The Eclectic reader

Here are some of my thoughts on various subjects:



intelligence Reform Bill--I see that it passed the House today--300 and some to 75. Fox News said that Duncan Hunter received the language he and others wanted regarding the chain-of-command. James Sennsenbrenner did not get the driver's license provisions he wanted, but he did get a promise it will be on the fast-track next session. I don't completely understand how the politics of Congress works. I know that it is not easy to get work accomplished. I know that when so many Congressmen are for a bill, it becomes very difficult to hold out. I hope that they work hard on getting the license bill next session. The other day I heard some Congressman from Colorado (I can't remember who) who said that it was more dangerous to pass a bill that gives the allusion of safety rather than one that actually provides safety. This is an excellent point, and I wonder if this bill will bring about some beneficial change. I don't see how having a single career bureaucrat (or whoever gets the job as Intel Czar) processing all the intelligence. There were obviously some systemic problems in the intelligence business. Let's hope this bill resolves some of them. Dick Morris (I don't completely get his angle) made the argument on Hannity and Colms that the only way we can find aliens who have lost their legal status is through their driver's license, or lack thereof. Supporters of the policy of allowing illegals to get licenses say it makes the roads safer. What in Martha's Stewart does having a driver's license do with being a safe driver? Have these people ever driven in Massachusetts, or Florida, or New York, or the planet we call "Earth"? Besides, it is not our roads that should be the biggest concern. Our biggest concern should be our buildings, and bridges, and schools.



Mr. Bill O'Reily--O'Reily is a scream. He said tonight that he thought a belief in the historical Jesus is "cute". I may be paraphrasing a bit, but not much. He is strong when he talks about economics and politics. He is rather bafoonish when he speaks on moral issues. I understand him to be a Catholic. That should be a good thing. If he is, he is not a very morally strong one. He is so pragmatic with many of his beliefs, though I don't see how he can call them beliefs. According to him, everything that is not backed up by a preponderance of facts is simply a nice little belief that ought to be respected as such. Many times he really irks me.



College Basketball--Syracuse and Oklahome State are playing right now. Neither team has more than 30, and it is half time. I would expect both of the teams to put up more points, even though both are excellent defensive teams. Both of the teams should do well this year. My guess is that either 'Cuse or Pitt will win the Big East. Oklahoma State and Kansas will fight it out for the Big 12. I don't want to make a pick on National Champion yet. Let me say it will either be UNC, Kansas, OSU, Georgia Tech, Wake, Arizona, or Illinois. These all have strong, legitimate chances of winning. The last several years have a chosen the side of experience. This year all of these have experience like the plague. OSU probably has the most. Illinois has the best guards in the league. This looks to be an exciting, parried season. I don't have enormously high hopes for the Blue Devils, as I have stated before. They can be in the top 3 or 4 of the ACC (I am going to pick NC State to win the conference this year). They are definitely in the top 25, probably the top 15. I am looking for a Sweet Sixteen this year.



Spelling--I apologize for any and all misspellings. I can spell as well as Usher. The spell check on my laptop is a bit hairy. It doesn't always allow me to make changes. Sometimes it will highlight a term and then skip it before I can do anything. It is quite irritating (though you could never tell by watching me). I will attempt to never misspell anything ever.



Torturing Prisoners--Responding to my earlier post regarding the prisoners at Gitmo, I will never understand "prisoner's rights." As the article I linked to pointed out, the terrorists that are being held here captured while they were fighting our troops. We have been able to obtain highly valuable intel from them. At least 6 of the murders that were released (under intense international pressure) went back to Iraq and Afghanistan and fought once again with our troops. What price is to high to pay for our security? If a few terrorists, who have hurt innocents and soldiers and who will hurt more if they get a chance, have to experience some discomfort in order for us to get life-saving intel from them, so be it. Their lives are far less valuable than our American soldiers. Do you think the innocent civilians who have had their heads un-attatched from their bodies experienced any discomfort? Do you think the murders care about our "rights"? Too many liberals want to be safe while still living in the comfortable and morally superior Muffinland. People are not very nice here on earth. Some people forfeit their "rights" when they callously extinguish the "rights" of others. Let's get our priorities straight.



More from the Eclectic Reader soon.