The Opie and Anthony Saga Continues...

Opie and Anthony...two guys with targets on their back.

As many friends of mine know, I am a fan of "The Opie and Anthony Show". I don't have XM radio, so I only get the tape-delayed broadcast of their terrestrial radio show on WJFK out of Washington D.C. Most of the time, they'll recap some of the happenings on the XM show, because satellite radio is much less regulated in terms of language and content matter due to lack of FCC regulation on satellite radio. However, I do like the fact that their show is generally unbiased, and stupidity and/or ridiculousness gets mocked, no matter who it is that acts stupid. Their show is pretty entertaining, and is a staple of "shock jock" radio.

Anyway, this whole incident started when Opie and Anthony did a bit with a character known as "Homeless Charlie". The bit included a rant where Homeless Charlie fantasized about rough, violent sex with Laura Bush, Condi Rice, and Queen Elizabeth II. This was not a bit done in good taste, and they apologized for the bit 2 days later.

Then, they asked for some solidarity amongst the hosts of similar radio programs, citing the firings of Don Imus and JV and Elvis. The nail in the coffin came when Opie and Anthony stated that, while the FCC couldn't regulate their show, they still had to follow XM's "dumb rules".

For calling XM's rules "dumb", they were both suspended 30 days. Thankfully for the millions of fans of the show, they'll at least have the 3 hours on terrestrial radio via CBS Radio (which, ironically, is the company that fired Don Imus).

Many believe this is XM's attempt to pacify lawmakers in order to have a proposed merger between XM and Sirius approved.

Democrats are using these incidents to push for a new version of the "Fairness Doctrine", which means that lefty shows get equal radio time in the one media outlet that has a conservative majority, and that majority is there because it is what the audience wants (hey libs, it's the ratings, stupid...nobody wants to listen to Air America).

Holy crap, people...it's the DEMOCRATS that want to control the airwaves!!! And yet, it was the liberals that screamed about censorship after Janet Jackson's "Breastgate" incident. Hypocrisy, thy name is liberal on this issue.

So I Only Watched the First Hour of the Debate...

...but, I do have some thoughts on what I did see.

- Jim Gilmore got called out for his Rudy McRomney statement and other attacks on "The Big 3". The best he could do was talk about his blog (obvious shill for page hits), and stumble his way through "the pronoun game" until the moderator made him name who he was referring to in each instance. Gilmore, despite all of his attempts to align himself with solid, Reagan-like conservatism...he constantly breaks that "11th commandment" of Reagan's. Gilmore solidifies himself as OUT.

- Tom Tancredo did come across more composed and prepared...but the man is too hesistant on his answers. I can literally see him search his brain for each sentence he's about to say. The only times I have seen Tancredo answer a question without several long pauses is when he's either talking about immigration or the Duane "Dog" Chapman issue...both of which I do agree with him on. He does has slim hopes for a VP nod, because a lot of GOPers like him...just not for President. Tancredo is now barely gunning for VP.

- Tommy Thompson should rename himself Tommy Veto...all he talks about is how many vetos are on his record as governor, and at least "Tommy Veto" sounds like a cool name for an Italian mob boss. However, Tommy Thompson is too ugly to look at...he makes James Carville look like GQ cover material. Double-T is OUT.

- For every point Ron Paul made that I agreed with, he'd make another one that turned me off to him. His idea that it was our "interventionalist" policies that caused 9/11 completely kills any GOP support he may have had. I'm glad Rudy Guiliani shut him up last night. Paul is waaay OUT.

- Sam Brownback is a little too Christian conservative for my tastes, and probably for most of America's tastes. He has some charisma and spark in his voice, but I think he reminds too many people of the reasons why people voted Republicans out of power in Congress. Brownback is gunning for VP, because he could give a more moderate candidate some hard-right support.

- Mike Huckabee made me laugh with the "John Edwards in a beauty shop" statement. Lots of cheers for that one. Huckabee made it a point to stick to his good points, managed to both praise and be critical of Rudy Guiliani in the same 30 second spot, and while I think he'll eventually become a top choice for VP, Huckabee is still in the running as the Dark Horse.

- Duncan Hunter, the other favorite among GOP bloggers (besides my man Fred Thompson) made his points clear, and nailed himself down as a solid conservative...which most of us already knew. Hunter should join Huckabee as a top VP candidate, and could very well deliver the state of California to the GOP in November of 2008. Hunter, though, is on the fence. He doesn't stand out to the average voter.

