Conservatives Stand Up! — Zilla's Resistance Honor Roll Keeps Getting Bigger!

The freak leftist fascists are unrelenting, but again I'm overwhelmed by the awesome moral support I'm seeing across the blogosphere. So, here's a follow-up to my earlier entry, "Huge Shout Out to Ladd Ehlinger!"

Thanks again to Zilla, by the way. She had oral surgery the other day. But I got a tweet shortly thereafter, and she was doing fine! (And ICYMI, see "Stand Against Evil - Never Let it Win.")

And well, before I forget, at word of thanks to SHOUT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER. The support is much appreciated.

Also at WyBlog, "Free Speech for thee but not for me?":

Donald was the first guy to link WyBlog, way back when I was starting out. And he got me hooked on Twitter too. He's a gentleman and a scholar; really. We don't always agree, but that's OK. Disagreeing without being disagreeable seems to be purely a right-wing / conservative trait. The politics of personal destruction was invented by the Left, and they're masters at it. Silence is Golden, unless it's their own shrill cacaphony which of course must be tolerated by all.

If Free Speech is to mean anything it absolutely must mean that the other guy has the inalienable right to say things you don't like. There is no right to not be offended. Sorry, but that's the truth.

Thanks Chris!

Also, check Bob Belvedere, "Right Wing Bloggers Under Relentless Attack: The Battle Rages On":

Donald, the man behind American Power, has been subject to efforts by these radicals to get him fired from his job as a college professor. He has posted a Roundup on Progressive Campaign of Workplace Intimidation and Harassment that I urge you to read all of, including the links, so that you can get a real understanding of th extent of these attempts to destroy this good man and hurt his family. What the Left is doing to him is but one instance of many that I fear will grow in number as the Progressives become more desperate. By having rejected tradition and morality and, thus, decency, the Left is free to achieve their end [the silencing of all opposition] by any means necessary. There is nothing to restrain them; God-like, they have given themselves license to do as they see fit.

And more, at Marooned in Marin, "Standing With a Fellow Blogger & Friend Against Vicious Attacks By Leftists":

Just as The Lonely Conservative writes here, I have also found it ironic how liberals, Leftists, whatever you want to call them, have always claimed to be such great champions of free speech and free expression. Yet when someone has a different point of view, the Left are always the first ones who try to obscure and censor differing opinions. We saw it during the Prop 8 campaign in California, where lists of people who donated to defend traditional marriage had their workplaces and or businesses distributed in order to punish and silence them.

There is nothing traditionally liberal about that. In fact, it is the totalitarian and fascistic face of the Left that has also existed in nations where Americans spilled their blood to defeat their tyrannical regimes. If you want to disagree with another point of view, fine. But when it comes to threatening one's livelihood, libeling critics, falsely accusing them of crimes, etc--that crosses a line. Not only that, it shows how these Leftists cannot support their own arguments, and must silence their dissenters by any means necessary. Which is the essence of totalitarianism.

It is for this purpose that I stand with my friend and fellow blogger against these attacks.

I'll continue updating.

Meanwhile, thanks to Blazing Cat Fur for linking some time back.

And Adrienne's Corner.

And Doug Ross.

And Invincible Armor.

And Right Wing News.

And That Mr. Guy.

And The Pagan Temple has a really interesting take on things, "Donald Douglas — Struck By The Poison Of Progressive Ideology."

BONUS: Maggie Thornton e-mailed a while back and I've been meaning to post her comments. I'll get to that over the next few days, and anyone else I might have missed.

Thanks again, everybody!

Kristin Cavallari Bikini Pics!

She looks great.

See Celebslam, "Kristin Cavallari is in love again."

Outrage Over Exotic-Game Animals Hunted Down in Ohio

Strange story. And look for activists pushing for even more regulations.

At WaPo, "Dangerous exotic animals turned loose, hunted down in Ohio." And at NYT, "Police Kill Dozens of Animals Freed on Ohio Reserve."

Hyatt's Houston Sugar Land Hotel Cancels Tea Party Event on Islam

From Pamela Geller, "The Quisling Cowards at the Hyatt Place Sugar Land Caved to Intimidation," and "Across the Pond the Hyatt's Craven Quisling Cancellation Makes News."

