tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54569606102118183722024-03-05T22:34:33.579-06:00Saint Louis ConservativeSt. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.comBlogger972125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-40172087950827807522011-05-24T13:36:00.001-05:002011-05-24T13:38:29.471-05:00Saint Louis Conservative's new Favorite Judge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7SdFHfvBhFra5thxmEU9Mop8c2VnZJ7nChhr92N9Y8GbUFfWI5w4iCdO8-up3rejkL5UjbrNcHJkjyKd_AGxWM4wzMXeOKcIdilW45DbQUvrN-YXBwDJhWxE2MUtluirngXnw7Wdyzs/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7SdFHfvBhFra5thxmEU9Mop8c2VnZJ7nChhr92N9Y8GbUFfWI5w4iCdO8-up3rejkL5UjbrNcHJkjyKd_AGxWM4wzMXeOKcIdilW45DbQUvrN-YXBwDJhWxE2MUtluirngXnw7Wdyzs/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a>Judge Robert H. Dierker, Jr., take a back seat. Though I'm still quite fond of Dierker's personal fight against red light cameras in the City of St. Louis (chronicled <a href="http://saintlouisconservative.blogspot.com/2009/11/fight-on-judge-dierker-fight-on.html">here</a> and <a href="http://saintlouisconservative.blogspot.com/2009/12/judge-dierker-won-his-red-light-camera.html">here</a>), that fight was undertaken as an accused litigant in front of the bench. <br />
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Mark Neill has now taken up the fight as a judge behind the bench. Neill, like Dierker a Circuit Court Judge in the the City, ruled Friday that the City's red-light camera ordinance is unconstitutional and invalid. (Link to story <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_a15bdc79-4cf5-5dd3-800b-5b7289c64648.html">here</a>.)<br />
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As they say in some parts of the country, "Darn tootin'!"<br />
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Kudos to Judge Neill, SLC's new favorite!St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-15712432116883286982011-05-23T22:07:00.000-05:002011-05-23T22:07:07.405-05:00Labels aside, 61% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all or most circumstances<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPffkvmoXftPmrtPwziT0MDIMRClU12tTZGI4FzWOlVYvtfRtBWajfauq8VYc59vYzxwFUUbKPeTIukXkb0Y8BUOkXnlNHY3Snm6046EGC8VnAHbfzw_xMn5LEW4wMHBH0omkPT4MfKRs/s1600/pro-life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPffkvmoXftPmrtPwziT0MDIMRClU12tTZGI4FzWOlVYvtfRtBWajfauq8VYc59vYzxwFUUbKPeTIukXkb0Y8BUOkXnlNHY3Snm6046EGC8VnAHbfzw_xMn5LEW4wMHBH0omkPT4MfKRs/s320/pro-life.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>Though only 45% of Americans polled by Gallup labeled themselves as "Pro-Life," 22% said that abortion should be illegal in "all circumstances" and 39% said that abortion should be legal in "only a few circumstances." (Link to story <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-61-percent-say-all-or-most-aborti">here</a>.)<div><br />
</div><div>While I do find it sad that 39% of Americans support legal abortion in most or all circumstances, I'm choosing to be positive today and happy that a significant majority of people oppose most abortions, despite what we see in the media. This is good news.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Keep talking. Keep persuading. The truth will win out and one day, some day, in some generation, with God's help, human beings will stop killing their children.</div>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-91434103531882411922011-05-06T10:15:00.000-05:002011-05-06T10:15:40.169-05:00Need to see the body vanishes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoCmfpMYyy_IJSvVahV_G26Wexjj9ne7g2O1ZaFffI9uPRhcX5qSfG4sxhEmS1joYePwCflhTYliN35sNoroAiEXksoh7PxnU4KIZdAzNssCNH-hqBLUm8BBH33XM1C847RFtR1VL8f0/s1600/times-osama-bin-laden-cover-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoCmfpMYyy_IJSvVahV_G26Wexjj9ne7g2O1ZaFffI9uPRhcX5qSfG4sxhEmS1joYePwCflhTYliN35sNoroAiEXksoh7PxnU4KIZdAzNssCNH-hqBLUm8BBH33XM1C847RFtR1VL8f0/s320/times-osama-bin-laden-cover-0.jpg" width="320" /></a>The debate over whether or not the U.S. government should release the photos taken of Osama bin Laden's dead body has made headlines all week. Many of those in favor seem to want to quiet those who would deny that bin Laden actually died. Others claim that seeing the body would provide them with closure. I don't understand that one but maybe it is true. On the other hand, those calls may simply be disguised voyeurism. <br />
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People arguing against the release of the photos argue that such photos could stir up Islamic extremists and cause problems for American citizens and our military. While that may be true, I really doubt that showing a photograph of an extremist's dead compatriot would incite the extremist more than the act of killing that same dead compatriot would. And, really, isn't it simply in bad taste? Disgusting?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMQ1q-DIw0BfQdtIdAkb3FVH1EXxfyRVcmIBUEuzddmUhhLt73xxGRmGdFiVpg58l5z3hG5xlPdXSP4Bz4k_YkADHDJLbuRRKRuIErSHdjNCOYTO34Y_GUKcdVjhsejFpxQm9yfsbzpk/s1600/facesblubig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMQ1q-DIw0BfQdtIdAkb3FVH1EXxfyRVcmIBUEuzddmUhhLt73xxGRmGdFiVpg58l5z3hG5xlPdXSP4Bz4k_YkADHDJLbuRRKRuIErSHdjNCOYTO34Y_GUKcdVjhsejFpxQm9yfsbzpk/s320/facesblubig.jpg" width="234" /></a>In my mind, the only reason to release the photographs would be if there was some legitimate need to prove that America's military hit the right target. And, until now, that reason could have arisen. But the need is now gone . . .<br />
