain shifty-eyed adults stalk little children in public parks because they love handing out candy. The whole situation stinks to high heaven, and everyone except blind Obamautomatons and those with the curiosity level of a stump knows it.

The paramount question in my mind is, "What took so long?" The answer seems obvious, and it is two-fold: World Net Daily and Donald Trump.

In the first case, we have a news organization that doggedly went where no man has gone before, that stood at the forefront of the matter since the beginning. Editor Joseph Farah's relentless digging led to a book written by Jerome Corsi, "Where's the Birth Certificate?", which already is a bestseller in pre-orders, despite a May 17 release date.

In the second case, we have a member of the monied elite and a significant television celebrity spending the last month or longer going after Obama with the same level of determination as that exhibited by World Net Daily. I don't know if I would vote for Trump for president, but I'd definitely vote for him for the position of dog-catcher, given his persistence -- which is more than I can say for Obama.

A little context: Obama did not fulfill his obligation and release his birth certificate to the American people during the presidential election cycle of 2008. Nor did he release it to Congress. Nor did he release it to federal or state election officials. Nor did he release it to the media -- mainstream or otherwise. Nor did he release it when questions arose in the political arena. Nor did he release it when citizens filed multiple lawsuits against him for its concealment. Nor did he release it when he came to the realization that defending himself from those lawsuits and keeping the document buried would cost him a pretty penny. Nor did he release it when doing so would have kept Army surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Terry Lakin from languishing in jail for six months (Obama's attitude toward the military in a nutshell: "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die"). Nor did he release it when the controversy stretched into weeks, then months, and now years. Three years.

Take one celebrity bulldog beating him to a pulp like Ali in a fistfight with Stevie Wonder that lasts weeks, one online newspaper promising a revelatory book targeting Obama's obfuscation that Joseph Farah calls a "game-changer," and add fundraising season to the pot. Mix well, and what you have is a recipe that calls for damage control.

Suddenly that gnat flitting around his ear became a maddened hornet. Simple reality stung him. What once posed a minor irritation became a major problem, manifesting itself in this result of a recent Gallup poll: only 38% of respondents declared that they think he definitely was born in the U.S.A. Poll numbers of this nature don't elicit confidence in one's fundraising capabilities, which translate into reelection prospects.

Despite the establishment media's' assurance that everything is copacetic, we know that's not the case. Rank arrogance, a sense of self-entitlement, and a belief that he is above the law brought Obama to his current destination. He shouldn't complain about the lumpiness of the bed he has made.

Obama thinks he's better than you, and he thinks he's better than me. To him, we're nothing but serfs. How dare we question his will to power?

The media believe Obama's release of his birth certificate settles the matter; but as the Carpenters might say, "we've only just begun." Now the real eligibility questions begin, for we still have the sad fact in front of us that no vetting process ever took place. That's as true now as it was in 2008.

It's also true that the media cannot be relied upon to tell the truth and hold Obama's feet to the fire, because they've busied themselves carrying water for him for the past three years. Most media outlets consider Obama "their guy," what with around four-fifths of journalists voting Democrat. It's funny that the simpering Chris Matthews -- an individual who feels a thrill sizzle through his gonadal region every time Obama blows him a kiss -- thinks we just should accept what he says, as if he's an objective authority on anything.

Let me reiterate that I'm skeptical about the authenticity of Obama's birth document. I have good reasons for my doubts, given Obama's long, sordid history of deceptions. A person could write an entire book providing nothing but a litany of his lies, but I'm supposed to embrace his prodigal birth certificate as holy writ? I don't think so. I'm nowhere near that gullible.

Obama doesn't seem to understand that he cannot gain and keep a person's trust, while doing everything in his power to arouse his suspicions. That's not how the real world works.

One final observation: Obama's release of his long-form birth certificate -- fake or not -- proves that the press was lying or speaking from a foundation of ignorance when they insisted that Obama had released his birth certificate online. One cannot release a document to the public for the very first time, if that document already was available on a website. So the "birthers" stand vindicated, in that they were proven correct.

I'm confident that the truth will see the light of day -- not a carbon-copy of the truth, but the real truth of the matter, in good time.

Patience is a virtue.

He Is Risen

2011-04-24T02:12:00.002-04:00

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28: 5-6)

*****

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2: 18-22)

*****

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)

"We Have Come to Play Hardball, and We Have Brought Our Wiffle Ball Bats."

2011-04-24T01:32:00.001-04:00

Good comments on Republican cowardice from Burt Prelutsky:

I'm afraid that when it comes to playing hardball, the Republicans simply aren't in the same division, let alone the same league, as Democrats. Partly that's because the liberals are in control of the MSM, so that when a liberal accuses conservatives of, say, setting out to starve your granny, he can count on the New York Times, the alphabet networks and the numbskulls on "The View" to provide him with a gigantic bullhorn and the world's biggest echo chamber.

But it is also the result of Republican politicians being as gutless as the kid who allows himself to be constantly cowed by the schoolyard bully. The mere notion of being called a racist, a fascist or a homophobe is enough to send them scurrying for cover like a flock of Chicken Littles. Heck, even I wind up wanting to see these punks pantsed, dumped into a trash barrel or given a well-deserved wedgie.

The sad political fact is that if you give a Democrat an inch, he'll take a yard. Give a Republican a yard and he'll resist taking an inch.

Happy Good Friday

2011-04-22T02:34:00.001-04:00

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

*****

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

You Learn Something New Every Day

2011-04-22T02:33:00.001-04:00

The Earth has 657 more barrier islands than previously thought, according to a new global survey by researchers from Duke University and Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.

The researchers identified a total of 2,149 barrier islands worldwide using satellite images, topographical maps and navigational charts. The new total is significantly higher than the 1,492 islands identified in a 2001 survey conducted without the aid of publicly available satellite imagery.

This exemplifies how science is a useful tool for mankind -- a tool in constant need of sharpening. No matter how many times this tool of Man's fashioning proves that his knowledge has limits, he continues walking the Earth smug in the belief that he knows more than he actually knows. It's part of the human condition.

Update on Arizona Eligibility Veto

2011-04-19T02:56:00.003-04:00

This confirms my suspicions:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is admitting it's possible her veto of the state's eligibility bill for office-seekers could be overturned by members of the Legislature.

"Bottom line is that I just have to call 'em as I see 'em, and it doesn't help Arizona," she added. "This bill is a distraction and we just simply need to get on with the state's business."

I couldn't tell you the number of times that I've heard politicians on both sides of the aisle, media robots, and political celebrities like Sarah Palin make comments virtually identical to Brewer's. As I said: typical.

A constituent wrote a letter to Arizona lawmakers, raising a great point:

"The governor says 'one person' should not have power over the ballot – well, she has just single-handedly vetoed a 2/3 vote of the Legislature and the will of those of us who voted you into office. I don't understand how she can veto a veto-proof vote!

"I urgently urge all of you to please override this veto immediately and put HB2177 into law. This is simply a common-sense law which is long overdue and should have always been on the books. This should not even be a partisan issue, let alone a 'controversial' bill. What is the point of having requirements for various offices, if candidates do not have to prove they meet those requirements? To not pass this law is to make a mockery of the Constitution and law itself."

Arizona Governor Vetoes Presidential Eligibility Bill

2011-04-19T02:09:00.004-04:00

Here is her stated reasoning:

"I do not support designating one person as the gatekeeper to the ballot for a candidate, which could lead to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions," she said. "In addition, I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president … to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates' among other records. … This is a bridge too far."

I admire Governor Brewer for her principled stand against allowing her state to be overrun by illegal aliens, and for her grit and determination in the face of a federal government only too happy to see Arizona swamped by foreign criminals.

That said, I don't know what she means when she reveals concern about "designating one person as the gatekeeper to the ballot for a candidate;" that strikes me as an easily solved problem, if indeed this is the current reality.

As for baptismal or circumcision records, those are just some of the acceptable document options. Others are postpartum medical records, long-form birth certificates, or notarized affidavits from two or more people present at the time of birth.

I don't know why such common-sense requirements that ensure constitutional adherence pose an ethical dilemma for the governor. How else does one demonstrate his eligibility for the office? With a wink and a handshake?

