As Usual, Gingrich Stimulates Thought

Gingrich: Powerful Pelosi 'would be a disaster'

This article inspired several interesting thoughts as I read through it.

First, Newt Gingrich is doing a great job of being straight forward with the media on the reasons why it is so important for the Republicans to retain control of the House of Representatives. Who cares if they lose the Senate- they deserve to- but Speaker Pelosi is one of the most frightening thoughts I can imagine.

Second, it seems clear that Newt has serious ambitions of running for president, mainly because I don't think he is scared to death of the second scariest thing I can imagine- President Hilary Clinton- YIKES!!! Though I think I would be a formidable candidate, he may not be the wisest choice for the Republicans, but he is without question the next best thing. That is why he should be Rudy Guiliani's running mate. This would allow Guilliani to not worry too much about the more conservative elements of the party and instead focus on taking votes away from Clinton at her base. As far as I am concerned this duo is the closest thing to unbeatable.

Third, Joe Biden is a deeply irresponsible person and though he is correct about North Korea being the greatest threat- as you may have read me say in my post from a few days ago- it is ridiculous for him to assert that the Iranians don't have the capacity to deliver a nuclear weapon to harm our interests in the region. Since when is a missle the only way to deliver a nuclear payload. Why could they just sneak it into Baghdad and let it blow outside of the Green Zone?

These are just random ramblings, but I think these are all reasonable points.

Going to the Moon Again-- Finally

NASA Awards Deep Space Contract

It has only been about 45 years since President Kennedy challenged NASA to take the US to the moon by the end of the 1960's. Today we have visions of going to the moon and beyond, and today we know how we're going to get there. Lockheed Martin, aerospace contractor, was awarded the contract over a competing bid from engineers at Northrop Grumman and Boeing, and will for the second time in a decade attempt to replace the space shuttle with a reusable deep space vehicle. They won the contract because their design relies on mostly known technologies and it seems very plausible this attempt will be much more successful than their last attempt, which failed because of technical problems. This is very exciting, especially since the Russians and Chinese announced this week that they will work collaboratively on a moon mission, with hopes of going to Mars. The race is on- good luck NASA.

Big Day for Free Information

Google News-- Google Books to Offer Free PDF Downloads of Classics

Google News-- Free Universal Music Download Site to Challenge iTunes

The music and publishing industries both experienced radical alterations to their typical business model as Google and Universal Music have both launched services aimed at providing users free content by attaching advertisements to their online interfaces. There has been great resistance to Google's Book service from publishers at first, but Google wisely went slow and offered publishing houses an opportunity to make up any lost revenue by coordinating their titles with links to ordering information. Universal Music has yet to win over any of its critics, but it isn't set to be released until the fall. Consumers have been spending more on music since the launch of iTunes music store, which sells tracks at 99 cents each, so what makes anyone believe that free is all that matters? Google is definitely forcing change within the publishing industry and hopefully Universal's bold attempt to take on Apple bears some fruit by way of radically altering the way music is distributed and consumed.

"Red Capitalism" Growing In Global Appeal

Image via WikipediaImage via Wikipedia- Google News-- Chinese Success Creates New Paradigm for Developing Nations

For years the prevailing model for growing the economies of developing countries was the Washington Consensus- brain-child of the Clinton Administration focused on creating dynamic regional and bi-lateral trade agreements to help bridge gaps in comparative advantage and lower protectionist trade barriers. In terms of maximizing the benefits of globalization for the United States and its most valued allies, both developed and developing nations, it was a very effective. However, many lesser developed nations have failed to find their niche in the global marketplace and have floundered for years, usually under political turmoil.

The unrelenting growth exhibited by the Chinese economy since opening its borders to the west has given the Chinese Communist Party immeasurable credibility in the eyes of developed and developing nations alike. The CCP's policy framework for building a 21st century economy under great demographic strain and a hostile political climate, otherwise known as "socialism with Chinese characteristics"-- but more aptly termed "Red Capitalism" by many China scholars-- has been embraced by many 3rd world states struggling to feed their people.

