Brantley Continues Assault on Justice

I brought you a story earlier about Max Brantley teaming up with the ACLU to mount an assault on the death penalty.

As usual, liberals and the ACLU are more interested in the "rights" of murderers and criminals than the victims of their heinous crimes.

He's got an update for you on the link.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/execution_secrecy.aspx#comments

Socialists Oppose McDonalds in Hillcrest of Berlin

These people are the German version of Americans who oppose everything Wal-Mart does. I mean, how dare a business give you a good product in a quick, convenient manner. You should have to wait at least 10 minutes for your food.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070729/ap_on_bi_ge/berlin_mcdonald_s_2

Tangerine Dream/Nightmare

Apparently Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards' chatty wife, is going to stop eating tangerines because she says it's contributing to global warming since they aren't grown in North Carolina.

Talk about crazy.

I don't want her to do without, though, so I'm going to send her a box of tangerines, myself. I don't care about the environment, so she might as well eat 'em. She doesn't want to waste them.

If you'd like to join in, send them to Elizabeth Edwards, c/o John Edwards for President, 410 Market Street, Suite 400, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Truth and Humor

Do you realize that Nancy Pelosi is 3rd in line for the presidency?

God help us.

Gun Free Zone

Sorry, folks, a Gun Free Zone is not a place to get guns for free.

But watch this video on the link for a little satirical dose of reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7pGt_O1uM8

El Dorado Man, 93, Shoots Attacker

Willie Lee Hill, age 93, is my hero this week. He shot an intruder after being beaten to the point of unconsciousness.

In England, he'd be in jail, or gaol, as they spell it. Fortunately, for Mr. Hill and the rest of us, he's in America.

No word yet on Mr. Hill's condition, but thank you for reminding criminals that honest Americans shoot back.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QL3RVO0&show_article=1

Most Beautiful on Capitol Hill?

Nancy Pelosi is apparently one of the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill. I guess they're not counting members of Teddy Kennedy's staff.

Appearing on the list at #4!!!, if you can believe it, Nancy Pelosi proves that some people don't factor personality when they're judging beauty. They also might want to check on getting some new glasses.

http://thehill.com/cover-stories/the-50-most-beautiful-people-on-capitol-hill---top-10-2007-07-24.html

They're Out to Get Me!!!!

John always feels like, somebody's watchin' him...

What was it the Huckster said about how you're not paranoid if they're really out to get you? Apparently, John Edwards really thinks "they" are out to get him. No word on who "they" are.

I doubts he's talking about Hillary or Obama since it would be a waste of their efforts to go after their distant third place competitor. Democrat activists in general might me going after him since he's such a disaster.

I think he's trying to say that we're after him, you know, the vast right wing conspiracy. Honestly, though we may make fun of him, I couldn't ask for a better candidate for the democrats to give us than John Edwards. I hope they do. He's such a complete embarrassment to himself and he doesn't even know it. But he's smart to play the conspiracy card with the democrat base since they're kooky enough to believe it. Keep in mind that 33% of Americans supposedly believe that the president had something to do with 9-11. Who do you think those people are? The democrat base, maybe? The same people who don't know that fire does melt steel. That's how it's made. Edwards keeps talking about they and the people in the audience have this reaction like they know exactly who he's talking about. If you want a good laugh, follow the link and watch the video.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0707/Edwards_They_want_to_shut_me_up.html

Whatever Happened To: "Stretched Too Thin"?

This is a new feature of the Arkansas Journal, the Whatever Happened To...? section. Sort of like the Where Are They Now File from Vh1, the Whatever Happened To...? will serve as a reminder of what used to be the end of the world as we know it complaints by liberals that they no longer complain about.

It's a favorite from the liberal playbook to complain about something like it's the end of the world, then forget about it when it has lost its political usefulness.

In this edition, I look back on the former liberal complaint that our military is "stretched too thin" to succeed in Iraq. Of course, since the Surge began it's been hard to explain how we pulled these extra 20,000 troops out of a hat to bolster our efforst there.

Look forward to future Whatever Happened Tos...? coming soon. Possible topics: terrorism through containers, uparmored humvees, and, in light of the recent military success in Iraq, the we can win in Iraq militarily propaganda, which liberals consider to be patriotic. Go team!!!

Socialism Alive and Well

State Senator Liz Krueger, D-NY, has a novel idea. Why not bail out people who can't afford their mortgages?

Why not?

The rest of us who can afford our mortgages might as well pay for them, too. This is just one more glimpse into the liberal mind.

Heaven help us.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290593,00.html

Brantley Silent Again

Max Brantley, venerable editor of our local liberal propaganda paper, the Arkansas Times, is always eager to print stories that show that we're losing in Iraq, so I'm surprised that he didn't quote the Baghdad Diarist, an supposedly anonymous soldier in Iraq who has written exposes of the barbarism of American soldiers for the New Republic, another liberal propaganda rag.

In the face of gathering evidence that the Surge is succeeding, it has also come to light that military sources have demonstrated serious inaccuracies of the Baghdad Diarist, which have led many to suggest that he is indeed a fraud. No word on this from Max, though. That's funny. He's been eager to trumpet every bit of bad news he can get his hands on our struggle against terrorism. He often eagerly decries any good news as propaganda. So when it becomes apparent that liberals have been manufacturing news it's no surprise that Max hasn't said a word about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/business/media/24mag.html?ei=5065&en=aa816a854ade1ce3&ex=1185854400&adxnnl=1&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1185300395-/+Bang63RBlqkxunzENlkw

Nationwide Primaries---Bad Idea---Unless You're a Fat Cat

People gripe all the time about the Iowa and New Hampshire and other small state's primaries having so much influence on the nation's choice of presidential candidates.

Well, apparently, there's a new poll from the New York Time and CBS News claiming that a majority of Americans want a national primary. Of course the only way to accomplish this would be through federal legislation, which would violate the 10th Amendment. Regardless of its legal problems, though, this would be a blow grassroots campaigns and the base of both parties.

