The Stout Republican

I drove a 1987 Honda Prelude. I didn’t pay for it. I think I gave my mom a few hundred dollars so that I felt that I had somehow contributed to the process, but realistically, it was bought for me.

I don’t remember that movie that I was driving to see. I turned the AC on high as we drove past the Gorman exit to keep the dry heat of the desert at bay. The Antelope Valley had that intolerable combination of triple digit weather, and ferocious winds, which in the right circumstance could kick up the dirt in a flurry that could sand the paint off of your car. As I drove under the overpass, the needle indicating the oil temperature spiked within seconds to that dreaded red section on the far right that you disregarded as simply dashboard space filler, a way to keep all the gauges symmetrical. The car rolled silently to a stop on the shoulder.

The towing process was as destructive to the exterior car, as my neglecting to check coolant levels had been to the interior. The second attempt to lash my bumper to my friend’s brother Nick’s truck went far more favorably than the first, which had ended two miles from the point of breakdown, with a broken tow cable that had managed to recoil into, and effectively eviscerate my front right light, and half the grill. It sat in Nick’s driveway for weeks, an eyesore that I still feel sorry for subjecting his wife Irene to.

I had to carpool – something I’ve never liked doing, as my earliest driving years had been spent at the mercy of my twin brother, who, to this date, has never met a departure time he couldn’t blow by with the nonchalance of a Frenchman.

At work, one of the Air Force Sergeants I sat near felt for my predicament, and offered to sell me his old Honda Del Sol, as he was planning on upgrading anyways since he was now a family man. I accepted, and that afternoon, I went with him during our lunch to check the car out. It was exactly what I needed…small, economical, and quick.

“Hey,” I said gesturing to the car as he watched me give it the one over, “would you mind writing the title transfer for a little bit less than the $4000…I’d like to save a little bit on taxes if possible.”

He seemed visibly upset by the fact that I even asked. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’m a military man, and if I don’t have my integrity, I have nothing.” He avoided eye contact, disappointed at the idea that I would even consider such a proposal, as if he had failed by not projecting an image that would prevent me from even asking in the first place.

I nodded and said, “No, I understand, I was just trying to save a buck.” I thought I understood.

“I know.” He replied.

Integrity was just a word to a 20 year old young man. It didn’t mean anything yet; an abstract. I was simply trying to save a dollar, and besides, the tax system was unfair so it wasn’t hurting anyone right? I didn’t have an overabundance of money, so I felt I was justified in making such a proposal. Realistically, it’s one of the low points in my adult life. The idea that I tried to manipulate the system, at the expense of my own honesty only started bothering me years later when I began to be hyper aware of people who would game the system, and the fact that I tried to drag him into it with me, only bothers me more. I’ve become impatient with those people who cheat simply because they can. Honestly seems to be something only those with money can afford, the same people who are targeted and slandered as greedy, and forgetting their roots.

I’ve seen people drive up to donation centers in their high end SUVs, supported by custom suspensions and polished rims, so they could collect the food that better people donated. I’ve seen mothers in line pay for their groceries with food stamps, only to run the beer and cigarettes through separately, and pay with cash. What bothers me the most about this kind of behavior, what bothers me the most about any kind of behavior, is the fact that those people who engage in it believe that they’ve done nothing wrong. They believe that no ethical or legal boundaries have been crossed, that they were justified in their behavior, because in some way, at some time, they’ve been wronged, and it was owed them. Once, I tried to get away with the same thing, and it took an honorable Air Force man, who could have easily printed a different number to give a kid a tax break, to show me that some things are worth more than saving a few dollars.

Education

When Dan Rather notices the MSM bias towards all things BO one has to wonder. Coverage of the most recent Biden gaff has been non-existent in MSM. Something about the international set testing BO because of his age…Biden has been given the next couple of days off by the campaign since he has been working so hard to NOT get BO elected. Now the rub, if Palin said something similar about McCain it would be front page news (sort of like their respectful and thoughtful disagreement on gay marriage is, which BTW is above the fold).

Rather did point out that the Internet could/would/is/will play a bigger role now and in the future in debunking MSM. Rather the uber-media-maven and apparently internet embracer says it is so.

