The Young Cons

Rappin' the message at Dartmouth (h/t PowerLine):

Another "conservative" rant

As Jay Nordlinger notes, the use of the word "descent" in the first line is worthy of our great appreciation:

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American descent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonald's burger or a Burger King burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

Now if I told you that this comes from Pravda (!), would you believe me? After cleaning the spit-out coffee from your monitor, read the entire article here.

Liberal Hypocrisy and Judge Sotomayor

The President's nomination of Judge Sotomayor is yet another example of liberal hypocrisy. The President who claimed to be a uniter has proven to be the most radical left winger in the history of the Oval Office, and he is in fact the most polarizing President in history. He has split the country as never before, save for perhaps the Civil War.

Of course the swooning dinosaur media, never reports any of this about their beloved messiah. They still continue to drone on about the so-called polarizing years of President Bush 43. This is the same President Bush who had the most African Americans in his cabinet of any Administration in history, and who appointed the first black secretary of state and the first black, female secretary of state. Not to mention all of the spending during the Bush years which severely rankled conservatives. Some polarizing figure. He continuously reached across the aisle and got his hand slapped.

Now we see more of the same with Judge Sotomayor. President Obama picked her solely because of her race and gender, as if this would inoculate her from any so-called attack by "racist" Republicans. There were plenty of other liberal judges the President could have nominated, Hillary Clinton anyone? The fact is that the President is trying to maximize his political capital to attempt to lock in the Hispanic vote. Sorry Hillary, your race killed you in the Presidential primary last year and it has now come back to haunt you again. Race and gender trump gender by itself in the minds of liberals. It's very interesting however, to see a liberal like Secretary Clinton punished by the very hypocrisy that she and other liberals have created. After the last two years she and President Clinton must be starting to feel like Republicans.

It was also courageous for Newt Gingrich to come out and call the Judge a racist for her now infamous remark comparing female Latina judges and white male judges. What is impressive about Gingrich's comments, is that it is a nice twist on Alinsky's Rules for Radicals so often employed by liberals and especially this Administration. Alinsky's theory is predicated on the fact that it is common knowledge that conservative ideas are superior to liberal ideas, and that the only way for liberals or socialists to prevail is by calling conservatives names, such as bigot, racist, or homophobe. Liberals know that they can't compete in the market place of ideas, so they make vicious, false accusations against their opponents.

What Gingrich bravely did was to apply the Alinsky technique in a positive manner. What he said about Judge Sotomayor was absolutely true, the comments she made were clearly racist and if made by a white male judge or white female judge would have resulted in an electronic lynching by the dinosaur media. Now I won't go so far as to accuse Judge Sotomayor of being a racist, but her comments were certainly racist. As a conservative, I know that people are not the same as their behavior and the Judge deserves a fair chance to face the Judiciary Committee and explain herself.

What is also interesting is how all we hear about is Judge Sotomayor's humble beginnings. We are told by such "paragons of virtue" as Chuck Schumer that Republicans better not attack the Judge because of her race and her humble beginnings. In other words, ignore your Constitutional duty or we will brand you racists. Curious isn't it that Justice Thomas, Judge Miguel Estrada, and former AG Alberto Gonzalez were all minorities of humble beginnings, yet these facts were never mentioned by liberals or their dinosaur media pals. To the contrary these men were personally and brutally attacked for the crimes of being Republican and Conservative, and the main stream media happily joined the assault. Also,let's not forget Judge Janice Rogers - Brown. Why were her race and gender irrelevant? Liberal hypocrisy.

We will always remember Ted Kennedy's disgraceful speech on the senate floor in which he slandered Judge Bork. How about Vice President Biden's goon role in both the Bork and Thomas confirmation hearings. Nobody accused Ole Joe of being a racist for attacking Justice Thomas, no way. Ole Joe was simply doing his duty by performing the advice and consent role of the Senate, it didn't matter that his criticisms were completely without merit. Yet Newt Gingrich makes one statement which just so happens to be true, and he is branded as a racist, white male. The very type of "vermin" that the media hopes that the good Judge Sotomayor and her liberal pals on the Court will soon eradicate, or at least put in their place.

Remember the many judicial nominees of the Bush Administration that were blocked in committee.The Democrats would not even allow an up or down vote. Yet not a peep from the dinosaur media. Compare that to the nomination of Judge Sotomayor. Republicans are told that not even an or up or down vote is necessary. No sir, a simple voice vote by acclamation is all that is necessary for this liberal judge nominated by the dinosaur's messiah.Talk about hypocrisy.

The bottom line is that Republicans cannot let this nomination pass without a fair fight. Those who say we must pick and choose our battles, and that we have to focus solely on the fight against socialized medicine are misguided. While Judge Sotomayor is likely to be confirmed, the confirmation hearings will be a golden opportunity for Republicans to put the plague of "judicial activism" on trial. Our Republican leaders should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, and contemporaneously fight this nomination as well as the attack on our health care system.

However, the challenge to this nomination must be done prudently. No personal attacks like the Democrats do. Stick to the issues, such as the Judge's erroneous ruling in the Rhode Island fire fighters case, her misguided sense that the Constitution provides for a right of privacy, and her disdain for the Second Amendment. Republicans must ask the hard questions and the judge must answer them to the satisfaction of the American people.

Most importantly every Republican member of Congress who questions her should preface their comments with the fact that they will not engage in personal character assassination as did Vice President Biden, and Senators Kennedy, Durbin, Schumer, and Leahy. They should all quote these character assassins and remind the public of their victims by name. They need to remind the country of the vast differences between Republicans and Democrats.

This is a golden opportunity for Republicans to remind America, that the party that claims to represent the little people is perfectly content to let the judiciary run rampant over the other two branches of government, and to overturn the will of the people at the ballot box. Pretty hypocritical wouldn't you say? Sure you people can votes on issues, but liberal, activist judges will make sure your vote is meaningless. Would please explain for the people Judge Sotomayor how Courts of Appeals can make policy when they are not elected, legislative bodies and answer to no one?

