Brief Hiatus

In part to recent events which have involved this weblog, I have decided to refrain from further posting on this site for the next week or two. I am doing so in order to allow matters to cool down and give me time to better concentrate my efforts toward scholastic matters. I do intend on returning after this brief hiatus, albeit with some slight changes to the format of the weblog which I will not reveal at this moment.

The Politics Test

I am usually not one to be up for these sorts of things but seeing as I have little to do in the afternoon between classes I thought I would give it a go. Kind of stated the obvious …

You are a Social Conservative (25% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (66% permissive) You are best described as a: Republican Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Sheehan, Like a Drug Addict, is Back for One More Hit

You may have heard this over the wires this weekend but it bears repeating that ‘Peace Mom’ Cindy Sheehan and her fellow band of flower-power anti-war hippies joined in congregation outside the White House against the Iraq War. There is heated debate concerning how many actually showed up to the event. Code Pink and International ANSWER, outgrowths of the Stalinist Communist Party, claim three-hundred thousand showed up (I will let you fill in the blanks as to why I do not accept their word as gospel), Daily Kos asserts that there were a little over half a million hippies in front of the White House, while Reuters conservatively (ha, ha) estimates that there were at least one-hundred thousand protestors, though photographs over at Yahoo News seem to suggest that the actual number was even less then that. In any event, it would appear as though the majority just showed up for the weekend as the number shrank dramatically from whatever it was to three-hundred and seventy on Monday, the day on which Cindy Sheehan was arrested for protesting without a permit (I do not know why but I have this gut feeling as though she deliberately failed to file a permit for protesting on Monday in order to attract further media attention … perhaps it is just me).

The following photographs struck me as being the most poignant in summing up the purpose of the anti-war demonstration:



Yep, they are just doing this for the children sent to war ... looks like it from here ... how about you left-wing media journalists, how does it look from there?



Smile pretty for the cameras now!



At least the demonstrators did not go overboard and have her carried off on top of a wooden cross ... and why in God's name is she smiling with that crooked smirk of hers?! I thought this was suppose to period of mourning, anger, and remembrance? Guess that went straight out the window!

Wild Charges of Racism

I would especially like to thank Professor John McAdams for defending this site against accusations of racism Brent Bray found apparent in my two recent posts, PC-America Stikes Again with 'Flightplan' and Terror Suspect Was MSA President, although I will admit that I may have certainly crossed a line with a comment meant with tongue in cheek within the latter post. It was meant in good humor and I apologize if anyone felt it was in bad taste.

All This Over a T-Shirt?

The asininity of the Marquette University College Democrats knows no bounds. I am not however referring to their recently approved t-shirt design which to be honest I find to be a bit clever, albeit shoddy, even for them. Then again taking the moral high ground has never been a strong point with the Democrats, but I digress. What I am instead referring to is the lengthy prattling ZC has given in defending the shirt via the use of political name calling. Get a life!

Where Are the Bodies?!

I have been holding out on saying this for quite some time now. I have done so in part to the sensitivity of the victims of Hurricane Katrina – Marquette University has magnanimously taken it upon themselves to accept college students displaced from their universities because of the natural disaster – and the onslaught of Hurricane Rita in Texas. But now is the time I feel for me to be blunt and upfront – Where are the bodies?! In the week following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf coast of this country, the left-wing media estimated that as many as ten-thousand people had died in the remnants of city of New Orleans, in part to the natural disaster itself and the lack of preparation by the federal government for evacuation and rescue of victims prior to and following the hurricane. Conventional logic would suggest that once the flood waters receded there would be bodies lining the streets.

Yet here we are with the flood waters receding and displaced residents of Louisiana slowly straggling back to their homes, or what remains of them, and the death count remains around two-hundred. Did the media exaggerate the deaths in New Orleans to raise the emotions of the American public and put further pressure on the Bush Administration in the wake of this natural disaster? I would not put it past them to sink this low to be quite honest.

Even the horror stories of rape and death inside the Louisiana Superdome were exceedingly exaggerated according to the latest report from the Gulf Coast. Out of the two-hundred deaths that were reported to have occurred at the site, only six bodies have been recovered. I realize the loss of one human life is a terrible tragedy but there is a vast difference between the deaths of six in comparison to two-hundred which were reported by the media. Estimation or not, the actual count was nowhere near the reports issued by the left-wing media.

If there is to be accountability on the part of the federal and state governments in the wake of this disaster, there should be one on the media as well in their creation of a state of panic for the simple sake of ratings. Quite honestly I do not understand how these people can live with themselves.

Keeping the Lie Alive

Jimmy Carter, the once presidential failure of the United States and now self-appointed flawed champion of electoral democracy, more or less, does not know when to quite, does he? This of course can be blamed on old age but let’s face facts here – Carter was never the brightest bulb in the bunch, this in spite of the liberals flaunting his supposed superior IQ. In a speech given at American University in Washington D.C., Carter stated that he still believed that Gore won the presidential election in 2000. That ‘a boy, Jimmy! Keep the myth alive! This in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Hillary and China: Silent Partners in Crime?

Has Hillary Rodham Clinton silently become an advisor to the Chinese government? Has China been leeching off Mrs. Clinton’s ideas? I do not believe either one is the case in this situation, although it is quite staggering to see the two political powerhouses met eye-to-eye on curbing news reporting via the internet.

Life Better Under Jimmy Carter?

I was just beginning to enjoy my Introduction to English Literature course when my professor had to come out in the middle of this morning’s class and state in a side remark that life in America was better under President Jimmy Carter. I have no clue whether he was simply joking (I hope to God he was because I thought of him as a much smarter man then that) or he was being serious, but it did give quite a laugh so early in the day. Yes, life in the United States was so superior under a president whose best solution to an international crisis which would set the stage for the rise of al Qaeda, Osama Bin Ladin, and September 11th was to boycott the summer Olympics. Brilliant! This does not however ruin the course entirely for me but it does downgrade the respect I had for my English professor, if only a bit.

