tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60005942011-12-11T23:14:17.069-08:00Political Observations of a Passionate CentristRichardnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-60993944754630024342010-07-27T22:09:00.000-07:002011-12-11T23:14:17.076-08:00

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=XdZuyt6UI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZTo0iGc_Dw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTxGHn4sH4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRl5HWZS6JY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS24s4pYY28 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pq79lYauZo&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1 

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-6734282487576439702009-12-06T08:45:00.000-08:002009-12-06T08:46:54.935-08:00

Leaving aside the fact that President Obama waited 3 months to make this decision, then give essentially the same speech he'd given before, the President did the right thing.  At least in the sort run. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that we

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-12903502353732542652009-10-15T08:09:00.000-07:002009-10-16T08:26:36.201-07:00

What better confirmation of the line, "Liberals care about intentions, conservatives care about consequences", does one need than Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize?  It was, after all, explicitly awarded on the basis of "hope" over any meaningful accomplishments. I have no doubt, with history and an understanding of human nature as my guide, that Obama's foreign policy will not bring

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-78227532358306353792009-08-29T09:49:00.000-07:002009-08-30T08:28:58.051-07:00

All the major networks and cable news stations preempted their programming today to cover the Kennedy memorial. I shouldn't be surprised.As I learn more about Ted Kennedy's earlier years, the more amazed I become at the double standard of elite opinion. We truly live in different moral universes.The cheating and expulsion from Harvard, multiple instances of drunk driving, womanizing, and of

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-86960506909133424942009-08-10T10:10:00.000-07:002009-08-10T10:31:17.434-07:00

I recently had an ongoing dialog with someone on the minimum wage. It started with the article below and our dialog follows. I'm not certain of its significance, but note how many questions I pose and he asks not a single questions from me. A Minimum Wage Equals Minimum JobsThe unseen costs of minimum wage lawsJohn Stossel | July 30, 2009 The media are never better at displaying

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-80941998204632699552009-07-16T19:44:00.001-07:002009-07-16T19:50:15.116-07:00

In case anyone is interested, I've got a new business going. I've purchased a couple new and different URL's to drive traffic. Its all a lot o voodoo.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-38287427748185326032009-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:002009-02-22T11:02:18.753-08:00

President Obama had his first press conference and took 13 questions from a preselected list of journalists. In one of the questions, President Obama was asked if he was going to lift the restrictions placed on the press of photographing killed American soldiers returning from Iraq, "so Americans can see the true costs of war". I was shocked and angered at this naked admission that the media

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-79198890832328509162008-12-05T21:31:00.000-08:002009-08-29T10:53:44.578-07:00

During the height of the Iraq War, I often wondered if good news actually depressed the anti-war crowd. Even more telling, I wondered if bad news, like American soldiers getting killed did more than energize them, but actually gave them pleasure. Then a couple journalists admitted to just that. Think about it.Recently in Virginia, there was speculation that the DNA analysis of a man executed

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-72420230158360921952008-10-20T16:40:00.000-07:002009-04-29T10:59:28.640-07:00

Do you believe Unions should have secret ballots?Obama doesn'tDo you believe that we should have open trade with our strongest ally in South America?Obama doesn'tDo you believe that America should immediatley open up drilling offshore?Obama doesn'tDo you believe that America should immediatley take steps to increase our nuclear power generating capabilities?Obama doesn'tDo you believe in racial

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-51441122927453714112008-10-20T07:25:00.000-07:002008-10-21T21:28:44.187-07:00

It has been repeated many times that people just don't care about William Ayers or the Reverend Wright. People are worried about jobs and the economy...The problem with that is that democrats and, more important, the media didn't care prior to the present financial crisis. The truth is that Obama supporters are not about to let a few little truths awake them from their trance.The main truth is

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-38288643938406567482008-10-16T08:41:00.000-07:002008-10-21T21:11:48.651-07:00

I am certain that I am not alone when I say that watching John McCain debate is an exercise in frustration. His problem? He just doesn't drive his points home. Rather than emphasize or explain a vitally important point, he moves on to another and another only to repeat the mistake he made on the first. The result is the dilution of each point and the issue floats off into the ether.When

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-74423392498817608902008-08-20T18:46:00.000-07:002008-08-20T18:52:07.399-07:00

First of all, Obama didn't vote against the authorization to use force to remove Saddam Hussein. He was in the Illinois State Senate at the time. Nonetheless, people (Obama, included) seemed impressed that he opposed the removal of Saddam "from the start".The entire world thought that Saddam had stockpiles of WMD's. Obama's simply didn't care.I wish a reporter would ask Obama if he would have

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-610707616891940072008-07-06T10:09:00.000-07:002008-07-06T10:11:10.932-07:00

Does anybody think the Vietnam War "ended" or do people think we lost the Vietnam War?Why then, does anybody think Obama will "end" the war in Iraq as opposed to Obama losing it?