Republicans must prove to America during this confirmation process that the Democrats' belief that people are all monolithic, zombie members of groups and/or victims is just plain wrong and anti-American. The current lie being circulated is that Hispanics will all be offended if Judge Sotomayor is questioned in any way. Some will certainly support her and others will not. However, the vast majority are smart enough to understand that there is a constitutional process to this procedure that must be honored. Are you listening Senator Cornyn? Stop reading your internal polls in Texas and start reading the Constitution. If you want to get re-elected in 2010, stop reading polls and start doing the right thing.

The fact that Judge Sotomayor will likely be confirmed is irrelevant. Republicans must honor their constitutional obligation of advice and consent. Be respectful and focus solely on the Judge's record. It's time to put liberal hypocrisy on trial big time. The fate of the American medical system and the country in general hangs in the balance.

UPDATE: A reader at The Corner sends this excellent addendum to Judge Sotomayor's comments noted above by Mark, which serves to make the point that not all Latinos embrace her racialist views. Buck up, Republican Senators, and be a voice for the Constitution!

Grilling burgers

Luca has decided that at the ripe old age of 10, there are some man things he needs to learn to do. One of them is learning how to grill burgers. Well, he was in luck, as our Weber grille, almost consigned to the scrap heap after 15 years of loyal service, was saved by Angela's find of replacement parts online, allowing me to reconstruct the innards (talk about dirty work!) yesterday. So with the grille back in service, Luca was on.

The first steps were in the kitchen with Angela, learning to mix the spices with the ground beef and then forming patties:

Having mixed up the ground beef and the spices, time to form patties

Gabe watches Luca at work

Gabe joins in the fun

Luca's first ever patties

Gabe goes for the more abstract impressionist take on the classic backyard burger

Then it was out back to show him how to work the gas grille, and get the patties onto the hot grille. I let Luca put two burgers on with just a little help from me; Gabe also got to put one on. A few minutes of grilling and some cheese slices later, and it was cheeseburgers in paradise!

How to Honor our Veterans on Memorial Day Weekend

Angela and I took our two youngest kids to Nashville National Cemetery (I had to use a Google cache version, as the domain name has expired), where, along with dozens of other scouts and their parents and siblings, we placed an American flag in front of every head stone in the place - all 35,000 of them.

Opening ceremony with a prayer and a Pledge of Allegiance

Our Scout Master, Tim Thompson, addressed the boys before we set out to place the flags with this instruction: read the name of the person at whose head stone you are placing a flag. You might be the only person to visit them all year. With respect, say their name and think about their sacrifice.

Burt and his son Ben

Paul and his son Brandon

Luca, Angela, and Gabe in the foreground

Angela worked mainly with Gabe and I with Luca. We probably placed 50 or so flags. With all the other scouts, we finished in under an hour.

The head stones after the placement of the flags

Pack 210 of St. Edward School in Nashville

We had to hit the road before 6:45, and there was quite a bit of walking, but the boys did their duty. Our boys were rewarded with a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel and later a matinee to see Night at the Museum 2. A fitting start to the Memorial Day weekend.

ACORN and the New York Times

Michelle Malkin does a bang-up job further discrediting the Gray Lady's otiose attempts to exonerate itself from the charge of spiking a story to protect its Chosen Won. And her post includes this great graphic:

More Thoughts on Notre Dame

I've been struggling to find the right words to complement Mark's excellent piece on the shameful event that took place at Notre Dame this past weekend -- an absolute travesty that places the final nail in the coffin of credibility for alleged Catholic Church leaders.


As a lifelong Catholic who is still smarting over the disgrace that was the clergy pedophilia scandal, Notre Dame's embrace of the most radical pro-abortion president ever to occupy the White House is simultaneously shocking and demoralizing. However, it's not the first time priests, nuns and lay people have gone astray, all in the name of "the poor."

It brings back vivid memories of Catholic school with its many contradictions: nuns and priests (rightfully) admonishing us that abortion is indeed murder and yet voting consistently for the pro-abortion Democrat in every local, state and national election; (correctly) informing us of the plight of the world's less fortunate, yet inexplicably condemning America rather than the despotic regimes that purposely starve and terrorize their own people; and wrongly chastizing "the rich" while at the same time cheerfully accepting the fruits of their hard-earned labor at the collection basket during weekly Mass.


I was a high school student for most of President Reagan's first term and can clearly remember a conversation I once overheard in the yearbook office between a young priest and a female lay teacher regarding the 1984 election. The two openly agonized over the choice between a "war monger" who was admittedly pro-life; and a good man who promoted nuclear disarmament (Mondale) yet stood in solidarity with groups like Planned Parenthood. "What's a good Catholic to do?" they sighed.

Here's a suggestion that applies both then and now: Get a freakin' clue!


In the name of "Catholic Social Justice" today's priests (with some notable exceptions, including Father Jonathan and Father Frank Pavone) will rationalize just about anything, including infanticide. Is it any wonder Obama garnered 54% of the Catholic vote in spite of his support of horrific legislation like the grossly misnamed Freedom of Choice Act, and his refusal to vote in favor of comfort care for defenseless babies who survive abortions?


Funny, none of these priests know at a practical level what it's like to have to make a mortage payment, buy their own groceries or balance a budget at the end of the month (kind of like the federal government). So I guess from their perspective, socialism is a good thing.


I beg to differ. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for life." Capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system in the world. Further, it is most in line with the God-given free will inherent in every individual, who has both the authority to make his/her own decisions and the obligation to also live with the consequences of his/her actions.


And while all of this may be true, it leads me back to the most basic right of all: the right to life. Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger, was an avowed eugenicist who believed certain races and ethnicities (blacks, Jews, Italians) should be eliminated.


The fact that Mr. Obama is aligned closely with an organization that repeatedly refuses to report the rapes of minors to the proper authorities; neglects to inform women of the realities of abortion with the use of ultrasound technology; and enthuiastically provides abortions at all stages (including the 9th month of gestation) for any reason whatsoever, should preclude him from addressing graduates and accepting an honorary degree at any self-respecting Catholic university. That this travesty took place at Notre Dame, the citadel of Catholicism here in the United States, just adds insult to injury.


