Liberal Mindlessness In The Great (?) Northwest

This is a week or two old, but in case you missed it...

A student at the University of Washington proposed an on-campus monument honoring one of UW's more famous alums - WWII Marine pilot Greg "Pappy" Boyington. The idea received unusually harsh criticism from the more liberal members of the student senate, who voted to deny the proposal. It wasn't so much the vote as the comments in opposition to the idea that have inflamed people across the country.

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting, said she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." Ashley Miller, another senator, argued "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men." Talk radio and Internet blogs ran rampant with these comments, and I'm not going to go down that path. Instead, I wanted to point out some of the other legislation that has been considered by the University of Washington Student Senate...

An Act In Support Of The Flag Salute - Simply supported the Pledge of Allegiance. This was defeated.

A Resolution in Support of National Coming Out Day - Speaks for itself. Passed, naturally.

Supporting the United States Government in its Actions To Fight Terrorism - Again, self-explanatory. And of course, it failed. A similar resolution the next year was never acted on.

A Resolution of Student Unity - To stand united against terrorism. Guess what... failed.

A Resolution In Support of American Service Members - Claim to support the troops without supporting their mission. Passed.

A Resolution in Support of the Use of Diplomacy, Peaceful Mediation, and Consideration for the Interests of the International Community in order to Resolve International Conflict - Tabled.

Resolution Supporting the Protection of Squirrels on the UW Campus - "...formally support inter-animal cooperation of the squirrel population with students." Never acted on.

A Resolution to Support Transgender Rights - Passed.

Resolution Supporting The National Alcohol Consumption Age To Be Decreased - Think most college kids would support that one. But it failed.

A Resolution In Support Of Cake - "WHEREAS, it is important that the members of the Student Senate enjoy the sweet taste of cake..." No kidding. An identical proposal came up again a month later, and again two years later.

A Resolution Calling On Police To Reduce Arms - Apparently the UW Police Department decided to purchase some AR-15 assault rifles in case of emergency situations. This act apparently failed.

A Resolution in Support of a Ban of Partial Birth Abortions - You knew this would fail. And it did.

A Resolution Supporting the Right of Gay and Bisexual Men to Donate Blood - Resolved.

Resolution in Support of Student Rose Bowl Attendance - Prevented teachers and departmetns from punishing students for missing class the day after the 2001 Rose Bowl. Passed.

A Resolution To Increase Student Input In To UWPD Decision Making - Students wanted more input in the decision making, particularly concernign firearms, of the University Police. Passed.

A Resolution Affirming The Right Of The Workers At University Bookstore To Organize - Because campus book stores can be such sweatshops. Passed.

A Resolution to Put Away Violently Malicious Criminals - Failed. Can't do anything to punish those baddies.

A Resolution in Support of the State of Israel - No action taken.

Resolution in support of the troops of the U.S. Armed Forces - No action.

Resolution Advocating for the creation of Resources for Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian and Transgender Students, Staff and Faculty - No way this one would not pass.

Resolution in Support of the Equal Application of the Law - To allow individuals with concealed weapon licenses to carry their weapons on campus, but asking them not to. Failed.

Resolution in Support of the Right of Military Recruiters to be Present on Campus - Failed.

Resolution in Support of a University of Washington Nap Room - ??? Passed.

and finally...

A Resolution Calling For Jill Edwards to Apologize For Her Comments - Don't hold your breath. It's been tabled indefinitely.

Didn't Think I'd Be Gone This Long

Has it been almost three weeks? Sorry. Things are a bit nutty, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It sure makes life interesting. For some reason, my mind has gotten focused on genealogy of late, and I've spent far too much time pursuing the past. At least it's a worthwhile venture...

Sporadic Posting

Well, it looks like my posts are going to be a bit fewer and farther between for a while. There's a lot going on (most all of it good), so my time is having to be portioned up more than before. When I started this blog two years ago, I hoped to provide something here every day. Five hundred entires in two years is pretty good, I guess. My goal for the near future is going to be to post as much as I can, and hope that works out to at least twice a week. If all goes well with some of these new, more time-consuming activities, maybe I'll write about them here also. We'll see...

Iran Wants Nukes; Could Have Had Them From Kerry

As we watch Iran attempt to build up their nuclear program, against the wishes of pretty much the whole world, it's worth noting that they could have had help from an interesting source. During his first debate with President Bush on September 30, 2004, John Kerry advocated giving Iran the nuclear fuel they wanted.

I think the United States should have offered the opportunity to provide the nuclear fuel, test them, see whether or not they were actually looking for it for peaceful purposes. If they weren't willing to work a deal, then we could have put sanctions together.

Yeah, let's give them the makings of the most dangerous weapon on Earth. They want to wipe Israel off the map, and they have pledged to destroy the U.S. So, we give them the key component for making nuclear weapons. What a great idea, huh?

