Thank you to the Media Research Center for "honoring" this quote:
The Audacity of Dopes Award for the Wackiest Analysis of the Year [First runner-up]
“Until we fully understand what turned two brothers who allegedly perpetrated the Boston Marathon bombings into murderers, it is hard to make any policy recommendation other than this: We need to redouble our efforts to make America stronger and healthier so it remains a vibrant counterexample to whatever bigoted ideology may have gripped these young men....And the best place to start is with a carbon tax.”
— New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, April 21.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
End of the Year Opinion Clearance:George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin
Here's my clearance give-away of items I haven't written yet:
Much has been made of a few brushes with the law that George Zimmerman has had after being cleared of both murder and manslaughter charges in the death-by-misadventure of teenage apprentice thug Trayvon Martin. Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps it puts a man on edge long-term to be slandered and vilified by ignorant members of the media and self-seeking troublemakers in and out of government? That it might make a man sore when he is falsely accused of racism in direct contradiction of the actions of his entire adult life (I've been there myself)? Perhaps having your life threatened for months on end makes one a little jittery? Maybe having your loved ones threatened makes you a bit cross? Is it possible that an innocent man trying to do his neighborly duty might be irritated at being saddled with mountainous legal bills incurred while defending himself against absurd charges fomented by racists in the federal government? (I'm talking to YOU, Eric Holder, and your slander brigade.) It is worth noting that all of the charges that have been alleged against Zimmerman post-acquittal have been dropped.
Meanwhile the debate over Zimmerman/Martin rages on via Twitter, if you can call it a debate when the Zimmerman side has all of the facts, logic, law, and eyewitness testimony on its side, and the Martin side merely has the stuff (I suppressed a stronger word) in the previous paragraph.
I wouldn't be the Hermit Crab if I didn't mention this: Has it occurred to anyone besides me that the reason that George Zimmerman thought Trayvon Martin looked like he might have been checking out houses that looked easy to break into was because he was looking for houses in that neighborhood that looked easy to break into? If you think that's not possible, then you are ignorant of Trayvon Martin's past actions.
Much has been made of a few brushes with the law that George Zimmerman has had after being cleared of both murder and manslaughter charges in the death-by-misadventure of teenage apprentice thug Trayvon Martin. Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps it puts a man on edge long-term to be slandered and vilified by ignorant members of the media and self-seeking troublemakers in and out of government? That it might make a man sore when he is falsely accused of racism in direct contradiction of the actions of his entire adult life (I've been there myself)? Perhaps having your life threatened for months on end makes one a little jittery? Maybe having your loved ones threatened makes you a bit cross? Is it possible that an innocent man trying to do his neighborly duty might be irritated at being saddled with mountainous legal bills incurred while defending himself against absurd charges fomented by racists in the federal government? (I'm talking to YOU, Eric Holder, and your slander brigade.) It is worth noting that all of the charges that have been alleged against Zimmerman post-acquittal have been dropped.
Meanwhile the debate over Zimmerman/Martin rages on via Twitter, if you can call it a debate when the Zimmerman side has all of the facts, logic, law, and eyewitness testimony on its side, and the Martin side merely has the stuff (I suppressed a stronger word) in the previous paragraph.
I wouldn't be the Hermit Crab if I didn't mention this: Has it occurred to anyone besides me that the reason that George Zimmerman thought Trayvon Martin looked like he might have been checking out houses that looked easy to break into was because he was looking for houses in that neighborhood that looked easy to break into? If you think that's not possible, then you are ignorant of Trayvon Martin's past actions.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
The EPA and Republican Sabotage
I've been calling for years for the EPA to be abolished and its functions moved under the umbrella of the Department of the Interior, because whenever you define the scope of a department or agency too narrowly, it winds up staffed entirely by fanatics. If you'd like to know what I mean, read Alan Caruba.
I'm amused by the Democrats who claim the Republicans are sabotaging the EACA (Eliminating Affordable Care Act). Wouldn't sabotaging this brutal, unworkable law be like a German U-boat torpedoing the Titanic -- AFTER it hit the iceberg?
I'm amused by the Democrats who claim the Republicans are sabotaging the EACA (Eliminating Affordable Care Act). Wouldn't sabotaging this brutal, unworkable law be like a German U-boat torpedoing the Titanic -- AFTER it hit the iceberg?
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance Nitwits
Are you as tired of children getting suspended and threatened with expulsion from school for harmless conduct like pointing their fingers and going "Bang", drawing pictures of guns, and even biting pop-tarts into shapes vaguely resembling guns (http://bit.ly/1aZYtfi)? Does reading about 6 year olds being charged with sexual harrassment for kissing a classmates hand or hugging the lunch lady make you nauseated? Me,too, and here's what I think we should do to start changing some minds and some policies.
I suggest that we start ridiculing the ridiculous. The idiots who install these dam-phool policies and then implement and even try to defend them need to be mocked -- publicly, constantly, and everywhere they go. It shouldn't be difficult to find pictures of these self-important numbskulls -- the Internet is a great source, and so are school websites, yearbooks, local news media, etc. Put up signs all over town -- with photos and descriptions of what these imbeciles did to the innocent children in their "care".
No addresses or phone numbers -- that's not the goal here. What we do want is for these twits to be mocked and laughed at for what they're doing to the schoolchildren. Point at them. Proclaim loudly what they do to innocent kids because they themselves don't understand or have forgotten what it is like to be a child with open emotions and an active, healthy imagination. Laugh at them. Laugh long and loud. It's what they deserve.
