Photographer: Kevin Herrera

Dateline: Santa Monica, CA

As of tomorrow, you can’t have your store merchandise given to you in a single-use plastic bag, and a paper one will cost you an extra dime . . .

They are making speed limits slower all over town and encouraging everyone to stop driving and move to bikes . . .

Restaurants have to send your leftovers home in paper boxes, even though they leak . . .

WE have an extra 1/4% sales tax, just because the city REALLY needs more of our money.

But . . .

It’s A-OK to show up on the 3rd Street Promenade in your Victoria’s Secret or Calvin Kleins in order to score some “free stuff”!

ANYTHING FOR FREE STUFF

Nearly naked shoppers rush into the Desigual boutique on the Third Street Promenade on Tuesday morning. About 150 people showed up in their underwear as part of a promotion. Those in undies were able to select two clothing items and take them home at no cost.

Gotta love the perv in the blue shirt with the camera . . .

I guess if you are a New Hampshire Democrat, expressing your belief in God at a political event is now a crime? Here’s the truly, awful event.

Makes one wonder what’s in the water up there in good ol’ NH. I liked his statement, “The Republican Party is not our savior.” There’s some truth for ya.

This country was founded by men that believed in God, the Creator, and they wrote that this belief would be necessary for Liberty to survive. For, if our rights are not given to us by God, and they come from man, then Man can deprive us of them at any time.

This is what has distinguished our country from all those before is founding and all those since.

May God continue to bless America . . . but that isn’t gonna go on forever if we continue to turn our collective face away from Him.

Ted Rall, once relegated to the likes of the free rags like the L.A. Weekly, now appears regularly in our cat-box-liner of record, the Los Angeles Times. Sheesh! The guys’ the epitome of a raging lefty nutter. That would be hyperbole I guess, if it weren’t so very true.

Now that the left has had its head handed to it at the polls, they’re talking violent revolution. Just another good reason to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and go down and get that case o’ ammo you’ve been saving up for.

They wanna play? Then, it’s lock & load time — Oh, ya betcha!

[Update -- Ed Morrissey from Hot Air reacts to Dylan Ratigan's near endorsement of Rall's call to armed insurrection.]

I don’t find any of this at all remarkable from the execrable Rall, a cartoonist of limited talent who has compensated for it by turning into a crank. What I do find remarkable is this softball interview from Ratigan and MSNBC of a man proposing an armed revolution in the United States after months of hyperbole from MSNBC about the supposed inherent violence and fascism of the Tea Party movement. In fact, Ratigan seems rather intrigued by the potential of such a proposal, while carefully dancing just short of an endorsement. Apparently, that Election Night meltdown wasn’t an isolated case at MSNBC after all.

Criminy!
What on Earth are they putting in the water up there in Maine?

The little girls’ room won’t be just for little girls anymore, if the Maine Human Rights Commission has its way.

The commission is taking heat over a controversial proposal to ban schools from enforcing gender divisions in sports teams, school organizations, bathrooms and locker rooms. It says forcing a student into a particular room or group because of his or her biological gender amounts to discrimination.

BWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

The issue came to light last year when the commission ruled that, under the Maine Human Rights Act, a school had discriminated against a 12-year-old transgender boy by denying him access to the girls’ bathroom.

Now the commission aims to issue guidelines on how schools should deal with similar situations in the future. It would make Maine the first state to implement such guidelines for schools as young as preschool and nursery — and even some private schools.

OMG! The Left is insane! But “Okie”, you say, “How can you blame this lack of mental acuity on the Left?” Well minafrienda, because they copped to it!

Some school districts and organizations have criticized the commission for making its initial ruling without getting enough input from conservative groups, and then for coming up with proposed guidelines in what some described as closed-door sessions.

“The conservative side was never brought in on the discussion in the first place, if you look at who gave testimony, written testimony, etc., in the beginning,” Rev. Bob Celeste of Harrison told FoxNews.com. “When you only bring one side in, you’re not looking for an honest debate. You’re looking for an agenda.”

Once it came time to vote on the guidelines, the commission again came under fire for not doing enough to inform Mainers of the vote, and for not allowing the public to speak at the hearing where it was held.

So, you have to be some sort of staunch “Conservative” to actually have such a heretical thought that there are real differences between human males and human females? And, if you do have such Cro-Magnon beliefs it’s not worth listening to you? What’s up with that?

