ACLU Sues Santa Rosa School District, MRIOTD Winner

August 27, 2008 Ross

Yep. The intolerant left, in the form of the ACLU, is once again intimidated by a prayer at graduation, and by people (argh even teachers) professing to be religious. In the lawsuit, the ACLU fails to show where anyone was forced to participate in anything approaching religious belief.

The ACLU’s version of freedom of religion means you are not free to practice or even mention religion solely for the benefit of the intolerant, who feel it their duty to deny us of that freedom so that they don’t have to be exposed to it. Qualifying the ACLU to receive the Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day award.

related link: Pensacola News Journal article | lawsuit PDF

And as an aside, Stop The ACLU dot org.

2008 Election, Politics

Privacy, Security, Honesty, Obama And Biden

August 27, 2008 Ross

Taking a cursory look around the blogosphere, there seems to be more information coming out about the Democratic Presidential ticket.

From GIZMODO, is a report about Sen. Joe Biden that should make all Internet users pay attention. And it has to do with IE8. It has security features that Biden does not like. Curious that he is against the Patriot Act when he is all about taking away your privacy and security. H/T D=S

From the American Thinker comes some information about Barack Obama’s shifting positions on gun control issues. Specifically, the right of a law abiding private citizen to have a concealed weapons permit. He speaks with forked tongue. One could call it a lie if you were to be so bold.

Obama’s flip flops on guns is especially dizzying, but simply par for the course for Obama when it comes to projecting “misleading moderation” as Freddoso calls it. And unless the voter takes the time to dig into what Obama really thinks, they probably walk away with the opinion that Obama is not really the far left liberal he truly is.

While on the subject of honesty and Barack Obama, you will recall Barack saying that he barely knew William Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist. You know, the guy who not only was his neighbor but sold him property adjacent to Barack’s property for hundreds of thousands of dollars below market value. Naturally, this kind of stuff happens all the time between people that barely know each other. Doesn’t it?

Barack Obama made it appear in public statements that he barely knew Ayers. Here is what he said at the Philadelphia debate in April about his relationship with the terrorist:

This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who’s a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He’s not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn’t make much sense, George.

Then there is the ‘Chicago Annenberg Challenge.’ This is an organization founded by Ayers where Barack Obama served as President of the Board, and William Ayers headed up the operations arm. Even though he barely knows him. As documents relating to this organization are examined, I would expect to see more contradictions between Obama’s statements and the facts. This much is evident so far . . .

The UIC records show that Obama and Ayers attended board meetings, retreats and at least one news conference together as the education program got under way. The two continued to attend meetings together during the 1995-2001 operation of the program, records show.

The Democrat(ic) party is finally bearing the consequences of having an improperly vetted candidate. Details at 11.

2008 Election, Politics

Socialist Democrat Party Platform

August 26, 2008 Ross

Spoken by ‘the traveling pant-suit’ herself, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) reiterated her party’s goal for ‘universal’ health care. If you believe her number, 47 million people, which includes 20 million illegal aliens, do not have a health insurance policy, but they do have health care. Never mind that every American has basic health care already. Her party’s goal, same as Ted Kennedy for the last 40 years, is to convince the dumb masses that health care is a ‘right’ of Americans. Last I checked, health insurance is not mentioned in our Constitution or our Bill of Rights.

In her rant attacking McCain and Republicans, Hillary says that Republicans want to give windfall profits to Big Oil. This statement blatantly shows her party’s ignorance and disdain of the capitalist system. Not to mention her elitist attitude for redistribution of wealth. Her frame of reference is that profits belong to the government and not the business and shareholders that own it and earned it. And, by misusing the term ‘windfall profits,’ is accusing Big Oil of cheating the American people. Adding a dash of class envy, Hillary points out that those companies making money are hurting the poor the hardest. Like the single parent minimum wage earner with 6 kids.

Watching her performance at the Democratic National Convention tonight was enlightening alright. The change they are looking for is nothing short of a socialist society. Question is, will the American people ignore our founding principles and buy into it?

2008 Election, Immigration, Politics

aSide Order

August 24, 2008 Ross

Grandma gets her gun. Grandma 1, crook 0.

According to police, a 17-year-old suspect was attempting to burglarize Leda Smith overnight. That’s when Smith grabbed her gun and told the teen that she would shoot him if he moved, police said.

link: Elderly Woman Grabs Gun, Holds Would-Be Burglar At Bay

Babalu Blog has an advanced copy of the Democratic National Convention’s Schedule of Events. This is funny, even if you are a flaming liberal.

For starters:

7:00 pm ~ Opening flag burning.
7:15 pm ~ Pledge of Allegiance to the U. N.
7:20 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:25 pm ~ Non-religious prayer and worship with Jesse Jackson.

Get the rest here.

Elian Gonzalez saga could haunt Obama

According to David Paul Kuhn at Politico, it could.

