Darn you Chad! Since you got your parody piece based on the Cat in the Hat posted ahead of the parody I'm working on, I'll have to drag out the one I did about a year ago. I don't want to get left completely in the dust.
A little background is necessary for this because it isn't exactly current events. About a year or so ago, the U.S. held a big meeting in London for Iraqi dissident groups. We were feelign out who among them might be useful in constructing a new government and who had a good feel for what the Iraqi citizenry would like. The uncle of Joradan's King Abdullah attended. This guy has a fairly good reputation in the world because he didn't make a big stink about it when his brother, the former King of Jordan, passed him over and annointed his son to be the next king. He made it quite clear that if they were looking for a member of the Hashemite family (reputedly descendants of Mohammed) to act as a head of state, well, he could find the time to hold the position.
So, I sat down and penned this little song for him that is sung to the tune of King of the Road.
King for sale or rent
Reputation’s moderate
No bombs, no tanks, no threats
Won’t upset U.S. Presidents
I spent four decades being groomed
To rule a Hashemitic Throne
I’m a man of Mohammed’s fam’ly
King of Iraq
Third Learjet’s my private plane
Destination, Baghdad, yea!
New Rolex, suit and tie
Add a crown and baby I’m your guy
I wed a Pakistani beauty queen
She’d sure be lovely in your social scene
I’m a man of Mohammed’s fam’ly
King of Iraq
I know every delegate the U.N. might send
To check on our weapons, and rights of humans
I know every oil well in every town
And every port that exports when no one’s around.
I am a
King for sale or rent
Reputation’s moderate
No bombs, no tanks, no threats
Won’t piss off U.S. Presidents
I spent four decades being groomed
To rule over a Hashemitic throne
I’m a man of the Profet’s fam’ly
King of Iraq
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
A little Cat in the Hat from Wes Clark's perspective
The Dems could not win.
I knew not what to say.
So we sat down in Chappaqua on a cold, cold, wet day.
I sat there with Hillary
We sat there, we two.
And Hillary said “Wesley, how I wish you had something to do!”
“You have no convictions, you were run out of NATO.”
“We can create your positions like an ashtray from Play-Doh.”
For the rest of the day all we could do was sit, sit, sit, sit.
And Hillary referred to me as her “marionette twit.”
And then something went BUMP!
How that bump made us jump!
We looked and we saw him step in on the rug!
We looked and we saw him! Arkansas Smug!
And he said to us, “Why do you sit there you slugs?
“I know the field is pretentious and only Sharpton is funny.”
“But we can still be kingmakers if you’ll just take me back honey!”
“I know some dirty tricks we can play” said Smug.
“A lot of good tricks, Begala taught them to me.”
“When we are all done, the Dems will beg for Hillary!”
Then Hillary and I did not know what to say.
I had thought this was about me, at least in a way.
But Hillary said “No! No! Bill you must go away!”
If Wes Clark suspects, he could go astray.”
“Now! Now! Have no fear.
Have no fear!" said Bill to Hillary.
“I’ll keep him in the dark, he won’t even see.”
I’ll balance and triangulate, move left and move right.”
You and he both will be amazed at the sight.”
“Have no fear” said Bill. “I will not let you fail.”
I will talk about solar power and high speed monorail.
With a tear in my eye and a wink to the crowd.
Our brilliance will blind them. They’ll be loud, wowed, and cowed.
You’ll talk middle class tax cuts and, I, soaking the rich.
We’ll play off of one another, without a hitch.
Getting rid of Wesley at the end is the only little glitch.”
That was the last straw for me. I had to go.
I wanted no part in the Bill and Hillary show.
I started for the door, Bill and Hillary gave a stare.
I stopped in my tracks just standing there.
Bill said to me “Wes, you may just want to wait.”
“I’ve got some friends coming over and they’re running late.”
These are my friends but I will share them with you. Their names are Flowers and Lewinsky but I call them Fling One and Fling Two.
These Flings will not bite you.
They want to have fun."
Then, from under his podium came Fling Two and Fling One!
They said, "How do you do?
Would you like to have non-sexual relations with Fling One and Fling Two?"
And Hillary and I did not know what to do.
So we “did not have sexual relations” with Fling One and Fling Two.
Having blackmailed us well, we were his for the taking.
We would run as he told us, his dynasty in the making.
I did as he said and held Hillary’s place.
I dropped out right on cue. She finished the race.
Bill and Hill, Hill and Bill, two peas in a pod.
Triangulate and strangulate, with a wink and a nod.
McAulliffe, and Carville, Begalla and Ickes
All came along to help with their tricks.
The electorate squirmed at a Clinton redux.
Congressional Democrats were scared of them too.
And rightfully so, it would appear to me.
Hillary’s pied pipe led them all to the sea.
The jumped off the cliff, an atonement for their sin.
Each one after the other, agin and agin.
W. took the White House, gains all around.
Bill and Hillary destroyed the party, burnt it to the ground.
Bill tried to pick up the pieces, what little was left.
But the pieces were soaked with corruption, graft, craft, and theft.
Too smart by half, and too dumb by a third.
Clinton would be struck from the lexicon as a word.
Only shame followed and flight to merry France.
Perhaps the frogs would appreciate their political dance.
© 2003 Chad Nicholl
I knew not what to say.
So we sat down in Chappaqua on a cold, cold, wet day.
I sat there with Hillary
We sat there, we two.
And Hillary said “Wesley, how I wish you had something to do!”
“You have no convictions, you were run out of NATO.”
“We can create your positions like an ashtray from Play-Doh.”
For the rest of the day all we could do was sit, sit, sit, sit.
And Hillary referred to me as her “marionette twit.”
And then something went BUMP!
How that bump made us jump!
We looked and we saw him step in on the rug!
We looked and we saw him! Arkansas Smug!
And he said to us, “Why do you sit there you slugs?
“I know the field is pretentious and only Sharpton is funny.”
“But we can still be kingmakers if you’ll just take me back honey!”
“I know some dirty tricks we can play” said Smug.
