So Glib and Irresponsible.

Ann Coulter has followed up her much-trumpeted "support" for Hillary Clinton in the case of McCain's GOP nomination with a column detailing McCain's heresies that compels her realignment. It's the standard stuff: Gang of 14, "pro-amnesty", McCain-Feingold, etc.

Notably absent: Iraq, except for a terse four-word dismissal.

Let's be perfectly clear about where the Dems stand on Iraq: both Clinton and Obama have stated that most if not all of American forces will be out of Iraq by 2010 if either of them were to become president. In fact, during the last Dem debate Clinton and Obama discussed the need to evacuate and assist those Iraqis that had been so foolish to think that the United States had been committed to securing a stable, safe, and democratic Iraq. Think of human beings clinging to the undercarriage of helicopters atop the US Embassy.

Such tunnel-vision by Coulter is intellectual dishonesty, which one thought she detested. Shame on her for it, and her apparent little regard that she has for the sacrifice that the US has made in Iraq and for the Iraqis who have their pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor for their country.

Super Tuesday.

All one can ask for today's vote is for one to truly vote for whom one believes is best...and then let the chips fall as they may and support the party's nominee. But for some in the conservative ecosystem to declare that if McCain would prevail to become the GOP nominee that they will "take their ball and go home" and not cast a ballot in November is completely irresponsible.

Last week's Democrat debate left no doubt that Clinton and Obama are committed to withdrawl of American forces from Iraq by the beginning of 2010. This is *the* critical issue that will distinguish a Democrat or Republican White House. Such a withdrawl would cut the throat of the Iraqi people, and those in the conservative "movement" who advocate sitting November out if McCain is the nominee truly risk such a disaster in Iraq.

Change.

These videos are truly offered without prejudice. The first are cuts from the 1994 Massachussetts senatorial debate between Ted Kennedy and Mitt Romney:




Hmmm...not the Mitt we know now. The second is video is provided by the Romney campaign showing his explanation of his policy reversals on the Glenn & Helen Show Podcast:



Draw your own conclusions.

Datapoint.

At the conclusion of a recent public lecture on cosmology at the University of Michigan, the lecturer conducted an anonymous poll of the 200+ attendees as to whether they believed that (1) God created the universe and is still active in guiding it, (2) God created the universe but is now absent from it, or (3) God does not exist. The result of the poll was about 30% of the responding attendees chose (1), 10% chose (2), and 60% chose (3). There may be a sampling bias - the population consisted of people getting up on a Saturday morning to attend a physics lecture - but it's an interesting result nevertheless.

In Their Own Voices.

The American Institute of Physics has a great oral history site, "Moments of Discovery", featuring the discovery of nuclear fission, pulsars, and superconductivity. Featured are the voices of Rutherford, Einstein, Hahn, and others describing events that altered our understanding of the universe.

Is McCain Conservative or A Conservative?

RealClearPolitics' Robert Robb explains the difference. A good balanced read on Mac.

Evil Incarnate.

Two bomb blasts shattered the peace of a sunny day in Bagdhad, killing scores of people - many children - who were visiting streetside petstores. Mr. Moore's "Freedom Fighters" may have employed two mentally retarded women as human bombs in the attacks. This is the nature of our enemy - knowing no limit to the evil they will commit in pursuit of their objectives. We cannot leave the people of Iraq to the vengence of these barbarians.

The Democrat Debate and MDS.

Watching last night's Democrat Debate in California was much like a soldier's life: 99% tedium and boredom, 1% extreme terror. The tedium: listening to the subtle differences between the HC and BO plans for nationalized health care. The terror: their plans to give up on Iraq by 2010 (and God help those Iraqis who cast their lot with us). Listening to the Dems made it very clear of the stakes involved with this election and the imperative for the GOP to prevail this fall. Mitt or McCain, let us come together.

Meanwhile, the fever of McCain Derangement Syndrome doesn't appear to be breaking.

Hillary Trounces Nonexistent Opposition in Florida Primary.

In the grand style of one-party rulers, Hillary is holding a "victory rally" in Florida tonight. True Theatre of the Bizarre.

A Mission from God.

Cigar Aficionado's Gordon Mott pens a wonderful story of the Blues Brothers. Many of us Phillistines were first introduced to The Blues by Joliet Jake and Elwood. Little brother Zee has filled Jake's shoes very well, while Jake is on extended tour with Gatemouth, Muddy, Ray, T-Bone, and Johnny Lee.

Double-Checking McCain's Stand on Illegal Aliens.

A question was asked of McCain at recent town-hall meeting in Florida about his Hispanic Outreach Director, a Mr. Juan Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez is a vocal supporter of what appears to be a dual-citizenship status for illegal Mexican aliens now in the United States. Here's the transcript of the exchange at the town hall meeting (from Hot Air):

QUESTION: Senator McCain, I thank you so much for your service … as an Irish … my parents and grandparents both came here … I so much want to vote for you, I have one concern … straight talk … it is you have an outreach - Hispanic outreach person - on your staff, Juan Hernandez, and he has said that he understands why Social Security … because we don’t allow the immigrants to get their own, so it’s ok for him that we steal other Americans Social Security. He also has written a book called “The New American Pioneers” about comparing illegal immigrants not [with] legal immigrants … I wonder if you agree with his policy? If so, explain it to me and if not why is he on your staff?

