China has demanded that CNN apologize for comments that commentator Jack Cafferty made on the April 9th edition of his show. In my humble opinion, no apology is necessary as Cafferty told it the way that it is.
Cafferty was criticizing the idiotic Chinese government by calling them a group of "thugs and goons" over their treatment of their own people and the Tibetans and calling Chinese products "junk."
If China's government doesn't want accurate labels assigned to it in the West, then perhaps they ought to clean up their act and start acting like proper Olympic hosts.
China's conduct is responsible for the reception that their torch relay has been given in recent days. If China wasn't busy shooting people in Tibet, their damned relay would be going a lot smoother. And the press isn't to blame for that, either, so this demand for an apology is entirely baseless.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Japan and Australia Deny Entry of Chinese Flame Protection Unit: Finally, Some Credibility to This Fiasco
Japan and Australia have announced that they will not allow the Beijing Olympic Games "Sacred" Flame Protection unit to participate in any security proceedings when the Olympic torch arrives in those two nations.
Finally, some common sense!
This Chinese paramilitary unit has established themselves as a gang of troublemakers; fights and scuffles with street protesters in London and in Paris firmly established the true nature of these Beijing Olympic Games.
Good riddance to the Flame Protection Unit.
Finally, some common sense!
This Chinese paramilitary unit has established themselves as a gang of troublemakers; fights and scuffles with street protesters in London and in Paris firmly established the true nature of these Beijing Olympic Games.
Good riddance to the Flame Protection Unit.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
IOC Allows Disrupted Olympic Torch Relay Event to Go On Despite Protests: Will Reconsider It for Future Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has decided to allow China to continue it's highly disruptive international spectacle with the Olympic torch.The Torch relay was disrupted in London and Paris, and officials in San Francisco changed the route of the torch to avoid tens of thousands of protesters that awaited it. Additionally, the flame was extinguished three times in Paris, which (supposedly) has never happened before. The flame is on it's way to Argentina, where there's not expected to be much of a protest.
I think the IOC should have canceled the rest of this ridiculous relay as China continues it's crackdown in Tibet and hasn't put any pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the killing in Darfur, which in turn has turned the torch into a political target. It's not supposed to be that way, but China has done nothing to ratchet down the tensions.
Instead, they've sent Chinese military guards (in the blue and white jump suits seen above) to guard the torch and act like the thugs that they are. They're members of the 70-man Beijing Olympic Games "Sacred" Flame Protection unit; their division of the Chinese People's Armed Police are also responsible for the recent crackdown in Tibet. They've gotten into fights along the route with protesters and wore out their welcome in France and in Britain.
Hopefully some of the other nations on the route deny entry to these Chinese military guards as they are an insult to the Olympic spirit which China has been trumpeting about on their torch relay web site. And they continue to debase the word "sacred" while in context to the flame.
The IOC is going to look at future requests from host countries to do similar relays. These relays should be conducted in the host countries alone; they don't have a right to disrupt international cities as the Chinese have done in the last ten days.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Free Tibet Protestors Disrupt Olympic Torch Procession: Unfortunate Situation is Responsibility of Chinese Government
I see that protesters have disrupted the Olympic flame procession in Great Britain and in France, where the torch was extinguished three times. By Olympic tradition, the torch is supposed to be lit in Greece, then goes around the world before arriving in the host country. In this case, it's the People's Republic of China.
But their brutal suppression of the Tibetan people and the recent violence in that Chinese-occupied country has lead to worldwide protests, and protesters have targeted the Olympic torch.
It is most unfortunate that this tradition has been disrupted, but the sole responsibility for this fiasco lies with the people who are in charge in Beijing. It was their orders that sent their army in to put down a legitimate protest in a country that does not belong to China, with more than a hundred lives being lost. The Tibetan people have a right to practice their religious beliefs in spite of the heathen communists.
China is not being a good Olympic host.
And the IOC should put a stop to this fiasco before it gets any worse. They were opposed to this multinational torch tour in the first place; and where Tibet is concerned, the unity propaganda coming from the Chinese government rings hollow.
And for the Chinese foreign minister to call the Olympic flame the "holy flame of the Olympics" is just plain offensive. Communists don't believe in anything being holy. The Chinese government has also denied that the flame was put out in France at all, telling it's people in official Chinese news broadcasts and print media that the relay in France was "successfully completed." NOT!!
Just take the damned torch to China and let them parade it around there.
But their brutal suppression of the Tibetan people and the recent violence in that Chinese-occupied country has lead to worldwide protests, and protesters have targeted the Olympic torch.
It is most unfortunate that this tradition has been disrupted, but the sole responsibility for this fiasco lies with the people who are in charge in Beijing. It was their orders that sent their army in to put down a legitimate protest in a country that does not belong to China, with more than a hundred lives being lost. The Tibetan people have a right to practice their religious beliefs in spite of the heathen communists.
China is not being a good Olympic host.
And the IOC should put a stop to this fiasco before it gets any worse. They were opposed to this multinational torch tour in the first place; and where Tibet is concerned, the unity propaganda coming from the Chinese government rings hollow.
And for the Chinese foreign minister to call the Olympic flame the "holy flame of the Olympics" is just plain offensive. Communists don't believe in anything being holy. The Chinese government has also denied that the flame was put out in France at all, telling it's people in official Chinese news broadcasts and print media that the relay in France was "successfully completed." NOT!!
Just take the damned torch to China and let them parade it around there.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Polygamy Compound Broken Up: Seizure of Kids at Compound Seems to Stretch the Law to the Breaking Point
This week's raid of a Fundamentalist Mormon compound seems to have solved one possible problem and created a whole bunch of others.
Over four hundred kids were seized during the raid amid accusations of child molestation, forced marriages and other highly taboo subjects that I don't want to get into now. But as news of the raid broke and the story began to evolve in the media, the search warrant that was used to enter the compound and seize the kids seems like it will not hold up in court.
A search warrant has to have the following: the name of the property owner, the specific address of where the search warrant is to be executed, and the type of evidence that the authorities are there to find that are related to suspicion of the type of crime that is being investigated.
Also, if a person is living in an apartment, the landlord cannot give permission to authorities to enter; the warrant must be sworn out as to treat the rented property as the home of the tenant.
In this case, the warrant had one address, which was for the office of the complex. The warrant did not specify whose apartments were to be searched, their respective addresses, or the specific apartment numbers.
While I am totally against plural marriages, the Constitution may have been violated, and potential child sex offenders may get off the hook as a result. UNACCEPTABLE!
Texas officials MUST get this right. Taking shortcuts on something like this not only endangers Constitutional protections, but also the successful prosecutions of people like this colony's "prophet" (aka child rapist-in-chief). I hope the authorities had all their ducks in a row.
Over four hundred kids were seized during the raid amid accusations of child molestation, forced marriages and other highly taboo subjects that I don't want to get into now. But as news of the raid broke and the story began to evolve in the media, the search warrant that was used to enter the compound and seize the kids seems like it will not hold up in court.
A search warrant has to have the following: the name of the property owner, the specific address of where the search warrant is to be executed, and the type of evidence that the authorities are there to find that are related to suspicion of the type of crime that is being investigated.
Also, if a person is living in an apartment, the landlord cannot give permission to authorities to enter; the warrant must be sworn out as to treat the rented property as the home of the tenant.
In this case, the warrant had one address, which was for the office of the complex. The warrant did not specify whose apartments were to be searched, their respective addresses, or the specific apartment numbers.
While I am totally against plural marriages, the Constitution may have been violated, and potential child sex offenders may get off the hook as a result. UNACCEPTABLE!
Texas officials MUST get this right. Taking shortcuts on something like this not only endangers Constitutional protections, but also the successful prosecutions of people like this colony's "prophet" (aka child rapist-in-chief). I hope the authorities had all their ducks in a row.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Air America Radio Host Suspended for Anti-Hillary Rant: Ho-Hum
A liberal radio show host was caught blasting Hillary Clinton with some very bad words, and has been suspended. Yippee skippee. I'm so excited that I'm bored out of my mind.
Oh, did I say that out loud?
I wonder if this Air America host will get the Imus treatment, or if she'll be back on in a few weeks. That's the only part of this unfortunate situation that I'm interested in. Her choice of words WERE really bad, and that she did it at a work-related event was just plain stupid.
Oh, did I say that out loud?
I wonder if this Air America host will get the Imus treatment, or if she'll be back on in a few weeks. That's the only part of this unfortunate situation that I'm interested in. Her choice of words WERE really bad, and that she did it at a work-related event was just plain stupid.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Fireworks Accident at WWE's Wrestlemania Injures 45: Pyrotechnics Shoot into Audience as Guide Wires Break
There was a very bad accident last night at Wrestlemania 24, in which 45 people were hit by pyrotechnics following the Undertaker vs. Edge match.
They're saying that a line connected to a fireworks launcher broke and the pyrotechnics began exploding among the fans in one section of the Citrus Bowl Arena, instead of at the end of the line. And people got burned by the lines that broke and collapsed into them from the ceiling.
It looks like most of the injuries were minor, but one has to wonder when the lawsuits will start coming in to WWE Headquarters.
They're saying that a line connected to a fireworks launcher broke and the pyrotechnics began exploding among the fans in one section of the Citrus Bowl Arena, instead of at the end of the line. And people got burned by the lines that broke and collapsed into them from the ceiling.
It looks like most of the injuries were minor, but one has to wonder when the lawsuits will start coming in to WWE Headquarters.
Democratic Candidate Mike Gravel Re-Launches His Presidential Campaign as a Libertarian
Mike Gravel, who was running for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, has decided to leave the Democratic Party and run as a Libertarian.
That may be what he should have done in the first place. He couldn't get any traction against Democratic heavyweights Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama; he captured less than 1% of the Democratic primary delegates so far.
He endorsed a Green Party candidate three weeks ago as a Democrat; now he's running as a Libertarian himself. Is he withdrawing his endorsement of the Green Party candidate too?
This move, while very interesting, will probably not have the same type of results for Gravel that it had for Joe Lieberman when Senator Lieberman got drummed out by the far left anti-war movement in his party during his re-election bid for the Senate. Lieberman switched to being an independent and handily beat both major party candidates.
I certainly won't vote for Gravel as he's too far to the left for my taste. But it will be interesting to see if he's the candidate that disenchanted Democrats flock to (if they don't go to McCain) if their preferred choice (Clinton or Obama) loses the Democratic nomination. I will be watching this with great interest.
That may be what he should have done in the first place. He couldn't get any traction against Democratic heavyweights Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama; he captured less than 1% of the Democratic primary delegates so far.
He endorsed a Green Party candidate three weeks ago as a Democrat; now he's running as a Libertarian himself. Is he withdrawing his endorsement of the Green Party candidate too?
This move, while very interesting, will probably not have the same type of results for Gravel that it had for Joe Lieberman when Senator Lieberman got drummed out by the far left anti-war movement in his party during his re-election bid for the Senate. Lieberman switched to being an independent and handily beat both major party candidates.
I certainly won't vote for Gravel as he's too far to the left for my taste. But it will be interesting to see if he's the candidate that disenchanted Democrats flock to (if they don't go to McCain) if their preferred choice (Clinton or Obama) loses the Democratic nomination. I will be watching this with great interest.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Another Iraq War Movie Bites the Dust: Hollywood Doesn't Seem to be Learning
"Stop-Loss" is the most recent Iraq War-related movie to go in the toilet, making about $4.5 million in it's opening weekend.
The movie had a budget of $25 million, so it looks like Paramount will be eating it, unless the overseas market saves it.
This movie was said to be better than the other Iraq War movies that flopped, as described in this blog before. Hollywood either isn't learning anything, or it's simply taking a while for this slate of Iraq War movies to go through the pipeline.
No one wants to see a movie that is a grim reminder of how terrible the war is, and the price that we as a nation have paid for that war, in terms of national treasure. If people want to see the war, they just turn on the news and get all the horror that they can stomach. Why would people want to pay to see it?
Disgusting.
The movie had a budget of $25 million, so it looks like Paramount will be eating it, unless the overseas market saves it.
This movie was said to be better than the other Iraq War movies that flopped, as described in this blog before. Hollywood either isn't learning anything, or it's simply taking a while for this slate of Iraq War movies to go through the pipeline.
No one wants to see a movie that is a grim reminder of how terrible the war is, and the price that we as a nation have paid for that war, in terms of national treasure. If people want to see the war, they just turn on the news and get all the horror that they can stomach. Why would people want to pay to see it?
Disgusting.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tibetan Monks Strike at Chinese Propaganda Machine During Media Visit to Tibetan Capitol: Can We Ignore Their Courage?
Tibet's monks embarrassed China yet again by staging a demonstration in front of foreign journalists who were brought in by Chinese occupation authorities to show off the fact that Tibet was calm after a week of riots. The monks proved that theory wrong big-time.
That the Tibetans chose to break cover with a Chinese crackdown in progress is amazing. The talking heads and conventional wisdom was that the Chinese military had crushed the rebellion and Tibet's people were under Chinese control again. Everyone was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Are our political leaders going to allow such reckless courage to be ignored?
These people thought it was important enough to get the word of their revolt out that they placed their lives in mortal peril, demonstrating in the presence of the reporters and armed Chinese occupation forces who were probably pointing their guns at the demonstrators. They've probably all disappeared and are either in prison, or dead. That's how the Chinese government deals with their political opponents inside Tibet, Hong Kong, and within China itself.
It's too late to move the Olympics, so all that the world can do is decide whether their leaders will boycott the Opening Ceremonies. Politicians over here are pressuring President Bush to reconsider his intention to go to Beijing. And I hope he does. By attending the opening, it's sending a signal to those inside occupied Tibet and free Tibetans around the world that the United States isn't willing to stand up for them.
And we're talking about a political boycott, not an athletic one.
That the Tibetans chose to break cover with a Chinese crackdown in progress is amazing. The talking heads and conventional wisdom was that the Chinese military had crushed the rebellion and Tibet's people were under Chinese control again. Everyone was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Are our political leaders going to allow such reckless courage to be ignored?
These people thought it was important enough to get the word of their revolt out that they placed their lives in mortal peril, demonstrating in the presence of the reporters and armed Chinese occupation forces who were probably pointing their guns at the demonstrators. They've probably all disappeared and are either in prison, or dead. That's how the Chinese government deals with their political opponents inside Tibet, Hong Kong, and within China itself.
It's too late to move the Olympics, so all that the world can do is decide whether their leaders will boycott the Opening Ceremonies. Politicians over here are pressuring President Bush to reconsider his intention to go to Beijing. And I hope he does. By attending the opening, it's sending a signal to those inside occupied Tibet and free Tibetans around the world that the United States isn't willing to stand up for them.