“A lot of good tricks, Begala taught them to me.”
“When we are all done, the Dems will beg for Hillary!”
Then Hillary and I did not know what to say.
I had thought this was about me, at least in a way.
But Hillary said “No! No! Bill you must go away!”
If Wes Clark suspects, he could go astray.”
“Now! Now! Have no fear.
Have no fear!" said Bill to Hillary.
“I’ll keep him in the dark, he won’t even see.”
I’ll balance and triangulate, move left and move right.”
You and he both will be amazed at the sight.”
“Have no fear” said Bill. “I will not let you fail.”
I will talk about solar power and high speed monorail.
With a tear in my eye and a wink to the crowd.
Our brilliance will blind them. They’ll be loud, wowed, and cowed.
You’ll talk middle class tax cuts and, I, soaking the rich.
We’ll play off of one another, without a hitch.
Getting rid of Wesley at the end is the only little glitch.”
That was the last straw for me. I had to go.
I wanted no part in the Bill and Hillary show.
I started for the door, Bill and Hillary gave a stare.
I stopped in my tracks just standing there.
Bill said to me “Wes, you may just want to wait.”
“I’ve got some friends coming over and they’re running late.”
These are my friends but I will share them with you. Their names are Flowers and Lewinsky but I call them Fling One and Fling Two.
These Flings will not bite you.
They want to have fun."
Then, from under his podium came Fling Two and Fling One!
They said, "How do you do?
Would you like to have non-sexual relations with Fling One and Fling Two?"
And Hillary and I did not know what to do.
So we “did not have sexual relations” with Fling One and Fling Two.
Having blackmailed us well, we were his for the taking.
We would run as he told us, his dynasty in the making.
I did as he said and held Hillary’s place.
I dropped out right on cue. She finished the race.
Bill and Hill, Hill and Bill, two peas in a pod.
Triangulate and strangulate, with a wink and a nod.
McAulliffe, and Carville, Begalla and Ickes
All came along to help with their tricks.
The electorate squirmed at a Clinton redux.
Congressional Democrats were scared of them too.
And rightfully so, it would appear to me.
Hillary’s pied pipe led them all to the sea.
The jumped off the cliff, an atonement for their sin.
Each one after the other, agin and agin.
W. took the White House, gains all around.
Bill and Hillary destroyed the party, burnt it to the ground.
Bill tried to pick up the pieces, what little was left.
But the pieces were soaked with corruption, graft, craft, and theft.
Too smart by half, and too dumb by a third.
Clinton would be struck from the lexicon as a word.
Only shame followed and flight to merry France.
Perhaps the frogs would appreciate their political dance.
© 2003 Chad Nicholl
Monday, November 24, 2003
A Quick Thought on a Tragic Event
Over the weekend, three soldiers were killed in northern Iraq, in the city of Mosul. They were shot as they were driving in a jeep from one post to another. In this case, some teenagers then proceded to gruesomely assault the bodies, in once case with a concrete block.
Now, the AP stories on this I've seen focused on the typical major media defeatist attitude (losing ground with the population in Mosul, growing resentment, spreading violence, blah, blah, blah) and compared it to Mogadishu.
I too was comparing it to Mogadishu, but for a different reason. I think this demonstrates, again, that they are becoming desperate. The Ba'athists and al Qaeda elements in Iraq have been counting on the U.S. to withdraw as the body count grew. But just refuse to do so.
Now they're confused. Why aren't the soft Americans pulling out? Osama told them about the strong horse and the weak horse. He told them that they were naturally the strong horse. The Americans were too weak, disunited, and decadent to stick this out. They'd give up easy.
But we haven't.
They ask themselves, "If deaths got them to leave Somalia, why isn't it getting them to leave Iraq? Why is this different? What did the Somalis do that we haven't?" And then they thought of the unholy images of our men being dragged through the streets that were broadcast in the U.S. after Mogadishu.
That's where the brutalizing of our men came from. Al Qaeda and the Ba'athist remnants are desperately trying to come up with the magic formula that got us to leave Somalia. They've tried ambushing our soldiers, attacking infrastructure, attacking the U.N., attacking in Turkey, attacking in Saudi Arabia, attacking NGOs, and attacking civilians that help us, and nothing works. It's almost like some sort of alchemy, where if they can just come up with the right combination of depravity, we'll pack up and run.
They are open to considering any idea which explains our refusal to give up except the actual two reasons. George Bush is not Bill Clinton. And for Americans, September Eleventh is a stronger memory than Mogadishu.
Now, the AP stories on this I've seen focused on the typical major media defeatist attitude (losing ground with the population in Mosul, growing resentment, spreading violence, blah, blah, blah) and compared it to Mogadishu.
I too was comparing it to Mogadishu, but for a different reason. I think this demonstrates, again, that they are becoming desperate. The Ba'athists and al Qaeda elements in Iraq have been counting on the U.S. to withdraw as the body count grew. But just refuse to do so.
Now they're confused. Why aren't the soft Americans pulling out? Osama told them about the strong horse and the weak horse. He told them that they were naturally the strong horse. The Americans were too weak, disunited, and decadent to stick this out. They'd give up easy.
But we haven't.
They ask themselves, "If deaths got them to leave Somalia, why isn't it getting them to leave Iraq? Why is this different? What did the Somalis do that we haven't?" And then they thought of the unholy images of our men being dragged through the streets that were broadcast in the U.S. after Mogadishu.
That's where the brutalizing of our men came from. Al Qaeda and the Ba'athist remnants are desperately trying to come up with the magic formula that got us to leave Somalia. They've tried ambushing our soldiers, attacking infrastructure, attacking the U.N., attacking in Turkey, attacking in Saudi Arabia, attacking NGOs, and attacking civilians that help us, and nothing works. It's almost like some sort of alchemy, where if they can just come up with the right combination of depravity, we'll pack up and run.
They are open to considering any idea which explains our refusal to give up except the actual two reasons. George Bush is not Bill Clinton. And for Americans, September Eleventh is a stronger memory than Mogadishu.