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-9733321414587666592008-05-12T08:43:00.000-07:002008-05-12T08:55:49.254-07:00

Picking market winners and losers is best left out of the hands of government. Two separate posts at Instapundit tie this together nicely. I tied them. Good Lord, now we've got Republicans proposing Five Year Plans and Seven Step programs like some 1930's Soviet Beet Kommissar. The last thing we need is the know-nothings in Congress pretending they have the expertise required to plan the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-84035224643106194032008-05-01T10:35:00.003-07:002008-05-05T14:58:25.048-07:00

I've got a series of questions for Barak Obama.Question: Where does your wife work?Barak: University of Chicago Hospitals.Question: What is her title?Barak: Manager of the Business Diversity Program.Question: What is her salary?Barak: $350,000 per year.Question: So her job is to chose which suppliers get some proportion of the hospital's business based not on quality of service or cost, but

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-79656061177558339282008-04-29T08:07:00.000-07:002008-04-29T18:17:34.645-07:00

The Wall Street Journal had two pieces today on the Supreme Court that answer the question "who's against preventing voter fraud?"The first article mentions the usual suspects:Those opposing the Indiana statute, including the ACLU, Acorn, the Brennan Center and other liberal activist groups argued that ID laws impose an undue burden and disenfranchise some voters...The dissenting opinion, written

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-23210788665638390672008-04-23T21:19:00.000-07:002008-04-24T10:12:07.296-07:00

The North Carolina GOP aired an ad tying local Democrat candidates with the Reverend Wright. John McCain has denounced the ad. It seems pretty tame to me. You don't have to be very creative to think of a whole lot worse. Powerlineblog has posted a series of MP3's of unrepentant terrorists and Obama aquaintances Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn talking about revolution, the future of

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-62472558042464817582008-04-21T09:24:00.000-07:002008-04-21T21:57:38.432-07:00

Steve Chapman wrote a good piece in today's Chicago Tribune about Barak Obama's relationship to an unrepentant terrorist. Here, he gets to the main issues of Obama's moral equivalence and the double standard of his supporters in the media:"Would Obama be friendly with someone who actually bombed abortion clinics and defends that conduct? Not likely. But he is friendly with William Ayers, a

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-68178837863047960892008-04-18T09:16:00.000-07:002008-04-20T11:25:22.310-07:00

Yesterday I caught a few moments of Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. His guest was Howard Dean. I quote from memory:"John McCain has proposed $80 billion in new spending - basically tax cuts - and has no way of paying for them".What is interesting is Dean didn't correct himself in mid-sentence. He clarified himself. Tax cuts = spending.Revealing mind set on who's money Dean thinks we are

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-16137066310287668792008-04-08T07:34:00.000-07:002008-04-09T13:08:10.469-07:00

Earlier I was linked to an article that was questioning the ongoing significance of Obama's minister ("sounding board", "mentor", "campaign adviser" ...). A couple of the those posting comments asked readers to give Obama the "benefit of the doubt". I did.I gave Obama the "benefit of the doubt" when he decided not to wear an American flag on his lapel. I gave Obama the "benefit of the doubt"

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-53444974591221255252008-02-24T09:39:00.000-08:002008-02-24T12:16:15.859-08:00

What struck me about Michelle Obama's prepared statement that 'this is the first time in my adult life that I am proud of my country" was the reaction (or lack thereof) of the crowd. Had a Republican said such a thing I imagine a collective gasp from the crowd, not nodding heads and polite cheers.The moment I heard that Princeton wasn't going to release Michelle Obama's sociology thesis, I

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-42878006045619867402008-02-16T09:18:00.000-08:002008-04-09T13:04:40.881-07:00

It is nice when events reaffirm your core beliefs. Obama-mania is such an event. The comparisons of Obama to JFK were inevitable. Young, good-looking, beautiful wife, fine orator...Democrat. All of this is serving to reaffirm one of my principle beliefs about the way most conservatives and liberals think. Not what they think - how they think.Liberalism subsists on imagery.JFK is an icon

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-51754091991497339932007-11-18T09:03:00.001-08:002008-01-26T10:04:35.833-08:00

I ran across a link at the Real Clear Politics website by Markos Moulitsas. Mr. Moulitsas is head of DailyKos, the most popular destination on the internet for Democrats to get information. The link was titled "Make the Bush Record the Issue". Curious what the other side is saying, I clicked on the link. Here is the opening paragraph:Times are tough for the Republican Party and its

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-48110613483877605982007-03-15T09:19:00.000-07:002009-04-29T11:05:44.839-07:00

Here are a couple questions for those who unquestionably accept the prevailing global warming hysteria (and with it the demands for more government control, regulations, taxes....)1. How much has the earth "warmed" the past 100 years?2. How much should the earth have warmed without human influence?3. In return for hundreds of trillions of dollars to combat Global Warming we can expect what level

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1166574079251737322006-12-19T16:20:00.000-08:002006-12-19T16:21:40.446-08:00

The Wall Street Journal ran my letter last Friday:Mr. Kann's essay had many fine observations and suggestions. However, I believe he missed a fundamental point. He did identify "pack journalism" but failed to clearly identify the inherent problems therein -- journalists write to impress one another. This inevitable tendency arises from the reward/punishment environment of the newsroom. Personal

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1162917861158515202006-11-07T08:41:00.000-08:002006-11-07T08:48:43.350-08:00

