Saturday - August 06, 2005

Land Snatch In DC

After the recent Supreme Court ruling, the District of Columbia proceeded at warp speed to acquire land for a new baseball stadium which will be home to the Washington Nationals. The team is currently playing in RFK Stadium. Evidently, that wasn’t good enough. Yesterday, a federal judge slapped down the owners of the property in question and said the city could proceed. He also had some nasty remarks about the city’s methods ....

(WASHINGTON POST)—A federal judge yesterday declined to issue an emergency 30-day injunction that would have stopped the District from purchasing or taking 33 properties it needs to build a baseball stadium in Southeast Washington.

U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts said the three property owners seeking the injunction failed to show that they would be irreparably harmed if the city was allowed to proceed in trying to buy the parcels required for the stadium project. He said the group also failed to convince him that it would prevail in its lawsuit, which alleges that the city’s efforts to acquire the property are illegal.

“The loss of property is easily compensated by monetary damages,” Roberts said. “Clearly, the city council has concluded a stadium is in the public interest. . . . The public interest is not served by blocking the city’s effort to build the stadium.”

The judge’s decision means that the District can continue working to meet its deadline, under an agreement with Major League Baseball, to obtain the 33 properties by the end of the year. His ruling also suggested that it would be futile for the property owners to pursue the case.

The plaintiffs argued that the District was violating a city law that places a $165 million cap on the amount that the city can spend for land acquisition, infrastructure and environmental remediation for the stadium project. They contended that land acquisition estimates by Natwar M. Gandhi, the District’s chief financial officer, were too low because the city failed to do individual property appraisals as required by the legislation.

But the judge also chided the District during yesterday’s two-hour hearing, saying it had not explained to the owners the city’s timetable for trying to obtain their property. The owners said they feared that they would get a city offer with no warning and have only 24 hours to accept it or face condemnation. If the city and an owner do not reach agreement on a purchase price, the city can take the land through eminent-domain proceedings.

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/06/2005 at 07:34 AM   
Filed Under: • Judges-Courts-Lawyers •  
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   Friday - August 05, 2005

Viewpoint: Media Bias

just finished reading this story about the Department Of Defense being forced to release pictures of flag-draped coffins of dead soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The DoD was forced to do this because of a lawsuit filed by Ralph Begleiter under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA). Now, I don’t know for sure what Mr. Begleiter’s political leanings are but I can guess, considering he worked for many years as a corespondent for CNN and currently is a tenured professor at the University Of Delaware, teaching journalism. My guess, based on that and his background is that he leans strongly to the Left in his opinions. A journalism major who worked at CNN and is now a tenured professor at an elite East Coast univeristy. Three strikes and he’s out.

For the record, I managed the team of developers and database administrators who built the FOIA tracking and monitoring software for the US Air Force back in the early 90’s (if you’re in the USAF and using that software, please don’t call me - I just did what I was told to do). As such, I gained a lot of insight into the FIOA law and all the intricacies of its implementation. The requests have to be recorded diligently and follow-ups maintained and archived until the end of the world. Every path the request takes and all persons signing off on release of documents has to be recorded. Redacted information has to be maintained side-by-side with the released information in case of further legal entanglements.

As far as I’m concerned FOIA is a piece of crap law that should never have been implemented. We all want a certain degree of transparency in our government so we can keep an eye on the critters who are spending our money up in DC but again (as I have asked here many times) where do we draw the line? There are certain pieces of information that, if released, can cause damage to our country through leaking valuable information or just having a bad effect on morale of our troops and their families. The latter is what, in my opinion, Professor Begleiter’s lawsuit has accomplished.

No one wants any of our troops to die in battle, especially their families. What purpose does it serve to show flag-draped coffins of dead soldiers? Is it a sign of respect for the brave troops who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country? I wish that were so but it ain’t necessarily so (with apologies to George Gershwin). No, you hear the Liberal Left (and Professor Begleiter) say that war is evil and we should not be in Iraq and by showing the coffins of the dead, they can remind Americans of the tragedy of war and hopefully change US policy with these constant reminders of the cost of war, and get our troops back home before more get killed .... .... .... That, of course, is rampant bullshit.

Perhaps there are a few idealists on the Left who believe that party line. If so, they are being misled by the elites of academia and entertainment as well as the Democratic Party. The real purpose of filing lawsuits to gain possession of these pictures and display them all over the media is simple: to discredit George W. Bush and the Republican Party. To hear it from them, the entire Democratic Party and all of the media were opposed to this war from the very beginning, even as all those Democratic Senators stood on the steps of the Capitol just after 9/11 and sang “God Bless America” before going inside and voting the President power to take the war to the enemy and providing massive funding to do so (everyone except John Kerry, who still hasn’t decided whether he voted for it or against it or when he did either).

