DINOSAUR MEDIA EXTINCTION Update(s)

Maybe they should take a more leftist position on issues as the fair and balanced approach they have been taking in years past doesn't appear to be working. Yea, that's the ticket.

NEW YORK The Audit Bureau of Circulations FAS-FAX report released Monday morning reveals that circulation sank again this spring, with circ at major metros declining dramatically. Gains were slight.

Since March 2005, circulation has been declining at a more rapid pace. This spring, the numbers were expected to be better because of easier comparisons. Yet for the six-month period ending March 2006 compared to the same period a year ago, circulation at newspapers in major cities across the country continued to drop. Most notable so far: the San Francisco Chronicle, which experienced a dramatic 15% decline in daily copies, to 398,246.

Daily circulation at the Los Angeles Times dropped about 5.4% to 851,832. Sunday proved better for the paper, down 1.8%. The San Jose Mercury News, which McClatchy intends to buy, also showed decreases in daily circ, down 7.6% to 242,865.

and this from Drudge....

Circulation For Top 20 Newspapers in USA

and this from Breitbart......

Newspaper Circulation Declines 2.6 Percent

And the beat goes on.

More Hypocrisy

Why are the same people who advocated that Generals in the military dicate to the "civilian" Secretary of Defense aghast that a military man will run the "civilian" CIA? Just more of thwe same from the left.

This btw, is not unprecedented by any stretch as the CIA has been run by military men in the past on 7 separate occasions.

French Political Scandal Threatens Chirac

Sacre Bleu!

PARIS - In Paris they're calling it the French Watergate. What began as a discreet investigation into a computerized list of secret bank accounts has exploded into major scandal that threatens to disgrace President Jacques Chirac at the end of his long political career.

A CD-ROM sent to an investigative judge listed Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy among industrialists, secret agents and politicians holding accounts at Luxembourg bank Clearstream, flush with kickback money from the $2.8 million sale of French frigates to Taiwan in 1991.

The list turned out to be fake, embarrassing Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who ordered an investigation into the allegations.

Villepin is fending off demands for his resignation and allegations that the whole thing was a scheme to discredit Sarkozy, his chief rival for the governing party's presidential nomination in elections next year.

Now politicians are demanding that Chirac — who is widely believed to support Villepin for the nomination — break his silence over the scandal and answer questions over his own alleged role. This president's office insists he had little to do with it. But last week, Le Monde newspaper published extracts of testimony from an intelligence agent who said Villepin asked him to investigate Sarkozy on Chirac's orders.

General Hayden to Head CIA

CNN is reportingthat former NSA Chief General Hayden will replace Goss as the head of the CIA. This was rumored to be Bush's choice early on and from what I know of the good General, he's a solid pick.

Confirmation hearings could be interesting as this guy takes crap from no one.

Porter Goss Resigns

This one is perplexing considering the limited amount of time he's been overseeing the CIA. No doubt he's made a lot off enemies swinging the broom but he had the full faith and confidence of the White House, or so it appeared.

Updates to follow.....

Update: Fox's Chris Wallace is reporting that a high level White House source is telling him this is just part of Bolton's shake up. CNN however is spinning it as a likely "bad news revelation"

Another Kennedy Lie

A witness will reportedly come forward today and confirm that Patrick Kennedy was, contrary to his denial, indeed drinking the night of his automoblie crash.

Details to follow....

WASHINGTON -U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy insisted yesterday that he had consumed “no alcohol” before he slammed his Mustang convertible into a concrete barrier near his office, but a hostess at a popular Capitol Hill watering hole (Hawk & Dove) told the Herald she saw him drinking in the hours before the crash.

A bartender at the Tune Inn, which is next to the Hawk & Dove, also said Kennedy was spotted in the Hawk & Dove Wednesday.

Update:Cops: Kennedy Was Under Influence via The Smoking Gun

Capitol Police report says congressman's eyes watery, speech slurred

Police report here

Update II: Patrick Kennedy entering rehab for addiction to prescription drugs. The big story will be who intervened with the police on his behalf, stay tuned.

Update III: FOX- "Police are collecting the drink tabs from local bars."

Update IV: Commentary: Just how many passes do we give this guy. Two drug/alcohol related car accidents in 14 days. Two rehabs in less than 6 months. When does personal responsibility for ones actions become the focus?

Stocks end higher; Dow at fresh six-year high

The fact that the stock market can shake off $70 oil indicates earnings and the economic outlook as a whole appear strong enough to compensate.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks ended higher Thursday as strong April sales results for retailers and a drop in crude-oil prices to a one-month low lifted the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its best level in more than six years. Gains came even as the latest data showed a rise in labor costs in the first quarter, a worrying development for those investors concerned the Federal Reserve may have to keep raising interest rates to choke off inflationary pressure.

DOW up 38.58 points today at 11,438.86. The previous highest close was 11,489.36 on 1/19/2000. Today's close was within 285 points of the all time closing high of 11,722.98 on 1/14/2000.

Zarqawi, Curly and Moe in "The Jihadists"

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Thursday it was close to capturing the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, after discovering documents and the unedited copy of a video he released last week.

Zarqawi was throwing all his resources into attacks in Baghdad and was probably somewhere close to the capital, U.S. military spokesman Major-General Rick Lynch told a news conference.

At his weekly media briefing, Lynch showed brief clips from what he said was the unedited video showing Zarqawi, wearing New Balance running shoes, struggling to handle the machine gun he was shown firing in the version posted on the Internet and aired on television.

Another clip appears to show his aides grabbing the gun's hot muzzle and fumbling with it after he had finished.

"So what you saw on the Internet was what he wanted the world to see 'look at me. I am a capable leader of a capable organization and we are indeed declaring war against democracy in Iraq'," Lynch said. What he didn't show you were the clips that I showed you: wearing New Balance sneakers with his uniform, surrounded by supposedly competent subordinates who grab the hot barrel of a just-fired machine gun, ... a warrior leader, Zarqawi, who doesn't understand how to operate his weapons system.

Zarqawi's funniest home videos can be found here.

Lie of the Day "Torture Preventing Justice"

The latest post Moussaoui verdict meme being offered up by the left and the co-dependent Entrenched media is that the wrong man was prosecuted. A memo must have been held in reserve for distribution should the verdict come back for life imprisonment because the similarirty of comment emanating from these groups is uncanny.

"The real terrorists, the real bad guys cannot be prosecuted because the coercive tactics (the left calls it torture) used by the military to gleen intel from the likes of Sheik Mohamed, Mohammad al-Qahtani. etc. preclude prosecution for their crimes."

I have news for these intellectual goose stepping bleeding hearts, that's the idea. The last thing the government and the American people need is for these murderious scumbags to be afforded the same cvil rights as the average Joe being accused of a common crime. High priced lawyers who would defend Satan himself if it would elevate their profile, sympathetic juries who would excuse their abhorrent crimes because their father drank or their mother was a whore, judges who would give a 3 time child molester probation, millions of dollars spent to prosecute and endless appeals is a three ring circus we don't need.

The Bush administration realized this early on and that is why the vast majority of these murdering thugs will never see the inside of a civilian courtroom, nor should they. After every shred of intelligence can be wrenched from these turds coercivelly or otherwise they will face a military tribunal where the aformentioned nonsense ain't gonna play. The libs don't like it but it's the best, the only viable option for prosecuting those who have declared war on the people of the United States.

Civil courts are for civilian crimes military courts are for military crimes. The left attempts to blur the debate because they don't truly believe we are at war. Make no mistake we ARE at war and the terrorists have committed WAR crimes. The military tribunals are designed precisely for this and we can rest assured that ultimately justice will be done.

An April Shower of Tax Revenue

More evidence that tax cuts actually increase government receipts......

Soaring Treasury receipts signal a far smaller than expected U.S. budget deficit for fiscal year 2006.

All the daily data for receipt of tax payments by the U.S. Treasury for the key month of April are now available, and the results speak for themselves: By our estimates at Action Economics, April receipts soared at a 15% year-over-year rate. This is well in excess of the 2% year-over-year growth in outlays, which were depressed by a "pull ahead" of some spending into March because of calendar effects.

The April data signal that the fiscal 2006 U.S. budget deficit is on track to reach the vicinity of our $270 billion forecast, despite official and market forecasts that are all nearly $50 billion to $150 billion higher. A shortfall of this magnitude in the U.S. budget deficit from official forecasts by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) happens with remarkable consistency in healthy "middle years" of business expansions, and it's happening again.

