Qué estupidez!

This past weekend, Sedgwick County (Kansas) Democrats held a "fiesta" mocking Kansas Sec. of State Kris Kobach and dubbing him the "Secretary of Hate."

Kris, as many of you know, is an immigration attorney who fights for American sovereignty and for victims of crime.

Look at the disrespectful photo they used to promote the fundraiser which was held in 'honor' of Sec. Kobach's birthday.




Here's how the 'Rats sold it: "We can think of no better way to help Kris celebrate his 45th birthday, than with a celebration of Hispanic culture. There will be Mexican food, piñatas, a mariachi band and speakers. Speakers will address Kobach’s dangerous policies of voter disenfranchisement, radical, expensive immigration reform and what this means for Kansas."

Donors who kicked in at least $50 were given a "Kobach Gringo" teeshirt.

One Kansas media outlet breezily described the Kobach hatefest as a "tongue-in-cheek party."

Call 316-262-7534, or email krinker@sedgwickcountydemocrats.com to complain.

1 in 8 Chance to Get Accepted into Amherst College

Learn what it takes to get to live among the Marxists of Amherst, and be taught by them.

And would you believe the president of Amherst College is named Anthony Marx?

That's Tony in the photo.

HT: James F.

Final Four's New First Lady

Meet Maya Payne Smart, the wife of the Exciting New Kid on the Block in college basketball - Coach Shaka Smart of Virginia Commonwealth University. Maya is quite accomplished in her own right, and she's going to become a mother this year.

On Saturday, the VCU Rams will play Butler in the Final Four. The underdogs, with the 33-year-old head coach, vs. the Bulldogs, with the 34-year-old head coach.

I like that Brad Stevens, the Butler coach, is a one-of-a-kind risk taker. He quit his job in corporate America, in 2000, to become a volunteer (yes, you read that correctly) for the Bulldogs' hoops programs. He was planning to work at an Applebee's to supplement his income.

Eleven years later, Butler's administration 'is doing everything they can' to keep Coach Stevens.

As well they should.

Cheesy Update: Matt Howard by Rick Reilly. I LOVE how this man writes, and I LOVE how Matt plays.

Libya: Rand's Eloquent Dissent

Update: Senator Dr. Paul is seriously thinking about running for president.

Einstein 2.0

This appears to be the right day for 'window/animal blogging' (see below). My friend, Ana, shares that she was inspired by a 12-year-old math prodigy named Jacob Barnett who, on occasion, uses a glass window pane to calculate calculus problems. The Daily Mail reveals "that Jacob Barnett has an IQ of 170 - higher than Albert Einstein - and is now so far advanced in his Indiana university studies that professors are lining him up for a PHD research role." The DM article also says that the lad was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome as a wee child.

Look for Igor the doggie.

Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys!

The view from my kitchen window; it's nearly April, and there's still snow on the ground.

Gimme Mo'

Well, lookee here. Augustana College, which is located in Illinois and has ties to Evangelical Luthern Church of America, has invited Morris Dees, founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, to speak to the students, this week, at the college's "White Privilege Summit 2011."

A fine choice. Lawyuh Dees, of course, is an expert on the topic. How many white folks, after all, rate a 60-page spread of their fancy home in the Montgomery-Advertiser?

How many white folks run charities with a $200 million+ war chest?

How many white men have a trophy wife? (That's her in the clear coat.)

The college has also invited a 'masculinities' expert - Dr. Tracy Davis (in the photo) - to speak his mind at this summit.

This is a preview of what Dr. Davis will be addressing: "Contemporary discourses regarding men and masculinities are stagnated by an overly simplistic view of privilege and oppression, as well as 'essentialized' notions of identity. To more deeply effect change, educators need to tease out the subtle nuances of lived identities, intersections between identities, and contextual influences on the performance of identities. This session situates men's development within the socially-constructed contours of hegemonic masculinity. If men are not simply the agents of oppression (although this is one dimension), but also negatively impacted by it, men's investment in change takes on new meaning."

Uh-huh. Right, buddy. I think I'd prefer to listen to Dees yammer on about his phony hate map.

Some dare call this education.

