Another Bad Hitlary Idea

It seems that Democrat frontrunner Hitlary Clinton wants to create a national public service academy.

This is the kind of thing that demonstrates the truth in stereotypes, since it only serves the purpose of government control and self-perpetuation of Big Government. After all, the kind of indoctrination for bureaucrats that Hitlary wants to promote is already occurring at many major universities and teachers colleges.

Aside from that, we already have three academies which serve the purpose of training Americans for national public service nicely, thank-you-very much. One is on the banks of the Hudson; another is at the foot of the Rockies; a third is on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

Utterly Predictable

There are some people who, when you meet them, you immediately identify as being twenty pounds of crap in a ten pound bag.

One such individual is among the Holy Fathers of Montclair, the property owners' association in the community in which I live. It has just reinstalled as its president an individual whom I had the displeasure of meeting about ten years back, an individual whose sanctimony is exceeded only by his ignorance. He has, two or three times, run as a write-in for the Dumfries District seat on the Prince William County School Board.

I received the Association's monthly magazine in today's mail. That monthly journal regularly includes a President's page, a rah-rah section for our little community which had heretofore appeared on the first inside page.

A few month's back, it started appearing on the front cover.

In the edition delivered today, right up at the top, it features a quotation which, I suppose, is intended to be some kind of words of wisdom. Much like the TR quotation appearing to the right.

The author of the quotation? The gentleman in question!

I suppose it is, sadly, not unexpected.

It does, however, speak volumes about the character of the man, or the lack thereof.

One wonders whether to just laugh, or to cry.

Now THIS Is Funny

Hillary Clinton and her driver were cruising along a country road one evening when an ancient cow loomed in front of the car, the driver tried to avoid it but couldn't --- the aged bovine was struck and killed. Hillary told her driver to go up to the farmhouse and explain to the owners what had happened. She stayed in the car making phone calls to lobbyists.

About an hour later the driver staggered back to the car with his clothes in disarray. He was holding a half-empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand, a rare Cuban cigar in the other, and was smiling happily, smeared with lipstick.

"What happened to you," asked Hillary?

"Well," the driver replied, "the farmer gave me the cigar, his wife gave me the wine, and their beautiful twin daughters made passionate love to me"!

" My God, what did you tell them?" asked Hillary.

The driver replied, "I just stepped inside the door and said, I'm Hillary Clinton's driver and I've just killed the old cow."

H/T to Nealz Nuze.

More Far-Left Guilt-By-Association Tactics

So now the boys and girls at Ranting Kids ... er, Raising Dough ... er, "Raising Kaine" are attacking Jeff Frederick because he was endorsed by former Dumfries Mayor Mel Bray, recently accused of "keeping a bawdy place," a misdemeanor under the Virginia Code.

I don't know Mel well, though I've met him a few times over the years, and I have to say that, knowing his record, I am dubious about the charge and his knowledge of the activities in the business. But the assertions of Ranting Kid James Marting is assuredly interesting:

The only thing I can say is, "The best judge of a man is the company he keeps."

I guess the point is that Jeff simply didn't notice --- assuming Bray's guilt, as Martin appears to (never mind that pesky Sixth Amendment presumption of innocence) --- the scarlet "P" that is issued to keepers of a bawdy place. Perhaps Bray kept it hidden under an article of clothing (assuming his guilt, which I don't). Perhaps he wears in as a tattoo, in a region where "the sun don't shine."

In any case, I'm certainly happy to play the Martin game, and apply his standard, though, to him: wing-nuts Cindy Sheehan, Mike Gravel, and Dennis Kucinich; adulterer Jesse Jackson; adulterer and prevaricator Bill Clinton; convicted tax-evader Dan Rostenkowski; Democrat David Duke; former KKK member Robert Byrd.

I don't know who comes out worse in this game, but Martin doesn't come out so well, based upon the above listing of the flower of Democrat pulchritude.

I, for one, am fully prepared to reserve judgment on the charges against Bray, as I assume (but don't know) Frederick has.

You can play, too!

Michael Vick --- The Appropriate Sentence

One is something at a loss to understand the level of depravity necessary to underlie the type of cruelty of which Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is accused. One needn't be a member of PETA (that's "People for the [so-called] Ethical Treatment of Animals," not People for the Eating of Tasty Animals) to be repulsed by it.

Of course, Vick is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but the question does arise: What is the appropriate punishment should he be found guilty of the charges against him?

For the answer to that question, though, I harken back to the late Lewis Grizzard, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who offered his suggestion for the appropriate punishment for Jim Bakker, for his misdeeds related to the Jessica Hahn imbroglio. In this regard, Grizzard was a man ahead of his time.

