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The Lunch Counter
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Sunday, November 27, 2005
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'Grieving' Cindy Sheehan, has returned to Crawford, Texas. Her and about 99 others. Below is the update and picture, worth the usual thousand words. Says Power Line; It's Over.
Cindy Sheehan's moment of fame, that is. The Washington Post delivers a surprisingly honest assessment of Sheehan's latest effort in Crawford, Texas:
Unlike [last August], when hundreds came from all over the country for major events at the two campsites named after Sheehan's son, who was killed in Iraq, Sheehan found herself addressing a crowd of only about 100 Saturday afternoon. The large tent where supporters had erected a stage hung with the banner "Speak Truth to Power" was only partially full. In the morning Sheehan signed copies of her new book, being published this week, for an even smaller crowd.
"Even smaller crowd," indeed:
The AP caption reads:
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan waits for people to show up at her book signing near President Bush's ranch on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005 in Crawford, Texas.
If any showed up, it isn't apparent from the photos taken by AP and Reuters.
HT: Sweetness & Light, via PoliPundit. [Power Line]
7:49:16 PM 
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Credits to Amy Ridenour for this one, The Peace Movement's Moderate Face
As Cindy Sheehan is once again protesting in Crawford, Texas, I thought it a good time to share some pictures that show -- as the mainstream media often does not -- the message of the anti-war protesters.
These photos, of another anti-war rally in which Cindy Sheehan participated, were taken by Joe Roche.
Said Joe about the day he took these pictures:
I wiped myself out by walking in the opposite direction all day through the marches taking pictures of lots of stuff.
The reason I did this was because of an exchange I had with some soldiers after the Sept 11th Freedom Walk earlier this month. There was a counter-protest for that that shocked most of the soldiers. They held up signs that were extremely militant and provacative. The soldiers asked me afterwards if those were Americans. They were shocked, incredulous, when I said yes. Amy & David, there are many people in America who have no idea how radical and militant the Left really is. I think it would shock people to see how bad they really are at events like this weekend's.
Of course, we know this. The same thing happened in 1983 against Reagan, many times against Contra Aid, against the 1991 Gulf War, etc. The thing that infuriates me is how the press/media protect these protests by NOT showing the real militant and radical sides of it. NOTHING like that exists in our pro-US/pro-military rallies, but it ALWAYS is there for the anti-military stuff.
...Every time they hold these protests, the media only shows the sides of things that look normal and nice for America. It is as if they go out of their way to protect the message from the radicals to only show the most mellow side, so that the whole thing comes off acceptable to the "moderates." Notice this photo gallery of Cindy Sheehan's protests this week (Hat tip: League of Extraordinary Conservative Gentlemen). All flags, hugs and crosses. Yet the photos below show another face of the "peace"movement -- one that is not "moderate' at all.
 - Amy Ridenour [Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog]
10:11:47 AM
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Friday, November 25, 2005
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The vote last week to require the President to further explain his Iraq strategy was enough to give former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry a big problem. He voted for it, before he voted against it. After checking with Sen. Edward Kennedy, the principled John Kerry went back and changed his vote. May his political future rest in peace. Kennedy's future has long past.
Iraq a Tricky Issue for Ambitious Democrats (AP). AP - Sen. John Kerry initially voted in favor of a Republican-sponsored resolution calling on President Bush to explain his strategy for success in Iraq. Minutes later, the Democrat changed his vote. [Yahoo! News: Politics News]
3:02:55 PM
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This should dispell all the heated rhetoric from the wacko left complaining how 'the right' has the media in their back pockets, which is patently absurd. Reality demonstrates it is the other way around, this taped conversation is but one example.
"X" Marks the Spot: CNN Staffer Admits to Liberal Bias.
Listen to this tape of a woman who called CNN to complain about the "X" the network slapped onto Vice President Cheney as he delivered a speech. The operator's response? "Tell Bush and Cheney to stop lying." CNN has confirmed the authenticity of the tape and, to its credit, fired the operator. But, yet again, it reveals a liberal ideological mindset that completely pervades American media. [GOP Bloggers]
9:00:38 AM
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Thursday, November 24, 2005
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In the upscale in every way town of Cupertino, California, the educational system there is witness to what has been called 'white flight.' But this time it is not because of deteriorating neighborhoods. He attributes the phenomenon as just another way that society sorts itself, with insight into other social 'problems.' In his article What flight?, Thomas Sowell offers an explanation to population shifts and government efforts to buck the tide. A must read in understanding what is going on in this melting pot called America.
11:09:50 AM
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Or so it appears. What, Muslims don't share a universal message of thanks? Got a problem with assimilation here?
To be fair, I don't know if they were invited or if they needed to be invited. In either case, there does seem to be a problem with assimilation here. Maybe the crux of the problem is, who's problem is it?
Area faithful come together to celebrate graciousness. Area synagogues and Christian churches shared a universal message of thanks Wednesday at an Ecumenical Service in Pensacola. [PensacolaNewsJournal.com - Local News]
9:25:39 AM
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Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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Who said this? "[I]n any case every person in Europe has the right to choose to die, even if they are not terminally ill." Ludwig Minelli, founder of Dignitas, a chain of killing clinics. A growing chain of killing clinics. One of his clinics killed a woman who was not terminally ill. The doctor who did it then killed himself. I don't even know what to say about this besides I'm glad I'm living in the United States.
1:14:22 AM
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Gas prices drop below $2 in hurricane alley. Who or what is responsible for that? Now everybody is fat, dumb, and happy. See 'analysis' below. Let prices go back up and that will be because of Bush. Isn't that about right for the left? Wasn't because Ted Kennedy increased production at 'his' oil wells.
"I honestly didn't expect for the prices to keep dropping so close to Thanksgiving, but they are," Monroe said. "I'm happy to be proved wrong. I think it's a great thing, especially at a time when travel is up."
Answer: It's the market working like markets work.
Area gasoline prices drop below $2 a gallon. Gasoline prices in the area dipped below $2 for a gallon of unleaded regular at several filling stations on Tuesday. [PensacolaNewsJournal.com - Local News]
12:49:20 AM
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
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Sen. Jay Rockefeller, ranking Democrat and vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, IE. one Democrat who had seen and had access to all the same intelligence that Bush had, makes a treasonous confession on a Sunday talk show, Fox News Sunday. This is old news now, over a week old. Something else seems to have captured the attention of the biased media; Bush lied. Rockefeller betrayed his country and his responsibility as a member of the Intelligence Committee. Let's deal with something that did happen.
Just 90 days after the attack on 9/11, long before the war began, and 9 months before the President made his case at the United Nations, Rockefeller told Syria's Bashar Assad, Saddam Hussein's bud, that the Americans, no, that Bush will be coming. Remember too that Saddam had kicked out the UN inspectors. With a 14-month heads-up, is it any wonder that Saddam's WMD stuff disappeared? Like into and/or through Syria?
