Sneakeasy's Joint

VOTE or the Cat Gets It!

Hello....

Nikita here....

Daddy, and I, come to you, a week before the 1st of 2 of the most important Election Cycles in the history of the United States of America, with an important message.

Don't end the  American Moment.

The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.—Dwight D. Eisenhower

We read the paper, and watch the news, and can't help but wonder if too many of us are only good at enjoying the freedom living in the greatest nation the earth has ever seen affords us.

Here is something to think about:

According to statistics from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance... when looking at Election Turnout, country by country, in all elections, between 1945 and 1998...

The United States, the cradle of modern freedom, is ranked a pitifully disgraceful 114th!

48.3% of us bothered to vote!!

THAT, all you happy people, is a FUCKING SHAME, and an utter disgrace!!

( To say it in any other way would be a sign of appeasement, and so we won't back down from the use of such a harsh word. )

The Brits, the nation whose Ass we kicked for the right to be free, were ranked 42nd ( 74.9% ).

In the 2000 Congressional Elections 46.6% voted, a 12 point increase from 1998.

In the 2000 Presidential Election 49.3% voted, measely 2 point increase from 1996.

No stats were available for 2002 and 2004, but all these numbers speak volumes.

After the 1992 Presidential Election turnout took a dramatic dive below 50%!

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.—Thomas Paine

If the people fail to vote, a government will be developed which is not their government…. The whole system of American Government rests on the ballot box. Unless citizens perform their duties there, such a system of government is doomed to failure.—Calvin Coolidge

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. —John F. Kennedy

Do teachers even mention these quotes  ( And the others you will read here. ) in our schools today?

Justice Scalia Makes Point on Bill of Rights

Scalia said a few things recently that people need to think about in this very contentious political era:

I’m in the business of enforcing democracy. What democracy means is that on controversial issues; even stuff like homosexual rights, abortion, whatever; we debate with each other and persuade each other and vote on it.

Either our representatives or through a Constitutional amendment in the states, we decide the question. Now there are some exceptions to that in any liberal democracy, and in ours most of those exceptions are contained in the bill of rights. But that bill of rights was adopted by the majority which is why it is proper in a democracy to have a bill of rights, because the majority adopted it.

Now when they adopted it what did they take out of that general principle? What did they take out of that general rule of democracy? That we allow open speech, we persuade each other and we vote.

What did they take out of it? They never took out these issues…abortion, homosexual conduct. Nobody ever thought that they had been included in the rights contained in the bill of rights which is why abortion and homosexual sodomy were criminal for 200 years. Now whether thats a good idea or bad is not what I’m talking about. Thats not my job to say that.

It is my job to say whether the bill of rights has taken it out of the realm of democratic debate. Just because you feel strongly about it…it isn’t neccessarily in the bill of rights.

Some issues should be decided by the people in the states, not decided through the courts.

The issues he mentions are just 2 of them, of course, but 2 of the most hotly contested ones.

Forcing  people to accept a law that they do not want to accept only causes backlash, and will hurt the cause more than help it as time goes by.

A Tip of the Hat to Stop the ACLU.

The REAL Media Heroes Covering Iraq

When it comes to Mainstream Media coverage of the war  there are reporters, and then there are REPORTERS:

During my three embeds in Iraq’s vicious Anbar Province, I’ve been mortared and sniped at, and have dodged machine-gun fire — all of which has given me a serious contempt for the rear-echelon reporters.

When I appeared on the Al Franken Show in May, after my second embed, it was with former CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf — who complained about the dangers of being shot down by a missile while landing in Baghdad, and the dangers of the airport road to the International Zone (IZ) . . . and how awful the Baghdad hotels were. . . .

CBS News cameraman Paul Douglas and freelance soundman James Brolan were blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED) while accompanying CBS correspondent Kimberly Dozier, herself critically injured.

They were embedded with the 4th Infantry Division. So were ABC anchorman Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, who were critically injured by an IED.

Time correspondent Michael Weisskopf had his hand blown off trying to toss a grenade out of his Humvee when he was embedded with the 1st Armored Division.

These, not the hotel-bound credit-claimers, are the journalist-heroes of the Iraq War.

Read the whole, brilliant, essay: Covering Iraq: The Modern Way of War Correspondence by Michael Fumento.

