USC GOP

Although Russia still has the potential to revert to its old ways, communist China continues to extend its tentacles around the world in search of military allies (or is it pawns) and oil. The latest stab at U.S. influence strikes at oil rich Nigeria that has announced that it will seek military hardware from China since America has allegedly failed to protect Nigeria oil assets from rebel attack.

Today's Financial Times reports that, "Nigeria last year signed an $800m deal to supply PetroChina with 30,000 barrels a day of oil. This year, CNOOC, China's largest offshore producer, agreed to pay $2.3bn for a share in an oil block owned by a former defence minister. Oil industry officials say China is looking to increase its interest in bidding for off-shore oil acreage in Nigeria."

FT also reports that China has allowed the Avon lady to return, thus opening the potential for more direct sales for a variety of firms. It has also issued statements defending intelectual property rights.

The question remains: Is China simply an economic competitor or is it a global military threat that is using economics now to weaken the United States in the long run? The Bush Administration needs to cease being a reactive force. The Harriet Miers nomination, the recent port fiasco and, now, the Nigerian oil and military issue has the Administration reeling. Rove needs to focus on real problems and let the party hacks worry about Hilary's potential run for president in '08. Our economic and national security demands an Administration that knows what it is doing and is proactive. The last few months have shown us that the second-term quagmire syndrome seems to be sucking down W.

Can he change in time to address the growing China issue? Only time will tell.

Now why is it that Cardinal Mahony doesn't have the courage of other bishops? Perhaps his unorthodox behavior and defense of molestors will eventually get him booted from his position of authority. Should the Pope allow for the Tridentine Rite to be celebrated without an indult (the next meeting on it is at the end of March), will he loyally follow Rome, or will we be subject to his constant undemining and sniping?

It is too far fetched to think that he might be put on trial in the Church some day? Probably... but criminal charges could still be forthcoming.

I find it more and more difficult to cut checks to the parish when I know that the archdiocese has its collective fingers in the the collection basket as well. If the archdiocese was truly concerned about the common people, it would allow us to opt out of supporting the corporate environment of the Wilshire Boulevard offices.

Fat chance that will happen. I guess I'll have to settle for looking at the grass on the other side of the archdiocesan fence as the grass is truly greener there. Just check out De Fide the next time you want to pull your hair out (like my wife and I did after suffering through Mass two weeks ago in Morro Bay).

Okay, I have had the flu for the last six days and my already irritable personality has sunk to another level.

I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to chuck my remote at the screen last week when the Olympic promos kept using the words "crucial" and "curling" in the same sentence. Crucial and curling in the same sentence should only occur in the directions for a curling item such as:

"It is crucial that you allow the curling item to warm up appropriately in order to ensure proper curling of your hair;"

or

"It is crucial that you not use a hot curling iron as a toothpick;"

or

"It is crucial that American ports be owned by countries and companies that do not have ties to terrorism... any sale to countries with terrorist ties will see a curling iron dropped on the head of the Administration in order that some sense be knocked into it."

My sister, Maureen, has instituted along with Dad the Sylvia C. McKinley Service Above Self Award to be given annually at the Las Vegas All-American Classic which is a Senior Bowl game for collge football.

This year's game saw the presentation of the first award.

Laura Ingraham's book title, as referenced above, is the idea I've held in my head for many years as I have listened to artists whose music I have liked, but whose politics were either leftist or idiotic leftist.

Now there is the on-going hypocritical with Devo. Under the direction of co-founder Gerry Casale, Devo has created a teeny bop miniature version of itself called DEV2.0. Although the music is fine, the vocals are atrocious.

But that is not the worst of it. Casale, who constantly berates Republicans in general and President Bush in specific, has teamed with the Disney corporation to produce his little venture. DISNEY! - one of the giants of the "corporate feudal state" that Devo has railed against since its conception.

Devo's partnering with Disney is not a surprise since Mark Mothersbaugh, the other founder, has been selling his soul and talents for commercial ventures for sometime. But now, with the Smith's concept of "repackage reissue" ringing in my brain, it is time to call the hypocrites out.

Devo: Shut up and sing!

Always walk side-by-side with your partner.

Don't shoot if you partner is not nearby.

Expect the worse from the press if you don't have crime scene like pictures available to the press for immediate use by the MSM.

Come off it folks. ANY VP from ANY party would have been handeled by his staff this way.

Did you notice that Iran is enriching uranium... or are you too busy worried about an unfortunate hunting mistake?

BTW - my internet access is quite limited these days, so the blogs have come few and far between. I hope to rectify that in the near future.

After listening to some conservative talk radio announcers bemoan who President Bush was treated at Coretta Scott King's funeral, and after listening to Stephanie Miller crow about the treatment on her Air America show the next morning, I came to the conclusion that neither the folks on the left nor the right really understood what happened.

Having grown up in a funeral business family and having briefly worked at one of the homes in Inglewood, I am very familiar with the type of funerals that many, though not all, African Americans have. Now they don't normally last six hours like King's did, but the feel, emotion, music, etc. of the event was not surprising. When you couple that with the fact that it was held in a 10,000 seat church full of liberal activists, most of whom appeared to be African-American, the fact that the "euolgies" were like they were was not surprising at all. In fact, I expected it (although I did not expect it from Carter since W was in attendance; the ex-president has no shame).

But, since W was there and took the bashing with grace, the loony left's expected fit at event shows them to be ungracious and contemptuous in the eyes of Middle America - that same Middle America that keeps voting Republican!

Goofy ol' Hugh Hewitt is at it again:

The debate begins with these questions: Are we at war with Islam? Do you want a war with Islam? He answers "no" to both.

Real answer to #1 is here. Notwithstanding the attempts of some Muslim clerics to quell the nonsense, it is obvioius that a faction of Islam is at war with us (or did Hugh miss 9/11 too?).

Of course, we don't want a war with Islam, but it appears that many in Islam want a war with us. London's Cadinal understands, and rightly asks who is the god of these evil men? Are all Muslims evil? Of course not... but the ones bombing churches, slitting throats, torching Danish embassies, etc. are.

And we are at war with them