Scrappy Conservatives

Oy, this photo. Remember all those cartoons depicting President Bush as a monkey? I'm just sayin'....

So -- OK -- get shorty! Going on TV drunk is cool, kids. Here's the full footage if you must watch. File this under "Media Circle-Jerk".

In another example of Political Correctness run amok, Chicago Officials have asked organizers of a downtown Christmas festival, the German Christkindlmarket, to reconsider using a movie studio as a sponsor because it is worried ads for its film "The Nativity Story" might offend non-Christians. The last time I checked the first six letters of Christmas where Christ.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061128/D8LLRK9O0.html


Please let officials in Chicago know how stupid this is. The address is

moseinquiry@cityofchicago.org

This is the Mayor's Office for Special Events which made the decision. It is headed by James Law. His address is
JLAW@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG

Labels: political correctness, religion

Does it bother anyone that many newspapers, magazines do not have Ombudsmen? An Ombudsman has many functions. They include receiving and investigating complaints from newspaper readers or listeners or viewers of radio and television stations about accuracy, fairness, balance and good taste in news coverage. He or she recommends appropriate remedies or responses to correct or clarify news reports.
The Washington Post has one as does the Boston Globe. Yet the Dallas Morning News nor the New York Times feel the need to have one. The result is we have a news media that are aloof, arrogant or insensitive to concerns of the public and generally inaccessible to average citizens. Isn't it nice what you can do when you are a monopoly?
http://www.newsombudsmen.org/what.htm

Labels: media bias

Here's Laura's latest "e-blast". You can subscribe to these email alerts here on the right side near the top of the page.

Less than two weeks after the Democrats won both houses of Congress, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) went on a Sunday talk show to push for a military draft. What's going on here? One of two things--

First, he knows that a draft--even as just one option in compulsory national service--would never be approved. So this move is not a serious effort to strengthen the U.S. military but merely another attack on Bush--a cynical ploy to frighten Americans and erode support for the war. The commanders I have interviewed bristle at the idea of messing with the all-volunteer force. Leading reluctant soldiers into battle is the last thing they need.

And let's not forget, Rangel is using the tired old left-wing tactic of class warfare, based on the faulty premise that the military is only comprised of poor people who have no other options. But this is nonsense. As we saw with the blowback from Sen. Kerry's "botched joke"--our military is diverse, professional, and better educated than the civilian population!

But there is always the possibility that Rangel could be totally serious. And heck, in theory, the idea of national service seems attractive--a great way to encourage patriotism, sacrifice and an appreciation of our military. But in practice, any compulsory service program would become one more bloated, unrestrained government bureaucracy.

Rangel's plan would require you either to join the military or go to work for some "government-approved" organization. Oh, like what? The separation-of-church-and-state-mafia would never stand for church work as "national service." The PC police would wail if anyone suggested that the Boy Scouts get government service approval. However, I am guessing that in Rangel's perfect world, joining an anti-global warming coalition, Planned Parenthood, or moveon.org would be ideal ways to fulfill a "national service" requirement. Plus, let's not forget that our most recent experience with a draft (which ended in 1973) failed to foster a greater affection and respect for our armed forces among members of the '60s generation.

This draft or national service talk is probably a lot of hot air, and even the Democratic leadership is shooting down the Rangel proposal. They know that pushing this would create a huge backlash from moderates, libertarians, and many conservatives who want less government intrusion into their lives, not more. And it probably wouldn't be too popular with most Democratic voters either.

Let's remember--we don't serve the government. The government is supposed to serve us.

Well, this article by Christopher Hitchens is a bit anti-climactic because the Simpson book and TV Special has been deep-sixed, but it's worth a read anyway. It's funny in a way that only someone like Hitch can be. Excerpt:

Of the many things I can remember about the trial--one of them being a chat I had with a DNA specialist who told me the statistical odds against the blood being proof of guilt, which really weren't "odds" at all--one detail that sticks in my mind was the incidental disclosure that Simpson can barely read or write. This is, in other words, not just a decision to publish "his" book. It is a decision, which must have been taken some time ago, to get such a book written and to get him to cooperate with it. The title is, of course, illiterate to start with ("If I Did It, Here's How It Happened" rather than "If I Had Done It, Here's How I Would Have") as well as an admission (because, however modified or qualified, the "Here's How It Happened" still stands on its own) but both of those offenses are quite possible in today's publishing. It would still be mildly interesting to know who cooked up the idea and who did the inducement and the ghosting. The only thing that definitely didn't happen, rather like his ongoing search for the real killer, was Simpson bringing in a manuscript and submitting it for publication.

