So I was down in DC this past weekend and happened to run into a well-connected media person, who told me flatly, unequivocally that “everyone knows” The LA Times was sitting on a story, all wrapped up and ready to go about what is a potentially devastating sexual scandal involving a leading Presidential candidate. “Everyone knows” meaning everyone in the DC mainstream media political reporting world. “Sitting on it” because the paper couldn’t decide the complex ethics of whether and when to run it. The way I heard it they’d had it for a while but don’t know what to do. The person who told me )not an LAT person) knows I write and didn’t say “don’t write about this”.
If it’s true, I don’t envy the LAT. I respect their hesitation, their dilemma, deciding to run or not to run it raises a lot of difficult journalism ethics questions and they’re likely to be attacked, when it comes out—the story or their suppression of the story—whatever they do.
I’ve been sensing hints that something’s going on, something’s going unspoken in certain insider coverage of the campaign (and by the way this rumor the LA Times is supposedly sitting on is one I never heard in this specific form before. By the way, t’s not the Edwards rumor, it’s something else.
Republican? Democrat? Man? Women? Is it this? If it's a Republican they will sit on it untill it can do the most damage. If it's a Democrat who knows if it will ever see the light of day.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Come-Uppants
Don't you just love it when things work out.
Roy L. Pearson Jr., the administrative law judge who lost his $54 million lawsuit against a Northeast Washington dry cleaner, lost his job yesterday and was ordered to vacate his office, sources said.
Pearson, 57, who had served as a judge for two years, was up for a 10-year term at the Office of Administrative Hearings, but a judicial committee last week voted against reappointing him.
The panel had a seven-page letter hand-delivered to Pearson about 3:30 p.m., directing him to leave his office by 5 p.m. Pearson's term ended in May, at the height of his battle with the dry cleaners. Since then, he has remained on the payroll, making $100,000 a year as an attorney adviser.
Roy L. Pearson Jr., the administrative law judge who lost his $54 million lawsuit against a Northeast Washington dry cleaner, lost his job yesterday and was ordered to vacate his office, sources said.
Pearson, 57, who had served as a judge for two years, was up for a 10-year term at the Office of Administrative Hearings, but a judicial committee last week voted against reappointing him.
The panel had a seven-page letter hand-delivered to Pearson about 3:30 p.m., directing him to leave his office by 5 p.m. Pearson's term ended in May, at the height of his battle with the dry cleaners. Since then, he has remained on the payroll, making $100,000 a year as an attorney adviser.
The Beast Bombs
Sooner or later parsing, evasion and conspicuous avoidance catch up with any politician who chooses to rely on it. Tuesday night it did just that...
In a debate against six Democratic opponents at Drexel University here Tuesday, Clinton gave the worst performance of her entire campaign.
It was not just that her answer about whether illegal immigrants should be issued drivers’ licenses was at best incomprehensible and at worst misleading.
It was that for two hours she dodged and weaved, parsed and stonewalled.
In a debate against six Democratic opponents at Drexel University here Tuesday, Clinton gave the worst performance of her entire campaign.
It was not just that her answer about whether illegal immigrants should be issued drivers’ licenses was at best incomprehensible and at worst misleading.
It was that for two hours she dodged and weaved, parsed and stonewalled.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
U.N. votes against U.S. embargo on Cuba for 16th year
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to urge the United States to lift its four-decade-old embargo against Cuba in a resolution adopted for the 16th consecutive year.
The measure is nonbinding and such moves in the past have had no impact on U.S. policy.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque denounced the "arrogance and political blindness" of Washington in ignoring 15 similar resolutions passed since 1992.
FU Felipe, and btw UN General Assembly, FU too.
The measure is nonbinding and such moves in the past have had no impact on U.S. policy.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque denounced the "arrogance and political blindness" of Washington in ignoring 15 similar resolutions passed since 1992.
FU Felipe, and btw UN General Assembly, FU too.
Catholic Group Rejects Miller's Apology for 'Last Supper' Poster
Waaaaaay to little waaaay too late. I agree wiith the Catholic League, people and company's are judged not on their words but their actions. If there's any justice in the world Miller will see a noticable hit to their bottom line over this marketing disaster.An apology issued by the Miller Brewing Company over a poster that promoted a homosexual event in San Francisco by copying Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of "The Last Supper" was rejected on Monday by the leader of a national Catholic group, who charged that either the corporation doesn't "get it" or "they think we're stupid."
The apology, which was released late Friday, "is nothing but a rehash" of what the company has been saying all along, said Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious Civil Rights, in a statement of his own on Monday.
"It limits its apology to the use of its logo on the offensive 'Last Supper' promotional poster," Donohue said, which replaced Jesus and his disciples with half-naked homosexual sadomasochists, but "it still refuses to apologize for the anti-Catholic nature of the event itself."
Monday, October 29, 2007
Iraqi troops free eight kidnapped tribal chiefs
No easy feat pulled off by the fledgling Iraqi army and a good sign that they are coming into their own.
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi troops on Monday rescued eight of 11 kidnapped tribal leaders after a gunbattle with their captors, defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari told AFP.
"We have rescued eight of the hostages and are working to free the others. We killed four of the kidnappers," Askari said.
The 11 tribal leaders from the restive province of Diyala were kidnapped on Sunday from northern Baghdad's Al-Shaab neighbourhood after a meeting with a top official from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office.
The US military earlier on Monday accused Arkan Hasnawi, a former Shiite militant from radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, of kidnapping the group of Shiite and Sunni leaders.
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi troops on Monday rescued eight of 11 kidnapped tribal leaders after a gunbattle with their captors, defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari told AFP.
"We have rescued eight of the hostages and are working to free the others. We killed four of the kidnappers," Askari said.
The 11 tribal leaders from the restive province of Diyala were kidnapped on Sunday from northern Baghdad's Al-Shaab neighbourhood after a meeting with a top official from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office.
The US military earlier on Monday accused Arkan Hasnawi, a former Shiite militant from radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, of kidnapping the group of Shiite and Sunni leaders.
Dumbest Headline of the week
This time the dubious honor goes to the NY Daily News for this gem: Laura Bush won't vote for Hillary Clinton
Ya think?
Ya think?
Baby Wipes Broke Saddam
An effective sanction indeed...
SADDAM Hussein was a germiphobe with a fondness for baby wipes and a compulsion to wash his hands, according to George Piro, the Arabic-speaking FBI agent who gained the dictator's trust and secretly debriefed him for seven months before his trial and execution. In his book, "The Terrorist Watch: Inside the Desperate Race to Stop the Next Attack" (due Nov. 13), Ronald Kessler reports Piro spent five to seven hours a day with the Iraqi tyrant. "If Saddam had enough baby wipes, he would use them to clean food like apples before he ate them," Kessler told Page Six. "Piro realized that, as a way of manipulating him, he could control how many baby wipes Saddam received
SADDAM Hussein was a germiphobe with a fondness for baby wipes and a compulsion to wash his hands, according to George Piro, the Arabic-speaking FBI agent who gained the dictator's trust and secretly debriefed him for seven months before his trial and execution. In his book, "The Terrorist Watch: Inside the Desperate Race to Stop the Next Attack" (due Nov. 13), Ronald Kessler reports Piro spent five to seven hours a day with the Iraqi tyrant. "If Saddam had enough baby wipes, he would use them to clean food like apples before he ate them," Kessler told Page Six. "Piro realized that, as a way of manipulating him, he could control how many baby wipes Saddam received
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Both Giuliani, Thompson Now In Toss-ups with Clinton
First time either has been statistically even with the beast in a long time.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows former Mayor Rudy Giuliani leading Senator Clinton 46% to 44% in an early look at a general election match-up. Clinton has a 47% to 45% edge on another Republican hopeful, Fred Thompson.
These numbers reflect a significant turnaround from recent polls.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows former Mayor Rudy Giuliani leading Senator Clinton 46% to 44% in an early look at a general election match-up. Clinton has a 47% to 45% edge on another Republican hopeful, Fred Thompson.
These numbers reflect a significant turnaround from recent polls.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Iraqi insurgents' clash with Qaeda kills 16
Like we said, they're toast.
A battle between al Qaeda in Iraq and a major Sunni Arab insurgent group killed at least 16 militants on Friday near the ancient city of Samarra, a senior security officer told Reuters on Saturday.
The fighting involved the Islamic Army, a nationalist group that has been hostile to al Qaeda since June and has fought the Sunni Islamist group in areas of Baghdad and some Sunni towns.
A security source in Salahuddin province, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two non-Iraqi Arabs and an Iranian were among those killed in the battle.
"The clashes ended yesterday with militants from the Islamic Army taking control of the area," he said. The area had been controlled by al Qaeda for months.
