A Notable Day

Sadly, I sit here on the edge of Los Angeles, satisfying professional responsibilities, on the anniversary of my marriage to the lovely and gracious Mrs. Young, which occurred twenty years ago this afternoon at a tiny little Lutheran church in College Park, Georgia.

It is a measure of her quality as a spouse and helpmate that she has not expressed a great deal of upset over this turn of events, while also noting that she still misses me (with every shot so far?) when I go out of town.

In any case, while I rarely note or comment upon personal milestones here, I exercise a point of personal privilege to say "Happy Anniversary, dearest, and thanks for twenty great years, two beautiful sons, and boundless love and understanding!"

Now, let the snarky comments spring forth!

Welcome to BarryCare!

Well, it's nearly November, and already we're enjoying a preview of the joys of life under government-run health care, which will, if passed, be known as ObamaCare. Giving due regard for the current occupant of the Oval Office, it should be known as BarryCare.

Witness the current swine flu (H1N1) outbreak. Now, never mind that every day of every year, an average of 10,000 people get it, and nearly 100 die of it ... oh, wait a minute, that's the regular seasonal flu.

In any case, the swine flu has been much in the news lately, and it's not really necessary to relate the basic facts here.

What we do know is that the government saw this coming months ago (report dated 29 April 2009), announced a major program of vaccination, and yet, fully into the flu season --- particularly in those Petri dishes known as the government schools --- vaccine supplies are severely limited, and apparently not available at all to first-line health providers like family doctors. I'm in Los Angeles, and listen with fascination to radio reports advising people who are not in government-identified "high-risk groups" --- mainly people between 25 and 64 without compromised immune systems --- to stay away from clinics dispensing the vaccine.

Note: Currently, the demand for H1N1 vaccine is outweighing local and national supply. That’s why some Public Health vaccine clinics may reach capacity earlier than expected and need to close earlier than the posted hours. If you are not in an H1N1 Priority Group, please wait to get vaccinated until vaccine supplies increase. More H1N1 vaccine will be available in the next several days and weeks at some chain pharmacies, private health care providers, and community clinics.

So sayeth the LA County Department of Public Health.

The reason for the shortages? Well, there are plenty offered, but it clearly was known two months ago that the flu season would arrive before the vaccine. Even today, five days after President Barry declared a "national emergency" over the flu, the vaccine is mainly unavailable.

It even appears, over the last two weeks, that the Young boys have contracted it (both are doing fine, thanks, though Patrick was required to don a mask before entering the doctor's office), without ever having had a chance to obtain a vaccination!

Which raises the question: Given that the Federal government has well and thoroughly screwed this up this rather mild (at least, in a fairly healthy population), WHY are we still considering a virtual government takeover of our health care system?!?!

The answer is, of course, obvious to anyone who understands the far Lefties currently in charge of our government: the effort is not about improving American health care; it is about enabling government control over the health care system.

If these people were serious about getting more people covered, they would discard coverage mandates (requiring, for instance, people past their child-bearing years to buy plans covering pregnancy), allow insurance companies to charge higher premiums to those previously uninsured (thus creating incentives for coverage in the young and healthy), remove barriers to interstate purchase of insurance, and --- perhaps most importantly --- discard government-run health care altogether (except for the military) and simply turn over to citizens, including the elderly, money to purchase their own insurance.

Don't hold your breath. This most recent example of government incompetence to the contrary notwithstanding.

Hampden-Sydney Looks Unbeatable for ODAC Championship...

and a playoff bid.

It does my heart good to note the success of the alma mater, Hampden-Sydney College, in football this season. With eight victories, and no losses, the team finally broke into the d3football.com Top 25 this week (No. 25). It has appeared in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 poll for the last two weeks, currently standing at No. 20.

The team has shown a lot of character in achieving these milestone. In Week 2, a game attended by the Youngs, the Tigers were down by two touchdowns at half-time, against Gettysburg (I found myself rooting against the Lutherans), but rallied to win by a field goal in overtime (with an amazing two field goal blocks by a single special teams player). This week, the Tigers were down by a touchdown at half-time against Catholic at Homecoming (Head Coach Marty Favret's alma mater --- '84 --- his twenty-fifth reunion year), but won the game by 21-7.

Rival Randolph-Macon, however, is 5-2, and 3-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), whose winner receives an automatic bid to the Division III playoffs. R-MC's season is conference-heavy, with three conference games in the last three weeks of the season: Guilford; Bridgewater; and Hampden-Sydney, in The Game, the oldest rivalry in the South in college football, on 14 November. H-SC, however, has a bye week, and plays no more conference games, with only a game against non-conference Salisbury on 7 November.

If R-MC prevails over Guilford and Bridgewater, or even loses a game, it shapes up to be a conference title game when the Tigers meet the Yellowjackets on 14 November.

For Division III devotees and alums, it shapes up to be a great November weekend to be in Ashland.

Which is something this proud Tiger alum never thought he'd say.

Imagine The Hue And Cry...

if this had happened at a co-educational institution? Or at an institution which was not historically Black? Say Wabash College? Or the finest remaining all-male institution, Hampden-Sydney College?

Of course, the Morehouse College administration is exactly right. They are to be applauded.

Big Government Values v. Boy Scout Values

As I've probably noted previously, I'm an Eagle Scout. My namesake uncle was our family's first Eagle Scout; my oldest nephew is also an Eagle Scout. My grandfather lived long enough to see three generations of his progeny earn and wear the Eagle Scout badge (and pinned it on two of us). After a couple of decades away from active participation in Scouting, I'm presently the Troop Committee Chairman for my older son's Boy Scout Troop, and Pack Committee Chairman for my younger son's Cub Scout Pack.

So it's with a little more than passing interest that I've followed the stories of six-year-old Zachary Christie, a Delaware Cub Scout, who made the mistake of taking a camping tool to school to eat his school lunch (I am unsure whether it was his combo camping pocketknife, or his "Little Vittles" kit, available at every Scout Store, one of which I look down upon from my office window). Zachary was seen with this item --- he wasn't wielding it as a weapon --- and as a result, was sentenced to 45 days in a reeducation camp ... er, "reform school."

Then there's seventeen-year-old Eagle Scout and high school senior Matthew Whalen, godson of fellow Prince William blogger Riley at Virginia Virtucon. He is such a miscreant that he has already completed Army basic training, hoping to go to West Point. He keeps a sleeping bag, bottle of water, and an MRE in his car, just in case he breaks down. He also keeps a pocket knife in his car. School officials in Matthew's school decided to act upon an anonymous report to shake him down, and he produced the small knife he keeps in his glove box when asked (mistake, Matthew; should've made 'em get a search warrant). Matthew earned himself a five-day suspension, pending a hearing. Told he could submit a letter from the Army or the Boy Scouts saying he had to carry the knife, his Scoutmaster sent in a letter saying it was typical Boy Scout camping equipment. For this temerity, he got another fifteen-day suspension.

Now, when I was a Boy Scout, I carried my Boy Scout pocketknife --- or some other small penknife --- to school in my pocket virtually every day from the time I joined the Boy Scouts in fifth grade, until I graduated in 1982. In fact, one of the small knives that I carried was a beautifully engraved penknife that was a gift from my school choir director, a teacher!!!! I frequently used it, too: many times, to aid teachers in need of my small tool.

The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared." And our government schools that are making war on these Scouts for doing so.

It's little surprise. After all, the prepared have little need for big government. Which is, of course, the point.

