Art conceived, drawn and expertly applied by Michael "Maggie" DeWitt at Tough Love Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Pull it back a little bit, please
One of the Republican congressional hopefuls in Iowa's 3d District goes just a wee bit too far with his plan to deal with the illegal immigration issue:
"Speaking at a Tama County Republican forum Monday, six candidates for the GOP nomination to face seven –term Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell opposed amnesty for illegal aliens and called for tougher enforcement of border security.
"'I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going,' said Pat Bertroche, an Urbandale physician. 'I actually support micro-chipping them. I can micro-chip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I micro-chip an illegal?'"
You do realize you're not contributing anything particularly helpful, right, Mr. Bertroche?
Sorry, sir, but your so-called "solution" is patently ludicrous, if not downright frightening. We're all for enforcing our border and forcing people who came here illegally to go back to their home countries and get in line behind the people who are doing things lawfully. That being said, these individuals are still people, not pets or farm animals, and as such they deserve to be treated humanely and respectfully once they are identified and detained. Forcing them to submit to what amounts to an invasive medical procedure just doesn't qualify.
As we pointed out earlier today, America has a far better track record than Mexico when it comes to our treatment of illegal aliens. Let's keep it that way.
"Speaking at a Tama County Republican forum Monday, six candidates for the GOP nomination to face seven –term Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell opposed amnesty for illegal aliens and called for tougher enforcement of border security.
"'I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going,' said Pat Bertroche, an Urbandale physician. 'I actually support micro-chipping them. I can micro-chip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I micro-chip an illegal?'"
You do realize you're not contributing anything particularly helpful, right, Mr. Bertroche?
Sorry, sir, but your so-called "solution" is patently ludicrous, if not downright frightening. We're all for enforcing our border and forcing people who came here illegally to go back to their home countries and get in line behind the people who are doing things lawfully. That being said, these individuals are still people, not pets or farm animals, and as such they deserve to be treated humanely and respectfully once they are identified and detained. Forcing them to submit to what amounts to an invasive medical procedure just doesn't qualify.
As we pointed out earlier today, America has a far better track record than Mexico when it comes to our treatment of illegal aliens. Let's keep it that way.
Arizona's immigration law is Constitutional as well as badly needed
Now that the initial wave of hysteria over Arizona's recent enactment of a law making it a crime to be in the state illegally (an oxymoron if we've ever seen one) has passed overhead, we can examine some of the more embarrassing criticisms of the new legislation.
First, Byron York outlines the key provision in the law that puts quite a large kink in the illegal alien apologists' outraged bleatings that mass jailings of brown people, whether here legitimately or not, are about to commence:
(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties
Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
Why aren't Al Sharpton and the other race pimps picketing the U.S. Capitol over this obviously racist identical Federal regulation as well?
Finally, since Mexico has hypocritically issued a travel warning to its citizens who may be coming to Arizona (hypocritically since legal visitors will already have the necessary documents, and because until quite recently that country was openly encouraging its peasants to immigrate to the U.S. illegally, since that confers the dual benefit of those people sending back billions of dollars into the Mexican economy as well removing that corrupt government's expensive burden of supporting those peasants), Michelle Malkin reminds us that we in America have nothing on Mexico when it comes to having thuggishly draconian immigration laws:
"– The Mexican government will bar foreigners if they upset “the equilibrium of the national demographics.” How’s that for racial and ethnic profiling?
– If outsiders do not enhance the country’s “economic or national interests” or are “not found to be physically or mentally healthy,” they are not welcome. Neither are those who show “contempt against national sovereignty or security.” They must not be economic burdens on society and must have clean criminal histories. Those seeking to obtain Mexican citizenship must show a birth certificate, provide a bank statement proving economic independence, pass an exam and prove they can provide their own health care.
– Illegal entry into the country is equivalent to a felony punishable by two years’ imprisonment. Document fraud is subject to fine and imprisonment; so is alien marriage fraud. Evading deportation is a serious crime; illegal re-entry after deportation is punishable by ten years’ imprisonment. Foreigners may be kicked out of the country without due process and the endless bites at the litigation apple that illegal aliens are afforded in our country (see, for example, President Obama’s illegal alien aunt — a fugitive from deportation for eight years who is awaiting a second decision on her previously rejected asylum claim).
– Law enforcement officials at all levels — by national mandate — must cooperate to enforce immigration laws, including illegal alien arrests and deportations. The Mexican military is also required to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Native-born Mexicans are empowered to make citizens’ arrests of illegal aliens and turn them in to authorities.
– Ready to show your papers? Mexico’s National Catalog of Foreigners tracks all outside tourists and foreign nationals. A National Population Registry tracks and verifies the identity of every member of the population, who must carry a citizens’ identity card. Visitors who do not possess proper documents and identification are subject to arrest as illegal aliens."
We think the Mexican government should take a good long look at its own criminal code before daring to criticize any of our laws, whether Federal or state.
Are we at the Muckraker generally fans of expanding police powers? No, of course not, as this usually results in the unnecessary loss of individual liberties. However, we have seen firsthand the tidal wave of illegal immigration with all of its associated problems, from higher crime to undeserved and unpaid-for resource-taking to environmental issues from the tons of trash and debris left in the desert, we understand the seriousness of the problem if it is left unchecked, the Feds have completely abrogated one of the very few of their specifically enumerated duties in enforcing our borders, and law-abiding American citizens and legal residents will not be affected in the least by this law. Therefore, after carefully weighing all the factors, we are in favor of this law. We also point out that people who believe that they have been unjustly penalized by the legislation once it comes into effect are still free to pursue sanctions and redress in a court of law the exact same way they can with any criminal or civil law they think has been misused or abused.