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this FOIA request is a sucker punch directed at the troops, their families and the American people, in general, especially those in red states. The object is to lower morale back home as well as in the barracks overseas. It has to be hurting the troops because you know their families are writing them with the news from home and they have to watch their dead comrades in arms being blasted across the TV screens back home and they have to be wondering if they’ll be next.

So what does Professor Begleiter and the Liberal Left have to gain from this abuse of FOIA (and that’s all it really is, an abuse of the law for personal gain)? They want to destroy the war effort, plain and simple and what they hope to gain is even simpler: discrediting President Bush and the Republicans so the American people will vote in the next elections for the Democrats who would never have gotten us entangled in this mess and who have a better plan for America than the evil anti-abortion, religious fruitcake, fascist Republicans.

What’s the difference between a Leftist college professor with an agenda and a terrorist “insurgent” in Iraq? Not much. Not much at all.

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 11:53 AM   
Filed Under: • Editorials •  
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Tony Blair Gets Tough

Altogether now, repeat after me: IT’S ABOUT TIME! Tony Blair just announced new measures to crack down on crackpot clerics preaching Islamic hatred and new deportation rules for Britain ....

LONDON, England (CNN)—British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced new measures to deport and exclude from UK for those advocating hatred and violence. Blair, speaking nearly a month after deadly bombings on London’s transit system, said Friday the UK’s human rights act would be amended if necessary to counter Islamic extremists. The government also plans to draw up a list of extremist Web sites, book shops and organizations that promote these extremists, he said.

“Let no one be in any doubt that the rules of the game are changing,” Blair told a London news conference, his last before breaking for a summer holiday. The prime minister said the Government plans a one-month consultation period to determine new criteria for excluding and deporting people from Britain.

“We will establish, with the Muslim community, a commission to advise on how, consistent with people’s complete freedom to worship in the way they want, and to follow their own religion and culture, there is better integration of those parts of the community presently inadequately integrated,” Blair said.

Blair said new legislation, which is expected to be passed by the end of the year, will also outlaw “indirect incitement” of terrorism. The measure is seen as an effort to crack down on extremist Islamic clerics who glorify acts of terrorism. In addition, the law would ban the training of terrorist techniques in Britain or in any other country.

“This is not, in any way whatever, aimed at the decent law-abiding Muslim community of Britain,” Blair said. “But if you come to this country from abroad, then don’t meddle in extremism,” he said. “Because if you meddle in it, and engage in it, you’re going back out again.”

Blair named two radical Islamic groups that would be banned from operating in Britain—Hizb ut-Tahrir and the successor organization to al Muhajiroun. Later, a spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir said the ban would stifle “legitimate political dissent.” “There will be serious repercussions in terms of community relations if this ban goes ahead,” Imran Waheed told the UK’s Press Association. “We have a lot of support among the Muslim community in Britain and it will be seen by the Muslim community as stifling legitimate political dissent.”

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 10:37 AM   
Filed Under: • International • Terrorists •  
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Joke Du Jour

A Marine squad was marching north of Basra when they came upon an insurgent Iraqi soldier badly injured and unconscious.

Nearby, on the opposite side of the road, was an American Marine in a similar but less serious state.

The Marine was conscious and alert and as first aid was given to both men, the Marine was asked what had happened.

The Marine reported, “I was heavily armed and moving north along the highway here and coming south was a heavily armed insurgent. Seeing each other we both took cover in the ditches alongside the road. I yelled to him that, ‘Saddam Hussein was a miserable low-life scumbag’, and he yelled back that ‘Teddy Kennedy is a fat, rich, good-for-nothing drunkard’.

We were standing there shaking hands when a truck hit us...”

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 09:52 AM   
Filed Under: • Humor •  
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Protest: 101

Don’t know how to protest?  Want to be able to teach your kids the fine art of making paper mache “protest puppets”?  Well, this camp is for you!

BEN LOMOND — While most summer camps get kids out of the house and give parents a break, a group called Art in Action is nurturing the next Michael Moore — the controversial filmmaker who created “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Art in Action’s “art and empowerment” camp is being held at the Quaker Center nestled in the redwoods of Ben Lomond. Campers at the 10-day retreat attend workshops on cultural activism, nonviolent action and alternative media.

“The reality is that the media is not actually showing what’s really going on in Iraq,” said Jouse Bustos, 19, of central Los Angeles. “By doing this mural, I’m showing what’s going on.”

