11/30 Quote Of The Day

"In the backdrop of the worst economic crisis of our generation, financial literacy is the new civil rights issue, and the first global silver right. If you don't understand the language of money , and you don't have a bank account today, you are nothing more than an economic slave." — John Hope Bryant, centrist founder of Operation HOPE

Bookeristas In The News

France: Communist Politician Denounces Job Fair Organized By Rama Yade

Secretary of State for Sports Rama Yade's meeting tomorrow night in her hometown of Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine) with the youth wing of the center-right UMP party - which invites local residents to bring their resumes for an accompanying job fair - has invited charges by Communist Party parliamentarian Roland Muzeau that she is engaging in "cronyism" (article in French). The website Young People of Colombes has agreed to meet up at the job forum, which will be attended by Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez, and several business leaders.

"Why the hell didn't I think of this great idea to serve my constituents, before this young Negro who plans to run against me in 2012 did? Why, she's out of order!" "This initiative, with its populist overtones, with its air of electoral patronage, is scandalous," said Mr. Muzeau in a statement, adding that Ms. Yade "will not wait long to start campaigning for the upcoming regional elections." He stated, "It is playing on the hopes of part of the population with small, poorly paid jobs," adding that the initiative is "a dangerous game in these suburbs."

Ms. Yade takes full responsibility for the initiative, saying that a similar meeting was first held in June with no reaction from Mr. Muzeau. "We don't promise employment. It is essentially a session giving personal advice," said Ms Yade. "If it turns out that the encounter between the youth and the company is positive, so much the better," she said, adding that this was the case for two attendees at the June session. "If a politician isn't helping people, then what good is he?", said Ms. Yade, who added that Mr. Muzeau "would do better to offer solutions, rather than denounce because unemployment has risen very rapidly in Colombes in the past year, under their [the local coalition of Left parties'] leadership."

Ms. Yade, who is an elected city councilwoman in Colombes and who has polled as France's most popular politician for months, is contesting the Hauts-de-Seine area in the March 2010 regional elections. According to the French media, one of her goals is to challenge Mr. Muzeau for his seat in the 2012 parliamentary elections.

Uganda: Lukyamuzi Battles His Own Daughter For Parliamentary Seat

John Ken Lukyamuzi, the Conservative Party chairman popularly known as "Ken The Man", having been hounded out of Parliament by former Inspector General of Government Faith Mwondha, now wants to reclaim his parliamentary seat in Lubaga South. His daughter Suzan Nampijja, whom he helped win the seat, has found it too rewarding and sweet to simply relinquish. Mr. Lukyamuzi left Parliament in 2005 and was blocked from contesting any elective office in 2006 for failing to declare his wealth as dictated by the Leadership Act 2002. The moderate-conservative politician petitioned against the move, and the matter is now before the Supreme Court.

While campaigning for Ms. Nampijja in 2006, Mr. Lukyamuzi told rallies that his 31-year-old daughter was a capable substitute. The 57-year-old Lukyamuzi is angry that his daughter wants to get re-elected in 2011, instead of returning the seat to her father who bestowed it on her. Mr Lukyamuzi has even stopped taking Nampijja to the Inter Party Cooperation talks, something he has religiously done for the past two years. Ms. Nampijja wants to keep the seat the same way that Mr. Lukyamuzi did when he effortlessly took it in 1996 from Damiano Lubega, after the latter's political party decided to boycott elections. Both father and daughter reportedly might pick nomination forms for Lubaga South for the 2011 race.

Bookeristas on Race & Movies

The Cultural Strategist: "The Ironic Consequence Of 'Precious' - Jet Black, Obese Black Females Included In Celebrity Fashions?"



The conservative blogger in suburban Atlanta, Ga., opines: "Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe - the star of the movie 'Precious' has been receiving media notice as a result of the popular though controversial film. In the video segment above Ms Sidibe joins the ranks of actress Eva Mendez on the red carpet. After years of panning the promotion of the 'Eurocentric' standard of beauty:

• Light Skin
• Long Hair
• Keen Nose and Thin Lips
• Slender Body Shape

Ms Sidibe is inserted upon the stage wearing dresses from top rated fashion designers. The real question that remains for me is: 'Will the film's critics be willing to accept the presence of this 'non-traditional' image IF her own personal dignity and grace outdistances their biased views of what is beautiful?' We are on a different area here. They attacked the movie's depiction of this young Black girl. 'Disheveled', 'Pouting', 'Slothful', 'Prone To Fighting'. Now let us see if these same critics can deal with the fully formed personality of Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe. I will withhold my judgments but will keep my eye out."

Star Parker: "'The Blind Side' Should Trouble As Well As Inspire"



Asserts the conservative Republican commentator in California: "'The Blind Side' is a beautiful new film based on a magnificent and heartwarming true story. But I hope that the many who see it do not simply walk out all aglow. It should also produce concern. This story about hopelessness transformed into achievement should be a typically American story. We should be concerned that, increasingly, this is not the case. That this is the exception that should be the rule. Michael Oher's story has already received much attention. How a homeless black 15-year-old winds up in a Christian private school and how a white Christian couple adopted him and helped him develop to get the grades to stay in school, become a star athlete, an All-American football player and a multimillion-dollar NFL draft pick. Our wake-up call should be that the factors that saved and transformed Michael Oher's life stand in stark contrast to the government solutions we hear from Washington about dealing with our problems relating to poverty and education. Oher's story is about private individuals, about personal choices and responsibility, and about Christians. And it's not just about white Christians. The decision that started the chain of events that changed Oher's life came from a black Christian woman."

More: "Michael Lewis' book, on which the film is based, discusses Oher's public-school experience before Briarcrest, which the film skips over. He'd been in 11 different schools. The public schools were pushing him through to get rid of him, not to educate him. His records showed that in ninth grade he missed 50 days of school, yet he was passed. The film also ignores the IQ issue, which in the book is an eye opener. Shortly after his enrollment at Briarcrest, Oher, struggling to make it, met Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a self-made couple of means. They took him in and soon adopted him. By his senior year, making a final push to get his grade-point average to meet NCAA standards for college admission, they took him to psychologists for intelligence testing. They found, incredibly, that in his few years at Briarcrest, his IQ increased almost 30 points. When he was admitted, his IQ measured 80. Now tests showed him as between 100 and 110. This, according to Lewis, 'wasn't supposed to happen. IQ was meant to be a given, like the size of one's feet.' The psychologists were dumfounded. Michael Oher achieved this. But he couldn't have done it without a Christian school and his caring Christian adopted parents who loved him and respected his uniqueness. President Barack Obama's $4.5 billion in new education spending will not fix our education crisis. Government and moral relativism never has been the answer and will not be. School choice and traditional values are the answers. It's freedom, not bureaucrats, that produces miracles. Michael Oher may be an exceptional individual, but his story need not be an exceptional story."

Serena Williams Fined Record $82,500 For U.S. Open Tirade

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” at any Grand Slam in the next two years. Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock said that Ms. Williams faces a “probationary period” at tennis’ four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another “major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.

Mr. Babcock said that the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense was about $48,000 to Jeff Tarango in the 1990s.

Ms. Williams lashed out at a lineswoman after a foot-fault call at the end of her semifinal loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. Her profanity-laced, finger-pointing outburst drew a $10,000 fine from the U.S. Tennis Association in September — the maximum onsite penalty a tennis player can face. But because it happened at a Grand Slam tournament, Mr. Babcock was charged with investigating whether further punishment was merited. He concluded that Ms. Williams violated the “major offense” rule for “aggravated behavior.” The Grand Slam committee — with one representative from each of the sport’s four major championships — approved his decision on Saturday.

