Podcast: Nathan Wurtzel and James Lileks On Pixar, Dan Riehl On Pulling The Plug On Reid’s Wife

Dr. Melissa Cloutheir discusses Pixar and the great success of a American company within a American industry. She is joined by Dan Riehl to discuss his current residence in the 7th level of hell.

James Lileks of The Bleat and Nathan Wurtzel of The Catalyst Group talk Pixar and other animated movies. I argue for The Iron Giant and Wall-E. Much disagreement ensues.

And then the Dan Riehl lobs more bombs–talking Christianity, God in government, the fall of the Republic and does America have hope?

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Posted in America, Movies, Podcast | 2 Comments »

America Would Never Be The Same & That’s Why The Democrats Fight To The Death

Even though, by now, you’re as disgusted and fed up with the topic of health care as I am, I write about health care. Again. Why? Because it ain’t over ’til it’s over and goodness knows Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barack Obama aren’t quitting. They will never give up until they have the power to control your life from before birth ’til you’re in the grave.

Government run health care is a defining moment in American history.

Today, in my first Daily Caller column, I talk about why this bill is evil:

Health care reform tears at fundamental threads holding our society together. Should it pass, it will reshape the American psyche from a risk-taking, freedom-loving open-mindedness to a self-protective, risk-averting, and provincial desire to protect the tiny piece of pie the citizen is granted.

Health care reform is immoral. It changes the equation from creating a legacy and gift to the next generation, to stealing from them. The debt load is such that our children are enslaved because of their parents greed and lack of restraint.

Health care reform redistributes wealth. The government bequeaths a win on irresponsible unions and businesses hoping to avoid commitments they made. The government decides. Instead of individuals and groups being forced to make the tough decisions, the government rescues them–sends them a lifeline that’s at the other end of a rope that is a noose around the necks of the very same American people.

There is much more at the link. Please go read it all.

We cannot give up. The Democrats never will.

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Posted in America, Democrats | 1 Comment »

Euthanasia For Thee, But Not For Me: Harry Reid & The Utilitarians

Well, Dan Riehl did it. He got the Left in a frothing, spewing rage by noting the absurdity of leftist utilitarian arguments regarding end of life decisions and abortion.

Bart Stupak reported that during behind-the-scenes meetings Nancy Pelosi was trying to convince Bart that abortion was a good thing—you know all those babies that wouldn’t need health care then. Abortion saves money!

So Dan wrote the piece that needed to be written: He talked about how old people have lived their lives, don’t really serve any useful purpose and so why should anyone pay for the healthcare, in this case of Harry Reid’s wife, for said old person?

The Democrats love utilitarian arguments. They use them for all sorts of things—from killing babies to leaving the Vietnamese to the communists. But like all good Utilitarians, they value their own utility higher than every one else’s utility. Thus, the foam-at-the-mouth outrage by lefties when someone uses their arguments against them.

See, Dan believes in the sanctity of life for all the helpless, as do I. So I would give Harry Reid’s wife the same care that I’d give a premature baby or an unborn baby from a poor mother. All life is sacred and deserves care.

But on the left, people who believe they are smarter than you want to pick and choose who lives and who dies. They will set up committees to decide who gets care and who does not and the arguments will be utilitarian ones: only 10% of people with this sort of cancer survive, and this drug is very expensive, so we’re not going to treat this person. The chance is too small, the cost to society too great. For the greater good, here’s a pill for your pain. [Unless, you happen to be the wife or daughter of a Dear Leader, of course….]

Dan’s absurd argument gets down to the philosophical differences between the left and right. Of course he would treat Harry Reid’s wife, if it were up to him. But leftists view people, other than those they know directly, in the abstract. They are numbers and lists—not actual people who have families and friends who care for them.

Americans don’t want to be part of some list at the mercy of some bureaucrat. They want their life to mean something. They want their lives to be as important as Harry Reid’s wife is to him.

And Americans are afraid of the reality: there will be two worlds in health care—one for Congress and one for everyone else. And they’re right. That’s exactly how it will be.

