Freed Britons Say 'Confessions' Coerced

They raised their voices and talked mean to us.....

ROYAL MARINE BASE CHIVENOR, England (AP) -- British sailors and marines freed by Iran said Friday they were blindfolded, isolated in cold stone cells and tricked into fearing execution while being coerced into falsely saying they had entered Iranian waters.

They said there was no doubt the 15 crew members were in Iraq's territorial waters when they were seized by heavily armed boats of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. They also said their jailers had singled out the only woman among the captives for use in propaganda.

Iran, which has been celebrating the incident as a victory, quickly rejected the charges, dismissing a news conference held by six of the freed personnel as "propaganda" and "a show." Iranian state TV accused British leaders of "dictating" the crew's statements.

Lest we ever forget:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

John Stuart Mill

"Peace in Our Time"

Neville Pelosi

Fredapalooza

What has happened in the last three weeks is nothing short of incredible. Fred Thompson with nothing more than a teaser announcement on Fox news Sunday has rocketed to a solid 3 position (statistical number two position in one major poll) for the Republican nomination. Scores of internet polls have him crushing the competition. I have been watching Presidential politics for a long time and I have never seen this level of gut fervor arising from the grassroots, it's unprecedented.

Early on the MSM was clueless. The lefty press chose to ignore the movement while several so called experts on the right ie. Barnes, Lowry etc. scoffed at the phenomenon. But the shear magnitude of passion percolating up from the collective conservative persona became too manifest to discount or deny. Now that is has been forced down their throat the Press is beginning to get it. More articles are being written everyday on the Thompson candidacy and the tired old "only an actor" and "lack of Senate accomplishments" narratives are appearing with ever increasing frequency. Expect a lot more.

The vast majority of grassroots Republicans are unhappy with Rudy McRomney and are desperately seeking a candidate they can rally around, that candidate is Fred Dalton Thompson. This bottom to top momentum surge is not unlike the 04 Howard Dean phenomenon with one monumentally important distinction, Thompson is mainstream and eminently electable whereas Dean was neither. That makes this juggernaut decidedly sustainable.

I'm beginning to believe that Thompson's strategy of holding off on announcing his candidacy is a prudent one. He's allowing the competition to self immolate. Guiliani who's support is a mile wide and quarter inch thick is estranging himself from the conservative base now on a daily basis. McCain is stuck in first gear spinning his wheels in the South Carolina mud and Romney who is getting a lot of $ from the LDS crowd can't get out of the starting gate. The press is beating up on them and they are beating up on each other all while Fred just sits back and enjoys the show.

Don't believe the no money no organization bombast. If and when he gets in the money will flow to him like never in history and the politicos will be lined up half way to Tipperary to hitch their wagon to this star. The pundits will stand aghast as politicians who have "committed" to other candidates bail and jump on the Fred bandwagon. Again, being that this phenomenon is such a rare occurrence in Presidential politics it's difficult for the "Beltway Brains" to comprehend what's actually going on.

We are in interesting times indeed. We have a top tier candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States who has not even announced let alone lifted a finger in it's pursuit. If Thompson enters the fray, he will not add a mere chapter, he will rewrite the book of Presidential election politics. And there will be one word that permeates his White House run like no other in my lifetime, that word is DESTINY.

U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Grow by 180,000 Jobs: Jobless Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since May 2001

Who will be the first imbecile on the left that will attempt to equate this with the newly installed Democrat Congress?

U.S. payrolls jumped last month and the jobless rate fell, boosting the odds of moderate, consumer-driven economic growth and lowering the chances of any near-term reduction in official interest rates.

Outside of manufacturing, payroll gains were broadly based, with construction and services posting healthy increases. Previous months' employment increases, meanwhile, were revised up.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 180,000 in March, up from a revised 113,000 in February and 162,000 in January, the Labor Department said Friday. Those months were previously reported as increases of 97,000 and 146,000, respectively.

The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 4.4% last month, matching its lowest level since May 2001. Average hourly earnings increased six cents, or 0.3%, to $17.22. That was up 4% from a year earlier, suggesting wages remain an inflation risk.

Giuliani to social conservatives: Take it or leave it

Anatomy of a crash and burn....

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rudy Giuliani's message to social conservatives: If you don't like my views, don't vote for me.

The Republican presidential frontrunner Thursday reaffirmed his support for federal funding for some abortions, a position which puts him at odds with many conservatives. During a press conference at the State Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina, he said he didn't expect to win over 100 percent of the voters."

If that's real important to you, if that's the most important thing, I'm comfortable with the fact that you won't vote for me," the former mayor said.

And yesterday: On TV and during a swing through the early primary state of South Carolina, Giuliani has reaffirmed his support for public financing of abortions for women who cannot afford them.

Rasmussen reports: Giuliani Slips in Polls, Caught by Clinton

Latest New Hampshire telephone poll shows Romney's support nearly doubles to 25%

New Hampshire has notoriously been a bellweather of absolutely nothing but this is interesting nonetheless.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has rocketed to the top of the field of contenders for the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary crown, running dead even with Arizona Sen. John McCain at 25% each, a new Zogby International telephone poll shows. With Romney’s ascension, the GOP presidential race looks just like the Democratic contest – a three–way battle!