First, Byron York outlines the key provision in the law that puts quite a large kink in the illegal alien apologists' outraged bleatings that mass jailings of brown people, whether here legitimately or not, are about to commence:
"The law requires police to check with federal authorities on a person's immigration status, if officers have stopped that person for some legitimate reason and come to suspect that he or she might be in the U.S. illegally. The heart of the law is this provision: 'For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or a law enforcement agency…where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person…'"
Lawful contact. Meaning the police must have a reasonable suspicion that the person in question has committed some other crime to initiate the contact, such as traffic violations, public intoxication, etc. Cops are prohibited from randomly stopping and questioning people, and they are specifically enjoined from using race as the sole justification for suspecting someone of being in the country unlawfully. Doesn't get much plainer than that, and it seems that this strategy merely duplicates tactics, such as saturation patrols targeting specific high-trafficking areas, already being used in the War on Drugs and fight against gang violence that everyone is always lauding as such important, society-benefiting causes. Why are those legitimate law-enforcement tools suddenly now the work of the Devil?
Next, in response to the uneducated mainstream media pundits who equate requiring visitors and legal residents from other countries to carry identification to the dastardly Nazis in bad 1940's movies who demanded that everyone "show their papers", Drew M. over at Ace of Spades HQ helpfully notes that the new law's mandate is exactly the same as what's currently in the Federal code:
Lawful contact. Meaning the police must have a reasonable suspicion that the person in question has committed some other crime to initiate the contact, such as traffic violations, public intoxication, etc. Cops are prohibited from randomly stopping and questioning people, and they are specifically enjoined from using race as the sole justification for suspecting someone of being in the country unlawfully. Doesn't get much plainer than that, and it seems that this strategy merely duplicates tactics, such as saturation patrols targeting specific high-trafficking areas, already being used in the War on Drugs and fight against gang violence that everyone is always lauding as such important, society-benefiting causes. Why are those legitimate law-enforcement tools suddenly now the work of the Devil?
Next, in response to the uneducated mainstream media pundits who equate requiring visitors and legal residents from other countries to carry identification to the dastardly Nazis in bad 1940's movies who demanded that everyone "show their papers", Drew M. over at Ace of Spades HQ helpfully notes that the new law's mandate is exactly the same as what's currently in the Federal code:
(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties
Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
Why aren't Al Sharpton and the other race pimps picketing the U.S. Capitol over this obviously racist identical Federal regulation as well?
Finally, since Mexico has hypocritically issued a travel warning to its citizens who may be coming to Arizona (hypocritically since legal visitors will already have the necessary documents, and because until quite recently that country was openly encouraging its peasants to immigrate to the U.S. illegally, since that confers the dual benefit of those people sending back billions of dollars into the Mexican economy as well removing that corrupt government's expensive burden of supporting those peasants), Michelle Malkin reminds us that we in America have nothing on Mexico when it comes to having thuggishly draconian immigration laws:
"– The Mexican government will bar foreigners if they upset “the equilibrium of the national demographics.” How’s that for racial and ethnic profiling?
– If outsiders do not enhance the country’s “economic or national interests” or are “not found to be physically or mentally healthy,” they are not welcome. Neither are those who show “contempt against national sovereignty or security.” They must not be economic burdens on society and must have clean criminal histories. Those seeking to obtain Mexican citizenship must show a birth certificate, provide a bank statement proving economic independence, pass an exam and prove they can provide their own health care.
– Illegal entry into the country is equivalent to a felony punishable by two years’ imprisonment. Document fraud is subject to fine and imprisonment; so is alien marriage fraud. Evading deportation is a serious crime; illegal re-entry after deportation is punishable by ten years’ imprisonment. Foreigners may be kicked out of the country without due process and the endless bites at the litigation apple that illegal aliens are afforded in our country (see, for example, President Obama’s illegal alien aunt — a fugitive from deportation for eight years who is awaiting a second decision on her previously rejected asylum claim).
– Law enforcement officials at all levels — by national mandate — must cooperate to enforce immigration laws, including illegal alien arrests and deportations. The Mexican military is also required to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Native-born Mexicans are empowered to make citizens’ arrests of illegal aliens and turn them in to authorities.
– Ready to show your papers? Mexico’s National Catalog of Foreigners tracks all outside tourists and foreign nationals. A National Population Registry tracks and verifies the identity of every member of the population, who must carry a citizens’ identity card. Visitors who do not possess proper documents and identification are subject to arrest as illegal aliens."
We think the Mexican government should take a good long look at its own criminal code before daring to criticize any of our laws, whether Federal or state.
