Mark Green's "Tax Hell" Speech

Today, Rep. Mark Green forcefully came out for tax and spending controls. It's the first time I can recall a major statewide politician calling Wisconsin a "tax hell."

Many outstate Republicans will be grumbling silently while Southeast Wisconsin conservatives will be cheering. Green sounded like one of "Charlie Sykes Stormtroopers."

I'm stealing the speech from Boots & Sabers since I haven't found it on Green's campaign website. Here's the press release version if you're in a hurry.

In recent weeks, a number of startling statistics have come out that all say the same thing – Wisconsin’s tax burden has us at a competitive disadvantage as we try to attract good-paying jobs and grow our economy.

As thousands of Wisconsinites bring their tax returns to post offices around our state today, they continue to see more and more of their paycheck going to the government.

Our state and local tax burden is one of the worst in the country – nearly ten percent above the national average. While today is tax day, our tax freedom day – the day we stop working to pay taxes and start working for ourselves – is still eleven days off.

When Jim Doyle took office in 2003 our tax freedom day was April 19…this year it is April 28.

We’re going in the wrong direction….and it is affecting our economy.

Only three metropolitan areas lost more jobs last year than the Milwaukee area – and two of those were hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Our workers make less than the national average and our state lost $4.7 billion in net worth in just five years because some of our best and brightest decided to go elsewhere where they can earn more and pay less in taxes.

It’s time to draw a line in the sand. We should no longer allow our tax burden to block our path to prosperity.

Today, I am unveiling both a long-term tax relief plan and a commitment to provide some immediate relief. Elect me governor, and Wisconsin’s days in “tax hell” will be coming to an end.

To ensure the long-term economic prosperity of Wisconsin I believe we need a constitutional limit on taxes and spending.

For generations in Wisconsin, our tax burden has taken too much out of our family budgets and it has literally driven people out of our state.

If we are going to compete for good jobs here, we simply cannot have taxes that are ten percent above the national average.

Constitutional limits are a long-term commitment to lower taxes to ensure better jobs and a brighter future.

A future where Wisconsin is no longer listed among the top taxing states. A future where government spending is finally in line with our families’ ability to pay. A future where our seniors won’t flee Wisconsin’s high taxes, but retire here to spend their golden years with their family nearby.

And, by slowing the growth of government spending and limiting taxes, our children and grandchildren will be more likely to stay here, earn a good living here and raise their family here.

As a dad with young kids, I want that more than anything else.

While constitutional limits are a long-term commitment to lower taxes, taxpayers are in desperate need of protection right now.

Since he took office, Governor Doyle vetoed the property tax freeze…not once…but twice.

The result was an increase in property taxes of over eleven percent in two years and $600 million since Doyle took office.

He shouldn’t have vetoed the freeze…and taxpayers paid the price.

To make matters worse, Governor Doyle’s decision to increase spending by ten percent in his latest budget has left us with a $2.1 billion deficit – one of the worst in the nation. Jim Doyle got elected on a promise to solve the state’s fiscal problems…he’s clearly failed to do so.

Governor Doyle has raided every cookie jar he can find and maxed out the taxpayers’ credit card. He’s spending well above his means and he’s putting our future prosperity at risk.

I’ll take us in a different direction.

The first budget I present to the legislature is going to include a property tax cap. Local units of government will be able to increase their tax levy only to account for inflation and growth – in population, new construction or students. Of course, voters can choose to spend more if they agree to in a referendum.

At the same time we limit local taxes, we’re going to shake things up in Madison by capping state taxes. Any additional tax revenues the state receives above the previous year will be plowed into finally balancing our books and providing tax relief.

If we want to increase spending on a program, or start a new initiative, we’ll have to find the funds by cutting other spending.

Yes, we’ll have to make tough decisions. And yes, government will have to do more with less. Families all across Wisconsin are faced with those same decisions every single day.

But, don’t forget, we’re Wisconsinites.

We have the ingenuity, the imitative and the work ethic to blaze a new trail. Together we’ll reshape our government to make it leaner and more efficient. We’ll demand accountability and we won’t accept mediocrity.

Voters have a clear choice between Governor Doyle and me when it comes to limiting taxes and spending.

I support tax limits – Governor Doyle does not.

My plan will get Wisconsin out of the heat of tax hell, and into a much more comfortable, and prosperous, climate!

If you agree with me that we need tax limits, then I hope you join our Green Team. Together, we’ll make Wisconsin great again.

Judging Rumsfeld

Gateway Pundit has links galore in defense of Donald Rumsfeld. A few generals should read and click. Anti-warriors could also use the dose of perspective.

"Judge Rumsfeld by His Successes And Failures"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)

Charlie's Show Prep #76

• Some Applebee's workers went to an immigration rally last month without giving their boss notice, and they're now crying to the feds. There's something to be said for accepting the consequences for one's convictions. Not in this age of victimization.

• Mike Nichols gets it right: Michael McGee as spokesman for the Jude case anger will not be taken seriously.

• Today is Tax Day. I'm sure most of you are like Congressional leaders on tax policy who pay others to do their taxes.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 04:31 AM | Comments (5)

April 16, 2006

On-the-Scene Vs. Phoning It In

Jeff Harrell's coverage of a Washington, D.C. immigration rally was good enough to be quoted by Molly Ivins. Jeff doesn't mind Ivins telling her mass of readers he's full of "provincialism." In fact, he notes the irony:

The irony here is so flagrant that calling attention to it almost makes me feel cheap. I went out, immersed myself in a large-scale event, witnessed it and in real time wrote what I thought about it. Meanwhile, a columnist sat in her comfortable house in her comfortable neighborhood and chastized me for my “provincialism.”

Jim Geraghty goes off.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Weblogging at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)

April 15, 2006

Lousy Way to Get Into the Playoffs

There are few causes more hopeless than jumping on the Milwaukee Bucks playoff bandwagon. Tonight, they decided defense was overrated and gave up 120 points to the lowly Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks started well with the starters moving the ball, making good passes, and scoring early and often. When the second team came is all their energy went POOF! Their offensive movement lacked fluidity and their passes were clumsy. On defense they let the Hawks penetrate too easily giving them high-percentage shots close to the basket. After the second quarter the Bucks had to play catch up and didn't make the good decisions needed to keep the lead.

Even with the loss, the Bucks are in the playoffs with Philadelphia losing.

I almost wish they would have just tanked the last few games of the season and missed the playoffs, but in the Desmond Mason/Jamal Magloire trade the Bucks threw in their first round pick in this year's draft. Since another lottery pick is out of the question I'll take some playoff games even though they deserve a quick exit.

