About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Comments (18)
Posted by NoDonkey | September 26, 2007 9:59 AM
"perhaps embarrass the Democrats enough to force them to supplement the ethics bill with one that actually raises the bar on Congressional ethics."
Is it possible to embarrass the party of institutionalized treason?
One great way to improve Congressional ethics would be for each and every Congressional Democrat to resign and emigrate, effective immediately.
It would be morning again, in America.
Posted by GarandFan | September 26, 2007 10:18 AM
Captain, Harry Reid has no shame. The "Ethics" bill will stand as-is. Reid will point to it with pride.
Posted by Tim | September 26, 2007 10:36 AM
"It's good to see that some of the news media have begun to realize the sham that Harry Reid & Co. pushed into law. Too bad they didn't notice it before it passed Congress and got George Bush's signature"
Who say they didn't and are only reporting on it now?
Posted by whippoorwill | September 26, 2007 11:07 AM
I'm not an expert but my reading of the earmark section 103 of the ethics reform bill President Bush signed says that earmark info has to be placed on the internet in searchable form 48 hours before a vote on the bill. Also, that members must "certify" they or their families don't profit from an earmark.
That sounds a little more than a lick and a promise to me. Would you want them to sign it in blood. Also, most of the watch dog groups have praised this bill as just what Harry Reid claimed it was, the most reform in a generation. As with all things congress there is no doubt it could be improved, but I think your harsh criticism is a little overdone.
Posted by Matt | September 26, 2007 12:49 PM
Captain, you're the smartest (although extremely misguided) con I know. I'm sorry but this has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but I had to get this off my chest.
I still read the blog, but it doesn't matter how reasonable and logical your talking points are, I will NEVER be able to take you seriously until you take that Ann Coulter ad off your website. It makes me sick that you would actually endorse someone who says things like this on a daily basis:
"My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building."
"I was going to have a few comments about John Edwards but you have to go into rehab if you use the word faggot."
"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity."
"Liberal soccer moms are precisely as likely to receive anthrax in the mail as to develop a capacity for linear thinking."
-- thanks for advertising for a woman who insults my mom, calls people she disagrees with politically "faggots", wants american liberal reporters blown up in new york city, and advocates fascism and fundamentalism to the extreme. that's what i call good, sane logic. i guess that's what conservatism has come to.
Posted by Shaprshooter | September 26, 2007 1:03 PM
Matt: ""faggots", wants american liberal reporters blown up in new york city, and advocates fascism and fundamentalism to the extreme. that's what i call good, sane logic. i guess that's what conservatism has come to."
I hope you're as consistent with equating Code Pink, KOS, and DU as spokesmen for the opposition.
Likewise, I hope you're not representative of the conceptual ability of your group, as taught by the public schools. (HINT: a sample of ONE is not representative, particularly when it comes from a polemicist)
(PS: I hope you're not a spokesman for grammar and punctuation as taught by the public schools, either)
I hope you're also "savvy" enough to realize that bloggers have little control over what ads appear on their sites.
Somehow, though, I'm skeptical.
Posted by Captain Ed | September 26, 2007 1:10 PM
I could have stopped the ad from running, but to be honest, I don't usually check the ads that publishers buy. I didn't realize that the ad was for Coulter's book, and I wouldn't have cared if it was.
Ads don't connote endorsement. Hillary Clinton bought ad space on this blog in January, and I let that run, too. PETA used to run ads here all the time, but they seemed to have mysteriously stopped when I posted that I ate a steak dinner every time they bought one from me.
Ads are just that -- ads. I don't give discounts for them, so people pay the going rate. Unless the ad in question publishes libelous material, I don't cancel them.
Posted by Matt | September 26, 2007 1:29 PM
Shaprshooter, thanks for insulting my intelligence... classy. Yes I went to public school, I'm now double majoring at a private college and my GPA is more than respectable. That public education really failed me!
This is the comment section of a blog, not a dissertation.
