What is R2P?

R2P - Responsibility to Protect.

OK, that isn't really clear.  So, go here, and find out more about it.

Think the above source is biased?  Try reading the report from one of the groups promoting this doctrine.

What R2P is, is the outsourcing of our government's role in declaring war.  No longer does the President have to make his case before Congress.  He apparently can bypass them, and cite international coalitions - UN, the Arab League, any multinational NGO (non-governmental organization) - as the organization that has the authority to force American troops into battle.

In case that's not clear, I'm against it.

UPDATE:  Here's 10 Things Libya Tells Us About Barack Obama and War

Share

Shot With A PINK Gun

Oh, the indignity!

Yeah, the perp, with a LONG rap sheet, is - shall we say - no longer emitting a carbon footprint.

The owner of the pink gun - a 38?

A former beauty queen.  I wonder if she won Miss Congeniality?

Share

If It Walks Like A Duck...

...We'uns - the "unsophisticated masses" - generally are OK with calling it a duck.  And, in this post, so is The Curmudgeon.

Share

What Is America?

There's a post here, that discusses the "Liberal Culture", and how it affects their view of America.  The post skewers the typical NPR/PBS consumer:

NPR and PBS reflect the tastes and attitudes of a lost elite, a liberal bicoastal Brahmin caste forever at war with the untouchables of the heartland. Its public service is a service to that one percent of the country which treats NPR listenership and PBS viewership as hallmarks of its own superiority, toting PBS and NPR carry bags like Mensa membership cards. A sign to discerning people that you are a discerning person. A non-profit status symbol, among the many non-profit status symbols of the elite.

This all turns on the reason that PBS needed to be de-funded by the federal government:

Liberals could easily fund all of public broadcasting with a shake of their wallets. But they wouldn't want to. Public broadcasting has an air of mission about it. Take the 'public' out of the equation and it all too quickly stands revealed for what it is, a status symbol and a club for the elite. A game played by the rebellious children of the upper class and middle class aspirants to that status. Its rules are arbitrary and so are its values. Like James Dean's rebel, it knows what it is against, but only has a faint idea of what it is for. It dresses up its simple thoughts in complex formulas, leaps from trend to trend to always be ahead of whatever it is escaping, and finds charm only in ironic detachment. And that ditzy elitism requires that its culture be worthless in order to be worthwhile, non-profit in order to be profitable and meaningless in order to have meaning. 

Wicked!  He roasts the self-consciously "superior" Liberal, who, nonetheless, aspires to be "with the People".

Share

Why I Love Winston Churchill

He was a Man for All Time - unafraid to speak the Truth to Power, adamant against tyranny, no matter how highly the elite regarded that tyrant (well, with the exception of Stalin - that was a case of the Enemy of My Enemy is My - not Friend - but Temporary Ally).

There's some background that today's youth need to read - it's about the run-up to WWII, and the role of Chamberlain and other elites in assisting Hitler's rise.

Y'all think you know what WWII was about?  I doubt it - today's histories have whitewashed the role of the Liberals and Leftists in maneuvering to ensure Hitler's ascent to power.  Anyway, go and read it - and think about how today's Chamberlain is making history with "peace in OUR time".

Share

Some Facts About Government Unions

Charen's question is:  Who wins in the WI battle?

NOT the taxpayer.

The taxpayers are the ones left holding the bag when elected officials team up with public-sector unions. Middle-class taxpayers, only 65 percent of whom have access to retirement plans, are picking up the tab for the 90 percent of government employees who do. Nearly 70 percent of lower-wage government workers receive health benefits, compared with only 38 percent of private-sector workers.

That's the real issue for many.  The taxpaying public is funding bennies FAR more lavish that those they get themselves.  And, because their company doesn't have the money, can't give them - at least, not at that level.

Businesses are limited by their budget, determined by the profit that's available after returning dividends to their investors - some of them the institutions that form unions.

Government, on the other hand, is limited by the money available in the form of taxes.  Without raising taxes, there just IS no money.

That's not a limitation for the public unions.  According to them, we just have to squeeze a little harder.  On the taxpayer.

The notion of tightening their own belts never seems to occur to them.

Share

Trying to Stay Awake

Did you know that Daylight Savings Time was first suggested by Ben Franklin?

