Hope And Change And A Reality Check

Despite the tone of the previous post regarding the Obamagasm, I really do look forward to the inauguration on Tuesday. I am very curious to see and hear the tone of then President Obama.
I do not know if it will truly be a speech to remember, as few inaugural speeches are. But, there are signs that along with the Hope and Change, it may be a really bumpy ride for our soon-to-be 44th president.
Take relations with congress.
Both houses of congress may be controlled by the Democrats, but they are not going to be controlled by the White House of President Obama in any significant way.
Take this interview with Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, on Fox News Sunday. She is certainly still suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome, BDS. She is going to let lefty loon congressman John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee go on a witch hunt of the Bush administration. And, that is what it will be. A witch hunt.
On the senate side, Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid is not going to let Vice-President-elect Biden participate in the weekly lunch of senate Democrats. A big mistake. It shows that the senate does not want to take any suggestions and or advice from the White House. And, it keeps both sides on different pages.
Then there are some of the appointments that President-elect Obama has made to his cabinet. Of course there is Secretary of State designate Sen. Hillary Clinton. I can write a whole post on this one. But, my only comment is that there has to be more of a payoff to Sen. Clinton than this. Otherwise, she may be lucky to last in the post around two years and go off into the sunset. Back on point.
There is the Treasury Secretary designate, Timothy Geithner. He has been caught not paying taxes. To the tune of about $47,000. Rick Moran has an excellent post over at Right Wing Nut House as to why Mr. Geithner should not get the post. Lets be clear. Just because there is a very deep recession, we do not let the chickens guard the hen house. Mr. Geithner is part of the problems that we are in. He is an acolyte of the current Treasury Department dictator, Henry Paulson.
Then, somewhat related to the Conyers witch hunt is the case of Attorney General designate Eric Holder. In testimony last week, Mr. Holder flat out said that water boarding is torture. That gives the opening to whack jobs like Mr. Conyers to begin the witch hunt and harass members of the Bush administration if not President Bush himself. Ridiculous.
More ridiculous is that the Republicans in the senate are not taking any of this seriously. These are going to be the people heading the most important posts in the day to day governance of the United States.
And those promises that President-elect Obama has made, including and not only nationalized health care.
What happens if he can not deliver on that within the first two years in office? If the 2010 mid term elections follow traditional patterns, the Republicans will make reasonable gains in both the House and Senate and that would make it more difficult for a President Obama to enact major portions of his domestic policies.
But what should be the thing to worry about is unforeseen events.
Ask President Bush.
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 totally changed the Bush presidency.
Now, that was a major and traumatic event in the history of the United States.
But, there can and will be some event that this soon-to-be president will find either out of his control or handled poorly.
For every president makes mistakes in office. Some offend the opposition. Some the supporters. And some offend all sides.
But, mistake coupled with unforeseen events can do the most damage to a presidency.
And, a President Obama will have to realize that what got him to the White House is not just Democrats. But a majority of independent voters. And smatterings of Republicans.
If those voters begin to turn, then what? Revert to the base? That is not where a President Obama wants to be.
There are more potential forks in the road for this man about to become president than for almost any other in recent memory.
It will be how he deals with those that determine what kind of presidency Barack Hussein Obama is about to endeavor to.

Are You Sick Of The Obamagasm Yet?!

I will answer, HELL YES!
Look, I actually look forward to the presidential inauguration no matter who it is because each one is different and is handled differently.
But, this one for President-elect Obama is just mind-numbingly nauseating.
The gang at Powerlineblog have linked this article that shows media coverage of past inaugurations. Of course, the Democrats always seem to get rather positive coverage, the Republicans, well they are always happy to use Republicans vs. Republicans as in President George H. W. Bush and his "kinder, gentler" theme. And forget about the current President Bush.
But it is not just that typical coverage that is nauseating.
Take today's newspaper. There on the front page of the USA Today Magazine is a horrible photo of the president-elect and soon to be First Lady, Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama looks great in the photo. But, man did they do a lousy air-brushing of the soon-to-be 44th president.
Oh, turn on CBS and the commercials for the Monday night comedy slot from 8-10pm has a recurring theme. Care to take a guess as to what it is? "YES WE CAN" and at the end has the creepy 1930s-style Obama-like pictures of the programs in question.
Then there is the Pepsi Cola campaign that wants people to write an open letter to the president-elect. Now, do they really want a lot of conservative, Republicans writing what they want from the president-elect? I don't think so.
How about the wall-to-wall coverage on the cable news outlets? I just can not watch anymore. I want to watch the event itself, but why do we need so much coverage of an inauguration? It is not a coronation.
It is important to not lose sight that it is a historical first. That this great nation has elected the first black to the presidency. But, what is happening is not dignified for such an occasion. It is pretty much what I thought the left does not like.
I, for one, can not wait until 9:01am on Tuesday. When President-elect Obama becomes PRESIDENT Obama and this mindlessness stops!

Inauguration Trivia

In all the hoopla and adulation in the upcoming coronation, er inauguration, of President-elect Obama on Tuesday, here is a little inauguration trivia, courtesy of the Fox News Channel.
Some questions to ponder as you read through the trivia.

1) What number inauguration is this one?
2) Why was the inauguration originally held on March 4?
3) President Calvin Coolidge's 1925 inauguration had a first. What was it.
4) What inauguration had the record for rainfall?
5) How many inauguration balls were there in 1989?
6) Who was the last president to wear a stove-pipe hat to his inauguration?

Now, I would really be excited if President-elect Obama were to wear a stove-pipe hat to his inauguration! And, I am not kidding. It is a tradition that should make a comeback.
Most important that no matter what has happened in our nation, when one party loses an election, power changes peacefully. Even in the middle of a civil war, an inauguration was held for President Abraham Lincoln.
That is what make the United States the greatest nation in the world.
Born in rebellion, yet out of the rebellion came order. And showing the world that winners and losers are gracious. That power can change hands without bloodshed. For that we are the envy of the world.

