Preaching Politics

Hiatus

2006-01-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

With my education becoming a priority it has necessarily meant that my time previously spent blogging is now spent reading and studying. While I do intend to return to this site in the future, until then I encourage anyone visiting to check out the worthy sites in the margin to the right.

Not enough money for education? It's a myth.

2006-01-18T21:19:00.000-06:00

If there's anyone at all I can respect at ABC, it's John Stossel. He's a libertarian, and the only person I know of at the network that's not sold out to the tired liberalism that pervades the "mainstream" media. He regularly takes on the myths the liberal establishment love to throw around. His latest target is education spending:

Not enough money for education? It's a myth.

The truth is, public schools are rolling in money. If you divide the U.S. Department of Education's figure for total spending on K-12 education by the department's count of K-12 students, it works out to about $10,000 per student.

Think about that! For a class of 25 kids, that's $250,000 per classroom. This doesn't include capital costs. Couldn't you do much better than government schools with $250,000? You could hire several good teachers; I doubt you'd hire many bureaucrats. Government schools, like most monopolies, squander money.

America spends more on schooling than the vast majority of countries that outscore us on the international tests. But the bureaucrats still blame school failure on lack of funds, and demand more money.

Unsurprisingly, he's getting clobbered with hate mail from the NEA.

I say abolish the US Dept. of Education. That includes the small percentage of money schools get from the federal government as well as 80% of the paperwork. Let each state and locality set their own rules. Eliminate the rules that forbid school choice. Let parents decide where to send their kids. Institute voucher programs (the only thing federal money should be spent on) to allow parents to send their kids to any private school they wish. In effect, make the dismal public schools compete with the phenomally more successful private schools.

Oh yeah, and bring back corporal punishment!!

Hat tip to Right Wing News.

First Our Homes, Now Our Churches

2006-01-18T20:54:00.000-06:00

The Anchoress has this deeply disturbing account of how a tax-hungry town in Oklahoma has taken the Kelo decision to new depths.

Since the Supreme Court’s controversial Kelo decision last summer, eminent domain has entered a new frontier. It’s not just grandma’s house we have to worry about. Now it’s God’s house, too. “I guess saving souls isn’t as important,” says Reverend Gildon, his voice wry, “as raking in money for politicians to spend.” The town of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, has plans to take Centennial Baptist — along with two other churches, several businesses, dozens of small homes, and a school — and replace them with a new “super center,” rumored to include a Home Depot. It’s the kind of stuff that makes tax collectors salivate. It’s also the kind of project that brakes for no one, especially post-Kelo. “I had no idea this could happen in America,” says Reverend Gildon, after spending Monday morning marching in the Sand Springs Martin Luther King Day parade.

This is today's America--a country with a judiciary-gone-mad that empowers people who think that the benefits offered by local churches don't measure up to the tax benefits of mini-malls.

I know it's not the height of political correctness to talk about God as if He actually cares about stuff like this, but I would be very afraid to live in Sand Springs if this plan is actually implemented.

PS. Don't forget, it was the liberals on the Supreme Court who voted to allow garbage like this.

Ted Kennedy: Children's Author

2006-01-18T16:56:00.000-06:00

Did you hear about Ted Kennedy's latest stunt? He wrote a children's book! Not a joke. Here it is:

Personally, I like these better:

Another Blow to Freedom of Religion

2006-01-18T16:48:00.000-06:00

No surprise that it comes from California:

Under legal pressure, a rural school district agreed Tuesday to stop offering high school students an elective philosophy course on "intelligent design," an advocacy group said.

A group of parents had sued the El Tejon school district in federal court last week, saying it violated the constitutional separation of church and state by offering "Philosophy of Design," a course taught by a minister's wife that advanced the notion that life is so complex it must have been created by some kind of higher intelligence.

Ayesha N. Khan, legal director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the parents, said Frazier Mountain High agreed to drop the class.

"This sends a strong signal to school districts across the country that they cannot promote creationism or intelligent design as an alternative to evolution, whether they do so in a science class or a humanities class," Khan said.

Once again Americans who wish to learn about anything other than the religion of evolution/atheism are slammed back into their place. Who exactly is trying to establish a religion here? Someone who wants to teach a philosophy class talking about evidence that points to intelligent design or those who refuse to allow any discussion on anything but their narrow view of the universe?

