Punishing speech is Unamerican
October 14, 2009
This evening my business partner confronted me about this blog. He was concerned that my political speech in this blog was bad for business. Several of his associates expressed to him their concern about my positions on various issues including health care, immigration reform, tax reform, environment and energy, right to bear arms, capital punishment and church and state. Several weeks ago I had a conference call with one of his more liberal friends who counseled me to use a pseudonym for my political speech. He tried to help me understand by offering an analogy suggesting that if one of my employees maintained a blog advocating sadism I would terminate his employment. He really viewed my speech as sadistic and recommended I hide behind a nom de plume.
Earlier today Rush Limbaugh’s business partner ended their relationship over a statement he made in 2006. It is troubling that the Left is working very hard to punish speech. This summer everyday Americans attended townhall meetings and when they expressed their opinions they were met by harsh rebukes by their Congressmen. Called everything from liars to brownshirts by their Senators and Representatives Americans were punished for speech. The Left won – they control the House, the Senate and the White House – why are they scared of dissent? Isn’t the Left supposed to be the guardian of speech?
The truth of the matter is that the Left DOES punish speech. My business partner is right – sharing my opinion in this blog IS bad for business. But I really believe what I write. I honestly believe that “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (thanks Edmund Burke) Too many conservatives sit quietly by as our liberal friends yell and scream. There is a place for political speech and frankly I don’t want to do business with anyone who wouldn’t do business with me if they knew my true character.
Shame on TechCrunch!
Robin Wauters wrote a post titled, “Applause for Finland: First Country to Make Broadband Access a Legal Right“. This is a good thing? The Finnish government is requiring that each person in Finland receive a 1 Mbps internet connection and boosting the right to 100 Mbps by 2015. Should this be applauded? This sort of government action infantilizes people – it is a slippery slope. These sort of ‘rights’ begin harmless enough – right to shelter, right to food, right to health insurance, right to health care, right to a job, right to a salary, right to vacation, right to television, right to radio, right to internet – where does it end?
I thought we settled this argument long ago. I seem to recall Thomas Paine wrote about the “Rights of Man” in 1791 where he explained that human rights originate in Nature, thus, rights cannot be granted via political charter, because that implies that rights are legally revocable, hence, would be privileges. Internet access is not a right, plain and simple. Robin, care to revoke your applause?
Conservatives are ALL racists!
Yes, if you are a conservative you are now classified: racist. For example, Rush Limbaugh suggested that the media was ‘over-hyping’ the prospects for a black NFL quarterback because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed in the NFL. Was he right? It doesn’t really matter. The problem is that instead of arguing the point, the Left decided that his opinion was racist and as a result he was fired from his slot on ESPN.
For example, I believe affirmative action for black students and workers is no longer an effective means of helping African Americans succeed. You can disagree with me, but in our society we no longer debate the merits of our ideas – instead we demonize whose willing to put forth their ideas. Some on the Left would call me a racist.
House Democrats lead by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas have urged the NFL NOT to let Rush Limbaugh invest in the St. Louis Rams. First, I have a problem with Congress lobbying a corporation NOT to allow an American invest in their company. Second, has anyone ever heard of the ‘glass houses’ principle? The House Ethics Committee won’t do anything about Rep. Charlie Rangel who has failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars of income that he also failed to report to Congress. Of course Shelia Jackson Lee has her own problems with the truth. Third, has Sheila had a chance to review the criminal record of any of the players in the NFL? Pacman Jones – arrested 11 times in 20 months, Micheal Vick – jailed for dog fighting, Ray Lewis – manslaughter, Plaxico Burress – serving three years for shooting himself in the leg. These guys have a problem with Rush having an opinion on the media?
So what did Rush say that got him the title of ‘racist’?
“I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve.”
Is this a racist statement? I don’t get it. This may be a false statement, but it is subjective. There is no way to prove it right or wrong. It is an opinion. Should Congress or the NFL block his investment in the Rams for giving his opinion?
