After being closed the last several months - more like a year - the Little Red Blog is returning shortly. Older archives will be available in a re-sorted manner. And other features will be added.
All archives listed prior to this entry are from the prior versions of the LRB.
Bill Roggio has been invited to report from Iraq, embedded with the Marines he's been covering so well for the last year. He's asking for your help in making the most of this opportunity. While I've come to know Bill over the last few months - since our July efforts on the AQ Attacks presentation, I've learned that he is among the genuine and giving. And he's humble to a fault. His "little" blog will have its millionth visitor today, and he'll make no mention of it. The hours he puts into his coverage approach full time efforts - and he does it freely and with a determination rarely equaled. He does it for his readers, as we've discussed on several occasions - it's worth it if they can see and understand the war. As is going to Iraq - and while I'm not joining Bill for this trip - I'm confident that it'll be well worth the effort.
Visit the Fourth Rail to learn more and to offer your support and encouragement.
Last week the Watcher's Council met and once again voted on the best Council and Non-Council blog post from a great set of nominated entries.
The winning Council entry comes from the Education Wonks - Border Freebies: Using the Race Card To Get an Education. The winning Non-Council entry comes from The Makaha Surf Report - Today I Leave for the War. Both were excellent.
You can find them and the full results at the Watcher of Weasels.
Also, for those looking to join the Council, a seat has opened up. Get the details here, and be sure and wish the Smarter Cop well.
Having been absent for a while, I'm behind on recognizing the winners of the weekly Watcher's Council. I've now read them and am sorry I was late to the party.
For the week of June 10th, the full results are available at the Watcher of Weasels.
The council winner and those receiving votes -
Remembering Why I Love History by Right Wing Nut House - Winner with 2 2/3 votes. In a Perfect World, We’d Never Let Her Run by The Sundries Shack scored 1 2/3 votes. Faith, Smugness and Theocracy by Carpe Bonum, Clouding Men's Minds by Gates of Vienna, and Aid and Africa by Little Red Blog each tallied 1 vote. SF Stages Gala Offendapalooza by e-Claire, Political Mass Hysteria and the Marxist Drama by Dr. Sanity, Paris, the $6 Burger, and Things Yet to Come by Wallo World, Who's the Dummy Again? by The SmarterCop all received 2/3 votes. And A Sign of Things to Come by Rhymes With Right received 1/3 vote.
The non-council winner and those receiving votes - THIS is a Gulag by
Winds of Change - the winner with 3 1/3 votes. For Junior by Varifrank received 1 2/3 votes. Memorial Day 2005 by The Adventures of Chester, America Can't Play 'Lawful Stupid' by Cavalier's Guardian WatchBlog both received 1 1/3 votes. The Soros-ization of Ground Zero by Michelle Malkin, Beautiful Atrocities' Root Causes of Terrorism Timeline by Beautiful Atrocities, Leftist Hubris by New Sisyphus and Nightmares After a Close Call by T F Stern's Rantings each received 2/3 votes. Words Can Kill: The Semantics of the Schiavo Tragedy by TMH’s Bacon Bits and The Fallacy of the ABM Mentality by The Redhunter each received 1/3 vote.
For the week of June 17th, the full results are at the Watcher of Weasels.
From the council - What’s the Real Question in America? by The Sundries Shack was the winner with 2 1/3 votes. What the Hell's the Matter With US?!? by e-Claire received 2 votes. The Media and the Rise of International Terrorism by Dr. Sanity received 1 2/3 votes. The Slave Owner's Book Store by Gates of Vienna received 1 1/3 votes.
For the non-council entries - Zimbabwe Changed My Mind: Guns Are a Human Right at Winds of Change received 2 2/3 votes. Anti-Lynching Legislation by La Shawn Barber's Corner received 2 1/3 votes. Base Closure Hurts Thune (At Least We Sure Hope So.) by Kyzylkum received 1 vote.
For the week of June 24th, the full results are available at the Watcher of Weasels.
From the council members - Beautiful Indifference by Dr. Sanity won with 2 1/3 votes. If Only by Gates of Vienna received 2 votes.
The winning non-council entry - Kos Says U.S. Torture 'Equal' To that of Saddam Hussein (A Comparison) by The Jawa Report received 3 1/3 votes.
And for last week, the 1st of July - the full results are available at the Watcher of Weasels.
