With the Patriot Act coming up for renewal at the end of 2006, civil libertarians are revving up their campaign to either stop that from happening or make significant alterations that bring it back into line with the Constitution.
Some of the controversial aspects of the current bill include: unlimited federal access to medical records, library records, school records, video store rental records, credit reports, limited restrictions on wiretaps, electronic eavesdropping, surveillance without due cause, reduced reasons for search warrants, pen/trap orders (written phone tap orders) and subpoenas with limited veto power from the judge. All they have to do is tell the judge that the person is a suspect under the auspices of the Patriot Act and BOOM! The investigators can take a liberal interpretation of Constitutional protections. They can also "sneak and peek" (secretly enter a house, look around for what they want, without a warrant) under the current Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act has already been abused by the FBI. It's been used to charge people with crimes who would be better charged under prior laws. Take for example the multiple cases of lasers being fired at aircraft cockpits from the ground as the aircraft were taking off or landing.
Instead of charging the individual with crimes such as interfering with a flight crew, public endangerment, negligence and so forth, the FBI used the Patriot Act. In the first case, they admitted that there was no terrorism involved, but the man's actions were "foolhardy and negligent." (Here's that story.)
The man involved was also not under investigation for terrorism beforehand, as the Patriot Act was intended for. He may well get off for his stupidity and for the FBI misusing the Patriot Act. The penalties under the other laws are more severe than violations of the Patriot Act in that case.
It should be noted that five state governments and 375 communities in 43 other states have passed anti-Patriot Act measures to register their displeasure with the Act.
The new Attorney General wants it renewed in its entirety (here's that part of the story), but that's not a smart idea. The government is already taking liberties with it's new power to fight terrorism.
A government having that much power available and is as secretive as this one is something to be feared and should be denied further power UNLESS there is a checks-and-balances system to correct abuses.
Either change it or get rid of it.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Japanese Rewrite of School History Texts Angers China and South Korea
Japan is rewriting history...literally. And they are angering their neighbors.
Middle-school text books have continued to minimize wrongs done in Japan's role in World War II and have chosen to gloss over the more unpleasant parts of Japan's wartime role. South Korea and China have expressed disappointment that Japan continues to "...justify and glorify wrongs committed in the past." (BBC Story)
China and South Korea were two nations that were invaded and occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army during the years prior to and during the war. The Chinese were particularly offended by the textbook describing the Nanjing Massacre, in which 300,000 Chinese civilians were slaughtered, as an "incident." China also doesn't want Japan to get a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council because of ongoing border and history disputes.
South Korea is upset because the textbook describes an ongoing border dispute between Japan and South Korea as an "illegal South Korean occupation" of disputed islands that are between the two countries and are claimed by both nations. The texts also skip over the part where 200,000 Korean women were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers.
Protests have been occurring in both South Korea and China in the last few weeks over these problems.
Japan should really tone it down if it wants to have the support of its neighbors in other matters. Why Japan is doing it now is a mystery, but it undermines Japanese democracy, openness and credibility when it tries to rewrite history in this way.
Middle-school text books have continued to minimize wrongs done in Japan's role in World War II and have chosen to gloss over the more unpleasant parts of Japan's wartime role. South Korea and China have expressed disappointment that Japan continues to "...justify and glorify wrongs committed in the past." (BBC Story)
China and South Korea were two nations that were invaded and occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army during the years prior to and during the war. The Chinese were particularly offended by the textbook describing the Nanjing Massacre, in which 300,000 Chinese civilians were slaughtered, as an "incident." China also doesn't want Japan to get a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council because of ongoing border and history disputes.
South Korea is upset because the textbook describes an ongoing border dispute between Japan and South Korea as an "illegal South Korean occupation" of disputed islands that are between the two countries and are claimed by both nations. The texts also skip over the part where 200,000 Korean women were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers.
Protests have been occurring in both South Korea and China in the last few weeks over these problems.
Japan should really tone it down if it wants to have the support of its neighbors in other matters. Why Japan is doing it now is a mystery, but it undermines Japanese democracy, openness and credibility when it tries to rewrite history in this way.
Darfur Referred to International Criminal Court: Too Little, Too Late
The U.N. Security Council referred the slaughter in the Darfur region of Sudan to the International Criminal Court, abrogating its responsibility for dealing with the situation.
Once again the United Nations failed to stop the attempted slaughter of one ethnic group by another. And it dares to say that Sudan failed to stop the slaughter from happening? Did the pot just call the kettle black??! Here's the Reuters story.
Sudan was participating in the annihilation of the Christians and had no interest in heeding the warnings of the United Nations. It's a paper tiger and Sudan knew that. The government of Sudan has no issue in blaming certain individuals so long as it doesn't get caught in the same net. It watched as the U.N. went running out of Rwanda in 1994 and saw an opportunity to use the Arab militias to get rid of a group of people that it didn't like.
300,000 dead later, the inept U.N. Security Council turned the situation over to the Hague. Sudan's going to get away with this. Somehow "miscarriage of justice" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Once again the United Nations failed to stop the attempted slaughter of one ethnic group by another. And it dares to say that Sudan failed to stop the slaughter from happening? Did the pot just call the kettle black??! Here's the Reuters story.
Sudan was participating in the annihilation of the Christians and had no interest in heeding the warnings of the United Nations. It's a paper tiger and Sudan knew that. The government of Sudan has no issue in blaming certain individuals so long as it doesn't get caught in the same net. It watched as the U.N. went running out of Rwanda in 1994 and saw an opportunity to use the Arab militias to get rid of a group of people that it didn't like.
300,000 dead later, the inept U.N. Security Council turned the situation over to the Hague. Sudan's going to get away with this. Somehow "miscarriage of justice" doesn't even begin to cover it.
Rwandan Hutus Declare End to Their Armed Struggle
Rwandan Hutus who participated in the killing of 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994 have declared an end to their armed struggle after promises of safety from the Rwandan government.
This was achieved after the Hutus moved into the eastern part of Congo and began killing people there too after being driven from Rwanda by government military forces. They quickly wore out their welcome in Congo and had engaged in a guerilla war against the Congolese military.
This particular faction is referred to as the FLDR and has some 10,000 members. The FLDR was filmed killing Tutsis with machetes by international camera crews who were covering the genocide in 1994.
It should be noted that the Rwandan government did not promise amnesty, only safety from retaliation from their victims' families who survived the slaughter. Ethnic strife has plagued the region since before 1994 and the end of hostilities is a good start to rebuilding the region.
Having said all that, hopefully the U.N. war crimes tribunal will begin holding trials for the guilty and begin the long process of establishing the rule of law to make certain that something on this scale does not reoccur.
Since the U.N. failed to stop the killing in 1994, they should do their jobs now and make sure that it doesn't happen again.
This was achieved after the Hutus moved into the eastern part of Congo and began killing people there too after being driven from Rwanda by government military forces. They quickly wore out their welcome in Congo and had engaged in a guerilla war against the Congolese military.
This particular faction is referred to as the FLDR and has some 10,000 members. The FLDR was filmed killing Tutsis with machetes by international camera crews who were covering the genocide in 1994.
It should be noted that the Rwandan government did not promise amnesty, only safety from retaliation from their victims' families who survived the slaughter. Ethnic strife has plagued the region since before 1994 and the end of hostilities is a good start to rebuilding the region.
Having said all that, hopefully the U.N. war crimes tribunal will begin holding trials for the guilty and begin the long process of establishing the rule of law to make certain that something on this scale does not reoccur.
Since the U.N. failed to stop the killing in 1994, they should do their jobs now and make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Minuteman Project Update: Volunteers Partially Deployed, No Problems Yet
Law enforcement agencies in the southwest are reporting that Minuteman Project volunteers are fanning out along the Mexico/Arizona border. Just moments after a group of Minutemen arrived at their posts, a group of illegals was spotted and the Minutemen contacted the Border Patrol. Eighteen arrests were made.
It's still too soon to see if this project will help stem the tide of illegals coming over the border, but early indications look fine.
There is also a question as to whether a smear campaign is going on against the Minutemen. Some have accused them of being white supremacists, others have called them vigilantes. Some undoubtably do have those characteristics, but not all of them. For the media and the government to label them all as troublemakers is wrong.
If the government were to do a better job of keeping control of the border, these civilian groups coming in to "assist" would be unnecessary.
Just watch: if there is a single incident, the media, government and ACLU will be quick to brand the entire idea as racist, unfair and vigilante. They will also take action to end the Minuteman project in a New York minute.
Here's the update.
It's still too soon to see if this project will help stem the tide of illegals coming over the border, but early indications look fine.
There is also a question as to whether a smear campaign is going on against the Minutemen. Some have accused them of being white supremacists, others have called them vigilantes. Some undoubtably do have those characteristics, but not all of them. For the media and the government to label them all as troublemakers is wrong.
If the government were to do a better job of keeping control of the border, these civilian groups coming in to "assist" would be unnecessary.
Just watch: if there is a single incident, the media, government and ACLU will be quick to brand the entire idea as racist, unfair and vigilante. They will also take action to end the Minuteman project in a New York minute.
Here's the update.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
End of an Era: Pope John Paul II Passes Away
Catholics around the world are mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II, who taught the world how to live and then taught the world how to die.
The world has lost a champion of the poor, of the unborn, of the helpless, of decency and optimism; in a world beset by evil tidings, he was often the lone voice of compassion for those who had no voice of their own.
He will always be remembered as a leading international advocate of human rights, as a scholar and writer, as a major catalyst in the fall of communism, as a healer of divisions that lasted for over a thousand years; of healing rifts between Catholics, Jews, Muslims and other Christian denominations that split off from the Catholic faith hundreds of years ago.
He is also the most-seen man in existence, visiting at least 125 countries for a total of over 200 foreign visits during his reign as supreme pontiff.
John Paul II knew that the job of the pope was not to make decisions that were popular; it was to make people more conscious of sin and to turn people away from it. Some did; others exercised their God-given free will and ignored the voice of wisdom.
John Paul II’s strength on behalf of religious freedom and human dignity will be missed.
Farewell, Holy Father.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Terri Schiavo Dies: Debate Far From Being Over
Terri Schiavo starved to death this morning.
There are no winners in this tragedy and the debate is a long way away from being settled. May her soul rest in peace.
There are no winners in this tragedy and the debate is a long way away from being settled. May her soul rest in peace.
Petting Zoo Sickness Update: More Bad News
Twenty-two children are confirmed as being afflicted with the Florida petting zoo sickness which has left many of them fighting for their lives.
Twenty-four others are under observation as well.
It may well be time for the states to regulate petting zoos if they haven't already, or ban them. Kidney failure in so many kids is no isolated incident.
The E. coli bacteria is suspected of making many of these children sick. The bacteria can be passed on via animal droppings, the animals sleeping in it and unsuspecting children petting them. Others have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can also be passed on the same way.
Here's the story.
Twenty-four others are under observation as well.
It may well be time for the states to regulate petting zoos if they haven't already, or ban them. Kidney failure in so many kids is no isolated incident.
The E. coli bacteria is suspected of making many of these children sick. The bacteria can be passed on via animal droppings, the animals sleeping in it and unsuspecting children petting them. Others have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can also be passed on the same way.
Here's the story.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Starving to Death is Not a Nice Way to Die
The last caller of the day today on Limbaugh's radio program was a woman who watched as her mom starved to death after having her feeding tube removed. It was not a pleasant death.
She described her mom's skin as taking on a liquid look, her ears curving inward from the lack of moisture, her eyes sinking into the back of her head, diarrhea, skin rashes, sores in her mouth and on her skin, blindness, no gumline left in her mouth to put her teeth in, and five long days later, death.
The culture of death lets people believe that this is a humane way to let someone die. It's not humane, it's so damned barbaric that it belongs to a medical profession...from about four hundred years ago.
Cruel and unusual punishment for someone (Terri Schiavo) who has become an inconvenience to her cheating husband.
She described her mom's skin as taking on a liquid look, her ears curving inward from the lack of moisture, her eyes sinking into the back of her head, diarrhea, skin rashes, sores in her mouth and on her skin, blindness, no gumline left in her mouth to put her teeth in, and five long days later, death.
The culture of death lets people believe that this is a humane way to let someone die. It's not humane, it's so damned barbaric that it belongs to a medical profession...from about four hundred years ago.
Cruel and unusual punishment for someone (Terri Schiavo) who has become an inconvenience to her cheating husband.
Project Minuteman: What's Going to Happen?
There have been ramblings in the news about a group calling itself the Minutemen who are heading to the U.S./Mexico border to assist the Border Patrol in stopping illegal aliens from crossing over into U.S. territory. An organized crime syndicate has vowed to "teach the Minutemen a lesson" and the U.S. government is sending additional border guards to the areas where the Minutemen will be operating. Here's the deal:
The Minuteman Project was started by a group of American citizens who believe that the United States border is under constant attack from waves of illegal border crossers from Mexico.
They will be taking up roving patrols along the Arizona/Mexico border, where 52% of the illegal border crossings occur. According to the Minuteman Project website, they have 1,022 men and women who will be participating in the project, which runs from April 1-April 30 and is headquartered in Tombstone, Arizona. Many of the volunteers will be armed.
They will be joined by a battery of ACLU attorneys, who have vowed to keep a close eye on the activities of the Minutemen, to make certain that those who are caught are not deprived of rights.
In addition, the crime syndicate called Mara Salvatrucha, which has 20,000 members in the United States and branches on the Mexican side down to Central and South America, has been making noise about teaching the Minutemen a lesson. They have a reputation for being ruthless killers. Here's a story on them.
The Mexican government is also threatening legal action against the Minutemen.
Finally, white supremacist literature has been found in and around Tombstone. Everyone's getting into the act.
No one wants to see the U.S./Mexico border turn into a war zone between vigilante groups and gangs. But things are going to be tense down there for some time. Illegal border crossings are a major issue and need to be addressed, but this probably isn't the best way to do it.
The Minuteman Project was started by a group of American citizens who believe that the United States border is under constant attack from waves of illegal border crossers from Mexico.
They will be taking up roving patrols along the Arizona/Mexico border, where 52% of the illegal border crossings occur. According to the Minuteman Project website, they have 1,022 men and women who will be participating in the project, which runs from April 1-April 30 and is headquartered in Tombstone, Arizona. Many of the volunteers will be armed.
They will be joined by a battery of ACLU attorneys, who have vowed to keep a close eye on the activities of the Minutemen, to make certain that those who are caught are not deprived of rights.
In addition, the crime syndicate called Mara Salvatrucha, which has 20,000 members in the United States and branches on the Mexican side down to Central and South America, has been making noise about teaching the Minutemen a lesson. They have a reputation for being ruthless killers. Here's a story on them.
The Mexican government is also threatening legal action against the Minutemen.
Finally, white supremacist literature has been found in and around Tombstone. Everyone's getting into the act.
No one wants to see the U.S./Mexico border turn into a war zone between vigilante groups and gangs. But things are going to be tense down there for some time. Illegal border crossings are a major issue and need to be addressed, but this probably isn't the best way to do it.
Newly Discovered Documents Show 1981 Assassination Attempt on Pope John Paul II Was Planned By Soviets
According to just-released documents from the former East German secret police files, the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II was organized by the Soviet Union. While that is no great surprise, this treasure trove shows that the KGB organized the plan, ordered their Bulgarian counterparts to do the hit, and had the East German Stasi coordinate the operation and then cover the trail and eliminate any loose ends.
The Bulgarians then recruited Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca to kill the Pope. Letters were found by the Germans which indicated the Stasi requested Bulgarian intelligence to help cover up the operation.
After the Pope was shot, and the would-be-assassin was arrested, Agca claimed the operation was under the control of the Bulgarian embassy to Italy. The Bulgarians denied involvement and said that the Italian secret police force was trying to smear Bulgaria and socialism.
Because John Paul II had gone after communism and was preaching about freedom, dignity and religion in his native Poland (and in Eastern Europe), which was under the control of the Soviets, Moscow perceived him as a threat and decided to kill him to silence him.
They failed and Pope John Paul II's leadership and outspokenness helped free Eastern Europe from Soviet domination. It's good that the truth came out now; John Paul II is approaching the twilight of his reign and his life, and it's entirely appropriate for his questions (and the world's questions) about the assassination attempt to be answered.
Here's the story.
