Sanders on Beebe---For Once, I Have to Disagree

David Sanders' latest column leads me to disagree with him for the first time in a while.

Entitled "Beebe Shootin' Straight", it covers 3 issues on which David contends Beebe hasn't tried to ride the fence. The problem isn't that Beebe rides the fence on all issues, just on the controversial issues.

The 3 issues David covers are the grocery tax, the severance tax, and illegal immigration. What he says is that on these issues Beebe took or has taken clear positions. I'll take them one at a time. In all of the issues, he takes a position which is easy to take, because his position is either popular or not as controversial or his position doesn't really affect policy.

The grocery tax: it's true that he took a clear position on it, but his position was a gimme because cutting the grocery tax is something everyone could get behind. We had a surplus, so it wasn't like libs in the Ledge could trot in poor, single mothers whose program would be cut. On the contrary, it helped poor, single mothers and rich, married mothers, pretty much everybody who buys groceries, which is pretty much everybody. It's the first tax cut in history where I didn't have to argue with the readers of the Arkansas Times blog. That should tell you something.

The severance tax: I have spoken with many friend about this lately who think this is an easy position for Beebe, too, because how many of you own or know somebody who owns a shale oil lease or mineral rights on land with natural gas? Probably not many of you. One of my friends called it the divide and conquer method of taxation. They come for us one at a time. Notice that when a tax is cut it affects us all, which maximizes the political gain for Beebe, but when one is raised it, quite by design, affects a small, "wealthy" group that almost nobody knows, which minimizes the political loss for Beebe. And it's a group with no lobby, or at least a very limited lobby, at the Capitol, since shale oil and natural gas have only recently become profitable enough ventures in Arkansas. This is a highly sophisticated issue where the only people other than the land owners and the drillers who oppose it will be fiscal conservatives who are paying attention, like me, and that's not very many people.

Illegal immigration: If you read what Beebe said, he actually didn't say anything that will affect a change in policy. In fact, he said the opposite. So, on one hand, Beebe gave lip service to what the average Arkansan thinks, while, on the other, he stated that he's not going to do anything about it. The governor was pretty clever with this one. He said, "what are we doing on the state level? Absolutely nothing, because it would violate federal law, or at least it would open the state up to paying monies that we could never afford with regard to illegal immigrants." Then he threw us some red meat by saying, "if it is illegal, it means it's illegal." He essentially advocates the same fallacious legal argument that the "Arkansas Friendship Coalition" propogates.

In all three cases, the positions he has taken were pretty easy. His risk profile is very low on all three. The grocery tax was something everybody benefits from, while the severance tax increase is something that only affects some obscure group of greedy oil barons (In actuality, it mostly affects people who have owned relatively valueless land for generations, but most people don't own more than a quarter acre with no mineral rights, so who cares, right?) . His position on illegal aliens is perhaps his most tortured, but it doesn't affect existing policy while telling us what we want to hear. Of all the issues the immigration issue will prove the hardest position to maintain, but it's his best possible position because he gets to look like he cares while telling us that he can't do anything about it. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Arkansas Friendship Coalition" wasn't organized for that exact purpose, to give cover for politicians who don't have the guts to take a position one way or another. Blame it on their stupid, fallacious legal argument that, 'hey, I'd like to do something, but I just can't, legally."

Watch and see.

On all of these issues, Governor Beebe has calculated for himself the best possible position, with the least downside. So, as much as I hate to disagree with you, David, he has actually proven himself to be more risk-averse and not less. Please keep in mind that David Sanders is probably the best political columnist in the state. I just happen to disagree with him, today.

Here's the link to Sanders' column.

Huckabee's Willie Horton---The Ghost of Wayne Dumond

Huckabee strongly advocated the release of convicted rapist, Wayne Dumond. His involvement is vast and well-documented. Now he's trying to blame the parole board.

“I signed the [parole] papers because the governor wanted Dumond paroled. I was thinking the governor was working for the best interests of the state.”—Ermer Pondexter, ex-member of the board of pardons and paroles

This from a special in the Arkansas Times from 2005.

The story goes on to document that the parole board at first denied parole to Dumond after Huckabee had made overtures that he wanted Dumond to be paroled. The vote of 4-1 came on August 29, 1996.

On September 20, 1996, Huckabee, who now blames the parole board and claims no responsibility, "announced his intention to commute Wayne Dumond’s sentence to time served."

Huckabee waited until 4 days before his period for consideration of Dumond's clemency was to expire. On that day, the parole board did something unprecedented. Responding to pressure from the governor's office, they held a vote on Dumond's case nearly 7 months before his next parole hearing should have been. This time they voted in favor of parole.

So now Huckabee is blaming the parole board, as if he had no involvement. He sounds like Sergeant Schultz from Hogan's Heroes---"I know nuthink. I see nuthink..."

This is the same thing he's trying to do with the 1999 Highway Tax---blame it on someone else. We should just ignore the fact that it was his idea.

Huckabee denied Dumond a pardon, fearing a public backlash, in the exact same manner that he avoided pushing a tax increase that he would have to sign in favor of pushing it in a ballot initiative, so that the people of Arkansas would be responsible, not the governor who wanted the tax increase to begin with.

To drive the point home that it doesn't matter whether Dumond's parole was due to Huckabee or not, he wanted Dumond released. The following is a portion of a letter by Huckabee to Dumond denying his request for a pardon. Note that Huckabee clearly states that he wants Dumond set free.

“Dear Wayne,” Huckabee wrote, “I have reviewed your applications for executive clemency, specifically a commutation and/or pardon. ... My desire is that you be released from prison. I feel now that parole is the best way for your reintegration into society. ... Therefore, after careful consideration ... I have denied your applications.”

Huckabee stated the following in a statement released after Dumond's parole. He emphasized that he was glad that Dumond had been released.

"I concur with the board’s action and hope the lives of all those involved can move forward. The action of the board accomplishes what I sought to do in considering an earlier request for commutation ...In light of the action of the board, my original intent to commute the sentence to time served is no longer relevant."

One thing is for sure. If Dumond hadn't had the support of the governor, he wouldn't have had a special parole hearing only 5 months after his last vote. It would have been 7 months later at the earliest, as is standard procedure for the parole board.

Here's the link to the new AP story about Huck trying to distance himself from Dumond.

Here's the link to the Arkansas Times story. Some of the text is covered by ads because of a format change.

I Almost Forgot, Happy Halloween

Here's a scary thought.

PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON!!!

We have one year and four days to keep that from happening.

Stretched Too Thin?

Came across this interesting article from Rob Moritz at Arkansas News the other day.

It looks at all the projects Family Council is taking on. The question is whether they can handle all of it. Frankly, having seen them operate and knowing them for years, I thinks it's kind of a funny question. Like some other grassroots conservative organizations, they seem to thrive on a shoe string operation.

Here's the link.

Another Hillyer Response

Here's another response by Quin Hillyer to Huckabee, written since Fund's column. Sorry this is coming so late, but it's well worth reading.

Here's the link.

Pardoned, On and Off Ex-Con Archie Schaffer Leads Motley "Arkansas Friendship Coalition" to Save Illegal Aliens with ACLU and Big Business at His Side

Speaking of illegal aliens.

Andrew DeMillo accurately describes the motley gang that makes up the "Arkansas Friendship Coalition" (AFC) as an "unlikely alliance". That's putting it very mildly. The group includes Stephens, Inc., Alltel, Tyson, the ACLU, Judge Wendell Griffen, and various churches.
Their purpose?

To oppose any effort to deal with the illegal alien problem in Arkansas.

They are falsely claiming that only Congress can deal with illegal aliens, as if giving welfare to illegal aliens has anything to do with literal immigration policy. This is a tired gambit used by the Rita Sklar, regularly.

The problem with this ploy is, at least, two-fold. First, it's a deliberate attempt to confuse people into thinking they can't do anything, even though there has never been a successful case against a state for making such policy. Second, it is completely fallacious. As I stated earlier, denying taxpayer funded benefits to illegal aliens does not amount to literal immigration policy, which is the purview of Congress, such as establishing limits on and qualifications for legal entry into the country.

The group has already admitted that their opposition extends to the use of the state police, trained by ICE, to help enforce federal interdiction of illegal aliens, which by the AFC's own definition is an activity authorized by the United States Congress.

This just further illustrates the disengenuous nature of this gang. They drape themselves in a psuedo-legal argument, when their true intention is simply to keep the people of Arkansas from doing anything about this epidemic of illegal aliens.

It's obvious what the motivations of most of parties are. Tyson, obviously, employs a large number of Mexicans, many of whom, it is alleged, are illegal aliens. Stephens, no doubt, has significant investments to consider, in companies that depend on a cheap labor force. Alltel is somewhat of a mystery. As I asked yesterday, if these big businesses are so interested in a cheap labor force, why don't they foot the bill for all the benefits they want us to pay for?

