About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Murtha Getting Backlogged On Apologies
Gary Gross of Let Freedom Ring sees another case collapsing on the Haditha charges. He's called for Murtha to apologize earlier, and adds another reason to the tally.
No Such Thing As 'Moderate' Islam?
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan told a television interviewer that he finds the label "moderate Islam" offensive. Shrink Wrapped has a lot more on this, but at least in the same interview Erdogan acknowledged that "radical Islam" exists, and that it's been a catastrophe. Be sure to read the whole post.
MS-NBC Gets Punk'd
Power Line has a great post on a lack of journalistic effort on the part of MS-NBC. In covering the Michael Vick story, they reported on what they thought was Al Sharpton's website proclaiming Vick's innocence. I guess Alex Johnson and two other MS-NBC reporters couldn't bother to read the title bar of the site, which proudly proclaims it as a "parody site".
New Instapundit Podcast On Pharmaceuticals
I just caught this e-mail from Glenn Reynolds about his new podcast with Richard Epstein, the author of Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but the topic is important enough to make sure I carve out time for it tomorrow. Get their first and tell me what I'm missing ....
Fed Trying A 'Stealth Easing'?
The Federal Reserve seems to have conducted a quiet campaign to steady markets that started spinning out of control, according to King Banaian at SCSU Scholars. He thinks that the Fed has conducted a "stealth easing". Be sure to read his explanation and follow his lnks.
A Shameless Bit Of Sel-Promotion
Gateway Pundit and Val at Babalu Blog note a crass PR move by Hugo Chavez. Venezuela has responded to Peru's eathquake disaster with food shipments -- and with Hugo's smiling picture on the cans. He also uses the tuna-can label to undermine President Garcia of Peru, who narrowly defeated Chavez' pal Ollanto Humalla, whom the labels extol for his "solidarity" with Chavez.
Tacky beyond belief.
Comments (27)
Posted by Scott Malensek | July 19, 2007 9:57 AM
"how Democrats can posture as responsible guardians of national security while throwing citizen tipsters to the litigating wolves"
List of Democratic Party led initiatives since 911 that have helped bring terrorists to justice and will continue to do so:
:-)
Posted by Scrapiron | July 19, 2007 9:59 AM
Would anyone expect the dhimmi's to do any different? They have been and are in bed with the criminal trial lawyers and I don't mean lawyers who defend criminals, the lawyers as a whole have became high class criminals, Without the criminal money bled from the public coffers by the 'criminal' lawsuit lawyers the dhimmi's have no money. Taxpayers and Insurance payers provided every dime people like the Silky Pony running for president has. They won't kill their very own golden goose.
Posted by onlineanalyst | July 19, 2007 10:04 AM
Scrapiron: Your points go to the heart of the issue. The same Dem interests that pushed for legal loopholes in the shamnesty bill are now undermining protections for our John Doe citizens.
Posted by C. Perkins | July 19, 2007 10:08 AM
It seems to me like Republicans could make this a big issue in the election if it holds up. I think it will resonate.
Posted by bulbasaur | July 19, 2007 10:12 AM
I watched the National Geographic special on 9-11, and it features the airline ticketing agent who saw Mohamed Atta face to face, and flagged him as a threat, saying to himself, if ever there was a terrorist, this guy is one. He said Atta looked as hateful and angry as any man he'd ever seen.
The agent relates how he agonized over his decision, was he being prejudiced? judgmental? and decided to let Mohamed Atta pass through. Did you know that???
The democrat party created the cultural climate that made such self-doubt mandatory, and now they apparently want to up the ante.
This is insane.
Posted by jpe | July 19, 2007 10:14 AM
The law is totally unnecessary - it doesn't change existing law in the slightest. The only story here is that it shows just how stupid the right side of the blogosphere is.
Posted by bulbasaur | July 19, 2007 10:25 AM
What a delightful gift jpe gives us this morning!
I honestly thought the hard-left would be horrified that this passed by the focus groups and made it to the policy stage, and that would be the end of it.
Not so! Our friend jpe suggests that the hard-left is going to circle the wagons on this! Oh please do! Please!