A Tip of the Hat to Instapundit

Speaking Truth on Radical Islam, and the Fight for Civilization

The madness that is the Middle East, and Radical Islam, has been with us since before the Carter Presidency, but as the years have gone by matters have grown worse.

In the last 15 years Islam, especially the radical, anti-western variety, has spread to Europe, and Britain, and threatens to eventually overwhelm it.

During this time terrorism has spread, alongside anti-Israel, anti-West, and anti-American attitudes.

Western Civilization, and all it stands for, is the farthest thing from the minds of far too many in these parts of the world.

And people wonder why the so-called Cradle of Civilization is so broken, and has been seemingly unfixable for centuries?

In the West those who see the truth, and want to do all that can be done to defeat a major threat to Western Civilization are confronted daily with those calling for appeasement in various ways, and those bringing up everything negative about the conduct of the battle for the last 5 years, while downplaying, or ignoring completely, all the positives, and ignoring, or downplaying all the warning signs about the dangers to the world.

On one side are people of principle, and patriotism, and on the other are more than a few folks at the New York Times, and CNN, and too many others that have been catalogued, and exposed to the light of day.

Today, one of the Good Guys has written several profound essays that are ABSOLUTE MUST READING by anyone who can find the pieces, and cares about the future...

Lileks on Family Outings, and Genealogy

James Lileks does it again.

A weekend trip with family to the Mall of America, a trip to church, and an exploration of family history with his Father, all are tied together in an entertaining, and fascinating, way in todays edition of The Bleat.

Read it, and enjoy. ;-D

Critters, Critters, Everywhere! 2

House of the ( Mostly ) Black Cats  presents Carnival of the Cats #134.

The Modulator has its usual extensive collection of Critter pics in Friday Ark #108.

The Cat Blogosphere has the Weekend Cat News #9.

Rosa's Yummy Yums has Weekend Cat Blogging #71.

The Prayer and Praise list for the week of 10/15, and a Sermon for good measure, are up at the Pet Prayers and Praise Blog.

Do You enjoy YouTube?

Then check out Kitty Movie Monday for a growing collection of Cat Videos. ;-D

Raising a Ruckus in My Backyard

In recent weeks, as a result of comments and e-mails related to my BikeBlog, The Cycling Dude, I've been looking into, and writing about, 2 major stories of concern to recreational, and commuter, Bicyclists in Orange County.

If you are a cyclist, or know people who are, I believe the issues I'm bringing up will be of great interest.

They are issues of safety.

1 series deals with Cycling on Shared-use Trails, and the other deals with Motorist vs Cyclist accidents on city streets.

Prelude: I've Got 2 Major Local Stories on My Hands.

SERIES 1:

Back Bay Bicyclists Bad Bikers?

Back Bay Bicyclists Bad Bikers? Part 2.

SERIES 2:

Motorists vs Cyclists in Orange County.

Why You Should Go To the Polls

Conservatives, from Moderates, like me, to those leaning so far Right they can touch the floor with their hand, are mad as hell at the GOP, and some are threatening to stay home, or vote for Democrats.

Punish the GOP, and you only punish yourself, and the country.

I want to share 2 sets of opinions on the upcoming elections that pretty much say all that needs to be said about why I will be voting, and voting Republican, and why no Conservative should stay at home:

From Jay, at Stop the ACLU:

I understand the frustration with the GOP, RINOs, and President Bush on the border issues, over-spending, the ports, and even on the Iraq war. What I don’t understand is the strategy of staying home, or in some case even voting Democrat, to teach them some kind of lesson. First of all, what makes anyone think they will learn from such a symbolic lesson? More importantly, what sense does it make to give the loony left control of one or both Houses of Congress for the sake of one or more issues the GOP has failed in? We are at war here, and if you expect the left to lead us in the right direction on that you will be in for a scary wake up call when it is too late to do anything about it. Think hard on the consequences before sitting this out.

We have the Democrats milking the Foley scandal for everything its worth because they know they can’t win the argument on real issues that matter. Why should your representative suffer because of what one Congressman did? I don’t see how that is fair.

If illegal immigration is the pressing issue for you, please tell me how allowing the amnesty supporting left to gain power will further that cause.

