Thursday, March 31, 2005Political Hunting Season Opens TodayToday is March 31st and it is the official opening day of hunting seasons for judges and politicians. The season opens today and shall continue through every election until these pompous assess are replaced with reasonable, thoughtful, and wise people. Now before some crazy zealot misinterprets this, I am not calling for a literal hunting season through the use of violence. That would be illegal and I believe in the rule of law. Laws that need to be changed, need to be obeyed while one gets them changed. Terri Schiavo was murdered today by the judicial and legislative branches of the Florida state government and the United States Government. This horrific act of violence that was perpertrated on her will not stand without repercussions to those responsible for not stopping the insanity of this tragedy that didn't need to happen, shouldn't have happened, and better not happen again. I have discussed this case with a gamut of people, some of whom are close friends that I respect both their intelligence and wisdom. Each time I had these conversations, I would throw out a few probing questions to see if they were aware of all the nuances of this case before they had formed an opinion. Most were not any more knowledgeable than the snippets one hears on the news and glances at in the papers. Pity because life and death decisions were being made here that affected a lot more than just one family. No one I talked to who was well versed in the nuances of this case was in agreement with the decisions the court made. One friend even told my husband when he was listing some of the very troubling aspects of this case , "You know way too much about this case, I gotta go." The polls that were conducted asked who should be able to make these types of decisions for you, your parents or your spouse? The overwhelming response was your spouse, of course. If the poll had asked, Who should be able to make these types of decisions for you, your parents or your estranged spouse?, I suspect the numbers would have changed dramatically. When I said this to a friend, he responded with something along the lines of Michael Schiavo was not estranged, it's been 15 years and he has been there. Estranged by primary definition, according to Merriam Webster Online,: "to remove from customary environment or associations". The day Mr. Schiavo took up with another woman, right or wrong, he estranged himself from Terri. If you think of the second most common definition, "to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness" then that term might be harsh. So let's reword the poll question to Who should be able to make these types of decisions for you, your parents or your spouse who is currently living with another person with whom he/she now has children ? That's about as objective as you can get with this one and I suspect the numbers reverse even farther apart in favor of your parents. Most thinking adults immediately see a potential conflict of interest in this situation, the others are hopeless and deserve what they get. Those of us who thought it was prudent under these circumstances to err on the side of caution and choose life have a fight on our hands now. We need to make sure that unelected judges are conservative in their beliefs and get them appointed to the federal courts and if that takes the stupidly named "nuclear option" to get an up or down vote, then do it. Let your Senators know this. We need to make sure that judges, such as Judge Greer, that are elected are voted out. We need to make sure that when a United States Supreme Court Justice sites international law in their opinion that the United States Congress starts Impeachment proceedings immediately because their job is to uphold the United States Constitution which has absolutely nothing to do with International Laws or any other country. We need to make sure that the partisian hacks in Congress know that they are just as responsible for this tragedy as the courts are and get them out of decision making positions via the ballot box. We need the courts and the government to know that this power play pissing match they engaged in cost an innocent woman her life and they are just as responsible as the monster she married. My heart breaks for the family that loved her and grieve for their loss. May she rest in peace. And may the bastards that killed her today never get a moments peace in any life. posted @ 12:56 PM MST [link] Thursday, March 24, 2005Worth PonderingLet’s just say for the sake of argument that Michael Schiavo is telling the truth and really believes that he is carrying out Terri’s wishes as a dedicated husband when she announced at the tender age of 25 she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Michael, would she tell you to fight on no matter what the cost in emotional pain to her parents and siblings would be? Would she tell you that no matter what, the most important thing to her was her right to die regardless of the tortured look in her parent’s eyes? Would she tell you to stand tough and break her parent’s heart to carry out her wishes? Did she think her right to die trumped everything else? If she could speak for herself and not through you, is the situation as it is going on right now what she wanted? Is it Michael? Is it Judges? If you can say with certainty that Terri merits the title of the world’s most selfish bitch and that this is exactly how she wanted things to go, then you have made the right decisions. If not, stop this insanity while you can. posted @ 07:11 AM MST [link] [Karma: 22 (+/-)] Tuesday, March 22, 2005My own selfishnessThe Terri Schiavo case has had me thinking quite a bit and I realized today that I have been incredibly selfish. You see I have a Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney that spells out my wishes but I never thought to take anyone else's into consideration just mine as if my life and death would only affect me. My Medical Power of Attorney names my husband and my best friend who is also a