Thought for the Day

'Tis better to have loved and lost than stay with the crazy bitch.

Thought for the Day

Will you accept Carbon Neutral as your personal Lord and Savior?

A question asked of the returned Rachel Lucas.

Don't Click This Link!

I'm warning you, don't click here. No amount of mental detergent will clean your brain after you've seen this.

Oh, go ahead. I know you want to now. But I warned you.

What's the Real Point?

I was going to take apart Halimah Abdullah's latest bit in the Commercial Appeal, but Jon Carroll seems to have mostly done the job already. Abdullah's piece is billed as news analysis but it's mighty light on the analysis and illumination.

All I would really add to his observations is the following. What does her article really say? It comes down to two things: a) Voters have very short political memories, and b) Willie Herenton is powerful. Neither is particularly noteworthy by itself, and Abdullah doesn't elaborate either point, so what is she really saying?

Carroll thinks she's just coming out early for Herenton, or maybe doing some sweeping up work for him, apparently based on Abdullah's implicit assumption that the MLG&W mess has been brushed away now. That's what Herenton was saying implicitly last week, in his news appearance. She doesn't elaborate on that either so, again, we are left asking, what's Abdullah's point?

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: I nearly forgot to note Abdullah's mention of Jack Sammons. Twice! Where does that come from? No one I've heard thinks there's a serious chance he's getting in the race, so where does Abdullah come off pimping his possible run? Doubly odd bit of real news (if it were true) in an otherwise pointless piece.

Pushalongs

Getting lapped at the salad bar. Via Possumblog.

Thought For The Day

In the blue wardrobe of heaven are many unused clothes, too tight-fitting yet too beautiful to throw away. And in that wardrobe we hang our likenesses, yellow diaries yellowed with yesterday, thumb smeared with tomorrow. But the now, the present, like the hollow screech of ancient flamingos in search of shrimps, is still vibrantly shocking pink.

Vivian Stanshall, of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. RIP.

Herenton Hooks MLG&W Off The Stage

(No links in this story, as it's late and I don't care. You can go to Richard Thompson's blog to get the details, if you need 'em. Tell Richard I sent you.)

So Herenton walks out today and "calmly" announces he's "accepted" Joe Lee and Odell Horton's resignations. How much you want to bet it was a resign or get fired scenario? Then he shifts the spotlight off the ongoing problems of MLG&W's top management onto himself. Then he chides the media. In one swooping gesture, he's reframed the whole situation.

It's darkly comic that now that Lee's unemployed, the issue of who is going to pay the $62,000+ in legal bills is moot, although Lee can't be "re-imbursed" (Odell Horton's phrase in his letter.) until he's paid the bill first.

It's worth noting that Spence's bill was only for work done through April 9th. There's still another three or four weeks he might bill for yet to be invoiced. Also, does anyone believe that Spence put in 30 to 40 hours a week, if you believe his invoices, just on Lee? I sure don't.

I'm also curious that Gale Jones Carson, supposedly the Director of Corporate Communications has been strangely invisible in most of this. You'd think, in the interest of keeping everyone and everything on the same page, that she'd be the lone voice of MLG&W in this. But no, various folks -- especially Nick Clark and Odell Horton and Robert Spense and Joe Lee -- all seem to be circumventing her. And look at the mess it's made.

It strikes me that what Herenton has now done is basically two-fold. First, the MLG&W mess has been brought to a close. If further improprieties are discovered, Herenton can simply dismiss them with "Joseph Lee isn't there any more. Let's move on." I'll be watching to see who does the talking for MLG&W now.

The media was directed to come to him. He's famous for closing them out and batting them away. Result? Case closed on MLG&W, whether the media likes it or not. At least that's how I hear what he said today.

