:: ::

:: MAX BLACK ::

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." --C.S. Lewis

"The Swiss pocket knife of conservative thought on the web..." - Eli Kardrakian

"Bookmark Max and dump your subscription to the newspaper; if you don't have a birdcage you really don't need it anyway..." - Shirley St. James

:: Thursday, November 30, 2006 ::

This makes my blood boil!

OK, so I was thinkin' what would happen if I accidentally disconnected the umbilical to the mother-ship, floated off into the cold, black, vacuum of outer-space, and then [dang] the gasket on my space-suit helmut suddenly ruptured. What would really happen to me then?

[Ha, Ha; don't worry, I'd never disconnect the frikin' umbilical cord to the mother ship!]

:: Max 11:10 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: Natonal Lampoon's Lost Seinfeld Episode.

:: Max 3:40 AM [+] ::
...

---

No-Knock Raids

Glenn Reynolds has an obvious knack for locating and highlighting some of the most meaningful and important content on the internet. Once in awhile, he creates it. Here's Reynolds on no-knock-raids, a recent phenomenon of community policing that, some would say, pierces the 14th Amendment bubble:

Congress clearly has the power to pass laws, under Section 5 of the 14th Amendment, to prevent states depriving citizens of life, liberty or property without due process of law. When cops bust down your door and shoot you without -- very -- good reason for being there, that's a deprivation of liberty and property, and often life, without due process, the very kind of thing Congress was empowered to address. So unless Patterico thinks that the 14th Amendment is itself an improper impediment to federalism, I don't see the problem here. What's more, the no-knock problem stems from federal policies -- the "war on drugs" and the free distribution of military equipment to local SWAT teams -- and thus further justifies a federal corrective. Under federalism, one role of the federal government is to protect citizens' rights against unconstitutional encroachment by the states. That's what the 14th Amendment is about. And the doctrines of official immunity that make lawsuits difficult in such cases are found nowhere in the Constitution, but are the creation of activist judges, reading their policy preferences into the law. They are worthy of no particular deference.

Heh, "official immunity", what a phrase. It's understandable why Americans tend to accept the militarization of their local police departments given the events of 9/11, but, in so doing, many fail to appreciate how the lines of what was once considered "military" have been blurred in the process. This is serious constitutional business and it's good Reynolds is making a serious issue of it.

[Hello. Anybody out there?]

:: Max 6:17 PM [+] ::
...

---

Why Jeff Jarvis is one of my favorite bloggers:

"Here's someone else who doesn't understand what blogs are. [Bloggers] are people talking. Do you suggest you should regulate the speech of people over the phone and set up a complaints commission to deal with that? Or on the street? Or in bed? It's conversation, fool. Believe it or not, bloggers don't want to be newspapers. They want to talk. That's not controllable and that is precisely why it has exploded and why the deposed controllers in media and regulation are so scared of it. But codes and commissions are not the answer. Listening is. If you don't like what you hear, click away and reply because you can now, without having to go through a commission to do so". [Emphasis mine, ed.]

It's not hate speech these busy-bodies, er, hate. It's free-speech they hate. Gladly, guys like Jarvis understand the distinction and have the leverage and cache to move the debate in the proper direction. Will the gatekeepers get it? Apparently, the jury's still out.

:: Max 5:41 PM [+] ::
...

---

Amazing; World's smallest machine gun [video!]

:: Max 4:31 AM [+] ::
...

---

Cuban slaves to sue Cuban Government via US Courts. That's right, Cuban slaves. [hey, where's my Che T-shirt, I've got to get to that G20 rally...]

:: Max 9:07 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now playing: How Cocaine is made in the jungles of Columbia. Must see.

:: Max 10:58 PM [+] ::
...

---

December 2, 2006 a day that will live in infamy [as long as your data does anyway]. Yikes:

"the match that lit all this was struck in March 2000, when then-Vice President Al Gore reported that he could not immediately produce e-mails related to a probe by the Department of Justice into his fund-raising activities."

Figures. The frikin' globe-trotting "inventor of the internet" would indirectly saddle American business with this new burden. I figure if the Feds are gonna hold us to this high standard, they should be held to an identical standard of record-keeping. No? Of course not.

