The online journal, notebook and playground of HFM

Check out this Republican set-up photo of president Bush. Is there anything that makes you want to throw up more than that? If you can go to hell for arrogance, Bush will be in the Ninth Circle….
“Iconic symbolism, loyalist rallies, nationalism, corporate corruption, the rising persecution of gays, purging of political opponents, unprovoked invasions, appeals to mysticism, the “leadership principle” – “fuhrerprinzip”, book burning… boy howdy it really starts to add up.”

From Salon Magazine’s review of Michael H. Kater’s new book “Hitler Youth”:

To that end, it was crucial to curb formal education and abstract thinking. By the end of the ’30s, teachers were encouraged to wear HJ uniforms to school, and a new category of “liaison teachers” was formed, answering directly to the HJ. The length of formal education was shortened by one year, and a set of Adolf-Hitler-Schulen (“Hitler Schools”) was established. Today it’s almost comical to think about how these schools divided the academic day: Ninety minutes for book learnin’, five hours for sports. But it’s less amusing to read that boys were chosen for these special schools based on their “character,” a quality deemed superior to intellect and based on Nazi notions of honor, bravery and devotion to the Führer.”
Gee, where else have we heard lately about “character” and blind devotion being valued above intellect? It’s a historically insensitive analogy, to say the least, yet something about it sticks. Maybe it’s just that anytime religious certainty infects politics the result bears a fascist echo.

Reportedly, such leaders as the Rev. Jerry Falwell and Republican Rep. John Hostettler of Indiana, flush with what they see as a successful right-wing revolution, believe they can make the federal courts virtually powerless.
Rep. Hostettler, addressing a special legislative briefing of the Christian Coalition last month in Washington, reportedly talked at length about a bill he plans to introduce. It would deny federal courts the right to hear cases challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans same-sex marriage.
“Congress controls the federal judiciary,” Rep. Hostettler was quoted as saying. “If Congress wants to, it can refer all cases to the state courts. Congress can say the federal courts have limited power to enforce their decision.”
Apparently, the Hoosier congressman has not heard of the balance of power among the three arms of our government. He was quoted as telling the Christian Coalition members:
“When the courts make unconstitutional decisions, we should not enforce them. Federal courts have no army or navy… The court can opine, decide, talk about, sing, whatever it wants to do. We’re not saying they can’t do that. At the end of the day, we’re saying the court can’t enforce its opinions.”