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.