Evidence of Treason

Regardless of how one feels on the contentious issue of homosexuality, it's clear that Westboro Baptist Church represents only themselves in their vile ways of hatred. It's unfortunate that they share many of the same views of the Rev. Jerry Farwell, but even while blaming gays for 9/11, at least he was sad that the event took place to begin with. So what I say now, may seem tongue in cheek, I assure you it's not.  Westboro Baptist Church members who have actively held signs celebrating the death of American soldiers and 9/11 should be charged with treason and if found guilty be executed. To do so we must look at what treason is defined in America:

"whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States."

Let me be clear it is their right to attack homosexuality in their private homes however the private of public support for 9/11 and the death of American soldiers is not only giving comfort to the enemy, they are the enemy, albeit one's who are not yet actively killing Americans. They are effectively Christian members of Al-Qaeda. As the Supreme Court has ruled that no one under 18 at the time of their crime, may be executed, they would be excluded for capital punishment until such time that they are 18 are urge another 9/11 or the death of an American solider.

 
We are at war. They are on the side of the enemy, what's worse they do not hide it, they flaunt it. Imagine for a moment that they were members of Islam who say every day "Thank God for 9/11" and praising the death of American soldiers on American soil. They are actively wanting to overthrow their government, they want to harm and kills it citizens, they agree with Al-Qaeda that 9/11 and the death of American soldiers is done from God due to immorality. They don't just support terrorists, they are terrorists. The active killing of American citizens is not requried for treason at all. As for the comforting the enemy clause to say that this hasn't gotten to Al-Qaeda and given them more righteous indignation, no matter how incorrect is undeniable.

These people are without question scum that much is obvious. What becomes even more apparent is that they are dangerous. In this country we have freedom of speech but we do not have the freedom to say that the death of more Americans through murder is good nor celebrate the blood of American soldiers, especially at a time of war. The government must charge all members of Westboro Baptist with Treason and urge their exectutions as soon as possible.

               

Out of all the things I love to read from political columns, books and blogs to cutting edge fiction to a comforting Christie mystery on a rainy day, my favorite item to read without question is a review. I write reviews of political books now and then on this blog, and they are enjoyable to write but there are so many wonderfully witty and evilly delicious reviewers, I thought I'd share a few with you:

Frank Bruni, restaurant critic of The New York Times, is a man who knows food, value and Manhattan. I love getting the Wednesday times where it seems that he competes against op-ed madam, Maureen Dowd over how can cut the subject harsher. He outdid himself with this review that had me laughing on the floor.

In it he brings up restaurant owners' dirty laundry, $36.95 for a plate of spaghetti, calls the customers deluded and said the potatoes brought up memories of a brillo pad. With subjects like that you know it has to be good.

http://events.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/dining/reviews/14rest.html

I was reading The Weekly Standard cover story review of Alan Greenspan's new memoir, The Age of Turbulence by Andrew Ferguson. In it Ferguson snaps and some how reviews Ayn Rand instead of Greenspan.

"By then, Rand had published her two thick, preposterous novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and stood poised on the brink of international stardom. Her creepy philosophy of Objectivism, placing the self at the center of the moral universe, was being enthusiastically embraced, as it still is, by tens of thousands of pimply teenage boys in the dreamy moments between fits of social insecurity and furious bouts of masturbation."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/164ulgzp.asp

If anyone wanted to know what Ferguson was doing in the 1950s in his bedroom, they have received oh so much t.m.i.

You'll also remember my love of the television show How I Met Your Mother. It has many fans including the writers at Entertainment Weekly, one of my favorite magazines. They write of HIMYM:

"Let's say you could create the perfect sitcom. Start with the chummy New Yorkers of Friends, but have them hang out in the bar from Cheers. Try the experimental structure of The Office, but add the comfort of a laugh track. You'd want the pop culture references of Gilmore Girls, the random in-jokes of Arrested Development, the sweetness of The Wonder Years. Definitely the overstuffed pace of Seinfeld or The Simpsons. Hell, maybe even give it a mystery, for the Lost fans. Impossible, right? Not so fast. This show actually exists. It's called How I Met Your Mother. And it is, to borrow a phrase, awesome."

