Iran bans 'Western' haircuts for men

Good grief....

TEHRAN'S barbers are to stop offering Iranian men unconventional Western hairstyles amid a nationwide crackdown on dressing deemed to be unIslamic, the Etemad newspaper reported on Sunday.

The paper quoted the head of the Tehran barbers' association as saying police had issued a directive forbidding its members from giving men offbeat hairstyles that are all the rage in more affluent parts of the capital.

"Currently some salons use Western grooming methods to create styles that are in line with the European and American ones," said the association's head, Mohammad Eftekhari-Fard.

"The union has repeatedly announced the restrictions against unconventional grooming when issuing permits to each of the barber shops. Hence barbers, knowing these rules, should not pursue the wrong methods," he warned.

Rasmussen 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary

Isn't this interesting...

For the first time in the Election 2008 season, somebody other than New York Senator Hillary Clinton is on top in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows Illinois Senator Barack Obama with a statistically insignificant two point advantage over the former First Lady. It’s Obama 32% Clinton 30%. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards remains in third with support holding steady at 17%. No other candidate tops 3%. The survey was conducted April 23-26, 2007 meaning that the overwhelming majority of the interviews were completed before last Thursday’s debate in South Carolina. The impact of the debate will be measured in polling conducted this week.

No Brainer of the Week

Iraq Says al Qaeda exploiting U.S. Disunity Over War

BAGHDAD, April 29 (Reuters) - The political battle in Washington over a Democratic plan to pull U.S. troops from Iraq is being exploited by al Qaeda, which has stepped up attacks to hasten a withdrawal, Iraq's foreign minister said on Sunday.

Hoshiyar Zebari said Iraq had become "entangled" in domestic politics in the United States, where there is growing impatience for progress in reconciling the country's warring sects.

The left and al-Qaeda desire the same outcome albeit for different reasons. Their common enemies are the administration and the Republicans. I have come to the conclusion that Democrats hate and fear the right even more than al Qaeda and therefor are NOT unwitting allies.

Reagan's men are backing - an actor

A key figure in the Reagan inner circle has now given his seal of approval to Mr Thompson, best known as a star of the television crime drama Law and Order.

As deputy chief of staff, Michael Deaver was a key member of the "troika" of aides who kept the Reagan White House on track. With the chief of staff James Baker and special assistant Ed Meese, he was the master of image and presentation.

Mr Deaver sees the same raw material in Mr Thompson as was perceived in Ronald Reagan, describing him as someone "that could really make a difference". He added: "He is very popular in his party. He could change this whole thing and turn this primary system upside down.

Mr Deaver's intervention is significant. He is very close to Mr Reagan's widow, Nancy, and is seen as the keeper of the Reagan flame.

You are exactly right Mr Deaver, he could and he will.

Captains Quarters comments....

Deaver has remained at the forefront of the Reagan legacy, and has close contacts with Nancy Reagan. Clark Judge, one of Reagan's speechwriters, also supports Thompson, calling Thompson "a man of tremendous substance". Roger Stone, a Reagan campaign strategist, notes that Thompson has Reagan's self-assurance without the cockiness of George W Bush, and that he communicates wisdom and deliberation.

With this team forming, it's obvious that Thompson will join the race. If that wasn't enough, his upcoming appearance at the Lincoln Club this Friday should make it clear. It has worked for Republican electoral success since it helped inspire Reagan to run for governor, and it made history when it assisted Arnold Schwarzenegger and pushed the recall effort that made him a successor to Reagan in California. If Thompson can bring the Lincoln Club behind him, he will have a force in political fundraising on his team -- and will have gotten a jump on the other Republicans that have conservatives pining for Fred as the new Reagan.

Airport adds foot basins for Muslim cabbies

OOOOOPS, is that what those were for?

The Kansas City International Airport has added several foot-washing basins in restrooms to accommodate a growing number of Muslim taxicab drivers who requested the facilities to prepare for daily Islamic prayer, WND has learned.

The move concerns airport police who worry about Middle Eastern men loitering inside the building. After 9/11, the airport beefed up its police force to help prevent terrorist attacks.

"Why are we constructing places of worship for them inside our airports?" said an airport official who requested anonymity. "Why are we catering to their rituals? We don't do it for any other religion."

Senior Al Qaeda operative Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi captured

We got a big one.

Jon Voight Gets It

Flopping Aces has the video of Jon Voight on O'Reilly last night. He's thoughtful, lucid and well reasoned, something quite rare indeed from Glitter City.

Two of my favorite movies of all time, Midnight Cowboy and Deliverance. Coincidence?

Ban on 'mom' and 'dad' considered – again

Get comfortable with"parental unit".

A plan that has been launched in the California state Assembly – again – could be used to ban references to "mom" and "dad" in public schools statewide by prohibiting anything that would "reflect adversely" on the homosexual lifestyle choice.

It's similar to a plan WND reported was approved by lawmakers last year, but fell by the wayside when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it.

"SB 777 forcibly thrusts young school children into dealing with sexual issues, requiring that homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality be taught in a favorable light," according to an alert issued by the Capitol Resource Institute.

Congress passes Iraq bill, veto awaits

It's a surrender bill! No, it's a pork bill! It's a surrender bill!! Easy boys, it's both.

WASHINGTON - A defiant Democratic-controlled Senate passed legislation Thursday that would require the start of troop withdrawals from Iraq by Oct. 1, propelling Congress toward a historic veto showdown with President Bush on the war.

At the White House, the president immediately promised a veto.

"It is amazing that legislation urgently needed to fund our troops took 80 days to make its way around the Capitol. But that's where we are," said deputy press secretary Dana Perino.

Global warming debate 'irrational': scientists

More thoughtful coherence from our friends in the Great White North. Better watch out boys....they're watching.

The current debate about global warming is "completely irrational," and people need to start taking a different approach, say two Ottawa scientists.

Carleton University science professor Tim Patterson said global warming will not bring about the downfall of life on the planet.

Patterson said much of the up-to-date research indicates that "changes in the brightness of the sun" are almost certainly the primary cause of the warming trend since the end of the "Little Ice Age" in the late 19th century. Human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas of concern in most plans to curb climate change, appear to have little effect on global climate, he said.

"I think the proof in the pudding, based on what (media and governments) are saying, (is) we're about three quarters of the way (to disaster) with the doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere," said Patterson. "The world should be heating up like crazy by now, and it's not. The temperatures match very closely with the solar cycles."

