This is not to say that I will back third parties or support the Democrats against a pro-abortion Republican. At times,  I may even go after a Democratic nominee who has a Republican opponent that I don’t care for, but this will be an action of opposition to the Democrats, not support for them.

What this does mean is that pro-choice Republicans who expect to get an endorsement, money, etc. from me are really barking up the wrong tree.

Today we honor the men and women who are serving and have served our country.  Thanks to their dedication and sacrifice, we all live in the greatest free nation ever enjoyed in this world.  No one has sacrificed more to preserve our Republic and our freedoms.  We owe all of our veterans a great deal of gratitude.
 
As an Iraq combat veteran, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices and determination of our servicemen and women.  I have commanded and battled alongside courageous men, many of whom valiantly gave their life or were badly wounded fighting for a country they dearly loved.  I have returned home to speak with the families of those we lost and seen the unbelievable pain coupled with enormous pride that their son died doing what he loved and defending what he cherished.  
 
Veterans Day is our national day of recognition to say thank you to our sons and daughters who have served our nation in the Armed Forces.  I also believe that Veterans Day is a time to pay tribute and recognize the sacrifices of thousands of families who will not see their father this Thanksgiving or open presents with their mother this Christmas due to deployments.  
 
When our nation commits to a war, the ripple effect encompasses a nation. When I was in Iraq, thousands of Americans sent us candy and toys to hand out to the Iraqi children, school supplies and books to give to their schools. People also sent us pictures and letters of thanks by the hundreds from children of all ages, which we posted around my base.  I cannot tell you the number of times that I saw my Marines and Sailors reading the notes and looking at the pictures that were on the walls from school children and listen to them reminisce about home.  
 
We also received CDs, DVDs, toiletries, magazines, and the list goes on. These seemingly small tokens meant the world to us.  It told us that regardless of the political climate, Americans supported their troops.  
 
Many of you out there made living on the front lines a little easier for us.  So on this Veterans Day, I am also thankful for the countless Americans who brought home a little closer and made us feel appreciated.  These little acts of kindness let us know that our sacrifices were not in vain.  
 
Through untold courage and sacrifice, our Veterans have secured the liberty that the founding fathers sought to establish here in our country.  Whenever the nation has called, in times of darkness and danger as well as in times of peace and prosperity, our veterans have been there.  And they have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.
 
May God bless our veterans, may God bless all who wear the uniform, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Semper Fi,
Vaughn Ward
Major  USMCR

Also Id. Rep. Raul Labrador (R-14) is saying he’ll make a formal announcement for the seat to run against Vaughn Ward. Randy Stapilus doesn’t get the appeal or the potential appeal of Raul Labrador:

Won’t be easy at this point. It’s not as if Ward is running or could be positioned as a moderate in this race, and it’s hard to see what advantages Labrador, starting quite a few months later than Roberts, would bring that his fellow legislator did not. “Monumental” is a reasonable adjective. 

Well, let me explain the appeal of Labrador and the real challenge that Ward faces. It’s not so much that Ward can be defined as a moderate, but rather that he can be defined as a candidate of the establishment. Consider this: 73% of Republican voters say that Republicans in Congress are out of touch. Endorsements like that which came from the ACU PAC aren’t going to help him out in Idaho.

If voters come to the conclusion that Vaughn Ward will be as good as an average Republican member of Congress, I think he could lose this primary. To be honest, I’ve heard both side regarding Ward and how he’s viewed.

Labrador has got several things going him for that Roberts didn’t. When it came to all the happenings leading up last year’s State Convention, Roberts was a non-entity. Labrador really was a key player. In Ada County, he took the lead in preparing a proposal that set the stage for newly elected folks to go to the State Republican Convention, and on the floor, it was his parliamentary maneuvers that allowed people to have a secret ballot in the vote for Chairman despite the then-party establishments attempt to have a public vote, which could have put a lot of folks in very uncomfortable situations. Labrador took on the establishment to do what those of us on the prevailing side viewed to be the right thing and to, in the process protect the privacy and security of folks to cast their ballot. That’s the type of thing people remember and engenders a sense of loyalty.

Ward, to his credit has taken on some of the profligacy of the Bush Administration on spending and he disagrees with the TARP bailouts. That helps, but the question that Ward has said people ask him often is how he’s going to avoid being changed by Washington.

It’s one thing to take a stand on the campaign trail. It’s another thing altogether when Majority Whip Eric Cantor comes out and tells you that he needs your vote for something, like TARP, that you know is bad for the country. Do you cast the right vote and lose some prestige with the party leader, making it less likely you advance in your congressional career or do you cast a vote that you know will be bad for the country’s future. In theory, most people would say no. In practice, a leader like Cantor is going to be a colleague, a co-worker. How do you handle that pressure?

There are other dynamics obviously. The match-up between a lawyer and a veteran of the military and CIA certainly favors Ward from an occupational standpoint. And the early start favors Ward. He has extended his time and made positive impressions with a lot of folks. The question for many voters is going to be who can we trust to actually live out their conservative values? How much traction the upcoming Labrador campaign can get  will ultimately be a test of how well Ward has succeeded in convincing folks that he can be trusted.

“Bill probably enjoys all the press he’s getting, I guess, but it’d be nice if we’d just kind of ignore Bill and move forward,” Roberts told the Idaho Statesman during a phone interview Friday while on a North Idaho campaign swing.

That might not have been the way to do it. In fact, I think that was kind of a slap across the face to both Congressman Sali and people supportive of him.  I don’ t thing Sali is dragging this out for publicity. In fact, I’ve mostly heard about it through intra-party conversation, not the press.

The difficulty of making a decision comes from the fact that Bill Sali went through a brutal campaign and there are a lot of knives in his back that quite honestly have Republican fingerprints on them, including establishment folks who decided to go passive aggressive on him.

On the other hand, the country’s in trouble and we could really use the Principled Conservative leadership that Bill Sali would provide if he got back to Congress.  I don’t know whether Congressman Sali will run, but if he did, he’d have my support.

I think there are two things Sali would need to do to be successful is to address two big issues. Number one is public relations. He has a press opponent in the Idaho Statesman that serves as the advocacy arm of the Minnick Campaign. They’ve absolutely thrashed him.

I think the image of Sali is totally untrue. He’s a friendly stand-up guy if you meet him. Most Idahoans haven’t and he’s been really defined by the press. He’d really have to have some strategy to reintroduce himself.

Secondly, he needs to find some way to raise sufficient funds, which was his big issue last time. I think in a 3-way Republican Primary, he wins. If a Sali entry drains Roberts’ support and forces Roberts out, I think it becomes a lot harder.

