A Motive Behind Everything

Friday, October 29, 2004

From NBC5:

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Katherine Zellner, the attorney representing Kevin Fox, said on Wednesday that she believes the timing of Fox's arrest was politically motivated, with the Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak wanting to make a "big arrest" in the midst of a tight race in Will County.

My, how everything is politically motivated. How dare the prosecutor arrest a suspected child rapist/murderer "in the midst of a tight race." Damn prosecutors only thinking about themselves.

In related news, the folks at Things that make ya go..."What tha?!?!" have picked up on the story from my site and are commenting appropriately.

Unspeakably Disgusting

Thursday, October 28, 2004

While brining up a story like this is never pleasant, it's important to be continually reminded of the scum that exists our society. From the Chicago Sun-Times:

She was sexually assaulted, her arms and mouth bound with duct tape, then 3-year-old Riley Fox was dumped alive into a secluded creek and left to drown, Will County authorities said Wednesday.

Her attacker was her 27-year-old father, Kevin Fox, who was arrested earlier in the day after allegedly giving a videotaped statement implicating himself, officials said during a news conference. He is expected to be formally charged today with assaulting and murdering his youngest child.

Anyone who doesn't believe that this piece of white-trash deserves the death penalty upon conviction is encouraged to e-mail me with their best defense. I promise I won't go too hard on whomever takes up the challenge.

Another Zinger

As usual, I can always depend on Ann Coulter to give me a Quote of the Day on demand. From her most recent column:

White liberals have been indulging their fantasies of violence against conservatives lately – physically attacking conservatives, ransacking Bush-Cheney headquarters (though not any NRA headquarters, I note).

It would be interesting to find out if any NRA headquarters has ever been the target of vandalism. Get the point?

Alright Already, You Guys Won

As hard as this is to do (go Yankees! sob…) I must congratulate the Boston Red Sox for finally winning the Big One that took 86 years to do - since it last won the World Series in a pre-Penicillin era. I personally think Major League Baseball should test Johnny Damon's hair for illegal performance enhancing substances. That guy single-handedly dominated the Yankees. It's got to be the hair. Of course the guys at Power Line couldn't resist making their congratulations post a political one, pointing out that pitcher Curt Schilling is a Bush fan.

Shoutouts

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Thanks to all who link to Aggressive-Voice Daily, most recently Niftyfingers and Ninja Monkeys…especially Ninja Monkeys for listing me under "Blogs That Kick Ass".

It's true, you know.

Mailbag: More on Wolves

barking dingo offers this:

What about the fact the Porter Goss, the man appointed by Bush to head the CIA, called for a reduction (note I said "reduction" and not "slashed") three times bigger than the one called for by the "liberals." You have to admit the ad is kind of hypocritical.

You must be talking about this, and yes, nine years ago he proposed steeper budget cuts than Kerry, but that was before he was appointed head of the CIA, a position that doesn't have any power over budget cuts unlike his previous title of congressman.

But I see what you're getting at and perhaps there's a bit of hypocrisy at play, but like I said political ads are designed to be convincing and effective. That they're often dirty is just part of the game.

Rebuttal to Wolves

A reader pointed me to this Slate article that offers a rebuttal to Wolves, which I have dubbed the "coolest ad of the election season."

The author, Fred Kaplan, defends Kerry against the ad's claim that he voted to "slash" intelligence spending. Notice however that Mr. Kaplan does indeed conceded that over the years Kerry has voted to cut the intelligence budget, just not all at once the way the ad would have you believe and that it's not fair to say that Kerry "slashed" it. Mr. Kaplan also points out that while the ad mentions "liberals in Congress" responsible for "slashing" the budget, the sponsor of the Senate amendment was Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania. Right, but calling Arlen Specter a Republican is like calling Zell Miller a Democrat.

Is the ad misleading? Maybe, but no one ever said political ads were supposed to be fair. I still think it's a fair commercial and will have an impact on the undecided voters who are tired of the Michael Moore-types downplaying the threat of terrorism. Even if Kerry has a plan to keep America safe, he is not being helped by the many Hollywood liberals and celebrities preaching the "You can't hug with nuclear arms" line.

Wolves

So far the coolest TV ad of the election season is this brand new one from Team Bush, titled Wolves. The ad shows an entire pack of them resting in a forest prepared to strike as a deep-toned female voice warns that we will all be sheep under a Kerry administration. Agree with it or not, you can't deny its effectiveness and I believe it will have an impact on some undecided voters. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris compares Wolves to the infamous "Daisy" commercial aired by Team LBJ in 1964.

Vote for Change….Or Die!

Let me make it clear to prevent further confusion that I do not officially endorse President Bush, but if I were to give him some great advice for when he wins next week, it would be to play the Vote for Change - People Have the Power song at his second-term inauguration - out of sheer spite the way Truman did when he lifted the infamous Chicago Daily Tribune newspaper that read: DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN.