Last weeks winners were The Left's "Word Deficit" by Right Wing Nut House and from the non-council entries, Ehrlich's Wit and Wisdom by MaxedOutMama.
Congrats to all and now that I'm caught up, I hope that never happens again.
Last week's winners were:
A Killer in the Shadows - by Right Wing Nut House for the best Council entry.
And the winning non-council entry, by a narrow margin, Taking Islam Seriously by Bloggledygook.
There were many other excellent entries, please visit the Watcher of Weasels for the full result of the vote and links to other entries.
Bunker Mulligan, Mike Reed, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2005. On learning of his passing, I was shocked and saddened to a far greater degree than I would have expected. I never met Bunker. He and I exchanged emails on occasion, commented regularly on each other’s writings, and agreed in principle on nearly all political issues. That doesn’t explain why it would hurt so much to hear of his death.
Bunker was good and kind man. A prince among us. I’m no avid golfer, yet I immensely enjoyed reading his golf updates. When he posted, I felt I knew him. I knew his passion for his family, his love of our nation, and his desire to see the possible rather than the impossible. His comments and emails were always a highlight for me. He offered praise sparingly, not being a flatterer. Instead, his comments told me that I’d hit the mark, written well, or stated the obvious in terms he agreed with. When he took issue with me, he did so directly and asked me to understand. And most often, he offered a helping hand.
Men like Bunker are too few. I’ll miss him greatly, as I already do. I find myself wanting to revisit every email or comment he shared with me, to reread the entries of his blog and more so, to tell him that he was admired, appreciated and that he had an impact. I don’t know his family, his sons in the service of our nation, or his daughter, but I’m certain their loss is greater than mine. A painful realization, and one I wish they’d not experienced.
Rest in peace Bunker. I’ll see you on the shores someday.
Per the weekly direction of the Watcher of Weasels, the Watcher's Council has once again met and voted on the best blogging of the week.
In a close vote, all the entries were excellent, the winning council entry is MSM - MIA or AWOL? from Gates of Vienna. It's a troubling tale of post 3/11 events in Spain and a must read.
The winning non-council entry, Blood and Justice, from Indepundit is beyond description. Just read it.
And for the full results visit the Watcher of Weasels.
It would have been, to all involved, better if it weren’t necessary. And then along comes Linda Foley advancing yet another series of slanderous accusations against the men and women of our armed forces. In response, a team of bloggers has once again formed an alliance to ensure that the truth is told about those who claim to report truth for a living.
Media Slander, formed by Bill Roggio, Blackfive, Brian Scott, Charles Goggin, Kevin Craver, LaShawn Barber, Mike Krempasky, Roger Morrow, USMC_Vet, Winds of Change.NET, is now up!
Drop by and get the truth behind purposeful acts of slander against those who put their lives in harms way to protect us all.
The Watcher's Council has once again met, voted and with a little help from the Watcher, selected the weekly winners.
The winning council entry - Please Don't Run, Newt - by Right Wing Nut House and the winning non-council entry - I Got Your Desecration Right Here Pal - by Varifrank. You can see the results of the vote at the Watcher of Weasels.
Starting this blog, almost a year ago, my intent was simple. I wanted a space to express my thoughts on various issues, primarily with regard to politics and international affairs. It turned out that I enjoyed it immensely, and so I did it with ever increasing vigor. Additionally, I found that I was learning a great deal by reading other bloggers and being forced to consider the many various takes on the issues. Yet another win, and another cause to continue. Frankly no other reasons would have been necessary but one more became clear: the community of people, concerned and interested in the state of the nation and world, that makes up the blogosphere. At first, a small group of folks taking the time to comment or email, then expanding to discussions of the issues, better means to express opinion and eventually to never met friends and relationships.
From there I found further encouragement and reach for my ideas, and moreover, I was invited to join in on other efforts. Thus far all have been more than expected. As a frequent reader you know, the most challenging, and significantly responsible for my drop in frequency of blogging, has been the efforts to develop Threats Watch. It has also been most rewarding (even if not yet complete). Most gratifying about it has been discussing the issues with Tom, the Redhunter, and Bill Rice, of By Dawn’s Early Light. That alone would have satisfied me for years to come.