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: He’s on my staff because he supports my policies and my proposals and my legislative proposal to secure the borders first. No one will receive social security benefits who is in this country illegally. I don’t know what his previous positions are or other positions are, he supports mine. I have nothing to do with his. He has volunteered to help me with outreach to our Hispanic citizenry as I outreach to every citizen in America. I’ve been very clear on my position on immigration; I’ve been very clear on my position on Social Security. Of course I am grateful that so many people came from Ireland to the United States of American and anybody else who come here legally and that’s the only system I will ever support. I have no idea but I will check in to the information you’ve given me. I promise you, I will secure our borders, I will not allow anyone to come here illegally, I will not allow anyone to receive Social Security or any other benefits because they have come here illegally and broken our laws.

Senator, make sure this guy understands that he works for you, not vice-versa. And does he really sign up to your point of you expressed in your answer to this question? If not, show him the door now.

Yes, Conservatives Can Be Green.

Newt Gringrich is promoting "green conservatism":

...It is possible to have a healthy environment and a healthy economy. It is possible to build incentives for a cleaner future. It is possible to have biodiversity and wealthy human beings on the same planet. And it is possible to have free markets, scientific and technological advances, and an even more positive environmental outcome. There is every reason to be optimistic that if we develop smart environmental and biodiversity policies our children and grandchildren will experience an even more pleasant world...

Somewhere, in a pleasant place, TR is "Dee-lighted!"

Only the Lonely.

Willard "Mitt" Romney has few, if any, friends among his GOP rivals, so says the New York Times. We at Deaddrifts can only observe the "waves" that Mr. Romney emits: distance, discomfort, and an ersatz sincerity. It's not quantitative, it's perhaps a bit unfair - he might be a real mensch in familiar surroundings - but we have an uncomfortable feeling about him that is reinforced with his every appearance. These might be personality traits that a successful businessman or CEO must have; perhaps a different set is required for the office of President of the United States.

David Limbaugh's Test of Faith.

A column by David Limbaugh is now being parroted by the Establishment Republican Media as the Litany Against McCain. It serves as the ERM's Test of the Faith; to wit:

• A Conservative does not criticize a sitting Republican president, ever, regardless of the effect of said President's actions on the national security.
• A Conservative always supports tax cuts, even when a Republican Congress cannot not restrain its spending.
• A Conservative believes that the problem of illegal aliens can be solved by literally rounding up millions of people in the United States and deporting them, with no possibility of mistakes nor violation of liberties of American citizens, nor consideration of extenuating circumstances (such as members of the Armed Forces with illegal alien parents).
• A Conservative tortures enemy captives to extract information, regardless of the quality of said information.
• A Conservative tears up the rules of the Senate, regardless of unintended consequences such as loss of the protection of said rules when Republican control of the Senate is lost.
• A Conservative cannot believe in climate change, and cannot disagree with the Republican Establishment on environmental issues.
• A Conservative cannot criticize the political positions adopted by Evangelical Christian groups.
• A Conservative cannot criticize corporations. Theodore Roosevelt was mistaken in his "trust busting".

We just want make sure we've got it straight.

Come 'an Git It!

Uncle Sugar Daddy has backed the truck up and is tossing the hams out on the curb. The Old Folks might get hams, too. Our Gummint knows no bounds in its generosity; just send the bill to the kids.

Not Unexpected.

In an effort to make every delegate count - for her - Hillary starts pulling the strings to get the Michigan and Florida delegates reinstated for the party convention.

MLK's "Knock at Midnight" Sermon.

Bill Bennett featured this sermon on his MLK Day show. This sermon is quite prescient of our many present-day afflictions.

Masters of Our Fate.

Bill Kristol observes the unmodern qualities of John McCain.

Masters of Our Fate.

Bill Kristol observes the unmodern qualities of John McCain.

Stupefying Arrogance.

Hot Air points us to an article in the Tuscon Citizen about Mexican legislators complaining that the strong new Arizona law on businesses hiring illegals is leading to an excessive number of illegals returning to Mexico. One would hope the incongruity of this complaint will ultimately hit these distinguished representatives of the great Mexican state of Sorona like a 2x4 to the back of the head...but don't hold your breath.

Send in Chuck.

Mike Huckabee supporter Chuck Norris attempts a roundhouse kick on John McCain.

VDH on McCain.

A rational, calming voice, trying to get the anti-McCainiacs off of the ledge.

Some Warning Symptoms of McCain Derangement Syndrome.

Associative Cognitive Dissonance - patient rants incessantly that McCain's stand on the Bush tax cuts demonstrated lack of conservative beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing runaway spending by Establishment Republican Congress. Foams at mouth about McCain's betrayal of 1st Amendment while exhibiting memory lapse about GWB signing same legislation (GWB stated at signing, "I believe that this legislation, although far from perfect, will improve the current financing system for Federal campaigns").

Must find McCain's life and character completely deficient, leading to citing dubious sources regarding the Senator's military record. This symptom may indicate patient need to view another's behavior as unassailably good or irredeembly evil. This symptom can also indicate Rushannitingrahamoulterlevine Worship.

Cannot project future consequences of beliefs or actions. For example, patient finds that it is sufficient to merely insist that *all* illegal aliens must return to native lands immediately, yet cannot articulate realistic and actionable plan to do so, and refuses to admit that present situation is defacto amnesty.

Must adhere to a strict orthodoxy, very similar to patients with BDS. For example, cannot permit other conservatives to advocate environmental stewardship since this entire topic has been historically deemed a concern only of the neo-Luddite Left.

