When will China play its card?

It's become rather obvious to me in watching events over the past few months, and indeed the last year or so, that China is playing an elaborate game. China has considerable difficulty with a number of US policies-most notably those in reference to that "rebel province" otherwise known as Taiwan-a state formed by the forces of the pro-western Kaing Kia Chek following WWII. The simple solution is then that China is making a play for Taiwan-and using the threat of nuclear nutcase Kim as a counter to US support of Taiwan in the event of an invasion. The Chinese are not anywhere near that stupid. A move on Taiwan now would result in war with the US, a war that would cost China dearly. And even if the US only supported Taiwan in the periphery-a la Afghanistan in the 80's China would be very hard pressed to win the island without the use of wmd...Making the entire adventure pointless. No, China is taking a much longer view, if the US can continue to be discredited in the world, militarily and socially, eventually the specter of US support for Taiwan will disappear- and with it freedom in Asia.

Re-enacting......

Every year the historical park across the street from me conducts civil war re-enactments on this weekend in august. Usually on saturday at around nine, the cannon go off, along with rifle fire. Now, usually on saturdays I sleep a bit later than nin, so it wakes me up. What makes this worth writing about is the difference between this year, and five years ago. I was not expecting the cannons then, and coming so soon after 9/11, I honestly thought than an attack was underway, at least for a few seconds...long enought that I was not really sure until I looked out the window, pistol in hand. Thought that this might be a good way to remember just how much things have changed.

Have Republicans become politically savvy....Finally?

As you've likely heard by now, it appears that the Foley scandal may indeed been much ado about nothing. On the surface this does seem to be yet another case of the Democrats prematurely committing themselves, and winding up with egg upon their faces. Could Republican leaders have actually planned this thing-a la Clinton? It's fairly obvious that the Democratic Party, their leadership, and the left in general constantly involve themselves in political head-hunting, and creating false issues. But in the last few years it seems that Republicans have managed to not only redirect some of the fire, but have capitalized upon it. When you look at the timing of some of the various scandals and supposed missteps, you begin to see a slant toward winning elections. Looking at the Foley case, what will happen now? Remember that the investigation into other such dalliances is going to continue at least to the election. Does anyone seriously imagine that Democrats are going to be wholly bereft of the love that dare not speak its name? For my money, I'll bet there is a pile of scandals just waiting to sashay out of the closet and into the blue light of the media. It is a question of whether the Democrats have simply become incompetent, and predictable at the political game that they created, or if Republicans have devised the better mouse (or gerbil as appropriate) trap. If it's the case that the Dem's have lost the political war to a better chess player, all I can say is I'm glad whoever it is is on our side.

Nice, Gov'ner

For some reason, in responding to questions about school security, the wonderfully enlightened Governor of Pennsylvania managed bring the possibility of an assassination into the conversation. I have to say, I honestly think we are balancing on knifes edge to disaster, and we are walking to the tip of the blade. I don't think that most politicians, commentators, and certainly not bloggers, understand the real risk-our civil war was one of the baddies, and I've got to say, the rhetoric that is floating around now sounds rather familiar, if in a modern dialect.
We are so utterly separated philosophically, and I think un-aware of the danger. Part of the problem lies in the basic dishonesty of the left-at least insofar as philosophical roots go. A modern liberal can accurately be described as a socialist, and a Marxist, but I challenge anyone to find a leftist politician in this country that will claim the title socialist....And I think they would all deny Marxism, yet Marx and others are the foundation of the concepts that truly drive the left.
Contrast that with the current right in this country- who would be ashamed to cite Hobbes, Locke, Paine, Franklin, or any of the others who drove the thought of our Revolution? Its quite obvious that liberals simply choose a moniker that would be acceptable to the land of the enlightenment, since the socialist and progressive parties went rather belly-up early in the twentieth century, so they co-opted the then conservative Democratic party that had that pesky racism problem. The public knows what Marxism is, and they don't like it-and no, it doesn't look good even on paper. And they say Bush lied. The point here is that we must keep on the attack, for truth and thought. It is imperative that we continue to throw the truth into the faces of these deceptors, and usurpers of democracy, and thereby educate the public at large as to who they truly are. The altrenative is simply to horrific to contemplate.

Foretopman: I was not aware....

Foretopman: I was not aware....
www.bridgeview.townhall.com

I was not aware....