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20055043,00.html

If you come across a good review among your reading, please let me know.

                    

 

You've seen that classic movie scene, where the hard working character of the story goes to a bank with only his heart on his sleeve. The banker, cold and without heart, hears the character plead for the money they so desperately need. And then the banker says there is nothing they can do for pure evil capitalistic reasons. It a classic liberal film scene, done over and over, it's a cliché to the tee. So I'm a little bit surprised to hear liberals now claim that banks should now deny loans to poor people.

This is all under done for the "benefit" of the poor people (meaning a subprime loan receiver). Never before, have liberals taken so many positions on just one issue. We are now told people received home loans didn't have the best credit history usually the working class and minority groups, were victims of "predatory lending". Yes, predatory lending. People who default on loans are now victims.

While I usually deplore simplistic answers, and the moderate inside of me, asks for solutions that are nuance and well reasoned, it's Judge Judy simple. You sign a contract, without duress, you are obligated to the terms of said contract. There's a reason why you sign papers that make up half of the Amazon rainforest. It's a serious business transaction, one that usually comes with thirty years of obligations.

As of age 14, I knew the difference between a fixed mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage, which I can thank my ninth grade English teacher, Mrs. Van Tilburg. We never went over mortgage laws but did cover what the words fixed and adjustable meant. And I can guarantee when I get my home loan, though years away, it will be fixed. I know me, with my aversion to risk; my neurotic self will definitely not let the market change whether or not my future family has a roof over their head. Those who are crying about it now are learning the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, it's a tough lesson to take, one that I've learn daily not having yet gone through many life experience. The ones I have learned have taught me to be cautious, and like going with a friend to the casino, when you play with $100 for the night, and they inform you a few hours later they've lost three grand. You feel sorry for them but if you're smart you don't give them a penny.

With all that said, I sympathize with people whose homes are getting foreclosed on. It's horrible, deserved or not. And it is often in the mortgage lenders best financial interest to avoid foreclosure at any cost, hopefully some loans can get readjusted. But should the government do a single thing? No.

I rarely write a politician, after all anyone of common sense feels it's unlikely your words will ever met the politicians eyes. However I felt I must write my congressman, Thaddeus McCotter (R-11th of MI) about the ENDA. So I did (please note the original letter was spaced properly but since this site doesn't allow for that it appears as follow):

Dear Congressman McCotter,

 

There is a joke in Wayne County politics, that the only real benefit to being a Republican in this county is that you don't have to remember a lot of faces or names. In the last election, I went door to door for you in Canton through the western county 06 HQ. I also did the whole bumper sticker, yard sign thing but of course that doesn't require any real energy. I wish I could have done more but I'm a full time college student who also has a part time job. Most of my 06 work was with the Devos, Bochard and Laura Toy campaigns.  I have been honored to call you my congressman for the past years as well as to have met you several times. Being that I'm 20, was 19 in 2006, I'm writing you because the new generation of Republicans would like you to represent us. There is a bill about to be voted on called the ENDA, and I'm sure you've heard about it. There are few things as precious as the bond between a person and their job and those who happen to be gay deserve the same protection as those of us who are straight. Too many Americans still face job discrimination because of their sexual orientation- a characteristic that has no bearing on their ability to do a job.  It remains legal in 30 states including Michigan to fire or refuse to hire someone simply because of his or her sexual orientation. 77% of Republicans support the ENDA including 67% of social conservatives according to a recent poll. It can all but be assumed the numbers are even higher for Democrats and Independents who will play an important part in your upcoming election. But I can tell you that the youth of this party with a strong Christian faith believe in protecting our gay friends. Discrimination, for any reason is un-American, unfair, and unwise. I very much hope you will try to stop it by voting yes on the ENDA.

