In Florida, in certain regions, the "value" of some homes have fallen as much as 50%. Last week, I went house hunting and was impressed by the sheer volume of homes on the market. Much like Northern California, where there are wholly constructed new neighborhoods just waiting for someone to move in, the situation in Southern Florida is deteriorating.
If you've got the cash, you're in a great position, if you're trying to move your property, you've got plenty of very motivated competition. In Fort Lauderdale, an eager real estate agent told me he had only 20 properties two years ago, when the market was hot. Now, he has over 120, and nothing is moving.
Wandering around the streets of Paris, you're bound to come across a church. Unfortunately, in a country where secularism or laicité is imposed by the state, most of the churches have become museums, with more visitors staring at the statues and ornaments than actually praying in the pews
According to a study by the Vatican published in the French daily, Le Figaro, French youth are amongst the most ignorant of the Bible in Europe, followed by the Spanish and, not surprisingly, German youth. Students were asked a couple of key questions:
Is Jesus the author of the Bible?
Is Moses in the Old or New Testament?
Italians scored surprisingly low with only 27% of young Italians saying they had read a Bible passage in the past year. The lack of Bible knowledge has had some secondary effects. Phrases like "As old as Methuselah" have simply fallen into disuse.
While I visited the Saint Eustache Church in Paris, I came upon a wedding between two young people. I sat down to watch the touching ceremony, and soon learned only the groom was French. The bride was from America, where the couple had met. She may have insisted on a traditional marriage. American youth scored 75% in Biblical knowledge, compared to the 21% for French.
Those who would applaud secularism are obviously not acquainted with the French version of the anti-religious ideology. The French government pays to build, maintain "places of worship" and hires clergy.
Anyone who believes imposed secularism actually works and that there is a de facto separation between the public forum and faith should take note of the current "outrageous" spectacle between Senator Barack Obama and his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
If you don't know the story of Sean Bell, it will soon be coming to a protest near you.
The facts are simple. Sean Bell is about to get married to the mother of his daughter, so he decides to spend his last night as a single man at a strip club. A few hours later, he's dead shot by 50 or so bullets coming from the weapons of undercover New York police officers. It turns out Sean Bell was unarmed, but the police said he tried to run them over with a car and that someone in the Bell's group shouted that he had a weapon.
It's what happens in between the striptease and the shots that is really in question. The accounts vary from cops saying the suspects were armed, to a stripper's testimony of getting slapped in the face. By all appearances, Bell's last night out was rough, but Bell wasn't alone, and there were plenty of witnesses to the events that took place.
The final verdict, not guilty, but here's where the drama begins. Al Sharpton has threatened to close down the city, because he's not satisfied with the verdict. The Bell family is suing the city in a civil law suit, and the accusations of police abuse and racism are everywhere.
Among all the accusations of police brutality and injustice, the press seems to be dancing around several issues. The big question no one wants to ask is can a culture of disrespect for authority have gotten Sean Bell killed? Between praising gangsters (drive-by-shootings are lauded in "gangsta rap"), a defiance against "acting white" (most black children in New York City will not finish high school, partially because scholastic achievement is not appreciated), and weak supervision at home (75% of black children are raised in single family homes), the reasons for the extremely high incarceration rate among black males cannot simply be blamed on overt racism.
By most accounts, Sean Bell was told to stop as police identified themselves and pulled weapons. Mr. Bell chose to get inside his vehicle and, by some accounts, attempted to flee or run over the authorities. Sean Bell was in bad company, his companions, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield had been arrested nine and three times repsectively. Both Guzman and Benefield had illegal firearm possession in their background. Bell himself had been arrested for illegal firearm possession.
Of course, the policemen could not have known this, but would a long violent history with authorities and jail have prompted these men to act in other than peaceful ways? Civil rights activists claim that the Sean Bell shooting by authorities is a national problem and that the police have hostility toward blacks. But in a society where victimhood is celebrated and the brand "African American" is a political tool for both influence and profit, we may never get down to questions of responsibility that go beyond cliches and historical injustice.
Standing in front of each controversy, personalities like Al Sharpton fastidiously point fingers and garner publicity, but it is the Sean Bells who will be taking the bullets that could have been avoided.
After a flight, and checking into a historic hotel with a view of the Paris Opera, I'm back on the international airwaves of TV5 for the French "Meet the Press" called Kiosque.
The question on everyone's mind is, of course, the political race and who will be the next leader of the United States. On the panel were journalists from Chile, Turkey, Russia, China and of course, me, for the United States.
Beside the American elections, there were several other pressing topics.
The election of the left-wing Bishop turned politician to the Paraguayan presidency.
30th Anniversary of the fall of the Afghan "President" Mohammed Daoud Khan who led a coup d'etat against the royal family.
The hostilities between France and China due to the Olympic Games.
