Dead Bloggers Society: January 2006 Archives

« December 2005 | Main | February 2006 »

January 29, 2006

Liberal Left's Outrage is a One Way Street

What does the Liberal left's formula for progress in this country mean to you? As a Democrat? As a Republican? As an Unenrolled voter? How would you define it, and do you subscribe to it? To me, their blanket judgments of some of the more conservative minded Democrats, and their oft repeated definition of Conservative Republicans says it all:

Conservatives want you to "drink the Kool Aid." They manipulate you into supporting them through fear tactics, as they legislate your civil liberties away. Conservative Republicans have become a real world Big Brother, seeking to watch over and control your lives. Conservatives and the Religious Right are united in their lock-step efforts toward a Fascist, Totalitarian state. They want everyone to subscribe to their beliefs, and show no shame in trampling your individual rights in the process.

Instead of drinking the Conservatives' "Kool Aid," the Liberal left (I am talking about the extreme left throughout this post) seems to prefer their own brand of "progress." Here is where their philosophies make a hard left turn- directly into a ditch. Progress to the Liberal left has become measured by their successes at stretching the boundaries of freedom to its limits. Where most Conservatives feel that some of our freedoms have already been carried too far, the Liberal left is hellbent on making sure that we never look back. Where Conservatives decry the damage many of these so called freedoms have inflicted on traditional, family values, the Liberal left accuses Conservatives of trying to thrust these values upon them. To me, this conflict really comes down to a Jungian understanding of the human mind: that of habitually projecting our inner demons onto others.

How else do we explain that Tom Delay is the poster child for campaign finance improprieties, but equally reprehensible flouting of campaign finance laws by Hillary Clinton have garnered little media attention? How is it that the Bush lied refrain remains so popular, but when Senator Kennedy perpetuates an obviously fabricated story about a student being rousted by government agents because he was looking for a copy of Mao Zedong's "Little Red Book," the endless scream of "LIES!" goes silent? Where is the outrage when national security secrets are released in an obvious attempt to embarrass the current administration, yet spilling secrets that might embarrass a critic of the administration is greeted with full-tilt outrage?

Unfortunately, every ounce of this outrage could just as easily be in reaction to the worst traits of the Liberal left's favorite champions. If the examples were only limited to these few that I have cited, one might be able to ignore the partisan bias. However, the Liberal left's taste for perpetuating hoaxes, and directing their tantrums only at Conservative Republicans has become the rule rather than the exception. Where true Conservatives welcome oversight and equal justice, the Liberal left seems to place their ultimate identity as the rightfully chosen social do-gooders ahead of equal justice, and view oversight as an intrusion (unless it is aimed at their opposition). Outrage at injustice increasingly seems a one way street with the Liberal left.

This week I read a prime example of where the Liberal left would take us if given the chance:

Congresswoman Cyntia McKinney (GA), filed legislation this past November that seeks to immortalize the murdered rapper/gangster, Tupac Shakur (H.R. 4210: Tupac Amaru Shakur Records Collection Act of 2005). The bill would require that a collection of all government records related to the life and death of Tupac Shakur be created at the National Archives, and that a second repository be created at The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain Georgia. This is similar to legislation that was used to bring files about the JFK assassination to light. It is difficult to believe that this woman was actually elected to office.

From Osama bin Laden to Tupac Shakur, living villain to murdered thug, if you are (or were) anti-establishment, you are a friend of the Liberal left. I wish these were just isolated examples of Liberal activists seeking to elevate convicted felons, gangsters, and terrorists to hero status. Thankfully, such twisted ideas of equality have been kept in check by saner minds here in the United States. Liberal special interest groups have all but guaranteed that obstructionist tactics and partisan politics will continue to be standard operating procedure for the Democratic party. When election time rolls around, I am confident that the many voters who share my exasperation with this trend will, in a strong show of unity, vote with the same passion that the Liberal left puts into their hoaxes, ad hominem attacks, blame games, and grandstanding.

January 27, 2006

Senator Edward M. Kennedy Supports Fillibuster

From Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Online Office:

"Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee. This is a vote of a generation and a test of conscience. Judge Alito does not share the values of equality and justice that make this country strong. He does not deserve a place on the highest court of the land.
We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. If Judge Alito is confirmed, he will serve on the court long after President Bush leaves office, and the progress of half a century on the basic rights of all Americans is likely to be rolled back. He's the wrong Justice for justice and the rule of law in America."

Dear Senator Kennedy,

As one of your Massachusetts constituents, I am urging you to put an end to talk of a fillibuster. Many prominent, intelligent Democrats who have sound knowledge of Judge Alito have correctly described him as a worthy, mainstream candidate. I hope that you can find it within yourself to put your politics aside and consider the matter at hand.

This is not the time or the place for grandstanding.