A friend printed an article in the Economist on Bush & the Iraq War titled "Five Years On" (subscription required). Here's my reply:"But an honest tally of the record since 9/11 has to conclude that the number of jihadists and their sympathizers has probably multiplied many times since then. It has multiplied, moreover, partly as a result of the way America responded" What troubles me about

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1147793487588391342006-05-16T08:21:00.000-07:002006-05-16T08:31:27.600-07:00

In matters of race, I am always stunned when I see the "leadership's" blatantly counter-productive decisions and beliefs. Whether it be something as large as the recent immigration protests or a simple policy decision like the NAACP fighting school vouchers for inner-city Blacks.Thinking about Jackie Robinson helps me understand. When Jackie Robinson broke the color-barrier with the Brooklyn

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1146153486792662562006-04-27T08:45:00.000-07:002006-04-27T15:26:36.916-07:00

I was listening to a discussion on the radio yesterday regarding the CIA leaks and it occurred to me - if Mary McCarthy or anyone at the CIA had passed the classified information about 'secret prisons' or 'warrentless' wiretapping of terrorist phone conversations to Al Qaeda instead of the Washington Post, there would be no question of her treason.The consequences are the same whomever the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1146072640973406702006-04-26T10:27:00.000-07:002006-04-27T12:27:13.473-07:00

A friend commented to me on Sept. 11 "I know you want to believe the passengers fought back. But more likely, the terrorists didn't know how to fly the plane properly and merely crashed". I replied with a sudden surprising bit of anger "I have no doubt in my mind that those passengers fought back".The lack of recognition for the heroes of Flight 93 has always troubled me. It is, after all the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1145926048739703942006-04-24T17:00:00.000-07:002006-04-24T17:47:28.763-07:00

John Kerry's comments on the dismissal of the CIA leaker are not just ignorant and profoundly stupid...they are revealing"Here's my fundamental view of this, that you have somebody being fired from the CIA for allegedly telling the truth, and you have no one fired from the White House for revealing a CIA agent in order to support a lie". Let's see:1. How does Kerry know she told the truth?

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1142613576087139222006-03-17T08:24:00.000-08:002006-03-17T08:53:40.006-08:00

Yesterday's Investor's Business Daily had an article on Saddam's captured documents cache:In the early stages of the war that began three years ago, the U.S. captured thousands of documents from Saddam and his spy agency, the Mukhabarat. It's been widely thought the documents could shed light on why Saddam behaved as he did and how much of a threat his evil regime represented.Yet, until this week

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1140103049679300342006-02-16T06:53:00.000-08:002006-02-18T11:01:50.546-08:00

I ran across and interesting post on a weblog about the Theban Sacred Band, an ancient and elite Greek military unit consisting of 150 pairs of homosexual lovers. They were slaughtered at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C.Most people are completely ignorant as to the reasons behind our military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I saw nothing in the post that led me to believe the author was any

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1139066522880335122006-02-04T07:09:00.000-08:002006-02-07T18:13:47.900-08:00

Recently, Google decided it would censor the searches on its Chinese server, to appease the communist Chinese government, thus retaining access to the Chinese market.Of course just days before, Google was hailed as courageous for its stance against assisting the U.S. Justice Department's attempts to quantify child pornography searches on the internet.This is what amounts to bravery in the Left.I

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1138642188190928182006-01-30T09:28:00.000-08:002006-01-30T13:55:31.536-08:00

She was raised in communist Poland, with few freedomsand many fears - several members of her family had"disappeared" after being taken into custody, nevercharged with any crime.After the collapse of the communist regime, she lefther family and her homeland a few months after her20th birthday. Living in France, she worked two jobson evenings and weekends to support herself whileobtaining her

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1138123063035670472006-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:002006-01-25T15:49:55.800-08:00

Today's L.A. Times printed a cry for attention by Joel Stein titled "I Don't Support the Troops" ...being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever takenThis falls in neatly with my cut and paste just below of the news story on Democrat Senator John Murtha meeting with representatives of the anti-war group Code Pink that I titled "

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1137871623223814782006-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:002006-01-22T20:57:18.086-08:00

The SF Chronicle ran an Op/Ed by Ruben Navarette titled Alito Plays Dumb on Race:Americans still can't talk honestly about race or racism.Perhaps Mr. Navarette could start.Throughout the article he uses the Orwellian "affirmative action" when what he is referring to is "racial preferences". Honest?I don't know why my colleagues didn't sink their teeth into what was obviously a delicious tidbit -

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1137344241913894222006-01-15T08:52:00.000-08:002006-01-15T08:57:21.923-08:00

MURTHA'S NEW ALLIES Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania, formerly one of the most hawkish Democrats in Congress, met on Jan. 5 with representatives of the militant antiwar organization, Code Pink. Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has moved deeper into the antiwar protest movement over the past two months since advocating removal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Code Pink, at a mock war crimes

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1137109812892580362006-01-12T15:44:00.000-08:002006-01-12T16:49:40.770-08:00

Below, I wrote about good news for the United States being bad news for liberals. Such a strange position to put yourself in - actually rooting for bad news about America.Well, there are long faces on all the anti-capital punishment activists today - seems Virginia executed a guilty man, after all.Imagine hoping that an innocent man was executed.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1136825260872550372006-01-09T08:35:00.000-08:002006-01-12T12:38:45.336-08:00

