Random thoughts on politics, current events, popular culture, and whatever else interests me.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Police Raid on German Home School Family Brings Back Memory of Darker Times
World Net Daily has a report on an incident involving a police raid on a private home whose family home schools its children in Darmstadt, Germany that resulted in the kids being forcibly removed by armed police officers.
Who is Right About Space Exploration, Neil Degrasse Tyson or Elon Musk?
Neil deGrasse Tyson, in a recent video podcast, stated that the commercial sector would not lead the way for the opening of the space frontier, taking aim at boasts by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk that he would personally colonize Mars.
President Obama Taunted Over Response to Syria Crisis
If nothing else, President Obama's painful public bumbling and indecision concerning whether or not to attack Syria has produced fresh opportunities for his enemies to taunt and to mock him. For a prideful man like the president, it must be agony.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Union Boss Trumka Demands Fixes to Obamacare
The Hill recently reported that AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has stated the obvious about Obamacare. He said, rather belatedly, that "mistakes were made" in the writing of an implementation of the health care reform law.
The Revolt of the Hamburger Flippers
Workers at fast food eateries recently marched off the job to demonstrate for the doubling of the minimum wage to $15 an hour. It's a crazy idea, eliciting visions of $10 Big Macs and $20 buckets of KFC, but it is understandable in the current economy.
War with Syria, the British Are Not Coming
It seems that if and when President Obama goes to war against Syria, the British will not be coming. The British Parliament has decided that after all the UK will not be joining any coalition to help Obama smite Syria for using chemical weapons.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Kim Jung-un Proves that it is Good to Be God Emperor and Bad for Everyone Else
If proof is needed to be had that it's good to be a god-emperor and bad to be known by such a person, one should look no further than the story in the UK Telegraph about how Kim Jung-un had his ex-girl friend machine gunned.
Black Conservatives Segregated from King Commemoration
It was inevitable that there would be a commemorative rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial to mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. It was also inevitable, sadly, that a lot of African Americans would be excluded.
An Attack on Syria Likely to Have a Cyber War Aspect
If President Obama goes to war against Syria, the Washington Times suggests that it will not just consist of cruise missiles and bombs striking the Syrian homeland. There will be a cyber war element that will directly affect the American homeland.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
NASA IG: No American Astronauts Beyond Low Earth Orbit Before 2021
CNS News reports that the NASA Inspector General has concluded that NASA astronauts will not conduct any deep space voyages until at least 2021, a fact that seems to be almost entirely budget driven.
Gingrich: Iran is the Real Threat, Not Syria
As the Obama administration, by all accounts, is preparing for yet another military adventure in the Middle East, Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House who might have been president, is asking some impertinent questions.
How Jesse Jackson Got it Wrong About the Tea Party and the Confederacy
Jesse Jackson, on the day before the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's famous March on Washington, said, "The tea party is the resurrection of the Confederacy. It's the Fort Sumter tea party," according to the Washington Times.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Can Obamacare Still Be Derailed by Legal Action?
The Daily Caller is reporting that Judicial Watch, a conservative watch dog group, may have one more legal card up its sleeve to toss a stink bomb into the implementation of Obamacare. It intends to sue the Obama administration.
Of Syria, WMDs, and Presidential Decisions
If he were given to schadenfreude George W, Bush might be enjoying the conundrum that the Obama administration finds itself over the use of WMDs by Syria. Secretary John Kerry is pretty sure it should impinge the moral conscience of the world.
Time to Break Out the Holy Water for Miley Cyrus
If Miley Cyrus wanted to draw attention to herself by gyrating and grinding and God knows what else at the MTV Video Music Awards, she certainly succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. And therein lays the problem.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Going to Mars to Discover Life or to Establish New Life
Seth Shostak ruminated recently in the Huffington Post about the search for extraterrestrial life on other worlds, such as Mars, and whether NASA is pursuing the right strategy for doing so. It turns out that Shostak thinks it is.
