Protests at the Inaugural
January 20, 2005
If you listened to the Presidents inauguration speech today, you know that near the end, some protesters could be heard in the crowd. It turns out to be a blue state action by some “pinkos.”
Guardian Unlimited: “CodePink member Jodie Evans said she and other protesters got tickets to the ceremony from members of Congress representing New York and California. “
Certainly Sen. Barbara Boxer is behind this. Is Hillary as well?
As angry as all of us were at Bill Clinton’s inauguration ceremonies, I do not recall any Republican Senators or Congressmen planting protesters in the crowd. Our system of government benefits from a peaceful transfer of power and respect for the positions established. These actions on the part of the representatives from California and New York is reprehensible.
Sphere: Related ContentFirefox The IE Killer
January 20, 2005
WebProNews.com is predicting the death if Internet Explorer in its report, Firefox The IE Killer.
It would be a difficult task to take on Microsoft. But I am a believer. I use Firefox as my preferred browser because it’s just better. I recommend you give it a shot and see how tabbed browsing is so much superior to IE browsing.
Sphere: Related ContentJibJab.com
January 19, 2005
JibJab has their new parody available. It’s called Second Term. Check it out.
Wictory Wednesday
January 19, 2005
Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) has been one of the most steadfast members of the Senate Republican leadership. But he’s facing a tough re-election battle in 2006 against State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., who’s polling ahead of Santorum right now. We must keep this seat. You can help by contributing to Santorum’s campaign online.
Today is Wictory Wednesday. Every Wednesday, hundreds of bloggers ask their readers to donate to an important Republican campaign.
If you’re a blogger, you can join Wictory Wednesdays by e-mailing me at wictory@blogsforbush.com. I’ll add you to the Wictory Wednesday blogroll. I’ll also send you a reminder e-mail every Wednesday, explaining which candidate to support that day.
Sphere: Related ContentDuty of Self-Government: Devotion to Divine Truth
January 19, 2005
“It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only, as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”
–James Madison
I receive the “Founders Quote Daily” from the Federalist Patriot website. If you would like to subscribe to their regular emails, click here.
Sphere: Related ContentHow Reliable "Democracy"?
January 10, 2005
This is a wise quote. Republics are the best guarantors of liberty.
“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.”
–Fisher Ames
I talked in a previous article about John Locke’s argument as to the origin of government authority. Here’s what I said there:
Thus Locke starts by laying rights into individuals in their natural state who consequently adjust their individual liberty into “Conjugal Society” through marriage. Then, as dictated by necessity, man and woman cede some of their authority in the family to Civil Society through representatives appointed by them who make laws and administer justice on their behalf.
Government is designed to mitigate harm done to members of a community through just laws which do not abrogate individual rights. Government is sustained by individuals who give it authority to adjudicate disputes. It was never intended to grant the “freedom” to do what one wishes at the expense of others.
The Founders of this country wanted to be delivered from the state taking rights away from the individual. The individual was called upon to exercise self-government thus reducing as far as possible the need for the state to interfere with individual rights to protect the body politick.
We now find ourselves in a situation where the state seeks to give individuals the right to do harm to the community by sanctioning licentious behavior (through abortion and a redifinition of marriage for example). This is why Ames’ quote is so profound in my opinion.
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I receive the “Founders Quote Daily” from the Federalist Patriot website. If you would like to subscribe to their regular emails, click here.
42 and 43 Becoming Buddies
January 9, 2005
It seems like President Bush and former President Bill Clinton are becoming fast friends:
MSNBC: “For two men at opposite ends of the political spectrum, the relationship between the 43rd and 42nd presidents has grown surprisingly warm and personal over the last six months. Clinton endorsed Bush’s approach to the tsunami catastrophe, defending him against criticism about his initial response as well as raising cash alongside the president’s father. Friends and aides say the two men enjoy each other’s company and, as fellow pros, respect each other’s political talents.”
As much as I like President Bush and his political and moral skills in office, this has shades of his misplaced admiration of Vladimir Putin.