The British Norman Rockwell (Sort of)

Artwork, by William Henry Knight, from the 1800s: English boy draws his grandpa as his doting, humble family watch.

More of Mr. Knight's work is here.

Finally: The Final Four

Efficient summary, by Andy Katz, of Butler, VCU, UConn, & Kentucky.

What a Shaka!

The Virginia Commonwealth Rams, of Richmond, are going to the Final Four, after beating and outplaying the fierce Kansas Jayhawks. How sweet it is, especially since so many of sports talking heads, like Dick Vitale (in the banner above), thought VCU shouldn't even be in the tournament! A true Cinderella team has arrived at the Big Dance, thanks, in no small part, to Shaka Smart, the 33-year-old VCU head coach.



Coach Smart with Joey "J-Rod" Rodriguez, VCU guard

Sunday Inspiraton: The Late Keith Green

Here's the lyrics to his "Prodigal Son Suite." Take a listen; it's a moving piece of music. Fiery Christian evangelist Keith, and two of his small children, died in 1982 in a small airplane crash.

Protest as Pageantry

The UK's socialist protestors complain in style.

Freeloaders by Stossel

Update: The show will re-air tomorrow, 3/27, at 9pm and midnight ET.

Last night journalist John Stossel's Fox television special, about individuals, corporations, and groups who freeload off the taxpayers, aired. The show was outstanding! A ten. The clip below is a preview to one of the taboo topics tackled. Stossel unambiguously states, "No group in America has been more helped by the government than the American Indians ... but 200 years later no group does worse. The Indians that get out of government management - they thrive in America." To that end, Stossel interviewed Ben Chavis, a Lumbee Indian who is opposed to the concept of "federal recognition." Read more about Chavis here.



In this clip, Stossel discusses his experience as a freeloader:

Cracking the BYU Code: No D

My son insisted I read this very witty take down, by Rick Reilly, of the mighty Jimmer Fredette and his 'pizza-delivery' boys.

Dissent: My husband, the compassionate conservative coach, thinks Reilly was too hard on the Jimmer.

Glenn Beck to Discuss Fed, Late This Afternoon

Mr. Beck's TV show (at 5:00 EST) will feature the author of the The Creature from Jekyll Island which is an exposé of the Federal Reserve system and also explains how the entity came into existence. Reviews of G. Edward Griffin's classic work are available at Amazon.

Review: Good effort by Glenn with complex material, but, honestly, the show was on the dry side ... Zzzz. And some of the responses, by the two guests, to the questions posed by Glenn (and the studio audience) amounted to glittering generalities.

Update: The prolific Raven Clabough liked what she saw and heard.

Apple Forbids Traditionalists

Perez Hilton takes a refreshingly libertarian stance toward the Exodus International iPhone/iPad app controversy. The EI app, which was available at Apples' iTunes store for free, permitted access to the Christian organization's videos, podcasts, and social networking tools.

Exodus International is fairly straightforward about its philsophy. The organization "upholds heterosexuality as God’s creative intent for humanity, and subsequently views homosexual expression as outside of God’s will." Since the app imbroglio, EI has taken pains to 'debunk the myths' that they promote hate speech or that they are in the business of 'curing' sexual behavior.

The Montreal Gazette quotes an Apple spokesperson, Tom Neumayr, who said, "We removed the Exodus International app from the App Store because it violated our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people." Over 146,000 supporters of gay rights signed a petition encouraging Apple to remove the app.

Chuck Colson came out swinging on this one, reminding his readers that Apple also axed the Manhattan Declaration (which supports traditionl marriage) app.

Boston Globe Reports on White Flight

Diversity backlash in liberal Massachusetts? Say it ain't so! Or, is it the high taxes, dominance of public-sector unions, family-unfriendly values, unaffordable housing, rampant secularism, crime, crowding, or all of the above?

Update: A CBS news story about the census notes that increasing numbers of young African-American families are moving to the South (from places like Chicago and Detroit) for the jobs and for the affordable housing.

Coach Donovan: Abstains (from Commenting)

What it's come to. Where's Tebow when you need him? My take on this morality play-by-play you missed it the first time.

Mystery near the Southern Border

The investigation of the murder of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz has yielded very little. The Arizona Daily Star has the latest.

