THE ONLY ISSUE THIS ELECTION DAY

This is virtually a “man bites dog” sort of story, given the general direction of the Democratic party these days. The essay is WELL worth the read. (H/T to Little Green Footballs)

Firstly, if you are not familiar with Orson Scott Card, he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who is also a very successful writer of science fiction/fantasy, and historical novels – many of which have a strong spiritual content laced through his writing. This is the start of an essay he recently published on-line.

I offer it, for your consideration:

There is only one issue in this election that will matter five or ten years from now, and that’s the War on Terror.

And the success of the War on Terror now teeters on the fulcrum of this election.

If control of the House passes into Democratic hands, there are enough withdraw-on-a-timetable Democrats in positions of prominence that it will not only seem to be a victory for our enemies, it will be one.

Unfortunately, the opposite is not the case — if the Republican Party remains in control of both houses of Congress there is no guarantee that the outcome of the present war will be favorable for us or anyone else.

But at least there will be a chance.

I say this as a Democrat, for whom the Republican domination of government threatens many values that I hold to be important to America’s role as a light among nations.

But there are no values that matter to me that will not be gravely endangered if we lose this war. And since the Democratic Party seems hellbent on losing it — and in the most damaging possible way — I have no choice but to advocate that my party be kept from getting its hands on the reins of national power, until it proves itself once again to be capable of recognizing our core national interests instead of its own temporary partisan advantages.

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Last minute charges of financial skullduggery from both the LibDonk and conservative sides in the run up to the SD election. The LibDonk situation is being thoroughly vetted by SDWC, as noted below. Contrasting coverage, or the lack thereof, leave the Argus with its partisan inconsistency hanging out like a full moon for the body politic.

First this recent bit:

$750,000 donation might be illegal, group alleges

The group trying to overturn the state’s abortion ban filed a complaint Friday with Attorney General Larry Long, alleging that a corporate donation to the Vote Yes for Life campaign might have violated state law.

Now, no one disputes RINO Jan Nicolay’s right to question anything. (Of course a bit more rigorous legal analysis would be in order, but hey, for a RINO, like other varieties of moonbats, that’s par for the course, and another topic altogether.)

What’s interesting is the front page coverage here, ad nauseum, about the nerve of anyone trying to seriously oppose a woman’s right to commit an act of pre-natal infanticide. The Chief has to wonder what the flap is about, if, as the polls report, they are on track to throw out the state’s abortion ban.

Are they perhaps concerned that they may not, after all have a shoe-in, and are trying to create a backlash to an alleged illegality? Is the Chief just too cynical here? Maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, back to the Argus. The case is made that it is not illegal for corporate based donations to ballot ISSUES to be used, unless the corporation in question has actively sought contributions for same. No one has thus far indicated any evidence that this is the case.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, If you want to see how some REAL investigative journalism should look (original documentary paper trail!) check out SDWC’s posts on the situation of irregularities of funding for LibDonk Billion’s gubernatorial campaign.

Click on image for enlargement.

Did anyone besides me notice this….

Breaking News: More discrepancies on Vision South Dakota Financial Report

Breaking News: Vision South Dakota Files Report. Citizens for Open and Honest Government mystery deepens

Phew! As summarized by SDWC:

…the address of the mysterious “South Dakota Association” who is funding the battle to end video lottery (which I think will force an income tax) has the same address as The Midwest Coalition for Progress? The Anti-DM&E group which was funding Vision South Dakota. Who in turn was finding South Dakotans for Honest and Open Government as well as Jack Billion.

After noting that the anti-DM&E effort is ex-Senator Daschle’s pet project, one is tempted to say the picture gets even more politically incestuous (even if that description sets off the abortion proponents again, oh well).

Samsung creates machine-gunning robot, doesn’t play MP3s

Samsung has developed a sentry robot with machine guns on it that will kill on sight. Geez guys, the MP3 player business wasn’t working well enough for you? Or is this just a way of diversifying, hoping to get customers in with the players and then give them the hard sell on the $200,000 killing machine? In any case, the robot has a camera for the daytime and an infrared camera for the nighttime and can tell the difference between people and trees, which doesn’t sound all that difficult. No word on if it can differentiate between terrorists and trick or treating children dressed as terrorists (sorry again, kids!). It has a speaker to warn people that they’re about to get their face blown off by a gun-wielding robot, which is a nice touch. This perfect killer will be set up on the DMZ separating North Korea and South Korea next year, as if you needed another reason to stay the hell away from the DMZ. Check the really unsettling promo video after the jump.

It doesn’t seem so unsettling to the Chief…in fact it’s sort of reassuring.

Hmmmmm. About that Mexican border…heh heh heh!

The Chief went to Ask.com in order to find a picture of a nuke going off to use in a PowerPoint for one of his science classes. I did find a suitable one to use:

Before I did however, my eye was deawn to an entry for e-Bay as shown in the following screen shot:

Have the North Koreans discovered e-Bay? Or is it renegade former USSR Red Army troops out to cushion their pensions? One only hopes the Iranians or al Qaida don’t notice!

Instructions for a fun time on the interstate:
Step 1. Tie balloons to car.
Step 2. Drive like a bat out of hell.
Step 3. Watch people freak out !!!

Can you imagine some guy going 90 mph on the interstate with these
balloons trailing a few yards behind him?

What a hoot!

National Battle Over Abortion Focuses on South Dakota Vote

In the downtown headquarters of those opposing a ban on nearly all abortions in this state, there are notes from around the country taped up and down the hallway: “They need to butt out of women’s lives” and “Why did S.D. vote for this?”

On the other side of town, in a warehouse decorated in pink, the supporters of the ban doggedly work a phone bank, in some cases young children playing nearby. The battle here over a statewide ballot measure to install one of the country’s strictest anti-abortion laws is playing out in television commercials, yard signs and Sunday sermons. It is also drawing the attention of national advocates on both sides of the abortion debate, who are watching the campaign with deep intensity and even fear.

Seems like fairly balanced coverage – at least this time.