The Vote for Change tour is a coalition of high profile celebrities crammed onto one stage trying to -- as the cliché goes -- make a difference. The artists include: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Bonnie Raitt, Bright Eyes, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab For Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Jurassic 5, Keb' Mo', Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., and My Morning Jacket.

Together they smile, clap, sing and preach to an enthusiastic arena audience of Kerry supporters and Bush-haters, because there is nothing more important to these people than to get a president out of office who had the audacity over the last four years to try to ensure the safety of Americans by fighting a costly war on terrorism.

From Bruce Springsteen's official website:

We remain a land of great promise but we need to move America towards the fulfillment of the promises that she has made; economic justice, civil rights, protection of the environment, a living wage, respect for others, and humility in exercising our power at home and around the world. These are not impossible ideals, they are achievable goals with a strong leadership and the will of a vigilant and informed American people. I believe that Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards understand these important issues and are prepared to help our country move forward.

So there isn't enough economic justice in this country for these multimillion-dollar mansion-dwellers but apparently the living wage is suitable enough under President Bush to charge us average people a whopping $100 per ticket to attend Vote for Change.

Nowhere in Mr. Springsteen's list of "promises" is homeland defense and protection from terrorism; issues far more pressing in the short-term than Hummer pollution.

War Thoughts From Last Year

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Big hat tip to LewRockwell.com for sending more than two thousand of its readers to an old article of mine on how we treat the deceased soldiers of the Iraq war, via this page. Rockwell is a great read for the libertarian-minded; we could use a few more of them.

Love Those Liberal Celebrities

President Bush's re-election can't come soon enough as it has been nothing but constant garbage spewing from the idiot Left these past few months. Here's the latest from everyone's favorite entertainer, Cher:

All the gay guys, all my friends, all my gay friends, you guys, you have got to vote, all right, because it will only be a matter of time before you guys will be so screwed, I cannot tell you, because, you know, the people like in the very right wing of this party of these Republicans, the very, very right wing, the Jerry Falwell element, you know, if they get any more power, you guys will be living in some state, you know, by yourselves.

Right, because Jerry Falwell has so much influence in this country! Everyone knows (except Cher) that both President Bush and Senator Kerry oppose gay marriage and instead would allow for the possibility of civil unions. But if you actually believe Cher, and I fear so many people do, then voting for Bush means all the gays in this country will be rounded up and shipped to…I don't know, say Key West or someplace.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have all the gays in our country down in South Florida than Cher who was there this week giving that speech before Kerry supporters.

Ashlee Simpson on Lip-syncing

Monday, October 25, 2004

A few readers have e-mailed me this quote from a supposed interview with Ashlee Simpson conducted by Lucky Magazine before the SNL meltdown:

Lucky: What are your takes on lip-synching?

Ashlee Simpson: I'm totally against it and offended by it. I'm going out to let my real talent show, not to just stand there and dance around. Personally, I'd never lip-synch. It's just not me.

I haven't been able to confirm the authenticity of this quote or interview, but a lot of bloggers are running with it and I thought you'd appreciate the laugh.

Mailbag: Defending the Fraud

Cheecky gives it to me straight:

Ha! You are such a fuc*ing hypocrite! Talking sh*t about Ashlee Simpson yet you defend Avril Lavigne like she is your biggest obsession you lonely queer. Avril is such a poser and is rude to everyone who talks to her. Next time you have an idea keep it to your fuc*ing self because no one gives a f*ck.

Hmm, I'm a hypocrite for exposing Ashlee Simpson for the fraud that she is while at the same time showing a liking to Avril Lavigne for the talent she surely possesses? There's no need to elaborate here. People think they know everything about an artist because they hear a few mainstream-friendly songs on the radio and feel they can adequately judge someone based on that. I know enough about Avril Lavigne to know that she isn't just another pretty face abusing a microphone.

Simpson is simply a no-talent hack. Her first live performance doing anything was furnished by MTV and in front of a pampered crowd of friends and family. Avril has been performing her whole life in church and before large crowds where her natural singing talent was recognized. In my grade school days I had lead parts in school holiday concerts, singing and acting and being in front of people. I had more stage experience before I turned 15 than Ashlee Simpson does now.

Speed R8cer has me considering this:

Let me make it clear that I am not defending Ashlee Simpson. I've never cared for her music or her crappy TV show on MTV but dare I say you might be coming off too harsh on something we know very little about. What was revealed in the tape you linked to was a voice track that is actually common for singers to use as an aid to their performances.

Not buying it. When you hear the voice track to "Pieces of Me" it comes in loud and audibly clear as if it's to represent Simpson's live voice. Talented singers don't require such "assistance" because they have range. Simpson's own show proved how tone deaf she is.

Just tonight she was talking to Carson Daily and has appeared to back off the band blaming, saying she's "human" and that mistakes happen. Yeah, only it’s a mistake that clearly proves you're a fraud!