But as Mark noted earlier, priests, nuns and the go-along laiety will someday have to answer to a much Higher Authority. God have mercy!

I got a link!

Giving a speech about my book at the Order Sons of Italy - Leonardo da Vinci Lodge in Boca Raton last January.

Just wanted to thank Dean from Italian-American Against Media Stereotypes for linking to my Moving beyond the Mafia piece on Smart Girl Nation. Check out his excellent blog!

P.S. More thoughts on the travesty that took place at Notre Dame this weekend to come. Shame on every complicit priest, nun and layman who've imbibed the Kool-Aid and abandoned one of the most sacred church teachings!

The disgrace of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame disgraced itself today by not only inviting the President to speak, but in also granting him an honorary degree. To honor a man who is not only pro-abortion in contravention of Church teaching, but who also supports infanticide, is reprehensible. The President while a state Senator in Illinois voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which would have mandated medical care be given to a baby who had survived a botched abortion. This is quite simply child killing.

To make matters worse (if that's even possible) is the attitude of many so-called Church leaders and ordinary Catholics who subscribe to the absurd position that the President is more in line with Church teaching on social issues, save for abortion, than any president we've ever had. Pour me some Kool-Aid! This is chilling. Talk about the Devil in the Church.

One positive was the courage of the protesters, among them priests, lay people, and many students who didn't go inside the stadium for the graduation ceremony, but remained outside in the grotto. Among the protesters was former Ambassador and presidential candidate Alan Keyes, a man who was arrested not once but twice this weekend. I am proud to say that I voted twice for Ambassador Keyes for president in 1996 and 2000 and would do so again in a heartbeat.

What is also stunning is how so many can be fooled by the President's rhetoric about common ground and about how we should all be working to reduce the number of abortions. He is bought and paid for by NARAL. They own him. For Notre Dame to allow itself to be used is astonishing. Stalin had a name for those who could be so easily duped, "useful idiots". Of these there are many on the Board at Notre Dame and unfortunately far too many in the Catholic Church. No doubt they will one day find that the ultimate price for selling one's soul is more than they bargained for.

UPDATE (from Paul): Some ND alumni aren't taking this sitting down. Good for them!

Wayman Tisdale RIP

I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former NBA All-Star Wayman Tisdale after a two year battle with bone cancer. I had no idea he was even sick, and saw him do an interview on ESPN with Bob Knight a few months ago which I found very enjoyable. Watching it you had no inkling that he was seriously ill. However, enjoyable is just the word to describe Mr. Tisdale. He was always smiling, positive, and upbeat.

A very accomplished man, he was an All-American at Oklahoma and a member of the 1984 gold medal-winning US Olympic basketball team coached by Bobby Knight. In 1997, he was the first player to have his jersey number retired by the University of Oklahoma. He was a first round draft pick of the Indiana Pacers in 1985 and had a very successful NBA career scoring almost 13,000 points with three teams over 12 years.

However, the guitar was always his first love, since he began playing in his pastor father's church as a boy. In fact, while at Oklahoma the coach changed the basketball practice schedule from Sunday mornings to Sunday evenings to accommodate Tisdale's playing bass guitar at church. He was primarily a bass player and in 2002 received the Legacy Tribute Award from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In his music career he recorded eight albums. At the time of his death, he was working on yet another musical project.

He left us too soon on May 15, leaving a wife and four children. A true example of the American Dream come true. RIP.

On "Game Changers" and a free press

It's a good thing we have a free press, with its protection explicit in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, or else the press might become the instrument of those which it favors politically. Good thing, huh?

Just What is Torture?

Let me get this straight. According to the President and our friends on the other side of the aisle, water boarding is torture. Despite the fact it was used very sparingly, a doctor was always present, and it has no long term effect on the suspect. Not to mention the fact that the few who have been water boarded, are murderous, terrorists who cut the heads off of innocent people. Also, let's not forget to throw in the fact that it worked, and the lives of countless Americans were saved thanks to water boarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques.

Yet partial birth abortion, a gruesome procedure whereby a fully developed baby is pulled out of the womb by its feet at which time a knife is stuck into the base of its skull and its brains sucked out, is not torture according to the Left. I guess I get it my progressive friends. The goal is murder the most innocent American life and to coddle the most guilty, murderous terrorists. What does that say about our values? You know the same values you always bring up in the torture debate, and which you completely ignore in every other context.God help us all.

Is the Pendulum Finally Swinging Back to the Right?

According to the latest Gallup poll, "More Americans Pro-Life than Pro-Choice for First Time." Hey uh, "Big Tent" Republicans, will you finally get it now????

Moving beyond the Mafia

My latest contribution is up at Smart Girl Nation.

The Hypocrisy of NOW

It seems that the National Organization of Women is no longer in the business of protecting and promoting the rights of women. Monica Lewinsky was savaged, literally by President Clinton I might add. What did NOW do in her defense, nothing! When the women of Afghanistan and Iraq were given freedom along with their fellow citizens courtesy of President Bush and the US military, what was NOW's response? It simply condemned President Bush and said nothing about the horrors experienced by their sisters in these totalitarian countries prior to their liberation.

Governor Palin was savaged in the recent Presidential campaign. What did NOW do for this highly accomplished, self - made woman, nothing! When Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro commented that the only reason that President Obama defeated Senator Clinton in the Democratic primary was because of his race, the dinosaur media turned on their fellow liberal like a pack of hungry wolves. What did NOW do? You guessed it, they didn't lift a finger to help Ferraro. Why? Because race trumps gender in the minds of liberals who treat people not as individuals but as victimized members of groups.

Bristol Palin, a teen-aged young woman, is savaged and once again not a peep from NOW. The latest episode involves Miss California, Carrie Prejean. She has been unmercifully savaged in the press. Surprise, surprise no response from NOW.

