The Violence Worker!

A Ghoul Gets Gored

Finally, someone stood up to Fred Phelps and his band of hate mongers.

BALTIMORE  —  The father of a fallen Marine was awarded nearly $11 million Wednesday in damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine's funeral.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the Marine's father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa.

I don't believe God hates Phelps and his clan, but I think I'm on pretty solid theological ground in saying that He hates what Phelps and company do.

I hope this curtails their ability to travel around the country spewing their message of hate.

VW

It's All Bush's Fault!

Has your marriage been a little too much for ya, pal?

Is your dog scratching more fleas, bub? 

Have you lost your job, sweetie?

Is Viagra just not working for you anymore, buddy boy?

Is that natural male enhancement pill you been taking making your nose grow instead, friend?

I know the reason.  It's all George Bush's fault!  It's not you or your inability to deal with modern life, it's George Bush!  You no longer have to take any responsibility for your problems and/or, er, (ahem) short comings.  Bush is the cause of all your problems!!

Don't believe me?  Ask the Kos Kiddies!

VW

A Question Was Asked

I just don’t get it. What is so anti-military about groups like Women in Black and the Carroll County Progressives who want PEACE? Yes, you are proud of your Army daughter and well you should be, but why do you and the Gathering of Eagles find it necessary to counter protest a group that is marching or assembling for PEACE? It seems to me that with your sons and daughters in harm’s way, YOU should have more in common with the peace marchers than with the warmongers.

I’m with John Lennon when he wrote his wonderful song that is as appropriate in today’s world as it was back in the days of the Vietnam war: “All we are saying is give peace a chance!”

YankeeMom answers the question with eloquence.

VW

Dropout Factories

There is a study out by John Hopkins University that looks at dropout rates across America.  A dropout factory is a high school where 40 percent of the enrolling freshmen don't make it to graduation.  Part of it is through transfers, but the majority of those kids are dropouts. There were 22 high schools in Washington State that made the list.  I live in Tacoma. 

I checked the list of the high schools to see if any were in Tacoma and I was a little shocked.

EVERY REGULAR HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS TOWN IS ON THAT LIST!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are technically seven high schools in the Tacoma District.  Two of those are not regular high schools.  One is a fine arts magnet and the other is an alternative school. All five regular high schools in this district were rated as "dropout factories".

Twenty-three percent of the high schools on Washington State's list are in one district and it is every high school in the district. 

What is wrong?  Who do we blame?

I'm hesitant to put the blame on the teachers although I'm sure that there are some that deserve some blame.  Blaming the teachers is easy because they are on the front lines.  I think it runs much deeper than that.

According to recent news reports, the state averages about $11,000 per student – give or take.  The first response from the school districts is that they need more money.  You knew that was coming.

I think it's more than money or a few lousy teachers.  The problems run deeper than that.

The only child that we had that attended a Tacoma high school dropped out in the 10^th grade.  She is a statistic in this mess.  To her credit, she went on to get her GED and is now in vocational school. 

She dropped out mainly because of the violence.  She was attacked in the hallway by another girl. That said, I asked her and her boyfriend what they thought was the reason for such a high dropout rate. 

Our daughter said (predictably) that it was the violence, but interestingly, she specifically said black on black violence by black females aimed at other black females.  Our daughter is African-American

Her boyfriend is a really nice young man that graduated and has some college behind him.  He is African-American as well.  He had a different take.  He attended two different high schools in town.  He attended the same one as our daughter and graduated from another across town.  He felt that what they were teaching him wasn't relevant to real life. 

My wife and I have discussed the relevancy problem in the past and we agree.  Not every kid is college material and that has nothing to do with intelligence.  People are different.  They have different interests and those interests might lead kids in other directions then college.  A kid who wants to be an auto mechanic doesn't need calculus and a kid interested in becoming an accountant is not usually going to want to take metal shop.  College is a great goal, but some kids just are not going to go.

The curriculum needs to be relevant to the students and teachers must be enthusiastic.  But that isn't the whole problem.

