Mark on Joe

It wouldn't surprise me to discover that most of these subprime homeowners got Joe in to plumb their subprime bathrooms. Next thing you know, the entire global economy goes down the toilet. Coincidence?
~ Mark Steyn

Not surprisingly, Mark Steyn has the most entertaining analysis I've read of whole "Joe the Plumber" phenom. Treat yourself to a moment of levity and read it.

Whenever the news gets too depressing--and lately, that's often--I can always count on Mark for a chuckle.

A Voter Must-See

Since MSM refuses to do its job, American voters are on their own in their search for facts on Barack Obama. This link should provide some frightening clarity. Before you vote in this crucial election, please take the time to watch it.

As the video points out, Obama is fond of decrying Bill Ayers' "despicable acts" that took place when he "was eight years old." Obama conveniently omits the fact that after 9/11/01, when Ayers lamented that America makes him "want to puke" and that he hadn't done enough bombing in America, Barack Obama was 40 years old. Obama remains in a continuing association with Ayers.

MSM has never called Barack Obama on those facts, and they never will. It's up to the voters to do the research and make the call on November 4.

The Mysterious Polls

I've been wondering about the veracity of the election polls for months, and this article by Fr. Jonathan Morris seems to confirm my doubts.

How do we know the polls are accurate? Are people really telling pollsters who they're voting for? Or are they afraid to speak publicly about their views?

Think about it. According to the far lefties, if you're for McCain, you're a racist. Lefties won't accept policy differences--if you're not voting for Barack "The One" Obama, you're a bigot. End of discussion.

Whatever happened to the altruistic liberal call for peace, tolerance, and understanding? Aren't we all supposed to accept each other's "choices"? Oh, I forgot. In the leftist universe, such magnaminity applies only to abortion and gay rights.

It's true that it's more perilous today than it was even four years ago to wear your vote on your sleeve. Not too many yard signs in the neighborhood--who wants their house vandalized? I've seen even fewer bumper stickers on the road. Nobody wants to wake up in the morning to a car that's been keyed. People have become justifiably hesitant about making their views known. Those who disagree are no longer merely vocal; they are physically forceful, and often personally destructive, in expressing their disapproval.

What will come of this furtive and reticent atmosphere? I don't know, but I suspect the election results will be surprising in ways as yet unpredicted.

Found: A Founding Father

Facts are stubborn things...

~ John Adams, second U.S. president

This weekend, I finished watching the remarkable television series, John Adams.

Although I've known since 2nd grade that Adams was our second president, I knew little else about him. Abigail Adams was more far familiar to me, thanks to a book about American heroines that I read in grade school.

John Adams, brought to life by Paul Giamatti's outstanding performance, was a complex man of intelligence, virtues and foibles. His writings contain some of the pithiest quotations in early American history; some are eerily relevant today.

For example, in 1814, Adams wrote that "Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide." Any number of current events would seem to validate that statement.

It is an odd coincidence of history that both Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same date: July 4, 1826--the 50th anniversary of the United States. Although I had learned that fact somewhere during my formal education, I had forgotten it. Upon reflection, it seems almost a heavenly blessing on the new nation. After half a century, the Founders' work was done; the young country was well established and poised to grow on to greatness.

As John Adams noted, "facts are stubborn things." While watching this film depiction of the life of one of our most significant Founders, I was reminded of the bravery, commitment and determination of the first Americans. Their sacrifices and hard work gave us all the advantages we Americans enjoy today. It's worth our time to remember them.

A Rocking Interview

This John Roberts/CNN interview with Hugh Hewitt is the reason Hewitt is my favorite talk radio host. Hugh always has his facts down cold and makes his point with logic, clarity, and an unfailingly pleasant manner.

But don't take my word for it, watch and decide for yourself.

And oh, that book Hugh mentions to John Roberts, The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright? You still have plenty of time to read it before Election Day. It's a page-turning, burn-the-midnight-oil book that every American voter should read.

I've read it. Twice.

Worth Seeing

In one scene during An American Carol, the lefty documentary maker Mike Malone and the ghost of Gen. Patton are watching a college anti-war demonstration. The general defines "demonstration" as young people repeating something they don't know in a loud voice.

