Bloodthirsty cowards or 'defenders of freedom'?

It's interesting how many self-proclaimed 'freedom loves' (said breathlessly) are really nothing more than bloodthirsty cowards whose instinctive reaction toward the actual exercise of freedom always seems to be one of violence.

Witness Jonah Goldberg who thinks that there hasn't been enough carnage. The right-wing extremist syndicated columnist bemoans the fact that Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange hasn't yet been assassinated.

Oops, my bad.

According to FoxNews.com's Christian Wilton, another bloodthirsty coward who wants The Assange Problem to *cough* disappear, the new euphemism for assassination is a 'non-judicial action.'

And given all the civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan who've perished via 'non-judicial actions,' one wonders why the esteemed New York Times pooh-poohed Assange for going into hiding.

Delinquent New York legislators should be impeached

Contrary to what they may say in public, I think New York Democratic pooh-bahs are secretly thrilled that David Paterson is governor. He can do all the unpopular things they know need to be done but are too cowardly to do themselves and Paterson can take the public crucifixion for them.

Yesterday, the legislature approved Paterson's controversial plan to furlough 100,000 state workers. The governor argued that the move was necessary to save money, since the legislature hasn't passed a budget that was due on April 1.

Despite passing the bill which included the furloughs, legislators blasted the proposal and the governor. In fact, many contended that furlough plan was illegal. It speaks volumes about the legislature's uselessness that they would vote to approve something they not only condemned but thought wasn't legal.

Their uselessness was further illustrated by the posturing against the governor. Furloughs wouldn't be necessary if the legislature DID ITS JOB AND PASSED A BUDGET, according to its constitutional obligation. Basically, the legislature is blaming the governor for doing what they're too craven to do themselves.

But the posturing is working. Public sector unions aren't firing their venom at the delinquent legislators; they are bashing the governor, the only person in Albany who seems to have a clue about his responsibilities. This is why the Democrats secretly love David Paterson.

And with the budget six weeks late, legislators are busy not only with grandstanding press conferences, but they managed to find time to revive another unfunded mandate. Maybe some day, they'll find time to do their job.

Update: Again, props to the governor for trying to prevent New York from turning into Greece or California or even Spain. The Spanish Socialist government is pushing through deep budget cuts, which will include a 5% REDUCTION in public sector salaries. By contrast, New York's public sector unions rejected a request by the governor to hold off on their 4% annual pay raise for this year in favor of a pay freeze (something I and many other private sector workers got). Since the unions have rejected a pay freeze are trying to get furloughs declared illegal by the courts, Lt. Gov Richard Ravitch has warned that mass layoffs might be the only option left. I thought a union's first priority was to try to preserve jobs. The white collar unions should be careful what they wish for. New Yorkers might end up deciding that they CAN live with fewer bureaucrats.

Wonder if Colin Powell noticed

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I see that former War Secretary Robert McNamara died this week. I have nothing but contempt for the so-called man. He's admitted that he knew that Vietnam was wrong but did it anyways. Not that he later concluded it was a mistake but that he knew it was wrong AT THE TIME.

He could've resigned in protest and then speaking out against the atrocity, which would've been the honorable thing to do. Instead, he stayed silent and executed this slaughter that he KNEW AT THE TIME was wrong. Was it because he liked being in the halls of power? Was it because he was too cowardly to be honest with the overbearing President Johnson? Was he a little man in too big a job? Only he knows. But I find him even more despicable than those who sincerely thought it was the right thing to do at the time.

It's said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, choose to remain neutral. I disagree. I think the hottest places are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, know what the good is and choose instead to enable evil.