Muslims Have A Habit Of Burning Things

From Michelle Malkin. The following are reasons that Muslims got angry:


If it's not Qana,
it's Gitmo.
Or cartoons or pop singers.
Or filmmakers.
Or books.
Or more books.
Or beauty pageants and bikinis.
Or American fast-food joints.
Or Valentine's Day.
Or playing cards.
Or Piglet.
Or soccer.
Or South Park.

"America: Freedom To Fascism"

There is a new flick coming out with the title "America: Freedom To Fascism." Created by Aaron Russo ,the film examines the possibility that the United States government is becoming more and more fascist.

Well, call me a wacko but I think I believe in what Aaron Russo is saying. I would love to see this film and find out if I agree totally with the man.

Is The Phrase "Tar Baby" A Racial Slur?

To be honest with you I didn't even know that the phrase "Tar Baby" even existed. But then again I am a pretty young guy.

Well, Mitt Romney got busted for using the phrase "Tar Baby" in Iowa to describe the "Big Dig" mess back in Boston.

Give me a break. It is obvious that Mr. Romney wasn't trying to say something racist.

I heard a commentator on TV last night say that calling someone a "racist" today is equivalent to calling someone a "communist" back during the 1950s. Seldom does the word actually apply to the person.

The word has lost its important meaning and that's a shame. There are a lot of racists out there...but not everyone is one.

Terrorism Is ONLY A Crime?

Well, according to this DailyKos poster terrorism is only a crime... not an act of war.

From the post:

"What should have been the Israeli response to the rockets and kidnappings? Cry out bloody murder (not war). Demand that Lebanon do something about it, not bomb them. Demand an UN force go in and disarm Hezbollah militia. Not do it themselves. Not act like vigilantes. Make it clear it was a crime, not an act or war. "

It seems to me that Israel... like any nation... and like any person... has a right to defend itself if attacked. Why must it rely on outside forces to defend its own people? Is this DailyKos poster really saying that Israel should wait for the speedy United Nations to arrive and deal with the situation and allow its people to be slaughtered?

And what if Lebanon doesn't want to do anything about it? What if doing something about the terrorists was not in the interests of the government of Lebanon? What then? Just throw up your hands and give up?

Another passage from the post:

"In no way does this mean we should just take it. But how do we handle crime in general? A neutral policeman is called to settle disputes. We seek Justice for those who are the victims, through a process that assures fair treatment of all of those involved. It is this process more than anything that will counter terrorism."

Well, if the United Nations or an "neutral policeman" was an effective substitute for self defense then go ahead. But I pose this question: If a criminal breaks into your house and starts beating your wife do you call up the cops and wait or do you attempt to do something about it yourself? Of course not! When time is extremely important waiting around is not the solution to a problem.

I find it difficult to understand how anyone would believe that the constant attacks on Israel is only a "crime" and not acts of war. I am sure that for the Israeli victims it seems like an act of war.

Draft Glenn Reynolds For President!

President Reynolds?

Yes, Shining City Atop a Hill is but a humble blog. But from small things big ideas sometimes come.

And here is the next great idea: Glenn Reynolds should be President of the United States.

I can hear it now:
"Whoa what? Are you trying to get an Instalanche from the mighty Instapundit?"

No, see that's the thing. My little blog doesn't even register as a blimp on Instapundit's radar.

So let's get back to why Mr. Reynolds would be an excellent candidate come 2008. After finally getting my hands on a copy of Mr. Reynolds' book,"An Army Of Davids," I realized that this guy can see vital future trends. Mr. Reynolds has his fingers on the pulse of this nation and understands what makes America great-Individualism.

Sadly, I gotta say that the candidates that will be running in 2008-- Kerry, Clinton, McCain, and the like --are too fully absorbed in the glitter of politics to understand what the everyday person needs.

Mr. Reynolds is that everyday man ...a guy who enjoys indie music and likes to brew his own beer (more on that later). He is from Tennessee, a nice Southern State which is a long way away from the wacky liberal Northeast. Hell, if it was 1776 Mr. Reynolds could be one of the founding fathers!

Plus, to state the obvious, Mr. Reynolds understands the power of the greatest invention mankind has ever known.... the Internet. Try to get one of your powerful politicians to talk about the Internet and it is just embarrassing:

No, there is just one Internet President Bush!
No, the Internet is not a series of tubes Senator Ted Stevens!

Convince Instapundit to run! Tell him that once he resides in the Oval Office his unique choice in beverages will no longer be mocked. Instead it will become a national favorite.

Great Election Guide

Check out this wonderful Election Map from the NY Times. Yes, the NY Times... people can still read and enjoy the NY Times you crazy "conservatives" out there!

House Passes Bill To Increase The Minimum Wage

Interesting Election year ploy by the Republicans. Here is the article from the NY Times.

What Republicans Can Learn From The 1986 Election

Now, I was just a tyke in 1986 election. But I found this Washington Times Article from yesterday very interesting. Back in 1986 President Reagan had a 67% approval ranking, a number that President Bush can only dream of right now. Things were going well for the country back in 1986 as the Washington Times article describes. You would expect the ruling party would do well in the election.

But guess what? The Republicans ended up losing 8 seats in the Senate causing the GOP to lose control of the Senate.

With Bush's approval rating in the 30s and a war waging on without end in Iraq what can the poor 2006 Congressional Republicans expect come the fall?

My guess? The Republicans are going to lose the House.

If that happens Bush will become a complete lame duck. His administration will end with a sad disgusting wimper.

N.Y. Times Endorses Lamont

Well, well, well... the N.Y. Times is finally admitting that it endorses Ned Lamont over Joseph Lieberman in the Connecticut primary.

Now, my conservative friends might hate me for saying this... but I really do enjoy reading the N.Y. Times. As a little kid my father would make me read Times' articles to him while standing on the family room coffee table. It is a great newspaper with lots of tradition.

However, The Times' extreme radical liberal bent is destroying the Democratic party. The newspaper is a lighting rod for attack from the Right. Because the newspaper presents such wacko positions, for instance like saying former Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Lieberman is not liberal enough, it gives the needed ammo to the Republicans to be able to distract voters from the GOP's poor handling of the government.

