July 4, 2011 is a day of celebration, and so it will be for most Americans. They will celebrate independence, the independence of the former colonies from Great Britain, the establishment of America as an independent nation, the one exceptional and indispensable nation among all nations. But most of all, they will celebrate the independence of the American spirit, for the creation of America was, in a very real sense, the creation of a new man. Marxists and Socialists are obsessed with creating the new man. Americans—as Americans tend to do—simply ignored government and did it themselves. We need to do it again.
The new American owed allegiance to a voluntary confederation of fellow Americans. He honored no king, no all-powerful nanny state. He expected to prosper on the strength of his own character and the fruits of his own labor. The truth was important to him, and the nation was built on the strength of each man’s word and sealed by handshakes. He indulged in no juvenile cults of personality and chose his leaders—men such as George Washington—based on their character and accomplishments, character and accomplishments that were well known and demonstrated and renewed day by day, just as his character and accomplishments were demonstrated and renewed day by day.
The new American—and many generations to come—lived by simple, basic principles: hard work, honesty, doing what was right, living within their means while working to increase not only their means, but the means of their children. He understood deferring pleasure to a better, more secure day and he understood self-sacrifice. He was willing to help his neighbors because he knew that they lived their lives as he did, and that they were willing to help him for the same reasons. For him, laziness and a lack of industry were debilitating character flaws, not victimhood to be embraced and rewarded.
America was born an exceptional nation by virtue of her people and their creation: The Constitution. They understood all too well what we seem to have forgotten. When we turned our backs on self-sufficiency and hard work, when we became victims instead of doers, when we began to believe that character didn’t really matter, when we came to see the truth as nothing more than slippery rhetoric in the service of individual, selfish agendas, when we stopped being willing to pay our fair share and expected instead to be given our living by others, America started on the road to becoming just another failed socialist state.
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Simply made my day! What a beautifully written article reminding all Americans what we celebrate today. Thank you for reminding me, through troubled times, that there is still much hope for the 'bright, shining city on the hill'.
Posted by: Carol Bowers at July 04, 2011 09:23 AM (Nve11)
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The greatest country in the world is experiencing some difficulties now with an anti- American President in the White House( how did this Traitor get elected ?!), but in November 2012 the Muslim usurper will be kicked to the curb. A real American will take the impostor's place, and the USA, as well as the free world, will be able to breathe again.
God Bless America!
Posted by: Rick at July 04, 2011 09:34 AM (n0a7L)
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Well done. You remind me why all American students should be given a very strong dose of Thoreau as part of their cultural and political inheritance.
Posted by: Humbert at July 04, 2011 02:16 PM (OgI8P)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Welcome to the first post in our Literature Corner. I can’t guarantee that we’ll post a story every Saturday, but we will do it as regularly as possible.
The stories about my police experience are true. I have changed the names to avoid embarrassing anyone, and in that spirit, I have occasionally slightly altered a detail or two, but they’re presented almost exactly as they occurred.
The first story is about something very common for police officers: a DUI arrest. Police officers will tell you that a large part of their business is related to the use and abuse of alcohol. Sometimes drunk drivers are pretty funny. More often, they’re stupid, smelly, dangerous and sometimes, deadly. This story is about one of the funny ones that by the grace of God. somehow missed killing himself and a variety of others.
I Couldn’t Get Him To Shut Up
I finally found the guy about 20 minutes after I got the call of a drunk driver. The Dispatcher told me that the drunk was being followed by an off duty volunteer fireman who first spotted the drunk driving on the wrong side of the road. Better yet, it was the middle of the afternoon. Most DUI arrests take place at night. Anyone this drunk during the day had to be a serious alcoholic, very, very unlucky, or both.
The fireman had a portable radio and was reporting his position as he followed the drunk, who was doing his best to try to hit everything in sight, and that was the problem. Not the fireman, not even necessarily the drunk, but the dispatchers, who were relaying the fireman’s directions at least five minutes late.
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One of the reasons they probably could not get officers to the fireman was that they were sitting on their asses at a road block harrassing people. This is a pet peeve of mine, police seem to have no problem bothering people going about their business. I have been out on a Saturday night and almost run over twice by drunks, so I don't understand how a road block helps cops more than simply patrolling in known areas for drunk driving.
Posted by: david7134 at July 02, 2011 02:04 PM (BRPAg)
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From this tale we can learn one very important lesson, never assume.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg at July 02, 2011 06:38 PM (myAzz)
Roadblocks are far more effective in finding drunks,
who kill 20,000 and mutilate 400,000 people every year. Roadblocks are also safer for support staff. Also, the testing equipment (BATmobile), paramedics (vomit cleaners), correctional processors (prison bus drivers) & tow truck drivers (who ALWAYS offer to help when the UFC entertainment starts) are speedily available on the scene.
It's all about saving lives, not the momentary inconvenience of 'freedom fighters' on Saturday night at a DUI checkpoint.
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 03, 2011 08:05 AM (4tDlA)
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Plus, check points net all kinds of revenue generating items like issuing tickets for non-alcohol related items, more then they catch intoxicated drivers. It's about milking the local citizenry for extra $$$
Posted by: PMain at July 03, 2011 02:24 PM (nXiqp)
Really? Would that include outstanding arrest warrants, suspended drivers' licenses, no required insurance and such? Do you have a source for that information, or is this a 'Travis Bickle' moment?
These poor police people can't win, they're either "sitting on their asses" or doing 'over & above'. Just like when the 'gated community' type call and complain about speeders in their neighborhood where the children play, and the police send traffic units to the area. Three days later, the same people call and complain about police harassing motoring residents in their neighborhood. (for extra $$$, of course)
Amazing!
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 03, 2011 04:55 PM (4tDlA)
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DUI road blocks are unconstitutional - there is no 'reasonable suspicion', no warrant, nothing.
But because we do it to everybody - oh, hi, judge, yes, just go on through - is IS constitutional.
Batshit crazy.
Posted by: Bill Johnson at July 05, 2011 09:49 AM (9X1+H)
Most traffic police relish the idea of 'trophy' incarcerating an elitist, judge, prosecutor, politician, celebrities.....but it's not a perfect world. In the early 80's any vehicle with a 'rainbow' sticker, got a pass. They were not even allowed to slow & and roll down the window, as the experts were inconsistent (at the time) on how AIDS could be transmitted; hand shake, bite, open wound, tears, saliva and such. Of course, it's wasn't becoming - but that's the way it was!
I suspect you didn't see that on TV, eh?
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 05, 2011 11:13 AM (4tDlA)
I love the sound of a train. When I left the big city to move here I asked the Realtor before I made a bid on the place, "can I hear a train at night?" She looked apologetic when she said, "yes, there's one that runs about a mile away, you can hear it most nights", not realizing that to me that's exactly what I wanted to hear, that comforting sound.
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We don't get it every night here at 4th and G in San Diego, but every now and then we get the cry of a freight train in the early morning hour. A nice contrast to the motorcyles and revving autos
Posted by: Alan Kellogg at July 01, 2011 08:31 PM (myAzz)
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For some reason I have always had the sound of trains around my domicile since leaving my parents home so many years ago. I would miss that! From the one bedroom apartment to the two bedroom and my first, second, and third house I call home now.
I simply would not feel home unless I heard the sound of a train. I get it many times as where I live has a freight classification yard nearby.
I too long for simpler times. God Bless.
Posted by: Kelly at July 01, 2011 09:16 PM (Sb8Bg)
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more like 100 then 50 yards away for my first 18 years. It was an ore train coming ang going to Escanaba to load Iron Ore into ships. at the peak it was every 20 minutes or so.
Even now it is a couple a night. Going home for vacation I hear the first one the first night....then it is just a background and will not wake or bother me unless something different happens like it stopping, or once it had stopped down the line and the engines were working hard to gather speed again, so they were louder.
