Monday, August 27, 2007

Searching for the original source

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I always hear from the Anti-Iraq war (Or just Anti-war) crowd that:

"Because we are there [in Iraq], we are creating more terrorists."

What I want to know is simple: What was the original source for the quote? Who said it, then wrote it, then published the quote?

The reason I ask, is because, there were terrorist attacks on American embassies, Naval vessels and "Domestic Soft targets" before March 20, 2003. Heck, there were more attacks in Israel before March 20, 2003.

Find me the original source of that quote (via links and publication date) and you will win a $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate.

Good luck.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Three reasons why Democrats don't believe in Democracy

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And I thought it would be a nice, quiet end of summer.

It seems when something does not go the Democratic party's way, in either elections or in the news cycles, that members from the Democratic Party want to destroy Democracy "...in order to save it,"

Let's start in Iraq. Senator Carl Levin called for the overthrow of elected Iraqi leader, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. If you look at history, the Kennedy's administration ridding itself of President Diem in South Vietnam on November 2, 1963 kicked off the Vietnam War. Whereas President Bush tried to rid Iraq of a Dictator, Senator Levin wants to wipe Democracy from Iraq.

Now to sunny Florida, where, can you believe it? History is repeating itself; Democrats again are disenfranchising voters in Florida. The first time, as reported by the Washington Post, Vice President Gore tried to disenfranchise military ballots from Florida's recount. I actually knew someone in DC who was a military vote in Florida (when she was serving). She told me, "My vote didn't count in 2000 thanks to Gore," Are Democrats trying to push the Jewish Retiree votes away?

Finally, at the Huffington Post, a British born, Los Angeles based Blogger named Martin Lewis calls for the Military overthrow of the President. The founders put in civilian control of the Military. Do Democrats believe that once that freedom is taken, it will be given back?

This question is for my Democratic readers, if the results are not what you asked for, will you support the results? Or do you beleive in Military coups and assasinations if your view loses? Jason, I await your answer.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Weekly Roundup #3

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1) Aurora, Jason, Chess -- My plans for October fell apart this week, what was going to happen in weeks is now back to months. The planning continues.

2) My late father used to say, "No real business (or political work) actually happens between the middle of August and the week after Labor day," But during August, World War One started and Iraq invaded Kuwait; Will the summer of 2007 be a sane one?

3) Off the cuff questions:
a) Why was the Independent Council law highly touted by Democrats during the Nixon and Ford Administrations but decried by them during the Clinton Administration?
b) What is your favorite Pizza place? Mine is AJ's Pizza in Forest Hills, NY. Nothing beats an Upside down Sicilian slice on a winter's day.
c) A major debate during High School (this was in NYC, remember), the argument was, what makes a good Pizza? The sauce? The Cheese? or The Crust? I always believed the Sauce made the slice -- anywhere you went, the sauce was different.

Enjoy this post with your favorite Pizza.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Democratic hypocrisy and the sound of crickets

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The Nixon Administration gave us a few important statements for the Political class. The first is: When Nixon went to China... The Second is: When Senator Goldwater went to see President Nixon to tell him, there were no Republican votes to stop impeachment, Nixon resigned the next day. Since the 90's, I have been asking, where are the modern Democratic parties Nixon's and Goldwater's? The answer will surprise you.

First, let's go back to the 90's. It seems under the Clinton Administration, the ESCHELON program (under the auspices of the National Security Agency) spied on United States citizens. Were we at war? The USSR had faded in 1991 and became Russia. The Warsaw Pact was dead. Why was the American Government listening to Americans phone calls and emails during the 90's? Clinton as Nixon. The American Government spied on it's own citizens and not one word from Democratic partisans or the ACLU. Why? I heard crickets back then.

Now, in the State of New York, Governor Eliot Spitzer is also playing the role of Nixon. He used the New York State Police to spy on Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. If Nixon had an "Enemies List", why hasn't the senior and junior senators for the State of New York say this was wrong? This is the same man who went against my friend's father's boss as a way to clear the Democratic Primary for 2010. What about Howard Dean? Crickets again.

