Blogger's Block

Since late last week I haven't had much inclination or inspiration to write. Call it blogger's block. Hence, limited entries lately. Work's been busy, as has life outside work. Too many other things pulling me in too many different directions, and I've had no real desire to pontificate.

The media's been so full of it's own self-importance while covering the Terri Schiavo story in Florida. Over the weekend (between the local Cherry Blossom Festival, Easter and my Sweetie's birthday) I was asked my opinion by four different people on the Schiavo story. Up until now I had made the choice to not write about it, because the situation seems to be bringing out the worst in people.

Pro-lifers seem to have taken Terri's cause as their own, hoping to prolong her state of limbo to satisfy their own agendas. That's why you see Randall Terry, Christian activist and founder of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, acting as Terri's parents' spokesperson. Now Jesse Jackson is pushing his way into a siutuation he has no business being in. On the other side you've got Terri's husband, promising to keep her wishes and help her die, while living and siring children with another woman. When asked why he won't divorce Terri so he can marry this new woman, he says he loves Terri too much. What a hypocrite.

People all over the country are arguing the sides of this story. Let her die... keep her alive... it's all getting tiresome. I feel sorry for Terri, and I hope her tragic story comes to a quick, peaceful end. She's not coming back, and it's cruel to prolong her passing. That said, I find it unacceptable that she be starved and dehydrated to death. That's also far too cruel.

More than anything, I want this story to go away. This should be a very personal, private situation. It's undignified for those involved, and so disrespectful to Terri's memory, for all this to be played out on TV like it has.

How Is This Guy In The Senate?

Oh yeah, he's from Vermont.

Senator Jim Jeffords appeared on Vermont Public Radio this week, and his comments were definately of the moonbat variety.
Jeffords still seems to think the main reason for going to war was to claim Iraq's oil output.

"I think it was all done to get - all that's the end result is going to be some oil agreement and the loss of life that we had. And the cost of it, to many was just a re-election move and they're going to try to live off it and probably start another war. Wouldn't be surprised next year, probably in Iran."

I guess he hasn't noticed the higher gas prices, which I'm sure weren't part of the President's "plan". As for Iran, he reinforced his coments about war there.

"I just feel so bitter about the thinking that's gone on behind them and the reasons they go to war, went to war. But I feel very strongly that they're looking ahead and there will be an opportunity to go into Iran."

Another Democrat to make Vermont proud. Wouldn't you agree, Howard Dean?

This Is Why I Wanted Dean To Head DNC

The liberal wing of the Democratic Party seems to have all but given up on the South, as evidenced by their lack big-name campaigning her over the last few years. Their biggest names (Daschle, Pelosi, Kennedy, Clinton) couldn't help a candidate here get elected, and for the most part weren't even wanted by the Democratic candidates here. The one notable exception, Max Cleland, was run out of office for his liberal voting record.

To improve their chances nationally, the DNC saw fit to elect Howard Dean as its national chairman. As a conservative, I applauded this choice. It helps to more clearly define what the party stand for, and who actually runs it (hint: they're not centrists!). I've got to say, Dean does not disappoint.

Speaking to a crowd at Vanderbilt University on Tuesday, Dean said, "...As the party moves forward it needs to show those who live south of the Mason-Dixon Line that it respects them and the values they hold."

That sounds good, but instead of showing that respect to Christian conservatives, he proceeds to accuse them of hypocrisy.

"The party allowed its opponents too often to define debates and control issues, such as faith and family values, Dean said.

"We need to talk about values and not be afraid of them," he said, going on to make two biblical references.

In the first he said Jesus' directive to "love thy neighbor" didn't mean one could choose which ones to love. He then remarked that Republicans never brought up the scriptural verse saying it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.

"We should never let anybody tell us we don't respect faith," he said.

Dean need not worry about anyone telling them they don't respect faith. It's readily apparent, and doesn't need to be mentioned. That's apparent when we go back to Dean's comments while campaigning in Oelwein, Iowa in January 2004. During the campaign appearance, Dean took a question from a crowd member. Here's part of the story, from the decidedly non-conservative Boston Globe (emphasis is mine).

