Bush like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress

Bush like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress | International News | News | Telegraph

I’m not saying that Muslims are wild-eyed irrational maniacs.  Congressional Democrats, on the other hand…

America’s first Muslim congressman (Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota) has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks.

Now, many Muslims (at least in the Middle East) have a great deal of admiration for Hitler, and we all remember those videos of Palestinians rejoicing on 9/11.  So is Ellison condemning Bush?  Or expressing support?

Thief jailed for stealing documents from the National Archives

No, not Sandy Berger.

Sandy Berger, you’ll recall, was President Clinton’s National Security Advisor.  He went to the National Archives and stole classified documents related to terrorism during the last year of the Clinton administration.  He then destroyed them.

He’s not the one who got jail time.  Berger lost his law license (which he hadn’t needed in fifteen years, and had never planned to use again), was fined $50,000 (small potatoes for a Friend of Bill and a lot less than Scooter Libby was fined), and lost his security clearance until–get this–2008.  It’s not like he was going to need that until then, now was he?

No.  The court decided to get tough on a man named Dennis McTague, who stole precious Civil War papers and sold them on e-bay.  Now, it is right that Mr. McTague go to jail for this.  The National Archives belong to all of us, and this theft must be punished.

But on the other hand, we know exactly what was contained in the documents McTague stole, and they all still exist–as a matter of fact almost all of them have been recovered.

I’d go as far as to say that stealing and destroying documents from the National Archives should get you a harsher sentence than stealing and selling them, no?  How about if they’re classified?

A representative case

Not representative of illegal aliens, but of the federal government’s response to them.

Man accused of rape hours after he left jail

COLUMBIA, Tenn. – Maury County deputies and federal agents are looking for a man who is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl only hours after being released from jail.

Juan Villa, 24, has been in the Maury County Jail 11 times since 2001 on charges of assault, public intoxication, driving without a license and contempt of court.

He was released from jail on $1,000 bail on Friday at about 9:45 p.m. and is suspected of raping the 15-year-old shortly after midnight.

Villa is suspected of being in the country illegally and [Sheriff Enoch] George said the department had contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement about him before he was released from jail but the federal agents said they would deal with him later.

Either the federal agents couldn’t be bothered, or they’re overwhelmed.  I can’t decide which I prefer to believe.

An update on the Muslim Episcopalian priest

I mentioned the case of the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding in a previous post.

Her local bishop was “excited” by her dual (duel?) faiths, but it turns out that she was ordained in the Diocese of Rhode Island, and it is that bishop’s successor who has authority over her.

From the Seattle Times:

The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, a local Episcopal priest who announced she is both Muslim and Christian, will not be able to serve as a priest for a year, according to her bishop.

During that year, Redding is expected to “reflect on the doctrines of the Christian faith, her vocation as a priest, and what I see as the conflicts inherent in professing both Christianity and Islam,” the Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf, bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island, wrote in an e-mail to Episcopal Church leaders.

Redding was ordained more than 20 years ago by the then-bishop of Rhode Island, and it is that diocese that has disciplinary authority over her.

During the next year, Redding “is not to exercise any of the responsibilities and privileges of an Episcopal priest or deacon,” Wolf wrote in her e-mail. Wolf could not be reached for immediate comment.

Redding is scheduled to start teaching part time as a visiting assistant professor at Jesuit-run Seattle University this fall. But she will not be able to teach, preach or work at any Episcopal church or institution during the next year, she said.

As a Catholic, I find that last paragraph troubling, but unfortunately not surprising.  She’s not orthodox enough to be an Episcopalian but can teach for the Jesuits.

Scots Wha Hae!

As the son of a Glaswegian, I had to smile:

Glasgow cabbie tears tendon in foot from kicking jihadi–in the balls

“The guy in the passenger seat was wearing a white T-shirt. He got out carrying what looked like a petrol bomb and seconds later the Jeep was in flames.

“Then he kicked and punched a man to the ground before punching a policeman square in the face. That’s when I saw red. That sort of thing just isn’t on.