Governor Brewer seems to have fallen into the same trap as most of the establishment: worrying more about upsetting that selfsame establishment than holding elitist pursuers of high office to the rule of law. It's a sad and typical failure in current politics, and one I did not foresee from a woman of her caliber.

The World's Oldest Man Dies at Age 114

2011-04-18T23:59:00.000-04:00

Here's are his secrets to a long life:

1. Embrace change, even when the change slaps you in the face. ("Every change is good.")

2. Eat two meals a day ("That's all you need.")

3. Work as long as you can ("That money's going to come in handy.")

4. Help others ("The more you do for others, the better shape you're in.")

5. Then there's the hardest part. It's a lesson Breuning said he learned from his grandfather: Accept death.

"We're going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you're born to die," he said.

Verse of the Day

2011-04-17T19:06:00.003-04:00

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:21)

Arizona: Leading by Example

2011-04-16T00:21:00.003-04:00

The Arizona House and Senate have passed a bill requiring candidates for the presidency to prove their eligibility before campaigning in the state. The bill received overwhelming support in both legislative bodies. It remains for Governor Janice Brewer to sign it into law.

This turn of events does not bode well for Obama, given his efforts at hiding his whole documentary history from the American people. Other states are deliberating over similar legislation. I hope they follow where Arizona has chosen to lead.

Can You Hear Me Now?

2011-04-16T00:19:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I saw a young man riding down the side of a busy street on a bicycle, talking on a cell phone. I kid you not.

What's the world coming to? I couldn't tell you the number of times I've been cut off in traffic, or nearly run off the road, only to see some idiot jabbering on a cell phone as they blithely drove by, unconcerned that they came within a hair's breadth of causing a traffic accident.

What's next, children on Big Wheels with cell phones? A kid pulling a little red Radio Flyer wagon filled with kindergarteners with phones glued to their ears?

It's getting more ridiculous by the day.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating: the mass production and easy access of cell phones has transformed normal people into self-absorbed morons.

Yuckabee

2011-04-15T01:55:00.005-04:00

Here's one reason why I'd write in Foghorn Leghorn for president before I'd give Mike Huckabee my vote:

A controversial County College of Morris policy allowing illegal immigrants to enroll and pay the lower, in-county tuition rate received some high-profile support Tuesday night from likely Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee. (emphasis added)

Huckabee, the guest speaker at the Drew Forum, was introduced by president Robert Weisbuch as having backed legislation providing "tuition assistance to children of undocumented immigrants" when he was governor of Arkansas.

Weisbuch's comment prompted Barbara Eames, a Hanover resident who opposes the new CCM policy, to ask Huckabee his views on it during the question-and-answer period.

Huckabee, in his response to Eames, did not specifically refer to the Randolph-based college, but offered a spirited defense of his viewpoint that those brought to the United States illegally as children should be given the opportunity to complete their education.

He said his support for tuition assistance legislation in Arkansas was inspired by the plight of an undocumented high school valedictorian who, under the state's existing law, would have been ineligible for a public college scholarship.

"I decided I'd rather see that kid become a taxpayer, rather than a tax-taker," Huckabee said.

Huckabee said rather than targeting young children who had no choice in their decision to move to the United States, the battle over illegal immigration should focus on strengthening the borders and cracking down on businesses violating the law.

So in short, Huckabee has a history of supporting in-state tuition for illegal aliens; he approved as governor of Arkansas, and he endorses such policies now.

The final paragraph tells us that, His support for college tuition assistance became an issue in his failed run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. I assume he anticipates a second failed attempt at the Oval Office, since he's keeping the status quo on his unpopular stance.

Why do people whose presence within our borders is a violation of federal law deserve preferential treatment -- treatment that U.S. citizens do not enjoy? Better yet, why are they allowed to enroll as students in American schools at all?

Other questions: why does Huckabee assume that all illegal aliens attempting enrollment in college were brought here against their collective will as children? How does he know that some or even many didn't make that trek willingly, as teenagers or young adults? Why is ensuring that illegal aliens complete their educations a duty of American politicians? Notice the unstated assumptions built into his viewpoint.

As for his nonsense about his preference for them becoming taxpayers, not tax-takers, that problem has a solution that doesn't require handing them in-state tuition at U.S. colleges: deport them, or don't let them in the door, in the first place. I suppose that's too much to ask in the days of the Obama administration, when border enforcement is deemphasized and sunny propaganda is the order of the day.

Mike Huckabee is part of the problem, not part of a solution. He's a champion of the idea, "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." If you think pandering to illegal aliens is progress, he's your go-to guy.

The Milky Way

2011-04-13T23:33:00.003-04:00

Here's a larger version of this panoramic photo taken in the Canary Islands.

Licking the Mailed Fist

2011-04-12T20:03:00.005-04:00

Apparently, burning the Koran is worse than burning the Bible, because the Koran is a transcription of "God's" word, whereas the Bible is "written by men."

Watch the minute-and-a-half video where this is explained by the reasonable moral relativists at NBC News.

Notice how the talking head describes Pastor Terry Jones and the Afghani Muslims-in-question in equal terms -- as extremists -- as if there's no discernible moral difference between burning the Koran and murdering human beings.

It's also simplistic and misleading in suggesting that the Bible was "written by men." Christians believe that the Bible is God's holy Word, written down by men under His direct influence. So in both cases, the relevant parties accept that their scriptures contain messages to them that originated with God. Why introduce that Muslims believe the Koran is Allah's literal word, if not as an exercise in excuse-making for murder?

See My Hat? Now Watch Me Talk Through It

2011-04-11T03:49:00.005-04:00

Have you seen/heard Obama's budget speech from April 8? Here's a link with the full transcript and video of his address.

The video clocks in at just under four minutes. I remember thinking as I watched the speech on T.V. that this guy doesn't even believe in the fertilization properties of the malodorous meadow muffins he's throwing at us. Put another way, he doesn't buy his own crap.

Watch the speech, and pay careful attention to his body language, posture, tone, and most importantly, his eyes. He knows he's full of it, having about as much interest in talking up America as I do in piercing my nose with a rusted nail -- and it probably pains him about the same.

I want to call attention to one short paragraph in his platitude session:

At the same time, we also made sure that at the end of the day, this was a debate about spending cuts, not social issues like women’s health and the protection of our air and water. These are important issues that deserve discussion, just not during a debate about our budget.

Let me translate Obama's biased rhetoric: by "women's health," he means the important, God-given and constitutional right to slaughter one's unborn child; "protection of our air and water" is code for a policy of pleasing pantheists and helping the third world get ahead -- at the expense of U.S. citizens, of course. By all means, such matters should stay far off the table in discussions pertaining to spending cuts.

Happy April Fool's Day

2011-04-01T19:03:00.003-04:00

A Manifestation of a Dying West

2011-03-28T19:00:00.008-04:00

US troops in Germany have been banned from wearing their military uniforms in public in the wake of the Frankfurt Airport shooting that left two American airmen dead and two seriously injured.

A 21-year-old Muslim man of Kosovar background, Arid Uka, was arrested for the attack.

Holy frankfurter, Batman, is that stupid, or what? There's so much wrong with this picture, it's hard knowing where to begin.

First, it doesn't speak well for the state of modern Germany that American troops have to worry about being attacked and murdered in the streets by non-German Muslims.

Second, what's next? Should they don German military uniforms and goose-step up and down the sidewalks? Maybe they should scream "Ich bin Deutsch!" every thirty seconds when outside the base, or "Ich bin nicht ein Amerikaner!" Given the Nazi-like tendencies of Muslims, another possible solution is a T-shirt with the words "Ich liebe Hitler!" emblazoned across the front. Of course, the downside is that those blonde, blue-eyed Aryans might rip you to pieces for dredging up their eternal shame and rubbing it in their faces. Not to mention the likelihood that the Kosovar doesn't speak German, anyhow. In which case your last act on Earth would be convincing a bunch of foreigners that you think death camps are pretty swell.

Third, since when do Muslims only froth after military personnel? I realize that wearing the uniform increases the risk, but plenty of Muslims like killing Americans because they are Americans, or westerners because they are westerners, or anyone who has the audacity not to revere every word and unmentionable deed of their holy sand-flea, camel-spit be upon his name.

Fourth, does this policy project strength -- or weakness? Telling our soldiers that they cannot wear the uniform off-base sends this message to Muslims: we are weak, and we fear you.