REJOICE NGWENYA COMMENTARY: South Africa's Dangerous Flirt With Socialism

The founder of the libertarian Coalition for Liberal Market Solutions (Zimbabwe) is worried that neighboring South Africa's ruling African National Congress is veering toward policies long favored by Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe: "Themba [sic] Nolutshungu’s compelling evidence of the genetic relationship between Communism and Apartheid is ground breaking. He should know better, for he has lived in the worst of the two worlds – Apartheid South Africa under the blistering abuse by the Boers and, of late, African National Congress’ South Africa that pays little homage to transparency. At a time when the free world is commemorating the destruction of the Berlin Wall, his fellow countrymen housed in more secure walls at ANC’s Luthuli House, are obsessed with reconstructing the communist dragon. I suspect that the architects of ‘socialist revival’ may have been too young to taste the bitter pill of overzealous state control."

He continues his commentary: "Now, we all know what socialism does to minds, but poor South Africans, promised heaven by ANC; have their mouths wide open waiting for Pretoria to provide houses, jobs, transport and medical care. Arguably one of the biggest economies in the Southern hemisphere, South Africa’s dangerous flirtation with socialism is only one of the ways to join the rare club of LDCs [least developing countries]. The other is to give trade unions too much say in business policy. It must be hard for Jacob Zuma, stuck with Communist Party baggage from the Stone Age and having to contend with populist rhetoric from Julius Malema [the controversial head of the ANC's youth wing]! Given this paralysing unison for government benevolence, one gets the impression that the average South African is lazy. With all that access to technology and innovation [no doubt created by a few liberal, diligent brains], why would thirty million healthy, able-bodied citizens expect Central Government to do everything for them? With so much access to credit – and most South Africans drive fancy cars – why not use that fire power to build own houses and start own businesses? How does COSATU [Congress of South African Trade Unions] and the SACP’s [South African Communist Party, which is allied with the ANC & COSATU] proposition to nationalise ‘strategic assets’ create more jobs?"

More commentary from Mr. Ngwenya: "The danger with socialist paranoia, like we experienced in Zimbabwe, is that it does not separate patronage from corruption. Those who are in charge of ‘nationalising’ assets use the opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the ‘weak’. Their rabid reference to ‘successful capitalists’ smacks nothing but of a sinister motive to rob Paul and pay Peter. The ANCYL [ANC Youth League] has plenty sermons on why [mining oligarch] Patrice Motsepe, worth a whopping R14.2 billion [US$1.9 billion], is the richest South African. In their blind frenzy for the wholesome adoption of socialism, they even argue for the nationalising of already existing state assets!"

Final thoughts: "Communist dictatorships are controlled by small, wealthy elite that live in obscene gluttony but campaign collective ‘good’. Their names are emblazoned in neon lights; therefore it is impossible for progressives to buy their propaganda. There are many private companies in South Africa that have successfully supplied motor-vehicles, food and furniture. If the government cannot effectively fulfil its core mandate – that of good governance – what makes ANCYL believe that bureaucrats can run business ‘for public good’?"

Climate Change: Bookerista Perspectives

DarkStar: "Question About A Scam"

The moderate Republican blogger in Maryland isn't quite buying the carbon credits concept: "I have a question about 'climate change' and carbon credits. If you are convinced that 'climate change' is a direct result of human energy consumption, then why are you not raising a ruckus over carbon credits? Here is what I don't understand. If someone burns energy that compares to 1.5 times 'normal use', and another person only burns energy at a level of 0.5 'normal use', why is it reasonable to allow the person who burns 'too much' to 'buy carbon credits' from someone who doesn't burn energy in a wasteful way? I just don't understand it."

Kenneth Durden: "Australians Face 60% Hike In Energy Costs From Cap And Trade"

The libertarian-conservative blogger opines: "Australian consumers are looking down the barrel of a likely 60% increase in energy costs when the nation's carbon trading and tax scheme kicks in. The Aussie government had assumed electricity prices for households would rise 12%. D'oh!?!? As usual, government meddling has unintended consequences. Now the politicians are having to try and find ways to pay for the impact on low income people. What will that likely mean? More taxes on the people who produce and work. Sound familiar? Now do you understand why so many of us are outraged that the president and Congress would even consider going forward with a foolish cap and trade scheme with our nation's current economic mess? Somehow our leftist leaders also seem to be ignoring the whole man-made global warming scientist scandal. I guess facing up to the truth would interfere with the whole control and wealth redistribution scam."

Huckabee & The Washington Cop Killer: Bookerista Views

I've never been a fan of clemency, and this is another example why. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s record of freeing criminals from prison was controversial even before news that Maurice Clemmons, the man sought for questioning in the killing of four Lakewood, Wash. police officers, had a lengthy prison sentence commuted by Mr. Huckabee. The one-time Republican presidential contender granted twice as many pardons and commutations as the previous three governors of Arkansas combined. In all, he issued 1,033 pardons and commutations during more than 10 years as governor -- an average of about one every four days. Yeah, Huck deserves the hailstorm upon him right now for this stupendous blunder, because his actions put this guy back on the streets. Bookeristas weigh in on the issue:

Constructive Feedback: "Attention Progressives - Please Do Make Mike Huckabee 'The New Mike Dukakis' Per His Release Of The 'Seattle Police Slayer'"

The conservative blogger in suburban Atlanta, Ga., on former Arksansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (pictured): "The November 28th shooting of 4 police officers in metro-Seattle provide the Democrats an excellent opportunity for my theory as listed above in the section heading true. Research of suspected killer Maurice Clemmons has uncovered that then Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee had lobbied for Mr Clemmons' release from prison. The Democrats have been handed an excellent opportunity to strike back at the GOP on the subject of being 'soft on crime'. I see no possible way that certain caustic partisans like Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, the Democratic Underground are going to avoid going on the attack against the GOP on this point. I hope that they do."

He continues: "This advances my desire to have the criminal element remain in jail rather than returned to the streets and allowed to commit more crime. I hope that this will force the cultural forces in our society to focus upon making the 'first chance' the key consideration because 'second chances' involve more of an 'outsourced' risk upon those who must vouch for an individual's character. I am not 'Pro-Republican' instead I am 'Anti-Criminal'. Either prevent them from becoming criminals in the first place or suffer from the effects of having allowed them to fester within your community and culture. Strategically - such a threat of having the CRIMINAL'S future actions come back and harm an elected leader's decision making capacity will naturally result in fewer convicted criminals released from jail because the official will not want to 'outsource' his own reputation upon the whims of a convicted criminal."

Clifton B.: "Maurice Clemmons Suspect In Tacoma Police Ambush Granted Clemency By Huckabee"

The conservative blogger in New Jersey writes about alleged cop-killer Maurice Clemmons (pictured): "This looks like it's Michael Dukakis time for Mike Huckabee. I wonder if Huckabee had a heads up on this story? Perhaps that is why he told Fox News Sunday yesterday that he was 'less than likely to run in 2012'. Clemmons will make a Huckabee 2012 run nearly impossible, especially when you look at Clemmons' record, the man should never have seen the light of day."

Nor is Mr. B. satisfied by Mr. Huckabee's press statement that it's "the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State": "This is weak. It seems to try to spread the blame all over the place. Huckabee commuted this guy’s sentence and that is why he was free to roam. It would be nice if Huck and company owned up to this fact. If there is one thing the electorate is looking for today, it is integrity. That includes owning up to your mistakes, both big and small. This statement reeks of the same old Washington slip and slide when it comes to taking responsibility."

Mr. Grey Ghost: "Will Maurice Clemmons Be Mike Huckabee's Willie Horton?"