If there's a more apt description, I've yet to hear it.

At that point, I noticed at least one young couple get up and walk out of the movie theater. As a once-upon-a-time anti-war demonstrator, I could sympathize: the truth can hurt.

An American Carol is not a laugh-a-minute movie; it's heavier on message than humor. But it has its steady stream of chuckles. In an early scene spoofing the terrorists, the jihad leader calls out "Mohammed!" and about fifty men pop up from behind scattered rocks. There's a large helping of "Three Stooges" style slapstick, and a fair share of bathroom humor that sometimes misses its mark.

Overall, it was worth seeing simply for the breath of fresh air that a rare, pro-American Hollywood movie provides. As they were during the Great Depression, pro-American films during our country's current troubled times might be a positive idea. What's the harm in reminding ourselves that we already have and enjoy blessings that most of the world's countries are still struggling to obtain?

Towards the end of the film, there is a respectful nod to 9/11 and an effective homage to our fighting troops down through the centuries. The final scene mirrors the conclusion of "Casablanca," my favorite movie of all time.

Director David Zucker took a chance in making this film. If Americans would like to see more movies made with the same perspective, it deserves widespread support. As stated, it's worth seeing--especially to watch JFK climb in and out of a widescreen TV.

The Two Sides of "Gotcha"

"There's a time, too, when Americans are going to say, 'Enough is enough with your ticket,' on constantly looking backwards, and pointing fingers, and doing the blame game. But for a ticket that wants to talk about change and looking into the future, there's just too much finger-pointing backwards to ever make us believe that that's where you're going."

~ Sarah Palin to Joe Biden, Oct. 2, 2008


The problem inherent in taking pains to make someone look stupid was apparent at last night's vice presidential candidate debate.

Sometimes--usually, in fact--mean-spirited efforts come back to bite you in the butt.

After the MSM hatchet job perpetrated upon Sarah Palin over the last couple of weeks, Mr. & Mrs. America were probably expecting her to arrive at the podium holding a drool cup. Not hardly. As is her wont, Sarah excelled at being Sarah, something that career politicians and "journalists" of the left-leaning persuasion have yet to come to grips with.

She made sure she spoke her piece, without the deficit of MSM's "filter," to use her diplomatic term. Gwen Ifill, her new book touting "the age of Obama" scheduled to debut on Inauguration Day, was stymied from tormenting Palin with the unending "gotcha" questions MSM has pelted her way with unfettered delight.

Did you watch Charlie Gibson's interview? Disgraceful. Gibson was the one MSM anchor person I liked and was able to tolerate for my occasional dose of network news. I had thought him the most fair, but that's over. I had my "a-ha moment" as he disdainfully grilled Sarah Palin, endeavoring to make her look as foolish as possible before a national audience. Some "host"--spare me his hospitality! Gibson is a leftwing snob like the rest of MSM. I haven't watched him since those two nights he looked down his professorial nose at Palin--and I won't, ever again.

As for the Katie Couric debacle, well, I never watch Katie. (Excuse me, I did watch her on her first broadcast. That will suffice for the remainder of my lifetime.)

Did Palin answer every debate question? No, but then neither did 35-year Senate veteran Biden. Do you think Biden would be able to explain to Katie Couric, in 90 seconds or less, which Supreme Court decisions he dislikes? Rhetorical question, but it doesn't matter, since Biden won't be asked that question by MSM--ever.

No one in MSM will follow up with Biden to ask what the heck he was talking about when he said that FDR went on television after the 1929 stock market crash to talk to the American people. It so happens that Hoover was president at the time, and TV was a decade away.

Details, details! But if Palin had dropped a clunker like that, the nation would have been plunged into a 3-day, 24/7 news cycle screaming the dangers of her ignorance.

But last night, Sarah had her chance to speak directly through the camera, into our living rooms. She did so with cheerful confidence and smiles of relief, as if to reassure America, "This is who I really am, and I'm really just like you."

Note to MSM: Gotcha.

