Huck Watch - Dec. 26, 2007

Yes, it is this bad

Ding, ding, ding! Coulter vs. Hucklebee, round two!

Huckabee confirms for liberal TV hosts their image of conservatives as dorks by bragging about how cool he is because he "likes music." What's he doing -- running for president or filling out his Facebook profile?

Too many great lines to reprint here, but it all boils down a serious point:

He supports a nationwide smoking ban anyplace where people work, constitutional protection for sodomy, big government, higher taxes and government benefits for illegal aliens. According to my calculations, that puts him about three earmarks away from being Nancy Pelosi.

Rush Limbaugh recently described this maddening wave of Huckamania as "identity politics." Meaning too many Christians are voting for the man merely because he's "one of them." This is usually a problem of the Left, but apparently we too are susceptible.

Problem is, he isn't one of us in any meaningful sense.

Only a few days left to fix this before Gomer takes Iowa.

So get the word out, my brothers and sisters. As the Quakers would say, Friends don't let Friends vote Huck.

Now leaving Arizona

I don't know what's more shocking, news of 'self-deporting' illegal aliens or the fact CNN carried a story calling them illegal.

Either way, a new law taking effect Jan. 1 (state, not federal of course) is worth a few extra New Years fireworks in my book. By holding employers accountable for a change, the new law is already reversing The Great Invasion in Arizona.

"People are calling me telling me about their friend, their cousin, their neighbors -- they're moving back to Mexico," said Magdalena Schwartz, an immigrant-rights activist and pastor at a Mesa church. "They don't want to live in fear, in terror."

She says that like it's a bad thing. Apparently they don't do Romans 13:4 in girl seminary?

" 'I don't want to live here because of the new law and the oppressive environment,' said [a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and masonry worker]. 'I'll be better in my country.' "

You are correct, señor. The Rio Grande is that-a-way. Please accept this snorkel as a parting gift.

Also notice which nation is "my country." They're here for the Mexican Dream, not the American. (More on that in an upcoming post.)

But if Arizona is looking rosy, Scottsdale is golden. Police are now checking papers and turning illegals over to ICE for deportation. A new development with sad origins, but a happy ending.

Back to the AP story...

"There's no way to know how many illegal immigrants are leaving Arizona, especially now with many returning home for normal holiday visits. But economists, immigration lawyers and people who work in the immigrant community agree it's happening."

Normal holiday visits?? It really is that easy? Hey, whatever... As long as they're whacking the Yule pinata on their side of the line next year, I'm good.

"...For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

Luke 2:10

Kip, I reckon you know a lot about cyberspace...

Well, it isn't technically Napoleon Dynamite II, but it's pretty close.

Suckabee II

...Actually, just a shout-out to Ann Coulter's column on Huckabee. I've updated the original post below to include the link, but just in case you missed it...

"Huckabee immediately ... turned to his main goal as president of the United States: teaching children more art and music. This, he said, was his 'passion' because 'I think our education system is failing kids because we're not touching the right side of the brain -- the creative side. We are focusing on the left side.'

I think I know someone who has just read an article in Reader's Digest about left brain/right brain differences! "

How can you not love this woman?

Suckabee?

Look what I can do, America!

The more I hear from Mike Huckabee outside the debates, the less I like.

" 'American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out,' Huckabee said. 'The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad.' "

Um...Isn't that a Democrat talking point? One debunked recently and often with the election of several pro-U.S. governments in Europe?

What I'm hearing is the kind of modern Christianity usually defined as "seeker-sensitive" -- heavy on the compassion talk because darn it, people like sweet baby Jesus more when you talk that way. Fire and brimstone is so God-of-the-Old-Testament. (Never mind the P.R.-nightmare of a fact that the Almighty never changes age-to-age last time I checked both Testaments.)

It's the same kind of talk that Dubya rose to power on, and, were it not for his boldness in the war on terror, would have had him ridden out of the party on a rail long ago for the billions in tax money he's allowed spent to make people appreciate compassionate conservatives more.

You can hear it in Huckabee's "heart for the downtrodden" immigration idiocy as governor. Now he's signaling that he's up for a foreign policy along the same lines.

Ann Coulter is right. He's not being called the Republican Jimmy Carter for nothing, folks.

House Reps vote for Ramadan, against Christmas

And Congress looks the other way

I'm reprinting straight from the AFA alert emailed to me. It's targeted to California readers, but you shouldn't have trouble redirecting to your congressman/woman if it applies in your state.

Unbelievable... Or not.