As for the ACLU, Griffen, and the gaggle of churches, which includes the usual suspects of do-gooder, liberal churches, are motivated by typical liberal gobbledegook. The Catholic churches serve the Mexican community and are probably the only party in the fold motivated by purely altruistic, if misguided, motives.

The AFC gang is led by Tyson Exec. and nephew of Dale Bumpers Archie Schaffer. Pardoned by Bill Clinton after being convicted for attempting to bribe Clinton Sec. of Agriculture Mike Espy, Schaffer's conviction was subsequently overturned, a literally unprecedented occurrence. Schaffer's uncle, Dale Bumpers, raised money for Clinton's library, which might be called a conflict of interest, but Clinton's associates have always been thick as theives.

This is a bad, bad development for Arkansas. Like any group which has to name itself something so ridiculous, this gang is very dangerous to the interests of the Arkansas taxpayer.

Here's the link to DeMillo's story for the AP.
Here's the link to Doug Thompson's story from the Arkansas News Bureau.
Here's the link to Max's sycophantic review.

P.S. I highly recommend the AP and Arkansas News stories because it appears that we have legislator with some guts who's sticking up for us.

UPDATE: Scoop---Fund Column Fallout---Huck Called Hagan After Fund Column

QUESTION: Since Mike Huckabee called Betsy Hagan on Friday to try to smooth things over with her, why didn't he do that years ago when he didn't need her?

ANSWER: He didn't do that precisely because he only cares about making things right with people when he needs their help.

---

As far as I know, I am the first to bring this to you.

I have it on good authority from several sources that Mike Huckabee personally called Betsy Hagan of Eagle Forum of Arkansas on Friday. The call lasted about an hour. Huckabee was apparently trying to smooth over relations with Eagle Forum, which have been strained for years as a result of his liberal governance. Perhaps it was an attempt to charm Hagan into changing her tune, but I'm told that, though the call was cordial, she saw no reason to do anything other than tell the truth about his record.

I don't have any word on whether he called Randy Minton. The two have never had good relations, given Minton's staunch opposition to Huckabee's liberal agenda.

The Huckabee campaign has been in damage control mode ever since the Fund column hit on Friday. It couldn't have come at a worse time. The latest polls were just showing him entering range of the top tier candidates, when columns from Fund, Quin Hillyer, and David Sanders broadsided him.

A minister should know this...be sure your sins will find you out. It was just a matter of time before Huckabee's liberal record would come to haunt him. Like Banquo's ghost, Mike can expect his record to follow him around until Republican primary voters the country over know that there's more to Mike Huckabee than the smooth talking charmer they see on TV.

Also, there are some interesting comments on Lucas Roebuck's "rebuttal" post, if you care to wade through the muck. Here's the link.

Robert Goulet: 1933-2007

Hi, Guy, indeed. Now, it's goodbye, Guy.

I just saw that crooner Robert Goulet passed away, today, at the age of 73.

I leave you with this prehumous tribute from Will Ferrell. Here's the link.

Returning the Favor

Just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation, Steve, and return the favor.

"Rep. Bubba Powers responds to rumors that SWEPCO paid him to attend PSC hearings. Also, if you're looking for another site to frequent, try Arkansas Journal."

That was from Steve Harrelson's clearinghouse of a blog, UndertheDome.com, which is a great source for almost everything that's newsworthy in Arkansas. He also has much better graphics than I do.

Here's the link.

How Appropriate: Clooney to Play Blue Helmet Version of GI Joe

It's very appropriate that a guy who only wants us to fight wars where we have no national interest is slated to play Duke in the new GI Joe movie, where the Joes are no longer Real American Heroes, but blue helmet wearing, UN-type commie punks.

Here's the link.

More Thoughts on Hillyer on Huck

Quin Hillyer, formerly of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, had an excellent article in the American Spectator earlier this week chronicling Huckabee's missteps and foibles, such as his run-ins with the state Ethics Commission and use of taxpayer money to buy food for personal use. Being reminded of that gem brings a smile to my face. At one point one of his sons, John Mark or David, obviously, was asked by a reporter about a receipt from Taco Bell for $7 (I think) that had been listed as a Governor's Mansion expense, to which he responded, "there's not a Huckabee alive who could eat at Taco Bell for $7.

Here's Hillyer's original article, again.

Here's a typical Huckabee apologist response, which, I note, much like Roebuck's, cries foul about inaccuracies and then proceeds to change the subject rather than address the inaccuracies. The response is from Huckabee's campaign manager, Chip Saltsman.

Some of the best stuff includes his contention that Huckabee turned down "2/3" of all pardon requests, which means that he approved 1/3! 1/3, can you believe that? Talk about a lack of faith in Arkansas' criminal justice system. If he had said something like Huckabee turned down 1/20 of all pardon requests, and it had been true, that would have been something, but I wouldn't have even brought it up if he approved 1/3.

Saltsman also complains that Huckabee couldn't cut spending except in the 10% area that wasn't important. Well...why didn't he? As for the notion that he couldn't cut other spending, that's a joke. I've seen how our state government functions and it's worse than a sausage factory. It's just like any other bureaucracy. Profits are not a good thing, because that means you're going to get your budget cut. So, naturally, department heads spent everything they had and then asked for a budget increase. All except for one, Bruce Campbell, who was head of Rural Services. Campbell, somehow, was able to turn in budget requests less than previous years and spend less money. How could that be? Because he ran his department like a business and was more interested in doing the right thing than getting a budget increase. Campbell, you might have guessed, was not a Clinton holdover and wasn't asked to stay on by our new democrat governor.

As for gifts...I don't know if he ever accepted any "illegal" gifts, but it's a fact that he tried to keep furniture donated to the Governor's Mansion, that they opened a "wedding registry" decades after they were married to stock their new house, and that he received thousands and thousands of dollars in gifts from various people, most notably Little Rock's own Jennings Osborne, who kept Huckabee in high style for years. Whether any of those publicly known gifts were illegal doesn't really matter. There's no difference between that and handing him piles of unmarked, non-sequential bills. Just because Arkansas's ethics requirements aren't higher doesn't mean that it isn't wrong.

Here's the link to the Saltsman response and, even better, Hillyer's response to the response. There's lots of fun stuff to dig through.

Beebe on Illegal Aliens

Gov. Mike Beebe last week spoke to students at UCA, stating, "if it is illegal, it means illegal," in reference to illegal aliens. Apparently, he opposes paying for scholarships and giving illegal aliens in state tuition. That sounds good.

Now it's time to pursue that further and see how far he's willing to go. I'd bet that this is a calculated position. Since no Republican is going to force his hand on that issue since it's already illegal in Arkansas he doesn't have to do anything about that anyway. But when it comes to things we might try to make illegal, that's when the rubber meets the road. I'm really interested to see what he'll do when he is presented with legislation to make it illegal to give all other state benefits to illegal aliens. If previous reaction is any indicator, he'll be on the wrong side of that exchange.

The governor has a very tortured position on many things. To maintain his image as a moderate, he has to give lip service to some things and take positions on others. But he'd much rather avoid taking a position at all any controversial position. This is his greatest weakness. It's the greatest weakness of anyone who is moderate by design. If we are ever to succeed against democrats who triangulate, we have to force the debate on pivotal issues.

Here's a link to the AP article about the governor's comments.

The Problem with Diplomacy

First of all, the President has been doing a diplomatic full court press for the last several years with North Korea and Iran. Look where that's gotten us, about as far as the UN got with Saddam. If they don't know that we're serious, they don't have any reason to negotiate.

The worst thing about the aggrandizement of diplomacy by liberals is that they're such miserable failures at it. Think about it. If diplomacy is the solution to international terrorism and murderous dictators, with whom the average American, including liberals, has almost nothing in common, then why doesn't it work with conservative Americans, with whom liberals have a lot more in common?

Honestly, how can they expect people who want to kill us to be reasoned with if they can't persuade conservatives and all we want is lower taxes (and a few other things)? They talk about diplomacy like they are God's gift to persuasion. Heaven help us that so many people buy the stupidity these people are selling.

The Many Faces of Mike Huckabee

I see that our former governor is being shown for who he really is. This time it's in the American Spectator where the Huckster's true nature is outed.

I don't know how I missed this one, too. But the DemGaz apparently did an analysis of Huckabee's tax record and concluded with the following, Mike Huckabee left Arkansas with a "net tax increase of $505 million, a figure adjusted for inflation and economic growth, according to the [Arkansas] Department of Finance and Administration."

That from a story in the Washington Times that Max was kind enough to link to. It also quotes Randy Minton, who is quickly becoming a home town foe for Huckabee on the national scene.