Pere Jacques Marquette Statue

The recently dedicated statue of Pere Jacques Marquette - this in spite of the fact that we have no clear idea what the man looked like



I can already tell you that this was a waste of money ... there are so many more higher priority projects on campus that could have put better use to this money



Notice how disproportional his hands are to the rest of his body ...



Is he Super Man or Santa Claus ... I don't know exactly what the artist was going for here to be honest



The real reason the statue was created, to bring in the big money donors together on campus so that we may corner them and guilt them into coughing up more money ... now we're a true university!

Terror Suspect Was MSA President

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing we have both the Muslim Student Association and the Arab Student Association on campus, now doesn’t it? I sure no one's visa is expired.

Islamic Schools Under Abuse Scrutiny

I will bet you five dollars that this will not make the front page news, if it is at all visibly mentioned to begin with. That is the PC-America we live in ladies and gentlemen. It is about damn time that we did something about it, don’t you think?

MUCR Meeting Tonight!

This is simply a reminder to members of the Marquette University College Republicans that there will be a meeting held this evening on the second floor of the Alumni Union Hall at 9pm. Topics of discussion will include information concerning the 3rd Annual Animal Rights BBQ and “Week of Life” which takes place from October 3rd to the 7th. Hope to see you there!

Democrats and Lord Doyle Fail on Photo ID Again

Source: Republican Party of Wisconsin



The State Senate failed to override Governor James E. Doyle’s veto of Senate Bill 42 today by a vote of 21-12 due to the Democrats’ opposition to enact real reform measures that would prevent voter fraud. Republicans in the legislature renewed their call for photo ID in Wisconsin following the release of a Legislative Audit Bureau Report last week that found overwhelming problems with Wisconsin’s statewide election system and a report released yesterday by the Commission on Federal Election Reform, headed by former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, that called for making it a nationwide requirement to show a photo ID at the polls.

“On the heel of these two reports, along with numerous other investigations and reports into our elections proving widespread voter fraud, the Democrats’ refusal to enact this simple, common sense measure is a slap in the face to voters in Wisconsin,” said Rick Graber, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “Doyle’s veto of it three times and the Democrats’ failure to join their colleagues, Sen. Tim Carpenter, Sen. Jeff Plale and the Republicans, to override his veto in light of continued evidence of a flawed system, show they have become extremists on this issue. Even President Carter, an icon of their party, supports photo ID. They have no excuse not to enact it, especially when all of their concerns about photo ID have been addressed.”

The commission’s proposed plan for photo ID mirrors the provisions of SB 42 by providing photo IDs at no cost to those who cannot afford them. SB 42 goes even further by eliminating the requirement for voters who are on the permanent absentee list. In addition, there is a measure to prevent felons from voting.

“The Democrats’ concern that photo ID would disenfranchise minorities and the elderly has no traction,” said Graber. “A photo ID is a common requirement, often necessary for everything from writing a check to renting a video. Clearly, Doyle’s refusal to support the measure shows he is acting in his own political self-interest.”

MUSG Lacks a True Face

I do hope that a fair amount of the student body here at Marquette University were able to read Brandon Henak’s editorial in this morning’s edition of the Marquette Tribune, further known as our university’s premiere source of liberal dictated rhetoric, which criticized the student government of Marquette for not being intune with the true thoughts and opinions of the student body it claims to represent. I for one have no confidence whatsoever in the student government of Marquette University, a sentiment I have held since the first day I set foot on this campus. As harsh as it may sound, there is no denying that the student government of any university campus has no actual standing power in determining the goings-on of the university. They merely act as the hand puppet of the university’s administration and nothing more. Bread and games for the masses to keep them content and controlled. Ours is no different as the controversial decision over the now infamous ‘Gold’ debacle clearly indicated. I do agree entirely with what Brandon had to say in his viewpoint. I however would not hold out hope of this happening any time soon.

Pere Jacques Marquette Statue to be Unveiled September 23rd

I am not what you would consider an art ‘expert’. I know what I like and what I don’t like and that is about it. I am not however intune with the logistics of what does and does not constitute as ‘art’, if even such a clear-cut definition exists. What I can state for a fact though is that our notably high tuition payments should be better prioritized for more important projects around campus then on a statue of Pere Jacques Marquette who, besides the fact that he was in no way involved with the establishment of this university whatsoever, we have no idea of what he exactly looked like along with a celebration party for the unveiling of the statue. I have heard a number of critical remarks from fellow students who have observed the statue saying that the proportions for the figure are off, everything from his hands being too large to a remark by one student who noticed that the statue from an observational standpoint did not have a left foot.

[Note: I have taken pictures of the statue from a number of different angles but I am unfortunately without the cable I use to transfer those pictures from my digital camera to my laptop computer. This means however that I will have to wait until Friday to post those pictures of the statue. I apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused]

I Pledge Allegiance to Who ... ?!

Putting Brown Resignation Into Perspective

Even President Jimmy Carter Supports Photo ID Requirement

Source: Republican Party of Wisconsin



A new report from the Commission on Federal Election Reform advocates making it a nationwide requirement for voters to show a photo ID at the polls. The commission, led by former president Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, says the country’s election system still suffers from poor management, despite changes that were made under the Help America Vote Act of 2002. According to their report, a photo ID would provide consistency in voting requirements from state to state and would ensure that a person who votes is who they say they are.

“Wisconsin could have already been ahead of the game on cleaning up elections if Jim Doyle got serious with reform and signed one of the photo ID bills that have been presented to him three times in the last two years,” said Rick Graber, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “Unfortunately, he continues to disenfranchise legal voters by ignoring the issue.”