McCain Derangement Syndrome.

Michelle Malkin and Laura Ingraham, please call your offices. Also, the National Review begins its journey of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Nightcrawlers in Carolina, and a Fruitcake Returns.

The worms are crawling around in SC; another anti-McCain smear campaign is being circulated by "Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain" (no link deserved). Coincidentally, Ross Perot emerged from his bunker recently to call Newsweek's Jonathan Alter, dishing the dirt on McCain. Hmmm.

McCain Taking Flak, or, The Conservative Crack-Up.

Michelle Malkin really, really dislikes John McCain. Witness the video above, posted to her blog, the second in her series "McCain Gets Booed". This allegedly documents the deep revulsion that "conservatives" have for John McCain. Of course, the most precious ox of Malkin's to be gored by McCain is his alleged softness on the illegal alien problem.

This revulsion toward John McCain, regrettably, does exist. We've encountered it in many blogs and opinion columns, and heard it on many radio talk shows. It is attributed to McCain's heresies against important conservative policy positions. The correct positions appear to have been established by self-appointed protectors of the faith, based on little if any dialogue on these issues by conservatives.

We've previously discussed two of his heresies, immigration and judicial appointments. We will use the immigration issue to demonstrate how the dialogue between different but legitimately conservative points of view has been silenced.

If one is intellectually honest, then one may state that it is more true than not that the Republican candidate's positions on illegal immigration are equivalent. Short of brutal - and, we argue, unAmerican - tactics, we must face the fact of assimilating some millions of people that are here illegally. Not all, certainly. First, there is a border to be "sealed". There are criminals that must be deported, heavy fines to be imposed on businesses knowingly violating the law, penalties to be paid by illegals, reform of identification and documentation bureaucracies, and hardball to be played with Mexico.

The actions described above will lead to millions of illegals to leave, and all of the candidates agree with these initiatives. For those millions of illegals that can and chose to remain, the federal government must choose one of two courses of action. Course One is to rapidly and agressively track down these remaining people and force them to leave regardless of their circumstances. Course Two is to begin naturalization and assimilation for those who step forward for documentation, and deportation of those who refuse and are discovered over time.

The first course of action has appeal to some conservatives; it can swiftly restore the "rule of law" and the essential sense that the federal government is protecting the physical and economic well-being of its citizenry from foreign threats. There are costs, too. It will appear as a police-state action, it will likely trigger an enormous amount of litigation that will choke an already suffocating court system, it will consume an enormous amount of military and law-enforcement resources, and there will be circumstances of true injustice and tragedy where we must measure whether we have lived up to our frequently-proclaimed Judeo-Christian ethics and the conservative tenet of non-interference of government in the lives of its citizens (for some citizens will be caught in this mess).

The second course of action avoids the drawback of the first, and does with time (perhaps too much time) bring normalcy to immigration and border security. However, it does cheat those wanting to become citizens who have followed the rule of law and have waited their turn. Those persons may continue to wait or ultimately be denied naturalization.

There are legitimate points for advocacy and opposition for both options by conservatives. However, the debate between these options was stillborn and the "conservative orthodoxy" became a emphatic call for the Draconian Option One, but with no acknowledgment of its drawbacks nor any real plan to implement it. It seems to have just to felt good take the "angry path". Was this adhering to true conservatism or rather mere populism, with a generous dollup of hyperbole for entertainment?

After much thought and consideration, we at Deaddrifts feel that the most sound conservative approach to solve the illegal alien issue is following Option Two. We mourn the fact that a legitimate discussion of this issue has not taken among conservatives. A loss for our movement, and a symptom of a growing sclerosis within it.

The Knives are Drawn - I.

The self-appointed Mullahs of Conservative Doctrine (as they interpret it, of course) have drawn out their knives are going after John McCain* (for example). Here is the list of his offenses that the Mullahs find most egregious:

• Immigration. The fracas of this fall's failed immigration reform left the stain that Mac supports amnesty for and is generally soft on illegal aliens. McCain did learn from this debacle that the problem of illegals now in the country cannot be addressed until the inflow of illegals is stopped (for the sake of intellectual honesty, this means ending all sources of illegal entry, such as expired visas, as well as physical border protection). McCain claims to have heard this message loud and clear. He advocates harsh penalties for businesses that knowingly hire illegals, deportation of illegals with criminal records, and a process to work out the rest of the disastrous mess caused by two decades of neglect. A true conservative would advocate that this process must be congnizant of an individual's freedoms and civil liberties, but many public conservative voices seek to kindle a directionless anger about the presence of illegal aliens with silence on the details as to how to implement a realistic path for repatriation or assimilation and citizenship. It's easy just to say no, but the problem is still there, and McCain is correct in saying that doing nothing on this part of the problem is de facto amnesty.

• The "Gang of 14". A good summary of this issue was provided by a comment posted on Hugh Hewit's Townhall site:

It is asserted that "Gang of 14" blocked appointment of conservative judges. Not so. What the "Gang of 14" refers to is the compromise reached by certain Senators to enable, without altering Senate rules on filibusters, Bush judicial nominations to be voted on. The result was that John Roberts and Sam Alito were confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of conservatives were confirmed to the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Absent the compromise, the Chuckie Schumer Democrat filibuster was halting the confirmation of Bush nominations. The only other alternative to the compromise was the so-called constitutional option altering filibuster rules. We do not know that it would have worked. We do know that with the compromise, critically important confirmations were achieved and the fillibuster rules were preserved for a time when there would be a Democrat Congress, which in fact was elected in 2006. At this point it is Chuckie Schumer who is complaining that it was the Democrats who got snookered by the compromise...

to be continued...