And this: INSIDE THE SURGE HOW ORDINARY IRAQIS ARE TURNING THE TIDE OF WAR
A battle between al Qaeda in Iraq and a major Sunni Arab insurgent group killed at least 16 militants on Friday near the ancient city of Samarra, a senior security officer told Reuters on Saturday.
The fighting involved the Islamic Army, a nationalist group that has been hostile to al Qaeda since June and has fought the Sunni Islamist group in areas of Baghdad and some Sunni towns.
A security source in Salahuddin province, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two non-Iraqi Arabs and an Iranian were among those killed in the battle.
"The clashes ended yesterday with militants from the Islamic Army taking control of the area," he said. The area had been controlled by al Qaeda for months.
And this: INSIDE THE SURGE HOW ORDINARY IRAQIS ARE TURNING THE TIDE OF WAR
The Mother of All Tax Hikes on Small Businesses
Small business is the bedrock of the American economy. Undercut it and the economy caves like a Minnesota bridge.The Rangel tax reform bill takes direct aim at America’s job-creators. It would raise the maximum marginal tax rate on all small business income – wages, distributions, capital gains, dividends – by four percentage points (from 35 percent to 39 percent) through the creation of a new surtax applied to incomes above $150,000. Curiously, this surtax is applied to Adjusted Gross Income, not Taxable Income, so it comes before deductions. That means it is really like a five or six percent surtax on taxable income because it reduces the value the home mortgage, charitable, and other itemized deductions.
In addition to the tax rate increase, the bill also eliminates several tax provisions small businesses rely on in order to remain competitive. It repeals the hard-won domestic producer tax deduction we enacted just three years ago to help encourage manufacturing and domestic production here in the United States. It eliminates the LIFO ("last in, first out") accounting rules, so small manufacturers will now pay higher taxes when inflation increases the value of their inventories. And finally, to add insult to injury, it does nothing to prevent the expiration of the Bush tax rate cuts, which means small firms – S-Corporations, sole proprietors and others that file as individuals - will face a top marginal rate of 44 percent starting in 2011
Friday, October 26, 2007
Burka Clad Fat Lady Cometh Soon
Bill Roggio reports...
The invasion in Iraq was always a gamble in that it gave al Qaeda a cause to fight the "crusaders" in the heart of the Middle East. Osama bin Laden has called the U.S. a "paper tiger" in the past, and predicted the U.S. would shy away from combat in Iraq once the fighting got tough. And the United States came perilously close to a forced withdraw from Iraq at the beginning of 2007, but changed its counterinsurgency strategy and encountered dramatic results.
Evan [Kohlmann] has become convinced of al Qaeda's failure after reading numerous denouncements and criticisms of al Qaeda from formerly allied insurgent groups. In an email communication with Evan several weeks ago, he stated:
Osama bin Laden seems to agree. In his latest audiotape, not only did he criticize his leaders in Iraq for "negligence" and other misdeeds, he stated that for al Qaeda in Iraq "the darkness has become pitch black."
IA consistently pi$$ed down the back of their core support and in the process self immolated. This spells the end of any significant challenge from then in Iraq and portends the beginning of the end of any significant influence for them in the world.
This of course doesn't mean that they can't or won't cause serious mischief for many years to come, it does however significanty mitigate the possibility of them playing any major role in the instigating of their ultimate goal...WWIII.
The invasion in Iraq was always a gamble in that it gave al Qaeda a cause to fight the "crusaders" in the heart of the Middle East. Osama bin Laden has called the U.S. a "paper tiger" in the past, and predicted the U.S. would shy away from combat in Iraq once the fighting got tough. And the United States came perilously close to a forced withdraw from Iraq at the beginning of 2007, but changed its counterinsurgency strategy and encountered dramatic results.
Evan [Kohlmann] has become convinced of al Qaeda's failure after reading numerous denouncements and criticisms of al Qaeda from formerly allied insurgent groups. In an email communication with Evan several weeks ago, he stated:
Al Qaeda seems to have fallen victim to its own worst impulses in Iraq. Then again, when you resort to gleefully digging up the buried corpses of fellow jihadists in order to make off with their severed heads as war trophies, it might just be time for a serious re-frame...
I poked fun at [Vice President] Cheney for his "last throes" line back two years ago, but if he were to repeat that prediction now about al Qaeda, he might actually be right... The combined impact of "the surge" and "the putsch."
Osama bin Laden seems to agree. In his latest audiotape, not only did he criticize his leaders in Iraq for "negligence" and other misdeeds, he stated that for al Qaeda in Iraq "the darkness has become pitch black."
IA consistently pi$$ed down the back of their core support and in the process self immolated. This spells the end of any significant challenge from then in Iraq and portends the beginning of the end of any significant influence for them in the world.
This of course doesn't mean that they can't or won't cause serious mischief for many years to come, it does however significanty mitigate the possibility of them playing any major role in the instigating of their ultimate goal...WWIII.
Rasmussen 10/26
Republican Pres Primary poll tight as ever...
Rudy Giuliani remains precariously atop the pack with support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Fred Thompson is close behind at 19% while John McCain enjoys a second straight day in third place with 14% of the vote.
Huckabee continues to gain ground and is just two points behind McCain at 12%. This is the first time all year that Huckabee has surpassed Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts Governor slipped another point and he is now at just 11% nationally. No other Republican attracts more than 3% support while 18% are undecided. (see recent daily numbers).
Given Huckabee’s progress in the polls, Rasmussen Reports will add his results to the daily tracking history table starting on Monday.
Rudy Giuliani remains precariously atop the pack with support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Fred Thompson is close behind at 19% while John McCain enjoys a second straight day in third place with 14% of the vote.
Huckabee continues to gain ground and is just two points behind McCain at 12%. This is the first time all year that Huckabee has surpassed Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts Governor slipped another point and he is now at just 11% nationally. No other Republican attracts more than 3% support while 18% are undecided. (see recent daily numbers).
Given Huckabee’s progress in the polls, Rasmussen Reports will add his results to the daily tracking history table starting on Monday.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Haditha Unraveled
Much like the Dukelax case the media and the left including several high ranking politicians were quick to pronounce guilt. But as time and proper investigation allows the true facts to surface the kneejerk hysteria exhibited by these nimrods will again prove to be wrong.
Lt. Col. Paul Ware can be blunt. As the investigating officer in the Haditha affair, he has the job of assessing how strong a case the prosecution has against Marines suspected of killing 24 civilians after being ambushed two years ago in western Iraq. Haditha is the highest-profile atrocity case since the start of the war. For more than a year, prosecutors have assembled evidence against four shooters in Kilo Company, including Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26. But in a painstaking, 37-page report written earlier this month and obtained by NEWSWEEK, Ware tells the military lawyers their case is weak: "The evidence is contradictory, the forensic analysis is limited and almost all the witnesses have an obvious bias or prejudice."
Lt. Col. Paul Ware can be blunt. As the investigating officer in the Haditha affair, he has the job of assessing how strong a case the prosecution has against Marines suspected of killing 24 civilians after being ambushed two years ago in western Iraq. Haditha is the highest-profile atrocity case since the start of the war. For more than a year, prosecutors have assembled evidence against four shooters in Kilo Company, including Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26. But in a painstaking, 37-page report written earlier this month and obtained by NEWSWEEK, Ware tells the military lawyers their case is weak: "The evidence is contradictory, the forensic analysis is limited and almost all the witnesses have an obvious bias or prejudice."
Flag-folding recitation banned at veterans cemeteries nationwide
Good grief....
Through thousands of military burials, Memorial Honor Detail volunteers at Riverside National Cemetery have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of every fold to survivors of those being laid to rest.
The first fold, a narrator tells relatives, represents life, the second a belief in eternal life.
The 11th fold celebrates Jewish war veterans and "glorifies the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."
A single complaint lodged against the words for the 11th fold recently prompted the National Cemetery Administration to ban the entire recital at all 125 national cemeteries.
Through thousands of military burials, Memorial Honor Detail volunteers at Riverside National Cemetery have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of every fold to survivors of those being laid to rest.
The first fold, a narrator tells relatives, represents life, the second a belief in eternal life.
The 11th fold celebrates Jewish war veterans and "glorifies the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."
A single complaint lodged against the words for the 11th fold recently prompted the National Cemetery Administration to ban the entire recital at all 125 national cemeteries.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
An Iraqi Parade Against al-Qaeda
Flying pig alert, this from TIME.Osama bin Laden's latest call for Iraqi insurgents to unite against Americans fell on deaf ears this week in Ramadi, the city that al-Qaeda leaders once declared the seat of a new Islamic caliphate and capital of the Iraqi insurgency. Rather than rise up against them, the people of Ramadi Tuesday invited U.S. forces to watch a massive parade — albeit one so tightly secured that no pedestrian traffic got close to it. The almost surreal, two-hour martial procession was led by the city's children to commemorate the martyred leader of a tribal revolt that has virtually silenced al-Qaeda in Anbar Province.
