Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-07B

Posted on 2013-02-12 by TPOL Nathan

East Asian Front
Colonial flags fly as anger grows in Hong Kong
(SinoDaily.com)  The founder of a group mobilising Hong Kongers to fly colonial flags said it did so because the city was worse off after 16 years of “encroachment” by Beijing, stressing it was not because of any desire to see Britain rule again. “Our freedom and everything else has gone downhill since (the handover)” said 26-year-old Danny Chan from the “We’re Hong Kongese, not Chinese” Facebook group, which has been “liked” by nearly 30,000 people.

Nathan: Neat, huh?  Sixteen years of Communist rule and the Union Jack becomes a symbol of freedom.  Makes you appreciate the relative sense of liberty that many people have.  (Thanks to “Arclein” for this one.)

First minion – Our right to self defense
Biden:  No real right to self defense
(The Liberty Beacon.com) Joe Biden: “It is clearly within the right of the government to determine what type of weapons can be owned by the public.”

Thanks to Cliff and Scott for this one.  Cliff said, “… they are so lame, it’s worth repeating (maybe someone will believe it…*g*):”  Scott added, “Ya know, when these numb-skulls make such idiotic claims, it’d be just a tad more tolerable if they sourced it.. in other words, being that “it’s *clearly* within the right of government, etc.”, where is this visibly clear? Where does it say that ‘anywhere’, other than from the mouth of (babes)??”

Nathan: No doubt, like any good liberal or Tranzi, Uncle Joe just “feels” this must be clear.  Of course, this is a basic part of statist philosophy.  Since the state must have a “monopoly of violence” it is obvious that the state dictates what weapons it permits its subjects to have.  Once upon a time I believed that there were weapons that were not covered by the Second Amendment, but I have long ago given up that very childish and foolish notion that some weapons were “defensive” in nature and others were not appropriate.  I had, and have seen, arguments that crew-served weapons could not possibly be considered to be covered, because no one had a reason to have a cannon or a warship (18th Century) or in modern times missile or field artillery or armed aircraft or armed ships or even machine-guns.  That defeats the purpose of the God-given right to defend ourselves, if we cannot have the potential to match government weapons – weapons of offense – with our own weapons of defense.  Even in 1787, private citizens and companies owned armed ships – warships that were designed to be merchant ships – with crew-served weapons: naval cannon.  And history records that more than one settler-owned and -occupied frontier fort was equipped with cannon: protection against raiders, whether other nation’s (especially British and Spanish, later Mexican) forces or criminals/outlaws, or AmerInds.  (Keep in mind that although some settlers purchased their land (or the right to use the land) from one tribe or band of AmerInd, that did not keep them from being raided by other tribes – whether enemies or allies of the tribe granting the land.)

Home Front – TSA Thuggery (missing)
California: Government-issued ID NOT required to pass through TSA Security
(KPIX Channel 5)

Nathan: This isn’t prisonplanet or some “say the magic words” site.  This is a Mainstream Media, CBS Affiliate in Babylon-by-the-Bay – San Francisco itself, who went through and tested this in various airports and found (a) you don’t have to use government-issued ID (or ANY ID), and (b) the TSA agents there in the Bay area are NOT running them through a goat rope in revenge for doing this.  Of course, we know that many TSA agents HAVE retaliated against travelers for less than this.  And we also have to ask why the TSA are doing this, after decades of “government-issued ID” (and situations where only SOME government-agency-issued IDs have been acceptable).

Hoplophiles – Hoploclasts
Connecticut: Legal Immigrant Schools Gun Haters on American History
(Freedom Outpost) Following Bill Stevens’ passionate defense of the Second Amendment at the Connecticut State Capitol at a public hearing on gun violence, legal immigrant Henson Ong gave his testimony. Ong recited America’s own history with guns and gun control and declared that the problem of mass shootings was not the availability of guns, but rather the change that has brought about such things was “societal decay.”

Nathan: If this can be multiplied by 500 (10 per state)… sigh,the gun haters and gun fearers WILL NOT CHANGE.  Still, it is nice to read and watch. 

New Religions: Global warming
Administration’s New Climate Report: Next Ice Age ‘Has Now Been Delayed Indefinitely’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: What a relief!  As I sit here trying to stay warm, seeing the 10-12 inches of snow fallen in the last 72 hours, hearing about 30-40 inches in New England, hearing reports of several feet of snow (finally) on the passes and in places like Lead, it is refreshing to hear where the minions of the “messiah” are on this issue.  In the great tradition of King Alfred, the natural processes of the planet will be halted for the good of mankind.

Strange events
Benedict XVI: ‘My Strengths, Due to an Advanced Age, Are No Longer Suited to an Adequate Exercise of the Petrine Ministry’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This is quite a surprise, and somehow, health does not quite seem enough of a reason – except that Benedict has been surprising in many things, so this is just one more.  You cannot help but ask if something strange – besides ill health – is going on, and who will benefit.  Admittedly, it is harder to snuff a pope with poison or a smothering pillow these days.  It is interesting to see how the hate-social-media is responding with not just glee but encouragement for him to off himself, not just step down.

Mama’s Note: As a former Catholic, I can tell you the real problem. Benedict was never truly accepted; by the world, nor by the church… not because he is not a good and humble man, but simply because he was NOT Pope John Paul II. There was never any hope that he could measure up to John Paul, and neither will the next one. The church is split so badly now, that this may well be the beginning of the end. The man who follows Benedict may well be the last one.

As is Ron Paul, John Paul was unique, and the world is not graced with their like very often.

Congress in action – Theft by government
Sen. Rand Paul: ‘The Sequester Is a Pittance’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Anyone WILLING to do the math has known this all along.  It is more smoke and mirrors, more bogus posturing.  They (Congress, White House, etc.) JUST DON’T CARE.  They clearly figure (a) there won’t be a collapse, OR (b)  When there IS a collapse, THEY will be able to escape the results.  Somewhere, somehow.  And they do not care about their duties, their constituents, their “bosses” or their relatives or neighbors or anything else but them, their families, and their buddies and wealth.

Islamic war: Persian front
Iran, Marking 1979 Revolution, Predicts ‘Islamic Awakening’ Will Spread
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Obviously, since 1979 there has been a tremendous awakening as to the reality of that death-cult called Islam, and the evil found within it, and which it has dealt to the world.  The evil and corruption often seen in western governments – including that of the disUnited States – is just that, a corruption of the ideals and principles which are the foundation of western civilization.  The evil and corruption in Islam, whether Shia or Sunni, from Wahhabism to the Nation of Islam, was there from the beginning, in that pedophile, robber, and murderer that started the “faith.”  And has continued since.  May MORE people awaken to the dangers and evils of what Iran practices.

Stupid government tricks – Islamic war: Afghan front
Gen. John Allen Leaves Afghanistan: ‘We Are Winning’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Once again a WONDERFUL relief.  My friends and neighbors and acquaintances – especially those who had the privilege to serve over there, are going to rejoice at this news.

Congress in action – the “messiah’s” wannabe minions
Sen. Graham Vows to Delay Obama’s Nominees to ‘Get to the Bottom of Benghazi’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This will only last until Graham has milked as much publicity as possible, and then the “business as usual” will return.

Stupid government
SEAL who killed bin Laden now welfare case
(CNSNews.com) The SEAL who actually shot bin Laden on the Pakistani raid left the service three years before eligible for retirement and now lives in poverty dependent on charity.

Nathan: I am commenting on this primarily to point out that our beloved government shafts even its most loyal and faithful servants when they no longer can or will serve.  Nothing is said about WHY he left with only seventeen years: why he didn’t sweat out the last three years to get his 20 and retirement and benefits for life.  It almost certainly was NOT a disability, or he’d be drawing something from VA now.

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Current JPFO Campaign Against the Proposed Gun Bans

Posted on 2013-02-12 by TPOL Nathan

Jews for Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) have launched a massive effort nationwide to organize and publicize opposition to the huge wave of gun bans proposed from the Capitol Dome and White House down to local town halls.  This includes major rallies in cities like Denver.

I have great respect for the Jews for Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) and its director, Charles Heller.  However he is doing several things which I believe are detrimental to the preservation of our G-d-given rights, especially that of firearms ownership (keeping and bearing).

The first is the regrettable necessity to treat the Second Amendment as a “right” somehow granted by government, and the subsequent fawning and petitioning and protesting and testimony in an attempt to “keep” that right.  The Second Amendment grants NO rights; rather, it RECOGNIZES a preexisting right, given by G-d, and RESTRAINS the government from interfering with that right.

JPFO and Charles are not alone in this, of course, and I blame the media for making the language so pervasive that we take it for granted that the “Second Amendment gives us the right to…” (ditto for the First, etc.)  Government gives us nothing: it takes things away, and by recognizing and accepting the government’s claim to authority over us and our rights, we are no longer free.

The second is his frequent statements about the “reasons to have any limitations placed” on our G-d-given right to defend ourselves as necessary and using the tools of our choice.  In one recent article, he identified three:  “prior criminal gun use,” “mental incompetence, as declared by a court,” and “being under age 18.”  He does want to repeal ALL other gun laws.  While I understand the politics of negotiation and public opinion and all the rest, and while his proposal is a good start (and highly unlikely to make it through ANY legislative body), the fundamental stance is wrong.  Indeed, it is evil and its consequences are dangerous.  This position is directly related to the first: that firearms ownership is a “right” (read: privilege) granted by government to its subjects (or bluntly, slaves) and can be modified, restricted – or even eliminated – by governmental action.  As a result, effort is wasted on foolish and unnecessary things like trying to keep Congress and the states from repealing the Second Amendment based on the false understanding that doing so would extinguish the right to keep and bear arms.  And even MORE wasted effort arguing over WHAT arms are (or are not) “included” in the Second Amendment.

