Caution for the New Year

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by Smitty (h/t House of Eratosthenes)

Morgan points us to the Latin expression MURUM ARIES ATTIGIT, “The (battering) ram has touched the wall”.

Follow the HoE link to get to one of those bits of legal correspondence that occurs when the Big Guy apparently overplays the hand and the Little Guy comes on with all the subtlety of a freight train.

More generally, Americans need to realize that the Progressive ram has touched the Constitutional wall. Sure, there is plenty of room for opinions to differ, and we should not waste time bickering and arguing over whose stylistic point killed who. However, where matters of substance are concerned, we can’t give an inch, and need to hammer the inferior ideas of the Socialists at every turn.

Don’t kid yourself. The Left will happily concede point after point in order keep that battering ram on task. Time is on the side of decay. All they have to do is packetize the decline and insert it incrementally, via that ram.

It’s time for some Churchill:

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender…

MURUMNE ARIES ATTIGIT, to make the phrase a question. “Bring it on” should be our response.

State Employee Faces Discipline for Looking at Porn Insulting Obama at Work

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Stereotypes are harmful and one would be promoting a sexist stereotype to say that women have a habit of forwarding “cute” e-mails, no matter how many times your mother-in-law does it. However, not all junk-mail is created equal:

DENVER, Colo. – A Colorado Department of Transportation employee could face discipline for forwarding an email with a photo depicting President Barack Obama shining the shoes of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
The 73-year-old woman, whose name was not released, forwarded the email to at least four co-workers, among other people, on Dec. 22 using her state email account. At least one recipient complained.
The person who originally sent the e-mail, who isn’t a state employee, wrote “It appears he (Obama) has found his niche.”

See, that’s just wrong. Maybe that photo is funny to 73-year-old women, but the rest of us? Blehh. If we’re going to get fired from our jobs for looking at pictures that depict people in insultingly demeaning roles, we’re going to get our money’s worth. Colorado state employees, consider yourself warned that you may be fired for looking at the offensive, degrading stereotype depicted below if you click “Read more.”
Continue reading State Employee Faces Discipline for Looking at Porn Insulting Obama at Work →

Because We’re Cool

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The new blog was announced via Twitter and Facebook.

Smitty is also on Twitter, although his Facebook identity is a closely guarded secret. If you knew his Facebook page, he’d have to kill you.

Smitty got an Instalanche on his second post at the old site, so I’m thinking he should be assigned the task of getting a re-Tweet from Alyssa Milano. Because he’s cool.

UPDATE: OK, how cool are we?  I was reading William Jacobson’s Legal Insurrection, who points out that he’s ranked #39 for U.S. Politics at Technorati.  Higher than our ranking of #56, but we’re still four spots higher than WhiteHouse.gov.

Welcome to the New WordPress
Version of The Other McCain

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After 22 months — and more than 3 million hits — on a Blogspot platform, we are now about seven hours from going live at our new WordPress home. It will take a while to get everything (e.g., the blogroll) moved over from the old site, and we’ll be tinkering with the design over the next couple of weeks, but from now on, this is where we will be blogging.

Festivities will ensue at midnight, Jan. 1, 2010. Photo of the first super-hot Rule 5 babe at the new WordPress site — and other important news — below the fold (click where it says “read more”).
Continue reading Welcome to the New WordPress
Version of The Other McCain →

Czar d’Oz Episode X: Dénouement

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by Smitty

Start with the Czar d’Oz Announcement

Synopsis: In the year 2112, the characters retreated to a basement shelter to weather a monster tornado. Making an early trip to the local seat of government, they uncovered information pertaining to an experimental time machine located in Seattle. Making good their escape in the experimental TOTO vehicle, they have made it to the territory of the Southwest Czar. They’ve survived an encounter with two surreal characters en route Las Vegas. In Vegas they form an alliance with Jefe, the Southwest Czar, to take a short cut to the Emerald City. The trip lands them in Vancouver, Washington, slightly South of the destination. Driving North, they are greeted at the edge of Seattle with a large explosion. Saving the life of Czar d’Oz, they were given the keys to the kingdom, which they turned to their advantage.

