numchuckskills

Rudy Addressing California Voters

2008-01-06T19:54:00.000-08:00

But really,

2008-01-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

So since I last posted, I was commissioned as a 2LT in the Army, was awarded the Health Professions Scholarship, finished my 3rd year of graduate school, got married, and I am waiting to hear where my internship and subsequent first duty station back on active duty will be.

I have also decided that Rudy is the man to be president, so I will be actively campaigning on his behalf through the 5th of FEB when California has it's primary.

Here is the website:

www.joinrudy2008.com

He is the one who can gather up the support from Independents and even Democrats to win in November. The ONLY one.

He will also appoint the right kind of Supreme Court Justices, a personal crusade of mine.

For the new year!

2008-01-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a year, but to start it off right--

No Border Fence

2007-02-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

It's been over a month since I posted, but this one had to be commented on. Back after the November elections, several predictions were made by the humble host of numchuckskills. One of which was "the border fence will not happen."

The prediction came true, and the fence does not have the funding it needs to be built. This is either because President Bush doesn't want it, or because he is afraid to even bother with this congress.

So it was cool idea, but not going to happen.

Main Stream Media will never get it.

2006-12-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

As if it needed to be demonstrated again, there is a great article about Sylvester Stallone's latest (and hopefully last) installment in the "Rocky" franchise. The writer just can't help himself but make fun of Chistianity.

In case you haven't followed this--Stallone has apparently renewed his faith in God and is using his movie promotion tour to talk about it. That would be fine, if it weren't 2006 and the media didn't hate everything about religion. I take that back, they hate everything about ONE particular religion--the most popular one in the country.

In this article, we are treated to Joe Garofoli's smart ass comments about how Stallone's violent movies just don't seem to be consistent with Christian values. As if the average San Francisco Chronicle staff writer would know anything about them.

Of course he goes beyond that, suggesting that it is all just a marketing ploy being used by Stallone to sell his movie. After all, he has hired the same guy that helped Mel Gibson market his "Passion of the Christ" a couple years ago.

Face it America--the secular half of this country doesn't understand you, and you don't understand them. There are those who believe in something, and those who believe in nothing. The Nihilists will never understand what it means to believe in something greater than yourself. That is why those same people think "if we just talk to the terrorists, or give them what they want, they will go away." They think that everything boils down to economics. It is the same reason that they MUST assign greedy/cynical reasons to Stallone's apparent religious experience. Nobody could actually be so stupid as to belive in God.

Just in case you are REALLY bored.

2006-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

You can look at a webcam of Loch Ness here.

That does not neccsessarily mean "the Loch Ness Monster." Just a camera, pointed into the black emptiness of the lake.

The World BEYOND 2007

2006-12-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Dennis Prager has written, in his usual style, a methodical, objective look at where the world stands as of this moment. His prognosis--not good.

For most conservatives, the following should come as no surprise, but here it is.

If one agrees with the basic points of this article, predicting the future is not difficult. In the next 20-40 years there will be a realignment of powers that will essentially break down on either 3 or 4 axes.

China will be one.

The United States will be another. What remains to be seen is whether Japan and others (Australia, maybe) will develop as strong military allies to the US. (I think we should let Japan rebuild it's military and go nuclear).

The Middle East will merge with Europe, because Europe has given up on fighting Islamo-fascism. A swath of totalitarianism will stretch from Indonesia to Great Britain.

Those will be the three world powers. It is shaping up to be quite a fight, because all 3 of these powers have different macro values. It will be a fight between those who believe in freedom, those who believe in money, and those who believe in death and hate. It should be a good show.

Here is Prager's Article.

Stuck Mojo my new favorite band.

2006-12-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

Littlegreenfootballs had this. I don't like rap, but come on. These guys have the right idea. Warning--explicit lyrics.

Here are the lyrics:

I speak peace when peace is spoken, But I speak war when your hate is provoking, The season is open 24-7-365, Man up yo time to ride, No need to hide behind slogans of deceit, Claiming that you're a religion of peace, We just don't believe you, We can clearly see through, The madness that you're feeding your people, Jihad the cry of your unholy war, Using the willing, the weak and poor, From birth drowning in propaganda, rhetoric and slander, All we can say is damn ya

My forefathers fought and died for this here
I'm stronger than your war of fear
Are we clear?
If you step in my hood
It's understood
It's open season

I don't need a faith that's blind, Where death and hate bring me peace of mind, With views that are stuck deep in the seventh century, So much sand in your eyes to blind to see, The venom that you leaders preach, Is the path to your own destruction, Your own demise, You might say that I don't understand but your disgust for me is what I realize, Surprise!
Your homicidal ways has got the whole world watching, Whole world scoping, So if you bring it to my home base, Best believe it, The season's open

I see you, Hell yeah I see you, Motherfucker naw, I don't wanna be you, If you come to my place, I'll drop more than just some bass, Yo you'll get a taste of a, Sick motherfucker from the Dirty, I ain't worrying not a fucking bit, I'm telescoping like Hubble, Yo you in trouble, Yo on the double, I'm wild with mine, Bring that style with mine, Fuck with my family I'll end your line, Just the way it is, Just the way it be, Do you understand? No matter if you're woman or man, or child, My profile is crazy, That shit you do doesn't amaze me, I'm ready to blaze thee

I don't give a damn what god you claim, I've seen the innocent that you've slain, On my streets you're just fair game, Like a pig walk to your slaughter, The heat here is so much hotter, And my views won't teeter totter or fluctuate, Step to me you just met your fate, And I'll annihilate, With the skill of a Shogun assassin, Slicing and dicing precise with a passion, In any shape form or fashion, Bring it to my home, Welcome to the danger zone, Cause your attitude's the reason, The triggers keep squeezing, The hunt is on and it's open season

It's Open Season

How does one become the Burn Leader?

2006-12-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

I think I'll run for this position next year.

Will is Right and Wrong

2006-12-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

George Will is trying to help McCain and Romney with his recent column. He suggests that Romney needs to clarify his position on same sex marriage and McCain needs to do the same on the War. While, for the purposes of getting elected, this is good advice, he is missing something. McCain's presidential hopes died November 7th.

The race is between Guiliani and Romney, and McCain's campaign is dead. (Unless Rice throws her hat in the ring--then all bets are off.) The fact that the senator from Arizona is not aware of this is irrelevant. Why? McCain's gang of 14 stopped the most pressing issue facing the nation next to the war--judicial nominations. While McCain may have enough popularity with the voters, the party will stop him. He has burned too many bridges on the altar of trying to look like a hero. His anti-tobacco zealotry and silly campaign finance reform crap didn't help either. You can only present yourself as a rogue up to a certain line. McCain crossed that line a while ago.

Here is the entire article.

Future Elections Influenced Heavily by Post 9/11 Service?

2006-12-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hugh Hewitt believes that future elections will have a sort of litmus test associated with them. Namely, what were you doing during the war on terror?

The reason this article jumped out at me is because I have often contemplated running for office some day after I finish everything else I want to do. I guess if Hewitt is right, I have lucked out. I joined the Army about 8 months before 9/11/2001. I had no idea what was coming, and even right after, it seemed like just another terror attack that we would respond to with the usual law enforcement tactics.

I had a chance to get out for good in 2004, but I have made a new commitment as of April this year, and will be continue to until at least my 20 year mark.

I guess I will be able to say "I was on active duty during that time" if someone asks. Cool.

Here is the article.

Everything is Pathology Now

2006-12-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

So, most readers of this site do not know that I am a very picky eater. I usually can find one thing on a menu that I like, but generally I have a very limited diet. I don't like chunky stuff (think onions, tomatoes, pretty much any type of sauce/soup/caserole with chunks of vegatables). Can't stand it when people make mashed potatos and ruin them by putting garlic and such undesireables in there. I cannot for the life of me figure out what nuts, carrots, pieces of strawberry or cocnut are doing anywhere near, in or on a cake. Why would someone take green beans, cook them and THEN ADD WALNUTS to the dish? They should just eat cat poop. Anyway, you get the picture.

Well, now apparently I can say I have a disorder.

Here is the website complete with a discussion board/support group for Adult Picky Eaters. My God.

Eventually, everything will be boiled down to pathology. No one's quirks or idiosyncracies will just be "a funny thing about so and so." There HAS to be something wrong.

