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The Valley Endorsements for Iowa and New Hampshire are here.
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Happy New Year! This was the year the Valley expanded from being a monologue to a dialogue. Last year, Malcot (under a different pseudonym then) and ChessNovice were my only real readers; Now I'm pleased to have Aurora, Jason and newly arrived Donald Douglas. The comment sections are not of Althousian lengths yet, but the Blog has a lot more readers (and subscribers) now. First, a thanks to all for reading and commenting!
Here are the Best Posts of 2006. Now onto 2007:
12. The South Park Gnomes and the Anti-war groups share the same logic.
11. Comparing a Doctor Who episode to America's foreign policy in the War on Terror. This was linked by Thomas P. M. Barnett of The Pentagons New Map
10. Modern Presidents and the Julio-Claudians -- The Theory.
9. What is Institutionalism?
8. The introduction of the term: Goldwater to Nixon moments; And how Democrats never chastise their own (unless they break ranks by differing against the war).
7. The rights of Bloggers and their Real estate in Cyberspace. This generated the most visits in one day thanks to links by Althouse and Donald Douglas.
6. With the dollar in flux, it might be worth it to take a look at George Soros' true reasons for backing Democrats. It's not all about the war.
5. Reviewing 300 and the comparisons to America's foreign policy. SPARTA!
4. My vision of Modern Conservatism.
3. The Democrat's Anti-Semitism Cycle: The Heathlander and his love for Hamas; Anti-Semitism within Kos and Kos not discussing Anti-Semitism within his own Blog. The latter post was linked by Michelle Malkin.
2. Two posts: Why Hillary Clinton shouldn't win; Why Ron Paul shouldn't win.
1. The California Encyclicals. How the GOP can take back California. Read them all. (Prologue, Burbank 1 and 2, Los Angeles 1 and 2, California 1, 2 and 3, and Coda)
Before I close out the year with some music, my questions are:
A) Which is your favorite post? Is it on the list?
B) What do you enjoy about the Valley? What can make it better?
Now, Memory Gospel by Moby. The song was in the movie Southland Tales. The video here is just peaceful -- May everyone have a safe and successful 2008!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
A Martyr for Democracy
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Here is the Valley's Endorsements for Iowa and New Hampshire.
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Benezhir Bhutto was killed yesterday. In the tribal wilds of Pakistan, two weeks before an election. Her death affects two countries elections.
Some bloggers and radio hosts are calling this "An Archduke Ferdinand Moment," As always, the Left blames President Bush first before blaming Al-Queda (This is the same part of the Left that finds no fault with President Ahmadinijad).
In my last post, I proposed that Peace would come through Democratic nations. By always standing against President Bush's foreign policy of exporting Democracy, the democrats brought down America's standing in the world. At some point partisanship must end at the foreign policy line. If Republicans can do it during the 90's, what is stopping the Democrats today?
President Musharref is a flawed leader; So was Bhutto. The last time a leader held on tenuously was the Shah of Iran in 1979. Do the Democrats want another failed state (like Afghanistan -- Charlie Wilson's War ended in 1989, the Taliban arrived in 1994), Theocracy or Dictatorship?
Bhutto died to free her people from the chaos of Military Dictators and the chaos of Islamic Theocrats; She stood up when no one else would. Can any Democrat stand for Democracy as well or does your hatred of President Bush mean no other country deserves it?
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Here is the Valley's Endorsements for Iowa and New Hampshire.
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Benezhir Bhutto was killed yesterday. In the tribal wilds of Pakistan, two weeks before an election. Her death affects two countries elections.
Some bloggers and radio hosts are calling this "An Archduke Ferdinand Moment," As always, the Left blames President Bush first before blaming Al-Queda (This is the same part of the Left that finds no fault with President Ahmadinijad).
In my last post, I proposed that Peace would come through Democratic nations. By always standing against President Bush's foreign policy of exporting Democracy, the democrats brought down America's standing in the world. At some point partisanship must end at the foreign policy line. If Republicans can do it during the 90's, what is stopping the Democrats today?
President Musharref is a flawed leader; So was Bhutto. The last time a leader held on tenuously was the Shah of Iran in 1979. Do the Democrats want another failed state (like Afghanistan -- Charlie Wilson's War ended in 1989, the Taliban arrived in 1994), Theocracy or Dictatorship?
Bhutto died to free her people from the chaos of Military Dictators and the chaos of Islamic Theocrats; She stood up when no one else would. Can any Democrat stand for Democracy as well or does your hatred of President Bush mean no other country deserves it?
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Peace on Earth?
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Here is the Valley's endorsements for Iowa and New Hampshire.
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Merry Christmas! As we are near the end of the year, we think of good cheer and Peace on Earth. When I was Bar Mitzvahed at the Western Wall in 1983, I saw the three Religions in Jerusalem acting on their best behavior for their individual holidays (Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas).
A few weeks back, I was on the Venice Boardwalk where a college kid asked me to do one thing for Peace (for a college assignment, he had to ask people to do "something" for Peace [He told me he was a student at UC-Berkley]). Had I posted than, it would not matter. But, with Christmas, I have to ask, what does it take to make Peace on Earth?
Peace is not just an absence of war or people thinking the same thing (as Liberals want the rest of us to do), but allowing Wilsonianism to spread, bringing freedom from those under Dictators and Theocrats. Back in the 19th Century, Europe was considered beyond hope (save for England) because of it's insular leadership. Three centuries before, the Church and Sovereigns controlled how the masses were led (or died). What forced Europe into the modern era where Democracy runs unfettered? World War Two.
Now, history repeats itself in the Middle East. There are many words written that Islam is not compatible with Democracy. These words come from comfortable Liberals who never have to worry about their Life, Liberty or property. But there are Muslims promoting the idea of free peoples and Democracy within the Middle East. Even religious scholars write on how Democracy promotes understanding.
I have discussed here that Code Pink has done nothing to create peace. Nothing. Sometimes the methods (i.e. the barrel of a gun) by the Bush Administration are controversial, but the end result is what matters. What proof do I have Democracy works? Read Thomas Friedman's (not a neo-conservative) Golden Arches Theory of Conflict prevention.
Since 1970 (when I was born), no two Democracies have gone to war. That's a long time. But Dictators and Theorcrats should not be given comfort and aid, yet that is what Code Pink does for Peace. The true Peace-loving organization in the world is Freedom House. Here is the map of Freedom today. Every country, every person should be free; Then there will be Peace.
What is your vision of Peace on Earth?
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Here is the Valley's endorsements for Iowa and New Hampshire.
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Merry Christmas! As we are near the end of the year, we think of good cheer and Peace on Earth. When I was Bar Mitzvahed at the Western Wall in 1983, I saw the three Religions in Jerusalem acting on their best behavior for their individual holidays (Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas).
A few weeks back, I was on the Venice Boardwalk where a college kid asked me to do one thing for Peace (for a college assignment, he had to ask people to do "something" for Peace [He told me he was a student at UC-Berkley]). Had I posted than, it would not matter. But, with Christmas, I have to ask, what does it take to make Peace on Earth?
Peace is not just an absence of war or people thinking the same thing (as Liberals want the rest of us to do), but allowing Wilsonianism to spread, bringing freedom from those under Dictators and Theocrats. Back in the 19th Century, Europe was considered beyond hope (save for England) because of it's insular leadership. Three centuries before, the Church and Sovereigns controlled how the masses were led (or died). What forced Europe into the modern era where Democracy runs unfettered? World War Two.
Now, history repeats itself in the Middle East. There are many words written that Islam is not compatible with Democracy. These words come from comfortable Liberals who never have to worry about their Life, Liberty or property. But there are Muslims promoting the idea of free peoples and Democracy within the Middle East. Even religious scholars write on how Democracy promotes understanding.
I have discussed here that Code Pink has done nothing to create peace. Nothing. Sometimes the methods (i.e. the barrel of a gun) by the Bush Administration are controversial, but the end result is what matters. What proof do I have Democracy works? Read Thomas Friedman's (not a neo-conservative) Golden Arches Theory of Conflict prevention.
Since 1970 (when I was born), no two Democracies have gone to war. That's a long time. But Dictators and Theorcrats should not be given comfort and aid, yet that is what Code Pink does for Peace. The true Peace-loving organization in the world is Freedom House. Here is the map of Freedom today. Every country, every person should be free; Then there will be Peace.
What is your vision of Peace on Earth?
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Valley Endorses....
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On January 3 is the Iowa Caucuses; January 8 is the New Hampshire Primary. I wrote earlier that I would endorse Presidential candidates for the primary and guess what? Here we are. To help your own decision, take this quiz.
Since I believe in the two party system (unlike the folks at CNN, HuffPo or Daily Kos), I will endorse one Republican and one Democrat (even though I vote February 5 in the Republican California Primary). I hope all Blogs follow suit. It's lazy just to pick your own side, but also be positive about the opposition too as the race gets heated.
First, the Democrat side. As I mentioned here, I distrust Hillary Clinton. She goes after personal attacks when policy would do fine. She hasn't said anything on what she will do with the Presidency. And can someone name me one bill she passed in the Senate?
In my posts, I bring up issues that I hope would be expressed and taken up; Surprisingly, one Democratic candiates camapign read my post on American Exceptionalism (The GOP believes in it, Democrats don't). I was happily surprised to hear Senator Obama talking about the subject in terms I would use. Here is his speech in April 2007 in front of the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs. His attacks against President Bush do not sound like he believes it; He understands you have to cross party lines to get work done (unlike some Speakers and Senate Majority Leaders of the 110th Congress I could name).
The Valley endorses Senator Obama in the Democratic Primary.
Now, the moment you have been waiting for: The Republican Primary. I will go down the list and explain why I am not voting for some of the others, and then why I have chosen my candidate.
Gov. Huckabee is the Clinton's candidates for the Republicans. In California, the Democrats interfered with the Republican primary in 2002. Why should we give them that power? And was it a coincidence that Newsweek and the New Yorker highlighted Huckabee three weeks before the Republican caucus' during the same week?
Rep. Ron Paul allies himself with isolationists and thinks we are in 1919 again. His supporters are off the GOP Reservation and are cheered on by the Democrats and Andrew Sullivan. Again, I don't want Democrats choosing my candidates.
Senator McCain is a great man; However, he created McCain-Feingold which limits grassroots supporters from getting involved in campaigns. Too often, he attacks other Republicans and is not a support in the Senate when things get tough. The purpose of the Primary is to have a handshake between grassroots and establishment; McCain disdains the grassroots. May he be the Secretary of Defense in the Republican Administration though.
Governor Romney seems to be the Establishment's candidate this year, as evidenced by Hugh Hewitt's backing. I don't dislike Romney because of his Mormonism (and religion is not something I would judge a candidate on anyway) but because he does not stand for anything. Anyone can Youtube what Romney said in his campaign against Senator Kennedy (as Tim Russert did this morning on Meet the Press) and see he holds contradictory views to what he believes today. If it's Tuesday, he believes something different than Monday. However, what worries me more is that he cannot respond to Democratic attacks quick enough; he would get devastated in the General.