Charles’ position makes it easier for idiots like Jesse Jackson to babble nonsense about “no right to unrestricted exercise of rights” and other idiots like Uncle Joe to foolishly proclaim “it is clear” that government gets to decide what weapons people may have.  If rights can be restricted for ANY reason other than “malum in se” (“evil in itself,” because exercising the right would result in physical harm to others), they are not really rights – just privileges.  (Of course, merely keeping and bearing arms does not – and cannot – cause harm to others: it is the use of arms, and in particular the aggressive use of arms to threaten, wound, or kill another, that causes harm.)

Let’s look at each of these limitations that Charles lists, in reverse order.  Let us compare them to OTHER rights identified specifically and protected specifically by the Bill of Rights.

Do we have limitations or restrictions on freedom of speech and the press based on age?  Should 17-year-olds be denied their right to express themselves by voice or in writing?  Are 10-year-olds subject to cruel and unusual punishment, or denied the right to face their accusers?  Are 6-year-olds denied the right to habeus corpus (“show us the body”?)  Although we all know of cases where this HAS happened, or venues which prohibit such, most people understand that such age-based denial of G-d-given rights is wrong.

So BY WHAT AUTHORITY does ANY government deny certain parts of gun rights to those under age 18 – or even to those under age 21 as is done for certain types of weapons?  There may be many excuses to do so – but Sam Adams answered those centuries ago: trading liberty for security is very bad business.

Next we have “mental incompetence, as declared by a court.”  Once more, we must ask ourselves if there is any real logic to this: the definition of “mental incompetence” varies from place to place, and herein lies a major rub.   Again, what OTHER rights do we restrict because someone may be mentally sick or unstable or taking drugs that effect their mind.  Why not “physical incompetence” also?  (“That gal can’t hit the side of a barn.”  The Barney Fife concern.)  And why a court?  Why should a judge – paid for by the state – be the one to decide?  Why not by a jury of their peers, if it really is necessary?  I realize that there can be a more direct correlation between unlawful violence and harm using a gun than using free speech or religious belief and behavior, but ALL rights can be abused/misused by those who are not “competent.”  But you may not be competent to manage your financial affairs because of memory failure or other problems, and still be competent to do other things, like drive or defend yourself with a gun.

And we come to  “prior criminal gun use.”  This indeed opens the door to statist tyranny, because who defines “prior criminal gun use?”  And why does prior criminal use justify taking away a basic human right?  If we applied that standard to our right to free speech, then the vast majority of politicians would have lost their right to speak or write because of their criminal record of lies and perjury and falsehoods.  If we applied that standard to “innocence until proven guilty,” then someone who had just one time argued their innocence and failed to convince the jury or judge, would no longer enjoy that “right.” Admittedly, JPFO’s proposal to limit it to “gun use” would end a LOT of government abuse, but it is still not enough.  Even providing a method of letting a felon (or person guilty of a misdemeanor (like a third-grader convicted of “brandishing a gun” because he had a squirt gun in a class room or bus)) would be better than what we have, but it still isn’t liberty.

Please do not think I do not respect what Charles and JPFO is doing, or that I do not understand the political realities.  But it is very important to remember that since 1934, our G-d-given rights have been more and more stolen away: it is no longer enough to slow that process down: it must be reversed and ultimately, completely wiped out.  While I don’t think that these protests and petitions and rallies and such are worth the time and effort they cost – and won’t change a thing in DC or the states, I feel that they have a right to put them on, but only if they don’t harm the rest of us by triggering reprisals or resulting in compromise that damages and damns us.

Posted in Nathan's Rants | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-06E: Rogue bishops, Rogue cops, rogue weather, and other fun

Posted on 2013-02-10 by TPOL Nathan

Culture wars – War on religion
No Deal! Bishops to Administration: You Can’t Force Lay Catholics to Act Against Faith
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Well, you aren’t supposed to.  But talk to the administrators of, say Henry VIII or Elizabeth I and see how THEY forced Catholics to act against their faith.  Do such things as burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, and just plain executions bring any thoughts?  As in the 1500s and 1600s, Catholics have brought this on themselves by cooperating for too long with government for their own power, and then suddenly realizing their necks were in the noose.

Theft by government
Fed Has Bought More U.S. Gov’t Debt This Year Than Treasury Has Issued
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Sounds impossible until you remember all the old debt.

Mama’s Note: Eating the seed corn…

Theft by government
CBO: Federal Revenue to Set Record in 2013
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: But it can’t keep up with spending.  Picture a water bucket turned upside down.  Even if the entire bottom of the bucket is torn out, because of the shape of the bucket, water can flow out faster than you can pour it in.  Especially when you have spray nozzles on the sides pumping “borrowed” water in as well.

Congress in Action – Hoploclasts
Rep. Sarbanes: Some Gun Makers Build Sales Models on Assumption 20% ‘Will Get Sold Illegally’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This claim seems highly unlikely to be true: what on earth difference would it make to the manufacturer?  And WHY would they do this given the current state of gun politics?

Mama’s Note: I hadn’t heard that one before, but it’s possible. Lots of nutty stuff going on right now. What these manufacturers need to remember is that a lot of serious gun owners – read CUSTOMERS – are taking note of those businesses which cooperate with or cater to the gun grabbers. And when the smoke clears, a fair number of these cowardly collaborators will find themselves facing the wrath of their former customers, and stiff competition from all of the new players in the game… including the 3D printers.

Home front – The “messiah’s” minions
Mold? Roofing Problems? Clutter? Obama Administration Launches ‘Healthy Housing Strategy’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Seems to me that this is a personal problem – or perhaps might involve some local agency when the landlord and tenant can’t agree or when a seller or Realtor does not provide the truth during the sales process.

African collapse – Islamic wars: Arab street revolt (2 stories)
Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chair: Obama Talked to Them Only Once on Night of Benghazi Attack
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I am surprised there was a need or desire to talk even once.  It is now obvious that this was all planned out in advance.  Same for the next story.

Clinton and Panetta Never Talked During Benghazi Terror Attacks
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of course not – the decision had already been made that the military would not be involved.

The “messiah’s” minions – Stupid map
Is Waterboarding Torture? Brennan: ‘I’m Not a Lawyer’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Not much of a bureaucrat or “leader” either, if he takes this out.  Doesn’t take a law degree to know what is theft or murder or self-defense; torture is pretty clearly determined “by causal observation” as well.

World wars – The “messiah’s” minions (wannabe division)
Brennan: Al-Qaeda and Associates the Only Terrorists Currently in ‘Armed Conflict’ With U.S.
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Well, that is a relief, I thought that Chuck Baldwin and the Family Research Council and all the various militias – to say nothing of this rogue cop Dornan – were all involved in “armed conflict.”  Whew!

Politics 2013
White House: GOP Cuts Harm ‘Seniors, Middle Class, Disabled Kids’ to Benefit Oil Companies
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: More bogus (and perhaps desperate) propaganda from the “messiah” and his minions.  The GOP really doesn’t care about benefiting anyone but themselves: augmenting their own power and wealth.  It doesn’t matter whether it is oil companies or windfarm companies or pot-growers.

Mama’s Note: And, of course, in the long run such “cuts” only hurt those who are firmly attached to entitlements, gladly living off stolen goods. Otherwise, substantial cuts might free them to live their own lives. Unfortunately, I suspect few would choose that route.

The “messiah” (2 stories)
Obama: Everything Discussed at Prayer Breakfast ‘Forgotten on the Same Day’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: To me, this seems to be a tacit admission that he does not believe in God – at least not in an active and providential god.  If he means forgotten by other men and women – duh, what is new?

Mama’s Note: The very idea of this liar and murderer daring to conduct a “prayer meeting’ is an abomination. Such hypocrisy would be incredible if it didn’t happen so often.

Obama:‘I Often Search Scripture to Figure Out How I Can Be a Better Man as Well as Better President’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Soothing and popular words: all the fence sitters and those who claim to support him because of their religious beliefs must be applauding and crying “Praise Jesus” (or perhaps, “Praise O****”?).  My question is, (and I’m being nasty) WHICH Scriptures?  Mein Kampf?  Das Kapital?  the “holy Koran?”  the Tanakh?  the Bible? the collected speeches of MLKJr?

Mama’s Note: Remember that we are told Satan can quote every scripture. Puts me in mind of the “Screwtape Letters,” by C. S. Lewis

The “messiah’s” minions (wannabe)
Interior Secretary Nominee ‘Not Proud’ of ‘Commuting Footprint’ of REI Employees
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This nominee sends a very clear signal that the management of the nation’s public lands will take a complete “recreation” and “conservation” orientation, and that such “evil” things as mining, logging, grazing, and water/oil/gas production will be even MORE restricted or outright banned.  And the recreation will certainly NOT be anything to do with hunting or off-road vehicles or anything like that:  the only thing that REI sells that has to do with “hunting” are knives; the only things they sell for “off-road vehicles” are shoes (SERIOUSLY!!! ) and a couple of “jump starters.”  All recreation will be limited to hiking, biking (and by that I mean “bicycles” and not Harleys or Victory bikes), fishing, photography, and (I suppose) navel gazing.  Expect most national parks to become “access by foot, bike, or bus only” – private vehicles discouraged or not permitted at all.  Expect more and more prohibitions of motorized traffic – roadless areas, even if the roads existing have to be ripped out.

Home front – Polls
Pew: 53% of Americans Now Say Government Threatens Their Rights and Freedoms
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: But I suspect that not more than 3% are willing to do anything about it other than whinge – maybe another useless letter or petition or call to DC, but no action to prepare for what is now inevitable.

