Senator Elect Jim Webb of Virginia has shown one of the clearer examples that a “new tone” and civility in Washington only applies to Republicans when it comes to actual interaction with others. In matters of civil discourse it takes two to tango as our President discovered as early as the Spring of 2001. No amount of civility can be effective when only exhibited by one side of the interaction. At a reception for freshman lawmmakers, Webb rebuffed the President in rude fashion when responding to a well intentioned question. When a polite response would have sufficed, Webb took the low road as we so often see these days.

The office of the President demands respect and while one may not agree with the policies of a poltician it is something best dealt with in a civil manner and in the proper forum. Webb could have politely answered the question posed by the President who inquired as to the welfare of Webb’s son who is currently a Marine stationed in Iraq, instead he chose confontation in an inappropriate forum. Webb may well have concerns about the way the war is being prosecuted and have some better ideas but they are best brought up on the Senate floor and not in an orientation session.

“No offense to the institution of the presidency, and I’m certainly looking forward to working with him and his administration. [But] leaders do some symbolic things to try to convey who they are and what the message is.”

Oh, but it is offensive and Sen. Webb knows it. I would venture to say this was a calculated move to establish some sort of independent maverick image, as if he were some type of Democrat version of Sen. John McCain (R - RINO). If Webb has intentions of working with the President and Administration he may well not want to start out with a slap to the face. The only message that conveys is one of an unpolished, selfish politician that is more worried about image than results. George Will has a similar, more eloquently stated version of this matter in today’s Washington Post.

Time will tell, but I expect the tone to get worse in the remaining two years of the Bush Presidency. This behavior exhibited by Webb was calculated and contrary to his claims of willingness to cooperate and work with the Administration.

Some say to-may-to and some say to-mah-to but no matter what you call it, incivility and rudeness are exactly as defined and Webb exhibited this to a tee. Let’s hope he can get over himself and his “symbolic conveyances” to actively participate in a government that serves the people of the United States and State of Virginia instead of just an egotistcal Sen. Jim Webb.

Posted by Biloxi in Politics at 9:10 AM EST

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The resignation of the interim Cook County, IL Board President Bobbie Steele from her County Commissioner post that she was re-elected to last month assures that she will retire at double the pension she would have received otherwise. She will also collect more in retirement than she was ever paid as an $85,000 per year commissioner. This on top of a $13,000 teachers pension upping her county paycheck for not working to $149,000.00.

While it may be law that a pension is based on the retiring member’s current salary it might behoove the board to rework their rules requiring that one serves a reasonable amount of time in the position they retire from to merit the additional pension money. Like anything north of 2 years for starters. Steele was appointed President to fill the position of John Stroger who retired in July, months after a massive stroke that he and his handlers concealed in an effort to get past the primary. Then they were able to appoint Stroger’s son Todd to stand for election without having to face the rigors of a primary, thus solidifying their Soviet-like grip on the power structure in the county.

Steele has not produced a county budget in her 4 months in office and will not do so before she steps down December 4. She hasn’t really produced any reform in her short tenure and promises to perpetuate the worm infested status quo with her cynical and larcenous actions here. Just because this is lawful does not make it ethical or right by any stretch of the imagination. Pension laws are enacted by politicians to cover their own selfish needs and the backs of those they protect. How is it we allow our politicians 80% of their pay for not working? This is a serious disconnect with anything the private sector offers and needs to be looked at closely. I am not talking about civic employees like police and firemen in this instance, but politicians. Even the county commissioners who are part time, get a handsome pension of nearly $70,000.00 which is more than many county residents make in a year. This example can be carried on to state and federal elected officials as well. The sooner the elected live the realities of the governed, the sooner we may see realistic representation and sound policy from our government. Government is not meant to be a trough to feed selected families.

To further the insult upon the people of Cook County, Steele wants the Democratic committemen of her district to select her son Robert to serve out her term as Commissioner. Robert is one of Steele’s six children that are on the county payroll. Ms. Steele stood for election on November 7th and had an opponent, all the while claiming that she intended to serve the people of of her district for four more years, a complete and obvious deception. Of course lies, deception and failed representatition are nothing new in the People’s Republic of Cook County.

One would have to agree with current Commissioner and former Republican candidate for Board President Tony Peraica in asking; When is this going to end? We can only hope that at some point the voters of Cook County will wake up and look at their rising taxes, diminishing services and bloated government and finally make a definitive statement by throwing out the heriditary political dynasties and voting in leaders who know their interests and work for them. Representative government applies to all of the people and not simply a few select families.

America is truly the land of opportunity, just not in Cook County. Unless of course you have the proper lineage.