Sad Poem.

2006-12-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

I was watching the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral" this afternoon, and the funeral scene was on. The character who lost his partner to a heart attack was reciting this poem. Ever loved anyone THIS much?

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My moon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one:
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods:
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

WH Auden.

December 7, 1941

2006-12-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hanson Musing on Pearl Harbor Day

2006-12-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

Victor Davis Hanson's article this week is well written, however the portions that should realy cause you to think are the descriptive stats.

Like these:

Pearl Harbor Dead: 2403
September 11 Dead: Almost 3000

4 Years after Pear Harbor: War Over
6 years after September 11: No end in sight

Average # of American Soldiers killed per month WWII: 8000
Average # of American Soldiers killed per month GWOT: 50

Total # American Soldiers killed in WWII: 400,000+
Total # American Soldiers killed in GWOT: Less than 1/100th of that number.

Here is the article.

The Clam Before the Storm?

2006-12-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

...and a rolling sotne gathers no moss.

Boy did I call that one wrong

2006-12-05T22:06:00.000-08:00

Scroll down a few posts and see what I wrote about Dennis Prager's column regarding the Ellison thing. I thought it would just turn into nothing!

Freedom no longer our greatest value

2006-11-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a great quote from Walter Williams' column today:

At least two-thirds of the federal budget represents forcing one American to serve the purposes of another. Younger workers are forced to pay for the prescriptions of older Americans; people who are not farmers are forced to serve those who are; nonpoor people are forced to serve poor people; and the general public is forced to serve corporations, college students and other special interests who have the ear of Congress.

Williams explains in very simple language why big government is here to stay. It reminds me of a political cartoon I once saw whereas Mr. and Mrs. Regular Amercian Couple were being asked a question by a survey researcher. He asked "do you think the size of government should be cut?" They answered, in large print with a resounding "YES" above their heads. However, If you looked closely at the word "YES," it was made up of small print which read "except for our military base, our new bridge project, our social security check, our daughters food stamps..."

Smaller government is not going to happen, folks. We are addicted like those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Here is the entire article.

What a relief

2006-11-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

This will have no consequences

2006-11-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

In his most recent column, Dennis Prager has made some very good points about Keith Ellison's desire to take the oath of office on the Koran.

His points are valid, and will not be heard.

I think it is too late to be trying to appeal to basic philosophical truths about the way countries operate, where their values come from, etc. Ellison will swear on the Koran, the media will call it courageous, then we will forget about it.

The people of America, who are becoming less and less able to discern anything from anything else will talk about it at work, with their friends and families, have stupid opinions about it based on intelligent sounding concepts like "common sense" and America will continue to decline.

Oh Well.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2006-11-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I will be out of town for Thanksgiving, and probably not blogging much.

So here are a few words on the subject.

For thousands of years, man had been totally unable to provide a system of government that would simultaneously provide justice, freedom and security to all the people within it's borders.

Every system had major flaws regarding the treatment of women, minorities, and pretty much anyone who was different.

That was until the last 2 centuries. Has America been perfect in its treatment of all it's citizens? Of course not. But I think it is impossible to deny that the vast majority of people all over the world, at this point on the time line, wish they were middle class Americans. Hell, most of them would settle for a life as a poor American.

America is not what is wrong with the world. Our ideals of freedom, Judeo-Christian Values and pluralism are what are keeping the world from plunging into anarchy.

I am deeply thankful for the fact that I was born here. In this country, I am free. I am not rich, I am not loved by everyone I meet, I am not always shielded from being offended, and my absolute safety is not guaranteed. But I reiterate--I am free.

Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are celebrating it, and however you are celebrating it.

'08 Prediction Unveiling

2006-11-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am usually wrong about these. I predicted that Jack Kemp would run and win against Clinton in 96. I predicted a McCain loss against Gore in 2000. Those are the only pre-primary predictions I have ever made.

But, for fun, here is what I think for '08:

Guiliani/Romney

vs

Hillary/Obama

Guiliani will win.

Rudy is already campaigning, and has managed to get his name all over the talk shows. He REALLY REALLY wants to be president. The party will force him to nominate someone way more conservative than him, so he doesn't try to take everbody's guns away. If not Romney, somebody else.

Hillary is too divisive. She will try to hold together the same coalition of conservative dems and wackos that helped them take over congress, but it will fall apart.

That's what I think anyway.

Serious Running

2006-11-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Terrorism Fueling the Backlash? No way!

2006-11-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty funny clip from SNL. I wonder how long it will be before they are told to apologize.

Borat Mania

2006-11-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

The "Borat" movie is the funniest thing I have seen all year. Kathleen Parker has written this thoughtful analysis about it.

The truth is, all of the people who were duped and are now suing, have no sense of humor about themselves. Too bad.

Philosophy 101

2006-11-17T08:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a new friend of mine who said she sometimes has trouble deciding how to vote. She says that she is basically conservative, but she doesn't follow events closely enough to be informed and must rely primarily on her uncle for advice.

As far as I can tell, the vast majority of people in this predicament are there not because of a lack of watching the news, but because they have not taken a look at their values at the presuppositional/philosophical level and tried to figure out how they apply to politics. So here is lesson #1

From the wikepedia definition of "social Justice" (I am more and more impressed with this site's attempt to be neutral in it's definitions):

Social justice refers to conceptions of justice applied to an entire society. It is based on the idea of a just society, which gives individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society.

Social justice is both a philosophical problem and an important issue in politics. It can arguably be said that everyone wishes to live in a just society, but different political ideologies have different conceptions of what a 'just society' actually is. The term "social justice" itself tends to be used by those ideologies who believe that present day society is highly unjust - and these are usually left-wing ideologies, advocating a more extensive use of democracy and income redistribution, a more egalitarian society and either a mixed economy or a non-market-based economic model. The right-wing has its own conception of social justice, but generally believes that it is best achieved through embracing meritocracy, the operation of a free market, and the promotion of philanthropy and charity. Both right and left tend to agree on the importance of rule of law, human rights, and some form of a welfare safety net (though the left supports this to a greater extent than the right).

The "right" and "left" are names given to the two most prevalent political orientations in modern Western society, but many other political outlooks have existed in the past or exist today in different societies, and they usually carry their own specific ideas about social justice.

Social justice is also a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality. So a very broad definition of social justice is that "social justice reflects the way in which human rights are manifested in the everyday lives of people at every level of society". It can be further defined as working towards the realization of a world where all members of a society, regardless of background, have basic human rights and an equal opportunity to access the benefits of their society.

So where do you stand on the concept of "social justice?" Answering that question will set you strongly in one direction or another.

Zany Antics Begin

2006-11-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Robert Novak has a column this week regarding Nancy Pelosi's handling of the election for majority leader in the house.

Speaker apparent Pelosi has endorsed Jack Murtha, which is no big deal. But what is a big deal was that she urged (in writing) the rest of the Democrats to vote against Steny Hoyer. This is seen by insiders as her first gaffe, however I wonder if it will really matter.

This is the kind of thing the grumpy Republicans who neglected to help us keep our majority were hoping for. However, I think they miscalculated one thing. Nobody cares outside those of us who read this stuff. Do you think the MSM is going to report all of the shenanigans that we will inevitably see from the Democrats for the next two years?

Click here for the entire story.

OJ writes book

2006-11-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, these two people are no longer permitted to breathe, watch a sunset, make a new friend, eat a tasty meal, or listen to music. Why? Oh yeah, that's because they are rotting in the ground after having their heads almost sliced off by a jealous monster named O.J. Simpson! Sure, life is fair.

No Equivalent on the Left

2006-11-15T22:19:00.000-08:00

Since the death of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, there is no equivalent in intellectual prowess on the left to that of George Will.

In this column, Will points out the folly of the 9th circuit court of appeals ridiculous decision making regarding the death penalty. He methodically dissects a decision that was overturned (of course) by the Supreme Court.

Why is this significant? Because George Will is against the death penalty. Only, and I mean ONLY, on the right do you find the kind of intellectual honesty that it takes to attack the decision of a court on a position that you basically agree with because in essence, they did it wrong.

Let me make that a little more clear, for those of you who need help with this. George Will is capable of pointing to the merits of a case, and saying "even though I am against the death penalty, their legal arguments were shabby."

