Lord of the Oceans?

On January 25th, I blogged here about the "Law of the Sea Treaty." Pat Buchanan writes about it in his most recent column:

"In her confirmation hearings, Condi Rice was asked by Lugar if the administration supported LOST. The president 'certainly would like to see it passed as soon as possible,' said Rice. If George W. Bush authorized that statement, writes Phyllis Schlafly, he 'can no longer claim the mantle of Ronald Reagan's conservative legacy.'

Twenty years ago, Reagan saw this Law of the Sea Treaty for what it was: a joint scheme of the Soviet Bloc, the Third World and the United Nations to seize sovereignty over the oceans, mandate transfers of American technology and get kickbacks from profits U.S. companies might earn from mining and drilling. Reagan ordered it deep-sixed.

To see it dredged up by Republicans is to wonder whether we care any more about what is happening to American sovereignty."

Please read the entire piece. This is a serious issue that few have the courage to take on. The U.N. is at it's least influential point in history because of the corruption and ineptitude. Why on earth would the Bush administration want this treaty to be passed? The passing of this treaty only empowers the corrupt and inept body. What's the point?

The Best

We rented Ray this afternoon and saw it for the first time. Jaime Foxx did a truly amazing job of portraying Ray Charles and I can't imagine anyone else taking the 'Best Actor' award. He earned the 'Best' moniker. If you haven't yet seen it, do so. As much as we enjoyed Ray, I still was hoping that Aviator would win 'Best Picture.' Scorsese will have to win another year. Kudos to Clint for 'Best Director' and 'Best Picture', but I really have no desire to see Million Dollar Baby.

My Oscar Picks

Having seen only two of the flicks up for best movie, here are my picks for a few of the awards:

Best Movie-Aviator
Best Director-Martin Scorsese (Aviator)
Best Actor-Jamie Foxx (for his portrayal of Ray Charles in Ray)
Best Actress-Hillary Swank (didn't see Million Dollar Baby...just a politically correct hunch)

I predict higher than expected ratings because of Chris Rock. People always tune in for a train wreck, but he may surprise everyone. He can be hilarious without the blue material and Oscar could use some fresh material.

Is this straight white guy gonna be watching? It'll be on in the background while listening to Drudge.

Columnist changes mind on Terri Schiavo

Philly columnist, John Grogan, now believes Terri should allowed to live:

A Philadelphia Inquirer columnist who believes in the "right to die" has changed his mind about the Terri Schiavo case, pointing to "uncomfortable details" about her estranged husband that now lead him to side with the parents of the brain-damaged Florida woman, who are fighting to keep her alive.

John Grogan said in a column published today, "I no longer so blithely believe Schiavo's feeding tubes should be pulled and her life allowed to end. I'm no longer so sure her parents do not deserve a say in their daughter's future. I no longer am totally comfortable assuming her husband, Michael, who now has two children by another woman, is acting unselfishly."

Michael Schiavo has been living with his fiance Jodi Centonze since 1995 and has said he will marry her upon the death of his wife.

Grogan said he hasn't changed his opinion that everyone has a right to "die with dignity," but he believes that in the Schiavo case, the "devil is in the details, uncomfortable details that raise sticky moral dilemmas."

Terri Schiavo suffered severe brain damage in 1990 after collapsing. Michael Schiavo attributes it to a chemical imbalance caused by an eating disorder, but parents Robert and Mary Schindler believe he may have tried to strangle her.

The entire piece is linked.

Terri gets 3 Week Reprieve

My Way News is reporting:

Feb 25, 3:19 PM (ET)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A judge on Friday extended for three weeks a court order keeping Terri Schiavo's feeding tube in place, the latest in a series of legal developments in the bitter right-to-die case.

Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer made his decision after pleadings from the woman's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, that they need more time to pursue additional medical tests which might prove their brain-damaged daughter has more mental capabilities than previously thought.

The woman's husband, Michael Schiavo, says he is seeking to carry out his wife's wishes not to be kept alive artificially.

New Horowitz Website

Thanks to Nealz Nuze for calling this to our attention. It's David Horowitz's new website. A tool, really, to track the left. Check it out! It's worthy of linkage!

Embracing the Culture of Death?

Via Drudge, this epilogue to Hunter Thompson's suicide seems to illustrate the perverse celebration some have toward death; a violent death at that. Instead of seeing his suicide as a tragic termination of precious life, his wife, family and some friends see it as a joyous occasion and his widow is particularly pleased that he chose the right weapon so as to not make a bigger mess.

To the "unenlightened," it's difficult to grasp this reaction to a loved one's violently self-imposed death. It's understandable how one would want to minimize the trauma by minimizing the act, but that doesn't seem to be what's going on here. I could be reading it all wrong, but this incident seems to go hand in hand with the culture of death extant in this post-modern age of deconstructionism.

"When Is That Bitch Gonna Die?"

The not so comforting words from a not so loving husband, Michael Schiavo, as taken from a court deposition in 2003. Be sure to read Kevin McCullough's piece, Why Terri Schiavo is pro-choice.

Today is a big day for Terri and her family. They need our prayers!

"News Snipet" Wonders Who's a Right Winger in Politics

Jack Mercer, at News Snipet Blog, is running an essay contest and here are the parameters:

You will be addressing the following question:

In regard to United States politics, define "right-wing" and name at least two prominent right wing politicians and what makes them "right wing."

I can't think of one right wing politician, much less two.

The problem we have today is that our entire culture has been moving to the left for several generations; maybe since the founding of the nation. When the whole of society is trending leftward it just means that the left moves further to the left and the right moves closer to the center.

At this juncture, it seems that the left has almost reached critical mass, ie, virtual socialism. The right continues to move to the center. By comparison, today's so-called conservatives are on a par with the JFK liberals.

The net result of this societal leftward movement has been that many mainstream democrats (like Reagan) found or find themselves out in the cold because their party has left them, hence the term, "Reagan democrats."

The republican party has left the "right wingers" behind as well, but where else can they go? Some have found refuge in the libertarian party, but not without misgivings about their resulting irrelevance in elections.

I'm convinced politicos love this leftward phenomenon. Why? Because they are empowered by growing government and ever more dependent voters. Citizens independent of the government and government programs have no use for politicians bent on enlarging the already burgeoning bureaucracy, so it is in the politician's best interest to create as many dependent voters as possible to insure re-election (the ability to vote for one's own largesse is symtomatic of a society spiraling downward...Alexis de Tocqueville said, "The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.").

