Try Beginning with Reason...

AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADU, THE WORST OF SLINGSHIZZLE:

First, I completely agree with the author of My 2 Cents that we will not have the 44th President this year. We will all have to wait until January 20, 2005 for the 44th President to be inaugurated. We'll have to roll out several Kegs of Glory for that Thursday night...

Second, WHAT THE F***! I see that My 2 Cents decided to ignore my advice and make up his own thinking about the Supreme Court case Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union, 03-218. At this time, I would like to repeat what I wrote yesterday:

As I've encouraged everyone in the past, I encourage everyone to read the decision and opinions before taking sides on the issue. You can read the opinions here: Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union, 03-218

If the author of My 2 Cents had read any of the opinions, either majority or dissenting, of the Court, or had read ANY news coverage of the ruling, I would think he could grasp the issue. Not so.

Here is what My 2 Cents wrote about yesterday's ruling:

Let me address the topic of the Supreme Court’s ruling today regarding child pornography and the rights of old perverts to *ehm* to kiddie porn...Child pornography is not free speech. Child pornography is SICK AND WRONG – and to top it off is that THE ACLU SUPPORTS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. THIS ORGNIZATION IS HORRIBLE! WHAT KIND OF SICK PERVERT DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GET YOUR JOLLIES OFF FROM LOOKING AT NAKED EIGHT YEAR OLD KIDS???

Let's examine that statement, shall we? According to My 2 Cents, the Court's ruling was regarding "child pornography and the rights of old perverts to *ehm* to kiddie porn." Huh...that's interesting. According to the "fair and balanced" coverage of the Fox News Channel:

The law (the Child Online Protection Act), which never took effect, would have authorized fines up to $50,000 for the crime of placing material that is “harmful to minors” within the easy reach of children on the Internet.

The law also would have required adults to use access codes and or other ways of registering before they could see objectionable material online.

Strange. Either My 2 Cents stuck his foot in his mouth by yelling about something that wasn't at issue without an ounce of thought or research, or the Supreme Court of the United States of America stuck its foot in its mouth by rulling about what was at issue with great thought and research. I wonder which is more likely...

And the Cu de Graz of the My 2 Cents argument:

To add to the stack of s**t that Bader-Ginsberg and her minions put out today, the five Justices in the majority said it “probably” violated the First Amendment. Not “it does” violate the First Amendment, “probably”. At least when a conservative does or says something we make sure that we are solid in our stance. We don’t use “probably” when justifying our positions. (Yes, I admit I have used the term “speculated fact”, but that is beside the point.)

Here is a summary of what is inaccurate, inconsistent, bizarre or plain bull s**t about the preceding statement:

•Associate Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg was not the author of the majority opinion, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy was.

•The reason the majority ruled the Child Online Protection Act "probably" violated free speech was that is sent the case and act back to a lower court to give the Bush administration an opportunity, in a trial, to show how it doesn't violate the First Amendment.

•Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was a member of the majority. Are you telling me that Justice Thomas is a liberal and is fluid in his stance on pornography?

•If your use of "speculated facts" are beside the point, why include them in your argument? I assumed one would learn that in COMM 101.

To top off his argument, the author of My 2 Cents believes that I am a pessimist, I hate America, I wish Saddam Hussein was still in power, I wish America never went to war and at the same time, wish America hadn't handed "sovereignty" to the Iraqis and that I wish to give Osama bin Laden the Medal of Honor. (I believe 3/4ths of those statements - don't ask or assume which ones - just kidding).

Finally, how would the Child Online Protection Act stop "allowing kiddie porn to be sold on every street corner?" I think I need an extra dose of conservative "common sense" to understand that because as a liberal it makes no f***ing sense to me...

THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST OF SLINGSHIZZLE

Ashcroft v. ACLU, 03-218

I'm going to wait until My 2 Cents goes ballistic over the ACLU's First Amendment win in the U.S. Supreme Court today before I take on this issue. The Court ruled the "Child Online Protection Act" probably violates the freedom of speech as provided in the First Amendment.

