Cheerleaders for Truth

JakeC beat me to the punch on this in the comments section of my last post, but this site is hilarious: Cheerleaders for Truth

"Did George Bush actually win a Varsity letter in Cheerleading at Yale? Or was this another "no show" like the National Guard?" current and alumni Yale cheerleaders are asking. "Why haven't any member of Bush's Cheerleading Squad come forward and verified that he actually attended practice and the games?"

Big hat-tip goes to the wonderful Miss O'Hara on finding this one.

Purple Hearts

Yes, this guy is an idiot:

A GOP delegate handed out bandages with purple hearts on them Monday night at the Republican National Convention in a swipe at Democratic nominee John Kerry' war record, but national GOP officials have asked him to stop.

I will say that this is pretty much derogatory to anyone that has ever worn the uniform, and I don't find any humor in it at all.

I'm glad to see that GOP party officials stepped in and told him to stop handing them out.

Of course, the GOP will keep its idiots in check whereas the Democrats will give their idiots the red carpet treatment at their convention.

And More EU

EU Nations to Fly the EU Flag at the 2008 Olympics?

It seems that the EU chief, Romano Pradi, is claiming that the EU has won the Olympic medal race. So much for sovereignty among the EU nations. In fact, according to the article, all EU nations may have to fly the EU flag along with their own for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

I've been talking about how the EU is moving toward becoming a singular, "super power" like nation for a while (read here). This is just another sign that this is becoming a reality.

Oh...and if this does become reality, they probably won't be an ally.

On China Again

Battle Line Drawn on China/Taiwan by GOP

It doesn't get any clearer than this:

"If China violates these principles and attacks Taiwan, then the United States will respond appropriately," it warned. "America will help Taiwan defend itself."

Again I ask...War with China by 2020? Or even before the 2008 Olympics?

Infiltration

I, for some reason, feel a little dirty today.

Early this morning a liberal friend of mine forwarded an email to me regarding Kerry's visit to Nashville. It was an invitation sent out to those on the Tennessee Democrat Party email list.

Senator Kerry will arrive in Nashville on Tuesday, August 31st. Tennessee Democrats are invited to come to the Nashville Airport to welcome Senator Kerry to Tennessee.

Practically ignoring the part about this apparently being an invitation for Democrats only, I sprang into action. By carefully "infiltrating" the Tennessee Democrat Party headquarters here in Nashville, I was able to obtain tickets for tomorrow's grand gathering. (Hence, the dirty feeling that I have.)

It looks like it's going to just be a quick, impromtu rally and short speech by Kerry as he arrives before heading to his hotel. How exciting...

Anyway, the ticket says that you can't bring in signs (sorry, no representation for Protest Warrior allowed), but I will be carrying a camera.

Yes, indeed. >:)

Rock This

Pure Hilarity

I wonder if it will be edited when it is aired?

Protest Warrior

Protest Warrior alive in Nashville. A couple of pictures and info provided by PinkKitty here and here. Nice.

Back in Nashville

By the way...I am back in Nashville after my U5DCRT. I have to say that it's good to be back in America.

I've also come to a new revelation on this trip. I think that after I pay for the development of the 27 rolls of 24 exposure 35mm film I took, I may want to seriously start looking to purchase a good digital SLR camera.

Yes, indeed.

Bob Dole Means Business

You want to get to the heart of this whole matter of the Swift Boat Vets vs. John Kerry vs. George Bush vs. the media vs. whoever else?

Just listen to what Bob Dole has to say in an upcoming interview on MSNBC's Scarborough Country (emphasis mine):

And so you don’t want to go out there and say, you know: “Vote for me. I did this, this, this, this, this. I got all these medals. I got all these Purple Hearts.”

I think you can do it in a different way, John Kerry’s a friend of mine. I sent a signal about two or three months ago on television, “John, back off. You know, cool it. Don’t make the Vietnam War the centerpiece of your campaign.”

But he’s got a problem, because he spent 20 years in the Senate and doesn’t have much to show for it.

That's exactly the heart of the matter. He has nothing to show for his Senate service, so he props up his 4 and a half months in Vietnam. If you're going to make something the center-piece of your campaign, be ready to defend it and yourself.

Of course, Bob Dole has plenty of room to talk. If anyone could have brought up their military service during a Presidential campaign, it should have been Bob Dole in '96. However, it really didn't become much of an issue. The real heroes don't talk about their service...they don't use it as a prop. The real heroes don't think they are heroes because they survived while their buddies didn't.