Now let's just make them permanent.

Madeliene Albright: Bill Clinton 'Misstated' Bin Laden Offer

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright insisted Tuesday that Sudan never offered to round up Osama bin Laden and extradite him to the U.S. - saying President Clinton's claim to the contrary was "a misstatement."

Asked about Clinton's 2002 admission that six years earlier he had turned down Sudan's offer to extradite bin Laden because "he had commited no crime against America,"
Albright told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes": "He was not [offered]. He was not."

"If you look at the people who were saying that, there were many people who were lobbying for Sudan," she claimed.

But in a Feb. 2002 speech to a New York business group, Mr. Clinton detailed the episode, explaining "We'd been hearing that the Sudanese wanted America to start dealing with them again. They released him. At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America."

Baghdad neighborhood rises up and fights back

Great story, also refreshing to see the EM actually report it.

Abu Salah heard the screeching tires and gunfire outside his home in central Baghdad, and cowered. He'd feared this moment. He'd even plotted leaving the city, though he'd never followed through on his plan.

Now invaders had entered his street, and he knew that as the only Sunni on a street filled with Shiites, he was probably their target, whomever the invaders might be - insurgents, kidnappers or sectarian death squads.

"I was shaking; it was the fourth time in three days they'd invaded," he said. "I knew they were coming for me."

Then he heard another sound: the gunfire being returned.

He rushed from his house to see his neighbors - Shiite neighbors - on their roofs, in their windows, in their yards, firing at the attackers. In a trembling voice, he explained that at that moment he felt life change. He realized that his neighbors weren't going to stand by and let the bad guys win.

"I prefer now to die among my friends and neighbors rather than leave my home," he said. "I felt thrilled to see them fighting, all my neighbors standing next to each other guarding the area."

Hollywood star Robbins blasts US media ignorance of 'high crimes' in Iraq

Another Hollywood primadonna trying to "portray" the intellectual and failing miserably....

Acclaimed American actor/director Tim Robbins blasted the US government's policy on terrorism -- and the US media's failure to examine it critically -- at a news conference in Athens promoting his stage version of George Orwell's "1984".

"We have right now a media that is willfully ignoring the high crimes and misdemeanours of the president of the United States," the star of Hollywood hits including "Mystic River" and "The Player" told reporters.

"Clinton lied about a blowjob, and got impeached by the media and Congress," Robbins said.

"(Bush) got us into (the Iraq) war based on lies that he knew were lies. ... His war has recruited more Al-Qaeda members than Osama bin Laden could ever have dreamed for ... yet no one in the media is calling for impeachment," he said.

Robbins pointed out similarities between current US policies on terrorism and the authoritarian society described by Orwell.

Contrary to his warped interpretation, 1984 is a brilliant satire of the Stalinist society that Mr Robbins so admires.

10 TERRORISTS, ASSESSED AS FOREIGN, KILLED; THREE WEARING SUICIDE VESTS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed ten terrorists, three of them wearing suicide vests, and wounded one at approximately 1:30 a.m. May 2 at a safe house located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Balad while searching for an al-Qaida terrorist leader. Upon the troops’ arrival, one terrorist who was sleeping while on guard outside the safe house, woke up and attempted to engage the assault troops with a pistol. The terrorist was shot before he could fire his weapon. As the wounded terrorist fell backward, he reached toward his chest and detonated a suicide vest. None of the assault troops were harmed in the explosion.

Meanwhile, the troops killed nine other terrorists, seven of whom exited the safe house during the fight and two who were killed inside. Two of the nine terrorists were wearing suicide vests, but the troops killed these bombers before either could detonate his vest.

I just love a happy ending.

5 Biggest Immigrant Rally Day Truths +1

1. Illegal aliens HAVE NO RIGHTS. Rights in this country are constitutionally and legislatively afforded US citizens and people who are here LEGALLY.

2. Illegal aliens have NOTHING in common with the throngs of people who LEGALLY immigrated to this country in the 19th and 20th centuries other than being poor.

3. English IS the national language. In order to function in this society an immigrant MUST learn the national language as all have done before them. If companies wish to offer multilingual ads instructions etc, it is as a discretionary accomodation. It is incumbent upon no body including the government to do so.

4. Residing in this country for all non-citizens has and remains a privilege. Unlike legal citizenship and much like a drivers license that privilege CAN be revoked at any time.

5. The best way to plead ones case and gain groundswell support from the ~87% of Americans ambivalent to their cause IS NOT to spit in their face.

*Illegal aliens are NOT immigrants.

U.S. April ISM manufacturing index 57.3% vs 55.2% in March

Worst economy since......

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Factory activity in the United States accelerated in April, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday. The ISM index rose to 57.3% in April from 55.2% in March. The rise was larger than expected. The consensus forecast of estimates collected by Marketwatch was for the index to inch higher to 55.3%. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. New orders slipped to 57.6% in April from 58.4% in March, but production soared to 60.4 from 57.5. The price index jumped to 71.5% from 66.5%.

And concerning wages.....

Incomes, the fuel for future spending, advanced by 0.8 percent in March. That was up from a 0.3 percent increase in February and marked the largest gain since September.

Iraq Shiites hail partial deal with Sunnis on key ministries

I'm always cautious when making any blanket statements concerning the political situation in Iraq. The imbroglio has so many unquantifiable factors affecting the ultimate outcome that informed prognostication is more akin to rank speculation. I suppose "gut feel" is about as good a way to divine the truth as anything.

Personally I get the definate feeling that Iraq is turning the corner. Maliki has been a pleasant surprise in that he appears intent on governing in a non-sectarian manner. Unlike Jafaari, he seems to have the backbone to make proposals that are in the best interest of his entire country rather than pandering to specific groups and the motivation to see them through.

One thing has become abundantly clear, they won't push Maliki around as they did Jafaari. His policies may not be in lockstep with our interests but his governess will likely for Iraq and ultimately us, be far superior to Jafaari's impotence and inaction.

BAGHDAD, May 1, 2006 (AFP) - Iraq's dominant Shiite bloc said it had reached a preliminary deal with minority Sunnis Monday on sharing out the key posts in a national unity government although the details remained to be ironed out.

"We reached an agreement that the 'sovereign' posts would be distributed fairly," said Shiite politician Salam al-Maliki, the outgoing transport minister, after talks with Sunni leaders.
He was referring to the key defense, interior, foreign, oil and finance ministries.

"There is a consensus of views under which independent people should be nominated to the security ministries," the minister added.

Prime minister designate Nuri Maliki had already said he intended to name independent MPs to the interior and defense ministries to avoid allegations of sectarianism.

Iraqi armed rebels 'ready for peace'

"Ready for peace" is a euphemism for "want to surrender"

THE Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, claimed a peace deal with seven armed Sunni rebel groups was within reach after he met their representatives yesterday.

A spokesman for the president's office said Mr Talabani was optimistic that they would agree to lay down their arms.

I think we may reach an agreement with seven armed groups that visited me," his office said in a statement.

Mr Talabani's spokesman, Kamran Qaradaghi, refused to identify the seven groups, although they were believed to be Sunni Arab insurgents.

It was the first time a senior Iraqi official had acknowledged meeting figures from such rebel groups, although United States officials say privately they have talked with Iraqis claiming to have contacts with insurgents.

Shiite Bloc Ready to Forgo Interior Post

Are these groups beginning to learn the fine art of compromise?

The move could clear a major stumbling block in government talks with Sunnis and Kurds. In return, the coalition seeks control of Defense.

BAGHDAD — Leaders of Iraq's powerful Shiite Muslim political bloc said Friday that they were willing to give up control over the Interior Ministry and its police forces, a move that could ease both the fears of other sectarian groups and the formation of a new government.

Under Shiite leadership for the last year, the ministry has been accused of providing cover for death squads and militias that have targeted minority Sunni Arabs, stoking mistrust of security forces and spurring the growth of destabilizing armed groups.

U.S. GDP rises 4.8% in first quarter

More Hooverville

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. economy snapped back in the first quarter, growing at an annual rate of 4.8%, the fastest growth in more than two years, the Commerce Department said Friday.

French President Calls on World Bank to Pay PA Salaries

Just when we begin to forget why we so despise Jacques Chirac, he reminds us.......

French President Jacques Chirac called on Friday morning for the World Bank to pay the salaries of the Palestinian Authority government employees, according to the Associated Press.