'Hate Crimes' Bill Moving to Full House

Another example of the Feds sticking their nose in an area that is absolutely none of their business. Regardless of how one feels about hate crime legislation in general, this is best left at the state and local level.

(CNSNews.com) - The House Judiciary Committee passed a "hate crimes" bill Wednesday night, all 23 Democrats in favor, all 17 Republicans opposed. Every Republican attempt to amend the bill was defeated. Critics call it a "thought crimes" bill.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592) would expand the federal definition of hate crimes to include violence against a person because of his or her "actual or perceived" sexual orientation or "gender identity."

"Despite what its advocates say, this is not about crime -- it's about special treatment," said the Family Research Council. "HR 1592 would further carve out 'tiers' of victims, putting more importance on crimes committed against a Rosie O'Donnell than against her next-door neighbor."

She's History

Appears that someone in a position of authority has had enough.

Like a bad case of herpes, expect her to pop up again in the near future.

In related news....Fossil evidence of a hippopotamus-like creature found on an Arctic island hints at a once-balmy climate – "rather like Florida" – in the polar region, an ecologist says.

Once seen as skimping, Obama raises his gifts to charity

Just another illustration of how liberals only like to give other peoples money to the less fortunate. And when they do give out of their own pocket it's only as a means of promoting an image, that's not charity, that's an investment.

Giving, service and compassion are recurrent themes on the campaign trail for Sen. Barack Obama, but the Democratic presidential contender has only recently dug deep into his own pockets to support charitable causes.

Obama has enjoyed a robust household income throughout his political career in the Illinois Senate and the U.S. Senate. But for most of that time he has reported comparatively little by national standards in charitable contributions on his tax returns, records released by Obama show.

Public attention to charitable gifts has led to uncomfortable moments for prominent political figures. Former Vice President Al Gore came in for withering ridicule in 1998 when his tax return showed he had contributed just $353 to charity. So did former President Bill Clinton, after a review of old tax returns revealed that he had once claimed a $75 deduction for donating a suit with ripped pants to the Salvation Army, as well as $2 for a pair of used underwear and $9 for six pairs of used socks.

In 2002, the year before Obama launched his campaign for U.S. Senate, the Obamas reported income of $259,394, ranking them in the top 2 percent of U.S. households, according to Census Bureau statistics. That year the Obamas claimed $1,050 in deductions for gifts to charity, or 0.4 percent of their income.

U.S. says killed senior al Qaeda in Iraq figure

Cross another one off the Top 50 list.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Wednesday it had killed a senior al Qaeda in Iraq figure who it accused of leading a cell which sent children as young as 12 on suicide car bomb missions.

U.S. forces killed Muhammed Abdullah Abbas al-Issawi, described as a security emir for al Qaeda in Iraq in the western Anbar province, during a firefight with insurgents last Friday.

A U.S. military statement said Issawi, also known as Abu Abd al-Sattar, was linked to a recent surge in the use of poisonous chlorine gas in vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), or car and truck bomb attacks.

'Animal House' fans: You could own a piece of Hollywood history

"National Lampoon's Animal House" is one of the most beloved comedies of all time. Now, the roadhouse where one memorable scene from the film was shot is on the offering block again.

"Animal House" wouldn't be "Animal House" without the Dexter Lake Club, the venue where Otter, Boon, Flounder and Pinto found their favorite music group, Otis Day and the Knights, singing "Shama Lama Ding Dong." The 1978 film was shot throughout Lane County, but the club near the lake with the neon sign is one of the most recognizable locations. Now the 50-plus-year-old building, which in recent years has served as a diner and floral shop, is on the market with an asking price of $259,000.

STOP ME BEFORE I WIPE AGAIN!

"I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting...I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required." — Musician/climatologist Sheryl Crow.

I'd like to see a law passed just to know how they'd plan to enforce it.

Fred Thompson winning straw polls in PA and CA!

As we predicted 6 weeks ago, the unprecedented Thompson juggernaut continues to gain momentum.

The writer behind the blog "PA for Hizzoner, Rudy Giuliani" put the best possible spin on the results of this weekend's presidential straw poll at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, a key barometer of GOP activist sentiment in the state. The headline was "Rudy Leads All Presidential Candidates," but the blogger had to confess the headline "may be a little deceptive," since theformer mayor actually got 16% and tied for second with Newt Gingrich, who spoke at the conference. The winner was non-declared candidate Fred Thompson, who "slaughtered the field" with 35% of the total vote.

Mr. Thompson was a non-candidate on a roll this weekend. He also came out on top in a straw poll on the other side of the country conducted at the California Republican Assembly, the state's oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization. He won 25% of delegate votes, topping local favorite Rep. Duncan Hunter of San Diego. For his part, Mr. Giuliani won 7% of the vote, although admittedly he was not expected to do well among the very conservative CRA membership

Thompson vs. Giuliani

In the final analysis you're looking at the only real primary battle right here.

Who's going to win the Evangelical vote? So far, Rudy Giuliani has surprised a lot of experts by showing some pretty decent support among Evangelicals. The L.A. Times says this morning:

"Nationwide, he is the No. 1 choice of white conservative Christians for the Republican nomination. A Times poll this month found 26% of them favor Giuliani — more than double the portion supporting either of his top rivals, John McCain or Mitt Romney."

Still, in a measure of conservative dissatisfaction with Giuliani and his primary opponents, the Times survey found that 22% of white conservative Christian Republicans preferred former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee for the party nomination.

I think there's no question that if Fred Thompson enters the race, he's going to be a heavyweight. Giuliani knows it. McCain knows it and Romney certainly knows it.

And , it's all about Frederalism baby.

Those who are in charge of applying the conservative litmus test should wonder why some of their brethren continue to try to federalize more things – especially at a time of embarrassing federal mismanagement and a growing federal bureaucracy. I am afraid that such a test is often based more upon who is favored between two self-serving litigants than upon legal and constitutional principles. Isn’t that what we make all the Supreme Court nominees promise not to do?

Adhering to the principles of Federalism is not easy. As one who was on the short end of a couple of 99-1 votes, I can personally attest to it. Federalism sometimes restrains you from doing things you want to do. You have to leave the job to someone else – who may even choose not to do it at all. However, if conservatives abandon this valued principle that limits the federal government, or if we selectively use it as a tool with which to reward our friends and strike our enemies, then we will be doing a disservice to our country as well as the cause of conservatism.

