New Meets Old

Putting aside my issues with the usual portrayals of "The Left" and "The Right" the footage of Barbra Boxer in this video is supremely cringe worthy. Racism Revival: How to Be A 21st Century Bigot Really ma'am? Oh sorry, senator. She worked so hard for her position so I guess I better use her title rather than the universally recognized honorific ma'am.

Back to matters of substance though. Boxer's dismissive attitude of the gentleman attempting to converse with her was appalling. I'm not not even angry about. Boxer clearly doesn't know any better. She seems to be operating on the principle that there is an "official" Black View that is handed down to the little people by "official" Black Groups like the NAACP. the dear woman seems thoroughly confused when presented with someone with a view that is different from what she thinks the official one should be. Racist? I don't know. Foolish? You betcha.

Hat tip Instapundit.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for/that:

1. We haven't had to turn the heat on yet. Although I was tempted once or twice.


2. Birthdays! (See I didn't forget.)


3. A walk in the woods, even though certain enthusiastic individuals came close to getting us lost.


4. The tantalizing beginning of autumn colour.


5. Honest and thoughtful biblical exegesis .


6. A good toe tapping song.


7. Amusing friends.

What are you thankful for?

Crying Wolf Racism

Anne Althouse commenting about former President Carter's remarks about the supposedly racist nature of objections to current President Obama's plans:

Lots of people who voted for Obama believed that his election would reflect the extent to which Americans had moved beyond racism. That was part of why some people voted for him. Little did we realize that it would turn every criticism of the President into an occasion to make an accusation of racism. Racism is revolting, but so is the notion that we aren't allowed to criticize a President!

Emphasis added.

Among the many reasons that I did not vote for Obama one was that I didn't think voting for a black man for president to prove how not racist America is was a stupid reason to cast a vote for someone. Stupid and naive. It was clear that the charge of racist was just too good a cudgel for some people to pass up. It should have been obvious that the potential existed for the situation in which we now find ourselves where any criticism of Obama is dismissed as racism. One can only be surprised by the current turn of events if one had decided to ignore all of the chatter about exactly this during the campaign.

Those who want to ignore the substance of criticisms against President Obama and his agenda in favour of crying racism best beware. That tactic is fast losing its ability to silence those who would previously have recoiled in horror at being called a racist:

All Purpose Cudgel

I would say that those who hurl the racism epithet toward critics of President Obama don’t expect the charge to make sense. Sense isn’t necessary due to the fact that the racist label has become such an effective destroyer of careers and reputations in the last thirty-five years, the accusers expect the charge to have the same power that it has had over that time period. It’s the Tar Baby of tar babies, ironically enough, and woe to the white human being who is unfortunate enough to be stuck to it.

For the sycophants of President Obama specifically, crying racism has become an easy way to avoid addressing his long-articulated leftism, his incipient fascism, his lawlessness, his mendaciousness and his general executive incompetence his studied indifference toward adhering to proven executive practices, even his own stated methods.

But what happens when the weapon is used too much? What happens when every single criticism of the first ever POTUS of African descent is chalked up to racism and the criticism is never adequately addressed or even addressed at all?

People start ignoring the epithet, begin to lose the fear of being smeared and continue to stand against an administration who seeks to change this country for the worse.

So when y'all are done hyperventilating about how racist Obama's critics are the substance of the criticism will still need to be addressed.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for/that:

1. Our family doctor. He always takes the time to chat with us about our concerns and is always patient with Bubba J's anxiety at being in the office. Last check up he let Bubba J sit in a regular chair and hold the stethoscope so he wouldn't be as scared.


2. Modern medicine.


3. Friends.


4. Patience.


5. A good home cooked meal.

What are you thankful for?

The New Magnificent Seven

The Senate dealt a blow to ACORN Monday evening, voting to deny the Department of Housing and Urban Development from granting funds to the community organization.

Sen. Mike Johanns’s (R-Neb.) amendment to the appropriations bill providing funding to the department passed in a bipartisan, 83-7 vote.

It’s the latest in a series of recent setbacks for ACORN, which has come under increasing fire from conservative activists and lawmakers. Over the last several weeks, the organization has seen employees in Florida arrested for allegedly taking part in voter registration fraud and has watched as the Census Bureau decide to sever its ties with the group.

And in an embarrassing turn of events, Acorn employees were caught on hidden camera divulging advice to actors portraying a prostitute and her pimp on how to file tax forms.

Note that ACORN employees have been caught on tape doing this FOUR times now. The makers of these apes claim to have even more.

But about those seven who voted against the amendment to deny ACORN more HUD funding. Democrats everyone and some notorious ones at that.

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

One would think that out of a desire to preserve their political lives these senators wouldn't want to be seen as being supportive of a group caught on tape giving advice that would enable illegal activity. I was surprised that while New York Sen. Schumer had the political acumen to vote for this amendment Hillary Clinton's replacement Kirsten Gillibrand voted against it. So what would possess these seven to attach themselves to ACORN's sinking ship?

Favorite Photo From The Tea Party

This is one of my fave signs from the 9/12 protest. Find it and more here.

