Glendon declines Laetare Medal from Notre Dame

Former ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon has declined acceptance of the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, an award that's viewed to be the most prestigious for American Catholics. In her letter to the university president, Father John Jenkins, and also released to the public, she states her reasons in response to the institution's invitation of President Obama to deliver the commencement speech:

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

The President has gone on record as a supporter of a woman's right to abortion. By allowing him to speak during such an occasion at such an American Catholic institution is clearly sending the wrong message. Yes, Barack Obama is our President and deserves the respect accordingly, but faith is a matter of the heart and should never be compromised.

I feel sorry for the graduating class to be caught in the middle of all this. They have weathered through the years to get a traditional Catholic higher education, many following the footsteps of their parents, and now it's come to this: having to hear an abortion supporter speak at your graduation ceremony.

Glendon's principled decision is to be applauded. Not only is she making a statement by not accepting this esteemed award, but her voicing the concern of the "ripple effect" of ignoring the bishops' guidelines is important too. God bless her for doing the right thing.

White House idiot(s) cause panic in New York

Is dealing with the economy too big of a task at hand for the White House that nobody cared to think through the idea of Air Force Once flying through Manhattan with two fighter jets on a "photo op" mission? Many New Yorkers panicked because of memories of 9/11. Buildings were evacuated, businesses closed down.

Can the city and state sue Washington for damages?

Fairness doctrine on taxation?

During the presidential campaign, Joe the Plumber leaped onto the national spotlight by exposing Obama's "spread the wealth" tax policy. Now in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, President Obama discloses that "fairness" is at the heart of his tax policy:

...Well, Charlie, what I've said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness...

There you have it. The Fairness Doctrine is alive and well -- not in quieting the conservative spectrum on the radio waves, but with respect to federal taxation.

Al Gore afraid of a good global warming debate?

I mean "climate change" rather. After all, Colorado just saw a few feet of snow in April. What "warming"?

Is Al Gore afraid of some good debate about his most passionate subject matter? He sure put up a good fight in 2000 about the presidential election, but he's scared of arguing against Lord Christopher Monckton from U.K. about global warming?

Pelosi knew about waterboarding years ago

Apparently House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) isn't being truthful about her pre-existing knowledge of CIA's harsh interrogation techniques including waterboarding. In September 2002, a few members of Congress, Pelosi among one of them, were briefed by the CIA about the classified overseas detention sites and the interrogation techniques. At that time, no objections were made to what the Democrats label as torture now.

It's suffice to say that the Obama administration and Democrats' efforts to expose these CIA techniques and perhaps even release photographs of such "abuses" are politically motivated to further dig at the Bush administration and appease the liberal base. Never mind that these tactics kept America safe post-9/11. If these Democrats had at least the heart to acknowledge this fact, I wouldn't be so hard on them. But no, they refuse to give Bush and his CIA any credit, and since taking power in Washington, continue to go down a path of political revenge and kissing up to the liberal nutcases.

The Democrats simply have no intention of safeguarding our republic. Their latest actions only speaks of their immaturity and spitefulness.

France: a case study in socialism's sustainability

Do you love President Obama and all his socialist leaning ways? Do you think it's time for America to abandon capitalism and embrace something more radical?

Why don't you ask a French resident first. Or a French CEO.

Not again! Politicians want to save newspapers...

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) wants to save his local newspaper, the Boston Globe, which is losing $1 million a week. So much so that he's called a Senate hearing on the matter.

Banks, automobile manufacturers, insurance companies, and now dying newspapers? Is that really what the constituents are demanding?

Axelrod: Tea parties "unhealthy" (that's how much the administration is out of touch)

Senior White House adviser David Axelrod seems to think the tea parties are an "unhealthy" reaction to the current economy and the President's policies.

I'd hate to find out what he thinks is a "healthy" reaction. Maybe surrendering our bank accounts? Voluntarily hand over our wallets to Washington? Bow to the President like he did to the Saudi king?

Anybody who thinks embracing our First Amendment rights is "unhealthy" ought to rethink his or her American citizenship. Seriously, this is how out of touch the Obama administration is with mainstream America.

All I can say to the W.H. is: Keep it up. Prepare to be shocked in 2010.