Chinese Test New Anti-Satellite Weapons While Obama Remains Passive
The Washington Free Beacon is reporting that China recently launched three satellites that are apparently designed as weapons aimed at American space assets. One of the satellites has a robot arm with dual military/civilian purposes.
Over 30 Years of Federal Energy Policy Failure
Politico has an interesting survey of the history of federal energy policy, which is to say the government's various attempts to change the way the country accesses energy by fiat. It is a history of wasted money and failure.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
New York Times' Gail Collins Aims Her Snark at the Space Program
Gail Collins, the New York Times columnist who was best known for a snarky book about how Texas has far too much influence over how the United States is run, turned her gimlet eye toward the civil space program.
Bob Filner is Bill Clinton Without the Oily Charm
The departure of Bob Filner from public life was as rancid as the man and his behavior. Her agreed to spare San Diego further embarrassment by resigning in return for a deal that relieved him of legal responsibility for his misdeeds.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Obama Administration Employs a Guy Who Advocates a Race War and the Murder of Whites
In any other administration and certainly in the private sector someone who has messed up as thoroughly as has Ayo Kimathi would have been summarily fired and likely investigated on suspicion of terrorism.
Why President Obama Needs to Go on the Rush Limbaugh Show
President Obama recently complained that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was standing in the way of his doing all sorts of great things for the United States. This has proven to be catnip for the Great Maha Rushie.
Ben Affleck is Playing Batman: The Greatest Crisis the Republic Has Ever Faced
President Obama likely could not be more pleased with the Ben Affleck as Batman kerfuffle than if he engineered it himself. It seems to have crowded out Benghazi, the IRS, NSA snooping, and all the rest as the outrageous outrage de jour.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Is Returning to the Moon Really 'Unaffordable?'
ommenting on a recent article in NASASpaceflight.com, planetary geologist and return to the moon advocate Paul Spudis recently inveighed against what he sees as a practice of exaggerating to cost of sending people back to the moon.
'Paula Deen' Shoots 'Trayvon Martin' in Upcoming 'Law and Order SVU' Episode
One has to hand it to the producers of "Law and Order: SVU" for cramming in almost every racially charged current event into a single episode. According to the UK Daily Mail, the often left leaning series has accomplished this.
Obama Administration Dithers in the Wake of Syrian Chemical Massacre
The Hill is reporting that the Obama administration is contemplating some kind of military strike against Syria in the wake of a chemical attack in a Damascus suburb that left over 1,000 people dead. Someone has crossed the "red line" and so retribution must follow.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Ashton Kutcher is Now Conservatives' Favorite Actor
Ashton Kutcher, the star of "Two and a Half Men" and the movie "Jobs" has gotten some respect from an unusual quarter for a Hollywood actor thanks to a speech delivered at the "Ultimate Choice Award" touting the values of hard work and opportunity.
The Obama Administration Secures the Border -- Between Mexico and Central America
The Washington Free Beacon is reporting a border control initiative that the Obama administration is undertaking with Mexico that is likely to inflame the immigration controversy in the United States.
The Race Card is Not Being Played in the Thrill Killing of Christopher Lane
The Daily Caller is reporting that at least one of the teens who shot Australian baseball player Christopher Lane, James Edwards, has social media filled with racist, anti-white sentiments. Edwards is charged with first degree murder.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
California's Retroactive Tax Grab Could Drive More Businesses Out of State
If anyone wonders why businesses are fleeing California for more friendly states such as Texas, one should look no further than the news of how small business investors are being socked with a $120 million retroactive tax bill.
Noam Chomsky Thinks Sarah Palin was Right About Obama
Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, former vice presidential candidate, and current most powerful female politician on the planet, has been getting some curious respect from the far left, which is saying a lot about her influence.
