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.

Almighty Obama, To You All Wallets Are Open, All Incomes Known, And From You No Health Data Is Hid...

Praying to a false god. The new object of worship is an idol fashioned out of false hope and (other people's) gold, and, like the first golden calf of yore, he will bring our nation to ruin.

Not to worry, though. Tuesday night some guys are coming down the mountain with some tablets. Let's try to live by them.

"Miss Me Yet?"

Aparrently, yes.



I just watched this live with a big smile on my face, repeating "82, 82, 82..." To be fair, it was Texas. And, W doesn't pitch like a community organizer.

Should Anybody Really Care...

...What the UN has to say about "human rights"? Nope.

Election Night Guide.

My friend and soothsayer John with JMC Enterprises has an election night guide well worth reading that should make things a bit more "user friendly". And, buried in all of John's facts, figures, and insignts is this bombshell:

The big question about the House is not whether the GOP will gain control, but how large of a wave there will be. We are currently projecting a 82 GOP seat gain.

Eighty-Two. Wow. Just, wow.

11 Reasons To Vote Democrat.

I've posted it before, but with Tuesday looming it bears watching again:

Wouldn't You Like To Be A Dhimmi, Too?

One Dr. Maher Hathout puts on his smiley face and explains "Islam in a Nutshell" to a group of eagerly pliable Episcopalians.

Here is Dr. Hathout a few years ago explaining 'Judaism in a Nutshell' to a group of eagerly understanding Muslims.

Someone should ask the good doctor if he would support the building of a Jewish community center in Medina to promote, y'know, interfaith understanding and healing. I mean, Medina was a Jewish city once...

UPDATE: Second link fixed. Sorry.

A Timely Reminder.

Happy Halloween!

Swamp Thang Thriller from RightChange on Vimeo.

Bias? What Media Bias? (UPDATED)

And they wonder why we don't trust the Mainstream Media anymore: Anchorage reporters get caught conspiring to smear Alaska Republican Joe Miller.

UPDATE: Powerline has more, including the actual recording and the TV station's lame excuse. The Ruling Class hates it when they get caught being honest.

Trick. No Treat.

Your ObamaCare future. Watch it all.



Hattip: The Hayride.

Carving A Pumpkin.

Because we're Americans, and we can. That's why.



Hattip: Creative Minority Report.

This Is, After All, Why God Created Leaves.

From, where else? The Borderline Sociopathic Blog For Boys, of course

I'm Sorry New Jersey; We All Need Him.

Chris Christie is the new Reagan. 2012 can't come soon enough.

St Crispin's Day.

It was actually last Monday, but putting this up every year around this time is kind of an RSR tradition.



And if any Lefties out there try to draw inspiration from this for next Tuesday, forget it. You're the French.

I'm Famous.

Well, sort of. I’m awful glad Christopher left our “pin-the-tale-on-Ruth-Gledhill” game at Club Indaba out of the transcript. People might talk.

The Company You Keep.

Another question to ask on 2 November: Do you really want this group of Obama's friends helping to call the shots in Congress for another two years? No, me either.

Oh, The Times They Are A Chan-gin'.

When you've lost Bob Dylan...

The Final Sooth, And A Word From The Management.

John, our official political soothsayer extraordinaire, has made his final prediction on the results on 2 November, and they can best be summed up nicely in these one-word descriptors: "Wipeout". "Bloodbath". "Slaughter".

Here's the numbers:

Governorships: Pickup of 8 for the GOP, for 32 governorships.
Senate: Pickup of 7 for the GOP, giving the Republicans 48 seats.
House: Pickup of 76 (Yes, he said 76 -ed.) for the GOP, flipping the House to 255 Republicans.

Now, a word from your humble blogger:

John's numbers are all well and good, but they WILL NOT HAPPEN if you, dear readers, do not GET OUT AND VOTE! And get your friends out to vote. And get your family out to vote, and get casual acquaintances out to vote, and... well, you get the picture.

You have a cell phone with a contacts list - use it! Many of you have Facebook and Twitter accounts - use them as well. Contact everyone you know who wants to restore this country and Washington back to the values found in the Constitution, and repair the damage done by the values of Chicagoland politics. Let them know how important it is for them to vote - even in races where it the conservative candidate is a shoo-in - and that you value them enough to enough to remind them.

In this day and age of cell phones and the Internet, you don't have to fight the power - you can BE the power.

Delta Blues For The Democrats?

How bad are things looking for the Party of Hopenchange? According to my buddy John, bad enough that a black conservative Republican on a shoe-string budget has pulled neck-and-neck with a 17-year black Democrat in a majority-minority district in Mississippi.

I Have A New Favorite Winter Sport.

After women's curling, of course: CQB Biathlon.