The commission’s report is released on the heels of a report issued last week by Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) that found glaring errors and cases of abuse in the state’s election system. According to the LAB report, in the November 2004 elections, 98 felons may have voted, 2 individuals may have voted twice, 1 voter may have been underage and 4 absentee ballots from people who died before Election Day were counted. These problems were found in six Wisconsin cities alone. In addition, most municipalities don’t have proper procedures in place to prevent felons from voting, and there are significant problems with voter registration lists and address verification cards.

“When you compile the cases of fraud and mismanagement within the system with the fact that the elections in 2000 and 2004 were decided by a narrow thin margin, people have reason to lose faith in the process,” said Graber. “The photo ID bill has bi-partisan support and addresses all of the concerns Doyle had with photo ID. Now we even have a national report echoing our plans for reform.”

The commission’s report calls for states to provide IDs at no cost to people who cannot afford them and urges states to make it easy for non-drivers to obtain photo ID cards. Senate Bill 42, the latest version of photo ID the legislature passed, provided the same measure and also had a provision to prevent felons from voting.

Doyle has said a photo ID requirement would disenfranchise the votes of poor and elderly. However, the commission states that adopting a uniform voter ID card would protect minorities better from varying voting requirements at polling places.

“Doyle should follow the lead of President Carter and the commission,” said Graber. “Our system is in disarray. We need to restore the confidence of voters and protect our sacred right to vote.”

GOP3.com May Be Jumping the Gun on This One

Yes, I am well aware of the now infamous Jimmy John’s incident which took place this past Saturday evening in which a van swerved to avoid hitting a pedestrian head-on, quite possibly a student, and crashed into the entry way of the campus restaurant, injuring a number of patrons. As tragic as this occurrence may be, I do not feel the obligation to report on the basis that it has already been covered extensively on other websites and since I was not there in person when it happened, I would prefer to wait on hearing the findings from the Department of Public Safety at Marquette University and rescue services before I draw any conclusions as to what occurred.

I however believe that I feel to report, if only this once, on this incident because I view GOP3.com’s assumption that alcohol was somehow involved in the accident may be a bit presumptuous on their part. When GOP3.com first reported evidence of a beer can at the scene of the accident from the accounts of the restaurant’s manager and several employees, the beer can was inside the restaurant. However when the website reported the same account later that afternoon, the beer can was inside the car. I am a bit confused as to what to believe, though I can only assume that this is a bit of a miscommunication among operators of the site and not a factual error. What I can state for a fact though is that GOP3.com may be a little quick in this instance to draw a conclusion to something that does not exist.

First, there is no report from either DPS or the rescue emergency services indicating that the man or woman, I am not sure on this one, was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Secondly, seeing as how this is the city of Milwaukee and we live essentially next door to the Miller Brewing Co. bottling plant, so its existence on campus should come as no surprise to veteran students of the university. Third, there was no indication that the beer can actually belonged to the driver of the vehicle which slammed into the Jimmy John’s restaurant that evening. For all we know it could have been there before the time of the accident (I sincerely doubt that any employees or patrons of the restaurant would have noticed a beer can prior to the accident lying either on the street or in front of the restaurant), days even, and may have flown into the restaurant at the time of the impact. This is a college campus after all, so I would not find it surprising to see beer cans lying around the streets of Marquette University, particularly on a weekend, without so much a solitary individuals taking much noted interest in it before an accident occurred. And lastly, GOP3.com themselves report that a breathalyzer test taken on the driver reportedly came up negative, thus eliminating the conclusion that he was intoxicated to the point of being unable to functionally drive a motor vehicle at the time of the accident. If there was an indication at the time that he/she was intoxicated, the driver would certainly have been brought in for questioning, which, as far as I know, did not happen.

I am not saying that it is not a possibility. What I am saying however is that if we are to believe that DPS and the emergency rescue services performed their jobs adequately and responded to the accident properly, there would have at least been an indication of such a conclusion. As of now I have heard no such claim from either DPS or the Milwaukee Police Department. Driving under the influence is rather a serious charge in my mind to be throwing around, so I would suggest that we at least wait until official evidence comes to light before we begin accusing someone who may have simply swerved to avoid hitting a student of being drunk behind the wheel.

European Union in Chaos ... What Else Is New?!

I would hope that something like this would put an end to all the jokes the Europeans have made over the Florida election debacle in 2000 rather quickly, though to be quite honest I would not hold my breath.

Bush Slams UN for Choosing 'Abusers'

I have held this sentiment for at least a year now, affirmed by Jed Babbin’s Inside the Asylum, a book I highly recommend for those seeking to be involved within the field of international politics, so it did not come as a complete surprise to hear President Bush rip into the United Nations this past week for appointing Syria and Sudan to the international organization’s Human Rights Commission. In 2001, the United States was kicked off the commission and the country of Libya, who at that time had not surrendered its storage of weapons of mass destruction to the United States and Great Britain, was named as chair. What makes this even further infuriating is the list of abusive nations that remain on the commission to this day, including Communist China, Cuba, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia.

Iraqi President: "We Will Never Forget What You Have Done For Our People"

Yep, this sure sounds like the words of a bitter and resentful people who did want freedom or democracy which we have given them since the March 2003 invasion that ousted their benevolent dictator Saddam Hussein. Definitely sounds like it.

Underage Drinking, Immoral?

