Well what do you know, the people of Iraq are far more optimistic about their present and future circumstance than we are. Someone needs to get over there and convince them they can't believe their their lying eyes.
Dec. 12, 2005 — Surprising levels of optimism prevail in Iraq with living conditions improved, security more a national worry than a local one, and expectations for the future high. But views of the country's situation overall are far less positive, and there are vast differences in views among Iraqi groups — a study in contrasts between increasingly disaffected Sunni areas and vastly more positive Shiite and Kurdish provinces.
An ABC News poll in Iraq, conducted with Time magazine and other media partners, includes some remarkable results: Despite the daily violence there, most living conditions are rated positively, seven in 10 Iraqis say their own lives are going well, and nearly two-thirds expect things to improve in the year ahead.
Surprisingly, given the insurgents' attacks on Iraqi civilians, more than six in 10 Iraqis feel very safe in their own neighborhoods, up sharply from just 40 percent in a poll in June 2004. And 61 percent say local security is good — up from 49 percent in the first ABC News poll in Iraq in February 2004.
Nonetheless, nationally, security is seen as the most pressing problem by far; 57 percent identify it as the country's top priority. Economic improvements are helping the public mood.
Average household incomes have soared by 60 percent in the last 20 months (to $263 a month), 70 percent of Iraqis rate their own economic situation positively, and consumer goods are sweeping the country. In early 2004, 6 percent of Iraqi households had cell phones; now it's 62 percent. Ownership of satellite dishes has nearly tripled, and many more families now own air conditioners (58 percent, up from 44 percent), cars, washing machines and kitchen appliances.
There are positive political signs as well. Three-quarters of Iraqis express confidence in the national elections being held this week, 70 percent approve of the new constitution, and 70 percent — including most people in Sunni and Shiite areas alike — want Iraq to remain a unified country.
"Surprising levels of optimism"??? Only the EM and the left are surprised because they are the only ones believing their own bullsh!t. The majority of us in the know aren't a bit suprised by these numbers having never bought into the erroneous propaganda.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
They Finally are Beginning to Get It
Iraqi insurgents urge Sunnis to vote, warn Zarqawi
FALLUJA/RAMADI Iraq (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein loyalists who violently opposed January elections have made an about-face as Thursday's polls near, urging fellow Sunni Arabs to vote and warning al Qaeda militants not to attack.
In a move unthinkable in the bloody run-up to the last election, guerrillas in the western insurgent heartland of Anbar province say they are even prepared to protect voting stations from fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.
Graffiti calling for holy war is now hard to find.
Instead, election campaign posters dominate buildings in the rebel strongholds of Ramadi and nearby Falluja, where Sunnis staged a boycott or were too scared to vote last time around.
"We want to see a nationalist government that will have a balance of interests. So our Sunni brothers will be safe when they vote," said Falluja resident Ali Mahmoud, a former army officer and rocket specialist under Saddam's Baath party.
"Sunnis should vote to make political gains. We have sent leaflets telling al Qaeda that they will face us if they attack voters."
This is the most significant development in Iraq since the first election and it's the beginning of the end for the terrorists. The only meaningful ally these murderous scumbags have is turning their back on them and joining the political process. In the very near future al Qaida will become so isolated and marginalized in Iraq as to be completely irrelevant.
FALLUJA/RAMADI Iraq (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein loyalists who violently opposed January elections have made an about-face as Thursday's polls near, urging fellow Sunni Arabs to vote and warning al Qaeda militants not to attack.
In a move unthinkable in the bloody run-up to the last election, guerrillas in the western insurgent heartland of Anbar province say they are even prepared to protect voting stations from fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.
Graffiti calling for holy war is now hard to find.
Instead, election campaign posters dominate buildings in the rebel strongholds of Ramadi and nearby Falluja, where Sunnis staged a boycott or were too scared to vote last time around.
"We want to see a nationalist government that will have a balance of interests. So our Sunni brothers will be safe when they vote," said Falluja resident Ali Mahmoud, a former army officer and rocket specialist under Saddam's Baath party.
"Sunnis should vote to make political gains. We have sent leaflets telling al Qaeda that they will face us if they attack voters."
This is the most significant development in Iraq since the first election and it's the beginning of the end for the terrorists. The only meaningful ally these murderous scumbags have is turning their back on them and joining the political process. In the very near future al Qaida will become so isolated and marginalized in Iraq as to be completely irrelevant.
SENATOR CALLS ON BUSH TO TAKE DOWN ATTACK AD
Today, Senator Daniel Inouye, the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his service in World War II, released the following statement:"
As a Veteran of World War II, I know what it’s like to fight a war and put your life on the line every day. I also know what it takes to win a war, and I know that politics and an attack machine like the President’s plays no part in it.
"The Republican Party’s latest ad is a shameful and disgusting attempt to distract the American people from the problems in Iraq. It may improve the President’s political fortunes, but the American people and our troops will pay the price. I hope that President Bush realizes how shameful it is to play politics when what we really need is leadership, and that he will direct his Party to take down this ad immediately."
BWAAAAAHAHAHAHA
As a Veteran of World War II, I know what it’s like to fight a war and put your life on the line every day. I also know what it takes to win a war, and I know that politics and an attack machine like the President’s plays no part in it.
"The Republican Party’s latest ad is a shameful and disgusting attempt to distract the American people from the problems in Iraq. It may improve the President’s political fortunes, but the American people and our troops will pay the price. I hope that President Bush realizes how shameful it is to play politics when what we really need is leadership, and that he will direct his Party to take down this ad immediately."
BWAAAAAHAHAHAHA
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Quote of the Day
Bob Beckel on Fox News discussing Howard Dean's over the top rhetoric......
"Howard's problem is he's never had an unspoken thought."
"Howard's problem is he's never had an unspoken thought."
Voodoo Economics?
Our friend Tom Blumer at Bizzyblog posted this terrific graph that says it all. He comments: "What the president’s father called “voodoo economics” IS almost like magic, isn’t it?"
Yep Tom, it sure is.
Mother thy name is Bernadette
There is no sacrifice greater or more divine than laying ones life down for another. In this case, a mother for her child.
Mother's life gift to unborn baby
Adam Taylor with Nathan who was born fit and healthyTributes have been paid to a Teesside mother who sacrificed her own life to save that of her unborn baby.
Bernadette Mimura, 37, from Ingleby Barwick, was diagnosed with breast cancer one month into her pregnancy.
Doctors urged her to try life-saving drugs, but this would have meant terminating the pregnancy.
Ms Mimura refused the drugs and gave birth to her fit and healthy baby, but lived just long enough to see her son, Nathan, baptised.
Ms Mimura's partner Adam Taylor, 33, said doctors urged her to try life-saving drugs, but she would not give up on her baby.
Instead, she was given a mild form of chemotherapy to suppress the illness while she carried Nathan.
He was born two months premature after her calcium levels shot up and doctors induced him.
Mother's life gift to unborn baby
Adam Taylor with Nathan who was born fit and healthyTributes have been paid to a Teesside mother who sacrificed her own life to save that of her unborn baby.
Bernadette Mimura, 37, from Ingleby Barwick, was diagnosed with breast cancer one month into her pregnancy.
Doctors urged her to try life-saving drugs, but this would have meant terminating the pregnancy.
Ms Mimura refused the drugs and gave birth to her fit and healthy baby, but lived just long enough to see her son, Nathan, baptised.
Ms Mimura's partner Adam Taylor, 33, said doctors urged her to try life-saving drugs, but she would not give up on her baby.
Instead, she was given a mild form of chemotherapy to suppress the illness while she carried Nathan.
He was born two months premature after her calcium levels shot up and doctors induced him.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Al-Qaida figure arrested in Ramadi
Another good grab.....
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The American military Friday arrested a high-ranking member of al-Qaida in Iraq in the town of Ramadi, the U.S. Marines said.
Amir Khalaf Fanus, also known in the Ramadi area as "the Butcher," was wanted for criminal activities including murder and kidnapping, Capt. Jeffrey S. Pool said in a statement from the town, located 70 miles west of Baghdad.
Fanus was No. 3 on a most-wanted list for Ramadi drawn up by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division.
"He is the highest ranking al-Qaida in Iraq member to be turned into Iraqi and U.S. officials by local citizens," Pool said. "His capture is another indication that the local citizens tire of the insurgents' presence within their community."
Jawa has the Centcom report.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The American military Friday arrested a high-ranking member of al-Qaida in Iraq in the town of Ramadi, the U.S. Marines said.
Amir Khalaf Fanus, also known in the Ramadi area as "the Butcher," was wanted for criminal activities including murder and kidnapping, Capt. Jeffrey S. Pool said in a statement from the town, located 70 miles west of Baghdad.
Fanus was No. 3 on a most-wanted list for Ramadi drawn up by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division.
"He is the highest ranking al-Qaida in Iraq member to be turned into Iraqi and U.S. officials by local citizens," Pool said. "His capture is another indication that the local citizens tire of the insurgents' presence within their community."
Jawa has the Centcom report.
Bill Clinton to Surprise U.N. Conference
Memo to Bill Clinton: "You are no longer President so STFU"!
MONTREAL - A contentious U.N. climate conference entered its final day Friday with the long-term future undecided in the fight against global warming, and with a surprise visitor on tap to rally the "pro-Kyoto" forces.
Bill Clinton, who as president championed the Kyoto Protocol clamping controls on "greenhouse gases," was scheduled to speak at the conference Friday afternoon - in an unofficial capacity but potentially at a critical point in backroom talks involving the U.S. delegation.
The U.S. envoys, representing a Bush administration that renounced the Kyoto pact, were said to be displeased by the 11th-hour surprise.
"They haven't protested formally, but they're annoyed," an official in the Canadian government, the conference host, said of the U.S. delegates. "They're not infuriated, but they're not thrilled."
He had his chance to get this passed when he was President and it was soundly defeated 98-0 in the Senate. An administration duly elected by the people now has the reigns and it's way past time for him to bugger off.
MONTREAL - A contentious U.N. climate conference entered its final day Friday with the long-term future undecided in the fight against global warming, and with a surprise visitor on tap to rally the "pro-Kyoto" forces.
Bill Clinton, who as president championed the Kyoto Protocol clamping controls on "greenhouse gases," was scheduled to speak at the conference Friday afternoon - in an unofficial capacity but potentially at a critical point in backroom talks involving the U.S. delegation.
The U.S. envoys, representing a Bush administration that renounced the Kyoto pact, were said to be displeased by the 11th-hour surprise.
"They haven't protested formally, but they're annoyed," an official in the Canadian government, the conference host, said of the U.S. delegates. "They're not infuriated, but they're not thrilled."
He had his chance to get this passed when he was President and it was soundly defeated 98-0 in the Senate. An administration duly elected by the people now has the reigns and it's way past time for him to bugger off.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
House Passes Tax Cut Retaining Lower Rates
EXCELLENT, I frankly thought the vote might be a bit closer but it appears that the leadership kept the RINOs at bay.
WASHINGTON - The house voted Thursday to preserve tax cuts for investors through the rest of the decade, safeguarding the centerpiece of the Republican tax agenda in a $56 billion package of tax breaks.
The bill, passed 234-197 along mostly party lines, would keep the 15 percent top tax rate for capital gains and dividends in place in 2009 and 2010, two years after their scheduled disappearance at the end of 2008.
Republicans said tax cuts championed by President Bush have revved up a sluggish economy, and Treasury Secretary John Snow praised the bill's passage, saying, "It would encourage investment and innovation — the lifeblood of the American economy."
Democrats disagreed and said the tax cuts for investment income, and much of the GOP's economic agenda, exacerbated budget deficits and ignored average workers.
Au Contraire butt faced ones, it's economy stimulating employment insurance.
WASHINGTON - The house voted Thursday to preserve tax cuts for investors through the rest of the decade, safeguarding the centerpiece of the Republican tax agenda in a $56 billion package of tax breaks.
The bill, passed 234-197 along mostly party lines, would keep the 15 percent top tax rate for capital gains and dividends in place in 2009 and 2010, two years after their scheduled disappearance at the end of 2008.
Republicans said tax cuts championed by President Bush have revved up a sluggish economy, and Treasury Secretary John Snow praised the bill's passage, saying, "It would encourage investment and innovation — the lifeblood of the American economy."
Democrats disagreed and said the tax cuts for investment income, and much of the GOP's economic agenda, exacerbated budget deficits and ignored average workers.
Au Contraire butt faced ones, it's economy stimulating employment insurance.
Hostage Slain?
Iraq Insurgents Claim to Kill U.S. Hostage
An Iraqi insurgent group said Thursday in an Internet posting that it killed a kidnapped U.S. security consultant. The claim's authenticity could not be immediately verified.
It was the first time in more than a year that an insurgent group announced the slaying of an American hostage. Thursday's statement, posted on an Islamic militant Web forum, did not identify the hostage and provided no evidence he had been killed, but said pictures of the slaying would be released later.
The Islamic Army in Iraq said it had killed "the American security consultant for the Housing Ministry," after the United States failed to respond to its demand of the release of Iraqi prisoners.
Considering what they've done or at least say they've done, don't they warrant the label "terrorist group" by now?
Here We Go Again
Well, you knew it was coming, the lamenting, the second guessing of the air marshals actions in yesterdays shooting of the man who claimed he had a bomb. Look at some headlines: Sky marshals kill for first time (Times of London), US air marshal guns down passenger (Rediff), Bomb claim gets flier gunned down (Boston Herald), Air marshal guns down man at Miami airport (MSNBC).
Think there's not thinly veiled editorial comment in these headlines? They scream" innocent civilian slaughtered by hyper reactive and overzealous government thugs." That's what they're thinking, that's what they believe that's what they would really like to say.
Now that it is coming to light that the man was a few bricks shy and off his meds, the bleeding hearts will undoubtedly become increasingly vocal. Expect the usual suspects to bemoan the brutality and claim it's the fault of a paranoid and trigger happy governmental security force. No doubt some embecile will somehow try to make the case that it's Bush's fault.
From what I've seen, the air marshals acted absolutely appropriately. When the life of one individual is weighed against that of 100+, their course of action was clear, protect the greatest number of lives. To do anything less would have been ludicrous. They gave the guy an opportunity and, mental or not, he gave them no choice but to eliminate the threat.
If these marshalls are any indication of the force as a whole, I'm heartened. The thoughtful and decisive actions they took illustrate a highly professional group of men who have the priorities straight. Personally, I'll fly more comfortably knowing that guys like these are on the job.