For my part, I’d love to see Sali back in Congress, but I pray that he follows the biblical admonition to count the costs, and I’m sure he’ll make the right decision.

Idahoans would be interested noted that Congressman Walt Minnick (D-ID) voted against this amendment, which had the effect of incorporating the Hyde Amendment into the Health Care bill.  If you live in Idaho’s 1st District, your congressman voted to spend your tax dollars on abortion.

No wonder Planned Parenthood gave $5,000 to Walt Minnick in 2008 and the National Abortion Rights Action League gave Minnick another $5,000. Their investment has paid off. But if you live in 1st District, do you feel that Minnick’s extremist vote paid off for you?

White House press doesn’t know about if lawyers have looked into constitutionality of individual mandates.

Obama honors “Congressional Medal of Honor winner” who didn’t win the award.

Taxpayers unlikely to recover $80 billion given to GM.

Obama Administration fudging stimulus job numbers.  (Hat Tip: The Corner.)’

And in Wisconsin, too. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)

Public schools across America sing the praise of Obama.

Democrats hire gang bangers to get out the vote.

Obama Administration warns Democrat Consultant to stay off Fox News.  (Hat Tip: Newsbusters.)

Planned Parenthood director quits after seeing ultrasound, and as a result of 40 days for life campaign.

1,561 abortions stopped as a result of 40 days for life.

Federal court strikes down bubble zone around abortion clinic.  (Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

Delay of enforcing Illinois parental notification law: 14 years.  (Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

City tries to regulate crisis pregnancy center.

Romney changes tune on the goal of Romney Care.

Nice friends you got. Barney Frank present during pot bust.  (Hat Tip: Talk Left.)

California takes interest free loan from taxpayers.  (Hat Tip: Red State.)

California isn’t worth it. (Hat Tip: Wizbang Blog.)

Homosexual actor defaces the Bible. (Hat Tip: World Magazine.)

Obama copyright treaty bad news for the Internet.

Yankees skipper helps woman in distress.

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There are many messages that come out of New York’s 23^rd congressional district race.

Yes, as a general rule it’s a good idea to work through the two-party system. The special circumstances of New York’s 23^rd district, including the existence of a center-right Conservative Party that the Republican establishment ignored and the obvious liberalism of Dede Scozzafava, made this race an exception. But the final result illustrates the challenge of working outside that two-party system.

Doug Hoffman, who didn’t live in the district, was a poor candidate to play the role of knight in shining armor. The best conservative to win on Tuesday was Bob McDonnell, successfully running for governor in Virginia. McDonnell didn’t win just because he was a conservative. He was a good candidate and he understood local issues. The people of the 23^rd district were being asked to support a candidate who didn’t live in the district and who was backed by national political players who didn’t live in the district.

The one lesson that doesn’t come out of this mess is the one that’s being pushed by many who advocate the nomination of more liberal Republican candidates. Tuesday night did not prove the need to embrace RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) as the party’s nominees. Rather, the opposite was suggested, as Scozzafava was the latest in a long stream of RINOs to turn on her benefactors.

I don’t use the term RINO as some do and apply it to everyone I disagree with in the GOP. In fact, I usually avoid the term. But there is no other word that applies to Dede Scozzafava, whose stances on the issues made her a favorite of the ACORN-backed Working Families Party. She’s a liberal Republican, with no allegiance to the party and its platform. That made it  easy for her to back the Democrat.

Click here to read the rest.

But Chase is to Pocatello what Bieter has been to Boise – a progressive wonk’s dream: good for business, better for quality of life issues.

Indeed, when I made a post earlier this year asking who the Democrats were going to nominate for Governor, the name of Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase came up. Well, the dream has died as Tara Rowe notes, Mayor Chase went down to a narrow defeat at the hands of political newcomer Brian Blad.

There are no party affiliations as such in Pocatello. For all I know, Blad could be as much a Democrat as Chase, but what was Blad’s platform?:

Prior to the election, Blad had said he would do everything he could to keep taxes down. He also promised to approach the city’s budget the same way he approaches his personal budget: “If I don’t have the money, I don’t spend the money. Sometimes it hurts, but sometimes we have to say ‘no.’”

Fiscal conservatism beats Pocatello’s version Dave Bieter? Be warned Team Dave, 2011 comes sooner than you think.

First of all, welcome to the Idaho Conservative Blogger. We need a lot more conservatives blogging and it’s great to see another enter. In addition, Idaho Conservative Blogger has been able to get to some events I wasn’t able to attend. However, there’s still some confusion.

To be honest, the whole situation reminds me an old Freakazoid Cartoon, Lord Bravery:

For the past three years, I’ve completed the Idaho Conservative Scorecard. The results of which are posted here at idahoconservative.us and are known as the Idaho Conservative scorecard.

The Idaho Conservative Blogger set up shop at IdahoConservativeblogger.com and today someone told me they thought some of ICB’s posts on the Vaughn Ward race were mine. Other than linking to one of my articles, ICB and I don’t have an affiliation. Their fine work is all their own.

So to clarify:

I am a conservative blogger writing about politics in Idaho, and I do the Idaho Conservative scorecard. However, I’m not the Idaho Conservative Blogger.

The Idaho Conservative Blogger also blogs about politics in Idaho, but has no tie to the Idaho Conservative scorecard. Hope that clarifies things.

We’re past Halloween and approaching Christmas and gearing up for the biggest battles in the highest stakes contact sport there is. No, we’re not talking about college football’s bowl season. Rather, ’tis the season for filing legal briefs over Christmas displays.

Like two prize fighters, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Alliance Defense Fund are preparing to go at it as the ACLU begins its annual season of silly lawsuits. The fear of silly lawsuits leads schools and local governments to take even more ridiculous actions, such as the school that banned red and green napkins from a “holiday” party a few years back. The Alliance Defense Fund’s prepping a phalanx of attorneys to go to battle has brought a touch of sanity to the annual festival of PC insanity by ensuring that government bodies realize trampling on the rights of citizens out of ACLUaphobia will have consequences.

With the ACLU, the silly season never stops; it just hits its biggest fever pitch around Christmas. They’re engaged in a lawsuit in Illinois and have found a friendly judge to agree with their atheist client that a moment of silence in schools is unconstitutional. Yes, having a moment of silence where kids can do whatever silent activity they want, from praying to thinking about their hot date tonight, is now considered something the drafters of the First Amendment would condemn.