Are we at the Muckraker generally fans of expanding police powers? No, of course not, as this usually results in the unnecessary loss of individual liberties. However, we have seen firsthand the tidal wave of illegal immigration with all of its associated problems, from higher crime to undeserved and unpaid-for resource-taking to environmental issues from the tons of trash and debris left in the desert, we understand the seriousness of the problem if it is left unchecked, the Feds have completely abrogated one of the very few of their specifically enumerated duties in enforcing our borders, and law-abiding American citizens and legal residents will not be affected in the least by this law. Therefore, after carefully weighing all the factors, we are in favor of this law. We also point out that people who believe that they have been unjustly penalized by the legislation once it comes into effect are still free to pursue sanctions and redress in a court of law the exact same way they can with any criminal or civil law they think has been misused or abused.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Number 37 goes shall-issue
Governor Chet Culver of Iowa (a Democrat, by the way. They're not all radical socialists) has announced that he will sign that state's updated firearms carry-permit law this coming Thursday at 9:00 am.
The new legislation will replace the current "may-issue" system, in which individual county sheriffs enjoy complete (and oft-abused) discretion as to whether to issue a permit, with a "shall-issue" process similar to driver's licenses in that anyone who passes the legal requirements must be given their permit unless a valid disqualifying reason exists:
"Iowa has not been a shall issue state although permits were issued in most counties but under differing standards and it was generally what “may issue” always is, a general mess with some sheriffs issuing to all law-abiding citizens and some only to their cronies."
Two points of interest to everyone, not just the locals:
1. Open carry as well as concealed carry will be legal with a permit.
2. Iowa will honor carry permits issued by all other states. Residents from other states who may now choose to carry while visiting Iowa are reminded that they will still have to abide by that state's law with regard to any restrictions, such as off-limits locations.
This now makes 37 states where a citizen is legally able to carry a firearm in public for the purpose of self-protection, even if a permit must be obtained in order to do so.
Sarah Brady and the rest of her group, along with the fine folks at the Violence Policy Center, must be growing truly disheartened by now at the rate in which the onerous restrictions on free Americans' 2nd Amendment rights are being loosened at both the state and federal levels.
The new legislation will replace the current "may-issue" system, in which individual county sheriffs enjoy complete (and oft-abused) discretion as to whether to issue a permit, with a "shall-issue" process similar to driver's licenses in that anyone who passes the legal requirements must be given their permit unless a valid disqualifying reason exists:
"Iowa has not been a shall issue state although permits were issued in most counties but under differing standards and it was generally what “may issue” always is, a general mess with some sheriffs issuing to all law-abiding citizens and some only to their cronies."
Two points of interest to everyone, not just the locals:
1. Open carry as well as concealed carry will be legal with a permit.
2. Iowa will honor carry permits issued by all other states. Residents from other states who may now choose to carry while visiting Iowa are reminded that they will still have to abide by that state's law with regard to any restrictions, such as off-limits locations.
This now makes 37 states where a citizen is legally able to carry a firearm in public for the purpose of self-protection, even if a permit must be obtained in order to do so.
Sarah Brady and the rest of her group, along with the fine folks at the Violence Policy Center, must be growing truly disheartened by now at the rate in which the onerous restrictions on free Americans' 2nd Amendment rights are being loosened at both the state and federal levels.
Monday, April 26, 2010
One law for ALL of the people, no matter who they are
Pro-firearms carry advocate Philip Van Cleave, head of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, holds the perfectly reasonable opinion that the law should should be applied equally to all the citizens of a given state. He's now embarking on a very interesting legislative strategy in order to further that eminently sensible position in his home turf:
"Philip Van Cleave wants every Virginian who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun into a bar to be able to have a drink - or he wants no gun carrier to be able to drink.
He said he is going to find a legislator to submit two bills to the body representing both positions.
[Van Cleave's] aim is to force lawmakers to expand the rights of concealed-handgun owners in bars or rescind the current exception that allows law-enforcement officers and commonwealth's attorneys to carry concealed weapons and consume alcohol."
We have a neutral position on this issue save that we personally choose to never drink and carry, on the theory that any activity that may even slightly reduce critical judgment and reaction time is best saved for when one isn't assuming the responsibility of carrying a firearm for self-protection.
It's accurate to say, however, that one or two drinks over the course of an evening while carrying is pretty much a non-issue for most people. However, if having one beer or glass of wine with dinner is a bad idea for the average Virginia peasant, then it surely must be just as bad of an idea for an off-duty cop or DA.
Those Virginia legislators are going to have quite the choice to make sometime soon, and we love every second of it.
"Philip Van Cleave wants every Virginian who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun into a bar to be able to have a drink - or he wants no gun carrier to be able to drink.
He said he is going to find a legislator to submit two bills to the body representing both positions.
[Van Cleave's] aim is to force lawmakers to expand the rights of concealed-handgun owners in bars or rescind the current exception that allows law-enforcement officers and commonwealth's attorneys to carry concealed weapons and consume alcohol."
We have a neutral position on this issue save that we personally choose to never drink and carry, on the theory that any activity that may even slightly reduce critical judgment and reaction time is best saved for when one isn't assuming the responsibility of carrying a firearm for self-protection.
It's accurate to say, however, that one or two drinks over the course of an evening while carrying is pretty much a non-issue for most people. However, if having one beer or glass of wine with dinner is a bad idea for the average Virginia peasant, then it surely must be just as bad of an idea for an off-duty cop or DA.
Those Virginia legislators are going to have quite the choice to make sometime soon, and we love every second of it.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Out of town
Off to outstate Minnesota to comfort a very good friend who unexpectedly lost his wife last week at the much-too-young age of 35.
Back late Monday.
Back late Monday.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
And these people want to run what's left of our free-market economy?