Dream Act
The DREAM Act has yet again been put back in it's box, the vote was 52-44. Beware, it will be back.
California Fire Battalion Chief - Whoever Did This Knew What They Were Doing
Fire officials are now stating that the Orange County Santiago fire was purposely set and there is speculation that other fires may have also been deliberate. See Interactive Map
Fire officials found three separate “points of origin,” all near the intersection of Silverado Canyon Road and Santiago Canyon Road. Two were on one side of the road, and the third was on the other. “Whoever did this knew what they were doing,” said Kris Concepcion, a fire authority battalion chief. Also, the fire traveled 3 miles in its first 20 minutes when it was ignited about 6 p.m. Sunday, he said.
We are NOT implying that the California fires are an act of terrorism however; the threat of pyro-terrorist attacks pose a significant risk to the U.S. and the fires in California and in Greece earlier this year should be a wake-up call.
Hmmmmmm.
Fire officials found three separate “points of origin,” all near the intersection of Silverado Canyon Road and Santiago Canyon Road. Two were on one side of the road, and the third was on the other. “Whoever did this knew what they were doing,” said Kris Concepcion, a fire authority battalion chief. Also, the fire traveled 3 miles in its first 20 minutes when it was ignited about 6 p.m. Sunday, he said.
We are NOT implying that the California fires are an act of terrorism however; the threat of pyro-terrorist attacks pose a significant risk to the U.S. and the fires in California and in Greece earlier this year should be a wake-up call.
Hmmmmmm.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Thompson’s Plan to Fight Illegal Immigration
Good stuff here.
Thompson Announces Plan to Secure Border, Enforce Existing Immigration Laws
Senator Fred Thompson today unveiled a comprehensive border security and immigration enforcement proposal that would make America safer by increasing security at our nation’s borders, enforcing our country’s existing laws to reduce the incentive for illegal immigration and streamlining the legal immigration process.
“A country that cannot secure its borders will not remain a sovereign nation and you cannot have national security without border security,” said Thompson. “It’s not only necessary for any meaningful immigration reform, but border security plays a key role in both the interdiction of illegal drugs and in defending America against terrorist threats. Weak borders allow terrorists and smugglers, as well as millions of illegal aliens, easy entrance to the United States.”
Thompson Announces Plan to Secure Border, Enforce Existing Immigration Laws
Senator Fred Thompson today unveiled a comprehensive border security and immigration enforcement proposal that would make America safer by increasing security at our nation’s borders, enforcing our country’s existing laws to reduce the incentive for illegal immigration and streamlining the legal immigration process.
“A country that cannot secure its borders will not remain a sovereign nation and you cannot have national security without border security,” said Thompson. “It’s not only necessary for any meaningful immigration reform, but border security plays a key role in both the interdiction of illegal drugs and in defending America against terrorist threats. Weak borders allow terrorists and smugglers, as well as millions of illegal aliens, easy entrance to the United States.”
GOP Moves to Censure Stark
And rightly so, the man is vile.
House Republican leader John Boehner just stood up on the House floor to put forward a motion to censure Rep. Pete Stark (D) over the congressman's "heads blown off for the president's amusement" remark on the House floor last week.
Democrats will move to table -- or kill -- the motion. They will likely succeed. A vote is being taken on the tabling motion now.
Good, let the dims be exposed for defending, or at the very least, ignoring the indefensible.
House Republican leader John Boehner just stood up on the House floor to put forward a motion to censure Rep. Pete Stark (D) over the congressman's "heads blown off for the president's amusement" remark on the House floor last week.
Democrats will move to table -- or kill -- the motion. They will likely succeed. A vote is being taken on the tabling motion now.
Good, let the dims be exposed for defending, or at the very least, ignoring the indefensible.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Violence in Iraq drops sharply: Ministry
More bad news for the left.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops to stabilize the war-torn country, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
The ministry released the new figures as bomb blasts in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul killed five people and six gunmen died in clashes with police in the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala south of the Iraqi capital.
Remember this from al Reuters just 4 months ago: Iraq is on the verge of collapse: report
Just goes to show that defeatist speculation doesn't always have to be a self fulfilling prophecy.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops to stabilize the war-torn country, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
The ministry released the new figures as bomb blasts in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul killed five people and six gunmen died in clashes with police in the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala south of the Iraqi capital.
Remember this from al Reuters just 4 months ago: Iraq is on the verge of collapse: report
Just goes to show that defeatist speculation doesn't always have to be a self fulfilling prophecy.
Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
From Newsbusters...During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. -- United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171
Turns out that not wearing a flag lapel pin isn't the only way Barack Obama chooses to show he's a different kind of Democrat.
Obviously he never learned the practice attending the madrassa.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Pelosi's judgment questioned over Armenia issue
Was this action by Pelosi and her cohorts designed to debilitate Turkish support of U.S. policy in Iraq and undermine Americas effort there? My opinion, it's a destinct possibility.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi's pledge of a new direction took a detour when she fumbled an Armenian genocide resolution and raised questions about her leadership as the highest ranking member of the U.S. Congress.
Pelosi, 67, speaker of the House of Representatives and next in line to the presidency after the vice president, swore she would push the controversial resolution to a vote, then blinked when some fellow Democrats withdrew their support in the face of furious reaction from Turkey.
President George W. Bush warned the symbolic resolution to affirm the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide would harm Washington's relations with Ankara. But as long as it looked like it would pass, Pelosi stuck to her guns.
When Democratic support started waning last week amid protests from NATO ally Turkey -- which denounced the measure as "insulting" and hinted at halting logistical support for the U.S. war effort in Iraq -- Pelosi wavered.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi's pledge of a new direction took a detour when she fumbled an Armenian genocide resolution and raised questions about her leadership as the highest ranking member of the U.S. Congress.
Pelosi, 67, speaker of the House of Representatives and next in line to the presidency after the vice president, swore she would push the controversial resolution to a vote, then blinked when some fellow Democrats withdrew their support in the face of furious reaction from Turkey.
President George W. Bush warned the symbolic resolution to affirm the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide would harm Washington's relations with Ankara. But as long as it looked like it would pass, Pelosi stuck to her guns.
When Democratic support started waning last week amid protests from NATO ally Turkey -- which denounced the measure as "insulting" and hinted at halting logistical support for the U.S. war effort in Iraq -- Pelosi wavered.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Zogby Poll: Half Say They Would Never Vote for Hillary Clinton for President
Her husband wouldn't have won either had it not been for a 3rd party candidate.
While she is winning wide support in nationwide samples among Democrats in the race for their party’s presidential nomination, half of likely voters nationwide said they would never vote for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
The online survey of 9,718 likely voters nationwide showed that 50% said Clinton would never get their presidential vote. This is up from 46% who said they could never vote for Clinton in a Zogby International telephone survey conducted in early March. Older voters are most resistant to Clinton – 59% of those age 65 and older said they would never vote for the New York senator, but she is much more acceptable to younger voters: 42% of those age 18–29 said they would never vote for Clinton for President.
While she is winning wide support in nationwide samples among Democrats in the race for their party’s presidential nomination, half of likely voters nationwide said they would never vote for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
The online survey of 9,718 likely voters nationwide showed that 50% said Clinton would never get their presidential vote. This is up from 46% who said they could never vote for Clinton in a Zogby International telephone survey conducted in early March. Older voters are most resistant to Clinton – 59% of those age 65 and older said they would never vote for the New York senator, but she is much more acceptable to younger voters: 42% of those age 18–29 said they would never vote for Clinton for President.
Limbaugh Spins Reid's Letter Into Charity Gold
Rush Limbaugh is the sharpest conservative political mind of our time bar none. He understands the liberal mindset better than anyone alive and is able to take on the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Durbin and Schumer and come out on top every time...
Petty bickering about patriotism and Who Loves Our Troops More has never been seen as a financial growth industry, but there's no stopping American capitalism. This is why a perfunctory bit of political grandstanding, committed to U.S. Senate letterhead this month, became worth a reported $4.2 million yesterday, instantly becoming one of the most valuable printed documents of the modern era.
The letter in question is an Oct. 2 two-pager from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to Clear Channel Communications CEO Mark Mays lambasting the syndicate's Rush Limbaugh, who had recently criticized U.S. troops who were against the war in Iraq.
Petty bickering about patriotism and Who Loves Our Troops More has never been seen as a financial growth industry, but there's no stopping American capitalism. This is why a perfunctory bit of political grandstanding, committed to U.S. Senate letterhead this month, became worth a reported $4.2 million yesterday, instantly becoming one of the most valuable printed documents of the modern era.
