homeThe Most Beautiful Picture You Will See All Day

Israel: 1
Hezbollah: 0

homeJohn Quincy Adams on Voting

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." – John Quincy Adams

homeNorth Korea Aims Missle At Hawaii

Reuters reports that a Japanese newspaper reports that a recent missile launched from the communist dictatorship of North Korea was aimed toward Hawaii.  The launch failed (not unlike communism) crumbling not long after takeoff.  "North Korea may have targeted Hawaii to show the United States that it was capable of landing a missile there, or because it is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific fleet."  Kim Jong forgot, apparently, what happened to the last people who attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet off the coast of Hawaii.

homeRandom Thoughts 5

"Cold indifference" shouldn't be the first words that come to your mind describing a hospital. Such was the case for me recently at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. I'd rather check myself in at the local veterinary clinic.

Supposedly, most of the nation supports granting the congress the power to prohibit the desecration of the flag. What most people do not understand is that a crime far worse than to physically desecrate the symbol of our freedom is what the senate tried to do--desecrate the freedom itself.

Why don't any charming girls get involved in these high-profile rape cases?

The Republicans have a new marketing phrase they're calling their "American Values Agenda." The problem is, if Americans actually valued what the GOP thinks we should, they wouldn't have to pass laws forcing us to respect of those values.

Don't argue politics with your grandmother--especially if you're a libertarian.

I'm amazed how many southerners (let alone Americans in general) believe the Civil War was fought over slavery...not to mention how many believe the Civil War was actually a civil war.

We're always told that standing up and saluting the flag is patriotic. What we shouldn't forget is that the original patriots didn't salue their flag. They overthrew their government.

Very few things have made me want to throw up like seeing Bill Gates and Warrent Buffett refer to themselves as "lucky." I believe both are being incredibly dishonest and catering to (appeasing, really) those who envy wealth and achievement. If either truly believed his fortune came from "luck," he would would have cashed-out long ago, not wanting to risk any of his precious winnings on further games of chance.

More importantly, Gates' and Buffet's philanthropic wealth would be better distributed to mercenaries charged with overtrowing those oppressive, anti-capitalist regimes who are the cause of most of the world's inability to acquire wealth.

Marriage is not sanctimonious because of the approval of government. It is sanctimonious in spite of it.

Most of what is called racism today is really bigotry. People who don't understand the difference aren't worth debating about matters of race.

It was fun watching Joe Scarborough attack the language used by Ann Coulter in her new book while carefully avoiding any debate over the actual substance of her arguments.

homeEveryone is Wrong on Illegal Immigration

Illegal immigration. Illegal immigration. Illegal immigration. Why the hell is this all of the sudden the issue of the day? It isn't new. There aren't any new developments or new concerns to worry about that weren't around 5 years ago. Why NOW is this the hot button issue?

One might first finger Karl Rove as picking a rousing issue to stir up before the mid-term elections, but this seems odd since it's done little but create a rift within the Republican party, and more importantly between congressional Republicrats and the GOP base. Another possible explanation is the concern over national security and the war on terror. This also doesn't add up as the war has been going strong since 2001 while the illegal immigration kerfufle (at least at this level) is a more reccent phenomenon.

Frankly, I have no idea why this particular issue was taken off the shelf and dusted off. Regardless, I've held my tongue on it long enough and it's time to say something.

The reasons I've avoided this issue until now are A) it bores me. B) you can't call for immigration reform without either being called racist, xenophobic, or sympathetic toward lawbreakers.

So here's my message to all the Republicans, Democrats, talking heads, race baitors, and opinionated commentators out there. YOU'RE ALL WRONG.

Well, okay, maybe not all. I haven't paid enough attention to see where everyone stands. But all that I've heard from anybody is crap.

Libertarians believe we should have open borders and let anyone come and go as they please. This would have been great at a time when the musket was the world's most powerful weapon. Now, however, the stakes are a bit high to let just anyone come in.

Then there's the staunch, G. Gordon Liddy-worshipping, conservative crowd who advocate building a wall lined with razor wire and landmines while boycotting any retailer who dares print advertising in Spanish. I don't think that quite fits the melting-pot ideal that is the United States of America. These people believe, whether it's about immigration or drug use or the labeling on mattresses, that we should enforce the law at all times--no matter how ridiculous the law might be.

Next you have moderates and liberals who firmly believe we ought to definately perhaps think about maybe doing something someday about what were we talking about again? Their ideas, when they have them, usually involve some type of convuluted mix of nonsense having to do with amnesty or a documented guest worker somethingruther with maybe a civics class and drivers license and a stern talking-to for anyone who doesn't want to obey the law...or something.