As I've encouraged everyone in the past, I encourage everyone to read the decision and opinions before taking sides on the issue. You can read opinions here: Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union, 03-218

Although I know My 2 Cents will probably get his opinion on this issue from Drudge and/or Hannity, I hope he will at least skim the Court's actual information before he wails at the top of his lungs, "THE ACLU IS PROTECTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHERS!"

Drinking from the Keg of Glory

Yeah, ok, the problem with drinking from the keg of glory is that you have to face the hangover when it comes and kicks you in the ass. I truly hope someone will be there to help the author of My 2 Cents keep a bucket under his head when he has to eat his words and face the upcoming hangover.

First, President Bush, touting his 41% approval rating, is going to "wipe the floor" with Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry? Time to add a notch to the post of common sense.

So, everything in Iraq is "going exactly as planned." Huh, that's interesting. How do you explain the unplanned and surprising turnover of "sovereignty" two days early?

So, "the Iraqis are finally free." I guess that's an accurate statement if you believe the definition of free is as follows:

FREE: n : living under a puppet government installed by a foreign nation with no means to protect its security and national integrity except for the foreign armies occupying its territory with less religious choice and opportunity and more violence, division and terrorism.

To quote President Bush, "Let Freedom Reign!" Not to worry, My 2 Cents says our standing armies in Iraq aren’t an "occupying force." If not an occupying force, what, may I ask, is our military's designation in Iraq? "Peacekeepers," "Police," "Freedom Dudes?"

Now wait a second...the Iraqi sovereignty is in my face (I assume My 2 Cents is categorizing me as an "anti-war hippie")? That makes no sense, even from a "common sense" standpoint. We (liberals) have always advocated Iraqi control of Iraq.

And now, for the most amazingly awful statement ever said in the name of "freedom:"

"I can't wait until some of these Iraqi insurgents are captured by the new Iraqi government. You thought Abu Grhab was bad??? Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet. Remember that the new Iraqi government isn't bound by the Geneva Conventions."

Add one more notch to the post of common sense. The prison is actually spelled "Abu Garaib" (although President Bush called it "Abu Garef situation"). I don't have enough energy to point out all that is wrong and evil about that statement. I'll just say, in a way common sense conservatives can understand, that the statement is wrong and evil.

Let us all welcome the sovereign nation of Iraq, our "PARTNERS IN PEACE" and new beer buddies at the "KEG OF GLORY."

Schoolin' is Important?

My home school district, the Meridian (Joint #2) School District, announced deep cuts for next year's fiscal year to overcome more than $3.6 million in shortfalls. Here's what the proposed budget includes:

•teacher contracts will be cut by two days
•students will pay $50 each to participate in extracurricular activities
•some positions — counselors, library aides and classroom aides — will be "reduced"

The school district sure picked some good ways to save money....

Who needs teachers to work a full year? Those stinking teachers already get paid more than enough.

Why should students be involved in extracurricular activities? Those waste money and don't offer kids anything productive. It's not like extracurricular activities offer self-esteem, confidence, leadership, responsibility, respect or provide an alternative to drugs, sex and rock and roll.

Why should we keep counselors, library aides and classroom aides? f teachers can't handle 40-50 student classes with two fewer days and no aide they should be in prison. What could students possibly need counselors for? It's not like students are faced with issues like divorce, sex, peer pressure, college anxiety, academic problems drugs or relationship issues.

For all the problems with the proposed budget, I don't blame the Meridian School District. The blame lies solidly and properly with one group of illustrious individuals:

IDAHO LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS

How can a school district, especially the Meridian School District (which is the largest and has grown the fastest in Idaho), expect to deal with providing a good education for a growing population with the same amount of money?

I'm so glad the Idaho Legislature has lived up to it's charge in Article IX, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution:

SECTION 1. LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM OF FREE SCHOOLS. The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.

