Debate So Far

I'm calling it for Kerry so far. Bush looks exasperated. His body language sucks. Not good. He needed to be confident and presidential. He needed to have authority and carry himself well. Instead he's been on the defensive. People seem to be thinking this debate is about the issues. It isn't. Its about the men. So far Kerry is looking presidential and Bush is looking flustered. Contrast this to the last debate when Bush was playing Gore like a master by now.

UPDATE: Yes Kerry won. For those of your who read the prayer, no this does not mean I will be voting for him. While Kerry did a better job of talking, he did not do a better job of saying anything I could agree with.

Overall I don't think the Kerry presidency will necessarily be a disaster as long as the Republicans maintain control of Congress to control his penchant for spending. By the time Kerry could get in the Oval Office, Iraq will be having elections and the indigenous Iraqi National Guard troops will outnumber ours in the country. Thats a good looking situation. Kerry may inherit Iraq just in time to take credit for winning the war.

Debate Prayer

Lord God, I know who I would like to vote for. I want to know who you would have me vote for. I pray that you would reveal your candidate through these debates.

Iraq: The Debate

Orin Kerr at the Volokh Conspiracy is offering a challenge about Iraq. I accept.

First, assuming that you were in favor of the invasion of Iraq at the time of the invasion, do you believe today that the invasion of Iraq was a good idea? Why/why not?

People call this the War in Iraq. Its not the War in Iraq, its the Battle of Iraq. The War is against Islamic Terrorists, not a single country.

Most of our military might in mideast was tied up containing Saddam Hussein's Iraq, how can you conclude that Iraq is completely secondary? Two years ago we basically had two options, either withdraw US forces to free them up for offensive action elsewhere or make Iraq the target. We chose the later. I believe it to be the right choice. Saddam Hussein was too dangerous to be left alone especially without containment or sanctions.

Now that the threat of Hussein is gone what do we do? We rebuild the country into one that will put pressure on the terrorist backing regimes in the area, specifically Syria and Iran. We know that freedom is more productive and more attractive than tyranny. If we can teach that freedom to the Iraqis then the other regimes in the region will have to follow suit or fall behind. That is what makes this worth it. That is the heart of the Battle of Iraq and what links it to the entire campaign. If democracy in Iraq succeeds it will force a complete change in the underlying culture of the region. Its a gamble, but I think it can succeed.

Second, what reaction do you have to the not-very-upbeat news coming of Iraq these days, such as the stories I link to above?

I don't dispute that bad things are happening in Iraq. Its a war. War is hell. Similarly a lot is being made of things not going to plan. A wise man once said that a plan in wartime never survives the first shot.

It think we have a good idea of what is going wrong. The problem with the news is that we have no idea about what is going right. All we get is body counts with no mention of accomplishments. How can you base a decision on just that? You cannot do a proper cost-benefit analysis if all you have is costs.

Third, what specific criteria do you recommend that we should use over the coming months and years to measure whether the Iraq invasion has been a success?

Is Iraq a freedom loving democracy, representative of its people? If so we will have won. If Iraq slides into Islamic Fundamentalism like Iran or back into B'aathist Dictatorial Fascism then we will have lost.

It does not matter if they like us. It only matters if they value the same freedoms we do like freedom of expression, self-defense, and religion. That will be enough. That will change their world.

Respect the Box!

I just thought I would bring this post at the Volokh Conspiracy together with this one from ESR.

Respect the box. You don't have to stay within "the envelope", but for God's sake realize why the envelope exists.

Oh and all you Howard Stern loving liberophiles complaining about the FCC, that goes double for you too. The envelope expands and the envelope contracts. We're in a contracting phase. Blame the war since contracting phases historically accompany them. But for God's sake stop whining about it.

Two Becoming One

My Girl couldn't sleep last night. She says screwing up one of my favorite shirts is ok, but I should buy some spares just in case. Good plan. She also says:

I tried going to bed but couldn't fall asleep. Maybe its the chocolate I had before bed. Sheesh I used to be able to drink diet cokes before bed an not have them affect me at all. Darn getting old.

