WyBlog

AGW hype alert, the killer hurricanes are coming!

Stock up on sandbags and plywood, hoard the canned goods, and keep that generator and inflatable life raft on standby. AccuWeather warns us that 2010 "has the chance to be an extreme [hurricane] season".

Didn't they say the same thing last year? Why yes, yes they did! Then it was "revised downward" when the hype didn't match reality. And the same thing happened the year before that, too. 2006? Wrong again!

Does anyone besides me detect a pattern here?

In fact, IPCC hurricane predictions have a perfect track record — they have been wrong 100% of the time. Hey, at least they're consistent.

So why is it that each and every year the predictions put forth by these pompous buffoons is awaited with baited breath and thrust into the forefront of the media spotlight? I'd say it's because people have a certain macabre fascination with disasters, and predicting killer hurricanes is a sure-fire way to pique interest and drive ratings (and clicks).

Plus, it's not like anyone holds these guys accountable for their erroneous forecasts. Despite their 100% failure rate they're still hawking the same worthless computer models and trying desperately to convince us that their doomsday scenarios for fifty years hence are frighteningly real.

Sorry dudes. When it comes to your credibility you can't "hide the decline" anymore.

Posted at 12:56 by Chris Wysocki   [/agw]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: AGW hurricane climate weather

Coming to C-SPAN, an Oscar-worthy film of Washington intrigue

If you're not reading The Resistance you're missing great stuff like this.

(h/t Mind Numbed Robot)

Posted at 09:28 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Academy+Awards Hurt+Locker Rahm+Emanuel Eric+Massa

Legislative timewaster alert - NJ seeks to turn "Freeholders" into "Commissioners"

I think every state in the union has some form of county government. In 49 of those states the elected representatives for the county are called "Commissioners". But in New Jersey each county is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, rendering the representative's official title as "Freeholder".

It's a historical term from English common law, referring to someone who owns his land free and clear of the King. What could be more emblematic of freedom than being the owner of your land? Wouldn't we want to emphasize that roots in the community, rather than fealty to the Sovereign (eg the government), is a desirable trait for our elected leaders?

Well apparently the term "Freeholder" is now racist. Yup. It's been in use for more than 400 years, but since it may at one time have been applicable exclusively to white (rich) men, now it's racist. This ought to be big news to the 5 African-American and one Latino member of Essex County's 7 member Freeholder Board (four of whom are women). They seem perfectly content to go about their business and run for re-election as "Chosen Freeholders".

Nonetheless, Guilty White Liberals are determined to abolish the term and replace it with "County Commissioner".

Doesn't our state have some slightly more important problems to solve? Why are they wasting their time on trivialities of nomenclature? Suppose they change the name; how much is it going to cost to reprint all the paperwork and change the signs and update all the web pages and phone books? Couldn't they find a better use for that money?

Freeholder is an ancient and honorable title. We would lose a piece of our history if we were to abandon it. Plus, it's a great tool for teaching civics to our schoolchildren. When they learn the origin of the term they get a sense of the historical underpinnings of our own government. We should not take that away by replacing it with a blase job description which connotes nothing more than a vague sense of self-importance.

Posted at 22:14 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJ+Politics Freeholder County+Government

The Census endorses same-sex "marriage" in all 50 states

With one simple checkbox the U.S. Census Bureau has opened the door for official recognition of same sex "marriage" in all 50 states. Regardless of their legal status (civil union, domestic partnership, etc) same-sex couples will be given the opportunity to categorize their living arrangement as a "marriage" on an official U.S. government document.

This is how radical change happens folks. Not by elections. Not by votes in a legislature. Not even by decisions rendered by the Supreme Court. A bureaucrat designs a form and now every state in the union has official recognition of same-sex "marriage". No muss. No fuss. No accountability.

We The People get the shaft.

"The truth is that the number of kinds of legally married couples in this country is a very complicated situation," said Gary Gates, a demographer with the University of California, Los Angeles. "How do you keep up with that?"

Gee, I don't know Mr. Hot Shot Demographer. You've got 57 different boxes for the various flavors of Asians and Pacific Islanders and people of Hispanic origin. Is that less complicated than adding "domestic partner" next to husband and wife?

Of course not. The Census is a political tool and the decision to recognize same-sex "marriage" is a political decision. It was implemented with the express purpose of enabling the federal government to tabulate and officially establish a precedent for same-sex "marriage" in all 50 states.

While we were busy tackling this issue head on Barack Obama's ACORN-infused Census Bureau has brought official nationwide endorsement of same-sex "marriage" in via the back door.

Posted at 09:34 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Census gay+marriage same+sex+marriage civil+unions

Does anybody from Chicago really care about time?

Raise your hand if you got the play on words in the title of this post.

Obama Confuses Decades, Inflates Estimated Health Care Savings by $868B.

$1 trillion, one billion (220, 221), whatever it takes.

"I'll gladly promise you a trillion dollar savings in 2019 in exchange for your gullibility today!"

Does Barry really know what decade it is?

Does Barry really care (about us)?

Hell No!

MarySue watched POTUS and TOTUS in person today. By her account the kids brought in to rah-rah it up weren't nearly as impressed as Barry needed them to be. Yeah, it's a bummer to discover that you're gonna get hosed before the grand socialist utopia even has a chance to get off the ground.