Our founding fathers would be calling for another revolution.

$5 Millions Bucks Saved

2006-01-18T16:03:00.000-06:00

While the media is droning on about possible civilian casualties caused by a recent US missile strike in Pakistan, you may have missed this tidbit:

ABC News has learned that al Qaeda's master bomb maker and chemical weapons expert was one of the men killed in last week's U.S. missile attack in eastern Pakistan.

Midhat Mursi, 52, also known as Abu Khabab al-Masri, was identified by Pakistani authorities as one of three known al Qaeda leaders present at an apparent terror summit conference in the village of Damadola.

Score one more for the good guys, and that's a cool 5 million (the reward money for Mursi) in the bank (or the bottomless pit known as government spending, but we won't go there right now.)

Oh, and about those civilian casualties. While I grieve for any innocents killed, especially children, I can't fault us for making the strike. The world needs to understand that in our war against terror, we are going to kill terrorists, wherever we find them. So going to a meeting, or a dinner party, or whatever that has known terrorists attending or planning to attend is a very risky move. And Pakistan in particular needs to pick up the pace in letting her people know that they can't harbor these murderers.

Ray Nagin -- You Decide

2006-01-17T21:29:00.000-06:00

I tried coming up with a catchy description for the Mayor of New Orleans but had to give up. To me he's an enigma. For example:

In the last Louisiana governor's race, he endorsed the Republican. This while serving as the mayor of the Democratic stronghold of the state. In a city that knows no limits in the lengths it will go to to get Democrats elected (see the fraud committed to get Mary Landrieu elected), the chief executive comes out for a Republican?!?

He demonstrated total incompetence and the typical liberal blame-everything-on-the-evil-racist-conservatives during hurricane Katrina.

Today he came out with a strong statement, claiming America was enduring God's wrath via the numerous hurricanes. He partly blamed this on our presence in Iraq (typically liberal.) But he also had some atypical (and interesting) stuff to say about race:
[God] is upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves.

Why is black-on-black crime such an issue? Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood?

We as a people need to fix ourselves first.
And then some wacky stuff about New Orleans being a "chocolate" city again.

Overall, the media is treating him as a harmless aside. There's been no firestorm over his daring to claim that God may not be happy with us. (If only Pat Robertson were black! Or a Democrat!) Of course, he's apologized, leaving us to wonder if there is anyone in America who is willing to talk about God without immediately afterward bowing before the altar of political correctness.

Personally, I’m with LaShawn Barber in calling on all the bloggers (especially the conservatives) who thrashed Robertson for his observation to hold Nagin to the same standard. Plus I’m still waiting for a politician who demonstrates a greater fear of God than of the media. But I’m not holding my breath.

New York Times Fakes Photo to Hurt Bush Administration

2006-01-17T19:39:00.000-06:00

Always in a rush to score points against their favorite antichrist, the New York Times put up the following photo and caption on their website:
Of course anyone who does not harbor a virulent hatred of the bush administration and isn't completely ignorant of all things military (2 traits common to most liberals) might have noticed that the object in the picture is not a missle but an artillery shell, probably a decade or more old.

After being called on their latest hit piece, the photo has since been removed, but not before being picked up by other news sites. Who knows how many newspaper readers will be shedding tears for the little boy in the misleading photo before all the damage is done?

My Sandman points out some other inconsistencies.

Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.

ACLU Sides with Terrorists Against National Security

2006-01-17T19:19:00.000-06:00

The ACLU filed a lawsuit today to bring an end to the NSA program targeting terrorist phone calls. They were joined by organizations such as Greenpeace and CAIR. Part of the reason for their lawsuit is that they claim that George Bush has been listening in on their communications. Which of course begs the question, are they more concerned with letting terrorists plan attacks on America without having to deal with the irritation of actually getting caught or at least having their plans foiled, or do they just enjoy the privilege of calling up terrorists to chat?

From Stop the ACLU:

The left are in full attack mode. So, while our military fights the good fight, the ACLU are sueing over an inconvenience in its ability to talk to the very people who want to kill us all. Like I said before, the ACLU’s slogan of “Keep America Safe and Free” is an absolute lie. They care more about the imaginary rights of our enemies than any kind of safety for America. They have done absolutely nothing for America’s safety, and everything in their power to fight the efforts to protect America!

