op ed review 5/9

THIS WEEK’S NEWS

Only 39% of voters said they would vote to re-elect Pres. Obama if the election were held today.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/05/confidence_impr.php

At Ground Zero they're building a 13-story mosque – on the site of an old Burlington Coat Factory damaged by airplane debris on 9/11. “So, in the ruins of a building reduced to rubble in the name of Islam, a temple to Islam will arise.”

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/-247715--.html

Comedy Central might censor every image of the Prophet Muhammad on "South Park," yet the network is developing a whole animated series around Jesus Christ. As part of the network's upfront presentation to advertisers, the network is set to announce "JC," a half-hour show about Christ wanting to escape the shadow of his "powerful but apathetic father" and live a regular life in New York City.

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/05/comedy-central-developing-jesus-christ-cartoon-series.html

An SUV found in New York City was loaded with explosives and smoking when an alert t-shirt vendor noticed something wasn't right and alerted a mounted police officer. The location was adjacent to the Viacom building, fuelling speculation that it might be linked to the company's controversial South Park cartoon which recently depicted the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit.

http://wcbstv.com/local/suspicious.package.fire.2.1669044.html

The bomber suspect, Faisal Shahzad was placed on a Department of Homeland Security travel lookout list in 1999. He was pulled off a jetliner bound for the United Arab Emirates on Monday night.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20004263-10391695.html

Why was he allowed on the airplane? Apparently, he was removed from the lookout list sometime after Barack Obama came into office.

http://biggovernment.com/jhoft/2010/05/06/breaking-obama-administration-removed-faisal-shahzad-from-terror-surveillance-list-before-attack/

The suspect told authorities he trained at a terrorism camp in Pakistan.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100504/D9FG7A001.html

Tragedy was averted because he used the wrong kind of firecrackers and the wrong kind of fertilizer explosive.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/may/060510-times-square-bomber-faisal-shahzad-world-news-wrong-explosives.htm

If confirmed that the Taliban in Pakistan sponsored the attempted New York bombing, it would be the group's first attack on U.S. soil. And more attacks could be in the pipeline. “Now will the Obama administration put the nation back on war footing? Or will it continue to pretend the Islamist enemy retired with the "warmongering" Bush administration?”

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=532615

“Yesterday's New York Times, home to the most obsessively anti-Tea Party editorial page in America, was stunned to discover that "at least 32 African-Americans are running for Congress this year as Republicans, the biggest surge since Reconstruction, according to party officials."

http://reason.com/blog/2010/05/06/now-playing-at-reasontv-is-the

The third most senior democrat in the House, and author of last year's $862 billion economic stimulus law, said he won't seek re-election this year.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/06/democrat-obey-to-leave-house-after-4-decades/

Though his agency was charged with coordinating the federal response to the major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Department of the Interior chief of staff Tom Strickland was white water rafting in the Grand Canyon with his wife last week.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/05/while-oil-slick-spread-interior-department-chief-of-staff-rafted-with-wife-in-grand-canyon-.html

As the Gulf Coast faced ecological disaster, the president yukked it up with White House correspondents. His Saturday radio address didn't even mention the oil spill. “Rarely has media sycophancy been on such sharp display as in the largely indifferent response to President Obama's own indifference to the oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.”

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=532122

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that Americans are “tired” of driving cars and are instead looking for other options such as bicycle lanes and walking paths, which the government will add to its infrastructure

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/65068

Despite their expectation that it will burden police departments and disproportionately affect certain ethnic groups, a majority of Americans believe the controversial illegal immigration measure recently signed into law in Arizona is "about right" in its approach, according to a newly-released CBS News/New York Times poll.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004030-503544.html

The immigrants’ rights marches last weekend weren’t all so peaceful. Close to 20 businesses were damaged in downtown Santa Cruz [Calif.] requiring police to call other agencies for help.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704342604575222101791472076.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLETopOpinion

As President Obama, most Democrats, and most of the media proclaim it racist to enforce immigration laws, five students were sent home from school in Morgan Hill, California because they wore American flag bandannas and t-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. School officials considered the flag display “too provocative” and “incendiary”.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/05/students_sent_home_for_wearing.html