The Bulgarians then recruited Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca to kill the Pope. Letters were found by the Germans which indicated the Stasi requested Bulgarian intelligence to help cover up the operation.
After the Pope was shot, and the would-be-assassin was arrested, Agca claimed the operation was under the control of the Bulgarian embassy to Italy. The Bulgarians denied involvement and said that the Italian secret police force was trying to smear Bulgaria and socialism.
Because John Paul II had gone after communism and was preaching about freedom, dignity and religion in his native Poland (and in Eastern Europe), which was under the control of the Soviets, Moscow perceived him as a threat and decided to kill him to silence him.
They failed and Pope John Paul II's leadership and outspokenness helped free Eastern Europe from Soviet domination. It's good that the truth came out now; John Paul II is approaching the twilight of his reign and his life, and it's entirely appropriate for his questions (and the world's questions) about the assassination attempt to be answered.
Here's the story.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Blockbuster Video Decides to Throw in Towel on "End of Late Fees" Scam
Blockbuster Video has agreed to pay $630,000 to claimants in 47 states who were taken in by their "End of Late Fees" campaign and to issue refunds to thousands of others.
The problem started when Blockbuster announced that they were ending their late fees. What they didn't tell customers was that if a video wasn't returned after a certain amount of time, the customer's credit or debit card would be charged to replace the video. Once the video was returned, the replacement charge on the credit card would be returned EXCEPT for $1.25 or the full price of the rental which Blockbuster would keep to "restock" the video.
That is a hidden late fee.
So Blockbuster was sued by an unknown number of people, claiming to have been taken in by this and today's action by Blockbuster is meant to rectify the situation.
Here's the story.
The problem started when Blockbuster announced that they were ending their late fees. What they didn't tell customers was that if a video wasn't returned after a certain amount of time, the customer's credit or debit card would be charged to replace the video. Once the video was returned, the replacement charge on the credit card would be returned EXCEPT for $1.25 or the full price of the rental which Blockbuster would keep to "restock" the video.
That is a hidden late fee.
So Blockbuster was sued by an unknown number of people, claiming to have been taken in by this and today's action by Blockbuster is meant to rectify the situation.
Here's the story.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Quick Question on Schiavo Story
A quick question...
If starvation is supposed to be painless for a truly vegetative person, why does Terri Schiavo need a morphine drip to stop the pain?
If starvation is supposed to be painless for a truly vegetative person, why does Terri Schiavo need a morphine drip to stop the pain?
U.S./Pakistani/Indian Arms Triangle: What is the U.S. Government Doing?
The Bush Administration announced plans to sell F-16 and F/A-18s to Pakistan in appreciation for its support in the war on terror.
Pakistan's nuclear rival, India, threw a fit and so now Washington has announced plans to sell the fighters to India as well.
Why is the U.S. selling arms to these nations who are already armed to the teeth and don't like one another? They've fought three wars already. Now they're nuclear armed, and the last major confrontation that they had over Kashmir and a terrorist attack on the Indian government two years ago led to 1.5 million soldiers from both sides being deployed to their common borders and waiting for the order to start fighting.
Until Pakistan and India move their militaries away from their borders, sign a non-aggression pact, settle the Kashmir issue and resume trade and travel, the U.S. government should not be selling top-model fighters like the F-16 to either side. They're liable to use them on one another or adapt them to carry their nuclear bombs.
A nuclear exchange between these two rivals will have worldwide effects as radioactivity will not be contained to Pakistani and Indian territory, so it's in our best interests to help keep the lid on and not provide first-strike weapons to either side.
The U.S. can find better rewards for Pakistan that won't threaten India's security, thereby necessitating the need for Washington to offer India a similar deal. That would also be true in the opposite direction.
Pakistan's nuclear rival, India, threw a fit and so now Washington has announced plans to sell the fighters to India as well.
Why is the U.S. selling arms to these nations who are already armed to the teeth and don't like one another? They've fought three wars already. Now they're nuclear armed, and the last major confrontation that they had over Kashmir and a terrorist attack on the Indian government two years ago led to 1.5 million soldiers from both sides being deployed to their common borders and waiting for the order to start fighting.
Until Pakistan and India move their militaries away from their borders, sign a non-aggression pact, settle the Kashmir issue and resume trade and travel, the U.S. government should not be selling top-model fighters like the F-16 to either side. They're liable to use them on one another or adapt them to carry their nuclear bombs.
A nuclear exchange between these two rivals will have worldwide effects as radioactivity will not be contained to Pakistani and Indian territory, so it's in our best interests to help keep the lid on and not provide first-strike weapons to either side.
The U.S. can find better rewards for Pakistan that won't threaten India's security, thereby necessitating the need for Washington to offer India a similar deal. That would also be true in the opposite direction.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Petting Zoo Sickness: Six Children in Critical Condition
What in the world is going on?
Children are suffering from kidney failure and are struggling to stay alive after being exposed to a deadly bacteria at petting zoos in Florida.
At least six children are known to be sick; an unknown number might be suffering as well. Doctors at one Orlando hospital diagnosed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be caused by the e. coli bacteria via an animal's droppings. Other sources other than the petting zoos are also being investigated, such as contaminated food or drink.
At least one child was already on kidney dialysis.
This is unbelievable!
Children are suffering from kidney failure and are struggling to stay alive after being exposed to a deadly bacteria at petting zoos in Florida.
At least six children are known to be sick; an unknown number might be suffering as well. Doctors at one Orlando hospital diagnosed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be caused by the e. coli bacteria via an animal's droppings. Other sources other than the petting zoos are also being investigated, such as contaminated food or drink.
At least one child was already on kidney dialysis.
This is unbelievable!
Friday, March 25, 2005
Kids Under Seige: Keep Sex Offenders Locked Up
An Amber Alert that had been issued for ten year-old Jetseta Marie Gage was cancelled after her body was found in rural Iowa.
The young girl was allegedly taken from her home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and killed by an aquaintance who had a criminal record for sex crimes against kids.
This follows a terrible situation in Florida where a sex offender kidnapped and killed young Jessica Lunsford. The entire nation hoped that Jessica would turn up safe, but was disappointed when it was discovered that Jessica had been murdered more than a week later.
We either need to lock up these offenders permanently or change the system so that they can be closely monitored and tracked. Enough of this! The police have a difficult enough time finding first-time offenders, but to lose track of these idiots who have already been convicted of crimes against children is intolerable.
Kids are dying at the hands of these crazed lunatics. The criminal justice system needs to do much more to prevent this from happening again and again.
The young girl was allegedly taken from her home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and killed by an aquaintance who had a criminal record for sex crimes against kids.
This follows a terrible situation in Florida where a sex offender kidnapped and killed young Jessica Lunsford. The entire nation hoped that Jessica would turn up safe, but was disappointed when it was discovered that Jessica had been murdered more than a week later.
We either need to lock up these offenders permanently or change the system so that they can be closely monitored and tracked. Enough of this! The police have a difficult enough time finding first-time offenders, but to lose track of these idiots who have already been convicted of crimes against children is intolerable.
Kids are dying at the hands of these crazed lunatics. The criminal justice system needs to do much more to prevent this from happening again and again.
Schiavo Case Hopeless: Governor Bush, Bypass the Courts
Governor Jeb Bush needs to take radical action to save Terri Schiavo's life. Civil authorities have passed a death sentence on this woman, though she has done no wrong.
When will people wake up and realize that a human life is not something to be thrown away? Abortion is wrong, the death penalty is wrong and withholding food and water from a woman who may well live for decades and improve is definitely wrong. This is the culture of death that has been created in the United States. And Terri will die to satisfy that culture.
The federal judges won't touch this case for two reasons: Congress flouted established procedure by ordering federal courts to look at the case instead of BANNING the practice of withholding food and water from the terminally ill; AND they don't want to make a decision that might start to unravel Roe v. Wade. So the courts are sidestepping the issue of slapping Congress around AND protecting unjust laws that allow things like abortion and the death penalty, which has been imposed on Terri.
This is not about the right to die. This is about the system executing a woman who can't speak for herself and arbitrarily deciding that a dead Terri would protect the system. They have no moral authority to make a decision like that.
Governor Bush needs to realize that an innocent woman is being executed for no reason, and the courts are upholding that sentence because of ego and because they are protecting the death penalty, Roe v. Wade and other anti-life measures. The system is broken down; Terri shouldn't die because of that breakdown, so Governor Bush should break some rules, rescue Terry, and do what he can to save her life if it's not too late and worry about the consequences later.
Enough litigation, already! Oh, and for those who would compare an action like this to what Janet Reno did with Elian Gonzales, Elian was not being starved to death by his Florida relatives and wasn't in danger of dying. That was Reno's impatience with the courts. In Terri's case, time is not on her side. She's starving to death and ten year-olds are being arrested for trying to bring her a glass of water!
When will people wake up and realize that a human life is not something to be thrown away? Abortion is wrong, the death penalty is wrong and withholding food and water from a woman who may well live for decades and improve is definitely wrong. This is the culture of death that has been created in the United States. And Terri will die to satisfy that culture.
The federal judges won't touch this case for two reasons: Congress flouted established procedure by ordering federal courts to look at the case instead of BANNING the practice of withholding food and water from the terminally ill; AND they don't want to make a decision that might start to unravel Roe v. Wade. So the courts are sidestepping the issue of slapping Congress around AND protecting unjust laws that allow things like abortion and the death penalty, which has been imposed on Terri.
This is not about the right to die. This is about the system executing a woman who can't speak for herself and arbitrarily deciding that a dead Terri would protect the system. They have no moral authority to make a decision like that.
Governor Bush needs to realize that an innocent woman is being executed for no reason, and the courts are upholding that sentence because of ego and because they are protecting the death penalty, Roe v. Wade and other anti-life measures. The system is broken down; Terri shouldn't die because of that breakdown, so Governor Bush should break some rules, rescue Terry, and do what he can to save her life if it's not too late and worry about the consequences later.
Enough litigation, already! Oh, and for those who would compare an action like this to what Janet Reno did with Elian Gonzales, Elian was not being starved to death by his Florida relatives and wasn't in danger of dying. That was Reno's impatience with the courts. In Terri's case, time is not on her side. She's starving to death and ten year-olds are being arrested for trying to bring her a glass of water!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Who Knows Best: A Pregnant 14 Year-Old's Mom, or an Abortion Clinic?
Some parents have had some issues with groups like Planned Parenthood telling them that they have no right to stop their young daughters from getting contraceptives or getting an abortion. Here is a story of this scenario run amuck down in Illinois. Read the article first then read the rest of this post.
It's shocking, it's morally offensive, and it should be illegal for what happened in Illinois to happen. A fourteen year-old does not have the judgement to analyze possible long-term consequences of getting an abortion. GROWN-UPS sometimes don't either. The girl's mom had every right to tell them to stop as her daughter is a minor and lives under her roof.
The mom of the rapist should be thrown in jail along with her pedophile son for allowing this to happen to a young teenager, and for trying to cover up the statutory crime with a murder of an unborn child.
Who loves the girl and has her best interests at heart? The clinic, or the girl's mom?
It's shocking, it's morally offensive, and it should be illegal for what happened in Illinois to happen. A fourteen year-old does not have the judgement to analyze possible long-term consequences of getting an abortion. GROWN-UPS sometimes don't either. The girl's mom had every right to tell them to stop as her daughter is a minor and lives under her roof.
The mom of the rapist should be thrown in jail along with her pedophile son for allowing this to happen to a young teenager, and for trying to cover up the statutory crime with a murder of an unborn child.
Who loves the girl and has her best interests at heart? The clinic, or the girl's mom?
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Terri Schiavo Case Headed to U.S. Supreme Court
The Terri Schiavo case headed to the Supreme Court early today as two lesser federal courts ruled against restoring the feeding tube to her as her parents had wanted.
The Supreme Court may not even take the case, or if it does, may not issue a ruling until it is too late. But then again, the conservative-leaning court may intervene quickly. It's hard to tell.
Terri's case appears doomed. This is a major setback for the extended pro-life movement and only goes to show that everyone needs living wills so that if they become too sick to communicate that the person's wishes will be followed.
Most judges are not medical doctors and cannot personally examine the patient and form a medical opinion. How many MDs are in Congress? A handful?
Congress got involved for all the wrong reasons and passed faulty legislation. This is a way of saying "See? See what we did? We did good, voters. But the evil courts ruled the wrong way!!" It just smells of politics all around; that stupid memo that circulated through the GOP Congressional ranks stating that this act would play well with their conservative base is the proof of it. The ugliness of American politics really came out on this.
If Congress wanted to do this correctly, then they should have passed a law banning the removal of feeding tubes from the terminally ill until a group of doctors and the person's family agreed that there was no hope of recovery or something along those lines.
Then the Congress would have been challenged in the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the law. The key would have been to keep this between the family and the doctors who were providing care and keep it out of the courts.
Instead Congress ordered the higher courts to examine this one case. Can one branch of government order another to do something like this? The checks and balances system has been weakened by Congress and only the Supreme Court can fix it now.
Constitutional scholars seem to agree that Congress overstepped its bounds by doing what it did in the way that it did. Follow that?
Terri should be kept alive. This is no ordinary case of a comatose woman; she was clearly responding to her parents; her mental capacity may have been diminished a great deal, but mere mental incapacitation is not grounds for starving her to death.
Put the tube back in and allow her to die in her own good (natural) time. And the Supreme Court should put Congress into its place by slapping down this law.
The Supreme Court may not even take the case, or if it does, may not issue a ruling until it is too late. But then again, the conservative-leaning court may intervene quickly. It's hard to tell.
Terri's case appears doomed. This is a major setback for the extended pro-life movement and only goes to show that everyone needs living wills so that if they become too sick to communicate that the person's wishes will be followed.
Most judges are not medical doctors and cannot personally examine the patient and form a medical opinion. How many MDs are in Congress? A handful?
Congress got involved for all the wrong reasons and passed faulty legislation. This is a way of saying "See? See what we did? We did good, voters. But the evil courts ruled the wrong way!!" It just smells of politics all around; that stupid memo that circulated through the GOP Congressional ranks stating that this act would play well with their conservative base is the proof of it. The ugliness of American politics really came out on this.
If Congress wanted to do this correctly, then they should have passed a law banning the removal of feeding tubes from the terminally ill until a group of doctors and the person's family agreed that there was no hope of recovery or something along those lines.
Then the Congress would have been challenged in the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the law. The key would have been to keep this between the family and the doctors who were providing care and keep it out of the courts.
Instead Congress ordered the higher courts to examine this one case. Can one branch of government order another to do something like this? The checks and balances system has been weakened by Congress and only the Supreme Court can fix it now.
Constitutional scholars seem to agree that Congress overstepped its bounds by doing what it did in the way that it did. Follow that?
Terri should be kept alive. This is no ordinary case of a comatose woman; she was clearly responding to her parents; her mental capacity may have been diminished a great deal, but mere mental incapacitation is not grounds for starving her to death.
Put the tube back in and allow her to die in her own good (natural) time. And the Supreme Court should put Congress into its place by slapping down this law.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Not Again: Teen Gunman Kills Family & Shoots Up School
In the worst school shooting spree since the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre, a Minnesota student went on a rampage and killed his grandfather and his grandfather’s girlfriend before he drove to his school, killed an unarmed school guard and six others before killing himself.
Seven others were wounded at the school, which is in the Red Lake Ojibwa Nation. Police were also fired on as they stormed the building to save the students and staff. One officer was said to have returned fire.
With heavy hearts we again find ourselves asking “why did this happen again?”
The metal detectors at the school worked fine but didn’t stop this kid from killing the guard manning the checkpoint and opening fire on his fellow students.
Armed guards might have stopped the shooter, but then again, they might not have. Do we turn our schools into fortresses to stop things like this from happening?
It’s a very disturbing question to a very serious problem.
Seven others were wounded at the school, which is in the Red Lake Ojibwa Nation. Police were also fired on as they stormed the building to save the students and staff. One officer was said to have returned fire.
With heavy hearts we again find ourselves asking “why did this happen again?”
The metal detectors at the school worked fine but didn’t stop this kid from killing the guard manning the checkpoint and opening fire on his fellow students.
Armed guards might have stopped the shooter, but then again, they might not have. Do we turn our schools into fortresses to stop things like this from happening?
It’s a very disturbing question to a very serious problem.
