HAPPY NEW YEAR! And I Will Give Some 2009 Predictions A Shot

Welcoming 2009 over Sydney Harbour

First, let me wish all those who read this blog a very, very Happy New Year!

We survived a lot in 2008 and as it winds down here on the Left Coast, it is time for a little reflection and once again, I will peer into the dirty crystal ball and try my hand at a few predictions for 2009.

The American people did an amazing thing in voting for the first black man for the presidency.

No, President-elect Barack Obama was not my candidate, but he is my president. And I am glad to say that in this nation, people moved beyond race in this presidential election.

That does not mean I do not have worries or will give him a free pass. But, I will be very proud to see the peaceful transfer of power from President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama. Even in the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln was elected to a second term. It proves that full, free elections can occur and when one side loses, they concede and help the winner take over.

The economic meltdown is astounding. But, once again, there are legitimate concerns as to how the government may or may not make it worse.

As this year draws to a close, Israel is poised to militarily enter the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip to stop the rain of terror the Hamas government has done to Southern Israel. A lot of serious peril for the incoming Obama administration.

A lot took place in this ending year.

Last year, I tried my best to predict how events would turn out. Rather than rehash them, I will simply link to that post and one can laugh or cry or say, right on the money. One thing I can safely write is that I do not think Nostradamus has anything to worry about!

But, since it was so fun last year, I thought I would give it another shot this year. However, I will not break it down by categories. I will just spray the field, so to speak. Here we go.

• President Obama will be dealing with a terrorist attack within the first six months of his term. The American people will rally around our president.


• The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the piggyback and resign slugger Manny Ramirez. They will need to do so to have another shot at the playoffs. And, as an aside, when he was acquired by the Dodgers, he changed their whole attitude. Got to keep Manny here, Mr. McCourt.


• Norm Coleman will pull out the smokin' hot senate election in Minnesota by 40 votes.


• The Democrat-controlled senate will seat President Obama's appointed successor, Roland Burris. They are in a bad place and will need his probable reliable vote.


• Card-check will not be passed in congress as Republican senators will block the controversial legislation.


• Unemployment will reach eight percent by the end of 2009. Congress will have passed a $1,000,000,000,000 "stimulus" package.


• Chrysler will be the first of the "Big Three" American auto makers to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. General Motors will follow. Ford will not have to file as they will be seen as the strongest of the Big Three.


• California Governor Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger will raise a slew of taxes and it will still not stop the red ink. He will try to overturn Proposition 13, the property tax measure passed in 1978 that also forced a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes.


• Congressional popularity ratings will not pass 25% in 2009.


• Super Bowl 43: Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC, Atlanta Falcons from the NFC. Final score: Pittsburgh 31-Atlanta 24.


• NHL Stanley Cup finals: Montreal Canadiens over the Chicago Black Hawks, 4 games to 3.


• NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics, 4 games to 2.


• World Series: Ahh, too early for this. See this in March!

Well, that is it on the prediction front for now. I would like you to share any that you may have. Once again, I wish all, even you Mr. Snarkle, a Happy, Healthy New Year and thanks again for stopping by Right View From The Left Coast!

Nice To See Hamas Hates Christians Too

UPDATED and BUMPED: Finally, the Drudge Report has reported this story. No red siren, but at least there is something on Drudge. Now, will the Dinosaur, Drive-By, Mainstream, Obama-Worshiping Media report on this? Stop holding your breath, folks!


For those who think that the current war between Israel, the Jewish state, and Hamas, the majority party in the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, is just a war between states and a little about religion, maybe this little ditty can make you think twice.
I guess as a Christian, I should be honored to stand with my Jewish brother and sisters.
But, what this should show those that think that we can sit down and talk to these people with rationality is that we can not.
When a government resorts to reintroducing crucifixion of Christians, it must be shunned if not defeated by any means possible.
Unfortunately, we are in transition in the United States from the Bush to the Obama administration. And one has to wonder if that is the rationale for all that is occurring.
I keep looking at the Drudge Report for the red siren, but alas it has not flashed.
Oh well, it is just crucifixion after all. I mean, it is not like Hamas has actually declared war on the West or anything like that.
This is part and parcel of the radical Islamists goal. To eventually drive Christians out of the Middle East.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Israel gets the blame.
You know, if there was no Israel, there would still be a move to rid the Islamic lands of the infidel Christians and Jews. It is just that the West is blind and has given up defending the Christian presence in the Middle East. Oh, BTW, it is the cradle of the Christian faith and it is older than Islam. But, that should not get in the way of driving the infidels.
Remember, our president-elect says that he will meet our enemies with out preconditions. Preparation, yes, preconditions, no.
How will President-elect Obama meet with people who would love to hang him, a professing but currently non-church attending Christian, to the nearest cross?
Hope and change, baby! Hope and change!

Some Perspective

This column by Rich Lowry is spot on that while the current overall situation in the United States is bad, it has been much, much worse.
One of the examples that Mr. Lowry describes that I would like to highlight is the depression of 1837.
While it was up to that point the worst economic downturn in the young nation's history, what Mr. Lowry did not mention is that the federal government did not intervene to right the ship. That was left to the free market to do. Not until President Herbert Hoover tried to intervene in the similar situation in 1929 did the federal government directly intervene to try to right the economic ship.
It should not be the federal government's role to intervene as directly as President Bush has and what President-elect Obama most certainly will do.
What should be worrisome is that a bad situation, not the worst in American history by a long shot, could be made worse by practicing discredited Keynesian economics.
Read the whole column, especially as we head into not just a new year, but a new administration.

The Latest From The Globaloney Warming Front

Last time we had one of these globaloney warming posts, I noted that the area around Duluth, Minnesota wished that they had a little global warming.
Now, the good people of interior Alaska, including the Fairbanks area, also share that wish.
These people will get some temperatures that could be -50 degrees below zero.
But of course according to the globaloney warming cultists, these temperatures are actually a result of global warming.
Folks, you just can not make this stuff up.
Yet, those who have blindly followed the globaloney warming cult do make stuff up. They can not explain that this has been one of the coldest years in recent memory.
What is needed is rationality, not emotionalism, in dealing with this issue. The cultists want to cut off debate because if there is debate, many people may look at some current facts and change their minds. At least try to go beyond the bromides of the cultists.
Can not wait for some more "explanations" on this.

BREAKING! Gov. Blago Names Obama Successor

It appears that the impeachment-bound governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, does have some testicles as he will name President-elect Barack Obama's senate successor at a news conference later today.
His name is Ronald Burris and he once ran for the senate in 1984 and lost to Democrat Paul Simon who went on to defeat Republican incumbent senator Charles Percy.
For some interesting irony, Mr. Burris was the former Illinois Attorney General.
This governor facing impeachment is about to name a former attorney general.
Too good.