- John McCain came across a bit forced. His fire and intensity from the previous debate appeared very contrived and forced, and he appeared uncomfortable. The more conservative Republicans really went after McCain's "reaching across the aisle". I think Romney did an excellent job of pointing out some of the weakness of McCain's positions, and McCain held his own, as well. McCain is still in, but fading. He hits his points, but something is missing when he's debating, and I can't put my finger on it.

- Mitt Romney wasn't as impressive stylistically-speaking as he was in the first debate, but he made sure to reiterate his points, explained his position changes over the years pretty thoroughly, but he got blindsided by John McCain for changing his position on such a wide variety of issues. Still, he has that "presidential feel" that will appeal to the more shallow voters. Romney needs to regroup and solidify some of his positions, but he is still definitely in.

- Rudy Guiliani definitely shone a spotlight on himself that he needed to emphasize, and that was his tough stance on terrorism. His standing up to Ron Paul's statement about American provoking 9/11 won him lots of applause and showed that he wasn't about to let the loud and boisterous Paul get away with such a statement. Guiliani solidified his beliefs on abortion, but has also helped his cause with more conservative Republicans. Rudy is also definitely in. However, would someone tell Rudy that, due to his lisp caused by his false teeth, he should never utter the name "Fort Dix".

However, I think Fred Thompson won over a lot of people with his reply to Michael Moore's debate challenge...which makes this race for the nomination that much more interesting.

Some Liberals Express Hate for Falwell...

...that is, despite the best efforts of several prominent liberal blogs (Huffington Post, Crooks and Liars) to try and keep a certain level of respect and decency about the comments, so kudos to them. In fact, some of the comments at the Huffington Post were so bad that they blocked all comments.

News Buckit has a report on all the crazed comments here.

I understand Falwell was a polarizing political and social figure, and I personally believe that the man is part of the reason why conservatives catch so much flak from the left for their political ties to the "religious right".

I have never been one to agree with any person who believes that "if you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being" (his words, not mine). However, I have found many of the comments that I've seen as equally repulsive as some of the things Falwell has said in his lifetime.

I have to commend all of the Virginia blogs that I have read so far, they have managed to keep a conciliatory and respectful tone about Falwell's death, no matter if they were conservative or liberal. Kudos to them.

Democrats do the Limbo Under Bush's Poll Numbers...

See for yourself in the latest Gallup Poll. Bush holds steady at 33%, Congress is down to a 29% approval rating. From what I gather from reading this, I guess people on both sides of the party divide are already frustrated with the shenanigans of Pelosi and Reid.

Maybe it has something to do with the lack of progress made during the "First 100 Days" and the "stop and shift" manuver of the Democratic leadership from working on various legislations they promised (which is probably the biggest reason why they got elected) to becoming single-issue oriented and bogging themselves down with headhunting the Bush administration.

Bush's numbers are nothing for conservatives to get excited about, either, but Democrats should be worried about this.

Fred Thompson KO's Michael Moore...

Moore sent Thompson a letter today that challenged Thompson to a debate. Read it at The Drudge Report. Notice, though, how Moore only wants to talk about the issues he can pick out to debate.

Thompson, with his ever-present cigar, responded with this video, courtesy of Breitbart.tv, where Thompson responds beautifully to Moore's challenge. I'll let the video speak for itself.

Gotta love the internet, as Thompson received Moore's letter, and already has made a response via video in the same day. This is another reason why I like Fred Thompson...he knows how to handle himself when faced with idiots like Moore.

Town Steps Up Against Illegal Immigration

h/t to Conservative Viewpoints for the story.

The town of Farmers Branch, Texas is fed up with illegal immigration, and they've decided to take measures to fight it. The citizens of this Dallas suburb voted to enact an ordinance which makes renting homes to illegal immigrants against the law. In fact, the vote passed with a resounding 68% of the vote.

There are those who are vocal opponents of the measure, and will attempt to fight the ordinance in court. However, no matter the outcome, it's nice to see individual cities and towns step up and take action when they feel it is necessary.

That, my friends, is democracy in action.

It's Official, I'm Now a Total Whackjob

What in the hell was Greg thinking? I don't know...but now you can find more posts from me over at The Daily Whackjob.

I get to be the token Hispanic, yay!

In all seriousness, though, Whackjob is an interesting mix of serious discussion and total goofing on society. Check it out...although, half of you probably found me through Daily Whackjob, anyway.

Weekly Podium - "The New Rural Society"

Early Saturday morning, I found myself in the small dot on the map known as Conicville, Virginia. I was going to deliver some barbecued chicken to the soccer fields in Strasburg for the Shenandoah County Soccer League; it was a favor for my father who is on the SCSL Board. When I arrived in Conicville, where the chicken was being made, I was a bit surprised to find that the chicken was not ready...and it would be another 1 1/2 hours before I was back on the road again.