On a personal note a number of people that believe Palin is the antichrist that I have spoken to in the last couple of weeks have been turned toward the light. Palin may not be any more qualified then BO but she is certainly not the book banning, willy nilly wolf shooting, neanderthal (who would have even thought of a labeling a woman with that little moniker?) that the left has tried to make her out to be. Yes they are all scummy politicians but if one checks their sources using other than the kool-aid vendors desired meme generators one will find a reason to vote based on fact and not rhetoric.

Lan astalem,

GoingThere

Biden, Education, Heretic, Palin, Your Government

My tax dollars at work. Here’s the text of the email my wife received about the “celebrity” speaking on campus:

“Outed” former CIA Covert Operative Valerie Plame Wilson finally speaks out! Join us for this lecture and book signing where she discusses the events that ended her CIA career, jeopardized her life and propelled her into the center of political controversy.

Oh really, does she finally?! I’m so excited…who is this covert agent I’ve heard so little about over the last few years? Valerie who…I can’t remember, it’s only whispered in certain circles of which I’m not privileged enough to be in.

I can’t wait to hear what she has to say…I mean, she’s been in the dark for so long!

I remember seeing Bill Maher at the same place 3 years ago…and so I wondered what my school has been up to lately, so thanks to Al Gore and his internet I checked the Carpenter Web Site to check up on the “fair and balanced” presentations that take place at good ol’ Cal State Long Beach. BAM! Picture of Jane Fonda under the Wit and Wisdom section. Fair enough…I suppose, let me see when Michelle Malkin is going to be speaking there…checking, checking….nope, not on the schedule…I’m sure they’re working on it though…I hear it’s between her and Thomas Sowell…(*cough cough*)

Adults are $35, students $10…fill those pockets ladies and gents, she needs the money for lawyers to pursue her civil suit against the government, and for food, since her media blackout, she’s had problems marketing herself. I hope the money is going to cover the cost of staff, parking, cleaning, etc…I’m sure it will, silly me to think that a institute of higher education might be intentionally promoting an agenda.

Remember kids, some leaks are okay, others are not.

God that takes me back…I remember one of my Business teachers opened every other class with a Bush joke, and talked about how he wanted to move to France…as this was a few years ago, I wonder if he’s still singing the same tune…legend has it even the students there might be starting to work…

Education

I am a conservative.

Erwin Chemerinsky is a HUGE liberal.

I’ll use Hugh Hewitt’s words:

The Univesrity of California, Irvine is starting a new law school. Given its location and the resources available to it, it could have quickly entered the first ranks of American law schools. It had selected my friend and regular radio guest Duke University Law School Professor Erwin Chemerinsky as the school’s new dean. Erwin is a man of the left, of course, but a remarkably distinguished and accomplished scholar who enjoys the esteem of professors, jurists and practioners across the ideological spectrum.

UCI, for reasons not yet fully disclosed, has now dumped Erwin. Brian Leiter has the details, as does The Los Angeles Times.

This is an astonishing and disgraceful episode, which, if perpetrated against a conservative, would rightly lead to a massive outpouring of outrage directed at the university that had allowed such a purge to occur. I will be astonished if any reputable scholar agrees to take the job over Erwin’s broken contract, and many professors who would otherwise have welcomed the chance to join the UC system will be wondering about the Administration of such a place, even if they find someone to agree to be dean.

As someone who is going to be going back to school for my Graduate Degree next year, this troubles me. UCI was on the top of my list for both Business and Law (I had flipped back and forth regularly before deciding on Business…ethical reasons) mainly because of its proximity, but it’s also UC school, and since I have my undergrad from a CSU, why not mix it up?

The graduate schools I was looking at for Business were: UCI, Vanguard, USC, and CSULB. For law: UCI, Chapman.

I once sat in (with permission) on Hugh Hewitt’s constitutional law class, partially to see what it was all about, partially to pick his brain afterwards for direction, thoughts, etc. Hugh has always struck me as a fair man. This has extended to “The Smart Guys” segment where he features both John Eastman and Erwin Chemerinsky discussing current constitutional law issues from both sides of the aisle. I’m a regular listener to his radio show (usually the last hour since I’m a working stiff), and was shocked today to hear the news listed above.

