Movie Posters We'd Like To See

Mexican Legislators Complain About Immigration Laws

...at a press conference in freaking Arizona:

A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to
say Arizona's new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the
Mexican state.

I am so blown away by this I can scarcely form the fucking words. Although I find the illegal aliens' sense of entitlement here in the U.S. galling as hell, for members of the Mexican government to openly display the same mindset is just appalling.

Here's my favorite quote:

"Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems" it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona and sending money to their families return to hometowns in Sonora without jobs, [Representative Leticia Amparano Gomez] said.

Boo hoo, Ms. Gomez.

Boo hoo.

A Small Observation

Back in March of this year, actress Vivica A. Fox was arrested for DUI:

It happened last night on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley at 10:57 PM. We're told Fox passed a marked black and white while going approximately 80 mph. Sources say the officers went after the 2007 Cadillac Escalade she was driving.

The officers administered a field sobriety test -- which Fox was unable to perform.

Oh, those wacky celebs. Always causing a ruckus. Well, surely there's nothing more to see here.

Oops...maybe there is. Fast forward to late June, 2007:

The officer says in the report, after she was stopped, "Fox began to walk away, yelling at my partner, 'Brother help a sister -- are you going to let this racist white cop do this ... well are you?'"

In the section of the report in which the officers are asked to describe the demeanor of the person they're arresting, the officer wrote "demeaning." We're told things got volatile enough that a patrol sergeant was called to the scene.

Now here's the interesting thing - Ms. Fox was pulled over back in March, and yet it's practically July before we're hearing about her little attitude problem.

Contrast that with another celebrity DUI arrest:

Mel Gibson was charged with misdemeanor drunken driving Wednesday, five days after he was stopped on Malibu’s Pacific Coast Highway for speeding and made anti-Semitic comments that have stained his public image.

Now I'm not defending Mel Gibson, but I do wonder why his admittedly uncouth statements were reported everywhere almost immediately while Ms. Fox's rants were kept quiet for months. What's more, every sylable which Mel uttered that night was dutifully reported, while most of what Vivica had to say was simply described as "demeaning".

I suppose it's possible that Mel Gibson, as a bigger star with a much higher profile, could be considered more newsworthy than Vivica A. Fox. That would be why his outbursts have a much more immediate impact that hers.

Of course, it could also be that, as a white male conservative Catholic, Mel Gibson's behavior is a much more delicious contradiction of his wholesome public image and is therefore more deserving of attention.

Is it possible that Ms. Fox's behavior, while disappointing and sad, is perhaps not as surprising? I mean, of course pulling someone over for driving 80 miles per hour and weaving all over the road while drunk is a "rascist" act. After all, what's a little drunk driving and potential for loss of life compared to true equality and social justice?

A picture's worth a thousand words

Here's Mel Gibson's mugshot, which boozily stared out at America from countless websites, newspapers and T.V. screens:

Vivica's mugshot hasn't made it into the public eye yet (not yet?), so I guess we'll have to make due with something else:

Yes, I think that will do.

The Amnesty Bill Lives On

Here we go again.

Key senators tentatively agreed on a plan to revive a stalled immigration bill on Thursday, aided by President Bush's support for a quick $4.4 billion aimed at "securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site."

Most opponents of the bill view this latest move as a last ditch attempt to prove their enforcement chops. But Senator Jim DeMint points out the elephant in the room (and it sure ain't a Republican!):

"I appreciate the effort to fund border security, but there's simply no reason why we should be forced to tie amnesty to it. If the administration was serious about fulfilling the border security promises, then this funding should have been supported all along, not offered at the last minute to attract votes to a bad bill."

It's hard to argue with that. Besides, it seems we've been down this road before.

Angelina Jolie, Hypocrite

While at the premiere of her new movie "A Mighty Heart", Saint Angelina saw fit to censor interviews and even banned Fox News from the red carpet.

Reporters were asked to sign contracts which laid out specific rules for all interviews. Several of the reporters refused to sign the contract, causing Jolie to cancel all interviews.

Jolie told Paramount Pictures publicists to ban FOX News Channel and all FOX News affiliates from covering the "Mighty Heart" premiere on the red carpet. It was only with the intervention of mortified Paramount staff that an FNC camera crew was allowed to be present.

Apparently, no one told Jolie of the highly positive review FOX News had given "A Mighty Heart" from Cannes.

Ironically, the premiere benefitted Reporters Without Borders, an international organization which champions freedom of the press.

Democrats Seek To Ease AMT Hit For Millions

You'll never guess how they plan on doing that.