Ladies of NOW, the clock has struck midnight and it's time to face the music. Your organization does not support the rights of woman and never did. It was simply a front for your socialist agenda to hide behind. I say come out of the closet and be honest with the American people. Admit you don't stand up for women. Call yourself what you really are, the National Organization of Socialists. Look at the record ladies. Your silence is deafening.

Bigotry and Carrie Prejean

Three cheers for Miss California. If Republican elected officials had half as much guts as this young lady, the country would not be in the trouble it is in today. By now, we all know the story. Quite simply Miss Prejean was likely cheated out of the Miss Universe title for simply asserting her First Amendment right of free speech under the Constitution.

When asked about gay marriage, she responded respectfully that it was her religious belief that marriage should be confined to one man and one woman. Hardly startling, except for the fact that the judge who asked the question was highly offended by her response. The judge, a fellow named Perez Hilton who I confess I never heard of, has been crying bigotry ever since.

I have no idea who you are Mr. Perez and why you were chosen to be a judge at this pageant, but you are right. As Americans we must all stand up to bigotry and confront it when it rears its ugly head. So kudos to you Mr. Perez for railing against a bigot. The only problem sir, is that the only bigot in this story is you.

Abortion, RINOs and the 2008 Election

My latest effort for Smart Girl Nation dissects the current wishy-washy state of the GOP, which doesn't seem to want to learn from history, e.g. Ronald Reagan's winning recipe of unapologetic conservatism. I'm not quite sure what it's going to take for these obtuse, alleged "leaders" to finally see the light, but if enough of us keep voicing our displeasure, and simultaneously withhold funds from the RNC in favor of conservative candidates, perhaps it will sink in. Click the link below for the full column:

Abortion, RINOs and the 2008 Election.

Monday Links

Heading out soon to consult with a new client on his book. A referral from two good friends who run the Southeast Broward Republican Club, Ilya is a man who knows what real oppression feels like, having spent a portion of his life as a prisoner in a Soviet gulag. I am looking forward to learning more of his story.

In the meantime, some Monday links:

Mark Steyn - Climb.

Michelle Malkin - The most self-absorbed night in Washington (since the inaugural).

Dr. Ted Baehr - Angels, Demons and Democrats

Hugh S - About Last Night

Kevin Jackson - Great Moments in Democrat Racist History
On Freedom's Wings - The Patrick Henry Caucus

Happy Mothers' Day!

In this photo, left to right, cousin Annie, Daria, Mom and sister Carolyn on Christmas Day

On this day honoring mothers everywhere, I wanted to send out a special thank you to my own mom -- one of the most loving, generous, strong-willed and determined women I know. There are some in our society who erroneously believe that the concept of a strong female took hold in the 1960s, as if prior to that turbulent decade, every American woman was nothing more than an appendange to her husband (if she happened to be married), a slave to her children (as if motherhood was a form of indentured servitiude), or dependent on the generosity of others (if she happened to be single).

I am blessed to have descended from a long line of sterotype-shattering females -- spawned from tough peasant stock -- who proved long before Gloria and the girls came along that women can be independent, accomplished, smart, funny, self-assured and devout in their religious beliefs. They could also own businesses, as is the case with my late Aunt Emma, a wife and mother who ran her own beauty shop back in the 1940s; break the glass ceiling, like my cousin Millie, the first female graduate of Temple University's Pharmacy School; or after spending time in the working world, make a glorious career out of raising respectable, productive and caring human beings.

My own mom falls into that last category, although while raising kids, she also took care of the books for my dad's medical office; served as President on the Home and School Association; ran countless successful fundraisers for various organizations (Saint Joseph's University, O'Hara High School and Physician's Wives Auxiliary, to name a few) and even served as township committeewoman for several terms.

But by far, her greatest joy was her children, and seeing them into adulthood, her top priority. My mom didn't just "parent" her little ones out of natural obligation, she relished every moment of it -- whether it was taking us into downtown Philadelphia to visit historic sites or watch live stage productions; cheering for the home team with us at a Phillies or Eagles game (yeah, mom is totally into sports); teaching us our prayers; or helping with homework.

Emotionally, she was always there to lend an ear and a hug when the inevitable realities of life would set in, such as a mean kid at school making fun of me for a few extra pounds; or as childhood transformed into adolescence, having to deal with the object of my affection (a creature known as "the teen-aged male") rejecting me.

No matter what took place in the outside world, home was always a haven of comfort and unconditional love, thanks in large part to my mom. It was the place I could cry, laugh, hang out with my siblings and otherwise be myself, without any fear of rejection or ridicule. It was also a place that had well-defined boundaries and serious consequences for bad behavior. Never one to utter the phrase "Wait until your father gets home," (partly out of necessity, as dad's workdays as a surgeon tended to be quite long) Mom always administered "tough love" when the situation warranted.

She taught me about strength, courage, persistence, love and generosity through her example, and not just as an academic exercise.

I based a character from my book, Monica Rose, on my own mother, and I believe this particular passage nicely summarizes the theme of this Mothers' Day post:

"After all, hadn't it been Monica's stellar example of independence and determination that had provided Maddy the blueprint? Mrs. Rose had admirably handled formidable hardships of her own -- the death of her beloved brother Anthony in World War II, Bell's Palsy at age 13, and -- in one of the biggest tests of her adult life -- the birth of a Down syndrome baby when she was 28, at a time when conventional medicine dismissed such children as "stigmas" to be shipped off to nightmarish institutions, never to be seen or heard from again."

Everything stated in the above "fictional" paragraph was culled from my mother's own life. And the more I reflect back, the greater my admiration and respect for her. As children of course, we mostly fail to appreciate fully these realities; for me, the older I get, the deeper the realization of my mother's exceptional character and example becomes. Much of it also stems from writing commentary on the current sorry state of our culture, with its excessive divorce rate, "instant gratification" mentality and "me first" outlook -- all of which inflicts incredible damage upon today's children. I am eternally grateful to have been given a mother who not only loved her offspring immeasurably, but also genuinely enjoyed raising them.

Happy Mothers' Day to my mom, and all of the mothers everywhere. God bless you!