Two of Hillary Clinton's State Department minions give a tiny (and recently in bankruptcy) "minority-owned company" a large no-bid contract for expensive crystal stemware. Strangely enough, that company doesn't even make glasses and therefore outsources the work to Sweden, and the diplomats are now disingenuously "blaming US firms for failing to compete" for the work.
Well, how are legitimate American stemware companies such as Steuben supposed to competitively bid for a job that wasn't opened up for general bidding in the first place?
Would it surprise anyone to find out that the high-level State Department geniuses behind this scheme are big-time Obama donors who made offering a minority business a lucrative contract, regardless of whether or not the company could fulfill the work order, the overriding priority in the process?:
"'These two [{Randolph} Bennett and {Tandra} Jones] went down to the small-business office and insisted that we have an 8(a) company -- have this company SDI do our contract,' the source said.
'They [SDI] don't know how to make glass. The glassware is being made in Sweden.'"
...
According to the source, Bennett and Jones and their superiors steered the contract to SDI even after agency officials and at least one competitor complained it was a taxpayer rip-off."
The end result of this total farce?
"As The Post exclusively revealed this week, the feds have yet to receive a single glass after paying $800,000 so far."
Keep in mind that the "feds" didn't utterly waste nearly a million dollars of their money to date on "$117,000 for a "project manager," $63,000 for a "software engineer" and $44,000 for "warehouse housing.".
Those funds, never to be seen again, were ours, ripped from our pockets on pain of imprisonment.
But these clowns know more about running health care than doctors, hospitals and insurance companies, and now they're going to use this exact kind of ace financial acumen to clean up Wall Street.
Yippee.
Well, how are legitimate American stemware companies such as Steuben supposed to competitively bid for a job that wasn't opened up for general bidding in the first place?
Would it surprise anyone to find out that the high-level State Department geniuses behind this scheme are big-time Obama donors who made offering a minority business a lucrative contract, regardless of whether or not the company could fulfill the work order, the overriding priority in the process?:
"'These two [{Randolph} Bennett and {Tandra} Jones] went down to the small-business office and insisted that we have an 8(a) company -- have this company SDI do our contract,' the source said.
'They [SDI] don't know how to make glass. The glassware is being made in Sweden.'"
...
"Records show Bennett gave $1,000 to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, $2,000 to the Obama Victory Fund and $2,300 to the Democratic National Committee for the inauguration.
The end result of this total farce?
"As The Post exclusively revealed this week, the feds have yet to receive a single glass after paying $800,000 so far."
Keep in mind that the "feds" didn't utterly waste nearly a million dollars of their money to date on "$117,000 for a "project manager," $63,000 for a "software engineer" and $44,000 for "warehouse housing.".
Those funds, never to be seen again, were ours, ripped from our pockets on pain of imprisonment.
But these clowns know more about running health care than doctors, hospitals and insurance companies, and now they're going to use this exact kind of ace financial acumen to clean up Wall Street.
Yippee.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The next Enemy of the State - sodium chloride
The benevolent martinets over at President Obama's Food and Drug Administration have come to the conclusion that the American peasant is just too stupid to be able to read a food label and/or decide how they may wish to prepare food to their liking.
To combat this terrible turn of events, the Nanny-staters have taken it upon themselves to begin "a push to gradually cut the amount of salt Americans consume".
What would our Founders have to say about this continual micro-regulation of Americans who until quite recently were free to make choices for themselves, even if those selections happened to be bad ones? Let's hear directly from one of them:
"There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this would be to affirm that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
If only such leaders were alive today to put a stop to this utter nonsense.
(Thanks to online correspondent Doug Fiedor for the reference)
To combat this terrible turn of events, the Nanny-staters have taken it upon themselves to begin "a push to gradually cut the amount of salt Americans consume".
What would our Founders have to say about this continual micro-regulation of Americans who until quite recently were free to make choices for themselves, even if those selections happened to be bad ones? Let's hear directly from one of them:
"There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this would be to affirm that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
If only such leaders were alive today to put a stop to this utter nonsense.
(Thanks to online correspondent Doug Fiedor for the reference)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
"A liberal is someone who hasn't yet been mugged"
If that old saying is true, the number of conservatives in Washington just increased by one.
Liberal "actor" Kal Penn, best known in his career for portraying a clueless stoner on the big screen and who championed the election of Barack Obama (and as a reward for his efforts now works in the White House as some sort of quota-filling "political liaison to the Asian American community"), was robbed at gunpoint last night in D.C., specifically in the Dupont Circle area sometime after midnight.
But... carrying firearms in the District is illegal! Why, someone would have to be breaking the law in order to relieve Mr. Penn of his belongings, which is also against the...
You'd think the anti-gunners would begin to see the obvious pattern at some point.
We are sincerely thankful that Mr. Penn was not injured. We also hope that he now begins to lobby his boss to rethink his position on the lawful carry of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
Liberal "actor" Kal Penn, best known in his career for portraying a clueless stoner on the big screen and who championed the election of Barack Obama (and as a reward for his efforts now works in the White House as some sort of quota-filling "political liaison to the Asian American community"), was robbed at gunpoint last night in D.C., specifically in the Dupont Circle area sometime after midnight.
But... carrying firearms in the District is illegal! Why, someone would have to be breaking the law in order to relieve Mr. Penn of his belongings, which is also against the...
You'd think the anti-gunners would begin to see the obvious pattern at some point.