Joe Lieberman is a damn liberal... he was the Democratic Presidential candidate for goodness sakes!

The N.Y. Times needs to shut up and stop helping the Republican party.

My prediction? This endorsement won't help Mr. Lamont win. There is something greater than the N.Y. Times when it comes to persuading undecided voters... and that is Bill Clinton.

Mr. Clinton knows that for the Democrats to be able to challenge the Republicans they need to be able to attract moderate voters.

And that moderate Mr. Clinton is campaigning for Mr. Lieberman.

World War III

Excellent post concerning what the United States faces in this war against terrorism over at Political Pistachio

Here is a great quote from the post:

"Americans must recognize that we, and all free people everywhere, are in a world war pitting free people against terrorists that wish to bring our world into a dark age with them in charge."

Very well said my friend. Very well said.

Text Messaging Champion

I love text messaging but I don't think I could text as fast as this girl.

Jews, Christians, Muslims, And Movies

Dread Pundit Bluto has a great cartoon:

Panic Rooms And The Crazy World We Live In

One of the most fascinating movies for me was Panic Room, a thriller that came out back in 2002.

Now the characters and the plot were not that interesting but the flick did introduce to me the concept of a "Panic Room."

For those who don't know, a panic room is a fortified room which is installed in a private residence or business to provide a safe hiding place for the inhabitants in the event of a break in, home invasion, or other threat. Panic rooms contain communications equipment, so that law enforcement authorities can be contacted.

Now, isn't that an interesting concept? With the poorly made houses of today having a Panic Room must provide a lot of comfort to some people. You never know when bin Laden might come a callin'.

See how Jodie Foster is fully protected in her Panic Room from

this crazy intruder?

Now Panic Rooms are the modern day grandchildren of Fallout Shelters from the Cold War. Whereas the the underground bunkers of the Cold War were dark and unfriendly the Panic Rooms of today have everything that you might need.... phone, Internet, Television, couches... you name it.

Being Safe In Style


But let's say you don't even want to have anyone knocking on your Panic Room's door. Now, you know that there is no chance the bad guy can get in but it gets annoying when you are watching the Notre Dame football game and all you hear is banging on your Panic Room's door.

Solution? Hide your Panic Room!

This company shows you that for as little as $10,000 you can create secret passages that can be opened when you move a candle stick or touch a book on a bookshelf. Real Batman and James Bond type stuff but it is all for real!

Clinton and Bush... Who Is Smarter?

This blog entry discusses a bogus study concerning presidential intelligence.

Lamont's Ads Are Better Than Lieberman's?

Check out the story here.

The election is within 10 days from now. I certainly hope that Lieberman is able to pull it off.

If Lieberman loses then the wacko Left has taken over the Democratic party.

If the wacko Left has taken over the Democratic party, there is little chance that the Democrats will be able to challenge the Republicans in the upcoming election.

If the Democrats can't effectively challenge the Republicans, the Republicans will keep power.

If the Republicans keep both the House, the Senate, and the Presidency.... the crazy spending won't end. We need a divided government.

Yes, this Lieberman-Lamont election is extremely important. ;-)

An Extremely Funny Cartoon

I stole this wonderful cartoon from Kate at Ol Broad's Ramblings:

A Letter To President Bush

Dear Mr. President,

I hope that you are doing well after your recent trip overseas. I know that the trip didn't go very well for you and I am sorry that you forgot to turn off your microphone. Those electronic devices can be tricky.

Anyhow, enough chit-chat. I wanted to write you a quick letter after hearing on TV that there is some possible that an international peace force might be sent to Israel to try and maintain the peace in that area.

Now, I certainly hope that you are not thinking of sending any U.S. troops as part of this international force. I know that you really really want to... because it would "help build democracy.... la la la"

But resist the impulse Mr. President!

I don't even know where you would find the troops. Certainly not from Iraq! They are needed there more than ever according to this article.

And didn't you promise more man power at the Mexican-American border?

Yes, things are extremely tight Mr. President. Our military is overextended throughout the world. Let's not involve ourselves in another conflict. Especially one as never ending as what Israel is currently facing.

Say hello to your hot twin daughters for me,

AShiningCity

McCain And Clinton Are Buddies?

According to this N.Y. Times article John McCain and Hillary Clinton were thinking about having a vodka drinking contest in Europe. The article goes on to describe their extremely friendly relationship.

Though Mr. McCain denied even thinking about it... a Clinton-McCain ticket would be very interesting indeed.

I wouldn't rule out McCain teaming up with Hillary Clinton. He is that type of maverick. But if he did... McCain better win the presidential election because he would have a tough time going back being a Republican senator after such disloyalty.

Mel Gibson Went Crazy While Being Arrested?

Oh my, if this ends up being true it won't be very good.

What a disgrace for what I thought was a great man. Not really a wonderful way to show what conservative Catholics represent.

Iran Replaces "Foreign Words" With Persian Words

Check out the Foxnews article here.

From the article:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered government and cultural bodies to use modified Persian words to replace foreign words that have crept into the language, such as "pizzas" which will now be known as "elastic loaves," state media reported Saturday.

One of the reasons why I am so proud of the English langauge is its willingness to accept new words from around the world. We aren't afraid to be "corrupted" by new thoughts and ideas.

Well, I am getting hungry. I am off to cook myself an elastic loaf.

Mel Gibson Arrested For DUI

Check out the story at CNN.com.

Damnit, and Mr. Gibson was one of my heroes in Hollywood because he is a conservative Catholic. Why can't rich and famous people take limos when they are drinking? Remember Mr. Coors got arrested a few weeks ago for a DUI?

The whole thing is crazy. If I was super rich I would make sure I had a guy around me at all times watching what I did. His position would be called "That ain't Smart Boss"

Anytime I would think about doing something stupid... drinking and driving, selling drugs, or having sex with a minor for instance... the "That ain't Smart Boss" guy would punch me in the face to remind me of the fame and fortune I would give upfor my stupidity.

