Tuesday, August 23. 2005
Horowitz is Always Right He says lots of things that sound either unbelievable, or paranoid, but he always turns out to be right. In this case, the American Thinker reveals the latest in the Left-Islamic alliance against Western Civilization: ...the hard left and the Islamists have established a coordinating committee, according to Douglas Davis of the London Spectator. In Britain the steering committee of the Marxist–Islamist alliance consists of 33 members — 18 from myriad hard-Left groups, three from the radical wing of the Labour party, eight from the ranks of the radical Islamists and four leftist ecologists (also known as ‘Watermelons’ —green outside, red inside). The chairman is Andrew Murray, a leading light in the British Communist party; co-chair is Muhammad Aslam Ijaz, of the London Council of Mosques. Read entire.
The Civil Rights Movement, etc. I have never understood why the Democratic Party has become closely associated with the Civil Rights movement. As I recall, it was the southern Dems that opposed it, and northern Repubs who pushed it, in the tradition of Repubs Lincoln and Eisenhower. Anyway, it is interesting to read about a generational shift in political loyalties for American blacks.
Thursday, August 18. 2005
Read this, or be willfully ignorant: Caliphate Strategy and Tactics Protein Wisdom
 Katherine Harris
No longer Cruella De Ville, and lookin' like an attractive candidate for FL. Photo from, and a HT to, QandO blog. Let her run, FL Repubs. She looks "votable," does she not, fellas? You'd rather look at Joe Scarborough? If she is really going to take a ride through a primary, though, somebody had better adjust those stirrups for her or she will take a nasty tumble. Primaries are tough when the organization is against you, and she doesn't look like an easy rider. In fact, looks like her first time on a horse. Ride 'em, cowgirl. She has earned a chance, but the Party has other considerations, as always.
Why Casey Sheehan Died A HT to Classical Values. Excellent piece in The Idiom, here.
Wednesday, August 17. 2005
A Call for Help Gov. Richardson asks the Feds for help with the border. Call in the cavalry. A Dem has to beg a Repub administration to control the nation's border? Come on. Story in Newsmax.
Tuesday, August 16. 2005
All Too True From WaPo, Big Govt Conservatives: The nation is at war. It faces large expenses for homeland security. It is about to go through a demographic transition that will strain important entitlement programs. How can this president -- an allegedly conservative president -- believe that the federal government should spend money on the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Louisiana? Or on the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan? The bill Mr. Bush has signed devotes more than $24 billion to such earmarked projects, continuing a trend in which the use of earmarks has spread steadily each year. Remember, Republicans control the Senate and the House as well as the White House. So somebody remind us: Which is the party of big government?
Well, the sad answer is BOTH, ever since they got their hands on our money to buy votes with. If we cannot count on these Repub guys to respect our hard-earned taxes, we cannot count on anyone. The Game is too big, and we voters are innocent pawns in their childish but fundamentally corrupt game, which is why good, decent people tend to avoid politics. They play their games: We live our lives. And in the final end, they are the suckers, not us. Email article link here.
Immigration Polipundit, a recent legal immigrant, wonders why Congress is considering guest-worker programs, when no-one is asking for them: Even leaving aside issues of homeland security and respect for the rule of law, mass immigration on the scale the president is proposing is terrible policy. When white-collar workers get hurt because of a few hundred thousand temporary visas issued to high-tech workers, it gets a lot of attention. But what about low-income American workers who will face severely depressed wages because of the millions of low-skilled immigrants who will now be able to compete for their jobs? You can’t “outsource” a job at McDonalds to India or China. But now you’ll be able to hire an immigrant to do it at a low wage. And isn’t there such a thing as an American culture that deserves to be protected by keeping immigration at reasonable-enough levels that immigrants will want to, be forced to, assimilate into the melting pot? Large “guest worker” programs have been miserable failures everywhere they’ve been tried, creating resentful racial underclasses and culturally-alienated urban ghettoes. Read the whole post, here.
