I have to admit that I rather uncharitably chortled when I read the latest developments in the Blagojevich sitcom a few hours ago.
For those of you who have been catching up on your movie watching or getting your pork 'n' sauerkraut in the crock for tomorrow night, Blagojevich has appointed a former Illinois Attorney General, Roland Burris, to fill the seat vacated when Barack Obama was elected President and subsequently resigned from the Senate. Blagojevich has proceeded with this maneuver even though every single Democratic Senator has emphatically declared they will not seat whomever Blagojevich appoints.
BUT WAIT....there's more! Burris is African-American. Consequently, Blagojevich is questioning HOW ON EARTH the Democrats in the Senate can refuse to seat a black replacement for the first elected black President.
It only gets better (hee hee hee). Longtime Chicago-area Congressman Bobby Rush, also black, has waded into the fray to assert that the Senate had better not refuse to seat Roland Burris just because it is Blagojevich who has appointed him, a theme that, hilariously enough, Blagojevich also echoes. Forthwith, the embattled Governor's own words: "Please don't allow the allegations against me to taint a good and honest man...This is about Roland Burris as a U.S. senator, not about the governor who made the appointment."
This is one of those beautiful situations when political correctness has come back to bite its chief appropriators in the rear. They cannot win whichever way they turn. And Blagojevich, dirty rotten scoundrel that he admittedly is, knows it. What can you do but guffaw at the ludicrousness of it all?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Grover Norquist lets his voice be heard
This is Grover Norquist's letter to President Bush regarding any and all government bailouts. Norquist is the chairman of Americans for Tax Reform.
It will literally only take you a few seconds to read it. Enjoy; it made me smile.
It will literally only take you a few seconds to read it. Enjoy; it made me smile.
Of bailouts and such
I have been reading what was certainly William F. Buckley, Jr.'s last book, as opposed to another compilation of his essays, which his son Chris implies, in the Foreword, may be forthcoming. Regardless, Buckley was working on this book when he passed away last February. It is called The Reagan I Knew and contains many interesting anecdotes arranged mostly in chronological order from the beginning of their friendship until Reagan retired from public view.
I knew that Buckley and Reagan were on good terms, but didn't realize they were truly close friends. In any event, reexamining Reagan once again has brought several thoughts to the forefront. It is uncanny how we tend to think the times in which we are living are unprecedented when the sentiments of King Solomon are much more pertinent: "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV).
In Pat Buchanan's latest piece, he argues (or at least strongly implies) that Reagan would have supported a bailout of the Big 3 automakers since he failed to let Harley Davidson go under when it was in danger of closing its doors due to intense competition from Japanese cycle makers.
Buchanan, much as I love him, comes close to very skillful sophistry here. For what Reagan did was to slap a tariff on all foreign imports of steel and impose quotas on imports of Japanese autos. He did NOT bail out an industry that was swamped in union rules that failed to permit it to do what was necessary to remain solvent. And therein lies a very crucial difference, which I am sure Buchanan must know deep in his heart, having worked closely with Reagan, as his Communications Director, no less.
I don't know a soul that doesn't feel for the workers in these companies. But the unions are sucking the life and the finances out of the Big 3, and showing no signs of cessation of such activities, even in the face of catastrophe.
I am pro-tariff. Fight fire with fire; that is OK by me. I am a fair trader and not a free one. If other countries are going to shore up their own industries by tacking on tariffs, we need to do the same for our own workers. It is time that we put people in power who looked out for the interests of American workers first, rather than ceding our sovereignty to a global elite. But a bailout of the Big 3 will only delay the inevitable, and Buchanan is the only serious voice I know that is arguing that it is what should be done. George Will, Thomas Sowell, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney...the list of conservative naysayers to a bailout is endless.
Yet, in the end, it will happen. George W. Bush, in a move that elicited rare praise from Buchanan, has "abandoned free market principles to save the free market" (in the process, leaving us with a final phrase with which to memorialize his Presidency and what it has represented). He uttered this sentiment in defense of a bailout for the Big 3, which Obama also supports.
Buchanan's argument is that if bailouts are going to be offered, how can one logically deny GM, Ford and Chrysler their share of the pot while agreeing to the rescue of Lehman Brothers and other Wall Street entities? I suppose it is the best line of reasoning that can be presented, but what about the ancient axiom that "Two wrongs don't make a right?" Indeed, Buchanan, as the stout conservative that he is, does not support government bailouts in principle, yet is advocating for this one. Puzzling, yet somewhat understandable, but ultimately wrongheaded.
