Right Wing Nut House

Keep on the sunnyside
Always on the sunnyside
Keep on the sunnyside of life.
It will help us every day
It will brighten all our way
If we keep on the sunnyside of life.

(Words and Music By Al Carter and Gary Garett)

The fact that Americans are always looking on the sunny side of life has evidently stunned pollsters and members of the MSM. How can this be, they must be asking themselves? After all, we do our best day after day to be so gloomy we could make a hyena weep. Not so, says a poll taken by the New Jersey Medical School in Newark and conducted by McLaughlin and Associates:

The American spirit is alive and well: A landmark study released yesterday from a New Jersey medical school finds that the majority of us are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future, even if catastrophe looms on the horizon.

A sampling: 82 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 feel optimistic about their futures; 82 percent of those ages 25 to 44 do so as well; and 75 percent of those ages 45 to 64 and 64 percent of those 65 or older agree. Only 15 percent to 22 percent of the respondents say they have grown more pessimistic over the past five years.

And the press still wonders what people saw in Ronald Reagan?

What makes this study even more remarkable is the realistic view of the world and world events that people have which is conspicuously pragmatic as to what might happen:

Not all respondents were wearing rose-colored lenses, however: Between two-thirds and three-quarters of those in all the age groups fear the United States will suffer a biological or nuclear attack in the next 20 years.

Thirty percent to 40 percent feel the country can solve all or most of its problems, yet it doesn’t deter the hopeful feelings. Across the board, 75 percent still insist they are optimistic about their futures, despite the global threats.

It’s been a hallmark of the American race for more than 200 years to look to the future and dream. We dream of a better life for our children, a better world for them to inherit. But why is this? In the face of some truly scary scenarios and despite the relentless negativity of the media, Americans still see a hopeful future. Is there something that might…just might be exceptional about this?

I know it terribly unfashionable and downright un-PC of me to even mention out loud the words “American Exceptionalism” but the fact is even if the politically correct left doesn’t believe in the concept the American people obviously do. Simply put, there is no other country on the planet - not in tired old Europe or the go-go economic miracle countries of Asia - where this spirit of optimism and hope is so imprinted on people’s psyches and taken as an article of semi-religious faith that it manifests itself in concrete, measurable economic and social accomplishments.

When people are looking to the future, they work harder, are measurably healthier, and by and large happier than people who are fearful of what’s to come. Nobel Prize winning economist Julian Simon spoke of this on several occasions.

Not to mention that optimists are generally easier to be around and get along with as anyone can attest.

Ultimately, it just goes to show that politicians (and pundits) should never underestimate the wisdom of the American people. And the best politicians are always the ones who appeal to “The better angels of our nature” as Lincoln said rather than the darkness that always seems to be gathering just over the horizon.

Also see:

Daily Pundit
Questions and Observations

You may have heard that Howard Dean will be appearing this Sunday with the maestro himself, Tim Russert on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Since I’m pretty lazy on Sunday and don’t feel like interrupting my “Nicktoons” viewing for anything, I thought I’d pay a visit to my good friend and inventor Professor Hawkinshank.

Now the Professor has a marvelous invention he calls a “TV Time Portal” that allows the viewer to see future TV shows. Isn’t that something? For instance, I already know who wins “American Idol.” And I’ve already seen Michael Moore’s next three movies. Surprise! They’re clunkers. Now, the Professor made me swear that I wouldn’t reveal anything more than 4 days into the future…something to do with anti-gravitons doing a deadly dance with proto-energy. Evidently this wouldn’t do too much damage to the space-time continuum. I’m sure you’d have no problems. Everyone can get used to eating upside down.

But I was curious to see how the Reverend Dean would deal with the relentless Mr. Russert. So the Professor allowed me to view and take notes on this very interesting and revealing interview:

Russert: Welcome to Meet the Press Dr. Dean.

Dean: Please call me Governor. I’m not really a Doctor. My wife’s the Doctor. I mean, one of the reasons I ran for Governor was because I couldn’t hack it as a physician. I wanted to be a vet, did you know that Tim?

Russert: No Governor I didn’t. Now let’s…

Dean: Really, I did. I wanted to be a vet. Love animals. Love dogs.

Russert: Right. Now Governor, let’s talk about the Democratic Party. Where do you see the party heading in the near future?

Dean: Are you kidding? We’re going down faster than a $5 whore on Saturday night. I have no idea how to turn this damn thing around nor do I have a clue about what I’m doing. But I’m good on the internet! I’m great at raising those small donations - you know, the really small ones.