The End of the House of Ruth

For God's sake let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings!
How some have been deposed, some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed...

~ Wm. Shakespeare, Richard II (3.2)

It's many long years since I was a fervent Yankee fan, but well do I remember the heyday of Mickey Mantle. I attended my first major league baseball game at Yankee Stadium, at age eleven. The vast expanse of emerald outfield was my first glimpse into the revered sports cathedral that was Yankee Stadium, and I remember the sight like it was yesterday.

The day before yesterday, Yankee Stadium followed Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig into the mists of history. A bigger, "better" venue will be constructed close by. But the legendary "ghosts" of Yankee Stadium, will they follow the team from their hallowed ground into the new stadium? Time will tell. I, for one, am dubious. I think moving the stadium seriously messes with Yankee mojo--and I think the negative chi started this season.

For the sake of all my loyal Yankee fans "back East," I do hope I'm wrong. I hope the Bambino and the Iron Horse will smile down upon the new Yankee playing field. I hope that Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto's oft-cited "wind," that almost magical outfield force, will follow the team to mysteriously assist those wavering long balls over the wall.

As for end of the old stadium, I suspect this Townhall.com piece by Guy Benson sums up the emotion for every Yankee fan.

Game over; thanks for the memories.

There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,

The earth, and every common sight,

To me did seem

Apparelled in celestial light,

The glory and the freshness of a dream.

It is not now as it hath been of yore;--

Turn whereso'er I may,

By night or day,

The things which I have seen I now can see no more.

~ Wm. Wordsworth, Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

Michael's Day

Two years ago today, MA2 Michael Monsoor (SEAL), threw himself on a grenade to save his fellow fighters. He died of his injuries a few minutes later.

It was September 29, 2006, the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel.

Regular readers may recall I have described the popular tradition of "name days" in many European cultures. In Latvia, the feast day of the saint that bears your name carries greater significance than your birthday. In fact, considered among the best blessings at death is to die on your name day. Latvian tradition says that such favored souls proceed instantly into heaven.

Appropriately enough, Michael the Archangel is also the patron saint of soldiers and sailors. Earlier this year, President Bush presented Michael's Medal of Honor to his parents at the White House. That was a poignant and fitting moment honoring the brave sacrifice of a truly great young man, one who has gone on to even greater glory beyond our understanding.

On this Michaelmas, MA2 Monsoor, we your grateful countrymen salute you.

A Legend Leaves Us

People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked. (video link)

If you don't have enemies, you don't have character.

~ Paul Newman, 1925-2008


Sadly, we learned this weekend that the media whispers of Paul Newman's approaching death from cancer were true. As was his practice in the many important undertakings of his life, he didn't talk much about it; he just went ahead and did it.

Paul Newman was not your garden variety celebrity. In fact, he went to extremes to avoid the trappings of his worldwide fame. Aside from his enormous success as an actor, Newman became an accomplished race car driver, after his interest was piqued while filming Winning.

Although he himself did not publicize his numerous charitable and philanthropic activities, they became well known through his many admirers and associates, as well as by the success of these endeavors. Perhaps most famous is the line of "Newman's Own" salad dressings and other foods. All proceeds, after taxes, are donated to his charities, including the Canary Foundation, for research on early detection of cancer; the Hole in the Wall Gang, for children with life-threatening illnesses; and HELP USA , to educate and assist homeless people.

Newman also created The Scott Newman Center in memory of his son, who died of a drug overdose in 1978. The foundation fights drug abuse through education, assists in recovery, and provides a haven for survivors of abuse.

This is an impressive legacy of meaningful philanthropic achievements from a man who wasn't expected to do much more than just show up and take off his sunglasses. Paul Newman could have simply strolled along the red carpets of his lifetime and still have been remembered as a brilliant actor and towering icon of the entertainment world.

For Newman, the star-strewn pathway was not enough. He chose a more challenging road of hard work and sacrifice behind the scenes to leave the world better than he found it. With his passing, we lose a talented and treasured American actor. But by far the larger loss is that a kind and thoughtful man, of generous heart and bold action, leaves us behind.