The Violence Worker!

They Walk Among Us

I've pretty much left alone the Michael Jackson cirque du macabre that was billed as his "memorial"  Frankly, I don't care enough about Jackson to spend much time opining about him or his death.  This is not specifically about Jackson, but that are some really stupid people that walk among us.  This gal is pretty sure that Sarah Palin caused Michael Jackson's demise.  What mental gymnastics she had to perform to get to that end is probably completely incomprehensible to rational thinking people, but she's pretty sure that must be the reason Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska.  She called Al Sharpton's radio show to alert the nation.

Here's a partial transcript courtesy of the Radio Equalizer:

FEMALE CALLER (31:50): He (Michael Jackson) is truly the soundtrack of my life. I also have a theory about Sarah Palin as well and I’m going to put it out there on radio, hopefully someone can investigate.

But, I think maybe she did something to Michael Jackson. Maybe there’s a scandal there. Maybe she’s stepping down because something’s about to come out. I don’t know, but I’m gonna just put it out there on your show so we’ll see.

SHARPTON: All right, thank you for your call, Ashley. That’s interesting. I’ll put it out, we’ll see. I don’t know.

As much as I dislike Sharpton, I cannot believe he might think this woman is on to something.  Al has cooked up his share of idiocy in his time, but even he knows what might be believable and what isn't.

I actually have my own theory as to the Palin/Jackson thing.  See, I've noticed that, over the years, no one never saw Michael Jackson and Sara Palin in the same place.   My guess is that she killed him off years ago, and when we first noticed that he was turning white, it was actually Palin in make up.  She finally had to have him die off in public so she could run for President.  See, if she gets elected, all those body guards would make it darn hard to sneak out and do those fifty shows in London.  Hey, it's as believable as that woman in the clip.

VW

Birthdays Today

I would like to say Happy Birthday to a few people who share this day with the composer Gustav Mahler.

First is my Dad.  The Old Buffalo would have been 82 today.  He passed away last August.  I miss him terribly.  He was always an anchor in my life.  About a year before he died, we had a chance to spend some time together up in Canada when I was there for work.  That's us cruising the Thousand Islands between New York and Ontario during that time.

The second Birthday is an infrequent commenter here at this blog.  He goes by  "Bloody Tom Morgan" although I have it on some authority that his name includes none of those. He lives on island out in the pacific somewhere.

Third is Sandy.  Sandy is the significant other of my beer blog partner, Crackladen.  They live  in the city of great barbecue sauces and fantastic coffee.  However, despite the song's insistence, there is no corner of 12th street and Vine

Happy Birthday to them all!

VW

Now It's Individual Emissions

If you really think this is about climate change or global warming, you would be wrong.  What is going on is Marxism, pure and simple.  It isn't about anthropogenic climate change.  The world has been on a cooling trend the past few years.  If it was really man caused, the temperature would not be taking a dive.  Since Carbon has increased, reason says it should be hotter, not cooler.

This is about economics and how to turn the world into a Socialist state.  Freedom and liberty mean way different things in Socialist think.

Rich people's lives tend to give off more greenhouse gases because they drive more fossil-fueled vehicles, travel frequently by air and live in big houses that take more fuel to heat and cool.

By focusing on rich people everywhere, rather than rich countries and poor ones, the system of setting carbon-cutting targets based on the number of wealthy individuals in various countries would ease developing countries into any new climate change framework, Chakravarty said by telephone.

"As countries develop -- India, China, Brazil and others -- over time, they'll have more and more of these (wealthy) individuals and they'll have a higher share of carbon reductions to do in the future," he said.

These obligations, based on the increasing number of rich people in various countries, would kick in as each developing country hit a certain overall level of carbon emissions. This level would be set fairly high, so that economic development would not be hampered in the poorest countries, no matter how many rich people live there.

Is this a limousine-and-yacht tax on the rich? Not necessarily, Chakravarty said, but he did not rule it out: "We are not by any means proposing that. If some country finds a way of doing that, it's great."

Essentially, you will find it difficult or impossible to become wealthy or to improve your circumstance.