It's time that we bring our men and women back from Germany. They should have been called home a long time ago.

I Like the New Look

2011-03-26T23:59:00.001-04:00

I just read that Kaddaffi's plastic surgeon has spoken to the public. Apparently, old Mo didn't pay his bill, so the doc is helping the Busybody Coalition ferret out his new disguise. Here's a recent photo. If you see him, please contact the F.B.I. :

This Is Incredible

2011-03-12T02:48:00.001-05:00

Horrific destruction caused by the Japanese tsunami.

More on Obama's Eligibility

2011-03-10T00:43:00.014-05:00

JohnC takes issue with my questioning of Obama's eligibility for the presidency:

Your contentions are flawed:

"The sole documentary evidence provided by Obama of his birth in Hawaii is a Certification of Live Birth, or C.O.L.B., which is a computer-printout document subject to tampering."

Untrue. There are two Obama birth announcements in Hawaiian newspapers dating within a week of his birth. How do you explain their existence?

"Worse, at the time of Obama's birth, the state of Hawaii willingly issued such documents to people born outside Hawaii. How in the world can a document issued to people born outside Hawaii be used as proof that a person was born in Hawaii?"

Two problems with your assertion.

First, Hawaii had no such law until 1982. Therefore, the fact that Obama was issue a certificate number as of August 8, 1961 is pretty clear evidence that the State of Hawaii was convinced at that time that he was born in Hawaii.

Second, pretending that Hawaii did issue birth certificates to foreign-born persons in 1961, such a birth certificate would state the foreign location of that person's birth. No one has ever shown one single example of a person born outside of Hawaii obtaining a birth certificate, original or copy, that incorrectly states he or she was born in Hawaii. If you have such evidence, I'd love to see it.

"As for Mr. Obama's long-form birth certificate, which details the attending obstetrician's name and the hospital's name, as well as the date, time, and location of the birth -- that elusive document has never seen the light of day. Obama has not released it on the Internet. Congress has never laid eyes on it."

This is a fascinating criticism, given that then-Senator Obama was the very first major party presidential candidate to ever publicly release images of documentation of his birth. But when Obama gives an unprecedented inch, his critics want a mile.

""By the way, a CNN poll conducted in August, 2010, revealed that only forty-two percent of Americans believe that Obama "definitely" was born in the United States."

How many of those people polled recognize that the place of one's birth may affect his eligibility to be president? We don't know, and I imagine that would change the
responses a lot.

Here's my response, taking this rebuttal one point at a time:

Untrue. There are two Obama birth announcements in Hawaiian newspapers dating within a week of his birth. How do you explain their existence?

The issuance of Obama's Certification of Live Birth (C.O.L.B.) automatically generated the newspaper birth announcements. If a C.O.L.B. fails as proof that Obama is a natural-born citizen, then announcements based upon information taken from the C.O.L.B. fail as conclusive evidence, as well.

First, Hawaii had no such law until 1982. Therefore, the fact that Obama was issued a certificate number as of August 8, 1961 is pretty clear evidence that the State of Hawaii was convinced at that time that he was born in Hawaii.

Inaccurate. According to Jerome Corsi at World Net Daily: In 1961, Hawaiian law specifically allowed "an adult or the legal parents of a minor child" to apply to the health department and, upon unspecified proof, be given a birth document in the form of a Certification of Live Birth.

The only requirement stated in Hawaiian law is "that the legal parents of such individual while living without the Territory or State of Hawaii had declared the Territory or State of Hawaii as their legal residence for at least one year immediately preceding the birth or adoption of such child."

So there's no way under the sun that possession of a C.O.L.B. constitutes proof that Obama is a natural-born citizen, which is the item in contention.

Second, pretending that Hawaii did issue birth certificates to foreign-born persons in 1961, such a birth certificate would state the foreign location of that person's birth. No one has ever shown one single example of a person born outside of Hawaii obtaining a birth certificate, original or copy, that incorrectly states he or she was born in Hawaii. If you have such evidence, I'd love to see it.

There's no pretending involved, except perhaps on your part. Since no one has seen Obama's actual long-form birth certificate, and since we have had for our examination nothing more than a computer-generated document with less information than the longer, more comprehensive birth certificate, I'm unclear as to what point I'm supposed to glean from this. The key information that you're ignoring is that Obama's full birth certificate remains hidden. You've never laid eyes on it. Neither have I. And neither has Congress or the media. In fact, a congressional document released on the Internet admitted that no official vetting process occured regarding Obama's eligibility.

This is a fascinating criticism, given that then-Senator Obama was the very first major party presidential candidate to ever publicly release images of documentation of his birth. But when Obama gives an unprecedented inch, his critics want a mile.

What fascinates me is your evasion of the point being made. The C.O.L.B. is not the same document as the Certificate of Live Birth. It is a shorter document with less information included. For example, it does not include the attending physician's name, and it omits the birth hospital's name. In addition, the Hawaii Department of Health "refused to authenticate either of the two versions" of President Obama's C.O.L.B. images online -- "neither the image produced by the Obama campaign nor the images released by FactCheck.org."

The burden of proof lies with Obama -- not with me, you, Congress, the media, or election or state officials. So far, it is a burden that he has refused to meet, with the complicity of most media outlets, and Congress.

The Incuriosity of a Dead Cat

2011-03-04T17:29:00.001-05:00

Perhaps you've heard about this recent interview of John Boehner by David Gregory of Meet the Press. Gregory takes Boehner to task for not combating "misinformation" and "stereotypes" regarding Obama's nativity myth and his religious beliefs. Boehner's answer isn't a complete disaster, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Here's how he should have responded:

"Mr. Gregory, I think your question conceals certain unstated assumptions -- assumptions that I do not accept.

"First, the American people elected me to represent their interests in Congress. They did not elect me to correct "misinformation" and fight "stereotypes" aimed at Obama. That's not part of my job description. Nor is it my obligation. You seem to think that this is one of my duties. Why? And did you hold Nancy Pelosi to the same standard? Did you interview her during her tenure as Speaker of the House and hold her feet to the fire about defending George W. Bush from perceived injustices? Did you consider that burden her sworn duty as an elected official?

"Mr. Obama has the bully pulpit of the presidency at his disposal to defend his words and actions any time he feels the need. Most radio and television networks would give him free airtime for the purpose of addressing the public and setting the record straight. Mr. Obama also has the Democratic Party in his corner. In addition, he has a press secretary whose whole reason for being is the explication and defense of Obama's policies, actions, and words. No, Mr. Obama doesn't need my help.

"Second, I reject the notion that questioning Obama's birth narrative and religious views is the same as stereotyping or spreading misinformation. The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition, describes a stereotype as: a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group. I don't see how suspicion that Obama is a Muslim, or skepticism about his birth origin is stereotyping. The issues-in-question seem of a singular nature, not stereotypical.

"As for spreading misinformation, the people most guilty of doing so are those who claim that Obama has proven his eligibility for the presidency. At best, this is a statement of ignorance; at worst, a lie. The standard "birther" position is not that Obama was born in Kenya or Indonesia. The prevailing view is that we do not know the facts of Obama's birth. No one knows -- not the American people, not Congress, and not you, Mr. Gregory.

"Let's stay with the birth issue for a moment. The sole documentary evidence provided by Obama of his birth in Hawaii is a Certification of Live Birth, or C.O.L.B., which is a computer-printout document subject to tampering. Worse, at the time of Obama's birth, the state of Hawaii willingly issued such documents to people born outside Hawaii. How in the world can a document issued to people born outside Hawaii be used as proof that a person was born in Hawaii? The answer is that it does not and cannot constitute proof. Only a liar or an imbecile would suggest otherwise. If my home state suddenly begins issuing driving licenses to anyone who can scrounge up twenty-five dollars -- even if he never has stepped foot inside a car -- then I cannot continue using my license as documented proof that I have taken a written driving exam, a road test, and an eyesight evaluation.

"As for Mr. Obama's long-form birth certificate, which details the attending obstetrician's name and the hospital's name, as well as the date, time, and location of the birth -- that elusive document has never seen the light of day. Obama has not released it on the Internet. Congress has never laid eyes on it. This exemplifies a terrible failure, as determining that prospective presidential candidates fit constitutional criteria was an official duty of Congress -- an obligation that Congress shirked. I'm not climbing up on my high horse, as I was a member of Congress, at the time.