And the ACLU runs adds promoting candidates that toe their, and a Liberal leaning, line on a host of issues.

Want more reasons to vote in November?

Ted Turner Spews More Idiocy

The latest proof that Ted Turner is a Minion of W.A.C.K.I.E.:

TED TURNER: There are a lot of things about this war that disturb me and one of them is the attitude, that you know, that was well expressed by our President. He said it very clearly, he said either you’re with us or you’re against us. And I had a problem with that because I really hadn’t made my mind up yet. You know, what if you haven’t made your mind up? You know, what if you’re thinking about it, doing some studying, doing some reading because it’s an important decision to go to war or whether or not to go to war. I mean, you’re either with us or you’re against us, that’s pretty black and white.

Forget for a moment, that, for any sensible American, being for The War Against Terror is a no-brainer, Ol' Ted distorts just who the Prez's words were actually aimed at.

Ol' Ted has had other idiotic opinions spew from his lips recently, and you can learn about them, and see the video of the above, over at Stop the ACLU.

Coincidence or Censorship?

Not to mention an apparent reversal of the decision. ;-D

Hmmm...lemme see Google buys YouTube and AlGore sits on the Google board.

Google obviously doesn't care that half of it's users are not leftie Kool-aid sippers, and assorted Minions of W.A.C.K.I.E..

The popular video-sharing YouTube site, which is being purchased by Google for $1.65 billion, limited access to a political ad that mocks the Clinton administration's policy on North Korea, but contains no profanity, nudity or other factors generally thought objectionable.

To learn more about the controvery over the David Zucker Albright Ad go here:

WorldNetDaily = YouTube blocked video mocking Clinton administration: Limits imposed on access to clip critical of Albright-run North Korea policy.

I viewed the video on YouTube, this morning, without any problem.

Maybe whatever brainfart caused the blockage was cured.... until next time.

The clip is absolutely dead-on, and hilarious. ;-D

Why Republicans are running away from using it is beyond me.

Now, though, they don't have to bother.

Thanks to others the word is out, and everyone can see it through various sources, including YouTube. ;-D

And people ARE watching it in droves. ;-D

Parents have absolutely no say so in what a school can teach?

So claims the ACLU in a Friend of the Court Brief it has filed:

David Parker was arrested and jailed in Lexington in April 2005 over his request – and the school's refusal – to notify him when adults discuss homosexuality or transgenderism with his 6-year-old kindergartner. That despite a state law requiring such notification.

The incident made news around the nation and even Gov. Mitt Romney agreed with Parker.

However, in April 2006 the same school presented the book "King and King," about homosexual romances and marriage, to second-graders and again refused to provide notification.

Parker and other parents followed with the federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging school officials and the town were refusing to follow state law.

The ACLU and several gay groups are now filing a friend of the court brief to stop his civil lawsuit stating parents have absolutely no say so in what a school can teach.

What are schools thinking when they set out to teach about these things to kids so young?

Middle School is soon enough to find sensible, constructive, ways to bring the subject up in appropriate classroom settings.

Parents have the right to know what their kids are being taught.

Stop the ACLU has more on the story.

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Over Islamic Indoctrination In School

Why didn't the Supreme Court didn't find this case important enough to hear?

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal, recently, by evangelical Christian students and their parents who said a Contra Costa County school district engaged in unconstitutional religious indoctrination when it taught students about Islam by having them recite language from prayers.

The court, without comment, left intact a ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco last November in favor of the Byron Union School District in eastern Contra Costa.

The suit challenged the content of a seventh-grade history course at Excelsior Middle School in Byron in the fall of 2001. The teacher, using an instructional guide, told students they would adopt roles as Muslims for three weeks to help them learn what Muslims believe.

I also wonder why the ACLU didn't get its panties in a bunch over this?

Imagine the stink if the religion had been Christianity.

Stop the ACLU has more on this story.

Critters, Critters, Everywhere!

Another weekly sampling of some of the best in Critter Blogging!

Pet's Garden Blog has Carnival of the Cats #132.

Curiouser and Curiouser has Carnival of the Cats #133.

The Modulator has its usual extensive collection of Critter pics in Friday Ark #106 and #107.

The Modulator also debuts the Friday Ark Arkive Page!

The Cat Blogosphere has the Weekend Cat News #7, and #8.

