The important ramblings, rumblings and quixotic opinions of The Vails.
Nemo me impune lacessit
No one provokes me with impunity
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No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Article 1, Section 9, Constitution of the United States
If this is the law of the land...why in a republic (little r) and as republicans, do we allow mere POLITICIANS to the right to use a "title of office" for the rest of their lives as if it were de facto a patent of nobility. Because, as republicans, this should NOT be the case...just saying...
As expected, they projections on the cost of the government's seizure of health care are already rising. Today the Congressional Budget Office announced that ObamaCare will cost at least $115,000,000,000.00 more than Congress and Barack Obama promised before it was passed on a straight party line vote. For the first time in our history, a massive entitlement program has been enacted without ANY bipartisan support.
Now, the cost of this huge program is going to be at least 12% higher than the $850,000,000,000.00 cost that was promised by a lying Democratic Congressional leadership. The CBO says that it will be nearer to $1,000,000,000,000.00... that's a staggering sum.
The additional spending...would bring the total estimated cost of the overhaul to over $1 trillion.
We can't afford that now, what will the real cost be in 10 years...after all, Medicare was projected to cap in the late 1990's at $40 billion dollars...the real cost is 10 times that at $400 billion dollars per year. If the projected costs are going to be 12% higher now, six weeks after passage...what does that say for the real dollar amount we will be forced to pay? ABC is reporting that,
The revised figure is due to estimated costs to federal agencies to implement the new health care reform bill – such as administrative expenses for the Internal Revenue Services and the Department of Health and Human Services -- and the costs for a "variety of grant and other program spending for which specified funding levels for one or more years are provided in the act."
The time has come to vote ALL INCUMBENTS OUT, regardless of party. These idiots have spent our treasure wastefully and have refused to secure the borders of this country. It's time for a change...
Some astute observations from the comments section of the story by POLITICO.com on the release of the CBO Report that ObamaCare will cost $115,000,000,000.00 more than Congress and Barack Obama promised...
Susan Harkins
Party: Libertarian Reply #9
May. 11, 2010 - 4:37 PM ESTTHE PROGRESSIVE COUP D'E'TAT THAT FAILED
The Progressives/Liberals/RINOs & CINOs/Socialists & Communists picked the absolute WORST time in U.S. history to pull off the takeover of America.
Key Downfalls Listed:
• They made their move when BOOMERs were getting older, and subsequently, more conservative in their ways.
• They made their move right after a market crash, which caused about 1/3 of Boomers’ retirement to evaporate. This instant loss of wealth shifted public perception to, highly anti-establishment sentiment.
• They made their move thinking that, all they had already gained control over mainstream media (ie: MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS); however their media power grab failed to include the internet as a major media outlet that would circumvent their control over the media AND allow for immediate postings of ALL sources of info (including info damaging to progressives and their adjenda).
• Because of the collapse of the economy, they sped up their takeover plans (turned up the heat too fast). From massive bailouts to private sector takeovers, they forced open the eyes of the American people to their plan of transforming America into a Socialist republic. Had they gone slower, it might have worked.
• Because they sped up their plans, they had to scramble in their efforts to disarm America, further convincing the American people that a passive takeover underway. Why else would the government disarm its people?
• Much to their surprise, the two-party system has now become suspect, by ordinary U.S. citizens, who now investigate their political parties for treasonous, anti-Constitutionalist participants: Liberal Extremists, Progressives, RINOs and CINOs.
• From Climate/Carbon taxation, to attempts of small weapons treaties to circumvent the Second Amendment, they are pulling out all the stops to have the U.S. people answer to U.N. (global) mandates, in an effort to consolidate control. It is glaringly obvious in recent bills. Since then, states have begun to fight back, passing FireArms Freedom Acts, to protect their citizens from the Federal Government’s desire to confiscate weapons.
Bottom Line: They lost their ‘goldilocks’ moment to grab power, and the American People have awoken and are turning against the current Progressive-infected Government! Internet posts, from citizens’ all across America, are urging a common reply to this attempted takeover: VOTE ALL THE INCUMBENTS OUT and put true Conservatives in office. There is a massive political shift to the right, underway – you are witnessing a crumbling progressive coup at this time, which will go down in the history books as the failed hijacking of America.
It will be a long time before the American People extend them any degree of legitimacy and trust, again. Another 30 years will have to pass, whilst they change their identity, and turn up the Progressive/Socialist heat on our citizens again.
The president of the Muslim Student Association at the University of California, San Diego has openly admitted that she supports the slaughter of Jews in Israel. For this alone, it's time to suppress the public university system for giving funds to any of the MSA's in this country. MSA has been proven to be an active arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, which supports international Islamic terrorism against the west. But don't take my word for it...watch the video, it's rathe chilling to see an American Muslim admit they would support the slaughter of 30 million people world-wide.:
Horowitz:
If you don’t condemn Hamas, obviously you support it. Case closed. I have had this experience at UC Santa Barbara, where there were 50 members of the Muslim Students Association sitting right in the rows there. And throughout my hour talk I kept asking them, will you condemn Hizbollah and Hamas. And none of them would. And then when the question period came, the president of the Muslim Students Association was the first person to ask a question. And I said, ‘Before you start, will you condemn Hizbollah?’ And he said, ‘Well, that question is too complicated for a yes or no answer.’ So I said, ‘Okay, I’ll put it to you this way. I am a Jew. The head of Hizbollah has said that he hopes that we will gather in Israel so he doesn’t have to hunt us down globally. For or Against it?
It's passed time to stop funding the Muslim Student Association from state and federal coffers. This organization has been proven to be an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood which funds and supports Islamic terrorism world-wide.