"The simple fact is that Obama's birth origin remains a mystery, and it remains a mystery because he refuses to release his full birth certificate. In fact, he has hired a legal team and spent well over a million dollars keeping the document suppressed. I submit that if this behavior doesn't pique your curiosity, then nothing would drag you away from your uncritical acceptance of everything that Obama says and does. Speaking of job descriptions, I've always understood the media's position as that of a watchdog against government excesses, not as a partisan standard bearer for whoever holds the presidential office. I thought that telling Americans the truth was the highest responsibility of the media, not catching flak for Obama. Mr. Gregory, as long as Obama has you on his side, he'll never need me.

"By the way, a CNN poll conducted in August, 2010, revealed that only forty-two percent of Americans believe that Obama "definitely" was born in the United States. Polling data across the board indicate that Americans have questions about Obama's origins -- questions that cross partisan lines.

"Now let's address Mr. Obama's religious beliefs. His biological father was a Muslim; according to Islamic law, this makes Barack Obama a Muslim, as well. His stepfather was a Muslim. Mr. Obama spent part of his formative years living in his stepfather's house in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. He attended an Islamic school. His records of attending that school remain hidden from the American people.

"In the U.S., Obama attended a church for twenty years led by an anti-white, anti-American pastor (Jeremiah Wright) who promoted black-liberation theology. Obama professed ignorance of Wright's beliefs, despite his long attendance of the "church," his personal friendship with the pastor, and Wright's openness regarding his hatred of whites and America. Videos exist depicting Wright preaching his hatred from the pulpit. An interesting sidebar: Wright is a supporter of Louis Farrakhan, a Muslim black separatist.

"Mr. Obama has a history of talking up Islam and coming to the defense of Muslims in public. In a 2009 speech in Cairo Obama said: 'And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.' I submit that this statement is alien to the American presidential tradition. This is not the typical focus of a self-proclaimed Christian who governs a Christian people with a Christian heritage. It emanates from far outside the mainstream.

"Does Obama spend significant time extolling the virtues of Christianity and defending Christians against negative stereotypes? No. He's far too busy perpetuating negative stereotypes against Christians. One example is a comment that he made at a 2008 fundraiser:

'You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.'

"I could go on and on, miring us in the perpetual slime of inconsistencies and peculiarities of Obama's birth narrative and supposed religious views; but I think I've been thorough in making my point: that looking askance at the details of Obama's birth and religion isn't fringe kookery or racism or mere partisanship. Rather, it is a logical and reasonable response to suspicious behavior that belies his claims -- behavior that remains wholly unexplained by Obama, the Democratic Party, or the media."

Good Developments

2011-02-19T00:52:00.003-05:00

I often decry the plethora of social and political ills plaguing the U.S. So here are a handful of positive turns of events in politics. We'll see what happens:

February 17: House votes to defund nine of Obamas "czars."

The jobs on the chopping block: White House-appointed advisers on health care, energy and climate, green jobs, urban affairs, the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center, oversight of TARP, executive compensation, diversity at the Federal Communications Commission and the auto industry manufacturing policy.

This is nowhere near enough; but it's a step in the right direction.

*****

February 17: House cuts off legislative funding of Planned Parenthood.

*****

February 18: House votes for defunding of Obamacare.

Granted, this still has to contend with the twin hurdles of the leftist Democratic Party, and the Cypher-in-Chief, but the GOP must start somewhere. If we heap harsh criticism upon Republicans when they follow the mooing herd and shrink from their duty, then we should give them recognition and even praise when they take a principled stand for constitutional government.

Small steps forward are better than no steps at all.

C'est L'amour

2011-02-17T02:08:00.015-05:00

I found some Islamic bridal photos online that I thought my readers might enjoy. First, there's the "Palestinian" nuptial vest.

Then there's the polar honeymoon ensemble.

Followed by a representative example of the Assassins' Order.

The mobile deer blind.

The "All-holds-barred" collection.

Tatooine Tusken Raider regalia.

The "spared no expense royalty" set.

I like the elegance of this one, but why does she always sport that blank expression?

This is from the "Don't-fear-the-reaper/darth-vader" collection.

From "Ravishing ruminants" outfitting.

And last but not least, the "She'll never be my beast of burden" category.

Now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

2011-02-13T13:31:00.009-05:00

Attorneys for Bradley County, Tenn., and several of its officials have submitted a brief to the state Supreme Court arguing that the constitutional idea of "liberty" doesn't actually mean "physical liberty."

That's the way a brief filed by Thomas E. LeQuire of Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC, states it anyway:

"Liberty does not mean physical liberty," explains point DII in the pleading that encourages the high court to reject a request from Jeremy Paul Hopkins for a hearing.

"It is a sad and scary day in America when lawyers actually argue that the liberty protected in the Constitution does not mean physical liberty," Hopkins told WND. "The county's position is stunning. Americans should be very concerned with court opinions declaring the Constitution no longer protects persons from being unlawfully jailed.

"In this case, the county not only jailed me without authority and in violation of law, but they also jailed me in the face of a court order specifically instructing them to release me. Even more disconcerting is the fact that the state attorney general, who took an oath to uphold the Constitution and to defend the citizens, has not intervened to stop this outrageous conduct. If physical liberty is not a fundamental right, it is difficult to think of anything that would be," Hopkins said.

So if I lock these lawyers in a cage in my back yard for twelve hours, that's not an infringement of their liberty, because constitutional liberty isn't physical freedom. Makes sense to me.

Of course, this means that not one single inmate in a state or federal prison may be considered unfree due solely to the fact that he's being kept behind bars. Just because he can't leave the prison for months or even years doesn't mean that he's lacking in liberty.

Physical liberty is one of the most basic forms of freedom. It serves as a constitutional bare minimum.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no person shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . " If the county's detention of Hopkins violated state law, then in turn it violated his Fifth Amendment-recognized rights, by definition. How can due process entail illegal activity by the county? That's both logical nonsense and authoritarian shredding of the Constitution.

What we have here is a group of people who spit on the rule of law, while claiming that they uphold it.

"Who Are You?"

2011-02-09T00:52:00.004-05:00

In an article at Big Hollywood, a columnist brings attention to the casting of a British citizen in the role of Superman in an upcoming film.

I think it's more than a little ridiculous that, in a nation of three hundred-plus million people, we cannot find anyone worthy of donning the red cape, so we must look to the British Isles.

That said, this comment below the column jumped out at me:

One of the things I love best about America is we don't care who you are or where you came from. What can you do?

This is a perfect example of succumbing to indoctrination. The commenter loves our political elite's current policies of diversity and non-discrimination. Muslim terrorists murdered three thousand people on September 11, 2001, because the multiculturalists "don't care who you are or where you came from." Nidal Hassan gunned down over a dozen people in cold blood at Fort Hood because no one cared who he was or whence he came. Mosques have sprung up all over our country -- including in unheard of places like Memphis, Tennessee -- preaching hatred, violence, and non-assimilation, because no one cares who they are or where they originated. Illegal aliens storm our borders, commit disproportionate crime, take jobs away from citizens, and receive taxpayer-funded educations in their own languages in public schools, because no one gives a hoot in Hell who they are or where they came from. No one cares for loyalty or societal cohesion.

As for an answer to the question, "What can you do?", all too often the response manifests itself as a negative. "Well, we can murder, rob, rape, deal drugs, form gangs, commit fraud, bankrupt hospitals, falsify documents, swamp the welfare system, bring chaos from order, and throttle division out of unity. That's what we can do, and we're just getting started."

I submit that the commenter loves one of the worst aspects of modern America. He delights in a mindset that the founding generation would have looked upon with horror. He embraces a new outlook alien to the United States of only a few decades past.

Only a fool welcomes people into his home with no concern for their identity or origin. Just as one would shun the idea of inviting a burglar into his house because he is particularly adept in the art of burglary, so, too, must we reject the notion that having a specific skill-set is more important than a commonality of language, religion, and worldview.

"What can you do?" won't cut it for someone interested in preserving his culture.

A more important question is "Who are you?"

Pimpi Longstocking

2011-01-31T02:18:00.003-05:00

Sorry, guys. I couldn't resist.

