SacBee reports: “Unions have blunted bids to curb political spending”

“It’s one thing for a state to pass a law forcing unions to get annual written consent before spending their members’ dues money on politics.

But it’s another thing entirely to make it work, as four of the five states with so-called “paycheck protection” laws on the books have learned.”

“With California voters poised to consider an employee-consent law for government workers on November’s special election ballot, only Utah is seeing its effort to check union political spending change the public policy world.”

This is exactly what Gov. Schwarzenegger is up against. California voters should realize what we’re fighting for: to curb the limits of special interests that manipulate the political system in order to control the direction of public policy.

The solution is simple and very democratic: union members should have the right to control how their dues are being spent.

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CNSNews reports: “In the now-familiar 5-4 ruling Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that two Kentucky courtrooms may not display framed copies of the Ten Commandments. But in a separate Texas case – also a 5-4 ruling — the Supreme Court said Ten Commandments displays are allowed on public land.”

“Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Stephen Breyer, and Sandra Day O’Connor ruled with the majority in the Kentucky case.”

One conservative group called the decision devastating.

“The Ten Commandments have played a crucial role in shaping the values and legal system of the United States and of all Western Civilization as is evident in many of the buildings here in Washington. In fact, the Supreme Court building itself boasts three different displays,” said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

“This ruling by the Supreme Court is not only denigrating to our culture but it undermines the very laws we already have in place. Forbidding the Ten Commandments opens the door to hostility toward religion, which is contrary to the free exercise clause of the 1st Amendment.”

“Opens the door?” Unfortunately, that door has already been kicked in and barbarians are at the threshold.

As a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, we must recognize what’s at stake and quickly repair the damage so that the freedom of religious expression in America can be guarded and forever preserved.

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Mayor Gavin Newsom is feeling the love…

S.F. Chronicle story here and video here.

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AP reports: “The lethal ambush of a convoy carrying female U.S. troops in Fallujah underscored the difficulties of keeping women away from the front lines in a war where such boundaries are far from clear-cut.”

“The suicide car bomb and ensuing small-arms fire killed at least two Marines and four others were missing and presumed dead. At least one woman was killed, and 11 of the 13 wounded troops were female.”

And just in case this story wasn’t bad enough, here’s the real kick in the face:

The women were part of a team of Marines assigned to various checkpoints around Fallujah. The Marines use females at the checkpoints to search Muslim women “in order to be respectful of Iraqi cultural sensitivities,” a military statement said.

America bends backwards trying to please everyone, but never gets any respect for it. In this case, the cost of kindness was deadly.

For all those accusing the U.S. military of being “evil” (a charge that is both false and malicious), we pose the simple question: How would the war be fought and what care for civilian casualties (let alone sensitivities) would be given if Saddam were commander-in-chief? None. Zippo.

Most of Iraq would be scorched earth by now, and the fear of death would create widespread compliance among all. Just like he ran the country before. Does anyone believe the daily acts of terrorism would be going on under his rule? (They didn’t)

America’s fairness, justice, and compassion is being exploited by those who play by no rules. At all costs, they want to break the will and spirit of those fighting for democracy. Attacking women is just part of the ruthless strategy. It needs to be seen as such. We must remain steadfast.

By condemning our actions, dismissing our achievements and hindering our progress, liberals are only helping the cause of the enemy.

So let’s get this straight: Earlier in the week, liberals wailed in objection to some conservative bloggers (including us) poking a little fun at a political screed passing as an obituary.

However, today we learn that they are celebrating the reported medical condition (now proven incorrect) and hoping for the death of Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States.

Sick and twisted individuals.

UPDATE: Huffington has deleted the comments. But Michelle Malkin has copies.

UPDATE II: Looks like Arianna just can’t delete them fast enough…

(Click image to enlarge)

The liberal “nazi” references just keep coming!

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Providing a little Friday levity, Scott Ott reports: “A day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local governments may seize private property to promote economic development, President George Bush said he may soon move to seize the high court under “the executive branch’s power of eminent domain.”

The 5-4 court decision broadens the reasons for which properties can be taken under the Fifth Amendment beyond the traditional ‘public use’ (such as schools and highways) to include ‘public purposes’ such as…

* increasing tax income to a municipality,
* returning a favor to a wealthy developer who supported your city council campaign,
* improving the view of the waterfront from the Mayor’s house, or
* getting rid of grumpy old people who have lived in their homes long enough.

“In the spirit of the new government takeover of American homes and businesses,” said President George Bush, “We may have to seize the moment to condemn some aging, faded and blighted elements of the Supreme Court. Then we can replace them with something that will serve public purposes.”

Via USMC_Vet and Mediaslander.com:

“Please consider helping us get some traction as we call on our readers to contact local Guild leaders and encourage those leaders to call for a change in leadership and put an end to Linda Foley’s unfair disservice to journalists across America.

Good journalists deserve better and our deployed troops deserve such defense at home.

I hope you will consider sharing a few of your readers today to call on Guild leaders to truly ‘support the troops’.

It’s not about us. It’s about them. It always has been.”

Semper fi.

All the details here.

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Following the old adage that “the best defense is a strong offense,” Hollywood is getting into the act on behalf of Hillary.

Thrown in between celebrity gossip, The Insider’s “inside Track” (promoted via Yahoo!) reports:

“ED KLEIN is hawking his so-called biography of HILLARY CLINTON.

The book is being panned by critics and publishing insiders. As one publishing poo-bah told me, “This man may have an impressive background in journalism, but that doesn’t mean his books have any value. He’s written four books about the KENNEDYS and not one has been a book of major contribution to history.”

There was buzz last week that Sen. Clinton was threatening to sue Klein and/or his publisher because of some of Klein’s outlandish claims. I have been assured by a Clinton confidante that she will not be taking any legal action. “She has said over and over again that she will never sue about things like this,” the confidante says. ”

She knows it will just bring more attention to whoever is going after her or Bill.” The confidante also says it’s more than likely that Clinton will not be reading Klein’s work nor will her people debrief her about it: “This stuff is so outlandish, they don’t even bother with it.”

That’s the message they won’t to make sure gets out to everyone.

Book review and excerpts here.

AP reports: “When it comes to smuggling animals across the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. Wildlife Inspector Ed Marshall has seen it all.

“Exotic birds given Valium or tequila so they stay quiet through Customs inspections. Sleeves moving with hidden reptiles. Wildcats stashed in trunks. Last week, the Border Patrol seized two white tigers on their way to Mexico.

And in 2001, an African elephant was smuggled across the Gateway International Bridge on a truck. “They call it the ‘Dumbo Case,’” Marshall said, shaking his head.

(Question here: Where the heck did they get an elephant? A zoo? You’d figure it would be reported missing)

“The contraband is part of a global trade in endangered wildlife estimated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at $4.2 billion a year, second only to illegal drugs.

“People don’t realize how serious and how important this is and that this is linked to organized crime,” said Crawford Allan of the World Wildlife Fund.

This story underscores the necessity to improve and increase our nation’s border security. It’s not just a debate about stopping the inflow of illegal immigrants but aso, as this report confirms, a direct tie to organized crime. Terrorist groups make perfect bedfellows.

In this time of hostile political rhetoric and fiery national debate, Cinnamon Stilwell asks a question that may give some pause: “Where have all the manners gone?”

In a recent article, Stilwell examines four issues:

- Infrequent Acts of Kindness
- Rudeness On Public Transit
- The Car Alarm Sadists
- Cell Abuse Is Here To Stay

We can all relate.