Classic Leftist technique of telling the majority of moderate and conservative Americans to just “Sit Down, SHUT UP and Take It Already!” Kinda like how they passed the Health Care Law . . . tyranny-of-the-minority in action!

But hey, lets think this Commissions proposal through — when we let little Jenny and little Johnny go to the bathroom at the same time, or make them share showers in the locker room, or let Big Bruiser (just released from McAlester) go into the little girls room where your sister, wife, niece or aunt is expecting some privacy for their personal business — What could go wrong?

You’re thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’? Exactly!

Do these radical Lefties care what anyone else thinks? Maybe . . . just a little:

John Gause, counsel for the Maine Human Rights Commission, told FoxNews.com that the commission is still in the process of developing guidelines on how the Maine Human Rights Act “applies in the context of sexual orientation in schools and colleges.”

“A date and location for the public comment session will be finalized in the near future,” he wrote in an e-mail.

Of course, they never got back to Fox News with any further info, so on that caring front — maybe not so much.

Regardless of how this plays out, the Maine Human Rights Commission is more than deserving of Okie’s Head Up The Ol’ Wazzoo Award!

I was never a big Michael Jackson fan. The little bugger was cute at 5, and if Fred Astaire thought that he was an amazing dancer, so be it for me to disagree. He was even a pretty good lookin’ guy, as can be seen on the cover of Thriller — before he started his many rounds of self mutilation to remove his “blackness” and in many regards, his “maleness”. Let’s face it, trying to look like a white Dianna Ross is weirdness run amok, even for a proclaimed “King of Pop”.

But, enough already. Hundreds, if not thousands of hours of media coverage since his death — Michael Jackson songs on the radio ad nauseum — as if he were the equivalent of Princess Di. I think that Peter King puts it all in proper perspective in the YouTube clip above. King’s criticism has even struck a couple of nerves. Michelle Malkin highlights the “masses” that are trying to unseat King in the next election — Oooooooooooooo!

Genghis over at Ace nailed it last night with his evening message to the morons:

I imagine you all want to hit the rack early tonight so you can get up at the crack of dawn and not miss a second of the solemn and dignified events taking place in L.A. tomorrow (forecast is for mostly sunny skies with a 90% chance of riots by those turned away from the memorial).

Folks massing at Staples Center, turning over cars and burning trash cans — didn’t we just do that last month after the Lakers won their NBA title? Yawn . . .

Sorry, think I’ll pass. Time to move on folks, nothin’ really to see here.

Technorati Tags: Rep. Peter King, Michael Jackson

Sonja E. Brown, acting Deputy Communications Director for Proposition 8 Protect Marriage in California, had a rough day yesterday as she tried in vain to obtain a venue in Los Angele County for the Protect Marriage press conference reactions to the CA Supreme Court decision to uphold last November’s amendment to the state constitution.

In the past week, I was tasked to find a location in Los Angeles where Protect Marriage might be able to offer comment when the California Supreme Court handed down its decision on Proposition 8. This may surprise you, but the Protect Marriage campaign was not welcome anywhere in Los Angeles following last November 4th’s election. Perhaps this does not surprise you. Either out of fear, or fear of appearing supportive of our odd tradition of marriage, facilities like the Museum of Tolerance, The Bonaventure Hotel, City Hall, Marriott Hotels, Hilton Hotels, or any hotel would not welcome Protect Marriage for fear of retaliation or protests. We feared these locations as well because of the great potential for sabatoge. Calling City Hall for instance, was a dead end for a democratic cause like Protect Marriage. Not only did Los Anglees Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa support legalization of gay marriage, but also the entire Board of County of Supervisors and virtually everyone in City and County government. How helpful do you believe City Hall would be in facilitating a Protect Marriage press conference? When the Office of City Permits was contacted to schedule an event, our calls were not returned, our requests ignored.

{…}

During the 10 weeks of the campaign when I was on the airwaves, my computer was hacked, my home was stalked, my safety was threatened, my family was on alert, and my husband uncomfortable with some colleagues. Remarkably, it seemed dangerous at times to be the voice of defense for marriage. In another decade, another century, another millenium, I wouldn’t have been given the time of day. In Los Angeles in 2008, I was viewed as an anti-christ by some for suggeting that children do better when they have the benefit of a mother and a father.

It’s a war out there folks, a real-live culture war. Sonja is one of the valiant warriors fighting for the good!

