The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

TODAY: Herman Cain in New Hampshire

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 5 Comments

He’s one of the headliners at the Americans for Prosperity Tax Day Tea Party at the state capitol in Concord. Then it’s off to Florida where he’ll speak this evening (6:30 p.m. ) at a Tea Party rally in Orlando featuring Marco Rubio.

Join the online grassroots army at Citizens for Cain.

Category: Election 2012, Florida, Herman Cain, New Hampshire, Tea Party

Guys: Collective Guilt Is Not Sexy

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 34 Comments

A couple weeks ago, there was a lot of buzz surrounding the “Dear Woman” video — hell, no, I’m not gonna embed it here — in which a bunch of New Age dudes profess their intent to compensate for the historic oppression of women. Melissa Clouthier’s reaction:

My initial response was to laugh so hard I cried. My stomach hurt. . . .
My second response was that they were full of crap. These guys probably have porn stashes that make Larry Flynt blush. Why do I say that? Because when someone has to tell me how much he thinks/feels/believes something instead of live his beliefs, I’m suspect. Ever been told by someone, “you can trust me”? Do you trust them now?

Bingo. This should be every woman’s basic street-smart hunch about guys who make a big show of their sensitivity: “What’s his angle? What’s in it for him?”

In general, women can’t go wrong by operating on the assumption that all guys are always on the make, but you should be especially suspicious of any dude who ostentatiously presents himself as a White Knight of impeccable nobility. I’m not saying that there are no White Knights out there, but when a guy starts parading his moral rectitude — “Admire me! I’m virtuous!” — it should automatically trigger your bullshit detector.

Two words: John Edwards.

What is so stunningly wrong-headed about the “Dear Woman” approach is its social-justice sensibility, which replaces individual responsibility with collective guilt — a mentality that Thomas Sowell critically examined in The Quest for Cosmic Justice.  Read more

Category: Feminism, Melissa Clouthier

SCOTUS To Decide To Hear VA ObamaCare Suit Today?

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 4 Comments

by Smitty (h/t Theo Spark)

Read the whole thing at the American Spectator:

. . .occasionally the justices receive a “petition for certiorari before judgment” asking them to consider the decision of some District Court before it has been reviewed by a Court of Appeals. Friday’s conference schedule includes consideration of one such petition, filed pursuant to Commonwealth of Virginia v. Sebelius.
The Virginia case was, of course, the first legal challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in which the Department of Justice (DOJ) received a major defeat.

This is the next step in this Big Effing Deal moving though the public digestive system, so that its true aroma and nature can stand fully revealed.

In response to Cuccinelli’s petition, the DOJ filed a brief in opposition claiming that Virginia had provided no good reason for “short-circuiting” the appellate process. The Court does, of course, have practical and philosophical reasons not to meddle with the normal appeals process, but its procedural rules allow it to do so if a case is of “imperative public importance.” Ironically, the DOJ’s brief actually concedes that the constitutionality of the individual mandate “is undoubtedly an issue of great public importance.”

The good reason, of course, is that there is a sizable price tag for the steamer known as ObamaCare.
This is just another brick in the wall of reasons why Eric Holder should be fired and relegated to the graveyard shift at some convenience store, where the workload may be commensurate with his abilities.

Category: Eric Holder, Health Care

How Ladd Ehlinger Went Viral And Flu Around The World

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

by Smitty

Never mind my sorry pun fetish, read Ladd’s play-by-play in full. A wee cough:

In space, no one can hear you scream. On youTube, no one HAS to watch your video and no one WILL unless you do something interesting.
If, on the other hand, you’re an obscure politician in Alabama running for an obscure office like Agriculture Commissioner, and you make a campaign ad that got 500k views in the same amount of time as Romney’s 93k, (and is now up to 2.3 million), and you didn’t spend a red cent on online advertising…

… well then, you did make a viral video.
I suppose the main take-away is this: in order to be classified as viral, a video must grab “lots” of views, and “lots” means “more than others in its genre.” It’s all about in comparison to. I mean really, who gives a flip in Canada about the Alabama Agriculture Commissioner? Nobody. Yet it was Number 1 Most Viewed in Canada. Belgium and Italy, too. Yes, I said Belgium.