Yet it isn’t the end. Today, Bill Roggio, of The Fourth Rail, announced that he has been invited to join Winds of Change, and as such, he’s making some changes at The Fourth Rail. Most notably (for me), he’s invited Bill Rice and myself to join Justin at The Fourth Rail, complemented by his post on Saturday’s when the Winds of Change shifts focus to post exclusively good news. Read Bill's announcements at The Fourth Rail and Winds of Change for more on the changes in store for him. And be sure and congratulate him, Joe and the Winds of Change team as well.
I’m honored and excited by the opportunity, and looking forward to the challenge of writing for Bill’s audience. If you frequent the site, you’ll recognize that the comments and discussion of Bill’s post are top flight, and that too will be an enjoyable aspect of this new adventure. I invite you to join in the discussion there as well.
Given that The Fourth Rail focuses on the Global War on Terror and issues related to achieving victory over our enemies, little change will occur here. If any, it’ll be that I’ll once again write with the frequency of my earlier months of blogging. And as soon as Tom, Bill Rice and I have completed our initial assessments for Threats Watch, we’ll invite The Fourth Rails readers to help us make it a successful effort as well.
In closing, I’d like to again thank Bill Roggio for the opportunity, and to congratulate him, Joe Katzman, Bill Rice, Justin Blackburn and the entire Winds of Change team.
As they do each week, last Thursday the Watcher's Council gathered and voted on the best and the brightest blog entries for the week. The results have been released and are found at the Watcher of Weasels.
The winning council entry comes from Right Wing Nut House, Bush: A Solitary Voice For Remembrance, while the winning non-council entry comes from the American Thinker, Jihad Begot the Crusades. Both were excellent, as were many other of the entries. Take a few minutes and read them.
Being behind on my relaying the winners of the Watchers Council, it's time to do so for last week and the week before. I'll start with the most recent winners.
Last week's winning Council entry was Hostages: Time for America to Act by Carpe Bonum, while the non-Council winner was The Great Islamic Warrior: Stewardresses, Elementary Schoolchildren and Wounded Crash Survivors by New Sisyphus. Both were excellent, as were the others, and given how few blogs I've read lately, it was an enjoyable task to read them all. You can find the results of the vote at the Watcher of Weasels.
The previous week's winning Council entry Silence of the Sheep by Gates of Vienna, followed by China's Time Bomb: The Banking System by the Glittering Eye and Russian Revanchism by Right Wing Nut House. The winning non-Council entry was Los Angeles Marketed as Part of Mexico by LA Hispanic Station from the Blue State Conservatives followed by The EU and Arabs IV: War, Oil, EAD by American Future and then Standing on the Wall: An Interview with a Marine Returned from Iraq by ¡Gringo Unleashed!. All of these and the other entries, which received votes, are available at the Watcher of Weasels.
And while at the Watcher's site, you might notice that as the Watcher does each week, once again an offer of free linkage is availed to those willing to step up to the plate. Consider it, and perhaps this week you'll be the winning non-Council entry.
Just another vacant blog.
On first arrival I'm sure that some are thinking just that. After all, the last several weeks have been less than stellar both in quantity and quality of posts. Well good friends, and strangers alike, this too will pass and it will do so shortly.
Being somewhat preoccupied by the other site, I've not posted much here, including failing to post the winners of last weeks Watcher's Council. This is particularly disturbing given that for the second week in a row, the winner of the non-council entry was an entry I nominated.
The winning Council entry, Founding Brother, by Right Wing Nut House is excellent and worth the read if you haven't thus far, as is the winning non-council entry, A Change in Tactics, by Terrorism Unveiled. The full results of the vote are available at the Watcher of Weasels.
The Council also gets a new member this week. Welcome Gates of Vienna.
That's it for now.
Time flies when you ponder such things. Or at least for me it does. Here it is the hour of necessity, or at least when this would have to be delivered for consideration, and I’m only beginning to put keys to fingers. My first inclination is to harken back to the time when I more frequently commented on the absence of moral thought or awareness in our self-governance. Somehow that doesn’t seem right though, at least not for this occasion. Instead, I’ll offer this.
There is a terrible beauty in simplicity. Beauty in the very way the simple reaffirms the nature of our being and the universe. Terrible in the many ways we are blind to the simple. Whether it is our addiction to nuance, our expansive capacity to create conspiracy, or otherwise carnal yearnings of primacy it is evident that the wisdom of years past is seen as but a folly to today’s foolish. In a time when from afar hatred brews to a boil and scalds our very being in a wave of violence unknown before to us, there are those who find fault not in the foaming hatred of the murderous, rather they cry that the murdered were at fault. Fools will be about their folly and stray not from its grip.