Chirac said the World Bank should create a special fund in order to transfer monies earmarked for public service employees in the PA.

The French president met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday to discuss ways to help the cash-strapped PA.

Maybe a better idea would be to seize Suha Arafat's assets, the billions of $ stolen by her late husband, and pay the PA salaries with that.

Local al-Qaida Leader in Iraq Killed

More terrorist scumbags bite the dust.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi forces killed a local al-Qaida in Iraq leader and two other insurgents in a raid north of Baghdad on Friday, and roadside bombs killed an American soldier and an Iraqi policeman, officials said.

Iraqi commando forces acting on a tip raided a house where Hamid al-Takhi and the two other insurgents were hiding in Samarra, a city 60 miles north of Baghdad, said police Capt. Laith Mohammed. All three were killed in a gunbattle.

Mohammed said al-Takhi had been responsible for many insurgent attacks against coalition forces and civilians in the area.

Iraq cleric calls for disarmament

Mookie is deeply saddened......

Ayatollah Ali Sistani, one of Iraq's most senior Shia clerics, has called for the next government to dismantle militias operating in the country.

The grand ayatollah said only the government should have weapons, and its forces should be loyal to the nation - not to individual political parties.

Many Iraqis blame militias for a sharp rise in violence after the bombing of a Shia mosque in Samarra two months ago.

Iraq's new PM-designate has vowed to take action against the armed groups.

Jobless Claims

From Polipundit

The Labor Department says the four-week moving average of first-time claims for state jobless benefits is that of 309,000.

To put that into perspective, back in April 1998 – during the halcyon daze of the liberal media’s self-proclaimed “greatest economic expansion of all time” – the four-week moving average of initial jobless claims was 311,000.

Yep, more people were being laid off from their jobs back then when compared to today. That’s notwithstanding the fact upwards of 13 million more people are working today.

Iraq leader hopes to form government in a week

Surprisingly good news if it pans out.

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister-designate Nuri Al Maliki said on Thursday he hoped to form a government within a week after meeting Washington’s top defence and foreign affairs officials and two of Iraq’s most powerful clerics.

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumseld flew out, Maliki pledged to fill the key posts of interior and defence ministers with non-sectarian appointees.

Maliki has 30 days from last Saturday to present his cabinet to parliament for approval but has said he wants to move faster on creating a grand coalition of majority Shi’ite Muslims, Sunni Arabs and Kurds to combat the violence wracking the country.

Beardstown plant to close Monday for immigration rallies

The Entrenched Media gets it wrong again.

BEARDSTOWN - The Cargill Meat Solutions pork-processing plant will close Monday to allow workers to take part in a national day of immigration-rights rallies.

The Beardstown plant is one seven across the nation that Cargill will close that day, company spokesman Mark Klein said Tuesday.

"There seems to be a lot of momentum related to May 1, and it makes sense to go this way," Klein said. "We have similar feelings about immigration-reform proposals that a number of our employees have."

and also this....

Seaboard pork plant to close for immigration rally

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Seaboard Corp. said it will close its Guymon, Oklahoma, pork plant on Monday to allow workers to attend rallies planned for that day in support of immigration reform, the company said.

My real job entails dealing with these plants as I am a meat broker/trader by day. Don't believe the spin being offered up here. These companies have no grand empathy for their hispanic workers or their cause. They simply realize that trying to run a packing plant with 50+ percent of your workforce a no show spells disaster hence they're attempting to get ahead of the curve and bow to the inevitable.

The packing industry has gone through an evolution in labor force starting in the 1960s. Prior to that time the average packing plant worker made $15-$20/hr. with full benefits and a healthy pension. Many local kids went off to earn a four year degree only to come back and work in the plant because it was the highest paying job going. Then in an effort to achieve sector dominance IBP the largest packer at the time began importing labor starting with VietNamese but evolving into predominatly Hispanic, wages were slashed to slightly better than minimum and the pensions evaporated. When IBP did it, all plants were forced to follow suit to compete. Hence the situation we have today. It the reason meat prices have experienced the slowest "inflationary creep" over the past 30 years of practically any commodity.

Today the average beef or pork packing plant maintains a workforce of approximately 50% Hispanic, 20% Black, 2o% Oriental and 10% other.

To insinuate that these plants are gleefully losing a days production because of a sympathies with their workers beliefs is a monumental canard.

Second Sinai Attack Kills Only Bombers

NO VIRGINS for YOU!

Two suicide bombers struck Wednesday outside the main base of the multinational peacekeeping force near the Gaza border in Sinai, killing themselves but causing no other casualties in an attack two days after a deadly triple bombing in a beach resort.

The Interior Ministry, meanwhile, lowered the death toll from Monday's bombings in the Sinai beach resort of Dahab to 21, down from earlier reports of 24 killed. It gave no explanation.

Security officials said Wednesday's bombers struck about 35 minutes apart near the main Multinational Forces and Observer base about three miles south of the Rafa border crossing to Gaza in northern Sinai.

A statement from the Multinational Force headquarters in Rome said the two suicide bombers died but there were no other casualties.

McCarthy in Denial

Outed CIA analyst Mary McCarthy is denying through her lawyers that she was the source for the Washington Post's Dana Priest in revealing the secret prisons that housed terrorists overseas. McCarthy's lawyers, though, aren't throwing cold water on the notion that McCarthy may have had political inclinations and agendas that came into play with what even they termed unauthorized or undisclosed contacts with journalists.

Perhaps that's why the Howard Dean and others at the Democrat National Committee are looking to some of their donors to set up a legal defense fund for McCarthy."

If Scooter Libby can have a legal defense fund and website, then McCarthy should have one too," says a DNC staffer. "The DNC wouldn't set it up, we'd have some of our donors do it on the outside. There are plenty of consultants willing to help on this one, we think."

Two big differences tootz. Libby's defense fund was not spearheaded by Ken Mehlman and "set up" by the RNC. Secondly, Libby's position was, by definition, political whereas McCarthy's is necessarily NOT.

Durable goods orders soar 6.1% in March

Look for little coverage of this and non-stop coverage of gas prices. Wouldn't it be refreshing to actually have someone in the press make the correlation between the two? I'm not holding my breath.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Orders for new U.S.-made durable goods increased 6.1% in March, led by strong demand for airplanes, machinery and electronics, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The increase in new orders was the largest since May 2005 and far exceeded the 2.1% gain expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch.

Orders rose an upwardly revised 3.4% in February. Orders are up 12.2% year-to-date and have increased in five of the past six months.

The big story in March was continued strength in orders for civilian aircraft, which increased 71% in March after a 60% gain in February. Orders for airplanes are up 130% year-to-date, reflecting strong export sales by Boeing, in particular.

Excluding the 14% rise in transportation goods, new orders rose 2.8% in March, the biggest gain since August.

And then this....

Stunning 13.8% increase in new home sales

U.S. confidence hits 4-yr high in April

Spin as they might it appears that the Entrenched Media can't turn this silk purse into a sows ear......

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. consumer confidence confounded expectations and hit its highest level in almost four years in April, the Conference Board said Tuesday.
The consumer confidence index rose 2.1 points to 109.6 in April from a revised 107.5 in March.

The increase was unexpected. Economists forecast a decrease to about 106.3 in April from the initial estimate for March of 107.2, largely because of higher prices at the gasoline pump, according to a survey conducted by MarketWatch.

The present situation index rose to 136.2 in April from 133.3 in March.

The expectations index jumped to 91.9 in April from 90.3 last month.

"Recent improvements in the labor market have been a major driver behind the rise in confidence in early 2006," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center

Quote of the Day

Initially I thought this was from "Scrappleface"

"Blogging can be a useful addition" to the overall news presentation, Rather pointed out. But he added, "Accountability must play a larger role in blogging." Nagler concluded, "The only thing we have is our integrity. We are obligated to get it right."

That's like being advised on racial tolerance by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Former colleague says the fired Mary McCarthy ‘categorically denies’ being the source of the leak on agency renditions.

She admitted doing it before she denied doing it.

Newsweek/April 24, 2006 - A former CIA officer who was sacked last week after allegedly confessing to leaking secrets has denied she was the source of a controversial Washington Post story about alleged CIA secret detention operations in Eastern Europe, a friend of the operative told NEWSWEEK.