Here I hear the Union Pacific about two miles from my bedroom. Long away and barely audible over the interstate noise just a bit less than half a mile from me.
Posted by: JP at July 01, 2011 09:20 PM (Tae/a)
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"That haunting sound today simply brings back memories of those nights safely in my bed, home safe and surrounded by people that love me, the laughter of my Mom in the kitchen with my Dad, a tonic for any worries a child could have."
I grew up "three houses from the tracks" and that sentence cradles all that was good and right about it. My brother called one day all excited to tell me he'd found a new apartment and "it's 5 miles from home and OUR TRACKS run right outside the back door!"
When there aren't any trains around, I'll settle for the sound of a man snoring. As long as I could hear Dad snore, I knew nothing bad could get to me.
Thanks for the reminder. I'll go call Mom and Dad now and remind them how very much they're loved.
Posted by: Wrella at July 01, 2011 09:32 PM (bX/2u)
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9/11
I was under the wing of a SWA flight fueling it up when all of a sudden, I realized no one was working the flight but me. I knew someone had hit on of the Towers (the local moron rumor monger said it was a SWA flight going to Islip) hearing it told as I rushed into ops for another fuel ticket due to some late flights (weather in DFW iirc) and rushed out to work the next inbound I was responsible for.
During that flight was when everything stopped...Then it got real busy. I saw airlines I never heard of as everything was sent to the nearest airport.
I lived a mile off the main run way. It was very odd to not hear a single plane take off those days afterward.
a few days later we were called back in and sent the first flights out.
By Monday the week after we had a full schedule. SWA flew when others canceled, used only their paid for planes, and those they had mostly paid off, loaded the planes with mail and cargo and turned a profit from then on. due to the stoppage they broke even that quarter, turning their normal profit the next.
A few weeks later, working over night, the FBI was patrolling the terminal, walked past me fueling equipment and never noticed I had forgotten my id badge in the office...great security there folks.
Posted by: JP at July 01, 2011 09:44 PM (Tae/a)
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My little getaway in the woods is tight up against a 10-ga rail that runs a little tourist railroad. As the train crosses the road up the way the whistle blows. It's a lovely sound. All the kiddies run to the edge of my property to look down the hill at the little Hobo Railroad chugging by. One of my favorite things about this spot.
Posted by: Maureen at July 02, 2011 06:15 AM (oVWY4)
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My wife's office overlooks the south end of IAD.
When flights resumed the entire building staff was on her side of the building, crying, as the first plane climbed over the tree line.
Our townhouse was north of IAD. I heard the sound of flaps being extended as the first arrival made its approach. I rushed out front to find several neighbors watching ... and crying.
The short line near Grandma's still ran steam when I was a kid. Nothing will lull you to sleep better than the rumble of coal cars accented by a whistle (not a horn).
As for this Long War. Political Correctness will kill us.
Posted by: Stretch at July 02, 2011 10:41 AM (IZttV)
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A wonderful and thought provoking post. For me, this hit home, not with the sounds of trains. But, deeper....we would do well to remember what those who came before us fought and died for. We want to believe we can legislate security. But, we can't. The threat to liberty comes, not only from the outside terrorist. But, it comes from the inside as well...from those who would take away liberty at the expense of security. This is the most insidious and dangerous of all.
So, who will lead us into the future? Who will understand that personal liberty is what sets our nation apart from almost every other nation in the world? And, who will fight to protect that liberty? Those are the right questions.
Well said, Brigid.
SWModel66
Posted by: Mike at July 02, 2011 11:09 AM (wafNE)
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I grew up two blocks away from the Washington Branch Rail Road, a spur of the B&O connecting Baltimore and Washington DC. I loved to hear the sound of the freight trains that hurtled by at all hours. My brothers and I got so that we could tell the difference between the sound between of a string of freight cars and a coal train. Every once in a while an old steam train would go by. There is only one private rail line near me now, it only has about two trains a day, and I do miss the sound.
Tarheel Repub Out!
Posted by: Tarheel Repub at July 02, 2011 02:38 PM (OQEcO)
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I don't mind the rumbling but the three to five Leslie Supertyphon horns on the engines grate on my nerves..just like they are supposed to do. For me growing up it was the sound of Midwest thunderstorms and the Lockheed/Hughes Constellation powering down overhead to land at the Kansas City Municipal Airport. The rumble of those 4 18 cylinder engines was a lullaby to my young ears. I still miss that sound.
Posted by: I-RIGHT-I at July 02, 2011 03:50 PM (ltBOm)
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Thank you, Brigid. I, too, can hear the low whistle of your train as the sound drifts up the valley on the soft breeze in the evening.
On the afternoon of 9/12, we all stopped to watch the single fighter plane on patrol far enough away we could hear no sound at all. Someone else who we would never know, but nonetheless would sacrifice everything for us.
Just like our parents for us.
And we for our kids.
Posted by: Dave at July 02, 2011 04:44 PM (l5e9F)
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Well said once again Brigid. So many seem to have lost sight of what made this country great.
Posted by: Tango Juliet at July 02, 2011 09:36 PM (xy8Md)
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The coal trains run every night about 1/2 mile from my house.
I don't mind hearing trains but it's rather unnerving during spring thunderstorm to hear that load rushing sound and have to wait for the whistle before deciding to run for the cellar.
Feeling the trains go by is another thing entirely.
Posted by: ThomasD at July 02, 2011 10:05 PM (9yHeH)
As regular readers know, I spent most of my young adult life working as a police officer. Since leaving police work for reality, I've been writing short stories about my experiences in that field. Who knows? Perhaps someday I'll see about getting them published in book form.
For the time being, Bob and I thought you might enjoy finding out the reality, both humorous and tragic, of police work. So beginning Saturday, July 2, we'll begin our "Literature Corner." I can't promise to publish a new story every Saturday, but we'll do it on a fairly regular business.
I'm looking forward to your comments, as always. See you Saturday!
Instead of trying to find out who in the Obama Administration authorized and colluded in the felonious Gunwalker fiasco, Democrat Elijah Cumming is setting up a hearing that features testimony from anti-gun groups.
Why indict your Party when you can try to blame the citizenry?
Found: Local Industry Obama's Policies Have Helped
Seen on my way home from work yesterday, an increasingly rare Obama campaign sticker on the back of a van used by a local company in one of the few businesses the President's economic policies have actually helped.
Liberal Wisconsin Justices Looking Bad in "Chokegate"
I've had my hands full lately focusing on the Gunwalker investigation, but I have been at least reading along with what some are calling "Chokegate" (Ann Althouse has done a great job staying on top of this story).
Long story short: a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice named Ann Bradley has apparently tried to claim that another Supreme Court Justice, David Prosser, "choked" her.
The story had been leaked to a George Soros muckraking group, and then the incident seemed to get turned on its head when other witnesses came forth to indicate that while Prosser did put his hands up and touch Bradley's neck, it is because she was coming at him with fists raised, meaning the contact was defensive in nature, and Bradley was the aggressor.
The plot appears to be thickening now, with news that Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson may have had a hand in orchestrating the leak in an attempt to get the conservative Prosser impeached.
As the investigation moves forward, it appears than instead of collecting a conservative scalp, that the two liberal Wisconsin SCOTUS justices may face impeachment instead. If they are impeached—and that is far from certain at this point—Republican Governor Scott Walker will have the opportunity to add two conservative justices to the bench.
It appears that the plot to frame up Prosser has backfired spectacularly.
I can only wish for such a happy ending for all of convicted felon Soros' investments in deception.
I had seen the original story, but it appears the MSM has (of course) buried it now that it's looking bad for the liberals.
IIRC, didn't the argument that supposedly provoked this have something to do with the teacher's union law fiasco? This could make things interesting in WI for a while.