What makes me laugh is anyone thinking that China or India will sign on to this deal once they become "developed".   They may pay it lip service, but why would they agree if they can eventually control commerce?

This is about stifling economic freedom.  It's about taking from the rich and trickling down a few bucks to the poor.  It's about us becoming a third world nation.

VW

Sarah Palin

The Democrats often complain about the "politics of personal destruction" when someone says something critical, but no one is as mean and nasty as the Democrats have been to Governor Palin and her family.

When Senator McCain announced her as his running mate, the press and the Democrat machine (often one and the same) went into high gear.  Dumpster diving and sewer swimming for any dirt they could find on the Palins, their relatives, friends and even their ancestors became a 24/7 operation.  Gossip was fact and rumor was king.  There was a huge double standard in the reporting and with Democrat surrogates:  Obama's family was off limits, but Governor Palin's family was somehow fair game.

One of the first lies out of the box was that her son, Trig, was not actually her son, it was her daughter's and she adopted him to cover up the fact that her daughter had a baby out of wedlock.  Except that Bristol was now pregnant and the timing made it impossible for her to have had Trig.  And when it was announced, Palin tried to show support for her daughter in the face of every idiot democrat in the country shouting "SCANDAL!!!11!!"  The Palins did what any parents would do and tried to put the best spin on an unfortunate situation and they were held up to scathing criticism. 

Once it became clear to most that Trig was Sarah's baby, most moved on to denounce her for either not aborting the little monster now in her care or for being a working mother.  "How could she care for her children with a full time job?", They bleated. Palin was even accused of believing in witches and wanting to burn them at the stake.

Even Hollywood got into the act.   Most notably (and recently) was the despicable David Letterman, saying she looks like a slut and joking about her underage daughter having sex with a ball player (and yes, it would have been just as tasteless even if it was meant for Bristol.  Who does that kind of "joke" and what kind of lowlife even finds it to be funny? 

Lawsuit after lawsuit was filed against her in Alaska charging her with every kind of ethical shortcoming .  Never mind that the ones reaching a judge were dismissed, that didn't matter.  The plan was to bankrupt her with endless legal fees and make it seem like she was some kind of criminal - worse than their own Blogojevich problem.  It didn't matter that she isn't crooked - it's important to make her look that way by filing lawsuit after lawsuit.

When she announced her resignation the other day, the left ran wild with rumors of FBI investigations.  Oh they just knew that she was gonna be "frog marched" right out of the governor's mansion - until the FBI said no, she is not under any investigation.

If she was simply going to quit, who could blame her.  After all, the left in this country has tried every wrench in their "politics of personal destruction" tool box to destroy her.

I (and most other people) don't think she's going to disappear.  I think in the next few months, we'll see the new "sarah-cuda"; ready to take the fight to the next level.

The left is afraid of her.  If they weren't, they wouldn't spend all the money, time and use every opinion vehicle they can find  to undermine her.  This will be interesting to watch.

VW

Happy Independence Day!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

233 years ago, these words headlined a document that literally changed how the world thought about government and what responsibilities government had to the governed.  This was not a laundry list cooked up over an all night ale session; this was a list of grievances presented by men who were well aware of the importance of their words.  This document was a culmination of oppressive acts committed over a period of time by a petty tyrant king.   Perhaps they did not have the prescience  to know how much their words would change the world, but they had to know how those words would effect their world.

These were not a bunch of uneducated farmers.  Most of them were classically educated men.  They were familiar with the works of Hobbes, Locke, Bacon and others.  They were the liberals of their age.  A liberalism dedicated to making men free from a tyrannical government and its lust for power, tribute and taxation.

Sadly, liberalism today is much different as it seeks to enslave mankind to a government, rather than free them from such oppression.    If we are to remain a free people, unencumbered by oppressive taxation and control of the citizenry through oppressive government meddling, we need to return to the roots of the tree of liberty. 

It will be a difficult chore as long as the news cycle is dominated by a dead, drug addicted, freak show.  It will be difficult as long as we are bombarded with the message that only government can help you or heal you.  It will be impossible as long as we are ridiculed by the intelligentsia for believing in a God and in Natural Law.  It is those two things that the Socialists fear the most.