There is no discipline besides having a policeman in the halls.  The kids don't respect authority and if the school tries to enforce any, nothing really happens.  Maybe they'll get detention, maybe they'll get expelled and maybe the kid really doesn't give a damn because of biggest problem of all and that is parents.

Parents do not support the teachers and the administrators.  If the school tries to enforce the rules, parents threaten to sue.  They can't hold the kids back, a law suit will entail.  Nothing is wrong with their kid, he or she is perfect.  There are parents that are on the other end of the spectrum and they are the ones who don't really care.  Indeed, some of these  kids may not even be living in a home!

However, when you have every one of your schools show up on this list, it isn't just one reason.  It means that there is most likely a laundry list of things and it starts with the School board and works its way down.

Everyone on that school board should be voted out and the Superintendent should be fired.  The new superintendent should be given two years to turn it around or get the boot.  He or she should have experience in turning around a problem district.   

Essentially, they need to start from the ground up.

Better yet, they should all just hand in their resignations out of sheer embarrassment.

VW

Where Are All The Hurricanes?

For the last two hurricane seasons, we've been told to expect not just more storms, but storms with more intensity and force.  Category five hurricanes were going to be the norm, not the exception. 

To be completely honest, during the season of 2005, I was beginning to wonder if the doomsayers might be right.  Let's face it, the 2005 hurricane season was a lollapalooza! 

The predictions were dire for 2006 and we had a relatively calm season.  What happened to all those predictions of monster storms and mega-destruction?

The same for 2007.  The climatologists predicted another banner year and so far to date, it's calmer than the last thirty years.

From the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction studies or COAPS at the Florida State University, they are reporting:

Unless a dramatic and perhaps historical flurry of activity occurs in the next 9 weeks, 2007 will rank as a historically inactive TC year for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole.  During the past 30 years, only 1977, 1981, and 1983 have had less activity to date (January-TODAY, Accumulated Cyclone Energy).

They do add a caveat that the year isn't over, but like they said, unless something way out of the ordinary happens, this is going to be a relatively easy year.

Of course if you predict a harsher season every year, eventually you probably get it right.

It's not that I think there is no such thing as global warming.  There very well might be and for reasons completely unrelated to what we are being told.  The earth has a history of warming and cooling.  Where I'm sitting at the moment was covered in glacier that receded.  That was long before the automobile.

I think most of this global warming crap is coming from people who are more interested in taking away our freedoms and turning us all into good little socialists.  They think they have found away to finally take us down - and they may be right...if we let'em.

Medved Takes On Ron Paul

In his Townhall Blog, Michael Medved issues a challenge to Ron Paul:

Dear Congressman Paul:

Your Presidential campaign has drawn the enthusiastic support of an imposing collection of Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, Holocaust Deniers, 9/11 “Truthers” and other paranoid and discredited conspiracists.

Do you welcome- or repudiate – the support of such factions?

More specifically, your columns have been featured for several years in the American Free Press –a publication of the nation’s leading Holocaust Denier and anti-Semitic agitator, Willis Carto. His book club even recommends works that glorify the Nazi SS, and glowingly describe the “comforts and amenities” provided for inmates of Auschwitz.

Have your columns appeared in the American Free Press with your knowledge and approval?

As a Presidential candidate, will you now disassociate yourself, clearly and publicly, from the poisonous propaganda promoted in such publications?

As a guest on my syndicated radio show, you answered my questions directly and fearlessly.

Will you now answer these pressing questions, and eliminate all associations between your campaign and some of the most loathsome fringe groups in American society?

Along with my listeners (and many of your own supporters), I eagerly await your response.

Respectfully, Michael Medved

Sounds like reasonable questions to me.  Any bets on an answer?

I suspect the Paulians will be sending me some hate mail.  So be it.  I don't much care what kooks and idiots think anyway.