While McCain has held mostly steady at the top of the Republican field in New Hampshire, losing just one point since January, Romney has made the big move up from 13% two months ago. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who is the toast of Republican primary voters nationally, finds himself in third place in the Granite State at 19% support, falling slightly from 20% in January to 19% this week.

Fred Thompson, the actor and former senator from Tennessee won 6% support in this latest survey of 502 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters, which was conducted April 2-3, 2007, and contains a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.

Pratfall in Damascus

Ms. Pelosi and the rest of the gullible Democrats are most definately NOT ready for prime time. This is a perfect illustration as to why conducting diplomacy is best left to those that know what they're doing.

HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered an excellent demonstration yesterday of why members of Congress should not attempt to supplant the secretary of state when traveling abroad. After a meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Ms. Pelosi announced that she had delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. What's more, she added, Mr. Assad was ready to "resume the peace process" as well. Having announced this seeming diplomatic breakthrough, Ms. Pelosi suggested that her Kissingerian shuttle diplomacy was just getting started. "We expressed our interest in using our good offices in promoting peace between Israel and Syria," she said.

Only one problem: The Israeli prime minister entrusted Ms. Pelosi with no such message. "What was communicated to the U.S. House Speaker does not contain any change in the policies of Israel," said a statement quickly issued by the prime minister's office. In fact, Mr. Olmert told Ms. Pelosi that "a number of Senate and House members who recently visited Damascus received the impression that despite the declarations of Bashar Assad, there is no change in the position of his country regarding a possible peace process with Israel." In other words, Ms. Pelosi not only misrepresented Israel's position but was virtually alone in failing to discern that Mr. Assad's words were mere propaganda.

Israel responds.

Bush bypasses Senate to name ambassador

BWAAAAHAHAHA, atta boy GW, nothing like a little castor beans to the eyes.

President Bush named Republican fundraiser Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium on Wednesday, using a maneuver that allowed him to bypass Congress where Democrats had derailed Fox's nomination.

Democrats had denounced Fox for his 2004 donation to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group's TV ads, which claimed that Sen. John Kerry exaggerated his military record in Vietnam, were viewed as a major factor in the Massachusetts Democrat losing the election.

Recognizing Fox did not have the votes to obtain Senate confirmation, Bush withdrew the nomination last month. On Wednesday, with Congress out of town for a spring break, the president used his power to make recess appointments to put Fox in the job without Senate confirmation.

No more GWOT, House committee decrees

Democrats are great for euphemisms, ie. Taxes = Federal Income Enhancement. If they don't just choose to ignore it completely it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

The House Armed Services Committee is banishing the global war on terror from the 2008 defense budget.

This is not because the war has been won, lost or even called off, but because the committee’s Democratic leadership doesn’t like the phrase.

A memo for the committee staff, circulated March 27, says the 2008 bill and its accompanying explanatory report that will set defense policy should be specific about military operations and “avoid using colloquialisms.”

The “global war on terror,” a phrase first used by President Bush shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., should not be used, according to the memo. Also banned is the phrase the “long war,” which military officials began using last year as a way of acknowledging that military operations against terrorist states and organizations would not be wrapped up in a few years.

Ahmadinejad Says British Troops Will Be Freed

The obvious question....At what cost?

TEHRAN, Iran — Fifteen British sailors and marines seized by Iranian naval personnel have been pardoned and will be freed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference Wednesday, but he vowed his country would not tolerate invasions of its borders by any country.

Nancy Pelosi's Idiotic Adventure

What can she possibly hope to accomplish other than to undermine our foreign policy and irritate the administration? Answer: That.

Syrian President Bashar Assad meets on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 with U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi at Ash-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus. Pelosi arrived here Tuesday as the highest ranking US official to visit Syria since 2003 for talks with the Syrian leadership on the strained relations between Syria and the U.S., to convey a peace message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to President Assad, and to discuss Iraq and other regional issues with Syria. Pelosi's visit was criticized by the US administration.(AP Photo Hussein Malla).

Quote of the Week

Jackie Mason talking about his new book Schmucks: Our Favorite Fakes, Frauds, Lowlifes, Liars, the Armed and Dangerous, and Good Guys Gone Bad."

When asked, "what about Barack Obama?" he replied:

Barack Obama, I think is as well-equipped to be president as I am to be an astronaut.

Perfect.

Mason went on to say when queried if there was anyone not running who would be an ideal candidate...

'Yeah, Fred Thompson. Fred Thompson I think is great, the senator who is the actor from "Law and Order." I think he's brilliant, he's clear-headed, he's sharp, he's smart, he's not so selfish and crooked as most politicians.'

Iraqi Government Seeks Release Of Iranians Detained By US Military

Well, well...

A senior Iraqi foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that the government was "intensively" seeking release of five Iranians detained by the U.S. military more than two months ago in northern Iraq.

"We are intensively seeking the release of the five Iranians," the senior official said.