Huh? The NATO commander in Afghanistan is considering awarding medals for “courageous restraint”.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/world/Medal-for-_courageous-restraint_-plan-get-mixed-review-from-troops-93007014.html

The editors at the biggest newspaper on the West Coast, who were expected to endorse Sen. Barbara Boxer in her primary campaign against token opposition, have decided to remain neutral, saying the California Democrat “doesn't display enough intellectual firepower.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/07/la-times-declines-endorse-boxer-senate-primary/

83% of Americans say God answers prayers, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 1,000 adults. 57% favor a National Day of Prayer.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-05-05-prayer05_ST_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

A Christian street preacher in the UK was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html

Great moments in socialized medicine: In the UK, NHS bosses are refusing to let cancer patients be treated with potentially life-saving technology – endorsed by senior doctors – at a hospital which has just spent £3m on it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/02/cancer-treatment-cyberknife-mount-vernon

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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COLUMN

What If Arizona Were Quebec?

Michael Filozof, American Thinker

Suppose for a moment that 15 million Americans -- the population of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut combined -- sneaked across the border into Quebec. Suppose that these illegal immigrants refused to learn to speak French, that they applied for Canadian welfare, that they reproduced at a rate higher than Quebec's residents, and that they bankrupted Canada's socialized medical system. Suppose that they sent their children to Canadian schools in such large numbers that Quebec's school system had to teach "French as a Second Language" courses.

Suppose that the 15 million illegal American aliens included large numbers of criminals, drug dealers from Vermont, and arms traffickers, causing Quebec's crime rate to soar; that they comprised 20% to 30% of Quebec's prison inmates; and that they routinely evaded capture by Canadian authorities by sneaking back across the border, where they engaged in gang warfare.

Suppose that the illegal Americans congregated in packs on Montreal street corners, looking for day labor for which they did not pay taxes, and drove through the streets of Quebec without driver's licenses or motor vehicle insurance. Suppose that the illegals marched openly in the streets of Montreal, waving the Stars and Stripes, celebrating the Fourth of July, and demanding amnesty. Suppose that illegal American college students formed radical pro-U.S. organizations on Quebec's campuses and demanded resident tuition discounts and affirmative-action preferences.

Let us further suppose that when the Montreal Canadiens played the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre, large numbers of illegal Americans waved the American flag, booed, hissed, and doused Canadiens fans with beer when "O, Canada" was sung in French prior to the opening face-off.

How do you suppose Canada would react? Would Quebec City and Laval declare themselves "sanctuary cities" and refuse to cooperate with federal authorities seeking to deport the illegal Americans? Would Quebec offer driver's licenses to the illegals? Would the province refuse to ask voters for identification and proof of citizenship?

If Quebec's provincial parliament passed a law allowing the police to demand proof of citizenship from suspected illegals, would the Prime Minister call it "misguided"? Would the Bishop of Montreal accuse the province of "Nazism"? Would residents of Calgary and Winnipeg call for a boycott of Quebec? Do you suppose the federal parliament in Ottawa would propose legislation to grant citizenship to the illegals (thereby allowing them to sponsor the emigration to Canada of their relatives back in the Unites States)?

Of course not. Anyone remotely familiar with Canadian politics knows exactly what would happen. A situation like the one described above would cause the province to explode.

At the very least, you can bet that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Customs Canada would have tactical units all along the border from Massena to New Brunswick. At worst, there would be war. Francophones would be screaming "Arrêt!" and "Non!" to illegal immigration at the top of their lungs. Canada's leading pundits and politicians would be demanding the preservation of Canadian culture against the onslaught from the United States. All of the obnoxious moral priggishness about "human rights" and "multiculturalism" that Canada has become so famous for would go out the window in a heartbeat, and the Canadians would spare no expense in rounding up and deporting the illegal American invaders.

French-Canadians are extremely prickly about their cultural heritage. Quebec has legislatively forbidden stores to advertise in English and mandated the use of French in public schools. French-Canadians have their own political party, the Parti Quebecois, to promote their interests. In 1995, the province held a referendum and came within one percentage point of voting to secede from Canada.