Obama's Achilles Heal

This is a story that keeps popping up and appears will dog Obama Hussein throughout the primaries. The part of "slumlord enabler" and friend won't play well with the choreographed image of defender of the downtrodden.....

For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago's South Side.

It was just four years after the landlords -- Antoin "Tony'' Rezko and his partner Daniel Mahru -- had rehabbed the 31-unit building in Englewood with a loan from Chicago taxpayers. [snip]

Much of the criticism has centered on two real estate deals involving Obama's South Side mansion. In the first, Obama paid $300,000 less than the asking price for a doctor's home, while Rezko's wife paid the doctor full price for the vacant lot next door. Then -- a few months before Rezko was indicted -- Obama bought part of that lot from Rezko's wife.

But Obama's ties with Rezko go beyond those two real estate sales and the political support, the Sun-Times found. Obama was an attorney with a small Chicago law firm -- Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland -- that helped Rezmar get more than $43 million in government funding to rehab 15 of their 30 apartment buildings for the poor.

Surrender Monkey in Chief

Michael Ramirez.

Karachi mass rally opposes "religious terrorists"

Where's the MSM? Answer: busy elsewhere looking for protests against America and Christians, you know the protests that really matter.

KARACHI (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people rallied in Pakistan's biggest city, Karachi, on Sunday to show their opposition to a radical religious school which has begun a Taliban-style anti-vice campaign in the capital, Islamabad

"The people of Islamabad are insecure and under threat due to the activities of these religious terrorists," said Altaf Hussain, head of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, addressing the rally by telephone from London.

"Islam is a religion of peace and it does not need Kalashnikovs and sticks," he told the rally, while a helicopter whirled overhead to provide aerial surveillance and hundreds of police surrounded the venue -- the city's main commercial area.

U.S. Rules Made Killer Ineligible to Purchase Gun

So, existing laws would have been enough to prevent Cho from purchasing a gun legally, go figure.

Under federal law, the Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho should have been prohibited from buying a gun after a Virginia court declared him to be a danger to himself in late 2005 and sent him for psychiatric treatment, a state official and several legal experts said Friday.

Federal law prohibits anyone who has been “adjudicated as a mental defective,” as well as those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility, from buying a gun.

The special justice’s order in late 2005 that directed Mr. Cho to seek outpatient treatment and declared him to be mentally ill and an imminent danger to himself fits the federal criteria and should have immediately disqualified him, said Richard J. Bonnie, chairman of the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Commission on Mental Health Law Reform.

This law was about as effective as the on campus gun ban. The left's remedy......more laws.

Post # 215 ROP Chronicles Slain evangelists were tortured, says Turkish doctor

Don't forget that Turkey is the most westernized, the most religious tolerant country of all the Islamic nations.

Protestants murdered at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, were tortured for three hours before their assailants slit their throats, a press report said Friday, quoting one of the doctors involved in the grisly case.

Dr. Murat Ugras, a spokesman for the Turgut Ozal Medical center, told the daily Hurriyet of hospital surgeons' fruitless efforts to save Ugur Yuksel, one of the three victims of the massacre at the Zirve (summit) publishing house, which distributed Christian literature.

"He had scores of knife cuts on his thighs, his testicles, his rectum, and his back," Ugras said. "His fingers were sliced to the bone.

"It is obvious that these wounds had been inflicted to torture him," he said.

TRUMP GIFT UNDERMINES ROSIE

THEN
The girdle-like outfit - variously described as "a bustier" and "a giant pair of panties" - was bought at a charity auction by a fan, who then had the relic framed under glass and delivered to Trump.

"I sent it to Barbara to hang in her office because I didn't want it in mine. It was funny, except that it was really gross. It's disgusting," Trump told Page Six. "I feel sorry for [Rosie's] wife. It can't be pleasant."






Back when she was only 30 lbs. overweight

Angry White Man

Alec Balwin's voice mail to 12 year old daughter.

http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/0419_baldwin.mp3

Obama, the humanity!

Hours after the Virginia Tech massacre, Barack Obama spoke at a campaign stop in Milwaukee. Obama could have shown compassion unalloyed with politics, what one hopes to find in a leader when disaster strikes. But he didn't. In the grand tradition of leftist orators, Obama repackaged the awful news of the day to "reflect" on his own political themes.

"I hope," the candidate said about the massacre, "that it causes us to reflect a little more broadly on the degree to which we do accept violence in various forms all the time in our society: we glorify it, we encourage it, we ignore it, and it's heartbreaking."

In other words, some deranged madman just perpetrated the greatest shooting massacre in the nation's history, and Obama wants us to "reflect" on whatever "violence in various forms" that he can say we're responsible for. While people were crying on each other's shoulders in Blacksburg, tensely waiting by hospital beds and telephones, or gathering in candlelight vigils across the nation, this character was in Milwaukee trying to put the national nose in a corner to think about what we've done. (Any similarity between Obama's reaction and killer Cho Seung Hui's note "You made me do this" revealed later is sickly coincidental.)

A little pre-emptive postscript: I am by no means making light of the VT tragedy. I am, however, making light of those who would use it as a means of pandering to their base or furthering their political agenda.

Edwards Reimburses Campaign for Haircuts

In a blazing illustration of the "two Americas" My Little Pony shows us there's him and then there's the rest of us.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrat John Edwards is trying to get out of a hairy situation, reimbursing his presidential campaign $800 for two visits with a Beverly Hills stylist. Two $400 cuts by stylist Joseph Torrenueva, who told The Associated Press that the former North Carolina senator is a longtime client, showed up on Edwards' campaign spending reports filed this weekend. Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz said it never should have been there.

"The bill was sent to the campaign. It was inadvertently paid," Schultz said. "John Edwards will be reimbursing the campaign."

Edwards is also the subject of a popular YouTube spoof poking fun at his youthful good looks. The video shows the candidate combing his tresses to the dubbed-in tune of "I Feel Pretty."

I'm not sure which is the larger crime, paying $400 for a haircut or using campaign funds to do it.

Thompson tests conservative waters

When you think about it it's really amazing and quite unprecedented the level of support Thompson apparently has without actually announcing. Talk about sucking up all the air...

Evidence of former Sen. Fred Thompson's presidential appeal to victory-seeking conservatives is growing, including drawing more than 50 House Republicans yesterday to hear his pitch and walking out with some endorsements for the Tennessean.

"When Fred Thompson runs for president, I will endorse him," said Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida.

Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana said Mr. Thompson "is ready, and I want him to run."

Richard Land, one of the nation's leading Southern Baptists, told The Washington Times yesterday that Mr. Thompson is sure to win if he runs .