Bustos is one of 25 young people attending the camp. For 10 days, they learn to say “no” to military recruiting, racism and war, and “yes” to eco-justice, community and love.

Campers spend their time making banners, writing poetry and choreographing dances that represent a vision of “positive alternatives to the madness of war and oppression.”

The hours spent building giant puppets and talking about how to influence the rest of the world culminate with a performance for the community Thursday night at The Attic on Pacific Avenue.

[snip]

“Queer, working class and youth of color are strongly encouraged to apply,” an Art in Action postcard states.

Oy.  Only in California.

Posted by Drew458     on 08/05/2005 at 07:43 AM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous •  
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Friday Morning Funnies

_{Over The Hedge by Michael Fry and T Lewis}

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 02:24 AM   
Filed Under: • Humor •  
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More Prisoner Abuse In The News

Question: what do the two quotes below have in common? Answer: absolutely nothing.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)—Five straight turkey dinners prompted El Paso County jail inmates to go on a brief hunger strike. The inmates refused to eat Saturday, arguing that meals such as turkey chili mac, turkey a la king, turkey stew and turkey sausage were unnecessarily cruel.

Sheriff’s officials said Wednesday that the hunger strike ended after about half an hour.

“Turkey, turkey and more turkey is not a form of punishment,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a tongue-in-cheek prepared statement. “The inmates accepted this reasoning and gobbled up their dinner meal.”

The inmates had spaghetti for dinner Wednesday — with turkey-based meat sauce.

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 02:10 AM   
Filed Under: • Crime • Stoopid-People •  
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CNN Suspends Robert Novak

I watched a replay of this “incident” last night on Fox News and all I can say is Novak should have just cold-cocked Carville right then and there. Carville is one of the most obnoxious liberals on the air today and for CNN to allow him to interrupt Novak and launch an ad hominen attack against Novak is outrageous. I don’t blame Novak for walking off. As for his language, I would have used some words a lot worse than he did. Trust me.

CNN has suspended Novak for walking off the set when they should have kicked Carville out for being rude, crude and socially unacceptable. The Liberals have completely infested CNN over the last 8-10 years and all of the better, more rational journalists have left. Maybe it’s time for Fox News to give Novak a call and make him an offer .....?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CNN issued a public rebuke to syndicated columnist and political analyst Robert Novak and asked him to “take some time off” after he uttered a profanity and walked off the set during a live broadcast on Thursday. The on-air outburst by Novak, 74, came when the conservative commentator was interrupted by liberal political strategist James Carville during a discussion of the upcoming U.S. Senate race in Florida on CNN’s “Inside Politics” show.

“Let me finish what I was going to say, James, please. I know you hate to hear me,” Novak said as he and Carville jousted over the Senate election chances of Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris. Carville persisted, saying: “You got to show those right-wingers that he’s got backbone. ... the Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching. Show ‘em you’re tough.”

An angry Novak shot back, “I think that’s bull****, and I hate that.” Then to the show’s host, Ed Henry, he added, “Just let it go,” before standing up from his seat, unclipping his microphone and walking off the set. Carville and Henry continued the discussion without pausing, but Henry acknowledged Novak’s departure at the end of the hour, saying he was sorry “Bob Novak left the set a little early.”

CNN, a unit of Time Warner Inc., later issued a statement chiding Novak for his conduct. “Bob Novak’s behavior on CNN today was inexcusable and unacceptable,” the network said. “Mr. Novak has apologized to CNN, and CNN apologizes to its viewers for his language and actions. We’ve asked Mr. Novak to take some time off.”

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 01:50 AM   
Filed Under: • Media-Bias •  
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Alabama Fights Back Against SCOTUS

This has been brewing for weeks now since the Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo vs. New London that gave government the right to snatch land for private development. Several states are already preparing legislation to block this heinous crime against landowners everywhere. Alabama became one of the first to sign into law legislation to prohibit any land-snatching schemes this week when the state legislature unanimously voted to approve a bill to protect homeowners. Governor Bob Riley signed the bill into law yesterday ....

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley today signed a law that gives Alabamians the strongest private property rights in the nation. In a ceremony in the State Capitol’s historic Old House Chamber, the Governor called the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on property rights “misguided” and a “threat to all property owners.”

“In response, a property rights revolt is sweeping the nation and Alabama is leading it,” Governor Riley said, noting that press reports say Alabama is the first state in the nation to pass a new law in response to the high court’s June 23 decision in Kelo vs. City of New London. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that local governments can seize homes for private development. At least eight other states had already passed laws before the court’s ruling that forbid the use of eminent domain for economic development unless it is to eliminate blight.

