Wednesday, August 31, 2005

A Dose of Perspective

Oil is 120% more affordable than it was in 1980.

In 1980, the average American's inflation adjusted annual disposable income could buy 180 barrels of oil.

In 2005, the average American's inflation adjusted annual disposable income can buy 400 barrels of oil.

In 1980, disposable income per person was $16,940.In 2004, disposable income per person was
$27,230.(Constant 2000 dollars)

In 1980, a barrel of oil cost $94.
In 2005, a barrel of oil costs $68. (Constant 2004 dollars)

EPA Waves Rules on Gasoline Products

Aug 30 - EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has determined that the impact of Hurricane Katrina created an “extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstance” in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. The situation will prevent the distribution of an adequate supply of fuel to consumers that is compliant with the Clean Air Act. This is “a natural disaster, that could not reasonably have been foreseen or prevented and not attributable to a lack of prudent planning on the part of the suppliers of the fuel to these affected States,” according to a fuel waiver granted to the states by the EPA today.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA will temporarily allow all parties in the fuel distribution system, including refiners, importers, distributors, carriers and retail outlets (regulated parties) to supply gasoline meeting a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard of 9.0 psi in areas of the affected states where a lower RVP is required.

Further, because of the expected shortage of motor vehicle diesel fuel meeting the 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur standard, EPA will temporarily allow regulated parties to supply motor vehicle diesel fuel to affected states having a sulfur content greater than 500 ppm.

This waiver is effective immediately and will continue through the remainder of the high-ozone period, through Sept. 15, 2005. However, retail outlets or wholesale purchaser-consumers that receive motor vehicle diesel fuel having a sulfur content greater than 500 ppm, under the terms of this waiver may continue selling or dispensing this fuel after Sept. 15, 2005, until their supplies are depleted.

They have now revised this action to apply to all 50 states. Good common sense move. Look for substantial breast beating from the environmental crowd.

The Grinch Who Stole New Orleans

I feel for the people who have lost their lives, loved ones and have had their lives turned upside down from the devastation of hurricane Katrina, I really do. But I am going to pi$$ quite a few people off and be accused of being a heartless SOB for what I'm about to write. So be it, someone needs to address this angle.

We have become sheep in this country, completely dependent on the government for things it cannot nor was it ever was ever intended to provide. I am referring to the perception of cradle to grave protection for the totality of our existence.

We can build our homes or businesses on a tectonic fault, an island of Mississippi muck 10 feet below sea level, or on the side of an active volcano. No worries, the government won't let anything bad happen to us or our property, that just wouldn't be fair. We have become so completely dependent on the government for conscience that as long as they say it's OK, it must be the right thing to do. I don't need to use my personal God given sense anymore because the collective intellect of the government is far superior.

Every major life decision we make carrries with it a benefit/risk ratio. And oftentimes with a greater benefit also comes an increased risk. So it goes concerning where a man chooses to reside. Florida's ocean front is wonderful, mild climate, no snow, fantastic views, gentle ocean breezes, and........HURRICANES. California, also great, exceptions..... EARTHQUAKES/MUDSLIDES.

Do the people that choose to live in these high risk areas not bear some of the responsiblity for the plight many will inevitably find themselves in? After all, with several areas of the country it's not a matter of if a certain natural phenomenon will occur, but when. There are a few dozen areas on the southern coast that get dinged by hurricanes practically every year, I mean they know they're coming. Whether these people who live in these "high risk" areas choose to accept it or not, they are rolling the dice, betting their life that the big one won't happen to their particular slice of paradise. A risky wager for sure, but that's not how many perceive it. The omnipotent all seeing all saving government is there to protect them.

If nothing else this is a wake up call for those who adhere to this deluded rational. The choices we make do have consequences and the government is not always in a position to insulate us from the bad ones.

Now, aside from the potential for loss of life, let's address the financial consequences of choosing to live in a high risk area. Should the guy who lives in Minnesota who braves vicious winters every year shoveling literally tons of snow and enduring brutal subzero temps for weeks at a time be responsible for rebuilding Joe Gulf Shores home every few years? Should the guy in Oklahoma who pays extra every month for homeowners insurance with a tornado rider routinely bail out the guy who chose to build or purchase his home on a flood plain?

My solution, let these folks who decide to reside in a high risk area self insure. Nothing like personal financial reponsibility to clarify ones mind and sharpen up decision making. My guess, one helluva lot less people would choose to put themselves in harms way if it was clear that they personally were reponsible for the consequences of there choices.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Rebounds in August

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in July, rebounded in August. The Index now stands at 105.6 (1985=100), up from 103.6 in July. The Present Situation Index increased to 123.6 from 119.3. The Expectations Index edged up to 93.7 from 93.2 last month.

The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS NFO. TNS NFO is one of the TNS group of companies (LSE: TNN). The cutoff date for August’s preliminary results was August 23rd.

“Consumers appear to be weathering the steady rise in gas prices quite well,” says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center. “In fact, consumers’ confidence in the current state of the economy, and particularly in the labor market, has propelled the Present Situation Index to its highest level in nearly four years (125.4 in September 2001). Expectations continue to suggest more of the same for the remainder of this year.”

Keep your fingers crossed that the latest surge in gasoline prices and the disruption of shipping due to Katrina doesn't throw a monkey wrench into this terrific economy.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Rep Weldon States Able Danger Records Ordered Destroyed

This is continuing to grow in size and scope folks. There are people going down over this.

From Dom Giordano show (Philadelphia)

Congressman Curt Weldon (R - Pennsylvania) gave another exclusive interview to Dom Giordano this evening (Monday) and broke the news that he will be giving a speech on September 8th (next Monday) during which he will present yet another 'Able Danger' witness.
This new witness will attest (and will swear under oath when called) that he was "ordered to destroy records" relating to the 'Able Danger' program.

This order to destroy the records occurred prior to 9-11-01. Weldon intimated that it happened during the Clinton Administration.

The witness, who Weldon did not name, says that he was ordered to destroy records and was threatened with jail if he failed to comply. Weldon said that he has the names of the people involved, including the person who gave the order, and HE WILL NAME THEM in his speech.

Congressman Weldon also said that his staff has met with Senator Arlen Specter's (R - Pennsylvania) staff regarding the upcoming Judiciary Committee hearings. Weldon wants to be sure that everybody is on the same page. Weldon also said that he will do whatever he has to do to make sure that ALL the facts come out and that the process "is not manipulated".

Curt Weldon expressed disgust with the "incompetence" of the 9-11 Commission and said that the victims of the 9-11 terror attacks deserve answers. Weldon is determined to see that they get them.

Weldon did express confidence in Tim Roehmer and John Lehman and speculated that perhaps the poor job done by the Commission was the result of an incompetent staff. Weldon sounded amazed and disappointed that so much important information was either glossed over or swept under the rug by the Commission.

Via Lancey Howard at FR.

And then there's this.....

The Pentagon appears to have reversed its position on Able Danger, the Army intelligence collection team.

A Pentagon spokesman now says "there's no reason to doubt the specific recollections" of the growing number of team members. The team members say the project had pre-Sept. 11 intelligence on al Qaida, which Defense Department lawyers prohibited them from sharing with the FBI.

Stay tuned, lots more to come.

US says air strike kills Iraq al Qaeda fighter

Good kill.....

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it had killed an al Qaeda militant named Abu Islam and a number of other fighters in air strikes on Tuesday on Husayba and Karabila, close to Qaim on the Syrian border.

"Intelligence leads Coalition forces to believe that Abu Islam and several of his associates were killed in the air strike," a spokeswoman said in Baghdad.

A hospital official in Qaim told Reuters at least 47 people died in the U.S.-led strikes. Mohammed al-Aani said 35 people died in one house and another 12 in a strike on a second house.

The U.S. military said in a statement it had carried out three separate strikes, initially dropping four bombs on a house in Husayba.

Monday, August 29, 2005

It's Bush's Fault!!

Ran across this moonbattery. Never hurts to see the latest nonsense being offered up by the nimrod Kool-Aid crowd.

So far today, I've looked at Global Warming and Katrina and the crisis resulting from Lousiana's National Guard being in Iraq instead of defending their state.

Will Bush stay on vacation? At this point, it doesn't really matter. Because Bush has been asleep at the wheel for four years. From the Houston Chronicle in 2001:
New Orleans is sinking.