Sincerely,

Andrew W. Bryden

I urge everyone to make their opinion on this vote (pro or con) known to their representatives.

(Contact Senator Kennedy.)

(Contact Senator Kerry.)

Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)

January 19, 2006

New News

New News: Deconstructing the Newspaper:

"...I'd look hard at your local columnists and ask whether they are as informative and entertaining as local bloggers. They used to provide some humanity and voice in otherwise gray, dull papers. Maybe your readers can help do that now."

This post is well worth the read, whether you are a media insider, or a blogger observing from the outside. If only our local Cape Cod Times could open their eyes to this reality and take it to heart.

(Via BuzzMachine.)

Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:00 PM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2006

Swiftboating' Charge is Part of 2006 Campaign

Democracy Project: Democracy Project:

"Dem's 'Swiftboating' Charge is Part of 2006 Campaign"

A recent "Swift Boating" comment to one of my posts on Cape Cod Today reminded me that many are still haunted by the ghosts of elections past. This post at Democracy Project says it all.

(Via Democracy Project.)

Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)

January 17, 2006

Spy Agency Data After Sept. 11 Led F.B.I. to Dead Ends - New York Times

Spy Agency Data After Sept. 11 Led F.B.I. to Dead Ends - New York Times:

"the comments on the N.S.A. program from the law enforcement and counterterrorism officials, many of them high level, are the first indication that the program was viewed with skepticism by key figures at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency responsible for disrupting plots and investigating terrorism on American soil."

This is also the first public indication that some in the F.B.I. may be unhappy with their post-September 11th, Homeland Security roles. Perhaps this "distaste" for what they deem dead end investigations may have been behind some of their lapses prior to September 11th?

It is typical that the same people who have derided our security errors before September 11th, are often the same people who complain about investigating the same types of leads now.

Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

January 15, 2006

Spotlight on Bibliophilia

It is time to admit the truth. The barking moonbats have me cornered, and I have no choice but to confess: I am a bibliophile. It all began because my mother worked at the library during my early childhood. My book induced vicissitude took place before I had even entered kindergarten. I read. I read a lot. The trouble is, that while this may not sound like a “problem” to most, I also suffer a related, and yet to be diagnosed ailment: B.A.D.D. (book attention deficit disorder). Now, it will not take one of the aforementioned barking moonbats to expose the craziness in my theory on the causes of this affliction. I think it quite odd myself. All the same, I feel the urge to share what I see as the underlying cause back of my self-diagnosed abnormality: Sesame Street.

What on earth does Sesame Street have to do with book attention deficit disorder you ask? Sesame Street, with all its spectacular, attention grabbing, rapid-fire, short-segemented stimuli, is the cause of my B.A.D.D., and probably numerous other deviant desires for instant gratification that I have yet to uncover. Sesame Street imbedded the need for constant, quickly changing stimulation into my psychological make up. Do you think I am wrong? Is there some missing piece to this puzzle? Too much self disclosure?

Actually, I think it is the content of what I am reading that is the true culprit behind this habit. When I read fiction, if the quality is there, my attention is often undivided. The same goes for a well written work of non-fiction. Lately, however, I have been sampling bits and pieces of multiple books. No book has kept my undivided attention. Perhaps it is a symptom of the internet age, and I am picking up books like I am clicking my way site to site, or blog to blog. I think it is more that the authors of some of my selections seem to be suffering the same symptoms, and write as though they are piecing together separate blog entries (maybe they are). Whatever the cause may be, what is the point of this post anyway?

My fiance recently suggested that I should blog about some of the books I have accumulated. I think she was hoping that the intlelligentsia might take a break from their perpetual attack mode in response to book reviews. That was a good thought on her part, but even book reviews will not keep the liberal attack loons from spewing their venom; and what book should I begin with? They are piling up. Should I begin with the books I received for Christmas, the book I currently have checked out from the Falmouth Public Library, or should I tackle them all? Eventually, I would like to review them all, but that will have to wait for another day. Today seems like a good day to curl up and read.

Posted by capecodcyclist at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)

January 10, 2006

Equal Justice or Liberal Perversion?

This morning's post is brought to you by the letter “i,” for insomnia. It seems that at the flick of a switch, this body that once required eight hours of sleep now requires only five or six. Unfortunately, this morning I awoke at 2:30 with echoes of Senator Kennedy's “equal justice,” Alito hearing speech ringing in my ears. We had a preview of Kennedy's partisan judgement of Alito on ABC's This Week, when Kennedy claimed to have read through Alito's voting record:

“I’ve had the good opportunity to read through Judge Alito’s opinions, more than 300 of those, and no one can read through those opinions and not find out that there’s a basic hostility to individual and individual rights, a welcoming to executive authority and power even when it’s excessive , and also the fact that he has so identified with major corporate interests at the expense of individual interests.”