Russert: Yes, you’re a legend in your own mind. Now, Governor, the FEC report recently released shows that Republicans raised approximately twice the amount of money that you and the Democrats did. Why is this?

Dean: Simple. They cheat. Republicans always cheat. Just because your political party comes up with good ideas with attractive candidates to sell those ideas doesn’t mean your any better than us. It’s cheating. It’s what Republicans do. Besides, I raised more “small money” than the Republicans did. When it comes to raising between $5.00 and $10.00 donations, no one can touch me. I’m the champ.

Russert: Yes…Let me ask you this. A few months ago you said Republicans are evil. Do you want to retract that statement?

Dean: I said what I said and I’ll stand by it to the death…unless it offends blacks, feminists, gays, union people or old folks. And yes, Republicans are evil. They’ve hijacked religion, I tell you. They’re trying to make it seem like Democrats hate religion. That’s not so. I’ve made it a point to include at least 3 references to God in every speech I make. If that doesn’t convince people we Democrats are religious, I don’t know what will. We’re going to talk about “God” and “values” and maybe even throw in a few “Jesus” in those states where the guys have the shotguns and confederate flags on their pick up trucks. When it comes to religion, nobody is going to be holier than me.

Russert: Right…Governor, Senator Harry Reid, the Senator Minority Leader and one of the leaders of your party recently called the President a “loser.” Would you like to take this opportunity to denounce that kind of negative attack?

Dean: Denounce it? Hell, I told him to say it! Winning two wars and two elections and getting just about everything you want from Congress doesn’t make you a winner, ya know. There are other standards a President should be measured against.

Russert: For instance?

Dean: For instance….

Russert: Yes? You were saying?

Dean:

Russert:

Dean:

Russert: I see. Well Doctor, one more question. Who will be the nominee of the Democratic Party for President in 2008?

Dean: Now Tim, you know it’s much too early to speculate about that but I will say this. We’re going to campaign in every state in the nation. Not only are we going to New Hampshire, we’re going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we’re going to California and Texas and New York. And we’re going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we’re going to Washington, D.C., to take back the White House.

YAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!

Russert: Thank you Doctor…er Governor Dean.

I’ve received several emails from people asking about my feelings regarding my brother riding Scott McClellen at the White House press briefing.

First of all, thank you for your emails and comments. Feedback like this is what separates blogs from the Mainstream Press. However, those expecting me to criticize or even critique what my brother does for ABC news will be disappointed.

I happen to know that, despite what you might think, my brother is a loyal American who loves this country as much as I do. Only good things can flow from that. His job is to ask questions of people in power. Only good things can flow from that. And if it upsets you about the way he does his job, don’t come to this site or email me. Go to the ABC website and talk to them. I am not responsible for how my brother performs his job.

I am responsible for the content of this site which will be unrelenting in its criticism of the MSM and its anti-Bush, anti-war bias - sentiments my brother mostly agreed with on Hugh Hewitt’s show earlier today. The only responsibility toward my brother that I have is the love and affection I feel toward him and his family and the tremendous pride I take in his professional accomplishments.

In a family of 10 children (9 of whom are more liberal than I am) you can imagine some of the dinner table discussions - especially when we were coming of age in the 1970’s. But whatever knock-down, drag-em-out fights that ensued we never lost our love and respect for each other. Blood is thicker than politics. Don’t believe me? Try coming here and dissing my brother…you’ll get an earful back.

Thanks to Hugh Hewitt for asking the tough questions that needed to be asked…and for the link!

Say goodbye to Superhawk.

For more than 3 years I’ve been posting as Superhawk, a rightwing fanatic whose bilious rants have given more than one moonbat the knipshits.

When I first began to use Superhawk, it was to maintain a certain degree of anonymity, a safe and comfortable refuge from the rhetorical blasts of critics of all stripes. Then when I started this site last September, I used the nickname to establish a seperate identity. Having a semi-famous brother who works in the media, I simply thought it best that I be known in my own right - albeit a silly nickname - rather than being identified as so-and-so’s brother.

Now that I’ve been published a few places (see my article in The American Thinker tomorrow) I’ve decided to drop the nickname and “out” myself. From here on in, “Superhawk” is retired.

One more note…blood is thicker than water, politics, and friendship. You got a problem with my brother, write ABC…don’t bring it to the House.

Here are some quick hits from some of my favorite bloggers.

Pat over at Brainsters Blog is posting a great idea - something I think every blogger should do once and a while; he writes about “Where I Stand.”