Here is a terrific article on why appeasement of Islamic radicals who constantly protest western concepts...such as freedom of speech fail.
The evangelical Arabic satellite station, al-Haya (Life TV), regularly takes the Muslim prophet to task, especially on two weekly programs: Hiwar al-Haq (Truth Talk), hosted by Coptic priest Fr. Zakaria Botros, and Su’al Jari’ (Daring Question), hosted by ex-Muslim Rashid. Both shows revolve around asking uncomfortable questions about Islam and its founder in an effort to prompt Muslims to reconsider the legitimacy of their faith. (It is on these shows that the aforementioned, unflattering assertions of Muhammad originate; see here and here for English summaries.)...Far from being cowed by the daily death threats, however, Life TV and its unrepentant hosts have responded by upping the ante and providing even more anecdotes discrediting Muhammad. Rashid recently examined the theological implications of Muhammad’s hatred for the gecko lizard,...Needless to say, Life TV’s hosts — especially the flamboyant Fr. Zakaria — are hated by Muslims around the world. But to the careful observer, the outrage appears to be subsiding, ostensibly replaced by apathy — that is, the default strategy when threats and displays of indignation fail. Most callers are now Muslim converts to Christianity, who encourage and thank Fr. Zakaria and Rashid (often in tears)...Now, back to our original observation: how can Life TV get away with outlandish weekly disparagements concerning Muhammad, whereas Western cartoons spark widespread outrage? Considering that millions of more Muslims watch Life TV than have ever heard of South Park makes the question doubly puzzling.
The answer is simple: the South Park incident is less a reflection of Muslim anger and more of Western appeasement. By constantly buckling in to the slightest Muslim displeasure — whether by altering films, removing museum art, or canceling book launches — the West has perpetuated a vicious cycle wherein Muslim sensitivities are ever heightened and outraged at the slightest slight, and Western freedoms of expression are correspondingly diminished and trampled upon. What’s worse, such self-imposed censorship falls right into the hands of homegrown Islamists actively working to subvert Western civilization from within.
By appeasing those who oppose freedom of speech, we are giving away our fundamental rights...which is a very sad thing. As Glen Reynolds would say...READ THE WHOLE THING!
But then, this is why I will participate in May Draw Muhammad cartoon day...
It's hard not to laugh about this, but our fearless leader, Barack Obama has spoken to the Spanish Premier about the Spanish goverment debt...just about the only thing that comes to mind is..."isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" (give over on your racist comments, it's a very old saying)...The Wall Street Journal reports that,
US President Barack Obama spoke to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Tuesday on the debt crisis and discussed reforms needed to rescue the Spanish economy, the White House said. The conversation was the latest move by Obama in the European crisis, and White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Washington would do whatever was needed to stop the eurozone turmoil from stifling the US recovery. The leaders .discussed the importance of Spain taking resolute action as part of Europe.s effort to strengthen its economy and build market confidence,. Gibbs said in a statement. The president expressed the support of the United States for those efforts. The president also conveyed his best wishes to King Juan Carlos for a speedy recovery from his recent surgery..
This is from a man who has in the past 2 years added almost as much to the debt as all of his predecessors combined. Now that's the height of hypocrisy...
Yesterday the Obama administration announced a 7.4% hike in its deficit projection for 2010 to $1.26 trillion. Spain’s entire economy, the nation’s gross domestic product, is $1.6 trillion. The national debt Obama is running in one year is roughly 79% of Spain’s entire economy. Hope for change.
Yep, I'm hoping for a change...now...what about the CBO announcing that after less than 7 weeks, the cost of Obamacare is $115,000,000,000.00 MORE than projected...remember November!
First, some background on the raid depicted in the video: On February 11, the Columbia, Missouri, police department's SWAT team served a drug warrant at the home of Jonathan Whitworth and Brittany Montgomery. Police say that eight days earlier they had received a tip from a confidential informant that Whitworth had a large supply of marijuana in his home. They say they first conducted a trash pull, and found marijuana residue in the family's garbage. During the raid, police shot and killed the family's pit bull. At least one bullet ricocheted, injuring the family's pet corgi. Whitworth, Montgomery, and their 7-year-old son were at home at the time. The incident was written up in the Columbia Daily Tribune, noted on a few blogs that cover drug policy (including a post I put up here at Reason), and then largely forgotten for several weeks.
On April 28, I received an email from Montgomery. She had seen my post at Reason and read an account of some of my reporting on SWAT teams published in Reader's Digest. She said she was reading to her son in his bedroom at the time of the raid. Her husband had just returned home from work. Police fired on their pets within seconds of entering the home.
"I've never felt so violated or more victimized in my life," Montgomery wrote. "It's absolutely the most helpless and hopeless feeling I could ever imagine. I can't sleep right ... and I am constantly paranoid. It's a horrible feeling ... to lose the safety and security I thought I was entitled to in my own home. Nobody protected us that night, my son and I were locked in the back of a police car for nearly four hours on a school night while they destroyed my home."
According to Montgomery, when the couple's neighbors inquired about the raid, they were told that the SWAT team had merely conducted a drill, and no shots were fired. When neighbors learned from the family that this was a lie, they began writing to the department and the Daily Tribune to demand answers. When the couple discovered the police had videotaped the raid, they requested a copy of the video. Montgomery said in her email that the copy they were initially given had no audio, and the incriminating (to the police) portions of the video had been removed.
On February 23, the Daily Tribune published its first story on the raid. The paper made its own request for the SWAT video, which the police department initially denied. On April 20, Jonathan Whitworth pleaded guilty to a single charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He wasn't even charged for the minor amount of marijuana in his home (marijuana for personal use has been decriminalized in Columbia). He was issued a $300 fine. On April 27, the Daily Tribune made a formal request for the video, which it received on April 30, with full audio and with no visuals removed. The paper posted the video with an accompanying article on May 3. On May 5, I posted it here at Reason, and the video went viral.
