Iraqi tribes reach security accord

Not hearing the term "civil war" much anymore are we.

TAJI, Iraq — U.S. forces have brokered an agreement between Sunni and Shi'ite tribal leaders to join forces against al Qaeda and other extremists, extending a policy that has transformed the security situation in western Anbar province to this area north of the capital.

Members of the First Calvary Division based at nearby Camp Taji helped broker the deal on Saturday with the tribal leaders, who agreed to use members of more than 25 local tribes to protect the area around Taji from both Sunni and Shi'ite extremists.

We have said many times that this is the single most important factor to winning this war.

The American people seem to be sensing improvement despite the Democrats and Press...

Poll: American Support for War Inches Up

Monday Funny

McCain loses key South Carolina supporter

Toast....

But if the one-time frontrunner hopes to re-energize his presidential bid, he is going to have to convince the likes of Cyndi Mosteller that he is the only candidate who can keep the White House in Republican hands.

Mosteller, a former chairwoman of the Charleston County Republican Party, is a true grassroots activist who is willing to speak her mind and defend her candidate from attacks and criticism by opponents.

She was a vocal advocate for McCain in South Carolina during the 2000 presidential contest when supporters of then-Texas Gov. George Bush effectively derailed his bid to win the South Carolina primary.

This time, with McCain now appearing at his weakest, McCain won’t have Mosteller to defend him. She is waiting for former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee to formally enter the race.

Mitt Catches S%!t Over Hillary-Bashing Sign

Not everyone is a fan of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but comparing them to one of the most dastardly piece of human excrement of all time -- that might be bit much. Especially for a presidential candidate.

TMZ obtained photos of presidential candidate Mitt Romney trying to win over grammatically challenged South Carolinians Thursday by holding a sign that said, "No to Obama, Osama and Chelsea's Moma."

Referring to South Carolinians as "grammatically challenged" for an obviously tongue in cheek political poster is by far the greater insult in my mind.

Darfur Yes, Iraq No

Barack Obama seems to feel that some lives are worth more than others. Earlier today he made it clear that Iraqi's aren't worth the effort...

SUNAPEE,NH (AP)-Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday that the United States cannot use it's military to solve humanitarian problems and that preventing a potential genocide in Iraq isn't a good enough reason to keep US forces there.

But back in April he has this to say about protecting the people of Darfur....

"The crisis in Sudan and the situation in the sub-region continues to worsen by the day. The recent announcement by the Government of Sudan that it will finally accept 3,000 UN peacekeepers is insufficient to stop the killing. It is time for the Administration and the international community to take long-overdue steps to ensure that Khartoum allows the immediate and unconditional deployment of a robust international force with a clear mandate to protect civilians and stop the slaughter."

One can only conclude that "certain" lives are worth protecting, others, not so much.

Churchill expects to be fired Tuesday

If you've ever wondered just how difficult it is to fire a tenured professor, now you know (2+ years)

University of Colorado regents will decide whether to fire professor Ward Churchill after a special meeting and hearing Tuesday.

The university's regents — the week before a decision viewed as a defining mark in the university's 131-year history — are poring over more than 1,000 pages of documents pertaining to Churchill's academic-misconduct case. They will hold a closed-door hearing preceding their pivotal public vote Tuesday on whether Churchill should be fired.

University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill said he expects to be fired Tuesday.

GOOD.

Senate Democrats vote to keep the Alternative Minimum Tax

True to form the Democrat controlled Senate voted to retain the often unfair and always confiscatory AMT. Way to go guys.

Vote Count:
YEAs 47
NAYs 49
Not Voting 4

Study: Whites would want $1,500 to live as blacks

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- In a study co-authored by an Ohio State professor, whites were asked how much money they'd want if they had to live the rest of their lives as blacks.

The typical answer was about 15-hundred dollars.

Compare that to the one million dollars the same people said they'd need to swear off T-V for the remainder of their lives.

Psychology professor Philip Mazzocco from Ohio State's Mansfield campus says the findings suggest whites aren't bothered by the idea of being black. He says whites may be ignorant of the difficulties many blacks still face because of their skin color.

More likely the vast majority of whites see the hardships endured by blacks in this country to be fundamentally self imposed.

Misleading Headline of the Week

AP's latest excursion into the land of made up news offers us this incredulous steaming cowpie....

Poll: Most Republicans Pick 'None of the Above' for President

An AP/Ipsos poll shows that 23% of Republicans have not yet made of their minds who they will support in the primaries a full nine months before they will vote. Somehow the creative minds of the AP editorial staff conclude that Undecided = Dissatisfied. Since when is taking time to make an informed, well reasoned decision synonomous with a disgruntled electorate?

Spinning the results of a poll is one thing but this outright intentional distortion of the facts is beyond the pale....even for AP.

Mountains from Molehills

It appears now that the Times has dug up billing records showing that Fred Thompson spent a grand total of 20 hours "consulting with" a pro-abortion group back in 1991-1992.

The work was done as a professional courtesy for one of the Arent Fox partners and amounted to very little other than the minimal "lobbying" (3.5 hours) certain "administration officials" on behalf of the organization. One does not lobby for 3.5 hours in a year and a half, at most it was consultation and direction.

Nothing dredged up by the Times contradicts Thompsons statements that didn't he recall doing any lobbying work for the organization or that he DID NOT lobby John Sununu the White House Chief of Staff. Considering that Thompson career in law spans some 30+ years, not remembering 20 hours of consulting work 16 years ago is both plausible and understandable.

It's not the hard right pushing this story but rather the left. They are palpably fearful of the Fred and seem to feel that this story is particularly damaging to him. In the misguided belief that many of his supporters are uninfomred one issue dullards who will toss any candidate overboard if he can be even remotely linked to a pro-abortion group regardless of the circumstances; They greatly underestimate the right.

Fred Thompson is the staunchest pro-life top tier candidate we have. His voting record and statements on the subject show a strong consistent and long held opposition to abortion. The conservative electorate knows this and most if not all will see this grand kerfuffle for the red herring it is.

Cache Of Weapons Found In Dallas Apartment

This guy they need to find....

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS Federal sources tell CBS 11 News that law enforcement officers have confiscated a large cache of weapons found in an apartment near the federal building in downtown Dallas.

Sources say a maintenance man entered the apartment in the 300 block of North Akard to work on some plumbing. Once inside, authorities say, the man found the weapons.

According to sources, among the weapons discovered were two AK-47 rifles, an Uzi 9 millimeter submachine gun, a TEC-9 submachine gun, a 40 millimeter ordnance launcher, a handheld ordnance launcher, and about 500 rounds of ammunition.

As of 6 pm, authorities had not yet arrested anyone, but were searching for the tenant of the apartment. Authorities tell us the tenant travels to the Middle East frequently and just returned from there this morning.

Rosie O'Donnell Says CBS Rejected Her Attempts to "Gay Up" Game Show

Taking away her seat on "The view" can't shut up Rosie O'Donnell, as she loves the attention way to much. She s again trying to push up the banter and hyperbole and now claims that CBS rejected her because she wanted to take "The Price is Right" and turn it gay. TV Guide has a report that despite earlier assertions on her blog, that she turned down hosting The Price is Right because she refused to uproot her family from New York City to Los Angeles, O’Donnell has again changed her mind.

US: Top al-Qaida in Iraq Figure Captured

Surfs up, waterboarding anyone?