Furthermore, the Federal Government is the nation's largest employer, which, in itself, is anti-thetical to "right wing" conservativism.

Some people think of President Bush as a conservative, but it's my opinion that he's conservative only by comparison to left wing extremists like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Tom Daschle et al. He's certainly not "right wing."

The President may be more conservative than some of his republican predecessors and it appears that we may even be undergoing a conservative trend in many ways. These are net positives for right leaning folks. But for the societal momentum to change directions toward the right over the long term, this conservative trend will need to become even more conservative and it will need to endure well beyond the current administration.

The course of our nation isn't up to the politicians as much as it is up to the citizens. We pretty much get what we want and maybe even deserve when it comes to our government. When we realize wrong people get into power and do some real damage, it takes a long time to right the wrong that has taken place. It's that momentum thing.

Peggy Gets her Blog On

Peggy Noonan's current column is a departure. Today she pays homage to the blog. Check it out.

David Limbaugh's Take on Terri

David Limbaugh, an attorney, writes on his blog today:

"I realize most of this is old news to many of you, but I think, given the circumstances, there is reason to be skeptical of her husband's testimony that Terri told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Please tell me how likely it is that a young, healthy lady would have had this conversation with her husband at all? Granted, these discussions occur way more than they used to in society, but I don't think most people, except when forced to because they are in the process of their estate planning, contemplate sustaining an injury that would leave them incapacitated. And if Terry has no Will or Trust perhaps she didn't ever entertain such thoughts. Does evidence exist that she told anyone else? Should we allow such hearsay to stand in lieu of the formal requirements most states have? Shouldn't we demand strict proof when it comes to terminating human life? Or are we going to continue to be casual about it in our societal rush to devalue human life? And if Terri's husband truly is interested in remarrying, does he not have the most flagrant conflict of interest imaginable on an issue that just doesn't get any more important, i.e., terminating human life? What is going on -- or might be going on -- in front of our eyes is potentially horrifying. It may all be completely legitimate. I don't know. But again, there is no urgency that should preclude the state from ascertaining all of the facts, however long that takes. But pro-death forces are relentless and so continued opposition to a full airing of the facts is predictable."

Sweden Bans Scientific Opinions

Interesting article at Secular Blasphemy, via FreeRepublic, about Sweden's take on scientific opinions. If your scientific theory or opinion doesn't match the official Swedish dogma, you'd best keep it to yourself.

Sort of reminicent of Harvard isn't it?

The Soul of America

A must read about Terri Schiavo and the soul of America:

We live in a society where multibillion-dollar projects are cancelled or altered in order to protect certain animal habitats, and one that engages in Herculean labors to spare the lives of confessed serial rapists and killers like Michael Ross. Yet a family who wishes nothing more than to take home and care for their daughter – a woman guilty of nothing except maybe her fatal choice of a husband – may yet lose their battle for her life.

Please read the entire piece.

A Good Sign For Terri?

Just tried to go to terrisfight.org/ and it is shut down due to high traffic. That has to be a good thing! That she was granted a 48 hour stay offers some hope as well. May God hear and answer the millions of prayers going up for Terri and her family who are riding an emotional roller coaster few have ever ridden.

If Terri's estranged husband, Michael Schiavo, decided to starve his pet dog to death, wouldn't the SPCA, the city, PETA, local media, local school children and everybody else on the face of the earth, intervene to save the poor animal? No one would allow it. Furthermore, he would be arrested for cruelty to an animal. What gives with the law here? And what gives with the sense of proportion among those who would do anything to save a dumb animal but are willing to allow someone's helpless daughter and sister to die an ignominious and painful death?

All they are asking is that he grant Terri's parents guardianship over her. No other questions asked. No further financial responsibilities required. No strings attached. Zip, zero, nada!

The battle here is a spiritual one as are so many battles we encounter in the culture war. We can't win these battles on our own. To lose gives the enemy confidence that we don't have the spiritual wherewithal to win. We can't afford to lose this battle for Terri, her family or for the culture war. Please continue to fervently pray for victory in this battle.

Today in History

The History Channel details the account of the famous photograph of the Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi, sixty years ago today:

U.S. FLAG ON IWO JIMA:
February 23, 1945

During the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Division take the crest of Mount Suribachi, the island's highest peak and most strategic position, and raise the U.S. flag. Marine photographer Louis Lowery was with them and recorded the event. American soldiers fighting for control of Suribachi's slopes cheered the raising of the flag, and several hours later more Marines headed up to the crest with a larger flag. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, met them along the way and recorded the raising of the second flag along with a motion-picture cameraman.

Fox News has a blurb, Remembering Iwo Jima:

Sixty years ago this week, a U.S. assault began on a dry spit of land in the Pacific called Iwo Jima (search) — 110,000 of our troops went up against a group of 21,000 Japanese dead-enders, each committed to kill 10 Americans before they died. Our troops prevailed, but at a great cost — 6,821 Americans died at Iwo Jima. Just getting on the island took heroic efforts. Some 2,300 Marines were killed or wounded in the first 18 hours.

The famous photo reenacting the raising of the flag on Mt. Suribachi on February 23 was not the end but just the beginning of a month more of fighting. In fact, three of the six men in that photo were later killed in Iwo Jima.

More about Iwo Jima and the famous Marine Memorial here, here, and here.

Terri Granted a 48 Hour Stay

Just heard on the news that the court has granted Terri an extended 48 Hours .

Feelings vs Values

An excellent piece by Dennis Prager yesterday regarding the 'feelings' of the left versus the 'values' of the right, specifically of the Judeo-Christian variety. A sampling:

The entire edifice of moral relativism, a foundation of leftist ideology, is built on the notion of feelings deciding right and wrong. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

The animals-and-humans-are-equivalent movement is based entirely on feelings. People see chickens killed and lobsters boiled, feel for the animals, and shortly thereafter abandon thought completely, and equate chicken and lobster suffering to that of a person under the same circumstances.

The unprecedented support of liberals for radically redefining the basic institution of society, marriage and the family is another a product of feelings -- sympathy for homosexuals. Thinking through the effects of such a radical redefinition on society and its children is not a liberal concern.

The "self-esteem movement" -- now conceded to have been a great producer of mediocrity and narcissism -- was entirely a liberal invention based on feelings for kids.

The liberal preoccupation with whether America is loved or hated is also entirely feelings-based. The Left wants to be loved; the conservative wants to do what is right and deems world opinion fickle at best and immoral at worst.

