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Browse by Category
Power Line summarizes the last
HUMOR: ScrappleFace does it again.
Libertarian Congressional candidate Stephanie Sailor
PaleoWatch: Some sense has come
Need a reason to vote
Power Line is covering the
To GOP readers in Minnesota,
David Horowitz labels last weekend's
Ted Rall accuses President Bush
The whole reason I cared
Sen. Wellstone's memorial service hasn't
PunchtheBag on the Neocon/Paleocon battle
Gov. Ventura predicts that the
Philosophy and Literature is no
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Site Design by The Web Jones All original content copyright © 2003-05 by Sean Hackbarth. All rights reserved.
October 31, 2002
Capitol Hill Blue reports that
Capitol Hill Blue reports that the Wellstone memorial/campaign rally was staged from the start. Wellstone campaign manager Jeff Blodgett's apology was also part of the plan to "provide party deniability."
"Democratic Operatives Planned, Engineered Wellstone Political Rally" [via Power Line]
Power Line summarizes the last
Power Line summarizes the last few days of the Minnesota Senate race:
We've posted a lot on the Minnesota Senate race over the last two days, and I thought it might be helpful to try to synthesize where we think things currently stand. The most fundamental point is this: The Democrats had hoped that there would be no campaign following Wellstone's death; that six quiet days would pass by without controversy, and that Walter Mondale would then be crowned Senator. This morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune warned the Republicans strongly against campaigning against Mondale. The same paper helpfully offered up a poll intended to show that Mondale has the race in the bag, so there is no need for a campaign. Now, this plan may never have worked in any event, but it was blown sky-high by last night's fiasco. A huge backlash against the Wellstone rally is in progress. Governor Ventura has blasted the Democrats harshly, as have various media figures in the Twin Cities. A local TV station has planned a debate for Friday night, and has announced that either Mondale will appear, or he will be represented by an empty chair and Coleman will have the time to himself. Meanwhile, Tim Russert has offered to come to Minneapolis on Saturday to moderate a debate. It should now be impossible for the Democrats to avoid one or more debates. The legitimate polls show the race to be a virtual dead heat, prior to last night's fiasco. The Democrats have stumbled badly and are now engaged in damage control, trying to apologize for the rally. But the significant fact is that if they ever could have finessed the election and slipped it past the voters without a real campaign, that is impossible now. The Democrats are beginning with an even start, and are in for a tough six days.
I'm pessimistic. Mondale has so much name power, and if Minnesota Dems are as dirty as Wisconsin ones, then they'll use plenty of dirty tricks to massage the final vote count. What's a shame is Norm Coleman has all the potential for being a national Republican leader. He's just had the unfortunate luck of running into the Jesse Ventura populist buzzsaw and a Wellstone death march. Coleman's a good man who is starting to look like another ceaseless Minnesota Republican: Harold Stassen.
UPDATE: The Dems feels the backlash and are apologizing for turning Wellstone's memorial service into a campaign rally. Wellstone campaign manager, Jeff Blodgett said, "It probably would have been best not to get into the election." That's putting it mildly.
"Wellstone Campaign Chairman Apologizes for Service's Partisan Tone"
HUMOR: ScrappleFace does it again.
HUMOR: ScrappleFace does it again.
"Democrats Mourn Oddity: Man of Conscience"
Libertarian Congressional candidate Stephanie Sailor
Libertarian Congressional candidate Stephanie Sailor asks this question:
Can an underdog candidate on a budget of $0 compete against the heavily-funded Democratic Machine?
No! [via ETWOF]
PaleoWatch: Some sense has come
PaleoWatch:
Some sense has come to anti-warrior Justin Raimondo. He's not going to any more anti-war rallies run by Communists. He writes:
The movement has been hijacked by a bunch of neo-Stalinists, who, oddly enough, utilize their hopped-up "radical" rhetoric in the service of the most conventional Democratic party politics imaginable.
...
Okay, so I marched this time, but I ain't marchin' anymore, as the old song goes, at least not until the antiwar movement cleans up its act and makes itself just a little more presentable, and accessible to the millions who agree with its ostensible goals.
Just when I thought there was hope for Raimondo, he defends his attack on Andrew Sullivan where he claims Sullivan is suffering from AIDS-induced dementia. Next time I'm feeling ill, Dr. Raimondo will be the first Net writer I'll call for a diagnosis.
"I Ain't Marchin' Anymore"
October 30, 2002
Need a reason to vote
Need a reason to vote for Scott McCallum for Governor? How about the strike the teachers' union (WEAC) is threatening in a memo if Jim Doyle isn't elected? If Doyle is elected, the union will postpone a planned Nov. 9 meeting to decide what actions to take "up to and including a strike." The union opposes the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) law and revenue caps on local school districts that have kept property taxes under control.
The union knows that a teachers' strike is illegal in Wisconsin, but they think that the state wouldn't "attempt to fine each person if we are ALL on strike."
Putting the election of a governor above the education of children is appalling. Doing it to suck more money out of the public trough is despicable. Stick it to the teachers' union next Tuesday by voting for Scott McCallum.
"WEAC's Threat: Elect Doyle, or Else..."
Power Line is covering the
Power Line is covering the Mondale-Coleman race, picking apart yesterday's Star Tribune poll results.
"Minnesota Poll: Mondale leads Coleman 47% to 39%"
To GOP readers in Minnesota,
To GOP readers in Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, and anywhere else there's a competitive Senate race: If you're feeling a little down over a Daschle-controlled Senate, watch this RNC cartoon and it will pump you up. [via Drudge]
David Horowitz labels last weekend's
David Horowitz labels last weekend's anti-war protesters "Communists." Horowitz is more afraid of them than I am. He writes:
The fact that a movement of America-hating communists, who regard their own country as the enemy and who sympathize with America's terrorist adversaries should be able to marshal 100, 000 activists is a cause for concern. The communist New Left left was not able to organize such large demonstrations in support of the Communists in Vietnam until the draft was instituted in 1964. We have no draft in this country now. The size of these demonstrations is a reflection of the growth of a treacherous anti-American radicalism in this country that has no Communist Party per se, but is just as dedicated to America's destruction. The fact that the new technologies of war make it possible for terrorist groups both foreign and domestic to inflict enormous damage on industrial democracies like ours, and that our borders are porous and our security capabilities wanting, underscores the daunting dangers posed by this internal threat.That the desire to hurt this country and its citizens is uppermost in the protesters minds was manifest in their reactions at the Washington march. According to the Los Angeles Times the demon singled out by the demonstrators for the greatest opprobrium was Attorney General John Ashcroft - the man responsible for the security of 300 million Americans: "The most unpopular figure of all appeared to be John Ashcroft, the U.S. attorney general. The mere mention of his name prompted boos to swell from the crowd, followed by semi-obscene chants."