More Good News: Another Lefty Rag On The Rocks

If it is Friday, it must mean that there is another left-wing newspaper that is either going out of business, or in Chapter 11 bankrupcy land.

The latest in the list is the certifiably left-wing Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

It was recently owned by the very left-leaning McClatchy news group, but they made a complicated deal to buy a slew of newspapers and in the process had to shed some. So, McClatchy sold the Star-Tribune to the Avista Capital Partners in 2007.

And, as noted over at HotAir by Ed Morrissey, Avista has done a bang-up job.

The problems started many a moon ago under the McClatchy reign at the Star-Tribune.

The Star-Tribune alienated many a non-political sports section reader during the late 1980s. Why you may ask? Well, in the linescores for the previous days games, the sports team nickname is in bold print, the score and the complete score. But, some smart-aleck sports editor decided that they would no longer do that time-honored practice. Why? Because of those pesky Indian names. You know, like the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Redskins, and so on, and so on. That pesky sports editor did not want to offend the Native American readership of the Star-Tribune. And, his conscience is cleansed. Maybe he went to a sweat lodge before making his decision.

So, political correctness creeped into the sports section.

The news section, well it is not any better.

Like many other newspapers, the Star-Tribune uses extensivly from other news sources. Besides the Associated Press, the other news source of choice is the Los Angeles Times. Of course there is the McClatchy News Service, but they are no longer a McClatchy newspaper.

And, the op-ed section is the worst and the worser as far as the newspaper opinions and the columns that they run.

Eventually, like so many other newspapers that cater to a wide audience, a lot of readers feel that they are not really getting news. You know, the who, what, when, why and how. But a lot of "analysis" that is cover for opinion.

The Star-Tribune is the largest newspaper in Minnesota and is sold all over the state. And, a lot of the state is not exactly in sync with the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul. They are the moderate to conservative suburbs and the rural areas. Sure, the Star-Tribune will always have some kind of readership. But, it is getting narrower and narrower. And, one assumes, more liberal and more liberal. For it seems to cater to that group of readers and or potential readers.

It is one thing if there is a competition with another newspaper that the Star-Tribune could have the liberal reading market as a niche. But, it is the only newspaper in Minneapolis. And it also has a wider audience than the St. Paul Pioneer-Press-which is now owned by McClatchy. So, one would think that they would really try harder to play it down the middle. But, they do not.

For every story that any newspaper could run about the break-up of illegal alien families when the federal government finally decides to enforce the law, would it not be good to run an article or series about the real financial costs of illegal immigration? Or the cost in the criminal courts of the United States? Or what about when there is a controversial issue involving Islamics. When a US Air flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix was disrupted by several Islamics that were acting suspiciously and taken off the flight last year. Do you think that the Star-Tribune covered that down the middle?

It is newspapers like the Star-Tribune that give the reputation that Minnesota is the Massachusetts of the Midwest. The reality is that there are the Twin Cities and the rest of the state. And, the rest of the state is not all that left-of-center.

Again, until these newspapers wake up, get in the 21st century and learn to adapt, they will keep going the route of the Tribune company, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and now the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Will I have another newspaper to report on bitting the dust next Friday?

Gov. Benedict Arnold Gives Pointless State Of The State Address

This morning, I listened intently to the California governor, Benedict Arnold Schwarzenegger, deliver the State of the State address and found it the most pointless address by a sitting California governor in recent memory.
More painful than reading the prepared 11 minutes in remarks was listening to it.
There were no proposals.
There was nothing to get both sides back together to hammer out a real budget, not the smoke and mirrors variety that both Democrats and Republicans have hammered out over the last 10 years.
It was a C-movie type of speech.
I really would have liked to hear Gov. Benedict Arnold propose a total overhaul of how California taxes its citizens.
I really would have liked to hear Gov. Benedict Arnold say that he will simply let the state fall off the precipice if the clowns in the legislature do not find a serious way to resolve the budget crisis.
I really would have liked to hear Gov. Benedict Arnold say that there is hope in California. Not just pass the buck to the Democrats in the state legislature. That he will lead with real, common-sense approaches to the problems in not just the state budget, but the way that California is governed.
An example would have been for Gov. Benedict Arnold to find five areas of the state budget that could either be cut or eliminated entirely.
Show some leadership.
BE UNPOPULAR!
It is mind-numbing to have heard a nothing speech given by a sitting governor that went to Sacramento on the white horse of reform only to be rejected and giving up. Had Gov. Benedict Arnold learned anything in his infamous special election and defeat of reform proposals it should have been this. Go back to the drawing board. Take on what you believed to be the most pressing of the reform issues and beat it into the ground like a dead horse. Change people's minds. But, he chucked any of that and simply became former Gov. Gray Davis-with a personality.
What leads to this fact in the upcoming 2010 elections.
Whoever the Republican gubernatorial nominee is will have to run against the Democrats and Gov. Benedict Arnold. He or she will have to admit that Gov. Benedict Arnold showed no leadership and skills when it counted. And give voters a reason why he or she would be different. And, if defeated not to give up but dust them self up and try again.
In 2011, I want to hear a Republican governor, God willing, give a real speech about leadership. About making really tough and yes, unpopular choices. About reforming a broken state tax system. About the fact that government can not continue to grow unchecked. About the need to get business rolling again in this once great, Golden state.
Because we sure as hell did not hear that speech today by the current, "Republican" governor.

