A lesson in character.

The late Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi said one of the most despicable things in the history of sports: “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” He left out such concepts as “sportsmanship,” “honor” and “character.”

Regrettably, this attitude is now considered acceptable in both professional and amateur sports. It is used to excuse behavior that ranges from felonious to the merely boorish. The message to young Americans is clear — if you can sink a basket, hit .300 or kick a goal, the rules don’t apply to you.

Recently, a group of young California athletes learned differently.

The learning experience took place Friday, Sept. 23, when eight football players from La Quinta High School decided to watch a football game at neighboring Palm Desert High School.

Their first mistake was in trying to sneak in for free. They were turned away at the gate. They waited for half-time and tried again. Again, they failed. But this time, the gate attendant smelled alcohol on the students and detained them.

That’s when the wrath of God, in the form of La Quinta head football coach Dan Armstrong, descended on the miscreants. He immediately suspended five of the students from the team for two weeks; he kicked the other three off the team for the rest of the season because they were on probation for previous team-rule violations. The suspensions went into effect that very night even though all eight of the suspended players were starters.
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The AP’s Jesse Holland has written an article about how Senate Republicans “began pressuring the Senate’s minority Democrats to promise what they called a fair confirmation hearing & vote for President Bush’s next Supreme Court nominee.”

Mr. Holland goes on to say:

Almost three-fourths of the 100-member Senate will vote for Roberts, a 50-year-old conservative U.S. Appeals judge & former appellate lawyer, as the replacement for William H. Rehnquist, who died earlier this month. “If being intelligent, brilliant, a superb lawyer, the greatest legal mind of your generation & well qualified isn’t enough, what is?” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Simply put, Sen. Graham, who I was mightily upset with when he signed the Agreement of Understanding, nails it with his observation that Roberts should be a lock because Judge Roberts is the “greatest legal mind” of our generation.

Quite frankly, Judge Roberts should get confirmed by voice vote instead of going through a roll call vote. He’s that outstanding. This isn’t just someone that’s a good candidate. Simply put, he’s the gold standard from now on.
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Remember Mark Fuhrman, the detective who gathered evidence at the Simpson/Goldman murder scene? During his trial testimony, he failed to mention several off-duty conversations that had occurred years before with a screenwriter and former date. For failing to disclose the dialogue, Fuhrman was prosecuted and forced out of the LAPD.

I knew Mark back then and his integrity as a police officer was consistently valued by his peers and the diverse communities we served. But cops are only as good as their credibility, which is why officers who violate public confidence are not fit as public servants. So strident are Americans to marginalize bad cops that police agencies often discipline good cops for offenses as subtle as false accusations and unintentional mistakes. As one who served on LA streets for two decades, I believe that officers who deliberately mislead courts deserve our worst condemnation — for their conduct not only threatens the accused, but all Americans.

Responsible journalists also safeguard our democracy by keeping us informed of the events around us. We rely on reporters to help Americans make decisions on everything from the products we buy to candidates we elect.

When police officers and journalists are corrupted by economic, social, or political influences, they marginalize ideological threats that cannot be otherwise stopped by evidence, due process or competent investigation. Corrupt reporters fake stories to control their audience, generate revenue, and fix elections just as bad cops plant evidence to implicate “undesirable elements.” For bad cops and the elite media, their perceived benefit to society is often enough to justify the means. Liberals might call this outcome-based journalism and law enforcement.

Unlike bad cops, however, the elite media defends bad journalists. Can anyone imagine the LAPD telling Americans that Raphael Perez stole drugs, framed innocents, and shot unarmed men because they were guilty anyway? This is essentially what outlets like the New York Times do when they stand by stories proven false or when they kill exculpatory stories about people they don’t like. And while journalists hide behind the First Amendment, they seem to forget that even Voltaire condemned libel.

Journalism’s continued resistance to minimum ethical standards threatens Americans and others inspired by our democracy. Reporters who use questionable information to promote prejudice or ideology deserve the contempt of all Americans.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt signals defiance at his Iraqi attackers after being injured by an improvised explosive device near Ramadi. Attending to the Marine were Nebraska 167th Cavalry members Spc. John Adams (far left, in front) of Hastings, Neb., and Pfc. Darin Nelson of Fremont, Neb.

Something… and Half of Something has the story.

Unannounced Presidential hopeful Senator George Allen (R-VA) with Jim Talent (R-MO) introduced a constitutional amendment that would empower the President to use the line item veto to either eliminate or reduce appropriations in any bill passed by the Congress.

”One of the ways to help curb superfluous spending by Congress is by implementing, on a federal level the power I had as Governor of Virginia to line-item veto wasteful pork barrel projects, said Sen. George Allen.

”Given the challenges we face today in the War on Terror and the long tradition of Congress to lard appropriations with non-essential spending it’s important that the President finally have the ability and responsibility to eliminate some of the waste that Congress is so efficient in producing.”