And its main buffer from a hurricane, the protective Mississippi River delta, is quickly eroding away, leaving the historic city perilously close to disaster.
So vulnerable, in fact, that earlier this year the Federal Emergency Management Agency ranked the potential damage to New Orleans as among the three likeliest, most castastrophic disasters facing this country.

The other two? A massive earthquake in San Francisco, and, almost prophetically, a terrorist attack on New York City.

The New Orleans hurricane scenario may be the deadliest of all.

Saturday, August 27, 2005


Joined at the hip

Cindy, you don't speak for us tour, approx 3000-4000 in attendance.

Telling the presumptuous left to stuff it

Third Source Backs 'Able Danger' Claims About Atta

Like a water torture, more evidence just keeps dribbling out giving "the Commission" increasing levels of anxiety and heartburn. In particular Ms. Gorelick likely won't be sleeping as well.

WASHINGTON — A third person has now come forward to verify claims made by a military intelligence unit that a year before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, it had information showing that lead hijacker Mohamed Atta and other terrorists were identified as being in the United States.

J.D. Smith, a defense contractor who claims he worked on the technical side of the unit, code-named "Able Danger", told reporters Friday that he helped gather open-source information , reported on government spending and helped generate charts associated with the unit's work. Able Danger was set up in the 1990s to track Al Qaeda activity worldwide.

"I am absolutely positive that he [Atta] was on our chart among other pictures and ties that we were doing mainly based upon [terror] cells in New York City," Smith said.

"What's the Sept. 11 commission got to hide?" Weldon asked. "The commission is trying to spin this because they're embarrassed about what's coming out. In two weeks with two staffers, I've uncovered more in this regard than they did with 80 staffers and $15 million of taxpayer money."

Friday, August 26, 2005

12% Say US Troop Withdrawal Will Stop Terror Attacks

Looks as though "Momma" Sheehan doesn't even have a respectable minority that agree with her Iraq stance.

August 26, 2005--Just 12% of Americans believe that withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq will stop terror attacks like the summer bombings in London. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 71% disagree and say that troop withdrawal will not lead to an end of terrorist attacks.

The survey also found that 54% of Americans believe the situation will get worse in Iraq if U.S. troops are withdrawn. Twenty percent (20%) believe the situation will get better in Iraq if American troops leave, while 15% believe that bringing home the troops will have no impact.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of men believe a troop withdrawal will make the situation worse. That view is shared by 48% of women.

There is a sharp partisan difference on this question. By a 4-to-1 margin, both Republicans and those not affiliated with either major party say that the situation will get worse in Iraq if U.S. troops are withdrawn.

Typical of the Dims, out in left field......again. Pretty low percenatge really when you consider that at least 12% of the population believe they've been abducted by aliens.

Commission Votes to Keep S.D. Base Open

Excuse me for being gratified about this. It's a real feather in Thunes cap for having done something it's likely Daschle could not.

WASHINGTON - The base closing commission voted Friday to keep open Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

The surprise decision was a setback for Pentagon leaders, a blessing for South Dakotans who feared losing some 4,000 jobs, and a victory for Sen. John Thune and the state's other politicians who lobbied vigorously to save the base. Thune, a freshman Republican, unseated then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle partly on the strength of his claim that he would be better positioned to help save the base.

"Oh my, God. It's a fantastic day," said Pennington County Commission member Mark Kirkeby, who had tears in his eyes as he watched the vote on television in Rapid City, S.D.

A politician actually keeping a promise made to voters, go figure.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Katherine Kersten: The big picture in Iraq tells quite a different story

Bestill my heart, a rational and well reasoned article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Crawford campout a quintessential media event. Its purpose is to gain attention for a small group of people, far out of proportion to their numbers or their knowledge of conditions in Iraq. While protesters win headlines, soldiers with on-the-ground experience have no forum to express their strong support for our cause there.

The major media's love affair with the Crawford protest is no surprise. It's consistent with the focus on body counts and funerals we've come to expect: "Troop Carrier Flips; Four Dead,"Roadside Bomb Kills Two." The media rarely give us the context we need to understand the fighting that produces these casualties -- the purpose and outcome of the missions the lost soldiers were engaged in. When that information is given, it's often buried in articles that focus on death.

Without this big picture, any war would appear a meaningless disaster. What if Americans had seen the casualty lists from Omaha Beach or Okinawa -- hills of sand -- without hearing about the objectives for which those bloody battles were fought? (A truer statement was never made)

To evaluate the war in Iraq, like any war, we need to understand what our troops are attempting and achieving, as well as how many of them are being killed. Take the 14 Marines who died in Haditha in early August in a much-publicized roadside bombing. Army Lt. Colonel Steve Boylan, a military spokesman I contacted in Baghdad, explained that they were laying the groundwork for Operation Quick Strike: a campaign to destroy the insurgency by depriving it of its bases and shutting down its "rat lines" -- infiltration routes running from the Syrian border to the heart of Iraq.

Read the entire article, this gal absolutely nails it.

Anti-war protesters defied by supporters

The silent majority is silent no more.

Anti-war protesters camped outside U.S. President George Bush's Texas ranch are being confronted by military families who claim they are disrespectful.

The war's opponents are led by California activist Cindy Sheehan, who blames Bush for her son's death in Iraq. Since Aug. 6, a group called Veterans for Peace has begun placing crosses bearing the names of dead soldiers outside the ranch.

But the crosses are being taken down by the dead soldiers' family members, the Washington Times said Thursday.

anti-war protesters "never asked for my permission to put up a cross for my son for their cause," said Gary Qualls, whose son was killed in Iraq. "They are not respecting our sons and daughters."

Bush backers give speech 20 standing O's

The Entrenched media is shilling for the Dims by heralding selected poll numbers and trumpeting declining support for the war in Iraq. The heartland tells a different story.

NAMPA, Idaho - In a bid to shore up support for the war in Iraq, President Bush gathered an arena full of men and women in uniform and loyal Republicans to hear his speech.
They didn't disappoint.

The standing-room-only crowd punctuated the president's 40-minute address regularly with applause and nearly 20 standing ovations. Bush used his friendly audience as a backdrop for comments aimed to turn flagging public support for the war and beating back questions from skeptics, including some soldiers' relatives.

"A heavy burden falls on our military families. There are few things in life more difficult than seeing a loved one go off to war. They miss you and love you," the president said. "By standing behind you, the families are standing up for America."

The president's speech Wednesday at the Idaho Center, an indoor rodeo and concert arena, capped two days of mountain biking and fishing at the Tamarack Resort, about 90 miles north of Boise. He flew to Idaho after a speech Monday before the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Salt Lake City, where he sounded many of the same themes.

The author can't resist interjecting is own dour sentiments however, later in the article.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

July new home sales rise to record

The economies "stealth boom" continues.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of new U.S. homes jumped 6.5 percent to a record high in July, defying economists' expectations for a decline, as purchases soared in the Northeast and West and median prices dropped, a government report showed on Wednesday.

The Commerce Department said new single-family home sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.410 million units from a downwardly revised 1.324 million unit rate in June. The July sales pace was 27.7 percent higher than a year earlier.

Economists had expected new home sales to drop to a 1.333 million unit pace from June's originally reported 1.374 million unit pace.

While sales climbed, so did supply. The inventory of homes available for sale at the end of July stood at a record 460,000, up 1.8 percent from June and 15 percent higher than a year ago, the report showed. At the current sales pace, the supply of homes represented 4 months' worth in July.

The housing sector has been on a tear for more than four years, with home sales and construction striking regular records on the back of stubbornly low mortgage rates that drove demand. While economists now expect 2005 to be another record year, the sector began to show some signs of softness last month, as resales of previously owned homes dropped 2.6 percent and supply started to climb.

How dare low mortgage rates be so stubborn.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Embattled Colorado Professor: Ethnicity Investigation Dropped by University

Prepare yourselves for a whitewash of epic proportions.

DENVER (AP) - The University of Colorado has dropped its investigation into the American Indian heritage of the professor who came under fire for likening Sept. 11 victims to an infamous Nazi, the professor himself says.

A letter from the university dated Friday said a faculty panel decided to drop the matter, Ward Churchill said Monday.

"There's no basis to proceed," Churchill quoted the letter as saying, later adding: "It should have never been an issue".

"It can be taken as that 'we're not functioning as boards of racial purity with a board of white guys that sit around and decide who's an Indian and who's not.'"

University spokeswoman Pauline Hale said the panel's work is confidential and declined to comment on the story, first reported by KUSA-TV. The subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct was close to finishing its work, Hale said.