:: Max 10:02 PM [+] ::
...

---

Just check in with Greg Gutfeld's Daily Gut; Daily.

:: Max 9:53 PM [+] ::
...

---

Oooo. Ceasar Chavez 'vows' to kill America. I'm so scared.

:: Max 12:13 AM [+] ::
...

---

The 751 'Zones Urbaines Sensibles' of Fwance. For more on the subject, go here.

:: Max 7:43 PM [+] ::
...

---

Michael Novak exposes one of the greatest threats to America's security; Main Stream Media. [I'm begining to think Americans really are dumber than sh*t or actually LIKE being lied to. You decide.]

:: Max 7:03 PM [+] ::
...

---

"Go, and take your God Damned Che T-shit with you"

This important piece by Howard E. Morseberg should be widely distributed on every college campus in America:

"If you wear a Che t-shirt, then my friend, go where your convictions take you. Go where you can earn $8.00 (U.S.) a month and live with Fidel and his brother, Raul. Have the courage of your convictions, and do, MOVE there. At least give us one person who will raft to Cuba for the benefits of Communism ala Castro! Just one of you Che-lovers, move, please leave here and move to Cuba. How have your college instructors failed you, not to tell you the truth about Cuba or Communism. How have they betrayed you? My eyes fill with tears when I think of their duplicity, their inhumanity through their lies.

"Move, where you have to apply to the government for housing, for even a can of paint to fix up your home, where the plumbing falls apart and you cannot call a plumber, where the telephone fails to work and cannot go to a store to buy one, where there is not a skateboard to be found, nor a cell phone for your daughter. Where you cannot raise vegetables in your garden out back to sell for an extra few dollars for medicine or clothes, where it is illegal to have a yard sale, where you cannot buy a new car when you want one, nor a used one. Where you cannot afford to take a date out at night to a fine restaurant, where you cannot buy your children Christmas presents, where you cannot buy an extra pound of hamburger to feed guests. Where your daughter finds a tourist to date, to sell her body, so she can have a new dress. Where there are no toys, no roller-blades, no computers in beautiful stores, where there is no Wal-Mart, no Long's Drugs, where there is not even a decent beer you can buy to drink when you're watching a football game on a new, color TV. You cannot even invite four or five or six friends over to watch with you, because that's forbidden.

"Look at your home and ask, if my government owned this, what would it be like with peeling paint, broken steps, falling shutters, buildings falling apart from Castro's neglect? Your parents' home, all paid off, suddenly is taken by the government and their life's savings gone. Your grandfather's farm, gone. Now the fields lie fallow.

"Yes. Move to a country that has the highest number of prisons per capita in the world. Move to a country where torture is standard fare for those who only want a Free Press, who only want to read any book they'd like. Suffer in a small box like torture cell, as they do. Move to a country where the Government actually OWNS your children and can do anything they like with them, even teach them how to use guns in First and Second grades. Move, prove YOU are a real Communista, a died in the wool revolutionary, and go, with my blessings...as well as those of millions of other Americans. Deprive yourself of your comforts. Well, there you don't have to do so, because Castro and his police will do that for you.

"Yes, I have friends who risked their lives during the heyday of Communism, to leave Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Russia and Cuba, actually took the risk of being shot or going to prison, to follow their longing for FREEDOM. YOU, who wear those Che emblems, have the courage to take a trip and live in Cuba, not in a Canadian financed fancy motel, but somewhere outside the Tourist Zone, live there for five or ten years, or a lifetime, in decrepit state owned housing and suffer the life that you wish upon the Cubans, suffer with them and learn what tyranny really is all about. But do...GO. GO. GO.

And take your G** D*** Che t-shirt with you. GO!"

- Howard E. Morseburg

By all means, pass it on.

:: Max 9:47 AM [+] ::
...

---

Consumer frenzy tips: If you're a gadget freak and want to stay up-to-date on the very latest in tech gear, don't forget to check in with Engadget and Gizmodo or you'll miss out on cool stuff like this 'invisible' Japanese clothes dryer:

Also, if you're planning on buying a new digital camera, the best online source for camera reviews, specs and user forums is still Digital Photography Review.