The former warden of San Quentin wrote an Open Forum in the Chronicle trying to derail the scheduled execution of a multiple murderer. Here's my letter in response:Editor - Let me get this straight. Dan Vasquez notes that Clarence Ray Allen "ordered 3 murders from his prison cell" then calls Mr. Allen a "model prisoner"? What's a fella got to do to be executed around here? Kill somebody? A

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1136594772947687912006-01-06T16:40:00.000-08:002006-01-07T09:44:38.293-08:00

Powerline has a post about the coming slander of Judge Alito. Apparently one of those on the witness list compiled by Senate Democrats is an animal rights nut. Powerline links to his article that ran in the L.A. Times.Lest you think his views are not consistent with the radical animal rights crowd, the link is to an outfit called Raw Food Info, not the L.A. Times. They're proud of it.Here's

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1136407090806263362006-01-04T12:30:00.000-08:002006-01-07T10:03:22.033-08:00

Last night Bill O'Reilly was on the David Letterman show. Not surprisingly, the interview was contentions. What was surprising was O'Reilly's poor performance defending himself and his beliefs. He could barely keep up in an exchange on...Cindy Sheehan!?!!??!?What O'Reilly should have said:Dave, you don't know anything about Cindy Sheehan. Do you know the name of her son, who gave his life? No

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1133317352059254842005-11-29T18:16:00.000-08:002005-11-29T18:22:32.070-08:00

Ever notice you are never asked for identification when you vote? Basically, this country's voting system is based on the honor system. The past several elections have proven, if nothing else, that some people are not honorable and perhaps its time we did something to combat fraud.In Cynthia Tucker's world, if you think it might be a good idea for people to show some form of I.D. before voting

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1133283998170563092005-11-29T08:56:00.000-08:002005-11-29T17:38:53.066-08:00

I suppose if I looked hard enough, I'd find the policy the San Francisco Chronicle uses for it's Letters to the Editors page. In this section, I would hope to find some standard about printing letters with known falsehoods.The Chron has always played it loose with this rule, but a letter published last week about Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame was beyond the pale.For someone who presumes to hold the "

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1132600840675879772005-11-21T10:56:00.000-08:002005-11-21T13:25:53.223-08:00

I usually get a great deal of pleasure when people show their cards are reveal who they really are. While it was disturbing to hear the new "president" of Iran announce he wanted to destroy Israel, it was nonetheless helpful and clarifying for many people to hear.Democrats and Liberals, in general often couch their statements to conceal or obfuscate what they truly believe (Quick: what is the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1132595996521924012005-11-21T09:43:00.000-08:002005-11-21T10:06:18.470-08:00

In roughly two weeks Iraqis will be returning to the polls to elect a representative government. Good news! Ah, but we know how the Democrats and the Mainstream Media feel about good news.Michael Barone writes:The Democrats are trying to relitigate the prewar intelligence issue in the hopes of delegitimizing this administration. But in delegitimizing the administration, they also tend to

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1132019979222931782005-11-14T17:47:00.000-08:002005-11-15T08:30:01.513-08:00

What to make of the defeat of all 4 of Gov. Arnold's propositions in last week's special election?I think the media and nearly all of the analysts have it wrong (as usual) and I hope Arnold comes back swinging.My take is that Arnold's defeat at the polls confirms the reason he called for the special election in the first place. Special interests, in particular unions representing government

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1131064390378681452005-11-10T22:26:00.000-08:002006-01-12T16:02:21.860-08:00

When the Iraqis went to the polls in droves last year and the expected violence failed to materialize the gloom from the Left was palpable. Then just last month, not only did the Iraqis returned to the polls, they ratified their constitution with even less violence than the previous successful election. The Left's reaction? Pretend it never happened (or bury the news on page A16 like the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1131645608234606942005-11-10T09:56:00.000-08:002005-11-10T10:00:08.246-08:00

All you need to know to understand the Democratic party's ideas on national security is to think about this question:Is the Democratic National Party more interested in winning the war in Iraq or damaging Bush?Note that I said "think" about the question, not just answer it.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1131556412043720302005-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:002005-11-09T09:13:32.053-08:00

It gives me no pleasure to see the distruction taking place in France. However, it does validate my view of American exceptionalism.Here are some random thoughts I've come accross on the riots:1. The experts have been waiting for the "Muslim street to rise up" ever since we first struck Afganistan. Well, it finally did - it only happened in Paris not Cairo.2.In the late 80s the Japanese model

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1130885629689235182005-11-01T14:40:00.000-08:002005-11-01T17:34:40.593-08:00

There are two points that I believe should be stressed at every opportunity on this subject and don't understand why they are not.1. Even if you are like the media and ignore the fact that Joe Wilson's Niger report seemed to have bolstered the allegations of British intelligence, Mr. Wilson's statements are untrue. Mr. Wilson keeps saying he "proved" the president was lying in the State of the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1129935012123013492005-10-21T14:58:00.000-07:002005-11-11T10:24:27.470-08:00