If there were a national primary, the only states that would matter would be the bigger states, but only well-funded campaigns would be able to compete. Winning a small state wouldn't help at all like it can in the current system.

Update: I see that the ArkTimes blog has a post about this in which Max indicates that he's inclined to agree with the majority conclusion. Just a thought, as the world's biggest fan of the Clintons have you considered that Bill Clinton would be a hasbeen former governor if there had been a national primary in 1992?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/poll-one-single-primary/

Patton on the War on Terror

Here's some common sense from the Hereafter.

Click on the link to see what General Patton has to say about the War on Terror.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ

Hillary Not a Liberal?

This is a little more believeable than Hillary's claim in the democrat debate that she's not a liberal.

Of course, many liberals have realized that people knowing who they are is detrimental to their electability. When asked if she would describe herself as a liberal she responded that liberal had a connotation of being for big government. She apparently doesn't want to have that image. Maybe she shouldn't advocate government takeover of 1/7th of the economy if that's the case (socialized medicine).

She prefers to call herself a progressive, claiming the mantle of government regulator Teddy Roosevelt and liberals of his era, who didn't go by liberal back then because liberal meant conservative back then.

This is a typical liberal ploy. Change the name to keep people confused. Put lipstick on a pig if you want, and a pink pantsuit, and you've still got a liberal.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/7/24/125521.shtml?s=ic

"Ihre Papiere, bitte...Ahem...Your Papers, Please"

"Just kidding. We already know everything about you."

That's what they'll be saying after they scan your identification chip. Now get back in line and eat your gruel...

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070721/D8QH34P80.html

Democrat Debate

Yawn...

Financial Times Illustrates Ignorance With New Poll

With answers to the questions such as those on the chart to the left the Financial Times, a liberal rag, attempts to affect opinion by showing what a majority of ignorant people apparently think. The simplistic way in which these class warfare laced questions are asked echo the average liberal democrat talking point. These questions and answers illustrate the ignorance of those polled, though I'm sure the average reader of FT thinks they're terribly clever.

The only thing heartening in it all is the disparity in most cases between the opinions of Americans and socialist countries in Europe.

If you wish to wade through this high falutin muck, follow the link down the rabbit hole of effetism. You may have to do so to see a full size version of the graph.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2a735dd0-3873-11dc-bca9-0000779fd2ac.html

This Pretty Much...

...says it all.

Rankings the Possible GOP Opponents for Mark Pryor

1. Steve Stephens, philanthropist
2. Mike Huckabee, former governor
3. Jim Lagrone, retired pastor/former candidate for AR Sec of State
4. Bud Cummins, former U.S. Attorney
5. Steve Womack, mayor of Rogers
Stay tuned this week as I analyse the chances of these guys.
In the meantime, let me know your thoughts.

ACLU/Brantley Take First Step in March Against Death Penalty

Max Brantley, as well as the Arkansas Times itself and the NWA Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, has signed on with the ACLU to sue the Arkansas Department of Corrections in federal court, claiming that their 1st and 14th Amendment rights are being violated by not being allowed to witness all of the steps leading up to the execution of prisoners.

Being somewhat familiar with these amendments, I, nonetheless, felt compelled to reacquaint myself with them. Having reread them, it is clear that this is just one more attempt to cause the U.S. Constitution to be a Living Document. There is nothing in either the 1st or the 14th Amendment that has any bearing on the right to witness the following:

"connecting special monitoring equipment to the prisoner, placing the prisoner in restraints, inserting the shunts that are used to administer the fatal drug combination, and the inmate's ceremonial final steps into the execution chamber."

That was taken directly from Brantley's filing.

More:

"17. On information and belief, the Defendant does not allow the public and media witnesses to view an execution in its entirety. Specifically, witnesses are not allowed to see or hear the condemned take his final steps into the execution chamber..."

I'm not sure when walking to an execution became an actual part of an execution, any more than walking onto a baseball field is part of the actual game. They go on to explain that they should be allowed to witness the set up of various apparatuses to administer the lethal injection to the condemned, claiming, somehow, that they have the right to witness it as part of the execution. Again, is putting on gear part of a baseball game. An execution, strictly speaking, isn't the tying of a noose. It is the fall when the trap door is released. Such is the same in the case of lethal injection.

Why are these esteemed organizations and Max so interested in this? I can only assume that they're looking for a chink in the system of capital punishment to challenge it, eventually, in federal court. Otherwise, this is a pretty silly thing to complain about.

Evidence? Well, in the filing, they go to great length to explain that there is no established procedure for several medical procedures carried out in the setup, such as finding a vein for intravenous injection when the antecubital fossae, corners of the elbows, are not suitable. What they appear to be attempting to establish is that, since this could be painful, if several attempts are required, it could be construed as cruel, and possibly unusual, punishment, especially since medical personnel do not perform the procedure. They even go so far as to describe the executioners as lay executioners, which could be an attempt to establish another end run, requiring that physicians administer executions, something which some physicians have balked at, claiming that it violates the dictum "primum non nocere", first, do no harm, that physicians swear by.

More evidence. Read the comments of Max's usual readers. They sure seem to think it's a step toward ending the death penalty.

Watch this case and see if they don't assert much the same as I have, especially if they pass the first hurdle in the Eastern District federal court. This is a test case for overturning the death penalty on the federal level.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/executions_in_arkansas.aspx#comments

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Apparently, the number one movie over the weekend was about 2 NYC Firefighters who pretend to be gay to get benefits.

The number 2 movie starred John Travolta in drag.

Good grief. Where's John Wayne when we need him?

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/chuck-larry-beats-harry-and-hairspray/

Run For the Border

At least somebody's doing something about it.