"Bucks Back in Playoffs"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 11:47 PM | Comments (1)

Milwaukee in a Post-Jude World

Thankfully, anger at the Jude verdict hasn't resulted in violence. Wisconsin Avenue isn't ablaze. Maybe the sad news of the discovering of Quadrevion Henning's and Purvis Virginia Parker's bodies tempered people's passions. Or maybe Good Friday did it. Things could have gotten very ugly.

What is ugly is the relations between the Milwaukee Police Department and the community it's sworn to protect. The Code of Silence that allowed three ex-officers to get away with brutally beating a man tells the public the police is above the law. Any hope of near-term progress in countering the "Stop Snitchin'" culture vaporized with Jude verdict. I don't envy Police Chief Nan Hegerty or Mayor Tom Barrett.

There will be heightened tension between Milwaukee's whites and blacks since the Jude jury was all white, the defendants are white, and Frank Jude is mixed race. It's understandable, but I hope the focus is placed on the conflicting testimony of the police at the scene. Someone was obviously lying. A jury must believe the evidence is beyond a reasonable doubt to convict. Rich Esenberg writes, "Eyewitness identifications are not as certain as people believe them to be and the defense must have kicked up enough doubt about them given the fact that the prosecution witnesses were drinking, may have identified the defendants only after their picture was in the paper, etc." Our legal system places the benefit of the doubt on defendants. Because of that injustices can and will happen.

I'm more than willing to speak out against the injustice that occured. I just won't do it anywhere near that race-baiter Michael McGee. Owen Robinson writes,

This verdict will also serve to prop up the race warlords of Milwaukee – those who derive their power from racial hatred and anger. The McGees, Pratts, and Holloways of the world are going to be bolstered and strengthened. Every time these folks are strengthened, it weakens Milwaukee.

Lord help us.

The WTMJ radio yapping trio comment on a podcast.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 05:46 PM | Comments (1)

April 14, 2006

Police Found Innocent in Jude Case

Badger Blogger is reporting all three former Milwaukee police officers were found innocent in the Jude beating case. The jury is deadlocked on one count. Here's hoping the anger at that injustice doesn't turn into violence.

"Jude Beating Trial (Not Guilty)"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 11:41 PM | Comments (1)

One Can't Deter the Undeterrable

I don't buy that Iran has thousands of centrifuges ready to pump out enriched uranium. The chance of them having those is as good as the effectiveness of their "super weapons" like the stealth flying boat and underwater missile.

Still, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an apocalyptic nutcase who said Israel is "headed toward annihilation." "The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm."

I'd have no problem with Iran having nukes if I thought she was deterrable. India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons, but their leaders realize Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) wouldn't be in the best interests of their nations. With Ahmadinejad he might think he is the person to bring about the end times with the return of the Twelfth Imam. Nuking Israel may be Ahmadinejad's manner of doing it. One can't deter someone from not using a nuclear weapon if he believes he will be better of by using it. A Cold War-style MAD strategy won't work.

Practically speaking a full-scale invasion of Iran is out of the question. There isn't enough manpower with operations going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, there isn't the political will anywhere, not in pacifist Europe nor in the U.S. (It will take Iran using a nuclear weapon on Israel or someone else before Europeans or U.S. anti-warriors take the threat seriously.) Economic sanctions will be Iran's punishment along with the specter of U.S. airstrikes that could include the haunting possiblity of the third-ever use of nuclear weapons in conflict.

"Iran President Again Lashes Out at Israel"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 11:10 PM | Comments (2)

Charlie's Show Prep #75

• The road builders say there isn't enough money for southeast Wisconsin highways. I weep--not really. Want to talk about waste? Does it make sense putting four lanes on Hwy 53 between Eau Claire and Superior? I've driven that stretch countless times. It isn't a sprawling growth area in need of more transportation dollars. Still need more cash? Shut down UW-Superior.

• Six retired generals want Donald Rumsfeld's head on a stake.

• Only one-in-five Americans have a favorable view of Islam. [via OTB]

• In Pennsylvania, there's a contrast in university reactions to students' voicing their concerns about immigration. [via SCSU Scholars]

• A certain still-unnamed GOP rep who called southeast Wisconsin conservatives "stormtroopers" hasn't shown his feathers yet.

• A grand jury is examining if Barry Bonds perjured himself when he testified about steroids use.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 03:04 AM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2006

Weblogging Nostalgia

Last week, Ann Althouse wrote,

Don't cave into nostalgia for a Golden Age, especially one that got its golden glow from the horror that was 9/11. Things were bound to change and shake around, and some bloggers that you liked then may put you off now. But there are always a million new bloggers, and blogging is a beautifully fruitful format. The great power of blogging is the way it releases the creativity of the individual mind. That sense of not being able to predict your own opinions and observations -- that feeling of writing to discover your own ideas and interests -- is the great intrinsic value of blogging.

Nostalgia is the last thing I want to do with weblogging. Reminiscing about the "old days," say 1999, when weblogging amounted to links to Wired News and News.com articles or some odd site on the net is worse than blogospheric navel gazing.

There are some things about weblogging I'm bummed about. I don't like the desire of many to seek a "gotcha" moment. Power Line and Little Green Footballs got a rush and minor fame from helping to take down Dan Rather. Ed Morrisey had a blast publishing coverage of a Canadian trial that was banned to our northern neighbor. Being always on the hunt makes one anxious to not miss any news. One is constantly reading RSS feeds, refreshing Memeorandum, and scouring oodles of news sites. There's pressure to get be the first so everyone else can link to you. Real scoops are moments of serendipity along with the skill to adequately convey or analyze that moment's importance.

Along with that is the need to get a trophy victim. After Trent Lott there was Dan Rather. After Rather there was Eason Jordan. When Jordan went down it felt like some wanted a Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Brett Stephens to go too. Destruction was the goal.

Then there are the annoyances:

• Updating a post with "Welcome Instapundit (or fill-in-the-blank A-List weblogger) readers!!!" Don't make a big deal of it. Act like you've done it before.

• Updating and bumping a post. Go to the trouble to write a new post if the new news is so darn important. Then link to the previous post. That way you tell your readers (and remind yourself) when you started writing on the subject.
  

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Weblogging at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)

Newt Speaks on Iraq Remarks

Ankle Biting Pundits has a video interview with Newt Gingrich allowing him to explain his views on Iraq. As with most things coming out of his mouth, Newt's thoughts are original and unique. There's no need for me to summarize since the clip isn't long.