I see in the press that the "Bush Lied" about WMD's mantra has become an unquestioned part of the dialogue on the War to Liberate Iraq.After all, whenever you hear the Democrats say the more politically acceptable "We were mislead", they are implying that Bush lied.What's always missing in all the debates on the issue is the question "were you mislead"? Certainly those of who still support the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1128647779370522362005-10-06T17:44:00.000-07:002005-10-11T16:52:34.113-07:00

Just around the time we were preparing to liberate Iraq from one of the most brutal dictators the world had ever seen, I remember reading about a multi-denominational "peace" protest in Orange County.Of course, there was no "peace" in Iraq even prior to liberation (ask the Kurds), but that didn't seem to concern these church goers. A more honest term would be "anti-liberation" protest.Odder

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1128030293901595212005-09-29T14:35:00.000-07:002005-09-29T14:48:22.106-07:00

NEW YORK - Saying the United States “does not surrender to blackmail, a judge ruled Thursday that pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq'’s Abu Ghraib prison must be released over government claims that they could damage America'’s image.The ACLU has sought the release of 87 photographs and four videotapes taken at the prison as part of an October 2003 lawsuit demanding information on the treatment

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1126656526645552122005-09-13T16:49:00.000-07:002005-09-13T18:07:26.003-07:00

Speaking without notes, Judge John Roberts said his duty as a judge was akin to that of an umpire not a player. He didn't pitch or hit, he merely enforced the rules of the game.Democrats don't want umpires.If a minority is batting, they want 4 strikes. If a female is stealing they want to move the bases closer together. If a rich player is batting and a poor player pitching they want to expand

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1116467808785339832005-05-18T18:12:00.000-07:002005-05-28T10:16:35.666-07:00

Nearly everyone is completely missing the most important aspect of the retracted Newsweek article claiming Guantanamo interrogators flushed a Koran down a toilet. Even if the story were true, is it newsworthy?Think about it - a single military interrogator flushes a book down a toilet (violating army policy) and it makes Newsweek? This is not torture.Would the media have cared if we "desecrated"

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1115935993072487222005-05-12T15:12:00.000-07:002005-05-12T15:13:13.076-07:00

My letter to the Wall Street Journal:Editor - What to build on the site of the World Trade Center? I propose rebuilding the Twin Towers and using the top floors to house a future United Nations coalition, The League of Democracies. That way, God forbid, should the site be attacked again, there will be no confusion what is being assaulted.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1114405430892279392005-04-24T21:15:00.000-07:002005-04-24T22:03:50.893-07:00

More proof that the Republicans don't know how to fight.At the moment the Democrat's strategy of filibustering Bush's judicial nominations in committee became clear, the Republicans should have voted to change the rules on cloture.They are asking for permission, not forgiveness. The Democrats certainly didn't wait for permission prior to breaking 200 years of tradition.By waiting and negotiating

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1114056900736583882005-04-20T20:51:00.000-07:002005-04-21T20:00:29.260-07:00

I wrote a brief response to my little sister after she sent the below article to my family. In my post below, I neglected to address the issue of global warming due to space. However, I did mention my skepticism to her. This elicited a friendly "I forgot that you are a global warming denier". I let it slide because I didn't care to get into it at that point. However, I am not a denier. My

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1112826925901618382005-04-19T19:33:00.000-07:002005-04-21T13:17:05.963-07:00

My little sister sent my family a group email on April Fools Day:From the April 2005 Issue of Scientific American.There's no easy way to admit this. For years, helpful letter writers told us to stick to science. They pointed out that science and politics don't mix. They said we should be more balanced in our presentation of such issues as creationism, missile defense and global warming. We

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1112922146621801902005-04-07T17:56:00.000-07:002005-04-07T18:02:26.623-07:00

Just caught a story that the French government had to destroy 162,000 copies of the European Constitution because someone had inserted the phrase "incoherent text" on one of the pages.What really caught my eye was the fact that the document is 232 pages.With all our troubles with an over-reaching judiciary, it makes me wonder what sort of mischief an activist judge can do with 232 pages of

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1111797942851679792005-03-30T18:21:00.000-08:002005-03-31T11:55:44.600-08:00

It will be interesting to which version of the Terri Schiavo movie of the week is made. Will it be one sympathetic to the husband or sympathetic to Terri's parents. It is difficult to see how either version can be made without slamming hard either of the two parties."Time for Peace - The Terri Schiavo Story": Michael Schiavo struggles against fanatic in-laws who won't let go of their

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1112030884758884392005-03-28T08:14:00.000-08:002005-03-28T09:38:37.303-08:00

I don't know if the Wall Street Journal will print my letter, but here it is:Editor - John Fund thinks that liberals are being inconsistent with their different approaches to the Terri Schiavo and Elian Gonzales cases. Actually, they are being perfectly consistent. Add both examples to the reams of evidence that liberals are motivated by feelings over facts, reason or logic. Liberals in the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1111709149431179722005-03-24T08:34:00.000-08:002005-03-25T16:44:28.033-08:00

I believe in the "right to die". This case is not about the "right to die". Of the many distinctions between the court ordered death of Terri Schiavo and that of a condemned murderer, the most pressing is that the murderer isn't slowly dying while his case is still being appealed. Just imagine officials cutting off food and water to a convict whilst awaiting word from the Supreme Court.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1110328165738280682005-03-08T16:26:00.000-08:002005-03-08T17:11:17.653-08:00