Boca Republican Club Social

I had a great evening hanging out with some local conservatives at The Blue Martini Lounge at the Town Center Mall. For those of you who live out of state and cannot fathom the idea that there actually are conservatives in Boca Raton, here's some proof!

The event was mostly about music, dancing, drinks and light-hearted conversation; however, this group is focused on ridding the Republican Party of treacherous RINOs at the local and state levels. Ed Lynch and Col. Allen West, both conservative candidates for Congress in South Florida, were in attendance. They are already working hard to ensure victory in 2010!

No matter where you live, NOW is the time to rally behind good candidates. Taking our country back requires dedication, persistence and the sacrifice of time and money; I happen to believe freedom is worth it.

Smart Girl Politics featured in The Washington Times

In this photo: two"Smart Girls," Elizabeth Santana Mariano and Daria DiGiovanni

Stacy Mott, founder of Smart Girl Politics, was featured in The Washington Times "Hot Button" page today. Reporter Amanda Carpenter, who also appears weekly on Bill O'Reilly's Factor segment, "Policing the Net," sat down with Stacy to discuss the evolution of SGP from a simple blog into one of the most dynamic social networking sites on the internet.

Its accompanying e-zine, Smart Girl Nation, offers opinion and commentary on everything from politics to culture, oftentimes employing humor to make a serious point. I am very excited to be one of the contributors to this effort and commend Stacy for conceiving and implementing this much-needed outlet for conservative women.

Danny Ozark RIP

The Philadelphia Phillies lost another one of the family with the passing of former manager Danny Ozark on May 7. Danny came to Philly in 1973 and finished last his first year. No surprise given the state of the team at that time. However, the winds of change were in the air as the team was starting to reap the benefits of the best farm system in baseball, which had been revamped in the mid 1960s by former owner Ruly Carpenter and the late GM Paul Owens.

Soon future homegrown stars such as Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa, and Bob Boone found their way onto the Phillies roster. Shrewd trades added future Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Pete Rose, along with fleet center fielder Garry Maddox. Within a few short years, Danny found himself managing one of the best teams in baseball. He led the Phillies to three straight division titles beginning in 1976 and to two straight 100 win seasons in 1976 and 1977, but his failure to lead the team to the World Series led to his firing in 1979.

He was not the greatest strategist as a manager and his moves were often frustrating but Danny O was always liked by his players. I remember meeting he and his wife in Atlantic City in 1985 and they couldn't have been nicer. We spent several minutes talking baseball and I came away feeling bad that I had been one of his critics as a manager.

Like Yogi Berra, Danny was the master of the malaprop. One of his classics occurred in September one year when the team had just been eliminated from the division title race. When asked about team morale, Danny replied famously " morality at this time is not a factor." I am sure he's now hanging with Harry, Whitey, and Em discussing the 1977 playoff loss to the Dodgers.

A baseball lifer from a simpler and happier time. RIP

Freedoms Wings

Just wanted to take a moment to thank Diane Student of Freedoms Wings for hosting me on her excellent show tonight. If you haven't listened to Freedoms Wings on Blog Talk Radio, I strongly encourage you to check it out. You can listen to the archives of tonight's interview here. And visit her blog of the same name here.

Finally, for all of you Ring Wing Extremists seeking another place to network online, be sure to sign up at The Conservative Alliance, where it's always a free speech zone!

Tom Ridge says "no thanks" to a Pat Toomey challenge in Pennsylvania

I think I can speak for all three of us at Palin Drone when I express my relief and gratitude to moderate Tom Ridge for declining to challenge conservative Pat Toomey for the Republican nomination for US Senate. While the "prevailing wisdom" (and I use the term loosely) among the GOP's power-brokers is that a staunch conservative Republican couldn't possibly beat a Democrat in a general election, I beg to differ. Toomey nearly edged out Specter in 2004, narrowly losing that race by 51-49% in spite of President Bush and Senator Rick Santorum's endorsement of the donkey in elephant's clothing.

And as Ed Morrissey at Hot Air points out, Rick Santorum's loss in 2006 can be attributed to strong anti-Republican headwinds (largely caused by their own runaway spending), and the fact that he'd only served one term. I'd also add that the Democrats purposely ran a "pro-life" candidate in the form of the otherwise liberal -- not to mention non-descript -- Bob Casey (a political dolt in the tradition of Scott McClellan). Do you suppose they realized something the regrettably thick GOP leadership missed? Namely that the Keystone State, once outside the confines of Philly and Pittsburgh, is mostly populated with conservatives and Reagan Democrats.

As I recall, Santorum's support for the then deteriorating, pre-surge Iraq War had more to do with his loss than his social conservatism. How else do you explain a bore like Casey trouncing such a well-spoken, intelligent and likeable opponent? True, of late, Santorum is starting to annoy me, but that's an issue for another post. For now, I am happy it appears Toomey will run unopposed in the primary, allowing him to save his money for the fight ahead in the general.

Ed's advice is well-taken: Toomey should put most of the focus on economic issues and fiscal conservatism; God knows we'll be feeling the disatrous effects of Obama's socialism by the time this race gets interesting. And it wouldn't hurt to run commercials highlighting Specter's absurd comments in the wake of Jack Kemp's death, either.

It's the Principles, Stupid!

Mark Tapscott penned an excellent piece in the Washington Examiner that should be required reading for all of the Republican blue-bloods who fancy themselves the standard-bearers of the party (yeah, I think they are also imbibing some pretty potent Kool-Aid). As I mentioned in my post the other day, the GOP is losing precisely because it strayed away from the unabashed conservatism espoused by the Great Communicator, and into a "kinder, gentler" (e.g. lamer) shell of its former self.

It defies logic, given Reagan's amazing track record, that these idiots are so thick-headed on this issue. As Ann Coulter stated again last night on The Factor, "How many times do we have to run this failed experiment?" (I particularly liked her reply when Bill asked if she liked Sarah Palin. In her inimitable style, Ann enthused, "Of course I like her, I voted for her!").