Sexual harassment laws have created a feelings-industrial complex. The entire concept of "hostile work environment" is feelings based. If one woman resents a swimsuit calendar on a co-worker's desk, laws have now been passed whose sole purpose is to protect her from having uncomfortable feelings.

For liberals, the entire worth of the human fetus is determined by the mother's feelings. If she feels the nascent human life she is carrying is worth nothing, it is worth nothing. If she feels it is infinitely precious, it is infinitely precious.

So what's the big problem with feelings? Nothing's wrong with having feelings, unless you base your entire belief system on them:

To be fair, feelings also play a major role in many conservatives' beliefs. Patriotism is largely a feeling; religious faith is filled with emotion, and religion has too often been dictated by emotion. But far more conservative positions are based on "What is right?" rather than on "How do I feel?" That is why a religious woman who is pregnant but does not wish to be is far less likely to have an abortion than a secular woman in the same circumstances. Her values are higher than her feelings. And that, in a nutshell, is what our culture war is about -- Judeo-Christian values versus liberal/leftist feelings.

U.N. Wants Control of Internet

Just because they have proven themselves incompetent in every other capacity doesn't mean they are going away anytime soon. For some time now, they've been exploring ways to inflict an international tax on us. Now, they think they've found the way! Ah, yes, the world wide web...the most free wheeling entity on the face of the earth is the current object of desire for the globalist thugs at the U.N.

Thanks, but no thanks fellas! You can't even police yourselves, much less the most free enterprise on the face of the earth. Go take care of Haiti and straighten it out before taking on the world. Or how about your sexual preditors in the Congo and wherever else they lurk. What have you done for the world lately, Koffi, besides absconding with our tax dollars. Your time is up, Sir. If you think the internet people are going to sit back and yield to the likes of you and your ilk, then you must depend on CBSNBCABCCNNNYTWAPONPR for your news and information. Get real! You need to become more diverse in your news gathering.

Happy Birthday, George Washington

Today's Power Line pays homage to our greatest president:

Today is the anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Of all the great men of the revolutionary era to whom we owe our freedom, Washington's greatness was the rarest, the most necessary, and, at this remove (sic) in time, the hardest to understand.

Take, for example, Washington's contribution to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Washington's mere presence lent the undertaking and its handiwork the legitimacy that resulted in success. The convention's first order of business was the election of a presiding officer. Washington was of course the delegates' unanimous choice.

What better way to pay tribute to the father of our country than to read some of his famous letters or speeches. Here's one of my faves; George Washington's Farewell Address.

As per Dr. Thomas Sowell,"In honor of George Washington's birthday, you might want to read an excellent little book about his life. It is titled Founding Father, by Richard Brookhiser.

Encouraging Note from Tony Snow

Via Lucianne, Tony Snow's producer passes on the following message:

As always, thank you so much for your support and prayers. Tony called in to Ollie North who is hosting the show today and gave us all an update: Tony's surgery is scheduled for Saturday morning (Feb. 26). He says that it is "unfathomable" just how strong the power of prayer is and how amazing it is to have so many Americans sending their thoughts and prayers. He points out that it is "incredible just how decent the American people really are!"
I am trying to set up a good line of communication this week so we can get an update daily starting next week when we have news and I will keep you in my loop for that!

You're the best!
Griff

Schiavo Starvation Delayed for a Day

A last minute court order delayed Terri Schiavo's starvation for yet another day:

An appeals court today paved the way for Michael Schiavo to remove the feeding tube keeping his severely brain-damaged wife alive, but a local judge followed with an emergency stay barring any action until tomorrow afternoon.

According to a commentary at WorldNetDaily Jeb Bush has the authority to intervene in the matter:

Florida's state constitution says:

'All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness ... No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability.'

The fact that a circuit judge continues to ignore Florida statutes does not change the state constitution. Jeb Bush took an oath to uphold that constitution and yet – despite receiving 120,000 e-mails begging him to save her – he let Terri Schiavo starve (and dehydrate) for six days back in October 2003 until the Florida Legislature passed a law that gave him political cover.

Now that the courts have struck down "Terri's Law," don't be surprised if Jeb behaves as if the constitution he swore to uphold is still not relevant to Terri Schiavo. Don't be surprised if he allows her husband to slowly starve and dehydrate her to death.

As you know by now if you've seen the videos, Terri tries to communicate and is fully aware of what is going on around her. There is also medical evidence to suggest that a criminal investigation should be launched to determine who and what may have caused her current disabled state back in 1990.

Consider Bush's track record. On the second day of Terri's starvation (Oct. 16, 2003), Jeb said his legal staff could find no statutory justification to intervene in the court decision that approved Terri's death. Richard Thompson (chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center) shot back:

'Nobody is asking the governor to intervene in the civil case. We are asking him to initiate an independent criminal investigation based on a list of facts that suggest criminal wrongdoing. We have outlined for the governor some of these facts, and confirmed his constitutional authority to act.'

The fact that he has chosen to confuse the public by referring to the civil case, completely ignoring the request that we presented, reveals a lack of moral courage and political will. We expect the governor to do the right thing, and so far, he has refused to do so.

In the ensuing 16 months, Jeb has steadfastly refused to order the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to do an investigation. Is he more concerned about how he is perceived by the editorial boards of Florida's big daily papers (most of whom want Terri dead) than with saving an innocent woman's life?

Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family recently renewed his call "for the preservation of the life of Terri Schiavo." If we really want that to happen, we need to put the heat on Jeb. E-mail him at jeb.bush@myflorida.com.

The on again off again nature of this landmark case may tend to cause people to throw their hands up in dispair, or worse, apathy. For Terri and her family's sake, please don't let down or give up on Terri, the courts, or Jeb Bush. Pray that life will triumph over death here. There is much more to this case than Terri's survival. It's a benchmark case in the euthanasia movement. Do everything in your power to help fight this battle.

Schiavo's Parents Lose Appeal

According to the OrlandoSentinel, Terri Schiavo's parents have lost their appeal to keep their daughter alive:

The parents of severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo lost another crucial court appeal today - the day before a court order that could lead to the removal of her life-sustaining feeding tube.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland denied Bob and Mary Schindler's motion to delay issuing an order it plans to release at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. That order could allow Terri's husband, Michael, to seek removal of the feeding tube.

The Schindlers, however, are expected to ask Pinellas Circuit Judge George W. Greer for a stay to allow them to appeal again to higher courts. If Greer issues that stay, the tube will stay in place.

