I will say this bluntly, for the record. Anna Quindlen is full of shit. Her latest column is nothing but a rant on how much she hates the Bush Administration because it acts when she doesn't want it to, for her protection (Iraq, NSA wiretaps), and doesn't act when it isn't federally allowed (in New Orleans). She prostests Preisdential power when it comes to protecting American families from terrorism, but objects when it doesn't expand that power to take over municipalities at will (that will be Kelo II).

She says an air of malaise grips this country, and I for one do not see it anywhere but the newsmedia. Are people going through hard times? Yes, but not any more than during the Clinton Administration, except for those affected by Katrina. I see a bright future for this country, America striding foreward to lead the 21st Century Anna Quindlen does not. She is just another liberal stuck in 1968, and proves it by mention the most hated man in American history who isn't George Bush or Dick Cheney: Richard M. Nixon:

Officials are claiming they can't release documents about the bureaucratic disaster because of executive privilege. Americans of a certain age are familiar with executive privilege; it's what Richard Nixon cited when he was using the White House as his own private political boiler room.

Wow, what a revolutionary idea! Take someone you irrationally hate, and compare him to someone else you hate. Too bad she picked Nixon. She must have missed the "Bush is Hitler" memo. I at least hope that Quindlen in her delusional state, remains on the back page of Newsweek, where she can't do that much harm, and it is easiest to tear out for tissue purposes.

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:13 PM | Permalink | |

Samuel Alito was sworn in as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday, less than two hours after the Senate voted 58-42 to confirm him to the nation's highest court.

"Sam Alito is a brilliant and fair-minded judge who strictly interprets the Constitution and laws and does not legislate from the bench. He is a man of deep character and integrity, and he will make all Americans proud as a justice on our highest court," President Bush said in a statement.

Sweet.

Also, Bernanke's in tomorrow:

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday approved the nomination of Ben Bernanke to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, the most influential economic policy job in the world.

Bernanke, 52, was cleared on a voice vote after a short debate in the chamber amid strong bipartisan support.

Also sweet.

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:05 PM | Permalink | |

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin had an interview with the Orlando Sentinel on his first nine months on the job.

On Challenger/Columbia:

What we need to be mindful of is that a common theme runs through Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia. If you spend much time on this stuff and aviation accidents, a common theme is that of not listening to the signals the hardware is sending – the test results, the flight results, the dissenting opinions of the people involved. So a common theme is not listening. And I don’t mean actively shutting out. I mean being so focused on what we’re trying to do that we’re not aware of what nature is telling us. I think about that a lot to be very honest with you. I wonder on an almost daily basis what am I doing that would keep us from listening as we should and what am I not doing that would cause us to have our eyes and ears open as we should and must. I hope everybody in the program is thinking that way. I really hope they are. I can’t check with each one personally, of course, but I hope they are. That’s what I think about. Our procedures work when we follow them. Okay, they’ve worked 112 out of 114 times when we’ve followed them. So we don’t need in the final years of the shuttle to invent new procedures or to invent new ways of doing business. We need to follow what we know how to do. So that’s part of it and we’re going to work on that. But even more importantly, we didn’t fail to follow our procedures on Challenger and Columbia; we weren’t listening to what the hardware was telling us. If we see anything like that again, I hope we have learned.

On the moon/mars program:

Some have characterized it as boring and for the same reason, others have been upset that there is not a lot of new technology in it. I said earlier that we do believe we’re accorded sufficient money to do the job. We were not allocated sufficient money to do the job by way of a new technology development program. We do not have that money. Now, I have run multi-billion dollar technology programs, or one of them, for the DOD [Department of Defense] in the old strategic defense days. I would love to do that. I would love to have the equivalent of what I had then, $4-5 billion dollars in today’s dollars each year, just to advance the technology front. We don’t. So yes, the architecture is rather prosaic, but it gets the job done with what we can bring to bear.

It doesn't strike me that he is whining for money, but he does recognize that with limited public interest in space, combined with the emerging private sector, limits the amount of money that Congress can appropriate.

Posted by Ryan S. at 12:00 AM | Permalink | |

Rassmussen's latest has Bush at 50%:

Monday January 30, 2006--Fifty percent (50%) of American adults approve of the way George W. Bush is performing his role as President. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove.The President earns approval from 82% of Republicans, 25% of Democrats, and 41% of those not affiliated with either major political party.

Any liberal reading this is most likely stunned, shocked and outraged at the stupid publlic who doesn't know the truth. Right? They don't know how Bush lied, even though Moore, Gore, Sheehan, and the rest of the moonbat brigade have been telling them that for years. They don't know about the NSA and Ambramoff scandals, though they have been on the cable news networks for weeks. That would be a serious misleading of the American people.

