http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

Brief Observation: Ayn Rand vs. the Founding Fathers on Human Nature

Calvin Freiburger atheism, conservatism, Enlightenment, Federalist, Founding Fathers, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, morality, Pajamas Media, philosophy, Publius, rationalism, secularism, values

Amit Ghate has a piece at Pajamas Media, using Ayn Rand to argue that reason is a superior foundation for morality than religion. I’d love to do a more thorough response to it if I wasn’t so busy right now (for those interested, here are parts One, Two, and Three of a debate I had on the subject with an atheist blogger a few years back); For the moment, one quick observation will have to suffice. (Usual disclaimer: I haven’t read Rand firsthand.)

Ghate approvingly cites Ayn Rand’s rejection of man’s fallen nature, saying Rand “sides with the giants of the Enlightenment in considering man to be morally perfectible.” However many Enlightenment thinkers may have believed man was “morally perfectible,” that was one aspect of Enlightenment thinking the American Founders didn’t put much stock in. To the extent that Rand disagrees with Publius on this point, she sides with Progressives.

The Blog Post That Should End Two Careers (Updated)

Calvin Freiburger blogosphere, conservatism, David Frum, David Swindle, dishonesty, ethics, evil, FrumForum, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Jenn Public, morality, NewsReal, pedophilia, perverts, RINOs, sex crimes

No, not this one. This one. [WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT AT LINK.] My NewsRealBlog colleagues David Swindle and Jenn Public have compiled an absolutely stunning, sickening array of evidence exposing the pedophile tendencies and sympathies of former NRB contributor – and current FrumForum contributor – Alex Knepper. Knepper, you may recall, got canned from NRB and retaliated with a persecution story that didn’t hold water. At this point, it goes without saying that this should be the final nail in Knepper’s career, and if the reaction of Breitbart and NewsBusters is any indication, it may very well be.

But ultimately, Knepper’s a punk of limited significance. More importantly, this post should be the final proof that David Frum has hit rock-bottom, that he doesn’t care about the degeneracy of those who prove useful to him, and is therefore as unprincipled as they come and deserves to be ejected from the few remaining corners of the conservative movement in which he somehow isn’t seen as a disgrace. Frum apologists and lapdogs like John Guardiano – at least, the ones who still claim to have scruples – can no longer ignore the evidence of Frum’s indecency. Those who refuse to abandon this sinking moral ship deserve to go down with it.

UPDATE: Predictably, the pro-dishonesty Guardiano has chosen the sinking ship. That he accuses David Swindle – a socially-liberal blogger with a clear record of supporting not only gay rights, but also (some) gay political causes – of homophobia should be all the proof we need that Guardiano simply does not believe in holding himself to any meaningful standards of honesty and ethics.

Around the Web

Calvin Freiburger birth control, blogosphere, Capper, communism, drug legalization, fun, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Indiana Jones, marriage, movies, religion, reporter, sex ed, video

Donald Douglas is not convinced that legalizing “medical” marijuana in California is the way to go.

“We rightly insisted upon total denazification; we rightly excoriate those who now attempt to revive the Nazis’ ideology. But the world exhibits a perilous failure to acknowledge the monstrous history of Communism.” Indeed.

Crappy Capper is keepin’ it classy.


Three, two, one: aww…


I’m sure that Planned Parenthood and the public schools’ idea of “comprehensive” sex-ed. includes warnings about this danger…not.


On the FdL Reporter’s Opinion Page, a clarion call for a real pastor. (Complete with hate-mongering lies from idiots like Scooman, as usual).


Lastly, the other side of the story behind one of the most famous scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Harrison Ford always shoots first.

This Is Getting Old

Calvin Freiburger blogosphere, conservatism, David Frum, dishonesty, FrumForum, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, moderates, RINOs

Once again, John Guardiano feels the need to whine about how mean the rest of us are to his hero, David Frum. But as usual, he simply ignores the real reasons we oppose the object of his worship: Frum’s proven record of dishonesty and smear-mongering. John, who pretends to care about “vitriolic” pundits making politics “personal, nasty, and vicious,” doesn’t seem to care that Frum allows his website to run badly-sourced, inflammatory misquotes, ugly and ill-founded insinuations of racism, and smears of the entire pro-life movement for a crime committed by one. John doesn’t seem to care that Frum’s faux zeal for responsibility doesn’t apply to Trig Trutherism crusaders, either. Of course, that might be because John himself is also okay with lying about political opponents – lies which find an outlet at FrumForum. Spare us the crocodile tears, please.

Pro-Life Resource Update

Calvin Freiburger abortion, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, human rights, murder, pro-life, science

Thanks to a handy page on Pro-Life on Campus, I’ve updated my blog post presenting the evidence that modern science unambiguously considers human life to begin at fertilization/conception. It’s a helpful one-stop reference that has the potential to convert the simply misinformed; if you haven’t bookmarked it already, please do so right away.

Around the Web

Calvin Freiburger http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

At NewsReal, here’s Kathy Shaidle on the vile George Soros. 

Wouldn’t you know it: no sooner did I complete and submit Monday’s NewsReal post on Obama’s tax policies than I come across the Heritage Foundation’s analysis of the very same subject. Read ’em both.

The late Michael Jackson is getting a video game. Umm….

Two thoughtful challenges to libertarians’ rosy predictions about drug legalization, courtesy of economist Craig Newmark and the Heritage Foundation. (And while we’re on the subject, here’s an oldie-but-goodie from Robert Stacy McCain.)

John Hawkins takes on Republicans (sadly, including Paul Ryan) who insipidly propose “truces” on social issues.

Michael Rubin identifies fun and games in Turkey.

I’m glad to see the folks at RedState notice the stench around David Frum.

And apparently Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are going to share an appearance in an upcoming Archie storyline. Here’s hoping they keep it truly non-partisan.

Hey John, Your Boss Is Lying Again (UPDATED)

Calvin Freiburger Charles Johnson, David Frum, dishonesty, FrumForum, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, John Guardiano, Little Green Footballs

William Jacobson catches ScumForum spreading more dishonesty about Christine O’Donnell, reposting uncritically from none other than Libel Green Footballs. I wonder how John Guardiano feels about his publication’s tendency toward that sort of thing.

UPDATE: Speaking of Guardiano, it turns out that Andy McCarthy, who Guardiano accused of “reconsider[ing] whether the First Amendment ought even to apply to Muslims,” opposes banning the burqa. I trust we’ll be seeing John’s apology any day now…

Quote of the Week

Calvin Freiburger blogosphere, Bush, GOP, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Karl Rove, moderates, NewsReal, RINOs

I appreciate that Rove is called “the architect” by his admirers – possibly by virtue of transforming what should have been a walkover against an empty suit like John Kerry into a squeaker and meeting the attacks and slanders against the Bush administration with some of the most tepid and ineffectual responses in modern history (effectively surrendering the narrative to the Left) – but I’m sure this time he’s onto something.