Mama’s Note: Well… we just don’t really know. I suspect there are at least that many, but there is a good possibility there are a lot more of us who simply have kept their mouths shut and stayed under the radar. In any case, 3% of 310 million people is a serious number…

Home front
Liberal Ex-Cop Rampages Across Southern California: Regional LEOs Panic
(Godfather Politics) – A good summary of what is going on and what is singularly lacking from the mainstream media reports.

Nathan:  What a soap opera!!!  At the same time, if you have time to read 11,000 words, read this guy’s manifesto at http://www.legitgov.org/Uncensored-copy-rogue-LAPD-officers-manifesto-0 to see into the mind of a truly mad and evil man, who cannot see the inconsistency of his own thoughts: a truly modern American man.  I can see WHY the MSM is censoring his manifesto and why the LAPD WANTS them to: it is not just all the things that he states (and gives names and dates and details) about LAPD, it is because if they cut out all his tirade about guns and manufacturers who kill people and all his praise of the First Citizen and the First Citizen’s Wife and all the other Tranzi politicos – what is left is yet ANOTHER poster child for Tranzi gun control: a rogue cop, Naval Reserve officer, insane or unstable, with “assault weapons” and other nasty stuff (even a .50-cal!!!).  WITH all the details, he becomes a much more sinister example of a vicious hoploclast and Transi elite: someone who is so hateful of, and fearful of, guns in anyone’s hands but his own and an elite, that he is willing to go out and kill without any real justification with the intent of forcing the gun bans into effect.  Right now, I see him as a sick and tragic figure and yet another very strong argument for personal self-defense with every possible weapon.  Personal self-defense especially against the occupation force (police forces) that are so dysfunctional that they create monsters like him.

Home front
Winter Storm Nemo: Why Is It Named That
(SCRIBD)

Nathan: The Weather Channel (TWC) is a daily feature of life for millions of Americans, and is (together with many competitors) showing that the National Weather Service (NWS) is a worthless government monopoly like virtually everything else they do.  This naming of storms is an example of how private business can and does do better than government.  And – surprise, surprise – the government agency doesn’t like it.  And neither do a lot of meteorologists who would, apparently rather get their data free from NWS and so continue to lick their boots, than pay what a service is worth.  Private weather services make their money in several ways: TWC is an example of advertising revenues coupled with making weather entertaining, including their documentaries and rapid-fire information covering the whole world.  Most TV/radio meteorologists are also paid with advertising revenues, but their employers are firm statists and wedded to the idea of NWS as a “free” government agency paid for out of general taxes: that is, theft and no fees for service in a voluntary exchange.  I don’t necessarily like TWC and its politics (particularly its adherence to the religion of global warming) but I applaud their willingness to do what they think will generate revenue for them and tell the government to stuff it.

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-06D: Theft, Death Cults, and Stupidity

Posted on 2013-02-09 by TPOL Nathan

A free people would not put up with the kind of criminal, murderous mischief that we “enjoy” today from Federal, State, Local, and Tribal officials and employees, and this column’s articles show some major and minor examples.  At the same time, we see that around the world, things are worse!

Theft by government
Ten Year Congressional Budget Outlook Predicts Slow Growth
(CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE) Provided current laws remain the same, the budget deficit is projected to shrink for a fourth year in a row in 2014 to an estimated $845 billion, which represents 5.3 percent of gross domestic product…

Nathan: The byline alone should warn you this is a pack of lies.  The “official deficit” might – MIGHT – shrink, but the REAL deficit: the growth in the real debt owed by the FedGov, is climbing and will continue to climb.  Even if this were true, the increase in the national debt is accelerating due to interest and increases in entitlements.  No wonder more and more Congressional scum are eying the $19 trillion in private retirement accounts.

Stupid government – Government-run, tax-funded schools
Labor Force Mismatch Leads to College Grad Underemployment
(CENTER FOR COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY) Roughly 48 percent of employed college graduates are in jobs that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says require less than a four-year college education…

Nathan: Assuming we can believe the BLS (BIG assumption), this is the other side of the coin that a very large percentage of degrees have NO economic purpose or function.  The person with a Womyn’s Study degree or a Gay and Lesbian Studies degree or even a degree in American History, English Literature, or Modern Media, has no more utility to an employer – or to their success as an entrepreneur – than a high school diploma, with the possible exception that they might have demonstrated some modicum of discipline in actually completing a four-year-degree in ANYTHING.  Of course, the other factor is that the QUALITY of the degrees is low and getting worse by the year.  The reasoning, comprehension, writing, and basic math/science skills of a 2011 or 2012 college graduate makes the skills of someone who graduated in 1991 or 1992 look great: and they weren’t all that good then.

Mama’s Note: No, they were not that good even then. I taught nursing at a community college in So. Calif. in 1991 and can assure you that most of the students were unprepared to do college level work, and did not have the basic writing and comprehension tools to make best use of even the outdated and dumbed down curriculum we had to work with. It was a real nightmare. The most frightening lack was their inability and general unwillingness to engage in any kind of critical thinking. It was very apparent that they had been carefully conditioned never to think for themselves, and not to question “authority.” I can only shudder to think how much worse it is now. Just remember that this is where a great many of your current nurses and other healthcare professionals come from.

Energy – Stupid people
Interest Group Wants to End Natural Gas Exports
(INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH) Natural gas prices have fallen about 50 percent in the last few years as a result of increased production due to hydraulic fracturing…

Nathan: This group (“America’s Energy Advantage”) understands neither economics nor government.  Shortsightedly, they think that a smaller market for our gas means lower prices, but more government meddling in the market will ALWAYS end badly, and what they want (government prohibition on exports) would likely drive prices up domestically.  Rather, as the story points out, they should be seeking an end to FedGov moratoriums on drilling for oil as well as gas on US territory and in US waters.

Islamic war: Arab Street revolt – Stupid US government tricks
Former Special Forces Commander: DOD Could Have Flown Rescue Team From Tripoli to Benghazi; DOD: State Dept. Decided Whether and What to Fly
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This SHOULD serve as a wake-up call for those who continue to work for the government – you TOO will be left hanging in the wind (or buried in a shallow grave) if you trust the leadership to do anything to save you.

Crash of 2009
Under Obama, Worst Multi-Year Economic Recovery Since World War II
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Sorry, this is NOT a “recovery” – NOTHING is recovering; it is just not declining as rapidly as it could be.  This is at best a lull in the depression we’ve been enduring since 2009.

Hypocrite – Abominable Act
Utah Governor: ‘I Do Agree’ That Obamacare Contraceptive Mandate Violates Religious Liberty
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: But NO one who isn’t wearing rose-colored glasses expects him to do anything about it – or about the FedGov stealing our other rights.  He has already demonstrated his hypocrisy in rejecting any opposition to the “messiah’s” gun control agenda: IN ADVANCE.  Why should he reject this mandate?  Oh, he’ll talk real nice like this – he has to keep Temple Square happy – but I don’t think he will take any action at all: except to shove the mandate down everyone’s throat through state agencies.

Congress in action – History
Sen. Rand Paul: Reagan’s Foreign Policy Was Robust, But Also Restrained
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I suppose he says this because he is expected to and not because it is true (or not).  Reagan may have been the best president since Harding and Coolidge, but that isn’t saying much at all that is good.  Like comparing one lawyer to a hundred others:  still doesn’t mean the guy shouldn’t be fishbait.

Tranzi-followers – Stupid people
Chick-Fil-A-Sandwich Shooter Identified FRC as Target Using Southern Poverty Law Center Website
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of course – why not?  And as the story points out, the mainstream media and all the usual sites don’t bother to point this out.  SPLC is an evil gang of Tranzis.

Stupid Tranzis
Rev. Jackson: Some ‘Anti-American People’ Arming Themselves in U.S. Have ‘Confederate Ideology’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Words of high praise coming from THIS man –  Confederate ideology is what we NEED:  liberty, local government, personal responsibility, honor to all.  That is not Anti-American, but is truly American.  The video of this thug is revealing.  What a perfect example of someone who has betrayed his people and his nation.

East Asian Front
Chinese State Media Say North Korea Must ‘Pay a Heavy Price’ for a Nuclear Test
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Hmmm.  Taunting the West or getting ticked at their tiny little neighbor and client state?

The “messiah” – Killing
White House Agrees to Release Memo on Targeted Killings by Drone
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: “Fear all ye who look upon us!”  Especially all you rebel scum here in the United States, no doubt.  Fortunately, more and more articles are appearing on-line on how to defeat drones – and no, you don’t have to use semi-automatic “assault weapons” to do so.  (But semi-automatic battle rifles WILL have their uses if drones start being used against Americans at home: the optimum targets will be the drone operators and their chain of command, up to the political scum ordering it.)

Culture wars: killing babies – War on religion
Catholic Bishop: Obama Is ‘Proponent’ of What is ‘Shameful and Criminal in the Eyes of Almighty God’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: True – but it can also be said that it takes one to know one.  The RC Church can be blamed for several actions and attitudes that have led both to this current criminal occupation of DC and the decline of American society coupled with the rise of American empire.

Culture wars: homosexual agenda
Boy Scouts Delay Vote on Whether to Admit Homosexual Scoutmasters and Scouts
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Too much pressure – this gives them a chance to let the rest of us forget about it and do it low-key, I suspect.  It also gives the opponents time to firm up their options: the major one appears to be secession.  Of course, those who want homosexuals to have a “Scouting” program could have departed from the BSA long ago, but in modern America it is not enough for Tranzis to have their own association – they MUST force the rest of us to associate against our will.

Mama’s Note: The point has been made in many places that the best way for the BSA to regain their “private club” status would be to renounce all “public” support, perks and income. Aside from the “tax exempt” thing – which should apply to everyone, their acceptance of government grants, along with the use of schools and other “public” facilities, leaves them open to just this sort of attack.

