Suck-Session

Most of those brave and/or curious few who bother to read this tacky little blog already see the tragedy that is unfurling daily in what now has become plain sight. We - the people who appreciate our heritage, love liberty, are willing to put up with people who disagree with us, who understand the value of virtues (even if we fall a little short on them ourselves), respect God, and generally foot the bill for the thieves, parasites and malcontents among us - are under assault on every front: economically, militarily, politically, culturally, legally, socially. Here are some glimpses of the latest hijacks...er...hijinks.

The Left is in full-court press against the US Constitution, our economy, and the American people. That guy in the White House is slamming us with everything from a brownie ban to a ban on offshore drilling for US companies while China, Cuba, and other hostile nations freely poke holes off our shores, surely smirking as they drain the oil (and the future) out of our own backyard. Despite his campaign rhetoric (the only thing the Left actually does well, if not truthfully) of transparency and jobs creation, he has quietly filled every bureaucracy (and has created dozens more) with proudly socialist/progressive czars and lackeys, and has overseen fiscal malfeasance that has pushed unemployment to 9.8%.

The Lame Duck session of Congress is winding down, pushing out as much legalized corruption as possible before the clock runs out on their merry mayhem. In between defeating a ban on earmarks, trying to control the food supply and limiting the volume on TV commercials (something I could actually agree with them on if it didn't open the door to more control), in one of many measures to stifle actual debate our lawmakers dazzled their employers (us) with inane "stall talk" that has no bearing whatsoever on their official function. But then again, if they just stuck with that sort of inane floor speech instead of the destructive legislation they are so famous for, wouldn't we all be better off?

Don't bother to ask; I'll just tell you.  If the recent episode where Commander-in-Chief Obama inadvertently(?) disrespected Medal of Honor recipient SSgt. Salvatore Giunta wasn't enough of a slap at those who go into harm's way on our behalf, his directorate in the Department of Defense just chose to lower our defenses a bit further by using a new "study" that indicates more than half of the US military is in favor of open homosexuality in the ranks to push for repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Never mind that pesky little stat that says the combat 'grunts' - especially Marines-don't like the prospect of the guy next to them in the foxhole (gives it a whole new meaning, doesn't it?) trying for a little "action" of a different sort during a lull in the combat. As in most human activities, perception counts for a lot; and as expected, most of those in the military poll who supported open homosexuality are the guys and gals in the rear (no pun intended...really) with the gear.

SecDef Robert Gates and JCoS Admiral Mike Mullen did what Cabinet officials are supposed to do; they essentially told the military to suck it up (OK; that one was intentional) and follow orders blindly.

Incidentally, during an uplifting speech to the troops during his surprise visit to Afghanistan, Obama apparently forgot the Coast Guard is part of the military he commands so well. Who writes this guy's speeches, anyway?
Mine your own business.  As long as we're on the subject of national defense, how much sense does it make for the US to allow a State-controlled Russian firm to buy the mineral rights to two Wyoming uranium mines? The NRC has tentatively approved licenses for one existing and one proposed mine, which are already owned by a Canadian firm. Is there anyone else besides me that sees anything wrong with this picture? Thankfully, yes; there are a handful of congress-folks who are eyeing this situation carefully. But in light of the fact that the Russians have provided nuclear material to Iran, and Putin recently gave the US a not-so-veiled warning to "[not] interfere with the sovereign choice of the Russian people," this has troubling potential. The current permit prohibits export of nuclear fuel, but it isn't as though the Russians have ever let the rules of other nations stand in their way.

Art crass.  The vaunted Smithsonian Institution has since its creation been sort of a protector of American history, heritage, accomplishment and culture. Alas, it has also been co-opted by the Left in an attempt to hide, minimize, and marginalize Americans and give them the impression that, rather being than the greatest nation in history, America is only a thugocracy (true, at least whenever Democrats have been in charge) that rapes the rest of the world and keeps them in perpetual misery. The latest attack was via an "art" exhibit that sensationalizes sexuality - not the normal kind, of course. As though to insure it offended the most people, part of the exhibit was a video that depicts a crucifix covered with blood and ants. I have no idea what the connection to the theme was supposed to be, but the righteous outrage (did I mention it was presented over the Christmas holidays?) of a couple of sensible congressmen finally convinced the amoral cretin in charge - with not-so-veiled threats to "look" at their funding - to pull that particularly egregious part of a totally degenerate exhibit, thereby proving that even a total ass can do the right thing, at least under duress.

'Net results.  Despite opposition from Congress and the lack of any specific power in its charter, FCC Chairman Julius (Caesar) Genachowski has grasped at power not rightfully his by firing the opening shot against those in the blogosphere who oppose the "higher powers" with the execution (?) of Net Neutrality, a lame excess to impose new rules on internet providers - and therefore, on internet users.

Healthy skepticism

Glenn Beck is proving yet again how well he thinks "outside the box." OK; you may not agree with him (or, as most people do, hate him with white-hot passion), but if you actually listen to what he says, in context rather than the soundbites provided by his disdainers, he actually makes a fair amount of sense. Of course, most of his suggestions turn people off because they are so outside their personal experience or preferences, but that doesn't necessarily make him wrong. This week, he attacks the federal budget, hacking away at things no one else is suggesting. If nothing else, he's fun to listen to. But he's also not quite the loose cannon he's often portrayed as. Consider his discussions regarding the Department of Education and the Department of Defense.