From The Borderline Sociopathic Blog For Boys.

Picture, Thousand Words. Yadda, Yadda.

Shamelessly stolen from Theo Spark:

Elitist, Ruling Class Quote Of The Day.

This would be "Quote of the Month", but we're hedging our bets - the month isn't over and Joe Biden's mouth is still out there somewhere. Anyway, over to you, Katie Couric:

That’s why Couric has spent recent weeks in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and New Brunswick, New Jersey. She is touring what she calls “this great unwashed middle of the country” in an effort to divine the mood of the midterms. (Emphasis mine)

While my knowledge of such things is very limited (my degree is from a lowly public university in fly-over country), since when are Philadelphia, Boston and New Brunswick, New Jersey, the "middle of the country”??

Oh, wait. Here's the map Ms. Couric appears to be using:


(Steinberg, The New Yorker Magazine)

P.S. Katie, if you want to "divine the mood of the midterms", ask this lady. While she may not know all about the intricacies of Supreme Court decisions, she knows what us unwashed are thinking because, unlike you, she's one of us. And, she sure as hell knows how to read a map.

For Anne.

Hee, hee, hee.

The Freedom Of Withholding Information Act.

Transparency, Team Hopenchange style:

Phacil has also posted a job listing on its own website for a specialist in FOIA citing an “immediate need a FOIA Analyst [sic] to support a very high-profile government customer in Washington D.C.” Included in the scope of the work is “Redacting or withholding agency records citing appropriate exemptions and generating response letters; and Responding to requestors concerning the agency’s disclosure determination by generating response letters.”

Even more unbelievably, among the qualifications requested is: “Use of FOIA/PA exemptions to withhold information from release to the public.”

Note also in the article that Phacil and it's founders are not exactly disinterested players here.

Information, is power. Barry and his comrades know that well, which is why they want to control the information you get about them to the greatest extent possible.

Shoes Of The Oceanographer?

When it comes to the ever increasing power of The Presiding Bishop, Kate Schori hasn't said (yet) that equality with God a thing to be grasped. But, she appears to be hinting that equality with the Pope may be a thing to be grasped, and possible "structural changes" in TEC's ever-sacred polity toward that end could come in pretty darn handy. It certainly seems, um, curia-ous...

"l'Église, C'est Moi", Kate?

The Ultimate Inclusion.

Quick! Make this lady an Episcopal bishop: A Taipei woman says she is going to marry... herself. And her reason is nothing if not boiler-plate theology from today's Episcopal Church (tm):

"I'm not anti-marriage. I just hope that I can express a different idea within the bounds of a tradition."

You know what this means, dear readers? The Episcopal Church (tm) is gonna have to add another letter ("U" for "unitary"? -ed.) to the 'LGBTQ' alphabet soup of preferred Episcopalians.

Montgomery, 2010.

How desperate is post-racial, transformational uniter Barack Obama about 2 November? This desperate:

We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back."

It's OK, though. To continue the metaphor, we got our own lady who refuses to sit quietly in the back of the bus.

What's next? Barry and his fellow travelers blocking doorways? Oh, wait...

The Obama Legacy. (UPDATED)

Brilliant.



This is - no exaggeration - what's at stake on 2 November.

Hattip: Scott at The Hayride.

UPDATE: The Pelosi/Reid Legacy:

I'm Baaaack.

No, I really didn't go see a wizard. What I did do was spend three days here:


(image by Red Stick Rant / iPhone)

My annual silent retreat at Manresa House of Retreats in Convent, Louisiana. But, I hear you ask: That's a Jesuit place and... you're not Roman Catholic. Quite true. I go for two reasons: First, I am a Christian, and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola work just fine for any Christian man (the Jesuits will let most Christians in - and yes, it's men only) seeking a serious deepening and understanding of their Faith. Second, The Episcopal Church (tm) doesn't have anything that even comes close to the Manresa experience. And given their current obsession and drive for elitist, boutique status - utterly devoid of any of that yeechy, superstitious religion stuff - they never will. Plus, we all know what our Presiding Bishop thinks of Roman Catholics:

...Episcopalians tend to be better-educated and tend to reproduce at lower rates than some other denominations. Roman Catholics and Mormons both have theological reasons for producing lots of children.

Here's another image from Manresa, taken early Friday morning:


(image by Red Stick Rant / iPhone)

Many of my New Orleans readers will understand why my first thought when I composed this shot was "Drysdale painting".

More after I unpack.

I'm Off To See The Wizard...