U.N. Security Council Reform Badly Needed
Kofi Annan announced a proposal to reform the United Nations and to add more permanent seats to the U.N. Security Council and, presumably, the all-powerful veto that goes with those seats. He wants to add two from Africa, three from Asia and one from Latin America.
Consider this: why should the permanent seats have resolution-killing veto power?
Because the U.S., Russia, China, France and Great Britain possess nuclear weapons? Other countries do too (in varying states of development): Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, India and others that are suspected of working on developing these weapons. Does military might make a country eligible to have a permanent seat and the super-veto power on the Council?
Because the five permanent members were victorious in World War II sixty years ago? To the U.S., that was about five wars (and countless smaller campaigns) ago. Germany and Japan ceased to be the enemy after they surrendered and were rebuilt by the victorious Allies.
Proof of U.N. Security Council bumbling: Europe and the U.S. did not intervene in Rwanda. They haven’t done anything to stop ethnic cleansing in Darfur. It was not the Security Council that stopped the Serbs in Bosnia, it was NATO air strikes; Russia vetoed U.N. action. Now a renewed conflict appears to be just over the horizon there too. Serbia wants Kosovo territory back, and Macedonia is moving toward an independence vote in 2006.
The U.N. Security Council was paralyzed over Iraq; they couldn’t enforce seventeen often-quoted resolutions calling for Iraq to disarm and gave the U.S. administration a silent (and unintended) affirmation to go after Iraq’s (still) sought-after WMDs by trumping one another's motions with their all-powerful veto. It was like watching five bullies beat up ten weaklings to get their way while they were trying to beat the tar out of each other.
While the Security Council bickered under the current system, 200,000 lives were extinguished in Darfur, one million Rwandans were murdered, 200,000 people were killed over the years while the Security Council bickered over Bosnia, 1/3 of all Catholics living in East Timor were killed by the Muslim government of Indonesia between 1975-1994; the list is too long and too tragic to continue.
Failure after failure can be laid at the Security Council’s feet because the permanent members have trump veto power; it doesn’t matter what the other fourteen members wanted; if one permanent member vetoed a resolution, the resolution died on the spot.
That power should be ended and resolutions should be passed with a simple majority. The U.N. needs consensus, not obstructionism.
The current U.N. Security Council is broken and will remain broken while five members have super-veto power. It needs to be ended. That's what the Secretary-General should be doing instead of adding more permanent seats.
Consider this: why should the permanent seats have resolution-killing veto power?
Because the U.S., Russia, China, France and Great Britain possess nuclear weapons? Other countries do too (in varying states of development): Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, India and others that are suspected of working on developing these weapons. Does military might make a country eligible to have a permanent seat and the super-veto power on the Council?
Because the five permanent members were victorious in World War II sixty years ago? To the U.S., that was about five wars (and countless smaller campaigns) ago. Germany and Japan ceased to be the enemy after they surrendered and were rebuilt by the victorious Allies.
Proof of U.N. Security Council bumbling: Europe and the U.S. did not intervene in Rwanda. They haven’t done anything to stop ethnic cleansing in Darfur. It was not the Security Council that stopped the Serbs in Bosnia, it was NATO air strikes; Russia vetoed U.N. action. Now a renewed conflict appears to be just over the horizon there too. Serbia wants Kosovo territory back, and Macedonia is moving toward an independence vote in 2006.
The U.N. Security Council was paralyzed over Iraq; they couldn’t enforce seventeen often-quoted resolutions calling for Iraq to disarm and gave the U.S. administration a silent (and unintended) affirmation to go after Iraq’s (still) sought-after WMDs by trumping one another's motions with their all-powerful veto. It was like watching five bullies beat up ten weaklings to get their way while they were trying to beat the tar out of each other.
While the Security Council bickered under the current system, 200,000 lives were extinguished in Darfur, one million Rwandans were murdered, 200,000 people were killed over the years while the Security Council bickered over Bosnia, 1/3 of all Catholics living in East Timor were killed by the Muslim government of Indonesia between 1975-1994; the list is too long and too tragic to continue.
Failure after failure can be laid at the Security Council’s feet because the permanent members have trump veto power; it doesn’t matter what the other fourteen members wanted; if one permanent member vetoed a resolution, the resolution died on the spot.
That power should be ended and resolutions should be passed with a simple majority. The U.N. needs consensus, not obstructionism.
The current U.N. Security Council is broken and will remain broken while five members have super-veto power. It needs to be ended. That's what the Secretary-General should be doing instead of adding more permanent seats.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Rwanda Genocide Revisited: UN Failing in Darfur
"Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it."
It's happening.
Rwanda 1994: Rwandan soldiers and Hutu gangs slaughtered an estimated 800,000-1,000,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The U.N. tucked tail and ran out of Rwanda, leaving the gangs to slaughter who they wanted when they wanted for whatever reason they wanted. Combat troops from Europe were sent in to evacuate Westerners from Rwanda and then left. While they were there, U.N. peacekeepers were armed, but not allowed to shoot; at least eighteen peacekeepers were killed by the militias. The events of that genocide were portrayed in the 2005 film "Hotel Rwanda."
Darfur 2005: The body count there is 200,000 and still rising. The U.N. is again preparing to evacuate from the region after being threatened by the gangs, militias and government soldiers who are more interested in slaughtering members of different tribes than listening to the U.N. men who have guns but won't intervene. The U.N. Security Council has threatened sanctions against Sudan, but they pull back when the metal meets the meat.
Instead of tucking tail and running again, the U.N. ought to send in reinforcements who can intervene and arrest the Janjaweed butchers and government people who are participating in the genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Instead of watching news reports of what's happening, saying "that's terrible" and then turning the channel, all Westerners should go see "Hotel Rwanda" and then tell their leaders to pressure the U.N. to do much more. The U.N. is falling down on the job. Again.
Most Americans cannot imagine how slaughters like what happened in Rwanda can take place. It's inconceivable to most.
The closest approximation to something like that taking place in America would be an all-out collapse of authority nationwide and the emergence of a dominant group that had all the weapons, and sent their thugs into the streets to drag people out of their homes and murder them only because of their skin color or because a military warlord wanted a section of town cleared out for their own purposes.
That's what happened in Rwanda in 1994, and what has happened for the last year in Darfur.
And all that most Westerners are willing to do is say "that's terrible" and then flip the channel. Talk about a major disconnect.
It's happening.
Rwanda 1994: Rwandan soldiers and Hutu gangs slaughtered an estimated 800,000-1,000,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The U.N. tucked tail and ran out of Rwanda, leaving the gangs to slaughter who they wanted when they wanted for whatever reason they wanted. Combat troops from Europe were sent in to evacuate Westerners from Rwanda and then left. While they were there, U.N. peacekeepers were armed, but not allowed to shoot; at least eighteen peacekeepers were killed by the militias. The events of that genocide were portrayed in the 2005 film "Hotel Rwanda."
Darfur 2005: The body count there is 200,000 and still rising. The U.N. is again preparing to evacuate from the region after being threatened by the gangs, militias and government soldiers who are more interested in slaughtering members of different tribes than listening to the U.N. men who have guns but won't intervene. The U.N. Security Council has threatened sanctions against Sudan, but they pull back when the metal meets the meat.
Instead of tucking tail and running again, the U.N. ought to send in reinforcements who can intervene and arrest the Janjaweed butchers and government people who are participating in the genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Instead of watching news reports of what's happening, saying "that's terrible" and then turning the channel, all Westerners should go see "Hotel Rwanda" and then tell their leaders to pressure the U.N. to do much more. The U.N. is falling down on the job. Again.
Most Americans cannot imagine how slaughters like what happened in Rwanda can take place. It's inconceivable to most.
The closest approximation to something like that taking place in America would be an all-out collapse of authority nationwide and the emergence of a dominant group that had all the weapons, and sent their thugs into the streets to drag people out of their homes and murder them only because of their skin color or because a military warlord wanted a section of town cleared out for their own purposes.
That's what happened in Rwanda in 1994, and what has happened for the last year in Darfur.
And all that most Westerners are willing to do is say "that's terrible" and then flip the channel. Talk about a major disconnect.
Jessica Lunsford: What Was Her Killer Doing Out of Jail?
The second major story coming out of Florida last week was the abduction and murder of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford. A convicted sex offender confessed to her kidnapping and murder.
What was this animal doing out of prison in the first place??! With a rap sheet as long as his, he should never have been allowed to walk the streets as a free man ever again.
There's something to be said for "three strikes and you're out" laws. If Florida had this in place, he could have been stopped years ago.
Instead, we are left with utter devastation, recriminations and a legal system that isn't doing enough to stop these terrible crimes before they happen.
What was this animal doing out of prison in the first place??! With a rap sheet as long as his, he should never have been allowed to walk the streets as a free man ever again.
There's something to be said for "three strikes and you're out" laws. If Florida had this in place, he could have been stopped years ago.
Instead, we are left with utter devastation, recriminations and a legal system that isn't doing enough to stop these terrible crimes before they happen.
Schiavo Bill: Good and Bad
The nation has been captivated by the Terry Schiavo case down in Florida and everyone is getting involved.
Congress and the President signed off on the Schiavo bill early this morning, which transfers the case to federal court. This was done after a state court judge allowed the feeding tube to be removed from the Florida woman fifteen years after she went into a vegetative coma. The parents want to keep her alive, the husband wants to allow her to die. Very nasty things have been said by both sides about the other, which is very unfortunate.
Republicans in Congress circulated a memo saying that strong action on this case on their part would play well with their religious voters and so the rush was on to intervene. Democrats decided that this belongs in state court and that the bill was/is unconstitutional.
Analysis: Is Terry really brain dead? She reacts to people around her; if she simply laid there, hovering between life and death, that question would be easier to answer. She does not show any brain-wave activity, yet her body is communicating with people when they talk to her. The definition of what brain-death is needs to be decided in the court system, so they should not be rushing to allow this woman to die. Her parents are right on this.
Analysis: The Constitution is being trampled in favor of brownie points for certain politicians who want to please their constituents. This is a bad move. Congress does not have the authority to move a court case from state into federal courts. The independent judiciary does not take orders from Congress in this way; it is questionable as to whether a federal judge will even look at the case and may cite separation of powers between the branches of federal government and the relationship between the states and the federal government. A federal judge may rule this law to be unconstitutional instead of ruling on the case itself.
Conclusion: while the politics are going on, Terry is starving to death. Shame on Congress for acting in their own interests instead of Terry's, shame on our culture for propagating a culture of death, shame on the GOP for putting so much political capital into a very bad law that weakens the Constitution, and shame on the courts for ruling against right-to-life measures in general.
A living will would have ended this debate long ago, but since there wasn't one, everyone is taking advantage of a terrible situation. The long and the short for the public: make a living will that explains exactly what you want if you are unable to make decisions for yourselves anymore. Don't allow the courts to get involved because they will make a mess of things.
Congress and the President signed off on the Schiavo bill early this morning, which transfers the case to federal court. This was done after a state court judge allowed the feeding tube to be removed from the Florida woman fifteen years after she went into a vegetative coma. The parents want to keep her alive, the husband wants to allow her to die. Very nasty things have been said by both sides about the other, which is very unfortunate.
Republicans in Congress circulated a memo saying that strong action on this case on their part would play well with their religious voters and so the rush was on to intervene. Democrats decided that this belongs in state court and that the bill was/is unconstitutional.
Analysis: Is Terry really brain dead? She reacts to people around her; if she simply laid there, hovering between life and death, that question would be easier to answer. She does not show any brain-wave activity, yet her body is communicating with people when they talk to her. The definition of what brain-death is needs to be decided in the court system, so they should not be rushing to allow this woman to die. Her parents are right on this.
Analysis: The Constitution is being trampled in favor of brownie points for certain politicians who want to please their constituents. This is a bad move. Congress does not have the authority to move a court case from state into federal courts. The independent judiciary does not take orders from Congress in this way; it is questionable as to whether a federal judge will even look at the case and may cite separation of powers between the branches of federal government and the relationship between the states and the federal government. A federal judge may rule this law to be unconstitutional instead of ruling on the case itself.
Conclusion: while the politics are going on, Terry is starving to death. Shame on Congress for acting in their own interests instead of Terry's, shame on our culture for propagating a culture of death, shame on the GOP for putting so much political capital into a very bad law that weakens the Constitution, and shame on the courts for ruling against right-to-life measures in general.
A living will would have ended this debate long ago, but since there wasn't one, everyone is taking advantage of a terrible situation. The long and the short for the public: make a living will that explains exactly what you want if you are unable to make decisions for yourselves anymore. Don't allow the courts to get involved because they will make a mess of things.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Law of the Sea Treaty Needs to be Rejected by the U.S. Senate
It's been brought to light recently that the U.N.-brokered Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) is due to be voted on by the U.S. Senate.
Originally designed by the U.N. in the 1970's, the treaty turns over control of the ocean floor to the United Nations, who have the responsibility of creating a beaucracy to oversee activities on, over and beneath the world's oceans. President Clinton signed a modified version of the treaty in the 1990's, but the bill just got around to being voted on by the Senate.
According to Research International, the treaty ".. focuses primarily on navigational and transit issues. The Treaty also contains provisions on the regulation of deep-sea mining and the redistribution of wealth to underdeveloped countries--as well as sections regarding marine trade, pollution, research, and dispute resolution."
The Bush Administration has indicated support for the LOST agreement, but it's a very bad idea. President Reagan objected to this treaty in the 1980's for the following reasons (and they are still valid today):
Originally designed by the U.N. in the 1970's, the treaty turns over control of the ocean floor to the United Nations, who have the responsibility of creating a beaucracy to oversee activities on, over and beneath the world's oceans. President Clinton signed a modified version of the treaty in the 1990's, but the bill just got around to being voted on by the Senate.
According to Research International, the treaty ".. focuses primarily on navigational and transit issues. The Treaty also contains provisions on the regulation of deep-sea mining and the redistribution of wealth to underdeveloped countries--as well as sections regarding marine trade, pollution, research, and dispute resolution."
The Bush Administration has indicated support for the LOST agreement, but it's a very bad idea. President Reagan objected to this treaty in the 1980's for the following reasons (and they are still valid today):
- Restriction and regulation of the movement of warships on the high seas.
- Restriction of free enterprise in favor of redistribution of wealth.
- Regulation of deep-sea mining with yearly payoffs to the U.N.
- Corporations cannot protest U.N. actions; the country of origin of the corporation can.
- Nations are taxed for use of the oceans without the consent of the people of those nations.
- Redistribution of minerals to landlocked nations in disproportionate numbers restricts available minerals for the rest of the world.
- A U.N. court decides disputes over and above previous international treaties.
A treaty that demands that its signatory nations turn over their sovereignty on the high seas to the United Nations is a bad thing. Control of the world's oceans belongs to the entire world, not one nation or organization.
Sink this treaty and fast, Senators.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Congress & Baseball: Let the League Tend to Itself
Why is Congress getting involved in pro baseball?
Don't they have more important things to do than spend time and resources questioning baseball players on whether or not they used steroids?
This is political grand-standing in an American past-time and Congress ought to investigate how much it's spending on this photo op. Get to work, people, and let baseball tend to baseball.
Don't they have more important things to do than spend time and resources questioning baseball players on whether or not they used steroids?
This is political grand-standing in an American past-time and Congress ought to investigate how much it's spending on this photo op. Get to work, people, and let baseball tend to baseball.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Hezbollah As a Legitimate Political Force in the Peace Process? BS!!
The Bush Administration has begun making noise about accepting Hezbollah as part of the political mainstream in the Middle East if it were to lay down its arms and push for peace.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!
Before Hezbollah is accepted into the mainstream, it ought to produce the people who engineered the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beruit in 1983. 241 American soldiers died in that deadly blast and led to the U.S. withdrawing its peacekeeping force from Beruit.
Hezbollah was responsible for that outrage. Those troops were there to stop the mass- killings that Hezbollah was carrying out against the Lebanese. So before we go welcoming Hezbollah to the mainstream, it has to prove that it wants peace and apologizes to the 241 families that its suicide bombers murdered and hands over those responsibile to either the U.S. or to the Hague.
This olive branch is inappropriate until Hezbollah gets out of the terrorism business permanently.
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!