Let the Backstabbing Begin
So, some of the Kerry staffers have had enough of this Howard Dean fellow. They would like for their candidate to shout from the mountain top how anti-war he is by high-lighting his Viet Nam protest career. Also, they'd like him to ditch the aloof Boston attitude and earn a little of Dean's Rolled-Up-Sleave
street cred by riding a Harley to events. (Insert your eye-rolling here.)
If the report linked above is accurate, Kerry staffers are also slipping into a bit of paranoia regarding Dean's funding. They think that GOP supporters are secretly funding Dean because the GOP secretly fears John Kerry's military service in Viet Nam. (Did anybody else know that? I certainly didn't. You'd think that J-Ker would do a better job dropping that little fact into his stump speaches.)
street cred by riding a Harley to events. (Insert your eye-rolling here.)
If the report linked above is accurate, Kerry staffers are also slipping into a bit of paranoia regarding Dean's funding. They think that GOP supporters are secretly funding Dean because the GOP secretly fears John Kerry's military service in Viet Nam. (Did anybody else know that? I certainly didn't. You'd think that J-Ker would do a better job dropping that little fact into his stump speaches.)
Friday, November 21, 2003
Dammit
Now I'm going to have that vision of Babs singing in my head. If you have lifted the curse from yourself, you've now given it to me.
Arrrgggg! I just caught myself humming it.
Arrrgggg! I just caught myself humming it.
Sexy James Carville
K-Lo over at NRO'™s the Corner (and by now, I presume others) has relayed a link that James Carville is included as one of People Magazine'™s "Sexiest Man" candidates. I've never been much of a fan of People (the magazine) and in fact, whenever I come across a copy in a magazine rack, or on a doctor's office waiting room table, a mental image leaps unbidden into my mind. I'm not proud of this; it's a curse. My vision is of BS Babs Streisand warbling,
People...
People, who read People,
are the stupidest people,
in the world.
Now that it's in the open, maybe the curse will be lifted.
People...
People, who read People,
are the stupidest people,
in the world.
Now that it's in the open, maybe the curse will be lifted.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Moral Dilemma
Dr. Laura, thank you for taking my call. I love your show and I never thought I would be calling you, but I have a moral dilemma. You see, the Republican conferees from the House and the Senate have put together a Medicare reform bill with very little input from the Democrats. Now ordinarily, I would think that’s a good thing – leaving the Democrats out, I mean. But since the bill is too complicated and technical for anyone with my limited expertise to ever understand, I can only make up my mind whether it’s a good thing or not by seeing who is for it and who is against it. And that’s where I have run into a problem.
According to a Scripps Howard report and a Gannett News Service summary published in the Quad City Times newspaper Tuesday, the AARP likes it and the Heritage Foundation doesn’t. So it must be a bad plan, even though the Republicans put it together and the President wants to sign it. Of course, as much as I love and appreciate President Bush, he has from time to time shown a disturbing tendency to spend a lot of money on big programs of doubtful merit (i.e. the education and the farm bills). Therefore, I should be against it.
But then last night on the news I saw some clips of Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi absolutely blasting the plan. I don’t take Teddy too seriously any more - I think his limousine has finally wobbled completely off the road – and San Fran Nan has never impressed me as a real deep thinker, but they are powerful people whose pronouncements do tend to represent the utterly contemptible views of the left wing. So if they think this plan is awful, it must be OK.
Can you help me, Dr. Laura? I don’t know whether this is a good bill or not. Is there enough privatization and competition in it to justify the $40 billion annual price tag? Does this bill represent more or less government control of health care? Most important, will medical care be available when I need it in the future or will I have to wait in line while the government rations it out like the Canadians and the Brits do? Dr. Laura… are you there? Dr. Laura?
According to a Scripps Howard report and a Gannett News Service summary published in the Quad City Times newspaper Tuesday, the AARP likes it and the Heritage Foundation doesn’t. So it must be a bad plan, even though the Republicans put it together and the President wants to sign it. Of course, as much as I love and appreciate President Bush, he has from time to time shown a disturbing tendency to spend a lot of money on big programs of doubtful merit (i.e. the education and the farm bills). Therefore, I should be against it.
But then last night on the news I saw some clips of Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi absolutely blasting the plan. I don’t take Teddy too seriously any more - I think his limousine has finally wobbled completely off the road – and San Fran Nan has never impressed me as a real deep thinker, but they are powerful people whose pronouncements do tend to represent the utterly contemptible views of the left wing. So if they think this plan is awful, it must be OK.
Can you help me, Dr. Laura? I don’t know whether this is a good bill or not. Is there enough privatization and competition in it to justify the $40 billion annual price tag? Does this bill represent more or less government control of health care? Most important, will medical care be available when I need it in the future or will I have to wait in line while the government rations it out like the Canadians and the Brits do? Dr. Laura… are you there? Dr. Laura?
The Doctor is In
Congratulations are in order for David Hogberg as he has now obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Iowa.
Great news. Way to go.
Great news. Way to go.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Howard Dean is no fiscal moderate
Not content simply to propose massive tax increases, Howard dean has now put himself on the record as being in favor of a massive re-regulation of the economy.
The targets of regulation:
--> Utilities
--> Communications (i.e. Fox News Channel and talk radio)
--> Any company that issues stock options to employees as compensation
--> Any other area of the economy that needs it.
He also proposes new federal laws that would make unionizing easier. (Since it is already legal to form a union, I suspect this means passing a federal law banning states from passing right to work statutes and/or removing the law that allows union members to withhold dues that go to political campaigns.)
What this adds up to is creating Paris on the Potomac, a city, and nation dominated by labor unions that shut the nation down through large general strikes and continual lawsuits aimed at business, while demanding ever-increasing amounts from the national treasury to fund their pensions, and expanding the unemployment lines through the stiffling of job creation by private business.
I hope the GOP is taking this guy seriously.
The targets of regulation:
--> Utilities
--> Communications (i.e. Fox News Channel and talk radio)
--> Any company that issues stock options to employees as compensation
--> Any other area of the economy that needs it.