The conservative Democratic blogger in New York City writes: "First of all, who knew Mike Huckabee was Mr. Rogers on crime (well apparently, Malkin did and so did quite a few others)? And this doesn't look like a case of typical Far-Right paranoia, as from all accounts Maurice Clemmons had no business being on the streets. Apparently as governor of Arkansas, Huckabee granted a lot of undeserved pardons as well executive clemency's [sic] to felons with long rap sheets, including Clemmons. These acts of freedom caused plenty of controversy during Huckabee's years as Governor. Yet, Huckabee would often point fingers at supposedly inept prosecutors or inject religion into his pardons, all the time having little knowledge of the case, depending on the knowledge of his assistants instead."

More: "Witnesses are saying that Clemmons, who had just gotten into a couple of altercations with cops in recent days, was carrying around a grudge against police before he allegedly shot and killed 4 police officers. A massive manhunt for Clemmons is still underway, tho[ugh] some reports are saying that he may be wounded or dead from a gunshot suffered from the ambush. Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee is on the defense....bigtime [sic], and probably will be for quite awhile as right now he's not looking good at all."

Tyrone: "An Act Of Kindness By Mike Huckabee Came Back To Haunt Him In A Way He Could Have Never Imagined"

The conservative Republican blogger in Baltimore, Md. examines Mr. Huckabee's (pictured) background as a former minister as an influence in his lax attitude towards criminals: "When Mike went into politics, he carried his clergy background with him to the Governor['s] mansion. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing but some decisions religion shouldn't have played a role in as governor. During the primaries last year, Mike was criticized and attacked by conservative pundits and radio talk show hosts over his commuting the sentences of several repeat violent offenders as Governor in Arkansas. At first I thought conservatives may have been jumping the gun a bit. Many compared Huckabee to being the new Mic[ha]el Dukakis, the violent criminal's best friend. I could only imagine the facial expression of Mike Huckabee, when he found out that the person who killed four Seattle police officers yesterday is the person that he commuted the sentence of just nine years prior."

He continues his commentary: "I actually feel bad for Mike. The blood of those four police officers rest solely on Mike's hands. If Mike wouldn't have commuted the sentence of Maurice Clemmons, Clemmons would have still been in prison serving a [sic] his 35 year sentence. Maurice Clemmons had a record a mile long even before Mike Huckabee even knew about him. He showed 'compassion' for Clemmons, because he was 17 years old at the time of his sentencing. There [are] only so many chances in life a person can get. Wanting to see the goodness in everybody is noble, but it isn't realistic. Some people are just bad to the core from the start. Mike didn't want to believe that in the case of Maurice Clemmons. I bet he believes it now. To[o] bad it took the killing of four police officers to drive that point home though. It's a good thing he told Chris Wallace yesterday that he wasn't likely to run in 2012, because now his chances of having a remote chance of winning the Republican nomination is zero. With Huckabee displaying a bleeding heart for violent repeat criminals, why would anyone trust him in supporting the killing of terrorists as President?"

James Cleverly on Politicizing The Police

The London city councilman and conservative, on policing the police to increase accountability to the public: "There as been a lot of ill informed comment about [conservative parliamentarian and Shadow Home Secretary] Chris Grayling's proposals to have elected heads of policing. Let's just look at the situation as it currently stands. If crime in your area increased against a national decline or the police were ordered to turn a blind eye to public drug taking, who would you hold to account and how? Let's look at a specific example. If crime in London was to soar who would lose their job in 2012, [Mayor] Boris Johnson or [Metropolitian Police Service commissioner] Sir Paul Stephenson?"

More: "The creation of police authorities was a step in the right direction but it is a flawed model. The MPA [Metropolitan Police Authority] sets the budget, owns the properties, [an]d employs the non-uniformed police staff. It is part of the delivery machine. It is also the scrutiny body. I can't see how it can properly scrutinise a process that it is part of. Operational decisions will still be made by the police but budgets and priorities will be set by someone accountable to the people being policed rather than police authorities."

Abortion: Bookerista Perspectives

Alan Keyes: "Sarah Palin - Personally Pro-Life, But....?"

The conservative activist and America's Independent Party member responds to critics of his criticism of what he regards as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's insufficiently pro-life position on abortion because she is open to having the issue decided on the state level instead of the federal level. Mr. Keyes argues that abortion undermines liberty based on unalienable rights, and should be banned at all levels of government: "Unless Sarah Palin fundamentally alters the views she has enunciated and acted on up to now, I predict that she will disappoint the hope so many sincerely pro-life people are mistakenly investing in her supposed pro-life stand. I am sure I will pay a price for saying now what others will only realize when it may be too late....My view of Sarah Palin's supposed pro-life stance, and the danger involved in following her leadership, is similarly based on facts and reasoning. I will hold to it until one or the other clearly compels me to do otherwise. Experience has taught me that even among those whose pro-life hearts espouse the self-evident truths that make us free, when it comes to politics the factual standard of truth often gives way to personal feelings and expedient calculation. Given the crisis we are in, I can only pray that at some point they will realize that this neglect of the requirements of truth is the very reason America's liberty has reached the crisis point. Before a people finds leaders willing to act in truth, they must become a people willing to submit their own judgments and decisions to its demands."

Gregory Kane: "Baltimore City Council Targets Christian Pregnancy Centers"

The conservative Republican commentator in Baltimore, Md. opines: "Last week, Baltimore distinguished itself by having one of the few city councils in the nation to enact a law that, in essence, harasses pregnancy centers that provide neither abortions nor birth-control referrals. Yes, you read that right: In the eyes of the Baltimore City Council, people who run pregnancy centers that don't kill unborn children -- or advocate killing them, or refer pregnant women to places that do -- are the bad guys. Those bad guys must now, under penalty of a $150 daily fine, post signs in English and Spanish saying, according to one news story, that 'they do not provide or make referral for abortion or birth-control services.' Baltimore's City Council members voted 15-3 to pass this nonsense. That three Democrats had the guts to hold out and go against the tide shows that there may be hope for this party yet, but the action of what may be appropriately called the 'Dirty Dozen' still boggles the mind."

More: "The aim of this law is to harass faith-based, anti-abortion pregnancy centers. It's targeted at them exclusively; that's why Planned Parenthood of Maryland is so pleased with it. A law that applied to everyone involved in the business of advising and counseling pregnant women would require the Planned Parenthood folks to post signs giving details about the views of its founder, Margaret Sanger, on things like eugenics and forced sterilization. And, according to Edwin Black's book, 'War Against the Weak,' Sanger "associated with some of America's most fanatical eugenic racists' and 'surrounded herself with some of the eugenics movement's most outspoken racists and white supremacists.' A law requiring such disclosure would be just as silly and unwarranted as the one the Baltimore City Council just passed. But the Montgomery County Council is also considering such a bill. Will the District of Columbia follow?"

East Africa: Bookerista Perspectives

Charles Onyango-Obbo: "Polygamy Can Keep The EAC Going"

The Ugandan-born journalist and moderate in Kenya wonders where the East African Community's new common market will lead the region, as people begin to move, work, live, and trade freely within partner states. After discussing someone he knows who had multiple wives across East African borders under the first attempt to unify the East African Community in the 1970s, he writes: "There were many reasons why EAC 1 fell part. There were the ideological tensions between Tanzania and Kenya; the political hostilities between Uganda’s military ruler Idi Amin and everyone else, especially Tanzania. Looking back now, it seems we missed a great opportunity to save the EAC in 1977. Amin, in his seeming insanity, once proposed that he and then Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere should step into a boxing ring and sort out their differences there. A former boxer, Amin was hoping for an easy victory. Nyerere treated the challenge with deserved contempt. Then Amin said if Nyerere were a woman, he would have married her and there would be peace. Now if Nyerere had looked around for a woman who looked like she was his twin sister, he would have appeased Amin. And if he had stepped into a ring and strategically fallen to the canvas at the first Amin blow, Idi would have been satisfied. Perhaps the EAC would have been saved."