Thank you so much,
Christopher A. Wensley

While I won't post his reply he was as always kind, courteous and to be honest ambiguous. I honestly did not know which way he was going to vote as he is called by The New York Times as one of the most conservative congressman serving today. I also didn't expect one letter to change his mind, I may be naive but even I have limits. However when I read the voting results on the ENDA, McCotter went with on the side of true morality, shocking those in the Michigan gay community as well as the AFA of Michigan, and other "Christian" fronts of hatred. Someone who had been considered a shoo-in was now voting against them. Regardless of whatever changed his mind, or even if his mind was made up from the start he voted correctly and for that he will get my support in the fall of 08.

I very much like Congressman McCotter being that I live a block and a half away from him on the weekends and he is a next-door neighbor with an ex-girlfriend. I most likely would have supported him either way, but now I can like myself in the mirror and urge another term for McCotter in congress.

The ENDA is a moral vote between choosing to protect hard working Americans or bigots. Far too many Republicans voted for the bigots, for that those who voted against the ENDA deserve to lose their jobs come next November. Some will still get my support but certainly not very much sympathy. The bill did not protect the transgender, which I admit even I had a few reservations for but would have supported. It contains a religious exception. The only reason that was said but the bigot protecting congressmen was that it didn't contain a protection for Christian bookstore owners to fire gay employees. Do they have any sense of shame?

While I appreciate McCotter's vote for the ENDA, he also restored my belief in the power of one, the power that I have, we all have to change the course of history, even made with baby steps. I can't leave this party's future to be decided by evil people bent on creating more hurt and meanness than this world can bear.

Democrats are humorous people. Barbara Streisand made a movie called "Funny Girl", apparently her bio-pic and rumor has it Rosie O'Donnell was a comedian and not a joke at some point in her career. So in honor of the liberals who keep me laughing here are my one liners in honor of them.

Hillary Clinton- I've noticed there's a fear that Hillary will be soft on terror. This is completely unfounded; the Mrs. Clinton I know hasn't shown an ounce of compassion towards anyone of the male persuasion. I fail to see how a terrorist would qualify for an exemption.

Barack Obama- So his big selling point is that he is Oprah-approved. The same woman who gave us Dr. Phil and James Frey.

John Edwards- His entire campaign is how he's going to help the little guy rise up. I thought Viagra solved that.

Bill Richardson- Maybe he should start doing his campaign speeches in Spanish because I can never understand a word he says. After eight years of Bush, who I love, we deserve a President who can at least lie good on television.

Christopher Dodd- After spending eight months in Iowa, most Iowans think Dodd is an overly aggressive insurance salesman from Connecticut.

Mike Gravel- Along with Ted Stevens proof that Sarah Palin was the first normal person Alaskans elected.

Dennis Kucinich- Kucinich-Tancredo 08 representing mean midgets across America.

Joe Biden- I have to admit the material he's stealing is a lot better than the previous patch.

And as always a Bill Clinton joke, just because: We've all seen the "F*ck Bush" bumper stickers, and I've wondered why didn't I see any "F*ck Clinton" bumper stickers in the 90s? I suppose it would be redundant.

I was happy to read this:
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/tancredo-will-not-seek-re-election-2007-10-29.html

As part of election 2008 coverage from a young, moderate Republican prospective, I want to look into congressional races that will prove interesting and give endorsements to those who I feel are the better of the two choices, to see how much my opinions really line up with Republican politicians today. Tom Tancredo is one of the worse people in politics and a blemish to the party as a whole. Thank god for Florida Republicans who want to reach Latinos rather than say "get the hell out" part of the party. As the fastest growing and largest minority group they hold extraordinary power, who the GOP ignore at their peril.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119129122148246049.html

And the hard reality for many Republicans is this, those who wanted to pass anti-immigration legislation, they could not do it with a Republican President, a Republican Senate, and a Republican house. Not matter your opinion on this contentious issue, the votes were not there and they will never be there. Yet it is important to know who is in our country and a real matter of national security. That's why we do need comprehensive Immigration reform, that would provide a fast path to citizenship, make legal immigration more available and easier to get through, try to help Mexico improve it's economy and wages, and to deport immigrants only with a violent criminal past.

