Napolitano To The Left; Napolitano To The Right.

We know Janet "It's Constitutional For Us To Touch Your Junk" Napolitano is a nutter on the Left. No news there. But now my suspicions about Fox News' Judge Andrew Napolitano being a nutter on the Right have been confirmed. And I mean, confirmed at the Alex Jones nutter level.

Judge, if you're going to pontificate on things you don't understand, read an 'effing engineering report first - written by, y'know, people who actually understand how buildings stand up (and fall down). And ask yourself - how many architects and engineers buy into the twaddle of 9/11 "Truth" conspiracy theories?

Hope And Change!

Narcissism is no longer considered a psychiatric disorder:

Narcissistic personality disorder, characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance and the need for constant attention, has been eliminated from the upcoming manual of mental disorders, which psychiatrists use to diagnose mental illness.

It is now the personification of The Ruling Class. (Instapundit has photographic proof.)

Did TSA Co-Opt 'Opt Out'?

TSA and The Left / Mainstream Media declared National Opt-Out Day a failure. But Volokh is asking if the TSA, in order to defuse the protest the day before Thanksgiving, purposely kept many x-ray strip search machines off-line - and therefore limiting the chance for flyers to 'opt-out'? The answer seems to be: Mmmmaybe. If they did, it proves what they are putting the flying public through - gate rape - has little to do with national security and everything to do with hyping fear for power and their job security.

Volokh also links to this video from last February, where a woman - a new mother - appears to be (according to her story) purposely targeted and harassed by the TSA "officers".

The evidence is mounting that TSA is an agency out of control, and Janet Napolitano is a greater threat to our liberties than she is to any terrorist. We need to fire her butt, scrap the whole system, and start over.

And, put some of these mall cop wanna-bees on trial for sexual battery and civil rights violations.

Indeed.

The Borderline Sociopathic Blog for Boys, says: "You Can Call Yourself An "Artist" All You Want. You're Still My Hero For Finding A Way To Play With Matchbox Cars After Puberty."

Speaking Truth To Idiots.

"Just who the hell do you people think you are!?!..." Republicans coming into Congress, take some notes. This kind of honesty that will be required:

Twit For Tat.

John Kerry calls for Israel to give up the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. I think Israel should respond by calling for Kerry to give up his wife's (inherited) fortune and his $7 million sailboat first.

Cry Me A River.

Awwwww. The TSA folks don't like gate raping us. Well, just like nobody's forcing us to fly, nobody's forcing you to fondle our junk. If you don't like it... quit.

It's the holiday season - mall security companies are hiring.

Irony Alert: Where Nancy Pelosi And Harry Reid Keep Their Blue Dogs.

On a blue dog leash. Really, you would think they would have made it in some other color.

The perfect holiday gift for Charlie Melancon and/or Mary Landrieu.

Advent.

Sunday began the first week of Advent, so here is a little something to get us in the spirit of the season:

But... But... That's Not How The CBO Scored It...

Try as they might, those Team Hopenchange wizz-kids - you know, the ones who are soooo much smarter than us proles - can't seem to repeal that pesky law of unintended consequences: Growing number of doctors refusing Medicare patients due to "reforms" in payments.

When you set prices based on political considerations alone, and not on what something actually costs, what do you expect?

How long do you think it will be before doctors are forced to accept Medicare and Medicaid patients - and the fee structure Congress arbitrarily decides - as a provision of their license?

It Was The Best Of Leaks, It Was The Worst Of Leaks.

A Tale Of Two Narratives: Powerline notes a bit of hypocrisy at The New York Times. Just a bit.

P.J., Times Two.

Via Theo Spark, two great videos from the incomparable P. J. O'Rourke:



(Full 93 minute talk is here.) And, PJ's idea to save the world:

Today's Required Reading.

Bill Whittle adds a new, 7th installment to his What We Believe series of video essays. Watch it all:



If you haven't seen them, the first six installments are here. Nice way to spend Black Friday.

Alfred Hitchcock Meets Andrew Lloyd Weber.

People Can Leave The Church, Not Dioceses. Oh, Wait...

The liberal Diocese of Uruguay, a supporter of The Episcopal Church (tm), has voted to secede from the more conservative Province of the Southern Cone. There is opportunity here: Perhaps Gregory can trade Uruguay to Kate for San Joaquin and Pittsburgh, and save everybody a lot of legal bills.