And we're talking about a political boycott, not an athletic one.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Two Border Agents Not on Presidential Pardon List: They Should Have Been
Two border security agents who shot a Mexican drug smuggler who was attempting a felony escape remain behind bars as President Bush pardoned fifteen convicted criminals and commuted the sentence of another drug fiend.
Border agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos were not on President Bush's list; they should have been. They were doing their jobs; the only thing that they are guilty of is "denial of trade" with regards to the smuggler. He was over here selling his 800 pounds of weed and disobeyed a lawful order to halt.
Instead, the government treated the smuggler for his rear-end wound, and offered him complete immunity in exchange for his testimony against the two agents.
This miscarriage of justice continues.
And it should be noted that after these two Border Patrol agents were sent to prison to begin their sentences on January 17, 2007, the drug fiend Aldrete Dávila was subsequently arrested on the border for his continuing drug smuggling operations on November 15, 2007. He faces forty years. That's the charge that should have been filed IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Border agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos were not on President Bush's list; they should have been. They were doing their jobs; the only thing that they are guilty of is "denial of trade" with regards to the smuggler. He was over here selling his 800 pounds of weed and disobeyed a lawful order to halt.
Instead, the government treated the smuggler for his rear-end wound, and offered him complete immunity in exchange for his testimony against the two agents.
This miscarriage of justice continues.
And it should be noted that after these two Border Patrol agents were sent to prison to begin their sentences on January 17, 2007, the drug fiend Aldrete Dávila was subsequently arrested on the border for his continuing drug smuggling operations on November 15, 2007. He faces forty years. That's the charge that should have been filed IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Lawsuit Filed Against Hulk Hogan's Family: Car Accident Victim's Family Seeks Millions for His Long-Term Care
Hulk Hogan's family is being sued by the family of a man who was severely injured as the result of Nick Hogan's reckless driving.
The lawsuit alleges that the Hogans, and the driver of the other car that was involved in the drag racing accident, were negligent in their actions leading up to the traumatic brain injury to John Graziano. Nick and a friend were drag racing down a Miami street last summer; Graziano was a passenger in the Hogan vehicle. Nick lost control of his car and slammed into a tree, which lead to Graziano's severe injury.
Graziano's care has already exceeded $1 million.
Hulk and Linda Hogan were in the process of getting a divorce, so the Graziano lawsuit was initiated before a divorce did happen and assets could be divided up.
Nick royally screwed up, and the Hogans may lose everything. After news of the accident broke last August, this lawsuit has been anticipated for many months. Some conspiracy theorists were suggesting that Hulk and Linda were getting a divorce to protect some of the family assets, but that's highly unlikely.
Their marriage problems precede the accident; some of their problems were documented on their reality show, Hogan Knows Best.
No clue as to how this will end.
The lawsuit alleges that the Hogans, and the driver of the other car that was involved in the drag racing accident, were negligent in their actions leading up to the traumatic brain injury to John Graziano. Nick and a friend were drag racing down a Miami street last summer; Graziano was a passenger in the Hogan vehicle. Nick lost control of his car and slammed into a tree, which lead to Graziano's severe injury.
Graziano's care has already exceeded $1 million.
Hulk and Linda Hogan were in the process of getting a divorce, so the Graziano lawsuit was initiated before a divorce did happen and assets could be divided up.
Nick royally screwed up, and the Hogans may lose everything. After news of the accident broke last August, this lawsuit has been anticipated for many months. Some conspiracy theorists were suggesting that Hulk and Linda were getting a divorce to protect some of the family assets, but that's highly unlikely.
Their marriage problems precede the accident; some of their problems were documented on their reality show, Hogan Knows Best.
No clue as to how this will end.
Former Professional Wrestler Chase Tatum Found Dead: Accidental Overdose?
Former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) wrestler Chase Tatum was found dead of an accidental drug overdose in his Georgia home. He was 34.
His WCW career lasted about 2 1/2 years; he left WCW with severe back problems before Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment bought WCW. It lead to a painkiller addiction, for which he had been planning to go into rehab for, and major back surgery ten days ago to repair a damaged vertebrae from his WCW experience.
His dad told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Chase was well on his way to getting his life re-established and without the painkillers. He had a role in the 2007 movie "Who's Your Caddy?" and worked as a successful personal trainer before and then after his WCW stint. He had also landed a role in another film which was to begin filming in New York soon.
Autopsy and toxicology test results will hopefully shed more light on how this happened.
His WCW career lasted about 2 1/2 years; he left WCW with severe back problems before Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment bought WCW. It lead to a painkiller addiction, for which he had been planning to go into rehab for, and major back surgery ten days ago to repair a damaged vertebrae from his WCW experience.
His dad told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Chase was well on his way to getting his life re-established and without the painkillers. He had a role in the 2007 movie "Who's Your Caddy?" and worked as a successful personal trainer before and then after his WCW stint. He had also landed a role in another film which was to begin filming in New York soon.
Autopsy and toxicology test results will hopefully shed more light on how this happened.
Injured F-15C Pilot Sues Boeing: Aging Fighter Broke Up in Mid-Air
A Missouri National Guard pilot from the 110th Squadron, 131st Fighter Wing is suing Boeing over injuries he sustained when his F-15C Eagle broke apart in mid-air and crashed in southern Missouri. He ejected in time but sustained major injuries.
This crash led the Air Force to temporarily ground hundreds of early to mid-model F-15s until the fleet could be inspected for the sort of catastrophic problem which doomed this particular F-15 model C.
This is one of the reasons why the F-22 Raptor is being developed; most of the F-15s have more than double the service life that the fighter was originally built for. The F-15s were designed to operate for 4,000 hours, though they extended that expectation to 8,000 hours. Many of the F-15s (A through D models) are approaching or have gone through that limit. The F-15E will probably be in service through 2025 as they have a much longer service life--17,000 to 18,000 hours.
The F-15C that broke apart had about 5,600 hours on it.
The day will come when the F-15E Strike Eagles are the only F-15s left in the air. We can only hope that the F-22 Raptor will serve the nation and the Air Force as well as the F-15 has.
This crash led the Air Force to temporarily ground hundreds of early to mid-model F-15s until the fleet could be inspected for the sort of catastrophic problem which doomed this particular F-15 model C.
This is one of the reasons why the F-22 Raptor is being developed; most of the F-15s have more than double the service life that the fighter was originally built for. The F-15s were designed to operate for 4,000 hours, though they extended that expectation to 8,000 hours. Many of the F-15s (A through D models) are approaching or have gone through that limit. The F-15E will probably be in service through 2025 as they have a much longer service life--17,000 to 18,000 hours.
The F-15C that broke apart had about 5,600 hours on it.
The day will come when the F-15E Strike Eagles are the only F-15s left in the air. We can only hope that the F-22 Raptor will serve the nation and the Air Force as well as the F-15 has.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Dr. Death Running for Congress Under Banner of 9th Amendment: There Goes the Neighborhood
"Dr. Death" Jack Kevorkian announced his candidacy for a seat in Congress as an independent.
I couldn't be more opposed to a candidacy than this one. I hope the voters of the 9th Congressional District of Michigan keep this man out of Congress. He's a one-issue candidate whose only claim to fame is killing 130 people. And the only reason he got out of prison is that he was supposedly dying.
I think he should stay on the public speaking circuit instead of getting onto the taxpayer payroll.
Congress is enough of a circus without Dr. Death adding his two cents.
I couldn't be more opposed to a candidacy than this one. I hope the voters of the 9th Congressional District of Michigan keep this man out of Congress. He's a one-issue candidate whose only claim to fame is killing 130 people. And the only reason he got out of prison is that he was supposedly dying.
I think he should stay on the public speaking circuit instead of getting onto the taxpayer payroll.
Congress is enough of a circus without Dr. Death adding his two cents.
Detroit's Mayor to Be Charged in Text Messaging Scandal: GOOD
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former chief of staff will face felony charges for their roles in a whistleblower cover-up, which cost the city of Detroit over $9 million. Both will face "multiple counts of perjury, obstruction of justice, misconduct in office and conspiracy" according to the Detroit Free Press, which broke the story two months ago.
It is believed that Kilpatrick settled the matter after one of the attorneys representing one of the whistleblowers let it be known to the mayor's attorney that he had the romantic text messages, after both the mayor and chief of staff said that they were not having an affair while on the stand and while under oath.
Before someone says "Oh, it's all about sex again," it most definitely is NOT all about sex. This is about a mayor who lied under oath, got caught, and used city financial resources to pay for the cover-up.
And he's also used the race card, dropping the n-word during his State of the City address within the last couple of weeks, to throw critics off the trail. I do believe him when he says that some communications directed at him and his family from his constituents and others contained racist comments and labels, but a good politician knows how to turn that to his advantage. Mayor Kilpatrick's attempt to do so backfired.
While I am sympathetic to his defense of his family, I quote a statement that he made to the Associated Press on July 9th of 2007. On the occasion of the NAACP staging of a mock burial of the n-word, he said:
I think it's time to swear in the deputy mayor as the new Mayor of the City of Detroit. The mayor's office has been paralyzed for two months over this situation, which no one but Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff are solely and completely responsible for.
Politicians and celebrities need to be held to the same standard that EVERYONE else is. This announcement is a step in the right direction.
It is believed that Kilpatrick settled the matter after one of the attorneys representing one of the whistleblowers let it be known to the mayor's attorney that he had the romantic text messages, after both the mayor and chief of staff said that they were not having an affair while on the stand and while under oath.
Before someone says "Oh, it's all about sex again," it most definitely is NOT all about sex. This is about a mayor who lied under oath, got caught, and used city financial resources to pay for the cover-up.
And he's also used the race card, dropping the n-word during his State of the City address within the last couple of weeks, to throw critics off the trail. I do believe him when he says that some communications directed at him and his family from his constituents and others contained racist comments and labels, but a good politician knows how to turn that to his advantage. Mayor Kilpatrick's attempt to do so backfired.
While I am sympathetic to his defense of his family, I quote a statement that he made to the Associated Press on July 9th of 2007. On the occasion of the NAACP staging of a mock burial of the n-word, he said:
He continued: "Die N-word, and we don't want to see you 'round here no more."
Really? I hate to say "I told you so!", but I TOLD YOU SO! I refer you to my post of 7/10/07 on this very topic. The n-word will NEVER die if people like Kwame Kilpatrick keep it alive and in circulation.I think it's time to swear in the deputy mayor as the new Mayor of the City of Detroit. The mayor's office has been paralyzed for two months over this situation, which no one but Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff are solely and completely responsible for.
Politicians and celebrities need to be held to the same standard that EVERYONE else is. This announcement is a step in the right direction.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
France Buries the Last of It's World War I Veterans
France just buried the last of it's soldiers from World War I with a full state funeral and full honors for all 8.4 million Frenchmen who fought in the war.
The French military and French Foreign Legion honored Lazare Ponticelli, 110, as France's last soldier who fought to stop the Imperial German advance into French territory at the start of the war. He joined the Foreign Legion as an Italian immigrant at age 16 and survived the war.
He would attend the yearly Armistice Day observations at Kremlin Bicetre, which is a suburb of Paris, and did so for nearly 90 years.
France lost 1.3 million soldiers during the four years that the war raged; French President Sarkozy lead tributes honoring that entire generation as part of the state funeral for Ponticelli, as he had wanted.
France did their World War I vets proud this day. I hope our own government is making similar plans to honor our World War I veterans when our last known soldier of World War I passes away.
The French military and French Foreign Legion honored Lazare Ponticelli, 110, as France's last soldier who fought to stop the Imperial German advance into French territory at the start of the war. He joined the Foreign Legion as an Italian immigrant at age 16 and survived the war.
He would attend the yearly Armistice Day observations at Kremlin Bicetre, which is a suburb of Paris, and did so for nearly 90 years.
France lost 1.3 million soldiers during the four years that the war raged; French President Sarkozy lead tributes honoring that entire generation as part of the state funeral for Ponticelli, as he had wanted.
France did their World War I vets proud this day. I hope our own government is making similar plans to honor our World War I veterans when our last known soldier of World War I passes away.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Obama's Former Pastor Sounds as Bad as the White Supremacists Who Held a Rally in Lansing Last Year: More Hate Speech to Ignore
Barack Obama's former minister has gained quite a bit of prominence in the last year or so with his racial tirades. I must say that this prominence is not healthy and is actually quite destructive to the cause of civil rights.
I'm not going to say the minister's name in this entry, but his speech sounded like a speech that is typical for someone wearing a white hood and white robes. But this was no Ku Klux Klown delivering a vile speech on white supremacy; it was a minister putting on the mantle of politics over the Good News of Jesus Christ. And the results were hate-filled speeches that saw him damning God as well as America. It was disturbing.
In fact, he sounded a lot like the National Socialist Movement people who held a rally on the steps of the state capitol in Lansing. There were ranting as much about blacks and Jews as much as this minister was about rich white people. Black supremacy is just as unacceptable as white supremacy is.
And I'm real reluctant to tell a man of the cloth how to do his job, but the videos of him railing on people who have different skin color than his own rather than spreading the Gospels of Jesus Christ was a huge turn-off.
Obama's got some work to do, thanks to this minister throwing race bombs around.
This is among the ugliest primaries I've ever seen and I hope we don't see this level of ugliness in the general election when the GOP and the Democrats really start going at it.
I'm not going to say the minister's name in this entry, but his speech sounded like a speech that is typical for someone wearing a white hood and white robes. But this was no Ku Klux Klown delivering a vile speech on white supremacy; it was a minister putting on the mantle of politics over the Good News of Jesus Christ. And the results were hate-filled speeches that saw him damning God as well as America. It was disturbing.
In fact, he sounded a lot like the National Socialist Movement people who held a rally on the steps of the state capitol in Lansing. There were ranting as much about blacks and Jews as much as this minister was about rich white people. Black supremacy is just as unacceptable as white supremacy is.
And I'm real reluctant to tell a man of the cloth how to do his job, but the videos of him railing on people who have different skin color than his own rather than spreading the Gospels of Jesus Christ was a huge turn-off.
Obama's got some work to do, thanks to this minister throwing race bombs around.
This is among the ugliest primaries I've ever seen and I hope we don't see this level of ugliness in the general election when the GOP and the Democrats really start going at it.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
WWE Drug Enforcement and Treatment Programs Upgraded: Heat From Congress Improves WWE Record
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has taken some remarkable steps forward in the effort to discourage it's professional wrestlers from using drugs and alcohol; it's about time, and we have pressure from Congress to thank for the improvements.
