Conservative Musings

Quote of the Day

"What it says is that I'm not very well known in that part of the country.  Sen. Clinton, I think, is much better known, coming from a nearby state of Arkansas. So it's not surprising that she would have an advantage in some of those states in the middle." - Senator Barack Obama, on some of the reasons why Senator Clinton is likely to win Kentucky's primary on Tuesday, May 20th.

I do give Obama some consideration in knowing that he is likely to be beat in the democratic primary here in Kentucky.  But, at looking at just this line alone, I wonder even more about the geography lessons he had as a child (also see his recent problems with Sioux Falls and Sioux City here).

Let's see, Arkansas IS close to Kentucky, as stated, but not quite as close as Obama's home state of Illinois.  Matter of fact, the state he represents in the Senate actually borders Kentucky.  Please, will somebody in the Obama campaign get Barack a map.  With all 50 states.  Draw in the other 7, if needed, so he'll recognize it.

I'm not convinced it's Kentucky knowing Senator Clinton that's the issue.  I think it's Obama not knowing Kentucky that's the issue.

-Colonel Steve

Big Brown's Still Unbeaten

Today, Lady Colonel and I spent the day at Churchill Downs, site of Big Brown's last win.  We awaited the simulcast of the Preakness at Pimlico, on Churchill's "really big" screens.

Wow, what a finish!  His win, 5 1/4 lengths over Macho Again, was a great show.

Will he make it three?  To paraphrase Raff at The Fan Blog, this race didn't have the same horses seen at the Derby.  Only one, Gayego, returned to match the race.  Others will show up at the Belmont Stakes that were at the Derby.  They will have 5 weeks of rest, versus Big Brown's 3.  We shall see what difference this makes.

Personally, I think he stands a great shot at being the next Triple Crown winner.  Thirty years since the last one says that'll be tough.  Do-able, but tough.

-Colonel Steve

Landing Practice?

It's been said that, in flying aircraft, a good landing is one you are able to walk away from.  A landing at Roanoke airport outside of Dallas fits this description.  A student pilot landing his aircraft managed to land right on top of one preparing to take off.

This would be humiliating enough, except that the pilot of the aircraft on the ground was also the student pilot's next door neighbor.  Ouch.

(HT: Blue Crab Boulevard)

-Colonel Steve

Quote of the Day

"I respect the Court's decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. . . I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in reference to the 4-3 state supreme court ruling allowing gay marriages in California.

So let me get this straight.  In 2000, Proposition 22, defining marriage as between a man and a woman, won by a 61% to 39% margin.  Millions of Californians voted in this.  Then, 4 state supreme court judges rule otherwise, invalidating the votes of millions of Californian voters (can you say disenfranchised?).  And now, the Governor agrees with the kings and queens on the thrones...whoops, I mean judges on the bench?  Seems to be taking us back to the colonial days, being ruled by good old King George.  Definitely not the government of the people, by the people, and for the people that Abraham Lincoln so fondly spoke of.

Liberals love using the judicial branch for making rulings in their favor.  Next time they speak of voter being disenfranchised, I think I will be throwing this one back at them.

-Colonel Steve

Obama's Next Kentucky Ad

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has brought out what should be Obama's next ad for Kentucky's Primary.  I'm with Ed; why should Barack stop at his current advertising?  Why not go full messiah?

One word of advise for Barack Obama.   There are some in Kentucky who have already met The Messiah.  They may be able to tell the difference.

-Colonel Steve

I'm Feeling Safer This Weekend

For those who may have missed it, the National Rifle Association's (NRA) convention is in town today thru Tuesday.  Listening to our representative John Yarmuth, you'd think every single one of them were going to go postal.  Or shoot things up for target practice.

Sorry, John, I'm actually one who feels safer.  And no, sir, I'm not the hick you're portraying 2nd amendment believers to be.

(HT: Blue Grass Red State)

-Colonel Steve

Prince Caspian

No doubting where I will be later today.  The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens today.  Considering the crowds I'm expecting to see there, I so love movietickets.com!!!!

-Colonel Steve

GE's Future in Louisville

Mayor Jerry Abramson is calling the possible sale of General Electric's Appliance Division just speculation.  Based on some stories I am seeing, I would partly agree.