Before Hezbollah is accepted into the mainstream, it ought to produce the people who engineered the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beruit in 1983. 241 American soldiers died in that deadly blast and led to the U.S. withdrawing its peacekeeping force from Beruit.
Hezbollah was responsible for that outrage. Those troops were there to stop the mass- killings that Hezbollah was carrying out against the Lebanese. So before we go welcoming Hezbollah to the mainstream, it has to prove that it wants peace and apologizes to the 241 families that its suicide bombers murdered and hands over those responsibile to either the U.S. or to the Hague.
This olive branch is inappropriate until Hezbollah gets out of the terrorism business permanently.
China Will Invade Taiwan--What Will the U.S. Do?
Efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the China/Taiwan situation suffered a huge setback when China passed a law authorizing use of overwhelming military force if Taiwan declares its independence. Chinese President Hu Jintao told his military to prepare for war in accordance with the unanimous vote of the Chinese assembly.
Washington should immediately throw out the "One China" policy and go with "One China, One Taiwan" policy and recognize Taiwan as a free and independent democracy. Europe should stop making plans to lift an arms embargo against China and should also recognize Taiwan should it declare formal independence.
Think about it: communism was abhorant enough to the Nationalists that they fought a war against the Red Chinese and fled for their lives when they lost. Why would they now accept it? China's behavior in Tibet is the perfect example of what will happen if Taiwan falls to Chinese military aggression.
So, what will happen if Chinese shock armies begin coming across the strait and make landfall on Taiwanese territory? What will Washington do?
Hopefully whoever is U.S. President when China invades will feel that Communism itself is a crime against humanity and will not allow a democratic Taiwan to fall to that evil. And hopefully the European Union chooses democratic principals over money.
Washington should immediately throw out the "One China" policy and go with "One China, One Taiwan" policy and recognize Taiwan as a free and independent democracy. Europe should stop making plans to lift an arms embargo against China and should also recognize Taiwan should it declare formal independence.
Think about it: communism was abhorant enough to the Nationalists that they fought a war against the Red Chinese and fled for their lives when they lost. Why would they now accept it? China's behavior in Tibet is the perfect example of what will happen if Taiwan falls to Chinese military aggression.
So, what will happen if Chinese shock armies begin coming across the strait and make landfall on Taiwanese territory? What will Washington do?
Hopefully whoever is U.S. President when China invades will feel that Communism itself is a crime against humanity and will not allow a democratic Taiwan to fall to that evil. And hopefully the European Union chooses democratic principals over money.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Jackson Accuser's Brother Lies Under Oath
The prosecution's case against Michael Jackson suffered a major setback today when the brother of Jackson’s accuser admitted he was lying on the stand and that he had lied in another unrelated case.
Did anyone bother telling this kid that lying under oath is a crime, and that the damage he may have done could have ruined a man’s life? Crimes have been committed, and it's not just Jackson who stands accused now.
This trial is a long way from being over, but the prosecution suffered heavy damage to its case today.
This kid will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life, and if the boy’s mother put him up to this, she ought to go to jail, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
Did anyone bother telling this kid that lying under oath is a crime, and that the damage he may have done could have ruined a man’s life? Crimes have been committed, and it's not just Jackson who stands accused now.
This trial is a long way from being over, but the prosecution suffered heavy damage to its case today.
This kid will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life, and if the boy’s mother put him up to this, she ought to go to jail, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
U.S. Military Wounds Recently-Released Hostage
The U.S. military suffered a major embarrassment over the weekend when it shot at a vehicle that was carrying a recently-released Italian reporter to the Baghdad International Airport, killing her escort and wounding her. Two different interpretations of the incident are being circulated.
The military is claiming that the car approached a checkpoint outside the airport and refused to stop, ignoring warning shots and bright lights that were intended to make the driver of the car stop. The Italian reporter is claiming that U.S. troops were targeting her and that there were no warnings. She had no proof of her version of the events.
It seems more likely that a mistake was made; who is more at fault will become clearer as time goes on. It seems like this reporter, who works for a Communist Party newspaper in Italy, has taken full advantage of this situation to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Italy by claiming that U.S. troops were out to kill her. She got her story, and international journalistic integrity will suffer because of it.
Even before this incident, the majority of Italians supported pulling their troops out of Iraq. With images of the flag-draped casket of the intelligence officer who was escorting her to the airport being broadcast throughout Italy, that will probably add fuel to the fire and add weight to the reporter’s version of events.
She has no proof that the troops were trying to kill her; she would be dead if they were. That part of her claim is utter nonsense.
It should be noted that this reporter went through a very bad experience in Iraq, being kidnapped and threatened by the insurgents for weeks before she was mysteriously released. Some are saying that someone paid off the kidnappers to release her, which will only encourage them to continue doing it.
Two possible outcomes from this: she'll set the record straight, or she won't and will continue to use the outpouring of Italian public support to influence public discourse on the war. Given the choices and her political affiliation, it seems likely that she'll choose the latter.
The military is claiming that the car approached a checkpoint outside the airport and refused to stop, ignoring warning shots and bright lights that were intended to make the driver of the car stop. The Italian reporter is claiming that U.S. troops were targeting her and that there were no warnings. She had no proof of her version of the events.
It seems more likely that a mistake was made; who is more at fault will become clearer as time goes on. It seems like this reporter, who works for a Communist Party newspaper in Italy, has taken full advantage of this situation to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Italy by claiming that U.S. troops were out to kill her. She got her story, and international journalistic integrity will suffer because of it.
Even before this incident, the majority of Italians supported pulling their troops out of Iraq. With images of the flag-draped casket of the intelligence officer who was escorting her to the airport being broadcast throughout Italy, that will probably add fuel to the fire and add weight to the reporter’s version of events.
She has no proof that the troops were trying to kill her; she would be dead if they were. That part of her claim is utter nonsense.
It should be noted that this reporter went through a very bad experience in Iraq, being kidnapped and threatened by the insurgents for weeks before she was mysteriously released. Some are saying that someone paid off the kidnappers to release her, which will only encourage them to continue doing it.
Two possible outcomes from this: she'll set the record straight, or she won't and will continue to use the outpouring of Italian public support to influence public discourse on the war. Given the choices and her political affiliation, it seems likely that she'll choose the latter.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Supreme Court Finally Bans Executions of Those Who Commited Death-Penalty Crimes While a Juvenile
The U.S. Supreme Court decided to ban executions of people who committed death-penalty crimes when they were under the age of 18.
This will put the United States in line with the rest of the civilized world in terms of how the death penalty is applied. Each time an adult sentenced to death (for a crime committed before the age of majority) was executed, the U.S. violated international treaties that it had signed.
This is an important decision and a great victory for the American justice system, but it does not go far enough.
All uses of the death penalty must be abolished. No system is foolproof; many states do not even use DNA testing to verify if they have the right man (or woman) on death row. The states don’t want to spend any money on the people they condemn.
We cannot tolerate a system that may err (and send someone who didn’t do the crime) to their death with NO chance for them to fight back and prove their innocence. That is just plain wrong.
The DNA evidence may well prove that they are guilty too, so shouldn’t we AT LEAST have DNA testing in every case where another person’s life hangs in the balance?
This will put the United States in line with the rest of the civilized world in terms of how the death penalty is applied. Each time an adult sentenced to death (for a crime committed before the age of majority) was executed, the U.S. violated international treaties that it had signed.
This is an important decision and a great victory for the American justice system, but it does not go far enough.
All uses of the death penalty must be abolished. No system is foolproof; many states do not even use DNA testing to verify if they have the right man (or woman) on death row. The states don’t want to spend any money on the people they condemn.
We cannot tolerate a system that may err (and send someone who didn’t do the crime) to their death with NO chance for them to fight back and prove their innocence. That is just plain wrong.
The DNA evidence may well prove that they are guilty too, so shouldn’t we AT LEAST have DNA testing in every case where another person’s life hangs in the balance?
Monday, February 28, 2005
Disaster at Sea: Two Boys Drown in Gulf of Mexico
An adventure with a group of young people ended in disaster as two fourteen-year olds perished in their overturned kayaks in the Gulf of Mexico.
The two became separated from their group, which came from Darlington High School in Rome, Georgia, and drowned. The entire group became disoriented and had to be rescued by the United States Coast Guard after the seas became too much to handle.
Had a very strong reaction to this story as everyone was hoping that the kids would be found alive and well. Hope was lost this afternoon with the announcement that the boys had been found dead. 4½ miles into open water is a long ways for a group of young teenagers.
Two of the leading causes of drowning in aquatics (in general) are boating mishaps and exceeding physical limitations and disabilities. Key questions that need to be asked: did the trip exceed the physical limitations of the group, given their ages? Did the kids have enough experience to be kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico? Was the supervision qualified to lead a foray like this? Did they do training beforehand and know how to handle themselves adequately to go onto a large body of water? Was the buddy system used properly? It doesn’t help the group if the two strongest kayakers or the two weakest kayakers were teamed up.
The author of this piece, a fifteen-year veteran lifeguard, took his first kayaking trip last year and found that he was not equal to the task as it was the first time he was in a kayak; nearly all of his boating experiences centered around canoes, rowboats, whitewater, motorboats and a limited amount of sailing time. Had he chosen any other form of watercraft (probably not sailing either), he would have been fine, but he didn’t properly train and was badly unprepared for what awaited him on a mere river. He had to pull out of the trip midway through because he tried to ignore the severe pain that he was in that had developed from being in such an uncomfortable position. He failed. He won’t make that mistake again.
The thought of going into the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic or Pacific without any type of training in an unfamiliar class of watercraft is unthinkable. Whatever happened in the waters off of Florida, it must be investigated fully; and it will.
May God bless the families of the lost, the members of the group who lived, and the school and community from where they came. May they be comforted by His healing hands.
The two became separated from their group, which came from Darlington High School in Rome, Georgia, and drowned. The entire group became disoriented and had to be rescued by the United States Coast Guard after the seas became too much to handle.
Had a very strong reaction to this story as everyone was hoping that the kids would be found alive and well. Hope was lost this afternoon with the announcement that the boys had been found dead. 4½ miles into open water is a long ways for a group of young teenagers.
Two of the leading causes of drowning in aquatics (in general) are boating mishaps and exceeding physical limitations and disabilities. Key questions that need to be asked: did the trip exceed the physical limitations of the group, given their ages? Did the kids have enough experience to be kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico? Was the supervision qualified to lead a foray like this? Did they do training beforehand and know how to handle themselves adequately to go onto a large body of water? Was the buddy system used properly? It doesn’t help the group if the two strongest kayakers or the two weakest kayakers were teamed up.
The author of this piece, a fifteen-year veteran lifeguard, took his first kayaking trip last year and found that he was not equal to the task as it was the first time he was in a kayak; nearly all of his boating experiences centered around canoes, rowboats, whitewater, motorboats and a limited amount of sailing time. Had he chosen any other form of watercraft (probably not sailing either), he would have been fine, but he didn’t properly train and was badly unprepared for what awaited him on a mere river. He had to pull out of the trip midway through because he tried to ignore the severe pain that he was in that had developed from being in such an uncomfortable position. He failed. He won’t make that mistake again.
The thought of going into the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic or Pacific without any type of training in an unfamiliar class of watercraft is unthinkable. Whatever happened in the waters off of Florida, it must be investigated fully; and it will.
May God bless the families of the lost, the members of the group who lived, and the school and community from where they came. May they be comforted by His healing hands.
Lebanese Government Collapses: Fallout from Assassination Continues
In continuing fall-out from the assassination of a former Lebanese Prime Minister two weeks ago, the Lebanese government resigned, bowing to internal and international pressure.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens protesting outside and watching the debate on TV let out a roar that reverberated throughout Lebanon, and indeed, throughout the region as the Prime Minster announced the resignations. The Lebanese people want their freedom restored, they want the Syrian occupation forces removed from their soil, and they want a government that is free from Syrian influence and a political system that is not influenced by Syrian military intelligence forces.
The changes taking place over there are astonishing; a few short years ago, such happenings would have been put down harshly by the Syrians, but the West has taken a strong interest in investigating the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed by a massive car bomb. That bombing has led to Syria being put under tremendous pressure to get their military out of Lebanon and to come clean on their activities with regards to terrorism in the region.
Syria handed over Saddam Hussein’s half brother Sab'awi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, who was #36 on the U.S. military’s list of most wanted men for his human-rights violations while Saddam was in power and for his role in leading the insurgency in Iraq. This is an attempt to get some of the pressure off, but it won’t work.
Lebanon appears headed for independence from Syria and all Syria can do is moan about how they’re being treated by the international community. Get over it, Damascus, and be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens protesting outside and watching the debate on TV let out a roar that reverberated throughout Lebanon, and indeed, throughout the region as the Prime Minster announced the resignations. The Lebanese people want their freedom restored, they want the Syrian occupation forces removed from their soil, and they want a government that is free from Syrian influence and a political system that is not influenced by Syrian military intelligence forces.
The changes taking place over there are astonishing; a few short years ago, such happenings would have been put down harshly by the Syrians, but the West has taken a strong interest in investigating the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed by a massive car bomb. That bombing has led to Syria being put under tremendous pressure to get their military out of Lebanon and to come clean on their activities with regards to terrorism in the region.
Syria handed over Saddam Hussein’s half brother Sab'awi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikriti, who was #36 on the U.S. military’s list of most wanted men for his human-rights violations while Saddam was in power and for his role in leading the insurgency in Iraq. This is an attempt to get some of the pressure off, but it won’t work.
Lebanon appears headed for independence from Syria and all Syria can do is moan about how they’re being treated by the international community. Get over it, Damascus, and be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Putin Getting Terrible Advice From His Advisors: Accuses Bush of Firing CBS Staffers
According to Newsweek magazine, Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Bush that Russia didn’t criticize Bush for firing the staffers at CBS after they aired false National Guard documents that led to a scandal at CBS. This comment came at their meeting in Slovakia last week at the end of Bush’s fence-mending trip to Europe.
Bush was criticizing the Russian crackdown on the free press in Russia, and Putin made the comment in responding to Bush’s concerns. Putin actually believes that President Bush personally fired the CBS people for criticizing him in the weeks leading up to the election. Bush explained that he has no power to fire people like that and that it was a CBS company decision, but Putin didn’t believe him.
Putin’s advisors are giving him very bad advice about U.S. politics and Putin is buying into it hook, line and sinker. It also explains Russia’s about-face in selling nuclear fuel to Iran after it said in a joint statement with the U.S. that Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon. Does he really think Russia will get back all of the spent nuclear power rods that could be used to build an Iranian nuclear weapon?
Will Russian soldiers enforce that part of their agreement? Will the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) be able to observe what goes on there?
It’s scary to think that someone who misunderstands the U.S. so badly is in charge of one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals and is a dictator at heart. Putin comes across as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so the U.S. should keep a close eye on Russia until it embraces democracy more fully, and not just in name only.
Here's the story.
Bush was criticizing the Russian crackdown on the free press in Russia, and Putin made the comment in responding to Bush’s concerns. Putin actually believes that President Bush personally fired the CBS people for criticizing him in the weeks leading up to the election. Bush explained that he has no power to fire people like that and that it was a CBS company decision, but Putin didn’t believe him.
Putin’s advisors are giving him very bad advice about U.S. politics and Putin is buying into it hook, line and sinker. It also explains Russia’s about-face in selling nuclear fuel to Iran after it said in a joint statement with the U.S. that Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon. Does he really think Russia will get back all of the spent nuclear power rods that could be used to build an Iranian nuclear weapon?
Will Russian soldiers enforce that part of their agreement? Will the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) be able to observe what goes on there?
It’s scary to think that someone who misunderstands the U.S. so badly is in charge of one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals and is a dictator at heart. Putin comes across as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so the U.S. should keep a close eye on Russia until it embraces democracy more fully, and not just in name only.
Here's the story.
Israel Over-Reacting Again; Threatens to Suspend Peace with Palestinians Over Latest Terror Bombing
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon is at it again. After the latest terror bombing (which he blamed on Syria), he has threatened to suspend the fragile cease-fire that was signed a mere three weeks ago with Palestine.
If the truce is going to hold and peace is to be achieved, Israel should be helping the Palestinians instead of blaming them for every terrorist attack that is launched by terror groups that may not even be operating out of Palestinian territory.
Israel needs to take a more even-handed approach to the Palestinians and quit weakening their new democratic leader. That just plays into the hands of Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad and about twenty other groups that don’t like Israel and are beyond the reach of Palestinian security forces.
