Archive for January, 2008

Canadian Muslim: Killing Canadians Acceptable

Published
by
Krogenar
on January 31, 2008
in Politics and Terrorism
. 0 Comments

A man in Toronto has been making statements on the Internet calling for attacks on Canadian military personal.

Police have advised the Bangladeshi-Canadian that he is under investigation for incitement and facilitating terrorism after he repeatedly called the killing of Canadian troops in Canada “legitimate” and “well deserved.”

No charges have been laid, but counterterrorism officers are apparently taking it seriously, and the case has set off a debate inside government over where to draw the line between free expression and incitement.

“The promotion of hate and violence has no place in Canadian society, and it is an offence under the Criminal Code,” Stockwell Day, the Minister of Public Safety, responded when shown a sample of the postings. “Our government carefully balances the right to freedom of expression with our duty to protect Canadians from harm.”

Alarm bells about the online writings went off last September after German authorities arrested three Islamic militants accused of planning to bomb the Ramstein Air Base and Frankfurt International Airport.

That same day, Salman Hossain posted several messages about the plot on the comment board of a Toronto-based Internet site where he is a frequent contributor.

I have no idea why there’s any question over whether a ‘line’ has been crossed: Hossain is calling for violence. Under American law, a threat is not constitutionally protected speech. Throw the sucker in jail. What’s the big deal? Why all the hand-wringing?

McCain wouldn’t vote for his own immigration bill

Published
by
Relantel
on January 31, 2008
in Politics
. 2 Comments

Cornered in the debate last night was McCain, who was asked bluntly (twice) whether he would vote for his own McCain-Kennedy bill.  Instead of Yes/No, he gave a round-about answer that the question is moot because it would not come to a vote.  This is at the 3:03 mark and the 5:05 mark of the video below from last night. 

Update: Democracy Plugin Added!

Published
by
Krogenar
on January 30, 2008
in Announcements, Politics and Wordpress
. 5 Comments
Who should be the next President of the United States?
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Classic Rush opening post-Florida

Published
by
Relantel
on January 30, 2008
in Politics
. 2 Comments

From today's program (January 30, 2008): 

Transcript here. Partial quote:

RUSH: My friends, my friends, there is reason for optimism, there is reason for hope. By the way: “change” is a stupid slogan, and so is “hope,” but I know some of you want hope. Be of good cheer. From the shadows of this setback, let me offer this uplifting thought. In Florida, half the liberals voted for Mrs. Clinton. One-third of the Republicans voted for Senator McCain. Our friends in the media predicting my demise (boos) talk about how conservatism is dead. Let me ask a simple question, ladies and gentlemen. Why is it that all of the Republican candidates claim, to now carry the mantle of Ronald Reagan? Senator McCain is the most recent. “McCain Claims Conservative Mantle.” Said McCain (impression), “It shows one thing: I’m the conservative leader who can unite the party.” How can I be said to have lost, ladies and gentlemen, when what I stand for is rock ridiculous conservatism, and each one of these candidates — each one of them flawed, by the way, which has caused many conservatives to be wandering aimlessly in the electoral woods. How can it be said that I have lost or that conservatism has lost, when all of our Republican candidates claim to be conservative and to carry the conservative mantle?

With Rudy out, that leaves Romney

Published
by
Relantel
on January 30, 2008
in Politics
. 2 Comments

Rudy’s departure makes the remaining choice AF (after Fred) as a selection of one: Romney, assuming he is still in the race come the 2-12 Virginia primary.  NR’s endorsement from December 11, 2007 is worth re-reading. Their conclusion:

More than the other primary candidates, Romney has President Bush’s virtues and avoids his flaws. His moral positions, and his instincts on taxes and foreign policy, are the same. But he is less inclined to federal activism, less tolerant of overspending, better able to defend conservative positions in debate, and more likely to demand performance from his subordinates. A winning combination, by our lights. In this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field, we vote for Mitt Romney.

 With McCain, I see the 1996 race of BobDole, aging war-hero senator, staring down a chance at a repeat.  The only thing missing is Ross Perot, who could be played this year by Ron Paul. (”Larry, Larry, let me finish, Larry…”)

McCain is not the anti-christ, and would be far preferable to Obama or Hillary in November, but his stands on immigration and taxes, and his failure on judges (read Gang of 14 and failure to fight for appellate nominees) ought to give Republican primary voters pause. His strength on war and security can’t be overlooked, but over the years he’s had no problem with sticking it to conservatives of spite, specially since his 2000 loss to George W. Bush.

From the NR Romney endorsement is this mild language on McCain, which illustrates his shortcomings:

Two other major candidates would be able to keep the coalition together, but have drawbacks of their own. John McCain is not as conservative as Romney. He sponsored and still champions a campaign-finance law that impinged on fundamental rights of political speech; he voted against the Bush tax cuts; he supported this year’s amnesty bill, although he now says he understands the need to control the border before doing anything else.