More: "More seriously, these episodes offer us a clue into what it takes to keep a Community going. It requires big dreams to come together. But it is the small things — like cross-border polygamy — that keep it together. And it is also the small things, like a regional chieftain’s unquenched desire to humiliate his peer (Amin vs Nyerere in a boxing ring) that tear it apart."

James Shikwati: "Attract Great Minds To Agriculture"

The libertarian head of the Inter-Region Economic Network (Kenya) writes: "'We sleep on cotton bedcovers, have milk and cereals for breakfast, sit on leather chairs in our offices, put on woolen suits and get energized daily by food all from agriculture!'. These are not the exact words but is the sense of what Kenya's deputy police spokesperson Mr.Charles Owino said recently. He was among the presenters in a brainstorming session on 'Food Security and Transformation of Agriculture in Kenya.'"

More: "Has it ever occurred to you that food security goes hand in hand with general security? Law enforcement is crucial to food security. One tends to realize the crucial role of the police only when one gets robbed or mugged. The same applies to the importance of farmers during famine episodes. Unfortunately, for Africa and most developing countries, both the agricultural sector and law enforcement systems have been relegated to illiterates and school dropouts! I was very moved by the police officer's passionate plea to Kenyans to ensure that the police force gets reformed to attract the best of the minds! Who should feed the over 1 billion people faced with hunger and malnutrition globally? The first line of defence against hunger ought to be investment in up-scaling knowledge from and to farmers. Agricultural stewardship must focus on knowledge transfer to farmers just as automotive driving calls for trained drivers."

Tiger Woods Drama: Bookerista Perspectives

Tiger Woods has hired media lawyer Mark NeJame - aka "Orlando's Johnnie Cochran" - and hence the three turned-down requests for the police to interview him about that one-car accident early Friday morning. Yeah, it was just a routine minor accident but you lawyer up with the quickness. Nothing fishy here. Anyway, bookeristas chime in about Mr. Woods' woman drama:

Bob Parks: "Here’s My Take…"

The conservative Republican blogger in Virginia writes: "This whole 'affair' thing [regarding Mr. Woods' alleged mistress, New York City party planner Rachel Uchitel] comes to a head after the Thanksgiving festivities end. Elin goes off, probably got in a sucker punch or two. As it never looks good when a man defends himself against a hysterical, violent woman, Tiger hauls ass. Elin looks for the closest thing she can pick up and as coincidence would have it, she’s married to Tiger Woods: golf clubs are plentiful in the house. As he’s driving away, she runs up and smashes the Escalade’s window, Tiger freaks out, and he drives into the fire hydrant and then a tree."

He continues: "Tiger’s press statement said Elin 'acted courageously' by bashing in the SUV’s window to rescue him. You ever hear of using the door? If you listen to the 911 tape, you hear the neighbor at the crash scene but you don’t hear a concerned Elin in the background. One would think maybe she would have been the one to call 911…?"

Slyram: "Tiger Woods"

The moderate Democratic blogger in Georgia writes: "Tiger Woods has made me so proud as an American and African American. Yes, my friends and I were wrong to say he is Black when he wins and Asian on the Sundays that he doesn’t win…we are wishy washy like that....All kidding aside, Tiger and his family are going to be just fine. After all of the things he has done right, the guy can have a little drama — he is human off the course and after last year he is human on the course also. He knows who he likes and I wish them well."

Casey Lartigue: "Tiger Woods"

The libertarian blogger in Washington, D.C. writes: "1) Should Tiger talk to the police? Just do what is legally mandated. If I were Tiger Woods I would just give my name, rank, and serial number. 2) I doubt that we'll ever get the real story. We might find out he is not the tiger in his own family. 3) A man running out of his house at 2 a.m. in the morning? If you heard about me running out of the house at 2 a.m. from a woman who just happened to have a baseball bat, wouldn't you think I was probably up to no good? 4) I don't care about Tiger Woods and his wife. They don't want to talk, there is no proof of abuse. But once you end up lying in the street after running over a fire hydrant and hitting a tree? Then suddenly I am very interested in your domestic life. If that happened to one of my neighbors then I would want the police to get an explanation to prevent that from happening again. 5) Of course, there is great irony in Tiger Woods possibly getting chased by his wife while she was armed with a golf club. 6) Whatever happened, Tiger needs to protect his image. As Mark Twain has been quoted as saying: 'It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.' In Tiger's case, it is better to let people speculate about what happened rather than to turn state's evidence."

Attorneymom: "Warrant Pursued In Tiger Woods' Beatdown"

The conservative blogger responds to news reports that police are seeking to obtain a search warrant to seize medical records from the hospital that treated Tiger Woods to determine if the wounds that Mr. Woods sustained are consistent with a car accident or domestic violence since Mr. Woods has thrice refused to meet with police: "Tiger Woods must remember that ain't no n**** going to tell Florida Highway Patrol or Windermere police what to do. Are you crazy?? Blank stare. Once you and your wife took your beatdown outside to the streets, your privacy ended. We would not have known that you two were having problems if it were not for you running for life at 2:00 am. You and your publicist better remember giving false statements, even though you are a victim of a crime, to the police is a crime."

Jim Collier: "The Top Ten Things Tiger Woods Now Knows (Or Remembers)

The moderate blogger writes about Tiger Woods (pictured left, in an ill-timed Accenture ad featured in today's Wall Street Journal. Hat tip: UK Spectator): "

10. White women can act just as crazy as the sisterhood of exhaling flat irons.

9. 'I saw the tree, I was fine, but where the hell did that hydrant come from?'

8. When a woman has your babies, her attitude says she owns the important parts of you.

7. 'Let’s see, crashed Caddy, crazed wife, police at the door – I really AM Black!'

6. 'My angry driving sucks, I bet Jack Nicklaus would not [have] choked like that'.

5. 'Yeah, she was trying to rescue me alright. More like lining up a clean shot at the Woods family jewels.'

4. 'Keep it in the pants, son, keep it in the pants.' (Earl Woods)

3. 'The next Escalade will have the sports-suspension package, or somebody’s getting fired.'

2. 'I should have said I had insomnia and was hitting the all-night driving range. Damn-it Tiger, get your head in the game!'

1. Hmmm… a ‘crazy b___h’ panic-room is sounding kind of good right now."

LUCIEN PAMBOU OP-ED: French Regional Elections: Nationalization, Politicization, & A United Right

The city councilman and moderate-conservative in Alfortville, France opines that the French center-right should further politicize the March 2010 regional elections by differentiating their positions from the center-left and by highlighting the structural reforms that President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken since his election in 2007 (commentary in French): "--- The tax shield or how to recapitalize our country's productive economic and financial activity by allowing some of our compatriots who have succeeded economically to return their capital to France without being taxed excessively.

--- Minimum service. The French shouldn't be taken hostage during a strike, which is normal."

He adds: "--- Tax reform can provide a lifeline to businesses, encouraging investment and creating jobs. He [President Sarkozy] is also fighting against the socialist trend, which aims to systematically increase taxes, as can be seen in the areas it [the Socialist Party] oversees."

More commentary from Mr. Pambou: "--- The carbon tax, which is in effect a climate and energy tax, allows the Republic to better articulate industry constraints and well-being. This is to reflect on green growth, a popular type of ecology and not a decrease as the environmentalists want the traditional parties to do. Besides, the president will fly to Copenhagen (Denmark) to argue the French point of view in the global field of CO2 reduction.

--- Reducing VAT [value-added tax] from 19.5 percent to 5.5 percent should restore the skills to hire, therefore, create jobs and to benefit consumers. Restauranteurs must play the game, otherwise they must accept that the government will take binding decisions against them....