The Art Of Gerymandering

An interesting article over at Slate magazine shows one of the most bedeviling problems in American politics today.
Gerrymandering.
Named after an infamous Massachusetts, of course, legislature named Elbridge Gerry, it is the way that legislative lines are drawn. From the city council all the way to the congressional level.
And, when one political party is in power at the time of the decennial census, they always try to draw the lines for congress, the state legislature, even county supervisorial districts to give their party the maximum amount of power.
In and of it self it is what politics is all about. Who gets the most out of their time in power.
One of the highlights of the article is the slide show that highlights the 20 most gerrymandered congressional districts in the United States. Of course it shows the overwhelming number are in Democrat governed states. Yes, there are Republican districts, but they are in the minority.
The point of the article is simple.
Is there a better way?
In reality, there is no perfect way. Bottom line, there is only perception.
Here in California, the voters this past November approved an initiative that takes the redrawing of the state lines, for the state assembly and state senate out of the hands of the state legislature. Now it will be a commission that would be roughly evenly partisan divided and with a number of "independents", or as referred to in California as decline to state.
The midterm elections of 2010 will be the first test of whether this will be a better way or just another scam.
California's legislature is Democrat-dominated. They have always packed the legislature and that is their prerogative. But, in 1980 and 1990, the Republicans, fought the process and were somewhat successful in 1990. The districts were not so gerrymandered that there was no Republican representation.
Allegedly, this commission will take the partisan edge off of the process. That remains to be seen.
But, it makes for great conversation and that is how it is possible to realize that this is and no matter what will always be a partisan process. It is how blatant the process is that often drives the other side crazy.
I would just like to see rational district lines. Whether it is to the advantage of one party or the other. The lines almost always make no real sense.
The Slate article is a good one and the slide show is eye-opening. And we will see if California's commission will do a better job in 2010.

HT: The Weekly Standard blog @ www.weeklystandard.com

Lindsay Graham Sucking-Up To President-Elect Obama

If you want to add another reason why the Republican party fared so poorly in this past November's election, look no further than South Carolina "Republican" Sen. Lindsay Graham.
If anyone was paying attention during the presidential campaign, Sen. Graham hung on the Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain as if he was but an appendage of the senior Solon from Arizona. Everywhere Sen. "F--- You" McCain was, there was the lap dog, Sen. Graham.
I guess that Sen. Graham is tired of being Sen. "F--- You" McCain's lap dog and is now attaching himself at the hip to President-elect Obama according to this report in The Politico.
Among the nuggets:

• Obama nodded pensively as Graham explained that he looks forward to working with Obama to win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – even if he would have preferred a different outcome in November.
• Graham then offered support for the president-elect’s beleaguered Treasury pick and even gave an unsolicited glowing review of Obama's popularity abroad. "I cannot tell you how much enthusiasm we saw in Pakistan for the new president."

Once again, the tone of "bipartisanship" rang through loud and clear.
My problem is that "bipartisanship" is a code for Republicans holding water for Democrat positions. Not that Democrats may reach out to support any Republican initiatives.
That was the problem in the Republicans having a candidate as Sen. "F--- You" McCain at the top of the ticket.
On numerous issues, there was not much different between Sen. "F--- You" McCain and then Democrat candidate Sen. Obama. On "climate change", closing down the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, domestic policy. Too much agreement with the other side. And with that, voters wisely chose the real deal. The other side. And President-elect Obama.
Now, this sniveler, Sen. Graham is hanging his hat on becoming the real Republican sycophant to President-elect Obama. And, don't think it does not marginalize ol' bipartisan Sen. "F--- You" McCain.
Remember, Sen "F--- You" McCain did not earn that "F--- You" because he shouted that to a Democrat, a friend. Ask Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
In a time in which Republicans need to be able to offer fresh alternatives to President-elect Obama and his initiatives, we can always count on "Republicans" as Sen. Graham to do all in his power to hit at his fellow Republicans to score brownie points with his friends, the Democrats.
Hope and change, baby! Hope and change!

Hope And Change For Mexico?

Here I am to give you a depressing way to start the day, courtesy of the El Paso Times.
In this report, the United States Joint Forces command says that the current situation with the powerful drug cartels and their influence within the government structures could lead to a total collapse that could lead to an American military response.
And, a flood of illegal aliens that no nation has ever seen before.
Here is a clue that the incoming Obama administration should work on.
Encouraging economic policies that Mexico can follow that leads to a strong middle class. With a strong middle class, the extremes and corruption are considerably lessened.
This is one of the failings of the Bush administration and their push for "comprehensive immigration reform".
How about reform within Mexico?
It appears that their whole nationhood has to depend on it.

W Still Does Not Get The Illegal Alien Issue

Yesterday, President Bush gave an interview to Fox News Channel's Brit Hume. Overall it was a decent interview. But, once again President Bush does not get what is one of the reasons why the Republican party lost seats and the White House in 2008.
Here is the exchange in question between President Bush and Mr. Hume:

HUME: Now, your political family, the Republican Party...
G.W. BUSH: Yes, sir.
HUME: ... what do you think is its likely fortunes going forward? How have you left it? What does it need to do?
G.W. BUSH: I think -- look, I mean, obviously, it got whipped in 2008, and there will be a new wave of leadership arriving on the scene.
I can remember the '64 elections, the Goldwater -- the Johnson landslide against Barry Goldwater, and you know, we were -- everybody said the party was wiped out. And then a whole new wave of Republicans ran, including George H.W. Bush, who got elected to the United States Congress from the 7th Congressional District.
Same thing will happen. But it's very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is compassionate and decent.
And I would -- my call for our party is to be open-minded about different...
HUME: About what?
G.W. BUSH: Well, different people's opinions. We shouldn't have litmus tests as to whether or not you can be a Republican.
HUME: Right.
G.W. BUSH: And we should be open-minded about big issues like immigration reform, because if we're viewed as anti-somebody -- in other words, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant -- then another fellow may say, "Well, if they're against the immigrant, they may be against me."
We've got to be a party for a better future...