Think there's not thinly veiled editorial comment in these headlines? They scream" innocent civilian slaughtered by hyper reactive and overzealous government thugs." That's what they're thinking, that's what they believe that's what they would really like to say.
Now that it is coming to light that the man was a few bricks shy and off his meds, the bleeding hearts will undoubtedly become increasingly vocal. Expect the usual suspects to bemoan the brutality and claim it's the fault of a paranoid and trigger happy governmental security force. No doubt some embecile will somehow try to make the case that it's Bush's fault.
From what I've seen, the air marshals acted absolutely appropriately. When the life of one individual is weighed against that of 100+, their course of action was clear, protect the greatest number of lives. To do anything less would have been ludicrous. They gave the guy an opportunity and, mental or not, he gave them no choice but to eliminate the threat.
If these marshalls are any indication of the force as a whole, I'm heartened. The thoughtful and decisive actions they took illustrate a highly professional group of men who have the priorities straight. Personally, I'll fly more comfortably knowing that guys like these are on the job.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Britain's Muslim Community Concerned About Global Warming
Thousands of men women and children throughout the world are being slaughtered in the name of their religion and these knotheads are devoting their energies to protesting global warming.
Britain's Muslim community illustrated its concern about global warming during a recent march calling for mass action over climate change.
The London March, part of a global protest which took place in 32 countries on November 3rd was addressed by Fazlun Khalid, the Founder Director, of the Birmingham-based Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences
He told protesters that global warming is one of the many symptoms of the suicidal assault mounted by the human species on the natural world. Deforestation and its after effects are another. By denuding the forests of trees we destroy the very resource that absorb the carbon dioxide that we spew into the atmosphere by the mega ton. Another consequence is that every single one of us gathered here have more than 200 poisons in our bodies that our grand parents did not have. This is the result of our unmitigated global pursuit of prosperity, which only a tiny minority has achieved whilst others strive vainly to catch up. This is called the rat race.
Wonder how many pollutants and C02 are released from an exploding suicide bomber or IED.
Britain's Muslim community illustrated its concern about global warming during a recent march calling for mass action over climate change.
The London March, part of a global protest which took place in 32 countries on November 3rd was addressed by Fazlun Khalid, the Founder Director, of the Birmingham-based Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences
He told protesters that global warming is one of the many symptoms of the suicidal assault mounted by the human species on the natural world. Deforestation and its after effects are another. By denuding the forests of trees we destroy the very resource that absorb the carbon dioxide that we spew into the atmosphere by the mega ton. Another consequence is that every single one of us gathered here have more than 200 poisons in our bodies that our grand parents did not have. This is the result of our unmitigated global pursuit of prosperity, which only a tiny minority has achieved whilst others strive vainly to catch up. This is called the rat race.
Wonder how many pollutants and C02 are released from an exploding suicide bomber or IED.
Mom Upset Christ Missing From Christmas Carol
This is really getting ridiculous.....
HOUSTON -- At least one mother of a northwest Harris County elementary student was not looking forward to attending a school Christmas performance after learning Christmas had been removed from the lyrics of a song, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Officials with the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District were not aware of the changes made to the traditional Christmas song, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," until KPRC Local 2 called Tuesday inquiring about the lyric changes.
District officials said Moore Elementary School's music director did not write the song, but chose a jazzy adaptation of the popular English Christmas carol, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," to reflect the multicultural and multiethnic performance.
The new song, titled "We Wish You A Swinging Holiday," does not mention Christmas at all.
"I thought it was horrible. I was stunned. I could not believe that they took a song like that and changed it," said the student's mother, Karen Morlock.
A spokeswoman for the district said the Christmas performance is not meant to be religious.
Am I wrong or is that one of the most asinine statements ever uttered. It's a religious based holiday you giant horses a$$. The political correctness of these imbeciles has deteriorated into unadulterated incoherence. They are called CHRISTmas carols for crying out loud.
This is why the Liberals keep losing elections and the more of this nonsense they offer up the bigger they're gonna lose.
UPDATE: Guess this isn't all so uncommon. This from the Liberty Council:
Dodgeville, WI - Ridgeway Elementary School's "winter program" has changed the name of "Silent Night" to "Cold in the Night." Sung to the tune of "Silent Night," the lyrics have been secularized as follows: "Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm." Liberty Counsel represents a concerned parent whose child attends Ridgeway.
At the same time the school has changed the religious songs to secular, the "winter program" has included decorating classrooms with Santa Clause, Kwanza, Menorahs, and Labafana (a Christmas witch!). Liberty Counsel has issued a demand letter to the school stating that the school's actions violate the Constitution. The letter demands an immediate change in the program. Liberty Counsel is prepared to file suit if the district does not immediately remedy the situation.
HOUSTON -- At least one mother of a northwest Harris County elementary student was not looking forward to attending a school Christmas performance after learning Christmas had been removed from the lyrics of a song, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Officials with the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District were not aware of the changes made to the traditional Christmas song, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," until KPRC Local 2 called Tuesday inquiring about the lyric changes.
District officials said Moore Elementary School's music director did not write the song, but chose a jazzy adaptation of the popular English Christmas carol, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," to reflect the multicultural and multiethnic performance.
The new song, titled "We Wish You A Swinging Holiday," does not mention Christmas at all.
"I thought it was horrible. I was stunned. I could not believe that they took a song like that and changed it," said the student's mother, Karen Morlock.
A spokeswoman for the district said the Christmas performance is not meant to be religious.
Am I wrong or is that one of the most asinine statements ever uttered. It's a religious based holiday you giant horses a$$. The political correctness of these imbeciles has deteriorated into unadulterated incoherence. They are called CHRISTmas carols for crying out loud.
This is why the Liberals keep losing elections and the more of this nonsense they offer up the bigger they're gonna lose.
UPDATE: Guess this isn't all so uncommon. This from the Liberty Council:
Dodgeville, WI - Ridgeway Elementary School's "winter program" has changed the name of "Silent Night" to "Cold in the Night." Sung to the tune of "Silent Night," the lyrics have been secularized as follows: "Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm." Liberty Counsel represents a concerned parent whose child attends Ridgeway.
At the same time the school has changed the religious songs to secular, the "winter program" has included decorating classrooms with Santa Clause, Kwanza, Menorahs, and Labafana (a Christmas witch!). Liberty Counsel has issued a demand letter to the school stating that the school's actions violate the Constitution. The letter demands an immediate change in the program. Liberty Counsel is prepared to file suit if the district does not immediately remedy the situation.
Sloppiness or Propaganda
In an attempt to bolster the moral of the troops (the al Qaida troops) several media outlets ran with the "new" Zawahiri tape claiming Bin Laden is alive and well and directing operations......
DUBAI (AFX) - Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed in a new videotape that the network's leader Osama bin Laden is still alive and leading the 'jihad' holy war against the West, the Al-Jazeera channel said.
Zawahiri also called on the Al-Qaeda fighters to attack oil installations in Islamic countries 'because most of the revenues of this oil go to the enemies of Islam,' Al-Jazeera quoted him as saying.
In parts of the videoclips screened by the satellite channel, Zawahiri said 'Al-Qaeda for holy war is still, thanks to God, a base for jihad. Its prince Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, still leads the jihad.'
Only one problem, the tape is 3 months old.....
A videotape claiming Osama Bin Laden is still "alive and fighting" dates back to September, Arab television channel al-Jazeera has admitted.
Al-Jazeera's editor-in-chief, Ahmed Sheikh, said his channel had broadcast the footage by mistake.
Mr Sheikh said it had received the video in September and aired "the important parts" at the time.
In the video, Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, also claimed al-Qaeda was behind the London bombings on 7 July.
OOOPS.
DUBAI (AFX) - Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed in a new videotape that the network's leader Osama bin Laden is still alive and leading the 'jihad' holy war against the West, the Al-Jazeera channel said.
Zawahiri also called on the Al-Qaeda fighters to attack oil installations in Islamic countries 'because most of the revenues of this oil go to the enemies of Islam,' Al-Jazeera quoted him as saying.
In parts of the videoclips screened by the satellite channel, Zawahiri said 'Al-Qaeda for holy war is still, thanks to God, a base for jihad. Its prince Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, still leads the jihad.'
Only one problem, the tape is 3 months old.....
A videotape claiming Osama Bin Laden is still "alive and fighting" dates back to September, Arab television channel al-Jazeera has admitted.
Al-Jazeera's editor-in-chief, Ahmed Sheikh, said his channel had broadcast the footage by mistake.
Mr Sheikh said it had received the video in September and aired "the important parts" at the time.
In the video, Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, also claimed al-Qaeda was behind the London bombings on 7 July.
OOOPS.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
American taken hostage, Iraq militants claim
BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi militant group has kidnapped a U.S. security consultant and is threatening to kill him in 48 hours unless Washington frees all Iraqi prisoners, according to a video aired by Al-Jazeera television on Tuesday.
The grainy video showed a blond, Western-looking man sitting down with his hands tied behind his back with the logo of the Islamic Army in Iraq. It also showed an American passport and an Arabic identity card bearing the name Ronald Schulz.
Al-Jazeera said it could not verify the authenticity of the tape. It said the man worked as a security consultant for the Iraqi housing ministry.
Jawa has more
The grainy video showed a blond, Western-looking man sitting down with his hands tied behind his back with the logo of the Islamic Army in Iraq. It also showed an American passport and an Arabic identity card bearing the name Ronald Schulz.
Al-Jazeera said it could not verify the authenticity of the tape. It said the man worked as a security consultant for the Iraqi housing ministry.
Jawa has more
Durable Goods Orders/New Home Sales
More Hoover economy......NOT!
WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rebounded sharply in October as demand for military aircraft shot up by the largest amount in more than five years.
The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that orders for durable goods rose by 3.4 per cent last month, erasing a 2 per cent decline in September that was blamed on disruptions from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and a machinists strike at aircraft giant Boeing.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department reported that sales of new single-family homes shot up by 13 percent last month, the biggest one-month gain in more than 12 years. The increase pushed sales to an all-time high 1.42 million units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.
The increase in home sales confounded analysts who had been predicting that new home sales would decline by 1.8 percent, reflecting continued increases in mortgage rates. It was possible that the unexpected surge reflected a final rush by buyers to get into the market before mortgage rates climb higher.
Contrary to what the left and EM believe, it appears that the American people understand whats actually going on.
And on top of all that, this.....
U.S. Economy Expanded at a 4.3% Pace in Third Quarter
Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. economic growth rose at a 4.3 percent annual rate from July through September, the quickest since the first quarter of last year and evidence of the economy's resilience in the face of record energy costs.
The revised figure for gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S., was higher than forecast and compares with a 3.8 percent pace initially estimated, the Commerce Department's figures showed today. Growth was 3.3 percent in the prior three months.
A second straight quarter of declining inventories will keep factories humming, providing fuel for an economy that's grown in excess of 3 percent since March 2003, the longest such streak since 1986. Consumer spending, construction and business investment were stronger than the government first estimated.
The left are deeply saddened.
UPDATE: U.S. productivity revised up to 4.7% Unit labor costs fall 1% in third quarter
The fresh numbers are a revision to month-old numbers that showed productivity rose at a 4.1% pace. Read the full report.
Unit labor costs - a gauge of wage-push inflationary pressures - fell at a 1% annual pace in the quarter, revised down from a 0.5% decrease. Unit labor costs are the costs paid to workers to produce one "unit" of output.
Economists expected productivity to be revised to a 4.5% annual pace, based on revisions to output and hours worked already reported. See Economic Calendar.
Productivity has increased 3.1% in the past year, about double the pace that prevailed in the 1970s through mid-1990s.
It's the best year-on-year growth in productivity in five quarters. Productivity increased at a 2.1% annual rate in the second quarter.
This won't do Bush's renewed efforts to make the tax cuts permanent any harm.
WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rebounded sharply in October as demand for military aircraft shot up by the largest amount in more than five years.
The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that orders for durable goods rose by 3.4 per cent last month, erasing a 2 per cent decline in September that was blamed on disruptions from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and a machinists strike at aircraft giant Boeing.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department reported that sales of new single-family homes shot up by 13 percent last month, the biggest one-month gain in more than 12 years. The increase pushed sales to an all-time high 1.42 million units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.
The increase in home sales confounded analysts who had been predicting that new home sales would decline by 1.8 percent, reflecting continued increases in mortgage rates. It was possible that the unexpected surge reflected a final rush by buyers to get into the market before mortgage rates climb higher.
Contrary to what the left and EM believe, it appears that the American people understand whats actually going on.
And on top of all that, this.....
U.S. Economy Expanded at a 4.3% Pace in Third Quarter
Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. economic growth rose at a 4.3 percent annual rate from July through September, the quickest since the first quarter of last year and evidence of the economy's resilience in the face of record energy costs.
The revised figure for gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S., was higher than forecast and compares with a 3.8 percent pace initially estimated, the Commerce Department's figures showed today. Growth was 3.3 percent in the prior three months.
A second straight quarter of declining inventories will keep factories humming, providing fuel for an economy that's grown in excess of 3 percent since March 2003, the longest such streak since 1986. Consumer spending, construction and business investment were stronger than the government first estimated.
The left are deeply saddened.
UPDATE: U.S. productivity revised up to 4.7% Unit labor costs fall 1% in third quarter
The fresh numbers are a revision to month-old numbers that showed productivity rose at a 4.1% pace. Read the full report.
Unit labor costs - a gauge of wage-push inflationary pressures - fell at a 1% annual pace in the quarter, revised down from a 0.5% decrease. Unit labor costs are the costs paid to workers to produce one "unit" of output.
Economists expected productivity to be revised to a 4.5% annual pace, based on revisions to output and hours worked already reported. See Economic Calendar.
Productivity has increased 3.1% in the past year, about double the pace that prevailed in the 1970s through mid-1990s.
It's the best year-on-year growth in productivity in five quarters. Productivity increased at a 2.1% annual rate in the second quarter.
This won't do Bush's renewed efforts to make the tax cuts permanent any harm.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Poison Pen
This story was reported on Fox and Friends this morning.
Joshua Sparling just got to Walter Reed last week and received ONE letter from someone writing in a child's printing (possibly anyone on the left). Among other things it told him to die. The soldier has the card on the wall of his room.
Joshua Sparling
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
Let's all spend a bit of time and let this brave soldier know how we feel.
Michelle Malkin has more.
Joshua Sparling just got to Walter Reed last week and received ONE letter from someone writing in a child's printing (possibly anyone on the left). Among other things it told him to die. The soldier has the card on the wall of his room.
Joshua Sparling
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
Let's all spend a bit of time and let this brave soldier know how we feel.