Nothing prevents homosexuals or anyone else from establishing their own private clubs. A few churches and other organizations have done so. AWANA is just one of them.

Congress in action – Border jumpers
Cantor Has Not Looked at Details of Senate Immigration Reform Plan, But Hopes for ‘Quick’ Solution
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I’m far from the first person this week to call the man an idiot.  Of course, he is leading a pack of idiots, so are we surprised?  After all, the one-eyed man is NOT the king of the land of the blind: he is the first to be killed for being different.  A pack of stupid people is LEAD by a stupid person – or someone who plays one in a TV show, at least.

Hoplophobes & Hoploclasts – Government-ruined, Theft-funded schools
Virginia: Alexandria cops bust 10-year-old for bringing toy gun to school
(Washington Examiner) The boy, a fifth-grader at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School whose name is not being released, was charged as a juvenile with brandishing a weapon, police said. He was also suspended from school, and Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman said further action is being considered, including expulsion.

Nathan: Yet the latest stupid action by a GRTF school.  A few days ago, I started a chart of this kind of insanity, and this is the 50th incident.

Islamic wars: Saudi front (death-cult)
Popular Muslim cleric raped and beat his daughter to death
(Daily Mail (UK))  A Saudi preacher who tortured his five-year-old daughter to death has been released after agreeing to pay ‘blood money’ … Lama al-Ghamdi died in October having suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken ribs and left arm, extensive bruising and burns. The child had also been repeatedly raped and the[n] burned. Fayhan al-Ghamdi, a prominent Islamist preacher who regularly appears on television in Saudi Arabia, served only a few months in jail despite admitting having used a cane and cables to inflict the injuries.  … the judge ruled the few months al-Ghamdi spent in prison since his arrest in November was sufficient punishment.  He has reportedly agreed to pay £31,000 ($50,000), which is believed to have gone to Lama’s mother. The amount is half that would have been paid if Lama had been a boy. Activists say under Islamic laws a father cannot be executed for murdering his children. Husbands can also not be executed for murdering their wives…

Nathan: What can I say? His reason for doing this – it was an honor killing because she probably wasn’t a virgin any more (I guess she went to that school in California where the five-year-old was giving blow jobs to “all the boys” in her pre-school class.) Even five-year-olds should be armed – at least when they don’t have adults around to protect them from monsters like this and in areas with death-cults like Islam.  Yeah, I know, a five-year-old is unlikely to be able to use the weapon well enough to defend herself, but she deserves SOME chance.  I admit that killing this man now would be wrong – a matter of vengeance which shall be carried out sooner or later.  It would be a bit far-fetched to state that killing him to prevent him from doing this to someone else would not be vengeance, too. Nuking Saudi Arabia into a sheet of radioactive glass would keep this from happening again, but that would kill a lot more innocent five-year-olds, and four- and six- and so forth.  (Is a clean death from nuclear blast better than being raped and beaten to death?)  The best justification I am tempted to come up with is by killing him now, God’s vengeance can begin more quickly.

(And yes, I know that not EVERY Muslim believes this is right – but other Muslims seem to have a word for those who reject things like killing and torturing children and stoning women to death: that word is “heretic.”)

And speaking of death cults:

Stupid cop tricks – Murder most foul
Ohio: Cleveland Police investigated in killing of unarmed couple
(jonathanturley.org)

Nathan: Obviously I missed this story back in October – if it appeared much of anywhere.  115 cops in a massive chase ending with at least several dozen of the mob of cops pouring 140 bullets into the car – “until they stopped moving” and the report so far criticizes the police for endangering other cops with “friendly fire.” No action taken against the cop who triggered the panic by lying about what he saw the woman in the car doing. Next time the mob can line up the victims against a nice grassy berm to make it safer for them to execute them.

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A slightly-fractured “Biblical” tale of modern times

Posted on 2013-02-07 by TPOL Nathan

A slightly-fractured “Biblical” tale is not really “religious” but isn’t intended to be sacrilegious either: just a fun and memorable way to point out the stupidity of modern Liberals and Tranzis.

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.

And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Liberal, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and ran ahead to Jericho and lobbied the city council for many days.

He demanded public funds to help heal the beaten traveler.  The Liberal’s argument was simply that the robbing and beating were society’s fault so other people’s money was appropriate to help the unfortunate traveler.

He argued further that anyone opposed to paying was a racist, and finally after forty days of effort the Liberal and nine government workers headed back in search of the beaten man.

The man was long gone, for the Liberal was too late and the man had been helped by a Samaritan who was a follower of Jesus the Christ.  This Samaritan treated his wounds and cared for him and paid an innkeeper for his board and bed until the traveler was fully healed.

The traveler had continued on his journey, blessed and protected from the wrath of the government workers and the Liberal, who arrested the innkeeper for practicing medicine without a license, interfering with government officials, and improper keeping of records, as he had failed to obtain the name, address, and identity number of the Samaritan or the traveler.  The inn was seized and forfeited as being materially related to the commission of the crimes.  When ditch weed was found growing behind the inn, additional charges of illegal cultivation and distribution of prohibited substances were added.  The innkeeper and his family were sent to Herod’s prison fortress across the Jordan, where their bones still are.

The Samaritan and traveler were convicted, in absentia, for failure to report a crime, illegal practice of medicine, transport of injured persons without permits, and of course, failure to provide name, address, and identity number to the innkeeper.  Additional warrants were issued for their arrest for conspiracy to cultivate and distribute prohibited substances and for self-medication, and illegal export of such substances, since they could not be found in the vicinity.  The wanted posters with sketches of their faces (from “interviews” of the innkeeper) can be seen on the walls of Jericho to this day.

Now, tell me, who was the traveler’s neighbor and who was his brother’s keeper?

Mama’s Note: Oh, I like that one. Sadly, all too true.

Posted in Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-06C: Hoploclasts and Schools

Posted on 2013-02-06 by TPOL Nathan

The sheer number of stupid incidents in which school teachers and administrators (and cops) overreact seems to have reached a peak this last week or so.  I started a large table of those I’ve heard about, and with more than 50 that I can verify, it is an impressive listing of children and families whose lives have been disrupted (and in some cases, severely disrupted) by the insanity of government-ruined, theft-funded (public) schools.  A few new ones are added in this commentary, together with a lot of stupid blather from Congress on various things.

Government-run, Tax-funded schools – Hoploclasts
Arizona: Florence student suspended over picture of gun on computer
(ABC News via Freedom’s Phoenix) A high school student in Florence said he has been suspended because of a picture of a gun. Daniel McClaine Jr., a freshman at Poston Butte High School, said he saved the picture as his desktop background on his school-issued computer. A teacher noticed it and turned him in. The picture shows an AK-47 on top of a flag. McClaine said the school initially suspended him for three days Friday.

Nathan: A picture is now illegal?  Next, the very words “gun” and “pistol” and “rifle” will be forbidden.  This teacher is worthy of the proletariat or the emperor, certainly.  Yes, we can argue that the computer didn’t belong to him but to the school, and they can set the rules as they wish – as the owner.  Except that in turn the school is supposedly owned by the people (well, the state) which is supposed to be in existence to protect the rights of people – even snotnosed little 14-year-olds who like guns.  And pictures of guns.

Mama’s Note: And how dare he do any thinking for himself! Of all the nerve. (Sarc off) And this is in Arizona, supposedly awash with righteous zeal for the second amendment? I really don’t think so.

Self Defense
Shotgun Wielding Ex Boyfriend is Disarmed, Comes Back With 2nd Shotgun,Is Shot & Killed
(Guns Save Lives) The occupants of the home called 911, but before police could respond the suspect returned with a second shotgun. This time, the homeowner and another male inside the home were armed with handguns and shot the suspect multiple times. He died of his injuries at an area hospital.

Mama’s Note: Slow learner. Bet they’re glad they didn’t have to wait for the cops to come…

Nathan: Thanks to her for this. In a sense, these folks DID turn the other cheek, in a deadly situation.

Hoploclasts – Self defense
U.S. Gun Owners Outnumbered Hunters by 5 to 1 in 2011
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of course, it wouldn’t matter if EVERY gunowner were a licensed hunter – the right to carry weapons has NOTHING to do with hunting, and everything to do with defending ourselves against thugs, whether in zoot suits or gang colors or uniforms or business suits, whether they have allegiance to Costa Nostra or a king or a president or just greed.

Mama’s Note: I was scratching my head over this one earlier. “Hunters” are by definition usually gun owners, so the comparison is pretty silly. Sort of like saying “furniture” outnumbers chairs or beds…  Anyway, I used to do some hunting, but finally quit because I can’t keep up any longer. I still carry my handgun all the time. It’s usually my only “jewelry.”

Culture wars: killing babies
Archbishop Chaput: Facing Obamacare Mandate, Catholic Bishops Must Take ‘Right Action, Whatever the Cost’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of a bad lot, Chaput (who was bishop in Rapid City and then Archbishop in Denver) is one of the better ones.  He might actually believe not just in the Pope and tradition and power but in the Bible – at least some of the time.  He is still part of a corrupt organization which is far too willing to accommodate tyrants and evil, and count on God and confession and penitence for their future.  There are MANY things in which those bishops must take “right action” and I fear almost none are being addressed.  At the same time, perhaps the ObummerCare mandate was the wakeup call for them as the gun ban plans have been for many other Americans:  for too long, virtually ALL Americans, individually or in groups, have compromised with evil government.  We can afford no more.