The U.S. command said Wednesday the highest-ranking Iraqi in the leadership of al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested, adding that information from him indicates the group's foreign-based leadership wields considerable influence over the Iraqi chapter.

Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, also known as Abu Shahid, was captured in Mosul on July 4, said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a military spokesman.

"Al-Mashhadani is believed to be the most senior Iraqi in the al-Qaida in Iraq network," Bergner said. He said al-Mashhadani was a close associate of Abu Ayub al-Masri, the Egyptian-born head of al-Qaida in Iraq.

And here's something that's getting minimal coverage...

'Sea Change' Is Claimed in Iraq Battle

Plame's hubby joins Hil's team

Considering they're two of the most prolific liars on the planet it should work out quite well.

WASHINGTON - Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson signed on with Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign yesterday, saying "it's entirely possible" his ex-spy wife will hit the trail with her, too.

Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, was outed as a covert CIA operations officer by President Bush's advisers in 2003 as they sought to discredit her Iraq war critic husband. She's writing a memoir due in the fall.

"I would expect her to be engaged [politically] probably after the book tour," Wilson told the Daily News after Clinton announced his endorsement.

Man's smelly feet trigger police raid

And my wife complains about me....

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police broke into a darkened apartment fearing they would find a dead body, after neighbors complained of a nasty smell seeping out onto the staircase.

The shutters of the apartment had been closed for more than a week and the mailbox was filled with uncollected mail.

But instead of a corpse, they found a tenant with very smelly feet, asleep in bed next to a pile of foul-smelling laundry, police in the southwestern town of Kaiserslautern said on Sunday.

McCain campaign running out of money

From bad to worse.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – CNN has learned the already-dire situation for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign has actually gotten even worse, with two sources close to the candidate saying the campaign only has a paltry $250,000 left.

The sources tell CNN that next week the McCain campaign will reveal it has about $1.75 million in unpaid debts, wiping out the $2 million in cash-on-hand the campaign currently has in the bank.

It was not immediately clear whether the campaign debt must be repaid immediately or whether the debt can be paid back over time, including after the presidential campaign ends.

Frankly I shouldn't be feeling Schadenfreude as John McCain is a war hero and a very decent man. He has spent his entire life serving this country and that counts for a lot. That being said, he has repeatedly screwed the Republican party and I disagree with him on so many core issues that the demise of his presidential aspirations come as a welcome developement.

Juror: oral sex is not sex

Bill Clintons real legacy....

A 28-year-old Beeville man (Texas) accused of molesting a 6-year-old girl last summer was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday.

Ten of the jurors wanted to give Edward Lee Robinson more time behind bars but one juror didn’t believe oral sex constituted sex.

“We really wanted him to get more time but I guess we have to be satisfied with 10 years because one juror insisted on no more than five years,” said Assistant District Attorney Deborah Branch. “She didn’t think oral sex was sex.”

Pakistan militants end truce deal

Musharraf is learning what Bush already knows....you can't negotiate with terrorists, period.

Pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan region say they have ended their truce with the government.

In a statement issued in Miranshah, the main town, the militants accused the government of breaking the agreement.

It came as Pakistan deployed more troops in the area, fearing "holy war" after the storming of the militant Red Mosque last week left 102 dead.

More than 60 Pakistanis, including soldiers and police recruits, have died in three attacks in the past two days.

Et tu ABC?

In what can only be described as a purely speculative hit piece ABC, Thompson's home network, disingenuously accuses Thompson of evasion and expediency.

Thompson Uses Loophole to Avoid Reporting Fundraising

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., has avoided revealing his fundraising figures by exploiting a legal loophole whereby he says he is simply "testing the waters" for a campaign — even as his supporters build an infrastructure for his all-but-official run.

But supporters of campaign finance reform, as well as Thompson's opponents, say that he is violating at least the spirit of the law, despite his past support for openness in government and the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law.

With the help of a former FEC chairman on Thompson's payroll, the ex-Tennessee senator is evading, at least for now, the requirements of the campaign finance system that he helped reform. In the words of an attorney associated with another campaign, Thompson is "playing footsie" with the campaign rules.

This is a poorly researched and intentionally misleading pantload. The FEC explicitly provided for a candidate to form a "testing the waters" committee, a technical term that allows any candidate to forgo filing a detailed report on June 30 – though once he's an official candidate, he'll have to file retroactively. This "specific" clause allows Thompson to raise money, travel and conduct polling to determine whether a bid is feasible. If he were to start campaigning, he officially would become a candidate, subject to filing requirements.

Thompson has certainly followed both the letter and spirit of the law as he has NOT campaigned , declared himself a candidate or even voiced specific positions. He is adhering to the rules precisely as the FEC intended.

The author is just pi$$ed off because Thompson is running first or second in the polls which is something the FEC probably hadn't envisioned. Too bad, so sad.

India, US to sign military pact

This is really a big deal as India/US military cooperation is imperative to counterbalance China's increasing dominance in the area.

July 15 (APP)- India and the United States are close to sign a military pact under which their armed forces will extend to each other logistics support.

The Indian daily “The Asian Age” reported on Sunday while quoting a Pentagon official, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kohler, the director of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency who is visiting New Delhi as saying the draft agreement was at present before India’s Cabinet Committee on Security for clearance.

Jeffrey B. Kohler while briefing a handful of journalists on the pact said the agreement is called the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, formerly known as the Nato Mutual Support Act.

Under this agreement the armed forces of both the countries will provide each other logistics and other support, such as food, fuel, transportation, ammunition and equipment.

The Beauty And The Beast

Fred Thompson, would-be presidential candidate, is 64 years old and looks it. His wife, Jeri, is two years younger than one of his daughters and looks even younger than her 40 years. They have had two babies together since they married in 2002.

Imagine if Hillary Clinton were married to a 36-year-old stud. She'd be laughed out of town. Imagine, at 60, if she decided she wanted two more children. Too old, we'd all be screaming.

So, does anyone care when Fred Thompson does it?

There is so much wrong with this "article" on so many levels.

Susan Estrich declaring Fred is "64 and looks like it" is a bit like Robert Byrd accusing a fellow Senator of looking frail. C'mon Susan, haven't you ever heard the old adage "those who live in glass houses".....

She also states that if her thighness had nabbed a 36 year old stud she'd be laughed out of town. Perhaps, but without doubt, she'd be the first one racing to her defense screaming how unfair and superficial and juvenile we all were for making an issue of it. Considering that Hill can't even keep a 61 year old paunchy ex Pres interested, it's academic.

Estrich goes on to state... All of this should support the view that Jeri Thompson's assets are irrelevant to her husband's prospects. But I don't buy it for a moment — at least not among women of a certain age, both married and single, who are liable to play a decisive role in this campaign, particularly if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate. The reaction I hear from every woman I know, those who have gotten sick to their stomachs over seeing middle-aged men cavorting with girls barely beyond their teen years, is a giant "yuck."

Susan, the women you "know" are in all likelihood, homely, frustrated radical liberal feminist types with a giant chip on their shoulder and are generally hateful of men to begin with let alone ones with pretty younger wives.

This little piece of bird cage bottom is pure projection by it's author. Not all women, not even a decent number, see things as she does. Women are concerned about how men treat their wives though and from ALL accounts Thompson has been a terrific husband. They also care about loving relationships regardless of age. Now who do you think they are going to feel more comfortable with, a man with a young, extremely intelligent spouse who obviously care about each other deeply or a women in a loveless relationship who only stays with her husband (a documented serial philanderer) because it's politically expedient?