He did say one thing I could agree with — "The time for talk is over."

OK Barry, take your own advice and STFU.

Posted at 20:35 by Chris Wysocki   [/obamacare]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obamacare

News You Can Use: Don't inject silicone caulk to make your butt bigger

Six New Jersey women required emergency surgery after undergoing a butt enhancement procedure using silicone bathtub caulk.

Cheeseburgers. If you want a bigger butt, just eat cheeseburgers. I speak from experience!

This reminds me of an old joke. After about 10 years of marriage a lady went to her husband and asked him to pay for breast implants. He said, "try this first - twice each day rub some toilet paper up and down between your breasts. They'll get bigger."

When she appeared skeptical he explained, "worked on your ass, didn't it?"

And of course, when referring to bigger butts, we need a little music:

Fat bottom girls you make the rockin' world go round!

Posted at 12:56 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: butt+enhancement

Keystone Kops swoop in to seize unlicensed beer

Benjamin Franklin is spinning in his grave. The man who once said that "beer is proof that God loves us" never envisioned the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The Keystone Kops have a list of Officially Licensed Beer and woe unto you if yours isn't on the list.

Totalitarian thugs right out of Soviet Russia drum up specious charges relating to bogus paperwork and suddenly $7200 worth of premium beer is seized and whisked away to an "undisclosed location". (Wanna bet that "undisclosed location" is a State Police union hall from which it will mysteriously "vanish" one bottle at a time?)

Our Founding Fathers established the principle that we are innocent until proven guilty. Our nation bends over backwards to assuage the fragile consciences of ACLU lawyers who defend murderous Islamist scum. But if you're selling beer which isn't on some petty bureaucrat's list you have no rights. You have no recourse. Your beer is gone in the blink of an eye.

And then the stormtroopers will take six to eight months before they present their checklist to an Administrative Law Judge who has the sole power to determine if the beer was mislabeled or unregistered. Because these are high-end craft beers it is likely they will be "skunked" long before that time unless that State Police's "undisclosed location" has precise temperature control. If the judge says it's unlicensed it will be destroyed forthwith (ie, the State Police will have one hellacious party).

And what is their lame-ass excuse for requiring beer to be licensed in the first place? Drunk driving, of course.

Francesca Chapman, a PLCB spokeswoman, said that the registration requirement helps prosecutors identify alcoholic beverages in drunk-driving cases or any other type of prosecution.

Francesca Chapman, you are a horse's ass. You can't be stupid enough to believe such a profoundly ridiculous statement. Well, maybe you can. You're a bureaucrat, and bureaucratic stupidity is 99.44% of what government is all about.

The enemies of America have more Constitutional Rights than a regular guy just trying to make a living selling beer. Yes, the Founding Fathers are definitely spinning in their graves.

Posted at 11:03 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: beer nanny+state Pennsylvania

New Jersey's perfectly legal no-show public jobs

How's this for a sweet gig? Sit home, or play golf, or travel the world, all while collecting a paycheck courtesy of the taxpayers of New Jersey. Play your cards right and you can even get a raise while doing absolutely nothing.

Welcome to the Bizarro World of public employee terminal leave.

Isn't that special? Shadow employees to go along with our shadow government. They're being paid to not work while our taxes escalate into the stratosphere.

Only a union hack could believe this is a good idea.

Posted at 23:19 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJ+Politics unions public+employees

The Resistance - A new group blog

We are The Resistance.

The Conservative Resistance.

It's a new group blog created by Steve from MotorCityTimes.com. Also on board are The Classic Liberal, my fellow Jerseyans at That's Right, and Gator Doug.

And just to make things interesting they included me!

We will resist Barack Obama's vision of a socialist America with every fiber of our being. We will stand athwart history yelling "STOP". And we will never, ever immanentize the eschaton.

Please bookmark The Resistance. And check in often for the finest in creative conservative commentary.

UPDATE 09 Mar 2010 19:56:
I thought I was special, but apparently they'll let any old "Tin Head" into this here club.

:-)

So, please extend a warm WyBlog welcome to Mind Numbed Robot as he joins The Resistance.

Also recently added to the fray is Matt from Conservative Hideout, bringing his years of experience as the token conservative in a liberal-dominated profession to help us lead The Resistance.

Wolverines!

Posted at 18:56 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: The+Resistance

FCC plans nationwide broadband push, funded by you and me

The Federal Universal Service Fund is going to get a new mission. It's original purpose was to ensure that all Americans had access to a basic telephone line. Today it still subsidizes phone service for the poor, but was expanded by Al Gore into funding high speed internet access for schools and rural health networks, and then last year Congress added free cell phones for welfare queens to the mix.

This boondoggle is administered by the FCC and funded by a tax on our phone bills. (Verizon dings me for $7.05 a month between our home phones and cell phones.) And now the FCC has decided that every American deserves access to high speed broadband internet (including 3G wireless). And they're going to tax our phone bills to guarantee it.

So what, now the government is going to compete with AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Cablevision, Time Warner, T-Mobile, and all the other private broadband providers from which we can choose? Or will they just tax you and me to subsidize these private businesses?