Churchill, a tenured professor of ethnic studies, wrote an essay shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks comparing some World Trade Center victims to Adolf Eichmann, one of the Nazis who orchestrated the Holocaust. The essay drew scant attention until earlier this year, when Churchill was invited to speak at a college in upstate New York.

So fraud to obtain position is "not an issue" hmmmmmm. Wonder how the thousands of people who have been excluded from a job because of ethnicity feel about that.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Navy Officer Affirms Assertions About Pre-9/11 Data on Atta

A second officer has come forward to cooberate Lt. Col. Shaffer's story. concerning Able Danger and the indentification of Atta.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 - An active-duty Navy captain has become the second military officer to come forward publicly to say that a secret defense intelligence program tagged the ringleader of the Sept. 11 attacks as a possible terrorist more than a year before the attacks.

The officer, Scott J. Phillpott, said in a statement today that he could not discuss details of the military program, which was called Able Danger, but confirmed that its analysts had identified the Sept. 11 ringleader, Mohamed Atta, by name by early 2000. "My story is consistent," said Captain Phillpott, who managed the program for the Pentagon's Special Operations Command.
"Atta was identified by Able Danger by January-February of 2000."

His comments came on the same day that the Pentagon's chief spokesman, Lawrence Di Rita, told reporters that the Defense Department had been unable to validate the assertions made by an Army intelligence veteran, Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, and now backed up by Captain Phillpott, about the early identification of Mr. Atta.

The Pentagon better come up with something a bit more in keeping with the accumulating evidence.

Constitution Approved

Breaking.......Per Fox, Iraqi draft constitution has been approved meeting the extended deadline. More details to follow.

Update: Reuters article here. AP has this:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Hours before a midnight deadline, Shiites and Kurds reached an agreement Monday on a draft constitution and were trying to persuade Sunni Arabs to go along with their compromises.

Update II: From Iraq the model .....In a press conference that just ended in Baghdad, Jawad Al-Maliki and Jalal Addin Al-Saghir (CDC members from the United Alliance) said that the Sunni politicians still have reservations on federalism but they expected that the draft will easily get the approval of 2rds of the Assembly members."Frankly speaking, we cannot wait for the Sunni forever; we have a deadline to respect and if they don't agree with what was written in the draft they can say that in the referendum but we're still having talks with the Sunni politicians" said Jalal Addin.

Regarding Islam and the constitution: it was agreed upon that no laws that are against the widely agreed upon values of Islam can be issued and no laws that are against the values of democracy and human rights can be issued. Natural resources according to the draft will be managed in cooperation between the central government and the local administrations of the federal states/provinces.

Folk Singer Supports Anti-War Protest

First Hanoi Jane comes out of retirment to spew her anti-war anti American pablum, Now another America hating dinosaur comes out from under her rock......

CRAWFORD, Texas Aug 22, 2005 — Joan Baez was against the Vietnam War and she showed it appearing at marches, once even blocking the entrance of a military induction center.

The folk singer is against the Iraq war, too, and she showed her support Sunday to protesters camping out near President Bush's ranch.

Baez took to the stage for about 500 people on an acre lot offered by a landowner who opposes the war, performing such classic peace anthems as "Song of Peace," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

What, no collective rendition of Kumbaya.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Sheehan Motivating the Media

Absolutely positively my last post on Cindy Sheehan.

A good chunk of the media and basically all of the "usual suspects" are calling the game from the same playbook. Cindy Sheehan is a grieving mother who's selfless dedication arises from a deeply held belief that the war in Iraq is wrong, the administration is totally inept and our boys are dying in an ill concieved endeavor.

They are sparing no effort in the attempt to characterize Ms. Sheehan as the personification of the American Mother who has lost a child to war, America's mom so to speak. They further attempt to promote the perception that Ms. Sheehan represents a sunstantial number if not a decided majority of the Soldier Moms in this country; "If only they had a voice they'd be saying the same thing as Cindy" and other such pajorative speculation. They are even referring to her now as "Mother" Sheehan in an effort to perpetuate this belief. The marketing campaign has been professional albeit not all that convincing, somehere between the launching of a new $125.00 an ounce Chanel fragrance and an infomercial for steak knives.

Any criticism of this fine women is labelled as a vicious right wing attack on the very institution of motherhood itself. ( Bill Johnson Rocky Mountain News "The influential and powerful in this country feel free to attack and belittle a woman who lost a son in the war and now refuses to remain silent in her grief, pretty much tells you everything you need to know of 2005 America".) They rationalize the cheerleading because it is after all for mother, country and apple pie.

It's pie alright, steaming cowpie and it's nothing about substance and everything about smoke and mirrors. Ms. Sheehans persona is a spectre created in the fertile minds of the far left pacifist peaceniks, MoveOn .Org and the media. In Cindy Sheehan they have created a caricature of their collective selves.

Ms. Sheehan is anything but a "typical" mother. She has been active in far left fringe organizations since well before the invasion of Iraq was a glint in George Bush's eye. She now aligns herself with such "mainstream" organizations as TrueMajority and Democracy for America, MoveOn.Org, Code Pink Women for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, Michael Moore, etc etc.

Some of her more notable statements:

1. This country is not worth dying for.

2. Yes, he (Casey Sheehan) was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel.

3. When asked if she would feel any different if Casey had died in Afghanistan, she replied: I don't think so, Chris, because I believe that Afghanistan is almost the same thing...... we should have gone after al-Qaida and maybe not after the country of Afghanistan.

4. After their meeting she commented "I now know he's [Bush] sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis," Cindy said after their meeting. "I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith.". Subsequently, she has said that Bush treated her callously during the meeting and acted as if it was a party atmospere.

5. "The biggest terrorist is George W. Bush."

6. "I want to meet with the President to ask him why he killed my son"

7. Sheehan says she considers Lynne Stewart her Atticus Finch

8. "It’s OK for Israel to have nuclear weapons but we are waging nuclear war in Iraq, we have contaminated the entire country. It’s not OK for Syria to be in Lebanon. Hypocrites! But Israel can occupy Palestine? Stop the slaughter!“

There's plenty more, but I believe the point is made. Other than maybe 5% or so of the population that could use serious psychiatric help, nobody honestly believes that Ms. Sheehan is anything close to representative of a typical American mother, grieving or not. I do believe that certain people on the right went a bit far pontificating on her divorce and tax payment defaults etc. That smacks of smear and it's not needed. Ms. Sheehan has poked enough holes in her own boat.

Contrary to the prevailing media talking points, the fact that she has had a terrible loss and is grieving by no means immunizes her from scrutiny or constructive criticism nor should it. Ms. Sheehan chose to exploit her present situation to highlight her ideology and further her agenda.
If she insists on sparring in the public arena of politically weighty issues, she better expect to get nailed with a few jabs. God forbid we should use her own words against her.

The media somehow feels that Ms. Sheehan's opinion should carry more weight than the average American. Somehow, because of her loss she is eminently qualified to make social commentary on the legitimacy of the Iraq war. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's because of her loss that her judgment and rational are skewed by strong emotion making her opinions particularly suspect and unreliable.

Ms. Sheehan has proven through her statements and actions that she is an enigma, the miniscule exception rather than the rule. What her motivations are I don't know nor do I particularly care. She couldn't be any more wrong regardless of how noble or despicable her motivations may be.

The motivations of the Entrenched Media, however are known and predictable. They needed a poster child for the antiwar movement and found one in Cindy Sheehan. A useful idiot with the added bonus of being a true believer. You can almost hear them muttering, "Holy Crap, these stories just seem to write themselves". Expect them to hold onto her like grim death.

Alabama jobless rate dips to one percentage point below U-S rate

Alabama's unemployment rate has dropped to a full percentage point below the national average, dipping to four percent in one the state's biggest monthly declines in years.

Samuel Addy, an economics expert at the University of Alabama, said the numbers both reflect the continued growth of the state's automotive industry and cast doubt on the idea that illegal immigrants are taking valuable jobs from Americans.

The Riley administration released figures yesterday showing the state's jobless rate for July dropped oh-point-four percent from June to July, one of the largest monthly decreases in nearly two decades.

The overall state unemployment rate of four percent compared to a national rate of five percent last month.

Experts say gains in the automotive and other industries have helped offset the loss of as many as 50,000 jobs in the last decade, many of them in the textile and apparel industries.

At risk of being accused of over simplification, I offer up two words to explain this phenomenon.....NO UNIONS.

Featured Blog Friday!

Todays Good Blogging Seal of Approval goes to Flopping Aces.