And following Pamela's links takes us to London's Daily Mail, "Hotel cancels Tea Party event after learning that anti-Islam activist was due to be a speaker."

Cain's Stimulating '9-9-9' Tax Reform

Arthur Laffer's down with it, at Wall Street Journal:

It used to be that the sole purpose of the tax code was to raise the necessary funds to run government. But in today's world the tax mandate has many more facets. These include income redistribution, encouraging favored industries, and discouraging unfavorable behavior.

To make matters worse there are millions and millions of taxpayers who are highly motivated to reduce their tax liabilities. And, as those taxpayers finagle and connive to find ways around the tax code, government responds by propagating new rules, new interpretations of the code, and new taxes in a never-ending chase. In the process, we create ever-more arcane tax codes that do a poor job of achieving any of their mandates.

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain's now famous "9-9-9" plan is his explicit proposal to right the wrongs of our federal tax code. He proposes a 9% flat-rate personal income tax with no deductions except for donations to charity; a 9% flat-rate tax on net business profits; and a new 9% national tax on retail sales.

Mr. Cain's 9-9-9 plan was designed to be what economists call "static revenue neutral," which means that if people didn't change what they do under his plan, total tax revenues would be the same as they are under our current tax code. I believe his plan would indeed be static revenue neutral, and with the boost it would give to economic growth it would bring in even more revenue than expected.

Continue reading.

Dirty DUIs

A bizarre story, at LAT, "Coming Clean on 'Dirty DUIs' in Contra Costa County."

Romney Strikes Back After Lousy Performance at CNN Debate in Las Vegas — UPDATE: Ad Pulled!

More background on the CNN debate at Riehl World View, "Don't Stick A Fork In Perry, He Isn't Done, Yet."

Mitt Romney obviously agrees.

At Politico, "Team Mitt Romney video tries to remind on Rick Perry."

UPDATE: The ad was pulled. See Hot Air, "Brutal new Romney ad: Rick Perry’s a moron; Update: Romney pulls ad?"

And here's a copy of it:

Bank of America's Death Rattle

I bailed out of Bank of America a couple of years ago, after my wife and I consolidated some of our accounts. But the service was getting just awful.

And here's this at Protein Wisdom, "'Not With a Bang, But a Whimper: Bank of America's Death Rattle'."

And follow the links over there.

Large Majority Backs 'Occupy Wall Street' in Latest National Journal Poll

It's interesting.

See, "Occupy D.C.? Most Back Protests, Surtax":

At a time when protests have erupted across the country over a growing inequality of wealth and Congress is considering measures to impose a surtax on those earning more than $1 million annually, the public seems to be in a populist mood—one that’s tempered by skepticism about Washington’s ability to do anything about the grim economy.

A new survey shows that Americans overwhelmingly support the self-styled Occupy Wall Street protests that not only have disrupted life in Lower Manhattan but also in Washington and cities and towns across the U.S. and in other nations. Some 59 percent of adults either completely agree or mostly agree with the protesters, while 31 percent mostly disagree or completely disagree; 10 percent of those surveyed didn’t know or refused to answer.

What’s more, many people are paying attention to the rallies. Almost two-thirds of respondents—65 percent—said they’ve heard “a lot” or “some” about the rallies, while 35 percent have said they’ve heard or seen “not too much” or “nothing at all” about the demonstrations.

The results appear in the latest edition of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.

More at the link.

It's not going to end well for the administration. Recall Ronald Brownstein's essay from earlier, "Obama's Disapproval Ratings Hardening Among Voters."

Obama Flush With Cash from Financial Sector

At WaPo, "Obama has more cash from financial sector than GOP hopefuls combined, data show":

Despite frosty relations with the titans of Wall Street, President Obama has still managed to raise far more money this year from the financial and banking sector than Mitt Romney or any other Republican presidential candidate, according to new fundraising data.

Obama’s key advantage is his ability to collect bigger checks from fewer donors, because he raises money for both his own campaign committee and for the Democratic National Committee, which will aid in his reelection effort. As a result, Obama has brought in more money from employees of banks, hedge funds and other financial service companies than all the other GOP candidates combined, according to a Washington Post analysis of contribution data.

Right.

And the administration's "sympathetic" to the protesters?

See: "Obama campaign announces it will protest Obama administration."