"Vlog-clusive: Newt on Iraq"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 07:36 PM | Comments (0)

Spazzing Out Over Tiger

Tiger Woods has apologized for saying he was a "spaz" during his Masters play. In Britain spaz is considered a slur rather than the mildly negative word that it is in the U.S. Paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson said Woods was "a bit stupid saying something off the cuff in that way."

If anyone's spazzing out it's some hyper-sensitive Brits. The Telegraph went so far as to think U.S. newspapers covered up for Tiger.

So Tiger Woods has to be aware of every possible connotation anywhere on the planet for any word or phrase he utters? Give me a break! Start making the list so us insensitive, barbarian Americans can be politically correct even if we mean no offense. Cross off idiot, moron, maybe even goofball off the list.

Maybe after the violence from the Muhammed cartoons some Brits fear riots from those afflicted with cerebral palsy or paralysis. And don't tell the French some people call them "frogs." They might start rioting. Oh, wait...

"Woods Apologizes for 'Spaz' Comment"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture at 09:15 AM | Comments (8)

Political Correctness Hits Terrorism War

If words matter, and they usually do, the European Union seems incapable of fighting the Islamist War:

European governments should shun the phrase "Islamic terrorism" in favour of "terrorists who abusively invoke Islam", say guidelines from EU officials.

Backed by diplomats and civil servants from the 25 EU members, the officials are drafting a "non-emotive lexicon for discussing radicalisation" to be submitted to Tony Blair and other leaders in June.

The Brussels officials hope the new lexicon, which would not be legally binding, would be adopted by governments and other EU institutions, such as the European Commission and European Parliament.

An EU official said: "The basic idea behind it is to avoid the use of improper words that would cause frustration among Muslims and increase the risk of radicalisation."

Along with civil servants from the Home Office, the officials have reviewed the impact of such terms as Islamist, fundamentalist and jihad when describing acts of terrorism and murder.

"'Islamic Terrorism' is Too Emotive a Phrase, Says EU"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)

The Battle of United Flight 93

We're not exactly sure how they did it but passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 did fight back, causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania, and striking the first blow for freedom in the Islamist War. Audio played for the jury deciding Zacarias Moussaoui's fate demonstrated that.

D. Hamilton Peterson of Bethesda, president of Families of Flight 93, said the public airing of the recording should put to rest any lingering questions about what happened aboard the Boeing 757. "The paramount issue was, Did the passengers and crew thwart the plane from its intended target? And that question has clearly been answered," said Peterson, whose father, Donald A. Peterson, and stepmother, Jean H. Peterson, died on the plane. "Whether or not they were actually into the cockpit or tearing the door off the hinges at the time it was scuttled is something history will have to answer."

"At Trial, Flight 93 Myth Finally Becomes Reality"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 08:50 AM | Comments (0)

Charlie's Show Prep #74

• Stop the presses! The Journal Sentinel editorial board and I are on the same page. We both think the TPA needs time to be digested. Where we disagree is the lousy track record of growing state government means some strong restriction is necessary.

• An Iraqi stringer taking pictures for the AP may have been captured by American forces with a cache of weapons.

• The White House goes after a Washington Post story about supposed mobile Iraqi biolabs.

• They're protesting Playboy in Indonesia, but the mag doesn't have any nudity. Even better, "its photos of women in undergarments are less risque than in other magazines already for sale in the country." [via In the Bullpen]

• MySpace just hired someone to oversee law enforcement, safety, and privacy.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 01:32 AM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2006

New Life Goal

I want to be connected to an urban legend like Charlie Sykes.

[via Jessica McBride]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Miscellaneous at 11:50 PM | Comments (1)

Newt Doesn't Want "Pull Back" from Iraq

On Newt Gingrich's website his recent statements at the University of South Dakota are clarified. The Argus Leader quoted Gingrich as saying, "It was an enormous mistake for us to try to occupy that country after June of 2003. We have to pull back, and we have to recognize it." The newspaper reports that remark was given Monday afternoon before students and faculty before an evening lecture.

In a printed transcript along with an audio clip Gingrich didn't call for a "pull back." At the end of his evening lecture he said, "And I want us to reduce American casualties, I want us to be as smart as possible, but there are no circumstances where I want to see those kind of people win. Not on our watch." That doesn't sound like pulling out of Iraq.

Since there's no known recording of the afternoon talk we have Gingrich's memory compared to that of Monica Labelle's, The Argus Leader reporter on the scene. Newt has no track record of calling for an Iraqi pullout so I'm chalking this up as a misunderstanding (I'm not assuming liberal bias; that's a knee-jerk response for too many conservatives) on Labelle's part. A reader at this South Dakota weblog who was at the afternoon talk comments the paper got it wrong. Sibby Online was also at the afternoon talk and writes,

I did attend the afternoon session, and no way did Gingrich gave the impression that we should surrender Iraq and instead presented the three points that he now has at his web site. I also heard Gingrich on Sean Hannity’s talk radio show at 4PM today. After Hannity aired Gingrich’s actually position, Gingrich stated that the Argus Leader got it wrong. He then compared this to the Dan Rather fake document incident where the bloggers corrected the MSM mistake. And tonight I am reporting the terrible error made by the Argus Leader today. It will be interesting to see if the Argus Leader will run a correction and an apology.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 01:23 PM | Comments (9)

Charlie's Show Prep #73

• The Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA) is turning into a monstrocity. Problem #1: it's 2000 words long. Problem #2: State Rep. Jeff Wood tossed in a new element to control increases in local government workers' pay. I'm all for controlling government spending, but this is turning into more centralization in Madison. Problem #3: Wood is in such a hurry to get a vote on the TPA he's not giving legislators enough time to study it. Problem #4: "29 different types of revenue" are exempted from an amendment intended to limit government revenues. Problem #4: it's 2000 words long! Owen Robinson critiques the cast of characters. Can you say B-movie?

• Donald Rumsfeld to the press: "You think I’m going to stand around reading your books and validating or not validating them? I have a day job. If I disputed all of the mythology that comes out of this group [gesturing towards press pool], I’d have no time to do anything else." [via RWN]

• If Iran's president wasn't nuts I'd say mutually assured destruction might contain that nation's nuclear threat. However, yesterday, they were dancing over their success in enriching uranium. Call it the UF6 two-step.