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They've been after Prosser for a long time. They tried to run the female against him last year with union backing in hopes of taking him out; now it looks like they are trying a 'new' tact...
Posted by: Old NFO at June 29, 2011 11:35 AM (kCq7A)
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Typical Lib tactic, start a fight and then claim you're being attacked when the victim defends themselves. Seen it many times.
Posted by: Junk Science Skeptic at June 29, 2011 03:51 PM (Fnr44)
NOTE: We’re posting Quick Takes a bit early this week as I’ll be away from Internet connections for a few days. QTs will be back, as usual, on Thursday next week. Thanks!
ITEM: What’s Really Going On Under The Radar? Go here to Fox News for a very disturbing story about Progressive uber-donor and manipulator, George Soros. What’s that? Everything about George Soros is very disturbing? Indeed, but now we discover that’s he’s spending mega millions to subvert the process by which judges are seated across the nation. This one is not for the faint-hearted.
ITEM: Prayers Are In Order: for Austin Hatch of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Austin, a 16 year-old basketball standout, survived a 2003 plane crash that killed his mother and siblings, and has now been involved in a second crash. He is in critical condition. Go here for the story which contains more than its share of tragedy and irony. You know what to do.
ITEM: Human—Rights? Remember Galid Shalit, Israeli army soldier wounded and kidnapped five years ago during a raid into Israel? Shalit has been held, presumably somewhere in the Gaza Strip, since by Palestinian proponents of the Religion of Peace. If you haven’t had your recommended daily allowance of outrage, go here to learn that the international “human rights” community has issued a joint statement to honor that infamous anniversary, a statement that does not, in any way, demand his release. Surprised? Thought not.
ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Egyptian Division: I was shocked, shocked! to learn (here) that pro-democracy activists in Egypt are seeing their chances for democracy slip away as the Muslim Brotherhood gains ever more strength. I’m sure the Obama Administration is equally shocked, except they’re probably actually shocked to learn that Muslim murderers tend to behave like, well, Muslim murderers. Whoda thunk it?
ITEM: I Know That If I Wanted to Broker Democracy and Eternal Peace in Lebanon and Syria, That’s Who I’d Send: Write this one up under the “What The ….?!” category. Rep. Dennis Kuchinich (D-Another Dimension) is apparently on a mission to Syria and Lebanon where he will—well, no one is quite sure what he’ll do or why he’s going, or---Geez. Read the story here and see if you can figure it out. He couldn’t cause any more harm than Jimmy Carter, could he? Discuss.
ITEM: Tales From the People’s Republic, #10,285: If anyone is still interested, go here for the story of the conviction of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on 17 of 20 counts in his retrial. Among the counts on which he was convicted was trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Blagojevich is the fourth Illinois governor since 1973 convicted of a felony and his predecessor is still in prison. Illinois remains the only American state that does not allow concealed carry in any form. I wonder if there is a connection? Discuss.
ITEM: He’s What?! Go here to learn that Mr. Obama will now operate on instinct rather than on building consensus. Uh, what? Correct me if I’m wrong, gentle readers, but wasn’t Mr. Obama sold as the most carefully deliberative, intellectual president in history, a man whose cerebral cogitations were beyond the understanding of mere mortals? And didn’t he just give the appearance of seeking consensus while doing whatever he wanted anyway? And now he’s throwing all that away and going with his “gut?” The story does pose some potential reasons for this Oval Office sea change. Not that anything Mr. Obama does is likely to be good for America…
ITEM: And Now From the TSA, Who Brought You Serial Child Molestation: Israel is very, very successful in identifying and stopping potential terrorists from boarding their airliners. This is so because Israel isn’t the least bit shy about figuring out precisely who is likely to be a terrorist, and they don’t care about whose feelings might be hurt. America, on the other hand—and this was begun under George W. Bush and the execrable Norman Mineta—has now descended to requiring that 95 year old, dying women in wheelchairs accompanied by their families on a domestic flight remove their adult diapers. Apparently the crack TSA agents involved were suspicious becomes they found something wet in the diaper. I’m not kidding. The TSA has defended their actions as nothing more than following procedure. Perhaps the best procedure would be disbanding the TSA and adopting proven Israeli methods. Go here for the story. Take your blood pressure meds first.
ITEM: TSA Déjà Vu: Go here for a related article on the uselessness and abuses of the TSA. You owe this one to yourself if for no other reason than its accurate explanation of exploding butt cheeks. You’ll see what I mean.
ITEM: Remember the DREAM Act? The lunatic legislation that would have given illegal immigrants money to attend college and on the basis of being college students, essentially legal immigration status? Well, now it seems that Mr. Obama has enacted it by executive order. Who needs a Congress when you can command anything into existence? Go here, but secure easily breakable items first.
ITEM: But Mr. Obama Wants Everybody to Go To College On The Public Dime and Took Over the Student Loan Industry Too! Isn’t college for everybody? Shouldn’t everyone earn a sheepskin? Won’t a college degree lead to the good life? Not so much. Read this report to discover why Obamian utopian idealism really doesn’t apply to the real world. Did it ever? Discuss.
ITEM: So What The %$##*& Is Going On In Wisconsin Now? Quick Background: The story goes that Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley has claimed that recently re-elected Justice David Prosser choked her without provocation. However, like Anthony Weiner, she has made no police report of what, if true, would be an clear and easily proved assault. The reason may be that the incident occurred during an informal meeting of some five justices who were discussing the court’s defeat of the union’s lawsuit to stop Gov. Walker’s union legislation. According to at least two of the justices present, Bradley lost it and charged Prosser with fists raised. Prosser merely raised his hands to block her and in so doing, she more or less ran into his hands with her neck. Good grief. Go here for an article that will help you sort it out. Go here for a related article by the invaluable Wisconsin law prof. and blogger, Ann Althouse.
ITEM: They Really Can’t Help Themselves, Can They? Last week in Quick Takes, I brought to your attention evidence that our self-appointed betters who live on the left and right coasts really do view those of us living in flyover country as subhuman, inbred throwbacks to the apes, and probably lesser life forms. I know that even with the incontrovertible evidence I provided, some of you—good folk all, willing to give the benefit of the doubt to those who wouldn’t urinate on you if you were on fire—really couldn’t bring yourself to believe that such self-imagined superior beings could be so heartless and mindlessly cruel. Ok then. Go here for a brief video that will put all doubt to rest. Are you surprised that a NY Times columnist and Bill Maher (who thinks that New Jersey is the epitome of enlightened civilization) are involved? Thought not. Note the delighted, informed, we’re-the-in-group laughter and delight of the entire pencil-necked, pin-headed panel. They really do think this way folks. Go here for Ed Driscoll’s intelligent take on the same video and some other interesting links.
CY Dictionary: Flyover Country. Noun. A term coined by oh-so-sophisticated denizens of the east and west coasts to describe that vast, cultural wasteland between LAX and LaGuardia where the little people lead their uninteresting, petty, uninformed and anti-intellectual meaningless little lives.
ITEM: Somebody Tell Mitt Romney! It’s Global Warming! Global cooling is evidence of Global Warming! Snow in June is evidence of Global Warming! Dennis Kuchinich in Syria is evidence of Global Warming! The absence of Global Warming is evidence of Global Warming! All the hurricanes we are having are evidence of Global Warming! What’s that you say? What hurricanes? Well, you know, the hurricanes that are ravaging…I mean that might ravage…that…you know…aw poopy! Go here to discover that in the six years since Hurricane Katrina—despite the predictions of Global Warming proponents of certain GW-caused hurricane Armageddon to come—we have experienced near-record low levels of such storms.
A Note To Female Readers: You’ll like the picture of the author. Who says scientists have to be geeks?