How's this for a radical idea. Instead of the government intruding further into what seems to be a highly competitive and fast growing market why don't they unshackle these companies from the current myriad of regulations to which they are subjected? Bureaucrats aren't known for their prowess at innovation. But they are really proficient at slowing things down.

I never understood why it made sense for the taxpayers to subsidize Aunt Bea's party line in Mayberry RFD. So it makes even less sense for them to tack on yet another fee to my phone bill just so Aunt Bea can watch YouTube. Like the party line the Universal Service Fund needs to become a thing of the past.

Posted at 16:55 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: FCC FUSF broadband

Rule 5 Sunday: Belvedere declares victory?

Are the Cleavageonic Wars finally over? Smitty is mum on the subject. But Bob Belvedere fired off a Swedish boob bomb yesterday and declared himself the victor.

I was otherwise engaged this weekend (more on that in a later post) and I thought I'd left Kala in charge of my forces. But not wanting to break my Nothing Beyond PG-13 rule she was outmaneuvered by Bob's superior Photoshop skills.

It's lunchtime and an army travels on its stomach so it's time for Kala to make me a sandwich.

Mmm, mmm, good!

Posted at 12:36 by Chris Wysocki   [/rule5]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule5 boob+wars

Gov. Christie proposes elimination of property tax rebates

To help close a looming $11 billion dollar budget shortfall Governor Chris Christie may eliminate the annual property tax rebate checks.

When they were first conceived the rebates did indeed offset our high property taxes. If you paid property tax, you got a rebate. But as the years went by exceptions were carved out of the rebate program thereby eliminating the checks for most New Jersey residents.

Now it is merely another "wealth transfer" program. Privileged classes (mostly senior citizens and the disabled) get checks, funded by the latest one cent increase in the sales tax. But, aside from a small percentage of low income homeowners, the rest of us do not. In fact, the people who do receive rebate checks can qualify for them even if they don't own a home and pay property taxes! How's that for insane? Renters get a rebate check for property taxes paid by their landlord.

Now is the time to scrap the silly rebate system for good. If there is money in the budget to offset property taxes, return it to the municipalities which can then actually lower their tax rates. It's no coincidence that the rebate checks are mailed out in the middle of October, timed to arrive just before election day. They're a gimmick to remind people to vote for the incumbents!

The governor is asking everyone to sacrifice in order to save our state from fiscal armageddon. Aid to towns and school districts has been cut. Salaries are being frozen, pension contributions were curtailed, health insurance co-pays will be increased, and some public employees will lose their jobs. Government services are being scaled back and NJ Transit plans to increase fares an average of 25%.

Yet the budget is still not balanced. Scrapping the rebate program is the sensible thing to do.

Of course killing the rebates won't be popular. The governor is going to be subjected to charges that he reneged on a campaign promise. So what. The promise to keep (or expand) the rebates was made while the severity of our fiscal situation was obfuscated by Jon Corzine's creative accounting. When Governor Christie took office he was blindsided by just how badly Corzine had underestimated the magnitude of the problem.

The rebate check gimmick has outlived its usefulness. It's time to enact a systemic change in how New Jersey collects taxes and pays for government services. To do that we must set aside the old ways of thinking and move forward with one coordinated purpose — to reduce the tax burden for all residents, not just for a select chosen few.

Posted at 15:19 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJ+Politics Chris+Christie taxes property+tax

Fraudulent Moronic Jerks Running Amok

Apparently the latest craze in the weekly link-fest roundups is to concoct plausible sounding alternative meanings for the acronym FMJRA (Full Metal Jacket Reach Around).

"Fraudulent Moronic Jerks Running Amok" is not only an apt description of the Obama White House, it's an excellent name for a rock band!

Reconcilliation is a smokescreen.

The ends justify the means.

To a liberal, honor is a dirty word.

What's it gonna take to get you to vote "yes" on health care reform today?

One thing is sure everybody pays more and doctors get hosed. Well, except in California, where the Ninth Circuit thinks money grows on trees.

Hey I know, let's cut services and raise prices!

I'm always up for a good party.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Obama fiddles while the global economy unravels.

Frivolous lawsuit of the day.

Let's play "Name That Religion!"

College students in California are throwing a giant temper tantrum.

I for one welcome our new Rovian Robot Overlord.

If the days really are shorter now when will I find time to blog?

Yuengling is quite possibly the greatest beer in America. Sure beats astroturf coffee!

Eric Holder loves lawyers who love al Qaeda.

Who's ready to pay $7 per gallon for gas?

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Even in Chicago. And something to keep in mind in Brooklyn.

Finally, here is Round One of the first conservative blogger debate. Not all of us agree on the benefits of engaging in "nation building" in Afghanistan and Iraq. Russ says it's the right thing to do. CL makes a darned good case for kicking ass, taking names, and going home. Which is not the same thing as agreeing with Derb.

Posted at 23:47 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule2

Race to the bottom: NJEA successfully torpedoed our shot at $4.35B in Fed ed funds

Score one for our beloved teachers union. Today Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the 15 finalists for his federal "Race to the Top" school reform effort. New Jersey didn't make the cut.

The NJEA vehemently opposed pursuing the money because it came with "strings" attached. Real radical stuff like merit pay for teachers, more funding for charter schools, and measureable improvements in under-performing districts. You know, all the things that are anathema to a career union hack enamored with maintaining the status quo.

