Conservative Donnybrook

About two and one-half weeks ago the Empire State Stem Cell Board voted to spend some of its $600 million budget, which is funded by the state, to pay women $10,000 for the opportunity to harvest their eggs. The eggs would then be used to create embryos from which stem cells would be harvested. The story does not indicate that men would be paid for donating their sex cells.

If you stick with the story, the ethical question is raised (buried) toward the end of the article.

Amazon, the online retailing giant, has preemptively shut down its Affiliates program, that is, the sector of their business whereby online referrers to their products receive a portion of the income from the sales, in North Carolina as the company expects the North Carolina legislature to pass (and the governor to sign) a bill reequiring Amazon to collect taxes for them on such sales. Amazon emailed all of its NC affiliates earlier this month to warn them it would not stand for such tactics, even if it meant both they – and their affiliates – would lose revenue, as well. Hit ‘em where it hurts, Amazon.

Remember when the United States used to stand for democracy and the rule of law?  Those were the days!  The United States used to support smaller democratic states going as far as to help craft constitutions, federal laws, judicial systems and legislatures.  Not any more.  Now the U.S. has signaled that we stand for left-wing tyrannts, socialist dictators and the rise to power through illegal means.  Constitutions, courts and legislatures be damned.  Now we stand with Fidel, Hugo, Evo and Rafael in supporting those that would disregard a democratic constitution, government and the rule of law.  Now Obama will have the United States return to supporting dictators in Latin America.  Now we support Zelaya and his clearly illegal and undemocratic methods.

The United States must end the cycle of supporting tyrants in Latin America.  Zelaya is/was a socialist and a dictator in the making.  This was no coup, the military in Honduras arrested the president after he illegally solicited assistance from the dictator Chavez to illegally hold a referendum which would have allowed him to run for election indefinitely.  Furthermore, the military arrested Zelaya upon request from the Honduran Supreme Court after its judgement was dismissed by the would-be dictator Zelaya.  Zelaya actively attacked a military installation with leftist supporters.  His goal was to distribute illegal ballots in an attempt to forever control the nation.  Only the legislature can call for a constitutional referendum. 

So, the legislature condemned Zelaya, the Supreme Court condemned him and the military defended democracy and the rule of law by abiding by the constitution and the wishes of the other two branches of government by arresting the hack. 

And Obama calls for a return of the socialist would-be dictator in defiance of democracy and the rule of law.  Mr. Obama, one’s character can be determined by the company he keeps.  Fidel and the mini-communists in this hemisphere are not good company.

Spare a couple of minutes for an interesting presentation of our national debt.

This was just too funny for me to not re-post.  John Ziegler is a radio personality in Los Angeles.  Here he is “discussing” the Lettermen-Palin feud with Contessa Brewer. 

H/T Leslie H. at Augur’s Well for the link.

Can you guess which Carolinian will be president in 2012?

A.  John Edwards

B.  Mark Sanford

C.  Jim Demint

D.  Lindsey Graham

E.  None of the above

I have to choose E.  For two small states they sure have a lot of politicians shooting themselves (or their spouses) in the feet.

The House and now the Senate have passed near unanimous resolutions “Expressing support for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and the protection of the rule of law.”  Only one Member of the House voted “Nay,” Ron Paul.  The House Resolution states:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who struggle for freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and the protection of the rule of law;

(2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the Government of Iran, pro-government militias, and affiliated entities against the people of Iran, which has escalated since the June 12, 2009, process of selecting Iran’s next political leader; and

(3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.

In his statement of opposition, Paul said:

I rise in reluctant opposition to H Res 560, which condemns the Iranian government for its recent actions during the unrest in that country. While I never condone violence, much less the violence that governments are only too willing to mete out to their own citizens, I am always very cautious about “condemning” the actions of governments overseas.

Of course I do not support attempts by foreign governments to suppress the democratic aspirations of their people, but when is the last time we condemned Saudi Arabia or Egypt or the many other countries where unlike in Iran there is no opportunity to exercise any substantial vote on political leadership? It seems our criticism is selective and applied when there are political points to be made.  

I adhere to the foreign policy of our Founders, who advised that we not interfere in the internal affairs of countries overseas. I believe that is the best policy for the United States, for our national security and for our prosperity. I urge my colleagues to reject this and all similar meddling resolutions.

It is amazing that Paul inspires anyone at all… other than the Iranian dictatorship.  I mean, refusing to express support for democracy, freedom and the rule of law for all Iranians simply because the House has not done so for Egyptians or Saudi Arabians is childish.  And “meddling resolutions?”  Seriously?  declaring support for the oppressed is now “meddling?”  Jeesh, I suppose Paul would rather the U.S. to turn a blind eye to all atrocities committed around the world.  What a bum.

The Drudge Report is reporting that ABC will sponsor “news” programs for the president endorsing his socialism.  Having caught wind of the bias, the RNC contacted ABC to obtain airtime to voice Republican opposition to the socialization of American medicine.  The request was denied by ABC.  No opposition to the Dear Leader will be tolerated by ABC. 

Is this it for ABC?  Is this the end of one of America’s oldest networks even trying to appear independent?  I for one have liked the news with Charles Gibson.  No longer.  Throw it on the pile with GM, AIG, etc….