I'm sure there were a few veterans of the violent New Left of the 1960s and 1970s at the march, but I'm going to guess most of the protesters were simply knee-jerk Lefty, unthinking anti-war types. Rather than any possible domestic terrorism from these people, I'm more afraid of the ideas these people espouse. Claiming American can do no right and should do nothing to protect itself is something that can gnaw away at domestic tranquility.
"100,000 Communists March On Washington To Give Aid and Comfort to Saddam Hussein"
Ted Rall accuses President Bush
Ted Rall accuses President Bush of killing Sen. Wellstone and then has the gall to claim such an accusation is Bush's fault. Rall writes:
The fact that we're having this discussion at all is a symptom of the polarizing effect that Bush and his top dogs have had on the United States since assuming office and even more so in the hard-right free-for-all that followed the Sept. 11 attacks. Presidents routinely cause their political detractors to take offense, but one would have to go back to Franklin D. Roosevelt's attempt to stack the U.S. Supreme Court or Richard Nixon's wiretapping and enemies list to find another American leader who crossed the line of acceptable discourse as extremely as George W. Bush has done.
Huh? Sure, Bush was polarizing at the beginning of his Presidency because of the controversial way he won the election, but since the terrorist attacks last year, the country has rallied around him. Maybe for Rall and the fringe anti-war Left he represents using clear, morally unambiguous language like "axis of evil" and defeating "evildoers" is polarizing. Maybe preventing Saddam from having nuclear weapons is polarizing.
To suggest a President had a Senator killed with no evidence whatsoever is unethical and irresponsible. I'll be waiting for an apology from Rall that will never come.
"The (Possible) Assassination of Paul Wellstone" [via Right Wing News]
UPDATE: Jim Stingl was interrupted at the health club by a Rallian conspiracy nut. Just so you're not completely lost if this talk ever gets on Art Bell here's some of the pro-assassination "evidence":
The plane was built by Raytheon, which also makes cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs. An on-scene reporter said the weather wasn't a factor, but we keep hearing it was. We haven't seen many still or video images from the crash scene. How come there's no cockpit voice recorder? Why had the plane drifted off course just before landing?
"Wellstone Death All Adds Up - 2 + 2 = 5"
The whole reason I cared
The whole reason I cared about fall television happened last night. 24 began with another awful day in the life of (now) ex-government agent, Jack Bauer. This time, instead of saving a Presidential candidate (who we find out ended up winning) and protecting his family (only his daughter survived), Bauer has to stop terrorists intent on nuking Los Angeles.
The first hour wasn't as explosive as the first season. No mysterious plane crashes this time. What we got was the basic set ups for the three plots that will end up intertwining. Bauer's daughter Kim is a nanny to a couple with an abusive husband who's been eyeing the teenager and already threatened to hurt her. And there's a wedding taking place in a few hours with the sister of the bride very suspicious of her future brother-in-law.
But once I got past watching Bauer except his duty to save LA by going undercover, the thrill ride began. The first of what should be many shockers was when Bauer had an FBI witness brought in for questioning. Bauer blows a hole in his chest and then asks for a hacksaw. Oh, boy!
"Sutherland Begins Another Bad Day at the Office"
October 29, 2002
Sen. Wellstone's memorial service hasn't
Sen. Wellstone's memorial service hasn't taken place yet and already Dems and Republicans are staking out positions.
"A Truce in Politics? Not for Long"
PunchtheBag on the Neocon/Paleocon battle
PunchtheBag on the Neocon/Paleocon battle that only Pat Buchanan is fighting:
It's not hard to understand why the paleos are the Cincinnati Bengals of the conservative movement. Like the Bengals they have no organization and they can't compete on the playing field. Paleos enjoy the smug satisfaction of their blogs and gold standard meetings than they do getting into the nitty gritty of governing. Of course they reject governing, but then they are surprised when they find that their arguments don't go any further than their die-hard supporters and so it goes around and around and around. They really should be called old-fashioned Utopians.
October 28, 2002
Gov. Ventura predicts that the
Gov. Ventura predicts that the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota will end up in court. He also said he may appoint an interim Senator if Congress is called into a lame duck session.
"Ventura Says Results of Senate Election will Likely be Challenged" [via Townhall.com]
Philosophy and Literature is no
Philosophy and Literature is no more because The Chronicle of Higher Education bought Arts & Letters Daily. A&LD shut down a few weeks ago because its owner Lingua Franca went bankrupt.
Now, can my head stop spinning?
PaleoWatch: President Bush is compared
PaleoWatch: President Bush is compared to Stalin. Anarchy Lew Rockwell writes,
The next time Bush gets up to make his promises of the amazing things he will achieve through force of arms, how the world will be bent and shaped by his administration, think of Stalin speaking at the 15th Party Congress, promising "further to promote the development of our country's national economy in all branches of production."
According to Anarchy Lew, the Islamist War is impossible to win. It's not because our enemy is invinceable; it's because government is running the war and the government can do no right. I have the feeling the namesake of Anarchy Lew's organization would differ with that assumption.
"The Impossible War" [via PunchtheBag]
Cato's Chales Pena calls CIA
Cato's Chales Pena calls CIA chief George Tenet the "Rodney Dangerfield of the Bush administration." Despite Tenet's conclusion that a threatened Saddam is more likely to engage in terrorist attacks, Congress authorized President Bush to use military force against Iraq. Pena points out that the Office of Homeland Security has their terroist alert at yellow despite Tenet's warnings of increased al-Qaeda activity.
Here's a reason few are taking Tenet seriously: September 11. The attacks that day were the CIA's worst failure. They were unexpected. Even up to today, no one has been fired or has resigned because of the debacle. Why Tenet still has his job, I don't know. Maybe the agency has done good work since then. Since much of it is clandestine, the public doesn't know what's gone well and what hasn't in the Islamist War.
"No Respect for Tenet"
Thomas Sowell gives conservatives a
Thomas Sowell gives conservatives a great reason to go to the polls on Election Day:
If conservative voters stay home on Election Day, then the Democrats will retain control of the Senate and the only kinds of judges likely to be confirmed will be those who "interpret" the law to mean whatever they want it to mean, regardless of what it says. The fundamental right of the people to make the laws they live under will be further eroded or destroyed by judges.
But he only wants "informed" citizens to vote "rather than mess with something that is too important to be decided by ignorance or prejudice."