In defense of rape. . .
September 29, 2009
I recall a Texas gubernatorial candidate likened bad weather to rape suggesting, “If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it”. Conservatives didn’t like his joke one bit and he lost the election. Earlier today I wrote about one of Obama’s czars who did nothing to protect a 15 year old from the sexual advances of an older man. I can’t imagine why we would put him in charge of protecting our children. What is going on in America?
This evening I was shocked to read blogs and news stories from the left defending Roman Polanski. For those of you who don’t know the story, at the age of 44 Polanski had sexual intercourse with a thirteen year old girl who he admitted drugging. He plead guilty and fled the country prior to sentencing. Polanski was arrested in Switzerland and is in the process of being deported to serve his sentence for rape. I guess I just don’t understand what is going on anymore. Some of my favorite filmmakers have signed a petition asking for Polanski to be released. Do they support Roman’s actions? How do they separate the man from the act? Is he such a great filmmaker that he deserves to get away with rape? Here are just a few of the 70+ film industry luminaries standing up for rape:
- Woody Allen
- David Lynch
- Martin Scorsese
- Michael Mann
- Harvey Weinstein
- (the full list is here)
We need to remember, as Kate Harding reminds us, “Roman Polanski Raped a Child” – this isn’t some private indiscretion between adults. Woopie Goldberg has suggested that this case is not about “rape rape“. Not rape? Huh? The Smoking Gun has the Grand Jury testimony here and explains the ‘non-rape rape’ as follows,
The thirteen year old’s troubling–and contemporaneous–account of her abuse at Polanski’s hands begins with her posing twice for topless photos that the director said were for French Vogue. The girl then told prosecutors how Polanski directed her to, “Take off your underwear” and enter the Jacuzzi, where he photographed her naked. Soon, the director, who was then 43, joined her in the hot tub. He also wasn’t wearing any clothes and, according to Gailey’s testimony, wrapped his hands around the child’s waist. The girl testified that she left the Jacuzzi and entered a bedroom in Nicholson’s home, where Polanski sat down beside her and kissed the teen, despite her demands that he “keep away.” According to Gailey, Polanski then performed a sex act on her and later “started to have intercourse with me.” At one point, according to Gailey’s testimony, Polanski asked the 13-year-old if she was “on the pill,” and “When did you last have your period?” Polanski then asked her, Gailey recalled, “Would you want me to go in through your back?” before he “put his penis in my butt.” Asked why she did not more forcefully resist Polanski, the teenager told Deputy D.A. Roger Gunson, “Because I was afraid of him.”
Not sure what to say. I can’t imagine how anyone could defend him or his actions. I just don’t understand.
US news outsourced to UK?
September 22, 2009
The major networks have been outsourcing more and more of their news gathering responsibilities to UK news organizations. According to PaidContent UK news websites are seeing seven times more growth from the US from their own market. What is the cause of the growth of media outlets in the UK and the decline of US outlets?
I would argue that Americans are desperate for credible news sources and ironically, the UK is providing some of the best coverage of American events. It is ironic because the UK press is limited by more regulations and restrictions than here in the US. The 9/12 Taxpayer March was barely covered by US sources, but it was front and center in outlets like the BBC, Daily Mail, The Telegraph, Times Online and the Guardian. I think we should remember Thomas Jefferson’s words, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Lets stop outsourcing our news to England…
We assume that the US has the ‘free-est press’ in the world, but according to Reporters Without Boarders we lag countries like Canada and Iceland. Check out their freedom map:
Congressmen Admits Taking Caffeine Pills in 2007!
September 11, 2009
It must be shocking to learn that Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) took caffeine pills (NoDoz) in 2007. The left-wing blogs are all a ‘twitter’ about this shocking admission.