My Nobel Application

So the Nobel Committee has awarded President Barry the Nobel Peace Prize, apparently because of his stated goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

With this award, President Barry joins other notable prior recipients as Aristide Briand (1925; part-originator of the Locarno Pact and Briand-Kellogg Pact," which outlawed war (we all know how that one worked out)); Frank B. Kellogg (1928; part-originator of the Briand-Kellogg Pact"), and Yasser Arafat (1994; terrorist).

So, the award is certainly consistent with other damn-fool "noble" goals lacking any possibility of success for which the Nobel Committee has previously made the award. Or even not so much.

Apparently, the only thing you need to do is express pretty thoughts and seek unachievable goals. Actually accomplishing something, a la Theodore Roosevelt (1905; arbitrating peace between Japan and Russia), Mother Theresa (1979; cared for the destitute and diseased in India)? No longer necessary. On the other hand, since Al Gore won (2007; the myth of human-caused climate change), it's been readily apparent that all that is required to win a Nobel Peace Prize is to express pathologically-foolish pretty thoughts with utterly no chance of being achieved. Actually having achieved ... well, anything ... in you life? Not necessary. President Barry proves that.

Therefore, I hereby tender my application for a Nobel Peace Prize. I'd like to see a world without rape.

That has about as much chance of being achieved as a world without nuclear weapons.

The Nobel Committee has just rendered itself a bad joke.

UPDATE: Doug Mataconis is similarly befuddled.

UPDATE II: Even terminal Obamoron Lowell is surprised and believes that President Barry owes George W. Bush a thank-you note.

Who Woulda Thunk It?

Turns out the International Olympic Committee is racist!?!??

At least, by Jimmy Carter's standards.

Actually, this is entirely predictable. Chicago vs. Rio de Janeiro: which would you choose?

Legal Ethics

I rarely talk about judges or courts on this blog

Here is why.

Football Doldrums

What a depressing weekend.

Penn State loses to Iowa. Again.

The Steelers lose. Again. To Cincinnati (the Mrs. did a little victory dance around the living room over that one).

The Redskins lose. To Detroit, breaking a 19-game losing streak.

The only bright spot? Hampden-Sydney handled Guilford.

Well, at least one of the teams I care about won.

Neo-Con Pioneer Passes

Irving Kristol, former Trotskyite, American columnist, journalist, and writer who was dubbed the "godfather of neoconservativism," founder, editor, and contributor to various magazines, has passed away today in Arlington at age 89. He is widely credited with the observation that a neoconservative is "a liberal who has been mugged by reality."

He was one of the leading public intellectuals of the last half-century. His widow, historian Gertrude Himmelfarb, and son Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, are notable public intellectuals in their own right.

Condolences to his family, and legions of admirers everywhere.

RIP

There Goes The Neighborhood

As I was driving in this morning, WMAL reported that the United Mine Workers Union had just signed a twelve-year lease to move its International headquarters to Triangle, in Prince William County, about five miles from my house, and that of another Right to Work lawyer.

One wonders whether it will be located on Old Mine Road.

Anyway, there goes the neighborhood.

Perhaps we'll be seeing these on our local roads.

Moonbats For Deeds Enlist Dishonest Attacks Upon AG McDonnell's Legal Ethics

Mike@Blueweeds has favored us with a "scholarly" discussion of Attorney General Robert McDonnell's actions in In re: Multi-Circuit Episcopal Church Property Litigation, Civil Case Nos. CL-2007-0248724 et al., the dispute heard in Fairfax Circuit Court over church property in the wake of the Episcopal Church's decision to endorse sin by, inter alia, allowing practicing homosexuals to become high-ranking clergy.

Now, I don't know if Mike is an attorney. I don't even know if he plays one on TV. But if this is the quality of his legal analysis, he might want to consider a suit to get a refund of his law-school tuition. I'd recommend that he not represent himself.

Mike complains long and loud that:

Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell tried unsuccessfully to intervene in a private church property dispute on behalf of a conservative breakaway congregation involved in litigation over ownership of the historic Falls Church Episcopal.

He also asserts that:

Attorney General McDonnell obliged by filing an extraordinary Motion to Intervene the Commonwealth of Virginia on behalf of the Falls Church CANA congregation. One of the issues disputed in the trial was the constitutionality of the so-called Virginia Division Statute (Virginia Code section 57-9).

The Motion was vigorously opposed by the sin-endorsing Episcopalians.

But it's here that Mike starts to go a little ... well, wacky. His title claims that "AG McDonnell Used Office To Improperly Intervene In Falls Church Property Dispute" (emphasis added). He claims that:

The trial court did not ... allow McDonnell to intervene the Commonwealth on behalf of the conservative congregation. The court admonished McDonnell for his attempt to take sides with the conservative church congregation rather than to represent the interests of the people of Virginia, and issued an Order denying the McDonnell's Motion to Intervene....

The problem? Well, aside from the fanciful notion that defending the majority of a congregation seeking to retain its property is not "represent[ing] the interests of the people of Virginia" against a self-describedly "Christian" church which endorses activities condemned by both Old and New Testaments (a matter of opinion), the claims are false in virtually all of its factual particulars.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court initially "DEFERRED" (original emphasis) ruling on the Motion to Intervene in the very order to which Mike links, which is dated 26 February 2008. Nowhere does it "admonish" McDonnell or his office.

Now, I have not followed this controversy closely. But when I pointed out to Mike that "there is certainly an argument to be made that the AG has standing to intervene in any action challenging a statute of the Commonwealth of Virginia," he responded with this peurile little response, lacking the courage actually to post it publicly in the thread accompanying his rant:

"I discern no admonition to the Attorney General"
What a precious little pastry arguement you make. I linked to the trial docs ... go do your homework. When you're done, come back, so I can start schooling you on legal procedure.

And in fact, the Court later granted Attorney General McDonnell's Motion to Intervene, noting in a letter opinion of 16 July 2008, that "The Attorney General of Virginia has a unique interest in defending the constitutionality of the statutes of the Commonwealth," and citing the fact that the situation was rather unusual, as challenges to the constitutionality of state statutes are usually considered in Federal courts, where "a state attorney general's specific interest in defending the constitutionality of state statutes is explicitly recognized both in 28 U.S.C. s2403(b) and in U.S. Sup. Ct. R. 24(4)(c)." A link to this document is provided by another commenter; Mike neglects to mention it at all, relying instead upon the arguments made by parties opposing the intervention.

In short, Mike attempts to argue that Attorney General McDonnell engaged in legal misconduct even though the court endorsed McDonnell's effort by granting it!

I don't often discuss legal arguments in this space. But when someone like Mike alleges misconduct, his fatuous and factually false assertions must be identified.

UPDATE: J.C. Wilmore ("The Richmonder") is attempt to raise the drumbeat here, and repeats many of the same misrepresentations as Mike.

Iconography And The Cult Of Personality

An excellent discussion on the power of iconography, one which recognizes President Barry's effort to create a cult of personality:

WaPo Spike Watch: Day Two

Well, it only took two days for the Washington Post to mention Deeds position.

But let's make sure we understand this: the Post "uncovers" a twenty-year-old master's thesis by McDonnell, and it's front-page, above-the-fold, three-day story. A ten-year-old Deeds campaign position which would be characterized as "anti-gay" by virtually every partisan for the radical homosexual agenda is revealed, and the Post limits its coverage (so far, and as far as I can tell) to an internet post.

Is there really anyone who will suggest that the WaPo is anything but an adjunct of the Democrat Party?

WaPo Spike Watch: Day One

Last night, VA Blogger at TC broke the blogosphere story of Creigh Deeds' "homophobic" remarks in a campaign flyer of only ten years' vintage. I wrote about it shortly later. The Weekly Standard had a post about it late yesterday afternoon.

