Category: Shenanigans

Don’t trust the ACLU

James Taranto of OpinionJournal.com points out the ACLU has rewritten the Bill of rights. On the ACLU’s website they say:

It is probably no accident that freedom of speech is the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The Constitution’s framers believed that freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were the hallmarks of a democratic society.

The thing is, there is no elipsis in the First Amendment. The first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment is religion:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Isn’t it scary when the self-proclaimed protector of civil liberties disavows the freedom of religion?

Democrats: Don’t believe the vote

An Ohio judge threw out a challenge to the 2004 election. Jesse Jackson is mad that George Bush won. So instead of holding to the rules of a democracy – the person that wins the election gets the office – Jackson is trying to get the election overturned.

This is my favorite part of the story:

The complaint questioned how the actual results could show Bush winning when exit-poll interview findings on election night indicated that Kerry would win 52 percent of Ohio’s presidential vote.

Without listing specific evidence, the complaint alleges that 130,656 votes for Kerry and John Edwards (news – web sites) in 36 counties were somehow switched to count for the Bush-Cheney ticket.

Exit-polls are more reliable to Jackson than an actual vote count. In other words, Jackson doesn’t believe in democracy. He doesn’t want every vote to count, only the votes of those who said they voted for Kerry. Exit polls aren’t elections. They don’t accurately reflect vote counts. The only way to know who wins an election is to count the votes. When Ohio counted, Bush won.

Democrats said they wouldn’t accept the election results if Bush won. Why is anyone even listening to these people. The danger is not that Bush won the election. The danger is that some Democrats want to overturn the will of the people.

Any means necessary, right Jesse?

Money from South Africa

I finally received one of those scam e-mails offering to wire millions of dollars to my bank account if I just send my information to some guy. This time its from South Africa.

Oo! I can’t wait. Of course, I’m not stupid enough to give anyone my bank account information. I thought I’d be a bit more creative. Here is my response followed by the original e-mail:

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 18:45:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Jason
Subject: Re: Private
To: smith-bowani2@homemail.co.za

Mr. Bowani,

I would like to take advantage of this wonderful
opportunity. Sadly, I do not have a bank account to
deposit the funds into.

I am still willing to help. Please wire me $9,000 USD
(so as not to attract the attention of the I.R.S.) and
I will set up an account for you.

I anxiously await your reply.

— SMITH BOWANI wrote:

> Hello,
>
>
> I am Mr. Smith Bowani, an auditor of a reputable
> bank in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province in the
> Republic of South Africa. I have an urgent and very
> confidential business proposition for you.
>
> We had a foreign client named Mr. Wooin Shim, who
> deposited a huge sum of money (18.6 Million United
> States Dollars), with our bank. Eventually, this
> client died in a plane crash and since his death we
> have not had anybody come up for the claims as the
> next of kin.
>
> You may want to take a look at other passengers,
> who were on the same plane; here is a site for your
>
perusal.http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list/
>
> A situation I have monitored closely with my
> position in the bank. Now having monitored this
> deposit and managed it over the years before his
> death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of
> kin for the past years. I now solicit for your
> assistance to present you as the next of kin as
> every other arrangement/ processes will be monitored
> by me and my partners involved. However I got your
> contact from a trade consultant here in South
> Africa, though I did not disclose the purpose of my
> seeking for a foreign business partner to him.
> Although we will still have to sign some agreement
> before the final transfer of the fund into any of
> your designated bank account.
>
> I have involved a very senior official in the
> operational department, and we have agreed that
> after the transfer of the money into your account,
> you shall be entitled to 20% of the total sum, my
> colleagues and I will have 75% while 5% will be used
> to reimburse any expenses incurred. All necessary
> precautions have been taken to ensure a risk free
> situation on the side of both parties. Please note
> that this deal can only take place on the following
> conditions;
>
> 1. You will provide the bank account and other
> relevant particulars/information for easy and onward
> Remittance of the Eighteen million, six hundred
> thousand USD.
>
> 2. Absolute confidentiality and sincerity will be
> required and guaranteed, considering our positions
> in the bank.
>
> 3. Assurance that our own share will be released to
> us in good faith when this money finally gets into
> your account.
>
> Please treat with utmost confidentiality. Contact me
> as quickly as possible through my e-mail.
>
> Expecting your urgent response,
>
> Best Regards,
>
> MR. SMITH BOWANI

Target gets targeted

Target has decided not to allow the Salvation Army to place its red kettles and bell ringers at its stores this Christmas season. This could cost the Salvation Army up to $9 million.

Another part of American culture (and English for that matter) may be dying. Salvation Army has used bell ringers and their signature red kettles since 1891. Who doesn’t hear the bell ringing in December and not think its Christmas in the United States?

The Sacramento Bee speculates that Target’s move means the bell ringers are a thing of the past. If so, American culture will surely suffer. The sound of the bell ringers in front of stores reminded us that in the hurry of buying gifts for our loved ones, there are other people in the world who need our help.

The bell ringers also taught us appreciation. How many times during the year do you hear a heart felt “thank you”? But you hear it when you throw some change in the kettle. The ringers thank us because they know that little bit of change adds up to millions of dollars every Christmas.

I remember asking my parents for change to put in the kettle when I was a child. It was part of the joy of experiencing Christmas, giving to others. I hope to be a father in the next couple of years, will my child be able to experience the same joy? If the Salvation Army bell ringers are being told to leave, charity is going with them.