The police department has since conceded it was unaware that there were pets or a child in the home at the time of the raid. A spokesman for the Columbia Police Department initially said police had to conduct the raid immediately before the drug supply could be moved, a statement later shown to be false when police revealed the raid was conducted more than a week after the initial tip.
So, the police in this instance, first lied about the circumstances of the raid, then obfuscated about it, then have clammed up...This isn't a isolated instance, this sort of thing is occuring on a regular basis. A few years ago, a grandmother in Atlanta, GA was legally murdered by police during a no-knock raid. In Montgomery County, MD, several people were shot by police. In Mississippi a man is on death row, for defending himself from police in a no-knock raid (they had the wrong address)...it's time to us to end the use of this police state, gestapo tactic.
Education in the United States has become one vast entitlement system. Minorities are entitled to exemptions because they have been oppressed. Women are entitled to exemptions becauses ALL MEN HAVE OPPRESSED THEM FOR AEONS. On the other hand we have created a system that gives preferment to women and minorities nearly to the exclusion of men in higher education.
A recent study of graduation rates in higher education have disclosed a startling conclusion: Women are graduating college at rates that nearly equal 1.5 to 1.
For last year’s graduating Class of 2009, women dominated at every level of higher education. Here’s the national breakdown: for every 100 men, 142 women graduated with a bachelor’s, 159 women completed a master’s and 107 women got a doctoral degree.
This is creating an education gape that if we don't begin to tackle now...will create in huge imbalance down the road. Think about it...more women, in much higher paying jobs will be forced to "settle" on men who make much less...in other words...your wife is a lawyer and you work at Mickey D's because that's the best job you can find. While that's an extreme case, its not as far fetched as you imagine. Russia is already contending with this issue now, nearly 70% of the doctors there are women, while less than 40% of the men are college graduates.
This chart shows how these number will continue to skew in ever larger percentages. Since we as a nation have decided to toss out merit and focus soley on sex... then to quote Glenn Reynolds,
Obviously, we need to extend Title IX beyond athletics . . . .You think I’m kidding but I’m not sure I am. Since we’ve given up on merit and instead focus on group representation nowadays, what’s the argument against such an approach?
Merit, no longer has anything to do with college entrance/acceptance. Once upon a time, passing a college entrance examination was what was needed to gain acceptance at a university...no longer. We have become a nation whose higher education has become predicated on sex and minority status, not merit. Unless we do something about that soon...in 20 years we will see male college education rates sink below 30%...
At a speech on Freedom of Speech in Sweden, Lars Vilks, who drew Mohamad as a dog was assaulted by raging Muslim students...
This is what happens when you permit one faith to hijack freedom...Here's AP's report
A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a dog was assaulted Tuesday while giving a university lecture about the limits of artistic freedom.
Lars Vilks told The Associated Press a man in the front row ran up to him and head-butted him during a lecture, breaking his glasses but leaving him uninjured. It wasn’t immediately clear what happened to the attacker.
Vilks has faced numerous threats over his controversial drawing of Muhammad with a dog’s body, but Tuesday’s incident was the first time he has been physically assaulted.
Earlier this year U.S. investigators said Vilks was the target of an alleged murder plot involving Colleen LaRose, an American woman who dubbed herself “Jihad Jane,” and who now faces life in prison. She had pleaded not guilty.
Vilks said a group of about 15 people had been shouting and trying to interrupt the lecture before the incident at Uppsala University.
Many of them stormed the front of the room after the attack and clashed with security guards as Vilks was pulled away into a separate room, he said, describing the scene as “complete chaos.”
“A man ran up and threw himself over me. I was head-butted and my glasses were broken,” Vilks said before hanging up for questioning by police.
Islam and Freedom of Speech it seems aren't compatible in Western Society.
I got this from a friend of mine, I don't know who wrote it, but it's pretty much dead on...I don't remember if I posted this before or not...but...
LET ME SEE IF I'VE GOT THIS RIGHT . . .
*IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOR.
*IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
*IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
*IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU WILL BE JAILED.
*IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
*IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY,YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
*IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY,
YOU GET . . .
1 - A JOB,
2 - A DRIVER'S LICENSE,
3 - A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
4 - WELFARE,
5 - FOOD STAMPS,
6 - CREDIT CARDS,
7 - SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
8 - FREE EDUCATION,
9 - FREE HEALTH CARE,
10 - A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
11 - BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
12 - AND THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT.
I've not yet commented on Mr. Obama's choice for the US Supreme Court. He has chosen the dean of Harvard Law school. While my admiration for ivy league schools is immense, I believe it's well past time to choose people from different backgrounds. Democrats are keen on "diversity", yet all of the women who will be sitting on the Supreme Court will have been born within a 50 mile radius (The Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan), and have gone to very nearly the same universities...that's not diversity at all...that's elitism at it's worst.
I would oppose pretty much anyone he chose, because I think that most liberal justices have lost sight of what the Constitution means, both historically as well as traditionally. I think this woman is the equivalent of George Bush's choice of Harriet Myers...and thus unfit to serve on the highest court in this country.
The White House Monday said that Supreme Court nominee won’t follow her own advice from 1995 in answering questions on specific legal cases or issues, supporting Kagan’s flip flop on the issue that she first made a year ago. Kagan wrote in 1995 that the confirmation process had become a “charade” because nominees were not answering direct questions, and said they should have to do so. But during a briefing with reporters in the White House, Ron Klain, a top legal adviser to Vice President Joe Biden who played a key role in helping President Obama choose Kagan, said that she no longer holds this opinion.