UGH! No! No! No! We do not need to be "open-minded" about immigration "reform". What we the Republican party and those that value the rule of law must be for is enforcing the laws that we already have on the books.
What is bothersome about this exchange is that President Bush seems to go out of his way to use the term "anti-immigrant" rather than "anti illegal immigrant". Because that is what most who have opposed the "comprehensive immigration reform" bill-scam are against. Illegal immigrants.
I, for one, welcome those that want to come here, play by the rules and live the American dream. Also, I would increase the numbers of those that want to come here legally.
There is no question that there is a small minority of people that are racists and truly anti-immigrants that oppose any real, meaningful immigration reform. But they can and should be marginalized.
But, to imply as President Bush does, that any Republican opposed to the "comprehensive immigration reform" bill-scam that he and the GOP standard-bearer in 2008, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain supported is somehow racist, not open-minded or anti-immigrant is disingenuous.
Many people would let a number of illegal aliens stay in the United States, but in a staged by length of time they have been in the United States. The longer that one has been here, the better that they would want to become citizens.
Make no mistake, blanket amnesty is not the way to go.
And a little honesty on both sides would go a long way.
Democrats want a huge, new potential voting pool. Pro-amnesty Republicans want cheap labor.
Want Americans want is to see the rule of law upheld.
That means companies and business that knowingly hire illegal aliens be prosecuted, fined and if necessary, people go to jail.
It also means that illegals actually be deported when caught.
And if there is to be any amnesty, those that want to stay and become citizens have to go to the back of the line and those that have done it the right and legal way get to the front of the line.
If Republicans want to buy this argument about what did them in 2008, good luck.
The Republican party would be a party in the minority for a long time.

24 Analysis-Good Start

*****SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!*****

Jack Bauer is back and 24 started off with a bang as a Homeland Security technogeek was abducted in broad daylight as ol' Jack was about to testify before a senate committee witch hunt.
The CTU unit has been disbanded.
But, there is an FBI agent that thinks that Jack can help get the technogeek back before anything serious happens.
But, this is 24 and something serious always happens!
Some observations.
Jeanene Garafalo's charecter is not to be trusted. No, not because it is Jeanene Garafalo! But, because she is one nervous Nellie. Never trust a nervous Nellie!
The president is played by an actress named Cherry Jones. She strikes me as a Barack Obama kind of president. Wanting to go into an African nation in which there is a civil war and genocide. Admirable but usually foolhardy.
Her husband is a potential loose cannon as he is trying to prove that their son did not commit suicide. The First Gentleman, as he is refered to, is playing fast and loose and "going off the grid" to find out what he believes is the truth.
So far, none of the old CTU crowd has shown up yet. But, you know they will.
Also, it appears that the emphasis is on domestic terror. Maybe an election of a new president. Maybe a politically correct script. No matter. It may not end up that way.
And that is what makes 24 the great series that it is.
That is the kind of show that one of the fossil networks, ABC, CBS or NBC, should have on. Maybe then people would watch them more than they do now.
Another episode is on tomorrow night at the regular night at 8pm, 7pm Central and Mountain time on Fox Broadcast Network

24 Is Back-And About Time!

The new season of the hit Fox series 24 is back on tonight in a couple of hours, Pacific time.
IT IS ABOUT TIME!
We shall see if the rumors are true. That this is a new, more politically correct Jack Bauer and the gang at CTU. Or, if Jack is up to his ol' shenanigans.
No matter what, it should be fun to watch.
Will have my take after the show.

Good News: Another DDBMSOWM Newspaper About To Bite The Dust

UPDATE:
This item appeared in the local fish wrap, the Pasadena Star-News on Thursday (the Star-News is part of the MediaNews group):

The San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group on Wednesday eliminated an unspecified number of jobs as a part of a cost-reduction plan aimed at offsetting revenue shortfalls. "These moves, as difficult as they are, will fortify our company in the face of a tough economic market," said Fred Hamilton, publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, which includes the San Gabriel papers.

It is official that within 60 days, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer will either be sold, or become an internet only news source, or fold altogether.


I hope that it folds all together.


Now, to be clear, it is not good that people will be out of work. But, in this case, it has to come back to the reason that they will have been put out of work.


It is because the Dinosaur, Drive-By, Mainstream, Obama-Worshiping Media continues to be nothing but a shill for one side of the social and political side. And guess what side that is? Did you mutter "liberal"? Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it.


In Seattle, there are supposedly two newspapers. The P-I, as it is known locally and the Seattle Times. Both newspapers are left, and left-of-center. Now, that makes sense in the city of Seattle it self. But, both newspapers present themselves to a larger audience. Mostly in suburbs and even some rural areas. Not exactly hotbeds of liberalism. But, their model ends up giving nothing but the coffee-drinking, left-wing Seattle view of things. And, their left-wing censorship is astounding.


Take this reaction from David McCumber of the P-I reacting to the outrage that the newspaper deliberately would not print the photos of Islamic men being questioned by the FBI on suspicion of potential terrorist activity:





"I understand that people have a hard time with the concept that we get to decide what is news and what isn't, and what is fair and what isn't."





And, with that arrogance, the P-I is getting what it deserves. A slow, painful death.


And, it will not be alone.


There has been rampant speculation that the Ol' Grey Lady herself, The New York Times, could belly up as soon as May of this year.


I think that the DDBMSOWM's throwing in the towel and all but coronating the president-elect, Barack Obama, may have been the final nail in the newspaper coffin for many of these newspapers.


But it could be that some reporters who were touted as rising stars, Janet Cook of the Washington Post and Jayson Blair of The New York Times were too good to be true. Because they were and were caught in plagiarism or patently making stories up.


Or could it be advocacy "journalism" that always has a left-of-center tilt. Such as in the illegal alien debates. Rarely are the any stories about the cost of illegal immigration. But you will read sob-stories about the illegal aliens themselves.


What ever it is, it may take large newspapers to go under to wake up the industry. That it needs to get out of the cocoon that they are in and try to appeal to a wide audience. Not just liberals read newspapers.


Maybe the soon-to-be death of the P-I is what will be needed.


Or, a newspaper bailout!

Another Poll-Driven Democrat Presidency?