He's also, in a sense, demonstrated his leadership as Mayor. True, he allowed the mess to linger on by standing by Lee and not accepting his resignation when it was offered the first time. But in Herenton's lights, I'm sure he believes he's demonstrated decisiveness and quiet leadership. This situation has been giving ammunition to his enemies, like rival mayoral candidates Carol Chumney and Herman Morris, instead of capturing them in a morass of impotent finger-pointing and blowback. With it gone, Chumney and Morris no longer have anything to attack him with. Why it took him so long to see this, I don't know; it seems a rare misstep for him.

Unless, of course, you believe that he's still interested in selling MLG&W at some point and Lee was his point man for setting the utility up for sale. Propping up Lee was crucial in that process, seen in that light. Losing him can derail that process, too.

Which brings me to an important point. Back when Joe Lee was first nominated for his position, Herenton simply pulled his name from thin air. Lee had no experience at all in utilities. Carol Chumney, and other City Councillors, raised a fuss and demanded that Herenton go through a real candidate selection process. A job description was put out and something like half-a-dozen candidates applied. The Commercial Appeal duly printed their resumes and interviewed a few. A couple of them had long and extensive experience and likely would have made excellent presidents.

Ha! Fooled you! Herenton pulled the rug out from under everyone by putting Lee up, again, as his nominee. It was a slap in the face to the city and the City Council. Belief in Herenton's plan to sell MLG&W hardened; Lee was instantly put into a defensive position.

This time, I hope the whole City Council will make damn sure that Herenton goes through an entire candidate recruitment and selection process before any names are offered up. Not a sham, but the real thing. The City Council should demand assurances, referencing the Joe Lee fiasco. The City Council should make it clear that the person nominated can only come from the list developed by this process.

And, the speech writer who was hired to make Joe Lee look good for $90,000+ a year needs to be let go. She's not needed any more.

Anyone want to take bets that Lee and Horton will still end up somewhere in the vast public-private sphere that Herenton's built up over the past decade? Cushy, low-workload jobs that still pay around the $100,000 mark? People have noted that Lee's wife is on the RDC; will Lee join her? Will Horton find himself in the City Attorney's office? We shall see.

I'd also like to note that the latest issue of the Main Street Journal, the magazine I now write for, has a short piece by me on MLG&W and Mayor Herenton. I wrote it back on March 28th and in it I asked who was paying Robert Spence's fees. Glad to see my suspicions were borne out.

Dutch Treat Luncheon

The New Dutch Treat Luncheon
When: Saturday, April 21, 11:30 (sharp) - 12:45 (sharp)
Where: The Butcher Shop, Cordova
Theme: The Future of Politics in Greater Memphis

The oldest and most influential political gathering in Memphis for over 50 years. Come be a part of the dialogue that is shaping Greater Memphis. One-hour-and-fifteen minutes long. Great lunch for ten bucks.

April Panel: State Senator Paul Stanley, Commissioner Steve Mulroy, Commissioner James Harvey, Commissioner Mike Ritz, UM Democrats President John Marek, UM Republicans President John McManus, VP Shelby County GOP Paula Sedgwick, and you!

April Press Panel: Jackson Baker, Memphis Flyer; Darrell Phillips, WMC-TV; Mike Hollihan, Main Street Journal.

Sponsored by: The Main Street Journal

Instapundit.com

Thought for the Day

If Bush and Cheney were really evil, they'd both resign and stick the Democrats with a Pelosi Presidency for the next two years. The Democratic Party would never recover. Alas, neither would the country.

Via Instapundit.com

Possumblog

Quote of the Day

I've already made 78 cents from Al Gore by agreeing not to break wind for a week.

Via Possumblog.

Why Linux Hasn't Caught On

Via Wil Wheaton.

Have you see the latest PC/Mac commercial? It's titled "Security." It's probably the funniest yet because it's true and pointed. "You are coming to a sad realisation. Cancel or allow?"

I might as well plug these spoofs of the Mac/PC commercials while I'm at it. (Be careful, some are not quite work safe; watch your volume.)

Teen Girl Squad!!!

It's the Vamlumtimes Day episode of Strong Bad's Teen Girl Squad. Um ... Valentine's.

