The on-going Boy Scout Jamboree recently gave way to tragedy when four Scout leaders, having pitched their tent under a power line, were electrocuted when the metal pole of their tent inadverdantly made contact with the overhead wire. Prior to this, the President had to cancel a scheduled appearance before the group due to increment weather. He had to cancel yet another appearance just two days ago, following a memorial service for the fallen leaders, at about the same time that two hundred of the Boy Scouts in attendance became seriously ill. It seems that nothing is going right for the organization.
Except that is for the recent vote in the Senate-98 to 0-in favor of allowing the Boy Scouts to make use of certain military bases during training and camping programs, over the steadfast objections of the ACLU. The Conservative Christian crowd that traditionally support the Boy Scouts were overjoyed at this turn of events, as even such stalwart liberals as Edward M. Kennedy and Barbara Boxer voted in their favor. Even the two abstentions, or absentees as the case may have been, could not find it in their hearts to actually vote agaisnt the organization. The ACLU is obviously aghast, as the Boy Scouts promote personal repsonsibility, belief and faith in a "higher power", good citizenship, patriotism. And of course they discourage the homosexual lifestyle, while refusing to allow homosexuals as Scout Leaders, as is their right as a private organization, a right that has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. And here is the problem, that certain groups claim this disqualifies them from using public lands. They have been turned away from certain cities properties for this reason. So this came as a real surprise.
But I think the Christian Conservatives might tend to gloat just a little too much. Maybe their God doesn't like mean-spirited gloating, maybe he decided to have a little fun with them. Here's a poke in the eye, so to speak, ha ha, have a pie in the face, here smell this flower, hahahahahahahha-here, have a seat here, relax a bit-buuuuzzzzzzzzz. What might that mischievous trickster God of the Christians do next?Poisonous snakes amongst the revelers? A featured speaker dies of a massive coronary in the middle of his address? A severed penis is found in the ice cream?
Actually, probably none of the above. And what has happenned up to this point can probably best be summed up by that old tried and true maxim-shit happens. I personally like and admire the Boy Scouts and wish them well, and congratulate them on their well deserved victory. They are a private organization that does much needed good work that benefits children and the community. The radical left should get over it.
On the other hand, it is interesting to speculate on how the Far Right would have reacted had the same set of tragic or similar circumstances afflicted a group with whose values and philosophies they were at odds. And their relative silence now.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Dennis And The Department Of Peace
If Dennis Kucinich had his way about it, I have no doubt the Tigris River would soon all but erupt in flames, much as did the Cuyahoga River when he was the boy mayor of Cleveland in the early seventies. Sure, Dennis means well. In fact, I would say that in a lot of different ways, he was the best candidate running for president during the democratic '04 primaries. He was right on most of the major issues. Civil rights and minority protections, Pro-Choice, Pro-Labor, Pro-environment, Pro comprehensive health care reform, almost everything you want to mention. He was a true democratic liberal, unabashed and unapologetic, which was very refreshing. Unfortunately, like most democrats, he doesnt' seem to have a clue that his party, and most in it, are indeed clueless when it comes to the need for a strong military and a strong national defense and homeland security. Which meant that he had about as good a chance of winning the election as a minnow had of surviving in the Cuyahoga, circa 1972. Then, he seems to have decided, well, "let me go ahead now and cut my damned throat and get it over with" by coming up with the most preposterous proposal I have yet to hear advocated-the Department of Peace.
Yeah, that's what I thought. The Department Of What? To do what? Another bureaucracy, another cabinet level department full of pencil pushers to advocate for world peace, it would seem. Hey, Dennis, a heads up. We seem to have one of those already, I think it's called THE STATE DEPARTMENT, numbnut. I mean, the last time I checked, they seem to function out of the need to try to work out solutions to problems through diplomacy before there is a need to go to war. In fact, they are frequently at odds with the Defense Department due to this very fact. The two serve to balance each other out, which they are supposed to do. Okay, so a great many of the times they don't do that good a job. But would creating yet another carbon copy under a different name really accomplish anything but confusion? I don't think so.
But Dennis failed to learn from his dismal performance at the polls, and now is at it again, this time co-sponsoring legislation in the House of Representatives, bi-partisan at that, to push for an agreed timetable of troop withdrawal from Iraq, which is of course impractical as hell. It won't work, which isn't the problem, the problem is, nobody's going to go along with it. But to be fair, I might have a solution that Dennis and his allies might want to consider.
How about all you guys lobby NATO to join us in earnest in supporting the up-and-coming (hopefully) democratic
government of Iraq, as it goes about the business of drafting a new constitution and setting up a government in which all parties have a voice, and in which certain civil and legal rights are guaranteed, and the rule of law prevails? A government in which there will be free and fair elections? You don't really have to encourage our NATO allies to send troops to Iraq, though that would certainly be nice. Just encourage them to help us in training the Iraqi Army, which can then that much sooner go about the business of defending their own country, with hopefully no need for any help from us or from anyone else.
That way, the Iraqi government can stand on it's own two feet, may be a resounding success, and the American troops can actually come home sooner-much, much sooner-than would otherwise be practical. That is what you realy want, isn't it now? For the troops to come home? And our presence there as occuppiers be ended? Isn't that what the Europeans want, and for that matter, the Iraqi's themselves? Isn't that what everybody wants, in reality? Well, the quicker the government is firmly established, and their military is up to par, the sooner we can do this. Otherwise, were we to leave too quickly, without these conditions being met, the country would doubtless quickly descend into chaos and civil war, eventually followed by a return to dictatorial rule, either by a Saddam style Ba'athist resurgence, or by an Iranian style Islamic fundamentalist theocracy.
Now you wouldn't want that to happen, Dennis, would you now? What kind of Department Of Peace would encourage a scenario like that?
Yeah, that's what I thought. The Department Of What? To do what? Another bureaucracy, another cabinet level department full of pencil pushers to advocate for world peace, it would seem. Hey, Dennis, a heads up. We seem to have one of those already, I think it's called THE STATE DEPARTMENT, numbnut. I mean, the last time I checked, they seem to function out of the need to try to work out solutions to problems through diplomacy before there is a need to go to war. In fact, they are frequently at odds with the Defense Department due to this very fact. The two serve to balance each other out, which they are supposed to do. Okay, so a great many of the times they don't do that good a job. But would creating yet another carbon copy under a different name really accomplish anything but confusion? I don't think so.
But Dennis failed to learn from his dismal performance at the polls, and now is at it again, this time co-sponsoring legislation in the House of Representatives, bi-partisan at that, to push for an agreed timetable of troop withdrawal from Iraq, which is of course impractical as hell. It won't work, which isn't the problem, the problem is, nobody's going to go along with it. But to be fair, I might have a solution that Dennis and his allies might want to consider.
How about all you guys lobby NATO to join us in earnest in supporting the up-and-coming (hopefully) democratic
government of Iraq, as it goes about the business of drafting a new constitution and setting up a government in which all parties have a voice, and in which certain civil and legal rights are guaranteed, and the rule of law prevails? A government in which there will be free and fair elections? You don't really have to encourage our NATO allies to send troops to Iraq, though that would certainly be nice. Just encourage them to help us in training the Iraqi Army, which can then that much sooner go about the business of defending their own country, with hopefully no need for any help from us or from anyone else.
That way, the Iraqi government can stand on it's own two feet, may be a resounding success, and the American troops can actually come home sooner-much, much sooner-than would otherwise be practical. That is what you realy want, isn't it now? For the troops to come home? And our presence there as occuppiers be ended? Isn't that what the Europeans want, and for that matter, the Iraqi's themselves? Isn't that what everybody wants, in reality? Well, the quicker the government is firmly established, and their military is up to par, the sooner we can do this. Otherwise, were we to leave too quickly, without these conditions being met, the country would doubtless quickly descend into chaos and civil war, eventually followed by a return to dictatorial rule, either by a Saddam style Ba'athist resurgence, or by an Iranian style Islamic fundamentalist theocracy.
Now you wouldn't want that to happen, Dennis, would you now? What kind of Department Of Peace would encourage a scenario like that?
Bigfoot Sighted Again
Contrary to popular belief, Bigfoot is very real. Or is she? Her name is Jane Fonda, and every time she is sighted, she seems to be sticking her Big Foot in her Big Mouth. As with all Bigfoot sightings, her apearrances tend to be very disconcerting. To say nothing of the fact that everything about it seems to stink, to high heaven, and on a bunch of different levels. Take for example her most famous sighting.
This one I saw for myself, and it certainly looked for real. There she was, sitting on a Viet Cong anti-aircraft gun, laughing cheefully, gleefuly, as she clasped her hands together. There it was for all the world to see. Was it for real? Or was it some kind of clever fraud? She was later said to have been sighted at a Vietnamese raio station, and was even heard to have broadcast pleas to American soldiers to refuse to fight, fo rthem to desert, that they were fighting an ilegal, immoral, and unjustified war of aggression. She was further said to have been sighted at a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, where she met with seveal POWs. Or did she? A great many of the more unfortunate POWs admitted they never actually saw her, though they believed the accounts of her presence. Very disconcerting. Something about it just didn't pass the smell test.
She was spotted several other times, in movies, in exercise videos, with several different husbands. Finally, she was spotted at a book tour, where she was spat upon by a disgruntled Viet Nam veteran. She had been recently heard to apologize for past actions. But was it for real? Disconcerting. It, yes, stunk to high heaven. She was last seen in yet another movie-Monster-In-Law. Would that be it for Bigfoot?
Evidently not. Now she is said to be about to embark on a bus tour in order to protest yet another war, the present one in Iraq. But is it for real? New Mexico Governor Elliot Richardson, whom she claims will accompany her on the tour, claims he has never heard about it, knows nothing about it. So, we are left to wonder-will Bigfoot soon be spotted in a city or a town near you? Or is it all a bizarre, monstrous fraud?
Disconcerting. And like all Bigfoot sightings, it stinks, on a bunch of levels.
This one I saw for myself, and it certainly looked for real. There she was, sitting on a Viet Cong anti-aircraft gun, laughing cheefully, gleefuly, as she clasped her hands together. There it was for all the world to see. Was it for real? Or was it some kind of clever fraud? She was later said to have been sighted at a Vietnamese raio station, and was even heard to have broadcast pleas to American soldiers to refuse to fight, fo rthem to desert, that they were fighting an ilegal, immoral, and unjustified war of aggression. She was further said to have been sighted at a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, where she met with seveal POWs. Or did she? A great many of the more unfortunate POWs admitted they never actually saw her, though they believed the accounts of her presence. Very disconcerting. Something about it just didn't pass the smell test.
She was spotted several other times, in movies, in exercise videos, with several different husbands. Finally, she was spotted at a book tour, where she was spat upon by a disgruntled Viet Nam veteran. She had been recently heard to apologize for past actions. But was it for real? Disconcerting. It, yes, stunk to high heaven. She was last seen in yet another movie-Monster-In-Law. Would that be it for Bigfoot?
