Attention Conservatives: Be Feared

Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

I've cited John Hawkins a couple of times at various points during the recent debates, but this comment sticks out:

Everybody in the conservative movement does not have to be an Ann Coulter, which is fortunate, because few people have her biting wit, talent, or fearlessness. But we need people who aren’t afraid to go for the throats of our political enemies.

It takes a while to figure this out, but when debating leftists, conservatives will never gain points for civility, grace, honesty, and respect. These folks will cut your heart out given the chance. You will be hated equally, no matter your disposition. Stand strong for your values, my friends. You will not betray them in defense of your goodness.

Firms Closing as Leftist Policies Make Costs of Doing Business Prohibitive

I got the tip from James at The Real World.

It turns out that Hav-a-Tampa cigars, a Florida-based unit of Altadis USA, is going out of business. Demand for cigars has declined amid the economic downturn, but aggressive regulations and taxes drove the final decision to close the business:

Several things conspired to hurt Altadis' sales ... including the recession and the growth of indoor smoking bans. The bans have especially hurt sales in cold-weather states, where it's impractical to smoke a cigar outdoors in the winter ... However, the company attributed much of its trouble to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, a federal program that provides health insurance to low-income children ...

Yesteday Fox News published this report, "Obama Flirts With Breaking Campaign Pledge on Taxes to Pay for Health Care Reform."

But actually, "President Obama broke his pledge not to raise taxes on lower- and middle-income families with his large tobacco tax increase back in February." The story on that is here: "Obama's Cigarette Tax Puts the Lie To His No New Taxes Pledge."

Now, of course, there's debate this week on the Obama administration's global warming "cap-and-trade" legislation. And Robert Zubrin has this analysis, "The Costs of the Cap-and-Trade Bill":

On June 25, the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate stabilization act, which would institute a cap-and-trade system to restrict Americans’ carbon emissions. While proponents of the bill have sought to argue that the costs of such a system would be negligible, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the bill proposes a massive and highly regressive tax on the U.S. economy, and could potentially cause not only extensive business failures, unemployment and privation within our borders, but starvation among poorer populations elsewhere.

Read the whole thing, here. More analysis at Memeorandum. James' post is here, "Those On the Left Are Mostly Clueles."

See also, Gateway Pundit, "The NRCC Hits Dems Hard Over Cap-&-Tax (Video)."

Related: Los Angeles Times, "Losses of Factory Jobs in California Blamed on Regulation."

James B. Webb: Depths of Psychological Denial

This post is a lengthy response to yet another iteration of the recent attacks on this blog. (Actually, a couple of iterations. James "Barebacker" Webb" has photoshopped me again since I started working on this post! And this time, with this particular Photoshop, James appears to imply a physical threat. I don't buckle to threats, so if big boy James is really calling me out, he knows where I am. He's a sorry-assed punk who's been beaten badly already, for all to see. But if he's looking for serious trouble, he'll need to get real personal and kick me to the curb like a man - put up or shut up!)



**********



Anyway, as readers know, I like the online debates. And I recognize that sometimes things get a little hot. But after three years of this stuff one gets the knack for holding their own. The leftists are bullies and brutes. After Wonkette posted more links to the demonic Trig Palin Photoshops, the moral balance had really turned against the leftists. My own commenter, Grizzy Mama, summed things up (link):

This is unreal. These lefty bloggers are incapable of behaving like adults. It's like they are a bunch of nasty, spoiled little kids. They're like some of the 'publics' (as I call them) on the block in the old neighborhood - desperately in need of mature parental guidance. That they are fully grown and have a forum for their base thoughts and so-called humor is shocking, really.

With that, and the commentaries of William Jacobson, it was manifestly clear that it'd be impossible for James B. Webb to continue his defense of the indefensible. Yet, when he Photoshopped me one more time, I responded:

An apology for your depraved attacks would be the decent thing to do, and I'll publish it at my blog with your denuniciation of Wonkette and your disavowal of using your sister as a shield.

Well, there's more: Mr Webb, after the merciless thrashing he's gotten, indeed offers a summary apology - but not to me! It's to his readers, and includes this:

The apology I'd like to offer is to say that I'm sorry to the readers of this site. This latest rhetorical scuffle between Don and myself was mean and it was ugly and I'm sure that it was hard to read about at times. I'll admit that I wrote some fairly unfriendly words in the course of things but I still feel justified in the stance that I took and I still stand behind every word that I wrote. I realize that by this point in my life I should be able to resist getting dragged down into the gutter by someone with Don's level of intellectual dishonesty in the blogger world but for as long as I can remember I've always had a problem backing down from an argument when I've known that I was on the right side of it.