After reading Bob Dole's comments I couldn't help but remembering a scene from Band of Brothers, Episode 3 - Carentan. It's just after Pvt. Blithe received a serious wound to the neck and is being wheeled into the hospital. Another soldier is gloating over his third Purple Heart for a few non-life-threatening wounds. The soldier in the next bed remarks that while the one guy is receiving his third Purple Heart, Blithe will only be getting one.

I don't want to make a direct comparison there, but I couldn't help but thinking of it. As such, I digress...

John Kerry wants Bush to silence the Swift Boat Vets for Truth. Has Bush ever asked John Kerry to silence MoveOn.org or Michael Moore? Has Kerry ever denounced these anti-Bushites? No, he just lets Moore have a prime spot at the DNC convention in the presidential box and hires people from MoveOn.org to work in his campaign. Not exactly what I would call denouncing.

Let's play fair then. Kerry should denounce MoveOn.org and Michael Moore (plus all other anti-Bushites) then Bush should denounce the Swift Boat Vets. But...Oh wait...Bush already has. That's interesting. (Update: Well, ok, maybe Kerry condemned something...once).

I guess that doesn't matter though since Bush probably has some guys that are "involved" with this Swift Boat nonsense, right? Yeah...just like I'm sure Kerry doesn't have some guys that are involved with or coordinating with MoveOn.org. Oh the hypocrisy! (As a side note, I am a firm believer that pretty much all politicians are hypocrites no matter their party affiliation).

Just go read all of Dole's comments on this situation (ht: Miss O'Hara). He also offers some good insight into the media's bias on the issue.

Update: Via Bill Hobbs...Here's an excellent link showing several more connections between the Kerry campaign and anti-Bushite 527's. Hobbs also just created a new topic category entitled "Kerry 527 Connections." Nice.

One Black Cop's View

I wish more cops thought like this guy:

If you are a uniformed Police Officer of any rank and do not fully, and honorably support the pre-existing God given rights enumerated in the 2nd Amendment, you are a disgrace to your Badge and your oath of office to protect and serve. The citizens of the United States of America deserve better than you. You should not be allowed the honor of public service as a sworn peace officer of the law. Taking a contrary, selective position to the Constitution means you are not following the supreme law of the land and are, in fact, endangering the safety of yourself, your fellow officers, and the public you are sworn to protect.

Be sure to read the entire thing as he calls his fellow officers out and tells it like it is.

If more cops actually read the Constitution and took their sworn oaths seriously, then we also wouldn't have things like this happening either.

Miracle?

Do miracles still happen? Perhaps they do.

Mary Dhume was watching television Monday night when the phone in the next room rang. She got up to answer it, but there was no one at the other end of the line.

Suddenly, she heard breaking glass and saw her living room wall collapse onto the chair where she'd been sitting.

A pickup truck had missed the curve on the road in front of Dhume's home and smashed into the century-old house.

Geek Airport Bum?

If you're stuck in LAX overnight, can't get to the gates (yet), and would like to surf the web, then you have to find a good place to catch a wireless wave.

Do you think this looks like suspicious activity?

Definitely a Geek Airport Bum at work here.

Once I was online, I threw together a new album over on my photography page. It's entitled Signs at LAX. Some of the signs are cool. Others have a message. Or I'm just trying to make it sound better because all it is is a gallery created out of utter boredom.

Well, here's a quick example:

On a similar note...the 35mm film will probably get developed in a couple of weeks. I'll post it when I get some of them uploaded.

After leaving Simi Valley (see below), we hit Hollywood like a lead balloon...along with the Queen Mary shortly thereafter.

All around good day though.

Quickstats:

Total miles logged on rental car: 1253.1
Rolls of film used: 27
Runner-up for quote of the day: "Oh, wow, secret sauce.........whiiiich tastes suspiciously like thousand island." -Me at some Cali burger joint
Number of times that line was used: 1
Number of times it was found funny: 6
Quote of the day: "One day we'll be able to look back on this and laugh." -Me at LAX
Number of times used: 1
Number of times it was found funny: 0
Number of roaches I've killed in airport: 3

U5DRCT Update

I would have posted another update last night, but the phone in the two-bit motel we stayed in last night couldn't get an outside line. Good times. Luckily, I brought along a trusty wireless card, and found a Starbucks to hook up to.