Evidently not. Now she is said to be about to embark on a bus tour in order to protest yet another war, the present one in Iraq. But is it for real? New Mexico Governor Elliot Richardson, whom she claims will accompany her on the tour, claims he has never heard about it, knows nothing about it. So, we are left to wonder-will Bigfoot soon be spotted in a city or a town near you? Or is it all a bizarre, monstrous fraud?
Disconcerting. And like all Bigfoot sightings, it stinks, on a bunch of levels.
John Roberts Is Catholic-Now We Can Worry
Okay, so now I'm worried, not so much about Roe v Wade, though that is troubling. In fact, my concerns with the Catholic Church began pretty much with the last election, when certain Bishops threatened to withold communion from John Kerry due to his Pro-Choice beliefs. This of course could easily have been interpreted as interference by representatives of a sovereign nation-the Vatican-in the internal affairs of U.S. politics. Thankfully, the various Bishops were divided on this issue, some issuing objections to this policy, and we were never quite sure exactly where the Vatican itself stood. Though there were rumblings.
But even this stance fell fall short of the recent self-serving position recenty advocated by a group of American Bishops as regarding U.S. border policy. They in effect called for an easing of border restrictions, an appeal for amnesty for curent illegals, aid for those illegals who may get in dire straights as a result of flouting our laws, and allowing ever more imigrants to move here legally.
This is self-serving, obviously so, when you consider the statistics. The Catholic Church-and the Vatican-gets the largest share of it's financial contributions from the pockets of American Catholics, more than from any other single group, possibly even more than all others combined. Yet, at the same time, it is a fact that Church conversions are down, as is overall church attendance amongst American Catholics. For the past twenty or thirty years, there has been a troubling shortage of priests and seminarians. If the downward trend continues, it can bode no good for the American Cathoic Church, or the Catholic Church in general, as financial contributions can not for very long fail to also decline, in fact they probably have somewhat all ready done so.
Then, you realize, the majority, if not all, of Mexican immigrants are Catholic, and would add a considerable number of practising members. In time, this would lead to an increase in donations, as well as a much needed boost in seminarians and priests. The Catholic hierarchy aren't just looking at Mexican immigrants and seeing a cash cow, of course. They are seeing a whole damned herd, crossing the desert, swimming the Rio Grande, from California to Texas, and they want them roped and branded. Not only for the reasons I have mentioned, but due to the fact the Mexicans are for the most part socially conservative. Which bring us to the most important, and scariest, reason of all for the Catholic border position. That many faithful, and grateful, practising Catholics, presumably regular church attendees and generous donors, soon to become American citizens, would prove to be one hell of a voting bloc. A socialy conservative, presumably pliant voting bloc that would vote for the candidates who would certainly increase, and perhaps ultimately cement, the Catholic Church in America's power in Washington, possibly to a position of unchallenged control.
This brings us back to the issue of John Roberts. He will doubtless be confirmed in his position on the Supreme Court, though it might turn out to be a nastier struggle than I had envioned. Once this occurs, what would happen if there are tough new immigration laws passed, one for example that might seem fair, yet at the same time seeks to limit immigration to manageable levels, and at the same time adopts a policy aimed at rigidly enforcing current border policies to ensure that the only Mexican immigrants that move here are the ones who do so legally, out in the open? That all others are stopped at the border, and turned away? That those who are caught after sneaking in are immediately sent back, with the admonition they will never be allowed to return? That there will be penalties for employers caught hiring undocumented ilegal aliens, or for anyone else that aids them in such a way as to be intended to assist them in staying here illegally? That cities who allow the presence of illegal aliens as a policy in oppossition to federal laws will be cut off from all future federal funding and other federal aid as a consequence?
Whatever the laws might state, regardless of how well worded and considered, it will no doubt face stiff legal challenges, which would more than likely eventually place it before the Supreme Court. In such an event, how will John Roberts vote? Conservative, Catholic, John Roberts?
No, I don't like the looks of it.
But even this stance fell fall short of the recent self-serving position recenty advocated by a group of American Bishops as regarding U.S. border policy. They in effect called for an easing of border restrictions, an appeal for amnesty for curent illegals, aid for those illegals who may get in dire straights as a result of flouting our laws, and allowing ever more imigrants to move here legally.
This is self-serving, obviously so, when you consider the statistics. The Catholic Church-and the Vatican-gets the largest share of it's financial contributions from the pockets of American Catholics, more than from any other single group, possibly even more than all others combined. Yet, at the same time, it is a fact that Church conversions are down, as is overall church attendance amongst American Catholics. For the past twenty or thirty years, there has been a troubling shortage of priests and seminarians. If the downward trend continues, it can bode no good for the American Cathoic Church, or the Catholic Church in general, as financial contributions can not for very long fail to also decline, in fact they probably have somewhat all ready done so.
Then, you realize, the majority, if not all, of Mexican immigrants are Catholic, and would add a considerable number of practising members. In time, this would lead to an increase in donations, as well as a much needed boost in seminarians and priests. The Catholic hierarchy aren't just looking at Mexican immigrants and seeing a cash cow, of course. They are seeing a whole damned herd, crossing the desert, swimming the Rio Grande, from California to Texas, and they want them roped and branded. Not only for the reasons I have mentioned, but due to the fact the Mexicans are for the most part socially conservative. Which bring us to the most important, and scariest, reason of all for the Catholic border position. That many faithful, and grateful, practising Catholics, presumably regular church attendees and generous donors, soon to become American citizens, would prove to be one hell of a voting bloc. A socialy conservative, presumably pliant voting bloc that would vote for the candidates who would certainly increase, and perhaps ultimately cement, the Catholic Church in America's power in Washington, possibly to a position of unchallenged control.
This brings us back to the issue of John Roberts. He will doubtless be confirmed in his position on the Supreme Court, though it might turn out to be a nastier struggle than I had envioned. Once this occurs, what would happen if there are tough new immigration laws passed, one for example that might seem fair, yet at the same time seeks to limit immigration to manageable levels, and at the same time adopts a policy aimed at rigidly enforcing current border policies to ensure that the only Mexican immigrants that move here are the ones who do so legally, out in the open? That all others are stopped at the border, and turned away? That those who are caught after sneaking in are immediately sent back, with the admonition they will never be allowed to return? That there will be penalties for employers caught hiring undocumented ilegal aliens, or for anyone else that aids them in such a way as to be intended to assist them in staying here illegally? That cities who allow the presence of illegal aliens as a policy in oppossition to federal laws will be cut off from all future federal funding and other federal aid as a consequence?
Whatever the laws might state, regardless of how well worded and considered, it will no doubt face stiff legal challenges, which would more than likely eventually place it before the Supreme Court. In such an event, how will John Roberts vote? Conservative, Catholic, John Roberts?
No, I don't like the looks of it.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
The Pro-Choice Movement Meltdown-To Make It Clear
Something I should have added in my last post on this subject, was very important, and yet in my haste I neglected to add one very important detail. I asserted that a parent or parents have evry right to be informed when their young daughter attempts to have an abortion. Some people have taken this to mean that I am advocating that the girl should have their parents consent to have the abortion, that she should not be allowed to have one without her parents permission. Nothing could be furhter from the truth. While I wouldn't go so far as to say it is none ofthe parents business, they certainly should have no say in the matter. They simply have the right to be informed. After all, this is certainly a serious procedure being discussed here, much more serious, for example, than having a mole removed, which no respectful medical professional would perform on an underrage person without the knowledge of the parents. In a procedure such as this, indeed, the parents should be required to give their permission.
However, whether or not to have a child is arguably the most life altering decision a person can make. Way too many young girls actually decide to go through with a pregnancy, in fact I have known of young girls who have tried to get pregnant. They just have this desire to have a baby, and for a variety of reasons. Some get it in their heads that there is money they can make through government agencies, some are simply out for the love and nurturing companionship that comes from being a mother, or perhaps they think they can actually become a real adult through this process and possibly even get the "man" of their dreams.
Would any reasonable, sane adult person advocate that this is a matter of privacy, that the girls parents have no right to interfere or even to be informed of such a stupid activity as this on their daughters part? I would most certainly hope not. How, then, does it follow the parents have no right to be informed as to their daughters seeking an abortion? It doesn't make any sense.
I repeat, the parents should be informed, however, they should have no say in the matter, and the girl should be allowed to have the abortion. In fact, I would if I had my way about it take it even farther than that, and say that a young girl, under the legal age of adulthood, should actually not be allowed to go through with a pregnancy-with or without their parents consent and, for that matter, whether or not they themselves want the abortion.
Think about it. When a teenage girl goes through puberty, she is physically capable of becomming pregnant and carrying a baby, and of giving birth. This can happen as early in most cases at the age of twelve, and in some cases even earlier than this. There is just no legitimate reason for allowing this to happen. Seeing as how in most states it would be illegal for a girl that age to even consent to the act of sexual intercourse, then how does it follow that they should be allowed to become mothers, to give birth, to raise a child?
This is a case where religous and social extremism should give way to common sense, and to legitimate concerns for children, as oppossed to the religous claptrap that passes for it. For once, I would like to see both sides of an issue actually work for the benefit of the children they purport to want to protect, as oppossed to merely using them as the typical pawns they all so often become.
However, whether or not to have a child is arguably the most life altering decision a person can make. Way too many young girls actually decide to go through with a pregnancy, in fact I have known of young girls who have tried to get pregnant. They just have this desire to have a baby, and for a variety of reasons. Some get it in their heads that there is money they can make through government agencies, some are simply out for the love and nurturing companionship that comes from being a mother, or perhaps they think they can actually become a real adult through this process and possibly even get the "man" of their dreams.
Would any reasonable, sane adult person advocate that this is a matter of privacy, that the girls parents have no right to interfere or even to be informed of such a stupid activity as this on their daughters part? I would most certainly hope not. How, then, does it follow the parents have no right to be informed as to their daughters seeking an abortion? It doesn't make any sense.
I repeat, the parents should be informed, however, they should have no say in the matter, and the girl should be allowed to have the abortion. In fact, I would if I had my way about it take it even farther than that, and say that a young girl, under the legal age of adulthood, should actually not be allowed to go through with a pregnancy-with or without their parents consent and, for that matter, whether or not they themselves want the abortion.
Think about it. When a teenage girl goes through puberty, she is physically capable of becomming pregnant and carrying a baby, and of giving birth. This can happen as early in most cases at the age of twelve, and in some cases even earlier than this. There is just no legitimate reason for allowing this to happen. Seeing as how in most states it would be illegal for a girl that age to even consent to the act of sexual intercourse, then how does it follow that they should be allowed to become mothers, to give birth, to raise a child?
