Archive for May, 2006
Congress Searched: Me Thinks They Doth Protest Too Much
Wednesday, May 24th, 2006The Republican outcry over the search of scumbag Representative William Jefferson of Louisiana’s Congressional office has me wondering. What else hides in that debauched palace? (I was going to say place, but it really is a palace.)
Come on, fellas! Any American can be searched for any reason if terrorism is suspected. Common citizens are violated daily just getting on airplaines. And don’t get me started on the different agencies that can make a small business person’s life hell: OSHA, IRS, HIPPA, ETC. Americans are hen-pecked to death by their own government.
Glenn Reynolds and his lawerly friends don’t think that Congress has a leg to stand on, despite their threats that “this will end up across the street” [at the Supreme Court]. Puhleeeze.
The rest of Congress is probably peeing their collective pants right now wondering how to unobtrusively remove the evidence of their pay-offs, blackmail, kick-backs, bribes, and other nefarious schemes. They thought their badness was protected by “the separation of powers”. Am I to understand that the U.S. President, His staff, all of Congress, their staffs and the Supreme Court members are all above the law? Am I to understand that if one of these people just happened to be a serial murderer and stashed the heads in the fridge in their office that they could claim “separation of powers”? Am I to understand that the Framers enacted the Constitution to create a whole specially protected class of citizens?
I’m no lawyer. But this whole think reeks to high Heaven. Arrogant idiots.
Iraq Revisionist History Debunked
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006Read Peter Wehner’s piece in Opinion Journal about popular Iraq myths. Not that it will change anyone’s mind. Facts rarely change anyone’s opinions these days.
Media Failures During Katrina
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006Never in my personal history, has media coverage been so way off-base as during the post-hurricane Katrina coverage. Sensationalism, emotionalism, racism, and just plain ignorance substituted for fact-based news.
Instapundit revisits this issue and links to RealClearPolitics.
It just seems crazy that the press can be so self-congratulatory when outright lies were presented as truth. The amazing thing: that the press reports didn’t foment more unrest than it did. The press achieved their goal though: fomenting hatred towards Bush–the cause of all natural disasters.
By the way, almost three years ago now, Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle got hit with a hurricane. The destruction did not even remotely approach what New Orleans has experienced yet a 100% recovery is still not accomplished. It takes years to rebuild, if rebuilding is even undertaken. I was amazed driving south of Miami to the Keys seeing large, flat swaths that Hurricane Andrew cleared that have never been rebuilt. When Houston was flooded five years back, a neighborhood close to ours was under water. Some houses are still uninhabited and probably will never have people living there again.
The issue regarding New Orleans has been and will continue to be political and emotional. While everyone moans and groans about the money “thrown away” on the war, wishing instead that it was spent in New Orleans (no mention of Mississippi which got it even worse), money can only support clean-up, planning and rebuilding. This can be done half-assed and with New Orleans, I expect it will. But if a little extra time, thought, consideration and planning occurs, the city has a better chance of actually surviving. No matter what, the process is slow and arduous.
It will take years, if not decades, to rebuild after such a disaster. Remember, the new Hurricane Season starts June 1. I fully expect New Orleans to be rained on this summer. More mold. More rot. The process will take time. NO has already pissed away Billions in taxpayer dollars. Money won’t magically rebuild New Orleans. Hard work and people will.
Book Introduction: Get Healthy!
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006Hi Everyone. I’m adding a new feature to the blog today–a serial feature that I intend to turn into a book. The premise of this venture is practical: the other Dr. Clouthier and I would like to have a simple book describing what we do and what will help patients heal faster.
It’s a huge transformation to travel from a medical model which emphasizes outside influences like viruses and medication and surgery to a holistic model which emphasizes inside influences like immunity and nutrition and alignment spiritually, emotionally and physically. We would like to help explain that transformation. More information equals more power. We want to give patients who transform into partners the power to succeed. Actually, they have always had the power to succeed, we just hope to help them recognize it and use it.
The book will start at what I consider to be the most important elements of health proceeding to less influential, but still very important, elements of health. Here’s the thing though, like a bicycle tire, if your health has even a tiny hole letting air out, the whole tire is affected. A lot of people ignore the tiny holes that slowly sap the energy, vitality and happiness out of their life until they have complete blow-outs. We hope to avoid those blow-outs–to prevent them. In addition, we want to help you build a more aligned, stronger, healthier bike–one that can take a lickin’ and keep working. We want to help our partners in health become vital, resilient and joy-filled people achieving their dreams and fulfilling their God-given potential. Yes, the goal is ambitious. Yes, the goal is challenging. The great thing? In the seven years we have practiced here, hundreds of people have achieved this very thing, so we know, without a doubt, that you can, too.