He also proposes new federal laws that would make unionizing easier. (Since it is already legal to form a union, I suspect this means passing a federal law banning states from passing right to work statutes and/or removing the law that allows union members to withhold dues that go to political campaigns.)
What this adds up to is creating Paris on the Potomac, a city, and nation dominated by labor unions that shut the nation down through large general strikes and continual lawsuits aimed at business, while demanding ever-increasing amounts from the national treasury to fund their pensions, and expanding the unemployment lines through the stiffling of job creation by private business.
I hope the GOP is taking this guy seriously.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
I Believe that the Psychologists Call It Projection
More and more and more details keep coming out regarding how completely riven with corruption the EU really is. I mean, the guys and gals runnnig the EU are besottled with arrogance and rife with a foul corruption that makes the city machine politics of 19th Century America pale in comparison.
Which, of course, explains why so many Europeans have an unshakeable belief that American government is corrupt. Unwilling to admit that their ruling elites are out to dupe and bone them in the ear, they project their angry emotions towards the U.S. To admit that our government is responsible and democratic would mean confronting their own undemocratic and irresponsible elite.
Which, of course, explains why so many Europeans have an unshakeable belief that American government is corrupt. Unwilling to admit that their ruling elites are out to dupe and bone them in the ear, they project their angry emotions towards the U.S. To admit that our government is responsible and democratic would mean confronting their own undemocratic and irresponsible elite.
Hmmm....And the GOP wonders why fiscal conservatives sometimes sit out of elections
One of Iowa's own, Senate Finance Committee Chair, Chuck Grassley is holding up the energy bill, much to the chagrin of Dennis Hastert, because he is trying to make sure that an additional $70 million is dropped into the kitty for the jungle-dome thingy in Coralville. [Insert my eye rolling here.]
What is exceptionally galling is that they've officially named it, "The Iowa Children's Education and All Science Inspiring Brain Dome" (or something, that may not be entirely correct) in an obvious attempt to make this multiple-hundreds of millions dollar boondoggle FOR THE CHILDREN.
Arrrgghhhhhhhh!
For more info, go hit the Cedar Pundit link every day. He's all over this story.
What is exceptionally galling is that they've officially named it, "The Iowa Children's Education and All Science Inspiring Brain Dome" (or something, that may not be entirely correct) in an obvious attempt to make this multiple-hundreds of millions dollar boondoggle FOR THE CHILDREN.
Arrrgghhhhhhhh!
For more info, go hit the Cedar Pundit link every day. He's all over this story.
True Compassion Can't Come from the Public Coffers
I believe that this post from Donald Sensing is the most thoughtful and convincing explanation of why true compassion can't come from the government that I've ever read.
Monday, November 17, 2003
The Man Has An Iron Stomach
I saw all of fifteen miliseconds of the Democrat party's big gala Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. I was innocently flipping through my television channels when, on C-Span, Hillary's head, topped by focus-group-approved hairstyle, filled the screen. My bowels just let go.
But, thankfully, Iowa's own David Hogberg was there, and he's got a much stronger stomach than I. He took one for the team on this and the least we can do is check out his report at The American Spectator.
And, incidentally, that whirring sound you here is Andrew Jackson spinning in his grave at the thought of what the modern Democrat party has become.
But, thankfully, Iowa's own David Hogberg was there, and he's got a much stronger stomach than I. He took one for the team on this and the least we can do is check out his report at The American Spectator.
And, incidentally, that whirring sound you here is Andrew Jackson spinning in his grave at the thought of what the modern Democrat party has become.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
New Addition
Just added another new link in the International Blogs section. This new one is from coming to us live from Ankara, Turkey.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Professorial Shenanigans
Contrary to what Ms. Basu might think, here and here are details from a small college where one professor sent around a memo to colleagues promoting suggesting (I suspect as a joke, though I'm not sure) that Republicans were stupid and that giving them lobotomy's wasn't just a good idea, it should be the law.
Now, joke or no joke, if a conservative had said this about any of the "aggrieved" groups that make up the left, or of just liberals in general, campus security would have been at his office door to escort him out off of the premises within about five minutes.
Now, joke or no joke, if a conservative had said this about any of the "aggrieved" groups that make up the left, or of just liberals in general, campus security would have been at his office door to escort him out off of the premises within about five minutes.
Re: Re: I Don't Have the Energy:
Just to keep the ball rolling on this one, if you haven't done so, you should check out the nicely detailed response to Rekha over at Iowa Libertarian. Royce really got after her on this one. Outstanding.
While I didn't catch the column at the Asia Times, I've seen plenty of other articles on the anti-American state of Middle Eastern departments. And, I've got one, albeit minor, experience with "post-colonial" theory that I'll share.
One of our requirements as a history major at USC was to take at least one class on history in the third-world. I chose Colonial Latin America. At the time I was unfamiliar with the whole idea of "post colonial" theory. But looking back, the prof was selling it to us in box car lots. We spent most of the time talking about "looking at people as 'the other'," whatever the hell that means. In one incident that I remember vividly, the prof was exceptionally riled up by the fact that in his journal, Christopher Columbus often mentioned that the people of Hispanola went around naked. According to her, this indicated that he was looking down on them through the mirror of his own existence, or somesuch twaddle. I commented that I didn't think that was surprising. If you are from Europe, and because of culture and cold climate, have always worn many layers of clothing, when you arrive at a place where because of warmer weather they don't wear clothing, you might notice it. Frankly, I said that if I had been him, I too would have been sending letters back to Europe saying, "Hey deSota and Cortez, there are a bevy of fine looking you ladies here....naked. You should come over. Don't bring the wife and kids." I got a D on her midterm. I was lucky. On one unfortunate soul's test she wrote, "You are a racist.--F"
While I didn't catch the column at the Asia Times, I've seen plenty of other articles on the anti-American state of Middle Eastern departments. And, I've got one, albeit minor, experience with "post-colonial" theory that I'll share.