The fired official, Mary O. McCarthy, “categorically denies being the source of the leak,” one of McCarthy’s friends and former colleagues, Rand Beers, said Monday after speaking to McCarthy. Beers said he could not elaborate on this denial and McCarthy herself did not respond to a request for comment left by NEWSWEEK on her home answering machine. A national security advisor to Democratic Party candidate John Kerry during the 2004.

What's with Democrats and this modus operandi, some sort of pervasive leftist mental disease?

Blasts Strike Egypt Resort Town

Pi$$ing off more of their own.

Three explosions have been heard in the Egyptian resort town of Dahab accorsing to the Reuters News Agency.

A witness said he heard the blasts and saw smoke in a tourist bazaar area.

AP has this

Update: Haaretz.....Three explosions rocked Egypt's Sinai resort town of Dahab on Monday night, leaving at least 22 people dead and 150 wounded.

Topinka Takes Lead in IL Gov Race

For all my fellow Illini and other interested parties.....

April 24, 2006/Rasmussen--In the race for Illinois Governor, Republican State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka now leads Democratic Governor Rod R. Blagojevich 44% to 38%. In March, Topinka led 43% to 41%.

Topinka has now led in three of the four polls we have conducted of the race, albeit modestly for the most part. Our three-poll rolling average continues to show a tight race, with Topinka barely ahead 41%-40%. However, over the course of those three surveys, Topinka has gained ground each time.

Iraqi Parliament Meets

The Iraqis are forming a permanent government as I write. IraqtheModel is liveblogging this historic event.

Only the Tip of the Iceberg

By now you know about the CIA officer fired for leaking classified information to the Washington Post. Guess who hired her......None other than Sandy(pants) Burglar.

WASHINGTON – A CIA officer fired for leaking classified information was appointed as special assistant to President Clinton and senior director for intelligence programs by former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, who pleaded guilty to stealing highly classified documents.

Mary O'Neil McCarthy was fired Thursday for reportedly leaking classified information that contributed to a Washington Post report about alleged secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe.

She most recently worked for the CIA inspector general's office and served as a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Public records show McCarthy, a veteran CIA officer, had served as a special assistant to Clinton and, later, President Bush – a tenure that stretched from 1998 to 2001. She testified to the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks.

Culture of Corruption?

The pious holier than thou attitude that the left has been taking of late is coming back around to bite them in the a$$.

Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.), under fire from Republicans and watchdog groups over his personal financial dealings, will step aside, at least temporarily, as ranking member of the House ethics committee, according to Democratic insiders.

Regardless of who perpetrates it, corruption should be identified and the person(s) involved prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It happens in both parties and the Dems attempt to make it out as a one party problem will again show themselves to be the disingenuous hypocrits they are.

Shiites Pick al-Maliki as Prime Minister Nominee

New boss same as the old boss?

AP--BAGHDAD, Iraq — Shiite politicians agreed Friday to nominate Jawad al-Maliki as prime minister, replacing the incumbent in a bid to clear the way for a long-delayed new government, two Shiite officials said.

Al-Maliki is a top ally of outgoing Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, whose nomination had sparked sharp opposition from Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders and caused a deadlock lasting months.

Leaders of the seven parties that make up the Shiite alliance agreed on al-Maliki's nomination in a meeting Friday evening, said Jalal Eddin al-Sagheer, a member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the largest party in the alliance.

Al-Maliki won the nomination with agreement from six of the parties, said another SCIRI official, Ridha Jawad Taqi. The seventh party, Fadhila, had presented its own candidate, but only five of seven parties were needed to win a "consensus" agreement on a nominee.

The Shiite nominee is to be presented to a session of parliament on Saturday.

If Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties accept al-Maliki — and some have indicated they will — it could be a breakthrough in the two-month standoff that has prevented the forming of a national unity government.

It's curious that the Sunnis, Kurds etc are silent on this nomination. Will be interesting to see what happens as it is less than 24 hours before the Iraqi Parliment convenes to vote on these nominees. I'll update when I get more background information on al-Maliki.

Hillary Meter: Support Down for Former First Lady

These are really daunting numbers. Most people are quite familiar with her and the significant plurality don't like what they see.

Rassmussen--April 19, 2006--Just 26% of Americans say they will definitely vote for Senator Hillary Clinton if she runs for President in 2008. That matches the lowest level of support ever recorded for the former First Lady and is the sixth consecutive Hillary Meter poll showing her solid support below 30%.

The number who would definitely vote against Clinton in 2008 rose a couple of points in our latest survey to 41%.

Senator Clinton's effort to shift perceptions of her politics towards the center have stalled as well. She is viewed as politically liberal by 47% of voters while 35% see her as politically moderate.

Iraqi PM clears way for Shiites to replace him

It appears that al-Jaafari has finally seen the writing on the wall and realized his continued position is untenable

AP--Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari cleared the way Thursday for Shiite leaders to withdraw his nomination for a second term, a step that could break a months-long standoff that is blocking the formation of a new government.

Shiite lawmakers planned to meet Saturday to decide whether to replace Mr. al-Jaafari, who faced fierce opposition from Iraq's Kurdish and Sunni Arab parties.

“The alliance is leaning toward changing [the nomination]. The majority opinion is in favour of this,” said Bassem Sharif, a lawmaker in the seven-party Shiite coalition.

The move represents the first sign that Mr. al-Jaafari has abandoned his quest to keep the prime minister's post, only a day after he had repeated his steadfast refusal to step down.

The United States had put strong pressure on the Shiites to resolve the standoff quickly so they could form a government able to stabilize Iraq amid increasing sectarian violence.

Great news if it holds as Mookies sock puppet was the main hurdle to the formation of a permanent Iraqi government.

Kentucky Literature Prof Removed for Vandalizing Pro-life Display

Most off you have read about the deranged professor in Kentucky who encouraged and took part in the destruction of an approved pro life display on campus. She's history.....

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY, April 18, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Sally Jacobsen, a professor of language and literature at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) has been dismissed from her post after she incited a group of students to destroy an approved pro-life display erected by a campus pro-life student group.

Jacobsen, who also headed the NKU women’s studies program for three years, told the Kentucky Enquirer she had become so emotional at the sight of a field of white crosses planted as a symbolic cemetery for aborted children, that her strong feelings justified her action.

“Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it. Some of my students felt the same way, just outraged,” Jacobsen said.

Pulling up the crosses was similar to citizens taking down Nazi displays on Fountain Square, she said.

An ironic comparison considering the "Nazis" most infamous claim to fame was the genocide of millions of innocents.

Scott McClellan Resigns

Breaking....

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Wednesday he is resigning, continuing a shakeup in President George W. Bush's administration that has already yielded a new chief of staff and could lead to a change in the Cabinet.

Appearing with Bush on the White House South Lawn just before the president boarded a helicopter at the start of a trip, McClellan told Bush: "I have given it my all sir and I have given you my all sir, and I will continue to do so as we transition to a new press secretary."

Another Tawana Brawley?

As information filters out it appears that for at least one defendent it would have been physically impossible for him to have raped exotic dancer Crystal Magnum.

Defendant Seiligman went to bank ATM while rape supposedly happening.

12:02 Time stamped photos show girl arriving. Girl leaves, comes back, call friends on cell phone does other things. 12:19 Seiligman calls cab dispatcher 12:24 Seiligman takes cab to bank miles away, uses ATM card (photos prove it is him.) 12:42 after walking back to dorm, Seiligman uses security card to enter dorm. Does not leave.

Also, Seiligman was never interviewed by police. DA seeking reelection in a hard fought campaign took "Dancers" word that he raped her.

In addition the bruises that are allegedly a result of the "rape" are clearly visible in photos taken at or around midnight. Well before the assault supposedly took place.

Not that this proves anything but it is interesting to note that Crystal Magnum has a substance abuse problem, here license has been suspended 3 times, she has an eluding police conviction, a larceny conviction, sand has spent time in jail.

There are also reports that she stole a cab and led police on a high speed chase which ended when she a "narrowly missed" running over a police officer in a last ditch attempt to get away.

No delicate flower this one.

Bad Advertising

Reminds me of a bumper sticker on my Grandads Hudson. Hope you haven't just eaten.

Bush Taps Portman As New Budget Director

Solid pick.

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Tuesday nominated Trade Representative Rob Portman as the White House budget director, turning to a Washington insider and longtime friend as part of an effort to re-energize the administration and boost the president's record-low approval ratings.

Bush said more changes are in the works under his new chief of staff, Joshua Bolten.

