George W. Bush wrote an editorial

[Place your punchline here...]

It appeared today in the Wall Street Journal

I'll Swear on what I want to.....

Or maybe, I'll Fall on you Quran.

Representative elect Keith Ellison will use a Quran, which was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, during his official swearing in ceremony on Thursday. Ellison is the first Muslim elected to Congress.

To no ones surprise, certain individuals, who seem to be more fundamental in their beliefs, are convinced that this is the (a) morally incorrect (b) the end of the United States as we know it and/or (c) a time to make sure others know how Christian you are by oppossing this.

Republican Rep. Virgil Goode, who seems to be a character straight out of the forest of Young Goodman Brown, wrote a letter because of Ellison's actions, there will be more Muslims elected to office and there will be more Muslims who enter the United States through immigration. Whether or not it is legal or illegal immigration does not matter. What matters, according to Goode, is that Muslims do not enter this country ,most likely to ruin the Christian character of the United States, which for some reason is omitted from the Constitutions. Maybe someone should tell Rep. Goode.

In a letter to constituents, Goode wrote:

"I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped."

While there are many legal and moral issues at play here, it is good to see that freedom association is alive and well with the members of Congress.

Start acting like (semi)bigots

In the news today, avocates for banning gay marriage in Massachusetts voted to allow a proposed constitutional amendment to go forward today. The measure still needs to be approved during the next legislative session before it moves to the ballot where the citizens of the state would be able to vote yea or nay.

In the rather incoherent move, the legislators voted for it, reconsidered by a vote of 117 - 75 after one of the gay legislatos scolded the other legislators, and, finally, the legislators then voted for it again by a tally of 64 - 132.

Further signs of incompetence by the legislators can be seen through whatthe amendment would do: as written, the amendment would ban further gay marriages from taking place, though it would leave the current gay marriages in place.

What does this action mean: look, we don't hate gays because we allow some to marry; we just don't want any more married.

Some where there was a document in American law that discussed equal protection under the law. I am not sure where it went, but was there a few years ago.

If this passes, I think I will move to Massachusetts and propose an amendment that states only individuals right of center can marry. Maybe only those who earn above $55,000. Maybe only those with blond hair and blue eyes. Maybe only those who believe in the divinity of the five books of Moses (though, how did Moses author books after he died?). Or maybe we can prevent atheists from filing law suits.

If you could pass any amendment, what would it be?

Taxation without Representation may End (in 2007)

It may finally happen, well, maybe. Washington D.C. may receive what colonists fought for: Representation.

Just think: it took only 200+ years for all citizens of the United States to receive representation. That is Democracy for you.

For an interesting video, you can check out Stephen Colbert's interview with a representative from D.C, Elanor Holmes-Norton.

Meta-Review of 2006

Since everyone is posting ther top-ten lists of 2006, (top ten movies, ten worst movies, top-ten songs, top-ten thoughts while bathing), I propose we list the top-ten of top ten lists. Or, maybe just the top-of-the-top list.

Here is one from Slate: "The Bill of Wrongs: The Ten Most Outrageous Civil LIberties VIolations in 2006." This is sure to break the ice at parties.

As they said in the '70s, "It ain't over till it's over"... Wrapping up the Rocky countdown a bit late

Perhaps many of you have already paid the price of admission and watched Rocky Balboa. For those who haven't, I will continue with the Rocky countdown. I know that this final bout is a bit late, but I was out of town and unable post the final clip. Please forgive me. And for those of you who were waiting to watch the movie until The Rhetorical Situation properly set the stage and ushered you into the theater on opening day: you can purchase a ticket tonight, as the coundown is now complete.

This final clip is from Rocky V, which most people consider the worst movie in the Rocky franchise. But I urge everyone to give it another chance. It's not a bad flick and really it sets the stage for the final installment. What's more, it delivers one of the most chilling moments of any Rocky sequal: the scene in the bar when Rocky challenges Tommy Gunn. "You knocked him down; why don't you try knocking me down." It's just plain awesome! Almost as awesome as Tommy's mullet. And I have a clip of it here:



Now that the countdown is officially complete, I guess I will leave you with a trailer to the newest installment, which I saw ealier this week (the day after I returned home, of course). And as I predicted several weeks ago, it is the best Rocky film since the original. I can't say enough good things about it. It's definitely the best movie of the year. And for those of you wondering...

[spoiler ahead]

... it does end as I predicted at the start of this countdown. That's right, I called it again!!!