We have serious problems in this country and they deserve serious solutions with serious people solving them. Tancredo and his crew of race baiters who scream only hate and panic when a library offers a magazine in Spanish fail to make the cut.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/05library.html

It's obvious there is only one candidate on either side who will change the status quo when it comes to immigration and that is John McCain. McCain has taken the hits from the far right in our party, but he has emerged as a still viable candidate to be our next President. We need to stop this false sense of nativeism because it is evil to it's core. We are all God's children, made by his love created by his hands. And shown by the numbers of those who are Latino and Catholic, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We'd be wise to remember that you don't enter a country other than your own because you want to; you enter it because you have to. I'd welcome anybody who is for mass deportation to see how they would like day to day life in Mexico working for paltry wages in poor conditions. Latinos, who immigrate here, wake up earlier, work later all for wages we would scoff at. Than with their hard earned money they only spend on necessities and send the rest back to their families. They are our nations invisible workers who deserve to not only be free of the constant fear of losing their way of life but the actual ability to show themselves.

I wrote a while back, about how 24's former President David Palmer seems to be an idealized Barack Obama, apparently with the bitchy wife and all.

http://www.youtube.com/v/OHzYl8Rg8C0&rel=1&border=0"

No, no my dear Michelle there are plently of Anti-Barack/Condi Rice supporters who would love A.) An African American, B.) A Woman and C.) Someone who wasn't a state senator two and a half years ago, as their next president.

                              
      
Michelle Obama the winner of The 2008 Sherry Palmer Award, awarded to the most, power thirsty first spouse candidate.

Other nominees: Judith Guiliana, Jerri Thompson, Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Edwards

Can we have Laura Bush for another 8 years? Pleassseeee!

Like most Americans, 9/11 made me cry. But the image that caused my tears was one we often don't show:

                 
                      It wasn't the plane hitting the tower

               
                        It wasn't the Explosion It Caused

            
                        It wasn't watching them fall
                   
             
                            It was the posters of the lives it took

The event that has defined my generation and really everyone who is an American caused a combination of strong emotions. From absolute angry and a state of shock, (the emotions I went through on the actual day), to an never ending sorrow. And I asked myself as best I could what must have been like to lose a close loved one on that day. Which picture would I have picked to put on a poster of my mother? What words would I have chosen to put underneath the picture of my sister? How many prayers would I have said for my grandfather? How many posters would I have put up of my brother, before realizing he was gone?

 

Human life is the one thing that we can truly call priceless. So I think we need a strong reminder that we are not going to elect a President next November, we are going to elect a Commander in Chief. The cost of wavering for a second in the face of terror is one we cannot afford to pay. Every issue seems so trivial when compared to the need to prevent another 9/11. While we mourned and continue to do so for the lives lost of that horrible September morning, we need to realize the men who killed them live on. The victims of 9/11, were if anything could be said, unlucky. The terrorist didn't hand select them; they killed them because they wanted to kill Americans and the victims died because they picked the wrong flight and the wrong place to work. It's a gamble all of us take in day to day life, and quite frankly I tired of rolling the dice. I'm not afraid of dying (I hear heaven is great this time of year), I'm afraid of living without the ones I love. And no issue is going to take me away from their protection first.

           

If it's possible to be raised Jewish while still going to a protestant church on Sunday, my family managed it. Besides looking Jewish, we act Jewish. In every stereotype imaginable, from the way we act, talk and live we are Jewish. I'm extremely disappointed to not actually being Jewish...damn those British ancestors, however my politics get me through. We are to the right of Olmert/Sharon. We cried when watching Jews being ripped from their homes to make room for scummy Palestine. We're Zionists through and through. Jews rule, sorry.

I have three simple groups I support and in this order.

1.) Our Military
2.) Jews and Israel
3.) Gays

Yes, we love Woody Allen, read Alan Dershowitz, think Commentary is the greatest magazine ever, believe Manhattan to be our Mecca, and love bagels and banks. Slightly tongue in cheek but still all true. When Israel defended itself against Lebanon in 06, the Jewish star seen on the back of our car did not make us many friends in Dearborn. So what! We'll drive an extra half hour just to go to shop in Jewish areas. I remember watching "A Gentleman's Agreement" when I was eight with my mom and saying "Mom, why are they being mean to the Jews?" I really had no idea no one liked them, I just though everyone liked Jews as much as we did.