Here's the link to the Spectator story and the link to the Washington Times story.

And here's another link to Brantley who links to a story in the US News and World Report.

Karen Ray Winning Republican Races---UPDATE

UPDATE:
More information about Karen Ray's foray into Louisiana politics: Ray had, apparently, called a meeting of state Republican leaders and missed it to go to Louisiana. Word is that she upset a number of these leaders by not showing up to her own meeting.
---
Unfortunately, it was in Louisiana. Our own Karen Ray was recently in Louisiana helping Governor-elect Bobby Jindal campaign.

I'm glad he won, but I hope she's working as hard for us.

Big Business Loves Illegal Aliens

Tyson, Alltel, and Stephens, Inc. have formed an alliance with churches and the ACLU. They announced, today, that they will oppose any legislative efforts that target illegal aliens. I can only assume that this includes efforts to limit taxpayer funded benefits for illegal aliens.

I have an idea...if these big businesses like giveaways for illegal aliens, maybe they would like to foot the bill.

There were apparently press conferences in Little Rock and Springdale. Tyson executive Archie Shaffer held the press conference at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.

Is this the same Archie Shaffer who was sentenced to a year in federal prison for attempting to use illegal means to influence Clinton Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy?

More to come on this one, folks. You can bet these businesses are in this for themselves, not out of concern for poor illegal aliens. Tyson? Seriously? We all know that Tyson depends on a cheap labor supply. Why would they be worried about illegal aliens if none worked for them?

In the meantime, here's the link to the AP story.

Speaking of Marines

They've been kicking so much butt in Iraq, they're running out of butts to kick.

Here's some very encouraging news from Anbar. It makes me so proud to be an American to read about the fine job our Marines Corps is doing, and the rest of our Armed Forces, as well.

If this was World War II, we'd see a hundred movies about it, but the American fighting man isn't good enough for Hollywood anymore. They don't want to make movies about us winning.

Here's the link.

"Assassination" of Huckabee? Is that Really a Fair Word for an Accurate Criticism?

I know I mentioned this the other day, but is the use of the word "assassin- ation" by Lucas Roebuck in regard to John Fund's column criticizing Mike Huckabee's fiscal record really appropriate? Kennedy was assassinated. Lincoln was assassinated... But a calmly written, factual column an assassination?

Having read John Fund's column for Opinion Journal, and much of his other work, I have to say "assassination" is a highly inflammatory and ludicrously inaccurate description.

Having read some of Lucas Roebuck's other work, I'd also have to say it's a little out of character.

So what motivated such a poor choice of words?

Fund's column certainly wasn't a character assassination. He was very even handed with Huckabee, pointing out that he is socially conservative, a fact with which Roebuck chooses to argue as if Fund had said otherwise. Fund merely reported what a lot of us in Arkansas, who have known Huckabee for a long time, could have told you.

Huckabee is a populist/liberal on most fiscal issues. He ran the state a lot like Bill Clinton did. It's remarkable to talk to current legislators who marvel that our new democrat governor has behaved more like a conservative in the short time he's been in office than Huckabee did. Governor Beebe cut the grocery tax in half straight out of the gate, something Huckabee had vociferously declined to do for years.

That leads to my next point. Roebuck harps on the necessity of raising taxes in response to the Lakeview decision but then notes that Huckabee left office with a billion dollar surplus (actually about $800 million, but who's counting?). Seeing that surplus, did Huckabee ask the legislature to cut taxes? Nope. He offered no sign that he was interested in giving the people of Arkansas a budget increase, only the government.

Apology Needed

Back to the use of "assassination", I'd appreciate it if Roebuck would retract that and apologize to Mr. Fund. That was bush league, Lucas. You're better than that.

While you're at it, you might also admit that Fund's treatment of Huckabee, though not to your liking, was based on facts. It's one thing to say what Fund said may be true, but Huckabee did thus and so, but your response purports to address his column and then just changes the subject. I'll be surprised if you do the latter, but the former is more than a fair request.

Here's a link to Fund's column one more time and here's a link to Roebuck's "rebuttal".

Hillary a Hog Fan? Well She's Apparently Coming to the South Carolina Game

Let's see, Hillary's a Cubs fan, a Yankees fan... Why not a Hog fan, too?

If the rumors are true, Hillary will be attending the South Carolina game in Fayetteville this coming Saturday... I'm dying to see the reaction from the crowd if she does come. I have a feeling she won't like it.

No word yet on when her broom touches down.

Here's the link to the rumor on WooPig.net.

Sanders' Portends Huckabee's Ascendance, But Can Huckabee Survive His Record

David Sanders proves himself to be a prophet having presaged Mike Huckabee's rise to prominence all the way back in 2004. A lot of us have known or thought for a while that Huckabee had such grand ambitions, but few of us thought he could get very far.

His problem now is that having just barely reached the top tier his record is now coming to the fore. It's been a hard week for Huckabee. I'm not sure he can survive his record once people around the country get to know who he is based on his actions not based on his slick persona.

But follow the link to Sanders' column. It's remarkable to observe his prescience.

EXPELLED: Intelligent Design Goes to the Movies

Hosted by Ben Stein, this film promises to be a very interesting look into how evolutionists are trying to stifle debate about intelligent design.

You can check out the trailer and more interesting information on the link.

Problems with Roebuck's "Rebuttal"

First, he doesn't rebut, anything. He excuses a few things, but that doesn't amount to a rebuttal. With Festivus just around the corner, I would describe it more as an Airing of Grievances. I'm looking forward to the Feats of Strength.

Roebuck's post describes Fund's column as an "assassination" and then proceeds to do everything but address the column. It responds with a lengthy pretense of refutation which actually refutes nothing that Fund said. Roebuck vigorously defends Huckabee as a social conservative when, in reality, Fund admits that Huckabee is a social conservative.

Fund quotes Betsy Hagan, who gladly admits that Huckabee is pro-life and pro-2nd Amendment. Roebuck responds by ignoring what she and the others say, instead choosing to impugn their motives. Roebuck demostrates the shallow depth of his understanding of the differences between Huckabee and Eagle Forum and other conservatives in Arkansas. He was a tax and spend Republican who used intimidation and scorched earth as standard operating tactics to motivate and punish people who disagreed with him.

Now for a few of Roebuck's attempts to excuse Huckabee's fiscal record. In 1999, Huckabee led the charge for the highway tax. That's hardly the same as what Roebuck described as if Huckabee was an innocent bystander. He took an active role in raising the tax, a tax with no sunset provision, by the way. That's significant because it means that we'll get the usual budget treatment later on, with a shell game where the state will shift revenue and spending around later so we have to raise the tax more. If he had only wanted to fill the need then, he would have put a sunset provision in it to avoid this huge pitfall.

As for the Lakeview decision, he ignored advice in the mid '90s that would have prevented it. Mississippi and a number of other states foresaw the potential of this problem and preempted it. When Huckabee was advised of the danger of a Lakeview-type decision he ignored it. The solution, of course, was to amend the state constitution to say that the definition of an "adequate" education is a political matter to be determined by the legislature. That would have precluded the Lakeview decision and we never would have had to raise any taxes.

The fact of the matter, though, is that Huckabee, as a typical liberal, only saw a tax increase as the solution to a spending "need". A fiscal conservative would have said it's time to tighten the belt elsewhere in state government. Instead, he did what a tax and spend liberal does. He told the people of Arkansas to tighten our belts, because the state's budget is more important than the household budgets of average Arkansans.

Finally, for a post that complains about unfounded reasoning, I find it remarkable to describe Fund's column as an "assassination". I can't fathom the use of that word for the very even handed and conscientious column in question. Fund, pictured above, was very fair to Huckabee, but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't be allowed make a reasonable criticism. If anything was assassinated in all this, it was reason in Roebuck's pitiful "rebuttal".

Again, here's a link to Roebuck's ever expanding "rebuttal".

McCain on Hillary

This from the Washington Post:

"The Arizona senator's ad, which begins running tomorrow in New Hampshire, moves quickly to its real point: making fun of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for seeking $1 million for a Woodstock Concert museum in an appropriations bill on Capitol Hill.

" 'Now my friends, I wasn't there,' McCain says in the ad, which is produced using video from the last Republican debate. As the ad cuts to scenes of hippies at Woodstock, McCain says: 'I'm sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was, I was tied up at the time.' "

Now, admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of McCain's candidacy, but I'm a big admirer of his service to our country and this is one of the funniest things I've read in a while.

Here's the link.

Unconventional Wisdom---Elliott Running for Congress

I just caught Unconventional Wisdom. David Sanders had Sylvester Smith, State Director of the NFIB, and Sen. Hank Wilkins, D-Pine Bluff, on to talk about the black vote in Arkansas.

