home | archives

Opinari.net

Opinari - Latin term for Opinion. Opinari.net is just what it seems: a cornucopia of rants, raves and poignant soliloquy.

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

This One Needs No Comment:

Thanks to the WSJ's Best of the Web for sighting this little gem from Oslo, Norway.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 6:15 PM


Bush on the SOTU Address:

Today's press conference in the Rose Garden was an opportunity for President Bush to respond to critics who maintain that he deceived the public with exaggerated claims of Iraqi weapons programs. When asked about the State of the Union address, Bush said “I take personal responsibility for everything I say, absolutely.” What should not be lost here is that Bush did not confess to some conspiratorial lie here. What has been said countless times should be repeated: Bush did not LIE. He referred to British Intelligence claims, and the Brits stand by those claims to this day. That being said, I would have preferred that Bush had said so, unequivocally. However, the White House seems to prefer relenting to the pressure put on them by peevish doves who want something... ANYthing... to stick to this President that will contaminate his prospects at gaining a second term. I'm disappointed that, out of everything Bush had to say today about the economy, the sanctity of marriage, the deaths of the boys Hussein, etc. the main point that MSNBC got from the press conference was that Bush, when he says something, stands by it.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 11:56 AM


Andy's Confusion:

Andrew Sullivan, with whom I agree on many things, seems perplexed about President Bush's statement regarding equal marriage rights. Bush said the following:

"Yes, I am mindful that we're all sinners. And I caution those who may try to take the speck out of the neighbor's eye when they've got a log in their own. I think it's very important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts, to be a welcoming country. On the other hand, that does not mean that somebody like me needs to compromise on an issue such as marriage. And that's really where the issue is headed here in Washington, and that is the definition of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman. And I think we ought to codify that one way or the other. And we've got lawyers looking at the best way to do that."

Where is Sullivan's confusion? Isn't it obvious that the President views marriage as the union of a man and a woman? Read: "I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman. And I think we ought to codify that one way or the other." Quite simply, a proponent of equal marriage rights, as Sullivan is, should be disheartened by Bush's comments. The Christian Coalition, however, should be thrilled.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 11:38 AM


The Rocky Top Brigade:

Opinari is moving up in this world! Today, we announce our membership into the Rocky Top Brigade. The RTB is a collection of Tennessee bloggers who share an affinity for such things as Elvis, Jack Daniels, Alvin York, and, of course, the Vols. South Knox Bubba, my intellectual equal, yet my political antithesis, welcomes Opinari formally here. {sniffle} Now I find myself longing for home. {/sniffle}

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 10:43 AM


Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Cynthia Tucker speaks...

And usually, I have to disagree. I would have to go so far as to assert that Cynthia and I are very nearly polar opposites on most issues... but not this one. Using racism as an excuse for life's travails is indeed a cop out. Perhaps, in some places, racism is still holding people back. This is debatable, and will be debated until the end of time. But Tucker goes further - she states unapologetically that "parents are the most important factor in any child's education." She goes on to infer that parents should not use race as an excuse for failure, as some, for example, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, have done. The thesis in Tucker's commentary is that, if parents exert the right influence, their kids will be more likely to excel. Amen, Cynthia. Maybe part of you is a rugged individualist.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 5:26 PM


New York Opens First Public Homosexuals-Only High School:

We won't get into a discussion of morality here - to each his (or her) own. But the question begs to be asked: why a homosexual school, and not a black, Jew, or (uh-oh) a white only school? With public funds comes public scrutiny, and it stands to reason that one type of segregation should beget ANY type of segregation. Am I endorsing segregation? No. I'm only pointing out the obvious. Singling out one group over all others is wrong. It was wrong when white folks owned the schools in the South, keeping black folks out on their own, and it's wrong now.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 2:23 PM


The Nut Who Wants to be Commander-In-Chief:

Dennis Kucinich wants to reduce the budget at the Pentagon by 15%, and use that money to fund preschool universally. No thanks, Dennis. Security comes before toddler self-help classes.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 2:14 PM


Quoth Mfume:

"That may be the difference between Bush and his father. While we certainly did not agree on many issues, you can never accuse George H.W. Bush of not taking time to reach out and to listen. He wasn’t aloof like this president." Or, perhaps it's that this president does not like pandering to an organization that is losing significance every day.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 8:46 AM