Michelle Malkin has more.
President Bush Job Approval Continuing to Improve
Likely the result of the administration no longer allowing themselves to be used as a punching bag.
Sunday December 04, 2005--Forty-seven percent (47%) of American adults approve of the way George W. Bush is performing his role as President. That's the President's highest rating since mid-October.
Confidence in the War on Terror and the economy have also improved significantly in recent months.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans Disapprove of the President's performance.
During 2004, reports on the President Job Approval were based upon surveys of Likely Voters. Typically, a survey of Likely Voters would report a Job Approval rating 2-3 points higher than a survey of all adults. On Election Day, the President's Job Approval was at 52%.
Add 3% to Bush's 47% and you get a 50% approval among "likely voters". That's within 2% of his standing on election day. Statistically, the President's JA rating is where it was on election day 2004. To believe otherwise, one must the accept manufactured MSM polling data that grossly OVERSAMPLES Democrats/Democrat-leaning Independents.
Anyone care to bet whether this gets any coverage from the EM?
UPDATE: Monday December 05, 2005--Forty-eight percent (48%) of American adults approve of the way George W. Bush is performing his role as President. That's the President's highest rating since October 8.
The President earns Approval from 80% of Republicans, 20% of Democrats, and 41% of those not affiliated with either major party. Fifty percent (50%) of men approve of the President's job performance along with 46% of women.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans Disapprove of the President's performance.
Sunday December 04, 2005--Forty-seven percent (47%) of American adults approve of the way George W. Bush is performing his role as President. That's the President's highest rating since mid-October.
Confidence in the War on Terror and the economy have also improved significantly in recent months.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans Disapprove of the President's performance.
During 2004, reports on the President Job Approval were based upon surveys of Likely Voters. Typically, a survey of Likely Voters would report a Job Approval rating 2-3 points higher than a survey of all adults. On Election Day, the President's Job Approval was at 52%.
Add 3% to Bush's 47% and you get a 50% approval among "likely voters". That's within 2% of his standing on election day. Statistically, the President's JA rating is where it was on election day 2004. To believe otherwise, one must the accept manufactured MSM polling data that grossly OVERSAMPLES Democrats/Democrat-leaning Independents.
Anyone care to bet whether this gets any coverage from the EM?
UPDATE: Monday December 05, 2005--Forty-eight percent (48%) of American adults approve of the way George W. Bush is performing his role as President. That's the President's highest rating since October 8.
The President earns Approval from 80% of Republicans, 20% of Democrats, and 41% of those not affiliated with either major party. Fifty percent (50%) of men approve of the President's job performance along with 46% of women.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of Americans Disapprove of the President's performance.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Officials: CIA missile strike kills al-Qaida No. 3
Another terrorist scumbag meets Allah....
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The operational commander of al-Qaida and possibly the No. 3 official in the terrorist organization, Hamza Rabia, was killed early Thursday morning by a CIA missile attack on a safehouse in Pakistan, officials told NBC News.
Pakistan's president later confirmed the militant leader's death.
“Yes indeed, 200 percent. I think he was killed the day before yesterday if I’m not wrong,” President Pervez Musharraf told reporters as he arrived in Kuwait on an official visit on Saturday.
While Pakistani officials publicly said Rabia died in a blast caused by explosives stored in a house for bomb-making, officials speaking on condition of anonymity told NBC News he was killed by a CIA missile strike carried out by an unmanned Predator airplane.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The operational commander of al-Qaida and possibly the No. 3 official in the terrorist organization, Hamza Rabia, was killed early Thursday morning by a CIA missile attack on a safehouse in Pakistan, officials told NBC News.
Pakistan's president later confirmed the militant leader's death.
“Yes indeed, 200 percent. I think he was killed the day before yesterday if I’m not wrong,” President Pervez Musharraf told reporters as he arrived in Kuwait on an official visit on Saturday.
While Pakistani officials publicly said Rabia died in a blast caused by explosives stored in a house for bomb-making, officials speaking on condition of anonymity told NBC News he was killed by a CIA missile strike carried out by an unmanned Predator airplane.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Kidnappers Threaten to Kill Iraq Activists
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Al-Jazeera television broadcast a videotape Friday in which kidnappers of four Christian peace activists threatened to kill their hostages unless all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centers are released. The kidnappers gave the two governments until Dec. 8 to meet their demands, Al-Jazeera quoted a statement delivered with the tape as saying.
The tape showed what the broadcaster said were two Canadian hostages. An American and a Briton are also being held. All four appeared frightened.
The Canadians were shown eating from plates of what appeared to be Arabic sweets. In a second clip, the British and American hostages were shown to talking to the camera but no audio was transmitted.
Now here's an irony....
"Peace activists" go to Iraq in an attempt to undermine US efforts in effect aiding the terrorists, that same enemy that they're helping under the auspices of promoting "peace" beheads said activists.
The tape showed what the broadcaster said were two Canadian hostages. An American and a Briton are also being held. All four appeared frightened.
The Canadians were shown eating from plates of what appeared to be Arabic sweets. In a second clip, the British and American hostages were shown to talking to the camera but no audio was transmitted.
Now here's an irony....
"Peace activists" go to Iraq in an attempt to undermine US efforts in effect aiding the terrorists, that same enemy that they're helping under the auspices of promoting "peace" beheads said activists.
48% Say U.S. Winning War on Terror
It is becoming apparent that the worm has turned, and none too soon......
December 2, 2005--Confidence in the War on Terror is up sharply compared to a month ago. Forty-eight percent (48%) Americans now believe the U.S. and its Allies are winning. That's up nine points from 39% a month ago and represents the highest level of confidence measured in 2005.
Just 28% now believe the terrorists are winning, down six points from 34% a month ago. The survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday night following the President's speech outlining his strategy in Iraq.
Huge partisan divisions on questions dealing with Iraq remain. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning. That's up from 64% a month ago.
Just 28% of Democrats believe the U.S. is winning while 45% of Nancy Pelosi's party believe the terrorists are winning. Even that is a more optimistic assessment than last month when just 19% of Democrats said the U.S. was winning.
Wonder what portion of that 45% is driven by just plain wishful thinking.
December 2, 2005--Confidence in the War on Terror is up sharply compared to a month ago. Forty-eight percent (48%) Americans now believe the U.S. and its Allies are winning. That's up nine points from 39% a month ago and represents the highest level of confidence measured in 2005.
Just 28% now believe the terrorists are winning, down six points from 34% a month ago. The survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday night following the President's speech outlining his strategy in Iraq.
Huge partisan divisions on questions dealing with Iraq remain. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning. That's up from 64% a month ago.
Just 28% of Democrats believe the U.S. is winning while 45% of Nancy Pelosi's party believe the terrorists are winning. Even that is a more optimistic assessment than last month when just 19% of Democrats said the U.S. was winning.
Wonder what portion of that 45% is driven by just plain wishful thinking.
Payrolls Grow; Jobless Rate Holds Steady
Hoover economy alert......
WASHINGTON (AP) -- America's payrolls snapped out of a two-month hurricane-induced funk in November and grew by 215,000, the most since July. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.
The fresh snapshot of the jobs situation by the Labor Department on Friday suggested that employers were feeling better about hiring now that energy prices have retreated from record highs and the energy supply and transportation disruptions from the trio of Gulf Coast hurricanes are easing.
In November, employment gains were broad based. Construction, retail, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, financial activities and even manufacturing all posted job gains..
btw that's 1.85 million new jobs so far in 2005 but who's counting. Certainly not the Entrenched Media
Compare this rather subdued appraisal to the thinly veiled giddiness of this 1996 article....
U.S. jobless rate hits six-year low
Clinton's euphoric....
July 5, 1996Web posted at: 5:50 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Economists didn't expect June's unemployment rate to be much different from May's, which was an already-low 5.6 percent. But in fact, it did fall -- to 5.3 percent. The unemployment rate hasn't been that low since June 1990 etc. etc. etc.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- America's payrolls snapped out of a two-month hurricane-induced funk in November and grew by 215,000, the most since July. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.
The fresh snapshot of the jobs situation by the Labor Department on Friday suggested that employers were feeling better about hiring now that energy prices have retreated from record highs and the energy supply and transportation disruptions from the trio of Gulf Coast hurricanes are easing.
In November, employment gains were broad based. Construction, retail, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, financial activities and even manufacturing all posted job gains..
btw that's 1.85 million new jobs so far in 2005 but who's counting. Certainly not the Entrenched Media
Compare this rather subdued appraisal to the thinly veiled giddiness of this 1996 article....
U.S. jobless rate hits six-year low
Clinton's euphoric....
July 5, 1996Web posted at: 5:50 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Economists didn't expect June's unemployment rate to be much different from May's, which was an already-low 5.6 percent. But in fact, it did fall -- to 5.3 percent. The unemployment rate hasn't been that low since June 1990 etc. etc. etc.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
A Teetering Basket of Eggs
It's official, the democrats have put all their eggs in one basket betting that the perceived public dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq will translate into big gains in the 2006 midterms.
This may be more a function of neccessity rather than design considering there are very few issues they can utilize to quarry gains. The economy is humming along at average 3.75% GDP growth rate over the last 5 quarters, unemployment stands at a miniscule 5%, gas is under $2.00/gal, the culture of corruption campaign lacks teeth, hurricane season is over so they can't blame the weather on Bush and stock market is flirting with a 5 year high.
This leaves the exploitation of Iraq as the singular pressient issue by which to garner support. A strategy that carries with it the extreme risk that is commensurate with the stakes. If significant progess is made in Iraq, the kind of positive developments that even the Old Media cannot ignore the Democrats are toast. After reading Joe Liebermans article in the WSJ, I believe we are within 6 months of that time.
The writing is most definately on the wall. Sunnis are joining the political process in significant numbers, the Iraqi army is getting stronger as the terrorists are getting weaker by the day and the Iraqi people are becoming increasingly fervent in their support of their new government. Just 6 months ago the average number of tips received by the military from citizens was 500, last month they received 4300. Barring something totally unforseen, it's over for the so called "insurgency", now it's just a matter of time.
Regardless of what they say, I believe that most informed Democrats know this as well which makes the hitching of their political wagon to this tenuous star somewhat inexplicable. One could suppose that they somehow believe that this transformation may yet hold off long enough for them to capitalize in 2006. It's a politically perilous wager for when the insurgency crashes and burns imagery of Dante's Inferno will replace the visions of sugarplums presently dancing in their heads.
If you think the left has been cheerleading the enemy and denigrating are troops in Iraq for the last 2 years, just wait. The closer we get to the midterms and the more tenuous their vantage begins to appear, the more irrationally unpatriotic they will become. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to read intermittent reports of a few moonbat lefties joining the terrorists to fight the "evil occupiers" in Iraq. We shall see.
This may be more a function of neccessity rather than design considering there are very few issues they can utilize to quarry gains. The economy is humming along at average 3.75% GDP growth rate over the last 5 quarters, unemployment stands at a miniscule 5%, gas is under $2.00/gal, the culture of corruption campaign lacks teeth, hurricane season is over so they can't blame the weather on Bush and stock market is flirting with a 5 year high.
This leaves the exploitation of Iraq as the singular pressient issue by which to garner support. A strategy that carries with it the extreme risk that is commensurate with the stakes. If significant progess is made in Iraq, the kind of positive developments that even the Old Media cannot ignore the Democrats are toast. After reading Joe Liebermans article in the WSJ, I believe we are within 6 months of that time.
The writing is most definately on the wall. Sunnis are joining the political process in significant numbers, the Iraqi army is getting stronger as the terrorists are getting weaker by the day and the Iraqi people are becoming increasingly fervent in their support of their new government. Just 6 months ago the average number of tips received by the military from citizens was 500, last month they received 4300. Barring something totally unforseen, it's over for the so called "insurgency", now it's just a matter of time.
Regardless of what they say, I believe that most informed Democrats know this as well which makes the hitching of their political wagon to this tenuous star somewhat inexplicable. One could suppose that they somehow believe that this transformation may yet hold off long enough for them to capitalize in 2006. It's a politically perilous wager for when the insurgency crashes and burns imagery of Dante's Inferno will replace the visions of sugarplums presently dancing in their heads.
If you think the left has been cheerleading the enemy and denigrating are troops in Iraq for the last 2 years, just wait. The closer we get to the midterms and the more tenuous their vantage begins to appear, the more irrationally unpatriotic they will become. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to read intermittent reports of a few moonbat lefties joining the terrorists to fight the "evil occupiers" in Iraq. We shall see.
Michael Moore denies owning Halliburton
It's getting to the point where the left wear their hypocrisy like some sort of twisted badge of honor. Maybe it's the arrogance that comes with celebrity or maybe it's just plain chutzpa. Whatever the reason, they're making it way too easy.
In a nationally televised speech, filmmaker Michael Moore told a college audience he absolutely does not own any Halliburton stock – or any other stock for that matter – a charge leveled at him by author Peter Schweizer in the best-seller book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do)."
There's just one problem with that denial, says Schweizer. He's got the tax returns of Moore's non-profit foundation to prove it – a non-profit foundation for which there are only two officers, Moore and his wife.
"I think people find that stuff funny – Michael Moore owns Halliburton stock," said Moore in the Nov. 23 Mott College speech carried by C-SPAN. "That's like a great comedy line. I know it's not true. I've never owned a share of stock in my life -- anything. Did anyone see that a couple weeks ago? Somebody was yakking away. And I just thought, uh, that's funny, I guess. Anyone who knows me is not going to believe that. Who's going to believe that? Just crazy people are going to believe it."
It must be the definition of the word "own" that is the source of controversy, suggests Schweizer, the author of a book on liberal hypocrisy. Moore has emphatically made the claim repeatedly over the years: "I don't own a single share of stock!"
He's right. He doesn't own a single share. He owns tens of thousands of shares – including nearly 2,000 shares of Boeing, nearly 1,000 of Sonoco, more than 4,000 of Best Foods, more than 3,000 of Eli Lilly, more than 8,000 of Bank One and more than 2,000 of Halliburton, the company most vilified by Moore in "Fahrenheit 9/11," according to Schweizer's book.
In a nationally televised speech, filmmaker Michael Moore told a college audience he absolutely does not own any Halliburton stock – or any other stock for that matter – a charge leveled at him by author Peter Schweizer in the best-seller book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do)."
There's just one problem with that denial, says Schweizer. He's got the tax returns of Moore's non-profit foundation to prove it – a non-profit foundation for which there are only two officers, Moore and his wife.