I've always believed that liberal positions are more emotional than logical or reasonable. Thus logic and reason alone will not be sufficient to alter the thinking of those on the Left. For this reason, I firmly believe that the Left will not care what Hillary's posturing is. She is emotionally with them and will get their vote regardless if she is hawkish on Iraq or starts talking about

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1110221692461917532005-03-07T10:13:00.000-08:002005-03-07T16:56:01.870-08:00

The most oft cited charge levied by the opponents of president Bush's judicial appointments is that they are "out of the mainstream". It would be amusing were it not so serious.By all indications, Americans oppose same-sex marriage by upwards of 70%. Yet, the "mainstream media" is virtually unanimous in their support. See if you can find ONE major media outlet refer to the Massachusetts

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1109870501746387172005-03-03T09:20:00.000-08:002005-03-07T11:06:41.603-08:00

George Ding-a-Ling(Sung to "My Ding-a-Ling" by Chuck Berry)After 9/11 George had a planHe'd take out the Taliban"Well beat the Afghan winterand to Afghans freedom bring"But they still call him George Ding-a-LingOh George (Ding-a-Ling)George (Ding-a-Ling)They Still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)George (Ding-a-Ling)George (Ding-a-Ling)They still call him George (Ding-a-Ling)Saddam called George the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1109201877926554902005-02-23T15:08:00.000-08:002005-03-03T11:09:28.500-08:00

I'm curious. Are the Academy Awards planning any special ceremony on the passing of Ronald Reagan?Although never a huge star, Ronald Reagan did appear in more than 50 films. More important, he was president of the Screen Actors Guild.As president of SAG, Ronald Reagan brokered residual rights for actors. Wanting to avoid any conflict of interest, he had himself written out of the contract.

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1105551710805834342005-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:002005-01-15T17:08:51.236-08:00

There's an angle to the Rathergate report that has been entirely missed by both the mainstream media and the web logs. Since both Ms. Mapes and Mr. Rather contend the documents in question may still be authentic, how did the panel conclude that the problem was "haste", "a rush to air" or "competitive pressures"? It has been several months and these two still have not acknowledged the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1105230228180550182005-01-08T15:58:00.000-08:002005-01-08T17:46:27.890-08:00

I used to be annoyed when I would see Kerry bumper stickers. Now they serve as a happy reminder at the relief I felt that Kerry and these people lost. Still, I wonder why sooo many people insist on keeping them on their cars. At what point will they finally look at it and admit to themselves "its over". I fantasize that moment being similar to the ice scraper scene in "Fargo". In the movie,

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1104943216761192362005-01-05T08:33:00.000-08:002005-01-08T17:08:26.106-08:00

Earlier this week, I read an article in the New York Times about the parents of fallen soldiers who don't support the war. Did our media run such stories in WWII? Undoubtedly they could have found grieving parents wondering why their child was killed liberating the French. I'd like to commission a poll from one of the national agencies. 1. Do you think the American media's coverage of the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1103566135462519702004-12-20T10:03:00.000-08:002004-12-28T21:15:11.693-08:00

The other day while channel surfing, I came across "A Charlie Brown Christmas". By chance I happened to tune in right at the moment Charlie Brown yells out "does anybody know the true meaning of Christmas!?!?!" Linus steps up and calmly answers "Sure, Charlie Brown. I do"... "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1103155124405832572004-12-14T17:51:00.000-08:002004-12-15T16:20:58.916-08:00

Recently I sent this article to a number of people whom I thought might find it interesting. Of particular interest were the number of historical references about the Middle East that most people are unaware. When a friend's spouse replied that she was "insulted" by my email, I was dismayed to have upset her, but was also curious about what could be "insulting" in the article? In my reply, I

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1102523507652058472004-12-08T08:18:00.000-08:002004-12-08T08:31:47.653-08:00

Recently I sent this Thomas Sowell article to my nephew, who is a sophomore at UCI. I've decided to share our subsequent correspondence. I guess turnabout isn't fair play after all? -Scott Hey Scott, I realize I send a lot of stuff and also realize most people don't read everything. I do appreciate that you do read some and hope you find it thought provoking if not the most fascinating

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1102468850113065212004-12-07T16:08:00.000-08:002004-12-07T17:44:17.880-08:00

I was leaving my local liquor market just now, opening my bag of M&M's when the headline of the San Francisco Chronicle: caught my eye: Assault on U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia shows militants remain capable of attacks Four of the "militants" were killed and a fifth was captured alive. Five foreign workers were killed in the attack, but no Americans. Undoubtedly killing Americans, any

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1101876870120215142004-11-30T20:31:00.000-08:002004-12-01T17:43:33.350-08:00

The South African Mail & Guardian reports that the South African Supreme Court of Appeal has just declared that same-sex marriages are to be recognized. According to common law, marriage is the union of one man and one woman. This made it impossible for same-sex couples to be married to each other. On Tuesday, Judge of Appeal Edwin Cameron said in his judgment that the definition of marriage