:: Max 10:07 AM [+] ::
...

---

I come from Tehran and no, there are no camels where I come from. There are cars and honking taxis that pass women in black veils or short, colorful scarves that barely cover their heads. In this beautiful prison of banned dreams, there certainly isn't a statue of liberty; men and women liberate themselves with cafes, cigars, smuggled drugs and secret relationships. In America, I am a writer. I can imagine, dream, live, breathe as an Iranian, an American. I can add color to anything; if only I could paint the gray streets of Tehran with my words.

To write, to do art, to make music, you gotta believe in something very passionately - to the point where it blocks out nearly everything else in your life. Blue Bird knows this one true thing.

:: Max 10:33 PM [+] ::
...

---

From the original account of the first Pilgrim Thanksgiving:

We set the last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings or rather shads [here Winslow apparently means alewives], which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doors. Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom.

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

:: Max 8:47 AM [+] ::
...

---

Heh... [Happy Thanksgiving!]

:: Max 3:42 PM [+] ::
...

---

Christopher Hitchens on Baker and the Iraq Study Group:

"In 1991, for those who keep insisting on the importance of sending enough troops, there were half a million already-triumphant Allied soldiers on the scene. Iraq was stuffed with weapons of mass destruction, just waiting to be discovered by the inspectors of UNSCOM. The mass graves were fresh. The strength of sectarian militias was slight. The influence of Iran, still recovering from the devastating aggression of Saddam Hussein, was limited. Syria was - let's give Baker his due - 'on side.' The Iraqi Baathists were demoralized by the sheer speed and ignominy of their eviction from Kuwait and completely isolated even from their usual protectors in Moscow, Paris, and Beijing. There would never have been a better opportunity to 'address the root cause' and to remove a dictator who was a permanent menace to his subjects, his neighbors, and the world beyond. Instead, he was shamefully confirmed in power and a miserable 12-year period of sanctions helped him to enrich himself and to create the immiserated, uneducated, unemployed underclass that is now one of the 'root causes' of a new social breakdown in Iraq. It seems a bit much that the man principally responsible for all this should be so pleased with himself and that he should be hailed on all sides as the very model of the statesmanship we now need."

:: Max 9:03 AM [+] ::
...

---

"He's got the green maraca. He's got the crystal stick. He's got teeth seemingly installed at random. He'll bring down capitalism."

Tim Blair has highlights from the weekend's "G20 shenanigans".

:: Max 8:46 AM [+] ::
...

---

'Pump-and-Dump' Spam Surge Linked to Russian Bot Herders.'

Man, the world is getting wierd.

:: Max 8:21 AM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: The Stealthy Cat Burglar

:: Max 12:36 AM [+] ::
...

---

"The only way that has ever been discovered to have a lot of people cooperate together voluntarily is through the free market. And that's why it's so essential to preserving individual freedom."

-Milton Friedman

Via Samizdata [>]

:: Max 9:33 PM [+] ::
...

---

In case you missed it, here is Glenn Beck's CNN report on radical Islam via Hot Air. Watch the whole thing and, by all means, pass it on.

:: Max 11:29 AM [+] ::
...

---

Wow, wow, wow. This really is the answer. There can be no other way.

:: Max 11:11 PM [+] ::
...

---

This just in: B1 Bob says throw the Republican adulterers out! [There are like [+/-] 723 days, or 17,352 hours until the '08 election. Expect not one of these hours to pass without some hair-brained revelation like this to surface.]

:: Max 9:50 PM [+] ::
...

---

November 15, 2006-Australians will always remember it as Al Gore Day, when the magical environmentalist delivered unto us an historic coldening...

Make sure to hit Blair's main page link for more. Just keep scrolling.

:: Max 9:00 PM [+] ::
...

---

There's a new "peacemaker" emerging in the Middle East. Omar from Iraq the Model comments.

:: Max 11:40 AM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: Huge, all-male crowd swarms a pair of females in downtown Cairo. Hey ladies, this is what it's like to be a woman living under Sharia Law. How civilized.