Posted by Biloxi in Chicago, Illinois Politics at 8:44 AM EST

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Jonathan Chait calls for the restoration of Saddam Hussein to power in Iraq. During the 3-1/2 year debate over the war this has often been brought up as the only logical conclusion one could draw from the arguments of those on the left. If the current situation in Iraq were so chaotic why not call for the return of a murderous dictator?

Instead of seeing the bright spots, detractors of the war in Iraq, see only the sectarian violence and seemingly long for the days of Hussein and his evil sons. They see no value in a free and Democratic Iraq and somehow think this was supposed to happen overnight. They see no progress in the largely smooth operations in the Kurdish northern section of the country or that the violence is largely centrally located. Instead we see the media image of car bombs and the endless body count ticker coming from the MSM. There is no mention of the larger picture that our presence in Iraq presents from a strategic standpoint and they virtually ignore the Iranian and Syrian roles and stake in the ongoing violence.

One glaring thing being missed in this point of view is that people like Chait see no value in the sacrifice of our military men and women or that of the Iraqi people. To them it was all an incredible blunder for which there was no purpose or long term goal and they couldn’t be more wrong.

Jonathan Chait finally has the moxie that none of his left-leaning, anyone but America friends have exhibited. To them the torture of political opponents, when done quietly and out of the public eye, is acceptable if it lends the appearance of stability in their world view. I for one am glad to see this because it exposes the faulty mindset on the left. Ask the victims of the rape rooms, gas attacks, or those who were fed into shredders feet first if this is a viable alternative.

Meanwhile, we have admirably directed our efforts into training a professional and nonsectarian Iraqi police force and encouraging reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites. But we haven’t succeeded. We may be strong enough to stop large-scale warfare or genocide, but we’re not strong enough to stop pervasive chaos.

Hussein, however, has a proven record in that department. It may well be possible to reconstitute the Iraqi army and state bureaucracy we disbanded, and if so, that may be the only force capable of imposing order in Iraq.

Chaos and order each have a powerful self-sustaining logic. When people perceive a lack of order, they act in ways that further the disorder. If a Sunni believes that he is in danger of being killed by Shiites, he will throw his support to Sunni insurgents who he sees as the only force that can protect him. The Sunni insurgents, in turn, will scare Shiites into supporting their own anti-Sunni militias.

What this shows is narrow thinking and is largely what you can expect from the Pelosi, Murtha, Durbin, Reid wing of the Democratic Party. It is also flawed beyond all humanitarian reason. Hussein allowed terrorists within his midst, he aided Hamas by paying a bounty to families of suicide bombers, and he stole the humanitarian aid sent to his people through the oil for food program. He was evil beyond reason with no end in sight.

We are a short-sighted and impatient people. The process being played out in Iraq may not be ideal or without flaw but in its absence we have only Saddam Hussein and with him no future for the people of Iraq or a free and democratic Middle East. Try to look beyond the end of your nose guys. There is a much larger picture unfolding that you risk missing entirely.

Posted by Biloxi in Middle East, Religion, War on Terror at 1:06 PM EST

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In another example of the religion of peace and Hamas‘ willingness to work with the people of Israel for a lasting peace, we have a grandmother detonating a suicide belt in the presence of Israeli troops, killing herself and slightly wounding two of Israel’s finest.

Fatma Omar An-Najar was seen acting suspiciously by troops who were moving through a refugee camp in Northern Gaza. The Solidiers threw a stun grenade, which makes noise but causes no damage, resulting in the woman setting off her explosives. The Israeli soldiers were in the strip as part of an effort to stem rocket fire originating from that area into Southern Israel.

An-Najar’s daughter claimed the Grandmother was looking for martyrdom and had recently participated in a staged diversion where she, the daughter and other women had acted as a diversion so Hamas fighters could escape.

But the past few weeks have seen an increase in militant activity by women in Gaza who have served as “human shields” defending the homes of militants that Israel has threatened to destroy.

Fatheya said she and her mother had taken part in a rally at a Gaza mosque three weeks ago where women defied a cordon of Israeli troops to create a diversion for besieged Hamas fighters to slip away.

One can’t help but think a religion of peace couldn’t find a better way to promote international cooperation and understanding than by launching rockets into a neighboring country and blowing themselves up while taking out others in the process. Tantamount in the process would be to quit using their women and children as a dodge so they can live to fight another day.

If muslims truly want us to believe that Islam is a religion of peace then they might start by condemning this sort of act and reaching out to those non-muslims that they are currently trying to obliterate. Until then the world is left to make the obvious conclusions.