ITEM: Free Speech and The Schools Update: Go here for the story of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal’s June 13 decision on public school student’s rights on the internet. This is an important decision, gentle readers. In the cases decided, schools punished students for parody Internet publications making, well, juvenile fun of principals. The parodies were apparent not done on school time or with school resources, but by the students involved at home. The court ruled—correctly I believe--that the involved schools exceeded their authority. Some will try to make political hay over this, but it appears to be a narrowly crafted decision well founded on Constitutional law rather than judicial whim.
ITEM: How Much Do We Charge For the Exercise of a Fundamental Civil Right? In NYC (here), to obtain a permit for a gun, it’s more than the cost of many guns. Anyone surprised? Thought not. I spent nearly a week in NYC not long ago. Can’t imagine living there unarmed. Couldn’t be armed if I lived there, not legally, so I’ll never live there. I’m sure Gov. Cuomo will be weeping about that as soon as it is brought to his attention. See: “They Really Can’t Help Themselves, Can They?” above.
ITEM: The Left Coast Sinks—Even More: I’ve mentioned the invaluable Michael Barone in past Quick Takes. Go here for his latest article on the rise of the Gulf Coast (GASP! Flyover Country!) and the continuing decline of California, that oasis of intellect, coolness and all-around human superiority on the Left Coast.
ITEM: I Want That Job! Go here for a fine Forbes article by the charming Susannah Breslin about job interview tactics. You’ll enjoy her wit and style.
ITEM: Dateline—Gillette, WY. The old joke going around Gillete in the 80’s was: “Dear Lord, give us another boom. We promise not to screw it up like the last one.” I’m writing this in Gillette, where I once lived and served as a police officer during a previous boom. Gillette is where I met and married my wife, which is easily the smartest thing I ever did. The town is booming once again with coal and oil development. My brother in law, the owner of a concrete contracting company, can’t get enough good workers, homes are being built, businesses are moving in, and the economy is booming—as much as economies boom these days. Gillette can be a fairly expensive place to live, but if you’re out of work and looking for a good place to find it, Gillette, WY is a pretty good bet these days.
ITEM: The Pulchritude (Not) of Progressive Policies: OK, OK, so it was fun to be alliterative for a moment! Sheesh! Go here for an informative Pajamas Media story by Tom Blumer about what Progressive thinking and policies have done to Ohio, and about what might be done to save it. Parallels to America? You be the judge.
ITEM: White Collar Non-Crime: Go here for the invaluable Mark Steyn’s take on the never-ending Conrad Black case. If you’re not familiar with Steyn, easily one of the most brilliant commentators working today, this will be a good, albeit brief, introduction.
ITEM: Can The NYT Ever Play It Straight: Here, they do. The story: The Obama Administration is hiring stealth poll takers to contact doctors pretending to be patients to see if doctors are accepting new patients, Medicare, etc. As you might imagine, doctors are not amused. Remember: This is the most transparent Administration in American history! Can you imagine how bad things would be if it was not? Discuss.
ITEM: They WANT To Ask About That Stuff?! And in Florida, a group of doctors is going to court to try to overturn a recently passed law that they feel terribly infringes on their practice of medicine. That’s right, they’re referring to the law that prevents doctors from quizzing their patients about---gun ownership absent a clearly definable medical reason to do so! What? Gun ownership? Gun ownership. But what does that have to do with practicing medicine? Good question. Go here to find out.
ITEM: You Don’t Want to Raise Taxes? You Don’t Want to Spend America Into Oblivion? You’re Unpatriotic! So sayeth the former (it always feels sooooo good to write that!) Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi. To discover a bit of economic reality, go here.
ITEM: It Doesn’t? The July 4 edition of “Time” magazine will grace its cover with a graphic asking if the Constitution still matters. I’m sure you won’t be able to guess what Time thinks about that one. Go here for the story, and a bit of exposure of faulty liberal thinking and double standards.
ITEM: They’re Doing WHAT?! Go here for Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin where we learn that CNN is now using psychics to figure out economics. Yes, our federal financial officials are baffled. Everything they are doing is an abject failure. They’re following the same path that led European nations to ruin and they can’t figure out why it’s not working and what they should do differently, so CNN is helping out! You can’t make this stuff up, folks.
ITEM: So Barack Obama is Chauncy Gardiner? How many of you remember “Being There?” Apart from his role in the Pink Panther films, this is my favorite Peter Sellers vehicle. Sellers plays a dim-witted gardener named “Chance” (Chance the gardener—get it?) whose vague, pseudo-metaphorical utterances are mistaken for brilliant political commentary. The film is a deft parody of what passes for wisdom inside the Beltway. Go here for Michael Barone’s convincing take on Mr. Obama’s similarity to that character.
ITEM: Do You Like Smart, Witty, Strong Women? Yeah? Me Too! I certainly married one. Go here for Andrew Klavan’s (no slouch as a writer and satirist, he) take on Ann Coulter who is one of the best commentators writing today. As with Sarah Palin, liberals often degenerate to foaming-at-the-mouth incomprehensibility at the mere mention of her name. Quite apart from the fact that she is a stylish, funny and brilliant writer, that’s good enough for me.
ITEM: I’m Sure All They Need Is A Little More Outreach: The head of Iranian missile forces recently claimed that Iran can build missiles—no doubt soon to be tipped with nuclear warheads—with even greater range than current models. The good news? They’re not going to do that because their current missiles can already reach Israeli and American bases in the region. Go here for the story. I’m sure that if Mr. Obama just reaches out to the Iranians again, or maybe sets a new deadline or threatens even more sanctions, they’ll come around.
ITEM: Gun Control and Video Games: Have you heard of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. EMA decision? If not, go here. The Court overturned a California law (boy, that’s a surprise!) that sought to prevent the sale of violent video games to kids under 18. But this decision goes beyond video games and casts major doubt on a long time tactic of the gun banners: the weapons effect. This is the lame idea that mere exposure to firearms can cause people to commit violent acts. Go here to the Volokh Consipiracy for an informative article on what passes for thinking and research in the minds of anti-gun social scientists these days.
ITEM: Oh, How The Mighty Have Fallen! Go here to read the second of two essays by Walter Russell Mead (there’s a link to the first) on the fall from grace of the Goracle, Al Gore. It seems that farcical climate alarmism is not selling terribly well these days. Perhaps Mr. Gore will have to sell his 100 foot, fresh water houseboat. Al Gore has a 100 foot houseboat? Indeed he does. I’m sure it’s completely green, just like the jets he uses to fly around the world to lecture the rest of us about our carbon footprints, when he’s not in one of his mansions that use as much electricity as small towns. You know, I almost feel sorry for poor Al—nah. I don’t.
ITEM: Shooting Yourself In the Foot: Go here for a brief article by the invaluable Victor Davis Hanson about a mostly Latino crowd booing the US soccer team in a recent match against Mexico. As regular readers know, we do not, for a moment, harbor any animus toward those who want to immigrate to the United States. We do, however, expect everyone to obey the law, in this, and every other way. What continues to amaze is that many open-borders types continue to shoot themselves in the foot, as Dr. Hanson concisely explains, by lauding the nations they fled at the expense of America.
ITEM: So What Does He Know? He’s Not Barack Obama! Go here for John Bolton’s lucid explanation of what Mr. Obama has done wrong, and continues to do wrong, regarding the non-hostile hostilities in Libya.
ITEM: The Dangers of Police Work, Episode #2397: Go here for the harrowing story of a drunken Ohio woman who went berserk at a wedding. When the police arrived, she pulled out a potentially deadly weapon: her right breast. According to police reports, she squirted the surprised police with said breast. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, which is amazing, because, as Steve Martin said: “Breasts make men stupid.” Not only that, those things normally travel in pairs, like a gang or something.
And with that shocking tale of lactose intolerance, I must thank you, once again, for stopping by and say my fond farewells. I encourage you to drop by once again next Thursday for another edition of Quick Takes!