• From Oct. 2003 to Nov. 2005 the Social Security Administration handed out at least $5.1 billion it shouldn't have.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 02:34 AM | Comments (1)

April 11, 2006

In Kathleen Falk's Wonderland

Only in the wacky world of Madison, WI would it make sense for Kathleen Falk to run to be the state's top cop while praising herself for helping illegal aliens avoid the law. I wonder what other laws Falk would not enforce?

"Eyes Wide Shut"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 07:45 PM | Comments (0)

Coke Blak

Coffee plus Coca-Cola sounds like the Frankenstein's monster of soft drinks. Filled with coffee extract and caffeine Coca-Cola Blak is an energy drink looking to stake a claim with the espresso crowd. The "fusion" (to steal from the bottle) of coffee and cola surprised my taste buds.

When the cap comes off you smell the familiar cola aroma. Along with it comes mocha and coffee scents. If you did a blind smell test you could momentarily mistake Blak for a bottled Starbucks Frappuccino.

The soda's mouth feel isn't different from any ordinary Coca-Cola. There's no Frapaccino-like creaminess. It feels like you're drinking a soda. The taste isn't bad. The coffee flavor isn't strong. Both the cola and coffee balance well. Nothing dominates.

Calorie-wise it's a winner with only 45 calories in an eight ounce bottle. The biggest downside is it's $6 for a four-pack. If it's $1.50 a bottle in a supermarket it will easily run over $2 in convienence stores. That's putting it into Red Bull country only it's not as mixible with alchohol (although adding Kahlua could make for something very yummy).

Coca-Cola Blak is a more adult taste. It's sweet but with an earthy, coffee flavor that's more sophisticated than any Coke product out there. The best part of Blak is its glass bottle in the old school style.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in New Stuff at 07:25 PM | Comments (2)

Gingrich: "Pull Back" from Iraq

Newt Gingrich joins a growing list of conservatives to have second thoughts about the Iraq War:

"It was an enormous mistake for us to try to occupy that country after June of 2003," Gingrich said during a question-and-answer session at the school. "We have to pull back, and we have to recognize it."

AJStrata isn't too happy and writes, "Gringrich just lost any chance of a political come back with this backtrack."

"Gingrich at USD: Pull out of Iraq"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 10:21 AM | Comments (12)

Charlie's Show Prep #72

• A few Illinoisians are buying vacation homes in Milwaukee. As long as they don't turn the place into another Door County or Lake Geneva Flatlander money in the local real estate market is fine with me. What we're seeing is a trend of Chicago and Milwaukee merging. Let's name it Milcago. Economies, transportation, and the need for affordable living spaces are uniting the region. That's why it makes perfect sense for Milwaukee to join with Chicago in a regional bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

• The anti-Wal-Mart crowd joined up with bank lobbyists to express their concern for the giant retailer possibly getting into the banking business. Call it the Red-Green coalition. Red because the Wal-Mart bashers hate capitalism and Green because the banks are shaking in their boots that more competition could be on its way. Or think of the Red as Target who wouldn't mind their competitor being at a disadvantage since the Minnesota-based retailer owns a bank of its own.

• Get ready for 24 the Movie. If you can't then see The Sentinel in a few weeks.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 03:11 AM | Comments (1)

Don't Insult Me

Which is better, being a "Neo-con Zombie" or a "Charlie Sykes Stormtrooper?"

I'm with Chris and would like the out-state Republican to have the guts to tell me I simply take marching order from a talk radio yapper. I want him to tell me my concerns for smaller government and lower taxes are less important because of where I live.

Mr. Nameless Republican needs to understand we are loud conservative voices who want conservative policies advanced. Since the GOP is the more conservative of the two major parties that's whose train we have to hook up to. I'm a conservative before a Republican. If I thought there was a chance to advance conservative ideas with the Democrats or a third party I'd jump at that. In other words, I'm not beholden to the GOP. The party will forget that at its political peril.

There are obviously political differences because of our geographic and economic perspectives. For the most part we're on the same side. The GOP is the best of choices. We need each other to elect Mark Green as governor and to have a Republican take the Attorney General office. The GOP will need Southeast Wisconsin conservatives to get the gay marriage amendment passed this fall and the TPA passed if it ever gets through the legislature.

To the Wisconsin Republican Party here's some helpful advice: you'd be better off with me to be for you than against you. I'm not being arrogant. My little corner of the internet isn't a 50,000 watt radio station. But I can still cause you a lot of pain and annoyance. Just push conservative ideas and you'll be just fine.

"The Great Divide"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 02:28 AM | Comments (8)

April 10, 2006

Go to Rally, Get Credit

Some schools hand require their students to do some kind of community service. I'm not fond that political activity can be used to satisfy the requirement. I'm certainly not pleased simply attending an immigration rally will do it:

Montgomery County public school officials are awarding community-service credits to students who participate today in a pro-immigration rally on the Mall, angering some residents, who say the school system is supporting illegal activity.

"Under no circumstances should [student service-learning] hours be used to promote activities such as going to a protest for illegal aliens," said Brad Botwin, president of the Richard Montgomery High School Athletic Booster Club in Rockville. "To volunteer to teach people English or help with food services [is OK] but to aid and abet illegal aliens and to have students go downtown and get credit for this is mind-boggling."

Immigrant advocacy group CASA of Maryland is helping organize rallies in more than 65 cities to persuade Congress to pass legislation that will help provide citizenship to illegal aliens in the United States, instead of requiring them to be deported.

The group last week asked school officials to provide buses and grant credit to students who participated in the rally. Officials said they denied the request for buses because expenditure tax laws forbid it.

The Maryland State Board of Education in 1992 began requiring students to earn 60 community-service hours to graduate from high school. Counties are allowed to decide what constitutes appropriate service. Montgomery County grants credit for service in three areas, including in advocacy.

Forced volunteering is repugnant to me; it immediately stops being a generous donation of one's time. That being said, teaching literacy, building homes for the homeless, and comforting sick kids all rise to a higher socially-important level than spending a few hours at a rally supporting people who broke the law.

If the Washington, D.C. rally is anything like the one in Dallas it will end up being a recruitment party for Democrats.

In Madison, WI State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager won't be getting any school credit, but she will be pandering to illegal aliens and their supporters. Strange from a woman who was elected to enforce the law.

"Schools Draw Fire for Offering Credits for Protest"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 01:17 PM | Comments (3)

Charlie's Show Prep #71

• The Doyle administration is collecting stories about their accomplishments. This is news? An editor must have required something about the governor's race in today's issue.