I choose Mayor Giuliani for the Valley endorsement. On the political side, he can fight tooth and nail against a media that doesn't like Conservatives or Republicans; He takes the fights to the Democrats and gives no quarter.
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On January 3 is the Iowa Caucuses; January 8 is the New Hampshire Primary. I wrote earlier that I would endorse Presidential candidates for the primary and guess what? Here we are. To help your own decision, take this quiz.
Since I believe in the two party system (unlike the folks at CNN, HuffPo or Daily Kos), I will endorse one Republican and one Democrat (even though I vote February 5 in the Republican California Primary). I hope all Blogs follow suit. It's lazy just to pick your own side, but also be positive about the opposition too as the race gets heated.
First, the Democrat side. As I mentioned here, I distrust Hillary Clinton. She goes after personal attacks when policy would do fine. She hasn't said anything on what she will do with the Presidency. And can someone name me one bill she passed in the Senate?
In my posts, I bring up issues that I hope would be expressed and taken up; Surprisingly, one Democratic candiates camapign read my post on American Exceptionalism (The GOP believes in it, Democrats don't). I was happily surprised to hear Senator Obama talking about the subject in terms I would use. Here is his speech in April 2007 in front of the Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs. His attacks against President Bush do not sound like he believes it; He understands you have to cross party lines to get work done (unlike some Speakers and Senate Majority Leaders of the 110th Congress I could name).
The Valley endorses Senator Obama in the Democratic Primary.
Now, the moment you have been waiting for: The Republican Primary. I will go down the list and explain why I am not voting for some of the others, and then why I have chosen my candidate.
Gov. Huckabee is the Clinton's candidates for the Republicans. In California, the Democrats interfered with the Republican primary in 2002. Why should we give them that power? And was it a coincidence that Newsweek and the New Yorker highlighted Huckabee three weeks before the Republican caucus' during the same week?
Rep. Ron Paul allies himself with isolationists and thinks we are in 1919 again. His supporters are off the GOP Reservation and are cheered on by the Democrats and Andrew Sullivan. Again, I don't want Democrats choosing my candidates.
Senator McCain is a great man; However, he created McCain-Feingold which limits grassroots supporters from getting involved in campaigns. Too often, he attacks other Republicans and is not a support in the Senate when things get tough. The purpose of the Primary is to have a handshake between grassroots and establishment; McCain disdains the grassroots. May he be the Secretary of Defense in the Republican Administration though.
Governor Romney seems to be the Establishment's candidate this year, as evidenced by Hugh Hewitt's backing. I don't dislike Romney because of his Mormonism (and religion is not something I would judge a candidate on anyway) but because he does not stand for anything. Anyone can Youtube what Romney said in his campaign against Senator Kennedy (as Tim Russert did this morning on Meet the Press) and see he holds contradictory views to what he believes today. If it's Tuesday, he believes something different than Monday. However, what worries me more is that he cannot respond to Democratic attacks quick enough; he would get devastated in the General.
I choose Mayor Giuliani for the Valley endorsement. On the political side, he can fight tooth and nail against a media that doesn't like Conservatives or Republicans; He takes the fights to the Democrats and gives no quarter.
On the policy, he took an ungovernable city and made it business and tourist friendly again. No one talks of crime in Times Square or gangs on the subways anymore. His tactics were tough, but against an enemy NGO that believes death is preferable to compromise (Sounds like the modern Democrats, I know), he could rally and fight. He kicked out Yassir Arafat from Lincoln center (even with his Nobel Prize) because of Arafat ordered the murder of Leon Klinghoffer. What Democrat ever stood up to an Arabic despot? And no Democrat should attack his personal life, since that argument was declared moot in the 1990's.
The Birthday Post 2007
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Today, as of 6:58AM, is my 37th birthday. Last night, my friends and I went to a Brazilian Steakhouse restaurant in Glendale; Great food, I highly recommend having Brazilian Barbecue at least once in your life.
The next post, I will discuss my endorsements. Here is a little history of December 16. For now, here some things I still want to do in my life.
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Today, as of 6:58AM, is my 37th birthday. Last night, my friends and I went to a Brazilian Steakhouse restaurant in Glendale; Great food, I highly recommend having Brazilian Barbecue at least once in your life.
The next post, I will discuss my endorsements. Here is a little history of December 16. For now, here some things I still want to do in my life.
- Write and publish books on politics, policy and fiction. I got my Gateway laptop on Friday; I am planning on writing two books next year -- one fiction and one non-fiction.
- Ride the Orient Express, the Trans-Siberian railway and Amtrak across the US.
- Work for the UK Conservatives under David Cameron and work under a Republican majority in Congress as a Legislative Director in a House or Senate member office.
- Ride a horse through the Khyber Pass.
- Work for a Presidential candidate (not incumbent) in New Hampshire as a strategist or advisor.
- Settle down, have a family and buy a house in McLean, VA.
- Be quoted in the political section in the Washington Post; Written about in the Lexington section of The Economist.
- Get some items from my Amazon.com Wishlist.
- Have a dinner party with Aurora, Jason, Chessnovice, Malcot, Donald Douglas and Ann Althouse to discuss politics and blogs.
- Work in a Republican White House Chief of Staff's office during a first term.
Those are my wishes when I blow out the candles tonight.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Democrats of 2006 = Republicans of 1995
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The band Styx once sang on their Kilroy was Here album, "Haven't we been here before?" and, indeed we have.
The Republican majority of 1995 worked on Reforming Washington via the Contract with America, but they forgot to do some housecleaning work that Congress' get paid to do: Appropriations.
The tenuous Democratic majority of 2006 is angry at President Bush, so opposed to the Iraq war and Wilsonianism (Have the modern Democrats supported any Wilsonian endeavor since 2000? Find me the Democratic sponsored [not co-sponsored] bill), they have passed two Supplememtal bills and a Defense Appropriation bill.
In Appropriations, there are 13 bills every fiscal year. And the modern Democrats, in their anger, passed only one. Tell me again how Speaker Pelosi was going to "...be ready to lead with civility and bi-partisanship,"
Now every Democratic reader, explain to me how passing 1 Appropriation bill by mid-December shows competence. I might be waiting a while. This is a true "Do-nothing Congress,"
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The band Styx once sang on their Kilroy was Here album, "Haven't we been here before?" and, indeed we have.
The Republican majority of 1995 worked on Reforming Washington via the Contract with America, but they forgot to do some housecleaning work that Congress' get paid to do: Appropriations.
The tenuous Democratic majority of 2006 is angry at President Bush, so opposed to the Iraq war and Wilsonianism (Have the modern Democrats supported any Wilsonian endeavor since 2000? Find me the Democratic sponsored [not co-sponsored] bill), they have passed two Supplememtal bills and a Defense Appropriation bill.
In Appropriations, there are 13 bills every fiscal year. And the modern Democrats, in their anger, passed only one. Tell me again how Speaker Pelosi was going to "...be ready to lead with civility and bi-partisanship,"
Now every Democratic reader, explain to me how passing 1 Appropriation bill by mid-December shows competence. I might be waiting a while. This is a true "Do-nothing Congress,"
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The American Harold Saxon
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As a sci-fi geek, I'm a big fan of Doctor Who (old series and new). The last trilogy of stories in season three tied into my love of politics. First, a video to introduce The Right Honorable Harold Saxon:
In the UK, someone even found comparisons with Gordon Brown. The question is: Who in American politics resembles the mysterious Harold Saxon? Most of the Democrats running are scions, but whom?
It boils down to this: Who was unknown in American politics until 1991?
*The same person had somehow turned $1,000 to $100,000 with few transactions;
*The same person runs stalking horses in both Republican (after all, he is from Arkansas) and Democratic Primaries (Has Richardson really gone against her?);
*She looked at Republican FBI files (illegal);
* She has enough money so her Bloggers can pay people to write comments on other Blogs;
*The same person has no story of their childhood beyond college;
* The same person gives an evil cackle when she is contradicted;
* No member of the press (especially CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC or CBS) asks her tough questions (In fact, both CNN/Youtube debates were platforms for her campaign).
Unfortunately, if Hillary Clinton wins, there is no Doctor to save us from her wrath. After all, Keith Olbermann will help direct her secret police. Don't believe me? He is, after all, compiling a list.
My question to you is: Do you trust Hillary Clinton? If not, what will you do to stop her campaign?
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As a sci-fi geek, I'm a big fan of Doctor Who (old series and new). The last trilogy of stories in season three tied into my love of politics. First, a video to introduce The Right Honorable Harold Saxon:
In the UK, someone even found comparisons with Gordon Brown. The question is: Who in American politics resembles the mysterious Harold Saxon? Most of the Democrats running are scions, but whom?
It boils down to this: Who was unknown in American politics until 1991?
*The same person had somehow turned $1,000 to $100,000 with few transactions;
*The same person runs stalking horses in both Republican (after all, he is from Arkansas) and Democratic Primaries (Has Richardson really gone against her?);
*She looked at Republican FBI files (illegal);
* She has enough money so her Bloggers can pay people to write comments on other Blogs;
*The same person has no story of their childhood beyond college;
* The same person gives an evil cackle when she is contradicted;
* No member of the press (especially CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC or CBS) asks her tough questions (In fact, both CNN/Youtube debates were platforms for her campaign).
Unfortunately, if Hillary Clinton wins, there is no Doctor to save us from her wrath. After all, Keith Olbermann will help direct her secret police. Don't believe me? He is, after all, compiling a list.
My question to you is: Do you trust Hillary Clinton? If not, what will you do to stop her campaign?
Thursday, December 06, 2007
The NIE - All is not what it seems
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During the Cold war, there was no news of the National Intelligence Estimate [NIE]. Nothing in the Post Cold War era. Now that the NIE posits a theory that works against President Bush, the usual suspects are happy. (Yet, why do the Democrats choose to align themselves with President Ahmadinajad rather than President Bush?)
Even though the writers of the document are biased against the President; Even though there were no Diplomatic councils in 2003 between US and Iran; Even though there is reason to suspect that President Ahmadinijad still wants to destroy Israel (like Hitler, he announced his plans), if it is Anti-Bush, the Democrats support it?
As I've mentioned earlier in this Blog, Israel will not be supported by Democrats and the CIA is working against the current Administration. If, according to the NIE, Iran supposedly stopped it's Nuclear Program in 2003, with no Diplomatic meeting from the US, what happened in 2003? It stopped around the same time Libya gave up it's weapons. What did the Democrats do in 2003 that caused Peace? Hint: Democrats did nothing and it required Stick (TR's: Carry a big Stick) diplomacy.
So I ask: Are the Democrats willing to stick with President Ahmadinijad or stand with Israel?
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During the Cold war, there was no news of the National Intelligence Estimate [NIE]. Nothing in the Post Cold War era. Now that the NIE posits a theory that works against President Bush, the usual suspects are happy. (Yet, why do the Democrats choose to align themselves with President Ahmadinajad rather than President Bush?)
Even though the writers of the document are biased against the President; Even though there were no Diplomatic councils in 2003 between US and Iran; Even though there is reason to suspect that President Ahmadinijad still wants to destroy Israel (like Hitler, he announced his plans), if it is Anti-Bush, the Democrats support it?
