What should Israel do?

My advice: encourage Israel to destroy the Hezbollah’s military capability. “Victory comes when the enemy's will to fight is broken by a specific defeat.”1 A decisive defeat of Hezbollah would be in the best interests of the US. Secondly, the US must not over-react to provocation, since Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have a disproportionately large youth cohort out of which terrorists spring. If the US can be patient, the radicals in this “youth bulge” will be killed or be too old for problem-causing. “[The Islamic youth bulge will] lose explosive power due to a general decline in the birthrate. “2

Israel can destroy enough of Hezbollah’s military capability, and cause enough suffering to civilians, to affect the resistance. Civilian casualties breed resistance to a point, but once the point has been crossed, civilians want peace more than anything else. Germany never destroyed England’s will during the battle of Britain; the US certainly destroyed Japan’s after the Nagasaki bombing. Enough suffering causes resistance to give way accommodation. In the current Gaza fight against Hamas, anger is directed toward Hamas for what they have wrought ; Hezbollah has denied they shot missiles into Israel, lest the “crazy” Israelis turn attention towards them.3

I wonder if there is anything that the US can do to "convince Riyadh to finally step up" in the context of asserting influence over Iran Syria and Hezbollah and why? Is Saudi Arabia the right choice for this role given the antipathy Iran has for Arab States? Might not Turkey, a non-Arab state that borders both Iran and Syria be a better choice?

The recent conflict in Gaza shows the value of the outstanding intelligence that Israel has gathered about the leaders of the movement. Israel has targeted the leadership cells, the rocket caches and the Iranian-trained “elite” units. Amassing voluminous, detailed intelligence and using it to kill the leadership, to diminish the terror rocket capability and to destroy Iranians and those they train seems like a pretty good op plan for going after Hezbollah.

Notes.
1. Angelo Codevilla and Paul Seabury. War: Ends and Means. (Washington: Potomac Books, 2005), 94.
2. Gunnar Heinsohn. Population, Conquest and Terror in the 21st Century (Bremen: Universität Bremen, 2005), 10.
3. Dan Diker, “A Deterrent Restored?,” Powerlineblog, entry posted 9 January 2009, http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/01/022505.php accessed 18 January 2009.

Even with that interception at the end of the 1st Half

I still love you, man.

More Insight into TO

People are always asking, what do you collect? Well, I collect postcards from my travels, which I am compiling into a book which I will first serialize here. And I also collect viewmaster reels. I love those things. They combine two of my favorite things, three-dimensional representations of life and cultural artifacts from the 40's and 50's.

With the election of Obama, the county is turning blue

2008 election results by county

Oh, Mamma! This is good beer!

Thank you, George W Bush

Before our long national nightmare begins, with the corrupt Chicago pol who used to be a cokehead Hawaii stoner about to occupy the Oval Office, I want to take a minute to thank a man who displayed real class and leadership while president. Thank you, Mr Bush. I actually knew George W. Bush, before he was even governor of Texas, back in 1988. He used to come into the bookstore where I worked, usually to buy a paperback and some books for the girls. He was incredibly personable, and very gracious.

I have voted for him four times with enthusiasm. The first time was because I knew him and since then, because I have been impressed with his leadership. I know him to be an honorable man, and I have never once been disappointed. He has served honorably, done what he thinks is right, and showed real courage. I will never forget him striding out on the mound in the 2001 World Series in Yankee Stadium and throwing a strike right over the plate. That was amazing, and I still get choked up thinking about it.

I have friends who have been on deck at Bethesda when the President has gone through the wards, without fanfare, and they all say what a wonderful, inspirational man he is.

I catch flak from people who can't believe I am such a passionate fan of George W. Bush, but I always tell them "His critics cannot stand him because he stands for something. He believes in God, he believes in the US and the negative perception of him is based entirely on caricatures perpetrated by the enemies of the United States, namely, the mainstream media." As Christopher Hitchens says, "George Bush jokes are ones that stupid people laugh at."

God bless you Sir, and thanks again. Semper fidelis.

Gateway Pundit has a great retrospective and comparison.

Computer program predicts text of Obama's Inaugural

My fellow Americans, today is a rancid day. You have shown the world that "hope" is not just another word for "flatulence", and that "change" is not only something we can believe in again, but something we can actually hump.

Today we celebrate, but let there be no mistake – America faces foetid and flaccid challenges like never before. Our economy is ghastly. Americans can barely afford their mortgages, let alone have enough money left over for baggies of crack. Our healthcare system is punchdrunk. If your ass is sick and you don't have insurance, you might as well call a manicurist. And America's image overseas is tarnished like a greasy drainplug. But bumping together we can right this ship, and set a course for your mamma's backyard.

Finally, I must thank my gassy family, my boring campaign volunteers, but most of all, I want to thank you morons for making this historic occasion possible. Of course, I must also thank you, President Bush, for years of blessing the American people. Without your noble efforts, none of this would have been possible.

Try it yourself

China India

I do not envisage imminent China-India cooperation for two reasons. First, China’s ambitions will eventually run up against India’s own goal to be “hegemon in South Asia.” (Elkin, 463) China sees its relations to its neighbor defined by “whole-hearted submission to a ruler” achieved through diplomacy or force. (Zhang) Clearly, this is incompatible with India’s interests.

Secondly, India’s military increasingly chafes under civilian control and is asserting its own prerogatives. (Pai, “Overseas”) The Indian Army, more distrustful of Chinese intentions since both sides have been arrayed opposite each other for 60 years, is unlikely to acquiesce to civilian negotiated agreements.
It is much more likely that the US will align with India for the following reasons. 1) India and the US share the same enemies and competitors. China has not renounced its hegemonistic designs on the region, and the Taliban is moving towards control of nuclear Pakistan. China will not resist the lure of Siberia as Russia implodes. The Chinese Army on the move would be deeply disturbing to India and the US, driving those countries together. 2) India is a functioning democracy, and therefore a more natural friend to the US than Communist China.

Tellis points out that India has long sought, as part of its “non-aligned” movement, to develop its own weapons. This effort has faltered, and this failure represents a blow to Indian nationalism. The question will be whether India will address its technology gap by purchasing foreign arms or continue sinking money into failed indigenous technologies? Purchasing US arms would solidify the US relationship to effectively challenge China, yet hurt Indian pride, while continuing to go it alone will probably result in falling yet further behind China, to India’s political detriment.



Sources cited:

Elkin, Jerrod (1994) India. Defense policies of nations: A comparative study third edition edited by Douglas Murray et. al. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Pai, Nitin (2008) Overseas military deployments & defence decisionmaking: India needs to rethink its defence decisionmaking system. Week 6 Packet (12 November).

