Posted by Richard on March 22, 2014
Bill O’Keefe (@DefendWallSt) tweeted a bunch of pictures from Venezuela today, some rather disturbing. But this, IMHO, is the one that tells the most important story:
@instapundit March on the left is the pro government rally today. March on the right is the anti-government rally pic.twitter.com/pcOtMUeDbV
— Bill (@DefendWallSt) March 22, 2014
The MSM, to the extent that Venezuela is mentioned at all, will simply report that demonstrations both for and against the government took place.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: brutality, communism, repression, venezuela, violence | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 22, 2014
On Thursday, the Washington Post published a hit piece by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin on the Koch brothers and the Keystone XL pipeline that’s full of flat-out lies. Power Line’s John Hinderaker called them on it, utterly shredding their article. They responded (after a fashion). Hinderaker destroyed their response and exposed the incestuous, corrupt cronyism between the left, the mainstream media, and the Obama administration to devastating effect.
After exposing the fatuousness of Mufson and Eilperin’s defense of their article (with a little help from Jonah Goldberg) and outlining why the WaPo would publish such a smear (hint: it has an agenda), Hinderaker described how an accurate article could be written about a billionaire who stands to benefit by killing the Keystone XL pipeline. But Mufson, Eilperin, and the WaPo wouldn’t be interested in such an article because the billionaire in question is Tom Steyer.
Tom Steyer is one of the Democratic Party’s biggest contributors, and has pledged this year to contribute $100 million to its candidates. Hinderaker connected the dots between Eilperin, her husband Andrew Light, his boss at the Center for American Progress, John Podesta, Center for American Progress board member Tom Steyer, and the Obama administration, which both Light and Podesta also work for. Fascinating, in an icky, sleazy sort of way. By the end, you’ll understand Hinderaker’s closing, the money quote of the piece:
… However bad you think the corruption and cronyism in Washington are, they are worse than you imagine. And if you think the Washington Post is part of a free and independent press, think again.
Instapundit posted some key bits, but you really should read Hinderaker’s second post in its entirety — it’s outstanding.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: corruption, cronyism, democrats, media bias, msm | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 22, 2014
In a rational world, this story by Katie Pavlich wouldn’t be particularly newsworthy. Unfortunately, in this day and age, it is:
School officials in Pueblo County, Colorado are bucking the anti-gun trend and recently approved a field trip for middle school students to a local shooting range where they learned about gun safety and how to properly handle a firearm. The gun safety and marksman group Project Appleseed, an activity of The Revolutionary War Veterans Association, was brought in to instruct students, all of whom fired at the range with live ammunition. The trip was scheduled shortly after students learned about The Revolutionary War in their classrooms.
“We’ve never been allowed to bring actual real firearms into a school. Until this week. This is a very big deal. We had them touching fire arms, holding them and learning about how to handle them safely,” Appleseed Instructor Elizabeth Blackwood told KRDO.
Here is the money quote from student Jonah Statezny, who went on the trip: “I think everyone should learn how to use a gun but learn how to use it properly, and the precautions you’re supposed to take and how serious a gun really is.”
Jonah is pretty wise for a middle school student.
I certainly hope this sort of field trip will become more common in the future, because it will make both our youth and our society in general safer. A study published in 1995 by the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (PDF) tracked 4000 kids in urban Denver, Pittsburgh, and Rochester, NY, over seven years. Vin Suprynowicz summarized the key findings related to whether and how the kids were introduced to firearms:
— Children who get guns from their parents don’t commit gun crimes (0 percent) while children who get guns illegally are quite likely to do so (21 percent).
— Children who get guns from parents are less likely to commit any kind of street crime (14 percent) than children who have no gun in the house (24 percent) — and are dramatically less likely to do so than children who acquire an illegal gun (74 percent.)
— Children who get guns from parents are less likely to use banned drugs (13 percent) than children who get illegal guns (41 percent.)
— Most strikingly, the study found: “Boys who own legal firearms have much lower rates of delinquency and drug use (than boys who own illegal guns) and are even slightly less delinquent than non-owners of guns.”
This wouldn’t have surprised anyone before the rise of the modern welfare state. It used to be common knowledge that the best way to get kids to act “responsibly” was precisely to give them some “responsibility.” Why would we assume a child taught by his parents to use a gun responsibly wouldn’t also be more responsible in his other behaviors?