As I've mentioned earlier in this Blog, Israel will not be supported by Democrats and the CIA is working against the current Administration. If, according to the NIE, Iran supposedly stopped it's Nuclear Program in 2003, with no Diplomatic meeting from the US, what happened in 2003? It stopped around the same time Libya gave up it's weapons. What did the Democrats do in 2003 that caused Peace? Hint: Democrats did nothing and it required Stick (TR's: Carry a big Stick) diplomacy.
So I ask: Are the Democrats willing to stick with President Ahmadinijad or stand with Israel?
Writers v. Producers or How much is my show worth?
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For a month and two days, there has been a strike going on in Los Angeles: The WGA. (Buy their strike swag) They are striking to get more residuals from their performances showing up on different platforms. The Studios (represented by the AMPTP -- the association of Producers) are opposed to releasing any funds for the writers. Come accounting time, writers are last on the list regarding movies, but first on the TV side.
The writer's strike has halted filming around town. All TV shows (one of which my sister and her fiancee work on) have halted. Scripts from five or ten years ago are being filmed (the answer to the Jeopardy question: Where do all the Spec Scripts go?) To follow this strike read Deadline Hollywood Daily and check out this post by Jason.
As a soon to be writer of novels (who hope the rights get bought to be filmed), I like the writers. I honk in support as I pass (listening to Right Wing Talk Radio as I go by). But, here is my trade:
I will support the WGA in their quest for better residuals if they can finally write a script about a Lone Conservative Blogger who goes against a power mad female Democratic candidate and wins. You can also film it in LA and DC. Deal?
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For a month and two days, there has been a strike going on in Los Angeles: The WGA. (Buy their strike swag) They are striking to get more residuals from their performances showing up on different platforms. The Studios (represented by the AMPTP -- the association of Producers) are opposed to releasing any funds for the writers. Come accounting time, writers are last on the list regarding movies, but first on the TV side.
The writer's strike has halted filming around town. All TV shows (one of which my sister and her fiancee work on) have halted. Scripts from five or ten years ago are being filmed (the answer to the Jeopardy question: Where do all the Spec Scripts go?) To follow this strike read Deadline Hollywood Daily and check out this post by Jason.
As a soon to be writer of novels (who hope the rights get bought to be filmed), I like the writers. I honk in support as I pass (listening to Right Wing Talk Radio as I go by). But, here is my trade:
I will support the WGA in their quest for better residuals if they can finally write a script about a Lone Conservative Blogger who goes against a power mad female Democratic candidate and wins. You can also film it in LA and DC. Deal?
Saturday, December 01, 2007
CNN: The not-so-trusted name in News
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We are in a Presidential Primary season (not Rabbit season, not duck season, not Elmer Fudd season either); Democrats are picking their Challenger for November, as are Republicans. In each state, the voting varies but each activist party member picks their champion.
The constant irritant by the Left is how biased Fox News is. Yes, they are biased for Republicans, how many other stations are out there for this demographic? Not CBS (Thank you Dan Rather), not PBS, or NBC, or ABC. On NBC, the head of their Sunday talk show is a former Governor Cuomo (D-NY) staffer; On ABC, their chair is a former President Clinton (D-AK) staffer. NPR does not hire the GOP staffers on the Hill (yet, they receive taxpayer money). And Keith Olbermann on MSNBC does not have debates with people who disagrees with him. He would be the first to call out secret police when the Democrats get into power. Fascism always hides among so-called populists. Don't believe me, see the example of Huey Long. But how many channels can you find Republicans? Little or none. Not even on scripted TV shows.
During the Republican primaries, CNN has proven "the Liberal Bias" is no myth. Going by the rules of the YouTube Debate last week, there were to be questions from Republicans regarding Republican issues to Republican candidates for the Republican Primary. However, it turned into Democratic questions for Republican Candidates on Democratic issues.
Anyone with Google (who co-sponsored the debate) could find out about the questioners. Strange how a channel full of so-called seasoned reporters couldn't find one Republican activist. See the examples above why that is.
During the Democratic debate, CNN placed Hillary partisans among the questioners. If I was an Obama supporter, I would start questioning CNN and force the station to listen to my candidate. I'm just saying.
Also, CNN misrepresented a Conservative organization. This occurs because they know no Conservatives or Republicans socially.
However, right now I am writing a book. One of the issues is how Republicans and Conservatives should deal with the Press. Here is my solution to last until next November:
A) Every non-Hillary political organization must threaten to boycott CNN's sponsors. Money talks.
A1) Every Republican Organization must call into Anderson Cooper's show and get the names of every Producer and Reporter. Repeat with every show on CNN.
B) Each member of these organizations calls each persons and asks a couple of questions:
a) Do you know any activist Democrats socially? (for Dems, do you know any non-Hillary supporters who work there?)
b) Do you know any activist Republicans socially?
B1) If they answer Bb, No, then offer your hand in friendship. Offer to be a source, willing to talk, etc.
C) If they refuse B1, then use every means at your disposal to find out about their family, their friends, their past. call them at home with this information. If they refuse to acknowledge a two-party system exists in the United States by friendship, than force must be used.
Conservatives and Republicans have a right to be heard on CNN; They are on our broadcast spectrum. As taxpayers, we own it too.
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We are in a Presidential Primary season (not Rabbit season, not duck season, not Elmer Fudd season either); Democrats are picking their Challenger for November, as are Republicans. In each state, the voting varies but each activist party member picks their champion.
The constant irritant by the Left is how biased Fox News is. Yes, they are biased for Republicans, how many other stations are out there for this demographic? Not CBS (Thank you Dan Rather), not PBS, or NBC, or ABC. On NBC, the head of their Sunday talk show is a former Governor Cuomo (D-NY) staffer; On ABC, their chair is a former President Clinton (D-AK) staffer. NPR does not hire the GOP staffers on the Hill (yet, they receive taxpayer money). And Keith Olbermann on MSNBC does not have debates with people who disagrees with him. He would be the first to call out secret police when the Democrats get into power. Fascism always hides among so-called populists. Don't believe me, see the example of Huey Long. But how many channels can you find Republicans? Little or none. Not even on scripted TV shows.
During the Republican primaries, CNN has proven "the Liberal Bias" is no myth. Going by the rules of the YouTube Debate last week, there were to be questions from Republicans regarding Republican issues to Republican candidates for the Republican Primary. However, it turned into Democratic questions for Republican Candidates on Democratic issues.
Anyone with Google (who co-sponsored the debate) could find out about the questioners. Strange how a channel full of so-called seasoned reporters couldn't find one Republican activist. See the examples above why that is.
During the Democratic debate, CNN placed Hillary partisans among the questioners. If I was an Obama supporter, I would start questioning CNN and force the station to listen to my candidate. I'm just saying.
Also, CNN misrepresented a Conservative organization. This occurs because they know no Conservatives or Republicans socially.
However, right now I am writing a book. One of the issues is how Republicans and Conservatives should deal with the Press. Here is my solution to last until next November:
A) Every non-Hillary political organization must threaten to boycott CNN's sponsors. Money talks.
A1) Every Republican Organization must call into Anderson Cooper's show and get the names of every Producer and Reporter. Repeat with every show on CNN.
B) Each member of these organizations calls each persons and asks a couple of questions:
a) Do you know any activist Democrats socially? (for Dems, do you know any non-Hillary supporters who work there?)
b) Do you know any activist Republicans socially?
B1) If they answer Bb, No, then offer your hand in friendship. Offer to be a source, willing to talk, etc.
C) If they refuse B1, then use every means at your disposal to find out about their family, their friends, their past. call them at home with this information. If they refuse to acknowledge a two-party system exists in the United States by friendship, than force must be used.
Conservatives and Republicans have a right to be heard on CNN; They are on our broadcast spectrum. As taxpayers, we own it too.
Where I've been, where I'm going (iii)
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-------------------------------------
I try and I try, but I can't get no.....time to post. Hey, hey hey! That's what I say.....
The day job has shifted again; rather than 3 drivers, there is one -- and that one driver is me. By the time I get home, I am exhausted. However, next week might be easier, if it is, more posts. Usually when I get home, I read some blogs (look to your right) and catch up on the stories behind the news stories.
Also, what is going in L.A? The writers strike continues, affecting most jobs around town. Oh, and I will be getting my laptop on December 20 (four days after my birthday). Hopefully by the time I get the laptop, I have the apartment. the latest I hope to have the apartment is to get it by December 31, 2007.
Also, with laptop and apartment, I hope to write two books consecutively. One fiction, and one non-fiction. Aurora, Jason, Chess, and Malcot -- email me if I can authorize interviewing and quoting you for the latter. I'll discuss the rest of it later.
For now, though, another post.
-------------------------------------
I try and I try, but I can't get no.....time to post. Hey, hey hey! That's what I say.....
The day job has shifted again; rather than 3 drivers, there is one -- and that one driver is me. By the time I get home, I am exhausted. However, next week might be easier, if it is, more posts. Usually when I get home, I read some blogs (look to your right) and catch up on the stories behind the news stories.
Also, what is going in L.A? The writers strike continues, affecting most jobs around town. Oh, and I will be getting my laptop on December 20 (four days after my birthday). Hopefully by the time I get the laptop, I have the apartment. the latest I hope to have the apartment is to get it by December 31, 2007.
Also, with laptop and apartment, I hope to write two books consecutively. One fiction, and one non-fiction. Aurora, Jason, Chess, and Malcot -- email me if I can authorize interviewing and quoting you for the latter. I'll discuss the rest of it later.
For now, though, another post.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Two Book Ends: Paris 1919 and The Looming Tower
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
-------------------------------------------
Some people say history ended on November 9, 1989 with the Fall of the Berlin Wall; Others say history just re-started, the Cold War only providing a pause in history. I've just read two books that show history went beyond World War II and the Cold War.
The first book is: Paris 1919 by Margaret Macmillan about the end of World War I, Wilsonianism and the creation of the League of Nations.
The second book is: The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright about the creation Al-Queda and the planning towards 9/11.
In an earlier post, Jason, of Washington Interns Gone Bad, and I are discussing whether, in a uni-polar world, can America really turn a blind eye towards dictatorships? Here is why I say why not.
After WWI, during those months of diplomacy in Paris, many questions remained unasked:
A) Do ethnic cultures deserve self rule? (This question applied to the Slavs, Africa, Asia and the Middle east) Not until 1960 was that question answered.
B) Does it matter what happens in colonial societies? Because all the Major Powers were involved in a land grab, the indigenous societies of those nations did not have a voice.
Fast forward to 1950 and the beginning of The Looming Tower. In a dictatorship in Egypt, an organization was birthed: The Muslim Brotherhood. Nasser gave the Muslim Brotherhood legitimacy, and after 1979, Iran gave them funds, but OBL gave sponsorship and re-built the organization in his image; A Muslim Comintern. However, the end of OBL will not mean the end of Al-Queda.
Because of the racism of the early 20th Century, tribal questions of many nations were pushed away towards later generations (i.e. Yugoslavia). Because of the blindness of today's Generations, those chafing under dictatorships today can give birth to tomorrow's terrorists.