VW

Hat Tip LGF

Two Chickens In Every Pot

Political campaigns are centered on who will give you more. It's the nature of the beast. Both parties are guilty, but the Democrats try to use out and out give aways right up front. John Edwards is hoping you will support him because he will give you more than anyone else.

John Edwards is a typical liberal politician. He wants to give out your money to other people so that you become poorer and they become better off. The evil rich (You) is why they are poor and he will fix it for them by taking your money. That's the theory, but reality has shown time and again that such a theory is a false assumption. The only thing that becomes better off is government bureaucracy.

Here's his pitch:

Edwards, a former Democratic senator from North Carolina, says the federal government should underwrite universal pre-kindergarten, create matching savings accounts for low-income people, mandate a minimum wage of $9.50 and provide a million new Section 8 housing vouchers for the poor. He also pledged to start a government-funded public higher education program called "College for Everyone."

He says the rich, to include himself will have to pay more in taxes to afford it, but the sacrice is worth it.

At every stop, Edwards said, he tells voters he'll ask them to sacrifice. Asked to describe what he means, he described his plan for increases in capital gains taxes, saying taxes on "wealth income" should be in line with those on work income.

Then it appears that he will be lowering taxes for the rich. It's a fact that the top 10% pay over 80 percent of the taxes.

"I think if we want to fund the things that I think are important to share in prosperity, then people who have done well in this country, including me, have more of a responsibility to give back," he said. Later, he added: "There are no free meals."

You see, here is the fallacy in that. He has his. He is fabulously wealthy and paying few extra bucks in taxes is not going to hurt him much. There is no sacrifice for him. If he was serious about sacrifice, he would do something other than run for the President, buy a huge mansion and get 400 dollar haircuts. He would devote his time and energy seeking free market solutions to poverty instead of insisting that people pay more in taxes.

He wants you to pay for his big ideas.

Edwards thinks we are stupid and greedy. He thinks the lure of "free" is his ticket to the white house. He duped the voters of North Caroline once. He knew he would never get reelected so he ran for President last time and got himself on Kerry's ticket.

It's time we smarten up, folks. He's right, there are no free meals. Someone has to pay and it will be anyone who works.

He wants to put two chickens in your pot – and charge you for three.

VW

 

Newsbusted

Newsbusters puts out a little comedy news show that is about two and a half minutes long and it is hilarios.  Essentially it's one-liners with some visuals.  It is hilarious!!

My favorite is the Hillary Clinton jab!

Enjoy!

VW

The Louisiana Trend

Conventional wisdom is as useless a term as most of the buzz words that float by us in company staff meeting.  You all know what I'm talking about.  When some hot shot gets up in a meeting and starts talking about the "genesis of the current synergy causing a network centric organization yada-yada...", you go to your happy place because you know in two weeks, none of those words will ever be used in the same sentence again - if at all.  The same with "conventional wisdom".  It's only conventional until the next thing comes along.  Today's conventional wisdom is usually yesterdays wrong assumption.

Such is the case with the so-called conventional wisdom coming from the Economist.

WHEN it comes to the business of elections, Louisiana likes to confound conventional wisdom. While most of its Southern neighbours were busy electing Republicans during the early 2000s, Louisiana stubbornly returned a Democrat, Mary Landrieu, to the Senate in 2002, and put another one, Kathleen Blanco, in the governor's mansion in 2003. Now, as Republican fortunes have sagged across the nation—in no small part because of the Bush administration's failure to cope with Hurricane Katrina's devastation of Louisiana's coast in 2005—the party is having a banner year in the state.

No where in the article does it tell you why Louisiana is bucking the trend.  It goes on to cite with  surprise that the Bubbas (can we consider that a derogatory term yet?) would vote for a "non-white" to be governor.  The systemic corruption of the Louisiana Democrat machine and that Mr. Jindal is young, smart (he's a Rhode's Scholar) and that the demographics of New Orleans have shifted a bit, but the author gives no real reason why the state is supposedly bucking the trend.  Bush's supposed "failure to cope", recognized by everyone else, doesn't seem to register with those who were the victims.