In his editorial, Tapscott chides Jeb Bush for playing into the hands of a voracious left-wing media and reminds him of the real culprits and architects of the Republican Party's current foray into the political wilderness:

"Excuse me Jeb Bush, but your daddy and brother already helped push the Republican Party beyond the "good old days" of its Reagan legacy, and we all see how well that's been working for the GOP since 2006, don't we.

Click over to read the entire analysis. Then pray that the GOP gets a clue, and quick!

Happy Birthday Mark!

Mark and Lisa

Mark and me on Christmas Eve, 2008.

Mark and Ralph on Christmas Day, 2008.


Just wanted to take a moment to wish my big brother and Palin Drone co-blogger Mark a very Happy Birthday! In a perfect world, every girl would grow up with at least one older brother; in my case, I am incredibly blessed to have been given three -- all unique personalities and characters, but all good, upstanding men.

On his special day, I am wishing Mark an abundance of good health, love, happiness and prosperity always!

Florida Speaker of the House Marco Rubio announces US Senate run

Last night I attended the monthly meeting of the Southeast Broward Republican Club, where Florida Speaker of the House (R) Marco Rubio announced his intention to run for the US Senate seat vacated by RINO Mel Martinez.

I've been cautiously optimistic about the young, dynamic and unabashedly conservative Rubio, though critics have denounced what they deem his tepid stance on illegal immigration. Having heard Rubio speak before at a Republican women's event last fall, and on Lisa Macci's Justice Hour radio program, I'll admit I was still a bit skeptical, though positively impressed by his unapologetic championing of strong families for a strong society; sanctity of life issues; national security and defense; limited government; and free-market principles.

Last evening however, Rubio delved more deeply into the immigration issue, affirming his opposition to amnesty and support for securing the borders. He also made a valid point concerning the issue of people who initially come to the USA legally, and then overstay their VISAs -- a problem with many of the 9/11 hijackers. Additionally, he had a few disdainful observations about the so-called "listening tour," and stressed the need for Republican leadership to get back to the business of articulating conservatism.

Possessing the necessary combination of substance and style, Rubio is a young (38 years-old), handsome and engaging orator, which definitely gives him an advantage over his opponents. Whether he can prevail remains to be seen, but I look forward to watching this race unfold as the months go by. And let's face it: the GOP desperately needs an infusion of fresh, young talent.

Speaking of which, I'd be remiss if I didn't offer kudos to Club President Eddie Napolitano -- one of the most passionate conservative voices in South Florida -- and his lovely wife Stacy, both of whom put in countless hours and much of their own money into running this organization. God knows, Broward needs all the help it can get; Eddie and Stacy are single-handedly turning the county around, one mind at a time. A US Military veteran, Napolitano also founded the "Welcome Home Warrior" project, an effort that ensures returning soldiers are greeted at the airport by an enthusiastic crowd.

Water Signs is on Amazon!

Finally, my book is available on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle editions. There is a HUGE mistake on the pricing for the paperback version, which I am quickly attempting to resolve, but if recent twitter follower notifications are any indication, being on Amazon is a really, really good thing!

In related news, I've been asked to co-host another Blog Talk Show, Stephen Rhodes' Republican Temple. I'll be appearing weekly with Steve on Tuesday evenings, beginning on May 26.

Dom DeLuise RIP

We lost one of the giants of the Golden Age of comedy with the passing of Dom DeLuise today. He was one of the funniest men in show business, a very talented comedian and actor. He was a regular on the old Dean Martin Variety Show and on the popular Dean Martin Roasts.

He also starred in some of the funniest movies of all time, among them: The End, Fatso, Cannonball Run,and History of the World, Part I. I saw him perform live in Atlantic City in 1983 and I laughed so hard for two hours that my sides hurt. Thanks for the many happy memories Dom. It wasn't just nice, it was thrilling.

UPDATE: The Fatso trailer (H/T, Jack Fowler)

An Open Letter to Senator John Cornyn

Dear Senator,

I am not a constituent, but as a pro - life Reagan conservative I admire your standing up for conservative principles in the U.S. Senate. As you know for many years we in PA have been stuck with a Senator masquerading as a Republican, who finally came out of the closet and switched parties recently.

As you also know, Congressman Pat Toomey has announced his candidacy for this Senate seat. I am writing because I have been advised that you have spoken out on this issue declaring that Congressman Toomey cannot win a statewide election. I have also been advised that you suggested that a moderate, someone like Tom Ridge should run for this seat and would receive party backing.

If such statements came from a country club Rockefeller Republican, I could understand it. However coming from you, I cannot. We in the conservative grass roots have had it quite frankly, with the party's abandonment of the Reagan Revolution and its turn to the Left. Please tell me that I am mistaken and that you and other conservatives in the Senate would support Mr. Toomey's candidacy.

We know that our country clubbing brothers are "embarrassed" by us pro-lifers, but we are simply not gong away. We will either work with you to win you elections or simply form a third party.

What I don't understand is why the Party leaders persist in this "moderation". It's done nothing but lose us elections - 1976, 1992, and 2008 to name a few. Why we have abandoned the Reagan blueprint for victory is beyond me. I supported President Reagan in 1976 and remember the false accusations made about him by the Party Regulars that year and throughout the 1970s.

The fact is, we simply cannot win by becoming Democrats Lite. Why vote for an imitation when you can get the real thing. The other fallacy is that conservatism is at odds with a big tent Republican Party. This again is untrue. As evidence, I point to the Reagan landslides of 1980 and 1984. The secret is to lead and take the conservative message to all voters regardless of their party affiliation, and not to water down our message to pander to special interest groups.

I wish you continued success and look forward to many conservative Republican victories in the 2010 congressional elections.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

A Masterpiece

When I say you must watch this video, I mean YOU. MUST. WATCH.

You can thank me later.

