Quick Pics

        

Proof that National Review died after Buckley left. I’d rather have gotten a package from the unabomber than this in my mailbox.

                                           

                                           Evidence that Santa Claus Exists.

                                        

               His head is stuffed with fluff, of course his has to be named
                                                          Mohammad.

Year Of The Underdog

This may be the only election in which each and everyone of the major candidates for President are all called the underdog by the mainstream media in the race. Hillary Clinton is the underdog because of her high negative numbers and the fact that she’s the first woman to really have a chance at winning. Barack Obama is the underdog because of his youth, attacks from the Clinton camp and his ethnicity (he is not African American, but mulatto). John Edwards is the underdog because of having to go up against the previous two underdogs as it has been said “What’s a white guy gotta do to get ahead?”
                                              
 On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani is the underdog because of his moderate views on social issues. Mitt Romney is the underdog because of his faith (and the fact that he is evil and voters are realizing it). John McCain is the underdog because of his fall from front runner (was he ever the front runner?) to running an energetic and tight budgeted campaign. Fred Thompson is the underdog because of how late he waited to get into the race (and the fact that he is boring, nice but boring). Mike Huckabee is the underdog because he talks funny, and came from little name recognition to taking on money bags Romney.  And of course for the rest of “never gonna happen” candidates from Biden to Tancredo and Gravel to Hunter they are lower than the title underdog. I’m so tired of everyone being told they won’t be elected come next November, and the way the stories will flutter and play “and to think he/she came from there to the presidency, that’s amazing”. Not really.

Confessions Of A Cashier Drama King

Now just to note, I have left the cashiering profession but did indeed stand behind a register for roughly one year at Wal-Mart. Let me assure you, we hate you as much as you hate us. And if one thing positive about the experience can be said, and in all honesty there probably is only one positive thing, it’s the stories I was able to collect from my days behind the register. However those are for another day, our dear colleague Shining City wrote on her blog about buying the new cloth bags taking over our supermarkets. I also bought the bags, and they are the best investment I’ve made in a quite some time. While I’m a green Republican and a founding member of my old high school’s Sierra Club, I’m very well aware that for every one thing I do to help the environment, I’m ruining it with another four actions to match. Call it an act of false contrition. Really though the comfort is of having bags that don’t break, rip, take up space and just find new ways to annoy, is reason enough to pick them up the next time you shop.

http://shiningcity.townhall.com/g/04753c20-bdda-4f46-b7a3-f5a967fda3b6

While she confronted the aspects of being seen as a tree hugger, I’ll be speaking on the behalf of the poor cashiers that must bag your items to begin with. First of all we know how to bag (Really the bread should be by itself, I had no idea, and to think I was going to put your milk on it?). On my first day bagging seemed fine and even a little, dare I say it, fun. Then on my second day, hell welcomed me with open arms. There are people out there who want, I am not kidding, their bags filled to the brim with their items and if the bag is not breaking, they aren’t happy. God forbid, if you double bag. “What am I suppose to do with all these bags (I look at the cart, where there are four bags for forty items)” “Oh, I’m so sorry (inner thoughts…well you could put one of the extra bags over your head and save me the trouble. Then there were the special needs customers, the people who ask for only one item per bag and that it be double bagged. (Me: Put one candy bar in bag. Customer: You better double bag that; I don’t want to risk it.) Then there were the customers who want their bags moderately heavy and willing to risk it and those who just want a few items tossed in. Then there were those who wanted certain items in separate bags, and yelled at you if you didn’t and those who yelled at you if you did. And none of these examples was rare, they were daily. After saying goodbye to the register, I breathed easier in a store and now give comforting eyes and a kind word to cashiers confronting the war that is clocking in. You deserve to have your items bagged the way you want, you sick freaks called patrons. Fine, but cashiers aren’t mind readers. Please tell them your preference but lose the attitude that your way is the way it’s supposed to be done. We wish there was a way it’s suppose to be done.

