Davy Jones, 1945-2012. R.I.P.

Davy Jones, of the 1960s pop group The Monkees, died of a heart attack earlier today at his home in Florida. He was 66.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

A New Leaf for North Korea?

After several rounds of bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea in Beijing, North Korea has apparently agreed to a moratorium on uranium enrichment, nuclear tests and long range missile launches as well as allowing the return of IAEA inspectors to the Yongbyon nuclear complex and the resumption of six-party talks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it represented "a modest first step in the right direction."

And exactly how many first steps have we had with North Korea over the years?

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Santorum Regrets JFK Remark

During an appearance yesterday on The Laura Ingraham Show, Rick Santorum expressed regret for remarking that John F. Kennedy's speech on religion during the 1960 presidential campaign made him "want to throw up."

Unfortunately for Santorum, his penance was a day late and a dollar short.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Santorum's Mixed Messages

As has been noted by Jim Antle, it appears that Rick Santorum will be allotted just under half the Michigan delegation as a result of his second place finish in the Wolverine State last night.

While one could argue that Michigan wasn't a total loss for Santorum, I would argue that he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory there. I would also add that Arizona should have been much closer. The problem is that Santorum has been sending mixed messages.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney Wins Michigan

With nearly three quarters of the vote in, Mitt Romeny has been declared the winner of the Michigan Primary with 41% of the vote. Rick Santorum came in a close second with 37%.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney Wins Arizona

Fox News has just called Arizona for Mitt Romney and picks up 29 delegates in the winner take all state.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Varitek Will Announce Retirement

Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek is expected to announce his retirement on Thursday.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Critics of Act of Valor, a film reportedly featuring actual Navy SEALS, claim those starring in the film should stick with what they know, calling into question the quality of the cinematic thespianism. Perhaps we citizens should remember to vocalize that same suggestion when actors proceed to lecture us on nearly every topic under the sun.

Poets, Capitalism, Religion and America

I read Micah Mattix's article on the reflexive anti-capitalist posture of poets from America and abroad.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Billy Crystal Is No Racist

Well, I think I've heard everything now. All of a sudden, Billy Crystal is a racist because he reprised his Sammy Davis, Jr. bit in a skit with Justin Bieber which began last night's Academy Awards.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on the 84th Oscars

The 84th Academy Awards concluded a short time ago. The Artist won four Oscars including Best Picture while Michel Hazanavicius won Best Director, Jean Dujardin won Best Actor and Ludovic Bource won Best Original Score. I was surprised to learn that Bource had no formal musical training.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Gillard Remains Aussie PM

Julia Gillard will still reside at The Lodge. Gillard remains both Australia's leader of the Labor Party and Prime Minister after easily surviving a challenge by her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Mr. Zimmerman Stays in Washington

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has signed a six-year contract extension with the Nationals worth $100 million with a club option for the 2020 season. Zimmerman had been due to become a free agent after the 2013 season.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Braun's Suspension Overturned

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun won his appeal and will not have to serve a 50-game suspension that was handed down after the reigning National League MVP tested positive for a banned substance back in December.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Does Matt Kemp Have 50-50 Vision?

Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp has boldly claimed he'll be the first 50-50 man in MLB history. No player has hit 50 homeruns and stolen 50 bases in a season. In 2011, Kemp was a homerun shy of the 40-40 club. Last season, Kemp finished runner up in the National League MVP balloting behind Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Specter Albatross

With regard to Mitt Romney hammering Rick Santorum over his support for Arlen Specter's re-election in 2004, Jeff Lord is probably right when he says that had Romney defeated Ted Kennedy in 1994 that he would have likely not cast a ballot for John Roberts and Sam Alito (or for that matter Bill Pryor on the 11th Circuit.)