A Fraud is Born

The mainstream press has finally caught on to Ashlee Simpson's SNL gaffe that is just too juicy to ignore. Not that I'm praying for this debacle to result in the end of Ms. Simpson's career, it's just that I don't respect frauds and Ashlee Simpson takes the crown on the subject of frauds. And to add salt to the injury, she had the audacity to blame the fiasco on her band; which, contrary to popular belief, does not control the dubbing of the lead "singer's" lyrics. This is just one example of the many talent-less faces that can sell records in this country, whether it be by their good looks and marketable faces, or in Simpson's case: heredity. Congrats girl, you know the system and how to milk it for every penny.

Keep on smiling Ashlee, for the end of your career is (hopefully) near!

Mailbag: What Movie Were You Watching?

Sunday, October 24, 2004

Black Rose had a different experience:

Sorry that you feel that way about this movie. In my opinion, this movie scared me more than enough. It wasn't scary because of the ghost: it was scary (because) it was disturbing. And to get to that point, it takes a lot of creativity to mess you up psychologically.

I don't deny the film's creativity and I make sure to point out in my review that there are a few chilling scenes, but to say it "messes you up psychologically" is a bit much. Thirty minutes in you know the place is haunted and a ghost will come out every time someone unwisely ventures upstairs and into the mysteriously filled bathtub. Or maybe my skin is just thicker than most.

Superman, The Grudge, and a No-Talent "Singer"

Many apologies for the lack of posting this week. Since our last update, a new Superman was selected, The Grudge disappointed, and Ashlee Simpson bailed out of her second SNL performance last night because the technician running the Talent Machine™ accidentally cued up "Pieces of Me" which was the song she "sang" in the first set.

The odd thing is that while Ashlee just stood there waiting for "Autobiography" (another joke in itself) to start up, her voice could be heard singing the intro to "Pieces of Me." Oops, it appears that Ms. Simpson lip-syncs her live performances, because to sing live would of course require talent -- and she clearly lacks in that department. You can catch the clip here. Warning, it's pretty embarrassing, but not as bad as her blaming the band during the closing credits. Uh-huh, because the band is responsible for streaming your voice through the speakers!

I was too busy partying after Florida State pulled off an ugly victory last night to catch that episode, which was -- if you care -- hosted by Jude Law. On a more interesting note, I learned that using the Blog Explosion navigator toolbar isn't that easy eight beers into the evening. If you have a blog meant for mass public viewing I recommend giving it a try.

Who's a Singer Now?

Thursday, October 21, 2004

While flipping through the channels earlier today I caught teen-star Lindsay Lohan's new music video on MTV. Lohan, the popular young actress from marketable PG films such as Freaky Friday is now working on her music career. To be fair, I only caught the last minute of the video but the pumped up synthesized beats were hardly impressive and didn't warrant a second listen.

This is indeed a sad trend, watching every pretty face go from silver screen to silver microphone. It's only fitting that I point out this quote from Avril Lavigne printed in the Irish Examiner:

"The music scene is at a weird spot right now, where it kind of seems like anybody can be a star.

"I think it's really sad and stupid, that people who have certain hookups, who are already rich and famous, can just go, 'I want a music career,' and get one.

"I'm not saying names, but there are people out there who can't even sing, popular artists who have other people singing on their records. It's lame, and it's not supposed to be that way.

"I always think it would be so much easier if I didn't have to write my own music. If I could just go through a bunch of songs that my record company thinks are hits, it would take me like a week! But it's important for me to be a part of it - I have things that I want to talk about."

I can name more than a handful of pretty blondes with not-so-pretty voices that fit this description.

Weapons for Cash Means Cash for Weapons

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

From the Tucson Citizen:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi announced plans yesterday to extend a cash-for-weapons program for Shiite fighters in Baghdad's Sadr City to cities nationwide in an attempt to disarm the country.

The government launched the program in Sadr City as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting in the Shiite district of Baghdad and has twice extended the deadline for fighters to hand in their weapons.

Yesterday, Allawi told the National Council, a government oversight body, that the program is going so well he wants to extend it to the rest of Iraq.

It failed miserably here in the U.S. and will most likely fail in Iraq. A program that offers money in exchange for weapons is going to do one thing and one thing only: give allowances to terrorists who sellback their defunct weapons so they can take that money and buy more expensive ones.

Gun policy is nothing more than a cheap, sustenance-free option for lawmakers too lazy to come up with a real solution to solving crime and violence. In Iraq, the only real solution is to root out terrorism by destroying terrorists, not by giving them cash in exchange for weapons they never planned on using anyway.

Aggressively Silent on Bill O'Reilly

Several, and I do mean several readers have e-mailed me in regards to Bill O'Reilly's recent sexual harassment suit asking why I've thus far been silent on the matter. I believe it is important that we do not jump to any conclusions because this is an extremely serious issue. A man's reputation is on the line whether he deserves it or not.