Despite all that and more, he is a hero with a record that is far more good than bad. He has been a strong and farsighted supporter of the Iraq War, and, in a trying political season for him, he has preserved and even enhanced his reputation for dignity and seriousness. There would be worse nominees for the GOP (see above). But McCain ran an ineffectual campaign for most of the year and is still paying for it.

If it indeed is to be McCain, his selection of Vice President will become even more important. His recent trend back to the right will have to continue, and somehow he will have to come across as sincere in his conversion and assertions that he will follow through on promises.

Fear not, nothing’s over until the Conventions close…

Published
by
BeefcakeAZ
on January 29, 2008
in Politics
. 2 Comments

With the despair I’m seeing amongst the base on the results of just 6 total primaries and caucuses, along with the retirings of Rudy and FDT, Michael Reagan brings up this idea (from NewsMax):

“As a result, if the nomination gets thrown open in a brokered convention, the person who comes out of the struggle the winner will most likely be Newt Gingrich.

If I’m right, I’ll back him to the hilt. If I’m wrong, I’ll follow my dad’s lead and support the nominee no matter who he is.”

This idea brings Newt back into play. And why not? Unlike everyone else, he hasn’t been throwing his mug out there for everyone to see since January 2007. He did kick around the idea of jumping in by last fall, but with McCain, Romney, Giuliani, Huckabee, FDT, Tommy Thompson, Jerry Kilgore, Ron Paul and Alan Keyes already in the lineup, I guess Newt figured it was just too crowded and probably would do more harm than good.

Remember, just because a contender ”has” delegates doesn’t necessarily mean they “have” to vote for them. Just because John “I need to outrank my daddy” McCain is the GOP darling of the MSM right now doesn’t mean the Florida contingent feels the same way (and I would hope that they don’t).

THAT may have been the smartest strategy in the widest race in 50 years, after all.

Since when is 36% a resounding victory?

Published
by
Relantel
on January 29, 2008
in Politics
. 0 Comments

McCain appears to have won Florida with 36% of the vote. Romney settled in at 31%. Rudy edged ahead late in the 3rd place battle to take 15%, while Huckabee 13.5%. Ron Paul cracked 3%.  It is a shame that McCain’s false attack on Romney on Saturday appears to have tilted Florida in his favor.

Rudy’s concession speech had a farewell type nature that Fred’s had on the night of South Carolina, where he withdrew from the race a few days later. Internet speculation (fueled by this AP piece) is that Rudy will quit and quickly endorse McCain. That would be a shame.

The conventional wisdom of the media is fast to make this race over, that McCain is the presumptive nominee, when all he could muster was 36% of the vote. Huckabee and Romney stand to split many of the Super Tuesday states, and McCain ought to take several that might have gone Rudy.

Pens double up Devils 4-2, Malone leads with two goals

Published
by
Relantel
on January 29, 2008
in Hockey
. 0 Comments

First place was on the line as the Pens met the Atlantic Division leading Devils in New Jersey. It was also the debut at Left Wing for defenseman Brooks Orpik, and the Pens debut of center Nathan Smith, the Captain of the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins and recent callup due to injury and illness.

After surrendering the first goal late on a power play in the 1st, the Pens netted three goals in the 2nd and added one in the 3rd for a 4-2 win. Ryan Malone scored two goals, as did Devil Mike Rupp.  Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin were beasts in the game as well.

Continue reading ‘Pens double up Devils 4-2, Malone leads with two goals’

Public To-Do List for Buried Planet

Published
by
Krogenar
on January 29, 2008
in Announcements and Wordpress
. 5 Comments

1. Learn more about and decide whether or not to modify ‘permalinks’
2. Install a backup feature.

***See #6.

3. Why are some photos lost? Replace if possible or rewrite entries.
4. Try to setup XAMPP again, for development purposes.
5. Develop some weekly entries.
6. Plug-ins to examine: wp-backup, wp-cron, Installer, Gravatar, wp-cache, Democracy

***Democracy added, and weekly backups scheduled. :)

7. Write more relaxed, thoughtful entries.
8. Review/edit tags on existing posts.

I figure if I make it public I’ll have no choice but to follow through. :D

Poetry of glenn: Sonnet #3, 8.6.95-1

Published
by
Relantel
on January 29, 2008
in Poetry
. 0 Comments

At the time it was written, this was considered part of “Era VI”, which covered the time period July 16, 1995 to July 15, 1996. This one was the third numbered sonnet, and was on page 6 of the Era VI portion of Annotations of Life.

Sonnet #3

What is the Question my friend brings to me?
here, today, what shall envelop the mind
All emotion shall list forth, crying plea
for the query so inspired remind

that triteness, not love, sorrows the masses
discontentment reigns supreme among them
let it be our task, anxiety passes,
to cheer and make joyful with our anthem

So happiness returns, overtaking
depressions dissipate into the dust
love beckons, free for all, in the making
the best in uncommon ways; honored trust

the answer is found lurking quiet, still
that yes, love can be all strength to fulfill.

8.6.95 1    glenn

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