For now, enjoy today and what freedom we have left.  We are not yet wards of the state, but it's coming.  It might be then that the tree of liberty will have to be watered.

VW

Beer For Independence Day

On my Beer Blog, Firkin A! I list some brews suitable for celebrating Independence Day.

VW

You Vill Haf Health Insurance, Comrade!

Liberals in the Senate are drafting a bill that will mandate health insurance and fine you up to 1000 dollar if you don't.

WASHINGTON -- Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.

This is not the country that was founded 233 years ago.  We are leaving freedom for serfdom, liberty for slavery to a monolithic state.  A state that will not be responsive nor accountable.

You must understand that when the state takes over your health insurance, they will own you.  You no longer will make decisions concerning your health.  When you get to a certain age (to be determined by some bureaucrat), expensive life saving treatment will be withheld.  Those of you who are stupid enough to think when the state pays for your doctor,  that everything will be covered will deserve what you get.

The healthcare system is broken and there needs to be some changes.  Despite what they say, the liberal democrats' goal is single payer.  That means the Government and that means they own you.

VW

Canada Day

I'm a bit late with this, but today is Canada Day.  I'd like to extend best wishes to our friends and neighbors to the north!

VW

Send In The Clown

The 2008 election is now officially over.  The last candidate will finally be sworn in and seated.  The Minnesota Supreme Court declared that Al Franken won the election.

The only way this man could be elected is if the entire process was rigged.  If it was a fair contest, I could see where he might have been a contender given the fact that Minnesota is traditionally liberal.  On the other hand, it boggles the mind that they think this mean, angry, and unfunny man has the gravitas to be a United States Senator.  I believe the recount was as rigged as a mob run boxing match.

So now that the Al Makes 60, everything now is on the Democrats.  It more or less was anyway, but this pretty much cements the deal. 

Good Luck with Al, Harry.  You deserve him!

VW

Funeral or Circus

Or putting the "fun" in funeral!  What a side show this is turning out to be.

Obviously, Michael Jackson's life was like some kind of weird tragic opera in which his death was was an integral final scene.  Now that he's dead, the events since his his passing are more like Opera Buffa.  Every shirttail relative, every sycophant in his entourage and his greedy old man are all jockeying for whatever is left of his legacy and fortune.  And now, adding to that mix,  Al  Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are down there in SoCal sucking up to the family. These two phonys are vying for the opportunity to be the one to preach MJ's funeral.

Obviously, I don't care who preaches at the funeral.  I won't be watching and I can't think of one thing either of them will say that I would find the least bit interesting.

Maybe they will audition their sermons for the family.  They could base it on American Idol.  Maybe they could make a reality TV Series!  They could add Louis Farrakhan and Jeremiah Wright and we could watch "Who Will Preach The Sermon"  A whole plethora of tests and challenges could be devised to winnow the field down to the lucky mouth such as "who can rhyme the most books of the Bible" in the shortest time, or "who can shout the loudest", or the most challenging of all - "picking out a bible from a line up of books!"  It's a sure fire hit.

Rest in Peace Michael and enjoy the circus.

VW

Cap and Trade Rhetoric

As many have often pointed out, words mean things.  All too often people try to denigrate their political opponents by making outlandish charges and unfortunately, both sides are guilty of hyperbole when it comes to taking a stand on a certain issue.

Paul Kugman is a prime example.

Still, is it fair to call climate denial a form of treason? Isn’t it politics as usual?

Yes, it is — and that’s why it’s unforgivable.

"Climate denial" , according to Mr. Krugman, is now on the magnitude of treason.  Treason carries the maximum punishment of death.  U.S. Law also states that those convicted are forever ineligible to hold public office.  Is that what he really means?  Surely he knows the law at least as much as I do.

Henry Waxman, one of the authors the Cap and Trade bill said this:

"They [Republicans] want to play politics and see if they can keep any achievements from being accomplished that may be beneficial to the Democrats. They're rooting against the country and I think in this case, even rooting against the world because the world needs to get its act together to stop global warming."

