Hurricane Katrina

Well, so far Katrina had little effect here in the center of Florida. But not so in South Florida, where I was born and moved from 18 years ago. I'm so thankful we here haven't taken a hit this year, since last year we sat out 3 of them without power for days.

However, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida Panhandle (not again! they already took another shot last month) are very much in danger right now. Katrina is a Cat 5 and will cause some horrendous damage. Our best goes out to everyone in that region.

UPDATE (8/29-Monday at 9:45 am)

Katrina downgraded to Cat 4 (135 mph). Still dangerous, but maybe New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will be spared catastrophic damage.

UPDATE (8/30-Tuesday at 4:30 pm)

Boy, was I wrong in hoping there would be no catastrophic damage. I pity the people of Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama. The next several weeks will be hell for so many of them.

My Birthday

...is today. I'm 54 years old. Yes, I know I'm an old fart. Just wish I didn't feel that way so much. Mrs. Right is so very supportive and hardly mentioned it. We've had a deal for most of our marriage. We barely recognize birthdays and instead just go out for a meal. It's worked so well so far.

MSM Against America?

Well, it too often feels that way. The MainStream Media report all the bad news and hardly any of the good that concerns America. This only helps our enemies. Antimedia at Media Lies has great comments on this, which I wholeheartedly second.

Cindy Sheehan: My only post

Cindy Sheehan's oldest son died in Iraq protecting our freedom and way of life. He is a hero.

Cindy Sheehan was a grieving mother and deserved sympathy and understanding for her loss.

Cindy Sheehan has the constitutional right to say she hates President Bush and that the war her son died for is stupid. Yes, she has that right. No one has ever said otherwise.

Because of the sacrifice of her son and so many others throughout our history, I have the right to say:

Cindy Sheehan is at best demented; she is a liar; she is wrong; she is aligned and allied with leftists and other America-haters; her grief has turned to selfish self-promotion; she is a traitor to her son's memory and his and others heroic efforts.

Katherine Harris for Senator...Sure, Why Not?

I have the greatest respect for Katherine Harris. She took a lot of crap from Florida Democrats just because she had to follow Florida law in the 2000 election. As Florida's Secretary of State, she was right and she was brave. When she ran for Congress in 2002, my only problem with her election was that I couldn't vote for her.

Well, now she wants Bill Nelson's senate seat. I wish she would wait a couple of more years in order to get more seasoned in Congress before shooting for higher office, but now is her best chance since the next Florida senate race is 2010. So, I say, sure...why not now? She's not a strong conservative, but she's not a Democrat or liberal (but I repeat myself). And Bill Nelson must go.

The linked article concerns former Florida congressman Joe Scarborough's possible bid for the same seat. I like Scarborough, but he's the one who retired from Congress voluntarily. Apparently he was tired of the day to day politics after serving 4 terms and term limited himself ( a promise I think he made). I respect that, but he's had opportunities since then to return. Now it should be someone else's turn. He's a worthy and needed conservative voice in the media and should stay there.

There's been a lot of blather about how divisive a Harris campaign would be because the Democrats would be out for blood because they can't forget the 2000 election. Well, screw that! The Democrats have proven themselves to be scum in 2000 and every election since. They will not stop just because Harris is not a candidate. And remember, Democrats have waved that bloody shirt in 2002 and 2004 and LOST. A majority of us in Florida remember that unethical behavior of the national Democrats in 2000 and just how willing the Florida Dems were to support and condone that behavior. That's why Gov. Jeb Bush soundly beat that big ol' gal Janet Reno in 2002 and Mel Martinez (also not a conservative) became Senator in 2004. The Dems have nothing new now and their phony indignation was already tired and tiring in 2004.

So, Katherine Harris, I support you in this run. I wish you were more conservative, but you deserve your chance.

CAIR = Terrorists (?)

Above link is from GOP Vixen and concerns the Council on American-Islamic Relations. You know, that Muslim group who responds to Muslim terrorism by crying crocodile tears about profiling Muslims. When they do bother to condemn terrorism, it's always with a qualifier, such as the need to understand why terrorists do such things. (You know, the Jews!)

Maybe CAIR isn't a terrorists organization, but a linked article noted that three CAIR officials have been convicted of terror-related crimes. But of course, that doesn't mean the whole group are terrorists. Yeah, and the Mafia was only a Italian social club.

When Political Correctness Strikes...the Seminoles

According the the Orlando Sentinel: "The NCAA on Friday took its strongest stance yet against American Indian mascots and imagery, announcing that 18 schools -- including Florida State -- cannot host postseason competition as long as their current names and logos are in place. They must also cover up or remove references to those logos when traveling to NCAA championships."

The Florida State University Seminoles are now un-PC. Madness has again struck sports. Well, not sports, really, but the schmucks within a regulatory organization. These are the same idiots who infest our schools and universities.

UPDATE (9/04/05)
I know this is several days old now, but the FSU Seminoles triumphed over the NCAA, which has backed down from their childish position. Okay, so they are still childish, only less so now.