Patricia McAllister Fired by LAUSD: Anti-Semitic Teacher Caught on Tape at 'Occupy L.A.' Protest

McAllister, in a local TV interview, discusses her termination at the video. She's holding a sign that reads, "Congress Should Print the Money, NOT the Zionist Jews":

McAllister was fired by LAUSD after her anti-Semitic statements went viral over the weekend on YouTube. Reason's Tim Cavanaugh, who interviewed her, has responded with his own commentary --- and it's not very compelling, frankly, considering Reason's reputation as the premiere libertarian magazine: "Reason Guilty of Anti-ANTI-Semitism: Sub Teacher Fired." Go read it all. Cavanaugh attempts to split the difference between being a parent and being a journalist, and he fails badly.

And more failure from the editors at Los Angeles Times, who applaud the district's decision: "Free speech — Within Limits." It's a horrible editorial. The woman's entitled to her opinions, no matter how sick, and the Times offers the slipperiest of slopes to defend her termination:

As a teacher, McAllister works with a captive audience of vulnerable children. Her comments certainly raise questions about her ability to treat them all equally and fairly. What's more, even if she's been the soul of discretion on the job, as well as kind and evenhanded with all her students, by making herself a public symbol of intolerance, McAllister no longer can serve effectively as a teacher.

For one thing, Jewish students likely would feel intimidated in her classes, no matter how nicely she treated them; their parents and many others might storm the principals' offices demanding her removal. Other students and parents might rally to her cause, or, alternately, they too might feel threatened by her bigoted positions. She would be a disruptive element on campus, and her future effectiveness as a teacher would almost certainly be compromised. (After she was fired, McAllister expanded on her views in an interview with Fox TV: "The word Jew is similar to communism today … Jews have been run out of 109 countries through history and we need to run them out of this one.")

As execrable as her comments were, it might be a different matter if McAllister were, say, a Department of Motor Vehicles clerk. There, she would be dealing with adults who could hold their own, and would have little direct authority over them. It also might be different if she had expressed a controversial opinion that was not an inflammatory attack on a particular ethnic or religious group.

We're reluctant to restrict anyone's ability to express even the most loathsome views openly and publicly. But when a teacher trumpets hateful opinions that could intimidate the impressionable young people she's supposed to be serving, that's not just free speech — it's a performance issue. In speaking out so intemperately, McAllister's ability to do her job was fatally compromised.

I find McAllister's comments reprehensible. But as one who's been the subject of a three-year campaign attempting to get me fired, I have serious issues with concern trolling bullshit like this. Watch the video above. Toward the end the news clip, the district's statement flashes on screen:

As Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), I want to emphasize that we condemn the remarks made recently by Patricia McAllister.

Her comments, made during non-work time at a recent protest rally, were her private opinions and were not made in the context of District services. At LAUSD, we recognize that the law is very protective of the freedom of speech rights of public employees when they are speaking as private citizens during non-working time.

I further emphasize to our students, who watch us and look to us for guidance, to be role models and to represent the ideals by which LAUSD lives, that we will never stand for behavior that is disrespectful, intolerant or discriminatory.

As a day-to-day substitute teacher, Ms. McAllister was an at-will employee. As of today, she is no longer an employee of the LAUSD.

Notice that? The district states a principle, yet abandons it because the teacher is untenured. Thus, being tenured creates rights that are denied to individuals not similarly situated. Ugly or not, the woman was stating her opinion, a political opinion, at a political rally while acting in private capacity. The district's decision reaches into the realm of personal space. And it should not. This is tyranny. They fired her because they could, not because it was right. And there's so much more going on there: McAllister taught small children, so perhaps parents would have been upset, as the Times suggests. Fine. Let the parents pull their kids out of class. Or better yet, let them pull their students out of the school altogether. McAllister's comments are not an aberration. That kind of progressive anti-Semitism is inherent to radical left-wing ideology. And people just like McAllister are like grotesque malignancies growing all through public education in the United States. LAUSD burned off a cancerous growth but they didn't cure the disease. The solution to offensive speech is more speech. Let more McAllisters bloom and Americans will soon be taking a closer look at the public schools, and they won't like what they see. Note how McAllister is not misspeaking when she spouts her hatred. It would have come out on the job, sooner or later. And if the kids in her charge are young and vulnerable, transfer her into the higher grades. If students are offended they'll know without having to be force-fed outrage. They can complain fair and square and the school would have been on solid ground in terminating her for racist, discriminatory speech in the classroom, prohibited by statutory regulation.