"High Stakes Elections"
Here's a reason why I
Here's a reason why I rarely take Hollywood yapping on serious issues seriously. Susan Sarandon told anti-war protesters Saturday, "Let us resist this war. Let us hate war in all its forms, whether the weapon used is a missile or an airplane." I'd like to say this quote was taken out of context, but I'm pretty sure she didn't clarify herself. What it is is a simple-minded statement typical of the unthinking Hollywood Left. You could have taken those same words and put them in the mouths of Alec Baldwin, Ed Asner, or Rob Reiner. They all go to the same parties and hang out at the same resturants so it's no surprise they think the same way. It's clique-think better fitting for a high school hallway. "Let us hate war in all its forms." No attempt is made by Sarandon to make a distinction between just and unjust wars. She just opposes all wars. What about the Civil War that brought freedom to millions of Black slaves? Was that wrong? What about the Korean War? Was it wrong to allow the Communists to enslave the entire penninsula? How about the Cold War? Should the U.S. have just rolled over and allowed the Soviet Union to extend their totalitarian reach? Most recently, should the U.S. have turned the other cheek after September 11, 2001 and let al-Qaeda continue operating from Afghanistan while at the same time Afghans were being oppressed by the fundamentalist Taliban?
Why should we expect substantial talk from Sarandon? That would require making moral distictions and appreciating the complex nature of the human condition. That's too much to expect from someone who gets their lines fed to them by screenwriters and their politics fed to them by mindless Hollywood types.
"Thousands Rally Around World Against Iraq War"
By all indications, Walter Mondale
By all indications, Walter Mondale will be the Democrats choice to replace Sen. Paul Wellstone on next Tuesday's ballot. Can Norm Coleman and the Republicans get some ads together quickly touting Mondale's ties to President Malaise, Jimmy Carter, his love of raising taxes, and Minnesota's past? Or will tell voters that the chances of Mondale serving an entire six-year term is slim. He's 74 now, and if the Democrats win the governor's race Mondale would step down in less than two years to let his replacement build up a record for his/her reelection campaign in 2008. The GOP could also use this quote from Mondale on why he didn't run for the Senate in 1990:
I've watched too many friends who stay there (in the Senate) too long. I vowed that I would never be among them.
"DFL Ready -- if Mondale is"
"GOP Takes Aim at Mondale in Minn. Race"
"Mondale Replacing Wellstone Would Produce Historic Race"
An official for USAID was
An official for USAID was asassinated in Jordan.
"Slaying of U.S. Diplomat Outrages Washington"
October 27, 2002
The death toll at the
The death toll at the Moscow theater is up to 118.
"118 Captives Die in Moscow Theater Siege"
October 26, 2002
This looks serious--seriously funny! I
This looks serious--seriously funny! I just might put a Martin Luther Bobblehead on my Christmas (Reformation?) list. My father's a Lutheran Sunday school teacher. Do you think he'd get a kick out of it?
This past week's attack on
This past week's attack on Internet root servers demonstrates the resilency of the technology behind it. If crackers would have taken out the 13 root servers, average users wouldn't have noticed any problems unless the servers were out for hours or days.
"Net Attack Flops, but Threat Persists"
Paul Saunders points out that
Paul Saunders points out that how we deal with Iraq and North Korea sends a signal to "tomorrow's Saddams." He writes,
Unfortunately, if anything is certain in international relations, it is the fact that the subtleties of one?s own decision-making process are rarely understood by others?sometimes including even close friends and allies. Al-Qaeda made a profound miscalculation along these lines in concluding from the American withdrawal from Somalia that the U.S. was incapable of serious military intervention abroad. Hostile regimes (including Pyongyang) may similarly view excessively delicate handling of North Korea as a sign of American weakness when confronted by nuclear weapons.
The focus needs to be on Iraq right now. As Saunder writes, the U.S. has allies in the Middle East who will accept war. That's not the case in East Asia. Also, an Iraq with nuclear weapons would be more inclined to let them be handed off to Islamist terrorists. A defeated Iraq would certainly send a message to Pyongyang.
"Iraq, North Korea, and the Law of Unintended Consequences"
October 25, 2002
It's over in Moscow. Fox
It's over in Moscow. Fox News reports 20 bodies were taken from the theater after Russian special forces attacked the Chechen terrorists (Fox News inaccurately calls them "rebels").
"Russians Storm Theater; Kill Chechen Rebel Leader"
I only wanted Sen. Paul
I only wanted Sen. Paul Wellstone to lose on Election Day. I didn't want him to die.
About the only thing we had in common was our height. (It gives me hope that short people can get elected.) We didn't agree on anything politically, but Paul Wellstone was a man of passion. Many times he demagogued his opponents, but you always knew where he stood. Just go to the left and stop just before advocating full-blown nationalization (except for health care) and you would fine Wellstone. He didn't need to take a poll to determine his stance; he just looked into his heart (that might have been his problem ideologically).
I spent four years going to school in Duluth, MN, and I don't remember ever meeting Sen. Wellstone. I might have shook his hand once, I just don't remember. It wasn't because of a lack of opportunities. Being a former college professor, he visited the UMD campus often. What I most remember about Wellstone is working really hard to get his GOP opponent, Rudy Boschwitz elected in 1996.
Godspeed, Paul.
Well, the hagiography has already begun. Look at this opening paragraph from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, the fiery Democratic populist who was known for his impassioned work on behalf of the underdog, died Friday morning when his plane crashed in woods on Minnesota's Iron Range. [emphasis mine]
I expect this kind of tribute on the Wellstone campaign website, not in a newspaper story that is suppose to be objective.
Now, the guy was passionate and fought for causes other politicians would cringe from (opposing war with Iraq for example), but all he did was for the "underdog?" Wellstone was a quasi-socialist who rarely saw a tax increase or a government program he didn't like. The newspaper could just as well wrote that he was "known for his impassioned work on behalf of government bureaucrats."
The Star Tribune makes up for their cheerleading with a fine biography on the late Senator. The St. Paul Pioneer Press also has a good bio. Even The National Review has something nice about the Senator. John Miller writes:
Wellstone may have sat at the far end of the political spectrum, but it was difficult to dislike him on a personal level ? even Right-wingers must admit that he would have made a good neighbor. Smiles and laughs came easily to him. His personal life, in fact, seemed quite conservative: He married young, had a few kids, and remained married to his wife, who was also on board the fatal flight, for 29 years. He could be feisty, but was rarely rude; even in Washington, there was still something of the college professor about him, acquired over the 21 years he spent teaching political science at Carleton College. When many Democrats talk about, say, extending unemployment benefits, their fists pound podiums, their ears billow smoke, and their faces turn red with rage. Not Wellstone. He spoke in measured tones, as if believing reasonable people will agree with him if they just listen long enough. He was an opponent of conservatism, but he was a decent man.
With Wellstone's death comes some serious politics. Minnesota Democrats may place former Vice President Walter Mondale on the ballot. The man is so old he makes New Jersey's Frank Lautenberg look like a spring chicken.
This isn't the first time Minnesota has had last-minute candidate changes. In 1990, Arne Carlson replaced Jon Grunseth because of a sex scandal. So it looks like Minnesota election law allows Torricelli-type switches.