That was then, this is now...why, after all, should ANYONE being chosen to high office in this country actually answer any questions at all? Why? Well, because then you're on record as actually supporting or opposing something...this way, by not answering substantive questions, you can hem and haw all you want.
“I wrote that when I was in the position of sitting where the staff is now sitting, and feeling a little bit frustrated that I really wasn’t understanding completely what the judicial nominee in front of me meant and what she thought,” Kagan said,
Bullshit, now you don't think you should have to answer anything at all. Just be confirmed...I don't think so. This woman's own words show that she's unfit for high office. If you wanted people to asnwer specific questions then, you should do so now. The hypocritical "good for thee, but not for me" attitude is a perfect symptom of what is wrong with our political class. We have an administration, many of whom's appointees evaded taxes until they were selected for high office...
My 2nd main reason to oppose her appointment is that she blocked the US Military from recruiting at Harvard Law School...thus extending the Liberal Left's disdain of those who defend their freedoms. Personally, I've come to the conclusion that the Constitution should be amended to say the the President and Vice President of this country should have served in the US military as a precondition to holding those office. After all, if you're not willing to defend this country why on earth should you be permitted to lead it?
Generally, I think that these talent shows are an utter waste of time...but every now and then, they run across someone who has genuine talent. This woman, Janey Cutler, 80 years old...a petite little old woman with 7 children, and dozens of great grandchildren, has a HUUGE VOICE!
Last Wednesday...5 students at a high school in California were sent home for wearing either t-shirts or bandana's that bore the American flag. Roger Ebert, that paragon of American patrioism and virtue equated those young men to...communists who wave a hammer and sickle on July 4th.
@ebertchicago Kids who wear American Flag T-shirts on 5 May should have to share a lunchroom table with those who wear a hammer and sickle on 4 July.
Personally, I think Mr. Ebert is an idiot...but to say that these young men are...the same as those who wear communist symbols, is stupid and ignorant. Now...that being said, this particular photograph really pisses me off.
Mr. Ebert...you are an ignorant man. But who is truly ignorant is the principal of the High School involved. He basically told those young men that they could NOT EXPRESS AMERICAN PATRIOTISM IN A CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL More importantly, that principal has admited that he may have acted prcipitously...
The Morgan Hill Unified School District has launched an investigation into the matter, and the school's principal has since apologized. "In this situation, I may have moved too quickly in drawing the line of when to take preventative action," Nick Boden, Live Oak High School's principal, said at a press conference May 7.
For those decisions, both the pricipal and the assitant pricipal should lose their jobs. More over, Mr. Ebert...
Writing on his blog Sunday, Ebert expounded on what he had meant in his original tweet. "The question is obviously not whether Americans, or anyone else, has the right to wear our flag on their T-shirts," Ebert said. "
So...wearing an American Flag t-shirt is not acceptable on a...non existent "Mexican-American" holiday (um...Cinco de Mayo celebrates a battle in the Mexican/Franco War, NOT Mexican Independence Day-which is Sep 15, NOT May 5)...Mr. Ebert, you are wrong. Both, in your precept that it is not acceptable to display an American flag on a holiday that doesn't exist. What you are espousing is throttling Freedom of Speech...which last I checked you made a living from...
This is why I firmly believe that today, we should turn out all those who are presently holding office...and send them ALL packing regardless of party. Out political class has come to feel that they are entitled to all the pirks of their office...even though they don't deserve them!
The recent law passed with overwhelming support by the citizens of Arizona is an excellent case in point on the bias in media. While more than 70% of the people of Arizona support the law, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and CNN, of the broadcast networks, have aired more than 50 stories that are against this law. This is despite a new national poll that is giving similar numbers from across the country.
The new poll finds 61 percent of voters nationally think Arizona was right to take action instead of waiting for the federal government to do something on immigration. That’s more than twice as many as the 27 percent who think securing the border is a federal responsibility and Arizona should have waited for Washington to act. . . . Significantly more voters think the Obama administration should wait and see how the new law works (64 percent) than think the administration should try to stop it (15 percent).
Even more importantly, Democrats are for the Arizona measure, more than 2-1. The LA Times is reporting that
By a two to one margin (52-26), Democrats said the law should be left alone to ’see how it works.
From April 23 to May 3, the top three television networks offered viewers 50 stories and interview segments on their morning and evening news programs. The tone was strongly hostile to the law and promotional to the “growing storm” of left-wing protesters: 37 stories (or 74 percent) were negative, 10 were neutral, and only three were positive toward the Arizona law’s passage – 12 negative stories for every one that leaned positive. Stories were much kinder and sympathetic to illegal aliens than they were to police officers. Cops were potential abusers of power. Entering the country illegally was not an abuse of power. It was portrayed as an honorable step by the powerless.
The soundbite count was also slanted, with 92 quotes against the law and only 52 in favor. The pro-law numbers, however, included many soundbites of Arizona public officials defending themselves against liberal charges that they were racists or in favor of racial profiling.
Print media has been no kinder with the Washington Post, NY Times and LA Times all publishing stories just as scathing against Arizona. It's no wonder that all of these organizations are losing readers/viewers in huge numbers. When your audience leaves you...so do your advertizers. Thus all of these companies are on the long slow death glide to bankruptcy.
Personally, I can't read my local papers, the Baltimore Sun, or the Washington Post, because of their bias. That of the Sun is often quite naked with "news" stories are often in fact opinion peices. It's a sad fact, that comedy/entertainment faux news shows are the only ones who are the only "journalists" asking hard questions of our politicians...not schilling for them as is the case with most of the mass media today.