Blogging will be pretty much non-existent here at RSR for a few days while your humble blogger takes care of a few work issues, and a yearly personal one as well. I'll be back Sunday night or Monday, but until then I present for your blog reading pleasure:

Instapundit
Maggie's Farm
Theo Spark
The Hayride
Midwest Conservative Journal (for all you 'Piskies out there)

and, of course,

Borderline Sociopathic Blog For Boys

This Week's Sooth.

Our regular political soothsayer, John, has consulted the vestal virgins (There are still virgins in politics? Who knew? -ed.) and proclaims this week's sooth on 2 November. If there is a 'Democrat Surge' - as Biden and comrades claim - John sure ain't seeing it. He also has some interesting data at his site on Louisiana's early voting, so head on over.

An Interesting Endorsement In MA-4.

According to a campaign email I got this morning, Senator John McCain has endorsed Sean Bielat, Barney Frank's challenger in Massachusetts' 4th District:

On this Election Day voters in Massachusetts will decide who will best represent them in Congress and for the first time in a long time, Congressman Barney Frank has a strong and serious Republican challenger who is within striking distance of winning.

I strongly support Sean Bielat for Congress and with your support, he will win the election on November 2nd.

Were this a normal Massachusetts one-party election, McCain's endorsement wouldn't matter a tinker's damn. But this is not a normal election. While most of the rest of us look at McCain as a quirky Republican at best, in New England he is seen as an 'acceptable conservative', and his maverick image and military sacrifice carry a measure of respect. That could well give Newton/Brookline moderates (Clinton Democrats to the rest of us) the cushion of comfort they need to vote for Bielat. If there is one thing suburban Boston voters hate worse than a Republican, it's a pol who has overstayed his welcome - and I think Frank may have finally done that.

I've Waited 13 Years For This.

At the the roll-out of the latest AutoCAD software at the American Institute of Architects convention in 1997, I stood up in an auditorium full of my fellow professionals and asked the AutoDesk presenter when they would be releasing the Mac version.

I was laughed at.

The presenter said AutoDesk had no intention of ever again supporting AutoCAD on the Mac platform. It was a small and shrinking market, and besides, "Apple won't exist in eighteen months."

Look who's laughing now, Market-share Boy.

UPDATE: There's an iPhone App as well.

Oh, Sweet Moe...

A story banging around the blogosphere for some months claims that former Velvet Underground drummer Maureen "Moe" Tucker was interviewed at an Atlanta Tea Party rally. Turns out, it's true.

For those of you too young to have heard of Velvet Underground - or your parents were too young - here's a taste of Moe's handiwork:

Don't Know Much About History.

The Left / Mainstream Media elite make fun of Sarah Palin for telling Tea Partiers to "party like it's 1773". Readers of this blog know why she picked that date.

And they call us ignorant and stupid?!?

Ich Bin Ein Berliner.

I had the great good fortune to spend some time in West Berlin in 1983, back when the Berlin Wall was a very real thing and Communists were a threat to freedom - not White House advisers. We spent days wandering the city, including time in East Berlin (complete with an unsubtle Stasi trying to pass himself off as a 'friendly student'), and spent some amazing nights on the 'Ku-Damm'. Needless to say, I've had a soft soft spot for Berlin ever since.

So to see the transformation and urban reunification of the city since the fall of the wall in 1989 is, well, nothing short of amazing.

Nothing For Something.

A little piece of news to keep you awake at night, and think about in the days leading up to the 2 November election: National Debt Up $3 Trillion on Obama's Watch.

That's on the order of a 22% increase in less than two years. For... what? You see any improvement from where we were in 2008? Unemployment has increased (and hasn't decreased as we were promised). Mortgage foreclosures have increased. Health care costs have increased (faster than before). Regulations have increased. And our taxes are about to increase from a whole host of things. Spending our way out of this hasn't worked, so maybe it's time we tried stopping spending instead. We have only one chance to do that in November - and even then it's a slim one, but that's the only one we got.

UPDATE: Oh, wait. My bad. The President says reason the economy is still in the shitter has nothing to do with him or his policies. Oh, no - its because you and me are too stupid, scared, and frustrated to appreciate and be amazed by the brilliance of His actions.

For Jack.

Your dream is safe - you can still go Hog wild. Until 2028, that is.

Let's Do The Remake Again.

Nooooooo! Is nothing sacred anymore?!?

Can anyone ever really top top this? I don't think so. Besides, what was original and shocking in 1975 is no big deal now. These days, this guy could easily be mistaken for an Episcopal Bishop.

He. Ain't. Cedric. Richmond.

Scott over at The Hayride makes a very convincing case for conservatives backing Joseph Cao in the LA-2 Congressional race. LA-2 readers, please read it all.

When you're choice is between slim and none, go with slim.

Inter-nacht?