I think we all know the answer.

How Not to Be Poor

About 31 million Americans live in households with incomes below the poverty level, according to the latest U.S. Census data. Poverty is more than a lack of income. It is also the consequence of specific behaviors and decisions. The 2001 Census data clearly show that dropping out of high school, staying single, having children without a spouse, working only part time or not working at all substantially increase the chances of long-term poverty. Certain behaviors are a recipe for success. Among those who finish high school, get married, have children only within a marriage and go to work, the odds of long-term poverty are virtually nil.

Well go figure.

Author claims anti-war groups gave material support to terrorists

Despicable.

A New York Times best-selling author says members of the supposed "peace movement" delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and supplies to terrorists engaged in a bloody street battle against United States Marines in Iraq.

The latest book by Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson (U.S. Air Force-Ret.) is called War Crimes: The Left's Campaign to Destroy Our Military and Lose the War on Terror. In the book, he claims that two anti-war groups -- "United for Peace & Justice" and "CODEPINK: Women for Peace" -- literally gave aid and comfort to terrorists when they delivered $600,000 in cash and supplies they claim was humanitarian aid to civilians.

According to Patterson, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-California) facilitated the transaction for CODEPINK by signing a letter allowing them to get the cash and supplies into Fallujah.

Nobel laureate calls for removal of Bush

In today's installment of moonbats on parade....

Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams came from Ireland to Texas to declare that President Bush should be impeached.

In a keynote speech at the International Women's Peace Conference on Wednesday night, Ms. Williams told a crowd of about 1,000 that the Bush administration has been treacherous and wrong and acted unconstitutionally.

"Right now, I could kill George Bush," she said at the Adam's Mark Hotel and Conference Center in Dallas. "No, I don't mean that. How could you nonviolently kill somebody? I would love to be able to do that."

Why is it that so many "peace activists" are so viciously inclined to embrace violence?

More crAP

On Tues the Associated Press gleefully reported:

WASHINGTON — A progress report on Iraq will conclude that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reform, speeding up the Bush administration’s reckoning on what to do next, a U.S. official said Monday.

One likely result of the report will be a vastly accelerated debate among President Bush’s top aides on withdrawing troops and scaling back the U.S. presence in Iraq. Well their source must once again have been Jamil Hussein as Fox sets the record straight:

U.S. Official: Iraq Progress Good on 8 of 18 Benchmarks

WASHINGTON — A U.S. official said Thursday the Iraq government has been given a satisfactory rating on eight of 18 political and security benchmarks measured in an interim White House report to Congress, a mixed rating on two and an unsatisfactory rating on eight benchmarks.

Officials emphasize this is an interim report to measure progress in Iraq, and they continue to place emphasis on a report due in September, which will include comments and recommendations of Gen. David Petraeus, head of Multinational Forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

President Bush is expected to make comments after the White House Iraq Report to Capitol Hill is released in full Thursday morning.

Is there any question why the majority of Americans don't trust the Press and why so many newspapers across the country are struggling to survive?

No charges for Marine, report urges

But wait, John Murtha already proclaimed them all guilty!

CAMP PENDLETON – An investigator has recommended that all charges be dismissed against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, accused of killing three Iraqis execution-style in Haditha.

In a written report, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said the evidence shows that Sharratt's actions Nov. 19, 2005, “were in accord with the rules of engagement and use of force.”
Sharratt's attorneys made the report public yesterday.

At a preliminary hearing last month, Sharratt, who faces three counts of murder, said he shot the three Iraqi men only after one of them pointed a gun at him. In the report, Ware, who presided over last month's hearing, said Sharratt's version is “strongly corroborated by independent forensic analysis of the death scene.”

btw if you would like to let Murtha know how you feel, here is his contact info:

John Murtha's Contact information:

Telephone: 800-289-2642 from Western PA
814-535-2642
202-225-2065

US Mail: 647 Main St, Suite 401
Johnstown, PA 15901

Fax: 814-539-6229 -- District
202-225-5709 -- Washington

Top Candidates to Appear at First Ever Gay Debate

Could they be referring to Rudy? Nope, guess again.

Most of the major Democratic presidential contenders will participate in a forum on gay issues next month, co-sponsored by a major gay rights advocacy group and a cable channel aimed at gays and lesbians.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Chris Dodd have agreed to appear in the live, one-hour forum in Los Angeles on Aug. 9. The program is the result of a joint effort by the Human Rights Campaign and the LOGO cable channel, which will broadcast the event. LOGO will also stream the forum live on its Web site.

Sen. Joe Biden declined the invitation to appear at the forum, citing scheduling conflicts. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich have not yet said whether they'll attend.

Wednesday Funny

Romney surrogate pushing discredited Thompson story?

Attempting to butch up ones own conservatism by impuning anothers is not a winning strategy. This type of thing has a tendency to elicit the exact opposite of the desired result.

Gary Marx, a senior adviser to former Gov. Mitt Romney, apparently has started a Fred Thompson clipping service, along the way adding a bit of editorial perspective.

Marx, along with state Romney folks, spent most of Monday peddling the partially discredited Los Angeles Times articles that claimed Thompson lobbied for a pro-abortion group back in 1991.

Over the past 36 hours, the story has literally changed twice on the L.A. Times website, with facts removed or recollections changed.

That hasn't stopped Marx, who serves as a senior aide to Romney for outreach to social conservative groups, from emailing the articles, introducing them as a seemingly concerned conservative.....

Read rest

Campaign Manager, Chief Strategist for McCain resign

Per Drudge...

ARLINGTON, VA - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager and John Weaver, Chief Strategist for John McCain 2008 issued the following statements:

"This morning I informed Senator McCain that I would be resigning from his presidential campaign, effective immediately. It has been a tremendous honor to serve Senator McCain and work on his campaign. I believe John McCain is the most experienced and prepared candidate to represent the Republican Party and defeat the Democratic nominee next year." - Terry Nelson, Campaign Manager

"As of today, I have resigned my position as chief strategist to John McCain's presidential campaign. It has been my honor and a distinct privilege to serve someone who has always put our country first. I believe that most Americans will come to the conclusion that I have long known there is only one person equipped to serve as our nation's chief executive and deal with the challenges we face, and that person is John McCain." - John Weaver, Chief Strategist

Al Qaeda losing ground, retired general says

This in spite of Reid, Pelosi and and the rest of the defeatocrats.

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - U.S. intelligence officers in Iraq believe 2007 will be looked on someday as “the beginning of the defeat of al Qaeda,” an adviser to the command in Baghdad said Monday.

Retired Army Gen. John Keane offered the assessment after being briefed by a senior intelligence official who is an expert on the insurgency. The upbeat view marked a shift from 2006 intelligence reports that al Qaeda in Iraq was growing stronger.

Keane also said he expects a U.S. troop drawdown next spring, when forces should be able to turn over security in some Baghdad neighborhoods to Iraqis.

Keane, who has made two fact-finding trips to Iraq since a surge of U.S. troops began in February, said two new developments convinced intelligence officials that al Qaeda was on its way to defeat.

Squirrels on Patrol!

According to IRNA, the official Islamic Republic news agency, the national Police chief has implicitly verified the news about the confiscation of a number of squirrels, equipped with eavesdropping devices, on the Iranian borders. He has declined to give any more details, but, reportedly, when asked about the confiscation of 14 spy squirrels, he stated, “I have heard about it, but I do not have precise information”. IRNA adds, “These squirrels were equipped by foreign intelligence services, but were captured two weeks ago by the Police”.