To quell Al-Queda in the Middle East, Wilsonianism must flourish. Don't like what is going on in Pakistan? Don't want to re-create another Yugoslav war somewhere else?
Support Democracy movements overseas. It shouldn't matter who is President to do that.
Surprisingly, it does.
-------------------------------------------
Some people say history ended on November 9, 1989 with the Fall of the Berlin Wall; Others say history just re-started, the Cold War only providing a pause in history. I've just read two books that show history went beyond World War II and the Cold War.
The first book is: Paris 1919 by Margaret Macmillan about the end of World War I, Wilsonianism and the creation of the League of Nations.
The second book is: The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright about the creation Al-Queda and the planning towards 9/11.
In an earlier post, Jason, of Washington Interns Gone Bad, and I are discussing whether, in a uni-polar world, can America really turn a blind eye towards dictatorships? Here is why I say why not.
After WWI, during those months of diplomacy in Paris, many questions remained unasked:
A) Do ethnic cultures deserve self rule? (This question applied to the Slavs, Africa, Asia and the Middle east) Not until 1960 was that question answered.
B) Does it matter what happens in colonial societies? Because all the Major Powers were involved in a land grab, the indigenous societies of those nations did not have a voice.
Fast forward to 1950 and the beginning of The Looming Tower. In a dictatorship in Egypt, an organization was birthed: The Muslim Brotherhood. Nasser gave the Muslim Brotherhood legitimacy, and after 1979, Iran gave them funds, but OBL gave sponsorship and re-built the organization in his image; A Muslim Comintern. However, the end of OBL will not mean the end of Al-Queda.
Because of the racism of the early 20th Century, tribal questions of many nations were pushed away towards later generations (i.e. Yugoslavia). Because of the blindness of today's Generations, those chafing under dictatorships today can give birth to tomorrow's terrorists.
To quell Al-Queda in the Middle East, Wilsonianism must flourish. Don't like what is going on in Pakistan? Don't want to re-create another Yugoslav war somewhere else?
Support Democracy movements overseas. It shouldn't matter who is President to do that.
Surprisingly, it does.
Friday, November 23, 2007
The most Surreal movie you won't see
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-------------------------------------------------
Hollywood is in the midst of a writer's strike (A post on that later), but the writer/director of Donnie Darko made a political/sci-fi/apocalyptic movie called Southland Tales. I saw it at the Arclight last Sunday. By this Sunday, it's gone from all the first run theatres. Rather than letting it grow into cult status by keeping it in the theatres for a fiscal quarter (The studios should do that for all movies they release, they would get their money back faster), it's gone.
First, since this is a political Blog, let me tackle the political aspects of Richard Kelly's Tales. Like most folks who work above-the-line (i.e. Directors, Actors, Writers), they do not know any elected Republicans because it would be career suicide to do so. Modern Hollywood is McCarthyism in reverse. The Republicans in this movie do not exist in real life. The mad scientist who supports the neo-Marxists would not invite a Republican Vice-Presidential candidate aboard his Mega-Blimp. The cells of Neo-Marxists sound real, but the Republicans (and their families) sound staged. If I wasn't politically inclined, I would not have noticed it.
The Republican characters in Donnie Darko existed and life was breathed into them, here the Republicans are stereotyped.
In the sci-fi aspect, I like the concept of Alternative History. Wallace Shawn's mad scientist creating "Liquid karma" and discussing knowledge of the space/time rift fascinated me. Like a Robert Altman movie, the multitude of characters all have a purpose that all meets the night of July 4, 2008. Kelly makes it interesting how the space/time rift, "Liquid karma" a mega blimp, and a Presidential election all ties in with an actor, a porn star and a policeman.
What was cool was the sights of Venice, Santa Monica and Downtown onscreen. All I ask is, where was the Valley and Hollywood?
And the Apocalypse? The best part as the neo-Marxists and the mad scientist and the policeman's actions all tie into one another. Visually, a stunning movie. Watch it in the theatres if you can.
-------------------------------------------------
Hollywood is in the midst of a writer's strike (A post on that later), but the writer/director of Donnie Darko made a political/sci-fi/apocalyptic movie called Southland Tales. I saw it at the Arclight last Sunday. By this Sunday, it's gone from all the first run theatres. Rather than letting it grow into cult status by keeping it in the theatres for a fiscal quarter (The studios should do that for all movies they release, they would get their money back faster), it's gone.
First, since this is a political Blog, let me tackle the political aspects of Richard Kelly's Tales. Like most folks who work above-the-line (i.e. Directors, Actors, Writers), they do not know any elected Republicans because it would be career suicide to do so. Modern Hollywood is McCarthyism in reverse. The Republicans in this movie do not exist in real life. The mad scientist who supports the neo-Marxists would not invite a Republican Vice-Presidential candidate aboard his Mega-Blimp. The cells of Neo-Marxists sound real, but the Republicans (and their families) sound staged. If I wasn't politically inclined, I would not have noticed it.
The Republican characters in Donnie Darko existed and life was breathed into them, here the Republicans are stereotyped.
In the sci-fi aspect, I like the concept of Alternative History. Wallace Shawn's mad scientist creating "Liquid karma" and discussing knowledge of the space/time rift fascinated me. Like a Robert Altman movie, the multitude of characters all have a purpose that all meets the night of July 4, 2008. Kelly makes it interesting how the space/time rift, "Liquid karma" a mega blimp, and a Presidential election all ties in with an actor, a porn star and a policeman.
What was cool was the sights of Venice, Santa Monica and Downtown onscreen. All I ask is, where was the Valley and Hollywood?
And the Apocalypse? The best part as the neo-Marxists and the mad scientist and the policeman's actions all tie into one another. Visually, a stunning movie. Watch it in the theatres if you can.
Questions for Hillary supporters
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-------------------------------------------
Simply this:
If she is "the smartest woman in America," I'm dying to know the answer to these questions:
1) If she was "the smartest women in America," how did her husband fool her regarding fooling around with Monica Lewinsky?
2) If she was "the smartest woman in America," how did she get fooled by someone you consider dumb, President George W. Bush, regarding her vote on Iraq and Iran?
3) Why doesn't Senator Clinton allow real questions, not staged questions, from any audience?
4) What does Hillary Clinton actually believe in? What is her foreign policy views and what does she want to achieve domestically? No parsing allowed.
I also want to know why you are a Hillary supporter. I want to know why she inspires passion for your vote.
Thanks for your time.
-------------------------------------------
Simply this:
If she is "the smartest woman in America," I'm dying to know the answer to these questions:
1) If she was "the smartest women in America," how did her husband fool her regarding fooling around with Monica Lewinsky?
2) If she was "the smartest woman in America," how did she get fooled by someone you consider dumb, President George W. Bush, regarding her vote on Iraq and Iran?
3) Why doesn't Senator Clinton allow real questions, not staged questions, from any audience?
4) What does Hillary Clinton actually believe in? What is her foreign policy views and what does she want to achieve domestically? No parsing allowed.
I also want to know why you are a Hillary supporter. I want to know why she inspires passion for your vote.
Thanks for your time.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving 2007
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a history of the first Thanksgiving. Every year I post, I will find a picture of a President pardoning a Turkey. Some of what I wrote below came from last year, some are different. I hope you enjoy reading this.
What am I thankful for in the Year of Our Lord, 2007:
1) My Family. After my Dad's death in 2003, my Mom, sister and I might not have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love. And I want to congratulate my sister and her fiancee on their upcoming wedding. They are two great people who deserve years of happiness. Thank you.
2) My friends. I can't ask for any more loyal friends. You guys put up with my change of plans (Instead of Burbank to DC it is Burbank to the Valley). Thank you for being there.
3) My friends in DC. It is a rough time for the Republicans and Conservatives, don't worry. There is a longer game than just one election; I'm playing the Long Game on winning majorities and keeping them. The book is slowly being written. Thank you.
4) My Blog friends. Aurora, Jason, Chess, and Malcot. Your comments breathe life into these staid posts. Argue, discuss, and hopefully we will all share a beer together. Also, I want to thank Ann Althouse and Michelle Malkin to linking to two posts here in the Valley. Thank you.
5) The readers of this Blog. Without you, I would not be here. Also, props to Blogger, Blogspot, Google, and AdSense. Stay with me, it will grow some more. Thank you.
6) The USA and Israel. Two democracies standing firm in this world. I grew up in the greatest country on earth, with the greatest political, economic, and social system on earth. The best flattery is imitation and who better then the Jewish state? Sh'ma Yishrael and God Bless America.
7) And thank you for reading this.
--------------------------------------------
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a history of the first Thanksgiving. Every year I post, I will find a picture of a President pardoning a Turkey. Some of what I wrote below came from last year, some are different. I hope you enjoy reading this.
What am I thankful for in the Year of Our Lord, 2007:
1) My Family. After my Dad's death in 2003, my Mom, sister and I might not have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love. And I want to congratulate my sister and her fiancee on their upcoming wedding. They are two great people who deserve years of happiness. Thank you.
2) My friends. I can't ask for any more loyal friends. You guys put up with my change of plans (Instead of Burbank to DC it is Burbank to the Valley). Thank you for being there.
3) My friends in DC. It is a rough time for the Republicans and Conservatives, don't worry. There is a longer game than just one election; I'm playing the Long Game on winning majorities and keeping them. The book is slowly being written. Thank you.
4) My Blog friends. Aurora, Jason, Chess, and Malcot. Your comments breathe life into these staid posts. Argue, discuss, and hopefully we will all share a beer together. Also, I want to thank Ann Althouse and Michelle Malkin to linking to two posts here in the Valley. Thank you.
5) The readers of this Blog. Without you, I would not be here. Also, props to Blogger, Blogspot, Google, and AdSense. Stay with me, it will grow some more. Thank you.
6) The USA and Israel. Two democracies standing firm in this world. I grew up in the greatest country on earth, with the greatest political, economic, and social system on earth. The best flattery is imitation and who better then the Jewish state? Sh'ma Yishrael and God Bless America.
7) And thank you for reading this.
Monday, November 19, 2007
$20 and International Game Theory
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------
No matter how you slice it, Senator Clinton should have left no doubt on leaving a $20.00 tip for a working single mother; The fact that is was disputed, shows how weak she is in personal affairs.
Let me highlight something else, Democrats (and Hillary Clinton in particular) are weak in foreign affairs too. I will not go into another explanation of A) Wilsonianism, B) Nixonianism and C) isolationism. When you are President, you can only choose one of those theories to base your foreign policy. Today's Democrats have chosen chose C. But then again, so has Ron Paul. It is the company you keep.
Senator Clinton tries to pass herself off as a "Strong" woman candidate; But she is not standing up like Benezhir Bhutto against a dictatorship; she does not argue her point in a Prime Ministers Questions (Best half hour on C-Span) like Thatcher or fight against an unrelenting force on one of the holiest of days like Golda Meir. Instead she has CNN tap partisans in a rigged debate; Senator Clinton never has to answer a hard question or deal with the public. So much for being tough.
Now if Senator Clinton (or any Democrat can get into the fray) can answer these questions, maybe I can have an understanding of her (or any Democrat's) foreign policy. Ready?