I offer some quick photos from yesterday:

And...from today, the best site in California:

Right now we're heading to the Queen Mary (I've been there before, but it's worth the visit again). Hopefully I'll find another Starbucks (yes, there is one on every corner) and post some more pictures.

Quickstats:

Miles logged on rental car: 1034.5 miles
Best quote from yesterday: "It's like the Natchez Trace...on steroids."
Number of rolls of 35mm film used: 21 and a half
Number of British cars seen on Hwy 1: 12
Number of times I wish I were driving my MGA: lost count
Likelyhood that my MGA could make it out here: 1.23% chance
Number of Bush stickers seen: 4
Number of times we waved at them: 4
Number of strange looks we got for waving: 4

U5DCRT

Greetings from the Ultimate 5 Day California Road Trip

Yesterday: Driving up the 101 from LA to San Fran
Today: Sonoma and Napa...wine country; Alcatraz; the Golden Gate Bridge; driving around San Fran
Tomorrow: Driving down US 1 back toward LA.
Monday: Simi Valley (Reagan Libary) and LA.
Tuesday: Flying back home.

Coolest thing so far: Driving up the 101; Alcatraz; Golden Gate
Most disturbing moment: Seeing a sign that told people to report smoking cars. Snitch on thy neighbor.
Trip motto: No Tresspassing? No Problem.
Biggest let-down: Reaching back to feel for my gun and then realizing..."Oh wait...I'm in California."
Most interesting moment so far: Seeing an attempted suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Most common bumper sticker in San Fran: "Green Party"
Most surprising bumper sticker: "Vehicle Insured by Glock"
Gas Prices: $2.01/gallon for Regular.
Looking forward to: Driving down US 1 along the coast.
What California is missing: Sweet tea...just like everywhere else outside of the Southeast.

Traveling to the Left Coast

Tomorrow I'll leaving to visit the People's Republic of California for a few days.

With me I'll have a camera and a laptop. Hopefully I can catch a few hotspots (or dial-up if need be) so that I'll be able to do some blogging from the road as I enter enemy territory. heh

And yes...I will be visiting the Reagan Presidential Library (for my conservative fix).

Born at 27

Born at 27 weeks now going on 15...Amazing.

Madeline Mann then.

Madeline Mann now.

Today's Socialism

Walter Williams = Brilliant

Nowhere in our Constitution is there even a hint of authority for most of what Congress taxes and spends for today. Don't be tricked by those who'd argue that Congress has such authority under the Constitution's "general welfare" clause. James Madison explained, "With respect to the two words 'general welfare', I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them ..." Thomas Jefferson said, "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated." The "detail of powers" or those "specifically enumerated" refer to what's actually laid out in the Constitution. The Framers had the foresight to see that these powers might need modification. That's why they gave us Article V as a means to amend the Constitution.

Who Would Jesus Vote For????

Here we go...I'm going to open a can of worms here, I'm sure.

Apparently, some in the left, attempting to counter the so called "religious monopoly" that the right has, have been bringing up the topic of "Who Would Jesus Vote For?" Their reasoning is that Jesus would have obviously been a Democrat because he cared for the poor whereas evil Republicans obviously don't.

It's a complex topic that can't be boiled down to simple political terms, said religious leaders who attended a Texas Faith Network conference in Austin on Tuesday. Many at the conference voiced concerns that the religious right dominates discussions of faith and morality in politics. They complained that issues such as abortion and gay marriage seem to take priority over hunger, corporate crime and even the war in Iraq.

First off, it's not a complex topic. It's quite simple. Jesus wasn't involved in politics, and he probably wouldn't have voted for anyone. Jesus stood above mere human quarrels. Today's politics really make no difference when it comes to eternity.

On the other hand, taking moral sins that the left supports and saying they aren't as important as supposed sins the right supports isn't exactly the best way to say that Jesus would probably support your side.

The theme throughout the left's use of Jesus as being a "Democrat" is shown in the following:

James C. Moore, co-author of "Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George Bush Presidential," drew laughter and applause when he offered his view to the moderate to left-leaning crowd of about 250 clergy and lay leaders.

"If ever there were a bleeding-heart liberal, it was Jesus Christ," Moore said at Congregation Agudas Achim synagogue. "I think the carpenter from Galilee was the original Democrat."

Also, last month, Nathan Moore over at MooreThoughts received an email from a guy who claimed the following:

...lets face it even jesus was a democrat... he was a working man and took care of the homeless, the drunks, those with disease and no health care, unlike our president today...