January 28 Headline Reactions

2011-01-28T02:10:00.004-05:00

Roof collapse blamed on pigeon droppings

Whatta load of crap

*****

Sleeping with pets exposes owners to nasty diseases

Sorry, Abdul.

*****

Woman falls 23 stories, lands on taxi, survives

When she yells, "Taxi!" she means it.

*****

New couples who Facebook each other end up in bed quicker

That's because they're tired from all that instant massaging.

*****

'The Green Hornet': Desperately seeking God

They finally made a sequel to Deperately Seeking Susan.

*****

Not all energy boosts are equal

Yes, they are. But some are more equal than others.

*****

Travelers from other planets ... or from hell?

If this is a question pertaining to Algore or Obama, I don't think it offers a false dichotomy. The answer fully explains why no one can find Obama's birth certificate.

*****

Michael Savage on what's 'trickling' from Obama

That's just nasty.

They Come Here to Work

2011-01-28T02:04:00.003-05:00

See? Here's proof.

Welcome, Ahmad Jihad Velasquez!

Immigration officials have previously discovered items along the U.S.-Mexico border from Middle Eastern origin, including Iranian currency in Zapata, Texas, and a jacket found in Jim Hogg County, Texas, that was covered in patches including an Arabic military badge that illustrates an airplane flying into a tower.

Those family values and dedication to hard work bring a tear to my eye. This is the stuff of Ellis Island.

Remember Alderaan?

2011-01-22T02:53:00.005-05:00

George Lucas says world will end in 2012.

I'm guessing this is the reason:

E.U.: We've Outgrown Christianity

2011-01-21T23:57:00.003-05:00

A 2011-2012 school calendar published by the European Union has omitted Christian holidays, while continuing to note important Jewish and Muslim celebrations.

While Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter are missing from the calendar's pages, days commemorating “Sikh Baisakhi-Day, the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday, the Muslim holiday Aid-el-Kebir,” remain in place" . . .

There you have it, my friends: the spawn of multiculturalism; the natural outcome of mass immigration; the stinking droppings of apostasy. In the cradle of western civilization, the first great mission field for Christianity where the children of God brought His Good News from the land of Israel -- now the mere acknowledgment that Christians are one religious group among many is too much to expect from the E.U. Perish the thought that Christianity and its two thousand-year influence on Europe and the world might merit a position of privilege. The E.U. school calendar cannot even mention its existence.

Christianity is the only religion in the world that receives transparent disrespect from the powers that be. How interesting that this treatment fits Jesus' words like a hand fits a tailor-made glove:

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. -- Luke 21:17

But He leaves us with a promise -- a positive message of hope for the future:

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. -- Luke 6:22-23

"Hey, Moron, Why Don't You Like Me?"

2011-01-14T12:36:00.009-05:00

In a post about why people regard atheists with disdain, Vox Day shares an email from an atheist who calls himself "Uber Dawks":

Color me not at all shocked that your kind hastily pointed out Jared Lee Loughner's highly debatable atheism. This only serves as further evidence that the religious right is completely intolerant of those who hold to an atheistic view. Like McVeigh or Seung-Hui Cho or James Jay Lee before him, Loughner's atheism has absolutely nothing to do with his actions [Or Stalin's, or Mao's, or Pol Pot's... they keep saying that and their co-non-religionists just keep inexplicably killing more people. It's a mystery - VD] and to make any claim to the contrary is tantamount to bigotry-fueled profiling. It is more than obvious that the man was mentally unhinged and given his reading material was reacting irrationally and violently to the barrage of capitalist and biblical rhetoric coming from the right-wing. If you "money, guns n' bibles" types would stop forcing your silly notions upon the rest of us, we might be able to prevent misguided and mentally ill young men like this one from taking this kind of action.

Unless religion is finally replaced with science and reason, this illness and the violent reaction to it will keep on perpetuating. That is what religious belief is, an illness. Whenever a Christian asks why religious scientists are not hired for certain positions in academia or do not get their contracts renewed, the answer is simple. It is because their religious affliction affects their ability to do their work, just as the affliction of an alcoholic or serious drug addict leads to a similar inability. Like the illness of alcoholism and drug addiction, we need to treat these harmful behaviors for the good of both the individual and the society.

Let's explore the notion that "the religious right is completely intolerant of those who hold to an atheistic view." Why would this be so? "Uber Dawks" reveals his accomodating nature by answering this question for us throughout the body of his email. He claims that religion is an illness, an affliction. He tells us that violent reactions to it may pose legal or rational problems, but they are understandable responses to an agenda forced upon people against their will. He likens religious belief to drug or alcohol addiction. He implies that even mental illness has an internal logic of sorts, just so long as its manifestations aren't religiously motivated.

What's not to love? A tiny minority of unbelievers tells the great, teeming religious majority that their religion is a sign of psychological instability, and that the sole cure is embracing the twin gods of science and reason for whom they are the chief interpreters.

Let's brave this twisted labyrinth of logic. Evangelical atheists are every bit as religious as the most cloistered monk or the dizziest dervish. The difference is that they are not followers of the religion of Christ or Muhammad or Buddha, but acolytes of the religion of "Hating Every Other Religion Except The One I Made Up." Unfortunately, rather than admitting that this unwieldy mouthful is their religion, they deny that they harbor a single religious atom in their bodies. All the better to stare down their tiny collective of noses and guffaw at the rest of humanity for its stupidity. This seems perfectly reasonable, if one assumes that integrity is a four-letter word.

The atheist schtick in a nutshell: "You're stupid and deranged. If you don't love me for informing you of your sorry state, well, that's because you're stupid and deranged."

Why, oh cruel and malicious world -- why do you despise them so?

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T23:49:00.003-05:00

To all my readers and commenters: May God bless you and bring you prosperity and peace in the upcoming months.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

May the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with all of you. Enjoy your day, everyone, and remember that the greatest gift was and is Jesus, who freely gave Himself to a lost and dying humanity. I thank my Lord for loving the unloveable, and bestowing His grace upon those who do not deserve it. Including me.

Happy Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T04:38:00.002-05:00

The weather forecasts in my neck of the woods claim an 80% chance of snow on the 25th, so it seems we might have a white Christmas. That doesn't happen often in east Tennessee.

Y'all keep warm and stay safe. God bless you.

Why do atheists love reason so much?

2010-12-20T15:19:00.002-05:00

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

(Hat tip to The Deuce)

The Christmas Truce: 1914

2010-12-20T05:55:00.004-05:00

This is a great story. You can read about it here and here.

The film Joyeux Noel is an excellent dramatization of this event, and well worth your time.

Bizarre Border Busts

2010-12-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

No, I'm not talking about triple-breasted senoritas, mi amigos.

Here's a sample:

I'm Thankful for All Those Dead Injuns

2010-12-16T08:26:00.005-05:00

Angelina "The Stick Figure" Jolie and Johnny Depp bomb at the box office.

I'm sure sundry reasons exist for this turn of events, not the least of which are the nearness of Christmas, and the vibrant economy our Monied Mulatto Messiah has helped bestow upon us.

I wonder if this is one possible explanation?:

Jolie hates Thanksgiving and refuses to celebrate.

“Jolie hates this holiday and wants no part in rewriting history like so many other Americans,” the friend said. “To celebrate what the white settlers did to the native Indians, the domination of one culture over another, just isn’t her style. She definitely doesn’t want to teach her multi-cultural family how to celebrate a story of murder.”

I wouldn't classify that as the most circumspect public announcement one could make, just before a big film opening. Remember how brazen, vocal stupidity served the Dixie Chicks?

As for my family, we had a delightful time sitting at the dinner table and recounting the innumerable massacres of Indians throughout American history, including the torture of Squanto, followed by hearty belly laughs over the smallpox-ridden blankets "gifted" to Indian hunters by our malicious ancestors. After dessert, we sat and admired our extensive collection of buck, squaw and papoose scalps proudly displayed over the mantelpiece. We've taken good care of them ever since my great-great granddaddy, Lucifer Armstrong Sheridan, passed them down to us.

A grand time was had by all.

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: Summation

2010-12-13T04:34:00.006-05:00

Thereligionofpeace.com included honor killings in its thorough listing of terrorist attacks around the world (and in the U.S.), so I have included them, as well. If we call into question attacks made by Muslims against their family members for perceived or real religious violations and erase them from the list, we still have twenty-six separate terrorist attacks perpetrated by Muslims or Muslim-sympathizers in America between 2002 and 2010. That averages out to more than three acts of terrorism each year. None of these assaults rivals the 9-11-01 atrocities, yet they are examples of terrorism all the same, and should be characterized as such.