HT: Drudge Report @ www.drudgereport.com

Surprise! Mainline Protestant Churches Spliting On Political Lines

In an amazingly thoughtful post over at The New Republic, it is showing that the mainline Protestant Christian churches are splitting, figuratively and literally, over political issues and not necessarily over doctrinal issues.
Firstly, I like the fact that the poster, Damon Linker, refers to those as traditionalists and modernists. As I do because it takes the politics out of serious discussions of faith.
Secondly, he states the obvious.
That opposing the modernist social and political trends puts one in a traditionalist camp in any given denomination. But, unlike many mainline protestant denominations, the Episcopal Church has painfully avoided outright schism. Until now.
When several traditionalist bishops announced they were leaving the Episcopal Church, they did not say that they were aligning with another part of the Anglican Communion. No, they said that they are going to form a separate denomination. And that it would be known as the Anglican Church in North America. And, as many as 100,000 will leave the Episcopal Church and join this new denomination. And, Mr. Linker points out that this will not stop at this number as more and more traditionalists look to a reformed, more traditional Episcopal Church for their spiritual needs. And, unfortunately for political needs as well.
As a member of the Episcopal Church, there is no way that anyone in the sclerotic leadership can ignore this. The traditionalist final straw may have been the ordination of the first openly gay bishop in Vicky Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. That may have gone over with a little ripple. However, the Rt. Rev. Robinson is not just openly gay but living with his partner. That is the bridge too far for many.
But, this schism has been a long time coming, going back to the changes in The Book of Common Prayer that took effect in 1979. It took the loved 1928 Book of Common Prayer and added modern language and kept the Elizabethan language. It was a traditional Episcopal/Anglican compromise. But, many modernists want to replace the traditional language rites with politically correct language. That is just part of that struggle.
But, attend a diocesan convention and one can see that it is not far from a sanctioned Democrat party event.
All the fringe groups have been front and center at the Los Angeles diocesan convention the past couple of years because traditionalist churches have left. Thus, the pro-life faction-gone. Traditionalist booths-gone. But take any left-wing issue, and it has it's own booth and propaganda.
It appears that the modernists keep winning at the Episcopal Church. But their victories may be Pyrrhic as this schism will be one that tops any other within the Church.
But, the end of this New Republic post is very, very disheartening.
Mr. Linker cites President-elect Obama's election garnering 53% of the popular vote. One would think that it would put some of the culture war in remission. But, it has not and may have made it worse. And, a current casualty is the Episcopal Church. And, more are on the way.

Marley & Me-The Review

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

As noted yesterday, Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I did see the new movie, Marley & Me based on the best-selling book by John Grogan.
And, this dog-lover enjoyed it more than I thought that I would and yet, because I read the book and know what happens, I left the movie with many a tear streaming down my face. And, I was not alone.
What I found amazing and the best about this movie is that it was very close to the book itself. Most movies for some strange reason like to take a whole book and change the meaning. Just ask Tom Clancy. But, I can remember all the movie covered and it was very close to what Mr. Grogan wrote.
Owen Wilson plays Mr. Grogan and Jennifer Aniston his wife also named Jennifer. I thought that they both did an excellent job conveying the story of their beginning as a married couple and how Marley, the world's worst dog, came into their lives.
Marley was a birthday present from John to Jennifer. They went to the breeder, looked at a lot of Golden Labs and fell in love with the "special".
Your humble blogger did a similar thing for then soon to be Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and her son, who never had a dog because his father claimed to be allergic.
We went to the Pasadena Humane Society, looked around and fell in love with Scout, the Wonder Dog. Poor Scout! She was being abused (not really!) by a pit bull mix that reminded me of Petey from the Little Rascals. She has been with us for 11 1/2 years now.
If anyone has had an unruly, yet so lovable dog, you can relate to the story. Such as the fact that Marley was kicked out of obedience school. Or how Marley was a chewer of any and everything. Well, you get the idea.
What was so moving is how once the Grogans began their family, Marley was just as much a part of that as anyone. Even when Jennifer has a lousy day and snaps and wants to get rid of Marley who was having one of his fun days. Needless to say, they did not get rid of Marley.
I will not relay the ending except to say that it brought other grown men to tears as well. There is just something about the bond of a dog and person that is inexplicable. The fact that the dog is always there for you no matter what. How when we make a bad move, like step on a paw by accident and while the dog may yelp in pain, he or she will jump up on you to let you know they are OK and that they know you did not mean it. It is a bond that can not be broken, but is by the ultimate death of the dog. Yet, amazing memories live on, and that is what this movie is all about.
Word of advice.
Do not take a really young child to see this for the obvious reason of the ending. Also, read the book before seeing the movie. It is a real perspective as to why I believe this movie really captured the book as best as cramming a lot of years in a two hour movie can.
On the rightviewfromtheleftcoast scale, four plus stars. A great, powerful and moving tale.

Marley And Me

Tomorrow, Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I will see the movie Marley & Me based on the wonderful book by the same title.
Before I give my review of the movie, Ed Morrissey gives us his review of this soon to be classic, I am certain!
I will not give the movie away but I would recommend reading Marley & Me by John Grogan before seeing the movie. It will put a lot of the movie in context.

I Don't Love America-An Honest Liberal

Leave it to the Left Angeles Times to have a left-wing degenerate actually say what many-not all-but many believe about the United States.
Joel Stein, who seems to just love to irritate for the heck of it, admits that he does not share the same love of this great land as many conservatives.
Written like a true lefty with no appreciation for what makes the United States different from any other nation, Mr. Stein writes this:

Conservatives feel personally blessed to have been born in the only country worth living in. I, on the other hand, just feel lucky to have grown up in a wealthy democracy. If it had been Australia, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Israel or one of those Scandinavian countries with more relaxed attitudes toward sex, that would have been fine with me too.

See, Mr. Stein just lumps us in with other democracies. And, for good measure he gets a dig in that the United States is not as "relaxed" in our attitudes towards sex.
To be fair, Mr. Stein does point out what makes the United States different from other nations, including our allied democracies. But, once again he digs into what he does not like about the United States:

But there are plenty of things I don't like about America: our foreign policy, our religious fundamentalism, our provincialism, our intellectual laziness, our acceptance of sweat suits in public.

Religious fundamentalism? Intellectual laziness?
What planet is this Joel Stein on? It clearly can not be earth and surely not the present day United States.
It must bother someone like Mr. Stein that an overwhelming number of Americans are practitioners of their faith. Not just Christians, which is his real bugaboo. But Jews, Islamics, and any given non-monotheistic religions. Too bad for the libertine, Mr. Stein.
Intellectual laziness is a euphemism for not accepting anything told by those of Mr. Stein's ilk. That would include such unproven and possible falsehoods as globaloney warming. In fact, conservatives are much more intellectually willing to discuss any given topic. But the liberal-left, well they just want to save us from ourselves and do not even want discussion. Some intellectual openness.
Later in this opus of disdain, Mr. Stein recalls a conversation he had with radio and television talker Glenn Beck. As Mr. Stein quotes Mr. Beck, it is Mr. Stein's creepy comment that shows how serious he is of his lack of love for this Great Land. Here is what Mr. Beck said:

"If I were born in Great Britain and read about Britain and America, I'd love the values and principles and the men who founded this country," he said. "I love that we crossed these mountains and didn't know what was on the other side. I love that the Pilgrims didn't want to come here, but they came here because they felt prompted to by God. There's always been a spirit of adventure and awe in this land. And I don't think any other country has that."

But, Mr. Stein has this rejoinder:

Beck, it seemed, loves America the same way little boys love camping.