Last but not least, the American opinion of the French president Nicholas Sarkozy, one year into his administration.
This was my third appearance on the show and it won't be the last. Phillipe, the host, said I'm one of only TWO conservatives out of over 80 journalists! Europeans do have a different style for this type of show.
The journalists on the panel can't speak in soundbytes, there's more time to develop ideas and you've got to talk about all the subjects for the week. Despite linguistic barriers, I'm starting to feel more comfortable, but I'll be back on American TV soon enough.
You can see the show here, if you still remember some French from high school or college.
P.S. No matter what you think of the French, Paris is probably the most beautiful city in the world.
I'm the first to admit the Marine Corps dedication to honoring the past is almost a cult, which makes the use of the emblematic image of Marines raising the flag on Mount Sarabachi practically a sacrilege, or at least in extremely poor taste.
Time Magazine decided to run the above image to "raise awareness" about the environment and to coincide with "Earth Day", a quasi-religious holiday celebrated by Oprah Winfrey, and everyone else who believes the sky is falling. I'm all for conservation and an advocate for a clean planet, but I've always been struck by how polluted poor countries are, as compared to the wealthy ones.
"In honor of our Earth, I love her, I'm asking all of you today to
implement just one green idea to help the fight against global
warming," Spoken by the Oh Mighty Oprah
How does one "honor" the Earth? Why is the Earth a 'female' and not a male?
The readers of Time Magazine, North America, Asia, and Southeast Asia voted on whether they would recommend the cover or not. I was pleased to see just how many had rejected it.
Despite the current taboo on religious discourse in the public forum, the people are obviously hungry for a greater message than "go to the mall and shop." On the White House lawn, Pope Benedict XVI was greeted by the largest welcoming party ever as Americans of all faiths and political backgrounds wanted to be a part of this momentous occasion.
What is particularly notable about this Pope is his very strong stance on many of the hot button topics of our day: abortion, gay marriage, human rights and the War in Iraq. Pope Benedict XVI is a scholar who has gone on record many times to speak out on issues that most politicians avoid, including the priest abuse scandal. It is fascinating to see such interest in the Pope's visit, particularly in a nation that is mostly Protestant.
Despite a historic divide, even Evangelical Protestants have welcomed the Pope's arrival, as His Holiness is viewed as more of an ally in a greater cultural war, than a rival for religious dominance. In a world of globalization, only the Pope has the moral authority to make a comment like the one below:
"We observe today a timidity in the face of the category of the good
and an aimless pursuit of novelty parading as the realization of
freedom," the pope said. "And particularly disturbing is the reduction
of the precious and delicate area of education in sexuality to management of 'risk,' bereft of any reference to the beauty of conjugal
love."
On Worldnetdaily, the subject everyone wanted to opine on was Obama's "clinging" comments. I was happy to read the other op-eds especially Ann Coulter's. Ann and I wrote on the same subject, but went in different directions. You can see her "Obama Woos Gun-Toting God Nuts" here.
Vote for me! Even though I think you're a all a bunch of bitter,
xenophobic, belligerent, religious people, I'd still like to be your
president and set this country straight.
That's the message Obama let slip out of his mouth last week during
a fundraiser in San Francisco, when the senator said: "… [I]t's not
surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or
antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant
sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their
frustrations."
The senator from Illinois may not have known he was being taped, but
these comments were as candid as the statements his spiritual guide,
Jeremiah Wright, screamed from the top of his lungs. And just like the
applauding masses in that Chicago church, none of the San Francisco
"wealthy donors" attending the fundraiser protested.
By "bitter," Obama was not referring to the "enlightened" people of
San Francisco. San Franciscans have declared their city be a "safe
haven" for illegal immigrants and have no hope of obtaining a permit
for a firearm – despite a record homicide rate. Obama's words were
directed at those small-town Pennsylvania people, but he might as well
have spoken of the majority of the United States.
For the fifth time, former actress and animal rights activist,
Brigitte Bardot, is on trial for "inciting racial hatred", a crime under French law. She received two months jail sentence with "sursis", meaning she'll have to be on her best behavior or they'll lock her up for saying "bad things".
If French sex symbol can't speak her mind in today's France, than no one can
Read the article below:
Brigette Bardot went on trial in a Paris court yesterday, charged with
"inciting racial hatred" over remarks in a letter to the French
president Nicholas Sarkozy. The 73-year-old former actor did not attend
the court in person, claiming that she was physically unwell. cont...
The Olympic torch was so well guarded that it could not be viewed by spectators.
I don't think there's a place that whines more about human rights than
the hilly City by the Bay, San Francisco, but like all things
progressive, change is part of the plan that is supposed to take us to
the ideal Utopia so, I wasn't entirely surprised that Mayor Gavin
Newsom insisted on hosting the Olympic Torch Relay despite the Chinese
atrocious track record on human rights and Beijing's military
occupation of Tibet. For liberals, progress means moving forward, even
if you're careening downhill.