Without going into much detail, I got into somewhat of a heated political debate at work with a fellow Wal-Mart employee. Yes, it is against store policy for employees to take on topics of political discussion but once you have worked there for a few months like I have you will begin to realize that there is undoubtedly a pension for directly disobeying these policy measures without so much as a reprimand from managers or assistant managers. These policies are more in place to maintain a specific social environment for our customers and to fend off the encroachment of unions, which, according to Wal-Mart’s training videos, are more or less the tools of the devil himself. Among our fellow employees however no heed when it comes to policies of political correctness. There are no complaints and everyone attempts to be as respectful as they can with each other, even when they do not particularly enjoy each other.

In any event, what a fellow employee of mine said was that President Bush directly lied to the American people in expressing a message of morality in his 2000 presidential campaign insisting that his daughters were good Christian girls when in fact they had been arrested several times in the state of Texas for underage drinking. If underage drinking goes that strictly against moral teachings then practically every college in the nation is going straight to Hell in a hand basket. Though I do not approve of underage drinking or binge drinking in general, I can not side with the argument that underage drinking is distinctly immoral, even for the daughters of the man who would go on to be President of the United States. Former vice-president Al Gore has it worse off with his children, that's for damn sure.

Of course the political discussion went a lot more in-depth then this but those are topics of discussion that I would like to withhold for later this weekend when I have more time in which to properly explain the events which took place.

Flood Gates in 1965 Ended By Environmental Wackos

Following the onslaught of Hurricane Betsy which struck the Gulf Coast back in 1965, politicians from the state of Louisiana determined the levees were unable to hold back the waters which could easily engulf the city of New Orleans in the event of a category-three hurricane or higher and that flood gates were necessary in order to divert water should the city become flooded. At the time the project would have cost taxpayers only eighty-five million dollars, chump change compared to what it is estimated to cost today, but environmental groups, specifically Save Our Wetlands, determined this would be too damaging to the surrounding wetlands and that the lives of alligators and the preservation of wetlands was far more important the saving of human life in the future. So, after much protest, Louisiana politicians were forced to put a halt to the project. Whoops!

Doyle's Tax 'Freeze' No Freeze at All

Can it be? Is Governor Jim Doyle’s state property tax ‘freeze’ too good to be true? Sadly, in spite of the minimalist bit of hope possible that he had changed his evil liberal ways, it is true. Actually, to be honest, there was never any sense amongst the mainstream conservative base of Wisconsin that Lord Doyle would fulfill his obligation to ‘freeze property taxes while protecting schools’, but that is neither here nor there. I have no doubt he sought to protect the teacher unions … I mean, the ‘children’ of the public school system since they stand to serve his best interests in the upcoming gubernatorial election. The tax payers of this state on the other hand he can manipulate easily while at the same time driving the screw into their backs for all they are worth. ‘Major’ Tom Barrett has certainly caught onto the loopholes evident in the governor’s recently released budget, particularly in the area of his supposed property tax ‘freeze’. First, the budget calls for the state property tax to be lowered only by five percent. This is just me talking here but simply lowering the percentage and not eliminating the necessity for the property tax entirely is not considered a freeze. And secondly, the slick language of the state budget includes nothing to protect property owners from fees imposed by city officials. These fees, which are not tax deductible by the way, can more then compensate for the money lost in lowering the state property tax, something of which ‘Major’ Barrett is more then willing to take full advantage of. With the inclusion of Doyle’s property tax ‘freeze’ and the fees imposed by the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee property owners can expect an increase of about fifteen percent in their taxes this year. Where’s a decent chiropractor when Wisconsin tax payers need one?

Moore to Capture Katrina on Film?

If I was not so sure of film propagandist Michael Moore’s instability prior to his stint at ‘celebrity fat camp’, I would say their treatments were taking a serious toll on his sense of judgment, or lack thereof. There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that he has seriously gone over the edge on this one. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Moore indicates that he is “seriously considering” doing a documentary about President George W. Bush’s handling of the recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Roughly translated, he’s blowing smoke out of his ass (for your own safety and health, do not attempt to mentally picture Michael Moore’s ass) just to grabbed some headlines; nothing more. Oh, and to further the myth that he cares about black people, which he doesn’t. We get the message – you seriously despise George W. Bush both as the president of the United States and as a human being in general – we get it! You are already ‘hard at work’ (manipulation as we all know is a dying art, so there is no doubt he is putting all his efforts into intriguing weaving through the facts to make a point – good for him) on a ‘sequel’ for FahrenHate 7/11, why waste more of your valuable time … because you have nothing better to do on this Earth then irrational whine to your heart’s content, but that is too easy. Please Michael, do not deny your loyal Kool-Aid drinking public the grandeur of hearing your prophetic propagandist message on Canadian socialist healthcare!

Never Forget, Never Forgive

American girls and American guys will always stand up and salute;
Will always recognize
When we see ol' glory flying,
There's a lot of men dead,
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head.

My daddy served in the army,
Where he lost his right eye.
But he flew a flag out in our yard 'til the day that he died.
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.

Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack.
A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back.
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye,
Man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
It's gonna feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!

Oh, Justice will be served and the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
You'll be sorry that you messed with the US of A
'Cuz we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way.

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
It's gonna feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!

Of the Red, White and Blue..
Of my Red, White and Blue...

North Tower of the World Trade Center Collapses

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

United Airlines Flight 93 Crashes Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania

We pray today that from the ashes will rise a new spirit of beauty and unity in America. Already, all across this nation our hearts have been knit together into a new tapestry of one America. Because of this tragedy, we have been bound together by a silver chord of hope and brotherhood and sisterhood. What was meant to drive us apart has really drawn us together.

May we always remember.

And so today we ask, God, that you would wipe the tears of all in need of comfort. That you would warm the heart of one who would grow cold from bitterness. That you would lift the head of that one who is bowed down in sadness. That you would touch the discouraged and remind them that love will always conquer hate.

We thank you, God, for making us such a resilient people. We know that we are.