Congress in action – Islamic wars: Arab street revolts
Sen. Lindsey Graham: ‘There Are More Benghazis Coming’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of course: the empire must contract, and that means blood.  But if Graham and others had any loyalty even to their Constitution, the contraction would come quickly and the blood would be shed where it needs to be: here in the US, and NOT messing with people’s lives in some far off land.  Unlike Tripoli – and unlike El Alamein – Bengazi and the entire Libyan disaster are matters of shame: not defending liberty and justice.

Congress in action
Harry Reid: ‘I’ve Got Lots of Guns’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Too bad you won’t use them to make the world a better place.  Too bad you don’t want the vast majority of your constituents to have them for self-defense.  Of course, you realize that even if you can hookwink a majority of the voters of the State of Nevada (or at least hookwink enough that SEIU and the other unions can steal, buy, make out of thin air, or force their members to get the rest of the votes you need), that as long as someone who doesn’t like you or has been harmed (or his family or friends harmed) by you, that ONE of those guns may have a bullet with YOUR name on it.  You poor, foolish man, don’t you know that more tyrants have died at the hands of their “supporters,” like bodyguards, than have ever been killed by their known enemies?

Congress in action
McCain Jokes Ahmadinejad Wouldn’t Be First Monkey in Space
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: There may be reasons to be glad that McCain didn’t win in 2008.  This kind of arrogance and rudeness does no one any good at all.

Mama’s Note: I suppose, though the comic relief afforded by Obama and Biden makes the whole mess a trifle less grim. Not that arrogance and rudeness is any rarity in politics, of course.

Congress in action
Sen. Menendez Says Prostitution ‘Smears’ Are ‘Absolutely False’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Sorry, but when it comes to these “Conscript Fathers” I don’t believe their protestations.  Consider Gary Hart, Teddy Kennedy, and a whole bunch of others.  They don’t keep their oath to the Constitution, why do we expect them to keep their oath to their spouses?  Or obey the law and not turn down what these girls offer or had offered to them?

Culture wars: religious freedom
Oregon AG Investigates Baker’s Refusal to Make Wedding Cake for Lesbians
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Obviously in a Tranzi nation like Oregon, there is no room for religious liberty.

Mama’s Note: Should not everyone have a perfect right to trade, or NOT trade, with anyone they please – for any reason, or for no reason at all? This has to do with the right of association, not just religion.”

World wars
Turkey’s Leader Eases Talk of Joining Asian Bloc as an Alternative to the EU
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Why chain themselves to a sinking ship?  Of course, their choices are limited: Israel might make the best partner, together with some of the old Soviet republics, but they’ve burned their bridges with those folks.

Home front – Self-defense
Background Checks Ease in January; Drop 10.5% Nationally
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I understand that a major part of the reason for this happening is a very simple one: NOBODY is selling much in the way of weapons!  Certainly not good personal defense weapons.  You want a single-shot .22-cal Chipmunk, sure.  Stocks are very low, for good reason.  Same for shot-out Romanian WW1-era bolt-action rifles.  But anything with a good round and able to hold more than five rounds – good luck.

A friend passed this on – unconfirmed info:

  • Smith & Wesson is running at full capacity making 300-plus guns daily, mainly military and police pistols.
  • Ruger plans to increase production from 75 to 100 percent.
  • FNH (FN Herstal in Belgium) moved from 50% production to 75% by February 1 and plans to be at 100% by March 1.
  • Remington and Armalite brands are both maxed out.
  • DPMS (Defense Procurement Manufacuring Services) can’t get enough parts to produce any more firearms.
  • Colt is increasing production weekly but is bottle-necked by Bolt carriers.
  • LWRC (formerly Land Warfare Resources Corporation) is making only black guns, is running at full capacity but can’t get enough gun-quality steel to make barrels.
  • Springfield Armory is the only company meeting demand but is running 30 to 45 days behind.
  • Ammunition is at a nationwide shortage of all calibers over the next nine months.  All plants are producing as much as possible with one billion rounds produced weekly.  Most is for military, then law enforcement and finally civilians.
  • Magpul, which makes firearms accessories, is behind 1 million magazines, so don’t expect any large quantities anytime soon.
  • Reloaders – All Remington, Winchester, CCI and Federal primers are going to ammunition first.  There are no extras for reloading purposes, and it could be 6 to 9 months before they get caught up.

Europe’s collapse
Let Brussels manage our development projects
(Dilema Veche) Structural funds for 2014-2020 are at the top of the agenda of the European Council meeting on February 7-8. Management of these development projects is left to member states but Romanian journalist Ovidiu Nahoi suggests it may be time to hand over responsibility to the EU Commission.

Nathan: The Romanian press are obviously as STUPID as the Mainstream Media anywhere else on the planet.  I’ve seen several articles proclaiming the EU as the new USSR because of its power, stupidity, and centralization – as well as its dedication to socialist (Tranzi) dogma.  How about the weird idea of letting private citizens and businesses decide what money to spend on what development, and letting a free market be the way to do that?

Commentary on advertising (no url)
A report by Stansberry Associates, concerning the economic and political reasons and examples that the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania might get a third or even fourth term has been circulating for over a year, and did predict a 2012 election victory.  They provide good historical examples.  They make a lot of excellent points, but also point out that there are many ways in which a “third” and “fourth” Obama term could be implemented.  The repeal of the 22nd Amendment (limiting presidents to 2 terms) has been again urged by many, including several in Congress.

Personally, I think that there are several reasons that the 22nd Amendment will not be repealed and that the way will not be opened for this “messiah” to stay in office in his own “right.”  Here are some:

(1)  It requires three-quarters of states to ratify: that means 38 of the 50.  Unless the ratification is done with the legislatures of at LEAST a dozen states at gunpoint (virtual, probably not real) not going to happen.  At least not in under four years.

(2)  It requires two-thirds of both the Senate and House.  I don’t think that either 67 senators or 318 representatives could be gotten to support it – even WITH guns pointed at them.

(3)  I don’t think there would be enough time to get this passed and ratified even if there WERE majorities available, because I don’t think the Federal government – or most of the state governments – are going to last that much longer.  I don’t necessarily agree with one or two relatives who think that the Collapse is within weeks, but certainly within months: 16-24 months perhaps.

(4)  If the Federal government only partially collapses (a good possibility), then this “messiah” will suspend the Constitution anyway, claiming a more serious threat even than Lincoln (and people do not realize how close Lincoln and the GOP came to suspending elections in both 1862 and 1864, or how corrupt those elections were).  So he could retain power “for the duration of the emergency” – perhaps by firing (or killing) Biden and appointing some GOP politician (bought and paid for, of course) as VP.

But it honestly does not matter WHO is president anymore: he is at best a figurehead who provides a certain “flavor” or personality to the federal government.  They figure everyone is and will continue to back down and surrender what little liberty we have left.  Look at too many of our own brothers and sisters in the church: they are more eager to “cooperate” and be allowed to be left alone than ever.  Too many of them have become nothing but cheerleaders for each and every foreign adventure, and have brainwashed themselves into believing that as long as the police or bureaucrats don’t come and drive us out of our meetinghouses that we must obey the government and live in a land of freedom – of religion if nothing else.

Forlorn hope – Legislature in action
New TN office of ‘repealer’ would target useless or unreasonable laws to sweep away
(The Tennessean/Tennessee Business Journal) Two Middle Tennessee lawmakers hope to use the government to slash the size of government. State Rep. Glen Casada and state Sen. Jack Johnson, both Franklin Republicans, have filed a bill that would create an Office of the Repealer, whose job would be to identify potentially unnecessary rules and regulations. The repealer would offer recommendations to the governor, the state legislature and the secretary of state. “We’re using bureaucracy to cut bureaucracy,” Casada said. “We’re using government against itself.”

Nathan: Thanks to Steve for this one.  It is too much to hope that this might WORK.  The new officer needs power to at least force an up or down vote – or perhaps take the sticks off the badge of the sergeant-of-arms (from off the axe) and use it on them.

Government-run, tax-funded schools – Stupid people
Colorado: 2nd-grader suspended over imaginary grenade
(Fox 31/via Yahoo) “A seven-year-old boy was suspended from his elementary school for using an imaginary grenade while playing “Rescue the World” on the playground. Second-grader Alex Evans pretended to throw a grenade into a box full of, in his words, ‘pretend evil forces.’  “Unfortunately for Alex, his exploits (heroic as they were) went against Mary Blair Elementary School rules. Those rules include no fighting (real or pretend) and no weapons (real or pretend).”

Thanks to Bear for this: Someone alert Feinstein! Do you realize what the imaginary kill radius from an imaginary grenade is? He could have killed every child’s imaginary friend on the playground.

Nathan: It was a pleasant surprise that Fox treated this as the stupid act (on the part of the school, not the child or parent) it was.

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-06B

Posted on 2013-02-06 by TPOL Nathan

Once more this week, the gun bans and various incidents seem to dominate news and commentary.

Home front – Self defense
Chicago police changing response to 911 calls
(Fox News) “The Chicago Sun-Times reports that starting Sunday officers won’t respond in person to lesser crimes. Those include vehicle theft or incidents where the victim is safe and doesn’t need medical attention. Deputy chief-of-patrol Steve Georgas says law enforcement agencies want to be more efficient.”

Thanks to Bear for this: Forget it, Jake. It’s Chi-town

Nathan: “Call 911 and die.”  Well, not officially, but probably practically, when the 9-1-1 operator has to decide in a few seconds whether or not the victim(s) are “safe” and based on how “safe” is defined.  Same thing on medical attention:  we are now turning 9-1-1 operators into remote EMTs – while at the same time people are decrying remote medicine and on-line diagnosis.  Arm yourself, people of Chicago!  Chicago has been a cesspool since before Lincoln got his law license, and won’t change like this.  This is the equivalent of a “snow emergency” where you just call in; indicative that crime has gotten so out of control in Chi-town that there is no hope, except to arm yourself and get out as soon as possible.

