ScaifeNet because we can't let Soros have all the fun...

…is that while he can use his family money to smear Tom Emmer (with, inevitably, lies)… …all the money in the world isn’t going to make him anything other than a one-term flop as a governor. (Unless, of course, the entire plan is for him to be a potemkin prop, fluffed up by medication and serving as [...]

We refer to August as the Month of Ghosts around here, because August is the month that both of my parents died. Monday marks the 20th anniversary of my father's death.

I wrote extensively about Dad's death last year and doubt that I can improve upon what I wrote then. Mrs. D and I have done a fair amount of the work involved in raising our own family in the 20 years since my father passed away and that has been the most important thing that we have done. While it's sad that Benster and Fearless Maria never knew their grandfather, I see facets of his personality in them nearly every day.

My dad was a very funny man, but he was quite serious about the things he believed. He was probably the most generous guy I've ever seen. And he was always honest about what he believed, sometimes in inadvertently hilarious ways.

A favorite family story: while I was in college, he had taken my younger siblings to Mass with him, but he fell asleep during the homily. The homilist was a missionary who was a bit of a Liberation Theologian and his presentation was riddled with leftist bromides. At some point during the homily, Dad stirred but apparently forgot where he was. In a half-awake way, he said out loud, quite loud enough for the congregation to hear, "that's the biggest bunch of bullshit I ever heard." I'm guessing it was a little awkward.

Breaches of decorum pass. The many positive examples that Dad gave us in his all-too-brief life remain.

Two takes on the question of honor:

First, Doctor Zero, over at Hot Air:

We dishonor ourselves when we create massive obligations with unsustainable financing. This shows disrespect to the future, and a craven refusal to face the realities of today. If time is money, then madcap deficit spending steals the time of the future… draining it away like so much sand down the neck of a broken hourglass. As parents love their children, we should be mindful of the future, and eager to shoulder our current burdens instead of passing them along, with interest. We cannot know the shape of tomorrow, or what hardships they may be facing when the bills for our indulgences come due.

Both political parties own that one, no doubt about it. And he also says this:

We reclaim our honor by turning away from those who believe the great mass of us are beneath their contempt, and compassion is best expressed through domination. They have no power we didn’t give them, which means they have no power we cannot take away. Let us begin.

Meanwhile, consider these comments from David Zuwarik, writing in the Baltimore Sun:

The brand of American history taught by Glenn Beck Saturday at his rally would not pass muster in a mediocre middle school. And in terms of what came across on TV, there were no moments of great emotional resonance or release until perhaps the finale of bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" and a closing prayer.

And yet, beyond the huge crowd that attended the event in Washington, something important and even profound was taking place at Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally: The Fox News host was attempting to seize a mantle of moral authority earned and ultimately paid for with his life by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. And, sadly, I think in the eyes of some viewers, Beck might have succeeded.

But how might Beck have succeeded in doing that? Because nature abhors a vacuum. Zuwarik:

As I watched this specatcle Saturday, I started thinking how much recent American history has been about the struggle for moral authority since the death of King and Robert Kennedy. When LBJ lost his moral authority over Vietnam, he lost his ability to govern -- and he knew it. Richard Nixon never had moral authority, and Gerald Ford lost his when he pardoned Nixon. And so on and so on to Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton and then the election that many feel was stolen in the so-called Florida recount by the friends of George W. Bush.

That's what what was so powerful about November 2008 in Grant Park when Barack Obama took the stage on election night: Millions of Americans thought they were finally watching someone who brought moral authority to the White House and the land. I know I did. Sadly, millions now feel Obama has since lost it with too many morning-after flip-flops on moral issues, entertainment TV show appearances, and days on the golf course as the economy struggles.

We are a saner, more focused and calmer nation when we feel as if we have someone we can look to for moral authority. Glenn Beck understands that, and that is what makes what happened in Washington Saturday worth thinking about long and hard.

A couple of points:

• It's easy to get a little nervous when you start to hear the rhetoric get ratcheted up, especially the blood of patriots evocation that Doc Zero provides in his piece. We aren't at that point, really -- while I fully agree that many of those who would govern us would prefer to rule instead, there is still a rule of law in this country and it's built on a strong foundation. We aren't at the point where we need to start thinking about a revolution. Yet.
• Zuwarik is on to something, but he's missing the point. King's moral authority didn't come from his own personality; rather, it came from the evident rightness of his cause and because he ground his message in both the ideals of the Founders and his own faith tradition. Because he was consistent in his approach, he was able to reach people.
• It's easy to laugh at the idea that a Chicago politician would have any moral authority, but I take Zuwarik at his word about his belief. During the 2008 election cycle I wrote more than once about the notion that people were looking for a reason to believe. There were clearly more people than Zuwarik who wanted to believe a new day was dawning. I knew that there would be great disappointment about Obama for that reason. Some of those people are in the Tea Party movement now. I'd be willing to wager that some of the people in Grant Park on that night in November, 2008 were in Washington yesterday.
• But here's the thing: it never goes well when we see an individual as a source of moral authority. Individuals are fallible. We are all sinners. King's moral authority didn't come from who he was -- the historical record provides ample evidence that he was prone to sin in myriad ways. King's moral authority came from his willingness, at the most important times, set aside his own appetites for a cause that was greater than his own self-interest. Very few people do that. There was never any reason to believe that Barack Obama would do that. But there were a lot of people who were prepared to believe otherwise.