And yet, the Washington Post has nothing about it. It's editors are spiking* the story. Now, I realize that it was a busy news night. After all, it's much more important to reinforce the lies of President Barry. And to trash a GOP congressman for (rudely) telling the truth about it.

So now, a new feature on Skeptical Observor! The WaPo Spike Watch. The WaPo has spent a week trashing Republican former Attorney General Robert McDonnell over a two-decade old master's thesis --- a compilation of academic musings --- which purportedly trashes a few far-Left sacred cows, and the voters have yawned. Now, someone has produced a Deeds' campaign piece which rejects the radical homosexual agenda.

Until the WaPo applies similar standards to Creigh Deeds, its clearly-preferred candidate for Virginia Governor, I'm going to note it here.

Day. By. Day.

___________

*A newspaper term that means a story is killed because an editor doesn't like its politics. Famously written about by former Washington Times editor Arnaud de Borchgrave and Robert Moss in a political thriller about 25-30 years ago.

Creigh Deeds Is A "Homophobe"!

Yeah, yeah. I know. Nobody who uses the word "homophobe" should be taken too seriously. It is, after all, usually just a term to belittle those who oppose the radical homosexual agenda.

But that's what the far Left would call someone who made a statement such as this.

VA Blogger at TC has the story here.

And he asks the reasonable question: "When should we expect a front-page A1 story from the Washington Post about this?"

If enough Conservatives hold their breath waiting for that, Deeds may just pull it out.

Is This The "Hopey-Changey" For Which You Voted?

So President Barry says that the "time for bickering is over" on health care.

Another sanctimonious boob dismisses serious policy differences by belittling them.

This is "bipartisanship"? This is "reasonable discussion"?

No. This is typical far-Left arrogance.

The problem for President Barry is not that this is "bickering." It is not misrepresenting the contents of his proposals.

President Barry's problem is that the GOP and Conservatives are telling the truth about his proposals.

Moonbatosphere Moron ... But I Repeat Myself

With today's WaPo attack piece on Bob McDonnell --- surprise! The WaPo is taking the pro-homo side in the culture war --- Virginia's moonbats are engaged in an "Amen!" chorus. Or is it the other way around?

I found one particularly interesting. Now, I suppose there are plenty of reasons to criticize McDonnell on this, but Fred attacks McDonnell's dismissal of the complaints about the blocked re-appointment of a Virginia Beach judge as "irrelevant" to this race, "seeing as how Governors appoint judges!"

Uh, except when the legislature is not in session, and then only temporarily, not in Virginia they don't.

Fred, you're a moron.

Dan Snyder Is Pond-Scum

Give the guy credit, though: in a league in which Al Davis and Jerry Jones are both owners, Dan Snyder still manages to be the most hated owner in the league, and by his team's own fans. It's not that the Redskins have stunk up the place under his ownership, though they have. It's not the revolving door in the Head Coach's office, though there's been that, too. It's not even charging $8 for one beer even though a case of it should cost less than that.

It's things like this, which convince me he works at it.

And that, while I'll attend an occasional game, I will never be a season ticketholder.

Does It Have Twice The Nuts?

Pathologically far-Left Ben & Jerry's has a new flavor to celebrate the legalization of homosexual "marriage" in its native Vermont: "Hubby Hubby."

I suppose it rolls off the tongue more easily than "Fraudulent Poseurs."

Interesting Description

According to the New York Daily News, the State Department is investigating private guards at the Kabul, Afghanistan, embassy for frat-house activities and other "deviant behavior."

I put the last in quotation marks because, well, that's apparently the phrase the State Department is using.

Interesting phrase. In an Administration which seeks to mainstream homosexuality, endorses single-sex "marriage," and wants to provide Federal civil rights protections for ... well, "deviants," it is indeed breathtaking to contemplate what qualifies as "deviant behavior."

Brilliant!

Every freedom-loving blogger should embed this one:



H/T to Greg L

Catharsis!

Moonbat Cindy Sheehan admits what should have been obvious to everyone, but probably won't be admitted by others on the far Left: that "the 'antiwar movement' wasn't so much antiwar as anti-Bush."

Another Death Penalty Offense?

There are some cases other than premeditated murder for which the death penalty may well be an appropriate penalty.

Those who perpetrated this crime --- the kidnapping, holding, and serial child rape of Jaycee Lee Dugard --- should be eligible for the ultimate penalty. Particularly heinous is the fact that the wife of the alleged rapist was completely complicit in his crimes.

Enlisting The Government Schools To Violate The Constitution

Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.

U.S. Const., amend. XIV

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

U.S. Const., art. I, sec.3

One of the notions of which the Framers of our Constitution were keenly aware was the principle that, in a republic, a nation of laws, not men, it was absolutely necessary that our fundamental documents be easily understandable to the average citizen. Thus, our Constitution is a fairly simple document to understand.

One good example of this principle put into practice is the census. Having created — per James Madison’s “Virginia Plan” — one legislative branch based upon proportional representation of the population of each state, and foreseeing the growth to be enjoyed by the nascent nation, the members of the Constitutional Convention immediately understood that a method of apportioning those representatives among the several States would be necessary at certain
intervals. Hence, they required a decennial census to apportion representatives.

But apportionment of Members of Congress is the sole constitutional purpose for the census. Other than that sole design, the census has no other purpose authorized by the Constitution.
When, in 2000, the Youngs received their census form, Form D-2, to be precise, it was the long form. It included a cover letter over the signature of Kenneth Prewitt, Director of the Bureau of the Census.

While it was nice to see that we would be “actually enumerated” after years of talk of statistical “sampling” promoted by an administration desiring to rig the process, the actual form was something of an anticlimax, preceded by weeks of television and radio advertising. We even received, in this year’s property tax assessment, a palmcard from our friends in the McCoart Center, promoting participation.


Interestingly, not a single word of that advertising mentioned the constitutional purpose for the census, i.e., apportionment of representatives. All of it focused on what we would get for doing so. The palmcard provided a blurb about “What Happens when you fill out Census 2000... You can improve education, help our nation’s farmers, provide help to people in need of social services, build better housing where needed, move transportation forward and create jobs.” It was of a piece with the broadcast advertising.

Well thanks, but no thanks. The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of education in the first place, or in providing housing, or in socialist “services,” i.e., those enjoyed by identifiable groups of people whose votes politicians decide to buy. And it certainly shouldn’t pervert the important constitutional purpose of the Census to achieve the extra-constitutional ends which are the sole topic of the advertising campaign.

Like the advertising preceding it, the Youngs' last Census form was a fascinating exemplar of bloated, statist nannyism of the big-government bureaucrats who doubtless put it together. Some credit is due, however; Prewitt’s cover letter states that the “First” reason answering the form is important is apportionment. However, he then went on to talk about how “[t]he amount of government money your neighborhood receives depends on your answers.” What’s funny, though, is that looking around my neighborhood, I have a sneaking suspicion that my neighbors and I are paying for a lot more than we’re receiving. And I have a conceptual problem with voluntarily participating in a process by which my wages are plundered for government handouts in areas in which the federal government has no business whatsoever.

And I’m particularly offended by the notion that the federal government cares about my telephone number, my sex (properly identified as “sex,” not the ubiquitously misused “gender”), my age (asking for both age and date of birth; is this a math test, too?), my race, and my marital status (Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, and 7, respectively). Whether I’ve attended “regular school or college” in the last year, or the education I’ve completed also is none of the federal government’s business (Questions 8 and 9). Neither is my “ancestry or ethnic origin,” the language spoken at home, the state in which I was born, or my citizenship (Questions 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14).

