Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Cuban Reintroduces Private Farms. Time to End the Embargo!

Cuba giving land to private farmers
The Associated Press, 12:55 PM EST April 6, 2008

In a country where almost everyone works for the communist state, dairy farmer Jesus Diaz is his own boss. He likes it that way - and so does the government.

Living on a plot of land just big enough to graze four dairy cows, Diaz produces enough milk to sell about four quarts a day to the state.This is independent production on a tiny scale, but it has proved so efficient that Cuba has decided on a major expansion of its program to distribute underused and fallow farmland to private farmers and cooperatives."It's a way for the land to end up in the hands of those who want to produce. I see it as a very good thing," said Diaz, 45.

He received his land and cows from the state in 1996, and now hopes to get access to more property.The government is preparing for a "massive distribution of land," Orlando Lugo, president of Cuba's national farming association, said last week.

Private farmers have begun receiving land for the cash crops of coffee and tobacco, and will soon be able to lease state land for other crops.The idea is to revolutionize farming, one tiny plot at a time. (link)

Commentary
End the Embargo Now!

This is more good news from Cuba. Following the announcement that individuals would be given the deed to their homes, that Cubans could own cell phones, that Cubans could stay in luxury hotels, now comes another liberalization.

This could be profound. Just a little market capitalism will reveal the superiority of markets over a command economy. This could be the camel getting its nose under the tent.

The US should use these changes as an occation for ending its failed policy of isolating Cuba.
The embargo of Cuba began in 1960 and may have been a mistake from the very first. The intent was to pressure Castro to Democratize. It had the result of pushing Cuba further into the arms of the Soviet Union. The embargo made a martyr out of Castro and helped prop us his regime. The poverty of Cuba was the result of Castro’s socialist policies, but he could blame it on the U.S embargo.

If one thinks that there was logic for the embargo in 1960, surely that logic no longer applies in 2008. The Soviet Union is dead. The only two remaining truly Communist countries in the world are North Korea and Cuba.

Cuba is changing; we could facilitate that change if we would simply end the embargo. American dollars flowing into Cuba would mean more Cubans with money to spend, which would lead to more opportunities for the flourishing of a non-government sector of the economy and more pressure for more liberalization.

I suspect that Cuba would welcome US investment and trade. Along with that trade and investment would come a clarification of private property rights and the rule of law.

If it is too bold of a move for the current administration to totally end the embargo all at once, they could do it incrementally. A good place to start would be with a change in the policy that restricts Cuban-American and Cubans living in America from traveling to Cuba. This would be a humanitarian move and the right thing to do. Let families unite.

These moves by Cuba to liberalize should be met with American efforts to reinforce good behavior. We should change our policy regarding Cuba because it is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. If we want to see an end to socialism and totalitarian rule in Cuba, lift the embargo.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Thoughts on Reverend Wright

I have been in debate with one of my loyal readers on the thread from this post a few days ago. We have been talking about Reverend Wright and... well read it for yourself, my bias will shine through too much. But most recently, he said this:

If it is the case that you believe that someone is a better American if she doesn't find fault with "The Trail of Tears," or slavery, or the internment of American citizens of Japanese descent during WWII, or jim crow, we'll have to agree to disagree, I guess.

For starters, I never said that. It is obviously important to look back and realize those terrible faults in American history. But it only proves useful to examine those faults with the hope of improving them and eliminating them from our culture. Looking back on them and claiming that it proves some sort of moral fault in the modern American people as a whole is incorrect and unjustified (especially when Obama himself believes so strongly in the decency of the American people).
To say "God fuck America," so passionately as Reverend Wright did, he obviously hasn't travelled much. I just returned from a service trip to Ecuador as I'm sure you've read, where I found a lifestyle so dismal and so impoverished that I literally teared up multiple times a day. Their unethical, completely corrupt government is robbing and destroying the people instead of helping them. 1/3 of Ecuador lives on a dollar - a DOLLAR - a day per person, and all those except the wealthiest 6% live on less than $3 a day. A family of four will live in a home the size of the room I am typing in now (which isn't that big). I went to two masses while I was down there, both in open air churches; one parish couldn't afford to finish putting in flooring, so it was only half covered. But nonetheless, they sing praise to their God and are joyful for what they have. Reverend Wright preaches from his gorgeous air-conditioned Church and oak-wood pulpit, wallowing in self-pity and anguish of a crime now largely nonexistent.