"This will be a factor that will help in the release of the British sailors and marines" held by Iran since March 25.

Beginning to get a clearer picture of what's actually been going on now?

Rasmussen: Giuliani 26% McCain 16% Thompson 14%

Most regular readers know through my past postings that I think Fred Thompson is the dark horse that could very well win the Republican nomination and the general election but these results are even suprising to me.

The addition of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) to the list of candidates shakes up the race for the GOP Presidential nomination.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support dips below the 30% mark for the first time in seven weeks. With Thompson in the mix, Giuliani’s support tumbles to 26%, down nine points from a week ago. That’s the lowest level of support measured for Giuliani in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year.

Support for Arizona Senator John McCain remains steady at 16%, but McCain’s hold on second place is threatened by Thompson. The movie star turned Senator turned TV star weighs in with 14% support among those likely to vote in a GOP primary. Among Very Conservative voters, Giuliani attracts 20% support followed closely by Thompson at 19%, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 18% and McCain at 14%.

Judge orders Marine reservist's discharge

Clueless eggplant of the week.

SAN DIEGO — A federal judge in San Jose has taken the unusual step of ordering the Marine Corps to grant a reservist's request for a discharge as a conscientious objector.

Lance Cpl. Robert Zabala, 23, said he joined the Marines as part of a family tradition of military service. But he said he was shocked during boot camp here to find such a strong emphasis on killing.

According to court documents, Zabala said he was appalled by the "blood lust" of one officer and broke into tears when shown pictures of dead Iraqis. He said his informal study of Buddhism led him to a belief in the "sanctity of life."

What in he!! does he think a military is for???

Senator Barack Obama Depicted as Jesus at Chicago Art Exhibit

I would prefer to see him depicted as Alfred E. Newman as it would be far less offensive and a good deal more accurate.

WASHINGTON — A Chicago artist hopes his creation of Democratic White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama as Jesus will bring attention to politics and religion.

The exhibit, titled "Blessing," shows Obama cloaked in white and red robes with a neon halo, is on display at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

"He's sort of emerged as this really sort of charismatic and really popular person. I think that people really like him and I think it's because of his message of unity and sort of his political platform," David Cordero, the artist and a student at the school, said of the Illinois senator.

Pollack, HBO are deciders on 'Recount

HBO is revisiting one of the most dramatic events in U.S. election history with "Recount," a film about the 2000 turmoil in Florida to be directed by Oscar winner Sydney Pollack.

Paula Weinstein is executive producing the HBO Films project, which is targeted to premiere in spring 2008.

Written by actor Danny Strong, Spring Creek Prods.' "Recount" chronicles the weeks after the 2000 presidential election and goes behind the scenes of the recounts in Florida to explore the human drama of ordinary people caught in an extraordinary event that would decide the leadership of the country.

While "Recount" takes on one of the most controversial and politically charged episodes in recent history, the telefilm has no political agenda, Callender said.

If one is naive enough to to believe that this might actually be fair I direct you to this quote by the writer of this film Danny Strong:

"I don't think I have a greatest achievement yet. Right now I am volunteering for the John Kerry campaign, and this is the most important thing I have ever done in my life. I truly believe that George Bush and Dick Cheney are tremendous threats to not only our own security, but the world's, and that we must do everything we can to remove them from office."

Oh yea, no political agenda there.

McCain/ Graham heckled by CNN reporter

A relatively new but increasingly common occupation known as the activist/journalist....

During a live press conference in Bagdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Ware’s conduct “outrageous,” saying, “here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments.

I’ve never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.” Senators McCain and Graham flew into Iraq and drove into Bagdad, making stops at an open market and a joint Iraq/American military security outpost before appearing at the press conference.

Update: It appears that Drudge may have issued an erronious report . Although this in no way changes our opinion of the ever agenda driven Ware and his reporting, we do not need "made up" scenarios to further our position. We'll leave that to the left.

Quote of the Week

"The Global Warming Panic is a gigantic worldwide redistribution of wealth program as well as a ponzi scheme for a chosen few on the ground floor."

Imam to government: enforce Sharia law within seven days or we will do it ourselves

The situation in Pakistan has been underreported. The government is in the fight of their life with the Taliban in the border regions and emboldened hardline Islamocrazies are increasingly exerting their muscle throughout much of the country. The question of whether Musharraf can hold it all together is far from certain at this point.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Dt) – It is an ultimatum not a request: if within a week Sharia law is not enforced throughout the country than true Muslims “will islamify society on their own”. Maulana Abdul Aziz, Imam of the Lal Masjid Mosque and director of Jamia Hafsa Madrassah has said.

Speaking after Friday prayers to thousands of faithful, Aziz clarified: “If the government ignores our requests than we will have to enforce them ourselves”. The man then asked for the closure of “all brothels and gaming houses as soon as possible”, also adding in this case that “that aim may only be achieved thanks to the help of the Madrassah students”.

The Imam’s threats must not be ignored, because just days ago female students from the Madrassah directed by Aziz attacked a suspected brothel taking the women who lived within the house hostage.