To: John McIntyre
From: Mr. English Teacher
Re: A Modest Proposal
Dear Mr. Williams:
I was interested to read your recent op-ed piece in the Anytown Review-Blabberer. I’m afraid I must disagree with you regarding the problems of American education and who, specifically, is at fault. Please allow me to make a modest proposal about how to solve the problems that do exist.
We’ll begin by establishing something called “School Districts.” These school districts will probably consist of the geographical areas of certain cities, perhaps several smaller towns as well.
We’ll have the people of these cities elect independent groups of citizens to oversee these school districts. I think we’ll call them “School Boards.” These school board members will serve rotating terms of office. Directly elected by their friends and neighbors, they will be directly responsible to those who elected them. It will be as close to a direct democracy as we are ever likely to see.
The School Boards will hire a Chief Executive Officer who will be responsible for hiring every other employee of these school districts. We’ll call him—or her--a “School Superintendent.” That has a nice ring, don’t you think?
1
No. It won't work. You describe participatory democracy at its most basic community level. As we all now know, participatory democracy--or a republican form as we have it and you describe--does not work. It is too unstable, veering this way and that, accumulating little pustules of graft and profit devices and inefficiencies, to trust the education of our young to. Better a benign despotism, a velvet covered fist, to educate a child up to the desired citizen.
Sorry, human nature is too corrupt to trust at large. Education would be better left to education specialists, trained in certified education departments, who would administer educational policies proven to be pedagogically effective, and these enforced with all the power of the state.
Short of that, parents should be free to send their students to charter schools or given vouchers to be used for private schools. Thus, parents would be able to choose a philosophy and cultural values that reflect their community, or sub-community.
Signed, Sobered Idealist
Posted by: JDewey at June 28, 2011 09:31 AM (OgI8P)
You need to collect the posts on this topic and do more than publish on the blog. These would make a great weekly podcast or short video. Every post has hit the mark.
My thanks to you for your service as a LEO, and the most dangerous job - as teacher.
Posted by: Del Ahlstedt at June 28, 2011 09:56 AM (Uo766)
1
This Texas Lady from the Mexico border regions thanks you for posting this.
Sadly, some of you undoubtedly consider this a parody and a cartoon.
Unfortunately, you would be DEAD wrong, and that is NOT a pun at all.
Thank you, ma'am
Rose
P.S. Please do not disturb us down here in the war zone formerly known as the USA/Mexico Border by bothering yourself with votes for RINOS such as Rick Perry. Thank you.
If you think he is cute and sassy and reminds you of what you are looking for, remember, those are Texas traits and do not necessarily indicate the Texas Values that SHOULD automatically go with the Texas Sass. The Former Texas State Chairman of the Algore Presidential Campaign isn't what you are looking for. I guarantee.
There is a reason Texas isn't listed with Arizona and Alabama when the Battle of the Border is discussed, and it ain't because most Texans like it that way!
President Obama’s recent speech on Afghanistan was of a piece with his standard rhetoric, with one possible deviation: He only said “I” thirteen times by my count of the speech released by the White House prior to the delivery of the actual speech at West Point. I suspect that with his poll numbers at historic lows and his reelection campaign foremost on the minds of the occupants of the White House, the wisdom of more frequently using “we” has gained some urgency.
According to media accounts, few Americans watched the speech. This is unsurprising in that Mr. Obama is certainly the most over-exposed president in history. One would think that by now, someone on the White House staff would have figured out that the American people do not long for just one more Obama speech on any topic, but apparently making the I/we transition has, to date, fully occupied their attention and rhetorical energies.
A great many media outlets have covered the primary thrust of the speech: we will be pulling out of Afghanistan on a predetermined schedule and regardless of the strategic or tactical conditions at the time. It has also been noted that General Petraeus is less than thrilled with this idea. One would certainly hope so.
My intention with this post is to speak to several of Mr. Obama’s statements, which have, for the most part, escaped comment in the legacy media and even in the blogosphere. None of these comments, which are embedded among the numerous clichés and gaseous tropes, is original; they, in various formulations, have often flowed across Mr. Obama’s teleprompter screens in the past. The value in speaking to these comments is that their frequent repetition almost certainly reflects the fact that they represent Mr. Obama’s fundamental values. That should worry us all.
It looks like all the coverage of the Obama Administration gun-smuggling disaster known as "Gunwalker" is starting to get the waterboys of convicted felon George Soros worried.
Media Matters called me out by name in recent smear piece over the coverage of Gunwalker at Pajamas Media.
I can hardly wait to see their attack on fellow liberal Jon Stewart.
1
One of the answers to this whole thing is to actually allow people to buy drugs. After all, 100 years ago, you could obtain anything you desired and somehow, we did not have significant problems in the years before those laws were passed. Now I am well aware that about 10% of the population was incapacitated by drugs, which is about the same as now. But consider what would happen if you could go to Walgreen's and buy anything you wanted without a doctor's permission (the same as the state's permission), in other words, if we actually lived in a free society.
It would mean the end of the gangs, cartells, terrorist and any other bad guys that fund themselves from selling the junk. It would mean the elimination of the DEA, ATF, much of the prison system, many of the judges and other people that restrict us, the elmination of many police officers. It would mean less hep C, and AIDS. In short, you would have more freedom, less government expenditure, fewer people killed in their homes by SWAT. We would live in the country of the free again, or at least beginning to get there. The bad side, people who want to destroy their lives could do so, just as they are doing now. It would also mean that you could take control of your health if you wanted, you would not be forced to see a doctor for every need that you have (I am a doctor). My waiting room would be reduce in volume by about 50%.
Posted by: david7134 at June 25, 2011 03:48 PM (BRPAg)
If we ate better, we could eliminate many of your kind and save some of the 100,000 people killed every year by medical mistakes and neglect.
Maybe you should tell us how many people are readily killed by Big Pharma & prescribers, "in their homes"! (Vioxx killed how many thousands?)
BTW, IMO most of our freedoms are now illusory, and all we really have are choices.
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at June 25, 2011 05:47 PM (Tv9/l)
3
Touche Buck! "Ouch" David - I guess Buck scores a point against your libertarian mantra.
Posted by: mixitup at June 25, 2011 06:50 PM (Z21cb)
4
Pst!! Hey lets not tell David, but FDA estimated 88,000 - 139,000 heart attachs, with 30% - 40% fatal. Ouch!
Posted by: mixitup at June 25, 2011 06:56 PM (Z21cb)
5
Just for giggles I went over there. I don't believe that I have ever seen so much willfull ignorance on display since the nitwh was elected. 'Course that does pretty much explain his election...
Posted by: emdfl at June 25, 2011 07:09 PM (kjYZ2)
6
Not exactly sure what you are talking about Buck. First the eating thing, please read a little more, if you did, you would find that some of the major nutrition journals are indicating that eating has little to do with causing heart diseasem our much else other than obesity.
Now, in the next breath you tell me that you clearly desire not to have freedoms. In this case, the freedom to go obtain a medication and treat yourself. Let say you were working in the yard, pulled your back and you knew it was a muscle spasm from previous experience. Now what I want is for you do go get what you need at the drug store and if you continue with problems then see a doctor. What you and Obama desire, is for you to go to the government run doctor office. If you go private you are looking at a 2 week wait or go to the ER and get charged $2500, which will not be covered under Obamacare. At the doctor, you have to beg to get the medication you desire. Then you go to the drug store.
You see, if you look, you will find most libertarian to be professionals and people of intellect. Not those that willingly blow off their freedom for care by the state.
Posted by: david7134 at June 25, 2011 09:42 PM (BRPAg)
["....people of intellect."]
Yeah, knowledge without wisdom!