Zhang Quanyi (2009) Resolving China's border disputes. Global Survey (January 8) http://www.upiasia.com/Politics/2009/01/08/resolving_chinas_border_disputes/7703/ accessed 9 January 2009.

Keepin' Hope Alive!

Gran Torino

I read a review of Gran Torino written by Green Mamba on the website, Big Hollywood. "I just saw ‘Gran Torino’ and I have to say I thought it was awful. Yes, Eastwood has his special charisma and the ending is undeniably satisfying, but most of the film is embarrassingly clunky, key moments are entirely predictable, and the Asian lead actors are especially amateurish and unconvincing."

He, or she, is right on with that comment. Unfortunately, what the Mamba (Green) wrote applies to everything Eastwood has done since Unforgiven. He’s cheap, he doesn’t bother rehearsing, and amazingly, it shows.

By the way, isn’t it good that we can count on Hollywood to zero in and investigate the most troublesome fault-line in American race relations, whites vs Laotians? That is similar to the way that Tom Cruise wanted a fresh look at people exhibiting courage in confronting evil. So, he chose to star in a movie about soldiers fighting Islamic terrorists, oops, check that, by showing Nazis fighting Nazis. Yawn.

Advice to Hollywood

I would offer a compromise with the Hollywood types who make these anti-war bombs. I will watch your movies, regardless of the "message," if you portray the Marines in them straight-up. Marines sometimes do crappy things and Generals make some decisions with an eye on the domestic political situation and their future job prospects. However, there are a lot more Marines who do noble and even heroic things. If you, Mr Hollywood Producer, want to make movies in which some Marines do terrible things as a metaphor for the "heart of darkness," roger that. Just realistically portray the other Marines around them. I know from experience that most of us will fast forward past the eye-roll inducing message scenes, and revel in the motivational Gunny Hartman squadbay tirades or Col Jessep's "you want me on that wall" -type soliloquies.

My respect for the news media has skyrocketed!

All time Favorite Movies

1. Casablanca – “Oh, he's just like any other man, only more so.”

2. Holiday Inn – “Count your worries, instead of sheep”

3. Singles – “The thing about Cliff is, he has all this fierce integrity.”

4. Honeymoon in Vegas – “You took me to Las Vegas, and you turned me into a whore, Jack!” “I HAD A STRAIGHT FLUSH! It’s like, unbeatable! Like unbeatable is not unbeatable, Jack. Hey I KNOW THAT NOW!” “Will you please stop crucifying me with this!?!” “Do you find Chief Orman attractive?” “What are you going to do, put me in airport jail?”

5. Chicago – “Mister Cellophane / 'Cause you can look right through me / Walk right by me / And never know I'm there.”

6. High Noon – “People gotta talk themselves into law and order before they do anything about it. Maybe because down deep they don't care. They just don't care.”

7. Scaramouche – “You have a demon in you, this fine day. Lose it or you'll not live to see another.”

8. Bridges at Toko Ri – “Where do we get such men?”

9. Destination Tokyo – “There's lots of Mikes dying right now. And a lot more Mikes will die. Until we wipe out a system that puts daggers in the hands of five-year-old children.”

10. Detective Story – “I hate criminals. I don't believe in coddling them.”

11. Casino Royal – “Do you want a clean kill or do you want to send a message?”

12. 300 – “This is Sparta!”

13. Henry V – “For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother”

14. Caddyshack – “Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in / And you’ve got the stock market beat. / But the man who’s worthwhile, is the man who can smile / When his pants are too tight in the seat.”

China's Strategic Position

China is repeating the mistake made by the USSR in the 80’s by challenging the United States to an arms race with an economy unable to support the expenditures. (Arbel) Chinese banks are insolvent and the prosperity seemingly evident in gleaming Chinese cities has not made it to the 23% of the population who are unemployed. (Wolf) The Chinese might be able to, for a time, produce armaments comparable to those of the US, but there is no way the Chinese defense output could match an aroused US defense industry abetted by the Koreans and Japanese.

The Chinese economy is hollow. The Chinese government decided to allow banks to ignore non-performing loans in the interest of keeping manufacturing companies open, confident that Western consumers would continue buying goods to allow the economy to grow out of all the bad paper the banks are carrying. However, Western consumers stopped buying goods in October, and the Chinese economy started to grind down. Given the miserable fundamentals of the Chinese economy and the intrinsic corruption, there is little likelihood that additional foreign capital will do anything but line the pockets of those at the top.

It is possible that China could reform their economy to make it to actually competitive with the US, but that would require the ruling class to relinquish their corrupt control on banking and manufacture. I think that is an unlikely occurrence short of revolution. However, when China descends into revolution as history predicts, contemporary analysts will be as flummoxed as they were by the breakup of the USSR, wondering how they missed the signs so apparent in retrospect.

China is not really a competitor for the United States in developing indigenous technology. However, given that extensive Chinese espionage in the United States “saves China the time and cost of researching and developing advanced technologies,” (Claburn) there has been some question as to whether China will be able to close this gap. The answer remains unknown.

Sources cited:

Arbel, David and Ran Edelist (2003) Western intelligence and the collapse of the Soviet Union, 1980-1990: Ten years that did not shake the world. London: Frank Cass.

Claburn, Thomas (2007) Chinese espionage cited as top risk to U.S. technology industry. InformationWeek (November 19) http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/government/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=GRWRJSCRV2IDKQSNDLOSKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleID=203103255&_requestid=188221 accessed 3 January 2009.

Wolf, Jr., Charles, K. C. Yeh, Benjamin Zycher, Nicholas Eberstadt, and Sung-Ho Lee (2003) Fault lines in China’s economic terrain. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

Russian Domination

Russia’s economy is based on exploiting hydrocarbons, which requires the participation of Central Asian republics. Since Putin would rather dominate than cooperate with neighbors, he has attempted of late to recreate the USSR by bullying smaller countries, hoping thereby to intimidate other former Soviet republics. (Torbakov) This strategy will be unsuccessful since the gambit exposed the inherent weakness of Russia, rather than communicating strength. (Isachenkov) Further, Central Asia is Muslim with surging populations while Russia is Christian with a collapsing population. (Mamadazimov) These fundamental differences and the exposed weakness of Russia will result in a geopolitical rupture with the Central Asian Republics.

There are two reasons Putin will ultimately prove unsuccessful at bringing the Muslim Central Asian republics back into his sphere. The first is the relatively decrepit nature of his armed forces. Should Putin actually attempt some kind of empire building adventure, Russia would face insurgencies there that the Russian military has shown no ability to counter. Secondly, Russia has tried, largely successfully, to repair its image among Muslims aggrieved by the Chechnya situation to avoid terror attackes directed against its interests. Intervention in Central Asia would destroy those efforts, and bring unwanted terrorist attention.