Fodder for Big Education*

A fella hired to be the Kennesaw State University provost turns out to be an out-of-the-closet Marxist. The uproar (probably among the more conservative factions of Cobb County, GA where the school is located) over the disclosure resulted in Timothy Chandler (in the photo), a Brit, withdrawing "his acceptance of the position."

He would have earned $229,000 as KSU's number two educrat.

The first page of the controversial paper (25,000 words!) where Dr. Chandler reveals his fondness for Karl M. is here. El mucho gobbledygook.

The anti-capitalist references are cited here.

Kent State University where Dr. Chandler is employed is happy he won't be leaving Ohio, since the administration apparently prizes overpaid Marxists who churn out gobbledygook.

The other KSU, however, is relieved that Dr. Chandler is no longer a player.

*see post below

Big Education

Publisher Andrew Breitbart has not launched this 'big' site yet, but he has plans to do so. See the interview, below, with G. Beck, where he explains one scheme to expose the shenanigans that go on in higher ed. Wouldn't it be a blast to be editor of Big Education? I think so!

Good Week To Add An "er" To Your 1st Name

Sporting News' 2011 College Basketball Player of the Year is Jimmer Fredette, #32. He is also a finalist for the prestigious Naismith award.

C-o-n-g-r-a-t-s, young man. Mr. Fredette, of the BYU Cougars, will be on national television on Thursday playing the Florida Gators in New Orleans in the Sweet Sixteen. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Read more here.

Jimmer Nation

In Houston: No Roads Are Safe

Driving while under the influence ... without a license ... in the country illegally ... this, as we've seen over and over and over, is a recipe for tragedy.

ABC13, of Houston, reports that, "The driver accused in a deadly hit-and-run accident that killed a pregnant mother and her son appeared before a judge Thursday morning for the first time.

Police say 28-year-old Moises Alvarenga (in the photo) confessed to running away after causing the deadly crash on the Ship Channel Bridge last weekend. Alvarenga was in court today to hear the charges against him."

Fox 26 notes that, "The impact ejected both victims over the bridge. Luz Campos, 35, and her son David fell 147 feet to their deaths."

David was 12-years-old; Alvarenga is a Honduran national.

Charles Dickens: Why He's Still Hawt

Victorian-era novels aren't a passion of mine. The flowery writing, the maudlin plots - eh.

But this is a sweet essay for those old souls who remain fond of Oliver Twist, Sidney Carton, Agnes Wickfield, Timothy Cratchit, and the rest of those memorable characters that Mr. Dickens carefully concocted in that fertile imagination of his.

If you are only going to read one novel by Charles Dickens, I'd recommend Tale of Two Cities which is mostly about the French Revolution and its peasants, and which features Madame Therese Defarge, the villianess who knits and knits.

Toots Saith

If only, Ms. Barr.

Not dead, just institutionalized.

Bizarre merch.

Hillary's War

Good comments, from the right, against our involvement in Libya's civil war.

Go here and here and here.

Obama is an even bigger dolt than imagined if he is listening to the so-called senior women* of his lame administration on this unnecessary and costly foreign entanglement.

*(Hillary Clinton, Samantha Power, and Susan Rice; three gals who have no military experience and who will never drum up any concern for the victims of our border wars.)

Update: Dr. Karen Kwiatkowski, a woman of peace, tries to explain the inexplicable: "America the Beautiful is today a value-free, gender-neutral, equal opportunity warrior state, and not a thing – not a constitution, not international law, not ongoing financial collapse, not public opinion nor the moral voices and religious houses of this country – can change it."

UCLA Coed Gets Defended but Still has to Flee

FIRE joins the fray; their latest press release is about Internet sensation, vain bikini model, and political science student, Alexandra Wallace.

From their press release:

LOS ANGELES, Mar. 21, 2011 — In a victory for the First Amendment, officials at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) announced late on Friday, March 18, that UCLA had dropped its disciplinary investigation of student Alexandra Wallace's "Asians in the Library" YouTube video. Following UCLA's announcement, however, Wallace released a statement apologizing and indicating that she was leaving UCLA for "personal safety reasons," including threats against her and her family.