Just to be clear, I'm not pleased with our prevailing medical system that pays for performance, but not for positive outcomes. I also believe a statist national health care will make things more harmful, as it will reward people for not giving care. I see an N.D., in another state as TN does not recognize them (although they allowed my select-fire and SBR collection....talk about the lack of freedoms). He only gets paid if he keeps me healthy. I am a true vegan and I don't eat food prepared by others. Hence, I am perplexed about your victuals claiming a wholesome consumption practice parallels the grossly obese Coca-Cola sipper and junk eater?
How many hours of nutritional training does one receive in medical school?
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at June 26, 2011 08:56 AM (4tDlA)
8
buck,
If you look closely at what I am saying, then we are basically on the same page. People should be in charge of their bodies, a doctor is only a consultant. Your medical system is broght to you by our federal government. It has become worse over the last 30 years as a result of increased government input. Frankly, I don't give a hoot who you see, that is your problem. All I want is access to drugs as I think it is wrong for the government to say who gets them and who doesn't.
Posted by: david7134 at June 26, 2011 11:01 AM (BRPAg)
The Erik Scott Case, Update 12.2: Litigation and Mutiny
It was in Update 9 “Mindset and Mutiny” on January 3, 2011 (available here) that I first addressed the issue of Las Vegas Metro police officers, led by the head of the Police Protective Association (PPA) Chris Collins, threatening to withhold cooperation, not only with Metro, but with the Las Vegas criminal justice system, if they were asked to submit to adversarial questioning in newly revamped Coroner’s Inquests. Since that post, much has occurred. Speaking for the PPA, Collins has removed all doubt that Metro officers intend to refuse to cooperate with Metro investigations into their official actions and that they also intend to refuse to cooperate with Coroner’s inquests under the newly written rules adopted by the Clark County Commission.
In Update 11, “Heroism and Loathing In Las Vegas” on April 17 (access the Erik Scott Archive in the right hand section of the home page for all Scott articles), I reported on the attempt by the PPA to change Nevada state law in such a way that the Clark County DA’s office—or the Coroner—would have absolute authority to simply dispense with a Coroner’s Inquest in any police shooting. Testifying before the Assembly Governmental Affairs Committee on April 15, Collins shocked those present by announcing that William Mosher and Joshua Stark had been given awards for heroism by the National Association of Police Organizations. Collins, a member of the board of directors of that organization, nominated them for the “honor.” Conspicuously absent was former Metro Officer Thomas Mendiola, who with Stark and Mosher, shot and killed Erik Scott. Mendiola had been arrested for knowingly giving a firearm to a convicted felon and has since been dismissed from Metro. Reportedly due, at least in part, to Collins’ arrogance, the Committee killed the bill and several legislators were reported to have commented that it would be dead at any time in the future as well.
This seemed, at the time, to be the end of this part of the Erik Scott story, but as this update will reveal, it was not. The PPA is now trying to get a local judge to halt Coroner’s Inquests under the new procedures (here). The first such inquest is scheduled for July 12. Sheriff Gillespie has commented (here) that he has 18 officers who cannot return to their regular duties until the inquests scheduled due to their actions have been held. He has had no further comment on the matter.
As usual, Collins has not been silent on the matter. Collins’ comments:
1
Mike, you sir. Are a great American. Thank You for your efforts.
Posted by: LAZRTX at June 24, 2011 07:14 AM (WvqFW)
2
It is true that when a citizen takes the 5th Amendment, judges will instruct a jury not to consider that fact in their deliberations.
Slight clarification -- in a criminal matter, the judge will instruct the jury not to consider that fact. In a civil trial, the jury will instruct the jury that they may take an adverse inference, meaning that the jury can assume that if the witness had testified, he would have been forced to testify exactly like the other side.
So if they take the fifth in an inquest under oath, that is evidence that may be used in a civil trial to infer that what the Scott witnesses claim is 100% correct.
Posted by: Phelps at June 24, 2011 11:09 AM (kRqpv)
"While it is constitutionally permissible to draw an adverse inference from a party’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment in a non-criminal proceeding, the party cannot be found liable solely on basis of reliance on Fifth Amendment. Assertion of Fifth Amendment in answer to complaint does not constitute an admission of the allegations and does not relieve the plaintiff of the need to adduce proof."*
Hence, there must be other evidence.
(*taken from my legal adviser, back in the day....been there, done that)
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at June 24, 2011 12:55 PM (URQTr)
Thanks for the additional information! That's just one of the many things Bob and I appreciate about CY readers.
Posted by: Mike McDaniel at June 25, 2011 12:18 PM (VgIH5)
5
Any obligation under law to participate in any hearings, adversarial or not, are restricted by the Constitution and the right not to be required to testify against oneself.
Therefore all your claims about mutiny, which is the failure to obey lawful orders by a member of the military, are falacious and slanderous. No police officer, much less a member of LVMPD, can be held liable for mutiny for failing to appear or testify at any hearing if that officer choses to exercise his rights under the Constitution.
This issue proves that so-called gun rights advocates don't care for the Constitution as a whole, just one part of it. Once one part of the Constitution presents an obstacle to their agenda, the Constitution goes out the window.
Posted by: Federale at June 26, 2011 07:08 PM (7xqyd)
6
Federale, anyone can appear and please the Fifth. The question is whether cops have the right to ignore subpoenas altogether. Do ordinary citizens also have this right, and if not then why not?
I hope you know that my use of the term "mutiny" as it refers to the Metro Police and their union is metaphorical. I am not saying that what they are threatening to do is a mutiny in the strictly classical, military sense. Rather it is a betrayal of their duty, of the lawful authority loaned them by the citizens of Las Vegas. In the sense that refusing to do their duty is a rebellion against lawful authority, they are certainly engaging in potential mutiny. Refusal to obey lawful orders is properly understood as insubordination.
You are correct in asserting that no officer will be held liable for mutiny for refusing to honor a subpoena, but that's not what I said. I made clear, I believe, that failure to honor a subpoena is punishable by a citation for contempt of court.
Regarding your comment about guns and guns rights, I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're saying as the post to which you are responding says or implies nothing at all about that issue.
That said, thanks, as always, for your comments.
Posted by: Mike McDaniel at June 27, 2011 05:52 PM (bvhVZ)
8
"While it is constitutionally permissible to draw an adverse inference from a party’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment in a non-criminal proceeding, the party cannot be found liable solely on basis of reliance on Fifth Amendment. Assertion of Fifth Amendment in answer to complaint does not constitute an admission of the allegations and does not relieve the plaintiff of the need to adduce proof."*
Sure, which is why I said that the instruction would be to assume that his testimony would match that of the plaintiff's witnesses (the original proof.)
Invoking the fifth with the absence of any other evidence does not meet the burden of proof for preponderance of the evidence. Invoking the fifth in the face of testimony of a tort being committed is enough to show that liability by the plaintiff is more likely than not (i.e. prove by a preponderance of the evidence.)
Posted by: Phelps at June 29, 2011 04:52 PM (kRqpv)
9
What you are trying to describe is insubordination and failure to flow lawful orders. Police officer and other government employees can certainly be disiplined, even dismissed, for those actions.
Mutiny is a loaded and inaccurate word to describe their actions.
If what they were ignoring was a subpoena, then the court can presumably hold them in contempt and issue warrants. I am thinking that a Cororner' Jury cannot do that. If it could compel attendance and testimony, then, of course, they would do that. However any statement by the officers could not be used against them.
But, in any event, it comes down to them exercising their right against self incrimination. That right holds even for police officers. It is that right that you and others are riding roughshod over. You think that the 2nd Amendment and political issues around it trump the 5th Amendment. Pretty simple and straightforward.
Posted by: Federale at July 01, 2011 11:35 AM (osx1V)
Washington Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli blocked all escape routes that his reporter Sari Horwitz might have mapped when he told Yahoo News reporter Michael Calderone yesterday, "There are no mitigating circumstances for plagiarism."