First, I doubt that Mr. Stein has ever been camping. And, why does Mr. Stein have to denigrate someones heartfelt love of his nation? Because, Mr. Stein does not love this nation. He looks at it as an accident of birth. And, Mr. Stein claims that he would be perfectly happy if he were born and raised somewhere else. Especially any given, generic Scandinavian nation.
As I read this it goes to the heart of an issue that I often discuss with Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast.
That liberals are, by nature, very unhappy people. Conservatives are generally happy people. Yes, I know some conservatives that are not very happy people, but this is a generalization. And, Mr. Stein plays right into it.
Thus, he can not have much love because that gets in the way of "intellectual curiosity". I will take bets now that his new marriage will not get to five years.
I want to make clear. I do not think that Mr. Stein represents the vast majority of liberals. Many that I do know love this nation. They want nothing but the best for all people of this great land. They mean well. But people like Mr. Stein are becoming the face of modern liberalism, which is increasingly socialistic in nature.
Thus, Mr. Stein represents a bad trend of liberalism. And, that is much more dangerous than anything a conservative can do. And at least Mr. Stein is honest about his disdain for his nation.

Madoff: An Ugly Stereotype Rears Its Ugly Head

The one aspect of the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme scandal that I am loathe to discuss is the fact that Mr. Madoff is Jewish.
That is a painful fact for me because I am part Jewish. I must emphasise that in the cultural sense since I am a Christian. My father's family are practicing Jews but my father, God rest his soul, was not.
Now in this story, it is really inescapable and has fed into my worst fears as to what Mr. Madoff has done. He has singlehandedly set back the Jewish people by feeding into the vile anti-Semitism of many. And it is on the left and the right. Anti-Semitism is one of those rare cases in which the fringes on both sides seem to be able to agree on.
My problems are these with Mr. Madoff.
He stole from Peter to pay Paul. Hence, that is what a ponzi scheme is. It is always bad when one does that from his or her own people and or faith community. And, it is something that has happened many, many times to churches.
And, he paid off a lot of Democrats.
And, worst of all, not one person seemed to want to think the worst of this guy for he has been doing this scheme for decades.
The racial/religious bigots are having a field day, but I think the three points that I made above are the three issues we need to discuss on this matter.
The fact that Mr. Madoff is Jewish and that he took a lot of Jewish people in his scheme is bad, but has no bearing over the fact that he is an alleged crook. Crookery knows no race, religion, social standing.
Remember that when discussing this matter.

These People Could Use Some Global Warming

Here is a little more on the globaloney warming front.
The good people of Duluth, Minnesota must think that they could use a little warmer temperatures since this is the earliest ice cover on Lake Superior in at least 17 years.
Get this. At some point, people will be able to drive between two islands because the ice will more than likely thicken up to do that. In recent years, people have had to take a ferry between Bayfield and Madeline Island all year long because there has not been a thick ice sheet to drive over in one's own car.
While much of the United States is cold and stormy, it is 52 degrees at 12:15 pm as I type this post, somehow I think most people will agree that if there is globaloney warming, how do they explain these type of events?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The following is the Gospel account of the birth of Jesus ChristThe Holy Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to Luke:

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

May you all have a happy and very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Please keep up with Santa Claus on his journey by going over to the NORAD site. I have bumped and updated it.

Tracking Santa

Last UPDATE and BUMP:
Santa has just completed his annual mission and is doing one last trek around the world to make sure that those who could not get to sleep right away still get their presents.
Once again, I, Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and Scout the Wonder Dog wish you and yours a happy, blessed MERRY CHRISTMAS!

UPDATED and BUMPED:
Santa is soon going to begin his journey over North America! Keep track on the linked NORAD site!

Welcome to Christmas Eve!
Now, a fun thing is to track the journey that Santa Claus takes every Christmas Eve to bring the presents to all the good, and maybe not so good, little boys and girls.
Go on over to http://www.noradtrackssanta.org/ to enjoy Santa's travels.
Check out the videos as well.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Please, Explain Global Warming To The Airline Travelers In Chicago

In this day before Christmas, most of the United States is deep in to winter.
Look at the travel delays at airports across the United States. Throw in the train, bus stations. And, if one is really daring, travelling on an interstate or state highway.
But, there are those in the Globaloney Warming death cult that will try to explain this.
Some have the nerve to actually suggest that cooling is a result of globaloney warming.
If nothing else, one has to get a chuckle of the title of this link over at American Thinker.
While you bundle up with your Snuggle blanket in the midst of this globaloney, remember, even the cold is a result of the warming that is all our fault.
And, here is my Christmas coal in your stocking!

The Conservative Of 2008. . .Sarah Palin, Of Course!

Well, it is official as Alaska governor Sarah Palin is the conservative of 2008 according to Human Events.
It is not a surprise as Gov. Palin is the one that took the ill-fated Sen. John "F--- You" McCain's presidential bid off of life support and energized a dejected Republican base.
But, it a bridge too far for many a conservative to have to vote for Sen. "F--- You" McCain even with Gov. Palin as the vice-presidential candidate.
Without a doubt, if Gov. Palin steers clear of the inside-the-beltway types that will try to remake her into something that she is not, she will be the conservative force for the GOP presidential nod.

A New Way To Squeeze Blood From A Turnip

This is a really rich way for a state that is currently being run-or ruined-by liberal Democrats.
Take a whack at the judiciary to save money.
According to this article in the Los Angeles Times, New Hampshire courts are taking the drastic step of not holding jury trials.
Not holding jury trials? Why, you may ask?
Because after all, it costs money to seek jurors and to pay them the paltry sum of doing their civic duty.
Here in Los Angeles county, there is one day, one trial. What that means is that when one is called for jury duty, they appear at the said courthouse, wait to be potentially called in a jury pool and questioned and tough it out as to whether one is chosen as a juror or not. If one is not chosen, they can go on another panel. If still not chosen by the end of that day, the service is done. If chosen, said juror is not paid the rip-roaring sum of $15 a day for jury service. The juror is paid from the second day on to conclusion of the proceedings.
According to the article linked, the state of New Hampshire will save, drum roll please. . .$73,000 dollars!
Wow! Think of all that savings!
The real reason that this is nauseating is because this is a blatant attempt by the Democrat-dominated state government to sway public opinion.
They want to sway that opinion to institute either a hike in property taxes or a state income tax.
So, use a way that the public will be swayed to support such measures.
If people think that, somehow, potentially dangerous criminals may end up on the streets because of the fact that they are not given their constitutional right to a speedy trial why of course they will do anything to remedy that situation.
It is a tactic that usually has mixed results.
Here in California, Gov. Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger used a similar tactic in threatening to release thousands of incarcerated prisoners back on the streets. It was because, he claimed, there was not enough money to keep them locked up. Of course, because there was a public outcry and no support by the Democrat controlled state legislature, Gov. Benedict Arnold backed down.
It is what politicians on both sides do to try to get what they want. And it is being done in ways like this that is very bad.
This is a pittance that the state of New Hampshire will save. And do nothing but irritate an already irritated electorate.
A solution maybe to move the trials to North Dakota, a state that is governed by conservative Republicans and boasts a budget surplus.
But, back to reality.
This tactic is being done to create a crisis that is not there.
Paying people the small amount to do one of the very few things our government asks of us as citizens is not breaking the state and or county coffers. But, paying for entitlement programs or big, bloated bureaucracies are breaking all levels of government.
Which is why people need to demand that government promote reform, not a blindside to make people pay for more government.
But, just frighten the people into thinking deadly criminals will get out of jail is the latest way to go.
See how well that does.