I am afraid that the mayor-for-life's comments may provide GE's employees more security than it should.  Consider this:

• GE's profit declined last quarter.
• GE has been considering selling off slow growth businesses.
• The recent housing slump has hit this business, while giving it little upside growth in near future.
• CEO Jeffrey Immelt's goal to shed businesses that are not helping GE's goal of 10 percent annual profit growth.

Although they've been in the appliance business since at least 1892, history doesn't mean much in the board room.  These days companies look more at the bottom line.  GE in particular.

It would be nice for Louisville if either a) GE kept the business up and running, or b) a new owner promised to do the same.  However, economic realities may keep this from happening.

On a personal side, I would sure hate to lose Appliance Park from an electronics historical perspective.  As noted here: "GE installed its first computer at Appliance Park in 1954, a pioneer UNIVAC model. The UNIVAC was larger than the average living room and took eight hours to make calculations. It was the first computer installation outside of the U.S. government."  Even tho it had less power than the very laptop I'm keying this in on, it was a historical moment in the history of business computers.

GE has been very good to Louisville.  Although I understand the financial side, it will still hurt to lose it.

-Colonel Steve

John McCain

With everything I've seen of John McCain, and his snipes at the conservative end of the Republican Party, I can see Scott Ott's paradies (here and here) being almost believable.  It puts Rush's comments in better light, when he basically said that a lot of Republicans may find themselves crossing the aisle to vote for McCain.

-Colonel Steve

Anti-McConnell Robocall

I received this robo-call today containing an anti-McConnell advertisement. It mentions being from United for Quality Care.

It did not take too much digging, thru their website of fixseniorcare.org to see that they are part of the SEIU union (Service Employees International Union).  There website is blatantly pro-liberal, supporting Barack Obama.

Ironically, a link on their site is entitled Know Where Taxpayer Funds Go.  I often wonder if union members know where their dues go.

-Colonel Steve

What Democrats Are Allowed To Get By With

While Governor Mike Huckabee was still a contender, many folks argued against his Merry Christmas ad.  Many liberal people that is.  They tried to read in a cross as part of his bookshelf in the background of his video ad.  Big deal.  So what if it was.

I'm wondering if those same people are having a fit today.  Up comes Barack Obama, using religion blatantly to try to pump up his numbers in next week's Kentucky primary.  In this photo, it's not even subliminal.  It's a church.  Mike's ad wasn't anywhere near that bold, if intentional at all.

Where's those separation of church and state folks?  My thoughts are totally different when it comes to interpreting Thomas Jefferson''s comments.  But if these guys are to be consistent, they'd do good to speak up.

Yeah, right!  Today I'll be wagering on pigs flying.

-Colonel Steve

Getting A Clue?

The 2006 mid-term elections sent what many conservatives thought would be a wakeup call thru the Republican Party.  The folks in Mississippi obviously feel the message sent then has not been heard.

In a special election on Tuesday, Mississippi elected a conservative Democrat by a 54% - 46% margin to fill in Trent Lott's seat.

I am hoping another signal that something is amiss in the party will be heard by those in power.  That comes in the form of campaign donations.

Both parties spent heavily on the district. The NRCC spent at least $1.29 million on the seat, according to Federal Election Commission reports released yesterday, while the DCCC expended $1.84 million in the same race. Democrats point out that, as reported on Politics Nation earlier this week, Freedom's Watch, a group that backs Republican candidates, spent another approximately $500,000 on the seat. Adding insult to injury, Davis, the losing Republican, outspent Childers by a little less than a two-to-one margin. Through April 23, Davis had raised $876,000 and spent $803,000; Childers had raised just $485,000 and spent $419,000.

With more than $44.3 million in the bank after the end of March, Democrats can afford that kind of expenditure in a special election. But with only $7.2 million on hand, the NRCC will not be able to sustain that kind of spending in the future. After spending millions in the three losing special elections, the NRCC is likely to face seriously disappointing fundraising reports for the next several months. 

GOP...it's time to start figuring out your base.

-Colonel Steve

Global Warming Pics

Oh the power of man.  That we could cause such terrible things to happen in nature.  Such strength, to cause global warming and such as that.

Wait.  You mean all this isn't caused by man?  But some volcano in Chile?  You mean to tell me that God's nature is more powerful than man?

Wow.  I think I've been led astray.