I was recently interviewed by a specialty publication to provide a conservative's view of the proposed regulatory powers for The Fed.
"The talk of a federal bailout is a sign of the times - the government
is treating Americans as customers, promoting money-back guarantees for
their patronage, rather than as citizens cognizant of the risks of
homeownership and entrusted with the responsibilities of paying their
debts,"
Given the slew of poorly performing Iraq war movies recently
produced, it's no wonder why so many in Hollywood believe the situation
in Iraq is so dire. There are few in Tinseltown who really understand
the situation in Iraq, but there are some diamonds amid the lumpy
mountains of coal. cont...
How times change. In 1964, Barry Goldwater, a Republican senator from Arizona and staunch anti-communist, ran for the presidency. He lost to Lyndon B. Johnson, but part of the Goldwater campaign platform was a pull out from Vietnam.
Even more shocking is this endorsement of Barry Goldwater by Raymond Massey, a Canadian actor who became popular for a television series that has left the American conscious, Dr. Kildare
Hillary may have been right to stick around. Following the comments he made earlier (see below), If Barack Obama gets really
bloodied this week Senator Clinton can make the case, at the Democratic Convention,
that the Senator from Illinois is unelectable by the American
public--many of whom go to church, cling to their weapons and expect to chose someone from the people.
You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of
small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years
and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton
administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive
administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna
regenerate and they have not.
And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to
guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or
anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain
their frustrations.
The press is currently using the term "bitter" to describe Obama's comments, but the bigger problem may be Obama's "I think you're all trash, but I want to be your president anyway" attitude.
In a sign of solidarity, several talking heads in the news are interpreting "cling", the verb Obama used, "hold on" to hold.
Senator Obama has changed "anti-immigrant sentiment" to mad about illegal immigrants, in a later speech he made in front of a gun, religious-clinging Pennsylvania crowd.
Political Season Pass
Could these comments make Senator Hillary Clinton president? Skeptics will point to Obama's appeal and the ability to rise in the polls even after the radical comments of his spiritual guide, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, but that rise for Obama reveals more about Hillary's lack of appeal than it shows support for the senator from Illinois.
The success of Barrack Obama is largely due to the senator's ability to validate voter self-absorption. "How does Obama make me feel?" "What will Obama do for me?", has been the prevailing appeal of the Obama candidacy.
Ralph Peters has an INCREDIBLE op-ed piece in today's NY Post. Peters is a no-holds barred, former career military, current civilian journalist who has done some great reporting from Iraq. In this article he's made several salient points beyond the dismal coverage of the war in Iraq.
April
11, 2008 -- TODAY, the Newseum - a 250,000-square-foot homage to
journalism that cost $450 million to build - opens on Pennsylvania
Avenue, midway between the White House and the Capitol.
There's an ugly truth about Afghanistan. Not all military are the same. David Wood has written a critical and accurate portrayal of the frustrating bureaucracy/cultural sensibilities of multi-national forces with diverse missions and purposes. to be cont...
I was speaking with Michael Yon about the state and future of Iraq. Yon first traveled to the war zone in 2004 and has made several trips since. Michael Yon is unique, he has seen the conflict at different phases and for extended periods. His recent op-ed is a must read.
Absolut absurdity Exclusive: Matt Sanchez whacks vodka company for failing geography
Posted: April 09, 2008 1:00 am Eastern
In
an attempt to be "edgy," the Absolut Vodka manufacturer created an ad
that hearkened back to the first Mexican Empire and included much of
what is indisputably the United States of America. The ad (seen at right)
placed California, Colorado and Texas in Montezuma's Revenge territory,
which would be a disaster for the average human smuggler; could you
imagine having to cross Texas on foot just to get a decent job or drink
clean water?
The eternally astonished, over at The Gawker,
are quick to label anyone who is offended by the insult to national
sovereignty a xenophobe. There's something revealing about the
We-are-the-World types who believe things like culture, borders,
religion and history are all relative. In the United States, groups
like the decidedly non-diverse La Raza and the acronym-challenged MEChA
understand the power of identity politics. These race conmen play both
advocate and victim to further their radical agenda. In Mexico, where
the Absolut ad ran before being pulled, the Reconquista of "lost
territories" was supposed to appeal to national pride. This flies in
the face of logic. Mexican don't risk their lives to reach states like
California and Colorado because it was formerly Mexico; Mexicans leave
their homeland precisely to escape Mexico.
Absolut
Vodka commented that the geo-politically incorrect ad: "In no way was
it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of
borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor
does it reflect immigration issues."