O'Reilly's accuser, Andrea Mackris, supposedly has tapes of their promiscuous phone conservations that you can read courtesy of The Smoking Gun, but it looks like a court must force her to release them unless she can show cause for why she shouldn't have to. If all the evidence is on those tapes, then what's keeping her from releasing them?

Also, a restaurant owner has testified that he has overheard Mackris making plans to destroy his career, possibly through a tell-all book. This is suspicious. I will not take sides until all the facts have been established. What I will say is that it's a shame he's had to cancel talk show appearances to promote his recently released kid's book while the litigations are taking place. Whether or not O'Reilly is guilty of any wrongdoing, it's unfortunate that he's already taking a major hit for it.

Jon "Blue" Stewart

In response to my latest post, Tim Boucher misconstrues my point on Jon Stewart's endorsement of Senator Kerry:

Since when is comedy some kind of egalitarian venture where everybody has to be included in perfectly symmetrical portions? Anyway, yeah.

I never attempted to make such an argument. Of course comedians can be politically bias and there are plenty of examples of such entertainers. You've got the master of red herring idiocy on the Left, Bill Maher, and Bush's bed-buddy, Dennis Miller, on the Right.

But The Daily show, unlike Real Time and whatever Miller's unwatched show is called, has always been a reliable source for comedy that isn't driven by an agenda. Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, SNL and MAD TV freely hammer both sides and for that are generally respected by the public...also get higher ratings. The Daily Show usually holds no cows sacred as well, but knowing that Stewart has endorsed Senator Kerry is a distracter. Nothing wrong with that but a disappointment to some. Is that related to Stewart's recent drop in ratings is the rhetorical question I raised.

Jon Stewart Supports Kerry; Loses Cool...Viewers

While Stewart's leftward leanings are nothing short of obvious, his public endorsement of Senator Kerry weakens his credibility with viewers who expect equal parody of both parties. And according to a recent Drudge Report scoop, The Daily Show's audience has been rapidly slipping despite a publicity blitz and best-selling book.

Stewart, who announced last week that he plans to support John Kerry, pulled 1,040,000 total viewers for month of September -- down 7% from August, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Jumbo hype from media writers and a bestselling book apparently has failed to translate into any TV audience improvement.

CNN editors were busy this weekend cleaning up a transcript from Stewart's Friday appearance on CROSSFIRE. One CNN executive called Stewart's performance "belligerent."

During the live program, Stewart slammed host Tucker Carlson: "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show."

The awkward exchange came at the end of an 8 minute segment between Stewart, Carlson and co-host Paul Begala.

***
CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you're accusing us of partisan hackery?

STEWART: Absolutely.

CARLSON: ...you have this marvelous opportunity not to be the guy's butt boy, to go ahead and be his butt boy. Come on. It's embarrassing.

STEWART: I was absolutely his butt boy. I was so far -- you would not believe what he ate two weeks ago.

STEWART: You know, the interesting thing I have is, you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.

CARLSON: You need to get a job at a journalism school, I think.

STEWART: You need to go to one.

The thing that I want to say is, when you have people on for just knee-jerk, reactionary talk...

CARLSON: Wait. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny.

STEWART: No. No. I'm not going to be your monkey.

BEGALA: Go ahead. Go ahead.

STEWART: I watch your show every day. And it kills me.

CARLSON: I can tell you love it.

STEWART: It's so -- oh, it's so painful to watch...

CARLSON: Is this really Jon Stewart? What is this, anyway?

STEWART: Yes, it's someone who watches your show and cannot take it anymore. I just can't.

CARLSON: What's it like to have dinner with you? It must be excruciating. Do you like lecture people like this or do you come over to their house and sit and lecture them; they're not doing the right thing, that they're missing their opportunities, evading their responsibilities?

CARLSON: I wouldn't want to eat with you, man. That's horrible.

STEWART: I know. And you won't.

And the Noles March Forward

Monday, October 18, 2004

The first BCS rankings report came out today, and as expected Florida State was awarded the #5 spot after securing it last Saturday by dominating an overrated Virginia team. Blowout aside, it was a great evening for football. The sun was down, the air was cool, and of course...the Seminoles proved they belong in the top 5 pool.

Sometime last week the College Republicans must have planned a last-minute blitz before early voting began (today) in Florida, as the "Noles for Bush" came out in full force; occupying every corner of the student section. It was hard to miss all the incredibly good looking lady Noles sporting their pro-Bush stickers and buttons - some even held up signs that were booth cheered and booed by surrounding fans. All I know is that if I had to base my vote on which candidate recruited the hottest students, it would be a much easier decision than what it is for me now, considering that I'm mulling two appealing third-party candidates.

A True Gun-Toting Patriot

From Fox 19 Cincinnati:

Some neighbors aren't thrilled with the rock in gun dealer Don Davis's front yard promoting armed protection, but he says only a judge can make him move it. The 8-foot ornamental rock sits in front of the home Davis recently built near the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood. The rock depicts an eagle and the US flag and carries the inscription, "It's better to own a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not own it." The Highland Park neighborhood association says it has received many complaints about the rock. Davis moved into the house Thursday.

