And now there are four

Don't Steal - The Government Hates Competition

I heard local radio talk show host/Ron Paul hater on the radio this morning bemoaning the fact the Dr. Paul has passed no significant legislation during his 10 terms in Congress. Although Dr. Paul has passed little or no 'significant' legislation, that is more of an indictment of Paul's fellow Republicans than of Dr. Paul because he has introduced lots of significant legislation. It is all available for you to browse at the Library of Congress. It is telling of the supposed "conservatives" in the Republican party that most of the legislation introduced by Dr. Paul languishes in committee, dying a slow death.

Recent legislation introduced by Ron Paul includes H.J. RES.23 which would repeal the 16th amendment (that is the income tax for those of you educated in government schools). The income tax provides approximately half of the federal budget. I believe that the nation can survive with the government the size it was in 1994. And if turns out to be such a bad idea, I'm sure there will be plenty of politicians (Democrats and Republicans alike) ready to 'pass significant legislation' and recoup the government's losses.

H.J. RES.46 would end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens. Sounds like a good idea to me. Of course the Republican party is afraid of offending the Hispanic voters (who are going to vote democrat anyway).

Finally, H.R 1094 would establish human life at conception, redefining personhood and effectively ending abortion. If the Republicans really wanted to end abortion they would all be behind this legislation. But the Republican establishment doesn't want to end abortion, because then they would no longer have it as a campaign issue. And the Republican establishment know that the sheep that fill church pews every Sunday morning (the people who do care about ending abortion) are going to vote Republican regardless. You would think that the evangelicals would finally wake up and figure it out. But I don' see it happening.

Anyway, maybe we should have a 10-year moratorium on all legislation. The federal budget has grown from $1.9 trillion in 2001 to $2.9 trillion in 2008 and that does not include the cost of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is a 50% increase in 7 years. The federal debt has increased from $5.7 trillion to $9 trillion since the "conservative" Bush took office. That is $11,000 thousand dollars of additional debt for every man, woman and child in America. The US military budget is larger than the rest of the world's military budgets combined. To quote Pat Buchanan, "We are thus in the position of having to borrow from Europe to defend Europe, of having to borrow from China and Japan to defend Chinese and Japanese access to Gulf oil, and of having to borrow from Arab emirs, sultans and monarchs to make Iraq safe for democracy." I believe it is immoral to leave our children and grandchildren to bear this burden because someday the bill will come due. Obscene is the only way that I can describe it.

Wake up, vote Ron Paul and end the madness.

And then there were five

Happy Confederate Heroes Day

Could there be anything more politically incorrect? I'm sure our Yankee cousins north of the Mason-Dixon line recoil in horror, but here in Texas Confederate Heroes Day is an official state holiday. Confederate Heroes Day combines the celebration of Robert E. Lee's and Jefferson Davis's birthdays. I'll be firing up the grill this evening in honor of the holiday and as a thumb in the eye to political correctness.

A Nation of Sheep

"If our fear of terror makes us give up the rights that make us free, then the terrorists have won." Judge Andrew Napolitano

In "A Nation of Sheep", Judge Andrew Napolitano reminds us that "Government is not our friend". The book was a quick read at only 180 pages, but presents a well-documented laundry list of government abuses that should be enough to enrage any American. Unfortunately, as long as the government's boot is on someone else's neck the American people are content with bread and circuses; and hence the title of the book. Judge Napolitano divides the American people into two categories - sheep and wolves. And the overwhelming majority of Americans are sheep; which does not bode well for our country.

Judge Napolitano's point of view is based on his belief that "natural law" is the basis for our freedoms and liberty and that the Constitution is the guarantor of our rights. Like the Founding Fathers, Napolitano believes that men are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights". Our liberties and rights are not granted to us by the government and they are not the governments to take away. Taking away our rights is a violation of the natural law and is unjust (and should be resisted). The Judge explains that there is an opposing camp known as positivists who believe that the law (whatever that may be), and ultimately the lawmaker, is almighty. This "might equals right" philosophy breeds totalitarianism. President Bush pays lip service to natural law, but actions speak louder than words and Napolitano presents plenty of examples of Bush's accumulation of power at the expense of the liberty of American citizens. Napolitano pulls no punches in his attacks on the lawlessness, or at least casual disregard of the law, of the Bush administration (you can be guaranteed that Napolitano did not receive a Christmas card from Bush).

Napolitano describes how Bush administration propagandists have created a "culture of fear" and the government has used the premise of our "national security" as the excuse for a litany of abuses; including speech suppression, state secrets privileges, National Security Letters, illegal domestic surveillance, the suspension of habeas corpus, and on and on...