*Full-Disclosure: Endorsed McCain.

Mitt's Tax Fuzziness.

Mitt Romney has been trumpeting his 'git-er-done' record on taxes and budgeting. But as Annenberg's Fact Check shows, the record is not quite as good as Mitt claims:

• Romney doubled "fees" (read TAXES) and changed corporate tax structures that hiked taxes by $500M.
• Romney submitted budgets that cut personal income taxes. However, none of those budgets were adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature. Their state tax rate still stands at a flat 5.3%.
• His budget cutting was essentially window dressing ($10M) except for cuts to higher and primary education ($400M)
• He was able to close a $1.2B budget shortfall - no easy feat - but not the $3B he claims.

Romney has pounded McCain on his lack of faith on the Bush tax cuts, but the Republican Congress of 2001-2006 went hog wild with spending to cement their hold on power and paid the price. This is a real source of congnitive dissonance with many in the GOP who love cutting taxes but also love pork patronage.

Huck's Tax Record.

The Annenberg Political Fact Check look's at Mike's tax record in Arkansas. The verdict: he did raise taxes and cut taxes, while state spending did increase under his adminstration (about 50% in eight years, well above the rate of inflation). Our irritation with Huck on this issue is not his lack of tax cut piety (more piety would be good), but in denying paternity of the tax hikes. Not the most chiseled profile in political courage.

Edwards' Goes Way Left on Iraq.

John Edwards now thinks its wrong to provide effective training for Iraqi forces.

Traditions.

Ending the official holiday season with a glass of port, a CAO Italia Ciao, a brisk walk in the winter's night, and listening to the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day Concert. God bless us, everyone. Cue the Radetzky March!

Continued Rotting of Local Radio.

Lucy Ann Lance has been cashiered by the new owners of WAAM, ending her very popular local morning radio show. Also fired is her producer and operations manager. One reporter will be left to cover local news and events. Lucy's show will be replaced by syndicated dreck.

How much does it cost to start up and run a 500-watt station?

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say.

The US Government casts a blind eye on North Korea's missed deadline for disclosure of nuclear programs. Uranium enrichment is not a small matter.

Winning with Integrity.

Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue for a great final victory for Coach Lloyd Carr over Florida, 41-35. Thanks, Coach Carr, for your careful stewardship of a great football tradition.

Happy New Year!

We at Deaddrifts hope that 2008 is a wonderful and fulfilling year for you. God bless you and keep you.

Finally, Someone Notices!

Christopher Hitchens reminds us of the un-democratic nature of the Iowa Caucuses.

How Is Iraq Faring?

General Petraeus provides an end of year summary of conditions in Iraq: improved, but tenuous. The New York Times also provides a summary of conditions around Bagdhad - quite informative (from Sept 2007). Another Op-Ed provides an end of year update. Prognosis, guardedly optimistic, but now Iraqi politics must step up to the task.

Science Debate 2008.

Vern Ehlers is co-sponsoring a group to promote discussion of issues of science and technology policy during the 2008 presidential campaign:

"Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we call for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science and Technology Policy."

The Ron Paul Update.

(cue - Wagner's "Ride of Valkyries")

1. Tucker Carlson joins the Baron von Paul's Flying Circus - as an observer - and learns that their favorite suppertable subject is: The Gold Standard, the Abolition of the "Central Bank" and "Fiat Currency". Dr. Paul recalls with pride to his sponsorship of legislation to protect Americans' inalieable right to drink non-pastuerized milk.

2. The Good Doctor clarifies his positions on "Meet the Press", particularly on how congressional term limits are good for others - but not him, and why his district's pork is not really pork.

Listeners, be sure to set your Ron Paul Message Decoder Pin to "6Y" for the next Ron Paul update. And be sure to drink your Ovaltine!

What It Is, Ain't Science.

Here is the statement of the tenets of "Scientific Creationism" and "Biblical Creationism" as posted by the Institute of Creation Research. The ICR is lobbying the Texas state government to train science teachers:

SOME TENETS OF SCIENTIFIC CREATIONISM
• The physical universe "was supernaturally created by a transcendent personal Creator who alone has existed from eternity."
• Life "was specially and supernaturally created by the Creator."
• All plants and animals were "created functionally complete from the beginning and did not evolve from some other kind of organism."
• Evolution since creation is "limited to 'horizontal' changes (variations) within the kinds, or 'downward' changes (e.g., harmful mutations, extinctions).
• Humans "were specially created in fully human form from the start."

SOME TENETS OF BIBLICAL CREATIONISM
• The creator of the universe is a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• The universe was created "in the six literal days of the Creation Week" described in Genesis.
• All human beings descended from Adam and Eve.

"Tenets" are principles or doctrines, and the list above are whoppers - summarily preempting a great deal of well established scientific evidence (such as a universe age of a least ten billion years).

Since when does having a belief in God consign one to the company of the ICR? If we don't stand too close, we won't catch the fleas.

A Question for Governor Huckabee.