The State of the Union Address is tomorrow, and Bush's numbers on the eve of look great. Truth is, they have been steadily improving for a while now, not that you would find media coverage on that. But we haven't found bin Laden and there's chaos in Iraq, right? True, but bin Laden isn't as strong as some would have you think and Iraq is turning for the better:

There are, however, some pretty strong signs that al Qaeda is losing. Benjamin and Simon are almost certainly correct in their reading of bin Laden's position. He quite likely does think he is winning. Arrogant, even delusional, overconfidence is a part of his job description.

It's true, too, that Jihadis and terrorists will continue to be able to kill people regardless of what happens to Osama and his umbrella organization. In the main battlefront, Iraq, though, the signs are finally pointing in the other direction.

The Congressional segment of the GOP may be under fire, from the left for Abramoff, from the right for pork-barrel spending, but the executive remains unscathed, having quietly recovered from Scootergate, Harriet Miers, and Katrina, and is hopefully going to surge ahead in 2006 with a clearer agenda and the will to fight for it.

In my opinion, 2005 was a squandered year for President Bush. Iraq did improve from the administration staying the course, and two Sumpreme Court nominations, one confirmed, and Alito soon to follow. Everything gained by the Administration was hammered by the Democrats, with some of the most heated resistance coming from Murtha, Kerry, Kennedy, Schumer, and Dean. What do the Democrats have to show for it? Nothing. They pushed Joe Lieberman aside, half the population thinks Bush is doing fine, and the DNC is cash poor when compared to the RNC:

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill are privately bristling over Howard Dean’s management of the Democratic National Committee and have made those sentiments clear after new fundraising numbers showed he has spent nearly all the committee’s cash and has little left to support their efforts to gain seats this cycle, ROLL CALL reports.

Congressional leaders were furious last week when they learned the DNC has just $5.5 million in the bank, compared to the Republican National Committee’s $34 million.

Who is wasting who's time?

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:04 PM | Permalink | |

The Patriotette from Conservababes has a a great post on the disparity between what Hollywood says and does:

These double standards remind me of what I was thinking about yesterday when I happened to catch "E News Weekend" and saw (liberal) stars enjoying fabulous, expensive, over-the-top lifestyles. Can anyone please explain to me why Republicans are the so-called "party of the rich" when 98% (or more) of celebrities who make $10-20 million a movie are liberals and that's okay? Why is liberal wealth and excess somehow different or...better than a Republican's? Why are they entitled to the debauchery and 15,000 square foot mansions and ultra-expensive, custom automobiles, and a Republican is scoffed at for being "wealthy"? (even though a lot of us are middle-class hard working people...FAR from "wealthy")

And don't tell me that liberals are better philanthropists. That it makes it okay for them to revel in their wealth while making fun of a Republican's success. Republicans are just as generous - if not more. However, the difference is that Republicans believe in "teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime" instead of the liberals' "give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day". So we're seen as hard-hearted because we believe people should help themselves and not depend on government handouts?

The truth of the matter is that the Hollywood left doesn't exploit Middle America. That is what they honestly believe. When I have to pay 9.50 for a movie ticket, I tend to disagree. I think this may also explain the box office success of The Passion of the Christ. Here was a powerfull film, beautifully made, and shunned by the Left. It ended up making almost $371 million dollars. At its current pace at the box office, Brokeback Mountain would have to continue to rake in the amount it has made in the past two weeks (about $10 million), for another 33 weeks. It isn't going to happen.

I don't mean to imply that Hollywood should pander to Middle America. If they consentrated on making good movies, without an obvious agenda, this rift would be a lot less noticeable.

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:02 PM | Permalink | |

This one is from To Seek a Newer World, and is simple. Just list three things people don't know about me.
1. I was heavy into comic books until I got to college could no longer afford to buy $25 worth every two weeks
2. I am not happy with the Catholic Church right now, and it is causing doubts about my religion
3. I often react rather then thinking.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:59 PM | Permalink | |

Last night, I had the honor and pleasure to attend the Evening for Laird Stabler event at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware. Tne guest of honor was President George H. W. Bush. I worked as a volunteer for the event, which I feel was the best fundraiser I have ever attended. Bright spirits all around, and though Laird is known as "Mr. Republican," it was event to come together to celebrate the man, and not the politics. More than a few Democrats were in attendence, and the Mississippi Hurricane Relief effort made out very nicely. I was also excited that a video message from Gov. Haley Barbour was played.

The President's speech was short and humorous, discussing the life of an ex-president. Apparently, no one forgets when you throw up on the Prime Minister of Japan. He also said that he and Bill Clinton have receieved praise from foreign governments, baffled that two political enemies could come together for causes like Tsunami and Hurricane Relief. Here are some pictures I snapped:

President George H.W. Bush decends the stairs at Hotel DuPont


President Bush and Congressman Castle


The President seemed to be having a good time.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:57 PM | Permalink | |

Recently, a friend and I discussed how policy, especially Congressional policy, seems to be stuck in the 1970s. Iraq is not Vietnam, but we tried to fight like it was, because we were so scared of making the same mistakes. The last presidential election revolved around Vietnam, and the conservative revolution of a great man, now Reagan, where before it was Goldwater, has almost completely faded into the past.