Obama gets no love from Latin America, either

I hate to say it, Mr. President, but America's global reputation isn't improving much with you sitting in the White House, either. Europe already gave you the cold shoulder. Now you're at the Summit of the Americas, and you're not getting a warm reception. The only "friendly" leader turns out to be Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a known vocal critic of American policies and close ally of Cuba, China, and Russia (yes, countries which like to undermine U.S. efforts).

And you know why that is, President Obama? Because these politicians and leaders can see through you. They know you are not a decisive leader. They know you aren't even sure how to tackle domestic issues like the economy. They know you're losing strong friends in Europe and Israel. They closely observed your rise to stardom, but now they see just an empty suit.

Your presidency may turn out to be a very lonely place.

White House's "perspective" on post-9/11

President Obama is back to his leftist appeasing mode now, deciding to release Office of Legal Counsel memos about the legality of those CIA interrogation techniques. Anti-Bush liberals rejoice!

Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence (by the way, an oxymoron for this administration), seems to carry a romantic flair in doing his job. From The Weekly Standard:

...The perspective, the context, is that in the months after 9/11, "we did not have a clear understanding of the enemy we were dealing with, and our every effort was focused on preventing further attacks that would kill more Americans. It was during these months that the CIA was struggling to obtain critical information from captured al Qaida leaders, and requested permission to use harsher interrogation methods. The OLC memos make clear that senior legal officials judged the harsher methods to be legal."

Blair continues: "Those methods, read on a bright, sunny, safe day in April 2009, appear graphic and disturbing. As the President has made clear, and as both CIA Director Panetta and I have stated, we will not use those techniques in the future. But we will absolutely defend those who relied on these memos and those guidelines."

Terrorists don't really care about the weather when carrying out their criminal acts. I remember September 11, 2001 as a bright and sunny day, too! Just another effort to dig at the Bush administration.

Biden household contributed less than $2,000 to charities in 2008

The White House has released 2008 tax returns from the President and the Vice President. Interestingly, take a look at Joe Biden's charitable contributions for the year: $1,885. With an adjusted gross income of $269,256, that's not even 1% in charitable gifts. Okay, it's possible that the tax return doesn't tell the whole story. He may have donated money to individuals or entities which aren't tax deductible. Good for him, but somehow I don't think that's the case...

This man professes to be a devout Catholic. But where's the 10% in Biblical tithing guideline?

And this man once said it was our patriotic duty to pay more taxes?! I'm sorry, Mr. Vice President, but let's worry about charities before taxes.

(He received a refund.)

More evidence of this administration's hate towards military

Evidently earlier this year the FBI launched Operation Vigilant Eagle which searched for white supremacists and local militia groups with a focus on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. This was a few months before the controversial DHS report on "rightwing extremism" was released.

The Democrats have made it widely known that they have no love for the military and its operations. Since 9/11, liberal Democrats have come out with crazy statements about the U.S. military and the War on Terror. Their rhetoric reached its peak during the Iraq War. Elected officials here at home badmouthed our troops, and some even went overseas to trash America and her warriors.

And now the W.H. and federal agencies consider these veterans a threat? These veterans are no more of a threat than terrorist-turned-scholar Bill Ayers and his good friend, our president.

Even Sarkozy is annoyed by Obama

Ouch. The hits keep on coming, even from across the pond. French President Sarkozy sees right through President Obama and his rhetoric.

America, under Obama, displays no leadership in the world. Just a bunch of glam and hot air. And even that's mostly from a teleprompter! Ugh.

A great day for America, not so good for liberal Washington

Simply amazing. Thousands lined the streets of major U.S. cities to protest big government. They brought their homemade signs with thoughtful messages (none of that "Bush = Hitler" crap). They brought along their children. They demonstrated peacefully. And best of all, they chanted "USA" whenever given the chance.

The success of Tax Day tea parties is revealing in many ways:

• It proved that ordinary citizens do care. They care about their kids' future, their families, and more importantly, their beloved country.
• It proved that the Obama administration and the Democrats in Congress are very out of touch with America. President Obama pretends he's never heard of these tea parties, further insulting Americans' intelligence.
• It got on the nerves of the liberal mainstream media big time. Why else would they refuse to cover them? Or why would CNN's Susan Roesgen make an ass of herself on national TV? More evidence of the MSM's leftist alignment with the current administration.
• It also promoted the FairTax! (Hey, Chuck Morris is a believer!)
• It demonstrated that conservatives are even better with grassroots organization. These parties were not led or organized by political parties, established organizations, etc. They were organized by volunteers around the country. Conservatives get the last laugh when it comes to utilizing technology.