(Column continues below)
That
statement was reportedly left on its consumer inquiry phone line after
angered Americans protested the ad – let's hope Americans will consider
Grey Goose for their next Martini, because someone at Absolut,
absolutely knew the ad would cause some controversy. The map of the
Mexico of lore re-writes history itself. The Mexico of the early 19th
century also included much of present-day Central America, but the
publicity spot did not bother to place Guatemala or Nicaragua under
Mexico City's thumb. As a native of Californian myself, I'd be
surprised to meet anyone in the Golden State who would prefer to live
under Mexican rule. Even the fans of campy Mexican wrestling would
rather stay in the Union and watch the matches through cable TV.
Absolut
should consider changing advertising agencies, or at least finding one
that can own up to the publicity scandals it creates. The Gawker
readers should increase their cultural sensibility by learning the
Spanish saying mothers repeat to insolent children: Errant flies do not enter into closed mouths.
The vodka that can re-draw borders can also work bigger miracles. Absolut panders to the gay market by giving them what they want or at least what they would like. This ad is currently running in "LGBT" media (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (for those who haven't been keeping up with the latest episodes of Ugly Betty), according to the Worldnetdaily.
This Absolut media blitz can only go one of two ways. The Absolut soon to be acquiring French company will gain some brand recognition and sell more vodka, or mainstream Americans will boycott the liquor out of a sense of patriotism and the LGBT will shun the 80 proof in a tizzy fit of spiteful psychological envy.
It's interesting that Absolut marketers will not consider the possibility of a national insult, but sensitivity to the pink cause is always quite generous. Whichever way the Absolut inanity goes, this Absolut pornvertisment is showing dysfunctional creative shortcomings.
Looks like I'm not the only one with the idea of boycotting Absolut. Still waiting on a comment from the Gawker, unless the ad above has managed to keep their mouths busy.
In an attempt to be "edgy" the Absolut Vodka manufacturer created an ad that hearkened back to the 1st Mexican Empire and includes much of what is indisputably the United States of America. The ad (seen above) place California, Colorado and Texas in Montezuma's Revenge territory, which would be a disaster for the average human smuggler; could you imagine having to cross Texas on foot just to get a decent job or drink clean water?
The eternally astonished, over at the Gawker, are quick to label anyone who is offended by the insult to national sovereignty a xenophobe. Absolut Vodka commented that the geo-politically incorrect ad:
"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an
altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American
sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,"
That statement was reportedly left on its consumer inquiry phone line. Absolut, absolutely knew the ad would cause some controversy, because they were careful to re-write history. The Mexico of the early 19th century (as seen below) also included much of present-day Central America, but the publicity spot did not bother to place Guatemala or Nicaragua under Mexico City's thumb.
Absolut should consider changing advertising agencies, or at least finding one that can own up to publicity scandals it creates. The Gawker acolytes should increase their cultural sensibility by learning the Spanish saying mothers repeat to insolent children: Errant flies do not enter into closed mouths.
It's back! The Matt Sanchez Show returns LIVE to BlogTalkRadio this Friday, April 4, at 3 p.m. Discussion during this one-hour call-in talk show will highlight scandal, race and politics. Is there a double standard? Race and politics will be more important than ever in the 2008
election, but as the presumptive candidates, Barack Obama and John
McCain, are separated by race, will it be possible to judge the two men
equally?
Don't miss this exciting show with Matt Sanchez. Call in to speak your mind or join in the online chat during the show.
THE MATT SANCHEZ SHOW LIVE! Friday, April 4, 2008
LISTEN HERE: www.blogtalkradio.com/Matt-Sanchez (The chat room will open 5 minutes prior to airtime)
Today, the shores of Normandy are not a particularly frightening
place. Even with the constant overcast that typifies the months before
spring, Normandy Beach seems suspiciously like any other hibernating
vacation community before the "season" begins. The locals frequent
little restaurants that look more like someone's living room to drink
home-distilled Calvados made from the apples they grow and warm cider.
Three and a half generations ago, this community was under the
surveillance of the Nazis. There was a growing suspicion that the
bucolic landscape was going to be the site of a massive invasion, a
debarquement, as the French called it.
On June 6, 1944, young British soldiers emerged from boats and were
literally sitting ducks on the tempestuous waters. Gear tangled, some
drowned, others made it to shore only to be maimed or worse by
high-powered German artillery jutting out of well-constructed German
pillboxes.
The first to reach the shores must have prayed for survival amidst
the explosions of shells and the muted cries of the wounded. They
fought against enormous odds that day, and for some reason many
continued on, despite the odds of being killed, to liberate a nation
that was not their own. Where did these men derive their courage?
Surely, they wanted their children and descendants to live free.
I was recently interviewed by a specialty publication to provide a conservative's view of the proposed regulatory powers for The Fed. 
I was speaking with Michael Yon about the state and future of Iraq. Yon first traveled to the war zone in 2004 and has made several trips since. Michael Yon is unique, he has seen the conflict at different phases and for extended periods. His 
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