Particularly offensive, though, were other questions, like where and in what type of housing I lived five years ago, or my disability status (Questions 15, 16, and 17). I’m not going to the government for a handout, and I’m offended by those who do. Why should I aid the imperial federal government in its plundering of my wages for those who do?

Then there’s the lifestyle questions. These ask about grandparents raising their grandchildren, and service in the military (like the government can’t figure that out for itself?!?). Most important to the federal government, however, are those questions which aid in its plunder of the productive, like whether and where an individual worked, how they got there, and what they earned (Questions 21 through 32). And then there are those about an individual’s household, their cars or trucks, and the costs (Questions 33 through 53). Maybe if I thought the last would result in an increase of the standard deduction on my income tax (which has gradually been reduced in value since the 1950s), I’d be inclined to answer them. Fat chance of that, though.

In 2000, many advocated refusing to answer any questions beyond the number of persons in a household, risking a fine of $100 under 13 U.S.C. Section 221. The Youngs did so, without consequence.

This year, however, according to News McNuggets ... er, USA Today, however, our government schools will be enlisted to violate the Constitution.

According to the article, our children will be enlisted in a process which is not only designed to satisfy its constitutional limits, but to "determine ... the distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funds to state and local governments every year." And rather than teaching our children of the sole constitutional purpose of the census --- something which should take about 15 minutes, in total, the article tells us that:

Between January and March, the Census Bureau will help plan a week of Census education in schools. During Census Week, teachers will devote 15 minutes every day for five days to the topic by discussing such things as civic participation, confidentiality or geography. Beginning in mid-March, more than 120 million Census questionnaires will be delivered to residential addresses.

Somehow, that sound suspiciously like using the government schools for statist indoctrination, rather than constitutional education.

Most disturbing in this entire process is that the “First” purpose of the census — apportionment — is virtually an afterthought to the government promoting full participation in it. Once again, the federal government is promoting ignorance among the citizenry. Perhaps it’s because the Left understands that constitutional ignorance is necessary if their statist agenda is to prevail.

She's At It Again

Moonbat Cindy Sheehan, that is. Now, she's dogging President Barry on his vacation.

Of course, you probably read it here first, since the media won't be giving her favorable coverage with President Barry in office.

H/T to Drudge.

The Return of Political Ambulance Chasers

So Ted Kennedy has died. I associate myself with the comment of a Facebook friend, who observed that "it's fair to say his suffering, and ours, is lessened today, and for that, all can be thankful." Except that the suffering of many whose lives were ruined by the Liberal welfare state and its continuation will continue unabated. Since that's about the nicest thing I can say about this statist, let's leave it at that.

What is truly despicable are those who suggest that we should enact yet another bad policy --- socialized medicine --- in his memory. While of a piece with most of his legislative "accomplishments," it is little more than dancing on his grave to suggest that President Barry's health care "reform" should be enacted simply because this Senator-for-Life has given up the ghost.

But hey! There's nothing like the far-Left's arrogant and empty invitation to a public "debate" on the subject!

UPDATE: One more "nice thing" about the late departed comes to mind. Give him credit for this: he demonstrated more backbone that virtually any of his fellows. That it was in the service of an agenda of proven failure and anti-constitutional government authority diminishes that considerably.

Robert Novak, RIP

Since we're on vacation, I'm not posting much, but I couldn't let the passing of Robert Novak go by without notation.

Some view it as an opportunity to take one last cheap shot, from a far-Left propagandist who applies that label to Novak in an exercise which is more projection than anything else. One cannot help but wonder whether it's not jealousy, the covetous rantings of one well aware of the fact that his passing probably won't be noticed by ... well, virtually anyone.

Robert Novak made his mark on Washington in a way few journalists could hope to. Agree or disagree, he was a force with which to be reckoned.

RIP.

I Wonder ....?

It seems that police have interviewed a "suspect" in the case of the posting of posters caricaturing President Barry as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

"Suspected of what?" you might ask. Well, you'll have to read the article to find out, and I'm not saying there might not have been a series of petite crimes here, but I have a question:

How many "suspects" were interviewed for posting caricatures of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the last eight years?

I suspect that the answer is one fewer than have been interviewed over President Barry's caricature.

Yeah, But What Were You Saying A Few Years Ago?

It seems that the Washington Post has published Michael Gerson's comments indicating that he is mightily perturbed at the casual use of the imagery of Nazism, describing it (rightly) as a "lazy shortcut to secure an emotional response." He goes on to condemn it when "Michael Moore compared the USA Patriot Act to 'Mein Kampf,'" and "Al Gore warned of 'digital Brownshirts.'"

Some are mightily impressed that the WaPo has published his commentary, and indeed, there is much that accurate and praiseworthy in it.

Gerson uses nice historical examples of inaccurate and intemperate use of the analogy. He gives credence to his argument when he condemns the tactic when used by the far Left.

When the WaPo does so nearly a decade after their invocation of that imagery by the far Left? Not so much.

The relevant question to the WaPo is "What were you saying when Moore and Gore invoked Nazi imagery against Conservatives?"

My guess is that the WaPo didn't have too much to say at the time, rendering publication of Gerson's present comments like nothing so much as partisanship applying purportedly objective principles in pursuit of a partisan agenda.

It's too bad that Gerson --- a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush --- is allowing himself to be used by the WaPo in pursuit of its unremittingly partisan agenda to discredit those resisting President Barry's push for socialism.

Empty Complaints About Health "Reform" Protestors

It's become quite a mantra with those who are complaining about the protests at various townhall meetings. Even the sometimes sensible have gotten in on the attack on what they call "poisonous rhetoric."

I'm a little confused by their complaints, though. Are they objectively disgusted by the behavior people who refuse to go along with the rest of the Obama-addled sheeple?

Or are they merely angry because people who refuse to go along with the Obamorons are employing the same tactics that they Obamorons and their fellow travelers have used for, well, decades? After all, for most, the outrage is selective, and targeted only at political enemies. No enemies to the far Left, after all.

Once again, as they did for years with criminals, the far Left is confusing they victim with the perpetrator.

What's really sad is the fact that there are those who are not on the far Left who are perfectly willing to lend them aid and comfort.

Propagandistic Buzzword Of The Day

Turned on C-SPAN's Washington Journal for a few minutes this morning, and there was former ABC infobabe ... er, propagandist ... er, "journalist" Linda Douglass, in her new role as White House Minister of Propaganda for Health Care, with the talking point of the day.

After months on the campaign trail and in the White House, President Barry's Administration is no longer calling it "health care reform"; now it's "health insurance reform." Ms. Douglass must have used it over a dozen times in five minutes.

Never mind that President Barry's program would virtually destroy private health insurance in the United States which is, of course, his unstated goal.

So remember: the buzzword phrase of the day is "health insurance reform."

Wow

A few days ago, I noted the passing of John Hughes.

Here, you can read a tribute by a young lady who became his pen pal. If you're not left with a tear in your eye after reading it, you have no heart.

Having had a few professional dealings with people in the public eye, I have become keenly aware of the fact that --- media notwithstanding --- most of them are a lot like the rest of us. John Hughes' gift seems to have been a keen awareness of that fact, and the ability translate it onto the screen.

An Interesting If Not Unexpected Source

After years of hearing dovish Democrats making false claims that the Bush Administration and/or Conservatives had accused them of being "unAmerican," it is nevertheless unsurprising that the first politicians whom I have heard using that word to describe their political opponents are House Speak Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). It's not a new thing from the Obamorons, but it remains despicable, nonetheless.

They should be forced to resign their posts. Immediately.

Hypocrisy, thy name is "Democrat."