The oft-bandied term "Sudden Jihad Syndrome" springs to mind, as it is a sly recognition of the one common element in all these disparate cases: Islam as a motivating force.

The establishment media would have you believe that coincidence explains Nidal Hassan's screeching "Allahu Akbar!" just before gunning down a slew of people at Ft. Hood, that a rare alignment of the planets -- not his admiration for Osama bin Laden -- reveals why a teenage boy crashed a plane into a building in a suicidal act of destruction, and that perhaps Elvis was just as inspirational as Islam, when a Muslim murdered a Jew for no apparent reason outside religious enmity at a movie theater.

But those of us who are well-read and informed about Islam's 1,400-year war against Western civilization, against anything not subservient to itself -- a war waged continuously since its inception in the 600s A.D. -- we know better.

We're not discussing a static problem. We're examining a dilemma that grows in magnitude with the thousands and tens of thousands of Muslims who immigrate -- legally or illegally -- to the U.S. each year. They bring their non-assimilation and their virulently chauvinistic religion with them; they don't check either at the door. We now have dicey issues in our backyard with which we must contend that were unheard of twenty years ago: mosques in the Bible-belt, Islamic terrorism, demands for the institution of sharia, foot baths and Porn-O-matics and getting felt up by strangers in airports, insistence on halal butchers and restaurants, the list goes on. How can we expect solutions when the people who create these alien obstacles increase their presence on our shores every single day?

Our elitist "leaders" have a commitment to multiculturalism and its attendant "diversity" and political correctness that guarantees no fix, but in fact an escalation: an increase in the number and audacity of terrorist attacks, a broadening of Muslim demands of the government and the citizenry, and an expansion of the Balkan states built on our lands under the blind and permissive eyes of those whose duty is our protection.

Islam is an existential threat to our nation, but only with our consent. The ummah lacks the power to defeat us in a conventional war, so they've opted for the unconventional war: immigration, terrorism, and propaganda. What they cannot accomplish on a field of battle will be won in manipulating the judicial system, or proselytization, or lobbying groups that paint happy faces over every bomb-vest, or protests and riots in the streets.

As Edmund Burke said: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." For Islam's victory, all the powers that be have to do is keep the status quo, to continue playing the game of pretend that all men everywhere have the same values and loves and loyalties, that's there's no difference between a Bedouin and a Brooklynite, or a jihadi and Julia Child.

It's as if we're caught in a waking nightmare, a nightmare whose lurking shadow grows in its menace toward us. But how do we dispel the monsters that people its umbra if we refuse to wake up?

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: 2009 - 2010

2010-12-12T02:00:00.000-05:00

2009

1. Buffalo, NY. The founder of a Muslim TV station beheads his wife in the hallway for seeking a divorce. 2-12-09

2. Little Rock, AR. A Muslim with 'religious motives' guns down a local soldier in a drive-by attack. One other injured. 6-1-09

3. Glendale, AZ. A woman dies from injuries suffered when her father runs her down with a car for being too 'Westernized.' 11-2-09

4. Ft. Hood, TX. A Muslim psychiatrist yelling 'Allah Akbar' murders thirteen unarmed U.S. soldiers on their base in Texas, including a pregnant woman. Thirty-one injured. 11-5-09

5. Binghamton, NY. A non-Muslim Islamic studies professor is stabbed to death by a Muslim grad student in revenge for 'persecuted' Muslims. 12-4-09

2010

1. Marquette Park, IL. After quarrelling with his wife over Islamic dress, a Muslim convert shoots his family members to 'take them back to Allah' and out of the 'world of sinners'. Five killed, two injured. 4-14-10

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: 2007 - 2008

2010-12-11T01:00:00.000-05:00

2007

1. Nashville, TN. A Muslim cab driver runs over a Christian after arguing about religion. The young man's ankle and hip are broken by the vehicle. 2-20-07

2008

1. Irving, TX. A Muslim immigrant shoots his two daughters to death on concerns about their 'Western' lifestyle. 1-1-08

2. Atlanta, Georgia. A devout Muslim strangles his 25-year-old daughter in an honor killing. 7-6-08

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: 2006

2010-12-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

1. Chapel Hill, NC. Calling it the will of Allah, an Iranian immigrant plows his SUV into a crowd of students as 'retribution' for foreign policy overseas. Nine injured. 3-3-06

2. Baltimore, MD. A 62-year-old Jewish moviegoer is shot to death by a Muslim gunman in an unprovoked terror attack. 6-16-06

3. Seattle, WA. An 'angry' Muslim-American uses a young girl as hostage to enter a local Jewish center, where he shoots six women, one of whom dies. 7-28-06

4. Louisville, KY. In an 'honor' attack, a Muslim man rapes and beats his estranged wife, leaving her for dead, then savagely murders their four children. 10-6-06

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: 2003 - 2005

2010-12-09T04:01:00.000-05:00

2003

1. Houston, TX. After undergoing a religious revival, a Saudi college student slashes the throat of a Jewish student with a 4" butterfly knife, nearly decapitating the young man. 8-6-03

2004

1. Raleigh. Mental health problems behind member of tight-knit Muslim community deliberately running down five strangers with a vehicle? One died. 4-13-04

2. Scottsville, NY. In an honor killing, a Muslim father kills his wife and attacks his two daughters with a knife and hammer because he feared that they had been sexually molested. 4-15-04

3. Atlanta, GA. A man riding on an Atlanta commuter train mutters Qur'anic verses then attacks an army officer for no other apparent reason. An elderly woman and two arresting officers are hurt as well. 6-10-04

2005

Zero (to the best of my knowledge).

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil: 2002

2010-12-08T04:18:00.004-05:00

This list only details successful terrorist attacks within the fifty states. It does not include foiled or failed efforts, nor does it include attacks on U.S. soldiers and civilians in Iraq or Afghanistan. I gleaned the information below from www.thereligionofpeace.com.

1. Tampa, FL. Fifteen year-old flies plane into an office building in Tampa. Suicide note reveals his admiration for Osama Bin Laden and desire to commit a terrorist attack. 1-6-02

2. Tucson, AZ. A 60-year-old man is gunned down by Muslim snipers on a golf course. 3-19-02

3. Denton, TX. Muslim snipers kill a man as he works in his yard. 5-27-02

4. Los Angeles. Muslim gunman kills two people waiting at the El Al counter in the LAX airport. 7-4-02

5. Montgomery, AL. Muslim sniper kills one woman and injures another. 9-21-02

6. Baton Rouge. Muslim sniper shoots a Korean mother in the back. 9-23-02

7. Wheaton, MD. Muslim sniper kills 55-year-old man. 10-2-02

8. Maryland. Muslim sniper kills three men and two women in five separate attacks. 10-3-02

9. Manassas, VA. Muslim sniper kills 53-year-old man. 10-9-02

10. Fredericksburg, VA. Muslim sniper kills 53-year-old man. 10-11-02

11. Falls Church, VA. Muslim sniper kills 47-year-old woman. 10-14-02

12. Silver Spring, MD. Muslim sniper kills 35-year-old bus driver. 10-22-02

Back in Action

2010-12-08T04:17:00.003-05:00

Howdy, y'all. I took a short break from writing new posts during and after Thanksgiving; it took the feast this long to digest. I hope everyone's having a good December, so far.

I'll be playing catch-up for the next couple of days, commenting on recent stories in the news. I hope you'll bear with me, and maybe even find these posts entertaining or illuminating in some fashion.

A Belated Note: To the victims of the Japanese Empire's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and to their families. We have not forgotten what you gave or what you endured.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Don't Worry; Bend Over

2010-11-22T12:00:00.003-05:00

Here's a little song I wrote.
I'll sing it while I search your tote:
Don't worry; bend over.
We have some Constitution trouble.
Don't you fret, we'll make it double.
Don't worry; bend over.

Somebody wants to make us dead,
And fill us full of witless dread.
Don't worry; bend over.
Our policies are quite pragmatic.
Just step into the Porn-O-matic.
Don't worry; bend over.