Live earth Underwhelms

Appears that most folks get their fill of hypocrisy from the politicians.

Live Earth has been branded a foul-mouthed flop.

Organisers of the global music concert - punctuated by swearing from presenters and performers - had predicted massive viewing figures.

But BBC's live afternoon television coverage attracted an average British audience of just 900,000.

PICKING AT STRAWS

This type of thing is one of the main reasons we are supporting Fred Thompson over Mitt Romney. At the recently held straw poll for Young Republicans in Hollywood Fla. the Mittster stacked the deck by busing in 100+ donors....

If you subtract the 100 or so "guests" former Gov. Mitt Romney brought with him to stuff the ballot box in Florida on Saturday night, Fred Thompson won another straw poll.

As Erick Erickson over at RedState pointed out on Saturday, Romney, struggling in the polls everywhere he isn't spending money on media buys, is reduced to also buying up straw polls to promote his candidacy.

He will have plunked down close to an estimated $5 million to make the Ames Republican Straw Poll in Iowa next month a personal political rally (no other major GOP candidate will be participating), and that includes outbidding by sometimes three times as much his nearest competitor for bus rentals to get his folks into Ames.

Live Earth puts celebrity lifestyles in eco-spotlight

More rules for thee but not for me....

Private jets for climate change!" joked the singer from British rock band Muse about Live Earth earlier this year, creating an awkward tag for the biggest ever series of "green" celebrity concerts. Al Gore's gigs to fight global warming take place on Saturday, with some of the biggest names in the industry due to appear on stages in seven cities across the world.

Environmentalist John Buckley, managing director of British consultancy Carbonfootprint.com, stresses the dangers of cynicism to the event and he expects performers to set an example to fans.

"On the one hand, Live Earth wouldn't be able to get such a large audiences without getting high-profile stars, but then sometimes you wonder if they are the best people because they do live an affluent lifestyle," he says.

"Affluent lifestyle" is a euphemism for exorbitant, wasteful, mega carbon producing self indulgence.

Slime Thompson Onslaught

In case you haven't noticed the MSM has unleashed a weeklong Fredapalooza bashfest. Ap called him an empty suit then the NY Times chimed in with a vacuous thinly thought out lobbying/nepotism expose' and now the LA Times jumps on board with this:

Thompson lobbied for abortion-rights group, it says

One would surmise that Thompson showing up on top of the Rasmussen poll this week was the impetus for this mudslingathon.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out though. The story really isn't about Thompson having done some work for a pro-abortion group as lobbyists routinely work for people they don't neccessarily agree with. What's worth investigating is who's lying. It's either Thompson and Sununu or the NFPRHA people, there's no 3rd option. Considering that the evidence and therefor the answer to this question should be fairly simple to ferret out, we should have our answer in fairly short order.

Appeals Court Dismisses ACLU Lawsuit Challenging Bush's Eavesdropping Program

Breaking on Fox, more to follow.

Update: In a 2-1 decision, two Republican appointees on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against allowing the lawsuit. A Democratic appointee judge disagreed, saying it was clear to him that the post-911 warrantless surveillance program aimed at uncovering terrorist activity violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.

Although the Bush administration said in January the program is now overseen by a special federal intelligence court, opponents said that without a court order, the president could resume the spying outside judicial authority at any time.

Clintons hit over Libby criticism

Without doubt one of the most brazen illustrations of the pot calling the kettle black in my lifetime. This sort of return fire from the WH is something that's been sorely lacking for the last 6 years....

The White House yesterday ridiculed Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton for complaining about President Bush's decision to keep former vice-presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr. out of jail, saying their criticism smacks of hypocrisy.

"I don't know what Arkansan is for chutzpah, but this is a gigantic case of it," press secretary Tony Snow said.

The White House also suggested that a slew of pardons granted by Mr. Clinton on his final day in office were never properly investigated and said they ought to be.

Election 2008: Clinton, Thompson Tied

How amazing is it that the Democrats premier candidate is barely tied with a guy who hasn’t even announced his candidacy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) tied with former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) in an Election 2008 match-up. Both candidates attract support from 45% of voters. Given a Clinton-Thompson match-up, 5% of voters say they’d pull the lever for some other candidate and 4% are not sure.

The survey also found Clinton holding a four-point advantage over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R), 46% to 42%. In that match-up, 9% would prefer some other candidate and 3% are not sure. The survey was conducted June 27-28, 2007, just before the July 4th holiday festivities began to unfold.

Compared to our previous survey of these matchups, conducted early in June, Clinton has lost a net five points against both Thompson and Romney. In May, Clinton led both of these GOP hopefuls by three points.

And this: New North Carolina Poll Shows Fred Thompson Surging To Double-Digit Lead Over Giuliani

34% Fred Thomspon
15% Rudy Giuliani
13% Newt Gingrich
21% Undecided

EWWWWWWW!

Now you know why the Hildebeast where's exclusively loose fitting pantsuits.

Happy Birthday America

231 years ago...on July 4th, 1776
This great nation, the United States of America,
In a struggle for what was right and free,
Was proudly born...
May we celebrate that precious freedom
For which our forbears fought so bravely...
The freedom that is inherent
In the Stars and Stripes, our revered flag...
Celebrate Freedom
This Fourth of July!

Edwards' Hairstylist Speaks Out on Locks, $1,250 Bill

If there's an example of more blatant hypocrisy then this, Ihave yet to see it.

For four decades, Joseph Torrenueva has cut the hair of Hollywood celebrities, including Marlon Brando and Bob Barker, so when a friend told him in 2003 that a presidential candidate needed grooming advice, he agreed to help.

The Beverly Hills hairstylist, a Democrat, said he hit it off with then-Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) at a meeting in Los Angeles that brought several fashion experts together to advise the candidate on his appearance. Since then, Torrenueva has cut Edwards's hair at least 16 times.

At first, the haircuts were free. But because Torrenueva often had to fly somewhere on the campaign trail to meet his client, he began charging $300 to $500 for each cut -- plus the cost of airfare and hotels when he had to travel outside California.

Torrenueva said that one haircut during the 2004 presidential race cost $1,250 because he traveled to Atlanta and lost two days of work.

Report: Al Qaeda In Iraq Boasted Of British Plots

al Qaida in Iraq...absurd

(CBS News) LONDON More evidence of a possible link between the British car bomb plotters and al Qaeda in Iraq emerged Wednesday, as a respected British church official based in Baghdad said one of the group's leaders boasted to him of plans to attack Britain.

Cannon Andrew White is quoted by The Times newspaper as saying an al Qaeda in Iraq leader told him in the spring that "those who cure you will kill you".

The quote by White, who CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar says is well-regarded and frequently plays an active role in Middle East issues, strikes an eerie chord in Britain; all eight of the suspects in the plot were doctors or medical workers with ties to the country's National Health Service.

Thompson Maintains Lead (Rasmussen)

Looks like last week was no fluke.

After weeks of turmoil and change, the race for the Republican Presidential nomination has stabilized.

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson remains on top in Rasmussen Reports national polling with 27% support. That’s unchanged from a week ago. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is three points behind at 24%.

Thompson has a 16-point advantage over Giuliani among conservatives while Giuliani holds an even larger edge among moderate voters. However, in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination, there are always more conservative voters than moderates.