85 Hispanic students from Morgan Hill, California, rallied yesterday to protest against the wearing of the American Flag (on t-shirts, shorts and bandanas) by 5 five non-hispanic students on Wednesday, May 5th. That was "Cinco de Mayo". This is...unconsciounable.
An assistant principal at Live Oak told the group of boys on Wednesday to take off bandanas and shirts bearing American flags or turn the shirts inside out, according to some of the boys. At least one of the boys was also wearing shorts with the U.S. flag. "They said we could wear it on any other day," said Daniel Galli, one of the boys involved. "But today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday, so we were not allowed to wear it today." The boys said they were told the clothing was offending some Hispanic students and could spark fights. They were given the choice to leave or face suspension, they said.
Being told they can't wear symbols of America at a school that DOESN'T prohibit such is a clear violation of the 1st Amendment to the United States Constition. If they offended the Hispanic students, oh well. Cinco de Mayo isn't an American holiday. It's a Mexican holiday that celebrates a military victory of Mexican forces over those of France. Once student is quoted as saying,
"I think they should apologize 'cause it is a Mexican heritage day," student Annicia Nunez said. "We don't deserve to get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."
Well Alicia, in America, you should know that you don't have the right to be offended. It's tough to be an American because the people around you have a right to express themselves. If you don't like it, go home to Mexico. That is obviously where your heart lies. What you don't have, is the right to force other people from expressing their rights, that's called oppression.
UPDATE: It used to be that burning the flag was considererd to be "patriotic protest"...of course, you have to burn the "right" flag to get that consideration. 4 Students at Vintage High School in Napa Valley were suspended for burning a Mexican flag in protest of Cinco de Mayo.
Yesterday morning in California, 5 students were sent home for wearing clothing that bore the American flag. Imagine that, for wearing clothing that had an American flag on it...despite the fact that this isn't against either the High School's policy, or the School District's policy, these students were sent home. Meanwhile, several hundred students were seen leaving school at the end of the day wearing either shirts bearing the Mexican flag, or having that flag painted upon their bodies...yet NOT ONE STUDENT was sent home for that infraction.
Today, in protest for the "insult" of having a their "Mexican heritage" day "mexican" students walked out of that same school. When I was a kid in school, this would be called "skipping" class and we'd be suspended. Yet it appears that these students won't be punished.
"Mexican-American" walked out in protest of the five students who they say "offended them" by wearing the American Flag clothes yesterday on Cinco de Mayo. They held a small rally at the Morgan Hill Civic Center and demanded to see the Mayor.
Sorry, but the last time I checked, California was an American State, not a Mexican province. If they want to celebrate Mexican heritage, move to Mexico and live the heritage of corruption and poverty that is the true "heritage" of Mexico.
Students showing their Mexican-American pride walked out of class at Live Oak High School on Thursday, and rallied at the Morgan Hill Civic Center, calling the actions of the students who wore the American T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo offensive. They also demanded to speak with the mayor.
"I think they should apologize because it is a Mexican heritage day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, told NBC BayArea. "We don't deserve to be disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."
Those students who were sent home for wearing an American flag t-shirt should appologize? I don't think so. Those students who left school shoud be suspended for leaving school without permission. Additionally, the Vice Principal who force students to leave school for wearing an America flag should be suspended, if not terminated. Yet that won't happen...because his last name is Rodriguez. He'll probably be commended by the politically correct school system that teaches,
All of this stems from the parents and the community they self-segregate themselves in. This community teaches them to think "Mexico First". The Constitution of the United States does not exist in their eyes.
Thus is a measure of how political correctness has utterly corrupted our school systems. It's well past time that we reinstitute the teaching of American history in schools.
UPDATE: Via Instapundit. Here is video of the interview of a couple of the kids kicked out of school for wearing an American flag T-shirt. But here are the real money quotes:
“I never thought I’d be on national TV for wearing an American flag shirt.”
“What seems to elude people in this incident is that everyone has the right to express themselves on every day of the year in the US, and that ’some people may be offended’ is no just cause for censorship.”
That's the problem, we have become so politically correct in this country that freedom of speech is falling by the wayside. You don't have a right to be offended. Can you be offended? Certainly, but that doesn't give you the right to censor my speech.
If the GOP wins large majorities in this November's election, could the Democrats presently in control of Congress become a "mad duck" congress. That would mean that during the December's final session of the present Congress, they would pass all sorts of legislation that would be difficult or impossible to reverse, like granting anmesty to 20 million illegal workers, or Cap & Trade bill now stalled in the Senate. How about a Value Added Tax (VAT).
These are all presently on the Democratic leaderships agenda, but are stalled or not yet introduced as bills. Would the Democrats actually attempt to implemeent these very unpopular proposals against the will of the people? You betcha! If they passed the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 against the wishes of (as polls showed) 57% of the voting public, you can just about guarantee that they'll pass these items, as they've been on the liberal wish lists for decades.
Micky Kaus, a long time journalist from southern California, now running for the US Senate against Barbara Boxer, says,
The only sure solution to Mad Duckism that I can see is for the Republicans to not win too big, leaving at least a substantial number of Dems with something left to lose. ...
In my opinion, just the opposit should happen, the GOP should win such large majorities as to guarantee repealling all of these items in numbers large enough to over come the certainty of veto by this president (who has already proven to be a far left ideologue). Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard thinks this is a likely senario as well. In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Mr. Barnes comes to this conclusion,
It's unpopular, but one can imagine Democrats might seek to enact it. The president's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which began its work last week, is required to submit a plan for serious deficit reduction by Dec. 1, four weeks after the November election.