If the truce is going to hold and peace is to be achieved, Israel should be helping the Palestinians instead of blaming them for every terrorist attack that is launched by terror groups that may not even be operating out of Palestinian territory.
Israel needs to take a more even-handed approach to the Palestinians and quit weakening their new democratic leader. That just plays into the hands of Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad and about twenty other groups that don’t like Israel and are beyond the reach of Palestinian security forces.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Pope Hospitalized Again: Resignation Talk in Media Rekindled
Pope John Paul II was rushed back to a hospital in Rome this morning where he spent ten days earlier this month; almost as quickly, the media vultures quickly returned and set up the media circus again. And again, they began talking up a possible papal retirement.
Do they not get it? This pope will die in office, so they should leave him alone. The Catholic Church has gone months and even years without a pope in centuries past, and the church survived then. It will survive through whatever happens to John Paul II, whether he dies in the hospital or at the Vatican, or he is left speechless for the remainder of his days.
If they want to report on the pope’s condition, fine, but they should stop fueling this dead-end story. If this Polish man decides to fight to the bitter end, he will. And it looks like he has, based on his public statements of thanks for prayers for around the world, and for his asking for strength to continue his ministry.
Those are not the words of someone who is planning on retiring or "resigning" as the world media brazenly puts it.
Do they not get it? This pope will die in office, so they should leave him alone. The Catholic Church has gone months and even years without a pope in centuries past, and the church survived then. It will survive through whatever happens to John Paul II, whether he dies in the hospital or at the Vatican, or he is left speechless for the remainder of his days.
If they want to report on the pope’s condition, fine, but they should stop fueling this dead-end story. If this Polish man decides to fight to the bitter end, he will. And it looks like he has, based on his public statements of thanks for prayers for around the world, and for his asking for strength to continue his ministry.
Those are not the words of someone who is planning on retiring or "resigning" as the world media brazenly puts it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Kid Suspended for Tossing Rubber Band at Teacher
In a case of “zero-tolerance” having zero common sense, a 13 year-old kid was suspended from his southern Florida school for ten days after tossing a rubber band onto the desk of his teacher.
This happened after the boy picked up the rubber band and put it on his wrist. The teacher asked for the rubber band so the boy took it off and tossed the 1/10th ounce rubber band onto his teacher’s desk. As a result, the band was labeled a weapon, and the boy was suspended for ten days with an expulsion hearing scheduled for “threatening a teacher with a weapon.”
??!
In the Orange County School District, they have different levels of punishments, with Level 4 punishments for such things as: arson, assault and battery, bomb threats and explosives offenses.
This kid is being handed a Level 4 punishment.
Did the ¼ ounce rubber band explode on impact? Did it burn a hole in the desk? Did the rubber band blow out the windows in the room? Did it give the teacher a bruise? Did the rubber band sever the arm of the teacher? Did the 1/10th ounce rubber band threaten the life of the teacher? Of the students? Did the student try to kill the teacher with the rubber band? Did the student try to kill himself with the rubber band?
Some weapon. Yep. Uh-huh.
This happened after the boy picked up the rubber band and put it on his wrist. The teacher asked for the rubber band so the boy took it off and tossed the 1/10th ounce rubber band onto his teacher’s desk. As a result, the band was labeled a weapon, and the boy was suspended for ten days with an expulsion hearing scheduled for “threatening a teacher with a weapon.”
??!
In the Orange County School District, they have different levels of punishments, with Level 4 punishments for such things as: arson, assault and battery, bomb threats and explosives offenses.
This kid is being handed a Level 4 punishment.
Did the ¼ ounce rubber band explode on impact? Did it burn a hole in the desk? Did the rubber band blow out the windows in the room? Did it give the teacher a bruise? Did the rubber band sever the arm of the teacher? Did the 1/10th ounce rubber band threaten the life of the teacher? Of the students? Did the student try to kill the teacher with the rubber band? Did the student try to kill himself with the rubber band?
Some weapon. Yep. Uh-huh.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Call to Action: Free Imprisoned Bloggers
The Committee to Protect Bloggers has declared Tuesday, February 22nd as "Free Mojtaba and Arash Day" to draw worldwide attention to two Iranian bloggers who are being held by the Iranian government for posting thoughts on their blogs that the Iranian government disagrees with.
Click on the link above to learn more.
Bloggers are an endangered species in countries like Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and other countries where repressive governments exist. Bloggers in those and similar countries risk their lives to express their views and face the death penalty or lengthy prison terms if they are caught and convicted. Mr. Mojtaba and Mr. Arash are two of many bloggers who have been arrested by their own governments for revealing things their governments have done, or what they think their government(s) should be doing.
Repressive governments responded harshly because various bloggers (and journalists from the print and media world) called worldwide attention to injustices that their repressive governments are totally and completely responsible for, don't want to admit to, and are terrified that news about what they have done is now in full view of the entire world, thanks to their own people who disagree with their brutal reigns of terror. Further, the fact that there are people within their countries with opinions different from the "official" position of the government scares those in power. As it should.
All nations on earth should respect not only Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but the entire document as well. The stories of many imprisoned journalists and bloggers are at the link above.
The committee's web site at the link above has contact information for the Iranian embassy in the United States, suggestions on what to include in any letters, and general pointers. Human rights are not just for some, but for all, and we need to let those governments know that their dissidents are not alone, and that the truth will come out one day, no matter what they do to bury the knowledge of what they've done.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Media is Afraid of Bloggers: They Don't Have To Be If They Do Their Jobs
It’s been suggested that media outlets may become afraid of reporting negative stories on the administration because bloggers will poke holes in their stories.
That isn’t true.
What the media outlets should be afraid of is what will happen if they do anything except report the facts. CBS got into trouble because they wanted to get an untrue story about President Bush out on the airwaves before their competitors did first. As a result of that haste, they used falsified documents and were greatly embarrassed when it was proven that the documents on President Bush’s tour of duty in the National Guard were frauds.
It’s true that bloggers were the first to raise questions of the authenticity of the National Guard documents; there’s a prevailing snide attitude at the networks that bloggers are guys who sit in their living rooms wearing pajamas (that’s what former CBS executive VP Jonathan Kline said in a debate with Steven Hayes, writer for the Weekly Standard) when compared to the “checks and balances” system at CBS (and other networks) that Mr. Kline was extolling (and which failed miserably on the CBS story).
There are all kinds of bloggers; they come from different walks of life, and often have more depth than the talent at the networks. The bloggers that raised the authenticity issue were attorneys, analysts, average janes and joes, and so forth. The Internet community outmaneuvered CBS and the network had to hire people (who had similar training to some of the bloggers, mind you) to do an in-depth analysis of the documents to find out that the documents WERE false.
So, the media shouldn’t be afraid of doing their jobs, but they should fear the repercussions of deceiving the American public and making news instead of reporting it.
That isn’t true.
What the media outlets should be afraid of is what will happen if they do anything except report the facts. CBS got into trouble because they wanted to get an untrue story about President Bush out on the airwaves before their competitors did first. As a result of that haste, they used falsified documents and were greatly embarrassed when it was proven that the documents on President Bush’s tour of duty in the National Guard were frauds.
It’s true that bloggers were the first to raise questions of the authenticity of the National Guard documents; there’s a prevailing snide attitude at the networks that bloggers are guys who sit in their living rooms wearing pajamas (that’s what former CBS executive VP Jonathan Kline said in a debate with Steven Hayes, writer for the Weekly Standard) when compared to the “checks and balances” system at CBS (and other networks) that Mr. Kline was extolling (and which failed miserably on the CBS story).
There are all kinds of bloggers; they come from different walks of life, and often have more depth than the talent at the networks. The bloggers that raised the authenticity issue were attorneys, analysts, average janes and joes, and so forth. The Internet community outmaneuvered CBS and the network had to hire people (who had similar training to some of the bloggers, mind you) to do an in-depth analysis of the documents to find out that the documents WERE false.
So, the media shouldn’t be afraid of doing their jobs, but they should fear the repercussions of deceiving the American public and making news instead of reporting it.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Israeli Civil War on the Horizon: Settlers Vow to Resist Forced Relocation
Israel’s cabinet voted to expel Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and from parts of the West Bank, which led militant settlers to vow to fight the relocation. Some Israeli Army units have promised to disobey orders to forcibly remove the settlers from their homes, which heightens the possibility of fighting between the government and the settlers.
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon is hoping to prevent an Israeli civil war and to move the peace process forward. It looks like Sharon has the support of the general Israeli public, though he has made enemies of many settlers, who are heavily armed.
Former Prime Minister and current Finance Secretary Benjamin Netanyahu voted no on the resolution and has indicated he will run against Sharon in their party elections to fight the peace agreement.
Until Yitzak Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli militant in November 1995, it was generally thought that Israelis did not kill Israelis, but Rabin’s murder threw that notion out the window. Hopefully Sharon won’t be targeted in the same way by a vocal minority who don’t want to leave their homes. An Israeli civil war won’t further the peace process, which many settlers oppose. It’s too bad that it has to be this way.
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon is hoping to prevent an Israeli civil war and to move the peace process forward. It looks like Sharon has the support of the general Israeli public, though he has made enemies of many settlers, who are heavily armed.
Former Prime Minister and current Finance Secretary Benjamin Netanyahu voted no on the resolution and has indicated he will run against Sharon in their party elections to fight the peace agreement.
Until Yitzak Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli militant in November 1995, it was generally thought that Israelis did not kill Israelis, but Rabin’s murder threw that notion out the window. Hopefully Sharon won’t be targeted in the same way by a vocal minority who don’t want to leave their homes. An Israeli civil war won’t further the peace process, which many settlers oppose. It’s too bad that it has to be this way.
Friday, February 18, 2005
What Kind of Scam is Blockbuster Video Running?
Blockbuster Video is being sued by the Attorney General of New Jersey for deceptive advertising following complaints that Blockbuster didn’t inform clients that their new rental policy includes hidden charges that are de-facto late fees.
After so many days, the client’s debit/credit card is charged for replacing the video that the client believes he/she can hold onto for an extended period of time; when the video is returned, the fee is returned but $1.50 is kept for a restocking fee.
That, my friends, is a late fee.
The end of late fees, eh? Here’s the story.
After so many days, the client’s debit/credit card is charged for replacing the video that the client believes he/she can hold onto for an extended period of time; when the video is returned, the fee is returned but $1.50 is kept for a restocking fee.
That, my friends, is a late fee.
The end of late fees, eh? Here’s the story.
China Upset With U.S. Assessment of Chinese Military Strength in Taiwan Strait
China is upset that the United States constantly gauges Chinese military strength that is arrayed against Taiwan and wants it to stop.
Fat chance.
The U.S. is required by law to supply Taiwan with weapons and intelligence on Chinese military units that are deployed to attack Taiwan and to assess threats to the island. China decries this as “severe internal interference in China’s affairs” and claims the island is a part of China, while totally ignoring the fact that a democratic nation that is not part of communist China exists there and IS (for all intents and purposes) independent of China.
Here's the story.
China has repeatedly threatened to attack Taiwan if it were to move for “full” independence, and to seek a seat in the United Nations, which it may well do in the future.
China ought to leave Taiwan alone, AND withdraw its troops from Tibet, which it illegally occupied decades ago, and allow the Dali Lama to return to his homeland. It would be great if China sponsored Taiwan's bid for a seat in the U.N. but they are intent on conquering the island so that probably won't happen either.
Fat chance.
The U.S. is required by law to supply Taiwan with weapons and intelligence on Chinese military units that are deployed to attack Taiwan and to assess threats to the island. China decries this as “severe internal interference in China’s affairs” and claims the island is a part of China, while totally ignoring the fact that a democratic nation that is not part of communist China exists there and IS (for all intents and purposes) independent of China.
Here's the story.
China has repeatedly threatened to attack Taiwan if it were to move for “full” independence, and to seek a seat in the United Nations, which it may well do in the future.
China ought to leave Taiwan alone, AND withdraw its troops from Tibet, which it illegally occupied decades ago, and allow the Dali Lama to return to his homeland. It would be great if China sponsored Taiwan's bid for a seat in the U.N. but they are intent on conquering the island so that probably won't happen either.
Terrorists Target Shiite Mosques Across Iraq During Sacred Shiite Holiday
Baghdad was again rocked by terrorist bombs going off in front of Shiite mosques as Shiites prepared to observe the Ashoura holiday, which is the holiest day of the year in the Shiite calendar. It is widely believed that Sunni extremists are responsible and are trying to trigger an Iraqi religious war to destabilize the newly elected government there.
To their credit, the Shiites have not taken the bait as they want the new government to succeed. Their religious leaders have been encouraging their people to support their new government and have encouraged Sunni Muslims to participate in the government, which is very encouraging news.
Between the Shiites and the Kurds, they control the majority of the seats in the legislature, with Sunnis in the minority, which reflects the religious makeup of the population of Iraq.
It is expected that the new Prime Minster of Iraq will be a Shiite, while the President of Iraq may be a Kurd. It will be interesting to see how it all works out.
To their credit, the Shiites have not taken the bait as they want the new government to succeed. Their religious leaders have been encouraging their people to support their new government and have encouraged Sunni Muslims to participate in the government, which is very encouraging news.
Between the Shiites and the Kurds, they control the majority of the seats in the legislature, with Sunnis in the minority, which reflects the religious makeup of the population of Iraq.
It is expected that the new Prime Minster of Iraq will be a Shiite, while the President of Iraq may be a Kurd. It will be interesting to see how it all works out.
Rumors of a Resurrected NHL Season Abound: It's Not Going to Happen and Here's Why
Hopeful rumors of a save of the 2004-05 NHL hockey season began almost immediately after NHL Commissioner Bettman got on stage and announced the termination of the season following failed negotiations between the players and the league. It won't happen. The league cannot afford it.
More information has come out about why the lock-out happened and how badly the NHL has done in the last ten years, going $1.8 billion into the red. It's astounding that the NHL hasn't folded after running deficits of at least $200 million per season.
The Edmonton Oilers were said to be on the verge of requesting that the NHL suspend its franchise or move the team as it was on the verge of a financial meltdown. In fact, every Canadian NHL team (except Toronto) is in major financial trouble, as are the American NHL teams in Atlanta, Anaheim, Nashville, and to a lesser extent in nine other American cities. Several teams have declared bankruptcy in recent years, including Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Those teams were all acquired by people who kept the clubs running and reorganized them, but now those turnarounds are all imperiled.
The simple fact is that the NHL is too fat; salary caps won't save the league or the teams that are in trouble. It needs to lose about a dozen teams, which is very unfortunate, but it's the only way the entire thing can be salvaged. They need to do business a lot smarter, stop expanding into markets that won't support a NHL team, and make nice with the fans that are supporting their teams. One sports writer suggested that the NHL itself should file for bankruptcy, reorganize, and start anew. That might be a very good start.
So don't hold your breath waiting for the NHL to call another press conference and announce that an abbreviated season will be played following a breakthrough in negotiations. It would be irresponsible for the league to do so until it fixes the major financial problems that it has.
More information has come out about why the lock-out happened and how badly the NHL has done in the last ten years, going $1.8 billion into the red. It's astounding that the NHL hasn't folded after running deficits of at least $200 million per season.
The Edmonton Oilers were said to be on the verge of requesting that the NHL suspend its franchise or move the team as it was on the verge of a financial meltdown. In fact, every Canadian NHL team (except Toronto) is in major financial trouble, as are the American NHL teams in Atlanta, Anaheim, Nashville, and to a lesser extent in nine other American cities. Several teams have declared bankruptcy in recent years, including Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Those teams were all acquired by people who kept the clubs running and reorganized them, but now those turnarounds are all imperiled.
The simple fact is that the NHL is too fat; salary caps won't save the league or the teams that are in trouble. It needs to lose about a dozen teams, which is very unfortunate, but it's the only way the entire thing can be salvaged. They need to do business a lot smarter, stop expanding into markets that won't support a NHL team, and make nice with the fans that are supporting their teams. One sports writer suggested that the NHL itself should file for bankruptcy, reorganize, and start anew. That might be a very good start.
