Isn't this the way Hugo Chavez operates?

Justice Department political appointees overruled career lawyers and ended a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense of wielding a nightstick and intimidating voters at a Philadelphia polling place last Election Day, according to documents and interviews.  The incident - which gained national attention when it was captured on videotape and distributed on YouTube - had prompted the government to sue the men, saying they violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by scaring would-be voters with the weapon, racial slurs and military-style uniforms. [Link]

 

"I do see this opportunity for climate change to be ... a game-changer."

"Every aspect of our lives must be subjected to an inventory ... of how we are taking responsibility."

-- Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca), speaking at Beijing's Tsinghua University, May 28, 2009 [Link]

 

 

Supreme Court nominee

—To oppose a nominee because of his or her sex, race, ethnicity, or background is to act on bad reasons.  Why then is it acting on good reasons to confirm a judge on such grounds—or to nominate one in the first place?

—The Republicans should thus do Judge Sotomayor the great honor of taking her thinking seriously, after the irresistibly ritual celebration of her story and background.  She has been a judge for years, and judges think for a living—so the focus should be kept on what she has done and said that gives us an inkling of her thinking.

Matthew J. Franck on NRO

http://bench.nationalreview.com/

Taking Chance

We just finished watching “Taking Chance”, an HBO movie about PFC Chance Phelps, USMC, who was killed in Iraq on April 9, 2004. The movie is based on the notes of the Marine officer who escorted the body home.  (If you want to read the original notes, click here.)

I’m not normally a fan of HBO, but Taking Chance is a perfect movie for Memorial Day. 

 

Nola

I sure do love playing the piano! Listening as my hands move over the keyboard I am always amazed that I can make such beautiful music. On occasion, of course, I accidentally hear a real pianist and am jerked unceremoniously back to reality. Still, I do have my aspirations. My new goal is to be either the best untalented pianist in Sugar Land, or the worst with even a modicum of talent. Either one would be, for me, a miraculous achievment!

Nola was written in 1915 by Felix Arndt for his fiancee. It could be the happiest piano tune ever written! Mister Arndt died at age 29, in 1918 during the flu epidemic.

Here's Richard Dowling playing 'Nola'.