Governor, you have indicated that you do not believe in evolution. Would you require that Federal education guidelines for middle and high-school science curricula include creationism as an alternate theory to evolution? Despite your insistance that such a question may be irrelevant to being President, the federal government does have an interest in programs to train competent scientists and engineers, and your administration will have a role in this issue.

A Heartwarming Holiday Tradition.

MSNBC is running a Christmas Eve "Doc Block - Caught on Tape" marathon, featuring violent traffic stops, parking lot beatings, convenience store robberies, and sundry mayhem. Dona Nobis Pacem.

Welcome Back, Mr. Nixon.

George Will suggests Nixonian Politikspielen have been resurrected by the Clinton and Huckabee campaigns.

Of Christmas, Crosses, and Blimps.

Ron Paul quoted Sinclair Lewis in reference to Mike Huckabee's now-famous "Bookshelf/Cross Christmas Ad". Said Dr. Paul: "...when fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped a flag and carrying a cross". Amazing. And maybe, good Doctor, it will arrive by blimp?

Hillary's Christmas Message.




She is the bringer of all good things to all creatures who voteth!

Just in Time for Christmas...

The NYT reports on the plentitude of pork products procured by the Congerscritters. Featured is bacon-bringing champ Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois.

John McCain for President.

Deaddrifts endorses Senator John McCain for the Presidency of the United States.

• Senator McCain has proven leadership on the critical issues that are facing the United States and the free peoples of the world, with a comprehensive and mature understanding of the problems and advocating solutions based on sound conservative principles:
• He has extensive foreign policy and military affairs experience and his instincts have been proven sound on the War in Iraq and the struggle against Islamofascism. There is no other candidate for President, Republican or Democrat, that has a more thorough understanding of this most critical issue that will face the civilized world for the forseeable future.
• His positions on national and global security are tempered by an understanding of the United States' unique role as the voice for human rights in the world.
• His record on the dignity and the sanctity of human life is exceptional. He does not grandstand with "faith issues" unlike some of the other candidates.
• He has been a consistent critic of runaway government spending, and has probably been the most effective conservative voice against "earmarks" and the other fiscal shenaningans committed by both Republican and Democrat congressional leaderships. He has been a consistent opponent of excessive, growth-stunting taxation, and has advocated tax relief - with accompanying fiscal restraint by the government.
• He is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
• He has shown the political courage to learn from missteps, such as the recent ill-fated immigration reform effort. He has acknowleded the lack of trust that the people have in the federal government to competently secure the borders while providing a orderly, fair, and cautious transition of tens of millions of illegal aliens to legal status. He has changed his position on this contentious issue, calling for the securing of borders as a necessary first step.
• He has advocated innovation and free-market solutions in public education.
• He has helped to restore common-sense, enviromental stewarship back to the Republican party, in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt.
• He has consistently demonstrated remarkable candor and non-partisan honesty in addressing these and other issues.

We will continue to comment on the presidential race with objectivity, candor, and goodwill. But when we vote in the Michigan Republican presidential primary, we will cast our vote for John McCain.

The Hall of Fame*

What is most infuriating and demoralizing about the revelations of widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball is how it damages the essence of athletic competition: celebrating the potential realized by Man as God created him, and how that drama can inspire all of us to use our talents and gifts in pursuit of excellence.

If baseball is just a numerical excerise - how many home runs can be hit, how many strikeouts can be pitched, how many games can be won - then let us just build the best robots and be entertained by their performance and laud the engineers for their achievements.

NR Endorses Romney.

National Review has endorsed Mitt Romney to be the Republican candidate for President in the 2008 election:

Our guiding principle has always been to select the most conservative viable candidate. In our judgment, that candidate is Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. Unlike some other candidates in the race, Romney is a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest. While he has not talked much about the importance of resisting ethnic balkanization — none of the major candidates has — he supports enforcing the immigration laws and opposes amnesty. Those are important steps in the right direction.

NR's editors have claimed in interviews that they were inclined to endorse Romney or noone; this suggests that their endorsement is a little less than ecstatic. Romney appears to have met a minimum criteria for conservatism set by the editors. However, the editors also acknowledge another factor that we feel Romney lacks - the ability to lead and inspire:

...Romney has been plagued by the sense that his is a passionless, paint-by-the-numbers conservatism. If he is to win the nomination, he will have to show more of the kind of emotion and resolve he demonstrated in his College Station “Faith in America” speech.

If that speech is a highest tide in his leadership, inspiration, thoughfulness and eloquence, well...yuck.

NR did note high marks for John McCain and Thompson. We were very impressed with McCain's ability to command the respect and interest of New Hampshire college students in a recent town hall meeting on MTV (the best and most serious candidate forum to date, and a event that other Republican candidates have declined).

A Speech in Search of a Moment in History.

Mitt Romney gave his much-hyped "Faith in America" speech today, and to this listener it was a real dud. Rife with mediocre platitudes about religous freedom and the role of religion in public life (interrupted by plenty of gratuitous applause), one was left to ask "just why is he giving this speech?" Has there been a crescendo of panic that he would, if President, take his orders from Salt Lake City? No. Has there been a campaign to discredit Mr. Romney for his beliefs? No. Perhaps the moment in history for which this speech was written awaits us in the future? And if that moment should arrive, this speech will be like so much meat thrown against a wall - blah.

Norm Podhoretz expresses a similar sentiment: "...Who is the audience for this speech, aside from people like me who make their living in part watching them and reading their texts and writing about them?..."

Of Prophets and Teddy Bears.