"It just makes me furious when the political media and the columnists slam, bam, and bash Bush," contended Dale Ungerer, 67, a registered Republican from Hawkeye.

"If you analyze it, how many times did you criticize Bush, but what's the sense if you don't actually say that 'My plan involves this and this?' "

Ungerer called on the Democrats to heed the biblical maxim of "love thy neighbor," adding, "Please tone down the garbage, the mean-mouthing, of tearing down your neighbor, and being so pompous."

Dean, who listened quietly, immediately replied, "George Bush is not my neighbor." When Ungerer tried to interrupt, the former governor shouted: "You sit down! You had your say, and now I'm going to have my say."

"It is time not to put up any of this 'love thy neighbor.' "

Looks like it's going to be a fun time following Howard Dean as he leads the DNC. It shouldn't be boring, and it should help better define the differences between the Dems and Republicans.

(Thanks to James Taranto's Best of the Web for the heads up on this one.)

Cable Outdraws Broadcast TV

Much like it does for news, America now turns to cable for its TV entertainment. During the February sweeps (ratings) period, more Americans were watching cable TV that broadcast TV. It's the first time cable has outdrawn broadcast. The four major broadcast networks were the most watched networks, with TBS fifth and TNT sixth. But overall, 49.4 percent of all viewers were watching cable, while 48.6 percent watched broadcast channels.

Hogzilla Mystery Solved... Sort Of

Last July, I posted a link to a story about Hogzilla, a 12 foot long, half-ton hog supposedly killed in south Georgia.

The folks at National Geographic were intrigued by the story, so they investigated. Turns out, Hogzilla was real. It was a little smaller than thought, but still a huge hog. But the mystery continues about its origins, and if there are others in the area.

The Left's Hitler References

Have you ever heard of Godwin's Law? It originally pertained to Usenet discussion groups, but seems to also apply quite well to the liberal left in discussions about Republicans and President Bush. Simply put, Godwin's Law states that as a discussion grows longer and longer, a comparison to Hitler or Nazis becomes more and more likely.

That's certainly been the case when liberals talk about President Bush. Columnist Victor Davis Hanson takes a look at those comparisons, and shows just what the libs do - and more importantly don't - know about der fuhrer. Well worth the read.

God Sends A SEAL

Thanks to Claudia at Freedom of Thought for posting this...

A college professor, an avowed atheist and active in the ACLU, was teaching his class. He shocked several of his students when he flatly stated that once and for all he was going to prove there was no God. Addressing the ceiling he shouted:

"GOD,if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes!"

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by. "I'm waiting God, if you're real knock me off this platform!!!!"

Again after 4 minutes, the professor taunted God saying, "Here I am, God! I'm still waiting!"

His count down got down to the last couple of minutes when a Navy SEAL, just released after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq and newly registered in the class, walked up to the professor. The SEAL hit him full force in the face, and sent the professor tumbling from his lofty platform.

The professor was out cold. The students were stunned and shocked. They began to babble in confusion. The SEAL nonchalantly took his seat in the front row and sat silent. The class looked at him and fell silent... waiting.

Eventually, the professor came to and was noticeably shaken. He looked at the SEAL in the front row. When the professor regained his senses and could speak he asked, "What the hell is the matter with you?! Why did you do that?"

The SEAL replied, "God is busy protecting America's soldiers, who are protecting your right to say stupid crap and act like an ass, so he sent me!"

Arkansas Tourism Billboard

A friend of mine recently moved from Middle Georgia back to his home in Kansas. On the way, driving through Arkansas, I'm pretty sure he saw this billboard.



Take care Jeff, and say hi to Dorothy and Toto!

More PC BS

In another case of ridiculous political correctness, the NCAA has informed the University of North Carolina - Pembroke to change it's "Braves" nickname and logo. The NCAA claims the nickname is "racially insensitive". A little background...