I knew there was a reason I like Pat’s site so much; he and I agree on a lot of things. And I think that every so often a blogger should make some simple declarative statements on where they stand on the issues of the day.

Well done, Pat!

This is Thursday which means it’s “Stop the ACLU” blogburst day. Cao is all over voting rights and how the ACLU is working to give convicted felons the right to vote in states where that right currently does not exist:

The 14th Amendment permits states to deny the vote “for participation in rebellion, or other crime.” In 32 states convicted felons have the “privilege” to vote. Only 13 states now forbid convicted felons from voting, with just nine of these imposing lifetime bans. Two states, Vermont and Maine, even allow felons currently doing time to vote like any other citizen. The fact is that it isn’t about the felon’s “rights”. What it comes down to is states rights.

Spot on. And if you haven’t already, stop by Jay’s blog and sign up for the blogburst.

Romeocat at Cathouse Chat is wishing the state of Israel a happy birthday:

I am ashamed to say that I did not realize that today is Israel’s “Fourth of July.” Thanks to Larry, I have a link to Not a Fish - Hag Same’ach! We’re 57 years old. who celebrates the event with cats!

May God bless His people, His chosen nation, and may He protect and cherish them and return to them their Messiah.

Sweet sentiments from a sweet lady!

Then there’s Van Helsing and Moonbattery. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t get my moonbat fix from Van everyday. And he’s got a real doozy today about a “performance artist:”

This particular piece of performance, or rather “non-performance” art actually preceded Ichiuji climbing up on her stage. It began gradually, with her abstaining from various indulgences like coffee, soda, etc., gradually working her way up through television and newspapers to a self-imposed ban on pretty much everything but pretentiousness, including speech, food, and shelter.

Hysterical!

Beth is blogbitching. Your assignment is to go over immediately and cheer her up.

Basil at Basil’s Blog is blogging blog improvements (say that fast 3 times). Seriously, he’s got a great idea for some additions to your site.

Finally, make sure you visit TJ’s NIF (News-Interesting-Funny) for the best news links. And for you bloggers out there, NIF is the best site to visit when you find yourself suffering from writers block. If you can’t find something to blog about at NIF you don’t have writers block, you’re brain dead.

Ann Coulter before her date with Superhawk

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter, known for her sharp tongue and acerbic wit, was arrested today and charged with misdemeanor assault when she allegedly used a bar of soap to wash out the mouth of one of her questioners.

“My mother used to do it when we were kids and used a nasty word and I just figured if it was good enough for my brothers and I it was good enough for a liberal potty mouth.” the gorgeous blond rightwinger said.

The “victim,” Dick Less, was accosted by Coulter immediately after asking a question laced with obscenities at her lecture in Arlington Heights. Reportedly, Coulter approached Mr. Dick Less and, after getting him in what’s known as a “Boston Crab Grapevine Leg Lock,” she allegedly grabbed his hair with one hand and with the other, withdrew a bar of Dial “Tropical Escape” soap and proceeded to thoroughly cleanse the oral orifice of Mr. Dick Less.

After the initial assault, Coulter turned and, according to witnesses, gave Mr. Dick Less a spinning heel kick followed quickly by a cross face chicken wing.

“I don’t know what the moonbat is complaining about.” Coulter said of Dick Less. “After all, I used the tastiest bar of soap I could find. ‘Tropical Escape’ has a nice, fresh, pineapple smell and I hear kids love it.” she added.

Coulter immediately went back to the podium and resumed her lecture to a standing ovation from the crowd.

There were no further disruptions.

Police were uncertain whether to charge Coulter or give her a medal. In the end, they settled on the misdemeanor charge in exchange for autographed copies of Coulter’s book “How to Talk to a Liberal.”

UPDATE

Since the only readers of this post I’ve gotten so far have been of the moonbattis undelici variety, how can I go wrong if I link to My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy for a little balance?

Cross Posted at Blogger News Network

This is Jacko. He is a detector dog for U.S. Customs. He has
saved 179 concealed humans, found 32,000 pounds of pot,
800 pounds of coke, 10 pounds of heroin and $444,000
of dirty currency. Good dog.

(Hat Tip: Lucianne)

My excellent hosting company, Blogs About Hosting, had a glitch in the server and inadvertently took the site off line.

Apologies to all 47 of you who tried to visit but couldn’t.

We have a Pope!

In a short conclave, the College of Cardinals has elected a new Pope! The new leader of a billion Roman Catholics around the world is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who has chosen the name Benedict XVI for his papacy.

