Quick Roundup 153

John McCain: Candidate from Hell

So far, I have not seen anyone I could actually support throw his hat into the ring for the 2008 Presidential election, but one candidate is certainly distancing himself from the pack as the one candidate I could not vote for under any remotely likely circumstance: John McCain.

McCain's assault against freedom of speech and property rights -- known by the euphemism of "McCain-Feingold" -- had already made him unacceptable, but he seems hell-bent on driving home his unsuitability for high office.

Just on the heels of pandering to global warming enthusiasts (and I mean this term in the old British pejorative sense), he has decided also to pander to the anti-abortionists:

McCain told a crowd of about 800 people packed into a restaurant in the northern part of the state that he opposes the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

"I do not support Roe vs. Wade. It should be overturned," he said. The Arizona senator also vowed that as president he would appoint judges "that strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States and do not legislate from the bench."

It is one thing to question the legal soundness of the Roe vs. Wade decision, but it is quite another to do so in front of a crowd of religious conservatives. I think it is safe to assume that, as far as McCain is concerned, women do not have a right to abortion, that he considers Roe vs. Wade to be an example of "legislation from the bench", and he will attempt to "rectify" the current state of affairs through any judiciary appointments he has a chance to make.

In his quest for power, this man misses no opportunity to court the basest enemies of freedom and yet, because nearly everyone else is blinded by the false "liberal vs. conservative" dichotomy, he enjoys a reputation as a "moderate". This makes him possibly the most dangerous candidate in the running so far.

John Lewis to Make Two Appearances!

John Lewis, whom I have not yet had the opportunity to hear in person, will be lecturing on "'No Substitute for Victory': The Defeat of Islamic Totalitarianism" at two locations in the near future: The University of Michigan on February 20 and George Mason University on February 28. He will begin each lecture at 7:30 p.m. Follow the links for more details.

Review Outdoor Monuments, Win a Prize

In an effort to promote her new book, Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide, Dianne Durante is holding a contest for individuals who post reviews at Amazon.com.

The best [inexpensive promotional] methods seem to be on the web and by word of mouth. For starters, I'm offering rewards to writers of what I judge to be the 10 best Amazon reviews to appear by the end of March 2007.

Winners can choose either a 13 x 13" black tote bag with an actual-size image of OMOM's cover (I have 5 of these), or an 8 x 10" B&W print of your favorite image from the book. To enter the contest, upload your review to Amazon and email a copy to me at forgottendeli@earthlink.net.

I am particularly interested in reviews that would make OMOM appealing to niche markets. If you're a history buff and you find the "About the Subject" sections particularly interesting, say that. If you're a fan of Ayn Rand and the discussions of esthetics interest you, go with that. If you're an artist, art teacher, or art student and think the book would be valuable for colleagues, say so.

Follow the link to learn more.

Blogroll Addition

Via Noodle Food, I have learned of a blog that will be very helpful in keeping up with the battle for freedom from religion in America: The Wall of Separation, the blog of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I have also added their main site to the leftmost column of my links page. From there comes the following interesting story:

Can the government force inmates to become evangelical Christians as the price of receiving rehabilitation, better treatment while in prison and the prospect of earlier release?

Can taxpayers be forced to support a prison ministry that indoctrinates inmates in one religious tradition and attacks other faiths as false?

What if to make matters worse the sectarian program has no proof of success in its performance?

Those questions are at the heart of an important court hearing before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Arguments in Americans United v. Prison Fellowship Ministries will take place Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, at 9 a.m. at the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis, Mo.

...

"No American should be pressured by the government to conform to any particular religious viewpoint," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "Inmates should have access to effective rehabilitation programs that prepare them for life outside prison, no matter what religion they subscribe to."

Continued Lynn, "This case has major implications for the Bush 'faith-based' initiative. Programs that are pervaded with religion should not get public funds."

Although I disagree with the notion that the purpose of prison is rehabilitation, I am still glad to see that such an organization is keeping its eye on such brazen attempts to inject religion into government.

The Blogfather Returns

Well, he's not really my blogfather, but he indirectly gave me the idea to begin blogging in the first place, so he is probably the closest thing this blogger has to a "blogfather"....

At any rate, my good friend Raymund, who writes science fiction, has decided to get his priorities straight and return to blogging -- with a little help from his friends. I think that between Samantha Ling, Curtis Weeks, and myself, we will come up with an embarrassing-enough topic for him to blog about should he miss a week that he will become a fairly regular blogger.

Smack talk aside, welcome back, Raymund!

-- CAV