He says his immediate neighbors have not complained. Davis is best known locally for television commercials featuring his tag line, "I don't want to make any money, folks, I just love to sell guns."

Hmmm, the neighborhood association is complaining because a resident is boasting he owns the safest house on the block? Of course the immediate neighbors haven't complained - a robber looking for an easy steal will want to strike as far away from a gun dealer's home as possible. I salute you, Mr. Davis.

Depp: Dud or just Dumb

Michele Malkin has similar sentiments for outspoken anti-American actor, Johnny Depp.

Arriving for the premiere of his latest movie, "Finding Neverland," at London's Leicester Square, a modest Depp played down his movie star image as he was met by screaming fans along the red carpet. "I wouldn't say I'm a heart throb," he said, as his wife, French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis (news), looked on. "I just have a very weird job."

Readers will surely recall my column of last year, A Disgraceful Johnny Depp and Dumb America which to this day still brings in countless hate mail. According to IMDB, he's allowing himself to holdout on hating America to make at least five new films before 2006, expecting to profit nicely from each.

Angelic as (Original) Sin

Esquire magazine has named 29-year-old actress Angelina Jolie the "sexiest woman alive" in their newest issue. I don't think there will be too many objections here.

"The tattoos, the blood, cutting myself -- it's all very much who I am," she said. "If you knew me privately, you might think I was even wilder than my reputation. But I'm also much softer. I'm a soft woman. Softer than people think."

Young People Swear Against Gun Violence

From The Times and Democrat:

A partnership between the U.S. Attorney's Office-District of South Carolina, the Santee Police Department and students at Elloree Elementary, Elloree Middle and Lake Marion High School-Elloree Campus will be formalized on Oct. 20, in observance of the ninth annual Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence.

The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, which will be signed by the students, reads:

* I will never bring a gun to school.

* I will never use a gun to settle a dispute.

* I will use my influence with my friends to keep them from using guns to settle disputes.

* My individual choices and actions, when multiplied by those of young people throughout the country, will make a difference.

* Together, by honoring this pledge, we can reverse the violence and grow up in safety.

Last year, a total of 191,794 South Carolina students signed the pledge. Nationwide in 2002, more than three million pledges were signed, which was the largest number ever.

I only take minor reservation with the line I will never use a gun to settle a dispute. If that dispute happens to be a struggle over your life when a burglar attempts to break into your home at 2 AM and you are trained with daddy's shotgun or other device...then - well, by all means.

Your Candidate's a Liar!

Thursday, October 14, 2004

If there's any more reason to vote third party this year it's in this Associated Press article:

Kerry claimed once more that Bush has lost 1.6 million jobs, about twice as many as have actually disappeared. The persistent discrepancy comes from his not saying that the losses he speaks of are in the private sector, and are mitigated by job gains in public service.

Bush again declared of his opponent, "He voted to increase taxes 98 times," which should not be taken at all to mean Kerry has voted for that many tax increases. Independent analysis has found the list of 98 includes multiple votes for single measures and votes that set targets without having any effect on the tax code.

Kerry accurately quoted Bush as saying he does not think much about Osama bin Laden and is not all that concerned about him. The president protested: "I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations."

But in March 2002, Bush indeed said, "I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run." He described the terrorist leader as "marginalized," and said, "I just don't spend that much time on him."

Kerry, trying to show Bush has paid too little heed to civil rights, stated flatly, "This is a president who hasn't met with the black congressional caucus." Actually, Bush met the Congressional Black Caucus at the White House within two weeks of taking office, and called his opponent on it.

Kerry declared, "I have a plan to cover all Americans" with health insurance, but even his campaign does not contend his blueprint would eliminate the ranks of the uninsured. Independent analysts say full implementation of Kerry's plan would extend coverage to about 25 million of the nearly 45 million uninsured.

He also said Bush has cut Pell grants, but later altered the accusation when the president pointed out accurately that about 1 million more students are getting the aid than when he took office.

Looks like we're in for a great four years.

What Debate Were You Watching?

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

All the network heads and conservative bloggers give the last debate to President Bush but were apparently watching a different meeting. What I saw was two unconvincing politicians vying for the votes of Americans too selfish to break the bonds of the two-party system. How Americans will still decide to vote either Democrat or Republican after the performances tonight is a sad, sad story, and it will forever be that way...that is, unless third party candidates are allowed to debate!

Point aside, the winner was clearly Kerry and I promise you the polls will say so tomorrow. Regardless, I was impressed with neither candidate. Did Kerry say something about his healthcare plan covering all Americans? Surrre.

UK Crime Explosion

From Mirror.co.uk:

ONCE it was an unimaginable crime. But as events over the past few days have proven, the shooting of children has become a shocking reality of gun crime Britain.