With the threshold to pass so high, and both party’s fondness for spending, it’s unlikely a constitutional amendment will pass. But it strengthens the Senator’s credentials as a fiscal conservative. This will be important if he announces a run for President in 2008.

Put Senator Allen on your watch list for 2008.

Debbie Schlussel has it. And it ain’t so classy.

All pride. No shame.

This is fantastic news:

Governor George Pataki said today he will direct development officials to drop plans for a museum of freedom at the World Trade Center site, saying it has stirred “too much opposition, too much controversy.”

The International Freedom Center would have been put in a cultural center adjacent to a memorial for the Sept. 11 victims, and was part of the master plan for redeveloping the devastated 16-acre site of the nation’s worst terrorist attack.

In the last several months, some victims’ families, groups of firefighters and police officers and public officials said the center, which would feature historical exhibits expressing the worldwide struggle for freedom, would detract from the Sept. 11 themes and provide a possible forum for anti-U.S. messages.

“Today there remains too much opposition, too much controversy, over the programming of the IFC and we must move forward with our first priority, the creation of an inspiring memorial to pay tribute to our lost loved ones and tell their stories to the world,” Pataki said in a prepared statement.

“I am directing the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. to work with the IFC to explore other locations for the center,” the governor said.

The center’s leadership said that won’t work. “We do not believe there is a viable alternative place for the IFC at the World Trade Center site,” said a statement sent by Richard Tofel, its president and chief operating officer. “We consider our work, therefore, to have been brought to an end.”

Two victories in two months for those who want 9-11 memorials to honor the victims, and not the thugs who committed the heinous acts that killed them. First, there was the “Crescent of Embrace” which looked more like a tribute to Islam than a memorial to the heroes of Flight 93. And now, this victory against having an anti-American International Freedom Center at the WTC site.

Mark in Mexico has more and concludes:

In spite of the liberal Mayor Bloomberg, the even more liberal New York Times and the morons who conceived and designed this now dead monstrosity, the majority of Americans have not been fooled. They have seen this for what it is and have rejected it out of hand. Good for us.

Indeed!

Just in time for Halloween.

When the news broke this afternoon about Tom DeLay’s indictment, we made a prediction — or, better said, a statement of the obvious: the MSM would waste no time to cover this story in a feeding frenzy unlike we’ve seen before, as compared to, let’s just say, their scant coverage of the incompetence of Louisiana’s Democratic leadership.

UPDATE 20:38PST: GatewayPundit provides a collection of a few memorable headlines
UPDATE 9/29 5:35PST: This morning, New York Times headline (via email) giddily declares, For G.O.P., DeLay Indictment Adds to a Sea of Troubles, including this byline: Republicans are dealing with a string of ethical issues along with Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and hopeful Democrats. Add hopeful MSM. No bias.

Furthermore, we anticipated what else would promptly emerge: Democrats using DeLay as a big brush to paint all Republicans.

No sooner said than done. And guess who’s first at the podium?

In a one-sentence press statement released by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, she declares:

“The criminal indictment of Majority Leader Tom Delay is the latest example that Republicans in Congress are plagued by a culture of corruption at the expense of the American people.”

Despite the obvious partisan politics, as Matt Margolis is quick to point out, the irony is that Pelosi herself “is no stranger to ethical violations.”

But that’s never stopped a good liberal soundbite. And, sadly, we expect plenty more to come. It’ll be a pile on.

Just in time for Halloween, Democrats will attempt to dress-up DeLay as a Republican monster and, with that, try to disgust the public.

Same tricks, no treat.

UPDATES:
NRO’s Stephen Spruiell explains: “[T]his indictment is totally phony. Here’s why:

“The indictment centers around a money swap that took place between the Texans for a Republican Majority PAC (TRMPAC), to which DeLay has ties, and the Republican National State Elections Committee (RNSEC). TRMPAC sent $190,000 to RNSEC, and RNSEC then sent the same total amount in seven checks ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 to Texas House candidates in 2002. Travis County DA Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, calls this money laundering, because the money that TRMPAC sent to RNSEC came from corporations, which are barred from contributing to campaigns in Texas.

What you won’t hear in the press is that A) This is a perfectly legal move, and B) the Democrats did the exact same thing. An Institute on Money in State Politics study reveals that on Oct. 31, 2002, the Texas Democratic Party did the same thing when it sent $75,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and received $75,000 back from the DNC the very same day.”

Mark Levin chimes in: “It’s a disgrace.”

So, who’s behind the chicanery?

Bryan Preston quips:

“District Attorney Ronnie Earle, the man behind the indictment, is a long-time Democrat hack. He is to fair prosecutions what Dan Rather is to fair journalism.”