"I think people find that stuff funny – Michael Moore owns Halliburton stock," said Moore in the Nov. 23 Mott College speech carried by C-SPAN. "That's like a great comedy line. I know it's not true. I've never owned a share of stock in my life -- anything. Did anyone see that a couple weeks ago? Somebody was yakking away. And I just thought, uh, that's funny, I guess. Anyone who knows me is not going to believe that. Who's going to believe that? Just crazy people are going to believe it."
It must be the definition of the word "own" that is the source of controversy, suggests Schweizer, the author of a book on liberal hypocrisy. Moore has emphatically made the claim repeatedly over the years: "I don't own a single share of stock!"
He's right. He doesn't own a single share. He owns tens of thousands of shares – including nearly 2,000 shares of Boeing, nearly 1,000 of Sonoco, more than 4,000 of Best Foods, more than 3,000 of Eli Lilly, more than 8,000 of Bank One and more than 2,000 of Halliburton, the company most vilified by Moore in "Fahrenheit 9/11," according to Schweizer's book.
UAE to hold first elections
The Domino Effect.....
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) -- The United Arab Emirates will hold its first limited elections for half of its consultative National Council, part of a move towards reform, the Gulf Arab country's president said on Thursday.
"In light of the changes and reforms our region is witnessing ... we decided to begin activating the National Assembly by electing half of its members," Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayahan said in a speech to mark the UAE's national day.
The speech, carried on state news agency WAM, gave no date for the election to the council, whose 40 members are currently all appointed by the seven semi-autonomous emirates that make up the U.S.-allied UAE.
This is a first step for the start of a gradual process towards much wider participation in the near future," the official said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) -- The United Arab Emirates will hold its first limited elections for half of its consultative National Council, part of a move towards reform, the Gulf Arab country's president said on Thursday.
"In light of the changes and reforms our region is witnessing ... we decided to begin activating the National Assembly by electing half of its members," Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayahan said in a speech to mark the UAE's national day.
The speech, carried on state news agency WAM, gave no date for the election to the council, whose 40 members are currently all appointed by the seven semi-autonomous emirates that make up the U.S.-allied UAE.
This is a first step for the start of a gradual process towards much wider participation in the near future," the official said.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Democrat Doubletalk
John Kerry in attempting to clarify the Dems' position on the Iraq war in rebuttal to Pres Bush's speech this morningsaid this (paraphrased).......
All through the president's speech, there were references to some "imaginary deadline" for withdrawl. At no point did we ever propose a deadline for withdrawl. What we asked for was a timetable for success.
Does Kerry think we are all imbeciles or what?
All through the president's speech, there were references to some "imaginary deadline" for withdrawl. At no point did we ever propose a deadline for withdrawl. What we asked for was a timetable for success.
Does Kerry think we are all imbeciles or what?
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Scarborough No More
I just saw on Scarborough the most pathetic excuse for a legitimate discussion of Bush and the situation in Iraq that I have seen in a long time. It was so shallow, inaccurate, sophomoric and ill informed as to be offensive.The people involved consisted of Scarborough, Kelly Ann Conway, David Frum and Lawrence (creepy liar) O'Donnell.
Scarborough is a self aggrandizing RINO punk who throws out fantasy concoctions as fact far better than many on the left. David Frum is nothing more than a bitter ex-speechwriter who uses any forum available to bash administration policies, O'Donnel is an animated albeit spooky echo chamber of the Democrat talking points du jour' and Kelly Ann Conway is right minded enough but lacks the intellectual prowess and communication skills to articulate a position in anything close to a credible way.
Scarborough has obviously become a willing advocate of the the EMs campaign of orchestrated disinformation. He states that the President is at 30% approval and that 58% of the American people want are troops out out Iraq RIGHT NOW. Both assertions are totally bogus and if he doesn't know it he sure as hell ought to. And then you have Conway and Frum grinning like a couple of self satisfied surrender monkees letting Scarborough spew this nonsense virtually without challenge. I'ts complicity by aquiescence and it's far too common in roundtable discussions, especially on MSNBC.
Considering all the idiots involved I would have to say I repect O'Donnel the most. At least with him it's pure, honest moonbattery. Scarborough, Frum and Conway have no such excuse. Their behavior is more insidious. Whether it be settling old scores as in Frum's case or intellectual laziness as with Conway their opinions are less than worthless. They are positioned by Scarborough (who has obviously been hanging with David Gregory way to much) as informed voices from the conservative vantage. They are no more a representative of the informed right than Tucker Carlson is the intellectual equal of Charles Krauthammer.
Scarborough was pretty OK untill about a year ago when he left because of back problems. He started to go downhill shortly after his return and, as of now. has become completely unwatchable. I am usually proud to state that I watch this crap so you don't have to. I'm sorry, no more. If you want to know what Scarborough Country has to offer, you're just going to have to watch it yourself because I just plain can't stomach it again.
Scarborough is a self aggrandizing RINO punk who throws out fantasy concoctions as fact far better than many on the left. David Frum is nothing more than a bitter ex-speechwriter who uses any forum available to bash administration policies, O'Donnel is an animated albeit spooky echo chamber of the Democrat talking points du jour' and Kelly Ann Conway is right minded enough but lacks the intellectual prowess and communication skills to articulate a position in anything close to a credible way.
Scarborough has obviously become a willing advocate of the the EMs campaign of orchestrated disinformation. He states that the President is at 30% approval and that 58% of the American people want are troops out out Iraq RIGHT NOW. Both assertions are totally bogus and if he doesn't know it he sure as hell ought to. And then you have Conway and Frum grinning like a couple of self satisfied surrender monkees letting Scarborough spew this nonsense virtually without challenge. I'ts complicity by aquiescence and it's far too common in roundtable discussions, especially on MSNBC.
Considering all the idiots involved I would have to say I repect O'Donnel the most. At least with him it's pure, honest moonbattery. Scarborough, Frum and Conway have no such excuse. Their behavior is more insidious. Whether it be settling old scores as in Frum's case or intellectual laziness as with Conway their opinions are less than worthless. They are positioned by Scarborough (who has obviously been hanging with David Gregory way to much) as informed voices from the conservative vantage. They are no more a representative of the informed right than Tucker Carlson is the intellectual equal of Charles Krauthammer.
Scarborough was pretty OK untill about a year ago when he left because of back problems. He started to go downhill shortly after his return and, as of now. has become completely unwatchable. I am usually proud to state that I watch this crap so you don't have to. I'm sorry, no more. If you want to know what Scarborough Country has to offer, you're just going to have to watch it yourself because I just plain can't stomach it again.
Gas Watch
Just to alert my fellow Illini that gas has as of today broken the $2.00 barrier here in So. Illinois. Filled up today at $1.989!
That's a $1.31/gal drop from a post Katrina high of $3.199. The free market is a wonderful thing indeed.
That's a $1.31/gal drop from a post Katrina high of $3.199. The free market is a wonderful thing indeed.
Correctness Gone Wrong (Very Very Wrong)
How else to explain the bizarre behavior of a majority of the town's (Provincetown, MA) selectmen at a meeting earlier this month?
To wit, Selectwoman Sarah Peake spun her chair around near the end of the Nov. 14 meeting, gazed up at an oversized oil painting depicting the Pilgrims voting on the Mayflower Compact when they first landed in Provincetown, and declared that she wanted it removed.
Mind you, it's not that she didn't like the look or the colors or the style. It's not that she thought it was too big or too small for the Judge Welsh Hearing Room. It's not that it clashed with anything around it.
No, what Peake didn't like was that the painting didn't include any women. That and the fact that the painting's only Indian -- Native American, I'd better call him -- wasn't holding a ballot like everyone else.
If you don't believe me, let's go straight to Cheryl Andrews, the chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen. She also happened to cast the only vote against the painting's removal, making her a rare voice of sanity on the board.
"There's this lovely oil painting," she said yesterday. ''The thing is huge. It's been up there since forever. It was painted by Max Bohm, who's considered quite something in local art circles.
G*d forbid, the Pilgrims were Patriarchal. These board members, save one, give new meaning to the word "petty"
To wit, Selectwoman Sarah Peake spun her chair around near the end of the Nov. 14 meeting, gazed up at an oversized oil painting depicting the Pilgrims voting on the Mayflower Compact when they first landed in Provincetown, and declared that she wanted it removed.
Mind you, it's not that she didn't like the look or the colors or the style. It's not that she thought it was too big or too small for the Judge Welsh Hearing Room. It's not that it clashed with anything around it.
No, what Peake didn't like was that the painting didn't include any women. That and the fact that the painting's only Indian -- Native American, I'd better call him -- wasn't holding a ballot like everyone else.
If you don't believe me, let's go straight to Cheryl Andrews, the chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen. She also happened to cast the only vote against the painting's removal, making her a rare voice of sanity on the board.
"There's this lovely oil painting," she said yesterday. ''The thing is huge. It's been up there since forever. It was painted by Max Bohm, who's considered quite something in local art circles.
G*d forbid, the Pilgrims were Patriarchal. These board members, save one, give new meaning to the word "petty"
Monday, November 28, 2005
Ted Rall's Latest Anti Military Effluent
This guy's tastlessness is exceeded only by the banality of his wit.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Nation Of Islam Furious With Police
Jooooos in blackface?
Nov. 26 - KGO - The members of the Muslim Group Nation of Islam are furious at the Oakland police department for what they say is racial profiling. They spoke out Saturday after hearing the way police describe a dozen men who vandalized two liquor stores in Oakland.
Minister Tony Muhammad, Nation of Islam: "That is racial, as well as religious profiling at its' worst."
Members of leader Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam are outraged. They say Oakland police jumped to conclusions when watching surveillance video showing 12 men in suits and ties walking into a liquor store in West Oakland and trashing it. It is one of two stores hit just minutes apart, the men smashing refrigerators and liquor bottles, telling store employees they shouldn't be selling alcohol to African-Americans.
Police confirmed the men who vandalized the stores are black Muslims and say it's a matter of time before they're identified.
Or maybe they're just well dressed Methodists.
Nov. 26 - KGO - The members of the Muslim Group Nation of Islam are furious at the Oakland police department for what they say is racial profiling. They spoke out Saturday after hearing the way police describe a dozen men who vandalized two liquor stores in Oakland.
Minister Tony Muhammad, Nation of Islam: "That is racial, as well as religious profiling at its' worst."
Members of leader Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam are outraged. They say Oakland police jumped to conclusions when watching surveillance video showing 12 men in suits and ties walking into a liquor store in West Oakland and trashing it. It is one of two stores hit just minutes apart, the men smashing refrigerators and liquor bottles, telling store employees they shouldn't be selling alcohol to African-Americans.
Police confirmed the men who vandalized the stores are black Muslims and say it's a matter of time before they're identified.
Or maybe they're just well dressed Methodists.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Friday, November 25, 2005
US Troops Engaging Syrian Troops?
Ok , it's Debka, but the fact that DOD officials are NOT denying it makes it a bit more interesting.
Debkafile was reporting yesterday that American forces had penetrated the Syrian border and were engaged directly with Syrian troops west of the city of al-Qaim. Al-Qaim is a border town on the Baghdad to Damascus highway, where very heavy fighting took place during the 2003 Iraq invasion between US forces and fleeing Saddam forces going to Syria.
As of 0820 today, Defense Department sources could not confirm and would not deny the truth of the Debkafile report. If it true, it is of enormous significance. We have tolerated terrorist sanctuaries in Syria for almost two years. We know where many are. The fact that we have not hit them yet (at least before yesterday) is a major failure in our prosecution of the war. Stay tuned.
Debkafile was reporting yesterday that American forces had penetrated the Syrian border and were engaged directly with Syrian troops west of the city of al-Qaim. Al-Qaim is a border town on the Baghdad to Damascus highway, where very heavy fighting took place during the 2003 Iraq invasion between US forces and fleeing Saddam forces going to Syria.
As of 0820 today, Defense Department sources could not confirm and would not deny the truth of the Debkafile report. If it true, it is of enormous significance. We have tolerated terrorist sanctuaries in Syria for almost two years. We know where many are. The fact that we have not hit them yet (at least before yesterday) is a major failure in our prosecution of the war. Stay tuned.
Andrea Mitchell: I 'Messed Up' on Leakgate Answer
This is Mitchells third different attempted explanation since her erronious comments were brought to light.
Senior NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell said Wednesday morning that she "messed up" when she told an interviewer in 2003 that Valerie Plame's CIA identity was "widely known."
But despite the startling comment, Mitchell said she still hasn't been contacted by Leakgate Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
For the second time in two weeks, radio host Don Imus grilled Mitchell on her Oct. 2003 remarks, where she told CNBC's Alan Murray that Plame's CIA connection was "widely known among those of us who cover the intelligence community and who were actively engaged in trying to track down who among the foreign service community was the envoy to Niger."
Now the obvious question is, how many other things have you "messed up" over the years Andrea ?
Senior NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell said Wednesday morning that she "messed up" when she told an interviewer in 2003 that Valerie Plame's CIA identity was "widely known."
But despite the startling comment, Mitchell said she still hasn't been contacted by Leakgate Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
For the second time in two weeks, radio host Don Imus grilled Mitchell on her Oct. 2003 remarks, where she told CNBC's Alan Murray that Plame's CIA connection was "widely known among those of us who cover the intelligence community and who were actively engaged in trying to track down who among the foreign service community was the envoy to Niger."
Now the obvious question is, how many other things have you "messed up" over the years Andrea ?
Thursday, November 24, 2005
George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation 1789
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Iraq: Locals report being forced into insurgency
Just another indication that the end for the insurgency is nigh.
BAGHDAD, 23 November (IRIN) - Mahmoud Kaduri, 29, recalled bitterly how he was forced to work with the insurgency currently fighting US and Iraqi government troops. "They told me to work with them or my son would be killed," he recalled.
"I had no option, I had to save my child," he added.
After sending his son to neigbouring Jordan for safety, he told his tormentors that he would no longer work with them.
"They wanted me to attack a police car with a mortar," he recounted. "But when I saw there were children nearby, I refused."
They responded by shooting him in the stomach.
"It was my lucky day," Kaduri recalled, from his hospital bed in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. "I would have been shot in the head, but was saved by people from the neighbourhood who came to my aid."
Kaduri is one of dozens of Iraqis who have reportedly been forced to help insurgents against the US-led occupation in exchange for the lives of loved ones, according to officials at the Ministry of Interior.
Ministry officials say few people survive working for insurgents, and are usually killed once they had finished the desired work.