Its recommendations are non-binding, but a lame duck Congress would be in position to take them up, including a possible VAT. Should Democrats suffer a landslide defeat, their large majorities would still be in place for the lame-duck session. What would Democrats who'd been defeated for re-election have to lose by voting for a VAT? Not much.
This scenario isn't as far-fetched as you might think. In a speech at a Democratic reception in Boston on April 1, Mr. Obama boasted of his willingness to do the unpopular: "If you govern by pundit and polls, then you lose sight of why you got into public service in the first place," he said. His "job," he said, isn't to "husband my popularity [and] make sure that I'm not making waves. . . . So I resolved to do not necessarily what was popular, but what I thought was right."
Does Mr. Obama think a VAT would be "right"? Take a guess.
I think because this on that "wish list" of items Democrats want dearly, that this will likely be what happens. If the GOP wins less than 100 seats in the House and under 10 in the Senate, that the present Speaker of the House and a lame duck Senate Majority Leader will convene a whirlwind session and attempt to pass as much of thier agenda as possible, without any bipartisan effort at all. After all, with the passage of the extremely unpopular America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 without ANY Republican votes, something unprecidented in our history, why would they shirk at the rest of their agenda?
Here is a great example of what is truly wrong with Major Media's liberal bias today
Here's the money quote:
“I get frustrated…” said Contessa Brewer. “There was part of me that was hoping this was not going to be anybody with ties to any kind of Islamic country. … There are a lot of people who want to use terrorist intent to justify writing off people who believe in a certain way or come from certain countries or whose skin color is a certain way. I mean they use it as justification for really outdated bigotry.”
If someone on the right has said,
"I get frustrated...there's a part of me that was hoping this was connected to Al Queda, and not a left-wing terrorist (like the Michigan Militia Case that is collapsing around the US attorney's ears--who were ALL registered Democrats)"
He'd be excoriated by the press. Properly so. But because this statement came from Ms. Brewer, who is well known for her liberal views, as well as contributing ONLY to liberals and liberal causes, she'll get a pass...except here in the blogosphere.
UPDATE: There's a great article in PJM on the double standard in reporting liberal/left wing inspired violence and the hue and cry that is raised by the media if it can be at all attributed to someone on the right/conservative.
This blind eye continued recently as left-wing radicals in New Orleans chased down and beat up a Republican campaign staffer for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in New Orleans after a April 9 fundraiser. Allee Bautsch and her boyfriend were attacked from behind by protesters organized by the leftist/anarchist Iron Rail Collective as they left Brennan’s Restaurant in the French Quarter. Both Bautsch and Brown were hospitalized with multiple broken bones after they were jumped by a group of three to five thugs. Another group leaving the restaurant nearly suffered the same fate, but escaped in a taxi.
If a gang of right-wing extremists isolated and ambushed campaign staffers for a Democratic governor, you can rest assured that national media attention devoted to the case would be sensationalized. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would undoubtedly issue another warning about right-wing extremists that would be echoed by Barack Obama himself and Democratic leaders. But Bautsch is a Republican staffer who was attacked by left-wing radicals — so you can count on the media’s silence.
As is pointed out above...the merest hint that GI's returning from Iraq or Afghanistan might join militia groups caused Mrs. Napolitano to issue a warning of rightwing violence. Now, what's to be done? Many people are now ignoring many media outlets...the large circulation big city papers are dying. Just take a look at the NY Times group...they are losing money hand over fist. CNN and MSNBC are hemoraging viewers in record numbers, just as Fox News is gaining them by making an attempt to present a "Fair and Balanced" view on news...
Then there is the internet. There is a virtual "Army of Davids" out there reporting and commenting on news in growing numbers. I know, because I'm one.
Another one bites the dust...when you're a powerful chairman of the appropriations committee, you don't "retire" in a very difficult year unless your chances of reelection are vastly reduced. This is the 3rd senior member of the Dem leadership in the House to choose retirement...rather than (in the words of the "great" James Earl Carter) be "retired by the electorate."
The surprise retirement of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey is a blow to Democrats
Of course, Harry Reed looks to lose his seat...he'll be the 2nd consecutive Democratic Senate Majority leader to lose his seat...look for much more of this in the coming months.
Trillions spent, and 30 million are still out of work.
Faisal Shahzad, a U.S. citizen of one year, has been arrested in the Times Square bombing probe. The Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) had issued a specific BOLO for individuals who had recently traveled out of the country.
Ultimately, authorities removed three passengers from a Dubai-bound flight late Monday. The three included Shahzad, the suspect arrested in connection to the foiled bomb attempt at Times Square. Shahzad was arrested at JFK airport in New York and the other two passengers were allowed back on the flight.
Was Shahzad a victim of racial profiling? What specific information was on the BOLO and why were specific individuals targeted?
Why are federal law enforcement officials allowed to use profiling while Arizona law enforcement officers will be criticized for enforcing the same laws?
New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said of the Arizona law, “We are committing suicide by having this law.” But he took to grandstanding before the media and the NYPD to congratulate their actions. Are NYPD officers trustworthier than Arizona local law enforcement officers?
Maybe some pinhead Federal judge will see it for what it is and release Shahzad because he was a victim of some run amuck racial profiling edict. When he is released he could attend some competent bomb-making school and visit Mayor Bloomberg’s personal residence. I am sure that the governor of Arizona would attend his memorial service.
Mr. Bloomberg prior to the arrest of Mr. Shahhzad, showed that he is yet another dumbass politician spouting off on a subject he knows little about. Mr. Bloomberg's ranting that this had to be a "right wing" nut case, or this from CBS Ch 2 NYC
Bloomberg later told CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric that the suspect behind the bombing attempt could be a domestic terrorist angry at the government who acted alone.