The rupture is likely to occur in slow motion. The Central Asian republics will forge their own foreign policies, balancing approaches from the US, Iran, Arab States and China as well as Russia. The more freedom of maneuver these countries experience in the international sphere, the better they will be at it and the less likely they will become satellites of any power. I think it is unlikely that the Central Asian members of the CIS would look to the EU, considering how unwelcome Turkey, a full member of NATO, has been in the EU.

Sources cited

Isachenkov, Vladimir. (2008) War reveals Russia's military might and weakness. Associated Press Wire (August 18) http://www.aviation.com/technology/080818-russia-georgia-air-war.html accessed 25 December 08.

Mamadazimov, Abdugani. (2004) Tajikistan’s national security: problems and prospects. Central Asia and the Caucus Journal of Political and Social Studies 26: 2 (March) pg 87.

Torbakov, Igor (2003) Parliamentary elections signal growing Russian assertiveness towards CIS neighbors. Eurasia Insight (December 18) http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121803.shtml accessed 25 December 2008

A look into the mind of TO

People are always asking me, "TO, why are you the way you are?" The best answer goes back to the time I spent as a child in my grandparents' house. They had these pictures framed, always staring down on me, and I was seriously weirded out by them. I think at a glance, you will see that individually these paintings are alarming, but as decor, are monstrous. Enjoy.

Happy New Year!

Make time to watch cool old movies on Turner Classic Movies, or listen to some radio shows from the '50's. You will thank me.

President Elect Takes Saluting Lessons from Former Marine

Pastor from England at Church Tonight

I was hoping he would bust out with the following in his thick as fog on the moors British accent: "Disease and deprivation stalk our land like two giant stalking things."

But alas, he did not.

European Defense Forces as a Challenger to NATO?

Leaders of the United States and Europe are challenged by changes in fundamental security interests. The first challenge to Transatlantic Dialogue is the perception that European leaders are not serious about security. Posen asserts that “the EU is balancing US power.” (Posen, 151) Posen argues that the Europe’s creation of EU Security and Defense Policies (ESDP) is the structural realistic approach to countering US global hegemony. However, Posen’s support for this assertion highlights the lack of seriousness with which Europe is pursuing this “balance.” In real terms, the ESDP is a force of 60,000 or so European troops from various countries. To put those numbers into perspective, these 60, 000 troops are meant to balance the 1.44 million personnel that the United States has under arms. (DOD) This calls to mind the time France advised Stalin to be more accommodating to Catholics so his standing with the Pope would improve. Stalin asked dismissively: “The Pope? How many divisions has he got?” (Churchill, 121) President Bush could well ask a similar question of the ESDP.

Another challenge is the erosion in the common background of Europe and the US. Since the settlement of North America, the leadership class had descended from traditional European ethnic groups so there existed, in general terms, a shared point of view. However, demographic trends have pulled Europe and the US toward different policy concerns. Europe’s native ethnic groups no longer reproduce at replacement rates. (Steyn, 10) However, European social programs require immigrants to supply the tax payments to support those programs. These new immigrants are Muslims who are less supportive of aggressive anti-terrorist foreign policies they see as both driven by the US and as anti-Muslim. The US population is becoming increasingly Latino, whose security interests are more related to violent drug gangs threatening their families in the US and in their native countries. These growing populations have little interest in threats to European security, which represents yet another vector pulling US and Europe security apart.

Sources cited:

Churchill, Winston (1986) The second world war: the gathering storm. London: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Department of Defense. (2008) “DOD personnel and military casualty statistics” (October 31) http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/ms0.pdf accessed 18 December 2008.

Hason, Stephanie (2008) Mexico's spreading drug violence.
Council on Foreign Relations Daily Analysis (November 21) http://www.cfr.org/publication/17817/mexicos_spreading_drug_violence.html accessed 18 December 2008.

Posen, Barry R. (2006) European Union security and defense policy: Response to unipolarity. Security Studies, 15, no. 2 (April-May) pg 149.

Steyn, Mark. (2006) America alone: The end of the world as we know it. Washington: Regnery Publishing.

Merry Christmas from Steven Seagal

Merry Christmas!

Bing and Frank sing a song written by Mel Torme. God really is Good.

Greatest Ponzi Schemes in History!

Check it out. Including the most brazen and nefarious one at #9

Unsolicited Political Advice

Blagojevich should appoint Patrick Fitzgerald to the Senate, it is his only hope. Blag could say something like, "I have decided to live up to the promises I made the US Attorney, and so I will appoint him to serve out President Elect Obama's term in the Senate."

Blag impugns the prosecutor just by making such a crazy offer and on the off chance Fitz accepts, Blag gets some breathing room while the replacement US Attorney gets up to speed.

Alliances support security

Transformation, per Donald Rumsfeld, involves “new combinations of concepts, capabilities, people and organizations that exploit our nation’s advantages and protect our asymmetric vulnerabilities to sustain our strategic position….” (Lamb, 1) While including new alliances in the list may seem to be stretching the concept of “transformation,” upon consideration, carefully chosen and monitored new alliances with democratic governments would do much to improve US defense.

Some of the most damaging foreign policy mistakes have resulted from problems with imprudently selected allies, like the Shah’s Iran. The United States foolishly backed the Shah and became overly identified with him, even as his policies continued to alienate the people and set the conditions for a radical revolution. In another situation, the US allowed itself to become the de facto ally of the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan, which in retrospect looks like an overreaction to the Soviet presence there. Unfortunately, the combination of American arms and geopolitical neglect allowed for the rise of the Taliban. In Sherwood-Randall’s romantic description of allies, Iran was like a “long marriage,” while the Mujahedeen were like the “summer romance.” (Sherwood-Randall, 3-4) In both cases, the break up resembled the ending of the movie “Fatal Attraction.”

On the other hand, well chosen and well monitored allies provide two potential advantages. Alliances with strategically positioned countries can send a signal to potential rivals that the US is willing to defend its foreign interests. The strategic location of the Ukraine, a nascent democracy on the Black Sea, situated between Poland and Russia would prove to be useful to the US. The Ukraine would allow the US to open yet another site of influence on the Russian border, and offers a potentially new location for missile defense sites. Alliances with democratic governments of countries that formerly provided shelter to terrorists would safeguard the US by squeezing terrorists into more inhospitable locations. Afghanistan and Iraq as allies would provide that service, as would Somalia, were it to develop into some kind of democracy.

Sources cited:

Lamb, Christopher J. et. al. (2005) Transforming defense. Washington: National Defense University Press.