"We are pleased that UCLA will not attempt to punish Alexandra Wallace for her constitutionally protected speech. The cure for 'bad' speech is 'better' speech, and the outpouring of parody and criticism of Wallace's video demonstrates once again that our nation's First Amendment tradition of vigorous discourse is the best way to handle speech controversies," said FIRE President Greg Lukianoff. "However, the fact that Wallace cites fear for her safety among her reasons for leaving UCLA is deeply troubling. Serious threats of physical harm are not protected by the First Amendment, and FIRE urges UCLA and local law enforcement to continue to investigate any credible threats of violence against Alexandra Wallace in the wake of her video."

In the video, which has been viewed on YouTube more than five million times, Wallace mocks Asian students who speak in Asian languages on their cell phones in the library, including those students inquiring about the safety of loved ones following the recent disasters in Japan. Wallace also complains about Asian students whose families do chores for them. After UCLA officials announced an investigation of the video for possible charges including harassment, FIRE sent UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block a letter on Tuesday, March 15, urging him to end any investigation of Wallace's speech because the content of the video is protected by the First Amendment.

FIRE's letter reminded Chancellor Block that as a public institution, UCLA is bound by the First Amendment and cannot lawfully punish students for engaging in protected speech. FIRE noted that Wallace's speech failed to meet the legal definition of peer-on-peer hostile environment harassment announced by the Supreme Court in Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education (1999), defining actionable harassment as conduct that is "so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so undermines and detracts from the victims' educational experience, that the victim-students are effectively denied equal access to an institution's resources and opportunities."

Following FIRE's letter, UCLA School of Law Professor Eugene Volokh discussed the controversy and FIRE's view on his popular legal blog, The Volokh Conspiracy, agreeing with FIRE that Wallace's speech was protected by the First Amendment and therefore could not serve as grounds for punishment. On Friday, March 18, The New York Times editorial board also urged UCLA not to punish Wallace, quoting Professor Volokh and noting the importance of First Amendment rights on campus.

Meanwhile, many responses to Wallace's video were posted on YouTube by UCLA students and others, voicing a wide range of commentary prompted by Wallace's views.

While many students and others responded to Wallace's protected speech with speech of their own, UCLA student newspaper the Daily Bruin reported on Monday, March 14, that police were investigating threats against Wallace and were "working to ensure her safety." True threats of violence are not protected by the First Amendment. In the 2003 case of Virginia v. Black, the Supreme Court ruled that "those statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals" do not enjoy First Amendment protection.

FIRE is a nonprofit educational foundation that unites civil rights and civil liberties leaders, scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals from across the political and ideological spectrum on behalf of individual rights, due process, freedom of expression, academic freedom, and rights of conscience at our nation's colleges and universities. FIRE's efforts to preserve liberty on campuses across America can be viewed at thefire.org.

CONTACT:
Greg Lukianoff, President, FIRE: 215-717-3473; greg_lukianoff@thefire.org
Gene D. Block, Chancellor, UCLA: 310-825-2151; chancellor@ucla.edu

The Daily Bruin posted Alexandra's apology for the rant and also notes the harassment she's been enduring since she went viral. Go here, and note how the topic is still so contentious the site won't even allow comments for the article.

The Little Girl With the Little Toy Empire

Hannah Altman, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, is the cute-as-a-button 10-year-old CEO of a toy company. A legit one, also. Her parents, who quit their day jobs to help run Hannah's Cool World (which sells erasers, stickers, little dolls) and CoolZips, let her make the "strategic decisions."

In other words, Hannah has a knack for knowing what customers in the 11 thru 14 year-old age group like and will buy, and mom and dad have learned to listen to her.

To date, the enterprise has been a financial success; the family fills out around 600 orders a week!

Clowning Around While Waiting for "Superman"

Re: 'Taiwanese animation' and poking fun at U.S. education problems and the documentary by Davis Guggenheim.



H/T: Voddie where I also spotted this message, caps and all:

"FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS."

Sunday Inspiration II: Tony Dungy

The ex-Indianapolis Colts' coach, who is a born-again Christian and a true gentle man, has been mentoring Michael Vick. The pair are now doing prison ministry together.