Yeah, God, you fuck America.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Is this how McShamnesty expects to get the conservative vote?

These past few days with McShamnesty on the campaign trail pandering to the left has just solidified my choice to not vote for him in November. First, while pandering in New Orleans, he bashes the federal government and Bush for the "slow response" to the crisis that was Hurricane Katrina. As we all know, the only ones to blame for that mess was the Democratic Governor and the Democratic Mayor of New Orleans. Bush called Mayor Nagin three days before Katrina hit land and warned him that he should start evacuation protocols. Mayor Nagin ignored that warning. After Katrina hit, Bush called both the Governor and the Mayor to offer federal assistance, both of them refused initially. If anyone knows how the government works, in order for the Federal government to provide disaster assistance, the states have to request it. Neither the Governor nor the Mayor requested assistance for three days after Katrina hit. I still don't understand how this became Bush's problem or the Federal government's problem. The state of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans failed those people, not the federal government. For McShamnesty to continue to play to this lie is just ridiculous and proves he's just pandering for the black vote.

Then, he has the gall to say that the GOP in North Carolina is out of touch with reality because they decided to play that attack ad against Barack using the words of Jeremiah Wright. I would say that McShamnesty is out of touch with reality! Barack Obama is interviewing with the general public for the highest public seat in this country. I know that if I were to go for a job interview and I told my future employer that my pastor is a racist and hates America, and that one of my best friends bombed the Pentagon and a New York police department, and that I hang out with a guy who calls white people skunks of the earth, and that one of my friends is currently on trial for real estate fraud, don't you think they would conduct a VERY thorough background check on me before deciding to hire me? The American people need to know about the associations of every single candidate...to include McShamnesty. In my view, he is the one that is completely out of touch with reality.

I'm sorry, but I absolutely refuse to vote for a man that bashes his government and his own party. This man has no loyalty whatsoever except to the liberals. He always has and he always will. For those of you who still are supporting him, maybe you need to think about your values and principles as well. Is this really the guy you want representing you in the White House? He's no Republican and he's definitely no conservative!

Don't try feeding me that line that he will lower taxes, and that he will make the Bush tax cuts permanent, and he will put in constructionist judges, and he will put security first before amnesty for illegals, and blah blah blah. He voted against all of these when he was a Senator, do you honestly think he will institute these as President...or don't you think he's just telling you what you want to hear just to get your vote. The man is a career politician. Forget the fact that he is a Viet Nam war hero. He's not that same man that was tortured at the Hanoi Hilton. He threw his character out the window a long time ago!

Friday, April 25, 2008

A condensed version of World History for those who slept through World History 101

(I didn't write this. It was sent to me by my brother; not the liberal brother, my other brother. )

Here is a condensed version of World History.

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were:
1. The invention of beer, and
2. The invention of the wheel.

The wheel was invented to get man to the beer, and the beer to the man. These facts formed the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals
2. Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to BB Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement. Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly BBQ's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy and group hugs, the evolution oft he Hollywood actor, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide all the meat and beer that conservatives provided.

Over the years, Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most liberal women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America! . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history. It should be noted that a liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers, and to more liberals...just to irritate them.

Have a great day.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Inside Ecuador

