Today, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned a patently unconstitutional ban on hand guns in Washington, D.C. In light of the Court’s recent stupidity involving child rape and habeas corpus for terrorists, this is a refreshing departure from idiocy.
It does, however, raise an interesting point: if you’re an 8-year old child in danger of being raped by your stepfather or killed by terrorists, your only hope is to arm yourself.
This election season, pundits will argue over recent polling data, “bumps”, key demographics, “Reagan Democrats” and “Hillary Republicans.” People will claim that the economy or the war on terror or gasoline prices are the “most important issue in this campaign.”
In the end, though, the next leader of the free world will (we hope) be picked by voters in secluded booths in their local school auditoriums, church rooms and the odd apartment basement or VFW/KOC meeting hall. And that is why John McCain will win.
John McCain is, by any objective measure a war hero. When a missile was accidentally fired into a neighboring aircraft on the U.S.S. Forestall, he didn’t bail out and run for cover. He fled the relative safety of his cockpit and rescued a fellow pilot in danger, put himself in harms way and subjected himself to serious injury. Faced with a free-ride home, he transferred to the carrier that relieved the damaged Forrestal, the U.S.S. Oriskany. That fateful and selfless decision lead to his being shot down over Vietnam three months later. Even the manner in which he was shot down is telling of his character: his plane was seriously damaged and he nonetheless completed his mission before bailing out over the target he had just bombed. Needless to say, his captors did not welcome him openly.
John McCain spent six years in brutal captivity. His commanding officer and fellow POW in the Hanoi Hilton asked him to serve as chaplain, and he did, reciting scripture from memory. When his captors offered him freedom so that they could claim a propaganda victory, he refused. At a time when America was fighting an unpopular war, John McCain could have been home in months. He followed the code he believed in, and endured years of torture. He never broke.
When Americans go into the voting booths this November, they will choose between a charismatic, young politician and a cranky old war hero. Their heads will, no doubt, be spinning as they consider universal health care, global warming, Iraq, Iran and the seventh anniversary of September 11. No doubt, Jeremiah Wright’s new book and race relations will be in their minds as well. But when they go to pull that lever, I am willing to bet that, when faced with a choice between a man who, even under torture, would not turn his back on his principles and Barack Obama, Americans will pick John McCain.
With apologies to Adam Sandler (and for outing anyone)
Conservatism is
The defense of states’ rights,
Instead of one massive federal program,
We want our tax bill to be light!
When you feel like the only kid in town
Who’s in the G-O-P;
Here’s a list of celebrity Neocons,
Just like you and me…
Frasier’s Kelsey Grammar
Is a red-state voter,
So is Paul Sorvino, Pat Sajak
and rich kid Ricky Schroeder.
Guess who supports Bush’s tax cuts
And thinks Code Pink is scary?
Catherine Bell from JAG
And San Francisco’s Dirty Harry!
Tom Selleck is a Conservative,
Heather Locklear is one too,
Put them both together,
And there’s nothing we can’t do!
You don’t need to pay high taxes,
Or turn over your beloved Glock.
You can lobby Congress with
Regis Philbin and The Rock!
[Chorus]
Pull out the superlatives,
Here come the Conservatives
Fiscal plans that’re preserve-ative
When you’re a Conservative!
Hanoi Jane Fonda [not a GOPper]
But guess who is? Easy Rider Dennis Hopper [He converted]
Guess who thinks the Democrats
Take advantage of taxpayers?
Don McLean, Meat Loaf, Bo Derek
And Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
So many Righties are in the show biz
Barbara Streisand isn’t
But I bet her accountant is.
[Chorus]
Pull out the superlatives,
Here come the Conservatives
Fiscal plans that’re preserve-ative
When you’re a Conservative!
As a former NASA fellow, I know that every NASA employee is required to take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. As an attorney, I know that the very first amendment to the Constitution says “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.” The Supreme Court has interpreted that freedom to preclude the courts and every government agency from imposing any prior restraints on speech. In fact, the high court has gone so far as to prohibit otherwise sensible restrictions on the grounds that they would “chill meritorious debate,” meaning that fear of running afoul of the rule might limit public debate over an important issue.
James Hansen doesn’t like debate. He knows that, if we have a fair and open discourse on Global Warming™, he will lose. That is why he is calling on Congress to prosecute oil executives. Yes, the “scientist” who, through thousands of media outlets, has had the unhinged gall to say the government is silencing him, wants that same government to silence the other side of the debate. I suppose if you can’t beat ‘em, prosecute ‘em.
With any luck the fat, bloated morons who “run” the government will ignore this patently illegal request. But nonetheless, NASA should finally fire him. He has clearly violated his oath, he is a distraction to the agency and is waging a propaganda war on tax payer money. He needs to be fired.
There’s a real hubbub brewing about a tape that allegedly shows Michelle Obama at the pulpit at Trinity United Church of Christ railing against “whitey”. The rumor, started by Hillary Clinton supporter Larry Johnson. It goes without saying, of course, that the Obama campaign and the mainstream media are unfairly blaming this rumor mongering on the “vast-Right Wing conspiracy” and the “Republican attack machine” that is the source of so much ill will in this country. (Like the time we made Slick Willy play hide the cigar with an intern).