Mama’s Note: Don’t think there was such a thing as a “license” to practice law when Lincoln polluted the planet, but I may be mistaken. There probably was soon afterwards. And, yes indeed, leaving the cesspools is the only rational solution. For many, however, it is probably much too late.

Self defense – Culture wars
Washington: Arm women at home, not on battlefield
(KNBZ News) “Gayle Trotter, a tax attorney and only woman on a five-member panel at a gun violence hearing in the Senate Wednesday afternoon, argued women need guns to physically defend themselves from larger, stronger male criminals. ‘For women, the ability to arm ourselves for our protection is even more consequential than for men because guns are the great equalizer in a violent confrontation,’ Trotter said. ‘As a result, we protect women by safeguarding our Second Amendment rights. Every woman deserves a fighting chance.'” (01/30/13)

Nathan: The headline is Liberty News Digest’s but accurately seems to summarize the testimony.  This attorney is WRONG – women need to be armed EVERYWHERE, even on the battlefield.  Women should not be sent intentionally into combat, but they always seem to end up there – civilian if not military.  Most of what Trotter said is correct, however.

Mama’s Note: Unfortunately, any place – at almost any time – can become a battleground. Both men and women, in countless situations, can find themselves faced with “combat” in the blink of an eye. It is too easy to fool oneself into thinking that one’s own town, home or business is “safe,” and therefore no defensive tactics or tools are necessary.

Owning, and even knowing how to use a gun is indeed very important, but successful self defense depends on so much more. Acceptance of personal responsibility, and the willingness to do whatever is necessary to carry that out, must be the foundation.

Stupid government – Islamic war: Arab street revolt
Someone’s Wrong: CIA and State Dept. Accounts of Benghazi Contradict Gen. Dempsey’s Explanation for Why DOD Sent No Help
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Oh, yeah, what EVER gave you the idea that someone was wrong.  Betcha they ALL are lying and wrong.

The “messiah” – Theft by government
Obama’s Not Through Raising Taxes: ‘No Doubt We Need Additional Revenue’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: The incredible greed should come as no surprise, but it still shocks me.  This man makes Midas, Nero, and Louis XIV all together look like careful money managers.

Mama’s Note: Well, yes… but it’s not as if he’s doing this all by himself. At least half of the population is involved in the theft and redistribution, one way or another.

Culture wars: religious liberty
Obama: Boy Scouts Should Expose Homosexuals to Opportunities and Leadership
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Seems to me the problem is homosexuals exposing the Scouts to things that are not appropriate, not exposing homosexuals to opportunities and leadership.

Mama’s Note: It is pretty obvious that homosexuals or anyone else could set up their own clubs and programs, then “expose” the children to anything they wish. It is equally obvious, and has been from the start, that the only real goal is to take over and destroy the Boy Scouts, originally formed around religious belief and practice – however imperfectly they have managed to do so. This makes no more sense than trying to force Roman Catholic convents to admit men (or ponies) to religious orders. The only result would be the closing of the convent.

Crash of 2009 – The “messiah”
Investment Banker Says 2012 May Have Been Economic ‘High Point’ of Obama’s Presidency
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Like Gettysburg for the Confederate States?  We’ve had five years of depression now, and we can expect that we are barely past the halfway point – and that ONLY if we could get rid of this administration.  Tighten your belts, folks, it is going to really get ugly.

Mama’s Note: And what makes anybody think that a different “administration” would make any particular difference? The entire political spectrum is wedded to the idea that they can, should and must control both the people and the economy. Minor variations will not change the outcome.

Government-run, tax-funded schools
In NJ, Talking About a Classmate’s Head Lice Is a Bullying Offense
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Talking about a classmate’s HAIR COLOR can be a “bullying offense” but not automatically: it is all about how it is done.  But then, we can’t expect a “profession” that can’t tell the difference between a soap bubble gun or a paper or Lego gun from a real gun to understand how to use the English language and how to read body language.

Hoploclasts – Congress in action
Sen. Hatch: National Database for Gun Owners ‘Flies in the Face of Liberty’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Too bad that Senator Hatch doesn’t understand how many things he DOES support also fly in the face of liberty.  And too bad he didn’t fight harder for liberty, even for gun owners, in the past couple of decades.

Home front
Gallup: Conservatives Outnumber Liberals in 47 Out of 50 States
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I don’t believe it – not based on election results: unless the election results were bogus.  Of course, these are all “self-identified” – I suspect that few of them would rate as real conservatives on the Nolan chart.  The following table shows the five “most conservative” states and it is obvious that the rating has nothing to do with reality to ANYone who has lived or worked in ND or NE, to name just two.  To say that Wyoming is tied with North Dakota is to ignore the most obvious observations that can be made about the states.

Mama’s Note: Again, any distinction between “liberals” and “conservatives” is a matter of degree, not kind. They all believe they are entitled to control the lives of others and steal their property, even if for slightly different reasons.

Culture wars: religious liberty
Obama Administration: We Will Still Force Christians to Act Against Their Faith
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: And this is different how?  For too long, “christians” as a large group in this nation have exhibited their willingness to separate society and church and to bow down to the false god(s) in DC and the state capitols, and now they have little choice but to fight and die or submit to even this.

Mama’s Note: This is no different than the choice everyone has to face when presented with tyranny. Fight or submit.

Culture wars: religious liberty
Catholic and Religious Liberty Leaders Denounce Latest Obamacare Contraceptive ‘Compromise’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: It IS not really a compromise, but these people did it to themselves: they allowed government to take over more and more sectors of the economy, they accepted government grants and loans and regulations, and now – now they are paying the piper, or starting to.

Mama’s Note: Even Catholic organizations are saying that something like 97 percent of sexually active Catholic women use a method of contraception banned by the hierarchy. Each individual and family must be free to decide for themselves. Pressure from either government or religious institutions is not the path to freedom. As far as I’m concerned, the question isn’t “faith” or contraception at all, but a matter of who decides and who pays for it.

Crash of 2009 – Abominable Act
Gallup: 61% of Small Business ‘Worried’ Over Healthcare Costs — 30% Not Hiring, Fear Going Out of Business
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I suspect that the numbers will climb quickly: the total costs still have not sunk in.  Many ARE going out of business, and even before the new taxes and “fees” kick in: because we are STILL in the depression which started in 2009, and lies and fancy statistics will not hide that fact.

Mama’s Note: Interestingly enough, the “black” and even the “gray” markets are booming, and the number of people who participate, both buyers and sellers, grows exponentially. Add to that the many new ways to conduct business in private, and the growing acceptance of alternate forms of “money,” this painful interlude may well be the introduction to a whole new world dominated by the free market.

Hoploclasts – Self defense
DC v. Heller Attorney: NY Gun Law ‘Clearly Unconstitutional’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan:  Yes, it is, but how long will it take to get it decided – IF this court does decide it is unconstitutional?  Nullification and outright refusal to obey a law that is unconstitutional in the both Federal and State Constitutions is needed, and I don’t think New York has a baker’s dozen of honest people willing to do so.  I’m hearing rumors of angry scenes at public meetings and of a few businesses making it clear that they will not comply, but there is no REAL grassroots campaign.

Hoploclasts – Stupid state government
Utah governor: Utah will adhere to the law and obey gun laws
(The New American) Taking a position of opposition to both his past statements regarding challenging federal laws that he deemed unconstitutional and harmful to the state he is sworn to protect and defend, the current Utah governor ALSO is opposing the bills being introduced into the state’s legislature and the position taken by Utah sheriffs as being “emotional” and in violation of the Federal Constitution and laws – apparently he sees himself as working for the Federal government and NOT for the State of Utah.

Thanks to Scott for this one.  He said: We [LDS] believe in being subject.

Nathan: That does not seem to match, in this particular case, with what  the Bible (recognized by LDS as well as “Pearl of Great Price” quoted above), which says:

Acts 5:29:  “We must obey God rather than man.”

1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

The God-given RIGHT of self-defense and defense of others is coupled with an obligation to do so.  Not just in spiritual matters, but in physical matters as well.  If a government refuses to recognize the God-given rights of the people, it has declared itself in rebellion to God, as did Saul and many others.  One questions whether we owe ANY obedience to human kings – since they usurp God’s position (Isaiah 33:22)and certainly not to presidents or governors who are themselves in rebellion against the people whom they work for: the people of their state or nation.  When a government which is supposedly by, of, and for the people – when the people themselves reject God and His laws and seek to impose their own laws which are contrary to those of God (such as refusing to allow self-defense or free speech), then we have no obligation to obey that government.  It is no different than if the government said we had to sing hymns of praise to Hitler or offer sacrifices to Stalin or kill our children:  the obligation is to DISOBEY.

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“Messiahs” and guns and photoshopping

Posted on 2013-02-05 by TPOL Nathan

A special treat this weekend was all the fun people had with the latest White House spin about how their beloved leader (not mine), the “messiah” goes shooting all the time, and then published photos to prove it – right!

Bear not only had fun himself, but pointed to other people who were enjoying themselves, showing the emperor has no clothes, like this:

Sipsey Street Irregulars

Having all sorts of fun with photoshop.

Obama goes ‘skeet shooting all the time’? Hardly ever, sources say
(Fox News)
…after he crashed the first two Predators.
“The only time he shot skeet was for President’s Cup,” said the source, referring to a shooting competition tradition involving the presidential Marine guards. “I was there. He stayed for about five minutes, and couldn’t leave fast enough.”

