Today's Rant

This morning I went to LewRockwell.com, as i do most days, and found my favorite columnist had published his column there today. As I read it, i felt it must be put out there again, so here it is:

Of Imperial Presidents and Congressional Cowards
by Patrick J. Buchanan
Now that Congress is back fromspring break and looking ahead to Memorial Day, July 4th, the August recess and adjournment early in October for elections, perhaps it can take up this question.

Does President Bush have, or not have, the authority to take us to war with Iran? Because Bush and the War Party are surely behaving as though this were an executive decision alone.
No sooner had President Ahmadinejad declared that his country had enriched a speck of uranium than the war drums began again.

Bush has said of Iran that even "a process which would enable Iran to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable." John McCain has said too many times to count, "The military option is on the table." The 2006 National Security Strategy re-endorses preventive war and elevates Iran to the No. 1 threat to the United States.

This is not enough for The Weekly Standard, which equates our situation with that of France in 1936, when Paris sat immobile while Hitler marched three lightly armed battalions back into the German Rhineland, which had been demilitarized by the Versailles Treaty.

"To Bomb or Not to Bomb, That Is the Iran Question," is the title of an extended piece in the Standard, whose editorial calls for "urgent operational planning for bombing strikes." As that would likely ignite Shia and Revolutionary Guard terror attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, the Standard wants Bush to send more troops.

In an editorial "Iran Now," National Review is already into target acquisition. It calls for plans for a massive bombing campaign "coupled with an aggressive and persistent efforts to topple the regime from within." Ideally, U.S. bombs "should hit not just the nuclear facilities, but also the symbols of state oppression: the intelligence ministry, the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard, the guard towers of the notorious Evin Prison."

In The Washington Post, Mark Helprin, who is identified as having "served in the Israeli army and air force," says "the obvious option is an aerial campaign to divest Iran of its nuclear potential: i.e., clear the Persian Gulf of Iranian naval forces, scrub anti-ship missiles from the shore and lay open antiaircraft-free corridors to each target. ... Were the targets effectively hidden or buried, Iran could be shut down, coerced and perhaps revolutionized by the simple and rapid destruction of its oil production and transport."

Since Muslims may not like what we are up to, Helprin cautions, we should prepare "for a land route from the Mediterranean across Israel and Jordan to the Tigris and Euphrates," and, presumably, from there the final push on to Tehran.

In all this hawk talk, something is missing. We are not told how many innocent Iranians we will have to kill as we go about smashing their nuclear program and defenses. Nor are we told how many more soldiers we will need for the neocons' new war, nor how long they will have to fight, nor how many more wings we should plan for at Walter Reed, nor when it will be over -- if ever.

Moreover, where does Bush get the authority to launch a war on a nation that has not attacked us? As few believe Iran is close to a nuclear weapon, while four neighbors -- Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel, not to mention the United States -- already have the bomb, what is America's justification for war?

If we sat by while Stalin got the bomb, and Mao got the bomb, and Kim Jong-Il got the bomb, why is an Iranian bomb a threat to the United States, which possesses thousands?

There is a reason the Founding Fathers separated the power to conduct war from the power to declare it. The reason is just such a ruler as George W. Bush, a man possessed of an ideology and sense of mission that are not necessarily coterminous with what is best for his country. Under our Constitution, it is Congress, not the president, who decides on war.

Many Democrats now concede they failed the nation when they took Bush at his word that Iraq was an intolerable threat that could be dealt with only by an invasion. Now, Bush and the War Party are telling us the same thing about Iran. And the Congress is conducting itself in the same contemptible and cowardly way.

It is time for Congress to tell President Bush directly that he has no authority to go to war on Iran and to launch such a war would be an impeachable offense. Or, if they so conclude, Congress should share full responsibility by granting him that authority after it has held hearings and told the people why we have no other choice than another Mideast war, with a nation four times as large as Iraq.

If Congress lacks the courage to do its constitutional duty, it should stop whining about imperial presidents. Because, like the Roman Senate of Caesar's time, it will have invited them and it will deserve them.
April 28, 2006

...Glad to see Kelly Pickler go home on American Idol this week. I think Taylor will be next.

I'll be heading to Talladega this weekend for NASCAR race, but i'll be back next week.

Today's Rant

Where does "bated breath" come from? I never thought about it but my fiancee asked me this question last night, so i thought i would check it out. The term "bated breath" was first known to be used by Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice. Three centuries later Mark Twain used it in Tom Sawyer. I found out the term means: " A state in which you almost stop breathing through terror, awe, extreme anticipation or anxiety.

Today, Tony Snow, now formerly of Fox News Channel, is now the new White House Press Secretary. I think this might be a good move but I'm not really sure. I know Tony Snow has been critical of the President before and i did think it was odd Bush brought in someone who was not already a crony or totally loyal, since this Administration is totally against any criticism. I think we will see very quickly how Snow handles the press corps. I think the one thing that helps him is that he was already part of that press fraternity, but now he is the enemy. Only time will tell, but i'd like to wish him Good Luck.