Arnold King has a TCSDaily column up about liberals being stuck in 1968, and I think my friend and I, and King, are on the sam ewavelength when it comes to this:

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:54 PM | Permalink | |

Yes, you are reading this right. The one, the only, Sentator Robert C. Byrd is a hero this week. Besides being a former KKK member, and the only one old enough to remember both Roman history and the writing of the US Constitution, he also is one of two Democratic senators to vote Yea on Alito (so far), and the only high profile one to do so. In his speech, he said that Alito was well qualified, no matter how conservative he was. Glad he has no litmus test.


This guy is a hack...because this is sick and scary:

BURLINGTON, Vt. — A controversial ruling for a sex offender in Vermont was changed Thursday from 60 days to 3 to 10 years after a judge received pressure to extend the punishment.

When Judge Edward Cashman sentenced Mark Hulett, 34, to 60 days in prison for sexually abusing a child, he said he wanted to make sure the man got treatment that would be available while he was behind bars.

And now, a follow up to last week, Al Gore is now attacking Stephen Harper, accusing him of conections to 'Big Oil.'

Hero/Hack appears every Friday at Jokers to the Right.com. Suggestions? E-mail: FlyByYYZ[@]udel.edu, sans brackets.

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:17 AM | Permalink | |

I took POSC423 last semester, a political science class called "Congress & Public Policy." In the class, we discussed how Congressmen have to many events and such, that they usually need to prioritize (usually fundraising wins over committee hearings). Now, it seems that more and more elected Congressmen are actually blogging. I'm not talking about 'BLOG' sections on Congressional webpages that are really just press releases organized chronoligically, but actual words by the elected officials (or possibly ghostwriting staffers, kind of hard to tell). I find Dennis Hastert's an exception, as his posts sound like him, and appear infequently enough to seem legit.

"When I reach out to the blog community, it gives me an opportunity to begin a dialogue with an extremely politically sophisticated and active community that I otherwise might not be able to reach," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wrote in an e-mail to CNET News.com. "Another benefit of blogging is that, as opposed to delivering a speech, you get immediate and unlimited feedback, both positive and negative."

This seems a bit dumb actually. I think I had a hit from Obama's office a couple months ago, and every now and again I get one from federal departments. I assume them to be staffers/bored bureacrats, but you never know. What strikes me about this is the irony that bloggers are talking. Porkbusters, anyone? They just don't seem to listen. So much for the people we choose to be our voices, shouting so loud that they can no longer hear us. On that note, I give you the now infamous John Kerry Kos post.

It actually isn't too bad, but bloggers and blog readers, for now, are a small constituency. One thing they want? More transparent government, if only for dissection purposes. Those in power, like Abramoff players, and the Democratic Party of Labor Interests, don't want that. Future headline: President Clinton Trapped in Argument With Blogger, 12548 Commentors Slam Healthcare Plan?

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:08 PM | Permalink | |

Yes. Jacques Chirac. While some of you may think that I have lost it, I think that if the Democrats follow the path of Chirac, though he may be an Oil For Palaces/Saddam apologist, I think the lame duck can walk. Allan Topol, writing in The Washington Times, discusses why Chirac has come around:

" What is so surprising is that Mr. Chirac's government has in the past favored an approach of conciliation or even appeasement toward Iran and the Arab nations. He was, after all, the vociferous foe of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and a hard line against Iran. That approach benefited French companies that were able to obtain lucrative contracts in competition with corporations based in the land of the great Satan. So, what happened? There are two contributing factors. The first is the civil unrest in France several months ago, which involved nightly riots and a myriad of car burnings in many areas of the country. This violence had the same kind of impact upon Mr. Chirac and the French government that September 11 had upon the United States.

In his speech, Mr. Chirac bluntly declared, "In numerous countries, radical ideas are spreading, advocating a confrontation of civilizations." Mr. Chirac now understands the problem. The jihadists are attempting to capture town by town, areas within Western Europe. As one French government official put it, "This is more than a clash of civilizations. It is a cancer within our country that if unchecked will destroy all of France."

With his statements, Mr. Chirac is warning Iran and the Arab countries to desist in supporting and encouraging residents of France who launched last year's attacks and are undoubtedly planning to do far worse. His approach is to cut off terror at the source. This resembles the policy being pursued by the U.S. government, although it is hard to imagine how great the public outcry would be if President Bush threatened to use nuclear weapons."

This is exactly what the Dems need to do if they ever wish to regain the Presidency. Domestic squabbling may fly in Congress, but for foreign policy, they need to realize that a remade Middle East, free market and democratic, is essential to the survival of the West.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:13 PM | Permalink | |

The Conservababes have tagged me to play along with 'Meme.' If I understand how it works, I have to answer six questions, then tag 5 others. This should be interesting.