Thursday, August 11. 2005
Ibrahim Ferrer - Que Dios lo Bendiga: May God Bless Him A terrific Cuban balladeer dies. He was in his seventies but looked ninety probably due to the Cuban sunshine and hard labor but he kept a song in his heart and thankfully Ry Cooder brought him to world attention before he was buried like so many others in the "land that time forgot." "Known for his trademark cap and graying mustache, Ferrer was a wiry, animated figure who clearly enjoyed performing Cuba's traditional "son" music of the 1940s and 1950s for new generations of fans. Among a group of older Cuban performers recruited by U.S. musician Ry Cooder, Ferrer performed on the "Buena Vista Social Club album" that won a Grammy in 1999 and was among those appearing in the film of the same name."Click here: Ibrahim Ferrer CNN.com - Singer Ibrahim Ferrer dead at age 78 - Aug 6, 2005
Wednesday, August 10. 2005
 Swimming Pools and Politics: The YWCA
I amused myself by spending a few moments delving into the national YWCA website. I have heard from many women hereabouts in New England complain that the YWCA, which many of them frequent, has had its national HQ co-opted by political purposes and goals extending far beyond the health and spiritual well-being of American women. They love the pool and the Yoga classes, but - almost sounding like union members - they are dismayed what is being done with the part of their dues that goes to the national HQ - some of which appears to go towards leftist political "advocacy." They even have a thing called "congressional watch." It is a stated goal of the national Y to "empower women," (whatever that means) but these ladies feel truly helpless and disempowered by a national HQ with a political agenda. Eg: "There's nothing we can do about it, but it's the best pool around." Here's a sample of what I learned: The Y takes the official position of opposing partial "privatization" of Social Security, which seems nutty to me - what a boon that would be for working women. The Y supports extending affirmative action. (How it can be extended is beyond me - see Moonbat for the latest example of the employment problems in owning a penis.) The Y supports "immigrant rights," which I assume but do not know for certain probably means illegal immigrant rights. The Y opposes racial profiling by law enforcement, which seems crazy in a time of Jihad and which has nothing to do with women. I notice, interestingly but somewhat surprisingly, that they have not dared take a pro-abortion position. But are they officially "troubled" by Judge Robert's nomination? You bet. Is YWCA-USA an organization with a political agenda? You bet. My conclusion: Locally, a fine and useful and handy organization full of dedicated employees and volunteers and hard-working board members, and an important resource for abused women - but nationally, a Lefty political organization. Is it paranoid to call this one more example of Marx's "long march through the institutions"? My question: To the local Ys - why send any $ to the national HQ? To what extent are the pools and Yoga classes and local good deeds being used as a fund-raising tool for a political agenda? I don't know any more than what I see on their site, but I'd like to learn. And I wonder whether all the ladies at the Yoga classes know that part of what they pay is being used to pursue a political agenda in Washington, with which they might strongly disagree. Update: Have email from an ex-local board member that YWCA-USA - the national board - absconded with the entire YWCA endowment, moved from NYC to DC, and that now dues go to the regional HQs. So it looks even worse, to me. I guess that means that the national is no longer dependent on the locals? More info, please...I know half the world is on vacation, but half my life is a vacation, and a nice one, too. Organize your life so you can love it, as The Analyst always says, unless your discontent comes from within.
Monday, August 8. 2005
A reader sent us this interesting piece. It it against my religion to read sociologists, but even if the Prof is just making it all up, it's thoughful. I think his thesis about class is wrong, but sociologists tend to think along those lines. If it's from a book, I can't find it on Amazon, or I would reference it for the Prof: “What Went Wrong with Liberalism?” by Douglas S. Massey, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, Princeton University:
Liberal pundits are asking why middle class Americans so often vote against their own economic interests. Mostly they look outside the liberal movement for answers. If they are being charitable, they chalk it up to the pervasiveness of “traditional values.” If they are being less charitable, they portray voters as dim-witted dupes of lying right-wing politicians. Often they just throw their hands up in exasperation
and wail, “What’s the matter with Kansas?” Yet survey data do not show a fundamental cleavage of values among Americans; and constantly asking people “what’s wrong with you?” is unlikely to win elections. Maybe it’s about time liberals looked to themselves and ask what they have done to drive so many people away from a party it is in their material interests to support.
