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.