Posted by Biloxi in Radical Islam at 2:32 PM EST

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Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune published a most interesting column the other day.

It seems that while we have a hue and cry for energy independence and people decry global warming; the worlds latest greatest solution to the problem goes largely ignored. Appparently hybrid cars, while touted as a solution to some of our problems, haven’t translated to the sales demographics that one would expect. More East Coast and Midwestern residents own the cars than the Californians who are passing ever restrictive clean air laws.

Other tidbits from a poll conducted by automotive website Autobytel were equally as eye-opening. It seems more people older than 45 own the cars as opposed to younger, fewer college educated than their non-degreed bretheren, and more lower income than higher income families own hybrids.

Finally there is this gem:

For what it’s worth, the poll found more Republicans (40 percent) than Democrats (36 percent) have a hybrid–or soon will.

So much for the stereotyped party of oil companies and big business, if you allow for a reasonable margin of error it seems to be split pretty evenly as to political philosphies and ownership of hybrid cars. I wonder how many of our Michael Moore, Tim Robbins, Kennedy Family types are doing their part to save energy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil?

This article may offer an explanation as to the reasons for the lagging sales of the hybrid. They are incredibly uncomfortable to drive and the added sticker price vs. the $391 annual fuel savings would take a person 8 years to break even using a 15,000 mile per year average.

Maybe we could tackle the problem more efficiently if the limousine liberals would take to driving average size cars and flying coach instead of gas guzzling private planes. In the end, I support people doing as they wish within the limitations their schedule and incomes permit. I just find it interesting that the nannies never seem to practice what they preach.

Posted by Biloxi in Liberal Illogic, Social Issues at 10:20 AM EST

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Why the Republicans lost and the root cause of most governmental budget issues.

Posted by Biloxi in Politics at 9:25 AM EST

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Even after getting the new electronic voting systems they wanted after declaring the butterfly ballot the root to all electoral evil in Florida, we now have a new controversy. Christine Jennings(D -Sore/Loserman) claims malfunction in the new electronic voting systems being used in the Florida 13th Congressional District as the reason for her narrow loss. A recount by machine followed by a required manual recount actually increased victor Vern Buchanan’s lead by 16 votes.

Like the 2000 Presidential debacle, Jennings is claiming the impropriety to have happened in the county she won and where there was nearly 17,000 undervotes. We now see the tried and true tactic of mining for votes in the county that favors the loser.

Of the total ballots that were reviewed, the vast majority were clearly undervotes, where the voter simply left blank the District 13 race or ballots with questionable marks where officials could not determine a voter’s true intent.

Someone will need to explain to me how a computer malfunction can cause a specific undervote on only one postion on an entire ballot and why that one position was consistently for the Congressional contest. Further the election officials have gone back to the reprehensible and impossible tactic of divining intent on spolied ballots.

Sweat and other elections officials at 9 a.m. Thursday, began the tedious process of showing Democratic and Republican representatives each arguable ballot. More often than not, both parties agreed on what the voter intended on marking. If there was doubt, the three-person canvassing board, consisting of Sweat, Manatee County Commission Chairman Joe McClash and Judge Robert Farrance, made the final decision on the ballot.

By midday, the canvassing board was debating the intent of careless voters who left on their ballots squiggly lines, tiny bubbles, dots, check marks and even smiley faces. The canvassing board made a ruling on 16 of the most uncertain ballots. Of those, Jennings picked up three votes; Buchanan received one; and 12 ballots were altogether too ambiguous and were ruled non-votes in that race.

It is not that hard and instructions are pretty clear on these things, heck we even give them choices of multiple languages to vote in so a spoiled ballot is a spoiled ballot. It is impossible to clarify a non-standard marking unless you talk to the actual voter and this is not something electors should be involved in attempting.

This was an election in which Democrats made significant gains and many races were decided by extremely close margins. Most of those races fell to the Democrat challenger and I have yet to see one of the Republican losing candidates bring a lawsuit challenging the results. It does seem to be an integral tool in the Democratic Party’s playbook because we have seen it time and again since 2000. Starting with the Florida recount we have since seen questions in Ohio where nothing untowards was even remotely proven in the 2004 Presidential race, to Washington State where a recount and questionable allowance of rejected ballots from King County were allowed in time to tip the scales for Christine Gregoire over Dino Rossi.

In a country where we value the will of the people I do not see evidence of such coming from the Democratic politicians when they come out on the short end of that will. Again we see a mindset that refuses to allow that people rejected them so it must have been fraud or malfunction. 17,000 undervotes tells me there is quite a few disgusted people who intentionally left the ballot blank. I did so myself in a district where Democrat Representative Bill Lipinski installed his son two years ago after the primary was over, insuring his progeny a victory in a heavily Democratic district. The Republicans in the same district steadfastly refuse to slate or support a viable alternative candidate. When given no choices in their own mind, some people take none of the above.