I will give it to Team Obama.
I mean, they sold the Democrat primary/caucus voters a real bill of goods.
Get out of Iraq in 16 months. It will not happen.
Middle class tax cut. Guffaw! guffaw! It will not happen.
The list will go on and on.
But, where they learned is from the master, one William Jefferson Blythe Clinton.
And, what did they learn from former President Clinton?
That when all else fails, have a poll-driven presidency.
Then, you can give your base a big middle finger and ask them where are they going to go.
Then, you can say that you did what the people wanted.
So, instead of referring to the big government infrastructure program as what it is, Team Obama calls it an "investment."
And, don't keep calling it a recession. No, no, no. Keep talking "recovery."
Really, I think that Team Obama should be straight with the American people. If he is going to raise taxes, say he is going to raise taxes. He should talk about infrastructure, not investment. And if we are in a recession, say it.
Playing cute by a half is what gets politicians in trouble in the first place.
It would really be change to believe in if President-elect Obama says what he means and sticks to it.
I will probably not agree with it.
But, it will be in plain English.
No bull. No buzz words and or buzz phrases.
Eventually, the American people catch on to when a politician is giving bull, buzz words and or phrases.
I want our president to speak clearly and what he really believes. Govern the way that he thinks is right, not what a poll and or consultants tell he should say or believe.
We had a poll-driven president in Bill Clinton. And, while a lot of people think that he left the United States in a better place than when he took office, there were a lot of things that were ignored and swept under the rug.
As much as I may not support much of the Obama agenda, the American people deserve a president that speaks the truth, as he sees it, with the American people. And, does not sweep potential road blocks or unpopularity under the rug.
Now is the time for leadership. Leadership that Barack Obama ran on. Now is not the time to go to the poll well.

Giving A Dem Credit

It is not often that I, your humble blogger, give a Democrat credit for much. But, I will give the Democrat senior senator from my state, California, credit for forcing the senate Majority Leader, Dirty Harry Reid, to give Roland Burris his rightful senate seat.
It was Sen. Diane Feinstein that broke ranks and urged Dirty Harry Reid to seat Sen. Burris as the replacement for President-elect Obama's Illinois senate seat.
Dirty Harry Reid thinks that he should not seat Sen. Burris because he was appointed by arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Remember, Gov. Blagojevich has not been formally charged yet with a crime. Nor has he been convicted of any crime.
But, the Democrat-controlled Illinois legislature wants to impeach Gov. Blagojevich in relation to the arrest.
So, a sitting governor appoints a successor to the senator elected President of the United States and Dirty Harry Reid sics his Bull Connor senate sergeant-at-arms on Roland Burris and tells him to go away.
Sen. Feinstein was right on target to say that Dirty Harry Reid was wrong and time to stop the drama and seat Sen. Burris.
And, while it appears that Dirty Harry Reid will continue to drag out this saga, Sen. Feinstein gets two thumbs up for standing up for what is right and seating the duly appointed Sen. Roland Burris.

Prayers For Jack Kemp

Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and longtime Republican congressman Jack Kemp has been diagnosed with cancer.
It appears that it is in multiple parts of his body. And it is not known the type of cancer that Mr. Kemp has.
There will be more tests done to determine the course of action that doctors will take to either put the cancer in remission or to beat it.
Jack Kemp must be remembered for being the architect of the Reagan administration tax cuts. And for being an advocate for enterprise zones. There would be where companies and small businesses would be given tax breaks for going into the not so good neighborhoods of urban America.
I hope that you will join me in praying for a recovery for Jack Kemp, one of the great men in politics.

Saracuda Unleashed

Maybe if the Sen. John "F--- You" presidential campaign had let the American public see this Gov. Sarah Palin instead of her weak performance up against CBS' news "anchor" Katie Couric, at least she would have been given a real chance. And maybe, just maybe the McCain/Palin ticket could have pulled off enough close states to win the election.
In the interview with John Ziegler, one point Gov. Palin rightfully brings up is that when President-elect Barack Obama said that his wife, Michelle, and family were off limits to media scrutiny. The Dinosaur, Drive-By, Mainstream, Obama-Worshiping Media dutifully complied. But, damn if the American public did not know sordid details about the Palin family including the pregnancy of her oldest daughter, Bristol.
Watch the whole thing.
I know that it will not change the minds of the Palin haters and that is fine. They are haters anyway and will never be open to any possibilities. But the majority of the American people love second acts. And, when Gov. Palin runs for reelection for governor in 2010 and I hope for president if not in 2012, but 2016, they will be willing to look at her record and judge accordingly.

Support Big Hollywood

Today, Big Hollywood debuts on the internet, courtesy of Andrew Breitbart and it is a site that needs and has to have support.
It is the creation of Mr. Breitbart to show that there are conservatives, libertarians and, THE HORROR!, R E P U B L I C A N S in the entertainment community.
Mr. Breitbart is doing something about it instead of the constant whining that I often hear from my side, the conservative side, about the culture.
Mr. Breitbart is giving a place for those in the entertainment community to go to. To come clean, so to speak, and admit their political leanings. And to write about what they see as right or wrong with their industry.
It is also a way for us to show some support for those that will contribute to this site at a lot of risk to their careers. If those that contribute to the site have a substantive backing of regular Americans, they will no longer have to keep their opinions to themselves. If there is blacklisting of known conservatives, libertarians and or Republicans, this is a way for that to stop.
I recommend reading Mr. Breitbart's introduction to this new, important site. And I want to highlight the truth Mr. Breitbart speaks:

Until conservatives, libertarians and Republicans - who will be the lion’s share of Big Hollywood’s contributors - recognize that (pop) culture is the big prize and that politics is secondary, there will be no victory in this important battle.

EXACTLY!
Want to know why the Republican party loses young voters? This will be the place. Want to know why many Americans believe that conservatives and Republicans are not cool? This will be the place.
It is time that conservatives, libertarians and Republicans in the arts realize that there is a public yearning for them to speak truth to power. Not just those such as Gary Sinise or Jon Voight. But, up and comers and those that are put off by the phony baloney liberalism.
Big Hollywood is going to be a go-to site.
Thank you, Andrew Breitbart!