“Want to dramatically reduce the chance that your child will commit a gun-related crime or — heaven forbid — go on a shooting spree?” asked the national Libertarian Party in a May 21 news release detailing these study results. “Buy your youngster a gun.”
“Politicians are apparently more interested in demonizing guns than they are in facts,” commented LP national director Steve Dasbach, himself an Indiana government schoolteacher. But “The evidence is in: The simplest way to reduce firearm-related violence among children is to buy them a gun and teach them how to use it responsibly.”
As Katie Pavlich said, “This is the definition of a well rounded, quality education. Bravo Pueblo County.”
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: children, crime, education, firearms, guns, responsibility, shooting | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 22, 2014
Recently, the situation in Venezuela has gone from terrible to horrific. The colectivos, Maduro-organized gangs of thugs on motorcycles, have been terrorizing middle-class neighborhoods and murdering anti-government demonstrators. National Guard troops have been brutally suppressing dissent and are now using live ammunition against demonstrators. And the US media have paid scant attention.
Bill O’Keefe, a Democrat turned libertarian, tells the story of what’s happening in Venezuela (with lots of pictures) at Daily Surge. And he tweets frequent updates and pictures. See his latest @DefendWallSt. Or check out his top tweets at Favstar.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: brutality, communism, repression, venezuela, violence | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 21, 2014
Gun safety isn’t really difficult. There are only four simple rules, first articulated by Col. Jeff Cooper, that must be followed. But you must adhere to these rules absolutely, consistently, 100% of the time. Rule #3 is:
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
Here is a picture illustrating adherence to rule #3:
The trigger finger is outside the trigger guard, extended alongside the frame of the pistol. As Col. Cooper explained:
… Since the hand normally prefers to work as a unit – as in grasping – separating the function of the trigger-finger from the rest of the hand takes effort. The five-finger grasp is a deeply programmed reflex. Under sufficient stress, and with the finger already placed on the trigger, an unexpected movement, misstep or surprise could result in a negligent discharge. Speed cannot be gained from such a premature placement of the trigger-finger. Bringing the sights to bear on the target, whether from the holster or the Guard Position, takes more time than that required for moving the trigger finger an inch or so to the trigger.
It appears that at least some Denver police officers aren’t adhering to rule #3. But most of the blame is being put on their weapon-mounted flashlights:
Denver’s police chief said Thursday he has ordered extra training and a review of department policies after the second accidental shooting by an officer this month and the fifth in a little over a year.
Police are still investigating the latest shooting Sunday night, but at least two of the accidental shootings have been blamed on gun-mounted tactical flashlights. Such lights have also been cited in other accidental police shootings across the country, including one that killed a man in Texas.
…
Two of last year’s unintentional shootings were connected to officers’ use of the flashlights, according to the city’s independent police monitor’s annual report. White responded by banning a specific design of flashlight with an on/off switch located on the gun’s grip just below the trigger guard. He cited three specific brands, but said his ban was not limited to those products.
Nonsense. Look at the picture above again. The flashlight switch is located on the front strap of the pistol grip, under the middle finger. The middle finger presses the switch to turn the flashlight on or off. If your trigger finger (forefinger) is properly located outside the trigger guard and extended alongside the frame, there is no way that you will “accidentally” press the trigger when attempting to turn on the flashlight.
When it comes to gun handling, as Col. Cooper said, “there are no accidents, only negligent acts.” There are far too many cops in this country who’ve received inadequate training and seem to have adopted the gun-handling practices they see on TV crime dramas made by people who know little or nothing about guns.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: denver, guns, jeff cooper, police, safety, training | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 21, 2014
Marijuana legalization is looking better and better. The Colorado legislature, salivating over the prospect of more revenue, imposed high taxes on pot sales. Partly due to that and partly due to improvement in the Colorado economy, state government has lots of money to spend and is eagerly spending it. Good news for pols and their cronies, bad news for the rest of us.
Fortunately, Colorado voters many years ago enacted a constitutional amendment called the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights (TABOR). Among other things, it limits annual spending growth — unless voters approve of excess spending in a referendum vote, the excess revenue must be refunded to taxpayers. To the Denver Post, this is a troubling prospect:
Colorado voters approved the sale of legal marijuana thinking the revenues derived would go towards areas like schools or treatment for substance abuse. Instead, it’s possible that the money may be returned to them.
