November 27, 2006

Libertarian Commentary on the News, 19-21 November 2006 (See page 2 for the rest of the week)
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope everyone had a grand day on Thanksgiving, and would like to speak a bit about Thanksgiving.
No matter how many problems we have in the United States of America, no matter how corrupt and decadent our society has become, no matter how socialist and no matter many freedoms we have lost, it is still true that we enjoy, overall, more freedom, more liberty, than virtually any other people or land on this poor benighted planet. I am very grateful to live here rather than in other parts of the world where there is no freedom, no liberty, and their centuries of tyranny from both people and culture have failed to allow for the technological progress that we in this Union take for granted. It is only our tremendous blessing of past freedom and its benefits in the form of technology and institutions that makes it possible for us to be like this today, despite the efforts of so many to enslave us more and more. And I’m grateful for that. In my column today, I’ll touch on some more things to be thankful about and for.

Home Front:
'Jericho,' 'Heroes' spark concern with civil defense
World Net Daily
Americans are not only eating up the fall's only two hit network TV shows both dealing with nuclear attacks, they are also showing more interest in preparing for the disasters U.S. officials have characterized as inevitable in the future. 'Jericho' on CBS depicts how Americans deal with aftermath of nuclear detonation. In NBC's "Heroes", the main characters are trying to prevent a global calamity that would strike first in Manhattan, while in CBS' "Jericho", the cast is dealing with the fallout from a widespread nuclear attack that has destroyed much of the country and isolated a small Kansas town. "Jericho" has been averaging 11.3 million viewers on Wednesdays, while "Heroes" draws an average 14.3 million viewers on Mondays, making it the No. 1 new series in the nation. 

Thanks to Scott for this one!
We’ve gone for 61 years now without an atomic bomb dropped in anger. But every day, someone rolls the dice, and one of these days, the number will come up: it might be a bomb in Moscow or some other target suitable for a Chechen terrorist, it might be an Iranian warhead on Tel Aviv, it might be a NKA warhead on Seoul or even Japan, or a Red Army warhead on Taipai, or even a Provo IRA bomb in Liverpool – but it is likely to be an Al Qeuda bomb or a Chinese bomb or a pro-Venezuelan or pro-Reconquista or pro-something bomb on Philadelphia (Independence Hall), Boston (Bunker Hill), NYC, DC, Houston, San Francisco, or San Diego. And then where will we be? Surrender and self-abasement will not prevent this – and government surely won’t be able to prevent someone determined to do so. Are we prepared? Of course not. Are you and I prepared? Maybe.
["Six Feet to Safety" summary.] 

Mama's Note: There are a great many ways to prepare for the coming disasters, and many are far better than digging bomb shelters. Moving AWAY from the likely targets is a real good place to start. Learning how to live and prosper without the nanny state - in peaceful cooperation with others - is the next requirement.

Canaanite Front:
Human shields stump Israel
The Australian [Australia]
"The successful Palestinian use of human shields to foil an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip over the weekend has sent Israeli tacticians back to the drawing board. To limit Palestinian civilian casualties, Israeli officers have in recent months telephoned houses targeted for air attacks to warn residents to get out. ... On Saturday night, the head of a rocket cell in the northern Gaza town of Bait Lahiya, Mohammedweil Baroud, received a warning call. Instead of getting out with his family, however, he summoned neighbours and others who surrounded the building and stood on its roof in the glare of lights. Israel called off the attack. Baroud is head of the Popular Resistance Committees rocket-firing team in the town." [FND editor's note: This is a good move on the Palestinians' part ... IF it is coupled with abstention [sic] from murdering civilians on the part of their armed factions as well. If not, then it will simply highlight the perceived "barbarism differential" that the Israelis have had the advantage of in the past - TLK] (11/21/06)

Tom’s point is well taken – but I don’t think that Hamas and all the others are willing to stop being barbarians – eventually they will goad the Israelis into attacking their human shields. The problem is that the missiles or rockets are NOT a legitimate means of self-defense: they are clearly aggressive because they attack other innocent people, NOT those who are actually attacking their homes as the various Arab factions claim. Thankfully, these people were able to stop one attack, and thankfully, we don’t have similar situations in the US – yet.

Canaanite Front:
Lebanon: Hezbollah urges protests against government
New Bern Sun Journal
"Hezbollah's leader urged his followers to prepare for mass demonstrations to topple the government if it ignores the militant group's demand to form a national unity coalition. In a speech broadcast Sunday, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah railed against President Bush's administration, calling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a 'bloodsucker' and claiming the current Lebanese government is a puppet of Washington." (11/19/06)

So much for the “peace-loving” Hezbollah – they are willing to kill their own brethren and countrymen for the sake of power. Thankfully, we don’t have this kind of “political” speech in the US – but more and more politicians are coming closer to it all the time.

Culture Wars
MA: Romney seeks to force marriage vote
Boston Globe
"Governor Mitt Romney said yesterday that he would ask the Supreme Judicial Court to override the Legislature and let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriage, telling a boisterous crowd of several thousand at a State House rally that lawmakers are violating the state constitution by refusing to act on the proposal. Conservative [sic] and religious groups gathered a record 170,000 signatures on a petition to put the proposed ban on same-sex marriages on the 2008 ballot, but the measure also requires the support of at least 50 legislators in two consecutive sessions to qualify for a statewide referendum. On Nov. 9, legislators voted 109 to 87 to go into recess rather than vote on the gay marriage ban, all but dooming its chances of appearing on the 2008 ballot." (11/20/06)

Regardless of where you might stand on this, it appears reasonable for the legislature to have this appear on the ballot. Clearly the framers of Massachusetts’ constitution did NOT trust the people to do much but there is a limit – this kind of arrogant cowardice deserves a rebellion at the very least. Thankfully, even a state like Massachusetts has not completely abandoned its first love of liberty – but I can’t imagine Lexington, Concord, or Bunker Hill taking place in the MA of 2006, either.

Culture Wars:
MADD backs increased car monitoring
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"The threat of arrest and punishment, for decades the primary tactic against drunken drivers, is no longer working in the struggle to reduce the death toll, authorities say. Instead, they are proposing to tackle the problem by turning to technology: alcohol detection devices in every vehicle. In the first phase of the plan, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, backed by a national association of state highway officials and car manufacturers, will announce here today a campaign to change drunken-driving laws in 49 states to require that even first offenders be made to install a device that tests drivers and shuts down the car if it detects alcohol." [FND editor's note: This article has tantalizing language about a "first phase" targeting actual DUI convicts, implying universal monitoring later ... but no details on that - TLK] (11/20/06)

I too heard a news item stating that ALL vehicles would eventually be equipped with the devices. Will this be more effective than mandatory alcohol abuse classes and counseling, or draconian fines and removal of driving “privileges”? Probably not: the chronic drunk driver will just drive another vehicle (even if it is necessary to steal it, I hate to say) or disable the device, even if that is illegal. This will NOT instill responsibility in these idiots. (And I wish I knew what would – but I DO know that if we start making them pay for the results of their irresponsible behavior, in various ways (restitution to families, replacement of damaged vehicles and roads, maybe even making them clean up the accident scenes and clean up the dead bodies of the slain) that some of the problems with drunk driving will be reduced. Thankfully, more and more people are resisting the nanny-state-enabling groups like MADD.