One of our requirements as a history major at USC was to take at least one class on history in the third-world. I chose Colonial Latin America. At the time I was unfamiliar with the whole idea of "post colonial" theory. But looking back, the prof was selling it to us in box car lots. We spent most of the time talking about "looking at people as 'the other'," whatever the hell that means. In one incident that I remember vividly, the prof was exceptionally riled up by the fact that in his journal, Christopher Columbus often mentioned that the people of Hispanola went around naked. According to her, this indicated that he was looking down on them through the mirror of his own existence, or somesuch twaddle. I commented that I didn't think that was surprising. If you are from Europe, and because of culture and cold climate, have always worn many layers of clothing, when you arrive at a place where because of warmer weather they don't wear clothing, you might notice it. Frankly, I said that if I had been him, I too would have been sending letters back to Europe saying, "Hey deSota and Cortez, there are a bevy of fine looking you ladies here....naked. You should come over. Don't bring the wife and kids." I got a D on her midterm. I was lucky. On one unfortunate soul's test she wrote, "You are a racist.--F"
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Re: I Don’t Have The Energy…
Jeff, did you see the Asia Times article titled “Why America is losing the intelligence war”? It lays much of the blame for America’s difficulties at the feet of our Universities and pretty thoroughly contradicts Rehka’s column.
Some excerpts:
Today's intelligence war with radical Islam comes down to a contest for the loyalties of the population of individuals who can move between both worlds. The vast majority of these are university students from Islamic countries in the US or Western Europe, and the remainder are students of Oriental languages in the West. For several reasons, the US is at a vast disadvantage.
…Muslim students attending the most prestigious Western universities, moreover, hear nothing of the merits of Western culture. Instead, what they learn from post-colonial theory, deconstructionism, and post-modernism is that all culture is a pretext for the assertion of power by oppressors. No qualitative difference separates Dante and Goethe from the meanest screed of the cheapest propagandist. What matters is the sub-text, the expression of power relations buried beneath the rhetoric. They learn of the evil US that slaughtered its native population, oppressed blacks and other minorities, degraded women, marginalized the poor, and operates on behalf of plutocratic financial interests.
Now I’m not much of a fan of the Feds overseeing every jot and tittle of our daily lives myself. But sadly, it’s the very lack of academic freedom and the anti-American monoculture practiced on campus that has caused this reaction. I’m confident that eventually some sort of balance will be restored to the education system, but I’m sympathetic to the argument that the world situation does not give us the luxury of procrastinating.
Some excerpts:
Today's intelligence war with radical Islam comes down to a contest for the loyalties of the population of individuals who can move between both worlds. The vast majority of these are university students from Islamic countries in the US or Western Europe, and the remainder are students of Oriental languages in the West. For several reasons, the US is at a vast disadvantage.
…Muslim students attending the most prestigious Western universities, moreover, hear nothing of the merits of Western culture. Instead, what they learn from post-colonial theory, deconstructionism, and post-modernism is that all culture is a pretext for the assertion of power by oppressors. No qualitative difference separates Dante and Goethe from the meanest screed of the cheapest propagandist. What matters is the sub-text, the expression of power relations buried beneath the rhetoric. They learn of the evil US that slaughtered its native population, oppressed blacks and other minorities, degraded women, marginalized the poor, and operates on behalf of plutocratic financial interests.
Now I’m not much of a fan of the Feds overseeing every jot and tittle of our daily lives myself. But sadly, it’s the very lack of academic freedom and the anti-American monoculture practiced on campus that has caused this reaction. I’m confident that eventually some sort of balance will be restored to the education system, but I’m sympathetic to the argument that the world situation does not give us the luxury of procrastinating.
I Don't Have The Energy...
To give this the sort of righteous Fisking that it so richly deserves. Today, Ms. Basu's knickers are in a knot over some paranoid fear she has that Title VI reform will lead to the brown shirts shutting down the universities. Blah, blah, blah. Of course, she's off her rocker and in need of correcting, but like I said, I don't have the energy. So, Rekha, I'll just give you the short version.
People who pay your salary are allowed to tell you how to do your job. If you don't want someone telling you how to do your job, don't take money from them to do it.
Likewise, by continually clamoring for more federal money, you've made the universities dependent upon the largesse of the federal government. Now, the government might demand some accountability for the money it spends and will no longer give money to those who bite the hand that feeds them. Accordingly, if you are worried about so-called "academic freedom"* and the government looking into your curriculum, then don't take Title VI money.
Long story short; problem solved.
*As for academic freedom, let's ask the conservative professors (if you can find one) on most campuses how "free" they feel to teach courses the way they want to.
PS: I know that they can't actually forego federal funding. If the bilge spewed in our comparative politics and Middle Eastern Studies Departments were exposed to the actual free market, rather than the stunted "marketplace of ideas" echo chamber found on college campuses, it'd be shunned and collapse like a house of cards.
People who pay your salary are allowed to tell you how to do your job. If you don't want someone telling you how to do your job, don't take money from them to do it.
Likewise, by continually clamoring for more federal money, you've made the universities dependent upon the largesse of the federal government. Now, the government might demand some accountability for the money it spends and will no longer give money to those who bite the hand that feeds them. Accordingly, if you are worried about so-called "academic freedom"* and the government looking into your curriculum, then don't take Title VI money.
Long story short; problem solved.
*As for academic freedom, let's ask the conservative professors (if you can find one) on most campuses how "free" they feel to teach courses the way they want to.
PS: I know that they can't actually forego federal funding. If the bilge spewed in our comparative politics and Middle Eastern Studies Departments were exposed to the actual free market, rather than the stunted "marketplace of ideas" echo chamber found on college campuses, it'd be shunned and collapse like a house of cards.
This is Way Cool
Based upon these pictures there is a talented, and patriotic, artist out in rural Iowa somewhere.
Hattip to Royce Dunbar for this one. (And also, check out Royce's post on Rekha Basu's silliness from a couple days back on how Israel is just so mean to those Palestinians.)