No Senate Run For Jeb Bush

It looks like the Bush dynasty ends at 9:00am, Pacific Standard Time, on January 20 as younger brother and former Florida governor Jeb Bush is ruling out a run for the senate in 2010.
Now, some people are upset that he will not run for the seat of incumbent senator Mel Martinez. Some of the same people believe that he is the only Republican that can keep that seat in 2010.
First, I think that it is a good thing that Jeb Bush is sitting this election out. I do not think that Bush Derangement Syndrome will have subsided enough to allow Jeb a fair run at the senate seat. Sure, BDS is against his big brother, George W, but it could be a bad thing for Jeb to run soon after George W leaves Washington with 25% approval ratings.
Secondly, it is not a good sign that many a pundit believes that once again, Republicans need to go to the Bush well for anything.
A digression.
One of the appealing aspects of President-elect Obama. He is not a Clinton or a Bush. Sure, he put Hillary in the cage known as the State Department, but she will not last there too long.
Or to put it another way.
This is the first time since 1980 that there will not be someone with the last name Clinton or Bush in the executive branch.
Now, that is hope and change!
But, say this about Jeb.
He is a smart politician. He knows that it probably did not help when his old man, George H. W. , said on Fox News Sunday that he would make a great president someday. And, while a lot can and will change in two years, one thing is certain. The American public will still have a negative attitude about politicians with the last name of Bush. That is too bad because without a doubt, Jeb Bush is the most consistent conservative in the family. And, his record as governor of Florida bears that out.
But this is a transition period for the Republican party.
It is time for the Grand Old Party to look to the future, not the past.
And, the Bush name is the past. At least for a couple of election cycles.
The up and coming leaders are also governors.
Their names are Hoeven, Jindal, Palin, Sanford.
They are the future of the Republican party.
And now is their time to shine. And not in the shadow of the past and the Bush family name.
I hope that Jeb Bush does stay in the arena. He has been a solid champion of conservatism and has had a bad case of timing for he would make a great senator.
Someday.

Dirty Harry Reid Denies Black Man Senate Seat

Well, Dirty Harry Reid followed through on his threat and denied the Illinois senate seat once occupied by President-elect Obama to Roland Burris.

Think of the picture.

Dirty Harry playing to role of the infamous Bull Conner with the dogs, or in this case the senate sergeant-of-arms to deny a duly appointed black man his rightful place as senator from Illinois.

Priceless!

So, what is the big deal?

Well, there is the case of Illinois Democrat governor, Rod Blagojevich.

He was arrested in December and is being investigated for allegedly trying to sell the senate seat vacated by now President-elect Obama. Note, Gov. Blago was arrested. Not convicted of a crime.

Now, because of this the Illinois legislature wants to impeach Gov. Blago. Again, he has not had a trial and or been convicted.

And, the Secretary of State in Illinois does not want to certify that the appointment of Roland Burris. Again, keep in mind that Gov. Blago has not been convicted of a crime.

Because of that, the senate majority leader, Dirty Harry Reid is justifying denying Mr. Burris his rightful place in the senate.

Since Gov. Blago is still the sitting governor and he lawfully appointed President-elect Obama's successor, time for the game to end and allow Mr. Burris to take his place in the senate.

It is rich that the Democrats are trying to portray themselves as above all the corruption that permeates in Chicago and by extension the Illinois state capitol in Springfield. Suddenly, Dirty Harry has a conscience. Oh, no, not a conscience just a worry that the Democrats will not be able to hold the Illinois senate seat.

The irony is that once again the Democrat party is denying a right to a black American.

Where is the outrage?

Episcopal Church Wins California Ruling

In a unanimous decision, the California state supreme court ruled in favor of the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles in a property dispute over three parishes that left the Church over doctrinal issues.

The decision was written by Justice Ming W. Chin and basically says that one of the parishes, St. James of Newport Beach, can not take the property with them as they have left the diocese of Los Angeles and the Episcopal Church.

And, it may have an effect on two other parishes, All Saints Anglican in Long Beach and St. David's in North Hollywood.

But, as I have written in the past, there is a chance that a case may end up in the hands of the United States supreme court.

This could be the one.

But, there are many other cases in state courts all across the nation.

Because some judges and other state supreme courts may end up with different rulings, there seems to be no other eventual remedy than one of the multitude of similar cases ending up before the nine United States supreme court justices.

The ending quote in the article is the most important quote and it is from the Rev. Ian Douglas, professor at Church Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts:

"No one wins in these cases," he added. "We're so busy battling each other that we're not doing God's work, and that's the tragedy."

And that is most accurate. But, what this also shows is the great schism that is occurring in mainline Protestant Christianity over numerous issues including but not limited to the following:

• Biblical interpretation.
• The role of gay and lesbian people in the Church.
• Whether or not believing in Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the light.
• Christianity's role in relations with non-Christians.

But, with overbearing bishops in the Episcopal Church that do not think the rules apply to them, unless threatened in the manner of parishes leaving the diocese, just because courts rule one way or the other does not end the disputes.

And, that is the tragedy of the whole process. And, as the Rev. Douglas notes, no one is doing the work of God.

More From The Cult O' Obama

In this era of Hope and Change, it appears that the local fish wrap, the Pasadena Star-News, is getting in to the act.
For your consideration, this front-page story on a group of Obamiacs that must have not realized that there had been volunteer opportunities before the assent of The One.
No, these people only realized that there were volunteer opportunities when they went to work to elect President-elect Barack Obama. This group calls itself Obama Boosters of the Foothills.
Read what one of these "volunteers" had to say about the effort they will put in cleaning up neighborhoods in and around Pasadena:

Roz Witt of Altadena was enthusiastic about being part of a national movement.
"This is the first time in my life I've been so excited about an election," she said. "I want to be part of the change - I think that pretty well sums it up."