Having two top advisers who played key roles in the episode – Greg Craig, who represented Gonzalez’s father in Cuba, and Eric Holder, then a Clinton administration deputy attorney general when federal agents stormed the Miami home of Gonzalez’s relatives to remove the then-6-year-old and return him to Cuba – Obama now finds himself on the wrong side of an emotional issue in a battleground state.

Thanks to Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports writer, for bringing us an Olympic story that we never heard. ‘Somalia’s runners provide inspiration‘ is a story that will bring it all home for us all. And, should dam well make you thankful for what you’ve got. And, thanks to Charles Robinson, will have you cheering these two runners for their Olympic-sized human spirit.

And excerpt . . .

It’s about a girl whose Beijing moment lasted a mere 32 seconds – the slowest 200-meter dash time out of the 46 women who competed in the event. Thirty-two seconds that almost nobody saw but that she carries home with her, swelled with joy and wonderment. Back to a decades-long civil war that has flattened much of her city. Back to an Olympic program with few Olympians and no facilities. Back to meals of flat bread, wheat porridge and tap water.

Please read the whole story of the only two competitors representing Somalia here. If you have a heart, you’ll be glad you did.

Politics, Russia, United Nations

Russia Is OK With Missile Defense System, For Syria

August 24, 2008 Ross

But certainly not for Poland. No! Missile defense systems for western aligned nations are not on Vladimir Putin’s approved list. Key phrase is ‘missile defense.’ Considering Russia’s history, and Putin’s history, and Putin’s current invasion and occupation of the sovereign state of Georgia, is it any surprise that they like the idea of selling offensive and defensive weapons systems to Syria?

Officials said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has approved the sale of rockets, missiles, aircraft and air defense systems to Syria. They said Medvedev, in consultation with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, decided to enable Damascus to select from a range of Russian weapons and systems.

And it doesn’t stop there . . .

Assad, who ended a two-day visit on Aug. 21, has also pledged to consider a Russian request to station the Iskander-E long-range, solid-fuel rocket in Syria. Moscow has asserted that the Iskankder could penetrate Israeli or U.S. missile defense systems.

Putin is really enjoying his opportunity to bully Georgia, Poland, and Europe. And with a seat on the United Nations Security Council, he is almost guaranteed to get what he wants regarding the Georgian invasion. Which is, annexing the disputed areas into Russia, if not just washing away Georgia’s border and occupying those territories permanently. Well, that is, presuming the West will just sit by and watch, and let it happen.

link:Putin, Medvedev offer Syria expanded options for weapons systems

2008 Election, Media, Politics

Biden Adds Gravitas To Obama's Campaign

August 23, 2008 Ross

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) chooses Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) to be his Vice Presidential running mate, adding gravitas to the ticket that needs it. Of course, the absence of the use of the word gravitas in the context of the Obama campaign is perhaps the most ignored story of the year.

Not sure how a 36 year veteran of the Senate represents ‘change we can believe in.’

The choice of Biden, who has served in the Senate since 1972, indicates Obama was more interested in filling gaps in his foreign policy experience than in finding someone who could reinforce his message of bringing change to Washington.

What it is, is a continuation of an empty suit running to be President and Commander In Chief.

2008 Election, Politics, Race Relations

First Annual Black Republican Forum

August 23, 2008 Ross

Founded and co-sponsored by the Women’s National Republican Club’s American Forum Series and the National Black Republican Association. The 2008 Black Republican Forum was held on August 6, 2008 and was broadcast on C-SPAN on August 19, 2008. It will be re-aired on Friday and Saturday on C-SPAN but can be viewed online at the links below. The Keynote Speaker was NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann who gave an inspirational speech on Race and the Presidential Election.

Session 2 has not been aired yet, which explains why it is not included in the links below. Session 2 is not yet available.

National Black Republican Association | Women’s National Republican Club | Black Republican Forum

Russia

Putin’s Russia Is Raping And Molesting Georgia

August 21, 2008 Ross

It is time to take stock in the reality of modern-day Russia. It is a throwback to the old-day Russia. russia_taking_georgians_prisoners

Russia, still being run by Vladimir Putin, the KGB communist, thinks his country is lacking in stature and respect around the world, presumably because they haven’t invaded any countries lately. Seeking to improve Russia’s image, Russia used its huge military power to invade and conquer the small, and young, state of Georgia, with its small military. Clearly no match for the Russians, the task was done in one day.

In response to the world community to get out, Russia signed an agreement to end their occupation and re-position their military to positions that they held prior to the invasion. Not only have they not ‘pulled out,’ they are digging in. They have blocked Georgia’s main port city, Poti, and are taking Georgian military personnel as prisoners.

Have we learned yet that Vladimir Putin can not be trusted? He is KGB. He is a communist. He doesn’t care a wit what the world thinks of him. The only way to deal effectively with Russia is the way we dealt with them before. Not to trust them based on their word, which is worthless. But to ‘trust but verify.’