Posted by swabjockey05 | September 26, 2007 1:41 PM
CE,
Maybe you should apologize to PETA...I kinda liked their bloody meat pictures too. Just like watching the deer eat my wife's vegetable garden...makes my stomach growl.
swabbie
Posted by Old Mike | September 26, 2007 2:08 PM
"it will keep Reid from disingenuously claiming to have cleaned up earmarks, and perhaps embarrass the Democrats enough to force them to supplement the ethics bill with one that actually raises the bar on Congressional ethics."
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one Cap'n, unless you have a nice navy blue uniform you want your face to match.
Posted by Angry Dumbo | September 26, 2007 3:09 PM
Very good Old Mike.
Note the number of retiring Republican congressmen. Is something afoot? Perhaps the stage is being set for an ethics offensive?
Perini Corp., Diane Feinstein and 1.5 bil in defense contracts comes to mind . . .
Then I wake up.
As Bernie Goldberg says, "crazies to the left of me, wimps to the right."
Posted by Shaprshooter | September 26, 2007 7:14 PM
Matt: "Shaprshooter, thanks for insulting my intelligence... classy."
Just the facts, Matt, just the facts.
Matt: "Yes I went to public school, I'm now double majoring at a private college and my GPA is more than respectable."
You insult your own intelligence, and remember that ditsy SC beauty queen...with the 3.75 GPA?
Your self-importance is amazing, and your grasp of the worth of a high GPA is laughable. As for being in a private school, that could be just a laughable.
I should have known, though, that you're still a college student. Hell, you don't even know how blog ads run, as Cap'n Ed had to point out to you: opinions out the wazoo, brain cavity full of mush, and a big mouth to encompass it all.
Here's a clue: we're not your teachers, who've filled you with that BS that your opinion is worthy, regardless of the convoluted logic (if they haven't taught you that logic, reason and objectivity are chimeras).
Nice going, kiddo!
Posted by Scrapiron | September 26, 2007 8:09 PM
Private college = No matter what I do, or don't do, Momma is buying my grades.
Posted by Michael Mannske | September 26, 2007 8:51 PM
Democratic? or Democrats? The two are not equal.
Posted by Drew | September 26, 2007 10:24 PM
I'll believe the Dems on ethics reform when Robert Byrd has his name taken off of all the buildings in W.VA., John Murtha stops earmarking funds to his family and friends (ditto for Diane Feinstein), and Harry Reid stops making land deals in NV.
Posted by TokyoTom | September 27, 2007 9:15 AM
Ed, nice of you to note that the Dems don't seem to be serious about cleaning up pork in Congress. Hardly surprising, given that they would essentially be restricting themselves.
Funny that you somehow managed to forget to note how much MORE serious the Republicans were about keeping pork under control while they were in charge, and all the reforms that they passed under THEIR watch.
Now tell me that the Republicans - who passed on this situation to the Dems - served anyone well besides their own self-interests along the way.
Are there any small-government "conservatives" here, or just hypocrits?
TT
Posted by FedUp | September 27, 2007 10:42 AM
TT I wouldn't be so quick on the hypocrits comments... The Dems ran on several issues, ethics reform (that hasn't happened), transparency,(yeah, we're beginning to see through them) and earmarks - notice that there is MORE??
There is plenty of blame on both sides. Wanna talk Abramoff AND Hsu? Is your argument - they did it, so we can too??
Posted by TokyoTom | September 27, 2007 9:49 PM
FedUp: My point is that BOTH parties are essentially porkers and neither is really looking out for voters' interests.
The pot calling the kettle black is just part of the routine they both use to keep us distracted while they wrestle over who will be the ones to rob us.
True "conservatives" were fed up with the Republicans long ago, and they have responsibility not only for doing a great job of fleecing us while they were in charge, but also for not themselves enacting the very reforms that they now mock the Dems for failing to implement. This is irresponsibility and cynical partisanship at its richest levels.
If the Republicans had cared to manage responsibly, they could have tied up the Dems - but no, the Republicans themselves did not want to face the restrictions they are now happy to criticize the Dems about.