I sincerely doubt this rumor is true. If it were, Hillary would have aired it long before now to save her chance at the nomination. As far as Mr. Johnson is concerned, if you want to check out his credibility and track record, you might want to start here, his NY Times article entitled “The Declining Terrorist Threat.” Note the date.
I’ve added several whoppers to the D’Oh-Bama gaffes and more page. He’s been busy. Apparently, he hasn’t had much sleep lately.
Well, you win some and you lose some. Apparently I overestimated Hillary Clinton’s capacity to endure ostracism and campaign debts. I was certain she would not bow out, and yet she did. I will say this, though: in her “concession speech” she referred to herself a total of 108 times. She referred to Barack Obama 19 times.
Is Hillary really really endorsing Barack Obama? It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.
Do you recall, back in the heady days of inevitability, Hillary deigned to allow the peasants to pick her campaign song? Perhaps her post-campaign theme should be the Beatles, “When I’m 64.” (Hillary Clinton will be 64 in 2012). To wit:
When I get older, I’m running again
Just four years from now
Will you still be voting for me then next time?
More campaigning with blue collar swine.If the phone rings at quarter to three
Who should answer more?
Will you still need me
Will you elect me
When I’m sixty four?I’ll be in Denver too
And if you say the word
I will stay in viewI could pretend, mending this feud
But when the results are in
You will hear me swearing that “I told you so”
On Sunday morning political showsI’ll stay in the Senate,
Passing the years
I will wait four more
Will you still need me
Will you elect me
When I’m sixty four?Over the summer, we’ll hear reportage
On his Reverend Wright, I won’t disappearFor him I will campaign
But under baited breath
I’ll root for John McCainSend me a postcard drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely wasting awayGive me an answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me
Will you elect me
When I’m sixty four
Many have rightfully criticized McCain’s June 3rd speech as stiff and awkward. In response, the McCain campaign has hired former Obama speech consultant Yuri Lee Sedthet. The results have been immediate and compelling:
Sixty-four years ago today, nearly one and a half million British, American and Canadian free men risked their lives to rid a continent and the world from Nazi oppression. These were the boys of Point du Hac, Omaha, Juno, Sword, Gold and Utah. These were the boys who jumped, for the first time, from perfectly good airplanes into combat with the most feared military force in history.
These young men had lived through the Great Depression, emerging just in time to see the world being swallowed by two brutally evil forces, spreading across Europe and Asia. They strapped on their boots and marched bravely into the face of an overwhelming, undefeated enemy. Their journey would take them through Normandy, Holland, Bastogne and, eventually, the horrors of Buchenwald and Dachau.
Having defeated Nazism in Europe, they turned, without flinching, to aid their comrades in the Pacific, ridding the world of Japanese imperial aggression. Only when a group of scientists harnessed the power of the atom, were they relieved of duty and able to return home.
On the backs of these heroes, America, and eventually the world, prospered. They took a society that was only one generation from horse-drawn carriages and the Wright Brothers, and they landed a man on the moon. Their contributions to our freedom, our economy and our history will never be forgotten.
I have noted before that Hillary does not want the V.P. spot on Barack Obama’s presidential ticket. She wants, more than anything, the nomination for herself. Failing that, she wants Obama to fail miserably, either in November so she can challenge President McCain or, less ideally, as president, so she can challenge Obama for the nomination (ala Reagan v. Ford). In any case, joining the ticket aligns her with him, and you don’t tie yourself to your opponent voluntarily.
So, what is her end game? I continue to believe she will take the nomination fight to the convention. She still has her ploy in “making every vote count” in Florida and Michigan (she mentioned suffrage and disenfranchisement three times in her speech last night). Now, she can add the V.P. stakes as another reason to take the fight to Denver and prolong the battle (and thereby weaken Obama). Here’s how:
Hillary will spend the next few weeks (there are about 12 weeks until the convention begins) privately and not-so privately through surrogates, coercing Obama to offer her the V.P. spot. If he offers her the spot (which will make him appear weak and will tarnish his “Change” message), she will haggle over details or make unacceptable conditions, dragging out the process as long as possible. In the end, she will either make him look impossibly weak or continue the fight to the convention.
If he refuses, or even more inflammatory, if Obama dares to pick his own running mate, she will continue to press her supporters to “draft Hillary” as V.P. She will (behind the scenes) arrange for a floor vote on the Vice Presidential nomination (and, depending on how offensive his pick is, possibly contest the presidential nomination as well). (Maureen Dowd has already reported that Clinton has requested a roll call vote, which the Obama camp rejects as a possible trick!). As Bob Beckel pointed out, if she forces a vote for V.P., a lot of superdelegates will have to vote for her, even if they went for Obama at first. She only needs about 10% defections to pull it off.
Assuming Hillary wins the V.P. floor vote, she will, magnanimously decline to serve as V.P. “Barack Obama is our nominee for president,” she will screech over boos from her own supporters, “and he clearly does not want me to serve in his administration. In the interest of party unity, I therefore decline the nomination for Vice President.”
Barack Obama then goes on to get hammered by the Reagan Democrats who see him as rejecting their candidate. President McCain is sworn in and we get four more years of lower taxes and dead terrorists. Hillary can then jump back in for the 2012 cycle, which will begin in just three short years.