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"Al Qaeda confirmed the death of Osama bin Laden on Friday in an Internet message that vowed revenge on the United States and its allies." (Link to story <a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-confirms-bin-laden-death-monitoring-group-122049286.html">here</a>.)<br />
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So, our government says that bin Laden is dead. And al Qaeda says that bin Laden is dead. Seems like bin Laden is dead.<br />
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If you still want to see the photos, ask yourself "Why?"<br />
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And if you give an honest answer, you might be able to satisfy your sickness by renting "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faces_of_Death">Faces of Death</a>" instead.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-29215482821584766492011-05-02T09:17:00.002-05:002011-05-02T09:19:37.787-05:00If ever . . .<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VpoudLoc8sY" width="425"></iframe><br />
If ever I was to rejoice at the death of another human being, it would be at the death of Osama bin Laden. But, as a Christian, I can't, and don't rejoice at the death of another, any other, human being.<br />
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On the other hand, today I do stand firm in the belief that justice - at least partial justice - has been done for the victims of the attacks on America in September 2001.<br />
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And I do rejoice that bin Laden is no longer in control of al-Queda and no longer able to give support, plans, direction, or funding to further terror attacks. One chapter in the fight has ended. And, without bin Laden, the world is changed for the better.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-9554019711759612632011-04-04T13:23:00.000-05:002011-04-04T13:23:50.432-05:00If the Obama 2012 Campaign turns out to be honest, we'll see more of this . . .<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VIA5aszzA18" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-45666574017156594282011-03-31T09:38:00.001-05:002011-03-31T09:39:11.322-05:00Milton Friedman speaking the truth<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hrg1CArkuNc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-67560352193379226962011-03-21T22:14:00.001-05:002011-03-21T22:14:58.988-05:00The latest on Air Claire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12Jon4ZHEfhGRmh3jqxxBp4kAITsuP9E5dBgLzyiZMu-YGilvV7Lz25wESPAemn7EEhwG3RWbnGEmhtkt1ueZLJzdKizomySNMxhzJgvDsbg52zzdLkZRkqgaE7R5ylSozOUfp82wzXo/s1600/Pilatus-PC-12-N933SP-SeaPort-Airlines-Single-Engine-TurboProp-PC12-Airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12Jon4ZHEfhGRmh3jqxxBp4kAITsuP9E5dBgLzyiZMu-YGilvV7Lz25wESPAemn7EEhwG3RWbnGEmhtkt1ueZLJzdKizomySNMxhzJgvDsbg52zzdLkZRkqgaE7R5ylSozOUfp82wzXo/s400/Pilatus-PC-12-N933SP-SeaPort-Airlines-Single-Engine-TurboProp-PC12-Airplane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Missouri's senior senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill, who you'll have the chance to vote out of office next November, recently admitted to improperly billing taxpayers for use of an airplane that she owned on political trips not government business. <br />
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Now it turns out that McCaskill - a former auditor - failed to pay $287,000.00 in personal property taxes on that very same plane. (Link to story <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/breaking-sen-claire-mccaskil-d-mo-admits-failing-pay-287000-property-taxes_554904.html">here</a>.)<br />
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Is Claire a crook? Or, best case scenario, she just can't keep track of "minor" things like taxes she owes. After all, $287,000.00 is just pocket change for McCaskill.<br />
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Either way, does she really deserve to keep her job representing our state in Washington?St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-9113309654817492882011-03-21T21:59:00.000-05:002011-03-21T21:59:42.050-05:00Obama supports oil industry . . .<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9AfpAN3JIvF0NfpAyPaUSdRBU-WhT30m2CuqK2H_W9nBpv__ozneG2EDi5abUL9NaeX06HY5VafCf87dZydxeLMIjZz7VbddgAShdFQUnd7AdT-TJTw4Tdk3AMJLZPSGsV2fYU04Grc/s1600/1984-electoral-map-300x193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9AfpAN3JIvF0NfpAyPaUSdRBU-WhT30m2CuqK2H_W9nBpv__ozneG2EDi5abUL9NaeX06HY5VafCf87dZydxeLMIjZz7VbddgAShdFQUnd7AdT-TJTw4Tdk3AMJLZPSGsV2fYU04Grc/s1600/1984-electoral-map-300x193.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1984: Reagan vs. Mondale<br />