Posted in America, Democrats, Liberals, Socialism | 1 Comment »

Slaughter No More

Thursday, the rightosphere lit up around the idea that Louise Slaughter hatched. Mark Levin articulated the evil she and the Dems resort to:

And do you want to know why? Because this clause goes to the heart of this Republic.

This clause goes to the heart of how our representative body, that is Congress, makes laws. And so I want you to [observe] how particular the Framers were… They have to pass a Bill to present it to the President…

This is one of the most exacting clauses in the Constitution.

And, to the best of my knowledge, which extends over three decades, no Congress has previously tried to institute policies without actual statutes.

Here we have the President of the United States and Congressional leaders actually talking about the possibility of a brazen and open violation of one of the most fundamental aspects of our Constitution and Republic! How we actually make laws!Let me be as clear as I know how. If this is done, this will create the greatest Constitutional crisis since the Civil War. It would be 100 times worse than Watergate.

…It would be government by fiat… meaning there would be no law… the mere discussion by officials in this government is such a grotesque violation of the actual legislative function of Congress [that it] puts us… at the brink. At the brink.

This is why we conservatives revere the Constitution. This is why we stress the Constitution’s words have meaning and historical context and must be complied with. Because otherwise we have anarchy, which leads to tyranny.

Tyranny. A government run by tyrants. And that’s why Twitter is being lit up by outraged patriots naming all the ways the government is tyrannical.

Louise Slaughter and the Democrats desire to pass a bill that hasn’t been voted on and bypassing every normal way to create a new batch of laws, demonstrates what it means to be a Democrat these days.

There is much more at the Doug Ross Journal. I’ve heard some people say that process doesn’t matter. That people won’t care in the end HOW it happens, just whether it happens or not.

The problem with this hideous bill is that it’s revealed both a failed process and a failed policy. And that does matter to American voters.

Posted in America, Democrats, Liberals | No Comments »

Health Care Reform: Poll…Tell Me What You Think

Since no one seems to know what’s up or down… Although John is pretty darn sure that it’s over. I just don’t believe it. I have never seen legislators so willfully defy the American people. Ever.

A poll:

Posted in America | No Comments »

Meg Whitman Weirdness

What in the heck?

I wasn’t impressed with Meg Whitman at Western CPAC. Her delivery was flat. She seemed disinterested and bored and it was at the beginning of the campaign to a friendly audience. I don’t think she likes politics very much, but likes ruling things a lot.

P.S. I’m only interested in California because it’s so big and has so much impact on the rest of the country.

Posted in California, Republicans | No Comments »

Rent A Friend: You Know You Want To

Fausta has a funny little piece up about a business whose sole purpose is to rent friends, ostensibly, to the friendless. Fausta says, “The tough part about having friends is being a friend. Maybe that’s why so many people don’t have friends.”

Well, yes.

It can be a lot of work to be a friend. Many people don’t want to put in the effort. Many people don’t want to put up with the hassles. People, and their lives, can be messy, boring, frustrating and just plain lame.

This Rent-A-Friend concept is intriguing. So rather than fussing with some person with a boring, involved life-story, call up Joe and go to the movie. You hang out, talk about the movie, have some temporary company and then, boom, done. No sordid break-up stories. No diatribes against back waxing and Representative Massa. No queries into your grandma’s health. No enduring pictures of the kids, or worse, vacation.

Renting a friend seems like the perfect solution to so many problems. Seems kinda empty, still, though, right?

I mean, what kind of life does a person have, if they don’t have friends they can talk to and interact with and care about? Sure it takes time, but what is life about, if not the interactions and stories shared?

Still, I’m so curious about the people who volunteer to be a friend and for those who pay to have a friend. This is a fascinating social development.

Posted in America, Corrupted Culture | No Comments »

U.S.A. Traitor Adam Gadahn Captured In Pakistan–UPDATED: About Those Treason Charges

Former Californian, current Al Qaeda spokesman and general piece of human garbage captured today in Pakistan. Media Lizzy found it first. It’s now being reported by AP. Bill Roggio has more:

Reports from Paksitan indicate that the American-born al Qaeda spokesman who has been charged with treason in the US was captured in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi.