The Great Tony D.

Sunday Inspiration: Jason Murphey

GUTHRIE - State Rep. Jason Murphey (pictured) continued his mid-March tradition of presenting a yearly donation of $8,241.92 from his legislative salary to officials from Crossroads, An Open Door For Life Choices, Inc., located in Guthrie. Crossroads provides faith-based, pro-life counseling and support services to expectant mothers.

Murphey said that Oklahoma legislators are some of the highest paid
part-time legislators in the nation, making more than double the
regional average. He is using the donation to demonstrate that
legislators in Oklahoma should not be paid so much more than other
legislators in the region and to illustrate the importance of pro-life
services such as Crossroads.

“In order to reform government, we must cut out wasteful state
government spending. I hope most would agree that it is not a good
principle to pay legislators more than double the regional average,”
said Murphey, R-Guthrie.

Crossroads is a Christian-based non-profit organization focused on
supporting the values of the sanctity of human life, pre-marital
abstinence, and marital fidelity.

The services provided included limited pregnancy related medical
services, options education, client advocacy, support for prenatal
care, parenting education, post-abortion peer counseling, and
abstinence education.

Crossroads offers abortion-vulnerable women a scan to confirm viable
pregnancies. Statistics show that 89 percent of abortion-minded women
choose life for their unborn babies after seeing them through
ultrasound and receiving truthful information about their options.

The amount donated reflects the difference in legislative pay and the
per capita pay in Oklahoma at the time Murphey was elected. During his
2006 campaign for office, Murphey pledged to continue making the
yearly pledge until legislative salaries are adjusted. Murphey
sponsors legislation to accomplish this goal during each term of the
Legislature.

--
State Representative Jason Murphey
State Capitol Building - Room #437
2300 North Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
1(405) 557-7350 (Office)
1(405) 315-5064 (Cell)
http://www.HouseDistrict31.com

TCC Note: Rep. Murphey has never taken a cent from special interest groups, and he has been 'tithing' to this pro-life organization for several years. He has a score of 100% on the OK. Conservative Index, and he is the first homeschool graduate elected to the Sooner State lege.

Familia Murphey

March Madness: BYU & BU Still Dancing!!

Headline 1: "Howard Lifts Butler Over Old Dominion."

Headline 2: "Butler stuns No. 1 Pitt after foul-filled finish."

Headline 3: "Fredette's 34 lead BYU to 89-67 win over Zags."

Right photo: Matt Howard; Left photo: Jimmer Fredette

If you don't know who these people or teams are, FIND OUT! teehee

Unbelieveable!

The Height of Corny, Small Town Living

In exactly one week, Petoskey's annual '5 on 5 Dodgeball' tournament will take place at the North Central Michigan College gym.

This annual event is a hoot and a half. Teams come up with silly names and wear equally silly garb, and all the proceeds go to aid Central American orphans.

Saturday Gripe: They Call Themselves 'Charities'

A Human Events writer reveals the exorbitant amount of government funds going to the coffers of the radical La Raza organization.

Mike Piccione also explains: "According to the 2008 tax returns seventeen people listed as officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees of the National Council of La Raza have an income ranging from $119,675 to $378,446, the latter of which goes to Janet Murguia (in the photo), president and CEO.

To put that income figure in perspective a rank and file United States Senator makes $174,000. A United States Marine Sergeant with five years of service earns a base salary of $29,376, including the raise received for 2011."

Let's hope this Congress puts an end to funding organizations, like La Raza, that work daily to undermine American sovereignty.

BTW: While they don't receive government funding, several executive directors or presidents in the immigration reform movement also command ridiculous salaries. Go here and here to see what Dan Stein and Roy Beck make. Compare those numbers to someone who is really on the front lines of the immigration issue - say, Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County,* AZ who makes less than $100,000. Huge diff.

*An elected position; Sheriff Joe has held the office since 1992.

Grant Hill: A Class Act

Duke v. Michigan: Taking on a 'Fab Five' (verbal) thug in the New York Times. Once again, Duke wins.

Friday Fun: Picking on a Forbes Blogger

Guest blog from Howling Hurricane ...