Curt has a keen wit and does a yeoman's job of bringing the interesting story's of the day to our attention as well as offering inciteful analysis.

Visit the site, it's worth the trip.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Boys and Girls Club under fire

WASHINGTON — Directors of the Atlanta-based Boys and Girls Clubs of America will vote next month on whether to strip a New York club of its membership following disclosures that the club improperly loaned $875,000 to Air America, the liberal radio network.

The staff of Boys and Girls Clubs is recommending the board drop the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club of the Bronx from the organization's ranks. The board will meet Sept. 20 in Washington.

"Dropping an organization from membership is not something that's done lightly," said Evan McElroy, vice president for communications at the Boys and Girls Clubs headquarters. "It's a very, very serious matter, an uncommon thing."

The Gloria Wise club is one of 1,165 Boys and Girls Clubs affiliates nationwide operating about 3,700 clubs. Problems came to light this summer when New York City investigators determined that $875,000 in club funds had been loaned to Progress Media, the parent company of Air America.

New York City has since canceled about $9 million in contracts it had awarded the Gloria Wise Club. A spokesman for the New York Department of Investigation said Wednesday that the investigation into the club's finances continues. It's uncertain when the department's final report will be complete.

The loaner faces serious tangible penalty for their spurious and unethical actions, the loanee however, remains unscathed save some persistent and tenacious scolding from the pens of Michelle Malkin, The Radio Equalizer and a few others. Mr. Spitzer are you paying attention.....anyone?

Sheehan Leaves Crawford (mother ill.... stroke)

Best wishes for recovery.

The only question remaining.....will she blame the illness on Bush, the PNAC -neocons or the Jews.

'Al-Qaeda leader killed' in Saudi

Big fish, hope it proves accurate.

A man suspected of being al-Qaeda's leader in Saudi Arabia is reported to have been killed in a police raid.

According to unconfirmed reports, Saleh Awfi was killed during a shootout in the holy city of Medina.

He is one of the most wanted men in Saudi Arabia, which has been trying to quell a wave of violence by militants believed to be linked to al-Qaeda.

Iowa Republicans Place Rice as 2008 Contender

State secretary Condoleezza Rice is the top presidential hopeful for Republican Party supporters in the Hawkeye State, according to a poll by Victory Enterprises. 30.3 per cent of respondents say they would vote for Rice in the state’s GOP caucuses.

Arizona senator John McCain is second with 16 per cent, followed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani with 15.3 per cent, and former House of Representatives speaker and Georgia congressman Newt Gingrich with 7.5 per cent.

Support is lower for Tennessee senator Bill Frist, Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel, New York governor George Pataki, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, Virginia senator George Allen and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.


In a separate list without Rice, Giuliani and McCain are tied for first place.

I'll give better than even money that Condi is on the ticket as #1 or 2.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Sheehan Further Exposes Her Sophomoric Philosophy

Portrait of a pacifist......

MATTHEWS: Can I ask you a tough question? A very tough question.

SHEEHAN: Yes.

MATTHEWS: All right. If your son had been killed in Afghanistan, would you have a different feeling?

SHEEHAN: I don't think so, Chris, because I believe that Afghanistan is almost the same thing. We're fighting terrorism. Or terrorists, we're saying. But they're not contained in a country. This is an ideology and not an enemy. And we know that Iraq, Iraq had no terrorism. They were no threat to the United States of Americ

MATTHEWS: But Afghanistan was harboring, the Taliban was harboring al-Qaida which is the group that attacked us on 9/11.

SHEEHAN: Well then we should have gone after al-Qaida and maybe not after the country of Afghanistan.

MATTHEWS: But that's where they were being harbored. That's where they were headquartered. Shouldn't we go after their headquarters? Doesn't that make sense?

SHEEHAN: Well, but there were a lot of innocent people killed in that invasion, too. ... But I'm seeing that we're sending our ground troops in to invade countries where the entire country wasn't the problem. Especially Iraq. Iraq was no problem. And why do we send in invading armies to march into Afghanistan when we're looking for a select group of people in that country?

What a perfect example of a "little" knowledge being dangerous. Her understanding is just deep enough for her to reach a strongly held but totally wrong asessment. A disparate thought process has led her to incongruous conclusions. Her reliance on far left talking points combined with a less than adequate understanding of the situation makes her naivete quite evident.

Soldiers Have None of Today Shows BS

Lauer interviewed a group of soldiers at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, the predictable questioning of the state of morale arose. Twice the soldiers replied that morale was good.

Lauer not getting the desired response perservered....."Don't get me wrong, I think you're probably telling the truth, but there might be a lot of people at home wondering how that could be possible with the conditions you're facing and with the insurgent attacks you're facing."

Lauer then asked : "What would you say to people who doubt that morale could be that high?"
Captain Sherman Powell b!tch slapped Lauer, the MSM and the anti-war crowd with this beauty:

"Well sir, I'd tell you, if I got my news from the newspapers I'd be pretty depressed as well".

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Roberts Once Wrote of 'Abortion Tragedy'

Let's all hope his opinions are the same or have intensified in the last 20 years.

As a young lawyer in the Reagan White House, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts concluded that a group's memorial service for aborted fetuses was "an entirely appropriate means of calling attention to the abortion tragedy."

Roberts' wrote the advice in an October, 1985 memo after he was asked to review a proposed telegram from President Reagan to the memorial service promoted by the California Pro Life Medical Association.

"The president's position is that the fetuses were human beings, or at least cannot be proven not to have been, and accordingly a memorial service would seem an entirely appropriate means of calling attention to the abortion tragedy," wrote Roberts.

Referring to a Supreme Court ruling issued earlier that year that struck down an Alabama school prayer law, he said, "The conclusion ... that the Constitution prohibits such a moment of silent reflection — or even silent `prayer' — seems indefensible."

Mother of soldier killed in Iraq objects to memorial

Not everyone agrees with the ultra left, Israel hating despise America first peacenik crowd presently sqatting in Crawford.

SANTA BARBARA - The mother of a Lompoc soldier killed in Iraq is demanding that her son's name be removed from what she considers anti-war memorials on the beach here and outside
President Bush's Texas ranch.

Air Force Capt. Derek Argel's remains were buried with four of his comrades at Arlington National Cemetery last week. His mother, Debbie Argel Bastian, says the other memorials are an insult to his memory.

"I'm livid about it," Bastian said of the weekly beach display on Santa Barbara's West Beach and the smaller memorial in Texas, where the mother of another dead soldier has made headlines with a weeklong protest.

"Derek would not want to be remembered that way."

Cindy Sheehan's True Mindset Emerges ( Updated)

These are "usenet" posts made by Cindy Sheehan. As you read through them a picture of Ms. Sheehans beliefs and motivations becomes apparent. Hat Tip: Sam Hill at FR .

Cindy Sheehan March 15, 2005 To Whom it May Concern:

Imagine my distress when I turned Night Line on last night and I was confronted with the gory details of my son's murder in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq on 04/04/04. Imagine, also, my sorrow and rage at the side of the story that you presented to the American public.[SNIP]

I was on the Night Line Townhall Meeting in Washington, DC on 01/27/05. After I spoke (which I think was a fluke), Ted Koppel dismissed me as being "emotional." First of all, how can I approach this discussion without emotions, MY SON WAS KILLED, AND KILLED FOR LIES? Second of all, that show was not fair and balanced and I think the conclusion "Should we stay" was foregone.

The show last night was also not fair and balanced. To see all the wives being interviewed who had not lost their husbands and to hear what "hard work" it is to be left behind when their husbands are at war. How hard to you think it is to have a child killed in an illegal and immoral war? In this "wonderful" group of families left behind, we had exactly ONE of the wives call us..she is Diane Rose who was my son's Colonel, Frank Rose's wife. The last time we heard from Diane was in October and we feel we have been left behind by anyone connected to the 2-5 Cavalry. Is support only given if your loved one stays alive? One wife was quoted as saying that Sundays were the hardest for the families left behind. My son was killed on Palm Sunday last year..how does anybody think Sundays are for my family?

Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered. Am I angry? Yes, he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by a George Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11. We were told that we were attacked on 9/11 because the terrorists hate our freedoms and democracy...not for the real reason, becuase the Arab-Muslims who attacked us hate our middle-eastern foreign policy. That hasn't changed since America invaded and occupied Iraq...in fact it has gotten worse.