This, by the way, is how you can be against Roe v Wade, AND simultaneously be pro-choice. And it only happens right of center these days.

Thank you, Ma'am.

2006-11-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

As a current member of the military, I don't think it's appropriate to comment on Kathleen Parker's column this week. However, her words are appreciated. I am working with the very population she writes about at my 3rd year practicum, and I too, will be returning to active duty when I am done with graduate school.

Here is the article.

Farmers Branch, Texas

2006-11-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch has passed laws making it difficult for illegal immigrants to get along in their town. This was predictable, and there will be more cities accross the country that will do the same. Basically, they have made it against the law to rent an apartment or house to illegals, and have told their police department to start enforcing the immigration laws. They also made English the official language of the city.

Here is the story.

What is MORE interesting is this picture:

That's "former" Marine SGT Salvador Parada protesting the city council on the day these measures were passed. Here is the problem. He is not on active duty anymore, so unless he is retired, there is no appropriate venue for him to wear his uniform. RETIRED members of the military are authorized to wear their uniforms in VERY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. However--political functions is NOT ONE OF THEM! Technically, what he is doing is against the law. I don't care if he is/was a Marine. Those of us in uniform know that we are not allowed to take political positions in an official capacity. Using your uniform as a way to lend credibility to your cause is the same as taking a crap on it. He's a jackass.

3 predictions already coming true.

2006-11-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it is time for the Democrats to pay back all of the crazies that put them in power:

Donald Rumsfeld is gone,

Cindy Sheehan and her crowd are already calling for impeachment for "war crimes." They won't stop until they get it.

--and--

The Democrats are stating they are going to "revisit" the recently passed bill mandating the erection of a southern border fence. So now, instead of minimal border security, we will have none.

Torn over Wal-Mart

2006-11-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here's why-

Wal-Mart is one of the biggest abusers of eminent domain. It is because of them, (and other companies like them) that America is frantically trying to protect its own private property rights with ballot initiatives. Of course, they are a business, and businesses are trying to make money. If the system corrects itself and stops the abuse, then great.

On the other hand, Wal-Mart has decided to bring back Christmas, and it's out with "the Holidays." It makes me want to do ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING at Wal-Mart, exclusively.

Let's revisit this issue, briefly.

1. "Happy Holidays," "Holiday parties," and the rest of it have been put in place so as not to "offend" those who do not celebrate Christmas. The idea is that it makes them feel excluded.

2. Christmas is celebrated by about 90% of Americans.

3. In America, any religion can celebrate whatever holiday they want, with impunity.

4. If I were a Christian living in Israel, I would think "what a wonderful country--they are almost all Jewish, but I can put Christmas lights up around my house, have a Christmas tree, give gifts, and it is perfectly legal."

5. I would also be thrilled if I were invited to a chanukkah party. I would say "happy chanukkah" right back to anyone who said it to me.

The majority culture has the right to preserve its traditions OPENLY in society. Those who are offended by Christmas tress and nativity scenes are insecure in their own faith--especially in a country as open, free and tolerant as the United States. Good for you, Wal-Mart. Just stop trying to use the government to take property away from individuals in order to secure your empire.

Leave it to Charles

2006-11-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Charles Krauthammer get's it right, as usual.

In this post, Dr. Krauthammer points out some of the obvious facts about the current state of politics in America. Last Tuesday's election was not a mandate to move further to the left. The Democrats recruited conservatives so they could win. He points out that BOTH parties will become more conservative as a result.

Sunday Afternoon Naptime

2006-11-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

My roommates cat, helping me do my work today.

Yesterday's Run

2006-11-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

Toyon Trail, in the mountains west of me. This picture is someone elses. It was actually drizzling and muddy when I was there. Also-intended to run about 6-7 miles, got lost, couldn't find my truck. Ended up running about 15.

Good Stuff

2006-11-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting website

Bridge Back from the Wilderness

2006-11-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

This statement from George Will's column is basically what the Republican punishers are counting on:

The most left-wing speaker in U.S. history will return to being minority leader in 2009 unless she eschews an agenda that cannot be enacted without requiring the many Democrats elected from Republican-leaning districts to jeopardize their seats.

Fine. If the correction was necessary, and this is how it is going to work then sobeit.

All over Townhall.com and the rest of the columns is this idea that the reason we lost is because we weren't conservative enough--which is essentially what Will is saying. In other words, we are counting on the Democrats to act crazy for the next 2 years, while the Republicans clean house. At that point, the Dems will be fired for their antics, and we will sweep congress (with "real" conservatives) and the White House (Also see The Dr's comments in previous posts about this). It still seems like an awful big gamble, but I am a team player, and the electorate has spoken. If that's the strategy, we'll make it work.

Does your grandpa know you raided his closet?

2006-11-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

Day 2--Impeachment Talk Starts

2006-11-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this post by Michelle Malkin. The Democrats have the memory of an elephant, as selective as it may be (And avoiding the donkey/elephant wierdness of that statement). They have never forgotten the impeachemnt of Bill Clinton and now it is their turn.

This is somehow good for America, I guess.

I'm over it now

2006-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Just needed a day to be grumpy. Now we can move on to the business of winning in '08. (And making fun of the Pelosi/Reid run congress.)

Well Republicans, I hope you're happy UPDATE

2006-11-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

You will have 2 years of a circus on capitol hill that will cause buyer's remorse for every minute of it.

The soldiers in Iraq will be demoralized, and probably put in further danger. They say they are not going to cut funding for the war, but they are liars.

Donald Rumsfeld, possibly the best SECDEF we have ever had, will be brought before congress for hearings every day until 2008.--Update--Already Resigned! Yeah for us!

It will be VERY hard to replace John Paul Stevens when he dies.

The tax cuts will expire.

Because of funding cuts, the border fence will become welfare distribution centers with signs that read "Welcome to America. Here is your fair share of hard working Americans earnings"

The Democrats, even though they have been saying "no impeachment" will attempt to impeach the president. Remember, the people who kicked Joe Lieberman out are in charge of their party.

But hey--they got a message, right?

Great job, base.

GOTV

2006-11-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Have You?

This is how you do it

2006-11-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Republicans are gaining momentum in the 11th hour, and it is guys like Micheal Steele who are getting it done. Here he is, being endorsed by black Maryland Democrats.

Inconsistent Analogy

2006-11-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

Dennis Prager points out, in his usual methodical style, several reasons for Republicans to get out and vote Tuesday.

What is fascinating, however, is this response on the Towhall website to the article by reader Caroline Miranda:

Nice Try, Dennis, but No Dice
Stay angry but vote Republican? That's like saying to a thief, you stole from me, but come into my house for dinner, anyway, so you can steal some more of my income and property. The outright theft by Republican To justify this outright theft would be to scrifice [sic] morals and ethics, and would send a message to the bridge-to-nowhere crowd that they can do more of the same.

Unfortunately, this is an analogy that does not hold together. Let's dissect it-

The thief=Republicans

Who?=Democrats

Nice try, Caroline. The problem is, with burglary, if you fight off the burglar, he goes away. It is not a choice between being victimized by his crime without the burglar as your dinner guest and burglary plus his company. He also doesn't show up and exclaim "if you choose to get rid of me, the burglar outside is going to come in and steal your stuff AND kill your children."

The real dichotomy (between Democrats and Republicans) is a inconvenient one, but it's what we in the real world call "life."

More Reason

2006-11-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee. Frightening thought, isn't it? Still going to sit at home like a grumpy child Christmas morning who didn't get the XBox you asked for?

These are disgusting

2006-11-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

Take a look at these pictures of the Halloween party thrown by Penn President Amy Gutmann.

Why didn't anyone tell this jackass to go home? What if he came to the party dressed as a redneck carrying a rope?

That's what I thought.

To the Base

2006-11-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

For those idiots in the base who are going to go stay away from the polls to punish the republicans this Tuesday, here is a graphic reminder of why you need to think it through:

There will probably be one vacancy on the supreme court before this presidency is over. Lets force the President to nominate another Souter. Great idea.

Stuck in IRAK

2006-11-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

No Excretion Zone

2006-10-31T22:43:00.000-08:00

I wish I had a dime for every time someone said "man, I am going to excrete my pants!"