[2121. Pike Place Market, in Seattle. A round table across the street from the original Starbucks, which forms the background. Summer. A player on ukelele is off to stage left.]

“America’s my girl…”

Peter: We don’t get together enough anymore. How are you guys doing?

Martin: Can’t complain.

Zeda: Things just couldn’t be better.

Julius: I’ve got something to go on about it, but let’s hear from you all first. Peter: how is the election forecast? I heard our Vortex might lose some clout.

Peter: Oh, the usual. Only the candidate with the name ‘Obama’ seems to have any national credibility. The alternative parties seem to be a bunch of morons, overt criminals, or knuckle-dragging historical throwbacks, as always. The irony is that, for all the Obamas and the Czarocracy have held power all this time, those opposing ne’er-do-wells still manage to foil the best-planned lays of mighty mice and socialist men.
The Obama strategy seems to be (a) Fear the Army of Strawmen, and (b) re-conquer them every election. We’ve got a few new ploys to make the Flyover Czar and the Northeast Czar look more stupid than usual. And we just broke up another plot to infiltrate the social networking system, like those two Czars did last mid-term.

Julius: Yeah, but the legerdemain is so much more tolerable if you just join the Vortex and participate therein, as we’ve discovered, haven’t we?

Martin: Yep. [Flexing limbs.] Got an iron fist on the supply chain. Staying in spare parts is a breeze. It’s tedious, though. I keep having to explain ‘fair’ for the new meat. After a while, they figure out ‘fair’ is whatever works for me. They quit asking. Then they start working to arrange stuff. They figure out ‘fair’ can support them, too. Just as long as it supports me in the end. The chain of command is a beautiful thing. Once everyone is onboard. Eternals are Eternals, Brutals are Brutals. You try to leave the routes open for them to move up. Like we did. But mostly the Brutals are content.

Julius: Sweet, sweet patronage. It’s what made Rome great, and it’s the glue holding America together. Zeda: how is the acting career going?

Zeda: I’m enjoying it. Getting the scripts past the censors is tough sometimes–

Peter: Sorry to hear that. Are any of them getting too uppity? I can have them re-assigned to voter registration or some other task that will have them dealing with Brutals. That usually helps them be less full of themselves.

Of course, you do understand the need to keep the Brutals pacified, don’t you? It’s a delicate balance, making sure we hold what we’ve got. The less clever must be trained to buy into the various “justice” and “rights” myths that we perpetuate, while that entitlement choke-chain stays just loose enough.

Zeda: Yeah, sometimes I want to just do a classic work, like an Oedipus Rex or a Waiting for Godot without having it turned into a variation on the theme of “Beelze-Bush the Anti-Obama”, or “opposing the Obamas is racism”, or “America the guilty-ful”.

Peter: Is there still room for artistic expression while remaining loyal to the group of 17 Eternal Czars?

Zeda: Oh, sure. Let’s not look the gift whores in the mouths. Things could be so much worse. I’m just wondering if things couldn’t be better if the outcome of all the novels and movies wasn’t always predictable.

“…but she has lost her way…”
Julius: An interesting thought. What I wanted to tell you guys about is a cache of history books I found at a dacha in the Cascades. No more detail than that, lest there be repreisals against the original owner. Which should clue you that I’m only telling you this in the strictest confidence–we could lose everything if word gets out.

The thing is that American history is like a parabola. Freedom increased from the Revolutionary War to the Federal Reserve Act. By then, the US government had diminshed the power of the 50 States via income tax and direct election of Senators. Once they had their own bankers, the American aristocracy could germinate. It rose like bread on a yeast of debt and globalization.
The Tea Party movement of the first Obama administration was the last gasp of the original, independent American spirit. However, the neo-aristocrats had such a grip on the media that no amount of exposed scandal could shake their grip.