I'm sorry I didn't notice this one in time for Veteran's Day.
Hattip to Royce Dunbar for this one. (And also, check out Royce's post on Rekha Basu's silliness from a couple days back on how Israel is just so mean to those Palestinians.)
I'm sorry I didn't notice this one in time for Veteran's Day.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Economic Quiz
This is a cool test showing what school of economic theory to which you belong.
The test measures how close you come to being a pure adherent ot the Austrian School. The other three competing schools are the Chicago School, Keyensian, or Socialist.
I came out with a final score of 83 out of 100. (18 Austrian answers, 7 Chicago answers, and 1 Keyensian--on causes of the business cycle.) Mostly, I was Austrian on the more theory-based questions, and more Chicago on questions that seem more real world.
Check it out.
PS: Polite Golf Clap for Pejmanesque for finding this test.
PPS: Chad scored an 88.
The test measures how close you come to being a pure adherent ot the Austrian School. The other three competing schools are the Chicago School, Keyensian, or Socialist.
I came out with a final score of 83 out of 100. (18 Austrian answers, 7 Chicago answers, and 1 Keyensian--on causes of the business cycle.) Mostly, I was Austrian on the more theory-based questions, and more Chicago on questions that seem more real world.
Check it out.
PS: Polite Golf Clap for Pejmanesque for finding this test.
PPS: Chad scored an 88.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Renewal Development in Des Moines East Village
Before I even begin this, let me say that I hate the name "East Village" to describe the area of downtown Des Moines which rests between the Des Moines River and the Capitol Building. (It sounds like we are trying to recreate a small section New York City. Why can't we come up with our own unique name and identity? Why can't we call it the Capitol Steps Neighborhood, or Governor's Crossing, or, heck, Gateway East?) But since East Village is what it is called in this article in the Register today, so I'll go with it in this post.
Okay, back to the post.
There's been lots of construction in the East Village of Des Moines. Many of the older buildings in the area have been given facelifts. The streetscape has nice new benches and trees. The curbs have been repaired. Proposals exist for a lot of new businesses and residential options to be built or brough into the neighborhood. If, like me, you think this is all good, many of the current business owners and residents would like you to know that you're wrong.
As pointed out in the article, the current residents and businesses, while happy with the facelift and cleanup, are unhappy with the thought of rising property values bringing in newer businesses which might even drive them out. My favorite quote, from Jim Throgmorton, an associate professor of urban and regional planning at the U of I, is "It's certainly not a problem to have middle-class people move back into cities," he said. "And it's not a problem to have investment flow into cities. What is a problem is when lower- to moderate-income people and businesses get displaced."
Forgive me for being pessimistic, but I think it's just about impossible to have this one both ways. It's quite odd to demand that the suburban crowd spend their shopping and business investment funds downtown, claiming that there is money to be made, then turn around and get upset when they actually take you up on the offer.
I mean, we all know that lefties and there fellow travellers get their knickers in a knot over "urban sprawl." They want us all to live in the central city, eschewing our cars and surban crab-grass lawns. However, when middle- and upper-class individuals propose to bring new businesses and new condos downtown, these same lefties get sanctimonious about preserving the run-down downtown and red-light districts from "gentrification." I think most logical people would ask them, "Uh, exactly where are new buildings and businesses to be built? You don't want us to build at the edge of town. You don't want us to tear down 'historic' buildings. You don't even want us to renovate said 'historic' buildings if it'll drive up property values (which is, of course, sort of the point of renovating it) or if we'll bring in a new business."
If the anti-gentrification people are successful, they'll stop the upswing in their neighborhood entirely. Then they'll cry foul that all the new businesses are opening up in West Des Moines. And they'll ask the city to subsidize them through property tax abatements so that the rest of the tax payers in town can subsidize their anti-gentrification agenda.
Update: The Register has a story again today (Tuesday, November 11) discussing a formerly NYC-based technology business which is locating in the "East Village." That is outstanding news. Here's the link. Although it disturbs me to see the Iowa Value Funds credited with bringing this business here from New York when we could get the same benefits as the fund without the negatives of the fund if we just lowered our business taxes.
Okay, back to the post.
There's been lots of construction in the East Village of Des Moines. Many of the older buildings in the area have been given facelifts. The streetscape has nice new benches and trees. The curbs have been repaired. Proposals exist for a lot of new businesses and residential options to be built or brough into the neighborhood. If, like me, you think this is all good, many of the current business owners and residents would like you to know that you're wrong.
As pointed out in the article, the current residents and businesses, while happy with the facelift and cleanup, are unhappy with the thought of rising property values bringing in newer businesses which might even drive them out. My favorite quote, from Jim Throgmorton, an associate professor of urban and regional planning at the U of I, is "It's certainly not a problem to have middle-class people move back into cities," he said. "And it's not a problem to have investment flow into cities. What is a problem is when lower- to moderate-income people and businesses get displaced."
Forgive me for being pessimistic, but I think it's just about impossible to have this one both ways. It's quite odd to demand that the suburban crowd spend their shopping and business investment funds downtown, claiming that there is money to be made, then turn around and get upset when they actually take you up on the offer.
I mean, we all know that lefties and there fellow travellers get their knickers in a knot over "urban sprawl." They want us all to live in the central city, eschewing our cars and surban crab-grass lawns. However, when middle- and upper-class individuals propose to bring new businesses and new condos downtown, these same lefties get sanctimonious about preserving the run-down downtown and red-light districts from "gentrification." I think most logical people would ask them, "Uh, exactly where are new buildings and businesses to be built? You don't want us to build at the edge of town. You don't want us to tear down 'historic' buildings. You don't even want us to renovate said 'historic' buildings if it'll drive up property values (which is, of course, sort of the point of renovating it) or if we'll bring in a new business."
If the anti-gentrification people are successful, they'll stop the upswing in their neighborhood entirely. Then they'll cry foul that all the new businesses are opening up in West Des Moines. And they'll ask the city to subsidize them through property tax abatements so that the rest of the tax payers in town can subsidize their anti-gentrification agenda.
