Soccer Dad: Submitted 10/16/08

October 16, 2008

Submitted 10/16/08

This week's Watcher's Council Submissions are up!
* Rhymes With Right- Democrats Object To Fundamentally True Statement - Rhymes with Right defends the head of Virginia's Republican party. I'm not sure I buy it. It was a purposefully inflammatory comment. Still this point is 100% correct.

Does this make Obama guilty of Ayers' crimes? No, of course not - but his willingness (and the willingness of so many in the Chicago/Illinois political machine and the national Democrat establishment) to embrace him and work to make him a mainstream political figure is disturbing. Would McVeigh's co-conspirator Terry Nichols ever be allowed a similar rehabilitation? Would any politician who associated with him after his involvement in the Oklahoma City bombing ever be considered acceptable by the American people? I don't think either of those questions requires much consideration to answer.

* The Razor- Oil Boom Turns to Bust - The Razor looks at the forces that have led to a very swift reduction in gas prices. Mostly its been part of the business cycle. Extra good news:it hurts Russia and Venezuela. (also Iran!) One thing I've wondered about is how the higher gas prices might have triggered the liquidity crisis.
* Joshuapundit- The Jewish Stockholm Syndrome - JoshuaPundit writes about the tendency of Jews to vote Democratic, even if doing so goes against their interests. Seraphic Secret recently had to explain a religious observance to a Hollywood producer.

An hour later the producer, not Jewish--truly bright, creative and decent--calls back.

"I asked all the Jews in the company and they're drawing a blank."

"Right. Well, I'm not surprised. Look, lemme send you a few links and then get back to me."

"Hey, I believe you. Just tell me when we can have our sit-down?"

I suggest a day and time.

"Robert?"

"Yeah?"

"I respect your commitment. I really do. But tell me, how come none of the Jews in the company know what I'm talking about?"

I sigh.

I am sad.

"Tell me something, did all you guys go to the big Obama rally here in town?"

"Sure, of course."

* Cheat-Seeking Missiles- Raile Odinga Joins Ayres, Wright, Alinsky et. al. As Questionable Obama Associates - Cheat Seeking Missiles looks at Kenya's new maximum leader and his ties - political and familial - with one of the two presidential candidates.
* The Glittering Eye- Issues 2008: Reforming Government - The Glittering Eye has a post that could be called deceptively simple. Well, the deceptive part isn't in its simplicity, but in its power.

Every year millions of Americans dutifully purchase one of the two top tax preparation software packages, TurboTax or TaxCut, to help them in filing their federal and state income taxes. Between them these two programs have something like a billion dollars in annual sales. If government were functioning properly these two packages wouldn't exist at all. They flourish in a niche created by ineffective government.

He doesn't address which candidate would be more likely to address this problem. Neither candidate has made much of an issue about it. I suspect that if either candidate would wish to change the way government is run it would be Sen. McCain.
* Hillbilly White Trash- More on the little messiah's troubling friends - Hillbilly White Trash emphasizes the ties between Sen. Obama and ACORN.
* Soccer Dad- Putting on Ayers - I wrote about why Sen. Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers should be significant and wonder if its too late to help Sen. McCain.
* The Colossus of Rhodey- Why "hazard pay" for tough schools won't work - Colossus of Rhodey argues that stopping the nonsense would go a long way towards making better public schools. Public schools, of course, in many ways have become social service agencies rather than (or in addition to) centers of education.
* Bookworm - A Great Day By The Bay - Bookworm Room and family go to visit an Amphibious Assault Ship and learn how it operates.

My non-council submission this week is Last Kaddish - Redux at Seraphic Secret, a powerful look at loss.

Read, Enjoy. Be Informed.

watcher's council.