When your #1 priority is protecting your fat pension you can't worry about trivialities like trying new ideas to improve test scores. Tying teacher pay to student achievement might rock their members' world; years of service and a pulse are what matter most!

At a time when our state could really use an infusion of cash to help improve our schools the NJEA made sure that we won't see one thin dime from the Obama Administration's education stimulus package.

So when your school board starts cutting programs or keeps using outdated textbooks while your kid's test scores remain flat make sure that you thank your local NJEA union rep for a job well done.

Posted at 15:29 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJEA RTTT Arne+Duncan

Gov. Christie moves ahead to save NJ finances, Assembly Democrats dig in their heels

Governor Chris Christie gave a barnburner of a speech to about 200 mayors gathered at the annual meeting of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. His candid rhetoric pulled no punches. You need to read the whole thing, but here's a taste:

Strong words. Words which moved the State Senate to act last month on four badly needed pension reform bills, passing them with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Those bills now languish in the Assembly. Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Montclair) has slammed on the brakes. She now says that it is "unlikely" she will schedule a vote on those 4 bills prior to Gov. Christie's budget address on March 16^th. In essense she is telling the governor not to count on the cost savings associated with pension reform for the next fiscal year.

Her public employee union overlords have spoken, and she is marching to their tune. Oliver euphemistically claims her inaction is necessary to "clean up any inconsistencies" in the reform legislation. Translation — find a way to protect the unions' sacred cows. The CWA, NJEA, SEIU, and the rest of the unions are unwilling to consider even one dime in concessions. They're actually pushing for increased spending. (One example is a bill moving forward in the Assembly which would grant additional special benefits to laid off police and firefighters.)

But Governor Christie isn't going to settle for business as usual. Not this time.

Wake up Ms. Oliver. The time for "studies" and "hearings" and other stalling tactics is over. The time to act is now. Now unleashed, the power of the people is greater than the influence of the public employee unions. And the people want reform. The people want government to slash spending. The people want the public sector gravy train to be derailed.

The unions couldn't protect Jon Corzine's job even though he bent over backwards to appease them. If she fails to accede to the will of the people Shelia Oliver will find that the unions can't protect her job either.

Posted at 17:30 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJ+Politics Chris+Christie Sheila+Oliver pensions unions

Busybodies put the kibosh on nude snowlady sculpture

All it takes is one killjoy these days...

The family agreed to dress their snow lady with a green bikini top and blue sarong. And now the effect is even more sexualized than before the busybodies complained. I hope they're happy.

Why can't people mind their own damn business?

Posted at 09:14 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: nanny+state art

The Post Office tries again to eliminate Saturday delivery

Who remembers when the mailman came twice each day? Yes boys and girls, once upon a time there was morning and afternoon mail. But soon, if the beancounters have their way, Saturday delivery will be just another thing the old-timers reminisce about over coffee in the diner.

The post office is renewing its effort to drop Saturday delivery — and plans a rate increase — in an effort to fend off a projected $7 billion loss this year.

Great, less service for more money. Sticking it to the consumer doesn't seem like a terrific long-term business model.

What business, faced with massive losses, decides to cut its services to the consumer while maintaining inflated wages and expenses and refusing to upgrade its technology?

It's the government way!

And when they keep losing money and market share, what day do they cut out next? Tuesday?

You'd think that if they wanted to recapture their customer base they'd try working harder. But hey, what do I know, I'm just a guy without a government monopoly.

Posted at 17:48 by Chris Wysocki   []   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: USPS post+office

Gov. Christie takes aim at NJ's "Shadow Government"

I meant to write about this yesterday but got bogged down in other stuff. This morning, Doug Ross reminded me what a big deal Governor Christie's latest action really is.

Christie is targeting the "shadow government", the myriad of unelected and usually unaccountable boards and commissions which poke their noses into virtually every aspect of our lives and regulate everything from bikini waxing to the size and shape of kosher pickles.

The most egregious examples of "shadow government" abuses sometimes make the news. Remember the Schools Construction Corporation? They blew through $8.6 billion dollars before anybody even thought to ask why almost none of the schools they were supposed to build were ever finished. Jon Corzine rebranded them as the Schools Development Authority, slapped a few band-aids on the red ink, and they're still shoveling taxpayer dollars out the door by the truckload.

Then there is the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. It's "independent", in that neither the governor nor the state legislature has a say in its budget or policies. And what a budget it has! $164 million dollars is raised via user fees levied on the towns it serves, and then paid out in the highest public employee salary structure in the state. Executive Director Bryan Christiansen, a former four-term Democratic mayor of Edgewater, earns almost twice the $175,000 annual salary paid to Governor Christie. Another 82 commission employees earn more than $100,000 per year.

But because the PVSC has served as a lucrative landing spot for displaced political hacks from both parties it has resisted previous efforts to reform its structure. The governor is now shining a light on this cesspool of patronage and changes are finally coming.

There are a lot of rocks to look under in New Jersey government. Places where tax money, bureaucrats, and politicians go in but little or nothing of value comes out. What, if anything, does the state "Noise Council" do? Is a Commission on Global Warming useful to us? (Well, they could help out with shoveling snow!) No really, how is it different from the more than 27 other "environmental" agencies and commissions that we have?