Here Comes the Cavalry:

Matt Drudge is reporting that Bill and Hillary are coming to the aid of Gray Davis. Note to WJC and HRC: Sometimes, even a tourniquet and major surgery cannot close a gaping wound.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 8:43 AM


A House Divided:

It seems that the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, the group responsible for most of Bill Clinton's winning 1992 presidential platform, is perplexed about how to handle the "Dean factor". Howard Dean, the most electable leftie the Dems have, has been a persistent antagonist to the DLC, leading to a memo written in May by the council's president, Bruce Reed, denouncing the tactics of the left. To be sure, some party unity would be desirable if there is to be a serious challenge to George Bush in 2004. But, to listen to Dean, one might infer that Dean himself is divided, defending the need for the DLC's endorsement, while lambasting them publicly. Were Dean to gain the DLC's endorsement, it would be a major step twoard also gaining the party nomination. However, the leadership of the DLC knows full well that Dean is not the most palatable candidate for the masses. In fact, they call him a "novelty" who will "wear off" in the coming months. Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman would likely be the ideal DLC choice: according to DLC leadership, and their own polling data, a candidate perceived to be "antiwar", which Dean is obviously so, would trail far in an election against a strong, popular Bush. In other words, if rhetoric trumps substance, it will be a long year for the Democratic Party.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 8:40 AM


Monday, July 28, 2003

On Lieberman:

Is there any question why Joseph Lieberman is (like it or not, Deannie Greenies) the front runner for the Democratic nomination for president? Truly, this man gets it. I'm no fan of Joe, but he has the gumption to stick with his positions. Unlike Gephardt and Kerry, who change views with their audience, Lieberman endorsed the invasion of Iraq, and continues to do so. While he questions the Bush administration's actions toward pacekeeping, he also chastises his fellow Dems for their insistence in branding Bush a "liar" over those now famous "sixteen words". By sticking to his pro-war stance, Lieberman has a chance to distance himself from the rest of the Democrats, and appeal to the more moderate wing of the party, while also gaining respect from centrist, independents. Despite a lack of charisma and personality, Lieberman gives the Democrats the best chance at regaining the White House, and today, he showed why.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 2:10 PM


Now this rules:

Imagine sitting in your local pub, and you need a refill. But the barkeep is not to be found. The nerve. You leave, disgusted and still thirsty. Now there's a solution to the empty glass. It's iGlassware - the glass informs the bartender that you are low on fuel, and voila! Here comes someone now to top you off! This, in my humble opinion, is a GOOD use for those infernal RFIDs that are being embedded in your clothes, toiletries, etc.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 12:44 PM


Ah-nold to Terminate his visions of Governorship?

The Sacramento Bee, in its own blog, is reporting that Arnold Schwarzenegger (sheesh, I always have trouble spelling that name) is not going to run for governor of California. Will this save Gray Davis? Probably not. The less Republican candidates running in the recall election, the better (or worse, if you are Davis). If the vote splits (a la Ross Perot), Davis sneaks in. If this comes down to a Riordan vs. Davis fight, my money is on the former Los Angeles pol.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 11:52 AM


Thanks for the Memories:

Today, I read about the passing of a man who exemplified everything that used to be right about entertainment. Bob Hope died Monday at the age of 100. Hope was an immigrant at an early age. One can only assume that his immigrant status led to his staunch patriotism. No one did more for our troops overseas than Hope did. Mr. Hope, you will be missed. As Bob would say, "Thanks for the memories." You were one of a kind.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 9:06 AM


Sunday, July 27, 2003

I would have to agree with those who say that it's not "unpatriotic to wonder why the President lied." Except for one vital piece of information: he DIDN'T.

In a nutshell, the now infamous sixteen words uttered from President Bush's mouth were, in fact, accurate to the matter of fact. Furthermore, the UK government still stands by its assessment. For those of you wondering what effect this is having on the terrorists, have you noticed an uptick in Islamicides or insurgency against the US proper? No. Why is that? Well, could it be that the terrorists have concentrated their efforts on the well-armed military in Iraq? If you accept that as plausible, you might also accept as equally plausible that it would be MUCH better to have the terrorists contained in one area, than to be dispersing their venom at the Western world's airports and landmarks.