Jack Kemp Redux

In my last blog commemorating the life of the late Jack Kemp, I was remiss in not mentioning perhaps his greatest political/legislative achievement. I am speaking of the Kemp Roth Tax Cut otherwise known as The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. This bill amended the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and encouraged economic growth through reductions in individual/personal income tax rates, the expensing of depreciable property, incentives for small businesses, and incentives for savings. It also reduced marginal income tax rates in the United States by 25% over three years (the top rate falling from 70% to 50% while the bottom rate dropped from 14% to 11%) and indexed the rates for inflation. However, the indexing was delayed until 1985.

This bill was signed into law by President Reagan, and in my opinion it single - handedly killed the beast of stagflation, when interest rates and unemployment were both in double digits in the late 1970s under the failed Carter Administration. Simply put it was a bill for the little guy, the entrepreneur and small business person, and not just corporations. Prior to that time most tax cuts focused on the corporate tax rate and not personal rates. It was based in part upon the 1961 tax cut bill signed into law by JFK, also a great bill which our liberal friends choose to ignore when any discussion of JFK comes up.

The Kemp Roth tax cuts are estimated to have created 16 million new jobs. Quite an accomplishment especially when you consider that the country had just come out of the Carter economy, the worst economy since the Great Depression.

Well done Jack. May your ideas be embraced by our current Republican leaders who have clearly lost their way.

The GOP's Good Ol' Boys

Thanks to Conservatives4Palin, I've finally lost whatever remaining shreds of respect I once had for Mitt Romney, who's apparently just another establishment type feeling threatened by the highly accomplished, anti-establishment Governor of Alaska. It's bad enough that this woman is under constant assault from the media and leftie political opponents who continually file bogus ethics complaints against her, she also has to contend with backstabbers in her own party hell-bent on destroying her chances in 2012.

I know you boys are at your wits' end with us pesky social cons, but we of the "three-legged stool" variety aren't going away. Our country and our freedoms mean way too much to us not to fight for them with every ounce of strength we have. I'm sure that probably sounds "cute," "quaint" and possibly even "jingoistic" to you empty suits; perhaps you should all get out of the Beltway and into the real America more often. But doggone it, after the failed squishy moderate presidential campaigns of 1992, 1996 and 2008, one would think you guys would finally learn your lesson! Oh, and let's not forget Jeb, that the real reason your brother barely won the election in 2000 (by 535 Florida votes, if memory serves correctly) was because millions of Evangelicals sat it out, believing him to be the same model of ineffective moderation as your father.

And hey Jeb? Moving away from Reagan is exactly the wrong thing to do! Your dad's "kinder, gentler" BS initiated the GOP's downward spiral into the political abyss, paving the way for eight long years of Bill Clinton; similarly, your brother's "compassionate conservatism," i.e. liberalism with a different name, massively expanded the size and scope of government, thus laying the groundwork for the Obama Administration's sprint to socialism.

McCain? The beginning of the end for your presidential aspirations was the day you suspended your campaign to head to Washington and -- instead of "separating yourself from President Bush" -- voted in lockstep with him on the bailout. The only smart thing you did during your failed presidential run was to choose Sarah Palin as your vice-presidential nominee. Not sure why you can't get that through your thick skull, given the dramatic spike in volunteerism among campaign offices nationwide immediately following her announcement! She's the only thing that saved you from a landslide defeat, and the only reason this blogger bothered to do a damn thing to help you get elected. Too bad your squishy, weak-willed campaign staff kept a muzzle on her, whenever they weren't busy throwing her to the lamesteam media wolves, including "headmaster" Gibson and "green with envy" Couric.

Cantor? I used to respect you too, but after reading the quote suggesting that the only reason you stood firm against the bailout was because of Nancy Pelosi's rhetoric -- well, let's just say you've proven yourself just another lame career politician.

In brief gentlemen, none of you even remotely comes close to Sarah Palin's courage, tenacity, integrity, strength and unapologetic championing of conservative principles. And Mitt, it's nice to know there are some prominent Republicans who can back up an incredibly attractive outer package with real grit, character and smarts. If I were you, I'd try to learn a thing or two from Sarah. Because right about now, the only positive thing I can say on your behalf is that you still have a nice head of hair. Thanks for making me regret voting for you in the Florida Primary.

UPDATE: Cory T. Di Geronimo of the excellent Governor Palin 4 President, has more.

Bravo Coach !

I do not regularly follow the Orlando Magic of the NBA as I am a Sixers fan, although I will cheer for them now that they have eliminated our guys from Philly. I do like some of the Magic players, most notably our own SJU grad Jameer Nelson. I care even less about their head coach, a chap named Stan Van Gundy.

Why then do I mention Coach Van Gundy in this blog? Because of an incident that occurred with the press before Game 6 of their recent first round playoff series victory over the Sixers. Before that game, the Magic's star center Dwight Howard was hit with a one game suspension because of an incident he was involved in during Orlando's Game 5 win over the Sixers.

When asked about how the Magic would deal with Howard's loss, a reporter asked Van Gundy if the team would have to develop a bunker mentality in order to survive Game 6 without Howard. At that point, the coach reacted angrily and stated in no uncertain terms that he did not believe in analogies between sport and war, and would no longer address any such questions on the topic.

Van Gundy then emphatically explained and I paraphrase, that it was insulting to the the real heroes of the day, the men and women of the US Military who face actual life and death situations everyday, to compare what they face to a sporting event. He went on to state that pro sports are a game and not life and death. Bravo, coach Van Gundy. Thank you for adding something necessary to the self - infatuated, narcissistic world of pro sports, a little perspective.

Special Announcement

I will be appearing as a regular co-host on Red State Town Hall with Premo Mondone, the first and third Saturdays of every month, 10 p.m. EST. If you've not listened to one of Premo's broadcasts, I encourage you to click on the link and check out some of the archives. Premo is a staunch Reagan conservative, computer-guru by day, Blog Talk host by night, husband, father and all-around great guy.

I first appeared on his program to promote Water Signs a few months back and have been a loyal listener ever since. Seeking to add a conservative female voice to the repertoire, Mondone extended the invitation to co-host and I happily accepted. In addition to lots of good-natured bantering back and forth, we'll analyze the issues of the day, interview interesting guests and eagerly take your calls. I am looking forward to a fulfilling partnership!