His confession/revelation on Sunday makes the second breach of faith and security in his performance on the most sensitive of committees on Capital Hill, and some action needs to be started. Meanwhile, he should be removed from that committee and lose his security clearance until he has gone through a successful and complete investigation.
Rockefeller must be brought to account for this act, which is a closer cousin to treason than the strategy memo that came to light from his office 8 months after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which described how they planned to politicize the intelligence to hurt the administration. This, from a Senator on the Select Intelligence Committee. And exactly the sort of thing we have seen from Democrats for the last couple years. To use his words, they have 'pulled the trigger.'
12:08:46 AM
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Monday, November 21, 2005
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I think it was Sen. Ted Kennedy who first foisted the Democrat position that Bush lied his way into war with Iraq, and it was for personal reasons that he took us there. Never mind that Ted Kennedy and most other Democrats voted in support of our going into Iraq, but hey, that's nit picking. There were actually seven reasons that the President stated as to why we need to go there, "without illusion and without fear." Let me refresh your memory with this link. And for those that weren't listening or didn't see it, here is the audio link. The video link is on this page. 
2:18:42 PM
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Ralph Peters offers his perspective on the Democrats' current position on the war in Iraq. Based on what they are saying to anyone who will listen, and then some, they want out of Iraq, and they aren't looking forward beyond their nose to the consequences of their position, regardless if it were to come to fruition. Read the whole article, this is how it begins. How To Lose A War.
November 21, 2005 -- QUIT. It's that simple. There are plenty of more complex ways to lose a war, but none as reliable as just giving up.
Increasingly, quitting looks like the new American Way of War. No matter how great your team, you can't win the game if you walk off the field at half-time. That's precisely what the Democratic Party wants America to do in Iraq. Forget the fact that we've made remarkable progress under daunting conditions: The Dems are looking to throw the game just to embarrass the Bush administration.
Use this New York Post link for the rest of the story.
1:45:17 PM
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Sunday, November 20, 2005
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Democrats' strategy on the war on terror and Iraq are similar to Bush's plan in an odd and dangerous way. Both agree that we should get out of Iraq. Bush's plan is to get out as the Iraqi defense and security forces can take over to protect themselves. This process is ongoing and takes time. The Democrats also want to get out of Iraq, but with no apparent regard to the readiness of the Iraqi people to defend themselves which is dangerous, if not wreckless.
Under Bush's plan, the prospects for peace in the world are better. Bailing out in six months means that Iraq will very likely return to turmoil, mass graves, and become the world capital for terrorists and terrorists organizations. One can not ignore other countries in the region, like Iran. Today for example, Iran's Parliament approved a bill requiring the government to block inspections of its atomic facilities if the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency refers Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions. Iran and Syria are both fueling insurgencies in Iraq, which would quickly increase the moment we were to prematurely get out of Iraq.
The result of Bush's plan is the best chance for lasting peace. The result of the Democrats' plan would be leaving the Iraqi people high and dry for slaughter, and the rest of the world open season for the Islamist terrorists. The Ted Kennedys and John Murthas and Harry Reids of the Democrat party are somehow oblivious to the nuance that their words of 'get out of Iraq' is all that the middle east is hearing. Their public opposition to Bush's plan simply amounts to pumping up the enemy, which takes irresponsibility to a whole new level. It's the stupidity stupid, not the patriotism.
10:33:58 AM
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Friday, November 18, 2005
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Representative John Murtha (D,PA) joins Sen. Ted Kennedy's retreat and surrender policy. Only difference is Murtha wants to leave Iraq in six months, Kennedy's plan might take a little longer. First Bill Clinton (D,world), now John Murtha, both of them acting as the tip of the spear in the war on terror, al-Qaeda's spear. And both with the same result. Meltdown in the Arab world, flourishing of terrorist organizations, more mass graves in Iraq, and a less safe world. That, and the realization that the US lacks the will to fight a war that it can't win in 100 days.
I guess these Democrats just won't be happy until our restaurants and subways are getting blown up, because that is guaranteed to happen if they had their way. Maybe this and this are all part of Karl Rove's plan, but I doubt it. Seems to be more like a Democrat plan for retreat and surrender. At the very least, they ought to be bright enough to tell the difference from being unpatriotic and being stupid.
4:30:08 PM
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Right on queue, Al Franken is out of the box calling an increase A CUT. Not only that, but the Republicans are denying food stamps to 220,000 to 250,000 'low income' people. Are there any other 'income people' that get food stamps? It's just one misrepresentation after one lie. And music to the wacko left's ears, and repulsion to the uninformed. When spending increases compared to last year go up 7% instead of 7.3%, that does not constitute a cut. And, dividing that .3% difference into an average cost of a food stamp recipient, that does not take food stamps away from anybody. Al Franken needs to add himself in his next book of liars, and the rest of us will at least know when a cut is a cut.
This morning, House Republicans regrouped and narrowly approved a broad five-year budget plan "that squeezes programs for the poor, for college students and for farmers."
What would the budget plan do? According to the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: The House budget bill would still deny low-income people each month by 2008, and would cut basic food aid by $700 million over five years.
- The House bill still would allow states to impose substantial new co-payment and premium fees on millions of low-income Medicaid beneficiaries, and to scale back substantially the health care services that the Medicaid program provides.
- The House bill still would result in an estimated 330,000 children in low-income working families losing child care assistance in 2010 as a result of the low child care funding levels and unfunded new work requirements in the bill.
[The Al Franken Show | Air America Radio -]
3:49:29 PM
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It used to be that California was a five years ahead of the time in this country. Like trends or some such would start in California, but would take about 5 years before it 'migrated' to the east coast. In a similar migration, albeit a much longer term, Charles Krauthammer says what we are seeing in France is but the beginning of what is to come in Europe. Not the rioting, but a Muslim migration that will overtake Europe. Thanks to GOP Bloggers.
Voila, No More France.
Many people love to taunt the French, but we should not applaud its inevitable decline. Read these two columns about how France is disappearing before our eyes. This is not good for America. First, Mark Steyn.
France faces tough choices and, unlike Baghdad, in Paris you can't even talk about them honestly. As Jean-Claude Dassier, director-general of the French news station LCI, told a broadcasters' conference in Amsterdam, he has been playing down the riots on the following grounds: "Politics in France is heading to the Right and I don't want Right-wing politicians back in second or even first place because we showed burning cars on television."
Oh, well. You can understand why the Quai d'Orsay is relaxed about Iran becoming the second Muslim nuclear power. As things stand, France is on course to be the third. You heard it here first. You probably won't hear it on Mr Dassier's station at all. Second, Charles Krauthammer.