Representatives Stark and Woolsey vote for Ramadan but against Christmas

Only weeks after voting for a resolution that "recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world," seventeen Democrats in the U.S. House refused to vote for a Christmas resolution that condemns the worldwide persecution of Christians.

In an act of intolerance toward Christianity (and Christmas), Reps. Fortney Stark and Lynn Woolsey have decided that religious discrimination should be the rule of law. By their vote, Christmas is not worthy of recognition by the United States government and should be shunned at all costs.

Congress passed House Resolution 847 this week by a vote of 372 to 9 (Ten others voted "present" and 40 refused to vote at all.) to recognize the importance of Christmas and Christianity in America. The Christmas resolution acknowledged "the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world," expressed "continued support for Christians," noted the historical importance of Christmas, the role "played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States," and rejected "bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide."

Amazingly, Reps. Stark and Woolsey voted FOR a resolution in support of the Muslim Ramadan holiday just weeks ago! But when it comes to Christianity and Christmas, they have clearly demonstrated disdain and division for American culture and traditions. They voted for H.R. 635 which acknowledged "the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world," expressed "friendship and support for Muslims," noted "the onset of Ramadan," and rejected "hatred, bigotry, and violence directed against Muslims." It also "commends Muslims... who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam that justify and encourage hatred." It recognized the "commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commended Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith."

Take Action

• Representatives Fortney Stark (D-California) and Lynn Woolsey (D-California) voted "no" on H.R. 847 (Christmas) and "yes" on H.R. 635 (Ramadan). Please e-mail and call to express your concerns over how they can possibly promote Islam in the same breath that they attack Christianity, the very faith that supported our nation at its founding. In addition to sending the email, I suggest that you call Reps. Stark (510) 494-1388 and Woolsey (707) 542-7182 and politely but firmly point out the embarrassment that the hypocrisy of their vote has brought upon your state.
• Please forward this to your family and friends.

Take Action

I love it when a plan comes together

...and I can't believe my parents never let me watch this

With Singleton on board, gotta admit I'm looking forward to this. Nervously, but I'm looking forward to it. Because this one could go both ways.

The new "A-Team" will be updated from the Vietnam era and reflect contemporary issues and politics. Tone of the film will be less cartoony and more serious, in the vein of "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon."

Every other TV update trying to out ham the hamminess of the original -- Boss Hogg, Uncle Jed, I'm looking at you -- has been a total disaster. The change in tone is justified here and could result in a killer flick.

Obviously, the team itself will be a sympathetic bunch of Iraq vets. Cool enough. As long as they aren't walking around with an anti-American chip on their shoulder, or battling the shock troops of a cackling, cat-petting Donald Rumsfeld, all is good.

And Murdock better be ha-ha funny, not PTSD funny. (I pity the foo who tries to draft a chick into the team, too. You know it'll happen.)

Casting will be the next bit of fun to contemplate here. Stay tuned.

Now boarding...

What sick mind could condone such methods?

Huh... So I guess Jack Bauer was right after all.

"The waterboarding lasted about 35 seconds before Abu Zubaida broke down ... told his captors he would tell them whatever they wanted...

'He said that Allah had come to him in his cell and told him to cooperate, because it would make things easier for his brothers,' Kiriakou said."

Granted, with a name like Splash, I'm going to be a fan of waterboarding, but it just warms my heart to know we can literally put the fear of God into these good people. Or could before Nancy Pelosi took over. Because as any good Democrat will tell you, torture is only a good thing when pursued consensually for gay porn shoots or major-release horror movies, as the Founding Fathers clearly intended.

"They have very good coffee here"

It's official. Mel's gone native.

This is just a weird development... Is it a savvy business move? Can't take the heat in L.A. anymore? Or did he just have such a blast on Apocalypto that he's going to extravagantly unrealistic lengths to have his beach and bum it too?

Panama, where he's reportedly been looking for property for the past year, has apparently lost the bidding war for a piece of the Gibson.

He's not the only one banking on Costa Rica, though. Guanacaste, seaside site of his exiting home, is also the site of Cacique, a 650-acre eco-resort being developed by AOL honcho Steve Case.

Thoughts on "Lone Survivor"

Real SEALs soon to become reel SEALs. Luttrell is far right.

While scrounging around for updates on the planned adaptation of "Lone Survivor," I came across this older report. I'd heard most of the details surrounding the book's sale at the time, but missed this:

"By late July, [author and former Navy SEAL] Luttrell's book had become a surprise best-seller, and producers and executives were clamoring to meet the 6-foot-5-inch Texan.