In recent weeks, WWE sent the following letter out to all of it's former employees:
Over the last ten years, an inordinate number of wrestlers have passed away. Some of those deaths may in part have been caused by drugs and alcohol.
Some, such as the late Eddie Guerrero and Road Warrior Hawk, had already gone through rehab and had walked away from drugs. Both died young; Eddie at 38, Hawk at 46, and years after they had stopped taking drugs and turned their lives around. Hawk found Christ for the first time in his life in the last four years of his life.
In addition to the free drug/alcohol rehab, the WWE has stepped up it's Wellness Program--the details of which were sent to Congress at their request. WWE has suspended several of it's main event talents due to failed drug tests. Some are now on their 2nd strike with one to go before having their contracts terminated by WWE.
I think that if it weren't for Congress taking an interest, however limited, this small turnaround in WWE policy might not have come or would have been delayed for years, as it already has been. I hope many former WWE wrestlers are considering this offer to get help if they're in trouble.
Drugs eventually strip away a person's sense of wellness and control, and all that is left is addiction, pain, conflict, and in some cases (more so in professional wrestling), death.
This is a minor victory in the overall battle against substance abuse in sports, but a victory nonetheless.
In recent weeks, WWE sent the following letter out to all of it's former employees:
Over the last ten years, an inordinate number of wrestlers have passed away. Some of those deaths may in part have been caused by drugs and alcohol.
In an effort to prevent such tragedies in the future, the WWE is willing to pay for drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation at a certified treatment chosen by WWE for any performer with a prior WWE booking contract who may need this service. The WWE will pay for this service in full.
There is no cost to you or your family. Help will be provided regardless of the circumstances of your departure from the WWF or the amount of time you performed for the WWE.
If you do not have a drug and/or alcohol problem, but know you know a former WWE performer who does, we are asking you to try to help them by encouraging them to take advantage of this opportunity.
Liz (last name deleted) has been appointed as a representative in this matter. Liz has been with the company for over 24 years and has been directly involved with the majority of WWE performers who have received treatment for substance abuse. She understands emotions that individuals and family members go through in this process. Any conversation you have with Liz will remain confidential and will not be released to the public.
In many instances, an individual in need of help is in denial and will not want rehabilitation. There are professional intervention companies that will help persuade that person that they need treatment. Liz will be able to facilitate such interventions, should they be necessary. An intervention and treatment will be at the cost of WWE exclusively.
This service is being provided for performers with a prior WWE booking contract only. No family or friends. Please reach out to Liz if you think you might have a drug or alcohol problem or if you know someone who does. We all need to do anything we can to help prevent another tragedy.
Sincerely,
Vincent K. McMahon
Chairman, World Wrestling Entertainment
Some, such as the late Eddie Guerrero and Road Warrior Hawk, had already gone through rehab and had walked away from drugs. Both died young; Eddie at 38, Hawk at 46, and years after they had stopped taking drugs and turned their lives around. Hawk found Christ for the first time in his life in the last four years of his life.
In addition to the free drug/alcohol rehab, the WWE has stepped up it's Wellness Program--the details of which were sent to Congress at their request. WWE has suspended several of it's main event talents due to failed drug tests. Some are now on their 2nd strike with one to go before having their contracts terminated by WWE.
I think that if it weren't for Congress taking an interest, however limited, this small turnaround in WWE policy might not have come or would have been delayed for years, as it already has been. I hope many former WWE wrestlers are considering this offer to get help if they're in trouble.
Drugs eventually strip away a person's sense of wellness and control, and all that is left is addiction, pain, conflict, and in some cases (more so in professional wrestling), death.
This is a minor victory in the overall battle against substance abuse in sports, but a victory nonetheless.
Prediction: Taiwan Will Declare Independence From China During Beijing Olympic Games
I'm going to make a prediction here, because in a way it makes sense:
Taiwan will declare independence from the People's Republic of China just before the start of the Olympic Games in Beijing this August.
Just about every nation on earth will have Olympians at the Summer Olympics; and in the spirit of the games, 192 nations (every member state at the U.N.) have agreed unanimously to an Olympic truce through the United Nations. This truce is to be observed "individually and collectively." The Chinese Embassy to Jamaica even posted news of the truce on their web site.
But China has also said in the past that if Taiwan were to declare independence that it would attack Taiwan immediately and passed a law in 2005 that made war a mandatory requirement.
China has no more claim on Taiwan than it does on Tibet. But the Chinese are also bound to observe their own truce since they're hosting the games. Last week's riots in Tibet and the Chinese heavy-handiness in dealing with the situation were a major embarrassment to Beijing and highlighted the fact that they are still a violent police state, in spite of their claims to be a happy worker's paradise.
Taiwan is having important presidential and referendum elections on March 22nd. It's asking citizens if they should apply for membership in the United Nations as the Republic of Taiwan, and not the Republic of China. Both of the major presidential candidates have stressed the need for closer relationships with Beijing, but both have also said that Taiwan can govern itself without China's help.
There could be a lot of trouble going on by the time the Olympics roll around in August.
Taiwan will declare independence from the People's Republic of China just before the start of the Olympic Games in Beijing this August.
Just about every nation on earth will have Olympians at the Summer Olympics; and in the spirit of the games, 192 nations (every member state at the U.N.) have agreed unanimously to an Olympic truce through the United Nations. This truce is to be observed "individually and collectively." The Chinese Embassy to Jamaica even posted news of the truce on their web site.
But China has also said in the past that if Taiwan were to declare independence that it would attack Taiwan immediately and passed a law in 2005 that made war a mandatory requirement.
China has no more claim on Taiwan than it does on Tibet. But the Chinese are also bound to observe their own truce since they're hosting the games. Last week's riots in Tibet and the Chinese heavy-handiness in dealing with the situation were a major embarrassment to Beijing and highlighted the fact that they are still a violent police state, in spite of their claims to be a happy worker's paradise.
Taiwan is having important presidential and referendum elections on March 22nd. It's asking citizens if they should apply for membership in the United Nations as the Republic of Taiwan, and not the Republic of China. Both of the major presidential candidates have stressed the need for closer relationships with Beijing, but both have also said that Taiwan can govern itself without China's help.
There could be a lot of trouble going on by the time the Olympics roll around in August.
China Needs to End Their Illegal 58-Year Occupation of Tibet and Leave Them Alone
The illegal Chinese occupation of Tibet entered a new phase last week as demonstrators in the Tibetan capitol of Lhasa clashed with Chinese occupation forces. The anniversary of the 1959 riots were being observed, and the demonstrations turned violent. The Chinese opened fire and killed up to a hundred people.It's not known if the protesters setting Chinese shops, cars and interests on fire caused the troops to open fire, or if the shootings happened first and then the protesters started rioting. In any case, it doesn't really matter. Tibet remains under Chinese occupation. Tibetans across the border in actual Chinese territory have been demonstrating in three Chinese provinces against the Chinese aggression.
The Chinese living in Tibetan territory have established a two-tiered apartheid system, which makes Tibetans second-class citizens in their own land; is it any wonder that the demonstrators targeted Chinese-owned businesses only?
The International Olympic Committee is busy telling the international community not to respond to China's continued heavy-handed tactics in controlling Tibet, and that boycotts of the Beijing Olympic Games will only hurt athletes. Yeah, right.
So we're supposed to ignore the people that China's been shooting at for a week, in favor of the athletes? I think most of the athletes would be sick to their stomachs if they learned that the murders committed against Tibet's people is to be ignored so that they could compete for blood medals.
It should be noted that over a hundred Olympic athletes from around the world have joined "Team Darfur" to raise awareness of the huge crisis in Darfur, Sudan, and the slaughter that has taken place there. China is one of Team Darfur's targets as the Chinese government (and Sudan's largest oil customer) has been reluctant to put pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the killing there. So I cannot imagine the athletes turning their backs on the people of Tibet.
Communism is an abhorrent system of government that is incompatible with a religious culture, such as the one that has been suppressed for far too long in Tibet. They should pull their army out of Tibet and LEAVE TIBET ALONE. They were doing fine without the Chinese before the Chinese Red Army (aka the People's Liberation Army) invaded.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Obama Plan for Splitting Michigan Primary Delegates is Ridiculous: He Removed His Name from the Michigan Ballot
Barack Obama's proposal for splitting the Michigan primary delegates equally between himself and Hillary Clinton is ridiculous.
He pulled his name off the Michigan ballot; he wasn't even a candidate in the Michigan election. If they choose to go down a path like this, then they should give 55% of the delegates to Clinton and the rest go in as unpledged delegates, who can vote for whomever they want when the DNC seats them at the Democratic National Convention.
That's the only way that this system would work. But Obama can't pull his name off the ballot and then try to claim half of Michigan's delegates. That's sheer madness!
He pulled his name off the Michigan ballot; he wasn't even a candidate in the Michigan election. If they choose to go down a path like this, then they should give 55% of the delegates to Clinton and the rest go in as unpledged delegates, who can vote for whomever they want when the DNC seats them at the Democratic National Convention.
That's the only way that this system would work. But Obama can't pull his name off the ballot and then try to claim half of Michigan's delegates. That's sheer madness!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Air Force Retires F-117 Stealth Fighter: Next Generation Fighters Will Incorporate Stealth Characteristics
The United States Air Force retired the F-117A stealth fighter from active service today in a private retirement ceremony.The F-117A saw service in Panama, the first Persian Gulf War, during the NATO air war against Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
Only one was lost in combat during it's twenty-five years of service, which speaks of it's technological advantage over modern radar and infrared detection systems. Another (in the same operation over Yugoslavia) suffered major damage but was able to return to base, where it is said that it never flew again. Serbian gunners spotted the F-117s visually and opened fire.
Parts of the crashed F-117A were put on display in a museum in Belgrade.
After the shoot-down, it was reported in the media that the Serbians invited the Russians to inspect the wreckage of the crashed fighter; it's unknown what the Russians were able to get from the wreck. Normally when a valuable asset like an advanced fighter is lost and in danger of being captured by enemy forces, the crash site is bombed.
But due to the presence of civilians and reporters, NATO and the U.S. Air Force declined to destroy the crashed F-117.
The next generation F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II have the stealth characteristics of the F-117, but can go like a couple of bats out of hell, flying twice as fast as the F-117A.
But unlike other fighters that are sent to an Air Force bone yard, broken up and retired permanently, all of the F-117s are being mothballed, which means that their wings will be removed and the fighters will be put into storage, should they ever need to be rushed back into service.
The last of the F-117s is due to land at their storage place on or about the 22nd of April.
Bye bye Batwing.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
DNC and Howard Dean Need to Take Responsibility for Their Actions: They're the Ones at Fault, Not Michigan & Florida Voters
Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee don't want to pay to clean up their mess in Michigan and Florida. And a lot of Democrats are getting angrier and angrier. I don't think I've ever seen this level of discontent in the state Democratic party before.
Just wait until the Democratic National Convention takes place the week of the 24th of August and there's no resolution to Dean & Company's huge mess in Michigan. There will likely be charter buses full of disenfranchised Michigan voters heading out to Denver to protest all of this.
Michigan's government had better not knuckle under on this issue and offer to pay one penny for any kind of "re-do." This is the DNC's mess to clean up. The first Michigan legislator who offers a bill to pay for a "re-do" will be in BIG trouble the next time an election comes around. Unless they're targeted for recall, which seems to be happening a lot these days.
I wrote a series of articles back in the fall against moving the primary to the 15th of January because of what had already happened to Florida. But the Michigan legislature and governor went ahead with their plan, knowing full well that our fate would likely match Florida's. That was the decision that was made, and that's what we have to live with now. And in light of the DNC's mean-spirited actions since then, it was the right decision and right fight to make.
The Republicans docked half of Michigan's delegation to the Republican National Convention as well as every state that had an election before Super Tuesday (February 5th). I wasn't too happy with that decision. If I was to choose to vote in the Republican primary (Michigan's primary is open, meaning that people can choose which primary to vote in), my vote's worth half as much as someone who voted after February 5th? Bull HONKY!
The DNC ripped the guts out of Michigan's primary by stripping Michigan of all it's delegates. In addition, many of the Democrats (including Obama) pulled their names off the ballot and said that they would not be campaigning in Michigan. That's excessive punishment for protesting a corrupt and outdated system that favors four states over all others. They sure as hell didn't have a problem fundraising here, which I strongly disagreed with.
I also believe that this decision violates the equal protection clause which the Supreme Court quoted in 2000, when they stopped the ballot recounts in Florida's mess of a Presidential election between Bush and Gore. All ballots have to be treated (and counted) equally. Anything less amounts to a banana republic, which the Democrats seem hell-bent on making happen.
As far as Michigan Democrats go, I do not count myself among their number. But in this situation, I am on their side; no voter should be disenfranchised. And in this case, ALL Michigan and Florida voters were targeted and their votes were thrown straight into the garbage can. That isn't right; the system needs to change and Dean needs to be FIRED!
And if Obama's the nominee after the Democrats have their National Convention, he needs to come to Michigan and Florida and explain his actions in supporting the disenfranchisement of millions of voters. Party rules my afterburner!!
Just wait until the Democratic National Convention takes place the week of the 24th of August and there's no resolution to Dean & Company's huge mess in Michigan. There will likely be charter buses full of disenfranchised Michigan voters heading out to Denver to protest all of this.
Michigan's government had better not knuckle under on this issue and offer to pay one penny for any kind of "re-do." This is the DNC's mess to clean up. The first Michigan legislator who offers a bill to pay for a "re-do" will be in BIG trouble the next time an election comes around. Unless they're targeted for recall, which seems to be happening a lot these days.
I wrote a series of articles back in the fall against moving the primary to the 15th of January because of what had already happened to Florida. But the Michigan legislature and governor went ahead with their plan, knowing full well that our fate would likely match Florida's. That was the decision that was made, and that's what we have to live with now. And in light of the DNC's mean-spirited actions since then, it was the right decision and right fight to make.
The Republicans docked half of Michigan's delegation to the Republican National Convention as well as every state that had an election before Super Tuesday (February 5th). I wasn't too happy with that decision. If I was to choose to vote in the Republican primary (Michigan's primary is open, meaning that people can choose which primary to vote in), my vote's worth half as much as someone who voted after February 5th? Bull HONKY!
The DNC ripped the guts out of Michigan's primary by stripping Michigan of all it's delegates. In addition, many of the Democrats (including Obama) pulled their names off the ballot and said that they would not be campaigning in Michigan. That's excessive punishment for protesting a corrupt and outdated system that favors four states over all others. They sure as hell didn't have a problem fundraising here, which I strongly disagreed with.