On the one side are the protester-arsonists, many if not most of them Muslim, whom the Interior Minister called racaille (rabble)--young, restless, violent, vibrant, angry, jobless, envious and fecund. And on the other side is an aged and exhausted civilization, the hollowed-out core of European Christendom, static, aging, contented, coddled, passive and literally without faith. Who would you think will win in the end?...
France thus is approaching 10% Muslim. But things do not stand still. Even if there were no further immigration, which is a pipe dream, birth rates alone will soon drastically alter the balance. Muslims have the highest birth rate--three times the rate of non-Muslims--of any demographic group in Europe. The most common name for a newborn in neighboring Brussels is Mohammed. Childbearing rates among non-Muslim Frenchmen are well below replacement levels. The old French, like the rest of Europe, are literally disappearing.
"With current trends," Professor Bernard Lewis has said, "Europe will have Muslim majorities in the population by the end of the 21st century." The future? "Europe will be part of the Arab west, of the Maghreb [Muslim northwest Africa]." Today's rioting youth are just a bit ahead of their time in claiming their upcoming patrimony.
[GOP Bloggers]
3:29:49 PM
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Thursday, November 17, 2005
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Bill Clinton Rewriting History & Lying Again.
The Democrats are lying about pre-war intelligence for political gain. They should not be allowed to get away with such treason. It is the foulest and most heinous slander in Washington in a generation. Look at video of Bill Clinton in 1998, when he ordered an attack on Iraq.
Earlier today, I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.
Their purpose is to protect the national interest of the United States, and indeed the interests of people throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons.
I want to explain why I have decided, with the unanimous recommendation of my national security team, to use force in Iraq; why we have acted now; and what we aim to accomplish.
Six weeks ago, Saddam Hussein announced that he would no longer cooperate with the United Nations weapons inspectors called UNSCOM. They are highly professional experts from dozens of countries. Their job is to oversee the elimination of Iraq's capability to retain, create and use weapons of mass destruction, and to verify that Iraq does not attempt to rebuild that capability. The inspectors undertook this mission first 7 1/2 years ago at the end of the Gulf War when Iraq agreed to declare and destroy its arsenal as a condition of the ceasefire.
The international community had good reason to set this requirement. Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.
The international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. Of course, now he sings a different tune. There used to be a tradition of former Presidents keeping a dignified and respectful silence about their successors. Clinton and Jimmy Carter have eviscerated that tradition, and Democrats spit in the faces of our servicemen for short-term political gain.
[GOP Bloggers]
4:54:18 PM
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Project 21: High Home Heating Bills Disproportionately Harm Minority Households
Project 21 members are speaking out on the topic of oil drilling and energy independence:
Black Activists Support Increased Domestic Oil Exploration
High Home Heating Bills Disproportionately Harm Minority Households
Citing the need for America to achieve energy independence as well as aid poor and minority households already suffering from rising heating bills, activists with the black leadership network Project 21 are speaking out in favor of oil and natural gas exploration efforts under consideration for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
The U.S. Senate approved legislation on November 9 to allow oil drilling on approximately 2,000 acres - or 0.01 percent - of ANWR's 19.6 million acres. The House of Representatives is expected to consider similar legislation as early as this week. Drilling on this small and desolate portion of ANWR is expected to generate $2.5 billion in government revenue, create a significant number of new jobs nationwide and recover between 4.3-11.8 billion barrels of oil. OCS-related legislation in the House would allow states to "opt out" of federal moratoriums that currently prohibit offshore oil and gas production.
A small group of Republican congressmen are attempting to block any provision that would allow oil and natural gas exploration in both ANWR and the OCS.
"Home heating bills are expected to be higher than usual this winter. People can choose not to drive their car when fuel prices are high, but they shouldn't have to choose not to turn on the heat to keep their family warm," said Project 21 member Deneen Moore. "Low-income households unable to afford rising heating bills might resort to unsafe alternatives. Drilling in ANWR, for example, would be essential to helping alleviate the high cost of energy in the U.S., create jobs and help America become less dependent on foreign oil."
If new sources of energy are not found and utilized, minority households will be forced to spend a greater percentage of their budgets to keep their homes warm. The U.S. Department of Energy recently projected that heating costs will soar this winter. The cost of heating a home with natural gas is expected to increase by 32 percent increase; with heating oil, 26 percent.
Based on 2004 median income figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average black household using natural gas for heat can expect to pay one percent more of their income (from 3.2 percent to 4.2 percent) and Hispanics 0.9 percent more (2.8 to 3.7 percent) for home heating while their white counterparts will only be paying 0.6 percent more (two percent to 2.6 percent). Heating oil users will experience almost exactly the same percentage change but will pay a larger portion of their incomes (4.2 to 5.3 percent for blacks, 3.7 to 4.6 for Hispanics and 2.6 to 3.2 for whites) to stay warm.
This inequity further depresses minority prospects for investing, paying for higher education and contributing to retirement savings plans and further hinders socio-economic advancement.
"The prospect of keeping warm this winter costing so much more than the rate of inflation should offend every American family, but its impact on this country's working poor borders the criminal," said Project 21's John Meredith, who is active in several community-based non-profit groups. "How can a nation so rich and powerful justify forcing families to choose between staying warm and eating? We can't. Opening ANWR to exploration is the only humane thing to do." The full press release can be found here .
4:44:15 PM
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Wednesday, November 16, 2005
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Sen. Jay Rockefeller, ranking Democrat and vice chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, IE. one Democrat who had seen all the same intelligence that Bush had, makes a treasonous confession on a Sunday talk show, Fox News Sunday. This whole matter will not be on any of the other media, period, than FOX because of how damning it is to Rockefeller and the whole notion of what Democrats are harping on today; Bush lied, etc..
It doesn't take a conservative to realize what a cowboy Rockefeller must have felt like in his junket to the middle east. Just 90 days after the attack on 9/11, long before the war began, and 9 months before the President made his case at the United Nations, Rockefeller told Syria's Bashar Assad, Saddam Hussein's bud, that 'they' will be coming. Remember too that Saddam had kicked out the UN inspectors. With a 14-month heads-up, is it any wonder that Saddam's WMD stuff disappeared? Like into and/or through Syria?
His confession/revelation on Sunday makes the second breach of faith and security in his performance on the most sensitive of committees on Capital Hill, and some action needs to be started. Meanwhile, he should be removed from that committee and lose his security clearance until he has gone through a successful and complete investigation.
Rockefeller must be brought to account for this act, which is a closer cousin to treason than the strategy memo that came to light from his office 8 months after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which described how they planned to politicize the intelligence to hurt the administration. This, from a Senator on the Select Intelligence Committee. And exactly the sort of thing we have seen from Democrats for the last couple years.