This from a man whose career has relied heavily upon the justice of Senatorial privilege. Kennedy pontificates about the excesses of authority, power and corporate interests at the expense of individual interests, but when it comes to his own financial and personal interests, there is only one word to describe him: HYPOCRITE!

Regardless of the hypocrisy, the facts speak louder than Kennedy's mistaken politics. Yesterday, Kennedy claimed that Alito “has not written one single opinion on the merits in favor of a person of color alleging race discrimination on the job. In fifteen years on the bench, not one.” Well, “Left Said” Ted, did you read his record? Perhaps you couldn't see beyond your nose as it was growing.

From The Committee for Justice:

•In Zubi v. AT&T Corp., 219 F.3d 220 (3d Cir. 2000), Judge Alito dissented from the majority's holding that a man who claimed he was fired because of his race could not sue in federal court. According to Judge Alito, the plaintiff was entitled to sue because a longer statute of limitations applied. The Supreme Court later vindicated Judge Alito's dissent. See Jones v. Donnelly & Sons Co., 541 U.S. 369 (2004).

•In Goosby v. Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc., 228 F.3d 313 (3d Cir. 2000), a race and sex discrimination case, Judge Alito reversed the district court's decision to grant summary judgment to the defendant employer. The Third Circuit ruled that the plaintiff, a black woman, had introduced enough evidence to call into doubt the employer's explanation for why she was given lower-quality assignments.

•In Smith v. Davis, 248 F.3d 249 (3d Cir. 2001), an African-American probation officer brought a claim of race and disability discrimination in violation of Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Judge Alito joined a unanimous decision to reverse the lower court's grant of summary judgment for the defendant employer.

•Judge Alito's dissent in Sheridan v. DuPont, 100 F.3d 1061 (3d Cir. 1996) (en banc), is a principled balancing of the interests of employees and employers, and the Supreme Court later vindicated it. Judge Alito interpreted the Supreme Court's holding in a previous case as requiring that a Title VII plaintiff who produces certain evidence i.e., that the employer's stated reason for the employment decision was false should "usually" but not necessarily "always" be permitted to go to trial.

•The Supreme Court agreed with Judge Alito's Sheridan dissent in Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., 530 U.S. 133 (2000). Reeves was a unanimous opinion signed by Justice O'Connor whose seat Judge Alito is poised to take.

It seems that where Kennedy claims that there is “not one,” there have been several. We have had good opportunity these many years to witness Kennedy's proclivity for using such unfounded accusations and moral condemnation as his political weapon. Equal rights under the law is what makes this country great. Do you suppose Senator Kennedy knows anything about equal justice, aside from paying it lip service? I wonder how Kennedy sleeps at night.

Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)

January 08, 2006

Life Without Television

"They put an off button on the TV for a reason. Turn it off . . . I really don't watch much TV." ~ President George W. Bush, C-SPAN interview, January 2005

Just how long does it take to recover from Reality TV Syndrome? How often do we hear people pleading with us to get away from these computers and get out into the world? Have you noticed that we rarely, if ever, hear the same people saying anything about extracting ourselves from in front of our televisions? Television is a past time (or a waste of time) that many of us take for granted, both in loss of productivity and in the effects we suffer from allowing our focus to be molded by the media.

Eight months into a TV-free lifestyle, and I am just starting to realize what a detriment TV had become for me. I do not expect or encourage others to adopt my TV free lifestyle, but the benefits to me have become increasingly apparent over the past eight months. Do not get me wrong, we still have the actual TVs: three of them to be exact. Yet, they are now just rarely used DVD players, instead of the idiot boxes that they once were. What kind of TV viewer was I? I was a sports, news, HGTV, Discovery, TLC, PBS kind of watcher- in that order of total viewing time spent. What programs do I miss the most, eight months later? I only find myself missing certain sporting events, but that is all. Is it worth the $60 a month to watch a few football or baseball games? I think I will continue my personal TV turn-off experiment.

In September of 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that TV viewing accounted for approximately half of both American men and women's leisure time (see chart). The Time Use Survey revealed that TV viewing was third in total daily use of time, behind only time spent working and sleeping. I am certain that time spent in front of the computer may soon give TV a run for its money, but TV is still, by far, the most culturally favored use of one's time. It is easy to find resources and education material examining the effects of television and video game violence on our young people, but what of the general effects of television addiction on young and old alike? I can only speak from personal experience, but I feel my life and productivity have greatly improved without the ball and chain of television in my life. The time I spend here on the computer is certainly time better spent than mindless TV viewing, and I do not waste all of my leisure time here... I just have more of it, because I have shut off my TV.

American Time Use Survey (ATUS) 2003

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dept. of Labor, U.S. Government
American Time Use Survey (ATUS) 2003
Released September 2004

Related reading: The TV Turnoff Network: http://www.tvturnoff.org/

Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:05 AM | Comments (0)