However, there’s a glaring hypocrisy, dare I say cowardice, in the way the ACLU executes its inane war. The ACLU’s favorite modus operandi is to find a town or school district, generally a small one with a limited budget, and look for an easily offended person to file a lawsuit. This is what happened in Dixie County, Florida, when the ACLU admitted to “shaking the tree” to find a plaintiff to sue the county for having a Ten Commandments monument. It seems a stretch to say the ACLU was protecting the liberties of anyone by filing a lawsuit in a county where they had to conduct a search for someone to be offended.

If one is sincere about the need for an absolute and impregnable separation of church and state, the ACLU would have far bigger fish to fry than Dixie County, Florida, and Illinois students who are violating the Constitution by being silent.

Read the rest here.

New Jersey: Proof that not every election can be bought. Christie’s not a hard right guy, but he’s probably more conservative than any governor, New Jersey’s had in a generation. Christie will also do something about corruption, which is why he earned the support of New Jersey voters. Winning elections in these two big swing states prior to redistricting was a critical victory for the GOP. And regardless of political affiliation, those of us who carry a few extra pounds should be happy that Jon Corzine lost. We face enough challenges without a governor suggesting that weight should be a disqualifier.

New York-23: I think New York’s 23rd District race was a tough election for Conservatives because they nominated a candidate who didn’t live in the district and gave the appearance of outsiders picking the winner. Voters didn’t take kindly to it and so they gave Democrat Bill Owens a trip to Congress, from which he’ll almost certainly return in 2010.

CA-10: This one was a dream situation for Republicans to win a bay area house seat. I placed a lot of calls for Republican Congressional Candidate John Harmer. Just didn’t work out.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court: The majority flipped to the Republicans in this Obama-won state. Yes, in Pennsylvania, they’re honest about party affiliation and that exists. Here in Idaho, we pretend our judges are non-partisan. Heh.

Maine: Same Sex marriage is now 0-for-31 at the ballot box. If there was any state you’d think would approve Same Sex Marriage, it’d be Maine, a socially liberal New England enclave. Those “analysts” who say that opposition to same sex marriage hurts the GOP don’t know what they’re talking about.

Boise City Council: I’ve written about this already. Conservative need to get their act together and sooner, if they’re going to have a chance of winning city elections.

Other races around the Treasure Valley: Despite all the publicity or perhaps, because of it. Transsexual Mayoral Candidate Melissa Sue Robinson finished with 3%  of the vote. Taxpayers that went to the polls rejected two ill-advised bond issues in Canyon County and Star, showing that voters are sensitive to the financial situation and politicians need to be to. In addition, Conservative Stalwart Norm Semanko will get a full term on the Eagle City Council and he was joined by John Grasser who pledged to be a fiscal watchdog. Neither of the preferred candidates of the Idaho Statesman won.

All in all, a silver lining day with a few dark clouds. My only problem is that I was involved in the elections that represented with the dark clouds.

I stand foursquare behind the men I endorsed. I know Lucas Baumbach and Dan Dunham and know how hard they’ve worked over these months, and they have fought honorably, and I wish they had a better outcome. Dave Litster made a real push this last month and given how long TJ Thompson campaigned, that Litster got 43% of the vote is pretty impressive.

The question that is raised in my mind is what do Conservatives need to do to have a better result? Conservatives must adapt to the moves of our opponents. I don’t care whether its chess, checkers, or Nine Men’s Morris, you can’t play any game the exact same way regardless of your opponent’s strategy.

The Democrats have decided that campaigning ought to be a 9 1/2 month affair that costs a lot of money. Now, if conservatives persist acting like you can challenge that with a 1 month campaign as happened in the Litster case,  they’re going to turn it around.

City elections ought to be short campaigns run by ordinary citizens. However in tactics, we must deal with what is, not just what we’d like there to be.  Baumbach and Dunham began to lay the groundwork far earlier than any other candidates and still lost. This to me, means we have to go even earlier.

In addition, while I appreciated seeing the GOP take a step towards being involved, I think it needs to be much more in terms of active money raising and distribution of literature. GOP Precinct Captains could use involvement in city elections as a dry run for learning streets and getting the hang of literature distribution in advance of the next election.

The ultimate solution to many of the problems faced in our City is to break it up into wards. To run for the City Council requires nearly the same amount of money as running for Mayor because you’re trying to reach the same constituency, the entire city. That makes the campaign cost too much. If the city were divided into wards, the cost of running a campaign would be a fraction of what it is.

Of course, the Ward system is hard to pass given that the North End’s propensity for turning out in in City elections allows it to control the whole council and no council member will oppose the most powerful neighborhood in the city, the one that votes them up or down. So, creating a ward system would have to be done by citizen initiative in an even numbered year when the whole city could vote, and such a measure could pass. Of course, conservatives are loathe to use the initiative process. I remember Dr. Kirk Sullivan once warning the Central Committee of the danger of becoming like California with a very long ballot. However, I’d humbly suggest changing our council system is worth the risk.

I’d urge everyone to do the same.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hat Tip: Don Surber

Let me use this post to remind you. To change our city. For responsive government: Vote Baumbach, Dunham, and Litster.

Obama White House selling access. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Financial organizations to be regulated by ACORN. (Hat Tip: The Corner.)

Death Panels…they’re back.

All the President’s taxes in the Obamacare bill.

Democrats: The know-less party. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

White House charges calculator abuse against reporter who points out the cost of Stimulus.  (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Media clown attacks integrity of Senator Joe Lieberman.

Second Amendment update via Gun Watch.

Joe Arpaio: Arizona-approved.

San Francisco Mayor drops out of Governor’s race. 

Moment of silence under attack.

 Christian killed in Somalia

Another creation museum opens.

Rwandans helped on road to stability.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

A powerful movie we saw two weeks ago on the Environmentalist movement. Get it. It is a stocking stuffer for your friends.

Adam, I want to tell conservatives that the local media, even radio, has downplayed voter turnout this year, but our people should take heart! Local elections have never accrued so much conservative involvement so early. It is important that our base not buy into anything but determination to win. Let’s be resolved to give Boise a facelift, now. This race is urgent! Let’s get out the vote! All we need to win is to turn out our voters!

I’d also like our base to know that the North End Debate turned out a primarily conservative crowd. I know this because I made a point of meeting everyone before and after the debate. Enthusiasm for plain-dealers and conservatives was very high. When the North End is turning out conservatives, the wind is at our backs. Let’s roll.

I was pleasantly surprised by the meeting, and actually getting down to talk with Ward. We held court at Denny’s and in the interest of full disclosure, Ward did pay for my drink with his own personal cash. However, he didn’t expect to buy me with a Diet Coke.

Ward answered many of my top concerns. He assured me that he knew for sure he wanted to serve more than one term, but didn’t plan to leave Congress in a body bag after 40 years.  That’s encouraging.