Abramoff's Father Blasts Clooney's Golden Globe Insult

I'm no fan of Jack Abramoff, and definitely don't condone the actions he's claiming to have done, but I thought George Clooney's comments during the Golden Globe Awards were despicable. His father thought so also...

Nagin's "Chocolate" Comment Spurs T-Shirt Makers

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's "Chocolate City" comments have inspired some t-shirt maker to create "Willy Nagin and the Chocolate Factory" shirts. Priceless...

Biggest Hotel I've Ever Been In

I just returned from a work-related convention in Nashville, where I stayed at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. I'm not sure if it's the largest hotel and convention center complex in the U.S., but it's the largest I've ever been in. It's home to some great restaurants, with truly pricey food. Thank heavens for expense accounts!

These Clowns Give Religion An Ugly Face

With so many people in this country (in this world, really) turning away from religion, or rejecting it altogether, it's disconcerting to see two clowns like this making news...

First, a Tulsa, Oklahoma pastor and executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention was arrested for propositioning a male undercover police officer for sex. He claims he was in the parking lot at an Oklahoma City hotel "ministering" to the police, and he was "set up." Yeah, right...

Next, comes televangelist and perennial nutcase Pat Robertson. He suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and for "dividing God's land."

I'm not getting into any type of discussion of Christianity, or religion in general. But I will say that Christianity needs better press than what these folks are bringing it.

Just Brilliant

Microsoft unveils its new music download service. One problem: it will not be compatible with the iPod, which is the undisputed king of MP3 players.

Who Says Public Schools Have No Agenda?

The NEA, America's largest teachers union, fought hard to keep from having to disclose where they spend their money. Sorry, the teachers' dues money. Well, the NEA lost. Now their spending is a matter of public record, and it's certainly interesting. The Wall Street Journal provides an eye-opening breakdown of where some of the money is going.

Happy New Year

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas (or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate) and a great beginning to 2006. We're creeping up on the second birthday of this blog, and I want to thank those of you who regularly check in here. Traffic has increased during the past year, and I'm hoping to see more this year. I'm also hoping for more regular posting now that the holiday season has passed.

You Don't Say...

A University of Chicago poll claims to show that Americans are more stressed and depressed as 2005 comes to an end, primarily because of the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast and higher fuel prices. Makes sense. Here's the "duh!" part, though:

The survey... found that troubles were greatest among those with low income, poor education levels and among unmarried mothers.

Hidden In Plain Sight

A DeKalb County, Georgia woman missing for nearly three months has been found... in the county jail. Seems that the county either mishandled her, or lost track of her altogether. Scary...

Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. WIll be out and about for a few days spending time with the people I love. Hope you can do the same. And everyone please remember our men and women in the Armed Forces who are away from home this Christmas defending our rights and freedom.

Response To A Comment Below

A liberal poster named Reilly questioned my values and my support for our military in Iraq below. I was going to respond in the comment section, but a full-blown post just seems more appropriate. You can read the post that brought this on if you'd like. It's from December 19th. In his comments, Reilly states

"Let's say I don't support a war waged by my country. Do I hope that my country wins that war? Of course not."

I responded...

"I can't see a situation where I would ever, EVER, want the U.S. to lose a war. Regardless of whether I supported how or why we went to war, I would always support our troops who are fighting. And to me, to support the troops, you have to want them to be victorious. Plain and simple. These 109 Representatives who voted against this resolution have made it clear that they do not support our soldiers. Period."

His retort...

"Good to know where your values lie. [Reilly mistakenly summarizes my comments] 'I don't care why they're fighting, I just want them to win.' So, you'd rather have troops killed in combat than come home (alive) without winning?"

I couldn't let this moronic comment go. I should be more tactful, I know, but I don't understand this degree of flawed liberal crackpot logic. So here we go...

You want to question my values? It's on.

I value each and every human life. Period.

I believe every single person has the God-given (yep, God) right to determine their own destiny, to live their own life, and to be free from the tyranny and misery brought by people like Saddam Hussein.

I believe in doing what we can to give everyone, everywhere, the best life possible. Part of that is allowing them to determine, for themselves, the course of their own future. The course of their nation's future. The Iraqi people are basking in that ability now, for the first time in most of their lives.

My values tell me that the Iraqi people are worth helping, much like the Germans and Japanese were sixty-five years ago, and the South Koreans a decade later.

My values tell me that it's an abomination to sit back and watch while a despot and his twisted, murderous sons kill thousands of their own people with poison gas (heard of the Kurds?), operate rape and torture rooms, and threaten do de-stabilize their entire region.

My values tell me that it's absurd and insulting to politicize a war because of blind hatred of a President.

My values tell me that it's wrong to hate, as so many on the Left seem to hate President Bush.

My values tell me that we must be intellectually honest in our beliefs. Blind allegiance is never good.

My values tell me that it's hypocritical and negligent to vote to send our troops into battle, then deny the need for the war they are involved in, deny financial and moral support for those troops, and then lie and distort the reality of the situation they find themselves in.