And we pray now for the strength to rise again, to build again, and to live free from fear. We pray that you will help us rebuild our broken lives and mend our broken hearts. We pray that you will give us the courage to face evil and the faith to believe that good will never be defeated.

Hold us close to your heart.

And through our tears, and through our sorrow, may we all see a new vision of a new tomorrow.

South Tower of the World Trade Center Collapses

I pray for the survivors of the attack on September 11, 2001.

I pray for the families who have lost loved ones.

I pray for the rescue workers and police on the scene.

I pray for the doctors and nurses caring for the hurting.

I pray for the reporters who work through intense emotion to bring us the pictures and news of the day.

I pray for the President and other elected leaders who so desperately need wisdom from beyond themselves.

I pray for the pastors in Washington and New York who care first-hand for the spiritual needs of those who have experienced this great tragedy.

I pray for the military and intelligence agencies who seek to find out who would do this so they might be brought to justice.

I pray for our nation -- that this event will bring us together and turn our thoughts toward helping each other to fight and VANISH the terrorism out of the world.

I pray for all those who might be tempted to think that violence accomplishes anything of lasting value. We've seen too much of it in the recent years.

Lastly, I pray for every peace lover in this world. May God break the cycle of violence to make a difference for His Peace and Grace in this sinful world.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

American Airlines Flight 77 Impacts the Pentagon

May the Blessed Virgin bring comfort and hope to those who suffer on account of the tragic attack of the terrorists, that last week seriously harmed the beloved American people.

To all the children of this great Nation I direct my heartbroken and heartfelt consideration.

May Mary welcome the dead, console the survivors, support those families who are particularly tried, help all to resist the temptation to hatred and violence, and to dedicate themselves to the service of justice and peace.

May the Virgin Mary nourish in the hearts of all young persons, above all, high human and spiritual ideals and the necessary perseverance to achieve them. May She remind them of the primacy of eternal values, especially in these difficult moments, so that in their daily engagements and activities they may ever continue to be turned toward God and to his kingdom of solidarity and peace.

United Airlines Flight 175 Impacts the South Tower

Brothers and Sisters, in great dismay, before the horror of destructive violence, but strong in the faith that has always guided our fathers, we turn to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, salvation of his people, and with the confidence of children, pray that He will come to our aid in these days of mourning and innocent suffering.

1. For the Churches of the East and the West, and in particular for the Church in the United States of America so that, though humbled by loss and mourning, yet inspired by the Mother of the Lord, strong woman beside the cross of her Son, they may foster the will for reconciliation, peace, and the building of the civilization of love.

2. For all those who bear the name of Christian, so that, in the midst of many persons who are tempted to hatred and doubt, they will be witnesses to the presence of God in history and the victory of Christ over death.

3. For the leaders of nations, so that they will not allow themselves to be guided by hatred and the spirit of retaliation, but may do everything possible to prevent new hatred and death, by bringing forth works of peace.

4. For those who are weeping in sorrow over the loss of relatives and friends, that in this hour of suffering they will not be overcome by sadness, despair and vengeance, but continue to have faith in the victory of good over evil, of life over death.

5. For those suffering and wounded by the terrorist acts, that they may return to stability and health and, appreciating the gift of life, may generously foster the will to contribute to the well being of every human being.

6. For our brothers and sisters who met death in the folly of violence, that they find sure joy and life everlasting in the peace of the Lord, that their death may not be in vain but become a leaven bringing forth a season of brotherhood and collaboration among peoples.

O Almighty and merciful God, you cannot be understood by one who sows discord, you cannot be accepted by one who loves violence: look upon our painful human condition tried by cruel acts of terror and death, comfort your children and open our hearts to hope, so that our time may again know days of serenity and peace.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[Pope John Paul II's Address on September 12th, 2001]

American Airlines Flight 11 Impacts the North Side of the North Tower

Almighty God, the past four years will be indelibly inscribed in our memories.

We looked with horror on the terrorist attacks of September 11th. But we looked with honor on acts of courage by ordinary peoplewho sacrificed themselves to prevent further death and destruction.

We shed our tears in a common bond of grief for those we loved and lost.We journeyed through a dark valley, but your light has led us to a place of hope.You have turned our grief into determination.We are resolved to do what is good, and right, and just.

Help us to remember what it means to be Americans—a people endowed with abundant blessings. Help us to cherish the freedoms we enjoy and inspire us to standwith courage, united as one Nation in the midst of any adversity.

Lord, hear this prayer for our Nation.

Amen.

Remembering 9/11

PC-ing 9/11 Memorial

Real Clear Politics and Little Green Footballs have pointed out something rather disturbing about the recently proposed memorial for Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. The selected design for the memorial entitled Crescent of Embrace (pay especially close attention to this name because it will play a more significant role later on in the article) bares an eerily close resemblance to one of the most sacred symbols in all of Islam … the Crescent! This seriously has to be some type of sick joke! Is this any way in which to memorialize those who sacrificed their lives so that others may live?!

The Governator Vetoes Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage in California

Assemblyman Mark Leno of Gay Capital, USA … I mean, San Francisco insists that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s veto of a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state of California is “pandering to the far right” but, at least from an intellectual’s perspective, this demonstrates that he is instead invoking the will of the people when they overwhelming voted in favor of Proposition 22 which defined marriage as between a man and a woman only.