Egyptian Military Takes Moral High Ground by Vowing to Rebuild Coptic Churches
While Muslim Brotherhood mobs are reenacting their own version of Kristallnacht, but with Coptic Christians playing the role of German Jews, the military government has ordered every church that has been burned to be rebuilt.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
The Case for Joe Biden Over Hillary Clinton
Just when you thought that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a lock on the Democratic nomination, here comes Vice President Joe Biden riding to the rescue to save us from that horrible prospect.
Maybe Character Does Count in Public Office After All
lenn Reynolds, a law professor and purveyor of Instapundit, has an insight that used to be axiomatic in American politics. Maybe, he suggests, we ought to start electing people to public office who have a moral compass.
Time to Start Debating Alternatives to Obamacare
President Obama's latest jibe about Obamacare is to blame its various problems on Republican obstructionism, in effect blaming the messenger who has been telling everyone who would listen that the law is unworkable and disastrous.
Monday, August 19, 2013
The Latest Diana Assassination Conspiracy Theory as Silly as All the Other Ones
Assassination conspiracy theories are not what they used to be. While people still tie themselves up in knots wondering who really killed President Kennedy, the latest industry is trying to figure out who actually Princess Diana.
Liberals Fret that Hillary Clinton is Running for President Too Soon
Both Breitbart's Big Journalism and Hot Air noted the angst that welled up on Meet the Press about Hillary Clinton being too prompt and too eager to start laying the ground work for her next presidential campaign.
Scott Brown for President is an Interesting Notion
At first glance, the idea of Scott Brown, the former Republican senator from Massachusetts considering a run for the presidency seems to be a little bizarre. He was defeated for a full senate term by Elizabeth Warren, who lied about being an Indian.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Why Shale Gas is a Real World Version of 'Atlas Shrugged's' Reardon Metal
James Delingpole, writing for the UK Telegraph, had a fascinating insight. He suggests that shale gas is the modern day, real world version of Reardon Metal, the fiction substance created by an entrepreneurial industrialist in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged."
Muslim Brotherhood Treating Coptic Christians like Nazis Treated Jews in 1930s Germany
Lost in the understandable horror at the carnage currently occurring in the streets of Cairo is the war the Muslim Brotherhood has been conducted against Egypt's Coptic Christian community. The war is quite a literal one, with property damage and bloodshed.
Obama Declares Health Insurance a 'Right'
In the face of rising public discontent over the impending train wreck that is Obamacare, President Obama used his most recent Saturday radio address to dig in and try to defend the indefensible.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Mark Levin's 'Liberty Amendments' Could Be Good for What Ails the United States
Mark Levin, a lawyer, author, and radio talk show host, has recently published a book entitled "The Liberty Amendments" in which he proposes to add ten amendments to the United States Constitution to restore the balance of political power.
'The Butler' Trashes President Reagan
Hollywood rarely gets history right, the idea being that the actual historical record has to serve the need for drama. But "The Butler," a new film directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong, seems to have another motive for getting it wrong.
Report: Hillary Clinton Yelled at Congressman for Calling Benghazi a Terrorist Attack
Hot Air describes the back and forth over the claim by Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. that then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started yelling when someone called the Benghazi massacre a terrorist attack.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Revelation: The NSA Violated the 4th Amendment 'Thousands of Times'
The Washington Post is reporting that, thanks to the revelations of one Edward Snowden, the NSA violated its own rules and court orders about surveillance of American citizens' emails and phone calls not a few times, but thousands of times.
Howard Dean is Headed for Iowa
Politico reports that none other than Howard Dean is headed to Iowa to address something called the Iowa Federation of Labor to discuss how to turn more states to the blue column. Naturally one wonders what he means by going to Iowa.
Getting Rush Limbaugh to Moderate Debates Would Be Brilliant
Someone at the Republican National Committee has had something of an inspiration. Instead of getting the usual suspects from the mainstream media to moderate Republican primary debates, why not get righty radio talkers to do it instead?