-Colonel Steve

Quote of the Day

"I can think of only one Republican who can be a problem-solver, and that would be Vice President (Dick) Cheney, if he will just take George on a hunting trip." - Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.

I heard enough of fellow Kentuckians saying Ernie Fletcher made us look bad, when the plane taking him to Ronald Reagan's funeral dropped the transponder signal and forced an evacuation of the U.S. Capitol.  This one's makes that one pale in comparison.

To paraphrase Rhymes with Right comments: What if this had been said about Barack, Hillary, or some other liberal?  There wouldn't be enough ink to print the press hatred of that.

Oh well.  Some days, I'm just embarrassed to be a Kentuckian.

Also seen at: Michelle Malkin, Blue Grass Red State)

-Colonel Steve

A-La-Carte!

I read the blog entry by Insight Communications CEO Michael Willner about offering cable networks on an a-la-carte basis.  I appreciate his willingness to talk about the issue, but I do not agree with him.

Here's my recent experience with Insight Cable:  I wanted to add the Boomerang network for my child.  However, to get the Boomerang network I had to add this large array of channels (the "Digital Standard" package), most of which I would never watch.  I was okay with this because there were a couple of other channels, such as ESPN-U, I thought it would be useful to have. 

After I ordered the package, I was scrolling through the shows that were being offered on some of these new channels and saw some things on one channel, LOGO, that brought me up short.  I fully expect there will be individual shows on some channels that I will object to.  I don't like it but I can live with it.  However, this channel's whole existence is intended to undermine traditional morality.  I could not pay for this, even a small amount.

So, since I could not pay for Boomerang a-la-carte, I canceled my subscription to Digital Standard and Insight lost some business.  I am not completely opposed to the bundling of channels -- but the bundles should make sense.  I should not have to buy adult-themed channels to get children's channels.

--Red

More Industry Blogging

A long time ago, I mentioned the company blog that Southwest Airlines has up and running.  The folks at Nuts About Southwest have been opening up the company to their customers by their posting.  This presents a fantastic opportunity for them to attract positive attention to themselves.  A great form of advertising.

Now Insight's CEO is doing the same thing, via his Michael's Insight blog.  Way to go!

It may sound strange, but the dialog Michael is opening up is already allowing me to disagree.  Strange in the sense that disagreeing is actually a good thing (counter-intuitive to most liberals).  Disagreement is what dialog is all about.

Michael's latest post at the time of this post's writing is about "Cable A-La-Carte - A Great Idea, or Is It?"  You've seen Lady Colonel here post on the same opinion I have.  Let the economy decide, not businesses.  The economy decides thru what customers decide.

Let channels live or die thru a Darwinian "survival of the fittest"-like theory.  With this, we could and probably will end up with less channels then now.  So what.  We don't need to be subsidizing channels with few watchers/listeners.

Let them stand or sink on their own.  Yes, startups might need some cash to get going.  But let's not let the cable customer be an unwilling venture capitalist, thru the bundling of channels.  If a cable customer wants to help finance a new channel, there are other ways to invest for them.

Anyway, as far as the Insight blog goes.....way to go Michael!  I think this is a great idea for Insight, as well as any other company.

-Colonel Steve

Kentucky Understood By Obama

Barack Obama is now saying he understands Kentucky.  Most specifically, Kentucky coal.

I gotta go with the thoughts of the RNC on this one: "Barack Obama is telling Kentucky voters he 'understands' coal, but fails to mention that he has proposed taxing coal, voted against coal-to-liquid legislation, and that his own energy policy would restrict the growth of Kentucky's coal industry. If he can't 'understand' why that is bad for Kentucky's economy, then he doesn't 'understand' how to lead," said  Katie Wright, RNC spokeswoman in a statement.

At least he is consistent.  He has shown he truly believes the liberal thought that if it exists, it should be taxed.

(HT: Pol Watchers)

-Colonel Steve

Kentucky Counts!

Glenn Reynolds puts it very well:

CLINTON TO OBAMA:  Kentucky counts!  I don't see why it should count less than North Carolina.

Hillary then goes on:

Clinton herself noted she was the only candidate to come, saying it was important "because Kentucky always picks the president." She later said, as she did in West Virginia earlier this week, that Democrats "for too long" have let states like this one "slip out of the Democratic column."

Based on Kentucky always picking the president, here's hoping that Jefferson Poole's blog name fits the November election: Blue Grass, Red State.