:: Max 8:08 AM [+] ::
...

---

Here's what I was going to say on CBS but can still say here, thanks to the free speech of the blog.

- Jeff Jarvis

Jarvis is one of the really smart people commenting on the evolution of media today. That CBS would cut him out of Courics "Free Speech" segment is indicative of just how out of touch big media is. I figure they figure they've captured a segment of the market - an unfortunately large segment of the market - that is a) politically aligned with the decidedly ideological bent of the source; b) of a statistically apealing demographic to the sales department and c) technologically challenged to the extent that they could actually sit down and watch 30 minutes of Katie Couric's canned crap without raising an eybrow and then double-checking her conjectures, inferences and blatently obvious inuendo via Google just to keep her honest [a rewarding pastime practised by an ever increasing and smart segment of the blogosphere by the way]. Honestly, nearly everyone I know - including professional and/or business relationships - have abandonded BM amost entirely; including the local rag. So who's still tuning in? Beats me daddio, nobody I hang with.

Jarvis concludes with a precient warning, one that I suspect BM won't grasp any time soon: most "news" and commentary will be posted on YouTube long before MSM gets wind of it. Ya gotta figure this factor alone really challenges the suits who used to feel like they had some control over - even minimal control over - public opinion. Kinda like how KKKarl Rove feels right about now I imagine.

:: Max 10:10 PM [+] ::
...

---

So I sort of rummaged around the clippings of President McKinley's assassination and realized that while people were upset about it, they essentially regarded it as the removal of a remote figure who played a peripheral part in their lives. To that point for most people in most parts of the U.S. the federal government did not impinge on their life in any way.

So when people talk about the modern social democratic state, you know, cradle to grave entitlements, we should understand that it is, in effect, a huge experimental departure from the normal course of human history - and the experiment as we can see in almost every other country apart from the U.S. has failed.

- Mark Steyn

Uh, wow. Talk about yer frog-boil. RTWT

:: Max 8:38 PM [+] ::
...

---

Honestly, for this alone, Rusmsfeld should resign; after Abu Ghraib? I'm sick of this sophomoric shit hitting the web. HEY TROOPS: You're "Stuck on Stupid!"

:: Max 10:39 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: The Documentary that Michael Moore [Nancy Pelosi, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Clinton, etc., etc., etc.,] don't want you to see. And by the way, don't click on this link if you are a liberal, it doesn't conform to your world view. For everyone else? Make sure your children see this.

:: Max 10:19 PM [+] ::
...

---

Not only has 43 appeared to have "gone all wobbly", the Dems are going to humiliate the President - and the American Military - in the process. Well, I guess I'm not really all that surprised; the way things have been going and all. Curious this happened so close to Veterans Day, no?

[this has GOT to be an evil Rovian plot; Right? right?!]

:: Max 9:31 PM [+] ::
...

---

If you're a fan of Gregg Gutfeld, as I am, you'll want to drop into his website once in awhile; Dailygut.com. I've added it to the blogroll for future reference. And if you haven't already seen it, here's his recent appearance on fox via Hot Air.

:: Max 9:10 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi addresses the American people.

:: Max 8:57 PM [+] ::
...

---

Happy Veterans Day; Tim Blair has some thoughts....

:: Max 10:28 PM [+] ::
...

---

Lou Minatti's still obsessed with the residential real estate bubble and he's checking the spelling too!

Here's more from Mortgage News Daily [>]

:: Max 11:47 PM [+] ::
...

---

Why I'm not a Liberal reason number 12,047.

:: Max 10:33 PM [+] ::
...

---

So, just to sum up...

The Democratic victory, which was just about average in historical terms (i.e. number of seats picked up etc) supposedly represents a dawning new age of a "new politics." Septuagenarian dinosaurs Rangel, Dingel, Waxman, Conyers et al are all poised to take over various committees (Dingel and Waxman having led their respective comittees before the GOP takeover in 1994). Robert Byrd, first elected to the Senate in 1066, has once again been handed the keys to the national fisc. Nancy Pelosi - no one's definition of a novel or creative thinker - will lead her party in the House and Harry Reid, who would have to get drunk to have Warren Christopher's vivaciousness, will lead the Senate. The minimum wage, first promulgated by the Democratic party in 1938, I think, is their signature domestic policy issue. And, George McGovern is briefing the "progressive" wing of the Democrats about how to get out of Iraq.