Kerry's Gaffe

2006-10-31T20:26:00.000-08:00

When Dan Quayle misspelled potato, the media would not leave him alone for weeks.

Kerry will get a pass on his insult to the military.

For those who aren't aware of what has been said, here you go:

In other words, losers join the military.

So I guess I am a loser. I got my FIRST master's degree, joined the Army, served 4 years on active duty. I got back into graduate school, am currently in the California National Guard and working on what will be my SECOND master's, and PhD. Then I am going back on active duty. Most of the people I am in school with think I am wasting my talent and energy. They are all liberal.

This discussion is almost not worth having, though. The thing is, they just don't get it. Those of us who are in, do it because we believe in it. The left has given up this concept--believing that some things are worth fighting and dying for.

Last try on this topic

2006-10-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

At the risk of turning this blog into a one-topic rant, I will bring one more of these articles and then quit until after the election. They just KEEP COMING!

I woke up this morning, went to Townhall.com, and there it was on the homepage. Yet ANOTHER article by a republican, pinning their hopes on a reaction to the New Jersey Supreme Court decision. Like a poor kid who lives in an apartment building and asks their parents for a pony at Christmas. The parents, not wanting to hurt the child's feelings respond, "maybe."

Here is Star Parker throwing her hat in the ring on how saving heterosexual marriage will be the galvanizing, last minute rallying cry for us.

To the columnists I say, please stop writing this stuff. IT MAKES US LOOK CRAZY! It plays into every stereotype that exists about mean, hateful republicans.

Just remember, I will be voting republican, like I always do, while holding my nose with the other hand.

Please don't mess this up for us!

2006-10-29T23:41:00.000-08:00

More stuff from the creepy moralists in the party here.

Picture me with my fingers in my ears, shaking my head shouting "la la la I don't hear you I DON'T HEAR YOU!" when these people talk.

The problem is, even if you believe every word of it, it is not the governments job to make these assertions into policy. It is articles like this that give the lefties ammo for the ones in the middle. If even one voter is thinking "I was going to vote for the republicans this time around, but they sure sound wacky on same sex marriage," then shame on you, Kevin McCullough.

Flags of our Fathers

2006-10-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

I went to see "Flags of our Fathers" last night.

All the usual talk show hosts have been raving about it all week, including conservative movie critic Michael Medved.

Here is his assessment from his website:

"Flags of our Fathers is a moving, eloquent, powerfully-acted epic with gripping combat scenes and a powerful message about the inevitable exploitation of young men in combat. There are some challenges, however, in keeping the characters straight and following the complex scheme of flashbacks and flash forwards. Rated R for bloody scenes of battlefield violence and lots of harsh language"

My own reaction was a little different. First of all, what was so "powerful" about the message? If, by this sentence, Medved means the movie shows us that sometimes we have to engage in propaganda in order to win a just war, I could buy that. The message it sends is "look at the disgusting dog and pony show they put these boys through. Shame on them." It comes through OVER and OVER again. In fact, I am pretty sure based on the comments by the people seated around me, that is EXACTLY what message came through.

WWII was no joke. Of all the wars we have faught, it is the toughest one to find fault with. It was the right thing to do--we saved the world. Getting the American people excited in this way was a small price to pay to stop imperialism.

At least with "Saving Private Ryan" the message was a little more pro-America. It was "everyone of us Americans who has lived in freedom since WWII should be earning the right to live in this great country every day." Private Ryan was a metaphor for every one of us. Remember when Tom Hanks character was about to die and said to Ryan "earn this?"

Anyway, I wasn't surprised. The preview trailers gave it away.

When I am this age

2006-10-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

Old people who run rule!

Will Same Sex Marriage be the Issue...Again?

2006-10-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of political strategy that drives us libertarians crazy. The reason is this:

Most of us don't give a crap about same sex marriage. So if the idea that in this narrow margin election republicans will come out to stop same sex marriage is true, it's depressing. In other words, there is a republican somewhere who, up until the New Jersey Supreme Court decision earlier this week, was going to sit it out. But now he perceives that "the gays might start marrying each other if I don't get off my ass and vote, by golly where did I put that polling place info packet?"

Yes, I want us to win. But I want us to win for the right reasons, which (I know, I know) makes me kind of an idealogue/true believer type. Remember for libertarians, the right reasons are, in order of importance:

1.Freedom,
2.Freedom and
3.FREEDOM!

Back in 2004, this issue and holding on to the presidency were associated with each other. Remember--all the states with defense of marriage ballot measures passed them and also voted for President Bush.

Sometimes I don't have the stomach for strategy. It's code for "figuring out how to get them to vote for us."

Andrew Sullivan Meltdown

2006-10-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

There are two possibilities that might explain Andrew Sullivan's behavior on Hugh Hewitt (clip #8) and Colbert this week.

A. He has lost his mind.

or

B. He is trying to sell books.

He was even a little abrasive on the mother of all nice guy talk shows, Dennis Prager. Scroll down to clip #21.

Krauthammer's Advice to Obama

2006-10-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Charles Krauthammer is giving advice to Barack Obama--run for president in 08 and lose so you can win in '12 or '16.

There are two things that make this column remarkable:

The first demonstrates the colossal difference in the civility between the way conservatives and liberals comminicate with each other. Try to imagine, if you will, a parallel universe where a liberal columnist were to give advice to conservative presidential would be in such a serious, civil tone.

Secondly, Krauthammer makes this point--"...the country hungers for a black president. Not all the country, but enough that, on balance, race would be an asset... Of course there is racism in America. Call me naive, but I believe that just as Joe Lieberman was a net positive for the Democrats in 2000 -- more people were attracted to him as a man of faith than were turned away because of anti-Semitism -- there are more Americans who would take special pride in a black president than are those who would reject one because of racism."

I disagree on one point. CONSERVATIVES hunger for a black president, not liberals. A black president would mean republicans (and everyone else who thinks the big, bad racist hand that supposedly moves everything in this country is nothing more than a scary camp fire story that liberals tell their children) would have the ammunition to say "shut up already about Americans being racist!" The democrats would have to change their platform plank--you know the one--"You blacks can't make it without us. We protect you from the republicans who want to re-institute the slave trade."

Schwarzenegger...A Man, not a Baby

2006-10-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

Very funny ad spoof.

Elder and Coulter on Iraq

2006-10-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

Larry Elder has a great column this week in response to Andy Rooney's "60 Minutes" segment asking President Bush to "finally flat-out explain why we have troops in Iraq."

Unfortunately, even though Elder's explanation is clear, sound and based on the reality of the situation, it doesn't matter.

People believe whatever they want to believe. Besides, "Bush Lied People Died" fits on a bumber sticker. The argument for the war does not.

Also, Ann Coulter points out something in her column that I bet you didn't think of. She asks the reader to consider this scenario:

Right after 9/11 if President Bush had said "Sadaam Hussein is paying homicide bombers and letting terrorists stay in his hospitals--we are going to Iraq to get them," everybody that was so gung ho about going to Afghanistan at the time would have said "we support it."

Then, if he had said, "next is Afghanistan because the Taliban is supporting Osama" they would have said "Afghanistan never attacked us! What are we doing there?" If you don't believe that would have happened, you live in the fantasy world the Democrats have created.

Plus, I needed an excuse to put up a picture of Ann Coutler.

It's just a different way of doing things!

2006-10-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

We can't judge the way other cultures do things, remember that as you read this.

Finally found it

2006-10-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the Republican ad against Harold Ford that is supposed to be so racist.

Supposedly it's the bongo drums in the music. It doesn't really sound like bongos to me. More like "wacky."

Good tip...

2006-10-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Don't swallow batteries. Apparently there are some health concerns.

Big deal, little story

2006-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, I had no idea the FBI compiled these kinds of statistics! Anyone out there who thinks crimes agains Muslims is a big problem, I guess that means the Jews are toast.

This story breaks it down. Last years hate crime statistics show an amazing difference in the amount of hate crimes against Jews verses Muslims.

Verified hate crimes against Jews--68.5%

Against Muslims--11.1%

Yet, groups like CAIR will continue to shove down our throats the idea that they are the victims.