This is a case where religous and social extremism should give way to common sense, and to legitimate concerns for children, as oppossed to the religous claptrap that passes for it. For once, I would like to see both sides of an issue actually work for the benefit of the children they purport to want to protect, as oppossed to merely using them as the typical pawns they all so often become.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Teacher Of The Year-Deborah LeFave
Why would anyone in their right mind want to prosecute this woman, when they should be promoting her, for goodness sake? Now, I'm not going to go into this hackneyed business witht he obvious jokes about wishing I had a teacher like that. Simply put, in my case, it damend sure wouldn't be a joke. Now, before I go further, I will admit that a math teacher should be teaching math, and nothing but math, same with history, English, etc.
But hey, why invest so much damned money in sex education and not even teach sex? I mean, you learn by doing, right? And women teachers like Debbie LeFave could be a real godsend, beuase any red-blooded heterosexual American male would absolutely love to do it with her. So why not take advantage of the situation. I mean, the guys are willing. She is obviously willing, and I would wager plenty of others would be as well.
This would be providing a real service. Of course, young girls shouldn't be taught sex in this manner, as they shouldn't be penetrated by a grown man. It's just different for girls than it is for boys, politically correct claptrap to the contrary. But even they can benefit overall from young boys being brought to sexual maturity by a teacher adept at the subject. For one thing, the guys would only get to fuck the teacher once they passed the requisite social skills tests involved, as a reward. In effect, they would have to learn to treat females in general with the respect that they deserve. How could that be a bad thing?
And if the parents of any young boy did not want their young sons to be included in the program, they would have the right to refuse to give permission for it. And that would be it. Of course, that isn't going to be easily made up by a camping trip or a few extra dollars allowance. But life is a bitch, after all.
But hey, why invest so much damned money in sex education and not even teach sex? I mean, you learn by doing, right? And women teachers like Debbie LeFave could be a real godsend, beuase any red-blooded heterosexual American male would absolutely love to do it with her. So why not take advantage of the situation. I mean, the guys are willing. She is obviously willing, and I would wager plenty of others would be as well.
This would be providing a real service. Of course, young girls shouldn't be taught sex in this manner, as they shouldn't be penetrated by a grown man. It's just different for girls than it is for boys, politically correct claptrap to the contrary. But even they can benefit overall from young boys being brought to sexual maturity by a teacher adept at the subject. For one thing, the guys would only get to fuck the teacher once they passed the requisite social skills tests involved, as a reward. In effect, they would have to learn to treat females in general with the respect that they deserve. How could that be a bad thing?
And if the parents of any young boy did not want their young sons to be included in the program, they would have the right to refuse to give permission for it. And that would be it. Of course, that isn't going to be easily made up by a camping trip or a few extra dollars allowance. But life is a bitch, after all.
A Wicked Spell Troll This Way Cums
This is a magical spell that I would not advise any witch to perform. Howevr I feel I am providing a service by informing you of the type of spells that are possible. Not that you should do them. Just be aware of them. Because spells such as this one are negative,and can backfire. And besides, it is just wrong to manipulate people's free will by using magic to make them do your bidding. However, IF YOU WANTED TO DO ONE, AND ABSOLUTELY FELT YOU HAD TO, THIS WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO :
FUCK YOUR TEACHER
You will need a large red candle, in the middle of an altar. At the north, you will need an apple. At the east, a censor, or a stick of incense. At the south, a brazier. And at the west, a cup of wine. Invoke the elements as you cast the circle, calling Power Earth at the North, as you ritually empower the apple; Powerair at the est, as you ritually empower the incense and light it; Power Fire at the south as you ritually empower the brazier, which you will light; At west, invoke power water as you ritually empower the wine. Return to the north, and pick up the apple. Carry it to the east, allowing the smoke of the incense to waft over the apple. Carry it to the south, allowing the heat of the brazier's flames (use small bit of alcohol for this flame, and some toilet tissue to extend the life of the flame, but be cautious) to anfuse the apple with it's power. Proceed back to the west, where you will sip the wine, after which you will proceed to the center of the ritual space, and kneel before the candle. Have beside the candle a bowl, in which you should pour the wine into. Using the power of your visualization, see yourself having an affair with your favorite teacher as you push the apple down into the empowered wine. Hold it there as you project the energy of your sexual passion of your visualizations into the apple.
Once you are finished with the visualization to your satisfaction, release the elements, thanking them for their assistance. Wrap the apple in a specially preparee ritual cheeseloth, and place in a safe spot, preferably in your refrigerator, for purpioses of protecting it.
The next time you see your teacher, during class, you will have the apple with you. This is important: do not offer the apple to the teacher, or leave it on his or her desk. Simply carry it on your person through the entirety of the class, ensuring that you participate in class discussions, etc., while maintaining eye contact with your teacher. However, if he or she asks, at the end of class, if the apple is for him or her, simply hand it to the teacher, saying "it's yours if you want it". Then, without another word, simply walk out, pausing just long enough to look back at him or her and smile.
It will only be a matter of time.
FUCK YOUR TEACHER
You will need a large red candle, in the middle of an altar. At the north, you will need an apple. At the east, a censor, or a stick of incense. At the south, a brazier. And at the west, a cup of wine. Invoke the elements as you cast the circle, calling Power Earth at the North, as you ritually empower the apple; Powerair at the est, as you ritually empower the incense and light it; Power Fire at the south as you ritually empower the brazier, which you will light; At west, invoke power water as you ritually empower the wine. Return to the north, and pick up the apple. Carry it to the east, allowing the smoke of the incense to waft over the apple. Carry it to the south, allowing the heat of the brazier's flames (use small bit of alcohol for this flame, and some toilet tissue to extend the life of the flame, but be cautious) to anfuse the apple with it's power. Proceed back to the west, where you will sip the wine, after which you will proceed to the center of the ritual space, and kneel before the candle. Have beside the candle a bowl, in which you should pour the wine into. Using the power of your visualization, see yourself having an affair with your favorite teacher as you push the apple down into the empowered wine. Hold it there as you project the energy of your sexual passion of your visualizations into the apple.
Once you are finished with the visualization to your satisfaction, release the elements, thanking them for their assistance. Wrap the apple in a specially preparee ritual cheeseloth, and place in a safe spot, preferably in your refrigerator, for purpioses of protecting it.
The next time you see your teacher, during class, you will have the apple with you. This is important: do not offer the apple to the teacher, or leave it on his or her desk. Simply carry it on your person through the entirety of the class, ensuring that you participate in class discussions, etc., while maintaining eye contact with your teacher. However, if he or she asks, at the end of class, if the apple is for him or her, simply hand it to the teacher, saying "it's yours if you want it". Then, without another word, simply walk out, pausing just long enough to look back at him or her and smile.
It will only be a matter of time.
Pregos And Their Sex Addict Babies
I've fucked a lot of pregnant chicks in my time. I don't know why, when I was married, I wouldn't fuck my wife when she was pregnant for the life of me. But that was different. Give me a woman who is pregant by another man-especially, most especially, by her husband, and I will fuck her over and over and over again. I get a perverse thrill out of it. What the hell, I can't get her pregnant, right? I used to enjoy telling guys whose wives were pregant that I loved to fuck pregant women that were married to other guys. They would just give me this look. Now, I wouldn't be talking about their wives, of course. Heh, heh, heh.
But recently, I got to wondering, just what am I doing? Am I creating a whole line of sex addicts? I'm serious here. Face it, if a pregnat woman takes drugs, or drinks heavily, or even smokes cigarrettes, while pregant, it is pretty much an establshed fact that their babies are going to be born addicted to whatever substance the mothers were ingesting during their preganancies.
It is also an established fact by now that sex can be an addiction. Sooo, if I fuck a pregant woman, am I possibly going to cause that baby to be a sex addict? And is this possibly the reason there are so many sex addicted people in the world now to begine with? After all, sex during pregnancy was pretty much considered taboo before the nineteen sixties, though I'm sure quite a few pregnant women did engage in the act. But not like nowadays.
Now before anybody ridicules this notion, there is one more pertinent fact to be considered. Not only does a baby ingest whatever substance it's mother ingests while it is being carried by her, but it actually feels the same emotions as the mother. That would include what the mother is feeling when I'm getting her hot as a rocket, the feelings she has while I am fucking her, the emotions she feels when she is having an orgasm.
In conclusion, the question becomes not will these babies be born sex addicts, but rather, how could they not be?
But recently, I got to wondering, just what am I doing? Am I creating a whole line of sex addicts? I'm serious here. Face it, if a pregnat woman takes drugs, or drinks heavily, or even smokes cigarrettes, while pregant, it is pretty much an establshed fact that their babies are going to be born addicted to whatever substance the mothers were ingesting during their preganancies.
It is also an established fact by now that sex can be an addiction. Sooo, if I fuck a pregant woman, am I possibly going to cause that baby to be a sex addict? And is this possibly the reason there are so many sex addicted people in the world now to begine with? After all, sex during pregnancy was pretty much considered taboo before the nineteen sixties, though I'm sure quite a few pregnant women did engage in the act. But not like nowadays.
Now before anybody ridicules this notion, there is one more pertinent fact to be considered. Not only does a baby ingest whatever substance it's mother ingests while it is being carried by her, but it actually feels the same emotions as the mother. That would include what the mother is feeling when I'm getting her hot as a rocket, the feelings she has while I am fucking her, the emotions she feels when she is having an orgasm.
In conclusion, the question becomes not will these babies be born sex addicts, but rather, how could they not be?
Mercury And Autism-Part III
There was recently a protest in Washington, D.C., that got precous little press coverage, as it involves families who have very serious reservations pertaining to the latest pronouncements of the Centers For Disease Control, and other organs of government. In effect, concerning the effects of the use of mercury in childhood vacinnes, and the potential link to the recent escalation in cases of autism in children, which they would have us believe is non-existent. There is no scientific evidence to establish any such link, they say.
So why was the use of mercury discontinued, if that were the case? Just to be on the safe side? Just in case? Seems unlikely, as the properties of mecury would otherwise make it amenable for continued use, otherwise it would not have been utilized to begin with. And, indeed, it is still being used in a number of booster shots, and in some flu vaccines. Why is this the case? Does common sense not dictate the use of caution? Why take such a chance? Or is this the reason for the CDC's denials? Again, is it a matter of money overriding the true public interest, even that of the health of the nations children?
Then, there is the issue of overseas sending of these vaccines to foreign countries that are expriencing epidemics. This could indeed cause a real diplomatic nightmare for the U.S. in the future. And it could also cause a future settlement in the hundreds of billions of dollars to be appropriate, possibly necessitating a government bail out of the entire pharmaceutical industry. The only other option might be seeing our pharmaceutical industry giants being forced to sell out, possibly to foreign companies, whose hands the nations health might then be in the grip of.
