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[12/30/05 Friday]

[Carol Platt Liebau - editorial director CaliforniaRepublic.org] 12:03 am [permalink]
Hollywood Stars Shining Much Less Brightly Here is one of the most outrageous stories of recent memory (Wesley Pruden comments here).

Apparently, Wayne Newton and Robin Williams are having a hard time lining up Hollywood "talent" to go to Iraq to entertain the troops -- the troops, mind you, that provide them with the freedom to make huge sums of money for engaging in a pleasant occupation under pleasant conditions (resulting, all too often, in a trashy or silly product). (As you may recall, I've been critical of Hollywood's response to the War on Terror, generally).

Now, celebrities are afraid, so it seems, that deigning to entertain the troops will be construed as an endorsement of the war, and -- heavens! -- that wouldn't do at all. Might be bad for the career, or result in some odd glances at the fashionable cocktail parties.

Barbara Streisand, Alec Baldwin and all the rest of the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots needn't waste any of our time suggesting that they "support" the troops, if not the President. Obviously, they don't. If they did, they and the rest of the "stars" could stand a little inconvenience, or even a little threat to their trainer-toned (or not, in the case of Baldwin & Streisand) behinds.

Kudos to Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, country singers Mark Wills, Craig Morgan and Keni Thomas -- and Drew Carey, rock musician Henry Rollins, Gary Sinise, comedian Tom Green and model and Fox sports commentator Leeann Tweeden.

And, yes, kudos to Al Franken. He may be an idiot, but he's willing to go entertain the troops -- which is a lot more than one can say for most of his brethren on the left. [Liebau Blog]

[12/29/05 Thursday]

[Hugh Hewitt - senior columnist] 12:03 am [permalink]
The Lost, Very Lost Angeles Times: Fake But Accurate Again! From Monday's front page story in the Los Angeles Times, "Wolves Thrive but Animosity Keeps Pace":

But now, as the Fish and Wildlife Service ponders a delisting plan that would turn over management of the wolves to the states, federal officials are balking at plans they fear would allow hunters to exterminate whole packs.

In Wyoming, for example, Gov. Dave Freudenthal last April decreed that the Endangered Species Act is no longer in force and that the state "now considers the wolf as a federal dog," unworthy of protection. The governor's declaration reflects the views of hunters and ranchers that the wolves are decimating elk herds and devouring cattle and sheep. Some rural residents say they fear that wolves may prey on children.Idaho, home to the largest population of wolves in the West, has been the least welcoming. Officials say hundreds of wolves have been shot, in violation of federal law. A recent spate of poisonings has not only killed wolves, but dozens of ranch dogs and family pets that ingested pesticide-laced meatballs left along wildlife trails, state wildlife managers say.

No, Gov. Dave Freudenthal really didn't tell the federal government to go to hell or say that wolves are "federal dogs" in Wyoming, despite what a major national newspaper told its readers Tuesday.

"Oh, boy, that never happened," the governor's press secretary, Lara Azar, said Tuesday afternoon.

What started out as a bogus news release written as an April Fool's joke by Afton outfitter Maury Jones has turned up as fact in the media -- unfortunately, for the second time, according to Azar.

And from the Times?

Los Angeles Times deputy metro editor David Lauter called the error unfortunate. "We hate when this kind of thing happens, and we correct it as quickly as we can," he said.

"The reporter saw it on the Internet and had talked to the governor in the past, so she was familiar enough with the way he talks and writes that she thought it sounded authentic and she didn't check, which she should have," Lauter said.

[12/28/05 Wednesday]

[Mediacrity] 12:04 am [permalink]
Comic Relief at the L.A. Times In what appears to be a light-hearted end-of-the-year prank on its readers, the Los Angeles Times yesterday published an op-ed article on how reporters in the Middle East aren't "telling it like it is." That's not funny. What's funny was the choice of author: Robert Fisk!

Why did the clowns at the LA Times editorial page give a forum to Fisk's predictable, putrid, phoned-in rant? Oops! I just answered my question. [go to Mediacrity blog]

[12/27/05 Tuesday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:01am [permalink]
Brokeback Border Romances betweenborder patrol agents and illegal immigrants (Nicholas Riccardi, LAT).[visit Local Liberty Blog]

[12/23/05 Friday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:01am [permalink]
Weintraub on McClintock Property Rights Amendment Dan Weintraub wonders whether the McClintock amendment might become California and the nation's new Proposition 13. See our property rights and redevelopment files for some background. - But why circulate two petitions at the same time? The one effort would seem to undermine the other. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[12/22/05 Thursday]

[Carol Platt Liebau - editorial director CaliforniaRepublic.org] 12:03 am [permalink]
The Dems' Impeachment List Barbara Boxer is apparently seeking counsel on whether President Bush has committed an "impeachable offense" by authorizing warrantless electronic surveillance of those with ties to Al Qaeda for national security purposes.