Finally, you have this emerging hispanic subculture that's spreading like wildfire. Legal or not, they seem to want to let anyone come over, take advantage of our overly-gererous social programs without paying anything into the system*, and if you don't agree with them you're a racist. These are the folks we've seen marching all over the country, blocking traffic in the nation that has provided them freedom and opportunity so they can celebrate the crap-hole nations from which they literally fled. They want the American dream as long as they don't have to respect America. A classy bunch to say the least.

I don't like any of these thought processes. I especially don't like the idea of basing legislation on them. Other than national security concerns, illegal immigration should be treated as an economic issue. Moving does not endanger anyone's life or limb. No rights are being violated. There is no initiation of force and no use of fraud. Illegal immigration, therefore, is a victimless crime--one that needs no law. At least, not the one we've got.

If national security were not an issue, I'd be all for the libertarians' stance. Let 'em in. Immigrants by and large come here to work...cheap. And God bless them for it. Here we're presented with the same problem that we face in the (unwinnable) war on drugs--government attempting to suppress the supply of a good with a high, inelastic demand. On one side you have an overwhelming demand for cheap labor. On the other side you have a government trying to suppress the supply of cheap labor for whatever reasons (irrational fears about overpopulation, catering to Americans' fear of competition, unchecked bureaucracy, etc.). Whenver this situation arises, a way will always be found to circumvent the government. Enter illegal immigration.

Like recreational drug users, immigrants, illegal or otherwise, hurt nobody. Unlike drug users, they actually play an important role in our economy, and should be allowed to do so. Making it all but impossible to immigrate legally is simply poor policy.

Here's my solution.  I support building a wall solely to keep terrorists out.  From this point on, anyone caught jumping the wall should be arrested and/or deported.  It sounds harsh and Liddyish, I know.  But with that wall needs to be a large gate letting in as many people as want to join us. Those that are here can stay. Call it amnesty if you want. Deporting them only to let them back in is silly and does little to secure us from attack. Immigrants waiting to get in should be let in immediately. A quick finger print, photograph, and a check against our terror database, and bienvenidos, amigos! A big welcome from all of us who appreciate quality goods and services at rock-bottom prices.

* End the welfare state and pass the FairTax and this won't be a problem.

homeOxycontin is Not a Crime

Unless you think Rush Limbaugh is really a threat to society, join the fight against the ridiculous war on drugs.  Bumper stickers available in the OpinionNation store.

homeRush Arrested

I'm camped out in a hotel room watching Anderson Cooper on CNN. He's interviewing a legal commentator of some sort (sorry I didn't catch her name) who is trying to explain todays events involving the arrest of Rush Limbaugh.

Here's the scoop. Three years ago, it was reported in the tabloid press that Rush Limbaugh was involved in the illegal purchase of prescription painkillers. Shortly after, Limbaugh admitted an addition to pain medication and took a leave of absense to go through rehab. Since then, he and the Florida DA's office has been battling in court over the admissibility of Rush's medical records. Those records were eventually deemed admissable, and prosecutors formally charged Limbaugh with prescription drug fraud. This afternoon, Rush turned himself into authorities, was booked, took a Delay-esque mug shot, and was released on $3,000 bail.

The rest of the story is this. Limbaugh and his lawyer reached an agreement with prosecutors that, after 18 more months of drug treatment, and conditional on Limbaugh staying out of trouble with the law, the charge will be dropped. In addition, Rush will pay $30,000 to cover the expense of the investigation.

According to Cooper's interviewee, although Rush entered a formal plea of not guilty, and despite insisting that no doctor shopping was done, he would be admitting guilt by accepting this deal with prosecutors.

I call bullcrap.

Just about every talking head in the entire world right now agrees that the deal is a phenomenal win for Limbaugh. Can anyone guess why at the end of a three year investigation prosecutors may have given up the fight so easily?  Because they have no case.

This charge is their Battle of the Bulge--a last-ditch effort to inflict as much damage as possible when losing is inevitable. To fight the charge would have created a media circus along the lines of the Kobe Bryant trial (perhaps not quite a large). Bottom line, it would be long, troublesome, and expensive. What the prosecution needed was to do something.  So they take a stab with a single charge and a quick plea deal. What Limbaugh did, instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending himself, was drop about two hours pay for the prosecution to go make love to themselves.

homeThe Holidays of Spring

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, a day where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ who came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.

Today is tax day. A day where we celebrate the creation of the IRS, who came that we might not have it quite so abundantly.

Support the FairTax.