From Michael Medved:
Shimon Peres, Nobel Peace Prize winner... [on Bush, in spite of this foolhardy mission on Israel/Palestine]:
“And also may I say that I have the highest respect for you, Mr. President, and the highest regard, because speaking as a politician, you introduced character in politics It’s a great contribution to politics – character, courage, vision.”
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Voter ID
Forget the Supreme's decision on the ID. I think only those who’ve read (or listened to) The Looming Tower should be allowed to vote.
Ok, maybe that's a little harsh, but they are trying to kill us.
Ok, maybe that's a little harsh, but they are trying to kill us.
Bonnie and Clyde
On the less happy side of the Texas ledger: Clyde Chestnut Barrow and Bonnie Elizabeth Parker.
From the FBI website:
Barrow, for example, was suspected of murdering two police officers at Joplin, Missouri, and kidnaping [sic] a man and a woman in rural Louisiana. He released them near Waldo, Texas. Numerous sightings followed, linking this pair with bank robberies and automobile thefts. Clyde allegedly murdered a man at Hillsboro, Texas; committed robberies at Lufkin and Dallas, Texas; murdered one sheriff and wounded another at Stringtown, Oklahoma; kidnaped [sic] a deputy at Carlsbad, New Mexico; stole an automobile at Victoria, Texas; attempted to murder a deputy at Wharton, Texas; committed murder and robbery at Abilene and Sherman, Texas; committed murder at Dallas, Texas; abducted a sheriff and the chief of police at Wellington, Texas; and committed murder at Joplin and Columbia, Missouri.
...
On April 1, 1934, Bonnie and Clyde encountered two young highway patrolmen near Grapevine, Texas. Before the officers could draw their guns, they were shot. On April 6, 1934, a constable at Miami, Oklahoma, fell mortally wounded by Bonnie and Clyde, who also abducted a police chief, whom they wounded.
…
Before dawn on May 23, 1934, a posse composed of police officers from Louisiana and Texas, including Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, concealed themselves in bushes along the highway near Sailes, Louisiana. In the early daylight, Bonnie and Clyde appeared in an automobile and when they attempted to drive away, the officers opened fire. Bonnie and Clyde were killed instantly.
Ms. Parker is buried in Dallas in a cemetery very near the home in which I was raised. It was great fun to visit her grave as a kid. The childish legend was that if one circled her grave saying her name a number of times guaranteed her haunting of you. It didn't work.
From the FBI website:
Barrow, for example, was suspected of murdering two police officers at Joplin, Missouri, and kidnaping [sic] a man and a woman in rural Louisiana. He released them near Waldo, Texas. Numerous sightings followed, linking this pair with bank robberies and automobile thefts. Clyde allegedly murdered a man at Hillsboro, Texas; committed robberies at Lufkin and Dallas, Texas; murdered one sheriff and wounded another at Stringtown, Oklahoma; kidnaped [sic] a deputy at Carlsbad, New Mexico; stole an automobile at Victoria, Texas; attempted to murder a deputy at Wharton, Texas; committed murder and robbery at Abilene and Sherman, Texas; committed murder at Dallas, Texas; abducted a sheriff and the chief of police at Wellington, Texas; and committed murder at Joplin and Columbia, Missouri.
...
On April 1, 1934, Bonnie and Clyde encountered two young highway patrolmen near Grapevine, Texas. Before the officers could draw their guns, they were shot. On April 6, 1934, a constable at Miami, Oklahoma, fell mortally wounded by Bonnie and Clyde, who also abducted a police chief, whom they wounded.
…
Before dawn on May 23, 1934, a posse composed of police officers from Louisiana and Texas, including Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, concealed themselves in bushes along the highway near Sailes, Louisiana. In the early daylight, Bonnie and Clyde appeared in an automobile and when they attempted to drive away, the officers opened fire. Bonnie and Clyde were killed instantly.
Ms. Parker is buried in Dallas in a cemetery very near the home in which I was raised. It was great fun to visit her grave as a kid. The childish legend was that if one circled her grave saying her name a number of times guaranteed her haunting of you. It didn't work.
Texans who’ve made the biggest impact on the nation
For good or ill.
I’ll start with two WWII heroes. In these cases, the impact could be said to be on the planet. One, most know is from Texas is Admiral Nimitz. The second, most associated with Kansas, was actually born in Denison, Texas—Eisenhower.
I’ll start with two WWII heroes. In these cases, the impact could be said to be on the planet. One, most know is from Texas is Admiral Nimitz. The second, most associated with Kansas, was actually born in Denison, Texas—Eisenhower.
