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Some Call It A Bonfire/Carnival Of Classiness...

We call it "Classiness, All Around Us."

PC(USA)-

Hugh Hewitt notes that the Presbyterian Church is shooting itself in the foot and defying its membership:

Leave it to the Louisville bureaucrats to get everything exactly wrong. You can oppose the Israeli pullout from Gaza, or you can support it as a wild gamble for peace, but attempting through corproate divestment to put more pressure on Israel is just revealingly ignorant.

The church I attend most often, Northwoods Presbyterian Church, is part of PC(USA), although I don't consider myself a "Presbyterian." Because this is so objectionable, I am working on getting some answers from the leadership of the congregation before making a decision on what to do next. But I will say that it'll be difficult for me to continue associating with such objectionable absurdity. And I'm not alone. Just look at PC(USA)'s membership decline from 1984-1994 and 1994-2004 (.pdf). It's bad enough to inject controversial, contentious politics into the church (especially when the church's actions are, at best, empty gestures and meaningless posturing), but to take the wrong side in the dispute is just indefensible.

2.

The Schmidt/Hackett Race-

Gerry Daly trains an eye toward the recent special election in Ohio's Second Congressional district:

One lesson the GOP can take away from the race is that fiscal conservatives are very important for driving turnout, and they are losing patience. A GOP that is the party of God and guns is barely big enough to win even in OH-02. They must also be the party of lower taxes and smaller government.

People trying to extrapolate too many conclusions from this single race in an odd-numbered year are chasing after some bit of insight that just isn't there; some may even be worth of outright mocking and derision.

But this race does support the notion that Democrats running in "red" states and districts can benefit somewhat from weak, tax-hiking Republican opponents. As long as the Democrats are willing to fire up the left-wing base with some surreptitious red meat while simultaneously projecting a moderate (or even conservative) image publicly, RINO (Republican In Name Only) candidates will struggle.

3.

George Galloway-

Austin Bay notes the similarities between George Galloway and British Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw, pointing out:

After World War Two Lord Haw Haw was tried for treason — and hanged.

George Galloway's recent comments have become so egregious that it's hard to argue he isn't guilty of treason. This is not a term I throw around lightly, either, but Galloway has crossed the line from crazy, fringe lunatic to seditious, crazy, fringe lunatic.

4.

Libertarian Follies-

The Louisiana Libertarian offers criticism of the Libertarian Party for its crass anti-war ridiculousness:

For all the anger I could have at the Republican Party over spending and its authoritarian stances on certain social issues, I can never consider the Libertarian Party a viable if it continues to put out press releases that would make various International ANSWER seem classy by comparison.

I have definite sympathies for the libertarian point of view. Freedom maximization. Smaller government. Keeping the government out of our lives rather than inviting them in. And there is ample reason to be disappointed by the GOP's profligate spending (although sometimes the case is overstated). But the big 'L' Libertarian Party truly is a disgrace; it will never be a viable alternative to the Republican Party as long as it keeps its kooky leadership around. More unfortunately, because the Libertarian Party is so irrelevant and marginalized, it won't even keep the Republican Party "honest" on spending issues. Which is a shame.

5.

The War On Terror-

The Nose On Your Face blog offers nine alternative names for the Global War On Terror:

7. The Minor Series of Disagreements with Our Middle Eastern Brethren

Read them all. They're laugh-out-loud funny.

6.

The American Economy-

Bizzy Blog (via Atlas Shrugged) notes that the economy must be good since you're not hearing about it:

The economy’s performance is consistently being underplayed by the mainstream press; if you don’t hear it or see it, you don’t know it.

Over the past year or two, I have been constantly amazed by the partisan Democrats who continue to talk down the economy as if it were Hooverian, in the face of such overwhelming evidence to the contrary. If you want to be a ballah or a shot-callah, now's the time to get in the game.

7.

National Communists Against Athletics-

File It Under takes note of the new NCAA policy against Indian mascots, and suggests that the NFL is next for the P.C. police:

In the AFC: The Bills: Thier logo is a buffalo, which the white man killed all of just to starve off the Indians. That's gotta change. The Bengals: Bengal tigers have killed Indians in India, where the mistaken name Indian comes from that was given via Columbus to the native Americans. That is a reminder of how the white euro's have ruined Indians lives. The name and logo have to go. The Browns: Like our Indian skin? Gone. The Broncos: Like the ones you stole from us and killed, white man? Gone.

Go read them all.

This new policy is truly an outrage. Completely ridiculous. The NCAA is a shameful organization. And I say this as a card-carrying Creek Indian.

The good news is that not everyone is going down without a fight.

Today, we're all Seminoles.

8.

The American Tax Code-

The Conservative Cat offers a chuckle-worthy post on the American tax code:

When you submit your tax documents, you are wagering your full and complete understanding of those regulations against jail time and possible bankruptcy. Compared to that, going out and killing a bear to prove your manhood is a cakewalk.

"Heh."

"Indeed."

9.

China and Russia-

Vodkapundit thinks about what the joint military exercises of China and Russia could mean:

It's true: China and Russia don't have many aims in common. It's difficult to picture those two countries fighting together, unless the impossible happens and Japan becomes all militaristic and expansionistic again. Yet China and Russia do share one problem: us.

Next week's joint exercises are a very public recognition of that fact, and a very public warning, too.

It's a good and largely underappreciated thing, meanwhile, the U.S. is cultivating such close and favorable relationships with India, Japan, and Australia.

10.

The Da Vinci Code-

Art Chrenkoff (who is, unfortunately, hanging it up soon) offers some thoughts on Dan Brown's widely-read book:

Brown's ideas don't stand up to any historical scrutiny. But in our brave New Age, all the ingredients are present - distrust of organized religion, quest for pseudo-religious "spirituality", obsession with conspiracies - for the acceptance of the Gospel According to Dan as, well, the gospel truth.