Meanwhile, Bush I Republican retreads are taking over the White House's foreign policy shop as Bush II sings the praises of Republican-Democrat bipartisanship. Yes, this is truly a new era the likes of which nobody has ever seen before. Verily, the light of the new dawn is blinding.

Jonah Goldberg, The Corner

We certainly deserve the Government we're getting.

:: Max 9:25 PM [+] ::
...

---

Feel like you need a break - you know - a little vacation? Go on, you deserve it. Heck, take the whole darn family!

:: Max 12:50 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: Farewell Donald Rumsfeld.

:: Max 12:38 PM [+] ::
...

---

V.D. Hanson, the Chairman, on Rumsfeld's tenure via SDA:

"Here is the record of Donald Rumsfeld. (1) Tried to take a top-heavy Pentagon and prepare it for the wars of the postmodern world, in which on a minute’s notice thousands of American soldiers, with air and sea support, would have to be sent to some god-awful place to fight some savagery—and then be trashed live on CNN for doing it; (2) less than a month after 9/11 he organized the retaliation against al Qaeda in the heart of primordial Afghanistan that removed the Taliban in 7 weeks, when we were all warned that the U.S., like the British and Russians of old, would fail; (3) oversaw the removal of Saddam in 3 weeks—after the 1991 Gulf War and the 12-years of 350,000 sorties in the no-fly-zones, and various bombing strikes, had failed. (4) Ah, you say, then there is the disastrous 3-year insurgency—too few troops, Iraqi army let go, underestimated 'dead-enders' etc.?

"But Rumsfeld knew that in a counterinsurgency (cf. Vietnam 1965-71) massive deployments only ensure complacency, breed dependency, and create resentment, and that, in contrast, training indigenous forces, ensuring political autonomy, and providing air and commando support (e.g., Vietnam circa 1972-4) is the only answer—although that is a long process that can work only if political support at home allows the military to finish the job (cf. the turn-of-the-century Philippines, and the British in Malaysia). He was a good man, and we were lucky to have him in our hour of need."

Well, thankfully, the Dems have brilliant thinkers like Jimmy Carter and George McGovern to rely on.

:: Max 12:33 AM [+] ::
...

---

Here we go. Dems to meet with McGovern for war consultation. Yes, that McGovern. [I really hate to say this but P.T. Barnum was right. There's a sucker born every minute.]

:: Max 12:06 AM [+] ::
...

---

After Bush's astonishing press conference today, I'm pretty sure the White House hasn't figured out what actually happened yesterday; they're still in clinical denial - over there - "inside the beltway". I'm not particularly surprised by this tone-deaf reaction either, this predictable "distancing" from the base by Bush and the Neocons is exactly why they lost THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

Maybe by Sunday, when the big-time pundits pile on, it'll begin to sink in to their thick skulls the enormity of this loss. But then again, maybe not; I'm unclear as to exactly how far out-of-touch these people really are [and by the looks of things, they're WAY out of touch]. In any case, I'm fed up with the lot of them; they really are common bums and we deserve better.

For comic relief, here is a little P.J. O'Roarke quote via carpe diem that channels Ronald Reagan [More where this came from]:

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."

They really are like drunken, adolescent hoodlems. That we alot such vast responsibility to people of such questionable competance is an error of enormous magnitude on our part. To be fair to the electorate though, there isn't a bonafide, classical statesman among them, Dems or Republicans - they're - all of them - just run-of-the-mill boobs with egos - and power - far greater than wiser men would dare entertain.

Yep Marge, it'll be a long while before the Conservative base goes to the mat again for these out-of-touch Mandarins. A long time.

:: Max 9:51 PM [+] ::
...

---

How to save the Republican Party? Arlen Spector has the plan.

:: Max 3:14 PM [+] ::
...