But the Montreal Expos should have won the 1994 World Series. If the Expos had got their victory parade down Rue St. Catherine then there would still be baseball in Montreal. But there was no World Series in 1994. Nor did Mitt Romney beat Ted Kennedy that year. So I'm afraid Jeff's point is moot.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Another Obama Apology

President Obama has issued an apology to Afghan President Hamid Karzai after revelations of an accidental burning of Korans at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

CNN Arizona GOP Debate Post-Mortem

Here are my final thoughts on tonight's GOP Debate in Mesa, Arizona which aired on CNN and was moderated by John King.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Tehran Ron Blames America First on Iran

Ron Paul (a.k.a. Tehran Ron) is once again apologizing for the Iranian regime. He insists they don't have a weapon but if they do obtain a weapon then it's our fault. Tehran Ron claimed "we're encouraging them to have a weapon."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Paul: The Draft is Coming Back

Ron Paul just said the draft is coming back.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney Specters Santorum

With Rick Santorum already on the defensive over earmarks and votes to fund Planned Parenthood from Mitt Romney, he brought up Romneycare.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Did Romney Balance the Budget at the 2002 Olympics?

Mitt Romney claimed he had balanced the budget during the 2002 Olympics.

I'm surprised Rick Santorum didn't challenge him given that he has pointed out that Romney sought federal money to save the games.

It was a missed opportunity for Santorum.

UPDATE: O.K., maybe not. But Santorum gave a rather convoluted explanation of earmarks. Romney acknowledged seeking federal money for the Olympics and said to Santorum, "While I was saving the Olympics, you were saving the Bridge to Nowhere." This conversation isn't helping Santorum at all.

Rudd Resigns as Australian Foreign Minister

You may have seen my article this morning concerning the turmoil inside Australia's governing Labor Party between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister (and former Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Send Obama Back to "Sweet Home Chicago"

Last night, during a PBS taping of In Performance at the White House: Red, White & Blues, President Obama sang a few bars of "Sweet Home Chicago" at the urging of B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Also on hand were the likes of Mick Jagger and Jeff Beck. The special will air on PBS next week.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on The Artist

Yesterday, my rommie Christopher and I went to see The Artist. I had not planned on seeing it but did so at Christopher's behest although sometimes that's not always sufficient. I declined his invitation to see The Descendants. You couldn't pay me to see a George Clooney movie.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Oakland Takes a Chance on Manny

Manny Ramirez has signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Canadiens Honor Gary Carter

In a classy gesture, the Montreal Canadiens paid tribute to the late Gary Carter at the Bell Centre prior to their game against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Bucs Acquire Burnett from Yankees

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has made it official. Pitcher A.J. Burnett will wear a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Santorum Gets a Bottle of DeWine

On Friday, Rick Santorum got a boost when he received an endorsement of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. Santorum's former Senate colleague had previously endorsed Mitt Romney.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Some Mormons Less Cultic Than Others?

For obvious and justifiable reasons, a number of Evangelical leaders often cast a suspicious gaze at Mormon figures in American public life. After all, though the two systems of belief share a similar vocabulary at certain points and often both hold to traditionalist assumptions regarding social morality, these perspectives differ considerably regarding the nature of God as well as the origins and destiny of man.

However, the least that the orthodox Christian commenting on public affairs ought to do is to try and maintain some kind of consistent policy towards those advocating what could be considered a doctrinally questionable religious viewpoint. It seems that instead of basing such characterizations solely upon the beliefs such voices claim must take precedence above all other considerations, such analysis is often skewered in favor of those most likely to ensure that the particular pundit in question can retain a position as the water carrier of the entrenched political establishment.

For example, in his 9/16/11 commentary transcript, Cal Thomas mentions Rick Perry presenting his testimony before an audience at Liberty University. Thomas closes his brief analysis by concluding Perry's testimony isn't all that important beyond its existential value as it is more important how one's faith works itself out in a President's policies. Thomas astutely observers that believers have had the wool pulled over our eyes numerous times in terms of politicians saying one thing and doing another.

Thomas concludes, "But if Mitt Romney, a Mormon turns out to be better to defeat the President and advance policies with which most Evangelicals agree, then he should be the one the President's opponents get behind."

From the standpoint of an objective political calculation, Thomas is correct. However, since the publication of "Blinded By Might: Why The Religious Right Can't Save America" in which he and co-author Ed Dobson heaped criticism upon the Religious Right by exposing the shortcomings of Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority (an organization both men saw from the inside), Thomas has gone out of his way to downplay the role conservative Christians ought to play in politics.