Gotta love the "common sense over book learnin'" belief of Idaho Republicans...

PeTA

Uh oh. The day the author of My 2 Cents has feared has finally come. No, it's not the rapture (although My 2 Cents must think it's coming).

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 today that both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seized as potential terrorists of "enemy combatants" can challenge their treatment and imprisonment in U.S. courts.

That's right boys and girls, the "animals" held at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay can have their day in court. Get ready for the end of a free society...

Writing the majority opinion of the Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote: the Court has "made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens."

Here is the official opinion:

JUSTICE O’CONNOR, joined by THE CHIEF JUSTICE, JUSTICE KENNEDY, and JUSTICE BREYER, concluded that although Congress authorized the detention of combatants in the narrow circumstances alleged in this case, due process demands that a citizen held in the United States as an enemy combatant be given a meaningful opportunity to contest the factual basis for that detention before a neutral decisionmaker.

JUSTICE SOUTER, joined by JUSTICE GINSBURG, concluded that Hamdi’s detention is unauthorized, but joined with the plurality to conclude that on remand Hamdi should have a meaningful opportunity to offer evidence that he is not an enemy combatant.

O’CONNOR, J., announced the judgment of the Court and delivered an opinion, in which REHNQUIST, C. J., and KENNEDY and BREYER, JJ., joined. SOUTER, J., filed an opinion concurring in part, dissenting in part, and concurring in the judgment, in which GINSBURG, J., joined. SCALIA, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which STEVENS, J., joined. THOMAS, J., filed a dissenting opinion.

You can read the complete opinion, including the dissenting opinion of and a amazingly accurate opinion written by Justices Souter and Ginsburg that is "concurring in part, dissenting in part, and concurring in the judgment" here.

Who knew that when the founding fathers wrote "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" in the 5th Amendment that they actually meant it. I learn something new every day.

The "New" Iraq

So, apparently, this is how you give a "new" nation and government legitimacy:

YOU SUPRISE THEM WITH IT

The United States surprised the world by jumping the June 30 date and prematurely ejaculating sovereignty onto the Iraqis, then telling them about it after it was over. I'm glad it's out of our hands, but I'm disappointed that even more Americans will die for this Charlie Foxtrot of a war.

May the Iraqi people enjoy what little liberty they may get (martial law is likely to be issued). May the Iraqi people enjoy the "proper" way of life under their new flag, which accurately identifies the proper priorities for a new nation:

[expletive deleted]

Life's tough when you set the example to millions of gullible children. Vice President Dick was involved with a swearing today. No, it wasn't this sort of swearing:

It was the sort of swearing that is written with asterisk and pound signs. During a photo op with members of the U.S. Senate, on the senate floor, the Vice President responded to criticism Senator Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) has been giving him with a simple, concise and 9th-grade comeback:

F*** You!

Of course, that's not what the Vice President "really" said. Kevin Kellems, a spokesman for the Vice President, said, "That doesn't sound like the kind of language that the Vice President would use, but I can confirm that there was a frank exchange of views."

I'm so relived that in this day and age, with partisanship and divisiveness and high levels, two high-ranking members of the United States government with differing views can have a "frank exchange of views." God Bless America!

Compassion Strikes Again

The Senate Judiciary Committee had a hearing about the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution today. If you don't know what the amendment says, here it is:

Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

This amendment has been publicly and repeatedly supported by President Bush, as part of his compassionate conservative platform.

Also part of his compassionate platform, President Bush's refusal to proclaim June "National Gay Pride Month" and his administration's decision to remove sexual orientation from workplace discrimination statutes. The federal government can now fire someone simply for being a homosexual.

I'm confident that if Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was not ratified, President Bush, as part of his compassionate conservative platform, would wholeheartedly support the following part of Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution:

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

So, Fahrenheit 9/11 is keeping it's "R" rating. I'm fine with it.