3:55:56 PM
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The ruckus that's going on in the Senate is ridiculous. Extending our rights to enemy combatants to whatever extent, poking their nose into alleged 'black sites' where bad guys are held, wanting a timetable for withdrawal (surrender). All of this is up to the President, the Commander in Chief and last I checked, the Senate is not the Commander in Chief.
They need to quit thinking that they can interfere with or otherwise micro-manage this war. That goes for Republicans and Democrats. Has anyone ever heard of a war run by the Senate? Is there any government created program that you can reference that was as successful as this war in Iraq needs to be? I know, I'm being generous. On matters they are responsible for, we have our current educational system that reveres unions over educating children. Then there's the war on poverty. That war is going 40 years now. Where's that exit plan? The energy bill that provides no additional energy, no drilling, no refining, no nuclear plants, and increased dependence on foreign oil.
All of Congress should be behind this war just the same as they were for the first 90 days after 9/11. We could have already been out of Iraq by now had they remained committed. By contrast, by keeping this 'Bush lied' theme going, Democrats today are sending the wrong message to our troops, the wrong message to our enemy (on the side of the enemy), and casting a pall over the Iraqi people who now more than ever, don't want us to leave before they can adequately protect themselves.
You can't be an 'opposition party' when there are people out there who want to kill us. When they only want us dead, we should be together. Anything less will increase the human and all other cost.
related link link
12:49:15 AM
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Monday, November 14, 2005
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Danny Goldberg, CEO of Air America Radio defends AAR's fundraising by comparing it to the 'desperate' right-wing media. Goldberg creates the Air America Associates program that is designed to accept money from listeners to support their programming, a-la PBS or NPR. So he justifies that practice, for a 'for profit' business enterprise by comparing to 'shows' like Limbaugh and O'Reilly. It's laughable on two basic points. First, neither of the 'shows' mentioned need the money from souvenirs or website subscriptions to stay on the air and pay bills. They survive on the free market by advertisers who are supported by listeners. Its called capitalism 101.
Second, he makes this point about O'Reilly:
But no one tops the self proclaimed non-spinner Bill O’Reilly. Bill O’Reilly.com offers a "premium membership" for either $4.95 a month or $49.95 a year. He also offers a "Gift certificate" for $14.95. Products for sale on the Web site include:
-- Radio Factor diner coffee mug available in white or navy blue for $14.95
- O’Reilly Factor keychain for $7.95 "while supplies last."
--Three different "No Spin" tote bags at $14.95 apiece
--Ten different hats at a cost of $16.95 each
--The "no spin" jacket for $79.95
--The " Unisex Black Fleece" embroidered with "The Spin Stops Here" for $39.95
--Several bumper stickers including one that reads "Boycott France" for $2.50
--License plate frame for $18.95
--Three different "No Spin" tote bags at $14.95 each
--An O’Reilly Factor Gear Bag at $64.95
-- "Mens Garment Bag" for $64.95 (sorry ladies!)
--a "Spin Stops Here" organizer briefcase
--A "Spin Stops Here" pen and pad bundle for $19.95
--Two different designs of "Spin Stops Here" doormats for $49.95 and
--Two different "Rain Stops Here" umbrellas at $24.95("Show everyone who protects you from the rain")
Can I be the one to tell him that 100% of all profits from merchandise sales from O'Reilly's website is given to charity? Oh that's right. For Danny Goldberg, Air America Radio is the charity. Mr. Goldberg could show what a good citizen company AAR is by donating all their profits from their product sales too.
And then there's this accusation towards sucessful talk radio shows, who in his mind have "an obsession with stifling debate—even at the cost of using lies and distortions, which is un-American." Right, you mean like this Mr. Goldman?
3:52:20 PM
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Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele is running for the same senate seat as Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP President. Project 21 speaks to the racial comments being directed at Steele, the Republican candidate, who is also black. For Kweisi Mfume to talk the talk (below) is one thing, but unless and until he comments on what his campaign adviser Joe Trippi said about "pointing out the obvious," he will not have walked the walk. It is good to know that Kweisi Mfume does not believe that 'black bigotry' is an oxymoron.
Kweisi Mfume said:
Former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, who is running for the same Senate seat as Steele, condemned racialist attacks. As reported by the Washington Times, Mfume said: "Racially-tinged attacks have no place in this campaign for U.S. Senate. If they did, I could very well be the object of public racial humiliation, based on my skin color, by people who don't like my politics. "Black bigotry can be just as cruel and evil as white bigotry. There are too many bigots in too many places."
Joe Trippi said:
Some, however, seem unoffended -- in one case, even enthusiastic about -- the racial attacks on Steele. According to the Washington Times, white political consultant Joe Trippi said calling Steele an "Uncle Tom" is "pointing out the obvious." Trippi is a spokesman for Mfume and is best known for his leadership of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's presidential campaign.
UPDATE: A spokesman for Joe Trippi did respond with a link to a Washington Times correction to what is referred to in this post. But, does it deal with what he saw as 'obvious?' To me, it looks like only half of a correction.
1:15:45 AM
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Sunday, November 13, 2005
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White-Hating Segregationists Master Photoshop and a Few Big Words -- Will Other Skills Follow?
The white-hating segregationists are at it again. Last week, one of their number put Maryland's black Lt. Governor Michael Steele in blackface , crudely attempting to claim that since Steele is conservative he's not truly black but a white man in blackface (it is taken for granted that to be white is to be evil). More significantly, a major metropolitan newspaper claimed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas "deserves an asterisk [when he is referred to as 'black'] because he arguably does not represent the views of mainstream black America." This is a leftie j-school graduate's way of screaming "OREO" and "UNCLE TOM" while maintaining a slight pretense of sophistication ("asterisk," you see, has three syllables, while street racists, the j-schoolers no doubt suppose, tend to stick with the two-syllable "Oreo" and "Uncle Tom" epithets). After Project 21 (among others), complained about these racist acts, another of the latter-day segregationists has spoken up. Apparently, this fellow is upset that, in the photo at the bottom right of this page on Project 21's website, Mychal Massie is pictured with Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who is (brace yourselves), WHITE. (Yes -- you read that right -- Mychal associated with an evil white person .) So the fellow did what any self-respecting segregationist would do - he photoshopped Mychal Massie's face onto Aunt Jemima, and also on the body of an Italian pizza chef (based on the caption, the latter is apparently a weak attempt to insult Mychal by associating him with white Catholic pro-lifers). You see, in the minds of the segregationists, we just can't have black people and white people working together and getting along. No, that would just be wrong. What would Martin Luther King, Jr. have thought ?