+ If you dispute President Musharraef's State of Emergency (rising Nixonianism), than you have to support Bush's purpose in Iraq (Wilsonianism).
+ If you dispute Pakistan, you cannot support Venezuela's President-for-Life Chevez trying to change the Constitution. If you accept Venezuela and not Pakistan, than you are a hypocrite. If you dislike Venezuela and Pakistan, than you have to accept the goals in Iraq.
In these questions, saying, "Don't hit me, I'm a girl," does not work. President Chavez and President Ahmadinijad can squeeze oil profits, what will you do? You can only thread the needle so much, before it breaks.
So, my Democratic readers, where do you stand on International Game Theory? Wouldn't it have been easier for Senator Clinton to come up with $20 than answer these questions?
--------------------------------------------
No matter how you slice it, Senator Clinton should have left no doubt on leaving a $20.00 tip for a working single mother; The fact that is was disputed, shows how weak she is in personal affairs.
Let me highlight something else, Democrats (and Hillary Clinton in particular) are weak in foreign affairs too. I will not go into another explanation of A) Wilsonianism, B) Nixonianism and C) isolationism. When you are President, you can only choose one of those theories to base your foreign policy. Today's Democrats have chosen chose C. But then again, so has Ron Paul. It is the company you keep.
Senator Clinton tries to pass herself off as a "Strong" woman candidate; But she is not standing up like Benezhir Bhutto against a dictatorship; she does not argue her point in a Prime Ministers Questions (Best half hour on C-Span) like Thatcher or fight against an unrelenting force on one of the holiest of days like Golda Meir. Instead she has CNN tap partisans in a rigged debate; Senator Clinton never has to answer a hard question or deal with the public. So much for being tough.
Now if Senator Clinton (or any Democrat can get into the fray) can answer these questions, maybe I can have an understanding of her (or any Democrat's) foreign policy. Ready?
+ If you dispute President Musharraef's State of Emergency (rising Nixonianism), than you have to support Bush's purpose in Iraq (Wilsonianism).
+ If you dispute Pakistan, you cannot support Venezuela's President-for-Life Chevez trying to change the Constitution. If you accept Venezuela and not Pakistan, than you are a hypocrite. If you dislike Venezuela and Pakistan, than you have to accept the goals in Iraq.
In these questions, saying, "Don't hit me, I'm a girl," does not work. President Chavez and President Ahmadinijad can squeeze oil profits, what will you do? You can only thread the needle so much, before it breaks.
So, my Democratic readers, where do you stand on International Game Theory? Wouldn't it have been easier for Senator Clinton to come up with $20 than answer these questions?
Miss me?
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
---------------------------------------------
Sorry for the lost days, but at work, we are down a person, that means twice as much work during the Oscar Pre-season. This week I'll be able to catch up on a few posts -- Hillary Clinton and Game theory, Which American Presidential candidate is equivalent to Prime Minister Harold Saxon?, Presidential endorsements, more California Encyclicals, and a review of Southland Tales.
In the meantime, don't forget to read Aurora's Blog,; Congratulate Chessnovice on his engagement, wish Jason's wife a speedy recovery and support Malcot in her renewal.
In the meantime, I hope to have a new apartment in the San Fernando Valley by my birthday (December 16). Meantime, I have ordered a Gateway laptop. I should get it soon. When I have it, I will post: The Valley, unwired. Also, keep your eye on my picture. I will soon be working with a digital camara.
Until then, keep your eye on the next post!
---------------------------------------------
Sorry for the lost days, but at work, we are down a person, that means twice as much work during the Oscar Pre-season. This week I'll be able to catch up on a few posts -- Hillary Clinton and Game theory, Which American Presidential candidate is equivalent to Prime Minister Harold Saxon?, Presidential endorsements, more California Encyclicals, and a review of Southland Tales.
In the meantime, don't forget to read Aurora's Blog,; Congratulate Chessnovice on his engagement, wish Jason's wife a speedy recovery and support Malcot in her renewal.
In the meantime, I hope to have a new apartment in the San Fernando Valley by my birthday (December 16). Meantime, I have ordered a Gateway laptop. I should get it soon. When I have it, I will post: The Valley, unwired. Also, keep your eye on my picture. I will soon be working with a digital camara.
Until then, keep your eye on the next post!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Remember the Veterans!
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------
This picture was taken on the Western Front at the end of World War One. At the end of "The War to end all Wars," on November 11, 1918 at 11:11AM, WWI was declared finished.
After November 11, after the treaty with German Troops was signed, the major powers de-mobilized their forces and every soldier went home.
Wherever our military is, support them and respect them. On the home front, or away on the battlefield, these American men (and women) and giving back to their country; Fisher House is a charity where you can give back to them. Please Donate.
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day, remember the fallen and remember the living.
-------------------------------------------------
This picture was taken on the Western Front at the end of World War One. At the end of "The War to end all Wars," on November 11, 1918 at 11:11AM, WWI was declared finished.
After November 11, after the treaty with German Troops was signed, the major powers de-mobilized their forces and every soldier went home.
Wherever our military is, support them and respect them. On the home front, or away on the battlefield, these American men (and women) and giving back to their country; Fisher House is a charity where you can give back to them. Please Donate.
From Armistice Day to Veterans Day, remember the fallen and remember the living.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
A tale of Two Candidates, Ron and Rudy
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
---------------------------------------------
On Guy Fawkes day (Remember, Remember/The Fifth of November), Rep. Ron Paul raised $4.2 million dollars online. Today, Pat Robertson endorsed his Republican opposite, Rudy Giuliani; Which gave room for Laura Ingram and Hugh Hewitt room to attack Robertson and Mayor Giuliani.
Only one of these candidates can be endorsed by the Valley by December 16. The other, if he wins the Republican endorsement, will force me to step out of the 2008 election. I will still attack Democrats and Liberals, but I will not support Rep. Paul. Why?
First, let me say, I like libertarianism (yes, small "L"), the Government shouldn't be in everyone face. Federalism has it's place, as does state's rights, but not to the point of no Government and no structure. I grew up in NYC during the 70's, I saw what chaos ensues when there is no Government and too much at the same time.
Now, like I tell my Dem friends, watch who you sup with. If you sup with a Hamas loving, Anti-Israeli supporter, this Jew will tar the whole party with Anti-semitism charges and make it stick. The Paulites are former Buchaninites who ally with 9/11 Truthers. Some Truthers believe "The Jews did it," on 9/11. It is an easy slippery slope from conspiracy to anti-semitism, it is all who you sup with.
Donald Douglas has two posts on Rep. Paul and his allies. Read them both (here and here). According to Douglas, some of his allies are neo-Nazis and Andrew Sullivan. Isolationists who revel (like the Democrats) in a weak American foreign policy. Isolationism only worked during Manifest Destiny; After 1919, could America really turn away from the world? Know who else loves American isolationism? Democrats and dictators who wish to expand their borders or massacre some people. Is that who you want to join?
Rudy, for all his faults, is a New Yorker. He understands how Arafat could beget OBL. The game of politics is about trading (so is policy). Will the Republicans follow the Sazorsky model next year? Or will the Democrats follow the Argentinian model? For Christian Conservatives, do you want to sup with Hillary or Rudy?
As Conservatives and Republicans, we should ask Paul to find new allies or leave the Presidential campaign.
---------------------------------------------
On Guy Fawkes day (Remember, Remember/The Fifth of November), Rep. Ron Paul raised $4.2 million dollars online. Today, Pat Robertson endorsed his Republican opposite, Rudy Giuliani; Which gave room for Laura Ingram and Hugh Hewitt room to attack Robertson and Mayor Giuliani.
Only one of these candidates can be endorsed by the Valley by December 16. The other, if he wins the Republican endorsement, will force me to step out of the 2008 election. I will still attack Democrats and Liberals, but I will not support Rep. Paul. Why?
First, let me say, I like libertarianism (yes, small "L"), the Government shouldn't be in everyone face. Federalism has it's place, as does state's rights, but not to the point of no Government and no structure. I grew up in NYC during the 70's, I saw what chaos ensues when there is no Government and too much at the same time.
Now, like I tell my Dem friends, watch who you sup with. If you sup with a Hamas loving, Anti-Israeli supporter, this Jew will tar the whole party with Anti-semitism charges and make it stick. The Paulites are former Buchaninites who ally with 9/11 Truthers. Some Truthers believe "The Jews did it," on 9/11. It is an easy slippery slope from conspiracy to anti-semitism, it is all who you sup with.
Donald Douglas has two posts on Rep. Paul and his allies. Read them both (here and here). According to Douglas, some of his allies are neo-Nazis and Andrew Sullivan. Isolationists who revel (like the Democrats) in a weak American foreign policy. Isolationism only worked during Manifest Destiny; After 1919, could America really turn away from the world? Know who else loves American isolationism? Democrats and dictators who wish to expand their borders or massacre some people. Is that who you want to join?
Rudy, for all his faults, is a New Yorker. He understands how Arafat could beget OBL. The game of politics is about trading (so is policy). Will the Republicans follow the Sazorsky model next year? Or will the Democrats follow the Argentinian model? For Christian Conservatives, do you want to sup with Hillary or Rudy?
As Conservatives and Republicans, we should ask Paul to find new allies or leave the Presidential campaign.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
In 366 Days.....
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
------------------------------------------
Contrary to the 9/11 Truthers, Democratic Talk Show Hosts, and isolationists, there will be a multi-tiered election. Some Governors, some Senators, all Representatives and one President.
During his campaign, Governor Bush acknowledged America's two term support of President Clinton (even during impeachment), will any Democratic candidate acknowledge the reverse since 2000?
Will any Democratic Presidential candidate cite: Politics stops at the Waters Edge?
Given the actions of the Democrats in the last few years, I don't know if any Presidential candidate can reach a bi-partisan consensus. Republicans are skilled about crossing party lines to get things done, will the current crop of Presidential candidates prove that as well?
------------------------------------------
Contrary to the 9/11 Truthers, Democratic Talk Show Hosts, and isolationists, there will be a multi-tiered election. Some Governors, some Senators, all Representatives and one President.
During his campaign, Governor Bush acknowledged America's two term support of President Clinton (even during impeachment), will any Democratic candidate acknowledge the reverse since 2000?
Will any Democratic Presidential candidate cite: Politics stops at the Waters Edge?
Given the actions of the Democrats in the last few years, I don't know if any Presidential candidate can reach a bi-partisan consensus. Republicans are skilled about crossing party lines to get things done, will the current crop of Presidential candidates prove that as well?
Saturday, November 03, 2007
American Gangster -- See it!
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
----------------------------------
Since I have a toe hold in the Movie Industry (soon to be swept up in the WGA strike), occasionally I get to screenings before a movie comes out. Last week, I saw American Gangster. Here is my review:
The movie is about the rise, fall and rise of two men from the New York/New Jersey Area in the late 60's and early 70's: Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). Frank Lucas is a driver for a Harlem gangster (who works under the Italian mob) named Bumpy. Richie Roberts is an honest cop during a dishonest time (In the beginning, American Gangster crosses paths with two movies: The French Connection and Superfly), his honesty costs him his work and his marriage.