Offenses, indeed. Well, I guess this whole thing was a 3-and-out. Bring out the punt team.

Is it me, or does the media's recent coverage of Jack Murtha's history of corruption stand in sharp contrast to the lack of such coverage back when the media was celebrating him as the leader of the anti-war left? I find it very revealing that it took an internecine power struggle among Democrats in order to get the mainstream media to remind the public of Murtha's involvement in Abscam. Do you think if he where a Republican this would happen.

http://newsbusters.org/node/9169

Hat tip to Right Moment (Scott, the punching cat has got to go!) for giving us this bit of Buckeye bizarreness. Here's a quote from the PD's piece:

If you're an Ohioan in the military who is deployed to a noncombat post
outside Ohio or abroad, you pay state income tax.

If you're a civilian Ohio resident working out of state or overseas, in
most cases you don't.

Write to the address given in the post and urge the passage of House Bill 378 or 208.

Labels: military, ohio, taxes

I've been getting emails from Pat Toomey and the Club for Growth for awhile now, and it's really useful information. Here's the latest; they're endorsing Mike Pence for Minority Leader. Cool guy; he's even got a BLOG! I'm going to call for support for the man; I suppose I'll call Steve LaTourette -- he's the closest Republican Congressman to my locale and I have several clients in his district.

House Republicans will be holding leadership elections tomorrow and you can help them choose the best candidate for Minority Leader, Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana. The Republican Party has lost its brand, and it needs to return to the principles of limited government, low taxes, and economic freedom. The American people still support this agenda, but congressional Republicans have failed to deliver.

The House GOP needs to start a new chapter, and for that they need new faces and fresh ideas. Mike Pence is a gifted leader and communicator who is up to this challenge.

I served in Congress with Mike and I've watched him closely from outside Congress. I know that he is 100% committed to the common-sense economic conservative principles that won Republicans a majority in 1994. With his commitment and emonstrated ability to communicate with the American people, Mike can bring the House Republican Conference back to its roots and back in touch with the majority of Americans.

You can help Mike Pence win this key leadership position by calling any Republican House member who just won election or re-election last week. It is best to start with the one who represents the district or districts for or closest to your home. Ask your friends and relatives to call in support of Mike Pence for Republican leader too.

The Capitol phone number for all House offices is 202-224-3121. Please call today and early Friday. Also, if friends and relatives need help finding their representative, have them visit http://www.house.gov/.

Best Regards,

Pat

If you look on the web none other than Al Jazeera is starting an English broadcast of its show that is such a "hit" in the Arab world. Yes, it is a propaganda arm for the Islamofascists, but it is essential to listen to. This is because it helps us know our enemy.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/55ABE840-AC30-41D2-BDC9-06BBE2A36665.htm

Love the picture. Looks like Harry is about to deliver a powerful Karate chop. Excerpt:

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.

Wow, that's really hard to believe.

Medved mentioned this story today, and it stuck me as good news and humorous. I'm probably manufacturing the "disappointment" somewhat for my own agenda, but the findings goes against that of the scare-mongers who live on government research grants to study the many immanent doomsday scenarios due to the rape of the earth by those damn human beings. And what's with the allusion to male pattern baldness?

“This great reversal in land use could stop the styling of a ‘Skinhead Earth’ and begin a great restoration of the landscape by 2050, expanding the global forest by 10 per cent — about 300 million hectares, the area of India,” said Jesse Ausubel, the director of the programme for the human environment at Rockefeller University in New York. [italics mine]

Should I resent that? My scalp will most likely not be reforestated any time soon. (Although my goatee is admittedly better off than Brazil.) Oh, yeah, and what about that nasty carbon dioxide?

Paul Waggoner, of the Department of Forestry and Horticulture in Connecticut, said: “A rapid forest transition at a global scale would mean that atmospheric CO2 might not rise as fast as many fear.”

Turns out trees and plants don't fear but actually like that extra CO2 and they drink it up. Whodathunkit?