"Sheriff unveils migrant hotline"

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0721hotline0721.html

Obama Wants Big O for Kindergarteners---NAMBLA Cheers

Speaking of perverts...
Looks like Dateline: To Catch a Predator will be working overtime when NAMBLA hears about this.
Apparently, Barack Hussein Obama thinks sex education for kindergarten children is the "right thing to do". This guy wants to be president. That's a liberal for ya.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/07/sex-ed-for-kind.html

Gay Democrats

The big 3 democrats, Hillary, Obama, and Edwards, have agreed to a debate on gay issues on August 9.

As if the democrats weren't gay enough.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56601

Congress Hits All Time Low

With Harry Reid's latest Night of the Undead stunt in the senate and Nancy Pelosi's pro-surrender stunts in the house the democrat leadership has sucked the life out of congress.

It's kind of funny, while they were trumpeting the president's low approval rating they were flying past him into the depths of low approvals.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070718/us_nm/usa_politics_poll_dc_2

Murtha: Abscam II?

John Murtha, the corrupt opponent of American military victory, has sponsored a $ 1 million earmark for an organization that apparently didn't exist. It later turned out that another organization, a non-profit, was the beneficiary of our tax dollars. It turns out that this non-profit has donated $7,000 to Murtha's campaign. Hmmmm....

Kinda reminds me of Abscam.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0707/Whats_in_your_wallet.html

Muslim Congressman Compares President to Hitler

Keith Ellison, D-MN, this week compared President Bush to Adolf Hitler. Ellison, who is the first muslim member of Congress, is pictured on the left with Nancy Pelosi swearing him in on the Koran.

I guess they didn't teach history in his madrasa. Muslim dictators who actually resemble Hitler's actions get a pass from this kook, though.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/14/wbush114.xml

Global Warming on Venus

Greedy industrialists, not satisfied just to destroy the Earth, have successfully set Venus on fire.

Just kidding, I'm not exactly sure who caused the global warming on Venus. There aren't any evil capitalists there to do it, but somehow it's being used to suggest that we are destroying the Earth.

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/U/ukweather2080/guides/planets.html

Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Policy at CUNY

Charlie Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been pushing for tax increases in a misguided, claimed attempt to curb federal deficits. Meanwhile, he's also proposed a $2 million earmark for Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Policy at City University New York. Hmmm...

He's not the only democrat who has quickly abandoned calls to end earmarks that helped them win elections in 2006. Hillary Clinton has proposed $1 million for a Woodstock rock museum exhibit. California Senator Diane Feinstein wants $750,000 to promote "ocean awareness". Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye wants $34 million for Hawaiian cultural programs including canoe building and archiving folk tales.

http://www.kxmb.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=144512

Abortion International

Amnesty International has a new policy that it doesn't want anyone to know about. From the Weekly Standard story that exposes it:

"Hidden on the members-only section of its website was the announcement of a new policy that condemns as a human-rights violator any country that does not allow broad access to abortion or punishes abortion providers."

Wow. So, killing unborn, defenseless babies is a major goal of an organization which claims to protect human rights...

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/855ecnvv.asp

Moore Lies

While fat cat, socialist Michael Moore is free to travel the world, receiving accolades from his acolytes, Cuban doctors sent by their government to Venezuela are defecting left and right. Risking life and limb, these doctors are taking the opportunity to cross into neighboring Colombia where they are petitioning for Visas to America.

Funny, don't they know they have to pay for health care here?

I thought Cuba was a utopia. Why would these doctors want to escape? For that matter, why do so many other Cubans try to escape? I guess Moore doesn't realize, or, more likely, he does, that slave owners have a vested interest in giving their slaves free health care. In reality, these slaves, the Cuban people, pay for it with their blood, sweat, and tears. Moore acts like they should be, and are, grateful, while they really yearn for freedom not supposed freebies.

I hope those docs make it to the U.S., where they can practice their special love on the people of America. Maybe they'd like to tell Moore what life is really like in Cuba. They've already said enough by their actions.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/25/MNGN4O8FAC1.DTL

Edwards's Wife Backpeddling on Clinton is a Man Comment

Although she is rather mannish, Elizabeth Edwards has decided that she wishes that she hadn't said so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/nyregion/21edwards.html?ex=1184817600&en=e64baa019a8698b7&ei=5070

Some Real Common Sense

Neil Cavuto responds to one of the ArkTimes' favorite sources, Paul Krugman. Krugman apparently insulted those who don't believe in socialized health care with the same kind of imperious piety we get about global warming. "It's a moral issue." Read, we're immoral because we don't buy into socialism. Good one.

The best question: where would Krugman get his life saving surgery done? The U.S. or Havana? Fidel Castro already answered that when he flew doctors in from Spain for his own surgery. Even he doesn't believe in the superiority of his health care system.

Click on the link for Cavuto's analysis.

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?070907/070907_cav_cavuto&Your_World_Common_Sense&Common%20Sense%3A%207/9&Common%20Sense%3A%207/9&Common%20Sense&-1&Business&147&&&exp

Edwards/Obama Promise Universal Abortion Coverage

Edwards and Obama are really going all out in their pursuit of the radical Left.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-dems18jul18,1,639458.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

More Success in Iraq: al Qaeda in Iraq New # 1 Caught

...nothing about this on ArkTimes. I wonder why.

Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, wow that's a mouthful, has been captured in Iraq. No word from Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi.

Oh, sorry, I forgot. They only talk about negative things.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QF329O0&show_article=1&catnum=2

Night of the Undead

After their anemic political stunt the dems fail to get enough votes. 52-47 was the final count. Way to go, Harry.

NIE: al Qaeda Strengthening---Democrat Response: Surrender

With the National Intelligence Estimate released indicating that al Qaeda is strengthening democrats were jubilant. That's a strange response. Their plan to respond: Surrender.

As the country slept and our troops are fighting half-way around the world democrat senators grandstanded.