And the Florida Guardianship Award goes to....Michael Schiavo

Thanks to The Corner for reminding me of this story about the Florida State Guardianship Association honoring Michael Schiavo.

My first posts on this blog concerned the Terri Schiavo travesty. I believe in the right to die, but I felt (and still do) that this had become a conspiracy to allow a "husband" to murder his wife. And I was sure then, and still more so now, that Michael Schiavo was a "piece of crap."

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "...Michael Schiavo was welcomed as a hero Friday by an organization whose members make end-of-life decisions for people unable to make them for themselves." AND "But, group members said, Michael Schiavo's commitment to honoring his wife's wishes in the face of public scrutiny and enmity embodied the professionalism and compassion with which court-appointed guardians quietly carry out their duties every day."

Okay, next I expect the Florida Medical Assn to honor Dr. Mengele. I mean, there was a man who embodied Nazi medical ethics and professionalism. Come to think, ol' Doc Mengele was an officially appointed guardian of his "patients" too. (Note to lefties: this is how you're supposed to apply a Nazi smear. You know, make it pertinent and connected.)

Bill Clinton, you're an ass...please go away

Bill Clinton is against Georgia requiring picture ID in order to vote, according the linked Tallahassee Democrat news article. Why you ask? Well, because: "They're cutting lots of folks out of that vote," said Clinton, a guest on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio show.

Not because of the massive voter fraud that Democrats count on. No, it's because: Critics call it the most restrictive in the nation and fear it will unfairly impact the elderly, the poor and minorities.

BJ was an inconsequential governor of Arkansas, he was a horrible president and he's a scumbag as a former president. Bill Clinton, please go away. Yes, go away and stay away.

Note: I originally attributed this stupidity to Jimmy Carter, but have corrected this post. Just got confused: can't tell the scumbag Clinton from nutjob Carter, I guess.

I'm Against the (Rev ?) Fred Phelps

Okay, it's my turn to take my own advice I give Muslims.

Since I'm often mistaken for a Christian (you know-white, male, southern, conservative, etc.) let me take this opportunity to say: "Fred Phelps and the scum who support him are not true Christians and do not represent me in any way! Burn in Hell, all of you!"

The above link from GayandRight and reports on a protest of a military funeral by these scum.

"The first sin was being a part of this military. If this young man had a clue and any fear of God, he would have run, and not walked, from this military," said protester Shirley Phelps-Roper. "Who would serve a nation that is godless and has flipped off, defiantly defied, defiantly flipped off, the Lord their God?" One protester had an American flag tied to his belt that draped to the ground. He was holding a sign that read, "Thank God For IEDs," which are explosive devices used by insurgents to blow up military convoys. Protesters said America has ignored the word of God, and those who defend the nation must pay a price.

Many gay bloggers have had problems with the (Reverend?) Phelps because he is very anti-gay. He is also a fringe figure that can easily be ignored by most people. But the man is wrong and he and his supporters are potentially dangerous and must be called for what they are-UnChristians. So please go away, drink some Kool-Aid and await the second coming. I think you bastards will be very surprised about your "reward."

Armed Forces in Iraq-Bless 'em All (and the ones left behind)

The linked AP story is about a Florida Marine killed in Iraq, one of so many that have died over the past few days. I have no comments on this because the deaths are cause for sadness. Except they aren't a tragedy since I believe the cause they died for is just.

But even that's not my point.

I work with a young married woman whose husband is in Iraq. He's a Marine in the active reserves who was called up in March. I listen to her trying to be so brave after hearing such news of death and injury. She jumps when her cell phone rings, because it could be bad news. Her husband believes in the mission and so does she. But she's the one who can't sleep for the worry. Bless her, and him, and all who serve. And all who wait for the ones who serve.

Justice-This is how we do things in Florida

In Florida, if a man kills his wife, he gets found guilty and sentenced to death. Per the AP story, a Panama City (Florida) man "...angry with his wife because she nagged him to cuddle after sex while he wanted to watch sports on television has been sentenced to death for killing her with a claw hammer. Christopher Offord, 30, received the sentence Wednesday from Circuit Judge Dedee Costello, who said the brutality of the killing outweighed any mental health issues."

The nutjob had a history of mental illness, but this wasn't a parking ticket. He knew what he did. Now, here's the kicker...the man confessed to what he did! This was just the required sentencing phase. And he thought he deserved death. "Prison isn't the issue," he said in June during a jailhouse interview with The News Herald of Panama City. "I figured I killed her so I deserve to die."

Well, of course he deserved a ride on 'ol Sparky, the bastard, but he'll get to go out peacefully with a lethal injection. No matter, we try 'em and fry 'em here in Florida. Well, we used to.

The Sheik of Araby...from Florida?

Okay, so he's not a sheik in Arabia, but Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn is a sheik in Iraq. And he's from Fort Walton Beach in the Florida panhandle. Local boy makes good...and he's only 25 years old. Let's see, what's after sheik? Link is from Instapundit.

Florida Cracker's take on it? "Just more evidence that if you want things done right, you send a Florida boy."