More Disaster In Zimbabwe

The situation in Zimbabwe is nearing total colapse as those who are supposed to be guarding the bulging prison population are reduced to stealing their food just to survive.
As Martin Fletcher reports, a prison warden that makes 200,000,000 Zimbabwean dollars (less than $1) a month and had to stand in line over four hours a day to access a pittance of that income. And, the "value" of the Zimbabwean dollar decreases even as I write this. And, the same warden said that he had not eaten bread in over a year. And that he had five children to care for.
So, the warden and the prison guards have been reduced to stealing a kind of porridge just to stay alive. As more and more prisoners die. Oh, and the same warden said most were not prisoners at all but people just like himself-desperate to steal food just to stay alive.
A question. Where is President Bush on this? Most important, President-elect Obama? Where is the so-esteemed United Nations on this? Zimbabwe's very prosperous neighbor to the South, South Africa?
The silence among all of these groups is deafening.
I noted in an earlier post that Islamofasicist terrorists love these unstable lands. They can swoop in, promise the moon and stability-or in this case food-and desperate people will welcome them in. It has happened in Somalia. And of course in Afghanistan.
This Zimababwe dictator, Robert Mugabe, is literally killing his own people by "famine" and the West, the United Nations, et al, stand by and do nothing. Many a dictator have been removed for much, much less.
It is appalling that we watch a once great and prosperous nation sink into oblivion. A nation that was once called the breadbasket of Southern Africa not able to feed its own people. We need to do something and now. There are duly elected leaders ready to come in and begining reconciliation and an eventual reestablishment of law and order.
Until then, stories like this just become more and more commonplace.

HT: Ed Morrisey @ www.hotair.com

A Little Winter Fun On The Shortest Day Of The Year

Ahh, December 21, 2008.
The shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere.
It means that fall is officially gone and we now enter the winter season.
Although, in So. Cal., it has felt like winter for a good couple of weeks!
The following link is a fun way to see that our furry, four-legged dog friends love the snow as much as we humans, well most of us, do.
Please, enjoy and if you have a doggie, give him or her a big hug and a kiss!

HT: Jonah Goldberg @ http://corner.nationalreview.com

Jerry Moonbeam Brown Running For California Governor-On The Backs Of Gays And Lesbians

Although it is nowhere near official, it is all but certain that the current California attorney general, Edmund "Jerry" "Moonbeam" Brown is running for the Democrat nomination for governor of California in 2010.
And, he is doing so on the backs of gays and lesbians now that he has decided that he has found a reason why Proposition 8 should be voided by the California state supreme court.
Now, why do I write that about Mr. Moonbeam Brown running on the backs of gays and lesbians?
Because Mr. Moonbeam Brown vowed to defend Proposition 8 in the courts as willfully passed by the people of the state of California.
For the uninitiated, Proposition 8 went on the California ballot this past November and went on that ballot because of the state supreme court decision earlier this year that allowed same-sex couples to marry as do opposite-sex couples. The same court was asked to stay the original decision because of the possibility that the measure would be on the ballot in the next general election. The court said no.
And, this past election day, by a vote of 52-48%, the people of California did not ban same-sex marriage. It said that for legal purposes, only a marriage between one man and one woman would be recognized by that state.
Yet, to read every account, to hear every account, to watch every account, it always starts off like this: "The voter-approved ban on gay marriage."
So, once the constitutional amendment was passed, the attorney general, Mr. Moonbeam Brown said that "He planned to 'defend the proposition as enacted by the people of California.' "
Well, that must have not set well with many of the underlings at the attorney generals office. And, since there has been rampant rumors that the reason Mr. Moonbeam Brown ran for attorney general in the first place was to keep his name out in the public eye as he prepped for another run at governor of the not-so Golden state, what better way to kill two birds with one stone than to gain the support of the gay and lesbian community and defeat the will of the people?
Now, the attorney generals office has grown much more left-of-center the past 10 years since the last Republican to hold that office, Dan Lungren, left to pursue the governor's office. Mr. Lungren was succeeded by uber-liberal and now state treasurer, Bill Lockyear. And now the office is occupied by another uber-liberal in the person of the former governor, Jerry Moonbeam Brown.
So, it stands to reason that there was probably pressure from within the office for Mr. Moonbeam Brown to about face and support those wishing to void Proposition 8. And, as the linked Los Angeles Times article points out, Mr. Moonbeam Brown is a same-sex marriage proponent.
The legal argument put out by Mr. Moonbeam Brown is an interesting one.
It claims that there are certain unalienable rights guaranteed in the California state constitution.
And one is the right to liberty and of privacy. And that same-sex marriage falls under the right of liberty at the very least. The conflict, in the wisdom of Mr. Moonbeam Brown is that there is a contradiction of the right of liberty and privacy and the passing of a constitutional amendment that would take that right away.
Since the California state supreme court, in a 4-3 decision, only in May of this year found a right for same-sex couples to marry, it is hard to define whether or not there really is a conflict of the two suppositions.
But, there is no doubt that Mr. Moonbeam Brown is not but a savvy pol that has been reading the tea leaves.
The tea leaves have to show that same-sex marriage advocates are going to strongly support a Democrat for governor of California. And they may have their biggest Democrat champion in the current San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsome, in the race. For Mr. Moonbeam Brown to gain any support among the gay and lesbian community, he had no choice but to do the about face and now go before the courts to oppose the will of the people.
For this reason, among so many others, it is very important to read this post about why Bill Simon needs to get busy now and put himself in the running for the GOP nod for governor.
If for nothing else, it may come down to the kinds of judges the next governor puts in the state courts.
Because it looks like a real return to the 1970s if Jerry Moonbeam Brown makes another run for the governor's office in Sacramento.

It Figures-W To "Bailout" Two Of Three United States Automakers

In an announcement made by President Bush today from the White House, the president announced that since congress failed to "bailout" the Big Three United States automakers, he would just raid the money from the ill-fated $700,000,000,000 "bailout/rescue" of the financial services sector.
President Bush buys into the irrational notion that if one or all three of the United States automakers have to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization, it will set off a chain reaction of all going under and millions of Americans put out of work. Also, President Bush buys into another bad argument that consumers will not buy from a company that is in bankruptcy.
Thus, President Bush is going to hand out $17,400,000,000 to two United States automakers, Chrysler, which is taking its second turn and the federal government teat, and General Motors. Ford is not going to be part of this as they claim they do not need this "bridge" loan.
Let's take the notion that this is a loan.
If in March, when this will supposedly be reevaluated, and one or both can not reorganize and are even in worse shape than before the loan, how will they be able to pay it back? One way would be, you guessed it, Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization protection. There would be no other way for these companies to pay back the loan.
And really, people fly airlines that have done the same thing as what the automakers should do.
A better example is Circuit City. They are in the middle of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. I get my local Sunday fish wrap, aka Pasadena Star-News and still see their ads. People are buying products there. And warranties. And, while some people will just not shop there, most are not saying that they can not buy from a company that may not be around in a year or two.
And the scare tactic that millions will lose their jobs is just that. A scare tactic. Yes, some would unfortunately would lose their jobs. These would be people that work directly for one or both of the companies that want the hand out from the feds. And there is a possibility that some dealers and suppliers would have some residual effect. Yes, some dealers would close and some suppliers would have to lay off workers. But, the problem with the "bridge" loan is that this does not solve the long-term problem. It just stave's off the inevitable.
The real problem with this is the willingness of President Bush to believe that "doing something" is better than nothing. And, using the financial "crisis" is opening a can of worms that any industry that seems to be in a similar position (say newspapers) can beg for a similar "loan"
Even in the midst of an economic situation such as the one we are in, sometimes it is better to let the free market shake things out. Having the government try to solve these situations is not the way to go.
Good luck President-elect Obama.