Democrats "Honor" Troops By Spitting on Their Sacrifce

In tonight's ongoing political stunt, democrats led by Harry Reid are using our boys in uniform as a political football. Unable to move legislation to force them to surrender they still have to try to satisfy their kook base. So they've organized this all night sit-in, pretending that they have power. They're certainly showing the country with whom they stand on the War on Terror---hint, it's not America and it's certainly not with the troops.

While they're sitting comfortably in Washington questioning the value of our mission our troops are hitting the streets on al Anbar province maintaining the order they've established. Our troops are putting themselves in harm's way for a mission they're willing to sacrifice themselves for while democrat senators back home are puffing themselves up, claiming that they support our troops.

Reid to Serve Up Red Meat for Liberal Kooks

I love this FoxNews.com headline:

Reid Threatens to Keep Senate Up All Night, Republicans Yawn.

Harry Reid, D-NV, has threatened to keep the senate in session all night long in protest of his inability to bring a vote on the floor to force the America to surrender to terrorists in Iraq. It's amazing that he's willing to go to such lengths to defeat his own country, but unwilling to go to any lengths to defend it. This might be an interesting circus to watch, but it surely can't be very heartening to our men in harm's way and shouldn't be to anyone else who isn't a terrorist.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289504,00.html

Well, She is Rather Mannish

Or so says Elizabeth Edwards.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/07/17/elizabeth_edwards/index2.html

That's a Myth Alright

Michael Moore, pictured on the right hypnotizing kooks like Max Brantley, has certainly got his followers gulping down the kool-aid lately.

Brantley veered off the highway of reason again, yesterday (if he was ever on it), with his regurtitation of a new myth that Americans wait longer, or at least as long, as countries with socialized health care. What he fails to mention is the same thing Moore mischaracterizes, that the wait is not to see a doctor, which they get to do. The wait is to receive critical treatment.

An example, I had dinner with a friend recently whose grandmother lives in Germany. She was told by her doctor that she needed to have her knee replaced. The government told her she would have to wait. She's been waiting several years now. On the other hand, in that same time frame, my own grandmother, who lives in America, has had both knees and one hip replaced. Remarkable.

In his propaganda piece Moore asks someone in a Canadian waiting room how long they've been waiting, to which they respond, "ten minutes", or something like that. That flippant and misleading interaction is precisely the same thing that Brantley's story does. So, the real myth was perpetrated by Max Brantley and his great svengali Michael Moore.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/the_health_care_myth.aspx#comments

Brantley Attacks Energy Production, Again

What's new?

Max Brantley has been on a tear lately. Now it's coal he's going after. I guess he took Al Gore's 7 Point Pledge.

The fact is that coal burns cleanly and is very inexpensive. I guess he wants us to pay too much for our utilities.

Seeing a pattern here?

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/boiler_room.aspx#comments

Stock Market Nears 14,000---What Happened to the Recession?

I'm sure the democrats can find some way to show that we're really in the depths of depression. Pay no attention to record low unemployment and continually rising incomes. Now, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average nears its record close, I'm sure there's a dark lining in this silver cloud somewhere for them to find.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=%5EDJI

Steyn Time

Today's column by Mark Steyn. Always a good read.

http://www.nysun.com/article/58455

This is the Modern Democrat Party

Apparently, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA, very proudly said that impeaching President Bush "should be (kept) on the table" on the radio show hosted by some nobody named Ed Schultz. She went on to say that the Bush administration is the "closest we have ever come to a dictatorship."

Apparently, she doesn't know what actual dictators do to people who insult them. She's still drawing breath, last I heard, so she definitely doesn't know much about dictators.

I noticed that she shied away from Schultz's suggestion that she do something about impeaching him, probably because she thought that nobody but liberal kooks would hear her on this nobody's show. The average American wouldn't buy the flimsy reasons she gave for impeaching the president. The democrat led congress is more unpopular than the president. All they've been able to accomplish since they came into power is raising the minimum wage. They can barely tie their shoe laces, but they're great at getting their base riled up.

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/2967.html

"Sorry, Boys, We Got You Conflict Resolution Dolls, Instead"

New Jersey State Senator Nicolas Scutari, a democrat (surprise), has proposed a law banning selling or giving a realistic toy gun to anyone under the age of 18. I've just about had it up to here with these liberals trying to tell people how live their lives.

When I was a kid boys playing with toy guns and bb guns was a rite of passage. With ASU getting rid of the Indians as its mascot I guess playing cowboys and Indians is out, too.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5472003

"I could kill George Bush"---Liberal Audience Chuckles

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Betty Williams, who helped end hostilities between the IRA and Great Britain, said at an event in Dallas this week, "I could kill George Bush", backtracked, then said that if she could kill him non-violently, she would. All this was met with gleeful laughter from her liberal audience. She then babbled on about how the United States Constitution has been destroyed, suggested that it isn't patriotic to love the American flag, and suggested that true patriotism is making sure your neighbor has "a loaf of bread". I've never heard that one, but I don't attend many liberal events. Apparently, she thinks "that's what this country was formed on (sic)." I guess she doesn't know much about America's founding.

If a conservative had said this about Bill Clinton, you can bet that the Arkansas Times would be crying about it. I believe they called us Clinton haters because we wanted to uphold the law. The real hate in this country is coming from liberals.

Check out the link to the Dallas Morning News story and the audio from the event.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-peace_12nat.ART.State.Edition1.43b8067.html

http://www.dallasnews.com/audio/0712bettywilliams1.mp3

Too Much Money---Cry Me a Pipeline

Too much wealth... That's a real problem.

I came across this glittering jewel of ignorance on the ArkTimes blog the other day and I had to comment about it.

"I spent an evening recently with a farmer who'd leased a substantial chunk of mineral rights (at $4,000 per acre) for gas exploration and has already seen completion of some wells. The family has received a tidy windfall and expects a good revenue stream for 30 years.

"But listen to this. The farmer wasn't particularly happy about it all. He worried about the impact on multi-generation farm families and whether that tradition could be ruined by the new money. (Speaking as a native of the SW La. oil patch, I can answer that question: In many cases, yes.)"