Not only do you get a director’s insight, you get to watch him throw a Mitt Romney clip under the bus, then offer five sound points for getting it done.

I, for one, look forward to his MRSA-less onslaught next year. Wait, Stacy: put the pipe wrench down!

Update: linked at Protein Wisdom!

Category: Election 2012, Ladd Ehlinger, Video

‘Avenge the Patriotic Gore That Flecked the Streets of Baltimore’

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 5 Comments

The state song, “Maryland, My Maryland” (sung to the tune of “O Tannenbaum”) is actually a pro-Confederate anthem written in 1861. The “patriotic gore” was shed by 12 secessionist civilians shot dead by Union troops in Baltimore on April 19 of that year. And as for the song’s lyrics in the ninth verse — “Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!” — well, not so much, when it comes to commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Baltimore riot:

I’ve heard that Confederate reenactors and the Maryland Division of the SCV’s color guard were denied participation in the event, based on historical accuracy guidelines. The Division color guard of the SCV regularly participates in the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. with no issues.
Delving farther into the “historical accuracy” guidelines, I’ve heard numerous facts that show that [Baltimore Office of Promotions and Arts] Director of Special Events Shelia Goodwin really has no consistency in any of the policies or enforcement of them. . . .
The Federal City Brass Band will be portraying the 6th Massachusetts Band during this procession even though the 6th Massachusetts didn’t even have instruments when they entered Baltimore on April 19, 1861. The Federal City Brass Band is rumored to be one of the parties behind the exclusion of the SCV or Confederate reenactors.

More at Inside Charm City.

Category: History, Maryland

LIVE AT FIVE – 04.15.11

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 1 Comment

TOP NEWS
Congress Finally Passes 2011 Budget

Speaker of the House John Boehner

Most GOP freshmen in House support budget

 

Allies Vow To Push Libya  Until Gaddafi Resigns
The bombings will continue until morale collapses

 

US Accuses Iran of Involvement In Suppressing Syrian Protests
Crowd-control weapons, new media suppression techniques provided by Iran to its ally

 

POLITICS
Detroit Schools Send Layoff Notices To All Teachers

A child colors a Chinese mask in a Detroit elementary school

250 administrators also receiving notices

Delaware Same-Sex Civil Union Bill Heads For Governor’s Desk

Hearings Examine Mixups At Arlington National Cemetery

Abortion Battles Rage In States

Obama Starts 2012 Fundraising Among Earliest Investors

World’s Oldest Man Dies In Montana, Aged 114

 

THE ECONOMY, STUPID
PRC Growth Sizzles As Inflation Bubbles
Investors Bid Up IPOs Despite Lack Of Profits
Dow, S&P, NASDAQ Futures All Slide On Jobs, Producer Price News
World Bank Chief: Food Prices In “Danger Zone”
Gold Surges To Record As Inflation Stokes Demand
Cost Surge Under News CEO Unnerves Street
Intel Pushes Android Plans
FBI Busts Coreflood Botnet

 

SPORTS
Habs, Bruins Continue Bitter Rivalry In Playoffs

Canadiens goalie Carey Price grapples with Bruins goalie Tim Thomas

Canadiens start strong with 2-0 shutout of Boston

Joe Mauer To DL With Leg Weakness

Lakers’ Bynum Questionable For Playoffs?