UNC-Pembroke was founded in 1887 to educate Native Americans, primarily the Lumbee Tribe that lives around Pembroke. The students, Indians themselves, chose the Braves nickname because that's how they liked to refer to themselves. That was in the 1940s. Today, about one-fifth (more than 1,000 students) of the school's enrollment is American Indian, mostly from the Lumbee Tribe. And five American Indians currently serve on UNCP's board of trustees.

A petition to save the "Braves" name has been started, and over 2,000 students have signed. Last month, the Lumbee Tribal Council voted unanimously in favor of the nickname. To his credit, school Chancellor Allen C. Meadors appointed a campus steering committee to assist the University in responding to the NCAA request. They will survey the local community to gauge local sentiments. There seems to be widespread support for "Braves".

"We are following the community's lead on this," Meadors said. "If the community says we should change our nickname and logo, we will do it."

Here's hoping common sense will prevail, UNC-Pembroke will stand up for itself, and the PC crowd will lose another stupid fight.

Hate That I Missed This

Tuesday, March 15 was the third annual International Eat an Animal for PETA Day. This weekend I'll have to enjoy a thick, juicy steak in a belated celebration. Next year, I'll remember to give this an early mention. As I've said before, to me PETA should stand for People Eating Tasty Animals.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

With copious amounts of Irish blood flowing through my veins, and with family names of the Emerald Isle such as McBride, Kelley, Collins, Croom, Green and Means in my lineage, I wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian.

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. He wrote that a voice, which he believed to be God's, spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation - an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick began religious training, lasting more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)

Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. He used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic Cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.

He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.

Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

Did You Know?
There are 34 million U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (3.9 million). Irish is the nation’s second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.

There are three states in which Irish is the leading ancestry group: Delaware, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Irish is among the top five ancestries in every state but two (Hawaii and New Mexico).

There are 54 counties where Irish is the largest observed ancestry group. Forty-four of these counties are in the Northeast, with 14 in New York, 11 in Massachusetts and five in New Jersey.

In Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 348,978 residents are of Irish ancestry. Among the 54 counties where Irish is the largest observed ancestry group, Middlesex had the highest population of Irish-Americans, with Norfolk County, Massachusetts coming in second with 203,285.

A total of 4.8 million immigrants from Ireland have entered the U.S. since 1820, the earliest year for which official immigration records exist. Only Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Mexico have had more immigrants enter the United States than Ireland.

The value of U.S. imports from the Republic of Ireland during a recent 10-month period (January-October 2004) was $23 billion. Meanwhile, the United States exported $6.6 billion worth of goods to Ireland.

There are nine places in the United States that share the name of Ireland’s capital, Dublin. Since the 2000 census, Dublin, California has surpassed Dublin, Ohio, as the most populous of these places (35,581 compared with 33,606 as of July 1, 2003).

(Courtesy The History Channel.)

Those Crazy Kansans

Lawmakers in Kansas have decreed that greyhounds are not to be considered dogs. Apparently, the powerful National Greyhound Association doesn't want greyhounds considered dogs, because then they'd fall under the state's pet protection laws.

Building In A Bag... Just Add Water

Engineers in London have come up with a "building in a bag" -- a sack of cement-impregnated fabric. To erect the structure, all you have to do is add water to the bag and inflate it with air. Twelve hours later the half-cylinder shaped shelter is dried out and ready for use.

Said So On The Tag

A Minnesota man with "TIPSY" on his personalized license plate was pulled over for... DUI. Go figure.

More Proof Of Media Bias

The Project for Excellence in Journalism, an institute affiliated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, has reviewed coverage of the 2004 presidential campaign and the War in Iraq, to determine if there was fair media coverage. Their report is called The State Of The News Media - 2005. Their findings... In the case of the War, reporting tended to be slightly more critical than positive, but not overtly so. However, there was a definite slant in the reporting on President Bush and John Kerry.

The study covered news reports from 16 newspapers, four nightly newscasts, three network morning news shows, nine different cable programs, and nine Web sites examined for four weeks through the course of the year. It found that, in reporting on the 2004 election:

"...the criticism that George Bush got worse coverage than John Kerry is supported by the data. Looking across all media, campaign coverage that focused on Bush was three times as negative as coverage of Kerry (36% versus 12%) It was also less likely to be positive (20% positive Bush stories, 30% for Kerry).