Michelle Malkin has a list of the plaintiffs, plus some good links.

On Martin Luther King Jr

2006-01-16T18:16:00.000-06:00

Today is a holiday in memory of a very great man. Martin Luther King Jr's courage and ideals should be honored by all. He helped bring our nation away from the shame of racism. His murder was a tragedy.

Unfortunately his legacy has been hijacked by self-serving shysters intent only on accumulating political power as they lead minorities to wallow in self-pity and self-destructive behavior. Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, and Kweise Mfume together don't make up half the man King was.

Your Tax Dollars Helped to Pay for This

2006-01-15T19:59:00.000-06:00

Planned Parenthood, the nation's leading provider of baby-killing services is a billion dollar company. It's also subsidized by the federal government. Which of course means that you and I help to pay for garbage like this:

Yep, that's God handing Adam a condom ala the Sistene Chapel. Kinda gives you a warm feeling all over to think of how our hard-earned money is going to provide vital services like this in addition, of course, to helping to murder little babies by sucking out their brains just as their about to take their first little breaths.

Other goodies offered by the abortion mill giant:

Another key chain...has a caricature of a baby crying loudly, accompanied by the Planned Parenthood slogan, "Condoms are cheaper than diapers."

One is a takeoff on the "Uncle Sam Wants You" poster from World War II, replacing Uncle Sam with a condom. The second has an American flag with the stars in the field of blue replaced with the words, "Wear with Pride." The third is a picture of the Statue of Liberty holding a condom instead of a torch.

As a Christian I shudder at the thought of the judgment we are screaming for. We're snuffing out God's most precious creations at the rate of over 3 million a year, all in the name of convenience. I pray that Sam Alito and the other Supreme Court justices will have the courage to do what is right and overturn Roe v. Wade. Our nation's very survival depends on it.

Another Reason to Send Surrender our Kids to Public Schools

2006-01-15T18:17:00.000-06:00

They get to download internet porn for a grade...

A high school research assignment on Internet pornography was canceled after parents in this Cleveland suburb complained.

Superintendent Jeff Lampert said that although the teacher's apparent goal _ to discuss the harmful effects of pornography _ was well- intentioned, he agreed with parents that the assignment was inappropriate for 14- and 15-year-old freshmen at Brooklyn High.

The assignment asked students to research pornography on the Internet and list eight facts about pornography. Students also were asked to write their personal views of pornography and any experience they had with it.

Yeah, let's assign a bunch of 14 year olds to get on the internet and look up porn, but only to see how harmful it is. I guess common sense isn't a requirement to teach in some Ohio public schools. And typically...

Lampert said he doubted the teacher would face any punishment.

Does anyone know if Ohio has a school voucher program? I bet there are a number of Cleveland parents researching that right now.

Application to Join Al-Qaeda -- ROUNDUP 1/14/06

2006-01-14T23:33:00.000-06:00

*Application to Join Al-Qaeda

It asks for your hobbies. Not a joke. Check out Jose Padilla’s application produced by the prosecution yesterday and partially reproduced at Michelle Malkin’s site. Reading the application is surreal. Why do they care if a would-be suicide bomber is widowed or divorced? I can just picture the AQ human resources committee talking over some applications. What about this guy? He listed ‘beheading infidels’ as his hobby. No, I like this one. He lists ‘conning gullible Western reporters as an intellectual ability.’

No word on whether they offered a good dental plan.

*The Slippery Slope

Canada’s Justice Department follows up on the legalization of gay marriage with a call for legalizing polygamy. This is where the tyranny of the courts is leading us in the US. Before long our children who are already suffering from the effects of no-fault divorce and adoptions by gay couples will be forced to live not only with two “daddies” but also three, four, or five “mommies.” Too bad there’s no border fence to protect us from this.

*Another great story from one of our guys in Iraq

A U.S. medic cuts through the red tape to save the life of a brave Iraqi soldier.

*The Real Culprits in Global Warming

Turns out it’s plants. The kind with leaves, not the kind with smoke stacks. Treehuggers everywhere must feel betrayed.

