BoldlyRide

Don't retreat, attack: "Mark my words, I know how these evil, immoral swine think.
There is no compromising with them. There is no accommodating them. There is no bargaining with them. They are playing for keeps. They are fighting to win. "

Describing the outfit more dangerous to America than Terrorists -- just another kind of terrorist.

A. M. Siriano: "'Our hat is off here to Katharine DeBrecht!'"
I must be living under a rock; I've never heard of this, but it sounds great.

annika: says, "Am i the only one who sees ABC's new weekly Hillary propaganda show for what it is? " And I am reminded of other shows and democrat presidents or hopefuls: Carter Country (Jimmy Carter), Evening Shade (Bill Clinton), West Wing (Gore/Kerry?). Wasn't each one an attempt to subliminally create a soft spot in the electorate for the current hopeful or incumbent? The Gina/Hillary show is just the latest in that line. I'm happy to say that I had the opportunity to see the show and refused to avail myself of such.

I mentioned a site, Zaphod's Head (see link a couple posts down) and his Political and Religious Standpoints which I found amusing. The page is amusing for the liberal naivete that it exemplifies. I have repeated most of Zaphod's list here (directly lifted from his site for purely educational purposes) and added my commentary between his italicized statements. First let me admit that my tactic here is extremely unfair to Zaphod, who may be a very fine gentleman; I take issue only with his stated positions and not him personally. He has taken the time to put many of his positions and belief out to the public. He may not have had time or a reason to feel that he needed to explain his positions and some of my comments fault him for that -- completely unfair on my part -- but I'm willing to live with that. In fairness, my criticism is not unduly harsh nor particularly scathing -- it is but a few clumsy kicks at best, given off the cuff:

"I am Canadian. My interest in US politics is from an observer's standpoint and I think of the world's issues in that respect as well. My thoughts are always concerned with the world's. Not the US' or Canada's or Jamaica's. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican though my general political view leans heavily towards the Liberal left."

Zaphod's interest in US politics is as an observer --and yet he wants Bush impeached; he is obviously not a neutral observer. He is concerned with the world, not the interests of the United States of America -- in other words, this engineer from Alberta freely concedes that he doesn't care about the United States, except in the context of world good. (So why should we continue?--Because it's just fun). No doubt he is entirely qualified to eludicate upon what is required for the good of the world. How surprising that his political views should list liberally leftward--which is synonymous with opposition to the best interests of the United States.

"I oppose George W. Bush and his administration. I believe they have misled a good number of people all over our world and so far, over 100,000 people have paid the price for it. The "War on Terror" is quickly becoming an open excuse for the US to put their best interests first in other areas of the world, specifically the Middle East. If they really wanted to be the world's "Police" and "Liberator", they would spend a lot more time in Africa."

One would surmise from the impeachment banner that, as he confirms here, he is opposed to President Bush. Zaphod does not explain how the president misled a "good number" of people, nor does he give any hint as to what a "good number" means; 9 has always been a "good number" for me and 2, 8, and 12 are pretty decent as well. Zaphod neglects to mention the millions who were paying the price for the failure of the UN or the euro-don't-wreck-our-arms-and-oil-deals-peans to act. As for putting the best interests of the United States first: I'm sure glad that we finally have an "open excuse" for that; it's what every president and congress is elected to do. That is what nations do; they put their own best interests first, otherwise they cease to exist. Spending a lot of time in Africa: Zaphod's most holy of organizations, the UN, should be able to handle Africa, right? Aren't they doing a marvelous job?

"I attach myself to certain Activist groups and agendas if I see a value that is essential for either Peace or the betterment of Mankind. By no means do I believe in every aspect of these groups, or do I willingly follow the party's behind them."

It's so nice to know that Zaphod's attachment to activists groups only means that he sees in them "a" (that means 'one') value that is essential but he may not subscribe to the whole group's entire agenda. Perhaps Deon and her psychic friends can explain which value Zaphod likes so the rest of the group's agenda can be ignored for our purposes.

"I firmly believe that Religion and Politics must be separated at all costs. When a "free" society begins to impose it's religious morals on the populace, they are no longer a free society. This is proven all over the world, and now becoming evident in the US."

What is now becoming evident in the United States of America, is that the exclusion of religious liberty and morality from the public forum is not beneficial. Another George W. said: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports... Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert...? (George Washington, Farewell Address, Sept. 17, 1796.) Zaphod neither specifies how religious morals are being imposed upon the populace in the United States nor explains the evidence to which he alludes. Contrast Zaphod's desire for separation with his other statements about religion and morality. I have moved them from other locations to group them here.

"I am a Baha'i and believe in One God. Whether it is God, Allah, Vishnu, Odin or whatever you like, He is the same. If mankind cannot agree on this simple, basic thought, then they are doomed."

Sounds to me like Zaphod is imposing his religion--we are doomed if we can't agree with him. If we pair this principle with his principle on activist groups: Will he subscribe to muslim extremism which recognizes Allah because it has "a" value that is important for "Mankind?"