Download Yalla Ya Nasrallah

yalla ya Nasrallah - song from Israel

Yeah, this song totally rocks.

Click on the video player in order to go to YouTube.com. From there you can download the actually song.

I hope you take a chance to look at the rest of my blog. It is extremely fascinating for all of those who love Israel!

Glenn Reynolds' Wife Dr. Helen Is Totally Hot!

I am an avid listener of the Helen and Glenn Podcasts over at Instapundit.com. Dr. Helen is Mr. Reynolds' wife.

After the podcast I like to go to Dr. Helen's page to post and read comments about the interview. Now hundreds of people comment and each usually makes a decent point.

However, a few days ago a jackass named Michael W. posted the following concerning Dr. Helen:

You are working too hard to achieve that ugly hick look, straighten your hair or get a head transplant, please do it as soon as possible since you insist on posting your fright picture on your site.


What a complete and utter idiot Michael W. must be! Dr. Helen is one good looking woman:

Smokin'

Yeah, and Dr. Helen has some curves. Check this pic out:

Dr. Helen kicked a diease's ass and then wore a tight t-shirt to prove it.

Not only does Dr. Helen have physical beauty but the woman is smart as hell working as a forensic psychologist. I bet the only work you do each day Michael W. is getting that last bit of wax out of your ear while sitting on a beat up couch in your parents' basement.

Plus, have you folks heard Dr. Helen's voice on those podcasts? Damn, totally hot!

So Michael W... if you are out there screw you! Glenn Reynolds is one lucky man... he has the most popular blog, a kickass book... and he gets to sleep with Dr. Helen each night.

Minimum Wage Vote Scheduled

Oh shucks, a minimum wage vote is scheduled in Congress. That's just swell.

My Blog Is 1 Month Old!

Yes, Shining City Atop A Hill is one month old tomorrow July 29, 2006. Blogging has been a great experience and I would like to share what I learned in the past month:

5.) Instalaunches are just Awesome!

4.) Don't you dare not add a link to the site you just placed a trackback on.

3.) The Anonymity of the Internet can make people vicious! (Look in the comment section of that post)

2.) The definitions of "Wingnut" and "Moonbat."

1.) Blogging is one of the most addicting things in the world.

It is amzing how many wonderful people I have met in the last month. My favorites have been Jay, from Stop The ACLU, Kate from An Ol' Broad's Ramblings, and The Dumb Ox. Thanks for everything you guys!

Posted At StopTheACLU

Snakes On A.... Blog?

Have you folks heard of the movie coming out called "Snakes On A Plane"? The flick has Samuel L. Jackson in it and a cult following on the Internet (yes, even before it has been released).

The plot of "Snakes On A Plane" is exactly what you think it would be after reading the title.

Anyhow, this guy made a blog named "Snakes On A Blog" in the hope to draw enough attention to himself in order to attend the premiere of the flick. You gotta check it out.


Even Little Kids Like SOAP!

Data Mining In Politics

One Of The Models Explaining The U.S. Senate

Here is a great website that attempts to use computer models to understand how our congressmen vote.

Friendster Has The Power To Sue Facebook and MySpace

Check out the article describing a recent court ruling, that could threaten Facebook and Myspace, here.

I tried using Friendster a few years ago and discovered that it was extremely poor. The website would always be down or the pages would take forever to load.

But then again the poor performance could be from my computer I used back in college:

Bush's Bedrock

Professor Bainbridge describes how Bush is down to only his "bedrock" support.

Steele Distances Himself From Bush

Check out the Washington Post Story to find out what Candidate Steele thinks of President Bush.
All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS! Someone in the Republican party actually has the guts to criticize Bush (okay, okay, so Steele criticized the President anonymously... it's a start).

In addition, Steele is running for Maryland's Senate seat. Maryland is a pretty blue state. Distancing himself from the president is a very smart political move.

I expect great things from Mr. Steele. I heard the man speak about a year ago and was very impressed with his poise.

GOP Presidential Hopefuls And Michael Dukakis

This great Townhall article explains that managing the government efficiently will never be the solution to this nation's ills.

Vroom. Vrooooom!

The Loch Ness Monster

Now I am fascinated by myths and legends. Cryptozoology seems to be my thing. (Heck, I didn't know that I was big into cryptozoology until I looked up the word's definition) But I am not alone in my love for odd creatures. Some people are positively obsessed with the search for these animals!

So this CNN article about possible evidence of a creature similar to the rumored Loch Ness Monster living in Australia millions of years ago caught my interest.


Now, I know that there is very little chance that the Loch Ness Monster exists. The evidence put out there in the attempt to prove that Nessie is living in Loch Ness is pretty lame. But who knows?

The Earth is a large place... lots of hiding spots for interesting beasts!

Book Of Psalms Found In Ireland

The 20-page book was found open to Psalm 83, which begins (Hat Tip to the brilliant Dumb Ox):

God, do not be silent; God, be not still and unmoved!
See how your enemies rage; your foes proudly raise their heads.
They conspire against your people, plot against those you protect.
They say, "Come, let us wipe out their nation; let Israel's name be mentioned no more!"

Fascinating... relates very well to the Middle East situation right now.

The DVD Rewinder

Just file this little gadget under "A" for "Awesome": The DVD Rewinder.

Al Jazeerah: Vote Democrat!

The Democrats are completely SCREWED in this this editorial by Al Jazeerah. And by that I mean that the Al Jazeerah editorial encourages readers to vote for the Democrats!

Flash Animation Explains Middle East Tensions

This flash animation is just plain sweet!

I gotta say, the flash really does expose the Muslim lies about the Middle East.

The Greatest Deposition Ever!

See? Law can be fun!

Great Bird Pictures

One of the gorgeous pictures over at WildBird On The Fly

Our friends over at the excellent blog "WildBird On The Fly" have some wonderful pictures up. The site is a great place to relax and get away from all of the political talk that occurs on my humble blog.

Amazon To Create Internet Movie Download Service?