For only the third time in a hundred years, the conclave took 3 days to choose the new Pontiff.

Ratzinger may have sealed his election with an impassioned homily at The Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff that touched on several themes that are close to the heart of the conservatives, including the very traditional view of the Savior’s suffering that some more liberal theologians would like to de-emphasize in Catholic teachings:

The mercy of Christ is not a cheap grace; it does not presume a trivialization of evil. Christ carries in his body and on his soul all the weight of evil, and all its destructive force. He burns and transforms evil through suffering, in the fire of his suffering love. The day of vindication and the year of favor meet in the paschal mystery, in Christ died and risen. This is the vindication of God: he himself, in the person of the Son, suffers for us. The more we are touched by the mercy of the Lord, the more we draw closer in solidarity with his suffering - and become willing to bear in our flesh “what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Col 1, 24).

Ratzinger has proved very popular all over the world to the point where he has his own “fan club.” He served as Prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the more powerful positions in the church. His nickname of “the enforcer” among some more liberal publications indicates his unwavering support for traditional church doctrine.

He’s also been known for his charm and personality:

Personally charming, quick-witted and fluent in four languages, the Cardinal is a convincing orator. Jesuit Father Thomas Reese calls him “a delightful dialog partner”, but adds that most of the Cardinal’s fellow clergy would be too worried about the prospect of excommunication to enjoy talking to him.

Ratzinger at age 78 is one of the older Popes elected in recent memory. This reflects a feeling that perhaps John Paul II served too long (27 years) and that some of the younger candidates like Cardinal Maradiaga of Honduras (age 62) or Schoenborn of Austria (59) need a little more seasoning before their turn comes.

The election of Benedict XVI comes as a huge disappointment to the America Church. They were looking for someone more open to change on issues like birth control (not abortion), married clergy, and some matters of independence from Rome. They won’t get any help on those issues from this Pope.

Perhaps this Pope will surprise us in some respects. But as a creature of the Vatican, so to speak, it’s doubtful whether he could have gotten elected unless he gave some assurances to the curiae that things wouldn’t change very much.

Blogging is light today. I’ve written an article that I hope will be published in a major on-line conservative magazine and I’m absolutely drained. Been working on it since I got up this morning at 3:30 AM and finished about 10 hours later. I guess I’m just a writing wimp.

Anyway, rather than waste any more cleverness on an article that may not see the light of day for a while, I thought I’d give some quick takes on interesting items I pulled off various sources on the internet today.

CHINESE THREAT (CONTINUED)

I’ve posted several times in the past few months about the growing threat from the Chinese military. And while most of the upgrades to the Chinese armed forces is apparently directed toward Taiwan, there are indications that China may also be ready to challenge American military hegemony in Asia:

The US intelligence community has reported that since 2001, the Chinese shipbuilding industry has produced 23 new amphibious assault ships and 13 conventional attack submarines.

The current top priority for the PLAN is the replacement of its fleet of outdated Soviet-era conventional and nuclear submarines with five new advanced models of domestically developed and imported Russian vessels…

The long-awaited Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) is also close to entering into service, with the lead vessel already undergoing sea trials and expected to be accepted by the navy this year. There are reports that three hulls of this new class have already been laid…

The Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, said to be an elongated version of the Type 093 and equipped with JL-2 sea-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, is reported to have been launched last July and could be operational within the next couple of years. This is well ahead of Pentagon forecasts, which had previously estimated that the Type 094 would not enter service until towards the end of this decade.

These improvements in the Chinese navy would not only allow for a massive amphibious assault on Taiwan, but the attack submarines would be used to threaten any fleet we send to their defense. Beijing has also converted two armored divisions into an amphibious corp to take advantage of their increased flexibility in the joint operations sphere.

What this adds up to, according to analysts, is that China is steadily increasing both its military spending and military capability to eventually challenge our interests - including Taiwan - in that part of the world. You can bet that Japan and South Korea are not only watching China very closely but gauging our response as well.

JUDGING THE JUDGES

Interesting hearing on Capitol Hill where Supreme Court justices responded directly to recent criticisms of the federal bench:

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas on Tuesday defended the independence of federal judges and suggested that criticism such as that directed at the federal bench recently by Republican leaders in Congress is simply part of the democratic process.

The justices’ comments came during a congressional hearing on the Supreme Court’s budget that turned into an unusually wide-ranging discussion of the role of judges. Thomas noted that federal judges are appointed for life, which means that although they might be criticized by politicians, the judges are insulated from real retribution.

