alli snow

A thought about Obama's speech to schoolchildren tomorrow.

Obama may think he has a lot of pull with today's troubled 'youff', being black and all, but the fact is that most kids who see it are going to tune it out. Students need to be hearing this message from their friends and family on a daily basis. A sermon from The One just ain't gonna stick. Too many of the kids (and their families) who are failing in our schools have already been convinced that it's not their fault, they shouldn't have to work hard, they're all going to be the next American Idol/sports star, and if they don't get what they want, it's because of racism and eeeeevil Amerikkka.

You know, this whole prediliction for 'czars' is starting to creep me out just a little bit. Especially when they're authors of crap like this:

Forced abortions. Mass sterilization. A "Planetary Regime" with the power of life and death over American citizens.

The tyrannical fantasies of a madman? Or merely the opinions of the person now in control of science policy in the United States? Or both?

These ideas (among many other equally horrifying recommendations) were put forth by John Holdren, whom Barack Obama has recently appointed Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology -- informally known as the United States' Science Czar. In a book Holdren co-authored in 1977, the man now firmly in control of science policy in this country wrote that:

• Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not;
• The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food;
• Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise;
• People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) "can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility" -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized.
• A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force.

Um. Yeah. Totally mainstream. Totally middle-of-the-road.

Seriously, though, this czar crap is getting out of control. You've got people being given tons of control over policy decisions that don't have to be confirmed by the Senate, as in the case of cabinet picks, that aren't being vetted by the government or the media. Go ahead, try a google news search of this creep -- see what comes up. And what doesn't.

Just real quick, two pictures I took with my cell phone camera (I forgot to bring the real camera; whoops) of the tea party today. They aren't great, but you can get a feel for the crowd. I would say there were about 150-200 people there, and when I took these they were listening to one of the speakers.

The first thing we did was say the pledge of allegiance and (attempted to) sing the national anthem.

They were selling water and giving out flyers -- information on how to contact your representatives, change political party to independent, and otherwise become informed.

It was kinda weird walking around and hearing people actually talking about policies and sundry political idoicy in an intelligent way.

Obviously this was nowhere near as large and organized as the April 15th protest I went to in Sacramento, but I thought it was pretty neat that the whole thing was organized by two 30-something stay at home moms who, before they started this project, were largely apolitical and just got fed up with the whole system.



ETA: Some videos that were put up on YouTube for today. It's very obvious that none of these people are pundits or professionals, but they are real Americans.

Frank J speaketh:

Okay, I can see an argument for not more forcefully condemning Iran and for not breaking off negotiations with them — I mean, I hugely disagree and think we have a sissy for a president, but those arguments at least exist in my universe. What I don’t get is this not rescinding a party invite. For the first time since 1979, Iran is being invited to our Independence Day barbecue. And I guess we’ll hand out moist towelettes on the way in so people can wipe off the blood of the oppressed.

This is so horrible, I expected it to be debunked on Snopes. I don’t mindlessly believe anything bad about Obama; if someone came up to me and said, “Do you know Obama has a secret rape room in the White House where he sodomizes puppies?” I’d say, “Did you know you’re a moron?” And this inviting a oppressive regime in the middle of brutalizing its people to a barbecue sounds made up. It’s like if Kim Jong Il nuked someone and Obama wouldn’t rescind his standing invitation to him to come over and play Rock Band. And to put this in perspective: It was Carter who first stopped inviting Iran.

Obama has finally done it. He’s become more of a capitulating sissy than Carter.

I haven’t even heard how liberals are planning to defend this one, but so far their answer to all of Obama sissiness is that he’s just being smart and not letting emotions let him do anything rash. At what point, though, does turning a blind eye to the suffering of others makes him a sociopath? Isn’t it always the bad guy in the movies who let’s horrible things happen for the greater good?

I hope he’ll at least reconsider inviting Iran over to celebrate America’s Independence. Maybe he can do something less anathema to the spirit of the day, like urinating on George Washington’s grave.