10:42:40 PM
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Buried in the 'Arts' section of the New York Times, the wildly successful, growing by leaps and bounds (what?) liberal talk radio network called Air America Radio, talks of fund-raising campaigns to help pay their bills. The reality is more like this NYT quote "If the Air America network hangs on long enough to reach the next presidential campaign. . ." among the reality that shows and personalities are being trimmed from the roster.
Conservative talker Neal Boortz is doing his part to help AAR avoid this chapter, Chapter 11. And his reasoning is this; if AAR goes down in flames, it will give them and Sen. Tom Harkin all the more reason to challenge free speech in the name of the 'fairness doctrine.' You can expect that the left prefers forced speech than free speech.
New York Times finds new way to promote Air America. The NYT has found a new way to promote AAR, the New York Times reports in Susan Brenna's "They Look... [BoreAmerica]
10:35:02 AM
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Saturday, November 12, 2005
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Of course the media will portray the President finally responding to the lies his critics, like Sen. Edward Kennedy, as an act of desperation just to appeal to the far right of the party. That's all you will hear or see, you won't see the facts supporting the President's reaction to Sen. Kennedy, like you'll see right here. Thanks to Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary.
"It is regrettable that Senator Kennedy has chosen Veteran's Day to continue leveling baseless and false attacks that send the wrong signal to our troops and our enemy during a time of war. It is also regrettable that Senator Kennedy has found more time to say negative things about President Bush then he ever did about Saddam Hussein. If America were to follow Senator Kennedy's foreign policy, Saddam Hussein would not only still be in power, he would be oppressing and occupying Kuwait."
- Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary
Sen. Kennedy On Iraq
Sen. Kennedy Said Saddam Hussein Was Developing WMDs: "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." (Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Remarks At The Johns Hopkins School Of Advanced International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/27/02)
Sen. Kennedy: "Saddam Hussein Is A Dangerous Figure. He's Got Dangerous Weapons." (CBS' "Face The Nation," 10/6/02)
Sen. Kennedy Now Says The President Manipulated Facts About Iraq's WMDs: "'Instead of providing open and honest answers about how we will achieve success in Iraq and allow our troops to begin to come home,' Kennedy said, 'the president reverted to the same manipulation of facts to justify a war we never should have fought.'" (Deb Riechmann, "Bush Forcefully Attacks Critics Of The War In Iraq," Associated Press, 11/11/05)
Sen. Kennedy Opposed Removing Saddam Hussein From Kuwait. (S.J.Res.2, CQ Vote #2: Adopted 52-47: R 42-2; D 10-45, 1/12/91, Kennedy Voted Nay)
Sen. Kennedy Opposed Removing Saddam Hussein From Power. (H. J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48- 1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Kennedy Voted Nay)
White House link.
12:39:28 AM
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Friday, November 11, 2005
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Some senators are more interested in the secret prisons then they are about the leak itself. This is a sharp contrast to Jay Rockefeller's so-called secret memo that described the Democrat strategy on stalling the administration, which we have been witness to the last couple years. Back then, these same Democrats, especially Ted Kennedy, didn't give a hoot about the contents of the memos, which Zell Miller called a second cousin to treason. No, it was all about who was responsible for the leak, and they demanded a head roll because of it.
Not this time, they just want to know about the prisons. They'd probably want the leaker to head the Kerry campaign instead of doing time in jail.
US senators demand report on secret CIA prisons abroad (AFP).
 AFP - The US Senate demanded that the country's intelligence chief brief lawmakers on reportedly CIA-run secret prisons for terror suspects.
[Yahoo! News: Politics News]
9:50:45 AM
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Wednesday, November 09, 2005
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Say it ain't so. I've about had it up to here, HERE I tell ya, watching Republicans run from the platform they ran on. Instead, they run from the platform of reducing our dependency on foreign oil. Calling tough interrogation torture, still holding on to tons of pork in the budget, spending like there's no tomorrow, belated and disingenuous efforts to control our borders and 'legal' immigration. Pulling a Supreme Court nominee from never-never-land. And by not forcefully responding to the circus the Democrats have created surrounding the entire administration. The farcical tax reform is more of the same, which is no more than putting lipstick on a pig.
Makes one wonder if Washington has already been attacked by some kind of WMD, Weapon of Mass Dumbness. Now politicians from both parties have a lot in common. Neither one knows where they are going. More correctly perhaps, one party forgot where they were going. And the other never did know, or just never found a way to fool everyone all the time.
THE GOP CAVE-IN. I'm too tired to vent, but I think "Ugh" will suffice in response to this news item: House Drops Arctic Drilling From Bill House leaders late Wednesday abandoned an attempt to push through a hotly contested plan to open an... [Michelle Malkin]
11:56:27 PM
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It was a time for incumbents and status quo. No Democrat gubernatorial election took a Republican seat. And no Republican took a seat from the Democrats. It was pretty much oh hum. But wait, the Democrats reactions is that they won big, and this big win means that Bush is in trouble if, according to Sen. Charles Schumer, he doesn't govern from the middle. It is laughable that the Dems are so pleased. I guess it's more like they're so pleased that they didn't lose more seats of power, they're just glad to see they might have stopped the bleeding.
11:30:10 PM
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Not only was he the top in his sport, it was at a time when boxing was at the top. Muhammad Ali, 63, went to the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, from Bush. 
3:45:18 PM
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Tuesday, November 08, 2005
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Isn't this just the icing on the cake for these two? I. Lewis Libby has not had his day in court yet, and these Democrats want Karl Rove to resign, along with the Vice-President AND they want the President to promise not to pardon him. Do you think there is more a political agenda here than one of national security? By their actions thus far, Libby and the whole Bush administration are guilty of everything they can dream up.
Faaaageet about it, due process that is. Besides all that, Libby wasn't indicted for outing anybody. He was, like Slick Willie, accused of lying under oath and to investigators. After Bill Clinton had his day in court, he was found guilty. Then on his last day in office he pardoned the biggest tax fraud criminal in US history, Marc Rich. The difference here is, the guy has not been covicted on any of the charges. The trial has not yet started .
Why else would they be ignoring the fact that the infamous 9/11 Commission's report SAID that there was no evidence that the data was manipulated and neither were the people manipulated or pressured into making certain conclusions, which is what all this 'Bush lied us into war' crap is about. The mainstream media also seems to have deliberately forgotten the report.
Democrats Don't Want Libby to Be Pardoned (AP).
 AP - The Senate's top Democrats challenged President Bush on Tuesday to rule out a pardon for I. Lewis Libby, a former top White House aide who faces trial on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury in the CIA leak case.