"Wellstone Death Shakes Minnesota"
"Wellstone's Goal was to be Senator for the 'Little Fellers'"
"Wellstone: A Force of Nature in an Era of Caution"
"Paul Wellstone, R.I.P."
"Wellstone Off the Ballot; DFL May Name a Replacement"
October 24, 2002
Now, since the sniper has
Now, since the sniper has been caught, media attention can be placed on the hostage situation taking place in Moscow. Chechen terrorists have already killed one hostage.
"Chechens Kill One Moscow Hostage"
Police found John Muhammad and
Police found John Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, Muhammad's stepson. They're believed to be the sniper team terrorising the D.C. area these past weeks. Although Muhammad converted to Islam last year he's more closely connected to the Nation of Islam than al-Qaeda.
"Two Men Arrested in Sniper Case"
"Lives of Men in Sniper Case Studied" [via InstaPundit]
What do Democrats do in
What do Democrats do in a tight election? Well, they could smother a state in television and radio ads. They could also go door to door to persuade voters that their candidate is the best. Or they could bribe them with quarters, soda, and pastries. I'll give you three guesses what the Jim Doyle campaign did. Jay Heck of Common Cause called the bingo game something "I would expect to see, you know, done in Chicago or New Jersey. It's troubling." The Wisconsin GOP is calling for the local D.A. to remove himself from the investigation because he's an active Jim Doyle supporter.
The dumbest thing these people did was do all this in front of a television camera.
"Wis. Probes Gov. Vote-Buying Charges"
"Bingo Game Spurs Probe of Doyle's Campaign"
"New! Doyle Campaign Exploits Mentally Disabled for Votes"
"Kenosha County D.A. Conflicted in 'Bingo-Gate'"
October 23, 2002
Mike Taylor's back in the
Mike Taylor's back in the Montana U.S. Senate race. He was going to get creamed before he dropped out, and he'll get creamed after he jumped back in. At least he isn't going without a fight. He's declared the last days of his campaign a "Countdown to Decency."
"Mike Taylor begins the 'Countdown to Decency'" [via Drudge]
On Friday, Blogcritics will start
On Friday, Blogcritics will start its weekly discussion groups with John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi
Yann Martel's Life of Pi won this year's Booker Prize. The award has given Pi a sales boost on Amazon (#17 as of this post). Since it's fiction, I'm not really interested in the book, but this paragraph from the BBC story piqued my interest:
Betting on the prize was suspended well ahead of Tuesday night's event after a "dummy" web page was put online, which revealed the winner as Martel.Organisers of the prize said this had been an internal mistake and denied the winner was already known, explaining the judges would not make their final decision until the day of the ceremony.
And the judges maintained their final decision was only made at 1830 BST on Tuesday night.
Those Brits will bet on anything.
"Joyful Martel wins Booker"
October 22, 2002
So, randomly shooting people around
So, randomly shooting people around Washington, D.C. is all about money, ten million dollars to be exact. Then there's the excuse that "Five people had to die" because the sniper couldn't get through to police fast enough.
Enough of the psychobabble and ramblings about international terrorism. Just like Luke Helder, that wacked-out smiley face bomber from earlier this year, (probably) one person has successfully scared the living daylights out of millions of people.
"Angry Missive Complains of 'Ignored' Calls"
Chief Moose is negotiating with
Chief Moose is negotiating with a terrorist(s). Tonight he publicly spoke to the sniper:
We have researched the options you stated and found that it is not possible electronically to comply in the manner that you requested. However, we remain open and ready to talk to you about the options you have mentioned.
Fox News says it has something to do with an 800-number. I think the police are desperate. They have few clues while more people get killed. Moose has already scared the hell out of every parent in the region, and now he's trying to deal with a person(s) who is manipulating the authorities and the press better than the Clinton administration. He's flapping in the wind while people walk around in fear.
"Sniper Message Warned Children 'Are Not Safe'"
One could claim I've smeared
One could claim I've smeared the Nobel Peace Prize committee and Jesse Ventura. Could I get a negative link from MSNBC?
HUMOR: "Bloggers Beg MSNBC: 'Smear Me Too'"
Chief Moose has assured that
Chief Moose has assured that thousands of kids will be out of school for days, even weeks, until the D.C. sniper is caught. Today, he read verbatim the chilling postscript from a recent message from the sniper: "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time." Already edgy parents in the region now have more reason to panic even if the chance of their child getting shot is slight. Richmond schools already are closed and more closings will follow. Will these kids stay at home? No. These kids will be off to the mall, the movies, or where ever else kids go to hang out. Maybe that's what the sniper wants. A number of his victims were at retail locations. If he's really targeting children, getting more of them out in the open outside of schools could make his murderous job easier.
"Sniper: Kids 'Not Safe Anywhere'"
"Police Reveal Sniper Threat Against Children"
October 21, 2002
Jesse Ventura is a man
Jesse Ventura is a man who doesn't take his office seriously. He's considering resigning a few days before the new governor takes office just so Lt. Gov. Mae Schunk could become Minnesota's first woman governor. "I just thought it would be fun, the last week, to leave early and make Mae the first female governor of the state. Then they'd have to give her a portrait, and everything else that would go with it. I just thought it would be kind of humorous," said "The Body." Liberals should be mad at him for turning affirmative action into a joke. Serious people interested in responsible government should be upset that Ventura treats his office as a means of entertainment.
"Ventura Says there is a Slim Chance He Will Resign Before Term Ends"
Two weeks before Election Day
Two weeks before Election Day and Wisconsin is knee deep in political turmoil. Three legislative leaders are charged with felonies for using their state offices for campaign purposes. University of Wisconsin professor Don Kettl considers this shake-up more important than the governor's race:
That brings us back to why this is more important than the winner of the governor's race. The Nov. 5 winner faces a staggering budget deficit, one far worse than the campaign has suggested. The candidates haven't spoken clearly about what they will do to balance the budget, for obvious reasons; their proposals would be too scary for the campaign.As a result, though, the winner won't have won a mandate to take the tough steps required to solve the problem.
It will take uncommon leadership to put the true scale of the deficit on the table, to craft a plan to balance the budget and to win legislative support for it. The scope of any budget fix will, by necessity, be so broad that only a consensus-building approach can hope to work.
Sweeping away the forces that, for so long, produced legislative gridlock will give the new governor a better chance. The change in legislative leadership will thus have a bigger impact on what can get done than anything the gubernatorial candidates have debated.
But that will require a starkly different kind of gubernatorial leadership than was the case before. And with just two weeks to go in an election campaign, it injects a critical new question in the campaign: Which candidate is best suited to become the new kind of governor that job will require?
Since GOP Gov. McCallum is trailing Democrat Attorney General Jim Doyle, how about state Republican's pulling a Torricelli and bringing back Tommy Thompson? The greatest Wisconsin politician in the last 20 years could have great shot at fixing the state's fiscal illness.