I was amused to see the endorsements for the book from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity on the book cover jacket. Since their praise for the book is not consistent with their daily recitation of Bush administration talking points I assume that they did not actually read the book before recommending it. Anyway, maybe their recommendation of the book will attract and open the eyes of an otherwise unreceptive audience.

Don't be a sheep. Read the book. I'll loan it to you.

Who's Missing?

Race At A Glance

Total Primary Votes:	Romney	McCain	Huckabee	Giuliani	Thompson
Iowa	29,494	15,559	40,841	4,097	15,904
New Hampshire	75,202	88,447	26,760	20,387	2,884
Total	104,696	104,006	67,601	24,484	18,788
Total Delegates:	30	10	21	1	6

The graphic above is from hughhewitt.com. The "conservative" pundits and the MSM, from Fox News (fair and balanced my a%&) to Hugh Hewitt, have adopted the same strategy. They all think that if they ignore Ron Paul he will go away.

I am a realist and realize that Dr. Paul's chances of winning the Republican nomination are slim to none. However, take a look at the graphic revised to include Paul, and decide for yourself whether Ron Paul should be excluded from coverage. Note that his vote totals outnumber those of both Benito and Fred, yet they are both regarded as contenders.

Total Primary Votes: Romney McCain Huck Paul Rudy Fred Iowa 29,494 15,559 40,841 11,817 4,097 15,904 NH 75,202 88,447 26,760 18,267 20,387 2,884 Total 104,696 104,006 67,601 30,084 24,484 18,788 Total Delegates: 30 10 21 2 1 6

Update: Fred's done.

Mitt Romney is Mr. Wonderful

I had a revelation yesterday during a slow moment at the office. It was nothing earth shattering, but I came to the realization that Mitt Romney is Mr. Wonderful.
Of course Hugh Hewitt, with his odd case of man love for Romney, could have told me all along that Mitt and Mr. Wonderful are one in the same.

Notice the resemblance. Both of them cut a striking figure. And both of them are full of crap. Romney will say anything just to get a little advantage over his political opponents, and Mr. Wonderful will say anything just to get a little.

Iowa

The results from Iowa were respectable for Dr. Paul , who garnered nearly 10% of the vote. I was hoping against the odds that Paul would finish in the top three. Although placing fifth, only 3-4 points out of third behind Fred and McCain, keeps Paul in the hunt.

Really though, what do the Iowa caucus results portend. After all, Pat Robertson finished second in Iowa in 1988, ahead of George Bush (41). And for that matter, Pat Buchanan won the New Hampshire primary in 1996. Super Tuesday (February 5) is the day that matters, with over 20 states holding primaries in a single day. Fortunately, Ron Paul's faithful supporters have donated enough money ($19.5 million in the 3rd quarter) to keep him in the race until then. By the way, you can make a donation to the campaign at RonPaul2008.com.

Reject the Status Quo

You Decide

I heard waterboarding being discussed on two different radio talk shows today. Both radio hosts said that we need to do whatever is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks. I, on the other hand, agree with Sen. John McCain when he said, "It's not about who they are. It's about who we are", while defending his opposition to torture of detainees in the "war on terror".

One of my favorite quotes is by the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata; who said, "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees". If we as a nation resort to 'whatever is necessary', are we in effect living on our knees by succumbing to our fears and accepting actions that we would otherwise find abhorrent.

See video of a waterboarding demonstration here and decide for yourself.

You Won't See This on ABC

John Stossel interviews Ron Paul.

I've been a fan of John Stossel for several years. His 'Give Me a Break' segments on ABC's '20/20' are some of the best TV available. His libertarian leanings have long been evident in his commentary and I was happy to learn that he had interviewed Ron Paul. Unfortunately, ABC decided to not air the interview. However, due to the wonders of modern technology, you can see the interview here. Parts 1-6 of the interview are all available on You Tube.

Gandhi on the Iraq War

"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"
– Mahatma Gandhi

Pretty wise for a man who walked around wearing a bedsheet.

Rudy on Guns

Giuliani has claimed that the only legitimate uses of guns are hunting and law enforcement. Watch the video here. He said that gun manufacturers are producing 3 to 4 times as many guns as needed and that they are knowingly supplying an illegal market.

Supposedly Rudy has realized that his lawsuit against the gun manufacturers was misguided. Only a fool would believe him. The illegal market he refers to is you and me owning a handgun to protect our families against the likes of Benito Giuliani.

Bob Dylan has a Message for You

Why Believe Rudy on Guns?

Rudy Giuliani lied spoke to the National Rifle Association yesterday and told the group that he supported their right to bear arms. His views have apparently evolved since he was the mayor of New York City, when he was a strong gun control advocate. He says the 9-11 attacks "casts somewhat of a different light on the Second Amendment and Second Amendment rights. It doesn't change the fundamental rights, but maybe it highlights the necessity for them more." I'm pretty sure the Founders included the 2nd Amendment in the Constitution for protection against the likes of Rudy Giuliani rather than against some jihadi.