--- It is worth recalling the role played by the president during the French presidency of the EU during which the president put out the fire in Georgia and has played a major role in saving the French banks and to allowing the State to play its role as savior of the economy."

Final thoughts: "These are the major reforms undertaken by Nicolas Sarkozy since 2007. It is normal for regional campaigns to be inspired [by the president] and quite normal for the Right to conquer regions on behalf of unity and with the involvement of Ministers or Deputy Mayors. The UMP [the ruling center-right party of both President Sarkozy and Mr. Pambou] and the New Center, as well as the various parties joined the mainstream [with the 2007 election] and go united with the presidential battle for March 2010 regional elections."

11/29 News: East Africa

East Africa: Albinos In Hiding After Attacks; Their Body Parts Believed To Hold Special Powers

As many as 10,000 albinos are in hiding in east Africa over fears that they will be chopped up and their body parts sold to witchdoctors, the Red Cross said in a recent report (hat tip: Constructive Feedback). The killings of albinos in Burundi and Tanzania, who are targeted because their body parts are believed to have special powers, have sparked albinos' fears. Body parts of albinos are sought in some regions of Africa because they are believed to bring wealth and good luck. Attackers chop off limbs and pluck out organs to sell to dealers, who in turn sell them to witchdoctors.

Albinos have fled to Tanzanian schools for the disabled (many albinos are blind or partially blind) or in emergency shelters set up by police in Burundi to avoid attacks. Tanzanian government officials have said they are mobilizing police to help the embattled population, but admit it is hard to quell the attacks. Most happen in rural areas, where there is not enough police presence, according to Lucca Haule, assistant commissioner of police.

Rwanda Becomes A Member Of The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth has admitted Rwanda as its 54th member. A Rwandan minister said the move showed his country's "tremendous progress" over the last 15 years since its infamous genocide. The former colony of Germany and Belgium is the second country (after Mozambique) to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain. It joined the Commonwealth 14 years ago.

Rwanda expressed its desire to become a formal member last year, despite its historic association with Francophone countries. Relations between France and Rwanda have been poor for years (although today the two countries resumed diplomatic ties). A French judge implicated Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in killing former president Juvénal Habyarimana (a Hutu) -- the trigger for the slaughter - an accusation which President Kagame (a Tutsi) rejected. The Rwandan government has accused France of having backed the forces that went on to instigate the genocide. The Rwandan New Times said Rwanda's bid to join the group was supported by Britain, Australia, Canada and India. It also had the backing of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and the meeting host country Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

J.C. WATTS COMMENTARY: Americans Struggling With Economic Anxiety

The conservative Republican and former Congressman opines: "As I've traveled around the country talking with people in airports, hotels, churches and in their homes and offices, the refrain I constantly hear is that Washington and Wall Street are clueless and out of touch with everyday people. When we see people protesting in the streets, church parking lots and on Capitol steps, we have to ask why they're doing this. The people who say these events are inauthentic have no clue how viscerally frustrated, angry and insecure these protesters are. Most folks in Washington have no clue about small business people today who have one foot in bankruptcy and one foot out. Washington has no clue what the 22-year-old, the 35- to 45-year-olds, the 50-year-old or the 65-year- old are going through, nor do they understand the anxiety they feel every day. If they did, Washington would not be trying to pass a health care bill that would put a greater financial burden on every person I've mentioned. Washington would not be trying to pass an energy bill that would increase already unaffordable energy costs on these same people. Congress would not be trying to pass a financial services reform bill that would make it tougher for every small business and every consumer in the marketplace to obtain credit."

He continues his commentary: "Instead of the federal government working against these people, they should consider doing a few common sense things:

-- Don't raise taxes. Low tax rates matter when trying to create new jobs. In today's economy, we don't need more taxes, we need more taxpayers. Create an economic environment for people to invest or reinvest, or to expand and grow jobs.

-- Create a sound and predictable regulatory environment. You can't have cryptic regulations that change every other month on the federal level.

-- Create a legal system that discourages frivolous lawsuits. Doctors want to practice medicine in a way they can be aggressive in healing their patients, not practice defensively to keep from getting sued. These defensive measures only increase the cost of health care for all of us."

Westchester And The Latest Integration Crusade

Elizabeth Wright, a conservative blogger in New York City who has seen Section 8 harm her neighborhood, supports suburban New York residents' battle to keep low-income housing out of their communities: "'It's time to remove zip codes as a factor in the quality of life in America.' And with that snide remark, Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), made clear the department's intention to force the construction of 750 low-income housing units in affluent, stable communities of Westchester County in New York State. In spite of the fact that Westchester has long had its share of affluent black and Hispanic families, that's not quite the same as having a representation of 'poorer' residents (as HUD puts it), apparently to guarantee racial as well as economic 'diversity.' After all, what's a community without a contingent of Section 8 tenants? It's a 'racist" community, if we follow the logic of Mr. Sims and the Obama administration, that is vigorously pursuing this latest integration crusade. In 'Revolt in Westchester' (City Journal, 11/4/09), Walter Olson describes this recent move to compel towns to accept unwanted housing, and sees the recent election of Rob Astorino over long-time County Executive Andy Spano as the signs of a revolt by Westchester residents, who are determined to find a way out of a settlement that many believe was coerced via strong-armed government tactics."

She continues: "Talk to my neighbors here in the Norwood section of the Bronx about quality of tenants. Now, you might think that the Bronx is the last place where anyone would care about such things as residents' conduct, but you would be mistaken. In spite of its reputation for crime and disorder, there have always been, in the borough, low-to-no-crime havens of steadfast, conscientious home-owners and apartment dwellers. Most of my neighbors are working class types, harboring what one might call middle class aspirations and values. During the past decade, the neighborhood's landlords have been hard pressed to find more of such tenants to fill vacancies in their apartment buildings. In my building, for example, apartments have sat empty for months. Long-time residents of other buildings have reported the same situation, i.e., empty apartments. But no longer. Against their better judgment, many landlords are succumbing to the government's generous rental payments for Section 8 tenants, or so-called homeless families. ('Families' in a very loose sense of the word, usually single women with children and a host of interchangeable boyfriends.) I need not detail the alterations to the neighborhood's environment, as residents attempt to adjust to the behavior patterns of these new tenants with 'issues.' You can guess the nature of the 'issues' they bring with them. Suffice it to say, the recent upswing in, shall we call it, social discord, is taking its toll on what is normally a harmonious and tolerant community, where residents make a virtue of being seen and heard only when appropriate."

More: "Olson surmises that Westchester residents voted for Astorino (who, throughout the campaign was never expected to beat the incumbent Spano), as a way of expressing their concerns over this housing issue. Astorino had called for a 'slowdown,' so that the county could examine further options in relation to the settlement. Spano might have overplayed his hand by insinuating that critics of the housing plan were 'racists.' Olson says that Westchester residents, who are liberals from way back and voted for Obama by a comfortable margin, may very well have been offended by Spano's aspersion. 'Westchesterites don't like being talked to that way.' Over the last decade, about 1,700 units of 'affordable housing' has been built throughout Westchester [C]ounty. But now, in what a local newspaper calls 'a historic shift of philosophy,' the federal government demands that the county develop housing in communities 'with little or no minority population.' It turns out that building for the poor was not good enough. Building now has to be for the race specific poor. It goes without saying that poor whites need not apply. To quote my neighbor again, 'Bad tenants make bad neighborhoods.' Here's wishing better luck to Westchester than our little vicinity is presently experiencing."