I find it morally reprehensible for congressmen and a former president to spend years making claims about Saddam Hussein, but suddenly change their tune when a president from the other party actually does something about those claims.

My values (both human and professionally as a journalist) tell me that it's morally wrong for the media to present blatantly biased coverage of such important goings-on. Journalism has a high calling, and equally high moral standards to which it is bound to adhere. Yet so many mainstream news outlets allow person bias and hatred slant their coverage. Remember, journalism is the only profession specifically mentioned and protected in the Bill of Rights. (For you Lefties, it's in the First Amendment)

As for our troops...

Certainly, I would rather our troops not have to fight. Only an idiot would feel otherwise. But if they must fight, I absolutely do want them to be victorious.

Let me educate you on what I mean by "victorious". To be victorious in battle meant to defeat the enemy, to kill more of them that they kill of us. Yeah, I'm sure that sounds horrible to a bleeding-heart liberal, but in the real world that's what war is about. In war people die, and better it be the enemy than our own soldiers. That's what it means to support our troops, and that's what it means to want victory.

Sure, I'd rather have our soldiers come home alive than killed in battle. Anyone would. But I also want the world to recognize how honorable and brave and heroic our military men and women are. I also want the world to look at the U.S. and see us as a strong, powerful nation. A nation that stands behind our soldiers, sailors and airmen. A nation that stands behind, and defends, our friends.

Inmate King of Frivolous Lawsuits

A man with a history of filing frivolous lawsuits claims that flaws in a greeting card caused him "mental, physical and psychological suffering." The man, serving a life sentence in a Washington State prison, has filed more than 500 federal lawsuits, including one against Kelloggs Cereal for supposedly selling stale cereal.

109 Democrats (and one Independent) Who Want Us To Lose In Iraq

The House of Representatives on Friday passed a resolution "expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq." This simple resolution, HR 612, did not pass unanimously. It wasn't even nearly unanimous. The final vote was 279 to 109, with 34 voting Present and 11 not voting or absent. All 109 voting No were Democrats (with one Independent).

More than 100 Democrats, for all intent and purpose, have declared that they are not committed to a U.S. victory in Iraq. Any victory in Iraq is a victory for President Bush, and the liberal Left hates Bush so much that they would prefer to see us defeated and humiliated in Iraq rather than support anything which might be seen as a victory for the President.

For the votes on this resolution, and the names of those who do not want our work in Iraq to be successful, click here. And pass it around, too.

More Info On Katrina Deaths

We're learning more about where the Hurricane Katrina death in New Orleans took place, and again the information contradicts what many would like to see. Unlike what was reported early on, deaths were just as likely to have occurred in the middle-class and wealthy neighborhoods as the poorer areas. Aside from the bodies recovered in hospitals and medical facilities, almost half of all victims were found in neighborhoods with average incomes over the New Orleans median income.

As for the idea that the poorest areas were the most damaged, try this on for size...

Many of the city's wealthier neighborhoods sit on Lake Pontchartrain in the lowest-lying sector of town, Campanella said. For example, Lakeview, a predominately white neighborhood that contains mansions valued at more than $1 million in addition to crowded streets studded with modest bungalows, fronts the lake and is adjacent to the 17th Street Canal. When the levee collapsed, the neighborhood was destroyed. The only neighborhood with comparable destruction, the Lower 9th Ward, sits on higher ground but was unluckily flanked by two broken levees.

Many people would have you believe otherwise, but the deaths and destruction knew no bounds.

Facts About Race In Katrina Deaths

The facts are coming about concerning just who died in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and contrary to the race baiters and liberal lefties, caucasians died at a higher rate than anyone else. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals indicates that caucasians constitute 36.6 percent of the storm's fatalities in the city, yet make up only 28 percent of the city's population. African-Americans make up 67.25 percent of the population and 59.1 percent of the deceased. Other minorities constitute approximately 5 percent of the population and represented 4.3 percent of the storm's fatalities.

Economy Keeps Right On Chugging

Boosted by the falling price of gasoline, consumer prices fell by 0.6 percent during November, the biggest drop since July 1949. That's just more of the excellent news about the American economy. It's not getting as much news play as it should, but it can't be avoided much longer. The economy is booming.

Along with the drop in the Consumer Price Index, the Federal Reserve said output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose a solid 0.7 percent last month following a 1.3 percent rise in October.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports national unemployment remained steady at a relatively low 5%, with 215,000 new nonfarm jobs created across the country.

The stock market is riding a very high wave, with the Dow flirting with the magic 11,000 mark.

Despite the devestating Gulf Coast hurricanes, the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by a robust 4.3 percent during the July-to-September period. The GDP is the best measure of economic standing, measuring the value of all goods and services produced within the U.S.

Sales of new homes jumped to an all-time record in October, up 13 percent from the previous month, the largest increase in 12 years.