Involuntary Association, Part Two

It must be agreed that the ancient and original power of the people, which has been transferred to diverse types of kingdoms and commonwealths by legislation or custom, is maintained in governments by that same right that was originally in the people. And it is reasonable that the fundamental laws and customs of a kingdom or commonwealth be accepted as ancient boundaries, to be holy and inviolable.

Francis Bacon
Aphorismi 11

Isn't It Ironic?

Governor Blagojevich took power because of the actions of an unethical pharmacist named George Ryan. Now he wants Plan B to be distributed by pharmacists, even if that violates the pharmacist's conscience. Does this strike anyone else as ironic?

Blagojevich's best friend in East-central Iliinois is State Senator Mike Frerichs, who went to Yale, but can't find the city hall in Sidney Illinois. Once again, does this strike anyone else as ironic?

Ann Coulter Takes On the Micks!

It is no business of Great Britain whether or not the people of Ireland starve! These people are lazy drunks who never do anything but drink and copulate. It would be a violation of capitalism to send food to Ireland. Sending food to Ireland will do nothing to make Britain stronger or wealthier.
Great Britain should instead take the money that would have been wasted by the do-gooders on the Irish, and instead spend it on a new regiment to be sent to the Crimea. Britain owes nothing to the popish trash to the west.

Good Thinking!

In a manner resembling the use by Ruth Bader Ginsburg of foreign cases to make American law, German Judge Christa Datz-Winter ruled an abused Muslim woman could not recieve a swift divorce because Islamic Law allows men to beat their wives. Judicial Activism rides again.

Hugo Hates Your Capitalist Ass

Hall of Fame

Last Sunday, Bill Clinton was inducted into the Voting Rights Hall of Fame. Here are some suggestions for other halls of fame.
Hugo Chavez Latino Marxist Hall of Fame
Jesse Jackson Meglomaniacs of Color Hall of Fame
Britney Spears Boring Has-Beens Hall of Fame
Dr. Phil Media Whores Hall of Fame
John Mayer No Talent Hippy Hall of Fame
Rush Limbaugh Vicodin Users Hall of Fame

Wake Up, Republicans!

"Conservatism doesn't Work" Is this statement true? Well, it all depends on what you want it to do. If by "work" one means that it will make you rich, probably not. If by "work" you mean it will help to promote homosexuality or pornography, no, it won't. In the Keynesian era, conservatism and liberals are different in degree, not in type. Cultural issues like protecting families and reigning in what schools teach about sex are THE issues for Republicans. The fact of the matter is that libertarian Republicans are identical to the liberals on these issues. Judy Baar Topinka lost the election because she poised herself as a "center-right" candidate.

Illinois Railsplitters

Estase is an alumnus of the University of Illinois, which has decided to abandon Chief Illiniwek as its symbol. Estase suggests that the U of I takes on as its new symbol the Railsplitters, as a reference to Abraham Lincoln. Not only was Lincoln tied to Illinois, but the Railsplitters has a wholesome, athletic sound to it. Imagine the Assembly Hall faithful waving styrofoam axes as a token of enthusiasm. And even scumball liberals can't object to Lincoln!

This is on a different topic, but Estase would like to extend a hearty BOO! for Congressman Tim Johnson for his decision to favor Trouble-Free internationalism. In Estase's book, Congressman Johnson deserves to be ranked up there with Neville Chamberlain for his high minded foreign policy.

The Threat of Plan B

This letter to a local newspaper deserves wider readership.
" Normal low-dose birth control pills (also horomones) are not available without a prescription because they entail some serious health risks if not taken under the supervision of a physician. These risks can include blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and indirect links to certain gynecological cancers. These risks can be magnified by other health conditions and lifestyles, and because of this, the FDA has deemed that these low-dose horomones need physician oversight for prescribing. If the normal dose of birth control medication has been deemed risky enough by the FDA and most women's health advocates to require physician oversight, why should Plan B of much higher horomone amounts not also require it? No long term studies have been performed to determine if Plan B is safe with repeated or long-term use, yet granting Plan B over-the-counter status would send the message that it is safe. Without physician oversight, women may obtain an over-the-counter version of Plan B well after the 72-hour window and actually be causing an abortion, while imposing significant health risks to themselves. The availability of Plan B without a prescription creates a false sense of security in women, particularly adolescents, whose only concern tends to be pregnancy."
Jennifer S. Schroeder M.D.

Virtue and the Body

"How then came it about that, of all the existing species, mankind alone should relinquish man's nature, forget the body, and find its Chief Good not in the whole man but in a part of man?"
Cicero
De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum
Rackaham trans. Book Four

Merit and Power

And I see as little of policy or utility as there is of right in laying down a principle that a majority of men told by the head are to be considered, and that as such their will is to be law. What policy can there be found in arrangements made in defiance of every political principle? To enable men to act with the weight and character of a people, and to answer the end for which they are incorporated into that capacity, or must suppose them (by means immediate or consequential) to be in that state of habitual social discipline in which the wiser, the more expert, and the more opulant conduct, and by conducting enlighten and protect, the weaker, the less knowing, and the less provided with the goods of fortune.