"With a new man will come some changes," the president said. But he emphasized anew that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's job is safe, despite calls for his resignation from a half dozen retired military commanders.

Cruise: I will eat the placenta

With a nice Chianti and some fava beans.....

Tom Cruise is planning to eat the placenta after fiancèe Katie Holmes gives birth to their child.

The actor, 43, said: 'I thought that would be good. Very nutritious.'

But when it was pointed out it would be a big meal, he added: 'OK. Maybe I won't.' The baby is due any day and the couple plan to wed in the summer.

What a sick fu%$.

Sheehan joins anti-war protesters at UT

She sure can draw a crowd....

About 50 people, including famed anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, gathered Monday at the University of Texas to protest the war in Iraq.

Demonstrators, some with signs, assembled on the East Mall and listened to anti-war speeches. The marchers, organized by a UT student group, Campus Antiwar Movement to End the Occupations, planned to march to the nearby ROTC building.

Sheehan said her message to military recruits would be "Don't go into this illegal, immoral war. Once you get over there, it's hard to come home."

A group of about 20 counterdemonstrators also gathered, and a shouting match ensued.

She better stick to holding her "rallies" in Berkely.

Partners in Evil

Neville Chamberlain reincarnated....

Last week, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan referred to the thugs running Iran as his “partners”, whom he hopes can be convinced “to come back to the table” for more negotiations.

Here is how his “partner”, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, defines partnership. He rebuffed Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, who made a personal visit to Tehran on April 12th to ask its leaders to assure the world of Iran’s good intentions by suspending the regime’s nuclear enrichment program and proving that it is not seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. Not bothering to meet with Dr. ElBaradei himself, Kofi’s most trustworthy partner Ahmadinejad made clear what the outcome of the visit would be, as reported by the official IRNA news agency:

"Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: Be angry at us and die of this anger. Today Iran is a nuclear country and enjoys the position of a powerful country."

Generals defend Rumsfeld

Hmmmmm let's see, 19 stars support Rumsfeld 13 stars oppose, guess he stays.

Several retired generals who worked with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, including a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday decried calls for the secretary's resignation from other retired officers.

President Bush repeated his support for his point man in the war against terrorists.

"I think what we see happening with retired general officers is bad for the military, bad for civil-military relations and bad for the country," retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Mr. Bush, said in an interview with The Washington Times.

He said he would elaborate his views in an op-ed essay.

This whole story and the EM hype was really ridiculous. A certain number of generals are going to disagree on strategy and tactics regardless of the circumstance. It's been the case since the beginning of our republic from the revolutionary war, the civil war right up untill today. The fact that certain generals disagree with the Secretary of Defense is a dog bites man story if there ever was one.

Light Blogging

Sorry about the meager postings over the last few days. Lots of personal matters keeping me hopping. Should be back to normal soon.

September 1998 Document: Secret Research Programs Related to WMD (Translation)

Yet another important translation from jveritas. If you've been keeping score we have posted documents proving Sadaams support and collaboration against the US with terrorists including al-qaida, a continuing WMD program including nuclear and an active effort to conceal it all.

In pages 63 and 64 of document Document CMPC-2003-002284 , there is secret and confidential memo dated September 16 1998 concerning a meeting of the National Monitoring Department to discuss how to destroy some “non necessary documents” and keep the necessary one in a safe place according to the memo but the most important part of the memo is a paeagraph on how to handle “The Researches That Cannot Be Declared and that is related with the previous Prohibited Programs of WMD and how to make sure that information about these researches will not leak to the outside because it will be too dangerous if this happened”. Yet another document that proves without any doubt that Saddam Regime never stopped working in his WMD programs and Research and they were just waiting for the opportune moment to produce these WMD again on a large scale. Also remember that in September 1998 the UN inspectors were still in Iraq and they were kicked later on that year after some US air and missile strikes. So most definitely these Secret Research Programs related to WMD were still in existence and may have reached a more advanced stage from late 1998 to late 2002 where during this period of time there were no UN inspectors in Iraq. This document is another proof that we could have never trusted Saddam and that we had all the right to remove his brutal and terrorist regime.

Read the complete translation.

US economy's latest output: better jobs

Another liberal economic canard bites the dust....

CSM--Newest job numbers show that businesses are expanding opportunities in high-wage fields.

The US economy isn't just producing jobs these days, it's also producing good jobs. Alongside the ads for jobs handling a cash register or a spatula are these new opportunities:

• In St. Louis, AFB International is enlisting both technicians, paid $30,000 to $40,000, and PhD scientists, offered $80,000 to $100,000, in its quest for the perfect pet food.


• In Delaware, Honeywell plans to hire people at $40,000 to $100,000 to work in a data-storage center.

• In southern California, some of the latest openings involve working on the railroad, for $35,000 to $70,000 a year. Union Pacific plans to add 2,000 employees altogether.

These reports in the past month symbolize a welcome trend during an economic expansion that at first offered only tepid job gains, both in quantity and quality.

Porn star's offer to Bin Laden

Bin Laden: Hmmmm Cicci or camel, Cicci or camel?

Ananova--Italy's most famous porn star Cicciolina has offered herself to Osama Bin Laden.

The 55-year-old actress said it was about time somebody tackled the terrorist and claimed she could be just the woman for the job.

Speaking at an erotic fair in Bucharest, Romania, Cicciolina said: "It is time someone did something about Bin Laden, and I am ready to do it.

"I am ready to make a deal, he can have me in exchange for an end to his tyranny. My breasts have only ever helped people while Bin Laden has killed thousands of innocent victims."

Malaysian Man Gets $218 Trillion Phone Bill

Must've mistakenly got my kids cellphone bill.....

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian man said he nearly fainted when he recieved a $218 trillion phone bill and was ordered to pay up within 10 days or face prosecution, a newspaper reported Monday.

Yahaya Wahab said he disconnected his late father's phone line in January after he died and settled the 84 ringgit ($23) bill, the New Straits Times reported.

But Telekom Malaysia later sent him a 806,400,000,000,000.01 ringgit ($218 trillion) bill for recent telephone calls along with orders to settle within 10 days or face legal proceedings, the newspaper reported.

Anti-war protesters interrupt Hillary Clinton's speech at university

Her thighness can expect a lot more of this for the next year and a half. The fact that it's coming from her own base makes it particularly satisfying.

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) - Anti-war protesters interrupted U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech at Brown University by heckling the New York Democrat for four solid minutes before police escorted them out of the auditorium.

Clinton was about eight minutes into her 50-minute speech, "Women Leaders,'' on Saturday night when an unidentified man stood and shouted "Is it leadership to support the war?''

He was quickly joined by two other hecklers as he stood on his seat and continued to criticize Clinton for her vote to authorize the U.S. invasion of Iraq and her subsequent votes to fund the war.

1997 Document: Orders To Remove All Information Related To WMD From Computers (Translation)

Here is the latest find from jveritas....

Pages 99 to129 of document CMPC-2003-00013038 dated in March 1997, many years after Saddam was supposed to fully comply with the UN resolutions to disarm his WMD and reveal everything to the UN inspectors, include many correspondences from the Iraqi intelligence service asking their employees not to store any information related to WMD and remove any information they have regarding WMD from their computers and records. This is yet another document that shows how Saddam Regime was doing all their efforts to hide their WMD programs or any information relate to it from the UN inspectors, a clear sign that this regime never really complied and they always wanted to keep their WMD programs and production.

Beginning of Translation of Page 107:

Subject: Pledge

I am the signatory below, I pledge not to store any information related to the Prohibited Weapons on any computer that we have installed and evacuate the related numbered magnetic discs to outside the location. And for this I sign

Signature
Name: Issam Shaker
Position: Director of Administration in the Fourth Directory
Directory: The Forth Directory
Date: 26/3/1997

Misleading Headline of the Week

"W. House Does Not Dispute Bush leak Allegation"

By a multiple times past winner......Reuters

FYI Reuters, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi etc. etc. a President may disclose or convey information at his pleasure. Presidents by definition cannot "leak" information because it is at their discretion what is and is not presented to the public.

EU Ends Direct Aid to Palestinian Gov't

In a rare display of spine....

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union has cut off direct aid payments to the Hamas-led Palestinian government because of its refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel, the EU's executive office said Friday.

Hamas said the decision amounts to collective punishment of Palestinian people. The 25-nation EU is the largest international donor to Palestinian Authority. (And, the EU is exercising their democratic right to do with their money what they choose).