The letter in question is an Oct. 2 two-pager from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to Clear Channel Communications CEO Mark Mays lambasting the syndicate's Rush Limbaugh, who had recently criticized U.S. troops who were against the war in Iraq.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Blog Break
Will be taking a couple of days off from blogging for personal reasons. Be back in a few. TR
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Rasmussen (Iowa)
For your perusal
The first Rasmussen Reports poll of the Iowa Republican Caucus for 2008 finds former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney enjoying a six-point lead while former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee are virtually tied for second.
Romney attracts 25% of the vote from Likely Caucus Participants, Thompson earns 19%, and Huckabee is at 18% in the poll. National frontrunner and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is the only other Republican in double digits at 13%. Arizona Senator John McCain, once considered by some to be the GOP frontrunner, gets just 6% of the vote. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (3%), rounds out the field with Congressmen Tom Tancredo (2%), Ron Paul (2%), and Duncan Hunter (1%). Eleven percent (11%) are undecided (see crosstabs).
The first Rasmussen Reports poll of the Iowa Republican Caucus for 2008 finds former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney enjoying a six-point lead while former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee are virtually tied for second.
Romney attracts 25% of the vote from Likely Caucus Participants, Thompson earns 19%, and Huckabee is at 18% in the poll. National frontrunner and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is the only other Republican in double digits at 13%. Arizona Senator John McCain, once considered by some to be the GOP frontrunner, gets just 6% of the vote. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (3%), rounds out the field with Congressmen Tom Tancredo (2%), Ron Paul (2%), and Duncan Hunter (1%). Eleven percent (11%) are undecided (see crosstabs).
House Republicans Likely to Uphold Veto (SCHIP)
Finally the Republicans in Congress show some responsible solidarity.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Shrugging off a barrage of political attacks, House Republicans are on track to hand President Bush a victory this week by upholding his veto of legislation expanding children's health coverage.
To understand why, consider Utah, where Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch is an outspoken supporter of the measure - and the state's two GOP House members oppose it.
Rep. Rob Bishop called the vetoed bill a "dumb idea" for relying on higher tobacco taxes to pay for insuring children, a provision he said would create a need for new smokers.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Shrugging off a barrage of political attacks, House Republicans are on track to hand President Bush a victory this week by upholding his veto of legislation expanding children's health coverage.
To understand why, consider Utah, where Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch is an outspoken supporter of the measure - and the state's two GOP House members oppose it.
Rep. Rob Bishop called the vetoed bill a "dumb idea" for relying on higher tobacco taxes to pay for insuring children, a provision he said would create a need for new smokers.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Phony Victims
Do these imbeciles actually believe this stuff cant be verified???
Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.
Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.
"Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"
A police source said Rhodes never filed a report and never claimed to be the victim of a mugging. Cops from Manhattan's 17th Precinct called her attorney, who told them Rhodes was not a victim of a crime, the source said.
DU ran with it.
Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.
Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.
"Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"
A police source said Rhodes never filed a report and never claimed to be the victim of a mugging. Cops from Manhattan's 17th Precinct called her attorney, who told them Rhodes was not a victim of a crime, the source said.
DU ran with it.
Clinton open to military action against Iran nukes
Hillary's trying to butch up, don't you believe it.
WASHINGTON - Describing her vision of foreign policy under a Hillary Rodham Clinton presidency, the Democratic presidential hopeful said she would stress diplomacy over military might to restore the world's trust in America, but would spare no option in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
In an article posted Monday on the Foreign Affairs journal Web site, Clinton wrote that the next president "will have a moment of opportunity to restore America's global standing and convince the world that America can lead once again."
The senator added that President George W. Bush's handling of Iraq has squandered the respect and trust of even America's closest allies, and that ending the U.S. war there would allow the next president to foster peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Think Jimmy Carter in a skirt.
WASHINGTON - Describing her vision of foreign policy under a Hillary Rodham Clinton presidency, the Democratic presidential hopeful said she would stress diplomacy over military might to restore the world's trust in America, but would spare no option in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
In an article posted Monday on the Foreign Affairs journal Web site, Clinton wrote that the next president "will have a moment of opportunity to restore America's global standing and convince the world that America can lead once again."
The senator added that President George W. Bush's handling of Iraq has squandered the respect and trust of even America's closest allies, and that ending the U.S. war there would allow the next president to foster peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Think Jimmy Carter in a skirt.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Romney gets joint drubbing
No more Rudy McRomney?
Sensing weakness, Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani have formed an unspoken alliance to try to torpedo Mitt Romney just as many voters are tuning in to the Republican presidential race.
“I'm not going to con you,” McCain said Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” when asked about Romney. “It’s important to be honest with people.”
The two are teaming up at a time when the heat is escalating in both nominating contests. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) started attacking Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) by name last week after resisting for months in the service of his “new kind of politics.”
I've always believed that Julie Annie and McLame had a lot more in common then one might suspect.
Sensing weakness, Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani have formed an unspoken alliance to try to torpedo Mitt Romney just as many voters are tuning in to the Republican presidential race.
“I'm not going to con you,” McCain said Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” when asked about Romney. “It’s important to be honest with people.”
The two are teaming up at a time when the heat is escalating in both nominating contests. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) started attacking Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) by name last week after resisting for months in the service of his “new kind of politics.”
I've always believed that Julie Annie and McLame had a lot more in common then one might suspect.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Nurses Did Not Wash Hands, Blamed for Deaths of 90 British Patients
Another socialized medicine success story....
Unclean and uncaring nurses in the U.K. are blamed may have spread superbugs that led the deaths of the patients they were charged with caring for.
The nurses are accused of not washing their hands and of leaving patients lying in soiled beds. They were cited in an official report blaming mismanagement for the deaths of 90 people who contracted a bacterial infection in hospitals in southern England.
The report into the spread of the highly contagious bacterium said nurses at three hospitals run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust were often too busy to wash their hands and left patients in their own excrement.
In recent years, Britain's superbug infection rates of bacteria like Clostridium difficile and MRSA have skyrocketed. In the 1990s, only 5 percent of in-hospital blood infections were from MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic. In past years, that figure has jumped to more than 40 percent. Critics blame the rise on overstretched hospitals that do not have enough money or capacity to catch superbug infections early.
Unclean and uncaring nurses in the U.K. are blamed may have spread superbugs that led the deaths of the patients they were charged with caring for.
The nurses are accused of not washing their hands and of leaving patients lying in soiled beds. They were cited in an official report blaming mismanagement for the deaths of 90 people who contracted a bacterial infection in hospitals in southern England.
The report into the spread of the highly contagious bacterium said nurses at three hospitals run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust were often too busy to wash their hands and left patients in their own excrement.
In recent years, Britain's superbug infection rates of bacteria like Clostridium difficile and MRSA have skyrocketed. In the 1990s, only 5 percent of in-hospital blood infections were from MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic. In past years, that figure has jumped to more than 40 percent. Critics blame the rise on overstretched hospitals that do not have enough money or capacity to catch superbug infections early.
Gore's Climate Theory Savaged
Gore and ridiculous are synonomous...
One of the world's leading meteorologists has described the theory that helped Al Gore win a share of the Nobel prize "ridiculous".
Dr William Gray, a pioneer in the science of seasonal hurricane forecasts, spoke to a packed lecture hall at UNC Charlotte and said humans are not responsible for the warming of the earth.
"We're brainwashing our children," said Gray, 78, a longtime professor at Colorado State University. "They're going to the Gore movie (An Inconvenient Truth) and being fed all this. It's ridiculous."
Gray, whose annual forecasts of the number of tropical storms and hurricanes are widely publicised, said instead that a natural cycle of ocean water temperatures - related to the amount of salt in ocean water - is responsible for the global warming that he acknowledges has taken place.
And this: Please, sir - Gore's got warming wrong
One of the world's leading meteorologists has described the theory that helped Al Gore win a share of the Nobel prize "ridiculous".
Dr William Gray, a pioneer in the science of seasonal hurricane forecasts, spoke to a packed lecture hall at UNC Charlotte and said humans are not responsible for the warming of the earth.
"We're brainwashing our children," said Gray, 78, a longtime professor at Colorado State University. "They're going to the Gore movie (An Inconvenient Truth) and being fed all this. It's ridiculous."
Gray, whose annual forecasts of the number of tropical storms and hurricanes are widely publicised, said instead that a natural cycle of ocean water temperatures - related to the amount of salt in ocean water - is responsible for the global warming that he acknowledges has taken place.
And this: Please, sir - Gore's got warming wrong
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Cherry Picking Sanchez
For those who heard blurbs of retired Gen Sanchez' speech, it is not as it was reported...