 

I'm sure you've noticed in you belong to a conservative Christian church the changed that's happened over the last decade from being wishy washy on the subject of the Jewish religion to outright supporting Israel more than a lot of Synagogues. Of course we believe that Jews are going to heaven. I mean how could they not?

Of course being such a Jew lover comes with many benefits. My favorite is when someone asks me if I'm Jewish to which I reply "I wish". Who can blame them we are in love with Joe Lieberman and blabber about him all the time. I remember a teacher putting up the stupidest Newsweek cover ever (the race was steep) in which a suicide bomber and her Jewish victim were shown side by side. A double tragedy it was called. To which I said "Uh no, insane Arab, Jewish victim. Not difficult." And if someone dares to criticize Israel we should call it for what it is anti-Semitism. While extreme Muslims want to silt Christian throats, the worse a Jew will ever do to you is give you a high yielding revenue investment.

It's not hard to figure out teams here. US and Israel vs. the Arab World. I'm not the biggest fan of Ann Coulter but she was right when she said "we should invade their (Arab) countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity". I'd probably change the last part to Judaism but we can figure out the details later.

                        
Far too often in politics, we tend to be cautious, withheld and not given to presumption. To do something to counter that stagnet way of thought, I thought it would be fun to be play a game of "Miss Cleo" based on the now disgraced television psychic teller. Just guess who will be our next President, no need for percentages, nominee sceniros, just your best guess at who our next President will be.

While applying those standards to myself the person I see being our next President is.....

Rudy Giuliani

 

Now as you know I'm a McCain supporter, so right away hopefully it won't turn into a game of pick your favorite candidate. And we won't know the winner until one year 365 days away, the election will be held on Nov. 4 but it's a leap year.

 

Here are the thoughts behind my reasoning.

First obviously that I think that Giuliani will get the Republican nomination. Romney looks good in the first few states but after that he's DOA, and while some would say it's a lack of campaigning and name recognition many Republicans are beginning to see Romney for what he is, fake. McCain is becoming the come back kid, after being written off in July and I hope, pray, offer first born child that he becomes our next President, however poll numbers are poll numbers and while he's the fav. to beat Hillary, he has to get through a hell of a primary. Huckabee is nice and friendly, but this is were name recognition does play and while social conservatives would do well to attach themselves to him; they have divide over three candidates. Which brings to the Christian spilt, Romney, Thompson, and Huckabee are all playing for the same voters (McCain is a social conservative but god forbid he doesn't want a photo-op with the Minutemen). With the divided vote of the hard right, a moderate like Giuliani can ride ahead with strong Jewish, anti-terror, moderate Republicans. It's enough to win the primary.

If and according to the scenario when Rudy gets the nomination, he then goes to the primary against Hillary Clinton as seen from today. It will be ugly, nasty, and brutal as one can imagine however Rudy will win, not by a landslide but win he shall. Hillary Clinton will not win for two reasons, one she's Hillary Clinton and with those extremely high negatives. Secondly the woman factor. To disclaim from the beginning the vast majority of those who vote against Hillary are not sexist. With that said, the fact she is a woman is a strong factor that hurts her two fold. White women don't like white women. It's true, listen to Chris Rock and probably the only time I'm going to agree with him (minus the Barack Obama thing). And here, most women are going to doth protest too much, any man who has a wife has heard her bad talk another woman much more fierce than a man. "What a ______" fill in the blank (you've heard them all), "She barely watched her kids" "her cookies suck!" and those are the nicer things I've heard. I'll never forget when my mom and her two sisters bashed odd man (woman) out. Mom with Sister A "oh, I know I can't believe she's having another kid, she should now when to stop". Mom with Sister B "She can't be serious about not cutting her girls hair, they look like freakin' hillbillies" and you know Sister A and Sister B criticized my Mom. They're not mean, just women. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vej7De2e_yA

 

The second part is men don't like having a woman in charge. If you know a man or are one and just don't won't to admit it, you know it's true. I work with union-Democratic guys for the most part in union heavy Michigan and let me tell you they not only dislike Hillary they hate her as much as George W. Bush and that lays some very good ground work for a Republican to earn the blue collar, blue voting Democratic men vote. Especially one who is seen as aggressive and fierce as Rudy. The tough on crime, tough on terror, anti-tax, get government the hell away from you can work not on all but with enough to give strong parts of the Midwest, West, and South to the Republican.