We are sincerely thankful that Mr. Penn was not injured. We also hope that he now begins to lobby his boss to rethink his position on the lawful carry of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
"It all depends on what the meaning of the word is transparency is"
Ben Smith of Politico is reporting that White House goons closed all of Lafayette Park today because six uniformed service members chained themselves to the White House fence to protest the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. What's worse, the thugs apparently actively prevented news reporters from filming the demonstration, which we remind everyone took place on a public sidewalk:
"People who have covered the White House for years tell me that's an extremely unusual thing to do in an area that regularly features protests."
Hmm. Whatever happened to the "openness" and "transparency" that the Dear Leader was going to restore after eight years of a reclusive and secretive administration? All that's missing here is the obligatory one-way trip to the gulag for the protesters, and we'd be right back to the Soviet Union in the 1930's.
"A reporter can be seen in the YouTube video above calling the move 'outrageous' and 'ridiculous.'"
What poetic justice. The vast majority of the mainstream media have only themselves to blame for this turn of events, as they nakedly shilled for this man.
Well, now they'll have to live with the results, just like the rest of the peasantry. Elections have consequences.
"People who have covered the White House for years tell me that's an extremely unusual thing to do in an area that regularly features protests."
Hmm. Whatever happened to the "openness" and "transparency" that the Dear Leader was going to restore after eight years of a reclusive and secretive administration? All that's missing here is the obligatory one-way trip to the gulag for the protesters, and we'd be right back to the Soviet Union in the 1930's.
"A reporter can be seen in the YouTube video above calling the move 'outrageous' and 'ridiculous.'"
What poetic justice. The vast majority of the mainstream media have only themselves to blame for this turn of events, as they nakedly shilled for this man.
Well, now they'll have to live with the results, just like the rest of the peasantry. Elections have consequences.
Monday, April 19, 2010
News flash
Hundreds of law-abiding citizens, most openly armed with handguns and/or long arms, carry out a peaceful demonstration at a National Park in Virginia, within eyeshot of the nation's capital.
No problems, no arrests, no crimes committed, no injuries other than to the ego of the Brady Campaign. In fact, the rally was such a non-issue we actually had to go to a Canadian website to find in-depth coverage and analysis of the story.
Nice work, everyone who participated in making the event a huge success.
No problems, no arrests, no crimes committed, no injuries other than to the ego of the Brady Campaign. In fact, the rally was such a non-issue we actually had to go to a Canadian website to find in-depth coverage and analysis of the story.
Nice work, everyone who participated in making the event a huge success.
The Jack-Booted Thug(s) of the Week...
... are these fine members of the Prince George's County, Maryland Police Department:
We grew up and resided exclusively in PG County until the age of 25, and graduated from this very University of Maryland. That particular police agency has long had a nasty local reputation as a bunch of thumpers, particularly in the "darker" sections of Georgie's land, if one catches our drift. It seems not much has changed back in our ol' stomping grounds.
Yes, the incident is under investigation. This video certainly doesn't make things look good for the officers, however.
We grew up and resided exclusively in PG County until the age of 25, and graduated from this very University of Maryland. That particular police agency has long had a nasty local reputation as a bunch of thumpers, particularly in the "darker" sections of Georgie's land, if one catches our drift. It seems not much has changed back in our ol' stomping grounds.
Yes, the incident is under investigation. This video certainly doesn't make things look good for the officers, however.
Used and abused
The mainstream press is more and more having to deal with the ironic fact that the candidate they shilled for so shamelessly makes the so-called "secretive" Bush/Cheney administration look like a veritable colander in comparison:
"Reporters, even those on the White House beat for two decades, said these were the most restricted such meetings they had ever seen. They complained to both the administration and White House Correspondents' Association, which will discuss the matter Thursday with White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
The restrictions have become a common practice for the Obama White House. When Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came to the White House a couple of weeks ago, reporters were kept away. Soon after that, Obama signed an executive order on abortion, again without any coverage.
Over the weekend, Obama broke with years of protocol and slipped off to a soccer game without the "protective" pool that is always in the vicinity of the president in case the unthinkable occurs. Obama joked about it later to Pakistan's prime minister, saying reporters 'were very upset.'"
We wonder if the fawning media types of the sort who felt a "tingle going up their leg" when their heroic champion of "transparency" spoke, seemingly even while reading the contents of a menu out loud, were given so much as a good-night kiss after their ignorant usefulness came to an end?
"Reporters, even those on the White House beat for two decades, said these were the most restricted such meetings they had ever seen. They complained to both the administration and White House Correspondents' Association, which will discuss the matter Thursday with White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
The restrictions have become a common practice for the Obama White House. When Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came to the White House a couple of weeks ago, reporters were kept away. Soon after that, Obama signed an executive order on abortion, again without any coverage.
Over the weekend, Obama broke with years of protocol and slipped off to a soccer game without the "protective" pool that is always in the vicinity of the president in case the unthinkable occurs. Obama joked about it later to Pakistan's prime minister, saying reporters 'were very upset.'"
We wonder if the fawning media types of the sort who felt a "tingle going up their leg" when their heroic champion of "transparency" spoke, seemingly even while reading the contents of a menu out loud, were given so much as a good-night kiss after their ignorant usefulness came to an end?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Off topic but interesting, at least to me
A little spring automobile eye candy for everyone's viewing pleasure:
1970 Yenko Chevrolet Nova 350
1969 Ford Torino Talledega 428 Cobra Jet
1970 Plymouth GTX 440-6
1970 AMC AMX 360
1977 AMC Gremlin X (OK, not a traditional muscle car, but nonetheless a super light vehicle with a V8 engine. Our cousin used to race these in Colorado.)