“I told my passenger to run for her life, then I went for the man in the T-shirt and managed to skelp him in the face. I followed it up by booting him twice…

“I’ve heard people say since that he was shouting ‘Allah!’ but I didn’t hear that. It just sounded like a lot of crap to me.

“I ran for the guy and punched him twice in the face with pretty good right hooks.

“Then I kicked him with full force right in the balls but he didn’t go down. He just kept on babbling his rubbish.”

A baggage handler at Glasgow airport got in on it, too:

Mr Smeaton described how his first thought on being confronted by the two suspects in the burning vehicle was: “What’s the score? I’ve got to get this sorted.”

Spotting a terrorist suspect grappling with police, Mr Smeaton thought: “You’re nae hitting the Polis mate, there’s nae chance.”

“So I ran straight towards the guy, we’re all trying to get a kick-in at him, take a boot to subdue the guy.”

Mr Smeaton, from Erskine, in Renfrewshire, physically fought with the attacker until he was brought to the ground.

Smeaton delivered a message to terrorists: “they can try and come to Britain and distrupt us any way they want, but the British people have been under a lot more things than this, and have stood proud.”

Demonstrating the “have-a-go” attitude typical of Glaswegians, Mr Smeaton continued: “Glasgow doesnae accept this, if you come tae Glasgow, we’ll set about you.”

Hear that, hirabah?  You shouldnae go tae Glasgow.

Some global warming updates

You know how you always hear that the US makes up X% of the planet, and uses Y% of its resources?

Here’s a new twist:

Human greed takes lion’s share of solar energy

HUMANS are just one of the millions of species on Earth, but we use up almost a quarter of the sun’s energy captured by plants – the most of any species.

The human dominance of this natural resource is affecting other species, reducing the amount of energy available to them by almost 10 per cent, scientists report.

Researchers said the findings showed humans were using “a remarkable share” of the earth’s plant productivity “to meet the needs and wants of one species”.

They also warned that the increased use of biofuels – such as ethanol and canola – should be viewed cautiously, given the potential for further pressure on ecosystems.

[H]umans used 24 per cent of the energy that was captured by plants. More than half of this was due to the harvesting of crops or other plants.

(But… we planted those crops!)

So let me see…  No power from oil or coal (global warming!), no hydroelectric power (the poor fish!), no nuclear power (Three Mile Island!), no wind power (the windmills block the view from the Kennedy compound!).  And now no solar power?  What’s left?  Hamsters in wheels?

——————————

Al Gore, the great thinker profiled by Time magazine, had an opinion piece in the New York Times (reg. req.) in advance of his Live Earth concert.  He talks about–surprise–the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.

As a direct result [of our carbon dioxide emissions], many scientists are now warning that we are moving closer to several “tipping points” that could — within 10 years — make it impossible for us to avoid irretrievable damage to the planet’s habitability for human civilization.

It’s funny how calamity is always ten years away.  I seem to recall we had until 1995 to save the planet, but I guess we squeaked through somehow.  I wish they’d tell us what we did to pull that one off.  Maybe we could do it again.

I’ll make Al Gore a bet.  Ten years from today, we’ll see how the Earth is doing.  If it’s been given another five to ten year reprieve, he’ll pay me whatever his electric bill is that month.  If disaster is one year away or less, I’ll give him whatever I owe for electricity.  Anything else is a push.

He also had this to say:

Consider this tale of two planets. Earth and Venus are almost exactly the same size, and have almost exactly the same amount of carbon. The difference is that most of the carbon on Earth is in the ground — having been deposited there by various forms of life over the last 600 million years — and most of the carbon on Venus is in the atmosphere.

As a result, while the average temperature on Earth is a pleasant 59 degrees, the average temperature on Venus is 867 degrees. True, Venus is closer to the Sun than we are, but the fault is not in our star; Venus is three times hotter on average than Mercury, which is right next to the Sun. It’s the carbon dioxide.