After a Christmas tree disaster last year, Honeybun and I have decided it is time to get an artificial tree. Our next stop was Target. We’ve crossed them off our list this year and won’t be doing any Christmas shopping there. We’ll check out WalMart and go to the malls. Before we do, we’ll make sure we have change for the bell ringers.

Update: Hugh Hewitt linked to me again. Welcome Hugh Hewitt readers. Feel free to leave a comment.

Alzheimer patients don’t need stem cell lie

The Democrats are advancing two lies right now.

The first is that President Bush has banned stem cell research. He hasn’t. He has merely limited embryonic research.

The second is that embryonic stem cell research will find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. It won’t. Alzheimer’s disease is a whole brain disease. Developing new cells for part of the brain won’t fix the problem with the whole brain.

Thankfully, real science is aware of this fact. It looks like scientists actually doing the research are on the right path. Fox News reports on research for a new treatment to fight the plaque in the brain associated with the disease.

Kerry – the new Perot

Kerry claimed in the last presidential debate that he met with all the members of the U.N. Security council before voting for the war in Iraq in October 2002.

Apparently Kerry confused the concepts of not meeting with any security council members and meeting with all of them.

The Washington Times:

But of the five ambassadors on the Security Council in 2002 who were reached directly for comment, four said they had never met Mr. Kerry. The four also said that no one who worked for their countries’ U.N. missions had met with Mr. Kerry either.

Wow. Is he delusional? Stories like this is why Ross Perot did not get elected and became a laughing stock.

Vote Bush.

Why you can’t trust the U.N.

The AP news service has admitted that U.N. sanctions against Saddam Hussein were not working:

Interviews with dozens of former and current Iraqi officials by congressional investigators have produced new evidence that Saddam Hussein micromanaged business deals under the U.N. oil-for-food program to maximize political influence with important foreign governments like Russia and neighboring Arab states.

This proves that the “we rushed to war” crowd is out of touch. Sanctions were supposed to help depose Hussein. Not only were the sanctions not working, they were having the opposite of their intended effect. The sanctions were keeping Hussein in power and expanding his influence.

Relying on U.N. diplomacy to protect the United States will only encourage threats to grow. Yet this is what John Kerry is advocating in his run for president.

The new terrorists

The U.K. is finding a growing terror threat at home. This time, it is not from Islamo-fascists. Now, it’s from animal rights groups. The Sunday Herald reports(emphasis added):

The case of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), a drug-testing facility near Cambridge, is one example of how far extremists can go. Last weekend, a “terror list� naming 150 individuals – including 21 children – emerged, most with an indirect link to the company.

If you keep reading the article you find out:

[Robin Webb of the Animal Liberaton Front] rejects the notion that the families of scientists and researchers should not be targets.

“Some say it is morally unacceptable but it is equally unacceptable to use animals in experiments. The children of those scientists are enjoying a lifestyle built on the blood and abuse of innocent animals. Why should they be allowed to close the door on that and sit down and watch TV and enjoy themselves when animals are suffering and dying because of the actions of the family breadwinner? They are a justifiable target for protest.�

How sick is this guy? This is not moral equivallency – it is moral bankruptcy. He doesn’t believe that animals are equal to humans, he believes animals are better than humans.

Don’t think this is a problem limited to England. The Center for Consumer Freedom warns about domestic animal rights terror coming to the U.S.

Jerry Vlasak has been associated with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (an organization related to PETA). Jerry Vlasak also has connections to SHAC, an organization that has been indicted for terrorism along with seven of its leaders. Here is Vlasak’s view on using terrorism to support the animal rights movement:

“I don’t think you’d have to kill — assassinate — too many,” Vlasak said. “I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, two million, 10 million non-human lives.”

He later clarified his statement as reported by The Guardian from a radio interview:

“I am simply saying that it [violence] is a morally acceptable tactic and it may be useful in the struggle for animal liberation.”

Don’t support terrorism. Don’t give money to PETA, PCRM, or SHAC.

CYA or self-incrimination

The memos supposedly revealing 1st Lt. Bush was AWOL and a bad soldier written by Lt. Col. Killian were addressed “To file”, meaning they weren’t actually sent to anyone, just filed in Lt. Col Killian’s personal file. One of the memos dated 18 aug 1973 is titled “CYA” (link is to Powerline). It documents how (then retired) General Staudt pressuring the Lt. Col. to “sugarcoat” a review for 1st. Lt. Bush.

So let’s get this straight. A retired General no longer affiliated with the National Guard (yes, that is redundant) is pressuring a commanding officer to falsify a report about a 1st Lt. That commanding officer is so concerned about the ethics of the situation, he agrees to accomodate the retired General then creates evidence his report was false by documenting he backdated the report and omitted a rating in lieu of giving a presumably bad rating. The Lt. Col. then calls that “CYA” (cover your ass).

Instead of filing a memo to self, a commanding officer would include justification for not giving a rating in the report itself. The reasoning for writing the memo doesn’t follow. The implied logic is that if ever asked about the report, the Lt. Col. could claim “I filed a false report but I was pressured to do it.” That excuse would not relieve him of the responsibility of making a false report. The memo would only prove he did so knowingly.

Was he a fool or is the memo a forgery?