So this question is for Roz. Before The One, did you not care about your neighborhood? Did you not notice that, oh maybe the local park is full of litter and looks not to good? I guess not. You had to be motivated by The One.
And that question is for all these sycophants that are now taking part in volunteer efforts. Did they not care before being motivated by The One?
Why is it that you needed Barack Obama to make you realize that you need to be a part of the society? Could you not find outlets to volunteer before now?
Here is my motivation.
It comes from seeing the world around me. I know that there are problems. One that I care about but write little if anything on this blog is that plight of those who are addicts. Many end up in the revolving door of the state. It could be welfare, social services that is supposed to help but often hinders and yes, for some, jail. And, how do they get back into society when they realize how their addictions not only screwed up their lives but almost always the ones that they love and care for the most? My church sponsors a couple of group transitional homes. I have got to know some of the people that are there and some attend my church. And, Mrs. rightviewfromtheleftcoast and I do what we can, when we can, to support this vital effort to bring the lost back into society.
I did not need to have a political leader tell me that I needed to do that.
But, these people apparently do. This article shows that that there is something wrong to think that only when a politician gives a speech that we should get up and do something.
We should always be ready to do something. No matter how bad many of our lives are, there is some one's that is worse.
If that was not enough, more Obamacultery was found on the Star-News op-ed page in a column by Morton Kondracke about obesity and The One.
Somehow, Mr. Kondracke thinks that the president-elect's strong exercise regimen is a good example to follow. And, Lord knows that President-elect Obama exercises because almost daily we are told how he was either on his way to a workout or coming back from one.
Contrast that with this lovely piece about another president that also has a strong exercise regimen.
Former Los Angeles Time columnist Jonathan Chiat seems to think that President Bush and his exercise regimen is "obsessive" and "creepy".
Oh, my bad!
I forgot.
President-elect Obama is a Democrat. President Bush is a Republican.
So, to follow the logic, when a Republican president puts an effort in to a strong exercise regimen, it is obsessive and creepy. But when a Democrat president-elect does the same thing, that is what is needed to fight the rampant obesity problem in the United States.
That is the ticket!
What Mr. Chait did was trivialize something important to President Bush. Had he gotten off the Bush Derangement Syndrome train and realized that the president sets a good example in eating right and getting as much exercise as possible, that would have been something to write about. But, that would mean having to say something positive about President Bush. And, to be deep in BDS, one can not say anything that may be remotely positive about President Bush.
So, Mr. Kondracke, who must have been asleep on the Bush exercise "obsession" the past eight years, does what Mr. Chiat could not be brought to do.
And, yet I find Mr. Kondracke's piece and worship of the Obama exercise regimen "creepy".
Because it calls for, you guessed it, government involvement. And of course the well meaning liberal cites the health of obese individuals and the medical costs.
There is no question that there are a lot of fat people in the United States. I am one of them. Yet, again, I do not feel that the government needs to tell me to lose weight. How to do it. How to eat. That is an adult, personnel decision. And yes, I do know that there are physical costs to being overweight.
But, there has been a lot of debate about simply being overweight and being obese. The standard keeps getting lower and lower for one to be considered obese.
I have no problem with President Bush and President-elect Obama and the way that they eat and do take the time to get exercise in their schedules. Both have an enormous responsibility as the leader of the United States and the free world. Thus if it helps them, it also can help the nation.
But, look for all things bright and beautiful from now on. Because of Hope and Change baby! Hope and Change!

Jimmah Carter May Not Be All That Good As A Carpenter

It appears that our former president, Jimmah Carter and the Habitat For Humanity house building organization he has worked for has a problem at one of their housing projects.
In this article from the Times of London, the Fairway Oaks development in Northern Florida has become the kind of housing that one would find in a public housing project.
According to the Times article, the housing is cockroach infested, full of mildew and many of the residents are becoming victims of mysterious skin rashes.
Oh, by the way, the housing was built on wasteland. We used to call it a dump.
Now, I believe that Habitat For Humanity is a very good organization and the way that they do what they do is a good thing. By making the potential home owners actually participate in the building process makes them feel more that it will be theirs to be responsible for. It is certainly better than the Countrywide, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fiasco that have led to our current economic slump.
But, who thought that it would be a good idea to build 85 houses on a dump? Did anyone kind of any research?
Here is a paragraph from the Times article:

One man pulled up his floorboards to find rubbish 5ft deep under his kitchen. Other complaints include cracking walls and rotting door frames that let in rats and ants. Many residents have complained of mildew and mysterious skin rashes.

Five feet of trash? Under the kitchen? Again, one has to ask whether anyone bothered to let the potential homeowners know that their future home was being built on a dump?
What makes this an issue is the fact that the Hollywood left trumpeted their involvement in financing and helping build the houses. One of those 10,000 people helping along the way was the former president, Jimmah.
So, these people wanting to put a salve on their celbutard status, just did what made them feel good and did not bother to make sure that where they were building would be safe for the future homeowners. And the most famous face of Habitat us Jimmah. How many times have we seen him online, in a newspaper, a magazine or on television doing some of the work?
So, what is being done to remedy the situation?
Well, it appears that Habitat For Humanity is being taken to court for their trouble.
Rather than simply admitting that the housing was flawed and work with the people on what can be done, they would rather go to court.
And that brings us to this question.
Will this put a rusty nail in the good work that Habitat has done over the years?
Of course the longer that this goes on in the legal system, the more negativity this brings on Habitat. And because of the sheer size of this project, 85 homes completed in 17 days, it may be a case that they cut off more than they could chew.
Habitat For Humanity needs to settle this legal battle now so that they can move on and do more good work. And, part of doing that good work is total transparency. They did have a legal and moral obligation to let the future homeowners know all about the fact that they were building the houses on a dump.
Otherwise, Habitat For Humanity looks like a very bad organization. And, one more thing that Jimmah Carter turned from gold to trash.