For Luttrell, the most important item on his list was that any adaptation had to respect his fallen comrades, so he wanted to achieve a comfort level with his suitors. [Peter] Berg and Luttrell took to each other since the director is a fellow Texan with a love for the SEALs, who appear in 'Kingdom.' "

What's encouraging about this whole thing:

1) The H'wood Establishment's anti-military agenda is so obvious by now that outsiders like Luttrell are now locking in the integrity of their stories at the contract level.

2) My good vibe about the phenomenally talented Peter Berg is further confirmed.

3) This project is not only being made, but the rights went for a hefty $2 mil.

Can it be the collective suck of a dozen defeatist propaganda films has begun to sink in? At least to a few pragmatic play-makers?

Then again, it's still a story of defeat they've finally lined up to get right.

Why is uncommon valor only worthy when it's a tale of things gone wrong? Black Hawk Down was fantastic, but the lasting image of that film is still charred American bodies and a tactical retreat on low ammo.

Spectacular SEAL victories are out there. Why not the true story of the SEAL platoon that lost brothers on Roberts Ridge, then made it their mission to find, ambush and slaughter to the man the Chechens in Afghanistan who were responsible? Why not the story of the operator who lost a leg on one deployment, then returned to active behind-the-lines service with a prosthetic leg?

Don't get me wrong. I'm beyond thrilled the sacrifice and patriotism of Luttrell's platoon will get first-class deployment to the Hollywood battlefront. But when they're still green lighting stuff like this, this and this on a daily basis, it's a little early to start singing "Hooray for Hollywood" again.

Then there's what might still become of "Lone Survivor." Just watch the direction this interview with an "unbiased" reporter takes Luttrell and you'll see where, I fear, Hollywood might take this story.

'Fools Gold' trailer

I may be in the minority here, but I know my wife agrees with me on this one.

Sure, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days was a lowest-common-denominator, template-rom-com chick flick in the negative sense of the term, but you can't deny the chemistry Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey had together.

And sorry, even if they hadn't, this one just looks like a ton of fun. No agendas, no messages, no apologies.

"Scary Mary"

OK, so I'm late to the party on this one. The thing has over 4 million YouTube hits. It's still hilarious. As our friend Mike Rinaldi points out, this is an excellent reminder of how "tone can change everything."

Tom Swift, eco-genius

This I might pay to see. The actual pitch? Not so much.

"A Tom Swift movie? Cool," said I when I read the headline.

" 'I grew up basically reading comic books and Tom Swift,' [producer] Hecht said. 'The books always gave you something unexpected and brought the reader this feeling that 'I can be an inventor. I can do that.' "

"True dat," I tells myself. "The kids today, they need the classic All-American can-do."

"Because of the property's heritage and family nature, Hecht said it would have the 'boomer equity' that has boosted the B.O. of many recent franchises."

"Heritage and family. Preach it," I says, shaking off the bad vibe that 'boomer' reference gives.

"Eventually, the series was modernized and taken in more of an edgy, graphic-novel direction."

"Uh-oh..." I goes.

" '...The initial concept is to posit that Swift Industries is now a leading 'green technology' company, giving the 20th century series a modern twist."

Annnnnd scene.

Yep, looks like someone has their pretend Nobel Prize for peace and real Nobel Prize for science mixed up again.

So with WWII thoroughly deconstructed, and Tom Swift about to get his Greenpeace on, all we need now is that gay biopic of Abe Lincoln and we'll achieve paradise on earth. (Dollars to carbon offsets Al Gore is the big cameo here, too.)

I just can't wait for the official title. Could go many exciting and boomer-friendly directions:

Tom Swift and his curly light bulbs!

Tom Swift and his ozone-replenishing ray gun!

Tom Swift and his recycled fecal matter compost machine!

Who says Hollywood doesn't know how to have fun anymore?

Red State actioner on the horizon?

Ah, the good old days...

On the press junket for Beowulf recently, Ray Winstone mentioned an interesting upcoming project entitled Minutemen.

"For those not scouring the trades on a daily basis, the so-called “Brothers Nee” are Adam and Aaron, two young writer/directors whose debut film “The Last Romantic” earned them film festival buzz last year. Written by Brandon Camp and Mike Thompson (”Dragonfly”) and overseen by mega-producer Neal H. Moritz (”The Fast and the Furious” franchise), “Minutemen” will serve as a significant leap for the Brothers Nee, telling the tale of a small quarry town suddenly forced to defend the nation’s command center against foreign invaders."

I haven't seen The Last Romantic, but I found a film festival interview with the Brothers Nee. Unlike the pretentious crap you usually get from festival contenders, the pair essentially replied by lampooning the arts-house questions being asked.The interview had a distinct Parker/Stone feel, which to me suggests a couple other guys with no time for kissing industry arse.