Thomas is right. Which why all this handwringing from libertarian and liberal bloggers about conservatives wishing to overthrow the federal judiciary is ludicrous. Powerline makes a great point:

Glenn Reynolds on “mau-mauing” the judiciary. I believe in full-throated criticism of judges (individually and generally) where warranted, but I have to agree that talk about impeaching Justice Kennedy is over-the-top. For one thing, there are at least three Supreme Court Justices who are considerably less restrained than Kennedy. Not that they should be impeached either, not even Justice Ginsburg who is now on record to the effect that judges should look to foreign law in order to improve U.S. relations with the rest of the world. If her jurisprudence continues down that path one could make a case for impeachment. But wouldn’t the energy and political capital be better spent focusing on the confirmation of qualified conservative nominees, as opposed to engaging in a quixotic battle to remove sitting Justices?

Spot on. And frankly, I’m getting sick and tired of lawyers and other legal advocates telling me I’m an ignoramous, that I don’t understand “the law,” that we should leave this kind of criticism to the smart people because we’re just open mouthed red state hicks who don’t know diddly about squat…

BALDREDASH!

The American people who are outraged at the federal judiciary are exercising a constitutional right called free speech…and that’s a pretty easy one to understand. The fact that we don’t “understand” the law should make even those with their heads up their rear ends sit up and take notice. THE LAW IS NOT A PRIESTHOOD! There are no mystical chants, no communing with dead people, no garish rituals. The law is for the people. And when the people feel the law has betrayed their interests or their most sacred values then THE LAW HAS FAILED. In the case of Terri Schiavo, people believed strongly that judges themselves failed the people.

I too feel it over the top to talk about impeaching anyone. But Justice Thomas made a great point at the hearing today:

“I think the reason we have lifetime appointments is that we are supposed to be criticized,” Thomas said.

I hope all the lawbloggers out there read that and lay off the insults to those of us who may be ignorant of precedent and procedure, but smart enough to know what we think is right and what we believe to be wrong.

“BEYOND RUTHLESS”

Here’s the Iraqi insurgents worst nightmare:

MOSUL, Iraq — From inside a vacant building, Sgt. 1st Class Domingo Ruiz watched through a rifle scope as three cars stopped on the other side of the road. A man carrying a machine gun got out and began to transfer weapons into the trunk of one of the cars.

“Take him down,” Ruiz told a sniper.

The sniper fired his powerful M-14 rifle and the man’s head exploded, several American soldiers recalled. As he fell, more soldiers opened fire, killing at least one other insurgent.

The March 12 attack — swift and brutally violent — bore the hallmarks of operations that have made Ruiz, 39, a former Brooklyn gang member, renowned among U.S. troops in Mosul and, in many ways, a symbol of the optimism that has pervaded the military since Iraq’s Jan. 30 elections.

Sgt. Ruiz knows his job and does it extremely well. Read the entire article for an eye opening look at our guys and how they’ve got the bad guys on the run.

Damn proud of all of ‘em.

NEW NASA CHIEF A “CAN-DO” MAN

I wish all our bureacrats had this kind of attitude:

WASHINGTON – The Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee said today that he would push for swift confirmation of NASA Administrator nominee Mike Griffin with the intent of clearing him to report for duty Monday April 18.

Griffin said during his confirmation hearing before the Commerce Committee this morning that his two top priorities would be safe return to flight of the space shuttle fleet and eliminating the lengthy gap between retiring the shuttle fleet in 2010 and fielding a replacement vehicle, the Crew Exploration Vehicle now scheduled for its initial piloted launch in 2014.

With regard to the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Griffin noted that in the 1960s the Gemini program took only three years and the development of the Apollo capsule only about 6 years from contract award to flight He said NASA’s current plan to fly astronauts aboard the Crew Exploration Vehicle for the first time in 2014 “unacceptable”.

“The program that NASA has outlined so far features a new Crew Exploration Vehicle. – call it what you will — that nominally comes on line in 2014. I think that is too far out,” Griffin told members of the Commerce Committee. “President Bush said not later than 2014. He didn’t say we couldn’t be smart and do it early. And that would be my goal.”

Griffin is also in favor of working in the on again off again Hubble repair mission that would keep the space telescope in orbit another 3 years at least.

Now if this guy can fight through the trauma caused by the Columbia explosion and reestablish some morale at the agency, he’d have my vote for “Bureacrat of the Year.”