At least he not accusing Republicans of being treasonous, but the point is there.  If we don't agree with him, we are somehow against the entire world.  We somehow want pollution and for everybody to die.  I don't think he really believes that, does he?

Yes, I've seen people calling those who support the bill "Cap and Traitors" and again, I think it's wrong headed to use that kind of language and does our cause no good.  Cap and Trade is anti-American in concept and execution.  It's utimate aim is to deprive the American people of freedom and economic prosperity.  Although proposing such an abominable piece of legislation such as this might be morally reprehensible, it is not illegal.  One might make a good argument that Cap and Trade me very well be unconstituional (and it probably is), but there is no law that I am aware of making that a crime either.

Fight the bill on principle, not with hyperbole.  Leave that to the Waxmans, Krugmans, and the hate-filled kiddies that inhabit the Democratic Underground.

VW

It's Almost Over

Almost 233 years ago, this country was born.  It was a grand experiment that said that the state was subordinate to the people.  The state was there to provide for the common defense and protection, but the citizens decided how much and when.  Liberty and freedom were ours to enjoy, but it came with the caveat that we must always be vigilant for there would always be someone who would be trying to steal it from us.  there would always be someone or some group who would salivate at the chance to usurp our freedoms and prosperity for their own gain and power.

During the cold war, we played a deadly game of nuclear chess with the Communists as they sought to spread slavery to the state around the world.  In 1963, Nikita Khrushchev explained that eventually, the workers would bury Capitalism (expanding on a comment he'd made several years earlier stating he would bury us).  As Americans, we didn't believe him nor take him too seriously.  After all, who would want to trade our standard of living and our liberties for the slavery of Communism?

But we were complacent in our cushy lives and the Marxists never rested - even when the Soviet Union crumbled.  The irony is that it wasn't the workers , but people we elected.  We let down our guard, mesmerized by the promise of treasure from our treasury.  Free healthcare, free rent, free food, free this and free that,.  We were guilted by our largess.  How could we be so selfish with our wealth when there are starving people?  We wanted to be generous.  We wanted to be nice.  We wanted everyone to love us.

Now, the Democrats are about to pass the most disastrous piece of legislation ever in our history.  Cap and Trade will be the death knell of the American middle class.  Millions of jobs will be lost, energy bills will double and we will be forced to choose between food and heat.

This tax will effect everything in our life.  The cost to produce our food, clothes, transportation and shelter will rise as producers will be forced to pass on the cost of the cap and trade taxes on to us. Any company that can afford to move out of the country will do so and take their jobs with them.  Many will be forced to close their doors and lay people off because few will be able to afford their service or product.  

And after they pass the Cap and Trade act, they will then turn on the healthcare system and abolish our current system for a government run system that will quickly become too costly.  Health care will be rationed. 

If you think you want government run healthcare, think of this.  When the government controls your birthing, living and dying, you are no longer a free citizen - you are a ward of the state.

Cap and Trade just passed the house, the end of liberty draws increasingly closer.

VW

MIchael Jackson Dies

I first heard that Michael Jackson had a heart attack and was rushed to a hospital as I was leaving work.  It's one of those news bits you hear and figure he's going to be OK.  Well, not so much in this case.  I'm really lousy at prognostication. 

He was the self-proclaimed "King of Pop".  I was never a big fan. I didn't dislike his music and I thought his "Thriller" era was his best (like most folks, I assume).

Like a lot of child stars, it seems as if their early fame and fortune propels them headlong on to some kind of self destructive fast lane.  Jackson seemed to get weirder by the year.  His last years were filled with allegations of pedophilia and financial problems.  He made an enormous amount of money, only to piss away most of it on his weirdness.  He kept a huge entourage, a ranch with an amusement park, weird clothes.  It was rumored that he wore a new tailor made outfit every day.

I was watching CNN's live feed and I was amazed at the amount of people surrounding the hospital where he died.  I understand people were upset and that some were devoted fans, but it always strikes me as somewhat of a waste.  I don't think he would have given any of them the time of day when he was alive.

I hope he is now at peace. 

VW

My friend Bloviating Zeppelin  waxes a bit cynical, but he poses an interesting question.