The discussion about the black vote was pretty interesting, but the most interesting thing was when Sanders played footage from a previous episode in which former State Rep. Joyce Elliott promised to run for Vic Snyder's seat when he decides to step down.

This led to Sen. Wilkins suggesting that he would run for Mike Ross's seat when he steps down.

Pitiful Rebuttal of Fund's Huckabee Column

Lucas Roebuck has a pitiful rebuttal of John Fund's column. He starts by arguing with something that Fund doesn't say.

"-- Huckabee’s social conservative track record is unrivaled by the GOP frontrunners"

Thanks, that's pretty much what Fund said, too. The rest is the most pitiful spinning I've seen in a long time. Yeah, Lucas, Huckabee is a fiscal conservative. How stupid of us.

Here's the link.

Karen Ray Winning Republican Races

Unfortunately, it was in Louisiana. Our own Karen Ray was recently in Louisiana helping Governor-elect Bobby Jindal campaign.

I'm glad he won, but I hope she's working as hard for us.

NEWSFLASH: Prominent Arkansas Conservatives Quoted in John Fund's Opinion Journal Column about Huckabee's Liberal Record

"He destroyed the conservative movement in Arkansas, and left the Republican Party a shambles." That's from Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly in John Fund's latest Opinion Journal column. It's probably the most direct and accurate assessment of the aftermath of our former governor.

Fund also spoke with some prominent Arkansas conservatives who were happy to let the world know what a destructive force Huckabee was to conservatism in Arkansas.

Betsy Hagan, president of Eagle Forum of Arkansas, is quoted as saying, "He was pro-life and pro-gun, but otherwise a liberal. Just like Bill Clinton he will charm you, but don't be surprised if he takes a completely different turn in office."

Former Rep. Randy Minton is also quoted, citing Huckabee's demand that he break his no-tax pledge in 1999, an ironic demand from a presidential candidate who brags about making a no-tax pledge.

This is well worth the read, especially for the input from Arkansans. I know dozens and dozens of people who could go on for hours about their personal experiences with Huckabee's liberal record, but it's nice to see Huckabee's chickens coming home to roost in the national media.

Here's the link.

Originally Posted at: 12:43 a.m. 26 October, 2007

HR 3685---Look Out Scouts

...and business owners and private associations (such as the Scouts and churches). It would add sexual orientation to the list of things that constitute a protected class.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is just one of the many side effects of democrats controlling congress. Of course, the president will veto this if it passes. But it's imperative that we let our congressmen know that this is a terrible assault on free association.

The American Family Association has the scoop on the link.

Dream Act---More Like Nightmare Act---Lincoln and Pryor Do Their Alternating Position Routine

Amnesty is back again.

Sen. Harry Reid tried to bring it to the senate floor this week in the form of the so-called Dream Act.

This bill would allow illegal aliens who claim that they have been in the U.S. since before they were 16 years old to apply for permanent status (read-AMNESTY!!!) in the U.S. Worse yet, it would allow them to bring their "family" who aren't already here. I say "family" in quotes because there isn't a requirement to prove familial relationship other than possibly documents which illegals have proven themselves adept at counterfeiting.

It would also prohibit them from being deported, which isn't even true of immigrants who come to America legally.

The Dream Act lost a cloture vote, but it can be brought up at any time, without warning. I will try to keep y'all up to date about its status. In the meantime, read what the Heritage Foundation has to say about it and keep your eyes peeled for any news regarding it.

Here's the link.

Pryor and Lincoln's Alternating Position Routine

Oh, and I note that our esteemed senior senator, Blanch Lincoln, thinks this is a great idea, while our junior senator, Mark Pryor, is opposed with little comment. This is one more example of how these two take turns being on opposite sides of controversial issues. I bet this happens 90% of the time. They always look moderate because they take turns being conservative and liberal. You just watch. On almost every controversial issue, they will take opposite sides, alternating between conservative and liberal.

Here's a link to the AP story about the two.

Up to Date List of House Candidates

It's been a while since I mentioned this, so here it is. Steve Harrelson's got it for you on the link.

Lottery Shell Game

I've said this a hundred times. Lotteries that pay for education don't necessarily increase overall education spending, because it's all a shell game. Revenue shifting is a favorite tactic of politicians, bunco artists that they are. As I pointed out earlier, a lottery is just a tax on stupidity. Like any tax that will supposedly fund some much needed project, they almost always just free up the revenue that was previously paying for this necessary expenditure.

John Brummett's latest column does a pretty good job of explaining this shell game. Here's the link.

Karen Ray? Must Be a Bad Picture

I found this on a website called ZoomInfo.com, which purports to provide information about people on the internet. It describes Karen correctly as working as ED for the RPA and lists other biographical information correctly. This picture appears to be at our Capitol, but I don't think that's Karen Ray.

Here's the link.

This is the Democrat Base

Code Pink kooks assaulted Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice this week, waving hands red with paint, as if with blood, in her face. This is the base of the national democrat party. This is the group of kooks who are behind DailyK0(ok)s and MoveOn, to whom democrat leaders and presidential candidates are trying to appeal. What does it say about a party if this is their base?

The New York Post has the story. Here's the link, complete with a link to the video.

Huckabee Caught Huckstering

No word yet on where National Review editor Rich Lowry got his information, but I'm guessing some dummie or dummies at Huckabee's campaign thought it would make him look good if he claimed to write all his material. I guess they didn't consider that someone from back home might have something to say about it.

David Sanders' latest column addresses the claim pretty thoroughly. I'll be interested to see the Huckabee campaign's response, as well as what Lowry has to say about being Huckstered.

Here's the link.

Hillary Raises More Money from Poor Chinese

What is it about the Clintons that makes the Chinese government think that giving them money is a good idea? Well, they looked the other way when we let nuclear secrets go to North Korea. Bill Clinton actually gave the Chinese top secret technology to help with their space/missile programs...

Starting to see a pattern here?

Poor Chinese immigrants working as busboys, waiters, dish washers, and street vendors somehow have the money and also feel compelled to make thousand and two thousand dollar contributions to Hillary. It was just a few weeks ago that we learned about Norman Hsu, whose fundraising ability was reminiscent of James Riady and Charlie Trie.

The LA Times has the story about the remarkable number of poor Chinese who somehow come up with thousands of dollars to donate to Hillary's campaign. They don't draw the parallels with Bill's Chinese connection, but it's not hard to do.

Here's the link.

My 2 Dads Ballot Proposal Updated

After Attorney General McDaniel had already approved the language and title of the proposal to prohibit cohabitating, non-married couples from adopting or foster parenting, Family Council decided to rewrite and rename it. I hope it passes muster and that the changes were really that important.

Here's a link to the AP story.

I'm Sure It Has Nothing to Do with Population and Academics

"What's so great about Pulaski County that we're not getting out in the rest of the state?"

Well, aside from population and academics, nothing, I'm sure. That was the proper response to the above question from Rep. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, in regard to the fact that 36 out of 160 students at UAMS medical school are from Pulaski county, while the rest of the state is apparently "under-represented". I might also add that the largest number of doctors' children also reside in Pulaski county given that it is the hub of medicine in Arkansas.

Her biggest beef, however, is that there aren't enough minority students, which, I assume, she thinks is because of discrimination. She suggested that UAMS look into hiring more minorities.

According to the Arkansas News Bureau article, the 2nd congressional district generates nearly twice as many applicants as all but one of the other districts, which means that they are being discriminated against, since state law requires equal representation from the four congressional districts.

I'm not sure where, if anywhere, Rep. Flowers intends to go with this line of questioning. Hopefully, she doesn't intend to respond with more discrimination against kids who are actually prepared and want to attend UAMS.

Here's a link to the Arkansas News story.

Lottery Alternative...

Here's a thought. Instead of a lottery, why not just raise taxes on everybody (or just poor and stupid people?) and give away "free" college tuition to everybody and let one person in every few thousand get out of paying the tax to make it a fun game?

More News You Won't Read at the Arkansas Times

Violence in Iraq is down, again.

What a surprise, the greatest military in the world can win a war. Who knew?

Reuters has the story. Max doesn't. Wonder why...

Chuck Norris Endorses Huckabee

Hey, it worked for Century Action Jeans. I'm wearing mine now, in case I get in a street fight...

But really, as much as I love Chuck Norris, this is just one more person who doesn't know Mike Huckabee like we do. He's not the Lone Wolf McQuade or Cordell Walker Norris thinks he is.

I have, on occasion, enjoyed Norris' columns for World Net Daily, as much for the fact that he has a column as for what he says, which is often good, too. This one, I think, is a stretch, though, like a pair of Action Jeans. But, somehow, Norris makes it look so effortless.

Fact: Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he never cries. I bet Huckabee could get him to do it.