Adam Gadahn and an associate is reported to have been captured during a raid by Pakistani special forces on a home at the Super Highway in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city.

US intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal said they believed Gadahn has been detained but would not confirm the report.

Gadahn capture was first reported in the Pakistani press, however he was not directly named. Geo News identified the captive al Qaeda leader as Commander Abu Yahya Azam while Dawn identified him as Abu Yahya Mujahdeen al Adam. Adam Gahdan’s nom de guerre is Abu Azzam al Amriki.

“The Pakistani press often incorrectly reports the names of foreign fighters arrested in the country, especially Arabic noms de guerre,” Arif Rafiq, the editor of The Pakistan Policy Blog, told The Long War Journal

Gadahn was likely detained in the Sohrab Goth neighborhood in Karachi, Rafiq said. “Sohrab Goth is a major Pashtun area in northern Karachi,” he said. “Many Mehsud tribesmen live there.”

Jammie Wearing Fool has the whole time line.

You know, it’s a crying shame we’ve outlawed cruel and unusual punishment. If there’s ever been a man who deserved to be drawn and quartered, it’s him.

Updated:

Gadahn is the first American since WWII to be charged with Treason. Will Obama follow through on this? If he’s smart, yes. This would be the biggest political win for him in ages. He needs one. Plus, it would actually be the right thing to do.

Here’s what CBS is saying. From Jennifer Hoar:

Not so long ago, Adam Gadahn, who has both Jewish and Catholic ancestry, was growing up on a goat farm in Orange County, California. Now he’s been charged with treason against the United States — “perhaps the most serious offense for which any person can be tried under our Constitution,” according to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty.

But Gadahn, aka Azzam al-Amriki or “Azzam the American,” 28, is accused of deliberately making the choice to leave his country and join al Qaeda, providing “aid and comfort” to the country’s most determined enemy.

Announcing the charges at an afternoon press conference at the Justice Department Wednesday, the Deputy Attorney General asserted that “in fact Mr Gadahn is the first person to be charged with treason against the United States since the World War II era.”

The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Santa Ana, California, includes a second charge of providing material support to a terrorist organization.

But it is the treason charge that is most serious; in fact, it is so unusual that it is the only crime specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. In the entire history of the country, only about 40 individuals have ever been charged with the crime. The charge of treason carries a maximum possible penalty of death, but the decision whether to seek the ultimate penalty will not be made until Gadahn is apprehended and brought into court.

The 9-page indictment describes a series of videos on which Gadahn appeared, beginning in October 2004, and increasing to three released so far this year, most recently on September 11, 2006, the 5th anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack on the U.S.

Here’s hoping the President kicks ass.

Posted in America, Islamofascism, Isms | 3 Comments »

Crazytown Watch: Charles Johnson Conflates Some Fringe Group With Rick Perry

Now why would he do that? A little preventative, cyber guerrilla warfare, I’d say.

Here’s the things about moderates, independents, or leftists in moderate name only (LIMNO–hey, it’s better than FCINO), whatever, they seem to hate everyone and stand for nothing. For all their “independence” they certainly seem to roll with popular opinion.

Now, Obama and the Dems are great, according to the nuanced moderates. A guy like Rick Perry (small government, conservative, fiscally responsible–isn’t that what the independent people want, by the way?) might threaten a more “reasonable” moderate like Barack Obama so guys like Johnson find some wacky group (not-so-subliminal message: ALL Texans are wacky and cannot be trusted) and tries to attach them to Rick Perry.

So lame.

Newsflash haters: Texans are doing well because they’ve clung to rugged individualism, their guns, their God, their independence, their fiscal responsibility, etc. I know it’s galling when secular humanistic states like California are going down the crap-hole. It’s tough to see small government being such a big win while big government harms the very people it’s supposed to help.