"Dear Rowan..."

Wow. The GAFCON Primates of the Anglican Communion, who represent the majority of Anglicans worldwide, have had it; and today they issued the 'Oxford Statement', a "Dear John" letter to Our Gracious Lord of Canterbury and his Lefty puppet-masters.

For those on the run today, here is the Clifford's notes version of the 'Oxford Statement':

- We believe in traditional Anglicanism. We want to continue in that way.

- We have asked those who are destroying traditional Anglicanism to stop, but they won't.

- We can't pretend any longer that nothing is wrong here. We won't participate in gatherings with those who are wrecking the place, and in useless meetings that won't address the issue. Like, Your Grace's next Primate's Meeting.

- The proposed Anglican Covenant is now toothless, and therefore DOA. Nice try.

- To those who think they can buy our acquiescence to their agenda through dependence, think again; we don't want your 30 pieces of silver anymore.

- We'll have our own meeting in 2011, and our own General Convention in 2012. Hope you can make it.

In other words, GAFCON has just put it all in the pot and had called. Let's see if Rowan Williams is holding more than a pair of North American jokers and a three of diamonds.

UPDATE: Well, that was fast. It seems the pair of North American Jokers and the Three of Diamonds are actually holding Rowan Williams, and he has done their bidding by blowing off those knuckle-dragging, ignorant, homophobic, border-crossing, uppity wogs conservative Africans.

No Confidence.

Why you should never elect a socialist community organizer to run the world's leading market economy: It won't be the world's leading market economy for long.

The Worst Thing The TSA Is Doing.

Making this guy seem sane and reasonable.

"We're Mad As Hell, And We're Not Going To Take It Anymore" Reminder. (UPDATED ALL 'OPT-OUT' DAY)

If you are flying tomorrow (Wednesday, 24 November), don't forget it's National Opt-Out Day. If you or your family get picked for the strip-scan machine, ask to "opt-out" and make the former Wal-Mart associates TSA do an "enhanced pat-down". Be polite and respectful - treat them like you wish you were being treated. Take pictures or video if you can, and post them. Learn first-hand how your government treats you.

UPDATE 24NOV2010: Here is a great way to let TSA um, directly feel your displeasure - go 'Braveheart' on them:

Robert Shofkom wasn't too worried about delayed flights, maybe just strong breezes.

The 43-year-old from Georgetown, Texas, said he planned for weeks to wear a traditional kilt — sans skivvies — to display his outrage over body scanners and aggressive pat-downs while catching his Wednesday flight out of Austin.

UPDATE 24NOV2010: Video of a Speedo protest.

Oops.

While a majority of Americans support the TSA generally today, that number has fallen 15 points in just over a week as more instances of outrageous violations of privacy hit the 'Net. The same survey shows just over half of the respondents think the TSA's groping policy is wrong, and that is not going to improve. (The numbers are rather worse for TSA among those who have flown in the last few months.)

TSA knows they are in a losing battle here, and yesterday they did a PR end-run direct to Congress, to show them how the sanctioned molestations "enhanced pat-downs" are no big deal. It didn't go well:

“The dumbest part: they did two pat-down demonstrations – male on male, and female on female,” the House staffer said. And they used a young female TSA volunteer “and in front of a room of 200 people, they touched her breasts and her buttocks. People were averting their eyes. The TSA was trying to demonstrate ‘this is not so bad,’ but it made people so uncomfortable to watch, that people were averting their eyes.”

“They shot themselves in the foot,” the staffer continued.

Not that most of Congress or their courtiers would ever have to suffer 'gate rape' like the rest of us.

UPDATE: Not all polls find majority support of TSA. Zogby poll says 61% oppose what the TSA is doing.

TSA Security... Myth-Busted.

Via GIZMODO, here is a video from back in May of Adam Savage of Myhtbusters, relating his experience with TSA. Remember this the next time you are being 'gate raped'. (Note: Strong language.)

Fiscal Jeopardy.

US: "I'll take 'Common Sense' for $50 billion, Alex."

ALEX: "The answer is... 'Yes'."

US: "Is it time to lay off Federal workers, Alex?"

ALEX: "You are correct for $50 billion!"

And when we do, let's start by tossing out the useless deadwood at FEMA and the TSA. Which would be... pretty much all of 'em.

Update Your Dictionary.

Via Instapundit, going through TSA security now has it's own special term: gate rape.

Tat For (Feeling Up) Tit.