Sherwood-Randall, Elizabeth (2006) Alliances and American national security. Strategic Studies Institute (October).

Blue tie tough guy stymies hottie harpies

Australian security knows how to handle protestors. TO wished he would get protested this way, once in a while.

Applause

Ok, So there I was, watching Rachel Ray make a shepherd's pie while I was waiting to see the doc at the GI clinic. The recipe actually sounded really good, (minus the mushrooms, which I, under no circumstances will cook with or eat). So I am sitting there, contentedly watching when suddenly RR says, "now I will spread the mashed potatoes on top of the pie in the skillet." The audience breaks into wild applause while she is pouring mashed potatoes over the pie. She gets more applause when she announced she was spreading some cheese on top. The audience could not have been more delighted if RR had announced that she was going to make it rain by throwing a bag of $50s in the air over everyone watching in studio. Strange.

I like shepherd's pie as much as the next bloke, but I have a hard time believing I would applaud like I was watching Harry Reid doing the Blagovich perp walk out of the Capital Building even if some hottie was pouring mashed potatoes over meat pie.

A Coup in 2012?

If there were a coup, it would not be lead by the Generals. They are of the same class as the politicians and indistiguishable from them. Look for some fire-breating Lieutenant Colonel who has had it with the corruption in Washington. Hypothetically, I could see it playing out this way: Seize XM radio there in Washington, run all of congress, the Supreme Court and the staffers into RFK, and call for national elections, pronto. Some might say: "THAT is change we can believe in."

Believe or not?

My question for Patterico is why do you have a problem with the exclusiveness of Christians? If Christians believe they have the way to Life, and you don’t believe it, so what? How does their faith effect you at all?

Sure, some Christians are stupidly smug that they are going to Heaven and you are not. Their attitude is incredibly off-putting and counter-productive to growing the Kingdom of Heaven. However, the majority of Christians would be happy to have you accompany us home; all you have to do is believe. If you don’t want to believe, that is fine. All we would ask is to be left in peace, and we will leave you in peace.

For my non-believing friends (and for my parents) I take solace in the words of Christ from the Apocalypse of Peter. The book is not canonical, I know, but if you read it, I am sure you would understand why the Church would not want it in the Bible. In that book, Christ reveals Hell to Peter but assures him that for even the souls in there, because of the prayers of the faithful, there is hope: ‘My Father will give unto them all the life, the glory, and the kingdom that passeth not away,’ . . . ‘It is because of them that have believed in me that I am come. It is also because of them that have believed in me, that, at their word, I shall have pity on men.’

Merry Christmas!

The Link Between Freedom and Prosperity

In general terms it would appear that countries with a high gross domestic product (GDP) are considered “Free” on the Freedom House assessment of “Freedom in the World” while those countries with the lowest GDP are considered “Not free.” Personal freedom depends on governments that respect individual rights and a judiciary that upholds those rights by respecting the rule of law without arbitrary rulings. For capitalism to thrive and produce high GDP requires the same things as personal freedom. The ruling institutions must respect the rights of property and the courts must impartially enforce contractual obligations. Trends in freedom and prosperity go in tandem since they rely on fair, well functioning governmental institutions.

The outliers to these trends are China and Russia. Both China and Russia have high GDPs but do not protect the civil liberties or political freedom of their people. Russia’s economy has benefitted from worldwide increase in demand for raw materials that are produced there even as the government has attempted to roll back political reforms started after the fall of the Berlin Wall. According to the CIA World Factbook entry on Russia, “in tandem with its prudent management of Russia's windfall energy wealth, which has helped the country rebound from the economic collapse of the 1990s, the Kremlin in recent years has overseen a recentralization of power that has undermined democratic institutions.” China economy has also benefitted from an increase in worldwide demand for products by producing those products. This increase in industrial production has increased the country’s GDP. China has nonetheless held onto it traditional authoritarian political structure that has been handed down for thousands of years. As noted in the CIA World Factbook entry for China, “DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. for much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.” This assessment generally comports with the Freedom House rating.

The countries at the bottom of the GDP table either do not have raw materials worth exploiting or are ruled by dictators who do not respect the rights of individuals or both. Zimbabwe’s despotic ruler, of late, has not respected individual rights nor have the courts been willing to respect property deeds. As a consequence, the country is “Not Free” and the GDP is the lowest in the world. In the words of the CIA Factbook: “Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities.” Niger, the most free of the bottom of GDP table has had a working democracy on and off since 1991, but basically has an economy based on subsistence agriculture. Malawi, one of ”the world's most densely populated and least developed countries” has a economy based on subsistence agriculture” according the CIA World Factbook entry. While Malawi recently held elections, irredentist factions continue to vie to overturn the government, resulting in crackdowns that lower the Freedom House assessment.

Where TO Evaluates Data From the Last Two Presidential Elections

According to the data, it would appear that the typical Republican voter is from the western or southern states with median household incomes below those of states that vote heavily Democratic. The typical Republican voter appears to vote in rough proportion to the “white only” percentage of the state. The typical Republican voter appears to come from states with lower educational achievement than the voters from states that vote heavily Democratic. Since the table uses educational achievement as a proxy for white color employment, it would also appear the Republican voters come from states with less white collar employments and proportionately fewer residents in urban environments. To sum up, according to the data, it appears that the typical Republican voter is relatively rural, less educated, more likely to be white, with a lower median income than the typical Democrat voter.

It would appear that the typical Democratic voter is from the northeastern states with relatively high household incomes. The typical Democratic voter appears to vote in higher percentages for the Democrat the higher the percentage of all residents who live in urban settings. More research is needed to determine why heavily Democratic Vermont is such an outlier in the percentage of urban dwellers. Democrats in states with strong ties to the Democrat candidate tend to vote in high percentages for the Democrat. States with very high percentages of minorities appear to vote in large numbers for the Democrat, but the inverse does not appear to be true, as low minority population in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont nonetheless vote heavily Democratic. The typical Democrat tends to come from states with high levels of educational achievement. Since the table uses educational achievement as a proxy for white collar employment, it would appear from the data that Democratic voters come from states with more white-collar employment. To sum up, according to the data the typical Democratic voter is relatively urban, from the Northeast or from States where minorities represent the majority of the population. Further, the typical Democratic voter is more educated and with higher levels of income than the typical Republican voter.