H.H. responds to this blog entry about homeschoolers and sports. It's titled, "Your Kid's Not Going Pro" by Bob Cook. Suggestion: Read B.C. first, so you will understand Howling Hurricane's response.

"As a father who homeschooled two sons, who played both public school and homeschool athletics, I am disappointed to read such a poorly reasoned and poorly written blog post by Bob Cook concerning the so-called Tim Tebow law being considered in Indiana. First, calling the people folks behind this bill 'knuckleheads' does nothing to enlighten interested readers. Second, not only do homeschoolers' property taxes go to education, but a good portion of all our other taxes do, too (as much as those who send their kids to government schools). Third, after attacking the bill and claiming it has 'practical problems,' Mr. Cook admits the bill addressed the problems. Kudos for the knuckleheads.

Mr. Cook needs to rethink this issue. Though there is only one Tim Tebow, every state should have a Tim Tebow law."

TCC Also Complains: Ol' Bob wrote his screed for Forbes. The limited liability company is far too preoccupied with billionaire watching to be concerned with what their bloggers are writing about homeschoolers. Tsk. And in addition to indulging in silly name calling, Cook also posted a gratutious photo of a Tim Tebow fan. Tsk.

Protests in Lansing

A mostly pro-public union article from the hopelessly statist AP. I hope Gov. Snyder goes 'all Gov. Walker on them.'

Not Forgetting Robert Emmet

This is a fine day to become acquainted with the Dublin-born Robert Emmet, an Irish patriot extraordinaire, an orator, and an American Revolution sympathizer, who was executed in 1803 (for treason) at the tender age of 25.

You could even argue that Emmet didn't want to be remembered.

His memorable last speech: “I have not been allowed to vindicate my character. I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world: it is the charity of its silence. Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives dare to vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them rest in obscurity and peace: my memory be left in oblivion and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.”

This was a very commmitted young man.

'Old' Lady Humor for March 17

Happy St. Patrick's Day, amigos!

'Toon h/t: Old Libertarian Tom

Belgrade, Montana: National and Local News

My latest column in the Belgrade News is about hoopster Brandon Davies, the 6-9 forward at Brigham Young University whose hormones got him benched. Go here.

In addition: My editor at the BN, Andy Malby, has written a pair of articles about medical marijuana in Montana.

Number one is about federal agents conducting aggressive raids on a small number of dispensaries in Montana. Number two is about why they targeted these particular operations. There are over 4000+ MM caregivers registered with the state.

As is the convoluted case, marijuana is illegal under federal law, but the Obama Administration has stated that it would not prosecute medical marijuana distributors who "are operating legally." To date, fifteen states have approved the use of medical marijuana.

Michigan is one of them, and, as you can imagine, law enforcement and prosecutors are no fans of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. (Yeah, they spell it with an "h" in the Mitten State.)

Of Random Facts About Super-Sized Families

- An interview, with ParentDish, with the Duggars who discuss a new grandbaby, getting up at 6 AM to exercise, and volunteer work with the local fire department. Go here. (Reader advisory: I needed a nap after reading the q&a.)

- My favorite super-sized, fun-loving family - the Dortignacs (in the photo) - have updated their website. It's about time, now that there's grandbabies and son-in-laws and an Idaho gourmet coffee company to promote. Now if only the only the 'other Michelle D.' would post pizza recipes. Whatcha say, Mrs. D?


- Now these homeschoolers - the Wissmanns - I don't know, and they don't have a reality show. But they perform in Branson and exude that wholesome, all-American quailty.

Right-Wing Politically-Correct Car Talk

Click on Clack.

Next Time They Say 'It's About the Children ... '

Remember this little speech?

The money quote is about money: "The NEA (National Education Association) and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of million of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them; the union that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees."



HT: Mrs. S.

The Sound of an Adult Writing

The Derb continues to be the Last Best Conservative at National Review Online.

A sliver of a discussion he had, with a more liberal colleague at NRO, about granting a asylum to a woman from Mexico:

I understand the generosity of spirit behind your position; but, as I have argued before on this site, generosity of spirit is a private virtue, not a governmental one.