And finally, he reports: There’s a Skeet Shooting Photoshop Contest running now:

Nathan: While it is a lot of fun and helps relieve frustration to do this sort of thing, it is important – more important – to remember that even if the election now three months behind us was cooked, and even if the Manchurian Candidate has been shown to be real life, that far too many people we have to share this land with DO support him, and many of them DO worship him as a deity or demigod.  And that, through the foolish actions of past generations, the power given to this “messiah” and his lackeys is insanely high.

Lost liberty is not restored through writing or publishing satire and sly digs and exposes, nor speaking pretty words in courtrooms or on television or in the town square, although these are all useful and often important adjuncts to the real process of resisting tyranny and facing down evil men (and women) who believe that THEY deserve and have power over us, that THEY are better and wiser and stronger and smarter and prepared by birth and education and “experience” to rule – and that the rest of us are merely tools and fools.  Liberty can be won only through blood.  Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot – and this time, the bleeding hasn’t really begun.

Posted in Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-06A: Weapons and more government silliness

Posted on 2013-02-05 by TPOL Nathan

Starting off with a bang – pun intended – here is Bear’s “Juxtapositions” (Weapons):

Juxtapositions.
Not a random mix. Just something, for those who can still give a d***, to think about.

Iran Smuggling Weapons to Allies
(Fox News)
“Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Iran’s paramilitary is smuggling antiaircraft weapons to allies in the region, threatening both military and civilian aircraft.”

Nathan: Funny, I seem to recall something about Iran-Contra years ago, and getting Stinger missiles to muhadi’s in Afghanistan, and airdropping Sten guns to French Partisans (who probably used them for things we don’t even want to THINK about) and …  Look, smuggling is about as American as apple pie, which has been smuggled now and then.  But like the rest of the “messiah’s” sleazebag shills, Panetta is so two-faced it makes Harvey Dent likable.

Mama’s Note: “…smuggling weapons to allies.” Well, yeah. You wouldn’t expect them to smuggle anything to their enemies. And, of course, the whole idea of “smuggling” implies that someone else has a legitimate right to dictate what they sell or give away.

New York Bans Assault Weapons
(NPR)
“Lawmakers in New York are getting tough on guns. They passed a new law expanding the state’s ban on assault weapons.”

Nathan: This was last week, of course, but remember how Bloomberg responded by denying that his bodyguards should disarm, or even DOWNarm?  Hmmm.  Is Bloomberg one of the allies that Persia is arming?

US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt, despite turmoil in Cairo
(Fox News)
“Instability in Egypt, where a newly-elected Islamic government teeters over an angry population, isn’t enough to stop the U.S. from sending more than 20 F-16 fighter jets, as part of a $1 billion foreign aid package.”

Nathan: Just kind of drifting here, but the same administration that wants to disarm all of the US population not in uniform or with a fancy government title WANTS to a government led by a man who thinks he is Pharaoh and thinks women are pretty much just really smart animals?  Of course, it sometimes appears that most Tranzis feel the same way.  Certainly, they SHOULD fear their own population more than the Arab mobs that are gaining control of Egypt.  Or for that matter, the Egyptian military: unless they use Coptics or Janissaries, I assume that the fighter pilots will use the “pray and spray” method of target acquisition, and the ground crews will do their work “As Allah wills.”

Fontana, Calif., schools get high-powered rifles
(Yahoo news)
“The high-powered semiautomatic rifles recently shipped to school police in this Southern California city look like they belong on a battlefield rather than in a high school, but officials here say the weapons could help stop a massacre like the one that claimed the lives of 26 students and educators in Connecticut just weeks ago.”

Nathan: Actually, EVERY high school should have “high-powered semiautomatic rifles” available to at least the following:  (a) the shooting club and shooting teams – lets say we only fund them at 10% of the football and basketball teams.  Shooting and its related sports are year-round, not seasonal like basketball or track or football: indoor AND outdoor events.  (b) Shop classes:  what?  You don’t like black composite stocks?  Make your own out of cherry or walnut! Same for gun racks. Learn how to get that trigger to work better, learn how to mount/dismount scopes and laser designators.  (c) Home Economics classes:  How to protect your family and home from invaders, 24-7.  (d) Leather and cloth crafts classes:  holsters, even those for saddles and cars and trucks.  I am sure that there are more.  The problem is, these guns are in the hands of cops – a deadly combination in California.

Culture wars: Homosexual “marriage”
SF Archbishop: Legalizing Gay Marriage Is Like ‘Legalizing Male Breastfeeding’

Nathan: I do like this analogy.  Homosexuals can marry someone of the opposite (physical) sex just like anyone else can – and have for centuries. If people want to call their partnership an orange, or an empire, or whatever, fine – just don’t demand anyone else do so.  A rose is a rose is a rose: calling a tail a leg doesn’t mean a cat has five legs!  As soon as we let government get into this mess, it became just that – a mess.

More guns!!!
South Carolina: Expulsion Reversed for Girl Who Brought Toy Gun to School
(WLTX TV)

Nathan: Interesting things about this: the local police department intervened and said that the school district (up to and including the board of education) was wrong about the state law, that the clear plastic Airsoft gun was NOT covered under state law as being a “look-alike.”  Even so, the scumbag of a superintendent tried to make the school district out to be the victim, NOT the six-year-old girl, even while backing down, claiming that threats to the district caused them to back off and just “suspend” the girl.  The ONLY threats this district should receive is a flood of withdrawals of students and a demand that the budget and taxes be cut, to make it easier to fire the superintendent, principal, and teacher, and recall the board.  Parents, get your children OUT of these insane asylums.

By the way, this is the fourth nationally-known incident of this type in less than a week:  we had the little girl at the school-bus stop with the My Little Pony bubble gun; we had the kid with the paper pistol; we had the kindergärtner with the Lego-block pistol; and now this.

Mama’s Note: I’ve been reminding people of this when they ask me what I’m so afraid of that I think I need a gun. Who is afraid of what?

Detroit: Coach defends teammembers by shooting two attackers
(WXYZ)

Nathan: Thanks to Kathy Johnson at “Cornered Cat” for this one.  70 year old coach escorting two of his girl’s basketball team players to their cars and attacked by two young men, at least one with a gun: he shoots both, one dies.  Too bad the other one is being treated at expense of the City of Detroit.

Sandy Hook Father:  You’ll Have to Take My Gun from My Cold Dead Hands
See video!
(Freedom Outpost) [Stevens quoted the Connecticut State Constitution] “SEC. 15. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.” …“There’s no registration,” he said. “There’s no permitting. There’s no background checks. It’s quite clear.”…“These rights are inalienable and are endowed by our Creator, not you politicians, to all citizens regardless of gender, race., or creed.” … “My guns are not dangerous,” Stevens said. “They are at home, locked up, collecting dust and cat hair. But criminals and tyrants,” he continued, “tyrants especially, beware, ‘lock down’ is not an option at the Stevens’ residence and 911 will be dialed after the security of my home has been established!” Stevens asked, “Why is that same security that my daughter enjoys at home with her dad not available at school in Newtown? That is what you should be considering, not making her dad a criminal.” “Charleton Heston made the phrase, ‘From my cold dead hands’ famous,” Stevens thundered. “And I will tell you here today, you will take my ability to protect my Victoria from my cold dead hands!”Stevens slammed his fist on the desk and walked out to applause from the citizens listening.

Debby: Wow, we need more people like him.

Nathan: Indeed, and it will take hundreds of thousands more like him to regain liberty in this land.  Have we finally roused the sleeping beast?

Mama’s Note: I actually had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat after seeing this, especially his rational, calm and unbending attitude. Bravo, indeed. And yes, we need to see this fire and resolve from hundreds of thousands more.

Nathan gets mail:
The following is an extract from the draft of a weekly column written by a friend, whom I hope I have dissuaded from publishing this:

“I agree with those who view arming schoolteachers as unintentionally inviting accidental shootings.  They are professional teachers, not firearms experts.  Can the U. S. do as Israel reportedly does?  Professional marksmen and women patrol Israeli school grounds so that teachers can teach and students can learn.  School boards can decide how they’ll be compensated.”

Here is my response:

I believe that you are completely wrong on this.  For one thing, the Israelis armed in schools are NOT “professional marksmen and women,” but real teachers.  I don’t know where you got this wrong impression.  They DO use security personnel, but ordinary teachers carry weapons.  As do teachers in Utah.  And have for a decade or more – and NO “accidental shootings.”  No accidental shootings at the school where the Obama girls go to school, either – or at XXXX Christian School in XXXX for at least two decades when there were staff and teachers who carried… You are very, very wrong on this, my friend.  You don’t need to be a “firearms expert” to safely carry a pistol and protect your church congregation, your family, your children, or your students.  I agree that there are some “professional teachers” who are too stupid to be allowed to carry a pocket knife – and should not be allowed to teach children.  But we need to get rid of them with or without guns.  Even IF it were necessary to train teachers to use concealed weapons safely – or if school boards want that – a very good concealed carry training class can be conducted in less than 8 hours.  Another friend, in Wyoming, a retired nurse, teaches those classes 8-10 times a year, mostly to women.  She teaches not just how but when and when NOT to, and a lot more.  My younger son, now 21, took a standard national concealed pistol permit class and passed the test when he was 14.  I know one man (in Utah) who offers free training to all teachers and school staff to pass the Utah test (a rather tough one, actually) to hundreds of teachers a year, and has for a decade.

This is NOT an issue.  What IS an issue is that we in this nation have made schools and many other places gun-free human hunting preserves, in which thugs and drugged-up idiots know they have little to worry about until the cops arrive, and can kill and kill and kill…

School swimming pools create opportunities for unintentional, accidental drownings – so lets fill in all the school swimming pools.  School baseball diamonds create opportunities for unintentional head injuries by high-speed baseballs and flying bats, so lets plow up all the baseball diamonds.  Hot stoves in home economics classrooms create opportunities for unintentional burns – so lets rip them all out.  After all, we don’t need sports or home ec classes.  Students HAVE been backed over and injured or killed by school buses and private cars in school parking lots – so let’s ban all that, too.

