Independence Day open thread

here is the July 4 open thread from last year.

It contains a nice picture of fireworks in SL from purpleface and a gripping play-by-play account of the hot dog eating contest from yours truly, among other things.

Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson

and if you can get a chance to today, let your Senator & Congresscritters know how you feel about how they voted for the newest FISA bills. In person if you can.

It's cute. Normally politicians love the 4th & make big political appearances and all. Good day to stoke the voters & get some positive face time in the news. Out here in SF though, Diane Feinstein won't release her 4th's itinerary & appearance list because of "terrorism & security" issues. That is so lame. She just doesn't want her constituents to get in her face & tell her she isn't doing what they want. Political cowardness in my book. If you're going to brook what your voters tell you have the good grace to face up to them and tell them exactly why you aren't listening to their points of view.

I am living in a delusional world thinking that leaders should act like adults and in a responsible and upright manner though, eh?

Happy 4th anyhow all.

Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies at 86

"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR

According to AFA, Ronald McDonald and his gang are part of giant gay agenda:

"It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars. McDonald’s has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage...AFA is upset at McDonald’s for refusing to condemn Vice President of Communications Richard Ellis’s decision to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)...Although AFA tries to make clear that it is NOT protesting McDonald’s “hiring homosexuals” or “homosexuals eating at McDonald’s,” as Good As You notes, “Whether it’s a direct attack on gay customer or employees or an attack on particular employees role in a pro-gay capacity, this situation is still about the company supporting diversity (something the AFA resists at every turn).”

And don't you know that Jesus himself said God loves teh gays but they got to stay in the closet. I'm sure he did.

"The McCain camp seems to have a lot of reporters eating out of its hands since many journalists don't appear to grasp the basic distinction between strategy and tactics. I've even had normally sensible journalist colleagues forwarding me RNC press releases like they're passing on the revealed truth. McCain's campaign actually put out a statement claiming that Obama "has now adopted John McCain's position that we cannot risk the progress we have made in Iraq by beginning to withdraw our troops immediately without concern for conditions on the ground."

I've watched this campaign unfold pretty closely. And I've listened to Obama's position on Iraq. He's been very clear through this year and last on the distinction between strategy and tactics. Presidents set the strategy -- which in this context means the goal or the policy. And if the policy is a military one, a President will consult closely with his military advisors on the tactics used to execute the policy.

This is an elementary distinction the current occupant in the White House has continually tried to confuse by claiming that his policies are driven and constrained by the advice he's given by his commanders on the ground. There's nothing odd or contradictory about Obama saying that he'll change the policy to one of withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq with a specific timetable but that he will consult with his military advisors about how best to execute that policy.

For the McCain campaign to put out a memo to reporters claiming that Obama has adopted McCain's policy only shows that his advisors believe that a sizable percentage of the political press is made up of incorrigible morons. And it's hard to disagree with the judgment."

Ok, so these kind of suck... anyone take some good pictures tonight or see a particularly nice show?

Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson

for stating outright that I didn't like or trust Obama very much--that I knew he'd do what he's been doing:

His capitulation on the FISA Bill, and, more recently on abortion rights was not surprising. I thought that BHO was a total phoney to begin with. All his talk about hope, change, unity, etc., yada yada yada.. was/is a bunch of hooey, and I didn't go for it from the start. His sleek, slick style, which exuded a rather phoney charisma turned me off from the beginning, and I knew he'd pull stuff like this. Anyone who thinks the media is pulling this out of its butt is just as gullible as the people who backed REagan, Bush I and Bush II. Not that I like McCain, either, but I'm not voting for either one of them in the fall Anybody who's got problems with that...too bad.

just wanted to say that I met up with pico and we had a nice lunch in NYC. Good to meet more members of SC :)

"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR

is showing us something quite interesting.

Mark at Publius Endures points to some interesting poll stats:

Montana is currently leaning to Obama over McCain by five points. That a Republican Presidential candidate is trailing in Montana (a state Bush won by 20 points in 2004) is a particularly strong indication of how alienated libertarian-ish voters now feel from the Republican Party.

Astounding. Read the rest. short post.

It's safe to say that the GOP has hit a cord with some of its mushy leaners and weak, swing supporters (libertarian conservative and libertarian-ISH voters)...and they don't like the sound it's making.

tsk, tsk, GOP.

Conservatives Ready to Battle McCain on Convention Platform

Giving the maverick some grief, it seems that GOP has some deep fractures.

Their main concern is immigration but also includes global warming, stem cell research and a unbending pro-life stand.

Unless McCain attends to these conservative demands a lot of people are likely to stay home on election day. .......Good! Let's celebrate!

It is the economy, stupid.