As much as I want to, I have little sympathy for TSA workers who are complaining about recieving the brunt of the public's outrage at the government's mandated molesting in order to get on a plane.

We have been curtly told by Janet Napolitano that if we don't like the new rules, we are free "to travel by some other means". Well, all you TSA employees, if you don't like fondling other people's junk and receiving the (just) indignation of your victims, you are free to earn a paycheck by some other means.

That "just following orders" excuse went out in 1945.

Um, I Think You And Ben Already Did That, Tim.

Timmy Geithner warned Republicans against politicizing the Fed.

The Free Market Works.

Because a state-run, planned economy could never respond to a need this quick: X-ray shielding 'privacy' undergarments for the flying public.

Divinylgloves New Hit.

Hattip: Libertarian Republican.

Who Would...

...Say something like this:

She says she understands "how offensive it must be" for some people to undergo the searches. She says there's a need to strike "the right balance" and to "get it better and less intrusive and more precise."

Would she submit to a pat-down? "Not if I could avoid it," Clinton says. "No. I mean, who would?"

Somebody who sees an opportunity to run in 2012, that's who. Why else would Hillary take the side of the American people over the dictates of her boss?

Picture - A Thousand Words. Video - An Election.

Don Surber: Video Killed The Congressional Star. Indeed. And the score is...

Army Of Davids 3, People Who Forgot Who They Work For 0.

So far.

Hattip: Glenn Reynolds.

Security - Team Hopenchange Style. (UPDATED, AND UPDATED AGAIN)

I Got Nothing.



I'm a dad. The moment one of those blue-shirted bastards started taking off my son's clothes in public and feeling him up, there would be more than words. I'm sorry, but there are some things worth going to jail for; and the safety and security of my children qualifies. What would it say about me as a father, and an American, if I allowed them to be humiliated like this?

---

UPDATE 22Nov2010: Double click on the video above to go to the Youtube link, and read what the video taker (lukemtait) said happened after he took the video. That will make you as mad as the video itself. Expand the description that begins "Lets get the facts straight first. Before the video started the boy went thro..."

---

Here is a rather creative way to get back at the Blue Shirts:



Me, I'd spend a bit more time and put this on the inside of the T-shirt:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...

Hmmm. I see a lucrative commercial opportunity here.

UPDATE: "It's not a grope. It's a freedom pat." New TSA Slogans. ROTFLMAO!!

We'll Miss 'Ya, Dahlin'.

Baton Rouge icon Price LeBlanc, Sr., has passed away.

A Nail Clipper Too Far. (UPDATED, With More TSA Antics.)

This... Just read it. If this turns out to be true, heads shouldn't just roll, the TSA should be eliminated. All. Of. It. Let the TSA folks go back to their old jobs at McDonald's and Wal-Mart - at least there they were contributing to the betterment of society. I mean, taking away nail clippers from a soldier coming back from Afghanistan, who is carrying an M-4?

UPDATE 20NOV2010: A thread at flyertalk.com about alleged TSA selection of sexual assault victims potential terrorist threats for digital strip-search/personal groping that should get your blood pressure up. Especially if you are a good-looking female. Or you have a daughter flying anytime soon.

I think it's fair to ask: Does TSA hire off of Mehgan's List??...

UPDATE 20NOV2010: Flyertalk.com has more on TSA and their continuing abuses of the air-traveling public. They also have a running list of the airports with the offending digital strip-search machines. Note: the 'TSA TOOK MY SON' story has been shown to be, um, bloody false a large exaggeration.

Happy Birthday, Jack!!

From an old ground-pounder who will be happy if you sit behind this desk in a few years.



P.S. No staying up too late playing, OK?

A Sign Of Hope And Change.

From here.

Obama's Progress.

Some hope. Some change.

America, 1787:


America, 2010:

(image source unknown - via Drudge.)

Government Is Hard.

Senator-for-life Jay Rockefeller (D-Ruling Class) thinks shredding the Bill of Rights will somehow restore our faith in government. Really. Privilege-boy wants the Federal government to ban Fox News and MSNBC, because... y'know... it would, like, make the government's life sooooo much easier. Interesting selection there, being that Fox News is watched by about 50% of the country during the week, while MSNBC - on a good week - is watched by about 10%. Not exactly fair and balanced...

Refudiate This.

Hey, all you Lefty, NPR-listening, smarter-than-us-teabaggers folks - how many 'Word of the Year' words have you added to the English language?