House Democrats looking to spare millions of middle-class families from the expensive bite of the alternative minimum tax are considering adding a surcharge of 4 percent or more to the tax bills of the nation's wealthiest households.

For those of you who don't know, the Alternative Medical Tax, created in 1969, was designed to ensure that a small number of super-wealthy citizens weren't able to deduct and loophole their way out of paying any taxes. Unfortunately, Congress neglected to index the AMT for inflation. So, as incomes have increased over the years, more and more "non-wealthy" people are falling under the AMT's reach. Back in 1969, the AMT was designed to nab 155 filers. But today

the tax is projected to strike more than 23 million households next spring, many of them earning as little as $50,000 a year.

The trick here is to provide relief for those who shouldn't be caught up in the AMT, while at the same time not denying the Government too much revenue. Under the proposal discussed in the article, a 4.3% surcharge would be imposed on incomes over $500,000 per year. This would allow the Government to eliminate the AMT for those earning $250,000 or less. Representative Richard Neal (D-MA), chariman of the House subcommittee with responsibility over the AMT, claims this proposal has broad support with key Democrats. However,

Some Democrats say Neal's plan stretches the definition of the middle class too far, providing AMT relief to too many wealthy households. They argue that the cutoff for families to be spared from the AMT should be lower, at $200,000, $150,000 or even $75,000.

So, some Democrats define "wealthy" as $75,000? No wonder they're always shrieking aboout the shrinking middle class! Not to brag, but I myself make somewhere north of $75,000 per year, and believe me, I would not call myself "wealthy".

See, this is what gets me about the Left's take on wealth. They're so determined to demonize everyone who manages to live comfortably, with cries of "paying their fair share" and redistributions of wealth. Why don't they just get it over with, tax the wealthy at 80%, and give the proceeds directly to the vaunted underclass. At least that way, we'll only need to provide public assistance to the top 10% of the population (since they'll no longer be able to afford a living) instead of the current 30% or 35%.

Paris Goes Back To Jail

Judge Michael Sauer ordered Hilton back to jail to serve the rest of her 45 day sentence.

Screaming and crying, Paris Hilton was escorted from a courtroom and sent back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her entire 45-day sentence behind bars rather than in her Hollywood Hills home.

Although there had been some rumblings about holding Sheriff Lee Baca in contempt of court for releasing Hilton early, Judge Sauer took no action on that issue.

Hilton's attorneys also asked the judge to hear testimony about her medical condition; Sauer also took no action on this request.

The judge interrupted several times to say that he had received a call last Wednesday from an undersheriff informing him that Hilton had a medical condition and that he would submit papers to the judge to consider. He said the papers never arrived.

Every few minutes, the judge would interrupt proceedings, state the time on the clock, and note that the papers still had not arrived.

Hilton's family are currently preparing an appeal to the decision, which should be filed either today or Monday.

For now, though, Paris Hilton is now back in her cell.

Not So Fast, Paris Hilton!

I know I said I was through posting about Paris, but this is huge! If she didn't have a breakdown before, our girl probably will now!

Paris may be headed back to jail after only being out less than a day!

Hours after Paris Hilton was sent home under house arrest Thursday, the judge who put her in jail ordered her into court to determine whether she should be put back behind bars. Hilton must report to court at 9 a.m. Friday, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told The Associated Press.

So, I guess outrage wasn't limited only to the unwashed masses who could never score similar leniency in a million years. I am, however, honestly surprised that someone is doing something about it.

Kathy Hilton must be apoplectic over this latest abuse of taxpayer funds.

If that wasn't enough, the city attorney is also talking about having Sheriff Lee Baca, the one who authorized Paris' release, held in contempt.

UPDATE: TMZ.com is reporting that L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has filed a motion requesting that Paris Hilton be returned to jail to serve her full sentence. In addition,

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is also asking Judge Michael Sauer to hold a hearing, demanding that the Sheriff's Department show why it should not be held in contempt of court for violating Judge Sauer's May 4, 2007 order, which expressly stated "no electronic monitoring."

One question - by "full sentence" is Delgadillo refering to the 23 days or to the full 45 days she was originally sentenced to? Since he's appealing to the judge that sentenced Paris and has jurisdiction over her case, I'm guessing it's the 23 days.

The Unintended Consequences Of Diversity

After years of insisting that the key to a better world is diversity, the City of Atlanta is learning that a more diverse population may lead to some unintended consequences:

There are fears in Atlanta's black community that its declining presence in the population could shrink its political influence and endanger social policies that support diversity, Mayor Shirley Franklin said Friday.