The analogy of Vladimir Putin behaving like a rapist, by literally raping the sovereign state of Georgia, is not only accurate but, the fact that Georgia is a young democratic country makes him a child molester too!

Politics, Uncategorized, Whiners

Is Obama Stuck On Stupid? Voters Want Substance

August 19, 2008 Ross

Using page two from the Democratic playbook, Obama is whining about McCain questioning his patriotism to the VFW today.

Democrat Barack Obama challenged his Republican opponent John McCain on Tuesday to stop questioning his “character and patriotism.” Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Obama reaffirmed his early opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and said the so-called “surge” strategy of sending 30,000 additional troops to Iraq last year had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country. McCain supported the Iraq invasion and was an early champion of the surge.

If Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) thinks that by McCain repeating Obama’s views and policies on the war is questioning his character and patriotism, all I can say is, if the shoe fits, wear it. He, like his fellow Democrats, seems all too eager to put it on.

For a lawyer, well let me change that. For an educated person to say the surge strategy ‘had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country’ is like expecting kids in Washington D.C., or anywhere else for that matter, to be smart because they receive the highest amount of dollars per student in the country. D.C., like most urban centers, has a dismal graduation rate. Using Obama’s strategy, we should cut education funding since the students obviously don’t want to learn. In Iraq, political solutions must come from Iraqi politicians, the same way smart students must come from smart teachers who know how to teach, coupled with school administrations that focus on the students instead of their union.

The Obama campaign is turning out to be one of the most shallow of campaigns ever. Far surpassing John Kerry’s for saying nothing. I want to hear how he is going to stimulate the economy by raising taxes, and how inflating my tires, which are already at the correct pressure, will equate to all the oil drilling possible, making it unnecessary to drill at all. I want to hear him say how taxing our oil companies by 18 billion dollars and more will bring down the cost of gas at the pump. Come on Barack, voters want substance.

Saddleback Forum And Obama's Words, Just Words

August 19, 2008 Ross

The political forum hosted by minister Rick Warren Saturday night gave us a view of both candidates that none of the previous so-called debates produced. Avoiding campaign talking points, the questions Warren asked exposed the belief systems, character, and motivations of both men. And the country was better off for it.

I came away feeling like Sen. John McCain did the best that I’ve ever seen him do. Judging from reviews of others, this seems to be the overall assessment. Even from Democrats. And Obama’s performance was replete with indecision, obfuscation, and inexperience.

We all know that words mean things. And no one knows that better than Sen. Barack Obama, who made a big deal about it in a stump speech somewhere. Remember ‘Words, Just Words?‘

McCain came across decisive and confident. Obama, on the other hand, came across as indecisive and less confident, to the point of floundering for a way to end his sentence. Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director characterized Obama’s performance as ‘trying to impress Warren (or to put another away) not offend Warren.’ I saw it as Obama trying not to offend his base.

Two answers that Obama gave were especially revealing about his character and belief system.

On the subject of Christianity. Warren asked ‘What does it mean to you to trust in Christ and what does it mean on a daily basis? I mean, what does that really look like?’ Obama sets the stage with this quite acceptable answer.

But what it also means, I think, is a sense of obligation to embrace not just words but through deeds the expectations that God has for us. And that means thinking about the least of these. It means acting – well, acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with our God.

Next question, about abortion.’At what point does a baby get human rights in your view?

McCain answered it in five words, ‘at the point of conception.’ By contrast, Obama said ‘. . . answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.’ Just a minute earlier, he was saying how he was thinking about the very least. What, the unborn, the absolute very least, don’t count? Words, just words?

He then said he is in favor of limits on late-term abortions. Well, except for the fact that he voted against a bill that would allow a live-birth aborted baby, a failed abortion, to live. What happened to the very least among us? Words, just words?

The next subject was about the Supreme Court. ‘Which existing Supreme Court Justice would you not have nominated?’ He caught himself in saying that Justice Thomas was inexperienced, which would have virtually undermined his own candidacy. But he started off with Justice Clarence Thomas. His response . . .

I don’t think that he. I don’t think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation. Setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretation of a lot of Constitution.

Then, Barack Obama, the constitutional lawyer, said he does not like the way Justice Thomas operates. He explained himself this way . . .

One of the most important jobs of I believe the Supreme Court is to guard against the encroachment of the Executive branch on the power of the other branches and I think that he has been a little bit too willing and too eager to give an administration whether it’s mine or George Bush’s more power than I think the Constitution originally intended.

Here is another case where the party line trumps reality. Or in this case, the Constitution. There is only one job of a Supreme Court Justice, and by default is the most important one. That is, to decide cases based on the Constitution. Period. End of story. End of job description. The separation of powers was designed so that no branch, including the Judiciary, could do exactly what Obama expects it to do. It all comes back to the ideology of the liberal Democrats, which is, to use the Supreme Court to make laws that the Legislative branch cannot.

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