It is utterly mind-boggling to see the reaction of the cultural and political elites in the United States to the law passed by Arizona last week empowering the state to enforce immigration laws. Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles characterized the law as "Nazism," and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano called it "misguided" and "not ... good."

The Constitution grants Congress the authority to "establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization" and to "repel Invasions." But prominent congressional leaders like Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Raúl Grijalva have taken positions opposing the enforcement of the immigration laws Congress itself has passed.

Even the president has criticized Arizona's law, calling instead for granting citizenship to illegals. What else would you expect from a president who spent his childhood in Indonesia, bowed to foreign emperors, gave a campaign speech as a citizen of the world in Berlin, and who currently has an aunt living as an illegal alien on welfare in Boston? Certainly it is unrealistic to expect that he will serve the interests of the United States.

No sane country has ever elected elites who have systematically undermined their own culture and erased their national borders. Even the French-Canadians know how to stand up for themselves. Who will stand up for the United States and demand, without apology, that the border be sealed and the illegals deported? The Republicans won't do it, the Tea Party is impotent and rudderless, and the Democrats are actively aiding and abetting those who seek to undermine us. If we are unwilling to police our own borders, we are doomed.

I'm not certain what it will take to preserve the United States, but we had better come up with something effective -- and soon.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/what_if_arizona_were_quebec_1.html

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FROM OTHER COLUMNS

"The American president has the power to control America's borders if he wants to, but George W. Bush and Barack Obama did not and do not want to, and for the same reason, and we all know what it is. The fastest-growing demographic in America is the Hispanic vote, and if either party cracks down on illegal immigration, it risks losing that vote for generations. But while the Democrats worry about the prospects of the Democrats and the Republicans about the well-being of the Republicans, who worries about America? No one. Which the American people have noticed, and which adds to the dangerous alienation -- actually it's at the heart of the alienation -- of the age. In the past four years, I have argued in this space that nothing can or should be done, no new federal law passed, until the border itself is secure. That is the predicate, the common sense first step. Once existing laws are enforced and the border made peaceful, everyone in the country will be able to breathe easier and consider, without an air of clamor and crisis, what should be done next. ... Not everything has to be settled right away. Only controlling the border has to be settled right away. Instead, our national establishments deliberately allow the crisis to grow and fester, ignoring public unrest and amusing themselves by damning anyone's attempt to deal with the problem they fear to address. Why does the federal government do this? Because so many within it are stupid and unimaginative and don't trust the American people. Which of course the American people have noticed."

-Peggy Noonan

"Strangely enough -- for a bill that allegedly sticks it to Wall Street -- during the Senate Banking Committee hearing [last] week, Goldman Sachs chairman Lloyd Blankfein endorsed the Dodd bill. Someone should have asked him who from Goldman wrote it. In 2008, Goldman employees gave a record-breaking $1,007,370 to the Obama campaign. This year, the 'securities and investment' industry has already given twice as much money to the Democrats as to the Republicans. ABC News reports that 'the five biggest hedge fund donors all gave almost all their donations to Democrats.' Among the biggest recipients of hedge fund money were Senators Harry Reid (Democrat), Chris Dodd (Democrat) and Charles Schumer (Democrat). Even with the evidence right in front of their eyes, people still believe that it's the Republicans who are in Wall Street's pocket. How out of touch with reality would a comedy writer have to be to write the following joke for Jay Leno [last] week: 'The head of Goldman Sachs was going through security and was asked to empty his pockets -- and five Republican senators fell out.' Why didn't Barack Obama or Chuck Schumer fall out? Why not Rahm Emanuel, who worked for Goldman? Or Greg Craig, who used to work for Obama but just took a job with Goldman? The fact that anyone laughed at that joke proves that Republicans have a serious PR problem."