A recent DHS video recommends that teachers in schools with an “active shooter” should hide under their desk and have a pair of scissors to defend themselves and their students with – though why a pair of blunt-nosed scissors should be a defensive weapon is beyond me: all the sharp-pointed scissors have already been banned from schools.  But of course, we’ve gone well beyond that, as I was just writing.  In the past two weeks we have seen a six-year-old girl expelled from school for having a clear-plastic Airsoft gun in school for show-and-tell, a six-year-old boy suspended from school for several days because he made a “gun” out of a piece of paper, a five-year-old boy “disciplined” and warned that one more violation would result in his expulsion because he made a “gun” out of Lego blocks, and a five-year-old girl disciplined for using a pink “My Little Pony” bubble gun to shoot bubbles at her friends while waiting at a school bus stop.

Actually, my friend, maybe you ARE right – maybe ALL (or almost all) school teachers and administrators are TOO STUPID to be allowed to even own a gun, much less have one while they are being “professional” at school.

Mama’s Note: Thanks for mentioning my classes. The 2013 schedule is starting to fill already. Have guns, will travel! If you’d like to have a two day course or a four day marathon of basic pistol and self defense, please contact me at the email address below.

I’ve written a book to supplement those classes and the first chapter is the story of the man I had to shoot to save my life. Also included is the rationale I teach for armed self defense, and detailed instructions for many of the practical exercises I use to gain both proficiency and confidence.

The book is called “I Am NOT A Victim.” I offer that book free to anyone who will write to me and ask for it. Send your request to mamaliberty at rtconnect dot net – replacing the at and dot with appropriate symbols and no spaces. Put “self defense” into the subject line so your message will go into the proper filter for prompt response.

Our right to self defense
Wisconsin:  Sheriff urges residents to arm themselves
(Politico) Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. says in a 30-second commercial aired the radio in the area. “With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back. But are you prepared? Consider taking a certified safety course in handling a firearm so you can defend yourself until we get there.” The radio spot suggests Milwaukee-area residents should learn to handle firearms so they can defend themselves while waiting for police. Personal safety “is no longer a spectator sport,” the sheriff warns.

Nathan: What, this is Wisconsin?  A Scandinavian state with Tranzi leanings?  What is the world coming to?  Total collapse can’t be far off!

Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Libertarian Commentary on the News #13-05F: Theft and other evil government trucks

Posted on 2013-02-03 by TPOL Nathan

Long week, huh?  Time to get rid of these people, isn’t it?  Government is bad, no matter where in the world we go.  Among other things, government cannot protect people from being attacked or robbed: we must do it for ourselves.

Theft by (non-US) government – Africa’s collapse
Zimbabwe: Regime claims its accounts are bare
(ABC News)  “Zimbabwe’s finance ministry said it has just $217 left in its accounts after paying the nation’s civil servants and government employees earlier this month. Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the monthly salaries cleared out government earnings and tax revenues in January when he made an appeal Tuesday for foreign donors to help raise some $200 million for a constitutional referendum and elections later this year.” (01/30/13)

Nathan: Could it happen to a better bunch of thugs? Let the civil servants see what is is like to starve like the millions of their “fellow citizens” who have suffered under Mugabe.  As for begging, well, maybe the world would be better off if MORE politicians and political appointees and civil servants had to beg for a living instead of forcing others to beg.

Mama’s Note: Mugabe “begging,” that’s rich. He’s stolen millions, if not billions from the people of his country and, I’m sure, hidden them well. He’s in no danger, unless the people find a way to apply the rope and lamp post solution.

Self-defense
Louisiana: Homeowner shoots armed burglar in the buttocks
(WAFB News) “According to the homeowner, the aggravated burglar, 20-year-old Richard Falcon Stewart Jr., was wearing the homeowners clothing and had several of the homeowner’s firearms in tote. According to deputies, the homeowner had Stewart at gunpoint when he told the homeowner that he was not going back to jail. That is when Stewart drew a pistol from his jacket and shot at the homeowner. The homeowner returned fire and shot Stewart in the buttocks. Stewart then ran into the wooded area. Deputy Matt Dean and K9 Nitro arrived on scene shortly thereafter. The deputies and K-9 Nitro found Stewart a short while later in a wooded area. They were able to subdue Stewart who was still armed.” (01/28/13)

Nathan: Ah, the wonders of modern reporting and writing:  I’ve seen sixth-graders that could give a better report.  But if I understand right, we have a clear case of a prepared homeowner and self-defense:  a cowardly thief and attacker, and for once a police dog not into drugs.  Not a bad combo.

Mama’s Note: Indeed. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the phrase “aggravated burglar.” While I suspect getting shot in the butt would aggravate anyone, I’m not sure what the “reporter” was trying to say here. Probably nothing, really. They are not capable of actual thinking, remember, let alone analysis.

Self-defense
Nevada: Suspect shot by employee during jewelry store robbery
(Source: News 3) “Around 4:50 p.m. on Thursday, McClelland and another suspect went into the jewelry store located at 7385 W. Sahara Ave. near Tenaya Way, Metro Police said, and demanded cash from the cash register. McClelland, who police said was wielding a gun, was shot multiple times in the arm by an employee and the suspect returned fire. That’s when the two suspects fled. About 30 minutes later, police said, McClelland was admitted to Sunrise Hospital with apparent gunshot wounds to his arm.” (01/27/13)

Nathan: Apparent?  What, they might be mistaken for a very large icepick?  It sounds like maybe the jewelry store employee needs a handgun with a bit more power:  was this a .22 or .32?  Understand, his aim could have been off a bit in the heat of battle, and I assume the arm he was hitting was NOT attached directly to the hand holding the attacker’s weapon.

Mama’s Note: At that range (I’m assuming within 5 feet or so) it should not be difficult to hit something close to center of body mass. The boss needs to treat his employees to range time once a month or so. And yes, a decent caliber gun would help a lot.

East Asian front
South Korea launches rocket from its own soil
(CTV [Canada]) “South Korea said Wednesday it successfully launched a satellite into space from its own soil for the first time, a point of national pride that came weeks after archrival North Korea accomplished a similar feat to the surprise of the world. The South Korean rocket blasted off from a launch pad in the southwestern coastal village of Goheung. Science officials told cheering spectators minutes later that the rocket delivered an observational satellite into orbit.” (01/30/13)

Nathan: Keep in mind, Korea is not a big place, and the people in Seoul seem to be bearing in mind the cares and concerns of their neighbors (unlike Pyongyang) about untested rockets falling on someone: they have launched their rockets from other places (Woomera, I think) in the past.

Home front – Stupid government – American collapse
NYC area still without power after Hurricane Sandy
(Fox News via Political Outcast)  For months Donna Graziano has been traveling from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to Staten Island every day to provide a tent with heaters and food to folks in New Dorp Beach who are still struggling with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The food is donated from people who live and work in the area. Early Thursday, the fierce winds damaged the tent. Now she says there isn’t anywhere for people to go locally for food and warmth.

Nathan: Thanks to Chris Graham for this one.  He points out that this is an example of how FEMA is (a) completely out to lunch, and (b) given a free pass by the media.  It’s been, what THREE MONTHS – and this isn’t some remote shoreline village in Jersey, this is in NEW YORK CITY.  Look it up:  one of the oldest towns in America, established by Dutch colonists in the 1600s and part of one of the biggest and most advanced urban areas on the planet.  And as Chris points out, this really isn’t supposed to be FEMA (federal agency) responsibility: it is supposed to be state (Cuomo the Clueless) or “local” (NYC: Bloomberg the Nanny) duty. To me, this is another clue to the fact that society – or rather, government, is pushing closer and closer to collapse.  (I have one family member that is expecting that collapse to take place as soon as THIS MONTH.)  It is more than just government’s inability to care for people – a duty it claims but has no authority for.  It is that government PREVENTS private and voluntary assistance from being provided, or makes it more costly, less effective, and less timely.  AND that none of the politicians and bureaucrats really CARE.

Stupid government – Theft
Government Gave 4,317 Aliens 2 Social Security Numbers a Piece
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Encouraging double-dipping, I suppose.  Do you think I could get a second one?  We have joked about a friend who has no Social Security retirement “becoming” a border jumper by moving her place of birth from New Mexico to Old Mexico, so that she can get SSI or other government handouts.  As for these border jumpers, this is just another way of stealing from government, and therefore from taxpayers (since the government steals from them).

The “messiah’s” stooges – Islamic wars: Arab street revolt
Clinton: ‘Very Important Reasons’ Why State Dept. and ‘Other Gov’t Agencies’ Were in Benghazi
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Yes, but she won’t tell you, ’cause it is a (whisper) secret.  And honestly, folks, the “very important reason” is because Americans let the people  that supposedly work for them go all over the world doing stupid things like killing people who are no threat and are not attacking them, and spending money stolen from us to get foreigners to do stupid things like study prostitutes and homosexuals.  And because these American “leaders” are so stupid that they send a homosexual to deal with Arab Muslims!

Theft by government
Gov’t Doles Out $10.3 Billion in Improper Unemployment Payments – In 1Year
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Chump change, to them.  What is that, an hour’s spending?  Double-SSAN-holding border jumpers, people fired for being idiots, scam artists, permanent underclass dolists, and the rest.  Meanwhile, people laid off from jobs because their businesses (employers) were PUT out of business by government regulations or conditions created by the stupidity of government get nothing.  It all works together for evil, doesn’t it?

Posted in Commentary on the News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment