News Archive

Instapundit cites a New York Times article on a serious allegation against congresscritter Charlie Rangel.

I note that Rangel's party affiliation isn't directly mentioned in the NYT article, though there's a passing reference to "fellow Democrats" in the sixth paragraph.

Sure, sure, those of us "in the know," politically, are well aware of Rangel's party affiliation, but when a majority or those polled after the November election believed, contrary to fact, that Republicans controlled Congress, I think it's reasonable to believe that a similar majority isn't going to know upon which side of the aisle Rangel sits.

A few things about the Blagojevich matter crossed my mind while I was doing my household chores this afternoon.

Does this face say anything to you other than "mobbed-up scumbag"?

I say that, of course, with no intention of insulting actual bags full of scum*, what with them working hard every day serving the useful purpose to society of containing scum for easy disposal.

Which, incidentally, is an apt description of the place where Blagojevich will be spending the next 20-years-to-life.

The soon-to-be-ex-Governor was in the news yesterday, trying to strong-arm Bank of America (which today gave in, somewhat.) This seems to me to be a small example of what got the economy into the mess it's in: Big Government mandating to businesses that they behave in ways that do not make good business sense, pretty much forcing the business to lose (or give away) money.

See also: CRA.

This is the political culture into which Barack Obama deliberately insinuated himself.

This is not a good thing to happen to a President-elect.

At least with Bill Clinton, we waited a few years before any of his cronies were imprisoned.

Illinois, Illinois, Illinois... we're going to have to revoke your statehood if you can't come up with anything better than this.

I think the last truly Great And Good Thing to happen in Illinois was the Great Hippie Beat-Down of 1968...

... although, Mayor Jane Byrne^† was somewhat entertaining, for those of us who lived near Chicago in the early '80s. Cabrini Green!

... and I did date a wonderful girl while I was in college there.

OK, that wasn't so good for the country as a whole. But it was pretty good for me, while it lasted.

*sigh*

* Yes, I know. Dennis Miller. I don't think he'd mind me borrowing that turn of phrase.

^† With whom I happen to share a birthday.

A corrupt politician? In Illinois?

Illinois?

Say it isn't so.

I think I need a "Snark" category.

The first thing I did when I woke up today was listen to a voicemail left by an old roommate from college and early career days, who was concerned about the fire in Santa Barbara, and was asking about my mom.

I called my mom for an update on the fire situation. Apparently, the winds took the fire away from her house; it didn't get within a mile.

My brother's home was a bit closer. As I understand it, the fire was within a few hundred yards, but my sister-in-law drove by the house this morning, and there's no damage there. I heard on the radio last night that the fire department had staged a bunch of equipment on their street.

My sister-in-law (with my niece and nephew) relocated to her mother's house; my brother is in Michigan on a business trip. He must be freaking out.

If you see a story on the news about the fire, you will hear references to celebrities and "multi-million dollar homes." Sure, there are some of those, but I don't quite think my brother's place would count. There are plenty of folks of more modest circumstance who are losing their homes in this catastrophe.

The important thing, though, is that (as far as I know) no one has been killed, and very few people have been hurt.

Just found out there's a fire in Santa Barbara that is forcing my Mom, sister, and brother all to evacuate their homes. I just called my sister — she couldn't talk, they're busy packing what they can as fast as they can.

Westmont College, roughly midway between my Mom's and my brother's houses, has been evacuated, as well.

Winds up to 70 MPH have been reported.

This bodes not well. Prayer, if you're so inclined, would be most welcome.

0500 EST update: 1500+ acres, 70+ homes destroyed. My brother's house is near one of the hot spots.

I've been listening live via the net to radio station KTYD. Better coverage than TV has provided so far.

A "Joe" moment at a McCain rally:

"I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the U.S.A."

McCain-supporting construction worker Tito Munoz, as reported by Byron York at National Review Online. Great article — read the whole thing.

CNN clearly isn't keeping a tight enough leash on all its staff. I'm not sure how they let this slip through the cracks and onto the airwaves:

Whoa.

Any bets on if/when CNN willl try to have it yanked?

Via Flopping Aces.

The Anchoress: Why He’s Voting for McCain/Palin

Patterico: L.A. Times Distorts the Record on Responsibility for the Mortgage Crisis

Ed Morrissey, Hot Air: Israelis dispute pro-Obama video, plus (and it's about time) McCain blasts Obama, Democrats for Fannie Mae meltdown

Protein Wisdom: Obama and the Attempt to Destroy the Second Amendment

Cold Fury: Ayers America

IMAO: In My World: Guilt by Association

And some not-overtly-political stuff. . .