"Some are paid for it, but others are forced to do it," said Hussein Kamal, Iraq's deputy Interior Minister.
Doesn't really square up with this does it....“The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow—and they will win.” - Michael Moore, 4/14/2004
BAGHDAD, 23 November (IRIN) - Mahmoud Kaduri, 29, recalled bitterly how he was forced to work with the insurgency currently fighting US and Iraqi government troops. "They told me to work with them or my son would be killed," he recalled.
"I had no option, I had to save my child," he added.
After sending his son to neigbouring Jordan for safety, he told his tormentors that he would no longer work with them.
"They wanted me to attack a police car with a mortar," he recounted. "But when I saw there were children nearby, I refused."
They responded by shooting him in the stomach.
"It was my lucky day," Kaduri recalled, from his hospital bed in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. "I would have been shot in the head, but was saved by people from the neighbourhood who came to my aid."
Kaduri is one of dozens of Iraqis who have reportedly been forced to help insurgents against the US-led occupation in exchange for the lives of loved ones, according to officials at the Ministry of Interior.
Ministry officials say few people survive working for insurgents, and are usually killed once they had finished the desired work.
"Some are paid for it, but others are forced to do it," said Hussein Kamal, Iraq's deputy Interior Minister.
Doesn't really square up with this does it....“The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow—and they will win.” - Michael Moore, 4/14/2004
Principal rejects anti-war assignment
Just another reason why it's vitally important for you to be involved with your kids school, teachers and assignments. There is not always going to be a level headed principal to keep the moonbats in check.
The principal at a Madison elementary school where teachers assigned third-graders to write a dozen letters urging an end to the war in Iraq sent a letter of apology to parents and ordered teachers to rescind the assignment Tuesday.
A letter sent home Friday with third-graders at Frank Allis Elementary School explaining the assignment to parents said students would be assigned 12 letters to write to third-graders at other Wisconsin and out-of-state schools, federal lawmakers, the media and President Bush.
If the war hadn't ended by the 12th day of letter writing, students would have had to start the process all over again. The letter gave parents an opt-out option and said the assignment was intended to teach civic responsibility, composition and handwriting skills.
The principal at a Madison elementary school where teachers assigned third-graders to write a dozen letters urging an end to the war in Iraq sent a letter of apology to parents and ordered teachers to rescind the assignment Tuesday.
A letter sent home Friday with third-graders at Frank Allis Elementary School explaining the assignment to parents said students would be assigned 12 letters to write to third-graders at other Wisconsin and out-of-state schools, federal lawmakers, the media and President Bush.
If the war hadn't ended by the 12th day of letter writing, students would have had to start the process all over again. The letter gave parents an opt-out option and said the assignment was intended to teach civic responsibility, composition and handwriting skills.
Thanksgiving Eve Present
In a rare example of the garbage taking itself out Warren Community College professor John (Frag your Officers) Daly has resigned.
Look for his book coming to a store near you.
Look for his book coming to a store near you.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
A Christmas Wish List
I wish Saddam was still in power. I wish he was still stealing millions from his people through the Oil-for-Food program.
I wish he was still firing on American & British jets enforcing the No-Fly Zone. I wish he was still torturing those who spoke against him
I wish his thugs were still raping Iraqi women and children
I wish there were news stories coming out every day, criticizing Bush for "ignoring the threat of Saddam in a post 9/11 world."
I wish the Iraq Kurds were treated as second-class citizens in their own country, instead of running TV commercials thanking us for their freedom.
I wish we were living our lives still wondering if Saddam was going to provide weapons to terrorists so they could use them against us.
I wish we would leave now, so Saddam could regain power and 2,000 American lives could be wasted after fighting a war those same Americans believed in.
I wish we would leave now, so our brave troops can be denied the victory they deserve; so those 2,000 will have died in vain. I will be able to use those numbers forever to fight my political battles, which are most important to me.
I wish the Middle East and the Islamic world would stay the same, without democracy, without rights for women, and continue to intensify their hatred for the West.
I wish these things because I despise George W. Bush and those like him more than I love my country.
I wish these things because I would rather use the war on Islamofacism for political gain than for the unification of my country, even after 3,000 innocent Americans died in one single day.
I wish all these things because my political cause is more important than the success of our president, our troops, and our country.
I wish all these things because I am a Liberal.
Thanx to rightinthemiddle
I wish he was still firing on American & British jets enforcing the No-Fly Zone. I wish he was still torturing those who spoke against him
I wish his thugs were still raping Iraqi women and children
I wish there were news stories coming out every day, criticizing Bush for "ignoring the threat of Saddam in a post 9/11 world."
I wish the Iraq Kurds were treated as second-class citizens in their own country, instead of running TV commercials thanking us for their freedom.
I wish we were living our lives still wondering if Saddam was going to provide weapons to terrorists so they could use them against us.
I wish we would leave now, so Saddam could regain power and 2,000 American lives could be wasted after fighting a war those same Americans believed in.
I wish we would leave now, so our brave troops can be denied the victory they deserve; so those 2,000 will have died in vain. I will be able to use those numbers forever to fight my political battles, which are most important to me.
I wish the Middle East and the Islamic world would stay the same, without democracy, without rights for women, and continue to intensify their hatred for the West.
I wish these things because I despise George W. Bush and those like him more than I love my country.
I wish these things because I would rather use the war on Islamofacism for political gain than for the unification of my country, even after 3,000 innocent Americans died in one single day.
I wish all these things because my political cause is more important than the success of our president, our troops, and our country.
I wish all these things because I am a Liberal.
Thanx to rightinthemiddle
The Compassionate Left?
Liberals.......obviously they're just generous with other peoples money.
Ranking of most charitable states:
1. Mississippi.
2. Arkansas.
3. South Dakota.
4. Oklahoma.
5. Tennessee.
6. Alabama.
7. Louisiana.
8. Utah.
9. South Carolina.
10. West Virginia.
11. Idaho.
12. Texas.
13. Nebraska.
14. North Dakota.
15. Wyoming.
16. North Carolina.
17. Kansas.
18. Florida.
19. Georgia.
20. Missouri.
And the least (Hall of Shame)
47. Rhode Island
48. New Jersey
49. Massachusetts
50. New Hampshire
Now the quiz, how many blue states are represented in the top 20 most charitable states?
H/T Polipundit
Ranking of most charitable states:
1. Mississippi.
2. Arkansas.
3. South Dakota.
4. Oklahoma.
5. Tennessee.
6. Alabama.
7. Louisiana.
8. Utah.
9. South Carolina.
10. West Virginia.
11. Idaho.
12. Texas.
13. Nebraska.
14. North Dakota.
15. Wyoming.
16. North Carolina.
17. Kansas.
18. Florida.
19. Georgia.
20. Missouri.
And the least (Hall of Shame)
47. Rhode Island
48. New Jersey
49. Massachusetts
50. New Hampshire
Now the quiz, how many blue states are represented in the top 20 most charitable states?
H/T Polipundit
Lazy Journalism.....on the Right
Many of you have by now heard stories of the imfamous X superimposed over VP Cheney's face during his live speech yesterday on CNN.
Don't be too quick to jump on this one. CNN and the rest of the liberal media may be bias agenda driven jerks, but stupid they are not. For you to believe this was intentional you must also believe that CNN did this knowing it would be picked up and lambasted by the right. There is no way a rogue employee is going to risk his job for such a stupid stunt and obviously the management wouldn't risk the inevitable blowback that would ensue.
I think Evan Maloney says it best: "never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence". If we wish to expose bias against the right from the liberal press we must do our homework and not try and cherry pick something as obvious and sophomoric as this. To believe this is to underestimate the opposition, a naive and intellectually dangerous vantage to defend. Let us not forget, that position is reserved for the left.
Don't be too quick to jump on this one. CNN and the rest of the liberal media may be bias agenda driven jerks, but stupid they are not. For you to believe this was intentional you must also believe that CNN did this knowing it would be picked up and lambasted by the right. There is no way a rogue employee is going to risk his job for such a stupid stunt and obviously the management wouldn't risk the inevitable blowback that would ensue.
I think Evan Maloney says it best: "never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence". If we wish to expose bias against the right from the liberal press we must do our homework and not try and cherry pick something as obvious and sophomoric as this. To believe this is to underestimate the opposition, a naive and intellectually dangerous vantage to defend. Let us not forget, that position is reserved for the left.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Sex and the Welfare State
And now the latest files from "you just can't make this stuff up"........
Jurgen Van Acker is 27 years old and severely handicapped. He cannot walk, talk, sit or eat, but mentally there is nothing wrong with him. With the help of his computer he can communicate. Recently he became a television celebrity in Belgium when he asked that the welfare office pay his prostitutes.
When Jurgen turned 18, his mother Frie Van Acker told him all about sex and asked whether he would like to have sex. Jurgen indicated “No.” One evening three years later, however, he wrote on his computer: “I want sex.” That same evening, Frie contacted a prostitute. Every month for the past six years prostitutes have come to the house for Jurgen. They charge 100 euros for half an hour. Jurgen finds one session a month inadequate. He wants sex at least once a week, but his mother cannot pay that much. Jurgen and his Mum are now demanding that the government subsidize the sex sessions, but the Fund for the Social Integration of the Handicapped only finances masturbation equipment, including vibrators and pumps, for the handicapped in Belgium, but not prostitutes.
The Fund cannot pay prostitutes, its chairman Gui Abrahams explains, because prostitution is illegal in Belgium. The authorities turn a blind eye to prostitution but feel that financing it would take matters too far. Moreover, in order to reimburse a service the fund needs official invoices, which prostitutes cannot provide. “Do not say that we are not trying to help,” the spokesman of the Fund stresses: “We reimburse masturbation equipment but we are not in a legal position to subsidise the use of prostitutes.
My suggestion, get Jurgen married, that will quickly get him accustomed to having sex like maybe twice a year.
Jurgen Van Acker is 27 years old and severely handicapped. He cannot walk, talk, sit or eat, but mentally there is nothing wrong with him. With the help of his computer he can communicate. Recently he became a television celebrity in Belgium when he asked that the welfare office pay his prostitutes.
When Jurgen turned 18, his mother Frie Van Acker told him all about sex and asked whether he would like to have sex. Jurgen indicated “No.” One evening three years later, however, he wrote on his computer: “I want sex.” That same evening, Frie contacted a prostitute. Every month for the past six years prostitutes have come to the house for Jurgen. They charge 100 euros for half an hour. Jurgen finds one session a month inadequate. He wants sex at least once a week, but his mother cannot pay that much. Jurgen and his Mum are now demanding that the government subsidize the sex sessions, but the Fund for the Social Integration of the Handicapped only finances masturbation equipment, including vibrators and pumps, for the handicapped in Belgium, but not prostitutes.
The Fund cannot pay prostitutes, its chairman Gui Abrahams explains, because prostitution is illegal in Belgium. The authorities turn a blind eye to prostitution but feel that financing it would take matters too far. Moreover, in order to reimburse a service the fund needs official invoices, which prostitutes cannot provide. “Do not say that we are not trying to help,” the spokesman of the Fund stresses: “We reimburse masturbation equipment but we are not in a legal position to subsidise the use of prostitutes.
My suggestion, get Jurgen married, that will quickly get him accustomed to having sex like maybe twice a year.
Quote of the Day
Referring to enemies of the US after 9/11........
Chris Mathews 11/20/05: The person on the other side is not evil -- they just have a different perspective."
Chris Mathews 11/20/05: The person on the other side is not evil -- they just have a different perspective."
It Only Took 20 Years
It was the year 1985. That was the last time I could hold my head up and proudly state "I'm a Bears fan". Well, after two decades of reclusive subsidiarity, I'm embarrassed no more. The Monsters of the Midway are back with a suffocating defense that actually has a lower PPG allowed than the 85 Super Bowl championship team.
It's official: The Bears are more than legit and should be considered one of the teams to beat in NFC.
It would be so cliché to call the Bears' win over the Panthers a statement win, but that's exactly what it was.
By punching the hottest team in the NFC in the mouth over and over again, and suffocating and embarrassing Carolina's offense, Lovie Smith's Bears officially arrived. The Bears smacked the Panthers 13-3 — in a game where Chicago's dominating defense was so potent, you never felt Carolina had a chance to come back.
It's official: The Bears are more than legit and should be considered one of the teams to beat in NFC.
It would be so cliché to call the Bears' win over the Panthers a statement win, but that's exactly what it was.
By punching the hottest team in the NFC in the mouth over and over again, and suffocating and embarrassing Carolina's offense, Lovie Smith's Bears officially arrived. The Bears smacked the Panthers 13-3 — in a game where Chicago's dominating defense was so potent, you never felt Carolina had a chance to come back.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Eight High Ranking al Qaida Blew Themselves Up
Okay folks, I know it's DEBKA, but even a blind sow can find an acorn once in awhile.
Eight high-ranking al Qaeda leaders blew themselves up after a large American force Sunday noon laid siege to a building in which they were barricaded in Mosul, northern Iraq.
The US force, backed by helicopters and tanks, was led to the location by an intelligence tip. The troops had evacuated the area and were preparing to storm the building when the terrorists killed themselves.
Some Arab sources report that the American unit is busy trying to identify the 8 bodies, hoping against hope that Abu Musab al Zarqawi is among them. This is not confirmed by US military sources.
Again Arab Press is hardly a rock solid source but this story ties in with DEBKA'S post......
Arab press: al-Zaraqawi may have been killed
Arch terrorists and al-Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have been killed, Arab press have reported.
According to reports, American and Iraqi forces are currently checking whether al-Zarqawi's body can be found among the bodies of other al-Qaeda members that blew themselves up at a house that was besieged by the forces at the northern town of Musul. (Ali Waked)
Memo to eight imbeciles, virgins on backorder.
UPDATE: Jerusalem Post reporting it now, still calling reports "unconfirmed"
UPDATE II: U.S. 'just missed' capturing al-Zarqawi
Eight high-ranking al Qaeda leaders blew themselves up after a large American force Sunday noon laid siege to a building in which they were barricaded in Mosul, northern Iraq.
The US force, backed by helicopters and tanks, was led to the location by an intelligence tip. The troops had evacuated the area and were preparing to storm the building when the terrorists killed themselves.
Some Arab sources report that the American unit is busy trying to identify the 8 bodies, hoping against hope that Abu Musab al Zarqawi is among them. This is not confirmed by US military sources.
Again Arab Press is hardly a rock solid source but this story ties in with DEBKA'S post......
Arab press: al-Zaraqawi may have been killed
Arch terrorists and al-Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have been killed, Arab press have reported.