I've said that exact same thing a thousand times myself. We're thinking alike and we're not even engaged yet. At this rate by the time we have kids, we'll be operating like some sort of hive mind. :)

Universal Gun Ownership

Kim du Toit is making a great point about gun ownership: it's not cut out for everybody.

I'm a gun owner. My Girl is not. I don't care if she ever gets into guns like I am. So far the most fun that I have ever had was skeet shooting. Target shooting is also satisfying. I love it, but I don't expect her to. I do have one stipulation though. She has to learn basic gun safety and how to make sure my guns are safe. Our house will have guns in it. I keep them locked up, but for her own safety she needs to know how to safely operate them just in case. Locks can be picked. Safe combinations can be guessed.

If you don't want to own guns fine. A lot of people don't want to own guns because they don't feel they are up to the responsibility. Hey you know yourself better than I know you. I'll take your word for it. But do us all a favor and refrain from making these two mistakes. Don't assume I'm not up to that responsibility because you aren't. Don't assume that means a gun will never come into your life.

The first is self explanatory since I'm not you. The second is why My Girl needs to know how to operate a firearm. Even if your family doesn't own guns, that doesn't mean you won't come across one in a parking lot somewhere. Or worse maybe your kids will. You should know the rules of safety just in case. It is in your benefit that you do.

Driving to Work

Today was one of those statistical confluences of idiots behind the wheel. In the space of a hundred yards there were almost two accidents. One of them almost involved me. The first saw a BMW and a ricer pass an normal driver. Joe Blow had the audacity to slow down at a yellow light instead of gunning it. They passed him using the left hand turn lane and then cut him off trying to beat the yellow and get back in the proper lane for the intersection. A few seconds later a soccer mom talking on her cell phone with her 7 year old son in the passenger seat nearly took my back bumper off at a merge. The kid wasn't distracting her though, he was too damn scared of his mom's driving to make a peep (insert look of wide-eyed horror here).

I wonder if we might not be better off if the automatic transmission was never invented. Seriously then people wouldn't be able to do a bazillion things while driving because they'd have to shift. They'd have to focus on what they're doing. And for your slush-box owners who might take offense, my car is an automatic too. But that doesn't make it right. ;)

Ughh

Well I'm almost done at the old apartment. I'll know when I'm actually done because the apartment will be clean enough for my satisfaction or I simply won't care anymore. I'm rapidly approaching the second.

I spent 3 hours there today. I cleaned the walls and windowsills. I vacuumed all the carpets I even decobbed the cobwebs in the corners. The kitchen is cleaner than I've ever had it at least. Bad news is that the bathroom still needs work. Remind me never to let soap scum build up that much again. Worse news is that the one of the cleaners must have had bleach in it, because now one of my favorite dark grey t-shirts now has light spots on it. Worst news is that its also one of My Girl's favorite shirts so she going to be unhappy too.

Oh well I'll have to remember where I bought it so I can buy another. Next time I clean, I'm wearing a white shirt that I got for free and won't mind losing.

Broadband!

My internet connection at the new apartment is up and running. Now I can say nothing twice as fast!

Moving

Well I'm moving to the new place today and it doesn't have internet yet. Unfortunately I don't have a dialup account I can use. The last time I tried that the uninstall hosed the hard drive on my computer (that's what I get for using an AOL free trial). Blogging will be light until the situation is rectified.

Rather

Lots has been said. I'm not going to reiterate. But I thought someone referring to the Columbia Broadcasting System as "See BS" was wonderful in its subversive cleverness. From here on out if I ever have to pronounce that particular acronym, be assured this will be what I am actually saying.

P.S. Yes I am easily amused.

Loosing Pets

Messy Christian's dog Nicky has a heart condition. The Vet is saying he only has a couple years to live. Both My Girl and I have lost pets in the last few years. It hurts. It was like losing family for us. My prayers are with you MC. Part of me really hopes there is a puppy heaven.