UPDATE: Doug Mataconis has a good discussion here.

Perhaps It's Your Policies Which Are The Problem

Apparently, a Washington Democrat Congress-critter so fears his constituents that he's decided to phone it in. He also compares opponents of socialized medicine to Nazis, though --- of course --- the premises and rhetorical tactics of proponents for Obamacare --- demonizing insurance companies and their executives (read: "Jews"); taking over a large swath of the American economy --- has much more to do with the philosophy of National Socialism than do its opponents.

If you can't face the the people whose lives you are attempting to "change," you don't belong in office.

Great Video Demonstrating Liberal Arrogance

This demonstrates the difference between a "meeting" and an "indoctrination session." What the AARP intended was an indoctrination session. When the attendees insisted on a meeting, the AARP officials walked out:



I guess the vanguard of the proletariat couldn't be bothered with the uninformed opinions of the proles.

John Hughes, RIP

Anyone who came of age in the Eighties knows well his work: Ferris Bueller's Day Off; The Breakfast Club; Sixteen Candles. Children today still love his Home Alone movies. For many, his movies marked their own passing from youth into young adulthood. Many were, and remain, classics of the movie genre which, in literature, is called bildungsroman.

John Hughes, taken too soon from us at age 59, in New York.

RIP

Despicable Double Standards

A few days ago, I had a post about a poster being distributed around Los Angeles. Since then, the far Left has gone virtually apopletic, and the inevitable cries of "racism!" have been heard about the land. The whole contretemps even warranted a truly asinine front-page story by Phillip Kennicott in today's Washington Post Style section.

This poster seems to capture the double standards being applied by those on the far Left. Since I can't seem to make it larger, the poster shows President George W. Bush as a Nazi, giving the upraised arm salute, while reading underneath "Free Speech." President Barry's caricature read "Treason."

Pathologically Silly

This is just one of those things that strike me as silly: asking people six months into a new presidential administration "Do you consider the first six months of the Obama administration to be a success or a failure?"

Nevertheless, that appears to be just what CNN has done, learning that: 37% of those polled deem it a failure; 51% deem it a success; and only 11% say it's "too soon to tell."

Well, cast me in the small minority. Short of suffering a full-scale nuclear attack, I don't know how you deem any President's term a "failure" after only six months. Similarly, I don't know how you deem any President's term a "success" after only six months.

While I have little use for President Barry --- my definition of a "successful" Obama presidency is one in which he doesn't get what he wants --- it's simply nonsense to suggest that any assessment of his presidency can be made at this time.

The good news is this: President Barry's "failure" number is 5% higher than George W. Bush's at a similar point in the latter's presidency.

Delusional

Over at the Star City Harbinger, a neo-socialist website mainly for the Roanoke area, they recently posted a quotation from Samuel Adams, apparently claiming affinity with the great Patriot of the Founding Era.

Of course, claiming accord with Adams --- a believer in natural law; signer of the Declaration of Independence; and perhaps most importantly, brewer of beer --- is simply a paradigm case of an illegitimate effort to seek legitimacy.

Indeed, one would have had to have consumed an excess of his eponymous modern product to believe that Adams' political beliefs had anything to do with the efforts at the website which seeks legitimacy by invoking his name.

The Perfect Choice

I refer, of course, to the Great Prevaricator's recent trip to North Korea to secure the release of two American journalists charged with espionage. Of course, in the warped view of the Dear Leader, anyone who tries to obtain and report upon facts about his regime is engaged in "espionage," but never mind that.

The bottom line is this: who else would you send to pick up two women?

Obama Cult Of Personality On Full Display

At the White House, no less! Apparently, it's in celebration of der Fuhr... er, President Barry's birthday.

And it's pathetic. It reminds me of the penultimate scenes of Rocky IV, where Ivan Drago's greater-than-life-sized visage is raised before the fight in Moscow.

Come to think of it, it's a lot like Soviet-style propaganda. To the same end, as well.

Say what you will about George W. Bush (many do), but if he ever attempted the power grabs sought by this third-rate Chicago hack (auto industry; financial industry; health care; etc.), the far Left moonbats who survived their strokes would be in a permanent state of high dudgeon. And yet ... they cheerlead for a power-grabber of proportions beyond those even of the moonbats' most fanciful construction of Bush Administration efforts to respond to the terrorist threat.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Liberal.

And by the way, I'm not calling President Barry a "Nazi," unlike those who frequently equate George W. Bush with Hitler, as Doug Mataconis notes here. For the historically challenged, der Fuhrer's birthday was widely celebrated by the mind-numbed, sycophantic faithful, who apparently behaved much as the Obamorons are behaving today. I am not commenting upon any similarities between the two other than that one.

Alabama County Lay Off 2/3 Of Bureaucracy

Now, the real question is, will anyone notice?

Priceless!

One of those things that makes me wish that I had some artistic talent:

Of course, that I don't does not mean that I can't reproduce it here.

H/T to Drudge.

More Evidence Of America's Continuing Decline

I don't think I'm a prude, but one doesn't have to be to oppose allowing minors to perform in strip clubs.

Rhode Island: too small to be a state; too large to be an insane asylum.

H/T to Xrlq.

Interesting Campaign Slogan

An interesting e-mail just came across my desktop, with the subject line "Help John Bell defeat Anti-Gay Delegate Bob Marshall." It was for a fundraiser for the Democrat candidate against Bob Marshall.

I would guess that this means that John Bell is "Pro-Gay."

I suppose that if one wants to affirmatively campaign on a pro-homosexual sodomy platform, one could, but I wouldn't expect it to be successful anywhere other than San Francisco, or perhaps Greenwich Village in New York.

Politics Trumps Faith

Jimmy Carter apparently has decided to leave the Southern Baptist church over his political disagreements over the church's teaching over the role of women.

Yet another Democrat for whom politics is more important than religion. Color me shocked.

"Academics"?

It seems that over a thousand law professors from around the nation have signed on to a letter endorsing President Barry's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. It contains a virtual rogue's gallery of the Left of legal academia.

Just for grins, I checked out the names from my law school, Emory University School of Law, to learn who signed onto it.

One of those names, Professor Frank J. Vandall's --- my Torts professor (he memorably described a faulty rug in class as "a tort waiting to happen") --- is misspelled. One of the "Ls" is omitted from his last name.

One would have thought that those involved would have gone to the trouble of spelling one of the participant's name correctly. After all, Senate Democrats and other critics once savaged a Reagan appointee, Judge Daniel Manion of the Seventh Circuit, for typographical and spelling errors appearing in his briefs, and tried to derail his nomination on that basis.

H/T to SCOTUSblog.

Duke Official Faces Pedophilia Charges

My only questions are: (1) whether this guy was at Duke during the railroad against Duke's lacrosse team; and (2) whether he signed on to the petition of faculty members against students later proved to be innocent.

Michael Jackson Murdered?

I've resisted commenting on Michael Jackson's death because, well, aside from the tragedy of a 50-year-old man dying an extremely premature death, I'm not a big fan and I really don't care. Sure, I feel bad for those who loved him, as I do for the loved ones of anyone who dies, but the reaction of some reminds us that the word "fan" is shorthand for "fanatic."

Now, however, as more questions are being raised about his death, I have become convinced that his death was murder, and that the perpetrators can be found among the Obamorons in the Democrat Party.

After all, word of Jackson's death supplanted news of Friday's vote in the House of Representatives for the largest tax increase in American history, and the most invasive effort ever to control the American economy.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

The Real Consequence Of Mark Sanford's Infidelity

The most immediately meaningful impact of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's admission of marital infidelity is that it displaces the media's attention from President Barry's ineptitude in addressing events in Iran.