There were two different criticisms of my analysis of the Presidential election. One criticism is that I did not address whether the electorate has become more liberal. Since that question was not asked in the packet or in the assignment, I did not think to attempt to glean an answer from the data sets. Had I been challenged to do so, I would not have been able to determine if the population of the US had become more liberal. None of the data sets that we were required to evaluate serve as a valid proxy for political attitudes. If having the political attitude of being “liberal” is equated with voting for the Democratic candidate, then the word “liberal” loses all meaning. A case study would be West Virginia voters who elect Democratic senators, to include a former Klu Klux Klansman, but nonetheless voted for the Republican candidate. Another case study would be Maine, a state the reliably votes for the Democratic presidential candidate but has two Republican senators. California voted overwhelmingly for the Democratic presidential candidate, but passed a constitutional restriction on same-sex marriage, something that would be unthinkable in a truly liberal electorate. The data appears to show that voting patterns are a poor proxy for determining whether a population has a “liberal” attitude. Since Census data is comprised of objectively quantifiable attributes, until someone can make the case that there is an objective measure that correlates directly to a subjective attitude, then any assessment from this data about whether the electorate has become more “liberal” would be pure speculation.

The second criticism was regarding the technical observation that the District of Columbia is not a state and should not be included in the data collection exercise. I actually debated whether to include DC in the assessment for exactly that reason, that DC is technically not a state. Eventually, I decided to include DC since it has 1) the exact same weight in the Presidential election as seven actual states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) two of which are the home states of individuals on the tickets for the major parties. 2) The population of DC is actually larger than Wyoming, a state that appeared in the exercise. 3) For the purposes of the Electoral College, DC is a state so it was valid to include its characteristics in an assessment of voting patterns.
This criticism: “With DC, there is a minority population factor that can affect the ‘outcome’ of your assessment” was particularly puzzling. The data appears to show that people from areas with high numbers of urban residents vote for the Democratic candidate. The data appears to show that States and Districts with electoral votes where minorities are in the majority in the population, such as in Hawaii and DC, vote for the Democratic candidate. That is an interesting trend and a valid outcome for the analysis. I remain unclear regarding the “factor” about DC’s minority population would otherwise affect the outcome of the analysis. DC is virtually a control subject for both these population characteristics in the data collection exercise.

TO's Opinion of Obama

Someone asked me what my opinion of Obama. I am paraphasing myself so quote me or the paraphrase, but I said something like this: "He is just another corrupt scumbag mobbed up Chicago criminal politician." How right I am.

I love me some kimchi!

Here are thousands of Koreans making it at once. YUM!

In the Age of Obama, are you an idiot to keep paying your mortgage?

Yes.

A Couple of Motivational Quotations

"The people have spoke—the bastards." - Dick Tuck

"The tree of Liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson

Simpering dolts

Here is a whole crowd of Obamaniacs at http://www.zefrank.com/from52to48withlove/ wanting to be friends after trashing President Bush for 8 years and Sarah Palin for the last 3 months.

No thanks. I am not interested in reconciling with that corrupt bunch. Good luck, Obama but don't expect any help from me, don't expect any salutes and don't expect any respect. America is not the president and the president is not America. I salute the flag, I love the people in real America out in the heartland, I love the Marine Corps but I look at those corrupt, anti-American democrats, city dwellers and their propaganda arm in the media and think "the enemy really is in the seat of power."

No amount of pictures of morons begging to be friends is going to change that.

Our Long National Nightmare Has Begun

Don't blame me, I voted for Sarah.

Congrats Pres Elect Obama, I can't wait to you change this sh|t hole of a country into a verdant paradise like your own South Side of Chicago

Congrats to Pres Elect Obama, I await more of your inspiring oratory, like this

Where TO explains his heritage, and skewers Obama at the same time

Long time readers may know that TO is of French - Acadian Heritage. Some like to call him a "coon-ass." Be that as it may, some of my coon-ass cousins from Sout Loooziana produced a pretty cool campaign video. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

TO’s Johnny Cash Memorial “This stuff is too hot for you, so don’t even try it” Chili

2 lbs 81% lean ground beef

Wick Fowler’s Two Alarm Chili Mix

2 table spoons crushed red pepper

2 cans DelMonte Diced Cut Tomatoes with Jalapenos

1 can Rotel Tomatoes with Habaneros

10 recently picked jalapeno peppers sliced long ways then diced

1 medium red onion

Brown ground beef, pour off fat. Mix Wick Fowler’s in as directed. Substitute 2 cans of DelMonte Diced Cut Tomatoes with Jalapenos for the can of tomato paste and water. Add crushed red pepper. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add masa as directed, Rotel Tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and onion. Simmer 20 minutes. Enjoy immediately. Put the rest in the refrigerator and savor it for the rest of the week, because none of your weak and worthless family members or friends will touch it and it will all be for you.

A public service to you, bringing you McCain's latest ads by guest directors

"Address your argument to cowards and knaves"

That is what I said to someone who said, "TO, I think we are going to lose this one, and I fear for the country."

Here is the full context of the quote: "Address that argument to cowards and to knaves; with the free and the brave it will effect nothing. It may be true; if it must, let it...The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just...Let none falter, who thinks he is right, and we may succeed. But if after all, we shall fail, be it so."

Who said that? Abraham Lincoln when people questioned his support for William Henry Harrison in 1840. Interestingly, Harrison improbably won that election because of stalwarts like Lincoln.

Police are ready for post-Obama loss riots

I'm ready.

Are you ready?

Lord have Mercy! I love her!

Sarah Palin re Biden's list of Obama inspired crises: "But I guess the looming crisis that most worries the Obama campaign right now is Joe Biden's next speaking engagement."

It's not a black thing, so I knew you wouldn't understand

A quote from Colin Powell's endorsement of Barry: "As a soldier, I craved civilian leadership that grew up on the mean streets of Hawaii, did loads of coke, and turned the South Side of Chicago into a latter day Eden through his community organizing. Further, Obama's "uhhhs and ummmms" when his teleprompter goes down, display exactly the kind of clear thinking and quick wittedness someone of my meagre ability would find impressive in a president. It is therefore with confidence that I can shoot the bird at those who showed such undeserved confidence my ability and stood loyaly behind me even as I fumbled and dissembled through my stint as Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, and who appointed my son to be head of the FCC. Oh, and it has nothing to do with the fact that Obama is black. Haha suckers."

Keeping hope alive, fighting prejudice, and being proud!

Representative Obama supporters.

This is good stuff

Fast loading videos that tell the truth about Obama's positions.

My olive branch to Obama and his supporters

I offer him the same deference and consideration they have offered President Bush and Sarah Palin. Or as expressed by a certain Mr Gately:

I consider myself a libertarian/conservative. Like many people of that bent, I was uncomfortable with Bush when he was nominated. But Al Gore's increasingly-erratic behavior during the 2000 election made me hope Bush won.