"A Clean Sweep Would Help"
I come back from New
I come back from New York and all hell breaks loose: the D.C. sniper finds another target; a homicide bomber kills 14 in Israel; and Green Bay Packers iron man quarterback Brett Favre hurt his knee in yesterday's game.
We won't see an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict until the region is seriously shaken up (step 1: eliminate Saddam). Who knows if they'll ever catch the sniper. But as for Favre, the knee is only sprained and he'll probably play against Miami Nov. 4.
"Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 14 in Israel"
"Packers Expect Favre to Play Next Game"
October 16, 2002
Patrick delves into John Zogby's
Patrick delves into John Zogby's recent polls and wonders if his "passionate anti-war views are affecting his polling and analysis."
Microsoft paid to bring webloggers
Microsoft paid to bring webloggers to a recent product conference. Hey, Bill and Steve, next time you're plugging something new, send some airline tickets my way. I warn you, I'll tell it like I see it. If your stuff stinks all three of my Minnesota readers will know about it.
Many obituaries tip-toed over Stephen
Many obituaries tip-toed over Stephen Ambrose's plagarisms. Maybe David Plotz should write a biography of Stephen Ambrose. He doesn't seem fond of Ambrose's "God-Bless-Americanism," (he even calls him a "vampire") so he brings a necessary distance to the subject. Like Plotz, I wonder how extensive Ambrose's "borrowing" was.
"Should Stephen Ambrose Be Pardoned?"
UPDATE: In an editorial the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes,
And there were several accusations of plagiarism, particularly late in his career, after he had achieved worldwide fame. Ambrose admitted to sloppy editing but stood by his works.
...
But Ambrose's strengths far outshone his weaknesses. In retelling the stories of others in more than 30 books, Ambrose bathed those tales in fresh light and reminded us again just how good they are.
"Leading a Band of Brothers"
October 15, 2002
Note for future reference: WisOpinion.com.
Note for future reference: WisOpinion.com.
Many people are (rightly) up
Many people are (rightly) up in arms over fraudulant accounting in corporate America, but will these people make the same fuss over the accounting errors and unjustifiable "corrections" federal agencies make every year? In fiscal year 1999, the Defense Department made $1.1 trillion (with a T) in balance adjustments. The IRS doesn't really know how much money is owed the government in taxes. The INS had to manually count 5 million immigrant applications. The Agriculture Department books are so bad that their financial statements have been unauditable since 1994.
"Auditors Say U.S. Agencies Lose Track of Billions"
I've officially been on vacation
I've officially been on vacation for about a day and a half. Posting may be scarce because, well, I'm on vacation. Posting may explode with some brilliant idea capturing every neuron of my cerebral cortex because I'm on vacation and have the time to delve into something deeply. Bet on the former. The rest of the week is my rejuvination time preparing me physically, mentally, and emotionally for the Christmas shopping season. The economy might be sluggish, but I can assure you I'll be working my tail off as one of Santa's little helpers.
The big event is I'll be be in New York City Wednesday through Saturday. Thursday, I'll be at the Cato Institute's 20th Annual Monetary Conference (Brink Lindsey will be on a panel). After that, I'll be doing typical tourist stuff: museums, trolling for treasures in used bookstores, consuming local cuisine, and seeing the sites. One of those sites will be Ground Zero. Have any suggestions for me?
***
I can't get worked up over anything Robert Fisk writes. A simple analysis of him is he's just plainly anti-American. If any action helps America, then he opposes it; if anything bad happens to America, she deserves it. So instead of me getting all ticked off over Fisk's latest, I'll leave the flogging to the likes of Tim Blair.
October 14, 2002
For my one or two
For my one or two Minnesota readers, the St. Cloud chapter of the Minnesota Association of Scholars has their own weblog. [via AtlanticBlog]
Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate
Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate is on its way to being the most talked about non-fiction book of the year. In the New York Times Book Review Robert Richards calls Pinker's socio-economic conclusions "a compassionate conservatism."
"The Blank Slate: The Evolutionary War"
My fine state of Wisconsin
My fine state of Wisconsin is in the crosshairs of Bill O'Reilly. Those monster children who beat Charlie Young to death had some scary pasts:
-- Thirteen-year-old Kenny Mays says he attends the eighth grade but doesn't know the name of his school.-- Marlin Dixon is 14 years old and already the father of a 5-month-old baby.
-- Thirteen-year-old Don Dixon's father was recently murdered outside a methadone clinic.
-- Montreon Jordan is 15 and on probation for a robbery conviction.
-- Sixteen-year-old Lee Mays does not attend school because his mother told authorities she doesn't know where to send him. His lawyer, Michael Backes, told me the mother has "mental issues" and that Michael should be removed from the home.
Milwaukee police say that the accused murderers all lacked parental supervision and were pretty much allowed to do whatever they wanted. In fact, after the 10-year-old boy involved in the murder confessed to police, reporters heard his father say, "Kids are going to be kids."
O'Reilly goes on about David Oakley who chose to give up making babies in exchange for parole.
I don't watch The O'Reilly Factor much. Has he been following the Young beating?
"The Root of all Evil"
From Rich Galen: At a
From Rich Galen:
At a recent Pentagon briefing, a reporter was complaining that the Pentagon, as the only source of information, ran counter to standard journalistic practice of getting at least two sources.Rumsfeld gave the reporter one of those looks, smiled, and said, "Then don't write the story."
"On the Vineyard"
October 13, 2002
Stephen Ambrose captured the sights,
Stephen Ambrose captured the sights, smells, sounds, and, most importantly, the thoughts of American GIs in World War II. After reading Citizen Soldiers you could feel the dirt underneath your fingertips from lying in a fox hole all day. You would shake after reading about a man losing a limb from a shell and crying out for his mother. You also could feel the sense of purpose those soldiers had. They were just trying to stay alive, and if that meant killing as many Germans as possible to do it, then so be it. Douglas Brinkley calls Ambrose "the great populist historian of America." That title doesn't come from the fact that he sold millions of books. He earned that title by focusing on the grunts who fought and won WWII. Godspeed, Stephen.
"Historian Stephen Ambrose Dead at 66"
October 12, 2002
Daniel Drezner defends Jimmy Carter's
Daniel Drezner defends Jimmy Carter's Nobel Peace Prize dispite the comments of the selection committee.
Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-WV) staff
Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-WV) staff had to steal a copy of the constitution off a Republican desk so the Sen. Pork could have something to wave on the Senate floor. [via The Agitator]
Josh Chafetz has a suggestion
Josh Chafetz has a suggestion for the GOP:
[P]aging RNC: ad campaign: fade in with footage of McDermott on "This Week," overlay with ominous-voiced announcer saying "The majority of House Democrats voted against taking on Saddam Hussein," list of Hussein's horrors on screen, while announcer ends with "This fall, do you really want to give control of Congress back to the Democrats?" McDermott's face morphs into Saddam's. Fade to black.