This past week, I went on an eight day Christian (no, I'm not religious) service trip to Ecuador. Our twelve man group left almost two weeks after the Ecuadorian-Venezuelan-Columbian triangular conflict hit the news, so to be honest, I was a bit worried. I never really thought Ecuadorians would be dumb enough to kidnap Americans on a poverty immersion trip, but I didn't put it past Chavez and the Venezuelan government.
I soon realized I had nothing to worry about. As I assumed, the Ecuadorian people have no problem with Americans. In fact, they welcome us into their homes with open arms. Most of them wish they were American, considering their state of poverty.
What I didn't count on, though, was the absolute lack of interest from the Ecuadorian government in our location, Duran. Duran is a suburb of the city of Guayaquil, and its residents live in a horrific form of poverty; most live on a dollar or slightly more a day. Located geographically opposite and politically unimportant to Quito, the government simply doesn't care. The current president, Raphael Correa, ran on the platform of reforms for the poor, but has largely ignored them since his election. So my outlandish kidnapping and death concerns were dispelled quickly.
We were welcomed into the Rostro de Cristo mission (excellent organization) in this urban-ish area, and it was here where we spent the week. The idea of their organization is building relationships with the people of Ecuador, so we spent our immersion week playing soccer, getting absolutely crushed in Ecuadorian checkers, playing cards with patients at the Padre Damien foundation for Hansen's Disease (leprosy; yes, it's still around, and still terrible), and learning all we could from these people about the government from their perspective.
Considering almost the entire country is in poverty despite the very, very elite, and education and health care systems are dismal at best, socialism seems to be the common strategy of the people. They all want better schools; they all want to, well, not die when they get sick (at this point, both those things are slightly unrealistic).
I understand a lot of things about Ecuador now. The country is corrupt; presidents typically don't last a year before overthrow (Correa being an exception) and no crime is priceless. The medical system is in shambles. A third of Ecuadorians live on a dollar a day (I lived on two while down there, it's hard). I learned how much of the world lives like this. I mean really learned it, and really lived it.
But most importantly, I think, was the understanding that there is a major difference between poor and poverty. Poverty is a state physically impossible to overcome from the inside. Without structural changes to government, it is not actually possible for these people to move their way up economically. A man in Ecuador named Daniel (they all have very American names, which struck me funny) was given the rare opportunity to live and study in America. His flight was paid for. His schooling was paid for. He attended Gateway Community College (not due to unintelligence, due to money) and received his Associates degree in medical technology, and he went back to Ecuador to live with his family. With one of the better resumes in the country, he began the job search. How is he now, five years later? Living on nothing, in the same house he grew up in. That is poverty.
See, the people who come from Duran are broken down into a few groups, educationally. The lowest group never tries high school. They didn't have money to buy school supplies, their family needed them to get a job. They are probably 10% of the people I met. Another 50% are those who dropped out of high school because they ran out of money. Another 30%-40% finished high school. They next 10% started college and, again, ran out of money. The last 5%? They finished college, got a job in downtown Guayaquil, got fired because they could afford the 18¢ for the ten minute bus ride into the city, and wound up selling fried plantains on the corner for 10¢. That is physically impossible to overcome. That is poverty.
There are parts of Duran called land invasions. These are typically swampy areas taken over by people so poor that they actually travelled to Duran for work. These people settled on government land and built themselves beautiful 6x6 sugarcane and tin homes on stilts so they would be out of the disturbingly infested water. Since it was government land, though, the government showed up with bull dozers. They knocked every home over, giving people just enough time to retrieve themselves. They usually left behind the small amount of stuff they actually owned. Then the government left, and the people rebuilt. The government came back and did it all again. And they rebuilt. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. "This happens all the time, all around Ecuador," A Rostro volunteer named Nate said. "It goes on until either the government or the people give up. "In this case," he said, pointing behind him into the never ending swampland mess, "the people won." It is called Veintiocho de Augusto, the day the government gave up and handed over a deed to the land. The people live on twice-picked garbage dumped their by lazy garbage men who don't want to drive another twelve miles to the garbage dump.
That is poverty.
No one in America is in poverty. That statement, made by a politician, would get him or her never, ever, ever elected again. Ever. But after those last three paragraphs, I hope to God you agree. As an example, McCain was in the Appalachia area this week. Yes, those people are very poor. Their life sucks. But it is possible, with a little elbow grease (okay, okay, a lot of elbow grease), to get out. That is America, that is the dream that this country was founded on. But most of the world doesn't live like that, and that sad realization is something I found myself forced to come to this week.
So I find myself driven to go back. I want to go back and help these people. The personal relationships I formed with so many have honestly changed me. Oswaldo, Roxy, Maria, Brian, Aide, Gabriel. They are no longer faces on "Adopt a Child" commercials. I understand that they are real people, living real lives, and they need help.
I hope you do the same.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Welcome, Becky C.

As you can see, we have a new blogger here, Becky from Girl in Short Shorts. I haven't been around for a while, as I'm sure you've also noticed, because I was in Ecuador on a service trip. A long post on that is following, but as I said on RL, it was a life changing experience. Anyway, welcome Becky!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

IRS Seeks Wesley Snipes Crucifixion

Wesley Snipes


a2 I know a guy named Harry. Harry went into the Navy after getting thrown out of High School. Having never before engaged in any gainful employment, he was not familiar with the ways of the income tax. So he sought the advise of one of his drinking buddies, who told him the trick was to never file, and then you don't get in the government system.

Surprisingly, this worked real well for Harry. After getting tossed out of the Navy, he became a drywaller in New England, but his real passion was the distribution of drugs and weapons. And Harry never paid taxes on the millions that passed through his hands.