Loathing Mitt Romney

One of the biggest fears I have is that if Mitt Romney is not the nominee for president, it will be blamed on “bigotry” and not the fact that he is a man without a soul. I despise Mitt Romney. I really do, I hate him. Then I pray to God in which he says “Chris, you are not allowed to hate Romney. You have to love him as I command you”. “Really God? I just got over my Clinton hatred wasn’t that good enough?” “No!”. “I hate you” “Chris!” ”Sorry, God…alright” “That’s better”. So I can’t hate Mitt Romney, but I can choose to immensely dislike him. Here are my reasons.

1.) He has said that it is better to have dead parents than gay ones. 

2.) He has equated his sons serving on his campaign to military service in Iraq.

3.) He has taken one of the harshest tones on illegal immigration, while apparently being fine with them working for him.
4.) His tone when dealing with Hillary Clinton reeks of sexism “You call her, qualified?”

5.) He did nothing, nada, zilch, zero for Massachusetts. He used the veto stamp. His big selling point is that he did nothing and stopped anything from happening. Massachusetts could have hired a train chimp to do the same, and for only 3 bananas a day.

But the big thing that I can’t stand about Mitt Romney is how he uses people. Kind, good hearted Christian conservatives who are wrong on some issues but regardless heartfelt. He uses them for his own selfish gain in order to have power. When his father, George Romney, ran for President it was an honest outburst that killed his challenge for the white house and one that seems stuck with Romney. Always do the popular thing at the moment to get ahead. For him the means are always justified by the ends. Mitt Romney isn’t evil, just extremely shallow. Voting for Mitt Romney is like wearing a t-shirt into a bar saying “I want to get date raped”, it involves trusting a shifty man, getting used in the most vile way possible, and being powerless to stop him once he’s in charge. Suffice it to say without question I will support either Clinton or Edwards if they get the nomination aganist Romney. And it looks as though, I would have company when Ryan Lizza of The New Yorker and formerly the New Republic said that if the Democrats could hand pick the Republican nominee the would absolutely pick Romney hands down. For once it truly isn’t the message but rather the messanger. So yes, I don’t care that he’s a Mormon. I like Mormons and have defended Mormonism in the most conservative of churches. When a missionary who said he was going to saves the Mormons came, I said to the congregation ”The Mormons are Christians, they believe in God and that Jesus was the son of God and that when we die we either go to heaven or hell, so maybe, we should focus our energy on where it belongs, telling non-believers about the love of God”. It wasn’t popular at the time but it was true. I just really hope I don’t have to come across Mitt Romney, when I’m in heaven…that would be hellish.

A Race To Watch

There is an interesting race developing in the heart of Pennsylvania that has caught fire in the conservative blogging community. It involves a young veteran and family man, William Russell, going up against a man so vile that he became judge and jury for our men on the ground in Iraq… none other than John Murtha. Murtha, a man plagued with ethical violations from the time his taken office range from corrupt campaign donations to house ethic rules like a recent run-in with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) who he threaten wouldn’t get an earmark for the rest of his time in office unless he withdrew any question of his. One often asks how does someone like Murtha stay in office? The answer is two fold one he made sure redistricting went in his favor and secondly he has brought more pork home to his district than Oscar Meyer could dream of. 
                            
 William Russell, a man who choose to enter the race after watching in disgust, Murtha’s condemnation of our soldiers risking their lives and all too often losing them. Many a good people can disagree about the war, but their absolute support for our troops remains well known. Murtha has been using the flag for cover saying he supports our troops and then ending the sentence with “they’re cold blooded killers”. If there is any one worthy of the right to a trial by jury, it’s those risking their lives for that right to exist. And for the majority of Americans, we waited for the truth to come out knowing the fog of war that exists. Others like Murtha felt a rushed 30 second sound bite of our soldier’s condemnation was a better choice.