More here, here and here

Oh, and one more thing....It Was 63, *NOT* 53

photo: REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

Iraq to take control of whole nation by end 2007

With or without Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

AMARA, Iraq, April 18 (Reuters) - Iraq plans to take security control of all its provinces from foreign forces by the end of the year, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a speech read out by a senior official on Wednesday.

Maliki is under growing pressure from anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to set a timetable for the withdrawal of 146,000 U.S. troops from Iraq.

SCOTUS Upholds Partial Birth Abortion ban 5-4!

ELECTIONS MATTER!

Early reports indicate that the US Supreme Court specifically rejected the “health of the mother” concerns in it’s ruling.

This appears to be a very strong unambiguous ruling that reverses the previous decision relating to the Nebraska case of 2003.

Dissenters Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, Souter.... big surprise.

Update: Fox reports Supreme Court Upholds Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act

Missouri treasurer crusades to deny funds to terrorists

At first glance I hadn't noticed whether Ms. Steeman was a Republican or Democrat, it didn't matter, she was worthy of our admiration and support. As it turns out she is unsurprisingly a Republican.....all the better.

WASHINGTON - Missouri State Treasurer Sarah Steelman may be far from the front lines in the war on terrorism but she's on the cutting edge of efforts to fight it with the power of the U.S. dollar.

Elected as Missouri's chief financial officer in 2004, Steelman is leading a campaign in the Show Me State and beyond to get state and local governments to stop investing publicly managed funds in companies that do business in countries believed to sponsor terrorism.

"Whether you're for or against the war, there are Americans sacrificing their lives on a daily basis for the protection and security of the U.S. And yet we don't move our most powerful weapon - our financial markets - to help and make sure that we are not funding terrorists. I'm not going to wait for the federal government. It's my job as state treasurer to do what I can here in Missouri," Steelman, a 48-year-old Republican, said in a telephone interview.

btw, notice anything about that headline?

Sources: Corzine's driver was speeding

Speeding, no seat belt, that's two laws broken right there. So typical of a liberal, laws for thee not for me.

State Police are preparing to release a report that will say the trooper who was driving Gov. Jon Corzine during a serious accident Thursday was speeding at the time, two sources who have been briefed on the report's contents told The Star-Ledger today.

They declined to be identified because the report - which could be released as early as this afternoon - has not been made public by the State Police.

State Trooper Robert Rasinski was driving the Chevrolet Suburban transporting the governor on the Garden State Parkway in Galloway Township on Thursday night. He swerved to avoid another car and crashed into a median guardrail.

Virginia Tech Killer Used Easy-To-Get Guns

CBS) A well-placed law enforcement source tells CBS News the weapons used in the massacre were a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and .22-caliber pistol.

Both are readily available in gun shops across the United States and particularly accessible in the commonwealth of Virginia, which recently earned a C-minus rating by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

“It’s much too easy to get guns in the state of Virginia,” said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Center.

The Virginia Tech campus is a "gun free" zone. The perpetrator broke the law by having a gun(s) on campus in the first place. Is it not likely that if he was willing to break that law he would certainly be willing to circumvent any laws limiting gun purchases in Virginia. Would it not also also follow that the stricter gun control in the state would be about as effective in preventing something like this as the draconian ban of guns on campus?

Quote of the Week

"The massacre at Virginia Tech kinda puts the Imus kerfuffle in perspective doesn't it"

MAC OKs Penalties For Cabbies Who Refuse Fares

A semblace of sanity from the Twin Cities.

AP/ Minneapolis: The operator of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Monday approved tougher penalties for cabdrivers who refuse service to travelers carrying alcohol, as some Muslim drivers have done for religious reasons.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission voted to suspend a driver's airport taxi license for 30 days for the first offense and revoke it for two years for a second offense. The new penalties take effect May 11.

Airport officials say more than 70 percent of the cabbies at the airport are Muslim, and many of them claim Islamic law prohibits them from giving rides to people carrying alcohol.

Massacre at Virginia Tech

One question I always ask myself after senseless tragedies like this.....Why couldn't the sick SOB just put a bullet in his own head and be done with it.

April 16, 2007— At least 29 people are dead in what may be the biggest mass shooting in modern American history — and the death toll may rise.

Police at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Va., said that the shootings happened at a dormitory and a classroom on opposite sides of the university campus.

Law enforcement officials tell ABC News they believe there was a single gunman, firing at least two 9mm semi-automatic pistols. They said he may have been wearing a bulletproof vest.

Did this contribute to the tragedy: Gun bill gets shot down by panel.

State leads nuclear comeback

You want to achieve energy independence? This is a good way to start....

One day next month, workers at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant near Athens will start a chain reaction in the Unit 1 reactor and begin making enough electricity to power 650,000 homes.
It will be the first reactor to come online in America in more than a decade.

The Tennessee Valley Authority's decision to restart the reactor it shut down 22 years ago puts Alabama at the forefront of a nuclear-power resurgence in the United States.

"I'll regard this as another milestone in a journey of nuclear power toward securing its place as an energy source for the future of America," Dale E. Klein, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said during a January hearing on the Unit 1 restart.

Two Iraqi insurgent leaders killed: 37 al-Qaida linked terrorists arrested

Regardless how completely invested in defeat the left has become, we are turning the corner in Iraq and there's nothing they can do to stop it.

An Iraqi government source says the country's security forces killed two key insurgent leaders with the help of Iraqi tribes leaders in Al-Anbar province.

The Interior Ministry source said the operation, which also resulted in the arrest of 37 al-Qaida linked terrorists, brought about the deaths of Ahmad Hadid, leader of the so-called "Islamic State in Fallujah," and Al-Anbar Ibrahim Keitan, al-Qaida's military coordinator in the province, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported Saturday.

Iraqi police working with Bu Eisa tribesmen also arrested six other terrorists in south Amiriyah and arrested 11 al-Qaida suspects in the Euphrates area. Documents and weapons were confiscated from the suspects, the source said.

And this: Sunni Factions Split With Al-Qaeda Group

The Fred Factor part Deux

Powerline has an excellent synopsis of an article coming out next week in the Weekly Standard.

If he joins the race for the Republican nomination, and if he campaigns the same way he spoke to me last week, Fred Thompson, a mild-mannered, slow-talking southern gentleman, will run as the politically aggressive conservative that George W. Bush hasn't been for four years. And the actor in the race could well be the most authentic personality in the field.