*Socialists Score a Hit on Wal-Mart

Proving once again that liberals have no idea how an economy that actually works is supposed to run, Maryland has enacted a law that forces big employers to pay for employees health insurance. Apparently the law is designed to apply only to Wal-Mart, however. Score one for idiot liberals and the unions. Score zero for the little guy who just wants to work for a decent wage (which Wal-Mart does offer) and like inexpensive goods.

*Court Defends Christian’s Free Speech

A high school principal's decision prohibiting a student from wearing his pro-life shirt in school has been overturned by a federal district court. Judge Elfvin of the Western District of New York signed a permanent injunction ordering Fillmore Central High School located in Fillmore, New York to allow the student to wear his pro-life shirt to school. ...

The student's shirt is distributed by the American Life League's Rock for Life group and displayed the following message: "Abortion is Homicide. You will not silence my message. You will not mock my God. You will stop killing my generation. Rock for Life." Fillmore Principal Kyle Faulkner told the student that he could not wear his shirt in school. The student was sent home for the day when he respectfully replied that he had a right to wear the shirt. The student then contacted the Thomas More Law Center....

Color me surprised. Pleasantly.

*Toon

From Cox & Forkum:

*Website Worth Watching: LifeSite

A great collection of news related to life and family issues.

A Marine's Perspective

2006-01-14T23:24:00.000-06:00

I love hearing the truth straight from the guys on the ground who are risking their lives to protect my freedoms. Here's a great interview with Capt B at Black Five. Here's a snippet to wet your appetite:

We had captured a weapons cache in Afghani, a BIG one and as we piled the weapons up the next door neighbor tribal leader showed up and “told” me he was taking those weapons from the feuding tribe we just confiscated them from. Being surrounded by 2 infantry Platoons he had these two girlie men (no kidding they were out of a very bad B movie) charge their AK’s as in an act to threaten us. I told my terp to translate to them “you just made a very bad mistake and you could have been killed “ as my Marines drew in on them as they charged their weapons. So after detaining him and his two girlfriends we sat them in a safe distance away from the pile of weapons on an adjacent hill but high enough for them to watch the fireworks show.

The rest is just as good. ;)

Another Jewel Brought to Us by Islam

2006-01-14T23:14:00.000-06:00

Iran to hang teenage girl attacked by rapists:

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – An Iranian court has sentenced a teenage rape victim to death by hanging after she weepingly confessed that she had unintentionally killed a man who had tried to rape both her and her niece.

The state-run daily Etemaad reported on Saturday that 18-year-old Nazanin confessed to stabbing one of three men who had attacked the pair along with their boyfriends while they were spending some time in a park west of the Iranian capital in March 2005.

Nazanin, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, said that after the three men started to throw stones at them, the two girls’ boyfriends quickly escaped on their motorbikes leaving the pair helpless.

She described how the three men pushed her and her 16-year-old niece Somayeh onto the ground and tried to rape them, and said that she took out a knife from her pocket and stabbed one of the men in the hand.

As the girls tried to escape, the men once again attacked them, and at this point, Nazanin said, she stabbed one of the men in the chest. The teenage girl, however, broke down in tears in court as she explained that she had no intention of killing the man but was merely defending herself and her younger niece from rape, the report said.

The court, however, issued on Tuesday a sentence for Nazanin to be hanged to death.

Hat tip to LGF.

"Religion of Peace" on Trial in Britain

2006-01-14T22:53:00.000-06:00

Little Green Footballs is always great for getting the goods on the side of Islam the media doesn't like us to see. This item is a good example.

Above you see followers of Islamic supremacist Abu Hamza, outside the court where he is on trial for inciting terrorism. In a tape aimed at young people he said: “When you meet Allah you will be asked who was killed at your hands?”

Britain and Western nations were “100 per cent anti-Islam”, he said in another tape, calling on his followers to spread Islam “by the sword” and adding: “European leaders only respect those that are strong.”

Hamza added: “We like blood and are addicted to it. When they say they love Allah they must ask themselves how much kafir blood they have spilt for Allah.”

Describing non-believers as “germs and viruses” in another tape he added: “There is no drop of liquid loved by Allah more than blood of Serbs, Jews or any other enemy of Allah.”

These are the guys the left says we need to understand, rather than simply call them terrorists.

