How could we ever have thought…

…that John McCain stood for anything worth standing for. Like for instance, civility?

First he makes fun of Ron Paul on national television, childishly taunting the doctor over his arbitrary exclusion from the Fox News candidates’ forum. Now John McCain has told NBC’s Meet the Press that, “I think he’s (Pakistan’s dictator General Pervez Musharraf) is a good man.” This is reported in the same story in which Musharraf accuses Benazir Bhutto of being responsible for her own death because she had the misfortune to stand up in front of an assassin.

Does John McCain think that every ass is a good man, or only asses who are dictators? And does he routinely make fun of every man who defends democracy and the Constitution, or perhaps only those who aren’t dictators?

Laughing all the way to the political bank!

CBS News’ Joy Lin writes of the Fox News candidates forum:

…Mike Huckabee sounded off on how politicians in Washington, D.C. had spent beyond their public mandate. He then threw in a line about money printing that could have come out of Ron Paul’s mouth. … “We sent them there to cut spending, and they didn’t do it. They’ve spent more money than has ever been spent. Guess where that money is coming from. Your pocket,” Huckabee said. … “Just remember this, when government says we’re giving you things, remember before the government can give you something, the government has to take it from you first. And the handling charge is extraordinary.” … “We need to say no to government spending when it’s wrecking our grandchildren’s futures. Nine trilllion dollars worth of debt on your credit card that somebody transferred to the next several generations. That’s irresponsible. And what’s their answer? Spend more. Print more, spend more.” .. Interestingly, Huckabee’s words sound like an issues statement on fellow candidate Ron Paul’s campaign website. …

So even though he has been largely ignored by media, mocked by the political establishment, and laughed at by his colleagues, Ron Paul is winning the war of ideas? Wonderful! I doubt the good doctor would want for more.

From the CBS News comment sections:

“First, you know, a new theory is attacked as absurd; then it is admitted to be true, but obvious and insignificant; finally, it is seen to be so important that it’’s adversaries claim that they themselves discovered it.” –William James (–Posted by heart4wisdom at 08:10 AM : Jan 07, 2008)

McCain knows how to use a shovel?

“I know how to get him and I’m gonna get him.” –John McCain, speaking in the exclusionary Fox News forum on the campus of St. Anselm College on Manchester, New Hampshire.

That Horrible Gold Standard!

Notes Lew Rockwell:

Great to hear Ron explain the increasing price of oil as being due to the depreciation of the dollar by the Federal Reserve, and a warmongering policy in the Middle East. He notes that oil was $27 a barrel when Bush went to war to protect “our” oil. He mentioned a WSJ chart that shows that oil is up 350% in terms of dollars, 200% in terms of the Euro, and flat in terms of gold. Funny to see Fred stunned by truth. A dollar as good as gold. It seems like science fiction, but it is possible. Indeed, it is essential, if we want to avoid banana republic standards.

The least qualified candidate?

Bunny Ears was stationed in Pakistan! Who knew?

Vote for Bunny Ears!

The Republican debates according to a 9-year old (w/Poll)

Bunny Ears:

People go to India for heart surgery
airplane + hotel + surgery = 50% of cost in America.
People don’t have health insurance.
Wrinkles is making fun of Bunny Ears again.
Wrinkles and Oily fighting about man dates.
Oily says man dates are ok sometimes.
Wrinkles doesn’t like dating men.
Fight.Fight

Thank you, Daily Kos!

And where is the news?

Despite being widely reported in both the blog-o-sphere and the mainstream media, there is still nary a mention on the Fox News website of the New Hampshire GOP’s withdrawal from the Fox candidates’ forum. This is an interesting application of “We Report, You Decide.”

R.I.P. O.B.L.?

Watch this video of Benizar Bhutto being interviewed by Sir David Frost on the BBC. It was recorded in early November 2007, less than two months before Bhutto was murdered. Bhutto’s amazing revelation comes approximately six minutes into the 14 minute interview. Please take the time to watch, what she says is earthshaking.

Keep in mind, this is the twice democratically elected leader of a friendly country, a women educated at Oxford, a women who delicately managed to achieve election as the first female leader of a muslim country, a woman who was recently martyred for her efforts to restore democracy to her country. She isn’t some conspiracy nut.

