Nobody 673

Sunday, November 19, 2006
Nobody # 673

Nobody Asked Me But:

Headline: Got God? No way! - Evangelical atheists increase visibility.

Can anyone tell me why the words evangelical and atheists should ever be linked? Why would any atheist attempt to convince a person of religion to give up his or her faith? I would defend my atheism against attack. I might even defend it as a conversation piece. But I have absolutely no desire to convert - to move someone away from their “way,” - anymore more than I want to be converted.

I believe that those who need to proselyte are insecure in their belief or non-belief.<<<

No more O.J. – please! Just when we start to think that O.J. Simpson has reached the bottom of humanity and good taste, he proved us wrong again.<<<

And then there is O.J. Mayo, considered the first or second best high school basketball player in the country. (along with UCLA recruit, Kevin Love)

Last week he signed a letter of intent to go to USC. Not to worry if you are a Bruin fan because this Ohio kid may not be allowed on the plane. The reason? As you can see in the quote below, his ego alone exceeds baggage restrictions.

"It's the perfect situation," Mayo said. "After (football) players like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, the school is ready for a player of my caliber."<<<

Bush’s Three-step policy for North Korea:

Step 1 – “You better not develop any nuclear weapons!”
Step 2 – “You better not export any nuclear weapons!”
Step 3 – “Oops, there goes another nuclear, oops there goes another nuclear, oops there goes another nuclear blast.”<<<

20% or a great newspaper? You can’t have both. If The Tribune Co. insists on cutting the staff of the Los Angeles Times in order to maintain a minimum 20% profit margin then the Times will lose its status as one of America’s best newspapers.

Of course, one can always turn to television where news isn’t news anymore anyway. It is more about “the fight against erectile dysfunction - pictures at 11.”<<<

Domestic violence.

I don’t want to do it. The people on the liberal left are like kin to me. But if they don’t stop pressuring our party to move to the fringe, both too far and too fast, I may have to put a big hurt on them. They cannot be permitted to make the Republican mistake of allowing the party agenda to be seized by the extremist wing.

Here is my primer for the new Democratic legislative majority. Modify their liberal agenda so that it is palatable to the American political center. Americans have always been most comfortable there and unwilling to stray very far in either direction except in emergencies. For example 9/11 scared them to the right on civil liberties. To bring them back Democrats have to first convince them that freedom and freedom from terror can be one and the same. And they must convince before they legislate.

*Note – this is not to forfeit leadership in areas that are the cornerstones of American liberalism. It is simply imperative to move from the center towards the left, rather than start from the left and try to drag the center along.

It is not going to be easy. Like the right fringe groups when they were on top, the left fringe is likely to be so goal-greedy and so puffed up by their role in winning that they demand change at a warp speed almost certain to frighten the center.

Here is my recipe for success:

Define success not by counting legislative changes this term but by in acting in such a way as to build bigger Congressional majorities and retake the presidency in 2008.

Iraq: Wait for the final report of the Iraq Commission and then follow the best of its recommendations as long as it involves some kind of a tangible timeline for withdrawal from the wretched mess.

Health care: Pass a law requiring that the U. S. government, through Medicare, negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for the purchase of large quantities of medicines at mass purchase prices. Such a law creates a win/win/win situation:

Win number 1 – It is the right thing to do.
Win number 2 – if the President signs it, which is doubtful, the Democrats accumulate credits for 2008.
Win number 3 – If he vetoes, the Democrats still get the credit in 2008.

*Tip – be prepared for and ready to counter vicious attacks by the drug companies claiming that this is the first step towards socialized medicine.

Homeland security: Spend the money where it is needed, which is not on pork amendments directing a disproportionate amount of the funds towards protecting silos in Iowa. Speed up the protection of ports, transportation facilities and nuclear power plants.

Repeal the Patriot Act and replace it with a law that supports the gathering of necessary information within the framework of the Bill of Rights – warrants, fair trials, habeas corpus, etc.

Ban torture.

Restore transparency. Listen to the people. Lead, but don’t get to far ahead.<<<

Most of you did not do your homework on the five comedy DVDs you would want if shipwrecked on a deserted island (with a DVD player).

But here is Hugh’s list, then Elizabeth's response to the question and finally, my choices.

These are not in order, but my picks are:
Caddyshack (My mistake I finally found it)
Animal House
The Jerk
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Young
Frankenstein

And if I could sneak another one on to the island (which has to have electricity, a DVD player and a HD 65 inch screen) it would be Duck Soup. Could I bring Christie Brinkley with me now that she is divorced?<<<

Hi dad,

Hmmm, I'll have to think about this one - the best comedies, or at least the one's I would take. They have to be ones you can watch over and over, since you're stranded alone. Also, some comedies are funnier when you see them with other people. I would definitely take one Woody Allen, one Mel Brooks, and one Monty Python. A musical comedy would also have to be in there.<<<

My daughter makes a very good point about some comedies being better if watched with someone else – I hadn’t thought about that.

Here are my criteria and choices: It must be funny. Anything with Adam Sandler is ineligible (see rule number 1).

In no particular order:

Young Frankenstein
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Dr. Strangelove
M*A*S*H*
Anne Hall

Barely missed
It Happened One Night
Manhattan Hannah And Her Sisters

Close
Animal House Caddyshack
The Sure Thing
Shampoo
Fargo
Early Woody<<<

Did you know: that someone moves to Pima County (Tucson+) every nine minutes, while someone else moves out every 15 minutes. In June, July and August it’s the same person.

And even more amazing to this relocated desert rat: By 2040 (when I’ll be pushing 80 – from the wrong direction) Arizona is expected to be the fifth-most populous state.<<<

Bruins 82, BYU 69! (below)
Our quote of the week is from Maureen Dowd:

“This will be known as the year macho politics failed — mainly because it was macho politics by marshmallow men.”<<<

Flash: Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have found that chocolate thins blood and protects the heart in the same way aspirin does.

Question: If I wash down my nightly aspirin with a chocolate malt, will I get double protection?<<<