Hey baby.

I bet those dogs are bragging to their sheltermates,

"Hey, that was you?"

"Yep."

Some thoughts:

1. Is there a "nature?" Can it be a victim of crime? The "nature" mentioned in the law isn't the plants and animals; it's "Nature" as in God's rules for man, written in their hearts and observable in nature, that anybody can figure out for themselves. Thus, "Natural law." The argument might go something like:

We see that men and animals can't reproduce so sex with an animal is "unnatural" even if it can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

2. Once we lose the philisophical rationale for laws, laws become, essentially, codified feelings. In the case below, the only reason one might want to make such an activity illegal is because of its "eeewwww factor." Do you think the dog complained?

3. That people feel the need to justify taking the dogs away by claiming they were "abused" is reavealing.

4. As is:

"Each dog (at the sanctuary) is treated as an individual," said Williamson, the sanctuary spokeswoman. "We felt we could help these dogs."

A deputy who investigated the case had recommended that the dogs be euthanized and wrote in court affidavits that they had been trained to rape.

Williamson said euthanizing the dogs would have been "the easy thing to do."

"These dogs are totally victims," she said.

5. What does it reveal? The secularization of society. As the fumes of Christianity dry up, you'll see more of the type of logic expressed in the passage above.

Aren't "individuals" people? You can say "the individual dog," but you can't call a dog an "individual." If you don't believe in a soul, then what is it that separates people and animals? Nothing.

From here.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The nation's largest animal sanctuary has agreed to accept two dogs that authorities say were trained to have sex with women.

A mixed breed and a Labrador, formerly owned by Diane Sue Whalen of Tulsa County, have been accepted by the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, said Barbara Williamson, spokeswoman for the animal sanctuary.

The dogs — named Lucky and Buddy — will be taken to the no-kill sanctuary next month.

Whalen, 54, and Donald Roy Seigfried, 55, were charged with felony crimes against nature after Whalen's adult son found more than 150 tapes of his mother performing sex acts with her dogs and a blue heeler owned by Seigfried. Seigfried was accused of filming the acts.

The dogs were placed in the Tulsa Animal Shelter following the arrests. While Whalen relinquished custody of her dogs, Seigfried is fighting for ownership of the blue heeler, named Merlin.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered that the dogs be examined by a veterinarian and found suitable for adoption before being placed in homes. Both of Whalen's dogs have been deemed adoptable.

The dogs were neutered at a Tulsa veterinary clinic. Jamee Suarez, president and founder of the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, said the dogs are healthy and are recovering from their surgeries.

The Oklahoma Alliance for Animals is a nonprofit organization that works with the Tulsa County sheriff's office on cases involving animal cruelty.

Volunteers for the organization will drive the dogs more than 1,000 miles to the animal sanctuary in Utah. Once there, the dogs will become candidates for adoption.

"Each dog (at the sanctuary) is treated as an individual," said Williamson, the sanctuary spokeswoman. "We felt we could help these dogs."

A deputy who investigated the case had recommended that the dogs be euthanized and wrote in court affidavits that they had been trained to rape.

Williamson said euthanizing the dogs would have been "the easy thing to do."

"These dogs are totally victims," she said.

The sanctuary has room for 2,000 animals, mostly dogs and cats. Williamson said there are that many "urgent pleas" every month asking the shelter to take in animals.

Animals that are not adopted live permanently at the sanctuary.

I've decided to combine all of my campaign thoughts in one post. Is this better?

1. "I want all of you to like me."

-Barack Obama

If the press liked him any more, they'd be up on his leg (Commonly known as "humping," it's the superior analogy since humping is purely instinctual, requiring no thought.).

This is a revealing quote. Dennis Prager says that a man whose primary goal is to be liked is a man unworthy of respect, as people who seek to be liked are unlikely to make tough decisions.

Maybe Obama's desire to be liked explains his elastic policy positions in general and his foreign policy, based entirely on the world "liking" (taking advantage of) the United States as it is, in particular.

2. It also reminds me of that Bronx Tale quote, "It's better to be feared than loved."

A Bronx Tale

3. I wonder if Bush will get credit for lower oil prices. It's appropriate since the decline coincided with his lifting of the executive offshore ban.

4. According to Obama, a "surge" is needed in Afghanistan eventhough it wasn't the deciding factor in Iraq. The more Obama talks about Iraq, the dumber he sounds.

5. Chris Matthews, on Leno, said that he wants people to "think like children" for the election. This would be a disaster for McCain and all Republicans. Which kid doesn't want daddy to buy them toys every day?

6. Bobby Jindal won't be veep. I feel that it was the right choice. When somebody becomes so "hot" so quickly, he tends to burn out. This rule is a bad portent for Obama, by the way.

7. The more Obama talks, the more I think it was a good decision for him to avoid debating McCain.

8. According to my friend, this is the new McCain satire-cover on Vanity Fair:

After months of complaining about how Californian kids will have to do without textbooks because of the budget crisis, Arnold has found a way to give away yet more money. He wants to subsidize loans so that first-time buyers can buy 1000 homes. Isn't giving loans to otherwise unqualified borrowers how the mess started in the first place?

I must be living much better with all of that money spent!

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the start of a program Monday that he said would provide relief for homeowners hit hard by the mortgage meltdown.

The new program would release $200 million in funding to first-time homebuyers living in "distressed areas" of California.

The money would allow the homebuyers to buy houses that are currently in foreclosure.