And here's this from Gary, at the comments at Libertarian Republican:

Big Brother keeps marching.

Your employer will not allow freedom of speech on your own time and away from your place of employment.

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

You got it.

Chinese Toddler Dies Brain-Dead After Hit-and-Run Accident

It's hard to even call it a hit-and-run. How about kill-a-kid and who gives a damn?

Background at China Daily, "Hospital offers little hope for girl's survival."

The child was pronounced "brain dead."

And now the hand-wringing.

See USA Today, "Toddler's hit-and-run case prompts Chinese soul-searching," and Washington Post, "An injured toddler is ignored, and Chinese ask why."

Perry, Romney Spar in CNN Debate

Ed Morrissey has a great report, "Who won the Vegas fight?", and also at Michelle's, "Fight Club: GOP candidates brawl on CNN":

Romney and Perry — both flip-flopping squishes on immigration enforcement — tried to out-tough each other on the issue.

Perry resurrected Romney’s illegal alien problem from 2007. (See here for background.) Romney counter-attacked by calling out Perry’s opposition to E-verify.

Bottom line. They are both, in Perry’s words, “conservatives of convenience” on the issue. What is it with the GOP andimmigration cross-dressers? Ugh.

RELATED: At LAT, "Perry accuses Romney of 'shape-shifting,' promises 'unbridled truth'."

VIDEO HAT TIP: Althouse.

The Occupy Movement's Anti-Semitism

Kathy Shaidle on the Michael Coren Show, via Blazing Cat Fur:

Occupy Philly

Tania Gail posts some photos at Flickr:

Videos from Occupy Philly at Tania's Twitter feed, here and here.

It could probably go without saying, but these idiots really test my patience. All the coverage here at the blog today, and you get the picture. And Obama's backing these mofos? Again, I can't wait for November 2012. Talk about restore sanity. The nation'll need to take a month-long shower before even attempting a presidential transition.

Occupy Denver

A phenomenal report: "Neo-Cannibals, Deadbeats, Dopers and Democrats Occupy Denver."

The best shot is the immigrant cab driver who says, "I’m working, and I’m studying. What do they mean, there’s no jobs?"

Well, they don't really want to work, or they'd be working.

'There is overwhelming evidence that the University of Wisconsin in engaging in racial and ethnic discrimination, and it should stop'

Says Roger Clegg from the Center for Equal Opportunity, speaking yesterday at the University of Wisconsin. State Assemblyman Mark Pocan, a Democrat, attacked Clegg pretty agressively, according to Althouse:

Whether the University complies with the standard laid down in the Supreme Court case law is, of course, crucial, but the state legislature has the power to impose a stricter standard on the University (if it thinks that's a good idea). In addition, it's possible that the CEO plans to use this case to get affirmative action back into the Supreme Court with the hope of changing the legal doctrine.

RTWT for the context.

Iraq War Draws to a Close

At National Journal, "Iraq War Ends with Whimper, Not Bang":

The Iraq War began with Pentagon officials boasting about an initial offensive that would “shock and awe” the enemy, then-President George W. Bush flying a military plane to an aircraft carrier for a high-profile address to thousands of cheering troops, and round-the-clock coverage on the nation’s TV networks. Eight and a half grueling years later, the deeply unpopular conflict is set to end with a whimper, not a bang.

Washington and Baghdad’s failure to agree on a troop-extension deal means that virtually all of the 43,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq will stream out of the country over the next six weeks, bringing a quiet end to a conflict that began with so much bombast.

More at that top link.

Scorsese's George Harrison Documentary Was on Again Last Night...

Hey, HBO's been showing it pretty regularly if you've missed it: "'George Harrison: Living in the Material World'."

And Wikipedia has the background on this video:

"In 2004, George Harrison was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' was played in tribute by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Ferrone and Dhani Harrison, along with fellow inductee Prince."

Philippine Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2012 Schedule

The Philippine Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 (PFW S/S 2012) starts in 5 days and there are plenty of reasons to get excited about, such as the star-studded Bench Fashion Show on the first day, the L'oreal event the next day presenting international fashion designer Michael Cinco with Ford Supermodel of the World 2011 winner Danica Magpantay, and the Penshoppe Fashion Show on the 29th with (wow!) Thai superstar Mario Maurer (photo) gracing the runway.

