The Discerning Texan

Instapundit is on fire tonight. First, a couple of Glenn's links (and a couple of my own) demonstrate what we are up against already; so let me make sure I understand: there are movement Conservatives out there who also want to give the Presidency (and all of the open judgeships) to these people???

First up is a brilliant illustration of the unbridled lust for power that the Leftists have:

WHY GOOD PEOPLE DON'T GO INTO GOVERNMENT: "Howard Krongard worked his last day at the State Department recently, having learned a hard lesson in the ways of modern Congressional 'oversight.' To wit, if you don't follow Henry Waxman's orders, he'll try to ruin you....Mr. Waxman doesn't much care if any of this is true, because his larger goal is to send a message to every Inspector General in government: They answer to him." Kind of like the Clintons and MSNBC. It's too bad that it's so easy to gin up fake scandals and "ethical" problems in the service of political witch-hunting. Somebody should write a book on that!

Second is yet another American city (Toledo, Ohio, for God's sake...) whose Democrat mayor has put the United States Marines in his crosshairs:

OK, so 200 Marines stationed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, piled on to five buses and came to Toledo, Ohio, yesterday to practice some urban patrol exercises. The Toledo police knew about the request for the three-day exercise well in advance, but somehow Mayor Carty Finkbeiner didn’t see the memo requesting permission for the event. So when when the first bus arrives at 3:20 p.m. and Staff Sergeant Andre Davis steps off, he is greeted by a city employee and told that the mayor wanted him and his soldiers out of town by 6 p.m. “I wish,” Sgt Davis drily remarked, “they would have told us this four hours ago.” [Update: a reader points out that it is incorrect to refer to Marines as “soldiers”: soldiers serve in the army, not the Marines. I regret the mistake.]

Indeed.

I gather that Mayor Finkbeiner (a Democrat, readers will be surprised to learn), like the folks in Berkeley, California, can’t think of the United States Marines without having the first lines of “The Destruction of Sennacherib” float through his head (“The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold …”) “The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people,” said Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman.

Gee, isn’t that a shame?

Read the rest of Toledo to Marines: drop dead.

Stephen Bainbridge adds:

Of course, Marines will adapt. but they shouldn’t have to. If they need access to a downtown urban environment to train, they ought to have it. If a Marine from this unit dies because he wasn’t able to adequately train for the urban combat the Marines face in parts of Iraq, the blood will be on Finkbeiner’s hands.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time Finkbeiner has generated controversy. Wikipedia ticks off a laundry list of errors, misjudgments, and outright abuses. If half those allegations are true, we’re dealing with a petty tyrant and, to be blunt, jerk.

Of course, those who know me will not be surprised that this allegation was the one that really pushed my button:

Greg Bloomfield, president and chief executive officer of the Toledo Area Humane Society, said it was wrong for Mr. Finkbeiner to leave his dog in his car while he went for a 45-minute massage-therapy session last week.

The mayor left Scout, a yellow lab, in his city-leased GMC Envoy — reportedly with the windows down — while he went into the Westgate Building in West Toledo for treatment of an Achilles tendon injury.

He parked his car in a handicapped parking space, in part, because he said it was under a tree and could provide shade for Scout. The mayor received a $100 parking ticket.

Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman, said Mr. Finkbeiner paid his fine yesterday.

But the mayor was still in hot water with Mr. Bloomfield and others because of the dangers of leaving a dog in a parked car during the summer.

Mr. Bloomfield said that even in a parked car with the windows cracked the temperature in the car can climb 20 degrees in 10 to 20 minutes. He said if a dog’s body temperature rises one or two degrees, it could be harmful for the animal.

Also via Glenn. (dizzying)

Now I don't know about you, after reading that glowing story about the Motherland, I'm ready for a little Chely Wright right now (this is my own link: if you haven't seen it already, this one is a must....Chely is definitely not a Stalingrad native).

Meanwhile, the Politburo has held President Bush's judicial nominees hostage "on hold" for almost two full years now (hey! that's how long since we voted for them!):

In this time of war, we need a strong Department of Justice. Yet the Senate has not voted on nominations for seven senior leadership positions at the department. One of those vacancies is for Deputy Attorney General. The Deputy Attorney General helps lead efforts to detect and prevent terrorist attacks at home.

I've selected an outstanding nominee for this position: Judge Mark Filip. This former prosecutor has earned a reputation for being fair-minded and dedicated. Several years ago the Senate confirmed him unanimously for a lifetime position on the Federal bench. Now I ask senators to confirm him once again so he can help keep our nation safe.

As senators confirm these nominees, they must also confirm judges to the Federal bench. I have nominated highly qualified individuals who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel.

Unfortunately, the Senate continues to delay votes for 28 of my judicial nominees. Three of my nominees for the Court of Appeals have waited nearly 600 days. These delays are irresponsible, they undermine the cause of justice, and I call on the United States Senate to give these nominees the up or down vote they deserve.

When men and women agree to serve in public office, we should treat them with respect and dignity, and that means giving them a prompt confirmation vote. When the Senate fails to give nominees a timely vote, it leaves important positions in our government vacant, and it makes it harder for presidents of both parties to attract good men and women to serve in these vital posts.

By working together, Republicans and Democrats can chart a better course. We can bring every nomination to the floor for a vote, and give the American people the kind of public servants they deserve.

Yeah, like that's going to happen with Democrats in charge.

Finally, Barack Obama (you know the one: Rezko's foil) is claiming tonight that there are "election irregularities" in Louisiana. Who knew?

What??? Democrat corruption in Louisiana?? Democrat power brokers (read:"Clintonistas") trying to fix elections?? Democrats playing identity politics and the race card?? Say it ain't so!

The sad thing for me is that the outrageous and unheard of happens every single day now. The Stalinism of the Democrat Party has become so commonplace that too few even bother to raise their voices about it anymore. It's expected. And--of course--that's exactly what the Stalinists are counting on. Where are the voices? Where is the media which normally would be baying at the moon if there is a Republican with a hint of corruption?

Ah, but that's life....in Stalingrad.

UPDATE: Much consternation in The Party for the selection of the next General Secretary.