1. What were three of the stupidest things you've ever done in your life?
1. Forged a signature in 7th grade
2. Put an iPod shuffle near my jacket in the Apple Store at the mall to demonstrate how easy it would be to steal one. In front of the sales clerk.
3. Trying to hide who I am

2. At the current moment, who has the most influence on your life?
Hmm. Probably Stephen Harper, right now. Yes, I am that dorky. He's an economist by training, and someone who I look up to because he had the courage to work for change in a system that many did not even consider broken at first. Revolutionary. Other people would include my mother, and one of my close friends.

3. If you were given a time machine that functioned, and you were allowed to only pick up to five people to dine with, who would you pick?
Hitler. Jefferson. Winston Churchill. Ronald Reagan. George Orwell.

4. If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be?
Money. Can't buy me love, but it would go a long way. To publish a book. The ability to not say things I shouldn't, and to say things I don't but should.

5. Name two things you regret your city not having, and two things people should avoid.
Newark- Regrets? No Wawa in walking distance of campus, No Target in reasonable driving distance. Avoid? No Name Pizza & Gyro. I think it is a drug front. Trying to cross the intersection of South College and Cleveland, as a predestrian is tough. That light timed against us.
Philly- Regrets? Good government. Cheaper Flyers tickets. Avoid? Mayor John Street. North Philly.

6. Name one thing that has changed your life.
Blogging. Sounds weird, but I was on the radio last week, and have had other good things come of it. Glad I decided I needed a vent for my opinion.

7. Choose five other bloggers to carry on the meme.
People I think will actually respond:
PolitaKid
Hube (Colossus)
Jess Mahone
Mike M. of Down With Absolutes
Mark of To Seek A Newer World

And please trackback or comment with a link if you do!

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:54 PM | Permalink | |

One of my absolute favorite blogs, Albion's Seedlings has a post on what Harper could do in terms of Anglosphere relations. What's good for the Anglosphere is good for the US, IMO.

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:17 AM | Permalink | |

For Al Gore's new book on global warming. Check these headlines out:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's second book about global warming will be published in April with the title "An Inconvenient Truth," his publisher Rodale Books said on Tuesday.

Posted by Ryan S. at 3:39 PM | Permalink | |

So here I am, 1:19AM, having been watching C-SPAN since a little before 10PM, and finally, the moment I have been waiting for, Stephen Harper's acceptance speech as the new Prime Minister of Canada. This has been a great campaign by Harper and the CPC, and I am glad the the Stealth Revolution continues with a minority Tory government with 124 seats (Full results here). Here is my reaction to his speech. Honestly, I am more excited about Harper than I was about Bush in 2000.

What this may mean for us.

1:24 AM Not sure I like the tie...a little too 'candy' looking. But no matter.

1:26 AM "We will govern for all Canadians" - I hope they do a damned good job

1:27 AM Laureen is prettier than Laura. Wonder if they'll get along. Weird name thing.

1:27 AM Obligatory Martin praise, now Layton and Duceppe.

1:29 AM Yes, putting all of your heart into a losing campiagn is tough. However, sometimes, it is very worth it.

1:30 AM "a freedom we must always, always cherish" sounds very Bush-like. Interesting, as the US military basically protects Canada too.

1:31 AM This bilingual thing is getting on my nerves. French makes my ears bristle. Translator has an annoying voice too.

1:31 AM "Strong. United. Independent. And free." nice!

1:33 AM "The Canada we know. The Canada we love. The Canada we will strengthen." very nice, and he gets a chant! "Har-Per!" is easier to chant than "Bush!" IMO.

1:35 AM "We will clean up...Ottawa by proposing and passing the Federal Accountability Act" I like that proposal. "Not just shuffle the deck"

1:35 AM On the GST: A tax cutter who cares about solvency? Whoddathunk it?

1:36 AM "Anglophones and Francophones"...looks like they will be working with the BQ. Makes sense to me.

1:37 AM The West is Harper's Texas. "The West wanted in. The West is in." Those two sentences are the reason he is in politics.

1:38 AM Atlantic Provinces, aka the ones whose names I always mix up. Yet, "The best is yet to come"

1:39 AM Ooh, cute CPC girls. "I got a weird thing for girls who say, 'Aboot.'"

1:42 AM He is not afraid of making mistakes. Good. Because it will happen, no matter how good you are. He seems prepared for it.

1:42 AM "God Bless Canada"

Short speech. Very nice. Looking forward to their version of his inaugural address.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:13 AM | Permalink | |

Today is Election Day in Canada, and Canadians are going to the polls. Thanks to Jess Mahone, I have been following this for a while, and even have found an idol along the way (Harper). Here are links from the archives of JttR on the election if you are catching Harper fever at this late hour:
Jess' excellent primer
The Stealth Revolution begins with a no-confidence vote
The parralells between Canada today and the conservative attitude here
Debate reaction and the nonwithstanding clause

and, if you are curious, Canada is important to the US because they are our neighbor, and because of the anglosphere.