Yes, Mr. Gore, it’s the carbon dioxide.  Along with all the other gasses present in Venus’s atmosphere.  Along with the fact that Mercury has no atmosphere.  As a result, the lowest temparture on Mercury is -292 degrees Fahrenheit, which kind of skews its average temperature a bit.  Is Gore suggesting that we combat global warming by stripping Earth of its atmosphere?  Why else would he bring up Mercury?  Not to mislead the ignorant, surely?

And by the way, Mr. Gore, are you saying that 59 degrees is the “correct” temperature?  You call it “pleasant,” but I like it a little warmer than that.  My preferred temperature is 68 degrees.

——————————-

Why is idea of global warming so alarming to environmentalists?

This doesn’t seem so bad:

Researchers: Greenland really was green!

Ice-covered Greenland really was green a half-million or so years ago, covered with forests in a climate much like that of Sweden and eastern Canada today.

The researchers, led by Eske Willerslev of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, say the findings are the first direct proof that there was forest in southern Greenland.

Included were genetic traces of butterflies, moths, flies and beetles, they report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science.

Greenland was discovered by Vikings sailing from Iceland about 1,000 years ago. While it had an ice cap then, the climate was relatively mild and they were able to establish colonies in coastal areas. Those colonies later vanished as the climate cooled.

But the new research shows it hasn’t always been so cold there.

I’d guess environmentalists would answer: “But you see, that was in the past.  The future is so uncertain!”  And they have the gall to call themselves progressives!

The idiocy of a command economy

Zimbabwe bans bulk buying amid frenzy

The latest (but not last, I’m sure) in a long line of fiascoes caused by ignoring basic economics:

Zimbabwe authorities ordered businesses on Thursday to stop selling basic goods in bulk to avert shortages after an official price freeze triggered a frenzied buying spree that has emptied most shop shelves.

Over the past week shoppers have been buying sugar, cooking oil, flour, salt and maize-meal in bulk, leaving shelves empty while manufacturers have stopped producing. They say the price freeze is not viable given the price of other goods and raw materials continue to skyrocket.

So to counteract runaway inflation, Mugabe institutes price controls.  As a direct result, food becomes impossible to find, because people understandably want to buy food in bulk at below-market prices.  To counteract that Mugabe bans buying in bulk.

Now, imagine that Zimbabwe is run by a responsible government.  Minimal corruption, the rule of law, the whole shebang.  Now–for whatever reason–prices skyrocket for basic staples.  What happens?  High prices for goods draw more goods to Zimbabwe.  Prices then fall because of increased supply.  No one needs to order anyone to do anything, because it’s in everyone’s self-interest to get food where it’s needed.

It’s the invisible hand at work.  And guess who else is ignoring the invisible hand of market economies?  The US federal government.

Senate passes energy bill, boosting mileage standards

…and outlawing “price-gouging:”

[The bill would make it] unlawful to charge an “unconscionably excessive” price for oil products including gasoline and give the federal government new authority to investigate oil industry market manipulation.

Who decides what is “unconscionably excessive?”  Central authority.  Not the consumer, who could decide to conserve more energy and pay less that way.  The government wants to decide how much you’re going to pay for a gallon of gas.  And the lower the price is, the more likely the next step will be long lines and rationing.

And don’t try the objection that high gas prices mean that the rich can afford more gas than the rest of us.  That’s life.  The rich can afford more of everything than the rest of us.  They can afford to hire someone to wait in line to gas up the car, too.

And by the way, while our representatives in Congress fume about oil industry profits, check out this chart from the Department of Energy website:

I couldn’t find more recent figures on the site, but these are from one year ago.  They show that the oil companies’ profits plus refinery costs equal the taxes our state and federal governments exact.  Who’s doing the gouging here?

The problem with not trusting the invisible hand is that it’s got to be replaced with a visible one.  The hand of government, backed up by the threat of fines or jail for those who don’t obey.

Now, imagine the United States is run by a responsible government…

Shots may help you lose that pot belly

Shots may help you lose that pot belly – Diet & Nutrition – MSNBC.com

Make mine a Rumplemintze!

UPDATE: Never mind.  Different kind of shots.

Good analysis of “Sicko” from an unlikely source

Normally, I give you the link to the site I’m quoting right up front, so I don’t forget to do it.  This time I’m going to show you where I found this article at the end, because I suspect it will be a surprise.