Who will be the Democrats Goldwater today?

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Politics and religion by Richard Jeni

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The late Richard Jeni was a funny comedian -- I saw him in The Mask and Burn, Hollywood, Burn. Here are a couple of his routines that made me laugh -- yes, only over the things you can't say over the dinner table. Bad language ahead:

Political parties



Religion

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Mirror, Mirror (The Globalization Waltz)

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In the past month, the world has gotten smaller. Call it Chaos Theory or Globalization 3.0 but as a butterfly flaps it's wings in Kansas, the Nikkei falls in Tokyo. To quote David Byrne of Talking Heads, How did we get here?

1) America's side of the mirror: The sub prime Housing crisis -- I learned to never spend what you don't have. If you must buy a big ticket item, put at least 1/3 or 50% down before the loan kicks in. The sub prime lenders meant giving money to people who could not afford it. When the foreclosures kicked in on the sub prime lenders, it echoed in America's banking system (Central and public); To stop the fall, the European Central Bankers flooded America's central banks with cash to stop the fall.
During the 40's and 50's, America's finances saved Europe, this is the EU's first "Thank you" to the US. With financial transactions happening in cyberspace 24/7, the world will not suffer another Great Depression or hyperinflation. The world that brought forth Hitler and Huey Long are pages in a history book, not written on a stock ticker.

2) Asia side of the mirror -- Toys from the China Closet -- Bad toys make it to the American market; No conspiracies or act of war -- just badly done toys. China works overtime to make trade palpable with the US, the wheel spins round. As Chernobyl was to Russia, the Mattell follies are to China. The trade barriers will drop as the situation returns to normal. The world shrinks. However, because of China's trade problems with America, the Nikkei falls.

We are two half-steps into the waltz -- Who is leading? America, the Europeans or China?

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Politics without Sin

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The subtitle of this post: Karl Rove in the Temple of Political Gamesmanship.

If you read the news, Karl Rove is leaving the White House. The Coastal Times editorial pages(New York and Los Angeles) both decry "wedge issues" and the "politicization of 9/11," However, in politics, it does not matter if your side wins by 3% or 35%, whether it was thirty votes in a precinct or 300 -- a win is a win. Just ask the House Democrats.

The reason Karl Rove is not getting a James Carville send-off by the press is because of the (R) next to his boss' name. President Bush won re-election; He is not running anymore. Bill Clinton won re-election during the world's "silly season" (11/9/1989 - 9/10/2001) and Carville is praised. Tell me again of how there is no media bias.

One of my best friends here in Los Angeles is an actress, a Democrat and a Boston Red Sox fan(The last one is totally unforgivable). However, she has a idealist view of politics. I discuss "logrolling" as part and parcel of the political and policy game and she thinks it is wrong. A Congressman trading a vote for a bridge in New York so he can get a votes for a fort in Texas has been going on since Pericles. Also, a candidate can logroll a precinct to get votes in an upcoming election.

Both forms of logrolling (with a touch of patronage) were done by Tammany Hall in New York. I got my early political training from some of their alumni. The Democrats also had Dick Tuck in the 1950's and 60's. Politics is never without sin. To get something, you have to be able to offer something: Votes, Security, support.

Karl Rove made sure President Bush received votes in 2002 and 2004 because he offered security. If the Democrats were willing to make that trade for votes, they would have won in 2004. Karl Rove understood the art of gamesmanship, he offered victory for Republicans, if they were smart enough to support it. 2006 was not a repudiation of Iraq (Please find me the quote from a newspaper before November 2006, if you disagree), but a repudiation of power without humbleness by the Congressional Republicans.

Even in Venezuela, there is no Politics without sin -- proximity to the Dictator brings benefits. So much for the Revolution. If you want sinless politics and policy, live alone on an island. To get things done means getting dirty.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Anti-semitism is a pillar of Daily Kos

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In today's Meet the Press, Former Representative Harold Ford, Jr. brought up "the anti-semitism of Daily Kos," and Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos responded with, "We allow everybody to write for us," No follow up by David Gregory, substitute host for Tim Russert.