President Obama has threatened to respond to nuclear proliferationwith a stern finger wagging.  That’s right, on Friday the Obama administration said it is prepared to confront ships near North Korea which it believes to be carrying contraband.  However, in no event will the United States Navy attempt to forcibly board the suspected contraband ships nor will it blockade or force a diversion of the ship’s course.  Instead, Obama will wag his finger and point: a time tested nuclear deterrent.

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (ugh), said “There’s reason to believe they (North Korea) may respond in an irresponsible fashion to this.”  Hmm, more irresponsibily that the Obama administration?  Rice said the administration was “very pleased” with the sanctions. She called the new resolution, which was supported by China and Russia, an “unprecedented” position by the Security Council.  Right, unprecedented because Russia and China did not veto new sanctions.

Rice also said Obama’s wagging finger should scare the Hell out of Iran.  “I imagine that they have been following this closely.”  She said Iran will observe that “the response from the international community has been very clear, very firm and very meaningful.”  Oh, indeed.

UPDATE:

It appears the United States Navy has encountered its first suspect ship!  Start wagging, Mr. Obama.  I am sure the NoKos wont threaten Hawaii…AGAIN.  Looks like we might have to santion North Korea.  God, I am sure they aren’t ready for that!

On the way home from work this evening I was listening to talk radio (as I do) and there was a PSA that came on during one of the programming breaks that concerned mortgage debt. There was a woman talking about how she got behind in her bills and how she was afraid to talk to bill collectors. In the background there was the sound of someone using a shovel to dig a hole. At the end, the announcer said let whatever organization it was “dig yourself out of the hole.” It is this phrase which I object to. If one is digging a hole and has found themselves at its bottom, the last thing that person should do in order to escape is to “dig.” The advertisement should have said something like “let us help you climb out of debt (or the whole you’ve dug).”

In light of this stupid ad, I thought I would open a discussion. Are there other stupid phrases which nettle you? Digging oneself out of a hole is certainly one for me. The phrase itself suggests exactly the opposite of a solution which might work. Anyway, give me your phraseological pet peeves.

The floodgates are being cracked ever so lightly. These examples of State sponsored death are alarming, but not at all unanticipated. When a society embraces a pervasive Culture of Death, there will be fewer and fewer brakes on its moral degeneration.

An elite pilot of World War II has passed away at the age of 88.  Mr. Charles Donald Albury flew in the 509th Composite Group led by Col. Paul Tibbits, Jr.  On Aug. 9, 1945 Albury co-piloted the Super-fortress “Bockscar” that dropped the second nuclear device on Nagasaki.  His heroic actions helped save an estimated 1 million plus lives by ending the war with aggressor Japan.  Without the bravery of men like Albury, the United States may have had to invade the home islands of Japan.  Such a move would have ensured a far greater loss of life on both sides than the dropping of both bombs.  Mr. Albury once commented about his role in World War II by saying “Everyone should be prepared to fight for liberty.  Our laws give us our freedom and I think that’s worth fighting for.”

After the war, Mr. Albury worked for Eastern Airlines as a pilot and trainer.  He is survived by his wife Roberta.  In memorializing her husband she remarked “My husband was a hero. He saved one million people … He sure did do a lot of praying.”

Rest in peace, Mr. Charles Donald Albury.

Earlier today Obama and Hillary Clinton arrived in Cairo. Apparently someone was pulling the SecState’s leg and told her it was a costume party. She went as a Teletubby.

“We are acting as reluctant shareholders.” 

“Let me be clear. The United States government has no interest in running GM. We have no intention of running GM.” 

“We cannot, and must not, and we will not let our auto industry simply vanish. This industry is like no other, it’s an emblem of the American spirit … And we cannot continue to excuse poor decisions. And we cannot make the survival of our auto industry dependent on an unending flow of taxpayer dollars.”

“I’m confident that the steps I’m announcing today will mark the end of an old G.M., and the beginning of a new G.M..”

These are the words uttered by our President while gleefully taking a 60% ownership in General Motors and handpicking new executives.  Let’s assume for a second that Obama is truthful in his statement that he has no desire to run or manage GM.  Why, then, did he take a 60% interest in the company before bankruptcy?  Why has the Bush-Obama administrations (they really are very similar) given a failed corporation over $60 billion so far?  Why not simply let GM go into bankruptcy and let the trustee restructure with private equity?  Why do the taxpayers have to bail out yet another failed multi-national corporate giant? 

And why are self-described “anti-corporate dissidents” around the country so silent as all this has happened?  Where are the free-market champions?  Where are the fiscal conservatives?  Where are the average American taxpayers? I want answers, real one not flimsy “too big to fail” nonsense. GM did fail, no matter how much cash is thrown down that Detroit rat hole.  GM did fail and Obama took a 60% cut of that rotting corpse and called it a taxpayer responsibility.

Meanwhile, Obama’s emissions control orders (clearly a violation of the dormant Commerce Clause) will cost Americans roughly $1,300 more while receiving remarkable less from their vehicles.  The cap and trade debacle, as proposed, all but assures that Americans (and even the illegals Washington so loves) will pay more for electricity, gas, household products…you name it.  of course, Obama denies these truths.  Instead, he sugar coats his power grab while telling the American taxpayer sweet little lies.