Standing around with my father, we watched a group of guys and a few girls (all related) slave over this barbecue pit, with the sweet smell of 500 chickens barbecuing floating in the air. Every few minutes, the elder of the bunch would call for the chicken to be "sauced", and cries of "SAUCE THE HELL OUTTA 'EM" would ring out as they would use large brushes and barbecue sauce in buckets and generously cover the chicken in sauce, over and over again. Eventually, my father and I got to helping out, filling buckets of barbecue sauce and slathering it across the plethora of chickens before us.

These guys and girls were very typical residents of the Shenandoah Valley. Long-standing family roots, country-boy/country-girl types, blue collar workers...most of them work jobs doing masonry and other types of arduous construction work. A day off is precious rest for these guys, and here they were cooking chicken at 8 AM for the soccer league as a favor for one of their family members. Their family, due to marriage, had black and biracial members. However, there was no ostracizing, everyone joked around, chipped in, and had a good time while working over the hot and smoky pit.

To many residents of the Shenandoah Valley, this is nothing new. However, to those who are not familiar with the Valley (or rural areas in general), this may come as something new. It's the New Rural Society.

For the longest time, areas of a rural nature (like the Shenandoah Valley) have long been associated with stereotypes of ignorance, racism, blind religious faith, homophobia, and cultural backwardness. Now, I am one who gets and enjoys a good joke, but when you read something like "An Open Letter to a Red Stater", you tend to see that many people still have these types of stereotypes in their head.

Now, it is true that the "letter" in the link I provided in the last paragraph was obviously written by a liberal. However, this is not a "liberal" or "conservative" issue. It's not really a "Republican" or "Democrat" issue, despite the overwhelming majority of Republican voters in more rural areas. This is an issue of debunking myths and stereotypes of the "ignorant redneck" image that many people of both sides of the ideological divide seem to have about "country folk".

Now, I am not making widespread accusations of anti-rural bigotry...I'm simply out to show the real side of the rural populous to those who don’t know it. I am city-born and somewhat city-raised, and I'll admit that when I moved to Shenandoah County almost 10 years ago, I had some of these same stereotypes swirling about in my then-teenage head. However, through getting to know people and learning about life in the Valley, I slowly realized that these stereotypes don't apply to most people in the area.

Sure, many of these rural residents did not attend college. It is also true that there are a handful of people out there that still hold onto certain racist or bigoted stereotypes, but the same could be said about any area...whether it is rural, urban, or suburban.

Most of them wake up at the crack of dawn, and perform hard work that benefits the lives of most Americans in some way or another. They're mechanics, farmers, and workers of various trades. Many are also volunteer fire-fighters, helping to keep other citizens safe. They volunteer for community activities. They support the local high school football team, and take pride in their country roots. They shop at both Wal-Mart and the locally-owned, Mom-And-Pop stores.

Hunting has always been part of the culture, and they teach future generations to respect their weapons of choice for hunting, as well. Many see the suggestion of regulation and restriction on their 2nd Amendment rights as encroachment upon part of their culture.

These are not the type of people to be taken for granted, nor should their opinions and thoughts be discounted because of where and how they live. They don't care for most of the details and general BS that surrounds politics...most have a long-standing distrust of Washington politics. Some are for the Iraq War, some are against it, but most (if not all) believe that America is a great place that represents all the good aspects of freedom and liberty.

It is this “love-thy-nation” attitude and blue collar lifestyle that attracts some of the criticism and lampooning that many like to spout about rural areas. What they don’t realize is that around here, a person’s character is important. I know that in the Valley, they don’t trust fast-talkers and shady characters. Honesty, integrity, and a little faith in a higher power will go a long way with Valley citizens, as it does in most rural areas.

While racism has not been completely eliminated, it is nothing like what many people believe it is. I’ve learned that, for most southerners, the Confederate flag really does mean “heritage, not hate”. As generations have passed since the civil rights movement of the 60’s, times have changed. Interracial relationships of all kinds are no longer frowned upon. There are a small minority of people that, due to a resistance to change, may hold on to these old beliefs. However, do not let the actions and viewpoints of a very small group of people deter you from seeing the rural society for what it is today.

The “New Rural Society” is, in a way, a lot like the old one. Traditional values of honesty, hard work, and respect for your heritage are now mixed with the beliefs of newer generations, such as racial and social inclusiveness. It is this mixture of social progress and traditional values that helps to make areas like the Shenandoah Valley a beautiful place to live and raise a family.

I know that for many who read this, I’m simply preaching to the choir. However, if I can change at least one person’s perception of “the country” to a more positive view, then I’ve done my job today.