Saddam's execution

In a while, Saddam Hussein will be dead. It won't matter for long as his death won't change the culture of upper, middle or lower Iraq. Kurds will still be Kurds. Sunnis will behave as they always did, and the Shias will continue on as their traditions, for better or for worse, dictate. Life in Iraq has long since passed him by.

Murder in Baltimore

The following quote says a lot about the intransigence of murder in Baltimore

 

A Police Department spokesman blamed the homicide rate on a culture that discourages people from seeking the help of police.

"It's hard to help people who don't want your help," said police spokesman Matt Jablow, adding that more than 80 percent of city homicide victims have criminal records. The average homicide victim has been arrested 8.6 times, he said.

"All too many times there will be a shooting, a nonfatal shooting, and in the course of our investigation we'll talk to the person, and they won't cooperate with us," he said. "And in a few weeks or months they'll show up dead."

 

These victims and perpetrators live in a world of their own, with its own traditions, rules, and standards. If there is something to be done, that culture needs to be altered. It may not be reachable and we will have to live with this as brutal background noise in an otherwise civilized city.

Permanent Interests?

Let's see, since the mid 1970's:

 

Iran has been a friend of the US and then an enemy of the US

Iraq was a foe (Soviet Satellite), then an ally against Iran, and then a foe once more.

Early on in the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranians bought spare parts for is military from Israel, its enemy.

 

All the while, black America has never wavered in its support of the democratic party. What kind of sense does that make?

 

Supporting the Troops

 

Gotta love this story from Cris Carter via Peter King:

 

"I'm flying from Atlanta to Nashville the other day for a business meeting for a security company I have. You see military people all over the airport, thousands of military people traveling. They're all in their camouflage. I get on the plane with my brother John. We're sitting in first-class. The guy across from me, I hear him talking to the flight attendant and all of a sudden he grabs his stuff and goes to the back of the plane.

I hear him saying he's giving up his seat to someone in the military. I told my brother, 'Get up, we're going to the back.' We go to the back, sit down, give up our seats, and one by one, everyone in first-class started giving up their seats. It wasn't a big plane. Then the pilot got on and said, 'Thanks to the generosity of the patrons in first-class, some of our military personnel will be in first-class today. Glad to have you. Thanks for what you do.'

It was an emotional moment, a small thing I would have never thought of. It was nice. How easy you can make someone's holiday trip home a little more pleasant.''

Dial 9 First

Perhaps I spend too much time at work, but I have to remind myself to not dial 9 first when I am at home and am making a call.

Troublemakers part 2

Marion Barry once again proves my point: trouble makers make trouble. The following appeared in the Washington Times:

 

Former Washington Mayor Marion Barry, who now sits on the city council, accuses police officers in the District of Columbia of engaging in racial profiling.
      Barry was given a traffic ticket Saturday for driving with a suspended license after an officer, who happens to be black, pulled him over for going too slow. It turns out Barry's license was not suspended, the Washington Post reports, although he has a court date pending after being pulled over by the Secret Service in September and cited for drunken driving.
      In fact, Barry told the Post, he believes that law enforcement officers are targeting him specifically, not just blacks. He thinks that they all know his car.
      "I think I'm targeted," he said. "In all my driving, I've never seen another green Camaro."

1776

The Freedom Tower's first beam was triumphantly laid today. The Freedom Tower will replace the Twin Towers and will be 1776 feet tall. The Light continues to be on in this precious land.

Anthony was suspended. Urban culture was not

Carmelo Anthony's nature was first revealed when he appeared in a Baltimore 'hood flick' that was designed to discourage ordinary citizens from "snitching" to the police about illegal activity. Don't believe for a secoond that he just happened to be a bystander when the video camera was filming. Everyone passively falls in with the wrong crowd, but no one admits to being the one who calls the wrong crowd to order. Put another way, trouble finds troublemakers.

Another act in his urban drama played out in a fight where his Denver Nuggets brawled with the New York Knicks. Once more, the real Carmelo Anthony stood up for urban culture. Perhaps after 15 games' worth of rest, one can hope that he and other "ballers" will have learned a lesson. It's not likely however as their culture, one that tolerates, even celebrates antisocial acts, is beyond the reach of an occasional sanction. It will only respond to repeated, drastic, and unapologetic punishments that are free of moral equivocation, coupled with a clearly lit but narrow path to improvement and redemption. The redemptive path offers sweeter and more enduring sustenance than the bitter empty calories produced by winning the "beatdown," but only for those who choose to enter it.

Let's hope there is no act three as it could be fatal.

More Police for the marijuana problem?

Once again, marijuana is America's top cash crop. Can we arrest our way out of this problem? Nope. Desire cannot be incarcerated, so accepting that people will use marijuana no matter what comports with reality. Liberalizing laws around marijuana won't increase marijuana use, but it will reduce the fruitless cat and mouse routine around policing marijuana production and consumption.

Unraveling

If there are Iranian and Saudi funds destabilizing a fragile Iraq, our ability to prevail may be in peril. We may have to do what Charles Krauthammer suggested which is to pull back to the Kurdish regions and let them have at it for the next 20 years until they get sick and tired of being sick and tired.

As Always, it's Israel

Should the Palestinian Territories descend into civil war, it will be all Israel's fault. If a pipe bursts in Yemen, Israel is behind it.