The story: A priest works at a Miami high school as a history teacher and assistant chaplain. Nude photographs of him interacting physically with other men are discovered on the Internet. The priest resigns from his job. Graphic Internet photos are readily available for the media. You would think people like Mr. Dreher et. al. in the MSM would be all over this story as yet another example of Catholic or Conservative Christian hypocrisy. The problem with this is that priest in question is a member of the increasingly liberal American Episcopal Church. Isn't this another example of the double standard Conservatives are held to?

http://newsbusters.org/node/9067

Mr. Dreher has posted a column about this Hungarian Cardinal who was a Communist spy. He asks "But as for the bishops in this country who had no communist torturer to fear, what is their excuse for betraying children and families?" The following is the response I posted on his blog at Beliefnet.com. I had to post it as Anonymous because Dreher nor his Beliefnet cronies will not allow me to answer him.

"I wish Comrade Dreher would show the same anger towards Journalists from this country that ignored every abuse the Communists did that he still does towards the Bishops. Case in point New York Times Columnist Walter Duranty wrote pure fiction about life in the Soviet Union under Stalin and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for it. His colleagues at the DMN supported the Times keeping his Pulitzer. Eventhough Mr. Dreher said he dissented from it, he thought their reasoning was valid. In a related manner, CNN aired video of an Iraqi sniper shooting American soldiers. Yet no one in the MSM especially Mr. Dreher ever criticized them. Former CNN boss Eason Jordan admitted that in order to keep their Baghdad bureau open they reported stories written by Iraqi propoganda as the real news. Yet Mr. Dreher never even complained about that. I guess in Mr. Dreher's world his colleagues are unaccountable. Joseph don't get me started about your fellow ambulance chasers who claim to represent the victims of priestly abuse yet devour the majority of any settlement they get in Attorney's fees."

Does this excuse the Bishop's lack of accountability? No! It means we should hold people in the MSM equally accountable when they are found wanting.

Well, what the hey, let's all have a laugh for a minute....

Just announced by Bush in the press conference. Here is a good page on Bob Gates, the nominee to be our new Secretary of Defense. He has a great resume, no doubt. Currently he serves as the President of Texas A&M University and he was formerly the Director of the CIA.

Last night was rough for the GOP. Dems took the house, Senate is so close they're still counting.

But in the midst of it all, America's Victory '08 was born. Check it out; sidebar links coming soon....

Haven't had much time for blogging today. If your addicted to politics, then you're addicted to RCP and here's where to go for the fix, man.

Here's something for the "hope against all hope" category.

After reading an article in the VFW magazine, I thought this article would prove to be useful.
http://www.vyuz.com/Fake_SEALs_110705.htm

Why do I bring this up? Is it because I am a SEAL trying to protect the honor of my fellow SEALS? No. I am a Information Systems Technician 3rd Class who was medically retired from the Navy in 2000. Before that I was one of those "Supply Pukes" in the rear with the gear. Unfortunately today as in other wars a bogus crop of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans are crawling out from under their rocks of empty lives and unfufilled dreams looking for recognition they never earned. Paul Bucha , a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient said "We need to protect the integrity of the medals that represent sacrifice because these medals must be presumed to have merit and worth."

While the Army and Marine Corps are tasked with the majority of the Iraq duty, the Navy is doing more than drilling holes in the Persian Gulf. At any time, 8-9,000 sailors are doing IA work, on six, or, more usually, twelve month assignments. Most of the IAs are volunteers, and possess skills similar to those performed by soldiers. The IAs get a week, or more, of training at an army base, to familiarize them with army procedures, weapons, and the specific dangers they will encounter. Most of the sailors never get out into combat, but concentrate on support tasks. This ranges from maintenance to handling logistics.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20061105.aspx

Every year we site around up here in Northeast Ohio and say "Who votes for this guy?" I mean, other than the dead folks. They can't help it.



Someone was watching this over at HQ today and I felt embarrassed like I was watching a train wreck in slow motion. I mean, OK, I've seen him say ridiculous things on C-SPAN in the course of his duties and I've heard his famous pledge of allegiance recited in a Donald Duck voice. But I never want to hear that Republicans are "using" the religious vote after viewing this near-sacrilegious use of a church pulpit.

Vote for Mike Dovilla and at least we can prove we're not dead. Or brain-dead.

...and they're voting in droves. Wonder which party they vote for? Surprise, surprise. Have we heard this one before? Hat tip to Mark McNally.