Who knows who will be our next President? Someone can very well make a list for another candidate. But my gut, history and intuition tell me New York's former Mayor will be our 44th President. I’d love to hear any other guesses or if anyone agrees.

P.S. By the way, don't call the above number :)

               

What is with our national fascination with the Clintons? We love them or love to hate them, or if you're like me hate him, growingly like her (perhaps out of survival). The Weekly Standard had a piece earlier this year entitled "Days of Their Lives".

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/694kkicx.asp

Now one can understand how the country would be interested in a dysfunctional marriage (we have celebrity news shows devoted to them), and while I believe the Clinton's marriage is none of our business, I not unlike letting a friend whisper gossip, protest too little. It's fun to watch married people fight, fun to watch the wealthy fall, and the most fun to watch married wealthy people fight and fall. Anyone who's an active Christian has gone through the drama that is church politics, and the shock, discussion, debate when a Deacon and his wife divorce. It's not good but it is inherently human.

Now while many a good people may fall into the gossip rut, I'm sure you've all noticed the invasion of Clinton smut on the holiest of all things... books. A recent piece in The Wall Street Journal pointed out the obvious.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119301366595266529.html

Everywhere you go another Clinton book pops up like a bad patch of Dandelions. And as many political Americans my sinful buying can be seen by the two dozen Clinton books I own. The list provided below.

-Unlimited Access by Gary Aldrich
-Bill and Hillary: The Marriage by Christopher Andersen
-The Death of Outrage by Bill Bennett
-The Seduction Of Hillary Rodham by David Brock
-Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
-High Crimes and Misdemeanors by Ann Coulter
-Spin Cycle by Howard Kurtz
-Uncovering Clinton by Michael Isikoff
-The Agenda by Bob Woodward
-The Choice by Bob Woodward
-Boy Clinton by R. Emment Tyrell
-The Final Days by Barbara Olson
- A Woman In Charge by Carl Bernistein
- At Any Cost by Bill Sammon (more about Al Gore)
- Hillary's Choice by Gail Sheehy
- Blood Sport by James B. Stewart
- Monica's Story by Andrew Morton
- Condi vs. Hillary by Dick Morris
- No Way To Treat A First Lady by Christopher Buckley (fiction)
- All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos
- The Truth About Hillary by Edward Klein
- The Girls In The Van by Beth J. Harpaz
- On The Road With Hillary by Patrick S. Halley
- Hell To Pay by Barbara Olson
- The Case Against Hillary Clinton by Peggy Noonan
- Madam Secretary by Madeline Albright (about the Clinton years)
- Absolute Power by David Limbaugh
- Legacy by Rich Lowry

And that is not taking into a count the number of books I have that talk about the Clintons, with them not being the main topic of the book. Anyone who's political and can read has a somewhat similar list. I was surprised at how large my list was by just separating the Clinton books from the others. You want to know why there's a Clinton book out every week. Because we keep buying them. And if not buying, borrowing from friends or the library (which in a shameless plug style, you should visit).

Book sales tend to be small and even a bestseller is usually limited to a 1-5% market share. Although I secretly believe there is a copy of "The Firm" by John Grisham in every house in America. So with limited expectations, constant Clinton book buying is generally a sure bet. Another reason for the bombardment of books is the conservative publishing world that took off in the mid-90s. Before that there were political books to be sure but often just few every month, regardless of political affiliation. Now with the large conservative media market, a five second endorsement from Rush and you'll triple the sales of the normal book within a minute.

No matter who wins next year, a part of me wants Hillary to lose just to save the trees that will be slaughtered to publish more books about her. For once a presidential library could be a full of books only, if we have our first Madam President next year.