Yours in health,
Melissa
P.S. The great thing about posting the serialized book on the blog is that you can participate in the content. Post your comments and ask any questions. I’ll try to get them into the book somewhere along the way.
European-American Missle Defense Shield
Monday, May 22nd, 2006Iran seems poised, depending on who you talk to, to become nuclear able soon–two months, two years, twelve years. Any day is too soon for the world.
The U.S., not inclined to “unilateral action” against Iran, waits while European nations dither about what to do. Well most countries dither…. Poland, a staunch U.S. ally, part of the “coalition of the willing”, may soon have ten American missle defense shields up on the American base on Polish soil. Both Russia and the rest of “Old Europe” chafe at this situation. The Russians don’t like the implications–that the U.S. and especially Poland view these benevolent neighbors as possible enemies. (Hmmm, I wonder why. They were so kind to Poland after WWII.)
The installation of 10 interceptors in Eastern Europe would have no significant ability to defend against Russia’s sizable nuclear arsenal. American officials say that the Bush administration sought to assure the Russians that the system is not aimed at Moscow by keeping it informed about the recent visit by American officials to Warsaw. But the Russians are unhappy with the idea and have portrayed it as a step that would jeopardize cooperation between NATO and Russia, including on antimissile systems.
The development of an antimissile site in Poland would have a “negative impact on the whole Euro-Atlantic security system,” Sergei Ivanov, the Russian defense minister, told a Belarus newspaper. “The choice of location for the deployment of those systems is dubious, to put it mildly.”
In the meantime, the Bush administration has resumed its efforts to sound out support abroad. In early April, Pentagon and State Department officials visited Warsaw to renew discussions about the project, which has been talked about for years. American officials said the Polish government has been receptive.
“They asked us officially if we were still interested in discussing the issue,” Poland’s deputy foreign minister, Witold Waszczykowski, said last month. “Of course we said yes and we are awaiting details.” Poland’s defense minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said recently that he has submitted questions for the Pentagon to answer before formal talks could be convened. Mr. Sikorski, who declined to be interviewed for this article, met in Washington with Mr. Rumsfeld last week to discuss an array of security issues.
The rest of Europe is in a nifty double bind of their own making.Europe despises the notion of the U.S. using some big, bad, bunker busters to blow up nuclear anything anywhere. Europe despises the notion of relying on the U.S. for some defense shield on their property even with warheads within range pointed at their pointy heads….sovereign socialist nations and all. Europe can’t fathom the notion that really bad people might want to blow them into oblivian even when they are really, really, really nice to the “uninformed-not-bad” people.
What a pickle. Force is always bad. War is always bad. The U.S. is always bad. Capitalism is bad. Optimism is so banal. It’s downright galling to be looking down the business end of the barrel, without the ability to defend oneself because one embraces “peace” (aka diplomacy, aka appeasement) and socialism and realism and sophistication.
Does Europe hope to “contain” Iran with American defense sheilds? The Iranians have mid-range missles after all and are quite a ways away from being able to reach America. Who exactly does Europe think will bear the brunt of the blackmail once Iran is so armed?
Mayor Nagin Wins!!!!!!!!
Sunday, May 21st, 2006
Ray Nagin, the chocolate mayor whose grace and vision during crisis will be the subject of management classes for decades, won by a 52 to 48 margin pulling 100% of the black vote and a significant crossover from the white population in north New Orleans.
“We are so excited about the election results,” said a voting activist living in Houston. “Mayor Nagin demonstrated such amazing leadership skills over the last year that we expect amazing things in the future.”
When asked why the resident wasn’t living in New Orleans she said, “We’re taking a wait and see approach. When it gets better, we’ll move back.”
When do you think that will happen? “Oh, ten or twenty years from now.”
Instapundit thinks that NO will have burnt its last little bit of good will and rot in the semi-tropical sun. Brendan Loy actually thought accountability was part of politics in New Orleans. Brendan still has one year left of his law degree. You can forgive his naivite.
Iraq: Success Indicators & Concerns
Saturday, May 20th, 2006Glenn Reynolds had a post regarding how things are going in Iraq. He referred to Amir Taheri’s opinions about how things are going–good and improving is his bottom line. IraqtheModel has more to say about Iraq’s current status.
