Monday, August 29, 2005

Another Capital Punishment Argument

For many years, Ol' BC has been a proponent of capital punishment in many cases for predominantly economic reasons (i.e. the cost of maintaining a prisoner for the rest of his natural life) as well as preventing an escape or accidental release of a violent criminal back into society. Now, Jay Tea at Wizbang has come up with another good reason - to prevent a vacation from prison by killing a fellow inmate or guard. Check it out. It really happened.

Just an observation.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Mitt Romney Sounds Like A Candidate

This MSNBC piece about Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney sure has the sound of that "no means yes" candidate talk. It's a Q & A with Chris Matthews dealing mostly with the gay marriage or civil union issue in Romney's state, but gets into 2008 as well.

Ol' BC doesn't know enough about Romney to have an opinion on him. I have heard him speak at one function and the guy seems to have some charisma, which the GOP has been a little short on recently. Being governor of Massachusetts scares me a little. I don't think we can stand someone who may spend more money than Dubya.

Just a thought.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Comparing Constitutions...It May Surprise You

Chris over at The Black Republican picked up on a very interesting bit from OpinionJournal. Some of you may be shocked at how the subject constitutions are described in our various media. The Afghan model is widely acclaimed as quite an accomplishment in moving the country toward democracy and equal rights. The eerily similar draft in Iraq has been ridiculed and demeaned as no good at all. Chris even threw in our own constitution and the challenges we faced after its adoption for good measure. Why then the difference in perceptions? Chris sums it up quite accurately -

Why should we be so strident in questioning the validity of an Iraqi
Constitution that doesn't quite match up on its first day to our own
Constitution after its 66,000th? And why the difference in attitudes between the
Iraqi and Afghan attempts? There's only one reason, and it's completely
irrational: because Iraq is George Bush's war, and nothing good will be allowed
to come of it if the socialists in the Democratic Party and their willing
accomplices in the media have anything to say about it.

That's it in a nutshell. Great read Chris.

Just an observation.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Won't Have This In The U.S.

...but in the U.K. they're getting serious about terrorism. This article describes the U.K.'s position on acts of hate including, but not limited to

Cannot foment, justify, glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular
beliefs


You see, in the U.S. we have this freedom of speech thing that may get in the way of such acts leading to deportation or exclusion.

Also,

Individuals who do the above by any means or medium are caught by the
legislation, including:
- writing, producing, publishing or distributing
material;
- public speaking including preaching
- running a website
-
using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader


At least there is someone out there who is taking these terrorists semi-seriously.

Just an observation.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Last Cindy Sheehan Post (unless she does something stupid again)

Being used and abused by the Democrats and the MSM doesn't seem to slow down the most recent poster child for nut cases in America. As one would expect, Ann Coulter sees it for what it is.

But now liberals demand that we listen to the same old arguments all over
again, not because Sheehan has any new insights, but because she has the ability
to repel dissent by citing her grief. On the bright side, Sheehan shows us what
Democrats would say if they thought they were immunized from disagreement.
Sheehan has called President Bush "that filth-spewer and warmonger." She says
"America has been killing people on this continent since it was started" and
"the killing has gone on unabated for over 200 years." She calls the U.S.
government a "morally repugnant system" and says, "This country is not worth
dying for." I have a feeling every time this gal opens her trap, Michael Moore
gets a residuals check. Evidently, however, there are some things worth killing
for. Sheehan recently said she only seemed calm "because if I started hitting
something, I wouldn't stop 'til it was dead." It's a wonder Bush won't meet with
her.

Couldn't have said it better myself. The arguments never change and to say , "This country is not worth dying for" says all you really need to know about this lunatic. Cindy, go down to Cuba and see how long your demonstration at Fidel's lasts.

Just a thought.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Don't Laugh Out Loud....

at least not at a Loews theater. Especially not if you are seven years old and disabled....and sitting in the handicapped section.....and seem to be having a good time along with the rest of the kids......at a G rated movie. I think somebody goofed here, but I have only heard one side of the story.

Just a thought.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

What A Question!

La Shawn Barber posed this question. Wow, what a dandy.

If a significant number of women begin choosing to abort their babies
because doctors discovered a “gay gene,” would your stance on the “right to
choose” change or shift in any way? Would the number of women killing these
“defective” babies make a difference? Is one potentially gay dead baby too
many?

This of course was directed to abortion supporting liberals and homosexuals. Wouldn't it be nice to be on the sidelines of this debate?

Just a thought.

Cindy Sheehan Showing Her Ignorance

It's just this simple.

“You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism.”-- Cindy Sheehan, anti-war protestor in Crawford.

This article is really about how the Democrats have been turning their backs on American Jews and more and more of them are realizing that despite long family histories, they actually align more with the GOP. However, the Donks are holding up Cindy Sheehan as a mouth piece and they are looking pretty stupid. You see, most of us remember terrorism around the world long before the Iraq situation.

Make note of this - Ol' BC's prediction - there will not be peace between Israel and Palestine after the Gaza exit for one reason and one reason only........The Palestinians single mission is the eradication of Israel. Peace has never been a consideration.