Could 2014 be as red?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>in Brazil. Check out this <a href="http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/566719/201103211908/Obama-Drill-Brazil-Drill.htm">link</a>.<br />
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I wish this was hard to believe. But, for this guy, it seems to be par for the course.<br />
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Is it 2014 yet? I can't wait to see the electoral map turn uniformly red.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-56769681135343936602011-03-06T13:53:00.000-06:002011-03-06T13:53:54.043-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6rkZcYoDmf24SDi-52VIZFWPU7fHL1Emm0b8wv3c7VNl16-MJ0HZJDXBT_iZElLByuwCnNwLnecZdQkMrA9HKIT1no8OfTKv5nyvJflwWG4bu6QqitCN4s1W4UBOpisma7pfB8A-PGQ/s1600/Riding+Off+Into+The+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6rkZcYoDmf24SDi-52VIZFWPU7fHL1Emm0b8wv3c7VNl16-MJ0HZJDXBT_iZElLByuwCnNwLnecZdQkMrA9HKIT1no8OfTKv5nyvJflwWG4bu6QqitCN4s1W4UBOpisma7pfB8A-PGQ/s320/Riding+Off+Into+The+Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPdj_UXpk-MNGYlAgmT0vjgFjKyPHdhQtGRxsLKaKo4vBxuF6UeuyBwK9VUeS_BuD0lIiQDtT0qcEVE8JhN0JNpLW5E_KkwoBV8HPfe3j_McVURtF-bS6NmyOhyphenhyphenDra0pO97UeMmQiTao/s1600/terminator_2___ill_be_back_1245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPdj_UXpk-MNGYlAgmT0vjgFjKyPHdhQtGRxsLKaKo4vBxuF6UeuyBwK9VUeS_BuD0lIiQDtT0qcEVE8JhN0JNpLW5E_KkwoBV8HPfe3j_McVURtF-bS6NmyOhyphenhyphenDra0pO97UeMmQiTao/s320/terminator_2___ill_be_back_1245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-75240243484964612592011-02-18T00:32:00.000-06:002011-02-18T00:32:10.375-06:00If the White House press secretary says it, it must be true. Right?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhe89RTBhHKsoRTZWmadEIgBY7Y1JFv16d9wOCpxBmwLbuSUVaeQeevM3nHnhphaxg_1lr96QggGW-Y5_lEC-4YV-eT0tFc46vpN_ecnXV74nKWZ1KQF5HcI3X69v4wlnzHiY5C58yTs/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef014e861ea285970d-300wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhe89RTBhHKsoRTZWmadEIgBY7Y1JFv16d9wOCpxBmwLbuSUVaeQeevM3nHnhphaxg_1lr96QggGW-Y5_lEC-4YV-eT0tFc46vpN_ecnXV74nKWZ1KQF5HcI3X69v4wlnzHiY5C58yTs/s320/6a00d8341c630a53ef014e861ea285970d-300wi.jpg" width="212" /></a>Check <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/02/17/whs_jay_carney_stimulus_goals_have_been_met.html">this</a> out at Real Clear Politics . . . <br />
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<i>"White House press secretary Jay Carney says the Recovery Act [a.k.a. the so-called 'stimulus' - SLC] added several million jobs and lowered the unemployment rate. According to Carney, the 'goals' of the stimulus package 'have been met.'"</i><br />
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Though Carney hasn't been on the job for long, he's definitely qualified. He can lie with a straight face.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-60351212003969965922011-02-18T00:24:00.001-06:002011-02-18T00:24:52.945-06:00The cuts go on<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtok8XCsHx2L-VAwK75UeKTHUeId_S4jbD9KE7YecMp3udur_hMT9zQuDguwroBtGTOu5Nez07rorrP2e0O2sF_lsbDLdkAIjOY-fO-uep7E4QDWYRw9ed16fToWMTTkOy56OLHOFWbQ/s1600/Ivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtok8XCsHx2L-VAwK75UeKTHUeId_S4jbD9KE7YecMp3udur_hMT9zQuDguwroBtGTOu5Nez07rorrP2e0O2sF_lsbDLdkAIjOY-fO-uep7E4QDWYRw9ed16fToWMTTkOy56OLHOFWbQ/s400/Ivan.jpg" width="307" /></a>Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to de-fund Barack Obama's Teleprompter.<br />
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Thursday, the House voted to de-fund eight "czars" working as advisors and who are, according to the bill's sponsor, Representative Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), "unappointed, unaccountable people who are literally running a shadow government, heading up these little fiefdoms that nobody can seem to identify where they are or what they're doing." (Link to story <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49781.html">here</a>.) <br />
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The Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-Ohio), has thrown down the gauntlet saying, "Read my lips: We're going to cut spending." (Link <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/02/17/boehner-read-my-lips-were-going-to-cut-spending/">here</a>.)<br />