Wouldn't it be super cool if you could just download a movie onto your computer and watch that sucker there? Just think about it... boring times at work....long trips. That would totally rock! Well, there are rumors that Amazon might provide that service in the near future. Check out the story here.



"Hey Akmed, you look like the
dude from 'Office Space.' Cool!"

In The Market For Military Goods?

Check out this story from a DailyKos user. The story describes how easy it is to obtain classified military equipment illegally.

From the Article:

There, they were able to obtain, at no cost, numerous sensitive military equipment items valued at about $1.1 million that should not have been released outside of DOD. The items we obtained included two launcher mounts for shoulder-fired guided missiles, several types of body armor, a digital signal converter used in naval electronic surveillance, an all-band antenna used to track aircraft, six circuit cards used in computerized Navy systems, and several other items in use by the military services















"Check out the neato toy I got Mom! INCOMING!"

Cancer Teen To Be Taken By Force

Check out the news story at WorldNetDaily. (Hat Tip to my wonderful and gorgeous reporter from Ole Miss)

From the Article:

The father of a Virginia teen seeking an alternative treatment for his cancer says a social worker has threatened to use force to take the boy away from the family for court-ordered chemotherapy.


Believe it or not I am going to side with the government in this case (even though it pains me to do so). The teen, because he is not of legal age, does not have all the rights and privileges that belong to an adult. If he was 18 he could decide what treatment he wanted.

Thus because the teen in question is still a minor, he is entrusted to the care of his parents'. A parent's control is limited when that control harms or endangers the child physically. Just as child abusers can not get away with their crimes because it is "their" children they are abusing, so must the parental control be limited in this situation.


Quick Reminder:
Remember folks the foundation of AShiningCity's theory on government: The Government should not interfere unless one citizen puts another citizen in danger. In this case the parents are doing just that.

One Person Is One Pixel

Population : One Person is One Pixel

Hat Tip to Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy


There’s a lot of scrolling to the right to see all of this page.

Hate Cult Member Gets Owned

Check out the video here.

Senate Candidate Uses Addicts At Campaign Rally

Josh Rales, who is running for Maryland's U.S. Senate seat, used recovering drug addicts to hold up signs for his campaign according to this Washington Times article.


Now, calm down everyone. It sounds a lot worse than what really happened.

Help In Tracking The Government

Okay, this website just rules.

At the site you can track whatever bill is before Congress. You can view maps of who voted for what bill. You can see what corporations have contributed what amount to what congressmen.











Can you guess what recent House vote this map depicts?



The site is an amazing research tool! Hours of fun!

Amazon.com Faces Lawsuit for Illegal Cockfighting Magazines

The Humane Society of The United States is suing Amazon.com because the online company sold subscriptions to cockfighting magazines. The Humane Society claims that this practice is against Federal Law.

Fine, whatever. I am not going to get into whether or not The Humane Society has a case. But I found the following statistic from the article horrifying:

Of the more than 17,000 magazines sold by Amazon, "The Gamecock" ranks at number 501.


#501? You gotta be kidding me! Don't you think that out of all the topics in the world the fact that a cockfighting magazine ranks as high as #501 out of 17,000 magazines is a tad odd? I had no idea that a rooster trend was sweeping the country.

A Rooster Rave Is Spreading Across The Nation!

Microsoft To Compete With The iPod?

Here is the CNN Money Article.

Now, I think everyone agrees that to compete against Apple's iPod will be a tough challenge indeed. Apple has done an excellent job in fully integrating their product into the typical music lovers life. Where can you go without seeing someone listening to some tunes on an iPod?

Yes, it will be difficult but it was the same when Microsoft entered the gaming business against Playstation. The X-Box has done fairly well.*


*X-Box vs. Playstation:

Xbox 360: 5 Million shipped as of June 30, 2006 (USA: 3.30, Europe: 1.30, Asia-Pacific: 0.40)
PlayStation 3: 0 (Release Date: November 11, 2006) (6 million to be shipped by March 2007)


Here is a great report on how well the X-Box is doing.

ABA Says That Bush Violated The Constitution

"I violated the Constitution? I AM the Constitution!"

From the article:

President Bush's penchant for writing exceptions to laws he has just signed violates the Constitution, an American Bar Association task force says in a report highly critical of the practice.


Bush violating the Constitution? No, that can't be!!

Rep. Wexler Jokes That Cocaine and Prostitutes

Cop Pepper-Sprays Kids At Parade

Check at the story here.

I personally think that the kids got what they deserved. I mean they were shooting water at poor innocent people in the crowd.

The cop should have tasered them.

Kids are always disrupting parades and running into people with their little go-carts. We need to fight back against this menace.

"Screw everyone else at this parade."

Bush And The NAACP

This FoxNews article (the story is at the bottom) reports that Bush called the NAACP, during his speech before that organization, the"N-A-A-C-P" instead of the more fashionable "N-Double A-C-P"

According to the article some of the NAACP delegates commented on the "mistake."


Now, this isn't that big of a deal but you would think that someone would have briefed Mr. Bush a little more about the organization before he spoke there.

Fascinating ACLU Poll

I discovered this very interesting ACLU Poll that poses the following question:

"What Age Should You Be In Order To....."

The poll touches upon everything from abortion to the ownership of a website.

Some things I found interesting about the results of the poll:


The Age An Individual Should Be Able To Decide To:
Have Sex: 13
Drive A Car: 15

"Mom, can you give me a ride to Susan's so I can give her the business?"

The Age An Individual Should be Able To Decide To:
Live On His Own: 16
Smoke a cigarette: 17

Ah, so a child is old enough to pay the bills, take care of himself, and maintain a house but not mature enough to smoke?

The Age An Individual Should Be Able To Decide To:
Have An Abortion: 11
Make A Medical Decision: 15

Hmm... I thought an abortion was a medical decision... foolish me.

Actually out of 21 different activities that were polled only "Owning A Website" had a lower age (10) than "Making the Decision To Have An Abortion" (11).


What the hell?

William Buckley Calls Out President Bush

Mr. Buckley says President Bush isn't a conservative.