FULL BARS!!!

Why I Hate Local Weather

I wake up at 6AM and immediately go to check the weather reports, since heavy rains are expected some time today and I want to know what I'll be able to do. Since I either walk or ride the bus, weather is an important factor in trip plans.

On NewChannel 3 there's ol' Todd Demers with a radar map full of green. Lots of rain everywhere. Or so it seems.

"Most of this isn't even hitting the ground," he says as he then switches momentarily to a view that shows only a few tiny patches of green far to the west in central Arkansas. Then we go back to that view full of green and even some pink, for snow and ice. And every time we see that radar again, it's full of rain.

In other words, rather than show us what's really happening on ground level -- where I'm pretty sure nearly all of us live -- ol' Todd scares us with that green-stained monster. Or is he just so enamored of his pretty toy, which can pick up moisture not even heavy enough to fall from the clouds, that he'd rather misinform us in order to show how impressive his technology is?

None of the other stations were any better this morning, but that example really ticked me off. It's why I find myself relying on cable channel 75 and their radar. At least I don't have to worry about hype.

Dutch Treat Luncheon, February 2007

John Willingham chose this month's Dutch Treat Luncheon to announce his candidacy for mayor of Memphis. The problem was, if you talked with him a month ago when he was still being coy about running he gave almost exactly the same speech today! Same problems, same issues, same reasons to run, same complaints about cronyism. I hope he hasn't settled on this as his stump speech for the next few months. No disrespect to Willingham, but it was not a speech to set farm buildings alight.

I got there a bit late, so I don't know if he mentioned some of his ideas, but creating a payroll tax and bringing gambling to the Pyramid (two "solutions" he's mentioned before) are still non-starters. First, as it stands they are unconstitutional; to happen he'd have to get Nashville signed on and I don't see that happening. He's becoming a pariah to local Republicans, so I can't see them expending any effort on his behalf with West Tennessee's legislative caucus. As someone observed to me, Willingham seems to pick ways of solving Memphis' problems that he can't be blamed for not having happen.

Nor has he said anything about booting out the many dozens of political appointees that Herenton's saddled the City's budget with.

He does talk about the many fiscal imbroglios that Herenton and former County Mayor Jim Rout have left laying about. Mostly, Willingham is as upset by them as we are, and he seems to want real investigations, but as Mayor will he really pursue them? I have a feeling that Mike Carpenter (RIP) is going to be blamed with everything that went wrong with the FedEx Forum so those still living and culpable can slink away. That's not going to help today. Will Mayor Willingham use his knowledge of the deals to guide and prod an investigation?

He did talk some about his views on the city's landmarks -- like the Coliseum -- and spending priorities, and it was inferable from that what a Willingham mayorship might be like. He needs to articulate them more clearly, though.

I talked after the Luncheon with a half-dozen folks (not sure I can name them as it was informal, hallway talk). Several felt a 21st century People's Convention, ala the one in 1991 that got Herenton elected, was called for again in order to winnow down the number of candidates. I heard some noises about at least one more candidate entering the race beyond the early runners (Herenton, Chumney and Willingham) and the likely-to-runs (Morris, Lowery): Julius Bolton? That makes a crowded field which only works to Herenton's advantage.

(Quick update after posting: Jackson Baker reports that former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris may join the party! Morris, for those of you who need reminding, is the sumbitch who bequeathed to Shelby Countians a "temporary" wheel tax that is still with us today. Not only is it still hanging on after more than a decade, but it's been doubled. It was supposed to be "for the kids," (ie. education) and a stop-gap measure, but the schools budget is still growing and now some wheel tax revenues are deflected into the general revenue fund for other "pressing" purposes.

And every day you drive the Nonconnah Parkway remember that it was renamed for that guy. To honor him! It's like the playground bullies knocking you down anyway after you've handed over your lunch money. Talk about brass.)