Wow, talk about pulling out all the stops in the his personal propaganda attempt to destroy the free market in oil exploration. Max has really outdone himself. He's stretching credulity with this one. Why didn't he suggest to the farmer that he could set up a trust to give away most of the money to some worthy charity? Why? Because Max is interested in highlighting anything that can help minimize the success of exploring our energy potential in Arkansas, I guess. This is the same kind of ignorant babbling he's written about how drilling for natural gas is raping Arkansas.

"He's seen the relatively minor local economic impact, even during heavy exploration, that the transient production workers have had on the local economy, save royalty owners. "

I guess the farmer is just planning on burning all of his money, as, he apparently assumes, will

all the other royalty owners. Does he not realize that he is part of economic impact? What economic impact would there have been if there hadn't been any drilling? None.

"The farmer is a public school backer and a student of politics, too. He knows the gas industry in 2007 tried to hurry through legislation that would have made it far more difficult to recover damages when exploration companies don't properly restore land on which they drilled. He knows that Arkansas collects a pittance of a severance tax on the finite resource being drawn from our ground and then shipped to other states that do collect a reasonable severance tax. He knows that he pays pennies in property tax on land for which he's received hundreds of thousands of dollars in mineral lease money. He knows that the popular governor of Arkansas has said it will be up to somebody else to lead a campaign to do something about the shameful severance tax."

Is he not aware that he is perfectly free to petition for an increase in his property taxes? I seriously doubt he'll do this though. What would the impact have been on his public schools if there hadn't been any oil drilling? Would they have more money? This is such a vapid, pandering attempt at propaganda. I'm sure most of Max's readers are gulping this ignorant kool-aid down, though.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/needed_pr_help.aspx#comments

Interim Report Draws Criticism from Surrendercrats---Surprise, Surprise

While Americans are fighting on foreign soil democrats back home are increasing the drumbeat for surrender, claiming that the way to support the troops is by forcing them to retreat and constantly deny the value of their sacrifice.

The interim report on the Surge in Iraq was released this week. Surprise, surprise, the democrats, and a handful of gutless Republicans, see failure even in victory. The report shows that in the area of security our military's efforts have been overwhelmingly successful. So, what do the pro-American Defeat forces do? They ignore that little bit of information and focus on the goals which haven't been acheived, yet. Of course, they pay no attention to the fact that we had to acheive the security goals before the political situation could stabilize.

A history lesson: I recently watched the History Channel series The Revolution which I Tivoed on Independence Day. It was quite remarkable to be reminded how long our own country struggled to acheive political stability after hostilities had ceased. 9 years... 9 years.

Nowadays, we hear Americans whine and moan about how we can't create instant political stability. But worst of all is the fact that they have no historical perspective on the remarkably low casualties we suffer in this war versus previous conflicts. We've lost around 3,600 Americans in Iraq over the last four years. In most other wars we fought we lost that many in a month or a week or sometimes a day. But liberals, eager to see America lose, quote the number of brave American servicemen who have given their lives as if it is evidence that we are losing. By that standard we almost every other war we've fought by significantly higher margins. In less than 4 years during WWII we lost over 100 times more Americans. Bring that up, though, and you'll treated to the usual statement that this isn't WWII. They're right. In WWII our enemies wanted to conquer territories and rule people. In the War on Terror our enemies want to kill us, all of us, because we exist.

God help us when there are Americans who want to see their own country defeated.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070712/ts_nm/iraq_usa_dc_15

Democrats Pass Measure Calling for U.S. Surrender in Iraq

In a move they surely considered patriotic, democrats in the House passed a measure requiring America to surrender within 120 days. Of course they know that the president will never sign it. It's just an attempt to make their kook base happy. The narrow vote came within days of anti-war kook Cindy Sheehan's announcement that she would challenge democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in the next election if Pelosi doesn't move forward with impeachment proceedings by July 23rd.

I've often said that the democrats are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, they have to appear somewhat sane in front the average American. On the other, they can't win elections without satisfying their kook base. Unfortunately for them, they are going to be forced further and further to the left to do that. Unfortunately for America, things are going to get worse before they get better.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8QBB9H80&show_article=1

Rod Stewart---Class Act

In response to the huge amount of vulgar language used at the recent Live Earth propaganda rally rock legend Rod Stewart has promised that you won't hear any profanity at his upcoming concert in Britain. It's nice to see a few people still have some class.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20070712/ten-stewart-promises-clean-language-at-c-c60bd6d.html

Gore Encore?

On the heels of his Live Earth flop a group of Al Gore's eager followers collected 100,000 signatures on a petition to convince him to run for president. I'm sure Gore thinks this is great, but Hillary must be throwing fits.

Whether Gore actually runs is another story.

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/fishwrap/2007/07/a_draft_al_gore_group_1.html

Smoke Up, Johnny

A new study shows that smoking can help prevent Parkinson's disease, researchers at UCLA School of Public Health reported recently. It has reviewed a number of studies which demonstrate this benefit of smoking.

No word yet on FDA approval for it as a new prescription. It's apparently being held up by studies about pot being used to cure glaucoma. It appears that the meetings to discuss pot are constantly being postponed for a lack of snacks.

Regardless, I doubt you'll hear the friendly folks at theTruth.com trumpeting these findings.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0929083220070709?src=070907_1803_ARTICLE_PROMO_also_on_reuters

Al Gore's 7 Point Plan to Save the World

Al Gore, looking like a brawny, young Gary Cooper in the picture on the left, has a brawny plan to save the world.

Lately, he's been looking more like Gary Coleman than Gary Cooper. But that's not stopping him from pursuing his vigorous plan to save us from ourselves.

Read and enjoy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19502465/

Basic Math, Anyone???