Blaming Bush

Viewpoint - In Memorium

[UPDATE: Is the Marquette Tribune attempting to discredit me by intentionally making it appear as though I am nothing more then some raving conservative lunatic with a vendetta against the campus newspaper? To be quite honest I would not put it past them. I spent at least thirty or forty minutes of my time Tuesday evening rewriting the editorial in order to fulfill their ludicrous five-hundred and fifty word limit while at the same time maintaining the ability to get my point across to the student body of Marquette University. So what do they do? They post almost the entire editorial I originally wrote (the seven-hundred word version), with the exception of the “shooting a two-million dollar missile up a camel’s butt” statement (which, honestly, was the funniest line in the article and one editorial change I was quite upset about), without consulting me as to whether this was indeed the exact article I wanted to be published. I am not one for conspiracy theories but there is something more behind this then them merely changing their minds.]

The following editorial is the unedited version of the same article which appears in this morning’s edition of The Marquette Tribune newspaper. The words in bold were removed regretfully by myself in order to fulfill the school paper’s ludicrous five-hundred and fifty word limit on student editorials, an increase from last year’s seven-hundred world limit.

I thought the Marquette Tribune was maintained to serve the purposes of the student body of Marquette University? Is attempted censorship, intentional or not, seriously doing us any favors? Does this benefit this campus in any way? The Editorial Page editor at the Tribune informs me that the Editorial Page has a limited budget. Then in this case, if this is true – I do not know how much to trust The Tribune at this point, changes need to be made. Remove unnecessary fluff: For instance, staff editorials. I thought journalists were unbiased? Is this not technically demonstrating their partisanship in their discussion of political events? Yeah, there is no left-wing media – pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! And when they aren’t enlightening us with their hypocrisy, nonsensical rambling reigns free. Here’s a pertinent question – why are student editorials limited to five-hundred and fifty words when staff editorials are not? And what is the deal with those unintentionally laughable editorial cartoons? Pointblank, they are not funny in the least and the artist of these cartoons has the creative capacity of a five-year old. I’ve seen better editorial cartoons come from UW-Madison’s school newspaper for Christ’s sake! When Associated Press articles, lifted word-for-word from their source, dominate the pages, advertisements make increasingly necessary filler, and staff editorials are given priority over those of students, alumni, and faculty, the school paper no longer serves the purposes of the student body it claims to represent.

This coming Sunday will mark the fourth anniversary of September 11th, the most ambitious, bloodiest, and most horrific solitary act of terrorism in the history of the United States of America and the world. Like the Kennedy assassination in 1963, I believe we can all recall vividly where we were and what we were doing the precise moment word reached us that two planes had crashed into the Twin Towers in an apparent act of terrorism against the United States. The images of carnage, destruction, and death forever embedded in our subconscious. I have no doubt that many of us that fateful morning did our best to go about our daily lives as if nothing had happened when in reality our minds were on the events taking place on the East coast of the country and nothing else.

In the four years’ time following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., the United States has made significant progress in the war against terrorism. Through cooperative arrangements made with the nations which constitute the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ and the North Alliance, we were able to bring down the repressive Taliban government of Afghanistan, the home base of terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden, forcing him on the run, and transitioning the once desolate Middle East nation into a new era of freedom and democracy of which they have known so little before now.

Nearly two-thirds of al Qaeda’s operatives have either been captured or killed by the United States and its allies. This however does not immediately constitute as a sign that victory is on the horizon. A predator, though badly injured and afraid, can remain a dangerous threat to our security as the attacks in Madrid and London have demonstrated. Issues of racial profiling at airport security checkpoints and border control, specifically with Mexico, need to be addressed and dealt with directly in order to ensure the safety of the American public.

Operation Iraqi Freedom has fulfilled the affirmation laid out by President George W. Bush that we will not distinguish between the terrorists themselves and the countries who harbor them. Saddam Hussein has long since been accused of hording chemical and biological weapons of warfare, all of which were banned by the United Nations, and not once in the twelve years following his surrender at the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War did he ever fulfill the obligations set down for him. Despite what the left may claim otherwise, the 9/11 Commission Report proved there was sufficient evidence to suggestion a developing relationship between Saddam Hussein and the country of Iraq and the terrorist organization al Qaeda, though certainly not directly in connection with the events which took place on September 11th, 2001. Two years after the invasion, much work still lies ahead for us and the Iraqi people.

We must repeatedly remind ourselves that the United States is in this war for the long haul. The war against terrorism will be a long, demanding, and, most importantly, bloody conflict but one which is necessary to ensure the survival of the principles and values of democracy and freedom throughout the world as the struggles against Nazism and Communism were before our time.

No longer do we live in the era of Bill Clinton where we can fire a two-million dollar missile up a camel’s butt and claim we did something to combat the forces of Islamic fascism. No longer can we further rely on the rest of the world to solve our problems for us.

We as nation must make the transition back to a time when we did things not because they were easy but because they were right and just no matter the inconvenience they may impose on us.

We must never lose sight of the transcendental goal still to be accomplished in this war, the destruction of al Qaeda and the end of fundamental Islamic fascism throughout the world. We must never give in to despair; we must never lose out hope of victory even when times are grim. The moment we do so is the exact same moment in which our enemies will have tasted victory, a moment I pray will never come.

Guest Speaker: Sujo John, Survivor of 9/11

I am going to attempt a balancing act of sorts this evening, attending the guest lecture by Sujo John, a survivor of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, which I suggest you all make an attempt to see, and the MU College Republicans meeting, each separated by merely half an hour. Wish me luck!

First MUCR Meeting of the Year This Evening

This is simply a reminder to new and current members of the Marquette University College Republicans that the first meeting of the year will be held this evening at 8pm in the Alumni Union Hall, Room 305, at which time you will be able to meet our new leadership team under chairman Dan Maciejewski who will divulge our exciting plans for the year. Don’t miss out!