Pleas for prayers are being sought by hundreds of bloggers on behalf of Terri and her parents.

The High Price of Being a Jerk!

It can cost a lot to be a jerk. Take Dr. Esha Khoshnu, for example, who "cracked-wise" with a Mesa Airlines ticket counter and ended up getting her luggage blown up. Ya gotta read this short piece. It could save you time and money if you happen to be a jerk!

When will jerks learn that they almost always have to pay more than the rest of us?

As a small businessman for the last 27 years or so (I'm a Painting Contractor specializing in residential work), I've witnessed this principle first hand over and over. When a potential customer calls me to request an estimate, they presume to be interviewing me to see if my price and service suits them, when in reality, I'm the one who will decide whether or not I wish to work for them. If they seem to be honest, reasonable, polite people and would provide a suitable working environment for me, then I will give them a price that hopefully will get the job.

On the other hand, if the potential customer is unduly demanding, rude, and comes across as a jerk, they will get a price substantially higher than the civil person for whom I'd rather work. It's the way of the world.

The perceptive jerk will step back, reflect and ponder whether or not it would be worth it to change his unsavory personality. It would be the rare jerk, indeed, who would do that. Most jerks are totally oblivious to their debility. Too bad.

Internationally Appointed vs Locally Elected Officials

Few realize the influence International Non-Government Organizations (NGO's) (read, the U.N.) have in our country.

WorldNetDaily is running a column, "When bureaucrats control the country" which illustrates what can happen when citizens turn over their rights to unelected bureaucrats and how they can get those rights back (that's the hard part) :

The only way a government of, for and by the people can be controlled by the people is to throw the elected bums out of office when they enact laws or policies the people don't want. When policies that carry the weight of law are enacted and enforced by appointed professionals, the people no longer have the means to control their government.

Across the nation, watershed councils, historic districts, heritage areas, scenic highway commissions, rural development authorities, regional transportation boards, area planning councils and numerous other "multi-jurisdictional" authorities are emerging to diminish or remove policy-making authority from elected officials and transfer that authority to appointed government bureaucrats.

Sadly, far too many policies in this country are dictated by International NGO's. Spend a few minutes perusing Agenda 21 here and here.

U.N. support is at an all time low because of their blatant corruption and inefficacy. The time is rife for the U.S. to repudiate U.N. programs and treaties which threaten our sovereignty and serve to redistribute our wealth to corrupt dictatorships. If we, as a people and a country, wish to send aide to foreign countries in need, we can easily do so without the intervention of the scandal ridden U.N.

Now, more than ever, while the U.N. is in a weakened disreputable state, is it time for Americans to foil the efforts of the U.N. to undermine our sovereignty. There are those who wish to revitalize the U.N. here and abroad and if that happens, and a newly strengthened body emerges, the tentacles of U.N. policies will be ever more difficult to remove.

"The Bush Tapes"

Via Lucianne and Drudge, The New York Times will be reporting tomorrow some of the secretly recorded conversations then Gov. Bush had with friend and confidant, Doug Wead, former aide to "Bush 41."

Aside from Mr. Wead's disloyalty to his friend, I don't see anything damaging in this "disclosure." If the left is going to be exorcised over this, it will only make them look bad.

A Special Night for Our Little Girl

Tonite, our little girl is getting engaged to the man of her dreams and she doesn't even suspect it.

Three days ago her (to be) fiance, whom we affectionately call our "boyfriend-in-law," called to say he was nearby and asked if he could come over. "Sure," I said, "but your sweetie isn't here." Minutes later he was at the door and immediately rushed to the bathroom, which, to me explained why he needed to stop by.

"Mom" and I were just putzing around in the kitchen when Eric approached us with purpose in his eyes and we both knew what was coming next....the respectfully thought out speech which would lead up to the request for the hand of our daughter in marriage. It was a good speech, but we were already convinced he loved our daughter and was prepared to care for her the rest of their lives.

I'm pretty sure it's no longer a societal norm to partake of that custom, but since I did it, we fully expected any man ballsy enough to marry our daughter should be ballsy enough to ask for our permission to marry her.

He told us he planned to propose to her tonite so we've had a few days to ponder the inevitability that our little girl is soon to be married. Just because it was inevitable doesn't mean we're necessarily ready to turn her loose. Afterall, she's our little girl!

But we couldn't be happier for her. We're happy for both of them. Our prayers have been answered that God would provide a man worthy of her; someone who loves, respects and holds her on a pedestal and has the education and wherewithal to provide for her. He comes from a loving family and will be a good father and role model for their kids and hopefully, someone who will always look to God for wisdom, guidance and direction as he leads their family through the good times and bad times.

If you happen to stumble upon this, my precious little girl, your mom and I give you and Eric our every blessing on your engagement and upcoming marriage. We love you both and wish for you the very best of everything. Always put God first in your life; love and cherish each other with all your heart and everything will fall into place.

We hope this will have been a most memorable evening for you both. We're so happy for you! We love you so much, Sweetie!

Blogging, Talk Radio and Media Wars

Talk show host and blogger, Brian Maloney at The Radio Equalizer has an interesting take on the blogosphere. He thinks blogging will become bigger than talk radio; local talk radio, that is. He's probably right; local radio talk shows are losing out to the national shows, but the need for airing local issues continues to exist. Blogs are providing a viable alternative for those who used to depend on local talk shows for local information.

Brian has another piece you may find interesting about the looming war to be waged against bloggers. He knows firsthand what that war will be like...he was fired for airing his views on "Rathergate."

Check out his linked posts.

Bloggers for Terri Schiavo

Be sure to visit Stand in the Trenches and Terrisfight.org for some updates and links regarding Terri's fight for survival.

Talk Radio's Obligatory Topic Du Jour

Talk show hosts, far and wide, couldn't resist this topic today: Lobsters Do Not Feel Pain. Every now and then an irresistible subject comes along on which every talk show host feels the need to comment. Today it was the "unfeeling lobster."

While the folks at PETA loath these type of reports, I'm always curious why people never question whether or not unborn babies, "fetuses, zygotes, or unviable tissue masses" may feel pain while undergoing an abortion. Ever heard that argument against abortion? If you have, you don't hear it that often.

Isn't it odd that the leftist groups who go to the ends of the earth to protest the death of any and every baby seal, whale, polar bear, bald eagle or Kentucky pre-fried chicken are absolutely silent on the matter of unborn babies.