Let me tell you what I think (You knew I would or you wouldn't have read this far - that's conventional wisdom!) the reason Louisiana is bucking the trend.  I have two reasons.

First is the fact that while FEMA may have dropped the ball, the local governments (all Democrat) and the Governor (another Democrat) never had a ball.  Hell, they never even made it to the ballpark!  Evacuation orders were never given and when they were (much too late) they were haphazard at best.  Governor Blanco diddled and dithered in requesting federal troops (Something she must do - the constitution prohibits sending Federal Troops without permission of the Governor).  And while the congress and the President sent them billions upon billions for reconstruction, Blanco managed to again, sit on her hands.

Second is the systemic corruption in Louisiana.  Louisiana is the butt of a lot of jokes but the sad part is that this isn't a joke.  Incompetence and corruption run rampant.  New Orleans is a city in decay and has slowly been rotting away for the last few decades.  The 9th Ward was a cesspool that no mayor ever cared to do anything about before the floods and all of a sudden, they want it all fixed now.  Nagin has proved to be incompetent.  Whether he is corrupt or not, I don't know, but his predecessor Marc Morial is under investigation.  In short, New Orleans is one step away from being a third world crap hole because of the endemic corruption.  All the tourists see is the French Quarter.

Incompetence and corruption are the two key elements holding back the reconstruction the coast.  Louisianans know it and that is why they voted for Bobby Jindal.  That is why they are going red.

In short, they are tired of the Democrats and their emmpty promises to clean out city haul.

Mr. Jindal has a huge task in front of him and he will face a lot of opposition from the corrupt Democrats still entrenched.  He's their best chance ever to throw off  the yoke of institutional corruption that is crushing Louisiana

VW

Again, a tip of the old porkpie to the Diary of the Mad Pigeon for open track backs

Siding With McCain

I didn't support John McCain for President in back in 2000. I'm not about to change my mind this primary either unless he wins the nomination.  I respect Senator McCain for his service to his country and unlike John Kerry, McCain is a true hero.  Senator McCain is not Presidential material.  I disagree with him on some very fundamental issues such as the "Shamnesty" bill and of course, McCain-Feingold.

McCain poked a bit of fun during the last debate at Hillary Clinton and her support of a million dollar gift (of taxpayer money) to a Woodstock Museum.  McCain joked that Woodstock might have been a big cultural and pharmaceutical event.  He said he was too tied up to attend.  People got the joke and gave him a standing O.  It seems one moonbat lefty didn't think it was all that funny.

From Newsbusters:

McCain ad: Now my friends, I wasn't there. I'm sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was, I was tied up at the time.

(Matthews made clear that despite his differences with McCain on policy, he likes the senator and his history, and found the ad "thrilling." The 23-year old Klein was unimpressed.)

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Ezra, how many politicians get standing ovations at debates?

EZRA KLEIN: Not many, although look --

MATTHEWS: Oh, here we go. I knew he was going to dump on it. Okay.

KLEIN: I'm not of the boomer generation. I don't want to see us have another fight over who's a hippy and who's a soldier. I find it dull.

MATTHEWS: I don't. I find it inspiring.

JENNIFER DONAHUE [the impressive political director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics]: You know who doesn't find it dull? The military moms don't find that dull. Voters don't find that dull. There's a war going on and they find that important. McCain's using his sense of humor. This is the straight-talk, quirky McCain that people like.

(That's when Klein descended into the depths.)

KLEIN: McCain's on the wrong side of that war. It may be sense of humor but he was on the wrong side of the war.

Ezra Klein is 23 years old.  He's a smart guy but there is a certain wisdom gained from age that you can't get any other way.  He has accomplished despite his relative youth but saying that John McCain was on the wrong side of the war is akin to saying that the Communists were the ones on the right side of the war. 

Klein later said that he meant the Iraq War, but was means past and the Iraq war is in the present.

Klein is German for small or puny.  Apropos, don't you think?

VW

Thanks to The Diary of the Mad Pigeon for open trackbacks