Now, Erwin is a leader in Con Law thought from the liberal perspective, and although I disagree with him 95% of the time, he’s a brilliant man. I don’t think anyone can deny this. However, he seems to be targeted for “un-hiring” because of his politics. Now, were this a private institution, and donors were making all the decisions, by all means, drop him…but since this is a UC (University of California) campus, it’s subsidized by our tax dollars, and run with our tax dollars, there’s a big problem. The State is deciding what personal views are allowed.

Granted, I don’t want to have a curriculum that is made and dictated by a conglomerate of liberals, just as I don’t want to have a curriculum dictated by a horde of conservatives. The problem I have with liberal academia is the stifling of dissent, and the shutting out of conservatives FOR THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS. This extends to the other side of the aisle for me. I want to win the war of ideas based on education, not exclusion…that’s a liberal tactic. In this case though, it seems that Erwin has been targeted and removed for his liberal politics by conservatives on the UC Board of Regents. Bad. This means that the state is dictating what a person can and cannot believe, and then hiring him accordingly. First and foremost, Erwin is a good and fair man. Wrong, but fair. Capable…but did I mention wrong? As wrong as he might be, he’s ridiculously qualified to start a fledgling law department at a struggling campus. Isn’t that what we want in our professors, someone who is willing to allow all sides of the argument to be heard? The state has no place firing a man because he doesn’t share their politics.

I’m writing UCI off of the list. In a school that’s notorious for being predominantly Asian, I figured they’d want to court a cracker like me. Oh well…the list is now three.

Update: Been a while because I’m lazy. Open trackback at WomanHonorThyself.

Read more…

Education, Grand Chaps

H/T to Allah at Hotair (my usual haunt):

Holy crap it’s beautiful.

Scientists believe they have worked out a formula to calculate how “beer goggles” affect a drinker’s vision.
The drink-fuelled phenomenon is said to transform supposedly “ugly” people into beauties – until the morning after.

Researchers at Manchester University say while beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder, the amount of alcohol consumed is not the only factor.

I think there are other considerations that may be made, for instance…based on the “Beer Goggle effect”, how does this influence ones decision from selecting from an array. In addition, external influences such as friends. Is there a variable that can be considered in regards to “wingman” looking out for you? The better the friend, the more influential the effect of Beer Goggles as a percentage of 1…throw some parenthesis around that sucka and multiply by a ratio of 1/x (the greater the x, the more one relies on or trusts a friend to guide him towards/away from danger)…however, that effect looses influence the more alcohol one consumes (that’s the “no way dude, she is too hot” effect)…maybe some regression analysis.

The possibilities are endless!

Education, Social Issues

A great letter from Rhymes With Right about another “brilliant ” Republican circumventing the voters and forcing vaccines on sixth grade girls. While it might be a good idea to vaccinate against cervical cancer…I like the logic behind this response:

Dear Governor Perry;

I’m troubled by your decision to mandate that sixth-grade girls must receive the Gardasil vaccine as a condition of exercising the right to receive a free public education in the state of Texas. I’m troubled by your staff’s insistence that your unilateral action on behalf of your big campaign contributor Merck and its lobbyist, your former chief of staff, may not be revoked by the legislature using its constitutional oversight powers– or, based upon the statement of your spokesperson, any court. But since you seem to be a graduate of the Paul Begala School of Lawmaking, I won’t argue with you over the question of the legitimacy of your position.

However, since you seem intent upon forcing pharmaceuticals upon children in order to prevent a sexually-transmitted condition not readily contracted by activity in the course of a normal school day, I’d like to offer a suggestion for the next executive order you should issue. It, too, involves prevention of a sexually condition which would not often be contracted in the ordinary course of a school day, but which much more often impacts the lives and education of school-aged girls in Texas, as well as the state budget.

That condition is teen pregnancy.

Governor, in the last decade I have had 10-15% of my female students either give birth or become pregnant during the course of the school year, or even enter my tenth-grade classroom already a mother. Their pregnancies wreak havoc on their lives and education, causing them to miss school on a frequent basis due to their pregnancy or the demands of motherhood. I’ve witnessed them drop out of school or seek a GED rather than a diploma so they could go to work rather than college. I’ve seen them enter unwise, early marriages and unstable live-in situations.