-Colonel Steve

57 States? Or Nations?

Maybe Barack Obama's geography trouble was a Freudian slip?  Perhaps he was thinking of all the support for his candidacy he's going to get from the 57 nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference because of his appeasement approach to foreign policy?

(Note, I learned about the 57 nations from this unrelated post at Little Green Footballs.)

--Red

Obama's Geography Lesson, III

Newest item in the jewelry world....Obama's American flag.  Maybe he will actually wear this one.  Oh, that's right, we don't need a flag on our lapel to be patriotic.  We just need to remember our history and geography.

(HT: Andrew Malcolm)

-Colonel Steve

Obama's Geography Lesson, II

Gee, one slip up sure travels fast.

-Colonel Steve

Energy Independence

This cartoon reminded me today of other campaign points brought up by Anne Northup on her blogger conference call yesterday.

A comment I had to refrain my "amens" on was her point that we as a country must become more energy independent.  That would require, in the long term, alternate fuels like wind, solar, and nuclear.  In the nearer long term, opening these "barrels of oil" we're sitting on.

Opening up places like ANWR and off coast drilling sites would take us a long way towards freedom from Middle Eastern oil.

(HT: Gina Cobb)

-Colonel Steve

Seven Wonders of Louisville

The Louisville Historical League is currently taking votes on what local folks consider the Seven Wonders of Louisville.  Voters may vote at Louisville Mojo's link here.

First round of voting has been completed, and the 20 choices left to vote on are:

Actors Theatre of Louisville, Belle of Louisville, Bernheim Forest, Brown Hotel, Carnegie Center for Art & History (New Albany), Cave Hill Cemetery, Churchill Downs, Falls of the Ohio, Farmington Historic Home, Glassworks, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville Slugger Museum, Louisville Zoo, Muhammad Ali Center, Old Louisville Historic District, Olmsted Parks (Cherokee, Iroquois, Shawnee, Central and parkway system), Louisville Palace Theater, Speed Art Museum, Waterfront Park and Waverly Hills Sanitorium.

In current voting, the Waverly Hills Sanitorium is in first place.

-Colonel Steve

Obama's Geography Lesson

I must have missed something in my geography lessons.  Which ones came in after Hawaii?

(HT: Below The Beltway, Marc Ambinder)

-Colonel Steve

Northup Blogger Call

I wish to thank Anne Northup for the time she took this evening answering the questions from 6 to 7 state bloggers.

In the time I have spent looking over my notes from the call, I will say this much.  Of the 5 running for the position (Anne Northup, Chris Thieneman, Bob DeVore and Corley Everett on the Republican side, and John Yarmuth on the Democrat side), I personally see Anne as the best of the bunch.

Earlier, I might have been tempted to align with Chris Thieneman, mostly due to his organization around the library tax loss.  However, he's much like those music bands who were one-hit wonders.  He's accomplished nothing but lose popularity since his one hit.

The rest on the republican side do not have the name recognition nor the record to really go up against the muscle of one-term John Yarmuth.

As I continue to peruse over those notes I mentioned, I will venture to say more later.

To the others running in this race, I challenge you to open your campaigns up to similar blogger scrutiny.  We will offer you the same gentlemanly and lady-like manners we offered Anne.  In this case, yes, we were all conservative.  However, John Yarmuth, we'd even be nice with you.  I at least challenge you, John, to meet with like-minded liberal bloggers.

-Colonel Steve

Quote of the Day

"She is in somewhat of a delusional state. I don't mean that literally, but she simply cannot accept the fact she has lost. … I don't think it's quite hit her yet that he's going to get the nomination." - Peter Kirstein, professor of history at Chicago's Saint Xavier University.  Speaking of Hillary Clinton after Tuesday's Indiana win and North Carolina loss.

A delusional democrat?  That happens?  Nah.

-Colonel Steve

The Worth of a Life, II

NPR did a story recently on the book by Jim Sheeler entitled Final Salute.  In this book, Jim chronicles his following of Colonel Steve Beck, a Marine given the mission of "casualty notification".

I was struck by the value that has been placed on a Marine's life.  That, in death, the man WILL be honored by being returned.  Even at the risk of life itself.

(Then Major Beck) found himself faced with an assignment that starts with a long walk to a stranger's porch and an outstretched hand sheathed in a soft white glove. It continues with a promise steeped in the history of the Corps that most people associate only with the battlefield: Never leave a Marine behind.