Nashville, Tennessee: 10,000. Rochester, NY: 1,000. Cincinnati: 4,000. Madison, Wisconsin: 8,000. Chicago: 4,000. Olympia, Washington: 5,000. Boise, Idaho: 2,500. Austin, TX: 1,500. Lansing, Michigan: 7,000. Jacksonville, FL: 2,000. Atlanta: 20,000. And that's only the tip of an iceberg...

And those ACORN or liberal saboteurs? Probably decided to stay home and watch the rallies on TV instead. I have no doubt that they secretly tuned into Fox News tonight.

DHS' Napolitano should resign over "rightwing extremism" report

This controversial report has touched the nerves of half the country by broadly defining "rightwing extremists" as anyone who is pro-life and supports states rights. It even warns of military veterans being vulnerable to be recruited by rightwing extremist movement.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, fully aware of this report, comes out to say she stands by it 100%. Does she realize that this report pretty much categorizes any supporters of the U.S. Constitution as a rightwing extremist?! How ridiculous is that?! This report clearly targets the conservatives who are speaking out against the liberal Obama administration. The report includes no particular names of organizations or individuals.

Secretary Napolitano should resign for this shameful report. Today we have a President who's a good friend of domestic terrorist Bill Ayers and foul-mouthed pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, yet she's standing by this report?! Obama wouldn't pass a security clearence for a regular federal job with his past associations!

Today is Tax Day, time to have Tea Parties

Tax Day has finally come. And as the WSJ points out, nationwide there are more than 300 tea parties being organized. Each state of the union will have one:

Today American taxpayers in more than 300 locations in all 50 states will hold rallies -- dubbed "tea parties" -- to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending. There is no political party behind these rallies, no grand right-wing conspiracy, not even a 501(c) group like MoveOn.org.

The most revealing aspect of these tea parties is that it's not led by a political party, labor union, or organization. It is purely a grassroots movement of ordinary Americans who want to give the government a piece of their mind. Of course, liberals are making snarky comments at these protesters, and the mainstream media joins the chorus. They label the tea party movement as "AstroTurf," claiming it is not a real grassroots movement. (Liberals would like to trademark "grassroots" if it were legal to do so.)

Whatever. Nobody really cares what the liberals think anyway. Look back at their rallies and you'll notice something oddly similar. They're often coordinated and led by organizations such as ACORN, MoveOn, Code Pink, NOW, etc. In their case, the protesters are mindless followers.

Today's tea parties, the protesters are leaders. Everyday citizens who work hard to feed their families, make payments on mortgages, and have a simple message: We want more of our own money kept in our wallets. They are not gathering because a political party or activist organization tells them to. In fact, many conservative organizations are the followers of the movement.

Look at this map. This is the real change we can believe in.

It's official: Administration sees conservatives as "rightwing extremists"

This is unbelievable. Michelle Malkin confirms the validity of this DHS report about "rightwing extremism" after Obama's historic election. Check out this footnote on page 2:

(U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or
rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.

Now you may close your jaws and take deep breaths. No kidding about the "broadly divided" categorization! This pretty much sums up how this liberal administration sees its conservative opposition.

It gets better! Big Brother is watching and listening on the Internet (page 3):

(U//FOUO) Rightwing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the
economy, the perceived loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures. Anti-Semitic extremists attribute these losses to a deliberate conspiracy conducted by a cabal of Jewish “financial elites.” These “accusatory” tactics are employed to draw new recruits into rightwing extremist groups and further radicalize those already subscribing to extremist beliefs. DHS/I&A assesses this trend is likely to accelerate if the economy is perceived to worsen.

Conservative bloggers, radio show hosts, Twitter users, or even visitors of conservative Websites who like to leave comments -- be warned! Especially if you like to criticize the White House's economic policies.