Russell, isn’t a perfect man he’ll be the first to tell you that but he is a man who has served his country with absolute honor and who knows the cost of this war against terrorism as his wife is a survivor of the 9/11 attacks. And while I disagree with him on a few issues, particular stripping away the American birthright, he has put out policy that is nuanced, detailed and well-developed. For doing so, so early in this must watch race he deserves credit. In a congress so confused that Murtha is often called the “conscience of the house” we are in some serious need of a Jiminy Cricket. William Russell will do nicely.

For more information his campaign website: www.williamrussellforcongress.com/ 

Let’s Play Jeopardy

Hello I’m Alex Trebek now let’s play final Jeopardy a special version with three seperate answers. The catergory is “Did I Say That?” (music not included).

                        

1.) When asked about illegal immigrants, he supported comprehensive immigration reform in 2006 saying “You’re going to have to, in some way, work out a deal where they can have some aspirations of citizenship…it’s just not realistic that we’re going to round up 12 million people and ship them all out of the country”.

2.) In 2005, he spoke approvingly of proposals like Senator McCain’s to put undocumented workers on a path to citizenship if they can pass criminal background checks saying it was “reasonable” and “very different than amnesty”.  He said, “It is not practical or economic to deport 12 million illegal, who contribute in many cases to our economy and our society”.

3.) He said in 2006, he said “we should give illegals a way to earn citizenship and recognize the economic force that lured them here to begin with” during his time in office he said “we must stand up today’s isolationist movement to ensure that America’s next century is as prosperous as the last.”

Take your best guess; answers are in the comment section.

Note: I want to thank a reader who wrote me with some concerns, in hindsight “Jeopardy” implys danger meaning that I was unhappy with the above quotes. I just like the game show. Regardless, I omited quotes from Huckabee and McCain because McCain’s positions are well known (and well supported…McCain 08!) and Huckabee has taken a much kinder approach to immigration. Thanks!

Treason & Westboro Baptist

                      
                                 Evidence of Treason

Regardless of how one feels on the contentious issue of homosexuality, it’s clear that Westboro Baptist Church represents only themselves in their vile ways of hatred. It’s unfortunate that they share many of the same views of the Rev. Jerry Farwell, but even while blaming gays for 9/11, at least he was sad that the event took place to begin with. So what I say now, may seem tongue in cheek, I assure you it’s not.  Westboro Baptist Church members who have actively held signs celebrating the death of American soldiers and 9/11 should be charged with treason and if found guilty be executed. To do so we must look at what treason is defined in America:

“whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”

Let me be clear it is their right to attack homosexuality in their private homes however the private of public support for 9/11 and the death of American soldiers is not only giving comfort to the enemy, they are the enemy, albeit one’s who are not yet actively killing Americans. They are effectively Christian members of Al-Qaeda. As the Supreme Court has ruled that no one under 18 at the time of their crime, may be executed, they would be excluded for capital punishment until such time that they are 18 are urge another 9/11 or the death of an American solider.
We are at war. They are on the side of the enemy, what’s worse they do not hide it, they flaunt it. Imagine for a moment that they were members of Islam who say every day “Thank God for 9/11″ and praising the death of American soldiers on American soil. They are actively wanting to overthrow their government, they want to harm and kills it citizens, they agree with Al-Qaeda that 9/11 and the death of American soldiers is done from God due to immorality. They don’t just support terrorists, they are terrorists. The active killing of American citizens is not requried for treason at all. As for the comforting the enemy clause to say that this hasn’t gotten to Al-Qaeda and given them more righteous indignation, no matter how incorrect is undeniable.

These people are without question scum that much is obvious. What becomes even more apparent is that they are dangerous. In this country we have freedom of speech but we do not have the freedom to say that the death of more Americans through murder is good nor celebrate the blood of American soldiers, especially at a time of war. The government must charge all members of Westboro Baptist with Treason and urge their exectutions as soon as possible.