The question is, are people leaving or coming back or both? Both, it seems. Read these links. They give more depth than the superficial blood and car bombs you see in the MSM.
Iraq Rocks to Richie
Saturday, May 20th, 2006Who knew? Bagdad boogies to Lionel Richie ballads. It’s all about love, says Richie, even though he was against the war. Evidently, Iraq’s residents, unhappy about the impending invasion by American imperialists played “All Night Long” on loudspeakers. More evidence that the “Arab street” hates us.
Dixie Chicks Just Don’t Get It
Saturday, May 20th, 2006As reported by Reuters, The Dixie Chicks released their new album “Taking the Long Way” May 23rd. The first song “Not Ready to Make Nice” hit 36 and 32 on the Country and Rock stations respectively and is now riding to the bottom of the chart. The second single, “Everybody Knows” is languishing at 50 on the Billboard chart.
The groups lead singer peeved most of America (who listened to their albums) while touring in London, England professing her embarrassment to be from Texas, George W. Bush’s home state. The London fans cheered. The group’s American fans boycotted the group. Their new album, far from being even remotely conciliatory or better yet, moving on, stirs the hornets’ nest once again. For fans, the group’s views just don’t fly, if you know what I mean.
During the controversy and for at least a year afterward, Hollywood and every liberal media institution gave the Chicks help. Yahoo Launch featured the Dixie Chicks for forever with old tunes. With all the new groups out there and Launch’s demographic (not a ton of country fans) what were the Dixie Chicks doing there?
Whatever. The liberals loved their message. Even country stars like Vince Gill begged fans to be kind, “the girls are young and free to have their opinion.” I didn’t disagree with Vince. They are welcome to their opinion. When they howled about censorship, I had to laugh. Not buying someone’s art is not censorship, ladies, its other people exercising their constitutional right to buy what they want or not buy what they don’t want. I didn’t see any Senators participating in public “Fly” burnings and banning the album for the moral good of the American people. That would be censorship.
Hey, I was willing to give them a pass. “Sin Wagon” is a great song–irreverent, ripping instrumentals, zippy rhythm. Fun. Even when singing about drowning an abusive SOB, “Earl”, probably got a pass from the violence police, simply because the girls are cute and the tune is catchy. After they opined in England, I wanted to forgive them for being 1) cowardly–you don’t level that kind of opinion offensive from the safety of Europe, for heavens sake 2) silly–embarrassed for being from Texas? Why not be embarrassed for being a woman–G.W. was birthed by a woman after all 3) naive–surely they must know their core consumer. It’s never a good idea to antagonize your buyers since business tends to suffer.
They never backed down. They acted smug. They got attagirls from every vapid actor and musician confirming the surreal, narrow world in which they all float.
Then, they release an album full of pretentious pap. Pretentious is not fun. The Dixie Chicks might fancy themselves as important social commentators, but how can I say this nicely? Well, they’re just not. Their stunning lack of self-awareness speaks volumes of their arrogance. They are not young women. They are adults and mothers. I would like to think they were raised better than to insult friends who hold different opinions than them. Would they pick a fight with someone who cares about them personally, at a dinner party because they hold different politics? Why would they do that and worse, to people who must actively choose to buy their narrative?
Do they hang around smug, self-congratulating, narrow-minded rubes confirming every little thought that pops through their heads? “Oh yes, Natalie, you are SO right! You should write a song! People would buy it. Everyone feels that way and just want someone to speak what we all feel.”
Angry, snobbish, condescending people tend to not be fun to hang around. These emotions often interfere with beautiful art or even provocative art. Art needs a certain amount of intelligence, awareness, humility, humor or mystery to keep someone interested. The last element is most lacking with the Dixie Chicks. When they blabbed about their politics, they removed any mystery. They removed the fun. They added insults. In addition, they demonstrated the leading indicator of impending divorce: contempt. They continue to demonstrate their contempt for their partners in success. Clearly, they desire the relationship with their fans to end. The paperwork is all but signed.
Ladies, it’s over.
Border Patrol Finds Weapons Cache
Saturday, May 20th, 2006Over at Gateway Pundit, he discusses a weapons cache found at the border. Pipe bombs, IEDs, grenades…. What would those be used for I wonder. He mentions that Al Quaeda is linked with some Mexican drug/people smuggling rings. Nice. Doing jobs Americans won’t do.