Bhutto makes the comment about bin Laden almost in passing, as though it is something of which everyone in Pakistan already knows. And, Frost doesn’t even respond to the statement, as though everyone in Britain already knows about it too.

So why, in America — the home of the “free press” — are we only now hearing about this, two months after Bhutto’s statement? And why are we hearing about it not from news organizations, but from privately posted overseas videos effectively smuggled into the American purview via the Internet?!

Sorry, New Orleans. Signed, President Huckabee

(In 1997) Mike Huckabee refused to sign legislation to assist storm victims because the measure referred to tornadoes and floods as “acts of God.” Putting his name on such legislation, Huckabee explained, “would be violating my own conscience” due to the bill equating “a destructive and deadly force” as “an act of God.”

Wow! Great positioning…

“People are looking for a presidential candidate who reminds them more of the guy they work with rather than the guy that laid them off…” –Mike Huckabee

Not Peace, but a Sword

The Gospel According to Mathew – Chapter 10: 34-37

34 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 – For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 – And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

37 – He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Surprise, surprise!

Ron Paul isn’t the only Republican with integrity left in the Grand Old Party. In fact, there appears to be an entire state GOP that has some reminent of integrity.

The New Hampshire Republican Party has just announced that it is withdrawing its support and co-sponsorship of the Fox hosted New Hampshire Candidates Forum because of Fox’s continued refusal to include Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter in the debate.

Fox had claimed their decision was due to Paul and Hunter’s insignificance to voters, but Paul polled 10% in Iowa, won one Iowa county and took second in several. He also secured two nominating convention representatives from there. In Wyoming, Hunter secure a nominating convention representative. That is hardly insignificance.

Fox (owned by Australian Rupert Murdoch) is clearly trying to influence the American people’s choice and the New Hampshire GOP is correct to tell them to butt out.

—–

New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen released a statement Saturday making the separation official.

“The first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary serves a national purpose by giving all candidates an equal opportunity on a level playing field. Only in New Hampshire do lesser known, lesser funded underdogs have a fighting chance to establish themselves as national figures. Consistent with that tradition, we believe all recognized major candidates should have an equal opportunity to participate in pre-primary debates and forums,” wrote Cullen.

“This principle applies to tonight’s debates on ABC as well as Sunday’s planned forum on FOX. The New Hampshire Republican Party believes Congressmen Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter should be included in the FOX forum on Sunday evening. Our mutual efforts to resolve this difference have failed,” he continued.

“While we understand that FOX News continues to move forward it is with regret, the New Hampshire Republican Party hereby withdraws as a partner in this forum.”

Top 10 Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians

Judicial Watch, a non-profit, public interest organization that promotes “integrity, transparency and accountability in government, politics and the law” has published their (very bipartisan) “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” list for 2007. The list included several of the presidential candidates, however that really shouldn’t surprise anyone. The old bromide that,” a good politician is one whom stays bought,” has always suggested a corollary to the effect that, “the best way to make sure a politician stays bought is to have the goods on them.” The big question is, who owns the titles on Ms. Clinton, Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Huckabee, and Mr. Obama?

For an annotated list with the gritty details, click here to be taken to Judicial Watch’s article directly.

Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians for 2007

1. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
2. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
3. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)
4. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
5. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY)
6. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
7. I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby
8. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
9. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
10. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

How else to fight terrorism?

Radical conservative talk-radio host, Neal Boortz has been on a tear, claiming that Ron Paul wouldn’t defend the country against terrorism. Mr. Boortz is apparently as casual about fact checking as Michael Moore (see below).

The Constitution explicitly provides for the means to “go after” extra-national criminals, and it is a method that Paul did support. “Terrorism,” in the form of Barbary Coast pirates, was a problem that the Founders had to deal with as well. The constitutional means for dealing with such extra-national threats is called a Letter of Marque and Reprisal. In 2001, immediately following the attacks, Ron Paul sponsored legislation to issue such a marque. See: PRESS RELEASE: Paul Offers President New Tool in the War on Terrorism

Had it been issued, the use of a marque in going after bin Laden would likely have been significantly cheaper (in dollars and lives) and more effective. Neither would America have destroyed its standing in the international community, nor would it have created a new generation of Islamicist hatred of America. (But, of course, a marque wouldn’t have provided a means for reinvigorating America’s defense industry after the fall of the Soviet Union. For that, we needed a faceless enemy and war without end.)