C-SPAN is going to have live coverage starting at about 9:30, and if the UPS guy shows up, I'll be watching it in my Conservative Party of Canada logo t-shirt. CBC will also be having online coverage.

I call this the "Stealth Revoultion" for several reasons. First, no one outside Canada really saw it coming, and there were doubts inside the country as to whether a stagnant Liberal Party could be dethroned. From reading a biography on Harper, (I highly recommend, and I am going have to buy, as I borrowed mine from UVM) I could see that Harper did not set out to become Prime Minister. He got started in politics, and founded the Reform Party of Canada to set things right for Alberta and the West. Regional injustices abounded, and Harper and Preston Manning started to try and set things right. It was a large grassroots movement, but I doubt many ever really considered that Harper's party could do much more than the NDP. They eventually took over the Progessive Conservative Party, shifting it to the right.

However, it was not until this election, after learning from the mistakes made in 2004 that cost them a shot at minority government, that Harper and the CPC were able to bring the ideas of common sense "Contract" conservatism to the Canadian people. What the Liberals and the Democrats don't realize is that people want solutions, not just pointing out the faults of someone else.

As for election predictions, I have been saying that a majority is likely for at least a week now. I think that many Liberals will stay home rather than vote NDP or Conservative. Because the NDP needs to draw people from the Liberals, this hurts them much more than it does the CPC. The majority plateau begins at 155 seats, and I am going to predict 150-158, but I think I am going to settle on 156. Good luck to the CPC!

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:58 PM | Permalink | |

Roger Stern has an article about it that is very technical, but the news is good for us oil consumers. (PDF only). He talks about why oil cannot be used as an effective weapon, like Iran threatens to do.

Posted by Ryan S. at 8:40 PM | Permalink | |

I wanted to take the time to reflect on my experience last night of being a guest with PolitaKid on Wendy Levine's Newstalk show on WILM. Overall, it was a fun and pleasent experience, and one I would not mind repeating in the future (shoot me an e-mail if you need a guest).

Being on the radio, for more than a few seconds, anyway, was something I enjoyed. As my friends and family can attest to, I love to talk about mostly anything, and giving me a microphone and some airtime is either a slightly dangerous idea or a good way to kill airtime. As for my "too many radio stations" comment in response to Wendy Levine asking if there are too many bloggers, it was mostly a joke, but I am not sure she picked up on it. I think I will do better if I am ever on the radio again, as the more you do something, the better it gets (reading that post that I linked above, from my early days, I feel my content and writing have improved greatly).

I have a few complaints or regrets about the show. For one, while I do not mind talking about liberal bias on campus, for me, it has become more of a fact of life than something I feel I can change. You watch for the most extreme cases, and draw attention to it, but "affirmative action" for conservative professors is a bad idea. The other main topic besides our blogs, breath and drug testing in schools is something I hardly ever think about, and it felt like she handed us two topics that were mostly inconsequential. Though I got a few words in on Iran, I wish we could have talked about issues like that and Alito a little more. Also, several friends I talked to had trouble with WILM's internet feed. Nothing we can do about that.

The manager sent me mp3s of the show last night, and I could put them up, but I am not sure if that would violate copyright law or not. If anyone does know conclusively, please e-mail/comment. In listening to them, I am surprised how different my voice sounds from how it does in my head, but this was the first time I heard a recording of me where I wasn't shocked at how bad I sounded.

I think PolitaKid did a great job also, and I think he is certainly one of the premier bloggers on Delaware issues. I would like to remind everyone that though we are young, and conservatives (note I do not automatically use the word Republican), we have firm beliefs, and well-informed, reasoned opinions.

Thanks to all who listened!

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:00 PM | Permalink | |

If you are an avid reader of PolitaKid's blog, you already know that he and I will be appearing on Wendy Lavine's radio show tonight. She is on WILM (1450AM) at 9-10PM. We will be in-studio, live on the air. You will be able to call in to ask us a question on the air. The number is (302)656-8134. If you are outside the listening area, or like me, live in a dorm room impenetrable by radio waves, WILM fortunately broadcasts online (except during Rush Limbaugh). Click this link to go to their main page, and then click the "Listen Live" graphic.

I am open to most questions, so feel free to call in. I know we will be at least talking about Intelligent Design v. Evolution (as per schools), and I'm sure Judge Alito and possibly the NSA "scandal."

UPDATEL Post edited and moved to new time/date.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:55 AM | Permalink | |

"Oh, the more it changes, the more it stays the same
And the hand just re-arranges the players in the game"
-Al Stewart, Nostradamus, Past Present and Future (1974)

It was twenty-five years ago today that the Iran Hostage Crisis ended, coinciding with the inaguration of President Reagan. These two events marked a transition in American politics. The campiagn of 1980 had become the fulfillment of Barry Goldwater. Iran demostrated how the liberal policies of negotiating had failed.
James H. Joyner, Jr.:

The Iran hostage crisis, which began on November 4, 1979, gripped the nation. Our impotency in the face of some thugs in a Third World country symbolized the decline of America. During the previous decade, we had been defeated in our longest war, gone through two energy crises, seen our economy tumble to its post-Depression worst, and lost all trust in our political institutions. That all changed in that one hour.