After Bumpy dies, Lucas engineers his rise through the Vietnam Drug Trade. I won't spoil how he does it, but he makes the most of current events. During this time, Roberts is dealing with the demons of his honesty; His partner becomes addicted to drugs and he has no backup during crimes. Lucas gains power over the White mobsters and the NYPD. Roberts learns who is distrubiting drugs through the Tri-state area as a federal agent. Each man playing chess against each other.
American Gangster wins me over by actually filming in New York/New Jersey region where the story takes place. If Hollywood did that with most of their movies, it would stop Runaway production. New York and New Jersey at the time was gritty and dirty and corrupt. The film gets this. Only in the movies, the subways were cleaner.
The most Oscar worthy part in this movie is when Lucas and Ritchie sit down and talk the first time. Both men deserve the nomination; The script focus' on Lucas is it's strength, the scripts weakness is the lack of balance in Ritchie's story. Both actors stand out. But this is not the first time they worked together.
Back in the 90's, at the rise of the Information Superhighway, a movie called Virtuosity was released with Denzel playing the hero, and Crow, the villain. When Denzel was casting for an antagonist, he lobbied the film's Producers for Crowe. This time, Crowe offered himself for American Gangster to help Denzel sell the script. Both men are professionals.
See it. Watch it. Call your friends in Hollywood to nominate it.
----------------------------------
Since I have a toe hold in the Movie Industry (soon to be swept up in the WGA strike), occasionally I get to screenings before a movie comes out. Last week, I saw American Gangster. Here is my review:
The movie is about the rise, fall and rise of two men from the New York/New Jersey Area in the late 60's and early 70's: Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). Frank Lucas is a driver for a Harlem gangster (who works under the Italian mob) named Bumpy. Richie Roberts is an honest cop during a dishonest time (In the beginning, American Gangster crosses paths with two movies: The French Connection and Superfly), his honesty costs him his work and his marriage.
After Bumpy dies, Lucas engineers his rise through the Vietnam Drug Trade. I won't spoil how he does it, but he makes the most of current events. During this time, Roberts is dealing with the demons of his honesty; His partner becomes addicted to drugs and he has no backup during crimes. Lucas gains power over the White mobsters and the NYPD. Roberts learns who is distrubiting drugs through the Tri-state area as a federal agent. Each man playing chess against each other.
American Gangster wins me over by actually filming in New York/New Jersey region where the story takes place. If Hollywood did that with most of their movies, it would stop Runaway production. New York and New Jersey at the time was gritty and dirty and corrupt. The film gets this. Only in the movies, the subways were cleaner.
The most Oscar worthy part in this movie is when Lucas and Ritchie sit down and talk the first time. Both men deserve the nomination; The script focus' on Lucas is it's strength, the scripts weakness is the lack of balance in Ritchie's story. Both actors stand out. But this is not the first time they worked together.
Back in the 90's, at the rise of the Information Superhighway, a movie called Virtuosity was released with Denzel playing the hero, and Crow, the villain. When Denzel was casting for an antagonist, he lobbied the film's Producers for Crowe. This time, Crowe offered himself for American Gangster to help Denzel sell the script. Both men are professionals.
See it. Watch it. Call your friends in Hollywood to nominate it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Ghosts in the Machine
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It's All Hollows Eve, time to be wary of lycanthropes, zombies and spooks. The Spooks in our story do not haunt houses, but security policy. Sun Tzu said "Intelligence is the first line of defense," But what if that first line is being decimated by it's own watchers?
Quis custodiet ipsos custode? Who watches the watchers?
Most Congressional Democrats are up in arms about Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] Director Michael Hayden investigating the Inspector General [IG] of the CIA; But the watchers of our watchers are not pure either; Mary O. McCarthy leaked information regarding Renditions from the IG's own investigations. She worked on the IG CIA staff. If renditions are leaked to the press, what else was brought out of secrecy?
The whole purpose of the CIA/NSA/etc. is to be able to work off intelligence that is not released to the public. If the IG goes public, can you blame the Agency for not trusting their own watchers?
Something Democrats and the Press need to understand, the Military, the National Security Apparatus, a majority of the Federal Agencies exist to protect this country no matter which President is in charge. The people working for a President on January 19 of one administration will still be there on January 21 with a new administration.
No President owns these agencies. Nor do any political parties, but from the attack on General Petreaus to the politicizing of foreign policy (again I must repeat Senator Vandenburg's dictum: Politics must stop at the waters edge), the Democrats have acted that since they have no control, the Republicans should not have control either.
Imagine a country without a strong Executive or Intelligence, what do you have? Lebanon or Ethiopia. Do Democrats want America to go the same route?
My question is this: Since the Church Committee (and during the Clinton era, the Torriccelli Amendment), the CIA has been hampered from doing their jobs; why should Democrats be trusted with the National Security Apparatus when they are so determined to destroy it?
----------------------------------------------
It's All Hollows Eve, time to be wary of lycanthropes, zombies and spooks. The Spooks in our story do not haunt houses, but security policy. Sun Tzu said "Intelligence is the first line of defense," But what if that first line is being decimated by it's own watchers?
Quis custodiet ipsos custode? Who watches the watchers?
Most Congressional Democrats are up in arms about Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] Director Michael Hayden investigating the Inspector General [IG] of the CIA; But the watchers of our watchers are not pure either; Mary O. McCarthy leaked information regarding Renditions from the IG's own investigations. She worked on the IG CIA staff. If renditions are leaked to the press, what else was brought out of secrecy?
The whole purpose of the CIA/NSA/etc. is to be able to work off intelligence that is not released to the public. If the IG goes public, can you blame the Agency for not trusting their own watchers?
Something Democrats and the Press need to understand, the Military, the National Security Apparatus, a majority of the Federal Agencies exist to protect this country no matter which President is in charge. The people working for a President on January 19 of one administration will still be there on January 21 with a new administration.
No President owns these agencies. Nor do any political parties, but from the attack on General Petreaus to the politicizing of foreign policy (again I must repeat Senator Vandenburg's dictum: Politics must stop at the waters edge), the Democrats have acted that since they have no control, the Republicans should not have control either.
Imagine a country without a strong Executive or Intelligence, what do you have? Lebanon or Ethiopia. Do Democrats want America to go the same route?
My question is this: Since the Church Committee (and during the Clinton era, the Torriccelli Amendment), the CIA has been hampered from doing their jobs; why should Democrats be trusted with the National Security Apparatus when they are so determined to destroy it?
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Global Veto vs. American Exceptionalism
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
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To win Presidential elections in the United States, the top candidate must think like a Jew. No, not worrying all the time, but to cite the fact that America is, to paraphrase, "A Chosen People,"
For instance, in Conservative and Republican language (Democrats have their own language as well --- more on that further down), American Exceptionalism is the concept that America is the New Jerusalem of the world.
Let us consider that before 2001, at this candidate debate, Nation Building (i.e. Wilsonianism) was not part of Republican Party Foreign Policy, but in 2000, it was a part of Democratic party Foreign Policy (i.e. Haiti, the former Yugoslavia):
For a long time during America's growth, America could remain isolated from the world. Heck, the Republican party after the Treaty of Versailles stood very strongly against foreign intervention. But that policy gave us World War II and the rise of dictator states. The Democrats (and the Buchaninites/Ron Paul lemmings) have acted as if the world has not changed since 1919.
Yet, the other extreme is relying too much on Collective Security. Senator Kerry, as presidential Candidate in 2004, talked of "A Global Test," before America could send troops overseas. The world could veto US foreign policy? Which organization would have precedence? NATO? The EU? The UN? The former Warsaw Pact? Who?
Remember how I said Democrats have their own language too? Democrats believe in carrot Diplomacy, but with no stick. A sovereign nation can threaten our Ambassadors, our military or our citizens overseas, but with a future Democratic Administration, there will be no consequence.
Because the world is interconnected, America cannot just turn it's back; The Democrats want to, but, again I ask, what are the consequences? Democrats are pushing a bill through Congress limiting the number of military bases in Iraq. When Iran tipped over in 1979, America's only allies in that reigon were Israel and Saudi Arabia. Should we not keep an eye on that part of the world?
American Exceptionalism is about countering Collective Security when it fails. How many massacres have the United Nations stopped? How many wars or threats of war? We are an optimistic nation; Democracy, even with it's flaws (1960 and 2000), is still better than a dictatorship. If Democrats cannot argue in 2008 for American Exceptionalism, they can follow the Whigs.
----------------------------------------------------
To win Presidential elections in the United States, the top candidate must think like a Jew. No, not worrying all the time, but to cite the fact that America is, to paraphrase, "A Chosen People,"
For instance, in Conservative and Republican language (Democrats have their own language as well --- more on that further down), American Exceptionalism is the concept that America is the New Jerusalem of the world.
Let us consider that before 2001, at this candidate debate, Nation Building (i.e. Wilsonianism) was not part of Republican Party Foreign Policy, but in 2000, it was a part of Democratic party Foreign Policy (i.e. Haiti, the former Yugoslavia):
For a long time during America's growth, America could remain isolated from the world. Heck, the Republican party after the Treaty of Versailles stood very strongly against foreign intervention. But that policy gave us World War II and the rise of dictator states. The Democrats (and the Buchaninites/Ron Paul lemmings) have acted as if the world has not changed since 1919.
Yet, the other extreme is relying too much on Collective Security. Senator Kerry, as presidential Candidate in 2004, talked of "A Global Test," before America could send troops overseas. The world could veto US foreign policy? Which organization would have precedence? NATO? The EU? The UN? The former Warsaw Pact? Who?
Remember how I said Democrats have their own language too? Democrats believe in carrot Diplomacy, but with no stick. A sovereign nation can threaten our Ambassadors, our military or our citizens overseas, but with a future Democratic Administration, there will be no consequence.
Because the world is interconnected, America cannot just turn it's back; The Democrats want to, but, again I ask, what are the consequences? Democrats are pushing a bill through Congress limiting the number of military bases in Iraq. When Iran tipped over in 1979, America's only allies in that reigon were Israel and Saudi Arabia. Should we not keep an eye on that part of the world?
American Exceptionalism is about countering Collective Security when it fails. How many massacres have the United Nations stopped? How many wars or threats of war? We are an optimistic nation; Democracy, even with it's flaws (1960 and 2000), is still better than a dictatorship. If Democrats cannot argue in 2008 for American Exceptionalism, they can follow the Whigs.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Between the Santa Anas and the Smoke
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If you haven't been under a rock the past week, there were fires to the West, the South and the North. Normally, I'd file this post under the next cycle of California Encyclicals, but instead, this proves what is going well in Southern California.
The San Fernando Valley was safe (save from traffic accidents and road closures), but others weren't. Before I get political here, please make a donation to The Red Cross for the survivors.
Now let's go over the winners and losers of the Fires:
Winners
LAFD, SDFD, and all the Fire Departments involved -- They did the hard work. Give them support during their fund drives and wish them well. They kept Los Angeles and San Diego safe.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) - By being bi-partisan in his effort (welcoming President Bush, working with local Democrats in Malibu), he played a great role here. He might not help Republicans win in the next election, but he has proven he can carry the day.