It's a good excuse not to cover Barry's abject failure to support democratic values, even though I am of the firm belief that the actual winner of the Iranian presidential election is of little consequence on most major policies.

Jobs Killed By President Barry

While it's nearly impossible to know whether Federal economic policies "save or create" any jobs, at least in the private sector, it's pretty easy to tell when they close a factory and kill jobs.

The people of Tampa thank you, President Barry and Congress, for your idiotic SCHIP taxes.

I guess these jobs will be tallied against those President Barry claims to have "created or saved."

Great Presidential Quotations In American Foreign Policy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Inaugural Address(1961):

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

At the Brandenburg Gate (1963):

Ich bin ein Berliner.

Ronald Wilson Reagan, at the Brandenburg Gate (1987):

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., on the stolen Iranian presidential election:

Er, uh, ...c'mon, guys, you're making me look bad!

"Gone" Barack Obama

Barack Obama Countdown widget brought
to you by www.obamacountdownwidget.com

The Strategy

With news that President Barry's health care "reform" proposals are in deep political trouble, the true agenda of the far Left is made more and more apparent.

It is beyond reasonable or serious debate that the current state of American health care is the result of government intrusions on the free market. Medicare socialized half the system --- the elderly consume more than half of all health care, for obvious reasons --- with promises (from, among others, Hubert H. Humphrey) that it would never cost more than $10 billion per year. Wouldn't it be nice if it only cost twice that amount? Medicaid is part of the not-so-Great Society, the War on Poverty. When can we expect the "exit strategy" that Democrats demand for every other "war"? Federal mandates that hospital treat all who appear at emergency rooms --- even those who don't need emergency treatment --- has imposed incredible costs.

So, what does the far Left want now? Well, "single-payer" --- more properly called "socialized medicine" --- is currently a non-starter. So what will happen?

Depend upon President Barry and his minions to advance proposals which will further screw up medical care in America, attempting to provoke a clarion call for completely socializing American medical care.

These people are nothing if not Machiavellian.

What A Pity

As a gag, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a set of sculptured bull testicles to a Democrat state senator, who returned them with a terse note. The gift was in response to an earlier gag gift from the state senator to the Governator.

Apparently, the state senator has had his sense of humor surgically removed.

Along with --- like most Democrats --- the portion of the anatomy that the Governator's gift was intended to replace.

Making The Virtual The Actual

Today's headline on Drudge:

ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE

And this should surprise ... no one.

Coverage Of The Chrysler Proceedings

As usual, SCOTUSBlog is providing yeoman's service in covering today's filings in the United States Supreme Court regarding the Obama Administration's extra-legal and probably unconstitutional efforts to deny Chrysler bondholders their property rights in an effort to pay off Obama supporters (i.e., the UAW).

Whether the Supreme Court will actually take the cases is, of course, a mystery (only about one in a hundred petitions for a writ of certiorari are granted), but if the court does, SCOTUSBlog recognizes that it constitutes the potential for "the most significant Supreme Court ruling on the government’s power to deal with economic crisis since the Court struck down major parts of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. U.S. in 1935 and U.S. v. Butler in 1936."

Excellent!

As usual, Ann Coulter gets it exactly right.

An excerpt, applying Liberal "logic":

I wouldn't kill an abortionist myself, but I wouldn't want to impose my moral values on others. No one is for shooting abortionists. But how will criminalizing men making difficult, often tragic, decisions be an effective means of achieving the goal of reducing the shootings of abortionists?

Following the moral precepts of liberals, I believe the correct position is: If you don't believe in shooting abortionists, then don't shoot one.

Quite An Authority

Back in the day, those of us who hold the so-called "mainstream" media in contempt would refer to our local journal as the "Pot. News." Of course, a little while back, that journal merged with the Manassas Journal-Messenger and became the News & Messenger, and this little bon mot fell into disuse.

Today, a reminder why it still fits: the editorial discussing the upcoming Democrat primaries identifies one of the gubernatorial candidates as "Jim Moran."

Now, I have little use for any Moran brother, but even I know that the one running for the Democrat nomination for Governor is the (relatively) good one, former Delegate Brian Moran.

And this is an editorial board which would presume to recommend candidates with endorsements?

Kinda tells you why you should ignore the so-called "mainstream" media.

UPDATE: Well, now they've corrected it. Without credit, of course.

The Return of Political Ambulance Chasing

Remember Columbine? Two dysfunctional punks kill a bunch of school mates, and the far Left demands gun control. Virginia Tech? A dysfunctional and probably mentally-deranged bozo kills dozens, and the far Left demands gun control? Matthew Shepard? A homosexual is killed, and the far Left demands so-called "hate" crimes legislation.

Now, we have the murder of a practitioner of the vilest form of abortion --- partial-birth abortion --- and before the identity of the suspect is even identified, the far Left is screaming that his motive must have arisen out of the fact that he is a Pro-Life extremist! The Virginia moonbatosphere is already all atwitter (not aTwitter) with the allegation. Newly-minted UVa grad Jamelle (a criminal justice major, perhaps?) already has two posts, here and here, and the Howling [Mad] Latina reveals her insight into the mind of a killer a thousand miles away here.

These guys must be mind-readers, because I've nowhere seen the motive of this guy identified. Now, while the police could hardly be blamed for looking into this motive, had they not already had a suspect (as yet, unidentified) suspect in custody, moonbat bloggers drawing this conclusion in the lack of any evidence are nakedly pursuing a political agenda, perhaps at the cost of the truth. Yet for all they know at this point, this abortionist was shot by the jealous paramour of his homosexual lover, but then I would be doing what they are: making allegations in the absence of any evidence whatsoever.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Pro-Life groups have uniformly condemned the murder.

Isn't interesting that the "blame America first" crowd jumps in to blame a respectable political movement for the violence of an as-yet unidentified suspect, for an as-yet unidentified motive, while disclaiming all responsibility for giving aid and comfort to terrorists who --- guess what? --- blame America for all the world's ills.

Identity of causes is not identity of tactics.

RPV Convention Thoughts

Attended the Republican Party of Virginia State Convention in Richmond last night and today. Didn't participate in "bloggers row," but you can find many fine reports from those who did.

Good time, and much better-run that last year's fiasco. Most of our candidates --- Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor; Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General --- won.

We got down a little later than expected (8:00), because we had to drop Jimmy off at someone's home so he could attend his Scout troop's spring creek cleanup today. Started out at the Jeffersoniad/New Media suite. Kinda odd: the beer and wine were free, but you had to pay for sodas. Then trooped over to the McDonnell/Bolling affair, stuck my head in the Brownlee suite and talked for a time with a few young Hampden-Sydney alums who were supporting his candidacy.

Best Hospitality Suite --- Americans for Prosperity's affair at the Hilton Garden.

Best Bar --- Fifth District Chairman Tucker Watkins' late-night gathering. First met Tucker last year, when someone dragged me to it, and we immediately hit it off. Tucker is a good ole' boy, and I've found that such a characteristic meshes well with my Pennsylvania Dutchman credentials. We picked up the conversation right where we left off. Helps that we have some mutual friends at the alma mater.

Least Likely Attendee --- "Not Larry Sabato" himself, Ben Tribbett. He was a good sport about it when having his tail twisted.

Best Line of the Convention --- John Brownlee: "We remember when acorn was just a nut, and not a collection of nuts."

CORRECTION: Ron Josephson on Facebook informs me that I am incorrect, and that this line was uttered by David Foster. My apologies to Mr. Foster.