I loved the baseball photo.

I've been helping Ed Herman with his campaign and will be working on the final push in the last 48 hours. One of the reasons I'm doing it is that Ed is a great, down to earth guy and a veteran of the war on terror.

The other is that he is going to be my State Rep as of Election Night and has promised to buy me a free drink at the victory party. (Now don't just show up for that -- I'll deny that I know you....)

As you can see in my last post, Ed is endorsed by Ohio Right to Life and many other organizations, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer! Here's where the man stands at on a host of issues. If you want to send someone to Columbus who you can be proud of, vote for Ed Herman.

Here's the skinny from the "We Need Good Judges" site. Please visit the site since they have it set up so you can click on the candidates. I met John Corrigan a few weeks back, a really dedicated, well-rounded lawyer who has been on both sides of the courtroom and has seen the good the bad and the ugly.

Below is the Pro-Life voter guide list from Ohio Right to Life which we get each year. Here's the full list. FYI, I've set up all of these guide images so that you can click and print them. You now have officially have no excuses not to vote!

I could continue pouring the scorn and derision proper to Sentor John Kerry's remarks, but I think I could find many better things to call attention to that would have a positive effect. One of these is a program called America Supports You which was set up by the Department of Defense to help citizens to recognize the contribution of our military men and women. We all need to have a little more gratefulness for the work they do. You can go to this page to send a message of thanks at the very least. (I'm going to do it as soon as I'm finished here!)

Just a quick personal story: My family and I met a man who had come back from a tour in Afganistan back in August '06. We were invited by mutual friends to a small picnic to welcome him back since he was returning home by himself and not with a larger group which would get a bigger official welcome by the Army. He has a wife and family of 4 or 5 kids. As a father, I thought of his wonderful sacrifice; he couldn't even be present for the birth of his youngest child. He took off his beret and put it on my smiling 2-year-old who happens to love hats of all kinds. When I thanked him for his service he looked me right in the eye and said "I work for you." I didn't have anything to say to that; I was floored by his humility.

The spiritual writers who talk about how to acquire the virtues often point out that humility is best achieved indirectly by gratefulness, being grateful to God and to our parents and to all those who enrich our life in any way. Surely -- and especially now in a time of war -- we should remember those who fought and who are fighting and defending our country and be grateful to them. So thank you, Jonathan Carpenter, and all other soldiers and veterans. May we never forget your service, your bravery nor your sacrifice for America.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 2, 2006

COLUMBUS Gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland yesterday told a radio talk show host that Americans would have "a different attitude" about the war in Iraq if it were not disproportionately fought by the poor.

During an interview with Tom Roten of News Talk 800 WVHU, Strickland refused to denounce Senator John Kerry's controversial don't study and "you get stuck in Iraq" comments. Democrat leaders and candidates across the country including Hillary Clinton have distanced themselves from Kerry's comments. Kerry has since apologized. However, Strickland suggested most Americans do not care about the young men and women fighting in Iraq.

"I strongly believe that if this war was being fully shared by all segments of our society and by all income levels and so on that a lot of people may have a different attitude about what's happening and the lives being lost and the young people that are being maimed," Strickland told Roten during the on air interview.

Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell expressed disappointment with Strickland's comments. Blackwell's campaign demanded Strickland immediately apologize.

"Playing class politics on this important issue is simply disgraceful," Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said. "To say Americans don't care about who is fighting and dying in Iraq is outrageous. Strickland needs to apologize for his callous and irresponsible comments."

Further, Strickland inferred his colleagues in Congress do not care about war casualties because their children are not fighting in Iraq.

"Michael Moore would be proud of Ted Strickland," LoParo added. "Even Hillary Clinton condemned John Kerry. Strickland just doesn't get it. He is an unabashed Washington D.C. liberal who doesn't understand Ohio values."

Following are links to the audio of Strickland's irresponsible comments:
[Audio Clip 1] [Audio Clip 2]

I heard about this photo on Medved's show around 4pm yesterday, but couldn't locate it, so Hat Tip to Hugh who pointed me hear. I mean here. Blogger was mis-behavin' last night so it couldn't post the photo right away.

In addition to Powerline, the New York Post is running it on the front page today.

Hugh Hewitt continues on the topic today regarding the military reaction to the original remark from Kerry and the subsequent apologies.