Concensus was that Herenton can count on 25-30% this time around, and that he's mostly lost whatever white support he has beyond the Downtown Money Gang. Willingham thinks he can beat that. I listened to him last month run down the numbers based on his last race and the last general election. Interesting, but I thinks he's way off. As was pointed out in our discussion, in what was a two-man race last time, Willingham lost 3-to-1 against Herenton. While Herenton has certainly lost some luster, I don't think Willingham has picked up any polish. Then as now, too, Republicans are likely to leave Willingham hanging out to dry. (I'm hearing noises that local Republicans not beholden to Herenton might line up behind Herman Morris. Not sure how true that is and I can't imagine what it would do to Morris in the black community.)

And with so many folks splitting the anti-Herenton vote, it dilutes the chances of ousting him. Getting some of these folks out will be hard. Some seem genuine in their desire for public service as mayor, however unlikely their chances or dreadful their politics. (Hi Carol!) Some no doubt want to hook up their own coach car to the gravy train that Herenton's built up. (You'll see those folks shortly.) How we can concentrate dissatisfaction into one candidate is something folks will be mulling over into summer.

Another speaker at the Luncheon was a candidate for State House District 92 (to replace Henri Brooks), Republican Richard Morton. I caught him expressing support for the "homestead act," freezing property taxes for Shelby County senior citizens. So, I stood up and asked him how he felt about shifting the tax burden to others. He floundered around a while, definitely caught unawares and unprepared. His final answer was that he was fine with it. He wanted senior votes. Not that he said that last bit, but that's what he meant, if you ask me.

That's awfully sad to hear. A candidate happily (and with support from other Republicans in the room!) walking away from a bedrock principle of Republicanism (equal taxation) just left me wondering. Morton seemed like a nice guy, still learning the ropes of campaigning, so I did hate putting him on the spot. Still ... jeez ... no wonder the Shelby County Republicans have so much electoral trouble. Saying whatever will get you elected isn't party politics; it's just pandering.

(I'm not giving Democrats a pass here, they're the subject of a whole other post!)

Anyway, the attendance at this Dutch Treat Luncheon was pretty good. It's heartening to see, as I really respect its purpose and history. That's why I started attending it recently. It needs revitalisation in the worst way, right now. There may be some news coming shortly about that, so stay tuned.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Thaddeus Matthews has some thoughts.

Thad reminded me of something I forgot above. I have to wonder how Chumney will handle Herenton when he starts throwing his jabs. In the past when she's been poked by fellow City Council members she tends to focus defensively on the comment and not see past it to the larger issue.

And I remember when the Flyer took a jab at her. She reacted with a letter to the alt-weekly accusing them of attacking her because she's a woman. It was like something straight out of a Seventies feminist handbook. I shudder to think she didn't learn from that and will react the same way again with Herenton. She'll look foolish and old-fashioned; she won't impress a lot of black Memphis, either.

Oh! I'm officially starting the clock on how long it will be until someone calls Chumney the Great White Hope. Bloggers don't count.

SECOND SUNDAY UPDATE: The Commercial Appeal has a story on the Dutch Treat Luncheon and says with certainty what Bill Wood assured me he told her was only a likelihood. Bill's account of what he told her is very different from hers. Ah well, that's the press for ya!

I saw the reporter sitting in the back. She arrived late, after the event started, and kept Bill pigeon-holed for most of the Luncheon. It interfered with him doing his job as host; whose fault that is -- hers for rude persistence or his for solicitousness -- I don't know. It was distracting for the rest of us.

She also calls the Luncheon "legendary for its conservative bent." My understanding has always been its reputation for non-partisanship and dialogue. Now, the event she was at had a pronounced conservative Republican bent, but I think it was more because of Willingham. Anyone with more experience from the past want to chime in?

VERY LATE SUNDAY UPDATE: LeftWing Cracker also weighs in with his thoughts on the Morrises, and the real reason Bill Morris might be running.

