Broken Masterpieces

Congress’s Travel Tab Swells - WSJ.com.

Often, lawmakers combine trips to war zones with visits to more tranquil spots. In February, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation of Democratic lawmakers to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a day. Before landing in Kabul, the eight lawmakers and their entourage of spouses and aides spent eight days in Italy, spending $57,697 on hotels and meals.

A spokesman for Ms. Pelosi says that she was working in Italy, meeting with U.S. troops at Aviano Air Base, laying a wreath at the Florence American Cemetery, giving a speech to Italian lawmakers and visiting the Pope, among other things.

AND

In mid-June, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D., Hawaii) led a group of a half-dozen senators and their spouses on a four-day trip to France for the biennial Paris Air Show. An itinerary for the event shows that lawmakers flew on the Air Force’s version of the Boeing 737, which costs $5,700 an hour to operate. They stayed at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, which advertises rooms from $460 a night.

The lawmakers were invited to a dinner party at the U.S. Embassy and had cocktails at a private party at the Eiffel Tower. Mr. Inouye attended a dinner sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association, a U.S. trade group. Another senator on the trip, Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, took a cruise on the River Seine with defense-industry executives and elected officials from Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

Nice way to get a nice vacation to Italy.  These people in Washington need to remember who’s money they are spending.

Aroldis Chapman, top Cuban pitcher, defects - ESPN.

This dude can throw over 100 MPH.  I hope he understands that not only is he able to test himself at the highest levels of baseball (”I wanted to test myself in the highest levels of baseball.”) but now will experience the freedom of speech, movement and religion.  I wish him the best and am praying for a free Cuba.

While driving home from work I was shocked to hear of the death of Michael Jackson. It really did bum me out. I’ve been a fan of a lot of his work and my youngest son just starting to get into some of his music, along with learning to Moonwalk. Based on his disgusting behaviour it had taken me a long time to even listen to any of his music.

As I think about his impact it truly was huge. He mace some great music and was a fantastic performer. For a while he was the number one performer and was an R&B trailblazer. He set the pace for quite awhile

I do believe he was pretty strange and it seemed to get worse as he got older. He seemed to have a pretty poor father and that surely didn’t help. He was a great performer and was huge. Too bad he went on a big slide down as a human being.

Latino landmark.

Instead, we are in for yet another circus. Any hope that Republicans might not go full bore after a Latina with an admirable personal story – Sotomayor grew up in a rough Bronx housing project and thrived despite suffering from juvenile diabetes and enduring her father’s death at age 9 – is already history.

Now she can expect two more months of microscopic scrutiny and parsing of her past in the cable-TV torture chamber. She deserves better.

President Obama, however, does not. Call it political karma. In 2005, as an Illinois senator, he joined 21 other Democrats in voting not to seat Roberts – even after Roberts delivered the most dazzling performance in the modern history of Senate confirmation hearings. In 2006, in the low point of his Senate career, Obama joined a filibuster meant to keep Alito off the court.

This came after a contemptible campaign to smear Alito as a racist and a sexist because of the actions of some members of a college club to which he once belonged and as a fascist who thought police should be allowed to strip-search a 10-year-old girl without a cause or a warrant. This bile wasn’t delivered via anonymous e-mails or mailed hit pieces. It came straight from Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. – and Obama, the man who celebrates civility and tolerance, offered no objection.

If Sotomayor faces treatment even one-tenth as unfair and the president complains about it, he will have much explaining to do. And perhaps a little soul-searching, too.

It is my hope that the Reublicans in the Senate treat Judge Sotomayor better than President Obama treated the Bush nominees.  Ask the hard questions but don’t go over the top.  Many groups will be using this as a fund raising opportunity and will do all they can to exploit this nomination.  I’m not fired up about this nomination but McCain didn’t win.

Townhall.com Blog : Hugh Hewitt : President Obama Tries To Play “Rope-the-Dopes” With Judge Sotomayor. - Great article by Hugh Hewitt on how to handle the nomination of Judge Sotomayor.  I’d like to see the Republicans listen to Hewitt as this nomination is dealt with.

Journalist Roxana Saberi freed by Iranian appeal court verdict - Telegraph.

Lawyers for the 32-year old said the court had reduced the eight-year jail sentence to a suspended two-year term and she would soon be freed.

Great news from Iran.

Fischtank - Down in the river.

Worldview #1: The world is our enemy. Satan is hiding out for us behind every bush. Secular humanists are conspiring to influence our children and take over our country, and everything we believe in and hold dear is being threatened by the culture around us.

Worldview #2: This is our Father’s world. Every bush is ablaze with the glory of God. The Holy Spirit is behind the past and current events of history, and no force on earth, heaven or under the earth can do anything outside of the will and knowledge of God Almighty who lives in us.

Many Christians seem to believe their is only one Christian world view.  Not true (see above).  In America both the political left and right of Christianity use fear and falsehoods to gain power.

Lawyer: Iran jails U.S. journalist for spying - Iran- msnbc.com.

Roxana Saberi, a 31-year-old dual American-Iranian citizen, was arrested in late January and initially accused of working without press credentials. But earlier this month, an Iranian judge leveled a far more serious allegation, charging her with spying for the United States.