The AP reports that Gillian Gibbons, a British teacher who allowed here Sudanese students to name their teddy bear after a classmate - named Muhammad - has been pardoned for crimes against Islam. The AP reporter puts "it's the West's fault" spin on the story:

...The teacher's conviction under Sudan's Islamic Sharia law shocked Britons and many Muslims worldwide. It also inflamed passions among many Sudanese, some of whom called for her execution.

Gibbons escaped harsher punishment that could have included up to 40 lashes, six months in prison and a fine. Her time in jail since her arrest last Sunday counts toward the sentence.

In a written statement released by the presidential palace and read by Warsi to reporters, 54-year-old Gibbons said she was sorry if she caused any "distress."

"I have a great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone," Gibbons said in the statement. "I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan."

In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was delighted by news.

"Common sense has prevailed," Brown said in a statement.

During her trial, the weeping teacher said she had intended no harm.

Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear, and Muhammad is one of the most common names for men in the Arab world. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet.

But the case was caught up in the ideology that al-Bashir's Islamic regime has long instilled in Sudan, a mix of anti-colonialism, religious fundamentalism and a sense that the West is besieging Islam...

Or you could look at this incident as a diversion by the Sudanese government from the Darfur crisis.

Advent 2007.

Luke 1:39-45: In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

(Image: Fra Angelico. Annunciation. The Visitation. c.1432-1434. Tempera on panel. 175 x 180. Museo Diocesano, Cortona, Italy. Courtesty http://www.abcgallery.com/)

The CNN YouTube Debacle.

Last night's Republican "Debate", hosted by CNN and featuring YouTube video questions from "the people", was an embarassment. It had all the decorum and dignity of the Andrew Jackson White House Cheese Riot. Stephen Green reconstructs the disaster here. A big bucket of chum should be poured on CNN for their lack of vetting of many questions. However, we did find out that Ron Paul worries about Trilateralists, the Council of Foreign Relations, and North American Unionists.

A Soldier Comes Home.

Staff Sargeant William Quinn has a very thoughtful essay on the disconnect between his experiences in Bagdhad and those of his fellow students at Georgetown.

McCain, Honor, and Character.

David Brooks asserts that John McCain has singular credentials in character and honor among the presidential hopefuls.

A Successful Life.

Human Felicity is produced not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day.

- Benjamin Franklin

The Bookbeat Tapes.

If you love listening to writers talk about their craft, then WOUB's "Wired for Books" site is for you. You'll find decades of interviews by Don Swaim with prominent authors. Fascinating talk!

The People Celebrate Great Dear Leader Hillary's Birthday!

Let great joy and happiness fill us all!

Ron Paul Revealed!

Some Pork in Every Pot, and Vice Versa.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has successfully spearheaded an effort to divert a million-dollar earmark that was to be directed to the Woodstock Hippie Museum, aka the Museum at Bethel Woods. The Hippie Museum's champion is billionaire Alan Gerry, who coincidentally has been giving dough to Hillary Clinton's presidential bid and Chuck Schumer's Senate campaign program - and who both earmarked the million for the museum. Of course, this time it's different. Quoth Hillary: ''[the museum will] continue to promote education, the arts, culture and tourism in the region.''

If this museum is such a great idea, why can't the private sector, i.e., Mr. Gerry, cut the check? If you believe in the need for federal support for the Woodstock Hippie Museum, then you'll salivate over NY Representative Charles Rangel's Charles Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of NY, a trifling two-million dollar earmark.

Freedom Attacked in Pakistan.

No, it's not caused by Musharraf's support of the US. The Islamofascists hate - hate - the message of freedom and moderation of Benizir Bhutto.

The Promise of Socialized Medicine.

Great Britain's National Health Service can't keep dentists in their system, and so...

Falling numbers of state dentists in England has led to some people taking extreme measures, including extracting their own teeth, according to a new study released Monday. Others have used superglue to stick crowns back on, rather than stumping up for private treatment, said the study. One person spoke of carrying out 14 separate extractions on himself with pliers...

Ah, brave new world.

Progress in Iraq.

One notices the lack of news on Iraq, other than the Blackwater situation. The WaPo editors have noticed, too:

NEWS COVERAGE and debate about Iraq during the past couple of weeks have centered on the alleged abuses of private security firms like Blackwater USA. Getting such firms into a legal regime is vital, as we've said. But meanwhile, some seemingly important facts about the main subject of discussion last month -- whether there has been a decrease in violence in Iraq -- have gotten relatively little attention. A congressional study and several news stories in September questioned reports by the U.S. military that casualties were down. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-N.Y.), challenging the testimony of Gen. David H. Petraeus, asserted that "civilian deaths have risen" during this year's surge of American forces.

A month later, there isn't much room for such debate, at least about the latest figures. In September, Iraqi civilian deaths were down 52 percent from August and 77 percent from September 2006, according to the Web site icasualties.org. The Iraqi Health Ministry and the Associated Press reported similar results. U.S. soldiers killed in action numbered 43 -- down 43 percent from August and 64 percent from May, which had the highest monthly figure so far this year. The American combat death total was the lowest since July 2006 and was one of the five lowest monthly counts since the insurgency in Iraq took off in April 2004...

CNN has now picked up on this, too; Anderson Cooper 360 has reported on this, as well as the significant weakening of Al Queda in Iraq (as reported by the WaPo).

The Marines Face Down the Merry Pinksters.