Strange Workplace Snafu

2006-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

I am having a problem printing to the network printer I am assigned to so I asked "Art" the unofficial computer expert in our office about it. He tried to help (couldn't fix it) and so I asked what the official channel was. He said, "I guess you could call the computer guys, but nobody does that because...they just screw it up" You have to read it with the pause between "because" and "they" to get the real feeling.

So the "computer guys," whose job it is to actually do the work are undermined by people who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, because the "computer guys" suck. In other words, whatever you do, DO NOT call the people you are supposed to call, because they will make it worse. Why not hire "computer guys" who know what they are doing?

I LOVE working in this kind of environment, it gives me more material.

Matt Towery, idiot

2006-10-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

So here is the basic argument of the purist Republicans about why we should lose congress: We deserve it.

Apparently, the "let's teach them a lesson by putting Nancy Pelosi in charge" idea is catching on just in time. Great.

Hugh Hewitt has the simplist and most reasonable response to this folly--namely "whatever the problem is, the answer is not the Democrats."

But if we shoot ourselves in the foot, it will be the Towerys of the party who get the balme.

Here is the column

Mike Adam's Woes

2006-10-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Great story here from Mike Adams about not being promoted to full professor. I would like to teach someday, but because of stories like these, I have chosen to practice psychology in the Army.

Global warming?

2006-10-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

By the way, we were told that the 2006 hurricane season was going to be even worse than 2005--because of global warming. Just wanted to remind everyone.

George Will

2006-10-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

George will points out in his response to Bill Clinton at the Labor Party Convention that the unemployment rate in the US for college grads is 2%.

This was necessary because the former President made the statement that the US is "outsourcing it's college-education jobs to India," to cheers, of course.

Does it ever occur to anyone to look things up before they speak? Bill Clinton says whatever his present audience wants to hear.

It never fails, though. You don't have to have an audience of liberals to cheer this kind of nonsense. Stand up in front of ANY group of Americans and exclaim "outsourcing!" They will cheer, because they are lemmings. It is an experiment in social psychology. "Everybody" knows that high-tech jobs are being outsourced, right?

When getting off?

2006-10-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Either people in Japan need to be reminded to continue walking after they reach the top of the escalator, or it's something a little more gross.

Silly rollerbladers

2006-10-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

I imagine this is how skiers must have felt when snowboarders showed up on the slopes. There should be a no-rollerblade rule at races.

Failing to learn the lessons of history...

2006-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

These guys are pretty funny...

You Tube

Deprogramming the masses since 1547

2006-10-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

This one is great!

The Flat Eart Society

Michael Thomas Ford Book

2006-10-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Introduction

A couple of weeks ago, I was with my friends at Barne’s and Noble looking for a book to read for this class. The assignment was to read a book (of our choosing) that deals with cultural issues and the truth is, I was having a hard time picking one. I have to admit, my number one criterion was that it had to be at least a little humorous. I stood in the section of the store entitled “cultural issues” with a blank stare for quite a while as my eyes glazed over the titles. Every single book donned titles implying that whatever culture was being explored was in a de facto oppressed state. That was, until I came across the title It’s not Mean if it’s True.

Michael Ford’s book is a satirical look at, for lack of a better term, “gay life” in America--or more specifically, his experience with it. It is funny, but it is serious at the same time. It is a collection of essays about everything from his experiences at the gym to the writer’s own terrible fashion sense. But each essay has a lesson learned, which Ford wants to get across with a little irreverence added.

Observations

In this book, the reader is treated to the perspective of one man. He never pretends to speak for the entire “gay” community. If fact, he makes a point in the last chapter to identify himself as “queer” because he does not like the term “gay.” He asserts that he has an “obsession with words and their definitions,” an obsession that he and I share. His point is, “gay” only includes men, and this leaves everyone else out.

The idea that came through loud and clear for me was that even though he recognizes struggles that are still present for his group, the truth is, being gay or different in any way nowadays is actually kind of cool. He laments the gay activist who makes it a point to only attend certain movies, read certain books, and has no time to enjoy life because they spend all their time attending rallies. He seems to be of the opinion that even though he basically agrees with the positions these individuals take, they need to lighten up a little.

Also, through his essays about going to the gym and his self proclaimed poor sense of fashion, Ford points out another problem and how it manifests itself in reality. He does not want to be forced into the stereotypical great hair, great clothes, cultured gay man. This was an area that I could relate to quite well, because of my own rage against the stereotype I get to labor under constantly. I am a white male, I own firearms and a big truck. So far, so good, right? But I can understand the story of Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute” (in Italian) and as long as I feel safe, I am quite comfortable talking about my feelings. Where does that leave me?

It reminds me of high school. Back then, my friends and I used to listen to what was then called “New Wave” music. I have to admit, we liked it, not necessarily because it was great music, but at least in part because it was different. Everyone else was listening to Def Leppard (sic) and New Kids on the Block, and we walked around campus staring at them like they were just lemmings following the corporate version of what they should like. We were “soooo above that kind of selling out.”

In the 90’s, “New Wave” was given a different label, namely “alternative rock” and it was then legitimized. It got to the point where it was no longer the alternative but rather just “rock.” It wasn’t fun anymore. Then I turned 23, got married, owned a business and it all seemed a little silly. I have no idea what “the kids” are listening to these days, but I bet they listen to whatever it is to be different.

I am not suggesting that being homosexual is always an attempt to be different, although I bet for some it is. Even Ford would admit that. But what is interesting, (and worrisome), is that now that homosexuality is chic, how long before it isn’t? Shouldn’t it just be it? It is a realistic fear, I think, to wonder if it [the popularity] will go away like a fad, and homosexuals will be forced back into the closet.

Lastly, Ford also complains about the fact that the message being sent out by the LGTBQ “leaders” is that they need to present themselves as “just like everybody else.” By this he means, the white picket fence, two cars, mortgage, and BBQ’s. He does not agree with this as the ideal model, because, getting back to his previous point, “we are different.” As stated before, he prefers the word “queer” he says “because I choose to be, and because it’s who and what I am.” He suggests that being queer is not just about sex, but a statement about challenging norms.

That’s fine, as long as you realize that sending signals to the world that you don’t want to fit in has consequences. When I am driving around in my big truck, everybody probably assumes that I am listening to heavy metal and on my way to a NASCAR race. Too bad, but who cares? To his credit, I think he does realize this, and is OK with it.

Conclusion

I suppose in the conclusion of what is basically a book report, I should either recommend or not recommend this work. I do. There is never anything wrong with reading someone’s idea of reality, even if you might disagree with some of it. Michael Ford obviously has a sense of humor about himself—this is my favorite kind of person. His stories from his youth were touching vignettes about insensitivity he encountered by some of the people around him. These stories make me ashamed to be an American. But his story of not letting any of it define who he is makes me proud to be one. I prefer to dwell on the second part.

Trying to get commissioned

2006-10-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hopefully in January I will be trading this:

For this:

For those of you who know what that means, wish me luck! The rest of you might want to research it a little.

Wir and Horry strike again!

2006-10-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Bet you didn't know there was a Land of the Lost website!

Columbia University Chime in

2006-10-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

I know in today's fast paced news cycle I am way behind the power curve on this one(This happened a week ago). However, it needs to be said that there is a culture/values war raging in this country. For the most part, it is being fought in the political arena, through dialogue. In the case of the savage Columbia University students rushing the stage to attack and shout down 2 invited speakers, it spilled into violence.

For those of you who's primary function is to go to work, go to the mall, watch reality shows and take trips to Vegas, I say go back to sleep. Everyone else has chosen sides.

Here is the video

Keep on dreaming...

2006-10-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

This would make a good introduction to an online dating profile.

Need to vent!

2006-10-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last night, I got back to my palatial, 3rd world simulation of a neighborhood as I had just completed my monthly National Guard drill. There is never any parking on my street, so after trying a few times, I decided to park in front of the driveway/gate area of the apartment. I pulled in, all the way to the right, so that people who needed to get through could, well, get through. There was plenty of room.

So there I was, in my uniform, completely weighted down with my ruck sack, my duffle bag and various other gear when one of my neighbors pulls up behind me. She stops right behind my truck and proceeds to stare at me with her indignant "you need to drop what you are doing and move your truck so I can I get in" look. She is an "undocumented person" with 3 children that are citizens by birth. None of them speak a word of English. I know these things because of other interactions we have had.