"We call on the EU not to adopt such decisions and policies, which we consider collective punishment against the Palestinian people, because they exercised their democratic right through elections," said legislator Mushir al-Masri, head of Hamas' parliament faction.

European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said some $36.9 million marked for release later this year was at stake. She added that the temporary aid cut-off would not affect humanitarian aid sent to non-governmental organizations or to U.N. relief agencies.

Unemployment Drops to 4.7%

As hard as they will try the Entrenched Media will have a hard time spinning this negatively. That's 5.2 Million jobs added since August 2003.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Employers added 211,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate unexpectedly slipped back to a 4-1/2-year low 4.7%, the government said Friday.

The report is likely to keep concern about potential inflation on the front burner.

The pace of hiring last month was stronger than the 190,000 jobs that had been forecast by analysts, who also had expected the unemployment rate to be unchanged at February's 4.8%.

Top insurgent 'caught in Baghdad'

Time to break out the bamboo shoots and thumbscrews....

The US military says it has captured a leading figure in the Iraqi insurgency in the capital Baghdad.

Muhammad al-Ubaydi is said to have been a close associate of the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Zarqawi is Iraq's most notorious insurgent, associated with bombings and the beheading of foreign hostages.

The US military said Mr Ubaydi was captured on 7 March, but the announcement of his capture was delayed until DNA tests confirmed his identity.

It said he was a senior intelligence official during Saddam Hussein's regime and a prime suspect in the kidnapping of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena last year.

March 2001 Document: Saddam Regime Recruits Suicide Terrorists to Hit US Interests (Translation

Another great find by our friendly translating workhorse jveritas. Here we have additional evidence that Saadam was actively searching for terrorists to "strike American interests"

Page 6 from document BIAP 2003-000654 is a Top Secret letter dated March/11/2001 six months prior to 9/11/2001, proves that not only Saddam Regime supported terrorists organization like Hamas and Al Qaeda as we have learned from other documents but also they were recruiting Suicide Terrorist Bombers to hit US interests. Saddam Regime was a TERRORIST REGIME and there was no other way but to destroy it after 9/11.

Beginning of the translation of page 6 from document BIAP 2003-000654

In the Name of God the Merciful The Compassionate

Top Secret

The Command of Ali Bin Abi Taleb Air Force Base
No 3/6/104
Date 11 March 2001
To all the Units

Subject: Volunteer for Suicide Mission

The top secret letter 2205 of the Military Branch of Al Qadisya on 4/3/2001 announced by the top secret letter 246 from the Command of the military sector of Zi Kar on 8/3/2001 announced to us by the top secret letter 154 from the Command of Ali Military Division on 10/3/2001 we ask to provide that Division with the names of those who desire to volunteer for Suicide Mission to liberate Palestine and to strike American Interests and according what is shown below to please review and inform us.

Air Brigadier General
Abdel Magid Hammot Ali
Commander of Ali Bin Abi Taleb Air Force Base
Air Colonel
Mohamad Majed Mohamadi.

LET US VOTE: ALIENS

First an impassioned cry to allow felons to vote, now non-citizens, whats next, ballots in Belarus?

April 5, 2006 -- A push to give Big Apple residents who aren't citizens the right to vote kicks off today, with throngs of immigrants flocking to City Hall to back legislation giving them access to the ballot box.

The Voting Rights Restoration Act would allow permanent residents, or "green card" holders, who have lived in the city for more than six months to vote in local elections.

"We have a large number of people who are documented and pay taxes, but can't vote," said Councilman Kendall Stewart (D-Manhattan), chairman of the council's Immigration Committee and a prime sponsor of the bill.

But Councilman James Oddo (R-S.I), who opposes the bill, called it "an affront on hardworking Americans."

Couric announces she is leaving Today

The perky one has made it official, she is leaving the Today Show to take the anchor's job at CBS. Talk about gravitas!

Saddam Regime Document: SADDAM MET WITH HIS NUCLEAR GROUP IN 2002 (Translation)

The latest from our ever vigilant friend jveritas. Click here for full text.

Pages 186 and 193 of document BIAP 2003 00090 carry one of the most important information revealed so far regarding Saddam Nuclear Program. In these two pages which document a summary of meetings held by members of The Military Office of the Iraqi Baath Party and dated May/12/2002 and June/9/2002 they have a section that discuss Saddam Hussein meeting with the Chairman of the Atomic Energy and an elite of researchers.

I first thought that this may be a reference to a meeting between Saddam and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) so I called both of IAEA offices in New York and Vienna to check if Saddam had any meeting with the IAEA Chairman prior to May 2002, and they indicated to me that they do not recall any such meeting of IAEA chairman and Saddam prior to May 2002.

What is also important is that President Bush in a speech dated October 7 2002 mentioned that Saddam has held numerous meetings with his nuclear Scientists and I quite from President Bush “The evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein has held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his "nuclear mujahideen" -- his nuclear holy warriors” (see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021007-8.html ).

So this document shows that it is true that in 2002 Saddam still has an active nuclear program if he still has a Chairman of the Atomic Energy Group and a group of Nuclear Scientists.

Sadaam had no nuclear program, right?

White House not the only home Bill & Hill left a shambles

Remember, you can't spell Hillbilly without "Hill"....

Since first lady Laura Bush has outed Hillary Clinton as a third-rate housekeeper with tacky taste, the Track feels compelled to throw in our two cents.

Let’s just say there was a reason why Bubba and his bride felt so comfy shacked up summer after summer near the pig sty on Dick Friedman’s Vineyard farm. America’s Guests were, in a word, slobs!

Rewind to the Summer of ’94, shortly after the limousine liberals wound up their summer vacation on the Rock by tearfully bidding adieu to their favorite holiday hangers-on at the airport in Edgartown.

After Air Force One blew off the isle, assorted Secret Service peeps, White House staffers, some islanders and, of course, the Track, headed back to the Friedman estate to kick back and celebrate the end of Bill and Hill’s Excellent (for them) Vacation.

The merriment - naturellement - led us to the well-appointed Adirondacks-style guest house vacated by the First Couple only hours before. And that’s where we were met by a load of dirty dishes in the sink, wet towels on the floor of the bathroom and an unmade bed.

Were these two raised by wolves?

And did we mention the overflowing trash can filled with the remains of four Dove Bars and some empty juice box containers. Yes, the Leader of the Free World sipped juice like a toddler from that tiny straw. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?

Anyone surprised by this?

Supreme Court Rejects War Powers Case

An indication of how Kennedy is going to rule on war powers?

WASHINGTON/WAPO -- A divided Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a man held until recently as an enemy combatant without traditional legal rights, in effect sidestepping a challenge to Bush administration wartime detention powers.

Jose Padilla was moved in January to Miami to face criminal charges, and the government argued that the appeal over his indefinite detention was now pointless.

Three justices said the court should have agreed to take up the case anyway: Justices David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.

An appeals court panel had all but called for the court to deal with the case, saying it was troubled by the Bush administration's change in legal strategy _ after holding Padilla more than three years without charges.

2003 Document: Iraqi Intelligence Asks Hamas To Conduct Terrorist Attacks Against The US.

The tenacious jveritas offers us more interesting translations from the 40,000+ documents released a few weeks back. This one offers encouragment and support for Hamas to attack the US throughout the world.

Page 22 of this document IISP-2003-00026588 which was written during the Iraq War in 2003 is from an Iraqi Intelligence officer to the Director of the Iraqi Intelligence Apparatus where he discussed with him information about Hamas eagerness to participate in the war against the US via the Palestinians students who are studying in Iraq. The intelligence officer expressed his great gratitude to Hamas but he added that the Iraqi regime will be happier if Hamas attacks US and Israeli interests inside and outside Israel. “however we will be happier if we hear about any campaign that target the US and Zionist interests inside the occupied territories and outside it.”

This document is yet another clear indication of Saddam regime undeniable connection and support to terrorists, and that this regime is a terrorist one.

Beginning of the translation of page 22

In the Name of God the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate

The Respectful Mr. Director of the Intelligence Apparatus

Subject: Hamas Movement

We would like to inform your Excellency with the following:

1.The representative of the Movement in Baghdad and told us the following:

A. The leadership of the Movement in Damascus contacted him several times since the start of the brutal American aggression on Iraq renewing the covenant of standing with us with all the capabilites of the Movement and the leadership of the Movement saluted the Jihad resistance stand of our heroic people in all its sections and its brave confrontation to the enemy attack with all the bravery, and patience, and absolute faith.