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Keith Richards Hassled for Mid-Concert Cigarette in No-Smoking Area

Keith Not Burned by Smoking Ban - Aug 28, 2006 - E! Online News
Google News- Keith Richards Under Investigation for Smoking a Cigarette?


Don't get me wrong, smoking is the bane of my existence, and I wish I could muster the will power necessary to quit once and for all. However, it is absolutely appalling to me how some local governments, both in Europe and here in the US, have come to disregard entirely the concept of smoker's rights. This story about the brief investigation by a UK municipality into the possible violation of a smoking ban by Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards, who lit a cigarette while on stage during a recent concert, is truly disturbing. If the world has become a place where not even a rockstar is immune from scrutiny by Machiavellian public health policies such as outdoor smoking bans, it is truly frightening to consider what other unhealthy pleasures the government may choose to regulate in the future.

North Korean Nuclear Test Imminent?

- Google News- North Korean Nuclear Test on the Horizon?

Recent speculation on the Korean peninsula has focused on whether or not the North is preparing to test a nuclear weapon for the first time. Missile tests launched on the 4th of July failed miserably, and there has been much anxiety amongst regional observers as to how Kim Jong-Il would respond to such a damaging blow to his nations international prestige. I personally see North Korea as the greatest threat the United States has ever encountered, because the status quo is not indefinitely sustainable and I can't imagine a scenario in which the North will peacefully submit to the West. The Kim family has had 50 years of "ceasefire" along the border with the South, which has given people living in Il-Song and Jong-Il's Orwellian prison state no reason to fall disenchanted with their bizarrely narcissistic "Supreme Leader." My grandfather fought in the Korean War, and my entire life he has told stories of the time he spent on the Penisula. One which particularly frightened me was when he told of the Korean advances at the American lines, with the first wave of soldiers carrying the only rifles available for the entire invading force, with the second wave following delicately, unarmed, waiting for the first opportunity to seize a weapon from one of their completely slaughtered comrades. The ceasefire on the 53rd parallel is only temporary, for I can assure you that Kim Jong-Il won't stop playing with matches until a 10,000 pound bunker-buster burns his house down.

France Pulls Through for Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission

Google News- France Meets Commitment, Offers 2,000 Troops

Paris has finally agreed to send 2,000 troops to take the lead of an international peacekeeping force, which already has 5,000 Italians and commitments from every member of the Arab League to contributed "boots on the ground." Looking as silly as I have ever seen him, French President Jacques Chirac spoke quite earnestly on French television announcing the governments decision to send more than their previously embarrassing offer had called for. I can't say that before the current crisis I had ever said anything favorable about the French President, but his response to the actions of the Israeli government was the most impressive of all veto-wielding Security Council members. Similarly, prior to the current debacle I hadn't been one to criticize Bush's policies because generally I think he is on the right track, but his disregard for all reason and compassion in response to the brutal tactics and disproportionate response of the Israeli army will be a permanent stain on his otherwise historic legacy as a crusader of virtue in the Middle East.

Google News Links

Google News- How much do we know about Iran's nuclear program?

I like to post a link to the article that I drew my information from, especially when writing on news as it happens, but I often read so many news stories from different media outlets on any given topic that I couldn't feasibly cite every source of information. But then it occurred to me that through Google News I can instantly get every article written throughout the world through a simple keyword search. From now on, unless I am citing a specific journalist or newspaper, I will post a link to all of the Google News stories associated with the general topic of my post. The link above, as you may already know, will give you a complete collection of media reports on the United States' intelligence on Iran's nuclear program, and is an example of how I hope to provide substantive and diverse information and divergent perspective alongside my own opinions.