It seems that half of the message retired General Richard Sanchez intended to deliver missed the cut at most newsrooms, and with most bloggers. Typical among the reports of his blistering oration is the front-page treatment given by the Washington Post's Josh White, the entire first half of Snachez' speech -- found in its entirety here -- gets reduced to a single paragraph at the end of the story. Why? Well, it turns out that Sanchez considered his first target the media itself, which he blames for a large part of the problems he sees in Iraq.
Read the entire analysis here.
It seems that half of the message retired General Richard Sanchez intended to deliver missed the cut at most newsrooms, and with most bloggers. Typical among the reports of his blistering oration is the front-page treatment given by the Washington Post's Josh White, the entire first half of Snachez' speech -- found in its entirety here -- gets reduced to a single paragraph at the end of the story. Why? Well, it turns out that Sanchez considered his first target the media itself, which he blames for a large part of the problems he sees in Iraq.
Read the entire analysis here.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Manbearpig Speaks
Algore on Fox: "The polar ice cap will disappear in 23 years with catastrophic results".
Playing To Win
John Hawkins is one of the best in the business. It's interesting to see him coming out now for Fred Thompson.
If you're looking for a conservative candidate in 2008 and my former employer and first choice for GOP nominee, Duncan Hunter, isn't your cup of tea, then Fred Dalton Thompson may be your best bet. Here's a primer that will explain why that's the case.
Playing To Win Fred's a Tennessee native who "speaks Southern," has a very minimal amount of baggage, and he'd be almost guaranteed to carry every Southern state. Although most Republicans take those states for granted since Bush carried all of them in 2000 and 2004, it's entirely possible that some of the other top tier candidates, like New Yorker Rudy Giuliani and Massachusetts native Mitt Romney, could lose multiple Southern states to a Democratic nominee.
Additionally, in head-to-head polls against the Democratic contenders, Fred Thompson is defying conventional wisdom and putting up numbers that are roughly comparable to Rudy Guiliani's and far superior to Mitt Romney's in most states. Considering that Rudy has far higher name recognition than Fred Thompson, it seems likely that Thompson has the long-term potential to be a stronger candidate than Giuliani and Romney everywhere except the states that are probably too blue for the GOP to win any way, like New York and Vermont.
Read the whole thing.
Never at a loss for words, Jackie Mason has this to say about Fred
If you're looking for a conservative candidate in 2008 and my former employer and first choice for GOP nominee, Duncan Hunter, isn't your cup of tea, then Fred Dalton Thompson may be your best bet. Here's a primer that will explain why that's the case.
Playing To Win Fred's a Tennessee native who "speaks Southern," has a very minimal amount of baggage, and he'd be almost guaranteed to carry every Southern state. Although most Republicans take those states for granted since Bush carried all of them in 2000 and 2004, it's entirely possible that some of the other top tier candidates, like New Yorker Rudy Giuliani and Massachusetts native Mitt Romney, could lose multiple Southern states to a Democratic nominee.
Additionally, in head-to-head polls against the Democratic contenders, Fred Thompson is defying conventional wisdom and putting up numbers that are roughly comparable to Rudy Guiliani's and far superior to Mitt Romney's in most states. Considering that Rudy has far higher name recognition than Fred Thompson, it seems likely that Thompson has the long-term potential to be a stronger candidate than Giuliani and Romney everywhere except the states that are probably too blue for the GOP to win any way, like New York and Vermont.
Read the whole thing.
Never at a loss for words, Jackie Mason has this to say about Fred
Thursday, October 11, 2007
FactCheck.org: Fred Thompson Was Factually Accurate At Debate
From Sayanything:
The Oct. 9 debate in Dearborn, Michigan, was the first in which former Sen. Fred Thompson appeared with the full array of Republican rivals. That led Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to quip that the long string of GOP debates had become like the NBC television program “Law & Order”: “It has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.”
But Thompson made it through his first debate without making any false or misleading factual claims that we could detect, while former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani committed multiple factual gaffes, adding to a growing list of misstatements.
Somebody's lying here...
Romney and Giuliani swapped conflicting claims and accusations about their respective records on taxes and spending in Massachusetts and New York City.
Giuliani: I mean, the difference is that under Governor Romney, spending went up in Massachusetts, per capita, by 8 percent. Under me, spending went down by 7 percent.... I brought taxes down by 17 percent. Under him, taxes went up 11 percent per capita. I led; he lagged.
Romney: It's baloney. Mayor, you've got to check your facts. No taxes – I did not increase taxes in Massachusetts. I lowered taxes....
The Oct. 9 debate in Dearborn, Michigan, was the first in which former Sen. Fred Thompson appeared with the full array of Republican rivals. That led Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to quip that the long string of GOP debates had become like the NBC television program “Law & Order”: “It has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end.”
But Thompson made it through his first debate without making any false or misleading factual claims that we could detect, while former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani committed multiple factual gaffes, adding to a growing list of misstatements.
Somebody's lying here...
Romney and Giuliani swapped conflicting claims and accusations about their respective records on taxes and spending in Massachusetts and New York City.
Giuliani: I mean, the difference is that under Governor Romney, spending went up in Massachusetts, per capita, by 8 percent. Under me, spending went down by 7 percent.... I brought taxes down by 17 percent. Under him, taxes went up 11 percent per capita. I led; he lagged.
Romney: It's baloney. Mayor, you've got to check your facts. No taxes – I did not increase taxes in Massachusetts. I lowered taxes....
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Muslim "Barbie" Hits Shelves
Suicide belt not included...INDONESIA (Reuters) - The Indonesian mother who created the Salma Muslim doll hopes the toy will help to inspire the virtue of modesty among girls.
28-year-old Sukmawati Suryaman's Barbie-like creation is the latest must-have toy for girls in Indonesia. Head scarfs and ankle-length dresses are in - bikinis and short skirts are out.
Suryaman named the doll Salma, which is derived from the Arabic word "salamah", meaning peace.
Her features are distinctly European but Salma's association with the West stops there.
Skimpy clothing is out and Muslim dress is in.
Muhammad "Ken" Hassan doll will be available next year complete with chia beard and a rattan beating cane.
September 2007 Marks Record 49th Consecutive Month Of Job Growth
The greatest story never told...
More Than 8.1 Million Jobs Created Since August 2003 In Longest Continuous Months Of Job Growth On Record
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new jobs figures – 110,000 jobs created in September. September 2007 is the 49th consecutive month of job growth, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted expansion of the U.S. labor market. Significant upward revisions to employment in July and August mean employment growth has averaged 97,000 per month over the last three months. Since August 2003, our economy has created more than 8.1 million jobs, and the unemployment rate remains low at 4.7 percent.
More Than 8.1 Million Jobs Created Since August 2003 In Longest Continuous Months Of Job Growth On Record
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new jobs figures – 110,000 jobs created in September. September 2007 is the 49th consecutive month of job growth, setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted expansion of the U.S. labor market. Significant upward revisions to employment in July and August mean employment growth has averaged 97,000 per month over the last three months. Since August 2003, our economy has created more than 8.1 million jobs, and the unemployment rate remains low at 4.7 percent.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Republican Debate
Frankly all four top tier candidates did pretty well. Fred/Rooty tied for first. Mitt/McCain tied for second. Rest....who cares--although Sam Brownback gets a prize for the best "Smiling Bob" impersonation.
Clinton proposes 401(k)s, matching funds
First the $5000 baby bond, now this. Buying votes with your tax dollars appears to be her strategy for the WH.
Every citizen could get a 401(k) retirement account and up to $1,000 in annual matching funds from the government under a plan offered Tuesday by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
At a cost of $20 billion-$25 billion a year, the plan is Clinton's largest domestic proposal other than her plan for universal health insurance. The New York senator said it would be paid for by taxing estates worth more than $7 million per couple and would help narrow the gap between the rich and those who don't have enough savings for retirement.
At the same time, Clinton said she has given up another idea for a savings incentive — giving every baby born in the United States a $5,000 account to one day pay for college or a first home.
Every citizen could get a 401(k) retirement account and up to $1,000 in annual matching funds from the government under a plan offered Tuesday by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
At a cost of $20 billion-$25 billion a year, the plan is Clinton's largest domestic proposal other than her plan for universal health insurance. The New York senator said it would be paid for by taxing estates worth more than $7 million per couple and would help narrow the gap between the rich and those who don't have enough savings for retirement.
At the same time, Clinton said she has given up another idea for a savings incentive — giving every baby born in the United States a $5,000 account to one day pay for college or a first home.
Giuliani Still on Top as Republicans Prepare to Debate in Michigan
Interesting...
