R.I.P. Charlton Heston (April 5, 2008)

So passes Charlton,
Our Moses, Ben-Hur, and more.
Proud American and actor
who knew what arms were for.

"From my cold dead hands!"
He challenged all his foes.
But may they and God have mercy
And pray his soul does find repose.

"McCain't Fight This Feeling Anymore..."

I've still got some reservations about the guy, but at least while watching this I can breathe clear and easy; I've yet to see another campaign ad that captures patriotism like this one. I felt like one of those women who faint at Obama rallies. Just before I lost consciousness, I could hear and feel the words, "Yes, we can!" escape my lips...

McCain 2008--Can you feel it, my friends?

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Tired of stray cats keeping you up at night, or those irritating birds waking you up right at the crack of dawn? This is for you.

If there's one thing we know about birds and cats, it's that they're easily taken in by cleverly-disguised machine guns.

A Short Legislative Review

The 2008 Oregon Legislature “not-so-special” Special Session has finally ended. More money was spent, and government now does more things. But the most ominous legislation passed, at least in my view, was a HJR (House Joint Resolution) stating that everyone has a “universal right to health care.”

There are a lot of places that this could go, and I don’t like any of them. Whether it be regulation of insurers, state subsidies of insurers, or blatant socialized medicine, the road to government intervention is health care is now wide open. When government guarantees rights, it feels the need to do something to protect them. Unlike any other right, however, this one is going to cost money.

The Liberty website will be updated soon, on which you can check out my column “The Matter of Rights,” which more clearly lays out why these notions of entitlements as rights are bogus.

Watch out for Darth Vader, he'll getcha!

Perhaps this is why the original Star Wars movies are so popular and have such staying power--they can be easily explained by a multi-tasking three-year-old. For your protection, I'm giving this video a severe cuteness warning.

"Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings..."

The question: Can you name one accomplishment in the political career of Barack Obama?

The answers:


"Umm, well he can speak really well! That's not a political accomplishment? Oh...well, he's black! Did I mention he's black? That's an accomplishment isn't it?...That's true, I guess he didn't really have any control over that..."

Or my personal favorite, from the first video--

Yellow-Shirted Man (with smug tone): "He's a great oratater like Jesse Jackson!"

Questioner (exasperated): "What is that?!?"

All this goes to show that Obama's run a fantastic (although vague) campaign. All his supporters seem to know or care about him is that he is...well, a well-spoken black Senator. Nobody opposes Barack Obama because he is a great speaker, because he's black, or because he's a Senator.

No, I think it's something a little more substantial--like say, oh I don't know, maybe being the most liberal Senator in Congress? Wisely, Obama has spoken very little about his policy views. So until the candidates for each party are chosen, it looks like the Obama campaign is going to continue to be all about that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you hear, "Yes, we can!" and "Fired up, ready to go!"

Barack Obama: Pro-hope (as well as the requisite 'audacity' that accompanies it), Pro-dreams, Pro-future, and also very much in support of generic "good feelings."

Romney's Speech at CPAC

Here is the transcript, and here is the video:

Many have expressed concern over Romney's authenticity and whether he really believes any of the conservative principles he touted to voters during his campaign. The only way I can see it after this speech is that either: 1)Mitt Romney believes what he says, and he is committed to conservatism and America or 2)Mitt Romney is a liar on the level of Bill Clinton, saying anything to get elected, even to the point of lying in his withdrawal speech.

I think, after hearing and reading this speech, Romney is a fantastic American and I hope that he finds a place to prove his talents for these next four years.

UPDATE: A sentimental look at what might be in 2012...