With the revelation of this DHS report, I'm going to assume that federal agents will be present at the tea parties in major cities. That's a reasonable assumption now. I'm also going to assume that federal agencies will compile reports about these mass demonstrations, too.

Obama's economic policies pave way for America's indebted future. What future awaits us now we know how serious his administration views the opposition?

Are Republicans really anti-gay?

Sen. McCain's daughter, Meghan, writes in support for "A Gayer GOP"... She makes very good points:

The Log Cabin Republicans’ mission "is to work within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians." The group is centered on core Republican values, such as limited government, individual liberty and responsibility, an economy based in free markets, and a strong national defense. And in the spirit of the GOP’s founding beliefs—personal freedom and liberty—they are dedicated to securing full equality for gays and lesbians in America to create a stronger, larger, and more-unified GOP.

What I found most interesting about the Log Cabin Republicans is where and when they got their start: in California, during the late '70s. At the time, much of the progress made in securing equal rights for gays was drawing a backlash. A successful movement to overturn antidiscrimination laws in Dade County, Florida, was led by singer Anita Bryant. States like Arkansas and Oklahoma prohibited gays from teaching jobs. And a California Republican state senator suggested a proposition for voters to keep gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. (At one point, the initiative was leading in polls with more than 60 percent of voters supporting it.) In the end, voters rejected the proposition in November 1978, by a margin of more than a million votes. While several prominent Democrats and Republicans rallied to secure its defeat, one Republican in particular helped turn the tide—former California Governor Ronald Wilson Reagan.

She's absolutely correct about those Republican values. Also, bonus on bringing up the tidbit about Reagan's fight for gay rights. But President Bush's eight years have brought about an unexpected split among the GOP: the "social conservatives" no longer identifying with the "political conservatives," the Republican Party we know today. And that's one of the reasons Meghan's father lost to Barack Obama. Disillusioned conservatives punished the GOP by not voting or worse yet, voting for Obama.

Perhaps the Republican's message on gay issues isn't clear enough? The anti-gay backslash stemmed primarily from gay activists' agenda of redefining marriage on a national level. Marriage is an institution established way prior to the gay rights movement. Most Americans don't care what adults do in their own homes and in their own times, but most Americans aren't ready to accept a family with two "married" daddies or mommies. More importantly, gays today enjoy the same civil liberties as everyone else. It's left to the states to determine how they want to treat marriage and that's just fine. The Constitution says nothing about the federal government defining marriage, so it's reasonable that this decision is left to the state legislatures.

I applaud Ms. McCain's effort in turning the GOP into a more gay-friendly political party, but should that be the focus of party leaders? There is comfort in knowing about the existence of the Log Cabin Republicans and gay conservatives. After all, we hardly ever hear about pro-life liberals. Doesn't that clearly illustrate the Republican Party's wider acceptance? Let's hope her efforts do not end up being a distraction to the core GOP agenda.

Navy SEAL snipers save captain

Three dead Somali pirates. One held in custody. The captain is safe and lives to tell the story of exceptional SEAL sharpshooters.

Let's pause for a moment and really think about the circumstances of this mission. Captain Richard Phillips already had one failed escape attempt, and the pirates were ready to shoot him if he tries again, or if the negotiations break down. The snipers shot the three pirates when two came up to get fresh air and one through the window of the lifeboat. Remember, these sharpshooters are on a boat on the high seas. Their targets are on a boat, too. Imagine shooting a target that far away while bobbing up and down. And you only have one chance.

Amazing! They are truly American heroes.

Which part of "no supporters of abortion" doesn't Obama understand?!

The White House is struggling to find an ambassador for the Vatican. Strike two: Caroline Kennedy, who publicly supports abortion.

It's not that hard, really. The Vatican's requirements are quite straightforward and even has nothing to do with taxes: Don't send us an abortion supporter! That's it! Send us an ambassador who values life and preferably a Catholic.

But President Obama cannot get it through his head that no means no. And the choice of Kennedy? Obviously to make up for her blundered pre-campaign to fill Hillary Clinton's senate seat. He is clearly politicking this diplomat choice, and the result once again demonstrates that he's not as popular in Europe as he thinks. How arrogant of him to push the issue of abortion onto the Holy See?!

I'm not a Catholic and I'm even mad about this appointment! It's truly an insult.