• A.N.S.W.E.R. will be organzing an immigration rally in Washington, D.C. Webloggers crashed a meeting and heard some interesting comments. [via Power Line]

• Those seeking Dutch citizenship will have to watch a DVD that includes topless women and men kissing.

• Joe Lieberman, the GOP's favorite Democratic Senator, might run as an independent if he doesn't win the Democratic primary.

• The Christian Coalition is a shell of its former self.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 04:15 AM | Comments (0)

April 09, 2006

Michele's Back

It was pretty smart of me not to take A Small Victory off the TAM blogroll. She's baaaaack!!

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Weblogging at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

MJS Continues to Oppose Free Speech

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board is consistent...consistently against free speech. They want limits on hard money, soft money, and now donations to 527s:

Our take: Whomever the 527s favored, their role was in dire need of regulation. The House bill reasonably limits donors to $25,000 yearly for partisan voter mobilization and $5,000 yearly for direct expenditures on federal elections.

Slowly but surely their future desire for restrictions will amount to public financing of campaigns and advocacy. In other words socialized free speech.

Want to talk about hypocrisy? It's hypocritical for the editorial board to want to limit the political speech of you and me but won't accept similar limits to themselves. You don't ever read them call for the government to limit the speech of the press. They don't even do it voluntarily. But see, they're the vaunted press. You, me, and those that donate to candidates and political organizations we're the bad guys. We're the evil special interests.

"Hypocrisy Abounds in Debate Over 527 Groups"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 07:40 PM | Comments (0)

Junior Backing Bush

Ken Griffey, Jr. has always been a favorite of mine. He can hit for power, for average, and can make jaw-dropping plays in the outfield. Injuries have plagued him recently, but he seems back on track. After his supportive quote for President Bush I like him even more:

Oh, yeah. Good wood. The poor guy needs all the help he can get during these troubled times.

I think I'll start hunting for his Upper Deck rookie card again.

[via Jib]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 12:29 PM | Comments (2)

Borders Underestimates Americans

Glenn Reynolds links to a newspaper editorial blasting Borders for giving into fear and not selling the issue of Free Inquiry that contains the Mohammed cartoons. The issue has been out for about a week. How many incidents have we seen? How many bookstores and news stands have burned to the ground by rampaging, angry Muslims? Zero. Zilch. Nada. At my bookstore there hasn't been an incident or even a concern by any customers. The issue sits on the stands just like any other magazine issue on any other month. Borders was beyond boneheaded. They failed to trust their customers and Americans (including Muslims) in general.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture at 02:32 AM | Comments (8)

Favre's Fate Still in Limbo

After all the media hype about yesterday's press conference Brett Favre still hasn't decided if he'll play next season or retire. He wants the Packers to do something bold in free agency, but GM Ted Thompson hasn't found a deal he liked. It makes me wish Favre would have lost a few more games last season so the Packers would have won the Reggie Bush lottery. I'm sure Favre would come back to play alongside such an explosive talent.

"Favre Wants a Super Bowl Contender"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 02:25 AM | Comments (2)

April 08, 2006

Al Jazeera Correction

Last month, I mentioned a Jew-bashing article demonstrating that Al Jazeera International, the soon-to-be new cable news channel would have a tough time gaining credibility. The article mentioned (forgot the link, me bad) was from Aljazeera.com. A reader pointed out that site is not connected to Al Jazeera the infamous news network. The Aljazeera.com website confirms that. The article only took up one paragraph and without it the essence of my post stands true. Still, I apologize for my error and will try harder to be more accurate.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Media at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

Hockey Heroes!!!

The Wisconsin Badgers are national champions!!

Now is the time to dance.

"Gilbert Nets Winner To Give Wisconsin NCAA Title No. 6"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)

Packers Fans Hold Their Collective Breath

Brett Favre will hold a press conference later this morning. He might announce his future with the Packers. No one with the team or even his agent knows what he will say.

"Close to the Vest"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 01:40 AM | Comments (2)

NSA Vacuuming Data

From an Electronic Freedom Foundation lawsuit we might know a little more about how the NSA is wiretapping terrorists. It has been suspected the spy agency vacuums up monsterous quantites of data and has powerful computers dig through the mess looking for keywords or patterns. According to a former AT&T employee a special room in the company's office in San Francisco taps into the network.

The dates in the employee's statement are later than when President Bush ordered the NSA to begin warrantless monitoring of domestic-international terrorist communications. But the method mentioned is certainly a way to do it.

What has been missing in the debate over the legality of the NSA program is whether this amounts to an "unreasonable" search. Terrabytes of data on NSA computers will make many uncomfortable but might not about to anything illegal since it hasn't been "searched" because it lacks certain keywords or identifiers NSA spooks are looking for. Data is pretty harmless if no one is doing anything with it. With all the complaints about the Bush administration failing to "connect the dots" about the impending Sep. 11 attacks should we really be scared the intelligence community will start oppressing the citizenry?

As for the politics there will only be serious fallout if it's found the President used the NSA to spy on political enemies. Only then will the calls for his impeachment actually sound reasonable even justified. He's safe as long as he's using the long tentacles of government to fight America's enemies.

Don't expect these rooms or the databases created to vanish. Only a court order will do that. Democrats aren't calling for the end to terrorist surveillance, not even Sen. Russ "Censure Bush" Feingold. Start looking into encryption and anonymizing technologies. Just don't expect the spooks to sit on their heals. They'll work on some method to conquer the new tech. It's another cost brought upon us by Sep. 11.

"Whistle-Blower Outs NSA Spy Room"

"EFF Files Evidence in Motion to Stop AT&T's Dragnet Surveillance"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 01:02 AM | Comments (4)

April 07, 2006

Wish I Were In D.C.

Being in nation's capital means you get to hang out with professional poker players who aren't fond of stupid bills that would ban online poker games.

More pictures here and here.

"Poker with Jesus"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 11:06 PM | Comments (5)

Karl Rove Told Me to Write This--Not!

There has been no mention of President Bush allowing Scooter Libby to "leak" until now because I don't think it's much of a story. If the President (or anyone he allows) can't declassify material then no one can. Voters had a chance to hold him accountable in 2004, and if the Congress is so upset with him they can try to impeach and remove him from office. That's how the system works. If you don't like it amend the constitution. If you don't want to do that waste your time putting anti-war measures on local ballots.

"Dubya Can't Leak" [via QandO]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 07:25 PM | Comments (10)

Holloway Squashes Investigation

Lee Holloway gets his investigation quashed. The chairman and vice chairman of the Milwaukee County Ethics Board both resigned in frustration. Brian Fraley has the timeline of how Holloway played "hardball."