Youngsters, particularly in deprived inner cities, are increasingly being caught in gangland gunmen's crossfire.

Efforts to tighten gun laws, by banning handguns in the wake of the 1996 Dunblane massacre, have failed.

It has resulted in an explosion of gun crimes in the past few years, and with that the terrible toll of children killed and injured grows.

Click on the news link and you can read the list of children caught in the middle of what is an increasing threat on British society. Ever since the 1996 handgun ban was put in effect, crime has drastically increased. Not surprisingly, what can be used as a potential lifesaver is exclusively used by criminals and gang members.

Reaction to Fahrenhype 9/11

The e-mails are pouring in now that my review is #1 on the IMDB links page. Here are just a few with more to come.

Charles writes:

You are just a pawn for the conservative movement. I would never watch such utter garbage. Thank God for people like Michael Moore who speak the TRUTH in this country when nobody else will. You think you know everything but should stick to what you really know…NOTHING!

Munkyboy tells me:

Thanks for the informative review. I ordered the movie off the web and I expect it to arrive soon. My girlfriend made me watch Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” last summer and now it’s payback!

JackSommersby rants after reading an Ann Coulter quote:

Heh! I'm a liberal, and I've said "Kurds" many times, and in making the same point over and over again to hypocrites like Coulter:

* Bushies don't give a sh-it about the Kurds -- they don't care about the poor and suffering people in their own country, much less one thousands of miles away.

* The beloved Reagan administration -- the very same one that committed treason by illegally arming Iranian terrorists -- supplied Hussein with the very same chemical weapons Hussein used to gas the Kurds, even when Reagan & Bush, Sr. & Rumsfeld knew Hussein was using them on his own people.

As for Ron Silver, a very talented actor who has unfortuntaely appeared in far too many direct-to-video disposables, here's an example of his 'wisdom':

"How stupid will you feel if in 2 years there is a nuclear bomb set off in the middle of New York and you have been arguing about healthcare?"

Well, Ron, not stupid at all. You see, Americans who're afflicted with fatal and dehabilitating illnesses and diseases that they can't get treated (unlike your well-off self, of course) will probably look at a nuclear bomb as a mercy killing. What Silver and many fail to grasp about asinine statements like his is that if you have a country with its citizens suffering like the sickly uninsured, you have to ask yourself if it's a country even worth protecting. It certainly is for those who're rich and can afford top-flight health care, but what of those who don't? Yeah.

Keep them coming, folks. E-mail me editor@aggressive-voice.com. Compliments are always appreciated but I just love hate mail!

Another Day in Civilized England

From The Sun:

AN 18-month-old toddler is shot when a drive-by hitman tries to murder her dad.

A 14-year-old girl is gunned down in the street as she walks home.

A seven-year-old girl is killed after being shot in the back.

But the Government would have us believe that crime has fallen.

Official police figures show gun crime has doubled in the past five years, robbery is up 50 per cent and violent crime is up 83 per cent.

There are 3,000 violent crimes a day — that’s 125 every hour.

The appalling thing about a lot of the shootings is that many people don’t bat an eyelid.

In some parts of our cities, the streets are more dangerous than New York 20 years ago.

But because so much violent crime is what the police call black on black, involving drug gangs, we don’t seem to care.

When a toddler is shot and innocent girls murdered, we all HAVE to care.

A society that looks the other way is on the road to destruction.

The ignorance of the British populace is truly dumbfounding. But as long as their society remains free of guns (that is – just their law abiding non-felons) they’ll put up with 18-month-olds getting shot because their defenseless fathers are at the mercy of their attackers.

(Hat tip: Vox Popoli)

In God Courts Trust

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

The Supreme Court announced today it will consider whether the Ten Commandments may be displayed on government property, ending a 25-year silence on a church-state issue that has prompted bitter legal fights around the country.

I discussed the issue today with a Florida State doctoral student, a graduate assistant who teaches Courts in the School of Criminology. When I expressed that a mere monument should pose no threat to participants of any religion appearing before the court (because a judge's faith has no role in his position), he asked me whether it would be appropriate for a judge to display a swastika in his courthouse.

Leave it to a liberal to compare an innocent monument to a symbol that promotes hate, violence and discrimination toward non-whites. Liberals will do just about anything to not only deny our nation's religious history but get the rest of our country to forget it as well.

If the Supreme Court allows government agencies to display the Ten Commandments on its premises, employees of all religions will be free to display symbols of their faith as well. This is not a case for Judeo-Christian rights but the rights of all of us. Religious or not, God-fearing or atheist, this ruling can either recognize the 1st amendment that has been provided to us for the last 213 years or put a sharpie through the line: prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

R.I.P. Superman

Monday, October 11, 2004

On Sunday, October 10, 2004, my childhood hero, Christopher Reeve of the timeless Superman movies, was called from this earth to be with God and rest eternally in Heaven. It was those four Superman films that jump-started my admiration for fantasy and all that can only be conceived by the mind. I clearly remember hearing about Reeve's tragic horse-riding accident back in 1995, the accident that until his death kept him bound to a wheelchair and respirator where he pushed for the advancement of stem-cell research. And although he never regained his strength here on earth, Christopher Reeve is once again free and is now flying higher than his cape could ever take him.