Being a nation born of moral virtue and dependent on those very virtues to stand the test of time, we are today in battle to maintain our heritage while proclaiming it anew for friend and former foe. And here at home we know just as well that there are those in our homes, across the street and about town who would rather not hear tell of our sacred honor or the meaning of God’s providence. It is that they’d rather support peace, in all its nuance and variety, than stand firm for or against any act or indignity. It has not always been so, yet it has always been that far too few stand for the virtuous, the moral and the absolute.
For right or wrong, the ideas and values of our hearts are formed with the faith of our forbearers. A Judeo-Christian nation we were. And like we were we must remain a nation of values and morality. Else we fail.
Our political and cultural foes, whose courses are unknown even unto themselves, speak of fear of imposed faith, moral policing, and the establishment of a religious dominion. This while it is their ethos, their acceptance of all forms of behavior, their tolerance of only those who agree, their ridicule of the simple at heart, simple in words or of simple aspirations that tears at the fabric of our nation.
Morays are the bindings of common faith, understanding and purpose that we share aside from our legal bindings. And unfortunately they are less and less availed to those who seek them. On the other hand, the law reaches deeper into our daily lives. The impact is clear. Our character fails as the state takes the lead, our values are worthless when all values are equal, and sadly… the morass of nuance hides the beauty of simple truth.
[This post was prepared for the 2005 EO Symposium (2nd Quarter). The symposium theme is Judeo-Christian Morality in an Ethically Pluralistic Society. Other entries will be listed here as soon as the complete list is available.]
The Watcher's Council has once again voted and announced the winners from this week's entries.
The winning council entry, China's Time Bombs, from The Glittering Eye, is an excellent look into the one of the many areas of concern regarding China - its environmental record and future.
The winning non-council entry, War with China: 2008-2010?, from the Redhunter, takes a look at some of the many factors that may prevent war with China prior to the Olympics in 2008, and make it more likely shortly thereafter.
Both are excellent, as are the other entries. You can see the full result of the vote at the Watcher of Weasels site, and are encouraged to participate as well.
There's been a lot going on of late, and unfortunately for this space, and the few who still return to it, there has been little added. I would ask that you continue your patience and patronage, and know that soon I will return with the same ferocity and delight that I once had for filling the ever wide channels of the blogosphere with the ringing sound of my thoughts. Or is that some sort of tinnitus. Anyway, here's a bit of catching up that's over due.
The Watcher of Weasels has selected two fine additions to join the Watcher's Council. I must admit that both are better bloggers than I am, and like the other members probably only tolerate my presence as an odd means of blogger charity. I'll have to check into the tax law to see if it benefits either of us. So without further delay, more on Tom later, the two newest members are The Glittering Eye and Carpe Bonum. If you aren't familiar with them, please go and get acquainted.
It's April 15th. You know what that means - it means the 2005 EO Symposium (2nd Quarter) - Judeo-Christian Morality in an Ethically Pluralistic Society is due tonight. Thankfully, my entry will be ready with time to spare. If you plan to submit an entry, you've got until 11:59 P.M. CST. Joe runs a great blog and the responses to this symposium, while perhaps not as numerous, will be just as thoughtful and engaging as the first installment this past January.
Another of the side issues that I've been working on was mentioned today. And by a co-conspirator at that. Along with Bill Rice, Dawn's Early Light, and Tom, the Redhunter, I'm working to build a new site to focus on open source assessments of the various threats against the United States and her allies. I'm confident we'll launch shortly and that it'll be a plus for those interested in the topic.
Now to close the evening out with a flourish I’ll offer a couple of quick items of News and Notes for Thursday and early Friday morning.
Senator John McCain signaled his lack of desire to make a serious run for the White House in 2008 today when he announced that he'd side with the Democrats should the Republican leadership decide to lead and break the Democratic filibuster of judicial nominees. Like many of you I'm fed up with GOP Senators dressed like asses, polling for direction and dancing about on every issue. The principled elephant doesn't bray, hem or haw, it stands firm, does not forget and most importantly - never backs down. Senator McCain has long been heralded, and rightly so, for being a hero. And that he was and always will be, but as a Senator, I'd rather see him go.