Castle Argghhh!: Like fingers of a hand: Four Soldiers, Sailor secure safe passage in Afghanistan

Hog on Ice: Finally, a Movie Where You're not the Villain

Lifehacker: DIY Skills You Know (and Don't)

Wizbang: The Knucklehead of the Day award

We already know the media are in the tank for Obama. Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit:

A READER AT A MAJOR NEWSROOM EMAILS: "Off the record, every suspicion you have about MSM being in the tank for O is true. We have a team of 4 people going thru dumpsters in Alaska and 4 in arizona. Not a single one looking into Acorn, Ayers or Freddiemae. Editor refuses to publish anything that would jeopardize election for O, and betting you dollars to donuts same is true at NYT, others. People cheer when CNN or NBC run another Palin-mocking but raising any reasonable inquiry into obama is derided or flat out ignored. The fix is in, and its working." I asked permission to reprint without attribution and it was granted.

The abrogation of their responsibilities by the fourth estate does more than shock the sensibilities, it shatters any pretense they may have towards objectivity or even credibility.

Think back with me a few years. On the eve of the 2000 election, Fox News — the allegedly right-wing Fox News — broke the story of candidate Bush's 1976 DUI.

Would CNN or any of the broadcast networks do the same if Obama's transgressions were the story?

The answer is obviously a resounding "no."

On the plus side, that obviousness does lead those who are interested enough in the political news process to apply the appropriate skepticism. I stopped trusting most journalism a long time ago.

On the down side, most people aren't interested enough, and swallow whatever they're fed, even poison, if it comes with a spoonful of sugar.

(Via the Anchoress.)

The title of this post comes from a Tom Clancy novel, I think it was Clear and Present Danger. (I wish I knew where my copy was — I have all the Jack Ryan novels in hardback... somewhere.) The son of a spec-ops sergeant has an unwanted encounter with a journalist, and pointedly refuses to believe that said reporter will do what he promises he will do. That has stuck with me like very few passages from novels have.

I just wish I was sure which book it was. I guess now I have to re-read them all.

I'm not an idiot, but neither am I an economist. So I talked with my brother (the finance executive) today and we chatted about the current news from Wall Street and Washington.

I still don't understand it all, but I have a better idea about what's going on.

I sent him the link to this video:

(Video via Ace.)

It makes sense to me, but I'm more interested in what my brother the banker has to say about it.

Who needs the kamikaze media anymore? I mean, other than those on the Left who enjoy hitting the talk show and cocktail circuit, being fawned over, sucked up to, and adored.

The new media of the Internet seems to be doing a pretty good job of reportage and analysis — one need only recall this to be reminded of the power of the web.

The latest effort from one of my favorite sites, The Jawa Report, is the kind of reporting that the media can no longer be relied upon to perform — especially when Democrats are involved.

To wit: Hope, Change, & Lies: Orchestrated "Grassroots" Smear Campaigns & the People that Run Them.

Devastating.

The above, which explores a smear of Sarah Palin — likely orchestrated by players in the Obama campaign — is a long, thoughtful, tech-savvy and well-researched investigative piece the likes of which you won't find in the press. Even when the target is a conservative, the press doesn't do things this thoroughly.

Kudos to Rusty Shackleford for his fine work. Maybe someone will sit up and take notice. Someone like, perhaps, the FEC.

FLAMING SKULL UPDATE [with the obligatory language alert] : Devastating, indeed. Ace notes that the videos in question have already been pulled from YouTube, minutes after Rusty's post. Good thing copies were made.

I see that the main YouTube account in question has been closed, too. The guilty flee....

I think we can stop using the terms "mainstream media" or "legacy media."

Faced with a loss of market share and influence, and the increasing influence of new online media, members of the Obama Press Corps are flinging themselves suicidally against Sarah Palin in an effort to sink the GOP campaign, and ruining the one thing that ought to be most precious to anyone in journalism: their own credibility.

They are now the kamikaze media.

For numerous examples, see the Anchoress' Running Sarah Palin Thread of Hate & Doooom, and see one type of backlash, from Michelle Malkin.

It is being reported that congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-OH, passed away today after suffering an aneurysm. I was no fan of her politics, but I can't think of any scandal associated with her name.

Young or old, rich or poor, famous or anonymous, ready or not: any one can go at any time. Be ready.

Condolences to the congresswoman's family and friends.