Moore loose facts

Michael Moore continues to demonstrate his casual disregard for fact checking (as he also so elegantly displayed in his recent film An Inconvenient Truth). In a letter to his fans regarding the upcoming Iowa caucuses, Moore signs his name with:

“Michael Moore (not an Iowa voter, but appreciative of any state that has a town named after a sofa)”

Davenport, Iowa was named after the 19th-century Illinois militia Colonel, George Davenport, who had dubious distinction of being murdered on the Fourth of July (in 1835). The sofas were named for their maker, the (now defunct) A.H. Davenport Furniture Company of Boston, Massachusetts.

Transparency at Fox

“Bias has to do with the elimination of points of view, not presenting a point of view.” –Roger Ailes, president of Fox News, 2003

The good doctor, on evolution…

The American media is exploring new depths in journalistic dishonesty. What Ron Paul is reported to have said on evolution is outside the brackets; what he actually said is included within the brackets:

“‘Well, at first I thought it was a very inappropriate question, you know, for the presidency to be decided on a scientific matter, and I think it’s a theory, a theory of evolution, and I don’t accept it, you know, as a theory, but I think [it probably doesn't bother me. It's not the most important issue for me to make the difference in my life to understand the exact origin. I think] the Creator that I know created us, everyone of us, and created the universe, and the precise time and manner, I just don’t think we’re at the point where anybody has absolute proof on either side. [So I just don't...if that were the only issue, quite frankly, I would think it's an interesting discussion, I think it's a theological discussion, and I think it's fine, and we can have our...if that were the issue of the day, I wouldn't be running for public office.']

Ron Paul is a Christian, he makes no excuses for that. Two of Paul’s brothers became Lutheran ministers, and he briefly considered a spiritual calling for himself. Unlike many pandering politicians, he probably sincerely believes in the value of the words of Jesus of Nazareth. Ultimately however, Ron Paul chose to follow a different path.

After obtaining a baccalaureate in biology and doctorate in medicine, Dr. Paul chose to spend his time on bringing life into the world. He thus understands clearly the arguments for and against evolutionary theory. Paul is most certainly also well enough read to know that some of the finest minds in contemporary science have doubts about the theory of evolution’s ability to fully explain the origin of higher mammalian life.

It is different thing to not believe that the evolutionary process occurs (as in the world is six thousand years old and that we are all now exactly as we were in the beginning) and to not believe in the theory of evolution as the sole explanation for origin of intelligence. Likewise, believing in Biblical creationism (as in seven days, a ball of clay, and a spare rib) and believing in the possibility of intelligent design is also not the same thing.

Science only ever offers theories. It is theology that purports to have answers. Paul is the scientist. The “theologian” is the other guy, the one from Arkansas who lied about having a theology degree.

From the Birchers…

Please remind me, why is it we are supposed to think these people are crazy?

Top 10 Inconvenient Truths of 2007
(abridge, click for full article)
By Jim Capo

#10 Al Gore’s Nobel Prize-garnering movie on global warming was produced without scientific review or oversight.

#9 By honest accounting standards the US federal government as well as many American households are bankrupt.

#8 Adultery has destroyed more families in America than homosexuality.

#7 Any border fence capable of keeping illegal immigrants out of the county will be equally effective in keeping legal citizens in the country.

#6 The creation of our money out of thin air by the Federal Reserve is an immensely regressive tax.

#5 A gold standard is no more intrinsically good than a fiat system is intrinsically evil.

#4 The Patriots are not going to beat the Packers in the Super Bowl.

#3 Global warming is population control repackaged.

#2 A pre-emptive/aggressive war meets none of the requirements for a just war in Christian theology.

#1 (looking ahead a few weeks) Ron Paul may or may not win the GOP nomination for president. BUT… not matter the outcome, he will show up at the GOP convention with enough delegates who are actually his supporters that he will be able demonstrate conclusively that our current election process is only slightly less rigged than the one which was used to create the Iraqi National Congress.

The Price of Political Progess

Is it possible that Benizar Bhutto’s admirers and detractors are both correct?