Ambra on Little "C" Ideology

Ambra Nykol is preaching against wishy-washy christians.

Christian technically means "little Christ." Acts says it was first using in Syrian Antioch and before then christians were simply referred to as "The Way."

I agree that the "all things to all people" wing of the American church is tragically flawed. Christ is about two things truth and love. The conservatives tend to emphasize truth. We are like the church of Ephesus in Revelations. The liberals tend to emphasize love. In my mind they emphasize love too much and sacrifice truth and so they have become like Sardis.

Christ accepted many people, but there was always the implicit notion of "Go and sin no longer." The liberals have kept the acceptance, but forgotten the truth. Similarly if the truth brings us into conflict then so be it. Christ himself says he comes to bring the sword and turn families against themselves.

Presbyterians and Israel

Eugene Volokh is blogging about Eugene Kontrovich's article in national review online. Basically the Eugenes are concerned that the Presbyterian Church is taking a stand against Israel but not against anybody else. You know like the Arabs in Sudan killing black Christians and selling their children into slavery. Or North Korea and China where Christian churches are being heavily persecuted because they oppose the absolute dominion of the state.

They have a point, but as a former presbyterian (Jeff the Presbyterian didn't have the same ring) I'd like to point out something myself. There are three presbyterian denominations in the US: PCUSA, PCA, and Orthodox. PCUSA is the original and went heavily liberal with the cultural revolution. They are also dying out like most of the liberal denominations. PCA is more evangelical and Orthodox is probably the most conservative and traditional. Please do not tar all presbyterians with the same brush. My PCA and OP brothers wouldn't put up with this crap.

Idiots and Onramps

So my coworker Izzy and I are coming back from picking up our lunch materials at the local WaWa. There is a fun onramp/offramp during part of the trip. It has some tight curves to it and opens out onto a nice merging lane so you should be able to take them sportily. I say should because it has the problem of being a major idiot transportation route.

In short, the only time this ramp is safe is in a car. Unfortunately it tends to get a fair bit of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The combination of a steep grade, narrow shoulders, guard rails on both sides, and a blind corner at the top make for a potential death trap if you're a cyclist or a walker. We have both had a scary situations at that blind turn. Anyone with any sense stays away from it unless they're driving, but there are always idiots that walk or bike it.

Izzy said that he wished he didn't know about the idiots. That way he could have fun on the ramp and take the turns spiritedly as is his wont. I said that his ignorance would have tragic conclusions. Perhaps it would be better if there were simply fewer idiots in the world.

No, he said, then they would be less evenly spaced. You would have patchy idiot coverage instead of a background level of stupid that is easy to ignore. Plus the remaining idiots would tend to congregate together so you have regions of very high relative stupidity.

Hmmm. Yeah that would be horrible, said I. I'd walk up to the pump in dumbassington and find out I can't pump my own gas! Doh! Darn New Jersey Designated Stupid Zone!

Kerry and the Military

Hey that rhymes! Bush has been commander-in-chief for 4 years. Kerry served in Vietnam as a lieutenant for 4 months. Yet somehow Kerry is better qualified? How the heck does that work? Last I checked 4 years beats 4 months even if you consider a lieutenancy in a war equivalent to being commander-in-chief in a war. Which I don't. I wonder when the Democrats will figure this out, if ever.

Michael Badnarik at Slashdot

Slashdot has conducted an interview with Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate for President. It basically sums up all the things that are wrong with the current Libertarian party. What do I mean? Well let me show you.

Badnarik is asked how we can improve the voting system to be more inclusive of third parties. His response is:

Personally, I prefer Approval Voting. In this method, each voter can select as many candidates as he likes -- he can vote for all the candidates whom he can live with. All of the votes are counted, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

So basically if I vote for 6 people under this system I have 6 times as many votes as someone who only votes for one. This is not a system where everyone has an equal or equivalent vote.

