Romney or Perry? Which is Worse?

I'm not sure which is worse. Mitt Romney slipping up how many years he's been married or Rick Perry not remembering the name of the third government agency he wants to eliminate.

Does Santorum Want Cheese With That Whine?

Earlier today, over at NRO, Quin Hillyer asked "Why Not Santorum?"

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

Cain Defends Himself Ably

In a Republican debate that was supposed to be about the economy, Maria Betrimono wasted no time in asking Herman Cain about the allegations against him.

Once again, Herman Cain displayed the grace and aplomb that has drawn conservatives to him and was enthusiastically cheered.

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

National Endowment For The Arts has blown $10,000 on urban farm mural in suburban Maryland. The theory must be that pictures of food will somehow fend off starvation when the economy collapses.

Crap really does flow downhill after all. Occupy deadbeats are to perambulate from New York City to Washington, DC. They will no doubt be in search of handouts and whatever they can destroy along the way.

About Those NRA "Settlements"

With all due respect to John Tabin, he seems to misunderstand the nature of the "settlements" between two of the Herman Cain accusers and the National Restaurant Association.

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

Ohio Pro-Union, Not Pro-Obama

It was a mixed bag at the polls in Ohio tonight.

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

Lessons In Apologetics #9: Theism

The next worldview examined by Geisler in "Christian Apologetics" is Theism. Theism is the belief that a transcendent God created the universe as a reality distinct from Himself but which He actively sustains through both a system of natural law which He created and through divine intervention at the moments He deems such action appropriate for the accomplishment of His divine will. It is Geisler's intention that, since the other worldviews thus far are contradictory and therefore false, Theism is the true worldview.

However, Geisler does not leave readers dangling by requiring them to embrace Theism simply for the lack of another viable alternative. Instead, Geisler provides an argument more positive in its orientation incorporating analytical and evidential components.

The argument is stated as such: "(1) Some things undeniably exist. (2) My nonexistence is possible. (3) Whatever has the possibility not to exist is currently caused to exist by another. (4) There cannot be an infinite regress of current causes of existence. (5) Therefore, a first uncaused cause of my current existence exists. (6) This uncaused cause must be infinite, unchanging, all powerful, all knowing, and all perfect. (7) This infinitely perfect being is called "God". (8) Therefore, God exists. (9) This God who exists is identical to the God described in the Christian Scriptures. (10) Therefore, the God described in the Bible exists.

Borrowing from Descartes' conclusion "cogito ergo sum", Geisler posits that, in order to deny that one exists, one must exist in order to do so. From reflections upon the nature of our own existence, one concludes that our nonexistence is possible. For even though we do not like to admit it, there was a time when the world was at least able to hobble along crippled without us in it.

We know that whatever has the possibility of not existing is currently caused to exist by another. Each of us resulted from the physical union of the genetic material of our respective parents who in turn came from the union of their parents, etc, etc. However, physical laws such as those of thermodynamics point out that this chain must have a cause that does not need to be caused. To accomplish this, the uncaused cause would need to be infinite, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all perfect. Anything less would be unable to be this uncaused cause.

It is appropriate to call this cause "God" since it possesses the attributes traditionally assigned to divinity. Therefore, God exists.

Geisler further argues that the God affirmed by this proof is the God described in the Bible because there can only be one infinitely perfect and changeless eternal being. However, at this point in the apologetic task Geisler is careful to point out that, "This does not mean that everything the Bible claims that this God said or did, he actually said or did. Whether or not what the Bible says about this God is another question. What we conclude here is ... the God described in the Bible exists; second, whatever the Bible claims for this God that is not inconsistent with his nature, it is possible that he did indeed do and say (250)."

Having reached this conceptual plateau, the apologist can rest for just a moment before he must begin the sectarian and denominational wrangling to make the case that the Christian path into fellowship with God is indeed the correct one.

by Frederick Meekins

The Difference Between Bibi & Abbas

With regard to President Obama and French President Sarkozy's diss of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Reid Smith takes me to task for not mentioning Obama and Sarkozy were in disagreement over Sarkozy's decision to support Palestinian membership in UNESCO.

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

Republicans Shouldn't Wave White Flags

Once again, I find myself in disagreement with Ross Kaminsky where it concerns the candidacy of Herman Cain. Ross argues that "Cain's candidacy is and should be over."

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

Obama & Sarkozy Diss Netanyahu

During last week's G-20 Summit in Cannes, President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were overheard discussing their mutual disdain for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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

Joe Frazier, 1944-2011. R.I.P.

Boxing legend Joe Frazier died tonight of liver cancer. He was 67.