International News

A Defiant Iran Vows To Build Nuclear Plants

Iran angrily has refused to comply with a demand by the United Nations nuclear agency to cease work on a once-secret nuclear fuel enrichment plant, and escalated the confrontation by declaring it would construct 10 more such plants. The response to the demand came as Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said his cabinet would also order a study of what it would take for Iran to further enrich its existing stockpile of nuclear fuel for use in a medical reactor — rather than rely on Russia or another nation, as agreed to in an earlier tentative deal.

Even if Iran proceeded with a plan to build 10 enrichment plants, it is doubtful Iran could execute that plan for years, maybe decades. But the announcement drew immediate condemnation from the White House, which hoped Iran’s defiant tone would help persuade Russia and China that imposing harsh sanctions was justified.

Swiss Ban Mosque Minarets In Surprise Vote

This isn't a surprise to me, but apparently it is to some folks: Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on minarets on Sunday, barring construction of the iconic mosque towers in a vote that put Switzerland at the forefront of a European backlash against a growing Muslim population (hat tip: Black & Right). The referendum by the nationalist Swiss People's Party labeled minarets as symbols of rising Muslim political power that could one day transform Switzerland - which is currently 6% Muslim - into an Islamic nation. The initiative was approved 57.5 to 42.5 percent. Only four of the 26 cantons or states opposed the initiative, granting the double approval that makes it part of the Swiss constitution.

Muslim groups in Switzerland and abroad condemned the vote as "biased" and "anti-Islamic", worried that the vote could have reverberations in other European countries. Business groups said the decision hurt Switzerland's international standing and could damage relations with Muslim nations and wealthy investors who bank, travel and shop there. Amnesty International said the vote violated freedom of religion and would probably be overturned by the Swiss supreme court or the European Court of Human Rights.

The sponsors of the initiative provoked complaints of bias from local officials and human-rights group with campaign posters that showed minarets rising like missiles from the Swiss flag next to a fully veiled woman. Backers said the growing Muslim population was straining the country "because Muslims don't just practice religion" but argued that the minaret "is a sign of political power and demand, comparable with whole-body covering by the burqa, tolerance of forced marriage and genital mutilation of girls."

USA: Higher Education For Pot Smokers

At most colleges, marijuana is very much an extracurricular matter. But at Med Grow Cannabis College in Michigan, marijuana is the curriculum: the history, the horticulture and the legal how-to's of Michigan's new medical marijuana program (hat tip: reader Nanakwame). "This state needs jobs, and we think medical marijuana can stimulate the state economy with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars," said Nick Tennant, 24, founder of the college, which is actually a burgeoning business in suburban Detroit. The six-week, $475 (U.S.) primer on medical marijuana is a cross between an agricultural extension class ("It's harvest time when half the trichomes have turned amber and half are white") and a gathering of serious potheads. The only required reading: Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible by Jorge Cervantes

Mike Huckabee: Bookerista Perspectives

I'm not feeling Huckabee for 2012 at all: too socially conservative and too fiscally liberal. I.e., too dang populist for my vote. He's about equal to U.S. President Barack Obama (who is too socially and fiscally liberal for my taste), as fiscal issues play the biggest role in my vote. Is there no viable, libertarianesque candidate on the horizon that a fiscal conservative-social moderate like myself can like? Anyway, conservatives weigh in on the former governor:

Clifton B.: "Mike Huckabee: 'Less Than Likely I Will Run In 2012'...Yeah, Right!"

The conservative blogger in New Jersey isn't buying former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's claim that he doesn't plan to run for president in 2012: "Sorry Huck, but I am not buying this. Today Huckabee’s numbers are looking too good to ignore. He has weekly exposure because of his show. He has been mimicking too many of the Tea Partier’s words and his none too subtle slaps at Sarah Palin, leads me to believe he is going to go for it again."

He continues his commentary: "I am not a big fan of Mike Huckabee. From the get go, he immediately struck me as a Republican Bill Clinton. Like Clinton he oozes that faux compassion of 'I feel your pain'. His overt play for Christian conservatives also reminded me of Clinton’s play to blacks. In 2008 he could have done a lot better had he dropped the 'I am above attacks' nonsense and leveled his guns directly at Romney or McCain. I am also sure that Huckabee would have tripped up Obama more than once during the debates. I am not too sure how Huckabee will play in 2012."

More: "In 2012 America will need a no nonsense true believer of fiscal conservatism. Huckabee’s record in Arkansas simply doesn’t measure up to that standard. While Huckabee maybe able to work around that shortcoming in the general election, it is going to be a major hur[d]le to overcome in the primaries, especially when stacked up against Romney’s record of turning around failed enterprises and Palin’s strong fiscal conservative record. In the end, Huckabee will be in the race for the White House once again. The media will be singing his praises because they believe he is beatable. If Huckabee decides to go for it, he had better go all in for trying to win it. Simply sticking around to play the spoiler like last time ain’t gonna cut it."

Tyrone: "Mike Huckabee Announces That 'It Is Unlikely He'll Run In 2012'

The conservative Republican blogger in Maryland writes: "Former Governor Mike Huckabee told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that a 2012 presidential bid is 'less than likely' and depends on whether Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News, keeps liking his show. It looks like Mike likes being a talkshow [sic] host more then being in politics. Mike Huckabee's show 'Huckabee' is a top rated speciality [sic] show on the Fox News Channel. Mike has gotten comfortable in his current 'gig', and doesn't want to jeopardize it by running in 2012. Part of me thinks that another reason he doesn't want to run for the nomination is that he feels that he can't beat Barack Obama if he won the Republican nomination. Huckabee told Chris Wallace that 'GOP leaders would be foolhardy to think that President Barack Obama is an easy mark in 2012'."

More: "If Mike holds true to his word and definitely won't seek the Republican nomination in 2012. There is one possible candidate that can fill the vacu[u]m of the social value conservative voters that would have backed Mike Huckabee in a 2012 nomination run. That potential candidate is obviously Sarah Palin. A run by both Huckabee and Palin would have more th[a]n likely split the pro-life Evangelical vote among the two, this would have allowed for Mitt Romney to win the nomination by capturing the Republican moderates and fiscal conservative Republican votes. Some on the right considered Huckabee to be one of the grass root social conservatives that was being counted on to run in 2012, I have no doubt that the pressure among conservatives is now definitely going to be placed on Sarah Palin to run. Sarah is scheduled to speak at the first annual Tea Party convention in February. Things can still change between now and next year. A dark horse candidate can still emerge out of nowhere and change the potential make up of the primary field. Until that scenario plays out or if it plays out, the 2012 Republican Primary fight looks likes a possible showdown between Mitt Romney & Sarah Palin."

Bookeristas In The News

USA: Rep. Artur Davis: "I'm Conservative On Some Social Issues, Liberal On Others"

On certain social issues, there is little difference between Rep. Artur Davis - who is vying to become Alabama's first black governor - and some of the state's staunchest conservatives. Like most of the Republicans running for Alabama governor, the moderate Democrat said in a media survey he: (1) opposes gay marriage and civil unions in Alabama; (2) believes that illegal immigrants should not be granted amnesty; (3) favors prosecuting businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants; and (4) supports prayer in school and religious displays from all faiths being put on government property.

There are notable differences between Rep. Davis and the GOP candidates. He is pro-choice on abortion. Rep. Davis did not say whether he would support an abortion ban. Instead, he said that the issue will be decided by federal courts, and that he opposes partial-birth abortions and federal funding of abortion. He said that women and their doctors shouldn't be sent to prison for abortions. Rep. Davis stressed that public school prayer should be nondenominational, but expressed support for lessons taught from the Bible.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, the other Democrat in the race, declined to say where he stands on such issues. This prompted criticism from the Davis campaign.