Here's the link.

Socialized Healthcare is for the Dogs---British Pull Own Teeth

Thanks to long lines, some British have resorted to pulling their own teeth. I'm sure Michael Moore thinks that's wonderful, though. Somehow this idea makes Hillary a genius.

Here's the link.

Max Makes Some Sense on the Lottery

I have to give Max some credit. His post from yesterday about the lottery made a lot of sense. With the introduction of lottery "machines", there is little difference between a lottery and slot machines.

Personally, if we're going to have gambling in Arkansas, I'd much rather avoid the boondoggle of it being a socialized system which would socialize college tuition or some other doodad giveaway. I'd prefer to see private businesses running it over the government. But I'd rather not see it at all, if I really had my way.

Max makes a good point about how the state could just set up a casino and call all the games "lottery", since they want to call a slot machine a lottery. Why not, they built a resort on top of Mount Magazine. Can you imagine the uproar if a private developer had tried to build a resort on top of our tallest mountain? So they might as well socialize gambling, too.

Here's a link to Max's post.

Bush More Than Twice as Popular as Congress

With the democrat congress nearing single digits of popularity, the media is still reporting that the president is unpopular, while he is polling as more than twice as popular as congress.

The truth is that congress has, thankfully, been a miserable failure. They have opposed the president at every turn, which you'd think would make them popular if what they say is true.

Reuters has the story.

Fox Confirms "Amero" Currency Plans on Larry King

Describing the plans as "long term, very long term," as if to allay concerns about this plan's destructive affects on American sovereignty, former Mexican President Vicente Fox confirmed plans for a joint Canadian, American, and Mexican currency.

The plans for a North American Union were made in secret by President Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada several years ago and included plans for a super highway linking the three countries, parts of which have already opened.

Here's a link to the story.

Free Market Cure to Health Care

A short lesson in economics would be instructive for those considering the problem with the health care system.

We can't expect anything to happen but skyrocketing costs and rationing if it becomes any more socialized than it already is.

The solution is for the system to become a true consumer system. If we had socialized travel, you can bet that everybody would want to fly first class and more often, which would obviously drive up the cost and stress the travel industry to the point of breaking, not to mention create other huge inefficiencies in the market by sucking so much capital out of the productive market and putting it into the biggest liability our economy has---government bureaucracy.

Here's a link to a great website about the free market solution to America's health care situation.

Real Man of Genius

This video is hilarious.

Enjoy.

Another Loss for Nancy---Health Insurance for 20 Something Yuppies Goes Down the Drain

Nancy Pelosi demonstrated once again how ineffective she really is.

I sometimes forget that we're the minority because of how the democrats continue to behave like they are. I guess they think it's a moral victory to lose an override attempt.

Of course, if you read the ArkTimes blog, you'd think that children are dying in the streets. Of course, Max is honest enough, though probably not consciously, to refer to them as "kids" and not children, since the expansion of the program was to include college, med school, law school, 25 year old "kids".

Heaven help us. "Patriot", "kids", "is"...what other words have no meaning any more thanks to liberals?

Politico has the story on the link. They seem to think the battle will continue. If this was a Republican who had failed so miserably, for the millionth time, the story would be that they were crippled politically. But the media is trumpeting the democrats as valiant.

Oil Prices Continue to Rise: Democrats Fail, Again

Another democrat promise from last years election has been broken. Democrats promised that they'd bring down oil prices if they won congress. Nearly a year after the election oil has shattered records, hitting over $90 a barrel this week.

It's not surprising, though. Thankfully, they've led the most ineffective and unpopular congress in history.

Here's a link to a story about oil's all time high.

Huckabee's Illegal Alien Record Catches Up With Him

It seems like only yesterday Mike Huckabee was calling us racist for not wanting to give illegal aliens government benefits. He said people who believe in enforcing immigration laws drink a different kind of "Jesus juice" than he did. Nowadays, you'd think he was always for strict enforcement, low taxes, and limited government.

Ann Coulter has a column exposing the Huckster's governing position of illegal aliens. Here's the link.

$2,100,100.00--Smear Letter against Rush Limbaugh Reaches Astronomical Bid on eBay

$2,100,100.00 is the current bid for this piece of history.

The letter was sent to Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel, in an effort to silence the 1st Amendment rights of a U.S. citizen. Signed by 41 senate democrats, including Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton, the letter was based on a lie made up by MediaMatters.org, a group which was started with the help of Hillary Clinton and is funded by George Soros. The lie, of course, is that Rush was referring to any soldier who disagrees with him about the war when he used the term "phoney soldier".

"Phoney soldier", of course, was first used by ABC's Charlie Gibson 2 days before in reference to Jesse MacBeth, whom Rush had featured in a morning update the day before he used the term. But MediaMatters has a radical agenda, part of which is to silence and intimidate its opposition. I'd say they picked the wrong target with Rush. Selling this letter is certainly an embarrassment for democrats since this smear backfired on them so terribly.

The money from the sale of the letter will go to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation (MCLEF), one of Rush's favorite charities, which provides college scholarships for the children of Marines and federal law enforcement killed in the line of duty. The amount of the final sale will be matched by Rush. So, with just under 20 hours left to bid it could reach a total donation upwards of $2,000,000.00.

Here is a link to the ebay page.

And here is a link to a PDF of the letter, which you may feel free to download and put on your refrigerator.

More importantly, here is a link to the MCLEF website so you can donate if you wish.

As Turkey Mounts Troops on Iraq Border, Pelosi Angry at Democrats Abandoning Treasonous Condemnation of Ally

Nancy Pelosi, seen here on her visit to terrorist sponsor, Syria, is angry at democrats who are abandoning her disastrous charge to alienate one of our key allies, in a effort to destabilize Iraq and disrupt a crucial supply line. As the results of her efforts are becoming clear, politically motivated democrats are running for the hills. Abandoning the effort doesn't absolve them of guilt for what they've done, though.

Want to know a couple of democrats I'm talking about? Try our own Marion Berry and Mike Ross. The question is how they ever got to this point. Couldn't they imagine the consequences? And why, after seeing the consequences coming to be, did it take them so long to change their minds? Here's a link to a column about their decision by Aaron Sadler with the Stephens Washington Bureau.

Here's a link to Pelosi's shrieking imitation of the Wicked Witch of the West. There is no actual shieking on this link.

Here's a link to the story about Turkey mounting an offensive.

Ethics Update and More

News from Steve Harrelson's blog that the failed ethics reform will be revisited in the next session as more comprehen -sive reform.

Here's the link.

Oh, and the stupid idea to ban smokeless tobacco at the Capitol has failed.

Here's the link.

Huckabee Hunting for Support

Gov. Huckabee is barely treading water according to David Sanders' latest column. His column is on the link.

Peace in the Northwest

I came across some encouraging news from NWA about the opening of the new Temple Shalom in Fayetteville. Apparently it was built with the assistance of a muslim Palestinian. Just a brief glimmer of hope? Maybe. But a reminder that there are some people of goodwill out there.

Here's a link to the AP story.

Peace Outbreak in Iraq---Funeral Workers and Democrats Hit Hardest

As a rash of peace breaks out across Iraq, funeral workers and democrats are languishing. Fewer deaths means hard times for these two groups which depend on violence in Iraq for their success.

This is an actual story from the McClatchey Washington Bureau and it's something that Max will never have the guts to write about. Intellectual honesty isn't his strong suit. Of course, he wants to repeat bad news from Iraq, just not this kind. Here's the link.

Huckabee In the Picture, Too---Not Really

6 years ago then-governor Mike Huckabee signed a proclamation condemning the genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This is an interesting aside, but not that important given the situation. Here's the AP story.

The problem today, of course, is that we're at war and Turkey is a key ally.

Now Turkey is mounting forces on its border with Iraq, which could lead to the complete destabilization of the most stabile part of Iraq. Breitbart has this story.

And, as I mentioned before, Turkey is a key supply and flyover route to Iraq. That could come to an end, too, thanks to the treachery of Nancy Pelosi and democrats in congress. Here's the story.

Nazis and Islamo-Fascists

Here's an email I received from a friend recently. It's instructive.

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism

"Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools.

So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.

Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals.

The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" the "silent majority" is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.

China's huge population, it was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the Systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet.

And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:

Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy by perception if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watchED it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just delete this email without sending it on, can contribute to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.

Next year is our National election for President, please, please do your homework before voting....

God Bless America!!

Traitorous Democrats Backtrack on Condemning Ally for 100 Year Old Massacre

The damage may already have been done, but the democrat plan to drive a wedge between the U.S. and one of our chief allies, Turkey, is being pulled back. This comes long after the disastrous nature of it was proven by Turkey recalling its ambassador from Washington and mounting troops on Iraq's northern border, even firing artillery into Iraq.

