Asymmetric

Peggy Noonan took Republicans to task, piling on the evidence that the Republican "brand" is tarnished.

Perhaps the Republican troubles go deeper than a little tarnish and only some Democratic rust will shine the Republicans up. Explanation:

When do you feel more conservative: When money's low and your neighbors are acting up or when you live off your fathers trust fund in his gated mansion?

Likewise, good times prompt Democratic victory, as the populace grows weary of improvement and just wants to relax. To put it another way, people will only vote for Republicans, the "course-righteners" in times of danger or perceived Democratic malfeasance.

The "malfeasance" manifests itself in the "giving away the store" idea, or, the belief that Democrats have or will irresponsibly damage society to benefit the object of their pity du jour. On social issues, this means affirmative action, gay marriage, sex education in kindergarten, etc. In economics, look at California where, after Grey Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger's inability to reverse Davis's spending, and despite large increases in revenue, we have a 14 billion dollar deficit and the same horribly-achieving schools.

Nixon won because of the radicalization of the Democratic party.

Reagan and Thatcher won because of the inevitable stagnation that comes from socialism.

Arnold Schwarzenegger won liberal California because he vetoes the most outrageous of Democratic ideas like drivers licenses for illegal aliens, gay marriage, and high taxes. Republicans won congress in 1994 because of Clinton's desire to run health care like one giant DMV and allow open gays in the military.

The problem for Republicans, nationally, is that most people have forgotten the seventies doldrums and the prevention of Clinton excesses by Republicans (It's no coincidence that the youngest Americans support the liberal Obama.). It's why "liberal" isn't as scary word anymore- people don't remember that frightening "malaise." It's why 1 per cent growth, 5% unemployment, a 20 per cent dip in housing prices after a fantastic run of five years has many Americans thinking they're in 1930s Oklahoma- they don't have a proper frame of reference.

Right now, in national security, the lack of terrorist attacks and the failure to find WMD in Iraq have caused attentions to wander, a natural and hopefully harmless reaction. Do people remember Carter or Clinton's handling of foreign policy?

If Obama wins, I don't hope that we have a political, Democratic-caused disaster and won't trumpet bad news like many Democrats do now with a Republican in the White House. But, if modern conservatism is the reaction to bad liberal policies and Democrats only louse up the country a little by, say, raising taxes only enough to slow growth and run a few businesses overseas, I don't see a break for conservatism anytime soon.

Tags: republican brand, republican chances in 2008

Reason number one why people will never elect a comedian to high office:

During a speech to the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee joked to the audience that an offstage noise was Barack Obama avoiding gunfire.

"That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak," Huckabee said. "Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor."

The line was met with laughter.

What a dummy. I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it, but it's not good when a candidate is making jokes instead of just "having a sense of humor."

Barack Obama wants to give undergraduate students $4000.00 to pay for tuition.

In a time of virtually free information and the ability to distribute learning digitally or through teleconferencing at a low cost, college tuition continues to increase faster than the rate of inflation. Some schools have billion-dollar endowments (Harvard's is 35,000,000,000.), but the reason that colleges charge so much, according to this article, is simply because they can.

Now, setting aside that singles and the majority of parents with children who won't attend college will be subsidizing children who are probably better able to pay; the dubious proposition that the United States needs more sociologists; and that by adding some fraud magnet, BS service requirement, the program will be much more inefficient and costly; why wouldn't universities simply increase tuition by $4000.00? It's not like most of them are under-enrolled.

The left equivalent of gas tax holiday- or worse, it's a difficult thing to fight, politically. Who's going to say, "We spend too much money on education."

Tags: barack obama college plan

I don't have time for a full review right now, but the second Narnia film was fantastic and that's not just an affinity opinion! Go see it and then tell me what you think.

Tags: conservative review of prince caspian

Despite it almost drifting into Obama-like utopianism, I liked the speech. It sure was different- the kind of thing that makes an impact- perhaps a lasting one. Such ads tend to be ripe targets for satirists, but you can't be scared of that. They also create conversation. Here's Joe Biden feigning even more ignorance than he already has:

In his speech, Senator McCain says that by 2013, "the Iraq war has been won." How? What's the strategy?

