Conservative Musings

Netflix Listens!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how Netflix was dropping it's profile queues.  I sent a message to them and closed it by saying, "I am deeply disappointed in you."

I received the following note from Netflix today:

You spoke, and we listened. We are keeping Profiles. Thank you for all the calls and emails telling us how important Profiles are.

We are sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope the next time you hear from us we will delight, and not disappoint, you.

Let's hear it for a business that listens to its customers!

--Red

Wesley Clark

You''ve all probably already heard General Wesley Clark's opinions of Senator John McCain's wartime record.  For those that haven't, here are his comments (via Powerline Blog):

SCHIEFFER: Well, you went so far as to say that you thought John McCain was, quote-- and these are your words-- "untested and untried." And I must say, I had to read that twice, because you're talking about somebody who was a prisoner of war, he was a squadron commander of the largest squadron in the Navy. He's been on the Senate Armed Services Committee for lo these many years. How can you say that John McCain is untested and untried, General?

CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable.

John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions.

I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.

He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility.

That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron.

He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when diplomats come in and say, I don't know whether we're going to be able to get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about your reputation? How do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made that calls, Bob.

SCHIEFFER: Well, General, maybe -- could I just interrupt you?

CLARK: Sure.

SCHIEFFER: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences, either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean...

CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.

SCHIEFFER: Really?

CLARK: But Barack is not -- he is not running on the fact that he has made these national security pronouncements. He's running on his other strengths.

To use Wesley Clark's own logic, I gotta ask this question:  "General, thank you for your service, but what from your military record gives you the experience to comment on someone's ability to run a political office?  That is a civilian job, is it not?"

That said, I do think McCain gained leadership qualities in his 5-1/2 year stay in a Vietnam POW camp.  I recently read a U.S. News and World Report account of his time there, as written by John McCain himself.  I caught, at the end of his story, one thought of John's thoughts about his country...that he is actually proud of it:

My own plans for the future are to remain in the Navy, if I am able to return to flying status. That depends upon whether the corrective surgery on my arms and my leg is successful. If I have to leave the Navy, I hope to serve the Government in some capacity, preferably in Foreign Service for the State Department.

I had a lot of time to think over there, and came to the conclusion that one of the most important things in life—along with a man's family—is to make some contribution to his country.

Sounds like he follows democrat John F. Kennedy's advice: "ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what can you do for your country."

-Colonel Steve

Minimizing Life

The argument made for abortion for years has been that human life doesn't start til birth.  The next step in that argument is in defining conscienous. So argues Peter Singer, in an August 2007 editorial:

Opponents of abortion think there is a very compelling reason for denying freedom in these circumstances. They regard abortion as murder. Killing an embryo or fetus, they say, takes an innocent human life.

Defenders of a woman's right to choose sometimes challenge this claim. They deny that the embryo or fetus is a human life. The abortion debate then focuses on the question, "When does a human life begin?"

I think this is the wrong question to ask. In a strictly biological sense, the opponents of abortion are right to say that abortion ends a human life.

When a woman has an abortion, the fetus is alive, and it is undoubtedly human – in the sense that it is a member of the species homo sapiens. It isn't a dog or a chimpanzee.

But mere membership of our species doesn't settle the moral issue of whether it is wrong to end a life. As long as the abortion is carried out at less than 20 weeks of gestation – as almost all abortions are – the brain of the fetus has not developed to the point of making consciousness possible.

So, according to Peter Singer, being conscious is the new definition of a worthiness to live.  We are now placing ourselves at the same level with all other animals and plants.  Even to the point that now, in Spain, apes will be extended rights along side their human counterparts.  Another move that has Peter Singer's backing.

(HT: World on the Web)

-Colonel Steve

Just Shut All Research Down

We've been hearing that we shouldn't drill for more oil because of how long it would take to come online.  They say we should be depending on developing alternate fuels (even if that would take just as long to come online).

Now comes the news that some solar energy projects are being halted over....get this....environmental concerns (via Instapundit).  Great!  So NO power is good power.

I think they'll even complain about the possible use of kudzu for ethanol (HT: 21st Century Paladin).  Not like we're using it for anything else.

-Colonel Steve

American's Against Redistribution of Wealth

The democratic party, beholden to polls as they are, should take heed of this one: Americans Oppose Income Redistribution to Fix Economy.  Take note of these small differences between political groups AND income groups:

Americans' lack of support for redistributing wealth to fix the economy spans political parties: Republicans (by 90% to 9%) prefer that the government focus on improving the economy, as do independents (by 85% to 13%) and Democrats (by 77% to 19%). This sentiment also extends across income groups: upper-income Americans prefer that the government focus on improving the economy and jobs by 88% to 10%, concurring with middle-income (83% to 16%) and lower-income (78% to 17%) Americans.