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I hope that you're right, Mr. Speaker. Too bad that the Democrats still control the Senate and the White House.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-77985881219051578882011-02-16T23:46:00.000-06:002011-02-16T23:46:19.596-06:00Kudos to Congressman Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX2Cb9OuVzPtl5cinx8vdlcvEsESnzMWQW3Q_nu1Gg1Q2hw3yVJpFa-1quCjRpL8mA1RrR7h3k7PRYAGjEMwQbgZ8Xu3a4Qe4FRWSrd2YuQZUYCw_HTYR2HPeOfig_RHpUoGTo_uRJv8/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef01157200be03970b-450wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX2Cb9OuVzPtl5cinx8vdlcvEsESnzMWQW3Q_nu1Gg1Q2hw3yVJpFa-1quCjRpL8mA1RrR7h3k7PRYAGjEMwQbgZ8Xu3a4Qe4FRWSrd2YuQZUYCw_HTYR2HPeOfig_RHpUoGTo_uRJv8/s320/6a00d8341c630a53ef01157200be03970b-450wi.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>for his proposal to eliminate government funding of Barack Obama's Teleprompter. (Link to story <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/15/house-prepares-chop-spending-remainder/">here</a>.)St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-22442857422443099772011-02-11T23:54:00.001-06:002011-02-11T23:55:07.377-06:00Mr. President, I hate to break it to you, you're no Ronald Reagan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9f3Ntg9TlijT_-4qBfTdbrplwzKqHs7joUVDIoauCp5R5BsXfW3vZ2UqKr-1B-lgoa07luidthagZIuFanIjdZBGN2wUJ8yj1rvB9QkebKJbtyp7y2dzrBLQg0MEao-v5Atk8wl___Q/s1600/reagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9f3Ntg9TlijT_-4qBfTdbrplwzKqHs7joUVDIoauCp5R5BsXfW3vZ2UqKr-1B-lgoa07luidthagZIuFanIjdZBGN2wUJ8yj1rvB9QkebKJbtyp7y2dzrBLQg0MEao-v5Atk8wl___Q/s320/reagan.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnEhMG7QFpYbAAikSrogyWdCYGvLJrEEXGCepFmut60fsUVOxWDF8bwOlUWQy3o7WK6LCqvHnqH6eS41zFNHohh51ENGh-6C2q5Sr6bMaU_OvAkoHdsK6_P7H0S3Iiu0SaqU5lnz77Co/s1600/barack-obama_116969t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnEhMG7QFpYbAAikSrogyWdCYGvLJrEEXGCepFmut60fsUVOxWDF8bwOlUWQy3o7WK6LCqvHnqH6eS41zFNHohh51ENGh-6C2q5Sr6bMaU_OvAkoHdsK6_P7H0S3Iiu0SaqU5lnz77Co/s1600/barack-obama_116969t.jpg" /></a>Barack Obama's attempts to morph his image, though certainly not his ideology, into that of Ronald Reagan Continues. Now, he's even taken to referring to himself as "The Gipper." Link <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/02/11/obama_refers_to_himself_as_the_gipper_in_farewell_to_gibbs.html">here</a> to see for yourself.<br />
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<br />
Mr. Obama, I remember Ronald Reagan. You're not him. Not even close.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-90971129114809453262011-02-06T23:58:00.000-06:002011-02-06T23:58:34.437-06:00Happy 100th Birthday to the greatest president of my lifetime<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l4xvwQAwPAo" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-4244692504368948532011-02-04T22:22:00.001-06:002011-02-04T22:23:36.980-06:00Will America have any allies left once this guy gets done?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh983QMt_F_0fQmQfJmmPkGRaR7tMLsLvl5WBWRxdaYoNr3dekQZ5Mjvw0f4yOXvCTUzmCuY94qojvfhj1XNjmnDJRPyS3vQF5n53Co0-l2jxpmYyGPCqN9Y0NQlR6tO-x-Ns5Dn5-zmFo/s1600/barack-obama2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh983QMt_F_0fQmQfJmmPkGRaR7tMLsLvl5WBWRxdaYoNr3dekQZ5Mjvw0f4yOXvCTUzmCuY94qojvfhj1XNjmnDJRPyS3vQF5n53Co0-l2jxpmYyGPCqN9Y0NQlR6tO-x-Ns5Dn5-zmFo/s640/barack-obama2_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>After today's disclosure that the Obama administration sold out the people with whom we once had a special relationship; our closest (soon-to-be formerly closest?) allies . . . the British, I have my doubts. Apparently, in order to placate the bear, we agreed to tell the Russians about all the nuclear weapons that the U.K. keeps in its arsenal. Information that the U.K. holds as a state secret. (Link to story <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8304654/WikiLeaks-cables-US-agrees-to-tell-Russia-Britains-nuclear-secrets.html#">here</a>.)<br />
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Obama's got to go. The incompetence (it's either that or anti-Americanism and I prefer to think positively) must end. January 20, 2013, can't get here fast enough. I just hope that there's enough respect for the United States left by then to salvage a coherent positive foreign policy.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-3590304933617366872011-02-04T12:43:00.002-06:002011-02-04T12:44:49.418-06:00Definitions matter and the media is liberal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEkPMPAZLPyqG5TRrmhYt4dIBiSAzPhRm-boRn5Ay709tuvdvzC2n1Jgo8VxdgD3LYuywBtQqVOZcJKF08A8g9P83h7vIrtjVB_csRUkpJXILQiMKU9nugZefS1BlxY8XBkeOjx8EctI/s1600/reading_newspaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEkPMPAZLPyqG5TRrmhYt4dIBiSAzPhRm-boRn5Ay709tuvdvzC2n1Jgo8VxdgD3LYuywBtQqVOZcJKF08A8g9P83h7vIrtjVB_csRUkpJXILQiMKU9nugZefS1BlxY8XBkeOjx8EctI/s400/reading_newspaper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is." - William J. Clinton</span><br />
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As our former president knew, definitions matter. So does the presentation of the question.<br />
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Joshua Greenman of the New York Daily News writes <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/02/04/2011-02-04_republicans_wrote_the_political_dictionary_its_proof_democrats_dont_control_the_.html">this piece</a> today concluding that "Democrats don't control the media." And, to give Greenman some credit, I agree that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Democrats</span> don't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">control</span> the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">media</span> . . . but only as he defines the terms and poses the question.<br />