Additionally, all it takes is one swipe of the US sword to scare the Bejesus (or the BeMohammed, perhaps?) out of the states in the Near East that have historically funded terrorism (yes, that includes you, Saudi Arabia). Does anyone wonder why Syria kicked Uday (Pig Latin for Dude?) out of their country when he sought refuge? You guessed it.

The mere threat of US wrath has a strong and profound effect on such activity. This war on terrorism went to its roots, and it will end there, too. When the Iraqi democracy finally takes shape (and it is doing so as we speak), the threat of terrorism will be further diminished, and the world more stable. An unjust war? Hardly.

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 6:10 PM


Instapundit talks about the anti-prison-rape law, which unanimously passed the House. Any effort to enforce and enact criminal statutes and codes against heinous criminal activity such as rape, in ANY form, should be applauded. But, $60 million for a commission to STUDY sexual assaults in prisons? Why not simplify things by simply saying "Rape is illegal, no matter where it happens. If the criminal rapes another in prison, he will be sentenced to an additional 25 years without parole, and he will be placed in solitary for a commensurate period." Why should something so simple cost $60 mil? Can someone tell me?

Labels:

.: posted by Dave 5:50 PM


Even as the dictator lambasted the EU as being a "trojan horse" of the United States, the BBC still persists on laying flattery at the feet of Fidel Castro and his Communist regime. Today's BBC Americas section details a rant from Fidel himself as he marked the 50th anniversary of Cuba's "liberation". The ruthless leader of Cuba made sure to elaborate upon the past sins of Europe, citing their "historic" responsibilities for such diverse crimes as "slave trafficking, looting" and "extermination of entire peoples". (Are we sure Fidel wasn't talking about one Saddam Hussein?)

Europe's history has been checkered by infighting, and conquests, to be sure, but for Fidel to insult the EU over such things is certainly the pot calling the kettle black. However, the outstanding feature of today's BBC article wasn't Fidel's soliloquy, but the BBC's apologist attitude for his regime, implying that, perhaps, Cuba isn't such a bad place:

"However, Cuba can still boast good healthcare and education:

  • It has the highest life expectancy in Latin America and one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world

  • It has one doctor per 166 people and one of the most extensive free public health systems in the world

  • It also has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with just over 95% of the population being able to read "


    Yeah? Then why are they all leaving for more Westernized countries? The BBC, no paragon of journalistic virtue these days, by giving Castro such accolades, misses the point: people of a free mind will always value freedom over security. Just consult the Federalist Papers and such.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 5:15 PM


    Saturday, July 26, 2003

    Clinton's Brilliant Political Ploy:


    In case you didn't notice, last week, a former president declared his confidence in George W. Bush's handling of Iraq, and echoed the administration's belief that there were, indeed, weapons of mass destruction within the borders of Iraq, and in the hands of Saddam Hussein. What might have surprised you is that the ex-pres was none other than William Jefferson Clinton himself.

    Clinton, sounding more hawkish than any Democrat these days, told Larry King via telephone that he believes that there was "biological and chemical material unaccounted for." Further, Clinton seemed to indicate that he would have done the same things as Bush (although in practice, Clinton certainly would have consulted every imaginable poll before proceeding).

    This rhetoric from the ex-president surprised some Democrats, and even led some into flat out denial. Witness Charlie Rangel on Sean Hannity's radio show, as he emphatically stated that there was "no evidence to support" what Clinton said.

    Lost in the Clinton commentary is this: he was, and is, a political genius. Nothing Clinton does is not calculated for gain. Clinton knows full well that (most of) the country is behind Bush's efforts in Iraq. Clinton also knows that a strong Bush in 2004 is more conducive to a new candidate in 2008, one that his wife, Hillary, will have a good chance of defeating in a presidential election. A hawkish candidate, like Joe Lieberman, would stand a better chance against Bush in 2004. An electable Democrat in 2004 would give Bush a run for his money, and, if victorious, would be difficult to overcome in 2008 as the Democratic nominee.