They kick Senator Joseph Lieberman out of Democratic party (the only Jewish Democratic Party Senator up for re-election in 2006), and allow they Heathlander a loudspeaker. Sorry, but can someone explain how Daily Kos is not anti-Semitic?

I will link to Meet the Press' transcript when it's up.

UPDATE 6:35PM PST: The Transcript is up. Also, a Kos diarist declares blindness is a way to see the horizon of the Democratic Anti-semites. Final note: The Heathlander still has not left London to support his revolution in the Gaza Strip.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

The Next President

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Since Congress and President Bush is on vacation, the Valley will not follow their example. Business, politics and policy does not stop for the summer sun. Read below:

What must the 2008 Presidential candidates say or support to get the Valley's endorsement? Here follows a few issues, take notes Senators, Mayors and Governors.

A) Sarbannes-Oxley [SOX]: Most American IPO's and foreign companies are choosing the London Stock Exchange over NYSE due to over regulation by SOX. Free up American business' so they can bring in investment and help the American Exchanges.

B) Wilsonian Idealism or Nixonian Realism? If a candidate answers this question, they will have my attention. Should Democracy spread or should we deal with dictators? What are the pre-requisites for dealing with America, either financially or diplomatically? I'd love to hear the answer.

C) If a Democrat, clean out your anti-semites; If a Republican, help re-build California. I'm a partisan Republican, what did you expect?

D) Taxes: For or against?
Tax Cuts: For or against?

E) How do you propose to fight the War on Terror? What tools, what battlefields? Ad hominims and ad hoc ideas will not do -- specific means to specific goals. I'll listen.

F) Do you work across the aisle? Give an example. Will you police your own party?

G) Do you belive in HUMINT or ELINT in fighting the War in Terror?

H) How is your support of Israel in the next attack? What will you do?

The Valley will endorse one Republican and one Democrat before New Hampshire. Candidates, I await your answers.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

A picture to mull over

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(Hat Tip: ChessNovice)(via email)

Saturday, August 04, 2007

One Cheer for my sister!

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As of 7:40PM Pacific Standard Time, I found out my sister and her boyfriend are now engaged. He's a nice Jewish guy, she's a great girl. I can't think of two better people. They both work on a major TV show, if you guessed it, you're right.

I want to wish them both the best! Next year, the wedding.

Mazel Tov to you both!

Friday, August 03, 2007

Weekly Roundup #2

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I switch shifts at work and the world caves in. Forget about the summer movie season, let's discuss these issues:

1) Senator Obama invades Pakistan!: Let us recap: President Bush went to Congress to get war Powers enacted against Iraq, then went to the United Nations to get a coalition and then a second time to help Prime Minister Blair. Right before the invasion, President Bush warns Saddam Hussain and then goes in. Senator Obama just wants to move troops to Waziristan even though (as per the book list), Pakistan is a fragile democracy and America has no ground intelligence. Going in without the UN or Congress' approval? Isn't that what President Bush is accused of?

2) The House Democrats remember the lessons of Speaker Wright: Back in the old partisan days of 1988, Speaker Wright passed the Guaranteed Deficit Reduction Act through the House by creating two legislative days in one calender day. Last night, Speaker Pelosi had the vote closed and then changed it -- and then blamed it on the voting machines. At least Wright had the courtesy of being open about looking for new votes. Remember "The Bloody 8th" and Speaker Wright's disenfranchisement of the Minority begat Speaker Newt. Democrats, if you don't want radical republicans, don't create them -- oh, it's too late. The next Republican Speaker will come from last nights voting shenanigans.

3) All Fall Down -- Say a prayer for the survivors and family of I-35 bridge disaster in Minnesota. All I ask is that you donate to the American Red Cross for the survivors.

4) This one's for Aurora and Jason: I get busy a few days and cannot Blog and the conversation breaks down?! I read both comments and posts. Instead of working on a post about my political "conversion", instead I need to have both of you visit my next post. We are all adults here, none of us are Kossites (like the Heathlander) or LGF'ers. Expect a personal email from me regarding this. But someone has to extend the hand across the aisle, who will it be?

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