A separate survey found that Thompson is currently viewed as the most conservative of all GOP candidates. Giuliani remains the best liked candidate. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans now have a favorable opinion of America’s Mayor. Thompson’s numbers among the GOP faithful have been moving in the opposite direction. Sixty-four percent (64%) of GOP voters have a favorable opinion of the actor while just 12% have an unfavorable view.

US optimistic the Iraq surge is starting to work

Despite al Qaida and the co-dependent left in this country we ARE succeeding in Iraq.

AFTER his visit to Iraq a few days ago the message Alexander Downer will give John Howard is that the Australian Government should keep its nerve and maintain its present troop commitment for the election. This is not just Downer's advice to Howard. It reveals the military advice Downer got when he was in Iraq last week.

Petraeus told Downer that al-Qa'ida was conducting its own campaign to discredit President George W. Bush's surge strategy - that it was going for highly populated targets for maximum impact. He said the number of attacks was down, though the number of casualties remained high. He advised, however, that since the surge began, there had been a decline in sectarian killings.

Iraqis and some tribal chiefs are turning their guns against al-Qa'ida while al-Qa'ida's tactics have an overriding aim: to shift US public opinion further against the war.

CNNs Pollster Has Dog in the Race

I guess Gallup wasn't giving them the "desired" result.

The latest report from the Federal Election Commission shows that CNN pollster Vinod Gupta donated $14,250 to the Democratic National Committee in May. Here is Gupta's list of donations for the 2008 election cycle.....

Terror suspects all linked to NHS

Just another benefit of socialized medicine....

Eight people arrested in connection with failed car bombings in Glasgow and London all have links with the National Health Service, the BBC has learned.

Seven are believed to be doctors or medical students, while one formerly worked as a laboratory technician.

Seven doctors or medical students have been arrested in England, Scotland and Australia in connection with the attacks. All worked in NHS hospitals.

President Bush Commutes Libby's Sentence

Good move as it keeps Libby out of prison but still allows him to pursue his appeal.

Update: Well Bush did it again.....took a pretty good move and screwed it up with a squishy statement praising the juries decision and closing the door on what I would have predicted was a likely pardon as he was leaving office.

He still hasn't learned after 6 years that you can't please the left with compromise. He would have been better off pardoning him now, at least he would have gotten kudos from the right. As it stands now nobody is going to be happy.

McCain's Toast

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign lagged in raising money in the past three months, prompting staff reductions and pay cuts, McCain's campaign announced on Monday.

McCain's campaign manager, Terry Nelson, told reporters that the Arizona Republican's campaign raised $11.2 million in the past three months, compared to $13.6 million in the first quarter.

He blamed the negative environment among Republican faithful in particular on McCain's support for an immigration overhaul proposal that was cut down in the Senate last week.

US to hunt the Taliban inside Pakistan

Taliban AND al Qaida....

KARACHI - Since last September, North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan have been pressing Islamabad for the right to conduct extensive hot-pursuit operations into Pakistan to target Taliban and al-Qaeda bases.

According to Asia Times Online contacts, NATO and its US backers have gotten their wish: coalition forces will start hitting targets wherever they might be.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf is expected to make an important announcement on extremism during an address to the nation in the next day or two.

'Jordanian doc involved in UK bombing plots'

Hmmmm, wasn't Southern Baptists after all.

AMMAN: One of the suspects arrested in Britain by police investigating three failed car bombings is a Jordanian surgeon called Mohammed Jamil Abdelkader Asha, officials in Jordan said on Monday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his wife had also been arrested.

Asha is of Palestinian origin and carries a Jordanian passport, they said. He obtained his medical degree in Jordan.

Additional: Phone calls failed to set off UK bombs

THE attempted London car bombings were meant to be detonated by calls to mobile phones in the two vehicles, but failed for technical reasons, the Evening Standard reported today.

The calls made on the phones allowed police to trace those behind the failed attacks last Friday, the London daily evening newspaper said, without giving sources.

The phones were meant to set off blasts when they were called, but the devices failed to detonate the mixture of gas canisters and nails in the two Mercedes cars parked in London's entertainment district.

Hamas TV Kills Islamic Mickey Mouse

From Breitbart....A Mickey Mouse lookalike who preached Islamic domination on a Hamas-affiliated children's television program was beaten to death by an Israeli "terrorist" in the show's final episode Friday.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- A Mickey Mouse lookalike who preached Islamic domination on a Hamas-affiliated children's television program was beaten to death in the show's final episode Friday.

In the final skit, "Farfour" was killed by an actor posing as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfour's land. At one point, the mouse called the Israeli a "terrorist."

Sick crazy ba$tards.

Britain raises security alert level to critical - highest level indicating terror attacks imminent

First the attempted dual car bomb attack in London and now this. Just a "bumper sticker slogan" eh John boy?

AP Puts Out More crAP

It appears that AP in their relentless quest for negative and sensationalistic news from Iraq have pulled another Jamil Hussein. Thursday they reported 20 Beheaded Bodies Found in Iraq. Only one problem, it never happened.

MNF informs us: Extremists using false media reporting to incite sectarian violence

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Friday, news media reported a mass killing in a village near Salman Pak where 20 men were allegedly found beheaded. It now appears that the story was completely false and fabricated by unknown sources.

Upon learning of the press reports, coalition and Iraqi officials began investigating to determine if the reports were true. Ultimately it was concluded the reports were false.

Anti-Iraqi Forces are known for purposely providing false information to the media to incite violence and revenge killings, and they may well have been the source of this misinformation.

So typical of AP to print thinly corroborated evidence from our enemies to sell stories and promote their anti war agenda.

Poll: Voters don't care for Clinton

What's worse for the left, the more voters see and hear her the more intense that sentiment.

WASHINGTON -- More than half of Americans say they wouldn't consider voting for Sen. Hillary Clinton for president if she becomes the Democratic nominee, according to a new national poll made available to McClatchy Newspapers and NBC News.

The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research found that 52 percent of Americans wouldn't consider voting for Clinton, D-N.Y.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, was second in the can't-stand-'em category, with 46 percent saying they wouldn't consider voting for him.

Clinton is considered a polarizing figure who'd be a tough sell to some voters, especially men, but also Clinton-haters of both genders. Thursday's survey provides a snapshot of the challenges she faces, according to Larry Harris, a Mason-Dixon principal.

Terror Car Packed With Petrol And Nails

GWOT, what GWOT?

The car bomb found in London's West End contained large amounts of petrol, nails and several gas canisters, police have revealed.

Detectives believe they have foiled a major terror attack after the "big" explosive device was discovered in a Mercedes early this morning.

They said if the bomb had gone off it would have caused "significant injury or loss of life."

Video here.

Update:
Second "bomb" vehicle is found.

Immigration Bill Part Deux FAILS!

It's STILL dead Jim

Vote: 53-46 Nyet!

From AP

Vote tally here.

Vivica A. Gets Racial

A classic example of the "victim mentality". Why take personal responsibility for any failures when everyone knows it's all whiteys fault.

TMZ has obtained an arrest report written after the California Highway Patrol arrested Vivica A. Fox for DUI in March, and it appears the actress copped a major attitude.

The officer says in the report, after she was stopped, "Fox began to walk away, yelling at my partner, 'Brother help a sister -- are you going to let this racist white cop do this ... well are you?'"

In the section of the report in which the officers are asked to describe the demeanor of the person they're arresting, the officer wrote "demeaning." We're told things got volatile enough that a patrol sergeant was called to the scene.