New York State To Tax Anything And Everything

It appears that the new words that liberal Democrats and Republicans will use to replace taxes are "fee increases". And the leader in that will be New York State, without a doubt.
According to the New York Daily News, everything from iPods to regular sodas will face a tax and or fee increase.
Here are the increases proposed by the New York Democrat governor, David Patterson:
Tax raises for movie tickets, taxi rides, regular soda (not sugar-free), beer, wine, cigars and massages. And there would be sales tax increases for cable and satellite services as well as removing a tax exemption for clothes costing less than $110 dollars.
But, Gov. Patterson will not say that these are tax increases but fee increases. Really?
A tax is a tax and an increase in a tax is an increase in a tax.
The proposed tax/fee increases would bring an estimated $4,100,000,000. That would close a quarter of the projected $15,400,000,000 deficit in the New York state budget.
So, let us all understand this.
What we call luxuries will face a tax/fee increase, right? Is there any proposed serious cuts in the state budget of $121,000,000,000?
Of course not!
But even this article is misleading because it implies that there will be cuts in school funding and payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
Yes, there will be a proposed 3.3% reduction in school aid, but not a permanent cut. And the same for the hospitals and nursing homes. The state will simply reduce those payments. Reductions are not permanent cuts. But, believe you me, the liberals and Democrats will have you believe that they are.
To be fair, there is a proposal to eliminate seven state agencies that would result in laying off 521 state workers. But are these large agencies? Or are they antiquated agencies that are places to employ those that are not employable anywhere else?
Here is a quote from Gov. Patterson:
"If you start taxing at times when (revenues are) receding, you'll drive job creators out of the state."
No kidding?
So, why do you want to put movie houses out of business? Taxi drivers out of work? Liquor stores out of business? Legitimate massage houses out of business? After all, do these places not employ people? If these places expand, do they not create jobs? Of course they do. But, because these liberal Democrats are afraid of raising taxes outright, they are dancing around the whole issue. And not addressing serious budget reforms and yes, genuine cuts.
With all of the crisis atmosphere, the New York state budget will still increase by one percent. It should not increase at all, but remember folks, this is what happens when liberal Democrats run a state and drive out any kind of business that does not conform to its world view. The state of New York has been able to avoid this mess because, as Gov. Patterson himself admits, they had been able to have seemingly exhaustive tax collection from Wall Street. Gee, no one ever thought that there could be a down economy and that the stock market may go down with it.
Like many other states, California being one of them, run by the liberal, Democrats, they do not have any clue on having policies that encourage economic growth. Income redistribution, yes. But growth does not register on their radar screen. Favorable tax policy to encourage business to locate in their state. Not. Deregulation that would do the same thing. Not.
We are watching how a state that can not raise income taxes is dealing with a budget shortfall in a punitive and meaningless way. But sounding like they are "doing something" about it. Too bad it will lead to a disaster.

Hope And Change-Except For The South

Here is a little interesting tidbit.
There is not one Southerner that has been appointed to President-elect Obama's cabinet at this writing.
Why do you think that is?
There have to be some Southerners that supported The One that shoud be considered for his cabinet, right?
Or maybe outside of Florida, North Carolina and Virginia The One realizes there was not all that much support for him.
Who knows.
But it is interesting.

If You Are A Globaloney Warming Denier, Say It!

This is great!
Finally, a place for all to proudly deny the greatest hoax of the 21st century.
Globaloney Warming!
Come on, if you are like me, then say so with pride by following this link and writing a comment.
This push by so many to make us believe that we, human beings, are the only reason for the planet possibly warming to unsustainable levels is not much more than a last gasp at socialism.
If we allow so-called scientists to run our governments and or economies, the current economic fiasco will look very good in comparison.
The fact that so many do not believe in globaloney warming hook, line and sinker is good. But we can only have a debate if we are willing to be in the debate.
This is a start.

Just Say NO To Another Kennedy In The Senate

I can not say that I am all that amazed, but more annoyed that the current governor of New York, David Patterson, is even considering appointing Caroline Kennedy to fill the soon to be departed Hillary Clinton senate seat.
Even more disturbing is the New York Post endorsing such a move.
Look, even Sen. Clinton had to run for the seat that she is to give up to become the secretary of state in the incoming Obama administration. And she had a tough first campaign.
But, for Gov. Patterson to appoint someone who simply has the name Kennedy is certainly not change we can believe in.
For many a Democrat, for some inexplicable reason, they can not let go of the era that gave the United States President John F. Kennedy. Yet, it was not all that rosy a period in American history.
Firstly, Sen. John F. Kennedy all but stole the election of 1960 thanks to the power of his running mate, the corrupt Sen. Lyndon Baines Johnson from Texas and a little more help from the infamous Chicago political machine that gave the election to Sen. Kennedy. And while he squeaked by in that race, he had a lot of problems. Does any one realize why President Kennedy was in Texas that fateful day in November, 1963? Because he was in political trouble in Texas and he was trying to shore up support.
From the assassination of President Kennedy to today, there is this myth that the two and a half Kennedy years were "Camelot". They were treacherous years and not made any better by the succession of Vice-President Johnson.
Then in 1968, in an attempt to relive that time, the Democrats were about to nominate Sen. Bobby Kennedy when he was assassinated also, this time by a deranged Syrian named Sirhan Sirhan.
And let us not forget Sen. Edward "Teddy" Kennedy making a run for the Democrat presidential nomination in 1980 against the incumbent President Jimmah Carter.
Now, with no real reason but a name, a new chapter is trying to be written by the daughter of the first slain Kennedy, Caroline.
This paragraph from the Post' editorial endorsement of Gov. Patterson appointing Mrs. Kennedy is a howler:

Moreover, Kennedy's selection would be a welcome sign of Paterson's willingness to reject the politics of pander and special-interest pressures merely to satisfy some ethnic or geographic quota.

What?! Reject the politics of pander?! Is there any compelling reason to appoint Mrs. Kennedy other than her last name? Pander?! It would be nothing but a move of pander.
But, there are other reasons according to the Post.

In her two years heading the school system's Office of Strategic Partnerships, she raised more than $65 million in private-sector funds for the city's schools. She also serves as vice chairman of the Fund of Public Schools and is a board member of New Visions for Public Schools, which for two decades has worked to bring about systemic public-education reform.

As a member of Barack Obama's vice presidential selection committee - and a key early endorser of his candidacy - she remains close to the president-elect. That kind of access and influence surely would prove critical for New York.