AnkleBiting Pundits say “it’s going to be a rough ride”
OpiniPundit says it’s time “to get aggressive and fight back”
Reaganite calls it a “gift” for Republicans
Lorie Byrd weighs in on DeLay and the Dreier Smear
CaptainsQuarters quips, “Howard Dean’s Personal Prosecutor?”
The Anchoress talks about both “Chuck and Tom”
SisterToldjah admits initial skepticism, but weighs the facts and recognizes “the vicious witch-hunt mentality of the Dems and the media alike.”
GatewayPundit predicts, “Republicans may feel angry and afraid tonight, but tomorrow when America sees the awful politics behind this vague indictment they will not be amused.”

The Smoking Gun has the court filings.

PoliticalTeen has the video. (No. Where’s the video?)
But Ian does warn liberals not to get their panties in a wad.

Damn good advice.

Or as WILLisms puts it: “Don’t be a bed-wetter”
(Our sheets are dry!)

UPDATE II:
PoliticalTeen does have video!
D.A. Ronnie Earle press statement
DeLay’s response
(Hattip: Conservative Outpost)

Trackbacked at BasilsBlog

“If you give us a chance, we’ll give you a choice.”

This world keeps getting more bizarre every day. I offer you Elena Rocha’s article in Mother Jones as proof that reality is stranger than fiction.

Mother Jones is one of the most liberal fringe websites out there (with heavy emphasis on “out there”).

A look at their website tonight lists articles from former White House correspondent Helen Thomas, Ruy Teixeira, author of the critically-acclaimed (it’s pure fiction but it drew rave reviews from ‘the critics’), The Emerging Democratic Majority and someone named David Enders, an anti-war advocate. Part of the political mainstream they aren’t.

With that in context, here’s Ms. Rocha’s observation of the GOP’s outreach to Hispanics:

“Outside of Washington, D.C., the president and other conservatives are reaching out to and engaging Latino communities across the country –- and they have been doing so since long before the 2000 presidential election. They are meeting with religious leaders and congregations, talking to school boards and parents, addressing senior citizens and college students, and disseminating talking points and PowerPoint presentations to local and state leaders all along the way. A key part of their strategy is the recruitment of Latino youth, who are being approached by conservative groups before they are even eligible to drive or vote. All of these efforts are creating inroads for the conservative movement. For proof, look no further than the increase in the Latino vote for George Bush in the 2004 election.”

Ms. Rocha is right. The GOP, especially under RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman’s leadership, have been making a bigtime pitch to Hispanics and all minorities. Mr. Mehlman has spent lots of time meeting with students at historically African-American colleges & pastors of African-American churches. At each stop, he sincerely repeats the message: “If you give us a chance, we’ll give you a choice.”

Republicans know that the Democratic Party has neglected minorities for quite some time and some face time with these groups, mixed with some common sense proposals, are all that’s needed to turn minorities towards the GOP.

Here is Ms. Rocha’s advice to the Democratic Party:

“…progressives will need to turn inaction into action to avoid being left behind. If leaders of the progressive movement don’t learn from their missteps, it will be a loss felt not only at the polls, but in all sectors of public life.

There are, however, steps that can be taken to cultivate and strengthen the relationship between progressives and Latinos and it centers on dialogue.”

Ms. Rocha is correct in suggesting that a major part of repairing their relationship with minorities is simply spending time with these groups. She’s wrong, though, in thinking that that’s all that’s necessary.

It’s obvious that part of the GOP’s appeal is that they believe in alot of things that minorities believe in.

I remember hearing last fall that a lot of the Bush administration’s outreach efforts were aimed at Hispanics & African-American church pastors with a strong pro-life message because both of these ethnic communities consist of many church-going Catholics, who tend to be more pro-life than non-church-going Catholics..

“For far too long, minorities in general and Hispanics in particular have been taken for granted. In the past, when they have been called to the table, it was not to share in discussion or participate in the decision-making process. It was to accept a token piece of the process while others at the table made the big decisions without them.”

This approach is a surefire turnoff with any group of people.

The Democrats are essentially saying, “Here’s what we’re offering. Now vote for us. That’s enough dialogue, right?” We saw this with John Kerry during the last election, and it directly hurt is campaign. DNC chairman Howard Dean has made some efforts to avoid this misstep again, albeit doing the job poorly.

To his credit, Chairman Mehlman has made a habit of sitting down and having real discussions with whatever minority group he’s spending time with. The connection is easily understandable.

That’s why Mother Jones is right in worrying that “progressives” are losing the fight for the hearts & minds of all minority groups.

RELATED:
Who Really Represents the Hispanic’s
Best Interest in California?
– by Jim Lopez, Chairman of the California
Republican National Hispanic Assembly (CARNHA).

Howard Dean: Revealing The New 2008 DNC Strategy
DNC Action Plan: Diversify The “Diversity”
DNC Memo: Strategy for 2006 and 2008

Cross-posted at BoxerWatch

AP reports: “A female suicide bomber attacked an Iraqi army recruitment center Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding 30 in a northern city where coalition forces routed insurgents in a major offensive earlier this month.”

Another “freedom fighter,” Cindy?