Grizzard suggested that Bakker's punishment should be very simply: he should be locked in a room, naked, with a raw pork chop tied around his neck... along with four female pit bulls, with extreme PMS.

Sounds about right to me as far as Vick is concerned.

Since You Asked....

1. I am a fair to middlin' singer, and sing in my church's choir (Bass II).

2. I acted in high school plays and musicals, and in one college play... giving evidence to the observation that all litigators are frustrated actors.

3. I am an Eagle Scout, Phi Beta Kappa, and a singularly lousy athlete... but I really enjoy playing softball with my church's team.

4. I think Thomas Jefferson was overrated; this nation is more reflective of the intellectual contributions of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

5. I was chosen as the speaker at my high school graduation ... by a committee that included a lefty English teacher who threw me off of the forensics team for an incredibly stupid reason.

6. I'm a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions fan.

7. I have conceptual objections to paying $5 for a cup of coffee.

8. My idea of Heaven is: a Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Corona in one hand; a tall tumbler of Crown Royal Special Reserve (or a draft Alaskan Amber) by my side; a Tom Clancy novel in my lap; and my wife and the beautiful sons she has given me surrounding me.

Why am I telling you all this? Because Leslie Carbone tagged me with a meme, the rules of which are: list eight habits or facts about yourself, then tag eight more people.

Tagged are:

Jim Riley

Citizen Tom

Charles Reichley

Ben Tribbett

Greg Letiecq

Waldo Jaquith

Vivian J. Paige

Doug Mataconis

The World's Number One Terrorist Target?

Dubai, a nation in the Persian Gulf, now boasts the world's tallest building.

Another reason to pursue vigorously the War on Terror.

Targeting the Vile Weed

Got a couple of e-mails over the past few days about this proposal, apparently another Democrat scheme to buy the votes of one group by screwing another, smaller group:

Currently before the United States Senate is a proposal to fund health insurance on the backs of tobacco products to the tune of $35 billion (that's Billion with a B). Most egregious is the proposed tax rate on cigars of 53.1%, including a ludicrous 20,400% increase in the overall cap. This would make handmade cigars - a true mom-and-pop industry, a product enjoyed by "choice", an average 3 times per week - the single largest excise taxed item in the entire Internal Revenue Code....by a long shot.
This piece of legislation is called SCHIP (State Childrens Health Insurance Plan). Tonight this bill is being marked up in the Senate Finance Committee and is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote as early as end of week.
We urge you to call both of your U.S. Senators today and express your opposition to funding "SCHIP legislation" with punitive cigar taxes. As a constituent your voice will be heard. Please see phone numbers below for your Senators.

Another e-mail pointed out how this will devastate the economies of places like the Dominican Republican, Nicaragua, and Honduras.

I suppose I'll give up cigars (the only vice Mrs. Young allows me) if this ridiculous tax passes. Aside from the absurdity of the price (my average cigar is now less than $5) with this ridiculous tax, government should get the Hell out of the business of socializing medicine. To the extent that I may refuse to fund it, I will.

As If There Were Any Doubt

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Are You a Dumb American?

H/T to J's Notes.

Biden Insults President

The estimable Senator from Delaware thinks our President is "brain dead."

Geez. Next thing you know, he'll be plaigarizing has-been British politicians.

Give Biden credit, though: he knows from whence he speaks.

Two Great Movies For Independence Day

Just got home from the Independence Day festivities, and turned to Turner Classic Movies. There are two for the day, which truly bring home the message of the sacrifices made by the Great Men and Women who made the Nation:

1776, a musical starring Ken Howard ("The White Shadow"), Howard da Silva, Blythe Danner ("The Great Santini"), William Daniels ("St. Elsewhere"), and John Cullum ("Northern Exposure"), a movie which manages to capture so much of the relationship between Jefferson and Adams (whose disputes were significant, but who both were indispensable to the Founding, and both who died fifty years to the day after the signing of the Declaration);

The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck"), Jason Isaacs ("Armageddon"), Tcheky Caryo, and Chris Cooper, a movie which manages to capture the sacrifices made by the Founding Generation.

Completely unrealistic. And moving representations of America's Founding. Required viewing.

Perhaps the best lines: "Treason is a crime created by the winners as an excuse for hanging the losers." Benjamin Franklin, 1776.

Or "Stay the course." Colonel Henry Burwell, The Patriot.

Pandak Displays Typical Democrat Arrogance

Had occasion to visit website for Sharon Pandak, who is again running as a Democrat for Chairman of the Prince William Count Board of County Supervisors, and found this little tidbit in the very first sentence, right on the front page:

Several weeks ago we kicked-off our campaign to take back the Chairmanship of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors.

"Take back"??!?!?! Correct me if I'm wrong, but Pandak was never Chairman of Prince William County's Board of Supervisors. Therefore, there's nothing for her to "take back."