On the movement of both parties toward the center:

All I can tell the "lesser of two evils" folks is that if they keep voting for evil, they'll keep getting evil.

The problem here is that there is not such thing as a good candidate. If you are voting on a political representative you will not agree with everything. You will always be voting for the lesser of two evils and the founding fathers even recognized this in the writing of the revolutionary period like Common Sense.

He goes on about repealing the PATRIOT Act in its entirety. Which is stupid since even the ACLU says that the majority of the PATRIOT Act is simply government reorganization and is neutral to civil liberties. Badnarik either hasn't bothered to inform himself on this issue or is an idiot.

Speaking of being an idiot, here is a choice piece on his corporate reforms:

A market in which single proprietorships and partnerships must compete against what are essentially mini-branches of government, with all the attendant privileges and immunities, isn't a free market. It's a rigged game. ... Stockholders are owners, and should be liable for the consequences of that ownership like any other owners.

That's right, all corporations are bad because they are legal government constructs to shield shareholders from liability. So what we should do is reduce corporations to jointly controlled proprietorships. Lets destroy the most significant legal and financial construct in history, because Mikey doesn't like it.

Lastly lets look an nuclear proliferation:

Pakistan and India have a history of 50 years of conflict. They're both nuclear powers. Yet they haven't used those arms. Israel has nuclear weapons, is surrounded by enemies and has had to fight for its very survival, yet has not used them.

Israel has never lost a war. That's why they haven't used them. Similarly Pakistan and India haven't fought a war since they became nuclear powers.

To be fair he does come out in favor of the electoral college and privatizing education. He also has some intelligent commentary on intellectual property and the effect of technological change.

Little Cars with No Power

I took my Protege in for its 30,000 mile service on Friday. The 30,000 mile service is pretty lengthy and takes about 5 hours (it involves flushing most of the cars fluids). So I ended up driving around in a rented Chevy Cavalier.

Uggh. My Protege is technically in the same size class as the Cav, but there was no comparison. No power even though it technically had a larger engine than my car's 2 liter. I had to rework how I took offramps because the handling just wasn't there. The interior was tiny with my left shoulder hitting the door. Similarly the roof seemed lower. Shudder. Definitely going to rent something else if there is a next time. I have never been so happy to be back in my car. Gonna have to baby it soon to keep it happy.

My Girl

My Girl has a blog on blogspot now. Previously she was only posting on a private online journal site so there wasn't much point to linking.

Cultural Tendencies

Ambra Nykol is writing about stereotypes and generalizations. She's drawing off of a blog entry by Brenton Mumford. What makes this interesting to me is that Brenton is a white man talking about black women. Ambra is a black woman. Here is a teaser:

The immediate reaction of having this type of dialogue is for us to tense up at the thought of "gross racial generalizations". Indeed, we do get into murky waters when we start typifying people based on race. If anyone is living proof against the ramifications of that, it's me. However, interestingly enough, one would be surprised as to how some of those "generalizations" actually measure up in real life. Oftentimes, they're spot on.

Now I'm probably going to put my foot in this a lot because I am a white male too. I'm more than that, I'm a white anglo-saxon protestant male. I'm a WASP, the whitest of the white. Don't make me whistle the opening theme to Andy Griffith to prove it.

Where am I going with this? The problem of generalization is that, while useful, they are often wrong in the specific. One of my favorite lines in Gettysburg is said by Sargeant Kilrain:

The thing is, you cannot judge a race. Any man who judges by the group is a pea wit. You take men one at a time.

Generalizations are trends. At best they are just paths of statistical likelihood. At worst they are unfounded accusations or popular falsehoods. Some of them are often quite useful, but we must always keep in mind that they're never right all of the time for all people.

I think this is part of the reason God forbids us from judging by the family or the group. God may visit the sins of the father onto the son, but it is not permissable for Man to judge the son by his father. We are all individuals, with our own paths to walk under heaven. Best we be reminded that generalizations are much like the rules of grammar or spelling, for every case there is always an exception.