Le Sigh

After months of being nagged to switch over to "new" Blogger, only to be told "Nah, you're too big. Wait a while longer" when I had to click through the nag screen, today I wasn't given the option. I had to go, like it or not.

So far, s'OK. I had to tinker with a few settings to make sure the posts displayed with Arial and Times New Roman correctly, but everything else seems as I've left it. It displays fine in Firefox; y'all Internet Explorer people will just have to suck it.

Thought For The Day

Arnold Kling has a post on "conservative Libertarians" that I largely didn't agree with even though I consider myself one. But he had an interesting thought:

The Left's religion often comes dressed up as science. Marxism is one example. The eugenics movement of the early twentieth century is another. The Global Warming crusade is probably another.

This led me to ask, "Is socialism then the Left's form of theocracy?"

This also ties in with something I've been wondering of late, about the character of the civil rights movement. It was started by abolitionists in the 19th century, who were explicitly and devotedly religious people; not exclusively, but primarily. Up through the mid-20th century, especially again in the works of Martin Luther King Junior, it was always an appeal to the fundamental religious character of the American people, a call to live up to the ideals we had set for our nation.

It worked because it was moral suasion. Most Americans are decent people and their sense of morality can be appealed to. It's why the gay rights movement is slowly gaining ground; fewer people oppose equality before the law for gays than ever before.

But in the "post-Civil Rights era," to label the time since the late Sixities, as the Left has slowly purged religion from its character, the sense of the civil rights movement has moved from a religious appeal to political argument. Yes, many black leaders in the civil rights movement are preachers, but their rhetoric does not have the moral tug of Dr. King. It's just political debate. It's no longer "How do you live God's commandments in your life?" but "The law's the law."

I think that's why there's the perception that civil rights is faltering. It's not about a seat at the table any more, but making sure no one gets more mashed potatos than you do. So to speak.

Yeah, I know, an atheist bemoaning the lack of religion in public life. It's non-sensical, I'm sure.

It's On Like Donkey Kong

Blogger Mick Wright has called out local spittle-flicker Chris Davis, The Pesky Fly.

I hereby challenge Chris Davis (a.k.a. Pesky Fly), the blogger, Leftist moonbat employee of the Memphis Flyer and offensive epithet factory, to a live, in-person debate, held in a neutral forum and moderated by an agreed-upon volunteer.

I’ll give Mr. Davis until Midnight on Feb. 15 to accept my offer. If he declines or fails to respond by the deadline, I will from that point on ignore (to the best of my ability) all the childish name calling he tries to pass off as intellectualism and remove that eternally-nonreciprocal link from my blogroll.

If Mr. Davis accepts the invitation before the deadline, I will give him eight additional weeks to agree on a moderator, location, format and date. If he fails to commit on these specifics within that time period, same rule applies, plus I will construct a crude effigy of him and parade it through the streets of Marty Aussenberg’s lily white enclave, whereupon onlookers will have an opportunity to heap scorn.

My guess is that Davis will find some weasel reason to avoid Mick, even though he's been given carte blanche on the where and when. We shall see.

INSTANT UPDATE: Nashville's Brittney Gee has already noticed. Her post header? Meet Me On The Playground!

Somehow, I think if the politics were reversed it would be "Lefty blogger confronts his winger critic." And she'd sound supportive instead of amused. But that's just me!

FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Yup, I was right. Davis has dodged. It's easier for him to sit protected by his blog and take potshots. (Or he's just making sure he doesn't get his ass fired. I suspect that has more to do with it than anything else.)

Whssamatta Mick, need a venue where you can turn up the volume? Our readers can moderate. Or if you want one person, then you pick. Hell, pick Hollihan so you’ve got a head start. Crap– let’s just say you’re the winner and send out a press release. I’d rather wrap this up here.

Dunno how I got in there. I guess all us wingnuts look alike to him. More from Pesky Fly here.

So, Davis capitulated and Mick "wins." Story over.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Mick wraps it up.