    So, one might ask, would Clinton prefer dovish Howard Dean, or the stoic Lieberman as the next Democratic nominee? Well, to answer that, one should also ask, in what scenario would Hillary have the best chance of becoming president in 2008? I think all political observers know the answer. Clinton's positions on the Iraq invasion go against the populist grain of his party right now, but they are tactically brilliant. He wasn't twice elected with a plurality of the vote for nothing. You have to hand it to him.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 5:03 PM


    On Kobe:

    I'm not a fan of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, but I am a fan of the premise that someone, in our justice system, is presumed innocent, until proven guilty. Can someone please step up and make sure that this pending rape trial does not become a media circus like the O.J. trial did? If Kobe is guilty, he should be held accountable. If he didn't, he should not be stigmatized by an accusation. Adultery (which Bryant admits) is irresponsible enough. Hopefully, Kobe was cognizent enough to know (and successfully recall) right from wrong, and we can be done with this tabloid mess.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 4:21 PM


    NFL Absurdity:

    Last week, in order to show their devotion to affirmative action, the National Football League fined Detroit Lions' general manager Matt Millen for not interviewing any black candidates for their head coaching vacancy. Were the Lions' front office stocked with racially bigoted Klansmen, I would have to concede the point to the NFL, which has truly shown itself to be downright stupid in the last few decades (bumbling officials, ignorant rule changes, does anyone remember the "No Fun League" banning end zone celebrations?). However, this accusation and subsequent fine lacks merit. Why? According to the Lions, they solicited interviews from five different black coaching candidates and were refused! What more can an employer do than that? Perhaps they should hire the best non-Caucasian candidate, even if that candidate is an average, at best, coach? This is nonsense. Perhaps the NFL can take further action, such as satirically suggested by Scrappleface. That would make just as much sense to me. Note to the NFL: let teams hire the BEST person for the job. Period.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 4:17 PM


    Saturday, July 12, 2003

    Chalk one up for good customer service:


    Ami and I were out today completing our baby registries at Babies 'R' Us and Target. We decided to eat at Target, since we were there, and they have a food court, of sorts. Well, to our dismay, Ami's chicken salad had something in it resembling a wounded bug. You can imagine how horrified she was. I was, needless to say, amused, and at the same time, disgusted. I tend to lean towards such dichotomies in my behavior. Anyway, she approached the sales clerk, and pointed out the "extra" protein in her salad. I will admit, I have grown to expect cynicism from the staff of such retail outlets, but these girls were very cordial, somewhat amused and disgusted (much like I was also), and willing to refund our money. So, consider this a ringing endorsement for the Manchester, CT Target. Thanks for good customer service, and you've earned a loyal customer.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 6:29 PM


    Friday, July 11, 2003

    Well, they wouldn't side with the US on the war on terrorism, but they are going to fight something. Bad cheese. According to Reuters, Greece has formed a special "feta police" to ensure that a repeat of an incident this week where two tons of listeria-laced feta were shipped to Norway. Says Agricultural Minister Giorgios Dris: "We will be merciless." No word yet from the PETF (People for the Ethical Treatment of Feta).

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 12:08 PM


    How is Bush's economic policy affecting the rest of the world? Victor Canto has a good piece in the National Review about it. It seems that Europe has exhausted most of the tools at their disposal for encouraging economic growth, save one. That would be tax cuts. France and Germany have cut income taxes. Belgium is in the process of doing the same. In times like these, leadership (and the Bush White House has shown plenty) always trumps rhetoric.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 9:25 AM


    Democrats are working overtime to try to stigmatize the Bush administration's efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein and company. The comparisons of Bush to Hitler are downright disgusting, but, in a world of free speech and thought, c'est la vie. On the other hand, were Bill Clinton being compared similarly by a minority Republican legislature, rest assured that censures and disciplinary hearings would be the norm. The double standard is obvious to all but those who wish not to see.

    In any case, who among us can say with a straight face that US action in Iraq was not justified? There were four stated justifications for such action, and weapons of mass destruction were only one of those stated. Even if they were the primary reason though, even the most liberal (read: France, et. al.) acknowledged the presence of such weapons, and advocated their eradication. The disagreement was more of a political peeing contest than an objection to use of force. That's not to mention the underlying agendas of the Russian, German, and French governments (economic in nature, to be sure).

