And in this Week's "Holy Shit, You're a Scumbag" Moment

The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Rajiv Shah, has said that the proposed House budget cuts would kill, conservatively, 70,000 children. Never mind the fact that most studies show that international aid generally does more harm to the intended recipients than good as it is stolen by local strongmen and tinpot dictators (remember "Black Hawk Down", that was what the military was trying to stop in Somalia). I wonder how many children he thinks Vice President Joe Biden's inability to write a check to charity kills each year. For that matter, the general lack of charity from Democrats must be leading to the annual slaughter of millions. Oh, and the 30,000 malaria victims? Wouldn't be a problem if the Sierra Club and environmental whack jobs hadn't convinced the world to ban DDT, a perfectly safe and immensely effective pesticide that would have nearly eliminated malaria.

Today's Recommended Reading

John Stossel in Human Events. I may write this guy in for President.

Truth in Advertising

Senator Chuck Shumer (D. NY) was caught unaware on a telephone conference when he didn't realize reporters were on the call as well. Schumer revealed his marching orders from the Democratic caucus to cause the Tea Party "extreme" and the idea of budget cuts proposed and passed by the House "radical". Rather than pass an answer to the House budget, the idea is to put pressure on House Republicans to compromise against a proposal that doesn't exist.

Meanwhile Howard Dean, former Democratic presidential candidate and former Democratic committe chairman revealed he would be secretly hoping for a government shutdown because Republicans would be blamed.

So what does this show us? Howard Dean, of the supposedly caring Democrats, wants the government to shut down because when people stop receiving their checks, it will score points for Democrats. If there is any less subtle way of showing that Democrats are in it to buy votes with tax dollars, I don't know what it might be. Disgusting.

Today's Recommended Reading

What we should be. I don't know that I would be strong enough.

My Apologies

I've been away and posting lightly because I've had a number of trials and hearings the last two months. Things should calm down a little bit in the coming weeks before ramping back up for the summer.

Well, I Guess We Needn't Worry Anyone Might Be Killed

Pressed on questions regarding whether or not the military strikes on Libya constitute a war, the administration has responded with a resounding no. It is, in fact, a kinetic military action. Call me crazy but I believe that could be interpreted as any soldier moving.

And Now to Update the Update

Apparently by cease fire Qadaffi meant he wouldn't personally shoot people. Reports indicate the military apparently feels free to bomb children. Let's all get that "Thank you" note ready to send to the UN.

Updating the Impotence of Internationalism

It appears Kowardaffi has issued a "cease fire" regarding the rebellion as a result of the no-fly zone. While this is a good development, it doesn't change my earlier posted opinion. In fact, you may want to read this newspaper article from the UK questioning if President Obama is the weakest president ever. Don't get me wrong, I'm not much for letting foreign nations determine what we should think of our own president, but there is something to be said for weakness as opposed to the "cowboy" tactics of such presidents as Reagan and Bush, Jr., that had countries thinking twice before pissing on our carpet.

When President Reagan dropped a bomb on Qadaffi's tent after the Lockerbie bombing, he suddenly backed down. When Bush invaded Iraq, Qadaffi voluntarily became a compliant little lap dog. Don't believe the cease fire for a second and don't forget that the UN declared war on Libya, not the Congress. Now, if the Congress sees fit to adopt the UN resolution as a declaration, I have no problem with Qadaffi exchanging skin bleaching rants with Michael Jackson in the afterlife, let's just do it the right way.

The Impotence of Internationalism

Warning, the following is an opinion piece so I'm not linking to a lot of things, so research at your own peril.

Today, the United Nations (an oxymoron worthy of enshrinement in the comedy hall of fame) today passed a resolution endorsing a no-fly zone in Libya. Let's ignore for a second whether or not such an action should have been taken. It comes weeks after Libyan rebels have pled for help. It comes at a time when Kaddafy Duck is on the verge of crushing the rebellion. It comes after President Obama felt he needed to invade a golf course and the NCAA brackets before taking any stance stronger than "jeez, I really don't think he should be killing his own people". It comes after France recognized the rebels as a legitimate government, then did nothing. The United States was sitting around waiting for the rest of the world to tell it what to do, saying it wouldn't move before there was an international consensus.

There's a certain irony that our President, who has thrown off the Constitution to ignore the legislature in favor of the executive, would cede power to the international community to declare war. Make no mistake, that is what a no-fly zone is. Robert Gates recently testified to this same thing. So now we'll have three unconstitutional wars going only the latest is being conducted by a man without testes. Maybe if it were a labor union in trouble he'd take a sort of half assed stance.