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Let's start with the question itself. Does anyone "control" all aspects of media? Of course not. It is not possible to "control" the dissemination of all viewpoints across all spectrums - to decide what is said, who says it, and how across every newspaper, radio station, television station, blog, and website in and out of the country. So, of course, it is quite easy to point to examples of the non-existence of a clear impossibility. And, Greenman does do that well. But who couldn't?<br />
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And how does Greenman define "the media"? Traditionally, I think, most folks would consider the "news" departments at newspapers, radio stations, and television channels to be a part of the media. Not the editorials or op-ed columnists. Not the disc jockeys or talk-show hosts. And not the weatherman or the stars on the sit-coms. You know, the media used to be all the folks who sometimes still claim unbiased neutrality and always used to claim it. But Greenman makes sure to include all possible outlets of information including Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin, neither of whom would fit into a traditional "media" definition, and neither of whom would ever claim to be neutral.<br />
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The truth is that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">liberals</span> (if not Democrats) do <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">dominate</span> (if not control) almost every traditional media outlet (if not the entire media).<br />
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I'll give Greenman real credit for his column. It is an interesting take on the success that conservatives have had in labeling some policies and getting a message out through a formerly-upstart cable news channel and other new "media" channels. But the conclusion that these successes prove that liberal Democrats don't control the dominant ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</span>, the Associated Press, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</span> and every other major newspaper in the country, is ludicrous. And, for now, despite the rise of alternative news outlets on cable and the internet, those old-school media outlets still matter.<br />
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If you don't believe me, watch the news tonight, or read any newspaper you can find today. Or, if you're looking for something objective, check the records of newspaper endorsements by party in recent elections. <br />
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Liberal bias exists in traditional media folks. The traditional media just hates it when we notice.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-8955708518952388412011-02-04T00:22:00.000-06:002011-02-04T00:22:02.365-06:00"Global weirding"Check out <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1314036">this piece</a> from today's <i>Boston Herald</i>.<br />
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I couldn't have said it better myself.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-60223587398926887462011-01-28T00:02:00.000-06:002011-01-28T00:02:12.267-06:00Too Bad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJbIO-0g8cBrxEDbA7QvN0geuEr-oCC3q45XReLNfG37hyzB89GJ3b6kym9SSlm7APVBS1C2dCywZTLTgGwVqofhdmPXxybORLfNHqBkxgZVisDe01uaVsDW4FG9FNx7_n0tmU6oRbOs/s1600/110110_talent_ap_465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJbIO-0g8cBrxEDbA7QvN0geuEr-oCC3q45XReLNfG37hyzB89GJ3b6kym9SSlm7APVBS1C2dCywZTLTgGwVqofhdmPXxybORLfNHqBkxgZVisDe01uaVsDW4FG9FNx7_n0tmU6oRbOs/s320/110110_talent_ap_465.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jim Talent, our state's one-time U.S. senator, won't be our state's next U.S. senator. (Link to story <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_796b7796-2a47-11e0-8531-00127992bc8b.html">here</a>.) And that's unfortunate. Talent would be the best person for the job. He has the experience, integrity, and conservative credentials to, again, be a great senator. He is a man of honesty and integrity. He is a man of intelligence ant thoughtfulness. In fact, he's probably too intelligent and thoughtful for Congress.<br />
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While Talent would have been the best candidate to replace current senator Claire McCaskill, McCaskill should not rest too easy. This is a reddish state already and one can sense the hue darkening. Several formidable Republicans are ready to enter the GOP primary for a crack at McCaskill in 2012 - a year that Republicans statewide and nationwide are fired up and ready to take back the majority in the Senate and to take back the White House. Ann Wagner, Sam Graves, Jo Ann Emerson, and Ed Martin have been mentioned. And Sarah Steelman has already thrown her hat in the ring. Just about the only Missouri Republican whose name hasn't been mentioned as a potential challenger for McCaskill is Brock Olivo. But give him time.<br />
