·:[ The (vast) Right Wing Conspiracy ]:·
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An article over at the Weekly Standard (a National Review joke about WS - Q: How many WS staffers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: 10,000. 1 to hold the lightbulb and 9,999 to mobilize the carrier fleet) talks about a recent House resolution to support democracy in Cuba.

Although I am firmly against the simplistic and detrimental reduction of all policy of importance to the different Hispanic-American groups to whatever the Miami Cubans say, I must say that this is annoying.

My Congresswoman (Nydia Velasquez, mreh!) was one of only 22 (all but 1 Democrats, of course) to withhold their endorsement of the cause of those fighting for democracy in the Communist country.

Grrrr. Someone should unseat her

On Tuesday, the House passed a measure first introduced by Miami-area congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American Republican. HR 193 expressed support for the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba, an umbrella structure of over 360 dissident and civil society groups led by economist Marta Beatriz Roque.

The Diaz-Balart bill, which gained some 55 cosponsors, contained four basic planks:

(1) The House “extends its support and solidarity to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana.”

(2) The House “urges the international community to support the Assembly’s mission to bring democracy to Cuba.”

(3) The House “urges the Administration and international community to actively oppose any attempts by the Castro regime to repress or punish the organizers and participants of the Assembly.”

(4) The House “shares the pro-democracy ideals of
the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba and believes that this Assembly and others will hasten the day of freedom and democracy for the people of Cuba.”

The legislation passed with 392 supporters–and 22 opponents.

Those voting “nay” included the following Democrats: Reps. John Conyers (Mich.), Sam Farr (Calif.), Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Ohio), Carolyn Kilpatrick (Mich.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Jim McDermott (Wash.), Cynthia McKinney (Ga.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), George Miller (Ga.), John Olver (Mass.), Donald Payne (N.J.), Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), José Serrano (N.Y.), Pete Stark (Calif.), Edolphus Towns (N.Y.), Tom Udall (N.M.), Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), and Lynn Woolsey (Calif.).

Grrr, again.

Claudio

Yes, I know that I haven’t even been formally awarded my 2005 Harry S. Truman Scholarship (I’m leaving for Truman-ville, Missouri on Sunday). But that doesn’t keep me from beginning my 2006 Rhodes Scholarship application.

But this just scares me:

In addition to the work of the writing itself, preparing your paper application involves following bizarre and arcane document handling instructions as though they were holy writ. The Rhodes in particular is fond of giving its applicants instructions such as, “Staple an unmounted head and shoulders photograph of yourself wearing a shirt and/or blouse consisting of not greater than 12% polyester to the top of the application packet, such that the left boundary of the photograph is normal to the line defined by the perpendicular bisection of the personal information sheets bottom margin, which should be signed in black ink on the third page of the seventh copy in the set of nine.“

So, if you never hear from me again after May 26, 2005 (the day I will begin writing my first draft of the Rhodes application), you will know what I am up to.

Well, at least I know that I can wear my favorite dress shirt in the photo (100% pure Egyptian cotton from Pink).

Claudio

Another timewaster, courtesy of the Pew Center.

It’s actually pretty well-researched and accurate.

I just took the test: Surprise! I’m a social conservative. Did I fool ya?

UPDATE: Surprise! My girl is a Liberal.

UPDATE #2 - I’m an ENTERPRISER.

Big shocker there - Pat
Claudio

Social Conservative

Based on your answers to the questionnaire, you most closely resemble survey respondents within the Social Conservative typology group. This does not mean that you necessarily fit every group characteristic or agree with the group on all issues.

Social Conservatives represent 11 percent of the American public, and 13 percent of registered voters.

Basic Description
One of three core Republican groups, Social Conservatives (along with Pro-Government Conservatives) are somewhat more religious than are Enterprisers. They are supportive of an assertive foreign policy and very conservative on social and cultural issues. In policy terms, they break from the Enterprisers in their cynical views of business, modest support for environmental and other regulation, and strong anti-immigrant sentiment.

Defining Values
Conservative on social issues ranging from gay marriage to abortion. Support an assertive foreign policy and oppose government aid for the needy, believing people need to make it on their own. Strongly worried about impact of immigrants on American society. More middle-of-the-road on economic and domestic policies, expressing some skepticism about business power and profits, and some support for government regulation to protect the environment. While not significantly better-off than the rest of the nation, most express strong feelings of financial satisfaction and security.

Who They Are
Predominantly white (91%), female (58%) and the oldest of all groups (average age is 52; 47% are 50 or older); nearly half live in the South. Most (53%) attend church weekly; 43% are white evangelical Protestants (double the national average of 21%).

Lifestyle Notes
56% report having a gun in their home, and 51% attend Bible study groups.

2004 Election
Bush 86%, Kerry 4%.

Party ID
82% Republican, 18% Independent/No Preference, 0% Democrat (97% Rep/LeanRep)

Media Use
Half of Social Conservatives cite newspapers as a main source of news; the Fox News Channel (34%) and network evening news (30%) are their major TV news sources.

Newt Gingrich chillin’ with Hillary. His words to his party?

“Any Republican who thinks she’s going to be easy to beat in 2008 really misunderstands the Clintons.”

Thank you, Captain Obvious. And you appearing with her on the pedestal in some hare-brained attempt to infuse your presidential prospects is pure preposterousness.

So now Hillary gets to continue to trumpet herself as the second-coming of the Moderate. Great, give her more swing votes. More currency in Middle America. That’ll help the party!

Again, thanks Newt, for all you do for America.
Claudio