I hate the idea that Donald Trump is looking good in polls for the Republican nomination for 2012, but he's right, Obama has turned this country into an international joke.

I Would Call it Irony but Really it is Just a Lie

President Obama has an event today at which he will accept an award from various groups for his dedication to open and transparent government. You may wish to take this opportunity to see to the dust mites on the floor, as you've likely fallen off your chair laughing. Notably, of all of the activities scheduled for the President today, the award event is the only one open to the press.

The AP recently reported on the Administration's lack of disclosure pursuant to Freedom of Information Act requests. Incredibly the article notes that the Administration censored 194 pages of internal e-mails regarding its Open Government Policy including a page discussing how to respond to the AP's request for information about the policy. Mel Brooks on his best day couldn't write screwball comedy like this.

You may also remember a post I wrote regarding the Administration's "off-the-books" meetings with lobbyists, in spite of promises to lessen their influence.

All I can say is I hope he and the rest of his party take the rest of his Presidency off to go play golf. We need to find some sort of Wisconsin measure that will cause them all to flee to Cuba (their own little paradise).

Today's Recommended Reading

Local radio host Garland Robinnette lost me a long time ago. Garland is one of those people who seems to have forgotten that if your mind is open and you lay down, everything spills out and you just end up with an empty head. This is not to say that I'm against being open-minded, but when you take it to the point of an inability to make any real decision or to hold a position, it's ridiculous self-congratulatory political correctness for the sole purpose of saying how open minded you are. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Mr. Robinette (who jumped down the throat of one sheriff post-Gustav when he actually still had a pair) has been a supporter and admirer of President Obama. Today, however, he had a decent analysis of the President's speech on energy policy, and a quite impressive critique to go with it.

The Scumbag Lives On

Apparently, Monica Lewinsky is still in love with former President Bill Clinton and it has had a profound effect on her life. Let's drop the charade that character doesn't matter and let's stop letting people admire the Clintons as if they're not both disbarred unindicted felons.

Cry Me Those Crocodile Tears

Congressman Keith Ellison (D. Minn.), America's first Muslim congressman, broke down crying during a hearing on domestic radicalization of Muslims as he told the story of Mohammed Salmdi Hamdani. The problem is, none of what he said is true. Hamdani was actually named as an example of patriotic Muslims in the Patriot Act, which was passed before his body was found. But then, facts don't much matter to liberals, it's whatever might tug at your heartstrings.

More Questionable Behavior at National Public Radio

You're likely already familiar with the video tapes released that showed NPR's chief fundraiser at a luncheon discussing his anti-Tea Party and anti-Isreal views with potential donors posing as members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Now, James O'Keefe (of the ACORN videos pimp and hooker sting fame) has released a second tape showing Betsy Liley telling that same group that she could hide the donation from any federal audit. So NPR, who receives federal funding (though it likely doesn't even need it), and consistently expresses a very leftist editorial viewpoint, is willing to take money from an identified terrorist group and leave it as anonymous to hide the money from any federal audit. Lovely. Next week on Sesame Street, Snuffalufagus straps dynamite to his chest and goes all Jihad on Bert and Ernie for living in sin as a homosexual couple.

Easier for Who? Him or the American Public?

According toe the Weekly Standard, officials have said that President Barack Obama has told people that "It would be so much easier to be the President of China". If that doesn't tell you about how he views his role, nothing will.

Today's Recommended Reading

This article at American Thinker gives an interesting rundown of the "crony socialism" of the Obama administration.

Today's Absolutely Must Read! (Thanks to Rob SImpson)

I will first say that there is no way I can confirm any of this story, but when I make fun of Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D. TX), you can see there's some support for my position on her. Read all about her former employees' complaints here.

And Justice for All

Snyder v. Phelps, 562 US ___, 09-751 (U.S., 2011) slip opinion, has been decided in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church (which is really just the Westboro family). I encourage anyone reading this to actually read the decision rather than new articles about it to reach their own conclusion. You can find it by following this link, and yes, it's not exactly thrilling reading.

A little background. The Westboro Baptist Church is infamous for protests which encourage the death of soldiers because of the United State's tolerance of homosexuals. Signs they carry, as pointed out in this case, are such lovely little quips as "God hates fags", "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11", "Thank God for dead soldiers", etc. They like to show up at the funerals of soldiers killed in action, such as Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. The saying "they are beneath contempt" is not adequate to describe these morons.