The Joys Of Reviews

           

Out of all the things I love to read from political columns, books and blogs to cutting edge fiction to a comforting Christie mystery on a rainy day, my favorite item to read without question is a review. I write reviews of political books now and then on this blog, and they are enjoyable to write but there are so many wonderfully witty and evilly delicious reviewers, I thought I’d share a few with you:

Frank Bruni, restaurant critic of The New York Times, is a man who knows food, value and Manhattan. I love getting the Wednesday times where it seems that he competes against op-ed madam, Maureen Dowd over how can cut the subject harsher. He outdid himself with this review that had me laughing on the floor.
In it he brings up restaurant owners’ dirty laundry, $36.95 for a plate of spaghetti, calls the customers deluded and said the potatoes brought up memories of a brillo pad. With subjects like that you know it has to be good.

http://events.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/dining/reviews/14rest.html

I was reading The Weekly Standard cover story review of Alan Greenspan’s new memoir, The Age of Turbulence by Andrew Ferguson. In it Ferguson snaps and some how reviews Ayn Rand instead of Greenspan.

“By then, Rand had published her two thick, preposterous novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and stood poised on the brink of international stardom. Her creepy philosophy of Objectivism, placing the self at the center of the moral universe, was being enthusiastically embraced, as it still is, by tens of thousands of pimply teenage boys in the dreamy moments between fits of social insecurity and furious bouts of masturbation.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/164ulgzp.asp

If anyone wanted to know what Ferguson was doing in the 1950s in his bedroom, they have received oh so much t.m.i.

You’ll also remember my love of the television show How I Met Your Mother. It has many fans including the writers at Entertainment Weekly, one of my favorite magazines. They write of HIMYM:

“Let’s say you could create the perfect sitcom. Start with the chummy New Yorkers of Friends, but have them hang out in the bar from Cheers. Try the experimental structure of The Office, but add the comfort of a laugh track. You’d want the pop culture references of Gilmore Girls, the random in-jokes of Arrested Development, the sweetness of The Wonder Years. Definitely the overstuffed pace of Seinfeld or The Simpsons. Hell, maybe even give it a mystery, for the Lost fans. Impossible, right? Not so fast. This show actually exists. It’s called How I Met Your Mother. And it is, to borrow a phrase, awesome.”

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20055043,00.html

If you come across a good review among your reading, please let me know.

Sign Here, Here, Here…

 

You’ve seen that classic movie scene, where the hard working character of the story goes to a bank with only his heart on his sleeve. The banker, cold and without heart, hears the character plead for the money they so desperately need. And then the banker says there is nothing they can do for pure evil capitalistic reasons. It a classic liberal film scene, done over and over, it’s a cliché to the tee. So I’m a little bit surprised to hear liberals now claim that banks should now deny loans to poor people.

This is all under done for the “benefit” of the poor people (meaning a subprime loan receiver). Never before, have liberals taken so many positions on just one issue. We are now told people received home loans didn’t have the best credit history usually the working class and minority groups, were victims of “predatory lending”. Yes, predatory lending. People who default on loans are now victims.
While I usually deplore simplistic answers, and the moderate inside of me, asks for solutions that are nuance and well reasoned, it’s Judge Judy simple. You sign a contract, without duress, you are obligated to the terms of said contract. There’s a reason why you sign papers that make up half of the Amazon rainforest. It’s a serious business transaction, one that usually comes with thirty years of obligations.

As of age 14, I knew the difference between a fixed mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage, which I can thank my ninth grade English teacher, Mrs. Van Tilburg. We never went over mortgage laws but did cover what the words fixed and adjustable meant. And I can guarantee when I get my home loan, though years away, it will be fixed. I know me, with my aversion to risk; my neurotic self will definitely not let the market change whether or not my future family has a roof over their head. Those who are crying about it now are learning the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, it’s a tough lesson to take, one that I’ve learn daily not having yet gone through many life experience. The ones I have learned have taught me to be cautious, and like going with a friend to the casino, when you play with $100 for the night, and they inform you a few hours later they’ve lost three grand. You feel sorry for them but if you’re smart you don’t give them a penny.