Thankfully Senate Majority Leader Frist seems prepared to bring the issue to bear. Should enough salamander skinned Senators side with the obstructionist weasels, like Bird, at least we will know who to leave off the list for our support in '06 and '08. And if I could I'd add another animal to keep this up.
Robert Zoellick goes to the Sudan to press for action. Vice chief murdering thug, Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha, repeated his consistent message of denial saying his government was "working diligently to stop the violence" and "get Darfur back to normalcy." We have to watch out, if Kofi leaves the UN - this is just the guy to take over.
In Central Asia, Hamid Karzai wants to keep the Americans around, and so does Kurmanbek Bakiyev, acting prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, so long as we don't bring our AWACS along.
And while China stages protest against Japan, the EU Parliament affirms a measure to support the binding of the Arms Embargo to China's human rights and cross strait relations with Taiwan. The measure means nothing officially, and in China certainly means less. Just think how little it would mean to someone in... say - North Korea.
DPRK leaders have determined that they'll have to increase their nuclear weapons cache, or as Kim Yong Nam would say - "[w]e will continue increasing our self-defensive nuclear deterrent" - and to think, just a few years back the U.S. was building them a light water nuclear reactor. Ah... the good 'ole Clinton years.
Okay, that's it for tonight. Tomorrow we'll have the EO Symposium, the winners of this week's Watcher's Council, and more news, notes, quips, rants, rambles and the like. And thereafter....
Each week, or perhaps most, the Homespun Bloggers host a symposium question for members of the Homespun Bloggers. The questions vary from the significant moral and political issues to the lighthearted, this weeks question may serve both. It comes from Patterico and is as follows:
How has blogging affected your life?
There are several means or avenues of approach that I could use to answer this question. The straightforward means would be to discuss the time I spend blogging or reading blogs, significant, and to discuss the impact of the information, perspective and thought that I’ve come across in blogging, also significant. Another path might be to discuss the progress that blogging has helped me to make in regaining the confidence I once held. Though that is far from relevant to anyone but me, and moreover, the process is far from complete. And that leads to another prospective approach, and the one I’m inclined to utilize.
Blogging is what we, or you the blogger, make of it. When I first timidly began posting, without the aid of a blogging tool or content management system, I immediately felt the relief of having expressed something openly. I found a joy and comfort in being able to once again state that which I believed, and along those lines recognized that I would certainly be affected by that simple act. The process of writing things out, presenting it to others (or none as often was and is the case) and reading the thoughts of many others on similar subject matter would have an impact. It has. My initial pages stated that my reason for blogging were the joy I gained from doing it, the ability to learn from doing it, and the aid it would provide in remembering. All are still valid and all have been realized to a great degree.
Prior to blogging, I had over the four plus years prior fallen far from being connected to anyone but the closest of family and friends, and even there some degree of separation was apparent. No, I will not claim that blogging alone has restored my connection to the world but it is clear in my daily life that it has played a significant role in helping me to reconnect. Men and women I’ve never met, and am not likely to, have contacted me, taken me to task, offered encouragement, and some have become regular correspondents and trusted voices from afar. That alone is a powerful reason for me to continue to blog.
The family and friends I once was unable to connect with now find me more open and at peace with the world than the last four years witnessed. Sure, I’m still concerned, but I’ve found a voice that frees my heart and mind, permitting life (the non-blogging portion at least) to be focused, as it should be – on those I’m with. For that I’m thankful to have the medium, as are those who are perhaps unwittingly benefiting from the release it provides.
Beyond that blogging has helped to restore my confidence in others, and that alone has made it possible for me, even without (perhaps only without) the personal swagger, stature or vanity of my past, to reach out and lend a hand, an ear or a prayer for those near and far. I’ve met bloggers. First it was Karol, who via her blog got me involved in the Senate campaign of Pete Coors, and then more recently I met Hugh Hewitt and several members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance of Bloggers, and most recently several bloggers through the Rocky Mountain Bloggers Bash. Each time I found myself more comfortable, and surprisingly, well received. I'm also blogging at Conserva-Puppies, a member of the Watcher's Council, and as it happens facilitating the weekly Homespun Symposium. I’m not sure if it’ll be next or not, but I’ll soon be at GodBlogCon and I’ve been accepted to lead a session on blogging technology. A bit of a blending of my past and present, and perhaps a chance to give a little back. I truly hope so.