According to reports, American and Iraqi forces are currently checking whether al-Zarqawi's body can be found among the bodies of other al-Qaeda members that blew themselves up at a house that was besieged by the forces at the northern town of Musul. (Ali Waked)
Memo to eight imbeciles, virgins on backorder.
UPDATE: Jerusalem Post reporting it now, still calling reports "unconfirmed"
UPDATE II: U.S. 'just missed' capturing al-Zarqawi
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. forces "just missed" capturing terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a gunfight over the weekend in the northern city of Mosul, U.S. military sources told NBC News on Monday.
The military had intelligence that indicated al-Zarqawi was meeting with high-level Iraq in al-Qaida lieutenants, a Pentagon source said.
As soldiers closed in on the site, there was an exchange of small arms fire, then it appears the three al-Qaida suspects blew themselves up to avoid capture.
The military is conducting DNA tests on flesh and blood recovered from the scene, but a Pentagon official said indications are that al-Zarqawi is not among those killed.
CRAP!
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Democrats: No Conviction No Courage
Perhaps the most telling thing during last nights House vote to immediately remove troops from Iraq was toward the end of the debates. Sam Johnson from Texas was nearing the end of an impassioned speech when he ran short of time and requested 3 additional minutes to finish. The Chair asked the assembly if there were any objections and a half dozen or so yells of NO were heard from the left side of the aisle. The Chair then requested those who dissented to stand and be formally recognized......none did.
What could have been a more crystal clear illustration of what the Democrats truly represent. It's about trying to garner political advantage by altering perceptions rather than improving the reality. With the left it's sound and fury that is completely devoid of substance. The Democrats have become a party of sound bytes and plattitudes. Nothing more than an advertising agency representing a product that is both obsolete and overpriced. Their only marketing plan is to make their product look more attractive by denigrating the competition.
But in order to have true conviction one must be "FOR" something. The left is for little but against everything the GOP is for. Against the war, vehemently against Bush, against the Patriot Act, against aggressive interrogation of terrorists, against tax cuts, against ANWAR, the list is endless. With conviction comes courage, without it cowardice prevails. The left displayed yesterday that they are completely lacking the former. Murtha didn't even have the stones to vote in favor of a resolution that he soapboxed just 24 hours before.
The Democrats did prove one thing yesterday......snake oil salesman whether they are ringing your doorbell or sitting in the House chamber promise everything and deliver nothing. My only hope is that the American people were watching.
What could have been a more crystal clear illustration of what the Democrats truly represent. It's about trying to garner political advantage by altering perceptions rather than improving the reality. With the left it's sound and fury that is completely devoid of substance. The Democrats have become a party of sound bytes and plattitudes. Nothing more than an advertising agency representing a product that is both obsolete and overpriced. Their only marketing plan is to make their product look more attractive by denigrating the competition.
But in order to have true conviction one must be "FOR" something. The left is for little but against everything the GOP is for. Against the war, vehemently against Bush, against the Patriot Act, against aggressive interrogation of terrorists, against tax cuts, against ANWAR, the list is endless. With conviction comes courage, without it cowardice prevails. The left displayed yesterday that they are completely lacking the former. Murtha didn't even have the stones to vote in favor of a resolution that he soapboxed just 24 hours before.
The Democrats did prove one thing yesterday......snake oil salesman whether they are ringing your doorbell or sitting in the House chamber promise everything and deliver nothing. My only hope is that the American people were watching.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Kerry Rewrites History or He Who Lies Most, Lies Best
Last night on CNN Lurch had this to say....
BLITZER: Let's get to what the president said last Friday, and he quoted specifically something you said on the eve of the war. He said "many of these critics supported my opponent during the last election, who explained his position to support the resolution in the Congress this way: 'When I vote to give the president of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security.'
"You firmly believed that, going into the war; that's why you voted for that resolution.
KERRY: Providing he had those weapons, and providing -- which the president didn't quote, as he distorted again to America our position and the truth -- providing that he did the other things, which are: a follow-through on the inspections; not go unilaterally; build a legitimate coalition; plan carefully and go as a last resort. All of which the president said he would do; none of which he did do.
BLITZER: But going into the war, based on the intelligence that you received, you had no doubt that Saddam Hussein had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.
KERRY: I believed that Saddam Hussein had stockpiles, and I believed Saddam Hussein wanted to get more weapons. But I also believed that -- as did many of my colleagues, that the intelligent way to try to deal with that was to do the inspections. I wrote an op-ed in the "New York Times" in which I suggested that you needed to go do them.
But just a little over a year ago Kerry said it wouldn't have changed his vote even had he known the truth.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said on Monday he would have voted for the congressional resolution authorizing force against Iraq even if he had known then no weapons of mass destruction would be found.
Taking up a challenge from President Bush, whom he will face in the Nov. 2 election, the Massachusetts senator said: "I'll answer it directly. Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it is the right authority for a president to have but I would have used that authority effectively."
This is classic Kerry, political expedience personified. The question that begs to be asked of him and much of the Democrat leadership, "were you lying then or are you lying now"?
BLITZER: Let's get to what the president said last Friday, and he quoted specifically something you said on the eve of the war. He said "many of these critics supported my opponent during the last election, who explained his position to support the resolution in the Congress this way: 'When I vote to give the president of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security.'
"You firmly believed that, going into the war; that's why you voted for that resolution.
KERRY: Providing he had those weapons, and providing -- which the president didn't quote, as he distorted again to America our position and the truth -- providing that he did the other things, which are: a follow-through on the inspections; not go unilaterally; build a legitimate coalition; plan carefully and go as a last resort. All of which the president said he would do; none of which he did do.
BLITZER: But going into the war, based on the intelligence that you received, you had no doubt that Saddam Hussein had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.
KERRY: I believed that Saddam Hussein had stockpiles, and I believed Saddam Hussein wanted to get more weapons. But I also believed that -- as did many of my colleagues, that the intelligent way to try to deal with that was to do the inspections. I wrote an op-ed in the "New York Times" in which I suggested that you needed to go do them.
But just a little over a year ago Kerry said it wouldn't have changed his vote even had he known the truth.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said on Monday he would have voted for the congressional resolution authorizing force against Iraq even if he had known then no weapons of mass destruction would be found.
Taking up a challenge from President Bush, whom he will face in the Nov. 2 election, the Massachusetts senator said: "I'll answer it directly. Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it is the right authority for a president to have but I would have used that authority effectively."
This is classic Kerry, political expedience personified. The question that begs to be asked of him and much of the Democrat leadership, "were you lying then or are you lying now"?
Murtha's Speech, Spin or Lies?
Why do Democrats feel the need to LIE in order make their point.....
In his speech (Murtha) demanding our immediate surrender in Iraq he cited this statistic on casualties over there: "Over 15,500 have been seriously injured".
You see, that's not quite right.
There have indeed been over 15,500 wounded. But of those, 8375 returned to duty within 72 hours - so although those wounds weren't funny perhaps those wounds weren't quite serious either. Still, 7347 troops have been wounded severely enough to require over 72 hours recuperation. Furthermore, 2,791 Soldiers were wounded seriously enough to require evacuation to Stateside Army Medical facilities. And 280 amputees have been treated in Army facilities as a result of the war. A lot of unscrupulous types who just want to pretend to "support the troops" ignore these facts in favor of the less correct (and more impressive) claim that 15,500 troops have been seriously wounded, or maimed, or mutilated. The real numbers are big enough - I just can't understand why some feel the need to pad them.
Read the rest at The Mudville Gazette.
In his speech (Murtha) demanding our immediate surrender in Iraq he cited this statistic on casualties over there: "Over 15,500 have been seriously injured".
You see, that's not quite right.
There have indeed been over 15,500 wounded. But of those, 8375 returned to duty within 72 hours - so although those wounds weren't funny perhaps those wounds weren't quite serious either. Still, 7347 troops have been wounded severely enough to require over 72 hours recuperation. Furthermore, 2,791 Soldiers were wounded seriously enough to require evacuation to Stateside Army Medical facilities. And 280 amputees have been treated in Army facilities as a result of the war. A lot of unscrupulous types who just want to pretend to "support the troops" ignore these facts in favor of the less correct (and more impressive) claim that 15,500 troops have been seriously wounded, or maimed, or mutilated. The real numbers are big enough - I just can't understand why some feel the need to pad them.
Read the rest at The Mudville Gazette.
Woodward Was Told of Plame More Than Two Years Ago
And so the plot thickens....
Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward testified under oath Monday in the CIA leak case that a Senior Administration Official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame and her position at the agency nearly a month before her identity was disclosed.
In a more than two-hour deposition, Woodward told Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald that the official casually told him in mid-June 2003 that Plame worked as a CIA analyst on weapons of mass destruction, and that he did not believe the information to be classified or sensitive, according to a statement Woodward released yesterday.
Fitzgerald interviewed Woodward about the previously undisclosed conversation after the official alerted the prosecutor to it on Nov. 3 -- one week after Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted in the investigation. (snip)
Woodward's statement said he testified: "I told Walter Pincus, a reporter at The Post, without naming my source, that I understood Wilson's wife worked at the CIA as a WMD analyst."
Pincus said he does not recall Woodward telling him that. In an interview, Pincus said he cannot imagine he would have forgotten such a conversation around the same time he was writing about Wilson.
UPDATE: The more I research this the stinkier it gets. Woodward has been shooting up warning flares since "Plamegate" began. His colleagues chose to ignore it. He said early on "don't go down that road."
I suspect he knows the truth and I also suspect that it's not going to make the MSM look very good when it's exposed.
UPDATE II: OpiniPundit is ready to make a prediction.....the leak of Valerie Plame to Woodward (and likely Novak) came from State, either Grossman or Armitage. Now let's wait and see.
Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward testified under oath Monday in the CIA leak case that a Senior Administration Official told him about CIA operative Valerie Plame and her position at the agency nearly a month before her identity was disclosed.
In a more than two-hour deposition, Woodward told Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald that the official casually told him in mid-June 2003 that Plame worked as a CIA analyst on weapons of mass destruction, and that he did not believe the information to be classified or sensitive, according to a statement Woodward released yesterday.
Fitzgerald interviewed Woodward about the previously undisclosed conversation after the official alerted the prosecutor to it on Nov. 3 -- one week after Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted in the investigation. (snip)
Woodward's statement said he testified: "I told Walter Pincus, a reporter at The Post, without naming my source, that I understood Wilson's wife worked at the CIA as a WMD analyst."
Pincus said he does not recall Woodward telling him that. In an interview, Pincus said he cannot imagine he would have forgotten such a conversation around the same time he was writing about Wilson.
Woodward said he also testified that he met with Libby on June 27, 2003, and discussed Iraq policy as part of his research for a book on President Bush's march to war. He said he does not believe Libby said anything about Plame.
He also told Fitzgerald that it is possible he asked Libby about Plame or her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV. He based that testimony on an 18-page list of questions he planned to ask Libby in an interview that included the phrases "yellowcake" and "Joe Wilson's wife."
Of interest, Woodward said he MAY have told Libby about Plame and her work for the CIA but he couldn't remember for sure. At the very least it casts doubt as to whether Libby was lying about hearing the information originally from "journalists". Instead of Russert he may have heard it from Woodward and just been mistaken.
Secondly, it shows direct contradictions of recollections within the MSM. Since a significant amount of the evidence against Libby is MSM testimony, any discredit brought upon them concerning the facts weakens the case as a whole. Proving the charges against Libby beyond a reasonable doubt has now become more difficult.
Any speculation as to who the Senior Administration Official was? If I was betting man, I'd put my money on George Tenet.UPDATE: The more I research this the stinkier it gets. Woodward has been shooting up warning flares since "Plamegate" began. His colleagues chose to ignore it. He said early on "don't go down that road."
I suspect he knows the truth and I also suspect that it's not going to make the MSM look very good when it's exposed.
UPDATE II: OpiniPundit is ready to make a prediction.....the leak of Valerie Plame to Woodward (and likely Novak) came from State, either Grossman or Armitage. Now let's wait and see.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Quote of the Day
Vice President Cheney's speech to the Frontiers of Freedom Institute 2005 Ronald Reagan Gala.
"The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone – but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history."
Bravo Mr. VP!
Entire transcript here
btw, just so you dont forget, OpiniPundit predicted this almost 2 weeks ago.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
No More Mr. Nice Guy?
Look for the White House to come out swinging in the coming weeks. My sources are telling me they plan to go on offense on several fronts to counteract the recent vitriol being spewed by the left.
"The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone – but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history."
Bravo Mr. VP!
Entire transcript here
btw, just so you dont forget, OpiniPundit predicted this almost 2 weeks ago.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
No More Mr. Nice Guy?
Look for the White House to come out swinging in the coming weeks. My sources are telling me they plan to go on offense on several fronts to counteract the recent vitriol being spewed by the left.
Keith Olbermann Lobbying for Bill O'Reilly's Firing?
KO is an agenda driven jerk with but one overriding motivation.....ENVY.
Did MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" pull the plug on a guest because she refused to call for Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly's firing?
The day before the election, O’Reilly interviewed Angela Alioto, former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The topic: The city's Proposition I - a resolution declaring that "the people of San Francisco oppose the federal government's use of public schools to recruit students for service in the military."
While O'Reilly was aghast over the proposition, Alioto complained the military was going into junior high school and "recruiting 12-year-olds."
On his radio show the next day, O'Reilly suggested that the military had no obligation to protect any locality that banned military recruitment, then joked that if he were president he'd announce:
"If al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to [al Qaeda] except San Francisco."
The comment enraged San Francisco officials, with several calling for O'Reilly's firing.
A source tells NewsMax that Olbermann's staff invited Alioto on his show Tuesday night, expecting that she would echo calls for O'Reilly's head.
A producer is said to have asked, "Now, you’re calling for O’Reilly’s firing, right?”
She told him that she wasn’t - explaining that the Fox host was merely exercising his first amendment rights.
With that, Alioto's segment was canceled.
But it looks like Olbermann's staff got what they wanted after all, replacing Alioto with Chris Daly, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors,
"
You know, this is dangerous," Daly told Olbermann on the air. "Fox News and Westwood One need to take some accountability for this and terminate Bill O'Reilly's employment."
Did MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" pull the plug on a guest because she refused to call for Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly's firing?
The day before the election, O’Reilly interviewed Angela Alioto, former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The topic: The city's Proposition I - a resolution declaring that "the people of San Francisco oppose the federal government's use of public schools to recruit students for service in the military."
While O'Reilly was aghast over the proposition, Alioto complained the military was going into junior high school and "recruiting 12-year-olds."
