Apoplectic

Here's some must-see video of Tucker Carlson of MSNBC interviewing a lefty who comes almost completely unhinged by Carlson's questions.

The interviewee, one Michael Rectenwald, is the founder of Citizens for Legitimate Government and has been busy publicizing the fact that Sen. David Vitter, a Republican from Louisianna, was on the list of clients of the D.C. Madam.

Rectenwald appears to be on the verge of a cerebral hemorrhage because Carlson has the temerity to call his behavior shameful. It's fun to watch.

You can get more details here or just go right to the video.

RLC

Bold Prediction

Undaunted and unabashed by the utter failure of my bold prediction last November that Republican Sen. Rick Santorum would either win his race against Bob Casey (By the way, whatever became of Casey?) or take Don Rumsfeld's place as Secretary of Defense, I offer another foolish prognostication here.

There's still a long way to go before the primaries so there's plenty of time for everyone to forget that I said this if I'm wrong, and if I'm right I'll be sure to remind you of it:

The Democratic nominee for president will be ..... Al Gore.

Gore's got a lot that Hillary and Obama lack, not the least of which is experience. He has none (or little) of the ethical baggage that Hillary is dragging behind her, and he seems more serious than Barack Obama who looks to us to be running for the title of first black Vice-president in history.

Gore's announcement would trigger paroxysms of joy among the left-wing Democratic base. He has an impeccable anti-war record, and is, of course, a saint among the environmentalists. He has what passes for genuine star-power among the lefties who would pump tons of money into his campaign if he got in.

At some point the Democrats are going to realize that Hillary is a liability and Obama, with only two years in the Senate, is just not ready. If Gore announces his candidacy he'd be the answer to their prayers, or the secular equivalent thereof.

Anyway, we'll see if he throws his hat in the ring. I think he will. He believes he should be president now instead of Bush who he believes stole the presidency, and he wants to avenge the 2000 election "debacle." 2008 would probably be his last chance, and I doubt that he'll pass it up, especially because he probably senses that the nomination would be his for the asking.

RLC

The Spirit of Stalin Lives

For many on the Left disagreement with their dogma is indistinguishable from heresy, or worse. Remember the Weather Channel's Heidi Cullen who insisted that any meteorologist who was skeptical of the global warming orthodoxies should be decertified? Do you recall the fate of astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez who was denied tenure at Iowa State because he believes that there is strong scientific evidence to support the conclusion that the universe was intentionally designed?

Consider now the words of Robert Kennedy, Jr. which he evidently screamed to the audience at one of the Live Earth concerts the other day:

"Get rid of all these rotten politicians that we have in Washington, who are nothing more than corporate toadies," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmentalist author, president of Waterkeeper Alliance and Robert F. Kennedy's son, who grew hoarse from shouting. "This is treason. And we need to start treating them as traitors."

Apparently, Mr. Kennedy believes that anyone who disagrees with him about global warming or the best way to utilize environmental resources should be summarily shot or at least put in prison. Maybe the Stalinist comrade has a nice cozy cottage in the Siberian gulag in mind for those with whom hwe disagrees.

One longs for the days when America was the land of freedom of opinion. One grows nostalgic for the antiquated idea that our policies should be based on solid evidence. One dimly but fondly recalls campus lefties fervently reciting the Voltarian dictum that "I may hate what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

For today's secular Left those quaint ideas only apply when it's their ideas which are struggling to be heard. In a world in which their particular myths and superstitions are ascendent there is no room for freedom or dissent. Either toe the line or be punished.

RLC