The fact that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin briefed Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, about the damaged levees in his city, after Hurricane Katrina struck, is not news; since it has been often reported before now.  But one does want to ask: Why was Farrakhan, of all people, so deserving of a special briefing; and why was Mayor Nagin deemed the "expert" to give such a briefing?  Does the Mayor have a background in civil engineering?  Perhaps, it was because Nagin and Farrakhan have an already-established working-relationship, a business partnership if you will; in the mis-management of the city of New Orleans.  As an example; Farrakhan's "organization" has had a role in the training of New Orlean's police officers. View Story

Ms. Cindy Sheehan inexplicably continues to be the rallying point for the media's obsession with seeing America removed from its position as the world's leading superpower.  Because her handlers are so skilled at manipulation, Ms. Sheehan has been thrust into the forefront of attention.  We are told that she must be listened to, and taken seriously; since after all, she lost her son in military action.  Columnist Maureen Dowd, that expert spin-mistress of distorting words to suit her own bias, opines that Ms. Sheehan's "moral authority" on American foreign policy is an "absolute".  Why?  Because her son was killed in action?  What of the almost 2000 other mothers or fathers, who have also lost children in our ongoing fight to defeat Islamic Terrorism?  Many, if not most, of these grieving parents support our nation's policies.  Why do Ms. Dowd and the other defeatists ignore what should be these other parents' "absolute moral authority"?  Not to sound cold-hearted, but Ms. Sheehan's attempted extortion of America, to elicit feelings of sympathy for her loss...this reign of terror of hers...has long since passed.  Any initial support she may have garnered from me personally, was destroyed when she labeled America a "terorist nation"; and when she labeled Mr. Bush, and (by association) those who support him, including those members of our volunteer armed forces, "terrorists".  Forcing people to feel sorry for you; to grieve with you; is not a right given to us by God, or the Constitution.  It is only an earned privilege; and long ago, Ms. Sheehan forfeited her opportunity and ability to receive such.  Ms. Sheehan blames President Bush for the loss of her son.  Was FDR, therefore, responsible for the over 400,000 American combat fatalities in the Second World War?  Was Lincoln responsible for the almost 500,000 Union combat deaths in the War Between the States?  No - those on the Left would say; because those wars were "justified".  An interesting concept that is.  Fault for a particular act lies not with he who perpetrated that particular act; but is instead assigned, based solely on one's opinion of the policy surrounding that situation.  Like I said - an interesting concept.  We should utilize it within our judicial system, letting the jurors in our courtrooms reach their verdicts, by using this logic model.


The always-excellent Charles Krauthammer gives us his opinion on this same topic. View Story

It seems that young Ethan Gray, the six year old student from Omaha, Nebraska; will not be facing suspension, after all.  In a complete reversal of its initial decision, which we reported on yesterday, 29 Sept., his school has decided to let him remain in class.  I am certain that public outcry did not influence the school's desire to rethink its position on the matter.  It was just another example of Kerry-esque "nuance".
View Story

Actor Ron Silva eloquently pointed out, during his speech before the 2004 Republican National Convention; that the people who complain the most, about all the human suffering in the world - are always the same people who protest the loudest, when America tries to do something about that suffering.  If only America would withdraw from the world; the Left could soothe that world into a state of Socialistic Utopian peace; with a steady rhythm of Peter, Paul, and Mary folk songs, while frolicking barefoot through the park, chanting "Kumbaya".  Hyperbole?  Hardly, since the track record of the Left shows otherwise.  Columnist James Lileks offers his own take on this issue, with his usual sharp wit: View Story

Ethan Gray is a young first-grader in Omaha, Nebraska.  He probably never imagined that he, at such an early stage in his education path, would find himself in the middle of a controversy, especially one so inane.  It seems that a butter knife was discovered in his backpack.  Yes - a butter knife.View Story


A butter knife.  You know - those kitchen tools so dangerously sharp, that they can cut...well...butter?  Young Master Gray now finds himself under suspension.  After all, his school district, like so many around the nation, has a zero-tolerance policy regarding knives.  Why?  Who really knows; as it certainly can not be because of their potential body-harming danger.  After all, the forks in the school cafeteria can cause much more bodily harm, than a blunt butter knife; and I do not think the schools are banning forks (though I am sure there are many schools who have moved to the politically-correct spork); not to mention sharpened pencils, compasses (or the newer, totally useless "safety compasses"), etc.  It must be, because the name of the item contains the word "knife".  That must be it.  Zero-tolerance policies are easy to enforce, once you draw them up using zero logic.  Any object whose name contains the word "knife" is on the list of banned items.  Don't bring up the logical and reasonable exceptions; as we do not want to have to exercise any judgement or common sense.


But, is the school exercising consistency?  Since we have established that it must be simply the word "knife" which makes an item illegal; are other "knives" similarly outlawed?  Do the students ever work in clay, during arts and crafts lessons?  Do they use putty knives?  How about the books in the school library?  One of the more acclaimed children's books, in recent years, is Malorie Blackman's Knife Edge.  Has this book been banned?  If no - then why not?  Its title does contain the word "knife".  And imagine if one of these books, falling from the top shelf of the stacks, should conk a poor six year old student on the head.  Definite potential for bodily harm there.  We should have no tolerance for the presence of such objects in the schools, threatening the lives and well-being of our children.