But even if the pharmaceutical companies survive, or are replaced with other domestic companies, this will not make up for the lives of thousands, possibly tens of thousands of families, both here and abroad,whose lives may have been ruined forever by this gross neglect and abuse.
If it is the truth, that is. But the concerns of these parents should be heard, and given all due consideration. The claims should be investigated, not by the CDC, or the FDA, or any other such agency which is little more than a wholly owned subsidiarie of the pharmaceuatcal industry. But by the Justice Department itself. Nor would live hearings before Congress be wholly inappropriate.
So why was the use of mercury discontinued, if that were the case? Just to be on the safe side? Just in case? Seems unlikely, as the properties of mecury would otherwise make it amenable for continued use, otherwise it would not have been utilized to begin with. And, indeed, it is still being used in a number of booster shots, and in some flu vaccines. Why is this the case? Does common sense not dictate the use of caution? Why take such a chance? Or is this the reason for the CDC's denials? Again, is it a matter of money overriding the true public interest, even that of the health of the nations children?
Then, there is the issue of overseas sending of these vaccines to foreign countries that are expriencing epidemics. This could indeed cause a real diplomatic nightmare for the U.S. in the future. And it could also cause a future settlement in the hundreds of billions of dollars to be appropriate, possibly necessitating a government bail out of the entire pharmaceutical industry. The only other option might be seeing our pharmaceutical industry giants being forced to sell out, possibly to foreign companies, whose hands the nations health might then be in the grip of.
But even if the pharmaceutical companies survive, or are replaced with other domestic companies, this will not make up for the lives of thousands, possibly tens of thousands of families, both here and abroad,whose lives may have been ruined forever by this gross neglect and abuse.
If it is the truth, that is. But the concerns of these parents should be heard, and given all due consideration. The claims should be investigated, not by the CDC, or the FDA, or any other such agency which is little more than a wholly owned subsidiarie of the pharmaceuatcal industry. But by the Justice Department itself. Nor would live hearings before Congress be wholly inappropriate.
The Pro Choice Movement Meltdown
While the recent protests in Washington, over the denial of links of Mercury in childhood vaccines to autism, were going on and getting precous little coverage, the media chose instead to focus on the on-going protests and dire warnings of doom issued by various Pro-Choice groups concerned over the reent nomination of John Roberts, of the Fifth U.S. District Curt of Washington, D.C., to the U.S. Supreme Court.
They just aren't going to give up, it seems, until Bush relents and nominates somebody that everyone knows for a fact is a rabid anti-abortion judge who will most definitely, without question, vote eventually to overturn Roe v. Wade. Unlike Roberts, whose only pronouncements ont he subject were as an attorney while in the porocess of representing his client. Yet, Roberts has as well, it turns out, had clients that required him to advocate from a liberal position. In one case, he advocated agaisnt a business consortium that wanted to take over an area made up of private home owners, in order to promote some kind of business development. There simply is no way of knowing where he stands onthe abortion issue. If I had to guess I would imagne that he is probably aganst it. But does it follow he is going to agitate for an excuse to overturn an established court precedent. I hardly think that is likely. Courts do not in general like to overturn precedents, as they would not like their own to one day be overturned. The few exceptions to these have certainly been understandable and appropriate. Brown v. Board of Eduacation was one such decison to overturn precedent.
So what are the extremists in the Pro-Choice crowd so worried about? The possible answer to this lies in the recent controversy involving the rights of parental notification. In other words if a teenage girl decides to get an abortion. They are against any such laws, on privacy grounds. The old canard they usualy float is that some parents may have molested their daughters, neices, and therefore they have a right to hide the abortion from these abusers. I am ashamed to admit it, but I at first bought this argment, actually took it at face value. But it's a stupid argument. To begin with, if a man impregnated his own dauhgter, I would imagine he would be more than happy to agree to her getting an abortion. Furthermore, the minute the paper work is made out, and they find out this is the reason the girl has not as yet gotten parental consent to have the abortion, they will certainly take care of that problem, with all it's potential consequences.
So what's the problem here? A young girl, or boy, who is under age, can not get any kind of medical procedure without parental consent. Why should an abortion be any different? It is just unreasonable to promote such a right, or to fight any law that is meant actually to insure the protection of the young and vulnerable from the dangers of abuse. Some of these people have never seen an abortion they didn't like or couldn't approve of, it seems, and they will brook no interference from anyone.
So then that brings up the question, what is the real problem with Roberts, other than his potential support of parental notification, and his probable readiness to support limits on third trimester abortions? Is this nothing, when all is said and done, but a massive fund raising effort on the part of the Pro-Choice groups? Would they make even more in the way of contributions if they could force Bush to nominate another Clarence Thomas? If so, then that is pretty pathetic, and would reveal the truth to something that I have suspected for some time now. That the movers and shakers, the leaders, of the Pro-Choice Movement, have taken it to the point that it really isn't about women's reproductive freedom and privacy rights anymore. It's just another big business with fiscal targets projections.
They just aren't going to give up, it seems, until Bush relents and nominates somebody that everyone knows for a fact is a rabid anti-abortion judge who will most definitely, without question, vote eventually to overturn Roe v. Wade. Unlike Roberts, whose only pronouncements ont he subject were as an attorney while in the porocess of representing his client. Yet, Roberts has as well, it turns out, had clients that required him to advocate from a liberal position. In one case, he advocated agaisnt a business consortium that wanted to take over an area made up of private home owners, in order to promote some kind of business development. There simply is no way of knowing where he stands onthe abortion issue. If I had to guess I would imagne that he is probably aganst it. But does it follow he is going to agitate for an excuse to overturn an established court precedent. I hardly think that is likely. Courts do not in general like to overturn precedents, as they would not like their own to one day be overturned. The few exceptions to these have certainly been understandable and appropriate. Brown v. Board of Eduacation was one such decison to overturn precedent.
So what are the extremists in the Pro-Choice crowd so worried about? The possible answer to this lies in the recent controversy involving the rights of parental notification. In other words if a teenage girl decides to get an abortion. They are against any such laws, on privacy grounds. The old canard they usualy float is that some parents may have molested their daughters, neices, and therefore they have a right to hide the abortion from these abusers. I am ashamed to admit it, but I at first bought this argment, actually took it at face value. But it's a stupid argument. To begin with, if a man impregnated his own dauhgter, I would imagine he would be more than happy to agree to her getting an abortion. Furthermore, the minute the paper work is made out, and they find out this is the reason the girl has not as yet gotten parental consent to have the abortion, they will certainly take care of that problem, with all it's potential consequences.
So what's the problem here? A young girl, or boy, who is under age, can not get any kind of medical procedure without parental consent. Why should an abortion be any different? It is just unreasonable to promote such a right, or to fight any law that is meant actually to insure the protection of the young and vulnerable from the dangers of abuse. Some of these people have never seen an abortion they didn't like or couldn't approve of, it seems, and they will brook no interference from anyone.
So then that brings up the question, what is the real problem with Roberts, other than his potential support of parental notification, and his probable readiness to support limits on third trimester abortions? Is this nothing, when all is said and done, but a massive fund raising effort on the part of the Pro-Choice groups? Would they make even more in the way of contributions if they could force Bush to nominate another Clarence Thomas? If so, then that is pretty pathetic, and would reveal the truth to something that I have suspected for some time now. That the movers and shakers, the leaders, of the Pro-Choice Movement, have taken it to the point that it really isn't about women's reproductive freedom and privacy rights anymore. It's just another big business with fiscal targets projections.
Eric Rudolph
The anti-abortion movement, the so-called Pro-Life movement, have always struck me as being anything but. The most radical ones are against stem cell research, they are against birth control, or sex education in public schools, with the exception of abstinence only education, and finally, they are against public assistance for unwed mothers. Yet, they insist that all abortion is evil, and murder, and should not be allowed under any circumstances. Small wonder that the movement would from time to time produce such monsters as Eric Rudolph, who was recently sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for his role in several abortion clinic bombings, the results of which included the death of a police officer who worked off duty as a guard at the clinic, as well as the partial blinding and disfigurement of a nursewho worked there.
This same nurse, at Rudolph's sentencing, was given the opportunity to question the monster, and did so with the following question: "who appointed you to rule over the lives of all women?"
I could answer that question for her. He receives his comands from such notables as "Doctor" James Dobson, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and finally, dare I say it, the last two recent Popes. Yes, I include John Paul II as being one of this sick and deluded man's enablers. Listen closely to the words they speak on this issue. It is not what they say, or even how they say it, so much as it is the medium in which it is presented, and to whom. These are people to whom their religous beliefs are everything, and if you do not agree with them, you are of the devil. Satan. Demon Possessed. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort, even if it is honestly not your intention, when you are dealing with this kind of mind-set, to ignite the fuse of hatred and religous intolerance.
With these people, we have our own set of homegrown terrorists, and they are every bit as fanatical, as evil, as determined, as the Muslims of the Middle East who engage in their own perverted version of Islam in much the same fashion. And if you get on their wrong side, they will kill you just as quickly, and just as gleefully. After all, they are doing it for the greater glory of God.
This same nurse, at Rudolph's sentencing, was given the opportunity to question the monster, and did so with the following question: "who appointed you to rule over the lives of all women?"
I could answer that question for her. He receives his comands from such notables as "Doctor" James Dobson, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and finally, dare I say it, the last two recent Popes. Yes, I include John Paul II as being one of this sick and deluded man's enablers. Listen closely to the words they speak on this issue. It is not what they say, or even how they say it, so much as it is the medium in which it is presented, and to whom. These are people to whom their religous beliefs are everything, and if you do not agree with them, you are of the devil. Satan. Demon Possessed. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort, even if it is honestly not your intention, when you are dealing with this kind of mind-set, to ignite the fuse of hatred and religous intolerance.
With these people, we have our own set of homegrown terrorists, and they are every bit as fanatical, as evil, as determined, as the Muslims of the Middle East who engage in their own perverted version of Islam in much the same fashion. And if you get on their wrong side, they will kill you just as quickly, and just as gleefully. After all, they are doing it for the greater glory of God.
Living Hell
A lot of pagans, and others as well, are of the opinion that hell does not truly exist, that it is a fantasy place invented by religous leaders in order to frighten the gullible masses into compliance with their social order they would seek to impose, and in fact have done so pretty sucessfully. There is certainly some validity to this idea, and relifgous leaders have prety mcuh used the threat of hell for exactly this purpose.
However, as a Hellenic pagan, I am not so sure this is the entire story. Hell fits into my mythology, and many others as well. So I have always wondered, if hell does exist, just what exactly is it, and where? Why was it created? And by whom?
