GOP Vixen

Amigo del coyote

In the latest attempt to keep illegal aliens freely flowing into the U.S., the Mexican government has issued a report claiming a border wall would hurt the environment. Not only is the Mexican government concerned that bears and wolves would not be allowed to freely cross the border but it’s also concerned that pollen would not be able to cross. I would like to set the Mexican government’s mind at ease and assure them that, although the wall will be expensive, there are currently no plans to install a 700-mile HEPA filter.

Since the Mexican government has done so much to assist people illegally crossing the border, I am suspicious of its newfound interest in wildlife and the environment. Somehow, I think they are less concerned with the ability of Mexican wolves crossing, and more concerned that human coyotes will have trouble crossing.

Al Gore, Nobel winner? What a joke!

Granted, the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize took a nosedive when it was awarded to Yasser Arafat, but now it's proven to be nothing more than a political back-patting tool. After doing the awards circuit through Hollywood for his questionable global-warming tome, Al Gore now scoops up the Nobel Prize, despite a) junk science having little to do with peace, b) chiding others about climate change while hopping on his gas-guzzling private jet, and c) his Live Earth concerts leaving a carbon footprint the size of Godzilla's.

What's nauseating is not so much another honor for Gore, but those whose struggles have been ignored to throw wreaths at the ex-vice president (and Manbearpig hunter, hat tip to "South Park"). What about Father Nguyen Van Ly, the Vietnamese priest who's worked tirelessly for democracy and spent years in and out of dank prisons for rallying the people for freedom? What about Kareem Amer, the Egyptian blogger who advocated peace and justice, and now sits in prison? What about the monks of Burma, many of whom are now dead or missing because, as the world stood by and just watched, they took the lead to demand democracy in peaceful marches through Myanmar's streets?

Then again, none of those people really working for peace has ever walked a red carpet -- just seen the red of bloodshed and oppression in countries few seem to care about anymore, and did all in their power to make a difference.

L.A.-bashing gettin' really old...

This afternoon I attended the Wednesday Morning Club at the Four Seasons, where Laura Ingraham was the featured speaker. Ingraham was on her "Power to the People" tour, driving a bus emblazoned with the same slogan while pitching and signing her current book of the same name.

Now, let me start by noting that I am far more libertarian than Ingraham, so I wasn't apt to agree with some of her presentation in the first place. I don't believe that some folks not being modest spells the end of it all, and I have never been able to find the distinction between "family values" and regular ol' values -- which exist in people who come from good families and screwed-up families alike. And though Ingraham is a very talented public speaker, she wasted no time launching into the tired conservative refrain that goes something like this: L.A. has no values. The middle of the U.S. is America. Middle America gets the heebie-jeebies just thinking about L.A. Angelenos (and, as she specifically included, folks from Santa Barbara on south) live in a "bubble" mentality whereby we just cruise down Sunset in convertibles and thus can't top the good ol' American values of the Heartland.

I've been to about half the states in this union, and lived in Texas and Colorado. I once road-tripped it to South Dakota (long story) and was surprised to not find the welcoming hospitality so often associated with the Midwest -- rather, I encountered a clique mentality hesitant to welcome outsiders, and a very homogeneous population. I like our diversity, and, in addition, I like diversity of thought. In the last election, L.A. County went for Kerry, and the surrounding counties went for Bush. We really aren't that easy to define, and are beyond sweeping generalizations. Frankly, L.A. is not the end of humanity as we know it.

But is it just the celebs in La-La Land perpetuating this reputation to Middle America (those same Middle Americans who can't wait to come spend their tourist dollars here and buy maps to the stars' homes), or is it conservative talk-show hosts who fail to make the distinction to their Heartland audiences that L.A. is composed of a lot more than Lindsay Lohan and Barbra Streisand?

'Excuse me, Sen. Kerry... OWWW!!!'

Yikes! Don't try to ask John Kerry too much, or you'll get zapped!

"A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested after trying to ask U.S. Senator John Kerry about the 2004 election and other subjects during a campus forum.

Videos of the incident posted on several Web sites show officers pulling Andrew Meyer, 21, away from the microphone after he asks Kerry about impeaching President Bush and whether he and Bush were both members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University."

Like most things in the world, there's YouTube video of the incident. The best part is after the guy is in the back of the auditorium, already dogpiled by a bunch of officers and Tasered, screaming for help, you hear Kerry's droll voice in the background, still at his microphone, stating very calmly, "OK, I'll answer his question... because it's a very important question..." Um, Senator, the guy's a little preoccupied at the moment to hear your answer... he's on the floor screaming in pain and being handcuffed...

The Big Race Update

Mike Huckabee is generating a lot of buzz since his surprisingly strong showing in Iowa prompting one democratic strategist to comment, "If he had money, he would be our worst nightmare." Huckabee has been consistently strong in the debates but some of his Iowa success can be credited to support from Fair Tax folks. Fair taxers like Mike.