PRINCETON, NJ -- As the Republican presidential candidates square off in the latest in a series of debates -- this time in Dearborn, Mich. tonight -- new Gallup polling shows former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani continuing to hold onto his status as front-runner, 12 points ahead of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and 16 points ahead of John McCain. Thompson -- for whom this will be the first national debate since officially declaring his candidacy -- is still less well-known to Republicans nationwide than Giuliani and McCain, suggesting that the debate could be an important opportunity for him to fill in the blanks in the minds of GOP primary voters. The poll also finds former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee moving within two points of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, whose nationwide support among Republicans remains mired in single digits.
PRINCETON, NJ -- As the Republican presidential candidates square off in the latest in a series of debates -- this time in Dearborn, Mich. tonight -- new Gallup polling shows former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani continuing to hold onto his status as front-runner, 12 points ahead of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and 16 points ahead of John McCain. Thompson -- for whom this will be the first national debate since officially declaring his candidacy -- is still less well-known to Republicans nationwide than Giuliani and McCain, suggesting that the debate could be an important opportunity for him to fill in the blanks in the minds of GOP primary voters. The poll also finds former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee moving within two points of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, whose nationwide support among Republicans remains mired in single digits.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Tuesday's Thompson Debut
I don't think it can be overstated just how important Tuesday's debate is for all the top tier candidates most especially Fred Thompson. I expect the viewership to be high as it is the first encounter where all the major players will be present.
There is a general concensus that Thompson is the most consistent conservative of all the top tier candidates. What remains an open question is can he articulate those conservative principals in a manner that energizes the base of the Republican party. The other candidates will undoubtedly be gunning for him so he needs to be engaged, forceful without appearing the bully, and above the fray without appearing dismissive--no easy task.
If Thompson does well he will go a long way to cementing the nomination, if he does poorly he is in for a major uphill battle, possibly insurmountable. He will naturally stand out from the rest due to his unique style of discourse. The million dollar question is will he come off as knowledgable, thoughtful and steady or tired, flippant and disengaged. We will have our answer on Tuesday.
There is a general concensus that Thompson is the most consistent conservative of all the top tier candidates. What remains an open question is can he articulate those conservative principals in a manner that energizes the base of the Republican party. The other candidates will undoubtedly be gunning for him so he needs to be engaged, forceful without appearing the bully, and above the fray without appearing dismissive--no easy task.
If Thompson does well he will go a long way to cementing the nomination, if he does poorly he is in for a major uphill battle, possibly insurmountable. He will naturally stand out from the rest due to his unique style of discourse. The million dollar question is will he come off as knowledgable, thoughtful and steady or tired, flippant and disengaged. We will have our answer on Tuesday.
Disgraced Sandy Berger joins Hillary Clinton campaign
Sandy Berger, who stole highly classified terrorism documents from the National Archives, destroyed them and lied to investigators, is now an adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Berger, who was fired from John Kerry’s presidential campaign when the scandal broke in 2004, has assumed a similar role in Clinton’s campaign, even though his security clearance has been suspended until September 2008. This is raising eyebrows even among Clinton’s admirers.
“It shows poor judgment and a lack of regard for Berger’s serious misdeeds,” said law professor Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University, who nonetheless called Clinton “by far the most impressive candidate in the Democratic field.”
Poor judgement yes, but even more than that it illustrates an insolent arrogance peculiar to the Democrats and particularly anyone with the last name of Clinton.
Berger, who was fired from John Kerry’s presidential campaign when the scandal broke in 2004, has assumed a similar role in Clinton’s campaign, even though his security clearance has been suspended until September 2008. This is raising eyebrows even among Clinton’s admirers.
“It shows poor judgment and a lack of regard for Berger’s serious misdeeds,” said law professor Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University, who nonetheless called Clinton “by far the most impressive candidate in the Democratic field.”
Poor judgement yes, but even more than that it illustrates an insolent arrogance peculiar to the Democrats and particularly anyone with the last name of Clinton.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Good News is No News
As CNN's Howard Kurtz accurately pointed out on Sunday's "Reliable Sources," few media outlets seemed at all interested in giving much attention to the great news out of Iraq last week regarding September's sharp decline in casualties.
To Kurtz's obvious frustration, his guests - Robin Wright of the Washington Post and Barbara Starr of CNN - both supported the press burying this extremely positive announcement.
I kid you not.
After introducing the subject, Kurtz asked, "Robin Wright, should that decline in Iraq casualties have gotten more media attention?"
This was Wright's amazing answer:
Not necessarily. The fact is we're at the beginning of a trend -- and it's not even sure that it is a trend yet. There is also an enormous dispute over how to count the numbers. There are different kinds of deaths in Iraq.
If the casualty rate would have doubled instead of halved do you think it would have been heavily reported?
To Kurtz's obvious frustration, his guests - Robin Wright of the Washington Post and Barbara Starr of CNN - both supported the press burying this extremely positive announcement.
I kid you not.
After introducing the subject, Kurtz asked, "Robin Wright, should that decline in Iraq casualties have gotten more media attention?"
This was Wright's amazing answer:
Not necessarily. The fact is we're at the beginning of a trend -- and it's not even sure that it is a trend yet. There is also an enormous dispute over how to count the numbers. There are different kinds of deaths in Iraq.
If the casualty rate would have doubled instead of halved do you think it would have been heavily reported?
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Fred Thompson Leads Rudy Giuliani 27% to 19% in Colorado.
Thompson leading by this much in purple state like Colorado is surprising.
DENVER (AP) — Fred Thompson has a slight lead over Republican rival Rudy Giuliani, and Hillary Clinton has an apparent edge over fellow Democrats John Edwards and Barack Obama in the race in Colorado for the White House, according to a poll released Friday.
The Ciruli Associates Poll suggested Thompson had 27 percent support among Republicans to 19 percent for Giuliani and 11 percent for John McCain.
Some 29 percent of Democrats said they supported Clinton, compared to 23 percent each for Edwards and Obama, the poll said. Remaining candidates, including Republican Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, were in the single digits.
DENVER (AP) — Fred Thompson has a slight lead over Republican rival Rudy Giuliani, and Hillary Clinton has an apparent edge over fellow Democrats John Edwards and Barack Obama in the race in Colorado for the White House, according to a poll released Friday.
The Ciruli Associates Poll suggested Thompson had 27 percent support among Republicans to 19 percent for Giuliani and 11 percent for John McCain.
Some 29 percent of Democrats said they supported Clinton, compared to 23 percent each for Edwards and Obama, the poll said. Remaining candidates, including Republican Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, were in the single digits.
Phony Soldiers
The way he told it, David McClanahan, of Fort Worth, Texas, had been wounded in combat three times in Iraq, awarded three Silver Stars and even nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor.Today, McClanahan, a nursing student at West Texas A&M, appeared in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, on charges he made up his hero's tale. McClanahan did not enter a plea and was released on bond after being advised of the charges against him. The arraignment is now scheduled for June 13.
More phony soldiers: Atlantic City Mayor, Phony Green Beret, Under Investigation... but a Democrat?
And another
Friday, October 05, 2007
Sanctuary State?
Feds Sue Illinois for Flouting Immigration Law:
They’re taking the scofflaws to court. This time, it’s not just a meat-packing plant or a construction contractor, or some small business hiring illegal aliens. This time, it’s the whole blooming state of Illinois, which has one of the worst records of looking the other way when illegals take jobs.
Taking the amnesty approach to a new low, Illinois passed a law banning employers from participating in the Basic Pilot Program (aka E-Verify), the successful federal system used to track down phony Social Security numbers and thus detect illegal workers.
Other states, such as Arizona, are mandating that employers use this system. Going the other way is Illinois, the so-called “Land of Lincoln” that henceforth shall be called the “Land of Winkin’” — winking at illegal workers, that is.
Speaking from personal experience I know Illinois has created a pi$$ poor business environment by levying both confiscatory taxation and a never ending litany of regulations and mandates. It looks as though the only business friendly program they are willing to embrace is unfettered illegal employment.
They’re taking the scofflaws to court. This time, it’s not just a meat-packing plant or a construction contractor, or some small business hiring illegal aliens. This time, it’s the whole blooming state of Illinois, which has one of the worst records of looking the other way when illegals take jobs.
Taking the amnesty approach to a new low, Illinois passed a law banning employers from participating in the Basic Pilot Program (aka E-Verify), the successful federal system used to track down phony Social Security numbers and thus detect illegal workers.
Other states, such as Arizona, are mandating that employers use this system. Going the other way is Illinois, the so-called “Land of Lincoln” that henceforth shall be called the “Land of Winkin’” — winking at illegal workers, that is.