On his radio show the next day, O'Reilly suggested that the military had no obligation to protect any locality that banned military recruitment, then joked that if he were president he'd announce:
"If al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to [al Qaeda] except San Francisco."
The comment enraged San Francisco officials, with several calling for O'Reilly's firing.
A source tells NewsMax that Olbermann's staff invited Alioto on his show Tuesday night, expecting that she would echo calls for O'Reilly's head.
A producer is said to have asked, "Now, you’re calling for O’Reilly’s firing, right?”
She told him that she wasn’t - explaining that the Fox host was merely exercising his first amendment rights.
With that, Alioto's segment was canceled.
But it looks like Olbermann's staff got what they wanted after all, replacing Alioto with Chris Daly, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors,
"
You know, this is dangerous," Daly told Olbermann on the air. "Fox News and Westwood One need to take some accountability for this and terminate Bill O'Reilly's employment."
Factory Production Rebounds Strongly
Now what was that the Dems were saying about a Hoover economy?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose at the fastest pace in 17 months in October, posting a solid rebound from the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes. The Federal Reserve reported that industrial output was up a healthy 0.9 percent last month as refineries and oil and natural gas platforms began production again after widespread shutdowns caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Last month's increase followed a 1.5 percent plunge in September, which had been the biggest one-month drop in industrial production in more than two decades.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose at the fastest pace in 17 months in October, posting a solid rebound from the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes. The Federal Reserve reported that industrial output was up a healthy 0.9 percent last month as refineries and oil and natural gas platforms began production again after widespread shutdowns caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Last month's increase followed a 1.5 percent plunge in September, which had been the biggest one-month drop in industrial production in more than two decades.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Sign up for civil job: Chirac to rioters
Socialism on parade.
AFTER 18 nights of mob rioting, French President Jacques Chirac delivered his first formal televised address to the nation, admitting that the republic is in the grip of a "serious malaise" and a "crisis of identity".
Flanked by the French and EU flags, Mr Chirac gave a US-style presidential speech amid widespread consternation at his relative silence during the worst case of civil unrest in a generation.
Calling on "sons and daughters of the republic" to remain true to their national values, he lamented the "poison" of racial discrimination and admonished irresponsible parents for failing to keep their children in line.
Under the President's plan to revitalise the maligned suburbs and create more opportunities for young French people of migrant backgrounds, 50,000 civil service training jobs will be created.
Classic liberal solution........put underachievers on the payroll. Just another government sponsored and funded welfare program.
AFTER 18 nights of mob rioting, French President Jacques Chirac delivered his first formal televised address to the nation, admitting that the republic is in the grip of a "serious malaise" and a "crisis of identity".
Flanked by the French and EU flags, Mr Chirac gave a US-style presidential speech amid widespread consternation at his relative silence during the worst case of civil unrest in a generation.
Calling on "sons and daughters of the republic" to remain true to their national values, he lamented the "poison" of racial discrimination and admonished irresponsible parents for failing to keep their children in line.
Under the President's plan to revitalise the maligned suburbs and create more opportunities for young French people of migrant backgrounds, 50,000 civil service training jobs will be created.
Classic liberal solution........put underachievers on the payroll. Just another government sponsored and funded welfare program.
Stewart's 'Apprentice' Fired
Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Claus....
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 14) - NBC hasn't told lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, "You're fired." But to borrow from her own genteel phraseology, she "just doesn't fit" into the network's future schedule, either.
The General Electric Co.-owned broadcaster said Monday there will be no second edition of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," its faltering spin-off of the corporate-themed reality show starring real estate tycoon Donald Trump. But NBC also insisted it never planned to ask Stewart back anyway.
The show will leave the airwaves for good after next month's finale, capping a contest among 16 aspiring executives to win a $250,000 prize and a yearlong "apprenticeship" at Stewart's Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia company.
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 14) - NBC hasn't told lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, "You're fired." But to borrow from her own genteel phraseology, she "just doesn't fit" into the network's future schedule, either.
The General Electric Co.-owned broadcaster said Monday there will be no second edition of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," its faltering spin-off of the corporate-themed reality show starring real estate tycoon Donald Trump. But NBC also insisted it never planned to ask Stewart back anyway.
The show will leave the airwaves for good after next month's finale, capping a contest among 16 aspiring executives to win a $250,000 prize and a yearlong "apprenticeship" at Stewart's Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia company.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Loose Lipped Liberal
Aside from getting a solid butt kicking on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Rockefeller said something that I found rather inexplicable.....
WALLACE: ...in October of 2002 in which you authorized the use of force, you went further than the president ever did. Let's watch:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROCKEFELLER: I do believe that Iraq poses an imminent threat, but I also believe that after September 11th that question is increasingly outdated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now, the president never said that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat. As you saw, you did say that. If anyone hyped the intelligence, isn't it Jay Rockefeller?
ROCKEFELLER: No. I mean, this question is asked a thousand times and I'll be happy to answer it a thousand times. I took a trip by myself in January of 2002 to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, and I told each of the heads of state that it was my view that George Bush had already made up his mind to go to war against Iraq, that that was a predetermined set course which had taken shape shortly after 9/11.
Now, the intelligence that they had and the intelligence that we had were probably different. We didn't get the presidential daily briefs. We got only a finished product, a finished product, a consensual view of the intelligence community, which does not allow for agencies — like in the case of the aluminum tubes, the Department of Energy said these aren't thick enough to handle nuclear power.
They left that out and went ahead with, "They have aluminum tubes and they're going to develop nuclear power."
WALLACE: Senator, you're quite right. You didn't get the presidential daily brief or the senior executive intelligence brief. You got the national intelligence estimate.
But the Silberman commission, a presidential commission that looked into this, did get copies of those briefs, and they say that they were, if anything, even more alarmist, even less nuanced, than the intelligence you saw...
What do they call it when someone in a position of authority ie. the senior Dem on the Senate intel committee gives our enemies a heads up that war is imminent?
WALLACE: ...in October of 2002 in which you authorized the use of force, you went further than the president ever did. Let's watch:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROCKEFELLER: I do believe that Iraq poses an imminent threat, but I also believe that after September 11th that question is increasingly outdated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now, the president never said that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat. As you saw, you did say that. If anyone hyped the intelligence, isn't it Jay Rockefeller?
ROCKEFELLER: No. I mean, this question is asked a thousand times and I'll be happy to answer it a thousand times. I took a trip by myself in January of 2002 to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, and I told each of the heads of state that it was my view that George Bush had already made up his mind to go to war against Iraq, that that was a predetermined set course which had taken shape shortly after 9/11.
Now, the intelligence that they had and the intelligence that we had were probably different. We didn't get the presidential daily briefs. We got only a finished product, a finished product, a consensual view of the intelligence community, which does not allow for agencies — like in the case of the aluminum tubes, the Department of Energy said these aren't thick enough to handle nuclear power.
They left that out and went ahead with, "They have aluminum tubes and they're going to develop nuclear power."
WALLACE: Senator, you're quite right. You didn't get the presidential daily brief or the senior executive intelligence brief. You got the national intelligence estimate.
But the Silberman commission, a presidential commission that looked into this, did get copies of those briefs, and they say that they were, if anything, even more alarmist, even less nuanced, than the intelligence you saw...
What do they call it when someone in a position of authority ie. the senior Dem on the Senate intel committee gives our enemies a heads up that war is imminent?
Stolen Iranian laptop displayed as evidence of nuclear program: report
More evidence supporting what most of us already know.....
WASHINGTON (AFP) Nov 13, 2005US intelligence officials have shown leaders of the International Atomic Energy Agency a stolen Iranian laptop computer containing nuclear designs as proof the country is secretly pursuing a nuclear weapons program, The New York Times reported on its website Saturday.
The newspaper said that during the demonstration, which took place in Vienna in mid-July, officials displayed selections from more than a thousand pages of Iranian computer simulations and accounts of experiments, saying they showed a long effort to design a nuclear warhead.
The Americans acknowledged that the documents do not prove that Iran has an atomic bomb, the report said.
But they presented them as the strongest evidence yet that the country is trying to develop a compact warhead to fit atop its Shahab missile, which can reach Israel and other countries in the Middle East.
In related news, Top Democrat leadership stated "we need a full congressional inquiry to determine who stole this laptop and what role the Bush administration played".
WASHINGTON (AFP) Nov 13, 2005US intelligence officials have shown leaders of the International Atomic Energy Agency a stolen Iranian laptop computer containing nuclear designs as proof the country is secretly pursuing a nuclear weapons program, The New York Times reported on its website Saturday.
The newspaper said that during the demonstration, which took place in Vienna in mid-July, officials displayed selections from more than a thousand pages of Iranian computer simulations and accounts of experiments, saying they showed a long effort to design a nuclear warhead.
The Americans acknowledged that the documents do not prove that Iran has an atomic bomb, the report said.
But they presented them as the strongest evidence yet that the country is trying to develop a compact warhead to fit atop its Shahab missile, which can reach Israel and other countries in the Middle East.
In related news, Top Democrat leadership stated "we need a full congressional inquiry to determine who stole this laptop and what role the Bush administration played".
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Sadaam Had More Than Enough Cake
Yellow cake that is.....
Though President Bush didn't mention it in his speech yesterday rebutting critics of his administration's use of intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, experts say that Saddam Hussein had stockpiled enough partially enriched uranium to produce at least one full-fledged nuclear bomb.
Commenting on Saddam's enriched uranium stash after the U.S. Energy Department removed it to Oak Ridge, Tenn., in June 2004, top physicist Ivan Oelrich told the Associated Press:
"[Saddam's] 1.95 tons of low-enriched uranium could be used to produce enough highly enriched uranium to make a single nuclear bomb."
Oelrich, a leading member of the Federation of American Scientists, is not alone in that assessment.
Even Saddam's 500-ton un-enriched uranium stockpile, which he stored at the same nuclear weapons research facility where inspectors found his partially enriched stash, posed a potential threat.
In a March 2003 op-ed piece for London's Evening Standard, Norman Dombey, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Sussex, calculated that Saddam's yellowcake could have yielded a staggering nuclear arsenal
"You have a warehouse containing 500 tons of natural uranium," Dombey wrote. "You need 25 kilograms of U235 to build one weapon. How many nuclear weapons can you build?
"The answer is 142 [nuclear bombs]," he said.
Though President Bush didn't mention it in his speech yesterday rebutting critics of his administration's use of intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, experts say that Saddam Hussein had stockpiled enough partially enriched uranium to produce at least one full-fledged nuclear bomb.
Commenting on Saddam's enriched uranium stash after the U.S. Energy Department removed it to Oak Ridge, Tenn., in June 2004, top physicist Ivan Oelrich told the Associated Press:
"[Saddam's] 1.95 tons of low-enriched uranium could be used to produce enough highly enriched uranium to make a single nuclear bomb."
Oelrich, a leading member of the Federation of American Scientists, is not alone in that assessment.
Even Saddam's 500-ton un-enriched uranium stockpile, which he stored at the same nuclear weapons research facility where inspectors found his partially enriched stash, posed a potential threat.
In a March 2003 op-ed piece for London's Evening Standard, Norman Dombey, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Sussex, calculated that Saddam's yellowcake could have yielded a staggering nuclear arsenal
"You have a warehouse containing 500 tons of natural uranium," Dombey wrote. "You need 25 kilograms of U235 to build one weapon. How many nuclear weapons can you build?
"The answer is 142 [nuclear bombs]," he said.
Friday, November 11, 2005
A Veterans Day Desecration
Veterans arrested for "trespassing" in a veterans cemetery??
Protesters led by a veterans post tried to remove a flag display placed by peace activists at a veterans cemetery, and five were charged with criminal trespass.
The display remained intact Friday, Veterans Day, despite a threat by at least one of the protesters to return later to finish yanking up the flags.
The display of 2,000 white flags, meant to remember U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, was set up at Veterans Memorial Park cemetery Oct. 30 under a permit issued to Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice.
Members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post complained, saying they wanted the flags removed before Veterans Day. The permit allows the flags to remain in place until the first snowfall.
On Thursday, about 10 people went to the cemetery and, under the glare of television camera lights, some began removing the flags as eight peace group members and sympathizers gathered nearby. Police moved in quickly to make the arrests.
Wayne Elkins, the VFW commander who led the protesters and was among those detained, said he had no problem with the peace group, as long as it stays out of the cemetery.
"They desecrated our veterans' grounds. If they want to protest, let them protest. We don't mind. But to desecrate hallowed ground is wrong," he said.
Waterville Maine must now be reasoned part of the "euro-zone". Too bad the vets weren't waiting for the "activists" as I'm sure they could have helped them find a more appropriate place to stick the white flags.
Protesters led by a veterans post tried to remove a flag display placed by peace activists at a veterans cemetery, and five were charged with criminal trespass.
The display remained intact Friday, Veterans Day, despite a threat by at least one of the protesters to return later to finish yanking up the flags.
The display of 2,000 white flags, meant to remember U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, was set up at Veterans Memorial Park cemetery Oct. 30 under a permit issued to Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice.
Members of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post complained, saying they wanted the flags removed before Veterans Day. The permit allows the flags to remain in place until the first snowfall.
On Thursday, about 10 people went to the cemetery and, under the glare of television camera lights, some began removing the flags as eight peace group members and sympathizers gathered nearby. Police moved in quickly to make the arrests.
Wayne Elkins, the VFW commander who led the protesters and was among those detained, said he had no problem with the peace group, as long as it stays out of the cemetery.
"They desecrated our veterans' grounds. If they want to protest, let them protest. We don't mind. But to desecrate hallowed ground is wrong," he said.
Waterville Maine must now be reasoned part of the "euro-zone". Too bad the vets weren't waiting for the "activists" as I'm sure they could have helped them find a more appropriate place to stick the white flags.
Bush Shows Unmistakeable Signs of Life.
President Bush gets his mojo back and makes a really excellent speech both setting the record straight on our success in Iraq and rebuking the Dems. Most memorable line....While it is legitimate to criticize my decision to go to war, attempting to rewrite history of why we went to war isn't"...... "it is deeply irresponsible to rewrite the history of how that war began."
more here
Thursday, November 10, 2005
California Chickens Coming Home to Roost......in Tennessee
Could anything be more appropriate after Californians in misguided ambivelance vote down common sense initiatives that would have brought the state more in line with mainstreet USA.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it is moving its North American headquarters from California to the Nashville area.