Last Wed. eve this years’ American Idol was announced. After nearly 100 million votes, 23-year-old Kris Allen from Conway, Ark won — and it’s reported that the voting wasn’t even all that close. Not that this will change the course of world events, but AI is the highest rated regular show on network television — the last of the “water cooler” shows. What makes this year particularly poignant is that the winner wasn’t the best singer — not by a long shot. Adam Lambert can “sing the phone book” as Randy Jackson often proclaims, and it would sound terrific. He had far more range, far more stage presence, much greater vocal skills and excellent enunciation of the lyrics. Superior all around. So, why did Kris win?

First, Kris might not have been great, but he is damn good! Second, his humble manner and absolute genuineness comes across particularly well, and the American Idol home audience really seems to warm up to those traits. Third, many would say this is the biggie, Kris Allen isn’t overtly gay — while Adam Lambert was comfortable glamming with the best of them.

As we out here in the Golden State (is granola “gold”?) gird our loins for Tuesday’s ruling by our Supreme Court on the challenge to Proposition 8, the Constitutional amendment that re-established the meaning of marriage as “between one man and one woman”, one has to consider that our mainstream media notwithstanding — the day-in, day-out common American is not gung ho on championing the gay/lesbian lifestyle as an accepted standard. Tolerated, fine. What we should encourage our children to emulate? Not so much.

But, as they keep saying on the show — “It’s a SINGING competition”. Therefore, the best singer should win? It’s also a “performance” competition, and talent is only part of a performance. There has to be that connection to the viewer, that spark to make tens of millions of folks to reach over, dial or text their vote. The guys are showing us the way through this cultural quagmire, as they seem to be good friends. As a writer over at TMZ blog states: “Just because several million more people like one over the other, it doesn’t mean “American Idol” champ Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert can’t enjoy a meal together.” Adam Lambert is gonna do just fine . . .

Kris Allen — you ARE, the American Idol. Good luck to both of ya!

We’re coming up on Christmas and damn if the PC crowd doesn’t go out of its way to act like the South Park town folk on the Mister Hanky episode. Michelle Malkin links to this at Star News Online.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was almost grounded at Murrayville Elementary School this week after a parent complained about the classic Christmas song’s inclusion in her daughter’s upcoming kindergarten concert.

The objecting parent was upset about the words “Christmas” and “Santa” in the song, feeling that they carried religious overtones.

That prompted the song to be pulled from the upcoming holiday concert, which in turn upset more parents.

But Rudolph will be shining bright next Tuesday after New Hanover County school administrators and lawyers determined the song was just, well, a secular song about a make-believe reindeer.

Cooler head prevailing — but you know there will be lots of these stories in the next 10 days.

The following is funny, even though it’s all too real.

Technorati Tags: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Murrayville Elementary School, Christmas

Wow, the elitist waging war on our culture sure have been busy! Earlier I wrote about a Florida University that can’t stomach holiday decorations. A little closer to home, (too damn close mind you!), more of those enlightened individuals known as college/university professors have decided that kindergarten kids wearing traditional Thanksgiving day costumes is demeaning to native Americans. Oh, please . . .

For decades, Claremont kindergartners have celebrated Thanksgiving by dressing up as pilgrims and Native Americans and sharing a feast. But on Tuesday, when the youngsters meet for their turkey and songs, they won’t be wearing their hand-made bonnets, headdresses and fringed vests.

Parents in this quiet university town are sharply divided over what these construction-paper symbols represent: A simple child’s depiction of the traditional (if not wholly accurate) tale of two factions setting aside their differences to give thanks over a shared meal? Or a cartoonish stereotype that would never be allowed of other racial, ethnic or religious groups?

“It’s demeaning,” Michelle Raheja, the mother of a kindergartner at Condit Elementary School, wrote to her daughter’s teacher. “I’m sure you can appreciate the inappropriateness of asking children to dress up like slaves (and kind slave masters), or Jews (and friendly Nazis), or members of any other racial minority group who has struggled in our nation’s history.”

{…}

Raheja, an English professor at UC Riverside who specializes in Native American literature, said she met with teachers and administrators in hopes that the district could hold a public forum to discuss alternatives that celebrate thankfulness without “dehumanizing” her daughter’s ancestry.

Nice to know that someone teaching at the university level in SoCal thinks that “Jews (and friendly Nazis)” are part of “our nation’s history”. Excuse me Michelle, wasn’t that Nazi Germany? Getting your oppressed peoples a tad bit mixed up aren’t we?