It seems that the religion gap we have in today's politics is brining this type of thing out. Where does one begin?

The foremost fallacy in the left's comparison is that Jesus didn't seek to create a government agency or seek government handouts to feed the poor. He didn't rally for "free" health care either. He did it all himself.

Jesus helped the poor, fed the hungry, and healed the sick through miracles. However, that was only a small part of his being here on earth. In fact, many times, Jesus would leave an area because of the overwhelming numbers seeking miracles. The point was that he wasn't here on earth just to perform miracles. His was bringing a message that was much bigger and much more important than all of that. The left tends to leave this most important thing out when making their comparison.

My fellow Christians don't get off the hook that easily on this issue though. It is definitely up to us to help the poor and downtrodden in our society. In fact, I have made it clear that it should be the church's duty to do this (read here).

The left also apparently believes that the only message Christians preach today is hatred toward homosexuals and those that have abortions. These sins just happen to be prevalent in today's society, and they pretty much take on political lives of their own. Let's be brutally honest though...both abortion and homosexuality is wrong and the commission of these acts is sinful, but that doesn't mean that Christians are taught to hate those that do commit those sins.

Jesus taught that people should seek forgiveness for their sins. In fact, it is an essential part of his message. Seek forgiveness then sin no more. If one seeks forgiveness for a sin, but then continually repeats that sin, then they have not really accomplished anything.

Jesus' message was that we as humans are all miserable sinners, but through him we can be saved. Because of his sacrifice, we are cleansed. Through him we can come to God the Father. That in itself is more important than anything else.

If the left wants to start talking about Jesus, then let's do that. Apparently they only want to take bits and pieces of the subject to suit their own needs while leaving out the most important parts. I guess that's typical though.

Shooting Looters

A sure-fire way to stop looters. Shoot them on site:

Down the road in the park sat Vietnam veteran Gary Snyder, drinking Miller High Life. Snyder, who was among only a handful in Harborview who rode out the storm, said residents were anxious about looters, but he was prepared.

"If I see 'em, I'll shoot 'em," he said. "They're gone. I'll tell 'em I had a flashback."

Yes, indeed.

Concert

I went to go see Norah Jones and the Handsome Band last night at the Opry. It was the first stop on her new tour. Let me tell you what...that was an excellent show. It was good to get to hear some wonderful, real music by a truly talented artist.

Opening for Norah was Amos Lee. I had never heard of him before, but he did an excellent job. I'll definitely be buying his album (be sure to check him out).

I also sat near these people:

Well, after that image left my head (because that's what I flashed back to when I saw them), I was able to enjoy the concert.

Administration Backing Off?

A day after Bush says that consideration of a national sales tax should be seriously considered, the administration is, unfortunately, backing off of that claim.

Administration officials on Wednesday denied that President Bush is considering a national sales tax, a day after the Republican incumbent created a stir by calling such a tax "an interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

I will try be polite here, but some Republicans need to grow a spine. You want to know what will win this election? Optimistic conservatism. It's the sure-fire way to beat pessimistic liberalism.

Go out with a smile, tell everyone that we should scrap the income tax in favor of a flat tax or a national sales tax, and then inform the liberals that they should just have a Coke and smile and get over it. Oh, and by the way, the "Assault" Weapons Ban will not be renewed either, have a nice day.

Instead, we get drivel from some political suits saying that he really didn't mean that.

Speaking of mindless suits...

Kerry makes some predictable claims (as I said would happen earlier):

"Families already squeezed by rising health care costs, gas costs and college costs would have to carry a whole new tax burden," Kerry said in a statement.

Whole new tax burden?? Note to John Kerry: This plan would be getting rid of a burdensome income tax and replacing it with a consumption tax (aka sales tax).

A former Clinton economic advisor has this to offer as well:

But, Sperling said, "Any way you cut it, a proposal like this will amount to a historic tax increase on middle-income families."

As opposed to that good old income tax that takes away 30% of their hard-earned wages? Yeah...that's a good one there, Sperling.

By the way...I'm in a sort of brazen mood today. My blogging might have reflected that, so get over it. :)

Anybody but Bush

You've gotta love these little nuggets...from a story regarding Al-Qaeda's plans to disrupt the elections in November (emphasis mine):

"The goal of the next attack is twofold: to damage the US economy and to undermine the US election," an intelligence official said, referring to the November 2 presidential election pitting Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat John Kerry.