The people get tired of mud-slinging and negative campaigning, politicians who treat the office as a hereditary business to be passed on to their family, and a lack of qualified candidates from either party. They reject the fact that the politicians become Washington creatures that forget they represent the people of a District instead of Washington lobbyists. All of the above could create a massive undervote issue and should be seen as a wake-up call instead of some kind of attempt to rob the loser of their rightful position.

Jennings suit is embarrassing and brings further skepticism and disgust from the electorate. Let’s get the process back to being about ideas and representation instead of negative campaigning, demagoguery and lawsuits.

Posted by Biloxi in Politics at 10:02 AM EST

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As you spend time with your families and loved ones today remember the true meaning of the word. Give thanks for your family, friends and all that you have. More importantly give thanks to those who protect our freedoms so that we may enjoy these things.

I am thankful for my family, friends and the fact that we live in a warm house in a safe neighborhood. I am thankful to our military , government and first responders for their sacrifices in making us reasonably secure. I am thankful to God for making all things possible.

What are you thankful for?

A Happy and safe Thanksgiving to all.

Posted by Biloxi in Biloxi Says at 8:06 AM EST

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Obama News columnist Lynn Sweet makes mention of the possible perception of Barack Obama’s posturing and symbolism in today’s issue.

Now that Obama is opening the door to a presidential run, what he does will undergo more scrutiny, such as the efficacy of serial HIV/AIDS testing, no matter how well-intentioned.

While not as critical as my post, she notes that the first test may have been useful for the education of Kenyan men who are afraid of the stigma involved with AIDS testing in their country and culture but it appears to be a political ploy here in the United States where we are aware of his widely publicized prior test.

Now that he is exploring a Presidential run Senator Obama will have to actually put some substance behind the symbolic public acts he has been getting away with for his first two years in the national spotlight. With ambition and quest for higher office comes ever-increasing public and media scrutiny. When the pressure increases no amount of AIDS testing or couples counseling will hide his lack politcal essence. He simply has to develop something beyond his current Dr. Feelgood, can’t we all get along persona. Hence his recycled speech on Iraq today. Last year’s speech being delivered this year does not show any vision and it won’t serve as a plan next year either. He’s also either too bound by ideolgy or hopelessly naive, (you pick) to realize negotiating with Syria and Iran is asking for a broken promise on the North Korea scale of deception. To negotiate, one must deal with reason and those who advocate the death of those they consider infidels don’t exactly rank high on the reasonable and successful negotiation scale.

You’ve got a full year to develop a cohesive message Mangod, you better get on it before the camera lights come on and prove you a charlatan like many of your Senate bretheren.

Posted by Biloxi in Liberal Illogic, Politics at 10:08 PM EST

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Soon to be former Illinois Senator from the 31st District Adeline Geo-Karis was upset at what she felt were deragtory comments by her Republican opponent Suzanne Simpson in last Spring’s primary so she backed the Democrat challenger Michael Bond. I’ve been accused of sacrificing the greater good for ideological purity by backing Randy Stufflebeam for Governor but this taking it too far in the other direction.

I doubt my write in vote or blog posts urging others to vote for Stufflebeam (who was the only conservative in the race) had much influence on the overall outcome considering many took the easy route and registered their protest by voting for Green Party Candidate Rich Whitney. Even, if I did have a slight impact it was a stance built on principle and not sour grapes. How could a 34 year Republican lawmaker purposely work to tip the scales against her party in a tight election? The margin of victory was 1.9% for Bond and many feel that Geo-Karis’ letter to district residents may have tipped the scales. If she supposedly cared about the people of the district she represented for 28 years and Simpson was her protege’, then how could she throw the race to the opposition? Hurt feelings is a poor reason Senator. This in a race that was pivotal because it was one of the Senate seats the Democrats gained assuring a veto proof majority.

Geo Karis is urging a truce with Simpson now that the damage is done and she’s gotten her way. This after claiming to be miffed at another Simpson comment. Methinks Ms. Geo-Karis has slightly thin skin and judging by her comments she appears to be a bit addled after all. She has actually stated she thought incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would do a good job.

Illinois, America’s little slice of Oz. Where reality never quite gets a toehold.

If it comes between this and ideological purity, I”ll stick with principle every time.

Posted by Biloxi in Illinois Politics at 8:33 PM EST

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