GroupThink, the Arts and Croissants Crowd and "The Gates"

You can't not like it. "The Gates", that is...:

"The Gates" — the $20 million what-the-hell-is-this-thingamabob that's spread out across Central Park like an endless row of construction cones shutting down two lanes on Interstate 95 — is a perfect example of how you can get the famously argumentative and opinionated leadership class in New York City to march in cultural lockstep.

Anxiety about not being with-it enough continues to be the dominant aspect of the cultural life of New York. Nobody knows that better than Christo and Jeanne-Claude — the brilliantly entrepreneurial snake-oil salesmen who designed "The Gates" and managed after 25 years to foist it (or them) on Central Park for a couple of weeks.

You weren't going to catch anybody in Central Park making a negative peep about the whole project, lest he or she be considered uncool, uncouth, narrow-minded, philistine, incapable of recognizing innovative art when he saw it.

So what if walking through the park simulated nothing so much as traveling through a car wash without the car?

If either of my readers has ever heard the term, "mind numbed robots," and applied it to the audience of a certain radio talk show host, I bid you to reconsider the intended focus of that pejorative phrase and ponder whether or not the groupthinking myrmadonic fans of "The Gates" might, themselves, qualify for that marginalized moniker.

The 10 Worst Dictators

According to Parade Magazine, these are the 10 worst dictators in the world:

The ‘top’ ten

1) Omar al-Bashmir of Sudan
2) Kim Jong Il of North Korea
3) Than Shwe of Burma
4) Hu Jintao of China
5) Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
6) Col Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya
7) General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan
8) Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan
9) Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
10) Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea

...which begs the question, who are the 10 'best' dictators?

A Quote to Remember!

From the late, great Ronaldus Magnus:

“…man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.”

~ Ronald Reagan

How Does a National I.D. Card Protect Our Borders?

Congressman Ron Paul (R TX) sometimes gets a critical rap for being "against" so many Congressional initiatives. It shouldn't be surprising. Rep. Paul is a strict Constitutionalist and adheres to the Constitution probably more than any other U.S. Congressman. When the rare politician and his constituents stand strictly and unwaveringly for the Constitution, they are often subjected to nominal name calling, at the very least (the term "extremist" or "whacked out extremist" come to mind), but then being right usually doesn't elicit the praise of populists.

Rep. Paul is currently expressing concern for HR 418-- A National ID Bill Masquerading as Immigration Reform. Here are a couple of problems he has with the bill:

This bill establishes a massive, centrally-coordinated database of highly personal information about American citizens: at a minimum their name, date of birth, place of residence, Social Security number, and physical and possibly other characteristics. What is even more disturbing is that, by mandating that states participate in the “Drivers License Agreement,” this bill creates a massive database of sensitive information on American citizens that will be shared with Canada and Mexico!

This bill could have a chilling effect on the exercise of our constitutionally guaranteed rights. It re-defines "terrorism" in broad new terms that could well include members of firearms rights and anti-abortion groups, or other such groups as determined by whoever is in power at the time. There are no prohibitions against including such information in the database as information about a person’s exercise of First Amendment rights or about a person’s appearance on a registry of firearms owners.

This legislation gives authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand required information on driver’s licenses, potentially including such biometric information as retina scans, finger prints, DNA information, and even Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) radio tracking technology. Including such technology as RFID would mean that the federal government, as well as the governments of Canada and Mexico, would know where Americans are at all time of the day and night.

Be sure to read the rest of his commentary. It's not lengthy. Status and summary of HR 418 can be found here.

Ron Paul is chairman of The Liberty Committee where more information regarding HR 418 can be found.

Democracy Is Not Freedom is a recent piece by Rep. Paul you won't want to miss.

Rush Weighs in: "Men in Black is a must-read"

You've read David's review, now read Rush's.

There are Two Kinds of People...

...Those who want Terri Schiavo to live and those who want her dead.

I don't get it. Why the urgent need to let her die? Her parents just want to assume guardianship and they will take care of her as any loving set of parents would do, while her husband insists on allowing her to die a painful death by starvation. Enter Dr. Dobson :

"...Citing the recent, spontaneous recovery of Sarah Scantlin after 20 years of memory loss and inability to speak.

Dobson said Schiavo - the brain-injured Florida woman whose parents are battling her husband in court to save her life - deserves the same chance at life Scantlin was given.

"Both cases have involved women who suffered debilitating injuries and continued to live in a disabled state.," said Dobson. "Today we celebrate the news that Ms. Scantlin has regained her memory and ability to speak, and is apparently on the road to recovery."

Kudos to Dr. Dobson for taking on this fight. Not only is this a fight for Terri's life, but it may have a far reaching effect on the future of euthanasia in our country.

You Mean It was OK before the Ban?

U.N. "peacekeepers" have been banned, BANNED from having sex with the locals in the Congo:

THE United Nations has banned its peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo from having sex with local people but will keep handing out free condoms to its forces.

Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General, imposed the new “non-fraternisation” rules, including a night-time curfew at military bases, in response to reports of widespread sexual exploitation by UN troops of under-age girls.

Presumedly, before this ban, it was perfectly acceptable for the piecekeepers to rape women and children... else, why the ban?

What you can do!

"The Incumbent Protection Act "

If you're not familiar with the "Incumbent Protection Act," it's how Rush, not so lovingly, refers to the McCain-Feingold law. You know the one; "there's too much money in politics and we're all being corrupted by it so we need to curtail the amount of money spent on elections"...yada yada yada...The attempt to stifle free speech via the free flow of money apparently failed because we saw the emergence of the famous "527" groups like MoveOn.com and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (fortunately!).

The McCains and Feingolds are still unhappy campers, maybe because they saw the incredible influence free speech actually can have on a campaign, especially if you try to stifle it. There's a War on Speech going on in Congress and the folks at TCS are covering it:

Last week, a bill was introduced in the Senate that would force 527s to register with the Federal Election Commission and restrict the groups' ability to raise and spend money.

The bill enjoys the support of Trent Lott, who had been one of 41 senators to vote against McCain-Feingold. Now, however, he's decided that any money given by wealthy individuals is "sewer money."

And why is this money so dirty suddenly?

"It was an unintended consequence of McCain-Feingold. Instead of going to the parties, rich people are putting money into these 527s in the dark of night," Lott told the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss.

In other words, some of those rich people might be trying to throw out incumbents.

McCain is even more blatant about the incumbent-protection angle. As The Washington Times reported last week, "McCain said lawmakers should support the bill out of self-interest, because it would prevent a rich activist from trying to defeat an incumbent by directing money into a political race through a 527 organization."