I saw the most ridiculous poll this morning. It was conducted by Rasmussen Reports says that now 42% of people polled trust Democrats more on the issue of illegal immigration than they trust Republicans, which fell to 35% support. This just doesn't seem rational, I mean, who did they poll, illegal migrant workers?? The Democrats have never wanted any immigration reform because they have been the political party that has benefited the most from illegals by having them vote in US Elections, which is illegal. Immigration will be the Big Issue in the 2006 and 2008 elections. The candidates that stand strong on border security and immigration reform will be the candidates who win, no matter what party. I think this issue greatly hurts the Democrats because most people can see they are so fake and hypocritical when it comes to this issue.

Pat Buchanan talked about building a fence along the Southern US border years ago and everyone thought he was just nutty and racist, and we know that he wasn't either. Now he's totally right and there is widespread support for this. The new group, The Border Fence Project, has proposed To patch and extend U.S.-Mexico border fence along all 1952 miles of southern border using high-tech TV cameras, microphones, lighting, motion and other electronic sensors, with voluntary civilian labor, donations, private border-ranch fencing profits, and maintenance teams, for less than $2.50 per foot or $23 million. It's about time that we took care of this ourselves and I think it's a fantastic idea. We cannot wait on the Federal Government, who can't and won't, take care of the problem. There is tons of support for this by people donating money, fence, and tools to help in the cause. A group, WeNeedAFence.com, is hailing recent comments by Sen. Hillary Clinton supporting a physical barrier on the border. " A physical structure is obviously important. A wall in certain areas would be appropriate, " Clinton is said to have been quoted by the New York Daily News. If you don't believe that she's not running for President, then you're just dumb. She is the only Presidential candidate, except for Tom Tancredo, to come out in support for a barrier on the border.

Kelly Pickler has to be eliminated tonight. She was horrible last night. It's time for her idiotic, no talent hick self to go home. I have a case of McFeever. I thought she looked very elegant last night and i thought she did well.

Today's Rant..

Alfonso Soriano is a man among boys. Friday night, as i sat in the rain at RFK, hoping the Braves-Nats game would start, i was pondering why was i there. Then, Soriano made my trip to DC worth it, as he hit 3 HR in the game as the Nats beat the Braves 7-3.

Here is this week's Horoscopes: Courtesy of The Onion.

Your Birthday Today
You'll make the disastrous mistake at work today of opening over 70 gift-wrapped boxes, effectively ruining your charity organization's monthly toy drive for children with leukemia.
Aries March 21 - April 19
You will once again resort to drinking your problems away, abusing tap water in an attempt to forget your dehydration issues.
Taurus April 20 - May 20
Your belief in holding doors open for women, pulling their chairs out for them, and offering to pay for dinner all make you an old-fashioned type of guy. As does your belief that women shouldn't have the right to vote.
Gemini May 21 - June 21
Most experts agree that language is what separates humans from other animals, but as you well know it is in fact our ability to choose bestiality.
Cancer June 22 - July 22
While being a homemaker is a full-time job, you will somehow still find the time to take on a second job as an emotional punching bag.
Leo July 23 - August 22
Hands-free cell phones may not be any safer or less distracting than regular cell phones, but they will be your only option after next week's car accident.
Virgo August 23 - September 22
Many will be moved and inspired when you decide to court a terminally ill woman in the last months of her life, but that's just the kind of necrophiliac you are.
Libra September 23 - October 23
Construction on the new high-rise building you're working on will devolve into lewd and inappropriate whistling as an attractive woman rapidly falls by.
Scorpio October 24 - November 21
Your years as an enthusiastic spectator will finally be properly appreciated when a touring musician asks you and the rest of the crowd to give yourselves a hand for being such a fantastic audience.
Sagittarius November 22 - December 21
Family members may accuse you of being selfish and self-centered, but the truth is you'd do anything mutually beneficial for them.
Capricorn December 22 - January 19
You will be rightfully excited when your city's bid to host the 2011 Special Olympics makes it to the final round, even though you have a feeling that in the end the games will end up going to Mongolia.
Aquarius January 20 - February 18
Your 10-hour shift would go by a lot faster if you didn't keep looking up at the clock every five minutes, but as head surgeon, it's your responsibility to record the time of death of patients.
Pisces February 19 - March 20
Doctors will agree to separate your newborn conjoined twins, but adamantly object to your request to put over 5,000 miles between them.

As I look for honeymoon destinations for next year, this one just fell into my lap.