The GOP won't do something as politically astute as this. Why do something that the media would lable as "mud slinging" and "using war for political gain?" They won't even try to get another name on the ballot for the Montana Senate seat. Their loyalty to rules that have been disgarded and one-sided civility ends up being unilateral disarmament.
HUMOR: Iraq wasn't the only
HUMOR: Iraq wasn't the only target of a Congressional resolution. ScrappleFace has the details.
"Use-of-Force Authorized to Stop Madonna Film"
Doesn't this Technology Review article
Doesn't this Technology Review article sound awfully similar to a Eugene Volokh piece? Great minds do think alike. It's the best argument I've read on why Saddam must go.
"The Lowest-Tech Atom Bomb" [via InstaPundit]
Can the story of two
Can the story of two astromomers measuring the distance from the North Pole to the equator be remotely interesting? Timothy Ferris thinks Ken Alder pulls it off with The Measure of All Things. The two Frenchmen stave off revolutionaries, poor terrain, and mental breakdown to complete a mission that should have taken only months but ended up consuming seven years of their lives.
"The Measure of All Things: A Quest to Revolutionize Standards"
Wisconsin's worst traffic accident killed
Wisconsin's worst traffic accident killed 10 and injured 36. Fog caused car after car to smash into the pile resulting in something resembling the Highway of Death of Desert Storm.
"10 Die in Horrific Pileup"
October 11, 2002
The Nobel Peace Prize committee
The Nobel Peace Prize committee should be ashamed for their myopic view of war with Iraq and with their awarding of the prize to promote their political agenda.
Today, Jimmy Carter was awarded the prize "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
At the end of the press release, the committee said,
In a situation currently marked by threats of the use of power, Carter has stood by the principles that conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international co-operation based on international law, respect for human rights, and economic development.
To the committee, Bush's threat of war with Iraq is only about extending the power of the United States. It has little to do with securing a long-term peace by preventing Saddam from building weapons of mass destruction and having them used on the United States. Instead of war, the committee likes constant talk by the United Nations that lets Saddam continue to evade international agreements he's made in the past.
Nothing is mentioned of Carter's failures as an national leader. They don't mention his bungling of a rescue attempt to free American hostages in Iran, or his limp response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (he ordered an Olympic boycott of the Moscow games).
Prize committee chairman Gunnar Berge called Carter's award a public criticism of Bush's international policy. "With the position Carter has taken...(the award) can and must also be seen as criticism of the line the current U.S. administration has taken on Iraq," said Berge. It's unfortunate that the committee couldn't just praise Carter on his own merits without giving the U.S. a "kick in the leg." The goal of U.S. national security policy is "to create a balance of power tht favors human freedom." So, while Carter can try to get along with freedom-hating thugs like Fidel Castro, Bush is doing what's needed to extend freedom.
"Carter Wins Nobel Peace Prize, Bush Rebuked"
"The Nobel Peace Prize 2002"
The GOP won't play hardball
The GOP won't play hardball because Montana Republicans won't go to the courts to put a replacement on the ballot for Mike Taylor. They're looking for a write-in candidate. Candidates can file within 15 days of Election Day. So, the GOP abides by the law and will probably get creamed in Montana, but the Democrats ignore the plain reading of New Jersey election law and may win. The Republicans may have the moral high ground, but the Dems won't care as long as they control the Senate.
Taylor said he dropped out of the race because of a television ad showing him in early 1980s disco attire. Montana Republicans accuse the Democrats of using homophobia as a campaign tactic. A state Democrat agrees. He told the Billings Gazette the ad was an "overt and obvious appeal to the homophobic (voter) that is playing to that stereotypic imagery."
Some Montana residents didn't feel Taylor's pain. One person said, "It just looks like he's guilty, doesn't he? If he's not guilty, he'd just stand in for the fight. That's how I was brought up."
"Montana Law Keeps Taylor as Candidate, Official Says"
"Montana GOP Senatorial Candidate Drops Out"
"Perspective: Longtime Republican Strategy Backfires"
"Little Sympathy Shown for Taylor or Baucus"
Charlie Sykes may be new
Charlie Sykes may be new to this weblogging thing, but he's got another zinger. It's a letter from a 2nd grade class that opposes war with Iraq. Here's the start of the letter:
We do not support President Bush?s idea to go to war against Saddam Hussein. If Saddam fights, we could think about nonviolent ways to fight back, but we definitely shouldn?t start the fight . Please don?t drop any more bombs! If we start the fight, they might be more likely to use a the bomb that would blow up the whole country or world! Violence plus violence just equals more violence! Please don?t go to war because: 1) innocent people die 2) it?s not what God wants us to do 3) fighting just leads to more fighting which could lead to WWIII!
Sykes' reaction:
My reaction: There?s a bright line between education and indoctrination; a line that separates teaching children how to think from exploiting them for political purposes. Having second graders write a letter like this crosses that line. What makes it unethical is that it represents a breach of trust on the part of the teacher, who used her position to propagandize children too young to be able to develop their own worldview.
"Teach the Children Well"
October 10, 2002
Montana Republicans are trying to
Montana Republicans are trying to pull a Torricelli. GOP Senate candidate Mike Taylor is down in the polls to Sen. Max Baucus. However, instead of ethical scandal ending his political chances, Taylor blames a television ad paid by the Montana Democratic Party that has video of Taylor "slender, sporting a full beard. He is wearing a tight-fitting, three piece suit, with a big-collared open shirt ala John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever." Taylor's top two or three shirt buttons are unbuttoned, exposing some bare chest and a number of gold chains." The Billings Gazette called the ad "Sleazy. Low. Tacky. Trashy. Crummy. Mean."
Former governor Marc Racicot may replace Taylor on the ballot. Orrin Judd supports a switch because he doesn't believe in "disarmament by the GOP." Of course this all depends on Montana election law and how lenient the state courts are. According to ABCNews, the GOP can't replace Taylor's name on the ballot because it's past a 85 day deadline. But such a hard, firm rule should have stopped New Jersey Democrats. Does anyone know the political make up of the Montana Supreme Court?
"Taylor Quits Senate Race; Racicot May Run" [via Drudge]
Sen. Russ Feingold spoke out
Sen. Russ Feingold spoke out against war with Iraq yesterday. He doesn't think President Bush has made his case. He mustn't have listened or read Bush's speech Monday night. Today on local radio, Feingold went so far as to say that 90% of the correspondence from constituents regarding the war was opposed. So, Feingold claims he's voting agaist an Iraq war because the people of Wisconsin oppose the war. A few hundred e-mails or calls (202-224-5323) from Wisconsinites in support of the war would nix Feingold's weak excuse.