[Yahoo! News: Politics News]
9:48:11 PM
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It is becoming pretty obvious that French President Chirac hasn't a clue on what to do about those nice peaceful Muslims. Sorry, I was wrong. They aren't nice or peaceful, but they are Muslims. Things are probably too far out of control to call his bud Kofi for some blue-helmeted 'peacekeepers.' The rioting is not just around Paris any more, it is all over the country in dozens of cities.
I'm kind of torn on which would be more amusing, the French asking UN Security Council for help, or in sending in UN observers to make sure the jailed Muslims aren't being mistreated or are subject to profiling. They'll probably just surrender to them if it goes on for another week or so..
It's France now, but watch Muslims do the same in Germany next. Two countries who even Muslims knew were weak kneed on terrorism and against the war in Iraq, thought they were buying insurance against radical Muslims.
I much prefer Bush's approach; better to be safe than sorry.
AP | AP (Chirac not even mentiond in this one)
1:38:59 AM
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Sunday, November 06, 2005
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Referencing my post last Friday (11/4), the "progressive" website mentioned in the first sentence was that of Air America's radio show called the Ring of Fire, which is hosted by J. Michael (Mike) Papantonio and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., possibly the original 'falconer.' My attempt to shed some light on what a good week last week was for the country, and that conservatives need not be troubled by the media-created polls designed to fit a forgone conclusion, got me this new welcome message on the next day. Seems the Ring of Fire is more like a flame-out.
The whole point here is to illustrate just how the left deals with conservatives. Incapable of engaging beyond name calling, they will try to eliminate anyone to the right of Arlen Specter. And this from a host who says that Republicans suffer mental illness and is also involved in the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club money scandal.
Always quick to accuse President Bush of 'being a divider', not a 'uniter,' it is pretty obvious to see that any uniting will not happen as long as they remain out of power. Dittos for their forums, even ones called the 'Conservative Corner,' the place where I made the post. The conservative corner is really not for conservatives, it's just named that so they can fool themselves into being diverse and tolerant. Segregation seems to suit the left. Just ask black Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele about this or this. But wait, this isn't an isolated incident, they have a pattern of this kind of behavior. Makes a good footnote to the new book about the new left in America titled "Do As I Say, Not as I Do" by Peter Schweizer.
He didn't say whether Democrats were automatically immune to this uniqely Republican mental illness. The above seems to suggest it is already too late. Papantonio's rant sounds like ascribing a disorder to someone who is principled. The 'principled' part being the disorder. Bottom line, they better hope beyond hope that their fantasy disorder doesn't spread to Democrats, because they will probably have to go to some socialist country for their medication, because they will have sued the incentive for innovation right out of US drug makers.
11:57:00 PM
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Right up there with Miss Cindy Grief-stricken Sheehan, Marine Staff Sgt. Jimmy Massey has been busing around the country being a John Kerry lite. Finally, someone has actually taken the trouble to verify what Massey has been saying about atrocities he and other marines have committed in Iraq and guess what? They range from fabricated to exaggerated. Don't look for the biased media to print a word about how wrong their reporting was concerning Massey. It ain't gonna happen.
More on this from Michelle Malkin in her post: AN ANTI-WAR SMEAR ARTIST EXPOSED
10:27:27 PM
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
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It was the CIA that initiated the action that led to the investigation into who leaked Valerie Plame's identity, who was not a covert agent at the time. Why isn't there the same interest in finding out who leaked this prison information, which apparently really is covert? Seems to me the CIA has too many people there who can't keep a secret if it will be damaging to the administration.
Additionally, the Washington Post and New York Times should have some sort of consequences imposed on them for knowingly divulging secret covert CIA information. There is no first amendment right to commit treason is there?
4:51:32 PM
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Hey Schumer Karl Rove passing along my sentiments to Sen. Charles Shumer, (D-NY) 
1:14:50 AM
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Friday, November 04, 2005
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I posted this note (below) on one of those "progressive" websites because otherwise they really wouldn't have known how much progress the vast right-wing conspiracy is making. What, with their preoccupation with trashing the Bush administration and all. I feel it my duty to engage them in reality based conversation. That usually doesn't happen but I've not given up. :) Nevertheless, it is news that should encourage those who may be troubled by the 'polls' the media is creating.
Amid all the noise out there with a guy named Scooter, and Cheney, and Haliburton, et.al., there's a chance this news hasn't been heard in lala land.
1. The Supreme Court is poised to change its complexion from one that legislates from the bench to one of an originalist. This shift puts the law making capability back in the hands of legislatures, as it should be.
2. The latest economic numbers and employment numbers and unemployment numbers are good and sustained. This includes the time during and after the hurricane devastation.
3. We are one step closer to finally getting some of our own oil out of the ground in ground that was originally set-aside for just that purpose, called ANWR. The Senate voted yesterday to allow drilling there provided the oil is used for domestic purposes only.
4. A big product liability case against Merck was settled and Merck prevailed. This is important if you want medicines and, a'hem, vaccines at a price you can afford, if not AT ALL.
So while the 'Bush lied and people died' crowd is busy creating distractions, lets not overlook the progress that is happening day by day.
4:12:46 PM
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It takes the AP four paragraphs before they write of the passing in the Senate today of drilling authority in ANWR, by a 51-48 vote. The vote shows the Democrats' commitment to reducing our dependency on foreign oil. But the story as it is presented is about how the opponents failed to defeat it, not that it passed and it’s a first step, not a last step, in oil pumping. In the third paragraph of the story titled 'Senate Backs Drilling in Alaska Refuge,' they pass along the 'cutting welfare and food stamps' line for the party, the Democrat party. At any rate, this isn't the last straw; it's the first.
- Senate opponents to drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge failed Thursday to strip the measure from a massive budget package as supporters of exploration argued that the oil is needed to help break America of its import habit.
- Environmentalists, who believe strongly the refuge should continue to be off limits to oil companies to protect the area's wildlife, had acknowledged that it was a long shot to get the provision killed and now are concentrating on defeating the overall budget bill.
- A vote on the budget measure, which includes a myriad of spending cuts from food stamps to welfare funds, was expected later in the day.
- An amendment offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that would have removed drilling authority for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), was defeated 51-48. She called the drilling proposal a gimmick that will have little impact on oil or gasoline prices, or U.S. energy security.
H. JOSEF HEBERT
Associated Press Writer
1:46:04 AM
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
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Moments ago, Sen. Arlen Specter (R,ino-PA) controversial Chariman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, just held his press conference with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D,VT), ranking minority leader standing by his side. You could almost see Leahy's right hand on Specter's back. Today Specter was the puppet once again. Thumbing his nose at the President who wants Judge Alito's confirmation to wind up before the new year, Specter says he won't start it until Jan. 2 of next year.