In combat, men have taken bullets while retrieving their comrades' bodies, knowing that the dead Marine would have done the same for them. It is a tradition instilled in boot camp, where Marines are ingrained with 230 years of history and the sacrifices of tens of thousands of lives.

I am so blessed to be served by such honorable men.  Men who, although are seen as killing machines, honor life by placing themselves on the line.

Semper Fi.

-Colonel steve

The Worth of a Life

The news of late has led to questions of how precious life is.  It's a horse's life that is considered most recently.  It used to be whales that were spoken of.  And the spotted owl.

Now for the worth of a human life.  A small human life.  As seen by his parents.

(HT: Anchoress and The Deacon's Bench).

-Colonel Steve

Times They Are A Changing, II

The New York Times adding to their lack of respect.

(HT: Texas Rainmaker)

-Colonel Steve

Northup Blogger Call

This Thursday evening, I will be sitting in on a blogger conference call with the Anne Northup campaign. 

Any questions you may have, let me know and I may ask as part of the call.

-Colonel Steve

Surprise Agreement

I'm in rather surprised agreement with a Courier-Journal editorial today, concerning Eight Belles' tragedy in this past Saturday's Kentucky Derby.  Their comments are some of the most balanced I've ever heard from them.

On the more unbalanced side comes PETA's request to have Eight Belles jockey suspended.  The  Kentucky Horse Racing Authority yesterday has defended Gabriel Saez's actions as her jockey.  Wise move by the authority.

As much as I was pulling for Big Brown on Saturday, my memories of the 134th Run for the Roses has been seriously clouded by this accident.  Yet that is was it was...a very bad accident.  I hate accidents as much as anyone else.  In today's society of posting blame on someone or something, we've taken way too much away from what amounts to an accident of life.

Yes, I agree with those who wish to make sure this does not happen again to one of life's beautiful animals.  Much as we've made automobile and aircraft travel safer thru the years, so should we do the same for these magnificent thoroughbreds.  Let's not let a blame game get in the way of moving forward.

-Colonel Steve

Medicine Meets Engineering

Some years after I graduated from J. B. Speed School of Engineering, they added the engineering discipline of bioengineering.  I thought of the folks who are in this program when I saw the story behind an Alaskian bald eagle that lost a major portion of it's beak.

The eagle, named Miss Beauty, has been transferred to Birds of Prey Northwest in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  While there, Miss Beauty has had a team organized to help design her a new beak.  Part of that team includes the engineers from the Kinetic Engineering Group.  Take a peek at their story.

It will be interesting to see what will come of their designs.

-Colonel Steve

New Circuits

First transistors.  Now memristors. 

Researchers at Hewlett-Packard have developed a circuit element similar to a transistor.  This particular element takes advantage of an idea that was once only a theory.  It was thought that somehow, circuits could remember the charge they had, even when the power was turned off.

The researchers were able to find ways to do this.  It's thought this memristor technology will one day replace we now know as flash memory.

Cool.

-Colonel Steve

A Great Pro-Life Story

This particular story that I read late last week really awed me.

Jim Caviezel, the star of the blockbuster film The Passion of the Christ, told an interviewer that he had been challenged by a friend who was not pro-life to live up to his professed pro-life convictions and adopt a disabled child.

The friend told Caviezel that if he did that, then he would change to the pro-life position. When Caviezel and his wife, Kerri, went to China to adopt not one, but eventually two orphans suffering from brain tumours, the friend reneged on the deal. Caviezel, however, said, "It didn't matter to me because the joy that we had from (Bo) - he's like our own."

Wow!

I am most in awe at Jim's determination to do what he said, no matter what the cost.  His pro-choice friend - not so determined.  I am not surprised.  We're talking about the kind of choice that runs away from responsibility.  A choice made to have fun and flee from the costs of that fun.  This friend has a character that is very shallow.  Especially when compared side-by-side to Jim's.

I'm gonna guess this friend is a Hollywood friend.  So much like their promises of leaving the country if George W. Bush is elected.  They didn't live up to their election promises, or their pro-life promises.

Mr. Caviezel, I look up to you.  My prayers are with you, your wife, and your boy and girl.

(HT: Anchoress)

-Colonel Steve