Mama's Note: And what's next? There are probably hundreds of things that CAN be the distraction or impairment that contributes to a wreck, but the ONLY component common to them is the human being behind the wheel. Alcohol is not unique, or even the worst part of this equation. Personal responsibility for our choices and actions is the core, and no mechanical device or set of "laws" will ever replace or create it. Unfortunately, these folks just don't "get it."

Culture Wars:
Report: Birth mothers deserve better treatment
Chicago Sun-Times
"Mothers deciding to place their infants for adoption deserve better counseling, more time to change their minds, and more support in trying to keep track of the children they relinquish, a leading adoption institute recommends in a sweeping new report. The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute said its report, being issued today, is the most comprehensive devoted to birth mothers, whom it described as 'the least understood and most stigmatized participants' in the adoption process." (11/19/06)

Given the choice between the welfare (physical, mental, emotional, you name it) of the child and of the mother, the child should take priority. This seems to be the opening gambit in an attack on the “crisis pregnancy center” community – a network dedicated to helping prevent abortion by allowing mothers a way to give their child life instead of death. Thankfully, there ARE a lot of people who care very much about children (and, yes, their mothers, also) and are working hard to keep more from being killed.

(Republished from last week)
Culture Wars: NV- town to fine for foreign flags
USA Today
The Nevada town of Pahrump is taking a stand not just against illegal immigrants but flags they may bring with them. The elected town board in the remote Mojave Desert community voted 3-2 on Tuesday to enact an ordinance making it illegal to fly a foreign nation's flag by itself. Flying another country's flag, whether it is a British Union Jack or the flag of Mexico, is punishable by a $50 fine and 30 hours' community service, unless it is flown below an American flag.“Old Glory is sovereign,” says Paul Willis, a retired carpenter and board member. “You can't fly any other nation's flag higher than the American flag.”The law passed as part of a package of measures that also declared English the official language of Pahrump and denies town benefits to illegal immigrants.

A stupid government trick by a lot of people who should know better. I’d be tempted, if Pahrump were just a bit closer, to show up with a Texian flag (the Bonny Blue), a Scots (the Saint Andrews), and a Comanche (Numu) flag to see if I could force a prosecution.

Mama's Note: Hmmmm... I know a dear lady of liberty who lives in that town. Wonder what she's up to? I'll bet she'd love to have a piece of this action.

Maybe some readers that would like to donate or loan flags for her to fly in defiance of the ban? Imagine having a souvenir like that "This Scots flag was flown over the house of so-and-so on date of 2006 in defiance of the unconstitutional and immoral ban of free speech." Nathan

If you'd like to donate a flag for this, or set up a similar demonstration in Pahrump, please let us know!

Economy:
IBM S/W helps call centers improve English
Arizona Republic
"Even as Indian call centers have thrived in the past decade, helping U.S. companies cut costs and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, they have faced a seemingly insurmountable problem: Most Indian employees speak heavily accented English. Now IBM Corp.'s India Research Lab says it has a way to help operators fix the harsh consonants, local idioms and occasionally different grammar of Indian English, often a source of frustration of those who call in search of tech support and other information. IBM, which operates large call center facilities here, has developed a Web-based training technology that can help improve language skills of operators. Although the technology was initially developed for its call-center employees in India, it has broad applicability for individuals as well as in schools and businesses, said Ashish Verma, who led efforts to develop the tool at the India Research Lab in New Delhi." (11/19/06)

This has been far too long coming, and is badly needed. But shucks, if actors (as braindead and stupid as most of them appear to be) can learn to speak clearly and do various accents, then surely these very intelligent and (wanting to get ahead) young men and women can learn how to speak standard English (or for that matter, Queen’s English) to do better. And then it can be used for the denizens of too many inner cities in the United States. Thankfully, there are still many companies who use stateside employees.

Mama's Note: Yes indeed, it's nice to call and hear someone who can speak English. Now, if they only knew what the heck they were talking about... "Customer service," for the most part, is pretty darn useless unless you have one of the three or four standard questions - most of which you can actually answer for yourself if you read the instructions!! And some of those are written by people who only THINK they speak English.

Elections 2006:
FL: GOP candidate certified, Dem sues
Miami Herald
"Vern Buchanan was named the official winner in the battle to succeed Katherine Harris in Congress, but his Monday victory could be short-lived now that his Democratic opponent has sued in a case destined once again to place Florida's elections in the national spotlight. Moments after Buchanan was certified as Florida's newest congressman, Democrat Christine Jennings filed a suit that asks a judge to take him out of office and either declare her the winner or hold a new election for the Southwest Florida seat. The race was one of the most expensive in the nation, costing an estimated $14 million. The suit, which will likely end up before the state Supreme Court soon, could become a national test case on the validity of ATM-style voting machines." (11/21/06)

Argh! Spoke too soon when I said that the whining about fair elections didn’t seem to be as loud this year. Thankfully, there have been very few lawsuits this year, unlike in Mexico (see story below). Actually, as of Tuesday the 21st, there were at least six House races in which this kind of fuss was or is being made: a good summary can be found here, which discusses accusation of voter suppression, dirty tricks and much else. So far, NO one is claiming computer fraud, which would make most other dirty tricks unnecessary anyway.

European Front:
Europe: Testing Highway Anarchy
Der Spiegel (Germany)
The new traffic model's advocates believe the only way out of this vicious circle is to give drivers more liberty and encourage them to take responsibility for themselves. They demand streets like those during the Middle Ages, when horse-drawn chariots, handcarts and people scurried about in a completely unregulated fashion. The new model's proponents envision today's drivers and pedestrians blending into a colorful and peaceful traffic stream. It may sound like chaos, but it's only the lesson drawn from one of the insights of traffic psychology: Drivers will force the accelerator down ruthlessly only in situations where everything has been fully regulated. Where the situation is unclear, they're forced to drive more carefully and cautiously.

For decades, we’ve heard it: “You have to have rules on the highways and streets, or people will die, and if you don’t have government, you can’t have rules.” For all that time, we’ve argued that “government” isn’t essential to have rules and signs and warnings – which is true, but seems to be hard to explain: that voluntary agreements and associations and companies can do the same thing as government, but better. Now, this experiment is already showing that it may be even more simple than that: liberty can win even in the high-speed, deadly-dangerous, unguided-missile “marketplace” called the urban streetscape. All right! This is one test I’m going to pay attention to.