nurse jointly. I didn't want my husband to be placed in a position of not understanding the medical jargon and having to trust doctors he may not even know. I wanted someone who knew what questions to ask, spoke the language, knew bullshit when she heard it, and wasn't afraid to challenge a doctor deity as most lay people are, to help him through what I know would be a heart wrenching time for him. I know this would be heart wrenching for him and my whole family because I have been there, done that, and all I have is the lousy tee shirt. Twenty five years ago, my daughter Laura died after I authorized removing her respirator. For twenty five years, I have wondered if I did the right thing. Did I give up on her too soon? Did they make a mistake? Was there really no hope for her? What if some new miracle cure is announced tomorrow? Did I make the right choice? I will never know. But I am acutely aware of the gut wrenching pain that has never faded in twenty five years and doubts that haunt me to this day. This doubt was the initial catalyst in making sure that I executed a Living Will and never put anyone in the position of having to guess what I may have wanted or wonder what the best course of action would be. I would leave no doubt. But what if my parents, siblings, or children aren't ready to give up or disagree with the decision? What position have I placed my poor husband in? What if my husband disagrees with my wishes? Should he have to chose between what he thinks is best and a sense of obligation to uphold my wishes? I am thinking of amending my Living Will to say that here are my wishes but if any member of my immediate family (parents, siblings, husband, or children) object or have reservations and they wish to and have the means to take over the financial burden of caring for me, then keep me going by whatever means necessary until there is a unanimous consensus among them to terminate any extraordinary life support. If I am in a vegetative state, I won't know or care if my wishes were being carried out. If I am terminally ill, it won't matter for long anyway. I would like to go out of this world having not been a burden to those I love but I must let them decide what a burden is. That decision is not up to me. posted @ 03:10 PM MST [link] [Karma: 16 (+/-)] Judge Whittemore - Will not stop the insanity. The judge has refused Terri's case. I hope the whole bunch of them die an excruciating death and burn in hell for eternity. The least he could have done was order a lethal injection to kill her so she could be given the same dignified death that every scumbag criminal on death row is given. My heart goes out to Terri's family and she is in my prayers. God save us all from this countries judicial system. posted @ 07:02 AM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Time is of the Essence What the hell is taking this judge so long? If the President of the United States gets up at 1:11 am to sign the legislation it must be important. Order the tube back in Judge so that she lives long enough for a judicial review. posted @ 06:48 AM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] Monday, March 21, 2005Give them an inchDecisions should always be weighed carefully and when making them a wise person not only looks at the direct and immediate benefits and risks but looks also to the long term consequences. The right to life case of Terri Schiavo highlights the foolishness of our society to have allowed judicial fecklessness to continue to the point of killing us. Literally. Roe vs. Wade made murdering our unborn and unwanted children legal by judicial fiat. What started out allowable prior to the sixth month of pregnancy was sure to grow to partial birth abortion done at full term over time. Why wouldn't it. What would stop it? And why stop there? Why can't a woman just kill her children up until their eighteenth birthdays? With the advancements of medical technology, it became apparent that by using extraordinary means we could prolong death to the point of ridiculous at great emotional and financial expense. Advance Directives became fashionable to allow one to die with dignity should they become terminally ill and unable to participate in health care decisions. The criterion was "extraordinary means" such as artificial ventilation using a respirator. Somewhere along the line this was extended to mean mere food and water. Why wouldn't it? What would stop it? And why stop there? The criterion was terminally ill and somewhere along the line it metastasized into a quality of life issue. Why wouldn't it? What would stop it? And why stop there? I was thrilled to see Congress step in on this case and afford Terri Schiavo a review of this case through the federal courts although I usually abhor federal government intrusions into family or state matters. This time it was warranted. The federal government's job is to protect its citizens and sometimes the enemy is within. The truth is that no one knows what Terri's chances for any type of rehabilitation are at this point. Scans done a decade ago of her brain are worthless to know what is going on today. Medical advances have been denied to her and I hope that she will be given the chance to be thoroughly evaluated before another court tries to kill her. If this case doesn't bring to light the importance of who we allow to sit on the benches of this country, I don't know what will. posted @ 02:54 PM MST [link] [Karma: 7 (+/-)] Friday, March 11, 2005Legal LucidityIs there any consistency in our legal system? For twenty-five years corporate attorney's for the various healthcare institutions I worked for pounded into our heads the importance of charting thoroughly and completely everything we did with the assertion that "If it isn't written down, it didn't happen as far as a court of law is concerned." Medical malpractice settlements and awards proved this to be an axiom of truth. So why does the court take a different stance in the life or death case of Terry Schiavo? The law provides a legally recognized way for an