It would be so amazing if your show would put me, or another parent who lost their child on who disagrees with the war and this administration: to have just an entire show..without presenting the false side of the debate. That would take a lot of courage and integrity. I hope your program will exhibit these qualities.I also think that Mr. Koppel owes me an apology for the rude way I was treated on his show. After I expressed myself about the war being based on lies and that the troops should be brought home immediately because the war was based on lies, I was not thanked for my comments, or my son's sacrifice. He just said to keep the discussion away from emotions. Then, the wife of a soldier who was killed was allowed to speak and she praised the policies of this deplorable and despicable administration, and she was thanked and praised by the panel.

It's becoming obvious that this women despised the Bush administration from the very beginning. Her son being killed in the war only served to intensify, and validate (in her own mind) those beliefs. Mix in her co-dependent enterage ie. Code Pink, Crawford Peace House, and a salivating Media you have a recipe for Moonbat Madness.

Note the borderline anti-Semitism in the highlighted portion. A moderately educated racist peacenik is an extremely dangerous combination.

I initially gave Ms. Sheehan the benefit of the doubt considering her loss and the effect grief might be playing in her judgement. I must now however, alter my analysis. I believe this women to be a full fledged Kool-Aid drinking, Tin foil hat wearing raving lunatic. The same crazy nonsense she is spewing is straight off the pages of the Democratic Underground. She is not being exploited, but rather is exploiting her sons death to promote her own agenda. The former warrants sympathy, the latter disdain.

Update: Dr. Shackleford at Jawa feels my characterization of Ms. Sheehan's remarks as "borderline anti-semitic" to be an understatement. My experience councels me to never argue with a professor concerning semantics. I consequently defer to the good doctor and consent and amend to his interpretation.

Update II: Rich Lowry at the Corner: The letter supposedly written by Sheehan has been circulating on the internet. Here's a choice bit: “he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by George [W.] Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11.” I didn't include it in a Sheehan column I wrote today, because it wasn't totally clear it was legit. But ABC News has now confirmed to us that this letter was signed by Sheehan and sent to them on her behalf.So it seems pretty clear, as I mentioned in this post, that Sheehan lied to Anderson Cooper last night. I don't usually watch 360, but I'm definitely tuning in tonight.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Sheehan Allied With Groups Supporting Iraqi "Resistance"

Antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan who is camped in Crawford, Texas demanding a meeting with President Bush over the death of son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, in combat in Iraq has surrounded herself with groups that have endorsed the so-called Iraqi resistance.

Last June, groups opposed to the American-led war to depose the regime of Saddam Hussein gathered in Istanbul to hear testimony before a 'jury of conscience' on charges of war crimes and violations of international law by the United States.

Endorsers of the statement issued by the World Tribunal on Iraq at the end of the conference include Code Pink Women for Peace, United for Peace and Justice and Veterans for Peace; while not a named endorser, Tim Goodrich, co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War , testified before the tribunal against his country.
Representatives of these four groups have been at Sheehan's side since she arrived in Crawford August 5.

The lengthy statement issued by the tribunal contains several statements legitimizing the so-called Iraqi Resistance. One reads, "It is the brutality of the occupation that has provoked a strong armed resistance and certain acts of desperation. By the principles embodied in the UN Charter and in international law, the popular national resistance to the occupation is legitimate and justified. It deserves the support of people everywhere who care for justice and freedom."

Another statement by the tribunal denounces the January election in Iraq and the new constitution being constructed by the Iraqi parliament:"Any law or institution created under the aegis of occupation is devoid of both legal and moral authority. The recently concluded election, the Constituent Assembly, the current government, and the drafting committee for the Constitution are therefore all illegitimate."

Code Pink Women for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War, despite what they tell the media in Crawford, are not peace groups. They have taken sides against America and stand with the terrorists killing American soldiers in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan, grieving mother of a fallen G.I., stands with those who stand with our enemies.

Thanx Kristinn/FR

Dean Sticks His Foot In It.......Again

Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee chairman who was the hero of his party's anti-war wing before his gaffe-prone 2004 presidential candidacy crashed and burned in Iowa, still doesn't think the Iraqis are better off with dictator Saddam Hussein out of power and in prison.

Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation" yesterday, the fiery former Vermont governor said, "It looks like today, and this could change, as of today it looks like women will be worse off in Iraq than they were when Saddam Hussein was president of Iraq."

Guess he thinks the women really liked a few rounds in the rape rooms. Oh, and don't forget about the wood chippers.

Saturday, August 13, 2005


AP - Sat Aug 13, 5:36 PM ET


Support Bush/Troops rally Crawford, Tx.

Iraqis: Constitution will beat deadline

Uh Oh, another Entrenched Media whining topic down the tubes.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Most points of disagreement on the country's new constitution have been overcome and will be ready before the deadline, President Jalal Talabani said Saturday.

"The meetings are still going on and we have gone forward," Talabani told reporters. "There is a meeting today and another meeting tomorrow and God willing we will finish the job tomorrow" - one day ahead of the deadline for parliament to approve the charter.

Talabani said the meetings are concentrating on federalism in Shiite areas of central and southern Iraq, as well as the role of Islam in the state.

Appears that someone else isn't happy......Al Qaeda threatens to kill pro-charter Iraq imams: website.

DUBAI - The group of Al Qaeda frontman in Iraq Abu Musab Al Zarqawi has threatened to kill any Muslim imam who speaks out in favour of Iraq’s constitution, according to an Internet statement published on Saturday

Update: Can't believe everything you read. They missed it and voted for a 7 day extention. Although I believe it's very important that they stay on schedule, I can understand it taking longer than expected. After all it took 4 years for the FF to draft ours.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Goofy Statement of the Day

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham says he has no plans for vice president.

And I have no plans to be Pope.

FEATURED BLOG FRIDAY!!!!

I am starting something new whereby I give exposure to a new blog just getting started. Just because a blog is new doesn't mean it's not excellent and the blogs featured on FBF will be just that.

The featured blog this week is >>>>>DRUM ROLL>>>>>>Jonathon and Wanda Rantings!!!!

These good folks do an excellent job of surfing the news and collecting mucho data on the subjects they post. They are definately worth a daily read.

btw J & W, a cashiers check will do just fine.






Listen to the press.....this never happened.

9/11 Commission Covered-up Gorelick Warning

As suspected Gorelick is at the heart of the coverup.......

A 1995 memo from a top terrorism prosecutor warning that a directive by Clinton administration Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick "could cost lives" is being concealed by the 9/11 Commission compounding the cover-up -

Gorelick herself was a prominent member of the Commission and refused to recuse herself from parts of the 9/11 investigation that covered the now notorious "wall" she erected that prevented intelligence and law enforcement agencies from cooperating in the war on terror.

While the former Clinton official and her fellow 9/11 Commissioners have so-far declined to make the second memo public, the Post reports that White used it to warn that Gorelick's wall "hindered law enforcement and could cost lives."

The 9/11 Commission omitted any mention of White's scathing second warning to Gorelick from its final report.

Any wonder why the Dims insisted she be and stay on the commission. Academic, she was running interference. This is a big deal folks and it's getting bigger.

Background: Mary Jo Whites response.

Update: I have twice posted the link for the original Gorelick memo only to have it gone within an hour after being posted. Something hinky happening here and I'm going to find out what it is!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

FAMILY OF FALLEN SOLDIER PLEADS: PLEASE STOP, CINDY

Even her own family thinks she's a fruitcake.

Drudge The family of American soldier Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004, has broken its silence and spoken out against his mother Cindy Sheehan's anti-war vigil against
George Bush held outside the president's Crawford, Texas ranch.

The following email was received by the DRUDGE REPORT from Casey's aunt and godmother:

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish. Thanks Ð Cherie

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement:

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan.

She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect. Sincerely, Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

Sounds like a call for intervention to me.

Rep. Weldon Eyeing Clinton White House in 9/11

Personally I don't believe the Clinton White House bears significant responsibility for this. My intuition tells me the most blame worthy individual is Jamie Gorelick for her disasterous policy of not sharing information interdepartmentally with Reno and Christopher coming in a close second. I suspect also that Gorelick did some serious arm twisting with 9-11 commission members to leave out all reference to Able Danger as well as other self inciminating facts.

Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Penn., is vowing to find out who in the Clinton administration ordered a group of military intelligence officers not to tell the FBI about critical information on two 9/11 hijackers that was obtained two years before they destroyed the World Trade Center.

"What bothers me is two things," Weldon told WABC Radio's Mark Levin late Wednesday. "I'm told that that they couldn't share this information with the FBI? How far up the chain [of command] did it go? Did it go to the White House? And if so, who ordered it?"