Either way, the story of a working-class town defending the U.S. command center from a foreign invader sounds like a post-9/11 Red Dawn. And that sound is a cash register ringing over and over and over.

If this is all correct -- granted, a huge if at this point -- we just might have another couple young Turks on our side. With self-proclaimed Major League Infidel Zack Snyder's stock on the rise, long term prospects for the revival of the former "art form of the common man" could be looking up. Here's hoping they don't get Tom Croozled on their way to the promised land.

(Producer Neal Moritz was also cool enough to turn down my Iraq security contractor script earlier this year for legitimate creative reasons -- unlike Wolfgang Petersen's people, who disdained the notion of "Americans going to the Middle East to solve the world's problems.")

"Come home to Iraq"

Peace through strength...freedom of religion

As American filmmakers continue to spit on the troops with shoddy fiction and Democrats in Congress refuse to meet their needs, this photo essay validates the mission and the sacrifice so many of them have endured in Iraq for a worthy cause.

"I can’t remember my last shootout: it’s been months. The nightmare is ending. Al Qaeda is being crushed."

After the abduction, murder and exodus of Iraqi Christians, their Muslim neighbors are asking them to come home.

Read every caption, in order. It all builds to something beautiful. Then pass the news on to everyone you know.

Thrown to the 'Lions'

I dunno... Stall 'em. Tell 'em I'm not here.

Comedian Brad Stine has said, "It's my dream to see political correctness die in my lifetime. But first...I want to watch it suffer."

Libertas has given us a front row seat to the spectacular death of film after liberal film pertaining to the war on terror, the latest being Lions for Lambs.

Since I love a circus maximus too, let me contribute this interview with Lions writer Matthew Michael Carnahan.

First, the interview preface. And it's a humdinger:

"While many recent films concerning Iraq have taken a political stance, writer Matthew Michael Carnahan sought to do something different. The result, this week's Lions for Lambs, attempts to engage the audience in as non-partisan a debate as you'll find in Hollywood."

It's fun watching these people go down, but when they don't see it coming? Even more fun.

"Whereas Carnahan agrees he doesn't like the idea of war, he tries to make the case for how we can pull out, and why it is important for the American public to be less apathetic towards the war and to do something."

So...whereas Carnahan doesn't like the idea of war, he doesn't like the idea of war. Got it. Yes, there's laughs o'plenty in this interview, but I'll cut to my favorite.

Interviewer: "So then if [the film is] a call to action, what's the 'action'? "

Carnahan: To make this war, and the loss of American lives... and the fact that four thousand of my countrymen...the fact that they are dying and it's not a part of our daily lives. That it's not a daily cognition on my part that as we are having this discussion there are people a lot younger than us fighting and dying and going through some of the most terrifying moments imaginable. Basically I just wanted us in our daily lives to become cognizant of that.

Um...it's, like, people need to be aware of, y'know, stuff going on out there and, like, know about it and stuff.

Hes' not that stupid, of course. The movie aspired to lead a people's revolt against a war that we're now winning. And even if we were losing, the film was headed for failure, and everyone knew it when this interview was conducted. So do we really expect him admit that, turns out, nobody is interested in what this film says?

I firmly believe we're witnessing the beginning of the end for the old guard, baby boomer regime in Hollywood. I realize younger people are part of this, but likely the vast majority of them -- maybe even Carnahan -- simply row to whatever master happens to be beating the cadence.

It's at the top that this degree of managerial incompetence and personal indulgence over sound business practices will be punished, and that can only result in blessedly apolitical entertainment or actively push things toward Red State profitability.

Either way, it's a win/win for everyone but geriatric hippie studio bosses who, at some point sooner rather than later, will be shown the door.

Click here for the complete interview with Matthew Michael Carnahan.

Hooray for our side

Acting supremely

We hear a lot of bad news. Setbacks for justice. Loss of religious freedoms and rights. Here's some good news, from the anti-ACLU. (Thank the ACLJ by joining or donating here.)

"...
No Free Pass for Atheists
A church-state separationist organization sued, in Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation (U.S. No. 06-157), challenging the use of tax-payer dollars regarding the President's faith-based initiatives. The Supreme Court, agreeing with the ACLJ's friend-of-the-court brief, ruled that the separationists had no legal standing to bring the suit. A victory indeed!