Dinosaur Kingdom: A Roadside attraction that incorporates two classic tourist-trap themes-dinosaurs and the Civil War- in a uniquely Virginian Way-by having the Dinosaurs attack the Union soldiers. I can't believe no has done this before just as i can't believe that no one has created a show: Monkeys v. Midgets. Maybe i need to do that.

Anyway, at the Kingdom's entrance, as sign explains the premise: It's 1863 and Union Soldiers have discovered a hidden valley filled with Dinosaurs. Of course, "Billy Yank" plans to use the dinosaurs as WMD's [Weapons of Mass Destruction] against the South. The piece that really sets it off is a life-size Yank calvaryman on horseback trying to lasso a T-Rex that has a Yank in its jaws.

This may be the greatest place on Earth. For more on this story go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301192.html

A clarification to Friday's rant about Bush's approval rating. Actually, Harry Truman had an approval rating of 23% and he's considered one of the greatest presidents of all time.

Have a nice day.

Today's Rant

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192468,00.html

Fox News Poll shows President's job approval rating at a new low of 33%. I can't think of any President being this low, but i'd have go back and check Nixon's rating before he resigned. I don't think this is shocking news, but I think it is a wake up call for all Republicans running for election and re-election in November. 2006 will be a bad year for Republicans. Historically, off-year elections have been tough on the majority party and that party tends to lose seats. But with Republicans having trouble convincing people they can handle the economy and that they are not like the President, i think you could see some substantial gains by the Democrats.

It's a shame for some Republican candidates, who are very qualified and would make good legislators, but they will get penalized for the (R) by their name this year. I don't think the Democrats have any better candidates and truthfully, they probably have worst, but they will win some seats they shouldn't. I urge everyone to do your own research and form your own opinions this year on who would best represent you, Democrat or Republican.

I heard this morning that John Travolta and J-LO are being rumored to be playing J.R. Ewing and Sue Ellen in the upcoming Dallas movie. I just don't see J-LO in that roll. I mean, you need someone who likes she's had a hard life, could drink you under the table, and is a little crazy. I think Susan Sarandon is the obvious choice with several people i've talked to for Miss Ellie is Angela Landsbury. This would be a far cry from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but i think she could pull it off.

Today's Horoscope for Aries and Leo:

Aries: Your colleagues will begin referring to you as the greatest mind they've ever encountered, in much the same way people call the fat guy Tiny.

Leo: Heartbreak is in the stars for you this week when the woman of your dreams confesses that she cannot love a man with such an unholy appetite for pie.

I'll be giving out more Horoscopes next week.

That's all for today.

Today's Rant

Today, i happened upon an old song from my childhood. I found out that it won an Academy Award back in the 40's and is currently played on the Disney ride: Splash Mountain. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

My oh my, what a wonderful day!

Welcoming back Brer Rabbit today.

We always knew that he'd get away!

He's had enough of movin' on now.

It's where he's born and bred in.

The briar patch is where he's headin'.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

My oh my, what a wonderful day!

Plenty of sunshine heading our way.

We never doubted he'd get away!

Moving on taught him a lesson.

You've learned it well, Brer Rabbit.

Gettin' caught's a nasty habit.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

Wonderful feeling, feeling this way!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

It's a time for celebratin' today!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

Gathered together this wonderful day!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

Brer Fox and Brer Bear are gonna get it today.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

That hungry gator's gettin' his way!

Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder.

It's the truth, it's actual.

Everything is satisfactual.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

Wonderful feelling, wonderful day!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay!

My oh my what a wonderful day!

For those of you who don't know, this is from the BANNED Disney movie, The Song of the South. I remember watching this as a child and reading the stories of Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear. Disney has not allowed me to purchase in VHS or DVD in the United States of America. The Freest country in the world, and we still ban movies and books. There is something very wrong with that. But, a couple of years ago, i found a copy of the movie on VHS in Canada. That was a happy day. I am glad i now have this momento that i can now show my children. I believe Song of the South is the only movie ever banned from VHS or DVD that won 2 Academy Awards.

If anyone is interested in a website where you can purchase the movie or collectibles, just comment to this post and i'll send it to you.

It's nice outside today. I wish i was outside, shooting some hoops or hitting some golfballs.

How did Kelly Pickler survive?

How in the sam hill did Kelly Pickler not get voted off American Idol last night? I know no one likes Ace, but she can't sing a lick and is dumb as fence post. She is only around because of her looks. She can't light a candle to McFeever. She is the best one in competition.

Please America, send Pickler back to NC and off my TV set.

Whatever happened to Lark Vorhees?

I was watching Saved by the Bell the other morning and was wondering: "What happened to Lark Vorhees?" I always thought she was the one with so much promise for stardom, but she is nowhere in sight right now. We know about the others: Mario Lopez, who hosted a show on Animal Planet and was a bicycle cop; Elizabeth Berkley, who we all know came to love Gina Gershon in the worst movie ever made and may actually be the worse actress ever; Tiffany Amber Thiessen, who went to Beverly Hills 90210 and became so big she dropped the "Amber" from her name; Screech, well, he beat up Horshack and is still the most recognizable of the stars; and last but not least, Zack, who was on NYPD Blue for a little while then became the aide to the woman President. All of these people have done meaningful things.