Kenya/Ghana: June Arunga To U.S. Black College Students: "Lack Of Capitalism Is Holding Africa Back"

June Arunga, 27, spoke recently at an event sponsored by historically black North Carolina Central University. Ms. Arunga, a Kenyan-born graduate of the University of Buckingham in Britain, does not blame globalization or a lack of resources for Africa’s problems, but legal structures that breed corruption and overregulation. The libertarian says that economic liberalization and free trade will promote African entrepreneurship. “What should be encouraged is the fundamental right of people to own land and the products of their labor, which are then recognized by the courts, and can be exchanged at the market,” said Ms. Arunga.

The entrepreneur has put her economic concepts into practice as co-founder of Black Star Lines, a Ghanaian-based banking service and payment network that small vendors can operate from their cell phones. “You have to come with innovative ideas...not just for your area but worldwide,” said Ms. Arunga.

In her speech, Ms. Arunga discussed the importance of free trade, economic development, and the value of the American free enterprise system. Ms. Arunga said she wanted people to dare to challenge their own thinking. “Make your life count for something, don’t be a clone of other people, dare to challenge your own thinking”, Ms. Arunga said.

USA: Harold Ford Jr. Memoir Rolls Out

Amazon is now selling pre-orders of the memoir by former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. More Davids Than Goliaths, which is being published by Crown, an imprint of Random House, is scheduled to be released in September 2010. The moderate-liberal Democrat took office at age 26 after winning the 9th U.S. Congressional District seat in 1996 that was previously held by his father, Harold Ford Sr. The younger Ford also came within 50,000 votes and three percentage points of winning in 2006 the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Bill Frist. Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker won that race.

Climate Change: Bookerista Perspectives

Kenneth Durden: "Climate Change = Wealth Distribution In Denmark"

The libertarian-conservative blogger opines: "Upfront money of about $10 Billion is reportedly needed to move forward with a 'climate change' deal in Copenhagen. Of course it's expected that 'wealthier' nations put up this money. More proof that the whole climate change scam is more about wealth redistribution than saving the planet. Let's see if our president, who recently bemoaned the nation's debt, ponies up money we don't have."

Ripclawe: "Climategate! East Anglia Will Publish All Data To The Public"

The conservative Republican blogger in Florida writes about leading British scientists at the University of East Anglia, who are accused of manipulating climate change data after hacked or leaked emails were released: "The damage has already been done cause mostly by the arrogance of the climate scientists. If the data is sound, publish it. You got the whole web as factcheckers and you can't pull one on people if the data is there for all to see if it is used wrong. But the damage is done because more than enough of these emails have made it into the public that even if it is taken out of context the perception is someone manipulated and lied about the data trying to fit it in their worldview about climate change and people being the cause of it. The initial response by the University and its supporters was pathetic as they tried to ignore the situation then getting dismissive. This move shows they now realize how big this has gotten."

Bookeristas on Religion

Kenneth Durden: "Weird Stuff - Woman Sees 'Jesus' On Iron"

The libertarian-conservative blogger writes: "A woman in Methuen, Massachusetts claims that Jesus appeared on her iron. I usually try to avoid questioning anyone's faith, but as a Christian I get really bothered by this kind of thing. For this woman and all others who see 'Jesus' in odd places like irons and plates of spaghetti: How do you know what Jesus looked like? Newsflash: DaVinci [sic] wasn't there. I have a feeling she'd be shocked if she saw how Christ really looked. Put down the pipe and back away slowly...please."

Adrienne Ross: "Governor Palin Discusses Faith"

The conservative blogger in New York argues that the religious faith of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (pictured in red) is a refreshing change from what she views as U.S. President Barack Obama's cynical use of religion: "One reason ordinary Americans respect Governor Palin is because she is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person. She is -- as so many have acknowledged -- the real deal. No pretense. No hypocrisy. Just who she is. She's grateful for her Alaskan upbringing, grateful for her family, and yes, grateful for her Christian faith. Always grateful for her faith. President Obama is not opposed to talking about faith either, like when he appealed to religious leaders when he was looking for support for his Health Care Bill. In that speech, about which Andrea Tantaros so eloquently wrote in an article called 'Obama Plays the God Card,' he quoted Scripture and claimed, 'We are God's partners in matters of life and death.' However, the President also seems to tuck away faith at will, like when he said bitter people 'cling to guns or religion,' when he blew off the National Day of Prayer, and when he, a professing Christian, asked that Georgetown cover up the name of Jesus."

More: "People are entitled to embrace or reject faith. That's part of being an American. It is not for me to dictate how one leads his or her life in that regard. However, I have heard and seen enough to know that one reason Governor Palin appeals to millions of Americans is that she knows who she is and she reveals herself without shame -- not forcing it on anyone else, not hiding it either, and not teetering back and forth when it's politically advantageous to do so. What a breath of fresh air to see that kind of transparency and boldness in a leader. In this, she stands miles apart from President Obama. Governor Palin simply is who she is -- and she is a woman of faith. That fact has been ridiculed by some and praised by others. Either way, it is what it is."

Kenneth Durden: "Sudanese Teen Flogged For Knee-Length Skirt"

The libertarian-conservative blogger writes: "A 1[6]-year-old Sudanese Christian girl was subjected to 50 lashes for wearing a knee-length skirt. Northern Sudan follows strict Islamic law and regularly metes out brutal punishment for indencency [sic]. Can you imagine how they view us considering many American female celebrities could get gynecological exams just by getting out of a car? The coars[e]ness of our culture is as much a source of jihadist hatred as anything."

"The Blind Side" Is An Obvious Appeal To White Guilt

Constructive Feedback agrees with a black liberal writer that the movie "The Blind Side" is another in a long line of white paternalism movies that are ostensibly supposed to be about black characters. The conservative blogger in suburban Atlanta, Ga., however, argues though that this movie's viewpoint is no different than the black liberal perspective about the role of paternalism in addressing the problems of poor blacks: "The Blind Side Is An Obvious Appeal To White Guilt by Christop[h]er Chambers Social commentator Christop[h]er Chambers and I achieve a rare and fleeting agreement about the new Sandra Bullock move 'The Blind Side' - it is 'White Paternalism' on the big screen. A White woman in Memphis gets emotionally invested in a poor Black buck and per her attachment to him she makes his struggles in life her own. Not even his own thug friends that seek to keep him in the barrel will stop her. My ever so tentative agreement with Mr Chambers disburses [sic] as I bring forth the irony by noting that the same paternalism that is offensive to Mr Chambers and other BQPFRCs [Black Quasi-Progressive Fundamentalist Racism Chasers] are essential elements of their 'social justice' policies via government intervention in these same impoverished communities."

He continues his commentary: "In my reply to Mr Chambers' online article I try to tie his outrage about 'White paternalism' to a real world news story that came from Memphis TN a few years ago. The ABC News show '20/20' featured a longitudinal tale of the uncomfortable friendship between a young single Black expectant mother inside of Memphis and a suburban White mother who[se] church sent her into the poor Black areas of the city to reach out to their suffering brothers and sisters. The entire area of Memphis had a black eye with respect to the unacceptable 'infant mortality rate'. (MSNBC: Memphis Battling Infant Death Epidemic). This epidemic is centered in the Black areas of the city where poverty, broken families and casual sexual relationships rule. In this real life tale where 'life imitates art' the suburban Whites that moved out of the city as 'White Flight' had taken place were now asked to go back in to these communities to form bonds of friendship in the name of removing this shame from their extended community. Please allow me to clarify my point. I applaud the church for identifying a need and then calling upon their flock to provide Christian charity. This is a part of their calling. The key point that disturbed me about the segment was that all of the outreach was directed toward the single Black mother, insuring that she received sufficient prenatal care. As with many other social policies the valuation of the baby has triggered this attention."