Thursday, August 15, 2013
A Rodeo Clown Commits Lese Majeste Against Obama
One has to confess that Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas has scored quite a coup by inviting the rodeo clown who was banned for life in Missouri for committing lese majeste by mocking President Obama in a performance.
Chris Christie Should Embrace Sarah Palin, Not 'Stand Up' to He
One wonders what the Washington Post is thinking by suggesting that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie should "stand up" to Sarah Palin and the tea party. It depends on whether one thinks it's trying to be clever or is just being idiotic.
The Obama Administration is Confused About Egypt, as Chaos Reigns
To say that the Obama administration is a bit confused about events in Egypt would be to make an understatement. But then confusion pretty much characterizes the White House's approach to the world in general.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Cruel Neighbor Threatens Legal Action Over a Disability Access Ramp
Vincent and Heidi Giesegh, a couple living in the town of Fountain, Colorado, just outside of Colorado Springs, have a 16 year old daughter with severe cerebral palsy. They also have a very nasty neighbor.
Let's Delay Obamacare to 2017 -- and Then Kill It
Another day, another arbitrary exemption to the dictates of Obamacare. This time, according to Forbes, the health insurance industry is getting a break on a particularly onerous pair of provisions, for its standpoint.
Scottish Academic: Mining the Moon for Helium 3 is Evil
Tony Milligan is a teaching fellow of philosophy at the University of Aberdeen and is apparently concerned about helium 3 mining on the moon. In a recent paper he suggested that it should not be allowed for a number of reasons.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
China as an Oil Importer Presents an Opportunity and a Danger
The Washington Times notes that while the fracking boom has started to make the United States all but self sufficient in fossil fuels, with the prospect of the country becoming an oil and gas exporter, China is being forced to import more of its energy.
Sarah Palin Praises John McCain's Foreign Policy Acumen
Sarah Palin recently uploaded a post to her Facebook page praising her old running mate John McCain's acumen on foreign policy and national security issues, especially in regards to Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Elon Musk Needs to Build a Hyperloop in Texas
If Elon Musk, the entrepreneur who is building rocket ships as CEO of SpaceX and electric cars as CEO of Tesla, has his way, people will be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco or the other way around in 30 minutes.
Monday, August 12, 2013
It'll Take More Than a Cool, New Space Dude to Give NASA Its 'Swagger' Back
John Kelly, writing in the pages of Florida Today, ruminates that NASA needs to get its "swagger back." His solution is to appoint one of the new space entrepreneurs, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Richard Branson as administrator.
Edward Snowden is No Jason Bourne
While Edward Snowden, safely ensconced in Moscow as this century's version of Kim Philby, continues to vex the Obama administration, the man who might have been president, John McCain, made a pop culture reference about him.
Phony Scandals? the American People Disagree
Most people who lived during Watergate remember when Nixon's press secretary, Ron Ziegler, groused about all the fuss being made about a "third rate burglary." President Obama made the same mistake about "phony scandals" plaguing his administration.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Rand Paul Approved Drone Beer Delivery Service
The Daily Caller notes that there is a use of aerial drones that even Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky was able to approve of. It seems that drones were used to drop beer via parachute to patrons of an outdoor rock concert in South Africa.
Sarah Palin Goes After Chris Christie
Sarah Palin recently waded in on the Rand Paul/Chris Christie imbroglio and pronounced herself to be firmly on the side of Sen. Paul, according to the Washington Examiner. She went further to suggest that Christie is a big government Republican.
Harry Reid is Saying Some Pretty Alarming Things
Nobody quite has the knack of uttering alarming things so casually that does Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Whether they are calculated and for effect or something that just comes naturally is a matter for historians.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Richard Dawkins Gets into Trouble About Muslims
Richard Dawkins, the scientist and militant atheist, has gotten himself into a little bit of trouble. Dawkins has committed the sin of pointing out a sad, but accurate truth about the Islamic world that doesn't directly involve terrorism.