I do not believe that Giuliani has had some epiphany on guns and the 2nd Amendment. Just like I don't believe him when he says that he will appoint conservative judges, or anything else he says for that matter. I believe that he will say whatever is politically expedient.

Giuliani says that he supported gun control while mayor of NYC because fighting crime was all-important. Our Constitutional rights are not based on the whim of any man's priorities as mayor. To paraphrase Franklin, the man who gives up liberty for safety deserves neither.

Giuliani once said, "Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do." I do not trust anyone in a position of power who would make that statement.

Just ask Donna Hanover (wife number 2 of 3) if Rudy is honest and trustworthy. Please do not let this man fool you.

Peroutka Endorses Paul

Michael Peroutka, the Constitution Party presidential candidate in 2004, has endorsed Ron Paul for President. Along with a handful of other folks, I voted for Peroutka for President in 2004. I had to write him in on the Texas ballot (the bi-factional Republican/Democrat party in TX makes it as difficult as possible for third party candidates to take a slice of their pie). Peroutka recognizes that Paul is the only acceptable candidate running for President.

See Peroutka's endorsement here.

Horns Need Improvement

The Longhorns season opener was not what I expected it to be. I had never even heard of Arkansas State, so I did not expect it to be much of a game. I figured that everyone on the 3-deep roster would get to play and that Colt McCoy would be on the bench after the first series of the second half. Wrong. The Longhorns finished with only 21 points, and I expected them to score that many in the first quarter.

A lackluster performance is nothing new for a Mack Brown coached team, and the Horns will need to buckle up their chinstraps and come out ready to play if they hope to beat TCU next Saturday. And improvement is needed on both sides of the ball if the Horns hope to be competitive. 172 yards in penalties, 4 yards per rush, and two interceptions are all stats that do not bode well against what may be the second best team that Texas plays this year.

The Horns difficulties stem from two problems that have plagued the program since Mack Brown took the helm. One is that the Horns never play as if they are angry. They need a little fire in the belly. The second is that Greg Davis sucks. The only reason Davis still has a job was that one of the greatest talents ever to play college football made us forget what an idiot Davis was for three years.

Of course Saturday's game could have been worse. We could have lost like Michigan. If the Indians had been able to score on any of their first four drives inside the Texas 20, then we may have witnessed the two worst college football upsets ever on the same Saturday.

Update - I spoke to my dad who was at the game, and he says it was even worse than I imagined. Especially the performance by the defense and the offensive line. He believes that it could be a long season.

Bob Dylan - Masters Of War

Beware the Military-Industrial Complex

President Dwight Eisenhower gave his farewell address to the nation on January 17, 1961. The speech is now known as the Military-Industrial Complex Speech.

Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during WWII and was responsible for planning and executing the D-Day invasion. Eisenhower knew the costs of war and he hated it. He said, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."

In his farewell address, Eisenhower warned of the military industrial complex. He said, "...we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted."

The military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned of still exists. Since October 2006, contracts have been granted totaling $172,748,149,370 based on information released by the Department of Defense. And today, in addition to the traditional military contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics; there are also numerous contractors such as KBR in Iraq providing logistical support (i.e., performing mundane tasks done by troops in previous wars). Private contractors employed in the military service industry complex now outnumber our troops in Iraq.

If you think I'm a kook, then answer this question for me - why do we have a military budget that is larger than the next 14 biggest spenders combined? And no, the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not included in that budget. My best guess is that lots of people are making lots of money if America is in a perpetual state of war.

The Yellow Bus

No offense meant to those of you with children in government schools.

The Yellow Bus
by Vox Day

It was a fine September day
When my sweet princess came to say,
"Oh Daddy, could we please discuss
The purpose of that yellow bus?
I see the children get on board
While our house is always ignored.
It looks like fun, it looks so cool,
To ride upon it off to school!"

Her little face was serious,
And naturally curious
About this strange phenomenon
Her friends had all departed on,
With some misgiving then I knew
An explanation now was due.
I placed a hand under my chin
And wondered how I should begin.

Then I remembered my school days
Now dim in memory's fading haze
The good times, and the bad times too,
When everything was bright and new.
And yet my main recollection
Was a sense of disaffection.
Endless boredom, a parody
Of learning, farce and tragedy!

"Do you know what they'll learn today?"
She shook her head without delay.
"They first will learn the alphabet - "
"But Daddy, don't they know it yet?"
She interrupted in surprise,
Amazement in those big brown eyes.
"Ten letters is the minimum,"
I said, "that's where they're starting from."