Fixing the Criminal Justice System

2006-01-14T13:18:00.000-06:00

Based on the sheer number of people who’ve visited my blog as a result of searches concerning the Vermont judge who gave a child rapist only 60 days, I’d say people are pretty much fed up with the way our system coddles criminals and does very little to deter criminal acts. With that in mind, here is my humble proposal to “fix the system.”

I’m no lawyer or member of law enforcement. Many of the details of the system are beyond me. And I realize that my system could never be implemented the way our court system functions today. But still, this is the way I think things oughtta be.

First, we have to treat crime for what it is. It’s a willful, selfish act. One that places one’s own interests above the happiness, property, and even the lives of other individuals. It’s not a disease, or a learned behavior that needs correcting. It's not a product of upbringing that needs understanding. A crime is something that requires harsh punishment if our society is to survive as the beacon of light it’s been to the world for 200+ years.

Programs designed to “rehabilitate” criminals through education, etc. are fine, but not the job of the state. The state should only be involved in punishing criminals.

The death penalty needs an overhaul. In it’s current form, it provides little if any deterrence to crime. And it costs an arm and a leg.

Set an unmovable execution date for six months from the date of sentencing. All appeals have to be completed in that time. This would require the creation of a separate set of courts just to handle death penalty appeals. (Also this would require a serious overhaul of tactics that are tolerated in courts today, but that is an entirely different can of worms to open.) Quick executions would add heavily to deterrence. There’d be no more ridiculous please to Governors to stay an execution because the thug who murdered an entire family is now 70 years old and in a wheel chair.

Use a firing squad. There’s way too much emphasis on being humane to the condemned. Lethal injection is specifically designed not to hurt. Forgive me if I’m not concerned with the poor widdle bad guy gettting an ouchy during execution. On the other hand, bullets traveling into a person’s body DO hurt—a lot. Plus he might not die immediately, and have to live with some pain in his final moments. Electric chairs are also acceptable, but they cost too much. Bullets are cheaper than electricity. (If you think I’m being harsh, check out the Old Testament. God hates crime a lot more than me. He prescribed throwing rocks at someone until they died. Also burning.)

Televise the executions. I don’t like gratuitous violence on TV shows more than anyone else. It serves no purpose. But showing all potential criminals the reality of execution does. Give plenty of warning so that parents can shield their young children, but otherwise keep the cameras rolling until the limp body is drug off the screen.

Get rid of the life sentence. It’s useless. Plus it’s cowardly. It’s basically saying to the criminal, we don’t want you around anymore, but we can’t bring ourselves to give you what you really deserve. So any crime that calls for a life sentence should bring the death penalty. No more paying for room and board for 50-70 years. No more escaped murderers going on rampages.

Bring back corporal punishment. I’m not talking about paddling kids (though that would help prevent the need for the criminal justice system to act later.) I’m talking about public flogging. Again, we can deliver real punishment and save a ton of taxpayers’ money at the same time. Set up a post with shackles in the town square and start handing out the lashes.

Get rid of repeat felons. At some point criminals who refuse to take the hint need to be dealt with. After the third felony that hasn’t yet resulted in the death penalty, send them to the firing squad.

Make prison a place to fear. I envision areas of the desert fenced off with barbed wire. Tent barracks for the prisoners. Arm the guards with sniper rifles. Pile up the rocks and have the prisoners break them all day. Or else give them shovels and have them dig holes and fill them back in all day. Make it back-breaking labor that pushes them to the very ends of their bodies’ limits. Allow no outside contact. Anyone who tries to escape is shot. Anyone who starts a fight is shot. Everyone works. With such harsh punishment, there'd be no need for 20 year sentences. Five years would be the longest necessary time, and that only for the worst non-death penalty crimes, and repeat offenders. Thirty days to 6 months would be sufficient for most minor crimes.

Monetary fines for most “little” crimes. Fines could be paid through garnishing wages or seizing property for those without the immediate means to pay. Those who refuse to pay their fines face flogging. Any crime against property would require a repayment of the value of the property lost.

Make the sentence worthy of the crime. A few examples:
Pre-meditated murder or attempted murder – death.
Rape – physical castration (not chemical, which is a joke) for the first offense. Death for the second.
Child molestation of any kind – death. No more controversies out of Vermont.
Illegal drug dealing – flogging
Drug possession – fines.
Robbery, burglary – flogging plus fines.
Armed robbery, breaking and entering – prison plus fines.