'Mars One' Excites Interest in a Martian Colony
Even though the headline on the CNN story says, "More than 100,000 want to go to Mars," that strictly speaking may not be true. At best, that number of people has expressed interest to varying degrees in being Martian colonists.
MSNBC's Scarborough: Obamacare Sort of like the Walking Dead
MSNBC's token faux conservative Joe Scarborough is not usually given to being insightful, but according to Newsbusters he recently hit it on the head concerning Obamacare. He basically compared it to the Walking Dead.
Friday, August 09, 2013
Report: Fracking to Usher in an Era of Cheap Energy
A recent article in The Atlantic suggests that the fracking boom is going to usher in an era of cheap, abundant gasoline, something that has not been seen in the western world since the Arab oil boycott of 1973.
'Elysium' Tries to Send a Message
Though they try to deny it, according to Fox News, the makers of the new film "Elysium" are ignoring the advice once attributed to Frank Capra, "If you want to send a message, try Western Union." Or, in the modern age, maybe twitter.
Without Orders to Stop, the IRS Still Abuses the Tea Party
The Washington Examiner reports that, based on the testimony of an unidentified IRS agent before the House Ways and Means Committee, the IRS is still targeting tea party groups for special attention and harassment.
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Did Valerie Jarrett Give the Benghazi Stand Down Order?
Investors' Business Daily posits a theory, based on circumstantial evidence, that the order to cancel the rescue mission of the besieged consulate at Benghazi came from Obama consigliore Valerie Jarrett.
Reince Priebus Needs to Escalate His Demands of NBC, CNN
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus recently started to play hardball with NBC and CNN, demanding that they cancel programming about Hillary Clinton or they can forget about airing Republican debates in 2016.
Barack Obama Vs. Sarah Palin: The Geography Lesson Edition
When President Obama appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" recently, he discussed a number of weighty issues with the famous late night show talk host. Not the least of these was the problem of building up infrastructure.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Bob Filner's Droit De Seigneur Takes a Rancid Turn
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner's personal war on women apparently involved holding a wounded Marine as hostage for his particular pursuit of a modern day droit de seigneur with just about every female unlucky to be in his presence.
The Washington Post Failed to Change with the Times
One of the delightful aspects of the sale of the Washington Post to Jeff Bezos of Amazon is the schadenfreude one gets to have watching how some of the old line Post journalists wax sadly nostalgic about the change it entails.
Obamacare Exchanges System Likely to Go Live Unsecured Against Hacking
As if proof enough of the dimensions of the Obamacare train wreck has hitherto not been obvious, Reuters reports that the computer system that will allow people to sign up for the insurance exchanges is behind schedule.
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Armed Citizens Project to Empower Women with Free Shot Guns
Natural News is reporting that a Houston, Texas based organization called Armed Citizens Project has designated August 10 "National Empowerment Day" during which it will equip and train 500 single moms and other women with fire arms.
Japan Continues Naval Buildup with Izumo Helicopter Destroyer
The Associated Press reports that Japan has launched its largest warship since World War II, the Izumo. The Izumo is officially classified as a destroyer, but it has a flight deck and a fleet of 14 helicopters.
Jeff Bezos Buys the Washington Post to Change Newspapers for the Digital Age
Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, has bought the Washington Post for $250 million. The owner of the largest online retailer in the world is now also the owner of one of the most prestigious old fashioned newspapers in the world.
Monday, August 05, 2013
How the Democrats Are Losing the Obamacare Fight
While Republicans squabble over how best to attack Obamacare, whether to defund it or to snip at it around the edges and hope for the best, Michael Barone suggests that the ultimate losers in the controversy will be Democrats.
Now America is Running from the Terrorists
The Obama administration may have avoided an Al Qaeda inflicted mass casualty attack by quickly closing down embassies in the Middle East, but it has not avoided a hit to its own credibility when faced with a renewed terror threat.