They're bubbleheads with inflated self-importance problems. It's a public service to burst the bubbles.
I suggest that we start ridiculing the ridiculous. The idiots who install these dam-phool policies and then implement and even try to defend them need to be mocked -- publicly, constantly, and everywhere they go. It shouldn't be difficult to find pictures of these self-important numbskulls -- the Internet is a great source, and so are school websites, yearbooks, local news media, etc. Put up signs all over town -- with photos and descriptions of what these imbeciles did to the innocent children in their "care".
No addresses or phone numbers -- that's not the goal here. What we do want is for these twits to be mocked and laughed at for what they're doing to the schoolchildren. Point at them. Proclaim loudly what they do to innocent kids because they themselves don't understand or have forgotten what it is like to be a child with open emotions and an active, healthy imagination. Laugh at them. Laugh long and loud. It's what they deserve.
They're bubbleheads with inflated self-importance problems. It's a public service to burst the bubbles.
Are Conservatives never to learn to unite?
In 2008 John McCain won in the Presidential primaries because the moderates in the GOP united behind him, while the conservatives splintered their support between several candidates.
In 2012, Mitt Romney took on irresistable momentum in the primaries because he fought hard for the nomination, had the support of nearly all of the moderates (once Huntsman realized that his candidacy was a joke), and his conservative opposition was splintered the same way McCain's had been in 2008.
Now I read this from Jim Geraghty of NRO's Morning Jolt (edited only for foorm, not content):
"It's going to be nearly impossible to knock out Lindsey Graham in South Carolina as long as he's taking on three conservative challengers (Lee Bright, Richard Cash, and Nancy Mace) instead of one.
Are we trying to take the Republican's old "Stupid Party" mantle upon our own shoulders?
I'm tired of watching the conservatives in this country being out-thought as well as out-fought.
In 2012, Mitt Romney took on irresistable momentum in the primaries because he fought hard for the nomination, had the support of nearly all of the moderates (once Huntsman realized that his candidacy was a joke), and his conservative opposition was splintered the same way McCain's had been in 2008.
Now I read this from Jim Geraghty of NRO's Morning Jolt (edited only for foorm, not content):
"It's going to be nearly impossible to knock out Lindsey Graham in South Carolina as long as he's taking on three conservative challengers (Lee Bright, Richard Cash, and Nancy Mace) instead of one.
Are we trying to take the Republican's old "Stupid Party" mantle upon our own shoulders?
I'm tired of watching the conservatives in this country being out-thought as well as out-fought.
Some questions I'd like to ask Secretary Sebelius
My wife and I cannot have children for health reasons (and because of our ages). Why should we be forced to pay extra in our insurance for maternity coverage?
My wife is entirely satisfied to be a woman. I'm glad she is, too. I am rather fond of being a man. My wife endorses this opinion quite happily. Why should we be mandated to pay extra in our health insurance premiums for elective sex change surgery?
The EACA (Eliminating Affordable Care Act) has always been opposed by the majority of the American people. This country was founded as a representative republic. When did it stop being "government ... by the people"?
My wife is entirely satisfied to be a woman. I'm glad she is, too. I am rather fond of being a man. My wife endorses this opinion quite happily. Why should we be mandated to pay extra in our health insurance premiums for elective sex change surgery?
The EACA (Eliminating Affordable Care Act) has always been opposed by the majority of the American people. This country was founded as a representative republic. When did it stop being "government ... by the people"?
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The American Liberal -- Thanksgiving dinner with a side of socialized medicine
I was reminded of the peculiarities of the modern American liberal when I read that the Obamabots were being programmed to take advantage of Thanksgiving gatherings to preach of the wonders of ObamaDon'tCare to their (presumably nauseated) family members. Was this offensive and seemingly absurd? Of course it was. Was it probably counterproductive? That one is harder to answer, and can remind us pf the kind of fanatics we are dealing with.
I didn't read the instructions given to the O-zombies, but I'm sure it was presumed that they would know enough to preach to the resistant -- those who weren't already attempting to sign their lives away (perhaps literally in many cases). They might actually be able to convince some they spoke to, particularly if their traditional Thanksgiving celebration includes Wild Turkey. They most likely would not lose any supporters, since they wouldn't be the ones being "pitched". We see an exhortation to exasperating behaviour at a family dinner (which stopped being sacred in most families years ago). They see a long shot with nothing to lose. that's because they see life entirely differently than we do.
To us, politics is part of our life, along with our families, our careers, our friends, our pastimes, etc. To them politics is life -- the air they breath, their very reason for being.
Are they fanatics? Yes -- but sane people have a long record of losing to fanatics.
I didn't read the instructions given to the O-zombies, but I'm sure it was presumed that they would know enough to preach to the resistant -- those who weren't already attempting to sign their lives away (perhaps literally in many cases). They might actually be able to convince some they spoke to, particularly if their traditional Thanksgiving celebration includes Wild Turkey. They most likely would not lose any supporters, since they wouldn't be the ones being "pitched". We see an exhortation to exasperating behaviour at a family dinner (which stopped being sacred in most families years ago). They see a long shot with nothing to lose. that's because they see life entirely differently than we do.
To us, politics is part of our life, along with our families, our careers, our friends, our pastimes, etc. To them politics is life -- the air they breath, their very reason for being.
Are they fanatics? Yes -- but sane people have a long record of losing to fanatics.