Since Thomas's coauthor went from a standpoint of being apolitical to losing his marbles by taking on the less than kept grooming habits of an Old Testament prophet insisting that the Scriptures insist that the only properly cast ballot had to be for Barack Obama, you'd think Thomas might have realized he might have been duped into castigating conservative Christians into a state of hyperpious quietism. However, it seems Thomas continues advocating this perspective selectively whenever he thinks doing so might win him a few scraps of dwindling recognition from media and Republican elites.

For whereas we are suppose to gleefully march behind Romney (Thomas no doubt in part so he can ask the former Massachusetts governor who does the candidate's cranial dye job), his tone regarding Glenn Beck, another prominent Mormon, is markedly different.

In the transcript of the 4/11/11 Cal Thomas commentary, the columnist warns, "Beck is not only a Mormon, he frequently drifts into universalism." Writing in particular to the news of Beck's ouster from Fox News, Thomas muses, "They come and they go in this business...and eventually flame out..Put not your trust in princes and kings. That goes for show hosts, too."

This from the very same media figure that just a few paragraphs back was getting all aboard the Romney express.

Evangelicals do need to be cautious regarding Mormon theology. For example, in his book "The Real America: Early Writings From The Heart & Heartland", Beck said a number of things that would make a true believer's hair stand on with goosebumps had it come from the lips of anyone else.

In one passage, Beck said that he thought the Trinity, the idea that the Godhead is composed of the three distinct personages of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, was laughable and that there was no such thing as Hell.

Which brings us to another point. It is interesting how Beck can ridicule the most profound belied and mystery of the greatest number of Christians in the world (that being those that grant assent to the ecumenical creeds such as the Nicene) but the entire Republican Party stands ready to burn at the stake a single pastor that dared enunciate as to why he would not be endorsing Mitt Romney for the nomination.

What the pastor said was technically correct. If Americans inclined themselves a bit more towards religious reflection, they would know that the word "cult" does not necessarily denote a sect that ultimately meets with a violent end as a result of authoritarian leadership as in the cases of Johnstown, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Davidians.

A cult can be any group that splits off from one of the larger world religions and is distinct from the parental creed it has separated itself from by either renouncing the more orthodox formulations of a doctrine or by promulgating a new dogma or revelation that the more orthodox adherents of the larger faith cannot embrace in good conscience.

For example, Mormonism holds that God was once a man not all that different than the rest of us who worked his way up to that status and that we too can also one day become deities over our own little planets as well. Traditional Christianity holds to the idea, that Beck snidely derided, that God exists externally from everlasting to everlasting in the form of three distinct unified persons. God is complete in Himself and does not grow or learn over time as claimed by the Later Day Saints.

The prominence played by Mormonism in the 2012 election cycle has presented American Christians in general and Evangelicals in particular with a unique set of challenges. On the one hand, believers are obligated by Scripture to speak in a firm but loving manner in defense of their own beliefs while pointing out distinctively where that faith is incompatible with Mormonism. And on the other, in a constitutional republic recognizing the freedom of religion we each posses as individuals created in the image of God, Mormon citizens have every right to engage in the same forms of civic participation that all Americans enjoy and sense a profound duty towards.

by Frederick Meekins

FBI Arrests Man Planning to Bomb DC

The FBI arrested Amine El Khalifi, a Muslim from Morocco here in the United States illegally, for attempting to detonate a suicide bomb at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. He was detained a few blocks away from the Capitol.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Joe Kennedy III to Run for Congress

Yesterday, Joe Kennedy III, son of former Congressman Joe Kennedy (better known these days for doing commercials for Hugo Chavez) and grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy, launched his bid for Congress yesterday.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Wakefield Will Announce Retirement

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is expected to announce his retirement from Major League Baseball later this afternoon. Wakefield pitched for 19 seasons, 17 of them with the Boston Red Sox. He finished his big league career with exactly 200 wins.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Why Most Jews Don't Vote GOP

In his article about Jewish Republican David Storobin's efforts to be elected to the New York State Senate next month, Ross Kaminsky notes that the only GOP presidential candidate to earn 40% of the Jewish vote since Warren Harding in 1920 was when Dwight Eisenhower was re-elected in 1956. However, Ronald Reagan did come close to that figure in 1980 when he earned 39% of the Jewish vote in his landslide victory over Jimmy Carter. It was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate had received less than 50% of the Jewish vote since James Cox could only muster 19% of the Jewish vote in 1920. Socialist Eugene Debs received twice as many Jewish votes.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Gary Carter, 1954-2012. R.I.P.

