Another Conservative Admits The Truth

Ken AshfordIraq, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

This time, it’s none other than Bill Buckley:

One can’t doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samara and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that “The bombing has completely demolished” what was being attempted — to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven’t proved strong enough. No doubt they are latently there, but they have not been able to contend against the ice men who move about in the shadows with bombs and grenades and pistols.

The number of Koolaid drinkers is decreasing rapidly.

RELATED:  George Will with George Stephanapoulos this morning:

STEPHANOPOULOS: What does civil war look like?

WILL: This. This is a civil war.

This Is Old News…

Ken AshfordWar on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

100545349_5b1d39bc5f_1…to most of us, but Flickr now has images of the notes of Department of Defense staffer Stephen Cambone, taken on September 11. 2001.

The notes (11 pages of them) include Donald Rumsfeld’s 2:40 PM instructions to General Myers to find the "[b]est info fast… judge whether good enough [to] hit S.H. [Saddam Hussein] at same time – not only UBL [Usama Bin Laden]" (as discussed on p. 334-335 of the 9/11 Commission Report).

Clearly, Rumsfeld knew that "UBL" was the culprit for 9/11, but as early as 2:40 pm on 9/11/01, he was thinking strategicially about whether the facts were "good enough" to hit Hussein.  Cambone’s notes also include the line "Hard to get a good case".

You can click the image on the right to get a "full-size" look at one of the pages of notes.

I Love This

Ken AshfordRepublicans, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

Via Shakespeare’s Sister, we learn of an Ohio State Senator who has discovered the power of satire as a legislative tool:

Lawmaker’s proposal: Bar Republicans from adopting

If an Ohio lawmaker’s proposal becomes state law, Republicans would be barred from being adoptive parents.

State Sen. Robert Hagan sent out e-mails to fellow lawmakers late Wednesday night, stating that he intends to "introduce legislation in the near future that would ban households with one or more Republican voters from adopting children or acting as foster parents." The e-mail ended with a request for co-sponsorship…

Hagan said his "tongue was planted firmly in cheek" when he drafted the proposed legislation. However, Hagan said that the point he is trying to make is nonetheless very serious…

To further lampoon Hood’s bill, Hagan wrote in his mock proposal that "credible research" shows that adopted children raised in Republican households are more at risk for developing "emotional problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, and alarming lack of tolerance for others they deem different than themselves and an air of overconfidence to mask their insecurities."

However, Hagan admitted that he has no scientific evidence to support the above claims.

Just as "Hood had no scientific evidence" to back his assertion that having gay parents was detrimental to children, Hagan said.

I’m sure many on the right will see this as "unhinged" and "ludicrous" without understanding the Senator’s whole point is that discrimination based on bogus scientific evidence really is ludicrous.

The interesting thing is that there is evidence showing that divorce rates are 27% higher in red states than in blue states.  Couple that with the conventional wisdom among conservatives that kids raised in "broken homes" and/or non-nuclear families are more screwed up than June and Ward Cleaver’s kids, and Hagan may actually have a "scientific" leg to stand on.

Good Health News

Ken AshfordHealth CareLeave a Comment

I think this is an underreported story, so I want to highlight it:

SAN FRANCISCO – In a surprising discovery, researchers said Friday they had found a virus in some prostate cancer patients, a finding that opens new research avenues in the most common major cancer among men in the United States.

The virus, closely related to one previously seen only in mice, was found in cancerous prostates removed from men with a certain genetic defect. The researchers, with the University of California, San Francisco and the Cleveland Clinic, warn that they have not discovered any links between the virus and prostate cancer, but they were nonetheless excited about prospects for future research.

"It is a very exciting discovery," said Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic, who presented the findings at an American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. "There is now a suggestion that prostate cancer could be caused by an infectious disease."

Sex Offender Map

Ken AshfordCrime, Personal, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

Go here, type in your address, and get a map of the registered sex offenders in your neighborhood.

Sexoffender

While it is good to know that I am within a stone’s throw of a couple of perverts, I have misgivings about the sex offender registry in general.  Mostly this: any chance there could be mistakes made?  Remember, the people who compile this information are no more skilled than your typical DMV worker.

Friday iPod Random Ten

Ken AshfordPersonalLeave a Comment

Another installment in which my iPod embarrasses me and my musical taste:

  1. Real – William Shatner [Oh, dear.  Off to a very very bad start]
  2. Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 – Swingle Sisters [Ah, classical.  I’ve redeemed myself]
  3. Rosanna – Toto [Back on shaky ground, but I can still keep my head up]
  4. The Flower Duet – Delibes Lakme [A bit fay, but it’s classical, so my taste can’t be impugned]
  5. Introduccion from Suite Punta Del Este – Astor Piazzola [A tango, better known as "The Theme from ’12 Monkeys’" – now I’m just being a snobby musical elitist]
  6. Seasons of Love – Rent (Broadway) [Okay.  A little hackneyed, but not too embarrassing]
  7. Mama Used To Say – Junior [Now we’re talkin’!!!]
  8. No One Is To Blame – Howard Jones [This is a little embarrassing, but I can deal…]
  9. Nobody Does It Better – Carly Simon [Nothing embarrassing about this at all]
  10. Video Killed The Radio Star – Buggles [Slightly embarrassing, but there are worse things on my iPod]

Another Visit With Kaye Grogan

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

GroganWe had hoped that Kaye would write this week about the Dubai deal, but it seems that she’s back to her old themes.  That’s okay.  We’re flexible.