Zombietime documents the recent Codepink theatrics in front of the Devildogs' office in Berkeley (Berkeley! Talk about PsyOps!). The office's officer in charge, Cpt. Richard Lund, responds eloquently to Codestink's rantin' n' ravin'. We particularly admire the posting of the Mill quote in the office window. Pour it on, boys!

Perhaps this is what infuriates the Hard Left most of all: back in the '60s the mainstream culture was just too polite and traditional to react to moonbat shock attacks. Now the conservative movement has its share of smart, hip, and better-read followers, and they give it right back to the Hard Left.

Homecoming 2007.

A great day: tailgating with fellows from the dorm floor in '76 (Fire Up, Van Tyne!), and then off to the game! (You can find more great Michigan songs at the UM Glee Club)

A Truly Golden Anniversary.

50 years ago today the Soviet Union launched the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, Sputnik. The event changed human existence forever, joining a handful of other events in the 20th Century, such as the discovery of nuclear fisson, the invention of the transistor, and the description of DNA.

A Pinch of Reform.

Kudos to Governor Granholm for approving S418, which will reform MESSA. Now let's face the unpleasant fact that we're likely to face another shortfall for the 2008-2009 state budget. Will there be another round of tax hikes to shore it up?

Michiganders React to the Tax Hike.


But remember, we didn't give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

The Reforms are in the Mail.

Yeah, right: Governor Granholm and Her Flying Democrats are pledging to now make the tough choices in cuts and reforms to save $440M. Well, a big one would be cleaning up the MESSA, the MEA-controlled organization that supervises teacher's health care. Michgan Senate Bill 418, which allows competitive bidding and more pooling for educator's medical insurance is now on the Governor's desk (delivered at 2:18 am this morning) for signing. She had all day to do so, with much fanfare for reform. But the Governor's office hasn't trumpeted its signing yet. Governor - sign S418 and demonstrate that your commitment to reform is genuine. But it means crossing the MEA, who have already launched their first salvos against it.

Granholm 1, Michigan 0.

It looks like Governor Granholm and her Flying Democrats will get most of their income tax increase (probably 4.35%), as well as a 6% service tax on such luxuries as carpet cleaning. In return the GOP will get...uh....well, its not quite clear if they'll get anything. The big ticket item for reform is opening competition up for teachers health care. Unfortunately teacher health care is currently provided by a monopoly affliated with the MEA, and they will not tolerate such a notion as competition. The other tremendous GOP victory will be stopping the Dems from getting the rate all the way back to 4.4%.

Remember this: when the good people of Michigan asked for the same sacrifice from its state government that it asked from their families, that government told them to go to Hell.

Pure Michigan Pork.

Detroit's WXYZ-TV has been exposing some pork-barrel spending by the Michigan government: a new $117M State Police HQ that the troopers did not request, but does benefit a Governor Granholm supporter with a no-bid contract, replacing a dollar-a-year lease on the present HQ campus. Recall that Jennie-G touted an end on no-bid contracts in the 2007 State of the State speech.

The Phony Crisis in Lansing.

The state government of Michigan is facing a "shutdown" of services, caused by the budget impasse. This is the total failure of vision and leadership by Governor Granholm. The state is caught in a confluence of economic torrents: the loss of both manufacturing and high-tech jobs (in a state considered to be one of the most hostile to business), the preciptous decline of home prices (one of the worst markets in the U.S.), and the loss of tourism dollars caused by higher fuel prices. In the midst of this mess the state government finds itself $1.7B short in its budget - less than 4% of the total. Yet the Governor cannot find the discipline to eliminate this excess spending and instead cynically creates a phony crisis that threatens a shutdown of state services that could hurt many citizens and ruin the state credit rating. She chooses politics and infantile theatrics over leadership - refusing to force the state government to provide services more efficiently, declaring that any attempt to do so is an attack on children, the elderly, and the poor. Instead she decides to cause high-profile inconvience by closing state services to all Michiganders. If we can't find a way to cut state spending in this kind of financial crisis and instead insist on raising income taxes, then God help us - the Leviathan has swallowed us up.

To State It Succinctly...

You don't invite to one's university a representative of a government that supplies men and arms that are killing your country's soldiers. It's immoral and irresponsible.

(Note Bene: the following fantasy satire has been superceded by the truth. Remarkable! Thanks to LGF)

Coming Soon to Speak at Columbia!

From a press release issued by the Columbia Press Office:

On August 1,1939, Columbia University's School for Public and International Affairs (SIPA) is sponsoring an appearance by Dr. Joeseph Goebbels, Germany's Reichminister for Propaganda and National Elightenment, to participate in a question and answer session with university faculty and students. SIPA is initiating a year-long series of lectures and events entitled "Germany: Six Years of National Socialism", which will include academic experts as well as officials and critics of the Third Reich.

The opportunity for faculty and students to engage Dr. Goebbels came about after German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop initated contact with Columbia through SIPA faculty members who are experts on German history and politics.

Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler emphasized that such events must allow ample time for students and faculty to pose questions that challenge the views expressed by the speakers. President Butler will introduce the event by challenging Dr. Goebbels on a number of his controversial statements and his government's policies, including his statements regarding undue Jewish influence in the Anglo-American democracies, and his call for the segregation and containment of the Jewish people in Europe. The US government has accused the German government of supporting violence and discrimination against Jews living in Germany, including last year's alleged wide-scale violence against German Jews (the so-called "Kristallnacht") and reports of imprisonment of Jews, intellectuals and political opponents.