Check out the super exciting Philippine Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2012 schedule, happening from October 23 to October 30, 2011:

October 23 (Sunday):
6:30 PM - Human, Kashieca, Bench at SMX Function Rooms 4 & 5


October 24 (Monday):
7:30 PM - L'Oreal Paris presents Michael Cinco with Danica Magpantay at SMX Hall 2

8:30 PM - Guess at SMX Function Room 4


October 25 (Tuesday):
7:30 PM - SM Ladies' Fashion by SM Department Store at SMX Hall 2

9:30 PM - Premiere Collections by Derick Hibaler, Melchor Guinto, Russell Villafuerte, Ulysses King and Veejay Floresca at SMX Function Room 4


October 26 (Wednesday):
5:30 PM - Design Fushion Collections by Bo Parcon, Dax Bayani, Dimple Lim, Jaki Penalosa, Jot Losa, and Xernan Ortocio, and the Visions & Trends Collections by Enrico Carado, Joshua Guibone, Kenneth Chuan, Regine Dulay and Roland Alzate at SMX Function Room 4

7:30 PM - SM Men's Fashion by SM Department Store at SMX Hall 2

9:30 PM - Arnold Galang, Gerry Katigbak and Jun Jun Cambe at SMX Function Room 4


October 27 (Thursday):
5:30 PM - Triumph at SMX Function Room 4 (featuring Ruffa Gutierrez and more)

6:30 PM - Freego at MOA Main Atrium

7:30 PM - SMDC presents Chris Diaz, Eric delos Santos and Lizanne Cua at MOA SMDC Showroom


October 28 (Friday):
5:30 PM - Cybershot presents Luxewear Collections by Anthony Ramirez, Aztec Barba, Delby Bragais, Julius Tarog, Melvin Lachica, Nolie Vineza, Pablo Cabahug, Popoy Barba, Roel Rosal, Roland Lirio, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Santi Obcena, Tina Daniac and Yvonne Quisumbing at SMX Function Room 4

6:30 PM - Lee at MOA Main Atrium

7:30 PM - Oxygen at SMX Hall 2


October 29 (Saturday):
2:30 PM - SM Kid's Fashion by SM Department Store at SMX Function Room 4
4:00 PM - Crossings at SMX Hall 2

5:30 PM - Ipanema presents Anthony Nocom, Catherine Cavilte, DAve Ocampo, Lyle Ibanez and Raoul Ramirez at SMX Function Room 4

6:30 PM - Vans at MOA Main Atrium

7:30 PM - Penshoppe at SMX Hall 2 (featuring Mario Maurer and more)

9:30 PM - Slim's at 50 by Cesar Gaupo, Chito Vijandre, Erika Adona, Ezra Santos, James Reyes, Joe Salazar, Joey Samson, Martin Bautista, Michael Cinco and Riza Bulawan at SMX Function Room 4


October 30 (Sunday):
2:30 PM - Ready to Wear Collections by Emi Alexander Englis, Harley Ruedas, Jian Lasala, John Guarnes, Joyce Pilarsky, Louis Claparols, Mike Lavarez, Nixon Marquez, Reian Mata, Ricky Abad, Simon Ariel Vasquez and Ziggy Savella at SMX Function Room 4

4:00 PM - Grand Allure Collections by Albert Andrada, Alma Rae Roa, Frederick Policarpio, Gerswin Cua, Gil Macaibay, June Pugat, Luis delos Santos, Marc Rancy, Norman Noriega, Philipp Tampus, Popo Go and Richie Bondoc at SMX Hall 2

5:30 PM - Jerome Salaya Ang, Noel Crisostomo, Sassa Jimenez and EsAc by Raoul Ramirez, Lyle Ibañez and AudieE at SMX Function Room 4

7:30 PM - L'Oreal Paris presents Menswear Collections by Aries Lagat, Chris Jasler, Dodjie Batu, Drei Soriano, Edgar Buyan, Jesson Capuchino, Jinggo Inoncillo, Odelon Simpao, Ronan Opina and Shanon Pamaong at SMX Hall 2


Photo courtesy of Ms. Joyce Ramirez / PR Asia Worldwide Communications Inc.