Its funny almost to think of it as giving back, I’ve only blogged for 9 ½ months. Now I write for a couple hours a day, not for the blog, and have hopes that I’ll someday do so for a living, but then don’t we all. And while it remains unlikely, as I’m not much for self-promotion and am unlikely to strike the fancy of society tilting toward paper credentials, cult of personality and exhibitionism, I know that I’m better for the effort.
In the end, blogging has meant much to me, and much of it is beyond what I’m capable of stating in so public a manner. Should we ever meet, and share a few minutes, if you want to know more I’m sure I’ll tell you. And I'll probably ramble just as much as I have here.
A while back the kind folks at Warm ‘N Fuzzy Conserva-Puppies invited me to join their blog. After my initial "get to know me post" I’ve contributed nothing more than the comments that I was likely to make even without being a contributor to the site. I’ve finally made my first post to the site, and hope that it’ll become a regular event. If you aren’t yet a regular reader of Conserva-Puppies, I highly recommend it to you, and beyond the posts I’d recommend you read and contribute to the dialog in the comments for each post.
The Watcher’s Council has once again announced their weekly winners. The winners were Right Wing Nuthouse with Taming the Whirlwind of History and Polipundit with W M D – or how "W" Made the Difference. Both are excellent as were several other entries, all of which are available with the full result of the vote at the Watcher of Weasels.
Being somewhat, okay enormously, behind in my reading of other blogs, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’ve not missed out on the second quarterly symposium at the Evangelical Outpost. The entry deadline isn’t until the 15th, an otherwise dark day, I’m confident that I’ll be able to put something together between now and then, and I’d encourage those of you who write about Judeo-Christian morality to do so as well. Joe describes the theme for this round as "Judeo-Christian morality in an ethically pluralistic society. Entries can explore the history of the concept, the applications toward public policy, the best means of arguing for it in the public square, or anything else that you choose."
If you do enter, drop me a note and I’ll be sure to read your entry (although I’m likely to read them all as I did last quarter).
After my last post, I was a little reluctant to sit down and write for the Little Red Blog over the weekend. Just feeling as if the passing of the Pope, and other events large and small, would have to wait before I discussed them here. I have managed to do more reading of the blogs on the sidebar and links page than I’d been able to do for a couple of weeks and I must admit, some of you have been very impressive in that time. But then you generally are.
RMBB 4.0
On Saturday, the Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash was held at the Denver Press Club. Unfortunately it coincided with Carolina’s national semi-final game against Michigan State, so I didn’t arrive until late, at 10, and though it was advertised as being from 7 to 11 we weren’t forcibly evicted until after midnight.
While at the RMBB, I met ZombyBoy of ResurrectionSong, Jiggity of avoiding the Tar baby, Nick of Libercontrarian, Ryan of A Bellandean, Bob of Let’s Try Freedom and Blogger News Network, Nathan of Brain Fertilizer, Stephen the Vodka Pundit, Jed of Freedom Site, Darren of Colorado Conservative, Publicola, Wadcutter, and Pueblog. And others who I’ve either forgotten, if so I apologize, or didn’t catch their name in the first place… after a couple of drinks and much lively conversation, either is possible. Also there was Elizabeth (or was it Katherine) the bar tender, and at least a couple non-bloggers. One rather touchy journalist (his choice of titles though he called his writing bull….) in particular, who despite speaking far too loudly, also felt the need to poke, prod, rub, hold, and pat those he was speaking to. Needless to say, I told him several times that he was too touchy. Politically, he’s just wrong but he made for a bit of entertainment at the end of the festivities.
After the closing of the DPC, Jiggity and I went to his favorite watering hole, and stayed until once again, forcibly evicted. By then, I’d had my fair share of drinks, had talked for hours on subjects of a wide range and was certain that those who’d met me were ready to see me go. With that thought and the locked doors behind me, I arranged for Mrs. LRB to drive me home, she’d been working on a Saturday of all things and late at that. And so, my RMBB tale is done.
Carolina Wins the National Championship
As mentioned above, Carolina played Michigan State on Saturday and won. And last night, they faced Illinois. I have to admit, that despite being a die-hard fan, even though I rarely write about them on the LRB, I didn’t think they could pull it off. But they did. Congratulations to the Tar Heels and all their fans. Coach Williams and his staff, the players, everyone who made it happen should be very proud for the turn around from just a few short years ago was outstanding.