He made a reasonable case for why he was announcing the fundraising: because it showed momentum and the papers weren’t going to cover it.  More importantly, he pointed out that he has been talking issues at townhalls that have been soliciting a lot of public questions.

He also emphasized that the circumstance of his speech weren’t ideal, given some limits placed on the speech, and that he usually prefers a townhall-style of meeting. That’s a fair point and he’ll have many opportunities to prove himself  to voters, as he continues to meet with him across the State.

I got a sample of that in my own Q&A at Denny’s. And overall, I was pretty impressed with what I heard. It wasn’t necessarily that I agreed with him and I did on most issues, but rather that he seemed to be talking like a citizen as opposed to a politician, as we talked about things like TARP.

One thing that had concerned me was Ward’s work withMcCain. It wasn’t because he was an ideological disciple of McCain. He didn’t start with McCain until May. He said he’d preferred the Executive experience of Romney and Huckabee, but once McCain was the nominee, he wanted to see McCain win v. Obama or Hillary. He said that his staff in Nevada was a big mixture of supporters from other primary campaigns.

He expressed his  strong opposition to bailouts and his belief in following capitalism as opposed to the road of bailouts. He also supported auditing the Fed. He was very articulate on Afghanistan.

I no long worry about Ward being able to dispatch Walt Minnick in 2010. In fact, Ward’s overall strategy is quite reminiscent of the insurgent campaign that Minnick ran. Minnick, too, had townhall meetings, and spoke to people. The difference for Ward is that he speaks to a lot greater portion of the Idaho Constituency.

I’m not endorsing Ward at this point, though, I’ll certainly be open to share anything I learn that will be of interest.  I think his stances on the issues are solid, and I could support him without reservation in a General Election.

Ken Roberts has the support of many of the finest conservatives in the State, and I will definitely go and listen to him before its all said and done and he has a conservative voting record. However, he’s going to have a very tough road to hoe against Ward.

I believe very much in the scriptural admonition to lay hands on no one suddenly. The intangible one faces is not just where a candidate stands right now, but how they’ll be shaped and changed by Washington. It raises questions that only God can answer and requires some thoughtful deliberation and prayer. And Ward certainly gave me plenty to think about today.

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Heileson’s speech is a 101 on the Constitution and liberty. While it was information I’d heard before for the most part, I think to the average citizen who knows more about the back story of Marge Simpson than the enumerated powers in the Constitution, that it was a great education speech.

I can him bonus points for knowing what form of government we have: a Republic, thank you very much. Heileson is a veteran of our nation’s armed services, and he’s not a politician, though he did confess to running one of those pointless campaigns for the State Legislature, where he filed but didn’t bother to campaign, because he didn’t know how to campaign. Most people don’t, though.

Of course, this time’s he’s got some help. His campaign is headed by a young man who I can tell doesn’t have a ton of campaign experience, but has some thoughful strategies that have a good chance of working.

The campaign is grassroots, having raised all but $500 of their $50,000 in campaign funds within our district (The other $500 came from his son-in-law.) compared to Mike Simpson’s fundraising which has produced $128,140 heretofore, the majoity of it from PACs and only $10,400 coming from individuals in the state of Idaho.

There are some criticisms I could level at Heileson.  There was some stumbles during his presentation and he’s not particularly eloquent. However, no one ever will mistake Mike Simpson for Daniel Webster, and I don’t think our greatest need right now is for eloquent and polished speakers. What impressed me was that Heileson came through as a genuine person, a citizen who could not be mistaken for a politician, who would be personally not be devestated, if he gets to stay at his home near Idaho Falls rather going to Washington. Heileson’s a good mix of solid principles, self-deprecating humor, and a healthy disgust for our political process as it is.

I asked him two questions and he gave a reasonable answer to my question about how he would avoid being corrupted by the culture of Washington. I was disappointed by his answer on abortion. He aligns pretty strongly with Congressman Ron Paul, and Paul’s votes, as well as the policy Heileson advocated of using Article III, Section II right of Congress to restrict Congress’ ability to regulate abortion.

My problem is that the general Paulian stance seems designed to avoid offending pro-choice libertarians and only focus on abortion as an issue of Constitutional adherence rather than basic human rights and dignity. It’s a disappointing way to address the moral issue of our times, but Heileson will vote right in Congress, as Paul does.

Heileson’s campaign has made two moves: one risky and one not risky. They pledged not to take contributions from Corporate PACs, but to accept funds from ideological PACs committed to things like the right to bear arms.  That’s a good pledge to take, and it’s a good contrast with Simpson. In practical value, it probably isn’t going to cost them any money, because Corporate PACs don’t contribute to campaigns like Heileson’s.

The tougher part is the campaign setting an aggressive voter education and registeration goal.

Can Heilesson win in a David and Goliath battle? I think, maybe. Many of the people who got involved in the Ron Paul campaign that got 26% of the vote after the Primary was decided. They’re growing more politically mature, and in addition to the original Paul supporters, numbers have swelled thanks to the Tea Party. If there were a candidate who embodied the spirit of the Tea Party movement better than Chuck Heileson. In addition, they have a solid plan of attack.

And perhaps, the Goliath of this campaign may make it easier than it would in any other Republican District. The original Goliath was set up for the kill by his hubris that left him unprepared to be plunked in the head. He failed to keep his eye on the Hebrew shepherd, never expecting he could be knocked cold at an unprotected point on his head.

Well, Simpson is so confident, he’s done the political equivalent of walking out on the battlefield t-shirt and gym shorts. When he’s back in his district, he doesn’t hold townhall meetings where can constituents can ask him questions.  He doesn’t have representatives show up at Central Committee meetings, which is a good thing as his staff makes the downtown DMV look like the Missionaries of Charity. I’ve gotten more polite service at a Subway near BSU. That says something.

Simpson has taken his position for granted. Even Simpson’s fundraising numbers are weak. They’re the numbers of a man whose political career has become a never-ending victory lap. Now, he faces a challenge. Not two unknown challengers throwing in their hats at the last minute before filing deadline, but one challenger who is raising money and building an organization in a year when incumbency will offer less advantage than any year since 1994. 

This race is a sleeper, but I’m watching this race with interest. It’d be great to send Mike Simpson back to dentistry, so the only people he causes pain are his patients.

As Hoffman points out, the idea is straight out of the 1970s when a similar federal check off box was to solve the problem of money in politics. Of course, it hasn’t. In Idaho, it was supposed to make the political parties less dependnet on private contributions, it hasn’t.