"If I had to guess 25 cents, this would be exactly that. Homegrown, or maybe a mentally deranged person, or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything," he said.
...gee that really inspires you to think that the "authorities" really know what they're talking about, doesn't it?
No-one has ever said that animal rights activists are brilliant people. But going to a biker rally and protesting leather-wearing can't be all that damn smart…
HERE'S HOW POLICE FOUND ONE OF THEM.
Animal Rights Activist...duct-taped to a tree by Bikers in Johnstown, PA
Johnstown, PA (GlossyNews) - Local and state police scoured the hills outside rural Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after reports of three animal rights activists going missing after attempting to protest the wearing of leather at a large motorcycle gang rally this weekend. Two others, previously reported missing, were discovered by fast food workers "duct taped inside several fast food restaurant dumpsters," according to police officials.
"Something just went wrong," said a still visibly shaken organizer of the protest.
"Something just went horribly, horribly, wrong." The organizer said a group of concerned animal rights activist groups, "growing tired of throwing fake blood and shouting profanities at older women wearing leather or fur coats," decided to protest the annual motorcycle club event "in a hope to show them our outrage at their wanton use of leather in their clothing and motor bike seats." "In fact," said the organizer, "motorcycle gangs are one of the biggest abusers of wearing leather, and we decided it was high time that we let them know that we disagree with them using it.ergo, they should stop."
According to witnesses, protesters arrived at the event in a vintage 1960's era Volkswagen van and began to pelt the gang members with balloons filled with red colored water, simulating blood, and shouting "you're murderers" to passers by. This, evidently, is when the brouhaha began.
"They peed on me!!!" charged one activist. "They grabbed me, said I looked like I was French, started calling me 'La Trene', and duct taped me to a tree so they could pee on me all day!"
Still others claimed they were forced to eat hamburgers and hot dogs under duress. Those who resisted were allegedly held down while several bikers "farted on their heads."
Police officials declined comments on any leads or arrests due to the ongoing nature of the investigation; however, organizers for the motorcycle club rally expressed "surprise" at the allegations.
"That's preposterous," said one high-ranking member of the biker organizing committee. "We were having a party, and these people showed up and were very rude to us. They threw things at us, called us names, and tried to ruin the entire event. So, what did we do? We invited them to the party! What could be more friendly than that? You know, just because we are all members of motorcycle clubs does not mean we do not care about inclusiveness. Personally, I think it shows a lack of character for them to be saying such nasty things about us after we bent over backwards to make them feel welcome."
When confronted with the allegations of force-feeding the activists meat, using them as ad hoc latrines, leaving them incapacitated in fast food restaurant dumpsters, and 'farting on their heads,' the organizer declined to comment in detail. "That's just our secret handshake," assured the organizer.
Just how stupid do you have to be to mount an "animal rights" protest...like this? This is yet another firm case that STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BREED! This guy is tremendously lucky that this is all that's happened to him. I own and ride two motorcycles, a V-Twin cruiser, and a large bore sport-touring bike. I'm not a biker by any stretch of imagination, but I too wear leathers when I ride because it is the most economical protection around...if kevlar were as inexpensive as leather, I'd own it...it's not and won't ever be...so leather is my choice, hands down.
After having watched this administration in operation over the past 15 months, I now believe that they are using the following "rules" as guidelines towards any one who opposes them:
...Always remember the first rule of power tactics: Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.
...The second rule is: Never go outside the experience of your people.
...The third rule is: Whereever possible go outside the experience of the enemy. Here you want to cause confusion, fear, and retreat.
...the fourth rule is: Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.
...the fourth rule carries within it the fifth rule: Ridicule is man's most potent weapon.
...the sixth rule is: A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.
...the seventh rule is: A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.
...the eighth rule: Keep the pressure on.
...the ninth rule: The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
...The tenth rule: The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
...The eleventh rule is: If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside.
...The twelth rule: The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.
...The thirteenth rule: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. -- P.126-129 Alinski's Rules For Radicals
Ever since last spring when the first stirrings of opposition to their agenda, the Obama Administration has followed these basic tenents against what has become the Tea Party Movement. All along this administration has attempted first to ridicule it (i.e. "tea baggers"), then to label it as a "violent right wing movement", followed by the final rule above.
Unfortunately, just about all the violence has stemmed from SEIU thugs assaulting various people in the Tea Party Movement...most recently in New Orleans where a
female political operative named Allee Bautsch and her boyfriend, Joe Brown, were attacked and seriously injured by a vicious group of crazed cowards who shrieked insults while pouncing. After the pummeling, the petite woman and her boyfriend were left, collectively, with a compound leg fracture, a concussion, a broken nose and broken jaw. Here’s part of the police report:
Then of course there is the case of Kenneth Gladney in St. Louis, MO who was attacked by purple shirt wearing SEIU thugs, here's a video of that assault:
So far, in the past 15 months...all of the political violence has stemmed from the left, not the right, despite the legacy media and the Obama Administration's attempts to frame it otherwise.
Joseph Phelan is the Executive Director of the SEIU in Miami, Florida. There is an email from him to one of The Vail Spot's readers. This is what our tax dollars (via contributions of SEIU members) are paying for...
- This is Joseph Phelan, from MWC, we are working on this initiative, check it out, stand up, take action! -
This country, and world, that so many of us are pushing to make better, is sliding backwards.
We have seen the rise of a racist movement injecting its venom into mainstream politics, with fears whipped up by billionaire media pundits, making a killing on the hate they spew.
Enough is enough: www.enough-basta-ya.com
We have seen banks reach into our pockets and borrow on our future. They smile in our faces as they float away on golden parachutes, leaving most of us in the worst economic states of our lives.