*Note to electorate: guns don't kill, and money doesn't corrupt. People kill, and willing politicians allow themselves to be corrupted!

U.N at a Crossroads or a Dead End?

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell co-chair the Task Force on the United Nations recently mandated by Congress to "explore approaches to strengthening the U.N." Together, they wrote a column in today's Washington Times to explain some of the goals of the task force:

We are personally committed to helping the United States and the United Nations make the right choices at this crossroads. That is why we have agreed to co-chair a task force authorized by Congress to explore approaches to strengthening the United Nations.
This task force, organized by the U.S. Institute of Peace, has been directed by Congress, at the behest of Rep. Frank Wolf, chairman of the House Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Subcommittee, to find ways to help the United Nations to realize more fully the purposes of its charter.

As much as I admire and respect Speaker Gingrich, I cringe upon reading his strong recommendations to further strengthen this failed institution with the full backing and fiduciary means of Congress (yours and my hard earned tax dollars) required to fix the unfixable. We don't need a stronger U.N., we need a weaker, less influential U.N. who can't impose themselves or their policies on sovereign nations. We don't need them. No one needs them. They need us (read, our money) for the sole purpose of distributing our wealth to the rest of the world, while misdirecting a disproportionate amount for their own corrupt purposes.

Even more ominous than the U.N. financial corruption is the ability of the U.N. to encroach upon our sacred sovereignty by way of international treaties. The Kyoto Protocol comes to mind as does the Law Of The Sea Treaty (another good piece on the 'Sea Treaty' is posted at Freedom Alliance).

Fortunately, Kyoto died a natural death while the threat of the "Sea Treaty" looms ahead.
While many believe the U.N. is irrelevant and on its last leg, the" international community" here and abroad is not going to let it go down without a hurculean fight.

Quote of the Day

From Ann Coulter's column The little Injun that could:

"If Ward Churchill loses his job teaching at the University of Colorado, he could end up giving Howard Dean a real run for his money to head the Democratic National Committee."

Makes you want to read the rest of the column, huh!

Is Abortion Causing "Black Genocide"?

Quite frankly, genocide is genocide, regardless of race, creed or color, if you ask me, but some pro-life activists are saying that Blacks are disproportionate victims of abortion:

(CNSNews.com) - During America's commemoration of Black History Month, some pro-life activists are charging that legalized abortion has led to a "black genocide" of more than 14 million unborn African-American babies. They condemn, in particular, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, whose president Gloria Feldt announced last week that she's resigning.

"For every five African-American women who get pregnant, three have an abortion," Clenard Childress Jr., director of the Northeast Chapter of the Life Education And Resource Network, told the Cybercast News Service. "This is a horrific injustice to women, and it's decimating our communities."

As this piece goes on to point out, one doesn't have to go back all that far in the history of Planned Parenthood to find their link to eugenics:

Whether intentional or not, he said, the abortion industry is following in the footsteps of Planned Parenthood's "founding mother," Margaret Sanger, a leader in the eugenics movement who in 1939 created the so-called "Negro Project" to promote birth control to black women.

The sooner Blacks realize how horrifically they've been sold out by the left, the better. Why aren't the "Black Leaders" crying "FOUL!" Who are they working for anyway? If 3 out of 5 Black pregnant women get an abortion, the Black community is barely holding their own. Where's the outrage among Black fathers and community leaders? How long will they allow themselves to be held captive by the leftists?

The REAL Problem with Ward Churchill!

Ward Churchill, the whacked out leftist college professor, is prolonging his 10 minutes of fame, thanks to a lot of folks who are easliy bent out of shape by what people say. I guess it's that "right to not be offended" issue raising its ugly head again. If you need a little background on Dr. Churchill, go here and here and way too many other places.

I don't see the big deal really, and I wish people who knew better would just shut up and let him make a fool of himself. Maybe it's good in one sense to protest his rants so more people will see how radical he and others like him in academia really are...as are those who support him. Still, enough is enough.

Don't get me wrong; I hardly support him, but I wholeheartedly believe he has every right on God's green earth to spout whatever tripe he wishes. Likewise, parents, patrons, sponsors, administrators, etc have every right in the world to cut him off financially. Let him speak out!

BUT, and this is a big but; those on the opposite side of his leftist idealism have the same freedom of speech, including those who eschew "alternative lifestyles" and/or abortion. Freedom of speech is a freedom for everyone, regardless of their political bent. Diversity and tolerance, remember?

So if you are on the conservative side of the isle demanding the removal of this demented professor, whereof do you speak, O' short-sighted one? Don't you know that the left wants to curb your speech (as well as your thoughts)? What goes around comes around, so you best be careful who you want to shut up.

Now, here's the real scoop on this Churchill character...and this may very well be the cause of his ultimate demise, from the left, no less. The most disgusting thing about this man is that he smokes! Yup!! No kidding! You'd think as a left-wing, professorial, academic, politically correct elitist, he would know better. I wouldn't have believed it myself, but I witnessed the disgusting crime firsthand, myself, on FoxNews (those bastards!). He actually had the gall to take a big drag on a cigarette in front of the cameras. This may be the end of his tenure! Free speech be damned! He smokes!!!

David Limbaugh Reviews Men in Black

David Limbaugh's new column, which reviews Men In Black, is posted here and at Townhall. Here's a sample:

When we understand that our liberties depend on the sophisticated scheme of institutional limitations the Framers of the Constitution imposed on the federal government, we will grasp the urgency of the message of Mark Levin's new book, "Men in Black."

In "Men in Black," Levin takes us on an engrossing ride through history detailing how the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself a sort of tyrannical power that threatens our constitutional architecture and freedom.

We often hear of the dangers of an unchecked judiciary. But few of us have the historical, legal and constitutional background that sets this menacing problem in context. In this book, Levin provides that context in a remarkably readable work that at once educates and captivates.

"Men in Black" is a primer on the United States Constitution as well as a clarion call to liberty lovers to wake up to the alarming damage the Court continues to inflict on our republic. Levin documents how the Court has morphed into a super-legislature, legislating from the bench rather than honoring its constitutional role of interpreting the laws.

This is an important column by Limbaugh about an important book.

Americans can't afford to let this issue casually slip by them. Our future as a sovereign nation, independent of the "international community" depends on a Supreme Court and judiciary that recognizes the Constitution as the final arbiter of the law as opposed to some judge's political agenda.