At the national level, the Presidential matching funds are used by candidates who can’t gain mainstream support because of the number of strings that come attached to them. Neither Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton used the matching funds, nor of course did Mitt Romney, becuase they didn’t want the spending limits. Mike Huckabee didnt’ use the matching funds because he didn’t want to be in a straight jacket should he win the nomination. John McCain used them quite shrewdly. He used taxpayer backed matching funds to serve as a collateral for a loan to keep his campaign afloat and then when he received the nomination, McCain withdrew his agreement to abide by spending limits during the Primary. I’m sure that’s just what the authors of the law had in  mind.

While I did the Republican box, I think the program overall is a waste of money and should be ended for all parties.  However, the savings seem small in the scheme of a big budget crisis, but Hoffman points out the more than $70,000 spent on Idaho’s political parties could provide two State Patrolmen to protect the people of Idaho.

Perhaps, if Checkoff boxes are such a great idea, though, might I suggest that would have a more practical effect. Give me a Check Off box to send a portion of my State Tax dollars to an organization that does a better job of taking care of the poor or one of many other roles government usurps for itself. Somehow, I don’t think that this suggestion will be near as popular around the Capitol.

Litster brings practical real-world expereince,  but most importantly is an opponent of the Trolley Folly, willing to put the matter to voters who would soundly thrash the issue.

What can we say about TJ Thomson? Thomson has of late acted as an “Independent voice” who is “undecided” about the Boise Street Car.  However, if one wants to be an independent voice, it would be best not to launch your campaign with the endorsement of nearly every Democrat in town and active urging of support from the local Democratic Party.  The pretense of indepence seems to me to be packaging far more than substance.

With the endorsement of Mayor Dave Bieter, Thomson seems likely to little more than a rubber stamp for the Bieter machine.

My endorsements for Dan Dunham and Lucas Baumbach still stand.

###

Once again, the Idaho Statesman has endorsed the candidates of the City Establishment. Throughout the years, the Statesman has thoroughly criticized moves such as the city’s outrageous $90,000 taxpayer-funded publicity campaign for the Boise trolley, yet at election time, the City never asks us to make the mayor and council pay a price.

Why?

Why is it that in the world of the Idaho Statesman editorial writers, there are decisions made that are arrogant, and bring a degree of partisan rancor what ought to be non-partisan city government.

The Statesman manages to condemn obvious arrogant over-reaches of the City Council, yet it seems that they can never affix any blame. Perhaps, it is because they are so blinded by their own belief in the progressive cause that matters more than a city government that is responsive and doesn’t try to play games with its people and a City Council that represents all Boiseans and not just left wing Democrats.

It is a time for a price to be paid and for the City Government to understand that they are accountable for their actions, even if their supposed watchdog in the press is choosing to act as a sleeping lapdog come election time.

Tapper challenges Obama White House’s war on Fox News. (Hat Tip: Reformed Chicks Babbling.)

(Obama taking notes? Chavez takes aim at unfriendly media.  (Hat Tip: Wizbang.)

U.S. Health care costs growing at the same rate as countries with government run health care.

The latest advocate for Obamacare: Horror movie antangonist, Jigsaw.  (Hat Tip: Newsbusters.)

Victory over the SEIU. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

ACORN-linked political party caught in Voter fraud scandal.  (Hat Tip: Wizbang Blog.)

Democratic Illinois State Senator sponsors mob widow.

1 Million rally against abortion in Spain.  (Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

Second Amendment update.

School sued for discriminating against Christian soccer camp.

Crackdown on Christianity continues in Pakistan. (Hat Tip: Persecution Blog.)

Culture of hopelessness: Japan has 30,000 suicides per year.

Humpty Dumpty saved by political correctness. (Hat Tip: Wizbang.)

Insanity: 8 yearold has “sex change” (Hat Tip: Wizbang.)

Be a voice for life.

Abortionist aborts eighteen week old while eightteen weeks pregnant.

Music by Rare Tunes

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7 lies in 2 minutes. Impressive, even by the standard of politicians.  (Hat Tip: Club for Growth.)

With apologies to whoever wrote the original, but this limerick seems in order:

The liars club had its big meet
Said Obama when asked to compete
I cannot take part, never having practiced the art
All others conceded defeat

Click here to view the embedded video.

The take-away: overusing cliches will get you made fun of. A lot.

Was I in a position to bargain as they stopped the blood flow? Not really. Did I have any idea they’d charge me $1,000 an hour to emplace a bandage? Of course not. Will they negotiate something reasonable now? Of course not. Would any of you have stopped them before you got in the door and said, how much will this cost? Had I asked the nurse, would she even have known? Doubtful.

The insurance company won’t help me. That’s not what they do, negotiate for patients.

I had no knowledge and no bargaining power. That’s not the free market at work. It’s health care, and it’s why insisting in free market solutions for health care is just stupid.

Well, Alan has made a very good case for socializing tow trucks.

And plumbers.

And locksmiths.

And repairmen.

I’ve never once in my life planned on breaking down by the side of the road, needing to call a plumber or an electrician, or having a repairman come out. I suppose it’s technically possible on the side of the road to open up an I-phone, search google yellow pages and call every tow truck company to find a quote, but who does that, particularly if you’re a strange town. However, if the government controlled all the tow trucks that would solve everything.

Or how about government control of plumbers, electricians, and repairmen? The only way you can find out how their services cost is usually to get an estimate which means a service call. When they give their estimate, and you have to decide whether to roll the dice and hope the next plumber/electrician/repairman to come out to the house will charge you less even with you paying for an additional service call, you know how the crook felt in the Dirty Harry movies when Dirty Harry asked, “Do you feel lucky?”

Of course, in Alan’s example, there were all kinds of examples of better choices he could have made. He cut off the bit of his finger and took care of it at home. He could have driven out to a St. Alphonsus Express Care if in doubt as to how to take care of it (they only charge $55). He then made the fateful decision to change the bandage which led to the service call at an expensive out of network service provider.

I do sympathize with Alan’s pain. I’ve done stupid things, too. We all have. I’ve had towing bills result from stupid things I’ve done. I’ve had repairman visits result from making mistakes in the kitchen. I panicked last year and had a $175 Emergency Room bill to tell me to go and take ibuprofen.  Yet, I’ve never come to this blog to declare that it was all the fault of the service provider and the government for not having socialized them.

This doesn’t mean the free enterprise system is perfect. However, by the grace of God and through the opportunity afforded in this country, I’ve seen my income increase more than 250% over the past seven years. I’m hardly rich, but I’ve been able to afford to take steps such as addressing my weight problem and sleep apnea that could prevent far more costly problems down the line.