I think I'll have another donut this morning after all!
Posted by vdig | July 19, 2007 10:44 AM
Interesting, jpe. You are saying that the language of the bill does not change anything in the law as of this moment. Very well, show me and the rest of us what U.S. law allows for the American people to report suspicious behavior without fear of being sued by the one that is supposedly suspicious. If it really is redundant, then no harm, no foul, and you are right. Still, I believe that any nation's people should have the right to report oddities that may be a portent for looming disaster, including odd behavior of a person or group of persons, without being intimidated into silence.
Before you begin, I realize that some pranksters might abuse such a law. Should that come to pass, I believe that it should be the government's role to initiate a fine or lawsuit for abusing the system instead of the supposed suspicious person. Nobody likes to lose money over a prank, so the system would not likely be abused.
Finally, I think the suspicious Imams are clearly in the wrong. Between setting themselves up in seats that are not assigned to them, being arranged in an established terrorist formation, and requesting seatbelt extenders only to not use them sounds beyond fishy, and clearly demands the action taken by the airline staff. This political stunt must not undermine the security established by the airlines because of political appeasement. If the law, as it stands, exposes airlines and people who report suspicious behavior to lawsuits, then by all means, the Homeland Security Bill better keep that language intact.
Posted by Lightwave | July 19, 2007 11:03 AM
Wait, wait...
It's perfectly okay to have leakers like Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame all over the Government that undermine national security, but shielding those who might blow the whistle on things like this is wrong to the Dems?
When will the rest of America realize the Democrats are traitors?
Posted by Lew | July 19, 2007 11:19 AM
Well gee jpe, if it doesn't do anything and it doesn't change any existing law , then why are you so opposed to it?
It must do something, or you wouldn't be against it, would you?
After all, every one of us go through each day surrounded by a passing parade of harmless irrelevancies that we may or may not take notice of as we do our business. Its only when one item among the vast sea of items jumps out and grabs our attention as consequential, that we bother to react to it. It suddenly has meaning to us and we must decide if its good or bad and act accordingly.
So what awful consequence looms over the horizon at you to inspire such vitriolic opposition to a bill you say is so barren of effect?
Posted by Scrapiron | July 19, 2007 11:19 AM
I think they found the problem in congress today. The water (drinking) in DC is poluted and a direct line runs to the democrat quarters. Evidently the polution results in a bad case of Anti-Americanism and Dumb A**es. There is no way the democrats are 'naturally' born this Anti-American and stupid. Lightwave, just read comments by people like jpe and you'll understand change will be a long process, if ever.
Posted by jpe | July 19, 2007 11:41 AM
I didn't see any vitriolic opposition to the bill. Perhaps you could point it out to me.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by DubiousD | July 19, 2007 11:44 AM
In addition to Hot Air, Malkin, and the Corner, there's also this Frontpage piece by Frank Gaffney here:
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=29228
Posted by Jim | July 19, 2007 11:51 AM
Good point, jpe!!
I guess any honest and up front opposition to a bill would alert the peasantry to their devious little plans to cow tow to the CAIR and Moonbat Truther crowd.......so they have to kill this....."quietly."
Posted by Lew | July 19, 2007 12:05 PM
"The law is totally unnecessary - it doesn't change existing law in the slightest. The only story here is that it shows just how stupid the right side of the blogosphere is."
Ok jpe, perhaps I'm getting overly sensitive in my dotage but when you start calling "the right side of the blogosphere" stupid by its advocacy for the measure, that seems a bit vitriolic to me. I will grant that the judgment is mostly in the eye of the beholder, but I will also stand by it.
So enlighten this poor benighted wretch of the right, why are we on the starboard side so "stupid" for our advocacy of what seems so practical a measure, especially given your own characterization of it as "unnecessary"?
Posted by MarkJ | July 19, 2007 12:33 PM
I guess I shouldn't kick a man when he's down, but, in "jpe's" case, I'll make an exception.