Once Bush won, and it became clear that the Florida democrats were trying to steal the election, I became something of a Bush loyalist. Throughout his first term, I took note of all the really horrible things that were said about him, saw that a large portion of the left would rather see Bush fail than see America succeed, and was alarmed by the complicity (and often, participation) of the MSM and mainstream Hollywood. It wasn't far into his second term that I succumbed to Bush Fatigue, due to his inability to make the case for his foreign policy to the American people, and his inability to find the veto pen. He has truly been a terrible steward of the Republican brand, and because of this, the Conservative and libertarian causes are suffering.

I'm no fan of McCain , but as I dislike Obama (and love Palin), I'll be pulling the lever for McCain in November.

This is surely small of me, but if Obama wins, I plan on giving him as much of a chance as the Democrats gave George Bush. I will gleefully forward every paranoid anti-Obama rumor that I see, along with YouTube footage of his verbal missteps. I will laugh and email heinous anti-Obama photoshop jobs, and maybe even learn photoshop myself to create some. I'll buy anti-Obama books, and maybe even a "Not My President" t-shirt. I'm sure that the mainstream bookstores won't carry them, but I'll be on the lookout for anti-Obama calendars and stuff like that. I will not wish America harm, and if the country is hurt (economically, militarily, or diplomatically) I will truly mourn. But i will also take some solace that it occurred under Obama's watch, and will find every reason to blame him personally and fan the flames.

Obama's thuggish behavior thus far in this election cycle - squashing free speech, declaring any criticism of his policies to be "racist" (a word that happily carries little weight with sensible people these days), associating with the likes of Ayers, Wright, and ACORN - suggests that I won't have to scrape for reasons to really viscerally dislike Obama and his administration. And even if he wins, his campaign's "get out the vote fraud" activities are enough to provide people like me with a large degree of "plausible deniability" as to whether he is actually legitimately the president.

I've seen a President that I am generally-inclined to like get crapped on for eight years, and I've seen McCain and Palin (honorable people both, despite policy differences I may have with them) get crapped on through this election season. If the Democrats think that a President Obama is going to get some sort of honeymoon from the folks who didn't vote for him, as a wise man once said: heh.

I could have written that myself, if I had any actual writing talent. Just let me add: I recommend you arm yourself in self defense immediately. If McCain wins Obama supporters will be stupified by the defeat and will looking to take it out on someone. If Reginald Denny is not around, you will do. If Obama wins, your ability to buy guns and ammunition for your own defense will be severely curtailed. If it is good enough for Chicago, it is good enough for you.

Zo for Pres!

Here is a great idea from your Federal Judiciary

Release Muslim terrorists into DC! I think we can all feel a little safer knowing that some Bill Clinton appointee carefully weighed the evidence and decided that the best place for jihadist terrorists was the Capital of the Great Satan! Good work, Ricardo!

Too bad we didn't grease those terrorists when we had the chance. Now, we are all at the mercy of the liberal judges.

Ms Obama, I am sorry I don't feel guilty. No, really

A friend of mine sent me this op-ed which her local cat box liner/Democrat talking points delivery device, the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star, just published. It is written by Tim Wise, the guiltiest white man, a huckster who conducts "White Privilege" seminars that companies and governments are extorted into paying for. (I apologize in advance for linking to that).

The most succinct rebuttal to that article is that if Obama were white, he would be Joe Biden. Biden, who won exactly zero primaries, and just a few more votes than that. Obama is the democrat nominee BECAUSE he is black.

I think the strongest argument FOR "white privilege" is the condition of places that have explicitly rejected it: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Haiti, DC, Detroit. Ask anyone if they would prefer to live in these bastions of "people of color" privilege, and I think we all know the answer.

The Way to End the Housing Crisis

I wrote this to my congressman. Feel free to use the text.

If this bailout bill ends up passing, I would really appreciate you including a provision to raze any house to which the government gets title. Once the house it razed, the land could then be turned over to the National Park Service to stand as a national park in perpetuity.

This would do three things: 1) Provide good jobs in the house razing industry that can't be outsoursed.

2) Reduce the number of empty pre-existing homes that are depressing the value of other homes in the surrounding area.

3) Provide needed green space that would enrich the lives of the children in the neighborhood and serve to bolster the values of homes going forward.

Children's Happy Tune

(Hum along to yourself to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon")

Explodey the Floundering Whay- ale, Lives in the Sea
And went aground in the Aussie Waves, in the windward and the lee
He can’t swim away at all, and can’t stay upon the land
So everyone down under came to stand upon the sand

Explodey the Floundering Whay-ale, listing to and fro
Veterinarians got in a boat, and then began to row.
They looked at his tail, they looked at the middle too
Then they looked at his big whaley head and decided what to do

They called for plastic explosives, called for some hand grenades
Called for lethal munitions and called for a cannonade
Then they changed their minds, and called for this instead
They put a bomb right near his brain so they could blow up his head

Oh, Explodey the Floundering Whay-ale, soon to be without a snout
Asked the children on the sand to laugh and play, and never again to pout
“They are coming to blow up my bray-ain, and really, that is that,
You should all smile and think of me when you feed my blubber to your cat!”

Why do we need an AFRICOM?

Even if it is causing "suspicions" among Africans? Um, could it be because China is trying to enslave the place and we want to stop it? Nah, it is probably because George Bush is racist.

Et tu, National Review?

Parker's suggestion that Palin should resign for the good of her party was just stupid. I read it as something a RINO would write in the hopes that McCain would do something sensible and pick Lieberman so that when the Republicans lose, the Dems would be more kindly disposed towards us. I am sure she got a ton of congratulatory emails from the Kos Kids and Obama for President.

I sure Ponnuru wrote his post blaming Republicans (who, incidentally, stood behind him during his "Party of Death" days) in order to come in out of the cold with his Dem pals. Ditto on the emails.

Both the article and the post were deeply disappointing, and the fact that you let them pass makes me wonder if you yourself aren't wishing you could come in out of the cold, given the reception your abortion views have among your journalist friends. It is bad enough that we are subject to Derb's libertarian claptrap, must all of you start "evolving" away from conservatism at once?

What is the biggest news out of China today?

A spacewalk made possible by purloined American technology? (Thanks, President Clinton!) Or the Chinese food industry once again poisoning children?

Answer: Poisonous food. The Chinese kill our dogs, now they kill their own children. Look for executions of milk plant managers soon, but don't expect anything to change.

Profoundly Sad Pictures

North Korea has so much potential, but they are in the grip of madmen and despots. Our children are going to ask us why we did nothing for their children.

The Czabe and TO vs Olbermann

People are always asking me, "TO, why don't you watch 'Football Night in America' with us?" To which I always answer: "No f-ing way. I don't watch anything with Olbermann in it."