Horwitz stole from at least two Arizona Republic stories about the prosecution of Jared Lee Loughner earlier this month, the Post reports today. (Here's the Post editor's note on the matter.) Brauchli delivered his justice swiftly. Having learned of the plagiarism in a Monday e-mail from Randy Lovely, editor of the Republic, Brauchli had sentenced Horwitz to a three-month suspension by Wednesday.
If the 3-month suspension ran from March 16-June 16, Horwitz was back on the job less than a week before she ran this bogus story under her name. PJM sources claim someone in the Obama Administration allegedly shopped the article to various news outlets for a week in an attempt to try to stymie Congressman Darrell Issa's investigation in the Administration's role in the Gunwalker plot.
They weren't successful, but they are doing a damn good job of making the Administration look like guilty criminals flailing for a way out.
1
I think it's "Horwitz," without the second "o." I haven't been able to establish if she's married (or otherwise related) to Josh Horwitz, of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Geography and ideology would fit.
Posted by: Kurt Hofmann at June 23, 2011 01:03 PM (0NprN)
2
Nice catch on the names, Kurt. I'll have to try to check that out.
The MSM must be utterly terrified of what will happen to the Obama Administration if the truth comes out. Otherwise, why the transparent and desperate lies?
1
They most fear a Republican in the white house that will tell them to shut their pie holes or words to that effect. They must keep what power they still have left, even if it means blatently lying to the people they are supposed to keep informed.
Posted by: TimothyJ at June 24, 2011 11:09 AM (w7YPP)
Mike and I have both been part of the team providing on-going coverage of the ATF/DOJ/DHS "Gunwalker" scandal through Pajamas Media, and while the MSM is trying to avoid the story as much as possible, talk radio seems to love it. I've done three radio shows this week so far and will be doing three more tomorrow, and Mike is going to be speaking on the Martha Zoller Show (syndicated in GA) this morning at 11:20 ET.
Tomorrow, I'll be on with Kevin Miller in the Morning at 10:00 AM, The Ed Morrissey Show (yes, Ed Morrissey of Hotair.com) at 3:00 PM, and Talkback with Chuck Wilder just after 4:00 PM.
The MSM can try to ignore this, but just like past scandals, they can't keep the truth from coming out. We're going to keep pushing this story until the Obama Administration officials that are accessories to 152+ police murders are held to account.
ITEM: You Go Girl! In Houston, TX there resides a “5-foot-nothing, 125 pound woman…” named Monique Lawless. When three punks tried to steal cases of beer from a WalMart, Lawless decided she wasn’t going to let them be, well, lawless, and took matters into her own feet. Go here for the story, and be sure to view the video. If we all did this, particularly if we were armed, I suspect crime rates would decline dramatically.
ITEM: Gunwalker: As regular readers know, Bob has been producing the finest work on this scandal anywhere in the media here at CY and also at Pajamas Media, and I’ve been adding the occasional supporting piece. Reflect, gentle readers, on the fact that if this sort of thing had been done by George W. Bush or any other Republican president, the Democrats and Lamestream media would be satisfied with nothing less than capital punishment followed by impeachment and a criminal trial. The foreign policy implications alone are staggering. It is possible that the President of the United States allowed foreign terroristic killers to be supplied with American weapons in a craven attempt to gin up support for domestic gun control policies. If so, it would be hard to imagine a better case for impeachment. Don’t let this one go down the memory hole, folks. We won’t. Discuss.
ITEM: So That’s What “Economic Recovery” Means! Let’s review: 9.1% unemployment, nearly a million lost construction jobs, about 865,00 manufacturing jobs lost, over six million home foreclosures, more than 3.7 trillion dollars added to the national debt, record high deficits for three straight years, and Dems, in violation of the law, refusing to write a budget for over 780 days. According to DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the economy has “turned around,” and it’s all to the credit of the Dems and Mr. Obama! Go here for the story. Secure breakable items first.
ITEM: Well, That’s A Pisser! There are those who suspect that professors in our universities are nothing more than a bunch of over-paid, under-worked, leftist whiners who don’t have the common sense the good Lord gave an avocado. And if they read this article (here) they’ll have no doubt that they’re right. Sheesh. Oh yes—it’s in California.
ITEM: What do you do if you’re a former Soviet Republic that is a solidly pro-American ally when Barack Obama treats you as he treats all American allies? You tell him that you’ll remain America’ strategic ally, but don’t bother calling back until a real American is in the White House. Go here to read the story of how Mr. Obama continues to stab the Czechs in the back in an idiotically transparent attempt to appease Russia.
ITEM: Don’t These Guys Have Editors? (Sub-title: Maybe that’s OK): Well, the nominations for the best inadvertently (I think) funny headline for the Summer of 2011 are now closed. From John at Powerline (here): “MISS USA CLIMAX APPROACHING.” I suspect the viewership of this particular pageant just might reverse recent trends and reach record levels.
ITEM: They did WHAT?! At the University of Colorado there exists a Sea Level Research Group. And this SLRG decided, beginning in May, to add 0.3 millimeters every year to its actual sea levels measurements because—well, just because. Steve Narem, director of the SLRG, according to Fox News (here) said:
“We have to account for the fact that the ocean basins are actually getting slightly bigger---water volume is expanding.”
However, James Taylor of the Heartland Institute observed:
“We’ve only seen 7 inches of sea level rise in the past century and it hasn’t sped up this century. Compared to that, this would add nearly 20 percent to the sea level rise. That’s not insignificant.”
Read the whole thing and wonder what the heck is going on in Mitt Romney’s mind as he seeks the Republican nomination by supporting global warming.
ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Hollywood Division: Imagine that you’re a 23 year old up-and-coming comedian and social commentator. Imagine that your manager shops your work around Hollywood, including John Stewart’s “Daily Show” on Comedy Central. Imagine that a producer for that show say that you’re “very talented,” but declines to book you because they never book conservatives. You’d be shocked, shocked! wouldn’t you? Not so much. Go here to Klavan on the Culture for the story of how Steven Crowder found himself in that very situation. Surely this sort of thing doesn’t go on in Hollywood? Not in Hollywoood where most folks are liberals and thus are good people, people who are all about tolerance and diversity? It does? I’m shocked, shocked! Be sure to take the link to Crowder’s YouTube video.
ITEM: It is blatantly stereotypical to suggest that liberals think that people who live in flyover country—and particularly the southern portions thereof—are missing toothed, inbred subhumans, and in the interests of fairness and reaching across the aisle, so to speak, we generally avoid that sort of stereotyping. And then a story like this comes along, and we remember that some stereotypes are absolutely true, and proved over and over and over. I suppose that’s why they’re stereotypes.
ITEN: It was, if memory serves, the execrable Tom Daschle (D-SD), who was famous for the South Dakota Two-Step, who said that the only way to professionalize airport security was to federalize it. The South Dakota Two-Step? Saying one, centrist to right thing in SD and being his inner leftist in DC. SD voters finally had enough of Daschle when John Thune came along, but Daschle was instrumental in saddling us with the child molesting Transportation Security Administration. And now the TSA has further distinguished itself by stealing the valuables of airline passengers across the nation. Go here for the story, but be sure your blood pressure meds are close at hand.
ITEM: In the last edition of QTs, we wrote about the Obama Administration’s Clintonian parsing of “hostilities,” as in whatever we’re doing in Libya, it isn’t “hostilities.” You know, those are nice bombs we’re dropping and friendly, diverse and tolerant Hellfire missiles we’re loosing on, well, whomever we’re loosing them on. But now we discover (here) that airmen and sailors in the non-hostile, non-hostilities zone of Libya are receiving “imminent danger pay.” And you’re surprised that Mr. Obama is lying because…?
ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Wisconsin Edition: Go here for this one. The facts: A former county executive e-mailed judicial authorities, including Judge Maryann Sumi who eventually heard the case, announcing her intention to file it—the case opposing Governor Walker’s bill that removed some union negotiating abilities. It gets worse. Do read this one if you had any doubt about the utter corruption of Wisconsin Progressives. Read it anyway if you didn’t.
ITEM: Shameless Male Chauvinism Department: Do you remember “Dances With Wolves?” Well, go here for “Swims Naked With Whales.” It’s actually quite beautiful in a non-erotic, cold-shriveling sort of way. Come to think of it, you might need your blood pressure meds for this one too. Yes, I’m ashamed of myself. Heh, heh.
ITEM: Remember the good old days when science had integrity? You remember, the days when “peer review” meant that actual, unbiased scientists with actual credentials to review the material being reviewed, reviewed the material? Go here to Canada’s National Post for a story about how those days are long gone, at least as “science” relates to climate. I’m beginning to think I ought to buy stock in companies that manufacture blood pressure meds.
ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Fleeing States Hostile to Business and Prosperity Division: Guess which state is now seeing companies, in record numbers, fleeing to states that actually operate under the free enterprise system? C’mon…you can do it! It starts with…what’s that? California? How’d you know? I’m shocked, shocked! Go here for the story. Recall, if you will, that a high level delegation of CA politicians recently traveled to the barbaric wastelands of Texas to fact-find about why all of their businesses are moving to Texas. Apparently they learned nothing from that trip. I’m shocked, shocked!
ITEM: Do these people have the slightest idea how idiotic they sound? How idiotic they are? Go here to find out.
ITEM: At Michelle Malkin (here), Doug Powers informs us of former Obama chief political advisor now turned chief campaign honcho David Axelrod who thinks it’s very cool to be an Obama supporter. Said Axelrod:
“The people who were participating in the campaign in 2008 weren’t involved in some sort of cult of personality. It wasn’t just about Barack Obama, it was the country and they cared deeply about this country…”
Uh, Right. But to be fair, I suppose that’s what years of living on Planet Obama does to you. Google “Obama Halos” to discover just how much people weren’t involved in a cult of personality (have an airsickness bag or its equivalent ready). OK, OK, so I guess the Lamestream Media really don’t qualify as “people,” but you know what I mean…
ITEM: So, Isn’t Music Therapy A Good Thing? Go here to England’s The Sun for a glimpse into that brave, Socialist future of ObamaCare. It seems that staff at a hospital gave some 30 frail, elderly patients a rather unusual means for summoning help: a tambourine. They also provided a set of maracas as a backup. I’m not kidding. I’m reasonably imaginative, but I couldn’t have made that one up. I am definitely going to invest in pharmaceuticals. Read the whole thing.
ITEM: Say What?! Powerline (here) has been following the inane utterances of National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach for some time. Here are his comments on the occasion of National History Day:
“The most critical issue of our times is the capacity and willingness of peoples of the earth to respect and understand each other. If there is mutual respect and understanding, cooperative relations are likely. Conflict can be avoided. If respect is lacking, diplomacy is vastly more difficult. Any and all agreements become temporary at best.
History is important because it is the basis for mutual understanding. Without understanding there can be no meaningful respect, no sustaining diplomacy.
So my charge to you is to learn and to care and then share your learning and your caring with others. The planet will be in a world of problems if every day is not history day. If, on the other hand, peoples treat their neighbors near and far as if it were, the earth will be a better place to live and a safe haven for mankind.”
He’s kidding, right? This really isn’t a Federal official, is it? He can’t possibly be an adult? I’m sure he’d like to buy the world a Coke and teach it to sing in perfect harmony, but some things are just beyond parody. Power to the people, man! Peace and love!
ITEM: Dr. Bill Gray has been a member of the American Meteorological Society for more than 50 years. He is a professor emeritus at Colorado State University. Wouldn’t it be nice to read something about the Anthropogenic Global Warming hypothesis that is actually rational and well reasoned? Now you can. Go here to see what Professor Gray has to say about the AMS and how it has strayed from the path of science.
ITEM: Want to join a union? You don’t? Too bad. In the very near future, you may have very little to say about it, thanks to those merry Marxists on the National Labor Relations Board who are in the process of writing new rules that will make it almost impossible for unions to lose—in just about every way imaginable. Go here for the story. The Obama Administration: Bringing you Socialism and thuggish labor union intimidation whether you, the Congress, the law or the Constitution want it or not.
ITEM: Yup. The World Has Now Officially Gone Crazy. Or at least it has gone crazy in England. Go here for proof from the indispensable Mark Steyn.
ITEM: He Said WHAT?! Attorney General Eric Holder recently spoke to the American Constitution Society, and in that speech, he called America’s civilian courts America’s “Most Effective Terror-fighting Weapon.” I have little doubt that he means it, and that, gentle readers, is absolutely horrifying. As one who worked with the civilian courts and the criminal justice system for much of my young adult life, I can tell you without qualification that the civilian courts are not, in any possible way, capable of dealing with terrorism. While many acts of terrorists will certainly break criminal laws, the system is simply not set up to deal with those kinds of law-breakers who do not play by any of the rules of the criminal justice system and do not abide by our social contract in any way, shape or form. Go here for a brief comment on Holder’s comment. This goes beyond lunacy and steps fully over the line into endangering American and Americans. Our AG is doing that, and he’s proud of it. To what have we come?
ITEM: Yes, It’s the Electric Car That Will Not Die! Actually, when Mr. Obama leaves office, I suspect it will die rather quickly, but for now, the Chevy Volt follies continue apace. Go here for the horror story of a prospective Volt buyer who found a Volt with a price tag just $5 shy of $49,000. Apparently that friendly, local Chevy dealer added a $4,300 “market availability adjustment.” That still makes the Volt price tag $44, 695, which is at least $3695 over the MSRP. Good grief. How long can a company market a car with such awful economics? Discuss.
ITEM: If Al Gore Did It, Why not James Hansen? Did what? Get rich hawking the false AGW hypothesis. Go here to Fox News where you’ll discover that Hansen, the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has been not only a leading AGW proponent for years, but has been handsomely profiting thereby. Oh yes, and it appears that he has been doing this in violation of federal ethics rules. What’s that? Why would someone in charge of “Space Studies” be worried about global warming? That’s a good question. What’s that? Why would NASA allow anyone working for it to do anything other than space work? That’s a good question too.
ITEM: What? They rode bicycles naked in San Francisco? No, I mean the people were naked, not the bicycles. Good grief, is this edition of Quick Takes going downhill fast or what? Actually, go here for the coverage (uncoverage?) of the event. There is a censored edition, wherein various naughty bits are covered with the grinning face of—who else?—Anthony Weiner (which is surprisingly horrifying in and of itself), and an uncensored version (which is just run of the mill naughty bits). The police and doctors share one essential bit of knowledge: most people look better with their clothing on. If you have ever felt the need to test that aphorism, here is your chance. San Francisco. Of course. By the way, the overwhelming majority of the riders appear to have been male. What’s that all about? Discuss.
And with the image of scores of nekkid liberals riding bicycles firmly lodged in our minds (It hurts! It hurts! Make it stop!), I must once again thank you for stopping by, bid you adieu, and encourage you to drop by once again next Thursday for another edition of Quick Takes! Oh yes, let us sincerely give thanks that this happened in San Francisco, which, as far as I can tell, is on another planet, or at the least, is in another reality.
I love the sound of a train. When I left the big city to move here I asked the Realtor before I made a bid on the place, "can I hear a train at night?" She looked apologetic when she said, "yes, there's one that runs about a mile away, you can hear it most nights", not realizing that to me that's exactly what I wanted to hear, that comforting sound.
Via the always awesome SayUncle.