Asked about reports that restrictions on intelligence sharing implemented by Clinton Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick played a role in the disastrous intelligence breakdown, Weldon said: "I think that needs to be investigated."

"There was no reason not to share this information with the FBI," he complained, "except that the firewalls that existed back then were so severe that they wouldn't let these agencies talk to one another."

Wednesday, August 10, 2005


Recognize this cast of characters?

Cindy Sheehan's True Mindset Emerges

These are "usenet" posts made by Cindy Sheehan. As you read through them a picture of Ms. Sheehans beliefs and motivations becomes apparent.

Hat Tip: Sam Hill at FR

Cindy Sheehan

March 15, 2005
To Whom it May Concern:

Imagine my distress when I turned Night Line on last night and I was confronted with the gory details of my son's murder in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq on 04/04/04. Imagine, also, my sorrow and rage at the side of the story that you presented to the American public.
[SNIP]

I was on the Night Line Townhall Meeting in Washington, DC on 01/27/05. After I spoke (which I think was a fluke), Ted Koppel dismissed me as being "emotional." First of all, how can I approach this discussion without emotions, MY SON WAS KILLED, AND KILLED FOR LIES? Second of all, that show was not fair and balanced and I think the conclusion "Should we stay" was foregone.

The show last night was also not fair and balanced. To see all the wives being interviewed who had not lost their husbands and to hear what "hard work" it is to be left behind when their husbands are at war. How hard to you think it is to have a child killed in an illegal and immoral war? In this "wonderful" group of families left behind, we had exactly ONE of the wives call us..she is Diane Rose who was my son's Colonel, Frank Rose's wife. The last time we heard from Diane was in October and we feel we have been left behind by anyone connected to the 2-5 Cavalry. Is support only given if your loved one stays alive? One wife was quoted as saying that Sundays were the hardest for the families left behind. My son was killed on Palm Sunday last year..how does anybody think Sundays are for my family?

Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered. Am I angry? Yes, he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by a George Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11. We were told that we were attacked on 9/11 because the terrorists hate our freedoms and democracy...not for the real reason, becuase the Arab-Muslims who attacked us hate our middle-eastern foreign policy. That hasn't changed since America invaded and occupied Iraq...in fact it has gotten worse.


It would be so amazing if your show would put me, or another parent who lost their child on who disagrees with the war and this administration: to have just an entire show..without presenting the false side of the debate. That would take a lot of courage and integrity. I hope your program will exhibit these qualities.

I also think that Mr. Koppel owes me an apology for the rude way I was treated on his show. After I expressed myself about the war being based on lies and that the troops should be brought home immediately because the war was based on lies, I was not thanked for my comments, or my son's sacrifice. He just said to keep the discussion away from emotions. Then, the wife of a soldier who was killed was allowed to speak and she praised the policies of this deplorable and despicable administration, and she was thanked and praised by the panel.

It's becoming obvious that this women despised the Bush administration from the very beginning. Her son being killed in the war only served to intensify, and validate (in her own mind) those beliefs. Mix in her co-dependent enterage ie. Code Pink, Crawford Peace House, and a salivating Media you have a recipe for Moonbat Madness.

Note the borderline anti-Semitism in the highlighted portion. A moderately educated racist peacenik is an extremely dangerous combination.

I initially gave Ms. Sheehan the benefit of the doubt considering her loss and the effect grief might be playing in her judgement. I must now however, alter my analysis. I believe this women to be a full fledged Kool-Aid drinking, Tin foil hat wearing raving lunatic. The same crazy nonsense she is spewing is straight off the pages of the Democratic Underground. She is not being exploited, but rather is exploiting her sons death to promote her own agenda. The former warrants sympathy, the latter disdain.

Update: Dr. Shackleford at Jawa feels my characterization of Ms. Sheehan's remarks as "borderline anti-semitic" to be an understatement. My experience councels me to never argue with a professor concerning semantics. I consequently defer to the good doctor and consent and amend to his interpretation.

Update from NRO:Haven't had my morning coffee yet, which is my only excuse for missing this post by Rich Lowry on the Corner:

The letter supposedly written by Sheehan has been circulating on the internet. Here's a choice bit: “he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by George [W.] Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11.” I didn't include it in a Sheehan column I wrote today, because it wasn't totally clear it was legit. But ABC News has now confirmed to us that this letter was signed by Sheehan and sent to them on her behalf.

So it seems pretty clear, as I mentioned in this post, that Sheehan lied to Anderson Cooper last night. I don't usually watch 360, but I'm definitely tuning in tonight.

Bomb cache found in Iraq believed to be from Iranian Revolutionary Guard: official

Just as we surmised....

WASHINGTON - US intelligence believes that a cache of manufactured bombs seized in Iraq about two weeks ago was smuggled into the country from Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an intelligence official said Tuesday.

"We believe they came from Iran's Revolutionary Guards," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The find is significant not only because of the Iranian connection but also because it indicates manufactured bombs are now being introduced in a conflict that has seen the use of mainly improvised explosive devices.

"I think we believe there is more of them out there, that this is just the first cache we've actually obtained," the official said. He said intelligence analysts had "fairly high confidence" that the bombs came from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Building a case for retaliation? Keep your eyes open.

Blog Readers Up 45% in Q1

Regular reader of blogs? Well your far from being alone.

One-sixth of the U.S. population read web logs in the first quarter, a report says.

U.S. blog readership in the first quarter jumped 45 percent to 49.5 million people, or one-sixth of the total U.S. population, a report said Monday, suggesting the blogosphere is becoming increasingly alluring to online advertisers.

The most popular blogs were Free Republic with 3.6 million visitors, Drudge Report with 2.3 million, Fleshbot (a Gawker Media blog) with 1.2 million, followed by Gawker and Fark, both with 1.1 million. Regularly updated blogs won a huge portion of the overall visits. Drudge Report alone had 44.3 million visits.

The liberal stranglehold on written news is over. Any wonder why the printed press belittles the blogospere at every turn.

I'm sorry to say OpiniPundit missed the top 10, just 2 million more hits a year and we'll be there.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Rumsfeld Says Seized Explosives 'Clearly' From Iran

On Monday, a U.S. Marine died as a result of small arms fire during combat operations in Ramadi, according to a military news release.

The Marine was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

The death brings the total number of American troops killed in Iraq this month to 37. Of those, 26 were Marines.

The total number of U.S. service members killed since the war began is 1,835. Explosives from Iran seized

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that weapons recently confiscated in Iraq were "clearly, unambiguously from Iran."

The shipment of sophisticated bombs was confiscated in the past two weeks by U.S. and Iraqi troops in southern Iraq, senior U.S. officials said Monday.
Although he would not comment on whether the Iranian government was directly involved, Rumsfeld said, "it's notably unhelpful for Iranians to be letting those weapons cross the border."

The U.S. officials said the devices were more lethal and more sophisticated than the improvised explosive devices typically used by Iraqi insurgents.

After examining the truckload of devices, intelligence analysts said the explosive parts are similar to those used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. While there is no evidence Iran's government sanctioned the weapons shipment, the analysts said it may indicate a rogue element inside Iran is making the weapons and trying to ship them to Iraq's insurgents.

Rogue my shiny arse.

Dead soldier's mom wants some answers

I have been holding back comment on this Cindy Sheehan business just to see how it played out and get a better feel for exactly what was going on. Well, it"s time for some opinion and analysis.
From all indications this is a grief stricken women who's emotions are definately getting the better of her judgement. Combine this with the fact that the far left loonies ie. Code Pink, Crawford Peace House, etc. etc. have "befriended" her undoubtedly exploit this mentally vulnerable women to promote their agenda.

Don't get me wrong, Sheehan is culpable in this 3 ring circus too, but I do understand how grief confusion and frustration can often lead to poor choices. The peaceniks and the Entrenched Media is milking this thing for everything it's worth and if Ms. Sheehan believes these people care one lick about her, she's sorely mistaken. They'll be supportive as long as she is willing to do their bidding. She backs off and they'll disappear in a blink of an eye.

VACAVILLE - Last summer Cindy Sheehan got a face-to-face meeting with President Bush, complete with kisses and condolences.
Today the Vacaville resident is camped outside the president's Texas ranch - in the glare of the national media spotlight - demanding another face-to-face meeting, and ultimately his impeachment.

Sheehan's son Casey, an Army specialist, was killed in an ambush a week after his arrival in Iraq in April 2004. In June, the Sheehan family spent 10 minutes at Fort Lewis, Wash., with the president, who met with 16 other families who had lost love ones in the war.