There's actually a diagnosis for this in psychiatric medicine. James clearly manifests the indications of acute psychological denial. As Dr. Sanity points out in her post, "STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH DENIAL - Part III":

At the center of all psychological denial is a hidden agenda. That agenda is usually not completely conscious--meaning that the denier has not thought through the issues surrounding his denial; and may not even be aware of what his motivation is in asserting something is true when it isn't; or false when it isn't.



Denial need not be absolute and completely cut off from reality. Even among alcoholics and drug users there is a varying level of awareness of their problem. Some accept that they are in jail or sick because of their substance use, but yet are still not willing to do anything about it. Some may recognize some facts about their drinking (like that they get put in jail), but completely deny the impact of those facts on themselves or their families; or the future implications of continued drinking or drug use (e.g., that they are killing themselves and will die).



The hidden agenda or underlying motivation behind the denial is very frequently related to the potential adverse consequences that could ensue if the denial were eliminated and reality acknowledged. That is where the unnacceptable feelings, needs, and thoughts come in. The denier (or part of him) has made an unconscious decision that awareness of certain feelings, needs, or thoughts is more threatening to his sense of self than the act of denial.

(ASIDE: Dr. Sanity's example of an alcholic's denial is hypothetical, and is not specific to my criticism of James B. Webb. It is interesting, though, that with James B. Webb, many of his attacks are alcohol-fueled. I don't know if James' drinking problem is related to the supression of the other feelings and conflicting guilts, but there's no doubt that when someone has been shown as not just badly wrong, but bereft of moral virtue, some kind of psychological clinical adaptation must take place. Absent that, one might completely breakdown to a catatonic state.)



But let's recap the whole week-long debate with James B. Webb, the king of postmodern hypocrisy. In response to my first post over a week ago, on the Photoshopping attacks on Trig Palin, we got this from Mr. Webb:

My youngest sister also has Down Syndrome so you can imagine that I too would be considerably offended and justifiably outraged at such an attack against a defenseless child, only I have taken the time to arm myself with a few weapons that Don appears to lack: restraint, common sense and the Google ...

In a recent post about the faux Palin/Letterman controversy I asked what the next outrage du jour from the Republicans would be, a question that I think was aptly phrased in that it certainly does appear that there is something new that positively infuriates these people every single day. The term "sore losers" seems a bit simplistic and trite to explain this apparent derangement and never ending persecution complex ...

Famous last words? Mr. Webb has written four posts [six now, but who's counting?] since that time, most in response to my blogging on the controversy. But finally, earler, after William Jacobson pointed out Wonkette's latest reprehensible attack on Sarah Palin - including completely stomach-churning Photoshops of Governor Palin's son - it turns out that James B. Webb has finally eaten his words dissing the "ghoulshopping" of Baby Trig:

I understand ... any of those photoshops attacking or making fun of Trig are disgusting and should rightly be condemned ...

Well, why didn't you say that in the first place, big boy? You might have avoided a bit of, what's it called? Oh yeah, hypocrisy:

1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

2. An act or instance of such falseness.

Now, it's bad enough to be hypocritical. But what's worse is hopelessly attempting to escape such hypocrisy to the point of denying the accepted definition of the word:

I called you on your inability to recognize or define hypocrisy and dared you to publically prove your claim you went apeshit and wrote a rambling screed trying to smear me as being gay ...

Well, there's ample evidence to James' hypocrisy, not just in the example above, but here as well, "James Webb, Atheist Hypocrite, Loves teh Gays." God only knows James' sexual orientation for sure, although we have no hard evidence to rebut the suspicions that surround him. No matter, since that time James has stopped backlinking his posts attacking me to my own blog. I guess the notion that that might be a little hypocritical finally sunk in, especially having once denounced such practice himself. Oh, and James has yet to start calling me "Dr. Douglas," despite his hysterical demands that I show "respect" by addressing him as "James B. Webb." I won't hold my breath for a little recipical respect on my side. No matter though. There's certainly some comfort, altogether, that James' moral bankruptcy and nihilist hypocrisy are on brilliant display by now, for the whole world to see. Note too that this complete break with intellectual honesty is the hallmark of the postmodern left:

Those individuals, groups, or nations who live in the world of deep denial are practically untouchable by reality or rational argument. They go through their daily lives secure in the knowledge that their self-image is protected against any information, feelings, or awareness that might make them have to change their view of the world. Nothing--not facts, not observable behavior; not the use of reason, logic, or the evidence of their own senses will make them reevaluate that world view.

