Jack Kemp - R.I.P.

Former Republican Congressman, Vice Presidential candidate, HUD Secretary and NFL player Jack Kemp has died according to Brietbart.

Rest in Peace Jack.

Saturday Learning Series - The Trigger Effect

Why is history important? Because everything in mankind's history is something that has helped lead to where we are at today. That is the premise taken by James Burke, an amazing science historian from Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. His take on the connectivity throughout history is brilliant.

According to Wikipedia, James Burke (born 22 December 1936) is a Northern Irish science historian, author and television producer best known for his documentary television series called Connections, focusing on the history of science and technology leavened with a sense of humor.

If Burke had taught history at the university I had attended, I may have developed an even greater appreciation for history's importance. Below, is the first episode in a series of fantastic and fascinating voyages that explain how our modern world came into existence. The various series he created (one from the 70's, one the 80's and one the 90's) are as instructive today as when they were created. Forgive the dated look and listen to the lesson. And enjoy.

The Trigger Effect:

Part 2:



Part 3:



Part 4:



Part 5:

Tomrrow on Nonsensible Shoes

Tomorrow Nonsensible Shoes will be posting a video by James Burke. If you are a student of history and science you won't want to miss the first in the series.

James Burke is an English historian with a great ability to track in an almost forensic way, the connection between historical events and how it led to where we've arrived at today. The series even though filmed years ago, provides a great historical vantage point as to how we've arrived at the point we are in society.

I'll be posting the entire series, every Saturday a 'new' epsiode.

Souter out. Obamabot in.

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is one area that those who are RINOs can't be distanced from real conservatives. The court is evenly balanced and every nomination process for the foreseeable future will be a watershed moment.

That means every vote on every nomination counts. As Rush Limbaugh pointed out today, Specter's departure means that the Senate judiciary committee, with the participation of slightly less squishy Senator Lindsey Graham, could still filibuster nominees while in committee. We need to have his vote on the Republican side if the nominee is, as expected, an Obamabot.

Its one of the times I get most frustrated with libertarian voters (rather than those just libertarian philosophically) and purists. A swing of 600 thousand votes and McCain would be President, Senator Specter would (unfortunately) still be a Republican and Justice Souter would not be retiring or else his replacement would be likely a centrist at least.

The idea of philosophical purity has its merits. Indeed vigorous effort to that end in the primaries must happen. Representatives need to vote the party line as close to 100% as possible, but at least 90% of the time.

All that said once a nominee is selected, conservative voters need to support the nominee and vote for them. Loyalty is a two way street.

If conservatives can't agree to that, Souter's replacement won't be the only new Obamabot on the Supreme Court in 4 years.

Win the battle by contacting Senator Graham and telling him your views on him holding firm on a judicial filibuster of a bad nominee. But win the war by showing up and voting GOP, even if you have to hold your nose to do it. The alternative has proven again, to be far worse.

Friday Musical Interlude - May 1, 2009

Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago


Because it's good to know there's some good things that relate to Chicago - as long as it doesn't involve politicians.





Bonus Track: Partial Blues Brothers Version

Chrysler couldn't Dodge bankruptcy

It's interesting that Obama was once again trying work both sides of the aisle, and in multiple ways. In the issue of a Chrysler bailout, Obama was looking for the car company to make drastic changes in order to avoid bankruptcy. That included concessions from the auto workers - one of his solid constituencies. He's trying to come across as the saviour of the common man but he's demanding they reduce their income to save the company. Not that that's a bad thing, but he's not championing them the way they he's claiming to when he brags about his tax cuts for Americans. He's pushing people into a lower tax bracket but taxing them less.

In a similar vein, he's pushing a green agenda including changes to the automotive industry - something that shouldn't be foisted on the car companies while they are in their possible death throes. He's throwing the drowning man a lead life preserver.

And in the third and most interesting instance of working both sides of the aisle is how he's treating the creditors of Chrysler. The financial institution bailouts on one hand, is subjecting creditors to stress tests. He's accused them of mismanagement and greed. Yet he's said that the institutions are necessary for America's financial health. In the case of Chrysler, they had to declare bankruptcy because the lenders would not bend on getting back such a low return on their lending - they were holding out for a smaller loss. The creditors weren't banks - they were steel companies, parts suppliers, and other manufacturers and suppliers related to automotive manufacturing. Are these companies being greedy or just trying to keep their own heads above water? The latter.

So why push them to bail out a failed company when it just moves the pain from one pile to another? Because it looks like the President is trying to help the little guy - auto workers. People probably assume the creditors are banks. Nobody likes the banks much right now. So he helps the UAW and earns some modest respect from those who opposed TARP (I doubt it). He's playing both sides of the aisle politically. Except the truth is that he's really only helping the most visible little guy. Who is going to clamor for a rescue of Flex-N-Gate Corporation? Nobody in significant numbers.

Chrysler couldn't hack it. Too bad. Dodge made some cool NASCAR cars. The company will emerge out the other end with Fiat ownership. The jobs will be there, but in a nostalgic way, a little piece of Americana will get dropped along the way. Let's hope GM fares a little better.

And on the plus side, perhaps this frees up resources that could be more efficiently used elsewhere in the economy. If you're feeling like this is too much of a travesty, I urge you to check out this.