The Decline of West Tennessee

Very interesting post from Mark Rogers on the decline of the West Tennessee legislative dynasty in Nashville. He writes:

West Tennessee’s dominant political role has been declining as the result of a variety of factors though. The effort by dissident Democrats to overthrow Wilder in 1986 resulted in the famous alliance that preserved Wilder and gave Republicans greater influence in the Senate, shifting some power to East and Middle Tennessee. A political resurgence by Republicans has allowed them to gain control of the Senate and come slose to a majority in the House. The ‘Tennessee Waltz’ investigation and other scandals have weakened the Democrats, particularly the Leadership.

The major factor in the decline of the influence of West Tennessee is not politics but demographics. Fifty years ago West Tennessee and East Tennessee were the two largest Divisions while Middle Tennessee lagged. Today Middle Tennessee has almost caught East Tennessee and has easily passed West TN. For example, from 2000 - 2005 only three counties in West Tennessee grew at the state average of 4.8% or better. At the same time, 10 counties actually lost population. In contrast, almost every county in Middle Tennessee saw some growth, with Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson, Maury and Montgomery all seeing between 9% and 21% growth.

Much of the growth in Middle Tennessee has come from the influx of well-educated middle class families who display a strong affinity for economic and/or social conservativism. And, this is not just a five year anomaly. These trends existed in the 1980s and 1990s, marking decisive changes in the nature of the state.

He also notes a bit of horrifying change in the length of terms for Speakers of the House and Senate in the latter 20th century:

In particular, the years since the early 70s have seen the concentration of this power in the hands of long-term Speakers in both Houses. Before that time, the tenure of Speakers in both Houses was rarely over four years. In fact between 1900 and 1971 there were 33 men to hold the job of Speaker of the Senate and Lt. Governor while 29 men served as Speaker of the House. Since 1971 there have been four Speakers of the House and one Speaker of the Senate through 2006. In the House, two men account for six years while Speaker McWerter served for 14 years and Speaker Naifeh for 16.

I'm not a fan of term limits. Every election is a term limit. But one has to wonder at the apathy of voters to make changes in the leadership of the State. Such fear of change is often a sign of political sclerosis and a sure marker of old age. It's a sign of a need for real change.

It will be interesting to see if the changes Rogers posts about are that change coming. I fear that it's just swapping tires around instead of buying new ones. I don't think fundamental systemic change is slouching to Nashville to be born.

A graphic displaying what Rogers is talking about can be seen here.

Mr. Pot Bangs Head Against Mr. Kettle

Let's do this FARK style:

Blogger makes fun of Michelle Malkin's name. He's a Crook. Irony tag asplodes.

But wait! It gets better. In comments, he goes on to make fun of Asian-Americans. Kinda makes ya wonder what he says about other non-white people when they're not around....

The kids at The Flypaper Theory got all goobered up over the Bob Corker "bimbo" ad, claiming racism for weeks. They hammered at the Commercial Appeal and Jake Ford for racism during that race. One of their own bloggers makes a blatantly, pointed racist comment and the head of the blog, Chris Davis, nods along.

By the way Chris, her last name is Maglalang. Don't go there. As she says, "I think my brother beat you up in third grade when you used the same dumb taunt."

FRIDAY THE 19TH UPDATE: Well, the kids at Flypaper Theory finally noticed the post and boy howdy! Chris was all "Nuh-uh!" and then Jeff went "Huh?" and "Aw, hell naw!" Read the comments thread. Chris does clarify one point (re: the "bimbo" ad; see comments to this post for more from kibitzer) but Jeff just keeps digging and digging, proving my point all over again.

Look how angry Chris gets, too. Lawyers may now become involved.

AND THEN! Not satisfied -- nor wanting to go to moderated comments on his blog so he can control debate and always win the arguments -- and wanting to Shut Me Up Forever, Chris deployes his NUCLEAR OPTION. It's his way of Putting Me Beyond the Pale of Decent People.

Never mind that he and I went through this a year ago. (Related post here.) Chris wants me Silenced.

