The New York Times > New York Region > Clinton Seeking Shared Ground Over Abortions: "Clinton Seeking Shared Ground Over Abortions"
The Democrats remind me of some of the clients I have had in the past. I am a lawyer. These clients would ask me, with all sincerity, to simply explain in detail with all of my persuasive powers to the people on the other side of the case why they, my clients, were right, and why the people to whom they were opposed were wrong. My clients were often absolutely convinced that my eloquence could prevail and save everybody a lot of money.
Well, 99.9 percent of the time my clients who believe that mere persuasion can prevail are wrong.
Hillary Clinton is not seeking common ground on the abortion debate. She is seeking to persuade people with whom she has deep and fundamental disagreements that the disagreements aren't important and that she is really, after all, right.
It didn't work in the last election and, God Willing, it won't work in the next one either.
One of the reasons George Bush won and John Kerry lost is that George Bush DID stake out the middle ground. And there is, unbelievably enough, a middle ground. Without abandoning his oppostion to all abortions, Bush nevertheless promised not to try to accomplish his goals without a democratic vote of the people. Secondly he picked an issue on which there is a high level of agreement among the American people-- partial birth abortion.
A year ago on this date, I was privileged to be present when my first grandchild was born, to stare in awe and wonder at that complete and fully formed human being who could already grasp my finger.
At this time, 5:06 AM on January 26,2004, if the partial birth abortion advocates had there way, it would have been legal for some doctor, with proper authorizations, to kill him. All because he was not completely out of his mother's womb until 6:35 AM. The Democratic die hards, the ones who accuse us conservatives of being ignorant boobs who do not believe in science, refuse to acknowledge that there is a living human being in that womb. The people who have so much sympathy for the murdering fanatic Al Zaqari have no sympathy for an innocent child whose only crime is to be not wanted.
My grandson was and is very much wanted and loved. But what about the other babies. Do they have, very simply, a right to continue living if they don't die on their own?
Bush understood that a very high percentage of the American people are very certain that late term abortions are wrong. They may not be sure exactly where the line should be drawn, but they know it should be drawn somewhere before 6 months gestation.
The Democratic party which is in thrall to NARAL and Planned Parenthood doesn't get it. You can SAY anything you want. But we learned a long time ago not to look at what people say but at what they do.
So here it is Hillary. How are you going to vote the next time an abortion issue comes up on the senate floor?
The last time you had a chance to do the right thing you voted against it.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
These changes are Neede in California too!
The Seattle Times: Opinion: A citizens' revolution for clean elections, new media: "For example: requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration; requiring every voter to show both a photo ID and a pulse; and requiring that an election can be certified only if the number of votes equals the number of voters."
Left Wing Boondoggles
Johns Hopkins Magazine: "n October 2003, conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives prompted a hearing on 10 research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grants included studies of Asian sex workers in San Francisco and women's responses to pornography, and some in Congress wanted to know why taxpayers' money was paying for that sort of thing. After Rep. Michael Ferguson (R-N.J.) asked NIH for information on the supposed public benefits of the 10 studies, an NIH staff member contacted the House Energy and Commerce Committee, co-sponsor of the hearing, and requested a list of the grants in question.
That staff member got back more than expected: not summaries of 10 projects, but page after page of NIH grants, dozens of them, all seemingly listed because the research involved prostitution, substance abuse, homosexuality, or sexually transmitted diseases. By mistake, someone on Energy and Commerce had revealed a list that was making the rounds of Republican members of Congress, a list of 181 NIH-funded researchers whose studies had been targeted by a conservative religious lobbying group, the Traditional Values Coalition."
That staff member got back more than expected: not summaries of 10 projects, but page after page of NIH grants, dozens of them, all seemingly listed because the research involved prostitution, substance abuse, homosexuality, or sexually transmitted diseases. By mistake, someone on Energy and Commerce had revealed a list that was making the rounds of Republican members of Congress, a list of 181 NIH-funded researchers whose studies had been targeted by a conservative religious lobbying group, the Traditional Values Coalition."
Monday, January 17, 2005
What's Wrong With Our Culture Part 2005
If you are a USC fan, and I am, you were pretty happy to hear that Matt Leinart decided to come back and play for one more season. But here is a guy who thinks it was a stupid decision.
This column is an example of how our values have been turned upside down. Football is fun. Great football players, like Leinart, can become very rich at a very young age. All true. But it is still only a game. Really. Only a game. Even most USC fans know that. We didn't go to USC because they have a great football team. Actually, for many of us, not including myself, when we went to USC, they didn't have a great football team. So its a lot of fun and we watch the games and we cheer, but in our hearts we know it is not as important as, say, the war in Iraq.