I don’t think that’s a bad deal. What we need is more innovators and more companies finding better solutions to health care. However, government is often in the way of innovation, rather than on its side. Government ultimately ends up ingraining inefficiency rather than correcting it. The last thing we need is a health care system with the compassion of the DMV, the efficiency of the Pentagon, and the common sense of Congress.

Our Daily Paper, finding as it does an undue amount of honor in pragmatism showers some undeserved praise on County Attorney Greg Bower for his decision not to pursue the death penalty through some bizarre logic. That the lengthy death penalty appeals process would cause discomfort to the family, and that it would be very expensive.

Translation: this eight year old just wasn’t worth the trouble. In life and death, Robert Manwill was alone. In life, if Mr. Bower is to believed, the one person who should have protected him became an accessory to his murder. In death, a weary bureaucrat won’t go to the trouble to ensure he receives justice because it’s all too terribly expensive. 

And so he came to his end, face up in a canal, and his death will be given a likely slap on the wrist.  Oh, you can expect a stern judge to give a lengthy sentence, but don’t expect that sentence to be served out. I would wager money that Robert’s killer will eventually walk out of jail free.

 Taxpayers will save money, liberals won’t have to wrestle with an issue they’re uncomfortable with. The killer will get a second chance at life probably in his forties, and maybe get to find another eight year old to take his frustrations out on.

The only loser in this case is justice.

On a related note,

Liberal “thinker: Oops, health care won’t solve the deficit.

Arianna Huffington calls for the Vice-President to resign. (Hat Tip: Stop the ACLU.)

Obama afraid of San Francisco. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.) 

Democratic invasion of privacy goes unpunished. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Sheriff Joe Arpaio will continue to enforce immigration laws.

Return to sender: Democrat returns money from Murtha. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Non-black students wins beauty crown and is subject to racist comments.  (Hat Tip: Education Watch.)

Despicable crank callers target military families. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Apartment complex bans American flag. (Hat Tip: Stop the ACLU.)

Harry Potter for gay marriage? (Hat Tip: Pam’s House Blend.)

New York’s Lawless executive attempts to recognize same sex marriage.

Another assault on a pro-lifer.  (Hat Tip: Newsbusters.)

Student told to remove pro-life t-shirt during Obama speech.

Policeman confiscates pro-life sign with picture of Jesus on it.

Utah Legislature tries to close insane loophole.

A case about a drawing for a Kindergarten assignment is in its 10th year.

Bible verse ban leads to outpouring of public support.

Russian Pastor fined for worship.

Mob kills 11 Christians as Pakistan keeps blasphemy law on the books.

Second Amendment Update.

Liberals lose: Gen. Y finds investing enjoyable.

John Stamos advocates against child abandonment.

A one legged 9-year old sports phenom.

Music by Recent Rainfall via Music Alley.

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From Vaughn Ward: “Ward Posts Strong 3rd Quarter.”

From Ken Roberts :  “Ken Roberts Secures Three More Endorsements.”

I’m more impressed by Roberts endorsements (Rep. Steve Thayn, and Senator Shirley McKague primarily) but it’s time for both campaigns to start talking about the issues.

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Ada County prosecutors decided Friday they will not seek the death penalty against first-degree murder suspects Daniel Ehrlick and Melissa Jenkins for the beating death of 8-year-old Robert Manwill earlier this year.

Ehrlick is accused of beating the boy — Jenkins’ son — to death. Jenkins is accused of covering up the crime and lying to police about what happened.

It’s the prosecutor’s job to determine whether the aggravating factors exist for a jury to sentence someone to death, like if the killing was heinously cruel, the defendant has a propensity to commit murder, or the killer showed an utter disregard for human life.

While I can understand not seeking the death penalty against Jenkins, as they allege she was an accessory after the fact, the Ada County Attorney’s office is showing ultimate disrespect for the value of human by refusing to seek the death penalty against Ehrlick.

If we’re to believe prosecutors, they allege that Ehrlick took an innocent child and beat him to death. The last moments of Robert Manwill’s life on this planet were moments of pure agony. Prosecutors allege that Ehrlick was the big man who took out whatever frustrations he had on an innocent little boy.

If that’s not disregard for the value of human life, what is?  If that’s not heinously cruel, what is? 

Many people ask me how I can be pro-life and for the death penalty. The death penalty  is about respecting life. One of the best scriptures on this comes from the mouth of God in Genesis 9, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man.”

Justice demands that Robert Manwill’s killer should forfeit his own life. Yet, there will be no justice in this case. At this point, there may be a plea bargain in the offing. Within a decade, I’ll lay even money that Robert Manwill’s killer will be out on the street.

Why? Because our society doesn’t value the lives of children. We say we do, but we don’t. How many child molestors have been given chance after chance to go out and rape more kids, ruin more lives. We’ve seen the stories. The lives of children are cheap. They’re not  as cheap as in countries like Thailand, but we don’t treat these real crimes as seriously as we ought.

And now, if the Ada Country District Attorney’s office has found the right man, we will once again devalue the life of a child. Why? I don’t know. Maybe, in the judgment of the prosecutors, justice is too hard, or they don’t feel like spending the money to fight through our broken down appeals process, which is designed to protect murderers, and frustrate justice and the rights of victims.

Whatever the case, there is no excuse, and this decision will way heavily on my mind the next time I vote for County Attorney.

In Glenn Beck’s pursuit of every member of the Obama administration who ever hung a Che Guevera poster on his college dorm wall, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn has become a new target for…. Well, for criticizing FOX News.

Note that Anita Dunn made her statement for Mao last Summer, hardly in college. However, that the columnist over at the Swamp views liberals admiring communist butchers to be a normal state of affairs.

Note that no conservative I know of  had a photo of a dictator or terrorist on their wall while in college.  However, it seems a normal state of affairs for leftists activists to have spent their college days looking up fondly to Karl Marx, Guevera, Lenin, and a host of thugs.

Of course, only the most committed cling to their college heroes. When they’ve entered their 30s and certainly their 40s, the radical iconographyof their earlier days is gone. Yet, it doesn’t seem to be because they’ve realized the error of their ways, that communism is truly evil, and the benefits of our free enterprise system. There are notable exceptions such as CNBC’s Jim Cramer, but I don’t think your former college communist could articulate anything wrong with the radical position they held in college, other than the that identifying as a communist is impractical. The underlying anti-freedom ideology hasn’t changed, rather it’s been superficially covered up. The agenda of the adult radical activist is pretty much the same agenda that the radical while he was in college. The older radicals are just smarter about how they pursue it, and therefore more dangerous.

The serious point of her posts seems to be that big conservatives like Senator Chuck Coiner and Representative Tom Trail being big hypocrites for personally tag Ag. Subsidies. Of course, this is MGR’s favorite line of assault, and the left’s it’s the ad hominem tu quoquo that tries to argue that an inconsistent action negates the argument of the person making the case.