"That also meant Bush coverage was less likely to be neutral (44% of Bush stories, 58% for Kerry)."

The study also surveyed journalists. The findings, as you would expect, show a decidedly liberal slant.

"There are significant ideological differences among news people in attitudes toward coverage of Bush, with many more self-described liberals than moderates or conservatives faulting the press for being insufficiently critical. In terms of their overall ideological outlook, majorities of national (54%) and local journalists (61%) continue to describe themselves as moderates. The percentage identifying themselves as liberal has increased from 1995: 34% of national journalists describe themselves as liberals, compared with 22% nine years ago. The trend among local journalists has been similar - 23% say they are liberals, up from 14% in 1995. More striking is the relatively small minority of journalists who think of themselves as politically conservative (7% national, 12% local).

"As was the case a decade ago, the journalists as a group are much less conservative than the general public (33% conservative).

"And more than four-in-ten... say journalists too often let their ideological views show in their reporting.

Just confirms what we already knew, doesn't it?

Rallies For Freedom In Lebanon

The Lebanese people are still demonstrating for freedom, with as many as 800,000 rallying in Martyrs Square in Beirut. The drive for freedom and liberty has taken hold in the Middle East, as evidenced by these pictures (courtesy Yahoo).

Koppel Out At Nightline?

Newsmax is reporting that Ted Koppel is expected to be out as host of ABC's "Nightline" by the end of the year. They say ABC is looking at a possible replacement show for "Nightline", and that the show that would focus more on current affairs rather than feature news. Apparently Koppel is being eyed as a replacement for George Stephanopoulos on the Sunday morning "This Week" news show.

UPI Falls For Saddam Capture Hoax

United Press International has reported that the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 didn't actually occur the way it was reported. They report it was actually done the previous day, then staged under different circumstances a "re-creation" for the world to see. Unfortunately for UPI, it appears the story is totally untrue. Quoting James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web...

"A former U.S. Marine who participated in capturing ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the public version of his capture was fabricated," reports United Press International:

Ex-Sgt. Nadim Abou Rabeh, of Lebanese descent, was quoted in the Saudi daily al-Medina Wednesday as saying Saddam was actually captured Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, and not the day after, as announced by the U.S. Army.

"I was among the 20-man unit, including eight of Arab descent, who searched for Saddam for three days in the area of Dour near Tikrit, and we found him in a modest home in a small village and not in a hole as announced," Abou Rabeh said.

"We captured him after fierce resistance during which a Marine of Sudanese origin was killed," he said. . . .

"Later on, a military production team fabricated the film of Saddam's capture in a hole, which was in fact a deserted well," Abou Rabeh said.

A translation of the original Saudi story is here. Elements of it are easily checkable, and they don't check out. This site lists all U.S. combat fatalities in Iraq. On Dec. 12, 2003, two men were killed in action: Jarrod Black and Jeffrey Braun. Both were soldiers, not Marines; and neither one has a Sudanese-sounding (i.e., Arabic) surname. Nor were any Marines or any servicemen with Arab-sounding names killed on Dec. 10 or 11.

As CNN noted at the time, Saddam was captured by the Fourth Infantry Division, and it's not clear why Marines would be along on an Army operation. There is little doubt that both al-Medina and UPI have fallen for a hoax.

Much like the CBS/Dan rather scandal, this UPI story is being fully debunked on the Web.

Rather Goes Away; MRC Documents Bias

While Dan Rather was saying goodnight, the folks at the Media Research Center were poring over their records of Rather's tenure at CBS. They've put together a fine collection of quotes from Dan showcasing a certain slant, politically, in his reporting. They're calling it The Dan Rather File: 25 Years Of Liberal Media Bias. Some great quotes. My favorites...

On Soviet Communism
"Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy."

On President Clinton's "Honesty"
"I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."