An American soldier, in my own country being given the stare down because I am inconveniencing the society draining, non-working vampire!!

I walked to the window of her car and politely pointed out that there was plenty of room to the left of my truck, and that I would be moving shortly after I unload my gear. She backs up, and goes around, the whole time staring me down like I have ruined her day. I have to take the abuse, because I am in uniform. Does this seem right?

Zucker Ad

2006-10-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

This is pretty funny

Madeline Albright Being Nice to Terrorists

Now I have more reason to hate tomatoes

2006-10-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

It's official. Tomatoes are evil. This website proves it.

Nail Remover

2006-10-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

Does it also remove staples?

Scandal...what sacandal?

2006-10-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

The Harry Reid scandal is the reason it does not pay to make your platform "The Republican Culture of Corruption"

It should be assumed that a certain degree of nafarious activity is going on in poitics. This what we grown ups call "reality."

Congressman Reid has earned millions on property he did not own at the time. Of course, the Democrats will be complaining that there is a conservative bias in the media, blah blah.

Anyway,
Here it is.

What are we waiting for?

2006-10-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

It is time. No more talking.

Here is the thing. Every single crazy dictator in history has made it very clear what they intend to do in plenty of time before they do it. Kim Jung Il is no exception. (Neither is Ahmadi Nejad) Make no mistake about it. THERE IS A MUSHROOM CLOUD AT THE END OF THIS RAINBOW!

In case you were too busy this morning reading about Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston, here is the story.

You go...guy

2006-10-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

Dog Sauce

2006-10-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

Does dog sauce taste good on buffalo wings?

More on the cultrual differences front...

2006-10-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

I have to review a book of my choice for the class I have been writing about. It is supposed to be a book that deals with cultural issues. I have chosen a book entitled "It's not mean if it's true," by Michael Thomas Ford. The book is a satiristic look at homosexual issues.

What struck me as interesting was when I was looking at the "Cultural Issues" section at Barnes and Noble, I noticed there was not one book in the entire section that could be described as "anti" cultrual. That is, every book had the presupposition that whatever culture was being explored was in a defacto "oppressed" status. Not one book entitled "I am black in America, and it really doesn't matter that much." That's because the minorities who feel that way are too busy living the American dream.

Very one dimensional. At least the author I chose seems to have a sense of humor about himself. Stay tuned...

Bunny

2006-10-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

My cat and my roommate's cat.

2006-10-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

The subject should pretty much cover it.

Another Paper

2006-10-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Purpose

The assignment for this week was to interact primarily with the paper entitled The Production of Whiteness in Education: Asian International Students in a College Classroom., DiAngelo (2006). The paper sets out to describe the mechanisms in place that are used to create a construct the author labels “Whiteness.” According to DiAngelo, Whiteness is a “place” or what could be described as a state of being that white teachers in American classrooms create that gives the white students an advantage vis a vis classroom discussion. The assignment also included a directive to discuss any other reactions the student might have had to previously assigned readings, such as the “White Privilege” paper given in week one.

Initial Observations

The paper makes several assertions from the onset that are dubious. First of all, the writer states “based on the research literature’s description of Whiteness as an unbounded process that is always present in some form, this study assumed, rather than set out to demonstrate, that Whiteness was operating in the classroom.” (p.1987) In other words, in order for the reader to agree with the rest of the paper’s findings, he must agree with this presupposition. Unfortunately, this reader does not even necessarily agree that the existence of the construct labeled “Whiteness” is a surety, therefore, it became increasingly difficult to maintain objectivity.
The paper reflects the observations of the writer on ONE 3 HOUR CLASS MEETING. To be fair, she does state that she did not intend for this work to be inductive or generalizable, but rather “hypothesis generating.” (p.1987) However, the hypothesis generated at the end of the paper is unclear. It also supposes that the observations made in this classroom are indeed the normal way that college classrooms operate. In the end, the writer jumps to many conclusions regarding the participant’s mindset that are simply unattainable and nothing more than a theory. She says, without any caveat that a litany of things are going on in the classroom, and that her observations are proof of it.

Further Observations and Other Papers

It is apparently fair game in this environment to make claims that are based purely on subjective experience. I could sit back and watch the interactions of any 12 people and come up with whatever hypothesis I like. It does not however present itself as a self-evident universal truth about the way the world works.
So, in this vein, it occurs to me that looking under every rock and around every corner to find the big bad racist hand that is working the machinations of our society is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is an endeavor that feeds on itself.
In my own case, for example—my father escaped from communism in 1958, was jailed twice for his first two attempts and languished in exile for 2 years before he was allowed asylum in the United States. He did not speak a word of English, lost his first 3 jobs because of it, and decided to assimilate into the culture by learning the language and trying to act as American as he could. In fact, the word “Slav” is the basis for the English word “slave” due to the fact that the Slavic people made up the majority of those enslaved by Europe and other regions of the world for several thousand years preceding the existence of the United States. Yet, I will from time to time be reminded of American slavery policy through the 1860’s, a time in this nation’s history that neither I nor my ancestors were present or responsible for. So who am I supposed to be angry at? How far back should one go to express grievances about what his or her ancestors went through? If your entire race is the basis for the word “Slavery,” I would think that might count.
From the maternal side, it’s even worse. My mother is (half) Native American.
All of this is to point out the following—I wonder who is actually propagating the racial politics of this country. Who knows why these Asian International Students didn’t speak up on that particular day in the classroom? Maybe they didn’t have anything to say that day.
One of my fellow students, who will remain unnamed, had this to say at about week two. She said that growing up in small home town America, she felt far more comfortable interacting with people of different races and cultural backgrounds than her own, then she does after 4 years of college and graduate classes designed to make her think she should be worried about the issue.
Most of these articles, including the “White Privilege” article look like nothing more than attempts to make those of us who’s only crime was being born here and who happen to have basically white ancestry should feel guilty. They do it under the guise of “we are just pointing this out so you will be sensitive to it.” But in the end, it serves to just make everybody uncomfortable around those who are different.

Conclusions

To the extent that these forces are at work, another fellow student made this comment, also at week two. “It seems like [the “white privilege” article] is trying to hold people accountable for a situation they did not create.” Exactly. I can be as sensitive as the next person to the fact that there may be covert racism exerting itself against just about every race under the sun. In my personal life, I go out of my way to make people who are different from me feel comfortable. But, if I enjoy any privileges because of my race, it sure has a funny way of manifesting itself. I am not rich, I do not have any employees, minority or otherwise. I live in a neighborhood in which I am the only white person and I am constantly stared at every time I get out of my car and walk to the door. When I am in a room where there is EVEN ONE person of color I am filled with an uneasy feeling about what I can and cannot say.
I think times have changed and the education establishment is laboring under presuppositions that are no longer valid. The racial/political landscape in this country has evolved and is too complicated to view through the lens of “Whiteness is an unbounded process that is always present in some form.” My boss is a woman. My 3 previous bosses have been 2 black women, and a Hispanic man. It never occurred to me to think about those facts until forced to by papers like these. It didn’t matter to me then, and still doesn’t.

Article for submission

2006-09-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

September 14, 2006

Recently, I was given an article to read for my Cultural Differences class in graduate school. The article was enitiled “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh. It is written as a series of statements that the writer feels she can make, because she is white. While the article’s stated purpose was to make me aware of my “unconscious oppressiveness,” it became clear that the real point was to try to make me feel guilty for being white, and born in the United States. The article was written in 1988, by someone who’s experience is clearly reminiscent of 1955. Times have changed. So I have compiled this, my response to “white privilege.” This is not intended to be confrontational, although it will no doubt be taken that way.

My American Experience--

1. If I am in a position of authority over a person of color, I must take extra special care where disciplinary action is concerned because if that person makes a racial complaint, I may be fired.

2. When I watch a movie, TV show, or commercial, I can assume that the white male will either be portrayed as the villain, or an idiot. The hero or person who solves the problem that the idiot/villain white male creates will always be played by a woman or minority.

3. If I am in my car and I honk my horn at the person of color who is in the wrong, I must ask myself if my disappointment in their driving is racially motivated. The person of color who honks at me has the luxury of not having to ask him or herself this question.

4. I can be sure that if I get a new job, or attend a college or university, I will be subjected to cultural sensitivity training that is intended to show how my demographic is the cause of every problem on earth for the last 2000 years.