Firstly, the New Visions for Public Schools has not been doing a bang-up job in public education reform if it has taken two decades. And, why did not this editorial give the reader the results of this reform? It would have actually either made or broke a fundamental reason to support Mrs. Kennedy's appointment to the senate.
And on being on President-elect Obama's vice-presidential selection committee, big deal. Did she make the difference in helping Mr. Obama choose Vice-President elect Joe Biden? We do not know. But, according to the Post, it is a close relationship to President-elect Obama that would somehow benefit New York state.
And really, is there not another person in the whole state of New York that can not be considered for this job? Really? I mean, there is the attorney general, Andrew Cuomo. At least he has had to run for office. The perception is that Mrs. Kennedy is being handed a gift rather than at least doing what Sen. Clinton did. And, that is not change I believe in.
I have no problem in Mrs. Kennedy actually running for the Clinton seat in 2010. So, she may face a fellow Democrat in a primary. Big deal. It would toughen her up for a general election.
What I think Gov. Patterson should do is appoint a caretaker type to hold the seat and let the voters decide in 2010.
Giving a member of a prominent family a seat that he or she does not have to run for is not exactly, well democratic.

What About Those Traditional Christmas Carols?

This is a continuation of The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year post as I have a question about the songs of the season.
What happened to the good, ol' fashioned Christmas carol?
I mean, I love almost all of the Christmas season music. Secular and sacred.
But, as The Other McCain notes in this article at The American Spectator, almost all of the Christmas music that was written in the 20th century is secular in nature. Nary is there even a mention of the dreaded "C" word. You know, CHRISTMAS. Why the very popular The Christmas Song starts out "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. . ." I mean, again, I like the song, but it has no focus on the Reason for the Season.
My favorite carol is probably the most politically incorrect one of all.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is so in-your-face about the message but it has such a great tune and tone, that I do not think that anyone realizes the evangelical message of the song. Here are the complete lyrics:

1. God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
2. In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn,
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn:
O tidings ...
3.From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:
O tidings ...
4. The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessèd Babe to find:
O tidings ...
5. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Where at this Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:
O tidings ...
6. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface:
O tidings ...

Note the very beginning of the song:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray

That is in your face, telling all why Jesus Christ was born in the first place. To save us from Satan and that he will be the saviour of the world.
So why would it be politically incorrect?
Well, those merry gentlemen. What about the women? How about the message of the meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ? So judgemental, you know. Talking about Satan and all of that. And talking of that Harlot, Mary. We know that there is no virginess about her. People like the Episcopal heretic "bishop" John Shelby Spong tells us so. He even wrote a whole book about that.
Of course there is that pesky praying stuff. Please, why would Mary kneel to pray?
While I focus on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", there are many other sacred songs that get short-shrift during this season.
Here are the following sacred Songs of the Season that I do not hear as much on the local 24 hour Christmas radio station:
"Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
"Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
"The First Noel"
"We Three Kings"
"Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem"
"Away In A Manger"
"Silent Night"
"It Came On A Midnight Clear"
I am not writing that this is all that I want to hear. I just wished that we could hear more of it. After all, it is the Christmas season and the songs noted above are very much Christmas songs.
The following are winter or secular Seasonal songs:
"Winter Wonderland"
"Home For The Holidays"
"Let It Snow"
"Sleigh Ride"
"Frosty The Snowman"
I do love hearing these songs. But not over the Christmas songs.
BTW, I should also note that the Mainline Protestant churches shy away from the traditional carols. It is not just 24/7 Christmas music radio stations.
So, let me say this.
Enjoy all the Music of the Season. Just let us remember and encourage the traditional carols as equal with the fun and secular.

HT: The Other McCain @ www.rsmccain.blogspot.com

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

No, this is NOT the rightviewfromtheleftcoast family Christmas Tree. But we have a really good one that may make an appearance in another posting.

But, back to the point.

This is really the most wonderful time of the year.

There is just something about the Christmas season that just brings out the child in me.

The waiting, the expectation, the excitement of seeing people open their gifts and the hope that I did not blow it and get that person something so, well wrong. The feeling of stress and joy all at the same time.

Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I just finished decorating the rightviewfromtheleftcoast family Christmas Tree. And this year, it was a three day project.

Let me explain.

We bought our tree, real NOT fake, on Friday late in the day. Because it was late and we have to lug the tree up some stairs, we put our perfect Noble Fir tree in a container of water until yesterday. But then, we had other things to do yesterday and we just got the tree in the rightviewfromtheleftcoast manor and then up the stairs. So, we just finished with the white lights all around and the decorations. We almost get a tree ornament from where ever we take a trip. So, slowly but surely, our tree in the upcoming years will maybe be a travelogue by ornament.

While there is a time of joy for many, it is also a time to remember that there are many who can not share in the joy of the season.

There are many reasons for it. No need to list them all here. The real point is not ignore those that find this season one of pain rather than one of joy. We should do our best to embrace those people. In the best ways that we know how. They will let you know if you are going overboard or maybe not doing enough. And, sometimes it is keeping a distance that is best.

I, for one, just love the fact that I am able to be with those that I care for the most and able to give not just the right gift but of myself. This is a great time of year to remember that.

So, please, get those trees-make sure that they are real and not fake!-and enjoy the Christmas season.

From Five Years Ago Today

It was five years ago today that coalition forces in Iraq captured the Thug of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein from nothing but a spider hole near his home town.
It was a great day for freedom and the end result was a trial and rightful execution by an elected civilian government that he so long denied his own people.
Remember this today and as long as you can for this was reason enough for the United States and allies to liberate Iraq and free the people from this cowardly butcher, Saddam Hussein.