I find, in fact, that a recurring theme in my differences with colleagues and readers is my complete opposition to the anthropomorphization of government. A government is not a person, and the qualities I admire in a person, and hope to find in my friends, and strive to cultivate in myself and my kids, are in most cases the opposite of those I desire in my government.

I want my friends to be trusting, generous, kind, and flexible. I don’t want my government to be any of those things.

I certainly don’t want my government to be trusting of Vladimir Putin, or Kim Jong Il, or Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, or people who have crossed our border illegally. I want my government to be suspicious — to assume that those it is dealing with are striving for their own advantage, without any regard to the general good of our country."

HT: PC

In the photo: John Derbyshire - "The Derb"

Update: Sound of an adult writing a letter to the editor (number 4, about illegal immigration).

SwimOutlet.Com: A Recommendation

Since I live out in the boonies (translation: far from a mall) and I like to swim laps, I e-shop at SwimOutlet.Com, a California-based company. Specfically, in their 'fitness' department.

I've purchased swimwear several times from the company and haven't been disappointed by the prices, quality, or service. SwimOutlet.Com offers the famous name brands to the lesser-known ones.

This page alone features several attractive swimsuits for under $25. Truly there's a minimal amount of "puffery" to their sales pitch.

Dance Card

Behold. The Bracket!

Bullseye!

"In praise of muckrakers," featured in the N.Y. Post, hits the mark in that it's a compelling defense of James O'Keefe's tactics and his brand of journalism. But, yes, as the author (Kyle Smith) also point out, Mr. O'Keefe now has many high-profile enemies. A bullseye on his back.

Sunday Inspiration: Lana Reed

Ms. Reed, a onetime welfare case worker in Kansas, has turned whistleblower.

The Kansas City Star notes her comments at a recent public hearing, at the State Capitol, about an AZ-style immigration bill: "Lana Reed, who worked as a bilingual specialist for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in Overland Park from 2008 to 2010, urged lawmakers to adopt the bill targeting illegal immigration. She described a system overrun by illegal immigrants who used false Social Security numbers and other fraudulent documents to game the system."

Ms. Reed also revealed that "state policies favor illegal immigrants over legal residents in determining who gets food assistance."

This was no boring hearing given that admission.

A Moratorium on Charlie Sh**N

Another frustrated American reaches a tipping point.

WWTED: What Would Thomas Edison Do?

From America's beginning, the inventor was highly regarded. Now these unsung heroes are under attack. Phyllis Schlafly explains:

"The Democratic Senate is itching to pass a bill that will mean death for innovation, which is the backbone of American economic growth. Senator Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) bill, S.23, is called patent reform, but it's not reform; it will kill innovation by litigation.

Now that the globalists have transferred millions of good American jobs to Asians willing to work for as little as 30 cents an hour with no benefits, all we have left to maintain and restore our economic well-being is our innovation superiority. The United States is the world leader in inventing useful and important products and processes, while other countries build their economies by copying our innovations.

The mainspring of our success is the American patent system, unique when the Founding Fathers put it into the U.S. Constitution even before freedom of speech and religion, and still unique today. Unfortunately, some globalists outside and even inside the United States want to reduce the American standard of living.

The core of our time-tested patent-granting system goes under the label first-to-invent, plus a one-year grace period. It is only common sense that the patent should be granted to the first person who actually invents something, and our Constitution specifically identifies 'inventors' as the owner of the property right."

Keep reading here and learn why "harmonization" signals the death of innovation.

In the photo: Inventor Thomas Alva Edison who once filed a patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights." Are you stockpiling incandescent light bulbs?

Minerva Bautista Gomez Survives Assasination Attempt

Minerva was* a high-level security official in the Mexican government. Last spring, narcoterrorists from the La Familia cartel attempted to permanently retire her. They failed, in part, thanks to the armored SUV she was riding in. "Dozens of gunmen fired more than 2,700 deafening rounds of ammunition" at the top-of-the-line vehicle. Unfortunately, four people did die in the attack: two motorists and two of Minerva's bodyguards.

The video shows what the SUV looked like after the assasination attempt; it is exhibited as a "trophy" (trofeo) by the narcoterrorists. Sick. So sick.



H/T: Mr. R.

*A retired army commander now holds the job.