Speaking from personal experience I know Illinois has created a pi$$ poor business environment by levying both confiscatory taxation and a never ending litany of regulations and mandates. It looks as though the only business friendly program they are willing to embrace is unfettered illegal employment.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
All is Not Rosy in Romneyland
Via NRO
From Team Romney:
Today, Romney for President announced it is expected to report over $18 million in total receipts for the Third Quarter, ending September 30, 2007. The Campaign again opted to raise no general election funds and is expected to report $10 million in primary contributions. The total receipts include Governor Romney's loan of $8.5 million.
Two other key points:
Cash On Hand: $9 Million
Total Number Of Donors So Far This Year: More Than 100,000 (23,000 New Donors In The Third Quarter)
UPDATE: Romney's rivals are quickly pointing out that without his own donation, he would have $500,000 cash on hand. Yeah, and if he didn't have a personal fortune, he'd be in really tough shape. But he does have a personal fortune, and has dipped in plenty, and has plenty more to spend if he feels he needs it. In other words, all of these fundraising numbers are kind of moot for Romney, as he could get zero donations and still have more than enough cash to run a serious campaign.
Romney has 100,000 donors in 9 months, Thompson has 70,000 donors in 3 weeks. One thing the author fails to aknowledge--just as important as the funds thelselves donors and fundraising numbers are an indication of overall strength and support. Just over 10,000 new donors per month should be worrisome.
Update: Thompson Raises $9.3M in Summer Quarter
His campaign said he had 80,000 donors, 22,000 of them contributing through the Internet.
From Team Romney:
Today, Romney for President announced it is expected to report over $18 million in total receipts for the Third Quarter, ending September 30, 2007. The Campaign again opted to raise no general election funds and is expected to report $10 million in primary contributions. The total receipts include Governor Romney's loan of $8.5 million.
Two other key points:
Cash On Hand: $9 Million
Total Number Of Donors So Far This Year: More Than 100,000 (23,000 New Donors In The Third Quarter)
UPDATE: Romney's rivals are quickly pointing out that without his own donation, he would have $500,000 cash on hand. Yeah, and if he didn't have a personal fortune, he'd be in really tough shape. But he does have a personal fortune, and has dipped in plenty, and has plenty more to spend if he feels he needs it. In other words, all of these fundraising numbers are kind of moot for Romney, as he could get zero donations and still have more than enough cash to run a serious campaign.
Romney has 100,000 donors in 9 months, Thompson has 70,000 donors in 3 weeks. One thing the author fails to aknowledge--just as important as the funds thelselves donors and fundraising numbers are an indication of overall strength and support. Just over 10,000 new donors per month should be worrisome.
Update: Thompson Raises $9.3M in Summer Quarter
His campaign said he had 80,000 donors, 22,000 of them contributing through the Internet.
27% of Republicans Would Vote for Pro-Life Third Party Instead of Giuliani
HMMMMM...
If Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination and a third party campaign is backed by Christian conservative leaders, 27% of Republican voters say they’d vote for the third party option rather than Giuliani. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that a three-way race with Hillary Clinton would end up with the former First Lady getting 46% of the vote, Giuliani with 30% and the third-party option picking up 14%. In head-to-head match-ups with Clinton, Giuliani is much more competitive.
Over this past weekend, several Christian conservative leaders indicated they might back a pro-life, third-party, candidate if Giuliani wins the nomination.
The latest poll highlights the potential challenges for Giuliani, but the numbers must be considered in context. A generic third-party candidate may attract 14% of the vote in the abstract at this time. However, if a specific candidate is chosen, that person would likely attract less support due to a variety of factors. Almost all third party candidates poll higher earlier in a campaign and their numbers diminish as election day approaches. Ultimately, of course, some Republicans would have to face the question of whether to vote for Giuliani or help elect a Democrat.
If Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination and a third party campaign is backed by Christian conservative leaders, 27% of Republican voters say they’d vote for the third party option rather than Giuliani. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that a three-way race with Hillary Clinton would end up with the former First Lady getting 46% of the vote, Giuliani with 30% and the third-party option picking up 14%. In head-to-head match-ups with Clinton, Giuliani is much more competitive.
Over this past weekend, several Christian conservative leaders indicated they might back a pro-life, third-party, candidate if Giuliani wins the nomination.
The latest poll highlights the potential challenges for Giuliani, but the numbers must be considered in context. A generic third-party candidate may attract 14% of the vote in the abstract at this time. However, if a specific candidate is chosen, that person would likely attract less support due to a variety of factors. Almost all third party candidates poll higher earlier in a campaign and their numbers diminish as election day approaches. Ultimately, of course, some Republicans would have to face the question of whether to vote for Giuliani or help elect a Democrat.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Fred Thompson Only Candidate to Back Limbaugh
A show of guts has been pretty rare commodity from any of the Republican Presidential candidates so far in the campaign. It's nice to see a display of said from Fred Thompson....
Way to go Fred. Rush called it a “A rare act of courage” and he's right.
Mensnewsdaily has posted this poll:
Who inspires you more?
a. The United States Congress
b. The United States Senate
c. Rush Limbaugh
d. None of the above
If you are in the military a have a .mil account please participate. I think we all know roughly what the results will be, the only question is how lopsided.
Update: Results--Rush Limbaugh 86%
None of the above 12%
The United States Senate 1%
The United States Congress 1%
Congressional Democrats are trying to divert attention from insulting our military leader in Iraq and pandering to the loony left by attacking Rush Limbaugh. He is one of the strongest supporters of our troops, yet Democrats claim he is not being strong enough. I wonder who General Petraeus and his troops think is most supportive?
Way to go Fred. Rush called it a “A rare act of courage” and he's right.
Mensnewsdaily has posted this poll:
Who inspires you more?
a. The United States Congress
b. The United States Senate
c. Rush Limbaugh
d. None of the above
If you are in the military a have a .mil account please participate. I think we all know roughly what the results will be, the only question is how lopsided.
Update: Results--Rush Limbaugh 86%
None of the above 12%
The United States Senate 1%
The United States Congress 1%
Al Qaeda in Iraq operative killed near Syrian border sheds light on foreign influence
Fight them over there or fight them over here has never been truer.
The US military has long maintained that al Qaeda in Iraq is led by foreign al Qaeda. Over the past year, senior al Qaeda operatives such as Omar Farouq, one of Osama bin Laden's lieutenants and al Qaeda's operations chief in Southeast Asia, and Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's senior deputies who was "personally chosen by bin Laden to monitor al Qaeda operations in Iraq," have been captured inside Iraq. Al Qaeda in Iraq's leader, Abu Ayyub al Masri, is an Egyptian selected by al Qaeda Central. Al Masri was a close aide to Ayman al Zawahiri, and was a member of Zawahiri's Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Its prior leader, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, was an experienced al Qaeda operative of Jordanian origin. Much of al Qaeda in Iraq's senior leadership is of foreign origin.
In a press conference today, Major General Kevin Bergner, the spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq, provided further evidence of al Qaeda in Iraq's foreign influence. Bergner highlighted the arrest "Muthanna," al Qaeda's the emir of the Iraq/Syrian border. "During this operation, we also captured multiple documents and electronic files that provided insight into al Qaeda’s foreign terrorist operations, not only in Iraq but throughout the region," Bergner said. "They detail the larger al-Qaeda effort to organize, coordinate, and transport foreign terrorists into Iraq and other places."
"Muthanna was the emir of Iraq and Syrian border area and he was a key facility of the movement of foreign terrorists once they crossed into Iraq from Syria," Bergner said. "He worked closely with Syrian-based al Qaeda foreign terrorist facilitators."
Bergner said several documents were found in Muthanna's custody, including a list of 500 al Qaeda fighters from "a range of foreign countries that included Libya, Morocco, Syria, Algeria, Oman, Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom."
In addition this document several copies of the latest DNC talking points were also discovered.
The US military has long maintained that al Qaeda in Iraq is led by foreign al Qaeda. Over the past year, senior al Qaeda operatives such as Omar Farouq, one of Osama bin Laden's lieutenants and al Qaeda's operations chief in Southeast Asia, and Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, one of bin Laden's senior deputies who was "personally chosen by bin Laden to monitor al Qaeda operations in Iraq," have been captured inside Iraq. Al Qaeda in Iraq's leader, Abu Ayyub al Masri, is an Egyptian selected by al Qaeda Central. Al Masri was a close aide to Ayman al Zawahiri, and was a member of Zawahiri's Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Its prior leader, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, was an experienced al Qaeda operative of Jordanian origin. Much of al Qaeda in Iraq's senior leadership is of foreign origin.