So don't hold your breath waiting for the NHL to call another press conference and announce that an abbreviated season will be played following a breakthrough in negotiations. It would be irresponsible for the league to do so until it fixes the major financial problems that it has.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Strike the Colors: NHL Scraps Season
NHL Commissioner Bettman called a news conference today and cancelled the rest of the 2004-2005 National Hockey League season, despite the ongoing negotiations.
Too bad.
Too bad.
Partners in Crime: Iran and Syria Issue Joint Communiqué Against U.S.
Terrorist sponsors Iran and Syria have vowed to stand together in their terror wars against the West in general, and the U.S. in particular.
Syria doesn’t want to withdraw its troops from Lebanon or stop terrorists from crossing their border into Iraq, and Iran doesn’t want to drop its nuclear weapons ambitions.
Both do not like the fact that the U.S. is putting pressure on them to get out of the terrorism business and are being closely watched by Washington, other western nations, and the United Nations. They are letting their hostility toward Washington become known by publicly stating that they will stand together. Here's that part of the story.
Syria’s already interfering in Iraq by allowing terrorists to use its territory to stage bombings inside Iraq. Terrorists are entering from Iran as well, so their talk of not wanting to become enemies of the United States is misleading. Their terrorists are already at war with the U.S. military, so Syria and Iran should, at the very least, close their borders, man the border crossings and arrest terrorists as they encounter them and not just wave them through.
It's time for Iran and Syria to put up or shut up and prove their peaceful intentions.
Syria doesn’t want to withdraw its troops from Lebanon or stop terrorists from crossing their border into Iraq, and Iran doesn’t want to drop its nuclear weapons ambitions.
Both do not like the fact that the U.S. is putting pressure on them to get out of the terrorism business and are being closely watched by Washington, other western nations, and the United Nations. They are letting their hostility toward Washington become known by publicly stating that they will stand together. Here's that part of the story.
Syria’s already interfering in Iraq by allowing terrorists to use its territory to stage bombings inside Iraq. Terrorists are entering from Iran as well, so their talk of not wanting to become enemies of the United States is misleading. Their terrorists are already at war with the U.S. military, so Syria and Iran should, at the very least, close their borders, man the border crossings and arrest terrorists as they encounter them and not just wave them through.
It's time for Iran and Syria to put up or shut up and prove their peaceful intentions.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Political Tire Slashing Trial Underway
The Milwaukee-area Election Day tire slashing defendents went on trial today, accused of slashing the tires of twenty-five vehicles being rented by the Wisconsin Republican Party to get out the vote. The crime carries a penalty of $10,000 per defendant and 3 1/2 years in jail.
Hooliganism has no place in American elections. Hopefully the courts will agree and make an example out of these five activists for damaging the property of others. It's too bad that they couldn't express their political views without destroying stuff.
Political violence should be a thing of the past, but it reared its ugly head in 2004. How many political election offices were damaged across the country? How many were burned? Shot at? Ransacked? It seemed like many areas reported problems.
How many houses and private vehicles were damaged because Bush's or Kerry's name were on the yard signs in front of those houses or on the bumpers of those vehicles? For that matter, how many yard signs were stolen?
Stupid people do stupid things, and using violence to convince someone that that the aggressor is right is a sign of serious immaturity. It's too bad we can't put people like that into an incubator for a few years and then take them out when they're done growing up mentally. They ought to learn to use that space between their ears for rational thought and communicating political discourse instead of acting like idiots.
Violence does nothing to further the democratic process.
Hooliganism has no place in American elections. Hopefully the courts will agree and make an example out of these five activists for damaging the property of others. It's too bad that they couldn't express their political views without destroying stuff.
Political violence should be a thing of the past, but it reared its ugly head in 2004. How many political election offices were damaged across the country? How many were burned? Shot at? Ransacked? It seemed like many areas reported problems.
How many houses and private vehicles were damaged because Bush's or Kerry's name were on the yard signs in front of those houses or on the bumpers of those vehicles? For that matter, how many yard signs were stolen?
Stupid people do stupid things, and using violence to convince someone that that the aggressor is right is a sign of serious immaturity. It's too bad we can't put people like that into an incubator for a few years and then take them out when they're done growing up mentally. They ought to learn to use that space between their ears for rational thought and communicating political discourse instead of acting like idiots.
Violence does nothing to further the democratic process.
U.S. Withdraws Ambassador to Syria; Damascus in the Crosshairs
A huge explosion in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, killed a former Prime Minister of Lebanon and sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community.
The attack killed Rafik al-Hariri, a Lebanese businessman who is credited with ending the civil war that decimated his country from 1976-1990. Syria subsequently occupied Lebanon and has been known to execute Lebanese citizens who protest the occupation of their country by Syria’s armed forces.
U.S. diplomats have accused Syria of not controlling the flow of Arab terrorists into Iraq from the Syrian side of the border. Also unanswered are questions of whether Saddam Hussein transferred his much-sought-after weapons of mass destruction program to Syria before the United States invaded Iraq.
Syria is still sponsoring terrorism despite their pledges of support to combat groups like al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.
Whether or not Syria had anything with the Beirut bombing remains to be seen, but it would be in Syria’s best interests to come completely clean on what it’s been up to.
The attack killed Rafik al-Hariri, a Lebanese businessman who is credited with ending the civil war that decimated his country from 1976-1990. Syria subsequently occupied Lebanon and has been known to execute Lebanese citizens who protest the occupation of their country by Syria’s armed forces.
U.S. diplomats have accused Syria of not controlling the flow of Arab terrorists into Iraq from the Syrian side of the border. Also unanswered are questions of whether Saddam Hussein transferred his much-sought-after weapons of mass destruction program to Syria before the United States invaded Iraq.
Syria is still sponsoring terrorism despite their pledges of support to combat groups like al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.
Whether or not Syria had anything with the Beirut bombing remains to be seen, but it would be in Syria’s best interests to come completely clean on what it’s been up to.
Possible Last-Minute Save of NHL Season?
There was some movement overnight in the NHL contract discussions. Some are speculating that there may be a last-minute save of the 2004-05 pro hockey season.
Reportedly, the players union agreed to a salary cap but the teams and union disagreed on how big or small the cap should be. The union wants caps of $52 million per team, the NHL wants it restricted to $40 million per team. Negotiations broke down again shortly afterwards.
Since the union is now talking about salary caps, the NHL has dropped a demand that was labeled by union as “unacceptable” which featured a “revenue to player” link. Sounds pretty complex, but the NHL decided to move forward. The salary cap will probably happen and it will be somewhere between $40 million and $52 million per team.
A whole host of minor issues remains, but while the two sides were not budging on the salary caps, all of those smaller issues were set aside until the big issues were settled.
NHL Commissioner Bettman has rescheduled his news conference to Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for today, in which he would have cancelled the rest of the season, but since the two sides are finally making some headway, that announcement has been postponed by the NHL management.
It remains to be seen if the season can be salvaged.
Reportedly, the players union agreed to a salary cap but the teams and union disagreed on how big or small the cap should be. The union wants caps of $52 million per team, the NHL wants it restricted to $40 million per team. Negotiations broke down again shortly afterwards.
Since the union is now talking about salary caps, the NHL has dropped a demand that was labeled by union as “unacceptable” which featured a “revenue to player” link. Sounds pretty complex, but the NHL decided to move forward. The salary cap will probably happen and it will be somewhere between $40 million and $52 million per team.
A whole host of minor issues remains, but while the two sides were not budging on the salary caps, all of those smaller issues were set aside until the big issues were settled.
NHL Commissioner Bettman has rescheduled his news conference to Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for today, in which he would have cancelled the rest of the season, but since the two sides are finally making some headway, that announcement has been postponed by the NHL management.
It remains to be seen if the season can be salvaged.
Monday, February 14, 2005
2004-2005 National Hockey League Season Appears Doomed
Greed appears ready to sink the National Hockey League this season. Players, owners and the league have been unable to come to terms on the salary cap and some of the other issues that were dogging their progress, and after months of inactivity, they finally sat their a$$es down and talked about their issues. Sort of.
The result: no progress. As a result, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is calling a press conference on Tuesday to announce the cancellation of the rest of the season.
It is very likely that there will be no Stanley Cup awarded this year. This has not happened since the worldwide flu pandemic of 1919.
Shame on the NHL and the players union for not budging on the salary cap and allowing it to come to this! It doesn’t matter who is more at fault in causing the cancellation of the season, they are equally as stubborn. They’re going to have to crawl on their hands and knees and beg the fans to come back once this sorry state of affairs is settled. It took them years to get over the last major strike; this time it may take even longer.
The result: no progress. As a result, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is calling a press conference on Tuesday to announce the cancellation of the rest of the season.
It is very likely that there will be no Stanley Cup awarded this year. This has not happened since the worldwide flu pandemic of 1919.
Shame on the NHL and the players union for not budging on the salary cap and allowing it to come to this! It doesn’t matter who is more at fault in causing the cancellation of the season, they are equally as stubborn. They’re going to have to crawl on their hands and knees and beg the fans to come back once this sorry state of affairs is settled. It took them years to get over the last major strike; this time it may take even longer.
"Baby 81" Identified and Reunited with Parents
Word came out of devastated Sri Lanka that DNA tests have conclusively settled the “Baby 81” situation that has been playing out for the last two weeks. Against all odds, a baby was pulled from tsunami debris days after a monster earthquake and resulting tsunami devastated the coastlines of a dozen south Asian and African countries; nine Sri Lankan couples claimed the child and the legal battle was on.
DNA testing was done and the rightful parents were identified.
The baby was ripped from his mother’s arms as she struggled against the tide to hold onto the child and keep from drowning with hundreds of thousands of others around the region who were swept away.
As of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, the death toll from the tsunami stands at 287,534 and that number keeps rising as searchers sift through ruined towns and villages. Faced with those staggering numbers, the fact that this baby survived the tsunami after being ripped from his mom’s arms by the waves, and was eventually reunited with his mom and dad (who both survived as well) is nothing short of miraculous.
DNA testing was done and the rightful parents were identified.
The baby was ripped from his mother’s arms as she struggled against the tide to hold onto the child and keep from drowning with hundreds of thousands of others around the region who were swept away.
As of 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, the death toll from the tsunami stands at 287,534 and that number keeps rising as searchers sift through ruined towns and villages. Faced with those staggering numbers, the fact that this baby survived the tsunami after being ripped from his mom’s arms by the waves, and was eventually reunited with his mom and dad (who both survived as well) is nothing short of miraculous.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
New AIDS Strain: Highly Aggressive Strain Finally Gets Media Attention
The news that hit last week about a new AIDS strain that is, actually, not new.
There was a story last year about someone who was HIV positive, was taking experimental drugs to combat it, had unprotected relations with someone who had a different strain of HIV, and ended up with two different strains of HIV that turned into full-blown AIDS at a vastly accelerated rate.
Blood tests showed antibodies for both strains in the person that was being monitored as he was a test subject for the anti-AIDS drug.
Little attention was paid to the news then, but last week, a “new” strain of HIV emerged, which allows HIV to develop to full-blown AIDS within three months.
It’s the same story, but now people are paying a little closer attention. People having multiple partners who have other HIV strains, using unsafe methods and not caring enough to get tested or changing their behavior after learning they are HIV-positive has led to this aggressive strain emerging over the last couple of years.
When will people learn?
There was a story last year about someone who was HIV positive, was taking experimental drugs to combat it, had unprotected relations with someone who had a different strain of HIV, and ended up with two different strains of HIV that turned into full-blown AIDS at a vastly accelerated rate.
Blood tests showed antibodies for both strains in the person that was being monitored as he was a test subject for the anti-AIDS drug.
Little attention was paid to the news then, but last week, a “new” strain of HIV emerged, which allows HIV to develop to full-blown AIDS within three months.
It’s the same story, but now people are paying a little closer attention. People having multiple partners who have other HIV strains, using unsafe methods and not caring enough to get tested or changing their behavior after learning they are HIV-positive has led to this aggressive strain emerging over the last couple of years.
When will people learn?
Friday, February 11, 2005
No Shuttle Repair Kit As Yet for May 2005 Shuttle Launch
It has been two years since the space shuttle Columbia erupted in fire and disintegrated 207,000 feet above the earth as it was making its way home from a space mission and shuttle debris began raining on Texas.
All seven astronauts perished and the investigation focused on the left wing of the Columbia, which was hit by debris during liftoff. Upon re-entry, plasma entered the left wing and caused the inside of the shuttle to burn. System after system failed until the integrity of the craft failed and the shuttle broke apart.
Following an investigation, recommendations were made, like the ones that were made after the Challenger exploded. One of them was to provide a kit that would repair holes in the shuttle if it was breached. Now, with three months to go before NASA launches the space shuttle Discovery into space, the kit and training haven’t happened.
The ideas that have been tried haven’t been too successful and NASA has struggled to come up with a good solution.
Oh, here comes that sinking feeling.
And here’s the story.
All seven astronauts perished and the investigation focused on the left wing of the Columbia, which was hit by debris during liftoff. Upon re-entry, plasma entered the left wing and caused the inside of the shuttle to burn. System after system failed until the integrity of the craft failed and the shuttle broke apart.
Following an investigation, recommendations were made, like the ones that were made after the Challenger exploded. One of them was to provide a kit that would repair holes in the shuttle if it was breached. Now, with three months to go before NASA launches the space shuttle Discovery into space, the kit and training haven’t happened.
The ideas that have been tried haven’t been too successful and NASA has struggled to come up with a good solution.
Oh, here comes that sinking feeling.
And here’s the story.
North Korea Declares Itself a Nuclear Power; Yet Says It Is Committed to Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula
In the latest series of contradictions coming from North Korea’s propaganda machine, North Korea publicly declared itself a nuclear power, yet says that Pyongyang is committed to a nuclear-weapons free Korean peninsula.
It should be pointed out that North Korea can do that immediately by unilaterally disarming. If it has atomic or nuclear weapons, it can turn them over to IAEA control or sell them to Russia or China, which already possess nuclear weapons and the means to dispose of them.
It is doubtful that the U.S. will attack North Korea unless it is provoked, or North Korea starts a conflict, which it has done in the past. If a war starts between North Korea and the United States, it will be because North Korea attacks South Korea or Japan, thereby ensuring the destruction of the North Korean regime. North Korean possession of atomic arms makes an American attack MORE likely rather than deterring it.
Pyongyang should get with the program, disarm, get rid of the communists, hold free elections and then open talks with the south to move toward reunification and make Korea one free and independent nation.
The North Korean leadership doesn’t care about the people of North Korea; they just want to stay in power and are willing to use the nuclear gambit to get their way with their neighbors and with America. In the wake of losing millions of people to starvation over the last few years, they have chosen to focus the anger of the North Korean people on the U.S. and South Korea to stay in power, instead of taking responsibility and feeding their people. That is what’s really going on here.
It should be pointed out that North Korea can do that immediately by unilaterally disarming. If it has atomic or nuclear weapons, it can turn them over to IAEA control or sell them to Russia or China, which already possess nuclear weapons and the means to dispose of them.
It is doubtful that the U.S. will attack North Korea unless it is provoked, or North Korea starts a conflict, which it has done in the past. If a war starts between North Korea and the United States, it will be because North Korea attacks South Korea or Japan, thereby ensuring the destruction of the North Korean regime. North Korean possession of atomic arms makes an American attack MORE likely rather than deterring it.
Pyongyang should get with the program, disarm, get rid of the communists, hold free elections and then open talks with the south to move toward reunification and make Korea one free and independent nation.
The North Korean leadership doesn’t care about the people of North Korea; they just want to stay in power and are willing to use the nuclear gambit to get their way with their neighbors and with America. In the wake of losing millions of people to starvation over the last few years, they have chosen to focus the anger of the North Korean people on the U.S. and South Korea to stay in power, instead of taking responsibility and feeding their people. That is what’s really going on here.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Words in Molestation Cases: Insult to Injury
“Affair.” “Relationship.” “Love.” “Consensual.”
These are words that are commonly used in news stories where adults commit sexual acts on little kids.
The word “relationship” is too civilized a word to be attached to describing a sex crime perpetrated on a child by an adult. Yet that word is plastered all over news stories (especially recently) when stories hit page one about eleven-year-olds having “consensual” sex with the adult.
How can it be consensual? Pre-teens (and many teens too) don’t always have the judgment to analyze the long-term consequences of their actions. A child may be tricked by an adult that they trust into allowing “bad touch” sorts of things, but that is NOT consent. It’s manipulation by the adult to get the child to stop resisting what they wouldn’t normally do. And it's a crime.