House of the ( Mostly ) Black Cats hosts Weekend Cat Blogging #69, and The Hidden Paw has #70.

The Prayer and Praise list for the weeks of 10/1, and 10/8, and a couple of Sermons for good measure, are up at the Pet Prayers and Praise Blog.

Carnival of the Vanities 211: Questions of Belonging

Kehaar, of Silflay Hraka, brings us CoTV #211, and more on his editorial direction, and this leads me to ponder what, and when, will be my next contribution ( See Below. ):

Some people might say that everything submitted should be posted but I think that's part of what's been ailing the Carnival for a while now. People have been submitting anything and everything and, since the Carny has been sans editor, the average quality of the posts dropped to the point at which the Carnival was becoming irrelevant.

All this begs the question as to what makes a good CoTV post and what doesn't? I think the answer lies in the original concept of the Carnival.

He quotes a portion of the origin essay, and continues:

It's about exposing your best stuff to the rest of the blogosphere. With that in mind, the editorial clipping for the Carnival shouldn't begin with me. It should begin with you. I only have to edit the Carnival if and when people fail to edit themselves. It's pretty easy to tell who is using the Carnival to drive traffic to their blog and who is using the Carnival to provide exposure to truly good writing. The people who do the first, while claiming to support CoTV, have slowly been poisoning it instead. Readers don't have the time to separate the wheat from the chaff and assume most of what appears in the Carnival is poor.

He goes on to suggest the potential submitter ask himself/herself/itself/huself a few questions.

After some more thoughts this weeks recommended reading is presented.

I like the way he thinks, and am hopeful to soon submit some worthy entries from my Bikeblog.

I am about to begin 2 investigative series related to Bicycling Safety, and have hopes of engaging folks in the wider Blogosphere in the discussion, and not just cyclists, but motorists as well.

This is new teritory for me, and may cause a stir, and I'm unsure how to spread the word to a Community that seems unaware of my particular niche of the Blogosphere, and thus might not take it seriously, even after several appearances in the Carnival over the years.

The Good News is the Given Names are not Zone

I don't know which to be more concerned about....

The possibility of the Democrats winning control of the House, and /or Senate, next month, or THIS story:

Leann Real promised her husband, an avid sports fan, that if they ever had a son he'd get to pick the name. ESPN Montana Real was born this week at Biloxi Regional Medical Center.

Rusty Real, of D'Iberville, chose ESPN (pronounced Espen) after the sports network and Montana after football legend Joe Montana.

Baby ESPN isn't alone.

That last is the truly scary part.

There were 3 LAST year!!

Some folks definitely need to get out of the house more. ;-D

Is this a sign of the coming fall of Western Civilization?

A New Mouse in the House

For about a week I've been dealing with a sick Mouse in the house.

No, not THAT kind, but the one I use with my computer.

The one that came with my Dell, a year ago, was having serious stop/start issues which made using the computer difficult, if not impossible at times.

So I put it out of its misery today, and installed a new one based on recommendations of a couple of friends.

I'm a happy camper again. ;-D

Exposing a Problem at OC Superior Court 2

In August I did my Civic Duty, and served a day on-call for Jury Duty in the Superior Court of CA., for Orange County.

I wrote about some questions I asked clerks, and in the Exit Questionnaire.

In a letter dated on 9/11, of all days, I got a response to my efforts! ;-D

Dear Mr. Kundurazieff:

Thank You for taking the time to complete the Jury Exit Questionnaire.

The suggestion you made regarding making changes to our blue "Jury Duty" brochure has been shared with the officials of this court and will assist with making future revisions to written materials provided to valued citizens like you who have served.

Thank you for your service as a juror.

We appreciate the sacrifice jurors make to ensure the availability of justice to all.

Sincerely,

From the office of Alan Slater, Jury Commisioner:

SIGNED BY Evelyn Valle.

-----------------------------------

Well, thank you, and all that, however I wasn't trying to change anything in the blasted booklet, but trying to get bigger, and better, Microwave Ovens installed for the use of future jurors! ;-D

Chris Wallace nails his critics

I watched Chris Wallace show on fox, tonite, and loved how he answered his critics with evidence in answere to their attacks. ;-D

Great job, Chris!

Your Pops is not doubt very proud of you. ;-D