5. Even though my own father escaped from a communist country, was jailed twice for his first 2 attempts, came to America in 1959, was broke and did not speak a word of English, I will be reminded from time to time about American slavery—as if any my ancestors had anything to do with it. Never mind the fact that the name of “my people,” the Slavs, is the basis for the English word slave. This is because we were the pool of people from which the majority of slaves came in Europe for the 1000 years preceding the existence of the USA.

6. When referring to the founding fathers of this country, I will, from time to time hear the phrase “old dead white guys.” When Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington and other famous, dead blacks are mentioned, “old dead black guys” is totally inappropriate.

7. Any stand up comedian I watch will constantly make fun of men (especially the code phrase “rednecks”) not being able to ask for directions, leave the toilet seat down, or understand what women “really want,” etc. There will never be any derogatory jokes about any other demographic groups.

8. In a room full of 50 white people and 1 person of color, the whites must be particularly careful of stereotyping.

9. Clarence Thomas, Walter Williams, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and J.C. Watts are called “traitors” and “acting white.” “Acting white” is used as a pejorative (about the condition of being white) in this context.

10. When I ask my clinical supervisor about it, the reason given for why men therapists in training are outnumbered by women 3 to 1 is that women are “more nurturing.” In the medical profession, the reason given for why there are more male surgeons and more female psychiatrists and pediatricians is “the glass ceiling.”

11. If I was involved in a domestic dispute and the police were called, no matter who the victim was, I would probably go to jail.

12. If I were involved in a custody battle for my children, no matter who the better parent was, I would probably lose.

14. When I was in high school, a male trying to become a cheerleader was called a “faggot” and a “sissy.” The girl at the high school just down the road who tried out for the football team was called “courageous.”

15. The allowable stereotypes about all other demographic groups are intended to make them look good—“women are more nurturing,” or “Hispanics love their families.” The allowable stereotypes regarding my group are all negative. “Men are too proud to ask for directions,” “Men are too aggressive,” “Men think about sex too much.” If someone says “men do very well in math and science,” it is immediately dismissed as an anti-woman remark.

16. When I go to a clothing store, I will see t-shirts that read “boys are stupid. Throw rocks at them.” There will be no t-shirts about what boys should do to girls.

17. If I have sex with a woman and she regrets it the next day, she might accuse of me rape, and I will be convicted.

18. In the predominately black neighborhood of East Palo Alto where I live, when I introduced myself to my neighbor, it was brought to my attention that they all thought I was a police officer sent in undercover to arrest them for drug possession.

Some of the points in the article deserve specific attention. Take this one for example—“I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of my race.” It is unbelievable to me that it does not even occur to the writer that this presents itself as an argument against affirmative action.

Or this one—“I can choose blemish cover or bandages in ‘flesh’ color and have them more or less match my skin.” So what? If I moved to Africa, I would have the opposite problem. I would not feel oppressed, I would feel nothing. This is not evidence of oppression. It is the nature of living in a country where the majority of its population is “more or less” white.

How about “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my race?” It has been my experience that people of color PRESUME to speak for all the people of their race, not that they are asked to by whites. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are self proclaimed speakers for the African American community. Whites have not appointed them such.

On the subject of confronting stereotypes and biases, I have my own stories. Here are a couple. When I arrived on campus in September, 2004, the parking lot was a sea of cars awash with “Kerry-Edwards” and “Not in our Name” stickers. I took my “Bush-Cheney” sticker off of my truck the very next week, for fear that I would stand out in a negative light.

The first week of school shocked me into the truth about university life. It was a truth that I already knew about, but I guess I just hoped for something more. It was the fall of 2004, and the presidential elections were fast approaching. George W. Bush and John Kerry had a debate the night before my class that week. The first day, the professor began to speak and was interrupted by a fellow student. She said “I am sorry, but I just have to interrupt for a minute. I want to make sure that everyone saw the debate last night and that we all agree on what an idiot this president is.”

“Make sure?” “We all agree?” These statements reveal some basic truths about life on the typical college campus. It is presupposed that everyone on the campus is a member of the same political party, and that they all agree on these points. She also obviously felt very comfortable pointing out what she thought was self-evident. Did I speak up? Of course not. I FELT very uncomfortable, because I don’t think this president is an idiot, but since I was obviously outnumbered, I just kept my mouth shut. Isn’t the whole point of this type of training to protect feelings and discomfort? I guess it only goes one direction. These are the people who have supposedly cornered the market on “tolerance.”

When I was in preschool, I was living in Inglewood, CA—a predominately black city. My best friend was an African American kid named Damon. It wasn’t until years later, as an adult, when I was looking at a picture of the two of us that I said to my mom, “I never realized Damon was black until just now.” Somewhere along the timeline of my life, I got the impression that his skin color mattered. I did not get this from my parents, but from the barrage of societal influence telling me that I must “respect” color. (And now gender, class, sexual orientation, and on and on). These dimensions have no effect on my initial assessment of an individual. They never have, and never will.

I submit this writing, not to win any friends and certainly not to sound “hateful” or like a racist. I will be called these things by those who do not want to engage with the points I have made. Others will actually interact with the material and a dialogue might be possible.

Finally, in a previous paragraph, the reason I used the phrase “African American kid” instead of “boy” is because of exactly what I have been writing about all along. I second guessed my first inclination because of fear of being called racist. Even though he was a boy in every sense of the word, it is not OK, especially for a white male to identify him that way

Scott Klajic.

If Only Victor Davis Hanson Had Been Sober

2006-03-16T17:31:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER:(if this offends anyone by being here, please remove it....it was too big for the comments section)

By Marc Atkinson, E Pluribus Reluctor.blogspot.com

I’ve been reading VDH for close to ten years now, and while the former Professor of Classics at Fresno and current Hoover Institute member navigates the turbulent waters of history and its current crop of agenda driven revisionists with a marked lucidity, he also has the intermittent and always useful memory lapse, allowing him to assail the detractors of the defunct Dubai ports deal as two political camps in an inverted cone of silence, whereby panic-stricken isolationists and ‘anybody but Bush’ devotees can hear their individual arguments coalesce to echo a ‘collective insanity’.

Ironically, VDH (whom I admire, read, and quote on E Pluribus Reluctor on a regular basis)..parrots the left in this regard….”we know better, and you’re just dumb”.

Given the intellectual weight of the mighty Hanson, many are swayed by the sheer volume of his whispered assertions and the assumed veracity of his proclamations that “Rarely has reason been so routed by pure emotion.”...Again, VDH assumes those who are against this deal are Clinton/Gore voters, worried 'about the children'.

Hanson goes on to essentially throw his hands in the air with examples of the Panama Canal (which I remember quite well, contrary to another assumption that we all forgot) , Chinese influence, the Mexican border, et al. And these are valid points, each of which requires redress in it own forum. This argument reminds me of my 8 year-olds son objection to my telling him to pick up his room: “ why should I dad, it’s already a mess?”. Because it’s the right thing to do, that’s why. And if it had been 19 Chinese terrorists on 9/11, I seriously doubt Americans would stand for that nation continuing to operate our largest port, the port of Los Angeles because- ‘oh well, we’ve been buying cheap Chinese stuff for years now anyway’. It took more than twenty years and the power of W.Edwards Demming for Americans to look at Japan as a legitimate trading partner instead of a partner in fascism with the third reich. (Got my Hitler reference in—musn't forget that).