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1101791094732527502004-11-29T20:45:00.001-08:002004-11-30T17:06:16.820-08:00

Today a 3 judge panel sided with Yale University allowing them to ban military recruiters from campus while still being able to receive federal funds. Here we have another example of the schizophrenia of the Left. On one hand they bemoan the fact that many members of our armed forces come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, then they celebrate the banning of the ROTC and even recruiters

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1101774242012878922004-11-29T16:20:00.000-08:002004-11-30T16:17:28.800-08:00

I guess they have to complain about something. First there were the attacks on Condolezza Rice with racist cartoons. Now the word is that Bush is surrounding himself with "yes men". Since Bush has the most diverse cabinet in this nation's history the Democrats and their allies in the press are trying to find some angle that will stick. Bush is surrounding himself with (gasp) people who

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1101184569593937502004-11-22T20:26:00.000-08:002004-11-29T21:37:02.740-08:00

A couple years ago, I was in the international terminal at SFO when I noticed something strange in the display cases. Most, if not all airports have exhibitions for the enjoyment of travelers. These can range from children's art to historic artifacts. What was odd about this particular exhibit wasn't that it was on the U.S. civil rights struggle. The photos of marches and speeches would have

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1100274864332216432004-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:002004-11-30T16:42:14.280-08:00

I realize the election ended last week. But it took a couple of days to really enjoy and appreciate the outcome because of my overriding feelings of relief. However, I still find myself dumbfounded that 50 million people voted for John Kerry. I marvel that so many did not see or did not care that he was portraying himself as a mainstream (most liberal voting record in the Senate), gun toting (

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1099527090376400962004-11-03T17:23:00.000-08:002004-11-04T16:31:45.136-08:00

I watched last night's election returns at the official San Francisco GOP event. Couple interesting observations. One when I walked in. The other when I walked out. Anyone who has ever been to a Cancer Society, Leukemia Society or any of the myriad of fundraising parties in this town can attest that the crowds are conspicuously homogeneous . Not only is there a uniform pallor to the room, the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1099504602663330202004-11-03T09:54:00.001-08:002004-11-03T16:15:06.653-08:00

Winston Churchill said we should be "magnanimous in victory". Nonetheless, I still would love to place a billboard in this town. Which do you think is better? A - 50,000,000 Liberated. Cheer Up! B - 4 More Years & 3 More Judges!

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1099016042027939582004-10-28T19:05:00.000-07:002004-11-01T16:16:21.476-08:00

Here's the challenge: In one sentence, make the case for your candidate. Here's mine: All other things equal, would you rather have an MBA from Harvard along with a former CEO of one of the world's largest corporations and former Secretary of Defense leading the country or two trial lawyers? Please send your submissions to endnoteblog@hotmail.com

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1099015481220949202004-10-28T18:39:00.000-07:002004-10-31T08:57:06.883-08:00

I've finally figured it out. Democrats just don't care. You don't care that your candidate negotiated with the enemy while our country was at war. You don't care. Its not a big deal that John Kerry sat in front of congress and the world's media and gave false testimony that our soldiers were guilty of horrible atrocities...You don't care...While we were still at war...You don't care. I finally

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1098387622369062462004-10-21T13:38:00.000-07:002004-10-21T16:27:07.206-07:00

23 Democrats voted against the war to liberate Iraq. Nothing too surprising there. Nothing too surprising until you consider that none of these Democrat Senators raised questions about Saddam 's WMD's as their reason for their vote. Think about that - Even though they, along with everyone else in the world, believed that Saddam still had his stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, these

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1098204824261712382004-10-19T07:38:00.000-07:002004-10-19T10:03:21.196-07:00

In response to their endorsement of John Kerry, today's San Francisco Chronicle published my letter to the editor in support President Bush. Reading the other letters that are in agreement with the Chron's choice of Kerry is revealing. You are right to endorse Sen. John Kerry for president. George W. Bush is no longer an acceptable choice, unless one is in denial or simply greedy. - Bill

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1098035774291898132004-10-17T10:52:00.000-07:002004-10-19T15:37:49.073-07:00

Can somebody explain this to me? The only way for our enemies to defeat us in Iraq is for the United States public opinion to change and we lose the will to fight. The only war this country ever lost was Vietnam, where we lost not a single major battle, because of changing public opinion and losing the will to fight. The Democrat nominee for president of the United States dedicated his life to

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1097528192659791822004-10-10T13:16:00.000-07:002004-10-11T21:52:34.183-07:00

A friend turned to me while we were having sushi and said "I don't want to talk politics all night, but I'm wavering. If Bush were the CEO of any corporation he would be fired. So why should I vote for him"? He went on to intimate that his main concern was the missing WMD's in Iraq and that an error of that magnitude would doom anyone in the private sector. I answered that we are not only

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1097190465068086652004-10-07T15:46:00.000-07:002004-10-07T18:33:58.713-07:00

Question #1 Senator Kerry, In Vietnam, we lost a war without having lost a single major battle because Americans lost the will to continue fighting due to decreasing public support for the war effort. Considering how we lost that war and considering your active role in the United States losing that war by publicly denouncing the war effort, organizing anti-war rallies and groups and even giving