Thompson seems to recognize that he wins the guy-I'd-want-to-get-a-beer-with primary the moment he announces. He comes across as a regular guy--"folksy" will be the political cliché that attaches to his candidacy--and punctuates explanations of his positions with the kind of off-the-cuff homespun witticisms that Dan Rather spent a career trying to come up with.

Stringer: Session with Imus 'extremely productive'

Shortly before midnight, they emerged and (coach) Stringer issued a brief statement in which she called the session "extremely productive."

"Hopefully, we can put this all behind us," she said, adding she and the team wanted to "let the healing process begin."

Alright it's official, a good chunk of the population of this country has gone COMPLETELY FREAKIN NUTS! LET THE HEALING PROCESS BEGIN???

What ever happened to sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me? Are we as a nation so G*D&*%$..ed woosified that a inconsequential albeit stupid statement made in jest requires a healing process? What an overinflated, exagerrated, self important, hyper-sensitive bunch of moronic drama queens.

PS... This analysis coming from someone who has in the past been called a "nappy headed Polack". Although not being of Polish decent I am on occasion "nappy headed".

Troops retake Bahraz in restive Diyala Province

More non-existent progress that the left insists isn't happening.

A joint U.S. and Iraqi force has retaken Bahraz, a major stronghold for al-Qaeda fighters in Iraq.

Bahraz, a small town in the restive and violent Diyala Province of which Baaqouba is the capital, has been a scene of intensive fighting since shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion of the country.

The Qaeda group in Iraq has been using the town as a staging point for attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces and also for the training and deploying of suicide bombers.

CBS Sources - FDA Finds Contaminated Wheat Gluten in Human Food Supply

As many of us suspected, this will NOT end up being limited to pet food.

(CBS) The FDA announced today that not all of the tainted pet food has been pulled from store shelves. And at a congressional hearing, an entirely new concern was raised: How close did contaminated ingredients come to getting into food for humans?

CBS News has learned that the tainted wheat gluten used in pet food was human grade — meaning nothing but luck kept it from being used in the food people eat, too, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

Wheat gluten is added to foods like bread, pasta and rice. While the public was focused on the danger to their pets, sources tell CBS News that the FDA had tracked at least one suspect batch of wheat gluten into the human food supply, quietly quarantined some products and notified the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to watch for new patients admitted to hospitals with renal or kidney failure.

Illegal immigrant suspected in fatal crash had four DUIs

What a terrible tragedy that could and should have been avoided. All those who chose to shirk their responsibilities to the public at large and disregard the law have blood on their hands.

An illegal immigrant arrested in connection with a collision that killed a father of five was drunk and on drugs, and had four previous drunken driving convictions, law officers said.

Jose Pena, 26, was allegedly traveling 90 miles per hour on March 31 when he crossed a double yellow line and hit 33-year-old Kent Boone. He also allegedly had two pounds of crystal methamphetamine in his truck, according to California Highway Patrol officers who later checked Pena's home and found more drugs.

Pena was booked into the Solano County Jail on suspicion of murder, driving under the influence and drug offenses when he was released from the hospital a week after the crash, said Solano County sheriff's spokeswoman Paula Toynbee.

Hero's tale is 'too positive' for the BBC

Amid the deaths and the grim daily struggle bravely borne by Britain's forces in southern Iraq, one tale of heroism stands out.

Private Johnson Beharry's courage in rescuing an ambushed foot patrol then, in a second act, saving his vehicle's crew despite his own terrible injuries earned him a Victoria Cross.

For the BBC, however, his story is "too positive" about the conflict.

The corporation has cancelled the commission for a 90-minute drama about Britain's youngest surviving Victoria Cross hero because it feared it would alienate members of the audience opposed to the war in Iraq.

It's a lie, the reason they won't show it is it detracts from their position that all war is bad and there is absolutely never a justification for it. A self righteous arrogance that equates control of the airwaves with an obligation to further their agenda and quash dissent.

Fred Thompson is Running!

Thompsons announcement today that he has a mild, treatable and non-life threatening form of Lymphoma is nothing short of an announcement of intention to seek the Republican nomination from POTUS.

It's known in the business as "getting ahead" of the story. This little bit of house cleaning is setting the stage for a formal announcement within the next 30 days, probably on Leno.

In the Cavuto interview Fred does his best to asuage any fears that his health condition would in any way effect his life or ability to "do his job". Folks, that job is President of the United States. If he weren't running why would he jump through these hoops? The simple answer is he wouldn't.

What few doubts I had as to his intentions are now gone. Fred Thompson's campaign started in earnest today.

Several blogs appear to agree, Captains Quarters says this:

UPDATE IV: I’ve made a few calls on my lunch break, and here’s the scoop. Fred’s had this for almost three years now, and he’s not missed any work or slowed down at all during that time. He and his wife had a child during this period, which gives an indication that he has plenty of stamina; after all, shooting schedules for weekly television programs are not known to be kind to cast and crew.

Why is he announcing this now? Word is that he wants to make sure that his supporters feel comfortable with the issue before proceeding, and he’s interested in the commentary. He’s a straight shooter and he didn’t want this to be a surprise during a campaign — he’s laying his cards on the table. For Fred supporters, that thought process should be very encouraging.

Update: Looky here:

The latest LA Times/Bloomberg poll is out and Thompson is SECOND!

Guiliani 29%
Thompson 15%
McCain 12%
Romney 8%

Duke Lacrosse Case Charges to Be Dropped

Next on the docket, AG filing charges against Nifong and after that the civil suits. Grab the popcorn, lots of entertainment to come.

April 10, 2007 — The office of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will announce that he is dismissing all charges against three Duke Lacrosse players, ABC News has learned from sources close to the case.

The three players, Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty, were facing charges of first degree kidnapping and first degree forcible sexual offense. The charges stem from an off-campus party on the night of March 13, 2006.

Transcript of dismissal is here.

Iraq Slogger proves to be more of the same

I had high hopes that the relatively new website coined Iraq Slogger would offer a new and refreshingly accurate picture of the Iraq war to compliment both Iraq the Model and Bill Roggio. Unfortunately it proved to be just the opposite as the reporting has been slanted, often inaccurate and a bit sophomoric in it's presentation.

An example, Slogger reported Najaf Protests: Show of Sadrist Strength

The Sadrist Nahrain Net website leads with coverage of the massive demonstration in Najaf marking the fourth anniversary of the fall of Saddam’s regime in response to an order by Shi’ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr to demonstrate against the U.S. occupation and to redouble efforts to expel American forces from Iraq. [snip]

Other residents said that the government smuggled the aging cleric out of the city for fear that he would be attacked by Sadrist followers who were rallying in the hundreds of thousands in Najaf, while other senior clerics were placed under close protection.