    The point is that Bush was neither despotic, nor Hitleresque in authorizing the "deBaathification" of Iraq. He was reacting appropriately to a force within a repressed nation that encouraged terrorism, and glorified any destruction of Western nations and values, and he did so within the context of a post-September 11th world view. For the Democrats to exaggerate and mold world events to their own advantage is reprehensible, yet expected. In 2004, it may well be their undoing.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 9:08 AM


    Today's Quickie:

    I found this story about a mosquito-repelling ringtone to be very interesting. One question comes to mind immediately. If it's audible only to mosquitoes, how will you be able to hear the phone ring?

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 8:56 AM


    Thursday, July 10, 2003

    I have to admit, I can see the point of the White House in wanting to keep a weak Gray Davis in office as governor of California. His popularity has sunk to new lows (even the unions hate him), and that would be a boon for those Bushies who want to make inroads in a seemingly inpenetrable Golden State political arena. However, I have to disagree with the pundits who maintain that the recall effort there is illegitimate, unfounded, and preposterous. Voters, using the tools that have been given them, have every right to "fire" an elected official who has shown incompetence time and time again. If you "recall" (pun intended), the only reason Davis was re-elected was that his challenger was wet behind the ears, and no one in his own party was strong enough to stand up and assume the mantle of leadership the California Democrats sorely needed. I commend the voters from Sacramento to San Diego who managed to take this unprecedented, but perfectly plausible step in reforming their government from the top down. My prediction: Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes the next governor of California. We do indeed live in interesting times.

    I'm no fan of Donna Shalala, but the Miami University president had every right to move the football powerhouse school from the Big East to the ACC. Now, mind you, I don't much like her methods. She took several cues from her former White House boss in being politically deceptive, swearing that she would not change affiliations without the presence of Boston College and Syracuse. When the deal fell through with those schools, she changed her mind, and left with Virginia Tech (an original plaintiff in the lawsuit to keep the Big East intact, ironically). Shalala basically lied to those schools, and to administrators alike. But did she have the fundamental right to dissolve the school's tenuous association with the Big East? Yes. Was it the best move for Miami? I think so, but only time will tell. Like it or not, college football is king in the South, and Miami is (last time I checked) in the South. Besides, who can argue against Miami vs. Florida State as a conference game? The move makes sense for Miami. The Big East schools, to a man (or woman) would have done the same thing in the same bargaining position. That's business in the 21st century. Get used to it.

    In the absurd department, we read about former Atlanta Brave Randall Simon being charged with assault for... get ready for this - assaulting a sausage. Not a real sausage, but a girl running around on the baseball field dressed as a sausage. You see, the Brewers of Milwaukee have a sausage race between innings, a very popular scene apparently, and Simon allegedly pushed the female sausage over, causing her to fall and scrape her knees. A fellow racer, apparently a "hot dog", also fell over in the fracas. Simon, best known for being called a "fat monkey" by former Braves' reliever and Hillbilly pariah John Rocker, was later booed as he pinch hit for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Milwaukee 2-1 win. The fact that this was a news story at all says a lot for the slow sports day yesterday.

    And in a final thought, Senate Democrats, who have figured out that the only weapon left in their arsenal is the filibuster, stonewalled the medical malpractice legislation yesterday. The vote of 49-48 left the Senate 11 votes short of those needed to break the filibuster. If anyone is left out there who thinks the Democrats don't want to socialize medicine, witness this debacle. The only rationale for not passing this bill is either to enable the trial lawyers to continue to extort millions out of the system, or to cripple the private medical community to such an extent as to require Uncle Sam to swoop in and "save the day". My guess is both are on the agenda for the Dems. It is my hope that 2004 will see a 60-40 majority so this obstructionism can finally come to a halt. No one likes the kid who continually takes the ball and runs home. It's time to let the kids play.

    Labels:

    .: posted by Dave 10:04 AM


    		•


    Need ASP.NET, VB, VB.NET, or Access development?

    Contact me through Guru.com.




    Opinari Archives


    Recommended Reading


    Blogroll Me!

    Proudly blogging on a Treo 650 using Vagablog 1.9.
    This page powered by Blogger, and yours should be, too!