Cindy Sheehan has since become a focal point in the partisan battle over the Iraq war, drawing the praise of many anti-war Democrats and the ire of Republicans who back Bush's decision.

Her role in that battle exploded Monday morning, when Matt Drudge - the infamous commentator behind the popular Drudge Report, a right-leaning online news site - accused Sheehan of changing her tune to serve political purposes.

That story, by staff writer David Henson, was an account of Sheehan's visit with the president in Seattle.

In Henson's story, Sheehan admitted she and husband, Patrick, debated before the meeting whether to ask pointed questions about the war and whether to vent their frustration over their son's sacrifice. Ultimately, the couple chose not to publicly criticize Bush in the meeting or shortly after.

Cindy Sheehan explained carefully, "I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis ... I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith."

Sheehan also said the trip to Seattle helped connect her family to others that had lost a son or daughter in Iraq. Sheehan said sharing their story with those families was rewarding, as was the time she got to spend with her own family.

"That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together," she said in the story.

Posters on highly visited liberal Web log Daily Kos said Drudge's report was misleading, while right-wing bloggers, including the popular Michelle Malkin, echoed Drudge's sentiments that Sheehan was contradicting herself, perhaps for political reasons. (Don't you love the blatant bias....Kos is a highly visited liberal website where Michelle Malkin is a right wing blogger)

Look for the continued hyper coverage of this from the EM. Sheehan has become the poster child of the far left peace crowd and as long as there is the possibility that her and her buds can make the President look bad, it will be covered 24/7.

One question begs to be asked of Ms. Sheehan .........Would your late son be proud of what your doing?


Who's the more attractive candidate, this, or...................

Monday, August 08, 2005

Ex United Nations Official Taken Into Custody

Bolton's in position less than a week and the hammers already starting to fall.

Breaking.... U.S. Attorney's Office takes into custody ex-United Nations Procurement Official in Oil-for-food Investigation.

The U.S. attorney's office took Yakovlev into custody hours after Paul Volcker (search), the man in charge of the U.N.-approved probe into Oil-for-Food, fingered Yakovlev as one of two main U.N. officials involved in the program's corruption.

The report also accuses Benon Sevan (search), the one-time head of the Oil-for-Food program who severed his ties with the United Nations on Sunday, of taking kickbacks under the multi-billion dollar humanitarian operation aimed at easing the effects of sanctions on Iraqi civilians.

Update Per CNN : A former U.N. officer named in the oil-for-food scandal pleads guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges, federal prosecutors said.

Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans 'Tyrants'

Day-O, Daayyyy-O Daylight come and it's time to blow smoke.....

Atlanta (CNSNews.com) - Celebrity activist Harry Belafonte referred to prominent African-American officials in the Bush administration as "black tyrants" at a weekend march, and he also compared the administration to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Belafonte, a featured speaker at Saturday's march in Atlanta commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, previously ignited a political controversy in 2002 when he likened then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to a "house slave."

At Saturday's civil rights march, Belafonte said the Bush administration has been "rather dismal" for the lives of black Americans. The march, which featured prominent civil rights groups and labor union representatives, was intended to drum up support for extending and strengthening the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Belafonte used a Hitler analogy when asked about what impact prominent blacks such as former Secretary of State Powell and current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had on the Bush administration's relations with minorities."

Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich. Color does not necessarily denote quality, content or value," Belafonte said in an exclusive interview with Cybercast News Service.

"Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy", HUH???? Name one Harry. I think you've been totin bananas in the hot sun too long . Or, maybe your just a liar.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Poll: Two Thirds Say Media Have Bias

Give the majority of people in this country credit for knowing the score, they do.

Newly released findings from a May poll, conducted by Gannett's First Amendment Center in Nashville, discovered that an overwhelming 64 percent disagree with the statement that "the news media tries to report the news without bias." Only half as many, 33 percent, agree, down six percentage points from last year. And 65 percent agree that "the falsifying or making up of stories in the American news media is a widespread problem." If you wonder how journalists can live in denial about bias and public distrust of the media, check out how the

August/September American Journalism Review magazine headlined its story about the poll results. With a big "69%" in the background, the magazine's headline over a three-page article declared, "A Source of Encouragement: A new First Amendment Center/AJR survey finds that 69 percent of the public thinks journalists should be allowed to keep a news source confidential."

207,000 Jobs Created in July, Unemployment Rate Steady at 5%

In July 207,000 jobs were created, above expectations, and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% . Upward revisions for May and June as well.

Companies that can no longer depend on efficiency gains to meet demand are hiring more, economists said. Average job growth this year is 191,000, more than the 183,000 in 2004, when the economy expanded the most since 1999. An index reflecting the number of industries hiring jumped to 62.8 in July, the highest since May 2004.

If Kerry had won the EM would be falling all over themselves cheerleading his magnificent accomplishment. With Bush being in charge, look for it on page 48-G.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

NY TIMES INVESTIGATES ADOPTION RECORDS OF SUPREME COURT NOMINEE'S CHILDREN

Drudge uncovers a doozy.

The NEW YORK TIMES is looking into the adoption records of the children of Supreme Court Nominee John G. Roberts, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The TIMES has investigative reporter Glen Justice hot on the case to investigate the status of adoption records of Judge Roberts’ two young children, Josie age 5 and Jack age 4, a top source reveals. Judge Roberts and his wife Jane adopted the children when they each were infants. Both children were adopted from Latin America.

A TIMES insider claims the look into the adoption papers are part of the paper's "standard background check." Roberts’ young son Jack delighted millions of Americans during his father’s

Supreme Court nomination announcement ceremony when he wouldn’t stop dancing while the President and his father spoke to a national television audience.

Previously the WASHINGTON POST Style section had published a story criticizing the outfits Mrs. Roberts had them wear at the announcement ceremony.

Just when you thought they couldn't get any lower........they do. Will the Entrenched media stop at nothing to promote their leftist ideological agenda. The Slimes is definately living up to their moniker this time.

Update: Brit Hume on Fox reports that the Times version of what transpired is not supported by the facts.

Times: "In the case of Judge Roberts's family, our reporters made initial inquiries about the adoptions, as they did about many other aspects of his background."

Hume's sources tell him that in was far more than "initial inquiries", ie. Two attorneys had been contacted to "see what they could do" about getting access to the sealed adoption records" Both refused sighting the and unethical nature of such a request.

The Times was on a fishing expedition for dirt and if it meant defying the law or attempting to slime a persons family in that pursuit, so be it....disgusting.

Err America Continues to Entertain.....off the air

More Obfuscation and deceit from Janeane, Al, Lizz and the rest......

Air America's foot-dragging on repaying $875,000 borrowed from a beleaguered Boys & Girls Club in The Bronx has nothing to do with a probe of the club's controversial loans, city investigators said yesterday.

Officials at the ultra-liberal radio network have repeatedly said Air America intends to repay the money, but claimed they put those plans on hold because of the city probe.

"We're waiting for directions from the investigators on how to proceed," Air America spokeswoman Jamie Horn said...........

But the Department of Investigation said there is nothing to prevent the radio network from repaying its debt immediately.

"DOI has done nothing and given no instruction preventing payment of money owed to Gloria Wise [Boys & Girls Club]. Any statements to the contrary are inaccurate," said DOI spokesman Keith Schwam.

Martta Rose, a spokeswoman for Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, said the agency worked out a two-year repayment plan with Air America and expects to begin receiving the first installments next month.

Air America said it will make the first payment in September, "if not sooner."

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the Boys & Girls Club's executive director, Charles Rosen, earned a whopping $229,686 in 2002 — the latest year records are available — after pocketing an additional $79,960 from one of the club's affiliates.

Oh what a tangled web they weave

The lovely and talented Michelle Malkin has the latest

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

An Hour in the Twilight Zone

I was surfing around a bit and happened to stumble on to a FAR left blog who appears to get a better than fair amount of traffic....Bradblog. My intent was to get a bit of perspective on the ACVR report from the other side.

Brother did I get more than I bargained for. I decided to enter into the debate briefly making no bones about who or what I was. Classifying the regulars there as opinionated would be the understatement of the millenium. The best description would be DUers on steroids and meth.

The hatred for Bush is more than palpable. It is so deep seated and intense that it completely obscures the possibility of rational thought. Vicious gut wrenching anger that makes my sentiments toward Bill Clinton seem like puppy love; It's frankly beyond description.