Mayor Jerry Sanders (R-San Diego) - San Diego was a corrupt city before his election as mayor. By working to clean out corruption, he made it easier for the Federal officials to get in.
The City of San Diego -- A healthy two party system, clean of corruption, and a military town; San Diego showed how cities can tackle crisis that occur.
David Geffen - Democratic party contributor who refuses to open to the beach to the public, but opened his homes to his neighbors. Kudos from the Valley.
City of Malibu - They kept their (rich) citizens safe.
President George Bush (R-TX) -- Activated FEMA after the call from Governor Schwarzenegger, their earlier disputes melted away against the backdrop of the fires. Sometimes Republicans working together can be a good thing.
Losers
John Garamendi and Barbara Boxer - Context and timing. Disagree with International policy? Fine. "Act civil?" There is only one President at a time, Lieutenant Governor Garamendi, he came here about the fires. Next year, I heard rumors of an election for another President; Couldn't both Boxer and Garmendi wait until the fires had cooled? No, they proved to be partisan hacks.
The City of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana - A one party state with a history of political corruption could not get their own house in order for the Federal Agencies. For all those who complain, answer me this: What role does a Mayor and a Governor have in an emergency? It always takes three days before the Federal Agencies arrives. That is the same number under President Clinton and President HW Bush. However, tired of excuses, Louisiana elected Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Maybe Louisiana is on the way to becoming San Diego.
Enviormentalist Lawsuits - Lawsuits show up if people want to clear brush or to adapt anything in the forests. Enviormentalists used to be about "Conserving", but with these fires, the collective total of lawsuits are killing trees while the fires are killing people. Battle in the court of public opinion not just in the legal courts. Judicial fiats are not a way to prove your point.
With tonights rain, the fires should have cooled, so should the political rhetoric during an emergency.
---------------------------------------
If you haven't been under a rock the past week, there were fires to the West, the South and the North. Normally, I'd file this post under the next cycle of California Encyclicals, but instead, this proves what is going well in Southern California.
The San Fernando Valley was safe (save from traffic accidents and road closures), but others weren't. Before I get political here, please make a donation to The Red Cross for the survivors.
Now let's go over the winners and losers of the Fires:
Winners
LAFD, SDFD, and all the Fire Departments involved -- They did the hard work. Give them support during their fund drives and wish them well. They kept Los Angeles and San Diego safe.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) - By being bi-partisan in his effort (welcoming President Bush, working with local Democrats in Malibu), he played a great role here. He might not help Republicans win in the next election, but he has proven he can carry the day.
Mayor Jerry Sanders (R-San Diego) - San Diego was a corrupt city before his election as mayor. By working to clean out corruption, he made it easier for the Federal officials to get in.
The City of San Diego -- A healthy two party system, clean of corruption, and a military town; San Diego showed how cities can tackle crisis that occur.
David Geffen - Democratic party contributor who refuses to open to the beach to the public, but opened his homes to his neighbors. Kudos from the Valley.
City of Malibu - They kept their (rich) citizens safe.
President George Bush (R-TX) -- Activated FEMA after the call from Governor Schwarzenegger, their earlier disputes melted away against the backdrop of the fires. Sometimes Republicans working together can be a good thing.
Losers
John Garamendi and Barbara Boxer - Context and timing. Disagree with International policy? Fine. "Act civil?" There is only one President at a time, Lieutenant Governor Garamendi, he came here about the fires. Next year, I heard rumors of an election for another President; Couldn't both Boxer and Garmendi wait until the fires had cooled? No, they proved to be partisan hacks.
The City of New Orleans, and the State of Louisiana - A one party state with a history of political corruption could not get their own house in order for the Federal Agencies. For all those who complain, answer me this: What role does a Mayor and a Governor have in an emergency? It always takes three days before the Federal Agencies arrives. That is the same number under President Clinton and President HW Bush. However, tired of excuses, Louisiana elected Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Maybe Louisiana is on the way to becoming San Diego.
Enviormentalist Lawsuits - Lawsuits show up if people want to clear brush or to adapt anything in the forests. Enviormentalists used to be about "Conserving", but with these fires, the collective total of lawsuits are killing trees while the fires are killing people. Battle in the court of public opinion not just in the legal courts. Judicial fiats are not a way to prove your point.
With tonights rain, the fires should have cooled, so should the political rhetoric during an emergency.
Where I've been, where I'm going (ii)
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
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Sometimes all you need is a nap. It's been a busy few weeks at work, it's been a time changing plans from moving 3000 miles to moving in a range of 10 miles.
I can deal with changes, but sometimes, they are the changes you do not expect. Also, I was told to hold off as far as traveling east, so I can become "A new face" in DC after 2009. A little tough, but my ego is strong.
In one of my favorite comic book limited series, Wolverine, he is able to save his future bride by leaping against an assassin and not changing a beat. I changed my beat and I personally needed some time away -- sorry to all.
For now, I am looking at studios and 1 bedrooms between Magnolia Blvd and Mullholland Drive; From Studio City to Sherman Oaks. I hope to move in before my birthday (December 16).
Also, last night, I caught a local version of Rocky Horror Picture Show. The words change, but the mood remains the same. As someone who caught Rocky Horror first in Forest Hills on Queens Boulevard, (when I was 15) and then in the Village, it still rocks. Silly and stupid, yes, but sometimes silly and stupid is needed to bring you out of a funk.
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Sometimes all you need is a nap. It's been a busy few weeks at work, it's been a time changing plans from moving 3000 miles to moving in a range of 10 miles.
I can deal with changes, but sometimes, they are the changes you do not expect. Also, I was told to hold off as far as traveling east, so I can become "A new face" in DC after 2009. A little tough, but my ego is strong.
In one of my favorite comic book limited series, Wolverine, he is able to save his future bride by leaping against an assassin and not changing a beat. I changed my beat and I personally needed some time away -- sorry to all.
For now, I am looking at studios and 1 bedrooms between Magnolia Blvd and Mullholland Drive; From Studio City to Sherman Oaks. I hope to move in before my birthday (December 16).
Also, last night, I caught a local version of Rocky Horror Picture Show. The words change, but the mood remains the same. As someone who caught Rocky Horror first in Forest Hills on Queens Boulevard, (when I was 15) and then in the Village, it still rocks. Silly and stupid, yes, but sometimes silly and stupid is needed to bring you out of a funk.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
A Sea made smaller
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
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While the Democratic party and their partisans are trying to destroy diplomacy between nations and weaken Executive Branch power in foreign affairs, the region known as the Caspian Sea, is building towards a climax that will affect oil and heating prices at least ten years down the line.
Just last week, Putin met with President Ahmadinajad regarding control of the Caucuses, and specifically, the state of Azerbaijan, with the city of Baku. Putin sends oil out to Europe through pipelines, the Caspian Oil is still in the process of being shipped east through Turkey (Hmm, does Speaker Pelosi believe in causation?) towards the West. Russia is also building pipelines towards the east, towards China, in (friendly) competition with Iran.
China is already exploiting the chaos in the Sudan to extract oil from that Government. Meanwhile, President Ahmadinijad is working on a multitude of deals with President-for-life Hugo Chavez. Some of which include oil controls.
Between Iran and Russia, the Caspian Sea has become a lake. Deals are negotiated to spite "the evil Bush," Unfortunately, Democrats, to quote Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride, foreign policy does not mean what you think it means. If enemies of American sovereignty are building deals to cripple the United States economically, does your rhetoric help the situation?
Since 1989, the world has experienced Globalization -- everything (including this Blog Post on the geographically diffuse Internet) is interconnected. China is entering the industrial age, sacrificing Mao for Thatcherism, they are beginning to expand their reach. The Caspian Sea is the Oil Ring that will bind the Middle East, Russia and Asia together. Iran's ties to Venezuela (and Chavez' ties within South America) can bring back the Oil Shock of the 1970's, if OPEC stands behind each deal.
The Caspian Sea borders Russia, Central Asia, Iraq and Iran. My questions are: How will the art of Diplomacy stave off an Economic Sword of Damocles? What Democrat believes in American Power to be used to protect American interests? Conservatives and Republicans believe in American exceptionalism, do the Democrats?
----------------------------------------------
While the Democratic party and their partisans are trying to destroy diplomacy between nations and weaken Executive Branch power in foreign affairs, the region known as the Caspian Sea, is building towards a climax that will affect oil and heating prices at least ten years down the line.
Just last week, Putin met with President Ahmadinajad regarding control of the Caucuses, and specifically, the state of Azerbaijan, with the city of Baku. Putin sends oil out to Europe through pipelines, the Caspian Oil is still in the process of being shipped east through Turkey (Hmm, does Speaker Pelosi believe in causation?) towards the West. Russia is also building pipelines towards the east, towards China, in (friendly) competition with Iran.
China is already exploiting the chaos in the Sudan to extract oil from that Government. Meanwhile, President Ahmadinijad is working on a multitude of deals with President-for-life Hugo Chavez. Some of which include oil controls.
Between Iran and Russia, the Caspian Sea has become a lake. Deals are negotiated to spite "the evil Bush," Unfortunately, Democrats, to quote Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride, foreign policy does not mean what you think it means. If enemies of American sovereignty are building deals to cripple the United States economically, does your rhetoric help the situation?
Since 1989, the world has experienced Globalization -- everything (including this Blog Post on the geographically diffuse Internet) is interconnected. China is entering the industrial age, sacrificing Mao for Thatcherism, they are beginning to expand their reach. The Caspian Sea is the Oil Ring that will bind the Middle East, Russia and Asia together. Iran's ties to Venezuela (and Chavez' ties within South America) can bring back the Oil Shock of the 1970's, if OPEC stands behind each deal.
The Caspian Sea borders Russia, Central Asia, Iraq and Iran. My questions are: How will the art of Diplomacy stave off an Economic Sword of Damocles? What Democrat believes in American Power to be used to protect American interests? Conservatives and Republicans believe in American exceptionalism, do the Democrats?
Farynghoula Mutating Meme
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------
Jason, of Washington Interns Gone Bad sent me this meme. The instructions are copied verbatim. This meme is about Genetics and Blogging.
Here are the instructions:
There are a set of questions below that are all of the form, “The best [subgenre] [medium] in [genre] is…”.
Copy the questions, and before answering them, you may modify them in a limited way, carrying out no more than two of these operations:
* You can leave them exactly as is.
* You can delete any one question.
* You can mutate either the genre, medium, or subgenre of any one question. For instance, you could change “The best time travel novel in SF/Fantasy is…” to “The best time travel novel in Westerns is…”, or “The best time travel movie in SF/Fantasy is…”, or “The best romance novel in SF/Fantasy is…”.
* You can add a completely new question of your choice to the end of the list, as long as it is still in the form “The best [subgenre] [medium] in [genre] is…”.
* You must have at least one question in your set, or you’ve gone extinct, and you must be able to answer it yourself, or you’re not viable. Then answer your possibly mutant set of questions.
*Please do include a link back to the blog you got them from, to simplify tracing the ancestry, and include these instructions. Finally, pass it along to any number of your fellow bloggers.