I read the book and enjoyed it. But I was disappointed to learn that many people have treated the book as some sort of scholarly and well-researched tome, rather than the fun ahistorical romp that it is.

11.

Israeli Weather Machine-

GOPINION Page Two blog notes some crazy conspiracy theorists on the Aljazeera.com website:

What I want to know is, do the United States and Israel share the weather machine? Or do they each have their own?

Included in the Global War On Terror is a propaganda war. Generally, we're reluctant to sell ourselves, our values, our aims, our successes, and our good deeds, as well as we ought to; meanwhile, the Islamic fundamentalists have poisoned the minds of countless millions with hyperbolic (and somewhat flattering) propaganda. If we're serious about winning the War On Terror, we've got to get serious about combatting the anti-civilization, anti-American propaganda so rife today.

12.

The 2006 Senate Races-

Jayson of PoliPundit looks at the likely stable of GOP Senate candidates for 2006, and grades National Republican Senatorial Committe (NRSC) Chairman Elizabeth Dole on her recruitment:

I’d give Liddy a C+ at this juncture. With a chance – Johanns, Hoeven, Capito – for a B+ at the commencement of next year’s election cycle.

A few potential candidates still need encouragement. Let's hope they make the right decisions.

13.

Robert Byrd-

Patrick Ruffini examines the upcoming Senate race in West Virginia:

Bottom line: Given the clear forward-or-back choice, West Virginia seems ripe for an "exurban strategy" premised on turning out the fast-growing D.C. exurbs in the Panhandle.

Robert Byrd is increasingly his own worst enemy. If he finds himself in a heated, vigorous campaign, I am not sure he'll be able to cut it. Robert Byrd is just not "all there," and it wouldn't be a dirty trick or crossing any line for Republicans to accentuate Byrd's own increasingly awkward behavior. Just get him in the ring. He'll self-destruct. He'll embarrass himself. It'll be sad. It will be difficult to watch. We may feel strangely guilty or icky just being opposite the aging legend as he crumples into all out senility, in full view of the electorate. And it will happen entirely of his own doing. But we have to be willing to apply persistent pressure and risk yet another Max Cleland type of myth concocted by the left regarding "mean-spirited, dirty GOP tricks."

In the past, Robert Byrd has delivered astounding levels of pork for West Virginia. In the past, he was also a member of the Ku Klux Klan. But none of that matters if he is not all there, here and now.

14.

The Hispanic Vote-

Tim Saler looks at the Democrats' strategy for courting the Latino vote:

Hispanics do not necessarily align themselves with or identify with illegal immigrants. Most came to this country legally and have a deep respect for this country’s laws. It is offensive, in fact, to link legal residents of this country who happen to be Hispanic with the illegal immigrants who are pouring over our borders daily, simply because they share the same ethnic classification.

It's clear Howard Dean and the Democrats plan to label the Republicans "racist" for their support of stronger measures against illegal immigration. It's not going to work. The Latino unemployment rate is about as low as it has ever been. The Latino middle class is growing-- and becoming more Republican. Latinos took note of which party supported CAFTA. Latinos share the GOP's respect for faith and family. Latinos (the ones not in unions and/or the Los Angeles County political machine) prefer capitalism to socialism. And Latinos are more sophisticated and politically astute than Howard Dean is giving them credit for, and they will not sell their souls to a single party, let alone the party of Howard Dean.

15.

Liberal Media-

The Belmont Club examines Stalin's plans for a Soviet holocaust:

The attraction of exploring Communist archaeology is based in part on the fascination for the grotesque. It is what morbid minds study in the absence of real alien monster artifacts. It is a tableau of the inconceivable, made all the more startling because it was real....

The landscape of Communism from East Germany to Cambodia, from North Korea to Cuba deserves to preserved as a monument to the greatest act of hypnotism in history.

And yet, there are still people who fail to understand the evils of communism, even after the fact, even after prodigious and voluminous evidence on the matter. Meanwhile, there are people who, today, fail to understand/acknowledge the evils of the enemy we face today.

History always repeats itself, even when people are aware of it.

Also, don't forget to check out all the old Trivia Tidbits Of the Day, the Reform Thursday series, the Quotational Therapy sessions, and the Wednesday Caption Contest (entries are due each Tuesday at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time).

Last Week's Classiness Certification from WILLisms.com:

*Aug. 2, 2005.

WILLisms.com offers a weekly classiness roundup as a weekly feature, every Tuesday, with 15 blog posts deemed classy. The criteria for submissions: incisive original analysis, quirky topics nobody else is covering, fantastic graphics, or other posts that took a lot of work. We love to spread the word on upcoming blogs, being that WILLisms.com also fits that description. If you would like to nominate a post on your blog or another blog for inclusion, email us at WILLisms@gmail.com. Write "Classy Nomination" in the subject. You can also utilize this page to make your submissions. The deadline is each Monday at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Classy.

Posted by Will Franklin · 9 August 2005 11:18 AM

Comments

Posted by: Buckley F. Williams at August 9, 2005 01:47 PM

Posted by: Hoodlumman at August 9, 2005 04:08 PM

Posted by: Am I A Pundit Now? at August 9, 2005 04:42 PM

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at August 9, 2005 07:00 PM

Posted by: Kevin at August 9, 2005 09:08 PM

Posted by: Rob B. at August 9, 2005 10:49 PM

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at August 10, 2005 06:55 AM

Posted by: Zsa Zsa at August 10, 2005 07:04 AM