Busy at the Moment

Duty calls as crunch time for new schools are under way. Albeit intermittent, I intend to update.

DCT 93.5% Clean

Mom, you can put the bar of soap away…

(via Booker Rising)

Beyond Bias

Not only does the left-wing New York Times refuse to to publish John McCain’s rebuttal to Barack Obama’s recent op-ed, they have the arrogance to tell him HOW he should rewrite it.

‘It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama’s piece. To that end, the article would have to articulate, in concrete terms, how Senator McCain defines victory in Iraq.’

FOX News features the original McCain op-ed as originally submitted. In the meantime, it’s evident that the NYT is shilling for the Obamessiah — and presenting a glimpse of blatant media bias yet to come under a potential Obama regime administration.

Lord Help Us

Barack Obama’s gaffe on Pearl Harbor is just the beginning (and you think that a native Hawaiian would know better).

I don’t know about you, but I’m not looking forward to the Second Coming of Jimmy Carter.

Goldwasser and Regev, R.I.P.

SnoopyTheGoon of Simply Jews comments on the recent prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah.

The decision to go ahead with this exchange, with almost total certainty that we’ll be paying the price of releasing a baby killer for two bodies, was not an easy one. I wouldn’t wish to be one of the people on whose shoulders the decision fell. But it is over and done with.

As for the question that will be debated for a long time: was the exchange worth it? - a lot of hot air and acrimony were already spent and will be spent in the future. Uncounted angles, including the future victims of the “surrender” to the blackmail, the loss of face, the new kidnappings awaiting and the damage to something called “national psyche”, whatever it means - all these and more will be thrown into the ring. Surprisingly or not, many of these angles are valid. All, or almost all of them, were part of the excruciating decision process.

Heller Denied Gun Registration

Now that Washington D.C. has rolled out its “new” gun law, they used it to retaliate against the man who took the District to the Supreme Court over the unconstitutional gun ban.

Dick Heller is the man who brought the lawsuit against the District’s 32-year-old ban on handguns. He was among the first in line Thursday morning to apply for a handgun permit.

But when he tried to register his semi-automatic weapon, he says he was rejected. He says his gun has seven bullet clip. Heller says the City Council legislation allows weapons with fewer than eleven bullets in the clip. A spokesman for the DC Police says the gun was a bottom-loading weapon, and according to their interpretation, all bottom-loading guns are outlawed because they are grouped with machine guns.

What a crock of used food. A majority of handguns are semi-automatic, bottom-loading weapons.

IMHO, If Heller brought in a .38 revolver or a pea shooter, they would deny him on the spot. D.C.’s actions were an act of retaliation, pure and simple.

It looks like it’s back to the courts — where Heller will win again.

In the meantime, I’m pondering the thought of staying outside of D.C. for the family reunion next summer…

(link via Hot Air)

Meet The New Gun Law

Same as the old gun law, more or less:

The [District of Columbia] Council unanimously approved emergency legislation last night that ends the strictest handgun ban in the country and voted 12 to 1 to approve the transfer of almost $125 million to renovate schools by fall — two major issues that showed the council’s complex relationship with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

The emergency gun bill establishes regulations for residents to keep handguns in their homes legally, an effort to comply with last month’s historic Supreme Court decision that found the city’s 32-year prohibition of handguns unconstitutional.

City leaders say the legislation goes as far as it can on gun regulations while respecting the high court’s ruling. Weapons must be unloaded, disassembled or trigger-locked, except when there is a “threat of immediate harm to a person” in the home (emphasis added).

The legislation also requires that guns remain inside homes. It mandates eye and written exams for gun owners, and ballistics tests conducted by police.

Hypothetically (if not in actuality), a criminal breaks into a D.C. gun owner’s home.

Gun Owner: “Excuse me, could you wait for just a moment? I need to assemble and load my gun.”

Criminal: “No problem.”

The preceding was a hypothetical scenario under the new D.C. gun legislation. Had the preceding been an actual break-in, the gun owner would be DEAD - thanks to the compliance efforts of Adrian Fenty and the D.C. Council!

Washingtonians, do you feel safer now?

Remember This Quote

“It’s a little presumptuous on my part to dictate how consumers live their own lives. I’ve got faith in the American people.”

– President Bush

Sadly, his potential successors have little or no faith.

(link via Jim Rose)

Parole Denied

What part of “life in prison” does the Manson Family not understand?

California’s parole board has a denied a “compassionate release” request from Manson family killer Susan Atkins.

Atkins is serving a life sentence for eight murders in 1969, including that of pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Atkins admitted to holding Tate down and stabbing her more than a dozen times.

But Atkins, now 60, is dying of brain cancer. Her husband, James Whitehouse, pleaded with the parole board Tuesday for her release.

“Compassion’s not something you earn,” he says, “it’s something that every single person should have merely by means of the fact that they’re human beings.”

He says Atkins can barely function and has only about three months to live.