Apparently, math isn't Max Brantley's strong suit. If he thinks healthcare is expensive here, try paying 70% and up in income taxes. I guess Max thinks the money for healthcare in countries with socialized healthcare appears out of thin air. Government bureaucracies in America are a nightmare as it is, imagine if they tried to run our healthcare for us, too.

Healthcare in countries with socialized healthcare isn't free. Those who actually work in these socialist countries pay confiscatory tax rates to pay for it. If we could get an honest look at the actual amount spent per person in these countries for the service they recieve, we would be astounded. Liberals, Max included, have an amazing amount faith in the power of unaccountable bureaucrats telling them what to do about their healthcare and remarkable lack of faith in the free market where they can choose where to receive care.

The real answer why healthcare is so expensive in America is that so many people are not direct consumers of it. Even those with health insurance they pay for don't make the choices consumers make every day. When people don't pay for things out of their own pockets the cost will always rise.

Imagine if we had universal cars, too. Everybody would want a Rolls Royce, instead of what they could afford on their own. As expensive as the system is now, Max cannot comprehend how much it would cost if unaccountable bureacrats were running it, not to mention how pitiful service would become.

I also find it ironic that democrats have been howling about deficit spending, but they're proposing the most expensive entitlement in U.S. history.

ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH...LiveEarth Flops in U.S., Too

Even Al Gore raising his hands and waving them like he just don't care wasn't enough to wake people up from his world wide snooze fest. He claimed in one of his speeches that 2 Billion people were watching around the world (that's billion with a b), just before he instructed everyone to sign a 7 Point Pledge to stop global warming and ManBearPig.

I don't know about you, but that's my favorite part of any concert, the 7 Point Pledge. I love how didactic concert are. I bet the 7 Point Pledge really rocked.

Regarding his claim of 2 Billion viewers, he should have just called it the 2 Billion Person Concert, a la the Million Man and Million Mom March, which claimed a million attendees, even though they actually only drew thousands, not millions, of people. So far, with the U.S. and British TV numbers, it's not looking like Gore acheived his prediction of 2 billion viewers.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia37e17bc1457412e508423123fb19536

Democrats Ignore Iraqi Pleas Against American Surrender

As conservatives have been saying for a while, it would be disastrous if America retreated from Iraq as democrats have been demanding. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is reaching out to American lawmakers, pleading with them to stop pushing for surrender. As usual, he's being shunned and ignored by democrats.

This isn't something you'll read on the ArkTimes blog, for sure.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070709153249.bzbi8lyd&show_article=1

BIG COAL Up In Arms About Gore's Call to Save the World

Pledge #3 of Al Gore's 7 Point Pledge:

"Fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the C02."

While this made for a really fun part of the big Live Earth concert, not every one was dancing to this didactic ditty. The super-rich coal miners' union apparently didn't like it. They're just being selfish, though. They don't want to give up their luxurious F-150s, customized manufactured homes, and designer Carhartt wardrobes.

What did they expect? They've been rolling around like fat cats for centuries. They're making a quick buck by destroying the planet and everybody knows it. It's about time this gravy train came to a screeching halt.

Look forward to more analysis of Al's 7 Point Pledge. In the meantime, enjoy this juicy dish (link below) about how the super-rich are trying to destroy the planet by digging their anthracitic gold mines. They're rolling in the stuff. They just shower it off every day like so much gold dust, while the rest of us are dropping like flies from their death fumes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN0924442620070709?feedType=RSS&rpc=22&sp=true

LiveEarth Tanks on British TV

Apparently, a guy in a suit giving lectures isn't the exciting addition to a rock concert the event's coordinators had hoped. Even when a giant model of the planet ran Gore over, seen in this picture, no one really cared. Most had switched over to reruns of Comic Relief. The rest were asleep.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=467114&in_page_id=1770

Senate UPDATE: Talk of Bud Cummins for Senate Race

Talking with some people in the know today, the name of Bud Cummins came up for a possible '08 opponent to Mark Pryor. It would certainly be interesting. He doesn't have much to lose.

He'd already be Congressman Cummins if it hadn't been for Bill Clinton running for reelection in 1996. Indeed, he's the only Republican to come close to defeating Vic Snyder. Of course it was a vacant seat back then. But he did come very close, close enough that if Clinton hadn't been up for reelection, there wouldn't have been such a high democrat turnout and Cummins would have won.

Cummins distinguished himself as U.S. Attorney over the last 6 years, until he was let go by the White House, along with a handful of other USAs. He's probably a little bitter about the whole thing. Thankfully, he's stated publicly that he still considers himself to be a Republican. I doubt he'll get much support from the White House for the race, though.

Also, he appears to have a friend in Senator Pryor, based on Pryor's energetic support of him during the non-controversy of his and others' termination.

Either way, it's widely thought that Cummins will be running for something sooner or later. If he doesn't run, he has an opportunity now to make a pile of money and run later. He would make an excellent candidate, though. But, given his relations with the White House, this probably isn't the right time for Bud.

Stay tuned for my list of possible GOP candidates for Senate.

Yeah, We're the Kooks

Max Brantley, our dear liberal friend at the ArkTimes blog, posted this earlier today, suggesting that if you support President Bush more after he commuted Scooter Libby's sentence, then you're nuts. This is from a guy who still thinks Bill Clinton is one of the great presidents of our time.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/29_pct_of_us_voters_are_nuts.aspx#comments

Iranian News Service Echoes Democrats

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I came across this on the internet today. It appears that Iran agrees with American Democrats.

http://www.presstv.ir/sections.aspx?sectionid=3510203

That's the U.S. news page on an official Iranian news service called PressTV. These news stories could have been copied off the Arkansas Times blog. It's remarkable that a news service of a state sponsor of terrorism sounds just like the average American liberal. More to come on this.

You can visit the main page at http://www.presstv.ir/

The Rape of Arkansas?

No, that isn't an awesome deer stand. It's a tower of iniquity and greed.

The ArkTimes blog posted a story recently, linked below, suggesting that Arkansas is being raped.