It's like the county board doesn't remember the corrupt Tom Ament years. Except this time Citizens for Responsible Government is around to continue the fight [DOC].

"Milwaukee's Ethics Meltdown"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 07:08 PM | Comments (0)

Charlie's Show Prep #70

• Building new companies is how Wisconsin's economy will grow. Easing tax and regulatory burdens are very important. Also important is funding start-ups. NeoClone is an example of 21st Century investing methods.

• How about Wisconsin State University instead of UW-Milwaukee? A name change would create a school identity distinct from the state's flagship university in Madison. I'd prefer renaming it the University of Milwaukee. It's an university linked to the city, more so than Wisconsin as a whole. There is precedence: the University of Memphis previously was named Memphis State University. If you're a close Cheddarsphere reader you'd already know about the idea.

• Badger hockey is one win away from another national title.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 02:00 AM | Comments (7)

April 06, 2006

Web-Powered Music

For those in-the-know when it comes to online music Pandora and Last.fm are two pretty cool services. With Pandora you pick an artist and out comes a selection of songs that are similar you might like. You can play, pause, or skip to other ones. It's a nice way to get exposed to new (to you) music.

Last.fm is a music social network. After adding a plug-in to your music player of choice Last.fm keeps track of what songs you listen to. It builds charts and recommendations based on all the song data.

My biggest downside to Pandora was it didn't talk to Last.fm. The songs I listened to on Pandora weren't communicated to Last.fm. Real-ity Interactive fixed that.

"Web Service Integrates Last.fm with Pandora"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Music at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)

Italy Stops Terror Attack

A fresco in a church in Bologna displays Muhammad being thrown into hell. With the riots over mere cartoons I'm not surprised it might have been the target of a terrorist attack. Back in 2001 a group called The Union of Italian Muslims asked the Pope to remove the painting saying, "It constitutes an even graver offence to the religion than that caused by Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses."

"Italian Minister Says Terror Attack Thwarted" [via Boots & Sabers]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)

Human-Hating Professor to Meet with FBI

Who's the bozo who sicced the FBI on Erik Pianka? The guy hates Man, but there's no evidence he's planning a bio-terrorist attack. He's just an enviro-nut who deserves public derision instead of threats and government pestering.

"Professor's Population Speeches Unnerve Some" [via Drudge]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture of Death at 09:02 AM | Comments (7)

Charlie's Show Prep #69

• State Rep. Frank Lasee no longer supports the Taxpayer Protection Amendment due to a "technical amendment." State Sen. Glenn Grothman told Owen Robinson it was a mistake.

• Only New Orleans, Gulfport, MS, and Detroit lost more jobs in the last year than Milwaukee.

• Numbers don't lie even in Iraq.

• Every once in a blue moon Sen. John Kerry makes some sense. He's wrong about calling for withdrawal from Iraq by the end of the year. But he does makes sense with his plan for a 05.15 deadline for Iraq to form a government. I sense signs of dependency. If Iraqis think war supporters like myself will support the U.S. military as a substitute for Iraqi forces they're wrong. James Joyner disagrees.

• Kathryn Jean Lopez: "Let's question the instinct that would keep our most vulnerable from a new season of life."

• Katie Couric is going to CBS. Ho-hum. Expect the evening news to be Oprah-fied. What would have been refreshing radical is if CBS had announced the end to their nightly news.

• Brett Favre isn't making friends by waiting on his retirement decision.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 12:52 AM | Comments (2)

April 05, 2006

Gin and Fast Food

The combo works. A gin gimlet makes downing an Arby's ham and cheese more pleasurable. I'm blaming Little Miss Attila for this.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Food at 11:38 PM | Comments (1)

Pianka Misunderstood

Human-hating scientist Eric Pianka is getting death threats since it was reported he thought is would be pretty swell if Ebola wiped out 90% of Mankind. Death threats toward a man who has written is own obituary is pretty pointless along with being extremely uncivil.

When someone is caught saying things they don't want the whole world to see they pull out their out-of-context card:

However, Eric Pianka says his remarks about his beliefs were taken out of context, that he was just raising a warning that deadly disease epidemics are a threat if population growth isn't contained.

He should have kept the video camera filming when he was giving his speech.

The whole thing is making the poor professor discumbobulated:

"What we really need to do is start thinking about controlling our population before it's too late," he said Monday. "It's already too late, but we're not even thinking about it. We're just mindlessly rushing ahead breeding our brains out."

I'd feel sorry for him if I didn't know he would prefer me and 90% of the rest of Man dead.

"Prof Threatened after 'Drudge Report' Publishes His Views on Population Control" [via Shot In The Dark]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture of Death at 01:50 PM | Comments (7)

Fairy Tale

Someone's dreaming at Ask Me Later.

"Wouldn't It Be Grand...."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 01:05 PM | Comments (0)

Charlie's Show Prep #68

• To summarize the anti-war referendums: they won in a bunch of small towns (got 18 votes in Couderay) as well as anti-Bush strongholds (La Crosse and Madison). Political science professor John McAdams analyzes the returns:

  But this sort of analysis can hardly be a comfort to the anti-war movement. Genuine staunch opposition to the war ought to get people to the polls. In this case it didn’t.

• Today would be Booker T. Washington's 150th birthday. He was an amazing and very wise man. His words and ideas transcend race, politics, and time. Go get a copy of Up from Slavery. It's a quick, worthwhile read. LaShawn Barber has more on the man.

• Geraldo isn't fond of Wisconsin possibly lowering the hunting age. He pulled out a gun in New York City and asked a kid what he thought.

• Panama wants to enlarge the Panama Canal so it can accept bigger cargo ships.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 04:02 AM | Comments (3)

April 04, 2006

Republican for Socialized Medicine

A Republican who sponsors a bill for socialized medicine. If that doesn't make you a Republican In Name Only (RINO) I don't know what does. Jenna's has the details.

"A Republican Introduces Socialized Medicine"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 10:11 AM | Comments (14)

A Sign of the Bubble Bursting?

Larry Kudlow is always the optimist:

The economy is in a boom.

We’ve never had it so good.