In Louisiana, Our Tigers Come In All Sizes.

But these gators seem to come from Florida:

Enhanced Logic Of The Police State. (UPDATED)

Oh, sorry. I meant the TSA:



Thanks to Comrade Janet Napolitano, our family - and I suspect millions of others - will be driving this holiday season.

UPDATE: Comrade Janet and Team Hopenchange don't get it, but Free Range Anglican does:

Faced with the minuscule chance of having to confront a terrorist on an airplane or the guarantee of being repeatedly assaulted in an airport every time I try to travel, I'd rather deal with the terrorist. If I defend myself against the assault of a TSA agent, I'm going to jail. If I defend myself against a terrorist, I'm a hero.

And FRA has the image that puts it all into, um, perspective:


(image: david wolf / flywithdignity.org)

UPDATE 18NOV2010: Here is a link to Flying With Dignity. How sad it is that we need such an organization.

Is Somebody Selling Tickets?

Because I'm in for a pair just to watch this: The Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan.

Greennecks.

"College men from LSU, go in dumb, come out dumb too..."
- Randy Newman, Rednecks

Via Hot Air, here's one reason why Mr. Newman was right:



If you're from Louisiana and/or send your kids to LSU, remember your tax dollars and your tuition payments give this fellow a paycheck. Critics are saying Governor Jindal's cuts in higher education will force the lay off faculty. OK. I say we start with this Dr. Schaefer guy.

And if he does get laid off, Dr. Schaefer should know that out-of-work radical Lefty academics are always welcome as clergy in The Episcopal Church (tm). It seems to be a career fast-track.

(Full disclosure: Your humble blogger holds a degree from LSU. Make of that what you want.)

The Open Letter.

The Wall Street Journal yesterday took the unusual step of publishing an open letter to The Ben Bernanke over The "Quantitative Easing". Read it all.

'Downfall' - Post Election Edition.

Almost as good as the 'Downfall' iPhone 4 leak...



Hattip: Powerline.

Obama's TSA, Set To Music. (UPDATED, AND UPDATED AGAIN, AND BUMPED)

UPDATE 15NOV2010: Via Theo Spark, it appears that the TSA has a new travel book for the kids:


Just in time for the holiday travel season, too. And speaking of holiday travel, if you are planning to fly anywhere on 24 November don't forget it's National Opt-Out Day. More on that, here and here. Remember to tell your traveling friends.

MORE UPDATE 15NOV2010: Here are some recent TSA horror stories (in the reader comments), and one reader's (MAR51) suggestion that I think would put a stop to all of this mess in a Chicago second:

Maybe the entire Obama family can get patted down on TV just to show us how non-invasive it is. Yes, the are patting down children! Let's see how Obama feels watching his daughters and wife get groped while he must stand there and smile.

But if that doesn't work to rein in this insanity, then I agree with this - abolish the TSA.

MORE UPDATE 15NOV2010: 'Big Sis' Janet finally responds to this issue, using all of the Washington bureaucratic-spin lexicon she can. Clifford's Notes version of her piece: "We say it's good for you. Shut up and take it". This apparent justification for Janet and pals getting in our pants seems very interesting:

"And the weapons and other dangerous and prohibited items we've found during AIT screenings have illustrated their security value time and again."

Really? Exactly what "weapons and other dangerous and prohibited items" have been found, Comrade Secretary? How many? When? Has a single act of terrorism been foiled by your magic machines and your invasive procedures? Ever??...

UPDATE 16NOV2010: Michael Graham of The Boston Herald nails it - lead by example, Madame Secretary:

OK, fine, Janet. I’ll do it. Only, you go first.

I want you to zip over to Reagan National and, on live cable TV, go through the full body scan - with the images available for broadcast and our review. Since it’s no big deal and it’s all for security, I’m sure you won’t mind setting the suck-it-up example.

And after that, you can step over to the personal screening area for what you euphemistically call a “pat-down.” We’ll all watch as a female TSA employee does to you what she did to American grandmothers over this weekend.

I’ll do whatever the TSA says, and without complaint, as soon as I see Janet Napolitano do it. Until then, I’m fighting back.

Indeed.