Remember, though, your success as a Darwinian replicator is going to be measured by the propagation of your variants, which is going to be a function of both the interest your well-honed questions generate and the number of successful attempts at reproducing them.
My changes are italicized. Original questions are in Bold.
The best Horror movie in SF/Fantasy is: Alien
The best hip hop song from speed metal is: “Word up" by Korn
The most disturbing movie in Independent Film is: Faces of Death
The trashiest reality show on cable TV is : Growing Up Gotti.
The Most Surrealistic Comic in Graphic Novels is: Waterloo Sunset.
My genealogy is:
My great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent is Pharyngula.
My great-great-great-great-great grandparents are The Flying Trilobite and Metamagician and the Hellfire Club.
My great-great-great-great-grandparents are Flying Trilobite and Leslie’s Blog.
My great-great-great-grandparents are A Blog Around the Clock and The Meming of Life.
My great-great-grandparents are From Archaea to Zeaxanthol and The Primate Diaries.
My great-granddad is The Other 95%.
My Granddad in this meme is Tangled Up in Blue Guy.
My father is Washington Interns Gone Bad
I send this Meme to:
Aurora, Chessnovice, Donald Douglas and Malcot
Good luck!
And this is post number 200. Here's hoping for another 100 more.
------------------------------------------------------------
Jason, of Washington Interns Gone Bad sent me this meme. The instructions are copied verbatim. This meme is about Genetics and Blogging.
Here are the instructions:
There are a set of questions below that are all of the form, “The best [subgenre] [medium] in [genre] is…”.
Copy the questions, and before answering them, you may modify them in a limited way, carrying out no more than two of these operations:
* You can leave them exactly as is.
* You can delete any one question.
* You can mutate either the genre, medium, or subgenre of any one question. For instance, you could change “The best time travel novel in SF/Fantasy is…” to “The best time travel novel in Westerns is…”, or “The best time travel movie in SF/Fantasy is…”, or “The best romance novel in SF/Fantasy is…”.
* You can add a completely new question of your choice to the end of the list, as long as it is still in the form “The best [subgenre] [medium] in [genre] is…”.
* You must have at least one question in your set, or you’ve gone extinct, and you must be able to answer it yourself, or you’re not viable. Then answer your possibly mutant set of questions.
*Please do include a link back to the blog you got them from, to simplify tracing the ancestry, and include these instructions. Finally, pass it along to any number of your fellow bloggers.
Remember, though, your success as a Darwinian replicator is going to be measured by the propagation of your variants, which is going to be a function of both the interest your well-honed questions generate and the number of successful attempts at reproducing them.
My changes are italicized. Original questions are in Bold.
The best Horror movie in SF/Fantasy is: Alien
The best hip hop song from speed metal is: “Word up" by Korn
The most disturbing movie in Independent Film is: Faces of Death
The trashiest reality show on cable TV is : Growing Up Gotti.
The Most Surrealistic Comic in Graphic Novels is: Waterloo Sunset.
My genealogy is:
My great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent is Pharyngula.
My great-great-great-great-great grandparents are The Flying Trilobite and Metamagician and the Hellfire Club.
My great-great-great-great-grandparents are Flying Trilobite and Leslie’s Blog.
My great-great-great-grandparents are A Blog Around the Clock and The Meming of Life.
My great-great-grandparents are From Archaea to Zeaxanthol and The Primate Diaries.
My great-granddad is The Other 95%.
My Granddad in this meme is Tangled Up in Blue Guy.
My father is Washington Interns Gone Bad
I send this Meme to:
Aurora, Chessnovice, Donald Douglas and Malcot
Good luck!
And this is post number 200. Here's hoping for another 100 more.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Where I've been, Where I'm going
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------
Sorry for the lack of posts, but we are edging into Oscar Nomination Season at work. Also, when I am in Deep Thought ("42" yells the chorus), I end up going incommunicado. I take some calls, occasionally a Blog Post, but more likely, I am lost in thought. It's not personal.
I have also added a new thing to my schedule -- working out. That takes time away from Blogging.
Here is what I am working on:
1) Getting a Laptop: This will help me with,
2) Moving around the Valley or Hollywood, which in turn means,
3) A possible new car? and leads back to:
4) Moving back to DC
Also, I am working on a few future Blog Posts. There will be the California Encyclicals Redux, more discussions with Revolutionary Jimmy, how to make Hollywood profitable again, my Political Conversion, and as we get to the end of the year, a few good words to the opposing party. I do it because most of the major left sites do not. Let me know if I am wrong.
The political scene is not changing while I am away. Just understand two rules:
A) Let your opponent "save face" (This is how the Democrats lost the S-CHIP Veto override in the House)
B) Words have Consequences. The enemy is not American, that is your opponent. There is such a thing called "carrot and stick diplomacy" None of which allow Diplomats to be recalled.
For now, I suggest you read these Blogs:
Jason's, Aurora's, Chessnovices', and Malcot's.
Also, watch this better version of Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. The cheap version by the BBC was funnier than the Hollywood version:
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Sorry for the lack of posts, but we are edging into Oscar Nomination Season at work. Also, when I am in Deep Thought ("42" yells the chorus), I end up going incommunicado. I take some calls, occasionally a Blog Post, but more likely, I am lost in thought. It's not personal.
I have also added a new thing to my schedule -- working out. That takes time away from Blogging.
Here is what I am working on:
1) Getting a Laptop: This will help me with,
2) Moving around the Valley or Hollywood, which in turn means,
3) A possible new car? and leads back to:
4) Moving back to DC
Also, I am working on a few future Blog Posts. There will be the California Encyclicals Redux, more discussions with Revolutionary Jimmy, how to make Hollywood profitable again, my Political Conversion, and as we get to the end of the year, a few good words to the opposing party. I do it because most of the major left sites do not. Let me know if I am wrong.
The political scene is not changing while I am away. Just understand two rules:
A) Let your opponent "save face" (This is how the Democrats lost the S-CHIP Veto override in the House)
B) Words have Consequences. The enemy is not American, that is your opponent. There is such a thing called "carrot and stick diplomacy" None of which allow Diplomats to be recalled.
For now, I suggest you read these Blogs:
Jason's, Aurora's, Chessnovices', and Malcot's.
Also, watch this better version of Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. The cheap version by the BBC was funnier than the Hollywood version:
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Triumph of the Democratic Party Diplomacy
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I live and work in an area that is filled with Armenians. They are great people; The massacre back in 1915-1916 paved the way for Hitler's Holocaust. It deserves recognition. However, context is everything.
Every Democrat running for office (Presidential and Congressional) says that their party is better at Diplomacy and can bring countries back to the side of the United States.
When a nation recalls an Ambassador, that means the nation might cease to be an ally (This occurred a lot before the beginning of WWI). Turkey has recalled it's ambassador to the US. Also, thanks to the Democrats, our military alliance with Turkey is in trouble.
As you can see by this list, American Congress' have always recognized the Armenian Genocide. This time, it was done for a Partisan, not a political or policy reason. Even Rep. Jane Harmen (D-Long Beach) wrote an editorial asking for context.
No, the Democrats are willing to stick it in the eye of President Bush (and multiple bi-partisan Secretaries of State) rather than allow diplomacy and military alliances work. if this is the begining of how Democrats work diplomacy, it's a wonder that America will not become a pariah nation if a Democrat wins the Presidency. Shouldn't Democrats be working on Turkey Armenia Reconciliation? Mount Ararat is an Armenian holy site.
By the way, every April 24 is Armenian Rememberence Day. Remember.
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I live and work in an area that is filled with Armenians. They are great people; The massacre back in 1915-1916 paved the way for Hitler's Holocaust. It deserves recognition. However, context is everything.
Every Democrat running for office (Presidential and Congressional) says that their party is better at Diplomacy and can bring countries back to the side of the United States.
When a nation recalls an Ambassador, that means the nation might cease to be an ally (This occurred a lot before the beginning of WWI). Turkey has recalled it's ambassador to the US. Also, thanks to the Democrats, our military alliance with Turkey is in trouble.
As you can see by this list, American Congress' have always recognized the Armenian Genocide. This time, it was done for a Partisan, not a political or policy reason. Even Rep. Jane Harmen (D-Long Beach) wrote an editorial asking for context.
No, the Democrats are willing to stick it in the eye of President Bush (and multiple bi-partisan Secretaries of State) rather than allow diplomacy and military alliances work. if this is the begining of how Democrats work diplomacy, it's a wonder that America will not become a pariah nation if a Democrat wins the Presidency. Shouldn't Democrats be working on Turkey Armenia Reconciliation? Mount Ararat is an Armenian holy site.
By the way, every April 24 is Armenian Rememberence Day. Remember.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The Nobel Peace Prize, a partisan award
Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here to contribute. Thank you.
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So, Vice President Albert Gore (and the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change) won the Nobel Peace Prize. First, congratulations to both. Now the crux of the problem:
According to Albert Nobel, creator of dynamite and founder of the Peace Prize:
"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiology or medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not"
By those basic precepts, the prize should go to someone who has made people's lives more freer and peaceful. In the last two decades, the prize has gone to Anti-semites such as Yassir Arafat, Mohammed El-Baridi and the United Nations (famous for it's 1975 "Zionism is racism" and always voting against Israel save for the United States), Democratic partisans such as, (anti-Semite) Jimmy Carter and Albert Gore. Receiving the Nobel Peace prize does not change the sins, but it should not redeem the sinner. An Anti-Semite is still an Anti-Semite after they win the award.
By the way, how many wars and massacres have the United Nations stopped? The same amount as the League of Nations.
I could think of other, more deserving people, who should get the Peace Prize: How about the Burmese Monks? How about an Iranian dissident? or a Cuban one? Or a Palestinian organization which believes in non-violence?
The last Republican who was given the prize was Henry Kissinger; Does removing dictators and theocrats count as bringing peace and freedom? If the Nobel Prize is the guide, people can suffer under dictators or theocrats. Thanks Norwegians!
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So, Vice President Albert Gore (and the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change) won the Nobel Peace Prize. First, congratulations to both. Now the crux of the problem:
According to Albert Nobel, creator of dynamite and founder of the Peace Prize:
"The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiology or medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that for literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not"
By those basic precepts, the prize should go to someone who has made people's lives more freer and peaceful. In the last two decades, the prize has gone to Anti-semites such as Yassir Arafat, Mohammed El-Baridi and the United Nations (famous for it's 1975 "Zionism is racism" and always voting against Israel save for the United States), Democratic partisans such as, (anti-Semite) Jimmy Carter and Albert Gore. Receiving the Nobel Peace prize does not change the sins, but it should not redeem the sinner. An Anti-Semite is still an Anti-Semite after they win the award.
By the way, how many wars and massacres have the United Nations stopped? The same amount as the League of Nations.
I could think of other, more deserving people, who should get the Peace Prize: How about the Burmese Monks? How about an Iranian dissident? or a Cuban one? Or a Palestinian organization which believes in non-violence?
The last Republican who was given the prize was Henry Kissinger; Does removing dictators and theocrats count as bringing peace and freedom? If the Nobel Prize is the guide, people can suffer under dictators or theocrats. Thanks Norwegians!
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