Punishment would increase for repeat offenders.

Just a fantasy, I know. But this is the system I would work towards. Comments welcome.

Al Jazeera Wooed Ted Koppel

2006-01-14T11:20:00.000-06:00

Recognizing his past contributions as a left-wing propaganda artist, the world's mouthpiece for terrorism, Al Jazeera, tried to hire Ted Koppel.

PASADENA, California (Reuters) - Ted Koppel, an icon of U.S. broadcast journalism, said on Friday Arabic television news channel Al Jazeera was one of many news outlets that sought to hire him when he left ABC News in November, but he never seriously considered working there.

Perhaps the salary perk of first dibs on infidels' freshly-removed heads turned him off?

Of course he couldn't bring himself to denounce the terrorist collaborators.

"I know it's fashionable to look at Al Jazeera as just a propaganda outlet for al Qaeda," Koppel said. "I can tell you that al Jazeera is a huge step up from where the Arab world's journalism has been over the last 40 years."

Unless the "journalists" used to hold the hostages down while the thugs beheaded them, I'm not sure how they could have been any worse, Ted. Oh well, glad to hear you found new jobs with kindred spirits at those paragons of balanced journalism, the New York Times and NPR. I'm sure you'll fit right in.

Thoughts on the Supreme Court Nomination Process

2006-01-12T22:02:00.000-06:00

After watching a little of the nomination process and listening to endless discussion in the media, I’ve reached a conclusion about the whole sordid affair.

Before the Alito nomination I would have said the entire process was about nothing but politics. The Robertson nomination was fun to watch. He handled the hapless Democrats as deftly as a circus juggler. Biden and the gang came off looking like politicians at their worst, and everyone shook their heads, tsk tsking the way they were playing politics with the nomination.

But after watching the far more serious, far less entertaining Alito endure the same histrionics, I realize that the process is not about politics as much as it is about power. Before, I would have laid 1,000 to 1 odds that the primary motivation for the ridiculous charges leveled at Robertson and then Alito had everything to do with the Dems wanting to look good for their left wing financiers. Now I think I would have lost that bet. Because it’s not politics; it’s power.

What we saw in Kennedy, Biden, Schumer and the others wasn’t so much a show for their pals at Planned Parenthood and PFAW as much as it was the frustration of futility. Futility in the face of power that they can not match.

While our blessed Forefathers designed the government to have three branches of equal power, the last few decades have seen the balance of power shift significantly to the judiciary. More and more federal judges have taken more and more power for themselves content that their lifetime appointments inure them to any consequences. And they are right.

While judicial accountability has theoretically existed all along, it has atrophied through severe disuse. Constitutional amendments are so difficult to enact as to offer no deterrence whatsoever to judges who feel the need to create law by fiat. And since elections don’t come into play the only other form of accountability comes through impeachment. And while I find that judges who abuse their power by creating rather than interpreting law are more than worthy of impeachment, there are precious few Senators with the mettle to actually bring such an action to bear.

So the power of the judiciary grows. And nowhere has it grown more than at the peak—the Supreme Court.

So there the Senators sat, faced with a man whose unassuming presence belied the awesome power he holds—that of an unelected, unaccountable king. Already as a member of the federal appeals court he was beyond them. What’s the worst they could do? Not vote for him? Even if his nomination wasn’t practically guaranteed, they couldn’t do worse than send him back to his lofty perch. It was like sailors on the deck of the Titanic firing rifles at the iceberg, chipping away a few ice cubes before drowning in the shadow of its awesome mass.

So they wailed and moaned in the face of a power they’ll never have. In a few years the Senators face the electorate. Every week or month they face lobbyists and PACs and 50,000 people all with a list of wants and demands. All of whom they have to try to placate in order to maintain their meager position. Justice Alito will never have to deal with any of them. His black robe may not shield him from personal attacks and hatred, but his power is secure. For as long as he lives he and 8 other tyrants can make the law whatever they want it to be. And no Senator can stop them.

Indeed, it’s all about power.

For the record, while I chastise the Dems for their silly questions, I am not any more pleased with the Republicans. The Dems at least are somewhat ~~honest~~ straightforward about their intentions. They understand how the system now works, and they make no excuses for working it to the max. They don’t have a problem with activist judges, but they want one who will rule on the left side of the spectrum.