Fahrenhype 9/11 Movie Review

Saturday, October 09, 2004

I just posted an extensive review of Fahrenhype 9/11 on the main site and will post some more thoughts on my blog later this weekend. Personally I didn't learn much but I would like to hear some reactions from Michael Moore fans. This new documentary does a good job debunking some of Moore's deceits and I'm curious as to what people have to say.

The Hype Over Fahrenhype 9/11

Friday, October 08, 2004

If you watch Bill O'Reilly or follow Dick Morris then you know there's a new film out titled Fahrenhype 9/11 and is available for purchase. Well, I've got a copy and will let you know as soon as I watch it if it's worth your money. Check back soon.

First Post-Ban Assault Weapons Crime?

Thursday, October 07, 2004

In a desperate attempt to link all post-ban crimes to the expiration of the “Assault Weapons” ban, the Brady Campaign speaks pure rhetoric devoid of logic. From PRNewswire:

One of the nation's first assault weapons crimes since the sunset of the ban on these weapons apparently occurred here late last week, at a Mobil gas station on South Sycamore Street, just sixteen days after Senator Arlen Specter and Congressional leaders helped the gun lobby kill the ban. An employee at the gas station told police the gun the robber brandished was an Uzi with a large capacity ammunition magazine. "The employee said he knew the weapon from seeing it in magazines and elsewhere before," a police detective told the Bucks County Courier Times newspaper. The employee handed over more than $200, and the robber fled.

1. The facts from this case come from unsubstantiated witness testimony; a store employee who identified a specific weapon based on what he had seen previously in magazines. I would hardly call this piece of information expert testimony - however, the Brady Campaign sees this as sufficient evidence to make their baseless conclusions.

2. Even if it was an Uzi - which we can’t be sure of because the police haven’t caught the guy - it’s availability in the hands of the criminal was not affected by the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. Uzis, both automatic and semiautomatic, have been illegal and remain so today since the enactment of the 1989 import ban.

3. Even if it was a weapon covered by the 1994 ban, this report indicates that the store was robbed because the law expired. Nonsense, considering most robbers use small handguns not covered by the ban and even so criminals with access to illegal weapons don’t much follow the law.

My question: Did the store clerk have a gun of his own? Had he then perhaps that Mobil store would still have its $200.

The Credit-Card-Size Gun

From USA Today/Associated Press:

MINNEAPOLIS — In a new twist on the idea of concealed weapons, a local gun maker and gun shop are debuting a new type of firearm: one that could almost fit in your wallet.

It's a two-shot weapon made from a piece of metal the height and width of a standard credit card, and about a half-inch thick. Each barrel fires seven standard steel BBs. It will retail for $100.

It sounds like a good idea, especially for women, but some gun experts are already skeptical about this new device.

Mike O'Brien, of Joe's Sporting Goods in St. Paul, wasn't familiar with the new devices, but said muzzleloading is a "slow and tedious" process.

"Us guys here would consider something like that useless," said O'Brien. "A .177 caliber BB is ballistically a joke, OK? I'm sure it could cause injury and damage, but as a self-defense weapon, no. Not to anyone familiar with firearms."

Co-pioneer of the device, Patrick Teel, said:

The main value of the new gun is that it gives the owner a chance to get away from an attacker.

"This is no more deadly than a .22," Teel said. "But the difference is you have multiple wounds, which means you'll try to get away quicker, and it will cause more pain. ... There will be more blood, which the cops will be able to see."

They said the guns are meant to be used for close-range self-defense and wouldn't be effective as offensive weapons.

"They are very effective at five to 10 feet. They're absolutely useless at 20 feet," Teel said.

For $100, you might as well shell out a little more and get something that has a better chance at stopping an attacker. As we've seen in countless police videos, coked-out junkies can easily resist the beating from a police officer's nightstick, so I wouldn't be surprised if one could deflect a BB pellet. We'll have to wait and see how well these things sell when they hit the market.

Democratic Nazis

The Democrats are starting to look more and more like the Nazis of Hitler's Third Reich…so says Powerline; just don't tell that to anyone who was actually oppressed by that truly evil regime.

More than 50 demonstrators supporting Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry stormed a Republican campaign office in West Allis at mid-day today, trespassing, creating a disturbance through the use of a bullhorn in the office and then refusing to leave when asked…Graber called the latest incident part of a disturbing trend of criminal conduct by anti-Bush forces in Wisconsin, pointing to an incident in Madison last week in which Bush-Cheney yard signs were stolen from the yards of three homes. The vandals then used chemicals to burn swastikas into the lawns of the homes, which were within a two-block radius of one another.