Update: The Register has a story again today (Tuesday, November 11) discussing a formerly NYC-based technology business which is locating in the "East Village." That is outstanding news. Here's the link. Although it disturbs me to see the Iowa Value Funds credited with bringing this business here from New York when we could get the same benefits as the fund without the negatives of the fund if we just lowered our business taxes.
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Blogkeeping matters
I've update the blog roll to the right. ('Cause all the best blogs are on the right.)
I discovered that we are linked at another Iowa site, the Cedar Pundit, a very nice blog covering events in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. Special attention is given to the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Iowa City Press-Citizen newspapers.
And, earlier this week, I stumbled upon a page through a link at the Instapundit for a blog that I've found to be terribly interesting: Belmong Club.
There you go. And, here in our own little corner of the blogosphere, I am glad to see Chad get back in the saddle this past week. Long time no see buddy.
I discovered that we are linked at another Iowa site, the Cedar Pundit, a very nice blog covering events in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. Special attention is given to the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Iowa City Press-Citizen newspapers.
And, earlier this week, I stumbled upon a page through a link at the Instapundit for a blog that I've found to be terribly interesting: Belmong Club.
There you go. And, here in our own little corner of the blogosphere, I am glad to see Chad get back in the saddle this past week. Long time no see buddy.
Friday, November 07, 2003
Iowa trending Republican
According to analysis of polling results by the Pew Research Center, Republican Party affiliation is trending upward in Iowa and other crucial swing states. In surveys conducted between 1997 and into 2001, Iowa respondents identifying themselves as Democrats outnumbered Republicans 32-27. Since 9-11-01, the spread has reversed with Republicans now enjoying a 34-27 advantage.
Other key states showing a statistically significant shift include Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Florida with Republicans now in the majority in all but Arkansas. Republicans have also added to their leads in several traditional “red” states like Idaho and Nevada, as well as cut into Democrat leads in “blue states” California and Washington.
I’m not ordinarily a big believer in polls and surveys, but when the DMR publishes stories like this and this, it’s nice to see one from the other perspective.
Other key states showing a statistically significant shift include Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Florida with Republicans now in the majority in all but Arkansas. Republicans have also added to their leads in several traditional “red” states like Idaho and Nevada, as well as cut into Democrat leads in “blue states” California and Washington.
I’m not ordinarily a big believer in polls and surveys, but when the DMR publishes stories like this and this, it’s nice to see one from the other perspective.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Cuff 'em and stuff 'em
This article in the Des Moines Register is a sad commentary on the state of higher education. Apparently, the bondage club at ISU needed some mandatory student fees to reconstitute itself. The student government was likely required by its bylaws to provide it. Why is it that there isn't a checkoff on student fees so liberal students don't have to support YAF and conservative students don't have to support CUFFS or the International Socialists? For that matter, why are their mandatory student fees supporting campus groups at all? It only fosters the already horrible balkanization of college campuses. If students think an organization is worthwhile they can write a check.
p.s. I always thought it was funny that the socialist sold the "Worker's Daily" or whatever their fishwrap was called for 50 cents. At a campus political function I asked some long hair type what he was getting paid to hawk their newspaper. He colorfully replied "Nothing." I asked him if he thought it was ironic that he was being exploited by some bourgeois publisher the paper's editor had probably hired on the free market to print it up. He stared blankly like he didn't know what either "ironic" or "bourgeois" meant. I presume the former. Liberals have very little sense of irony. That's why they can be such unrepentant hypocrites.
p.s. I always thought it was funny that the socialist sold the "Worker's Daily" or whatever their fishwrap was called for 50 cents. At a campus political function I asked some long hair type what he was getting paid to hawk their newspaper. He colorfully replied "Nothing." I asked him if he thought it was ironic that he was being exploited by some bourgeois publisher the paper's editor had probably hired on the free market to print it up. He stared blankly like he didn't know what either "ironic" or "bourgeois" meant. I presume the former. Liberals have very little sense of irony. That's why they can be such unrepentant hypocrites.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Is It Just Me?
I've checked out a couple of liberal leaning sites today to see what the reaction is to the GOP gubernatorial wins in Kentucky and Mississippi, and the increasingly likely win in Louisiana.
And here is the gist of what's being said, "those -----ing a--hole voters are too stupid in the south, mouth-breathing losers"
So here's my question.
Am I the only one who has noticed that when the GOP takes it in the shorts, the faithful react by saying, "bad tactics--bad campaign--bad candidate--didn't connect with the voters," but when the Dems go down in flames, their faithful react by saying, "stupid voters--I hate this place--deserve what they get--losers"?
Just a question.
And here is the gist of what's being said, "those -----ing a--hole voters are too stupid in the south, mouth-breathing losers"
So here's my question.
Am I the only one who has noticed that when the GOP takes it in the shorts, the faithful react by saying, "bad tactics--bad campaign--bad candidate--didn't connect with the voters," but when the Dems go down in flames, their faithful react by saying, "stupid voters--I hate this place--deserve what they get--losers"?
Just a question.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Maybe the One Sane Voice...
At the Des Moines Register is David Yepsen. Now don't get me wrong, Yepsen is sometimes full of it. But he gets it right more often than any of their other in-house columnists.
His op-ed today is a good example of what I'm talking about. Mr. Yepsen is taking to task the ridiculous property tax rates in Des Moines that are hindering attempts to keep Des Moines itself prosperous. Aside from the middle- and upper-class flight to the suburbs, he points out that it makes keeping businesses in Des Moines doubly hard. Not only are their customers and employees fleeing, but they have to pay a premium in property taxes for the privilege of being separated from their life-blood.
How bad is it?
The tax load for individuals is several thousand less in the suburbs than it is in Des Moines. But to get the full picture, you have to try this next one on for size. A business that pays roughly $68,000 a year in property taxes in Des Moines would pay $8000 less in Minneapolis. In Omaha, it would pay $30,000--less than half of what it does in Des Moines. Goodness gracious, no wonder our suburbs keep expanding westward towards Omaha on I-80.