It brings such joy to my heart when I hear conservatives criticizing Bush's policies. Finally people are being intellectually honest about this president.

Damn, that Buckley hits hard.

What A Sad Story

Here is a link that will take you to a sad story about a mentally slow child and an insulting sign put up by a neighbor.

Now this is a difficult situation. It seems to me that the family of of the young boy should make sure that he is being watched all the time. But the neighbors putting up a sign that is insulting is just ridiculous.

Pat Buchanan Is A Nazi?

Patrick Buchanan

Recently there has been a lot of negative talk about Patrick Buchanan's opinion concerning Israel's actions. Here is one example, and another, and one more example. (Here is an earlier post that has a link to one of Buchanan's columns).

Now, Mr. Buchanan believes that Israel has gone too far in its recent attacks. Furthermore, Mr. Buchanan believes that Israel is dictating American policy in the Middle East.

Mr. Buchanan has made a huge mistake... he has dared to think differently than Israel. God forbid.

Some people have called Mr. Buchanan a Nazi because of his comments. Others accuse Mr. Buchanan as being anti-Semitic because he dares to question Israel's policy.

This is absolutely insane.

First off, I would like to say that I am a big supporter of Israel. I think that Israel is a great ally of the United States and Israel is a wonderful example of what the Middle East could be in the future.

However, we don't have to base our entire Middle East policy upon Israel's decisions. I might agree with them 80% of the time but I refuse to be a sheep and follow their every action.

Israel is a nation state. Israel has an elected government and a sophisticated military. If Israel wishes to be a nation it can be criticized like any other nation.

Now, there are many instances in which Israel's and America's interests are the same. Supporting them in these instances is of course a smart move.

But it is okay to question Israel. Let's not be sheep and blindly follow Israel.

Democrats Change Primary Schedule

Check out the CNN article here.

What a very wise move... especially choosing South Carolina! South Carolina is a great representation of the South.

The Democrats need to lure some Southern states into their column if they want to have any chance of winning come 2008. This is the first step in accomplishing that goal.

The Shining City Atop a Hill

"I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still."
---Ronald Reagan


I have always found this quote to be extremely beautiful. It has great meaning for our nation and for me as an individual. I hope that this blog shines a little for my readers.

Bush And Kerry As Sims

This is a very funny production put on by someone who must have had a lot of time on her hands.

President Bush And Immigration

Bush And The NAACP

Here is a transcript of Bush's speech to the NAACP.

CNN has some analysis right here.

I have heard talk on the Internet that Bush got a "lukewarm reception" to his speech.

Now, I am not following here. What did the NAACP want President Bush to say?

Bush said this:

Increased funding of public schools? Check!
Increased funding in the inner cities? Check!

Still, the NAACP is not happy.

I have concluded that the only way the NAACP is happy is increased massive expenditures by the federal government.

In the NAACP's mind if you promote a huge government then you are understanding of Black plight. Anything less than that and , in the NAACP's mind, perhaps you are working for the KKK.

India Bans Blogs...But Claims It Was A Mistake

India claims that it was a technological mistake. Hmm, can anyone say "cover up"?

McKinney Skips Out On House Votes

McKinney, who is having trouble in her attempt to be re-elected to serve the interests of the great state of Georgia, missed a number Congressional votes the past week.

Damn, I really hope the voters fire her and get somebody more capable.

Recent Elections Give Vital Hints To Republicans

This Townhall.com article points out that there is plenty of warning from recent election trends that the Republicans will be in trouble come November.

The author asks the question: Will the Republicans hear the warnings and change course?

No, they won't. They are all a bunch of RINOs anyhow. The Republicans are going to lose Congress come November because their base won't come out and vote. It is that simple.

From the Article:

With less than four months until the general election, the GOP-led Congress has been "holding hearings" on illegal immigration; "looking at" tax reform. As far as actual votes on actual bills -- or constitutional amendments -- they have reserved that for measures to protect the American flag and ban gay marriage, which is already illegal most everywhere.

The Importance Of Life

A Picture Of A Partial-Birth Abortion

Here is a site to learn about the horrors of abortion.

At Shining City Atop a Hill we are not afraid to say that we are pro-life. We believe in the rights and the importance of each individual. We believe each individual life is precious no matter what form it is currently in.

While I am religious I do not think it is a good thing to impose my religious values onto others. I think this is a mistake a lot of Pro-Lifers make in the abortion debate. They bring in Jesus and the Church to support their Pro-Life position.

The debate gets too emotional.

Instead I follow my limited government approach to politics when discussing this issue. We should all ask ourselves this following question: How should the government interact with its citizens?

After much thought I have concluded that the government's chief role is to protect each one of its citizens from the deadly actions of others. The government should protect the weak from being devoured by the strong. That's why I think abortion should be made illegal.

I hope that both pro-life and pro-choice people learn as much as they can about abortion.

See how Stop The ACLU handles the Abortion issue.

A Communist's Dream

Take a look at this Yahoo! Question and Answer concerning what would happen if we divided the world's wealth.


And no... there really is not a good reason why I added the "money" picture, seen on the right, to this post. Other than pure awesomeness.

Deadlocked Supreme Court: "Someone's Voting Twice"

Thank goodness a buddy of mine sent me this article from the prestigious Onion online magazine. Such corruption needs to be made known to the American people.


Like I said to my buddy, I bet the cheater on the Court is Stephen Breyer.


Stephen Breyer is the biggest tool on the Supreme Court. Disagree with me? Check out the following picture:

"Oh look at me, I'm Justice Breyer and I like to

teach kids how to read. Please kick my ass."

I have heard rumors that when John "Big Man On Campus" Roberts first visited the Supreme Court he backhanded Justice Breyer and took his lunch money.

I bet by voting twice Breyer thinks he is getting back at Chief Justice Roberts by causing confusion on the Court. Whatever, like Johnny R. actually makes decisions based upon a "vote tally" anyway.

More Fun At StopTheACLU.com

Muslims Fear Superman

Check out this post over at StopTheACLU.com concerning Muslims being scared of Superman.