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1097177441922067342004-10-07T11:58:00.000-07:002004-10-07T13:03:50.883-07:00

While eating breakfast on Polk Street a few weeks ago, I noticed a group of men and women waiting for their table. Several of the members wore tee shirts from a 5 kilometer run called "Race For A Change". What was remarkable was this 5K was a fundraiser for Kerry/Edwards 2004. Change. You never see Republicans endorsing "change" for the sake of change. This also explains the "Anybody but Bush"

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1097076575581527792004-10-06T08:16:00.000-07:002004-10-07T11:56:16.116-07:00

My post below, reminded me of something from the presidential debate that I am surprised hasn't received more play. When asked what is the greatest danger to America, Senator Kerry replied "Nuclear proliferation". Had he stopped there, he would have had a point. But as he extrapolated, he revealed a great deal about his values and thought process about the dangers we face. "Right now the

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1097075753553532202004-10-06T07:48:00.000-07:002004-10-07T11:58:06.483-07:00

I wasn't able to watch the entire VP debates last evening. However, I did catch one exchange that I believe displays how un-serious Kerry/Edwards are, in these serious times. I've written below, how the moment I hear "Halliburton" I know I'm not dealing with a serious person. Basically, terrorist are flying jumbo jets into skyscrapers and they are worried about a company?!?!? Just as Edwards/

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1096406655348397922004-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:002004-09-28T14:24:15.346-07:00

50 days before an election, one of the 3 major news organizations broadcast a report critical of a sitting president, with whom they have unhidden hostility, using forged documents. Imagine this had happened 6 days before the election and John Kerry had squeeked out a victory. Well, something worse than this happened in the 2000 election and nobody talks about it anymore. In 2000, most major

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1095951137003758382004-09-23T07:41:00.000-07:002004-09-28T14:37:08.750-07:00

CBS spent 5 years working on a story about President Bush's National Guard service. What's so extraordinary about that fact is that the network would spend so much time, effort and resources on an issue that most people believe is trivial. Trivial even if true. 5 years! Besides the glaring bias evident in their fixation on Bush, something else is apparent - disingenuous. Let me explain. Does

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1093968003838826032004-08-31T08:36:00.000-07:002004-09-28T14:48:16.766-07:00

Many of my entries are inspired by conversations or observations. Here's another. A friend asked me to drive her to the airport. Meeting her at a location where she was dropping off her car, I immediately noticed the "Kerry/Edwards 2004" bumper sticker on the back bumper. I was a pretty disheartened because she is very bright and I've forwarded many articles to her over the years. I didn't

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1090861829882846932004-07-26T09:45:00.000-07:002004-08-19T17:07:08.083-07:00

A friend joined a couple buddies and myself for an after dinner drink last evening. Eyeing the button she was sporting her hand bag that read Kerry/Ewards, one of my friends asked her if she was pro-Kerry or anti-Bush. Of course she answered that she was pro-Kerry. Normally, I enjoy these occasions to speak, but for some reason I wasn't in the mood. In part, because I was tired from the heavy

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1089819519420651672004-07-14T08:37:00.000-07:002004-07-20T14:44:41.916-07:00

Below I discuss a friend's comments comparing Rush Limbaugh to Michael Moore. This same person later wrote something that has me thinking. He wrote "I have utter contempt for Rush. I think he is a hate monger that, frankly, has done more to polarize America than anyone". Of course, he couldn't actually articulate to whom Rush is fomenting hate, just as he earlier could not give a single issue

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1089471272513728512004-07-10T07:11:00.000-07:002004-07-11T22:05:26.710-07:00

Swedes and the Swiss are fine folks, I'm sure. But few consider during WWII, they were neutral. Neutral against Nazis. They boasted of that policy of neutrality throughout the Cold War against the Soviet Union. Neutral against the 'Evil Empire' and proud of it. It worked out well for Switzerland and Sweden. Both sold raw materials and provided other support for the Third Riecht and were

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1089392376068827392004-07-09T09:51:00.000-07:002004-07-11T22:03:38.023-07:00

Why do they hate Bush so much? His amiable personality should not elicit such emotions from so many. Here's my personal view: Democrats are still not over the 2000 election. Even those who acknowledge that Bush did indeed rightly win Florida are still bitter over their narrow defeat. With such circumstances, they expected Bush to be a weak president with no mandate. Everything changed

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1089216452461345052004-07-07T07:50:00.000-07:002004-07-08T17:32:35.210-07:00

I was the guest of a friend at a going-away party last evening at a fancy restaurant. The gentleman who was moving was an attorney and worked for the District Attorney's office, here in San Francisco. Needless to say, there were several other attorneys present. Late in the gathering the subject of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 was brought up by one of the guest, who by that time I learned

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000594.post-1088640186495830452004-06-30T16:30:00.000-07:002004-07-01T11:11:22.863-07:00

Yesterday, Tom Brokaw interviewed the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi and posed the following question: "I know that you and others like you are grateful for the liberation of Iraq. But can't you understand why many Americans feel that so many young men and women have died here for purposes other than protecting the United States"? I honestly wondered what those "other purposes" could be

Richardnoreply@blogger.com0