Now, let's contrast Mr. Yepsen with the lost souls that draft the editorials. Yesterday, the lead editorial was a call for the state government to "invest" more money in the Iowa Values Fund. For those of you who don't know, this is a government program to provide money to up and coming business to locate in Iowa or expand operations here. To pay for the expansion of this fund, they propose raising the sales tax. So, let me get this straight. The key to expanding business here in Iowa is to tax the existing businesses at an ever increasing rate and thus putting pressure on them to locate in lower-tax locations. Adding insult to injury, we will then use the tax money collected to bring in new competition for the businesses that are already here. I would think that this might also make them consider leaving our fine state.
Let me put it to you this way. How would you feel if your boss knocked on your office door one morning and said, "Hey, you are doing a bang-up job. Seriously, I luv ya. Wish I had ten of you. Oh yeah, one other thing. You know that promotion you were up for, well, we've been making some calls to some other people to see if they were interested. They weren't--wouldn't even send in a resume. Most of 'em said that the benefits package at their current job wasn't nearly as expensive as ours. So, in order to have the outward appearance of competiveness, what I'd like to do is take a bit more out of your check for benefits and then give that to them to sweeten the pot. Sound's good, doesn't it. Great! One more thing, I'm sending over my younger cousin with a bunch of blank resumes that we'd like for you to fill out on behalf of those people who have been turning us down. Thanks a bundle. You're the greatest."
I think you'd be forgiven for quitting on the spot and looking for greener pastures. We should expect no less from our businesses when we tax them more to finance their own competition.
Just lower our business taxes. It's much easier, cheaper, and doesn't entangle the government in chosing economic winners and losers.
It's all so simple to me, I don't know why the Register doesn't get it.
Update: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Dave, I know he isn't a godsend. He puts drops some serious boneheaded crappola about a third of the time. It's just that he's the best of a sorry lot. Unlike the others, Yepsen seems like someone you could at least reason with before for a little while before he became a santimonious twit.
His op-ed today is a good example of what I'm talking about. Mr. Yepsen is taking to task the ridiculous property tax rates in Des Moines that are hindering attempts to keep Des Moines itself prosperous. Aside from the middle- and upper-class flight to the suburbs, he points out that it makes keeping businesses in Des Moines doubly hard. Not only are their customers and employees fleeing, but they have to pay a premium in property taxes for the privilege of being separated from their life-blood.
How bad is it?
The tax load for individuals is several thousand less in the suburbs than it is in Des Moines. But to get the full picture, you have to try this next one on for size. A business that pays roughly $68,000 a year in property taxes in Des Moines would pay $8000 less in Minneapolis. In Omaha, it would pay $30,000--less than half of what it does in Des Moines. Goodness gracious, no wonder our suburbs keep expanding westward towards Omaha on I-80.
Now, let's contrast Mr. Yepsen with the lost souls that draft the editorials. Yesterday, the lead editorial was a call for the state government to "invest" more money in the Iowa Values Fund. For those of you who don't know, this is a government program to provide money to up and coming business to locate in Iowa or expand operations here. To pay for the expansion of this fund, they propose raising the sales tax. So, let me get this straight. The key to expanding business here in Iowa is to tax the existing businesses at an ever increasing rate and thus putting pressure on them to locate in lower-tax locations. Adding insult to injury, we will then use the tax money collected to bring in new competition for the businesses that are already here. I would think that this might also make them consider leaving our fine state.
Let me put it to you this way. How would you feel if your boss knocked on your office door one morning and said, "Hey, you are doing a bang-up job. Seriously, I luv ya. Wish I had ten of you. Oh yeah, one other thing. You know that promotion you were up for, well, we've been making some calls to some other people to see if they were interested. They weren't--wouldn't even send in a resume. Most of 'em said that the benefits package at their current job wasn't nearly as expensive as ours. So, in order to have the outward appearance of competiveness, what I'd like to do is take a bit more out of your check for benefits and then give that to them to sweeten the pot. Sound's good, doesn't it. Great! One more thing, I'm sending over my younger cousin with a bunch of blank resumes that we'd like for you to fill out on behalf of those people who have been turning us down. Thanks a bundle. You're the greatest."
I think you'd be forgiven for quitting on the spot and looking for greener pastures. We should expect no less from our businesses when we tax them more to finance their own competition.
Just lower our business taxes. It's much easier, cheaper, and doesn't entangle the government in chosing economic winners and losers.
It's all so simple to me, I don't know why the Register doesn't get it.
Update: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Dave, I know he isn't a godsend. He puts drops some serious boneheaded crappola about a third of the time. It's just that he's the best of a sorry lot. Unlike the others, Yepsen seems like someone you could at least reason with before for a little while before he became a santimonious twit.
Oh, that Liberal Media (Part 2)
A common argument that liberals use to rebut the "liberal media" argument is that the media spends plenty of time talking about characters and events on both sides of the political spectrum. Afterall, they say, they spent tons of time talking about Bill Clinton's scandals. But the point that they seemingly all miss the crux of the issue. It isn't what you cover, it's how you cover it. It's the sneer in the voice, the well-placed perjorative modifier such as "arch-conservative" or "radical right wing" that drives those of us on the right bat nuts.
Illustrating the point today in an op-ed piece, John Podhoretz talks about how the lead headlines and articles at some major newspapers covered the tragic downing of a U.S. military troop helicopter in Iraq over the weekend...namely, how long would the President be able to withstand such attacks before it hurts him politically.
Remember media, it isn't so much that you systematically ignore us. It's that you always have to make snide comments when you do. It isn't what you say, it's how you say it.
Illustrating the point today in an op-ed piece, John Podhoretz talks about how the lead headlines and articles at some major newspapers covered the tragic downing of a U.S. military troop helicopter in Iraq over the weekend...namely, how long would the President be able to withstand such attacks before it hurts him politically.
Remember media, it isn't so much that you systematically ignore us. It's that you always have to make snide comments when you do. It isn't what you say, it's how you say it.
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