As usually happens with lame brained criminals, the DEA caught up with Harry. Like so many criminals do, who are facing 212 months in the federal pen, and twenty-five years at MCI-Cedar Junction, Harry saw the light and became a snitch.

income tax After being severely punished with six months in a county jail, the IRS stopped by. At first Harry was a little concerned, but they were more than happy to give him amnesty.

I was reminded of Harry yesterday, when we all dutifully logged on to Turbotax or headed down to the Post Office to file our income tax returns.

IRS Federal Prosecutors chose Tax Day to make an example of Wesley Snipes. They are asking the judge to throw Wesley in the can for three years, because he failed to file his return.

head poleThey say they want to make an example of him. Kinda like how the English used to put the head of pickpockets on a pole at the entrance to the village.

Thats how the system works. Harry gets amnesty and Wesley's head is jammed on a spike.

It makes all us commoners not only behave, but feel good and righteous about it.

income tax We find it outrageous that Wesley was not doing his part in contributing a third of his salary to help the federal government pay off the interest they owe to our Chinese and Arab creditors.

But it pleases us if we are able to get a $400 refund, and it is so nice Congress is going to send us a $600 rebate, though a lot of us have bills to pay, and won't be able to go down to Walmart, and do our patriotic duty by purchasing a whole bunch of crap imported from China.

For the life of me I do not understand why Americans are worse than cattle being led to the slaughterhouse.

income tax Don't you think it would be nice to get a thirty percent raise? Or even ten or twenty—we could do this by just giving the boot to a sizeable chunk of the annoying bureaucrats at all levels of government. Then we could admit that World War II is over, and we don't need any more troops in Europe and Japan. And is there any reason for the federal government to subsidize Warren Buffet's medical care? I, for one, think we could afford to quit giving subsides to Exxon/Mobil.

The sad truth is that if Congress could get back to the level of spending in 1997, the income tax could be entirely eliminated.

Can you imagine what an extraordinary economic stimulus this would be?

But that is not going to happen.

 income tax The government wants to use the tax to mold us into being good little citizens.

prius tax credit We are rewarded with credits when we buy a Prius, or the goods of whatever corporation a lobbyist, soon to be felon, has persuaded Congress, with contributions to their favorite PAC, should be the recipient of the collateral financial benefits of some noble cause.

And the government needs something to reward the Harrys of the world with—nothing is more important than sntiches and rats who are willing to spy on the citizenry.

How dare Wesley Snipes defy our enlightened Congress, and their IRS henchmen.

a1Becky's Stuff

Sunday, April 13, 2008

FLDS Raid a Constitutional Travesty

FLDS Polygamist Raid


a2 If one of the many people who think me a snarky bitch, anonymously called up the local police and told them that I, and a guy who has not been in Arizona for thirty years, was holding them captive , even though the evidence is somewhat less than overwhelming, I think it would be a good idea for the police to check out the situation.

If when they arrived, they did not find this anonymous person, nor the person who has not been anywhere near here for three decades, but noticed a couple of pregnant teenagers, that should be the end of the matter. After all, pregnant teenagers are not exactly an endangered species.

That is precisely what should have happened in Texas with the the FLDS. Now I am far from sympathetic to those who abuse children, and I have even argued, much to the distress of my libertarian pals, that there is a valid reason for the state to actually prohibit polygamy, even in the rare case where statutory rape is not a factor.

But what is much worse is for the authorities to make a mockery of the fundamental constitutional requirement of a search warrant based upon actual facts which constitute probable cause.

We fought a revolution over this.

You can read the entire application affidavit for the search warrant which kicked off the raid in Eldorado, Texas at The Smoking Gun.

The officer who wrote out the affidavit simply stated that some domestic violence outfit was contacted by an anonymous person who claimed they were a sixteen year old girl, had been forced to marry a creepy old guy named Dale Barlow, who had impregnated her, and was now holding her against her will at the Church's compound.

The authorities went and checked the story out. They did not find the pretend girl, or Dale Barlow, who they had no evidence had ever been in Texas. They did notice several teenage mothers and pregnant teenagers.

Those are the only facts.

The affiant then recites a number of conclusions, with no detail on how he arrived at them. It is stated that “in the course of the investigation” it was determined that the sect has a practice of forcing underage girls to marry old geezers as soon as they reach puberty.