Liberals often point to race as the wedge issue that broke apart the New Deal coalition, and of course they are right. As important as race is to understanding
the collapse of liberalism, however, it is only half the story. Opposition to civil rights was only partly based on race. As paradoxical as it may seem, resistance was also based on class, for by the 1970s the ruling elites of the Democratic party had grown
arrogant, self-righteous, and callous toward the sensibilities of the working class.
More on continuation page below:
Continue reading "What Went Wrong with Liberalism? And Does Anyone Care?"
Telesur - Monty Hall's long lost son Hugo follows in his father's footsteps. New show entitled " I make the Deal, " From Venezuela Today: A private ideological tool financed with national money? Telesur labels itself as the answer to CNN. However, CNN is a commercial venture, privately owned. It conforms to publicly monitored journalistic ethics. CNN does not follow a government line. To create a Venezuelan financed regional TV channel to oppose CNN seems to be a highly debatable use of our national monies. In particular I would ask: Why should we finance the promotion of the Castro dictatorship? Although Cuba is one of the four "shareholders" of Telesur we all know that Chavez is putting the money. Cuba is not putting one cent.
Why should we finance the promotion of the Colombian guerrillas? Many Venezuelans have been kidnapped and murdered by those terrorists.
Why should we finance a line of systematic anti-democratic preaching if we are, overwhelmingly, a democracy-loving nation?
These and other reasons have to be taken into account when evaluating Telesur as a national project. I do not believe Telesur, as it exists, is a valid national project. I believe it is, clearly, a personal project of Hugo Chávez, financed with our national resources. I believe this situation is immoral, in the light of our numerous social needs.While the physical infrastructure and social fabric of the country is literally falling apart, due to the ineptness and the corruption of the political regime, Hugo Chávez is engaged in the utilization of enormous Venezuelan financial resources to buy political loyalties in Latin America. This is one of the main reasons why he has to go. Venezuelatoday.net - Gustavo Coronel
THE POTHOLE FROM ANOTHER PLANET ( or from the other government as chavez would say) this story from Daniel in Venezuela news: It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the main highway going to Caracas from the central part of the country. Not only 40% of the traffic to Caracas goes through the accident zone, but the alternative roads are in such a sorry shape, so congested already with local traffic, that the whole area is simply collapsing. I have not written on this yet as reading the news sometimes I felt that I was hallucinating. First, the size of the hole, and its shape,  revealed exquisitely that the waters had been dissolving the under-road for quite a while without the authorities doing anything about it even though local folks had reported officially the problem in 2004.
Friday, August 5. 2005
Moving to Mexico Thanks MM for forwarding this piece which is making the rounds: TRY THIS: Enter MEXICO illegally. Never mind immigration quotas, visas, international law, or any of that nonsense. You won't need a passport. Once there, demand that the local government provide free medical care for you and your entire family.Demand bilingual nurses and doctors. Demand free bilingual local government forms, bulletins, etc. Procreate abundantly. Deflect any criticism of this allegedly irresponsible
reproductive behavior with, "It is a cultural U.S.A. thing. You would not understand, pal." Keep your American identity strong. Fly Old Glory from your rooftop, or proudly display it in your front window or on your car bumper. Speak only English at home and in public. Insist that your children do likewise. Demand classes on American culture in the Mexican school system. Demand a local Mexican driver's license. This will afford other legal rights and will go far to legitimize your unauthorized, illegal, presence in Mexico. Drive around with no liability insurance......and ignore local traffic laws. Insist that local Mexican law enforcement teach English to all its officers.