America doesn't have a prayer.  Another activist federal judge has taken it upon herself to further separate America from its heritage. US District Judge Barbara Crabb has decided in favor of the Freedom from Religion Foundation by striking down the National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional.  The National Day of Prayer, first signed in 1952 by then-President Dwight Eisenhower, has been endorsed by every American president - so far.  In an age where most Americans are no longer taught American history, and law schools no longer teach the United States Constitution as the law of the land (unless it is convenient to their agenda), it's probably no surprise that this judge appears ignorant of the actual content of that inconvenient little thing we like to call the First Amendment. It states, in part, that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or abridging the free exercise thereof." Funny how that latter part seems so often forgotten.

If this were taught in the context in which it was written, there would remain an understanding that, (1) it only bars the US Congress - not the states, nor municipalities, nor presidential directives - from passing laws either favoring or inhibiting religion.  Any religion. While that will disappoint or infuriate some (for example: allowing "free exercise" for satanists is abhorrent to Christians such as myself), it goes to the essence of liberty, which implies equal standing before the law as long as no one is transgressing against another.  (2) "...an establishment of religion" was an inferred injunction against preferential treatment of a particular sect or denomination, not a de facto prohibition against any. (3) It declares freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, as the name of the plaintiff clearly states. Simply put, the judge had no authority to strike down this presidential Executive Order, at least no on the basis of the First Amendment.

Selling their souls.  Do you ever read those ponderous terms and conditions statements before clicking "I agree" to download a computer program?  More than 7,500 people did not when they bought a game from a British company, only to later learn that they had inadvertently signed away their "immortal soul."  In all fairness, the company, Game Station, did it on April Fool's Day, and claim they did it to prove that most folks never read what they're signing. Or, that's what they'd like you to believe. You can see for yourself by looking way down in the "Orders for Sales & Purchases" section.  'Till death do us part?

Here's to your health.  It didn't take very long for the horror stories about the impending failure of Obamacare began to trickle in. One of the early entries is the story of Diana Smith, a young single mom cancer patient in Florida who has gone through six months of painful chemotherapy in preparation for a transplant. Then she made the mistake of responding to an unsolicited offer for her three-year-old son to receive Social Security disability payments.

As you might expect, Diana took the bait and signed her son up for the assistance. Less than a month later she was told that the benefits put her over the new government threshold for the Medicaid universal medical coverage policy, thereby making her ineligible for insurance. The hospital where she was receiving her care then considered the liability risk too high, and refused to help her finish her treatment or provide the transplant. Although she was willing to cancel her son's coverage, the SSA told her it was too late. According to CBS4 in Ft. Lauderdale, "She's gone through six months worth of radiation and chemo, her body can't take any more. If they don't allow her to have this transplant coming up right now next week, they're in effect signing her death warrant," said her friend Tom Noonan. Sounds almost like a 'death panel', doesn't it?

But wait; there's more! Almost as soon as this story hit the airwaves the government stepped in to save the day and forstall the bad publicity. Amazing coincidence, huh?  Will the government respond as well to all the other horror stories that may emerge? Time will tell.

How'd that happen?  There is an unexpected silver lining to the passage of the healthcare bill, though, of a sort. It turns out that Congress may have voted away their own high-end health insurance. Apparently those who voted for the healthcare bill didn't read...er...realize that, according to the Congressional Research Service, "the law may remove members of Congress and Congressional staff from their current coverage in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program before any alternatives are available."  Even the New York Times finally seems to be catching on to what has been foisted onto the American public, asking the question that should have been on the front page from the getgo: If they did not know exactly what they were doing to themselves, did the lawmakers who passed the bill fully grasp the details of how it would influence the lives of other Americans? The choices are either "obviously not," or "yes, but it didn't matter."

The worm within.  Andrew Breitbart has broken some important stories over the past year or so. He recently learned that a group of wannabe saboteurs was planning to disrupt and discredit the Tea Parties by infiltrating their rallies and trying to artificially induce some politically embarrassing moments. The plan was to use tactics that might "exaggerate the group's least appealing qualities, [and] further distance the tea party from mainstream America and damage the public's opinion of them," according to chief malcontent Jason Levin. A middle-school teacher from Oregon, Levin has been suspended while the school district investigates his radical, disruptive political behavior. Even the liberal locals think he crossed the line, and that with his apparently dim view of the First Amendment rights of other Americans, he may not be the best role model for young people.  Ya think?

Of course, by announcing his proposed tactics ahead of time, this malcontent actually provided a built-in excuse; in the event that some Tea Partiers did go rogue, they already had an alibi. Any untoward activity could simply be attributed to Levin and his 'hobby' disrupters. Way to go, boys!

Favorites reflect no favoritism.  In a decision sure to short-circuit Demoncrat accusations that the Tea Parties are nothing more than Republican flacks, the Tea Party Express surprised many with its endorsements of several political incumbents and candidates, including one Democrat, Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho. I believe this may be the surest sign that the Tea Parties are on the right track; supporting principles over personalities.