---

This guy is gonna have some explaining to do.

:: Max 11:09 PM [+] ::
...

---

A "nice old-timey train wreck"

H/T Jeff Goldstein; Protein Wisdom

:: Max 10:37 PM [+] ::
...

---

Pre-election Maxatorial

It's 10:25 Central Time on the eve of the '06 midterm elections and the political junkies on both sides of the political devide are combing the blogs for any sign that their team has an edge on the competition. If you believe the polls, many of these critical races are well within the 3 point margin of error making for a white-knuckle run-off and late-night jitters for all those involved. Because many of the races are so tight, broadcast media, remembering well the exit-polling disaster of the '04 cycle, are indicating they'll downplay exit-polling results in favor of a more patient and measured approach in their election coverage. Fat chance.

Although they may well be reluctant to share incomming exit-polling results with their viewers in real time, the pompous talking heads are famous for unabashedly telegraphing their sentiments and a simple glance at Russert's facial expression gives the game away every time. If it appears as though the Republicans will hold, Russert and his peers in the drive-by will don a dour, moody circumspective mein, speculating on what went wrong [they musta stole it again!]. Conversely, if early indications are that the Dems are sweeping, Russert & Co., unable to contain their jubilation, will be glad-handing the Democratic userpers with glee and it'll be wall-to-wall "Speaker of the House" Nancy Pelosi until the lights go out. That's right, if the Dems win control of either or both houses, the American public will witness a months worth of post-election Liberal hubris the likes of which has never been seen in American politics.

If the Republicans hold? MSM in conjunction with the trial lawyers and nutroots in the Liberal base will focus their entire arsenal on yet another complex, evil [but ill defined] Rovian conspiracy to undermine the Democratic process, casting a black cloud over the whole shebang.

Thankfully however, Al Gore invented this internet thingy so this political junkie will no longer have to suffer the likes of Russert, Matthews, Couric and their ilk in the process. In all likelyhood, I'll sleep through it all - sans TV - and wake up at 4:00 in the morning and check in with Drudge for a quick and honest recap without all the Lib posturing [just the facts mam]. I might be disappointed with the end-result but I will not have suffered the condescention of an agendized, shamefully propagandized media that's so out of touch with an enourmous sector of the American public. Ditto for the morning paper; buying ink by the barrel doesn't cut it anymore.

:: Max 10:38 PM [+] ::
...

---

Now Playing: Dick Cheney on John Kerry

:: Max 6:44 AM [+] ::
...

---

"The Democrats are wildly overconfident about their coming revenge. Headlines here and in Europe are celebrating a bloody defeat for George W. Bush. Leftwingers are bubbling with eagerness to talk to pollsters.

"On the Right, Republicans can't stand the pollsters, who are blamed for their constant push-polls on behalf of the Left. Their predictable reaction is to avoid pollsters like the bird flu that never quite met the media hype. Today you would almost have to waterboard a lot of conservatives, one by one, to get them to talk to pollsters. You can't get a random sample if one of your target groups won't answer. So the data will be wildly skewed."

I think this is about right; conservatives despise pollsters. If asked, I'd lie as I suppose many other conservatives would. No doubt this phenomenon had some effect on the 04 exit polls. I think Dem wishfull thinking combined with the Conservative reticence to talk led to the embarrasing '04 exit poll results. Maybe this is why media-elite are keeping their stupid mouths shut this time. They know exit polls are, at best, an antiquated media device utilized to bolster their obvious partisan presumptions. We'll see.

Update: Cranky over at protein wisdom is on the same wavelength.

:: Max 10:19 PM [+] ::
...

---

Power to the people: Huge anti Chavez march in Venezuela [don't look for this story on your nightly news - it ain't "news"]

:: Max 9:41 PM [+] ::
...

---

My conjecture on the '06 midterms: Republicans retain both houses. Why? Turnout.

:: Max 7:37 PM [+] ::
...

---

Saddam trial decision quick links:

Iraq the Model weighs in as do the Moonbats [extraordinary]. Here's more on Ramsey Clark's ignominious smack-down from Saddam trial Judge Raouf Abdul Rahman.