Ever heard of the surge?

Here's the full text of the ad.

Oh, that Huffington Post. They're so clever! They propose that Matthews "eviscerated" Kevin James (who isn't my favorite talk show host).

Besides the fact that the HuffPo's get all giddy to what was essentially a "gotcha" argument (Why didn't Matthews simply tell James what he meant?), the whole scenario is a big burst of dishonesty.

1. If they had no hope of being appeased in some way, why would our enemies negotiate? They're going to surrender unconditionally? Why would they attend a meeting where they'd be dictated to?

2. Mark Green is against analogies? Obama's whole campaign strategy is an analogy (McCain is like Bush). Does that mean the left will never bring up Iraq (if Obama manages to lose it) or Vietnam whenever they oppose a future conflict? Ridiculously dishonest.

Tags: kevin james versus chris matthews

Apparently, the California constitution guarantees that men can marry other men.

Asymmetric thoughts:

1. Patriarchy/ traditional marriage-phobes might be cheering, but only because their side won- not because the California Supreme Court did any justice. They will say the CASC just wanted to apply the law equally to everyone.

Since homosexuals had as much right to marry somebody of the opposite sex as anybody else, the issue obviously had nothing to do with equal protection. Yet, my untraditional brothers and sisters will dismiss the California electorate as wrong and in need of "education." Those unwilling to succumb will face worse. Some will mention Martin Luther King and blacks.

What does this minority want? They want the traditional structure of society to fail. Why? One, it helps foster the kind of chaotic social situations that cry for government intervention. Two, it deals another blow to the traditions that compete with the state. Third, it gives people an opportunity to redo society according to their ideals.

Go to a feminist or communist book store for details (They can be more honest amongst themselves.).

2. As always, some won't care.

3. Emotionalists who felt sorry that some of their best gay friends couldn't have a wedding that "counted," will be happy. They won't be able to articulate any advantage gay marriage gives society. These will be the majority of those in favor of the ruling.

4. Some people will oppose it out of hate.

5. Some people will oppose it, but not be able to articulate why in a PC-acceptable way. These will be the majority of those opposed to the ruling. They can be intimidated into not caring.

6. Then there's me. I don't want a long post, but it has to do with natural law, children, and what I feel is the best (only?) way for a society to succeed. Don't tell me that I think the "gay boogie man is going to end my marriage." I'm immune to those tactics.

7. What will eventually happen if homosexuals are allowed to marry:

a. As in other countries such as the Netherlands that have allowed people of the same sex to marry, marriage will decline in both numbers and prestige, the latter probably effecting the former. Reaction to this development will be according to the above types of citizens. Some will deny it's happening.

b. Children in school will receive textbooks with gay couples. Health textbooks will emphasize that all families are equally valuable. Guest speakers, perhaps. History books will refer to the "dark ages" when the government limited marriages to one woman and one man along with sidebars dedicated to notable gays. Administrators will politely listen to the "hateful" parents (and then complain about a lack of parent involvement) and then confuse most of them with something or another.

c. The state will spend more money for something.

d. Once gays get the recognition they want, they'll consider marriage a joke along with everybody else except some religious people whom many will see as some kind of suburban Amish.

e. It might help make the conservative (and the McCain campaign's) case for judicial restraint.

f. Obama will try to avoid the issue.

Tags: california supreme court and homosexual marriage, gay marriage legal in california

What are the qualifications to write for CNN? Ruben Navarrette proves that even the most banal PC drivel can make it onto a major network.

His ten points:

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- In a recent commentary, I wrote that, as a Mexican-American, the ugliness of the immigration debate offends me -- not as a Mexican, but as an American.

The topic: the immigration debate and what she called a wave I of hate sweeping the land -- one that isn't limited to illegal immigrants, but which is now affecting all Hispanics regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what flag they salute.