Good luck! But I need to warn you that this plan will not work in Mexico, nor El Salvador, nor Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, France, Argentina, Sweden, The Netherlands, etc. In fact, it will not happen in Mexico or any other country except right here in the United States......Land of the naive!
Thursday, August 4. 2005
What Blair needs to do, according to Steyn - Click here: Telegraph | Opinion | Blair must overturn 40 years of mistakes He has to regain control of Britain's borders from the EU and of Britain's education system from the teachers' unions and of Britain's welfare programmes from wily Somalis and others. In 20 years' time, no one will remember whether Tony Blair abolished the House of Lords or foxhunting: that's poseur stuff. They'll judge him on whether or not he flunked the central challenge of the times. If "the images of ruin and destruction" come to pass, it will not be because of the bombers but because of a state that lacked the cultural confidence to challenge them.
Wednesday, August 3. 2005
More Condi Now there's a Condi for President blog, and Condi stickers and t-shirts like the logo to the right, here. Not a bad idea on the face of it, but I have no idea what her positions are on anything. Plus she ought to get married if she wants to know what real life is like. She is welcome to call or email me anytime she needs a date. I will be there, if I have to hitchhike all the way.
Monday, August 1. 2005
A Bozo in Connecticut I can't believe my Senator referred to "the privacy clause in the Constitution." Surely he is referring not to a clause, but to the aura of an emanation of a penumbra which decided Roe v. Wade. What a dope. Yes, I mean Dodd, or, as we call him here, Sen. Dodo. On Patterico. This jerk would never had been elected if he didn't have the same last name as his Dad, Sen. Tom Dodd, who was a stand-up, good guy. It confused us country bumpkins, and we mistakenly elected the brat kid. Well, the sinecure is his until he decides to retire, which he won't as long as he can pick up cuties in the Georgetown bars. But he is getting a bit long in the tooth for that, isn't he?
Thanks to Powerline, the text of Bush's speech to the Boy Scouts, here. Why does the far Left detest the manly virtues? I do not even want to waste time wondering about that. And, for something completely different (turn on your speakers): http://www.michaelhodges.com/stuff/funny/2008cc1.swf
Thursday, July 28. 2005
Immigration Update This site has a useful overview of three of the so-called "immigration reform" bills currently floating around Capitol Hill. Two of them, as can be seen through taking even the briefest glance at their provisions, are little more than blanket amnesties that contain clauses which would also vastly increase our rate of legal immigration, already the highest in the world by a wide margin. Read the rest of the review of the bills - click on continuation page below
Continue reading "The Three Immigration Bills in Congress"
CAFTA Adds six more nations to the free trade zone, a good deal for them and for us, and a legislative success for Bush. Right Thinking explains why, in his usual direct manner. Willisms (thanks, Instap) tries to understand why the Dems are abandoning free trade, here.
Two excellent pieces on poverty and the black family Hymowitz in the new City Journal ("40 Years of Lies") describes the catastrophic effect of political correctness, which has frightened people, including the not-easily-frightened Lyndon Johnson - from telling the truth about poverty in the American ghettoes. She is one more voice in a rising chorus saying "Moynihan was right." Families are the core socializing institution and no fantasy "village" can compensate for its absence. (Look at what happened to kibbutzes - noone wants to live on them.) Very important article here. Booker Rising blog considers the new "Cosby Republicans," and explains why blacks have good reason to leave the victim plantation and return to the party of Lincoln and the party of the Civil Rights Act. Here.