To be sure, the image of Hillary Clinton and Pat Buchanan shaking hands as the Dubai deal sank is naturally a convenient vehicle of validation for Hanson to point to mere emotion and hysteria as the impetus for the rejection of this business deal that apparently our president wasn’t even aware of, while simultaneously assuring us that he’s got our backs. This president and his family with their known connections to the Saudi royal family and even the Bin Ladens at one point do themselves no favors by allowing this transaction to proceed. Bush administration officials themselves refer to the less than 5% of shipping containers inspected as a gigantic hole in our security. We know that people have been successfully smuggled in shipping containers from the east. These were people only looking for a better life. Are we to suppose that terrorists and/or their weapons would be stopped by benevolent Islamic port employees in the Middle East sympathetic to American efforts in their homelands, because that is precisely where our security would reside, had this fox guarding-the-henhouse deal succeeded. The same president who has shown us through deeds that he is not interested in the very first order of business of security by simply mandating that our national sovereignty be maintained at our southern or northern borders, has ponied out the preposterous ‘guest-worker’ program, and who only this month was in India glad-handing the largest repository of out-sourced American jobs, was telling us to trust the UAE, a country that had all nineteen 9/11 terrorists pass through it, funneled money for the 9/11 atrocity, and even had its own royal family as the guests of Osama Bin Laden as late as 1999, according to CIA memo of 2/19/1999, mere months after Al Qaeda blew up two US embassies in Africa with money snaking through Dubai banks. But Dubai’s proximity to 9/11 doesn’t end there. 13 of the 19 terrorists entered the US via Dubai, with the original 20th hijacker –Mohammed al-Katani, also gliding through Dubai’s security net that George Bush wants our nation to put our trust in. Paul Sperry has outlined further indictments of this ‘ally in the war on terror’:..” It's also not surprising, given Dubai's cozy ties to bin Laden and Taleb leaders, that the hijackers were able to use Dubai as their financial base in addition to their forward staging base. As they came through Dubai, they were outfitted by the nephew of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed with credit cards, cash, bank accounts and American-style clothing. More than $100,000 in al-Qaida funds were funneled through Dubai banks. One single transfer from Dubai into al-Shehhi's and his pal Mohamed Atta's Florida checking account totaled $70,000.

The day before crashing his hijacked United Airlines jet, al-Shehhi wired $5,400 in leftover al-Qaida funds back to Dubai. Other hijackers also wired residuals there. After the attacks, investigators traced al-Shehhi phone calls back to the UAE, where he is now celebrated as a hero in mosques and other local gathering places outside the gaze of Western investors, who are too intoxicated by glittering high-rises and other signs of modernity to understand that the desert oasis is still haunted by ancient demons.”

I recommend a thorough read of the entire article here: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21467

I fear for Victor Davis Hanson’s reputation in conservative circles, because he has stated many well-researched opinions on matters sometimes beyond his purview and been correct. This Dubai Ports World deal however, reeked of what it was: very bad policy with another assumed friend of the U.S., and all for money, once again. It seems to me that in the post-9/11 era, any country that wishes to conduct commerce with us, and especially a country in the Middle east that owns a business where we rely on them to provide security from their home ports through inspections in foreign ports- is a pipe dream that must be a proven reality before any trust is bestowed.

In fact, if George Bush ever expects to resuscitate this political cadaver, he needs to borrow a phrase from the Great Communicator once used to bring the Soviet bear to heel:

“Trust---but verified”

Ann Coulter Lets Fly on Claude Allen

2006-03-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Although I don't always agree with Ann Coulter on strategy, this article on the Claude Allen story is hilarious.

This is the best line:

"He became a born-again Christian at college and -- the obvious next step -- a Republican after college. These acts are known in the liberal rulebook as "strike two" and "strike three," respectively."

In case you miss the subtlety, Claude Allen is a conservative black man, which was "strike one" for him.

Someday, we will all look back at these days and laugh. "Remember when liberalism used to suppose that diversity only meant gender and skin color? Hee hee, those days were a riot!"

A Little Victor Davis Hansen for Sobriety

2006-03-15T22:24:00.000-08:00

I know EVERYONE in the country is breathing a sigh of relief now that those crazy Arabs aren't going to take over our ports, but Victor Davis Hansen sheds a little reality on the subject with his article this week.

He points out:

"For the last half-century, we have been living in a complex interconnected world of mutual reliance"

It's true. At first, I was like everybody else. I even forwarded some of those "what America will look like if UAE takes over the ports" emails. Unfortunately, I think Hansen is one of the most brilliant thinkers around and he changed my mind. I think we made a mistake.

Here is the article.

Will They Take it all Back?

2006-03-15T17:17:00.000-08:00

The administration is finally starting to get serious about defending the intelligence that suggested the presence of WMD's in Iraq in March of 2003, as well as exposing their connections to terrorism.

48,000 boxes of documents confiscated from the hard drives of Iraqi miltary computers are about to be released, some of them already translated. Initial reports "strongly suggest that Saddam had hidden his weapons of mass destruction from weapons inspectors - and show the Iraqi dictator discussing previously unknown plans to enrich uranium as recently as 2000" (Free Republic-March 13th).

So, if it turns out that these documents reveal the presence of WMD's, probably moved to Syria and elsewhere right before the invasion, will all the anti-war types claiming that the war was based on lies finally shut up?

Probably not, but at least good historians will have a chance to record what really happened.

Reuters, never missing an opportunity to defend a mass-murdering dictator, has a different take on the information. Their article claims that "no such weapons have been found, and the Iraq Survey Group discovered no new evidence of WMD in its review of the prewar material."

So who's right? I guess we will have to wait and see. But if it turns out that the WMD's were there, and that Sadaam was funding terrorists, don't hold your breath on apologies from the left.

Reuter's Article

Free Republic Article

Navy Trying to Erase Tatoos

2006-03-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Navy has issued new restrictions on tatoos based on an increase in the number of recruits coming in needing a waiver.

A waiver in the military basically means you have some condition or other negative criterion met that they will make an exception for. For example, you may apply to Officer Candidate School and be 37 years old. Since the age cut-off is 32, you must get a waiver for it.

How is a waiver given for a tatoo? Either it falls within the regulations or it does not. It seems that sometimes the recruit is told he must go back and have it either altered or removed.

Since I got my one and only tatoo when I was on active duty, (see picture) this article was sort of interesting to me.

Here is the entire article

CAIR Inner Workings

2006-03-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Why wasn't I entered in this contest?

2006-03-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

South Dakota Abortion

2006-03-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

So South Dakota Republicans and conservatives have decided to float a trial balloon attempting to see what the new Supreme Court will do if they ban all abortions.

Once again, as with trying to ban gay adoptions and marriages, the big picture is missed by Republican strategists and we run the risk of taking big losses in the mid-term elections this year.

Putting aside the theoretical basis for why some of us don't like Roe v Wade (that is dispensing with arguments about whether or not strict constructionsists care about women's rights) let us analyze this strategy for a moment.

These people apparently believe that Allito and Roberts are in favor of overturning Roe with one swill of the pen. While it is true that Thomas and Scalia would probably do so, it is not even close to clear that the two freshmen justices are persuaded in that direction. Kennedy has recently shown a little ambivalence in his opinion over "partial birth" abortions, so he is a BIG MAYBE. You can forget about Souter, Bryer and Ginsburg.

All of that not withstanding, Roe is a part of American jurisprudence, and both Allito and Roberts, while labeled "conservative" (for better or worse) have given absolutely no indication in their writings or during hearings that they would be willing to undo precedents in such a sweeping manner.

What is of even more importance is to note that the American people are actually pretty comfortable with the fact the Roe exists, even though the vast majority of them would like to see it limited from the way it is currently applied. This effort by the South Dakota legislature will make Republicans look like extremists(like on the gay adoption nonsense).

Of course, the left will try to make everybody think that overturning Roe would mean abortions would be outlawed immediately and we would see a return to back alley wire hangar procedures. They know better, because they aren't stupid. But it is precisely because they are not stupid that they will frame it that way and persuade enough of the "mall people" that this will occur.

If the effort is to get rid of Roe--and based on the language in the platform, it is--this is not the time or place to try it. Little pieces would be better. Try banning 3rd trimester abortions with reasonable exceptions and see how that holds. The MODERATE supreme court would probably go for that, and the American people have made it clear in poll after poll that they like those kinds of restrictions. It's a modestly paced, common sense approach. This defines Americans.

During the Clinton election cycle, the mantra was "it's the economy, stupid." Right now, "it's the war on terror, stupid" would be appropriate to remember. Deep in the psyche of every American, (even liberals) is a fear that September 11th will happen again, except this time with a nuclear or biological weapon. Sure,everybody appears to be on a September 10th footing, but they know we are still at risk and they want the government to be vigilant. We need to continue to make the case that we are aware of this risk and that Republicans are the solution. If a weapon of that magnitude is detonated in a major US city, nobody is going to care whether or not gays are allowed to adopt or what the governor of South Dakota thinks about abortion.

Credit goes to LGF

2006-03-10T10:19:00.000-08:00