We cannot tolerate judges who look to international law for the basis of their rulings. Five out of the nine supremes have expressed opinions that they can and do consider extra-constitutional law to determine decisions. Where's the logic? Where's the outrage?

Maybe Levin's book can awaken more Americans to the freedom threatening crisis in our courts.

An Important Book

Mark Levin's new book, Men In Black-How the Supreme Court is Destroying America, is now available. It's an important book that needs to be purchased and read and kept on the best seller list for months to come. The book is about the Supreme Court and how they have become a virtual oligarchy with outright disregard for the Constitution. Levin, a constitutionalist, attorney, founder and president of Landmark Legal Foundation, is passionate about the Constitution and decries the tyrannical tactics of the judiciary. The book is available wherever books are sold. Get it!

More about the book at David Limbaugh's blog. Watch for an upcoming column on Levin and the book.

Gingrich: Five threats to American Way of Life

Via RealClearPolitics, former Speaker Newt Gringrich has spelled out five things that threaten our American way of life:

The first threat is the potential for Islamic terrorists and rogue dictatorships to acquire and use nuclear or biological weapons. The second is the effort to drive God out of American public life. The third is the possibility that America will lose the patriotic sense of itself as a singular civilization. The fourth is that America's economic supremacy will eventually yield to China and India because of failing schools and weakening scientific and technological leadership. The fifth is that an aging America's demands on Social Security, Medicare, and related government programs will collapse the current system.

Gingrich believes these threats can be defeated but vigilance and immediacy are necessary to prevail:

For this generation to pass on our nation's blessings, we need a grassroots movement that demands profound change to defeat fundamental threats to our way of life. This movement must be focused on values, solutions, and on telling the truth even when it is controversial.

"Got Salt?"

If faith plays even a small part in your life, you owe it to yourself to read Doug Giles' most recent column Got Salt? Here's a sample:

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Matthew 5:13.

In Jesus' first tape series, the Sermon on the Mount, He told His followers that He expected them to be salt, and that if they weren't, then they were good for nothing. Yeee-Ouch! I know that doesn't fit with postmodernism's bearded lady Jesus, but these are the recorded original words of the rebel from Galilee. Yep... Jesus, in his wonderful word-picture way, essentially said to his apprentices, you had better rock and rock hard or you're fired!

And you thought that Trump was brutal.

Anything but meek, Christ condemned weak stances with respect to courage and truth and condoned only the bold. The Analogy Master said we're to fret, bite, preserve and spice things up, just like salt.

The prophets, apostles and postbiblical stalwarts of positive biblical change were salty dogs. They were raw and fiery. They were not genteel placaters of the people. You were not going to forget what the biblical heavyweights said or go to sleep while they said it.

For instance... if you worshipped idols in Jeremiah's day, the salt of his message was going to hurt your hubris. Jeremiah didn't acquiesce to the PC stuff of his time. He let loose on the specific junk that his homeland was embracing, junk which also happened to be the undoing of their national greatness.

Giles is never boring and always refreshingly irreligious...be sure to read the entire piece.

The conjured images of a helpless baby Jesus in a manger or the gaggingly effete long haired image seen in churches around the world is an injustice to the all powerful ruler of the universe.

Likewise the pages of the Bible would surprise, astound, captivate and even titillate the uninitiated reader. Matthew 5 isn't a bad starting point.

People "of Priviledge" Joining the Armed Forces

According to an AP story in the The Modesto Bee:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - (Dr. Laura) Schlessinger told some 300 people at a 425th Civil Affairs Battalion event on Saturday that her son, 19-year-old Deryk Bishop, will join the U.S. Special Forces later this year - a mission that could take him to the Middle East.

Bishop, who enlisted last year, joined his mother on stage to explain his reasons for signing up. He told the crowd at the Calvary Chapel that he resented the way Americans criticize the war without recognizing soldiers' sacrifices - a theme echoed by his mother"

A related note: my wife works in an OB/GYN clinic here in Dallas and a Military Recruiter came in the office with his pregnant wife last week. As they were talking about Iraq and his recruiting duties, my wife asked him how the recruiting numbers were holding up. He said the numbers were very good at his office (not sure which branch of the service he was in) and he said you wouldn't believe the numbers of doctors and lawyers who come in to sign up. When that happens they are routinely sent for a "psych eval" just to make sure they're mentally stable. The reasoning goes that they must be crazy to want to leave a successful profession to fight in a war. Without exception, he said, "they just want to help out any way they can," whatever the cost. We're not hearing many stories like this from the old media.

Ronald Reagan's Birthday Today

Via Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog, here's a comprehensive compilation of Reagan tributes on this, his 94th birthday. Of course, the celebration of his legacy today wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library.

Be sure to check out Secret Service agent John Barletta's tribute:

The former agent said he had lunch with Mrs. Reagan about a month ago and "it was the first time she laughed in a long time. We did a lot of remember whens."

Barletta cares for Reagan's horse Sgt. Murphy, a huge (16.1 hands) quarterhorse/thoroughbred mix. It was the last horse ridden by Reagan before the onset of Alzheimer's limited his activities.

"I miss him a lot," the 50-year-old agent said. "I got to be so close to him. I was eight years in the White House with him," the 50-year-old Barletta said, adding he hadn't seen Reagan for several years before his death."

"General Mattis. Your country salutes you"

There's a must read piece at Tech Central Station this weekend about the brouhaha some have made over the "insensitive" comments by General Mattis. Go there. Read it. And salute General Mattis and so many others who fearlessly and even gladly do our country's heavy lifting.

Another essential piece is over at Froggy Ruminations. Don't miss either of these commentaries.

Finding Time for God in a Busy World

From my friend, Lenny Cacchio,

If God created the world in six days and the man and the woman on the sixth of those days, it is instructive that God’s next act was to take a break. After the busy-ness of creating and the joy of bringing to life two creatures made in his own image, God could have told them to get to work. Instead, he stopped and took time to build something more important than the dressing and keeping of his garden. He took a break so they could get to know each other.

I fear sometimes that in our 21st Century lives we spend so much time doing that we forget about being. For many of us who have children, activities and responsibilities have taken over our lives, and we find ourselves chauffeuring from here to there almost every night of the week, sometimes trying to be in too many places at the same time. Add in the responsibilities of earning a living and serving in various volunteer capacities, and it is no wonder that so many of us lack the time to spend with our Creator. That’s a shame, and I am convinced God thinks so too. While he did intend us to be doers (that is, to accomplish things), he also intended us to be relational beings. Man was put on the earth to dress it and keep it, but he was incomplete without a soul mate with whom to share it. And the first thing God did after putting the man and the woman together was to give them time off to allow them to get to know each other – and Him -- better.