I also believe that this decision violates the equal protection clause which the Supreme Court quoted in 2000, when they stopped the ballot recounts in Florida's mess of a Presidential election between Bush and Gore. All ballots have to be treated (and counted) equally. Anything less amounts to a banana republic, which the Democrats seem hell-bent on making happen.
As far as Michigan Democrats go, I do not count myself among their number. But in this situation, I am on their side; no voter should be disenfranchised. And in this case, ALL Michigan and Florida voters were targeted and their votes were thrown straight into the garbage can. That isn't right; the system needs to change and Dean needs to be FIRED!
And if Obama's the nominee after the Democrats have their National Convention, he needs to come to Michigan and Florida and explain his actions in supporting the disenfranchisement of millions of voters. Party rules my afterburner!!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Video Purporting to Show U.S. Marines Throwing a Puppy Off a Cliff Is a Fake: Even Yiping Heard As Dog Was Going Over Cliff Was Someone Faking It
The incredibly disturbing video currently making it's way around the world of U.S. Marines throwing a puppy over a cliff is a fake.
If you choose to watch this video, listen to the dog as he gets thrown over the cliff. The last two yipes sound like someone coughing. I can make sounds like that too. If this was a real dog, he was obviously already dead. He wasn't moving around from being handled by the scruff of his neck; the dog looked very stiff. And he didn't struggle at all.
This joke is an example of incredibly bad humor that brings disgrace to the U.S. uniform--if the two men in the video are even U.S. military soldiers. They should have buried this dead dog, as any decent human being would have.
I warn you now, that this link is disturbing, whether it was fake or not.
Shame on these people!
If you choose to watch this video, listen to the dog as he gets thrown over the cliff. The last two yipes sound like someone coughing. I can make sounds like that too. If this was a real dog, he was obviously already dead. He wasn't moving around from being handled by the scruff of his neck; the dog looked very stiff. And he didn't struggle at all.
This joke is an example of incredibly bad humor that brings disgrace to the U.S. uniform--if the two men in the video are even U.S. military soldiers. They should have buried this dead dog, as any decent human being would have.
I warn you now, that this link is disturbing, whether it was fake or not.
Shame on these people!
Hillary Needs Victory in One Big State and Both Smaller Ones Today: Otherwise We're in for a LONG General Campaign
Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island are all doing their primary elections today; McCain has an opportunity to sew up the nomination for the Republicans tonight; but it's the Democratic results that will determine if we have a short general campaign or a LONG one, which no one really wants.
Hillary needs to win in one of the delegate-rich states (Texas or Ohio) and both of the smaller states as well in order to stay in the game.
Republicans in Texas are being encouraged to cross the line and vote for Hillary, not only for the reasons I talked about here, but because Hillary looks to be further to the right, even though she's a liberal. Obama is way way left of her and is a losing proposition.
A close Democratic race until their convention guarantees a short general campaign between McCain and his Democratic rival. A two-month campaign is preferable to an 8 1/2 month long one, as we had in 2004 between Bush and Kerry. That's MY main point, and one that I've been ranting about for some time.
I won't endorse Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, but in the interests of keeping the fall general campaign short, I hope that her results tonight and for the remainder of the primary season ensure that the delegate count remains close, and that the final decision is made at the Democratic convention.
Hillary needs to win in one of the delegate-rich states (Texas or Ohio) and both of the smaller states as well in order to stay in the game.
Republicans in Texas are being encouraged to cross the line and vote for Hillary, not only for the reasons I talked about here, but because Hillary looks to be further to the right, even though she's a liberal. Obama is way way left of her and is a losing proposition.
A close Democratic race until their convention guarantees a short general campaign between McCain and his Democratic rival. A two-month campaign is preferable to an 8 1/2 month long one, as we had in 2004 between Bush and Kerry. That's MY main point, and one that I've been ranting about for some time.
I won't endorse Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, but in the interests of keeping the fall general campaign short, I hope that her results tonight and for the remainder of the primary season ensure that the delegate count remains close, and that the final decision is made at the Democratic convention.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Last Sentence in Financial Times Article on IMF Diverts Attention From Crux of Article: Did the IMF Miss What's Happened in the Last Few Weeks?
The Financial Times web site has an article on it discussing how the International Monetary Fund believes that the Euro and a couple of other currencies are overvalued, the Japanese yen and a couple of others are undervalued, and that the U.S. dollar is somewhere in between.
It goes on to criticize how European governments have little to no input in how the currency is valued against other major world currencies. The Financial Times and the IMF director made their points quite clearly.
Then the final comment of the article in the last sentence of the article came and diverted attention away from the crux of this important monetary issue. Said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the IMF: "The IMF does not expect an explosion in the price of a barrel (of oil)."
HUH??!
Exqueeze me, but what is he talking about? That's already happened! In the last three weeks, oil prices exploded--going from around $87 a barrel on February 6th up to $103.95 today, breaking the all-time record set during the oil embargo of the 1970s. That's a 17% increase in three weeks.
I think what he meant to say is that he's not expecting a 17% jump overnight, though monetary pressures may cause the price of a barrel of oil to increase more slowly, such as how it has in the last three weeks.
But the way it was worded, it made sound like he was way out of touch.
It goes on to criticize how European governments have little to no input in how the currency is valued against other major world currencies. The Financial Times and the IMF director made their points quite clearly.
Then the final comment of the article in the last sentence of the article came and diverted attention away from the crux of this important monetary issue. Said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the IMF: "The IMF does not expect an explosion in the price of a barrel (of oil)."
HUH??!
Exqueeze me, but what is he talking about? That's already happened! In the last three weeks, oil prices exploded--going from around $87 a barrel on February 6th up to $103.95 today, breaking the all-time record set during the oil embargo of the 1970s. That's a 17% increase in three weeks.
I think what he meant to say is that he's not expecting a 17% jump overnight, though monetary pressures may cause the price of a barrel of oil to increase more slowly, such as how it has in the last three weeks.
But the way it was worded, it made sound like he was way out of touch.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
South America Unsettled as Three Nations Mobilize Troops and Break Diplomatic Relations: Chavez on the Move
Over the weekend, armed forces of Columbia crossed over the border into Ecuador and killed a Marxist rebel leader who was seeking to overthrow the government of Columbia.
In direct response, both Ecuador and Venezuela rushed troops and military equipment to their border regions and are threatening to attack Columbia if it crosses the border again. Mouth of the South Hugo Chavez got onto his Venezuelan state radio and directed his Minister of Defense to mobilize Venezuela's army and air force. Showoff. Grand-stander.
As I wrote on Feburary 19th: Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
That last sentence rings truer today than it did just two weeks ago. Venezuela's embarked on a massive arms build-up and now he's taking advantage of a problem between Ecuador and Columbia to play with his new guns, subs and arms, which Russia supplied to Venezuela in vast quantities.
Chavez ought to shut up, order his military back to their bases and keep his nose out of other the affairs of other nations. If a war starts now, it'll be because the Mouth starts it.
In direct response, both Ecuador and Venezuela rushed troops and military equipment to their border regions and are threatening to attack Columbia if it crosses the border again. Mouth of the South Hugo Chavez got onto his Venezuelan state radio and directed his Minister of Defense to mobilize Venezuela's army and air force. Showoff. Grand-stander.
As I wrote on Feburary 19th: Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
That last sentence rings truer today than it did just two weeks ago. Venezuela's embarked on a massive arms build-up and now he's taking advantage of a problem between Ecuador and Columbia to play with his new guns, subs and arms, which Russia supplied to Venezuela in vast quantities.
Chavez ought to shut up, order his military back to their bases and keep his nose out of other the affairs of other nations. If a war starts now, it'll be because the Mouth starts it.
Growing Problem of Copper Tubing and Wiring Being Stolen Begs the Question: Who Are the Thieves Selling This Stuff To?
I was watching the news this morning and saw a story about foreclosed homes being broken into and all the copper wiring and tubing being ripped out of the walls and basement by thieves because of the high price of copper. I've also heard a friend saying that someone dismantled their company's air conditioner and stole all the copper components inside of it, leaving behind a gutted air conditioner. And stories like that are becoming much more common across the country.Who's buying all of this copper from the thieves?
An honest broker? An ignorant one? One who doesn't ask questions because they don't want to lose the sale?
If someone comes in with hundreds of pounds of copper tubing and wiring, doesn't the buyer have an obligation to keep track of who's selling them the copper, when it arrived, in what form the copper was in, any identifying characteristics on the copper itself? If they're not, they should be.
This problem will only get worse. There's no way to retro-actively mark copper tubing already in houses and air conditioners.
Retailers who have copper materials in their inventory can add identifying marks, but based on my limited experience with copper tubing, I think it would be relatively easy to obscure such markings with a blowtorch or a hammer. Copper isn't a super-strong metal.
Now people don't only have to worry about their house being broken into and their valuables stolen; they have to worry about thieves ruining their homes as well as they rip copper out of the walls and basement.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Boeing Loses Bid to Build Next Generation U.S. Air Force Refuelling Tankers: This is a Screwup on Boeing's Part
Boeing has no one to blame but itself for losing a $40 billion U.S. Air Force contract to build a fleet of airborne refueling tankers. The people who were in charge let the Boeing workers down big-time.
Here's why Boeing itself is to blame for this mess:
They had put in a bid to build a fleet of refueling tankers based on the Boeing 767. Their competition was Northrup Grumman, which is an affiliate of the European-based EADS company, which builds the Airbus aircraft. The Europeans proposed a design based on the Airbus A330.
The 767 is smaller than the A330, holds 14,000 gallons less, and has 21% less cargo capacity. Why didn't they field a Boeing 777 or one of the brand-new Boeing 787s against the Airbus?
Bigger is better when it comes to an in-air refueling aircraft.
The other big deal is that production of the Boeing 767 is winding down, in favor of the Boeing 787. If the Pentagon had chosen the 767, it would have driven up maintenance costs, as the Air Force would have had to pay for manufacturing of parts on it's own, rather than have the per-unit price be less if the aircraft and it's replacement parts were still in production, with other companies purchasing the planes and parts too.
I feel bad for all of the American jobs that will be jeopardized by this screw-up. And there's nothing wrong with the 767; it was simply the wrong aircraft to put up against the A330.
The good news is that the Air Force is planning three separate buys of tankers; Boeing lost the first round. They can try again in the second and third rounds.
I hope they get their act together.
Here's why Boeing itself is to blame for this mess:
They had put in a bid to build a fleet of refueling tankers based on the Boeing 767. Their competition was Northrup Grumman, which is an affiliate of the European-based EADS company, which builds the Airbus aircraft. The Europeans proposed a design based on the Airbus A330.
The 767 is smaller than the A330, holds 14,000 gallons less, and has 21% less cargo capacity. Why didn't they field a Boeing 777 or one of the brand-new Boeing 787s against the Airbus?
Bigger is better when it comes to an in-air refueling aircraft.
The other big deal is that production of the Boeing 767 is winding down, in favor of the Boeing 787. If the Pentagon had chosen the 767, it would have driven up maintenance costs, as the Air Force would have had to pay for manufacturing of parts on it's own, rather than have the per-unit price be less if the aircraft and it's replacement parts were still in production, with other companies purchasing the planes and parts too.
I feel bad for all of the American jobs that will be jeopardized by this screw-up. And there's nothing wrong with the 767; it was simply the wrong aircraft to put up against the A330.
The good news is that the Air Force is planning three separate buys of tankers; Boeing lost the first round. They can try again in the second and third rounds.
I hope they get their act together.
Congress and WWE Owner Tangle: McMahon Says 'No' to Appearing Before Congressional Committee Investigating Steroids in Sports
Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry got into a verbal sparring match with World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon over his failure to appear with representatives of pro sporting leagues, such as the National Hockey League, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball.
McMahon said that his attorney was in court at the time of last Wednesday's hearing and was unavailable. That did not go over well with Congressman Terry, who blasted McMahon for flipping off the committee and Congress in general. McMahon called Terry's office, then issued a press statement blasting Terry for his comments.
Subpoenas for WWE officials will probably be next.
I think some on this committee are ready to go after McMahon, who is well known for doing mocking skits on his Raw and Smackdown! shows against people he's debating, such as former Parents Television Council president Brent Bozell. McMahon took some of his most offensive gimmick wrestlers and turned them into a tag-team stable called the "Right to Censor", which was a really insulting (and at the same time funny) parody of the PTC. Right to Censor went after other offensive (and popular) gimmicks in use by other WWE wrestlers.
When WWE was going head-to-head against Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (which WWE eventually bought out) he featured a weakling wrestler called "Billionaire Ted" who was manhandled by McMahon's largest and strongest wrestlers.
This Congress is aggressive enough to issue subpoenas to WWE officials if McMahon starts making fun of this committee in his WWE programming.
McMahon said that his attorney was in court at the time of last Wednesday's hearing and was unavailable. That did not go over well with Congressman Terry, who blasted McMahon for flipping off the committee and Congress in general. McMahon called Terry's office, then issued a press statement blasting Terry for his comments.
Subpoenas for WWE officials will probably be next.
I think some on this committee are ready to go after McMahon, who is well known for doing mocking skits on his Raw and Smackdown! shows against people he's debating, such as former Parents Television Council president Brent Bozell. McMahon took some of his most offensive gimmick wrestlers and turned them into a tag-team stable called the "Right to Censor", which was a really insulting (and at the same time funny) parody of the PTC. Right to Censor went after other offensive (and popular) gimmicks in use by other WWE wrestlers.
When WWE was going head-to-head against Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (which WWE eventually bought out) he featured a weakling wrestler called "Billionaire Ted" who was manhandled by McMahon's largest and strongest wrestlers.
This Congress is aggressive enough to issue subpoenas to WWE officials if McMahon starts making fun of this committee in his WWE programming.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Prince Harry's Time in Afghanistan May Be Cut Short Thanks to Some Web Sites That Couldn't Keep Their Traps Closed
The U.K.'s Prince Harry has been deployed to Afghanistan since before Christmas. The deployment happened under a veil of secrecy that was broken by a couple of foreign magazines and then plastered all over the Drudge Report in the last couple of days.
Now the prince's time in Afghanistan may be cut short thanks to all the unwanted publicity.
Normally I support Drudge, but not in this instance.
All Harry wanted to do was serve in a combat area as a soldier of the United Kingdom. He was denied permission to deploy with his unit when it headed to Iraq last year out of fear that the prince would be kidnapped by al-Qaeda or some other group, which threatened to cut his ears off. So when the British Ministry of Defense decided it would be all right for him to deploy to Afghanistan, it was under the understanding that the media wouldn't reveal where Prince Harry was or what he was doing.