Bruce Thornton has nice words for Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism
at Victor Davis Hanson's Private Papers:
Goldberg, a syndicated columnist and editor at the National Review, modestly calls himself a journalist. But he has in fact written a well-documented, fast-paced history of modern politics and political philosophy. Along the way, he sweeps away self-serving liberal and progressive myths, and recovers the true roots of progressive/liberal politics — in the deification of the state as the instrument of utopian aspirations, the same dynamic of 20th century fascism.
I look forward to getting my copy.
Goldberg, a syndicated columnist and editor at the National Review, modestly calls himself a journalist. But he has in fact written a well-documented, fast-paced history of modern politics and political philosophy. Along the way, he sweeps away self-serving liberal and progressive myths, and recovers the true roots of progressive/liberal politics — in the deification of the state as the instrument of utopian aspirations, the same dynamic of 20th century fascism.
I look forward to getting my copy.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
My Dad
Mom found this note to her on the fridge this weekend that my Dad had written sometime before his death. (The fridge is covered with stuff from the grandkids so I know it was easy to miss.) In the hand of a second grader indicating his poor condition. As his speech deteriorated he communicated with notes and at the very end he could only point at letters to spell out his thoughts.
Almost five months after his death she finds it. I'm glad my brother was there with her and I'm sorry I was not. I know it caused a lot of tears but was certainly not taken down. A friend has recommended, and I've agreed, this baby is being printed and framed. I'm going to give to her this weekend.
Liberal Fascism
I've ordered my copy of Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism but have not yet received it. I only know what I know of it from various reviews I've read such as Rich Lowry's or Vox Day's. Having said that, I know already that I owe Jonah a thank you.
I've wondered since college how such centrally regulated economies and such heavily controlled lives under men the likes of Peron and Mussolini could be associated with the American right but have been too lazy to do the work.
I've wondered since college how such centrally regulated economies and such heavily controlled lives under men the likes of Peron and Mussolini could be associated with the American right but have been too lazy to do the work.
Re: The President, the Pope and the Prime Minister
O'Sullivan seems to think the fury over Grenada may have been a bit overblown at least on a purely political basis (I'm sure that she had to personally furious):
After Reagan had given her a full briefing on the military and political progress of the intervention, they ended on the old "Ron" and "Margaret" terms with Margaret asking Ron to pass on her best wishes to Nancy and Ron encouraging Margaret to "eat 'em alive" down at the House of Commons. (p. 224)
...
Public debate in Britain following the immediate crisis hashed over these and other points. This proved slightly embarrassing for the prime minister, however, because almost all her usual supporters on foreign policy issue took Reagan's side. In the House of Lords debate on Grenada, for instance, liberals such as Max Beloff, Noel Annan, and Hugh Thomas as well as more conventional Tories were both baffled and alarmed by Britain's apparent willingness to allow Grenadians to fall into the Cuban-Soviet orbit. The Daily Telegraph and the Times were hostile to Thatcher's refusal to endorse American action. And one of her strongest intellectual supporters, Paul Johnson, confessed that he was astounded at her inability to see that Grenada was an issue as morally clear and compelling as slavery. (p. 225)
After Reagan had given her a full briefing on the military and political progress of the intervention, they ended on the old "Ron" and "Margaret" terms with Margaret asking Ron to pass on her best wishes to Nancy and Ron encouraging Margaret to "eat 'em alive" down at the House of Commons. (p. 224)
...
Public debate in Britain following the immediate crisis hashed over these and other points. This proved slightly embarrassing for the prime minister, however, because almost all her usual supporters on foreign policy issue took Reagan's side. In the House of Lords debate on Grenada, for instance, liberals such as Max Beloff, Noel Annan, and Hugh Thomas as well as more conventional Tories were both baffled and alarmed by Britain's apparent willingness to allow Grenadians to fall into the Cuban-Soviet orbit. The Daily Telegraph and the Times were hostile to Thatcher's refusal to endorse American action. And one of her strongest intellectual supporters, Paul Johnson, confessed that he was astounded at her inability to see that Grenada was an issue as morally clear and compelling as slavery. (p. 225)
Sen. McCain
Why not just remind us that you were calling for a surge long before Bush agreed and stop slamming Rumsfeld? You can tout your "cred" all you want but why the unnecessary ugliness toward a man who has devoted so much of his life to service? Kinda like you. Yes, it may have taken Bush a LONG time to find his Grant (hopefully) but even if this isn't a new kind of war, the generals always say, "All your plans are great until the fighting starts." We knew that going in.
(I know I've slammed McCain, but I'm a pundit wannabe, not a candidate for the Republican nomination.)
(I know I've slammed McCain, but I'm a pundit wannabe, not a candidate for the Republican nomination.)
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