Hispanics sometimes say this, but when I ask for examples, they more often can't come up with one- it's more like a theoretical oppression like, "Considering the history of the United States, Americans are probably oppressing us somewhere." Let's not lower the bar for problematic "hatred" so much that it includes legitimate policy discussions.

The way Murguia sees it, immigration is "on the verge of becoming one of the largest civil rights issues of our generation." And, Hispanics are playing the piñata.

Securing the border isn't a "civil rights" issue. Nobody has a "right" to enter the United States or stay illegally. You might want more or less immigration, but let's be clear: If immigration is a civil rights issue, what isn't?

Murguia was right on the button. To borrow a phrase, it's getting ugly out there. And U.S.-born Hispanics see it as plain as day. Here are 10 things they find distasteful about this debate:

Lay it on me:

• The hypocrisy. We have two signs on the U.S.-Mexican border: "Keep Out" and "Help Wanted."

I think the sign should say: "Help wanted from legal immigrants." Employers hire illegal immigrants because of their greed, their need to compete with the more greedy, and the current chaos in some employment sectors like construction and care-giving, where verification and alternatives to illegal labor are difficult. Once we set up an orderly system, employers won't feel the need to hire illegal immigrants.

• The racism. With lightning speed, the debate went from anti-illegal immigrant to anti-immigrant to anti-Mexican.

Most people opposed to illegal immigration make a point that it isn't just Mexicans, but Mexico happens to be the country with the most illegal immigrants. What do you want people to do: Allow illegal immigration because illegal aliens aren't proportionally represented?

Besides: Do Mexicans or Hispanics bear any responsibility for their collective reputation? (Uncharitable readers may think what you like, but I've made my feelings known before and, besides, somebody sane has to say it.) Without being specific, if Mexicans didn't have social problems at a greater rate than the general population, would people still have the same kind of negative reaction towards them (Navarrette doesn't help people to think Hispanics especially deep, either.).

Why is it OK for Navarrette to generalize on non-Hispanic hatred based on Nazi video games (below) and 100 interviews and not for anybody else to generalize about Mexicans?

Hypocrisy. (Although generalization is the major problem in immigration today.).

• The opportunism. Too many politicians are trying too hard to portray themselves as tough on illegal immigration.

Yes, politicians should be less opportunistic. I never thought of that.

• The simple solutions. "Build A Wall." "Deport All Illegals." A quick rule of thumb: If it fits on a bumper sticker, it's not a workable policy.

How about this bumper sticker: "If it fits on a bumper sticker, it's not a workable policy."

• The naiveté. People ask why Mexico won't help stop illegal immigration. Hint: Last year, Mexicans in the United States sent home $25 billion.

Yes.

• The profiling. Dark skin and Spanish surnames shouldn't be proxies for undocumented status. Been to Arizona lately?

No, it shouldn't. Examples? Is this a huge problem that should prevent us from enforcing immigration rules?

• The meanness. Nazi-produced Internet video games let players shoot illegal immigrants crossing the border. Fun stuff.

Let's not have a sound immigration policy because Nazis make video games. Another good one and not at all stereotypical.

• The amnesia. Americans think grandpa was welcomed with open arms and that he plunged into the melting pot. Whatever.

Most people did OK, or they would have joined the third of immigrants who went back. That being said, we should treat legal residents as the national assets they are. The best way to do this is to stop illegal immigration. Most of the anger comes from a sense that people are taking advantage of the system. Eliminate that feeling and the only problems Mexicans will have with Americans is being constantly hugged by them.

• The buck-passing. Americans love to blame Mexico for their choices, yelling across the border: "Stop us before we hire again."

This is a rephrasing of point one. It's really nine points, then.

• The double standard. The same folks who have zero tolerance for illegal immigrants easily tolerate those who hire them.

Does Navarrette have a stutter problem. Similar to points one and nine. We really only have eight points, then.

Some of this is painfully familiar, recalling earlier versions of this debate as it played out a hundred or two hundred years ago. Hispanics are the new Germans, the new Irish, the new Italians. But it's also ugly. It was then. It is now.

I hope they're the new Germans, Irish, and Italians. That would be great! Let's have the same policies as the turn of the century?