Major news outlets had agreed to the news blackout to protect the prince from al-Qaeda and the Taliban and give him a chance to prove his mettle in a combat area as he had wanted.
It's true that the Drudge Report is not a news organization and was probably unaware of the news blackout agreement, but still, this is the Prince's life that is being messed around with. Other American news organizations, such as CNN, knew it and decided to abide by it until it was splashed all over Drudge's web site.
This is very unfortunate. Hopefully the prince stays safe. But now that the cat's out of the bag, how long can it be before the inevitable question is asked by his commanding officers: can Harry stay in Afghanistan, or will he become the bullet magnet that he's joked about previously?
Now the prince's time in Afghanistan may be cut short thanks to all the unwanted publicity.
Normally I support Drudge, but not in this instance.
All Harry wanted to do was serve in a combat area as a soldier of the United Kingdom. He was denied permission to deploy with his unit when it headed to Iraq last year out of fear that the prince would be kidnapped by al-Qaeda or some other group, which threatened to cut his ears off. So when the British Ministry of Defense decided it would be all right for him to deploy to Afghanistan, it was under the understanding that the media wouldn't reveal where Prince Harry was or what he was doing.
Major news outlets had agreed to the news blackout to protect the prince from al-Qaeda and the Taliban and give him a chance to prove his mettle in a combat area as he had wanted.
It's true that the Drudge Report is not a news organization and was probably unaware of the news blackout agreement, but still, this is the Prince's life that is being messed around with. Other American news organizations, such as CNN, knew it and decided to abide by it until it was splashed all over Drudge's web site.
This is very unfortunate. Hopefully the prince stays safe. But now that the cat's out of the bag, how long can it be before the inevitable question is asked by his commanding officers: can Harry stay in Afghanistan, or will he become the bullet magnet that he's joked about previously?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Who Cares What Obama's Middle Name Is??!
A radio announcer used Barack Obama's middle name as he was introducing John McCain, and everyone had a HUGE hissy fit over that and some of the things that he said about McCain's fellow liberal, Senator Obama.
Before I really go off, here are some Presidents who used their middle names:
John Quincy Adams.
William Henry Harrison.
James Knox Polk.
Ulysses Sam Grant
William Howard Taft.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Ronald Wilson Reagan.
George Herbert Walker Bush.
William Jefferson Clinton.
George Walker Bush.
And the controversy:
Barack Hussein Obama.
It's a middle name! GET OVER IT!
In some countries, it's customary to address someone by their first and middle names. Many native-born Americans have middle names. In Bush 41's case, he's got two. And so does the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that's been named after him.
McCain over-reacted to the use of Obama's middle name. The announcer, Cincinatti personality Bill Cunningham, reacted very badly to McCain's humiliating him and went off like a rocket on every newscast he could get airtime on.
This entire episode was very poorly handled. And now McCain and Cunningham both have egg in their faces.
If McCain was so sensitive, why did he allow a firebrand like Cunningham to introduce him in the first place?
If you put a fox into a henhouse, guess what? He's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY SINGLE time! McCain is responsible for putting this fox into that henhouse. And now he's apologizing for the fox doing what it was supposed to do. DUH!!
Before I really go off, here are some Presidents who used their middle names:
John Quincy Adams.
William Henry Harrison.
James Knox Polk.
Ulysses Sam Grant
William Howard Taft.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Ronald Wilson Reagan.
George Herbert Walker Bush.
William Jefferson Clinton.
George Walker Bush.
And the controversy:
Barack Hussein Obama.
It's a middle name! GET OVER IT!
In some countries, it's customary to address someone by their first and middle names. Many native-born Americans have middle names. In Bush 41's case, he's got two. And so does the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that's been named after him.
McCain over-reacted to the use of Obama's middle name. The announcer, Cincinatti personality Bill Cunningham, reacted very badly to McCain's humiliating him and went off like a rocket on every newscast he could get airtime on.
This entire episode was very poorly handled. And now McCain and Cunningham both have egg in their faces.
If McCain was so sensitive, why did he allow a firebrand like Cunningham to introduce him in the first place?
If you put a fox into a henhouse, guess what? He's going to have chicken for dinner EVERY SINGLE time! McCain is responsible for putting this fox into that henhouse. And now he's apologizing for the fox doing what it was supposed to do. DUH!!
Neverland Gets Foreclosed: Michael Jackson Needs $24 Million to Keep the Now-Abandoned Ranch
I wonder what kind of interest rate Michael Jackson is paying on his $300 million loan. Whatever it is, it's overwhelmed his ability to pay it back. His Neverland Ranch has gone into foreclosure and is scheduled to be auctioned on the steps of the county courthouse on March 19th.
$300 million is no small amount of change. According to the International Monetary Fund via Wikipedia, it's more than the GDP of eight nations:
In any case, the title company that Jackson owes money to wants $24,525,906.61 by March 19th, or they'll auction Neverland Ranch.
How did he get himself into this mess?
$300 million is no small amount of change. According to the International Monetary Fund via Wikipedia, it's more than the GDP of eight nations:
 Solomon Islands | 286 million | |
 Dominica | 279 million | |
 Tonga | 244 million | |
 Micronesia | 232 million | |
 Palau | 145 million | |
 Marshall Islands | 144 million | |
 São Tomé and PrÃncipe | 99 million | |
 Kiribati | 76.4 million |
In any case, the title company that Jackson owes money to wants $24,525,906.61 by March 19th, or they'll auction Neverland Ranch.
How did he get himself into this mess?
Last Night's Democratic Debate: Ho-Hum
Nothing new came out of the Democratic debate last night in Cleveland.
This is what happens when they have too many debates; they've already said their piece about twenty debates ago, and they have nothing new to offer.
I fell asleep watching the replay last night. Ho-hum.
This is what happens when they have too many debates; they've already said their piece about twenty debates ago, and they have nothing new to offer.
I fell asleep watching the replay last night. Ho-hum.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
What Will Be Clinton's Tone Tonight at Ohio Debate With Obama?
This:
Or this:
This will probably be one of the last debates. Will she play nice, or will she go on the attack? It will be interesting to watch. Hopefully she keeps the shrill voice--you know, the one that sounds like fingernails being dragged across a chalkboard--down to an absolute minimum.
Or this:
This will probably be one of the last debates. Will she play nice, or will she go on the attack? It will be interesting to watch. Hopefully she keeps the shrill voice--you know, the one that sounds like fingernails being dragged across a chalkboard--down to an absolute minimum.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Academy Awards Fail to Mention Renfro or Schneider in Their Tribute to Departed Actors: What Are the Criteria for Recognition in Their Video?
During last night's Academy Awards presentation, they did a video tribute to actors, actresses, directors, screen writers, stunt men, artistic producers and producers who passed away in 2007 and early 2008. They do some kind of tribute every year to honor those members of their entertainment profession that passed away.
There were two notable names missing from their tribute. Actor Brad Renfro died a week before Heath Ledger did; Ledger's name and a videoclip from "Brokeback Mountain" were shown; Renfro was not mentioned at all.
Also missing was Roy Schneider, the lead actor in "Jaws." Schneider might be mentioned at next year's Academy Awards as his death fell outside the time frame of February 1, 2007-January 31, 2008 that the Academy uses to put their video together for this year.
They also didn't mention Jonathan Brandis in last year's Academy Awards.
I don't think that they need to be members of the Academy, or a past Oscar winner. So I'm also wondering what the criteria are for this tribute, other than the time frame.
There were two notable names missing from their tribute. Actor Brad Renfro died a week before Heath Ledger did; Ledger's name and a videoclip from "Brokeback Mountain" were shown; Renfro was not mentioned at all.
Also missing was Roy Schneider, the lead actor in "Jaws." Schneider might be mentioned at next year's Academy Awards as his death fell outside the time frame of February 1, 2007-January 31, 2008 that the Academy uses to put their video together for this year.
They also didn't mention Jonathan Brandis in last year's Academy Awards.
I don't think that they need to be members of the Academy, or a past Oscar winner. So I'm also wondering what the criteria are for this tribute, other than the time frame.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Obama Hits a Nerve With Mailers: Clinton Goes Off Like a Rocket
Senator Clinton went ballistic on Senator Obama's latest mailers, which criticize her support of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and her health care program. She got on a mike at a campaign stop and used THE VOICE that sounds like a screeching bullfrog. Tarnation!
I think if she uses that voice during their next debate, it'll be Clinton who will be xeroxing Obama's memos during the general campaign.
Turn up the bass if you dare to watch and listen to the "Shame on YOU Barack Obama" speech below.
I think if she uses that voice during their next debate, it'll be Clinton who will be xeroxing Obama's memos during the general campaign.
Turn up the bass if you dare to watch and listen to the "Shame on YOU Barack Obama" speech below.
Global Warming Crowd Goes After GM Vice Chairman: He Was Exercising His First Amendment Rights
Some bloggers out there are under the mistaken impression that criticizing the THEORY of global warming is something that the one criticizing it should publicly apologize for.
Take the example of GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. He publicly called global warming a "crock of s---" last month in Texas. And the critics who believe in the hype of global warming immediately went after him.
He has nothing to apologize for, and shouldn't have to retract his opinion. Some of these global-warming left-wing bloggers ought to realize that criticism of global warming, and the divided science behind it, and the flawed premise that global warming is caused by man, IS protected by the First Amendment.
Global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has happened before, and it will happen again, regardless of the steps that we take to stop it. Man has probably made it worse than it would have been, had it happened without our contribution to greenhouse gases, but it is NOT man-made. That is political rhetoric, not science. The true science shows extensive heating and cooling of the planet in eons past.
The "Save the Planet" crowd is too full of itself for it's own good.
When it starts to believe it's own hype, it ends up tripping on half-baked science and half-baked carbon trading markets which are controlled by companies that are the worst polluters. And it ultimately makes getting needed legislation to control and punish polluters that much more difficult.
Should we reduce greenhouse gases? Absolutely. Should we do it because we are stewards of our world, and it's our responsibility to make it cleaner than we found it? Absolutely. Should we do it to save our struggling civilization? Absolutely. Should we develop fuels that are cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels? Absolutely.
Should we do any of this because of fear-mongering based on incomplete science? NO. People are more likely to take the steps above because it's in their best interests to do so, based on solid science and an application of reason, not fear and half-truths currently being employed by the "Save the Planet" crowd.
They'll get more support if they state the facts, separate the politics from the science, and quit fear-mongering.
Take the example of GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. He publicly called global warming a "crock of s---" last month in Texas. And the critics who believe in the hype of global warming immediately went after him.
He has nothing to apologize for, and shouldn't have to retract his opinion. Some of these global-warming left-wing bloggers ought to realize that criticism of global warming, and the divided science behind it, and the flawed premise that global warming is caused by man, IS protected by the First Amendment.
Global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has happened before, and it will happen again, regardless of the steps that we take to stop it. Man has probably made it worse than it would have been, had it happened without our contribution to greenhouse gases, but it is NOT man-made. That is political rhetoric, not science. The true science shows extensive heating and cooling of the planet in eons past.
The "Save the Planet" crowd is too full of itself for it's own good.
When it starts to believe it's own hype, it ends up tripping on half-baked science and half-baked carbon trading markets which are controlled by companies that are the worst polluters. And it ultimately makes getting needed legislation to control and punish polluters that much more difficult.
Should we reduce greenhouse gases? Absolutely. Should we do it because we are stewards of our world, and it's our responsibility to make it cleaner than we found it? Absolutely. Should we do it to save our struggling civilization? Absolutely. Should we develop fuels that are cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels? Absolutely.
Should we do any of this because of fear-mongering based on incomplete science? NO. People are more likely to take the steps above because it's in their best interests to do so, based on solid science and an application of reason, not fear and half-truths currently being employed by the "Save the Planet" crowd.
They'll get more support if they state the facts, separate the politics from the science, and quit fear-mongering.
$1.2 Billion B-2 Stealth Bomber Crashes: Pilots are Safe
A $1.2 billion B-2 stealth bomber crashed at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam yesterday. The crew ejected before the bomber hit the ground; that's the one positive development out of this story.I wonder how much of the price tag goes into engines and hydraulics, to make sure that this kind of thing doesn't happen to these overpriced aircraft.
I think that the Air Force needs to re-evaluate where it spends it's money. It's crying about needing to replace all of it's F-15s and F-16s and A-10s, all of it's tankers and many of it's cargo aircraft. Do they really need to sink $1.2 billion into a single copy of this bomber? I hope they're not planning on building a replacement.
This is the first B-2 that's been lost. It probably won't be the last; they aren't getting any younger. There are still twenty B-2s left in the Air Force inventory.
I think they should take the replacement cost and build a squadron of F-22s, so that they can start replacing the aging F-15s and F-16s.
Friday, February 22, 2008
China Wants Satellite Shoot-Down Data: They Should Share Their Data on Their Shoot-Down FIRST
China's hypocrisy matches the hypocrisy coming out of Washington these days.
They started this mess last year when they blasted one of their old weather satellites with a missile test, creating a debris field that is still in orbit and still dangerous to satellites and spacecraft that need to share the same orbit.
The U.S. knocked a malfunctioning spy satellite out of orbit yesterday in a very low orbit that will be cleared of debris within a couple of weeks as most of the pieces of our satellite will re-enter the atmosphere and be destroyed by the fiery re-entry.
Yet the Chinese are demanding to see our military's data on yesterday's U.S. anti-satellite operation, while at the same time refusing to share their data on their own test from last year. I think China ought to share what it has from it's own test FIRST before asking to see ours.
I might add that the Chinese operation was ill-conceived as their satellite was further out and the debris field now threatens spacecraft that have to either share or pass through the orbit that the debris now occupies. That was not very considerate of the Chinese to pull that kind of stunt. If one of our shuttles gets hit by debris from this Chinese satellite, they'll be the ones at fault if the shuttle is damaged and subsequently lost.
The U.S. operation, while I disagreed with it, was much more carefully considered. They waited until the satellite was within days of re-entering the atmosphere and Earth's gravity had captured it. The debris will re-enter the atmosphere and will be gone before the shuttle Endeavour takes off from Cape Canaveral within three weeks.
You see the difference in the level of expertise and professionalism between China and the U.S.?
My main point is that the U.S. criticized China's shoot-down, then did the same thing less than a year later. And both sides are criticizing the other for doing the same thing. Double-standards galore! Break out the wheelbarrows; the BS is starting to overflow its banks.
So when's Russia going to shoot down a bird? From the Russian point of view, they HAVE to now. And the U.S. and China have no credibility left to protest Russia's action if it chooses to show it's stuff. And it will.