Lately, Steve Czaban, the great sports commentator, now heard five days a week on XM Channel 142 6-9am, has been asking if anyone avoids 'Football Night in America' like he does because of Olbermann? The answer, I know I am not the only one. That guy hates the military and hates anyone who does not agree with him. Why would I want to contibute, even in a small way, by watching a commercial television with him on it? I would rather boycott anything he is on, than view one advertisement, the purchase of which goes to pay his salary. The sooner he is off the air and no longer undermining America with his propaganda, the better.

Madison Ave Real Estate Tough Guy Takes on Palin

Emile Leplattenier, aka "The Road", fresh off his triumphant victory over etoys.com, takes on Jim Treacher by emailing his searing take-down of Sarah Palin which he cross-posted in the comments section of a hippie radio station blog. Too bad art school, a foppish name and a Madison Ave real estate job still don't guarantee that you have enough brains or balls to accurately criticize a war hero or a middle class mom who managed to get herself elected governor.

Listening to Laura Ingraham is not good for my blood pressure

Laura, Geez, stop beating up on McCain on economics. He said the fundamentals of the economy are strong, and you disagreed and criticized him. He now says that financiers need adult supervision and he is going to give it to them, and you criticize him. Meanwhile, his proposals have been resoundingly approved by Wall Street and have caused the value of your investments to go up, something that you said you were sweating. You should thank John McCain rather that beat up on him.

You sound like an ignorant Pelosi-style harpy. Stop talking about things that are out of your depth, and go back to blathering about pop music, and your pals who are Dems and your dog. You are good at that stuff

Dem Governors Against Prosperity but Still Firmly Anti-Bush!

Listening to Sarah Palin talk about the program in Alaska that returns oil royalties to the citizen in the form of a yearly check, it seemed to me that would be the perfect argument for opening drilling off the coasts of the US. States would receive royalties for the oil drilling in their coastal waters, and that money could be returned to the people! Although, who am I kidding? If New Jersey suddenly started getting big checks from the oil companies for royalties, Corzine would blow it on some stupid government program. Ditto Tim Kaine in Virginia. But it seems that the prospect of a big windfall from the oil companies to coastal states should be considered if they were serious about balancing budgets, reducing the cost of gasoline and giving people a tax break.

Further, you would think these states’ governors would be interested in huge number of high paying jobs that drilling would bring AND the taxes that they would pay into state accounts. But no, Bush wants drilling, so it must be bad. All that other stuff, lower taxes, more jobs, more solvency in state budgets, we don’t want that if it means Bush is right.

Stupid.

Barack's Terrorist Buddy Has a Ring Made From McCain's Downed Plane?

This post got me to thinking: John McCain's plane was shot down over Vietnam, and the wreckage would have been particularly symbolic to the Vietnamese since McCain was the son of CINCPAC. A ring made of that wreckage was just the kind of thing the Vietnamese would have presented to traitors like Ayers and Dohrn. Wouldn't it be ironic that the first hand Obama shook after declaring he was running for the presidency from Ayers' living room had a ring on it made from a relic of McCain's plane?

Laura Ingraham ticks me off, again

She send me an email in which she said this: "Brooks's main argument against Palin is that she lacks the type of experience and historical understanding that led President Bush to a 26 percent approval rating in his final months in office."

So I sent her an email back:

Well, I take issue with your characterization that Bush is a poor president because he has a 26% approval rating. This analysis is on par with your shallow, vapid observations about which movies or songs are good based on the box office receipts or number of downloads. Pres Bush is unpopular because he refuses to accomodate every shifting political peccadillo of an electorate that gets its day to day cues about what is popular from late night comic monologues. For someone who purports to be so true to her conservative ideals, you put a lot of stock in the approval ratings of a great man and president that have been relelentlessly driven down by the attacks from entertainment and news media elites.

I am sure you and your pals in the gym and at the arugula salad bar and in line when you are picking up your daughter from private school there in DC all tut tut about President Bush and giggle over the latest line from Jon Stewart, but my fellow Marines and their families know courage and greatness when we see it, and he has it. Pity you neither see it nor have it, yourself.

Jim Rockford for VP, either ticket

Pros: California law and order tough guy bona fides; Korean War veteran; constant fishing shows environmental streak; already has really cool Secret Service code name given to him by Isaac Hayes: "Rockfish"

Cons: Seems to have a glass jaw during fist fights, so might mean he is not be able to stand up to intense media scrutiny; wardrobe of plaid jackets and wide, white belts might be alarming to casual TV viewers

Reaction to this controversial proposal:

Mxymaster: isn't he a felon? Which is how he knew Hayes' character (not to mention Angel). That could be sticky.

Also, Jim has a bad tendency to send cars over cliffs where they erupt in balls of fire. He always ejects to safety, but what about his secret service detail?

LarsWalker: I believe it was established in the pilot that Jim Rockford had received a full pardon for his felony conviction. I don't think a convicted felon could have obtained a Private Investigator's License either.

But Jim's not VP material. Can you imagine him taking the heat for the boss? Swallowing his own opinions to follow the Official Line? Spending a whole day doing serious work at a desk or in a conference room?

He became a PI to avoid that grind.

Bgbear: They could move Jim Rockford's trailer onto the West Lawn and rent out Number One Observatory Circle.

Also the Camaro would replace the VP's limo.

I also think Angel could get the word on the street about Osama Bin Laden.

Obama Slurs, Maligns Disabled Veteran

"Our economy wouldn't survive without the Internet, and cyber-security continues to represent one our most serious national security threats," [Obama spokesman Dan] Pfeiffer said. "It's extraordinary that someone [McCain] who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn't know how to send an e-mail."

Why in the world would someone not bother to learn to send emails? HAHAHAHAHA Probably because John "Geriatric" McCain is old and out of it, like Gramps in the old folks home drooling his pea soup. HAHAHAHAHAHA Loser!

But could it be that McCain never bothered to learn to send emails because he can't use a computer keyboard due to the injuries he suffered at the hands of his Vietnamese torturers? Yes.


People ask, "TO, why are you so agin B. Hussein?" Answer: Because of stuff like this.

Obama call Palin a "pig"

Disagree? Screw you, "macaca"-philes. And you, McCain house counters. And you, Trent Lott baiters. And you too, all you claiming McCain wants 100 more years of troops in Iraq.

Face it, the Wizard of Uhhhhhs, Uhhhbama blew it on this one. He should go back to reading off the teleprompter.

A Few More State Quarters

Tennessee Date Quarter Released: January 02, 2002 (16th) Statehood: June 01, 1796

This quarter is just sorry. The three musical instruments represent the three musical traditions of the three regions of Tennessee and the three stars ALSO represent the three regions. Ok, we get it, three regions and three types of music. But no banjo? Clearly, a disastrous oversight. In case you did not get the message about music and regions, Tennessee thoughtfully included a banner with the simple declarative: “Musical Heritage.” Tennessee has a musical heritage, how unique among the states.