It's always a good thing when Barbara Boxer seeks guidance, because so far, there's been scanty evidence that she can figure out anything on her own.

The problem is that she's listening to moonbats like John Dean, who, having been a vocal critic of the Iraq war and the President -- aside from his own illegal behavior -- is hardly a reliable guide on anything. Even his calls for the President's impeachment are not new . . . and he's at it again.

Boxer, Dean and their ilk demonstrate just how little they care about the war on terror. Just imagine how it would encourage, delight, embolden and inspire Al Qaeda to see President Bush impeached for his efforts to deter their attacks, and distracted by the political garbage emanating from their willing handmaidens on the left!

I say to the Democrats: Go for it -- impeach Bush, and see how the public feels about the President's efforts to keep them from being attacked, vs. your efforts to protect the potential attackers. While you're at it, don't forget to impeach Carter ("Attorney General is authorized to approve electronic surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence information without a court order"); Reagan (who also signed an executive order allowing warrantless searches of "a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power"), and, of course, Clinton.

And in the impeachment articles, don't forget every legislator or judge who allowed the surveillance to go forward while believing it to be illegal (including the grandstanding Clinton appointee who now finds it prudent to resign from the FISA panel), who would also merit impeachment, having acted as accessories to the President's alleged lawbreaking.

Indeed, keeping silent in the face of the supposed rampant illegality is itself a failure of a senator or judge's oath to protect and defend the Constitution; those who attempt to escape blame by asserting that they remained silent in the face of the alleged illegal acts for "national security reasons" only emphasize the lack of judgment and total disregard for national security that The New York Times -- and the official who leaked to it -- displayed in publishing the story in the first place. [Liebau Blog]

[12/21/05 Wednesday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:01am [permalink]
Illegal Immigration and Crime Episodes like this drive us crazy and fill us with admiration at smart police work (H.G. Reza, LAT). An illegal immigrant was deported to Mexico just after forensic evidence pointed to him as the murderer of an elderly Santa Ana couple. But a smart detective figured he would be back to visit his family. They caught him 30 minutes after setting up the surveillance.

Vietnamese immigrants give $1 million to Coastline Community College (Mai Tran, LAT). Thank goodness it wasn't to UCI. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[12/20/05 Tuesday]

[12/20/05 Tuesday]

[Nick Winter-Found in the ebag from FIRE] 12:02 am [permalink]
Cal State San Bernardino Spikes Christian Student Group Nationwide Attacks on Campus Religious Organizations Continue California State University at San Bernardino (CSUSB) has refused to recognize a Christian student organization for requiring its members to live according to the group's religious faith. The Christian Student Association (CSA) at CSUSB contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help after the university said that the group's statements on faith and sexual morality were “"not permissible."”

"Time after time, college administrators have robbed students of their fundamental freedoms of association and religion, so CSA's situation sadly comes as no surprise,"” remarked FIRE Director of Legal and Public Advocacy Greg Lukianoff. “"CSUSB, like so many other universities, is misusing nondiscrimination policies to tell Christian students that they cannot associate based upon the dictates of their faith."”

[12/19/05 Monday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:01am [permalink]
Scientology's Top Gun How the Church of Scientology works on a Hollywood star (Claire Hoffman and Kim Christensen, LAT). Among the others they've converted: John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis, Isaac Hayes, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Beck and Chick Corea. -- Could Intelligent Design ever flourish in Hollywood? Dumb question, sorry I asked. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[12/15/05 Thursday]

[in the ebag - Chuck DeVore - Assemblymember, columnist] 12:02 am [permalink]
DeVore v, PUC: Assemblymember DeVore is not pleased with the unelected Utilities Commission's latest agenda-driven vote...

President Michael Peevey
California Public Utilities Commission

Dear Mr. Peevey:

It is my understanding that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) plans to implement a regulation tomorrow (12/15) that would allow for $3.2 billion dollars of ratepayer money to be used to subsidize rooftop photovoltaic solar power systems. This letter serves to express my disapproval. The impact of this decision will serve to exclude the development of future technology; it is undemocratic, and wholly unethical. Let me explain.

The PUC’s decision to move forward with this specific type of technology excludes the possibility of using a variety of previously identified technologies that could be obtained through competitive free market forces. Previous legislation has proven that it is the legislature’s goal to encourage the innovation of renewable energy that is procured based on the lowest cost regardless of technology.

The California Legislature tried and failed this year to do legislatively what the PUC, an unelected regulatory body, is planning to do through regulation. I have read the grant of authority statutes that the PUC is using to justify this decision and find them vague at best. I do not believe it was the Legislature’s goal to give the PUC such sweeping authority as you are preparing to exercise on Thursday.

Further, the effect this decision will have on all but the wealthiest Californians makes this proposed shifting of ratepayer resources from the middle class and poor to almost exclusively the rich especially troublesome. It is the low to middle class who will shoulder the cost of the rising rates used to subsidize the