1970 Buick GS Stage 1 455
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Words to live by
"You can either watch things happen, make things happen or wonder what the #%&$ just happened" - Captain Phil Harris, F/V Cornelia Marie.
The good crab fisherman certainly got that one right. Hopefully millions of us will step up and do the second choice come November.
RIP, Captain Phil.
The good crab fisherman certainly got that one right. Hopefully millions of us will step up and do the second choice come November.
RIP, Captain Phil.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
From the Department of Glaringly Obvious Headlines
"60 Hospitals Cancelled Due to New Health Law"
"As Ranks of Insured Expand, Nation Faces Shortage of 150,000 Doctors in 15 Years"
"Healthcare overhaul won't stop premium increases"
And so it begins, mere weeks after the Plan to Save Healthcare was imposed upon us.
Don't say we didn't warn you that obvious consequences such as these were going to be coming as a direct result of President Obama's Ponzi scheme. We just didn't think it would happen so fast.
The expected rationing of care will soon be arriving. Bank on it.
"As Ranks of Insured Expand, Nation Faces Shortage of 150,000 Doctors in 15 Years"
"Healthcare overhaul won't stop premium increases"
And so it begins, mere weeks after the Plan to Save Healthcare was imposed upon us.
Don't say we didn't warn you that obvious consequences such as these were going to be coming as a direct result of President Obama's Ponzi scheme. We just didn't think it would happen so fast.
The expected rationing of care will soon be arriving. Bank on it.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A helpful hint
If you're a brutal thug of a "special person" who's going to (allegedly, of course) kidnap and sexually assault a random 24-year-old woman who is on her way home from a long day of work, don't forget to take your service pistol with you when you're done violating your victim:
"Two off-duty law enforcement officers were arrested Saturday night in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of an Ontario restaurant employee.
The suspects are Anthony Nicholas Orban, 30, an officer assigned to investigations with the Westminster Police Department, and Jeff Thomas Jelenek, 30, an officer with the California Department of Corrections, police said.
Officers said a police service weapon was found in the victim's car and quickly led authorities to Orban as a suspect."
What a way to betray the public's trust, gentlemen. Enjoy your upcoming lengthy stay with the rest of society's animals.
Sincere appreciation must go to one of Orban's relatives for quickly sniffing out his story as bogus, and OPD (where the alleged crime occurred) for agreeing and promptly arresting the pair of jackals:
"Orban allegedly made his way back to the parking lot in Ontario and called a family member to say he could not find his gun. It is uncertain how Orban returned to Ontario.
That family member called Ontario police, who met with Orban and Jelenek to take a report.
'The officers felt their statements were inconsistent and suspicious,' [Lt. John] Evans said."
We remind everyone that police officers are the only ones "professional" enough to be "trusted" to carry firearms in public in most of California. This includes Orange County, where the city of Westminster, which has the dubious distinction of employing "Detective" Orban, is located. You see, OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, who is in charge of issuing pistol carry permits there (and who enjoys complete discretion in doing, or more accurately not doing, so) not only apparently has a policy of not issuing permits at all to law-abiding citizens, she's actually seen fit to cancel the ones already issued by her predecessor because in her learned opinion their "identified risk does not meet the just cause threshold".
Well, how about the "risk" of being sexually assaulted by a pair of your jurisdiction's own off-duty cops, Sheriff Hutchens? Does this particular victim now merit getting a carry permit from Your Highness for her personal protection? Probably not, since by your twisted logic the average peasant there would probably just go right ahead and abuse their right to carry by kidnapping and ra... oh.
Never mind.
"Two off-duty law enforcement officers were arrested Saturday night in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of an Ontario restaurant employee.
The suspects are Anthony Nicholas Orban, 30, an officer assigned to investigations with the Westminster Police Department, and Jeff Thomas Jelenek, 30, an officer with the California Department of Corrections, police said.
Officers said a police service weapon was found in the victim's car and quickly led authorities to Orban as a suspect."
(Ontario Police Department booking photo. Orban is the thug on the left.)
What a way to betray the public's trust, gentlemen. Enjoy your upcoming lengthy stay with the rest of society's animals.
Sincere appreciation must go to one of Orban's relatives for quickly sniffing out his story as bogus, and OPD (where the alleged crime occurred) for agreeing and promptly arresting the pair of jackals:
"Orban allegedly made his way back to the parking lot in Ontario and called a family member to say he could not find his gun. It is uncertain how Orban returned to Ontario.
That family member called Ontario police, who met with Orban and Jelenek to take a report.
'The officers felt their statements were inconsistent and suspicious,' [Lt. John] Evans said."
We remind everyone that police officers are the only ones "professional" enough to be "trusted" to carry firearms in public in most of California. This includes Orange County, where the city of Westminster, which has the dubious distinction of employing "Detective" Orban, is located. You see, OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, who is in charge of issuing pistol carry permits there (and who enjoys complete discretion in doing, or more accurately not doing, so) not only apparently has a policy of not issuing permits at all to law-abiding citizens, she's actually seen fit to cancel the ones already issued by her predecessor because in her learned opinion their "identified risk does not meet the just cause threshold".