Birds Fall To Swisher Sac Fly In 10th

Danica Patrick Takes Balancing Act To Long Beach Grand Prix

Rain Lets Up Just Enough For Royals To Beat Mariners 5-1

Gordon Won’t Share Radio With Rivals At Talladega

 

FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Warner Brothers Lawyers Nix Sheen’s Return To “Two And a Half Men”

“]”]”

insert TV show-related cocaine joke here

“…there have been no discussions, there are no discussions, and there will be no discussions…”

 

 

 

The X-Girl

ABC Axes “All My Children”, “One Life To Live”

How Kimora Lee Lost 25 Pounds

Zsa Zsa Gabor Could Be A Mom Again At 94

“Teem Mom” Star Pleads Guilty To Drug Paraphernalia Charge

Jelly Bean Resembling Kate Middleton To Fetch Over $800

Playtone Setting Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” For HBO Series

Author Bret Easton Ellis Compares “Glee” To “Puddle Of HIV”

Lindsay Lohan: “Gottis Are My Old Pals”

 

FOREIGNERS
Syria’s Assad Seeks To Curb Prayer Protests
US Calls For Release Of Citizen Held By Norks
Who Gains From UK Business Secretary’s Immigration Outburst?
Jewish Groups Mobilize Against Palestinian Unilateralism
Senior Ruling Party Official Backs Putin To Reclaim Presidency
PRC Puts Brakes On High-Speed Trains

 

BLOGS & STUFF
That Mr G Guy’s Blog: Ex-MSNBC “Journalist” Steps On His Own Crank
Cubachi: Bill De-funding Planned Parenthood Fails In Senate
Weasel Zippers: Union Bosses Rip Obama, Harry Reid – “We’re Being Screwed By Democrats”
Fausta: Bill Clinton Remembers Those Romantic Times Square Hookers
Jawa Report: Rep. King’s Threatener “Jameela” Outed
Yid With Lid: Joy Behar – Absolute Proof That You Can’t Fix Stupid
Donald Luskin: Remembering The Real Ayn Rand
Ed Morrissey: Obama Not Getting Rave Reviews From Left Or Center After Speech, Either

— compiled by Wombat-socho

Category: Live at Five

Sheen: My Show Is So Outstanding, I Should Totally Be President

Posted on | April 14, 2011 | 6 Comments

by Smitty

The headline is a complete fabrication. However, there is time for us all to chip in and send the POTUS to Toronto to catch Sheen’s act. As I doubt there is going to be any political will to impeach BHO, irrespective of what he does in the next 18 months, the least the POTUS could do is try to buff up his material with some of Sheen’s riffs, and present something more entertaining. It’s obvious that notions of leadership and substance are clearly beyond the gentleman.

Perhaps Biden was an attempt at a Sheen figure in the administration, but proved too old, too Mel Brooks for the task.

Maybe Sheen could be bailed out and brought on as the Jester Czar. It would be a fitting tribute to the decadence and corruption that is the Progressive State of America.

Category: Celebrities

Boehner’s Bargain Approved 260-167; 59 Republicans Vote ‘No,’ 81 Dems Vote ‘Yes’

Posted on | April 14, 2011 | 12 Comments

Reported by Robert Costa at National Review, noting that Michelle Bachmann, Mike Pence and Allen West were among the Republican “no” votes, while the Democrats voting “yes” included Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Y’know, I think that pretty much settles the argument of whether this was a good deal from the conservative perspective.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz voted for it, OK? I rest my case.

More at The Hill and the Washington Post, via Memeorandum.

UPDATE: Allahpundit notes that the 59 Republican “no” votes would have been enough to kill the bill without Democrats voting “yes” and asks:

Were they afraid Obama would look bad if they torpedoed a deal he signed off on? Or are there still enough Democrats left in purplish districts that they wanted to bank some budget-cutting cred ahead of next year’s elections?

UPDATE II: Jim Antle at The American Spectator goes over the list of 59 Republican “no” votes and notes that (a) only 27 of 87 GOP freshmen voted “no”; and (b) five of the GOP “no” votes are members of the Appropriations Committee. Looking at the list, I’m happy to see the names of Chip Cravaack and Morgan Griffith, both of whom this blog promoted during the 2010 campaign, plus Thad McCotter (perhaps Smitty’s favorite congressman), and my own Maryland Rep. Roscoe Bartlett.

Category: Budget
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