Bowling for Columbine was also rated "R" and from what I hear and read, Fahrenheit 9/11 has some pretty graphic images in it. Again, I'm fine with it.

I believe everyone should go see this movie, even it you think you will disagree with what Michael Moore has to say. Why you ask? Because America is strengthened when people disagree, listen to arguments they hate, and openly discuss them. Absolutely nothing is gained by silence. Nothing is gained by disengagement. Nothing is gained by isolation.

For more information, you can check out the Fahrenheit 9/11 website here:

Time to Update the Statue of Liberty

So, on top of carpet bombing the better part of the planet, the author of My 2 Cents wants to place troops on the border, and after deporting nearly 30 million people, shoot people who try entering the United States.

That's some plan alright. I know it worked wonders for the people of East Berlin:

Let it never be said that conservatives have no good, new ideas...

As infered by this post's title, it is time to update Emma Lazarus's poem on the Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...psych!"

Community of Nations

So, according to the author of My 2 Cents, President Bush should carpet bomb any country that harbors terrorists. Here's a list of nations that do or have harbored terrorists:

Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Aruba; Australia; Austria; Azerbaijan; The Bahamas; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bermuda; Bhutan; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burma; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Cape Verde; Cayman Islands; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Comoros; Democratic Republic of Congo ; Republic of Congo; Costa Rica; Cote d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; East Timor; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kiribati; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Latvia; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macau; Macedonia; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Netherlands; Netherlands Antilles; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russia; Rwanda; Samoa; San Marino; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia and Montenegro; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; Sri Lanka; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Sudan; Suriname; Swaziland; Sweden; Switzerland; Syria; Taiwan; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Tuvalu; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Man, those are a lot of countries. Good thing the cold war gave us the ability to destroy the world eight times over...let us hope and pray we can "lay the hammer down on these animals."

What the F***!

Here's a fun globe you can use to find some of the nations we "pray and hope" to carpet bomb one day:

Rounding up Conservative "Refuse"

Seems the author of My 2 Cents has taken it upon himself to join the "Hannitized" minions of hell.

I know this may be a little too much "book learning" and not enough "common sense" for the conservatives out there, but you can (and should) read the complete Court opinion here.

I hope the author of My 2 Cents read that opinion before announcing his position, but I doubt it. My 2 Cents probably got his information from the Drudge Report and he actually used Sean Hannity as a source.

So, Michael Newdow is a "thoughtless, mean, hateful liberl" (I think you meant "liberal")for wanting to protect his child from what he considered bad? So the conservatives' support of family involvement only applies if you have the same religious convictions as those conservatives...nice.

Sean Hannity seems to be falling into the same trap as President Bush; repeating the same catch phrase over and over. Of Michael Newdow, My 2 Cents quoted Hannity as saying:

"Michael Newdow is a thoughtless, mean, hateful liberal and all liberals should condemn people like him."

To (and about) columnist and political cartoonist Ted Rall, Hannity said:

JUNE 8, 2004: "You are thoughtless, mean, hateful liberal." ... "And all liberals ought to condemn people like you."

MAY 7, 2004: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're a mean, despicable, thoughtless human being. And you're a heartless human being. And you're a lying human being."

So, as a liberal, I ought to condemn people like Ted Rall AND people like Michael Newdow? After all the condemning I've got to do, I don't know if I'll have enough time to eat...no matter, if Sean Hannity and My 2 Cents tell me to do something, I better damn well do it!

God Bless America?

To the author of My 2 Cents:

So let me get this straight...a father has been denied legal protection of and standing with his daughter, and your reaction is to sing "God Bless America"? I know I've used this phrase to death, but WHAT THE F***!

BTW, this is the version of the song I (and my friends) sung in high school and "can reflect the feelings I'm having right now":

God Bless Vespucciland,
Land that I got.
Stand beside it, and guide it
Even though you are going to get shot.
From the gang turf, to the cesspools,
To the oceans, black with oil
God bless Vespucciland, My hut sweet hut.