In addition, reports of stolen, defaced and damaged Bush-Cheney campaign signs are surfacing throughout Wisconsin.

Hindrocket opines:

In this campaign season, there is literally no length to which the Democratic Party, like the National Socialist Party of seventy years ago, will not go.

Hey, I dislike dirty Democrats just as much as the next guy, but let's not go so far as to compare them to Hitler's Nazis. Debate never goes anywhere when you scream 'fascist!' Protestors will be protestors and no party identification will determine how physical or aggressive they will be to the opposing party. There are whackos on both sides.

As much as we hate bullhorn-toting crazies and their "trespassing" antics, I haven't heard of a single case where a Democratic supporter forced a Republican out of his business and then shot him in the street.

Open Season for Rush's Records

Florida's 4th District Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday that prosecutors acted legally when they seized Rush Limbaugh's medical records during an investigation into whether the conservative radio host misused prescription painkillers.

From Reuters:

Police obtained a search warrant and seized records in November 2003 from three doctors and a clinic that had treated Limbaugh. Limbaugh said his constitutional right to privacy had been violated because the search warrants were issued without giving him prior notice or a chance to challenge the seizure.

The appeals court said a Florida law requiring prior notice applied to medical records subpoenaed in civil cases, and not to criminal investigations.

A judge issued the warrant after reviewing affidavits from investigators. According to court records, two people told police they had sold Limbaugh large quantities of the prescription painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycontin over several years. Pharmacy records indicated Limbaugh got prescriptions for controlled substances from four doctors in five months, the court records said.

While I feel sorry for anyone who finds him/herself dependent on prescription drugs, it's hard not to say "serves you right" considering Rush's past statements regarding drug offenders. How long should they spend in prison, Rush? The wheels of justice have come full circle.

Republicans Kill Draft Bill

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Today the House effectively crushed a bill that would reinstate the draft so many have been fearing, a bill touted be Democrats as Bush's secret plan to call up new soldiers for the war after his reelection. What I don't understand is why everyone believes it is the Republicans brining back the draft. The bill was introduced by Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and the only two congressmen that supported the bill in the 402-2 vote were John Murtha, D-Pa., and Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif. Anyone notice an ideological trend here?

Ann Coulter's How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)

I currently have on request to receive a copy of Ann Coulter's How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must), so expect a complete and full review when it arrives at my doorstep.

I was able to obtain the first chapter and the book looks promising, which I wasn't able to say for her previous works I didn't much care for because all they did was repeat similar mantras. You have to be a major Clinton-hater to trench though either High Crimes or Slander.

But unlike her case for Joe McCarthy in her formerly most recent book, Treason, How to Talk deals with our modern society today and what (as she sees it) is wrong with liberals. When she's not trading jabs with Michael Moore and Al Franken, Coulter comes off quite personal in the first chapter of the book and from what I can see should be a practical read for moderates wanting a good comparison of the two major ideologies - from a rather conservative point of view of course.

How to Talk opens with a brief glimpse of how liberals use devious tactics to win arguments against conservatives. Their biggest weapon: Hollywood.

From page 2:

Michael Moore put a microphone in Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy's face and asked for his help getting members of Congress to send their own family members to fight the war on terror. Kennedy replied that he would love to and that he already had two nephews in the military, one on his way to Afghanistan. Moore's documentary shows Kennedy's image - but cuts his answers from the film.

But it isn't just in the movies where liberals inflict their rhetoric on mass audiences. On page 3 she observes that liberal blather also exists in television with a point I can appreciate:

The only policemen in the universe who are not aware that "cop-killer" bullets have never killed a cop are the ones on Law & Order

.

The nuance does get stale by page 4 however when she attributes a liberal bias to a list of Hollywood movies. Besides, who on this planet took The Day After Tomorrow seriously? Heck, I gave it a good review despite its ridiculousness.

The book looks promising based on the first chapter and this is the first time I have been able to say that about a Coulter book. I didn't care about the evilness of Bill Clinton and wasn't concerned about a senator who lived and died before Coulter was even born. But How to Talk to a Liberal is practical whether you agree with her or not. If/when I receive the book I will give it a full and complete review. For now I'll leave with this enticing line from page 17:

I've included columns too hot to be published until now - along with the editors' rejections…These are bootlegs, never-released columns, NC-17 versions, lost classics, remixes, extended-play versions, and the director's cut.

The Roger Ebert Project

Friday, October 01, 2004

After years of waiting the Roger Ebert Project is finally complete. Now for the first time ever you can access all of his movie reviews pre-1985 at his new exclusive web site.

Save Grace

I was too busy rocking out with Three Days Grace last night to watch the first presidential debate - which according to mass consensus was a victory for Senator Kerry. It's not that I just rather go to concerts than stay home and watch debates, I pretty much rather do anything than watch pseudo-debates.