Plan to send immigrants home is defeated

This may "kill" the bill as at least some additional Republicans (4 by latest count) will now jump ship and vote no on cloture Thursday. It will be extremely close but I don't think the shamnesters have the 60.

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday killed a Republican proposal to require all adult illegal immigrants to return home temporarily in order to qualify for permanent lawful status in this country.

Also defeated was a Democratic bid to restrict legal status to those who have been in the United States for four years.

The vote was 53-45 to table an amendment by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to require that illegal immigrants go home within two years in order to qualify for a renewable Z visa to live and work lawfully in the United States.

Candidates' Names Are Tough in Chinese

BOSTON (AP) - Mitt Romney's been called many things as he runs for president, but chances are "Sticky Rice" isn't one of them.

That's how his name might be read on some ballots, according to state Secretary William Galvin.

The problem is that there are many different characters that could be used to match the sound of each syllable, and many different meanings for each character.

So Mitt Romney could be read as "Sticky Rice" or "Uncooked Rice." Fred Thompson might be read as "Virtue Soup." And Barack Obama could be read as "Oh Bus Horse."

Hmmmm "Virtue Soup", I like that. They left one out however as Hillary Clinton best translates to "Imbecilic Frigid Clam".

Bush's Faith-Based Programs Win Shield at Top Court

If one disagrees with every single thing George Bush has done in the last 6 years his two Supreme Court appointments make up for it.

The U.S. Supreme Court limited the power of taxpayers to challenge government actions as unconstitutionally promoting religion, throwing out a suit aimed at President George W. Bush's faith-based initiatives office.

The justices, voting 5-4, said a group of taxpayers lacked the legal right to sue over White House-sponsored conferences designed to help groups compete for social-service funding. The suit contended the sessions promoted religious organizations over secular ones.

``If every federal taxpayer could sue to challenge any government expenditure, the federal courts would cease to function as courts of law and would be cast in the role of general complaint bureaus,'' Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's lead opinion.

The decision insulates the federal government's executive branch from lawsuits centering on the U.S. constitutional ban on establishment of religion. The ruling also may shield states, although a number of them have laws that give their taxpayers broad rights to sue over public spending.

2008 Republican Presidential Primary Thompson 27% Guiliani 23%

Latest from Rasmussen....

Thompson, preparing to formally announce his candidacy, leads the pack in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey with 27% support. That gives him a four-point advantage over former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who is currently preferred by 23% of Likely Primary Voters. A week ago, it was Thompson 28% and Giuliani 27%. Two weeks ago, they were tied at 24%. Prior to that time, Giuliani had been on top in every weekly Rasmussen Reports poll for five months

Thompson leads Giuliani by 13 percentage points among conservative primary voters while Giuliani leads among moderates.

Iranian forces crossed Iraqi border: report

Just how much of this are we going to take before taking some decisive action?

Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have been spotted by British troops crossing the border into southern Iraq, The Sun tabloid reported on Tuesday.

Britain's defence ministry would not confirm or deny the report, with a spokesman declining to comment on "intelligence matters".

An unidentified intelligence source told the tabloid: "It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran -- but nobody has officially declared it."

"We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us. It is very hard for us to strike back. All we can do is try to defend ourselves. We are badly on the back foot."

Naughty Veggies

Powerline informs us that al Qaida in Iraq has Vegiphobia....

Other AQI edicts included beatings for men who refused to grow beards, and corporal punishments for obscene sexual suggestiveness, defined by such “loose” behavior as carrying tomatoes and cucumbers in the same bag. These fatwas were not eagerly embraced by most Iraqis....

Good grief

Judge Loses Drycleaning Lawsuit

Fox News is reporting that the judge suing his dry cleaner for $54,000,000 over a pair of pants loses lawsuit and must pay defendant's expenses.

Now that's what I call justice.

AP has this: Dry cleaner wins in missing-pants case

U.S. forces kill Anbar's Al Qaida commander

More good news coming out of Iraq.

The U.S. military said American combat units killed the chief of the Al Qaida network in the Iraqi province of Anbar. The Al Qaida commander was identified as Hussein Awad Al Hawawi, also known as Abu Thabet.

"The people of Iraq are beginning to reject Al Qaida and other extremists that continue to foment this violence," Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, said. "They clearly understand that [Al Qaida in Iraq] is headed by a foreigner, an Egyptian who is linked to international terrorism, and are tired of the false promises, intimidation, brutality and repression that they offer."

And this: U.S., Iraqi troops kill 55 insurgents in major offensive on al-Qaida

Thompson, Clinton lead Nevada voters, poll shows

Mason Dixon has proven time and again to be the Gold standard of state polling.

WASHINGTON - Actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson leads the Republican presidential field in Nevada even though he has not declared his candidacy, according to a new poll made available to McClatchy Newspapers and NBC News.

The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research showed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton with a substantial lead over her Democratic rivals.

Thompson's strength in Nevada, which mirrors his recent surge in national polls, underscores his potential to shake up the Republican race if he decides to run. The former Tennessee senator is recruiting a campaign staff and testing his appeal as a candidate.

The poll showed Thompson with 25 percent support among Republicans who are considered likely to attend a nominating caucus, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 20 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 17 percent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona with 8 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 3 percent.

Christie (Whitman) blasts Rudy on WTC air

Ruh Roh...

Former Environmental Protection Agency boss Christie Whitman says she urged Ground Zero workers to wear respirators, but then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani blocked her efforts.

She also said city officials didn't want EPA workers wearing haz-mat suits because they "didn't want this image of a city falling apart."

In an interview scheduled to run the day before Whitman testifies in front of Congress on Monday, she told WNBC-TV she warned the city of the risks almost every day.

And she said she believes illnesses killing first responders can be blamed on the city's lack of action.

2 al-Qaida leaders captured in Iraq

Militarily the worm has turned as they are systematically routing out and destroying al Qaida and the Sadr militia with overwhelming force. The last major piece of the puzzle is in the political arena. They need to pass the oil sharing deal in the next 30 days to make it all come together.

BAQOUBA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi troops captured two senior al-Qaida militants and seven other operatives Saturday in Diyala province, an Iraqi commander said, as an offensive to clear the volatile area of insurgents entered its fifth day.

The U.S. military also cracked down elsewhere in Iraq, saying in a statement that seven other al-Qaida fighters were killed and 10 suspects detained in raids in Tikrit, east of Fallujah, south of Baghdad and in Mosul.

Three other militants suspected of having ties to Iran were detained in a predawn operation by U.S. forces working with Iraqi informants in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City, the military said separately.

Graham’s approval plunges on immigration

The predictable result when one repeatedly pee's down the back of ones constituents....

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) approval rating is taking a pounding in his home state as a result of his strong support for a bipartisan immigration reform bill, a new poll showed Friday.

Graham’s approval rating has sunk to 31 percent and he has a 40 percent disapproval rating, according to a poll released Friday by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage. The new poll points to Graham’s support for the Senate immigration bill, which includes a path to citizenship, as a likely reason for his apparent unpopularity.

His disapproval among Republicans is higher — 46 percent — than among Democrats —30 percent. Both give him an approval rating in the low 30s.

Romney Flip Flops, Gaffes and Assorted Bloopers

We here at Opinipundit have reversed positions and pulled our support from Mitt Romney in favor of a Fred Thompson candidacy. Here is why.