We learn from MNF the real story: BAGHDAD — Citizens of Iraq assembled in Najaf Monday to conduct a demonstration against the U.S. presence in their country. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called for the protest on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, when Coalition forces toppled the Saddam Hussein regime. The number of participants that took part in the event ranged from 5,000 to 7,000, based on aerial photographs, said U.S. Army Col. Steven Boylan, a military spokesman with Multi-National Force-Iraq. During the era of Saddam Hussein the people could not voice their opinions or freely express how they felt about the government.

My recommendation would be to skip Iraq Slogger completely unless of course you don't feel your getting enough erroneous pro terrorist, anti American bias from the MSM.

Sunspots reaching 1,000-year high

I have labeled the quotes in the article as Fact and Speculation for ease of understanding. Please feel free to do the same for the rest of the article and see if you can spot the trend.

Scientists based at the Institute for Astronomy in Zurich used ice cores from Greenland to construct a picture of our star's activity in the past. (Fact)

They say that over the last century the number of sunspots rose at the same time that the Earth's climate became steadily warmer. (Fact)

This trend is being amplified by gases from fossil fuel burning, they argue. (Speculation)

But the most striking feature, he says, is that looking at the past 1,150 years the Sun has never been as active as it has been during the past 60 years. (Fact)

Over the past few hundred years, there has been a steady increase in the numbers of sunspots, a trend that has accelerated in the past century, just at the time when the Earth has been getting warmer. (Fact)

The data suggests that changing solar activity is influencing in some way the global climate causing the world to get warmer. (Fact based on supporting data).

Imus suspended 2 weeks; Jackson leads local protest

What's next, racial epithet credits?

CBS Radio and MSNBC are suspending Don Imus' morning talk show for two weeks following his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

The announcements come after a series of protests, including some held by Jesse Jackson Sr. in Chicago.

"Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word," the network said. MSNBC simulcasts his radio program weekday mornings.

Terms such as Cracker, Redneck, Polack, Honkey, Wop, Bible Thumper, Mackerel Snapper, and Chink, would be exempt from said credit levee as they are not considered offensive enough by the minority leadership and liberal elite.

Quote of the Week

"It’s become as much an Easter tradition as the Easter Bunny. Every year they come up with a new twist. We found Jesus’ casket. We found a new scroll that says Jesus had 15 kids. We found Mary’s diaphram."

DManA at FR

98% of Illegals Arrested Were Not Prosecuted

The new protected class.....

EL PASO, Texas -- For all the tough talk in Washington on immigration, illegal aliens caught along the Mexican border have almost no reason to fear they will be prosecuted.

Ninety-eight percent of those arrested between Oct. 1, 2000, and Sept. 30, 2005, were never prosecuted for illegally entering the country, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data. Those 5.2 million aliens were simply escorted back across the Rio Grande and turned loose. Many presumably tried to slip into the United States again.

The number of aliens prosecuted annually tripled during that five-year period, to 30,848 in fiscal 2005, the most recent figures available. But that still represented less than 3 percent of the 1.17 million persons arrested that year. The prosecution rate was just less than 1 percent in 2001.

60 Shiite militants killed or captured in Iraqi city

The Mookster will soon wish he had remaineed secluded in Iran.

DIWANIYAH - More than 60 Shiite militants have been killed or captured in deadly battle with Iraqi and US forces in the central city of Diwaniyah, military officials said on Monday.

Since Friday, around 3,300 US and Iraqi troops have clashed with Shiite militants, largely believed to be from the Mahdi Army militia controlled by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, in Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad.

Polish Major General Pawel Lamla, a commanding general for US-led multinational forces, told a group of reporters in Diwaniyah that security forces had "killed or captured more than 60 of the terrorists."

Christ Is Risen

Happy Easter

al-Sadr calls for attacks on U.S. troops

This is the first time the fat toothless ba$tard has openly called for attacks on US troops. If he wasn't before he most definately is now a legitimate target.

BAGHDAD - The renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqi forces to stop cooperating with the United States and told his guerrilla fighters to concentrate their attacks on American troops rather than Iraqis, according to a statement issued Sunday.

The statement, stamped with al-Sadr's official seal, was distributed in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Sunday — a day before a large demonstration there, called for by al-Sadr, to mark the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad.

"You, the Iraqi army and police forces, don't walk alongside the occupiers, because they are your archenemy," the statement said. Its authenticity could not be verified.

In the statement, al-Sadr — who commands an enormous following among Iraq's majority Shiites and has close allies in the Shiite-dominated government — also encouraged his followers to attack only American forces, not fellow Iraqis.

Two words....DEAD MEAT!

Freed Britons Say 'Confessions' Coerced

They raised their voices and talked mean to us.....

ROYAL MARINE BASE CHIVENOR, England (AP) -- British sailors and marines freed by Iran said Friday they were blindfolded, isolated in cold stone cells and tricked into fearing execution while being coerced into falsely saying they had entered Iranian waters.

They said there was no doubt the 15 crew members were in Iraq's territorial waters when they were seized by heavily armed boats of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. They also said their jailers had singled out the only woman among the captives for use in propaganda.

Iran, which has been celebrating the incident as a victory, quickly rejected the charges, dismissing a news conference held by six of the freed personnel as "propaganda" and "a show." Iranian state TV accused British leaders of "dictating" the crew's statements.

Lest we ever forget:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

John Stuart Mill

"Peace in Our Time"

Neville Pelosi

Fredapalooza

What has happened in the last three weeks is nothing short of incredible. Fred Thompson with nothing more than a teaser announcement on Fox news Sunday has rocketed to a solid 3 position (statistical number two position in one major poll) for the Republican nomination. Scores of internet polls have him crushing the competition. I have been watching Presidential politics for a long time and I have never seen this level of gut fervor arising from the grassroots, it's unprecedented.

Early on the MSM was clueless. The lefty press chose to ignore the movement while several so called experts on the right ie. Barnes, Lowry etc. scoffed at the phenomenon. But the shear magnitude of passion percolating up from the collective conservative persona became too manifest to discount or deny. Now that is has been forced down their throat the Press is beginning to get it. More articles are being written everyday on the Thompson candidacy and the tired old "only an actor" and "lack of Senate accomplishments" narratives are appearing with ever increasing frequency. Expect a lot more.