For California, Bill Simon For Governor In 2008

Yes, in this season of hope and change, and because it is never too early to start another campaign Death March, I offer the California Republican party its candidate for the 2010 governor's race.
His name is Bill Simon.
Bill Simon?!
Again?!
Did not Mr. Simon get his hat handed to him in 2002 against the last incompetent California governor, Democrat Gray Davis?
Did Mr. Simon not prove that a solid conservative can not win a race for statewide office in the not-so Golden State?
Well, let me answer some of that and provide some information that would make a second run for governor a better one.
Firstly, Mr. Simon did not get his hat handed to him by former Governor Davis.
In the 2002 governor's race, Mr. Simon got 42% of the vote compared to incumbent Governor Davis 47% of the vote.
Secondly, Mr. Simon was in a three-way GOP contest for the nomination against the moderate mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan and the then secretary of state and more ideological soul mate, Bill Jones.
So, it took a lot of money to win that race and to introduce Mr. Simon to the voters of California. In the meantime, Gray Davis was raising then untold sums of money for his race for reelection.
Mr. Simon had to get out what made him different from the incumbent. And that was hard when he was being vastly outspent. But, it was not impossible and Mr. Simon ran a credible race against an old warhorse like Gray Davis.
Mr. Simon is a conservative and on the issues he will govern as such.
This link provides a look at the issues that were important in the 2002 governor's race.
And let's look at those issues Mr. Simon highlighted in 2002.
1) Our roads are the most congested in America.
Can not argue with that. It is a fact that here in California, we have the most congested roads and while there was a bond issue passed in 2004 to supposedly alleviate that problem, it will take years to complete and the likelihood is that the problem will only get worse.
2) California public schools rank near the bottom nationwide.
And that is also true. California spends some of the most money nationwide to produce a lot of functional illiterates. Over 50% of freshmen entering the California State University system have to take remedial classes. That is an absolute indictment of the public schools in California.
3) We pay the country's highest electricity rates.
With governor Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger, that will get worse by 2010 because of all the ill-conceived green technology that he touts and has tried to get into law.
4) Our budget is out of balance and taxes are rising.
BINGO! That is the issue that will run through a 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
California tried with an actor that had no serious political ideology. Governor Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to get a series of reforms passed shortly after he won election in the infamous 2003 recall election of then Governor Davis. Since he went to far too fast and totally underestimated the opposition to those reforms, all failed in a special election. And after that, rather than try to take each issue one by one, he transformed into the "post-partisan" governor and essentially has governed like one of his in laws-the Kennedy family! Governor Benedict Arnold is proposing among other things raising the car registration fee-which is one of the reasons Gray Davis lost his job in the first place-and the state sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25%. In Los Angeles county, that will be 10.25%-the highest in the United States.
So, how can someone who is a solid conservative win the GOP nod and then run a good enough campaign to win election as governor of California?
Look, Mr. Simon has been there already. The only other serious candidate that may give Mr. Simon a race is the current state Insurance Commissioner, Steve Poizner. He is seen as a moderate, although not nearly a liberal as Gov. Benedict Arnold. If Mr. Poizner wants higher office, he should run for the United States senate. Lord knows we need to get rid of the dolt we have now, Sen. Barbara Boxer. And, Mr. Poizner will have a good record to run on.
So, with little if any opposition, Mr. Simon can spend time fundraising and trying to get the Democrats to nominate someone as wacky as their last gubernatorial candidate, Phil Angelides. A lot of people want to run for California governor and have a D after their name. One is the current mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villa. Oh, you know him as Villaraigosa, but once his wife divorces him, she will take back her name, Raigosa. Good for her.
Another potential candidate is current United States senator Diane Feinstein. And there are other, lesser-known figures.
So, with no internal opposition and a lot of time to define the other side, Mr. Simon will be able to define the issues. And be able to run against both the incumbent governor and the Democrat-dominated legislature. He can and should fault them for not solving problems. He can and should point out that Gov. Benedict Arnold should have used the opportunity that the current budget crisis has had to argue to tax and regulatory reform. So far, Gov. Benedict Arnold has not done so. In fact, he has chided Republicans in the legislature from doing just that.
Mr. Simon should make a case that the governor and the state superintendent of education need to work together for viable and serious educational reform. Again, that has not been done under this current legislature and governor.
Mr. Simon needs to tout the fact that he has been a businessman and a problem solver. And, a political outsider that has the will to not give up the fight. He needs to argue that reform will be the only way to solve the budget and tax crises facing California. As well as the education crises.
One other thing.
The statewide DDBMSOWM will focus on the social issues as they always do with a conservative and Republican. My advice to Mr. Simon, should he chose to run and be the GOP standard bearer. Do not run away from them. Talk about why you are pro-life. Why you believe that marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman. Why we have worse than a culture of corruption but a culture of despair. But, be honest and admit that government can not necessarily solve these problems but can set the tone as to how these issues can be dealt with. There is nothing worse than a social conservative politician that tries to downplay these issues.
Bill Simon is the best choice for California Republicans to keep the governor's office and actually govern as a conservative Republican.
Therefore, I urge Bill Simon to run for the Republican nomination for governor of California in 2010.

The Auto Maker "Bailout" Is Dead-For Now

It appears that the so-called United States auto maker "bailout" for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors has died a timely death.
But, do not expect this behemoth to go away any time soon.
The defeat came on a procedural vote in the senate, which received the House version of the bill earlier in the day.
And General Motors does have the wherewithal to realize that time is running short and according to this report from the Drudge Report is hiring outside council to at least look into the prospect of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization.
So, lets take a look at the possibility of one or all three United States automakers filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization.
Jim Manzi in National Review's The Corner provides some excellent analysis on this issue.
When there talk that up to 3,000,000 people will lose their jobs as a direct result of the filing, it is not all directly linked to the auto industry. It is the outliers. As Mr. Manzi points out, it is the people that maybe work at a 7-Eleven, who would lose jobs because people that used to work for any of the Big Three no longer buy their coffee there. And, then the 7-Eleven people not working would no longer shop at the local K-Mart because they are out of work.
If indeed the worst case scenario occurs and 3,000,000 lose their jobs, that is about two percent of the American work force. At a current unemployment rate of 6.7%, it would go up to 8.6%. At the height of the last worst recession, 1981-1982, the unemployment high was 10.8%.
Now, to be clear, no one likes and or wants to see any American worker lose their job. And it is that prospect that drives the government to make irrational decisions, such as offering a life line that does not end.
As Mr. Manzi points out, what makes anyone believe that the $14,000,000,000 asked for by the Big Three auto makers will be enough. Considering that fact that this is being called a "bridge" loan, it will not be anywhere near enough. Is there not a possibility that the end result could be as much as $100,000,000,000 given to the Big Three auto makers? Of course!
And with that money will come a great deal of strings including agreeing to the concept of a "Car Czar". Is that something that we really want to happen out of this? Can a "Car Czar" really make any better decisions than any of those in the auto industry that have made the bad decisions in the first place? It is doubtful.
The real issue is the thought that one of the largest parts of the private sector wheel will have to ask for protection and time to reorganize for better business practices and maybe actually looking at how successful car makers are able to make it. It is, without a doubt a psychological blow in a spiralling economic down turn. But it is necessary for a better end result and to maybe really save jobs in the long run.
The government handing out money and putting unrealistic strings on it is not the long term solution.

The Big Three Auto Maker "Bailout" Passes In The House

This is not good news, but totally expected.
The House of Representatives just passed the $14,000,000,000 so-called "bailout" for the Big Three United States auto makers, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
The following are the last names of the 150 Republicans and 20 Democrats that voted against the essential nationalization the the United States auto industry:
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Bachmann
Bachus
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett (MD)
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boozman
Boustany
Boyd (FL)
Brady (TX)
Broun (GA)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite,
GinnyBuchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Butterfield
Calvert
Cannon
Cantor
Cardoza
Carter
Chabot
Childers
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Cooper
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (AL)
Davis (KY)
Davis,
David
Deal (GA)
Dent
Diaz-Balart,
L.Diaz-Balart,
M.Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Fallin
Feeney
Ferguson
Filner
Flake
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Giffords
Gingrey
Gohmert
Goode
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Hall (TX)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Herseth Sandlin
Hobson
Hulshof
Inglis (SC)
Issa
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jordan
Kagen
King (IA)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline (MN)
Lamborn
Latham
Latta
Lewis (CA)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel
E.Mack
Marchant
Marshall
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul (TX)
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
Mica
Miller (FL)
Mitchell
Moran (KS)
Musgrave
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Paul
Pearce
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Price (GA)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rahall
Rehberg
Reichert
Reynolds
Rodriguez
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Royce
Sali
Saxton
Scalise
Schmidt
Sessions
Shadegg
Shays
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (TX)
Stark
Stearns
Sullivan
Terry
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Walden (OR)
Walz (MN)
Wamp
Weller
Westmoreland
Whitfield (KY)
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman (VA)
Wolf
Young (FL)
These congressmen and congreswomen said no, we should not nationalize the auto industry.
Let's hope that the Republicans in the senate make a filibuster so that this does not pass.