How, you might ask?

Because there is no severance tax on natural gas being drilled in Arkansas.

Can you believe it? Money is apparently being made and the government isn't getting any of it, well, aside from income and property taxes, or perhaps the sales taxes from goods and services bought with this ill-gotten money, I guess. He doesn't mention those taxes.

How dare?

The government is supposed to get a cut of every dime made in this state, right?

Wrong. For once, can we stop piling taxes on top of every productive enterprise in the state? I guess Max thinks our state can tax its way to wealth. We continue to experience budget surpluses, but all liberals see is "rich" people raping the state.

Does Max offer a rationale for this? Yes, he suggests that without a severance tax the landowners/mineral rights owners and the drillers will become rich. How dare they? Of course, to Max's liberal way of thinking, where the "rich" just burn the extra money they get so that no poor people will get it, this is the end of the story. He never avers that the families earning these royalties might do something with their new-found money, like build a new house, buy a new car, start a new business, give to their church or some other worthy charity, buy groceries, or a million of the other things that people do with their money, all of which helps employ people. No, to Max the only way to stop bad things from happening is for the state to tax this filthy lucre.

This is just one more typically uneducated liberal rant, illustrating an utter lack of understanding of basic economics.

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2007/07/the_rape_of_arkansas.aspx

Steyn Weighs in on Iran

Mark Steyn has an excellent piece on how the West is perpetuating the problem with Iran.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/450356,CST-EDT-steyn01.article

Lieberman May Back Republican in '08

Joe Lieberman, who, at last count, was the only democrat senator with any guts, before they forced him out of the party, stated recently that he hasn't ruled out supporting a Republican for president in 2008.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0537974820070705?feedType=RSS&rpc=22&sp=true

LiveEarth Serves Record Amount of Green Kool-Aid

As Algore's bands of followers gulped down record amounts of his green Kool-Aid at yesterday's LiveEarth propaganda concert, a more important piece of news went unnoticed. Gore, who's made millions of dollars promoting his ManBearPig boogeyman, turned down a paltry $10,000 bet offered by University of Pennsylvania Professor Scott Armstrong that global warming won't come to be. Gore, who has refused every single challenge to debate, instead, has suggested that questioning him is tantamount to denying the Holocaust. To him and his hysterical followers there is no debate, only their all too convenient "truth".

http://newsbusters.org/node/13662

No answers are offered to the constant flow of refutations to Gore's claims, such as the recent explanation of Mount Kilimanjaro's shrinking glacier, the inconvenient truth that carbon is biproduct of global warming, not a cause, and many more.

Too Tough for France---That's Not Surprising

Came across something shocking in the Times of London. Apparently, lefties in France think jogging is too individualistic. It seems their new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, enjoys jogging, which is viewed as right wing, competitive, individualistic, gasp, American. To add insult to injury, he's been known to wear an NYPD t-shirt, an obvious reference to 9/11, America, and toughness, in general. He's also stated recently that he identifies more with American culture than with most other cultures.

The inane lengths to which these liberals go to explain the evils of jogging are mesmerizing. Witness the following:

“Western civilisation, in its best sense, was born with the promenade. Walking is a sensitive, spiritual act. Jogging is management of the body. The jogger says I am in control. It has nothing to do with meditation."

What a bunch of weirdos.

Typical liberals, they're so judgmental and always want to tell everyone how to live. So, apparently being active and energetic is conservative...while being lazy and lolly gagging is liberal... I'll buy that. It's similar to how liberals hate Wal-Mart because it's too productive and they admire over-priced boutique stores where everything takes longer and systematic productivity is frowned upon. Or, gasp, like successful, hard-working people versus starving artists.

Check out story on the jump. There's a great comment from a Brit who couldn't believe this, either, but finally realized that the France is the same country that thinks snails are a delicacy.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2022804.ece

Camerexico, Amexinada???

Just a couple of suggestions for our new country.

The Center for Strategic & International Studies, "a powerful think tank chaired by former Sen. Sam Nunn and guided by trustees including Richard Armitage, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Harold Brown, William Cohen and Henry Kissinger, is in the final stages of preparing a report to the White House and U.S. Congress on the benefits of integrating the U.S., Mexico and Canada into one political, economic and security bloc."

The report, which will be in English, French, and Spanish, will outline this super duper plan. It's about time the U.S. learned a few lessons from Mexico and Canada about how to run a country.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55830

If anyone has some other ideas for names for this super duper country, please let me know.

"Bob Barker! It's Bob Barker!"---Oh, it's Just Bill

Bill Clinton, pictured on the left, upset that he didn't get a part in Happy Gilmore. The part went to Bob Barker, instead. Check the story on the jump about Clinton being mistaken for Bob Barker!

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/05/news/clinton.php

Juan Williams on Affirmative Action

Juan Williams, FoxNews and NPR commentator, is one of the few liberals who is honest about the destructive nature of affirmative action. He's in an even smaller group as one of the few black liberals to support the recent Supreme Court decision on the subject.

His column, reprinted on the blog linked to here, is one of the most honest looks you'll find. The ArkTimes blog has the usual knee jerk liberal response.

http://cobb.typepad.com/cobb/2007/07/juan-williams-o.html

Arkansas Boy Makes Good

Jon Gilmore, who's been a standout at the RPA over the last few years is going to work for the RNC. Gilmore, who also served as an intern at the White House, is a protege of Karl Rove protege and former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin. Griffin made a name for himself as Deputy Research Director for the RNC in 2000, focusing on op research against Algore.

Gilmore follows spit and polish Clint Reed, former RPA ED, who went to the RNC earlier this year. Gilmore was Director of Research for the RPA, where he distinguished himself researching Mike Beebe in the past election.

Fred Ties Hillary in Head to Head Poll

A new Rasmussen poll has Fred Thompson tied with Hillary Clinton.