Tort Reform and Guns The trial lawyers always seem to be hunting for their next target for rape and pillage, and in the past few years they have had the gun industry in their sights. Their pattern is to destroy a business, line their pockets, and move on, regardless of the justice in it - as happened with the silicone implant issue. Heck, even if the trial lawyers lose, they can leave a business staggering or bankrupt from the legal bills, which can run into the many millions. However, gun ownership is a venerable and important American tradition with more ardent friends in congress than breast implants had. The Senate has a bill to provide immunity to the gun industry, especially the gun manufacturers, against liability for illegal use of guns by gun-possessors. This makes tons of sense to me. After all, if you kill someone with a Home Depot axe, can the victim sue Home Depot and the axe manufacturer? (Remember, if you ban guns - which you won't- you will have lots more murders with axes and knives - as in England.) Story in Opinion Journal.
Wednesday, July 27. 2005
The Unions Disintegrate Like most CEOs, I do not hate unions. I do hate the idea of govt employee unions, because they play games with the taxpayer's money - their neighbors - which is a disgrace, but unions have been a good thing over history, and brought blue-collar folks into the middle class. That is a very good thing. America needs a strong, blue-collar population, but globalization threatens that. And nothing can be done about it - it's a done deal via the power of history. Despite all of the hoopla about college education, etc., America needs people who want to work, and who are not scholars. And we have enough scholars - and more than enough 100 IQ citizens going to college who do not belong there in the first place, who are there to buy a piece of paper and do not care if they are scammed in doing so by getting a high-school education for $100,000. I see these people every day - they know nothing. Watch the labor "movement" blow itself up - Why? Because many or most do not really approve of the political direction of the AFL-CIO as compared with their desire for growth - as if a business. We are in the post-industrial, post-union era, obviously. Everything in industry becomes obsolete over time, and now, at Walmart, you have more opportunity for advancement to the top than you will ever have in the average union job, because you are "a union worker" - ie a person looking for blackmailed hand-outs - and not an entrepreneurial "person" who wants more difficult challenges and opportunities. Just the identity of being a "union worker" almost eliminates you from consideration for management, no matter how talented you may be. Times change. Unions are out: opportunity is in. For me, even though I can and do work with unions, that is still a good thing, because there is tons of talent and energy among those guys and gals, and I do not care whether they have read Virgil. (But I want my friends to have read Virgil, so we have something to talk about besides fly-fishing.) If anything is needed, it is unionization in the Third World, including China and India. That would shake things up...but would supposedly commie China allow unions? Doubt it. It's a quasi-socialist Police State terrified of the potential power of its "subjects".
Monday, July 25. 2005
Brewton on Islam and the First Amendment One of Tom's best essays, which precisely captures the dilemma of liberal democracies when facing a threat which is both internal and external. Samples: This inherent conflict between sharia and the Constitution is compounded with resentment against the porosity of our borders that both floods us with illegal immigrants who impose huge welfare-state burdens upon tax-paying citizens, and provides undetected entrance for terrorists.
Liberal-socialists cling to what amounts to a suicide pact. They assert the illogicality of multi-cultural education, that the cultures of Muslims and other immigrants, are as good as, or probably better than, our 1776 Judeo-Christian traditions. Without those 1776 traditions, however, the Constitution is mere words without meaning.
Liberals focus upon tolerance, meaning the absence of standards of right or wrong, which leads them to believe that Muslim jihadists hate us simply because we have hurt their feelings and failed to share our wealth equally with them.
Read the whole thing in Intell. Conservative: Click here: Islam and the First Amendment
"We are taking over." Surely this sort of statement presents a challenge to British PC "tolerance": "We don't need to fight. We are taking over!" ["Abdullah," a Muslim watch-mender and evangelist] said. "We are here to bring civilization to the West. England does not belong to the English people, it belongs to God."
Read entire by Cella at TCS.
Friday, July 22. 2005
Judge Roberts attacked for wardrobe And his family, too. I guess it's hard to find fault with this ultimate serious, un-hip, straight-arrow guy. Of course, if he wore black t-shirts and were a party animal, his wife dressed like John Dean's wife, and his kids wore ghetto garb, that would be a problem too. Moral of the story: You can never win when someone is determined to find fault. Michelle has the story. And Captain Ed has the sarcasm.
|