BELIEVE IT OR not, but in the 1994 Massachusetts Senate race, Bay State governor and presumptive presidential candidate Mitt Romney ran to the left of Ted Kennedy on gay rights.

“If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern,” Romney wrote. “My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.”

He has also been at the forfront of repealing the"don't ask, don't tell'' provisions relating to military service.He looked forward to the day when gays and lesbians could serve "openly and honestly in our nation's military."

Now he's for a Marriage Ammendment, HMMMM

And concerning abortion fuhgetaboutit

On immigration, much the same...In 2006 Governor Romney supported the President’s immigration policy as well as the McCain-Kennedy bill. He expressed support for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship and said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.

He even went as far as to say that Republicans that break from the President on this issue are making a "big mistake" according to the Associated Press.

Now Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney says he ‘’strongly opposes'’ the immigration plan also denounced by many conservatives. Mitt Romney opposes the legislation but won’t offer a plan of his own.

What about the second ammendment? In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.

And as the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2002, Romney lauded the state’s strong laws during a debate against Democrat Shannon O’Brien. “We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them,” he said. “I won’t chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety.”

And now...But, look, we’ve gotta fundamentally recognize the need to protect the right to bear arms and the fact that there are people who are trying to remove that right inch by inch, and we’re gonna have to defend against that.

Hmmm, appears those people are you Mr. Romney.

How about stem cell research... Remember how Romney now claims that his views on stem cell research have changed (he's now opposed) because of a shocking personal experience? Well, he claimed the same thing a few years ago as justification for why he supported stem cell research - yes, another shocking personal experience.

And in many cases, he said his commitment had been cemented by watching the suffering of someone dear to him: a grandchild whose asthma left him worried about air pollution; his wife's multiple sclerosis, which had him placing hope in embryonic stem cell research; the death of a distant relative in an illegal abortion, convincing him that the procedure needed to remain legal.

All of Romney's liberal views were based on shocking personal experiences, then he decided to run for president and came up with new shocking personal experiences that could justify him wooing the far-right of the Republican party. This guy is a snake.

Pretty much yea.

The environment too??? Weeks after taking office, the new governor led an army of staffers and activists to Salem, north of Boston, for a news conference outside a coal-fired power plant. He was there to demand that the plant draft a cleanup plan by the next year.

The new governor said something that struck the environmental activists as remarkable. "I will not create jobs or hold jobs that kill people," Romney said in a heated exchange. "And that plant - that plant kills people."

Romney told [a group of religious leaders] he was "terrified" about global warming, a phenomenon he described as "quite alarming," according to notes taken by one of the participants, Nancy Davidge of the Episcopal Divinity School at Harvard University.

Then, in December 2005, Romney surprised even his own staff by pulling the plug on a key element of his environmental agenda. Romney withdrew Massachusetts from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative agreement with other Northeastern states. Though Romney's team had taken a lead role in crafting it, the plan could prove too costly to power-plant owners and consumers, the governor said.

Could it have been the start of his campaign that prompted this? Considering his past behavior, you be the judge.

Lastly taxes: After refusing to endorse President Bush’s tax cuts when he was governor, Mitt Romney has now made them a central part of his presidential campaign, stirring accusations that he is changing his position to appeal to GOP primary voters.

In 2003, Romney stunned a roomful of Bay State congressmen by telling them that he would not publicly support Bush’s tax cuts, which at the time formed the centerpiece of the president’s domestic agenda. He even said he was open to a federal gas tax hike.

“For a Republican governor, I thought it was interesting,” U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) said. “I don’t prejudge people, so I thought he might have the courage of his convictions, but I guess I was wrong.”

Well their you have it, Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has virtually changed his position on just about every single issue crucial to conservatives. Folks this is a man with neither conscience nor core. He is the epitamy of expedience and the personification of opportunism. I want to like Romney he's smooth, polished and quick witted but then again so was Bill Clinton. I guess after looking at the facts I find myself trusting them both just about the same.

P.S.I may have spoken a bit too soon about the "polished thing" Here are a few not ready for primetime moments...

1.Romney told a man in an NRA hat that he had "been a hunter pretty much all of my life".After boasting about his membership in the National Rifle Association, Romney later admitted he joined the group less than a year ago. (Conspicuously disingenuous to put it mildy.)

2.Rachel Griffiths got up and asked Romney if any of his five sons were serving in the military, and if not, how did they plan to support the war against terrorism? "The good news is that we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it," Romney told the crowd, adding, "[O]ne of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected, because they think I'd be a great president." (PU!)

3.During a radio appearance for the 2002 campaign, Romney forgets the name of his running mate, Kerry Healey. Explaining that Healey will help broaden the GOP ticket’s appeal, Romney says, “That is what has drawn me to Sherry.” Also, while discussing his efforts to woo conservative Democrats, Romney calls former Massachusetts governor and Reagan supporter Ed King “Frank King.” (It happens.)

4.Romney ruminated on Hitler's scientific achievements unprompted, in a Q & A about energy policy. As the New York Sun's Ryan Sager said at the time, you wouldn't think that anyone running for president would have to be told, "Don't mention Hitler in a positive light." (Pretty dumb unforced error)

5."Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase — 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.' It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba."
Another case of campaign researchers apparently being off for the day: "Patria o muerte, venceremos" (which means in Spanish, "Fatherland or death, we shall overcome") does not belong to a free Cuba. The starkly fascistic phrase was, in fact, a tagline for Castro, who Romney had, earlier in the same speech declared "a stain on Cuban soil."

6."In France, for instance, I'm told that marriage is now frequently contracted in seven-year terms where either party may move on when their term is up. How shallow and how different from the Europe of the past." (Say Wha??? Nobody seems to know what he was referring to here as no such policy exists)

7."I'm not going to weigh in (reference to an Iraqi troop surge). I'm still a governor." (one of the top ten weasle brush offs of all time)

8.At the Wilton Candy Kitchen, which claims to be the "oldest ice cream parlor/soda fountain in the world," Romney told a crowd of mostly elderly residents that his son Josh was about to complete a tour of all 99 counties in Iowa.

9.A woman raised her hand. "Yes, please!" Romney said.

"How many counties are in Massachusetts?" she asked.

"Thirteen," he said. A few feet away, an aide shook his head and said, "Ten."

"Oh, no, I think it's 13," Romney said. "Not like your 99."

Thanks for playing, Mitt. But the correct answer for the number of counties in the state that you served as governor for four years is... 14. (Significant brain fart)

10. Not satisfied, Blitzer reposes the question, to which Romney replied, "Well, I answered the question by saying it's a non sequitur. It's a non -- null set kind of question, because you can go back and say, 'If we knew then what we know now,' by virtue of inspectors having been let in and giving us that information, by virtue of if Saddam Hussein had followed the U.N. resolutions, we wouldn't be having this discussion. So it's a hypothetical that I think is an unreasonable hypothetical."
(What the hell???)

Fred and Maggie

One great leader and one soon to be one.

Governor names John Barrasso as next U.S. senator

Good choice.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Casper surgeon and state Senator John Barrasso is going to Washington.

Governor Freudenthal today (Friday) named Barrasso to replace the late Senator Craig Thomas, who died two weeks ago while fighting leukemia.

Barrasso was 1 of 3 candidates nominated by the Wyoming Republican Central Committee after a marathon meeting Tuesday. He and his fellow candidates all embraced what they called "bedrock" conservative values, including low taxes, limited government regulation and private property rights.