The democrats are intent on destabilizing Iraq so that we lose, so that they can use it to make political hay. They own defeat. Some democrats have been trying to extract themselves from that unpatriotic position, but their fingerprints are all over it. They want us to lose. They don't believe any news unless it's bad news.

So, with more and more great news coming from Iraq, what do they do? They condemn Turkey for actions taken by the Ottoman Empire. As I said before. That cannot compare to what the Italians did to Christians under the Roman Empire, but that would be a stupid thing to blame them for. This is a purely political move on the part of democrats.

Now, too little, too late, they are trying to backpeddle and hope no one notices what they've done to destroy our diplomatic relationship with one of our oldest allies and what might happen to destabilize northern Iraq as a result of their treacherous meddling in our foreign policy. Already, democrats have met with terrorist regimes like Syria, giving them aid and comfort, in addition to that given to terrorists on the ground in Iraq and here at home.

The New York Times has the story about their cowardly attempt to weasel out of responsibility for their treacherous diplomatic debacle. Here's the link.

Fat Cats: 1-Average Arkansans:0

You have to wonder what is so good that House members wouldn't want to give up. Having seen lobbyist largesse in action, I can understand why our humble public servants wouldn't want to draw too much attention.

Reps. Greenberg and Harrelson apparently got a lot of negative feedback for their proposed rule change, which would have required House members to disclose all gifts from lobbyists, including meals.

A common complaint was that the rule had no enforcement mechanism. I'm not sure if that means no way to force legislators to report or no way to penalize legislators if too much is spent on them. If it's the former, it seems to me that we ought to be able to expect the honor system to be sufficient for our noble public servants. If the former, the voters of Arkansas are a good enough enforcement mechanism for me.

If FOI laws are such a good idea, then why isn't more transparency a better idea?

In the meantime, it's a shame that so many lobbyists are so eager to keep this huge, undisclosed gravy train going.

Here's a link to the press release at the ArkTimes blog.

Here's a link to the AP story.

Wishy Washy Beebe Can't Make Up His Mind on Gay Adoption/Foster Parenting

First he said he supported a ban on gay foster parenting but opposed one on gay adoption, in an attempt to have it both ways on the issue. Now he's been forced to say that he doesn't support Family Council's proposed amendment.

This is what we get when we elect a "moderate". It all depends which way the wind is blowing. But you can always count on some tortured reason for every position he takes on a controversial issue, you know, the issues where there are usually only 2 positions.

Max expresses his consternation on this link.

War Unpopularity Caused by Negative Coverage

ABC's Chris Cuomo bragged that the media has been effective in hurting public opinion on the War in Iraq. I've been saying this for years.

Newsbusters has the story.

RPA Goes on Offense with Hillary

Hillary opened her campaign office in Arkansas recently and the folks down at the RPA are already going after her for possible past misdeeds. Based on the book by former New York Times investigative reporters Don Van Natta and Jeff Gerth, the RPA has requested that Dustin McDaniel investigate claims that she spied on political opponents.

You can bet that the AG isn't going to do anything, but it's a nice start to the campaign, since she was a control freak even way back then and Bill is commited to turning our red state blue.

Here's a link to the RPA's press release.

So What?

Wal-Mart tries to get its property taxes reduced...SO WHAT! I'm glad. That's good for consumers.

Max has this story at his blog. As usual, he thinks a company acting in its interests is a bad thing. Socialists are always more interested in seeing that the government benefits than the private sector.

And the Award Goes To...Democrats in Congress

This year's Benedict Arnold Award goes to democrats in congress for intention -ally sabotaging America's relation -ship with one of our most important allies, Turkey.

It's not like congress hasn't already passed two resolutions about this over 20 years ago. So what possible reason could they have for doing it again? Turkey is a major allie in the War in Iraq, allowing us to transport supplies and fly over its airspace, but all that could change thanks to the unpatriotic, traitorous democrats in congress who are determined to see us lose a war. Somehow they think that's patriotic, though.

Turkey pulled its ambassador from the U.S. last week in response.

The genocide in question? It happened over 100 years ago under the Ottoman Empire. I suggest that, as a Christian, we move for a resolution against Italy for persecuting Christians 2,000 years ago under the Roman Empire, while we're at it.

Here's a link to Rush with several other links at the bottom and some great commentary.

Houston Throws it Away, Again...VIDEO

Here's a youtube video a friend emailed me yesterday of a plane pulling a banner before the Hogs latest lost on Saturday.

It's hard to read, but it says "Players/Fans Deserve Better-Fire Nutt". There's some truth to that.

Here's the link.

More Common Sense From Fred

"We shouldn't confuse the wealth of governments with the wealth of nations." -Fred D. Thompson

Speaking of Gay Adoption: Nature vs. Nurture

Here's another thing to consider regard -ing gay adoption. All this talk about gay adopt has led me to a funny thought. Funny ha-ha, not funny queer, or maybe both. Certainly there are plenty of gay people who were raised by straight parents, but when you look at it from the perspective of gay parents, what percentage of children raised by gay parents, adoptive or otherwise (partially), end up becoming gay?

I don't have the statistics on this because I doubt anyone ever thought to study it. But I bet it's a heck of a lot higher than with straight parents. Why would that be the case, though. In the case of adoptive parents there's obviously no genetic correlation. Perhaps, one might suggest, the gay adoptive parents have gaydar and are able to select the gay babies intuitively, but I doubt that. So that leaves one possible explanation, experience contributes significantly to sexual preference.

There's been a lot of debate on the nature vs. nurture topic, but after a quick google search, I couldn't find any discussion of this angle.

I know this subject will make some of you squeamish. If anyone is offended, understand that I'm not saying this out of hatred. I'm just considering something.

Scary Thought...Clintons Back in Arkansas

In the news this morning, Hillary has opened a campaign office in Arkansas.

You can bet that Bill will be personally in charge of her campaign here, which is scary. First of all, I need to keep him away from all females I know. Second, he's not going to take losing Arkansas lightly.

Why can't Edwards get their nomination?

Here's the story at Arkansas News Bureau.

$542,000 Capitol Visitor Center

No, it's not a whole new building, which you'd expect for that HUGE amount of money.

If you can believe it, all they did was remodel the 1st floor of the Capitol Rotunda. Having been there recently, I can tell you that there isn't anything that I would have thought would cost over half a million dollars.

Charlie Daniels is very proud of this, apparently. Apparently, it was supposed to cost $450,000, but somehow they went 20% over budget.

Remember this when they say the state can't afford to cut spending or taxes.

John Lyon at the Arkansas News Bureau has the story.

More Job Gains...More Bad News for Democrats

If you have the stomach to read the Arkansas Times blog, you have noticed that despite a roaring economy they always seem to find the dark lining in the silver clouds. Here's some more bad news for them. More job growth. How could that be? The rich aren't paying enough in taxes for the economy to be growing... And how could government revenue be growing?

Newsbusters has the story.

Sarah Huckabee on YouTube

Is this a good idea?

Here's the link.

If You're 401(k) Invests in the Lottery,...

...fill in the blank.

The problems with lotteries are many. Aside from being a tax on stupidity, they don't always live up to their promises.

John Lyon with the Arkansas News Bureau has the story.

2nd Hand Chaw?

No bogus statistics are being offered this time, but apparently 2nd hand chaw is a real danger at the Capitol. Rep. Pam Adcock, D-Little Rock, has proposed a House rule change to prohibit chewing tobacco in the House and its committees.

She apparently thinks it's a dangerous example for the school children who tour the Capitol. Why stop there? Teachers are looked up to, as well. They smoke outside schools and some chew tobacco. We should ban that, too. We should ban anybody with a spit cup in public or in front of children.

Rob Moritz has the story for Arkansas News.

Debate Forced: Hey Hey Hey---It's the Fat Albert Show

Al Gore has repeatedly refused to debate anyone on the science of man-made global warming, which isn't the sign of a strong case, especially considering how many different scientists are so eager to debate him.

Now a group of scientists has put together a website and has started releasing videos to YouTube to bring the debate to Gore.

Here's a story about it with a link to a video. Read the NewsBusters post and click on the link to the YouTube video.

And here's a link to the website, DemandDebate.com.

Democrats---Trillion Dollar Tax Hikes, Trillions More in Spending

Democrats, led by Charlie Rangel, are toying with the biggest code revision in more that two decades. The revision would result in upwards of $1 trillion flux in taxes. That's not necessarily all tax hike, but would be lots of tax shifting, starting with rich households, you know, those with incomes of $100,000/yr.

The Politico has the story.

This is a start for Hillary who said recently, "I have a million ideas. The country can't afford them all."

I'm sure she does.

I'll tell you one we can't afford, her socialization of 1/7 of a $7 trillion economy.