"By nature, I am a very scientific-minded person. I believe that religion and science must agree though I find my thoughts often conflicting when science takes over. There are some issues of great importance to today's society. Many of these are of a very highly contentious nature, and usually are accompanied by a mixing of religious and political beliefs (see above)."

Yes, see above as only Deon and her psychic friends can make sense of this.

"I hold the International Courts and Organizations authorities above any single nation's. When one nation goes against the Will of the International community, the rest of the nations should and must stand up against them."

Like Saddam Hussein and Iraq? Why does Zaphod assert the superiorty of international organizations? How have they been elected? What is the source of their authority? Is it logical to believe that the appointees of unelected tyrants and madmen, unaccountable to their own countrymen, will promote the best interests of the world? (See Zaphod's drug policy below for more insight).

"Abortion is a subject that should ultimately be handled by the mother of the baby and her doctor. I believe all parties involved should be encouraged to discuss the situation (as each is always different) but again, the final choices must be made by the mother with the aid and councel of her doctor."

All parties involved should discuss the situation? So the baby gets to discuss? I think maybe the baby would opt not to have her head punctured and her brains suctioned out. Perhaps Zaphod impliedly makes the distinction between involved and committed, only advocating the concerns of those who are involved but not the concerns of those who are committed: As with the ham and egg breakfast, the chicken and the cook (like the woman and the doctor) are involved, however the pig (like the baby) is committed.

"Drugs are quickly becoming a huge problem in most parts of the world. I am an advocate for the legalization of Marijuana both for medical and private use, though the substance should and must be controlled by the government in a way almost exactly like alcohol. Drugs of a more refined nature, specifically chemicals and very highly processed drugs such as Ecstacy, Cocaine, Heroin and many others are a terrible plague and should be dealt with quickly. I do not believe marijuana use leads to abuse of harder drugs at all."

I guess we know Zaphod's drug of choice. Is marijuana even regulated in Canada? Oh, this is probably just more good of the world advice-- and good of the world always means that it is the United States that must change by adopting moribund europe's vices while jettisoning our own values.

"Nuclear Weapons are another major issue in the International community at present. With many Third World nations on the verge of developign these, the Superpowers begin to get very edgy. When a nation develops "The Bomb", all other nations must suddenly deal with them in a different light than before. I believe NO nations should possess nukes, and though it terrifies me to think of countries like Iran, Libya, Syria, or North Korea developing these devastating weapons, I believe a country with such a massive stockpile like the US should NOT be the one to demand smaller nations ceasing production or refinement."

Zaphod thinks that no nation should have nukes, but if the Unites States is going to have them, then the despots, murderers and madmen with voices at the UN should have them as well. Actually, that is consistent with his anti-United States position but one must question whether it is consistent with his stated position of seeking the good of the world.

"Finally, the current biggest issue at present is the War in Iraq. I stood behind the Coalition after 9-11 and the invasion of Afghanistan but when it became increasingly apparent that the US had no reason to invade Iraq other than deposing Saddam Hussein to install their own sympathetic system in order to get Oil contracts (Haliburton etc.) I began to oppose the War and the Lies of the Bush administration. At present, I understand there is no way to pull out of Iraq without dire results, but the US should be trying their level best to do so, and should definately NOT be thinking of invading another country based on either Lies of "faulty" intelligence."

I was hoping for more than the stillborn lies-for- oil claim. I suggest that for the next invasion we rely entirely on lies and faulty intelligence, just to keep everything simple (and we may as well pay Halliburton and Dick Cheney their royalties pre-invasion). I think, however, that only Zaphod and Deon can make claims about what is actually being planned for the next invasion.

"Generally, I take the side of the underdog or the unjustly treated. My favorite Folk Hero is Robin Hood."

Because the UN like Locksley, takes from the rich, but, in the words of James T. Kirk, gives or says it will give to the poor "... later." (I actually read the Kirk quote via a link I got from Zaphod's site).

"I oppose Fascism and the elimination of human rights and freedoms."

I must have misunderstood; I thought Zaphod supported the UN.

"All men and women are equal. No one person is better than any other and rarely does a single person actually deserve the special attention and or respect they so eagerly demand."

Perhaps the world would be a better place if this were true. However, as with all liberal drivel, saying it does not make it so. All men are created equal (and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights...) but they don't remain equal and many are better than many others. Is Adolf Hitler the equal of Mother Theresa? Or, perhaps this is more meaningful to Zaphod: Is George W. Bush the equal of Buddha? I think that the last sentence of Zaphod's assertion could also be construed to demonstrate a bias for married people -- which, oddly enough, would support his position of seeking what is best for the world.

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Polar Ice Melting : "Why Mars may be warming is a mystery"

Obviously, it is because Mars did not sign on to the Kyoto Protocol. More likely it's a natural cycle or the result of solar emissions. A short article -- I don't have a link yet -- in yesterday's paper had testimony before a senate committee about the increased hurricanes and the gist was that it is part of a natural cycle -- not global warming from man-made causes.

CrimLaw: "Sometimes even defense attorneys have a good day."