I have come to the conclusion that if hell exists, we are ourselves the creators of it. Hell is the make-up of our deepest fears, and if we let those fears, and all our negative aspects, gain control of our lives, we are literally building our own hell one day at a time. With our greed, our envy, our hatred, our anger, our arrogance,al the negativity with which the human race has been afflicted fromt he beginning of it's existence. After all, since all energy can neither be created or destroyed, but only changes form, then what becomes of the energy of our negative emotions when we die? What if we become sobound up in that negativity, are controlled by it to such an extent, that our very life essence becomes entrapped within it, and contains us therefore after our death?
I used to wonder, if there is a hell, who would go there? What about Hitler? Surely he would qualify, if anyone would. I acaully saw a vision pertaining to this, in a dream. Hitler was standing in a desolate landscape, surrounded by mud as far as the eye could see. To his left was a very steep embankment, also muddy, up which he desperately yet futilly tred to climb, always sliding back down to the level muddy ground beneath him, as a raging leopard, it looked to be, stalked him relentlessly. After some time, the leopard pounced Hitler, and began thrashing and gnawing mercillessly at him, tearing into him, while he screamed in pain and agony, yet aware of the hopelessness of his situation. For this was to be his eternal fate, from now on, throughout eternity, without any let-up, save when the beast let up long enough to allow him to make still another useless run up the steep muddy hill,at which point he would slide down yet again, to be mauled all over again. What a fate, I thought when I awoke. Yet, fitting.
The leopard was obviously, to my way of thinking, Hitler's own cruelty and unreasoning hatred, projected right back at him. While the landscape itself could have been Hitlers' own bleak outlook for the world that he himself had once so mercilessly ravaged. A hell that he, not any deity, had created. And one that he is apparrently stuck with. It would almost be cruel to taunt him by saying somehting like, "make the most of it", becuae that is what in a sense he has all ready done.
No wonder people prefer the thought of reincarnation to that of hell, when you stop to think about it. Not that this, if true, necessarilly negates the possibility of reincarnation, or any other type of aftelife philosophy. Remember, we make our own way. That could to a great many people indeed be some form of reincarnation. And remember, if you make your own hell, it only stands to reason that you can also make your own heaven. It's just how you live your life today that paves the way to one or the other.
However, as a Hellenic pagan, I am not so sure this is the entire story. Hell fits into my mythology, and many others as well. So I have always wondered, if hell does exist, just what exactly is it, and where? Why was it created? And by whom?
I have come to the conclusion that if hell exists, we are ourselves the creators of it. Hell is the make-up of our deepest fears, and if we let those fears, and all our negative aspects, gain control of our lives, we are literally building our own hell one day at a time. With our greed, our envy, our hatred, our anger, our arrogance,al the negativity with which the human race has been afflicted fromt he beginning of it's existence. After all, since all energy can neither be created or destroyed, but only changes form, then what becomes of the energy of our negative emotions when we die? What if we become sobound up in that negativity, are controlled by it to such an extent, that our very life essence becomes entrapped within it, and contains us therefore after our death?
I used to wonder, if there is a hell, who would go there? What about Hitler? Surely he would qualify, if anyone would. I acaully saw a vision pertaining to this, in a dream. Hitler was standing in a desolate landscape, surrounded by mud as far as the eye could see. To his left was a very steep embankment, also muddy, up which he desperately yet futilly tred to climb, always sliding back down to the level muddy ground beneath him, as a raging leopard, it looked to be, stalked him relentlessly. After some time, the leopard pounced Hitler, and began thrashing and gnawing mercillessly at him, tearing into him, while he screamed in pain and agony, yet aware of the hopelessness of his situation. For this was to be his eternal fate, from now on, throughout eternity, without any let-up, save when the beast let up long enough to allow him to make still another useless run up the steep muddy hill,at which point he would slide down yet again, to be mauled all over again. What a fate, I thought when I awoke. Yet, fitting.
The leopard was obviously, to my way of thinking, Hitler's own cruelty and unreasoning hatred, projected right back at him. While the landscape itself could have been Hitlers' own bleak outlook for the world that he himself had once so mercilessly ravaged. A hell that he, not any deity, had created. And one that he is apparrently stuck with. It would almost be cruel to taunt him by saying somehting like, "make the most of it", becuae that is what in a sense he has all ready done.
No wonder people prefer the thought of reincarnation to that of hell, when you stop to think about it. Not that this, if true, necessarilly negates the possibility of reincarnation, or any other type of aftelife philosophy. Remember, we make our own way. That could to a great many people indeed be some form of reincarnation. And remember, if you make your own hell, it only stands to reason that you can also make your own heaven. It's just how you live your life today that paves the way to one or the other.
Andrea Mitchell And The Sudan Affair
Ms. Mitchell has been livid the last few days over recent events in the African nation of The Sudan, where instead of reporting the story of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rices meeting with the dictator ofthat nation, she became in fact what would appear to be the most important element of that story. She had tried to ask the leader of the coutnry a question pertaining to his efforts, or more acurately the lack thereof, to put an end to the recent murders in the Darfur region, where entire villags have been destroyed, while the inhabitants have been left homeless and destitute-or savagely murdered. When she asked this question, she was gruffly grabbed by the Sudanese security guars present, and carried by force out of the chambers. This was recorded by the cameras present. Rice's assistant Secretaryof State was also made to leave, as was Rice's translator. Soon, there was no one capable of carrying on a conversation, so they just sat there and smiled at each other. Rice later complained that this type of thing wasn't appropriate for a free press, whereupon she was informed that there was no free press in the Sudan.
Yet, this Third World thug expects aid from the United States, and expects his country to be taken off the list of nations that sponsor terrorism. He actually wants to re-establish diplomatic and trade relations, and in the meantime, what aid he has in the past received, has all but disappearred, probably into a Swiss bank account. What arrogance!
The United Stats should outright refuse any further aid to this megalomaniac. After all, this is our tax money which is being grossly missappropriated, or will be if aid is granted. In the meantime, it should be pointed out to him, quietly though in no uncertain terms, that were he and his regime to disappear tomorrow, whatever might eventually rise to take it's place couldn't be any worse, even if it tried to be.
Yet, this Third World thug expects aid from the United States, and expects his country to be taken off the list of nations that sponsor terrorism. He actually wants to re-establish diplomatic and trade relations, and in the meantime, what aid he has in the past received, has all but disappearred, probably into a Swiss bank account. What arrogance!
The United Stats should outright refuse any further aid to this megalomaniac. After all, this is our tax money which is being grossly missappropriated, or will be if aid is granted. In the meantime, it should be pointed out to him, quietly though in no uncertain terms, that were he and his regime to disappear tomorrow, whatever might eventually rise to take it's place couldn't be any worse, even if it tried to be.
Bush Assassination Plot
It turns out that Bush has recently been given yet another reason to imagine that he has been divinely pre-ordained to lead not only the nation, but indeed the world, in his efforts to spread democracy throughout the world. In other words, to translate, in his efforts to make the world safe for multi-national corporations to produce cheap goods with cheap labor paid with slave wages, and in the meantime to force the reduction of wages here in this country on the grounds of keeping America "competitive".
But he may have overstepped the bounds of propriety by involving himself in the recent elections in the Eastern European nation of Georgia, formerly a Socialist Republic of the old Soviet Union. While he was going for a friendly little drive with Vladimir Putin in the latters car in Russia, in what has to have been one of the silliest photo ops ever devised, he was chomping at the bits to ensure fair elections in the former Soviet republic, which Putin would dearly love to see fall back into the Russian sphere of influence.
After a speech before a crowd thousands of people in Georgia, folowing his meeting with Putin, a former Soviet officer lobbed a grenade in Bush's presence. The explosive failed to detonate, but even if it had, at one hundred feet distance from Bush with peope standing all around him and between him and the grenade, it is unlikely to have even injured Bush, at least not seriously. Yet, the attempt was made. Had it succeeded, it would have marked the first time a U.S. President would have ever been assinated on foreign soil. And the fall-out would have been devastating. Actually, it still might be. Just a few days ago, the former Soviet soldier, who had been identified thanks to the aid of surveillance cameras, had been taken into custody. As of yet, no word on his motivations.
I seriously doubt that Putin was involved in this business, though others somewhere within the Byzantine maze of the Russian bureaucracy may well have been. More than likely, the man acted on his own. It's hard to say. But even if this turns out to be the case, it says a lot for the poisonous state of our relations globally, that this type of bitterness could erupt. Things like this rarely happen in a vacuum.
Nor do I think Bush was wrong to encourage free elections in the new nation of Georgia, and to discourage Russian interference. However, he should realize that his recent policies have flayed a lot of nerves, in a lot of different ways, and it doesn't take a whole lot of input to have pretty much the effect of salt rubbed into a very raw wound.
But he may have overstepped the bounds of propriety by involving himself in the recent elections in the Eastern European nation of Georgia, formerly a Socialist Republic of the old Soviet Union. While he was going for a friendly little drive with Vladimir Putin in the latters car in Russia, in what has to have been one of the silliest photo ops ever devised, he was chomping at the bits to ensure fair elections in the former Soviet republic, which Putin would dearly love to see fall back into the Russian sphere of influence.
After a speech before a crowd thousands of people in Georgia, folowing his meeting with Putin, a former Soviet officer lobbed a grenade in Bush's presence. The explosive failed to detonate, but even if it had, at one hundred feet distance from Bush with peope standing all around him and between him and the grenade, it is unlikely to have even injured Bush, at least not seriously. Yet, the attempt was made. Had it succeeded, it would have marked the first time a U.S. President would have ever been assinated on foreign soil. And the fall-out would have been devastating. Actually, it still might be. Just a few days ago, the former Soviet soldier, who had been identified thanks to the aid of surveillance cameras, had been taken into custody. As of yet, no word on his motivations.
I seriously doubt that Putin was involved in this business, though others somewhere within the Byzantine maze of the Russian bureaucracy may well have been. More than likely, the man acted on his own. It's hard to say. But even if this turns out to be the case, it says a lot for the poisonous state of our relations globally, that this type of bitterness could erupt. Things like this rarely happen in a vacuum.
Nor do I think Bush was wrong to encourage free elections in the new nation of Georgia, and to discourage Russian interference. However, he should realize that his recent policies have flayed a lot of nerves, in a lot of different ways, and it doesn't take a whole lot of input to have pretty much the effect of salt rubbed into a very raw wound.
Meth,Oxycontin, And Other Kentucky Recreations
Kentucky is really being hit hard by the various scourges of illicit drug use, especialy the eastern and southeastern sections. Meth, Oxycontin,crack cocaine, you name it, the state is really being hit hard, and there seems to be no end in sight. A few months ago, a man who is a cousin of one set of cousins of mine, though he is no relation actually to me, was murdered after he was robbed while delivering a pizza to the home of the girlfriend of an Oxycontin abuser, who beat him to death with a baseball bat. Just the other day, two women were arressted for maintaining a meth lab in their homes. They had just recently gotten out of prison, on parole, after serving only a couple of years of a sentence for his very crime, having been arrested in this first instance when poice responded to a domestic violence call to their home. On the same day, police announced the arrest of a man awaiting trial on charges of selling Oxycontin, when they found a large stash in his home in Laurel County, in addition to finding fifty thousand dollars cash sewed into a pilow cover. He insisted he didn't know where any of that stuff came from. Oh, really? Now, I've heard stories of police busting targets by planting evidence on them, such as a joint or a bag of cocaine, etc. But fifty thousand dollars, now that would be different.