Don’t misunderstand. I truly believe Clinton was sincere in his support of the President’s efforts to coordinate tsunami relief. Despite my suspicions that the former President has grander designs on shoring up a dying U.N. organization and possibly positioning for the Secretary General position, I never once saw a time where I thought “Slick Willie” was graspable like I did when watching his statement from the White House last week. But for George Bush to bring Bill Clinton in to confidence is a big mistake. Newt Gingrich once fawned over the Clinton’s personal skills, and it cost him the Speakership (and now he wants to run for President see below).
Clinton is no Putin–that’s for sure. But he will abandon support for a “friend”, as Putin did, when political machinations dictate a different course.
Sphere: Related ContentGingrich in 2008?
January 9, 2005
FOXNews reports that Newt may be considering a run in 2008 for President. Hat tip to Confessions of a Political Junkie. Erick rightly notes that this is not the best way to start:
“Newt Gingrich is taking steps toward a potential presidential bid in 2008 with a book criticizing President Bush’s policies on Iraq and a tour of early campaign states.” [bold mine]
I like Newt’s capability to consolidate the issues of the day into a useful historical context. I frankly would like to see him in the mix. It would make the debates interesting, and I think other candidates would be less likely to preen for the camera. They’d have to actually answer some tough questions.
The jury is out on his ability to make a run of it. Even Newt knows this:
I don’t think it’s very likely. On the other hand, if I have an impact on public policy and do it in a way that is exciting and positive, why wouldn’t I want to do that?”
I say go for it!
Sphere: Related ContentErick Takes the Floor of the Senate
January 6, 2005
Erick Erickson outlines his speech on the floor of the Senate regarding his objection to the move to invalidate the Presidential Election.
Well stated! A true statesman’s appeal to truth!
Sphere: Related ContentOut In the Blogsphere
January 5, 2005
World Relief Day: Don’t forget to participate in Captain’s Quarters’ “World Relief Day” on January 12.
Breyer for Duty: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer showed up for jury duty, according to California Yankee, glad for the show of support for the jury process. Maybe he could enhance this with more support for the Constitution. As he said in a “James Madison Lecture” at the NYU School of Law in 2001:
[My] approach to constitutional interpretation . . . places considerable weight upon consequences - consequences valued in terms of basic constitutional purposes. It disavows a contrary constitutional approach, a more “legalistic” approach that places too much weight upon language, history, tradition, and precedent alone while understating the importance of consequences. If the discussion helps to convince you that the more “consequential” approach has virtue, so much the better.
Better for adjusting the law to fit your ends you mean. In the case of maintaining the liberties given to us, I’ll take a little more legalism.
Social Security as Reparation: LaShawn Barber–you go girl!
Gonzales the Torturer? The Belmont Club handles this subject masterfully!
Alias: Erick reminds us: it’s back! I comment there. He also has some more headlines.
Journalistic Hubris: Powerline hits the nail on the head with this piece. Long live the blogsphere*!
Carnival of Vanities: Hat tip to Commonwealth Conservative for the review.
Newton Sought God. Should We Ban Both of Them?: Back of the Envelope shows us an interesting article by Imago Dei which reveals that Newton actually sought Divine help when developing his theories. God forbid (pun intended) that one of history’s great minds might actually seek the advice of the one who made it all. I guess Newton will no longer be taught in public schools to avoid conflict with the Constitutional Principle of Separation of Church and State. Oh wait, that was just some statement he made in a letter. But leave it to the secularists who continually muddy the waters of the debate over the 1st Amendment. I heard a preacher once say, “You can’t get to know God in Seminary. They have you read books this thick (3 inches) which tell you why a verse this small (1 inch) doesn’t mean what is says.” This is how secularists/humanists approach the First Amendment and any evidence of Divine influence over the affairs of men.
Krauthammer on U.S. Aid: N.E. Republican gives us a wonderful quote by Charles Krauthammer on the significance of U.S. aid around the world. What an appropriate slap in the face on debunkers like Jacques Chirac.
The French: Thanks Hoosier Review.
Democracy or Republic: Hat tip as well to N.E. Republican for this article.
John Conyers: Defender of the Poor: Instapundit tells us how U.S. Rep. John Conyers office redistributed turkeys for the poor to his cronies. It’s just like his support of redistributing our wealth!
Blog Recommendation: I regularly read the blog Physicist’s Perspective. You should too.
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