Of course, perhaps she's referring to having the Democrat Party "take back" the Chairmanship of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors.

One marvels at the conceptual arrogance of that statement, which implies entitlement, as though the Chairmanship of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors were something to which Democrats were entitled.

Typical.

More Far Left Idiocy

Just a few days after some on the far Left screamed about Ann Coulter's latest comments about the Breck Girl ... er, former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, Jason Sigger --- the "Armchair Generalist," offering "a progressive view on surrender ... er, military affairs" --- favors us with this caricature.

Could someone please explain to me why it's not appropriate to ridicule the far Left as Coulter did --- by saying “I've learned my lesson. If I’m gonna say anything about John Edwards in the future, I’ll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot" --- but it's perfectly acceptable to caricature a Conservative as a Nazi?

Oh, and by the way, let's be sure to recognize that the smears against Coulter rely upon ignorance of the context in which her comments were actually said, which was to note Bill Maher's largely-ignored comments bemoaning the fact that assassins in Pakistan missed Vice President Dick Cheney. She was, of course, making the point that such comments would be ignored --- as they were for Maher. You can hear the entire context of her comments here, as opposed to the misleading excerpt posted by the Edwards campaign above. In case you need a remedial course in sarcasm, this is it.

I've also recently seen a complaint because, in 2003, she wrote a column claiming that John Edwards drove around with a bumper sticker saying “Ask me about my son’s death in a horrific car accident.” That Democrat activist and campaign flak Bob Shrum recently published a book which confirms Edwards' frequent use of his dead son as a campaign prop apparently doesn't matter to those who wish to trash Conservatives.

One wonders whether people like Bryan J. Scrafford, in high dudgeon over the misrepresentation of Coulter's comments a few days ago, will give as much Internet ink to Sigger's outrageous smear.

GOP Stalwart Dies

I was saddened to open my Potomac News this morning and learned that Vivienne Fulford had passed away.

She was one of those wonderful GOP stalwarts who was active when I first became involved in local politics. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Young Republicans both before and during my tenure as Chairman, and never seemed to suffer from the affliction of resenting YR activism. She was one of my most exuberant supporters when I twice made the mistake of running for School Board in the Dumfries District. She particularly had little use for those who make pretensions to being Republicans, yet refused to support me when I was the only Republican in those races.

I never held her encouragement against her. And while we lost touch over the years, both my wife and I have very fond memories of her.

From the obituary:

The family will receive friends at Mountcastle Funeral Home (4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City) on Thursday, 28 June, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church (18825 Fuller Heights Road, Triangle) on Friday, 29 June, at noon. Interment will follow the service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to either St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Triangle or Potomac Hospital Endowment Fund in Woodbridge.

RIP.

"I Am Shocked --- Shocked! --- That There's Gambling Going On Here."

Well, Greg Letiecq over at BVBL is at it again.

He hates Faisal Gill, probably because Faisal's law firm has had the temerity to represent Steve Chapman in a lawsuit seeking remedies against the original BVBL and/or Greg for slandering/libeling Chapman. A lawsuit which, by the way, still proceeds notwithstanding uninformed Blogosphere rantings about its lack of merit (in my experience, meritless lawsuits are frequently --- though not always --- dismissed very early on). So he has done everything he can to savage Faisal, and anyone associated or possibly associated with Faisal.

Today, it's because --- among other things --- Tom Kopko called for unity at last night's Prince William County Republican Committee meeting. Tom briefly reported on the status of Julie Lucas' appeal from the results of the 51st District Republican Convention, at which Faisal Gill was narrowly nominated as the GOP standard-bearer for November. He notes that "Tom Kopko, in his role as the sole member of the 51st District Committee is being as exhaustive as possible in considering the Julie Lucas appeal, and hasn’t rendered a decision on the appeal at this point."

'Cept, as usual, Greg omits important facts. Like the fact that Tom reported that his decision is being delayed because of the fact that two observers --- one from RPV, and Eleventh Congressional District Chairman and Lucas-supporter Becky Stoeckel --- have not yet provided him with requested reports. One has to read the comments to learn this little, yet pertinent fact, though I know that Greg was in the room when Kopko pointed this out.

Greg talks as though being "as exhaustive as possible" is somehow a bad thing. Yet he has previously savaged Kopko for his lack of attention to detail, while not being particularly meticulous in practicing it himself.

Given the alignments here, one has to wonder why Tom hasn't received the reports he has requested? Is it because Lucas' appeal is meritless, as I believe it to be? A conspiracy-theorist could conclude that Stoeckel is failing to provide her report so she can allow Kopko to be savaged by people like Greg.