Those who have not spent residential time outside of the U.S., may be unaware that peaceful, lasting change only occurs in older cultures, such as Pakistan’s, by means of extreme baby-steps. All else typically results in horrendous violence and eventual regression. Further, in most such cultures it is impossible to work from within existing systems without accepting a certain level of corruption; and working outside of those systems can mean almost certain death (either politically or literally).

For a true Mr. Smith going to Washington–or Ms. Bhutto going to Islamabad–politics is as much a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation as one could expect to find.

Even in the U.S., we see this.

Ron Paul, running as a Libertarian (outside of the system) received little attention, but his current campaign, as a Republican (within the system) is having a significant impact on the American political debate. Ron Paul, when campaigning on his non-corrupt voting record, is often accused of being ineffective; at the same time, in the few areas where he has worked within the system (for instance, on securing earmarks for his districts), his detractors accuse him of corruption.

Compared to Pakistan, the level of corruption found in Washington is only slightly greater than that found in the checkbook of a church organist.

No American can comprehend the danger and difficulty of a political career in Islamabad, especially for a woman. Nor can we appreciate what may be necessary in order to survive. When the vast majority of those around you are accepting of a belief that it is god’s will that you to be owned, or stoned, because of your gender, one cannot afford to be squeamish about defending yourself against threats.

Not having your enemies killed is a luxury one can only afford in a society where your enemies are not allowed to kill you. This is a luxury that Bhutto clearly did not enjoy.

The Bhutto family has certainly paid the price for their efforts to modernize Pakistan. Yes, they have probably done some nasty things along the way, possibly some very horrible things, but it is the way in which they are headed that is important. In this regard, Benazir Bhutto may have been as close to a Thomas Jefferson as one could expect to find in such a backwards, repressive, and violent culture.

There is no purity in the world of successful politics, most certainly not in a place like Pakistan. The only “purists” are the fundamentalist religious fanatics who have had historical control in Pakistan, and we can only be grateful for the degree to which they are corrupt. As America heads into an election season with the possibility of religious leaders on its own presidential tickets, Americans would be wise to remember Pakistan.

Is there a place for those who support more radical modernization than Benazir Bhutto? Certainly there is. They make politicians such as Bhutto seem moderate, and therefore more acceptable. However, in societies where moderation and toleration are considered dangerous sins against god, those who take such stands, outside of the system and beyond cultural tolerance, are rarely effective–or even long-lived.

Even in the U.S., there is no possibility of being elected, or of effecting change, if you are marginalized because your platform is too far beyond the mainstream of cultural acceptance. The powerful momentum of cultural institutions, even of those that have lost their evolutionary purpose, is a part of the human condition. It is indeed a tragedy that most of us are not capable of making a logical choice to evolve beyond the anachronistic behavior of our past. None-the-less, we do have to deal with such cultural physics.

Perhaps there is a better way than Benazir Bhutto’s, or even Ron Paul’s, however learning what there is to be learned of that better way can only be accomplished from the playing field. Criticizing from the safety of the sidelines accomplishes less.

William of Ockham on Politics

Far too many Ron Paul supporters think that the “mainstream media” is out to get Ron Paul. They take examples of distortions, such as reports that Paul doesn’t believe in evolution (after Paul, who has a PHD in science, stated that evolution is a theory) as evidence that media is intentionally smearing Paul at every turn.

There is a simpler explanation, that being that many Americans are simply too poorly educated by our pubic schools to understand that real science asserts no facts. Such cognitive abstraction is simply beyond them.

Another example of this limited intellectual discernment is this week’s press revelation that actor Will Smith believes Adolf Hitler to have been a “good” person. What Smith acually said was, “Even Hitler didn’t wake up going, ‘let me do the most evil thing I can do today. I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was ‘good.’”

Shockingly, even amongst the educated, many can’t discern the difference between either of the two statements.

Will Smith proves that some actors are much smarter than we give them credit for, when he insightful observes that the incident, “… speaks to the dangerous power of an ignorant person with a pen.” That is true, as far as it goes, but the journalistic freedom that the Internet provides to the masses is a big part of what is driving the Ron Paul “r’evol’ution.”

In a free society one has to accept the sweet-with-the-sour, although that is probably of little consequence to Mr. Smith this week.