Waste and duplication of effort must run rampant. Not to mention that it is essentially impossible to do anything in this state without running afoul of some obscure regulations promulgated by this "shadow government". It's time to bring them out of the shadows and send them off into the sunset. Governor Christie is on the right track. The clowns in Washington, D.C. would do well to follow his example.

Posted at 09:57 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NJ+Politics Chris+Christie

As peace talks commence, the Cleavageonic Wars escalate

Robert Stacy McCain and Monica Bellucci are valiantly trying to end the Cleavageonic Wars. Stacey's European envoy has thus far been unsuccessful in coercing Bob Belvedere into a cease-fire. And then Gator Doug played the Phoebe Cates getting out of the pool card. Oh Doug, that's so 80's. We're way past teenage fantasies by now.

In another misdirected volley, Irish Cicero calls upon McCain to surrender! He's not even in it! He's trying to broker peace in our time! Who is he going to surrender to? And then, Classic Liberal unleashed the Anne Hathaway nuclear offensive but of course nothing about Ms. Hathaway is ever "offensive", even if it is rated "R".

So, since Belvedere has impugned the honor of my troops, there is but one course of action left to me. Attack! Attack! Attack! Lieutenant Patricia is ready to muster General Pulaski's army.

More after the jump...

Posted at 21:52 by Chris Wysocki   [/rule5]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule5 boob+war Bob+Belvedere

Sen. Bob Menendez promises free health care for illegal aliens

Does U.S. Senator Bob Menendez represent the citizens of New Jersey, or the illegal aliens of La Raza?

Doug Ross brings us the bad news:

"The useless barriers of citizenship"? Is he for real?

Bob Menendez is an embarrassment to New Jersey and to the nation. He took an oath to "Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution of the United States". Giving free health care to illegal aliens flies in the face of that oath.

The citizens of our state elected Bob Menendez to represent their interests. Which he seems singularly unable to do with any degree of effectiveness.

Instead he's busy pandering to a racist organization. (Yeah, I know, liberals call everybody they don't like a racist too. But listen up, if an organization which is named "The Race" isn't racist, I don't know what is. Besides, isn't it just a teeny-tiny bit racist to say "Latino children need health care more than whites"?)

The American people need to find out what Bob Menendez is up to. Spread the word.

Posted at 17:32 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: ObamaCare Bob+Menendez immigration illegal+aliens La+Raza

Congress passes the Hawaii Balkanization Act

The Daley Gator brings us the disappointing news that the "Akaka Bill" is back. Last week on a strictly party-line vote the House of Representatives passed the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act. It's essentially legalized segregation — "Aloha Crow" legislation designed to deny certain Americans' rights and privileges based on their race. Only this time it's anyone who is not "Native Hawaiian" who will be subjected to official discrimination.

The bill creates a complex federal framework under which most of the nation's approximately 400,000 ethnic Hawaiians can organize themselves into one vast Indian tribe. It endows the tribe with the "inherent powers and privileges of self-government," including the privilege of sovereign immunity from lawsuit. It also by clear implication confers the power to tax, to promulgate and enforce a criminal code, and to exercise eminent domain. Hawaii will in effect be two states, not one.

Naturally the burning question then becomes, "who is a Native Hawaiian?" Would you believe that it's a throwback to the "one drop of blood" standard that was used to discriminate against negroes in the old south?

Here's an idea, maybe all the "qualified Native Hawaiians" can sew little yellow pineapples on their shirts so we can tell them apart.

The motivation behind this blatantly divisive legislation is of course money. Native Hawaiians have quite the racial spoils gravy train to protect. Billions of dollars are doled out each year by the state's Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) thanks to lands the federal government ceded to the state decades ago. This money should be used to help all residents of Hawaii, but OHA ensures that only ethnic Hawaiians benefit from the home and business loans as well as housing and education programs which it administers.

But ten years ago the U.S. Supreme Court upset their applecart. Hawaiian law established that only ethnic Hawaiians could vote for members of the OHA oversight board. This law was found to be unconstitutional due to the 15^th Amendment's prohibition on racial discrimination in voting rights.

Hence, if the OHA's election methodology is unconstitional, then the racial determination factors used in their benefits allocations almost certainly violate the Equal Protection clause of the 14^th Amendment. That won't do, so the Akaka Bill was born. If Native Hawaiians were an Indian Tribe then constitutional prohibitions against discrimination wouldn't apply.

I have something of a dog in this hunt since my wife's family is from Hawaii. Her great-great-grandfather was William P. Jarrett who served as the first Hawaii territorial delegate to the United States Congress. She has many aunts, uncles, and cousins still living throughout the islands.

Since we've visited Hawaii many times we've gotten used to how the racial spoils system operates. And believe me, it is pervasive. Did you know that pretty much everything in Hawaii sells for 2 vastly different prices? There's the marked price ("the Haole price") and then there's the under-the-table "Native Hawaiian" price.

How do I know this? Because one of the first times I visted her father's house I brought some beer with me and happened to comment on how expensive it was to purchase. He said simply, "next time come with me". So I did. And lo and behold when he told the clerk "this is my son-in-law" the beer that yesterday was $11.99 a sixpack was suddenly $5.99.