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When the crowded Republican primary heats up in Missouri, let's hope that it remains civil. All of the GOP candidates should keep their eyes fixed on the true opposition in the race - McCaskill, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, and the Democrats . . . not each other. Keep in mind, all of you, that you agree on much more than you disagree. Don't get personal and wound the winner so badly that he or she can't manage to win in the end.<br />
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As for Talent, I don't think he'll be getting bored without a race to run. In addition to his other jobs and interests, it looks like he'll be keeping busy with the as-yet-unofficial Mitt Romney campaign for president. Good luck to you Jim - or should I say Secretary Talent?St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-12836866424340859472011-01-26T00:01:00.003-06:002011-01-26T00:02:34.844-06:00Paul Ryan's GOP Response<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWQO0sHrIbAzHKWPvj8U2A_ODWkx4siJ9zzexgNNizg-SVOmHOx6iC0pI_ZMm0qSmyiVPFuUiX8f7GhnDSdoZrsQg1W5vSRyvAMy-alliC8xew9C7GnDJZhgn1765c09zieoP3s33OPE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWQO0sHrIbAzHKWPvj8U2A_ODWkx4siJ9zzexgNNizg-SVOmHOx6iC0pI_ZMm0qSmyiVPFuUiX8f7GhnDSdoZrsQg1W5vSRyvAMy-alliC8xew9C7GnDJZhgn1765c09zieoP3s33OPE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div><div>While it amazes me (and, frankly, embarrasses me when looking at my own life's accomplishments) that a 40-year-old man is Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I'm happy that Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is on the job there. His response to Barack Obama's State of the Union speech was well-written and well-delivered. Great job Congressman Ryan. Keep up the good work!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Here's a representative and remarkable chunk of Ryan's speech (the full text of which can be read at <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20029571-503544.html">this link</a>):</div><div><br />
</div><div>"We [Republicans] believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government. Limited government also means effective government. When government takes on too many tasks, it usually doesn't do any of them very well. It's no coincidence that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of government is at an all-time high.</div><div><br />
</div><div>"The President and the Democratic Leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs to increase its size and its reach, its price tag and its power. Whether sold as 'stimulus' or repackaged as 'investment,' their actions show they want a federal government that controls too much; taxes too much; and spends too much in order to do too much."</div><div><br />
</div><div>Paul Ryan sounds like a man worthy of belonging to the party of Ronald Reagan. Now it is time to follow though!</div><div><br />
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</div>St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-66180289314621902062011-01-25T23:37:00.000-06:002011-01-25T23:37:17.473-06:00State of the Union . . . listening to a president playing fast and loose with the facts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaMr6z5geXKeqe_GgBzC73zL5JM4-78HQEtNrAujmoFKaYNxcq0F4PekgLd66EaSIGZv_kXjiSjPlMF2_eoLoIjYq8sZrj-bgPhcC-uVp-gD8-O8Fi2pFFfnykLfcn7pGBLhOjGxZrCA/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaMr6z5geXKeqe_GgBzC73zL5JM4-78HQEtNrAujmoFKaYNxcq0F4PekgLd66EaSIGZv_kXjiSjPlMF2_eoLoIjYq8sZrj-bgPhcC-uVp-gD8-O8Fi2pFFfnykLfcn7pGBLhOjGxZrCA/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>In tonight's State of the Union address to Congress and the nation, Barack Obama put a the best face possible on his policies and proposals. But that's easy to do when you don't worry about being honest. The president's speech tonight was full of fibs. Don't take my word for it, check out what Calvin Woodward at the Associated Press had to say - link <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110126/ap_on_re_us/us_state_of_union_fact_check_5">here</a>.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-47546181150157816412011-01-24T23:35:00.001-06:002011-01-24T23:35:35.307-06:00Beware of the Wolf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFCQtju62JpWcQnOqLyrc2f8NEZCra0pVd0aBifvs9_WT9za5N8Dhr1NRgNXdzbEkhwaIKAUvKU09-4TNdTGRpuCNf0Z9W9QHk6CQHiIkqawJwk7NC0mHPVAYNOwFAsBmo9TBhnvxGnk/s1600/3335151608_5c90274475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFCQtju62JpWcQnOqLyrc2f8NEZCra0pVd0aBifvs9_WT9za5N8Dhr1NRgNXdzbEkhwaIKAUvKU09-4TNdTGRpuCNf0Z9W9QHk6CQHiIkqawJwk7NC0mHPVAYNOwFAsBmo9TBhnvxGnk/s400/3335151608_5c90274475.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ronald Reagan's birthday is approaching. On February 6, the Gipper would have been 100 years old. This pending centennial, apparently, has given USA Today cause to publish tributes from Reagan's admirers, like <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-john-boehner_N.htm">John Boehner</a>, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-mitt-romney_N.htm">Mitt Romney</a>, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-sarah-palin_N.htm">Sarah Palin</a>, and <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-edwin-meese_N.htm">Ed Meese</a>. Even <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-sam-donaldson_N.htm">Sam Donaldson</a> wrote a semi-positive remembrance. <br />