"The view of Al-Qaeda is 'anybody but Bush,'" said the official.

Hmph...That's funny...isn't that what Kerry's view is too. I mean, that's pretty much what this entire election campaign is about. "Anybody but Bush."

So, let's see...I read this, and I think to myself. I wonder who I should vote for in November. Hmmm.

I'm not trying to be pro-Bush here or anything, but I'll let you draw your own conclusions based on what our enemies want us to do.

Update: Speaking of "Anybody but Bush," here's a little humor from The Onion today. It's Kerry's "One-Point Plan for a Better America."

Economics 101

Walter Williams provides a little Economics 101 today.

Yes, indeed.

Bush Speaks on Tax Issue

Replacing the current income tax system is something we should "seriously consider" according to Bush.

Republican economists who speak regularly to the White House have said that the Bush campaign has been mulling the idea of an overhaul of the tax code as part of an agenda for a second term should Bush win reelection.

Read more.

The article talks about a national income tax, but it also mentions a flat tax. However, everytime the flat tax comes up, you see this lie:

Opponents say such a system would not be in the best interests of the poor and the middle class who would pay the same tax rate as the wealthy even though they have less disposable income.

Yes, it's the same bloody rate, but it's not the same amount of money! Does anyone understand how percentages work? I've had arguments time and time again (mainly with those who strongly believe in a 'redistribution of wealth') that just can't comprehend that the rich will still pay a lot more even though the percentage is the same. They still think that it's unfair to the poor.

I for one think that someone who makes $5,000 a year should pay the same percentage rate as someone who makes $500,000. The rich guy still pays more, but the poor guy is also putting into the system.

Who gets the most out of the "system?" The poor guy, of course. If you get something out of the system (especially as much as our "system" gives out these days), then you should put something in. If someone is putting into the system, then they've also got a stake (or investment, if you will) into that system. When someone has a stake in something, then it means more.

Many people can't begin to fathom these thoughts. They call people like me heartless conservatives. I don't care. Conservative ideals go a lot farther in actually helping the poor while liberal ideals (which have prevailed over the last half-century) seem to have created a larger class of citizens who are dependent on the government...essentially "stuck in a rut."

Yes, this issue goes way beyond the income tax issue, but when conservatives actually try to discuss an economic plan which will help this country, it's always time to roll out the class warfare with liberals.

Liberals: You've had a half-century to try to prove your ideas. They've failed. Get over it.

Message for the BATF

If anyone from the BATF or Green Hill Church (you know who you are) is wondering where I am this weekend, I'll be in Kentucky visiting Mark Lancaster in prison.

Fun Facts

Let's start the weekend out right with a list of Fun Facts about Democrats!

My favorites:

* Democrats are big into class warfare. They also are for gun control which has caused the deadliest firearms to be too expensive except for the rich to buy. So, if class warfare ever goes to blows, it won't last long.

* No matter what legislation the Republicans propose, the Democrats call it "just a tax cut for the rich." When Republicans proposed to free the slaves, Democrats called it "just a tax cut for the rich."

* Many Democrats intensely hate Bush because it's easier than confronting the irrelevancy of their ideas. It’s funny to dump a bucket of cold water on them and hear them blame Haliburton.

* If you're plagued by Democrats, they can be scared away with snakes, guns, or concepts of individual responsibility.

And the best one of all:

* Every time someone votes for a Democrat, baby Jesus cries.
(That one was for you, Joe)

(ht: Smallest Minority...providing comic relief for the second time this week)

Missile Plot

Thanks to Jim for posting this link this link in the comments section regarding the Albany missile plot.

Information found in Iraq led federal investigators to become suspicious of an Albany, N.Y., mosque leader, FOX News has learned.

Last summer, U.S. troops discovered Yassin Muhhiddin Aref's name, telephone number and address in a book left behind in a vacated terrorist training camp, a U.S. official told FOX News. The book also revealed that Ansar al-Islam, the group running the camp, had given Aref a title: "the commander."

So, the guy apparently did have real terrorist ties. Ok.

I just was attempting to temper the blaring of the trumpeteers everywhere saying..."Look at us, we've stopped a plot to blow up New York," while the entire time there weren't any missiles in the first place.

Most of the people who have referenced this seem to think that there was a real threat. What this guy is guilty of is laundering money to people he thought were terrorists.

That doesn't worry me as much as things like this.

A South African citizen has been arrested in Mexico for alleged involvement in al-Qaeda-linked terrorist activities, South African media reported on Thursday, prompting further speculation about al-Qaeda presence in the country.