When we went to buy macadamia nuts he told us what to say and we amazingly encounted a "special sale", half off!, which lasted just until the next customer walked up the counter. And the best "Native Hawaiian" deal of all? Inter-island plane flights. At a time when tourists like us were paying $89 to $149 each way my father-in-law never paid more than $19 round trip.

So yeah, I'd say that protecting a racket like that is worth twisting into knots the definition of an Indian Tribe, don't you?

But let me ask you something. Suppose we found out that Korean grocers in New York were charging ethnic Koreans one price for fruit, and everyone else (including blacks) a much higher price. Do you think that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and the rest of the usual grievance mongers would have something to say about that?

So why do Native Hawaiians get to maintain their discriminatory practices? Why is our Congress voting to expand the benefits accorded to anyone who has "one drop of Hawaiian blood"? A category which will most likely include my daughter even though she has never resided in Hawaii?

I imagine that the irony of passing this law during Black History Month was lost on the proponents. What Hawaii needs is a Martin Luther King Kamehameha, what they got was Daniel Akaka.

Posted at 15:52 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Hawaii Akaka

Seton Hall University sacrifices Track and Field on the altar of Title IX

Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ announced a "strategic restructuring" of their athletic programs this week, cutting their Track & Field programs in an effort to save $1.5 million dollars per year.

Sure, times are tough, and it's a blow to the 24 student athletes who train under legendary coach John Moon. Coach Moon was unceremoniously notified of the school's decision only moments prior to a mandatory team meeting called by the athletic director. He's coached there for 38 years, produced 19 Olympians, 71 All-Americans, and is slated to coach the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

Adding insult to injury, just 2 days earlier the track team was honored by the school for their win at the Big East Indoor Championships. So it doesn't make much sense for them to just dump track & field.

But as the saying goes, there's more to the story.

Title IX compliance requires that Seton Hall add Women's Golf to their lineup starting this year. Ah yes, Title IX, the "you gotta have one female athlete for every male athlete" quota requirement. Even if they have to drag some women kicking and screaming into signing up for golf; it's necessary to maintain equality and balance in sports.

It's not enough to offer women's sports; the participant count must be equalized. Feminuts demand equality of outcome even when women who are given the opportunity to participate choose not to do so. And so more often than not, men's sports are curtailed or cut completely to achieve compliance with Title IX.

Political Correctness Uber Alles. Olympic dreams can't compete with feminism.

Posted at 18:44 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Seton+Hall SHU Title+IX

We interrupt the Boob Wars to bring you an Important Announcement

Coming Soon: The Conservative Blogger Debate

There is a growing group of conservatives who are against the current prosecution of our war on terrorism and our nations foreign policy direction. Many conservatives are in favor of staying the course.

Two excellent bloggers and great friends of WyBlog, The Classic Liberal and Russ from That's Right are going to battle across the blog-o-sphere in a multi-round, multi-blog debate on this very subject.

Scratcher from Makes My Brain Itch and Steve from MotorCityTimes.com are going to moderate the debate.

The Moderators will alternate posting questions on their sites, linking to replies and retorts, and providing a round up of all the punditry.

Then theCL and Russ will post their response and retorts on their respective blogs.

The debate starts Sunday, February 28th at high noon (EST)

Be sure to check out commentary on the debate here and @ Republican Redefined, Present Discontent, Washington Rebel and other fine conservative blogs.

Posted at 11:57 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Iraq Afghanistan terrorism

Rule 5 Weekend, Operation Torch or a Boob Too Far?

Bob Belvedere is escalating the Boob War. He sortied into deep cleavage and has now moved out for "reconnaissance in force" bringing some really big guns to bear.

I think Bob's gone too far this time though, there's cheesecake and then there's nudie pics with strategically placed captions. We're trying to keep this here blog PG-13, but that's not to say that we don't have some big guns of our own.

Irish Cicero asks whether or not men still make passes at girls who wear glasses. I'm guessing "yes", but you be the judge. He's also got an odd fascination with librarians, perhaps due to the extensive research he is doing on the origins of Belvedere's Cleavageonic War.

On another front, Gator Doug rains some thunder down on General Belvedere. Well done!

Classic Liberal is staying above the fray, choosing instead to query Anna Kournikova on why some men turn to a life of crime.

And poor old Lance is still pining for Danica Patrick. Dude, she's in Vegas; what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? So, Road Trip!

UPDATE 28 Feb 2010 11:13:
Belvedere doesn't know sexy when he sees it!

General Trotsky Wysoki, and the weapons he has deployed, have been our biggest threat. He has launched two major incursions using 100% USDA Grade-A Cleavage. We were impressed. However, both attacks failed because, while the cleavage was pleasing, the rest of the ladies were, shall we say, pleasantly plump, and the whole package must meet or exceed the standards of taste [although his second salvo almost makes it].

Yes Bob, I likes 'em voluptuous. Curvy. Soft and cuddly. Real women have curves!

"Standards of taste"? WTF? Now you're impugning the honor of my troops! I shall call upon General Pulaski to outflank your infatuation with ladies who need a sammich.

More updates to come...

UPDATE 01 Mar 2010 23:25:
General Pulaski has mustered his troops.

Belvedere doesn't stand a chance.