Cinderella Season

I realize it's shameless self promotion and rank bragadocia but.....my coach pitch baseball team (7 and 8 yr. olds) just finished the season 14 & 1 and first in the league!!!!! The twins played 1st and second base respectively and had a banner year. Look out minors!

The most satisfying aspect of all is that we were not by any means the most talented team but we had a terrific group of overachievers that played solidly as a team. More heart than any group of kids I've ever had the priveledge to coach I couldn't be more proud if they were all my own.

Edwards Communist Manifesto

"Democratic presidential hopeful and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards meets with Smithfield Packing Co. workers at his campaign headquarters in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, June 21, 2007. Edwards met with more than a dozen workers from the hog processing plant in Tar Heel, highlighting them as an example of why Congress needs to pass a bill that could help organizers establish unions without an election."

Having worked at Smithfield I can personally attest to the fact that employees have consistently voted DOWN the union. Is John Edwards attempting to take away the majority of employees right to determine their own destiny? It appears he is.

Cracks show in Democratic House

Would Nancy Pelosi then be considered a "Crack Ho"?

WASHINGTON -- It may be too early to make any predictions about the 2008 elections, but it's likely the Republicans will win back a number of House seats they lost last year.

Indeed, as I noted in an earlier column, Democrats hold at least eight of the nine "most vulnerable" House seats, according to veteran congressional-elections analyst Stuart Rothenberg.

Pelosi: Bush Veto of Stem Cell Bill Says ‘No’ to the Hopes of Million of Families Across America

Hyperbolic demagoguery at it's absolute finest.....

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 06/20/2007 Pelosi: Bush Veto of Stem Cell Bill Says ‘No’ to the Hopes of Million of Families Across America

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in response to President Bush’s veto of the stem cell bill:

“Once again, the President has ignored the will of the American people, of leading medical researchers, and of a bipartisan majority of the Congress. His cruel veto says ‘no’ to the hopes of million of families across America.

Congressional Job Approval Dips Again This Month

PRINCETON, NJ -- The honeymoon phase is over for the new Congress, as the public's ratings of Congress are down again this month. The latest congressional job approval rating (24%) is the lowest for the institution since Democrats took control of both houses in January, and is far below the 37% registered in February. The decline has been most evident among Democrats, whose ratings of Congress now match those of Republicans. Congressional job approval ratings are typically not positive, but ratings as low as the current one are uncommon. The poll also finds that only about one in four Americans...

And the 1 in 4 that approve likely have no clue whatsoever what's actually going on in Congress.

10,000 US troops attack Sunni insurgents

Straightshooting article from the Guardian, go figure.

The US military surge in Iraq moved into a higher gear yesterday as 10,000 American troops launched a new offensive against Sunni insurgents and al-Qaida jihadis in Diyala province, north-east of Baghdad.

At least 22 insurgents were reportedly killed in initial clashes as US forces moved into western suburbs of Baquba, the provincial capital. US commanders said they believed up to 500 al-Qaida fighters were holed up there.

Even as US forces advanced, terrorists behind the lines exploded a devastating truck bomb at a Shia mosque in the centre of Baghdad. Early reports said at least 75 people were killed and 204 wounded.

Nifong Served With Suspension Order

The more painful, the better.

Durham — One day after he announced he would resign next month, Mike Nifong was served with a judge's order that suspends him from carrying out any duties of the district attorney.

Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill went to Nifong's house with a deputy to serve the order Tuesday morning.

"We took his keys and his badge that gave him access to the building," Hill said. "We'll make arrangements to help him get his personal belongings later."

Acting on a civil complaint filed earlier this year by Durham resident Elizabeth Brewer, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson filed the order, which removes the embattled prosecutor from office until his resignation becomes effective July 13.

Local scientist calls global warming theory 'hooey'

BLASPHEMER!

Reid Bryson, known as the father of scientific climatology, considers global warming a bunch of hooey.

The UW-Madison professor emeritus, who stands against the scientific consensus on this issue, is referred to as a global warming skeptic. But he is not skeptical that global warming exists, he is just doubtful that humans are the cause of it.

There is no question the earth has been warming. It is coming out of the "Little Ice Age," he said in an interview this week.

"However, there is no credible evidence that it is due to mankind and carbon dioxide. We've been coming out of a Little Ice Age for 300 years. We have not been making very much carbon dioxide for 300 years. It's been warming up for a long time," Bryson said.

Rasmussen National Poll: Thompson 28% Giuliani 27%

This is the first lead Thompson has shown in any national poll.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson earning support from 28% of Likely Republican Primary Voters. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attracts support from 27%.

While Thompson’s one-point edge is statistically insignificant, it is the first time all year that anybody but Giuliani has been on top in Rasmussen Reports polling. A week ago, Thompson and Giuliani were tied at 24%

Duke University, Three Lacrosse Players Announce Settlement

At least there's one consolation, these three will never have to work another day in their life.

DURHAM - Duke University has reached a settlement with each of the three former lacrosse players and their families.
The university made the announcement this afternoon.

According to a press release issued by Duke, the terms of the settlement will not be disclosed.

In a statement, Duke officials said the board of trustees and Duke President Richard Brodhead had determined that it was in the best interests of the Duke community to eliminate the possibility of future litigation and move forward.

Thompson moves into second place behind Giuliani

Almost all the polls are now showing Thompson in second with McCain losing support and Romney mired in single digits.

WASHINGTON - Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to lead the Republican field in the USA Today/Gallup Poll, but former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who hasn't yet formally entered the race, for the first time edges into second place over Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The results show a Republican race that could be roiled by Thompson, who is targeting conservatives unsatisfied with their choices in the field so far. He is costing Giuliani most: A third of Thompson's supporters say they would otherwise back the former New York mayor.

Among Democrats, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has regained a double-digit lead over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, two weeks after the survey found the Democratic presidential rivals essentially tied.

Thompson bump expected in July.

Happy Fathers Day

"Children blessed with a loving father should consider themselves fortunate. For, they have someone to take care of their needs and interests. Someone to stop them when they are diverting to a wrong path and guide them on a road to success and virtue. For many of us fathers have always been there to solve our innumerous mathematics and science problems and explain the same formula hundredth time or better still until it is understood by us. Fathers would never ever give a smallest of hint to let us know how hard they work to take care of our needs and fulfill even the most whimsical of demands... For all their adorable scolding and affectionate punishments we all owe a big thanks to our Dads."

Nifong broke conduct rules, committee finds

RALEIGH, N.C. - Mike Nifong broke numerous rules of professional conduct during his disastrous prosecution of three Duke University lacrosse players falsely accused of rape, committing “deceit and misrepresentations,” a disciplinary committee ruled Saturday.

The committee must now decide if the longtime prosecutor in Durham County, who has already pledged to resign his post as district attorney, should be stripped of his law license. That decision was expected later Saturday.

A definitive statement has to be made that there will be criminal consequences for rogue DAs who abuse the public trust, period.

Update: He's no longer a lawyer.

Irrational Exuberance

Kennedy and Martinez, modern day Nero's fiddling as Rome burns.

Photo via AP

Quote of the Day

Nifong testified today that early on in the Duke Lacrosse case he commented to the press "Why do the Duke students need lawyers if they're innocent"

Answer: Ironically to protect themselves from out of control rogue District Attorney's such as yourself.

Update: He resigns

Friday Funny

Michael Ramirez