"The board of Nissan decided to relocate our North American headquarters, and we're coming to Tennessee," Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a news conference at the state Capitol attended by Gov. Phil Bredesen and other top state officials.
The headquarters, which has been based in Gardena, Calif., [since the late 1960's] will move to Williamson County, a fast-growing suburb south of Nashville.
The nearly 1,300 people employed at Nissan's Los Angeles-area headquarters work in management, marketing, advertising, sales and distribution and dealership development for North America.
Ghosn cited lower real estate and business taxes as major reasons for the move.
"The costs of doing business in Southern California are much higher than the costs of doing business in Tennessee."
Californians may be happy with the status quo, but their business community is obviously not and that my friends is going to leave a mark.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it is moving its North American headquarters from California to the Nashville area.
"The board of Nissan decided to relocate our North American headquarters, and we're coming to Tennessee," Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a news conference at the state Capitol attended by Gov. Phil Bredesen and other top state officials.
The headquarters, which has been based in Gardena, Calif., [since the late 1960's] will move to Williamson County, a fast-growing suburb south of Nashville.
The nearly 1,300 people employed at Nissan's Los Angeles-area headquarters work in management, marketing, advertising, sales and distribution and dealership development for North America.
Ghosn cited lower real estate and business taxes as major reasons for the move.
"The costs of doing business in Southern California are much higher than the costs of doing business in Tennessee."
Californians may be happy with the status quo, but their business community is obviously not and that my friends is going to leave a mark.
Three al Qaida Nabbed at Mexican Border
I hadn't heard a peep about this until now but here you have it.
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) let slip a bombshell disclosure at a news conference today to announce a bill targeting states that allow illegal aliens to get drivers licenses.
During the Q&A with reporters, Myrick gave as a reason for proposing the bill the recent capture of three al Qaeda terrorists at the U.S.-Mexico border.
A check of Google News turned up no references to this incident, yet Myrick stated this was a 'given fact.'
No reporter asked her about this revelation, but it was noted at the end of a Charlotte Observer article by Tim Funk.
Two Representatives from North Carolina, Virginia Foxx (R) and Patrick McHenry (R) stood with Myrick at the press conference. Neither commented on her matter of fact statement.
Rep. Myrick's remarks can be heard online at her Congressional Website here. the statement is made at about 8:45 into the press conference.
A call placed to Myrick's office in D.C. was not answered as the office is closed for the evening.
h/t Kristenn
Transcript:
"Our main concern is, who's in our state? I mean this is a critical issue today. I mean they just arrested down on the border, what a couple of weeks ago, three al Qaeda members who came across from Mexico into the United States. I mean that's a given fact. They were holding them in the jail down there."
This paragraph only
Update: Just got off the phone with Andy Polk Rep Myrick's press secretary. According to Polk Myrick's comments pertained to the detention of 3 "possible" al Qaida members near Nuevo Laredo. She had become aware of this from "news reports" which she could not identify with specificity.
I sensed a tad bit of "crawfishing" in both Polk's comments and demeanor. Basically I got the feeling that Myrick might have, after reflection, thought better of the comments she made and has since softened her stance a bit ie. "possible al Qaida" and arrested around Nuevo Laredo rather than definately "in the United States". If anyone can surface this news report she refers to It would be greatly appreciated as I have been unable to locate it.
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) let slip a bombshell disclosure at a news conference today to announce a bill targeting states that allow illegal aliens to get drivers licenses.
During the Q&A with reporters, Myrick gave as a reason for proposing the bill the recent capture of three al Qaeda terrorists at the U.S.-Mexico border.
A check of Google News turned up no references to this incident, yet Myrick stated this was a 'given fact.'
No reporter asked her about this revelation, but it was noted at the end of a Charlotte Observer article by Tim Funk.
Two Representatives from North Carolina, Virginia Foxx (R) and Patrick McHenry (R) stood with Myrick at the press conference. Neither commented on her matter of fact statement.
Rep. Myrick's remarks can be heard online at her Congressional Website here. the statement is made at about 8:45 into the press conference.
A call placed to Myrick's office in D.C. was not answered as the office is closed for the evening.
h/t Kristenn
Transcript:
"Our main concern is, who's in our state? I mean this is a critical issue today. I mean they just arrested down on the border, what a couple of weeks ago, three al Qaeda members who came across from Mexico into the United States. I mean that's a given fact. They were holding them in the jail down there."
This paragraph only
Update: Just got off the phone with Andy Polk Rep Myrick's press secretary. According to Polk Myrick's comments pertained to the detention of 3 "possible" al Qaida members near Nuevo Laredo. She had become aware of this from "news reports" which she could not identify with specificity.
I sensed a tad bit of "crawfishing" in both Polk's comments and demeanor. Basically I got the feeling that Myrick might have, after reflection, thought better of the comments she made and has since softened her stance a bit ie. "possible al Qaida" and arrested around Nuevo Laredo rather than definately "in the United States". If anyone can surface this news report she refers to It would be greatly appreciated as I have been unable to locate it.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
'Deport non-French rioters'
Sacre Bleu! A Frenchie actually displaying some stones.
Paris - Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday issued orders for non-French rioters convicted in the wave of urban violence to be deported - a measure directed at youths of Arab and African background living in the high-immigrant neighbourhoods involved in the unrest.
Sarkozy told prefects, or regional governors, to apply the order to foreigners including those who have valid French residency visas.
He told parliament that "120 foreigners, not all of whom are here illegally, have been convicted" of taking part in the nightly rampages that have occurred since October 27.
"I have asked the prefects to deport them from our national territory without delay, including those who have a residency visa," he said.
Paris - Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday issued orders for non-French rioters convicted in the wave of urban violence to be deported - a measure directed at youths of Arab and African background living in the high-immigrant neighbourhoods involved in the unrest.
Sarkozy told prefects, or regional governors, to apply the order to foreigners including those who have valid French residency visas.
He told parliament that "120 foreigners, not all of whom are here illegally, have been convicted" of taking part in the nightly rampages that have occurred since October 27.
"I have asked the prefects to deport them from our national territory without delay, including those who have a residency visa," he said.
Tuesday's Election Results Mixed
Last nights elections proved to be less than huge wins for either party. Democrats have reason to be heartened by maintaining their control of the Governorships in Virginia and New Jersey as well as defeating Arnies pet referendums in Cal-i--for-n-ia. On the other hand, Republicans can celebrate the lopsided victory to ban gay marriage in Texas in addition to a crushing defeat on issues 2-5 in Ohio and holding the New York mayorship.
Arguably the most significant of either parties victories was the trouncing of the Ohio election reform initiatives. These were Soros funded boondoggles that if passed could have conceivably turned Ohio into a "blue" state in one fell swoop.
Issue 2: 999K; 1738K; 36-64 (Issue 2 Fails) The Pro “Voter Fraud” Amendment. This amendment will make it possible for voting to go on for days and days (over a month) and no one is required to vote in their own precinct or prove their identity.
Issue 3: 889K; 1826K; 33-67 (Issue 3 Fails)The Pro “Campaign Corruption” Amendment. This lets unions, factions, splinter groups, pac-like groups, and sects funnel huge amounts of money into campaigns, but restricts individual voters like YOU.
Issue 4: 813K; 1899K; 30-70 (Issue 4 Fails)The Anti “Home Districts” Amendment. Instead of voting districts that are near your home, this amendment will let politicians design voting districts that could stretch across the entire state.
Issue 5: 794K; 1897K; 29-71 (Issue 5 Fails)The Pro “Voter Confusion/Florida Copycat” Amendment. This amendment will put our elections in the hands of appointed political cronies instead of accountable, elected officials. We don't want Washington activists counting “hanging and pregnant chads" in Ohio and telling us what to do.
It would have been nice to pick up a governors seat but it really was never in the cards. Be happy that the astute voters of Ohio prevented the moonbats from hijacking the process and thereby stacking the deck against Republicans for years to come.
Arguably the most significant of either parties victories was the trouncing of the Ohio election reform initiatives. These were Soros funded boondoggles that if passed could have conceivably turned Ohio into a "blue" state in one fell swoop.
Issue 2: 999K; 1738K; 36-64 (Issue 2 Fails) The Pro “Voter Fraud” Amendment. This amendment will make it possible for voting to go on for days and days (over a month) and no one is required to vote in their own precinct or prove their identity.
Issue 3: 889K; 1826K; 33-67 (Issue 3 Fails)The Pro “Campaign Corruption” Amendment. This lets unions, factions, splinter groups, pac-like groups, and sects funnel huge amounts of money into campaigns, but restricts individual voters like YOU.
Issue 4: 813K; 1899K; 30-70 (Issue 4 Fails)The Anti “Home Districts” Amendment. Instead of voting districts that are near your home, this amendment will let politicians design voting districts that could stretch across the entire state.
Issue 5: 794K; 1897K; 29-71 (Issue 5 Fails)The Pro “Voter Confusion/Florida Copycat” Amendment. This amendment will put our elections in the hands of appointed political cronies instead of accountable, elected officials. We don't want Washington activists counting “hanging and pregnant chads" in Ohio and telling us what to do.
It would have been nice to pick up a governors seat but it really was never in the cards. Be happy that the astute voters of Ohio prevented the moonbats from hijacking the process and thereby stacking the deck against Republicans for years to come.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Shocking phone tapes prove the dangers young girls face when seeking secret abortions in California
Granted this is by no means an unbiased source, nonetheless the tapes they offer up are chilling.
More than 90 audio tape recordings and transcripts of telephone calls to California abortion clinics provide graphic proof that many abortion clinics are willing to perform a secret abortion on a 13-year-old girl impregnated by a 22-year-old man without informing a parent or guardian.
And much worse, almost all of the abortion clinic staff assure the 13-year-old girl that they will NOT report her 22-year-old "boyfriend", even though she is a victim of sexual molestation and statutory rape. The abortion clinic staff shockingly state their willingness to provide a secret abortion and thus conceal her sexual abuse and exploitation and to then provide confidential post-abortion birth control -- and send her right back into the hands of her abuser!
A study of 46,000 pregnant school-age girls in California found that 71 percent of the fathers were adults, with an average age of 22.6 years. Thousands of minor girls seek abortions in California each month. Current state law lets abortion clinics perform taxpayer-funded abortions on young girls, with the girls' parents never knowing about this dangerous invasion of their family's life and privacy by strangers.
Listen for yourself here
More than 90 audio tape recordings and transcripts of telephone calls to California abortion clinics provide graphic proof that many abortion clinics are willing to perform a secret abortion on a 13-year-old girl impregnated by a 22-year-old man without informing a parent or guardian.
And much worse, almost all of the abortion clinic staff assure the 13-year-old girl that they will NOT report her 22-year-old "boyfriend", even though she is a victim of sexual molestation and statutory rape. The abortion clinic staff shockingly state their willingness to provide a secret abortion and thus conceal her sexual abuse and exploitation and to then provide confidential post-abortion birth control -- and send her right back into the hands of her abuser!
A study of 46,000 pregnant school-age girls in California found that 71 percent of the fathers were adults, with an average age of 22.6 years. Thousands of minor girls seek abortions in California each month. Current state law lets abortion clinics perform taxpayer-funded abortions on young girls, with the girls' parents never knowing about this dangerous invasion of their family's life and privacy by strangers.
Listen for yourself here
Overseas Terrorist Prison Leak
Another leak investigation only this one's actually important.
Look for a formal announcement from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert within the next couple of hours on a joint House and Senate Intelligence investigation into leaks to the media and special interest groups related to the CIA imprisonment of al Qaeda terrorists overseas.
E & P has the full story here
Look for a formal announcement from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert within the next couple of hours on a joint House and Senate Intelligence investigation into leaks to the media and special interest groups related to the CIA imprisonment of al Qaeda terrorists overseas.
E & P has the full story here
Monday, November 07, 2005
Muslim group warns on anti-terror laws (Great Britain)
Sounds like a threat to me.....
The government’s anti-terror legislation risks fueling community tensions similar to those that provoked violence in France, the Islamic Human Rights Commission has warned.
“What may happen here, as in France, is a sense of growing alienation of Muslims that feels excluded from mainstream society and that could be very dangerous,” Massoud Shadjareh, the commission’s chairman, told the FT.
In recent weeks, Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the Muslim Association of Britain, have raised concerns about the new terror laws.
But the critique of the government’s anti-terror strategy, published on Monday by the commission, challenged attempts by the prime minister to play down the concerns.
......the report suggests that the hardening of the political language used by Mr Blair in August, and the government’s drafting of new terror laws, is setting back hopes of building a political consensus, and weakening the desire of Muslims to integrate into Britain’s multicultural society.
Do what we say and no one get's hurt, see.
The government’s anti-terror legislation risks fueling community tensions similar to those that provoked violence in France, the Islamic Human Rights Commission has warned.
“What may happen here, as in France, is a sense of growing alienation of Muslims that feels excluded from mainstream society and that could be very dangerous,” Massoud Shadjareh, the commission’s chairman, told the FT.
In recent weeks, Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the Muslim Association of Britain, have raised concerns about the new terror laws.
But the critique of the government’s anti-terror strategy, published on Monday by the commission, challenged attempts by the prime minister to play down the concerns.
......the report suggests that the hardening of the political language used by Mr Blair in August, and the government’s drafting of new terror laws, is setting back hopes of building a political consensus, and weakening the desire of Muslims to integrate into Britain’s multicultural society.
Do what we say and no one get's hurt, see.
60% Favor Barrier on Mexican Border
It's time Bush put this on the big front burner and fast.
Rassmussen reports...
November 7, 2005--Seventy-five percent (75%) of Americans say that immigration issue are somewhat or very important in terms of how they will vote for President and Congress on Election Day. That includes 46% who consider the issue "very important."
Sixty percent (60%) of Americans say they favor building a barrier along the border between the United States and Mexico to help reduce illegal immigration. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 26% are opposed to this approach.
Forty-nine percent (49%) also favor a proposal that would end "birthright" citizenship to children born of illegal aliens in the United States. Forty-one percent (41%) are opposed.
If he doesn't, Hillary will.
Rassmussen reports...
November 7, 2005--Seventy-five percent (75%) of Americans say that immigration issue are somewhat or very important in terms of how they will vote for President and Congress on Election Day. That includes 46% who consider the issue "very important."
Sixty percent (60%) of Americans say they favor building a barrier along the border between the United States and Mexico to help reduce illegal immigration. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 26% are opposed to this approach.
Forty-nine percent (49%) also favor a proposal that would end "birthright" citizenship to children born of illegal aliens in the United States. Forty-one percent (41%) are opposed.
If he doesn't, Hillary will.
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