Too, the knowledge that the amount of debt was so staggering, the pain of facing the decades of systematic larceny, made the glib words and cheap assignments of blame very easy to accept.
Like Israelites in a desert of debt without a Moses, it was easy for the American people to reject freedom, to scuttle the rigors of preparing for a promised land, and to return to the predictable comfort and occasional whip of their overlord of old.

So that parabola of freedom peaked about 100 years ago. We came here from Topeka those years ago to try to escape this modern American debt slavery. The cache of books I found has writings from as late as 20 years ago discussing the efforts around the country to build a network of people dedicated to the spirit of the Founding Fathers, not the neo-aristocratic people who followed them. Are you interested in taking on some risk? Some adventure? Some action to resurrect the ideals upon which this country was founded, not this horrible, decadent Vortex of progressivism?
Peter: I’ve always felt that change must occur within the system through evolution, not revolution.
Martin: My oath is to support and defend the Constitution. That has been amended to include all of the writings and speeches of Barack Hussein Obama. Maybe you can show that the whole thing isn’t working. But I doubt it.

Zeda: Look. I’ve made it big. I don’t feel that guilty about it. And if I do feel guilty, I do an ad supporting the Obamas.

Julius: It was an idea. As adventurous as our road trip in TOTO those years ago. Forget I said anything. Are we allowed to ask how things worked out between you and Barry Cuda?
Zeda: No, but obviously you want more than that. Let’s say that he was a slow thinker, in terms of that old lyric by that forgotten local band Heart: “If the real thing don’t do the trick / You better think of something quick.” Politicians: can’t live *with* them, and the more kinetic alternatives will land you in jail.

“…so hear me now lament.”

[The ukelele player at stage left picks up a lilting, sad little waltz tune and croons:]

America’s my girl,
  but she has lost her way,
    so hear me now lament.

She only wants to play,
  to primp and toss and twirl,
    though all the cash is spent.

For all the wise would say,
  “You’ve got to pay the rent,
    before the hair you curl,”

To slavery she’s bent,
  on sugar daddy day,
    though he be a squirrel.

That foolish element,
  the pig’s snout with a pearl,
    still prattles on so gay.

What if she gave a whirl,
  and tried to leave a dent,
    by offering a NAY?

Let freedom’s flag unfurl,
  facing fascist flambé,
    becoming confident.

Announcement
Prev:IX. Lab

Copyright 2009, Christopher L. Smith

Czar d’Oz Episode IX: Lab

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by Smitty

Synopsis: In the year 2112, the characters retreated to a basement shelter to weather a monster tornado. Making an early trip to the local seat of government, they uncovered information pertaining to an experimental time machine located in Seattle. Making good their escape in the experimental TOTO vehicle, they have made it to the territory of the Southwest Czar. They’ve survived an encounter with two surreal characters en route Las Vegas. In Vegas they form an alliance with Jefe, the Southwest Czar, to take a short cut to the Emerald City. The trip lands them in Vancouver, Washington, slightly South of the destination. Driving North, they are greeted at the edge of Seattle with a large explosion. Saving the life of Czar d’Oz, they are given the keys to the kingdom, which they turn to their advantage.

“…you’re more resourceful…”

[A lab scene. A control console with lots of panels at stage left, a raised dias with four pointy gadgets at stage right. Big power panel at stage rear.]

Peter: This lab looks really clean.

Julius: I should hope so. The last experiment was just a few weeks back. It’s the new quarter, and, as you might know, there is always a thumb-wrestling match getting all the funds to trickle down from the Treasury to fund the next go-round.

Martin: Is there a lightoff procedure?

Zeda: That would appear to be this. [Pulls out a fat binder from between the display panels at stage left.] Shall we?

Martin: Sure.

Zeda: Ok. Energize all power panels.

Martin: Ok. [He begins energizing breakers. A hum arizes.]

Zeda: Boot control software server.

Julius: That would be this box here. [Reaches under the panel to turn on a CPU box.]

Peter: Ah, Windows XXXVII. Some parasites manage to keep the host alive. We’re fully booted, Zeda.

Zeda: Indeed. Run the calibration routine.