Compassionate Conservatives Strike Again

So, I was reading the Drudge Report this afternoon...shiver...and saw that the U.S. Senate Republican leadership is planning on a July vote for the constitutional amendment defining marriage. shiver again.

Drudge's source, ROLL CALL, quoted Senator and Republican Conference Chair Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania saying:

"The GOP leaders are not yet prepared to make an official announcement on a specific date, but confirmed that they are scouting for a July vote."

"We are sort of running the traps on this right now, and sort of seeing what kind of response we are getting," Santorum said following Tuesday¹s Republican policy lunch. "We are talking about it. I think there are a couple of meetings to be had yet before any official announcement is made."

This is nothing new for the illustrious senator from Pennsylvania. Last year, Sen. Santorum said in reference to "Lawrence v. Texas," the Supreme Court case about sodomy laws:

"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. All of those things are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family. And that's sort of where we are in today's world, unfortunately. It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn't exist, in my opinion, in the United States Constitution." ....Nice

Everyone needs to write a letter to they're senator urging them to vote in favor of equality, not bigotry. Do your part now so we don't have to repeal this amendment 10 years from now when the evangelicals realize that "God is love."

The Trials and Tribulations of Stem Cells

President Bush's press secretary, the quite sexy Scott McClellan, rebuffed calls by the majority of U.S. Senators and the Reagan family for President Bush to remove the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research he imposed three years ago.

McClellan said flatly, "The policy remains the same, we are looking at other ways to combat disease."

I would like to thank every senator who signed the letter urging the president to change his stance on stem cell research:

Stevens, Ted AK
Lincoln, Blanche L. AR
McCain, John AZ
Boxer, Barbara CA
Feinstein, Dianne CA
Nighthorse Campbell, Ben CO
Dodd, Christopher J. CT
Lieberman, Joseph I. CT
Carper, Thomas R. DE
Biden, Joseph R. DE
Graham, Bob FL
Nelson, Bill FL
Akaka, Daniel K. HI
Inouye, Daniel K. HI
Harkin, Tom IA
Durbin, Richard J. IL
Bayh, Evan IN
Landrieu, Mary LA
Kennedy, Edward M. MA
Kerry, John F. MA
Mikulski, Barbara A. MD
Sarbanes, Paul S. MD
Collins, Susan M. ME
Snowe, Olympia J. ME
Levin, Carl MI
Stabenow, Debbie A. MI
Dayton, Mark MN
Cochran, Thad MS
Lott, Trent MS
Baucus, Max MT
Edwards, John R. NC
Dorgan, Byron L. ND
Corzine, Jon NJ
Lautenberg, Frank R. NJ
Bingaman, Jeff NM
Reid, Harry NV
Clinton, Hillary Rodham NY
Schumer, Charles E. NY
Smith, Gordon OR
Wyden, Ron OR
Specter, Arlen PA
Chafee, Lincoln D. RI
Reed, Jack RI
Hollings, Ernest F. SC
Daschle, Thomas A. SD
Johnson, Tim SD
Alexander, Lamar TN
Hutchison, Kay Bailey TX
Hatch, Orrin G. UT
Warner, John W. VA
Jeffords, James M. VT
Leahy, Patrick J. VT
Cantwell, Maria WA
Murray, Patty WA
Feingold, Russ WI
Kohl, Herbert H. WI
Byrd, Robert C. WV
Rockefeller, John D. IV WV

I am quite pissed that neither Idaho senator is on the list. I hope Senators Craig and Crapo will pull their heads far enough out of President Bush's posterior to do what is right. I plan to write each of them and tell them that. I hope all of you will too.

"President Clinton and Sen. Clinton, welcome home" - G. W. Bush

The Clinton Presidential portraits were unveiled today at the White House. Of President Clinton, President Bush said:

Bill Clinton could always see a better day ahead, and Americans knew he was working hard to bring that day closer. Over eight years, it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy.