:: Max 3:45 PM [+] ::
...

---

"When I asked Alexandra whether there was hope that Europe could still turn around, she hesitated only slightly before shaking her head and saying simply 'It is too late.'"

The socially advanced Western Culture that produced some of the most brilliant art, science and philosophy the planet has ever seen is being suffocated by the terminal combination of religious fascism and boutique socialism. Yes, this really is happening on our watch. I'm beginning to think this must be what it felt like in the run-up to WWII. Everybody just kind averted their eyes from the tradgedy until it was too late. Fools.

:: Max 12:52 PM [+] ::
...

---

All hand-wringy about the Iraq war? Maybe a little perspective is in order.

:: Max 12:47 PM [+] ::
...

---

Brave New World Update:

Uh Oh; Kill-Bots. And looks like their creators didn't burden them with any messy presumption of innocence software either.

:: Max 11:46 AM [+] ::
...

---

Note to self: Add The Brussels Journal to "Max Recommends". Done

:: Max 11:27 AM [+] ::
...

---

Talent/McCaskill

I smelled a stinking rat when I first watched McCaskill's anti Iraq War Veteren hit job on Jim Talent - it just didn't feel right. Thanks to a savy local investigative reporter the veracity of "injured veteran" Josh Landsdale's claims against Talent cannot be verified. Big surprise there. These people simply cannot tell the truth.

[Scraping the goo out of the bottom of the political barrel like this also demonstrates how hard it must be for the Dems to find a single anti Iraq war veteran.]

:: Max 11:21 AM [+] ::
...

---

The Euro disintigrating? Literally.

:: Max 3:07 PM [+] ::
...

---

Hmmm, what's with the libs demonizing gays all of a sudden? Must be some kinda Rovian plot cause no-way is the reality based community intolerant or bigoted.

:: Max 1:09 PM [+] ::
...

---

Astonishing Democrat indorsements for Michael Steele you won't see on your nightly news. Michelle Malkin picks up the slack.

[Oops, scrambled link unscrambled.]

:: Max 7:58 AM [+] ::
...

---

"What The MSM Doesn't Know And Doesn't Care To Find Out"

:: Max 11:34 PM [+] ::
...

---

Lou Minatti nails a routine instance of journalistic malpractice ["For a hotshot newsguy, don't you know how to use Google?"] and comments on the demise of Halloween in Eurasia because it's considered "too American".

:: Max 11:10 PM [+] ::
...

---

Female genital mutilation update:

Female "circumcision" never performed by males? No, they merely suggest it.

:: Max 11:04 PM [+] ::
...

---

Wierd Vacation Ideas Update

Iran opens nuclear facilities to international tourism. Nope, not kidding.

:: Max 10:46 PM [+] ::
...

---

Click this link; don't ask why just play through man.

:: Max 10:39 PM [+] ::
...

---

I say this as a Democrat:

"Wherever Islamicism has been tried, the result has been identical to Communism's miserable track record. The people are oppressed; the worst sort of vigilantes and thugs terrorize the population; the new power elite, regardless of their supposed piety and dedication to a holy cause, is quickly corrupted and comes to love the wealth and privileges of power.

"When there is no hope of deliverance, the people have no choice but to bow under the tyrant's lash, pretending to be true believers while yearning for relief. In Russia it came ... after more than seventy years. China and Cuba are still waiting -- but then, they started later."

:: Max 10:31 PM [+] ::
...

---

The Chairman weighs in; Victor Davis Hanson on the Kerry fiasco:

"The Democrats should use this occasion to have an autopsy of Kerryism, or this strange new tony liberalism, that has turned noblisse oblige on its head. It used to be that millionaire FDRs and JFKs felt sympathy for those of the lower classes and wished to ensure that the hoi polloi had some shot at the American dream. But today's elite liberals-a Howard Dean, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, George Soros, Ted Turner-love the high life and playact at being leftists simply because they are already insulated from the effects of their own nostrums that always come at someone poorer's expense while providing them some sort of psychological relief from guilt. Poor Harry Truman must be turning over in his grave..."

:: Max 11:22 AM [+] ::
...

---