It seems that all of those wonderful "social policies that support diversity" have led to an increase in the Hispanic and Asian populations. Unfortunately, the city also saw a decline in the black population as more and more of these residents are moving to the suburbs to take advantage of better real estate values and (as Mayor Franklin calls them) "so-called better schools". Overall, the Black population in Atlanta has declined from 70% to 60% during the '70s and '80s.

So, the lesson for today is diversity is desirable only until one's political influence is threatened.

How delightfully progressive...

Absolutely The Last Paris Hilton Post!

Barring any more monumental outrages on her part.

I just saw this posted on Perez Hilton's website. Face it America, Paris is laughing at you...

"I want to thank the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and staff of the Century Regional Detention Center for treating me fairly and professionally. I am going to serve the remaining 40 days of my sentence. I have learned a great deal from this ordeal and hope that others have learned from my mistakes."

To quote one commenter on Perez's site: "What a pile of shit!"

According to Michael Ventre at MSNBC, Paris' early release sets a horrible precedent. Gee, ya think?


Ok, so TMZ.com is ground central for all things Paris. Among other things:

L.A. City Attorney "extremely troubled" by Paris' early release:

My office was not advised of this action. We learned of it this morning through news reports, just like everyone else. Had we been provided with the proper notification, we would have opposed the decision on legal grounds.

Hey, better late than never, right?


L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe uses the words "Paris" and "load of crap" in the same sentence.


And finally, Paris' "medical condition" is revealed to be mental, not physical:

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Paris Hilton's medical condition was purely psychological and that she was in peril of having a nervous breakdown, and that's why she was released early this morning.

So the bad news is, it was all in Paris' head. The good news, I guess, is at least she's got something floating around in there.

Famous Last Words

"...I feel like the media portrays me in a way that I'm not and that's why I wanted to go to county, to show that I can do it and I'm going to be treated like everyone else. I'm going to do the time, I'm going to do it the right way."

Paris Hilton
Formerly Inmate #9818783

Yeah, that worked out real well!

Paris Hilton Jail Watch - Day 3

Well, that didn't take long.

After serving only three days behind bars, Paris Hilton was released from jail early Thursday, partly due to "medical" reasons — but she has been fitted with an ankle bracelet and must remain confined to her home for 40 days, according to sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

The spokesman wouldn't say what the medical reasons were, citing privacy issues. However,

there have been reports of Paris crying after visits by her therapist and her refusal to eat most of the prison food.

I suppose a potential emotional breakdown might be considered a reason to get out of jail early...if, you know, you throw that whole "jail-as-punishment" thing out the window. But refusing to eat? This is California - I thought starvation was "in" with all the Hollywood It Girls.

So, as a result of her undisclosed medical issues, Paris' "punishment" will now be a whopping 40 days of house confinement. Ah, but what house? Perhaps some crack house on the southside? Nope, her multi-million dollar Beverly Hills mansion. She will have to wear an ankle bracelet for the duration of the confinement, but don't worry - the bracelet will be mink-lined to prevent chafing, and Paris' people are already working on releasing a faux monitoring device as part of her new "Prison Chic" fashion line. It's Hot!

Oh yeah, and those three days she spent in jail? Well, seems like she'll be credited for five days served. Nice.

Hell, is there really any point in being outraged? We all knew there was never going to be any justice in this case. Frankly, I don't know why they even bothered to try Paris, or for that matter charge her in the first place. The whole thing has been a waste of time. All we have done is reinforce in Paris' mind that she literally can get away with anything. Unfortunately, the bar of accountability has been raised so high for her that, in order to see real jail time, she'll probably have to kill someone.

In broad daylight.

On national television.

I was watching Bill O'Reilly the other night. Michelle Malkin was on, and she said that, while Paris deserved to be punished, she didn't deserve the extreme negativity people were pouring on her. Michelle chalked it up to class envy. Now, while I dearly love our Mz. Malkin, I have to disagree with her on that point, at least in my case. I have no problem with the fact Paris is rich. I also have no problem with the fact that she was born into a life of wealth, privilege and opportunity. My problem is that Paris has been able to improve her already favorable situation despite the fact she has absolutely no appreciable talents whatsoever. She can't sing. She can't act. She's uneducated. She's not that attractive. She's condescending and dismissive. And yet, she enjoys a tremendous amount of fame and notoriety because people can't seem to get enough of her. So that's when it hits me. Maybe it's not Paris I hate; maybe it's the society that props her up that's deserving of my scorn.

Has our society become so diminished and jaded the only things that amuse us anymore are these human trainwrecks? How much of what is popular today achieved that popularity because we "love to hate" things? Instead of championing excellence and achievement, we make heroes out of those who suck the most.

When did that get fun?