Of course, this is absurd. We do not get to live in the world of our own choosing, and in the case of farmers, they live in a world where their business rivals get tax credits and they would be at a political disadvantage. Consider this point. Liberals believe government is underfunded, how many of them selfishly took tax deductions this year. Give it back! If government needs the money, then you on the left who see the need should give every tax grocery tax credit, charitable write-off, and home mortgage deduction to keep the state, our almighty provider, in business.

Oh wait, it doesn’t work both ways? What’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander? You don’t say.

As to the state’s rainy day funds, while I favor tapping them judiciously to ease the pain of some spending cuts, let’s be clear. The secret of the rainy days funds is once they are spent, they are gone. And while the left have taken a big sip of the Obama kool aid, I don’t think the storm’s ending any time soon.

I would argue that this current political storm shows the lack of compassion of the statist apparatchniks who have helped create this leviathan. We saw it first in New Orleans in Hurricane Katrina, where a physical storm came in and those most vulnerable who had been taught to be dependend on government were those least prepared to face it.

Now, we face an economic storm, and the results are similar. Statists know the key to power. Make people dependent on government. You will get their votes time after time.

Of course, this wasn’t the only option. In most cases, individuals could be given a hand up, and be taught to help themselves or obtain help from strong communities, by encouraging community and civic organizations to meet needs. But, there’s no power in that. Instead, we were told the almighty state would the provider of everything we need. They encouraged people to become permanently dependent on the state. The left has talked down responsible investing and building your own wealth as comparable to playing craps on the Vegas strip. 

The politicians had the poor and the seniors right where they wanted them, dependent on the state for their existence. They could puff out their chest at their own unfailing righteousness for they had taken care of the poor with the sweat of other people’s brows. 

Of course, in the midst of all the class warfare and the consdescending self-congratulatory hoopla, the politicians forgot to tell the people something. All the help we’d had the state do depended on the productive part of the economy.  And what if that productive part failed? What if the evil producers of capital stopped producing wealth.

What is happening in Idaho and across America in the midst of this recession? The levees broke.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He’s the favorite mass murdering strongman of Obama flack Anita Dunn.

(Hat Tip: Colussus of Rhodey.)

And I’m with AllahPundit, I don’t buy the lame “just kidding” excuse given that she uses Mao to make a serious point to the students.

Boise and the Valley had an extensive rail system that operated from 1891-1928, and it served the public quite well. Streetcar lines ran through all of downtown Boise, and the Interurban Lines ran out to Collister, Pierce Park, through Eagle, Star, Middleton, to Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian and back into Boise. Like many rail systems across the globe, however, the system ran into financial difficulties which led the owners to shut it down in 1928.

So, until it turned into a financial failure, everything was going well.  Mind you the original street car enjoyed its success when the automobile was not at all popular.  This experience would seem to be an argument against the trolley folly as we now live in a society where cars are used and people like having them.

The big argument from Blanchard is that the trolley is not a transportation project, but an economic development project, which is a dubious argument at best. It’s not hard to imagine that the trolley could end up snarling traffic  and driving more business out of the downtown area.

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The money quote, “We’re going to have to, if you’re very old, we’re not going to give you all that technology and all those drugs for the last couple of years of your life to keep you maybe going for another couple of months. It’s too expensive, so we’re going to let you die.”

Also, promising more expense to the young, in exchange for a shorter lifespan because there won’t be much profit in improving medical technology. For obvious reasons, we never end up facing the honest Democrat in debate, and instead get the charlatan who tells us, “Yes, we can.”

Hat Tip: Don Surber

“Boys will be boys.” -1909

“Boys will need Ridlin.” -2009

Doug Giles has a provocative piece on why pastors avoid the culture war. 

John Nolte suggests a very simple reason for the decline of DVD sales: the movies stink. Don’t believe him? How many of the movies made in  the past year would you care to see again, let alone have taking up space on your shelf.

Well, that’s really relevant because we know that the quality of potential Congressional representation can be judged based on the size of the campaign’s bank account. That’s why we have such a great congress in Washington today, all elected with great funding.

So far, the battle for Idaho’s 1st Congressional district remains an issue-free zone. So far, what we’ve heard from both campaigns is, “I’ve raised a lot of money.” and “I’ve got a lot of political people backing me.” And that’s what Reporters have to write their stories.

However, as someone who cares about this country, and fears for its future,  I see only sound and fury signifying nothing. I see almost no discussion of what these men will do in Washington, other than the fact that they’ll oppose Obamacare. Even Mike Simpson can manage that, so I don’t find that particularly impressive.  

Do they even have an idea of what they want to do in Washington? Or are they going up there to add a line to their resume and enjoy the perks of being a member of Congress? Of course, in the world of politics if that’s a case, a politician will spin you by saying, “I have no agenda other than going to serve the people.” However, let me advise you of this simple fact if a member of Congress arrives with no agenda, there are plenty of lobbyists that will provide an agenda for him.

I look forward to hearing the candidates for Idaho’s 1st talk about the issues that are on the minds of Idahoans. So far, it hasn’t happened.

The debate over Glenn Beck is fascinating, but both sides have missed the real truth. Glenn Beck’s current position of prominence is a problem, but not for the reason that his opponents imagine.

The debate has come down to a question of whether Beck is good for conservatism. Dan Riehl argues Beck is made prominent by the media because he hurts conservatism. Bernard Chapin provides the counterpunch that Beck is under attack by the media because he’s good for conservatism and revitalizes it.

The problem is that few people are as strategic as Chapin or Riehl suggests. Certainly, Fred Phelps and his ghoulish family are given prominent media play to tar actual conservative Christians, and the media never mentions Phelps’ support for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 1988. Similarly, I’ve seen people I know to be reasonable, decent folks turned into monsters by the media in order to marginalize them.

However, this can’t be said of all media action. Would anyone say conservatives are attacking Keith Olbermann to make him prominent to give us election wins? Your average voter could care less about the latest outrageous statement by the Sportscenter alumnus. Conservatives attack Olbermann because they don’t like him. If there’s some grand strategy behind it, it’s not working. Nor would anyone say that Sean Hannity has James Carville or Bob Beckel on his show in order to make Democrats look like buffoons. Well, they wouldn’t say it about Carville, anyway.

The news media is about passion, energy, and novelty. “George Will writes bland intellectual column” isn’t news. “Glenn Beck throws down the gauntlet to the Obama administration on national television while wearing lederhosen.” Now, that’s news.