They started this mess last year when they blasted one of their old weather satellites with a missile test, creating a debris field that is still in orbit and still dangerous to satellites and spacecraft that need to share the same orbit.
The U.S. knocked a malfunctioning spy satellite out of orbit yesterday in a very low orbit that will be cleared of debris within a couple of weeks as most of the pieces of our satellite will re-enter the atmosphere and be destroyed by the fiery re-entry.
Yet the Chinese are demanding to see our military's data on yesterday's U.S. anti-satellite operation, while at the same time refusing to share their data on their own test from last year. I think China ought to share what it has from it's own test FIRST before asking to see ours.
I might add that the Chinese operation was ill-conceived as their satellite was further out and the debris field now threatens spacecraft that have to either share or pass through the orbit that the debris now occupies. That was not very considerate of the Chinese to pull that kind of stunt. If one of our shuttles gets hit by debris from this Chinese satellite, they'll be the ones at fault if the shuttle is damaged and subsequently lost.
The U.S. operation, while I disagreed with it, was much more carefully considered. They waited until the satellite was within days of re-entering the atmosphere and Earth's gravity had captured it. The debris will re-enter the atmosphere and will be gone before the shuttle Endeavour takes off from Cape Canaveral within three weeks.
You see the difference in the level of expertise and professionalism between China and the U.S.?
My main point is that the U.S. criticized China's shoot-down, then did the same thing less than a year later. And both sides are criticizing the other for doing the same thing. Double-standards galore! Break out the wheelbarrows; the BS is starting to overflow its banks.
So when's Russia going to shoot down a bird? From the Russian point of view, they HAVE to now. And the U.S. and China have no credibility left to protest Russia's action if it chooses to show it's stuff. And it will.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Clinton Keeps Losing: See What Happens When Candidate Makes the Campaign Nasty?
Is Senator Clinton learning anything from the way that Senator Obama is running his campaign?
Here's a hint for her: being positive and staying on topic win elections; name calling, accusations that she is also vulnerable to, and negative campaigning will lose elections left and right. And that's what happened. She lost Wisconsin and Hawaii because Obama outperformed her, and didn't take the bait that she threw at him over and over.
And get rid of that shrill voice. It's like hearing someone scrape their fingernails across a chalkboard. No one likes it.
Oops, did I say that out loud?
Here's a hint for her: being positive and staying on topic win elections; name calling, accusations that she is also vulnerable to, and negative campaigning will lose elections left and right. And that's what happened. She lost Wisconsin and Hawaii because Obama outperformed her, and didn't take the bait that she threw at him over and over.
And get rid of that shrill voice. It's like hearing someone scrape their fingernails across a chalkboard. No one likes it.
Oops, did I say that out loud?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Castro Resigns: Too Bad Chavez Isn't Leaving Office Too
Fidel Castro resigned as President and Commander-in-Chief of Cuba overnight. This is a very unusual step for a dictator to take.
We are accustomed to seeing dictators dying while in office; either through natural causes, assassination, or their being overthrown either by their country's military or by a civilian uprising--either while they're directing their forces to fight against the uprising, or when they're out of the country on business.
For a dictator to resign because of poor health puts Castro into a different class of dictator. And no, it's not because he's steering Cuba toward democracy either. That's wishful thinking.
The only change that will happen for the time being will be the first name of the person at the top of the Cuban food chain. That's it.
This would be a bigger deal if Castro was still the region's most dangerous man. But he hasn't been since 1962, when the Cuban Missile Crisis threatened to unleash a nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Castro's Soviet handlers kept him on a tight leash and the crisis abated; in later years he sent Cuban troops to other nations around the world to support Communism overseas.
Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
The real changes in Cuba will start to come after Raúl Castro leaves office as well. Not before.
We are accustomed to seeing dictators dying while in office; either through natural causes, assassination, or their being overthrown either by their country's military or by a civilian uprising--either while they're directing their forces to fight against the uprising, or when they're out of the country on business.
For a dictator to resign because of poor health puts Castro into a different class of dictator. And no, it's not because he's steering Cuba toward democracy either. That's wishful thinking.
The only change that will happen for the time being will be the first name of the person at the top of the Cuban food chain. That's it.
This would be a bigger deal if Castro was still the region's most dangerous man. But he hasn't been since 1962, when the Cuban Missile Crisis threatened to unleash a nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Castro's Soviet handlers kept him on a tight leash and the crisis abated; in later years he sent Cuban troops to other nations around the world to support Communism overseas.
Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
The real changes in Cuba will start to come after Raúl Castro leaves office as well. Not before.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Iranian F-14s Return to the Air: Adversaries Brokered Transfer of F-14 Parts to Iran
Thanks to the illegal sale of F-14 parts to nations that wheel and deal with Iran, they've managed to restore three of their F-14A Tomcat fighters to operational status.
What a darn shame.
Iran was sold 79 Tomcats during the reign of the Shah; following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, sales of the aircraft and spare parts were permanently suspended. The F-14s saw extensive action during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Then the parts started running out and many of their F-14s were cannibalized for spare parts. Eventually most of the F-14s were grounded, and Iran began an illicit smuggling program to acquire F-14 parts.
The good news is that the avionics aboard are ancient, so they won't pose too much of a threat if they go up against the U.S. Navy or Air Force. A first-generation F-14A is no match for an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or an F-22 Raptor.
Still, what a shame.
What a darn shame.
Iran was sold 79 Tomcats during the reign of the Shah; following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, sales of the aircraft and spare parts were permanently suspended. The F-14s saw extensive action during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Then the parts started running out and many of their F-14s were cannibalized for spare parts. Eventually most of the F-14s were grounded, and Iran began an illicit smuggling program to acquire F-14 parts.
The good news is that the avionics aboard are ancient, so they won't pose too much of a threat if they go up against the U.S. Navy or Air Force. A first-generation F-14A is no match for an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or an F-22 Raptor.
Still, what a shame.
Clinton Accuses Obama of Stealing Ideas From Other Politicians: Accusation is Silly Coming from Her
Camp Clinton recently accused Barack Obama of "plagiarism" in his speeches and ideas. Here's a thought:
She shouldn't throw rocks in her glass house as she's guilty of it too. Look at the title of her 1996 book. It was plagiarized from an African proverb first, and then from a 1994 book by Jane Cowen-Fletcher, whose book was titled "It Takes a Village."
Clinton didn't even give decent credit to her ghostwriter, Barbara Feinman, for her hard work in actually writing the book.
So she ought to rethink this strategy, as she's just as vulnerable to it as he is.
She shouldn't throw rocks in her glass house as she's guilty of it too. Look at the title of her 1996 book. It was plagiarized from an African proverb first, and then from a 1994 book by Jane Cowen-Fletcher, whose book was titled "It Takes a Village."
Clinton didn't even give decent credit to her ghostwriter, Barbara Feinman, for her hard work in actually writing the book.
So she ought to rethink this strategy, as she's just as vulnerable to it as he is.
Democratic "Superdelegate" System Seems Very Strange: Payoffs Are Legal and Superdelegates Are Not Answerable to Voters
The Democratic Party's superdelegate (aka "unpledged party leaders") system seems to be an out-of-control disaster waiting to happen.
As I understand it, payoffs in the form of campaign contributions to superdelegates, who are elected officials (ie senators, representatives, mayors, governors, etc) and others are legal. In some states, such as Texas, one campaign contributing to another is illegal, which is what got GOP Senator Tom DeLay accused of breaking campaign finance laws. Obama's spent $694,000 on superdelegates, Clinton's spent $195,000 on them.
The superdelegates are not pledged to follow the voting patterns of their home states either; they're free to vote how they want. A delegate that isn't answerable to the voters back home and isn't obligated to vote for who their people voted for is troublesome at best, and a disaster at worst.
I don't like or trust this system. It sucks.
As I understand it, payoffs in the form of campaign contributions to superdelegates, who are elected officials (ie senators, representatives, mayors, governors, etc) and others are legal. In some states, such as Texas, one campaign contributing to another is illegal, which is what got GOP Senator Tom DeLay accused of breaking campaign finance laws. Obama's spent $694,000 on superdelegates, Clinton's spent $195,000 on them.
The superdelegates are not pledged to follow the voting patterns of their home states either; they're free to vote how they want. A delegate that isn't answerable to the voters back home and isn't obligated to vote for who their people voted for is troublesome at best, and a disaster at worst.
I don't like or trust this system. It sucks.
Kosovo Declares Independence: Serbia and Russia Move to Block Recognition of Earth's Newest Nation
Kosovo has declared it's independence from Serbia and the Yugoslav Federation, and has set off a political crisis at the United Nations. Serbia and Russia are moving to block recognition of the planet's newest nation.
The European Union and the United States are set to recognize it immediately.
Hopefully a new war won't break out over this.
As much as I don't like it, I think it's better that Serbia and Kosovo go their own separate ways. Both have been the transgressors in past conflicts; the two governments don't like one another, and with the recent history, it was an uncomfortable relationship at best. And in this case, Christianity and Islam don't play well in the same sandbox. I think Russia and Serbia ought to get over it and move on.
I'm still not happy with NATO's bombing of civilian targets in Serbia the last time around. NATO admitted killing up to 1,500 non-combatant civilians during their 78-day air war against Serbia. Depleted uranium rounds were used by NATO, as were cluster bombs in close proximity to civilians in both Kosovo and in Serbia.
That made NATO a co-aggressor alongside Serbia.
And we criticized Israel for using U.S.-built cluster bombs in southern Lebanon for the same thing during their war with Hezbollah last year? Our hypocrisy knows NO bounds.
No one from NATO was made to answer for the collateral damage. And I still think members of the U.S. government who helped to make up the target lists (including bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade) needed to be up on war crimes charges as well. But they got away with it.
And now Kosovo has declared independence; if Serbia decides to go in and end this independence bid by Kosovo, are NATO ground troops going to get involved? This could turn into a huge mess very quickly.
The European Union and the United States are set to recognize it immediately.
Hopefully a new war won't break out over this.
As much as I don't like it, I think it's better that Serbia and Kosovo go their own separate ways. Both have been the transgressors in past conflicts; the two governments don't like one another, and with the recent history, it was an uncomfortable relationship at best. And in this case, Christianity and Islam don't play well in the same sandbox. I think Russia and Serbia ought to get over it and move on.
I'm still not happy with NATO's bombing of civilian targets in Serbia the last time around. NATO admitted killing up to 1,500 non-combatant civilians during their 78-day air war against Serbia. Depleted uranium rounds were used by NATO, as were cluster bombs in close proximity to civilians in both Kosovo and in Serbia.
That made NATO a co-aggressor alongside Serbia.
And we criticized Israel for using U.S.-built cluster bombs in southern Lebanon for the same thing during their war with Hezbollah last year? Our hypocrisy knows NO bounds.
No one from NATO was made to answer for the collateral damage. And I still think members of the U.S. government who helped to make up the target lists (including bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade) needed to be up on war crimes charges as well. But they got away with it.
And now Kosovo has declared independence; if Serbia decides to go in and end this independence bid by Kosovo, are NATO ground troops going to get involved? This could turn into a huge mess very quickly.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
People Need to Understand Something: Weapons-Free Zones Don't Make Areas Weapons-Free--Closed Campuses and Metal Detectors Do
The recent shootings at Northern Illinois University seems to have exposed some weird thinking. People seem to be shocked that a madman would choose to carry weapons into areas that are declared as weapons-free zones.
Get real, folks.
Just because an area--such as a university campus--are declared as weapons-free zones, it definitely doesn't make those areas weapons-free. Closed campuses, metal detectors, security people and searches of bags/persons do.
And passing more laws to restrict the presence of guns in areas that they're already banned in won't help, unless those laws mandate physical steps to be taken, like the steps mentioned above--with full funding. Preventing disasters like Columbine, Virginia Tech and NIU will be complex and expensive.
As we've learned through bitter experience, the key to stopping a homicidal maniac is to stop them at the point of action...in other words, putting a stop to them at the front gate or front door before they penetrate any deeper and have access to large numbers of people.
Many colleges and universities began upgrading their warning systems after last year's slaughter at Virginia Tech; these are very good first steps. Reverse-911 systems and the like definitely save lives.
But the public shouldn't be all that surprised that the weapons-free zones that politicians push to have made into law fail in practice. People carrying weapons into these zones probably happens more than anyone realizes or would care to admit.
Get real, folks.
Just because an area--such as a university campus--are declared as weapons-free zones, it definitely doesn't make those areas weapons-free. Closed campuses, metal detectors, security people and searches of bags/persons do.
And passing more laws to restrict the presence of guns in areas that they're already banned in won't help, unless those laws mandate physical steps to be taken, like the steps mentioned above--with full funding. Preventing disasters like Columbine, Virginia Tech and NIU will be complex and expensive.
As we've learned through bitter experience, the key to stopping a homicidal maniac is to stop them at the point of action...in other words, putting a stop to them at the front gate or front door before they penetrate any deeper and have access to large numbers of people.
Many colleges and universities began upgrading their warning systems after last year's slaughter at Virginia Tech; these are very good first steps. Reverse-911 systems and the like definitely save lives.
But the public shouldn't be all that surprised that the weapons-free zones that politicians push to have made into law fail in practice. People carrying weapons into these zones probably happens more than anyone realizes or would care to admit.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Border Dispute Between Two U.S. States? In Today's Day and Age?
Current border disputes:
China vs. India
India vs. Pakistan
Ethiopia vs. Eritrea
Ethiopia vs. Somalia
Israel vs. Palestine
Chile vs. Argentina
Peru vs. Chile
Bolivia vs. Chile
Canada vs. United States (click here for list)
North Korea vs. South Korea vs. Japan vs. Russia (Sea of Japan)
Greece vs. Turkey
Canada vs. Norway vs. Russia vs. United States (North Pole)
China vs. Taiwan
Tennessee vs. Georgia (WHAT!!)
It's true. Georgia and Tennessee decided on their common border in 1818; but there was apparently a mistake made in surveying the border area, and it's one mile off. Georgia wishes to expand the border one mile north to correct the mistake, which would also give it access to the waters of the Tennessee River.
State legislators in both states have engaged in saber rattling over this dispute. The matter will eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has jurisdiction in a case like this. The last time the Court decided in a case, it was to settle the border between Maine and New Hampshire in 2002 over where the state line fell in the area of the Piscataqua River. Maine's interpretation was deemed to be correct.
In addition to Tennessee vs. Georgia, there are also border disputes between New Jersey and Delaware, Pennsylvania and Delaware (with Delaware considering a symbolic bill to call out the National Guard to safeguard their claims) and a couple of others, including an ongoing dispute between Kansas and Colorado over the Arkansas River. Most of these cases are expected to be resolved by the Supreme Court in the 2007-2008 session.