Ryan Reynolds Blogging At HuffPo

I saw this on Perez Hilton's site earlier today. Ryan Reynolds has started blogging at the Huffington Post.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, I like Reynolds as an actor and have enjoyed most of his movies. However, in his first post, he shows that HuffPo is his kind of place. How? By perpetrating one of my biggest pet peeves about the Left - that whole "wringing of hands, gnashing of teeth, oh how can we enjoy one iota of our lives while there are others who have nothing" thing they always do.

In his post, Reynolds compares a celebrated contestant in an annual July 4th eating contest with a young, starving child in Sudan:

Young Mustafat, who maintains a strict diet of inner turmoil and bleached hope, looks forward to watching the ESPN-televised event to better understand what gigantically wasteful, fucking super-retards we all are.

Okay, so food eating contests are pretty silly and more than a little disgusting, but come on - "gigantically wasteful, fucking super-retards"? That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I mean, let's be honest. You'd probably have the same attitude if it was some guy filling up at a McDonalds. Surely you would shed bitter tears for little Mustafat, who will never know the joys of super-sizing or having it his way. In closing, Reynolds says:

While it may be impossible to understand the mental temerity and physical excellence it takes to master these dazzling sports, we can expect great things in the future from exciting athletes like Don Lerman and Mustafat Osmana. And although oceans and even the most basic human rights may separate these two great peoples, we are ALL bound together by the vibrant spirit of competition and grotesque displays of boundless, unapologetic shitheadery.

Okay, I'll admit, it's tough to argue against feeling sympathy for millions of people who are starving. It's also natural and right that those who can (and are so inclined) should do what they can to help. Notice I said help. Not "solve the problems for them" (or even better, despite them). Not "make it our personal responsibility". And certainly not going through life feeling guilty or apologizing for living in a country where we can afford to indulge in such "shitheadery" as an eating contest.

In the end, that's one of the things which really causes the Left to lose me - this constant refrain of "if one does without we must all do without".

Besides, as an successful actor, I'm sure Reynolds knows a lot more about boundless, unapologetic and indulgent activities than I ever will.

Although I wouldn't necessarily call dating Scarlett Johansson "shitheadery".

Well Said, Senator Sessions!

Maybe I should move to Alabama?

"No one has a right to come to America. We get to decide...we allow on our terms and conditions... our immigration system is set up to serve the national interest...No one has a constitutional legal right to demand entry into America. It amazes me the lack of comprehension shown...We set the standards. Se have the most generous set of laws in the world. Se're not going to end immigration or act irrationally. To set reasonable standards, as [Senator] Cornyn is attempting to do, only makes common sense."

From Michelle Malkin, who's live blogging the debate in the Senate on S. 1348.

June 6, 1944

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.''

Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value [valor], and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

"The Boys of Pointe du Hoc"

President Ronald Reagan

June 6, 1984

Harry Reid: Illegals Are Americans

I just saw this on Michelle Malkin's site. She hits the nail on the head with her opening sentence, "The concept of American citiznship is dead."

Sen. Harry Reid drove the final nail in the coffin with his floor statement yesterday, in which he referred to the 12 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S. as "12 million undocumented Americans." I've heard a lot of stupid euphemisms for illegal aliens, but that one takes the cake.

Michelle provides links to a video clip and a transcript on the Senate Democrats' website.

It would really be nice if this were a misspeak on Reid's part. Unfortunately, I don't think it is. I truly believe he and all those who support this travesty of an amnesty bill see those 12 million illegals as "unofficial" Americans, and the amnesty is just the thing to make things official.

I mean, hey they live here, right? They want to be here, they want to stay here. What more do you want?

You unbelievable bastards.

When I was younger mean, ignorant people used to tease me. They called me a foreigner and would tell me to "go back home". It was hurtful, but I always reminded myself that, no matter what they said, this was my home. I was an American citizen; more than that, I was an American. Although my family had moved here (legally), I had been born here. My heart had neither love for or allegiance to any other country save this one. I never questioned the idea that, as an American, I was part of something grander, bigger, and more special than anything else on this Earth.

Until now.

Citizenship is now a bargaining chip, to be cashed in for the sake of votes. Being an "American" will soon mean nothing more that simply being in the country for a specified period of time. And instead of getting better, things will only get worse.

I hate to imagine what things will be like then.

Obama Alludes To "Quiet Riot" During A Speech

Afterwards, he closes with a rousing rendition of "Cum On Feel The Noize".

Oh, sorry. My mistake.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.

The first-term Illinois senator said that with black people from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast still displaced 20 months after Hurricane Katrina, frustration and resentments are building explosively as they did before the 1992 riots.