Those Poor Trees

The discovery by GOP3.com that eight articles in the recent edition of The Marquette Tribune are in fact Associated Press stories (not a conspiracy theory but rather a careful observation from the conservative weblog) has me questioning why the Tribune has limited its editorial word limit from seven-hundred words to five-hundred and fifty words this year. Is this an attempt to censor students on campus? I can not say for sure but it is a huge inconvenience for me at least to have to re-write an entire editorial written with the specifics of last year’s viewpoints in mind to fit the more limited specifics of this year’s viewpoint editorials. I'll post the unedited version of the editorial here on Thursday morning, the same day in which the edited one is published in the Marquette Tribune.

'Major' Tom Barrett Visits Marquette University

‘Major’ Tom Barrett, the failure of Milwaukee County, stopped by the Marquette University campus this evening to speak to the College Democrats on the progress in the deterioration of the principles and values of the Democratic Party. I did not see him myself but I am sure he made a ‘grand’ impression the CDs. I can not wait to see the Marquette Tribune coverage of this. Absolutely glowing, I bet. On the bright side, at least it will be nice to have an original piece from the Tribune for once.

Pointing the Finger of Blame

Now I know I am in for a fun time in my Comparative Politics class this year. Last week I alerted you to a left-leaning student in my eleven o’ clock class who could hardly contain her zealousness in declaring ‘Palestine’ a state government. Well, it happened again in this morning’s class, more then once I might add. In fact I was in somewhat of a debate with Professor McCormick, who teaches the course and with whom I have not exactly warmed up to, in regards to specific issues touched upon in our discussion. There was not an actual debate or argument between the two of us per say, it stopped well short of that, but it was certainly building up to that built.

There were at least two main subjects we touched upon in our class’ discussion of current events this morning – the first being the United Nations Oil-for-Food scandal and the other, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and who is actually at fault for the slow recovery efforts. I will save the subject of the U.N. Oil-for-Food scandal for later this evening when I have access to specific information I do not have with me at the moment. I will however take the time to touch upon the discussion of Hurricane Katrina.

A young woman complained how the lack of federal organization or preparation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina reflected upon our reputation through the eyes of the rest of the world. I know I have said this before but clearly some of you out there have not grasped the concept, or refuse to – whatever the case may be, so here it goes – this is not high school. I want the United States to be respected throughout the world as much as anyone else does but I am not willing to risk our sovereignty or what I feel is in the best interest of our nation and the American public in order to make a good impression on a country who will likely hate us next week even if we do the right thing in their mindset. Our main priority is not to worry on how our actions will reflect upon our reputation. In any event, most politicians, even those on the right, see it as completely shattered at this point, so it really does not matter what we do right now because essentially we have nothing else to lose in the eyes of the rest of the world. Our job is now to do the best we can in containing and controlling the situation in the remains of the city of New Orleans, evacuating everyone still alive in those four states, providing suffers with immediate medical attention as well as supplies of food, water, clothing, and any other essentials they may need, and begin the long and arduous job of cleaning up what was left behind in the wake of the hurricane, which includes the removal of dead bodies.

Another young woman, undoubtedly brainwashed into the Cult of Moore to be sure, took the opportunity in the discussion to denounce the war in Iraq and shift the finger of blame for lack of preparation in the aftermath on the current Bush administration. She rationalized, not well I might add, that the stagnated action of the state military forces in controlling the events taking place in the remains of what was the city of New Orleans (the looting, the gangs, the gunfire, etc.) occurred due to the extensive amount of military forces stationed in Iraq when they could have been put to better use here in the United States. This is pathetic! Truly pathetic! You know the left in this country have run clean out of ideas in which to b*tch out the Bush Administration in regards to the war in Iraq when they blame the lack of preparation in the aftermath of a natural disaster no one, especially those within the current presidential administration, could have possibly foreseen two-three years ago when the war started.

You see, I can understand the environmental wackos taking their frustrations out on Bush since everything related to natural disasters, whether it is rational or not – more then likely irrational, is the fault of conservatives who supposedly do not give a sh*t about the environment and are the cause of ‘global warming’. I may not like it, but I can at least see where they are coming from. I will not even get into a debate on how illogical and hypocritical it is to say we as human beings have ultimate control of the environment in causing ‘global warming’ and the unintended consequences which occur in relation to pollution when natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes remain a deadly threat to the citizens of this country, killing hundreds, if not at least a thousand, individuals per year.

As a fellow classmate of mine pointed out, no state in the period of time after Hurricane Katrina made landfall had less then fifty percent of their state military forces, so there were more then enough troops to assist in controlling the riots in the city of New Orleans. The problem was that in order for martial law to take effect, the governor of the state, in this case Louisiana – yeah, the thug, must sign a formal declaration for military assistance to come in and take over the normal administration of justice in that state. Guess what? In all the time the governor of Louisiana stood on his soapbox riling out how the federal government was not doing enough to help out the people of the state or that it was actually an issue of race that was at the core of all this, he forgot to sign the formal declaration for martial law in the state of Louisiana. Military forces in this country were more then willing to assist in the state but they have no authority at the time to make such a decision. They needed the official declaration signed in order for them to be given the power to take appropriate measures in securing the safety and security of the state of Louisiana.

Levees Not Designed for Katrina-Strength Storm, Official Says

With this in my mind, we must question what else the mayor and the city board of New Orleans knew prior to Hurricane Katrina making landfall that they are failing to alert us to and instead placing the finger of blame on President Bush.

It's Going to Get Messy

With all due respect to the passing of the late-great Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William H. Rehnquist this past evening, this could not have possibly come at a worse time for President George W. Bush. The last few weeks of August and the opening weeks of September have generally been known as the slow news season, so it was not surprising that the left-wing media practically joined themselves to the hip with ‘Peace Mom’ Cindy Sheehan and her cult of hippie Kool-Aid drinkers or in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina they placed the finger of blame squarely on the president for not sending federal aid quick enough (totally ignoring the fact that the ‘thug’ mayor of New Orleans failed to fill out a formal request for federal aid) or worse, accusing him of racism. Add on top of this his numbers in the polls have taken a nose-dive. Yeah, I do not necessarily trust those numbers either and, yes, they do not really matter to him since he was already re-elected to the presidency of the United States but it will matter for whoever runs for the presidency on the Republican ticket in 2008 (Condi! Condi!)