-Ann Coulter

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BOOKS

“Blacks, Whites & Racist Democrats: The Untold History of Race and Politics within the Democratic Party from 1792-2009” by Wayne Perryman. After reading this book, you will understand that: for over 150 years, blacks were victims of terrorist attacks by the Democrats and their Klan supporters, including lynching, beating, rapes and mutilations. On the issue of slavery, the Democrats literally gave their lives to expand it; the Republicans gave their lives to ban it. Many believed the Democrats had a change of heart and fell in love with blacks. To the contrary, history reveals the democrats didn't fall in love with black folks, they fell in love with the black vote knowing this would be their ticket into the white house.

http://wayneperryman.com/

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LEFTIST WATCH

Rev. Al Sharpton says:: “We Won’t Have True Social Justice Until Everything Is ‘Equal in Everybody’s House’

http://www.breitbart.tv/al-sharpton-we-wont-have-true-social-justice-until-everything-is-equal-in-everybodys-house

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ACTIVISM

A great opportunity for OER readers in the Pacific Northwest: “Join the Evergreen Freedom Foundation for our upcoming Activist Mini Camp. In the last year, many Americans discovered their voice and began to vocalize their concern with irresponsible, unaccountable government. In order to make a lasting difference in our state and nation, active citizenship must become a part of our everyday lives. Come and learn the tools you need to make an impact on a daily basis.We will be covering a number of critical topics:

The Big Picture - We will be taking a look at the political climate of our state, discussing both the crises we presently face and the opportunities that arise as a result.

Mobilizing Your Community - All politics are local. We will show you the strategies and tactics necessary to create real change in your hometown.

The Art of Persuasion - If our movement is going to change the hearts and minds of people, we must learn to be persuasive in how we present our message. Our experts will demonstrate how to craft an winning argument.

Online Activism - The opportunities for communication online are too large for our movement to ignore. We will walk you through the basics of Internet activist tools and how you can get started.

Opposition Research - Knowing your opponent is key to victory. Discover several effective tactics you can utilize to dig up the truth.

Town Hall Workshop - We will stage a mock town hall meeting to help give you an idea of what works and what doesn't.

Kirby Wilbur says: “The sessions are extensive and well done, you will learn so much and you will leave a better advocate for liberty, limited government and the free market.”

Saturday, May 15 – Vancouver – Clark Community College

http://vancouveractivistminicamp.eventbrite.com/

Saturday, May 22 – Shoreline – Shoreline Community College

http://shorelineactivistminicamp.eventbrite.com/

Saturday, June 5 – Spokane Convention Center

http://spokaneactivistminicamp.eventbrite.com/

Cost is $30.00 which includes lunch. If you gather a group of ten or more, the fee is $25.00 per person.

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ARTICLES

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has accused Arizona of opening the door "to intolerance, hate, discrimination and abuse in law enforcement." So what’s the Mexican government’s policy on illegal aliens in Mexico? “The Mexican government will bar foreigners if they upset "the equilibrium of the national demographics." How's that for racial and ethnic profiling? If outsiders do not enhance the country's "economic or national interests" or are "not found to be physically or mentally healthy," they are not welcome. Illegal entry into the country is equivalent to a felony punishable by two years' imprisonment. Illegal re-entry after deportation is punishable by 10 years' imprisonment. Law enforcement officials at all levels -- by national mandate -- must cooperate to enforce immigration laws, including illegal alien arrests and deportations. A National Population Registry tracks and verifies the identity of every member of the population, who must carry a citizens' identity card. Visitors who do not possess proper documents and identification are subject to arrest as illegal aliens.”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_678974.html

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer: ”In my 28 years of public service, I have made a lot of tough calls. But with a federal government unwilling to secure our border for years and years, Arizona is left with little choice. Imagine a sporting event in which rules have been agreed to for 70 years, but the umpires refuse to enforce those rules. It makes no sense. Although I recognize that Arizona Senate Bill 1070, as amended, is not the entire solution to our illegal immigration problem in Arizona, most people are united in the hope that it will finally inspire the politicians in Washington, D.C., to stop talking and start action now.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=brewer/100505

“Liberals are painting the Arizona bill as “racist” and claiming that it will subject Hispanics to “racial profiling.” Those again are code words whose only purpose is to stir up fear, but the real intent of liberal opposition is plain — let the illegal immigrants stay in America because they have a “right” to be here. If any of you really believe that — if you believe that a “right” to be in America can be conferred by the simple fact of crossing our border — then you have already given up any sense of justice and replaced it with soft-headed appeasement.”