One of my heroes is gone. Today, cancer claimed the life of Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter at the age of 57. Carter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last May and despite a valiant fight, it was one he could not win.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Canada Scraps Firearms Registry

Yesterday, Canada's House of Commons passed third reading of legislation which would abolish the Canadian Firearms Registry. The bill now goes to Canada's Senate for passage before being signed into law by the Governor General.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Milo Hamilton to Retire After 2012

Long time Houston Astros radio play-by-play broadcaster Milo Hamilton will be calling Astros game for one more season and then will pass on the mike.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

In Defense of Elie Wiesel

Yesterday, I wrote about Elie Wiesel calling upon Mitt Romney to speak out against the Church of LDS' practice of baptizing by proxy deceased Jews, particularly those who perished in the Holocaust.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Justin Trudeau Open to Quebec Independence

Justin Trudeau is once again causing a stir in my home and native land. During an interview with Radio Canada (the French language service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) on Sunday, Trudeau made some sympathetic remarks about Quebec independence.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Wiesel Wants Answers from Mitt

Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel is demanding answers from Mitt Romney over the Church of Latter Day Saints' practice of baptizing deceased Jews.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

What are Iranians Doing in Thailand with Explosives?

Three bombs went off today in Bangkok.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Me and The Beeb

I appreciate Reid Smith for informing us that the BBC now consider Abu Qatada, an al Qaeda sympathizer and quite possibly an operative, to be an extremist after all.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Explosion Near Israeli Embassy in India

A car bomb was detonated today near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi, India injuring the driver of the car as well as a woman believed to be the wife of an Israeli diplomat.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on the 54th Grammys

Here are some thoughts on the 54th Grammys.

As one could imagine Whitney Houston was on the minds of everyone involved in the proceedings. Host LL Cool J read a prayer for her and later in the show Jennifer Hudson sang a stirring rendition of "I Will Always Love You."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Baseball Down Under

I spent a good part of the weekend watching the Australian Baseball League (ABL) Championship between the Perth Heat and the Melbourne Aces which aired on the MLB Network.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Whitney Houston, 1963-2012. R.I.P.

Singer Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room tonight. She was 48. Her cause of death is not known as of this writing. She had been scheduled to attend a pre-Grammy party tonight hosted by Clive Davis, who signed her to her first recording contract with Arista records.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney Edges Paul in Maine

Mitt Romney has narrowly prevailed in the week long Maine Republican Caucuses. With 95% of the ballots counted, Romney won 39% of the vote just edging out Ron Paul who garnered 36% of the vote.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Those Denying Resurrection Keep Religious Language To Spread Deception

In the 9/20/11 issues of Sojourners magazine is an advertisement for the 2012 Gladdening Light Symposium featuring Jesus Seminar scholar John Dominic Crossan. Part of the ad copy reads, "Feed the soul, savor the beauty, and experience the communion love of Agape in the Gladdening Light of God."

However, if Crossan is being heralded as what in show business and prize fights circles is called the main event, those in attendance will have very little to ultimately be glad about. Given the name of the symposium, the event frankly borders on false advertising.

Anyone that has subscribed to the History Channel or A&E before both networks went nearly all alien autopsy and rummage sales has no doubt seen Crossan. He is a talking head that use to get dragged out around Christmas and Easter time for those specials that posture as giving viewers the latest dirt on the events of the Bible being bantered about in the halls of respectable academia.

However, seldom do these programs confirm the accuracy of the Biblical accounts. Rather, the intended purpose is often to heap as much skepticism upon these narratives as possible.

Crossan’s ticket to never picking up a bar tab (or in this case midwinter accommodations in sunny Florida) is that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. Instead, Crossan believes Christ’s body was instead most likely eaten by dogs.

But rather than surrendering to a life as a squeegee man if religion is such a colossal waste of time, Crossan has taken up the mission of destroying other people’s faith as well. It’s just that Crossan continues to hold onto Christian terminology to accomplish this task. And it’s quite the incentive to keep at it that mildly entertaining eccentric skeptics are invited on midwinter Florida speaking tours and squeegee men are not.