You know what?

What?

I wouldn’t cry one single tear if every abortion clinic in the world was shut down.

Imagine our surprise.

But I can tell you that I have probably cried at least 47 million tears representing each precious baby that has been killed since 1973.

We wanted to figure out how many gallons of tears this would come out to, but we couldn’t find out how many fluid ounces are contained in the average teardrop.  We can tell you that, to meet this quota, Kaye must have cried roughly 4,000 tears per day — every day — since 1973.  That’s a lot of tears.  She must be a lot of fun around the house.

While abortionists and abortion clinics are getting filthy rich off of the blood of innocent babies, I wonder how many of them have ever pondered what the consequences will be for them later on down the road?

Are you asking us a question?

Well, they could care less right now as they ride around in their Bentley or BMW, smoking fat cigars, wearing expensive designer clothes, and living in their high dollar mansions.

Kaye hates capitalism, even when she makes things up in her mind.

Isn’t this a heck of a way to build up Social Security retirement funds? I’ll say!

You build up Social Security retirement funds by smoking cigars??  We didn’t know that!!!

Bravo to South Dakota for being the first state to branch out in an effort to stop all abortions in their state. At least this is a step in the right direction.

Right.  Stopping all abortions is just the first step.  Next comes the extermination camps for gays.

Boy, I bet the abortion-rights groups, and the ACLU are seething. I just had a vision of them jumping up and down beating walls!

No, Kaye.  That "vision" was your kids acting out.  They want you to put down the liquor flask, step away from the computer, and feed them.

There is only one abortion clinic (which is one clinic too many) — in South Dakota operated by Planned Parenthood. And naturally with good reason they are worried about being shut down.  I would love to see every abortion clinic in America have to put going out of business signs on their door. Hallelujah! …what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Except that most "abortion clinics" provide other gynecological services to women.  But you wouldn’t know about those things, would you, Kaye.

I don’t believe the full significance of the legislature passed by the State Senate in South Dakota has sunk in yet.

Well, you’ve got cigar-smoking abortion advocates banging the walls of their mansions.  It sure sounds like the significance of the statute has sunk in.

This could inadvertently open the doors wide open…

…as opposed to closing the doors wide open…

This could inadvertently open the doors wide open to give the more conservative U.S. Supreme Court leeway to readdress the Roe V. Wade decision legalizing abortions in all 50 states — especially since Norma McCorvey, who was one of the key players has seen the light, and is now an opponent speaking out against abortion.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, I’m sure Ms. McCorvey’s "seeing the light" will have had little bearing on their decision.

See — miracles can still happen.

Thank you, Al Michaels.

Of course, this doesn’t alter the fact that Ms. McCorvey is still partly responsible for the biggest travesty of justice ever to hit the United States, but she can help to redeem herself (somewhat) by continuing to work vigorously to help overturn Roe V. Wade.

Yeah.  Ms. McCorvey was the "Roe" of Roe v. Wade.  Back in the 1970’s she was the only one getting an abortion, and if she hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in today.

I don’t think I have ever heard anyone in congress (who claims to be pro-life) come out and publicly reveal how much tax money is generated off of the murder of unborn babies annually, but it has to be astronomical.

Abortionists — doing their part to decrease the deficit.

Can’t you just hear some of the arguments now in an effort to keep abortion legal? Of course, we’ve heard them all before — except of course the part about how it makes many people wealthy. You won’t find a pro-abortion person discussing the monetary revenue from the human slaughter houses…

Right, that’s your (bogus) argument, Kaye.

So I guess Kaye is mad that the pro-choice community doesn’t make the argument that abortion is revenue-enhancing and lowers the deficit.

…you’ll just hear the same old familiar sob stories.

And not even 47 million tears’ worth, I bet.

Example: "if abortion is criminalized there won’t be enough prisons to hold those involved with illegal abortions. And how can you put a woman in jail for making the decision to end her pregnancy?" On . . . and on.

Will Kaye enlighten us with a response to these questions?

Let’s look at some of the feeble excuses many women use to have abortions.

Guess not.

They already have enough children. They are getting ready to go to college. It’s not the right time. They are just not ready to be a parent. Their husband or boyfriend will be upset with them. A baby will crimp their lifestyle. Do any of these excuses justify murder?

No, but they justify abortion.

Not in my book!

The only book that matters.

I don’t see any justification for murdering a little innocent baby. Not even to save the life of the mother. What makes her life any more valuable than the life of her child?