The Commandment says to work six days, and that’s a big part of the command – work, and do, and accomplish, for that is a part of our mandate. It also commands us to take a break, for we are more than workers -- we are beings, beings born for relationships. Once a week it makes sense to stop as God did, to cease from our physical work and the busy-ness of our lives, and to nurture the eternal relationships of friends, family, and God. The idea of a Sabbath rest reminds us that this world and all the things in it will pass away, but the relationships we build will last forever.

The world does its best to cause us to forget that. We are tempted to focus on the now rather than on eternity, and that can too easily succumb to the slavery of busy-ness if we have no time to reflect on the larger matters. It is accurate to say that our world can rob us of our personhood and make us slaves to its demands.

It is curious that the Fourth Commandment attaches itself to a rationale that addresses the issue of slavery: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. … remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:13-15)

Anybody who believes that the Sabbath is bondage needs to read again the above passage. We were given the Sabbath to remind us that slaves don’t get a day off. It is a commemoration of freedom, which is one of the great gifts that God intends all to have. He gave the Sabbath day to show that we are not slaves, and by claiming that day, we are claiming the freedom we have in Christ and our God-given right to build our relationships rather than our earthly empires.

Lenny Cacchio

The People's Republic of Washington State vs. Good Folks

A surrealistic battle is taking place in Washington State between a family owned business and the Department of Labor and Industries. Like every family run business which has ever existed, these kids were learning the work ethic as well as a trade by helping their dad. Unfortunately, they weren't old enough to "legally" work and now the family is facing debilitating fines.

This story exemplifies how out of control big gov't does more harm to society than good. These people need our prayers and a whole lot of a publicity to shame these miserable bureaucrats. This is just plain wrong!

You can read more about this family at their website, FamiliesThatWork.org. These good folks need our support!

Why Should PETA be Tax-exempt?

While putzing around the kitchen this evening waiting for the SOTU speech, I heard this great ad on the FoxNews Channel encouraging people to sign a petition countering PETA's tax exempt status. So, I went to the site and did my duty. Read this paragraph and you might want to sign the petition yourself:

Despite its deceptively warm-and-fuzzy public image, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has donated over $150,000 to criminal activists -- including those jailed for arson, burglary, and even attempted murder. In 2001, PETA donated $1,500 to the North American Earth Liberation Front, a criminal organization that the FBI classifies as "domestic terrorists." And since 2000, rank-and-file PETA activists have been arrested over 80 times for breaking various laws during PETA protests. Charges included felony obstruction of government property, criminal mischief, assaulting a cabinet official, felony vandalism, performing obscene acts in public, destruction of federal property, and burglary.

Visit their homepage. It's linkworthy.

Excellent SOTU Data Site

Via David Limbaugh, ABC News has a good "go to" site for all sorts of SOTU info. Check it out.

Known by Your Enemies

What right minded person wouldn't want the non-endorsement of a thug dictator? President Bush got one today from Castro who called the president "deranged":

HAVANA - In his first public remarks since the United States dubbed Cuba an outpost of tyranny, Fidel Castro (news - web sites) called President Bush (news - web sites) "deranged" and belittled recent improvements in relations between Cuba and Europe.

No doubt some on the left will see this as proof that Bush is not "well thought of" in the "international community." The left...ya gotta love 'em!

Jesse Helms: "Keep Clinton out of UN"

Some say President Clinton wouldn't be eligible to become Sec/Gen of the UN because we are a member of the Security Council and the Sec/Gen must be from a non-member nation. What rule made by man cannot be changed, amended or revised? Apparently Jesse Helms is concerned about Bill Clinton running the United Nations:

CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Bill Clinton in charge of the United Nations?

That's the image former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms is dangling in front of his ardent supporters in a letter aimed at raising money for his senatorial library.

In the letter, the 83-year-old Republican, who left office in 2003 after five terms, worries that the former president has aspirations to lead the U.N. after Kofi Annan retires next year.

Clinton Handpicked by Annan to be U.N. Tsunami Envoy

He's edging closer to his dream job of U.N. Secretary General. Maybe this will serve as his internship.

Carson's Last Monologue

Back from vacation, David Letterman, last night paid tribute to his mentor, Johnny Carson. After the monologue, while Letterman was musing about Carson, he told the audience that his entire monologue was written by Carson. Wish I'd paid closer attention to it!.

What's a Secular Union to Do?

Seems that religion isn't quite yet dead in the secular EU and it seems to be a thorn in the flesh of the established ruling elitists. As secularism's popularity in the US dominates the urban areas, such is the case in Europe where "town vs. country" conflicts are taking hold.

Ever since 1945, European elites have preferred their politics to be technocratic — mainly managing capitalism for the common good, rather than tackling private issues of faith and morality. This is partly because Europeans are less passionate about religion. Only one in 10 French people says religion plays an important role in his or her life. But lately, cultural issues have begun to force their way back into the mainstream of European politics, stoked by three things...

Check out those three things. How humiliating for an upstanding secular icon, such as the EU, to be forced to deal with religious retrogression. This is beyond them.

Inability or Refusal to Recognize Evil

Dennis Prager's most recent column, The left is worth nothing, at Townhall.com, is sure to evoke derision. He addresses those who refuse or are unable to recognize evil. Here's a portion, but you owe it to yourself to read the entire piece:

Since the 1960s, with few exceptions, on the greatest questions of good and evil, the Left has either been neutral toward or actively supported evil. The Left could not identify communism as evil; has been neutral toward or actually supported the anti-democratic pro-terrorist Palestinians against the liberal democracy called Israel; and has found it impossible to support the war for democracy and against an Arab/Muslim enemy in Iraq as evil as any fascist the Left ever claimed to hate.

There were intellectually and morally honest arguments against going to war in Iraq. But once the war began, a moral person could not oppose it. No moral person could hope for, let alone act on behalf of, a victory for the Arab/Islamic fascists. Just ask yourself but two questions: If America wins, will there be an increase or decrease in goodness in Iraq and in the world? And then ask what would happen if the Al Qaeda/Zarqawi/Baathists win.

It brings me no pleasure to describe opponents of the Iraqi war as "worth nothing." I know otherwise fine, decent people who oppose the war. So I sincerely apologize for the insult.

You'll be left dangling if you don't go and read the entire column. Prager is always an instructive, if not inspiring read.