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But one tribute has taken me aback. Barack Obama penned <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-01-23-ronald-reagan-president-obama_N.htm">this piece</a> lauding the Reagan's leadership and legacy. <br />
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Has the ultra-liberal changed his thinking? Has the conservatism embodied by Ronald Reagan broken through and convinced Obama of the errors of his thinking? His philosophy and love of freedom? His view of government and its role in the lives of the American people?<br />
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Sadly, I don't think so.<br />
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And that brings me to the State of the Union address, which Obama will deliver tomorrow evening to a posturing group of politicians who think that sitting in a chair next to someone you disagree with makes a difference. But the biggest phony of the night will be the one reading the TelePrompTer. Obama, no doubt, will speak of bipartisanship and cooperation. Of moderating our difference and setting a new tone in Washington.<br />
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Blah . . . blah . . . blah.<br />
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It would be worth ignoring completely if it wasn't so dangerous. Faced with the fact of his policies' huge defeat in November and the power shift in Congress to the GOP, Obama is almost certain to paint himself as a moderate tomorrow night. But do not be fooled. The man lives and breaths liberalism. He's a tax-and-spend Democrat who has done and is doing everything in his power to socialize this country - emphasis now our healthcare system.<br />
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Ronald Reagan said "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."<br />
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Barack Obama is a far cry from Ronald Reagan. Beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-2066148671869921362011-01-20T00:22:00.001-06:002011-01-20T00:23:03.342-06:00Global Warming Study "seriously flawed"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbuXTvqQSm42wTurQ-mU7nq-tcm3MJ8Ard-CqQ8IjM4jPOJwdtMGaf-KGQ4NP8JSp-x8ulsZpuqvKy6AhIx1AEUWowRcRqcIv8nFexthvc9wbHI-EZ58WR8OBNC4zR3lnu1V8HofEhgI/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbuXTvqQSm42wTurQ-mU7nq-tcm3MJ8Ard-CqQ8IjM4jPOJwdtMGaf-KGQ4NP8JSp-x8ulsZpuqvKy6AhIx1AEUWowRcRqcIv8nFexthvc9wbHI-EZ58WR8OBNC4zR3lnu1V8HofEhgI/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>Shockingly (sarcasm intended there), "a climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday." (Link to story <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110119/ts_afp/climatewarmingfood_20110119163335">here</a>.)<br />
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Shockingly (no sarcasm here) these "climate scientists" have admitted that the flaw existed . . . and the media is reporting it.<br />
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But, of course, it was just "an honest and common mistake."St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-41721466113935083492011-01-20T00:12:00.000-06:002011-01-20T00:12:57.238-06:00Sickening Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qdSgYGFLON1EOkGM9Uyty1efrUGbQB_OgzhrZk1cGPWwrB0Ze-KfI2kjgdPK4EHEX9xC9ZATvaxi699jEt9psP-lFllh-5V4W6u4OmUZFX64yOZ5KMvXQykayGxmMdADMuEfgZVRjtQ/s1600/kermit_gosnell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qdSgYGFLON1EOkGM9Uyty1efrUGbQB_OgzhrZk1cGPWwrB0Ze-KfI2kjgdPK4EHEX9xC9ZATvaxi699jEt9psP-lFllh-5V4W6u4OmUZFX64yOZ5KMvXQykayGxmMdADMuEfgZVRjtQ/s320/kermit_gosnell.jpg" width="238" /></a>Use caution before reading the story at <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=7906881">this link</a>. It is about a doctor in Philadelphia who operated a "clinic" performing late term abortions in the sixth, seventh, and eighth month of pregnancy. His methods are described in the story as "illegal" and "dangerous." His facility is described as "a filthy, foul-smelling 'house of horrors.'" Conditions were "barbaric."<br />
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Dr. Kermit Gosnell has been charged with eight counts of murder. One woman apparently died of an overdose of painkillers while awaiting an abortion. Seven babies, at least, were delivered alive and, then, when even 21st century America knows that it is wrong, killed. The details are in the article.<br />
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The story itself, of course, is sickening. What this man, and his employees, did is, of course, horrendous -barbaric - inhuman.<br />