Damn, Superman Rocks so Hard!

Superman getting into the "right frame of mind" before scaring Muslims

Presidential Campaign Television Advertisements

I discovered this website a while ago but I forgot to post the link.

The website has an amazing number of presidential campaign advertisements going back to 1952. Now, of course my favorites are the ones with Reagan and Kenendy (check out the Kennedy Jingle.... you won't be able to get it out of your head) but I also enjoyed some of political ads from Eisenhower's campaign.

Once on the website you can also check out the electoral college results from each election.

Really, the site is great for a quick political fix. Bookmark it!




Also posted on the great and wonderful Basil's Blog

Yearbook Picture Reveals Too Much

The Article from Overlawyered.com can be viewed here.

From the Article:
Tyler Bennett wore boxer shorts instead of a jock strap when playing basketball for Colts Neck High School, and a resulting action photo published in the school's yearbook inadvertently revealed more (or perhaps less) than Bennett would have liked.



Ha, ha, ha. This poor fella even gets dissed by the writers at Overlawyered.com! That has to sting.

Clinton Will Campaign With Lieberman

Check out how Lieberman is bringing out the big guns in this article.

Clinton is a very smart man. He knows that Democrats like Lieberman are what the party needs in order regain the majority in Congress.


Lieberman in a lot of ways is cut from the same mold as Clinton. Both are not afraid to mention God on the campaign trail and both are not afraid to compromise with the Republicans in order to get a better deal for America.


With Clinton on his team, Lieberman will be pushed over the top and win his seat back.

Buchanan: Israel Has Gone Too Far

Mr. Buchanan usually ends up being right on most issues. See his full article here.

Touched In A "Special Way"

The Picture to the right is from DailyKos:


The DailyKos crowd is rallying against Lieberman
claiming that he is not liberal enough for their tastes.

Here is a video of the "touching" between Lieberman and Bush.

Pictures From The Violence In the Middle East

This link (warning: Very Graphic) will take you to a website that has many pictures taken after Israel's recent attacks.

Are Vouchers Bad For America?

How should we fix our schools in this country?

The People for the American Way believe vouchers are not the right move.

However, I don't understand why vouchers aren't given more of a chance in this country. We allow competition when it comes to college education and beyond. Because of that competition we have the greatest universities on the planet in this country.

But we don't want to try competition earlier during the K-12 years.

Why don't we want to give it a shot? Two words: Teacher Unions. These sorry sacks are more concerned with keeping control of their power than actually educating the kids.

Oh, I am sure that they mean well. But the Teacher Unions are in such a rut that they are immune to any fresh thoughts.

Now, my mother is a teacher and a lovely one at that. I think the teaching profession is a wonderful thing to do with your life. It is a shame that Unions have to go in and spoil it for the dedicated souls that want to make a difference.

Greek Woman To Give Birth To Own Grandchild

Damn, the wonders of Science. The article found on The Drudge Report is located here.

1984 By George Orwell

The greatest novel ever written by human hands is 1984 by George Orwell. The greatest... and the most frightening.

Much More Scary Than Stephen King's Stuff

Mr. Orwell was a prolific writer and also the author of another stellar book Animal Farm.

Now in the world of 1984, there are three major powers left on the Earth: Oceania, Eurasia, Eastasia because of a nuclear war that devastated most of the world after WW II.

YA! Less Countries To Learn... Wait

The story takes place through the eyes of a citizen of Oceania, Winston Smith. Now, Winston Smith lives on "Airstrip One" which today is Great Britain.

Oceania is controlled by IngSoc a authoritarian socialist government.

The head of the government is Big Brother. All the citizens must love Big Brother and Big Brother is never wrong. And because Big Brother is never wrong free thought and differing opinions can not be tolerated in Oceania.

Now the poor citizens of Oceania are always under heavy rationing in order to support their nation's troops fighting in distant areas around the globe. Wars seem to be constant. But the citizens are grateful that they can do their part and help out in the efforts.... but Winston Smith is different.

The novel describes Winston Smith's attempts to break free from the mind control imposed by the State and the ever present Big Brother.

So go out and buy the damn book! Great reading for all the Liberty Owls out there.

Congress Unable To Do Anything

See the Foxnews story here describing Congress' problems in tackling America's most important issues.

Now, you would think a small government guy like myself would be thrilled. Sadly, Congress still is able to spend...and spend.... and spend!

The Republicans are going to be destroyed come November... if the Democrats find a way to nationalize the Congressional races in a similar way that the Republicans did back in 1994.

(Nationalizing the races is very important for the Democrats. People dislike Congress as a whole but like their Congressman... odd huh?)

The War Between Civilizations

Welcome to Sweden

The Muslim Threat In Europe. This Is A War Between Civilizations.

A Protest Against Iran

Some Poor Souls In Iran

Being gay is tough anyway in the world I am sure. But in Iran it can be downright deadly.

Here is a link from Instapundit.com describing the efforts to raise awarenss of this issue.

Helen Thomas Ain't Cool

That's right I said it...


Part of her charm is the fact that she has been reporting at the White House for so long. Ms. Thomas has covered the Executive Branch all the way back to Kennedy.

Now, I am fascinated by history and politics so this woman's life initially interested me. I was so intrigued by Ms. Thomas that I picked up a copy of her book, "Thanks For The Memories, Mr. President."

What a waste.

If Helen Thomas was waiting in a room with the likes of Kim Jong-Il, Ludacris, and Terrell Owens Ms. Thomas would easily win the "Most Egotistical Award."

The stories presented in "Thanks For The Memories, Mr. President" became less about the presidents and more about dear Helen's past 40 years on this planet.

It seemed like in each chapter Ms. Thomas relished the fact that Presidents wait for her to say "Thank You, Mr. President" before they can leave the press conference. We get it Helen! You have your little saying... get off it.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being confident in yourself and I support a strong press. But space is limited at these press conferences. We need the most able individuals asking the questions. Keeping Ms. Thomas around... purely for tradition... is not serving the American Republic.

Now, once again her true colors are shown in a recent outburst with Tony Snow.