The vast majority of grassroots Republicans are unhappy with Rudy McRomney and are desperately seeking a candidate they can rally around, that candidate is Fred Dalton Thompson. This bottom to top momentum surge is not unlike the 04 Howard Dean phenomenon with one monumentally important distinction, Thompson is mainstream and eminently electable whereas Dean was neither. That makes this juggernaut decidedly sustainable.

I'm beginning to believe that Thompson's strategy of holding off on announcing his candidacy is a prudent one. He's allowing the competition to self immolate. Guiliani who's support is a mile wide and quarter inch thick is estranging himself from the conservative base now on a daily basis. McCain is stuck in first gear spinning his wheels in the South Carolina mud and Romney who is getting a lot of $ from the LDS crowd can't get out of the starting gate. The press is beating up on them and they are beating up on each other all while Fred just sits back and enjoys the show.

Don't believe the no money no organization bombast. If and when he gets in the money will flow to him like never in history and the politicos will be lined up half way to Tipperary to hitch their wagon to this star. The pundits will stand aghast as politicians who have "committed" to other candidates bail and jump on the Fred bandwagon. Again, being that this phenomenon is such a rare occurrence in Presidential politics it's difficult for the "Beltway Brains" to comprehend what's actually going on.

We are in interesting times indeed. We have a top tier candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States who has not even announced let alone lifted a finger in it's pursuit. If Thompson enters the fray, he will not add a mere chapter, he will rewrite the book of Presidential election politics. And there will be one word that permeates his White House run like no other in my lifetime, that word is DESTINY.

U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Grow by 180,000 Jobs: Jobless Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since May 2001

Who will be the first imbecile on the left that will attempt to equate this with the newly installed Democrat Congress?

U.S. payrolls jumped last month and the jobless rate fell, boosting the odds of moderate, consumer-driven economic growth and lowering the chances of any near-term reduction in official interest rates.

Outside of manufacturing, payroll gains were broadly based, with construction and services posting healthy increases. Previous months' employment increases, meanwhile, were revised up.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 180,000 in March, up from a revised 113,000 in February and 162,000 in January, the Labor Department said Friday. Those months were previously reported as increases of 97,000 and 146,000, respectively.

The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 4.4% last month, matching its lowest level since May 2001. Average hourly earnings increased six cents, or 0.3%, to $17.22. That was up 4% from a year earlier, suggesting wages remain an inflation risk.

Giuliani to social conservatives: Take it or leave it

Anatomy of a crash and burn....

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rudy Giuliani's message to social conservatives: If you don't like my views, don't vote for me.

The Republican presidential frontrunner Thursday reaffirmed his support for federal funding for some abortions, a position which puts him at odds with many conservatives. During a press conference at the State Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina, he said he didn't expect to win over 100 percent of the voters."

If that's real important to you, if that's the most important thing, I'm comfortable with the fact that you won't vote for me," the former mayor said.

And yesterday: On TV and during a swing through the early primary state of South Carolina, Giuliani has reaffirmed his support for public financing of abortions for women who cannot afford them.

Rasmussen reports: Giuliani Slips in Polls, Caught by Clinton

Latest New Hampshire telephone poll shows Romney's support nearly doubles to 25%

New Hampshire has notoriously been a bellweather of absolutely nothing but this is interesting nonetheless.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has rocketed to the top of the field of contenders for the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary crown, running dead even with Arizona Sen. John McCain at 25% each, a new Zogby International telephone poll shows. With Romney’s ascension, the GOP presidential race looks just like the Democratic contest – a three–way battle!

While McCain has held mostly steady at the top of the Republican field in New Hampshire, losing just one point since January, Romney has made the big move up from 13% two months ago. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who is the toast of Republican primary voters nationally, finds himself in third place in the Granite State at 19% support, falling slightly from 20% in January to 19% this week.

Fred Thompson, the actor and former senator from Tennessee won 6% support in this latest survey of 502 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters, which was conducted April 2-3, 2007, and contains a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.

Pratfall in Damascus

Ms. Pelosi and the rest of the gullible Democrats are most definately NOT ready for prime time. This is a perfect illustration as to why conducting diplomacy is best left to those that know what they're doing.

HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.

Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message. "What was communicated to the U.S. House Speaker does not contain any change in the policies of Israel," said a statement quickly issued by the prime minister's office. In fact, Mr. Olmert told Ms. Pelosi that "a number of Senate and House members who recently visited Damascus received the impression that despite the declarations of Bashar Assad, there is no change in the position of his country regarding a possible peace process with Israel." In other words, Ms. Pelosi not only misrepresented Israel's position but was virtually alone in failing to discern that Mr. Assad's words were mere propaganda.

Israel responds.

Bush bypasses Senate to name ambassador

BWAAAAHAHAHA, atta boy GW, nothing like a little castor beans to the eyes.

President Bush named Republican fundraiser Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium on Wednesday, using a maneuver that allowed him to bypass Congress where Democrats had derailed Fox's nomination.

Democrats had denounced Fox for his 2004 donation to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group's TV ads, which claimed that Sen. John Kerry exaggerated his military record in Vietnam, were viewed as a major factor in the Massachusetts Democrat losing the election.

Recognizing Fox did not have the votes to obtain Senate confirmation, Bush withdrew the nomination last month. On Wednesday, with Congress out of town for a spring break, the president used his power to make recess appointments to put Fox in the job without Senate confirmation.

No more GWOT, House committee decrees

Democrats are great for euphemisms, ie. Taxes = Federal Income Enhancement. If they don't just choose to ignore it completely it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

The House Armed Services Committee is banishing the global war on terror from the 2008 defense budget.

This is not because the war has been won, lost or even called off, but because the committee’s Democratic leadership doesn’t like the phrase.

A memo for the committee staff, circulated March 27, says the 2008 bill and its accompanying explanatory report that will set defense policy should be specific about military operations and “avoid using colloquialisms.”

The “global war on terror,” a phrase first used by President Bush shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., should not be used, according to the memo. Also banned is the phrase the “long war,” which military officials began using last year as a way of acknowledging that military operations against terrorist states and organizations would not be wrapped up in a few years.

Ahmadinejad Says British Troops Will Be Freed

The obvious question....At what cost?

TEHRAN, Iran — Fifteen British sailors and marines seized by Iranian naval personnel have been pardoned and will be freed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference Wednesday, but he vowed his country would not tolerate invasions of its borders by any country.