Over the centuries, most have been drawn to Christianity as a result of its hope and promise of a blissful afterlife at the conclusion of this so very brief existence of terrestrial mortality. Crossan’s vision of Christianity’s allure is markedly different.

On the surface, what Crossan and the Gladdening Light Foundation are calling for sounds quite a bit like Communism, but of a milksop variety lacking the backbone to do so without reference to God and along with the hopes that the religious buzzwords will draw in the easily duped.

The ad copy reads, “...Crossan’s vision of God’s longing for a just and loving community representative of all (‘loving thy neighbor as thyself’ from Leviticus and the Gospel of Mark).” The paragraph concludes that, along with Crossan, a number of whom couldn’t otherwise get real jobs such as a “community choreographer” will speak about “their own creative aspirations struggling for transformation beyond societies that marginalize the disenfranchised.”

This may need to be translated for those that don’t speak stoned hippy. What this really means is that your rights and property as an individual mean very little or even nothing.

It is only the group that counts since that is the only thing that lives on. In a materialistic universe without a Resurrection, we pass out of existence at death (or at best make a guest appearance as a garbled electronic voice phenomena on one of those cable TV spiritism shows that took the place of the kind programming Crossan used to be featured on when A&E and the Discovery Channel attempted to appeal to the educated).

"Struggling for transformation" is the new euphemism for the old revolutionary phrase "by any means necessary". For now, the saps at the Gladdening Light Symposium are so naive that they think you will be so dazzled by COMMUNITY choreography (must be something like a Glee cast dance number) and Cherokee story telling that you will gladly hand everything you have over to what the ideological forbearers of these sorts of activities use to call the vanguard of the proletariat.

Of course, they will skim some extra off the top for themselves. I'm sure John Dominic Crossan didn't come cheap and at least had his first class airfare provided while no doubt working into his lectures why the rest of us ought to flagellate ourselves over the developed world's carbon footprint.

This still doesn't answer the most important question. What will prevent the likes of those worked up into such a froth of imminent expectancy from turning violent when they discover you aren't quite as moved as they thought you would be by fancy footwork and the cute little parables many American Indians seem to have a knack for?

One should not try to deny that there will not be any bashing of Western civilization in general and America in particular at the symposium. This will be an automatic given.

This can be discerned from the phrase "societies that marginalize the disenfranchised". But is a symposium where "Pilgrims concerned with the plight of the world's people will gather for an entire weekend of vigorous discussion, enlightened teaching, and thoughtful reflection" where the attendees don't actually travel to assist the disenfranchised but rather to the state whose very name epitomizes delightful winter comfort and luxury really going to accomplish all that much?

About the closest any of the attendees will come to a Third Worlder is the picture of the African refugees placed in the left hand corner of the advertisement announcing the symposium. What this vigorous discussion, enlightened teaching, and thoughtful reflection will likely consist of is a bunch of moderately wealthy former hippies and their young adult children dreaming up additional ways to shame you out of your own money or how to swindle it away from you at the end of the taxman's gun if you aren't gullible enough to go along with the obsequious self-loathing.

I Corinthians 15:19 says in regards to the Resurrection, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." I Peter 1:16 assures, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." Any doubting this central teaching of the Christian message while continuing to employ the imagery and rhetoric of the faith is not out to instill hope but rather the most enslaving form of tyranny.

by Frederick Meekins

The Burke-Hayek Double Play Combo

Apart from stating he was a "severely conservative" Governor, the most memorable line from Mitt Romney's speech at CPAC today was a reference to baseball.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Nader to NHL: Ban Fighting

Consumer advocate and perennial presidential candidate Ralph Nader is calling upon the NHL to ban fighting.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Obama WH Doesn't Care if the Senate Passes a Budget

Mark Hemingway of The Weekly Standard draws our attention to this exchange yesterday between ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

CNN Kicks Roland Martin Off The Air

CNN has suspended Roland Martin indefinitely for tweets he wrote during the Super Bowl which were construed as homophobic.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Who The BBC Calls Extremist

Over at NRO, Charles C.W. Cooke drew my attention to an article which appeared in The Telegraph concerning a meeting involving the mandarins a the BBC. Their discussion centered around how to describe Abu Qatada, the imprisoned al Qaeda terrorist who a British immigration tribunal ordered released on bail earlier this month.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Let's Not Measure Oval Office Drapes for Santorum Just Yet