But that’s just the way things roll, guys. Good luck finding evidence that big social programs are ever a cultural, fiscal or social win. They NEVER are a win because they strip the individual of his ability to choose his own life. It is axiomatic.

And by the way, Jerry Brown has actual radical ties. Will that disqualify him to run for Governor in California? Why no! No, it won’t.

Bleh.

Posted in America, Texas | 30 Comments »

Why Rick Perry Won: Thoughts From A Texan

Over at the New Ledger, Ben Domenech interviews Rick Perry and muses over Perry’s success. He says:

It’s a funny thing how political predictions work. When Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison declared her candidacy for the governorship of Texas, few would’ve bet against her — popular, moderate, and established, the ex-cheerleader who loves the cameras seemed a perfect fit for the limited authority (and sizable promotional duties) of the Texas governor’s mansion.

Except at some point, when no one outside Texas was paying attention, Rick Perry got good at politics. By understanding the zeitgeist of the 2010 cycle and connecting with a surprising upsurge in populism, Perry somehow managed to make an anti-establishment case to the voters despite serving as governor for a decade — an impressive feat for any incumbent.

Perhaps a small quibble: The problem for politicians is being perceived as voting D.C. interests over voting the voters’ interest. In Kay Bailey Hutchison’s case, she is perceived as D.C.

The other problem for national Republican incumbents is being perceived as standing for big government, big spending, big regulation, and big invasion into Americans’ lives. That will be a problem for state-wide politicians, too…except for maybe California.

Rick Perry was very smart over the last year and half. He had a misstep when he talked about mandating Gardisil vaccinations for all Texas girls. After that “big government intervention” backfire, Perry got the message loud and clear: Bug out.

And so he has.

More than any other politician, he has consistently told Washington, D.C. “no” for the last two years. That has won him big points in Texas and won him envy among citizens unfortunate enough to live anywhere but Texas.

It should not also be ignored that Texas is humming along economically. By Texas standards, the economy isn’t wonderful, but it’s doing so much better than the rest of the nation, citizens are wanting to keep a good thing going. Who can blame them?

Who can blame Perry for paying attention to the feeling of his constituents? Funny thing, that. So many politicians in D.C. still want to do what they want to do, not what their constituents want.

Ben asked Governor Perry about the Tea Party movement and populism. Perry said this:

I think what you’re seeing now is the result of years of people’s frustration with government frittering away their hard earned money. It was fermenting in the mind and soul of the public for years, but I think you started to see a real response to it in mid 2008. They were really frustrated with what they saw, particularly from Republicans, when it came to handling governing.

Now this is self-evident truth, unless you’re a moderate Republican hell-bent on being Porky-the-Pig. It has been utterly astonishing how arrogant and out of touch D.C. Republicans, the ones voters count on to be the grown ups, have been.

As for the populism, Perry says:

I’m not sure I’d put it as just “populist” — I’d say it was common sense. I see regular people who started to look around and see a Congress and a president who are on a path that is very socialistic. They’re seeing things happen in Washington that are way out of their comfort zone. And because of that, they’re afraid for their country.

Again, this will be considered a genius statement only because D.C. Republicans are so out of touch, or have been. And Kay Bailey Hutchison, while living and immersed in D.C. culture, totally misjudged Texas sentiment and culture. She is not alone in her Stockholm-like syndrome. Once inside the D.C. bubble, it seems rational thought and common sense go out the window. That’s why the voters nationally are anti-D.C. anybody–Republican or Democrat.

Rick Perry sums up the national mood:

That’s easy. Any Republican candidate, any Republican activist or consultant or what have you, who is not paying attention will be so much roadkill.

The gravity of this, the weight of it, the momentum — whatever you want to call it, I’m convinced it’s unstoppable. You can join with this movement, and most people who are comfortable in the Republican Party should be very comfortable with what’s being said, or you can find another line of work.

Go read the whole article. It’s not difficult to see why people look to Texas and to Governor Perry.

Posted in Republicans, Texas | 6 Comments »