Posted at 17:28 by Chris Wysocki   [/rule5]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule5 TCOTS

Latte Liberals for Obamunism

With Air America no longer broadcasting their daily dose of wisdom from George Soros the earnest young men and women who sit around all day drinking fair trade coffee needed a new source of inspiration. Enter Annabel Park and the Coffee Party Movement! (Drink too much coffee and you'll get a "movement" all right...)

Ostensibly their purpose is to promote "civility and inclusiveness in political discourse," this of course from the folks who routinely slur conservatives as "racist tea-baggers". Upscale coffeehouse afficionados are so much more "enlightened" than Rethuglicans, right?

So instead of getting their marching orders from Rhandi Rhodes the Latte Liberals will now "cut through the noise" by reading Media Matters and Salon.

Carol is not impressed: "Wow, those are some pretty convincing sources if you're an empty-headed, Mary Poppins knock-off progressive. And Ms. Poppins, I mean no disrespect—loved your movie, hon."

Well, in their defense Carol, those sources are just a tad less excrable than Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann, aren't they? When cutting through the noise, cutting off Olbermann is a pretty good place to start.

If that's what they're really going to do. Left Coast Rebel spent 5 minutes with Google and exposed the Astroturf; Ms. Park is associated with Asian Americans for Obama and her day job is to make documentary films lauding the accomplishments of her Dear Leader.

In any event, they're just another mouthpiece for progressive platitudes. From her website Ms. Park says:

We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will.

Spoken like a true Bolshevik. They want the ultimate People's Collective, government as enforcer of the "people's will". Except that the Founding Fathers established the federal government with limited power as the protector of the rights enshrined in the Constitution. One of her first blog posts is entitled "We are Democracy Advocates First and Foremost" which clearly exposes the flaw in her thinking.

The United States is not a Democracy. We are a Republic (if we can keep it). Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding on what's for dinner. Our Constitution guarantees that Liberty (in the form of a well-armed sheep) can prevail in the face of collective tyranny.

Liberty or collectivism? The Constitution, or "collective will" subject to the vissitudes of popular opinion? Which shall our nation choose? Do I even have to ask?

Posted at 13:01 by Chris Wysocki   []   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Tea+Party Coffee+Party Annabel+Park

FMJRA Thursday, the Snow Much Fun edition

It's still snowing, we have at least a foot I guess. My DirecTV keeps going in and out due to "snow-fade". But curiously the Sirius antenna is receiving 5 by 5; there's three bars on the meter and I never get 3 bars. It's completly buried in snow on the roof and working better than ever. Go figure.

But anyway, since today is Thursday it's time for another Full Metal Jacket Reach Around link-fest.

We have four "you da man!" awards to give out this week.

Stephen Green (of VodkaPundit fame) picked me for The Week in Blogs on PJTV. He's watching Barry's health care summit charade so you don't have to.

Gator Doug is obviously a man with excellent taste in blogs. If you still believe in nationalized health care, he will convince you otherwise.

Classic Liberal's newest daily feature, Right Wing Links, always includes your humble host. Be sure to read his post on how all your children are belong to Barry.

Kelly Heyboer is the blog editor for NJ.com and the Star-Ledger. She linked me again this week on NJ pension reform. Her weekly column is a must read.

In other news, Bob Belvedere has declared "war". Again.

Read 'em and weep Bob.

The Reb weighs in with a valiant effort.

Trog strikes out on Lauren Ashley pics but promises to do better next time.

Back on snow patrol, Russ wants more. I think he's kidding. In case he isn't; when he wakes up he should be in snow heaven.

The only Republican who voted for socialized medicine seems to be having trouble with his fund raising. Coincidence?

Matt points us to a clip wherein Jack Webb schools Barry on healthcare.

According to Pundette, Barry's petulance remains front and center. Call the Waaambulance!

Whereas MarySue links to a CNN analysis saying the GOP did themselves proud today at Barry's kabuki summit.

Plan B? Of course there's a Plan B!

Barry gave himself a new nickname today. Booger Boy.

And while Booger Boy was pretending to listen to the Republicans his minions in the Congress were busy declawing the CIA. Pat's blood is boiling, and yours should be too. The Democrats would rather see millions of Americans die than permit one al Qaeda flunky to go bed without his blankie.

Donald Douglas has actually taken his family to "Dine with Shamu". Luckily, Shamu didn't dine on them.

Doug Ross says that Al Gore can finally get a great deal on an electric Tesla Roadster.

With the money he saves he can invest in some commemorative Obama merchandise; now 90% off.

Carol actually watched that Jeb Bush interview where if you believe The New York Times he "bashed" Sarah Palin. The videotape tells a somewhat different story. Gee, really? Pinch Sulzberger bent the truth? Say it ain't so!

While shilling for his latest jobs bill Harry Reid unwittingly sent a not too subtle message to Mrs. Reid. You could say he borrowed the idea from John Edwards.

It's not Google's job to police the intertubes. Really.

I think that's a wrap. It's late and I'm tired. If I forgot you please be assured it wasn't on purpose; send me a nastygram and I'll make amends.

Because this is how we treat our friends.

Posted at 23:36 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule2

Sad, creepy, and deranged - woman live-Tweets her abortion

I feel sorry for Angie Jackson. She's Planned Parenthood's latest poster-mom for infanticide. Her IUD failed. She's 4 weeks pregnant. And last week she walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic to plan the end of her parenthood.