From the Modesto Bee, letters to the editor…

Where are others’ backers?
December 26, 2007

Why Guiliani, Duncan, Tancredo, Romney, Huckabee, McCain, Keyes or Thompson? I have seen so few support letters for the other Republican candidates compared to those for Ron Paul. I urge The Bee to solicit letters from supporters of these other candidates, if any there are.

What is it that supporters of these gents deem worthy of support?

Being a member of the Stanislaus GOP myself, I know a number of my fellow Republicans favor Fred Thompson (a former actor). Good Lord, please write and tell us all why. If you are unwilling to do so, then how deep and genuine does your support really run?

This election cycle we, as a nation, stand at a crossroads. Surely, all politically astute Republicans understand this. I refuse to believe we have that many “globalist elite” in our wonderful county. Why so silent?

Try to explain how your candidate’s appeal is sufficient to be able to defeat Ms. Clinton or Mr. Obama in the general election vs. Ron Paul.

ARTHUR MURRAY
Modesto

The Penny Ante Candidate

Most candidates receive their contributions from a collection of big corporations and wealthy contributors. You can bet that Ron Paul isn’t getting a lot of corporate contributions consider his comments on Meet the Press (see below).

It hardly matters, in the fourth quarter Ron Paul is leading all the candidates with over $18.5+ million received 200,000+ donors of mostly small ($100 or less) contributions. This is real grass roots stuff folks.

Crumbling Foundations

CNNMoney reported last week that home prices fell 6.7 percent in October, the largest drop in 16 years and the 10th consecutive monthly drop. Some U.S. cities are experiencing declines in single family home values of as much as 30 percent. Only three cities in the entire country are showing positive growth.

But hey, the economy is fine — just ask the Bush administration.

Merry Christma…

Many commentators are pointing out the hypocrisy of a “Christian” nation spending hundreds of millions of (inflated) dollars on commercial items to celebrate the birth of a man who advocated poverty and charity as first principals. Least we forget, it was not so long ago that Christians celebrated the Prince of Peace in quite a different fashion. Mere crass commercialism is something of a relief.

According to historians, while on their nine Crusades, Christians slaughtered well over a million people, perhaps as high as five million. During the first capture of Jerusalem alone, an estimated 40,000 men, women, and children were murdered — basically for sport. There are chronicles written by the Crusaders themselves boasting of ankle deep blood in some areas of Jerusalem.

Most of history’s victims of Christianity were Muslim, gays, indigenous peoples, or uppity women who refused to be taken as property, but also many were Jews. Many also were simply too young to conceptualize religion at all. The number of children slaughtered in the Jerusalem massacre alone would have been over 10,000. And yes, slaughtering the “Christ Killers” has been a popular Christian sport throughout the centuries — one that only, sorta, ended during the lifetime of your parents or grandparents.

The Crusaders killed an estimated 8,000 Jews in the Rineland before they even left Europe, which was probably a bigger percent of the European Jewish population at the time than Christians would slaughter in another few centuries after they changed their attire from cross-ed tunics to swastika-ed brown shirts. Between the two events, the incidence of Jewish massacres at the hands of Christians throughout Europe and western Asia are too numerous to list. Even the incidence of synagogue burning, with the worshipers still inside, is too frequent to recount.

So, was 9/11 really blowback for CIA involvement in the Middle East since the 1950s? Or due to U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia since the 1980s? Hardly. The blowback originated centuries earlier. It continues to originate today as the “Christian” president of the “Christian” nation with the support of the nation’s pulpits continues to attacks a Muslim country that had no connection to 9/11, no weapons of mass destruction, or indeed any provable connections to terrorism on our shores.

So, on this bright, sunny Christmas day, as Americans greedily open the millions of gifts they give to each other, the death count in Iraq continues to climb. Given the millions of dead throughout history, a mere 100,000 non-combatent men, women, and children killed in the name of Christiani.., (oops) I mean, Democracy, doesn’t seem likely to produce any moral pause on the way to the wrapping and the bows.

So, Merry Christma, (oops) I mean, Happy Holidays.

Our so-called free society…

Why did it take 57 years for America to find out that the FBI has had a secret, unconstitutional plan to intern American citizens that is deemed political threats?

Have Grandpa & Grandma and Pa & Ma been asleep at the wheel for the last five decades, or have they been complicit?

Who says, “It can’t happen hear”? Apparently it has — or at least it’s been planned for.