Conclusion
When will I blog regularly again. Hopefully very soon, maybe even beginning today. I’ve been writing, just not things that I’ve felt were appropriate for the blog, and frankly I’ve been so far behind on reading your blogs and the news, after moving the LRB, that I’ve felt ill prepared for this. See you soon with more.
The Watcher's Council has again selected its winners for the week. This weeks winning council entry is Iraqi Bravery by Alpha Patriot. The winning non-council entry is 2 Years by Democracy in Iraq. The full results are available at the Watcher of Weasels here and as always are well worth reading.
Congratulations to the winners and everyone else who participated.
Yesterday was a conflicting day in many ways. The day starts out hopeful, as do all, but with an odd heaviness upon me that I’d not anticipated. Terri Schiavo was on my mind. Throughout the day while I tried to go about writing on this or that topic, reading about the potential for good or bad around the world, and waiting on the gangly near-seven footers to take the floor in Carolina blue, I was unable to express my concern for Terri. And for myself. Or you. Or all of us.
I managed to post a few pieces of little real note, mind and heart still filled with concern. Afterwards, Carolina blue having been victorious, Terri being without her feeding tube, Marvin being concerned, perplexed, tired and yet somehow wanting to believe that hope remained, I headed out to Blogfest with Hugh Hewitt and the Rocky Mountain Alliance of Bloggers.
At 4, when I arrived, Hugh was about to take the air, the crowd was settled into the chairs and, as is the norm, I felt… well, out of place. I had decided that I would stay and hear the show live, speak with the RMA bloggers, and any others I could meet, so I stood between the middle earth master writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and colorful books that couldn’t find a place in my memory. No names, no topics, just small colorful potential additions for those so inclined. I wasn’t.
Hugh’s primary topic for the day, Terri Schiavo. After a little more than a half hour, I was not sure I’d make it. I walked around during breaks hoping that somehow the topic would shift. That my heart would be diverted from this matter to one of more lightness, one where hope seemed appropriate and moreover, one that didn’t hold such damnation for us all. Hugh prevailed. His everyday optimism and energy brought the story to those present and far away and he pressed on and on. And on. His guest by and large were superb, more on them perhaps later. Hugh had won me over again. I’d stay longer and moreover, I got in line to get my book signed.
When I walked up to Hugh, he shook my hand and asked what I did. Blog, I said. Duh. After telling Hugh where I blog, he recognizes the title and has very kind words to say and encourages me to keep going. I tried to express my appreciation. Tried. It didn’t really come out that well. Back to middle earth I head. And with a chocolate milk from the bookstore’s coffee shop.
Later during the show, Hugh mentions the Little Red Blog on the air, and again has nice things to say. He is kind and generous with his praise for others. An honorable trait, unless you are a headmaster. Perhaps he isn’t really cut out for leading CU. I remind myself to email the regents, just as Hugh has reminded us all. Several times. Terri is again the topic as the show closes with a beautiful poem by Tarzana Joe. I have to bite my lip and cover my eyes.
Shows over. Time to mingle. An art I once felt I’d mastered, but after years of inactivity and isolation, I was sorely in need of assistance. Hugh’s mentioning the LRB so kindly would help, even if he did say I looked like ZZ Top. Several folks came by and chatted. That was another big help. After a time, I met with Ben, Jared, Clay, Jim, Bob, Jonathan and Lisa, and many other bloggers and readers. Then off to dinner at Tucano’s. It was excellent, as was the company. And finally, the return home.
While driving home, I couldn’t help but think that Terri is hungry by now. This morning while I type this, having not yet had breakfast. I’m sure Terri is hungry. And thirsty.
Follow the links from family.org and let the Florida legislature know that something must be done. And then pray. Pray for Terri, for her family, for her comfort during her ordeal, and for our leaders who have as of yet not led us to a better place.
The Watcher's Council has announced its weekly winners. The winning council entry is "Trust Us. We're from the government." And the winning non-council entry is "The New United Nations: American Pressure at Work."
These entries and the others are linked with the full results at the Watcher of Weasels. And as is almost always the case, they are excellent.
The Watcher's Council has an open seat. The ever entertaining and provocative Little Miss Attila, has resigned her seat, and well, while it is still warm, you should apply for membership. To do so, read the rules here, and then send the Watcher your request. I've only been on the Watcher's Council for a short time, but it's been a enjoyable, helped to expand the list of blogs I read, and brought at least one additional reader to the Little Red Blog.