These crimes are sickening, heartbreaking and a sign that we need to be doing more to protect children from predators. These children will have to live with what was done to them by an adult who was pretending to be their friend and was inflicting long-term permanent damage on the child's emotional/psychological growth and development.
"Consensual" my afterburner.
These are words that are commonly used in news stories where adults commit sexual acts on little kids.
The word “relationship” is too civilized a word to be attached to describing a sex crime perpetrated on a child by an adult. Yet that word is plastered all over news stories (especially recently) when stories hit page one about eleven-year-olds having “consensual” sex with the adult.
How can it be consensual? Pre-teens (and many teens too) don’t always have the judgment to analyze the long-term consequences of their actions. A child may be tricked by an adult that they trust into allowing “bad touch” sorts of things, but that is NOT consent. It’s manipulation by the adult to get the child to stop resisting what they wouldn’t normally do. And it's a crime.
These crimes are sickening, heartbreaking and a sign that we need to be doing more to protect children from predators. These children will have to live with what was done to them by an adult who was pretending to be their friend and was inflicting long-term permanent damage on the child's emotional/psychological growth and development.
"Consensual" my afterburner.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Social Security Double Standard: Is There or Isn’t There a Problem?
It’s interesting to note how the roles have been reversed in Congress with regards to the Social Security problem.
When President Clinton was talking about saving Social Security in the 1990s, the Democrats were agreed to the last member that Social Security was in “crisis” while the Republicans denied that.
Now, with a Republican president saying that Social Security is in crisis, the Democrats are in denial, and the Republicans are saying that Social Security is in crisis.
This just screams "Congress doesn't REALLY want to change Social Security!!" and "These people are the ones who are going to save Social Security??!"
Yeah, right.
When President Clinton was talking about saving Social Security in the 1990s, the Democrats were agreed to the last member that Social Security was in “crisis” while the Republicans denied that.
Now, with a Republican president saying that Social Security is in crisis, the Democrats are in denial, and the Republicans are saying that Social Security is in crisis.
This just screams "Congress doesn't REALLY want to change Social Security!!" and "These people are the ones who are going to save Social Security??!"
Yeah, right.
Pope Resignation Talk: Leave Him Alone
There has been a media circus around Pope John Paul II since he came down with the flu and with his subsequent breathing difficulties and hospitalization.
It’s been suggested by some that the pope should retire, or “resign.”
Not.
There have been popes who have retired in ages past, but one of the last ones to do so was back in 1294. Pope Celestine V retired after only six months as pope; as he was a monk, he wanted to live a solitary life and so gave up being the pontiff in favor of returning to his roots. There were other papal resignations when there was more than one Pope running around, too (1415).
John Paul II can decide on his own what the fate of his papacy will be. If he decides that it's time to retire, then it's time for him to retire. If he chooses to remain, then let him remain. BUT, they need to come up with a plan of succession in the event that the Pope becomes incapacitated and can no longer communicate.
Catholic Canon law does not provide for what happens in the event of a papal incapacitation, but it is clear that Canon law calls for a Pope to guide the church and never intended for a rudderless Church to come into being. So hopefully JPII and the leaders of the church can come up with a plan of action before it's too late.
Even if the plan is to turn over the governing of the day-to-day operations of the Vatican to the Vatican Secretary of State until the Pope recovers, or dies and a new one is elected, that's better than what they have right now, which is nothing.
It’s been suggested by some that the pope should retire, or “resign.”
Not.
There have been popes who have retired in ages past, but one of the last ones to do so was back in 1294. Pope Celestine V retired after only six months as pope; as he was a monk, he wanted to live a solitary life and so gave up being the pontiff in favor of returning to his roots. There were other papal resignations when there was more than one Pope running around, too (1415).
John Paul II can decide on his own what the fate of his papacy will be. If he decides that it's time to retire, then it's time for him to retire. If he chooses to remain, then let him remain. BUT, they need to come up with a plan of succession in the event that the Pope becomes incapacitated and can no longer communicate.
Catholic Canon law does not provide for what happens in the event of a papal incapacitation, but it is clear that Canon law calls for a Pope to guide the church and never intended for a rudderless Church to come into being. So hopefully JPII and the leaders of the church can come up with a plan of action before it's too late.
Even if the plan is to turn over the governing of the day-to-day operations of the Vatican to the Vatican Secretary of State until the Pope recovers, or dies and a new one is elected, that's better than what they have right now, which is nothing.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Target: Venezuela
Has anyone been following the news coming out of Venezuela?
President Hugo Chavez has imperiled his country’s fifty-year history of democracy by restricting free speech, replacing military officers with his own supporters, arresting Supreme Court Justices and replacing them with his own judges, and using violence against those who disagree with his one-man rule.
Neighboring countries are accusing the revolutionary leader of supporting Marxist rebellions in their own countries, and he has begun taking land away from Venezuelan landowners.
This two-bit thug has become a destabilizing force in South America, and more attention should be paid to containing the terrorists coming out of Venezuela in addition to monitoring those terrorists who directly threaten the United States. Latin America needs international attention too.
Emerging democracies must be protected against totalitarianism. Chavez has no right to attack his democratic neighbors by arming terrorists and allowing them to use his territory to launch attacks on them, nor does he have the right to arbitrarily throw democracy out the window without the consent of the governed.
Here's the story.
President Hugo Chavez has imperiled his country’s fifty-year history of democracy by restricting free speech, replacing military officers with his own supporters, arresting Supreme Court Justices and replacing them with his own judges, and using violence against those who disagree with his one-man rule.
Neighboring countries are accusing the revolutionary leader of supporting Marxist rebellions in their own countries, and he has begun taking land away from Venezuelan landowners.
This two-bit thug has become a destabilizing force in South America, and more attention should be paid to containing the terrorists coming out of Venezuela in addition to monitoring those terrorists who directly threaten the United States. Latin America needs international attention too.
Emerging democracies must be protected against totalitarianism. Chavez has no right to attack his democratic neighbors by arming terrorists and allowing them to use his territory to launch attacks on them, nor does he have the right to arbitrarily throw democracy out the window without the consent of the governed.
Here's the story.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
First Iraq War Medal of Honor to Be Awarded
After a year of waiting, twelve separate reviews on various levels that went through the division, through the Pentagon and all the way to the White House, a soldier is being awarded the first Medal of Honor of the Iraq War.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith of the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, was leading a group of sixteen men when they were ambushed by a battalion of Iraqi soldiers. Smith manned a 50 caliber machine gun and covered the withdrawal of his men and was fatally wounded by Iraqi return fire after going through four boxes of ammunition. He was the only American to die in the engagement.
Smith, of Tampa, Florida, joins a small group of soldiers who have been awarded the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. 3,439 men and one woman have received the Medal since 1863. Only 129 men who were awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam remain alive today. Through the ages, 19 men have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice.
Sgt. Smith gave the last full measure of devotion to save the lives of his fellow Army soldiers. Many of his fellows are alive today because of his sacrifice. A web site has been made to honor his memory and to tell his story.
The awarding of the Medal of Honor to our brave soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is overdue. Sgt. Smith will be honored next month at the White House; his family will accept the award in his stead. Here's the story. That medal is also symbolic of the brave sacrifices that so many have made in Iraq and Afghanistan. May their memories never fade.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith of the 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, was leading a group of sixteen men when they were ambushed by a battalion of Iraqi soldiers. Smith manned a 50 caliber machine gun and covered the withdrawal of his men and was fatally wounded by Iraqi return fire after going through four boxes of ammunition. He was the only American to die in the engagement.
Smith, of Tampa, Florida, joins a small group of soldiers who have been awarded the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. 3,439 men and one woman have received the Medal since 1863. Only 129 men who were awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam remain alive today. Through the ages, 19 men have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice.
Sgt. Smith gave the last full measure of devotion to save the lives of his fellow Army soldiers. Many of his fellows are alive today because of his sacrifice. A web site has been made to honor his memory and to tell his story.
The awarding of the Medal of Honor to our brave soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is overdue. Sgt. Smith will be honored next month at the White House; his family will accept the award in his stead. Here's the story. That medal is also symbolic of the brave sacrifices that so many have made in Iraq and Afghanistan. May their memories never fade.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Bye Bye Attorney General Ashcroft
If memory serves, outgoing Attorney General Ashcroft was supposed to restore honor and integrity to the Justice Department following the disastrous reign of Janet Reno at the helm of the Clinton Justice Department.
This did not happen.
Instead, Ashcroft supervised a coordinated assault on the Constitution in a way that hasn't been seen since the early days of World War II and the Red Scare.
Holding someone for three years (with an option of keeping them locked up for the rest of their natural life) because they MIGHT be a terrorist goes against everything that the founders of the country stood for. No trial for the accused? Re-read the Declaration of Independence and focus on the reasons why they were declaring independence from the King of England if a refresher is needed.
Yes, our enemy is deadly and is not bound by civilized rules of conduct or decency, but if we don't live by rules that keep the government in check, then we may one day wake up and find ourselves in a country that tolerates no dissent and locks up people who disagree with the government.
The government needs to stop the terrorists, but that can be done without shredding the Constitution or the 5th Amendment. Old-fashioned law enforcement, investigations, stings, take-downs and, if necessary, military action will help the government combat terrorism. Ashcroft's Patriot Act is a direct challenge to the supreme law of the land, the United States Constitution.
Bush is not out to start a dictatorship, but we can't predict what a leader will do fifteen years down the road. By weakening the Constitution today, we may be propping up someone who craves power more than observing the rule of law down the road. We are just asking for trouble.
Laws that are made in the heat of the moment are bad news; the wild emotion that make the passing of such laws possible eventually fades, and then we are left with the bad laws. So it is with parts of the Patriot Act. And that is why it must be corrected and revised.
This did not happen.
Instead, Ashcroft supervised a coordinated assault on the Constitution in a way that hasn't been seen since the early days of World War II and the Red Scare.
Holding someone for three years (with an option of keeping them locked up for the rest of their natural life) because they MIGHT be a terrorist goes against everything that the founders of the country stood for. No trial for the accused? Re-read the Declaration of Independence and focus on the reasons why they were declaring independence from the King of England if a refresher is needed.
Yes, our enemy is deadly and is not bound by civilized rules of conduct or decency, but if we don't live by rules that keep the government in check, then we may one day wake up and find ourselves in a country that tolerates no dissent and locks up people who disagree with the government.
The government needs to stop the terrorists, but that can be done without shredding the Constitution or the 5th Amendment. Old-fashioned law enforcement, investigations, stings, take-downs and, if necessary, military action will help the government combat terrorism. Ashcroft's Patriot Act is a direct challenge to the supreme law of the land, the United States Constitution.
Bush is not out to start a dictatorship, but we can't predict what a leader will do fifteen years down the road. By weakening the Constitution today, we may be propping up someone who craves power more than observing the rule of law down the road. We are just asking for trouble.
Laws that are made in the heat of the moment are bad news; the wild emotion that make the passing of such laws possible eventually fades, and then we are left with the bad laws. So it is with parts of the Patriot Act. And that is why it must be corrected and revised.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Successful Iraqi Elections: A New Chapter in Iraqi History
It looks like the Iraqi people pulled off a successful election, their first in fifty years. By their courage and determination, they have effectively thumbed their noses up at the insurgents and shown them (the insurgents) that they do not have the support of the people.
If history has shown us anything over the last hundred years, it’s that democracy is often born from conflict. It took two world wars to bring democracy to central Europe, a Cold War which lasted another fifty years to bring Eastern Europe out of the shadow of communism, a civil war and break-up of Yugoslavia to bring democratic principles to that formerly communist-dominated territory, and a collapse of a superpower to bring democracy to Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet territories. Democracy is still tenuous in Russia and Ukraine, but it has begun. The first President Bush said “you can’t put democracy and freedom back into a box.” He was absolutely right.
For all the problems that the U.S. invasion brought with it, one of the benefits will be that democracy will take hold in Iraq. The people want it, despite the actions of the insurgency and foreign terrorists who, despite being dealt a knockdown blow by the Iraqi people today, continue to stream into Iraq to fight the U.S. military and the new democratic government of Iraq.
It’s a great day for Iraq, and hopefully, one giant step toward bringing our troops home.
If history has shown us anything over the last hundred years, it’s that democracy is often born from conflict. It took two world wars to bring democracy to central Europe, a Cold War which lasted another fifty years to bring Eastern Europe out of the shadow of communism, a civil war and break-up of Yugoslavia to bring democratic principles to that formerly communist-dominated territory, and a collapse of a superpower to bring democracy to Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet territories. Democracy is still tenuous in Russia and Ukraine, but it has begun. The first President Bush said “you can’t put democracy and freedom back into a box.” He was absolutely right.
For all the problems that the U.S. invasion brought with it, one of the benefits will be that democracy will take hold in Iraq. The people want it, despite the actions of the insurgency and foreign terrorists who, despite being dealt a knockdown blow by the Iraqi people today, continue to stream into Iraq to fight the U.S. military and the new democratic government of Iraq.
It’s a great day for Iraq, and hopefully, one giant step toward bringing our troops home.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Israel & Palestine Back on Track for Peace
Newly elected Palestinian President Abbas took strong steps this week to contain terrorism coming from the West Bank and Gaza Strip against Israel. He has deployed Palestinian police forces into those areas with express orders to stop terrorists and banned weapons from being owned by Palestinian civilians. Israel has responded by stopping military action in the Gaza Strip and stopped targeting Hamas members and leaders for assassination.
In addition, there is now talk of a summit between the top officials of Israel and Palestine and the prospects for a return to the roadmap to peace look brighter.
They still have a long ways to go, but at least they’re talking again, which is great news for the peace process.
In addition, there is now talk of a summit between the top officials of Israel and Palestine and the prospects for a return to the roadmap to peace look brighter.
They still have a long ways to go, but at least they’re talking again, which is great news for the peace process.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Global Warming: More Propaganda
The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!! That’s how the latest global warming propaganda is coming across.
Scientists have adapted their data again so that the results look much worse than before and are now using it as a story. Here's what happened:
Climateprediction.net used 90,000 computers across the Internet to run their models with different variables. 2,000 simulations were run. Out of all those possible combinations, a handful of them predicted temperature rises of eleven degrees celsius. There was no timetable. Most of the other simulations predicted a 3.4 degree celsius increase in global temperatures.
Yet the journal Nature ran with the story that the temperature was going up 11 degrees and that the Kyoto Accords do not go far enough to stop it. And of course the pro-global warming media picked up on the story and ran with it as fact, while ignoring 99.8% of the other models in this so-called "study."
Global warming is inevitable. It's happened before, it will happen again. Ice core samples of the polar ice fields in Greenland show that the polar ice pack has melted several times over the last 500,000 years. Sound research suggests that temperatures across the planet undergo major changes every 1,000 years and that this cycle can be disrupted by volcanic activity and lack of sunspot activity, such as what happened from 1650-1680 and resulted in major weather changes in Britain. The global warming crowd ignores stuff before 1750 (the beginning of the Industrial Age).
For an interesting read, click here. This article will not be popular with the global warming village people, but they keep manipulating the data to produce the results that they want. That isn't scientific research, that's propaganda.
Scientists have adapted their data again so that the results look much worse than before and are now using it as a story. Here's what happened:
Climateprediction.net used 90,000 computers across the Internet to run their models with different variables. 2,000 simulations were run. Out of all those possible combinations, a handful of them predicted temperature rises of eleven degrees celsius. There was no timetable. Most of the other simulations predicted a 3.4 degree celsius increase in global temperatures.
Yet the journal Nature ran with the story that the temperature was going up 11 degrees and that the Kyoto Accords do not go far enough to stop it. And of course the pro-global warming media picked up on the story and ran with it as fact, while ignoring 99.8% of the other models in this so-called "study."
Global warming is inevitable. It's happened before, it will happen again. Ice core samples of the polar ice fields in Greenland show that the polar ice pack has melted several times over the last 500,000 years. Sound research suggests that temperatures across the planet undergo major changes every 1,000 years and that this cycle can be disrupted by volcanic activity and lack of sunspot activity, such as what happened from 1650-1680 and resulted in major weather changes in Britain. The global warming crowd ignores stuff before 1750 (the beginning of the Industrial Age).