It is all quite surreal. This last year has provided so many classic textbook cases (and if there is any justice in the writing of history, these WILL be business case studies in good universities) of government run amok. In Dave Keene's most recent ACU fundraising letter, he spelled out in no uncertain terms how Republicans have fallen asleep at the switch and all too often colluded with their Democrat counterparts to spend like there is no tomorrow. In Keene's words, this has to change.
How right he is! And there are signs that it may be happening. More on that later.
I knew that Buckley and Reagan were on good terms, but didn't realize they were truly close friends. In any event, reexamining Reagan once again has brought several thoughts to the forefront. It is uncanny how we tend to think the times in which we are living are unprecedented when the sentiments of King Solomon are much more pertinent: "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV).
In Pat Buchanan's latest piece, he argues (or at least strongly implies) that Reagan would have supported a bailout of the Big 3 automakers since he failed to let Harley Davidson go under when it was in danger of closing its doors due to intense competition from Japanese cycle makers.
Buchanan, much as I love him, comes close to very skillful sophistry here. For what Reagan did was to slap a tariff on all foreign imports of steel and impose quotas on imports of Japanese autos. He did NOT bail out an industry that was swamped in union rules that failed to permit it to do what was necessary to remain solvent. And therein lies a very crucial difference, which I am sure Buchanan must know deep in his heart, having worked closely with Reagan, as his Communications Director, no less.
I don't know a soul that doesn't feel for the workers in these companies. But the unions are sucking the life and the finances out of the Big 3, and showing no signs of cessation of such activities, even in the face of catastrophe.
I am pro-tariff. Fight fire with fire; that is OK by me. I am a fair trader and not a free one. If other countries are going to shore up their own industries by tacking on tariffs, we need to do the same for our own workers. It is time that we put people in power who looked out for the interests of American workers first, rather than ceding our sovereignty to a global elite. But a bailout of the Big 3 will only delay the inevitable, and Buchanan is the only serious voice I know that is arguing that it is what should be done. George Will, Thomas Sowell, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney...the list of conservative naysayers to a bailout is endless.
Yet, in the end, it will happen. George W. Bush, in a move that elicited rare praise from Buchanan, has "abandoned free market principles to save the free market" (in the process, leaving us with a final phrase with which to memorialize his Presidency and what it has represented). He uttered this sentiment in defense of a bailout for the Big 3, which Obama also supports.
Buchanan's argument is that if bailouts are going to be offered, how can one logically deny GM, Ford and Chrysler their share of the pot while agreeing to the rescue of Lehman Brothers and other Wall Street entities? I suppose it is the best line of reasoning that can be presented, but what about the ancient axiom that "Two wrongs don't make a right?" Indeed, Buchanan, as the stout conservative that he is, does not support government bailouts in principle, yet is advocating for this one. Puzzling, yet somewhat understandable, but ultimately wrongheaded.
It is all quite surreal. This last year has provided so many classic textbook cases (and if there is any justice in the writing of history, these WILL be business case studies in good universities) of government run amok. In Dave Keene's most recent ACU fundraising letter, he spelled out in no uncertain terms how Republicans have fallen asleep at the switch and all too often colluded with their Democrat counterparts to spend like there is no tomorrow. In Keene's words, this has to change.
How right he is! And there are signs that it may be happening. More on that later.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas music
Like everyone else, I will not be disappointed tomorrow when all the radio stations revert to their normally scheduled programming and we hear the latest from (fill in the blank with the coolest pop singer with whom I no longer can keep up!) piping through the Wal-mart sound system, rather than "Feliz Navidad" or Brenda Lee singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
But I have to take strong exception with all of the modern-day musical Scrooges who continuously dump on Christmas music and opine on how "boring" or "commercialized" or "spent" or "noninnovative" it is. One blogger that I follow posts something every year about this subject.
I have never had a Christmas season where I have felt the real Reason for it all was more meaningful than it has been to me this year. One Christmas song that I have always liked has become a Top 5 favorite for me this season because of the picture it paints of what it meant for Jesus to leave the splendor of Heaven and come to be born into a world full of strife, political intrigue, suspicion, conspiracy and all other forms of SIN.
The song is called "Welcome to our World"; it was written by CCM singer/songwriter Chris Rice. Here is the verse that profoundly moves me every time:
Fragile finger sent to heal us,
Tender brow prepared for thorn,
Tiny heart whose blood will save us!