But what about Lisa Turtle? The only thing i've seen her on in the last ten years was Days of our Lives for a brief stint. I hope she hasnt' been blacklisted because of her brother, Jason. Just because he's a supernatural killing machine, i don't think she should be made to suffer for it.

Where, oh where, is Lark Vorhees?

Today's Rant

This morning i saw an article that Rolling Stone Magazine was working on a story on President Bush being rated the worst president in history. That's a bold statement. I would agree with Rolling Stone. I believe Bush is worst President of the 20th Century. He brought in an administration that cared nothing about Republicans being conservative, so they proceeded to increase government at an alarming rate. Government is at its highest levels in 50 years. I believe Bush, in his zeal to save his flagging presidency, went to war with a dictator who he knew couldn't hurt us, who had NO LINK to Al-Queda, who, even though he was a horrible human being and ruler, kept stability in an unstable region. Time after time, the President lied to us as to the reasons as to why went to Iraq: WMD's, Saddam is Evil, He has links to Bin Laden, the Iraqi people will be better off without him...And we know that only one of these turned out to be true: that Saddam was evil.

This President has done more to hurt our freedoms than when Lincoln suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus, imprisoned Congressmen and others who spoke out against him, attacked his own country, and committed war crimes against the American people. Bush has given us the Patriot Act, which makes it unlawful to comment against your leaders, they have erected "free-speech" zone for "protesters", then violated those very same free speech zones. They have made it legal to wiretap your phones, to come in your house and take your computer, to try you as a terrorist and to not give you due process. But, in fairness, i can't totally blame the President for the Patriot Act, it was the "REPUKIAN" Congress that gave us this monster.

I feel the President has managed the war in Iraq poorly, has failed to keep a proper eye on North Korea and Iran, who we need to be really concerned about; has not taken care of his domestic duties: to keep us Safe, because we DEFINITELY are not safer that we were before 9/11, the heinous spending that rendered the tax cuts from the first administration obsolete. I'll stop today with my reasons why Bush is worst president and i'll continue another day.

Whose tired of Kelly Pickler? I can't wait for her to go home on American Idol, although i think Ace will go tonight. I think the final two will be Chris and Katherine. Also, on Deal or No Deal, why can't anyone make a rational decision? Do they not know how to play the odds? I can't believe that no one has picked the cases in numerical order. I mean, it's all random anyway, but it's got to be as good a system as any. If I ever make it on that show, that's how i'm doing it.

I think Barry Bonds took steroids, but I think he's the greatest baseball player alive today and i'd like to see him break the homerun record. It would upset MLB and that would make me happy. Also, Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. Enough Said!

I think the DA in Durham has gotten in over his head in the Duke Lacrosse case. All the evidence seems to point that these kids were innocent. We forget that they are kids being accused of a heinous crime by someone who may be lying. I believe when its all settled, the boys will be exonerated, but their lives are forever changed. This is what Duke gets for being run by feminist wackos who hate men. Their sister campus is NCCU, where the NOW has a chapter. Does that bother anyone other than me? It seems all fishy to me. I say we just move Duke to that hellhole NJ where it belongs and claim one for the good guys. I don't think this case will end well.

I hope everyone watches Lost and The Amazing Race tonight.

Take care and i'll see you tomorrow.

Out.

Hello to the world...

I just wanted to let everyone know where this blog will go. I will daily give you a rant on politics, religion, entertainment, world events, sports. I will do this because i feel i have knowledge in all these areas. There may be times when there is something controversial on my site. If you get offended by something i've said, then i've done my job. And feel free to tell me what a bigot and idiot you think i am. i will respond to your comments. If you like what i've said, feel free to post and i'll comment on your posts.

Always know that i don't care if you agree with me or disagree with me. Just know that you will never find any "politically-correct" remarks here. If you want to believe the goverment, the news, and just like to live in your little bubble, then you wont' like it.

I can't explain everything, but i can explain birds... Birds is Magic.

Should i guy expect a hug on the first date?

Today I randomly walked into a coworker's office and joined a conversation. I do that regularly. But this one time, it was different, i was asked a simple question: If a guy take a girl on a good date, where chemistry is there, everyone had a good time, and both parties seemed interested, should a guy expect a peck on the cheek or even a hug. I say yes. I mean, we do a need a little validation that we are doing a good job. A coworker said she would never give a guy a peck on the cheek or even a hug. She thinks she's real high and mighty and a real goody-goody, but i don't think i'm wrong. What do you think?