In the next decade, the economy was booming, the military rebuilt, the Communists were defeated, and public confidence was restored. Bravado in the face of a would-be assassin’s bullet, a firm stance against the illegally striking air traffic controllers’ union, declaring the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire,” and bold military action against the likes of Muammar Qaddafi made Reagan an iconic figure. His admonition, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” was heeded much more quickly than any dared hope.
American politics began to sway to the right, the Presidency oscillating back from Reagan towards center with Bush, then towards the left with Clinton, and somewhat back towards the right with Bush.

We not stand poised along the road to victory in Iraq, after months of doubt and bickering at home, and a threat from the horizon of 2002, included in the Axis of Evil but approached with stern diplomacy, has taken center stage. With each passing week, Iran has done more to defy the West's expectations, and it seems Holocaust denials may only be the beginning. Drudge right now has five stories on Iran. They are defying the West, and laughing while they do so:

Iran removed some U.N. seals from its main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, central Iran, on Jan. 10 and resumed research on nuclear fuel _ including small-scale enrichment _ after a 2 1/2-year freeze.

This is now affecting oil prices, and could very well upset stability in the region, as well as the world:

Over the weekend, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, hinted that his country might be willing to use the "oil weapon" - that is, curbing Iranian oil exports - if faced with international sanctions. At the same time, some members of the U.S. Senate said Iran should be sanctioned regardless of the consequences for oil prices. Such talk may be mere a negotiating tactic, but it is stirring anxiety in oil markets, which have been rattled since Jan. 3, when Iran announced its decision to resume a nuclear research program that was suspended under an agreement with France, Germany and Britain in late 2004.

Jimmy Carter's lack of courage allowed the first Iran Hostage crisis to occur, and we need to make sure our leaders have courage enough to act in the best interests of freedom and human life.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:53 PM | Permalink | |

My hero this week is the Canadian voter, who will be going to the polls on Monday. They are on the verge of electing their first conservative government in a long time, and this campaign certainly has echoes of Mulroney's 1984 run which landed a record majority government. This is all under the leadership of a great conservative mind, Mr. Stephen Harper. You know he is a good conservative when he is being attacked as viciously as our own President. M.K. Braaten has the lowdown on the final push of the campaign:

If Stephen Harper has enough political capital to withstand this barrage of smear attacks over the next three days, then he will be the next Prime Minister of Canada. In contrast, if central Canadians vote this Liberal government back into power, not because of their disastrous campaign or coherent policies, but because the baseless smears thought up by the Liberal campaign, then my faith in this country will be greatly diminished. Monday could turn out to be a divisive day for many Canadians, including myself.

My hack for this week is none other than Al "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm Alright" Gore. Yes, the raving mountain man, who looks like he wants to live in the woods- but only if it is a generously expensive Eddie Bauer camping tent- is back. Inconsequential since Bush v. Gore was decided, he has occasionally tried to seize what I imagine he thinks to be his rightful place among moonbats, the Hillary and Jabba-occupied throne (Jesse Jackson is seated to the left). Gore this week completely contradicted himself, pulling what is known as an "87 Billion Reverse" or, more commonly, the flip-flop. What was the issue (not global warming) domestic spying. It seems that "Don't Call Me" Al was for it in the 1990s, while he was eyeing "Big Mac" Bill's job, but now is against it. (link) Yet another ex-candidate clogging up our national policy. (h/t GOP and Me)

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:10 AM | Permalink | |

The title to this post is a line oft-repeated by US officials in movies involving terrorists. Following that, the US does one of three things: Actually negotiates, the good guys show up and take out the terrorists, or the US feigns negotiation to lure the bad guys into a trap. What can we learn from this? I'm not sure.

But here is what I do know: Bin Laden hates us. He hates our way of life. Every man woman and child who lives in the United States. This "truce" is a bunch of bullshit. He wants us to leave Iraq so he can take over. He wants to murder our citizens. Any idea that he will leave us alone if we hand him a Caliphate on a silver platter is insane. There will be those who call for peace with bin Laden. I will not be one of those. The only peace is in victory.

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:42 PM | Permalink | |

Fellow DE blogger Paul Smith Jr. has an excellent post reflecting on the stature of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Benjamin Franklin as American icons:

This, I think, is an important lesson. People need heroes. They need someone they can measure themselves against to try to aspire to. When people constantly criticize our national heroes, pointing out or claiming that Washington was a slaveowner, or Lincoln didn't really care about ending slavery until it became useful to the War effort, or that MLK knowingly consorted with Communists, I don't think they're doing a service to our nation.

Were any of these men perfect? Of course not. (Although it seems Washington comes darn close.) But we need them to be icons to us, to help us keep in mind the heritage we as Americans share. It's that shared history that unites us, especially as we're not a nation based on race or ethnicity. More than any other nation we need to understand our history and how we got here if we're to maintain our unity. Tearing down our shared icons can only lead to disunity in the future.

