Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

I don't think my individual opinions are very important, and I have no way of knowing what persons read my blog. Despite this, I will express my hopes and fears about the coming elections of 2008. The idiotic Richard Durbin will win reelection. Why do I know this? I know that Illinois Republicans are suffering a crisis of self-definintion. Illinois Republicans are unwilling to define themselves in a meaningful way. They aren't pro-life, but they aren't as committed to abortion as the Democrats. They don't want huge spending increases, but show little interest in means testing Governor Blagojevich's disasterous All Kids program.
Illinois Republicans show little interest in poking fun at the senior senator's lack of mental gifts. If the shoe was on the other foot, Democrats would make jokes about the idiocy of Senator Durbin. (If you don't believe me, look at leftist blogs and count the number of retard jokes made about President Bush.)

The Republican National Commitee is having less trouble, but still seems unable to come up with a candidate strong enough to make for a real fight with Hillary Clinton. Romney and Guliani are too similar to Hillary for their candidacies to win. A pro abortion Democrat versus a pro abortion Republican is nothing but a waste of time.

The Truth

The person who supplied the last blog quote was Mao Zedong. It's really not a good thing when people holding congressional seats sound like a discredited communist tyrant.

Take a Guess!

"U.S. imperialism invaded China's territory of Taiwan and has occupied it for the past nine years. A short while ago it sent its armed forces to invade and occupy Lebanon. The United States has set up hundreds of military bases in many countries all over the world. China's territory of Taiwan, Lebanon and all military bases of the United States on foreign soil are so many nooses round the neck of U.S. imperialism. The nooses have been fashioned by the Americans themselves and by nobody else, and it is they themselves who have. . .handing the ends of the ropes to the Chinese people, the peoples of the Arab countries and all the peoples of the world who love peace and oppose aggression. The longer the U.S. aggressors remain in those places, the tighter the nooses round their necks will become."

Who do you think said this? Bela Pelosi? Harry Reid? Hugo Chavez?

Collective Rights

"neither a general in war, nor a statesman in peace, could ever perform any glorious exploits, or do any notable service to the public, without the concurrence of other men's endeavors?"

"there is such a thing as natural society, which comprehends all men. . . ."

"Such things, therefore, being by nature common, should accordingly be kept open for the free use of all men; and of those which are our own we should always be giving something that may contribute to the benefit and welfare of the whole."

"Not but that a moderate desire of riches, and bettering a man's estate, so long as it abstains from oppressing others, is allowable enough; but a very great care ought always to be taken that we be not drawn to any injustice by it."

"There is no great difficulty in determining such cases; for it is certain, if you take away anything from another, though never so useless and insignificant creature. . . it is an inhuman action, and plainly contrary to the laws of nature. . . ."

"It [theft] ruins all manner of society and intercourse amongst men; since it is plain that if once men arrive at such a pass as to plunder and injure the rest of their neighbors. . . ."

"Should an ignorant body sell a quantity of gold, and suppose it to be copper; is a good man obliged to tell him that is gold, or may he buy for a penny what is worth a thousand pence?"

Cicero De Officiis

Madame Disraeli

I recently wrote a blog about the Darfur situation based on my reaction to a Ann Coulter piece called " If at First You Don't Appease, Cry Cry Again." Besides having an insipid title, Ms. Coulter's piece stated that the lives being lost to Muslim murderers should mean nothing to Americans, and implied that only soft- headed liberals favored our using force to stop the genocide.

The before mentioned blog was entitled "Ann Coulter Takes On the Micks," and was written as Ms. Coulter's supposed response to the Irish Famine of 1845-1848. Today I found a piece of writing in Robert Blake's Disraeli by its subject that comes eerily close to my Coulter blog.

"You must not mistake her jolly good nature as an evidence of feeling: it is merely the impulse of the Irish blood. Indeed she is so thoroughly a daughter of Erin that I never see her without thinking of a hod of mortar and a potatoe. Nature certainly intended that she should console her sorrows in poteen. . . " (p. 149).

Ah yes, the drunk Irish joke. It goes well with shameless politicos and self appointed conservative spokeswomen. Incidentally, if I ever have cause to mention Ms. Coulter in the future, I will refer to her as " Madame Disraeli."

Proud Member of the Iraq War Death Machine

I just looked at today's Daily Kos, and it's hard to avoid thinking that these people don't understand the real world. Not even a little. First, they included an article from a gay guy who was ridiculing Christians who encourage young men to avoid homosexuality. "I prayed with my priest to resist my homosexual urges. After we had sex." Oh, that's so funny. Way to be edgy, making fun of Catholic priests. That's really going out on a limb.

Then there was a lot of crap about Iraq. It was the usual Trouble-Free Internationalism. "Stop the Iraq War Death Machine." Of course, the gay guy who bashed Catholics would be a cinder if it weren't for the World War II Death Machine that, at the cost of several times as many dead Americans, destroyed the scariest threat to homosexuals and Jews that ever existed. It's almost like Daily Kos people think that Democracy exists because it just happens to be stronger, whereas it exists because millions of British and American 19 year olds died to defend it.

Then there were several French quotes. Apparently, stupid ideas sound smarter when expressed in French. Why don't these people stop doing drugs, and wake up to the fact that Al-Qaeda wants us dead?

Homeland Security

"Judging that he will have employed the most effectual means of being a happy and powerful king, not by governing the most numerous but the most moral people. He deemed of small sufficiency to have protected the country by fleets and garrison, unless he should at the same time enrich and ornament it with men of eminent learning and sanctity."
Erasmus

Illegal Since 1492

i just saw a photo of an illegal alien holding a sign that said, "All Europeans in North America are illegal since 1492." So anyone who isn't a pure mestizo needs to leave, apparently. And what about Africans since 1492? Everybody forgets that blacks lose their jobs to the flood of Mexicans. Communist guerillas kill Christians in Chiapas. If Europeans are so awful, why is it that no one sneaks from the EEUU into Mexico?

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.