IMHO

Fear and Loathing in America

I was watching Bill Maher last night and Martin Short made a comment about the fact that President Bush was elected by the same people who believe that God will protect them from poisonous snake bites. Immediately, one of Maher's other guests, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, began to berate Short for his elitist attitude.

Now, I understand Short's point of view, but I can also see Steele's and, actually, I agree with both of them. I do think Bush got elected by people who are vulnerable to anyone (like Bush) preying on their religious beliefs, but I also recognize that calling such people "stupid" does more harm than good.

If you think that there's a problem with people being more concerned with the hereafter than the here and now, you have to ask yourself what you can do to change their way of thinking. Name-calling alienates people; if you label people as "stupid", whatever reasoning you attemp thereafter will fall on deaf ears.

Just something to think about.

Latest RightMarch Email

I'll give you guys some time to digest this before I take it apart. In truth, it's going to take me a little time to digest it myself. I honestly don't even know what to say...

Help us work toward a strong, conservative Europe: Click below to make your contribution toward Europe's renewal!

Take Action Now!

This CONSERVATIVE ALERT is a special message from the European Conservative Union:

It's no secret that the most influential voices in Europe are anti-conservative and anti-American. But what if someone could tell the other side of the story: the TRUTH?

The European Conservative Union (ECU) represents a growing number of individuals calling for a new attitude on the continent, one that values good ties with the United States, supports the Bush Administration's proactive solutions to world problems, and respects the cultural and religious values that gave the West unprecedented freedom and prosperity.

To make your contribution toward Europe's renewal, click here to donate:

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/ecupac/donation.php?afid=rmemail

A strong, conservative Europe is in the best interest of all Americans, wouldn't you say?

Although our recent moves toward unification have brought peace and prosperity, they've also paved the way for a huge bureaucracy in Brussels that continues to impose a radical left, secular, socialist agenda on Europe and the rest of the world.

In the next few months Europeans will be voting on a proposed constitution that would hand vast amounts of authority to nations like France and Germany, nations publicly opposed to key U.S. policies;

The proposed constitution glaringly ignores the religious heritage of Europe, opting instead to herald a secular, humanist model of government;

Even while European Commission President José Barosso speaks of "high moral values," he seeks to lift the arms embargo on China, despite that nation's threats against Taiwan;

Conservative Christians like Rocco Buttiglione, an Italian Catholic, are being denied fair opportunity to serve at high levels of government, while at the same time an ex-communist from Eastern Europe was recently confirmed as EU-commissioner with virtually no questions asked.
The time to act is now. With each passing day, Europe steps farther away from the political and spiritual heritage that made it great. And, consequently, farther away from America.

That's why the European Conservative Union is such a vital organization. We have dared to challenge liberal propaganda like the Kyoto Protocol, the International Court, and the position of Chancellor Schröder and President Chirac on the globally-raging War on Terror. We stand by President Bush, knowing that most European governments would have preferred John Kerry.

A voice crying in the wilderness, the ECU is standing up to the left-wing establishment, fighting anti-Americanism in European politics and media, combating anti-Bush rhetoric, and casting a vision for a renewed Europe; strong, peaceful, moral, and conservative.

That's why we're asking our long-standing friends in America to partner with us.

Your financial contribution of $25, $40, or even $200 can enable the ECU to penetrate minds with the truth about economics, justice, peace, and foreign policy. We can be a voice of conservative ideals in nations where few conservatives hold public office.

To make your contribution toward Europe's renewal, click here to donate:

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/ecupac/donation.php?afid=rmemail

Can we really make a difference? YES -- and here's a great place to start:

When President Bush disembarks in Europe for a visit this May, what kind of welcome will he receive?

A warmer one, if we can help it.

You're used to seeing the demonstrations of anti-Bush, anti-American sentiment paraded across your television screen and plastered on your newspaper headlines, as if all of Europe hated America. We get that too.

But there are a growing number of people who reject the liberal spin and socialist bias. There are coordinated efforts underway to reverse the tragic shift away from our political and moral foundations, and away from our friends in the United States.

At the European Conservative Union (ECU), we're setting the stage for renewal on our continent, a revival of conservative ideals and Christian values.

Imagine CNN swinging the camera toward demonstrations in support of President Bush and American policy. Imagine hearing of Europe's unwavering commitment to stand by America in the War on Terror. Imagine nations like France and Germany electing governments that represent Judeo-Christian morality.

We know -- it sounds a little far-fetched. But we have to start somewhere. And because we feel the issues are so important, for Europeans and Americans, we're asking for help.

We're asking for partners who would support our efforts financially to renew and restore Europe. We're asking you, our American friends, to help us.

To make your contribution toward Europe's renewal, click here to donate:

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/ecupac/donation.php?afid=rmemail

Thank you.
Jo Spatgens, Executive Director
European Conservative Union

Thought for Today

This is from a friend's blog, and I thought that considering the increasing lack of personal responsibility in this country, it was worth reposting here:

And all this legislated morality is having the opposite of its intended effect. I have a student who is profoundly disabled. He has no use of his hands or feet and his speech is very difficult to understand. He has an assistant with him at all times to interpret for him and to transcribe his college assignments, so every assignment takes him much longer than able-bodied students. He and I have developed the habit of staying after class to talk. He very much appreciates that I take the trouble to try to understand his speech--and that I recognize the bright mind inside that disabled body. He told me his position on abortion--he personally is opposed to abortion, but he believes God would oppose legislation against abortion because it takes away our free will. That's one of the most thought-provoking ideas I've heard from a freshman in a long time. When you legislate moral choice, you take away the need for people to decide for themselves, to act in accordance with their own moral decisions, and to accept the consequences of their acts.

Pathetic Scams

You know, quality control is going down in every aspect of modern life. Used to be when people were trying to scam you, for example, they made at least a MINIMAL effort. Today, however, after listing our Thule carrier on Craig's List, Mike received this email:

From: sean silver
Date: April 8, 2005 8:44:44 PM EDT
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Thule ski/luggage carrier

GOOD DAY
        ,MY NAME IS SEAN SILVER  ,I HAIL FROM BRAZIL& AM INTERESTED IN BUYING YOUR{ item}GET BACK TO ME WITH THE FINAL ASKING PRICE AND ALSO THE LATEST CONDITION.CASHIERS CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IS THE PAYMENT METHOD,I AWAIT YOUR SOONEST RESPONSE AS SOON  TODAY.

------------------------------
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Now, before you get to the contents of the mail, you have to wonder about some of the logistics. The email address is at Yahoo.uk, but the ad for the service is in French. And yet, upon reading the email, you find out that "Sean Silver" says he is from Brazil.

Sean Silver from Brazil must be buying many { item}s, as he cannot be bothered to actually type out which { item} he means.

Mike made what was probably the only possible response to this email:

HI SEAN.I ONLY ACCEPTS PAYMENT IN COMMUNION WAFERS AND/OR HARMONICA.THE(item)IS IN SAME CONDITION AS FOR I PURCHASE IN BULGARIA LAST WORLD WAR.PLEASE SEND PAYMENT IN IT FULL STYLE SOON AS.YOU ARE SWERVY.

Busy, Busy

Nope, I haven't been in mourning the past few weeks. I just can't seem to get away from the torch. Here's some of what I have been working on:
(side one) | (side 2)

(side one) | (side 2)

(side one) | (side 2)

(side one) | (side 2)

Been putting stuff up on ebay as well as in my shop, and getting ready for my show on April 27th.