Michael Moore’s “Sicko” has been out for a couple of weeks now, and it’s made $7 million.  Not exactly a blockbuster.  The critics love it, however, and it received a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  Of course, reading the blurbs you get the sense that these critics didn’t so much love the film as agree with it.  So, if you already agree with Michael Moore, you’ll love the film.  Ipso fatso, as it were.

I did stumble across an in-depth look at the actual substance of Moore’s film, and I’d like to share some excerpts with you:

One giant health-maintenance organization, Kaiser Permanente, is so persuasively lambasted in the movie that, on the basis of what we’re told, we want to burst into the company’s executive suites and make a mass citizen’s arrest. This is the sort of thing good muckrakers are supposed to do.

Unfortunately, Moore is also a con man of a very brazen sort, and never more so than in this film. His cherry-picked facts, manipulative interviews (with lingering close-ups of distraught people breaking down in tears) and blithe assertions (how does he know 18,000 people will die this year because they have no health insurance?) are so stacked that you can feel his whole argument sliding sideways as the picture unspools.

As a proud socialist, the director appears to feel that there are few problems in life that can’t be solved by government regulation (that would be the same government that’s already given us the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles).

What’s the problem with government health systems? Moore’s movie doesn’t ask that question, although it does unintentionally provide an answer. When governments attempt to regulate the balance between a limited supply of health care and an unlimited demand for it they’re inevitably forced to ration treatment.

Moore’s most ardent enthusiasm is reserved for the French health care system, which he portrays as the crowning glory of a Gallic lifestyle far superior to our own. The French! They work only 35 hours a week, by law. They get at least five weeks’ vacation every year. Their health care is free, and they can take an unlimited number of sick days. It is here that Moore shoots himself in the foot. He introduces us to a young man who’s reached the end of three months of paid sick leave and is asked by his doctor if he’s finally ready to return to work. No, not yet, he says. So the doctor gives him another three months of paid leave — and the young man immediately decamps for the South of France, where we see him lounging on the sunny Riviera, chatting up babes and generally enjoying what would be for most people a very expensive vacation. Moore apparently expects us to witness this dumbfounding spectacle and ask why we can’t have such a great health care system, too. I think a more common response would be, how can any country afford such economic insanity?

Fidel Castro’s island dictatorship, now in its 40th year of being listed as a human-rights violator by Amnesty International, is here depicted as a balmy paradise not unlike the Iraq of Saddam Hussein that Moore showed us in his earlier film, “Fahrenheit 9/11.” He and his charges make their way — their pre-arranged way, if it need be said — to a state-of-the-art hospital where they receive a picturesquely warm welcome. In a voiceover, Moore, shown beaming at his little band of visitors, says he told the Cuban doctors to “give them the same care they’d give Cuban citizens.” Then he adds, dramatically: “And they did.”

If Moore really believes this, he may be a greater fool than even his most feverish detractors claim him to be.

Now, here’s the weird thing.  This rational, intelligent, fact-based, economically correct essay wasn’t published in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times or even the New York Post.

It’s on MTV’s site.  And that just made my day.

Neuterfest cancelled

Press-Telegram – Oropeza: Neutering bill no-go

The pets of California can breathe a sigh of relief now.  A bill requiring that every dog and cat in the state be neutered has been defeated.

I’m only posting this because it reminds me of the late, lamented “Arrested Development.”

In one episode, Michael Bluth is talking to his sister, Lindsay Bluth (a dilettante environmentalist):

Lindsay: I’ve always been very passionate about nature. Perhaps you remember Neuterfest?

Michael: Oh, I’ll never forget your wedding.

Later, Michael needs her help in getting an enviro-nut out of a tree on a property he wants to clear for development:

Michael: Listen, after we get that lot cleared, we’re going to have enough money for you to neuter thousands of animals. You can make dogs and cats a complete thing of the past. No more dogs and cats.

(Lindsay smiles brightly.)

 

You can’t satirize Californians.  Well you can, but then they just take it as a challenge.