I've Moved!

I can now be found at My New/Old place, which is named Swamp Gas. Come and visit...

More on Fort Hood

I have sent the following to the President, both of my Senators, and to my Representative. I urge you to do the same.

"Fort Hood Police Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who, though grievously wounded, did stand her ground and return fire, thereby saving the lives of unarmed soldiers and civilians, is hereby nominated by a Citizen of the United States, and Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with Bronze "V" for uncommon valor in the Service and Defense of the United States of America."

First, a tip o' the hat to Dr. J. E. Pournelle, who put the idea out there. See it HERE.

I'll begin with a definition from the Constitution of the United States of America:

"Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."

Now, presuming that Maj. Hasan is indeed guilty of murdering and wounding his comrades-in-arms, is it treason?

The argument that Dr. Pournelle raises is pertinent. "I would presume that arming oneself and shooting 43 US soldiers is (1) levying war against the United States, and (2) an overt act, and that Major Hassan should be charged with treason."

Dr. Pournelle also argues that previous speech and writings by Maj. Hasan lend credence to the charge of Treason.

There is, in my view, another reason for viewing Maj. Hasan's killing spree as treason: He turned on his comrades and killed as many as he could. This is the most heinous act a soldier can do - killing your own.

So, let us enumerate the charges against Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

1. 14 counts of murder.
2. 29 counts of attempted murder.
3. 1 count of Treason, as defined above.

Numbers one and three above are punishable, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, "shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct."

IF Maj. Hasan is found guilty, of any of the three above, then he should be put to death.

It's not likely, though. The political correctness currently prevalent will label him as "disturbed" and he'll be committed to a "mental health facility", there to live a lot longer than his disarmed victims.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up...

Honestly now, if I were to tell you this story as a joke, you'd stare at me as if I was crazy.

See the whole story HERE.

Translated from De Telegraaf (in the Netherlands)

"EMMEN — Police in Drenthe province placed video images of an intruder on the Internet. Doing that damages the privacy of an intruder, is the opinion of the Lawbreakers Association [yes, it really exists — translator]. The Association filed a complaint with the National Ombudsman."

Yah.

A "Lawbreakers Association".

I can't wait until the ACLU hears about this one! They'll advise ACORN to rename itself in a heart-beat...

Publishers Buy Ink By The Barrel

I have noted, with much amusement, the Fox/Whitehouse kefluffle over the past week.

All through the week, the President's Men (and a woman or two) on various interview/opinion shows at CNN, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, in fact, everyone BUT Fox. Urging all the media outlets to "ignore Fox", "not treat Fox as a 'real news' organization, "Fox is all opinion", and the list goes on.

It appears that what annoyed the President's Men was that Fox News persists in reporting the news, and strictly seperating news from opinion.

Well, it would also appear that the effort of all the President's Men (and a woman or two) has fallen flat on it's face.

The White House offered up an administration official (I forget which one) for a pool interview, as long as the pool of reporters did not include a representative from Fox News.

The pool, led by CNN (to CNN's major credit) said, in effect, "Fox News is a major news outlet, and if Fox is not included, there will be no interview."

Heh.

Some things that the President's Men chose to ignore - Fox News has the biggest share of the news audience, and public opinion.

Mr. President, this is NOT Chicago. You are now playing on the American stage, and most Americans know B.S. when they hear it. CNN, ABC, NBC and MSNBC know this as well. You would be well advised to remember that.

Some politician or other coined a neat phrase: "Never argue with the press - they buy ink by the barrel."

Rush, the Rams, and the Rev. Al

By now, you are all somewhat aware of the brouhaha involving Rush Limbaugh's attempt to buy a piece of the St. Louis Rams.

In short, after some fabricated "quotes" attributed, falsly, to Limbaugh, the group attempting to buy the Rams dropped Limbaugh like a hot potato.

Then, Mr. Limbaugh did an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (HERE) in which he has a few dyspeptic comments about Al Sharpton.

It didn't take long before my name was selectively leaked to the media as part of the Checketts investment group. Shortly thereafter, the media elicited comments from the likes of Al Sharpton. In 1998 Mr. Sharpton was found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay $65,000 for falsely accusing a New York prosecutor of rape in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case. He also played a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot (he called neighborhood Jews "diamond merchants") and 1995 Freddie's Fashion Mart riot.

Now, Al Sharpton has threatened to sue Mr. Limbaugh. (HERE)

The Rev. Al Sharpton is threatening to sue Rush Limbaugh for writing that the civil rights leader played a role in two New York race riots. Limbaugh wrote that Sharpton played "a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot" and the "1995 Freddie's Fashion Mart riot" in a Wall Street Journal column published Saturday. Sharpton called both allegations false.

This is from a guy who has repeatedly indulged in the worst sort of "race-baiting".

Mr. Limbaugh's other point, later in the column, had to do with the fabricated "quotes" attributed to him by CNN, MSNBC, and various sports writers. Those alleged "quotes" have been shown to be false.

The silence from CNN, MSNBC, and other sections of the media is deafening.

And the media wonders why MSA (Main Street America) doesn't trust them.

The Rams and the Bum's Rush

So, Rush Limbaugh, who wanted to buy a chunk of the St. Louis Rams has been shown to the door.

In the immortal words of the Reverand Al, noted tax evader and libel (or is it slander?) spouter, "It is a moral victory for all Americans — especially the players that have been unfairly castigated by Rush Limbaugh," Sharpton said in a statement. "This decision will also uphold the unifying standards of major sports."

Sharpton added in a telephone interview that major sports leagues shouldn't welcome owners who are "divisive and incendiary."

These immortal words from a man who claims that attempts to get him to pay his tax bill are racist, and who tried to hang Tawana Brawly around an innocent man's neck. And, if memory serves, howled with the rest about the infamous Nifong Case of Duke University.

In a word, my achin' behind.

In the immortal words of Justice Thomas, this is, indeed, a "lynching". High-tech or not, it is definitely low-rent.

The NFL, which swallows camels such as Michael Vick, is indeed straining at fleas such as Rush Limbaugh.

Yet More on the Nobel Peace Prize

I think I kinda knew this, once upon a time, but it had slipped my alleged mind.

Once upon a time Sweden and Norway were the same kingdom. When they were split, Norway got the Peace Prize, and Sweden got the rest.

Sweden awards their share through the Swedish Academy of Science.

The Nobel Peace Prize is given through a committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

That makes the Peace Prize subject to the whims of the current Norwegian Parliament, which is very definitely a political exercise. Given that the Norwegian Parliament is very definitely "left wing", giving the President of the US the Peace Prize is rather obviously a political exercise.

And a dumb one.

The competence of the Committee is now explained. Politicians of either Right or Left are not noted for being anything other than... politicians.