Before you pass that airline gate,
You first must irradiate.
Don't worry; bend over.
Won't birth no kids, no screaming brats.
You better raise yourself some cats.
Don't worry; bend over.

I've got my plunger and my gloves;
Vaseline helps me show the love.
Don't worry; bend over.
Janet said that I must grope,
But turn down offers to elope.
Don't worry; bend over.

I've been at this a real long time,
Protecting you and fighting crime.
Don't worry; bend over.
Wipe your tears, miss, and dry your eyes.
You get to fly the friendly skies.
Don't worry; but first bend over.

*With apologies to Bobby McFerrin

"Now, How'd That Bomb-vest Get There?"

2010-11-21T03:03:00.004-05:00

DHS may allow Muslims to pat themselves down.

Rest assured, everyone. In the event that they discover bombs, firearms, box cutters, or acidic compounds attached to their persons unbeknownst to them, they promptly will arrest, jail, indict, try, and execute themselves. Muslims are nothing if not accommodating to infidels. Just ask the Jihad Center at Ground Zero developers.

So don't worry.

Be happy.

And bend over.

Ancient Mexican Secret

2010-11-21T01:44:00.002-05:00

You know that you're in a multicultural, diluted society when you break open your fortune cookie after eating supper at a local Chinese restaurant, and read this bit of wisdom:

"Amor es devuelto con amor."

Or, in the vulgar tongue: "Love is repaid with love."

What's next? Asking for a menu, only to have the Chinese waitress stare at you in helpless consternation, while she shrugs and utters:

"Lo siento, no hablo Ingles."

Department of TNA

2010-11-18T01:36:00.013-05:00

"Anybody find me . . . somebody to grope!"

"This is proper TNA-approved hand technique, when fondling the genitalia of WWII veterans, toddlers in diapers, nuns, and old ladies on Hoverounds."

"Sir, let me check your nose for hidden thermonuclear devices."

"The Fourth Amendment is dead! Mission accomplished!"

Take Your Banner Elsewhere Part II: Update

2010-11-13T23:00:00.002-05:00

Part I

Now, after a public outcry, the school has decided that the grand old flag can come back.

Parraz says the school got flooded with so many complaints from upset parents both inside and outside of Denair that he was called into to "handle the situation."

Parraz says the school decided on Friday to allow Cody to display his flag again, and now it will be shifting its focus to the students who complained.

"In no way did we want to take that right away from Cody," Parraz told Fox40 on Friday. "…We think we know who the instigators are that were trying to do that and we need to meet with their parents and those students to just kind of explain that this isn't what we want to have. We want to make sure that our kids can appreciate a safe environment and be able to have the American flag."

They're making the right decision, but it's telling that only a huge cry of outrage from the public made them see the light. Let's see if this state of affairs lasts beyond the next Stinko de Mayo celebration.

Take Your Banner Elsewhere

2010-11-13T02:19:00.006-05:00

Another fine example of seamless alien assimilation. And you thought mass, unrestricted immigration/migration was a negative influence on our country.

Officials in a California school district said a middle school student was told to take a U.S. flag off his bike to avoid "racial tension."

Denair Unified School District Superintendent Edward Parraz said Cody Alicea, 13, was told not to fly the U.S. flag from his bike while at Denair Middle School after complaints from other students, KCRA-TV, Sacramento, Calif., reported.

Whoever thought that we'd live to see a day when flying an American flag in America was a controversial act? I wonder which fine, upstanding race looks at a U.S. flag flapping in a California breeze and feels incensed?

"(The) First Amendment is important," Parraz said. "We want the kids to respect it, understand it, and with that comes a responsibility."

Of course, the best method of teaching respect for the First Amendment is in its deliberate violation -- especially on behalf of an unassimilable alien. Just like teaching a love for the Second Amendment entails the requirement of magazines that hold one bullet, Kevlar vests for Bambi, and door-to-door firearm confiscations.

Parraz said racial tensions boiled over at the school this year around the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

"Our Hispanic, you know, kids will, you know, bring their Mexican flags and they'll display it, and then of course the kids would do the American flag situation, and it does cause kind of a racial tension which we don't really want," Parraz said. "We want them to appreciate the cultures."

So in honor of, you know, a Mexican holiday, we'll squelch the rights of, you know, U.S. citizens, while showing utmost respect for the, you know, racial animosities, cultural intolerance, and brazen refusal of assimilation of those of Mexican extraction. Viva la raza!

Notice how relieving racial tension means accommodating the troublemakers at the expense of the innocent.

This is the bane of multiculturalism. This is vibrant diversity on full display. In pursuit of a leftist Mexitopia, no right of yours is too sacred for infringement, and no whim of the Exalted Other is too mean-spirited or petty for anything short of slavish devotion. A long-running theme of this blog going all the way back to 2004 is that unrestricted migration plus inevitable non-assimilation equals disaster for the United States of America. Down this path lies an achievement no terrorist with a suitcase nuke could hope to accomplish: the extinction of our way of life, the passing of America as we and our forefathers have known it.

We have upwards of thirty million people -- the population of a small country -- living within our borders who not only reject our culture outright, but make war on it with every method at their disposal.

We can ignore them, but they will not ignore us. They keep coming in great droves. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, each year. They make larger and more unreasoning demands of us -- demands with no end. Their sense of entitlement grows with their numbers. And in this tyranny of the metastasizing minority, we sit back and smile and speak of multiculturalism and diversity and tolerance. These scales will not remain balanced for much longer.

When one defines himself by his infinite tolerance, he soon becomes a slave to those less tolerant than himself.

In Honor of Our Veterans

2010-11-12T02:19:00.002-05:00

A Nation's Strength

What makes a nation's pillars high
And it's foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.

And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Like a Turkey Pines for Thanksgiving

2010-11-08T03:05:00.008-05:00

I keep seeing bumper stickers with the caption: Miss Me Yet?, followed by a delightful photo of Jorge W. Bushandez. Let me just go ahead and assure everyone that I miss him like a Dalmatian misses Cruella de Vil. Like Dracula longs for Quincey Morris. Or a sot yearns for the good old days of Prohibition.

Here's one reason why: George W Bush: Kanye West attack was worst moment of presidency

Contemplate this revelation for a moment. On September 11, 2001, approximately three thousand innocent Americans died in the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil in our country's history. That was not the lowest point of Bush's presidency. Thousands of American soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, for reasons that baffle even those whose lifelong ambition is to drink Bush's bathwater. Seeing flag-draped coffins rolling in like parcels on a conveyor belt didn't define the nadir of his presidency. An influx of millions of illegal aliens and the cultural and economic disaster they carried with them didn't phase Bush; in fact, he loved every minute of benefiting his rich, greedy cronies with cheap labor at your expense. Neither massive spending increases signed into law by his pen, nor the financial ruination of our country manifest in bailouts and "stimulus" programs even gave him a moment's pause.

But enter a ghetto thug with an I.Q. lower than my shoe-size, a talentless punk who enjoys storming stages and horning in on the fifteen minutes of waifish music starlets, a person with all of the class of a bum made pariah amongst the other back-alley bums for his failures at personal hygiene -- that individual's opinion is what gives Dubya the wonky britches. Imagine that.

See, Kanye thought Bush was a racist because he didn't go to Nawleuhns during Hurricane Kakillya and provide each welfare case a personalized limo ride outside the radius of nature's bigotry. Why, the nerve of Bush not aiding and abetting the looters, rapists, and vandals in looting, raping, and vandalizing! And only an inveterate racist wouldn't brave the bulging levees and hold back Lake Pontchartrain by the sheer force of his will.

I can't wait to read Bush's new memoir, Mi Casa Es Su Casa. I'm sure it's full of steaming nuggets like this story.

Maybe we'll learn that he picked Dick Cheney for Vice President because his first choice got himself deported back to Mexico.

Lost in the Neverland

2010-11-05T01:11:00.002-04:00

From The New York Times (hat tip to Vox Day):

Tuesday’s election was indeed a “shellacking” for the Democrats, as President Obama admitted after a long night of bad news. It was hardly an order from the American people to discard the progress of the last two years and start over again.

First, that this newspaper considers the last two years as indicative of progress is all you need to know about where it falls on the ideological spectrum.