One of our candidates lost, however. I voted for Bill Stanley for State Chairman. Not that I have anything against Pat Mullins. I've known him since he was Fairfax County Chairman. He was and is a good guy, and I believe he'll do a fine job as State Party Chairman.

However, holding in contempt the manner of his initial elevation to the post, with the despicable removal of Jeff Frederick, I could not validate that with my vote, even though he had the support of many whom I respect. Hence, I would have voted, and did vote, for any credible candidate in his stead.

With that having been said, I am completely happy with the GOP ticket, and anticipate a GOP sweep statewide in November's election. While we had left before the announcements were officially made, one finds in the blogosphere that the losing candidates all were gracious in defeat, pledging their support for the ticket.

We shall see.

Judicial Hypocrisy

As most have by now heard, California's Supreme Court reaffirmed the people's sovereignty by today rejecting a challenge to Proposition 8, an initiative on last November's ballot to reaffirm the definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

Informed readers will recall that same-sex "marriage" was imposed upon the people of California by a 4-3 vote earlier last year.

Nevertheless, demonstrating that the far Left is nothing if not shameless, the vote was only 6-1. The lone dissenter was Carlos Moreno, who had been under consideration as President Barry's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice David Souter.

Ironically, Moreno --- who had been part of the majority imposing so-called same-sex "marriage" upon the people of California --- criticized today's ruling as representing a "drastic and far-reaching change."

Bold words from a man who just last year was redefining an institution which has never constituted what he imposed upon the people of California.

I'm not sure what's more shocking and dismaying in the age of President Barry: that this man was under apparently serious consideration for appointment to the United States Supreme Court, or that any judge on any court could make such an assertion with an apparently straight face.

Interestingly, just a few days ago, the New York Times ran a puff piece on Moreno describing him as in the "dead center" of the California Supreme Court, and demonstrating "surprising humility."

Yeah. It's certainly "humble" to attempt to redefine perhaps the oldest institution of human civilization. Then again, the Times called the California Supreme Court "a moderate to conservative court."

One cannot help but wonder about the color of the sky in their planet.

Obama Interview

More evidence that President Barry doesn't have a clue.

Does This Really Surprise Anyone?

It's pretty pathetic that the far Left in this country is so opposed to actually defending it that they have decided to declare a practice which results in no real permanent physical harm, but which achieves its desired result (the extraction of information), to be "torture."

On the other hand, it's hardly surprising that people who don't understand what the word "marriage" means would also have problems understanding "torture."

Making 'Em Look Like Pikers

Let's face the hard, cold facts of life: eight years of George W. Bush and six of a GOP-controlled Congress left the GOP reputation for fiscal responsibility in tatters.

After all, by 2008, the Federal deficit was running at an all-time high of nearly half a trillion dollars.

Well, President Barry is better than GWB, as virtually every one knows. So his first-year deficit? Four times President Bush's, coming in at nearly $1.8 trillion dollars.

So the next time some Democrat starts lecturing about GOP fiscal irresponsibility, it might be wise to have that little statistic handy.

More Swine Flu News

Has anybody else noticed that more schools (over 400) closed over swine flu fears than there were confirmed cases (under 200 in total) over the last week?

SWINE FLU NEWS!!!!

I just heard a report that 10,000 people got it, and 95 died of it, TODAY ALONE!!!

Oh, wait a minute. That was the regular flu.

So You Thought It Would Get Better?

To those who thought Democrat smears would diminish with Jeff Frederick's ouster, one moonbat blog offers this.

SOLD!

RINO No More!

It seems that Arlen Specter is switching to the Democrat Party.

While one can certainly speculate as to all that factored into this action, a number of things are certain:

1. Specter's bout with brain cancer did more damage than anyone suspected;

2. Democrats have no standards other than power;

3. Specter obviously lacks the integrity to resign his seat and run for its as a Democrat; and

4. The fraudulently-misnomered "Employee Free Choice Act" may now have life breathed into it, though Specter denies that he will vote for cloture.

What a scumbag.

Amy Frederick Bows Out

Given current idiocies, referenced in her letter, can't say I blame her:

Dear Friends:

Since first beginning to explore the possibility of campaigning to represent the people of the 52nd District in the House of Delegates, I have been humbled by the support and encouragement I received from across eastern Prince William county, and indeed, beyond. Having been honored to stand by Jeff's side for the past six years as he has served, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know many of the people of this district. They have made this job a rewarding experience for both of us, and the lasting friendships will always remain.

Today, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my withdrawal from the race to succeed Jeff in the House of Delegates.

Unfortunately, some in the leadership of the Republican Party have demonstrated a greater interest in playing politics than in advancing our conservative principles and making life better for the families and the citizens of Virginia. I'm not interested in running for office to serve under broken leadership, where the Speaker compromises principle for what he perceives as immediate political gain. What so many entrusted with leadership in our party fail to recognize is that ignoring our core principles in pursuit of titles and power without purpose is exactly the behavior that severely reduced our ranks in the House, handed the Senate to the Democrats, and has resulted in one statewide loss after another.

Although my campaign ends today, it has been a pleasure to travel around the district and introduce myself as a potential candidate to so many wonderful people.

I want to first thank my friends and family for supporting me and encouraging me to run. I also want to thank Kris Morris and my supporters, who have spent hours volunteering on my behalf. To these people, I will remain forever grateful.

I'm excited about the future, and I will be working hard to make sure that people of principle who share Jeff's and my commitment to service are elected and re-elected this year. I'm confident that in years to come, our party will have new leadership and a new direction, which will bode well for fresh, new ideas -- and ultimately, handing our children a better Commonwealth than the one we inherited.

Most sincerely,

Amy Frederick

Personally, I always thought she was a better politician than Jeff. Too bad.

That Explains It

I awoke with a start at about 6:10 this morning. I didn't find out until later that it was this: GM Offers Plan for Nationalization.

As I noted below, my maternal grandfather was a GM dealer for over forty years.

Obviously, what woke me was the tremors caused by the fact that he was spinning like a top in his grave.

Utterly Unexpected

Anyone who's gone to college knows that you can virtually guarantee a good grade by kissing your professor's a**!

A Crying Shame

Apparently, GM's many troubles have caused it to send its Pontiac Motor Division to the gallows.

This is a crying shame. In my experience, there are Ford people, GM people, and (a few Chrysler) people.

I'm a GM person. I've never owned anything but GM products: three Pontiacs; two Buicks; and an inherited Cadillac sedan. The 1994 Pontiac Grand Am I bought new was one of the finest vehicles I've ever owned. Agile and practical, I put more than 215,000 on it before we gave it to my stepdaughter. My mechanic used to have his new technicians do the oil changes, and they would marvel over the fact that its high-mileage engine was cleaner than cars with half or a third as many miles on it. I never had to replace a seal on the engine during the entire time I owned it. We've owned two Pontiac Montanas, one of the finest mini-vans on the market, and my wife still drives one (the first was killed by a careless driver). Heck, the father of my first serious girlfriend was an Oldmobile salesman.

It's probably genetic, as my maternal grandfather was a GM dealer for over forty years in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Pontiac was the first brand he carried, beginning in 1946. Over the years, he picked up Cadillac, GMC Trucks (later dropped), Buick (my father persuaded him to take it on, as Buick District Manager in Philadelphia, and also married my mother, so I'm here because of a Buick), and Opel (later dropped). I remember his annual trips to Michigan (the town of Pontiac, of course) to see the new models.

It's traumatic.

Pontiac Motor Division. RIP.

Diminishing The Nation He Was Elected To Lead

As President Barry continues his magical mystery tour around the world, it's no mystery as to what his goal is: diminishing the nation he purports to "lead."

