The ADF got me to write a check...

...to the ACLU. Apparently I am on The Wrong Mailing List. But surely I want a tax-deductible copy of the book "The ACLU vs. America", right?

Because everyone knows the ACLU "pushes for supremacy of international, foreign law" and tries to prevent people from being Christian -- at Christmas no less! -- oh, and also "defends the distribution of child pornography."

The biggest lump of hash the Alliance Defense Fund is able to sling is that "the ACLU uses public schools to promote 'tolerance' -- code for the acceptance of homosexual behavior" and prevents "any dissent to Darwinian theory or free debate of Intelligent Design."

So to review: ACLU = people who want Iraqi militants telling your family not to sing carols, but rather to abuse children and scream evolutionary epithets while wearing glitter hot-pants and roller skates.

Yeah, Sheryl. It's your fault The Oil Man in Chief lost his "train of thought."

THE PRESIDENT: Let me finish, please, Sheryl. Strike one on the exclusive. (Laughter.) Excuse me, strike two. (Laughter.)

That — you made me lose my train of thought, of course — maybe that’s what you were attempting to do. No, I think that if there was a magic wand, and say, okay, drop price, I’d do that. And so part of this is to make — set the psychology right that says to the world, we’re not going to become more beholden on your oil, we’re going to open up and be aggressive and have an aggressive energy policy. Secondly, we’re going to send the signal we’re going to be building new refineries.

But there is no magic wand to wave right now. It took us a while to get to this fix. That’s why I told you that if Congress had responded — matter of fact, Congress did pass ANWR in the late 1900s — 1990s — and the 1900s — (laughter) — 1990s. But it didn’t go forward. And it’s my considered judgment, given the technological advances, to say this is — we’ll destroy the environment is just — I don’t think it’s an accurate statement.

And so I think it’s very important, Sheryl, for Congress. The other thing Congress can do, if you want to send a good signal during these uncertain times, is make the tax cuts permanent, is to let people — send the signal that people are going to be able to keep their money. And I think that will help the psychology of the country.

What we don't see, Part 1

http://www.thememoryhole.com/war/coffin_photos/dover/page341.htm

So perfectly imperfect

So I always thought that historical biographies were too... reverential. People looking perfect in the rear-view mirror. Plus, authors who love American history often don't share my perspective aka cynicism.

I really didn't want to finish this book. Sam Clemens had a crappy, nervous, white-knuckled, bombastic and rocky life. As he limped and gasped and punned his way through it, he changed how people write. Period. How great is that?