In a press conference today, Major General Kevin Bergner, the spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq, provided further evidence of al Qaeda in Iraq's foreign influence. Bergner highlighted the arrest "Muthanna," al Qaeda's the emir of the Iraq/Syrian border. "During this operation, we also captured multiple documents and electronic files that provided insight into al Qaeda’s foreign terrorist operations, not only in Iraq but throughout the region," Bergner said. "They detail the larger al-Qaeda effort to organize, coordinate, and transport foreign terrorists into Iraq and other places."
"Muthanna was the emir of Iraq and Syrian border area and he was a key facility of the movement of foreign terrorists once they crossed into Iraq from Syria," Bergner said. "He worked closely with Syrian-based al Qaeda foreign terrorist facilitators."
Bergner said several documents were found in Muthanna's custody, including a list of 500 al Qaeda fighters from "a range of foreign countries that included Libya, Morocco, Syria, Algeria, Oman, Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom."
In addition this document several copies of the latest DNC talking points were also discovered.
U.S. Data Show Nearly 19,000 Iraq Kills
Amazing what can be accomplished when we take the gloves off.
American and coalition troops have reported killing and capturing more suspected insurgents in the first half of 2007 than in any other similar period of the Iraq war, while military officials said so-called "body count" reports are meant to give "scale" to the fight.
Last week, USA Today reported that since June 2003, the U.S. military in Iraq has kept a count of insurgents killed, injured and detained. Those figures were later released by the military to Stars and Stripes.
Through August 2007, those figures show, 18,832 suspected insurgents had been reported killed, 5,196 injured and 119,752 arrested by U.S. and coalition forces.
In 2007, the figures show, coalition troops arrested an average of around 100 suspected insurgents each day. Military officials have said both the increased casualty and capture figures are attributed in part to the "surge" and more aggressive tactics by units throughout the country.
American and coalition troops have reported killing and capturing more suspected insurgents in the first half of 2007 than in any other similar period of the Iraq war, while military officials said so-called "body count" reports are meant to give "scale" to the fight.
Last week, USA Today reported that since June 2003, the U.S. military in Iraq has kept a count of insurgents killed, injured and detained. Those figures were later released by the military to Stars and Stripes.
Through August 2007, those figures show, 18,832 suspected insurgents had been reported killed, 5,196 injured and 119,752 arrested by U.S. and coalition forces.
In 2007, the figures show, coalition troops arrested an average of around 100 suspected insurgents each day. Military officials have said both the increased casualty and capture figures are attributed in part to the "surge" and more aggressive tactics by units throughout the country.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
An In Depth Look at Who Votes & Decides GOP Primary
Very interesting...
Rasmussen Reports polling has recently shown Fred Thompson leading the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination while most other polls place Rudy Giuliani in the lead and Thompson in second.
The difference is primarily the result of the fact that Rasmussen screens for Likely Primary Voters while others do not. Understanding this difference leads one to conclude that the conventional wisdom is currently overestimating Giuliani’s strength as a potential nominee.
For example, the latest Gallup Poll of adults shows Rudy Giuliani leading Thompson by eight percentage points, 30% to 22%. That poll also shows John McCain in third place with 18% of the vote, well ahead of Mitt Romney at 7%.
But, of course, we know that all adults don’t show and vote… especially in a party primary. When Gallup considers the results “Among Republicans Who are Extremely Likely to Vote in the Primary/Caucus in Their State,” Giuliani’s lead shrinks to three points, 29% to 26%.
It gets even more interesting when Gallup combines their last four surveys and takes a look at the more informed voters. Gallup says “Indeed, among Republicans who have an opinion of the four leading candidates -- less than half the party base -- the ballot looks very different, with Thompson at 33% support, Giuliani at 26%, Romney at 15%, and McCain at 10%.”
So this basically tells us that the informed portion of the electorate that are likely to vote in the Republican primary are strongly for Thompson.
Also this: Romney's 10,000 TV ads
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Over the past few days, two presidential candidates marked a “first” in their competing bids for the Republican presidential nomination.
For Arizona Sen. John McCain, the weekend marked the first time he took to the airwaves to tout his candidacy with an ad buy in New Hampshire. But it is the milestone former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney just passed that is head shaking.
Romney is the first presidential candidate to run at least 10,000 political ads this election cycle, according to an analysis conducted by TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG, CNN’s consultant on political advertising spending. And there is no White House hopeful in sight to catch up to him anytime soon – unless a candidate immediately opens up the campaign war chest and begins to saturate the airwaves.
So much money, so little to show for it.
Rasmussen Reports polling has recently shown Fred Thompson leading the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination while most other polls place Rudy Giuliani in the lead and Thompson in second.
The difference is primarily the result of the fact that Rasmussen screens for Likely Primary Voters while others do not. Understanding this difference leads one to conclude that the conventional wisdom is currently overestimating Giuliani’s strength as a potential nominee.
For example, the latest Gallup Poll of adults shows Rudy Giuliani leading Thompson by eight percentage points, 30% to 22%. That poll also shows John McCain in third place with 18% of the vote, well ahead of Mitt Romney at 7%.
But, of course, we know that all adults don’t show and vote… especially in a party primary. When Gallup considers the results “Among Republicans Who are Extremely Likely to Vote in the Primary/Caucus in Their State,” Giuliani’s lead shrinks to three points, 29% to 26%.
It gets even more interesting when Gallup combines their last four surveys and takes a look at the more informed voters. Gallup says “Indeed, among Republicans who have an opinion of the four leading candidates -- less than half the party base -- the ballot looks very different, with Thompson at 33% support, Giuliani at 26%, Romney at 15%, and McCain at 10%.”
So this basically tells us that the informed portion of the electorate that are likely to vote in the Republican primary are strongly for Thompson.
Also this: Romney's 10,000 TV ads
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Over the past few days, two presidential candidates marked a “first” in their competing bids for the Republican presidential nomination.
For Arizona Sen. John McCain, the weekend marked the first time he took to the airwaves to tout his candidacy with an ad buy in New Hampshire. But it is the milestone former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney just passed that is head shaking.
Romney is the first presidential candidate to run at least 10,000 political ads this election cycle, according to an analysis conducted by TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG, CNN’s consultant on political advertising spending. And there is no White House hopeful in sight to catch up to him anytime soon – unless a candidate immediately opens up the campaign war chest and begins to saturate the airwaves.
So much money, so little to show for it.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Last letter from doomed Al Qaida chief: 'We are so desperate for your help'
Help us Obi Wan Pelosi, you're our only hope....
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is eliminating Al Qaida's chain of command in Iraq.
Officials said several leading aides to Al Qaida network chief Abu Ayoub Al Masri have been killed by the U.S.-led coalition. They said two out of the four foreign aides of Al Masri remain alive.
On Sept. 25, the U.S. military killed an Al Qaida chief deemed responsible for transporting foreign operatives to Iraq. The Al Qaida commander, identified as Abu Osama Al Tunisi, was killed in a U.S. air strike as he met his colleagues in Musayib, about 60 kilometers south of Baghdad.
Shortly before he died, Al Tunisi wrote a letter that warned of a threat to Al Qaida operations in Karkh. The lettter, found by the U.S. military, sought guidance from Al Qaida leaders amid coalition operations that hampered Al Tunisi's network.
"We are so desperate for your help," the letter read.
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is eliminating Al Qaida's chain of command in Iraq.
Officials said several leading aides to Al Qaida network chief Abu Ayoub Al Masri have been killed by the U.S.-led coalition. They said two out of the four foreign aides of Al Masri remain alive.
On Sept. 25, the U.S. military killed an Al Qaida chief deemed responsible for transporting foreign operatives to Iraq. The Al Qaida commander, identified as Abu Osama Al Tunisi, was killed in a U.S. air strike as he met his colleagues in Musayib, about 60 kilometers south of Baghdad.
Shortly before he died, Al Tunisi wrote a letter that warned of a threat to Al Qaida operations in Karkh. The lettter, found by the U.S. military, sought guidance from Al Qaida leaders amid coalition operations that hampered Al Tunisi's network.
"We are so desperate for your help," the letter read.
Iraqi civilian deaths down by half in September
How can this be? The Democrat leadership and MoveOn.org has told us for months that the surege is a failure.
BAGHDAD (AFP) - At least 840 civilians were killed in Iraq in September, less than half the toll of the previous month, according to figures compiled by three Iraqi ministries and seen by AFP on Monday.
The monthly toll, which coincides with a drop in September in the number of US soldiers killed in a month, is the lowest this year.
And also this:
U.S. military death toll down in Iraq....lowest in 14 months.
BAGHDAD (AFP) - At least 840 civilians were killed in Iraq in September, less than half the toll of the previous month, according to figures compiled by three Iraqi ministries and seen by AFP on Monday.
The monthly toll, which coincides with a drop in September in the number of US soldiers killed in a month, is the lowest this year.
And also this:
U.S. military death toll down in Iraq....lowest in 14 months.
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