I've got a ten-spot that, immediately following a major terrorist attack in this country, folks like "jpe" will be out in the streets alternately squealing....
a) "Why didn't we do something?"
and
b) "We've got to do something!"
Am I right or am I right?
Posted by Bill Faith | July 19, 2007 12:55 PM
Hey, gang! I have an idea. Let's all stay home and teach the Republicans another lesson in '08. That'll show 'em. (What, me bitter?) I added a link to my 2007.07.19 Long War // Dhimm Perfidy Roundup.
Posted by vdig | July 19, 2007 1:03 PM
jpe, you are right in saying that you did not state vitriolic opposition to the law. You merely claim that you think it does nothing. I still want to know why you think that, and what supports your logic, that's all.
However, why the potshot at conservative bloggers? There are interesting and intelligent things I read on many blogs, from many bloggers of different political leanings, therefore I find your statement just a bit rude. I've seen worse, though. I've seen my share of stupid leftist blogger posts too.
Posted by MAJ Arkay | July 19, 2007 1:03 PM
Can't say this surprises me. Add the fact that identical bills have been introduced to stop the Government from getting information from "journalists" about espionage and terrorists, and once again, our duly elected "representatives" strive hard to protect they who will do the nation ill. They call H.R. 2102 and S. 1267 "Free Flow of Information Act of 2007." I call them the "Protecting the NY Times from Its Own Treasonous Acts Act of 2007."
Posted by MAJ Arkay | July 19, 2007 1:05 PM
Can't say this surprises me. Add the fact that identical bills have been introduced to stop the Government from getting information from "journalists" about espionage and terrorists, and once again, our duly elected "representatives" strive hard to protect they who will do the nation ill. They call H.R. 2102 and S. 1267 "Free Flow of Information Act of 2007." I call them the "Protecting the NY Times from Its Own Treasonous Acts Act of 2007."
Posted by Thomas Jackson | July 19, 2007 1:22 PM
Well this is no surprise that the Democrat Party would do something that undermines the safety of Americans and do it in the dark of night. As others have mentioned this should be a major campaign theme along with the Democrat's shamnesty plan; its support of the troops; reckless spending; corruption; and its marxist plans for socialized healthcare and central planning at the expense of individual liberities and free enterprise.
Posted by philw | July 19, 2007 1:32 PM
As a former Democratic activist, I find it very difficult to vote D for any positions influencing national security, Lieberperson aside.
Posted by Mwalimu Daudi | July 19, 2007 2:38 PM
Now that they are in power, Democrats have decided that they don't like whistleblowers.
Hence this attempt to derail the John Doe law, the efforts to restore the "Fairness Doctrine", hiding earmarks from public scrutiny, etc.....
Posted by Del Dolemonte | July 19, 2007 3:45 PM
Lightwave said:
"It's perfectly okay to have leakers like Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame all over the Government that undermine national security, but shielding those who might blow the whistle on things like this is wrong to the Dems?"
Val Plame's case got tossed out of court today. We're all here waiting breathlessly for Tom Shipley to get his talking points faxed to him by Joe Wilson...
Posted by Fight4TheRight | July 19, 2007 10:07 PM
Well, the Dems succeeded in stopping this bill. Big surprise - let's let a planeload of 240 innocent Americans die so we can protect the esteem of C.A.I.R.
Interestingly, Senator Hillary Clinton voted FOR the bill - I believe one of 4 Dem Senators to vote for it.
And so it begins.....Hillary's shift to "pro-defense", "anti-terrorism" begins as her advisors have assured her she has NO chance of winning the general Presidential election without being tough on terrorism.
Gee, I wonder if she can take back her vote on the withdrawl from Iraq?!!!
p.s. Obama missed the vote - imagine that.
Posted by flenser | July 19, 2007 11:27 PM
Let's all stay home and teach the Republicans another lesson in '08.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. Nobody stayed home in 2006. Enough independent voters voted "D" to make the difference.
Posted by MarkW | July 20, 2007 8:12 AM
vdig,
In liberalese, there are only two reasons why any person would not be a liberal.
They are either stupid, or they are evil. Or some combination of the two.
No other explanations are permited.