Edmund Burke Appeal From the New to
the Old Whigs

An Unhappy Anniversary

Laws are to be passed by legislatures in a republic. They take their legitimacy from the fact that these legislatures are elected by the public.
Judicial review is based on the fact that written laws include certain rules that are constitutionally instituted. For example, if there was a law against some form of speech, it would fall to judicial review to determine if the written law violated the written Constitution.
Where courts go wrong is by creating rights that are not in the written Constitution. For example, Roe v. Wade says that the right to abortion exists because of analogous rights elsewhere in the Constitution. The right to protection from having one's house searched without a warrant becomes something else. The "right to privacy" is consistent with the written Constitution, but appears nowhere in it.

One Faithful Harp

The minstrel boy to the war is gone, in the ranks of death you'll find him; His father's sword he hath girded on, and his wild harp slung behind him; "Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard, Tho' all the world betrays thee, one sword at least, thy rights shall guard, one faithful harp shall praise thee!" The minstrel fell! but the foeman's steel could not bring that proud soul under, the harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again, for he tore its chords asunder; And said "No chains shall sully thee, thou soul of love and brav'ry! Thy songs were made for the pure and free, they should never sound in slavery!"
Thomas Moore 1779-1852

Families Similar to Polities

"In some cases the subordinate relations are voluntary, in others they are necessary; but the duties are all compulsive. When we marry, the choice is voluntary, but the duties are not matter of choice; they are dictated by the nature of the situation. Dark and unscrutable are the ways by which we come into the world."
Edmund Burke, "An Appeal From the New to the Old Whigs"

Celebrities As Political Experts

Samuel L. Jackson recently called for a pullout from Iraq. Estase is sad to see one of his favorite actors advocating something so stupid. At least I haven't heard that Lawrence Fishburne is advocating trouble free internationalism. Morpheus is one of the coolest things in the Matrix movies. Incidentally, what qualifies actors for making pronouncements on foreign policy? It reminds me of Bishops condemning tax policy or nuclear weapons. Stick to what you've spent time thinking about, Cardinal Mahony.

Involuntary Association

Now, though civil society might be at first a voluntary act (which in many cases it undoubtably was), its continuance is under a permanent standing covenant, coexisting with the society; and it attaches upon every individual of that society; and it attaches upon every individual of that society, without any formal act of his own. This is warranted by the general practice, arising out of the general sense of mankind. Men without their choice they are subjected to duties in consequence of these benefits: and without their choice they enter into a virtual obligation as binding as any that is actual.

Burke "An Appeal From the New to the Old
Whigs"

Republican Post-Mortum

Why did Republicans suffer the loss of the House in November? Due to my other responsibilities, I couln't give analysis at the time, but I will now. What did Congressional Republicans do to stop the runaway spending when they held power? To my knowledge, nothing. Did they enact the term limits Newt Gingerich called for in 1994? Hardly- - they seemed to forget all about the advantages of citizen legislators, going so far as to increase incumbent advantages.
Why did Judy Baar Topinka lose her challenge to Governor Rod Blagojevich? Before her candidacy was even announced, Topinka in 2005 gloated that Alan Keyes lost because " Illinoisans want a center-right government." In a contest between a pro-abortion Republican and a rabidly pro-abortion Democrat, Estase voted for the pro-abortion Republican. He did not want a "center-right" governor, but had no choice but vote for an insipid, charmless time-server. The Illinois Republican party is a mess. The new year will include Dick Durbin's campaign for reelection. Illinois Republicans should be able to defeat the laughably stupid Durbin, but they won't as long as the party leadership puts forward candidates who are no different from the Democrats. No more pro-abortion Republicans!
Please!!!

Baldwin Blows

Apparently Professor Jean Kirkpatrick died this week. She was a voice for treating our enemies like enemies. Actor Alec Baldwin chose to say that Dr. Kirkpatrick was a war-monger, and questioned her sexuality. So Alec, here's Estase's hope that what goes around comes around. On the day you die, I hope people insult you and soon forget your stupid, meaningless life.

The Two Possibilties

The psychotic and/or ideological ass-wipe at the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran recently wrote a letter to the American people. I would include the text of this maniac's remarks, but I'm sure they can be found elsewhere on the net. The remarkable thing about his remarks is that they are indistinguishable from the words of the press and Democratic party. The same concerns (waste of life and money, the "futility" of the war) as what we have heard from the Pelosis and Murthas are now echoed by the leader of the most dangerous man in Southwest Asia. When an obvious enemy of the Free World says things that are indistinguishable from the words of the majority party in Congress, we have to conclude one of two things. One, the Iranian president is really a kind and generous man, or, two, the Democratic Party has become subversive to American liberty.
There is no third possibility.

Draft Dodger's Wife Tells Abizaid His Job

"Hope is not a strategy. Horatory talk about what the Iraqi government must do is getting old. I mean, I have heard over and over again the government must do this, the Iraqi army must do that. Nobody disagrees with that. The brutal fact is, it is not happening."
Military expert Hillary Rodham Clinton