The republican Godot, Fred Thompson, is fading a bit as people get tired of waiting for his official announcement. Still Fred promises a splash when does jump in by saying that he will "take some risks" and force "dialogue on our entitlement situation, our military situation and what it's going to cost". In the rest of the republican field Giuliani is holding his own while Romney continues to try and claw his way to the top.

On the Democratic side, man of the people, John Edwards, continues to discredit himself. His latest embarrassment involves the Fortress Investment Group, which sold sub prime loans and is now foreclosing on a lot of folks including Katrina victims. Not only did Edwards make a cool half million working for the group part-time, he took $150,000 in contributions from the company’s employees and has $15 million invested in the company. Edwards has responded to the revelations by mustering his best Steve Urkel saying, "Did I do that?"

The rest of the democratic race has remained quiet as Hillary continues to gain strength. The shine has come off Obama as more and more questions about his experience, or lack thereof, has let the air out of his tires. The last democratic debate was more like a liberal zombie showcase, with one exception; most zombies want brains and these candidates only want the brainless.

Senate slumber party!

High drama at the Senate as Dems force war debate into an all-night publicity stunt! As tantalizing as the prospect of a cozy evening with Harry Reid sounds (that was a joke, for the love of God), the Senatorial slumber party will, as most actions on Capitol Hill, accomplish nothing. Dems hoping to push a war vote will probably end up noshing microwave popcorn and reading "Choose Your Own Adventure" books in fluffy slippers. No word on if Deborah Jean Palfrey will be arranging goodnight kisses for the sleepy Senators...

Support freedom and democracy in Vietnam! Free Father Ly!

Let’s drum up support for Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Roman Catholic priest and editor of a pro-democracy publication in Vietnam who was recently sentenced to eight years in prison (and not the first time he’s sat behind bars for the cause of freedom). I’ve just finished creating a blog that highlights not only Father Ly’s case, but other brave Vietnamese voices.

Click over and learn more about Father Ly. The image of guards clapping a hand over his mouth at his trial (as he said “Down with the Communist Party of Vietnam!” after the sham guilty verdict was read) is being widely circulated around the Web, much to the chagrin of the regime. We turned this image into the sidebar bug that you see, and hope as many bloggers as possible will stick it on their sites. In return, we’re compiling a blogroll of supporters on the site. We like to call that “igniting a blogstorm” in the name of freedom and democracy!!

Suck Up or Die Hard

I just watched Trent Lott and his new immigration BFF Dianne Feinstien on Fox. After trying to pry his foot out of his mouth for blaming talk radio for the failure of immigration "reform", Lott tried to push the idea that lack of bipartisanship was behind the low opinion people have of congress. McCain also played kissy face with Ted Kennedy over immigration reform. After watching McCain’s shot at the Republican nomination drop faster than a jello shot down Lindsey Lohan’s gullet, you might think the Republican leadership would get a clue. Americans do not want immigration reform, and Republicans do not want the GOP leadership to suck up to liberal Democrats.

If the Republican leaders have any doubt the party is in grave trouble, they need look no further than John MacClane. When John MacClane decides to quit hanging with the GOP, we are really in trouble.

Poor Pelosi! Poor Harry!

Sucks to be them, after a new Gallup poll showed American confidence in Congress at an all-time, pathetic low: 14 percent. To put that into context, Bush has also hit a new polling low, but still has 26 percent approval. AND the Gallup poll found that Americans had slightly more confidence in HMOs than Congress! Ouch!

That big, giant crashing sound you hear, by the way, is the "mandate" falling to the floor and shattering into little bitty pieces...

Fred Ahead, McCain Dead

While traveling to Seattle last week I had time to read up on the GOP horse race. I knew Fred Thompson would do well but I did not anticipate how quickly he would rocket up in the polls. I like Thompson, but he is not as smooth as the scotch swilling Arthur Branch when he does not have a script. Giuliani does much better with unscripted speaking but with a little more rehearsal, Thompson could match Giuliani.

   

Giuliani tried to blunt the Thompson juggernaut by releasing his “12 Commitments”. At first glance, the 12 commitments look pretty good until you realize he does not say how he plans on making it happen. Maybe Rudy can start calling them the 12 warm fuzzys.

   

You can put a fork in John McCain because he’s done. After running a horrible campaign, John decided to throw himself under the straight talk express and support the horrible immigration bill. Now Republican are ready to deport him.

   

Romney is running a very effective stealth campaign. Not only is he raising tons of cash, but he is running ahead in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney has a smart strategy; take the first two primaries, then pull out the cash when the field has narrowed. In the meantime, Thompson and Giuliani can take shots at each other.

   

Of the other also-rans, only Huckabee has managed to gain credibility with his excellent performance in the debates. Huckabee might be a good choice for VP if Giuliani or Romney is nominated. Heck, he might even be a better shot than Cheney.