But this brings up an interesting point. The fact that this guy was out on bond to begin with, the idea that two women would be paroled after only a couple of years for producing in their homes such as volatile and explosive a concoction as Methamphetamine, the mere presence of which is a safety hazard to an entire neighborhood,to say nothing of the dangers of ingesting it. Indeed, the man responsible for the murder of my cousins relative had himself been recently paroled after serving just a portion of his sentence. And it goes on and on.
In the meantime, there are numerous doctors and pharmacies who turn a blind eye to the abuse of Oxycontin and other prescription drugs, and continue to prescribe them, knowing full well what the devastating results are not only possible, but probable, to be. The money is just too damned good. That's why they are prescribd to begin with, even in cases where they are not really necessary.
And law enforcement is just way behind the times, as courts hand out too light sentences, and parole boards release potentialy violent offenders, knowing fullwell they are likely to reoffend, and what the many times violent implications of that actually are.
True, efforts are being made to improve the siutuation, to raise awareness therough public education measures and stepping up of law enfocement and encouraging stiffer penalites for repeat offenders, and first time ones, with the requirement for enhanced rehabilitation requirements and follow up. Congressman Hal Rogers, of the Fifth District, has been instrumental in his ground breaking efforts in establishing these much needed programs and policies. I only hope it's not way too little way too late.
But this brings up an interesting point. The fact that this guy was out on bond to begin with, the idea that two women would be paroled after only a couple of years for producing in their homes such as volatile and explosive a concoction as Methamphetamine, the mere presence of which is a safety hazard to an entire neighborhood,to say nothing of the dangers of ingesting it. Indeed, the man responsible for the murder of my cousins relative had himself been recently paroled after serving just a portion of his sentence. And it goes on and on.
In the meantime, there are numerous doctors and pharmacies who turn a blind eye to the abuse of Oxycontin and other prescription drugs, and continue to prescribe them, knowing full well what the devastating results are not only possible, but probable, to be. The money is just too damned good. That's why they are prescribd to begin with, even in cases where they are not really necessary.
And law enforcement is just way behind the times, as courts hand out too light sentences, and parole boards release potentialy violent offenders, knowing fullwell they are likely to reoffend, and what the many times violent implications of that actually are.
True, efforts are being made to improve the siutuation, to raise awareness therough public education measures and stepping up of law enfocement and encouraging stiffer penalites for repeat offenders, and first time ones, with the requirement for enhanced rehabilitation requirements and follow up. Congressman Hal Rogers, of the Fifth District, has been instrumental in his ground breaking efforts in establishing these much needed programs and policies. I only hope it's not way too little way too late.
Livingston Kentucky
The town of Livingston is a small little town in Rockcastle County Kentucky that was founded in the late 1800's as a railroad town, when the old L&N railroad was buildt. It ws never a large town, I don't think it ever went past a thousand person population, but it was at one time a thriving little community. Hey, it had a whore house at one time, if that's not thriving nothing is. Of course, as time went on, and the railroads became of less and less importance, the town declined, until now it looks like something that never quite crawled it's way out of the Great Depression. I blame it to begin with on being another example of the evils of the anti- alcohol fanatics, which has infested so many rural Bible belt towns like a malignant cnacer, and utterly wasted their economies. But Livingston's problems go deeper than that.
The people of Livingston have quite a bit of community pride, and rightly so, and every year there is a Homecoming in the town, which draws present and former residents from far and wide, despite the fact that the towns old school has been closed now for going on thirty years, due to county school consolidation. Yet, despite this apparrent hometown pride, the school was in a shambles, falling in, windows broken, graffiti eeverywhere, etc., until funds were established to renovate the school. This was to be done using prisoners of the Rockcastle County jail in a work release program. It had been tentatively decided to use the school as extra space for the jail, for certain types of offenders, the non-violent ones though.
It looked as though Livingston, which had become almost a ghost town, the only business being a restaurant and a garage, was about to undergo a renaissance, as the renovation of the school would have provided additional employees for the city, and extra revenues, etc. Then, just the other day, the shit hit the fan. The mayor, J.C. Griffin, resigned amid charges that he was being hampered in his efforts to improve the city's finances, by none other than the Livingston City Commission itself. They fought him tooth and nail in his efforts to "change things" as one member put it (saying he would fight the mayor tooth and nail to keep him from doing so).
Among their alleged wrondoings:
*they have reneged on paying federal taxes on taxes they had collected. When arrangements were made to pay off the interest of the debt they had accrued, and to further pay off the back taxes themselves, in a very fair manner which had been arranged by Republican Fifth District Congressman Hal Rogers-they reneged on that as well.
*They had reneged on paying the bill to the city's water supplier, and were far behind on that as well, to the point they were threatened with having the city's water paid off.
*Documentation of former elected officials paying themselves high salaries and bonuses, and of hiring a full time clerk that was not needed, in addition to the one legitimate employee.
*Cancelled Livingstons insurance with the state, on the false grounds of the mayor's illegal use of city vehicles to transport prisoners to work release, when the mayor actually had used his own vehicle.
*When given a 4000 dollar grant for a fire truck, they paid two thousand of it, but renenged on paying the other two thousand, which now can not be accounted for. This has resulted in the County Judges decision to no longer grant any municipality money for fire equipment, and presumably any other purpose.
*Numerous city employees were paid high salaries to pretty much comeand go as they pleased.
*Commissioners voted themselves free water. When the mayor informed them they would have to start paying like everybody else, they balked, on the grounds that they are "friends of Livingston".
Yeah, some motherfucking friends. After all is said and done (including the destruction of innummerable city records in a blatant attempt to prevent no telling what else from being found out) Livingston is now a town in the grips of foreclosure. All the assets of the town had at one point been seized.
The good news in all this turmoil, that puts me in mind of the shenanigans you would expect to see in a Third World nation along ther lines of the Sudan, is that there is a perfect opportunity here for somebody to step in and take over, and I'm talking here about a consortium of business developers who might recognize the potential of the city of Livington. Livingston is a beautiful place, surrounded by thick, lush, green rollinghills,and it has an interesting history as a one time vital railroad town of the late eighteen hundreds. It has resort town written all over it. The development of a good sized lakeis foreseeable, in additon to hunting lodges, fishing cabins, a good hotel.
Before anything like this can come about, however, which would be good not only for Livingston but the entirety of Rockcastle County, sombody is going to have to break the stranglehold of the mind-set that has kept Livingston, like the rest of Rockcastle County, mired in the nineteen thirties. And if someone were going to invest their money, time, and resources in the area, then they certainly have a right to expect cooperation in this regard. Otherwise, they should simply invest elsewhere.
Unfortunately, I don't expect to see many changes.
The people of Livingston have quite a bit of community pride, and rightly so, and every year there is a Homecoming in the town, which draws present and former residents from far and wide, despite the fact that the towns old school has been closed now for going on thirty years, due to county school consolidation. Yet, despite this apparrent hometown pride, the school was in a shambles, falling in, windows broken, graffiti eeverywhere, etc., until funds were established to renovate the school. This was to be done using prisoners of the Rockcastle County jail in a work release program. It had been tentatively decided to use the school as extra space for the jail, for certain types of offenders, the non-violent ones though.
It looked as though Livingston, which had become almost a ghost town, the only business being a restaurant and a garage, was about to undergo a renaissance, as the renovation of the school would have provided additional employees for the city, and extra revenues, etc. Then, just the other day, the shit hit the fan. The mayor, J.C. Griffin, resigned amid charges that he was being hampered in his efforts to improve the city's finances, by none other than the Livingston City Commission itself. They fought him tooth and nail in his efforts to "change things" as one member put it (saying he would fight the mayor tooth and nail to keep him from doing so).
Among their alleged wrondoings:
*they have reneged on paying federal taxes on taxes they had collected. When arrangements were made to pay off the interest of the debt they had accrued, and to further pay off the back taxes themselves, in a very fair manner which had been arranged by Republican Fifth District Congressman Hal Rogers-they reneged on that as well.
*They had reneged on paying the bill to the city's water supplier, and were far behind on that as well, to the point they were threatened with having the city's water paid off.
*Documentation of former elected officials paying themselves high salaries and bonuses, and of hiring a full time clerk that was not needed, in addition to the one legitimate employee.
*Cancelled Livingstons insurance with the state, on the false grounds of the mayor's illegal use of city vehicles to transport prisoners to work release, when the mayor actually had used his own vehicle.
*When given a 4000 dollar grant for a fire truck, they paid two thousand of it, but renenged on paying the other two thousand, which now can not be accounted for. This has resulted in the County Judges decision to no longer grant any municipality money for fire equipment, and presumably any other purpose.
*Numerous city employees were paid high salaries to pretty much comeand go as they pleased.
*Commissioners voted themselves free water. When the mayor informed them they would have to start paying like everybody else, they balked, on the grounds that they are "friends of Livingston".
Yeah, some motherfucking friends. After all is said and done (including the destruction of innummerable city records in a blatant attempt to prevent no telling what else from being found out) Livingston is now a town in the grips of foreclosure. All the assets of the town had at one point been seized.
The good news in all this turmoil, that puts me in mind of the shenanigans you would expect to see in a Third World nation along ther lines of the Sudan, is that there is a perfect opportunity here for somebody to step in and take over, and I'm talking here about a consortium of business developers who might recognize the potential of the city of Livington. Livingston is a beautiful place, surrounded by thick, lush, green rollinghills,and it has an interesting history as a one time vital railroad town of the late eighteen hundreds. It has resort town written all over it. The development of a good sized lakeis foreseeable, in additon to hunting lodges, fishing cabins, a good hotel.
Before anything like this can come about, however, which would be good not only for Livingston but the entirety of Rockcastle County, sombody is going to have to break the stranglehold of the mind-set that has kept Livingston, like the rest of Rockcastle County, mired in the nineteen thirties. And if someone were going to invest their money, time, and resources in the area, then they certainly have a right to expect cooperation in this regard. Otherwise, they should simply invest elsewhere.
Unfortunately, I don't expect to see many changes.
On The Road Again Soon
The last few days have been hectic, what with all the time I've had to spend into making arrangements to get this new car, the lack of which has been a real drag. On the other hand, being without one was making me realize how badly out of shape I've gotten, so I plan to continue walking whenever I can. But it sure will be nice to have a vehicle back for those occassions when you really shouldn't have to do without one. It's a drag having to depend on neighbors and relatives to take you shopping, etc.