European Front:
EU proposes ban on sale of cat, dog fur
MSNBC
"The European Union's executive commission proposed Monday to extend a ban on the sale, import and production of dog and cat fur to all 25 EU nations, saying the measure was taken a response to an overwhelming public outcry. The European Commission said it found cat and dog fur in some clothing, personal accessories and soft toys for children being sold on the European market, either falsely labeled as another kind of fur, or hidden within the product." (11/20/06)

Truth in advertising and false labeling is one thing – but an outright ban is wrong, as wrong as laws in the US against eating horse meat, or in India against eating cows. (Please don’t get me wrong – I’m a cat lover, but this is a stupid way to protect cats. Dogs, on the other hand… <grin>. And yes, I’m thankful for my family’s cats – they help keep me (sorta) sane.

Mama's Note: "...or hidden within the product." Now, just a darn minute! My carpets are at least 25% dog hair right now! Of course, they didn't COME that way, but just the same... Does this mean I have to actually vacuum more often so my carpet doesn't get "banned?" I sure don't intend to get rid of the dog in any case. I'm not ashamed to say he's probably the reason I have ANY sanity left. <G>

Free Speech
NY: TV “terrorists” charged
Houston Chronicle
"A man was charged Monday with supporting terrorists by enabling customers to obtain satellite broadcasts of a Hezbollah television station, the second person accused in a case that has drawn scrutiny over how far the government can go in claiming someone is aiding terrorist groups. Saleh Elahwal, 53, of Matawan, N.J., and Javed Iqbal, 42, of Staten Island, could each face up to 110 years in prison if they are convicted of all 11 counts in a rewritten indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. They pleaded not guilty." (11/21/06)

Sounds pretty far-fetched to me, and it seems a shame that these two men have to go through this for a clearly unconstitutional and illegal law denying the First Amendment applies, even to terrorist groups. Thankfully, I think that even OUR court system can find twelve jurors who will realize that giving someone a strange cable or satellite channel is NOT terrorism.

Free Speech:
WA: SAF sues library system over Net censorship
Liberty For All
"The Second Amendment Foundation and three Washington State residents have filed a federal lawsuit against a north-central Washington regional library system for denying them access to websites that include information on firearms and publications dealing with guns. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane. Joining SAF in the lawsuit are Sarah Bradburn of Republic, Ferry County; Pearl Cherrington of Twisp and Charles Heinlen of Okanogan, both towns in Okanogan County." (11/20/06)

Here we see proof of what many of us have been saying for years: if you censor ONE kind of distasteful speech (say, pornography, or flag-burning) you will soon find much else banned for exactly the same justification: it is bad for children. Stupid act, stupid government. I’m thankful that I’m not in Washington State, though.

Mama's Note: Agreed, of course, but I just wonder why these folks don't get their own computer to start with. It's easy to censor things in the library, but a bit more difficult in your own home. That's were the battle really is. There should be no such thing as a government, theft supported library to start with. Seems to me these folks want their own freedom at someone else's expense.

Freedom Fighters
The Other Milton Friedman
Townhall.com
By Cal Thomas. “The death last week of Milton Friedman, "the grandmaster of free-market economic theory," as The New York Times accurately labeled him, ended a great life. But there was another Milton Friedman many obituary writers overlooked, or mentioned only in passing, that may offer him an even greater legacy than his economic theories about limited government. In the last 10 years of his 94-year life, Friedman and his wife, Rose, dedicated themselves to school choice. They viewed school choice as a companion to economic freedom. Through the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation they enthusiastically promoted school choice as a means of liberating the poor from failing government schools. Failing schools produced failing students, they reasoned, depriving children of the tools they would need to attain economic independence. Friedman first proposed school vouchers in 1955, but it wasn't until 1996 that he and Rose started their foundation to take advantage of the growing interest in school choice.”

I normally don’t have commentary (by others, that is) in this column, but this article by Cal Thomas points out an important aspect of Friedman’s life. Yes, vouchers are at best a temporary stopgap on the way to the complete separation of school and state, but they ARE a step, and even small steps are important when you have a mess as bad as the worldwide educational syndicalism we have today. (I use the word “syndicalism” with specific care, since it is a system of government in which labor unions run both government AND business –certainly the case in our GRTF schools operated by the NEA and the AFT.) I am thankful that we had people like this. They help prepare people for our own “radicalism.”

Mama's Note: Here I must disagree. Tax (theft) support of any kind of school, by whatever tortured logic, opens the door for government CONTROL of that school. This is simply too obvious to ignore. The only way private schools and homeschooling will remain in any way independent and able to properly educate the children in their care is to remain as separated from any form of government as possible - and those involved must fight endlessly on that front as it is, without the threat imposed by government funding in any form.

Gov’t-Ruined, Theft-Funded Schools:
Admissions boards face "grade inflation"
San Francisco Chronicle
"Josh Zalasky should be the kind of college applicant with little to worry about. The high school senior is taking three Advanced Placement courses. Outside the classroom, he's involved in mock trial, two Jewish youth groups and has a job with a restaurant chain. He's a National Merit semifinalist and scored in the top 3 percent of all students who take the ACT. But in the increasingly frenzied world of college admissions, even Zalasky is nervous about his prospects. He doubts he'll get in to the University of Wisconsin, a top choice. The reason: his grades. It's not that they're bad. It's that so many of his classmates' are so good. Zalasky's GPA is nearly an A minus, and yet he ranks only about in the middle of his senior class of 543 at Edina High School outside Minneapolis. That means he will have to find other ways to stand out." (11/18/06)

Frankly, I am surprised that colleges use GRTF school grades at all any more. Even 40 years ago, scores on SAT/ACT and other similar methods determined far better how well someone would do in college. Of course, I’d say this guy has holes in his head for wanting to go to UW; a hotbed of liberalism fuzzymindedness that ruins more people than it helps. Thankfully, more and more, there are alternatives.

Gov’t-Ruined, Theft-Funded Schools:
English teachers seek reform of No Child Left Behind
Tennessean
"The National Council of Teachers of English announced this morning at its annual conference in Nashville that it plans to lobby the U.S. Congress with specific recommendations to reform the federal No Child Left Behind law. The council’s executive committee approved five issues that will be presented in Washington in January, asking lawmakers to adequately fund the 2001 law, by, among other things, allocating more money for teacher development to enhance learning. The group, which has 50,000 members, also wants to see that multiple assessments be used to measure student progress accurately and that teachers and schools are credited with progress made by students even if they miss the federal benchmarks mapped out by the law. The NCLB is up for reauthorization next year." (11/18/06)

I have a suggestion – replace the NCLB law with a “No Government Involvement in Education” act which makes it illegal for the federal government to have ANY role in education, and encourages states to adopt the same prohibition, right down to the township/school district level. Thankfully, there are alternatives!

