Random Thinking

"Random Thoughts" belongs to the great Thomas Sowell.

The latest Newsweek cover story asks and answers, "What's So Great About The iPad? Everything." And then it proclaims, "How Steve Jobs will revolutionize reading, watching, computing, gaming- and Silicon Valley".
Seems like a remarkable guy, doing all this "good". What federal agency does he work for, anyway? He must command huge quantities of taxpayer funding to feed his success.

Fred Barnes on the Fox News panel a few days ago said that President Obama's recess appointment of labor partisan Craig Becker to the NLRB shows that Obama is going all in with his hard left agenda. Expect to see more aggressive manuevers in the coming months - card check, cap and trade, immigration reform among them. Then next year when the Democrats no longer control Congress, Obama will move toward the middle, beginning his re-election campaign. This resembles the 60s TV show, Run For Your Life in which the main character, played by Ben Gazzara, is told he has only 1-2 years to live (disease not revealed) and tries to live his life to the fullest in the time he has remaining. Obama has about 7 months before his party dies.

One reason James Madison balked at including a Bill of Rights in the Constitution was that it would appear to exclude other rights that were not so defined. I suspect that he never, in his wildest imagination, believed there would ever have been a need for the following:
Congress shall make no law denying the right of the people not to partake in a commercial activity; or mandate any such activity as a requirement of lawful citizenship.

Who says there's no bipartisanship in Washington? True, Obamacare passed without a single Republican vote. But there was certainly bipartisan opposition to the bill as 34 Democrats joined 178 of their GOP colleagues in the House. And now 327 House members (75% of the body) have signed a letter expressing dismay over Obama's hostile turn towards Israel. Obama can now honestly say that he's fulfilling his promise to bring the country together. Against his policies. Note also - It took only 3 days to get those 327 signatures. It took 14 months to cajole 219 Democrats to vote for Obamacare.

Some citizens outraged by the Democrats' radical agenda have suggested fighting it using civil disobedience as a weapon. I wonder what would happen if all blue state conservatives refused to return their census forms and then turned away census workers that showed up at their doors. There is a good chance that the 40%+ reduction in the influence of states like California and New York would guarantee a heavy GOP dominance in the House throughout the next decade. Note that I'm only speculating about a hypothetical situation, not recommending breaking any law. (wink, wink).

Based on a scarce few unsubstantiated incidents, Democrats are spreading the word that all opponents of their agenda are hateful, violence inciting racists - a transparent attempt to delegitimize any criticism. Michelle Malkin quoted Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen accusing Republican leaders of "stoking the flames" and Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn accusing the GOP of "aiding and abetting" what he called "terrorism."

In a recent column, John Hawkins listed 15 samples of bilious liberal commentary. Following the Democrats' lead, it should be assumed that these are representative of liberal thought and taste and reflect the views and goals of Democratic party leadership. Thus, the included threats should be taken very seriously. Here are some of the remarks cited by Hawkins. I'm not going to issue an obligatory disclaimer about possible offensiveness as these are mainstream Democratic talking points.

"A spoiled child (Bush) is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audio sound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little b*stard. [audio of gun being cocked]." -- A "humor bit" from the Randi Rhodes Show

"F*** God D*mned Joe the God D*mned Motherf*cking plumber! I want Motherf*cking Joe the plumber dead." -- Liberal talk show host Charles Karel Bouley on the air.

"O&A - 'Condoleezza Rice'"
Charlie - "I'd love to f--- that b*tch dude" (laughter)
Charlie - "She's the F---in man"
O&A - "yeah"
Charlie - "I'd F...that b*tch...."
O&A - "I just imagine the horror in Condoleezza Rice's face...."
- "(laughter) ..... as she realizes what's going on"
- "...as you were just holding her down and F'n her."
Charlie - "punch her all the F'n face, shut the F--- up b*tch"
O&A - "that's exactly what I meant" (laughter in background)
Charlie - "you know F--- it .... and George Bush wife? I'd F--- that b*tch to death" --
"Shock Jocks" Opie & Anthony talk rape & violence with their guest "Homeless Charlie."

"Republicans don't believe in the imagination, partly because so few of them have one, but mostly because it gets in the way of their chosen work, which is to destroy the human race and the planet. Human beings, who have imaginations, can see a recipe for disaster in the making; Republicans, whose goal in life is to profit from disaster and who don't give a hoot about human beings, either can't or won't. Which is why I personally think they should be exterminated before they cause any more harm."
The Village Voice's Michael Feingold, in a theater review of all places.

Among Hawkins' examples is one from Spike Lee and another from Bill Maher, both esteemed liberal personalities. Liberals also hold in high regard that enlightened periodical, The Village Voice. Compare the above VV excerpt, a liberal view of conservatism, with the following, a conservative view of liberalism, by Michael Knox Beran in the latest issue of National Review (4/5/2010). One is informed, intelligent, respectful. The other, not so.

In spite of the challenge posed by the social imagination, the classical element survived in mid-20th-century American liberalism. A political movement, unlike a political theory, does not necessarily suffer from its internal contradictions; the lack of doctrinal purity that degrades a paper philosophy often strengthens a program that aims at practical results. Even as liberals in the last century promoted social policies, the classical countercurrent within liberalism mitigated the hubris that the new social ideal might otherwise have bred in its disciples.

Below, some interesting reading.

Norman Podhoretz in a WSJ op-ed defense of Sarah Palin. Aside from expressing support, he makes some astute observations about the role that class plays in her denigration. Among his deserving targets are pseudo-conservative elitists Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker, Peggy Noonan, David Frum and David Brooks. The WSJ previously singled out Frum as the go to guy when the liberal media needs an example of a "conservative" critical of the GOP. Or to make the "conservative" case for some item on the Democrats' wish list.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703909804575123773804984924.html#mod=todays_us_opinion

Bret Stephens, also in the WSJ, examines the true source of radical Islam's anger at the West. And it isn't the building of Israeli settlements. (Hint - Lady Gaga, whoever she is, is a factor).

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052702304370304575151541851806562.html#mod=todays_us_opinion

Sean Trende tells why the repeal of Obamacare has a much better chance of succeeding than most pundits believe.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/03/30/four_reasons_repeal_of_health_care_bill_isnt_out_of_the_question_104976.html

Hawkins
http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2010/03/30/violent_liberal_hate_rhetoric_fifteen_quotes?page=1

Beran
http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=YjNjYTZhODYzNmM1OWM0NzVjYjBhNTliOWQ1ZmU2YjQ=

Humberto Fontova exposes the real Che Guevara as a murderous, cowardly, racist, dull (personality wise) tyrant. He points out the incongruity of Che's true personna and the beliefs of his admirers.

http://townhall.com/columnists/HumbertoFontova/2010/03/31/apple_boycotts_glenn_beck—promotes_che_guevara!