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:58 PM | Permalink | |

I think every US citizen has a right to free political speech, as protected under the First Amdendment. This unfortunately includes lobbyists. I think people and corporations have the right to lobby Congress for a favorable outcome. Congressmen also have the right to not listen. Many Congressmen, for whatever reason, do not exercise this right nearly as often as they should. Thus the call for transparency.

I want to know every dinner, golf outing, vacation, or other event that a Congressman goes to. It should have to be logged and catalogued, then placed online for the world to see. What will this accomplish as far as reform goes?

It is a lot easier to deny something occurred when it is available to the general public in an online database. Lobbying will never cease, but if we as taxpayers can, at the very least, keep track of it, and hold Congress and K Street accountable, I think it will go a long way.

Posted by Ryan S. at 11:13 AM | Permalink | |

Niall Ferguson, I just want to say, has written several volumes on Western Civilization, and is a professor of history at Harvard. These are his words on the possibility of World War in 2007:

As in the 1930s, too, the West fell back on wishful thinking. Perhaps, some said, Ahmadinejad was only sabre-rattling because his domestic position was so weak. Perhaps his political rivals in the Iranian clergy were on the point of getting rid of him. In that case, the last thing the West should do was to take a tough line; that would only bolster Ahmadinejad by inflaming Iranian popular feeling. So in Washington and in London people crossed their fingers, hoping for the deus ex machina of a home-grown regime change in Teheran.

And so, the Tehran Missile Crisis begins, as the Iranians are able to build a weapon and point it at Tel Aviv. You all should read the whole thing.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:42 PM | Permalink | |

It seems that right now we live in a credit society, one that moves not on capital as much as credit. Borrowing.

About a month ago, the New York Times examined how the use of credit has taken off dramatically in the United States since 1990. While the number of people holding charge cards grew about 75 percent— from 82 million in 1990 to 144 million in 2003— the amount they charged during that period grew by a much larger percentage: approximately 350 percent, from $338 billion to $1.5 trillion.

Economic problems with this aside, this keys right into public policy. The federal budget deficit is soaring, and no one cares. Why? Because they know what it is like to carry around a decent percentage of thier income as debt, and so far, nothing really bad has happened. The only problem is that the federal government cannot declare bankruptcy.

Posted by Ryan S. at 1:18 PM | Permalink | |

I added several blogs to my blogroll, most of which I should have added a while back.

Posted by Ryan S. at 8:40 PM | Permalink | |

Now, I know Conan is a liberal, though I find him incredibly funny. Now, however, he has endorsed a candidate...in Finland.

HELSINKI, Finland — Finland's president finds her traditional support among women and the Social Democratic Party base, but lately to the surprise of many Finns — and her opponents in Sunday's election — she has gotten an endorsement of a different sort.

The redheaded late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien has been promoting President Tarja Halonen's re-election bid as part of a long-running joke about their supposed physical similarities.

"Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly — my good looks," the comedian, whose show is broadcast on cable in Finland, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Obviously, the opposition part is upset. But who can stop the red-headed wonder of late night comedy? Probably only Walker, Texas Ranger.

A pic of the resemblence:

Posted by Ryan S. at 5:30 PM | Permalink | |

I have selected two picks for both Hero and Hack this week. Why? Friday the 13th? Not really, I just felt like it.

First up are Judge & Mrs. Alito. Judge Alito for his stellar performance under the pressure of obtuse Democrat hackery. He is going to make a fine justice.

Mrs. Alito is my other hero. One, for holding out as long as she did, and two, for having the courage to cry, to let the world see how baseless attacks and rude questioning can break down a family quicker than someone on trial in an episode of Law & Order. (VIDEO)

On the hack side are Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. Joe Biden.

Ted Kennedy's major offense? This:

Ted Kennedy, of all people, expects Alito to remember an editorial in the WSJ from Jan. 17, 1985 (the WSJ dug that one up today: see Doing It Right: The editorial Sen. Kennedy wants Judge Alito to read) — twenty-one years ago almost to the day. The senior senator from Massachussetts can remember newspaper articles from 21 years ago but was too drunk to remember what he did on July 19, 1969.

Maybe it’s because, in Democrat eyes, acts committed in the past are part of “a story of sin and redemption”, but only if you’re a Democrat?

JTTR FILE PHOTO of Kennedy:


Joe Biden had plenty to say, even with his foot in his mouth most of the time. Radio Blogger has some of the details:

This morning, at 7:04AM Eastern time, Senator Biden appeared with Katie Couric on the Today Show for about eight minutes. Katie grilled Biden over the personal attacks by some on the Judiciary Committee, causing Mrs. Alito to leave the hearing yesterday in tears. Biden immediately deflects, saying he wasn't in the room when she cried, and saying the system (the hearing process into judicial nominees) has broken down.