Specter says the reason is because of the extensive 15 yr. history and paper trail of Judge Alito. As if it is normal for a Senator to review every single case to hunt for a disqualifying quote or decision or who knows what? Specter said it amounted to over 3,750 cases. Normally, if you audit someone's performance and you go through a good sampling of cases and any key cases you might decide on beforehand, you don't keep on going unless you find something wrong. I could be wrong, but I doubt it, but someone who has been so highly spoken of by the people who know him from both parties should see a shorter process. Dems won't have that. Specter has resigned himself to letting the minority run the show, which of course means the process will be as slow as humanly possible.
Way to go Arlen. I know republicans Arlen, and you're not one.
4:35:25 PM
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Just when you think it can't get any more bizarre, it gets more bizarre. Testing in animals, rats, some scientists are coming up with the proposition that having babies may make you smarter. The more babies you have, you keep getting smarter. What? There is enough in here for a Letterman Top Ten. No doubt the NOW gang is psyched.
I'm no scientist but I don't think they really need to take their testing to the next level, like on humans. There is plenty of evidence out there that humans having a lot of babies has the opposite effect. Not unrelated though, there is one 'finding' that I think we all can agree on, and you don't need a PHD to figure it out. The 'ole self-fulfilling prophecy.
``In essence, it shows that we can talk ourselves in and out of things," Suhr said. ''They performed badly if they thought they would."
It is the difference between say, a Jesse Lee Peterson and a Jesse Jackson. Take away the hope and responsibility from someone, and see what you get. You get the population that Jesse Jackson makes a living off of. New Orleans is a good example, but it exists in neighborhoods all over this country, and they come in all races. Politically speaking, there is also plenty of evidence to suggest that the right's solutions are meant to fix problems, where the left's solutions tend to perpetuate, if not compound, them.
Boston Globe link| Human Events related link
1:41:11 AM
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The one issue party, with Al Franken's help, pretty much proves the assertion that, to these far left, wacko left, whatever adjective you like, to them, politics is like a religion, and the holy sacrament is abortion.
Public Supports Roe v. Wade, Right to Filibuster.
Via AmericaBlog, Gallup has released positive poll numbers for Democrats on Judge Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court.
On Roe v. Wade: "If it becomes clear Alito would vote to reverse Roe v. Wade, Americans would not want the Senate to confirm him, by 53% to 37%."
On Democrats and filibustering: "If most Senate Democrats oppose the nomination and decide to filibuster against Alito, 50% of Americans believe they would be justified, while 40% say they would not." [The Al Franken Show | Air America Radio -]
12:48:52 AM
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Wednesday, November 02, 2005
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So says Black Democrat leaders in Maryland. The template seems to be that if you are black, you must not govern or even think of having a 'color blind' society, like judging people by the content of their character, NOT the color of their skin.  Just ask Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, a Republican. If you do, then you must be a racist. The Democrat position is and has always been to promise the world to blacks and deliver little to nothing. But it has been enough to garner over a 9 to 1 support for the party. Which brings us back to the proposition of 'shall we overcome' rather than 'we shall overcome.'
Washington Times link
7:56:44 AM
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Tuesday, November 01, 2005
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Senate MINORITY Leader Harry Reid and Dick (Turban) Durbin seem to be at the helm of what the George Soros / moveon.org wing of the Democrat party have been demanding them to do, to throw the hail mary, to accuse the administration of, you've heard it before, of lying about the WMD / George Wilson / Valerie Wilson Plame, in order to go to war with Iraq. So Senate is in closed session right now having the political knock-down drag-out.
It's a stunt for sure, but they must feel it's all they have left. Their Supreme Court judicial nominee fight is one they figure to lose, and there is just too much time between now and the the '06 & '08 elections for them to continue to dodge the fact that they have no agenda, so a stunt like this will keep the Soros money coming their way, else become a third party to the wacko left. They are responding to people like this who make the contributions and who form their agenda:
The Democrat Party is dead as an opposition party, period--if Hillary, a Bush cheerleader, is the best they've got, kiss it goodbye altogether.
Their hope is to make enough noise, long enough, to fool the American people into believing that 'Bush lied and people died' and electing them back into the leadership.
From democrats.com's Bob Fertik:
It's been 5 long years since George Bush stole the White House, 4 years since he failed to prevent 9/11 and then seized dictatorial powers through the USA Patriot Act, and 3 years since he started selling the invasion of Iraq on the basis of pure lies.
For 5 long years, we've been urging Democrats in Congress to fight back.
 Today, finally, Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats stood up for Truth, Justice, the American Way - and the majority of Americans who oppose Bush's far-right agenda. Reid's speech was powerful:
http://www.democrats.com/node/6673
Democrats forced the Senate into an unusual closed session to discuss the Senate Intelligence Committee Chair's refusal to conduct the "phase 2" investigation into White House war lies that his committee agreed in February 2004 to conduct. Republicans howled in outrage at being outmaneuvered by the Democrats, but ultimately they capitulated and agreed to issue the long-promised report by November 14.
This is a huge, fantastic victory.
And you, the members of Democrats.com, deserve a lot of the credit - because for 5 years, you stubbornly refused to accept the order from the White House, the Republican Party, and the Republican-controlled media to "get over it" - Stolen Election 2000.It's an act of desperation. Watch them crash and burn. Why not? If Bush was in such bad shape, politically speaking, don't you think they'd just sit and watch the Republicans destroy themselves? They know that isn't in the cards, so they feel they have to do this, the country and military soldiers and families be damned.
Reid's speech was less than powerful, rather, it was the spiel of the extreme left wing of the Democrat party's supporters, rather, the Reid, Durbin, Kennedy triumvirate has been usurped by or caved in to their more rabid supporters. Reid's speech was the usual rants of the left. As follows:
 This past weekend, we witnessed the indictment of the I. Lewis Libby, the Vice President’s Chief of Staff and a senior Advisor to President Bush. Libby is the first sitting White House staffer to be indicted in 135 years. This indictment raises very serious charges. It asserts this Administration engaged in actions that both harmed our national security and are morally repugnant.
The decision to place U.S. soldiers in harm’s way is the most significant responsibility the Constitution invests in the Congress. The Libby indictment provides a window into what this is really about: how the Administration manufactured and manipulated intelligence in order to sell the war in Iraq and attempted to destroy those who dared to challenge its actions.
As a result of its improper conduct, a cloud now hangs over this Administration. This cloud is further darkened by the Administration’s mistakes in prisoner abuse scandal, Hurricane Katrina, and the cronyism and corruption in numerous agencies.
And, unfortunately, it must be said that a cloud also hangs over this Republican-controlled Congress for its unwillingness to hold this Republican Administration accountable for its misdeeds on all of these issues.
Let’s take a look back at how we got here with respect to Iraq Mr. President. The record will show that within hours of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, senior officials in this Administration recognized these attacks could be used as a pretext to invade Iraq.