Well, how about the "risk" of being sexually assaulted by a pair of your jurisdiction's own off-duty cops, Sheriff Hutchens? Does this particular victim now merit getting a carry permit from Your Highness for her personal protection? Probably not, since by your twisted logic the average peasant there would probably just go right ahead and abuse their right to carry by kidnapping and ra... oh.
Never mind.
Friday, April 09, 2010
They're running for the hills
Representative Bart Stupak, D-MI, one of the Congressmen who sold their souls (apparently for billions of your hard-earned dollars in earmarks to their districts) to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama and changed their votes to "yes" on the President's health "care" Ponzi scheme at the last minute, has made a surprise announcement that he will not be seeking reelection in November.
Question - if imposing such an unconstitutional requirement for every American to buy a product they may or may not wish to own from a private business is such a good idea, then why are the ones who ended up voting to place that burden on the peasantry (while exempting their own senior staffers, mind you) dropping out of their campaigns left and right, instead of reveling in the supposed mass good cheer and felicitations that we were lectured would surely result from their "brave" actions?
UPDATE: Radio host Laura Ingraham is tweeting that
"Sources tell me Bawney Fwank [Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, who tends to talk like Sylvester the Cat] won't run for re-election. Wants to work on the board of a bank and make $ before retirement"
Because he demonstrated such astounding financial acumen when he (among others) assured us in 2004 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were perfectly solvent and in no danger whatsoever of failing, which is then precisely what they did? Good grief, what bank would want to be associated with him?
Regardless, there's yet another champion of socialized medicine that's getting out before they're run out on a rail.
Seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of people.
Question - if imposing such an unconstitutional requirement for every American to buy a product they may or may not wish to own from a private business is such a good idea, then why are the ones who ended up voting to place that burden on the peasantry (while exempting their own senior staffers, mind you) dropping out of their campaigns left and right, instead of reveling in the supposed mass good cheer and felicitations that we were lectured would surely result from their "brave" actions?
UPDATE: Radio host Laura Ingraham is tweeting that
"Sources tell me Bawney Fwank [Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, who tends to talk like Sylvester the Cat] won't run for re-election. Wants to work on the board of a bank and make $ before retirement"
Because he demonstrated such astounding financial acumen when he (among others) assured us in 2004 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were perfectly solvent and in no danger whatsoever of failing, which is then precisely what they did? Good grief, what bank would want to be associated with him?
Regardless, there's yet another champion of socialized medicine that's getting out before they're run out on a rail.
Seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of people.
Even more good legislative news of local interest
The Arizona Legislature has approved final passage of SB 1108, the "Constitutional Carry" bill. If signed by Governor Jan Brewer as expected, this law would permit any law-abiding citizen who is not otherwise prohibited to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, thus satisfying the letter and spirit of both the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Arizona would then become the third state to codify such a system, following in the footsteps of Vermont (which has never had a permit requirement, concealed or otherwise) and, more recently, Alaska. (Neither of these politically diametrically-opposed states reports any major problems to date with their hands-off policies, by the way.)
Arizona residents would still be able to obtain a CCW permit for the following reasons, according to the Arizona Citizens Defense League:
Arizonans are truly fortunate to reside in a state that continually recognizes, respects and even regularly increases the freedoms of its residents, in stark contrast to the Nanny-state chains currently being placed around the necks of the peasantry by the U.S. Congress and our President.
Arizona residents would still be able to obtain a CCW permit for the following reasons, according to the Arizona Citizens Defense League:
"The concealed weapons (CCW) permit is NOT eliminated. A CCW permit is still required for carrying a concealed weapon into restaurants that serve alcohol, when traveling to states that recognize Arizona's permit, and for streamlining firearms purchases."
Thanks once again must go to the Legislature for passing this bill with a large bipartisan majority, Governor Brewer for her hopefully forthcoming approval, and to AZCDL for its yeoman work in helping to coordinate voter support for the legislation.
Arizonans are truly fortunate to reside in a state that continually recognizes, respects and even regularly increases the freedoms of its residents, in stark contrast to the Nanny-state chains currently being placed around the necks of the peasantry by the U.S. Congress and our President.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
From the Department of Glaringly Obvious Headlines
"Black conservative tea party backers take heat"
Here's just some of the crap free Americans who happen to be black have to put up with once it becomes publicly known they're unwilling to shut up and stay on the liberal Democratic plantation, where they're expected to remain simply because of their racial heritage:
"'I've been told I hate myself. I've been called an Uncle Tom. I've been told I'm a spook at the door,' says Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederic Douglass Foundation, a group of black conservatives who support free market principles and limited government."
But we're expected to swallow that the tea-partiers themselves are the racists, despite the complete absence of evidence supporting those accusations?
"Black members of the movement say it is not inherently racist, and some question the reported slurs. 'You would think—something that offensive—you would think someone got video of it,' [Clifton] Bazar, the conservative blogger, said."
Yep. Let the liberals root out the disturbing racists hypocritically present in their own midst before they go hunting for imaginary ones supposedly present in their opposition. After all, they're the ones with the ex-Klansman senior statesman in the Senate.