That said, notice the contradictory nature of the above quote. The Democrats' annihilation in the House is not evidence that the people reject Obama's and the Democrats' agenda? Really? That's what I call keeping on the sunny side. However these leftists spin the situation, it's certainly not evidence of voter approval of the Obama/Democrat blueprint. Voter endorsement would have meant the Democrats keeping control of the House, and maybe even gaining a few seats in the House and Senate -- in other words, the polar opposite of what actually happened.

Here's the breakdown (so far) of gains and losses in the U.S. Congress between 2008 and 2010:

House Democrats: 255 (2008); 187 (2010)
House Republicans: 179 (2008); 239 (2010)

Senate Democrats: 59 (2008); 53 (2010)
Senate Republicans: 40 (2008); 46 (2010)

Obama has spent the last year and nine months ramming home unvarnished socialism with all the gentility of Farmer Brown tickling Old Bossy's tonsils from the wrong end of the cow. All the while, the Democrat Congress has served as a collective rubber stamp for his every Marxist whim. Both entities (and I use that word in the creepiest connotation possible) have spent the better part of two solid years spitting in our faces and smugly giving us the one-finger salute because we don't like it. This behavior culminated in passing socialized medicine into law, which ensures the destruction of the American healthcare system. I have never seen a more blatant disdain for the people's will than that displayed by this past Congress and the current anti-American-in-Chief. Now The New Leftist Times assures us that the embarrassing mudhole-stomping on tuesday had nothing to do with the Democrats' far-left, fringe lunatic agenda.

This kind of reality disconnect is like someone insisting that the glass is half-full, even as he watches it empty down the drain. Of course, only someone with a strong tendency toward self-delusion would champion leftist causes, in the first place.

Happy Election Day

2010-11-02T17:11:00.003-04:00

To lodge all power in one party and keep it there is to insure bad government. -- Mark Twain

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. -- Groucho Marx

The only thing we learn from new ELECTIONS is we learned nothing from the old. -- American proverb

Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason. -- Author Unknown

If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these acceptance speeches there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven. -- Will Rogers

In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant. -- Charles de Gaulle

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle. -- Alexis de Tocqueville

Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom. -- Friedrich August Hayek

Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country. -- Ambrose Bierce

Ask a Silly Question . . .

2010-11-01T03:51:00.005-04:00

Bill Maher asks: "Am I Racist to Feel Alarmed By the Thought of Islam Taking Over the Western World?"

Yes, Bill, I'm afraid so. Just as you are Muslim if you shudder at the prospect of racists taking over the Western world.

It's gratifying that Maher believes Western civilization needs preserving, that we should mix it up a little when naming our children, instead of dubbing every single one of them "Muhammed."

"Hey, Muhammed, have you seen Muhammed?"

"Yes, he went with Muhammed over to Muhammed's house. I think they were going to pick up Muhammed, later, and go to Muhammed's Bar-and-Grill and play Whack-an-Infidel and shoot some pool."

"Oh, okay. Thanks."

"No problem, Mo. Tell Muhammedette I said 'Hi.' "

Muslims sure are an imaginative lot.

Monikers aside, I wish Bill Maher and other incisive cultural commentators would learn the simple, fundamental truth that Islam is not a race. Just as the Borders-Are-For-Cartographers Club needs to learn that Mexican is not a race. Neither is LGBT (Lettuce, Guacamole, Beef, Tomato), morbidly obese, pothead, Democrat (redundant, I know), or Obamoid -- although I admit that the last form a constellation unto themselves.

Coming soon: Bill ponders, "Am I a Thuggee assassin if I don't like figure skating?"

Boogety-boo!

2010-10-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

"We Do Have a Creator -- I Just Forgot About Him, As I Basked in the Wonder of Me!"

2010-10-28T02:25:00.002-04:00

After several misquotations and incoherent paraphrases of the Declaration of Independence, and after much alternative media scrutiny of his omissions, Obama finally gets it right:

The Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

In four speeches on Friday, Saturday and Monday, Obama cited the word “Creator.” CNSNews.com, Fox News and other media outlets had reported on Obama's numerous omissions, including two last week.

Let's forgive his honest mistake. After all, the President of the United States of America's repeated misquoting of the most famous document in U.S. history is a common occurence, isn't it?

Hope and Change has no time for precision of language. Nor for an accurate reflection of our cultural heritage.

"It's Change we believe in, not God!"

Helen Thomas Syndrome

2010-10-23T23:55:00.006-04:00

In a post about Muslims at Vox Day's blog, a commenter named Carolus said:

You're forgetting about Helen Thomas, longtime leftist media propagandist, who was forced into 'retirement' for making some less-than-obsequious remark about the non-existent lobby which cannot be named. (emphasis added)

I'm giving Carolus the benefit of the doubt, and assuming that he didn't read Ms. Thomas' actual words. If he did read and comprehend her remarks, I'm not sure what other conclusion I can reach, except that -- like Helen Thomas -- he doesn't like Israeli Jews.

Here's a transcript of Thomas' controversial comments:

RABBI DAVID NESENOFF, RABBILIVE.COM: Any comments on Israel? We're asking everybody today. Any comments on Israel?

HELEN THOMAS, FMR. HEARST COLUMNIST: Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any better comments than that?

THOMAS: Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not Germany and it's not Poland.

NESENOFF: So where should they go? What should they do?

THOMAS: They go home.

NESENOFF: Where's home?

THOMAS: Poland, Germany.

NESENOFF: So you think Jews should go back to Poland and Germany?

THOMAS: And America and everywhere else.

Notice that Thomas said nothing specific about "the non-existent lobby which cannot be named" (the Israel lobby). Hers was a blanket, condemnatory statement about the Jews of Israel. Characterizing her opinion as "less-than-obsequious" allows her more credit than she deserves.

Give this some thought. She's calling for a second exodus of all the Jews of Israel, demanding that they leave the region the Romans called Palestine en masse, and return to countries where they were persecuted: shot by firing squads, locked in gas chambers, burned alive, worked to death in labor camps, robbed, starved, separated from their families against their will, and experimented upon as human guinea pigs in the most inhumane fashion imaginable. I'm referencing Poland and Germany, here.

This is not failure in expected self-abasement. This is not legitimate criticism of Jewish actions or words on a personal or national level. This is "Palestinian" propaganda. This is rejecting Israel's right of existence as the single Jewish nation on Earth. If her spoutings don't qualify as blatantly anti-Israel, then nothing does.

Now, Ms. Thomas has every right in the world to be a Jew-hating, Israel-despising, terrorist-loving bigot. And her employers had every right in the world to tell her to take her hate carnival on the road and never come back. Liberty has consequences. Abuse of liberty also has consequences.

If Al $harpton or Je$$e Jack$on declared that whites should "get the hell out of the U.S.," most of Helen Thomas' defenders wouldn't say, "Well, those are just blacks who decided to leave the plantation," or "They're just being less-than-obsequious." No, they would call it by its proper name: rank hatred of whites.

Apparently, Ms. Thomas remains unburdened by the knowledge that Jews have millennia of history in the Promised Land -- a history that was ancient before the death-worshippers who call themselves "Palestinians" existed. Apparently, she's unaware that the Jewish presence in Israel has remained continuous since Titus sacked and destroyed Jerusalem. Ignorance being bliss, she also remains clueless about the modern nation of Israel's origins -- how a historic connection to the land, years of legal proceedings, and victory through force of arms led to its creation and maintenance. Israel has a right of existence, just as the U.S.A. has a right of existence. One cannot argue with consistency and intellectual honesty against the former, without decrying the latter.

Those who hate Jews and/or Israel follow a specific pattern in their thought processes and rhetoric. Something along these lines:

1. Make extreme, hate-filled, historically-ignorant and biased comments about Jews and/or Israel.

2. Demand and expect zero criticism or consequences for said rhetoric.

3. When faced with inevitable criticism or consequences for such rhetoric, deny hating Jews and/or Israel, while insisting that legitimate criticism of Jews and/or Israel is impossible, since it entails standing outside the politically correct threshold. (Of course, those familiar with the mainstream media's portrayal of the Israeli-"Palestinian" conflict know this is hogwash).

4. The real paranoiacs reach this step: those criticizing or enacting consequences upon them are closeted Jews.

It's a nice, comfortable, conspiratorial view: express unlimited hate; when called on this behavior, dismiss critics as PC, Jews, or Jew-sycophants. As I said, a cozy paradigm for those who shun introspection.