At present, Quin Hillyer is in a state of euphoria and could probably leap across the Colorado River if he were so inclined and I wouldn't blame him for doing so.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on the Santorum Sweep

As both John Tabin and Jim Antle have noted (as did Team Romney even before the results), Rick Santorum has no more delegates this morning than he did 24 hours ago. Yet there is no question that Rick Santorum is in a far stronger position then he was 24 hours ago, delegates or no delegates.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Why The Pats Losing The Super Bowl Wasn't So Bad After All

Maria Menounos, co-host of the syndicated entertainment show Extra and a diehard New England Patriots fan, lost a bet with correspondent A.J. Calloway.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

In Defense of Clint Eastwood

As I wrote here shortly after it aired on Sunday night, I really liked the Clint Eastwood Chrysler Super Bowl ad and said it was the only ad worth remembering.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

No I Didn't See That (I Guess I Was M.I.A.)

Unlike Ross Kaminsky (and much of the world), I missed the M.I.A. giving the world the old familiar suggestion during Madonna's Super Bowl half time show. Most of Madonna's music doesn't interest me so I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the proceedings.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Queen Elizabeth II @ 60

Sixty years ago today, Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne becoming Queen of England and of all nations in the British Commonwealth after the death of her father, King George VI.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

AFP: Happy Birthday President Reagan

Washington, DC – Today Americans for Prosperity, the nation’s premier advocate for economic freedom, released a very special “Happy Birthday” message to honor President Ronald Reagan on his 101st birthday. The 60-second television spot contrasts Reagan’s optimism, prosperity, and belief in freedom with the broken promises and class-warfare rhetoric of President Obama.

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips said, “On Reagan’s birthday, I can’t help but miss the President more than ever. His vision for America contrasts so sharply with the big-government waste and cronyism that will be the legacy of the Obama Administration.”

Called “Two Visions,” the ad compares and contrasts quotes from the two presidents, showing the stark difference in their view of what America should be.

“It’s important to remind ourselves what a terrific difference a great leader can make in this country,” Phillips continued. “President Reagan knew that free market policies would result in millions of new American jobs, exploding personal incomes, with broad-based prosperity and optimism for our nation. However President Obama’s approach is just the opposite – more taxes, more government, and job killing regulations – all in pursuit of his own liberal ideology.”

The ad culminates with the message: Happy Birthday, President Reagan. We miss your optimism, your love of America, and your belief in the power of freedom. The ad release coincides with social media advertising and grassroots action.

Giants Best Pats - Again

As Yogi Berra said, "It's Deja Vu all over again."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Clint Eastwood 2012

The only Super Bowl commercial I am going to remember is the spot Clint Eastwood did for Chrysler.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Alliance Defense Fund offering week long scholarships in Florida for training Christian attorneys

National Litigation Academy


Among the more than one million lawyers in America are thousands who believe in the issues supported by ADF. However, few have the specific training or experience necessary to handle a free-speech, religious liberty, or other matters involving constitutional law and other areas of concern to the Alliance.

To help recruit and train this untapped resource of dedicated women and men, ADF launched the National Litigation Academy - a state-of-the-art lawyer training project - in 1997. The Academy sessions consist of worship and devotional activities, banquets, theological exhortation, worldview analysis, fellowship, common meals, and joyful interaction. They feature an intense course of study conducted by some of the nation's top law school professors, litigators, and constitutional experts in the country. These experts instruct on public interest practice topics such as the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, Equal Access law, 42 USC § 1983 actions, Family and Marriage law and other matters.

Past National Litigation Academy sessions have helped effectively equip attorneys to battle the radical homosexual legal agenda, defend parental rights, uphold the sanctity of human life, and protect religious freedom. Each academy session is four to five days in length and the CLE segment qualifies for mandatory continuing legal education credit in most or all applicable states.

One of the unique aspects of our National Litigation Academy is the way it can help multiply our Ministry Friend's investment in ADF. As an ADF ally, the attorney's expenses are scholarshipped by ADF, including travel, lodging, and most meals. In return, each attorney ally who attends the National Litigation Academy makes a faith commitment to provide 450 hours of pro bono legal work on behalf of the Body of Christ. The goal is to fulfill this commitment over a three-year period on cases and projects related to his or her training and/or matters that forward the mission of the alliance. Attorneys whose firms will not permit a 450 hour commitment or who have extreme extenuating circumstances may qualify for a 200 hour commitment over a three-year period. Persons with the smaller commitment may fulfill it only by performing specified litigation activities, and will not receive all of the benefits of a full commitment. Please direct questions regarding the pro bono commitment to nlainfo@telladf.org.