I think most of us can agree that the speculative conclusions of the affiant are not out of this world. But in America we do not arrest people or search their homes because of opinion, conjecture or rumor—no matter how widespread or popular they may be.

The warrant shouldn't have been issued unless there was some specific factual evidence on how this information was obtained. In the course of looking for the pretend girl did some of these kids relate this? Did it come from a “reliable confidential informant?”

There was no evidence like that, or the police officer would have included it in his affidavit. And for a judge to issue a search warrant, the supporting facts must be stated in the affidavit.

Since then another pretend girl called a domestic hotline in Arizona and made similar allegations about the FLDS community in Colorado City. The Arizona authorities decided not to call in the SWAT team and run roughshod over the Constitution.

Dale Barlow was interviewed by Texas law enforcement officers today.

After the interview his lawyer drove him back to his home.

a1Becky's Stuff

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Communism is Coming to an End in Cuba

Cubans to get title to state-owned homes

April 12. 2008 Associated Press

HAVANA -- Thousands of Cubans will be able to get title to government-owned homes under regulations published Friday –A step that might lay the groundwork for broader housing reform.My Commentary: This should be a cause for celebration; not dancing in the streets celebration but at least a high-five. Communism is ending in Cuba. The process may be slow but it is starting. Cubans are still not allowed to sell their homes to anyone but the government, but they get title, they do not lose their homes when they change jobs, and they can pass their home down to their children. Who can doubt that more change is not on the way? This will lead to wealth creation, home loans, home improvements and a Home Depot.

This change in policy allowing Cubans to own their own home came a day after another important announcement that ended the maximum wage limit in Cuba. Earlier this month, the new Cuban president opened the way for ordinary Cubans to own cell phones.

America could speed up the process of change in Cuba if we would only end our senseless embargo. The embargo at one time made sense, but that day has long ago passed. Because the embargo may have been logical when Cuba was a client state of the Soviet Union, does not mean that we should stick with that policy forever. There certainly has been no justification for our policy ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Our policy has meant that Cuba could blame all of their failings on the US embargo and the US had no opportunity to have influence in Cuba. We trade with China and Vietnam, why not Cuba? What is the logic of our current policy?

If American dollars could flow freely to Cuba, we would see concession on the part of Cuba to accommodate investors. With opportunities to make money, we would see an evolving entrepreneurial class. With more dollars to spend, Cubans would not be dependent on the government for everything, other spheres of influence would emerge and the socialist totalitarianism mold would be broken. Even if Cuba remained an authoritarian one-party state for some time, they would become Communist in name only. A little freedom leads to a demand for more freedom. Cuba is changing despite the policy of the United States. We should help accelerate the change that is taking place in Cuba by ending the embargo now.

Someone needs to tell President Bush the Cold War is over. If President Bush were a bright fellow and a statesman, he would use today’s announcement about the change in the homeownership policy in Cuba as an occasion to say that we were encouraged by the reforms occurring in Cuba and as of Monday, we were lifting the embargo and would be looking for ways to facilitate trade and friendship between our two nations.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Bob Barr: Libertarian Party Blight

barr


a2 So now, former congressman, reformed Drug Warrior and current homophobe, Bob Barr is joining Mike Gravel in seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination.

Probably this would be the best way for the Libertarian Party to get some serious votes. Ron Paul and the paleolibertarians like him a lot. As do white supremacists. Maybe some of the rEVOLution enthusiasts, who think Ron Paul invented libertarian thought, will jump aboard.

The campaign will attract the Know Nothings and skinheads, since Barr opposes both legal and illegal immigration. These ignorant morons, who turned out to rally behind Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the Battle of Bell Road last week, are a natural constituency:



And he will siphon off those voters who will always vote against their best interests, and fundamental political beliefs, so long as the candidate understands, that no matter how adorable Ellen DeGeneres is, Jesus would slit her throat if he was on the scene.

The values voters don't really care if the federal government reins in the budget, gets the economy on track, or ends the war-- if they are committed to getting their daughters to quit dressing like Paris Hilton, and doing something about all that sex education.

Its no secret, that these value voters have no use for John McCain, who occasionally throws them a bone on abortion, but has expended a lot more energy trashing the late Reverend Falwell.

When he was in Congress Bob Barr sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act, saying “The flames of hedonism, the flames of narcissism, the flames of self-centered morality are licking at the very foundation of our society, the family unit.”