For an interesting read, click here. This article will not be popular with the global warming village people, but they keep manipulating the data to produce the results that they want. That isn't scientific research, that's propaganda.
When Politics Go Bad: Activists Charged With Election-Day Sabotage
If you remember, before the general elections in November, a number of political offices were shot at, looted and burned, flag displays in front yards were vandalized, yard signs were taken, homes were damaged, and cars with the wrong bumper sticker were vandalized. All of this was done in the name of "exercising political expression." Nonsense!
At least five activists in Wisconsin were charged today with slashing the tires of twenty-five rented vehicles in the employ of the state Republican Party. Several others in four other states were under investigation for their role in the vandalism. Idiots!
The punishments for such crimes are not severe enough to deter overly emotional people from acting on those emotions. Hatred kills common sense and lack of common sense gets idiots like those who were charged in Wisconsin into serious trouble.
Politics is politics, but violence is not politics. Violence in all forms is a crime. Period. Some of these idiots say that they were upset about this or that and acted on their emotions. And some activist judge will probably be sympathetic to their feelings and give them probation instead of a good kick in the a$$!
Perhaps some time behind bars will cure these idiots of their stupidity and convince others to think twice before acting on their hatred.
At least five activists in Wisconsin were charged today with slashing the tires of twenty-five rented vehicles in the employ of the state Republican Party. Several others in four other states were under investigation for their role in the vandalism. Idiots!
The punishments for such crimes are not severe enough to deter overly emotional people from acting on those emotions. Hatred kills common sense and lack of common sense gets idiots like those who were charged in Wisconsin into serious trouble.
Katherine Harris of Florida was nearly run over by an upset Democrat who was "excercising his political expression." (See news brief here). There were other reports of people being threatened regardless of their political affiliation. This must stop.
Politics is politics, but violence is not politics. Violence in all forms is a crime. Period. Some of these idiots say that they were upset about this or that and acted on their emotions. And some activist judge will probably be sympathetic to their feelings and give them probation instead of a good kick in the a$$!
Perhaps some time behind bars will cure these idiots of their stupidity and convince others to think twice before acting on their hatred.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Elian Gonzales Illegal Use of Force Trial Underway
Thirteen people who suffered various "injuries" during the illegal raid on a house in Florida that saw federal agents under then-Attorney Janet Reno’s orders capture Elian Gonzales have begun a lawsuit against the government.
Reno sent the agents in after being told by a federal judge that his American relatives could keep the kid until the appeals were finished. This was in April 2000.
But Reno decided she didn’t want to wait any further and ordered the agents to storm the house, break down the doors, wave guns around and use tear gas on anyone who got in the way. And they did.
The Reno Justice Department chose to break the very law it was supposed to be upholding by taking the action it did. What happened was inevitable, but the way it happened was unconscionable.
Let the courts sort out the trauma cases.
The people who ordered those agents into that house need to take responsibility for their decisions; something that hasn't happened yet. In other words, Reno ought to be on the stand too so this flagrant government violation of due process can finally be answered and an ugly chapter in the history of the U.S. Justice Department can finally be closed.
Reno sent the agents in after being told by a federal judge that his American relatives could keep the kid until the appeals were finished. This was in April 2000.
But Reno decided she didn’t want to wait any further and ordered the agents to storm the house, break down the doors, wave guns around and use tear gas on anyone who got in the way. And they did.
The Reno Justice Department chose to break the very law it was supposed to be upholding by taking the action it did. What happened was inevitable, but the way it happened was unconscionable.
Let the courts sort out the trauma cases.
The people who ordered those agents into that house need to take responsibility for their decisions; something that hasn't happened yet. In other words, Reno ought to be on the stand too so this flagrant government violation of due process can finally be answered and an ugly chapter in the history of the U.S. Justice Department can finally be closed.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
FCC Director Resigns: Hopefully Not a Set-Back for Decency on Airwaves
“Embattled” Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell is stepping down following the start of President Bush’s second term in office.
Why are the networks describing him as “embattled?”
Because shock-jock Howard Stern criticized him on the radio? Who saw thousands of protestors picketing in front of the FCC offices, criticizing his control of the FCC? Didn’t happen. How many lawsuits were filed against the FCC, charging that the First Amendment was being violated? Very few. How many pro-Janet Jackson letters came in? Not many.
No, he wasn’t embattled. All he tried to do was clean up the programming on radio and TV. He was criticized because the various radio and TV networks didn’t want to clean up their act. He was criticized because Stern’s sleazy show knew what the rules were, proceeded to stomp all over them, and in response the FCC sent Stern packing to satellite radio. And the now-infamous wardrobe malfunction? Yep. Sure.
So Powell should be praised for doing a good job and sharpening the teeth of the FCC.
There should be balance, but if the networks had their way, they’d continue lowering the standards of decency in favor of beating their competition. Strengthening the FCC was the only way to slam on the brakes so that people have a little more of a say in what the networks present on TV or how personalities say things on the radio. That's a major point; radio personalities can express their views, but HOW they express them is the issue.
A strong FCC is needed to punish the sleaze-mongers who break the rules and dare the FCC to do something about it.
Why are the networks describing him as “embattled?”
Because shock-jock Howard Stern criticized him on the radio? Who saw thousands of protestors picketing in front of the FCC offices, criticizing his control of the FCC? Didn’t happen. How many lawsuits were filed against the FCC, charging that the First Amendment was being violated? Very few. How many pro-Janet Jackson letters came in? Not many.
No, he wasn’t embattled. All he tried to do was clean up the programming on radio and TV. He was criticized because the various radio and TV networks didn’t want to clean up their act. He was criticized because Stern’s sleazy show knew what the rules were, proceeded to stomp all over them, and in response the FCC sent Stern packing to satellite radio. And the now-infamous wardrobe malfunction? Yep. Sure.
So Powell should be praised for doing a good job and sharpening the teeth of the FCC.
There should be balance, but if the networks had their way, they’d continue lowering the standards of decency in favor of beating their competition. Strengthening the FCC was the only way to slam on the brakes so that people have a little more of a say in what the networks present on TV or how personalities say things on the radio. That's a major point; radio personalities can express their views, but HOW they express them is the issue.
A strong FCC is needed to punish the sleaze-mongers who break the rules and dare the FCC to do something about it.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Boycott the Boycott
There is a movement underway to bring the economy to a standstill on Thursday during the Presidential inauguration ceremonies. People are being encouraged to call in sick, stay home, not to shop on Thursday, not to watch TV, not to make long distance phone calls and so forth.
The point of this is to draw attention to the fact that not everyone agrees with President Bush and that the money that is not put into the economy cannot be taxed, and therefore not be used to fight the ongoing war in Iraq, to support President Bush's programs and to show that Bush does not have a mandate. They are doing this to vent their rage at Bush.
Bush got 3.5 million more votes than Kerry did on Election Day. They're still talking about the thousands that were "disenfranchised" but the thousands still aren't enough to overcome the millions that went in Bush's favor.
So who is this boycott going to hurt first? It's going to hurt the people who can least afford a boycott: the working class. Will it hurt Bush personally? No. He knows he didn't have 100% of the vote.
This boycott will be as useless and as harmful to the average American worker as the so-called "gas-outs" were. The gas companies laughed and still made millions in profits.
A note to those who are considering participating in the boycott: find a better way to show your displeasure with the policies of the government but do it in a way that doesn't hurt people making minimum wage. Make a web site. Use your e-mail to express your displeasure (not in a threatening way, mind you). Protest. Make noise. Do whatever you need to to do to get it out of your system. Run for office.
But don't take it out on others who may have voted the same way you did.
The point of this is to draw attention to the fact that not everyone agrees with President Bush and that the money that is not put into the economy cannot be taxed, and therefore not be used to fight the ongoing war in Iraq, to support President Bush's programs and to show that Bush does not have a mandate. They are doing this to vent their rage at Bush.
Bush got 3.5 million more votes than Kerry did on Election Day. They're still talking about the thousands that were "disenfranchised" but the thousands still aren't enough to overcome the millions that went in Bush's favor.
So who is this boycott going to hurt first? It's going to hurt the people who can least afford a boycott: the working class. Will it hurt Bush personally? No. He knows he didn't have 100% of the vote.
This boycott will be as useless and as harmful to the average American worker as the so-called "gas-outs" were. The gas companies laughed and still made millions in profits.
A note to those who are considering participating in the boycott: find a better way to show your displeasure with the policies of the government but do it in a way that doesn't hurt people making minimum wage. Make a web site. Use your e-mail to express your displeasure (not in a threatening way, mind you). Protest. Make noise. Do whatever you need to to do to get it out of your system. Run for office.
But don't take it out on others who may have voted the same way you did.
EU Politicizes Unveiling of World's Largest Commercial Aircraft
It’s amusing that the leaders of the European Union have hailed their “victory” over the United States in the production of the world’s largest passenger jet.
No, it was an Airbus victory over Boeing. It was a little strange that European political leaders used the occasion to throw barbs at Washington but politicians are the same the world over.
Airbus needs to make money fast or their thirteen-billion dollar bird will turn this victory into a catastrophe for Airbus.
Why exactly do the struggling airlines need aircraft that big? They’re plenty big now and can’t fill the seats they already have available. How much money will the airlines lose per flight if they can’t fill every seat? Will there be any savings by replacing smaller aircraft like the 747s with these gigantic aircraft?
The military would probably like them a lot; they could transport an entire division of troops with twelve of the A380s.
No, it was an Airbus victory over Boeing. It was a little strange that European political leaders used the occasion to throw barbs at Washington but politicians are the same the world over.
Airbus needs to make money fast or their thirteen-billion dollar bird will turn this victory into a catastrophe for Airbus.
Why exactly do the struggling airlines need aircraft that big? They’re plenty big now and can’t fill the seats they already have available. How much money will the airlines lose per flight if they can’t fill every seat? Will there be any savings by replacing smaller aircraft like the 747s with these gigantic aircraft?
The military would probably like them a lot; they could transport an entire division of troops with twelve of the A380s.
Iran to World: We Can Repel U.S. Attack
Iran is reacting to a U.S. newspaper's "revelation" that the U.S. military is conducting reconnaissance operations inside Iran to identify nuclear and military targets by saying that they can repel any U.S. attack.
Yeah, right! They lost their eight-year war against Iraq, for crying out loud, and the U.S. beat the Iraqi military (that Iran couldn't) in six weeks. While no one is interested in seeing the U.S. cross swords with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, Iran's posturing IS highly dubious.
Unlike Iraq, any military conflict with Iran would have a definite start and a definite end and would not end with a U.S. occupation of Iranian territory. Current thinking is the U.S. would come in, destroy what it wanted, and then pull out immediately. The question would then become: would Iran continue the conflict by sending its military and Revolutionary Guard units across the border to attack U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Let's not find out. The U.S. needs to restore order in Iraq, get out of there and retool the U.S. military before opening another front in the war on terror.
France and Germany are making all the noise about Iran's nuclear program. Let's see their intelligence on the subject for a change.
Yeah, right! They lost their eight-year war against Iraq, for crying out loud, and the U.S. beat the Iraqi military (that Iran couldn't) in six weeks. While no one is interested in seeing the U.S. cross swords with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, Iran's posturing IS highly dubious.
Unlike Iraq, any military conflict with Iran would have a definite start and a definite end and would not end with a U.S. occupation of Iranian territory. Current thinking is the U.S. would come in, destroy what it wanted, and then pull out immediately. The question would then become: would Iran continue the conflict by sending its military and Revolutionary Guard units across the border to attack U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Let's not find out. The U.S. needs to restore order in Iraq, get out of there and retool the U.S. military before opening another front in the war on terror.
France and Germany are making all the noise about Iran's nuclear program. Let's see their intelligence on the subject for a change.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Court Upholds President Bush's First Amendment Rights
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia threw out a lawsuit that an atheist had brought against the government that challenged the use of an invocation and a benediction at the Presidential Inauguration.
The court decided it did not have the power to order a President-elect to remain silent at his own inauguration and that banning the prayers would amount to the same thing. This is a victory for the First Amendment against a frivolous lawsuit.
The plaintiff first came into the public eye when he challenged the government in court over the same issue four years ago when George W. Bush took office. Since then he's filed a lawsuit against the Pledge of Allegiance, claiming that the words "under God" violates the left-loved "separation of church and state" clause that the courts created and have upheld ever since.
That first case was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court because he did not have custody of his daughter, whom he claimed was victimized by the recital of the Pledge, and did not have the support of the mother (who has custody of their daughter and opposed the case.)
He recently re-filed the case without using his daughter as his pawn and with eight other families who support his cause.
That entire case with the Pledge came across as a man using his daughter to gain social brownie points for himself with his legal attack on the Pledge. That's very sad.
The court decided it did not have the power to order a President-elect to remain silent at his own inauguration and that banning the prayers would amount to the same thing. This is a victory for the First Amendment against a frivolous lawsuit.
The plaintiff first came into the public eye when he challenged the government in court over the same issue four years ago when George W. Bush took office. Since then he's filed a lawsuit against the Pledge of Allegiance, claiming that the words "under God" violates the left-loved "separation of church and state" clause that the courts created and have upheld ever since.
That first case was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court because he did not have custody of his daughter, whom he claimed was victimized by the recital of the Pledge, and did not have the support of the mother (who has custody of their daughter and opposed the case.)
He recently re-filed the case without using his daughter as his pawn and with eight other families who support his cause.
That entire case with the Pledge came across as a man using his daughter to gain social brownie points for himself with his legal attack on the Pledge. That's very sad.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon Breaks Off Talking to Palestinian President Abbas: Dumb Move
Israel cut communications with newly elected Palestinian President Abbas a day after militants broke with Abbas and bombed a Gaza Strip crossing, killing six Israelis.
What is Israel doing?
They should be helping Abbas deal with the terrorists, not cutting ties with him and telling him to get a handle on the Palestinian territories as a precondition of resuming relations with him.
Has Israel forgotten that Arafat isn’t around anymore and that Abbas is the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people? They should treat him as the leader of a nation and not like Arafat. Isolating Abbas will only insure his downfall and failure; it will not motivate him.
Abbas represents the best chance that the Israelis have in making peace in the occupied territories so they should work with him instead of against him.
Israel needs to confront its own behavior in dealing with the Palestinian leadership and begin to realize that Abbas cannot control all of the terrorist groups. Some of those groups are dedicated to destroying Israel and do not care about what Abbas says.
Get with the program, Sharon.
What is Israel doing?
They should be helping Abbas deal with the terrorists, not cutting ties with him and telling him to get a handle on the Palestinian territories as a precondition of resuming relations with him.
Has Israel forgotten that Arafat isn’t around anymore and that Abbas is the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people? They should treat him as the leader of a nation and not like Arafat. Isolating Abbas will only insure his downfall and failure; it will not motivate him.
Abbas represents the best chance that the Israelis have in making peace in the occupied territories so they should work with him instead of against him.
Israel needs to confront its own behavior in dealing with the Palestinian leadership and begin to realize that Abbas cannot control all of the terrorist groups. Some of those groups are dedicated to destroying Israel and do not care about what Abbas says.
Get with the program, Sharon.
Court Decision on Prayer at Inauguration Expected Today
The atheist who has legally attacked the Pledge of Allegiance in California has now attacked President Bush's personal First Amendment rights as well. In a court case sure to make waves, he has continued his attempts to ban displays of religion in public because he is offended by them. This time he's making an issue in Washington, DC.
He is challenging the practice of having an opening prayer at the inauguration of the President. If his challenge is upheld, it will ban the practice which began with George Washington's inauguration. A ruling is expected today.
Shouldn't it be the right of the President to choose whether or not to have prayers at his/her inauguration? Does the court have the right to choose the religious rights of one person over another person? That's what this is about.
If the man who is challenging the practice doesn't like prayers at someone else's inauguration, then he should change the channel or get out of town.
Here's the background.
He is challenging the practice of having an opening prayer at the inauguration of the President. If his challenge is upheld, it will ban the practice which began with George Washington's inauguration. A ruling is expected today.
Shouldn't it be the right of the President to choose whether or not to have prayers at his/her inauguration? Does the court have the right to choose the religious rights of one person over another person? That's what this is about.
If the man who is challenging the practice doesn't like prayers at someone else's inauguration, then he should change the channel or get out of town.
Here's the background.
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