Picture ... Worth ... Thousand ... Words

Going Dutch

Coffee! Part-time work! Simplicity! Fresh air! Peace of mind! No vain desperate housewives! Meaningful chillaxing and childcaring! The Dutch vibe should be the new zeitgeist.

$outhern Poverty Libel Center: Loco as Ever

First, another lively, info-packed blog entry by the intrepid Richard Keefe, a one-man slime machine buster, about our amigos at the $PLC.

Second, Heidi Beirich, mediocrely-compensated female hack for the well-to-do Montgomery boys, has written a new 'report' - a Dirty Dozen list, if you will - which features 12 state legislators. All are Republicans who support the rule of law. Scandalous! Call the Enquirer!

Some of the lawmakers responded to Heidi's 'reporting' (which, incidentally, sounds eerily similar to the material the kids at the Imagine 2050 blog churn out).

Third, Robert Stacy McCain (pictured), who operates The Other McCain, advances the 'badge of honor' argument: "Basically, if you're a conservative and you haven't been denounced by Mark Potok [$PLC spokesperson] yet, you need to stop goofing off and get to work." Winning!

Fourth, a query to James O'Keefe: Could you get your tricky hidden camera and faux donors inside the Poverty Palace?

Fri. Fun: The Old Lady and the Gun

H/T to Miz Gil for passing along this story along; click on it to read it. If true - hysterical. If not, it's still funny.

Francis of Assisi

"Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."

Dancing Bears

First March Madness Alert: For the first ever, the University of Northern Colorado is going to the Big Dance, thanks to Devon Beitzel, the team's point guard.

Devon (in the photo) has a 'blind side' type familial background. As they say, "it's complicated," but somehow it works, thanks, in part, to Devon not being bitter about the hand he was dealt. After graduation (he's a senior), Devon will be working for Ernst & Young in their Denver office. Turns out, he's also an outstanding finance student, tats and all.

A True Public Servant: Chief Scott

FYI: From Mike Franco, who is very active in western Mass. Republican circles ...


SPRINGFIELD – A Roast honoring retiring Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott is scheduled Thursday, April 7, at the MassMutual Center on Main Street, with a panel of roasters that features comedian Bill Cosby (in the photo with the Chief).

The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner begins at 6 p.m., with a cash bar. The Roast panel will also include area politicians, law enforcement officials and media members.

Scott, who has been police chief in Holyoke since 2001, is retiring in April. During his tenure, he has garnered a reputation of being a no-nonsense crime fighter and often-vocal critic of lenient jail sentences and low bails.

Ticket prices are $40 per person or $375 per table of ten (10).

The tickets are available at:

• Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, One Monarch Place, Suite 1200 , Springfield. Telephone: (413) 736-4538.

• Holyoke Police Department – 138 Appleton St., Chief’s Office. Telephone (413) 322-6901.

The tickets can be picked up in person or by sending a check made payable to “Chief Scott Retirement Roast” to either location. The tickets will be returned by mail.

The masters of ceremony are Brad Shepard, co-host of the WHYN Morning Show, and Michael A. “Bax” Baxendale, co-host of the WAQY Rock 102, the Bax & O’Brien show. The “Inquisitional Court” will include Cosby, an award winning comedian and star of “The Cosby Show” and co-star of the long-running “I Spy” television series.

Other members of the roast panel are expected to include U.S. Sen. Scott Brown; state Sen. Michael R. Knapik; former Holyoke Mayor Michael J. Sullivan; Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno; and Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette.

Also: Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni; Springfield lawyer Meghan B. Sullivan; Chicopee Police Chief John R. Ferraro, Jr.; Bo Sullivan of the WHYN Morning Show, John O’Brien of Rock 102; Jim Polito of WTAG News Talk Radio in Worcester; Barry Kriger, WWLP-TV news anchor; Ray Hershel, abc40; and Baxendale and Shepard.

Various media representatives, and friends and supporters of Chief Scott are members of the Retirement Roast Planning Committee.

The proceeds from the Roast will benefit the Valley Press Club scholarship program. The dinner menu includes chicken breast stuffed with sweet sausage apple stuffing, red bliss home-style mashed potatoes, vegetables and dessert.