Furthermore, I know that most of them have been recipients of Medicaid dollars for delivery, and for the subsequent medical care their child needs. They often find themselves on food stamps and living in subsidized housing. During their pregnancies and the post-partum period, these young women are often segregated into special educational facilities, and many school districts find it necessary to provide some sort of daycare program for the offspring of their students.

Clearly, this condition adversely impacts the lives of Texas students and their children, as well as the budgets of the state of Texas and every school district and local government. It is therefore imperative, sir, that you take action to safeguard all of the above, just as you have with your decision bypass the legislative process to mandate Gardasil via executive order.

I urge you, Governor Perry, to mandate that every entering sixth-grade girl in the state of Texas receive Norplant implants as a precondition to enrolling in a public school in the state. Furthermore, you should by executive order mandate that the replacement of those implants be required as a precondition for being permitted to continue in a public school beyond tenth grade, due to the limited effective life of the Norplant implants. This will protect every school girl in Texas from the perils of teen pregnancy, and much more effectively than the abstinence-only education programs currently offered in our public schools.

Now some may object that government-mandated Norplant violates the right of a woman, even an eleven-year-old, to control her own body. You’ve already crossed that line with your Gardasil executive order. Others may argue that government-mandated Norplant may give these same young woman the message that unprotected sex is now safe. But you’ve already crossed that line as well. And still others might argue that government-mandated Norplant might be viewed as permission to engage in sex. That line has also been crossed by your executive order. And as for those who argue that such decisions are best left to parents in consultation with family physicians — you blew right past that line when you chose to play doctor with every little girl in the state by mandating Gardasil.

So if you are really interested in protecting young girls from sexually-transmitted conditions that negatively impact their lives, you must issue the Norplant executive order.

Unless, of course, your real motivation for the Gardasil executive order was paying back Merck for the campaign contributions and doing favors for former staffers and the family members of your political allies.

Bad Republican, Education, Social Issues

UCI has just upgraded to Version 2.0:

LOS ANGELES– UC Irvine’s long hankering to add a law school to its roster of graduate programs has finally been satisfied.

This morning, University of California regents voted unanimously to allow the Irvine campus to proceed with plans to create a 600-student law school.

I’m perpetually pulling a Kerry (that means going back and forth) between whether or not I want to go to grad school, or law school. On the one hand, a MBA guarantees a great future, and solidifies your management hirability at various business firms. On the other hand, being a gentleman with a law degree means that you can never be wrong in a polite social disagreement again…because you have a law degree…and lawyers are never wrong…because you have a law degree. I love how that works.

So…things to consider as I put off taking my GMAT, or now possibly LSAT. Watch out people…I’m getting edumacated.

Education, Local

No, not a legal proceeding protecting the snail darter nor for you homophobic republicans, a comment on your last typical night on the town in San Francisco (I wanted to try out reading like a proud, practical and “progressive” liberal. How did I read?)

All kidding aside and just factual evidence, you decide…

Historical presidential party legislative seat losses:

FDR 1938, 71 House: 6 Senate
DE 1958, 47 House: 3 Senate
JFK 1962, 47 House: 3 Senate
RMN 1974, 43 House: 3 Senate
WJC 1996, 49 House: 9 Senate
GWB 2006, ~30 House:~ 6 Senate

Historical deception, ooops, perception,

GoingThere

Conspiracy, Democrats, Education

A wonderfully inciteful little book that provides another opportunity to see the light and/or continue to delude one’s self on multiple levels.

Mr.’s Mooer and Orwell would both approve!!!

IMHO all BS litmus tests weigh heavily on both political philosophies…one however factually stands far and away above the other…Hint it’s name starts with an L and it’s not their fault, they are victims of their own actions. If you think about that for a moment, beside your head exploding, Saint Moebius will rear his ugly little self serving head for you…

Wanna buy a tooth brush?

GoingThere

ps…
Check it out at AMAZON via a click through from the Stout!
gt

Education

From SF Gate:

…Pelosi focused her public comments on the Democrats’ domestic plans, should they win, for the first 100 legislative hours (raise the minimum wage, cut interest rates on student loans, roll back subsidies to oil companies, boost stem cell research, strengthen homeland security).

Strengthen homeland security…a Democrat?! BWHAHAHAHAHA.

Congress, Economy, Education