The man, so far unidentified, was carrying a South African passport and a mobile phone that had been used to make calls to South Africa when he was nabbed in Mexico near the US border on Tuesday, said local newspaper Thisday.

The press and government seem to turn a blind eye when it comes to the open door we have along our southern border. OTMs ("other than Mexicans") who are of Middle Eastern or questionable origin are apparently turning up on a semi-regular basis. Why aren't we doing anything about that?

I guess that would require putting a bigger effort in controlling the border, and we can't have that. Why, that would be a crime against humanity. Hey...guess what...it's a crime to enter this country illegally. It needs to be stopped.

Idiot Alert

Idiot alert in western Tennessee:

An unabashed racist will represent the Republican party in the November election for a congressional seat after a write-in candidate failed to derail his effort.

With 86 percent of the primary vote counted Thursday, write-in candidate Dennis Bertrand had just 1,554 votes compared to 7,671, or 83 percent, for James L. Hart, a believer in the discredited, phony science of eugenics.

In November, the GOP candidate will oppose Rep. John Tanner, a Democrat who has represented the northwest Tennessee district for 15 years.

The press loves to jump on this type of thing...from the first line it sounds like he's an official GOP candidate, but if you read on into the article the GOP has quickly denounced this guy.

The GOP didn't officially put anyone up mainly because Tanner has held that seat for 15 years, and it's a Democrat stronghold. Hart, unfortunately, got on the ticket and no one noticed until it was too late...and write-in campaigns never really do any good anyway. At least they tried.

Armstrong

Lance Armstrong's title to be stripped by French authorities?

Get the story here.

(ht: Samizdata)

Kalashnikitty

I've never really understood that whole Hello Kitty thing, but I never was really into that type of thing either (being the manly-man from the South that I am).

Anyway...maybe I would have understood it better if it were marketed this way. Heck yeah.

(ht: SayUncle)

Unfit pt II

If you get a chance, be sure to download the free chapter of the book Unfit for Command from HumanEventsOnline.com. It makes for some very interesting reading.

By the way...the DNC is already trying to supress the Swift Boat Veterans' TV ad. (ht: Bill Hobbs)

Missile Plot

I wake up this morning and see the headlines blaring "Albany Mosque Raid Uncovers Missile Plot". From the headline and just reading the first part of the article readers would think that disaster was narrowly averted.

However, this little nugget of information pops up (emphasis mine):

According to law enforcement officials, the two are being charged with providing material support to terrorism by participating in a conspiracy to help an individual they believed was a terrorist purchase a shoulder-fired missile.

The individual was in fact working undercover for the government and no missile ever changed hands. Aref and Hoosain were allegedly involved in money-laundering aspects of the plot, the officials said.

Before I even read on into the article I knew what was going on. This is exactly the same setup used last year when a British Muslim was arrested on charges that he was attempting to smuggle stinger missiles into the US. It turned out that there were no missiles, there were no buyers (they were federal agents), and there were no sellers (they were federal agents as well). In fact, the entire thing was started and orchestrated by the feds.

To me, that's a stretch. This entire setup is like a cop giving a random guy a bag of flour, saying that it's cocaine and telling him to sell it to another cop. They then arrest the guy for conspiracy to sell drugs even though no drugs existed in the first place. That's entrapment.

If a cop gives me a gun with blanks and tells me to go into a room and shoot someone, and I do, is that conspiracy to commit murder even though the means to commit the murder was based on falsifications and no murder ever took place?

Sure, the fact that these guys thought they were helping support terrorists is bad...I'm not disputing that. However, the tactics that the government is using in these cases are questionable. What's to stop them from using these types of tactics all the time on regular citizens? (well, ok...maybe they already do)

It's a slippery slope, my friend...a slippery slope.

Addendum: Let me be clear...what these guys thought they were doing is wrong. The thing I'm questioning are the government's tactics.

Sting operations take place all the time in the war on drugs. If a cop is attempting to buy real drugs from a real drug dealer, then that's a good sting. If a cop is attempting to negotiate a real drug deal between two people, then that's a good sting. When a cop attempts to sell fake drugs to someone looking for drugs, then I'm a little iffy on that one (but it can be justified as the person was seeking the drugs out). If a cop goes to a random person and sells them fake drugs, then that's taking it a little far.