Thanks, Benjy.  NOT.

What it means for me is a week of trying to stay awake past 8 pm.

Share

Japan's Meltdown

Partly, I'm talking about the nuclear meltdown, which appears to be in process.

But, I'm also talking about the possible meltdown of the current political system.  In the aftermath of this disaster, it's likely to follow the same trend as El Salvador did after that massive earthquake.  The disatisfaction with the response of government brought down their dictator, and ushered in years of political upheaval.

Estimates of the dead range from the relatively conservative (CNN - 1,000) to the likely-over-the-top (Foxnews - 10,000).  It's hard to say; a lot will depend on how quickly the rescue can bring in food and, more importantly, water.  If disease starts, all bets are off.

Only a few aspects of the situation are clear:

• it's going to be expensive to restore the infrastructure
• it's going to be costly in terms of human life
• it will alter the balance of power in the Far East (if you don't think that Russia and China will try to take advantage of this, you are hopelessly naive)
• the final outcome will depend on small things, done quickly

Obama better interrupt his golf game and get on this - FAST.

Share

FINALLY, Someone Defends Jewish Students' Right to Hear About Those Who Are Trying to Annihilate Them

There's a short article about David Horowitz' appearance on a campus, for a talk about anti-Jewish activity on campus, and in the world.  If you support the "Palestinian people", I urge you to read it.

And, for God's Sake, keep an eye on the canary.

Share

Wisconsin Is Where the Battle Lines Have Been Drawn

The Democrat-supporting unions have drawn the line in the sand.

They chained the doors to the Capital shut (creating a fire hazard, BTW).

The police have been responding in less than full measure (no riot gear, no arrests).

They are vowing to rally today to protest the Republican representatives' move to take the collective-bargaining language out of the budget bill, and vote on it separately (which does NOT require a supermajority).

Make no mistake, this is the front lines (and, it may very well be Union's Last Stand) of the Leftist Assault on What's Good for America.

It's NOT about what's good for the children.

It's NOT about what's good for the public.

It's ALL about union members grab for the most for themselves, whether or not the people can afford it.

Share

Call Your Representative...

...and let him/her know that you support the goals of the King hearings.  Radical Islam needa to be investigated, NOW!

[spelling corrected]

Share

More Tattoos!

Here are some of the best:

Best Geek Tattoos - includes gaming, pi (it's up to 80 digits), DNA, a ruler (NOT metric), and more.

Girl Tattoos - can't describe, just go to the link.

Girl Tattoos on the side - at least, these tattoos won't be marred by body changes as easily as the stomach tattoos.

These I DON'T suggest - on the foot - I've talked to students who've gotten them, and they say it's QUITE painful (apparently, if there is little underlying fat tissue, it's very painful).

Discover Magazine has 23 pages of science-y tattoos.

Share

Gopher Forced to Quit

After his wife was fired for speaking out against Stealth Jihad.  You remember Gopher:

That was his most famous role, before he left to become a Republican congressman.  After he left Congress, he went into radio, with his wife, Catherine (known as Mrs. Fred).  

Grandy, a former actor and Republican member of Congress, told AIM, “My wife and I have used our program over the last several months to warn about the spread of radical Islam at home and abroad. Last week, Catherine (known on the show as Mrs. Fred) delivered a very tough indictment against stealth jihad, and for her efforts she was told she was off the show. I then told management without Mrs. Fred at the microphone, I could not remain either and have resigned effective this morning.”

The management of the station says simply that Fred quit - it DOESN'T mention his wife.  Some are saying that her firing was prompted by Muslim pressure.

Grandy told AIM, “We cannot affirmatively conclude CAIR or any of the prominent Islamic organizations had anything to do with this. We do know, however, in 2005 representatives of CAIR in DC were successful in getting midmorning host Michael Graham fired for anti-Islamic statements he had made on the radio and TV.”

Graham was fired from WMAL after describing Islam as a “terrorist organization” on his program and refusing to apologize or modify the description. 

I do know that many people are concerned about potential consequences of expressing their opinions about Islam in their workplace.  I'm one of them.  At work, I'm like Sgt. Schultz, "I know nothing, NOTHING!"

Share