Content by sandbox
Posted at 3:16pm on Jun. 29, 2008 Don't Wait. McCain Should Pick VP Now.
By sandbox
The conventional wisdom holds that a Presidential nominee, who is not running for re-election, waits until just before their convention to name their Vice Presidential choice. I have read many reasons for this practice, but here’s why I think John McCain should name his VP choice now:
1. His age. As the oldest first term nominee ever, John McCain’s age will be an issue with some voters. I know that people are living longer and McCain does appear to be a relatively vigorous 71 years old. By designating his younger running mate now, he helps diffuse the age issue sooner rather than later. Voters start looking at the “team”, not just McCain. Further, because of McCain’s age, many voters will assume when they are looking at the VP designate, that this particular VP will have a greater likelihood of becoming President than is usually the case. So let’s give the voters a longer period (4 months instead of 2) to get to know and feel comfortable with this Vice President.
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Posted at 9:46am on Oct. 8, 2007 Does Hillary Clinton favor Driver’s Licenses for Illegals?
By sandbox
The above question is one that needs to be asked.
About two weeks ago Governor Elliott Spitzer (D) of New York proposed a policy of having the State government issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. For details and background see
here
Without getting into the pros and cons of this policy (which I am against), it appears that many Democrats and moderates in NY are opposed. In opposition are NYC Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly, former Mayor Ed Koch and others. As the polls show, even a majority of New Yorkers (which is a very liberal state) are opposed.
Posted in Elections — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:17pm on Aug. 8, 2007 Rudy Guiliani and the Border Fence
By sandbox
Currently the national party preference polls favor the Democrats by a wide margin. This has contributed to Rudy Guiliani’s lead in the Republican presidential preference polls, because Guiliani (unlike the other Republican candidates ) runs even with Hillary Clinton in the general election polling. So if we accept the premise that Guiliani stands the best chance of winning in the general election (disclosure: I am a Guiliani supporter), then I think we should consider how Rudy can become more acceptable to the conservative base of the party and, at the same time, bolster his image for the general election.
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Posted at 12:19pm on Jun. 24, 2007 Islamists Entry to US To Be Challenged by Immigration Amendment.
By sandbox
One of the consequences of the Senate trying to pass the Immigration Reform law so quickly (without the usual committee hearings) is that a number of amendments have been offered to make the law more acceptable to the Senate majority. Since these amendments are being proposed and debated on the Senate floor, each proposal is receiving more public and press attention than normal.
One such amendment is quite revolutionary (IMO) and deserves further comment. Even if it is defeated, the fact that it could be introduced, gives us in the anti-jihad community hope that a degree of sanity may finally be introduced into the war with radical Islam. For years since 911, many of us have been saying that it does not make sense to expend so much military, economic, and diplomatic efforts in fighting radical islamists overseas in Afghanastan, Iraq, and possibly elsewhere (all efforts I support), while at the same time allowing potential enemy combatants and enemy sympathizers continued immigration (legally and illegally) into the USA.. Writer Diane West of the Washington Times has written many columns on the subject. (see for example)
Posted in Congress — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 9:56pm on Mar. 29, 2007 Did Anyone Else Hear Fred Thompson on the Radio Today?
By sandbox
I was listening to ABC talk radio today and along came the Paul Harvey 10 minute segment, with guest host former Senator Fred Thompson. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and have been looking around the internet for a repeat of today’s broadcast (3/29/2007). Since I was driving at the time I could not take notes, but several things stood out in my recollection:
1. Thompson critiqued the 6 flying Imams and came out strongly for the "Protect John Doe” legislation that Cong. Peter King and others were able to have approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. All the Republicans and half the Dems voted yes. The legislation states that Americans cannot be sued (for discrimination) if they report suspicious behavior on public transport. One of the features of the 6 Imams lawsuit (supported by CAIR) is a threat to sue "John Does" who reported the imams behavior on the airplanes to the authorities.
Posted in Archived — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:23pm on Jan. 18, 2007 Ban The Veil (and all public mask wearing)
By sandbox
Since we can't seem to win the more important battles with radical islam (like coming up with a way to legally deport radical islamists), then let's, as a society, focus on some small issues. And let's pick the right small, but by no means minor, issue: banning the veil (and, to be consistent, all mask wearing) in public. It works on many levels:
1. Security--who can argue with it?--with all the video cameras and security devices in public places--how can we allow one group to be an exception? Especially in public buildings and on public transport. Especially a subgroup--Islamic Fundamentalists--from which most of our terrorists are drawn.
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Posted at 10:24pm on Dec. 13, 2006 6 Flying Imams--Let's Investigate and Indict (if warrranted) for Disrupting Airline Travel
By sandbox
So much has been written about the 6 Flying Imams who were taken off the plane in Minneapolis last month. Much informed opinion appears to have conclude that the entire affair was staged by the Imams. For example The Faking Imams
We also read that the Imams, supported by CAIR, are looking for an out-of-court settlement with US Airlines.
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Posted at 1:59am on Dec. 6, 2006 James Woolsy for UN Ambassador
By sandbox
Since we are speculating about who the replacement for departing UN Ambassador Bolton should be, how about R. James Woolsy, Jr.?
He is a former CIA Director under President Clinton, supported the Iraq War, and seems to "get it" re the war v. radical islam. He is classified as a conservative democrat (or now a Lieberman democrat) on national security issues so he can be confirmed by the soon-to-be Democratic U.S. Senate.
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Posted at 5:48pm on Oct. 16, 2006 How Tom Kean, Jr. Can Win
By sandbox
In New Jersey, Senator Bob Menendez (D) and challenger Tom Kean, Jr. (R) have been running about even in the polls, however Menendez appears to be gaining a slight lead. Given N.J.’s tendency to vote Democratic, if nothing changes between now and election day, Menendez will win perhaps by no more than 5 points. The Kean ads have been all about alleged corruption by Menendez and about tax reduction. These ads are OK, but won’t win him the election in Democratic New Jersey. However, there is another issue which Tom owns and he is not using: The Border Fence.
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Posted at 11:43pm on Jun. 18, 2006 North Korea Prepares Missile Launch
By sandbox
The imminent launch of the North Korean ICBM has been reported. To this amateur observer, several questions arise:
Look at this quote from the NY Times Online Report"
While North Korea claims to have developed nuclear weapons, it has never allowed outsiders to see them. American experts believe that North Korea has enough plutonium for at least half a dozen nuclear weapons and has produced a small but growing nuclear arsenal. It is not known if the North Koreans can build a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a missile, but experts say it seems plausible that they could do so.
Well, if it is plausible that they could arm the missile with a nuclear warhead, and since they have not announced the missile launch test in advance in terms of direction of fire, it is conceivable they could fire a nuclear armed missile at the USA or Japan or who-knows-where. That being a theoretical (albeit unlikely) possibility--does not this potential scenario justify the USA bombing the missile take-off site before they launch?
Second issue: I just heard Bill Gertz (Washington Times military expert) on Matt Drudge radio show speculate that the USA may actually try to shoot down the missile after launch using our anti-missile technology.
Third: A shoot down by the USA before or after launch would appear to be a deterrent to Iran in our future dealings with them.
Or perhaps North Korea will remove the fuel from the missile and forget the launch.