Tags: candidates on illegal immigration, illegal immigration and the election, mainstream immigration opinion

Some of you may know because you're parents and some of you may remember from your own educational experience that all students play together through grammar school, i.e., if Osama bin Laden had met George Bush in grammar school, they’d have traded puddings during lunch and then have played a game of "Crusaders and Jihadis" during recess. In middle school (Jr. High for the mature set), things change and kids break up into different cliques or groups. The process continues until retirement when once again they all play together again in Vegas or Branson.

This post describes the different groups or cliques from my beloved place of employment, Huntington Park High School. Now, as I describe these groups, some of you may become alarmed, but it’s not my intention to cause parents or culture-watchers concern, and while some consternation may be warranted, much will be excessive, for the vast majority of students outgrow their strangeness. Even many of those who hold on to their faux-rebellion and bourgeoisie-bashing go on to lead lucrative if not productive lives as graduate students or college professors. The only immediate threat is the gang-member, although even he is loved or at least "understood" by the aforementioned graduate students and college professors. I don't pretend that this list is comprehensive, but I think it should give an overview of the groups or cliques at HPHS in 2007 (none of the pictures are of actual HPHS students):

Normal

The vast majority of students are what I'd call "normal" in that they don't do anything most adults would find strange. These students are presently happy for the most part and future contributors to your social security.

Pretty Boys

Distinguishing marks: Star earrings on or even inside both ears and well-kept appearance.

Hair: Neat, short.

Clothes: Fashionable in the least offensive hip-hop style; shirts outside of pants.

Music- Reggaeton and other mainstream music preferred by Hispanics.

Movies: Mainstream.

Heroes: ?

Philosophy: Sort of the Hispanic equivalent of the mainstream metrosexual, they nonetheless reject the near-homosexual vibe put out by the metrosexual. They profess no political ideology or advocate any dangerous behavior except the normal underage drinking and partying. Note that actual physical “Prettiness” is not a requirement. They like Cadillac Escalades and “pimp-my-ride” type cars.

Behavior: Skirt-chasing.

Example of Pretty Boy earrings.

Miami Chronicles

Greasers

Distinguishing marks: None.

Hair: Fifties-style duck tails for boys and Bettie Page pin-up style for the girls.

Clothes: Both wear jeans with the hems folded over and other fifties inspired clothing. Girls don’t wear skirts, however.

Music: Fifties Doo-Wop and early Rock and Roll, Stray Cats from the eighties, and some genres called "neo-rockabilly" and "punkabilly."

Movies: Grease.

Heroes: Elvis Presley

Philosophy: Nothing special that I can detect.

Behavior: Normal

Somethin' Else: The Fine Lookin' Hits of Eddie Cochran

Gangsters/ Cholos

Distinguishing marks: Gang-related tattoos; heavy, dark, make-up with thin, penciled eyebrows for girls.

Hair: Hairnets for those with long, slicked-back hair; shaved head for most, however. Girls have long, strait, hair often “feathered” back.

Clothes: Baggy pants and black Raider-colored polo shirts; over-sized Dickies work pants; belts have friction-slide buckles; athletic wear consists of same except that the Dickies pants are cut off to the ankles; girls wear black clothing.

Music: Oldies; Doo-wop and early Motown (Martha Wells is a favorite).

Movies: Blood In Blood Out; American Me.

Heroes: Tony Montana of Scarface. Don Corleone.

Hobbies: Many cholos like pencil drawing. I remember purchasing some from a juvenile offender when I worked at the California Youth Authority. Some collect Li'l Homies, below.

Philosophy: Brown/Chicano Pride (a moderate site compared to some), extreme masculinity, criminality, and drugs.

Behavior: Belligerent and criminal, but their behavior is mediated somewhat by a code of honor.

American Me

Taggers

Same as above, but only commit graffiti-type crimes; probably do not have tattoos.

Again, with the proud anti-antiestablishmentarianism.