Who Will Be The First DDBMSOWM Fossil To Ask President-Elect Obama About Rod Blagojevich?

I wonder, who will be the first member of the Dinosaur, Drive-By, Mainstream, Obama-Worshiping, Media to ask the president-elect, Barack Obama, about his long time friend and associate, the now arrested governor of his home state of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich?
A good question would be to Mr. Obama, what party is Gov. Blagojevich in?
In the above link to the article in the bankrupt Chicago Tribune, there is no mention of what party he belongs to.
At least the other newspaper in Chicago, the not-bankrupt Sun-Times, does mention the fact that Gov. Blagoevich is a Democrat. . .in the thirteenth paragraph!
To the credit of The New York Times, they do not wait and mention Gov. Blagojevich is a Democrat in the second paragraph.
I point this out because this is the way that politics is played in Chicago, the hometown of the president-elect.
Back to the main point.
Will an enterprising reporter have the nerve to probe Mr. Obama about the charges against his friend and political ally? Ask whether selling his senate seat to the highest bidder is a good form of democracy? Ask whether or not this corruption will be tolerated in his upcoming administration? And the most important question is will he keep the United States attorney who handed down the indictment against Gov. Blagojevich, Patrick FitzGerald, on the case to its conclusion?
We shall see but if I were the president-elect, I would be very uncomfortable at this time about what Gov. Blagojevich may tell if he makes a deal.

Bill Kristol, Your Are Wrong On Giving In To Big Government

For the most part, I like the Weekly Standard's William Kristol, but in his latest tome on The New York Times opinion page, his tortured reasoning for conservative big government is just plain wrong. And worse, it would be a continuation of a bad policy instituted by President Bush.
Where I hate to agree with Mr. Kristol is the point that most who run on the small government mantle find that it is impossible to actually make government smaller. It is a fair and regrettably accurate point.
And, Mr. Kristol points out that the very popular and successful former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush (imagine, a popular leader with the last name Bush!) actually increased government spending 50% over population growth and inflation. But, Mr. Kristol does not give concrete example as to where that increased spending went for. And Mr. Kristol points out that Mr. Jeb Bush cut taxes, privatized government services, and led in policy reforms, especially in education.
But, it is a fatalistic view that government size is going to increase no matter what party is in power.
Take the example that Mr. Kristol gives in the prescription drug benefit to senior citizens. Mr. Kristol says that it was the right thing to do and that it is popular. I think that it remains to be seen if the senior citizens of the United States are as enamored with the prescription drug benefit as is Mr. Kristol. And now that the Democrats run the show in Washington, we shall see how they tinker with it.
Here is part of the Kristol rationale to make the big-government conservative vs. small-government conservative:

Still, there’s a difference between a conservatism that is concerned with limited and constitutional government and one that focuses on simply opposing big government.
So: If you’re a small-government conservative, you’ll tend to oppose the bailouts, period. If you more or less accept big government, you’ll be open to the government’s stepping in to save the financial system, or the auto industry. But you’ll tend to favor those policies — universal tax cuts, offering everyone a chance to refinance his mortgage, relieving auto makers of burdensome regulations — that, consistent with conservative principles, don’t reward irresponsible behavior and don’t politicize markets.
Similarly, if you’re against big government, you’ll oppose a huge public works stimulus package. If you think some government action is inevitable, you might instead point out that the most unambiguous public good is national defense. You might then suggest spending a good chunk of the stimulus on national security — directing dollars to much-needed and underfunded defense procurement rather than to fanciful green technologies, making sure funds are available for the needed expansion of the Army and Marines before rushing to create make-work civilian jobs. Obama wants to spend much of the stimulus on transportation infrastructure and schools. Fine, but lots of schools and airports seem to me to have been refurbished more recently and more generously than military bases I’ve visited.

Point by point.
I am not a big-government conservative. I think that there is a reason for that. Because, it just does not work. Increasing the size of government does not produce jobs. It does not increase tax revenue because any one that can will try tax paying avoidance. Increasing government means that people are giving up freedom. And, it is false sense of security.
Take the example of bailouts/rescues. Mr. Kristol says that bailouts/rescues are A-OK if they are tied to across-the-board tax cuts (which I favor), offering everyone a chance to refinance their mortgages (do not agree with that) and deregulate the auto industry (favor that) but then rationalizes that if they are tied to conservative principles and do not politicize the markets, it is not a bad thing. The fact that the federal government would bailout/rescue any one company and or entire industry in totally politicizing the government in the marketplace. The fact is that the government has a real hard time running itself in an efficient, profitable manner, what makes any one think that they can do so entering the financial services sector? Or the auto making sector?
I oppose a so-called stimulus package. It is warmed-over Keynesian/Roosevelt economics. And it does not and has never worked. To argue as Mr. Kristol does that the way to win the argument is to try to get more money for the defense department. The argument Mr. Kristol makes is that a stimulus package is going to happen anyway, conservatives should have some effect as to the outcome. I agree. Conservatives should oppose mindless make-work schemes that do not have a long-term outcome. Any quick fix stimulus that is proposed by President-elect Obama and the Democrat congress is not going to be for a long-term solution to real problems. It will be a payoff to labor unions and their allies.
Nobody wants to eliminate government. But, conservatives want a government that has its priorities straight. How to raise money from the broadest pool possible, not just a select few in a confiscatory manner. What said government will spend money on. Will it be cost-effective. Is there a different way to have certain programs. None of that is anywhere on Mr. Kristol's radar.
There are some thoughtful conservatives that are going to make a case that government can be smaller, leaner and more responsive to the people's needs. And that starts from the bottom up. Some of those leaders are in the House, led by Indiana congressman Mike Pence. We are seeing leadership by Alabama senator Richard Shelby who has suggested that he will filibuster the so-called Big Three American auto maker bailout/rescue.
These are leaders that do not want to just tinker with the ideas of the liberal left. They want to offer a different way. A way that can be successful if actually tried.

If Chapter 11 Is Good Enough For The Tribune Company, Why Is It Not OK For The Big Three Automakers?

In welcome news on the Dinosaur, Drive-By, Mainstream, Obama-Worshiping Media front, the Tribune company, owners of the Chicago Tribune and the local Los Angeles Times, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
It is welcome news because it will make this media behemoth have to actually decide whether to produce products that people want or continue to have newspapers that are propaganda rags for the Democrat party and television networks that produce woeful programming at best.
This is upon other DDBMSOWM news that the parent company of The New York Times is getting a line of credit against their home base building in New York City.
My first thought is why is Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection A-OK for a media conglomerate but not for the Big Three American car makers? I mean, does anyone think that jobs will not be lost? Newspapers sold or even folded? A broadcast network eliminated?
Of course all of that will happen.
Somehow, we are being convinced by a trifecta of the CEOs of the Big Three auto makers, the UAW and Democrats in congress that is one or all three of these auto makers do what the Tribune company did today, that will end the auto industry in the United States.
No, it will not end the auto industry, but make these companies restructure an antiquated business model. Without the the bankruptcy protection and a so-called bailout, all this will do is delay the inevitable.
Note, that Chrysler begged for government assistance, it was given and 28 years later, they are back at the government trough again.
What is good for the Tribune company is good enough for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.