Kennedy and the Klansmen

Not long after BHO's swearing in, Senator Ted Kennedy was reportedly stricken with a seizure and collapsed. Less reported, however, was that 91 year old, ex-Klansman, Senator Robert Byrd fell ill also.

From USAToday's Obama blog, the Oval,

Senator Edward Kennedy, who continues to battle brain cancer, suffered a seizure today at the Capitol luncheon where President Obama and Vice President Biden were being honored. Another Senate veteran, Robert Byrd, was also helped from the room by medical personnel. read more...

According to a commenter on the Libertarian blog Hit & Run, in 1964, Byrd was quoted as saying, "I'll drop dead the day a black man can be president." If this is true can you say "comical irony?"

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Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean sentences commuted by Bush.

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, on the very last full day of the Bush Presidency, have had their sentences commuted. Ramos and Compean had shot a Mexican drug runner, back in 2005, and were serving 11 and 12 year sentences respectively. These sentences will now end on March 20th this year.

From Fox News,

Bush Commutes Sentences for Two Former Border Patrol Agents

Fox News-On his last full day in office, President Bush commuted the controversial sentences of two former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug runner in 2005.

The imprisonment of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean had sparked outcry from critics who said the two men were just doing their jobs and were punished too harshly. They had been sentenced to 11- and 12-year sentences, respectively.

Their prison sentences will now expire on March 20 of this year. read more...

The New York Post,

BUSH PARDONS TWO BORDER GUARDS

New York Post - President George W. Bush has commuted the prison sentences of two former Border Patrol guards whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited debate about illegal immigration. read more...

From the WaPo,

Bush Commutes Sentences of Former U.S. Border Agents

Washinton Post -- In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.

Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh. read more...

While Ramos and Compean did perform egregiously illegal acts, as far as evidence tampering, many critics of the sentencing were rightly crusading for its reduction. The trial seemed to be used to make an example of these two men and the time they would have served was ridiculous.

I am glad to see they received commutation rather than full pardon, they did, after all, break the law. However they have served their debt to society for their crimes, now let them get on with their lives. President Bush deserves credit for recognizing this and it is an appropriate way for him to leave office.


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El Coyote Plot Thickens

I have stayed away from culture war issues in the past. Largely due to fact that the arguments really don't go anywhere, with either side. It usually ends up in worthless banter and rhetoric spewing, you know, the usual populist garbage du jour. However, the personal issue the LGBT community has with Marjorie Christoffersen is rather disturbing and shows a distinct bent of hypocrisy.


Here are examples of Ms. Christoffersen's hate-mongering and homophobia.


From Right Wing News,

Right Wing News-When one of her gay employee's partner died from AIDS, Marjorie paid for his mother to fly out for his funeral.

She went on to say, "Over the years Coyote has financially supported many charities and thousands of dollars most particularly have been given to the gay interests and charities. The restaurant does not support any political group." She then became too emotional to continue. She has since resigned from El Coyotes'.

At least this evil and vile creature has been dispensed of. Kudos to the LGBT community for the infatada against Mormon zealots like Ms. Christoffersen, hopefully she has learned her lesson. Viva la Gay revolution!!

Have no fears, the other hate-mongers and homophobes at the restaurant are running with fear. Like head-bigot-in-charge and manager, Billy Schoeppner.

Right Wing News-The openly-gay restaurant manager Billy Schoeppner, announced that El Coyote would make two $5,000 contributions, each to the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center and the Lambda Legal Defense Fund. All this has not been enough for the gay activists though. They felt there wasn't an "outright apology."

More Right Wing propaganda, all in the name of hiding behind their veil of hypocrisy and HATE!!!

Right Wing News-All of this has backfired on the gay activist community, making them seem shrill, vindictive, and mean. Even supporters of gay marriage are turned off by these tactics of intimidation. People should be free to give to causes they believe in without worry that some radical group is going to use that information to attack them and the business they work for. It's just wrong and any reasonable person can see that.

For the life of me I cannot see why the gay community doesn't put the full force of their passion into getting civil unions passed in all states. The majority of Americans are fine with that, and it would give gay couples the legal rights of any married couple.

Of course this is from a Right Wing news pub, if you want to call it news. They have even subverted the great minds of Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic, who led the investigation into the "twoof" behind Sarah Palin's "grandson" Trig and Mellisa Etheridge, who is obviously off her meds.