Here is President Clinton and Senator Clinton with their respective portraits:

President Clinton said today he hoped to "live long enough to see us return to vigorous debates where we argue who's right and wrong, not who's good and bad."

So do I, Mr. President...So do I.

Idaho GOP Convention: A Retort

The Idaho Republican Party can be summed up in one sentence, actually stated by Bear Lake County convention delegate Clair Cheirrett this weekend:

"It's like wetting your pants in a nice dark suit. It gives you a nice warm feeling but nobody notices."

I'll throw my support behind that position any day of the week!

Flag Day

Happy Flag Day to everyone. Did you know, Flag Day was established by President Truman (a Democrat) on August 3rd, 1949. Can you believe it? A treacherous Democrat signed the act of congress that declared June 14th National Flag Day.

I was interested to see today that the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed case 02-1624, Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow. For those few who do not keep up on judicial case numbering or the Elk Grove Unified School District, this case concerned the language "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. If you've had a pulse in the last two years and are reading this blog, you must know something about the issue.

Anyway, the Court did not take a position on the First Amendment (free religion) implications of any other constitutional issues with their decision. The dismissed the case on grounds that:

Atheist Michael Newdow could not sue to ban the pledge from his daughter’s school and others because he did not have legal authority to speak for her.

Newdow is in a protracted custody fight with the girl’s mother.
He does not have sufficient custody of the child to qualify as her legal representative, the court said. Eight justices voted to reverse a lower court ruling in Newdow’s favor.

Justice Antonin Scalia removed himself from participation in the case, presumably because of remarks he had made that seemed to telegraph his view that the pledge is constitutional.
MSNBC.com

Shocking everyone, "Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote separately to say that the pledge as recited by schoolchildren does not violate the Constitution. Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with him."

I think the Supreme Court ducked the issue today, and for that, I'm disappointed. I am, however, confident that this issue will be brought up again, and I', optimistic about it's outcome.

Now, what you've all been waiting for, some neat Pledge of Allegiance info:

Congress adopted the pledge as a national patriotic tribute in 1942, at the height of World War II. Congress added the phrase “under God” more than a decade later, in 1954, when the world had moved from hot war to cold.

Supporters of the new wording said it would set the United States apart from godless communism.
MSNBC.com

Thank "God" they did. The best way to show our liberty and freedom to a repressed and forced society is to force our citizens to do something repressive. It's called "leading by words, not by actions” and is the American Way.

God Bless America (and the godless communists too).

"Liberal Filth" and "Conservative Refuse"

To the author of My 2 Cents:

Let's compare Hannity and Colmes with NewsNight, shall we?

HANNITY AND COLMES with Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes:

According to it's own website, Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes is a "primetime one-hour debate driven talk show focusing on the controversial issues and newsmakers of the day."

One of the show's co-host, Sean Hannity is "known for his provocative style,... and has appeared on a number of talk shows to offer his free-wheeling, passionate commentary on politics and the American agenda."

Alan Colmes, the other co-host, has "gained a reputation as a hard-hitting liberal known for his electric commentary on the American agenda."

NEWSNIGHT with Aaron Brown:

CNN's NewsNight is a "live global news broadcast seen in the United States and around the world."

It's host, Aaron Brown, "with more than a quarter century of journalism experience to draw from, is CNN's lead anchor during breaking news and special events."

Ok, what does that tell us? It tells us that Aaron Brown is a journalist, whereas Hannity and Colmes are commentators. There is nothing wrong with commentators, but don't mince "credible sources" with me or pass commentary off as a credible news source. Even conservatives with common sense know that ain't right.

So, Ted Rall "looks like a liberal." Let's take a look:

Wow...I see what you mean. That's one liberal looking guy.

And so, Ted Rall "talks like a liberal." Let's take a look at the transcript My 2 Cents used:

PERSON: None of this is true.

PERSON: All of which is true.

PERSON: All lies. It's not true.

PERSON: You are thoughtless, mean, hateful [ANYONOMOUS POLITICAL AFFILIATION].