The record will also show that in the months and years after 9/11, the Administration engaged in a pattern of manipulation of the facts and retribution against anyone who got in its way as it made the case for attacking Iraq.
There are numerous examples of how the Administration misstated and manipulated the facts as it made the case for war. Administration statements on Saddam’s alleged nuclear weapons capabilities and ties with Al Qaeda represent the best examples of how it consistently and repeatedly manipulated the facts.
The American people were warned time and again by the President, the Vice President, and the current Secretary of State about Saddam’s nuclear weapons capabilities. The Vice President said Iraq “has reconstituted its nuclear weapons.” Playing upon the fears of Americans after September 11, these officials and others raised the specter that, left unchecked, Saddam could soon attack America with nuclear weapons.
Obviously we know now their nuclear claims were wholly inaccurate. But more troubling is the fact that a lot of intelligence experts were telling the Administration then that its claims about Saddam’s nuclear capabilities were false.
The situation was very similar with respect to Saddam’s links to Al Qaeda. The Vice President told the American people, “We know he’s out trying once again to produce nuclear weapons and we know he has a longstanding relationship with various terrorist groups including the Al Qaeda organization.”
The Administration’s assertions on this score have been totally discredited. But again, the Administration went ahead with these assertions in spite of the fact that the government’s top experts did not agree with these claims.
What has been the response of this Republican-controlled Congress to the Administration’s manipulation of intelligence that led to this protracted war in Iraq? Basically nothing.
....There is also another disturbing pattern here, namely about how the Administration responded to those who challenged its assertions. Time and again this Administration has actively sought to attack and undercut those who dared to raise questions about its preferred course.
For example, when General Shinseki indicated several hundred thousand troops would be needed in Iraq, his military career came to an end. When then OMB Director Larry Lindsay suggested the cost of this war would approach $200 billion, his career in the Administration came to an end. When U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix challenged conclusions about Saddam’s WMD capabilities, the Administration pulled out his inspectors. When Nobel Prize winner and IAEA head Mohammed el-Baridei raised questions about the Administration’s claims of Saddam’s nuclear capabilities, the Administration attempted to remove him from his post. When Joe Wilson stated that there was no attempt by Saddam to acquire uranium from Niger, the Administration launched a vicious and coordinated campaign to demean and discredit him, going so far as to expose the fact that his wife worked as a CIA agent.
Given this Administration’s pattern of squashing those who challenge its misstatements, what has been the response of this Republican-controlled Congress? Again, absolutely nothing. And with their inactions, they provide political cover for this Administration at the same time they keep the truth from our troops who continue to make large sacrifices in Iraq.
This behavior is unacceptable. The toll in Iraq is as staggering as it is solemn. More than 2,000 Americans have lost their lives. Over 90 Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice this month alone – the fourth deadliest month since the war began. More than 15,000 have been wounded. More than 150,000 remain in harm’s way. Enormous sacrifices have been and continue to be made.
The troops and the American people have a right to expect answers and accountability worthy of that sacrifice. For example, 40 Senate Democrats wrote a substantive and detailed letter to the President asking four basic questions about the Administration’s Iraq policy and received a four sentence answer in response. These Senators and the American people deserve better.
They also deserve a searching and comprehensive investigation about how the Bush Administration brought this country to war. Key questions that need to be answered include:
o How did the Bush Administration assemble its case for war against Iraq?
o Who did Bush Administration officials listen to and who did they ignore?
o How did senior Administration officials manipulate or manufacture intelligence presented to the Congress and the American people?
o What was the role of the White House Iraq Group or WHIG, a group of senior White House officials tasked with marketing the war and taking down its critics?
o How did the Administration coordinate its efforts to attack individuals who dared to challenge the Administration’s assertions?
o Why has the Administration failed to provide Congress with the documents that will shed light on their misconduct and misstatements?
Unfortunately the Senate committee that should be taking the lead in providing these answers is not. Despite the fact that the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee publicly committed to examine many of these questions more than 1 and ½ years ago, he has chosen not to keep this commitment. Despite the fact that he restated that commitment earlier this year on national television, he has still done nothing.
At this point, we can only conclude he will continue to put politics ahead of our national security. If he does anything at this point, I suspect he will play political games by producing an analysis that fails to answer any of these important questions. Instead, if history is any guide, this analysis will attempt to disperse and deflect blame away from the Administration.
We demand that the Intelligence Committee and other committees in this body with jurisdiction over these matters carry out a full and complete investigation immediately as called for by Democrats in the committee’s annual intelligence authorization report. Our troops and the American people have sacrificed too much. It is time this Republican-controlled Congress put the interests of the American people ahead of their own political interests. 
2:01:21 PM
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Al Gore fixed the airline security problem in February 1997, more than three years before the attack of 9/11/01. Remember the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security? Needless to say, there is more to be done. Blaming Bush instead of Congress is wrong though. Doing that only makes an issue for a campaign, like the never-ending one the MSM is on to pile-on the Bush administration.
Fed Plan on Protecting Ports Is Delayed (AP).
 AP - The Bush administration has missed dozens of deadlines set by Congress after the Sept. 11 attacks for developing ways to protect airplanes, ships and railways from terrorists.
[Yahoo! News: Politics News]
1:28:03 AM
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What is dubbed Operation Offset is great in principle, but if the amount of pork cut still isn't enough to recover from this year's hurricanes, then and only then should we go further in debt. Gotta do what ya gotta do. And the politicians should do what they should do and cut the pork. It's not as if their constituency has lost everything and had to flee to other parts of the country or anything. They, and their constituents, and Senator Landrieu (D-LA) is no exception, ought to be able to put their pork on the back burner and do what they would hope others would do for them if the shoe was on the other foot.
CUT OUT THE FAT!. Support Tom Coburn's offset package. Keep track of the lard here. Brought to you by Glenn Reynolds, N.Z. Bear, and the anti-pork brigades of the blogosphere. *** Previous: Sen. Tom Coburn fights for fiscal conservatism Pork-busting progress Don Young: Hog... [Michelle Malkin]
1:09:50 AM
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Great economic news again. If it makes the news at all, wait to see how bad it will be presented. The economy is setting records in growth, size, and most importantly has a shown resiliency against catastrophe like never before. The GDP is up 3.8 percent which makes 10 consecutive quarters of over 3% growth. Foreign investors are back investing in U.S. bonds like they used to do. All this despite the devastating hurricanes and fuel prices.
'R' stands for resilient in this economy. Despite major blows, the US has seen 10 strong quarters of growth. [Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories]
12:57:06 AM
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© Copyright 2005 Ross Calloway.
Last update: 11/27/2005; 8:45:13 PM.
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