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But what sickens me even more is the description of "a typical late-term abortion" that is given in the story for comparison with the murders with which Gosnell has been charged. How on earth can those "typical" procedures be described as anything less than horrendous - barbaric - and inhuman? Yet no other doctor faces charges?<br />
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May God forgive us all.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-41255439778912581442011-01-19T23:50:00.003-06:002011-01-19T23:53:00.923-06:00How long did the "new" tone last in Washington?<img border="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyOTU1MDIzNDQzNjQmcHQ9MTI5NTUwMjQ2MDkyOSZwPTEyNTg*MTEmZD1BQkNOZXdzX1NGUF9Mb2NrZV9FbWJlZCZn/PTImbz**ZWY2YzI3Yjc1ZGM*OWRhYmUxNWE4YmE1MzdiYzBkOCZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,124,0" height="278" id="ABCESNWID" width="344"><param name="movie" value="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="flashvars" value="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&configId=406732&clipId=12648858&showId=12648858&gig_lt=1295502344364&gig_pt=1295502460929&gig_g=2" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="344" height="278" flashvars="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&configId=406732&clipId=12648858&showId=12648858&gig_lt=1295502344364&gig_pt=1295502460929&gig_g=2" name="ABCESNWID"></embed></object><br />
Not very long for Democrat Steve Cohen.St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456960610211818372.post-79364733107242278552011-01-17T12:16:00.000-06:002011-01-17T12:16:08.470-06:00The Whimpification of Language<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8-N7W2Dku5pn9C4Z3ESVbWCWzORYbvF353ikPnEm1Lkn200mUvwB6DoBf7SiibLHTk_IalgK724L6XoLQWbf_AzjP7YAGYlAZSORr6eHIRA8coRiJWd4m29_WzuSibrl8s2aHhKqRa0/s1600/hershiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8-N7W2Dku5pn9C4Z3ESVbWCWzORYbvF353ikPnEm1Lkn200mUvwB6DoBf7SiibLHTk_IalgK724L6XoLQWbf_AzjP7YAGYlAZSORr6eHIRA8coRiJWd4m29_WzuSibrl8s2aHhKqRa0/s320/hershiser.jpg" width="320" /></a>I remember a commercial from the 1980s featuring L.A. Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser describing pitching as "like climbing a mountain" or "going to battle." Hershiser's use of those analogies (similes?) irritated me at the time (believe it or not, I was more easily irritated back then) and I lashed out in verbal diatribes (since the blog had not yet been invented) whenever the commercial aired and anyone else was in earshot. "Shut up Orel! You've never climbed a mountain! You've never been in battle! How would you know what either one was like?"<br />
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So what does this trip down memory lane have to do with 2011? The Arizona shooting spree seems to be taking its toll on the English language, at least as used in public America these days. Apparently, language that when taken in any context as possibly or potentially or maybe-in-the-mind-of-a-sociopath violent is now taboo. Take, for example, House Speaker John Boehner's new way to refer to Obamacare. He used to call it "job killing" but now it is merely "job crushing." (Link to Ben Smith's Politico blog <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0111/Rhetoric_toneddown.html">here</a>.)<br />
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Apparently, no one is allowed to use the word "killing" in political discourse anymore. Even when it refers to the "death" of inanimate objects or ideas. How, ever, can the wonderfully-named city of Town & Country discuss how to control its rampant deer population? Or what would happen if a researcher today discovered a cure for cancer that "killed" malignant cells? I guess they'd have to "disable" those cells instead. Right?<br />
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English is not the most beautiful language in the world. It is certainly not the most logical. But it is certainly colorful. But, in the aftermath of a deranged man's act of violence, the political correctness crowed is trying to scrub some of that color from our language.<br />
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If John Boehner had been referring to an "employee killing" piece of legislation, that would be over-the-line. But no person in his or her right mind could possibly believe that a reference to a piece of legislation "killing jobs" is inciting violence. It doesn't even mention violence. How can it be violent to "kill" something that is not physical, not alive.<br />
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Now, whatever I can say about the Orel Hershiser commercial, his language was colorful and I still remember it about 25 years later. <br />
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Stop watering down our language! Stop making us sound like a bunch of P.C. wimps!St. Louis Conservativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18206343320261458781noreply@blogger.com0