Self Ddelusion Is a Wonderful Thing.

The ability to fool yourself is a necessary tool for many people. Otherwise we would be running from our jobs, screaming, just to try and give actual meaning to our lives. Nonetheless, it is always a good idea to every so often take stock of your assumptions and test them against your opponent's views to see if they are really valid.
For instance, I honestly believe that the Tea Party movement is a valid expression of rage at government gone mad. That it manifests itself in Tea Party get togethers and in the election of Sen. Brown in Massachusetts for crying out loud. But what if I am wrong? What if the Tea Party movement is nothing more than an Astro-Turf minimal impact media creation that does not reflect current public opinion? If I am wrong, the Democrats would certainly be justified in ignoring the movement. But the idea that it is Astro Turf is certainly not going to be proven by the high quality of professionally done signs. Maaybe if they hooked up with SEIU they could get some well made ones. But the bottom line comes down to, if the Tea Party movement is really inconsequential no one would pay it any heed. Instead, Democrats under the direction of Organizing For America are slandering them. Opponents of the Tea Party movement are calling them violent when all of the violence comes from Obama supporters. Tea Party members are also accused of being racists for opposing the policies of a black President. Never mind that the opposition to a white president is just good civics.
The reason I bring this up is related to the Democrat's suicide mission to pass their monstrosity of a spending bill that they call "health care reform" Or "health insurance reform" or whatever they seem to think will get a greater chunk of control over one sixth of the economy.
I had said last August that the Democrats would be well served to have Health Reform fail. Sure they had 60 votes in the Senate and enough of a majority in the House that they could let many vulnerable Democrats vote against the bill for self preservation. But passing the bill would only raise taxes for years before the first benefit was paid. And we all know how well delayed gratification plays in this country. But as Senator Alexander has said, the Democrats are on a Kamikaze mission to pass this monstrosity. Democrats are justifying it by saying how polls show tha tthe individual aspects of the bill are popular. I just wonder how poplular were the individual parts of the Louisiana Purchase, or the CornHusker Kickback? Or for that matter, the entire bill being slapped together and voted on before anyone ever read them? In a way it makes sense. The Democrats have the largest majorities that they have had in years, and if they fail to do this, how can they ever argue for a leadership role again? Now the question becomes, what is the price that they will pay for trying to ram this through? Democrats and especially President Obama feel that the American popular opposition to his plan is based on his failure to communicate what the plan is. But what if they do understand what the plan is? I don't think Democrats are able to grasp that concept.
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barak Obama see this as a mission that needs to be done in spite of public opposition. They are apparently willing to sacrifice their majorities in both houses of Congress this year to make this happen. But in reality, they aren't making sacrifices themselves. Most of the Democratic leadership is coming from solidly Democratic districts that would bever vote for a Republican in any event. Just think about Michigan, where government policies have driven the state to disaster, and yet Democrats still retain control. Or California where they ostensibly have a Republican governor but a gerrymandered setup of districts that will guarantee the Democrat seats are safe. No, the seats that are at risk, are those gained over the last two elections and are made up of mostly moderates. Those people are going to be the sacrifice for the egos of Obama Reid and Pelosi.
Now, if any of these moderates and Blue Dogs actually examine their previously held assumptions, they just may figure out that their only hope for survival does not lie in being a sacrificial lamb for someone else's political expectations.

Calling Out Keith Olbermann

The best thing about the Internet is that demagogues are not allowed to prosper for long.



Although, as Instapundit notes: There will be more people watching this YouTube video than watch Countdown.

Mike Huckabee is a Fool (Or is it Tool?)

So, it seems that Mike Huckabee has skipped the CPAC convention because they are "becoming more Libertarian than Republican?" Good for him. And may he take his decaying version of the Republican Party with him. Remember, this is the guy who wanted to remake the Constitution into a more biblical document.
Huckabee has a smooth presentation that works on those who are unable to think. For that reason, I feel he is really a Democrat in disguise, in that he wants to have the ability to tell us all what to do.
It's time to send a message and continue to drive him and his outmoded ways out of the party of limited government if they are unwilling to go along with that very simple and basic principle. Limited government accomplishes all of the objectives of the social conservatives without the need for their legislation. The rule should be to lead your life as an exemplar to others, not use the punishment of the law to inflict your mores on someone else.