On top of all this, his numbers have slipped significantly as of late. Yeah, I do not necessarily trust those numbers either and, true, they do not really matter all that much to him since he has already been re-elected into office but it will matter for whoever runs for the presidency on the Republican ticket in 2008 (Condi! Condi!). The death of Rehnquist only adds fuel to the fire. The confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee John Robert’s, which a few weeks ago seemed to be a done deal, has been placed in jeopardy with the passing of Rehnquist. This may give the Democrats enough of a momentum to play the filibuster card to their hearts’ content, whereas before they would have had to wait for the chief justice nominee to come along to replace Rehnquist had he retired. This is going to get messy ladies and gentlemen, seriously messy.

Remembering Chief Justice William Rehnquist

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt observe iniquities; Lord, who shall endure it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness:
and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all her iniquities.
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Let us pray.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through our pious
supplication they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired; who lives and reigns
for ever and ever.

Amen.

Moore Accuses Bush of Race-Based Response to Katrina

Political propagandist and socialist sympathizer Michael Moore, straight from his stint at ‘celebrity fat camp’ (which in reality is nothing more then an upscale three-thousand dollar per day resort and health spa – I can just see the fat burning off him right now), has written an open-letter to President Bush labeling his response to hurricane Katrina racist. Michael Moore, calling a Republican a racist? Now there’s a surprise! How about the left-wing media lets up on blaming President Bush and starts pointing the finger of accusation on the mayor of New Orleans, who in my opinion sounds like an absolute thug, for lack of preparation before and after the hurricane hit landfall or the city board of New Orleans who vetoed a proposal to improve the maintenance of the levies protecting the city from flooding sea water? Or how about the French for building a city below sea level in the first place?

Oh, THAT Liberal Media

It took only a pompous, self-aggrandizing nutcase named Cindy Sheehan and a monstrous hurricane named Katrina (the feminists must be having an absolute field-day over this, I’m sure) to send the partisan rhetoric of the left-wing media into critical overdrive this week against President George W. Bush. I must say that the Media Research Center has done a superb job putting the following news pieces together and I want to thank them for making them available to the public:

September 2nd

• On CBS Man Blasts Bush for Stuporous Response Compared to Iraq
• CNN's Jack Cafferty Again Goes on Anti-Bush Tirade, CBS Joins In
• Olbermann Mocks Condoleezza Rice for Seeing "Comedy on Broadway"
• Raines: Bush Worries Over Big Oil as "Poor Drown in Their Attics"
• ABC's Diane Sawyer to Bush: "Will You Call for Tax Increases?"

September 1st

• Sawyer Hits Bush with Liberal Spin, Iraq or Aid Katrina Victims?
• ABC's Cuomo Exploits Disaster to Push FDR-Like Government Growth
• Mitchell/Matthews Use Calamity to Mock Conservatives and Hit Bush

August 31st

• CNN's Cafferty Takes Shot at Bush's "Vacation" After Hurricane
• Poll Showing Sheehan's Lack of Impact Buried by ABC and WashPost

Study: Terrorists Exploit Immigration Laws

This is a surprise?! I and many of my fellow conservatives have been saying this exact same thing for months, years even, and now we choose to waste federal tax dollars on a study the 9/11 hijackers already proved was taking place within the United States? Evidence like this only further verifies the concept of not allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver’s licenses, whether they are Middle Eastern or Hispanic in descent.

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief

All seriousness aside for a moment (I realize there is nothing the least bit humorous about thousands of people dying in a natural disaster of epic proportions like Hurricane Katrina was, but we must learn to laugh again at some point), only the French would be stupid enough to have built a city such as New Orleans below sea level. The mayor of New Orleans was warned by the man who contracted the city that there was the possibility of permanent flooding at some point in the future, but they went ahead and built it anyway. With flood waters encompassing nearly eighty percent of the city, New Orleans should just be abandoned because it no longer makes sense to rebuild a city below city level without the threat of another hurricane or some other natural disaster raising the question of flood waters again. But, should go forward with this proposal, this raises the next question – where do you rebuild the city and where do all the refugees go in the meantime?

There are no immediate answers to those questions just yet but for the time being, if you would like to contribute to the disaster relief fund for victims of Hurricane Katrina, we at the Office of Homeland Security ask that you visit the following websites to make your donation today:

• Americans Helping Americans
• American Red Cross
• Catholic Charities
• The Salvation Army
• Jewish Hurricane Relief
• The Mercy Corps
• United Jewish Communities
• Soldiers' Angels

Simply a Reminder

This is just a reminder to left-leaning students of Marquette University, this of course being specifically directed at a young woman in my Comparative Politics course, Palestine was never and will never be a state. The term ‘Palestine’ is a relatively modern one used to define patch of land currently encompassing the state of Israel and other Middle East territories that was controlled by a loose association of Arab and Jewish tribes, though nowhere near the sense of unified and central government as we know of today. Okay, just wanted to get that off my chest. Please, continue about your busy.

MUCR at the 2005 Fall Organization Fest

This is a reminder to current Marquette University freshmen and/or College Republican members that tomorrow from 1pm – 4pm in the Central Mall (behind Raynor Library) the Marquette University College Republicans will have a table set up at this year’s Fall Organization Fest. If you are interested in participating in the organization this year or simply want to stop by a chat a little politics with us we would be more then welcome to have you come over to our table.