She blinked and looked somewhat perturbed.
"So, what would I do?" next I heard.
"I know my letters, phonics too,
Today I read a book – no, two!
And yet, they're gone for the whole day
Do they do nothing there but play?
That sounds so fun, can I go there?
I think that would be only fair!""

They do play, my lovely flower,
But for just one single hour.
Then all the rest they sit in class
And wait as the long hours pass.
For no child can hope to move on
'til all is learned by everyone."
"But Daddy, that's ridiculous.
Surely, it could never be thus!"

It's worse than that, (I thought it through),
As they teach things that are not true.
They will not let you learn of God
And instill logic badly flawed.
It's not so much education
As naked indoctrination.
For little is more blindly cruel
Than sentencing a child to school.

Of course, these thoughts I did not share
As she stood innocently there.
"Their parents love your friends, I'm sure,
But Mommy and I love you more.
These next years will suffice to show
How freedom helps a mind to grow,
And you, my dear, will always be
A child of God and liberty."

Did she fathom?
I cannot say.
She'll tell me so
One day, I pray.

Bush's Hypocrisy

Bush stirred controversy when he invoked the tragedy of Vietnam to justify our continued presence in Iraq during a speech delivered on August 22 . During the speech, Bush once again trotted out the fictitious assertion that "for the security of the United States of America,we must defeat them overseas so that we do not face them in the United States of America".

On the same day, the Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told the El Paso Times that the number of Iraqis detained crossing the Southwest border this year has tripled compared to last year. The majority of those detained were supposedly seeking asylum, however an anonymous U.S. intelligence analyst told the Times that coyotes are telling Iraqis to ask for amnesty if caught. McConnell admitted that a small number of people with known ties to terrorism have been caught crossing the border.

So Bush has our troops deployed in Iraq to prevent terror attacks on Main Street USA, while every year hundreds of thousands of people (including hundreds of Iraqis, i.e., potential terrorists) are allowed to illegally cross our southern border. Bush wants to close Iraq's borders with Iran and Syria, but apparently doesn't give a damn about securing our own borders. Of course Bush lives in a bubble and either doesn't realize or doesn't care that far more Americans have been killed in the last six years by drunk driving and murdering illegal aliens than died on 9-11.

Mr. President, you're no Patrick Henry

(click here to view)

Richard Bartholomew Artizans.com Aug 15, 2007 EditorialCartoonists.com

Trial Balloon

The Bush administration launched a trial balloon this week. Bush's war adviser, Army Lt. General Douglas Lute, was asked about a return to a military draft on NPR's August 10 edition of All Things Considered. Lute responded that "it makes sense to certainly consider it", and that the draft "has always been an option on the table". The current size of the military is apparently not sufficient to fight the war in Iran that Dick Cheney and his warmongering allies in the media are presently building the case for (just as they did in 2002 before the invasion of Iraq).

The prolonged conflict in Iraq is already straining our military. In December 2006, Colin Powell told CBS News' Face the Nation, "The current active army is not large enough...for the kinds of missions they're being asked to perform". Earlier this year, active-duty Army troops had their deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan extended from 12 months to 15 months in order to increase the number of troops in Iraq for the "surge". Many troops have served multiple tours and when in Iraq often serve months on end with no time away from the front lines.

As it is, the Bush administration would not be able to wage the war in Iraq if it did not rely on an army of private contractors that outnumbers the troops in Iraq. For perspective, contractors were 5 percent of the total force deployed during World War II and Korea, and the percentage doubled to 10 percent during Vietnam and the first Gulf War.

Wars that should not be fought, cannot be fought without conscription (or at least huge numbers of private contractors as noted above). Involuntary service is antithetical to the American notion of freedom and all attempts at instituting a draft were rejected by the American people until World War I. Americans would riot in the streets if the government determined it necessary to confiscate our television sets for use by government to fight a war. Hopefully we would express the same moral outrage over the confiscation of the lives of our young men.

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution seems clear on the subject to most Americans (excluding politicians and the Supreme Court). It says, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Ron Paul summarized it well in his book Freedom Under Siege, "Conscription contradicts the whole concept of natural rights. If our lives and liberties are gifts of the Creator, as our Founding Fathers believed, the use of our lives should never be controlled by the State. If they are controlled, it supports the totalitarian notion that rights are mere privileges granted by the State and, therefore, removable at will by the state, an idea alien to the American tradition".

Hopefully, General Lute's statement will go down like a lead balloon.

You're a Ron Paul Voter

"If you support...

secure borders, lower taxes, lower spending, lower debt, protecting privacy and property rights, ending senseless military globe trotting, saving America's independence & sovereignty, stopping inflation & overregulations, ending government banking cartels, stopping corporate welfare, fixing out-of-control entitlements, reigniting the American dream, and real progress for generations to come...

then you're a Ron Paul voter. "

(Credit: T-shirt design available at www.cafepress.com)