UPDATE 16NOV2010: Tat for no tit: The man who refused a scanning strip-search and a TSA groping is now being investigated by the TSA. Why? Because of this tidbit Comrade Janet the TSA aren't saying too loud:

When he tried to assert his rights, Tyner was told by a TSA supervisor on tape, “By buying your ticket you gave up a lot of rights.” (emphasis mine)

Oh, really? What rights do we give up? Since criminal penalties and fines in excess of $10,000 are involved, I think it is incumbent on TSA to make the airlines disclose, Miranda-like, exactly what rights we give up when we buy a ticket - and the consequences thereof. I'm sure that won't hurt ticket sales during the holiday season...

'What We Believe'.

Call it the "Bill Whittle Lecture Series". Watch them all. If you like these, you might like Silent America, a collection of Bill's superb essays.

"Quantitative Easing" for Dummies.

I have never been a subscriber to the 'Federal-Reserve-Secretly-Runs-The-World' conspiracy theories of the tinfoil hat crowd, and this pretty much proves my point. Such an out-of-touch bunch as the Fed would clearly have a hard time just running across the street, much less conspiring to secretly run the world. That said, their sheer incompetence right now - plus Team Hopenchange's cheering on of it - could be the ruin of us all economically. So maybe putting our crazy uncle in the oversight chair come January might not be such a bad idea. It'll at least be entertaining.

Hattip: Libertarian Republican.

How I Spend My Saturdays.

Doing this. Well, as many Saturdays as I can. My grandfather worked at Higgins Industries during WWII. This is the least I can do to honor his efforts, and the efforts of thousands of other New Orleanians, building landing craft, PT boats, and lighters during the war.

Get A Raise Last Year?

No? It's OK - our Rulers did.

Shouldn't There Be Big, Green Signs That Say, "This Groping Funded By The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act"?

There is a bit of a backlash against Janet Napolitano's crash program of putting "strip-search scanners" in airports - you know, the ones that let the TSA see your goods in the name of "security". I don't know what Jan and the guys expected the response to be, considering the abusive and degrading treatment meted out to those who "opt out" of the process.

But here's the real kicker - know how all these let's-see-your-goods machines were funded? According the first link above, this invasion of your privacy was paid for by... Stimulus! But the only thing we seem to be stimulating here are the TSA goons when they get to cop(!) a feel.

To be fair, the TSA is a Bush idea. But Team Hopechange sure do seem to be playing the same tune, and even turning up the volume. Along with TARP, the TSA is the worst legacy we have of the Bush years. (No, Robert Gates as SecDef and banning incandescent light bulbs tie for a close second.)

Being an unrepentant capitalist, I see a way to make a few bucks off this problem: I propose opening up a series of kiosks just ahead of the strip-search scanner security line, called 'Package Foods'. It would sell things like cucumbers and zucchini (and grapefruits by the pair for the ladies) for those who felt, um, a little shy about what God gave them being seen on the scanner screen. We'll have an IPO out next week...

Pay Day.

Today is Veteran's Day. Take a moment to thank those who were willing to pay the price to purchase your freedom. Many walk beside you; and many more lie beneath your feet.

To those who also served, and have done so much more than my meager enlistment, you have my thanks. Especially:

John - Marines
Morgan - Army
Keith - Army
Toby - Army
Chad - Army
David - USAF
Jack - Marines
Garland - Army
Fritz - Marines
Hugh - Marines
Kicker - Army
Rich - USAF
Lloyd - Army (WWII)
Bruce - Marines
Jason - Marines
Josh - Marines
Jesse - Navy
Donnie - Army
Jackie - Marines

And to those past:
John, Sr. - Army (WWI)
Earl - Navy (WWII)
Bert - Army (WWII)
Paul - Army (WWII - KIA 21DEC1944)
Hilkiah - Army (Revolution)
Demelle - Army (1812)
V.F. - CSA (Civil War)
Alexander - Spanish Army (Revolution)
Eric+ - Army (Vietnam)
Jack - Army (WWII)

235.

Happy Birthday, Marines.

The Scientific Is The Political; The Political Is The Scientific.

Not letting a serious crisis go to waste, Obama used the BP oil spill last spring as an excuse to stop all deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for six months. Barry said a team of scientists and engineers backed him up on imposing the moratorium, and the White House released a report saying that in late May. But the scientists who wrote the report said wait a minute, that's not what we said - someone rewrote the report. No, we didn't, said the White House.

Now that the whole BP thing has fallen off the national radar, it comes out that... oops!... the White House did rewrite sections of the report to fit their ideological conclusions.