"Firing on All Cylinders"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Economics at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)

ANSWER is No Answer to the Immigration Question

Expect a big, strong fence to soon be under construction along the Mexican border. Plans are being made for massive immigration protests on 05.01, May Day. When you discover ANSWER is organizing them it makes sense. ANSWER is the anti-American, anti-war, anti-capitalism, pro-Saddam, pro-North Korea organization. No wonder they use a Communist holidy to make a statement. Christopher Hitchens describes ANSWER as "the group run by the "Worker's World" party and fronted by Ramsey Clark, which openly supports Kim Jong-il, Fidel Castro, Slobodan Milosevic, and the "resistance" in Afghanistan and Iraq, with Clark himself finding extra time to volunteer as attorney for the génocidaires in Rwanda." In 2002, David Corn wrote,

The October 26 protest--one of the more prominent antiwar actions so far--had been organized by International ANSWER, a group dominated by the Workers World Party, a small revolutionary-socialist outfit with a fancy for North Korea's Kim Jong-Il and the goal of abolishing private property. So it was no surprise that the antiwar message--which, according to polls, resonates with at least one-third of Americans--was accessorized with the demands of the fringe far-left. Nor was it a shocker that many speakers did not adopt a give-inspections-a-chance position. The WWP, which hails world leaders that stand against US hegemony (such as Slobodan Milosevic), opposes weapons inspections in Iraq and has assumed the task of trying to steer the antiwar movement away from endorsing them. ANSWER eschews criticism of Saddam Hussein.

It was bad enough many protesters proudly waved Mexican flags. With such love of their homeland you'd think they'd want to return. I now know the protests are organized by a group that hates freedom and calls you a racist if you oppose them. My sympathy is wearing thin, and I'm pretty liberal when it comes to immigration. Americans who think there are too many people coming into the country will reject the massive protests by anti-American, totalitarian sympathizers. That will only harden their stance pushing Congress to a more hardline position. A fence will go up, people will be deported, and businesses will be punished. ANSWER will blame racism when they should look in the mirror.

"Boycott Set to Support Illegals"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Immigration at 02:21 AM | Comments (11)

Charlie's Show Prep #67

• Rep. Tom DeLay will leave Congress. No loss to me. He was a big-spending Republican. However, expect him to becomes a very powerful lobbyist. He's spent years building connections and handing out political favors. He'll be cashing them in. The short-term lesson is for local Democratic prosecutors to launch politically-motivated investigation of GOP Congressional leaders. If there's some smoke, as in DeLay's case, they just might force a few more into resigning. The "Democrats' politics of personal destruction" isn't good for the body politic, not that what DeLay did was great either.

• It's Election Day in Wisconsin. Bring photo ID to the polls if you haven't registered lately. In the race for my Washington County board representative I don't like either candidate. Both Gerald Schulz and Allen Blank approved of extending the county's half-cent sales tax.

• The Cheddarsphere gets it first scalp.

• Patrick McIlheran found an environmental nut more morbid than Eric Pianka. A Finn named Pentti Linkola advocates eugenics, totalitarianism, and dictatorship all in the name of population control and protecting the earth from the evil humans.

• The UAW could only get 30 people to show up to protest the Delphi CEO. A sign of labor impotence?
  

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 01:52 AM | Comments (1)

"France--WRONG!"

This is so bad. So bad I listened to it twice.

[via Instapundit]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Music at 12:21 AM | Comments (0)

April 03, 2006

Today's Standards

Tonight, at the store I saw a teenager decked out in his CCCP hoodie (similar to this). It was sporting the Soviet Union's hammer and sickle along with the four letters. It's interesting how that's considered a fashion statement but wearing a Nazi swastika is considered offensive even though Communism killed more people and caused more suffering than National Socialism. One totalitarianism is chic while the other is abhorred. Me, I hate all of them.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture at 11:49 PM | Comments (7)

One Wacky Scientist

The University of Texas pays a reptile and amphibian scientist who thinks it would be peachy-keen if Ebola were to wipe out 90% of all humans. See, Dr. Eric R. Pianka doesn't particuarly like what humans are doing to the planet. He doesn't think Man is special. Thinking that way is anthropocentrism. On one of his web pages he asks, "What good are lizards? Indeed, what good are you?" During a presentation to the Texas Academy of Science he declared, "We're no better than bacteria!" I'm waiting for that great novel written by some streptococcus.

Pianka hast stepped into David Hume's is-ought problem. It's what separates objectively examining the world from advocating what should be done. It's what allows economist Stephen Levitt to discover legal abortion had an effect on crime rates while not taking a stance on abortion. There's a difference between understanding how the world works and deciding what course or policy should be taken.

The Texas Academy of Science didn't have a problem with Pinka's views. They gave him a standing ovation and an award. How nice and anti-human of them.

Reason's Ronald Bailey writes,

Professor Pianka is apparently a brilliant herpetologist, but like brilliant Stanford University entomologist Paul Ehrlich who wrote The Population Bomb nearly 40 years ago, he is completely ignorant of economics and demography. Pianka might start alleviating his ignorance by reading some of the analyses by Jesse Ausubel, head of the Human Environment Program at Rockefeller University. Relying on human creativity and wealth creation, Ausubel foresees the 21st century as the beginning of the Great Restoration of the natural environment.

Then Andrew Sullivan decides to lump Pianka with anyone who believes in the end of the world. He's not very humble. He seems to think the end times aren't near and will discount anyone who thinks otherwise. Not very humble of him. I don't know when the world will end. It could be tomorrow or centuries from now.

"Meeting Doctor Doom"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture of Death at 01:49 PM | Comments (1)

John Dean's Own Words

There's discussion about John Dean's testimony last week on Feingold's censure resolution. Want something a little more than me calling Dean a "moonbat?" Ok, here's Power Line's John Hinderaker.

Want Dean's own words? Then we have his thoughts three days after the Sep. 11 attacks. He thought positively of preemptive attack and retaliation for a attempt on a President's life. He went to far as to write, "In fact, the President does not need Congressional authority to respond." Congress' power is the power of the purse. Dean wrote, "While Congress cannot put strings on the money it authorizes, its power to fund is a significant power nonetheless."

I find it interesting the only time Dean gets any hearing is when he's bashing Republicans.

"Examining the President's Powers to Fight Terrorism"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 01:23 PM | Comments (2)

Side-By-Side

Someone should do a duel review of Harvey Mansfield's Manliness and Maddox's The Alphabet of Manliness when it comes out in June. If Mansfield's publisher Yale University Press and Maddox's publisher Citadel Press send me review copies I'll do it myself.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Books at 12:56 PM | Comments (0)

Telegraph, Provide the Links

A lot of people were stupid for jumping on the "Jill Carroll went batty" bandwagon. Some are still stupid demanding an apology to themselves. The Telegraph blows it completely when they accuse right-wing webloggers of bashing her. It's not that it didn't happen, it's that they provided no links or quotes to support the accusation. I want to know who was dumb enough to want Carroll arrested for treason. The paper isn't opposed to hyperlinks; they linked to another Telegraph story, just not to any offending webloggers.

