Blogs For Victory

Very interesting:

The House ethics committee revealed Wednesday it is investigating allegations involving three lawmakers in unrelated incidents.

The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, commonly known as the ethics panel, issued separate statements Wednesday identifying inquiries into Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.).

A statement issued by the ethics committee said each of the investigations is ongoing, but the panel will defer its efforts in Jackson’s case in light of an ongoing Justice Department inquiry.

Each of the investigations was referred to the ethics committee by the Office of Congressional Ethics, although the ethics panel noted in its statement that it had previously begun its own investigation into Jackson.

Although the committee did not detail what allegations it is investigating with regard to Graves, the Missouri lawmaker issued a statement Wednesday referring to allegations about testimony before the Small Business Committee.

In March, Roll Call reported that the Congressman invited his friend and neighbor Brooks Hurst to testify before a Congressional hearing on renewable fuels, without mentioning that his wife and Hurst are investors together in renewable fuels plants in Missouri.

So, the Graves issue is probably small beans and placed in the mix to give a bi-partisan flavor…but I’m really wondering what must Waters and Jackson have done to merit this sort of scrutiny. Jackson, of course, is the son of the ill-famed “civil rights” leader, while Waters is a long-time hero of the kookiest of the kook left. In writing Caucus of Corruption, Matt and I found out that Waters is a grafter – putting her family on the payroll and making everyone pay for access, so I wonder if this has something to do with it – did she, at last, go too far? As for the younger Jackson – is it “like father, like son”?

If you wish to understand:

Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living. – Thomas a’ Kempis

Democrats, make my day:

A group of House Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday that would overturn a federal marriage law that denies recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Same-sex marriages are now legal in six states.

The Respect for Marriage Act, unveiled by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Jared Polis, D-Colo, has the support of more than 90 lawmakers.

The legislation would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 law signed by President Bill Clinton.

This is the “first step to overturning DOMA,” Nadler said, who called the law “irrational and hateful.”

“Democracy doesn’t always get it right,” said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who also supports the Respect for Marriage Act. “This should have been corrected a long time ago.”

I love the Orwellian name – “Respect for Marriage”…naturally chosen because liberals would prefer if the average Joe out there doesn’t realize that what is happening is changing the law so that, say, Nevada can be forced to recognize gay “marriages” from Massachusetts. Even on the issues they care most about, liberals feel it necessary to lie.

The plain fact of the matter is that the American people have spoken: gay marriage is not wanted. Only by thwarting the will of the people is gay marriage legal, anywhere…and now Democrats want to allow a judicial back-door for imposing gay marriages in States which have explicitly rejected it. Democrats push this, and we’ll make all sorts of hay over this attempted usurpation of the rights of the States, and of the people.

This will be a grand debate:

The first ever Festival of Dangerous Ideas will pit Sydney’s archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, against one of the most prominent exponents of modern atheism, British journalist Christopher Hitchens.

A press release from the Sydney Archdiocese announced today that this festival will take place Oct. 3-4 in the Sydney Opera House.

In his address, titled “Without God We Are Nothing,” Cardinal Pell plans to speak about secularism as a “minority sport and a temporary phenomenon” that only survives “by attacking Christianity or living off Christianity’s moral capital.”

Our liberal friends like to think of themselves as the holders of dangerous ideas – but this is because they are mostly very ignorant and don’t realize that their oh, so “advanced” ideas are actually just endlessly warmed-over heresies long put to rest by Christians enlightened by Truth. And so, putting one of the smartest atheists up against Cardinal Pell will make for a fascinating debate – atheism will be as well represented as it can be…and my belief is that once done, it will be shown up as the sad, tattered thing it is…

Now you youngsters out there understand why we older folks hold Jimmy Carter in complete contempt.

Geesh:

The College Politico has received a cease-and-desist letter from lawyers for Politico, demanding that he stop using the word “Politico” in his name — and that he give them control of his domain.

Stephen Gutkowski, the operator of the domain, has broken several stories, including one that proved that Obama=Hitler signs were being wielded by Lyndon LaRouche supporters.

Spread the word far and wide: we will not stand for such thuggish tactics.

UPDATE: Until this threat is withdrawn, I plan to boycott Politico, and I encourage others to do the same.

Agreed – I’ve liked Politico since it came out and have found it an endlessly useful source for news and views…but until they knock this nonsense off, I won’t go near that site, and I urge everyone else to stay away, too.

Goodness – amazing what a bit of investigative journalism will do:

ACORN, calling the actions of some of its employees “indefensible,” has suspended advising new clients as part of its service programs and is setting up an independent review to see what happened.

ACORN chief executive Bertha Lewis said in a written statement that she was “ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN’s service programs until completion of an independent review.”

There is some thought that the New York Times and the Washington Post might look in to this “investigative journalism” thing…

The story:

After Paris warned that new sanctions against Teheran remained an option despite the likelihood of negotiations with Iran, French President Nicolas Sarkozy maintained that the Islamic republic was still working on a nuclear weapons program.

“It is a certainty to all of our secret services. Iran is working today on a nuclear [weapons] program,” Sarkozy told lawmakers from his UMP party on Tuesday, according to Press TV.

“We cannot let Iran acquire nuclear” weapons because it would also be a threat to Israel, he added.

Negotiations, at this juncture, are quite pointless – we first must demonstrate to the Iranian leaders that we will not permit them to obtain nuclear weapons, and thus they’d better negotiate away their “right” to do so for the best deal possible. The best way to convince the Iranian leadership we mean business is to blockade Iran’s gasoline imports, with the escalation being the destruction of Iran’s gasoline refinery. Gasoline is Iran’s Achilles heel – they import most of it, and they can’t continue to repress their people without it. With the Iranian people simmering on the verge of revolt, the Iranian government cannot afford to go even a week without the means of swift repression..and you can’t get the goons around effectively on foot.

If we don’t do this, then Israel’s only recourse – her only chance at survival – is an all-out military attack on Iran’s nuclear program. Such an attack would have wide and unforeseeable results – of such things are world wars made…but Israel cannot afford to live under an Iranian nuclear gun – it does no one in Israel any good to think that they’ll be able to retaliate…two or three nukes would destroy Israel, utterly…a counter-attack might be grimly desired by the few survivors, but it wouldn’t revive the dead. It is either a vigorous American effort, or an act of desperation on the part of Israel – wisdom dictates that its better if we can force Iran to the table…but we won’t be able to do so by being nice or refusing to attack Iran at its weak points.

Nothing like a mid-week gab fest, free for all, huh? Plus it gets me out of thinking of something to write for the AM.

Have at it, boys and girls.

Good morning everyone…

I’d like to take this opportunity to say that I have returned from my Hawaiian Honeymoon! In case you didn’t know, Beth and I were married Saturday, August 29th, in a lovely outdoor ceremony, nestled in her family’s vineyards.

After the wedding, we spent a fantastic eight days in Hawaii. Our first night in Oahu, then five days on the Big Island, and the last two days back on Oahu.

I imagine some of you want to see some pictures, and I may post some later this week. but for now I just wanted to announce my return home and to blogging. I am looking forward to getting back into a regular blogging routine… with no wedding to plan, it should be easier for me!