Last week, rumors began to circulate on both campuses that the district was planning to cancel the event, and infuriated parents argued over the matter at a heated school board meeting Thursday. District Supt. David Cash announced at the end of the meeting that the two schools had tentatively decided to hold the event without the costumes, and sent a memo to parents Friday confirming the decision.

Cash and the principals of Condit and Mountain View did not respond to interview requests.

But many parents, who are convinced the decision was made before the board meeting, accused administrators of bowing to political correctness.

Life is getting more and more like South Park’s Mr. Hankey episode.

This Christmas-themed episode of South Park opens as the children rehearse their Christmas play. They are performing a Christian Nativity, and when Kyle’s mother hears of this, she is infuriated by the play, because her son, a Jew, plays the role of Joseph. Mrs. Broflovski is offended by the Christian imagery, and demands that the religious elements be taken out of the public school Christmas pageant, since they don’t celebrate Christmas. (…)

Mayor McDaniels decides that anything offensive to anyone will be removed from the Christmas celebrations, including Santa Claus, wreaths, trees, stars, lights, candy canes, and mistletoe. (…)

Ultimately, the school Christmas pageant, along with the whole town, is stripped of all symbols of Christmas, as anything that does resemble Christmas is deemed offensive by someone (…) . Instead, the children present a minimalist song and dance created by Philip Glass. The parents, astounded by how awful the pageant has turned out, begin blaming one another for destroying Christmas, and a fight breaks out.

If that doesn’t sound a heck of a lot like this . . .

Among the costume supporters, there is a vein of suspicion that casts Raheja and others opposed to the costumes as agenda-driven elitists. Of the handful of others who spoke with Raheja against the costumes at the board meeting, one teaches at the University of Redlands, one is an instructor at Riverside Community College, and one is a former Pitzer College professor.

Raheja is “using those children as a political platform for herself and her ideas,” Constance Garabedian said as her 5-year-old Mountain View kindergartner happily practiced a song about Native Americans in the background. “I’m not a professor and I’m not a historian, but I can put the dots together.”

{…}

“Its always a good thing to think about, critically, how we teach kids, even from very young ages, the message we want them to learn, and the respect for the diversity of the American experiences,” said Jennifer Tilton, an assistant professor of race and ethnic studies at the University of Redlands and a Claremont parent who opposes the costumes.

Ya know? Sometimes a bit too much education is a debilitating thing. Don’t think that everyone that teaches at the college and university level are super-smart. From the way they carry on, a good lot o’ them don’t know “Mr. Hankey” from Shinola!

Michelle Raheja — You are truly deserving of Okie’s Head Up The Wazzoo Award!

Say “howdy” to Mr. Hankey for me . . .

Technorati Tags: Thanksgiving day costumes, Claremont, Michelle Raheja

We’ve discussed this before — that the college and university system is hell-bent on the destruction of Judeo-Christian culture. If you have kids going to Florida Gulf Coast University you better be all in with that ’cause they ain’t about to let a little Christmas cheer be spread around, not in their precious little secular enclave. The Fort Myers News-Press has the skinny:

Christmas is just 30 days away, but Santa Claus won’t be stopping by Florida Gulf Coast University this holiday.

He’s not allowed on campus.

FGCU administration has banned all holiday decorations from common spaces on campus and canceled a popular greeting card design contest, which is being replaced by an ugly sweater competition. In Griffin Hall, the university’s giving tree for needy preschoolers has been transformed into a “giving garden.”

The moves boil down to political correctness.

“Public institutions, including FGCU, often struggle with how best to observe the season in ways that honor and respect all traditions,” President Wilson Bradshaw wrote in a memo to faculty and staff Thursday. “This is a challenging issue each year at FGCU, and 2008 is no exception. While it may appear at times that a vocal majority of opinion is the only view that is held, this is not always the case.”

They received 44 anonymous comments, all against the decorations ban. The staff and students quoted in the article were all good with having holiday decorations. Only the Lilly-livered, oh-my-god-they’re-gonna-sue-the-pants-off-us, POS university administrators are for it.

Just another firefight in the Culture Wars.

Be careful where you send your kids to school — they aren’t just learnin’ math, science and history — they’re being brainwashed by the secular humanists in our midst. Send your sweet little Janie and little Johnny to the wrong institution and you might just get back your very own Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. There’s a holiday thought for the ages — oh, ya betcha!

Unrepentant William “Bill’ Ayres desecrating US flag:
“We didn’t do enough . . .”

Technorati Tags: Florida Gulf Coast University, banned all holiday decorations