More: "The one key actor that was missing in this story between the suburban White helper and the pregnant Black mother to be was the Black male who sired the child. In the '20/20' piece this particular male was in his young twenties. The pregnant girl was just a 'piece' that he 'hit' among many others. He had other children around the community and was an equal opportunity provider. This meaning he didn't provide for much. He was shown to be investing more money in his custom car than in his own newborn daughter's life. Later on in the extended review he was shot dead during a drug deal. There was no structured outreach from anyone to the young Black males in the community who are armed with the 'life creating' force known as 'sperm'. Ironically the relief provided to their children by these outsiders merely allowed them off of the hook, free to 'rinse and repeat' elsewhere in the community with another womb that welcomed them. I question how Mr Chambers can be offended by the paternalism that is shown on the big screen yet mistake real world government entitlement in the name of 'social justice' as any different."

Final thoughts: "Any systematic engagement which fails to demand that every capable mind within the Black community to contribute toward the common goal by aligning their thoughts and actions behind these goals is a plan that merely creates unintended consequences. The real valuation of the Black human form does NOT come from what society provides our people through the government channel which allows us to live at a standard that our own actions don't allow us to. Instead real valuation of Black people is balanced by the assumption that we are indeed FULLY CAPABLE HUMAN BEINGS and thus we are expected to be the primary vehicles by which are desired standard of living is delivered."

COBB OP-ED: Explaining A Basic Palin Phenomenon

The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in California opines: "I had an interesting, but friendly and therefore short conversation about the appeal of Sarah Palin last night. My interlocutor was appalled that someone so un-brilliant can be considered so seriously as a political figure. The President, he said, should be brilliant and intellectual. I said, you've already got that in Obama, but nobody got the irony. The details of the conversation had to do with the unwillingness of Palin to answer intellectual questions. I thought it was appropriate that a politician should not base their appeal by demonstrating their articulation on theoretical questions. The purpose of being president is not to conceptualize scenarios, but to embody power and wisdom."

More: "So I have just invented a mental experiment to deal with this question in the future so I can explain a basic conservative phenomenon, which is that you don't want your president to be a certain sort of brilliant. Imagine that we had a global test to find the most brilliant person in the world and the point of this was that we would give this person the power to be the leader of the free world. After an exhaustive survey, we found a man who understood particle physics, spoke 12 languages, could do cube roots in his head, played classical piano, and ran the marathon in 2:15. He decides to be Pope. So my question is now that it can be proven without a doubt that the smartest man in the world is head of the Catholic Church, do you convert? How does it make you feel about your willingness to follow Catholic dogma? Knowing that I will be asking this to a certain sort of person who cannot understand Palin's appeal, I know it is a trick question. They will not convert, of course not. They have their own reasons for not being Catholic and those reasons will not change simply because it's run by somebody objectively brilliant. There is just a certain part of one's life that you feel some authority has no business controlling - which is exactly how conservatives feel about government."

He continues his commentary: "All that said, I think the Republican Party is out of its collective mind and that Sarah Palin should be a Senator, period. Why? Well it has to do with that aristocracy of merit thing. Everything about her and her appeal to Republicans is about winning the Culture War, that battle is beneath the Office."

Taking The Private Jet To Copenhagen

The London Times (UK) has a great piece detailing how many of the world's most famous environmentalists don't practice what they preach (hat tip: Black & Right): "There was Sheryl Crow, who had called upon the public to refrain from using more than one square of toilet paper per visit ('except on those pesky occasions when two or three are required') and who was leading a Stop Global Warming concert tour across America. It was revealed that while Crow travelled in a biodiesel tour bus, her 30-person entourage followed in a fleet of 13 gas-guzzling vehicles. John Travolta notoriously encouraged the British public to do its bit to fight global warming — after flying into London on one of his five, yes, five private jets (one of which is a Boeing 707). In 2006 his piloting hobby produced an estimated 800 tons of carbon emissions, more than a hundred times the output of the average Briton, according to the Carbon Trust. It is less well known that Tom Cruise — who has campaigned for the LA-based environmental group Earth Communications Office — also has an air fleet and a licence to pilot his five planes, including a top-of-the-line customised Gulfstream jet he bought for his wife, Katie Holmes."

The article continues: "Perhaps more egregious, because she is a much more in-your-face global-warming campaigner, is Dame Trudie Styler, film financier and wife of Sting. Not only do she and her husband run seven homes and travel between them in private jets and a fleet of cars, but in 2007 an employment tribunal revealed Styler was furious when her pregnant chef refused to travel 100 miles to prepare some soup and salad. (The chef had regularly made the trip in the past, travelling by train and taxi.) And Sting recently had to contend with accusations that the Police were 'the dirtiest band in the world' because of the scale of their last tour and the carbon footprint of the fans who went to see them. This spring Styler was accused of hiring a private jet to take her and an eight-person entourage from New York to Washington, DC, for the White House correspondents’ dinner, even though there are dozens of scheduled shuttle flights she could have taken, not to mention fast trains. Strangely, Sting flew commercial to the same dinner. When challenged, Styler reportedly defended herself by saying: 'Yes, I do take planes. My life is to travel and to speak out about the horrors of an environment that is being abused at the hands of oil companies.' U2’s latest world tour features three stages and a giant claw that ensures as many spectators as possible get a decent view. Alas, transporting the whole shebang around the world is estimated by carbonfootprint.com to produce the carbon equivalent of the annual emissions of 6,500 British homes — or a rocket trip to Mars and back."

More: "At the end of the film An Inconvenient Truth, the unbearably earnest former presidential candidate Al Gore asked his audience: 'Are you ready to change the way you live?' His own huge Nashville mansion consumed over 20 times the electricity of an average American home. Indeed, according to the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, it burnt twice as much power in the month of August 2006 than most American homes do in an entire year. Another inconvenient truth revealed that the former senator spent $500 a month just to heat the indoor swimming pool in his lavish domestic establishment. The 100ft houseboat he bought in 2008, on the other hand, was said to be powered by biodiesel. Gore gave the usual response of the green celebrity caught not practising what they preach. He said he made up for his consumption of electricity and production of carbon dioxide by buying carbon offsets — some from his own offset company."

It continues: "It was just as green activists began worrying about eco-fatigue — the green equivalent of compassion fatigue — two years ago that the first wave of celebrity eco-hypocrisy stories hit. The first thing these stories did was make us feel better about our own relatively minor eco-failings. They also allowed us to vent the irritation we feel about being lectured by actors, rock stars and lesser species of celebrity. There is something annoying about the way 'ordinary' people are being told they must give up their 'addiction' to cheap travel, when no leading Hollywood star — not even Leonardo DiCaprio, who often flies commercial — can bring themselves to relinquish the private jet. Yet there is something absurd about criticising celebrity eco-hypocrites. People who become film stars and rock gods usually do so because they want to join the jet set, and the jet-set life is inherently wasteful. It’s the profligacy that makes it fun and gives it its status. They are unable to give up their private jets because celebrity status is connected to travelling in the most exclusive way possible. Hence, just about all the things celebrities do to get away from 'civilians' are unsustainable in green terms."

About the upcoming global warming summit: "The Copenhagen summit next week will generate vast quantities of hot air. It will see 16,500 people coming in from 192 countries. That amounts to 41,000 tons of carbon dioxide, roughly the same as the carbon emissions of Morocco in 2006. Also, the organisers will lay 900 kilometres of computer cable and 50,000 square miles of carpet. More than 200,000 meals will be served and visitors will drink 200,000 cups of coffee — at least that will be organic. When asked if the carbon footprint might have been reduced by turning Copenhagen into a video conference, a spokesman for the event said: 'For such a major agreement, people need to meet together and negotiate face to face. We have delegates from all over the world. Video-conferencing systems are extremely useful, but they don’t match the personal touch. This is one of the main factors in having a good conference.'"