Now get this. We can follow along with all the feminist-liberalizing-joy she can muster as every gruesome detail is shared via her Twitter feed and YouTube.

Ms. Jackson is the mother of a 4 year old son. Some day he will grow up and learn to use Google. And then he'll experience the ultimate liberal consciousness awakening imaginable when he discovers his mother murdered his baby brother (or sister) and told the world about it in real time. Because to her it was no big deal.

"I'm doing this to de-mystify abortion," she says. "I'm doing this so other women know, 'Hey, it's not nearly as terrifying as I had myself worked up thinking it was.' It's just not that bad."

Infanticide, it's just like getting your ears pierced!

Whether or not your child lives or dies isn't "terrifying"? Good grief.

Why is there a need for her to "de-mystify abortion"? How solipsistic is that statement? There's no "mystery".

One minute a life is growing inside you, a tiny heart beats, little fingers and toes wiggle in amniotic fluid as blood flows through the umbilical cord. And then, nothingness. No heart beat. Lifeless limbs are vacuumed into a biohazard bag and cavalierly tossed into the trash.

How does the dark stain of death fit into 140 characters?

From her blog where she attempts to justify her decision based on personal and financial circumstances:

Honestly, I can't wait to get it over with and get back to being the writer, speaker, activist, silly, fun, girlfriend, mom I'd like to be, instead of the pissed off incubator I currently am.

Although she has a 4 year old son, you'll notice that "mom" comes last in her list of priorities. Oh, but she's an activist! Maybe she can make a pro-abortion Super Bowl ad to go along with her YouTube apologia. You know, something that'll really rally the women of America to her cause.

I shall stop off tonight after work and light a candle for the soul of this unborn child, and another for the weight of sadness which envelopes his mother's life. God loves you Angie Jackson. If only you could love Him as much as you love yourself.

UPDATE 25 Feb 2010 10:38:
Pundette links from her Today's Recommended Reads sidebar as does Classic Liberal's daily Right Wing Links.

Thanks!

Also blogging on Angie's abortion Tweet-fest:

Everyone, please pray for Angie Jackson. Thanks.

Posted at 14:55 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Abortion Twitter

Wednesday morning funnies

Three humorous items for a soggy, soon to be snowy, Wednesday morning.

First up, Classic Liberal says this Obama "Taxman" video is awesome and needs to go viral. I agree!

My friend Mike sent me this picture last night.

And another friend forwarded this one a while back.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

Posted at 10:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Rule2 humor taxes homeless

Space Truckin' Jihad?

Barry won't send an American back to the moon. His 2010 budget defunds the Constellation Program. But that doesn't mean NASA is out of a job. They're gonna teach jihadis how to build rockets! Barry wants NASA to "reach out" to Muslim countries.

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said Tuesday that President Barack Obama has asked him to "find ways to reach out to dominantly Muslim countries" as the White House pushes the space agency to become a tool of international diplomacy.

Bob Belvedere calls it Jihad to the Moon.

Jihad to the Moon!
Let me bomb among the stars.
Let me see what sharia's like
on Jupiter and Mars.

And Bob links to to William Teach, over at The Pirate's Cove, who offers this spot-on comment:

Right. Good move. Let's reach out to countries that often tend to live in the 15th Century, and whose view of science is how to better use the technology that Western countries create in order to kill Westerners.

Gee, if you drop a truck bomb from orbit how big a hole will it make? The International Space Station is gonna need Laika the bomb sniffing dog. As well as a minaret and some nifty gyroscopes mounted on a flying carpet to keep it always pointed at Mecca while they zip around the earth at 6880 miles per hour.

Call it Space Truckin' with Mohammed.

Really, it's a swell idea. What could go wrong?

Posted at 10:55 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NASA Islam jihad Obama

The fox guarding the hen house, or why did Barry appoint Andy Stern to his deficit commission

The GOP was wise to be wary of Democrats promising deficit reduction. Barry's Deficit Commission is a sham, made even more so by the apparent appointment of SEIU chief Andy Stern to its ranks. (h/t Doug Ross)

Any thought we might have had that Barry's 'deficit commission' would look into ways to reduce government spending have now gone out the window. The public employee unions, of which SEIU is the largest by far, have a vested interest in expanding the size of government. They only have one answer to every problem — raise taxes. And then raise them again.

Did you guys laugh when I said Barry believed in "no union left behind"? Who's laughing now? Barry is a Union Man (just like Jon Corzine). When he was supposedly ruminating over the fate of Afghanistan last year Barry invited Andy Stern to the White House eighteen times while General Stanley McChrystal couldn't get the time of day from his nominal CinC.

The public employee unions are bankrupting states like California, Michigan, and New Jersey. The looming public pension catastrophe dwarfs the federal deficit problems. The head of the SEIU is hardly in a position to recommend any changes which might negatively impact his members' gravy train.

Doug's conclusion is spot-on:

The fact that Barack Obama would name a man like Stern to this kind of commission shows that (a) he is indeed a hard-core ideologue; and (b) he doesn't give a gnat's crap about any budget deficits.

The fox is guarding the hen house. Which of course means that the country is in the very best of hands.

Posted at 21:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   | Trackback | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obama deficit SEIU Andy+Stern pensions