Gov’t-Ruined, Theft-Funded Schools::
NY: Your bra is ringing -- Students defy ban
New York Daily News
"From paying to stash cell phones at delis to burying them 'where the sun don't shine,' students across the city are going to new heights to skirt the unpopular ban backed by Mayor Bloomberg. 'It isn't hard for girls at all. We just put the phone in our underwear,' said Veronica Abreu, 16, from Martin Luther King High School in Manhattan. MLK students used to leave their phones at a nearby bodega, but after a clerk took off with their money and a bunch of phones, they got creative. 'If the metal detector goes off, they only search your lower legs and upper body,' Abreu said. Girls said they also sneak them in for the boys. ... Since spring, the Education Department has been clamping down on cell phones in schools. The toughened stance has sparked controversy -- and ingenuity." [FND editor's note: I assume the prison ... uh ... school system's response will be strip searches - MLS] (11/16/06)

No phones in prison, eh? Right. Just like no knives, guns, or other deadly weapons. Thankfully, more and more parents are pulling their kids out of these prisons.

Mama's Note: Thankfully, when I was teaching in community college 20 years ago, cell phones were not that common, but "beepers" were all the rage. At the start of each class I would politely ask the students to turn their pagers OFF. After that, if a pager sounded, the student was asked to leave the room for the remainder of the class time - losing credit for attendance that day. It didn't take long for everyone to decide that courtesy was better than lost attendance. Again, there ARE alternatives.

Home Front
Gonzales: Relax and learn to love Big Brother
USA Today
"Attorney General Alberto Gonzales contended Saturday that some critics of the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program were defining freedom in a way that poses a 'grave threat' to U.S. security. Gonzales was the second administration official in two days to attack a federal judge's ruling last August that the program was unconstitutional. Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday called the ruling 'an indefensible act of judicial overreaching.'" (11/19/06)

Sadly, these people are now using the language of liberty in a way that totally corrupts it. There are no “multiple” ways to define freedom, and the most grave threat to US security is ANYTHING and ANYONE that takes away freedom, who despise liberty.

Mama's Note: Ah yes, Mr. Gonzales... war is peace, hate is love, liberty is being spied on and locked in a cage...

Home Front:
US to unveil new citizenship test
Christian Science Monitor
"To gain American citizenship, immigrants must be able to answer such questions as: What was the 49th state added to our Union? What color are the stars on our flag? And who wrote the Star Spangled Banner? Sound trivial? The US government thinks so, and plans to roll out a new pilot test this winter. It will continue to be an oral test, conducted in English, and will have 10 questions. Six correct answers will earn a passing grade. But the content, which is tightly under wraps, is expected to shun simple historical facts about America that can be recounted in a few words for more explanation about the principles of American democracy, such as freedom." [FND editor's note: Given how little concern the government has shown for preserving those principles (or even knowing what they are?), this can hardly bode well - SAT] (11/19/06)

The idea is certainly palatable, but as Steve says, expect the government to muck it up. Therefore I propose a reader survey on “What ten questions would you expect ANY American citizen to be able to answer?” I’m curious to see what people come up with: send your suggestions to TPOL-News-at-LibertyHaven.com, and we’ll run the lot!

Mama's Note: Your responses will be placed on a special page! We may use this address for all future feedback as well. If you've missed the Mailbag, respond to this and let us know you want that feature back!

Home Front:
Marine claims he was denied attorney
Philadelphia Inquirer
"A Marine charged with helping to kidnap and murder an Iraqi civilian said Monday that government officials violated his basic rights when they interviewed him about the incident -- claims military prosecutors denied. Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington, 22, made the allegations as part of an effort to discredit some of the key pieces of evidence against him: statements he gave in which prosecutors say he admits wrongdoing. Pennington testified at a hearing Monday that when Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents interviewed him after the April 26 death of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, they threatened him with the death penalty and told him it would be a mistake to ask for an attorney." (11/20/06)

NCIS, at least, does things in an orderly and bureaucratic manner, and I would find it pretty near unbelievable that he was denied an attorney. But he has seen that merely confessing and fingering others is NOT enough (fortunately) to get off from stupid, murderous, and hideous acts committed. If he did kidnap and kill this man, he deserves to die, and that should have been obvious to him without the CID guys telling him so. Thankfully, this creep is no longer going to be disgracing his uniform, no matter what the verdict is.

Home Front:
GA: Thousands protest military academy
Houston Chronicle
"Thousands of demonstrators paraded, chanted and raised white crosses Sunday outside the Army's Fort Benning as they continued a 17-year-long effort to close a military school they blame for human rights abuses in Latin America. ... Sixteen demonstrators, including two grandmothers, got around, under, or over three chain-link fences -- one topped by coils of barbed wire -- and were arrested for trespassing on military property. Each could face up to six months in a federal prison and a fine of up to $5,000. ... The demonstrations are timed to commemorate six Jesuit priests who were killed along with their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador on Nov. 19, 1989. Some of the killers had attended the School of the Americas." (11/19/06)

The name “School of the Americas” is an anachronism, as is this bizarre little annual ritual. What is now known (since 2001) as the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a training school roughly equivalent to US Army Basic and Advanced Officer Courses, taught to all US Army lieutenants including National Guard officers. With more than 60,000 graduates, it is no surprise that some are bad apples, just as of the hundreds of thousands of US Army officers in the past 40+ years, there have been a lot of bad apples who have served (and sadly still do) in uniform. It is not the training that makes these people bad, it is the use to which they put the training, and this pathetic 20 year attempt to shut down a school makes as much sense as blaming gun violence on the guns.

Home Front:
Polygamist accused in illegal marriages
Albany Democrat-Herald
"Room 15 at the Caliente Hot Springs Motel seems like an unlikely place for a wedding. There are no flower-covered arbors, pews or candles. It is an apartment-style room with a kitchenette, a bed, a dresser, a table and a couch. But it was in Room 15 that dozens of weddings took place between underage girls and men from a polygamist sect, church insiders say. The sect's charismatic leader, Warren Jeffs, has been charged with rape as an accomplice for his alleged role in arranging one of those marriages -- that of a 14-year-old girl who claims she was forced to wed her older first cousin in 2001." (11/20/06)

Funny, eh? At the same time as the feds are prosecuting Jeffs, they welcome other polygamists (many of whom have married underage first cousins) with open arms and photo opportunities at the White House, donate billions of dollars and thousands of lives to protect them and keep them in power, and ignore their persecution, up to and including murder, of Christians. Of course, those OTHER polygamists are Islamic, and everyone knows that Islam is a “religion of peace” whereas fundamental LDS and related sects are anything but. If Jeffs wore a headcloth and spoke in Arabic and cut off the hands of thieving children, he’d be wooed by the State Department, not in jail as a “rapist.” (By the way, will they have four witnesses to this “rape” in accordance with Shari’a law – if not, then the 14-year-old girl should be punished for illicit sex, after all.) (Sarcasm alert! ML)

Medical and Tech Issues:
Universal files frivolous suit v. MySpace
Top Tech News
"Citing rampant copyright infringement among MySpace users, Universal Music Group has filed a lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court against the popular social-networking site run by the News Corp. media conglomerate. According to news reports, the suit charges MySpace with ignoring the free exchange of music video clips protected by copyrights and making it easy for subscribers to send such clips to others or distribute them to other Web sites." (11/20/06)

The criminal hubris of the music tycoon-tyrants and their sister companies in the mainstream media is amazing, isn’t it?

Mama's Note: Makes as much sense as Kimberly-Clark filing a lawsuit against everyone who calls any tissue a "kleenex." They, at least, are bright enough to see this as free advertising - at least so far...

Medical and Technical News:
Drug for troops labeled dangerous
Raw Story
"A blood-coagulating drug designed to treat rare forms of hemophilia is being used on critically wounded U.S. troops in Iraq despite evidence it can cause clots that lead to strokes, heart attacks and death in other patients, The (Baltimore) Sun reported for Sunday's editions. Recombinant Activated Factor VII, which is made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is approved in the United States for treating forms of hemophilia that affect fewer than 3,000 Americans. It costs $6,000 a dose. The Food and Drug Administration said in a warning last December that giving Factor VII to patients who don't have the blood disorder could cause strokes and heart attacks. Its researchers published a study in January blaming 43 deaths on clots that developed after injections of Factor VII." (11/18/06)

It seems to me that if the choice is between someone bleeding out completely and dying, versus a 43 in 3000 chance of a stroke or heart attack but living, that the drug should be considered. In a strictly mercenary view of life, if $6,000 can save, 2757 times out of 3000, just the cost of paying $250,000 out in GI life insurance to say nothing of all the rest of the death “benefits” – well, that just reinforces the decision, doesn’t it? But heaven forbid that we not use ANY drug which isn’t completely free of risk.

Mama's Note: Maybe it's just too simple, but I have a much better idea. How about we bring all the troops home so we don't have any need to risk the 43 in 3,000? We'd better get this through our heads pretty soon, however. I've been reading about some of the next generation in antipersonnel weapons, and "bleeding" is simply not going to be one of the problems. No drug will help against instant coagulation. They'll simply be dead, in large numbers.

Mesopotamian Front:
At least 112 die in attacks across Iraq [sic – Mesopotamia]
Allentown Morning Call
"Syria's foreign minister called Sunday for a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces to help end Iraq's sectarian bloodbath, in a groundbreaking diplomatic mission to Iraq that comes amid increasing calls for the U.S. to seek cooperation from Syria and Iran. At least 112 people were killed nationwide, following a week that had already seen hundreds of deaths. Walid Moallem, the highest level Syrian official to visit since the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, denounced terrorism in Iraq even as Washington mulled its own overture to Damascus for help in ending Iraq's violence." (11/19/06)

I am sure that Syrian troops could do just as much to end the bloodshed in Mesopotamia as they have done in Lebanon – dead people don’t kill people, after all. Opps? Did I just hear that someone assassinated a Lebanese minister? Didn’t know the US was in Lebanon – even the Israelis aren’t in Lebanon (right now). Syria would welcome the opportunity to meddle in Mesopotamia – Syria has been trying to annex much of it permanently ever since Alexander kicked the bucket and his general, Antiochus, became the first military dictator of the country. Of course, if you look at Syrian websites and historical sites, you will find that Syria actually claims that modern Jordan, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and a good chunk of Turkey are all an “integral” part of Syria.

Mama's Note: And, of course, almost nobody even considers the fact that the people - each individual - of all those places actually does, and should, own themselves and their property - not one government or the other. Maybe someday they'll get tired of being pushed, pulled and slaughtered by the war lords and marketers of false religion. ...and maybe not.

Mesopotamian Front:
Iraq [sic]: Even Kissinger gets it (kind of)
Indianapolis Star
"Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday. Kissinger presented a bleak vision of Iraq, saying the U.S. government must enter into dialogue with Iraq's regional neighbors -- including Iran -- if progress is to be made in the region. 'If you mean by 'military victory' an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don't believe that is possible,' he told the British Broadcasting Corp." (11/19/06)

For anyone to believe anything this man says about ANYTHING is beyond me. The man betrayed millions of innocent people to death, slavery, and tyranny, and upheld some of the slimiest regimes in the world’s history while pretending to believe in freedom.

Mama's Note: Yes, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day, unless it's a digital. Kissinger is a digital, but he's still got this one sort of right.

Mesopotamian Front:
Iran invites Iraqi, Syrian presidents
Johnson City Press
"In an apparent bid to counter U.S. influence in the region, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad invited his Iraqi and Syrian counterparts to a weekend summit in Tehran to tackle the chaos in Iraq, Iraqi lawmakers said Monday. The diplomatic gambit coincided with a groundbreaking visit to Baghdad by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who was challenged over Damascus' role in supporting the Sunni insurgency. The Iraqi government said diplomatic relations between the two countries -- severed nearly a quarter-century ago -- would be restored by Tuesday." (11/20/06)

As discussed above, this is perfectly in line with Iran’s actions.

Mesopotamian Front:
CIA analysis finds no Iranian nuclear weapons drive: report
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A classified draft CIA assessment has found no firm evidence of a secret drive by Iran to develop nuclear weapons, as alleged by the White House, a top US investigative reporter has said.

Well, that does just about cinch it, doesn't it? Despite all claims made by everyone that Iran is not developing nukes and that the Bush Administration is completely out to lunch on this, and just looking for an excuse to go to war with Iran, too, we now know that any day we may wake up to turn on the news and hear that an Iranian nuke has been detonated just offshore from Tel Aviv or Haifa, or perhaps just outside the gates of a major American base outside Baghdad or Kandahar. Or maybe Diego Garcia. Why? Because we now have the final proof - the CIA has stated that the Iranians are not developing nuclear weapons. Given the track record of the CIA, especially as regards Iran and its ayatollahs and such, this is very, very scary. The question now is not "if" but "how many" and "how soon."

Supposedly, the Bush Administration doesn't want to initiate direct talks with the Iranians, preferring to let the French, Brits, and other Europeans talk to them - so that the US has a "clear view" to a "military solution," at least that is what is claimed by opponents of the Bush administration. Actually, direct talks are about the worst thing they could do - Americans do so poorly at negotiating things like that (look at our record on Middle East peace, or North Korea, or much of Latin America). Far better to have the Brits and Germans front for us.