On a somewhat related note, I'm going to have to make a real concerted effort to really make myself work on my novel about thge Ku Klux Klan. By the time I get around to finishing the thing, they'll be taking black members. Well, I doubt they'll advance that much, but still. Unfortunately, that means I'm going to have to hold to my schedule of up-dating my Blog on a once a week basis. So, after today, I'm going to this Blog probably on a Thursday. That way, it will be availiable for people to read over the weekend, by the time the weekend starts. Plus, there won't be that much difference, there will still be roughly the same amount of Blog items over a weeks period. The only difference is, they'll all be there in one days time, as oppossed to one or two or three every so many days. Actually, when you stoip to think about it, that will make it more worth a persons time to log onto the site, as there will be more to read at one time. Hopefully, I will be able to make it worth the wait. Plus, I wouldn't be adverse to bending the rules to allow for a special update on a Friday or a Saturday, on those cases where newsmakers try that tired old tactic of releasing important and controversial news items and information over the weekend, thinking that people are too dense to notice it.
Until the next time, have a good weekend, a good up and coming week, and hope to have something of interest for you by next Thursday. In the meantime, keep an eye out for those nasty spell trolls.
On a somewhat related note, I'm going to have to make a real concerted effort to really make myself work on my novel about thge Ku Klux Klan. By the time I get around to finishing the thing, they'll be taking black members. Well, I doubt they'll advance that much, but still. Unfortunately, that means I'm going to have to hold to my schedule of up-dating my Blog on a once a week basis. So, after today, I'm going to this Blog probably on a Thursday. That way, it will be availiable for people to read over the weekend, by the time the weekend starts. Plus, there won't be that much difference, there will still be roughly the same amount of Blog items over a weeks period. The only difference is, they'll all be there in one days time, as oppossed to one or two or three every so many days. Actually, when you stoip to think about it, that will make it more worth a persons time to log onto the site, as there will be more to read at one time. Hopefully, I will be able to make it worth the wait. Plus, I wouldn't be adverse to bending the rules to allow for a special update on a Friday or a Saturday, on those cases where newsmakers try that tired old tactic of releasing important and controversial news items and information over the weekend, thinking that people are too dense to notice it.
Until the next time, have a good weekend, a good up and coming week, and hope to have something of interest for you by next Thursday. In the meantime, keep an eye out for those nasty spell trolls.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Mushariff Cracks Down On Madrassas
It's about goddamned time. Thanks to the discovery that three of the four bombers involved in the recent London attacks were of Pakistani descent, and had made recent trips to Pakistan, I guess Mushariff has finally gotten the message. These Madrassas are a big problem, to say the least. These are the places where young children are taught hatred toward western civilization, and especially America, as a part of their Islamic education. And from all indications, it is an education of the most perversely virulent and violent kind. Where jihad in the form of assault on civilians, even innocent children, is not only justified, it is encouraged. It is the worse kind of brainwashing cult imaginable. It has been funded for the msot part with money from wealthy Saudis, including members of the Saudi royal family, and according to some reports, from the Saudi government itself. This has been explained as a means of gaining acceptance for the Saudi Royals with the fundamentalist Islamic Whahabi Sect. A way of buying time through a process not unlike that of keeping a tight lid on a boiling stew, which threaens to blow up more and more with every passing day.
In the meantime, the Wahabi instructors of these Madrassas continue to spew their venomous philosophies to the young and the impressionable, the immature young Arab and Muslim child, who are taught hatred and prejudice with the same intensity and passion they are taught reading and writing and mathmatics, only probably more so. And where are the most of these madrassas located? Of course, Pakistan is not the only place, but it seems to be one of the major centers of the practice, in fact the most important center.
Now, finally, after years of diplomacy and complaints from the U.S. State Department, which has done little if any good, Mushariff has finally cracked down, in the aftermath of the London bombings. 100 suspected extremists have been arrested. Of course, Mushariff will be the object of criticism in his own country for this, but his life is in danger everyday anyway, due to what little he has done on our behalf, which up till now has been vital, and appreciated, but still nowhere nearly enough. Will this continue, or is this only a temporary reaction? Time will tell, but I sincerely hope that he is serious, and that he cracks down on Madrassas everywhere in hs country, to the extent that he executes every teacher guilty of teaching this virulent strain of Islam. After all, these people only want to teach young children to be suicide bombers and murderers. They aren't so willing, I would wager, to put their own lives on the line, at least not for the most part. And if they are, they should certainly be obliged. At least there would soon be nobody to teach this evil scourge of a perverted religion.
As far as Mushariff's own dictatorial tendencies, of which he has been the object of criticism, not only in Pakistan, but in Western countries, I have learned the hard way, don't look a gift goat in the mouth. Some people, I am afraid, simply do not deserve democracy, or freedom. That is just a cold, hard fact. If they did appreciate democracy, or the prospect of freedom, they certainly wouldn't hand power over to groups of people that would lead them straight down the proverbial primrose path to destruction. And they certainly would not approve of their children being sent to madrassas, where they are taught, more than anything, the hatred they are taught and brainwashed with there everyday
In the meantime, the Wahabi instructors of these Madrassas continue to spew their venomous philosophies to the young and the impressionable, the immature young Arab and Muslim child, who are taught hatred and prejudice with the same intensity and passion they are taught reading and writing and mathmatics, only probably more so. And where are the most of these madrassas located? Of course, Pakistan is not the only place, but it seems to be one of the major centers of the practice, in fact the most important center.
Now, finally, after years of diplomacy and complaints from the U.S. State Department, which has done little if any good, Mushariff has finally cracked down, in the aftermath of the London bombings. 100 suspected extremists have been arrested. Of course, Mushariff will be the object of criticism in his own country for this, but his life is in danger everyday anyway, due to what little he has done on our behalf, which up till now has been vital, and appreciated, but still nowhere nearly enough. Will this continue, or is this only a temporary reaction? Time will tell, but I sincerely hope that he is serious, and that he cracks down on Madrassas everywhere in hs country, to the extent that he executes every teacher guilty of teaching this virulent strain of Islam. After all, these people only want to teach young children to be suicide bombers and murderers. They aren't so willing, I would wager, to put their own lives on the line, at least not for the most part. And if they are, they should certainly be obliged. At least there would soon be nobody to teach this evil scourge of a perverted religion.
As far as Mushariff's own dictatorial tendencies, of which he has been the object of criticism, not only in Pakistan, but in Western countries, I have learned the hard way, don't look a gift goat in the mouth. Some people, I am afraid, simply do not deserve democracy, or freedom. That is just a cold, hard fact. If they did appreciate democracy, or the prospect of freedom, they certainly wouldn't hand power over to groups of people that would lead them straight down the proverbial primrose path to destruction. And they certainly would not approve of their children being sent to madrassas, where they are taught, more than anything, the hatred they are taught and brainwashed with there everyday
Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts
Time will tell how accurrate my last Tarot Card Reading turns out to be, but some aspects of it at least for now turn out to be dead on, beginning with the very first card, the Three Of Pentacles as Significator. It so happens that John Roberts was on the Fifth Circuit Appellate Court for Washington D.C., which upheld the validity of Bush's action in the war on terror, I believe, pertaining to the process of holding suspected terrorists for potential trial by military tribunal, and upholding the whole controversial aspect of the Guantanamo detentions. So this appointment could indeed be pay-off. Not that I necessarilly have a problem with that as such.
Also, the Two of Wands covering card that hinted this man really wanted this appointment. Turns out he loves the Supreme Court, has argued 39, I think, cases before them, and has won 25 of those arguments. He is a conservative, yes (he was appointed by Bush-duh)so again, a possible pay-off to a loyal conservative team player. This might be his main problem going into confirmation, as suggested by the Crossing Card of the Six of Wands.
However, not much is known about his stands on the more controversial issues of the day, in fact next to nothing is known. As is suggeted by the card of the Hermit at the position of Base of The Matter. Remember, he has basically been an attorney, so his arguments on behalf of his clients is just a matter of him being a good advocate for his client. A good lawyer can advocate for either side.
Yet, this man has little judicial experience. He is a brilliant lawyer, but that is almost the extent of his experience. He has been a judge for all of two years, on the Fifth Circuit Appelate Court. And this is where the Final Outcome Two Of Pentacles comes in. He will pretty much be not only a Supreme Court Associate Justice in training, but when you get right down to it, will be a judge-period-in training. Asumming he is confirmed, of course, which I feel confident he will be.
Stay tuned. The democrats had better go along with this one. He may turn out to be conservative as Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, or Rehnquist, true enough. On the other hand, with an unknown quantity, there's a chance he might be moderate, or slightly right to center, as oppossed to being a hard-core right winger. With most other nominees, there's little chance that his or her views would be so unknown, and those known views are likely to be conservative. And of course Bush will nominate a conservative, as is his right. Remember, he won the election. If democrats and the far left don't like that, then that simply means they should go about adopting raional policy positions and undertaking sensible campaign strategies so that they can win the elections necessary to appoint the judges they would prefer. Of course, they will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to this way of thinking, as they seem as of yet to have far from tired of loosing elections, of out and out blowing elections, in fact. It's one of those facts of life in American politics, when you lose elections, you lose the agenda. And that includes judicial nominations.
And face it, the conservatives are right on some issues. And by right I mean correct. Most of the time they are wrong, granted, and on a lot of different levels. But I do take some comfort in those areas where they are correct. Such as in adopting sensible strategies to combat the war on terror, or at least they are better than the democrats on this issue. They also are better, for the most part, on issues of overall national security and defense. To deny this, you would have to not only be a 24 hour a day BlueKool Aid drinker, you would have to be snorkeling in the shit.
I won't go into the other areas where they are correct, not in this post. But the democrats had better start to come to grips with their heads and their hearts, and come to the realization of one hard truth. After some fifty years of dominating the Congress, both the House Of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Courts, and of maintaining more or less overall support by way of the media, they have lost in a big way for going on eleven years now. They started to feel complacent, even, I am afraid, entitled. And they just haven't learned to cope with reality in a logical, rational, and more importantly, a strategically sound and sensible way. Until they do, look for more and more democratic losses, in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and in the Presidency.
And if it keeps on long enough, you can expect a Supreme Court of nine-and maybe eventualy more-conservatives. We might be lucky with John Roberts, who knows? But a long enough stretch of Republican judicial appointments, to the Supreme Court, eventually can not help but infuse it with a series of nothing but those types of nominees Bush stated in an interview some time back he considered the models-justices along the lines of Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.
Does that sound like a horrible thought? Yeah, it does to me to. But if the Republicans continue to win election after election, and nominate such people, and suceed in having them confirmed due to the inability of democrats to win elections, don't blame the Republicans. After all, they are only being true to their own for the most part sincerely held phiosophies of law and government. No, the people you should place the blame on are the democrats. Be kind to them, though. Give them a little time. They'll have to stop whining and ranting, after all, before they can hear you good.