With all that said, I sympathize with people whose homes are getting foreclosed on. It’s horrible, deserved or not. And it is often in the mortgage lenders best financial interest to avoid foreclosure at any cost, hopefully some loans can get readjusted. But should the government do a single thing? No.

Thanking Congressman McCotter

I rarely write a politician, after all anyone of common sense feels it’s unlikely your words will ever met the politicians eyes. However I felt I must write my congressman, Thaddeus McCotter (R-11th of MI) about the ENDA. So I did (please note the original letter was spaced properly but since this site doesn’t allow for that it appears as follow):

Dear Congressman McCotter,  

There is a joke in Wayne County politics, that the only real benefit to being a Republican in this county is that you don’t have to remember a lot of faces or names. In the last election, I went door to door for you in Canton through the western county 06 HQ. I also did the whole bumper sticker, yard sign thing but of course that doesn’t require any real energy. I wish I could have done more but I’m a full time college student who also has a part time job. Most of my 06 work was with the Devos, Bochard and Laura Toy campaigns.  I have been honored to call you my congressman for the past years as well as to have met you several times. Being that I’m 20, was 19 in 2006, I’m writing you because the new generation of Republicans would like you to represent us. There is a bill about to be voted on called the ENDA, and I’m sure you’ve heard about it. There are few things as precious as the bond between a person and their job and those who happen to be gay deserve the same protection as those of us who are straight. Too many Americans still face job discrimination because of their sexual orientation- a characteristic that has no bearing on their ability to do a job.  It remains legal in 30 states including Michigan to fire or refuse to hire someone simply because of his or her sexual orientation. 77% of Republicans support the ENDA including 67% of social conservatives according to a recent poll. It can all but be assumed the numbers are even higher for Democrats and Independents who will play an important part in your upcoming election. But I can tell you that the youth of this party with a strong Christian faith believe in protecting our gay friends. Discrimination, for any reason is un-American, unfair, and unwise. I very much hope you will try to stop it by voting yes on the ENDA.

Thank you so much,
Christopher A. Wensley

While I won’t post his reply he was as always kind, courteous and to be honest ambiguous. I honestly did not know which way he was going to vote as he is called by The New York Times as one of the most conservative congressman serving today. I also didn’t expect one letter to change his mind, I may be naive but even I have limits. However when I read the voting results on the ENDA, McCotter went with on the side of true morality, shocking those in the Michigan gay community as well as the AFA of Michigan, and other “Christian” fronts of hatred. Someone who had been considered a shoo-in was now voting against them. Regardless of whatever changed his mind, or even if his mind was made up from the start he voted correctly and for that he will get my support in the fall of 08.

I very much like Congressman McCotter being that I live a block and a half away from him on the weekends and he is a next-door neighbor with an ex-girlfriend. I most likely would have supported him either way, but now I can like myself in the mirror and urge another term for McCotter in congress.

The ENDA is a moral vote between choosing to protect hard working Americans or bigots. Far too many Republicans voted for the bigots, for that those who voted against the ENDA deserve to lose their jobs come next November. Some will still get my support but certainly not very much sympathy. The bill did not protect the transgender, which I admit even I had a few reservations for but would have supported. It contains a religious exception. The only reason that was said but the bigot protecting congressmen was that it didn’t contain a protection for Christian bookstore owners to fire gay employees. Do they have any sense of shame?

While I appreciate McCotter’s vote for the ENDA, he also restored my belief in the power of one, the power that I have, we all have to change the course of history, even made with baby steps. I can’t leave this party’s future to be decided by evil people bent on creating more hurt and meanness than this world can bear.