A Tuesday economic forecast from the state’s Legislative Council said that state spending is trending higher than previously estimated. If that holds true, under TABOR statutes, the higher spending could trigger a one-year refund on any new sources of revenue — like the taxes on marijuana.
The Post reporter, Anthony Cotton, managed to find both Democrat and Republican legislators who share the Post’s dim view of TABOR and believe there should be no limit on how much of our money the government can seize:
“The idea of having to issue a refund or going back to voters hat in hand is disappointing,” said Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, the vice-chair of the Joint Budget Committee, which hosted the briefing.
…
“The more I learn about TABOR the less I like it and the more insidious I think it is to state government,” said Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen.
Apparently, the Post couldn’t locate any legislators who disagree with this desire for unconstrained government. I know there are some — but I guess the Post doesn’t have contact information for those kinds of folks.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: colorado, marijuana, taxes | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 20, 2014
In a Pennsylvania special election for a state senate seat, the Tea Party candidate trounced his Democratic and Republican opponents — as a write-in (!):
Republican businessman Scott Wagner dealt a stunning blow to both Democrats and Republicans in Pennsylvania by becoming the first person ever to win a state Senate seat as a write-in candidate. Many are now wondering if the election has some national implications for the 2014 midterm elections.
The tea party candidate defeated both of his party-endorsed opponents, Republican Ron Miller and Democrat Linda Small. He received 48 percent of the vote to Small’s 26 percent and Miller’s 27 percent. In other words, it wasn’t even close.
“The times they are a-cha-a-a-ngin’!”
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: pennsylvania, politics, tea party | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 19, 2014
At Reason, Jacob Sullum has a new column entitled “Don’t Republicans Abuse Executive Power?” I’m not going to bother reading it because I already know the answer. Lord Acton provided it 127 years ago.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: corruption, politics, power | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 18, 2014
When you combine a light-weight, portable beverage carbonator with beer concentrate, you end up with what I nominate as the best invention of the decade:
We’ve written about Pat’s Backcountry Beverages Carbonator, the Nalgene-size system for fizzifying your drink of choice where ever the trail takes you. And while we’ve talked about Pat’s alcohol-packed beer flavors—the world’s first beer concentrate, according to the company—we haven’t put them to the test. Until now.
As a backpacker and a booze writer, when I heard about Pat’s first two beer flavors(complete with alcohol!) I couldn’t resist checking them out. After all, who among us hasn’t fantasized about some sweet suds at the end of a long, hot hike? But could these “beers” pass the taste test of an admittedly picky beer drinker? The short answer—Yes.
You add a 1.7-ounce packet of Pat’s liquid beer concentrate ($10 for four) to cold water and use Pat’s Backcountry Beverages Carbonator to charge it with CO2. The result sounds pretty good:
So what’s the bottom line? While it’s a struggle to get the drink as carbonated as you’d want (the best I ever got was analogous to a draft beer that had been sitting out for a good half-hour), the flavors are on-point. The Pale Rail is still a tad too sweet, but the Black Hops is most definitely worth the price of admission. I’m absolutely bringing it on my next trip, and if you’re a beer lover, I suggest you do the same.
I haven’t been backpacking in years, but this might just tempt me to pack up and head out this summer. One question: are bears attracted to beer?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: backpacking, beer, inventions | 1 Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 18, 2014
The Obama administration has ignored laws, unilaterally changed laws, and administratively enacted laws, demonstrating complete indifference to the separation of powers and contempt for the legislative branch. Now it seems poised to also demonstrate its contempt for the judicial branch. Michael Cannon at Forbes (bold emphasis added):
As readers of this blog know, the plaintiffs in Halbig v. Sebelius and three similar cases are challenging the IRS’s attempt to issue certain subsidies and impose certain taxes where it has no authority to do so: in the 34 states that have chosen not to establish a health insurance “exchange” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Oral arguments in Halbig are scheduled for March 25 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Read all about the these cases here.
On Wednesday, March 12, government lawyers filed with the court a brief but strange “notice of supplemental authority” that seems to suggest the IRS will keep issuing those subsidies and imposing those taxes even if the court declares the agency has no authority to do so.
Instead of jailing “climate change deniers,” we should jail “Constitution deniers.”