Monday Minutes

1. Interesting how the President chose to be elsewhere as so many Americans turned up on his door step to protest his plans (or lack there of) for health care reform. Attempts to sabotage and minimize the tea party protest seem to have fallen flat.
   
   Cool time lapse of aerial photos.
   
   This quote from the first article suggests that somebody is a) not doing their job or b) lying through their teeth, "The White House on Friday claimed it was unaware of the planned rally. 'I don't know who the group is,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters with a shrug."


2. ACORN has been caught, on tape, not once, not twice, but THRICE, trying to help people posing as a prostitute and her pimp set up a brothel (for underage girls no less) and evade the law. How many tapes have they got and when is ACORN going to be raided by the feds?


3. This headline gets it a little bit wrong (from my perspective anyway), China: U.S. tire tariff sends "wrong signal" to world. Forget the world, it sends the wrong signal to Americans. My first thoughts upon hearing this were, is this what our President was up to while we were busy with somber remembrances? The decision was made in the evening on 9/11/09. My seconds thoughts were, any American who needs to buy tires just got jacked. My third thoughts were, any American businesses that have ties to tire manufacturing in China just got jacked. My fourth thoughts were, I hope it was worth it to the unions who supported this move that takes more money out of the pockets of Americans. My fifth thoughts, how does this help people who have lost their jobs?
   

   According to a Los Angeles Times report Saturday, within 15 days, the U.S. would add a duty of 35 percent in the first year, 30 percent in the second and 25 percent in the third on passenger vehicle and light-truck tires from China.
   
   Four U.S. companies have businesses in tire production in China and they account for two thirds of exports to the U.S., and the tariffs will have a direct impact on these companies, the MOC said.
   
   The increased tariffs would also raise tire prices for U.S. consumers, which would further weaken the government efforts to revitalize the auto industry. Some consumers may even consider postponing replacing old tires, creating concern for safety, according to the MOC.



4. Dude this is not how you want to get your 15 minutes of fame. Viacom is rather draconian in their pursuit of copyright infringement so who knows how long that will be good for. If you don't know by now West interrupted Taylor Swift before she could give her acceptance speech to declare that Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. Just crass.
   
   Kanye "Bush Doesn't Care About Black People" West needs to take a seat at the back of the class and write 100 times, "I will not open my big mouth and subject people to my self centered foolishness." Beyonce's classy response of foregoing an acceptance speech so Taylor could complete hers has earned her quite a bit of respect everywhere.


5. I sure wish the Pres would stop giving press conferences and speeches (he's on television as I type) and, you know, maybe write some legislation or nominate some people to fill the vacant positions in his administration or something.

Tea Party in Washington DC

Thousands Pack Downtown D.C. To Protest Spending. While the story is pretty straight forward and doesn't go in for much editorializing the comments are predictably brainless and awash with stereotyping. Here's another story about the protests. The AARP adds that popped up with it were amusing.

With thousands of American coming to his home to speak their minds the President nonetheless contrives to find himself half way across the country once again making claims that those who oppose his vision for health care insurance reform want the "status quo".

Mr. President you say you are not going to back down on health care insurance reform but you should be aware that the American people aren't going to back down either. Not after the stimulus. Not after the bailouts. Not after the government take over of private companies. Not after TARP. The "bickering" will continue in grand American fashion. Seriously, are the American people expected to just roll over and go along with your plan because you tell us to? I'm mighty tired of anecdotes and empty assurances about how good this current health care insurance reform plan is (if one could call the convoluted monstrosities currently in consideration a "plan"). I can't speak for anyone else but I would dearly love to see a detailed explanation of how the thing is supposed to work. And by detailed explanation I mean something along the lines of, "Section X of bill Y will result in outcome Z because of A, B, and C". And so on and so on until you have gained our trust.

One last thing, work to get health care reform RIGHT not RIGHT NOW.

Note to Self

My sister shared this with a friend who thankfully did not lose her life on this day eight years ago.

Psalm 91 (English Standard Version)

My Refuge and My Fortress
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Rememberance is Not Enough

I will never forget the images of policemen, firemen, and everyday people rushing through the streets toward the danger. I will never forget the dust covered survivors grimly making their way toward the danger looking for people to help knowing that they had lost many friends and colleagues. I will never forget those who flocked to New York City to bring supplies and encouragement to weary rescue workers. Even in the midst of the horror birthed in the minds of men we saw the courage, the goodness and the heroism that can be borne in our hearts. I can never, will never, look away from the images of that day from New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Through tear filled eyes I will look and remember those who died, those who sacrificed and give thanks for those who lived.



It's not enough to merely remember on this day. We must remember every day. We must teach our children to do better than the black hearts that planned that day. We must live lives worthy of the sacrifices made that day and since for our safety and freedom. The most troubling thought for me when I think of 9/11 is that we are not worthy of the sacrifice made that day and in the years since.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for/that:

1. Two lives made one.


2. Survivors.


3. Freedom.


4. Those who rush into burning buildings to save others and stand between the innocent and the terrors that are birthed in the minds of men.


5. Life.

What are you thankful for?