Paisas

Nearly all of the students at Huntington Park high school are Hispanic with the overwhelming majority of those coming from Mexico. "Paisas" are those students who especially enjoy Mexican culture-specifically, Northern Mexican culture where vaqueros or cowboys are in style. Think Texas.

Distinguishing marks: None.

Hair: Normal

Clothes: Some may wear cowboy boots, but they dress normally for the most part.

Music: Mexican Norteno, Banda; Chalino Sanchez I and II.

Movies: Mainstream.

Heroes: Chalino Sanchez.

Philosophy: May not be as assimilationist as other recent immigrants, but not officially anti-assimilation. This may be a transition phase shile they choose one of the other groups.

Behavior: Normal

Tucanes de Tijuana are one of the more popular groups.

Corridos Con Banda

Heavy Metal

Distinguishing Marks: None.

Hair: Long, in the style of 1986 Bon Jovi and 2007 Tommy Lee.

Clothes: Van Halen, Metalica T-shirts, Levis. I've also seen Stradivarius.

Music: Heavy Metal. Some enthusiastically opposed to poseur-rock and “Hair-band” heavy metal and make a point of distancing themselves from such music. Don't call them "Emos."

Heroes: People who produce many metal albums, but don't "sell out" (Produce a rock ballad.).

Philosophy: No deviation from norm.

Behavior: Nothing out of ordinary. Mild anti-authority.

Holy Diver

Randy Rhoads

Skaters

Distinguishing marks: None

Clothes: Vans, Levis.

Hair: Varied, but usually longer.

Music: I forgot to ask, but I’m thinking its alternative rock.

Movies: Various skating videos, Jackass, and Bumbfights.

Philosophy: Varies from skating is fun to Skateboarding is not a crime pretentiousness and grievance.

Jackass Number Two (Unrated)

Fresas (Or, now, "Pretty Girls" for non-Spanish speakers)

Fresa is a Mexican term for somebody from a privileged background. American equivalents would be Yuppie for adults and Valley girl or Preppy for adolescents. It seems strange that such a term would be used in what is a lower middle-class neighborhood, but these things are relative.

Hair: Normal and nice, very feminine and sometimes elaborate for the girls.

Clothes, Clean, normal, fashionable in the mainstream sense.

Philosophy: Positive. Many are eager to take advantage of America’s opportunities.

Behavior: Non-offensive. Adhere to what most would consider positive American values.

Fey by Varios Natalia Lafourcade Genitallica Elefante Zoe Fey Volovan Pulpo Ximena

Jocks

Present at every high school, Huntington Park is no exception.

Clothes: Normal with athletic attire and letterman jackets mixed-in.

Hair: Mainstream.

Music: Mainstream

Movies: Mainstream. Possibly more action-oriented.

Heroes: Various athletes.

Philosophy: Positive, can-do, performance-based judgment as opposed to idea-based. For some reason, athletes are more receptive to conservatism.

Behavior: I’ve observed mostly positive behavior.

Machorras

These young ladies are part of a movement which I’ll call "Lesbian chic." At Huntington Park and, I would imagine, other high schools, lesbianism and homosexuality are not frowned upon by the general population. In fact, they're somewhat fashionable. The origin of its popularity has many possible causes which I’ll explore at a later time. I suspect it’s a phase for the majority of the girls. Of course, there are openly homosexual boys, but I can't categorize them as a group with a uniform style other than to say that they act more feminine and mostly have girls as friends. Male homosexual students are never openly affectionate with each other while Machorras are- very.

Hair: Long, straight, and in a pony tail.

Clothes: Masculine-looking attire reigns here; polo shirts and baggy, unflattering denim.

Music: Mainstream

Movies: Mainstream

Heroes: ?

Philosophy: Like many of the groups, Machorras seem to enjoy their counterculturalness.

Behavior: Mainstream.

Nerds

Students interested in academics and/or smart students. Many nerds also belong to one of the other groups. They may be, for example, Heavy Metal or Yu Gi Oh nerds.

Clothes: Nothing special.

Hair: Varied.