Tennessee has an outstanding nickname already, “the Volunteer State.” Tennessee is home of heroic patriots since 1812 and the War for Texas Independence. Too bad the current residents could not have figured a better way to commemorate this heritage.

Ohio Date Quarter Released: March 11, 2002 (17th) Statehood: March 01, 1803

This quarter is very well done. Ohio is known for two things, being the birthplace of presidents and for being the home of the Wrights and of the more famous astronauts. Recognizing this heritage, Ohio chose to commemorate that, rather than make up something phony and contrived (see: Tennessee).

The design itself was really well done, featuring the state outline, which I really like and a couple of design elements: the Wright flyer and a lunar astronaut. While I think the astronaut is supposed to be Neil Armstrong, a proud Buckeye, the design is based on the famous picture, taken BY Neil Armstrong, of Buzz Aldrin of New Jersey. So, like North Carolina, Ohio puts a native of another state on their quarter.

Louisiana Date Quarter Released: May 20, 2002 (18th) Statehood: April 30, 1812

Sometimes, it is the little things that knock down an otherwise first rank quarter design. Louisiana’s entry was really promising outline of the state, within the outline of the United States. Special bonus points to the graphical depiction of history with the outline of the Louisiana Purchase included in the design. There is also a pelican standing off to the side, its feet in Mexico and its head in New Mexico. There is no problem with the pelican since it is the state bird and is actually featured on the state flag.

Where the design goes wrong is the incorporation of a trumpet stuck up in Canada with three musical notes being tootled out of it. The design has a theme: the history of Louisiana and an official symbol. The addition of the trumpet muddies the effect and clutters the design. Too bad, there was real potential here.

Gotta love that naughty librarian vibe!

I have to agree with Mark Steyn, WOW. I am actually going to vote for McCain/Palin with relish.

What really did it for me is on this video. Check it out.

Turns out, it wasn't lost at all, thanks to George W Bush and the Marines

The US is handing over control of Anbar province back to the Iraq government. Congratulations for the George Bush for his sound judgement and courage to stay the course with his surge and the the courageous Marines who did the dirty work that had to be done to save Anbar.

Let us not forget the author of the comment that "Anbar is lost" is Marine Colonel Pete Devlin. His assessment has to rank among the worst intelligence assessments of all times. You would think that such a manifest failure would hurt his career, but you would be wrong. I suspect that he will be promoted to General some day. Watch for it.

Basic Instinct for Faith

I read a really interesting article about Joe Eszterhas, the screen writer of movies like Basic Instinct and one of my all time trashy movie favorites (at least for a while), Showgirls. It seems that although Eszterhas had been riding high, making money off depicting the dark side of humanity, he knew there was a whole in his soul. Things got so bad for him that "He plopped down on a curb and cried. Sobbed, even. And for the first time since he was a child, he prayed: 'Please God, help me.'" The author of the piece likened what happened next as similar to Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.

However, to me, Esterhas' story reminded me of Nebuchadrezzar who ruled as king of Babylon, but lost it all and was crawling around like an animal until he suddenly decided to pray to the God Daniel had introduced him to. 34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

TOGA!

I just got access to the newest Obama campaign poster before his big speech from the steps of the Roman Coliseum, er, Mile High Stadium and I thought I would share it with you.

"We should be led by Osama bin Laden, I mean Obama and Biden."

According to Charlie Wilson. Yes, THAT Charile Wilson.

Reminds me of this great clip from the formerly drunk and dissolute, now drunk, dissolute and brain damaged Senior Senator from Massachusetts: Watch!

a/k/a Barry Obama

This lawsuit, filed in Federal Court in Pennsylvania by a Democrat no less, is pretty entertaining. It is entertaining not because I think there is much in this lawsuit on the merits, but mostly because of all the “a/k/a’s” the Plaintiff included. Barak Hussein Obama, a/k/a Barry Soetoro, a/k/a Barry Obama a/k/a Barack Dunham a/k/a Barry Dunham.

Regarding the merits of the case, Article 1 Clause 5 of the Constitution requires that a person be born a citizen of the US in order to be eligible to be president. Further, US law that the time of Barry Hussein’s birth i.e. 24 December 1952 to 14 November 1986, required that children born of a US citizen and a foreign national, like Barry Hussein’s mom and his Kenyan dad, required that that the US citizen had been one for 10 years, five years of which had to have been after the parent's 14th birthday. Of course, all this is moot if the child is born in the US, as the pregnant Mexicans desperate to drop across the Rio Grande can attest. The suit maintains that Barry Hussein. The final part of this suit against Barry Hussein and the a/k/a’s is that the evidence that he was actually born in the US is forged and in fact he was born in Africa to a US woman who was too young to have spent 5 years after her 14th birthday as a citizen in order to confer natural born citizen to little Barry.

There is also some concern that Barry Hussein maintains some kind of dual loyalty to Kenya or Indonesia, which while not technically against the law, might be troublesome in a President. This is the least compelling part of the case, since everyone knows BHO’s fiercest loyalty is to his own ambition, not to some flag or fatherland.

I think the standard of proof will be too high in this case, and I think there will be a presumption that the Hawaii birth certificate, even though many are convinced it is a forgery, will carry the day to prove Barry Hussein was born in the US, but it is an entertaining suit to be in the courts during the Dem convention.

He's the ONE!

And I am not talking about the real one: Keanu Reeves. It's Barry Hussein!

Dems Grok B. Hussein

At the big Triumph of the Will style rally that B. Hussein is going to have in Denver, a move is afoot to have everyone salute the dear leader with a particular hand signal (Note: not the one I would give him).

I have included a picture of some actual supporters demonstrating the new signal. "We grok you, Barry. We hope you grok us back!"

President Bush Visits Yongsan Garrison, Korea

He got an appreciative reception from the troops assembled there. TO's special Korea correspondent weighed in with the following report:

"I met The President Yesterday it was kind of neat, but a little underwhelming. I expected a more commanding presence but it just wasn't there. He appeared to be a pretty down to earth guy that you could just hang out with and shoot turtles."

I can think of no higher praise for or about any man.

Taiwan Marine Master Sergeant Completes USMC Staff NCO Advanced Course

At Camp Pendleton, good on her. Notice she is wearing her uniform, or at least a uniform. Usually, Taiwanese have to wear a suit or some other civilian clothes when they come to Marine Corps courses. I really like the fact that the Marine Corps has allowed the Taiwanese to wear a uniform while they are training. I am more heartened by this, than any of the saccharine stories coming out of Beijing during the Olympics.