Football is just a game. The war in Iraq-- that's real. That's our nation's, culture's, world's future, hanging in the balance. So, many of us are cheered by Leinart's decision because we imagine and hope that loyalty and friends and promises made are more important to him than money. He is, of course, eligible for the NCAA's insurance program for guys like him who have great professional sports potential. He can still be financially comfortable even if he is injured. So his choice was stay with your friends, finish out your education and take a chance that you will lose the NFL millions but still have a financial cushion or grab the brass ring while you can even if it means leaving the people who gave you this opportunity before your time with them was completed.
He chose the former and we are heartened by his loyalty.
I don't know him at all, but I suspect that Matt Leinart is a guy who doesn't think Pat Tillman was a fool. As for the writer of this story, well. . . . one wonders. But that sort of values is what we have come to expect from MSNBC.
MSNBC - Leinart passed up a great NFL opportunity: "I know that playing football in college is special, and he wasn't ready for the experience to end. It isn’t always easy to leave a comfortable situation for an uncertain one.
Leinart wrestled with the pros and cons for weeks. He sought counsel from family members, coaches, former USC players and current NFL stars. Even though he’s much more fortunate than most, it must have been agonizing for a young man of 21.
But more agonizing will be when Leinart wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes he made the wrong choice."
This column is an example of how our values have been turned upside down. Football is fun. Great football players, like Leinart, can become very rich at a very young age. All true. But it is still only a game. Really. Only a game. Even most USC fans know that. We didn't go to USC because they have a great football team. Actually, for many of us, not including myself, when we went to USC, they didn't have a great football team. So its a lot of fun and we watch the games and we cheer, but in our hearts we know it is not as important as, say, the war in Iraq.
Football is just a game. The war in Iraq-- that's real. That's our nation's, culture's, world's future, hanging in the balance. So, many of us are cheered by Leinart's decision because we imagine and hope that loyalty and friends and promises made are more important to him than money. He is, of course, eligible for the NCAA's insurance program for guys like him who have great professional sports potential. He can still be financially comfortable even if he is injured. So his choice was stay with your friends, finish out your education and take a chance that you will lose the NFL millions but still have a financial cushion or grab the brass ring while you can even if it means leaving the people who gave you this opportunity before your time with them was completed.
He chose the former and we are heartened by his loyalty.
I don't know him at all, but I suspect that Matt Leinart is a guy who doesn't think Pat Tillman was a fool. As for the writer of this story, well. . . . one wonders. But that sort of values is what we have come to expect from MSNBC.
MSNBC - Leinart passed up a great NFL opportunity: "I know that playing football in college is special, and he wasn't ready for the experience to end. It isn’t always easy to leave a comfortable situation for an uncertain one.
Leinart wrestled with the pros and cons for weeks. He sought counsel from family members, coaches, former USC players and current NFL stars. Even though he’s much more fortunate than most, it must have been agonizing for a young man of 21.
But more agonizing will be when Leinart wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes he made the wrong choice."
Why the Democrats Still Don't get it
The liberal pundits are the brains of the Democratic establishment. Here is a very long article by one who was trying to understand why all those red state people voted for Bush. But in this little quote he reveals his own blindness. (Biblical quote I can't give chapter and verse: There is none so blind as he who will not see.) Here, the reporter repeats the election lie as if he really believes the truth of it. Sure Kerry said the things reported. What he did was always vote against a ban on even partial birth abortion and promise the gay establishment that judges who believe in equal rights for gays would be appointed while he, if elected president, would stay out of it. Now, what really must bother these blue pundits is that red state voters are not nearly as stupid as liberal news reporters wish they were. They don't believe what politicians say, they believe what they do. So when it comes to honesty and accuracy in reporter I think the prize here goes to the lady being interviewed, not the reporter.
The Red Sea (washingtonpost.com): "She was too polite to say, in so many words, that she felt John Kerry was a man of bad morals. Instead, she put it this way: 'When Kerry said he was for abortion and one-sex marriages, I just couldn't see our country being led by someone like that.'
Later, I double-checked what Kerry had said on those subjects. During his campaign, he opposed same-sex marriage and said that abortion was a private matter. But Joyce Smith heard it the way she heard it, and voted the way she voted."
The Red Sea (washingtonpost.com): "She was too polite to say, in so many words, that she felt John Kerry was a man of bad morals. Instead, she put it this way: 'When Kerry said he was for abortion and one-sex marriages, I just couldn't see our country being led by someone like that.'
Later, I double-checked what Kerry had said on those subjects. During his campaign, he opposed same-sex marriage and said that abortion was a private matter. But Joyce Smith heard it the way she heard it, and voted the way she voted."
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Sacrificing Security for Political Gain
Having just lost a national election and numerous state and congressional offices, the Democrats seemed determined to prove that they are the party of appeasement and defeat. "If there is something we can do to make Bush look bad, let's do it" they seem to say. "if it makes America look bad even better".
