Opaque Lucidity

F. Scott Fitzgerald Born, September 24, 1896

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Billary On The Horizon

I watched Hillary Clinton's interview on 'Fox News Sunday' this morning and I have to admit that she is very impressive in terms of presentation. She's a liberal's liberal, but you would never know it by listening to her. Like her husband in 1992, Senator Clinton will successfully pass herself off as a moderate and those who only hear the occasional sound byte will love her for it.

Shame on any Republican candidate who underestimates Mrs. Clinton. At this point, I don't see a clear front runner who can beat her.

Well, How About It?

Child of the Left

I find it hard to discuss OJ Simpson in light of the fact the nation is at war, Iran is working on nuclear weapons, the Fed lowered interest rates today, and there's still no cure for most types of cancer. Suffice it to say I hope he ends up in prison and someone puts a shiv through his neck. Clear? Clear.

Police tasered a college student who tried to disrupt a John Kerry event in Florida today. I'm sure there are those of you who will talk about freedom of speech, but disorderly conduct and resisting arrest are both punishable by law in most places. But what's more important than a discussion of the First Amendment is what a demonstration like this really says about the Democrats, liberalism and who is actually running the show on the Left.

The fact that none of the Democratic Presidential candidates clearly criticized the moveon.org ad in the New York Times should tell you all you need to know: the Democrats and their party are now a wholly owned subsidiary of a George Soros-funded political organization (you didn't think moveon.org was really a grassroots thing, did you?). While many Democrats are waaaayyyy to the right of the likes of Cindy Sheehan and the weak-willed sisters who do "die-ins" on the Capital steps, they are no longer the focus of their party's energies. Instead, the Dems fight for the votes of the ne'er-do-well socialist crowd and the overgrown children without minds who seem to inhabit college campuses these days. The blue-collar, pro-union Democrat party is dead, replaced by Karl Marx in a dress.

Unfortunately, I believe the Dems stand a very, very good chance of winning in 2008. If you love the Looney Left now, wait until they're in power. To those of you who have voted for every Democrat since Roosevelt, I ask: is this still your party? Or are you too stupid to notice?

Norton the First "Crowned", September 17, 1859

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A Cloudy Day for Basketball, September 10, 1972

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Symbology

I had a dream last Friday night. I don't often remember my dreams; when I do, I remember them vividly. In this dream, I was returning to the United States from somewhere else. My neighborhood and the entire downtown area had become some sort of brightly-lit, garish area reminiscent of Fremont Street in Las Vegas. However, that wasn't the worrisome part. I began asking bystanders what had happened to my small town, but no one was able to tell me. What's more, none of them seemed to know they lived in the United States. I tried to explain the context of nationhood, beginning with the flag. They all looked at me as if I was nuts----none of them had ever seen an American flag, the Liberty Bell, a copy of the Declaration of Independence or the Washington Monument (these are just the items I remember; in the dream, I rattled off a list of things).

So that was it: no one was familiar with the symbols of our nation. Is my subconscious trying to tell me something? Symbols have powerful meanings. That's why the debate over flag burning is so heated. Have we taken away from their meaning? Are we losing what it means to be an American? What does it mean to be an American?

V-2s Against London, September 8, 1944

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The Apple Snob

Louisville's first company-owned Apple Store opened yesterday at 6PM. My manager was there and said the line to enter the store was perhaps a thousand people long; good thing it's in a mall and not outside. This event, plus the large, fast drop in the price of the iPhone has stirred up some discussion among local techies. It's basically the same thing: Apple's products are over-priced and meant for elitists who need simplicity and coolness.

While Apple's products have historically been more expensive than their beige counterparts, this is changing. You can buy a MacBook, Apple's entry-level laptop, for $999. While a Windows-based model can be had for less, it would take a thousand dollars to buy a machine with the MacBook's features and level of quality. Compare a MacBook to, say, a Toshiba and you'll see what I mean.

Apple does some things amazingly well. They not only do a good job of selling cool, but they have created the most solid, secure and user-friendly operating system available for retail users. A Mac is the only machine I could give to my parents with no instructions and expect them to be up and on the internet in an hour or so. Yes, a new PC allows for quick and easy access as well, but there may be a myriad of icons and options related to internet access on the desktop---people like my mom and dad don't need to be dealing with crap like that.

Apple will always be a niche player in the PC and server market, as surely as they will dominate the mp3 player market for some time to come. Steve Jobs has no desire to be Mr. Dell. One thing that drives anti-Mac zealots crazy is the face that Apple is a style and interface leader, which Windows plods along five years or so behind. If Apple became a huge concern like Dell or Lenovo, it would lose that hungry edge. I never want to see that happen.

Line O' The Night

Tonight's Republican debate began with Britt Hume asking the candidates what they thought of Fred Thompson, the non-candidate who will become a candidate tonight with Jay Leno. Rudy's response: "He does a great job of playing my role on 'Law and Order' (that being a federal prosecutor, I think), but I prefer the real thing." One thing is for certain: 2008 is going to be a very interesting year.

I like Fred Thompson, but I don't believe he can run the kind of campaign it's going to take to beat Hillary Clinton, who will undoubtedly be the Democrats' nominee for the Presidency. The former mayor is, I believe, the only man who can do that, even though many narrow-minded conservatives will stay home rather than vote for him. Think big picture, folks: do you want Hillary in the White House? It's coming like a freight train unless you get on board to stop it.

One more thing---this gem from Tim Robbins, Hollywood genius (via Foxnews.com):

We've invaded a country, we have created chaos and disorder, we've killed over 400,000 of their citizens, we've privatized their industries, and we plundered their oil resources. Do you really think they're going to be welcoming us there for the next five years?

We've privatized their industries? This is bad? Should the movie studios in Hollywood be run by the federal government? We've plundered their oil resources? Really? When and how much? We've killed 400K of their citizens? What about the insurgents and terrorists who are killing men, women and children wholesale?

Funny thing: the people we are fighting in Iraq would gladly kill Robbins because of what he represents. Yet, he yearns for our defeat. Anti-American? You bet.

Sound Today and Edsel, September 4, 1957

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Rob And The Prez

Robert, my friend who is now a Marine serving in Iraq, was one of the men and women who had the honor of meeting President Bush today during his surprise trip to Anbar province. I may be biased, but I don't think you could ask for a finer man to represent the Marine Corps to the Comander-in-Chief. Rob will be coming home soon, and his homecoming will be sweeter than most: he has an infant son whom he has never met. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he may return to his family safe and sound. We're all proud of you, Marine.

Shop Talk

I think I mistakenly deleted a comment left by someone here today. If that person was you, please re-post. Sorry about that.