And in his continuing effort to ensure that the federal government protects and promotes his narrow brand of Christianity, in 1999 Bob attempted to outlaw the practice of Wicca in the military.

However, like so many of his ilk, the flames of hypocrisy burn brightly in the life of Bob Barr.

He has been married three times. Paid for his second wife’s abortion (she also suspected he was cheating on her). Failed to pay child support to the children of his first two wives and, while married to his third and present wife, was photographed licking whipped cream off the boobs of strippers at his inaugural party.

It is nice that Barr is concerned about the Patriot Act (even though he voted for it) and that he is against the Iraq war (though he was in favor of it when it mattered) and I am told he is no longer a dedicated Drug Warrior, but I hope libertarians are not going to cozy up to the former House Floor Captain of the Cum Stain Impeachment Debacle, who in the process personally filed a 30 million dollar frivolous lawsuit against Bill Clinton and Larry Flynt (the defendants caused Barr emotional distress while he was attempting to impeach the president).

It is a monumental travesty if the Libertarian Party nominates a sleazy, flip flopping, hypocritical D list politician, who also happens to be an anti-First Amendment religious loon, at the expense of all those who have tirelessly worked the bake sales, gun shows, petition drives and peace marches, like Christine Smith, sincerely promoting the true libertarian message.

I vote Libertarian, because I can leave the polling place with a clear conscience.

The only way to blot out the shame of tapping Bob Barr's name would be to celebrate the Second Amendment, with a bullet through my skull.

What's next?

Alan Keyes for veep?

a1Becky's Stuff

Monday, April 7, 2008

Hmm... Rice

A Fox blurb on Rice's VP bid:

New speculation that Condoleezza Rice is lobbying for the vice presidential seat has sparked denials from the State Department as well as non-comment from John McCain.

I find myself enthusiastically indecisive. On the one hand, her name on bumper stickers will tag McCain as Bush repeat. The 70% will come charging, and McCain will be, in effect, screwed. On the other hand, however, Rice is black. Yeah, that's all I got for the upside so far, I'll let you know when I have more.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Oprah and friends redefining Christ!

A really good friend sent me this...Please read this..it is absolutely apalling..I am getting so sick and tired of the way liberals are trying to keep God and Jesus out of the public life...to the point where even schools are making it an offense to even draw a picture of a Cross in art class Kid Sues in Federal Court (check this link for that) I've already blogged that over The BoBo Files. The kid in that story had to sue the school and the schoolboard in federal court! In the meantime, the Hollywierd elite like Oprah are trying to redefine who Christ was. They are teaching that Christ's death is meaningless..don't believe? Check the link provided in this story.

You really need to read this

"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ

Many of you, like me, have probably been Oprah fans for a long time. This is very discouraging news to hear about one who has such tremendous influence on the general public. Please ask God to show Oprah the real Jesus Christ.

Just to make sure this was true, I went on Oprah's website and there it is. The below article is very interesting, so I thought I would share.

Subject: Oprah joins false prophets Bible warned about

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/smith-oprah.htm (Check out this link for yourself!)

"Oprah and Friends" to teach course on New Age Christ

Jesus Christ being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed and, this false New- Age Christ teaching is about to make huge inroads into the world, with the help of the queen of television talk shows, Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer a year-long course on the New Age Christ , in a lesson a day and completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."

Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will be available on compact disc.

Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: "This is a course in mind training" and is dedicated to "thought reversal."

The Course in Miracles -in reality-is the truth of the Bible turned upside down.

Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York Times bestseller list .

A Course in Miracles is allegedly a "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus"-who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ-began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman

One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes." For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as "Jesus."

Here are some quotes from the "Jesus" voice of A Course in Miracles:

"There is no sin . . . "

A "slain Christ has no meaning."

"The journey to the cross should be the last ' useless journey."

"Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'"

"The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray."

"The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself."

"The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation."

Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.

The Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.

2 Timothy 3 (King James Version)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.

It's not surprising at all that Oprah Winfrey is supporting Barak Obama!!!
Christians....Take heed!! They are on a full frontal attack now! Please stand up and do something! Contact the network and her sponsors and let them know you will not continue to support an individual who is so Anti-Christian that as long as they support her and her network you will no longer support their products by buying them!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Jane Fonda Endorses Barack Obama:

There Goes the Crossover Vote.

Jane Fonda, the actress and ardent anti-Vietnam War advocate who visited North Vietnam during those hostilities, has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president.