I was afraid this would happen. Jay Dardenne, the Republican candidate for Louisiana's Lt. Governor (who this writer supports -ed.), is Jewish. Some folks in these parts don't seem to like that fact, and one JOHNNYANGEL has left this snarky, anti-Semitic comment over at the PoliticsLA website:

"Jew boy Dardenne is no better than Clinton."

Who JOHNNYANGEL is, I don't know. Several on the website are blaming the comment on Democrats, but I don't think so. The LDP has some pretty immature players (cough! Kevin cough!), but I don't think they are that immature or that stupid. Whoever it is, I'm glad they are now letting their true, hateful character out for all to see. And, for us to judge accordingly.

I'm surprised, though, the post writer didn't try to weave Dardenne into the loopy Rothschild and Illuminati conspiracy theories for extra effect. Seems more his (JOHNNYANGEL's) world-view.

UPDATE: After reading JOHNNYANGEL's other posts at PoliticsLA, he appears to be less interested in Dardenne's faith and more interested in trying to peddle a slimey rumor.

The Episcopal Church (tm) Welcomes You, Or, Is There An ACNA Church Nearby?

Gene Robinson, a (in order of priority) Gay Episcopal Bishop, shows how The Episcopal Church (tm) lives into that "respect the dignity of every human being" thing when it comes to that most unfavored minority in their ranks today - us traditional Christians. He declares all of us who disagree with him to be "hatemongers and crazies are spewing all sorts of venom and condemnation" .

Gee, thanks. We can feel the Episcopal hold-your-positions-a-little-more-lightly (tm) love from here. I could say the same things about you, Bishop Robinson; and about Integrity, the House of Bishops, and Kate Schori. But somehow if I do it it's 'hate-speech', so I won't.

While not reacting to Robinson's 'hate-speech' directly (hey, if its 'hate speech' when I call them names, its 'hate-speech' when they call me names - ed.), Ann Althouse does a good job of kicking the bundled "Christian faith = homophobia" meme of Robinson and the rest of the Secular Left into the corner.

UPDATE: Why yes, yes there is an ACNA church nearby...

A Short, Short Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

What would The Empire Strike Back look like if Darth Vader tried to rally his forces by claiming the Rebel Alliance was actually the Empire, and the Empire was actually the rebels? It would look something like this.

Obama already finds our lack of faith disturbing.

UPDATE: While our Princess Lea isn't his daughter, but he is her cousin.

Let's Be Frank About History. (UPDATED)

My former Representative, Barney Frank, Then and Now.

UPDATE 17OCT2010: Barney Frank's challenger, Sean Bielat, notes Barney's 20/20 hindsight on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:



You can help Sean by going here. Remember, dear readers, money is the nutty-buddy parfait of politics. Ain't that right, John?

The Replacement For 'Waterboarding' Has Been Found.

Being forced to watch this all the way through.

What We Believe.

The brilliant Bill Whittle at PJTV explains the values of the Tea Party Movement:





Watch them both.

Hey Baton Rouge Tea Partiers, What Time Is It? (UPDATED)

It's time to change the country, that's what time it is!

If rummage sales and the occasional flag waving isn't quite what you had in mind for political action this election season, there are places where you can turn your energy into action and fight back to elect conservative / Constitutional candidates to office. Our former Tea Party President, Jennifer Madsen, needs volunteers for the Republican Party's 'Project Victory' campaign, which she now heads. (If you are in another part of the state, Jennifer has campaign opportunities for you, too.)

Dear readers, we need to turn this election, not into a change of parties in Congress, but into an electoral rout the likes of which has never been seen; which even The Left / Mainstream Media can't spin away. Even in "safe" conservative districts we need to turn out our vote in such numbers and with such force that our voice can not be denied. A 52-48 victory is a victory. But a 62-38 victory is a mandate.

Right now, the Republican Party is the best avenue to do that. Our opponents aren't content to sit at a rummage sale or wave flags - Organize for America intends to make 15 million phone calls before 2 November for Leftist candidates. We need to double that.

So ask yourself, my fellow Tea Partiers - what do you want to do in the next few weeks? Sell bric-a-brac and tee-shirts, or continue to be a part of the next American Revolution? The choice is yours.

UPDATE 15OCT2010: For those interested, there are several Tea Party activities in south Louisiana tomorrow (Saturday) that don't involve selling attic leftovers and cookies:

Greater New Orleans Tea Party is holding a "mini-rally" at Veterans and Causeway in Metairie, 10-Noon. Bring tasteful signs.

Northshore Tea Party is holding a "Family Fun To Get It Done" rally at the Reagan Memorial in Covington, 1-3. Senator Vitter and Representative Scalise will be speaking, and there will be opportunities to volunteer for a get-out-the-vote drive (which, in the how-to-win-elections category, beats sellling cookies).