Also, the Two of Wands covering card that hinted this man really wanted this appointment. Turns out he loves the Supreme Court, has argued 39, I think, cases before them, and has won 25 of those arguments. He is a conservative, yes (he was appointed by Bush-duh)so again, a possible pay-off to a loyal conservative team player. This might be his main problem going into confirmation, as suggested by the Crossing Card of the Six of Wands.
However, not much is known about his stands on the more controversial issues of the day, in fact next to nothing is known. As is suggeted by the card of the Hermit at the position of Base of The Matter. Remember, he has basically been an attorney, so his arguments on behalf of his clients is just a matter of him being a good advocate for his client. A good lawyer can advocate for either side.
Yet, this man has little judicial experience. He is a brilliant lawyer, but that is almost the extent of his experience. He has been a judge for all of two years, on the Fifth Circuit Appelate Court. And this is where the Final Outcome Two Of Pentacles comes in. He will pretty much be not only a Supreme Court Associate Justice in training, but when you get right down to it, will be a judge-period-in training. Asumming he is confirmed, of course, which I feel confident he will be.
Stay tuned. The democrats had better go along with this one. He may turn out to be conservative as Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, or Rehnquist, true enough. On the other hand, with an unknown quantity, there's a chance he might be moderate, or slightly right to center, as oppossed to being a hard-core right winger. With most other nominees, there's little chance that his or her views would be so unknown, and those known views are likely to be conservative. And of course Bush will nominate a conservative, as is his right. Remember, he won the election. If democrats and the far left don't like that, then that simply means they should go about adopting raional policy positions and undertaking sensible campaign strategies so that they can win the elections necessary to appoint the judges they would prefer. Of course, they will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to this way of thinking, as they seem as of yet to have far from tired of loosing elections, of out and out blowing elections, in fact. It's one of those facts of life in American politics, when you lose elections, you lose the agenda. And that includes judicial nominations.
And face it, the conservatives are right on some issues. And by right I mean correct. Most of the time they are wrong, granted, and on a lot of different levels. But I do take some comfort in those areas where they are correct. Such as in adopting sensible strategies to combat the war on terror, or at least they are better than the democrats on this issue. They also are better, for the most part, on issues of overall national security and defense. To deny this, you would have to not only be a 24 hour a day BlueKool Aid drinker, you would have to be snorkeling in the shit.
I won't go into the other areas where they are correct, not in this post. But the democrats had better start to come to grips with their heads and their hearts, and come to the realization of one hard truth. After some fifty years of dominating the Congress, both the House Of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Courts, and of maintaining more or less overall support by way of the media, they have lost in a big way for going on eleven years now. They started to feel complacent, even, I am afraid, entitled. And they just haven't learned to cope with reality in a logical, rational, and more importantly, a strategically sound and sensible way. Until they do, look for more and more democratic losses, in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and in the Presidency.
And if it keeps on long enough, you can expect a Supreme Court of nine-and maybe eventualy more-conservatives. We might be lucky with John Roberts, who knows? But a long enough stretch of Republican judicial appointments, to the Supreme Court, eventually can not help but infuse it with a series of nothing but those types of nominees Bush stated in an interview some time back he considered the models-justices along the lines of Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.
Does that sound like a horrible thought? Yeah, it does to me to. But if the Republicans continue to win election after election, and nominate such people, and suceed in having them confirmed due to the inability of democrats to win elections, don't blame the Republicans. After all, they are only being true to their own for the most part sincerely held phiosophies of law and government. No, the people you should place the blame on are the democrats. Be kind to them, though. Give them a little time. They'll have to stop whining and ranting, after all, before they can hear you good.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Tarot Reading-Bush's Coming Supreme Court Nominee
I couldn't resist giving this a try. This of course is tentative, and it's accurracy is dependant on whether or not Bush has all ready made his decision, or on whether he is leaning toward a specific individual, and events are now in motion which is leading toward the announcement of said individual. This reading then would be pertaining to that person. And it starts out interesting from the get-go.
The SIGNIFICATOR for the Celtic Cross Tarot reading of our potential nominee is the THREE OF PENTACLES. In other words, there is every indication just from this one opening card that the person is somebody who might well be offerrd the position as a kind of reward for that person's loyalty to Bush and to his administration. Interesting, indeed. Moreover the COVERING CARD is the TWO OF WANDS- in other words, this is a person who wants the position, and has made his availiablility for the position known. However, the CROSSING CARD is the SIX OF WANDS. This seems to indicate that it might be a little too obvious that the position is being offerred to the person out of political considerations, and as a reward. THE CROWNING CARD in this reading is expressed by the card of the QUEEN OF PENTACLES, and she is reversed, which could signify an oppossition to the appointment by a person of influence, or that that person, probably a woman, is pushing the nomination. Or that the nominee is a woman, and that this is a major consideration in making the nomination of this person. At the position of the BASE OF THE MATTER we see the card of THE HERMIT, which is also reversed. This might be an indication that the person is a relative unknown, and/or that the persons views on certain controversial matters are unknown, which might be another attraction for the nominee, and yet at the same time a drawback to certain pesons of interest. It coudl be that the person is a big privacy advocate, also. Or that the person is seen as an independant type of thinker, not prone to party line thinking. In the position of PASSING INFLUENCES, we see the card of STRENGTH, which means the person will initially encounter some opposition due to the fact that he or she is such an unknown quantity, yet will in time make it out of committee, to be voted on by the full floor of the Senate. UP-AND-COMING INFLUENCES, however, bodes ill in the form of the TEN OF WANDS, which is reversed, and could mean the person could be subjected to a long drawn out Senatorial debate, and his patience will be sorely tested, a la Clarence Thomas. However, the card of WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF reveals the card of the KING OF CUPS, which means that due to the influence and persistence of Bush, and other allies and supporters, the person will be handily confirmed, if not overwhelmingly. However, this King of Cups is also reversed, which means probably that this person will have to undergo a lot of questioning on the floor of the Senate, as regards his or her basic judicial philosophy. He or she will be questioned, doubtless, on specific views, but will resist elucidating on these, other than to assure that the person believes in fully interpreting the law and the constitution and does not believe in judicial activism. Which is of course not an answer at all, as judical activism is in the eye of the beholder. However, this assurance not to allow personal beliefs to interfere in the interpretation of the law is expressed in this reading by the card of THE HANGED MAN, which is also reversed, in the position of VIEW OF OTHERS. In other words, this is the manner in which the person will project him or herself. We now get to the card and position of HOPES AND FEARS, which is here represented by the card of the FIVE OF CUPS. And this is another reversed card, and seems to indicate that the person will be divided as to betraying the persons own personal set of ethics, but at the same time the individual will be torn by the prospect of betraying those from whom he derived his influence, and his ultimate position. In other words, he might feel inclined to make decisions based more on political considerations on the one hand, and out of personal opinions on the other.
The card of the FINAL OUTCOME then, is represented by the TWO OF PENTACLES, which will come to pass within the next six months to a year. This seems to hint that the person will actually be in the process of growing into the job, as though he or she were not truly qualified to be nominated to begin with. Actually, the card seems to imply that the person will not have a fully formed judicial philosophy as of yet, strange as that sounds, which could be an indication of a relatively young nominee. Whatever the case, the person will actually prove to be a perfect replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor-a swing vote-and this will be to the consternation of Bush and conservative activists far and wide.
The SIGNIFICATOR for the Celtic Cross Tarot reading of our potential nominee is the THREE OF PENTACLES. In other words, there is every indication just from this one opening card that the person is somebody who might well be offerrd the position as a kind of reward for that person's loyalty to Bush and to his administration. Interesting, indeed. Moreover the COVERING CARD is the TWO OF WANDS- in other words, this is a person who wants the position, and has made his availiablility for the position known. However, the CROSSING CARD is the SIX OF WANDS. This seems to indicate that it might be a little too obvious that the position is being offerred to the person out of political considerations, and as a reward. THE CROWNING CARD in this reading is expressed by the card of the QUEEN OF PENTACLES, and she is reversed, which could signify an oppossition to the appointment by a person of influence, or that that person, probably a woman, is pushing the nomination. Or that the nominee is a woman, and that this is a major consideration in making the nomination of this person. At the position of the BASE OF THE MATTER we see the card of THE HERMIT, which is also reversed. This might be an indication that the person is a relative unknown, and/or that the persons views on certain controversial matters are unknown, which might be another attraction for the nominee, and yet at the same time a drawback to certain pesons of interest. It coudl be that the person is a big privacy advocate, also. Or that the person is seen as an independant type of thinker, not prone to party line thinking. In the position of PASSING INFLUENCES, we see the card of STRENGTH, which means the person will initially encounter some opposition due to the fact that he or she is such an unknown quantity, yet will in time make it out of committee, to be voted on by the full floor of the Senate. UP-AND-COMING INFLUENCES, however, bodes ill in the form of the TEN OF WANDS, which is reversed, and could mean the person could be subjected to a long drawn out Senatorial debate, and his patience will be sorely tested, a la Clarence Thomas. However, the card of WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF reveals the card of the KING OF CUPS, which means that due to the influence and persistence of Bush, and other allies and supporters, the person will be handily confirmed, if not overwhelmingly. However, this King of Cups is also reversed, which means probably that this person will have to undergo a lot of questioning on the floor of the Senate, as regards his or her basic judicial philosophy. He or she will be questioned, doubtless, on specific views, but will resist elucidating on these, other than to assure that the person believes in fully interpreting the law and the constitution and does not believe in judicial activism. Which is of course not an answer at all, as judical activism is in the eye of the beholder. However, this assurance not to allow personal beliefs to interfere in the interpretation of the law is expressed in this reading by the card of THE HANGED MAN, which is also reversed, in the position of VIEW OF OTHERS. In other words, this is the manner in which the person will project him or herself. We now get to the card and position of HOPES AND FEARS, which is here represented by the card of the FIVE OF CUPS. And this is another reversed card, and seems to indicate that the person will be divided as to betraying the persons own personal set of ethics, but at the same time the individual will be torn by the prospect of betraying those from whom he derived his influence, and his ultimate position. In other words, he might feel inclined to make decisions based more on political considerations on the one hand, and out of personal opinions on the other.
The card of the FINAL OUTCOME then, is represented by the TWO OF PENTACLES, which will come to pass within the next six months to a year. This seems to hint that the person will actually be in the process of growing into the job, as though he or she were not truly qualified to be nominated to begin with. Actually, the card seems to imply that the person will not have a fully formed judicial philosophy as of yet, strange as that sounds, which could be an indication of a relatively young nominee. Whatever the case, the person will actually prove to be a perfect replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor-a swing vote-and this will be to the consternation of Bush and conservative activists far and wide.
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