Nancy Pelosi's Idiotic Adventure

What can she possibly hope to accomplish other than to undermine our foreign policy and irritate the administration? Answer: That.

Syrian President Bashar Assad meets on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 with U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi at Ash-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus. Pelosi arrived here Tuesday as the highest ranking US official to visit Syria since 2003 for talks with the Syrian leadership on the strained relations between Syria and the U.S., to convey a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to President Assad, and to discuss Iraq and other regional issues with Syria. Pelosi's visit was criticized by the US administration.(AP Photo Hussein Malla).

Quote of the Week

Jackie Mason talking about his new book Schmucks: Our Favorite Fakes, Frauds, Lowlifes, Liars, the Armed and Dangerous, and Good Guys Gone Bad."

When asked, "what about Barack Obama?" he replied:

Barack Obama, I think is as well-equipped to be president as I am to be an astronaut.

Perfect.

Mason went on to say when queried if there was anyone not running who would be an ideal candidate...

'Yeah, Fred Thompson. Fred Thompson I think is great, the senator who is the actor from "Law and Order." I think he's brilliant, he's clear-headed, he's sharp, he's smart, he's not so selfish and crooked as most politicians.'

Iraqi Government Seeks Release Of Iranians Detained By US Military

Well, well...

A senior Iraqi foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that the government was "intensively" seeking release of five Iranians detained by the U.S. military more than two months ago in northern Iraq.

"We are intensively seeking the release of the five Iranians," the senior official said.

"This will be a factor that will help in the release of the British sailors and marines" held by Iran since March 25.

Beginning to get a clearer picture of what's actually been going on now?

Rasmussen: Giuliani 26% McCain 16% Thompson 14%

Most regular readers know through my past postings that I think Fred Thompson is the dark horse that could very well win the Republican nomination and the general election but these results are even suprising to me.

The addition of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) to the list of candidates shakes up the race for the GOP Presidential nomination.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support dips below the 30% mark for the first time in seven weeks. With Thompson in the mix, Giuliani’s support tumbles to 26%, down nine points from a week ago. That’s the lowest level of support measured for Giuliani in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year.

Support for Arizona Senator John McCain remains steady at 16%, but McCain’s hold on second place is threatened by Thompson. The movie star turned Senator turned TV star weighs in with 14% support among those likely to vote in a GOP primary. Among Very Conservative voters, Giuliani attracts 20% support followed closely by Thompson at 19%, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 18% and McCain at 14%.

Judge orders Marine reservist's discharge

Clueless eggplant of the week.

SAN DIEGO — A federal judge in San Jose has taken the unusual step of ordering the Marine Corps to grant a reservist's request for a discharge as a conscientious objector.

Lance Cpl. Robert Zabala, 23, said he joined the Marines as part of a family tradition of military service. But he said he was shocked during boot camp here to find such a strong emphasis on killing.

According to court documents, Zabala said he was appalled by the "blood lust" of one officer and broke into tears when shown pictures of dead Iraqis. He said his informal study of Buddhism led him to a belief in the "sanctity of life."

What in he!! does he think a military is for???

Senator Barack Obama Depicted as Jesus at Chicago Art Exhibit

I would prefer to see him depicted as Alfred E. Newman as it would be far less offensive and a good deal more accurate.

WASHINGTON — A Chicago artist hopes his creation of Democratic White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama as Jesus will bring attention to politics and religion.

The exhibit, titled "Blessing," shows Obama cloaked in white and red robes with a neon halo, is on display at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

"He's sort of emerged as this really sort of charismatic and really popular person. I think that people really like him and I think it's because of his message of unity and sort of his political platform," David Cordero, the artist and a student at the school, said of the Illinois senator.

Pollack, HBO are deciders on 'Recount

HBO is revisiting one of the most dramatic events in U.S. election history with "Recount," a film about the 2000 turmoil in Florida to be directed by Oscar winner Sydney Pollack.

Paula Weinstein is executive producing the HBO Films project, which is targeted to premiere in spring 2008.

Written by actor Danny Strong, Spring Creek Prods.' "Recount" chronicles the weeks after the 2000 presidential election and goes behind the scenes of the recounts in Florida to explore the human drama of ordinary people caught in an extraordinary event that would decide the leadership of the country.

While "Recount" takes on one of the most controversial and politically charged episodes in recent history, the telefilm has no political agenda, Callender said.

If one is naive enough to to believe that this might actually be fair I direct you to this quote by the writer of this film Danny Strong:

"I don't think I have a greatest achievement yet. Right now I am volunteering for the John Kerry campaign, and this is the most important thing I have ever done in my life. I truly believe that George Bush and Dick Cheney are tremendous threats to not only our own security, but the world's, and that we must do everything we can to remove them from office."

Oh yea, no political agenda there.

McCain/ Graham heckled by CNN reporter

A relatively new but increasingly common occupation known as the activist/journalist....

During a live press conference in Bagdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Ware’s conduct “outrageous,” saying, “here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments.

I’ve never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.” Senators McCain and Graham flew into Iraq and drove into Bagdad, making stops at an open market and a joint Iraq/American military security outpost before appearing at the press conference.

Update: It appears that Drudge may have issued an erronious report . Although this in no way changes our opinion of the ever agenda driven Ware and his reporting, we do not need "made up" scenarios to further our position. We'll leave that to the left.

Quote of the Week

"The Global Warming Panic is a gigantic worldwide redistribution of wealth program as well as a ponzi scheme for a chosen few on the ground floor."

Imam to government: enforce Sharia law within seven days or we will do it ourselves

The situation in Pakistan has been underreported. The government is in the fight of their life with the Taliban in the border regions and emboldened hardline Islamocrazies are increasingly exerting their muscle throughout much of the country. The question of whether Musharraf can hold it all together is far from certain at this point.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Dt) – It is an ultimatum not a request: if within a week Sharia law is not enforced throughout the country than true Muslims “will islamify society on their own”. Maulana Abdul Aziz, Imam of the Lal Masjid Mosque and director of Jamia Hafsa Madrassah has said.

Speaking after Friday prayers to thousands of faithful, Aziz clarified: “If the government ignores our requests than we will have to enforce them ourselves”. The man then asked for the closure of “all brothels and gaming houses as soon as possible”, also adding in this case that “that aim may only be achieved thanks to the help of the Madrassah students”.

The Imam’s threats must not be ignored, because just days ago female students from the Madrassah directed by Aziz attacked a suspected brothel taking the women who lived within the house hostage.