Update: doctors now say that she is still on life support, in critical condition.

Update 2: just (7:55pm) heard she's gone. Dunno why the reportorial confusion.

I know, it's late, but I finished work late, just had dinner, and now I've got the itch.

Via Instapundit, a bit on the U.S.News & World Report website:

One Nation, Under a New Obama Salute

George Bush had his three-fingered W salute that supporters flashed when greeting him at presidential campaign events in 2000. And now, if a Los Angeles creative agency gets its way, Sen. Barack Obama will see fans meet him with his own salute like the one above.

"Our goal is to see a crowd of 75,000 people at Obama's nomination speech holding their hands above their heads, fingers laced together in support of a new direction for this country, a renewed hope, and acceptance of responsibility for our future," says Rick Husong, owner of The Loyalty Inc.

I can tell you one thing that goes in a circle, millions of times daily. Accompanied by a flushing sound.

On the plus side, as long as people are making that symbol, you know their fingers aren't in your wallet.

Husong tells me that he got the idea after seeing the famous Obama-Progress poster by artist Shepherd Fairey.

OK, OK, the one that did come from a socialist agit-prop specialist.

I swear, the more I see of Obama the more I think he should have bypassed Berlin, saved a few steps and a lot of time, and given that "citizen of the world" speech at Nuremberg.

Coming soon: natty little armbands with the Obama logo.

Update: Michelle has more ideas for appropriate symbolism. And she beat me to the story, too. Dang.

Another Sunday, another lunatic shooting up a church.

OK, it's not that common an occurrence... but nevertheless awful for those affected, particularly the family of the man who died.

I can't help but think that the derogation of religion by influential people in the realms of media and entertainment has contributed to this. You never used to see this sort of thing happening, but given the disdain and disparagement shown towards those of a religious bent (Christians, specifically — mysticism and Eastern religions are "cool," and few dare to speak ill of Islam) it is unsurprising to me that a few folks with loose screws might be convinced that a church is the appropriate target for their hatred.

7/28 update: it looks like his motives were either that he hated Christians or that he hated liberals. There's stronger evidence — a letter he wrote — for the latter.

However, I am not at all sure, contra Professor Reynolds, how that "makes more sense."

Not to knock those in the midst of their tragedy, but I have a question: in what meaningful sense is this place a church?

If, when I was a kid, our church youth had put on a production of "Annie" on a Sunday morning, my parents would both have had strokes on the spot — and we would have been looking for a new church before the paramedics arrived.

I guess Bible stories in Sunday School are pretty passé these days, at least among Universalist Unitarians, when Broadway show tunes are available to study.

Damn. Just damn.

Among his other accomplishments, he was a terrific writer, one of the best. My favorite Snow-ism, from a commencement address he gave:

Wherever you are and whatever you do, never forget at this moment, and every moment forward, you have a precious blessing. You've got the breath of life. No matter how lousy things may seem, you've got the breath of life. And while God doesn't promise tomorrow, he does promise eternity.

The big news, on most channels at some point or another today: Supreme Court affirms 2nd Amendment protects an individual right.

Not going to make the news: four US Supreme Court justices are functionally illiterate.

Tim Russert dies of heart attack

That sucks.

On the whole, I'm no fan of journalists, but I liked Tim Russert. He seemed like a really decent and serious guy.

Much more here.

Also sucking: this leaves poltroons like Keith Olbermann as leaders in the (MS)NBC stable.

I heard on the news today that Senator Kennedy had gone under the knife for the recently diagnosed tumor. Best of luck to him with that. I don't like his politics at all, but in this I can do naught but wish him well.

Of course, he's not going to need too much luck. He had the best neurosurgeon in the world.

I should know. He was my neurosurgeon, too.

Via Instapundit: Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter Captures Images of Phoenix Lander's Descent. Follow the link, and check out that photo.

Way, way cool.

But as I was looking at the full-sized photo, I noticed something else the MRO had caught in the frame. If you look very closely at about the two o'clock position near the center of the crater, you'll be as stunned as I was. You should be able to just make out my startling discovery below the fold.

Ted Kennedy Diagnosed With Brain Tumor.

As much as I oppose pretty much every thing he stands for, I can't help but wish him and his family well in this time of trouble. This goes way beyond politics.

I know it entirely too well from my own recent experience: brain problems purely suck.

Another one from Hot Air (the headlines, this time):

Six-Year-Old to Have Half Her Brain Removed Next Month Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A 6-year-old girl suffering from a rare disorder will have half her brain removed next month at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.