Of course we all have very short memories. Our commander in chief admitted to regular and relatively recent marijuana use as well as trying harder drugs including cocaine. I bought Obama’s audio book and was surprised to hear, in his own words, him describe how he took drugs and sometimes would wake up in the streets of New York. I think we can give Joe a pass on the NoDoz.
Ironically, prior drug use is seen by many as a prerequisite. Last week two of the three candidates for Manhattan District Attorney admitted to cocaine use. Commentators like Tony Newman explain, “Now that the climate for political candidates has eased on personal drug use, we should focus on punishing elected officials who still believe in the drug war.”
Welcome Back Carter: 9.7%!
September 4, 2009
Unemployment is headed in the wrong direction. Obama and his team keep telling us the economy is improving, but the numbers tell a different story. Unemployment is now at a 26-year high. These are the sort of numbers that turned Jimmy Carter into a single term president and brought Ronald Reagan into office.
The real scary part of the jobs report released today was the fact that the average hours worked is down to 31 hours per week. Additionally, the report doesn’t include across the board pay cuts like HP’s pay cuts for EDS workers of up to 47%. Those are Dallas-based workers who are making half of what they made before. This SHOULD translate in to 50% reduction in employment numbers for the company, but instead EDS looks like they are at full employment. Finally, the jobs report doesn’t take into account furloughs for state and local workers around the country in places like Dallas, California, Milwaukee, Maryland, Baltimore, Colorado – more than 20 states are shutting down for one or more days a month now just to save money. You can look at this as a pay decrease or as a cut in the employment figure – but it is not a sign that things are getting better.
Without consumer and business credit (and there isn’t any) the only way to pull ourselves out of our current ‘death spiral’ is to create more employment and in turn more spending. So the only solution to our problem is to fix our problem? Scary…
Japanese First Lady = Definition of Crazy
September 2, 2009
I was listening to a report about the new Japanese Prime Minister and his wife. You might be surprised to learn that the new First Lady of Japan is simply crazy. She explained to reporters today that she has traveled to the planet Venus and was once abducted by aliens. She also knew Tom Cruise in a former life when he was Japanese. I wonder if she was invited to the Ramadan dinner at the White House?
Our fair share of the blood money. . .
August 29, 2009
Pan Am Flight 103 carried 180 Americans and 52 British citizens. The plane was blown up over Lockerbie Scotland by Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. Two years ago the British government decided that it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to allow Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi to return to his home country – Lybia according to an article in The Sunday Times. Why? Simple, Lybia offered the United Kingdom a oil and gas deal worth 15 billion pounds. It is too late to get Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi back, so we should ask the United Kingdom for our fair share of the blood money. Seems like we should be getting 10.2 billion pounds in exchange for the American lives that were lost – America paid the bigger price and as a result we should get the bigger payoff.
Was Ted Kennedy a Traitor?
August 28, 2009
Forbes is reporting that Senator Kennedy offered aid and comfort to General Secretary Andropov while President Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union. The article explains how Kennedy secretly reached out to the Soviets,
“Kennedy’s message was simple. He proposed an unabashed quid pro quo. Kennedy would lend Andropov a hand in dealing with President Reagan. In return, the Soviet leader would lend the Democratic Party a hand in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election. “The only real potential threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations,” the memorandum stated. “These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign.” Kennedy made Andropov a couple of specific offers. First he offered to visit Moscow. “The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA.” Kennedy would help the Soviets deal with Reagan by telling them how to brush up their propaganda. Then he offered to make it possible for Andropov to sit down for a few interviews on American television. “A direct appeal … to the American people will, without a doubt, attract a great deal of attention and interest in the country. … If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about suitable steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y.V. Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interviews. … The senator underlined the importance that this initiative should be seen as coming from the American side.”
The article concludes that Kennedy was willing to do anything to get elected president, even if it meant betraying his country. Peter Robinson suggests, “On the Cold War, the greatest issue of his lifetime, Kennedy got it wrong.” I wonder if Reagan knew…
