Guard Dog

I disagree with you here. Socially liberal thinkers seek to brand everything as ok. Libertarians simply value maximum personal freedom. For example; Personally I think abortion is morally wrong and abhorrent. However, I also believe that everyone should be free to pursue that option if they see fit. I would never participate in one and would try to dissuade anyone considering one but I would never they to stop them and I certainly would not ask the state to do it on my behalf. I do not believe it is my place as a citizen to impose my personal morality on anyone and far too many people think the state is simply a tool to do just that. The religious right has grievously damaged the GOP because it forgot the America was in its heart a free country. That means free for people to live their lives as they see fit even if that way contradicts Christian values. For the GOP to return to prominence it needs to become the champion of personal liberty just as Obama is setting himself up as the opponent of it. There is such a golden opportunity here for a leader to point out exactly what the Obama administration has done to damage personal freedom in this country in just a scant three months. And they hold great ambitions to seize even more control over this country, its citizens and economy in the years to come. That is going to be Obama's downfall in the end. His administration has already branded people who oppose it's agenda as "right wing extremists" and potential terrorists. There are already new gun control and limits on free speech being proposed. They are actively trying to silence talk radio and even proposals for blocking internet content (like China, Cuba, and North Korea all do). Cap and Trade will cause utility bills to sky rocket and imminent domain is being used to seize more land than ever before in our history. Heck even mention the 10th Amendment or Federalism ans you are either mocked, shouted down, or ignored. All of this could be used to destroy Obama and the left because Americans as a rule desire nothing more than to be left alone to live their lives as they see fit. Obama and the left won't have it and the Christian right won't either. For the Republicans to return they have to ditch one to oppose the other.

@Aristes. I do want to respond but it will be somewhat lengthy and I want to see some more replys as to whether or not single party rule in the US is a good thing. Deadly and Sand had some interesting things to say. I imagine we'll see more in that vein and it really ties into what I want to say.

In short the the Card Check law would allow work place unions to organize without the consent of the workers by eliminating the secret ballot vote currently required. Increased marketplace competition for skilled workers has had a positive affect on employment benefits and the relevance of labor unions has faded the last thirty or so years. Union membership has been in a steady decline for years now. The unions are very closely aligned with the US Democrat party and since they are running the show these days they wrote this law to increase union membership by eliminating the one thing stopping it: the consent of the people who don't want to be in it. This is a payoff of sorts to the unions who supported Obama over Clinton and then McCain. A little slanted point of view I admit but this is a very heinous law in my opinion because it does trample on individual freedom. That is something the government is getting very, very good at. From the US Chamber of Commerce: http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/labo...hecksecrbal.htm

Old Man's War by John Scalzi. I'm really enjoying this one. If you like Sci Fi give it a look. Also reading My Life in the Irish Brigade a memoir written by a soldier from the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry during the first two years of the American Civil War. His descriptions of the first battle of Fredericksburg are absolutely amazing.

I went to the doctor again today. I have seen more doctors more times in the first five months of this year than in my whole life before this. I think physically I'm as good as I'm going to get. I've lost a lot of strength in my arms and legs and walking for too long just hurts. It's an amazing thing. Somewhere someone you have never met makes a stupid decision that does not involve you at all and the consequences of that decision ends their life and nearly ends yours. And radically affects everything that comes after. Absolutely and completely random. If I had been held up by just one stoplight or missed one I did stop at my whole life would have turned out differently. Fate can change course on the matter of a few seconds. The lawyer agreed on a settlement for the accident. Its just got me thinking about what the monetary value of someone's life is. It just sucks. The whole thing just f**king sucks.

At the very least we should do a weekly pool like we did two years ago...

I'm not surprised by this. I am a little bummed out however. I had Susan Collins in the Which-Senator-Bails-First pool. Oh well. On a more serious note this move is entirely self serving on Spectre's part and any attempt to use it as a referendum on the GOP would be a mistake. This is a classic case of a career politician seeing which way the wind is blowing and tacking in the direction that best seves their own interests. It does however shed a little more light on the growing schism between the Goldwater Republicans and the Rockefeller Republicans. Perhaps the GOP really will fade as a viable political force after 2010. I'm curious, does anyone here think that is a good thing?

Going to work today for the first time since Jan 19th. 2009 got off to a really crappy start for me. Hopefully the worm turns today. There is definitely something exciting about starting a new job.

You are going to have your hands full today.