. . .

She suffers from Rasmussen's encephalitis, a rare illness that eats away at the brain and plagues its sufferers with seizures and reduced mobility.

Having been in the reduced-mobility camp, I can sympathize. In my own case I was prepared, a year ago, for any number of possible diagnoses, but I never imagined anything as horrible as this.

In most cases, he said, the healthy side of the brain will take over the tasks of the missing side of the brain. Some paralysis and other side effects are expected, but the seizures will stop, the Web site reported. Johns Hopkins does about a dozen of these surgeries a year. [Emphasis mine.]

I guess now we know why we only use that often-cited 15% of our brain. "Fearfully and wonderfully made," indeed.

It is California, after all.

In other decisions released today, the California Supreme Court has ruled that π (pi) is equal to exactly 3.00, and that God (a.k.a. "Jehovah") can be sued by European Americans for damages suffered by their ancestors during the Black Death plague of the 14th century.

While covering the news last night on FNC's Red Eye (you are DVRing it nightly, are you not?) Fox Business Network reporter Tracy Byrnes defended cheerleading as a "sport."

Utter nonsense.

Cheerleading, Ice Dancing, and Synchronized Swimming may all be competitive endeavours requiring athletic ability, but they aren't sports.

Here are two simple rules of thumb by which you can tell if the activity in which you are engaged is a sport, when victory is determined by your score:

• If a score is awarded based on judges' arbitrary opinion of the quality of your performance, it's not a sport.
• If the score is determined solely by the completion of a specific task, it is a sport.

Discuss.

Next time someone here in the U.S. says an election was "stolen" (and you know there are people who will never give up on that belief) you can point them to this example of what a stolen election really looks like.

Film legend and past NRA president Charlton Heston has died.

Though he was best known for his iconic roles in such films as Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments and Planet of the Apes, the lesser-known El Cid, in which he plays the part of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar during the Reconquista, has always vied for the honor of being my favorite Heston film.

I can't imagine Hollywood these days making an epic-scale movie about a hero fighting the Muslims. Pity. If you haven't seen El Cid, rent it. Heston is great, and Sophia Loren provides some tasty eye-candy.

One day back in the early '80s, while I was home on a break from college, our family got dressed up "spiffy casual" and drove down to L.A. to see a show. We'd done so many times previously, and this particular time we were off to see "Nicholas Nickleby."

I remember nothing about the play itself... but I remember that the Hestons were sitting in front of us, and I remember that Mr. Heston was very gracious to those few people who dared to approach him.

He was a legend, while pretty much all we have these days are over-hyped "stars." They don't make many like Heston any more.

Herb Peterson, McDonald's franchisee and inventor of the Egg McMuffin, passed away Tuesday at his home in Santa Barbara. He was 89.

Take a moment to reflect on what he did for the average commuter. He basically invented the fast-food breakfast, giving people on their way to work the opportunity to have something more than a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.

I'm just young enough to not know if anyone did fast-food grab-and-go breakfasts before McDonald's did, but surely they all do it now.

I intend to have a McMuffin in his honor... even (because of my hours) if I have to make it from scratch myself.

[Heavily updated to correct errors. So sue me.]

Prime marriage fodder, I am.

Women, Want a Healthy Marriage? Marry Man Uglier Than You, Study Says

Monday, March 24, 2008

The best marriages are those where women marry men who are less attractive than themselves, research has found.

Psychologists who studied newlyweds found men who were better-looking than their wives were more likely to be unhappy and have negative feelings about their marriage.

In couples where the wife is more attractive, both partners tended to be very content.

This goes a long way towards explaining my brother's almost twenty years of marital bliss.

And for the record: I am available.

I had a bad burrito once, but it was not like this.

Almost, but not quite.

Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation today, his wife by his side. Surprise, surprise.

What is it about politicians' wives that compels them to stand by their men, regardless of their betrayals? We see it over and over. Remember Jim McGreevy (D-NJ), who famously resigned his governorship after a gay affair was discovered? Even his wife stood by his side while he announced that he was a "Gay-American" and had carried on with a male employee. Now, of course, the McGreeveys are separated and on their way to a divorce.

More to my liking is the mental image conjured up by something Dick Armey (R-TX) said during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal:

If I were in the President's place I would not have gotten a chance to resign. I would be lying in a pool of my own blood, hearing Mrs. Armey standing over me saying, "How do I reload this damn thing?"

If only more politicians' wives were like that — there would undoubtedly be less misbehavior.