Lammers shows that defense attorneys can have good days -- although it looks as if it took many not-so-good days and good hearing habits to get there.

Zaphod's Heads: "I am Canadian"
Thus begins the first bullet point of a site which bears the slashing banner "Impeach Bush." Actually, the page in question is a description of his political and religious beliefs. It is highly entertaining (unintentionally) -- so much so in fact that I may do a follow up post on some of the material from that page. There are some positive aspects to the site -- he has some good Star Trek (original series) links -- so it's a good site for over the hill geeks but the political postings are mostly Canadian oriented .

Times Online: "A UNITED Nations report has labelled Scotland the most violent country in the developed world, with people three times more likely to be assaulted than in America.
England and Wales recorded the second highest number of violent assaults while Northern Ireland recorded the fewest.

So I'm safer in the U.S. where there are a plethora of supposedly easily accessible firearms than in the UK where the gun laws are becoming more and more draconian.

Violent crime has doubled in Scotland over the past 20 years and levels, per head of population, are now comparable with cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Tbilisi.

The violence has been rising for the last 20 years -- doesn't that also coincide with the intensified registration and confiscation of firearms?

The attacks have been fuelled by a "booze and blades" culture in the west of Scotland which has claimed more than 160 lives over the past five years. Since January there have been 13 murders, 145 attempted murders and 1,100 serious assaults involving knives in the west of Scotland. The problem is made worse by sectarian violence, with hospitals reporting higher admissions following Old Firm matches.
David Ritchie, an accident and emergency consultant at Glasgow?s Victoria Infirmary, said that the figures were a national disgrace. "I am embarrassed as a Scot that we are seeing this level of violence. Politicians must do something about this problem. This is a serious public health issue. Violence is a cancer in this part of the world," he said.
Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Strathclyde Police?s violence reduction unit, said the problem was chronic and restricting access to drink and limiting the sale of knives would at least reduce the problem. "

The great solution, more restrictions -- limit the sale of knives. Do they really think that will work -- limiting the law abiding always works to reduce violence, right? So the past 20 years have taught the UK nothing on this subject. Perhaps they're getting advice from the UN.

Ayrauds Blog: Umm, That Was Dumb: "The defendant turns around and looks at the judge and says, ..."

HT to Skelly for the link. There are some things that you don't expect to have to tell a client.

Yogurt Factory Spill Into Canal Kills 8,000 Fish: "factory pumps out three million cups of yogurt daily, or about two-thirds of all the yogurt sold in the United States."

ex-Liberal in Hollywood: "The immorality of the story is that... "

An interesting take on the situation in NO and the blame shuffling.

This is an interesting piece on how Roberts analyzed an important decision on which Rhenquist had gained a majority only to have O'Connor and Powell defect rather than uphold original meaning Unfinished counterrevolution-The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Justice Rehnquist's death leaves only two originalists on the court. Even if John Roberts proves, once confirmed, to be as intellectually honest and courageous as his mentor, it would take two more originalists to complete the great dissenter's counterrevolution.
This is what rides on President Bush's next choice -- and the choice after that."

The Washington Times: "Judge Roberts stood before the committee, raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth. He then sat down and delivered the briefest remarks of the day.
'Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around,' he told the lawmakers. 'Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them.'"

Did you ever notice that the senators actually do most of the talking, and yet, none of them are sworn to tell the truth. It is the one sworn to tell the truth who delivers the briefest remarks.

Arlen Specter has already begun questioning about that liberal sacred cow - "a woman's right to choose." But in the excerpt that I heard, he didn't say what the woman's choices might be: A woman's right to choose to have sexual relations? A woman's right to choose contraceptives? A woman's right to choose to have a healthy unborn infant's skull perforated and its brains scrambled and sucked out? He didn't say any of these things because it is this last one to which he actually refers and the reality of it is so hideously repulsive that only an amorphous euphemism can be used. Inevitably, the left (and Specter is on the left regardless of his party affiliation) is a position of labels -- extremist and inaccurate labels for those things which require individual responsibility, hard decisions, and especially for religion (Christianity in particular), -- but soft euphemistic and inaccurate labels for the unsavory vices (whose real names are seldom even mentioned) and government intervention advocated by the left. Perhaps the left is not so much a position of labels and simply a position of inaccuracy.

Salt Lake Tribune - Utah: ".
'They've got people here who are search-and-rescue certified, paramedics, haz-mat certified,' said a Texas firefighter. 'We're sitting in here having a sexual-harassment class while there are still [victims] in Louisiana who haven't been contacted yet.'
The firefighter, who has encouraged his superiors back home not to send any more volunteers for now, declined to give his name because FEMA has warned them not to talk to reporters."

Political correctness and bureaucracy join hands to do what they do best -- thwart good intentions and real accomplishment.

CrimLaw: "All legislators must be taken out and shot"
Lammer's finally sees the light on the death penalty.

Lammers, no doubt busy on his podcasts or xl radio should have broughtThis to our attention: "Jean Mere, 21, allegedly dialed 911 last Wednesday to report a holdup. " I'm not sure if 21 is the guy's age or his IQ.