"Right-Wing Bloggers Attack Freed Hostage for 'Treason'" [via LMA]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Media at 11:13 AM | Comments (2)

Charlie's Show Prep #66

• Sen. Feingold loves those friendly audiences. Listening sessions rarely bring together people with various views to debate. On Fox News Sunday the senator actually said President Bush's action were worse than President Nixon's abuses. Let's see: possible law-breaking in the hunt for terrorists is worse than attacking political enemies. That only happens in Feingold's world where he thinks he could win the Presidency. Ann Althouse comments. Then there's Tom McMahon's take on Wisconsin's junior Senator.

• The U.S. and the U.K. might have permanent bases in Iraq. The U.S. has had bases in Germany and Japan decades after those countries were invaded. Troops will leave if they're not wanted and it doesn't damage national security. That's what happened in Saudi Arabia.

• The digital revolution doesn't stop. Movie studios will begin really pushing online downloads of movies.

• Desparate Housewives isn't as good as it used to be. Then I don't feel bad I've fallen behind in watching it. Missing an episode of The Sopranos would be really bad. I could get wacked.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 01:58 AM | Comments (15)

"We Have the Youth We Deserve"

A new law in France would *gasp* let employers fire new hires under 26 for any reason during their first two years of employment. The fact French companies can't do that already explains France's lousy employment situation. For centuries it's been in the French cultural DNA to protest so for weeks that's what students have done. They've gone so far as to cause $1.2 million in damage to the Sorbonne University and have kept it closed for weeks. That school's president Jean-Robert Pitte is fed up with the protesters and their "illusions." His remarks offer the most impressive bit of sanity I've heard from any French man in some time:

"I'm very angry about the demagogy, the ignorance and the stupidity of the young and of the French," said Dr Pitte, 56, a geography professor who has taught at Oxford and Cambridge and holds the Légion d'honneur.

"Today's youth don't have dreams, they have illusions. To dream is to want to accomplish something difficult that is a challenge. Instead youngsters believe they have a right to everything and if things don't go the way they want it's someone else's fault."

...

Dr Pitte, whose comments were published in the respected weekly news magazine Le Point, blamed "irresponsible" public debate for stoking the violence.

"They say: Oh, these poor students! Of course they have a right to an open-ended work contract! It's absurd," he told Le Point. "Who is going to tell these youngsters the truth? Get real." He added that tens of thousands of students were taking degrees in subjects with no relevance to the employment market but were then demanding jobs linked to their studies.

"It's true that someone in England who leaves Oxford with a degree in Chinese can work in marketing, but they learn their job as they go along and must prove themselves.

"I know people will say I'm a horrible reactionary but I'm very angry about the ignorance and the stupidity not just of youngsters but of the French because we have the youth we deserve."

"Head of Sorbonne Attacks 'Ignorant' Student Protesters"

UPDATE: McQ at QandO comments:

While Pitte's words are true and a welcome bit of fresh air, my guess is the result will be Pitte doing the equivalent of the "Larry Summers Shuffle" as he's asked to find another position in the near future. I don't think France is quite yet in the postition to want to deal with the truth.

"France: Speaking Truth to Ignorance"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 12:54 AM | Comments (2)

I'm So Ashamed

I only pump out 12.9 tons of CO₂ a year. I'll have to start me a big family and get me one of those Hummers.

[via Shark and Shephard]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 12:26 AM | Comments (0)

April 02, 2006

Google Made Me Giggle

A busy April 1st meant I couldn't check out any of the online April Fool's Day pranks. Google's is still up, and they didn't let me down. Count how many times they use word "contextual."

UPDATE: Casper's joke was good too. He almost got me.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Miscellaneous at 01:52 AM | Comments (0)

April 01, 2006

Carroll Recants

Jill Carroll disavows the statements she made in a video before her release:

Protected by the U.S. military and far from the country where she had been held hostage, Jill Carroll strongly disavowed statements she had made during captivity in Iraq and shortly after her release, saying Saturday she had been repeatedly threatened.

In a video, recorded before she was freed and posted by her captors on an Islamist Web site, Carroll spoke out against the U.S. military presence. But in a statement Saturday, she said the recording was made under threat. Her editor has said three men were pointing guns at her at the time.

"During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. So I agreed," she said in a statement read by her editor in Boston.

"Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not."

No surprise. People will do lots of things when there are guns pointed at them. Jonah Goldberg is man enough to admit he was initially wrong.

"Carroll Rejects Statements Made in Iraq"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 04:52 PM | Comments (3)

2006 Will Be Favre's Last Season...If He Plays

The soap opera that is Brett Favre's future takes another turn. Today's "deadline" where the quarterback was to get a $3 million roster bonus was pushed back indefinitely. To a local Mississippi paper Favre quipped, "If I don't tell them by Saturday, what will they do, cut me?"

What we do know is if Favre comes back it will be for one more year:

In his most recent comments about his murky football future, Favre made one thing clear: If he does return, he told a newspaper in his native Mississippi there is "no doubt" it will be his last season.

If I were Ted Thompson I would have liked to know that a few weeks ago so I could splurge and take a chance by signing Terrel Owens. Both parts of the combination would have loved to score touchdowns in Brett's final season. With this new piece of news I hope Thompson gets more serious in the free agent market. Here's a hint: sign Charles Woodson.

Since Favre is taking his sweet time decided whether to play this season or not I hope he's preparing to play. What the Packers don't need is a future hall of fame quarterback who didn't stay in shape in the off season.

"Favre Says '06 Will Be Finale if He Plays"

"Favre Waits, Watches Packers Before Deciding Future"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 02:08 AM | Comments (1)

Mmmm New Leinies

My eyes will be on the look out for Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat.

"Sunset Wheat Rises for Leinenkugel's" [via Jib]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Food at 12:40 AM | Comments (1)

McKinney's Horrendous Hair

Call me superficial but I would have arrested Rep. Cynthia McKinney for that awful hairdo. Homeless chic isn't hip even in Washington, D.C., a beggar's paradise.

And don't get me started about her wild eyes. A mugger confronting her in a dark alley would run away screaming.

"Cynthia McKinney’s Statement: Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Black (VIDEO)" [via Wizbang]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 12:18 AM | Comments (1)

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