How Hollywood Collaborates with Tyrants
How Hollywood Collaborates with Tyrants
The New York Post, in noting a new book by Ben Urwand entitled "he Collaboration: Hollywood's Pact with Hitler," suggests that the film industry has a long tradition of kowtowing to dictators, something it does with China today.
Sunday, August 04, 2013
Eric Cantor Offers President Obama Grand Bargain on Entitlements, Sequestration
According to the Washington Free Beacon, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor went on Fox News Sunday and gave President Obama an offer he will likely refuse but shouldn't; make a deal on restraining entitlements and sequestration can be gotten rid of.
Why Hillary Clinton and Not Sarah Palin?
Why Hillary Clinton and Not Sarah Palin?
Jonah Goldberg, with an unerring eye toward focusing on what really matters, poses the question, what is so great about Hillary Clinton that makes her the obvious Democratic nominee in 2016 and the inevitable next president of the United States?
Pelosi Faces House Democratic Revolt Over Obamacare
Pelosi Faces House Democratic Revolt Over Obamacare
While a lot of attention has been focused on Republican infighting over spending, how to attack Obamacare, and national security issues, Politico reports that there is a growing rift within the Democratic Party as well.
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Late Term Abortion Ban Supported by Women, Independents, Hispanics, and Young People
Late Term Abortion Ban Supported by Women, Independents, Hispanics, and Young People
The recent law passed by the Texas Legislature that banned most late term abortions, defined as taking place after 20 weeks of pregnancy, was seen as just another short in the evil Republicans' "war on women."
What was the CIA Up to in Benghazi?
The facts surrounding the Benghazi "phony scandal" keep getting curiouser and curiouser. One wonders what the CIA is trying to hide and why it is trying to hide it from the media and congressional investigators.
Charlie Rangel: Tea Party 'White Crackers'
Charlie Rangel: Tea Party 'White Crackers'
The venerable Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. called the tea party, "the same group we faced in the South with those white crackers and the dogs and the police." Niger Innis, an African American tea party leader, was almost amused.
Friday, August 02, 2013
Happy 25th Anniversary Rush Limbaugh
Happy 25th Anniversary Rush Limbaugh
CNS News notes that conservative radio talker Rush Limbaugh is celebrating his 25th anniversary of being a nation-wide radio conscience for the nation, a force of nature who changed the face of media forever.
Why Orson Scott Card is a Enemy of the People and Roman Polanski is a Hero
Why Orson Scott Card is a Enemy of the People and Roman Polanski is a Hero
PolicyMic asks a question that strikes at the heart of Hollywood hypocrisy about what is acceptable and what is not. "Why Do We Boycott 'Ender's Game' But Give Roman Polanski An Oscar?"
How Obamacare Tosses Special Needs Kids Over a Cliff
How Obamacare Tosses Special Needs Kids Over a Cliff
One of those things in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that Nancy Pelosi so famously said we would find out about it after it was passed was a provision that is going to severely hurt parents of special needs children.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Bob Filner's Personal War on Women
Bob Filner's Personal War on Women
When it comes to shamelessness where it regards bad behavior toward women, Anthony Weiner and Bill Clinton have to concede that Democratic San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has taken the top prize with his serial groping and disrespect of the ladies.
How Obamacare is Jacking Up the Cost of Cancer Treatments
How Obamacare is Jacking Up the Cost of Cancer Treatments
According to a Wall Street Journal editorial by Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a physician and resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Obamacare is about to make cancer treatment more costly and of poorer quality.
Experts: Earth Dodged EMP 'Bullet' from the Sun in July, 2013
Experts: Earth Dodged EMP 'Bullet' from the Sun in July, 2013
Henry Cooper, the head of a missile defense group called High Frontier, warned that the Earth barely escaped an EMP pulse from the sun that would have taken down the power grid "for a long time." It would have been similar to the "Carrington Event" of 1859.
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