B. Dr. Abdel Aziz Al Rantisi (Al Rantisi became later on the leader of Hamas and he was killed in an Israeli air strike in April 2004.) contacted him from Gaza and he send his regards and the that of the Palestinian people to the leadership and the Iraqi people and they saluted their heroic confrontation to the American barbaric attack and they renewed the stand of the Palestinian people inside the occupied territories with Iraq in heart and body and Rantisi confirmed that he is asking to open the Arab borders to the volunteers to participate with the Iraqi people in its honorable war against of the forces of infidels and they will conduct demonstrations and suicide operations in support of the honorable stand of the Iraq.

2. The representative informed us about the departure of his family but he stayed and he is under our desecration to execute what is asked from him; he and his group from the members of the Movement who study in the country.

3. We assured him with our gratitude to their position and that it is not strange to the principles of the Movement and its work, and the sincerity of its intentions, however we will be happier if we hear about any campaign that targets the US and Zionist interests inside the occupied territories and outside it.

Please review, with regards.

End of translation

Successful Raid

The Pirate Armada made a sucessful boarding of the Progressive flagship, "The Daily Kos" Saturday at noon. Our crusty group of picaroons and privateers were victorious having eviscerated the scurvy blaggards to a man. Details at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Iraq Shias break ranks, turn on PM Jaafari

We first reported on this two weeks ago. Looks as though we finally have our long awaited confirmation.

BAGHDAD/Reuters - Senior members of Iraq’s ruling Shia Alliance bloc called publicly for the first time on Saturday for Ibrahim Al Jaafari to step down as prime minister to break months of deadlock over a national unity government.

“I call on Jaafari to take a courageous step and set a fine example by stepping down,” Kasim Daoud, a senior member of the independent group within the Alliance, told Reuters.

Other senior Alliance officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that four of seven main groups within the bloc wanted Jaafari to give up the nomination for a second term if, as is all but certain, he fails to persuade minority Sunni and Kurdish parties to drop their refusal to serve in a cabinet under him.

“There is a broad trend inside the Alliance who want Jaafari to do this (step aside) and we expect him to do so,” Daoud said.

Our original report

Pinhead of the Week

Cynthia McKinney refuses to apologize for assaulting a police officer and Nancy Pelosi says "It's no big deal"

American death toll in Iraq hits 2-yr. low

More evidence of a weakened insurgency. Also the Iraqis are assuming a greater % of combat duties and the coalition forces are providing more of a logistical support function.

WASHINGTON - U.S. casualties fell to their lowest totals in two years this month as Iraqis increasingly aimed attacks at each other rather than coalition forces, the U.S. military said yesterday.

Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch noted "a decrease in the number of casualties of the coalition forces and a significant increase in Iraqi casualties, both security forces and innocent men, women and children."

Figures from the Pentagon and watchdog groups showed that, through yesterday, 30 U.S. troops had been killed in March, the lowest total since the 20 who died in February 2004.

The number reflected a six-month downward trend since 96 troops were killed last October. At least 2,327 U.S. troops have lost their lives in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion and more than 17,300 have been wounded.

Jill Carroll--Something Not Adding Up

By now all of you know that Jill Carroll has been released by her captors and appears she is completely unharmed. According to reports relating to her debriefing concerning her captors, she has been "somewhat uncooperative" In addition she has made some pretty curious statements saying she was never threatened and praising her captors for the treatment she received.....

"They never said they would hit me, never threatened me in any way.""I was kept in a very good, small safe place, a safe room, nice furniture," she said, adding that she was given clothing and plenty of food. "I was allowed to take showers, go to the bathroom when I wanted," she said.

This has led some to speculate that she is suffering from "Helsinki Syndrome" (that's Helsinki Finland not Sweden). I am not buying it.

Just what are her beliefs? This from the Jordan Times

The kidnappers who abducted her could not have chosen a more wrong target. True, Jill is a US citizen. But she is also more critical of US policies towards the Middle East than many Arabs.

Though as a reporter she always complies with the strictest requirements of objectivity and impartiality, Jill has been from day one opposed to the war, to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. More than just being sympathetic with average Iraqis under war and occupation, Jill is a true believer in Arab causes.

and this from ITalk News.....

She is considered one of the best journalists who stood against the American occupation of Iraq and she focused her articles on telling the world about the Iraqi people’s suffering.”

From what we know of Jill Carroll it is not unreasonable to conclude that she is a left leaning pascifist who's sympathies clearly lie not just with with the Arab people but also the insurgency. It appears that in her mind support for both are neither inconsistent or mutually exclusive, but rather, intertwined.

The motivations for her statements concerning the kidnappers is further drawn into question by the fact that her translator was brutally executed by these very same people she now chooses to defend. We also remember the infamous video shortly after her capture where she weeps through a statement as several AK 47s trained on her head. Seems a bit inconsistent with her declaration that "she wasn't ever threatened".

What exactly is going on with Jill Carroll remains difficult to decipher with what we know so far. One thing for certain, her behavior, demeanor and public statements are not squaring with the facts as we know them.

Is she just the typical closet peacnik masquerading as a journalist who blames America for everything and refuses to accept the evil that is the terrorist insurgency? Or is her inexplicable behavior being made under duress or just a symptom of the mental anguish brought on by her captivity. At this point it's all speculation but one thing for sure, this story is not over.

Feingold Asks John Dean To Testify On Censure Resolution

One of the most blatantly disingenuous and might I add lame schemes to portray President Bush in a negative light to date. This rather juvenile attempt to associate Bush's NSA wiretapping and President Nixons Watergate coverup illustrates perfectly the depths to which Democrats will sink to weaken this administration.

WASHINGTON /AP-- Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold is calling on Watergate's John Dean to testify at a hearing Friday on the senator's censure resolution.

Dean testified before the Senate committee investigating the events that eventually led to President Nixon's impeachment.

Dean recently wrote a column comparing President Bush's conduct to that of Nixon's. Dean thinks both presidents authorized warrantless wiretapping and that both broke the law.

The hearing has been called by Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, a Republican who strongly opposes Feingold's censure resolution.

US to Test 700-tonne bomb

Just to give you all a little perspective.......The largest conventional bomb we have had to date was the MOAB. The yield of the MOAB is approximately 10 ton. That puts this device at 70 times the explosive yield of the MOAB. The smallest known nuclear bomb -- the Davy Crockett fission bomb -- has a 10-ton yield. For comparison, the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima had a yield of 14,500 tons of TNT This bomb has a yield of 700 tons or 5% the Hiroshima nuke.

The US military plans to detonate a 700 tonne explosive charge in a test called "Divine Strake" that will send a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas, a senior defense official said.

"I don't want to sound glib here but it is the first time in Nevada that you'll see a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas since we stopped testing nuclear weapons," said James Tegnelia, head of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Tegnelia said the test was part of a US effort to develop weapons capable of destroying deeply buried bunkers housing nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.

"We have several very large penetrators we're developing," he told defense reporters.

"We also have -- are you ready for this - a 700-tonne explosively formed charge that we're going to be putting in a tunnel in Nevada," he said.

"And that represents to us the largest single explosive that we could imagine doing conventionally to solve that problem," he said.

Most Better Off Today Than 4 Years Ago

This surprises me....

March 30, 2006/Rasmussen--Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans say they are better off today than they were four years ago. A Rasmussen Reports national opinion poll of 5,000 adults found that 36% disagree and say they are not better off.

The sense of progress is found across most demographic groups. Fifty-six percent (56%) of men and 54% of women say they are better off today. That view is shared by 55% of white A
mericans, 52% of black Americans, and 58% of all other Americans.

There are some difference--retired Americans are less likely than working age Americans to say they are better off.

This sense of progress comes at a time when only one-third of Americans rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent.

Talk about a disconnect. This is classic "I'm fine but the other guys hurting." Don't believe your lyin eyes and oh, btw, pay know attention to the man behind the curtain. That's the sort of scenario you get with a relentlessly hostile press and a gullible public all too happy to buy into their propaganda.

SAUDI ARABIA: TERROR ATTACK ON OIL REFINERY FOILED

This is the second attempt to blow up Aramco's world's largest oil crude oil facility. It's obvious that the terrorist leadership has made accomplishing this task a real priority. Let's hope the Saudi govt. is up to the task as a successful attack would likely trigger panic in most major markets.