I'm not an apologist for these guys or anyone who aligns themselves with terrorists or their agendas. The war on terror is a noble cause. We just have to be careful in how far the government goes as these same tactics will become common place, and eventually they might be arresting people for pre-crimes or even simply thinking about a crime.

The ultimate question here, though, is would have any of these events taken place if the government hadn't instigated them? I believe the answer is no.

Unfit for Command

If you haven't seen the ad spot put out by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, then you need to see it.

John Edwards: "If you have any question about what John Kerry is made of, just spend 3 minutes with the men who served with him."

Al French: "I served with John Kerry."

Bob Elder: "I served with John Kerry."

George Elliott: "John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam."

Al French: "He is lying about his record."

Louis Letson: "I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury."

Van O'Dell: "John Kerry lied to get his bronze star ... I know, I was there, I saw what happened."

Jack Chenoweth: "His account of what happened and what actually happened are the difference between night and day."

Admiral Hoffman: "John Kerry has not been honest."

Adrian Lonsdale: "And he lacks the capacity to lead."

Larry Thurlow: "When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry."

Bob Elder: "John Kerry is no war hero."

Grant Hibbard: "He betrayed all his shipmates ... he lied before the Senate."

Shelton White: "John Kerry betrayed the men and women he served with in Vietnam."

Joe Ponder: "He dishonored his country ... he most certainly did."

Bob Hildreth: "I served with John Kerry ...

Bob Hildreth (off-camera): John Kerry cannot be trusted."

Announcer: "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is responsible for the content of this advertisement."

USS Indianapolis

I missed posting on the anniversary of this event last week, but I will post it belatedly as it's still relevant.

On June 30, 1945 while returning from Guam (after delivering the parts to the atomic bombs which would later be dropped on Japan), the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-58. It took only 12 minutes for the battleship to capsize and sink.

Five days later, a PV-1 Ventura Bomber on routine submarine patrol accidentally spotted the survivors in the water. Up until that time, due to Naval procedures and communication problems, no one knew that the Indianapolis had gone missing.

Of the 1,196 men aboard only about 900 men made it into the water. After five days of constant shark attacks, exposure to the elements, starvation and thirst only 317 survived.

All of those men of the USS Indianapolis are heroes, and I am proud to say that my great-uncle, Maurice Bell, was one of those men. Today he lives in Mobile, Alabama and still attends the survivor's reunions.

He is one of the reasons that the greatest generation is the greatest generation.

Addendum: Back in June, it was reported that the I-58 submarine that sank the Indianapolis had been found near the Marianas Islands.

Update: Pardon my error. Mark from the Conservative Zone comments that the Indianapolis was actually a cruiser. Yes, it was a Portland Class Heavy Cruiser...not a battleship. Here is a good photo archive along with some specs on the Indianapolis.

TBI Investigates "Drill"

Looks like the Carter County EMA Director has been temporarily suspended while the TBI investigates the emergency "drill" that I wrote about yesterday.

Good.

Three Strikes

Three strikes and the Brady Center is out.

An Alameda County Superior Court jury yesterday found that firearm manufacturer Beretta U.S.A. Corp. was not responsible for the tragic 1994 accidental shooting death of a 14-year-old boy. Kenzo Dix was killed when his friend played with a firearm that was left loaded and unlocked by an irresponsible parent. The jury deliberated only five hours before returning a verdict in favor of Beretta U.S.A. Corp., finding the pistol's design did not cause the accident.

This was the third time the case had been tried. The lawsuit was filed in 1995 on behalf of the parents of Dix by lawyers from Handgun Control Inc. (since renamed as Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence). Handgun Control Inc. tried to claim Beretta was at fault for not having included a built-in lock and for not providing more warnings by having a different "loaded chamber indicator" feature than the one on the firearm. The case gained national media attention in late 1998 when a jury in the first trial found that the design of the Beretta pistol was not defective and did not cause the accident. An appellate court, however, ordered a retrial because a juror allegedly told fellow jurors he didn't think Beretta was at fault before the jury began its deliberations. In a retrial last year the plaintiffs were again unable to convince a jury that the pistol's design was defective and caused the accident resulting in a mistrial.

Another Look

Donald Sensing provides another look at China's resolve to invade Taiwan via Brian Dunn.

Dunn says that China definitely wants Taiwan, and we shouldn't underestimate their willingness to do so. In fact, he points to an article that states several Chinese diplomats want to have the Taiwanese Question answered by the 2008 Olympics.