He's been a regular reader here. He knows I'm a registered, voting Libertarian with a deep distrust of government in anyone's hands. He also knows I'm not prejudiced against blacks. Anyone who's read my posts on life on Monroe Avenue, as he has, knows that. I'm initially supporting Herman Morris for Memphis Mayor, for heaven's sake. I worked for almost a decade at a drug treatment center. I'm the guy who's been trying to find Memphis' black blogosphere for four years now.

But no. He's on a Search and Destroy Mission, so things he knows to be true must be hidden from the reader, context must be erased, so as not to deflect his effort to make me an EVIL NAZI.

He couldn't win the earlier debate on points. He is psychologically incapable, it would appear, of just saying, "Let's end it here, OK?" or of just dropping it. Instead, like a petulant child, he lashes out.

I'm actually kinda tickled I've gotten under his skin and into his head so much! Obviously, I've pushed a button somewhere. I mean, he uses GREAT BIG FONTS TO EMPHASIS THE HORROR! Really. Go see.

Those of you on the left have gotten your marching orders from the Big Cheesy Pouf himself: I am now Radioactive Man! Sweeeet.

SUNDAY THE 21ST UPDATE Wow, Chris is growing unhinged. He's given up even attempting to refute anything and has just gone straight to vilification and deliberate mischaracterisation. He seems to want to win at all costs, and so is now painting me as some kind of David Duke.

Of course he can't tell me why I'm wrong because then he'd have to address the points I've been making. He can't do that, or won't, but same result. So he goes with what he knows: bile and venom. Lots of it, escalating. And then he claims he's going to be "busy for a while." How convenient for him.

He keeps editing and changing the post, so I'm going to quote him in full below for posterity. Screencaps have been saved as well, just in case.

UPDATE: Mr. Mike justifies his batshit crazy views by saying he's a Libertarian and the son of immigrants. He says this "breed the young white women before the browns overtake us" discussion is a discussion we should all be having. So folks, if you've got the stomach to read his views, click his links, and examine his "science," let's have this discussion. Others will have to jump in first because I'm gonna be busy for a while.

Notice all the code words and phrases he's using: breed, white women, browns, got the stomach, "science". That last in scare quotes, no less. I never talk science on this because it's not a scientific topic, it's a cultural and political discussion; that's just his way of nudging his readers into viewing me as a eugenecist. Nothing froths up the Left like Nazis, after all, and guarantees reams of spewing incoherent hate. He's hoping for wide currency for his deliberate smears so he can discredit me in general and in particular. Lame, yes, but typical and sad.

Except for one unfortunate word choice (which I regret but cannot change at this late date; it's still right where I made it, shaming me every day), I'm not having a race discussion. It's not about race, since Western liberal democracy is found in every color around the world. Asia, India, South America, Africa, and of course Europe and North America and Australia. He knows that and will not confront what I'm really talking about which is the threat to Western liberal democracy from a religion that does not share many of our fundamental values (personal freedom, religious liberty, freedom for women, freedom of expression, abhorrence of violence, etc.). He can't address that since he's staked himself to an all-out anti-war position. Folks with his position can't admit there might be any possible good coming from the war in Iraq. That post is a threat to his position. He might have to think and that might screw up his sloganeering.

It's a little frightening, sure, to have a moonbat loon decide to go full-bore after me. He's only concerned now with winning and shutting me up. There's no telling how far he might think is fair since he seems, like so many loons out there, morally certain of his righteousness. As C.S. Lewis wrote, "The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." Not that he's tormenting me; he just seems to believe that he's allowed to do whatever he feels is necessary.

Like I said over there, go back and reread my blog. Read his posts on his blog, and his comments to his cobloggers' posts. I'm just some guy in Midtown posting thoughts and opinions. He's the paid, professional journalist. Decide for yourself.

Exchange of the Day

Jimmy Neutron: I've always been into prestidigitaion!

Sheen: Ow! Ow! Six syllable words make my brain hurt!