It is time that Ms. Thomas retires. The woman is 86 years old and should spend some time with her grandkids.

But please let her retire quietly. No need for tributes.


I suggest Peter Wallsten (aka The Blind Dude Bush insulted) as Helen Thomas' replacement. Why? Because the man is a pure badass for, despite being unable to see, dressing a lot better than I can.

PW kicking ass and taking names!

Everyone Loves The Liberty Owl

I have gotten a wonderful response back concerning the noble and courageous Liberty Owl!

One of the oddest was from a blogger named WildBird On The Fly

There are some wonderful pictures of birds and beautiful stories on that blog... check it out ( Including the picture below)!

It is important that from an early age we teach our children
the values of freedom and critical thought. Hopefully

they will grow up to be Noble and Courageous Liberty Owls!

UPDATE:

If anyone is looking to get me a very early Christmas present... here is a hint.

Is There Something Wrong With Bloggers From The Left?

The conservative Townhall.com has a very interesting article on Liberal Bloggers.

I gotta say I have noticed a similar attitude when I have discussed ideas with the Left.

Bush's Cursing Put In Perspective (And Some Fun Clinton Quotes)

Professor Baindbridge settles everyone down concerning Bush's recent outburst with Tony Blair.

From Professor Bainbridge's Post:

Speaking of finely nuanced views, let's go to the record for some finely nuanced Clinton comments:

"We're not inflicting pain on these fuckers," Mr Clinton declared, going red in the face and pounding his thigh with his fist. "When people kill us, they should be killed in greater numbers. I believe in killing people who try to hurt you, and I can't believe we're being pushed around by these two-bit pricks."

What really gets Clinton angry? A staffer leaked to the press the name of the President's new dog, before the Woof-in-Chief could do it himself. Kurtz captures the moment:

" 'I'd like to know what sorry piece of shit from my staff leaked this,' Clinton barked." -- BLOOPER SCOOPER THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN July 11, 1998

As the troopers see it, Clinton behaved ungratefully and even rudely toward them after Election Day.

"We asked him to autograph pictures for our families," says Jones. "He said, I don't have time for that shit.' Then we brought him babies to kiss. He said he hated babies." -- LIVING WITH BUBBA The New Republic JANUARY 10, 1994 / JANUARY 17, 1994

But who cares? The fun part about the whole Bush cursing thing was that they got it recorded. I don't think anyone actually gives a damn that he said what he did.

President Bush Finds A New Lady?

President Bush gives a shoulder rub to the female leader of Germany. The video can be located here.

This has been a very bad trip overseas for President Bush. (Remember the "Yo, Blair"? )

Should U.S. Stop Supporting Israel?

A recent article posted at CAIR-Net.org claims that the United States should stop supporting our friends in Israel. The article can be located here.

Now, I know that I should have expected something like this from CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), however it still shocks me to read.

Here is a passage from the article:

The truth is that for all the billions Israel has sapped from American taxpayers, it has given us nothing back but the resentment the victims of Israel's military transgressions feel toward those who bankroll their oppressor is a strategic liability in the war on terror. Extremists use our uncritical financial and political support for Israel's brutal policies as an excuse to attack us.

First, I seriously doubt that if the United States tomorrow was to stop supporting Israel the Arab world would start to love us. It is because we share common values with the Israelis that the radical Muslims hate us. Unless the United States wishes to become a theocracy that bond between the two countries isn't going to change... and neither is Islamic hatred.

I can hear it now... "AShiningCity! The reason the radical Muslims hate us is that we support Israel!" Okay, let's say somehow in Fantasy Land America stops helping Israel and the Muslims start loving us the next day. Is this really worth betraying a friend? Should we sell our national soul for protection?

I say no! We must stand by Israel despite the threats.

Comments welcomed.

Muslims And Terrorism

Damn this post at PoliPundit.com concerning what took place on the O'Reilly Factor is harsh.


But I dare say true.

Should I Believe Everything AShiningCity Writes?

Readers follow the tips below or I will be forced

to unlease drunk Superman on your ass.

Tips for Reading AShiningCity's Blog (Or any other source of information/opinion on the planet)

I hope my readers have a critical eye when examining any type of information... be it from the NY Times or FoxNews.

The same certainly goes for items that you might find on a blog.

Now, I try very hard to be fair in my posts but I, like any human, have my biases.

That is where you my wonderful reader's good judgment comes into play.

I usually post a link to the news story that I am blogging about. Check out the link. Google the issue I am ranting about. Look for other blogs discussing the same subject.

Whatever you do don't passively accept what I have to say. Think about my posts. Challenge my posts.

(I mean in the end you will discover I am right... but hell it is a nice intellectual exercise isn't it?)

Americans For Chavez

Americans For Chavez have a very interesting website located here. The group calls for a Chavez like revolution in the United States.

Remember Chavez? Pat Robertson called for his assassination about a year ago.

Everyone Has A Wristband Now

See the "I Didn't Vote 4 Bush" Website here.

Hey if we want to get really radical why not a wristband that says "I support Liberty"?

Nah, it's much cooler to attack President Bush.

Yes, that's the ticket.

"Yo, Blair!"

Check out this groovy conversation between Blair and Bush right here.

I am pretty sure the conversation is real but if anyone can show otherwise....

Who Can Challenge The Con-Cons?

After receiving a lot of questions about my previous post concerning the quirky but ever dangerous Con-Con, I felt a follow up entry was needed.

Now, some might be a tad intimidated by the Con-Con. The Con-Con tends to gather in large flocks because he feels a certain comfort in group think. It is easy enough for a newbie in the Political Jungle to be convinced that the way of the Con-Con is the only legitimate way. Sadly a lot of these newbies become Con-Cons.

But there is not just one choice my friends! There is another creature that also lives in Political Jungle!

I speak of the mighty and courageous Liberty Owl!

The Liberty Owl

Now, in contrast to the Con-Con, the Liberty Owl likes to make up his own mind about the issues of the day. He refuses to fly in a flock like the Con-Con.