These people are absolutely, positively, and irrevocably convinced that this country is afflicted with massive orchestrated all encompassing election fraud. The culprits are the neocons of which Bush is Grand Poohbah, the voting machine manufacturers.... DIEBOLD and virtually every Republican election worker from precinct level up. There is no sliver of doubt in their minds, to think otherwise is to be complicit in the conspiracy.

Several of them also believe fervently that the Bush administration and the neocons initiated the 9-11 attacks. Some of the more moderate of the group simply believe they knew of the attack and let it happen which for all legal and moral considerations are synonomous. Again these opinions are not idle speculation or conjecture, THEY KNOW it to be the truth and are absolutely unflappable in this belief. Bush is not a bad President whos policy's they intensly disagree with, No, he's a murdering monster who's evil has not been equalled on this earth since Hitler began his rampage across eastern Europe.

I am less convinced that the sun will rise in the East tommorrow than they are of these beliefs. Frankly it's beyond explanation how anyone could be that totally convinced of anything. There reliance on anectdotal evidence, speculation, innuendo and tortured logic to reach these bizarre conclusions is inexplicable. Not one iota of hard bonafide evidence for these wild assertions is offered up yet they hold to these convictions with the tenacity of a moonie.

One might conclude that there are numerous underground American "madrasa's churning out thousands of Conservative hating indoctrinated youth intent not on suicide bombings but rather infiltrating all corners of American culture spreading their venomous message of hate, cynicism and paranoia.

Or maybe it's the fact that they get their news from basically the same sources. Typically Rawstory, Kos, VotersUnite, Move-On, and the DU. Their single minded obscessions are reinforced on a daily basis by the delusional propaganda spewed by these fringe left tabloids of the blogospere. I spend a bit of time at FreeRepublic, Jawa and read Newsmax, NRO and CNS ( all tame in comparison) but I do get out once in awhile too. One can't get their news from sources that agree with ones preconceived notions and expect to keep perspective.

The fact that people with these notions even exist is disturbing let alone contemplating the fact that there are probably more of them than I care to imagine. Intelligent discourse with them is just not possible. Anything that deviates from the strict hyperleft progressive conspiracy obscessive dogma is neither accepted nor tolerated.

Will I go back? Maybe. It's a bit like a terrible automobile wreck. You know what you'll see will be distressing, upsetting likely gruesome yet, it's hard not to look.

Report: Democrat Operatives Far More Involved In Voter Intimidation And Suppression In 2004

This needs little commentary, the report speaks for itself.

Washington, DC – The American Center For Voting Rights Legislative Fund (“ACVR Legislative Fund”) today released the most comprehensive and authoritative review of the facts surrounding allegations of vote fraud, intimidation and suppression made during the 2004 presidential election.

The ACVR Legislative Fund report, “Vote Fraud, Intimidation & Suppression In The 2004 Presidential Election,” finds that while Democrats routinely accuse Republicans of voter intimidation and suppression, neither party has a clean record on the issue. The report finds that paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression activities than were their Republican counterparts during the 2004 presidential election. Examples include paid Democrat operatives charged with slashing tires on GOP get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee and an Ohio court order stopping Democrat operatives from calling voters telling them the wrong date for the election and faulty polling place information.

The report further finds that thousands of Americans were disenfranchised by illegal votes cast and a coordinated effort by members of certain “nonpartisan” organizations to rig the election system through voter registration fraud in more than a dozen states. Examples include a law enforcement task force finding “clear evidence of fraud in the Nov. 2 election in Milwaukee,” including hundreds of felon and double voters and thousands more ballots cast than voters recorded as having voted in the city and multiple indictments and convictions of ACORN workers for voter registration fraud in several states.

I hope they remember to send a report to John Conyers and Babs Boxer.

Oh and btw....ACVR Legislative Fund was founded on the belief that public confidence in our electoral system is the cornerstone of our democracy. The organization was established primarily to further the common good and general welfare of citizens of the United States of America by educating the public about vote fraud, intimidation and discrimination which impacts the constitutional right of all citizens to participate in the electoral process. ACVR Legislative Fund is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that neither supports nor endorses any political party or candididate.

Update: The non-partisan status of ACVR has come into question on the blogospere. Two of the primaries (Scott Hogenson, Jim Dyke) have had significant ties to the GOP. This alone does not prove bias nor disqualify them from being impartial nor is it evidence that the reports conclusions are false as some of the leftist blogs would have you believe. It does however, warrant further scrutiny into the group which I am presently pursuing. I am currently attempting to verify that certain Democrats are also involved with this group. I'll post as soon as I have it nailed down.

Update: There are Democrtas involved with this group as suspected. Captains Quarters has the lowdown

Schmidt vs Hackett

Predictably the Entrenched Media is spinning the election results last night as a bellweather, a preview of coming attractions concerning the 2006 midterms.

Well it's a crock. There are several reasons it was close and none of them are harbingers of the future.

The reasons it was close:

1. Schmidt was closely aligned with Taft, an extremely unpopular (R) Governor , a RINO with a 20% approval rating.

2. Schmidt was by no means a staunch conservative and carried a fair amoount of RINO baggage herself. She raised taxes several times, had moderate views on a host of subjects and even backed off her pro-life stance in a debate.

3. Hackett ran a very good campaign albeit dishonest. If you didn't see a(D) next to his name in the voting booth, you might have assumed he was a Republican.

4. The Republicans took this race for granted expending little in the way of resources. The Democrats however expended a great deal of money, energy and time to Hackett's campaign.

5. There is a strong undercurrent of support and respect for our military men right now (especially in the midwest). Hackett's persona benefited greatly from having served in Iraq.

6. Hackett was the beneficiary of an unprecedented amount of positive media exposure. I have yet to find a Entrenched Media report that casts him in a negative light.

Let the liberal pundits spin their webs, it will have no effect other than to take their eye off the ball. This election does tell us one thing however; For the Dims to win anywhere but the big cities they have to become a Republican at least in everything but name.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Russia bars U.S. ABC TV over Basayev interview

ABC comes to the abrupt realization they aren't in Kansas anymore.

MOSCOW, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Moscow is barring journalists from U.S. television channel ABC from working in Russia after the channel broadcast an interview with Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Accreditations for ABC's reporters would not be renewed and, in the meantime, they would be banned from talking to Russian officials, it said.

Free speech advocates have repeatedly criticised President Vladimir Putin's government for restricting the Russian press, but this appeared to be the first action against a major Western media organisation.

"ABC is now unwelcome to contact any Russian state organisations or bodies," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

It said broadcasting the Basayev interview "was a clear case of helping to propagandise terrorism" and accreditations for ABC workers would "not be renewed".

A blow to free speech in Russia for sure but one can hardly keep from grinning and silently reflecting " it serves you right you bias ba$tards".

Ohio Special Election

I will post current updates on whats happening concerning the special election between Jean Schmidt (R) and Paul Hackett(D) for US House of Representatives.

Update: First exit polls trickling out, turnout high Hackett running strong. Note polls coming from Hackett campaign. After polls close the results will be posted in realtime here.

UpdateII: Ron Brownstein of thethe LA Slimes said just now on CNN that privately Dems are telling him if Hackett can get to 45% of the vote , they will consider it a "huge victory and a sign of Bush's weakening support" One might conclude that they've gotten some exit-polling data thats unfavorable and are trying to scale back expectations.

Update III: Very large turnout, first peek at some exit poll numbers running 55%-45% Schmidt( rural and suburban)....solid GOP source. Appears the reports by the Entrenched media of Republican lethargy were greatly exaggerated.

Update IV: Another site to monitor returns here

Polls closed,raw numbers coming......

DEM - PAUL HACKETT 1629 45.34% REP - JEAN SCHMIDT 1964 54.66% Hamilton cty

JEAN SCHMIDT 1158 0 0 1158 60.60% PAUL HACKETT 750 0 0 750 39.25% Clermont cty.

DEM - PAUL HACKETT 4083 46.38% REP - JEAN SCHMIDT 4720 53.62 Hamilton cty

DEM - PAUL HACKETT 14676 52.00% REP - JEAN SCHMIDT 13549 48.00% Hamilton cty

DEM - PAUL HACKETT 30322 50.45% REP - JEAN SCHMIDT 29776 49.54% Hamilton cty.

US HOUSE Ohio 2nd Dist 580 precincts of 753 reporting (statewide)
JEAN SCHMIDT
45,134
52%
PAUL HACKETT
42,342
48%


IT'S OVER! Schmidt wins 52% -48%