I must say that all of these years as a Republican, I was unaware that this made me a pervert. I had always assumed that I belonged to the party of the rich, intolerant, ego-maniacal, hate-driven neo-Nazi, racist bigots that I so identified with. I am furious, how dare the republicans keep this a secret? My goodness, had I known that all republicans were pedophilia apologizers and members off a homosexual conspiracy, I’d have never pulled the lever for them. I’ll have to start voting Democrat; I understand they still have some Klan members in Congress.
Wait a moment, they have despicable individuals as well, and when faced with these truly depraved individuals-they defend them! There is no need to go any further than Clinton to see this, but there are many others as are being reported in other venues-Studds, Frank, Jefferson, Byrd, the list goes on. What to make of this? One must assume that the Republican Party is at least a tad less intolerant than is preached, since Republican leadership did, along with his constituency, know of Rep. Foley’s orientation for years, yet managed not to drive him from the party. Compare this to the Democrats, and the sad case of Senator Lieberman…..whose only crime was patriotism, and the result. There is a fundamental difference betwixt intolerance and tolerating truly terrible behavior-and that difference defines opposing philosophies today.
The obvious conclusion is that the difference must lie in the basal views of the two parties, Republicans hold the individual responsible for their actions as an adult, the Democrats hold anyone and anything but the individual responsible….therefore allowing for the defense of the indefensible. If you want proof, find it in the total lack of defense for Foley’s actions. The other point that is proved by all of this is that we are in most cases ultimately faced with a choice between the lesser of two evils in politics, and that all politicians should be viewed as suspect, always.

Sarcasm is as always intentional.

Good choice by the Court.....

The decision of the Supreme Court not to hear a case from Texas concerning sex toy is a victory consevatives, and shows a more right-handed Court than before. In not taking up the case, the court in effect allowed the Texas proscription on selling and making certain types of sex toys stand. And you should cheer this even if you disagree with the law in question-assuming you agree with freedom. What the court has done is refuse to become activist, and placed the decision where it belongs, with the people of Texas.
To be clear, I find it abhorrent that the government should feel the need to become involved in this sort of thing in any manner. It is voyuristic at best, and totalitarian at worst.
That being said, it is even worse for the decision to pass from presumably freely elected state representatives, judges, mayors, aldermen and the lot into the high and mighty hands of nine lawyers whose only "election" was the confirmation by the U.S. Senate-a somewhat dubious credential. By not hearing the case, the court passes the issue back to the State, where it belongs. Granted, we are not used to this, all the years of liberal activist justicies have trained us to see the court as the last defence of freedom-the "final arbiter"- When in truth it presents the greatest threat to freedom of all, if unchecked. The court has the ability to, if politically supported, nullify fair elections, and redefine rights without the consent of the governed, thereby putting a gleam in the eye of prospective dictators and despots.
Liberals will whine that freedom is being repressed by this decision, and while I see the law in question as foolish, the citizenry of Texas are the ones in question, and it is thier duty to see to the law's recincion, not nine unelected, unaccoutable, lawyers. From my reading of the Constitution of this nation, and the Bill of Rights, the "final arbiter" and the "highest court" is us-the individual citizen. So, I encourage the people of Texas to get vocal, and demand plastic penises.....

Fear of fat

Posted By:
Mike Stahl
9/30/06

Just look around you if you need extra evidence, trans-fat is a killer, slowly destroying the lives of millions of hapless citizens, you see it in every extra roll and chin on the bodies of the poor underclass in this nation. This substance blends with and enhances the flavor of foods, rendering the unsuspecting public helpless and indeed hopeless to resist its greasy allure. No one can be expected to resist that gleaming sheen that trans-fatty, and worse-fried, foods present to the eye. Likewise, it is downright torture to expect the poor among us to take up an exercise program. We all pay for the profits gleaned by unscrupulous restaurateurs in higher health costs passed along by the chronically overweight and those afflicted by heart disease brought on by yours of being exploited by these selfish, greedy, and dishonest business owners. Finally, after winning the war on smoking, the health board in New York has found its moral courage and has determined to save these poor, unintelligent folks from their appetites. It is expected that in the future lawsuits will help to recoup the loss to the government in health care costs by winning judgments against these despicable restaurant owners and their accomplice chefs. Soon it will be safe for the underprivileged to dine out as often as is deemed appropriate. It is about time. After this, with true diligence hopefully we will be able to institute programs to fully protect larger sections of the populace, and direct them into more productive and obviously happier lives by eliminating the inconvenience of poor choices. A harmonious existence lays just on the horizon….just a few more steps and everyone will be able to live that life of pure joy as described by bureaucrats. Yes, friends, it is a Brave New World.

Sarcasm fully intended and relished.