President Butler further stated, "I would like to add a few comments on the principles that underlie this event. Columbia, as a community dedicated to learning and scholarship, is committed to confronting ideas—to understand the world as it is and as it might be. To fulfill this mission we must respect and defend the rights of our schools, our deans and our faculty to create programming for academic purposes. Necessarily, on occasion this will bring us into contact with beliefs many, most or even all of us will find offensive and even odious. We trust our community, including our students, to be fully capable of dealing with these occasions, through the powers of dialogue and reason."

After his appearance at Columbia, Dr. Goebbels will conclude his visit to the United States with a speech to the German-American Bund in Madison Square Garden on the night of August 2, 1939.

Cutting Michigan's Throat.

The Democrat-controlled Michigan House of Representatives, along with Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm, are insisting on an 18% increase in the state income tax in order to close the $1.7B budget deficit by $1.1B. The State Senate, headed by Republican Mike Bishop, proposed a cuts-only solution that was DOA. The Senate may now retune this proposal with a mix of cuts and a smaller income tax hike.

The total Michigan state budget is $45.2B, so the $1.7B shortfall is about 3.8% of the total. Here is the breakdown of the 2006 budget:

• Education $14.7 (Billions)


• Health Services $10.0


• Human Services $4.4


• Transportation $3.2


• Police & Prisons $2.5


• Government $2.3


• Unemployment $2.0


• Lottery Admin $1.6


• Revenue Sharing $1.1


• Regulatory $0.9


• Tax Credits $0.9


• DNR & Ag $0.7


• Business Funds $0.6


• Debt Service $0.3

The standard histrionics have been employed by the Governor in resisting cuts in the budget in favor of higher taxes to "protect education". This is a red herring: cutting the budget does not have to take a single dollar that is actually delivered as a dollar of real value to education. The state government must become more efficient in delivering value to schools, and that means jettisoning irrelevant administrative overhead and educational programs of dubious worth. See if you can find a few at the state's education website.

Education should not take a disproportionate hit, only its share, which would be 35% of the total shortfall, or about $550M. It also may be true that inefficiency is even worse in other spending areas, but the education portion of the budget is so huge that it has to be part of the budget balancing equation. Businesses routinely face the challenge of cutting overhead while maintaining the ability to grow value. Why can't it be so for the state government?

But it is truly economic suicide to hike income and other taxes while the state reels from job losses and possesses a nation-leading unemployment rate.

Gather at the River.

Project Healing Waters helps disabled vets of all ages, using flyfishing as a tool for rehabilitation and healing. God Bless their work. You can support them here.

Suppose ANSWER Held a Rally and Hardly Anybody Came?

The neo-Bolshevik group ANSWER Coalition held Yet Another March on Washington today, and wow! What a turnout! (Photo from Victory Caucus)

Age of Hooper chronicles this historic event.

Postscript: Well, we'll be fair - about 10,000 or so people showed up (about 1/11 th of those on hand for the Michigan-Notre Dame game). Certainly not the 100,000 that the ANSWER Ministry for Truth would claim. The Gathering of Eagles counterprotest was reasonably well attended, about a thousand or so. Perhaps the ratio of attendees between the two events is directly proportional to the unemployment rate of their memberships?

General Petraeus Goes to Washington.

It must be wonderful to be convinced of the irrefutable and incontrovertable rightness of one's beliefs. It allows one complete license to smear and besmirch the reputation of people who have devoted their lives to the protection of the people of the United States and her Constitution. Such must be the case with the "citizens" at MoveOn.org. When the ends justify the means it brings such a feeling of holiness to what would otherwise be regarded as repugnant and despicable character assassination. What difference does it really make if you call a distinguished and devoted warrior a traitor? If it serves "the cause", then it's actually a sacrament to do just that.

MoveOn ran this ad regarding Gen. Petraeus in the New York Times today. It reminded us of a flyer that was passed out by another group of True Believers to a Dallas, Texas crowd some forty-four years ago, as they awaited the passing motorcade of their President:


Thanks, MoveOn.org, for elevating the discourse on the Iraq War to such ethereal levels. You, too, may want to thank them personally at their comments page.

Ron Paul, Visionary Genius and Prophet.

Before the ZOG can implant the brain-control chips, they'll have to take out Iran...

Thanks to Ace of Spades for this perfect summary of Herr Doktor Paul:

...a conspiratorially-minded populist demogogue with the kind of ruthlessly reductivist thinking required by the simple-minded to make sense of a complex world.

The New Hampshire GOP Bull Session.

Can we vote a few of these guys off the island now? Misters Brownback, Huckabee, Tancredo, thanks for coming in, but we're going in a different direction. Mr. Romney, you look marvelous, but...well, you look great. And will security please escort Mr. Paul out of the building immediately...

By the way it's amazing how the PaulKooks have clogged the search engines with their propaganda triggered on "republican debate". And do I detect the odor of anti Semitism in a few of Mr. Paul's answers?

The Suit.

Mitt Romney is handsome and owns great hair. He wears his suit very well. His handlers' strategy is clear: keep him smiling, keep his contribution in policy debates to Miss America platitudes, and let the money and organization run its course. God help the GOP.

Ban Popcorn Now!

We must stop the scourge of "yellow-lung" caused by the selfish demand for buttered popcorn in bars, restaurants, theatres, and other public places. Do it for the children!