Here's another, giving $5,000 to every baby born in the USA, which would result in a lot of people having babies for the check then dumping them at the hospital or demanding more welfare to take care of them. She's since backtracked on that.

Now she wants to give away 401 (k)s.

This is liberalism. Promise the moon. Guess who pays the bill?

The Boston Globe has the story.

Hype for Arkansas---Step 1: Lottery---Step 2: Casinos

It was reported this week that John Bailey, of Bailey Properties, and members of his family have pledged $300,000 to the effort to establish a lottery in Arkansas. The group organized by Lite Guv Bill Halter is called, this isn't a joke, "Hope for Arkansas".

The question, though, is why would the Baileys and others want to spend so much when they won't profit from a lottery? Unlike other forms of gambling, private individuals cannot generally own lotteries.

I say own because there is a way for them to profit, by managing them.

We've seen efforts to legalize casino gambling and lotteries in Arkansas over the years which met no success. A number of other states have tried this and failed, too. What many finally did was to establish a lottery, first, or set up the lottery as some whiz bang cash generator for free college education. This would help them market it along with casino gambling. After that, if they're unable to get casinos simultaneously, the environment usually changes creating impetus for wider spread gambling.

We've already seen gambling expand in Arkansas at our two sole gambling establishments. With the change of a few words, skill and chance, we might see that expand even more. There has been talk of changing the description of certain games from games of chance to games of skill, such as poker and blackjack.

Currently, the state constitution prohibits "games of chance". That's why Halter's ballot initiative is proposed as a constitutional amendment. One thing to look for is the eradication of the prohibition on games of chance. The amendment would certainly have to make an exception for a lottery to be legal, since it certainly isn't a game of skill. If that is accomplished, it would lead to the next step of campaigning for casino gambling. If, however, they are able to eliminate the prohibition on games of chance, instead of just making an exception, they will have legalized casino gambling at the same time that they legalize the lottery, without anybody noticing.

Now, it should be obvious why John Bailey and other developers would want to legalize casino gambling. That's where their profits come into the picture, if they're not able administer the lottery. If they have to help legalize a lottery to create the impetus for casino gambling, that's a small price to pay. If they're able to do both at the same time without anybody noticing, all the better.

Here's another DeMillo AP story.

Harrelson on Ethics Rule

Steve Harrelson, cosponsor of the proposed ethics rule change has a post about it on his blog. Here's the link.

UPDATE: The Times blog posted about it, as well. Here's the link.

Obama Won't Wear American Flag...

That pretty much sums it up, but here are a couple of stories about it. I guess he wants to be "unbiased" like some in the media. See this story with Joe Klein praising him.

Here's another about ABC News not getting how insulting and sickening it is that a man running for president wouldn't want to be associated with the flag.

Money for Campaigns---Steaks for Free

Reps. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, and Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, have proposed changing House rules to require legislators to account for the money lobbyists spend on them. Having seen the largesse lavished by the lobbyists on legislators I have to say it's a good step in the right direction.

Andrew DeMillo has the story.

Money for Campaigns

It's common for almost all legislators to receive most of their reelection campaign contributions from lobbyists. I don't have a problem with that since it is much more transparent than the palm and stomach greasing that goes on once they get to Little Rock.

Steaks for Free

Another common practice is for lobbyists to spread what they spend per legislator by recording legislators as present who aren't so that they can go over the $100 per legislator per day limit currently in place. Nobody ever checks the reports that these lobbyists make, but one way to find out would be to see if the same legislators weren't being claimed by more than one lobbyist at the same time at different locations. Another trick is to have more than one lobbyist attend so that they can spend more jointly.

Needless to say, our legislators live high on the hog when they're in Little Rock. Lobbyists don't even have to be present to buy a fancy steak dinner and expensive bottle of wine. Just call them in advance and they'll leave a credit card number with the restaurant. Some even have permanent accounts with restaurants with that understanding.

If you're a legislator, you can rest assured you don't have to pay for anything, if you don't want to. The most important question is why would these lobbyists spend so much money, including campaign contributions? The answer is simple, influence. While we sit at home imagining Mr. Smith Goes to Little Rock, it's more like Mr. Smith Goes to Tammany Hall.

This rule change, it appears, would make it more difficult for lobbyists to claim multiple legislators, as the legislators would have to verify who purchased their meals. It would also make the process much more tranparent as there are only a hundred House members for the public to keep track of instead of the much larger number of lobbyists roaming the halls of government.

An enterprising reporter could find a treasure trove of ethics abuse if they looked into the current system. There are lots of other ethics related stories waiting for the right reporter to dig into them. In the future I'll discuss some of the other ethics abuses that are commonplace in the legislature.

So What's Wrong with Free Health Insurance for "Poor" "Children"?

You really wanna know?

For starters, the new SCHIP program for healthcare for "poor" "children" drastically expands the meaning of "poor" and "children". "Poor" now means incomes up to $80,000 a year and "children" now means people up to the age of 25.

If you read the ArkTimes blog, though, you'd think it's for actual poor children, only. Apparently, it's very compassionate to give 20 something yuppies free health insurance. Somehow this isn't an expansion of socialism in America.

The truth is this is an old union negotiating tactic. If the democrats had been able to pull this off, all the better. But they didn't expect to get this much of an expansion, so they pant and moan about the children then look magnanimous when they scale back their demands to 21 years in households making $60,000 a year. I don't know the exact fall back numbers, but this is all a ploy to get what they really want, which is somewhere between here and where the program was, then universal socialized health care.

You read that right, all of this is just a step toward full-blown socialized health care. Start with "children" and "poor" people, then everybody. Hillary said as much in a memo from her failed attempt in 1993. Here's a link.

Marines Not Welcome at Oakland Airport

This is the Left for you. Marines and soldiers returning from Iraq were forced to deplane on the tarmac by the baggage carriers instead of entering the passenger terminal. While the Left is busy making up things that Rush Limbaugh didn't say, they have nothing to say about veterans who apparently aren't good enough to walk through an airport terminal.

Here's a link to John Gibson's Fox coverage and another great link to a Marine captain's response.

Actual Racism

If you want to see what actual racism looks like, follow this link. Elizabeth Eckford lived it.

As I've said before, the notion that the Jena 6 are somehow comparable to the Little Rock 9 is disturbing. Eckford comments in this story that blacks have killed far more blacks than the Klan ever could have. Frankly, that's an interesting statement on the state of the civil rights movement, especially when the Jena 6 are held up as victims instead of perpetrators of racism.

Happy Columbus Day!!!

Almost forgot. Thank you, Christopher Columbus for finding the New World.

Beebe For Banning Gay Foster Parents? Not For Banning Gay Adoption?

Gov. Beebe is playing both sides of another issue. Now he says he supports a ban on gay foster parenting, but not on permanent adoption.

What's the difference?

There isn't one. He's just trying to appear to be thoughtful on the issue. By muddying the waters he can appear to be moderate. As I've said a hundred times, he loses either way if he supports or opposes this ban outright. So what does he do? He's trying to split the difference.

Beebe's explanation...some gobbledegook about permanent versus temporary.

Can anyone honestly tell me they believe he'd support this if it just banned gay foster parenting?

Heck no. We'd be reading some other tortured attempt to ride the fence.

Andrew DeMillo has the story for the AP.

Rule of Thumb: If They Don't Mention the Party a Pervert Belongs to, He's a Democrat

State Sen. Dan Sutton, D-SD, has been accused of groping a young, male page. He's a democrat, though, so it's not a big deal, I guess. The AP didn't think it was worth mentioning what party he belongs to. If he had been a Republican, you can bet we'd be hearing about it.

Here's the story.

CNN Meterologist Declares Gore Movie Biased and Inaccurate

CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano, who is probably about to lose his job, recently declared that Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" is biased and inaccurate.

Here's the story.

In a related story, Al Gore has, once again, refused to debate someone on the veracity of his claims of man-made global warming. Now why wouldn't he want to debate???

More Unconventional Wisdom from Sanders---Must Be in His Blood

"Invidere Sperno" or "I Scorn to Envy", that's an appropriate motto for David Sanders given his recent column, and those past, offering common sense about our tax policy instead of the politics of envy preached by Max Brantley and those bureaucrats who, like racketeers, desire a cut of every dollar made in the free market. Envy is the hallmark of liberalism. It's the reason why government grows while freedom recedes.

I was forwarded this by a friend, today. It appears to have made it around a few times before it got to me, but I thought having read David Sanders' superb column I would share it.

Invidere sperno, I scorn to envy. That's a motto for us all to live by, especially our friends in government.

Here's his column.

Intelligence: Nature versus Nurture

Per a recent conversation with a friend, here's a column from Thomas Sowell about the nature of intelligence.

