The Crows Nest
Crow's Nest Mostly Unmanned
Yes, I know the Crow's Nest has mostly been moribund since the site's relaunch. I do plan on using it more often in the future, I promise. I'll be spending a little more time on these posts as a way to link out to the blogosphere. Keep an eye on this space.
Also, please note that I've put the Amazon search bar on the main page, in the right sidebar. If you want to do some shopping at Amazon -- and who doesn't? -- be sure to shop through Captain's Quarters. Amazon does pay a small percentage of the sale to me, and it helps pay for a few sundries related to the blog. Much appreciated!
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 ....
Comments (11)
Posted by Don Miguel | October 13, 2007 6:10 PM
"He predicts that the GOP will lose between 3.4 million and 4.7 million Latino votes in the 2008 election if the GOP persists in an enforcement-only solution."
If the GOP loses that many Latinos, I doubt it will be because of an "enforcement-only solution." Contrary to what the media and the public Jackson/Sharpton-styled Latino groups say, an awful lot of American Latinos (immigrant and native born) are no more in favor of illegal immigration than non-Latinos. Being in a Latino family and having many Latino friends, I can safely say than not a single one I know is in favor of open borders and are quite aware of the current and future cost of illegal immigration – and want it stopped.
Posted by tweell | October 13, 2007 7:51 PM
Hayworth lost because he was number one on the Abramoff gravy train, not for immigration.
Posted by tony | October 14, 2007 12:37 AM
Enforcement only is the one thing I agree with the republicans on. Our elected representatives have allowed illegals to enter America, put down roots, feed them give them an education, and even supported their cause through 3 Republican presidents and one Democrat. It is now time to enforce our laws like we should have been doing all along. They are still criminals. We should also get rid of the anchor baby clause. That is one of the Supremes worse decisions ever.
Posted by flenser | October 14, 2007 1:09 AM
Richard Nadler is a dishonest hack, and his "missive" is laughably fraudulent. Liberals are liars, no matter which party they are in. It's hardcoded in their genes.
Posted by The Florida Masochist | October 14, 2007 7:34 AM
Compassion has nothing to do with immigration? Then I guess Hayworth believes in this insane policy.
http://thefloridamasochist.blogspot.com/2007/05/ending-widow-penalty.html
The only 'crime' these 85 women committed was that their husbands died before their Immigration paperwork was done. All of these widows tried the legal immigrant process and now are getting screwed.
Isn't it something when politicians and officials can't find room for less than a 100 law abiding people when over 12 million law breakers continue to reside here?
Bill
Posted by Papa Ray | October 14, 2007 9:06 AM
As an old man, I have more compassion than I did years ago. But to be honest, my compassion is wearing really thin right about now.
I have lived in the middle of "Mexico North" all of my life, except for brief periods where I was off to places far away. In those places I have seen the effects of no compassion, no humanity, no regard for human life.
It is nothing like what sending a widow back to her homeland is, even if it is wrong in some instances.
What I saw in far away places is much worse.
Am I tired of living in Mexico North? You damn well bet that I am.
The latest example of why I am happened yesterday. Not a glaring, nor really important problem, nor a really good example, but just one of a thousand that I could relate.
I was driving my daughter and my two granddaughters home. It was during the five o'clock rush, I was setting at a red light,wanting to turn left, with my blinker on and traffic was whizzing by. The light changes to green and I continue to set there (there is no seperate left turn arrow, just a green light) and this guy behind me starts honking his horn on his big new pickup. I try to ignore him, as the traffic in front of me is starting to move thru the intersection. I wait because that is the law. I don't turn in front of cars that are going straight thru the intersection.
The Idiot continues to honk his horn, like I'm supposed to dart out, turn left between traffic coming at me at about 30 miles per hour.
Now, I'm older and don't take chances now, especially with three of my girls in the car. I felt like getting out and shoving his horn up his ass, but being as old as I am and carrying a weapon (yes, I do have a carry permit), I decided to just wait for a safe time to turn. Finally I did and the idiot followed me thru the intersection and pulled up beside me at the next red light.
I rolled down my passenger side window and motioned for him to do the same. I yelled (over my daughter's protests) to him, what the f6ck did he think he was doing honking his da6m horn at me, and did he think I was going to pull out in front of oncoming traffic.
He yelled to me in spanish, that I was an old stupid gringo and should not be driving anymore and to go home. Little did he know that I speak and understand spanish (at least the Tex-Mex kind).
I replyed (in my best gringo Tex-Mex) that he was a stupid asshole who didn't even have a d!ick and was too much of a mother's boy to even be driving.
I was lucky he didn't follow me and kill me, as has happened several times here in West Texas.
Well, except for the fact that I would have pulled out my 45 and made the situation come out a lot different than he thought it would.
Would I have been upset if it was just another redneck honking at me...most likely, but that has never happened.
But, you have to know, that I'm fed up and I'm not going to take this crap anymore.
Neither are millions of other Americans.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Posted by coisty | October 14, 2007 11:18 AM
In 2004 the GOP got 8.5 million more white male votes than Democrats. They also had a 5 million surplus with white females. In 2006 that surplus fell to 2.2 million among white males and half a million from white females. A crackdown on illegal immigration will get more white votes than the number they will lose from Hispanics.
Posted by Anon E. Moose | October 14, 2007 6:10 PM
When Arizona passed Prop 200 (disallowing state benefits to illegals) the highest demographic voting for the disallowance was....TADA!! HISPANICS.
BTW, Hayworth's district was gerrymandered prior to the 2006 election to include Tempe, a s&$thole of Moonbats.
Posted by ZT | October 15, 2007 1:20 AM
I live in Hayworth's district. He lost because he is a windbag who was on the take from Abramoff, and Harry Mitchel won because he is a well-respected former mayor and state senator. (Also, the district boundries were the same in 2006 as they were in 2004).
Posted by Joe | October 16, 2007 3:03 PM
I also live in Hayworth's district. I know the man and he is not corrupt, nor is there any evidence of it. To say he was on the take from Abramoff is a lie.
I miss his presence and his vote in Congress, but I am confident he will have the last laugh and be a major figure in American politics long after Harry Mitchell returns to the obscurity he so richly deserves.
Posted by CommonSense | October 16, 2007 3:20 PM
The facts may be convincing, none-the-less this whole thing absolutely PALES in comparison to what the republicans have done in the last 7 years. Fight for the right, what is that? - the right to be ignorant? Republicans have a higher standard? BS - The last 7 years have proved that they have no standards at all. Have you ever listened to your president speak? I've heard more sense come from my 3 year old. Do you know what he has implemented in his term? Do you ever watch the news? Are you a member of any environmental group? Do your homework man and wake the hell up while your at it. You suggest that the republicans lost the 2006 election because they stayed home? Give me a F'ing break. Do you think that maybe they tied their own nuece that time and guess what, you're going to loose in 2008 as well. Have you paid any attention to the republican debate polls lately? Simply put, no one gives a damn about the republican candidates because they don't have a ghost's chance in hell in winning the 2008 election. No one is going to want the same kind of arrogance and ignorant not to mention irresponsible acts repeated that have taken place over the last two terms.
Just out of curiosity why do you think that everyone tied to the Bush administration are fleeing like roaches in a spotlight? Do you have an educated answer for that?
As far as the term "Liberals" and "Leftists" your whole party can shove it you know where. It doesn't mean a heap of shit to us. In case you couldn't figure it out on your own, I am a Democrat and by the way I am not voting for Hillary, so you can put that comment in your crack pipe and smoke it too. Time to wake up dude. Until you have anything intelligible to say keep your comments to yourself.