Unto us is born!
So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod,
Rob our sin and make us holy,
Perfect Son of God!
Welcome to our world!
Having seen both disability and death up close this year, I am amazed that Jesus felt it was worth it to come into this world. I do not understand it. But I am so glad that He did!
On Christmas Day, I open my heart once again to receive His warm and healing presence into my life. I hope and pray you do the same.
Joy to the world; the Lord is come!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
But I have to take strong exception with all of the modern-day musical Scrooges who continuously dump on Christmas music and opine on how "boring" or "commercialized" or "spent" or "noninnovative" it is. One blogger that I follow posts something every year about this subject.
I have never had a Christmas season where I have felt the real Reason for it all was more meaningful than it has been to me this year. One Christmas song that I have always liked has become a Top 5 favorite for me this season because of the picture it paints of what it meant for Jesus to leave the splendor of Heaven and come to be born into a world full of strife, political intrigue, suspicion, conspiracy and all other forms of SIN.
The song is called "Welcome to our World"; it was written by CCM singer/songwriter Chris Rice. Here is the verse that profoundly moves me every time:
Fragile finger sent to heal us,
Tender brow prepared for thorn,
Tiny heart whose blood will save us!
Unto us is born!
So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod,
Rob our sin and make us holy,
Perfect Son of God!
Welcome to our world!
Having seen both disability and death up close this year, I am amazed that Jesus felt it was worth it to come into this world. I do not understand it. But I am so glad that He did!
On Christmas Day, I open my heart once again to receive His warm and healing presence into my life. I hope and pray you do the same.
Joy to the world; the Lord is come!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Blagojevich debacle
Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction.
Have you ever seen anything like this story??? I don't think anyone except the most reckless potboiler-type author would try to concoct something like this, let alone attempt to publish it. It is, indeed, quite the visual effect to see the side-by-side clips of Blagojevich's Monday denial of any wrongdoing, inviting anyone who may feel the need to wiretap or tape him to do so...and then the followup clip of him being led away in handcuffs on Tuesday morning. Incredible.
And the profanely disrespectful references to Obama, accompanied by the overt discussions about bargaining for the Senate seat? How arrogant was/is this man? How could Illinois' voters put this man in the Governor's mansion for two terms, especially when the previous Governor, George Ryan (a Republican), was sitting in a jail cell himself by 2004? The whole thing defies belief. Yet, Blagojevich left his jail cell and went back to work today!!!
Can't the legislature call an emergency session if they have to and vote to expel him? I would probably have to look painstakingly at the state constitution for a while to deduce what the process is for this, but would it really take that long to rally whoever needs to come together to pull this off? The evidence is irrefutable....there seem to be hours' worth of conversations that document blatant fraud and corruption on an unprecedented level.
Count me in among the camp that is withholding judgment on Obama until we see more of the facts. Obama can't be faulted for everything that comes out of Illinois. After all, let us not forget that even the hometown of Jesus came under scrutiny, though for different reasons! (See John 1:46.)
Have you ever seen anything like this story??? I don't think anyone except the most reckless potboiler-type author would try to concoct something like this, let alone attempt to publish it. It is, indeed, quite the visual effect to see the side-by-side clips of Blagojevich's Monday denial of any wrongdoing, inviting anyone who may feel the need to wiretap or tape him to do so...and then the followup clip of him being led away in handcuffs on Tuesday morning. Incredible.
And the profanely disrespectful references to Obama, accompanied by the overt discussions about bargaining for the Senate seat? How arrogant was/is this man? How could Illinois' voters put this man in the Governor's mansion for two terms, especially when the previous Governor, George Ryan (a Republican), was sitting in a jail cell himself by 2004? The whole thing defies belief. Yet, Blagojevich left his jail cell and went back to work today!!!
Can't the legislature call an emergency session if they have to and vote to expel him? I would probably have to look painstakingly at the state constitution for a while to deduce what the process is for this, but would it really take that long to rally whoever needs to come together to pull this off? The evidence is irrefutable....there seem to be hours' worth of conversations that document blatant fraud and corruption on an unprecedented level.
Count me in among the camp that is withholding judgment on Obama until we see more of the facts. Obama can't be faulted for everything that comes out of Illinois. After all, let us not forget that even the hometown of Jesus came under scrutiny, though for different reasons! (See John 1:46.)
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