Debra Tate says Atkins didn’t show her sister Sharon any compassion and should die in prison.

“She should die in a hospital ward and fulfill her obligation to society,” she says.

Strongly agreed. Atkins lost her humanity when she murdered Sharon Tate and her unborn child nearly 40 years ago. By a judicial twist of fate, her original death sentence was converted to life imprisonment. In her dying days, Atkins will receive the most compassionate hospice care at taxpayer expense with visitation rights — far better treatment than what she afforded her victims.

Unlike Sharon Tate, Susan Atkins will die with dignity and mercy. When she breathes her last breath, her debt to society will be paid in full, and her remains will be solemnly released to relatives for burial. Tate’s family wasn’t even afforded such levels of closure back in 1969.

May Charles Manson and his cult partners in crime never see the outside of a prison gate for the rest of their days.

Faster, Roughneck! Drill! Drill!

In Frank J.’s world, President Bush opens land in Searchlight, NV (home of Harry Reid) for oil exploration.

But Seriously: Bush Says Drill, Drill, Drill — and Oil Drops $9!

New Media Commandment

Thou shalt not satirize the Obamessiah, nor his Wife, whom ye must layeth off, lest ye be thrown under a large chariot of public transit.

IMHO, the cover illustration is small potatoes. Read the featured article instead to learn how Barack Obama got his start in politics as a cog in the Chicago machine — while threatening to assault a fellow state legislator and sharing his thoughts on the root causes of 9/11 along the way.

Related (7/15): Commentary from Michelle Malkin, Doug Ross, and American Thinker.

Something He Should’ve Done Years Ago

President Bush to remove White House ban on offshore oil drilling

Tony Snow, R.I.P.

The former White House press secretary, TV/radio pundit, and talented musician lost his battle with cancer early today at the age of 53.

Update: Tribute from President Bush:

Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.

Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.

All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith – and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.

Update #2: FOX News tribute, narrated by Brit Hume (via Hot Air):

State ACLU Supports 2nd Amendment

While the national ACLU belives in supporting the Constitution (except for the part guaranteeing individuals the right to keep and bear arms), the Nevada chapter chose wisely to buck the trend.

Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said the decision was not political, nor a slap at the national organization. He said the ACLU of Nevada often defends both conservative and liberal groups when, in its view, a constitutional right is being violated.

“This was a legal, constitutional decision for us,” he said. “Right now, it’s an issue percolating in the ACLU universe. It should be no surprise that an issue that has sparked a lot of issues and debate outside the ACLU has sparked debate inside the ACLU.”

The national ACLU, in a statement by a spokeswoman, said, “ACLU affiliates are free to take positions that differ from those of the national office.”

The spokeswoman said she was unaware of any other ACLU affiliate that had taken a differing position on the Second Amendment.

Peck said the state has a history of opposing government involvement in people’s lives.

“Nevada has a long, proud tradition of libertarian skepticism of government overreach,” Peck said. “An individual’s right to bear arms, not surprisingly, is in the Nevada constitution.”

While I don’t always agree with the NV ACLU on most of their legal battles, I’m pleased to hear that when they stand up for the Constitution, they stand up for the ENTIRE document.

Well done.

From Somebody to Nobody

Once upon a time, Jesse Jackson used to be somebody.

Sadly, “I Am Somebody” was nothing but a facade for an also-ran civil rights activist who became infamously known for being a narcissistic hater and shakedown artist.

America slapped him on the wrist for his anti-Semitic slurs when he first ran for POTUS in 1984. Blacks by and large looked the other way in 2001 when he was caught fathering a child out of wedlock as a result of cheating on his wife.

Now, thanks to a hot microphone, he was caught bad-mouthing Barack Obama — and calling for his castration — all for giving the very same “lectures at black churches” Jackson himself has been giving for years.

It seems to me that Jackson is angered that Obama has overshadowed his years of rhetoric within a matter of months. With the possibility of Obama being elected President, he knows that his days in the limelight (and under the klieg lights) as a greedy race warlord may be numbered. He is neither remorseful nor sorry for his nasty words in the least.

I could go about the banalities of Jesse Jackson, but why? He has performed successfully in revealing himself for the phony opportunist he has always been, currently is, and always will be. Someday before his dying day, he will come to the sad realization that for all the low-hanging fruit he has reaped and for all the bitter, rotting fruit he has sown, he is just a nobody.

If there’s anyone more deserving of being disowned by a black kid from Hawaii who grew up to become somebody in his own right (although I fundamentally disagree with him on political/social/economic issues and question the anti-American company he keeps), it is Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. — who was never worthy of the title of Reverend.

Related: Both baldilocks and Mickey Kaus note that Jesse Jackson does have a point regarding Obama’s condescending, know-it-all tone in his speeches. I agree that Obama’s speechifying sounds more like an arrogant liberal college professor giving a subjective lecture than a presidential nominee daring to be different, no matter whom the audience might happen to be.