The White House needs to stop caving in to these tactics. No more apologies. OpinionJournal - Featured Article: "So far, the White House has done a perfectly awful job of explaining this. And it now seems to be making the mistake of trying to appease the Gonzales critics with a modest mea culpa for 'over-broad' internal discussions. This retreat began last year with its attempt to distance itself from a legal memo written by some very fine lawyers who were doing nothing more than exploring America's options for defending itself. Predictably, this only emboldened the critics and opportunists, and it won't surprise us to see even Republicans of the McCain-Hagel stripe seize the chance to show their 'independence' before this is all over.
The better alternative is for Mr. Gonzales to go on offense and defend his entirely defensible actions. What the other side is fundamentally asserting is that aggressive interrogations are impermissible under any circumstances and to even contemplate them is to 'set the tone' for torture. This is dangerous both to American security and liberty.
"
The White House needs to stop caving in to these tactics. No more apologies. OpinionJournal - Featured Article: "So far, the White House has done a perfectly awful job of explaining this. And it now seems to be making the mistake of trying to appease the Gonzales critics with a modest mea culpa for 'over-broad' internal discussions. This retreat began last year with its attempt to distance itself from a legal memo written by some very fine lawyers who were doing nothing more than exploring America's options for defending itself. Predictably, this only emboldened the critics and opportunists, and it won't surprise us to see even Republicans of the McCain-Hagel stripe seize the chance to show their 'independence' before this is all over.
The better alternative is for Mr. Gonzales to go on offense and defend his entirely defensible actions. What the other side is fundamentally asserting is that aggressive interrogations are impermissible under any circumstances and to even contemplate them is to 'set the tone' for torture. This is dangerous both to American security and liberty.
"
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat
Unbeknownst to many, the above is USC's motto, as stated on their logo. It means, the palm to him who has earned it. Hey, what can I say. I love Matt Leinart. I love Pete Carroll. I love all those Trojan Boys. I am mighty proud to be a Trojan.
The last year has been , in some ways, the best year of my life. In order of importance ( and chronological order too) The most beautiful boy in the world became my grandson, George Bush was re-elected, and USC , hmm what IS the appropriate word, trounced, naw-- too tame-- humiliated?-- too mean--demolished?-- better--dominated?-- too kinky. Hey we won and we won good and I don't want to ever hear again about the Trojans being overrated. Life is good.
The last year has been , in some ways, the best year of my life. In order of importance ( and chronological order too) The most beautiful boy in the world became my grandson, George Bush was re-elected, and USC , hmm what IS the appropriate word, trounced, naw-- too tame-- humiliated?-- too mean--demolished?-- better--dominated?-- too kinky. Hey we won and we won good and I don't want to ever hear again about the Trojans being overrated. Life is good.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Can you say Blackhawk Down?
Yahoo! News - Somalia Seeking Aid for 50,000 Victims
: "Some 24 countries, including the United States, have pledged to send relief supplies to Somalia, but nothing has arrived on the ground, said Somali presidential spokesman Yusuf Mohamed Ismail. He said survivors urgently need help after losing their homes and livelihoods.
Hmm, I guess it is not really a good idea to bite the hands that fed you.
'
Sunday, January 02, 2005
.ceneus.blog: A Silent New Year
Many people have had the same thought as ceneus. Not the tsunami, but the loss of life, is a result of the disunity of the fighting and politics that became more important than saving lives in this reason. If the warning system had been in place and the warnings heeded, the loss of life would have been so much less.
Here ceneus sees the silver lining to this dark cloud. Suddenly all the differences for which people were killing each other seem to be things that can be worked out. Let us hope that that thought does not go away as the long work of rebuilding begins.
.ceneus.blog: A Silent New Year: "As the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. And I believe that it was the call for unity that brought this to us. Today we have found it, as millions of us stand together as one, grieving at the loss of our fellow citizens and neighbors. We have broken the chains of hostility, we have awakened from a long sleep and we have begun to feel the need of amity. All these years we celebrated the New Year to repeat the same old story over and over again. But with no celebration what so ever, the dawn of this New Year will bring hope to our country that will change us in a way far more than we could think of. A change that we have been yearning for all along.
These sacrifices were made not to be forgotten or wasted. We shall learn our lessons and make them count. It's our hope for the next and coming years.
May you all have a peaceful and prosperous New Year!"
Here ceneus sees the silver lining to this dark cloud. Suddenly all the differences for which people were killing each other seem to be things that can be worked out. Let us hope that that thought does not go away as the long work of rebuilding begins.
.ceneus.blog: A Silent New Year: "As the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. And I believe that it was the call for unity that brought this to us. Today we have found it, as millions of us stand together as one, grieving at the loss of our fellow citizens and neighbors. We have broken the chains of hostility, we have awakened from a long sleep and we have begun to feel the need of amity. All these years we celebrated the New Year to repeat the same old story over and over again. But with no celebration what so ever, the dawn of this New Year will bring hope to our country that will change us in a way far more than we could think of. A change that we have been yearning for all along.
These sacrifices were made not to be forgotten or wasted. We shall learn our lessons and make them count. It's our hope for the next and coming years.
May you all have a peaceful and prosperous New Year!"
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