Ironic that these comments occur right after my "economic stimulus" check was deposited to my checking account.  I know the prevailing wisdom is that we're all supposed to be sooo thankful anytime that the government gives us any money at all.  Actually, tho, in my eyes, it is nice to get some of my own money back.  If there's any lesson in this stimulus idea, it's that the American people using their own money gets and keeps an economy moving.  Not by the government claiming it and spending it.

-Colonel Steve

Quote of the Day

"It does seem to reflect a willingness . . . to change on positions, to be more liberal in the primary, to moving more conservative in the general election.  I guess I should welcome that, but it looks like, to me, either inexperience or incredible flip-flopping." - Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, in response to Barack Obama's latest series of opinion reversals.

Just a few of those flip-flops:  the FISA bill, the Supreme Court gun control decision, taking then not taking public financing of his campaign, and changes in his thoughts on NAFTA.

Sadly, the democrats seem to have a string of these candidates for president.  John Kerry couldn't seem to stay away from his flip-flops.  May Barack Obama have the same success as John F. Kerry did with his.

-Colonel Steve

Safe and Clean Abortions?

I was always told that making abortion legal would move us away from unsanitary and unsafe back alley abortions.  Then why this?

In an emergency order, the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure has suspended the license of Lexington gynecologist Hamid Sheikh to practice medicine.

An investigator for the Attorney General's office reported that she found expired medications, unsanitary conditions, and missing or inoperable equipment in the office of Sheikh, who has performed abortions at his Lexington office since 1975.

One Medicaid investigator, a nurse, found ”medical care standards dramatically out of compliance“ in Sheikh's office, according to documents that accompanied the medical board's June 5 order.

And a Medicaid fraud agent told the board that seven patients reported ”highly negative experiences, commonly involving a lack of medication and being told by the licensee not to scream during the procedure.“

One patient told investigators that Sheikh ”took no history, vitals, nor did he verify her pregnancy,“ according to board documents.

”She was given a Valium for the pain ... . During the procedure the pain was unbearable and she fought them and kicked over a tray. After the procedure she was given a stained sheet to cover herself with.“

-Colonel Steve

Did Rep. Delahunt mean what he said?

On June 26th, David Addington, VP Cheney's Chief of Staff was testifying before a House subcommittee regarding interrogation practices.  When David Addington refused to discuss specific techniques because Al Queda could well be watching the proceedings, Rep. Bill Delahunt replied, "Well, I'm sure they are watching and I'm glad they will finally get to see you Mr. Addington."  All this with a smug smile on his face. 

Why do Democrats not get it?!!!  This was an outrageous statement and he should not be allowed to get away with it.  He later said he meant no ill will.  Yeah, riiiggghhtt!  What do you think?  Watch the video.  Also read Pat Dollard's blog.

-Lady Colonel

Repeal The 1st Amendment

Actually I don't believe the thought behind the title of this post.  It's actually a response to a blog post on the Chicago Tribune's Blog site, entitled "Repeal The 2nd Amendment".

It has always amazed me how the MSM wax so eloquently when it comes to their cherished right found in the 1st amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Very little is ever said by them of how great ANY other part of the constitution is except these 10 words in red above.   Don't mess with their rights.  Those rights belong to them.

Yet, when it comes to any other part of the Constitution, those 10 words seem to give them the right to edit the rest of the Constitution's text.  How we elect presidents, according to Article Two of the Constitution, has been a press editor's dream to rewrite for at least the past 8 years.  Another favorite of the press, to rewrite, has been the 2nd amendment:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

If the rest of the Constitution is so great, what's so scary about this little text?  In a law abiding citizen's hands, a gun is no more dangerous than an automobile.  Yet both can be deadly in a criminal's hand.

These founding fathers knew what they were doing.  Two weapons in the hands of a country's citizens will keep tyrants at bay.  Those two weapons?  A free press to get the news out to citizens on the tyrant's ways, and a gun in a citizen's hand to protect and defend themselves from the same tyrant.

Lose either and we're that much closer to losing the rest of the freedoms we have.

So, repeal the 2nd amendment?  Might as well repeal the 1st as well.  Neither are worth much without the other.


-Colonel Steve

From The Frontlines Airs

Today the Web-a-thon to support our troops begins at 4pm Eastern. 

-Colonel Steve