PERSON: He had a three-year economic boom.

PERSON: And all [ANYONOMOUS POLITICAL AFFILIATION]s ought to condemn people like you.

PERSON: Well, you know, I would say that we can turn this around and say the same thing about you guys.

PERSON: I don't know any [ANYONOMOUS POLITICAL AFFILIATION] that would say that.

Wow, you were right, My 2 Cents. When I remove the names and the political affiliations, I can really tell the difference between those who "talk like a liberal" and those who don't.

Wait a second, I can't really tell anything other than BOTH RALL AND HANNITY ARE COMMENTATORS!

Of course they are saying things that are inflammatory...they get paid to do so. Of course they are saying things which makes them appear to have "no compassion, no caring", and to be "completely out of touch with the caring nature of Americans"...it increases ratings and circulation.

I would think a "Journalism and Mass Media" major would grasp that concept...oh well.

"I see Reagan..."

Apparently, to some, having an international airport in Washington D.C. named for Ronald Reagan isn't good enough:

A nuclear Nimitz class aircraft carrier named the USS Ronald Reagan is an insult:

And the largest federal building in Washington D.C. proper built in 30 years named the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center could be bigger:

All that isn't enough Reagan...

Apparently, we need to replace both President Franklin Roosevelt on the Dime and Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill with President Reagan. Excuse me while I say "what the f***!"

FDR is on the dime because he ended the Great Depression, lead the nation during WWII and died while in office. Alexander Hamilton is on the $10 because he was the first Secretary of the Treasury (and established the American monetary system which thrives to this day) and helped write the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

Besides, I may begin to loose faith in American currency if I have to buy condoms with this face staring back at me:

I don't know...maybe it's just me.

Proudly Defending "Liberal Filth"

To the author of My 2 Cents:

For the sake of me, your conservative beliefs, and your own personal health, please cool your "goat."

I agree with you that Ted "scum of the earth" Rall's comment (which sounds like it was taken out of context) was insensitive and inappropriate. HOWEVER, Mr. Rall has the right to say it.

Besides his right, you are in no position to criticize his comment. Members of your own political movement have said equally bad or worse statements when they should instead "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP..." and "GIVE THE NATION TIME TO MOURN!"

Case in point, two days after 9/11, Jerry Falwell was on the 700 Club with Pat Robertson. He said in reference to the terrorist attack which killed 3,000 people:

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen'."

To use your own argument (once again), "Why can't these morons give the ... family(s) time to grieve before they launch their political attacks?"

Honor, but don't “Gloss Up” History in the Process

It is right and fitting that we honor, respect and remember President Reagan, the 40th under the Constitution, at his passing. However, I believe it is a disservice to him, his Presidency and American history to selectively report and reflect.

We should remember the good he did as President:

Engaging the Soviet Union:

That engagement lead to historic arms reduction and elimination treaties.

We should also remember the bad which happened under his watch:

Iran-Contra:

Those illegal actions led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Iranians and Nicaraguans.

Aaron Brown said it best last night on CNN's NewsNight:

"Good evening again, everyone. Back when Joe DiMaggio died, I wrote the obituary for my then employer and found myself struggling with how to be both respectful and accurate. Mr. DiMaggio was not always the nicest of men, but you don't want to quite say it that way.

So I settled on this. "He was, truth be told, prickly sometimes." Close enough and fair enough.

I mention this because we are faced with a similar, though far larger challenge where President Reagan is concerned. As the head of state we all mourn his passing and we celebrate his life. All of us can do that and should. That isn't about politics, it's about country.

But as a political leader, which the American president also is, there were successes and failures. There was controversy and achievement. And our coverage should reflect all of that, the good days and the bad. Iran-Contra is a chapter, as are the tax cuts. Beirut is as much a part of the story as Berlin.

It is a line we will walk carefully and respectfully over the next week."

I only hope the "fair and balanced" news sources walk the same way.