HOW DARE THESE TWO TRAITORS TO THE CAUSE CALL FOR DISCOURSE, UNDERSTANDING, AND A REASONABLE APPROACH!! A COURSE WHICH MIGHT BRING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. NO, I WANT IT NOW!! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ANGRY IN MY LIFE!!! I BURNED ALL MY MELLISA ETHERIDGE CD'S AND CANCELLED MY ATLANTIC SUBCRIPTION IN PROTEST!!!

Maybe I need to be a little clearer,

(I think my sarcasm gets the point across. Maybe someone will realize how ridiculous all of this bemoaning and feet stamping by the LGBT activists really is? Maybe somebody will do it the right way and not through intimidation? Probably not.)

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Gay McCarthyism and Tyranny of the Minority

A raucous is being raised by the homosexual community over a small restaurant's donation of $100 to the Prop 8 campaign. Attempts at appealing to the protesters by making and even larger one to repeal Prop 8 still has not quelled gay activists from boycotting the business.

After a sit down with activists at the restaurant, the El Coyote, the group could still not be dissuaded from their protest. El Coyote employees raised $500 to be donated to repealing Prop 8. However, the "activists" were adamant that Marjorie Christoffersen, the woman who made the original donation and daughter of the owner, donate $100 to assist in the repealing Prop 8 campaign, personally.

Christoffersen refused on grounds of her Mormon faith. As she left the meeting "You are not my friend if you take my civil rights," was shouted at her by an activist.

El Coyote manager's have stated that their business has been slashed by 30% since the onset of protesting. According to a Wall Street Journal article, internet blacklists of businesses, where one or more employees or management, donated to the Yes on 8 campaign are appearing.

Tyranny of the Minority:

The Wall Street Law Blog just ran a post on which grounds California AG, Jerry Brown, is attempting to declare Prop 8 unconstitutional before the state Supreme Court.

WSJ LawBlog-Although voters are allowed to amend other parts of the Constitution by majority vote, to use the ballot box to take away an “inalienable” right would establish a “tyranny of the majority,” which the Constitution was designed, in part, to prevent, he wrote. “For we are talking, necessarily, about rights of individuals or groups against the larger community, and against the majority — even an overwhelming majority — of the society as a whole.”

Interesting that McCarthyism and legal intervention, blocking the will of the voters, are now the new weapons of the LGBT community; all under the guise of protecting "civil rights." While homosexuals engage in selective targeting operations of people who opposed their movement. Not one iota of thought is being given to the civil rights of these individuals who backed Prop 8. They have been relegated to smear campaigns, vandalism, and now blacklisting. Unfortunately, there is nothing civil about any of this.

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Progressive Opposition to Rick Warren's Invocation at Inauguration

An undertone of controversy is brewing with regards to Pastor Rick Warren, of the Saddleback church, giving the inaugural invocation as President-elect Obama assumes office on January 20th. Progressive protests range from the nonsensical to the dull-witted, covering every stop of the mindlessness in-between.

Firedog Lake likens Warren to the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan,

Firedog Lake-It was a very divisive choice, as Team Obama knew it would be after their Donnie McClurkin experience. "Inclusiveness" does not meaning putting whatever hatemonger you can find onto the program, if it did we'd have the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan delivering the invocation.

From Sarah Posner on The Nation,

The Nation-Warren represents the absolute worst of the Democrats' religious outreach, a right-winger masquerading as a do-gooder anointed as the arbiter of what it means to be faithful.

From the Daily Kos,

The Daily Kos-Rick Warren is offering a prayer at the inauguration of Barack Obama? Was there some reason the transition team couldn't find someone who wasn't a homophobe?

Interesting that most of the opposition to Warren’s appearance is based on the single premise that he is a homophobe hate-monger. The causality of this opinion is due to his support for Prop 8 and his judgment that the act of homosexuality is not natural.

What is glossed over is the work that Warren has done which gained him notoriety prior to the Saddleback Presidential Forum. Warren has led the cause for AIDS relief in Africa, is a staunch religious activist for the elimination of poverty, helping the world’s 3 billion illiterate read and write, bringing vaccines and cures to parts of the world that are infected with curable diseases, etc. Yet despite this, the “Progressives” ridiculously oppose his speaking at the Inauguration based on his resistance to gay-marriage and have labeled him a hate-monger.

Warren also puts his money where his mouth is, "Warren no longer takes a salary from Saddleback Church and has repaid all of his salary from the last 25 years back to the church, due to the success of his book sales. He says he now "reverse tithes", meaning giving away 90% of his income and living off of 10%."