Finally, Charles Barkley Gets What He Deserves

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is the best sports writer in the United States when it comes to analyzing the sports announcers and sports media in general.
And, Mr. Mushnick is spot on in this analysis of the arrest of former NBA star and resident loudmouth, "Sir" Charles Barkley on suspicion of DUI in Arizona earlier this past week.
Right out of the box, Mr. Mushnick states the obvious. That the sports media, a group that is even more left-of-center than many a political analyst, has not only enabled the Chuckster but does not want to be thought as "un-cool" and especially not thought as racists.
Thus, the Chuckster has been able to get away with being the moron that he has been for lo these many years.
It is probable that the Chuckster has had a drinking problem, which would explain some of his boorish behavior. That has been apparently covered-up well by the enabling sports media. The gambling problem that the Chuckster has is actually quite legendary.
And yet somehow, people want and even value his opinion on anything.
The Chuckster thinks that extending the Masters golf tournament is "racist" because it would hurt golf's greatest superstar and ambassador, Tiger Woods. Actually, the lengthening of the tourney helps Tiger. But, maybe the Chuckster was too busy in Blottoland. Or thinking of the next big bet he was going to place.
Why is this a problem?
Because of words that the Chuckster uttered in an advertising campaign for Nike shoes many a moon ago:
I am not a role model.
No truer words have been spoken by a so-called athlete.
If he were a role model, he would seek help for his problems instead of blaming society and his blackness for holding him back.
Look, I want the Chuckster to get help. I do not want to be an enabler of bad behavior especially if it is a cry for help.
But, a start has to be a sports media that has to stop butt-kissing these guys and yes gals as well. It is one thing to know about some antics. But, unlike other entertainers many athletes end up as analysts on the sport they played. Notice that on both the CBS and Fox pro-football pregame shows are dominated by former players and even coaches. Thus, they are more vulnerable when they are offering their expertise on the sport that they played in.
Or in the case of the Chuckster, his opinion on a lot of things.
Is his analysis clouded by a drinking problem? Is that why he has a habit of shooting off his mouth and offering silly comments like those about the Masters?
Where is the sports writer or broadcast reporter to call the Chuckster out on this matter?
They are too busy laughing at the Chuckster, not with him. And they are covering it up because they do not have to actually do their job. Which last I looked up was reporting.
One hopes that "Sir" Charles Barkley has had a real wake-up call.
If not, he can always go back to his enablers who will not stand up to and for him to get his act together.
And, one more thing.
Always make an effort to read Mr. Mushnick's analysis on Friday's and Monday's at the New York Post website.

The Begining Of The End Of English "Civilization"?

Look at these two photos very carefully.

This is how many a Brit brought in the New Year on Wednesday as according to the London Daily Mail, there was a call to 999-the British equivalent to 911-every seven seconds as the nation seemed to be in a drunken, mayhem filled evening and morning of debauchery.

Things were so bad in a town called Tilehurst that drunken degenerates destroyed an ambulance that was at residence to tend to a 19 month old baby that possibly dislocated his shoulder. The parents had to take the toddler to the hospital in their own car.

The easiest contrast is the Rose Parade held here in Pasadena for 120 years now.

Nearly 1,000,000 people attend the parade every year. An overwhelming majority show up at noon, and really a lot earlier, on New Year's Eve and begin an overnight camp out to stake an area to watch as the parade goes by. With that large a crowd, how many people do you think were even arrested? Give up? The total was 39 arrests and out of that only one was a felony.

What is the difference in these two scenes of the West in the dawn of 2009?

I think that for the British, there is a lack of hope. A not so rosy view of the future for many.

In an increasing welfare state that is more and more opposing the very people that elected them to power, there is an increasing official and unofficial surrendering of the British way of life to radical Islam. The Church of England, the official church headed by Queen Elizabeth, has become irrelevant and is struggling to avoid all out schism. The Roman Catholic church is proposing to make prayer rooms available at their parochial schools for Islamic students. So, the government and a lot of Christianity in the Mother Country is giving in to a group of people that have only been in large numbers a part of British life for about 50 years.

There is a hopelessness in the people of Britain. There can not be an explanation other than that. It is not just on New Year's Eve that we see this debauchery.

It is worse for the hooligan football (soccer) fans that are known to go to matches on Continental Europe, tank up on booze and riot there. And for good measure these hooligan "fans" are as racist as they come.

Without a moral guide, whether it is the monarch, the church or the national political leadership, there is a sense that the people can do what they want.

Thus, there is no shame in a young lady, nearly passed out, yet attempting to induce vomiting. Or a young man bloodied in a drunken brawl.

Let's come back to Pasadena.

Many a family make the trek to Colorado Boulevard to camp out over night. Sure, some people are drinking when they are not suppose to. And many people are shooting off Silly String, again when they are not really suppose to. But, there is a certain amount of control about it. As long as people are not overly stupid, the police will leave them alone. But, because there are many families that are camping overnight on the street, they have a way to shame those who want to go overboard. There is still a certain amount of decorum that is absolutely expected and encouraged, even in revelry. Also, even in the worst of times, it is the American spirit of optimism that is everywhere on the parade route. People, young and old, thin and fat, White and Black, rich and poor and everything in between are all smiles, a feeling of happiness in the air. Living very close to the parade route and always having to walk Scout the Wonder Dog, we trek to the parade route to see what I refer to as "the crazies"-people willing to camp out no matter what to get that great view of the amazing Rose Parade.

I think that while I have not been to Britain to ring in a New Year, this certainly does not make me think it would be a good thing.

Maybe the British people are just numbing themselves as they see a potential for radical Islam to be allowed to take hold in many parts of Great Britain and there is a fear. Fear that those they had trusted to take a strong stand for the nation and against those that would seek to destroy it are giving up.

All I do know is that I will take 1,000,000 people at the Rose Parade in Pasadena over those who seem to have a strange way to "celebrate" a New Year in Britain.

HT: Ace @ www.ace.mu.nu

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.