“Alabamians can rest assured that their homes, their farms, their businesses and other private property are safe from being seized by government for a shopping center or a factory, an office building or new residential development. With this new landmark law on the books, Alabamians will have the strongest property protections in America,” said Governor Riley. The bill was included in Governor Riley’s call for the recently concluded special session and it was approved by an overwhelming vote in the House and Senate. The new law prohibits the state or local governments from condemning private property in non-blighted areas for the purpose of retail, commercial, industrial, office or residential development.

“What our new law does is restore the level of protection that existed prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling in June,” Governor Riley said. “That ruling is a reminder of the awesome power that activist judges have, and unfortunately use, to rewrite our Constitution. What Alabama is doing with this new law I just signed counteracts that ruling.”

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 01:29 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Judges-Courts-Lawyers •  
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Stupor-Hero

_{Eric Allie,Chicago}

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/05/2005 at 01:12 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Media-Bias •  
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   Thursday - August 04, 2005

Need. More. Air.

I have a great deal of respect for astronauts.  I would jump at the chance to go up in space.  They are smart folks, especially the ones who have gone on multiple missions.  But they really need to keep their pie-hole shut when they try and pontificate on subjects not in their area of expertise.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Commander Eileen Collins said astronauts on shuttle Discovery had seen widespread environmental destruction on Earth and warned on Thursday that greater care was needed to protect natural resources.

“The atmosphere almost looks like an eggshell on an egg, it’s so very thin,” she said. ”We know that we don’t have much air, we need to protect what we have.”

We know we don’t have much air?  Good grief.

Posted by Drew458     on 08/04/2005 at 12:47 PM   
Filed Under: • Miscellaneous •  
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Surfing The Blogs

• Jay, over at StopTheACLU.com is on a roll today with the weekly blogburst. Today’s topic is the ACLU and their position on the Second Amendment. Personally, I think the ACLU’s position on gun rights should be six feet under.


• We’ve got reinforcements just joining in the fight against liberal idiocy. The site is conservative and run by a babe. What else could she call it but ConservaBabes. She’s located in the largest Muslim stronghold in North America, “Near New Fallujah”, as she calls it (Detroit). Today she is serving up a downright nice fisking of the New York Times. My kinda gal! Give ‘em hell, kiddo!


• Macker is up to his usual tricks .. and concerns. Today, he is worried about the Vatican and a possible attack by MOOS-LIMS. Relax, Mack! If the ragheads set off so much as a firecracker in St. Peters, the complete extinction of the Arab races will begin within seconds. Trust me.


• Phil, over at TuffBeingRight hasn’t posted in several days. I believe it’s because of the photo at the top of his last post on July 29. He and all visitors to TBR are probably suffering from blindness. Warning: not for the squeemish or faint-hearted!


• Over at Blind Mind’s Eye, there is a complete roundup of all the news that’s fit to print for today on the Religion Of Peas (death to all corn and beans). You gotta go read this, if for no other reason than you get to view the following literary masterpiece .... Sand-humping, Sabre-rattling Sultans of Shitholeistan. Now that’s classic!


• For more good links to great blogs and great stories around the blogosphere, check out Basil’s lunchtime offering at Basil’s Blog. That kid has a great menu every day. No escargot, though.

We’re in the dawg days of summer and news is slow, bloggers are on vacation and Congress is in recess. Let’s enjoy the peace and quiet for a few more weeks. I’m sure the media and the politicians will be all rested up and ready to go at it again after Labor Day. In the meantime, stay safe, stay sane and stay informed. We’ll be here helping you with all three ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/04/2005 at 11:40 AM   
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Seating For One

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/04/2005 at 05:28 AM   
Filed Under: • Military •  
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Early Morning News Bytes

• Another military coup in Africa, this time in Mauritania. Where the f**k is Mauritania and does anyone care?


• Another corrupt Democratic Congress-critter under FBI investigation. Where is the media?


• The media is wringing its collective hands over Dubya’s vacation days. It appears Bush-bashing is too much work in the Texas heat.


• CNN is right on top of the body count in Iraq. They seem to relish counting US troops deaths.


• London is on high alert for another Thursday Surprise. Prediction: one more bombing and the mosques will start burning.


• Martha Stewart was naughty and now must endure an extra four weeks of house arrest. Bad domestic diva! Go to your room!


• South Korean scientists have cloned a dog. New cookbook also available next week.


• Atheists are being oppressed in Birmingham, Alabama. Break out the fire hoses and attack dogs.

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/04/2005 at 04:43 AM   
Filed Under: • News-Briefs •  
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