Roxana Saberi is a dual citizen of the USA and Iran and was working as a journalist in Iran.  She’s been convicted of spying in a closed door trial in Iran and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Jesus Missing From Obama’s Georgetown Speech | NBC Washington.

I’m hoping the media will be as critical of Obama for hiding Jesus as they were when the Justice Department covered up Lady Justice.

I just met Brianna Bartlett through some mutual friends.  She’s a San Diego artist so check her out here: http://www.myspace.com/briannabartlett.  She should have a 3 song EP out soon so be on the lookout.

Cop disciplined after threatening NFL player - NFL- nbcsports.msnbc.com.

A police officer was placed on administrative leave Thursday over a traffic stop involving an NFL player whom he kept in a hospital parking lot and threatened to arrest while his mother-in-law died inside the building.

I guess this police officer really didn’t want to make it a career.  Dang!

Padres introduce Moorad as CEO; Aikman is partner - Wire Services - Baseball - nbcsports.msnbc.com.

With Moorad assuming the CEO role, Sandy Alderson’s tenure with the club is over. Both Moores and Moorad praised Alderson’s work, particularly in opening a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

This is good news for the Padres.  Maybe now they’ll look for players that are more than just high on-base-percentage guys.  They need some speed for that big outfield and some good defensive players to support the pitching staff.  Another key point in the above article is the payroll threshold of $70-$80 million.  Maybe they’ll keep Jake Peavy.

Cuban baseball slavery, now playing in San Diego | Babalú Blog: an island on the net without a bearded dictator.

Please read as we should all remember that Castro’s Cuba is a horrible place for human rights and that these players are under extensive watch from Cuban security.

Broadcasting pioneer Paul Harvey dies at age of 90.

Tip from Drudge.

A new blog from a fellow North Coast Calvary Chapel friend.  Here’s the site: http://www.behindthekit.com.  Keith is a drummer who’s played in many bands in various genres.  Real good read.

Justice Dept. defending Bush secrets - White House- msnbc.com.

Despite President Barack Obama’s vow to open government more than ever, the Justice Department is defending Bush administration decisions to keep secret many documents about domestic wiretapping, data collection on travelers and U.S. citizens, and interrogation of suspected terrorists.

I’m all for open government but when it comes to national security and protecting our intelligence assets that must trump the freedom of information.  Good move President Obama.

Bush-era offshore drilling plan shelved - Environment- msnbc.com.

The Obama administration on Tuesday overturned another Bush-era energy policy, setting aside a draft plan to allow drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

My assumption now is that President Obama doesn’t mind high gas prices because when President Bush started planning for drilling the cost went down.  This does nothing to help our overall economy.  In fact, it will hurt us both short-term and long-term.

Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in ‘03, sources tell SI - MLB - SI.com.

Not only are there accusations about A-Fraud testing positive for steroids but also that union dillweed Gene Orza was tipping off players about random testing.

Selig received a raise of about $3 million to nearly $17.5 million that year, according to Major League Baseball’s latest tax return.

Bud Selig paid more than $18 million in 2007 - ESPN.

My jaw hit the floor.  $18 million?  For what?

Senate passes bill to delay digital TV switch - Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com.

President Barack Obama earlier this month called for the transition date to be postponed after the Commerce Department hit a $1.34 billion funding limit for government coupons that consumers may use to help pay for digital TV converter boxes. The boxes, which generally cost between $40 and $80 each and can be purchased without a coupon, translate digital signals back into analog ones for older TVs.

So I guess the right to TV is a high priority.  Not like there hasn’t been enough warnings.  They can keep delaying the transition but people will still not respond and they’ll miss their precious TV.

Analysis: Abrupt end to ‘war on terror’ - Washington Post- msnbc.com.

I’m busy picking up my lower jaw from the floor after reading this.  I’m all for ending torture but to unilaterally go so extreme the other way is not a good way to protect this country.  It looks like the bad guys just got some advantage back and it looks like our defenses are down.  President Obama is making a very radical choice and has clearly given the terrorists an advantage.  I guess there really isn’t any room for Jack Bauer anymore.

Jimmy Rollins, Jake Peavy among players on U.S. World Baseball Classic list - ESPN.

Props to these guys for stepping up to play for Team USA.  Too many have bailed out and it’s good to see some guys are anxious to represent the USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Brewers rate Hoffman No. 1 choice as closer.

The Padres did not budge Tuesday, at least publicly, after a report surfaced that the Milwaukee Brewers called Trevor Hoffman the best candidate for their closer’s job and the Los Angeles Dodgers again were linked to Hoffman.

Despite my belief that Trevor Hoffman doesn’t have much left in the tank i believe the Dodgers should take the opportunity to sign Hoffman.   Now, why?  First and foremost, Hoffman is a leader and the Dodgers need a leader on the pitching staff.  They are good but young.  I don’t even know if Hoffman will be the best closer on the Dodgers but his presence will elevate this young staff.  The Dodgers responded quite will to Greg Maddux when he was acquired and I bet they’d do the same with Hoffman.

I still can’t believe it looks like the Padres are letting Hoffman go.  I can’t wait until the get sold and get rid of Alderson and other other heartless leaders.  No way that Towers is doing this.