The Collectivists are truly the peak of two-facedness. Liberals and Progressives have long held the self-described monikers of advocates for various social causes and justice. One would think that they could find common ground with Warren for his crusade against those issues that inflict humanity and one‘s they supposedly care for. However, in their condescension and duplicity, all they worry about is that Warren’s appearance will somehow dignify his opposition to homosexuals unions, rather than garner support for his global initiatives against poverty, AIDS, and illiteracy. They would rather undermine the good works of this man through attempts at character assassination and by vilifying him. Their view and ad homenum attacks are a pitiful statement of their inner workings.

Despite this, Warren is not without his baggage though, recently on an interview with Sean Hannity, he used a biblical verse to support Hannity’s idea of killing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Then there is his is a support of Al Gore’s initiatives on Global Warming. However these two instances, for me, do nothing to take away form Warren’s attempts to make the world a better place to live. Despite my disagreement with him, if Warren represents a hate-filled, cold-hearted, far Right, non-secular zealot to Progressives and Liberals, than I am happy to be counted in this number with him.

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Action Notice: Liberal Blogger Mugged

As appeared on Conservatism Today.

Mike Ganzeveld, one of the two main bloggers on the Iowa Liberal was mugged at an ATM in Fort Dodge, Iowa at the end of last month. He wound up with a broken hand, which is healing, but worse, some serious damage to one of his eyes. He has medical insurance which will cover most of the cost of the retinal reattachment surgery he's facing -- and he'll go blind in that eye if he doesn't have it -- but as a result of his injuries, he's out of work for the time being.

His blogging partner, Jeromy Brown, has put up the article The Fix-Mike’s-Retina Donation Post…Extravaganza! (http://iowaliberal.com/?p=2262) with a PayPal link in which readers can donate to help Mike with his expenses.

My friend Dana Pico of Common Sense Political Thought is asking bloggers and readers (on both the left and the right) to help if they are able and so inclined.

I have always encouraged private charity over government intervention. And I especially like to give in cases where someone needs help through no fault of their own. This is a great opportunity for conservatives who talk the talk on private charity to walk the walk, and show our generosity.

That being said, it is also an opportunity to withhold good from someone whose views you disagree with.

If you've been reading me much, I think you know what I'll be doing.

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Accelerant used on Gov. Palin's Church

Investigators from the ATF are saying an accelerant was used at various spots around the church that Governor Palin attends. What was not originally reported was that there was a small group, including two children, inside the church when the blaze was set.

From the AP, via Breibart.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An accelerant was poured around the exterior of Gov. Sarah Palin's church before fire heavily damaged the building, federal investigators said Monday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the accelerant was poured at several locations around the church, including entrances.

Lab tests will determine the type of substance involved. Possibilities include gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel or even lamp oil, Agent Nick Starcevic said.

The blaze was set Friday night at the main entrance of the Wasilla Bible Church while a small group, including two children, were inside. No one was injured. Fire authorities were called to the scene at 9:40 p.m., unusually early for many arson fires, Starcevic said.

"It's kind of odd to do in the evening hours," he said. "I can tell you that most of the arson fires I've worked on are late nighttime, usually when no one is there." read more...

If this wasn't an attempt on somebody's life, then Ron Gettelfinger, President of the UAW, will be voting Republican in 2010.

Nevertheless, where is the indignation over this "hate-crime?" Is it okay because these are supposed Right-Wing Zealots? My what a wonderful double-standard the world has adopted these days.

Beyond the political ramifications, these maniacs tried killing children. The fact is kids don't care about politics, religion, or race. So, why were they being targeted and why isn't anyone talking about that?

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The End of Amtrak Joe

Politics aside, Joe Biden has demonstrated a quality that I have long admired him for. That is his daily 90 minute commute back and forth from Delaware to Washington DC and the reasons he did it.

On December 18, 1972, shortly after winning his Senate seat, Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter and his one year old daughter were killed in a traffic accident. His two young sons, Beau and Hunter, were critically injured, both eventually made full recoveries.

Because of this tragedy, Biden commuted from Wilmington, Delaware to DC in order be home with his sons. He continued this throughout his Senate career, earning him the nickname, "Amtrak Joe."

Now that he is Vice-President-elect, Biden will be residing, with his family, at No. 1 Observatory Circle on the grounds of the US Naval Observatory, ending his 36 year commute . The Observatory has been the official home for the Vice-President and their families since 1974. Also, this is the first time the Biden's will be living in Washington DC.

Picture credit to Gerald Herbert/Associated Press.

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