Quick Roundup 117

Republicans Play "Me Too", Lose

As outlined in superb detail by C. Bradley Thompson, the Republicans have morphed from a party of small government to one of government bloat. As we have seen with Iran, the GOP is also no longer a party of strong national defense, but of negotiation with our enemies.

Given the "choice" between imitation Democrats and genuine Democrats, it comes as little surprise that the real ones won the House a probably also the Senate. I hope the GOP does a better job of soul-searching after this loss than the Democrats have in any election since Clinton left office. I would like an actual choice next time.

This result is a bitter pill to swallow, but I think it can be good news overall -- if it causes the Republicans to start opposing Democrat policies again.

Pipes on Iran

Daniel Pipes has written a must-read on Iran.

Nonetheless, new ideas keep being floated to finesse war with Iran. Los Angeles Times columnist Max Boot, for example, dismisses an American invasion of Iran as "out of the question" and proffers three alternatives: threatening an economic embargo, rewarding Tehran for suspending its nuclear program, or helping Iranian anti-regime militias invade the country.

Admittedly, these no-war, no-nukes scenarios are creative. But they no longer offer have a prospect of success, for the situation has become crude and binary: either the U.S. government deploys force to prevent Tehran from acquiring nukes, or Tehran acquires them. [bold added]

Pipes points out that this is a decision for our Chief Executive. Bush has a chance to redeem himself during the next two years. But will he?

Islam Indoctrination as "Learning a Culture"

I would have liked to see this article call for the abolishment of public education, or at least not teaching religion at all in public schools, but it still provides important information and deserves a read despite its shortcomings.

In a recent federal decision that got surprisingly little press, even from conservative talk radio, California's 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it's OK to put public-school kids through Muslim role-playing exercises, including:

Reciting aloud Muslim prayers that begin with "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful . . . ."

Memorizing the Muslim profession of faith: "Allah is the only true God and Muhammad is his messenger."

Chanting "Praise be to Allah" in response to teacher prompts.

Professing as "true" the Muslim belief that "The Holy Quran is God's word."

Giving up candy and TV to demonstrate Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

Designing prayer rugs, taking an Arabic name and essentially "becoming a Muslim" for two full weeks.

Parents of seventh-graders, who after 9-11 were taught the pro-Islamic lessons as part of California's world history curriculum, sued under the First Amendment ban on religious establishment. They argued, reasonably, that the government was promoting Islam.

But a federal judge appointed by President Clinton told them in so many words to get over it, that the state was merely teaching kids about another "culture."

This case could and should go before the Supreme Court.

A Senator and Two Initiatives

Before the Democrats get too cocky (or the Republicans decide they weren't far enough to the left), they should recall that it was Joe Lieberman -- and not pro-surrender candidate Ned Lamont -- who won big in deep blue Connecticut.

And Michigan -- despite the GOP being AWOL -- banned affirmative action.

And before either party panders to the religious right, they should consider that a ban on abortion lost in South Dakota.

Five bans on gay marriage passed, but I see those as red herrings. Most Americans favor civil unions, but do not care to be told what to call them.

This election was a loss for the religious conservatives and not exactly a win for the pacifists. Overall, I am at peace with its results, but apprehensive.

-- CAV