It’s silly to charge Glenn Beck with being bad for conservatism and bad for the Republican Party. Do Beck bashers imagine that people are going to say, “The economy may be awful and I may agree more with the Republicans, but I can’t stand that Glenn Beck, so I’m voting for the Democrats”? Will that show up in the exit polls?

I appreciate the service that Vern Bisterfeldt has provided to Ada County and the City of Boise for decades. I’ve had several interactions with him, all of them pleasant. Bisterfeldt deserves credit for not voting for the city’s unnecessarily divisive Obamacare resolution. He’s a good man, but there’s one glaring issue I can’t overlook. 

I could not have imagined not voting for him even after the instrumental role he played in the election of Congressman Walt Minnick. I find his support of Bieter Machine politician TJ Thompson to be troubling. However, it is his support of the trolley that is a bridge too far to me. The city of Boise’s project is helping to contribute to our nation’s impending bankruptcy, as well as creating a project that is likely to become a boondoggle. The good of the country and the nation today must come first and so I cannot in good conscience cast another vote for Vern Bisterfeldt.

I also find candidate David Honey to be a decent man and not a career politician.

However, my endorsement goes to Dan Dunham and I would urge every conservative and citizen who is concerned about the state of affairs in city of government to vote for Dan. I’ve known Dan for quite some time. He’s the type of person who involves him in great causes because of his concern for his country and not his own personal advancement.  Dan knows what he believes in and has core values that motivate him and govern his behavior.  He understands what the proper role of government is be and that belief will guide how he governs.

On a City Council that has been willing to serve as a rubber stamp for the Bieter Administration, we desperately someone who will be an independent voice and will challenge the Administration on these big issues. The Council has voted with a sense that they are invulnerable. They’ve made ill-considered risks and have been constantly trying to work to find ways to get around the people. Dan Dunham will be a skeptic of government and won’t buy into a belief that good intentions will make ill-conceived projects succeed. I believe that Dan Dunham’s election could restore equilibrium to a city council that is clearly out of balance. I believe Dan Dunham will serve the people and not become a typical politician. And it is for these reasons that Dan Dunham has my personal endorsement for Boise City Council.

America’s allies troubled.  (Hat Tip: Campaign Spot.)

Obama advisor: Sharia misunderstood. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Obama chooses to appease China by delaying a meeting with the Dalai Lama. (Hat Tip: Stop the ACLU.)

Obamacare paid for with a tax on medical devices including breast pumps while ignoring the need for Tort reform which could save $41 billion a year. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

More Obama worship in government schools. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Bernake and Paulsen misled the public on TARP. (Hat Tip: Right Mind.)

Taxpayer heroes and zeroes.

50 examples of government waste. (Hat Tip: Club for Growth)

Byrd gave earmark to company that doesn’t exist. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Probe of Rangel expanded. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Senator Carper doesn’t expect to read health care bill before passing it. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.) 

Dick Durbin is a man in a hurry.

John Kerry celebrates environmental impact of recession. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

The Obama Justice Department’s secret blogging team.

ACORN offers stirring defense of herself.  (Hat Tip: Crunchy Cons.)

Grant that was to go to Firefighters went to ACORN instead.

ACORN’s embezzlement scandal in Louisiana worse than believed. (Hat Tip: The Corner.)

ACORN’s Shell corporations.

New York’s epic fail in food labeling experiment.

Planned Parenthood did sexual studies on 10 year old girls.

Donations to fight Breast Cancer could go to Planned Parenthood.

Illinois Governor  think money can solve violence. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

NAACP works to register felons to vote.

Nature Magazine calls for harvesting organs from living patients.  (Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

Second Amendment update from Gun Watch.

Japan now paying people to have kids.

One mission’s unrelenting stand through time.

Music by Recent Rainfall via Music Alley.

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(Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

The Nobel Committee has made a spate of unjustified decisions in recent years, though. Consider the Nobel Prizes for Jimmy Carter, which was mainly an attempt to thumb its nose at George W. Bush for being a “big evil warmonger”.   Or think about the Nobel Prize for Al Gore for jetting around the world in large private jets to scare us to death about global warming.

There used to be a time when Nobel Peace Prize winners earned their awards through a lifetime of work for peace. Not today. Today, we give it to a guy for accomplishing nothing, as a slap on the back and an atta boy to the world’s favorite pats. Congratulations, Mr. President, Nelson Mandela had to spend 20 years in jail to get the award that you “earned” by being elected on a promise of hope and change. Mother Teresa had to spend decades in the slums of calcutta for the sick and dying to earn her award.

As bad as the Nobel Prize Committee’s decisions this decade have been, they have made dumb decisions before, like handing an award to terrorist Yasser Arafat become the committee was snowed into believing that the  Palestinians would change their way. Or the decision to award Woodrow Wilson the Nobel Peace Prize for coming up with the idea for the League of Nations (which ended up failing) and composing the Fourteen Points (which was totally ignored at the Versailles treaty.)

 However, beginning with the Jimmy Carter prize in 2002, the Noble Prize Committee began issuing awards to people who had no business even being considered for one. This however takes the cake. It devalues the award. With apologies to Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, being a Nobel Peace Prize winner means far less than it did seven years.

ALDS:

Twins v. Yankees:

On one hand, the Twins just came off a dramatic win. On the other hand, they’re facing the best team in the bigs, and a smart manager in Joe Girardi.

My prediction: Yankees in 4.

Red Sox v. Angels

The Angels have been absolutely solid all season long, with the Red Sox far more streaky. The Red Sox still have a rotation that’s so scary, you wouldn’t want to meet it in a dark alley, which makes this a tough one to call. However, two things make me think an Angel victory is in the offing. First of all is the Angels home field advantage. Secondly, is my gut on this series that the Red Sox are not the same team that won it all in 2007.  With great trepidation, I’ll predict this one as follows:

Angels in 5.

Rockies v. Phillies

This is a rematch of the 2007 division series which the Rockies swept on en route to a pennant. I’d like to think the same thing is in the cards, this year, I just can’t buy it. The Phillies have got a world title, and a murderer’s row line-up. You never underestimate the heart of a champion. The Rockies have been the best team in baseball since Jim Tracy took over, however they didn’t have a spectacular September. However, the strength of the Rockies pitching staff (yes, I can hardly believe I wrote that either) can’t be underestimated.

Still, I have to predict Phillies in 4.

Los Angeles v. St. Louis Cardinals:

This series features the managerial match-up of the post-season: Torre v. LaRussa. The Cardinals have got the strongest team in the NL Playoffs and the best player in ALbert Pujols. If he shows up, this will be lights out. Otherwise, expect a closelye played series.

My prediction: Cardinals in Five.