Enemy

At the Pentagon briefing today, the President continued to us the word "enemy." Some people have trouble with tbhat word, but there is no more accurate term for those we fight. We don't need to talk to our enemy's proxies; they don't need therapy. They need a foe as implaacable as they are. I hope President Bush is that foe.

Hadda be

Hadda be a conference call from Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy that got Britney to go out without drawers. These guys hadn't had much redneck material lately, so the figured their home girl would help a brotha out.

"Git R Done, sister, and the money order will be in the mail."

Gang war

Should we just let the Iraqi version of the Bloods and the Crips have a gang war? Let the antisocials have at each other until they get sick and tired of fighting while at the same time supporting the pro-social Kurds who seem to prefer civilization? Charles Krauthammer suggests this. Its a thought....

Eurolove

I am sure that the annointed, love-all-things European crowd delighted in the following question from a British reporter at the President's press conference yesterday:

 

"Mr. President, the Iraq Study Group described the situation in Iraq as grave and deteriorating. You said that the increase in attacks is unsettling. That will convince many people that you're still in denial about how bad things are in Iraq and question your sincerity about changing course."

 

To those who swoon when Christiane Amanpour and Sylvia Poggioli speak, this guy offered another slice of Europhillic heaven. Thankfully, President Bush gave a verbal roll of the eyes to the guy, patted him on his so-so-superior head and moved on.

Sigh

According to NASCAR.com, there are "only" 71 days until the Daytona 500. I guess I have no choice but to be patient and wait for the man soap opera to return.

Iraq Support Group?

The Iraq Study Group recommends that we create an Iraq Support Group. Every support group I know has a room full of victims. We have to act like victors and that winning is the only goal.

Can you hear me now?

The Iraq Study Group suggested that we talk to Iran and Syria. I think we should talk to them the same way that Muhammad Ali talked to Floyd Patterson. Patterson refused to call him Muhammad, so Ali would tag him and then say "What's my name!" Patterson would not call him by his name, and he continued to get his butt beat.

Fast forward to today. We need to hit Iran hard and then ask the Verizon question: "Can you hear me now?" If there is no answer, hit them again and ask once more, "Can you hear me now?" Once they cave, then we talk. That's dialogue.

My Pleasure

I was offered the opportunity to say "Thank you" to a guy sporting a WWII hat yesterday and took it. Through Providence, we were in the parking lot of the Old Navy in Ellicott City, MD together.

"My pleasure! Well, not at the time but...."
"Thanks anyhow."

The man did his duty, not what he felt like doing. Doing his duty made him a better man - not a perfect man, but a better man.

He got in the passenger side of a clean white car with "Support the Troops" magnetic ribbons on it, and his wife drove away. I wonder how long they've been married.

Go Eagles?

Part of me was hoping for a 5 and 11 season and a good draft pick. I didn't bother to watch the Monday Night game, so when I saw this score this morning, I was elated. Victory really is the goal, and it tastes so sweet.

 

Now if we can act like we want to win in Iraq....

Black Enterprise and Black Marriage

Marriage pays. Black people should be in favor of this.

 

BE has a poll on the above article asking if government should promote marriage. Nope. Government shoud not promote it, because government should keep out of such matters. We don't need another program.

Exile kicks in?

I hope that Baltimore's Project Exile results in safer streets in Baltimore, I am impressed by how many lengthy sentences the Feds are handing out. I hope that the message gets to the street and the fellas on the corner make a change in their decisions and behavior.

Open Gates

Bob Gates sails through the Senate Armed Services Committee. John Bolton's nomination never gets going. I guess the Democrats think that Gates will bear the message of contrition and failure from the Administration, and the "pull out now" crowd can't wait to hear it.

"Justice Stephen G. Breyer says the Supreme Court must promote the political rights of minorities and look beyond the Constitution's text when necessary to ensure that "no one gets too powerful." " Thank goodness we have the annointed to save us. My guess is that Thomas Sowell will comment on this.

---

Court must promote minorities, Breyer says

Associated Press

December 4, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Justice Stephen G. Breyer says the Supreme Court must promote the political rights of minorities and look beyond the Constitution's text when necessary to ensure that "no one gets too powerful."

Breyer, a Clinton appointee who has brokered many of the high court's 5-4 rulings, spoke in a televised interview that aired one day before justices hear a key case on race in schools. He said judges must consider the practical impact of a decision to ensure democratic participation.

"We're the boundary patrol," Breyer said, reiterating themes in his 2005 book that argue in favor of race preferences in university admissions because they would lead to diverse workplaces and leadership.

"It's a Constitution that protects a democratic system, basic liberties, a rule of law, a degree of equality, a division of powers, state, federal, so that no one gets too powerful," said Breyer, who often votes with a four-member liberal bloc of justices.

Today, the court will hear arguments in a pair of cases involving integration plans in K-12 schools. The legal challenge, which is backed by the Bush administration, could be among the most significant school cases since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 banned racial segregation.

In 2003, the court upheld race-conscious admissions in higher education in a 5-4 opinion by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

O'Connor, however, has since retired and been replaced by conservative Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Justice Antonin Scalia, meanwhile, has said the use of race in school admissions lacks any support in the Constitution.

In his interview, Breyer argued that in some cases it wouldn't make sense to strictly follow the Constitution because phrases such as "freedom of speech" are vague. Judges must look at the real-world context because society is constantly evolving, he said.

"Those words, 'the freedom of speech,' 'Congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of speech' - neither they, the Founders, nor those words tell you how to apply it to the Internet," Breyer said.