Stepping Away from Censorship
A majority of the Supreme Court Justices also agreed with the ACLJ in two consolidated free-speech cases, FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life (No. 06-969) and McCain v. Wisconsin Right to Life (No. 06-970). The ACLJ had filed an amicus brief urging the high court to remove the prohibition of grassroots lobbying organizations from taking part in issue advertising 30 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election. The Court agreed with us that a pro-life group should have been permitted to air advertising in the final months leading up to a 2004 election. It represents a First Amendment victory for those who want to express their views on issues that matter most prior to an election.

Conscience Goes to Court
A pharmacist who refused, as a matter of conscience, to sell ''Plan B'' and other abortion-related drugs was suspended by his employer, Wal-Mart. The pharmacist sued - in Ethan Vandersand v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart asked a U.S. District Court to dismiss the suit, and the ACLJ urged the court to say no. The court has now ruled that the lawsuit can go forward.

And the next phase of this battle is already underway. Now the defendant pharmacies are taking a new approach, arguing that if a pharmacist is exempt from filling a prescription for the morning-after pill or some other abortifacient, then their religion will be favored, violating the Constitution. This is a distorted and confused application of the Establishment Clause - and we'll say so in court.

Bible Ban Lifted
A Washington State school district has reversed its policy prohibiting the Bible from being read in the Honors English Class during a ''Reading for Pleasure Program.'' We were honored to lend our legal expertise in this matter. We are looking at a situation in Missouri where a school principal says students can't take the Bible out of their backpacks on the school bus.

United Nations Recognition
The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the ACLJ affiliate based in Strasbourg, France, has received special consultative status by the unanimous vote of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. This move recognizes the global nature of the ACLJ's religious liberty and human rights work, which already spans more than 35 countries.

The Battle Continues for Religious Liberties
* After a series of meetings in one Tennessee town, city officials took actions designed and intended to block and impede Teen Challenge - one of the world's most successful drug rehab programs - from acquiring the appropriate permit to conduct its religious activities and to provide therapeutic services to disabled individuals on the property. Our office in Nashville, led by Senior Counsel Larry Crain, has filed a federal cause of action on behalf of Teen Challenge.

* The ACLJ is representing a Florida pastor who has been sued because of the content of a sermon - just one example of a growing trend across the country.

* At the same time, the ACLJ is representing a large church in the Midwest concerning very similar issues.

Happy Veterans Day

We've linked to Michael Yon a lot here lately, but on this Veterans Day weekend, I can think of no better tribute to the troops than his much-read Gates of Fire dispatch.

It covers just one bloody day in the life of a few men in Iraq, but it captures the true grit of our veterans like nothing else.

“ 'That’s the difference between the terrorists and us,' Chaplain Wilson kept saying."

And truer words were never spoken. So to all the men and women who currently wear or have ever worn the uniform of the U.S. armed services, we treasure you more than we can say.

Discrimination! Discrimination!

We're laughing at you, Ellen. Not with.

It seems Ellen DeGeneres -- THE most talented comedienne in the universe prior to the writers' strike -- is in trouble after having crossed picket lines to keep her show afloat.

As a result, IMDB has now confirmed the opinion of the actual universe -- that Ellen is, in fact, a no-talent hack who hasn't earned an honest laugh in her novelty-act career.

Yes, the WGA is angry at Her Lesbianess enough to tell the truth at last...

"...One writer for her former 2001-2002 sitcom, The Ellen Show, reports she treated her writers 'like s**t'. The unnamed writer adds on his internet blog, 'I'm disappointed in Ellen (for crossing the picket line) but not surprised... given what I've seen from her with my own two eyes.' "

Those would be the same eyes we in the real world turned away from both "The Ellen Show" and the Oscars because Ellen was stinking up the joint with her lame shtick.

"...A TV insider tells the New York Post's PageSix, 'DeGeneres is unwilling to honour the picket line because this is her last chance in show business. This show is the only thing keeping her from a lifetime of touring college campuses.' "

Apart from a few college campuses with particularly active Women's Studies departments, I don't think this Plan B would put much food on the table either.

And in other news from the wide world of unattractive washed-up lesbians, Rosie O'Donnell will not be hosting an MSNBC show after all.

"...Writing on her website blog, she says, 'we were close to a deal. almost done. i let it slip in miami, causing panic on the studio end. well, what can u do. 2day there is no deal... poof. my career as a pundit is over b4 it began.'

poof. your career wuz over already, rosie. but this is good 4u... maybe u can uz the time 2 go back 2 skewl and learn how 2 communic8 properly.

Since disasters like these often come in threes, our prayers go out to Melissa Etheridge in whatever bar she's opening for the Indigo Girls tonight.