That's good news, considering how recently Thompson hit the campaign trail. Hillary's been campaigning on the national scene for years now. Until the last few months, very few people even knew who Thompson was.

Things can't be going well for Clinton since she's had to break Bill out of the "In Case of Emergency" box this early. Being outdone in fundraising by a nobody (Clinton perspective) like Barack Obama isn't helping. But it has to be frustrating for Clinton to be in a dead heat with someone who hasn't even broken a sweat.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/7/6/125307.shtml?s=lh

Huckabee Running...For Democrat Nomination???

Mike Huckabee spoke yesterday at a hot spot for presidential hopefuls---democrat presidential hopefuls, that is---the convention of the National Education Association (NEA).

I'm not sure what Huckabee thought he'd gain from it. He received a glowing review in the NEA's press release. Glowing reviews from the teacher's union, one of the most liberal democrat front groups in the country isn't exactly a good way garner support in the Republican primary. If he was a serious contender, I could see an opponent using that against him the next debate. It will probably fall by the wayside, though, given his pitiful showing so far.

In a state where Republicans ought to be loyal to one the few Republicans to hold an important office Huckabee has relatively few supporters among the rank and file. Indeed, in a recent unscientific poll done by David Sanders, only one Republican legislator claimed unqualified support for the former governor. One more offered qualified support. It's not surprising, though. While many grassroots Republicans have long felt betrayed by Huckabee's repeated dismissals of conservative principals, legislators have experienced Huckabee's imperious attitude first hand. Rarely did he ever invite lowly legislators to advise him or even to meet with him. Usually, when they did meet with him it was to be scolded or instructed to vote for other than conservative, a la his Smoking Ban. So it's little wonder that Huckabee has very little support from the average Republican in Arkansas.

How does this translate to the national scene. Candidates can almost always count on their home state for critical support, in fundraising and volunteer work, especially. Recall what it was like when Bill Clinton was running in 1992. The atmosphere around the state was electric and he was hardly a front runner early on. Talk to an Arkansan, even the most rabid politico, about presidential politics, today, and Huckabee's name probably won't come up at all.

So what does Huckabee do in an environment like this? He can't count on much support from back home and he's been outed in many conservative circles around the country as the tax and spend, nanny state governor he was. If, say, Rudy had a lock on the nomination, I might be inclined to suggest that Huckabee had a shot of becoming the Veep nominee to help balance the ticket, geographically and on issues such as life, gay marriage, and the 2nd Amendment. With Fred Thompson's star quickly rising, having filled the void the had existed in the primary for a true conservative with main stream appeal, that chance is quickly fading.

So, Huckabee's best chance is, in reality, to attempt to duplicate John McCain's 2000 status as a maverick. The liberal media was only too eager to talk him up since he was happy to insult the Republican base as evangelical kooks. So Huckabee can certainly gain some of the national spotlight he craves so much by going against his party. He doesn't have much to lose.

Breck Girl Gets $1,250 Haircut

Joseph Torrenueva, the Breck Girl's (ahem, John Edwards) hairdresser, stated recently that one of haircut for the then vice presidential candidate Edwards cost $1,250. At last visit, mine cost $15 plus a $2 tip I gave the barber. I've been told that I have very nice hair.

Talk about 2 Americas. It looks like Edwards is living in the Rich America.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401258_pf.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqqa-tVQ5c

Possible Mark Pryor Opponents for '08

Rumors aside about Senator Mark Pryor drawing primary opposition from multi-millionaire, Lite Gov. Bill Halter, I've been hearing rumors about possible Republican opponents.

The most obvious one is soon-to-be failed presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. It doesn't look good for Hope's (distant) second most famous son in any polls.

He's probably the most obvious choice to oppose Pryor because few Republicans have his name ID. Unfortunately, few Republicans could probably draw a more anemic response from their own party. But Huckabee really has nothing to lose by running.

The Times blog mentioned John Boozman. If I were to advise him, I wouldn't give up the sure thing he has going for the remote chance that any challenger will unseat Arkansas's favorite ping pong ball. He has too much to lose with no upside.

No, what we need right now is a Republican dark horse who can finance his own campaign, say to the tune of $3-5 million. That significantly reduces the list of potentials.

There are, of course, the typical wannabes, for whom political office is a way of life. One of them might be able to emerge and mount a serious effort if only the RPA had any sort of organization in place.

Alas, our farm team is probably too weak. But I'll keep my ear to the ground on this, because it could be an important race for '08. A strong turnout could help a Republican presidential contender. Arkansas will be a battleground state.

Expect an anemic 40%er, though. That's what we always seem to get. I'll be exploring the reasons for this in future posts. Until then, enjoy the humidity.

Bumper Sticker Coming to Life in Great Britain...Not Mentioned on the ArkTimes Blog

The Trial Lawyer in Chief, aka the Breck Girl, cleverly stated recently that the "war on terror is a bumper sticker."

Looks like that bumper sticker is coming to life in Great Britain, where radical muslims used car bombs in at least two failed attempts to inflict massive casualties in London and Glasgow.

I note with little surprise that our neighborhood liberal blog, the Arkansas Times, has yet to mention either incident, even incidentally. I say with little surprise because it fits their formula, as stated by John Edwards, that the War on Terror is a political machination.

I guess the terrorists didn't get the memo.

Al Gore's Son Arrested for DUI

At least he was driving a Prius.

He could have killed a family in a minivan, but he's serious about saving the environment.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070704214356.5h399sqm&show_article=1

You can bet that if this was one of President Bush's daughters, you'd hear about it on the Arkansas Times blog. Funny, no mention of it, though.

Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor

In case you're wondering what all the hoopla was about today...

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/folder/american_who_risked_everything_1.guest.html

Freedom Endures...

Today we remember and honor those fighting to keep us free, who are in harm's way even as we gather with family and friends for hot dogs and fireworks.

And with that, it is with great pleasure today that I bring you the inaugural posting of the Arkansas Journal, Arkansas's Conservative Blog.