Of course, why should applying a consistent standard get in the way of his political goals? Particularly when it gets in the way of a good rant? As Charles rightly points out, Greg was effusive in his comments about Kopko ... when he "wasn't trying to discredit Tom to help Lucas get elected." Or, more accurately, to destroy Faisal Gill.

It's really too bad. Greg has apparently gained a significant readership among those in the minority in the GOP, people who are either too blind or too foolish to recognize that --- probably lacking any legal merit in his arguments --- he is lashing out against one of those who is calling him to account for his own irresponsibility.

I guess bitterness sells among a certain segment. Particularly among those --- like the majority of Greg's commenters and probably his readers --- who are too timid and cowardly to put their names on their critiques and smears. Or worse yet: those whose sleazy tactics have made them persona non grata among respectable Republican circles.

Interesting Comment

Heard at last night's PWCRC meeting: "Wow! I'm the only person here from Neabsco [District]."

The author? Julie Lucas.

I had to resist the urge to ask her why should would expect otherwise. After all, she has either been complicit in poisoning --- or remained silent while her supporters poison --- the well.

UPDATE: False Information?

Last week, I made a post about a report that former Beatle Paul McCartney had reportedly fired a roadie for daring to eat meat. Well, in the "it's-a-small-world" category, I received the following e-mail from an unlikely source that I consider to be impeccable, but who may or may not want me to attach his/her name to it, so I'll just provide the text now (to atone for my error), and allow this individual to let me know later if he/she minds having his/her name attached to it:

My brother has actually been a roadie for Paul McCartney and I asked him about this. He says that McCartney does not supply meat through his caterer, but does not forbid or fire people for eating it. My brother just came off the road with him, so I think he would know if this had happened any time recently.

So, there it is. Apparently I owe Sir Paul an apology (though he probably doesn't care). As does Ted Nugent. I apologize.

Remembering A Tragedy

Looking at the hometown newspaper online, I found this article on the disaster which was Hurricane Agnes, which struck the mid-Atlantic region on this date in 1972. We moved to the area shortly thereafter, and shortly after my grandfather had moved his inventory of automobiles from his home on the hill back to Schreffler Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac in downtown Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

Yes, that picture shows the raging Susquehanna River, just six inches from the top of the flood wall in Sunbury. Other places were not so lucky; virtually the entirety of the rest of the Susquehanna Valley from Wilkes-Barre (where the levee system failed) to Harrisburg suffered billions of dollars in damage from the waters of the river. Even the Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion was flooded. For decades, the Sunbury wall had been quite controversial, since it spoiled the view of the river of those homes you see in the background.

For many years thereafter, there were two pieces of graffiti on the wall, saying "I love you wall!"

And a word of complaint about the wall's aesthetic damage was never heard again.

Thank You For Conceding The Point

Among the more ridiculous claims of the far Left/radical homosexual agenda is the notion that limiting marriage to one man and one woman is unfairly discriminatory because, after all, homosexuals are "born that way," and can't help but practice their perversion.

Well, professional obligations took me to the Bay Area late last week, and as I was leaving my hotel to catch an early flight back on Saturday, I picked up my copy of the local paper, which was touting the upcoming "Gay Pride" festivities occurring this weekend.

"Pride"!?!?!? Sorry, but my impression always has been that "pride" is something one takes in one's accomplishments, what one achieves, not that which is beyond one's control. Hence, there is a conceptual problem with taking "pride" in one's skin color, or one's sex (male or female), or one's national origin, since one has no choice in such matters.

Come to think of it, those who advocate "gay pride" are doing the rest of us the courtesy of giving lie to the notion that homosexuality and homosexual behavior are something other than choices. Choices which society is therefore entitled to condemn.

Thank you for conceding the point.

Blacklisted on BVBL?

Well, I tried to post a comment on Greg Letiecq's website, and got this message.

Things like this make me wonder whether Greg can't stand a little truth. Much like the far Left, it sometimes seems like he prefers an echo chamber.

Frequently, it seems that Greg only considers it "malicious" --- and complains --- when the criticism is leveled at someone with whom he agrees. Belittlement, lies, and simple childishness seems perfectly acceptable when directed at the right targets.

No wonder his website has become the home of the peurile and sophomoric losers in Prince William County. Even if, truth be told, it seems to be among the most popular local blogs.

Actual, rational debate, and recognition of actual records, frequently seem not to matter.

UPDATE: Greg has posted a comment (please read it, below) which suggests that his anti-spam filter may be a little too vigorous. Frankly, I've had some nonsensical comments from a delusional candidate from California that I wish had been blocked.

Fair 'nuff. When Greg and I have had disagreements, he has usually said so up front, so I've changed the text above somewhat. I'm willing to take him at his word. I wouldn't have posted this, but for the fact that it seems to have happened a couple of times over the last few days.

I owe him an apology, and I apologize.