There were no formal ceremonies for the endorsement. In fact, the Obama campaign may just be learning about the actress's approval now as word spreads like lit gunpowder via the Internet. (link)

My Comment: You should not judge a candidate by the people who endorse him. You can't always choose your supporters. Apparently Obama didn't seek this endorsement and if he is smart he will ignore it.

Given that at this point in the race there are only three choices, it is not surprising that Jane Fonda would endorse Obama. Of the three, Obama is the one promising an immediate pull out from Iraq and damn the consequences. I can see how that view would appeal to Jane Fonda.

There are people with whom I have a difference of opinion but still respect. There are very few public people who I truly detest. Jane Fonda is at the top of that short list. Most celebrities who say or do stupid things, I think should simply be ignored. Jane Fonda, however, I cannot forgive for her betrayal of America, her stab in the back of U.S servicemen, and her cheerleading for the North Vietnamese Communist.

I am generally a peace-loving, non-violent, forgiving type of guy. I hope no harm comes to Jane Fonda. However, if a deranged Vietnam vet was determined to assassinate a public figure and could not be talked out of it, and he was asking for nominations, I would not be disappointed if someone nominated Jane Fonda.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Ethanol Worse than Gas in Causing Global Warming


“Politicians and Big Business are pushing biofuels like corn-based ethanol as alternative to oil. All they’re doing is driving up food price and making global warming worse- and your paying for it.” These sentences are on the cover of the most recent issue of Time magazine introducing an article entitled The Clean Energy Myth, written by Michael Grunwald.

Grunwald, who is a senior correspondent for Time magazine and has written extensively on environmental issues, examines the consequences of the increased use of ethanol and evaluates ethanol’s effect on global warming.

In the past decade, the US has quadrupled the production of ethanol and the recently passed energy bill mandates another five-fold increase. Grunwald quotes studies that show that the actual effect of the increase of the use of ethanol is that it’s dramatically accelerating global warming, imperiling the planet in the name of saving it.”

One way this is happening is that the push to produce more ethanol is resulting in clearing of the Amazon rain forest. When the rain forest is destroyed, the act of deforestation releases carbon emission and this deforestation accounts for 20% of all current carbon emissions.

In addition to making global warming worse, in the process we are also destroying the most ecologically diverse places on the earth at an alarmingly accelerated rate, not only in the Amazon but also in Indonesia and other places in the world.

Another point Grunwald makes is that producing fuel from corn provides only a modest gain in net fuel. It takes almost as much energy to create a BTU of energy from corn as is produced.

Other points he the article makes are these:
Only sugarcane-based ethanol is efficient enough to cut carbon emissions by more than it takes to produce the fuel. The rest of the “green fuels” are net carbon emitters.
The U. S. leads the world in corn and soybean production, but if 100% of both crops were turned into fuel, it produces only enough fuel to replace 20% of the gas consumption.

The author is unequivocal that “biofules aren’t part of the solution at all. They’re part of the problem.”

How in the world could we be so irrational as to be mandating ethanol in order to deal with global warming? That is like an alcoholic who switches from beer to bourbon to deal with his drinking problem. The evidence is clear, that as the author says, “we’re better off growing food and drilling for oil.”

It is not as if the truth about ethanol was not known before the new Congress passed the recent energy bill. Rational environmentalist knew this all along but ethanol is trendy and the feel-good environmentalist want it. The rational environmentalists are too few and too timid to counter the feel-good environmentalist and the activist of the environmental movement. The environmental community, with few exceptions, celebrated the passing of the recent energy bill by the newly elected Democratic Congress.

It is disheartening that we are pursuing a policy that is making global warming worse in the name of fighting global warming, but most politicians are willing to give stupid people what they want. The fact that the nations first Presidential nominating contest is in the corn-growing state of Iowa probably plays a roll in the popularity of ethanol also. Candidates for President, of both parties, pander to the Iowa voters by endorsing ethanol. In 2000, John McCain was the only politician with the courage to speak the truth about the folly of ethanol, but apparently McCain wants to be President more than he wants to tell the truth, so this time around he also jumped on the ethanol bandwagon.

I don’t see much hope for curtailing global warming. Everywhere you look, the only news about global warming is bad news. Lofty goals are not met, and the rate of carbon emission continues to grow. Rationality on the issue seems to be in short supply. On the one hand, you have the global warming deniers and on the other hand you have the feel-good enviournmentalist who are happy as long as we do “something” even it that something is worse than doing nothing.