As for a "military solution" - well, what on earth does the GOP or Bush gain? We are already burning our troops out at a hideous rate in Afghanistan, Mesopotamia, and dozens of other locations. Somalia is going downhill like a bug getting sucked down the bathtub drain. Venezuela is looking to merge with Cuba and Nicaragua, and if any more people take "refuge" in Canada, Ottawa may declare war on us because of the invasion. As long as we are bogged down in Mesopotamia trying to get them to stop killing each other, they don't need Iran to promote a "war-mentality" on the nation. And the Democrats surely aren't going to get embarrassed by supporting another "go-to-war" resolution about Iran (like they did for Iraq) unless there is (a) a glowing crater somewhere, with Persian markings on it, or (b) the Iranian president going on international television introducing the world to his "new baby," the bomb. In other words, if there is going to be a war, it is Iran that will start it, and it won't be able to do it n a small way - I suspect even a commando raid by Iranian troops in their own uniforms with a flag flying and band playing directly on the White House itself would be viewed only with approval by the new Democratic majority in Congress. Iran will have to do something really, really nasty - like gunning down Ted Kennedy and Nancy P. on CNN - to get the US to go to war with it, especially in the last two years of Bush II's administration.

The one thing that is clear is that Iran, like North Korea and Venezuela, will seek any method possible to provoke, irritate, and embarrass the US, especially the Bush-led US. And the rest of the West, as well - they need to demonstrate to the rest of dar al'Islam that they have the moxie to be the leaders of Islam, and they need the abuse from the West to shore up their claim of martyrdom as part of that leadership. Nukes would go a long ways towards doing that, but it is not the only requirement: otherwise, Pakistan would be in the race for leadership. But Iran has a far better claim to Islamic leadership than anyone to the east of them, because the Persians were the only real competitors to the Arabs for leadership in the first half-millenium of Islamic history, and have been contenders pretty much all along. Maybe Iran figures that they can use the US in the entire ummah ("brotherhood" or "domain" of Islam) the same way the Sunni and Shi'a have been using it in the current Mesopotamian swamp: put it (and its soldiers and civilian workers) halfway between the two firing lines: Iran and the rest of Islam, as a "common enemy" that is trying to stop them from killing each other. Or maybe they are starting to believe their own propaganda about the "Great Satan."

North American Union:
Mexico: Obrador sworn as head of "parallel government"
Santa Fe New Mexican
"Leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was sworn in as Mexico's 'legitimate' president Monday, launching a parallel government that he hopes will revive a movement aimed at keeping President-elect Felipe Calderon from governing." (11/21/06)

The destruction of Mexico continues apace. Expect more violence and the first stages of outright civil war in the near future, possibly as soon as the inauguration of the other candidate. Hmmm. Wonder why Gore (or Kerry) didn’t try this little stunt? Oh for two US presidents at the same time – just like the popes and anti-popes back in the 1400s.

Mama's Note: Of course, I'm not wishing civil war on anyone, but if they can fall short of that and just wind up with a good gridlock, they'll probably all be better off. I highly suspect it wouldn't work here, however. Those who manage to claw their way to the top of the heap in DC (district of criminals) don't suffer any rivals. I suspect the challengers wouldn't have enough supporters to fill a phone booth anyway. Americans just don't seem to be that passionate about their freedom. Too bad...

North American Union:
Cuba inches into the Internet Age
Los Angeles Times
"In this most literate of Latin American nations, where free higher education is one of the proudest achievements of Fidel Castro's revolution, Cubans are being left in the dust as the rest of Latin America surges ahead on the Internet's information highway. The Cuban government has long sought to shield its citizens from outside sources of news and other information. Cubans are prohibited from having personal computers at home without official authorization, and PC use is closely monitored in schools and workplaces. Less than 2% of the country's 11.4 million citizens have Internet access. But in apparent recognition of the risks of being left on the sidelines of the global cyber-revolution, the state-owned telecommunications monopoly in recent months has expanded Internet access points, allowing broader use of the Web, or at least its ideologically vetted venues." (11/19/06)

In talking to missionaries, the Cuban claims about universal literacy and “free” higher education is baloney – most people, especially anyone who does not buy the state-sponsored atheism, are barely educated and can only dream of college. Like China, North Korea, Vietnam and their ilk, this most valuable tool is as illegal as a private printing press or radio station.

Our Right to Defend Ourselves:
UT: Victim disarmament push faces tough road
Daily Utah Chronicle
"President Michael K. Young advocates restoring the campus gun ban, but he is likely to face tough opposition from Utah legislators. Young is currently lobbying capitol leadership to bring back some form of the now-suspended policy prohibiting U students, staff and faculty from carrying guns on campus. But some state legislators aren't welcoming Young with open arms. The relationship between the U administration and the Republican-dominated Utah State Legislature has been tense on the gun issue. ... Now, after the Utah Supreme Court struck down the gun ban earlier this year, the U has chosen to temporarily suspend the policy and withhold action on a federal suit in hopes of resolving the issue with the Legislature. The move allowed concealed weapons permit owners to bring their guns on campus. ... Mark Shurtleff, Utah attorney general, said the U is making the right move in going to the Legislature, but he doesn't think Young will be able to secure a campus-wide ban. 'I don't think it's possible that (legislators) would make the entire campus a gun-free zone, but they may be willing to do things like dormitories,' Shurtleff said." (11/15/06)

It seems to me that Young could care less about the welfare of either his students OR his faculty and staff. A ban on guns in dorms would open them wide for attacks – like posting a “Gun-Free Home” sign on your front lawn.

Our Right to Defend Ourselves:
OH: No charges in fatal shooting of teen
WKRC News
"Prosecutors say no charges will be filed in the shooting death of a teenager last month. A Kennedy Heights homeowner, 61 year-old Bennie Hall Jr., shot and killed 14 year-old Quavale Finnell after police say the teen was driving away in the shooter's car. The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday: 'Due to the rise in violence in his neighborhood and the fact his own grandson was a shooting victim right down the street, Mr. Hall had taken the proper steps to get a Concealed Carry Permit. Forensic evidence also confirms that at the time of the first shot, the car was moving directly towards Mr. Hall. This is consistent with the statements of Mr. Hall and a witness. It is the opinion of this office that Mr. Hall acted in self-defense and no charges will be filed against him.'" (11/17/06)

Notice the first sentence claims the little scumbag was “driving away” but the forensic evidence is that the criminal was trying to run down the car owner.