Update: Heh.

Governor Eliot Spitzer (D-NY), who was lauded by the press as a Robin Hood sort of guy for his actions as New York's Attorney General, is in a huge dang load of trouble.

I always thought he seemed pretty slimy. His pursuits as AG seemed to me to be geared expressly to get him into the Governor's office, and as a springboard to national office.

Turns out he was a different sort of Robin Hood — taking from the rich and giving to the whores.

(Via Hot Air... again. They have all the good stuff.)

Update: Let's play Guess The Party!

The current version (at 3:45pm) of the New York Times' online story doesn't mention Spitzer's party affiliation until the 15th paragraph. If he'd been a Republican, they'd have mentioned the GOP in the headline, in the lede, and in every subsequent paragraph.

My niece has lately taken to regaling me with her favorite Chuck Norris facts. (My favorite: There is no chin under Chuck Norris' Beard. There is only another fist.)

Now here's one for her: Chuck Norris the only WMD in Iraq.

Currently in Iraq, I'm sure they meant to say.

(Via Hot Air.)

Senator Joseph Lieberman (Ind-CT) on the Senate floor, on the passing of Buckley.

William F. Buckley Jr., R.I.P.

More, with must-see video, at Hot Air.

I don't like John McCain a whole lot, but an unverified and unsourced NYT smear-job might just get me to support him. If they don't like him, there must be something worthwhile about his candidacy — the enemy of my enemy, etc., etc. I'm only surprised they didn't figure out how to hold the story until the Friday before the general election.

Just wondering... has anyone seen Dan Ra^ther or Mary Mapes recently?

Right now on Fox:

Breaking News >> Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro Retires From Presidency

I can't wait to see what Val and the rest of the crew at Babalu have to say.

Before I forget to say it: good riddance.

This is a step in the right direction for Cuba. Only one step — Raul Castro will probably move in where Fidel leaves off — but the longest journey, as they say, begins with that one step.

Update 3:01am: headline now reads "Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro Steps Down As President And Commander." No article online yet.

3:08am: CNN has a story up — Castro resigns as president, state-run paper reports

3:11: Ah, Fox does have the story, linked off the headline on the front page (rather than listed with their other stories.)

3:15: CNN — "Fidel Castro captured the world's attention and imagination at 32 when the bearded revolutionary led a band of guerillas that overthrew a corrupt dictatorship -- and then became an irritating thorn in Washington's paw by embracing communism and cozying up to the Soviet Union."

I guess that's about as worshipful as they were prepared to be at this hour of the morning. No doubt the lauds will come later.

[Later...] As predictable as a sunset... CNN: Be kind to castro

I guess there's an upside to working nights... I get to see all the stories that break in the wee hours of the morning. This would be maybe the second such in three years.

Envy — Whoever gets to kick Ted Rall's ass for this, I envy.

Lust — Someone really really likes fire... in an entirely inappropriate way. Pity we don't use firing squads to deal with such.

Gluttony — They always want more, and they won't rest until they get it.

Greed — Illegals demand: "Gimme gimme gimme!"

Sloth — Too lazy to do due diligence in their reporting, TNR gets pwned by Bob Owens.

Wrath — Code Pink is mad... mad, as in "insane."

Pride — "I'm a reporter! Respect me!" Um... no. That syllogism just doesn't work.

Michelle Malkin has the details.

As for me, I'll just say this: I was fresh out of the Army and going to school in LA when the OJ murder trial took place. I had (and to some degree still have to this day) the mindset that said "facts are facts and any reasonable person can put aside their prejudices and judge a case purely on the facts."

Mheh. I guess they didn't bother to try to find 12 reasonable people for the jury last time OJ was on trial.

On a personal level what disturbed me most about that entire episode was that several of my classmates readily admitted that on the facts OJ was guilty as sin, but they were still glad he got off because he was a "brutha."

Ya, right. OJ had as much in common with my classmates as I do a native tribesman in the Amazon. But because of his skin color, they were literally willing to let him get away with murder. Indeed, they vocally rejoiced when he was acquitted.

An odd thing happened a month or so after the acquittal. I went to work after class each day, and it was one of my duties to take the daily deposits down the block to the bank. One of the other bank customers I saw most days was from the local Jaguar dealership. One day, he showed me one of the checks he was depositing — a check for over $70,000, written by Johnnie Cochran. Two people dead, OJ acquitted, and Cochran driving a brand-new Jaguar out of the deal.

And people wonder why I hate trial lawyers.