I pointed out last month that the Chinese military chief Jiang Zemin had vowed to recover Taiwan by 2020, which marked the first time China has set a deadline for "reunification."

No matter the time frame, Dunn puts it best:

China can invade Taiwan and they want Taiwan. And they fear Taiwan will slip from their grasp forever if too much time passes. Nukes and deeply embedded democracy, if allowed to develop on Taiwan, could keep Taiwan independent as long as the Taiwanese want.

I think that China's capabilities to invade are far greater than people realize. But ultimately, when deciding on war and peace, it matters not what the real situation is. What the decision-makers believe is most important. Once the shooting starts, reality rears its ugly head, but by then thousands are dying to prove what reality is.

Yes indeed.

Only a drill

Speaking of idiots...

An emergency management agency director's attempt to stage a realistic drill shocked people attending a Carter County Commission meeting.

Commissioners had just convened last night in Elizabethton (ee-LIHZ'-uh-BETH'-t'n) when a man and a woman rushed in carrying guns, held a weapon to the head of county finance director Jason Cody and said there would be no new taxes.

One of the people acting as a hostage-taker fired a blank.

The shaken finance director said later he didn't know what was happening. The county sheriff wasn't clued in either and city police responded when someone called 9-1-1.

So, no one bothered to clue in the police on this? Did anyone also consider the fact that Tennessee is a conceal carry state?

I'm surprised that no one was killed.

Journalists with an agendas

There's nothing worse than journalists with an agenda.

Let's take an undercover camera crew out, make somebody do something that's perfectly legal and then claim it's actually a loophole in a law.

No, my friends, it's not a loophole. The law wasn't intended for private individuals nor should it be.

Poletown Overruled

In 1981, the city of Detroit took away private land from a group of citizens in the former Poletown neighborhood, bulldozed it and built a car factory in its place...all because it was for the "public good."

Since that time cities around the nation have invoked eminent domain in the name of the "public good" while citing the Poletown case.

The Poletown case has now been overruled by the Michigan Supreme Court:

"Poletown was the first major case allowing condemnation of areas in the name of jobs and taxes," writes Dana Berliner, an attorney with the Institute for Justice and author of the book "Public Power, Private Gain."

So wild did the land-swapping-at-gunpoint eventually become that between 1998 and 2002, 10,000 private properties were either taken or threatened with eminent domain seizure in the United States.

"State Supreme Courts from Nevada to Connecticut have relied on the Poletown decision when upholding the condemnation of land for private parties," according to the Washington-based Institute for Justice -- including property seized for redevelopment on and near Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

Last week, based in part on a brief filed by the Institute for Justice, the Michigan high court finally looked at what it had wrought, and reversed its Poletown decision -- unanimously.

It's time that we understand that our rights are not just another privilege given to us by government. Privileges can be revoked, and because the government now considers many of our rights to be privileges then they pretty much revoke them when they please.

Private ownership of property is a cornerstone of this nation. If government can just come in and take it as they see fit in the name of "public good" then the right of private ownership is just an illusion, and our founding fathers didn't intend for our rights to be mere illusions.

I applaud the Michigan Supreme Court's decision.

Faith in the GOP

Continuing the IRS elimination thread, it seems my faith in the GOP may be returning:

Although Hastert's office did not return calls for comment on the report, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, offered a preview of the House GOP leadership's post-election tax agenda in a March speech in which he said the Republicans are determined to repeal the federal income tax.

Whether this is just talk to shore up the conservative base or not, I don't know. However, having politicians in key positions talking about it (and not just someone on the fringe of the political spectrum) says a lot. DeLay has been a proponent of scraping the income tax in favor of a national sales tax for a while, but if this is actually going to become a full-fleged GOP agenda, then it will definitely shore up the conservative base.

On the other hand (before I speak too soon), let's just see how they handle the Assault Weapons Ban in September. If it dies, and this becomes a platform, then they will definitely be back on track with some real conservative agendas. I might even forget about the prescription plan and education reform.

Oh yeah...I forgot...Cue class warfare whining, how it would benefit the rich, yadda yadda yadda.

NashvilleFiles Front Page

Well, the front page of NashvilleFiles.com is up and running again. Thanks to Todd Anderson of Southnine and Popshot fame for getting it moved over to MovableType.

That means the local news links will be up to date now.

Elimination of the IRS?

This would be the coolest thing that could ever happen...The possible elimination of the IRS.

And you thought this stuff just came from those fringe parties.