Our Right to Defend Ourselves:
FL: Motorist with gun holds down tip thief
Sarasota Herald Tribune
"A would-be robber found out the hard way Friday afternoon that restaurant workers aren't easily parted from their tips. The unidentified man grabbed about $20 from the countertop tip jar at the Chinese restaurant Chung Shing without saying a word, employees said. 'I said, 'Hey, that's my money,'' said restaurant manager Diane Lin. 'He didn't care.' He also didn't have a chance. Employees chased him outside into the parking lot of the strip mall on U.S. 301 and behind the stores. A passerby with a concealed weapons permit stopped and pulled his gun on the man, witnesses said. Minutes later, a Manatee County Sheriff's Office patrol car drove by and a deputy arrested the tip thief." (11/19/06)

All right! Why do we need state-owned cops? They could have had a jury seated in minutes, had a judge elected and the trial held in under a half-hour, with the guy sentenced to a day or two of washing pots and pans almost as quickly. He might have to pay a bit more to cover the cost of posting the notice of trial, conviction, and sentence on-line with a contract “court clerk” website.

Mama's Note: I love the bit about the "passerby with a concealed weapons permit." What the hell difference did the "permit" make? None at all. What made the difference was the presence of someone who was armed and ready to do what was necessary. Those being robbed should have been both willing and able to defend themselves, of course. What if the robber had been armed and none of them ever made it to where the guy with the "permit" could see them. Someone could easily be dead by now, and it wouldn't be the robber.

Our Right to Defend Ourselves:
PA: Robber shot and killed by victim
Philadelphia Inquirer
"A 19-year-old Philadelphia man was shot and killed after he tried to rob another man early yesterday in the 1600 block of West Susquehanna Street, police said. The robber approached from behind as the man left a bar near 15th Street, police said. The robber stuck a gun in the man's back, and demanded money. The man began to comply, then shot the robber in the head, shoulder, chest and right arm with a registered handgun, police said." (11/19/06)

At least they didn’t call him a “child” or “teenager.” Oh, I do wonder about four shots, and the locations: it might have been overkill – though Boston T. Party would certainly not fault the guy for anything but the headshot. Of course, he might have been a bit rushed.

Mama's Note: Once again, note the totally useless reference to "a registered handgun." Did that make his aim better? Would he have less right to defend himself otherwise? And why?

Stupid People Tricks:
Jackson taken off Hobbit film
The Age [Australia]
"WANTED: feature film director to start immediately. Must have affinity with small dwarfish beings, taste for epic landscape, and ability to generate more than $300 million at the box office. Pointy ears not necessary. Beard optional. The vacancy has arisen after Peter Jackson, the bearded New Zealand-born director of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, was told by a Hollywood studio that his services would not be required for a film based on the J. R. R Tolkien book The Hobbit." (11/21/06)

Sounds pretty stupid to me. Why mess with success?

Stupid People Tricks:
MN: Imams removed from flight
International Herald Tribune [France]
"Six Muslim imams were removed from a US Airways flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and questioned by police for several hours before being released, a leader of the group said. The six were among passengers who boarded Flight 300, bound for Phoenix, around 6:30 p.m. Monday, airport spokesman Pat Hogan said. ... The six Muslim scholars were returning from a conference in Minneapolis of the North American Imams Federation, said Shahin, president of the group. Five of them were from the Phoenix-Tempe area, while one was from Bakersfield, California, he said. Three of them stood and said their normal evening prayers together on the plane, as 1.7 billion Muslims around the world do every day, Shahin said. He attributed any concerns by passengers or crew to ignorance about Islam." (11/21/06)

I’m sorry, but if I’m sitting on a plane, disarmed (courtesy of a “loving” government), and a bunch of bearded guys with turbans stand up and started speaking in Arabic, I am going to be mildly disturbed and ask for some immediate action – no matter how much I know about Islam, which is a fair amount. Besides, these people are apostate, obviously, if they stand up for prayers instead of kneeling as commanded in the Qu’ran.

Theft by Government:
NJ: Mayor threatens land theft for "rehab"
Home News Tribune
"After hearing the details of a controversial plan to redevelop the Witty's Liquors site, the Lincoln School and the Old Eckerd building, affected property owners last night reiterated what they've been saying all along: They are absolutely opposed. 'I will not allow this to happen,' said Charles Fornal, owner of the vacant property surrounding Witty's Liquors on Old Bridge Turnpike. 'I won't go along with it one iota,' said Arthur Fritsch Sr., co-owner of the Old Eckerd site on Main Street. 'No way.' Their stances raise the specter of eminent domain, a maneuver the borough could use to take property through condemnation. The mayor [of South River] has said he would consider the move as a last resort, though the entire council opposes it. ... The plan calls for creating landscaped 'buffers' to bordering property, demolishing all existing buildings and helping affected businesses relocate."

So just who is behind this little bit of local political tyranny? If the opponents can find out where the money is coming from, they have a good chance of stopping it. Isn’t kakocracy wonderful?

Thugs:
Government Watchdog Group Names Thune 'Porker of the Month'
CNSNews.com
A government watchdog group Friday named Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) "Porker of the Month," for his part in securing a record $2.3 billion federal loan for a railroad company. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) noted that the loan guarantee from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) would allow the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) to expand and improve a rail line used mainly to transport coal from Wyoming to Minnesota. CAGW said Thune was anticipating the loan and was instrumental in increasing the FRE's loan guarantee authority from $3.5 billion to $35 billion in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act. According to Bearing Point, a strategic consulting firm, the loan would require an annual payment of $246 million on top of the $15 million from another loan. And even if the rail upgrade increases the railroad's revenue, the deal is seen as a poor credit risk to taxpayers who will be forced to pay for it if the company defaults. "Like most special interests, DM&E argues that its handout is in the national interest. Thune says it will 'transform South Dakota's economy for generations.' Such pronouncements fall apart next to the simple logic that if the project's benefits vastly exceeded its costs, a federal loan would not be necessary," said CAGW in a press release. 

I’ve known John for years, and no one deserves this award more. Way to go, John – you are making a name for yourself and all your dreams will no doubt come true. Too bad you aren’t sincere about service and freedom, but hey, you can’t eat those things, and you can eat pork. Another example of kakocracy in action!

Thugs:
Rangel babbling about draft again
Yahoo! News
"Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 under a bill the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says he will introduce next year. Rep. Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars. 'There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way,' Rangel said. Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose a measure early next year. While he said he is serious about the proposal, there is little evident support among lawmakers for it." (11/19/06)

This is the man who told a campaign rally that if the Dems won the election and he was head of the Ways and Means Committee, he would thereafter expect to be treated like the world leader which he was. The man has been pushing this for years, and is absolutely off his rocker – I’ve heard him speak many times and he is scary. Fortunately, I think his fellow thugs think he is bananas also.

Mama's Note: It was about 20 degrees outside last night, with a stiff breeze that probably put the wind chill factor down to around 15. We could put him out in that "draft" for a while and see if it brings him to his senses...