This last section is key. Because when James sees this post, he'll embark on another round of alcohol-fueled irrationalism and denial in and attempt to get out from under the weight of the unmistakable proof of the complete collapse of virtuous character.

Iran Regime Hangs Protesters; Oppo Newspaper Shut Down, Mousavi Defiant!

Atlas Shrugs, "Day 19 Iran Revolution: Supporters of Opposition Hanged." Plus, from JPost, "6 Mousavi Supporters Reportedly Hanged."



Also, from the Los Angeles Times, "Iranian Opposition Newspaper Shut Temporarily," and "Analysis: Hopes Fading for Negotiated Solution to Iranian Nuclear Impasse in Wake of Crackdown." From London's Independent, "Mousavi Declares Iran Government Illegitimate, " and Washington Post, "Ahmadinejad's Rivals Defiant on Iran vote."

Just found this on Twitter:

RT @inblueink: Protests continued across Iran today, Tehran and Tabriz and others #iranelection ...

And from ABC's Lara Setrakian on Twitter:

Khatami: #iranelection was a 'velvet coup' against democracy, undermines country's leadership @ap

Also Blogging:

* Astute Bloggers, "Mullahs Hang 6 Mousavi Supporters."



* Berman Post, "Iranian Revolution."



* Enduring America, "The Latest from Iran (1 July): The Opposition Regroups."



* Gateway Pundit, "Iranian Regime Hangs 6 Mousavi Supporters In Mashhad."



* Hot Air, "Mullahs Stringing Up Opposition?"

* Jihad Watch, "Iran is Still supporting, Funding and Training Surrogates Who Operate Inside of Iraq."

* Michael Ledeen, "Iraq and Iran."



* Nice Deb, "Iran Hanging Mousavi Supporters, Now?"



* The Lede, "July 1: Latest Updates on Iran’s Post-Election Turmoil."

* Jonathan Tobin, "Has the Iranian Regime Been Strengthened?"

See also, Der Spiegel, interview with Iranian theologian and philosopher Mohsen Kadivar, "'This Iranian Form of Theocracy Has Failed'." And CNN, "Opposition Movement in Iran Not Over, Experts Say."



Check Memeorandum and Atlas Shrugs for updates.

Jackson Begged For Sedative

From KABC-TV Los Angeles, "Nurse: Jackson Had Begged For Sedative":

Also, CNN, "Jackson's Will Filed in Court, Officials Say," and "Michael Jackson Public Viewing Set for Friday." From the Los Angeles Times, "Michael Jackson Will Not Be buried at Neverland Ranch."

For the latest gossip news, check WeSmirch. Plus, UsWeekly, "Dermatologist Is Father of Michael Jackson's Kids."

Americans See Democratic Party as “Too Liberal”

That's Gallup poll director Frank Newport in the video:

It turns out that the public sees the Dems as more liberal than they see the GOP as conservative, "More Americans See Democratic Party as “Too Liberal”":

The Democratic Party continues to hold the upper hand over the Republican Party in the current U.S. political environment by a variety of measures, including party identification and party favorable ratings. However, compared to last year, Americans are significantly more likely to see the Democratic Party as too liberal, and as a result, they are somewhat more likely to view the party as being too far left than to perceive the Republican Party as too far right. That may expose a bit of a vulnerability for the Democratic Party, and if perceptions of the Democratic Party as being too liberal continue to grow, the GOP may be able to win back some of the support it has lost in recent years. But that may be possible only if the Republicans are at the same time able to convince the public that they are not too far to the political right.

Oh, and remember: We're the right-wing "extremists."

The Filibuster-Proof Majority

Markos Moulitsas' wide-eyed glee in this MSNBC video is almost creepy:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ezra Klein notes how short-lived these legislative majories are, with the implication that the Dems better ram home their program while they've got the chance: "Democrats Have 60 Votes. What Will They Do With Them?"

At The Hill, "Another vote for card-check bill" (via Memeorandum).

Dick Morris suggests the GOP should stand its ground against the disastrous Obama policy agenada.

Actually, I'm glad the Minnesota race is done. Now we'll really see the Democratic agenda in action. The Dems are the country's majority party. They'll have responsiblity for the policy disasters under their watch. As Private Pigg said about Al Franken in the comments here yesterday:

I'm glad he won. The last thing we needed was the economy to be stinky and Democrats to be able to point to Republicans who were actually able to kill some Dem programs and use them as scapegoats. Now the Dems can ram their crap through, over-reach, and be out of power in 2 and 4 years.

Video Hat Tip: Hot Air.