It's amazing that these disputes weren't settled decades ago. Amazing!
China vs. India
India vs. Pakistan
Ethiopia vs. Eritrea
Ethiopia vs. Somalia
Israel vs. Palestine
Chile vs. Argentina
Peru vs. Chile
Bolivia vs. Chile
Canada vs. United States (click here for list)
North Korea vs. South Korea vs. Japan vs. Russia (Sea of Japan)
Greece vs. Turkey
Canada vs. Norway vs. Russia vs. United States (North Pole)
China vs. Taiwan
Tennessee vs. Georgia (WHAT!!)
It's true. Georgia and Tennessee decided on their common border in 1818; but there was apparently a mistake made in surveying the border area, and it's one mile off. Georgia wishes to expand the border one mile north to correct the mistake, which would also give it access to the waters of the Tennessee River.
State legislators in both states have engaged in saber rattling over this dispute. The matter will eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has jurisdiction in a case like this. The last time the Court decided in a case, it was to settle the border between Maine and New Hampshire in 2002 over where the state line fell in the area of the Piscataqua River. Maine's interpretation was deemed to be correct.
In addition to Tennessee vs. Georgia, there are also border disputes between New Jersey and Delaware, Pennsylvania and Delaware (with Delaware considering a symbolic bill to call out the National Guard to safeguard their claims) and a couple of others, including an ongoing dispute between Kansas and Colorado over the Arkansas River. Most of these cases are expected to be resolved by the Supreme Court in the 2007-2008 session.
It's amazing that these disputes weren't settled decades ago. Amazing!
Russians Believe U.S. Shoot-Down of Dead Satellite is Test of Anti-Ballistic Missile System: They'll Kill a Bird Next
The Russian Federation has accused the U.S. of testing part of it's anti-ballistic missile capability with the planned shoot-down of a dead U.S. spy satellite. Since China tested an anti-satellite weapon a few months ago, and the U.S. is taking a bird down now, how long can it be before Russia decides to demonstrate the might of it's own weapons?
It's very likely that the Russians will destroy one of their own satellites to prove to the U.S. and China that it's in the ballgame too, and can destroy enemy surveillance and communications satellites at will. And this will in turn raise U.S./Russian tensions even further.
The Bush Administration may want to rethink this planned shoot-down. It's going to provoke the Russians; they're already agitated enough with the placement of U.S. anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic to threaten to target Russian nuclear missiles on both nations. They've also threatened to target missiles on Ukraine if it joins NATO.
We have a space shuttle up there right now; why can't they re-task the Atlantis to retrieve the satellite and drag it to a higher orbit, or bring it back to Earth? That's what the damned thing is designed for, after all.
President Bush needs to settle down and stop pushing the Russians around. They've returned to a Cold War mentality; we need to as well, and try to avoid taking steps that will blow both countries to kingdom come.
It's very likely that the Russians will destroy one of their own satellites to prove to the U.S. and China that it's in the ballgame too, and can destroy enemy surveillance and communications satellites at will. And this will in turn raise U.S./Russian tensions even further.
The Bush Administration may want to rethink this planned shoot-down. It's going to provoke the Russians; they're already agitated enough with the placement of U.S. anti-ballistic missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic to threaten to target Russian nuclear missiles on both nations. They've also threatened to target missiles on Ukraine if it joins NATO.
We have a space shuttle up there right now; why can't they re-task the Atlantis to retrieve the satellite and drag it to a higher orbit, or bring it back to Earth? That's what the damned thing is designed for, after all.
President Bush needs to settle down and stop pushing the Russians around. They've returned to a Cold War mentality; we need to as well, and try to avoid taking steps that will blow both countries to kingdom come.
NO New Primary Votes in Michigan or Florida: DNC Needs to Reap What It Sows
Well, well, well.
Look at who's crying about the deadlock in the Democratic Party. Waaah!!
Music to my ears. Because the Democratic National Committee screwed with Michigan and Florida, I am opposed to those two states riding in to save the day. By all means, don't seat those two delegations, Mr. Dean and Mrs. Pelosi. Stick to your guns.
They've REALLY earned this. It's poetic justice.
If they do decide to do a revote, the DNC should pay for the elections in their entirety. The disenfranchised voters in those two states should not have to pay a single penny for the DNC screwup. Maybe next time they'll be more flexible in their response to states standing up to the corrupt system currently in place.
Before that happens, they need to get rid of their top leadership. They're USELESS and CLUELESS!
Look at who's crying about the deadlock in the Democratic Party. Waaah!!
Music to my ears. Because the Democratic National Committee screwed with Michigan and Florida, I am opposed to those two states riding in to save the day. By all means, don't seat those two delegations, Mr. Dean and Mrs. Pelosi. Stick to your guns.
They've REALLY earned this. It's poetic justice.
If they do decide to do a revote, the DNC should pay for the elections in their entirety. The disenfranchised voters in those two states should not have to pay a single penny for the DNC screwup. Maybe next time they'll be more flexible in their response to states standing up to the corrupt system currently in place.
Before that happens, they need to get rid of their top leadership. They're USELESS and CLUELESS!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Danish Newspapers React to Murder Plot by Reprinting Offensive Muhammed Cartoons: How Many Will Die This Time?
Stupid IS as stupid does.
Danish newspapers have signed the death warrants of an as-yet undetermined number of innocent people--again--by reprinting a number of offensive Muhammed cartoons.
This was in response to an extremist plot to murder the cartoonist who drew the cartoons originally. After a number of Western newspapers printed the cartoons, violent protests broke out in January and February 2006 across the Muslim world. Western embassies and Christian churches were set afire, and one hundred people were murdered during the riots.
How many people are going to die this time, once the riots are kicked into high gear again? These newspapers know full well what's going to happen, but they did it anyways, in the name of free speech. And newspapers across Europe are preparing to follow suit.
The protests have already begun; there have been protests in the Danish capitol, in the Gaza Strip, and in unstable Pakistan. Once they get printed again in more papers, the protests will spread.
STUPID!!
Danish newspapers have signed the death warrants of an as-yet undetermined number of innocent people--again--by reprinting a number of offensive Muhammed cartoons.
This was in response to an extremist plot to murder the cartoonist who drew the cartoons originally. After a number of Western newspapers printed the cartoons, violent protests broke out in January and February 2006 across the Muslim world. Western embassies and Christian churches were set afire, and one hundred people were murdered during the riots.
How many people are going to die this time, once the riots are kicked into high gear again? These newspapers know full well what's going to happen, but they did it anyways, in the name of free speech. And newspapers across Europe are preparing to follow suit.
The protests have already begun; there have been protests in the Danish capitol, in the Gaza Strip, and in unstable Pakistan. Once they get printed again in more papers, the protests will spread.
STUPID!!
Final Post on Clemens Testimony Before Congress: Hearing Made No Difference in Determining Whether Security Bill Vote Was Scheduled or Not
I've been hearing rumblings in the last several days about Congress wasting time on pro baseball while the FISA bill is set to sunset tomorrow. I'm so-so on that point.
FISA is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for electronic monitoring, physical searches, wiretapping and business record access with the permission of a special federal court. It expires at midnight.
The Senate passed a version with legal protection for phone companies that have cooperated with the U.S. government against dozens of pending lawsuits; the House went on a twelve-day vacation without bringing it up. And the blame game between the White House and the House of Representatives has been in full-swing ever since.
With regards to the baseball hearing, the truth is that the FISA bill was not going to be approved or disapproved in the five-hour span that the nation's attention was focused on Congressman Waxman's committee hearing on baseball. Nor was the presence or absence of the second stringers involved in that committee going to turn the tide of whether the House voted on FISA or not, either.
If a House leader who could schedule a vote on FISA was on that committee questioning Clemens and McNamee, then there would be some hell to pay. But there wasn't a senior member of the House leadership, such as Nancy Pelosi, present.
So the baseball hearing had no impact on the impending expiration of FISA. One had nothing to do with the other. The House leadership decided days ago that they were not going to bring up FISA until after their midwinter break. That's what really happened.
FISA is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows for electronic monitoring, physical searches, wiretapping and business record access with the permission of a special federal court. It expires at midnight.
The Senate passed a version with legal protection for phone companies that have cooperated with the U.S. government against dozens of pending lawsuits; the House went on a twelve-day vacation without bringing it up. And the blame game between the White House and the House of Representatives has been in full-swing ever since.
With regards to the baseball hearing, the truth is that the FISA bill was not going to be approved or disapproved in the five-hour span that the nation's attention was focused on Congressman Waxman's committee hearing on baseball. Nor was the presence or absence of the second stringers involved in that committee going to turn the tide of whether the House voted on FISA or not, either.
If a House leader who could schedule a vote on FISA was on that committee questioning Clemens and McNamee, then there would be some hell to pay. But there wasn't a senior member of the House leadership, such as Nancy Pelosi, present.
So the baseball hearing had no impact on the impending expiration of FISA. One had nothing to do with the other. The House leadership decided days ago that they were not going to bring up FISA until after their midwinter break. That's what really happened.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
More on Clemens vs. McNamee: Justice Department Needs to Make an Example Out of One or Both of Them
In the case of Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee appearing before Congress to give testimony while under oath, one of them MUST suffer the consequences for decisions that they've made in relation to that testimony.
Because one of them lied while under oath. Either McNamee injected Clemens with illegal substances, or he didn't. There's no in-between possible. McNamee lied, or Clemens lied.
It's obvious that one of these men, by blatantly lying while under oath, has attempted to make a mockery of our legal processes. And the scales of justice need to be brought back into balance.
While it's true that this was no court of law, an oath to tell the truth before Congress carries the same weight as someone testifying in a court of law. The only difference is that a judge can find someone in contempt immediately, while Congress must file a complaint with the Justice Department, which can bring charges using their prosecutors. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's how it will play out in this case.
Justice had representatives at that hearing yesterday, so they don't need to wait for Congress to refer the matter to them.
And all of this is on top of the mistruths that both men have already been caught in. Both should face misdemeanor charges; one should face felony charges. I am sick and tired of celebrities getting off light simply because they're celebrities.
This must STOP.
Because one of them lied while under oath. Either McNamee injected Clemens with illegal substances, or he didn't. There's no in-between possible. McNamee lied, or Clemens lied.
It's obvious that one of these men, by blatantly lying while under oath, has attempted to make a mockery of our legal processes. And the scales of justice need to be brought back into balance.
While it's true that this was no court of law, an oath to tell the truth before Congress carries the same weight as someone testifying in a court of law. The only difference is that a judge can find someone in contempt immediately, while Congress must file a complaint with the Justice Department, which can bring charges using their prosecutors. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's how it will play out in this case.
Justice had representatives at that hearing yesterday, so they don't need to wait for Congress to refer the matter to them.
And all of this is on top of the mistruths that both men have already been caught in. Both should face misdemeanor charges; one should face felony charges. I am sick and tired of celebrities getting off light simply because they're celebrities.
This must STOP.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
No Clear Victor in Roger Clemens Testimony on Capitol Hill: Pitcher and Trainer Both Claim to Tell Truth While Under Oath
It's been a while since there's been this kind of spectacle on Capitol Hill.
All-star pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, had their long-anticipated confrontation in front of the cameras, while testifying under oath. They were responding to the Mitchell Report, which outlined professional baseball's drug and steroid problems and named Clemens and others as users of human growth hormone (HGH) and anabolic steroids.
It was a very strange hearing, with both men telling vastly opposite stories and both claiming to be telling the truth while under oath, which is impossible.
A lesson needs to be taught here on what happens to those who lie under oath. Good luck to the powers that be on sorting out the honest one from the liar. But something has to happen here. Someone has lied under oath and needs to answer to that.
Unbelievable spectacle; I'm not sure this was a good use of Congress's time and efforts.
All-star pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, had their long-anticipated confrontation in front of the cameras, while testifying under oath. They were responding to the Mitchell Report, which outlined professional baseball's drug and steroid problems and named Clemens and others as users of human growth hormone (HGH) and anabolic steroids.
It was a very strange hearing, with both men telling vastly opposite stories and both claiming to be telling the truth while under oath, which is impossible.
A lesson needs to be taught here on what happens to those who lie under oath. Good luck to the powers that be on sorting out the honest one from the liar. But something has to happen here. Someone has lied under oath and needs to answer to that.
Unbelievable spectacle; I'm not sure this was a good use of Congress's time and efforts.
Pelosi Declares a Surge a Total Failure, Despite Major Progress
Looks like Nancy Pelosi is getting ready to own defeat in Iraq again, pronouncing the highly successful surge a "failure" on high.
The surge did what it was supposed to: give the Iraqi government some breathing room to accomplish their political objectives, which, I might add, were imposed upon them by the U.S. Imperial Congress in another flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
For Speaker Pelosi to try to take success away from our troops is, quite frankly, appalling and disingenuous.
For all this talk from the politicians that there's "no military solution in Iraq, only a political one," I haven't seen any mindboggling political solutions to getting Iraq on it's feet and our troops out of there any faster. All I've seen are political deadlines from American politicians directed at their Iraqi counterparts in Baghdad; to which the Iraqi politicians take great delight in thumbing their nose right back at the U.S. Congress.
I'm not sure what's funnier: America's politicians attempting to tell the Iraqis what to do, or the Iraqi practice of ignoring the American deadlines and doing what they want regardless of political pressure coming from Washington. It's more pathetic than funny.
Pelosi has no legs to stand on; she can't get her own party to listen to her; the Administration isn't listening, and the Iraqis sure aren't either. What's she going to do about it?
It's just more of the same coming from Washington.
The surge did what it was supposed to: give the Iraqi government some breathing room to accomplish their political objectives, which, I might add, were imposed upon them by the U.S. Imperial Congress in another flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
For Speaker Pelosi to try to take success away from our troops is, quite frankly, appalling and disingenuous.
For all this talk from the politicians that there's "no military solution in Iraq, only a political one," I haven't seen any mindboggling political solutions to getting Iraq on it's feet and our troops out of there any faster. All I've seen are political deadlines from American politicians directed at their Iraqi counterparts in Baghdad; to which the Iraqi politicians take great delight in thumbing their nose right back at the U.S. Congress.
I'm not sure what's funnier: America's politicians attempting to tell the Iraqis what to do, or the Iraqi practice of ignoring the American deadlines and doing what they want regardless of political pressure coming from Washington. It's more pathetic than funny.
Pelosi has no legs to stand on; she can't get her own party to listen to her; the Administration isn't listening, and the Iraqis sure aren't either. What's she going to do about it?