In just eleven short years, ADF has trained more than 1,300 allied attorneys that have provided dedicated, pro-bono service valued at over $100 million in the legal battle to defend, protect, and affirm religious freedom, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.

Admission to each NLA is granted only after application and acceptance. Space is limited. Applications are now being received for the following session:

Schedule
NLA 34: July 11 - 15, 2011

Apply here. The deadline is April 20

Ben Gazzara, 1930-2012. R.I.P.

Actor Ben Gazzara passed away on Friday of pancreatic cancer. He was 81.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Unemployment Numbers Benefit Obama

Even if Ross Kaminsky is correct in saying that unemployment is falling despite President Obama's economic policies there is no question these numbers will help Obama's re-election prospects. The unemployment rate has fallen five straight months dropping nearly a percentage point. Perception, after all, comprises nine-tenths of reality.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

A Thought for Josh Hamilton

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton apparently suffered a relapse on Monday night and was seen drinking at a bar in Dallas. His teammate Ian Kinsler is also reported to have arrived at the bar in an effort to persuade Hamilton to return to his home.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Edwin Jackson On The Move Again

Consider what I wrote when the St. Louis Cardinals acquired pitcher Edwin Jackson from the Chicago White Sox (via the Toronto Blue Jays) last July.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Does Trump's Endorsement Matter?

First, it looked like Donald Trump was going to endorse Newt Gingrich. Now, as both Jeff Lord and Ross Kaminsky have noted, it looks like he's going to give his blessings to Mitt Romney.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Boondoggle Projects Threaten California with Third World Status

By Martha Montelongo

Gov. Jerry Brown has an interesting definition of “third world.”

In an interview with a San Francisco radio station last week, Brown said California would become “a Third World country” unless the state builds a ghastly $100 billion high-speed rail line that’s been fraught with mismanagement, cost overruns and shaky ridership projections.

It’s an odd claim, considering many third-world nations are characterized by crumbling infrastructure, failed boondoggle projects and constant budgetary trouble. In much of the third-world, a new leader will pour massive amounts of a nation’s fortune into a single prestige project, only to have it fail when poor planning, bureaucratic incompetence and malfeasance slowly eat up all the funds.

By this definition, California seems currently on track to become America’s third-world state. Just like high-speed rail, the same spending lobby is promoting a nearly $1 billion per year tax hike so that a politically appointed panel can dole out favors to cronies. The $1 billion in new taxes under Proposition 29 goes into a lockbox that only this politically-influenced commission can access. Not even in cases of waste or abuse can the Governor or the Legislature make any changes! Proposition 29 sounds like it was plucked straight from the playbook of some Latin American dictator or Middle Eastern sheikh.

Jerry Brown ought to find the nearest dictionary. Pouring money into boondoggle projects while neglecting vital services like education and public safety is the surest way for California to join the third-world. Until California can figure out how to pay for what it already has, voters need to say no to more new spending.

Martha Montelongo is a columnist and radio talk show host.

Links 1: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/01/jerry-brown-high-speed-rail-california.html

Link 2: http://www.stopoutofcontrolspending.com/the-facts?utm_source=Third%2BWorld%2BStatus%2BFeb&utm_medium=Blogger%2BOutreach&utm_content=Facts&utm_campaign=Phase%2BTwo

Angelo Dundee, 1921-2012. R.I.P.

Legendary boxing corner man Angelo Dundee passed away at the age of 90. As of this writing, his cause of death is unknown.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Rush Should Credit Andy McCarthy, Not Me

It has come to my attention that Rush Limbaugh mentioned yours truly on his radio program today.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Don Cornelius, 1936-2012. R.I.P.

Don Cornelius, the longtime host of the nationally syndicated TV show Soul Train, died this morning of an apparent suicide. He was 75.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney's Poor Remark

Mitt Romney is drawing fire for saying he's "not concerned about the poor."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.