Once again, Obama thrills a crowd with platitudes instead of real substance. Is he really saying that, unless he's elected, there will be riots in the streets? How very French of you, Senator. If that's the case, then I'd really love to know what Obama has in mind to prevent this upheaval.

According to him, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair in the black community is threatening to bring things to a boil (I'm assuming the black community. Obama never comes out and says that, but the suggestion is pretty clear).

And now, it's time for another Barack Obama Allegory of Sweetness and Light:

Obama noted that during the [Los Angeles] riots, a bullet pierced the abdomen of a pregnant woman and lodged in the elbow of her fetus. The baby was delivered by caesarian section, the bullet was removed and the child, Jessica Glennis Evers-Jones, has only a small scar on her arm to show for it.

Using the incident as a metaphor, Obama said society's problems are worsening because "in too many places across the country, we have not even bothered to take the bullet out."

For a minute, I thought Obama was going to say that he was the child, and that's why he has such an understanding of the situation. Then I remembered we've already heard his miraculous birth story.

So, what's Obama's solution for diffusing this impending eruption?

Repeatedly, with evangelical zeal, he raised issues that roused the crowd: increasing the minimum wage and teacher pay, funding for public schools and college financial aid for the poor, ending predatory lending and expediting the reconstruction of New Orleans and the Mississippi coast.

God, that's their solution for everything.

20 Loopholes In The Senate Immigration Bill

I saw this earlier on Michelle Malkin's site. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) has posted 20 loopholes in the Amnesty Bill currently being debated in the Senate. All I can say is, what the hell are these people thinking?

Amnesty benefits do not wait for the “enforcement trigger.” After filing an application and waiting 24 hours, illegal aliens will receive full “probationary benefits,” complete with the ability to legally live and work in the U.S., travel outside of the U.S. and return, and their own social security card. Astonishingly, if the trigger is never met and amnesty applications are therefore never “approved,” the probationary benefits granted to the illegal alien population never expire, and the new social security cards issued to the illegal alien population are not revoked.

Legal status must be granted to illegal aliens 24 hours after they file an application, even if the aliens have not yet “passed all appropriate background checks.”

Instead of ensuring that members of violent gangs such as MS 13 are deported after coming out of the shadows to apply for amnesty, the bill will allow violent gang members to get amnesty as long as they “renounce” their gang membership on their application.

Read the entire list. Unbelievable!

NY Post Slams NY Times For Downplaying JFK Plot

As I've mentioned before here and here, there are those who have a strong desire to downplay the fact (yes, fact) that certain people want to kill as many of us as they can. Which is why I was glad to read about this in the New York Post:

Terror plot? What terror plot?

That's what The New York Times seems to be asking, even as most news outlets are giving front-page coverage to the recently foiled scheme to blow up JFK Airport's fuel pipeline.

The article outlines how the Times piece completely downplayed the story, how they placed it on Page 37 when every other major newspaper had it on Page 1, as well as highlighting what stories the NYT did think were Page 1 worthy (Brick laying in India, anyone?). The Post calls it an agenda, and I agree. They also point out something that I've been stressing since the weekend:

The point is, an unknown number of ruthless actors around the world - some in
our backyard - continue to emerge and threaten the nation. No doubt the 9/11
plot also once seemed like something no one could pull off.

Whether these plots succeed or not, the potential, the threat of danger, is still there. It simply makes sense to be vigilant, to take these stories seriously. Eventually, one of these plots will succeed.

Paris Hilton Jail Watch - Day 2

Good news! Paris has survived her first night in jail!

According to her attorney, she's doing well after spending the first night in her cell:

"She's using this time to reflect on her life, to see what she can do to make the world better and hopefully, in my opinion, to change the attitudes that exist about her among many people," attorney Richard A. Hutton told reporters after visiting Hilton.

My goodness, the spin is so strong I'm getting dizzy!

The only thing Paris is reflecting on is how she can turn this indignity into more money and notoriety for herself. As for making the world better, there are many ways she could do that; the most common ones no doubt involve relocating to extremely isolated locations for the remainder of her life. It's okay, though - Paris is cool with that. I mean, does anyone truly think Paris Hilton gives a shit about what people's attitudes of her are? Please. She has only one mission in life - to perpetuate a carefully crafted image of herself that flies in the face of what most people know to be the truth. Case in point:

"If she was an ordinary citizen she would have been placed in the general population. ... She'd be living in a dorm with 30, 40, 50 other women and the time would pass pretty quick," Hutton said. "She is really being punished because of her celebrity."

You've got to hand it to Hutton; it takes a special man to be able to pull these statements off with a straight face.