Peter: Calibrating.

Zeda: Now, we’re agreed that we’re escaping to Spring 2008, where we can warn the people that electing a Marxist-in-Centrist clothing is suicide?

Julius: It’s already too late at that point. You’re only popping a zit, not tackling the acne. We could also consider 1908, and warn the people that the Progressive movement threatens the complexion of American politics, and sets the stage for authoritarian pimples.

Martin: But that’s before the electric guitar. Can we make multiple trips?

Peter: Absolutely no idea, but probably not. Ok, the calibration is complete. Everyone has their toothbrushes and valuables? We should assemble on the dias.

[They do.]

Peter: Right. We have a three minute timer, starting…NOW. [He walks from the control panel, across the stage, to join the rest. The timer on the big screen rolls ahead to the final ten seconds.]

(together): 9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…?

Peter: Oh, for crying out loud. I followed the procuedure.

“…than I thought,”
[Enter Czar d’Oz, stage left.]

Czar d’Oz: Yes, Peter, the system worked exactly according to design.

Martin: Nothing happened.

Czar d’Oz: Oh, much has happened in the decades this project has run. Look at this equipment. Look at these buildings. Look at the budget, man. From a bureaucratic perspective, this project is a smashing success.

Julius: But that is a pure fraud!

Czar d’Oz: Fraud, shmaud. All the regional Czars have these pet projects, from warp drive to genetic editing, to artificial intelligence. They’re the prime conduit for R&D earmark cash. None of them work, or will work. But we play our game, we do our dance, we take our cash, and then we spend it on more traditional prostitutes.

Peter: The dishonesty shown to the citizens is astonishing.

Czar d’Oz: Look, if everyone is a liar, then no one is. The only problem with the patronage system arises when somebody fails to understand the dichotomy between the written Constitution of the United States and the reality that there hasn’t been a legitimate election in decades. This triggers outbursts of whining among youthful idealists.

Zeda: This country has been turned into a third-world hell.

Czar d’Oz: It’s the triumph of capitalism. Everything is for sale, including the government. The question is not “should there be business”. Rather, it is “should there be more than one real business.” The answer, for the last century, has been “NO”. Appearances are maintained, celebrated even. The election this November promises to be an outpouring of patriotic fervor unmatched by any previous one. The fact that none of the candidates or the legislation actually matter isn’t something that will trouble the Brutals, who shall go on being fed, and receiving medical management until their utility to the Vortex expires.

“…to have escaped that trap.”
[Enter a man on crutches, stage right. Barry Cuda, a.k.a. Captain Jacob Kleindrubble, a.k.a Raina Petkoff]

Cuda: I’ve found you, you bastard.

Czar d’Oz: Well, you’re more resourceful than I thought, to have escaped that trap.

Cuda: Your other sons are foppish nitwits. Why don’t you just recognize me?

Czar d’Oz: You’re an incompetent gambler and a double agent for my foe, Czar Jefe. Admittedly, these are as much features as bugs, but I don’t trust you.

Cuda: You’ve brought in four people from absolutely nowhere and given them massive responsibility!

Czar d’Oz: Oh, come on. These people have no real clout. The easiest way to figure out what they were doing was to appear to give them free reign. It turned out all they wanted was to see the time machine hoax.

I’ll tell you what: come back tomorrow with a fresh attitude, and we’ll see if you can find some means of regaining my good graces. Come up with a plan. Have it involve guiding the course of the elections this November. Let’s increase the family power, shall we? That’s the only thing we live for, you know: the power.

[Addressing the four]

So, there’s the rub. This country has opted for increasingly centralized control for the last two centuries. It didn’t happen over night. Creating the Vortex was a slow project, brought in incrementally for a sleeping, Brutal populace. They could have paid attention, and did not. Blame the victim? Damn right I do.

Your quest, like elections for the last century in this country, was a sham. But at least I got that TOTO car out of it.

Announcement
Prev:VIII. Seattle
Next:X. Dénouement

Copyright 2009, Christopher L. Smith