The key points of the case:

1) Intentional infliction of emotional distress, which was the basis of the original district court award, is a tough case to prove and necessarily involves issues of restrictions of free speech;

2) the protesters were 1,000 yards away from the funeral and were separated by several buildings, in conformance with limitations placed upon them by police, in a public place next to a public street;

3) though Mr. Snyder saw the tops of the protest signs, he had no idea what was written on them until he saw them on a news broadcast that evening;

4) they did not yell, use obscenities or incite any violence; and

5) none of the signs mentioned the Snyders and were general in nature.

In finding that Westboro is protected from liability under the First Amendment, the Supreme Court analyzed whether the statements were matter of public or private concern. Speech regarding issues of public concern are entitled to the highest level of protection from infringement. Like it or not, the signs and protest were directed at the protestors opinion of the moral conduct of the nation, not at the Snyders.

Justice Samuel Alito writes a wonderful dissent to the case, but errs in straying into matters that aren't properly before the Supreme Court. He places emphasis on an online post referred to as "the epic" that was directed towards the Snyders personally. Unfortunately, that matter was not properly raised to be discussed by the Court. Justice Alito's focus on the intent of the protesters in seeking media attention is also inappropriate. We cannot restrict speech based upon the media's choice of whether or not to cover it. While Justice Alito gives a persuasive argument, in the end, I believe he is wrong and the Majority 8-1 opinion is correct.

Freedom of speech is essential to a free society, no matter how disgusting it may be. In an imperfect world, this was the correct decision. Even bad speech such as this serves a greater purpose. We can see just how idiotic these people are thanks to the rights they have to express their moronic views and we can choose not to associate with them or pay them attention.

The Man Who Would Be King of His Imagination

As former Russian Premier Mikhail Gorbachev turns 80, he is announcing the establishment of the The Mikhail Gorbachev Award "The Man Who Changed the World". You'll have to excuse me for a moment, I need a Kleenex to wipe the tears from my eyes. Seriously, I'm laughing that hard. Nominees will be announced March 10, 2011, based upon: 1) their contribution to to the development of civilization, 2) contribution to the development of an open world, and 3) contribution to the development of modern science and technology.

So Gorbachev's retreat in the face of a collapsing economy, nearly open rebellion in Poland and other Eastern European countries, his decimation at the hands of President Ronald Reagan's cold war policy (they were defeated by a defense system called Star Wars that still doesn't exist) and his capitulation to a strongly worded speech telling him to tear down the wall makes him "The Man Who Changed the World"? Perhaps it should be called "The Man Who Watched the World Change".

If you want my bet, President Obama, holder of a Nobel Peace Prize for no apparent reason, will be amongst the nominees announced on March 10. Mark it on your calendar kiddies.

Today's Recommended Reading

This article by Walter E. Williams has a good discussion of democracy versus the republican form of government we live under. When you see protesters in Wisconsin yelling this is what democracy looks like, they are right, it is violent rule by the agitated and loud minority of the populace.

What Beats a Royal Flush? A Full House of Minorities

Liberals are in full swing, doing what they do best, fighting back against unjust policies with logic, facts and the calm reasoning of the keenest of minds...nah, I'm just kidding, they're playing the race card.

As Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker attempts to reign in some collective bargaining powers (collective bargaining is not a right any more than collusion is a right of business owners) of some public sector unions, which has been mischaracterized as destroying the rights of unions. Censured Representative Charles Rangel (D. NY) has gone so far as to say that Governor Walker is "abolishing" collective bargaining rights and that this action is akin to slavery. Thanks, Chuck, let's take a look at that logic. Public sector unions in Wisconsin require that public employees be members of the unions and then forced to hand over the profits of their labor to the union by having the state forcibly take those profits by deducting them from pay and handed over directly to the union. So I guess he's half right. The public sector unions are akin to slave owners and their practices, to the extent they vitiate the free will of the workers, should be abolished.

Meanwhile, at that same meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Barbara Lee (D. Cal.) slung some mud of her own. Congresswoman Lee apparently feels that budget cuts proposed by Republicans will represent a setback to Civil Rights and fall most heavily on blacks, latinos and the poor. The CBC Greek chorus made it's voice heard on this point in glorious harmony, including the ever hilarious Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D. TX) (the only person in the country who can go toe-to-toe with Charlie Sheen for the world championship of bat-shit crazy). So, again, let's take a brief look at this claim. According to the Congressional Black Congress, minorities and poor people simply cannot make due without government subsidies (i.e. handouts from their beneficent betters). Look how far we've come! Now the rich blacks in Congress are the racists!

The easiest way to tell if a person has no ground to stand on is when they have to pull class warfare to support their argument. Come to think of it, that's all liberals do. So we can shorten that to just say liberals don't have any grounds for what they think and say.

Today's Recommended Reading

This George Will article, published in Newsweek, is certainly worth a read. Amtrak away!!!!