Republicans on the other hand also understand how the system works. And while they like to moan and groan about activist judges, they haven’t used their majority to do anything meaningful about it. No impeachment of power-mad justices, no proposed amendments to limit their out-of-control behavior. They just ask everyone to play nice and act like the system works. Don’t question the nominee about his politics because politics have no part in deciding cases. All the while knowing that politics play a huge role in deciding cases.

So while I’ve castigated the Dems on the committee, I believe the worse behavior is that of the Republicans. Lacking the courage to challenge the faulty system and fix the problem, they still refuse to play the game by the rules as they exist now. They’re the worst of fence sitters, rubber stamps for a new generation of black-robed despots.

I certainly hope that Justices Roberts, Alito, and the rest will resist the awful temptations of office. But should they decided to taste of the fruit, there will be no one to stop them. For they have all the power.

Note: I do have some ideas on how to fix all of this, but as this post has gotten so long already, I’ll contribute them later.

Getting Reaquainted with Liberals

2006-01-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

I haven't been posting quite as much this week due to a considerable change in my schedule. I've gone back to school. This time I'm taking on Computer Science. My goal is to flip-flop (wouldn't John Kerry be proud!) my career and hobby. To date my career has always involved teaching of some kind and my hobby has always involved computers. Now it will be the reverse.

In addition to having less time on my hands, I'm realizing I'm not exactly in Kansas anymore. The first day I saw a guy walking around carrying a book entitled The Republican War on Science. I had to chuckle as I remember being clueless enough to have fallen for a line like that when I was his age.

I'm also a bit long in the tooth compared to my fellow students. Yep, it's shaping up to be an adventure. ;)

PS. I'll try to keep up the posting, but please bear with me if it's a little light for a while.

Banning the Bible to Avoid Offending Muslims -- Roundup 1/10/06

2006-01-10T21:13:00.000-06:00

*Banning the Bible to Avoid Offending Muslims

A British airline banned its staff from taking Bibles and wearing crucifixes or St. Christopher medals on flights to Saudi Arabia to avoid offending the country's Muslims.

British Midland International also has told female flight attendants they must walk two paces behind male colleagues and cover themselves from head to foot in a headscarf and robe known as an abaya, the Mirror newspaper of London reported.

The employees' union wants staff members to be able to opt out of the flights, but the airline says the only option is to transfer from overseas staff to domestic flights, which could mean a loss of about $30,000 a year in wages. [Source]

You think the Muslim terrorists who hijack BMI planes will thank the stewardesses for not wearing their crosses before they crash the jet into a skyscraper?

*Al-Qaida Planning AIDS 'Suicide Bombers'

This almost sounds like an urban legend...but then again I wouldn't put it past monsters who target children with suicide bombers.

Al-Qaida is recruiting suicide bombers who are infected with the AIDS virus, according to Britain's Sunday Mirror.

The newspaper reported that terror chiefs are also targeting fanatics who suffer other lethal blood diseases such as hepatitis and dengue fever in order to increase their "kill rate" from an explosion. The chilling new threat is revealed in papers distributed to British military camps in Iraq and across Europe.

Will Blanco Pay the Piper?

After what can only be called an abysmal performance during Hurricane Katrina, inept Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco may be facing a recall. State election laws make this unlikely, but if ever one was needed, this is it.

*The IAEA Finally Starts to Think About Maybe Doing Something About Iran

From Cox & Forkum:

*I Bet the Animal Lovers are Cheering this One...

Vengeful Mouse Sets House Ablaze.

Devotional: Getting What You Give

2006-01-10T21:02:00.000-06:00

As Southern Baptists, we have a tradition around Christmas every year. Giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It’s an offering devoted 100% to helping to spread the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. Without question one of the best things anyone can do with their money is to finance the spread of the gospel. And Lottie Moon has always meant a time of prayer and joyful giving for my family. Except this year.

I’m sorry to say that this year I let a hectic holiday schedule, a concern for having enough money for Christmas presents for all the family, and a general sense of business get in the way of our normal routine. Normally we begin praying a few months in advance and start budgeting for the offering around October. But this year I just let it slide until on the day before Christmas Eve, the last day to get a check in the mail, I just sat down and wrote a check based on my idea of our expected Christmas expenses. No prayer, no seeking God’s will. Just my own wisdom.