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/opinion/columns/frank/article_55a31552-55a0-11df-b2f2-001cc4c03286.html#user-comment-area

Don't mess with Allah. That's the new, unwritten code in Hollywood following the one-two punch of Islamic extremists' threats against the creators of "South Park" and the failed bombing attempt outside the cartoon’s parent company, Viacom, in New York's Times Square. In the current, supercharged climate, it just isn’t worth endangering the safety of an entire production staff or network by pursuing a storyline that Muslim extremists might find offensive, media executives and writers tell Fox411.com.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/05/07/islam-taboo-topic-tv-wake-south-park-threats-times-square-bomb-scare/

Phyllis Schlafly: Proof that the Tea Partiers and others are on target when they criticize both political parties was supplied by the behavior of the U.S. House on April 29. Demoting all major economic and corruption problems facing our country to the bottom of the agenda, the House devoted a long afternoon and 12 roll-call votes to passing a bill to force U.S. statehood on Puerto Rico. Of course this ploy had to be Nancy Pelosi’s doing, but she made it bipartisan by getting 39 Republicans to vote with her. They walked like lambs to the slaughter, led by (I’ll tactfully omit the appropriate metaphor) Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/22876

Rocker Ted Nugent says it well: “What the Tea Parties stand for.”

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36856

Steve Chapman: “Sarah Palin may hunt moose with a rifle, but when she's out for bigger game, she relies on an unorthodox approach to bring down her quarry: Deprive it of food. "Please, starve the beast!" she recently implored a Tea Party Express rally in Boston. The critter in question is the federal government, which has been expanding like an oil spill in recent years. Palin's idea, a favorite among small-government advocates, is that the best way to shrink Washington is a permanent regimen of low taxes.”

http://reason.com/archives/2010/05/03/how-starving-government-still

“Since resigning from her governorship last July, Sarah Palin hasn't made a false move. This is surprising for someone who is more passionate than cautious and one reputed to be...well, you know, a dummy. Her book tour went exceedingly well. She has received thousands of invitations to speak, notwithstanding her $100,000 price tag. She continues to raise huge sums of money for her sponsors and draw sellout crowds. Her policy announcements have been spot-on, whether delivered in her speeches, interviews, or Facebook posts. Because of her ignominious charge of "death panels" to decry Obamacare, she more than anyone is responsible for the overwhelming majority now opposed to the law….”

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/05/sarah_palin_is_on_a_roll_1.html

Seven reasons not to vote for Democrats

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Seven-reasons-not-to-vote-for-Democrats-92637334.html

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NOTEWORTHY WEBSITES

Great t-shirts. Check out their dog shirts: “Semper Fido”, “Right Wing Attack Dog”, “I Bite Liberals”

http://www.thoseshirts.com/?gclid=CPbvtezls6ECFQEEiQod-RPECQ

Al Franken explains a cartoon to the US Senate. “This is not a "Saturday Night Live" skit. This is the real thing from the Senate floor where the 100 members are paid $174,000 -- each -- for this work. The folks back home must be very proud of the honorable gentleman from Minnesota…”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/05/al-franken-tom-toles-wall-street.html

Read for yourself: The full text of Arizona's controversial illegal immigrant law. “Yes, yes, this may expunge some of the fun of likening Arizona to Germany, the racial profiling allegations and organizing boycotts of boycotters.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/05/full-text-arizona-illegal-immigration-law-jan-brewer.html

Snopes confirms: “Obama appoints two devout Muslims to Homeland Security posts”

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/dhs.asp

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LATE NITE

Leno: Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo and today was Cinco de Dow Jones......Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated by over 80 million Mexicans — and that’s just here in Los Angeles…..The market was so bad today that Goldman Sachs had to lay off three congressmen……Greece has overspent on large social programs, with a national debt so large that they can never pay it back. Thank God that could never happen here ……The United Nations has appointed Iran to sit on the Women’s Rights panel. Also on the panel: Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Brown, Phil Spector, Robert Blake, and chairman, O.J. Simpson.

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WISE WORDS

"The [U.S.] Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals ... it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government ... it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizen's protection against the government."

-Ayn Rand

"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors."

-Joseph Story