Never mind that his behavior makes Jimmy Carter look like he has a spine by comparison. Never mind the radicals who have influenced him at every point in his life.

Sometimes, you just can't believe the pablum emanating from this third-rate fool. Speaking after listening to a diatribe from Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, he responded with this:

“I’m grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old.”

Of course, it's not about blame, Barry. It's about the fact that you're President of the United States, and you represent this nation as both Head of State and Head of Government. And in that capacity, you stand for everything --- for good or ill, as informed by your own ridiculous philosophy --- done by this nation.

Spare us your narcissism, and man up a little bit.

Better yet, grow a pair.

Could Someone Explain ...

... why the vilest women of the far-Left --- Rachel Maddow and Janeane Garafolo --- are among those most adamantly belittling participants in the tea party protests by comparing them to a sex act? Especially when no self-respecting man would engage in that act with either of them?

Stupid Quotation Of The Day

And the award goes to ... Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norten, champion of unconstitutional legislation to give the District of Columbia a vote in the United States House of Representatives!

She was on C-SPAN this morning with the incredibly beautiful Greta Brawner, complaining that the unconstitutional legislation is being held up by those who would preserve the constitutional rights of D.C. residents to exercise their Second Amendment rights, and came up with this little gem (near the beginning of the interview):

Whoever heard of your gun or your vote?

Unfortunately, it is Delegate Norten herself who is taking that position, failing to understand that it is guns in the hands of private citizens which guarantee the vote.

Just as they guarantee that persons of her hue are not still treated as property.

EASTER REDEMPTION!

Captain Richard Phillips is FINALLY freed after a four-day stand-off.

Sadly, one of the four pirates survived, to be subjected to the research of the United States Department of Justice.

Kudos to three Navy SEALS with good aim!

The Illegitimate Senator?

With the news that the Department of Justice is asking a Federal trial court in Washington to void the convictions of former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, a Reagan-era quotation comes to mind:

"Which office do I go to to get my reputation back."

--- Former Labor Secretary Ray Donovan, upon his acquittal on corruption charges.

Now, this decision by Attorney General Eric Holder isn't the same as an acquittal, which still only means that the government's case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But it certainly calls into question the results of the senatorial election conducted last year in Alaska, in which former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich defeated Stevens in a close race (less than 4000 votes). The vote was held just days after Stevens' convictions.

Was this the thing that made the difference? Ask any Alaskan (I know quite a few) and the answer is, "Almost certainly."

Of course, one has to wonder, in this extraordinary situation, whether Mark Begich would have the dignity and decency to resign his seat, and allow a special election, re-running his race against Stevens, without the cloud which heretofore surrounded Stevens?

Naaaah! He's a Democrat! Power at all costs.

Even if that cost is your dignity and your soul.

Nevertheless, if Begich had any decency, that is the course that he would follow. And you can bet that, were the roles reversed, far Lefties would be demanding that course.

UPDATE: Apparently, some Alaska political leaders agree. Not surprisingly, they are Republicans. It seems that all involved --- former Senator Stevens; Alaska's voters; the courts charged with administering justice; the American public which is supposed to be served by the Department of Justice --- deserved better.

Whatever happens now, Democrat Senator Mark Begich has to be at the top of any list of "Most-Endangered" Democrats when his term is up.

President Barry Announces New Legislative Initiatives

In light of the deepening economic crisis, President Barry took the occasion of the G-20 Summit in London to announce a series of reforms to kickstart the American economy:

1. Immediate closure of the Departments of Housing & Urban Development (which has failed miserably and provided neither housing nor much urban development), Health & Human Services (ditto), Education (double ditto), and Commerce;

2. The firing of Ron Gettelfinger, James P. Hoffa, Gerald McEntee, and Rich Trumka from their posts as heads of the UAW, Teamsters, AFSCME, and the UMW, respectively. Since the President now has the power to fire corporate executives in companies propped up by the government for a few months, there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to fire bosses of unions propped up by the government for decades;

3. An executive order barring the payment of so-called "prevailing" wages on government contracts, and a demand that Congress immediately repeal the racist-motivated Davis-Bacon Act requiring ascertainment and payment of such inflated prices:

4. Called for immediate passage of the National Right to Work Act, and the Freedom from Union Violence Act;

5. Issued a veto threat against the fraudulently-misnomered "Employee Free Choice Act," and the push-button strike bill for first responders;

6. Suspension of Medicare and Medicaid payments and reimbursements, pending full repeal of these programs for socialized medicine;

7. Immediate authorization for off-shore drilling for oil and natural gas in all promising areas; and

8. Making permanent the Bush tax cuts.

My understanding is that, upon hearing this, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's head exploded.

Six Minutes Of Brilliance

Guys like this must scare the heads of the Democrat Party to death:

He's Baaaack!

John S. Gray, of Lake Ridge, that is.

It seems that Mr. Gray, whose candidacy to represent Prince William County at the State GOP Convention set for late May in Richmond was rejected by the County GOP Convention nearly two weeks back, is entirely bitter about it. Of course, he was rejected because he's one of the most undependable political chameleons in the County, having run for public office as Republican, Democrat, and Independent over the last ten years or so.

In fact, the only party under whose banner he has not run is the one to which he most appropriately can be categorized: the Flake Party.

In any case, here's the text of his letter:

On March 14, the local Republican Committee held its annual convention.

As the Republican super majority on the Board of County Supervisors now emphatically requires that all senior citizens, the disabled and small business owners (amongst others) affirm their legal
presence in Prince William County, I was wondering if the Republican delegates to that convention were themselves required to affirm their own legal presence in PWC to use facilities paid for by county
taxpayers?

I know for a fact they were not, so I guess what is good for the goose isn’t good for the gander. Gee, how sad. I wonder what we call that?

JOHN S. GRAY

Lake Ridge

And since hard truths are little-valued by the editors of the News and Messenger, here's the comment that I posted, but don't expect to see for too long on the website.

Well, Mr. Gray, I don't know what we call "that," but I know what we call people who knowingly make false statements: liars.

In fact, all participants as delegates to the County GOP Convention were required to "affirm their legal presence in Prince William County," because all participants in the County GOP Convention were required to be "legal and qualified voters in Prince William County," i.e., registered voters, which requires legal presence. This requirement was plainly stated on the application to be a delegate to the Convention. So your charge is false. It's also knowingly false, since --- if you are the same "John S. Gray" who applied to be a delegate to the Convention (or perhaps just the State GOP Convention; it is is one or the other, or both) --- you signed this very affirmation as a condition for consideration.

Now, if this is the same "John S. Gray" who applied and was rejected to be a delegate to the State GOP Convention, I suppose his bitterness --- if not his dishonesty --- is understandable. Then again, if this is that "John S. Gray," he's unsuccessfully run for elective office as a "Republican," a "Democrat," an "Independent," and perhaps every other political party except the brazenly "Flake" party.

Since I Know It Won't Be Approved...

There's an old saying, something to the effect that "You can't teach a pig to dance. You won't succeed, and you'll annoy the pig."

Isn't it amazing how partisans for the radical homosexual agenda, who demand special privileges while putting on a great pretense about only wanting "equality," then engage in behavior which causes others to deny them even the simple courtesies?

I thought I'd make my comment here, rather than at "Special Privileges Loudoun":

Whiny? You know, it just doesn't pay to try to have a respectful, civilized conversation with a fag. In the end, you'll almost always be belittled, demonized, or a combination of both.

Guess Who's NOT Coming To Dinner?

I suspect that George F. Will will not be receiving any more invitations to dine with the Obamessiah.