UNITED 93

Read John Podhoretz' review of United 93. Spot on! Note the penultimate paragraph:

• "There's a lot of talk about whether Americans are "ready" to see a movie about 9/11. Some of that talk is doubtless due to the same attitude that says Americans can't possibly stomach seeing footage of the crashes, or the buildings falling. Such infantilization is an insult both to Americans, who are perfectly capable of handling such things, and to the memories of those who perished in the attacks, whose public murders are being treated as though they had been quiet and private deaths."

Go see it and exercise that "negative liberty" - (See "Food for Thought" from yesterday).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A great column by Dick Meyer on a problem the Democrats have - shared at some level by the Republicans - and why it is hurting their efforts. And he is part of CBS! I'm still chewing over all the thoughts myself, but my guess is we need to emphasize "negative liberty" for a while, swinging the pendulum back a bit.

TONY SNOW THE PATRIOT!

Hugh Hewitt summarizes my feelings on the appointment of Tony Snow as W's Press Secretary. He needs it like he needs a hole in the head, but he was asked and being an American patriot feels he must serve. Bless him!

And the press better get ready for some challenges, 'cause he knows his business!

Another View of the Rumsfeld Kerkuffle!

Brendan Miniter gives some more insight into the anti-Rumsfeld situation. It seems Congress is involved. Surprised?

What's Really Behind the General's Revolt?

Read Jed Babbin and you will understand how change can effect a bureacracy and their attitude toward the "changer" and the "decider"!!

It should be obvious to everyone that the changes implemented are the way of the future. The old wars are over; we must be ready for the new wars.

SO YOU THINK THE MSM DOESN'T EFFECT OUR PERCEPTION...

of the activities in Iraq? Read Victor Davis Hanson's "Eye of the Beholder" and you will understand what effect they have.

Question for my California friends: did you know your state was in such sad shape? Let Arnold get on the wrong side of the MSM and they could surely attack him with all the blood and mayhem which occurs daily in our beautiful state.

Could it be that Iraq is as beautiful as California is outside of the areas where this blood and mayhem occur, but the MSM doesn't let us see this? I think so!

MEXICO'S IMMIGRATION LAW: Let's try it!

J. Michael Waller summarizes the Mexican Immigration Laws, and suggests that they might be just the laws that we need in this country.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, isn't it?

Our Latino friends seem to think not!

HUGH HEWITT...

was online at the Washington Post this morning answering questions about "Painting the Map Red" or any other subjects participants wanted to bring up. Hugh is a natural for this format. I have to share this question and answer with you:

• Chantilly, Va.: Prof. Hewitt: I have often seen your name employed by right-leaning trolls on Yahoo message boards and now I see why. You are a funny, funny man.
  Do you regale your students at Chapman with such wit and wisdom?

• Hugh Hewitt: No. I try to impress upon them that the study of law is supposed to be without any joy whatsoever. This is what distinguishes Justice Scalia --his refusal to ever recognize the effectiveness of a laugh line.

Scalia is the one Justice who does recognize the effectiveness of a laugh line, and Hugh's tongue is firmly in cheek!

PEGGY NOONAN, always a pleasure to read...

and in this case so on point that I have to post her column on immigrants in todays WSJ.

I so agree with her on every point. A very rational and thought through commentary on the problem.

Read and enjoy!

Latinos, make sure you recognize your enemy!

Ruben Navarrette in his San Diego Union Tribune column of 4/12/06, titled "The Democrats Sell Out Latinos", tells us what actually happened in Congress last week, and it is not what you hear from the MSM and Democrat pundits.

Money quote:

• "The moral: Marches and Mexican flags don't equal power. Labor uses millions of dollars in political contributions to take care of Democrats, and so Democrats take care of labor."

Read the column and pay particular attention to his ultimate paragraph:

• "You see, in a twist on the famous words of one of their icons, Democrats no longer ask what they can do for Latinos, only what Latinos can do for them."

A REQUEST TO PRESIDENT BUSH FOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE

What do you think President Vicente Fox would say to this if President Bush followed this advice?

Dear President Bush:

I'm about to plan a trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements.

I know you can help with this. I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your friend, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over?

Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.Thank you so much for your kind help.

A regular taxpaying citizen


Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn't it!

Job Security and the French

Two perspectives that I found interesting to compare on the current French youth riots.

Steve Chapman, becoming one of my favorite columnists even though I often disagree with him, logically explains that "There's No Job Security Like No Job Security." I could not agree with him more!

Barbara Ehrenreich, in The Progressive, tells us why the French youths are correct since we in America are all "Kleenex Workers." You know, we are all disposable!

Read them both and judge which approach makes more sense to advance a society. Could this attitude be part of the EU's problem?

Some Thomas Sowell Facts for the French

Steve Chapman in "There's No Job Security Like No Job Security" presents some Facts (see my post of 4/4/06: "Son't Confuse Me With the Facts!")that the French do not want to hear, and that many of our own progressives who want to emulate Europe avoid like the plague.

It is really so simple, if you will accept the Facts!

Washington Post wants "Open Borders"!

That is the only interpretation I can make of today's editorial "Immigration and Wages" and its convoluted logic. Unbelievable! One of our "papers of record" printing this drivel!

Worst sentence: "Forcing employers to get tougher in checking workers' documents, and clamping down on those who fail to do so, would impose a regulatory burden on businesses without necessarily doing much to stem the tide of illegal workers." First, this is already the LAW - maybe we should enforce it! Second, "...without necessarily doing much to stem the tide of illegal workers.", why would illegal workers come if they could not get a jog!! You don't think that would effect the tide?

So their solution: let everyone in who makes a low wage, increasing the wealth of the rest of us, and then increase taxes on the rest of us to take care of the low wage, illegal visitors! Wow!!

A very PROGRESSIVE idea!

DON'T CONFUSE US WITH FACTS!

In "Are Facts Obsolete" Thomas Sowell clearly explains a phenomena that effects the main stream media, teachers, etc. Demagoguery over facts is what we live with every day in this age of partisanship, and it is propogated by our schools.

An interesting read and a typical insightful analysis by Mr. Sowell!