Stopping oil drilling in the US is a fantasy wet dream of radical environmentalists. Many of them are now on the Administration payroll, and some of them had a hand in what happened with this report. While stopping oil production in the Gulf may have caused the eco-greenies an orgasmic private moment, it caused the loss of at least 12,000 jobs here in Louisiana, and $1.8 billion in economic loss.

Enough! It's Time To Man The Ramparts And Light The Torches!

I went to a Tea Party when they passed the "Stimulus". I got politically active when they imposed ObamaCare. But via Instapundit comes word of... this. Which may well (in our house, at least) qualify as legal grounds for open rebellion.

In 1776, Mr. Jefferson penned,

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance."

I think you would agree, dear readers, that inflation qualifies as "eat out", and bacon qualifies as "substance".

'Indecision Points' - In Stores Sometime Next Year.

Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco takes issue with the version of events following Katrina in George Bush's new book, Decision Points.

Oh, really? Let's take a paddle down memory lane:



According to the linked article:

The former governor is now working on her side of the story in her memoir that she hopes will come out sometime next year.

And 20 Years Ago...

...Al Qaeda’s first victim.

21 Years Ago Today...

...The world woke up from history. After reading Scott's post at the link, turn this up. Way Up.

Bumper Values.

'Coexist' Explained.

Well, It Wouldn't Be Devastating For The Budget, Or The Taxpayers Who Pay For It.

Vivian Schiller, the NPR Commissar, says defunding public broadcasting would be "devastating" to... public broadcasting.

Comrade Schiller gave her little pep-talk for state-controlled media at an Episcopal Church, so it's no surprise her reason to keep the government cash spigot turned on came right out of the Kate Schori elitism-on-parade excuse-book:

Schiller criticized cable news during the forum for what she sees as its partisan nature. She also praised NPR’s audience as more intelligent than other media audiences...(emphasis mine)

In other words, public broadcasting's audience is waaaaay smarter than us ignorant rubes in flyover country, so of course PBS/NPR deserve some of our hard earned jack.

Public broadcasting is the very poster-child of a government program that has lived on far past it's reason d'etre. 50 years ago - in the era of three TV channels - public broadcasting made good sense. But in the era of cable, satellite and XM/Sirrus - with their hundreds of channels for viewers and listeners to choose from - it doesn't. So, why are we still paying for it?

If the limousine liberal set want to listen to NPR and watch PBS, fine - privatize it and let them pay the cost. If PBS/NPR are as important as their proponents claim and have the loyal viewership they imply, then the networks will survive. And if they don't, MSNBC could use some diversity...

UPDATE: D'Oh! I should check Stand Firm first. My friend Jackie already posted on the Schiller/Schori elitism connection. Jackie's link to Schori's infamous quote about Episcopalians being better educated was better than the one I had, so I stole hers.

An American Prypiat.

In New Orleans:



The Prypiat reference.

Democrats Want Every Vote To Count.

Except, of course, when they don't:

Illinois Republican Mark Kirk won't be seated in the U.S. Senate in time for the start of the lame duck session of Congress this month - unlike two other newly elected senators.

And the two other newly-elected Senators to be seated are - surprise, surprise - Democrats.

Monday Morning LOL.

Indeed:


see more Very Demotivational

Hattip: Adair, via Facebook.

Three Degrees Above Absolute Zero.

To quote a guy named Kahn, revenge is a dish served cold. Very, very cold.



Hattip: Aardvarks & Asshats

The Gift That Keeps On Giving.

Not to worry, dear readers, seems we'll still have the most toxic figure in American politics to kick around. And they say there is no God...

Indeed.

Sean brings us Ben Stein's Paradoxical Thought For The Day.

Oh. My. Non-Specific-Non-Judgemental-All-Inclusive-Supreme-Entity.

What is it with Lefty Episcopalians and their need to 1) beclown themselves, and 2) show their utter hatred of the Roman Catholic Church?

A recent video of a Halloween service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in San Francisco, which shows a priestess dressed as the Pope in the 'Popemobile', was quickly removed from Youtube once it started to get noticed.

You'd think Lefty 'Piskies would give more respect to an all-powerful, all-controlling church leader, now that their beloved Kate Schori is angling to be the same thing.