Kudos must go out to Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) (read his speech), and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) for their support of the Iraq resolution.
"Feingold Says He'll Vote 'No' to Military Strike on Iraq"
Milwaukee talk radio host, Charlie
Milwaukee talk radio host, Charlie Sykes started up a weblog. One of his first posts is his column in a chain of local newspapers. Sykes comments on the mob beating of Charles Young, Jr. While many minority leaders are making excuses for the actions of those "monster-children" others are looking at the cultural source.
But something new is emerging from the horror -- a debate has broken out in the black community over the issue of personal responsibility versus finger-pointing; and it includes some remarkably blunt truth-telling.African-American leaders like Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, Jr. are rejecting arguments that economics ? or discrimination, or the lack of social programs -- account for the pathology of illegitimacy and brutality in the black community. Other social groups, he notes, have risen out of poverty by taking responsibility for educating and raising their children.
His message is also being echoed in some of the black press. Last week?s Community Journal included an impassioned column by managing editor Thomas Mitchell, Jr., who denounced the ?politicians, touchy-feely sociologists, psychologists, culturalists, apologists for ?wayward? youth, those who are against welfare reform, stricter law enforcement? and those who blame everything and everybody but the real culprits for what?s wrong with the Black community?.They?ll just keep making excuses for themselves and others of their kind until they wake up and realize it is not the system, the cops or White folks who are the enemy. The enemy is themselves.?
"Time to Take Reponsibility"
32-year-old Antonio Albert was arrested
32-year-old Antonio Albert was arrested in South Bend, IN and charged with murder in the mob beating of Charles Young, Jr. Albert is accused of pulling Young from an apartment where he was trying to escape a mob of (mostly) kids.
A medical examiner's report said Young was legally intoxicated when brought to the hospital after his beating.
"32-Year-Old Charged in Beating Death"
"Man, 32, in Custody in Beating Death Case"
I'm going to make this
I'm going to make this rejoinder to Lynn brief. She's taken a lot of grief over her comments on religion. This should be a civil conversation that allows for the lack of perfect knowledge on subjects like theology and consitutional law. Not all of us are scholars loaded to the brim with minute details and nuance derived from years of study. We're just people exchanging insights and opinions.
Anyway, Lynn writes:
More than just certain tactics, I object to the whole attitude that evangelism is a "calling."
She then objects to a fundamental tenet of Christianity. Christ called his followers to "make disciples of all nations." A Christian acts on this commission. They evangelize because Christ told them to. There are many ways to make disciples. Some methods are more effective, and some are more obnoxious.
Let me tie this thought into another quote of Lynn's:
The nature Sean is defending is the urge to force others to live the same kind of lifestyle they would choose for themselves.
I don't think all Christians want everyone to conform to a common lifestyle. Missionaries don't try to make African tribesmen to live like suburban Americans. Christians want all people to know of the love of Christ. When Christ is allowed to enter the heart of a person that new-found belief must take into account the context of the new believer's environment. While staying true to Christian tenets (John 3:16), they must acknowledge the world around them.
Of course there are Christians who think they know the one correct way to live one's life. There are plenty of Christians who don't think people should watch certain television shows, watch certain movies, listen to certain types of music, or read certain books. I always shake my head when I hear a story of some obnoxious Christian wanting to ban Harry Potter because it deals with sorcery. They miss the series' theme of good beating evil.
Seeking to convince others about the Truth of Christ is the lifeblood for a Christian. A religion that has survived over 2,000 years and has billions of believers couldn't be that successful unless such passion was part of its cultural DNA.
Arnold Kling calls the awarding
Arnold Kling calls the awarding of the Nobel in economics to Kahnen and Smith to be a "slap for the University of Chicago." Kling writes, "Contrary to Friedman, this year's Nobel laureates believe that it pays to study the actual behavior of billiard players."
October 09, 2002
Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) on
Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) on why he opposes a resolution giving President Bush authority to strik at Iraq:
Just putting it in self-interest terms, how would I have had the enthusiasm and the fight if I had actually cast a vote I didn't believe in? I couldn't do that.
This quote in a nutshell is why Paul Wellstone could win re-election despite his far-left voting record and his broken term limit promise. Midwesterners in general and Minnesotans in particular respect people who hold firm to their convictions. People may not agree with all of Wellstone's positions, but they'll say "He's an honest man who believes what he says." These voters also like mavericks who go down their own path. Remember, Minnesota elected the ultimate political maverick in Jesse Ventura. He not only bucked plenty of political tradition, but he told it like he saw it. Before Ventura, Minnesota was led by Gov. Arne Carlson, a man who said he was a Republican but ignored his own party during his terms in office.
But there's a dark side to Paul Wellstone: his supporters. At at "fair trade" rally in Duluth, MN, Wellstone pointed out a Republican recording the speeches. Here's what happened next:
The cameraman was jostled throughout the speech as activists held signs in front his camera and bumped into him.At one point, after moving to a new location, the cameraman was pushed into an apparent union worker who responded with kidney-punches into the cameraman?s side.
Volunteers rushed to the scuffle and escorted away the cameraman, who held his hands in the air.
It's quite the maverick who allows someone to get violently accosted at a supposed peaceful rally.
"For Wellstone, Iraq Vote Is Risk But Not a Choice"
"Trade Rally Draws Mixed Crowd in Duluth"
Two Americans, Daniel Kahneman and
Two Americans, Daniel Kahneman and Vernon Smith, won the Nobel Prize in economics. American dominance continues.
Reason interviewed Smith for their December issue, but because of his award, it's already available for us interested folk.
"Nobel Economics Award Goes to Two Americans"
"The Experimental Economist"
The number of abortions have
The number of abortions have gone down in the past few years. The National Right to Life Committee sees parental consent and notification laws, better persuation of teens not to have sex, and new technology which lets women see the very human nature of the unborn as factors for the decrease. Planned Parenthood sees cuts--presumably government-- in abortion funding, restricted access to clinics and fewer abortion doctors as the reason.
Elizabeth Cavendish, legal director of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League had the goofy quote of the day when she said, "We're seeing the results of policies that don't afford equal access to contraception." She was commenting on the finding that the abortion rate for poor women rose. What does she mean that there isn't "equal access to contraception?" Somehow, poor women aren't capable of buying condoms or going to some free clinic to get a prescription for birth control pills? Are poor women incapable of controling their sexual urges just because they're poor? Women deciding to kill their unborn children isn't as much a public policy issue as it is a moral/cultural issue. A woman has to be in a particularly dismal state to deny the humanity of her child and allow it to be killed. That dismal state is perpetuated by the Culture of Death.
"Abortion Rates Decline in Late 1990s"
Former FBI chief Louis Freeh
Former FBI chief Louis Freeh was doing some CYT (Cover Your Tush) yesterday at Congressional hearings on the September 11 attacks. The FBI wasn't to blame because the attacks couldn't "have been prevented by the FBI and intelligence communities acting alone."