Well, my own wisdom led me to write a check for a much smaller amount than we usually give. And it also led me to a very poignant lesson from God.

If there’s ever been an area in my life that God has shown me repeatedly that He is in control, it’s finances. God has always taken care of me financially. I’m not saying that I’ve always had a good job or fancy things, because I haven’t. But God has shown me repeatedly that He will always make certain that I never go without anything I need. And if I will just submit to His will and trust Him, He’ll take care of everything.

Just a quick example comes from a few years ago. As the pastor of a small church, I was responsible for announcing a quarterly building offering we took up to help maintain our property. Our facilities were vital to reaching our community, and the funds were always needed for construction and maintenance. Every quarter our family gave whatever we could. But one day the Lord burdened me that we should start giving to that offering more than just “what we could afford.” Instead of giving what was left over, we should start budgeting a set amount each week. Looking at our budget, there really wasn’t any room for a weekly contribution, but after praying with my wife, we decided to trust God.

On faith, we wrote the first check. An interesting thing happened the next day. I opened the mailbox to find a card from an out-of-state loved one that had an unexpected surprise. A check for the exact amount we had written to the church. We hadn’t told anyone about our decision. God just took care of us. It was His way of telling us that we could trust Him, and He would make certain that our income was always sufficient. And for all the years that we gave that offering, we never ran short, never had to do without anything we needed. As long as we were faithful to give on faith, He always gave back. There are many more examples I could share.

Which brings me back to this year’s Lottie Moon offering. This year I wrote the check for a small amount, filled with worry instead of faith. Then we all packed up to visit relatives. During the fun of watching the kids open their presents and visiting with everyone someone handed me a Christmas card. Opening it, I found a little surprise. A check written for the exact amount that we had given to missions. God was letting us know again, that He would give to us like we were giving to Him.

It is with some shame that I wonder how big that check in the Christmas card could have been if only I had put aside my worry, put aside the budget, and led my family to pray together for God’s will for our Christmas missions offering. I wonder what God could have done with the money that I selfishly and fearfully withheld. And it is with a renewed commitment to faithfulness in giving that I remember His precious word:

Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return. (Luke 6:38 NASB)

Please don’t make the mistake I did of forgetting to pray about giving the resources God has entrusted to you back to Him. He’ll give like you give.

Copyright © 2005-06 Ron Ethridge.

View all devotionals.

OK, I lied...

2006-01-10T15:07:00.000-06:00

I am watching the Alito hearings. Sort of. I have it on in the background while I'm doing some other work.

Sam hasn't said anything about abortion that makes me happy. Since I would like to see Roe V. Wade overturned and regulation of abortion returned to the states, Alito isn't sounding like my ideal candidate. But the way he answers questions does leave a lot of wiggle room. So honestly, I have no idea how he'll rule one way or another.

On a side note...I have an idea for a new interrogation technique for captured terrorists. Make them listen to taped recordings of Barbara Boxer! Prisoners would be begging for a return of the belly-slap, even the Christina Aguillera music! But then again, since we don't torture prisoners in America, I doubt the lawyers would allow it. ;)

Why I'm Not Watching the Samuel Alito Confirmation

2006-01-10T07:33:00.000-06:00

As vitally important as the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court is, I'm not making it a priority to watch any of the actual proceedings. Why? Because they will make absolutely zero difference in the ultimate decision. Despite their grandstanding for the media, most of the Democrats will vote NO, because their big supporters, the abortion lobbyists, hate him. All the Republicans will vote YES (a RINO or two may defect). The only remaining question is whether or not the Senate Republicans can muster the backbone to go nuclear if some Dems decide to filibuster. Nothing said in the hearings will affect any of this.

For the record, I support Alito, and sincerely hope he is confirmed to the court. I also wish the Republicans would nuke the filibuster period. It's a stupid tactic that has no place in our government. It stymies the will of the majority, which is something that goes against the intent of the Constitution. Even if liberals were in the majority and naming a Ginsburg clone to the Court, I wouldn't want a filibuster. Just vote yes or no. If America is ever stupid enough to put the libs back in power then we deserve to face the consequences of being so ill-informed.

For updates on the Alito hearings, as always, Michelle Malkin's site is the place to go.

Another reason to support Alito (the top item.)