First of all, for Joe Biden to say the system has broken down is like an arsonist coming out of a burning building with a spent match in his hands, saying wood is bad because it's flammable. But I digress.

There was also the Princeton incident, which the Daily Princetonian has more details on. Not a great week to be a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee indeed.

Hero/Hack appears every Friday at Jokers to the Right.com.

Posted by Ryan S. at 12:01 AM | Permalink | |

I want to buy 535 more copies of this book. One for every member of Congress. Rep. Feeney and Sen. Coburn can send their copies back signed if they wish. Santorum and every Democrat need to read and submit to me a 5-page book report, self-written, on their reaction to how they are slowly poisoning this country. If only I had $8,362.05. Joel Miller's Size Matters is essential reading for taxpayers.

First, for a book called Size Matters, it is a small volume. However, within its 200+ pages, it manages to go beyond the traditional arguments against Big Government, and explain how exactly how it affects the average American everyday. He roots it all to the Pursuit of Happiness, the most oft-neglected segment of Jefferson's "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." While the Happiness was written off as 'property' in my high school history classes, but Miller looks at it as a specific freedom. If your pursuit of happiness is infringed upon by the government, via regulation, taxes, and red-tape, what can we do? We can choose to fight, or we can simply accept it. Acceptance seems to be the current mentality.

Miller, however, does not prescribe an easy solution. Since markets push back, and people are inclined to pursue happiness whether the government infringes upon it or not, not to mention the power lobbies in Washington, immediate, quick reform is unlikely. The best way to fight back, then, I imagine, is through extra-government sources. Private retirement plans. Wal-Mart. VOIP (not as regulated as regular phone service). Abandon the need for bureaucracy.

Highly recommended.

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:02 PM | Permalink | |

Were I in charge of the nation, here is the list of issues I would place high in my agenda:

Continue Fighting Terror - with more human intelligence personnel. That is one of the major components we lacked on 9/10, and probably one of the ones we still lack today. We need to infiltrate radical cells and mosques, especially in Europe. Europe is the front line in the War on Terror once Iraq fully stabilizes, as the attacks of 3/11 and 7/7 have demonstrated. We also need to work on encouraging democracy, not just generally, but by specifically targeting Islamic nations where is can happen. We shouldn't go in by force, but use a pressure/reward system. Rewards include things like WTO membership, etc. Target countries include: Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia

Keep One Eye on Iran - Iran worries me more than any country right now. The Persians have not been conquered since the 13th Century, and the geography explains why. Now, they have a nuclear program, and a radical government in both the President and the Ayatollahs who hates the West. However, the Iranian people, from every impression I have gotten, while they may resent the US from years of brainwashing, do not hate us. It is not possible right now to liberate the Iranians, but the Iranian government could seriously hurt Iraq (since Saddam invaded in the 1970s-80s), and Israel. We need a Western policy on Iran, as right now, the potential for them to get nuclear weapons is high, upsetting the balance of power in the region, and causing the bomb to get into the hands of radical Islamists.

Lessen Dependence on Foreign Oil - I realize that most of our foreign oil comes from Mexico and Venezuela. However, some of it does come from the Middle East (especially Saudi Arabia) and that is a security issue. However, there are several reasons why we should try to reduce dependence, as well as several ways to do it, and several benefits. First is that energy is a highly regulated industry, and oligopolistic. An oligopoly is an industry in which there are several competators, usually because (and this is true in the case of oil) the industry takes a lot of capital to get started in. Also with energy, the vast amounts of government regulation hamper our ability to create a more competative energy market. The oil companies are a powerfull lobby, but who are their biggest competators? It is currently impossible to build an oil refinery on the U.S. coast, which leaves the big companies in charge. Nuclear power is in a straightjacket, and if the problem of safe waste storage is solved, it is the safest, cleanest way to produce fuel. We also need to encourage alternative energy use and development. The only reason Chevron has an incentive to develop alternative energy right now is for PR and the forecast that we keep using up so much of the world's oil (yet keep finding it at a reasonable pace). While if Chevron were ran long-term, they would use some of thier profits to develop more alternative energy uses, and try to capture a marketshare for the future. No alternative energy endeavor should be taxed, whether in development or at the point of consumption.

Simplify the Tax Code - Right now, it is so complex and so full of loopholes it makes me sick. Ideally, I want to go to a flat-tax system, but I think cleaning up the current system is an admirable start. By elminating loopholes placed in the tax code by lobbyists, and ensuring that people pay the taxes they should under the basic percentages, plus strategic tax cuts (see above). Then, cut taxes. The less tax people have to pay, the more money they are taking home. If you make minimum wage, you should pay zero in taxes. Reduce the tax burden on everyone, if possible.

Reduce the Size of Government - Still working on this one. It will be a later post. Use the money saved to begin to pay down the deficit.

Those are the basic outlines. I need to do some research before I figure out the last one.

Posted by Ryan S. at 2:44 PM | Permalink | |