Enough is enough: www.enough-basta-ya.com
We have seen ideological special interests push through racist legislation in Arizona, codifying racial profiling, and taking us backwards in history.
Enough is Enough! www.enough-basta-ya.com is a portal to connect to the resistance.
These trends are all tied together by an economy with a big hole in the middle of it, caused by big banks, greedy billionaires, and corporations that somehow claim to be our saviours. They use a smokescreen of racial pot stirring that plays on fears that divide us.
Enough is enough! www.enough-basta-ya.com
It is time for action.
In Arizona, on Wall Street, in Kansas, and on D.C., regular people, young and old, of all backgrounds are getting out of their homes and armchairs. They're on the internet, sending emails, talking in their churches, and hitting the streets. They're letting it be known, with their voices and their bodies, that we're not going out like that. People's organizations are waking up and getting in motion.
Enough is enough! Is a clearinghouse for people's actions.
Basta Ya! is the Spanish translation for Enough is Enough! It is a popular term in Latin American movements, and it has become the motto for the Zapatista movement in Mexico. Under the banner of Basta Ya! many diverse ideologies rally under a common goal.
Enough is Enough!
We must snatch our future from the jaws of bigotry, big banks, and billionaires. There are actions happening every week across the county.
Join the movement: www.enough-basta-ya.com
-Joseph Phelan, Enough Basta Ya!
My contribution is that we have enough government, we have enough regulations that are strangling the economy as it is. We as a nation could use less of both. Our heritage is to be self-reliant and to NOT turn to Uncle Sugar when ever we need something. As a nation, our charitable giving is nearly 10 times that of the rest of the world. A quick look at the Indian Ocean tsunami giving says it all. The US through private donations gave nearly $400 billion dollars while the rest of the world chipped in less than $40 billion.
Government is not who we need to turn to to "fix" things. Invariably anything the government gets invovled in, turns to shit. Government health care will rapidly look just like the FUBAR that the VA health care system is. Long waits for surgery and denials for just about everything else...unless you have the correct political affiliation.
Hot Air has a great rundown on the PA-12 special election to fill the Congressional seat held by the late Jack Murtha.
The Democratic candidate, Mark Critz, who was a senior staffer for Murtha for nearly 20 years...is trying to use a broad brush to smear the GOP candidate, Tim Burns. Burns is returning in kind by painting Critz as in the pocket with Obama, Pelosi and Reid...
the latest Daily Kos poll shows Republican Tim Burns now pulling ahead by 6 points in a hard-fought battle against Democrat Mark Critz. (National Review’s Jim Geraghty says, “And if DK/R2000 are still using the same 2008 turnout model that all their other polls have used, Burns is actually up by a few points more.” ) Despite the encouraging news, this should be a down-to-the-wire fight in a district where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1.
Evidently voters in the district aren't very happy with the direction that the Obama administration has taken the country. I suspect that Mr. Burns wins on 18 May, by a significan majority...10 points.
As the Obama Administration stumbles far worse than Mr. Bush's did after Katrina...they have finally appointed someone to coordinate the effort...11 Days Late.
Janet Napolitano appointed Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen to coordinate the federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. That's great, but the oil rig blew up eleven days ago, on April 20. In the meantime, the oil slick has tripled in size over the last two days and is approaching the Gulf coast. Now there is speculation that the oil could make its way all the way to the Atlantic. President Obama, reversing an earlier announcement, made hasty plans to visit the Gulf tomorrow.
The Obama administration's slow-footed response to the disaster threatens to become a major political problem, as the spill itself threatens to turn into one of the worst environmental disasters ever. You're doing a heck of a job, Napolitanie!
With all the exoriation that was piled upon the Bush Adminstration following Katrina where according to the legacy media "tens of thousands of people have died", you'd expect them to hit the Obama administration just as hard. Because, while only the 11 workers who were on the rig have died, the economic effects of this huge spill will be far more widespread.
In the past 2 days, while the Obama Administration has dithered, the spill has grown more than 3 times as large. Had a rapid response been implemented early in the disaster, it could have been contained far more easily. But unfortunately, this administration has been far more intent on Tea Party inspired/Right Wing terrorist threats, that just don't exist, than to actually do something concrete. After all, old ladies singing "God Bless America" is obviously a threat that need the riot squad.
Pesonally, I think their very delayed response has been specifically eliminate all coastal drilling by showing "this is what can happen." This has been allowed to evolve into a huge problem in order to silence those, like myself, who think that drilling for oil in our own coastal waters is preferable to purchasing oil from OPEC. That in my opinion, is why this has been permitted to baloon as much as it has.
A very good friend of mine spent some time over the past day or so talking some of his contacts in the media and in Washington, DC. He's telling me that the National Enquirer has not just confirmation that this story of Mr. Obama's infidelity is true, but that they have solid evidence of it. he says, and I quote,
They have Obama by the nuts and will let him hang in the wind for more than a month. Insiders at the White House are worried - that the story is true and their jobs are over. Nothing has been the same in the last 30 hours at the White House.
This just might be the nail in Mr. Obama's political coffin. I don't think he'll resign, but neither do I think he'll get reelected. Especially after the his comments following Mr. Sanford, of South Carolina last year.
What is it about politicians who think they can screw around and get away with it? Before JFK they could, because journalists wouldn't report it. I've thought that was probably wrong then...but now when you have a media that is so sharply divided...between those on the left (the vast majority) and that small minority on the right...all of them will target those on the opposite side of the spectrum...
Do these guys have egos that vast that they think they can get away with this kind of stuff?
UPDATE: Here's the video of Obama at the National Press Corps dinner. A very wise friend and regular reader here has observed that Michelle didn't sit next to Barack...the Protocol Office was sitting between them. This is the first time that's happened.
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