Just an observation.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Specialized Visas Gone Next Fiscal Year

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service says it has run out of the 65,000 H-1B visas the earliest ever, two months before they are valid. Will this mean that American engineers, computer science and medical grads will have a better opportunity at finding employment? Who knows? Last year a law enacted authorized another 20,000 H-1B visas for masters and higher degree graduates. So far 8,000 of those have been given out. So what's the big deal?
The businesses will tell you of the shortage in high tech applicants, BUT those who understand business expenses understand the deal. These visas are only good for six(6) years. Then the foreign worker must leave the country for one (1) year before he or she can reapply for another high skill visa. Benefits cost to a company are burdensome. Under this program a worker must leave before any retirement benefits are vested at most companies. There is a large world headquarters of one company in my home town that takes advantage of this type worker on a regular basis.

So, if you're an engineer or computer geek, you are going to have a small window of opportunity. Start preparing those resumes.

Just an observation.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Pataki Positioning For Presidential Run

Governor George Pataki of New York appears to be positioning himself for a run for the White House in 2008. This AP article talks about Pataki vetoing legislation that would allow pharmacists to provide the "morning after" pill without a prescription.

Advocates for the bill have said they believe Pataki, with an eye on
seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, is using the veto to appeal
to conservatives.

Although I'm not a student of Pataki by any means, I think they may be right.

Just an observation.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

NCAA Lunacy = Political Correctness

The NCAA has caved into political correctness. In all of its infinite wisdom, the NCAA has banned the use of Indian mascots, names, etc. and opened up a real can of worms.
This MSNBC article states

any school with a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically “hostile”
or “abusive” by the NCAA would be prohibited from using them in postseason
events. Mascots will not be allowed to perform at tournament games, and band
members and cheerleaders will also be barred from using American Indians on
their uniforms beginning in 2008.

Obviously, the do gooders have had an impact with the NCAA. Let's consider some other casualties as the new rule reads.

Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" - The Irish "ethnic group" is definitely being portrayed in a hostile
manner, i.e."fighting". They could be doomed.

North Carolina "Tar Heels" - Here's a nickname about the savage treatment of slaves to keep
them from being able to run away. One would think this would
definitely be a target.

Now, consider that all "braves" are not going to be barred. All "warriors" are not going to be sanctioned.

Affected schools were quick to complain, and Florida State — home of the
Seminoles — threatened legal action.
“That the NCAA would now label our close
bond with the Seminole people as culturally ’hostile and abusive’ is both
outrageous and insulting,” Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said in a
statement.

I know several people who are alums of schools with Indian nicknames. I don't know of one who considers it demeaning. Most are universities who are located in an area once settled by one tribe or another and chose this way to honor the early settlers. How this became demeaning is beyond me.

One thing that isn't beyond me however is this - Myles Brand is still as sharp as a marble.

But wait a minute, I just heard that PETA is about to mount a campaign against the use of animal nicknames and mascots as some are portrayed as "hostile."

Just a thought.

Jesse Jackson At It Again

The Reverend Jesse Jackson is at it again. This time he's complaining about voter ID laws and comparing them to Jim Crow laws.

Addressing members of the National Association of Black Journalists, whose
annual meeting continues here through Sunday, Jackson said the growing number of
such laws nationwide are the modern-day equivalent of Jim Crow-era poll taxes
and restrict access to the ballot.

Now Ol' BC fails to see how this is going to restrict access. It may make a person's second or third vote more difficult, but isn't that the whole idea? One's initial vote, which by the way is really one's only legal vote, should be unchanged not at all like poll taxes which did in fact inhibit the exercising of one's right to vote.

This article describes Jackson's speech in Indianapolis and the proposed Indiana law, which by the way has provisions for the poor to obtain ID cards at no charge and the Amish and others who wish not to be photographed to vote. But, that won't satisfy Jesse Jackson. Actually, not much seems to satisfy Jesse Jackson.

Just a thought.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Legislating Wal Mart? You Can't Be Serious

This AP article smacks of socialism so loudly and blatantly that Ol' BC can't believe there is actually a movement of this magnitude brewing is this country. How far from the principles of free enterprise have we fallen?

Here's the deal. These people want Wal-Mart to spend more money on health care benefits for its employees and be a better "corporate citizen."

I feel like I'm part of a movement for progressive change," said volunteer
Caroline Vernon, who has never worked at Wal-Mart, but turned against the
company after media reports about the company's legal problems.
The
44-year-old Davenport, Iowa, resident has staged protests outside her local
Wal-Mart and is writing letters pressing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack for legislation
to make Wal-Mart spend more on employees' health benefits.

Can you believe that? Pressing for LEGISLATION to MAKE Wal-Mart spend more on employees health benefits.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? We absolutely don't want to go there. If you don't like the way a company does business, don't shop there. If you don't like the way a company treats its employees, don't work there. As Americans, we have the right to make these choices on a daily basis. We live in a country of over legislation now. Can you imagine where this could lead. The Hildabeast would be very happy to be able to meddle in a company's business to this extent. Once this precedent is set, there would be no stopping it. Government would have to grow exponentially to accomodate what would be necessary to monitor individual businesses. The Democrats and socialists would be so very very happy, but life as we know it and opportunities for individuals would come to a screeching halt.

I just wonder if all these petitioners and protesters are willing to pay an extra three cents for a box of diapers or three dollars for a television by shopping somewhere else.

Just a thought.