The most noticeable characteristic of the Liberty Owl is his uncanny ability to ask questions and challenge anyone in power regardless of political party.

The Liberty Owl is not afraid to fly at night and encounter difficult issues unlike the Con-Con. Our scientists at Shining City Atop a Hill have observed and recorded the Liberty Owl's wise questioning throughout the Political Jungle:

Who will pay for this expansion of government Mr. President?

Whose rights are being trampled upon for your political pandering Mr. Representative?
Who do you think you are Mr. Senator for pretending to want to protect our borders?

So fear not my friends! There is more than one Political Bird out there! And believe me the Liberty Owl is not going to back down to the threats of the Con-Con!

Also Posted at StopTheACLU.com

Push Liberty Blog

The folks at the Push Liberty Blog have asked me to help blog over at that site. I recommend that you check them out... great site and great perspective on politics!

The Birth Of The Con-Cons

Conned: To swindle (a victim) by first winning his or her confidence; dupe.


Conservative: A supporter of limited government and more personal freedom.


Here at Shining City Atop a Hill we have discovered a new creature in the political jungle. The "Conned Conservative", as we like to call this hapless beast, is all around us but attempts to blend in with true conservatives. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you have a Con-Con in your midst.

Do you know someone near and dear to you that is still a huge supporter of President Bush and tries to find ways to compare him to Ronald Reagan?

Do you know a person who will support whatever the Republican Congress will do when it comes to immigration just because the politicians are Republican?

Do you know an individual who ,when he sees a little "R" after a politician's name, automatically assumes that politician is a conservative?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions... congrats you have found a Con-Con!

Now watch out! Con-Cons can be confused easily with RINOs (Republican In Name Only). The difference is this. RINOs actually support and believe in their liberal actions. Con-Cons just follow whatever the RINOs do. They are easily led by anyone in power.

RINOs pretend to be Conservatives. Con-Cons actually think that they are conservatives.

If you see a RINO most likely you will encounter a flock of Con-Cons close behind.

Our research reveals that Con-Cons must be treated carefully... they tend to get their feathers all flustered if you question anything this administration does. They will squawk and accuse you of being soft on terror and not supporting the troops.

The Scientists here at Shining City Atop a Hill have noted that Con-Cons do not seem to have many firm principles themselves... instead they take direction very well from the Alpha RINO President Bush. The Con-Con's feathers are ever changing.


When will the Con-Cons learn that this administration doesn't care about them? When will the Con-Cons understand that the Republicans in Congress don't give a damn what they think?

Big Surprise Here... NASA In Trouble

Read the CNN Article describing NASA's latest equipment problem here.

"Damn, all we do is make repairs when we're up here!"

White House Could Use A Director Of Irony!

Check out the angry Congressman's speech here.

United States Could Go Bankrupt

Find the depressing story here.

Cutting government spending is not just a nice idea... it must be a moral imperative.

President Bush and the current Republicans have failed us in this regard. They continue to lie and pretend to care about this vital issue. It is sickening how some in the conservative movement still have have faith in these fakers.

I encourage all Republicans to stay home for the upcoming election. The Democrats must take back Congress.

We need a divided government. We need to create some incentive for President Bush to act like a true Republican. We need to make Congressional "conservatives" care about what we think again.

That is the only way we can cut government spending.

So this November stay home or Vote Democrat.

It might be the most conservative thing you have ever done.

Muslim Youths Burn Pizza Hut

"This is very difficulty to begin with... but it is real murder

when Angry Muslim youths are around! "

Either that or the pizza was kept in an oven a little too long.

The story is located here.

A Picture Of AShiningCity

Well actually, why don't we look at my dog Bear? Bear has a bit of an attitude and pretty much does what he wants.

Needless to say, Bear still attracts more attention from people than I do. Everyone thinks he is so cute.

Bear and I are Yankee fans. Got a problem with that?

I didn't think so!

ACLU Fights Against Voter ID

Find the article and some analysis here.

From the article:
“Anthony and others on Friday said the cost of getting a state identification card, which could range from $9 to $25, was a significant burden on some voters.”

Now for some this might be true for some.

Conservatives are complaining that people are pretending that they can't pay.

Sometimes people in the conservative movement are such bad marketers. This is a terrible way to handle this problem.

Now brace yourself here I can fix the problem right now....

Why not set up a private fund to help those who can not afford ID cards? Come on Republicans open up those checkbooks. The poor could document financial need and then would be allowed to receive a loan from the private fund.

Everybody is happy... conservatives love it because illegals won't be able to vote. Liberals love it because the poor are able to get cards for free!


Wow,there you go... solved.

Conservatives need to have more confidence in private charities.

One Too Many Coors I Imagine

Sometimes true life is funnier and stranger than fiction.

Bush Has Trouble With German Baby

Another future Bush hater

The Senate Screws American People Once Again

Two months ago many of us were disturbed to be told the news that the Senate was creating an amnesty problem for illegals living in this country currently.

The silver lining, our Republican friends in Congress told us, was that the Senate bill authorized building 500 miles worth of fence along the most highly trafficked parts of the Mexico-United States Border.

At least that was something we told ourselves. It was a compromise of sorts and we are now getting some actual border protection.

Wrong.

In some good old fashioned Washington D.C. trickery the Senate voted for the fences back in May but never authorized the funding of them.

Well, now the Senate voted down the the funding of them.

Great, so now we can build fences but have no money to do so.


It gets worse:

From the Article:
Kris Kobach, who was a counsel to the attorney general under John Ashcroft, told a House subcommittee last week that one of the most unusual aspects of the Senate bill is a provision -- slipped into the more-than-800-page bill moments before the final vote -- that would require the United States to consult with the Mexican government before constructing the fencing.


Ah, so now we are asking a foreign power for its approval before we take steps to defend this country??


Enough is enough. The Republicans are treating their conservative base like fools. I encourage true conservatives, ones who actual value protecting this country from invaders, to stay home this coming Congressional election.

Whatever the other side has to offer can't be any worse than what the Republicans are giving us now.


Here is a Good Example of why we need the fence!