Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He’s also an author, military historian, columnist, and a farmer, growing raisin grapes on a family farm near Fresno, California.  You’ll find the repository for his work at Victor Davis Hanson’s Private Papers.  Below is one of the finest summations of our national mindset that you are likely to ever encounter.  High octane writing like this has to be savored, studied, and then conveyed to as many as have eyes to read.  (more…)

 

(Daily Caller)  Minority parents in New York have a message for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): you are hurting our children.  In New York Monday, charter school parents staged another of several rallies to voice opposition to a lawsuit brought by the UFT and NAACP against the New York City Department of Education. If the organizations are successful with their suit, it would prevent enrollment or re-enrollment in 17 charter schools and stop the closure of 22 public schools.  The UFT and NAACP’s decision to sue has roiled inner city parents who depend on charter schools to ensure their children get a good education. (more…)

(Daily Mail Online).  It is a mistake that will get any father in the dog house with his daughter – even if he is the President.  In a news conference on Wednesday, President Barack Obama twice referred to his oldest daughter, Malia, as being 13 years old, even though she is just 12.  And while it is unlikely to be the worst error of judgement he commits during his time in the White House, it may well be the one he gets the most grief about at home.  Given the speed with which Malia has grown of late, perhaps his mistake is not particularly surprising.  Her birthday is also rapidly approaching – Malia turns 13 on July 4 – so the President may just have been thinking ahead. (more…)

Summer’s here, and perhaps you’ve been contemplating taking a jaunt in the family automobile, or maybe even that long hoped for cruise or transatlantic flight.  Then reality sinks in, and you’re reminded of the sky-high gas prices, or that gauntlet of TSA  screeners eagerly groping you in hopes of finding a ‘loaded’ Depends.  Despair not!  We’re going to take you on a little trek right in front of your own computer. 
Every year Wikimedia Commons, the file repository serving Wikipedia and other projects, has over ten million files freely available for everyone.  Every year they hold a vote to select their picture of the year.  Below are the top ten photos chosen for 2010.  (more…)

First off, I have PhillyCon to thank for introducing me to the delightful Mr. L’s Tavern earlier today on the “Undefeated” thread.   Mr. L is that rarest of all things, a New York Conservative.  His show is set in the cozy milieu of a neighborhood tavern, wherein he offers us his no nonsense opinions on everything from politics and film, to the insanity of everyday life.  If you have fourteen minutes to spare, pull up a computer and listen to him completely and utterly eviscerate Megan McCain and her travelling RINO circus.  Trust me…you can make a meal of it. (more…)

Governor Sarah Palin was completely self-centered, self-consumed, and ill-informed to such a degree as to be totally disengaged in her state’s affairs.  She would routinely avoid important meetings with the budget director by hiding in the bathroom.  She’d spend less than eight hours a day in office, staying home or attending events rather than focusing on important state business. 
Well, not exactly.  That’s precisely how Robert Greenlee, Rod Blagojevich’s deputy governor, described HIS former boss.
Beginning this July 15, AMC Theatres will begin showing the film “The Undefeated” in limited areas.  It will show a very different portrayal of the former vice presidential candidate.  It will show the inner workings of an efficient, informed and a very involved governor… one who achieved an unprecedented 80% plus approval rating while in office.  She was loved and admired by the people of Alaska for her grit and determination in taking on the oil companies and corruption on both sides of the aisle. (more…)

Oh no!   Imagine a world where the dung-covered Madonna, or the crucifix in a jar of urine would not be allowed to exist.  Such could be our very world if Sarah Palin is allowed to do away with the National Endowment for the Arts.  In an effort to reduce our fourteen trillion dollar federal deficit, Palin has suggested ending federal subsidies for National Public Radio ($3.34 million), the National Endownment for Humanities ($132.8 million), and the National Endowment for the Arts ($154.7 million).  As you can well imagine, this has once again caused leftie heads to twist, twirl, then eventually explode.  (more…)

For any of you folks starting to feel a teensy bit sorry for Congressman Weiner, we have the following video showing his astonishing outburst towards House Republicans, specifically Peter King, last July 30th.  At issue was a bill to provide long-term medical benefits to 9/11 first responders. To prevent Republicans from adding any amendments to the bill, Democratic leaders adopted a procedure that put the bill directly to a vote – with no amendments – but required the bill to get a two-thirds majority to pass.  The bill was defeated, thus enraging Weiner. (more…)

(Politico) Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) will resign from his seat in Congress, heeding calls from President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and dozens of other congressional Democrats, sources confirm to POLITICO. The resignation ends nearly three weeks of tumultuous political controversy since the New York congressman sent a lewd picture of himself over Twitter which he claimed at first was a result of a hack, and later admitted he had sent himself. (more…)

(New York Times) WASHINGTON — Representative Anthony D. Weiner has told friends that he plans to resign his seat after coming under growing pressure from his Democratic colleagues to leave the House, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans  His decision follows of revelations of his lewd online exchanges with women, said a person told of Mr. Weiner’s plans.  The news comes as Democratic leaders prepared to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to strip the 46-year-old Congressman of his committee assignments, a blow which would severely damage his effectiveness. (more…)