I saw the video before it was removed, and what one noticed - besides the mockery of the Pope - was in the background: The utter emptiness of the church during this service. Maybe it was a midday service. Maybe it was a 'flash service' - the liturgical equivalent of a 'flash mob'. Whatever it was, I thought all that 'doing a new thing' inclusion and making the service relevant was supposed to pack the pews.

Thanks - I think - to James H of Opinionated Catholic for this one. And James, I can promise that my home parish, St. Luke's Episcopal in Red Stick, would never do such a thing.

UPDATE: Did a bit of editing for readability and add a few links. Also, this: A quick look at the website for St. Luke's, San Francisco, shows that the rector is one Rev. Dana Corsello. However, I couldn't tell if she was the one 'Popemobile' costume. The website also points out an article by the rector's husband, Andrew Corsello, who penned a somewhat amusing bit about the couple (well, about him, anyway) for O, The Oprah Magazine. And, it seems Andrew is helping Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in The Episcopal Church (tm), write a book on religion and, you guessed it, gay marriage.

People Unclear On The Concept II.

Team Hopenchange really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, missed the message of last night's election. As always, it's all about them.

With work, a lovely server crash this morning and a meeting in New Orleans tonight, my opining on yesterday's election will have to wait until tomorrow.

People Unclear On The Concept.

If Kate Schori, Don of The Episcopal Church (tm), and the other mainline Lefty church leaders in this nation want to know why they are losing people and cash, consider this bit of compare and contrast:

Kate and comrades, yesterday:

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori joined leaders of other mainline Christian denominations in meeting with President Barack Obama on Nov. 1, the eve of the midterm U.S. elections, to express gratitude for his leadership and to address national and international issues of peace, justice and poverty.

The American people, today:

With unemployment at 9.6 percent nationally, interviews with voters revealed an extraordinarily sour electorate, stressed financially and poorly disposed toward the president, the political parties and the federal government.

Sen.-elect (Rand) Paul, appearing Tuesday night before supporters in Bowling Green, Ky., declared, "We've come to take our government back."

Election Day.

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!

UPDATE: Poll watching today. Turnout is not (so far) heavy here in Baton Rouge. The rainy weather is likely a contributing factor, but I am worried about complacency here and in other parts of the country. Just because your humble blogger and many others are talking about a blowout, it won't happen if you do not GET OUT AND VOTE!

You won't melt in the rain, dear readers - get to the polls!

The Obama Syndrome.

John at JMC Enterprises has a last minute sooth. One word: Meltdown. The Senate, too, dear readers.

Why 2010 Won't Be Like 1984. Or, 1994. Or, 2008.

The best damn ad of election 2010. Period.



For those too young to remember a world without Mac, here is the original for cultural reference.

UPDATED: Had a report that the vid wouldn't play when you clicked on it. Works for me, but I know sometines these things can be buggy. So here is a direct link.

The Sound Of (Media) Silence.

The Religion of Peace (tm) once again wages tolerance, this time in Iraq:

An al Qaeda attack that killed 52 hostages and police in a Catholic church in Baghdad was aimed at driving the embattled Christian minority out of the country, Iraq's human rights minister said on Monday.

Why? This bit of Islamic interfaith understanding pretty much sums it up:

Al Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq, claimed responsibility in a statement posted on Islamist websites for the attack on "the dirty den of idolatry."

And where is the top-of-the-fold, big-letter coverage from the major media outlets? Where is the international outrage? Where are the demands for an end to 'Christophobia'? Nowhere.

Well, Rev. J. Edwin Bacon, rector of All Saints Church in Pasadena, are you going to get equally worked up over the death of 52 of your fellow Christians as you did over some nutter in Florida threatening to torch Korans? Will All Saints hold a lecture to study things like this? And will you, Dr. Maher Hathout, explain how why all those billions of peace-loving Muslims you say are out there don't seem as upset about how Christians are treated in Muslim lands as they are about how Muslims are treated in Christian lands? What are we to believe is "the real Islam"? - the way Islam acts toward others, or your flowery words?

UPDATE: Well some of the US press is picking up the story: Fox News, Yahoo, and The Houston Chronicle so far. The Washington Post has a writeup, too, but they downplay the the origins and motivations of the perpetrators - you have to read down a bit to find out the "militants" were Islamic terrorists linked to al-Qaeda, and even further down to find out they are willing to "exterminate Iraqi Christians" if folks don't do what they want.

And The Episcopal Church (tm)? Will they release a statement? Since no Korans were harmed and no LGBT persons threatened, I highly doubt it.