The criticism for the failure of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies isn't that the FBI, CIA, or NSA could have stopped the attacks alone. The problem is that the agencies didn't talk to each other and share information. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) put it well when he said, "When it comes to terrorism and fighting terrorism, with all due respect, I think there is a disconnect, and there was a disconnect."
"Freeh Defends Counterterrorism Efforts"
Lynn replied to my thoughts
Lynn replied to my thoughts on religious people. Justin Katz also weighs in on the discussion. I'll try to post a rejoinder later tonight.
Lynn writes about her problems
Lynn writes about her problems with religion:
At the top of my list is the moral imperative in some religions - Christianity included - to convert non-believers. Can faith that is forced on a person be true faith, or is it mere compliance? Here in the West believers can no longer torture and burn non-believers so they instead spend huge amounts of money to pursue and annoy anyone who does not share their beliefs, and as missionaries they prey on the most vulnerable people, providing food and other humanitarian aid as a lure. We all like to share our beliefs and given the opportunity will try to convince other people that we are right. I expect religious people to do the same, but not to the point where it becomes a crusade. The attitude that everyone must be converted is simply wrong and leads to acts of evil and violations of individual rights.
Converting non-believers does not constitute forcing faith upon another nor should it. Faith requires the person to accept beliefs taught to them and incorporate them into their hearts. Islam means "surrender," and that same idea can be taken to Christian conversion. By declaring faith in Jesus Christ as his savior, the convert surrenders that portion of their human reason. Dawkins would find this atrocious. To him, denying human reason in any form constitutes the gravest secular sin. The simple counter is that faith and God is beyond human reason. I'm of the belief that God cannot be proved or disproved. Belief in God is a matter of faith and an acceptance of a grand mystery.
Christians are called by Jesus to preach the good news (Gospel) to all of Humanity. What Lynn finds annoying, many Christians consider to be their calling.
Am I comfortable with the way many Christians attempt to persuade others to accept Christ? No. Part of it is growing up as a Midwestern conservative Lutheran (Missouri Synod). I'm not comfortable going up to strangers and asking them about their religious beliefs. The church I grew up in took the "Christian by example" approach. We took part in community activities, stayed on the straight and narrow, and lead wholesome lives. If someone asked why we seemed pretty well off, we would let them know that we placed Christ at the center of our lives. We didn't hide from our faith; we didn't deny the importance of our beliefs. Our life example was our way to letting others know the life-changing power of Christ.
Now, on to another of Lynn's objections:
The second problem with religion is closely tied to the first - government based on religion or the attempt to use religion to influence legislation. Too many religious people think that separation of church and state should only work one way - that the government must keep out of religion but that the church has no similar obligation to stay out of government. Some of these people will surely speak up and explain how the Constitution supports their point of view. First of all, it doesn't, but I'm not talking about the Constitution at all. I'm talking about a wise principle that is an important part of the foundation of all free nations. To pass laws based on religious beliefs, even if such passage does happen to be Constitutional, chips away at our freedom.
First, I must mention that the phrase "separation of church and state" is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. The phrase comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson.
To say that people of faith should not practice what they preach with regards to government is like saying a goldfish should just leap out of its fishbowl and start breathing air. It's a denial of their very nature.
I argue that basing laws purely on human reason is also basing them on religious belief. Look at how strongly Dawkins attacks religion and defend rationality. That passion is almost religious. And to claim that human reason is the sole source of wisdom is as irrational a faith as Christianity. F. A. Hayek pointed out the limits of human rationality and argued that using rationality beyond its limits (he dubbed it "scientism") led to Man's enslavement (see Communism and National Socialism).
October 08, 2002
How many watches does Andrew
How many watches does Andrew Sullivan have? As of this moment, I counted four (McDermott, Anti-Catholicism, Right-Wing Envy, and Useful Idiot). Like I should talk. I haven't had a Paleo Watch update is a while. Well, it's off to find the latest from Anarchy Lew.
Glenn Reynolds comments on the
Glenn Reynolds comments on the CIA:
I'm not unhappy with the CIA because it's a big bad bunch of spies who topple foreign governments againstthewilloftheirpeople. I'm unhappy with the CIA because it seems to be displaying the kind of flexibility and innovation usually associated with the United States Postal Service.In Afghanistan, the Agency's paramilitary arm did excellent work by all accounts. But there's no sign that the rest of the Agency has gotten its act together, and no sign that the dropped balls of Summer, 2001 are being addressed.
I'm still waiting for George Tenet to resign. September 11 was an intelligence failure, yet no one's taken responsibility. In order to fix the problem you must first realize there is a problem.
Here are some highlights from
Here are some highlights from President Bush's speech last night:
Some have argued that confronting the threat from Iraq could detract from the war against terror. To the contrary, confronting the threat posed by Iraq is crucial to winning the war on terror.and
Terror cells and outlaw regimes building weapons of mass destruction are different faces of the same evil. Our security requires that we confront both, and the United States military is capable of confronting both.
Liberating Iraq wouldn't detract from the overall Islamist War; it would be vital to winning it. An Iraq on the path to liberty would be one less country where Islamist terrorists could seek haven and weapons of mass destruction.
After 11 years during which we've tried containment, sanctions, inspections, even selected military action, the end result is that Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is increasing his capabilities to make more. And he is moving ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon.The U.N. and the Clinton administration both failed to stop Saddam. We could continue doing the same-old same-old, but as time passes, Iraq would continue developing more potent weapons.
We work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator. I'm not willing to stake one American life on trusting Saddam Hussein.That's a shot straight at Rep. McDermott (D-Iraq), who looks like he's gone off the deep end. [via Right Wing News]
Failure to act would embolden other tyrants, allow terrorists access to new weapons and new resources, and make blackmail a permanent feature of world events.After 3,000 dead, the U.S. has to be strong. Looking weak would only encourage our enemies to strike us again.
The speech was good. The President plainly stated his case against Saddam. It wasn't groundbreaking. There were no smoking guns; no new evidence that would turn opposition opinion around instantly. Bush added thoughtful arguments to the debate over war. Since the anti-war crowd seems to be stuck with little but conspiracy theories centered on Big Oil, the debate is easily being one by Bush.
President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat
October 07, 2002
Tomorrow's news today? One of
Tomorrow's news today?
One of Glenn's readers pointed out a Independent story on Bush's speech tonight before he even gives it. Ken Layne adds to our knowledge of journalistic "preparation" with this nugget:
A couple years ago, I thought the wires might be more careful now that the whole world has access. Maybe newspapers would make sure these stories from the future stopped appearing on their Web sites. Nah. Why start caring now? During the 2000 GOP convention, when everybody was making a big deal abou