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5.12.2001 1:54 PM Cathy Young comments on the Supreme Court's disturbing ruling that arrests for warrantless minor offenses are not unconstitutional. She doesn't see a consistent defender of the Bill of Rights among the nine justices. Justice Thomas comes closest, but he backed the arrest ruling. "5-Justice Bloc Imperils Rights" [via Unknown News] Sean Hackbarth | 5.10.2001 5:32 PM The House of Representatives voted to withhold some U.N. dues because the U.S. got booted off the human rights commission (and was replaced with Sudan!). For whatever reason, anytime Congress can stop the U.N. from getting money to waste on worthless, collectivist, anti-American programs, I consider it a victory. That's not to say the U.N. shouldn't exist. A forum where nations can come together to resolve disputes and foster new ideas is beneficial. The U.N. should be a place to talk. It shouldn't be an entity empowered to send peace-keeping troops to the far corners of the earth or to interfere in the legitimate sovereignty of nations. "House Votes to Withhold Some U.N. Dues" Sean Hackbarth | 5.9.2001 2:00 PM Mallard Fillmore on the U.S. Postal Service. And these bozos want to raise rates on their monopoly service. Sean Hackbarth | 1:57 PM Paul Gigot observes that "The bigger story here is that Democrats have decided to turn judicial selection into political blood-sport." "Blue Slip" Sean Hackbarth | 1:41 PM Political Centrists are just big spenders who don't want to appear to be big spenders. Here's a quote from a story on the budget bill:
I have a feeling they just pulled that number out of thin air. If you gave any of these "centrist" Senators $6 billion, they wouldn't have any idea what to do with it. Yet they want to empower a failed federal bureaucracy with even more cash. They don't know what that money will be wasted on, and they won't care either because as long as it's devoted "to the children" it meets political muster. Homeschooling sounds better all the time. "Budget Vote May Hang on Education" Sean Hackbarth | 1:31 PM Today, President Bush announces his first batch of federal court nominees. This first group of 11 includes three women, two blacks, and two hispanics. While these nominees appear moderate, they all believe in "judicial restraint." One person not on the list was Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA). The conservative lawmaker is opposed by both of California's liberal Senators. Senate Democrats are upset. They may claim that they haven't been consulted enough, but it's all a ruze to delay these confirmations. Call it the Strom Thurmon Death Watch. The Senate is split 50-50. On any tie votes, Vice President Dick Cheney breaks the tie. If Sen. Thurmon (R-SC) were to move on to a better place (ie. die), the Democratic governor would probably appoint a Democrat to fill the post giving Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) control. A Democratic controlled Senate could then dictate what nominees would be approved. So, while people like Daschle and Sen. Leahy (D-VT) preen about not being adequately consulted, remember that this is one part of a bigger plan to stall judicial confirmations as long a possible. It sounds demented, but that's power politics in D.C. It's not pretty, but it's reality. "Bush Set to Offer First Group of Judicial Picks" "Bush Judicial Nominations Avoid Controversial Picks" "Texan Likely Among Appellate Nominees" Sean Hackbarth | 5.8.2001 1:53 PM Parents, don't fret anymore. A bunch of shrinks said it's ok to read Harry Potter. I tried to finish the first book, but got bored 3/4 of the way through. I didn't find anything bad about the story or the characters. It just felt like I was reading a children's book (which I was). It's great seeing kids getting so enthralled by the stories. It's also reassuring that the Harry Potter books aren't filled with angst-ridden nihlists who see little good in the world. They are stories of good versus evil with good winning and Harry growing up in the process. "Harry Potter and the Shrinks" Sean Hackbarth | 1:44 PM The U.S. won't violate the ABM treaty if it builds a missile defense system. All President Bush has to do is tell Russia that it will withdraw from the treaty. Six months later the U.S. would not be bound by it. Of course, that assumes that the ABM treaty is still in effect. One of the parties to it (U.S.S.R.) doesn't exist anymore. "What Does "Abrogate" Mean?" Sean Hackbarth | 1:38 PM Words mean things. So Mike Potemra reviewed The Dictionary of Dangerous Words. "Danger Zone for Double-Talk" Sean Hackbarth | 5.6.2001 11:41 PM This passage illustrates why I hate most literary criticism:
Well, much of the postmodern pap I've read is often "confused," which makes it seem more complicated than it actually is. Deconstructionsim is simply a way for some academics to justify their PhDs by draping papers and books in jargon-filled, unintelligible, Marxist babble. "Marxist Literary Critics Are Following Me!" Sean Hackbarth | 11:14 PM North Korea will suffer another famine this year. This tragedy can be avoided, but that would require that totalitarian state to give up its power and acknowledge the God-given rights all North Koreans possess. A European Union (EU) delegation visiting the Communist state offered fertilizer and ag equipment. They should have demanded privatization of agriculture. The profit motive would certainly do a better job of feeding those people than centralized planning. "N. Korea Says It's Facing Another Famine" [via Drudge] Sean Hackbarth | 10:45 PM Wisconsin Democrats in one house of the state legislature recently dumped their female leader. The Democrats have also never had a black or other minority as a legislative leader. Local radio yapper and columnists, Mark Belling, makes this observation:
That "company" is none other than the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Belling then concludes with this pithy remark:
"Democrats Preach Diversity but Practice as White Madison Males" Sean Hackbarth | |
ABOUT When I'm not pondering the fate of the universe, I'm reading, writing, or selling books. Here you'll find comments on politics, culture, books, and music. Not necessarily in that order. MAILBOX sean--at--theamericanmind.com  Support democracy and human rights in Iraq! 
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