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

Hold the Butter

Earlier today, I wrote my initial thoughts about Sharon Bielak's accusations against Herman Cain particularly where it concerned the comments of her attorney Gloria Allred.

Prior to writing my commentary, Ross Kaminsky declared, "Get the butter: unfortunately, Herman Cain's campaign is toast."

Well, I say hold the butter. And for that matter the marmalade. I am simply not convinced that Cain is done.

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

The Trouble with Gloria Allred

This afternoon a woman named Sharon Bialek came forward not to accuse Herman Cain of sexual harassment but of sexual assault.

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

And What If We Do Begrudge?

Apart from being the first President elected primarily for the color of his skin rather than the content of his character, Barack Obama will be remembered for a number of other peculiarities as well.

Foremost among these is wallowing himself in a number of opulent luxuries he believes you as a mere commoner ought to curtail and possibly even be denied.

Often, when those in the press pool, who have to be leery when steeping off a curb afterwards, point out the incongruities of a Chief Executive that called for shared sacrifice while the First Family enjoys pleasures the rest of us can only dream about, we are told that the American people would not begrudge the President a vacation.

But what if we do?

Barack Obama, not the American people, was the one lamenting that we eat what we want, drive around in SUV’s, and keep our homes climate controlled at 70 degrees.

Barack Obama, not the American people, is the one with a deep sense of elation each time fuel costs rise. After all, he was the one that told us that, under his system of cap and trade, utility bills would necessarily skyrocket anyway.

As part of the fleet of presidential vehicles, the Secret Service unveiled to the public two modified passenger buses.

These alterations included security enhancements such as armor plating and state of the art electronics. It does not take an engineering degree to realize that neither of these contributed to the mileage and fuel economy of the vehicles in a positive manner.

So while Obama will ride around in comfort and safety, you (on the other hand) if you dare have the nerve to step outside the house since you aren’t really suppose to go anywhere these days, with all the propaganda extolling the wonders of locally grown produce and social planners corralling people into developments of higher population density, are to ride around in rolling death traps that provide little protection whatsoever.

Around the time of the debut of these behemoth additions to the presidential motorcade, Obama announced that fuel efficiency standards were being raised to 54 miles per gallon.

A true leader does not require of those he is charged with overseeing things he is not willing to require of himself.

Barack Obama might hold the highest elected office in the United States. However, he does not do so as a true leader one would gladly follow irrespective of whether or not he was the one that had all the firepower and lawyers at his disposal.

by Frederick Meekins

Andy Rooney, 1919-2011. R.I.P.

Andy Rooney passed away late on Friday after complications from surgery. He was 92.

Rooney's passing comes scarcely a month after his last appearance on 60 Minutes.

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

Thome Returns to Philly

Jim Thome will be returning to the Philadelphia Phillies having agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract in 2012.

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

Bob Forsch, 1950-2011. R.I.P.

Former major league pitcher Bob Forsch died suddenly yesterday as a result of an aneurysm in his chest. He was 61.

Forsch's death comes less than a week after he threw out the first pitch in St. Louis before Game 7 of the World Series in which the Cardinals would win their 11th World Series in franchise history.

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

Don't Underestimate Cain

I disagree with John Tabin's take on Herman Cain.

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

Matty Alou, 1938-2011. R.I.P.

Former big league outfielder Matty Alou passed away today at the age of 72. His cause of death has not been released.

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

They're Throwing Mud at Cain

There's an old adage that goes, "If you throw enough mud on the wall some of it will stick."

This is precisely what those who want to end Herman Cain's presidential ambitions are doing - throwing mud on the wall in the hope it will stick.

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

Cubs Fire Quade; Won't Hire Sandberg

To the surprise of no one, in his first act of office, Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein has fired manager Mike Quade. After Quade guided the Cubs to a 24-13 record at the tail end of the 2010 season, the Cubs went 71-91 this season.

But to the surprise of everyone, Epstein effectively ruled out Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg as Quade's successor.

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

French Magazine Firebombed for Publishing "Sharia Edition"

This morning the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were destroyed as two firebombs were thrown through its windows. The attack came as its "Sharia edition" was set to be released. Fortunately, there was no loss of life and no injuries were reported.

The "Sharia edition" featured the Prophet Mohammed as a guest editor with commentary on the recent Tunisian elections in which Islamists claimed victory.

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

UNESCO Recognizes Palestinians

Yesterday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced it would recognize "Palestine" as a full member of its organization.

To its credit, The State Department promptly announced it would suspend U.S. funding of UNESCO. However, I think we should withdraw from UNESCO altogether.

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

My Poem About The Occupiers

Last night, I had my feature at the Stone Soup Poetry Reading Series at The Yarrow Gallery in Cambridge.

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