Honoring t.he Victors

David Bellavia pens an absolutely awesome piece about what the War in Iraq means, now that it is effectively a victory. I know that it is not popular at the moment to say so, but the fact is that through their efforts, and theirs alone, the American fighting forces have changed Iraq forever, and definitely for the better.
You can quibble if you want about whether it was right or wrong, but the fact is, it doesn't matter anymore. What you cannot quibble about is that the Iraqi people themselves respected the change that was given to them.

My squad runs through the searing heat and forms a wall of flesh and Kevlar between the incoming fire and the citizens standing in line behind us. They’ve turned out in their finest clothes to wait for the opportunity to cast a vote. For most, this moment is a defining one in their lives. They’ve never had a voice before. This means something to them, and they have used the moment as an object lesson for their children. They appear nervous and take photos. The kids stand with them in line, viewing first hand this revolution in Iraqi civics.

As they came to line up earlier that morning, the men thanked us and clasped their hands over their heads, striking a triumphant pose. Some of the women cried. The kids were on their best behavior.

The gunfire began that afternoon. Insurgents started to shoot them. My unit ran to the road and formed a protective position between the killers and the citizens going to the polls. As we scanned the palm grove in front of us, bullets cracked and whined, then mortars start thumping around us. My squad pushed into the palm grove. I stayed on the road, overseeing their movement and coordinating the heavy fire from the Bradleys.

The firefight ebbs. The mortar fire ceases. A few last stray rounds streak past. A cry from behind causes me to turn. Lying in the road is a young Iraqi woman. I run over to help. She’s caught a round just below her temple. Her stunning beauty has been ruined forever.

She cries, “Paper! Paper” over and over until the ambulance arrives to take her away. An old lady emerges from the schoolhouse-turned voting site, sheets of blue paper in hand. She gives one to the wounded girl, who clutches it to her like a prized possession even as the ambulance carries her away.

The ballot was her voice. All she wanted was a chance to exercise it, just once, before she died.

The old woman returns to the school house, but drops another ballot along the way. It drifts in a gentle breeze across the bloodstained asphalt. I stoop down and pick it up. It is all in Arabic, and I have no idea what each set of candidates advocate. That’s not my place, and it doesn’t really matter. I helped make this day happen. This ballot represents the reason why we’re here, why my friends had to die.

If you won't recognize the sacrifice by those who made the difference, remember the sacrifice of Iraqis like the young woman who only wanted to vote. Compare their actions with out present day political class, and you wonder why our soldiers even bother.
Thank God that they do.

Ouch!!

Seems that President Obama offered to meet with Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goldman when Obama is in town. Goldman has snubbed the offer.
So let me see, the President is snubbed by the political hack and former mob lawyer? It just doesn't get any better does it?

Native American Tea Party

Just came across this story about a Tea Party resistance to bad government and wasteful spending. The Billings Gazette has this photo as part of the story:

I work on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai reservation which is far more successful than the Crow or Blackfeet, and I attribute most of the difference to the levels of corruption. Until the Crow, Blackfoot, Assiniboine and for that matter all of the rest of the tribes in Montana get their act together and realize that government spending is not a trough for corruption, there will be no improvement in their people's lives.
Good luck to the Birds and Plains Bull Mountain in trying to recapture their elected "representatives."

The Definition of Chutzpa

Obama says he is a "fierce" free market advocate.

Give A Little Folks!

Craig Sprout is doing the right thing and is going to subject his poor mortal shell to the excruciating terrors of the frigid waters of Billings all in a good cause. Go give him some support.

MILFs and the Montana Blogosphere

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