This weeks winning entries:
The Moderate Voice wins with Wounded Italian Journalist: Victim of Conspiracy or Polemicist?.
The winning non-council entry is Bill Maher: Over the Edge! from BuzzMachine.
Both are excellent, as were several other entries. Read them all here.
The Watcher's Council has once again met and voted, well, some portion did.
The winning Council entry Freedom on the March from Alpha Patriot. An excellent piece well worth the reading. As Alpha's post normally are.
The winning non-Council entry from New Sisyphus, The United Kingdom and the United States: Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror, is excellent.
Be sure and read them, and to see the results of the full vote, go to the Watcher of Weasels. Congrats to everyone for the excellent entries.
In a weekly effort to spread the wealth of links, and to find the best of the blogosphere, the Watcher of Weasels has once again made an offer of link whorage. If you've got a post that needs wider readership, follow the instructions found here, and you'll get a share of the exposure. Perhaps you'll even be the non-council winner in this weeks selection of the finest.
Hugh Hewitt has once again initiated a Vox Blogoli. Those inclined to opine are encouraged to reply. Being one so inclined I offer my take on the question.
McClellan or Grant? Should the GOP leadership in the Senate push to a confrontation with the Democrats over the filibustering of judicial nominees, and if the Dems filibuster even one judicial nominee, should the GOP move to the "nuclear option" of a rule change, even if Harry Reid threatens a Senate shutdown?
Nominees are sent to the Senate for “advice and consent.” After committee approval, the Senate may debate the nominee, and then the all-important vote. It’s the vote that serves to provide the advice, and potentially, the consent to the President. Only after consent does the President appoint the nominee to the court. Senate Democrats are using Senate filibuster rules to prevent the vote. The tactical reasoning is simple, the votes are there to approve the candidates, and may not be there (most likely aren’t) to break the filibuster given its requirement of 60 votes to end it.
Why make such a decision? The Democrats of late, perhaps since FDR or before, are more attached to their ideological view than they are to the Constitution and the constraints that it purposefully placed on the federal government and the Senate. The same reason that Republicans of all varieties (conservative, neo-con, paleo-con, classical liberal, social or religious conservative, libertarian, etc.) have come together to oppose the modern left, as seen in the Democratic Party. The responsibility to nominate, and appoint, judges rest in the hands of the President. To ensure that this authority is not abused, the Senate is given a role. Today’s Democratic Senators aren’t willing to accept that role; instead they chose to prevent a vote. This behavior, or tactic, is obstructionist, or alternatively a direct affront to the Constitution they swore to defend.
The left, now firmly guiding the Democratic Party, and groups such as the People for the American Way are flatly wrong in their assertion that the Senate is co-equal in the appointment of federal judges.
So, Grant or McClellan? Grant. McClellan has been tried before and has failed. It amounts to appeasement. The Republicans and supportive Democrats should stand firm and demand "NOT ANOTHER INCH." We’ve moved too far from the Constitution, every step farther away relates to another generation, at best, before we again see the Constitution upheld in the Courts and understand by the people. Not another inch.
And finally, a bit of advice for the liberal, moderate and conservative supporters of the Democratic Party. Don’t let these Senators obstruct the rule of law in your name. Our nation needs your political party and the upcoming elections in 2006 and 2008 are going to be impacted by the decisions made this year. If you doubt that, just watch Senator Clinton.
Votes were cast, tallied and then the winners announced.
The winning council entry, none other than my own, a first for me. The entry is a short piece called Waiting, and like many of my better blog entries…. it was written while I was angry, frustrated or generally peeved.
Fortunately, I didn’t expect to win, and therefore did not come with a prepared acceptance speech.
So I’ll have to wing it. My fellow noble and approved good masters… No, that’s been done. They like me they really like me. No, that too has been done, and done again. It has been a long journey to this moment. Damnation that’s been done! Words are so futile, so feeble. That too!!! Okay, no speech, just my thanks.
Read the other entries, and you, like me, will wonder how I won (...just like the Oscar’s - campaigning, cheerleading and bribes).
The winning non-council entry, from Gates of Vienna, is a critical look at jihad, no longer just for jihadist. It’s a must read.
All the entries, council and non-council, were well worth reading so I highly recommend you check them out in the Watchers den.
As for me, I have some post awards ceremony parties to attend.