Thugs:
McCain wants to be president, by jingo!
MSNBC
"Without additional troops to ensure victory in Iraq, the U.S. could find itself more vulnerable to terrorist attacks at home, Sen. John McCain said Sunday. Taking the opposite tack, newly empowered Democrats pressed their case for a phased withdrawal of American forces. They hoped a blue-ribbon advisory panel would propose a way ahead for Iraq, while making clear the U.S. military mission shouldn't last indefinitely." (11/19/06)

I probably should have labeled this “Campaign 2008” but I refuse to. Sadly, McCain is clued in no more than the other 99 members of the Worlds Most Elite Buying Club and Criminal Gang.

Thugs:
Frank offers business "grand bargain"
Boston Globe
"Representative Barney Frank has proposed in a series of meetings with business groups a 'grand bargain' with corporate America: Democrats would agree to reduce regulations and support free-trade deals in exchange for businesses agreeing to greater wage increases and job benefits for workers. Frank, the Newton Democrat who is in line to chair the House Financial Services Committee, has struck a conciliatory posture with financial-industry leaders in recent years. But since the morning after Election Day, he has moved quickly to lay out an ambitious plan to try to end the political stalemate between Republicans and Democrats on broad economic issues." [Editor's note: Problem is, this 'grand bargain' will mostly ensure that a lot of entry-level jobs get eliminated. If only Barney knew something about real-world economics! - SAT] (11/19/06)

We definitely are being punished for our sins – as this newly-powerful thug shows us. Barney’s problem is that he ISN’T a big purple stuffed-toy dinosaur, but a flaming liberal who will do anything to expand government power and end free enterprise of any degree.

Thugs:
IL: Dem patronage chief sentenced
Chicago Sun-Times
"Although the sentence was lighter than it could have been, U.S. District Judge David Coar was sharply critical of Robert Sorich, saying Sorich sat at the top of a corrupt operation. ... Sorich lawyer Tom Durkin argued for no prison time, saying his client didn't take bribes or otherwise gain anything personally. ... A jury convicted Sorich, McCarthy and two others -- who are still to be sentenced later this afternoon -- in a scheme to award jobs and promotions to city applicants who were politically connected." (11/21/06)

Funny isn’t it, that the Illinois Democratic Party isn’t named as a codefendant, coconspirator, and a corrupt organization?

Thugs:
OH: GOP grifter sentenced to 18 years
USA Today
"A former GOP fundraiser at the center of a scandal-plagued state investment in rare coins that helped Democrats seize power in the midterm elections was sentenced Monday to 18 years in prison. Tom Noe, a prominent coin dealer accused of taking at least $2 million, was convicted last week of theft, corrupt activity, money laundering, forgery and tampering with records. 'Based on a review of the record, a short prison term would demean your conduct,' Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Osowik told Noe." (11/20/06)

What goes for the Democrats (above) applies to the GOP as well.

War On (some) Drugs:
Costa Rica: Drug cops nab coke submariners
Seattle Times
"Tipped off by three plastic pipes mysteriously skimming the ocean's surface, authorities seized a homemade submarine packed with 3 tons of cocaine off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. ... Two Colombians, a Guatemalan and a Sri Lankan were captured and taken to the United States, because they were captured in international waters ..." (11/21/06)

Yes, this is probably piracy, on the part of Costa Rica, with the US as an accessory after the fact. Yeah, these four guys were more than a bit incompetent, to boot – who trusted them with several million dollars in coke? But also, what was a Sri Lankan doing – trying to get smuggled into the US? And for what? Next time, maybe the submariners will be able to defend themselves. I wonder if Captain Nemo would have used the Nautilus to meet market demand?

World Wars:
UK: Poisoned spy was Putin critic
Toronto Star [Canada]
"A former Russian spy poisoned in Britain and now hospitalized under guard may have been targeted for his criticism of former colleagues and his investigation into the killing of a prominent anti-Kremlin journalist, friends and fellow dissidents said Sunday. Col. Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, said earlier this week that he fell ill on Nov. 1 following a meal with a contact who claimed to have details about the slaying of Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist gunned down last month in Moscow. ... A doctor treating Litvinenko told the British Broadcasting Corp. that tests showed he was the victim of poisoning by thallium -- a toxic metal found in rat poison." (11/20/06)

Sounds like the Cold War, eh? Some things don’t change, do they?

Mama's Note: "Rat poison?" Isn't that a little crass? Surely they have more sophisticated things to use than rat poison? Not cool, folks. What would 007 think?

World Wars:
Indonesia: Police foil anti-Bush rally
Malaysia Sun [Malaysia]
"Indonesian police and barricades foiled a demonstration Monday by some 8,000 people protesting a visit by U.S. President George Bush. ... some 8,000 members [of the Prosperous Justice Party] marched against U.S. policy .... However, more than 15,000 police had barricaded a monument in a square they had planned to occupy, Antara said." (11/20/06)

Sounds like they still had the protest march. And it sounds like nobody really paid attention to it. It is ironic that this protest is in the world’s largest Islamic country, when the current US president has done more to promote Islamic security, peace, and acceptance than any western leader since about 1900. (Sarcasm, I think... ML)

World Wars:
Bush opens stock exchange in Vietnam
Ventura County Star
"President Bush paid tribute to new symbols of capitalism in this struggling communist country Monday and offered encouragement for Vietnam's battle against bird flu and other public health challenges. The president was quickly touring this city, once known as Saigon, before flying to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, where thousands angrily protested America's policy in the Middle East and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." (11/19/06)

Ugh. Even the Third Reich and Fascist Italy had stock markets.

World Wars:
Congo: Gunfire, street fighting erupt
Forbes
"Gunfire and street fighting erupted in Congo's capital Tuesday and a fire broke out at the supreme court as a hearing began over fraud allegations in the country's presidential runoff election. The shooting outside the court first interrupted the proceedings and continued for about 45 minutes as U.N. forces arrived in armored vehicles and people fled for cover. Dozens of fights broke out among about 200 people who had gathered outside to support losing candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba." (11/21/06)

For all our election problems, we can count our blessings – we have, for the most part, avoided this kind of mess, no matter how crooked our elections are. But I fear we are reaching that point, as Mexico has, and as may be the case in many other countries around the world.

Mama's Note: I have a marvelous idea! Let's not "elect" anyone at all! Then we won't have any disagreements and can all begin to manage our own lives and money as we see fit. Doesn't that sound good? I mean, except to the politicians, of course.

Page 2 Click HERE Link checked!! Special After Thanksgiving page this week!! More good stories and commentary. Check it out!

Nathan Barton is writing this from a wonderful place in the West, which might be in the Black Hills of South Dakota or Wyoming, or might be in one of the Four Corners States. Exactly where it is, the breezes blow with the scent of liberty, and the sound of the pines or the pinions is the sound of freedom. For thousands of years, people have fought and died for the liberty that Americans in the great spaces of the West enjoy, and he writes these commentaries in the hopes that continued generations will be able to do so, until the end of Time.

Be sure to visit my blog, Liberty's Outpost.

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