Illegal Aliens Counted in Census Affect Congressional Reapportionment

Step one: Congress.

Step two: Mexican Expansion.

Isn't that exciting?...

Here's the article.

A Republican Primary?

Well, I already mentioned this, but now the Arkansas News Bureau has it, too. Tim Summers, a former DEMOCRAT JP, who was recruited by another RINO Horace Hardwick, who is term limited, is running against Vickey Boozman for Harwick's seat.

Here's the story.

British School Kiddos Warned about Al Gore's Bias Before Watching Movie

More hope for the British. Here's the story.

Where Was the Outrage When the Insult Was Real?

When it was time to be outraged by an actual insult, where were a lot of these democrats?

Here's the senate vote to condemn the moveon.org ad. Notice how some of the senators who were quick to condemn Rush for a misquoted comment were mum about moveon's vile attack?

Illegal Alien Arrests Confidential???

From the AP, out of Fayetteville, apparently, the identities of illegal aliens who are arrested will be kept secret, unlike the identities of U.S. citizens. I'm not sure why we would want to do that. I guess we don't want to besmirch the reputation of our illegal alien population...

Here's the link.

Mr. Craig Isn't Going Anywhere, Mr. Hat

Disgraced Sen. Larry Craig has announced that he won't resign his seat after he lost his appeal to have his charges overturned. I won't rehash the story because we all know what happened. Needless to say, this is a very selfish response and will greatly aid a democrat run for a Republican seat in Idaho. Thanks a lot, dummie.

Here's the story.

Ban on Cohabitating Adoption Passes Muster with AG's Office

You can bet this is going to raise some hackles, but I'll bet dollars for doughnuts that it passes with more than 70% of the vote.

Family Council was successful in meeting whatever concerns the AG had about their original version. So, unless someone is able to do something about it between now and November of next year, it's going to be on the ballot.

Something that hasn't passed muster, yet, is our Lite Governor's attempt to bring a lottery to the Natural State.

DeMillo has the scoop on both.

Max Brantley: "I believe Anita Hill"---Of course you do...How about Juanita and Kathleen?

This is a couple of days old, but Max, as usual, believes that a conservative would do something wrong while not believing that Bill Clinton would. He apparently believes Anita Hill, who called Clarence Thomas several times over the years between the alleged incidents and his nomination, as a friend and for career help, and who told friends that she was excited that her friend, Clarence Thomas, had been nominated for the Supreme Court, before betraying him for the adulation and money of the Left.

Of course, Max doesn't believe Juanita Broderick or Kathleen Willie, though. How can Max not believe that a man who is a known pervert and sexual harasser sexually harassed anyone, while he believes that one who has had no other accusations did? Simple, he's a hack.

Here's the link.

New Candidate Quiz

Here's another quiz to see who your candidate should be. My top candidate was Fred Thompson, tied with Duncan Hunter. They didn't ask anything about free trade or Hunter wouldn't have tied for top with me.

Huckabee Flailing

Here's a joke, although he was being serious. Mike Huckabee, who I just pointed out is completely out of touch with the Republican base in Arkansas, see "Huckabee's Unpopularity" from Wednesday, stated recently that Republican presidential frontrunners are out of touch with the Republican base. I guess that's why the Republican base continually supports them in poll after poll, ignoring the Huckster.

Andrew DeMillo has the AP story.

At least his dog loves him.

Politics or Strategy?

Kim Kagan at The Weekly Standard has a nice piece on what should get more consideration on troop levels. Politics? Or strategy?

Beebe Names Temporary Communications Director

Not that Tennille. Grant Tennille has taken the place of Zac Wright as interim Communi- cations Director for Gov. Beebe. Wright has gone to work for Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Here's the AP story.

Huckabee's Unpopularity

Am I the only one who hasn't seen a Huckabee supporter, other than a family member, anywhere in Arkansas? No bumper stickers, no signs, nothing... I haven't even received a fundraising letter.

Why is that? If you read John Brummett's column on illegal aliens, you'd think Huckabee would be really popular. Obviously, that was terrible analysis on the part of Brummett.

But really, I know Republicans all over the state and I don't know one, other than his family, who even care that he's running for president. He almost never comes up in conversation except to say that nobody cares or likes him. He stepped on us and ran our state as a liberal for too long for us to support him, which is why it galls me to see him pretending to be this great conservative on the campaign trail. That's why, for those of you in other states who have bought his line, I want you to know that almost no Republicans in Arkansas support him.

Standing Strong---Fred Thompson Sticks Up for Rush

From his Fred08.com blog:

"Congressional Democrats are trying to divert attention from insulting our military leader in Iraq and pandering to the loony left by attacking Rush Limbaugh. He is one of the strongest supporters of our troops, yet Democrats claim he is not being strong enough. I wonder who General Petraeus and his troops think is most supportive?"

Update: From Newsbusters, there is some great analysis here, along with some good links.

OJ Endorses Hillary, Seriously

Here's the video. You'll have to watch a commer- cial first, but it's worth watching.

What's the deal with criminals loving the Clintons? Birds of a feather, I guess...

Tax Cuts Work---Max Surprised

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Letting taxpayers keep their money is good for the economy. Turns out that state revenue for September is up 8% from the same month last year, despite cutting the grocery tax in half.

Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we try that some more???

Of course, you won't read Max suggesting that. You can read him being surprised, though. You can rest assured that if this effort had been led by a Republican he wouldn't have mentioned this good news. Tax cuts are only good when democrats can take credit, I guess. I'm sure he doesn't like mentioning it anyway.

Here's the link. He has a link to the news side. I thought it was instructive, though, to see his surprise.

Missed Opportunity---Beebe Stumbles on Illegal Aliens

This is what happens when the RPA finds itself on the same side of an issue as Gov. Beebe. I mentioned earlier the woes of Karen Ray and Mike Beebe. Andrew DeMillo of the AP did an interesting story on it.

Thanks to Karen Ray's bumbling, we weren't able to capitalize when Beebe bumbled it. He was more than happy to lay low on the issue and let her take the brunt. Most people didn't notice that he was side stepping another hard issue. The fact remains we cannot beat him or any other democrat as long as we let them avoid taking positions on issues like this. We cannot let ourselves get in this position again. Next time, when Gov. Beebe tries to side step an issue like this, we need to be able to force his hand.

In the meantime, the governor got away scot-free, again.

Pie in the Sky---$110 Billion HillaryCare Plan

That's what she says it'll cost, which, when considering deficits makes you wonder whatever happened to democrats claiming to be fiscally responsible. In reality, though, given that health care costs closer to a trillion dollars a year, that's a hopelessly optimistic number on her part. Once the government takes over, though, a trillion dollars will seem like a bargain.

Democrats Demand Apology for Misquoted Limbaugh Remarks

I've been following this for a while, but I assumed, having heard the remarks, several times, that democrats in congress would realize that they'd been duped by another crazy, left-wing website. No such luck.

Today on the floor of the senate democrats demanded Limbaugh apologize for remarks that were misquoted by mediamatters.org, a liberal website funded by George Soros with direct ties to Bill and Hillary.

Limbaugh has been misquoted as saying that soldies who disagree with the war are phoney soldiers, when in reality he was referring to Jesse MacBeth, who is, in actuality, a phoney soldier, who has claimed to have been an Army Ranger who witnessed atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan. MacBeth actually washed out of boot camp in a matter of weeks, but was heralded by left-wing groups for his claims and then conveniently ignored when his true identity was revealed.
All of this is a pitiful attempt to draw attention away from their approval of moveon.org's vicious and unpatriotic attack of General Petraeus last month and their championing America's defeat, which hasn't been going their way, lately.

Newsbusters has the story on the link between Soros, the Clintons, and media matters.

Here's a link to the actual comments.

Tax Hike Mike

Speaking of stupid tax policy...

This guy obviously isn't from Arkansas. If he was, he wouldn't be so excited to meet the Huckster.

With that said, here's a new website that'll fill you in on some details of Huckabee's tax and spend record.

Government Budget Deficit Solution---Taxpayer Budget Deficit...

Grinning from ear to ear, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm "solves" the state's budgetary problems by exacerbating the budgetary problems of Michigan taxpayers. That's okay. They can just subsidize business.

Having a budgetary problem? Hey, I got an idea...let's have the taxpayers pay for it... Here's the story.

No wonder Michigan's economy is in shambles.

Norfolk 7???

I'm waiting to see the justification for another senseless beating of a 13 year old boy in Norfolk, VA. Damin O'Rourke, who is white, was beaten by 7 black teenagers. A video of the beating is available on the link.

There's no news, yet, on what racist act caused the Norfolk 7 to beat the boy. As soon as one surfaces expect Jesse and Al to make their appearances to defend the boys.