Philosophy: Many nerds profess a left world view. Why this is the case falls beyond the purview of this article, but is, nonetheless the case, generally. I'll discuss at a later time.

Actions: Many students involve themselves with school and its activities.

Wannabees

Clothes, hair, and philosophy: Like gangster above, but don't commit crime.

Rebelde
Recent immigrant children devoted to Mexican-youth trends such as the super-popular youth-oriented novella (soap opera), Rebelde.

Clothes: Tend to follow Mexican trends. Generally normal, but with trendy flashes such as Rebelde-style high school uniform ties or t-shirts.

Hair: Mexican trendy.

Philosophy: Generally, these students are happy, innocent, and cooperative.

Empezar Desde Cero

Rebelde pushed the envelope by tackling such themes as teenage pregnancy and, of course, homosexuality. Mexicans now have little cultural advantage over the U.S.

Toy Taggers

The equivalent of Wannabees. These students parrot the philosophy and style of taggers, but don’t destroy property. They mostly tag in their notebooks.

Yu Gi Oh

High school students who haven’t outgrown things associated with younger adolescents such as the popular Japanese playing-card game, Yu Gi Oh. They're boys, have no distaff equivalent, and I don't see many girls flocking to them soon.

Hair and clothes: Because of a retarded interest in the opposite sex, hair and clothes are afterthoughts and therefore, generally sloppy and un-trendy.

Philosophy: These students are concerned with leveling up their characters. They have little interest in the operation of the real world.

Behavior: Nice; and quite animated when talking about their particular interest.

Yu-Gi-Oh: Music to Duel By

Skin Heads

Strange in a Mexican-American neighborhood, yet real.

Distinguishing marks: Tattoos.

Hair: Shaved heads, of course.

Clothes: Boots, chains.

Philosophy: Curiously, this group appropriates the style of a notorious racist group in order to promote anti-racism. As if they enjoy being asked whether they’re racists only to stridently point out that they’re not that kind of skinhead.

Behavior: ?

Punk Rockers

Distinguishing marks: Piercings, tattoos.

Hair: Unnaturally colored.

Clothes: Denim in various states of defilement.

Music: Punk, of course.

Philosophy: Officially anti-social.

Behavior: Indistinguishable from any other group.

Emos

"Emo" is a type of music that emphasizes negative emotions. This is the group other students love to hate.

Hair: Not quite punk rock style weird, but unconventional.

Clothes: Again, not quite punk-rock, but definitely not what one would wear on a job interview. Boys wear make up.

Music: Chemical Romance.

I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love

Philosophy: "Emo" is short for "emotional." Although they may deny it or even be unaware of the philosophy pertaining to this trend, Emos enjoy being depressed or, at least, acting depressed, and profess a nihilistic view of society. Their philosophy implies an interest in dark subjects, suicide, and self-mutilation.

Behavior: To me, their actual behavior is indistinguishable from normal students. It seems more like a pose.

Satanists

I don't know if this is the official name. They may go by something else.

Distinguishing marks: Punk-style mutilations.

Hair: Punk or Heavy Metal.

Clothes: Punk or Heavy Metal, but with an emphasis on pentagrams and upside-down crosses.

Music: Heavy Metal with dark, Satanic verses; Marilyn Manson.

Philosophy: Rulers of Hell rahter than servers in Heaven (or parents, specifically). Future fervent Christians, probably.

Antichrist Superstar

New! Christians

Seeing a few girls wearing long, denim skirts, my inner-sociologist prompted me to ask asked one of my students, "why." She replied that it was because they were Christians and that they "had" to. Suspicious, I asked one of the girls who wore the skirt and she admitted that it was more of a self-imposed rule, and that they did it out of "respect."

Of course, some students have always been drawn together by their religion, but this is the first time that I've noticed an actual style associated with it. In other words, Christian girls, for the first time I remember, want to stand out.

Style: I picked a skirt from the internet that approximated the style. Otherwise conservative and normal.

Philosophy: I'm guessing protestant as most Hispanic Catholics take their faith for granted.

Tags: c, groups in high school, high school cliques, high school clubs, high school divisions