Join the Grizzly Groundswell!

Temerity Magazine, brainchild of Chad "Teddy Bear" Everson and Eric Daniel Brown, is now live. Featuring some of the best conservative thinkers, writers and activists in the country, Temerity is another stellar effort to take back pop culture, rally American patriots and provide a one-stop source for entertainment, humor and opinion with a decidedly rightward lean. Yours truly is a monthly contributor, and my Identity Politics piece -- first published here on Palin Drone -- appears on page 16.

Congratulations to Chad, Eric and everyone involved for a job well done!

Rate my book

Hey, if you are so inclined, please visit Public Bookshelf and rate Water Signs. The better the rating, the better my advertising revenue. In these tough economic times, every little bit helps, so I thank you for your consideration!

When will the GOP learn its lesson?

From Politico, seems the hapless Republican establishment is urging moderate Tom Ridge to challenge conservative Pat Toomey in the Pennsylvania senatorial primary. When will these country clubbers learn that moderation is a one-way ticket to defeat? Did it ever occur to them there's a valid reason why Toomey was polling 20 points ahead of Stimulus-lovin' Specter, prompting ol' Arlen to make it official and declare himself a Democrat? Have they no recollection of recent history, specifically the 2004 election, when Toomey nearly beat Specter in the general (51-49%), in spite of being thrown under the bus by President Bush and Senator Rick Santorum?

Cut away Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and you're left with a Keystone State that more closely resembles Alabama or Kentucky than its deep-blue neighbors New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York. In a state populated with Reagan Democrats and conservative Republicans, Toomey has already proven he can compete with the best of them. And I suspect, given the commonwealth's distaste for the porkulus bill, all Toomey has to do to win is highlight Specter's role in passing this horrid legislation, while "reaching out" Reagan-style to articulate conservatism to the state's voting population. It's a philosophy that works for everyone, regardless of color, ethnicity, race, creed or any other factor; I thought our 40th president made that clear through word, deed and example, but apparently the RINOs are still refusing to get the memo.

I for one am finding it exhausting to not only have to fight against marxism, liberalism and statism, but also to rail against those who are allegedly on the same side. Glenn Beck is right: progressivism has infected both parties to the point where it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish a Republican from a Democrat. For the most part, all I see are career politicians, with nary a statesman in sight (notables like Pence, Bachmann, Blackburn and Cantor excepted). These traitors care little for their country or the espoused principles upon which they were elected; their most pressing concern is prolonging their "public service" and living off the backs of hard-working American citizens.

But with the advent of the tea parties, the electorate has finally said "enough"! Now is the time to push for term limits, demand accountability from the "go along to get along" congress- critters, and -- in the absence of satisfactory performance -- rally behind true conservative challengers. These Beltway-itis inflicted incumbents must be handed a one-way ticket out of D.C. and back into the private sector, where the rest of us must work hard and live within our means. Come to think of it, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to require everyone who aspires to public office to first work in the private sector for a minimum of five years. And while we're at it, can we get rid of all the lawyers?

Jack Kemp RIP

I was saddened to learn yesterday of the death of Jack Kemp, a dedicated public servant and American patriot. His was a life of great accomplishment in both the fields of professional sports and national politics.

As the star quarterback of the Buffalo Bills in the 1960s, he was a seven - time AFL All - Star and led the Bills to two AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. These were the last two AFL Championships before the merger with the NFL, and the advent of the Super Bowl following the 1966 season. He was the MVP of the AFL in 1965 and co- founder of the AFL Player's Association in 1964. While playing, he also served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Following his successful pro football career, Jack decided to tackle the profession of politics. There he achieved even more success than he did on the gridiron. He was elected and reelected eight times running as a conservative Republican in a heavily Democratic district in Western New York.

Mr. Kemp was truly a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution. It was largely he and economist Dr. Arthur Laffer who spear headed President Reagan's philosophy of supply side economics, which led to the greatest peacetime expansion of the economy ever up to that time, in the decade of the 1980s. Beginning in the late 1970s he tirelessly campaigned for President Reagan. He soldiered on speaking to anyone who would listen and drawing them Laffer Curves, a schematic diagram developed by Dr. Laffer to demonstrate the powerful effect of supply side economics.

He later served admirably in the administrations of President Reagan and President Bush 41. He was a man of principle who believed in conservative ideas as well as a big tent Republican Party. However, like President Reagan he understood that big tent did not mean the giving up of conservative values to pander for votes, rather it meant bringing that conservative philosophy to non - traditional Republican constituencies, such as minorities and union workers.

He was a true statesman who argued ideas without attacking his opponents personally. Quite a departure from the current political climate for sure. I had the pleasure of meeting he and Mrs. Kemp, a most gracious woman, at a campaign event in 1988. It took place in suburban Philadelphia at the home of a wealthy contributor, and in attendance were several former professional athletes many of whom had played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Even with all this star power, he and his wife took time to greet me and the other young lawyers from the Federalist Society who were in attendance.

Later, that same year the Federalist Society organized another campaign event which was held at my parents' home. It was a small event, involving only about 100 people. Nevertheless, Jack sent one of his campaign aides to Pennsylvania along with his daughter Jennifer, to attend the fundraiser. I was disappointed that he did not get the nomination in 1988 and that he decided not to run in 1996, when I really believed he could have won. His presence on the ticket as a vice presidential candidate that year did energize the Republican base, but unfortunately it was too little, too late.

Up until recently when he became ill, he continued to be a strong voice for conservative principles which he always articulated in an inclusive manner. He stood up for the individual and treated all people as Americans, not as members of hyphenated groups. He constantly championed the entrepreneur and the small business person and recognized that it was they and not the federal government, that was the backbone of the economy. His voice, especially in these deeplytroubled economic times, will be sorely missed.

In sum, a true American success story. Loving husband, father, grandfather, professional athlete, entrepreneur, Congressman, Cabinet member, Conservative spokesman, and American patriot. A life well lived. A life to be admired and emulated.

Condi schools a leftie

You have to love the way she refuses to give this weasel any quarter.