In many instances (California Gay Marriages as example) the ballot initiative is an amendment to the state constitution and as such if passed it becomes the supreme law of the state and trumps the state supreme court. In fact they state supreme court is then bound to uphold it and judge cases accordingly. I dislike the ease with which many state constitutions can be amended because it often leads to bad law as Enoch correctly pointed out. I could name three off the top of my head in Florida. However, it can be a necassary counter weight to rein in the state judiciary and to a lesser extent the state legislatures which all to often forget they govern at the consent of the governed. It is not a pretty or perfect system. In fact Republican Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all of the others. And don't worry, not having a college degree does not mitigate any point you make so long as it is founded in logical reasoning. You are certainly no dummy Aristes. Excellent points. The trouble with me is I see so many instances where the federal government is usurping power and trampling liberty (especially since Obama took office but GWB was nearly as bad) that I often miss or quickly forget that there are a few triumphs out there.

I think I overdid it yesterday. I hurt so much today I can't do much of anything. And no more pain pills. I can see how they could become addictive. Thats ok, Knob Creek and Sam Adams work almost as well.

I doubt even you would disagree that for the last sixteen years or so we have been in a definite and perceptible drift to the latter.

I spent the day making home made bombs from 3/4" PVC, duct tape, fishing line, finishing nails, and a few common household chemicals mixed in the proper proportions. No, not really. But Obama seems to think I did. I cut my grass for the first time since the accident. It was pretty out of control. Then sat by the creek are read while the dogs played.

Based solely on my own experience I'd say it's probably 65%-35% Conservative vs Liberal. And that cuts accross racial and ethnic lines so that is pretty extraordinary. That really only applies to vets though. While you are actually in, the service is VERY apolitical and members are strongly encouraged not to involve themselves in politics other than voting. No one actually stops you, its one of those things that's just not done. I think thats a good thing.

Actually, as a veteran I find the idea that vets make likely terroists to be incredibly offensive. There is no group of people who are more patriotic or hold their country in higher regard than those who have worn the uniform. Especially those who have done so in war time. And given the utter lack of respect and outright contempt and antithipy the left has held for vets over the years I think they published this report because this is exactly what the Obama admin thinks. That is not to say the military has not produced a few nutjobs but by and large the veterans are the ones who stand, remove their cap, and place their hand over their hearts when the star spangled banner is played at the ball game while everyone else sits or talks. One can certainly imagine why the left would hate people like that. Anyway, this is not the appropriate thread for this discussion and I was just trying to make light of something that I find VERY troubling. So I'll drop it here.

Another US ship was attacked today but the somalis were repelled by gunfire from the freighter crew. I guess being a pirate isn't much fun when the target shoots back!

I found out today that I am a greater threat to American security than Osama Bin Laden: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/a...wing-extremism/ This was my favorite part: she stands by the report sent to law enforcement that lists veterans as a terrorist risk to the U.S. and defines "rightwing extremism" as including groups opposed to abortion and illegal immigration. Well whaddya know. I am a veteran, a combat veteran at that. And I oppose illegal immigration. I thought being evil would be hard work, it's actually pretty easy!

I don't watch much baseball, but seeing a good knuckleball pitcher from the TV-standard over-the-shoulder viewpoint is hypnotic to me. If I flip by a game with Wakefield on the mound, I pretty much have to keep watching. Charlie Hough had the worst one I can think of. It would give you motion sickness just watching.

I wonder if that was why it kept asking if I was thinking of a porno star? Kidding!

I stumped him with Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Ferdinand Magellan. But he got Aribeth right! Freaking Aribeth De Tylde-whatever and he got it. Apparently 1400 others thought that would stump him too.

The Yankee Years by Joe Torre. Yeah, he was pissed at the organization and this was a way to get "even". But still an interesting read.

I don't know how much anyone has been following this but it looks like the last Wheel of Time novel will be split into three volumes. The first will be coming out this year! I have to credit Brandon Sanderson for his work here. The very best he can hope for is to live up to the source material. If he botches it he will likely ruin his career. I tend to believe he will do well. I've read some of his writing and he has a good easy to read style. Anyway, check out his blog for the story of the last WoT book: http://www.brandonsanderson.com/article/56/Splitting-AMOL

I was going to buy the extra innings package this year because I never get to see Marlins or Rays games here in Tn. But I have XM/Sirius radio and so far I've just been listening to the games on the radio. I may still buy the MLB.tv streaming package, because you get minor league games too. One nice thing about radio games is I can catch them while working on other things.

I'm sure they would do this, if they had a stable method of policing themselves internally. But there's no Don running all of the pirates-- anyone with a dingy, an RPG, and a couple friends with assault rifles can go out and hijack a ship. It would take a pretty strong organization to keep all these independent operators in line, as well as to discourage newcomers to the business from hitting ships that have already paid the protection money. True enough. Of course the Barbary Pirates tried to do as I suggested in 1804. Their utter defeat became a verse in the Marines hymn.

If the pirates were smart they would have followed the mafia business plan. After taking the first few ships they then sell themeslves off as a security force to protect ships from themselves. Or just charge companies a small fee to not attack their ships.