Riyadh, 29 March (AKI) - Saudi security forces have thwarted a terrorist attack on Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery Abqaiq, the second in two months, according to media reports. The Kuwaiti news agency KUNA and the Iraqi Radio Nawa report that police discovered two car bombs in the area. Local daily al-Riyadh reports that Saudi police on Tuesday carried out house searches in the al-Mantar area of Abqaib, where some employees of Saudi oil giant Aramco live, arms and explosive were discovered in one of the homes and one man was arrested. Reports say that the vehicles to be used in the attack bore the company logo.

On 24 February Saudi Arabian security forces opened fire on at least two cars apparently commandeered by would-be suicide bombers, thwarting an attack on the Abqaiq oil processing plant in the east of the country. The cars exploded near gates leading to the facility, Saudi officials said.

The oil output at the plant, the largest of its kind in the world, was not affected by the incident, Saudi state television reported. The attack is the first directed at crude oil facilities since al-Qaeda militants launched a suicide bombing campaign against the Kingdom's pro-Western leaders in May 2003. Abqaiq handles about two-thirds of Saudi's petroleum output.

FISA judges say Bush within law

Here's something that has gone pretty much unnoticed by the EM, wonder why....

A panel of former Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges yesterday told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that President Bush did not act illegally when he created by executive order a wiretapping program conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA).

The five judges testifying before the committee said they could not speak specifically to the NSA listening program without being briefed on it, but that a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act does not override the president's constitutional authority to spy on suspected international agents under executive order.

"If a court refuses a FISA application and there is not sufficient time for the president to go to the court of review, the president can under executive order act unilaterally, which he is doing now," said Judge Allan Kornblum, magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and an author of the 1978 FISA Act. "I think that the president would be remiss exercising his constitutional authority by giving all of that power over to a statute."

HMMM, sounds like what we've been saying all along.

Carter slams US-India nuclear deal

Mr Irrelevant is at it again....

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter criticized Washington's civilian nuclear deal with India, saying it was "just one more step in opening a Pandora's box of nuclear proliferation."

"Knowing for more than three decades of Indian leaders' nuclear ambitions, I and all other presidents included them in a consistent policy: no sales of civilian nuclear technology or uncontrolled fuel to any country that refused to sign the NPT," Carter said in an opinion piece in The Washington Post.

India has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and developed nuclear weapons on its own.

US President George W. Bush clinched the landmark nuclear deal with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a visit to New Delhi on March 2 and is pushing Congress to amend the US Atomic Energy Act, which currently prohibits nuclear sales to non NPT signatories, to make the agreement effective.

It would give energy-starved India access to long-denied civilian nuclear technology in return for placing a majority of its civilian nuclear reactors under international inspection.

Someone needs to tell that him they already have the bomb, and not just a puny A bomb but an H bomb. Hey Jimmah, you might want to keep your mouth shut considering your track record concerning nuclear proliferation. The North Korean deal you so vigorously supported worked out well, didn't it.

Christian Convert Has Left Afghanistan

One down, who knows how many thousands to go.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The man who faced the death penalty after converting from Islam to Christianity left Afghanistan on Wednesday, and Italy said it granted him asylum and expected him to arrive "soon."

Abdul Rahman, 41, left Afghanistan early in the day, an official closely connected to the case said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

Update: Berlusconi says Rahman already in Italy.

Brussels Prosecutes Aramaic Priest and Fugitive for Islamophobia

My grandparents stopped returning to their birthplace in Ghent back in the 60s because they said "We can't take it anymore, they're all communists". Now it appears they have become fascists as well.

One of the rare Belgian churches that is packed every weekend is the church of Saint Anthony of Padova in Montignies-sur-Sambre, one of the poorest suburbs of Charleroi, a derelict rust belt area to the south of Brussels. Holy Mass in Montignies is conducted in Latin and lasts up to four hours. Yesterday over 2,000 people attended the service by Father Samuel (Père Samuel). The priest’s sermon dealt with his persecution. The Belgian authorities are bringing the popular priest to court on charges of racism.

Father Samuel has been prosecuted for “incitement to racist hatred” by the Belgian government’s inquisition agency, the so-called Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (CEOOR), because of a remark he made in a 2002 television interview when he said:

“Every thoroughly islamized Muslim child that is born in Europe is a time bomb for Western children in the future. The latter will be persecuted when they have become a minority.”

Last Thursday the Belgian judiciary decided that the priest will have to stand trial before the penal court in Charleroi.

Majority of Iraqis Endorse Election and Show Optimism

Considering the preoccupation of the Entrenched Media with polls, I'm sure this will be headline news.

The majority of Iraqis overall view the recent parliamentary elections as valid, are optimistic that their country is going in the right direction and feel that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein has been worth the costs. Sunnis, on the other hand, overwhelmingly reject the validity of the elections, see the country going in the wrong direction and regret the overthrow of Saddam. This pervasive pessimism challenges hopes that the alienated Sunni Arab minority, which boycotted Iraq’s first post-Saddam elections a year ago, would feel empowered by participating in last month’s elections.

The poll was conducted for WorldPublicOpinion.org by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland and was fielded by KA Research Limited/D3 Systems, Inc. Polling was conducted January 2-5 with a nationwide sample of 1,150, which included an oversample of 150 Arab Sunnis (hereafter simply called Sunnis).

Iraqis overall have a positive view of the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Asked, “Thinking about any hardships you might have suffered since the US-Britain invasion, do you personally think that ousting Saddam Hussein was worth it or not?” 77% say it was worth it, while 22% say it was not.

Overall, two out of three Iraqis (66%) believe that the recent parliamentary elections were free and fair. Approximately the same number (68%) say “that the government to be established by the newly elected Parliament will … be the legitimate representative of the Iraqi people.”

Punks mar hero’s memorial

Detestable cowards. The mentality of kids ringing doorbells and then running away only one helluva lot more ignorant and hurtful.

The heartbroken family of a fallen Bay State soldier was devastated yesterday to find his memorial defaced by callous anti-war vandals who scrawled “Oil” and “Christian Crusade” on a sign commemorating his sacrifice.

“I was enraged,” said Lou Petithory, whose son Daniel, 32, was killed in Afghanistan Dec. 5, 2001. “My main concern is that my son’s memory was attacked.”

It is a memory that Green Beret Sgt. Daniel Petithory’s parents have struggled to preserve amid the politics over the war on terror. They have stopped reading newspaper editorials and watching TV news shows; not because they disagree with debate, but because they believe the truth about their son and his service is lost in the middle of it.

“He had been in the military for 14 years, so he was one of the older guys on his team,” Lou Petithory recalled after scrubbing the vandalism off his son’s memorial. “They made military history. They were 200 Green Berets inserted into Afghanistan, and within two weeks the Taliban was gone.”

Yup, we're going to be drilling for a lot of oil in Afghanistan alright.

Credit Where Credit is Due

Our friend and the source for all the released Iraq document translations we've quoted is getting some well deserved recognition via an interview from the New York Times.

I'm trying to pick up documents that shed light on the political debate," said Joseph G. Shahda, 34, a Lebanese-born engineer who lives in a Boston suburb and is spending hours every evening on translations for the conservative Free Republic site. "I think we prematurely concluded there was no W.M.D. and no ties to Al Qaeda."

Mr. Shahda said he was proud he could help make the documents public. "I live in this great country, and it's a time of war," he said. "This is the least I can do."

Joe (jveritas) is a nice guy and a true patriot. In an E-mail he sent me last week he said this:

"I just did a little effort on my part to do the translation. Our brave troops are the ones who are doing the great efforts and sacrifice to protect us."

Amen Joe, and thanks for a job well done.

Moussaoui says he was to be part of 9/11 attacks

So much for the defense.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - Zacarias Moussaoui said on Monday he was supposed to fly a fifth airplane into the White House as part of the September 11 plot and he knew that two planes were due to fly into the World Trace Center.

In testimony at his sentencing trial, Moussaoui -- the only person charged in the United States in connection with the September 11 attacks -- said "shoebomber" Richard Reid was to join him as part of the crew in the suicide mission. Moussaoui said he did not know the date of the planned attacks when he was arrested in Minnesota on August 16, 2001. He faces the death penalty.

This puts a dent in the Chimpy McBushHitler /Zionist/Halliburton/Illuminati conspiracy executed by the CIA under the direction of Carl Rove and the Trilateralists.

Fox has more.