The Cato Institute has lots more about Halbig and related cases.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: abuse of power, courts, lawlessness, obama, obamacare | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 18, 2014
Michael Schaus at Townhall Finance:
An assistant philosophy professor at Rochester Institute of Technology has proposed a bold plan to settle the debate on Global Warming. Lawrence Torcello wrote an essay suggesting that scientists who fail to fall in line with global warming alarmists should be charged with criminal negligence, and possibly even be thrown in jail. Nothing screams academic freedom like a little intellectual Fascism. Right?
RTWT.
The safety and efficacy of vaccines is considered “settled science” in the medical community. So maybe we should jail Jenny McCarthy.
And a scientific consensus now exists that the federal corn ethanol mandate is actually bad for the environment. So maybe we should jail all the members of Congress who voted for it.
Hmm … now that I think about it, the latter idea sounds rather tempting.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: climate change, fascism, global warming | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 17, 2014
A week or so ago, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg started a campaign to ban the word “bossy” (apparently, Sandberg isn’t familiar with the First Amendment). Allegedly, the patriarchy uses the word to stigmatize girls who assert themselves, or something like that.
A number of people have pointed out that Sandberg is a major Hillary Clinton supporter and donor, and speculated that this plays into her motives. Glenn Reynolds described it as “astroturf battlespace preparation for Hillary.” And suggested an appropriate bumpersticker, which promptly came into existence:
But my favorite comment on the “ban bossy” idea is from Steven Hayward (emphasis in original):
So we’re supposed to ban “bossy” from our vocabulary, eh? This, coming from the same folks who imposed the mandate that we all buy health insurance from government-run exchanges, and dictate exactly what that insurance policy must have in it. I mean, if liberalism today isn’t about being bossy, then it hardly has a reason for being. …
Just about the bossiest person I can think of is Michael Bloomberg. By all means, let’s ban bossiness.
UPDATE: Apparently, the people who want to ban “bossy” have no problem with using it to describe white male Republicans.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: bossy, hillary, liberals, politics | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 15, 2014
Did you see the poster of a “bad boy” version of Sen. Ted Cruz? The Senator did, and responded with humor:
Saw this, but noticed an error. So I wanted to make one thing clear: I don’t smoke cigarettes http://t.co/3nn2740kkP pic.twitter.com/tPFNqg9vu8
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 15, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: humor, politics, ted cruz | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 15, 2014
I saw a brief story on the news tonight about demonstrations in Moscow both for and against Putin and Russian intervention in Ukraine. Not much detail. AFP had more information:
Around 50,000 people marched through central Moscow on Saturday in protest at Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula votes on switching to Kremlin rule.
Waving Ukrainian and Russian flags and adopting the chants of Ukraine’s popular uprising, prominent and ordinary Russians urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull troops back from ex-Soviet Ukraine.
Marchers carried placards reading “Putin, get out of Ukraine” and others comparing Kremlin’s decision to send troops to Crimea with the Nazi annexation of the Sudetenland as Europe rushed headlong into World War II.
…
Members of anti-Kremlin punk Pussy Riot compared Russia’s invasion of Crimea that plunged the country into a Cold-War style confrontation with the West to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.
“How can a referendum under the barrels of guns be legitimate and fair?” Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina asked during a rally after the march, a Russian flag in her hand.
The Blaze has the AP story and some of the pictures tweeted from the protest march. As for the pro-Putin counter-demonstration (emphasis added):
Not far away near the Kremlin, several thousand people dressed in matching red costumes marched in formation to show their support for Russian intervention in the region.
Sounds like a real spontaneous grass-roots demonstration, doesn’t it?
What’s the Russian word for “astroturf”?
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: protests, russia, ukraine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on March 15, 2014
In a Slate article this morning, Jeff Wise presented evidence suggesting that Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 may have been hijacked and flown to somewhere near the border of Kyrgyzstan and the Chinese province of Xingiang. He noted that:
A violent separatist Uyghur separatist [sic] movement is active in that area. Two weeks ago, eight knife-wielding Uyghur separatists attacked passengers at a train station in Xinjiang, killing 29 people. According to its manifest, 153 of the 227 passengers aboard MH370 are Chinese.
He failed to provide any information about the Uyghurs (a.k.a. Uighurs) beyond their separatism, so I’ll fill in the blank for you. At least some of them are radical Islamists.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: air travel, hijacking, jihad, malaysia | 2 Comments »