Here's just some of the crap free Americans who happen to be black have to put up with once it becomes publicly known they're unwilling to shut up and stay on the liberal Democratic plantation, where they're expected to remain simply because of their racial heritage:
"'I've been told I hate myself. I've been called an Uncle Tom. I've been told I'm a spook at the door,' says Timothy F. Johnson, chairman of the Frederic Douglass Foundation, a group of black conservatives who support free market principles and limited government."
But we're expected to swallow that the tea-partiers themselves are the racists, despite the complete absence of evidence supporting those accusations?
"Black members of the movement say it is not inherently racist, and some question the reported slurs. 'You would think—something that offensive—you would think someone got video of it,' [Clifton] Bazar, the conservative blogger, said."
Yep. Let the liberals root out the disturbing racists hypocritically present in their own midst before they go hunting for imaginary ones supposedly present in their opposition. After all, they're the ones with the ex-Klansman senior statesman in the Senate.
How do you really feel about him?
Canadian David Solway cuts loose about our own Dear Leader:
"What have you done? You have elected a president on the strength of an ellipsis, neglecting to fill in the three dots trailing after his every echoing jingle—“Yes we can”…what? You have credited a nimble spinner of tales, a pretty fellow with no significant experience of the real world of risk, hard work and the hazards of survival, a thug with a beguiling smile. You have elevated to the highest office in the land a man without discernible qualifications who is plunging the nation into unredeemable debt for generations to come. You have installed possibly the most consummate liar in POTUS history, who breaks campaign promises as if he were cracking eggs for the skillet and changes his mind almost daily like a weathervane on steroids. You have put your trust in an intellectual lightweight and geopolitical bungler who makes Jimmy Carter look like a paragon of acute intelligence, moral substance and rare diplomatic foresight."
The whole piece is well worth reading, and it should be a required assignment for everyone who was hypnotized into pulling the lever for The Charlatan.
"What have you done? You have elected a president on the strength of an ellipsis, neglecting to fill in the three dots trailing after his every echoing jingle—“Yes we can”…what? You have credited a nimble spinner of tales, a pretty fellow with no significant experience of the real world of risk, hard work and the hazards of survival, a thug with a beguiling smile. You have elevated to the highest office in the land a man without discernible qualifications who is plunging the nation into unredeemable debt for generations to come. You have installed possibly the most consummate liar in POTUS history, who breaks campaign promises as if he were cracking eggs for the skillet and changes his mind almost daily like a weathervane on steroids. You have put your trust in an intellectual lightweight and geopolitical bungler who makes Jimmy Carter look like a paragon of acute intelligence, moral substance and rare diplomatic foresight."
The whole piece is well worth reading, and it should be a required assignment for everyone who was hypnotized into pulling the lever for The Charlatan.
The Jack-Booted Thug(s) of the Week...
... are the Lake County, Colorado sheriff's deputies who arrested Fire Captain Dan Dailey in what appears to be some sort of infantile territorial dispute, after Dailey did his job and responded to an emergency medical call at the sheriff's office itself. He subsequently refused to leave the scene when "ordered" by the officers to do so:
"The city and sheriff have been at odds over who should provide emergency protection outside Leadville."
Well, unlawfully jailing local firefighters for simply showing up when an ambulance is requested should certainly solve that little dilemma.
"The city and sheriff have been at odds over who should provide emergency protection outside Leadville."
Well, unlawfully jailing local firefighters for simply showing up when an ambulance is requested should certainly solve that little dilemma.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Another significant step in the march towards freedom from Leviathan
The Arizona Legislature has passed, and Governor Jan Brewer has signed into law, HB 2307, more commonly known around these parts as the Firearms Freedom Act. The Arizona Citizens Defense League, which fully supported the bill, sums it up thusly:
"HB 2307 exempts from federal law or regulation firearms manufactured and sold in Arizona as long as they remain in Arizona."
In other words, firearms made in Arizona, sold to Arizonans and which remain in the state will not be subject to BATFE or any other Federal jurisdiction or control over their creation, sale or use.
This is a welcome assertion by a state of its rights under the Tenth Amendment. In a telling bit of news, Arizona isn't the only one making such a bold statement:
"Arizona just became the sixth state to pass a Firearms Freedom Act. About 20 other states have introduced similar legislation."
Thanks to Governor Brewer and the Legislature for sending a clear, unambiguous message to the gargantuan Federal Government that there are indeed limits to how much it can overreach into the lives of the common peasant.
We're just wondering who's going to market the first Arizona-made fully-automatic Sten clone. We're saving our pennies now.
"HB 2307 exempts from federal law or regulation firearms manufactured and sold in Arizona as long as they remain in Arizona."
In other words, firearms made in Arizona, sold to Arizonans and which remain in the state will not be subject to BATFE or any other Federal jurisdiction or control over their creation, sale or use.
This is a welcome assertion by a state of its rights under the Tenth Amendment. In a telling bit of news, Arizona isn't the only one making such a bold statement:
"Arizona just became the sixth state to pass a Firearms Freedom Act. About 20 other states have introduced similar legislation."
Thanks to Governor Brewer and the Legislature for sending a clear, unambiguous message to the gargantuan Federal Government that there are indeed limits to how much it can overreach into the lives of the common peasant.
We're just wondering who's going to market the first Arizona-made fully-automatic Sten clone. We're saving our pennies now.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Our new Florida urologist
(Deirdre Lewis via the Orlando Sentinel)
Dr. Jack Cassell of Mount Dora is a patriot, and we admire and salute his brave statement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