China and Venezuela Get Cozy

Associated Press Business News: Venezuela Says China Backs U.N. Bid - MSN Money

China, Venezuela ink 8 agreements to boost bilateral ties

I have been totally caught off guard by the recent headlines coming out of Beijing, which is currently courting Hugo Chavez and his countries vast oil reserves using uncharacteristically audacious public diplomacy to emphatically embrace their lone legitimate Communist Ally. Several major agreements have been brokered recently which have clearly been launched with the intention of legitimizing the Venezuelan government as it aspires to bolster its regional and global profile. In addition to the recent announcement of support for Venezuela's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, which is also supported by Moscow, the two Communist allies inked pacts on issues ranging from housing to oil. Chavez has declared that by 2009 China will receive 500,000 barrels of oil per day from his country, with that number reaching 1 million sometime next decade.

I don't see any reason why the US shouldn't support Venezuela's bid for a Security Council seat- for what better place is there to humble a spirited populist like Chavez. I would take John Bolton over Hugo Chavez in a cage fight (which is how I like to refer to Security Council sessions) any day.

Chavez has been emboldened by electoral victories and his government has made great efforts to brand itself recently as the most virulently anti-American in the western hemisphere, which has brought them the respect and financial incentives from the East, specifically Russia and China. Venezuelan oil ministers have recently threatened to cut-off shipment to the US if their is suspicion of subversive tactics by the CIA or any other US-backed anti-Communist activists in the country. Statistics for the first four months of 2006 put the total Venezuelan import figure at roughly 1.5 million barrels per day, which is far greater than Chavez has yet promised to Beijing, but that number is down from the 1.7 million barrels during the mid-1990's. If Caracas continues to divert exports typically bound for the US to Beijing, there will be a marked increase in the price of gasoline across the United States. I think the best policy would be for the US consumer to recognize the overtly hostile rhetoric of the Venezuelan President and make the conscious decision to not contribute to the coffers of a clearly irresponsible individual. CITGO is the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, and for this reason I never buy gasoline from a CITGO station. I call on all American's who care about the future of gas prices and the security of the US economy to join me in my boycott, and tell a friend.

Racial Profiling These Guys? Why not?

The media has been eager to debate the merits of racial profiling recently as the threat to airline travelers becomes apparent following the London bust of a terror cell. Last week I was shocked to find out the two men photographed on the left caused quite a stir after boarding a flight in Europe, with several passengers walking off the plane because of the suspicious appearance and conduct of the two men. Generally, I can understand the concerns of Muslims around the world who fear they will become the victims of unjustified profiling, because I don't think that all Muslims deserve to be treated like terrorists. However, these guys don't look like normal, unthreatening Muslims, but rather appear to have been taken directly from central casting of "True Lies." If people don't want to be pigeon-holed and unjustly accused or suspected of being terrorists, they should put more effort into making themselves look less like terrorists. Maybe it is Hollywood's fault that we all have a picture in our heads of what a terrorist must look like, but until little old ladies and small children start strapping bombs to themselves, I think we would be best served by focusing our suspicions on those who most deserve the attention.

Report: Legislation Could Stop Chinese Censorship - CIO News Alerts - Blog - CIO

Report: Legislation Could Stop Chinese Censorship - CIO News Alerts - Blog - CIO

I think the ideas put forth in this post on CIO magazine's blog, which entertain the possibility of legislation resticting US companies from self-censoring their content on their foreign based services, are very intriguing (as well as consistent with the principles of our foreign policy since the end of WWII- anti-Communist). However, I doubt Microsoft and Google are going to be thrilled about the possibility of being forced to shut down their entire Chinese operation. Can these companies, and the US market withstand the impact of a confrontation between Capitol Hill and Wall Street over the fate of the Chinese nation? Can the Chinese government justify its suppression of the freedom of information when the issue comes before the international media? There are hundreds, maybe thousands of possible outcomes of such a bold policy initiative in Washington- but I have to admit, there are a great many that could further the revolutionary objectives of true democrats around the world, all of whom see a bright future for a China freed of the crimson shroud cast by its draconian government. The Chinese are excused to govern their country as they wish, but the free world must stay united in the pursuit of a world united in adherence to the progression of democratic sovereignty in every country in the world. To fail to do so, would be a failure to safegaurd the legitimacy of our philosophy of government as it meets its most formidable foe since the annialation of the fascists in WWII.