We aren't going to be able to impose honor from an address at the Lincoln Memorial. If we are to restore the honor we have lost, and the moral authority that comes with it, it's a job that has to start a lot closer to home than Washington, D.C.

I've managed to get to this point without actually watching an entire episode of a Glenn Beck show, although I've seen some excerpts here and there. Apparently he has an audience, though, based on the image of the crowd that gathered to hear him, Sarah Palin and a few other speakers yesterday.

When times are tough, people are looking for an answer and Beck appears to supply an answer for a lot of people. He spoke about things that we all think are important, especially the idea of honor. We're in an interesting place right now, because there doesn't seem to be much agreement about what constitutes honor and, for that matter, what is honorable behavior. I would like it very much if Beck's detractors would tell us what they believe honor is. It would be helpful to know that now.

Have you noticed that a lot of people who are angry about anti-mosque protests are equally angry about whatever the hell Glenn Beck has planned for this weekend? Wonder what that's all about....

Today, the Northern Alliance Radio Network brings you the best in Minnesota conservatism from 9AM-3PM, live (mostly) from the Minnesota State Fair! Volume I “The First Team” -  Brian and John or some combination thereof kick off from 11-1.  They’ll be doing their usual combination of eating contests and guest interviews; tune in! Volume II “The Headliner” [...]

The Northern Alliance Radio Network goes LIVE, and in your FACE, Saturday morning at 11 AM. It's the openining of our State Fair broadcasts and John Hinderaker and I will be LIVE from The Patriot Plaza, just off the main Snelling Ave. entrance, near the corner of Dan Patch and Cosgrove. If you're coming out to the State Fair today, be sure to stop on by and say 'que pasa'. We love to meet the Saint Paulnoreply@blogger.com

I will be appearing on the Hugh Hewitt Radio Program at approximately 6:20PM (central). HOT topics I'm prepared to talk about include all the Minnesota political races this season, MN State Fair gastronomic recommendations, and the legacy of Bartolo Colon's tenure with the Anaheim Angels. Don't you dare miss it! www.am1280thepatriot.comSaint Paulnoreply@blogger.com

This has to be the most depressing aspect of the news of the Thwarted Canadian Bombing Attempt (WSJ-sub req): People who know the three men who were arrested say Messrs. Ahmed and Sher are educated professionals, a profile common to many radical members of groups like al Qaeda in Western countries, says Martin Rudner, a professor emeritus at Carleton University in Ottawa, who specializes in Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03781053410876242483noreply@blogger.com

The following conversation is a “fake but accurate” synthesis of several conversations, emails and twitter threads. Names were changed to protect the gullible. DFLer: Target is radically anti-gay and anti-immigrant! ME: Er, how do you figure?  Target has been the most pro-gay corporation in town!  They even sponsor the “pride” parade. DFLer: Because they gave money to a radical [...]

Charles Krauthammer explains it better than I did:

The Democrats are going to get beaten badly in November. Not just because the economy is ailing. And not just because Obama over-read his mandate in governing too far left. But because a comeuppance is due the arrogant elites whose undisguised contempt for the great unwashed prevents them from conceding a modicum of serious thought to those who dare oppose them.Yepper. Read the whole thing.

The “MN Future” PAC has entered the gubernatorial ad fray: MDE’s Luke Hellier takes apart Dayton’s response to the ad. It’s…interesting.

Rubin Rosario, columnist for the Pioneer Press, had an article on page 1A yesterday regarding Muslims at the State Fair who will be informing the attendees that Islam is a religion of peace.  Mr. Rosario accepts all their premises unquestioningly, and heaps scorn all who might not agree.

The day his article appeared happened to be the 15th day of Ramadan.  To that point during the holy holiday the following can be noted:

Terrorism in the name of Islam:  94 attacks, 396 dead.

Terrorism in the name of all other religions:  0 attacks, 0 dead.

Muslims indeed should be talking about how Islam is a religion of peace.  But they, and Mr. Rosario, are trying to convince the wrong people.

Another edition of Beer of the Week brought to you by the colorful folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help you choose the right drink to seamlessly transition the seasons of life. Is it really fall already? The back to school sales started on July 5th and classrooms open soon. The Minnesota State Fair--another annual harbinger of autumn--kicked off yesterday. And last week, the appearanceChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03781053410876242483noreply@blogger.com

I overslept this morning, not feeling at all like writing anything… …to find not one but two pieces by First Ringer up on the site! So I was able to relax, eat my customary morning oatmeal, and noodle something out for noon before getting on my bike and heading in to the office… …um, in about ten minutes.

Grounding the “Hindenburg”. Contrary to public opinion, the advice of financial advisers doesn’t hinge on voodoo, tea leafs, chicken bones, or ritual sacrifices.  It runs on omens. The “Hindenburg Omen”, a technical analysis formula developed in 1990s, with roots from the 1970s, has appeared repeatedly in the news this August.  As the name implies, the omen supposedly fortells [...]

Alaska’s cold war heads to a boiling finish. The 2.4 miles that separate the island of Big Diomede and Little Diomede use to be among the most tension-filled in not only Alaska but the world. With Big Diomede part of Russian territory and Little Diomede part of the United States, the small space between Bering [...]

For the first time this summer, I actually had a decent dinner while attending the madness that is Rochester's "Thursdays on First." A taco salad from "Salad Bros."...

Ed "I'm going to torch this [bleep]ing place" Schultz of MSNBC and Milton "if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire" Waddams of Office SpaceSisyphushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06212947050651046226noreply@blogger.com