That’s your choice.  Isn’t it great where we live in a country where you are free to make those choices?

One of my friends told me about a heart wrenching story about how when she was in labor, life-threatening complications entered the picture, and the doctor told her husband how grave the situation was. Her husband told the doctor to do everything needed to save his wife’s life. Well, miraculously both mother and child pulled through. And her only child (a son) has been the apple of her eye from the moment he was laid in her arms.

"Um . . . I forget what my point was with this story, but it has something to do with mothers having babies, so it must be relevant."

It would be heartbreaking to hear of any mother dying during childbirth, but isn’t dying part of living?

Yes.  It’s the very very last part.

What really makes me irate is when I hear the pro-abortion folks using the same old ridiculous worn out line: "if you are against abortion . . . why don’t you take care of all of the unwanted babies?" Now that makes about as much sense as expecting all those who find drinking a menace to society — to buy up all of the alcoholic beverages, so irresponsible people won’t drink and drive.

Besides, Kaye’s liquor cabinet is adequately stocked as it is, thank you very much.

I hope people are not going to be disappointed with the newest members on the U.S. Supreme Court. We’ve been duped before on the assumption some of the judges were conservative when in fact, they were liberals in the truest sense of the word.

It shouldn’t be too much longer before we are privileged to see which side of the abortion issue U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts, and colleague Justice Alito embrace.

But in the meantime: everybody should be responsible for their own actions. The blame game has run its course.

Sadly, Kaye, when you criminalize something, you remove the incentive for people being individually responsible.  You remove choice.

But I get your drift.  Excuse me now.  My abortionist friend is going to take me out for a spin in her Bentley.

Serial Killer In North Carolina?

Ken AshfordCrimeLeave a Comment

Via Blue NC, this news report:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Law enforcement officers in North Carolina and South Carolina will investigate the possibility that three women who were killed in the past nine years were victims of a serial killer.

Union County North Carolina Sheriff Eddie Cathey said at a news conference Thursday that officers are investigating all possibilities, including that the deaths aren’t connected.

A dismembered and decapitated body found February 9th in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, was identified as that of 46-year-old Sharon Tucker Stone of Monroe, North Carolina. She had been shot twice in the head.

Cathey says she was last seen around January First and no one reported her missing.

Investigators will look into any connections between that death and the deaths of two other women, whose bodies were found in Union County, North Carolina, in 2004 and in 1997.

The Results Are In

Ken AshfordEducation, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

Conservative blogger (and Penn U. cultural studies professor) Michael Berube constantly rails against supposed "liberal bias" on college campuses.  Here’s his post from yesterday, for example.

Conservative online mag Frontpagemag.com picks up Michael Berube’s meme, and asks readers to vote for the "worst professor in America".  Berube has encouraged his blog readers to vote.

Here are the top five results of the "Worst Professor in America" to date:

School Professor Votes
Michael Berube Penn State University 150693
John Bellamy Foster University of Oregon, Eugene 77951
Eric Foner Columbia University 26070
Timothy Shortell Brooklyn College 11329
Jerry Lembcke Holy Cross College 11123

Perhaps Michael should just shut up.

(By the way, Howard Zinn currently has 660 votes and Noam Chomsky has 669 — table scrapings compared to Berube).

Good Iraqi News

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

Lately, I’ve been reporting about the escalation of the Iraqi civil war, due to the Golden Dome mosque bombing earlier this week.

Leave it to Karl Rove to spin the bombing into a good thing:

SNOW: So you expect this [the bombing of the mosque] is going to strengthen the opposition to the terrorists?

ROVE: I think it could. I think it’s likely to.

Yay!  An escalation in tribal violence means we’re more likely to succeed.

UPDATE:  Media Matters has more, including these funny screenshots from Fox News:

Cavuto200602242

Cavuto200602241

Idol Update

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

OdonoghueWell, I have to say that I agree with America.  They booted four Idol contestants that really were not very good.

Bobby Bennett, while a pleasant fellow, really was out of his league.  And I have a confession — I like Barry Manilow and "Copacabana".  But Bennett really made it painful.

The saddest departure of the four (for me) was Becky O’Donohue (pictured at the left), but only because she is so beautiful.  And she’s a twin

But, sadly, looks does not equal talent.

The four North Carolinians are still in it, but only one — Chris Daughtry — has a decent shot, in my humble opinion.

For Sudoku Fans

Ken AshfordPopular Culture1 Comment

Puzzlemaster Will Shortz gives an interview explaining the lure of Sudoku.

What makes it so addictive?
It’s the appeal of the empty squares to be filled in, which is a quality it shares with crosswords, and it has very simple rules. You can learn it in 10 seconds, and yet the logic needed to solve Sudoku is challenging. It’s a perfect amount of time to spend on a puzzle, anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour. And there’s usually a rush at the very end, filling in the last squares, which gives you a great feeling. You immediately want to do another.

Okay.  Maybe I’ll give it a shot.