It's just more of the same coming from Washington.
Homeland Security Department Clashes with Locals Living Along U.S./Mexico Border Over Placement of Fence: Troubling
A wave of litigation seems to be in progress against landowners living along our southern border facing Mexico.
The problem stems from the fact that the federal government is moving forward with plans to build a fence to stem the tide of illegal immigration taking place along many points of the border.
Unfortunately, the government doesn't own all the land that runs along the 1,969-mile long border. It's in private hands, and the government has ordered private landowners in targeted areas of southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to allow federal surveyors onto their land to make plans for extending the fence.
Many are refusing the surveyors access as they don't want the fence running across their lands. Some are ranchers who own livestock and rely on the Rio Grande for their water; a fence would cut off their primary--and sometimes only--source of water. Others don't want a fence ruining the scenery.
In any case, many are being sued for their non-compliance with the Homeland Security order.
I support sealing the border, but I also think that the local landowners need to have some input into how to achieve this. I definitely do not support the use of eminent domain to force the issue either. Are the homeowners lords and masters of their own homes, or aren't they?
Building a piece of a fence here and then one there with no connectivity doesn't make sense either. This is very strange.
The problem stems from the fact that the federal government is moving forward with plans to build a fence to stem the tide of illegal immigration taking place along many points of the border.
Unfortunately, the government doesn't own all the land that runs along the 1,969-mile long border. It's in private hands, and the government has ordered private landowners in targeted areas of southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to allow federal surveyors onto their land to make plans for extending the fence.
Many are refusing the surveyors access as they don't want the fence running across their lands. Some are ranchers who own livestock and rely on the Rio Grande for their water; a fence would cut off their primary--and sometimes only--source of water. Others don't want a fence ruining the scenery.
In any case, many are being sued for their non-compliance with the Homeland Security order.
I support sealing the border, but I also think that the local landowners need to have some input into how to achieve this. I definitely do not support the use of eminent domain to force the issue either. Are the homeowners lords and masters of their own homes, or aren't they?
Building a piece of a fence here and then one there with no connectivity doesn't make sense either. This is very strange.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Constitution Party Launches Media Campaign to Attract Disaffected Conservatives in GOP: Before Jumping Ship, Conservatives Should Investigate Further
I was listening to the "Big Show" on WJIM-AM out of Lansing the other day and heard Michael Patrick Shields interviewing someone from the Constitution Party on the current state of affairs in the Republican Party.
The interview itself was interesting, but I think that before conservatives consider jumping ship from the Republican Party to the Constitution Party that they investigate things a little more. I looked at the Constitution Party a few months ago as I saw which direction things were going to go in the GOP. And after doing that research, I rejected supporting the Constitution Party for the following reasons:
Their national platform and web site looked great. I think that if it were the standard for the entire party that conservatives could jump ship without reservations. But sadly, that's not how the Constitution Party is organized.
I got to the Michigan part of the site and discovered that the site had been taken over by the Michigan Militia, which I don't recognize or support.
The Michigan site began by identifying it's members as Warrior Christians and that their goal was to have two million men under arms by mid-2008. What in the name of Sam Hill for? Last time I checked, Canada wasn't preparing to invade Michigan; nor is the United Nations preparing to take over. So why do we need a standing army of two million men under arms and not taking orders from either the State of Michigan, or the United States government?
So I decided to ignore this party as it was an obvious front for the Michigan Militia, which I am in agreement with on protecting the Second Amendment, but am in serious disagreement with on just about everything else. I do NOT recognize them as being the "well-regulated militia" spoken of in the U.S. Constitution. That's the National Guard, which evolved from the Revolutionary War militias and elements of the Continental Army.
The problem with the Constitution Party is that they lack national cohesion. They're called different parties in different states. Each chapter has it's own rules, with it's own focus. And that's how the Michigan Militia holds sway over the Michigan chapter.
I won't support the Constitution Party as long as the militias are in charge.
Two million men, my afterburner.
The interview itself was interesting, but I think that before conservatives consider jumping ship from the Republican Party to the Constitution Party that they investigate things a little more. I looked at the Constitution Party a few months ago as I saw which direction things were going to go in the GOP. And after doing that research, I rejected supporting the Constitution Party for the following reasons:
Their national platform and web site looked great. I think that if it were the standard for the entire party that conservatives could jump ship without reservations. But sadly, that's not how the Constitution Party is organized.
I got to the Michigan part of the site and discovered that the site had been taken over by the Michigan Militia, which I don't recognize or support.
The Michigan site began by identifying it's members as Warrior Christians and that their goal was to have two million men under arms by mid-2008. What in the name of Sam Hill for? Last time I checked, Canada wasn't preparing to invade Michigan; nor is the United Nations preparing to take over. So why do we need a standing army of two million men under arms and not taking orders from either the State of Michigan, or the United States government?
So I decided to ignore this party as it was an obvious front for the Michigan Militia, which I am in agreement with on protecting the Second Amendment, but am in serious disagreement with on just about everything else. I do NOT recognize them as being the "well-regulated militia" spoken of in the U.S. Constitution. That's the National Guard, which evolved from the Revolutionary War militias and elements of the Continental Army.
The problem with the Constitution Party is that they lack national cohesion. They're called different parties in different states. Each chapter has it's own rules, with it's own focus. And that's how the Michigan Militia holds sway over the Michigan chapter.
I won't support the Constitution Party as long as the militias are in charge.
Two million men, my afterburner.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Democrats Worried That They Won't Have a Candidate Until Late August: That Possibility Sets Up a PERFECT General Campaign
Democrats are worried that the ongoing battle between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama will drag on until it's decided by the Democratic National Convention itself in late August. The Democrats are worried that they will have only a two-month general campaign.
That's the PERFECT amount of time for a general election!
I've been railing on the current primary system for many months, saying that the current primary season ends too early and it leads to a prolonged (and overly expensive) general campaign. I ask the question again: do we want a repeat of Bush vs. Kerry, where Kerry got the required votes by March 11th, 2004, and the following 8 1/2 month nightmare of a campaign between Bush and Kerry?
No, two months is perfect for a general campaign; especially since we're going to be treated to a liberal vs. liberal show anyways. We're going to need buckets to catch all the puke that's going to be flying out of our TV sets. Two months is MORE than adequate.
That's the PERFECT amount of time for a general election!
I've been railing on the current primary system for many months, saying that the current primary season ends too early and it leads to a prolonged (and overly expensive) general campaign. I ask the question again: do we want a repeat of Bush vs. Kerry, where Kerry got the required votes by March 11th, 2004, and the following 8 1/2 month nightmare of a campaign between Bush and Kerry?
No, two months is perfect for a general campaign; especially since we're going to be treated to a liberal vs. liberal show anyways. We're going to need buckets to catch all the puke that's going to be flying out of our TV sets. Two months is MORE than adequate.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Romney Withdrawal from Campaign is Disappointing: It's a 3-Way Liberal Race Now
Mitt Romney's decision to withdraw from the Presidential campaign was deeply disappointing. He was the last best hope for a conservative nominee to appear on the GOP ticket against Obama or Clinton.
Huckabee doesn't have enough momentum to catch up at this point; he's got 190 delegates vs. McCain's 703 delegates. A candidate needs 1,191 delegates to secure the GOP nomination. He'd have to win a ton of states.
Romney did, however, decide to hold onto his 293 delegates.
I wonder if he isn't trying to swing a deal with McCain--his delegates in exchange for the VP slot. But if Huckabee does pull off a miracle and gets close to McCain's tally, wouldn't it be something if Huckabee and Romney pooled their delegates to knock McCain out? That would be NUTS!
It looks like we're going to have a liberal Republican on the GOP side of the ticket; I'm going to have a lot of new source material.
The question now is...in the event of a McCain nomination, will conservatives fall in line to defeat Hillary in November, or will they stay home and focus on 2012?
Huckabee doesn't have enough momentum to catch up at this point; he's got 190 delegates vs. McCain's 703 delegates. A candidate needs 1,191 delegates to secure the GOP nomination. He'd have to win a ton of states.
Romney did, however, decide to hold onto his 293 delegates.
I wonder if he isn't trying to swing a deal with McCain--his delegates in exchange for the VP slot. But if Huckabee does pull off a miracle and gets close to McCain's tally, wouldn't it be something if Huckabee and Romney pooled their delegates to knock McCain out? That would be NUTS!
It looks like we're going to have a liberal Republican on the GOP side of the ticket; I'm going to have a lot of new source material.
The question now is...in the event of a McCain nomination, will conservatives fall in line to defeat Hillary in November, or will they stay home and focus on 2012?
Monday, February 04, 2008
Best Superbowl Ads: Terminator vs. Foxbot
The Super Bowl ads were kind of a downer this year. I got the most entertainment out of these ads:
Wasted Season: 18-0 Patriots Blow Super Bowl and Lose to Giants; Overconfidence?
I was listening to a sports commentator on the radio this morning on the undefeated New England Patriots losing to the New York Giants at the Super Bowl last night. He said the Patriots defeat was inevitable--because they were overconfident going into the game.
The commentator said that once a team starts down that road, it has a corrosive effect on their play on the field. They are more prone to making mistakes, which was what happened.
In the last 45 seconds, the Patriots did seem to shut their defense down in preparation for the celebration that was moments away. And then the Giants scored the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left on the clock.
It was a stunning turn of events.
Now, I don't watch a lot of NFL football, and I don't know if the commentator was right or not, but I've seen what overconfidence can do to amateur hockey teams. What should have been wins for elite travel teams turned into defeats.
Should be interesting to see what the late night shows say.
The commentator said that once a team starts down that road, it has a corrosive effect on their play on the field. They are more prone to making mistakes, which was what happened.
In the last 45 seconds, the Patriots did seem to shut their defense down in preparation for the celebration that was moments away. And then the Giants scored the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left on the clock.
It was a stunning turn of events.
Now, I don't watch a lot of NFL football, and I don't know if the commentator was right or not, but I've seen what overconfidence can do to amateur hockey teams. What should have been wins for elite travel teams turned into defeats.
Should be interesting to see what the late night shows say.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
"Super-Duper Tuesday??!" Gag Me With a Spoon!
A lot of interesting nicknames have come up for Tuesday's Super Tuesday primaries, which are taking place in 22 states.
Some "genius" came up with "Super-Duper Tuesday." How teen-ish. If I hear a teenager talking about Super Tuesday as "super-duper", I'd consider that normal. But for an adult to use a term like this in serious political discourse really leads me to doubt their command of the English language.
Yes, it's a big primary day on Tuesday, but "Super-Duper Tuesday?" Ga-ga!
Some "genius" came up with "Super-Duper Tuesday." How teen-ish. If I hear a teenager talking about Super Tuesday as "super-duper", I'd consider that normal. But for an adult to use a term like this in serious political discourse really leads me to doubt their command of the English language.
Yes, it's a big primary day on Tuesday, but "Super-Duper Tuesday?" Ga-ga!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Snipes Catches a Lucky Break and Beats IRS Felony Charges: What Will Be the Fallout?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lost a must-win case against actor Wesley Snipes, who was brought up on a slew of federal charges related to income tax fraud. Instead, he was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of failure to file income taxes and will be sentenced soon.
Snipes and his anti-tax compatriots had attempted to use arguments that had already been rejected by the courts in other less high-profile cases against income tax evaders. And the defense apparently worked as the jury found Snipes not guilty on the felony charges but stuck him with the misdemeanors.
The IRS decided to make an example of Snipes so that other rich income tax evaders would be discouraged from doing what Snipes did in failing to file.
What will be the fallout from the IRS failure to convict Snipes on the more serious charges? I think it's entirely possible that others will be more encouraged to go against the IRS, rather than be discouraged. His partners drew the felony convictions, but Snipes got let off. I've known two people who believe as Snipes does; the IRS caught up to both of them.
One, a college professor who I've known most of my life, had his wages garnished until he was caught up. I don't know if he still holds to these beliefs. The other is someone who I've met in the last five years. He got a warning letter from the IRS as he had not filed in several years; he decided not to go against the "revenooers" (as he calls them) and got with a specialist, who negotiated with the IRS to get him caught up. He wrote out a big check to the IRS and has filed taxes on time the last two years. Both are lucky that they weren't sent to jail.
I almost wonder if the tax code will be altered due to the potential ramifications of this loss in court. What would have happened if Snipes had gotten off completely? The fall-out from that would have been unbelievable.
Don't look for me to follow Mr. Snipes' example. I've already filed.
Snipes and his anti-tax compatriots had attempted to use arguments that had already been rejected by the courts in other less high-profile cases against income tax evaders. And the defense apparently worked as the jury found Snipes not guilty on the felony charges but stuck him with the misdemeanors.
The IRS decided to make an example of Snipes so that other rich income tax evaders would be discouraged from doing what Snipes did in failing to file.
What will be the fallout from the IRS failure to convict Snipes on the more serious charges? I think it's entirely possible that others will be more encouraged to go against the IRS, rather than be discouraged. His partners drew the felony convictions, but Snipes got let off. I've known two people who believe as Snipes does; the IRS caught up to both of them.
One, a college professor who I've known most of my life, had his wages garnished until he was caught up. I don't know if he still holds to these beliefs. The other is someone who I've met in the last five years. He got a warning letter from the IRS as he had not filed in several years; he decided not to go against the "revenooers" (as he calls them) and got with a specialist, who negotiated with the IRS to get him caught up. He wrote out a big check to the IRS and has filed taxes on time the last two years. Both are lucky that they weren't sent to jail.
I almost wonder if the tax code will be altered due to the potential ramifications of this loss in court. What would have happened if Snipes had gotten off completely? The fall-out from that would have been unbelievable.
Don't look for me to follow Mr. Snipes' example. I've already filed.
MoveOn.org Endorses Obama: This is No Surprise
MoveOn.org members voted to support the candidacy of Barak Obama over Hillary Clinton, by a margin of 70% to 30%.
Even their vote was a little strange as some members of MoveOn reportedly got their ballots the very day that the announcement was made. Not that I really care about that point.
But the fact that 2007's most liberal senator got the endorsement of the most rabid liberal group in the country is no surprise at all. I think Super Tuesday is going to be very interesting to watch. It'll be interesting to see if MoveOn's maneuver helps or hurts Obama.
Even their vote was a little strange as some members of MoveOn reportedly got their ballots the very day that the announcement was made. Not that I really care about that point.
But the fact that 2007's most liberal senator got the endorsement of the most rabid liberal group in the country is no surprise at all. I think Super Tuesday is going to be very interesting to watch. It'll be interesting to see if MoveOn's maneuver helps or hurts Obama.
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