"(The program was started to) help pump up (the mortgage industry)," Schwarzenegger said. "We all know a little bit about pumping up -- to pump up those areas most in need of economic stimulus. It will provide up to 1,000 below market fixed-rate loans to first-time homebuyers."

The $200 million comes from bond money, not from the general fund, Schwarzenegger said.

The loans are now available through the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

"This program will not only make it easier for families to purchase their first home, but will also help stabilize neighborhoods that have homes sitting empty," Schwarzenegger said. "No one single effort can solve our nationwide housing crisis, but together these measures make an important difference in California's neighborhoods."

The program will be available in Riverside, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.

Several lenders have agreed to partner in the program and offer sales prices on bank-owned properties at least 12 percent below estimated value in the identified ZIP codes.

CalHFA estimates that the program will help about 800 to 1,000 Californians purchase their first home.

The homes must fall at or under CalHFA's sales price limits and families must meet income requirements.

The program will be offered until the $200 million in financing is allocated, the governor's office said.

"This mortgage relief package will give many first time home buyers the opportunity to attain the American dream while also helping areas of the state that have been hit hardest by the mortgage crisis," said State Treasurer Bill Lockyer.

1. This article suggests that it's unlikely that the Obama-McCain race will be close- and that Obama will win in a landslide. Kyle-Anne Shiver in American Thinker thinks, in that inimitable American fashion, that it will be a McCain blowout. While Michael Grunwald sounds stale with his "Democratic year" droning, Shiver comes off as fresh.

I think: With Bush looking brave and foresighted because of the surge and the Democrats looking foresighted as well, but to the year 2150 when we'll get around on flying cars fueled by love; a case can be made that Bush-hatred peaked sometime earlier this year. I also think that dissatisfaction with the economy works as long as it's a general thing. Once people start talking about actual solutions, conservatives win because we're right.

2. I replied to a friend's email thusly (You can guess the context):

That's why I didn't understand why people were having trouble making fun of him. He's easy. You're right. McCain's not very good at it. He also boxed himself in by making a point about being a gentleman.

On the other hand, what plays to partisans might not be what works with the general public. Do we want a candidate making fun of his opponent? It might be best to let the pros handle it.

I will say that any normal, moderate Democrat would be 10 points ahead.

3. However, what's this? McCain up by 10 in Ohio! Closing the gap in Michigan (It's over if he wins in Michigan.). The next significant poll amongst these near-meaningless ones will be after Obama comes back from his Euro tour.

4. I'm afraid that McCain will be tempted to pull the trigger on Romney based on these heartening Michigan polls.

5. Is it true that Obama told his staff that, "There will be no brown M&Ms at the press conference? (No, it's not.)."

6. I didn't see the news, but on talk radio, Obama has obliged conservatives with some phenomenally dumb statements:

"You know, it's always a bad practice to say 'always' or 'never.'" ? Obama, speaking in Amman today.

OBAMA: Well, let me ? let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel's. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under a McCain government ? administration. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under an Obama administration. So that policy is not going to change.

That's right. Be your own best friend!

7. McCain gaffes here.

8. Besides this interview in which Obama says that he's not sure if he'd have wanted to win the war, we get Couric's wrecking ball:

What did Couric wreck? How about Obama's illusion of forthrightness? He won't say that Bush was right- a little?

Who says you can't make funny Obama jokes? Here's one I heard on the Michael Medved show:

How will Obama echo Kennedy in his Berlin speech?

Ich bin ein Beginner.

Let me see if I understand this:

Pelosi said more drilling would take a decade to have an impact on gas prices, and she argued that a faster way to lower gas prices would be to release oil from the 700 million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

More oil won't have an impact on prices for years to come. Therefore, let's pass a law against "oil speculation." Whew!

From here.

The "new" 2010 Camaro

It's not hanging on anymore. With its 2005 redesign, the Mustang has taken off, selling like it did in 1964 when it was first introduced.

Now the ghosts are revving their engines. Yesterday, the Dodge Challenger, in modern concept-car form, was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Today, it was the Camaro.

From here

The first car I drove was my brother's 1967 Firebird, which I crashed. My brother had a bunch of other Firebirds (I blew out the motor of a 1999.), including my favorite: a 68 red convertible that he wouldn't lend me. I later bought (and crashed two weeks later) a 94 Firebird. In short, I consider the F car/Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird design of the late sixties superior to the Mustang of the same era and one of the best looking cars of all time (and crash-worthy).

That being said, it's kind of sad that the most exciting Detroit designs of recent years are from the early and late sixties. Not only the Mustang and Challenger; but the Thunderbird and that Chrysler woody-looking PT cruiser.

It reminds me of modern classical music (or classic rock or soul or a number of genres) that people only like when it sounds like old classical music.

Finally, I think we're past the point of no return in car styles as they relate to fuel economy: I don't see a lot of rear-wheel drive, eight cylinder cars being sold, but who am I to argue with GM's success?

The original and still the best.

"I'm not sure. It's a tough question. On the one hand, Iraq is much more peaceful, al Qaeda's defeated, and we have an ally in the region. On the other hand, MoveOn and my buddy Bill Ayers are very disappointed in the continuation of American hegemony. My world view would have been vindicated with a loss. Dissonance is painful. Have you ever had dissonance? It hurts."

This is a fundamentally different question than "Would you have invaded Iraq?" because one can argue that the Iraq invasion has and will have good effects beyond neutralizing a near threat from WMD.

The surge is nothing less than the strategy for victory. The only negative effect is that it made liberals look like fools.

This reminds me of when Obama said that he would raise capital gains taxes even if they brought in less revenue. "Facts be darned! This is about principle."