Sunday, July 10, 2005

Homespun Bloggers Best Of July 3rd and 10th, 2005

[Ed. Note: This week's Best Of will contain submissions from both this and last week.]

Don't Let Me Stop You

Why Kelo Is So Hard to Swallow

If you read any of our previous posts on the Kelo v. New London case, you've probably noticed we feel strongly about it. Truth be told, this one really sticks in our craw in a way the other recent decisions haven't, even though we disagree with some of those, too. So why is that?

Musing

Abuse at Gitmo

You know the routine by now. Youÿve heard it a million times before. Youÿre barraged with stories of abuse at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on a daily basis.

Well now stories are coming out that appear to back the ideas that there is abuse going on there.

Senator Durbin, CNN, CBC, ABC, NBC, Howard Dean, and the rest of the far left, Michael Moore wing of the party, sit up and take note.

MuD&PHuD

House Makes A Move

The House has apparently decided to at least take some action to oppose the Kelo decision (via Tran Sient's Watch):

House Votes To Undercut High Court On Property
[...]
The House measure, which passed 231 to 189, would deny federal funds to any city or state project that used eminent domain to force people to sell their property to make way for a profit-making project such as a hotel or mall. Historically, eminent domain has been used mainly for public purposes such as highways or airports.
Cursed By a Classical Education

Military and Civilian Contractors Clash in Iraq

I think that a very large part of this problem is that we're asking civilians (both Department of Defense and contractors) to do the jobs traditionally left to the uniformed services. If there are 20,000 security contractors in Iraq, it seems that we could buy a "division" that could take care of that role, BUT we're having trouble just with the status quo of recruiting. If we're going to fall short of the 80,000 this year...things are only going to get worse next year.

The Redhunter

Static vs Dynamic Analysis: Why the Critics don't Get It

Once again we’re hearing all the things that we “should” have done in Iraq. Over the last two days I listened to General Barry McCaffrey and Senator Joe Biden on the radio and both of them excoriated the administration for not having followed their
oh-so-wise advice.

At least these two have our best interests at heart. I do truly believe that they want us to succeed in Iraq. Others, like Moveon.org, and, well, the entire
leadership of the Democratic Party, seem only to be concerned with scoring political points.

The first problem I have with Biden and McCaffrey is that they are engaged in static thinking.

Blog d'Elisson

Independence Day

I love a good fireworks show, though, and once the Annual Fourth of July Clambakes receded into distant memory, those became the sine qua non of a superb July 4 experience. I?ve seen a lot of good ones, including the one at the Mall in Washington D.C. on the Bicentennial, 29 years ago. There?s something hugely satisfying about feeling the concussive ?thud? of a good-sized aerial shell seconds after the fire-blossom has appeared in the sky.

But despite all of these wonderful experiences, Independence Day is always a bittersweet day for us at Chez Elisson ? for not all memories of July 4 have to do with picnics and swimming pools and fireworks...

The Southern Conservative

A Loaded Question, A Slanted A.N.S.W.E.R.

Ask yourself this question: If an American is patriotic and loves his country, is he more likely to be a liberal or a conservative? I know, it sounds like a loaded question, but stay with me here. I DO have a point. It’s not that conservatives have co-opted patriotism. It’s that, over the past 30 or so years, liberals have aligned themselves more and more with the angriest, bitterest, most passionately anti-American fringe groups out there. What started in the 60’s as a kind of relevant and important national introspection has devolved into the ugliest possible
self-hatred...

MuD&PHuD

Support For Stealing Property

Now, let me get to someone who has gone above and beyond the call and, in the process, nominated himself as the inaugural member of new group I call Enemies of the People (soon to be added to the sidebar). Who is the person drawing my ire? Senator William Finch (D). Why? See for yourself:

The Redhunter

Live Aid II

I cannot believe it.

When I wrote "Live Aid" below, it was in the usual morning hurry. I'd heard about Geldorf's comments on the radio yesterday, made a few notes, and then did some quick research this morning and wrote the post before hurrying off to work.

Then today I found out the details.
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