On The Clinton Presidency
"If we could be one-hundredth as great as you and Hillary Rodham Clinton have been in the White House, we'd take it right now and walk away winners."

On The Reagan Years
"Everyone knows the rich got richer in the 1980s. Now, a new study shows how dramatic the change was."

The MRC also showcases some of the best Rather-isms...

"Bush has had a lead since the very start, but his lead is now shakier than cafeteria Jell-O."

"There's material here that will make their fingernails sweat."

"This was a race considered so nasty it would gag a buzzard"

Like him or not, the man can sure turn a phrase!

Social Security Deceit

Columnist Walter Williams takes a look at the political deceit, lies and unkept promises that have become a part of Social Security. He shines the light of truth on all the myths we've been taught about the plan. It's certainly worth reading.

Part One - Social Security Deceit

Part Two - More Social Security Deceit

Student Sexually Harassed, Gets Expelled

A seventh-grade student in Rialto, California was expelled for arguing with her teacher, a teacher who allegedly has sexually harassed her and other female students. The 12-year-old brought the allegations to the school board, and parents of two other children followed suit. The teacher, George Warren, is on paid leave while the charges are investigated, but the student making the complaint was expelled. Apparently you can't stand up to a teacher who sexually harasses you, at least not in the Rialto Unified School District.

Clinton A Big Fan Of Iran

This story hasn't gotten much notice around the country, but former President Clinton has been dishing out lots of love lately for Iran. Apparently, he feels they are politically in line with his own views. I'm not kidding. Don't believe me? Read the story. Here are some quotes from Clinton...

"Iran today is, in a sense, the only country where progressive ideas enjoy a vast constituency. It is there that the ideas that I subscribe to are defended by a majority."

and

"Iran is the only country in the world... including the United States, including Israel, including you name it, where the liberals, or the progressives, have won two-thirds to 70 percent of the vote in six elections... In every single election, the guys I identify with got two-thirds to 70 percent of the vote. There is no other country in the world I can say that about, certainly not my own."

Cleland Still Bitter, Still Doesn't Get It

During a going away party for former Senator Tom Daschle in D.C. a couple of night ago, former Senator Max Cleland delivered a few choice words. Showing that he's still enormously bitter, and that he still doesn't understand why his Senate career fell apart, Cleland was far from eloquent.

"This message to those who attack you, you reap what you sow, so watch your back. We're still following the leader, and you can all go to hell."

Such kind words. The Democrats, and Cleland himself, would like to believe Cleland was voted from office as the result of some right-wing witch hunt, some organized character assassination. The truth is so far from that. The sad part is they can't (or won't) acknowledge it.

We Georgians voted Cleland out of office because he was far, far too liberal. His voting record spoke for itself. Being as far to the left as Cleland seemed to be is a political death sentence in Georgia now. Rather than admit that he let down his constituents, he'd rather live in a world of hate and anger. Fine, it suits him. He garnered a tremendous amount of sympathy, which is partly how he got elected lieutenant governor and then senator, but sympathy only goes so far. When the true story came out about how he lost his limbs (hint: it wasn't actually in combat like most people think, and it wasn't at the hands of anyone else), many Georgians opened their eyes and began looking objectively at Senator Cleland. When his voting record became an issue, that was it. One thing you can't hide from is your voting record. Ask John Kerry, he knows.

It's a shame to see someone crack and get loopy like Cleland seems to have done. Sad.

Regular Guys Are Back

Congratulations to Larry Wachs (whose blog Wachs Web is linked over there on the right side of this page, and which links back to this site!) and his radio cohort Eric Von Haessler, collectively known as The Regular Guys, on their new gig. After being off the air for about a year, the guys are back with a new show on WGST - 640 AM in Atlanta. They start Monday, March 21. Good luck, guys!

Governator vs. Meathead ?

According to Newsmax.com, many California Democrats are hoping actor/director Rob Reiner will enter the 2006 race for governor against Arnold. In a telephone poll, Schwarzenegger still receives support from more than fifty percent of likely voters. But among Democratic voters and Independents, Reiner was the top potential candidate.