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Powerline:Ellsworth survives John Thune's crusade to save South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force base has succeeded . The base closing commission has voted to reject the Defense Department's recommendation that the base be closed. Thune unseated then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle...

The LGF Kos Kountdown of Dooooooom. Technically, today we're 13 days away from the pending "radioactive" status of the Democratic Leadership Council, but I'm sure that the Kountdown will be making the rounds on many blogs today. After the disaster...

Why does China need that navy?

The new commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Gary Roughhead, an interested onlooker of the joint Chinese-Russian military maneuvers during the past eight days, has posed a critical question about the rapidly modernizing Chinese navy: "What do [the Chinese] see as the intended use of that navy?

If that navy "is to ensure the free flow of commerce, that would not be surprising," he said, nodding toward the sea lanes in the South China and East China seas through which pass the oil and raw materials that feed China's expanding economy, not to mention its soaring exports. The admiral added, however: "What if the intent is not purely to defend the sea lanes?" He left the question open.

Indeed. That IS the question.

Seth at CCK says I am defending Pat Robertson. If calling Pat Robertson dumb is defending him, what would it take to attack him? Let's see if we can hold more than one thought at a time in our heads....

Firstly, it should be noted that the Chief is a aficianado of science fiction - particularyly "hard" science fiction, as well as military science fiction. (No warlocks, dwarves or dragons PLEASE! Tolkien is good, but forget the rest.)

I just completed reading THE WATCH ON THE RHINE by John Ringo & Tom Kratman, with the setting of a sort of mass - horde invasion of the planet by some hungry and rapacious aliens who have us on the main menu. There are several books out there in this universe, of which this is the latest.

Without going into all the gory details (and are there EVER gory details that could be gone into) this latest effort is placed in Germany, and the surviving Waffen-SS, after galactic technological rejuvenation are brought back to join the fight. There are lots of interesting developments in this - for example a "Judas Maccabeus" Jewish SS Brigade (phew!) - but this is all just background for the purposes of this post.

The following part of an "Afterword" is the real substance I wanted to pass on (emphasis added):

Right now, Western Civilization, however much many of its members may refuse to admit it, is involved in a world war. No, it has seen no entire cities destroyed; no trenches have drawn their scars across entire continents. It is a world war all the same. Moreover, it is a world war that is putting to the test every notion of individual liberty, freedom of conscience, and rule of law that the West prizes. And should we lose we will see, or our grandchildren will, the erasure of all that is good in Western Civilization.

We cannot afford to lose. Yet winning will have its price, too. Just as the invasion John described is ordained to change humanity into something that one of Hitler's Waffen SS would recognize and call home, so too will this war change us. Because side by side with the virtues of Western Civilization are paired vices that may destroy us: a narrow legalistic mindset, an emphasis on form over substance, and an unwillingness to do the ruthless and violent things we must if we are to survive. This list is not exhaustive. Perhaps worse than these things, however, the West has nurtured at its own breast a set of execrable, vile, treacherous and treasonous villains that seem to seek at every opportunity to do all they can to ensure its destruction.

Yet there is hope. "Survival cancels out programming."

Indeed!

Public vote on feedlots prohibited, court says

In a case originating in Moody County the SD Supreme Court upheld the permitting of large dairy operations in the face of opposition from activists, therreby jabbing a finger in the eyes of Dakota Rural Action et al. The decision effectively upholds a rational and orderly oexercise of property rights, without activists'having veto powers.

The case began when the Moody County Commission, acting as the board of adjustment, granted permits for two dairies - Britannia Dairy just west of Flandreau and the Rex Nederend Family Trust southwest of Elkton. Opponents of large feedlots pressed for a vote, and the commission denied their petitions.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the county was correct: Because the commission was acting as a board of adjustment, a referendum is not allowed. The decision applies across much of eastern South Dakota because boards of adjustment grant permits in most counties, said Todd Kays of the First District Association of Local Governments in Watertown

.

Unfortunately we haven't heard the last out of the DRA crew yet:

In March, lawyer Jim Abourezk argued that feedlot permits are legislative decisions. But on Thursday, the court ruled that the distinction applies only to decisions made by the state, or by cities or county commissions.

Wouldn't you know that former Donk (appointed) Senator Abourezk is involved here. At times he makes McGovern look like a conservative.

"In once sense, it's a big loss," Abourezk said. "In the other sense, it gives great urgency to that initiative to plug the loophole that the court wouldn't plug."

Oh no! A LOOPHOLE that allows property owners to develop something on their property without the activists approval! Horrors!

He was referring to a petition that would change state law to subject all feedlot permits to a public vote. A vote could come in November 2006 if enough people sign on. "I think the public is very much for it," Abourezk said.

The libDonks, envirowackos, NIMBYs (Not In My BackYard) will unfortunately probably get enough signatures to get thsi onto the ballot, but the Chief still hopes not. This whole concept needs to be shot down in flames, and then fed through a dairy's manure processing system, where it belongs.

I agree with Glenn. Make 'em all fly commercial....

Here is the New York Times on the Ellsworth decision. The news story contains the photo below. Perhaps we can have a contest to see who can come up with the funniest caption. The winner gets a full dose of...

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