Quick Question...

What do former deputy attorney general Jeff Cox and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi have in common?

Apparently, a belief in their authority to arbitrarily open fire on the constituents they are supposed to serve.

Conservatives are Pussies

With popular uprisings spreading across the Middle East, believe it or not, far right conservatives have actually been split about the change, with voices like chicken little Glenn Beck and draft-dodging Dick Cheney showcasing their usual chicken-shit fear that regime change automatically means radical Islam states will rise in their wake.

As they have shown in their domestic demogaguery, democracy is only convenient when it advances your own ideology.

As I said in my previous post, radical Islam was clearly blindsided by these uprisings—indeed, as many have noted, the street-level-inspired uprisings are Al Quaeda's worst nightmare, rendering it irrelevant. The storyline given by simpletons like Beck and Cheney simply serve to underscore their ignorance of seeing Islam as an either/or proposition.

Of course, the possibility exists that should these nascent movements falter due to a lack of unity or organization, extremists may find a way to move into power. But I say in view of the alternative where we allow dictators to stay in power and continue oppressing its people which only stokes further resentment (particularly against the West), I say let change play out—the results cannot be any worse than what we have now. Even if extremists were to somehow gain total control over the state, they would no longer be working in the shadows and would be easier to fight. They also would need to govern and need to be more accountable both to their own people and the world community. At worst, they will simply remain the fringe, anarchic elements they already are today.

But, as usual, the GOP uses fear to stir the masses—whether it's the result of cynicism or a real fear of the world outside our borders, I can't tell.

In many ways, the very definition of conservativism means a fear of change. Rather, we should see hope and opportunity in this change. Only those who fear the future would begrudge the chance for others to pursue freedom by whatever means necessary.

Too Little Too Late

Evidence of Al Quaeda's pathetic attempt to catch up to history, as current events threaten to pass them by and render them irrelevant.

Al Qaeda in Iraq calls Egypt protesters to wage jihad

You Can Run But You Can't Hide

As protests and, in some countries, regime change sweep the Middle East, these events demonstrate the real desire that exists among common, everyday people in developing countries for a true democratic society that is transparent and provides opportunity and freedom.

Even the religious extremists who for decades have aspired to power and strived to capture the minds and hearts of the people have been blindsided by the scope, force and success of this spontaneous grass roots movement — so much so that they have prudently stayed low and out of the way.

In the meantime, many of the regimes now under fire have resorted to their usual tactics of blaming foreign elements for the agitation. But it's clear that this is a true "people power" movement, almost having nothing to do with politics or ideology.

Rather, the events that are unfolding appear to be an expression of pent up frustration of people who, through modern technology, know how other people live and have more freedom. It also is very much a youth movement—countries like Egypt and Iran skew incredibly young and this generation—many of them quite urbane and well traveled—see nothing but hopelessness if the present systems are allowed to continue.

Technology has played an important role in these revolutions. Social media allows large groups of demonstrators to mobilize quickly; and instantaneous news outlets broadcast in real time means the eyes of the world are on the regimes, with any approach taken to counteract these changes under scrutiny.

Uncertainty remains on how these reforms and new freedoms will play out. But they are long overdue, and it appears that the ordinary people on the street are taking a stronger hand in determining how they are governed. More power to them.

North Koreans are Pussies

Take that North Korea!

Aside from sinking ships without provocation by stealthily sneaking up behind them or shooting unarmed tourists, when's the last time you successfully saw any action

North Korea makes a lot of noise about attacking but never does anything — because it knows it's ass would be kicked by the South if they tried anything. (With or without the U.S.'s help.)

1 Down, 19 to Go

Typically—despite the fact that a fellow legislator and a 9-year old bystander was murdered in the recent rampage in Tuscon, Arizon—rather than engage in any leadership or healing, Sarah Palin and the GOP have resorted to fingerpointing and defensiveness to go out of their way to say they had nothing to do with ordering the assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

The fact that they have gotten so defensive and tried to deflect blame in my eyes shows that they recognize their culpability in the event.

Palin delights in showing that she is a straight shooter and a card-carrying member of the NRA. She knew what she was doing when she put targets on those people's names. So she should be proud to have played a role in this political assassination attempt.

While they may have not explicitly asked for their deaths, the demonization and level of hatred that they have stirred in pursuit of their political ideology shows that, like Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the assassin who recently killed Pakistani official Salman Taseer, they share a predeliction for using murder as a tool to achieve their religious and ideological ends when they feel they cannot do so through appropriate due process.

Isnt' there a law against targeting sitting legislators for murder?

Tucker Carlson says Michael Vick should be Lynched

Wow.