individual to make known their wishes should they become incapacitated, a Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney. With the absence of these documents, shouldn't the court err on the side of caution and choose to let Terry Schiavo live instead of ordering her murder? Perhaps the practice of "divining" voter intentions in the 2000 Election has spread like a malignant growth in our legal system to where judges now practice clairvoyance as well as activism and are busy replacing their gavels with crystal balls. According to this article, "A judge ordered that the feedings be stopped after finding ``clear and convincing'' evidence that she would not want to be kept alive in her current state.” What clear and convincing evidence? Because the one person who stands to gain something from her death said so? Where's the Living Will she signed? That's clear and convincing evidence. Her husband said so is usually called hearsay in a court of law not clear and convincing evidence. Objection, your honor! Does juris prudence only happen these days on Law and Order? This is a text book case of imprudence. Since Michael Schiavo has a gain to be made, everything he says should be taken with a great suspicion that there may be an ulterior motive. That's prudence. Mr. Schiavo has turned down an offer of a million dollars to turn over custody of Terri to her parents. His attorney claims that he is doing this out of duty to carry out his wife's wishes. That might be less stimulating to my gag reflex if he were more faithful to other promises he made to her like "forsaking all others till death do we part." The girlfriend that he has fathered two children with is clear and convincing evidence to me that broken vows aren't a real moral dilemma for this man so what's one more. The court has confused prolonging death and sustaining life. Terri Schiavo is no more dying right now than you or I and most of us would not consider food and water extraordinary means of life support. They are ordinary means of sustaining all of our lives. A court is about to murder this woman and that should strike fear in all of us. Some have called it execution. It is not. Execution is retribution for having done something wrong. This woman has done nothing wrong. This is cold blooded court ordered murder and we need to start revamping our legal system. Judicial activism has clearly become life threateningly out of control. If you do not have a Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney and you wish to declare your wishes should you become incapacitated, please call your attorney and make an appointment right now. You can spell out the circumstances and your desires clearly and spare your family what Terri's family is going through and the life you save, may be your own. posted @ 03:00 PM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] Sunday, March 6, 2005The Care and Feeding of Your EldersWe went out to dinner the other night at a chain Italian restaurant and I left with a few thoughts to pass on to the sweet young things that serve the guests. You were raised in a politically correct environment. They taught you to treat everyone the same. Don’t. Now that you’re out in the real world, you need to think your way through each and every situation. Don’t treat everyone the same because they aren’t. This restaurant, whose English translation for their Italian name is Joey’s Basement, was a pleasant place with a cheerful staff, palatable and plentiful food, and amusing decorations that made good conversation pieces while waiting to be served. We were greeted by an enthusiastic staff and hostess at the front door who surveyed the seating chart and instructed the waiter to take us to the table she had designated for us. The waiter asked if we had ever been there before, to which we answered no. She told us the name of each of the dining rooms as we passed through them and a little about the menu to orient us to the place. Having made the rounds through most of the restaurant on this mini tour, we arrived in the Velvet Room which had about ten tables and only one which was occupied. She pointed to a corner booth next to the occupied table and told us that would be our table. We looked around the dining room and asked her for a table with four chairs not a booth. She left to go and consult with the hostess and returned a few minutes later to announce that the table we were standing next to while we were waiting would be fine for us to take, which we did. The hostess and wait staff may have noticed when we came in that one of the members of the party walks with a walker. She doesn’t do this because it’s the latest craze among geriatrics. She does this to be able to walk. Walking is not taken for granted by this person; it’s a huge and painful task to successfully move through a crowded obstacle course. So it would have been okay to skip the mini tour through the kitchen and various dining rooms. From the hostess station to the table via the direct route through the bar was only about 25 steps. When in doubt, ask. “Would you like to take a short tour of the restaurant or go straight to your table?” “Straight to the table, thank you.” The booth option that wasn’t was because there was neither the space to get the walker between the two tables nor the agility to slide sideways into the booth. It’s okay to discriminate. Really it is. Booths-think young people. Tables-think old people. Tables close to the bathroom and exit=prime real estate worth a big tip from us gooters. Every restaurant has a traffic pattern and a place where congestion occurs; it is inevitable. I can see an architect deciding that bus stations along the only corridor leading to the bathroom would be good idea but why would anyone who knows anything about a restaurant actually put them there? Joey, goomba, what were you thinking? The trip to the bathroom was further enhanced by the storage of extra chairs along the walls on both sides of the small hallway leading to the ladies room. Where is the fire marshal when you need him? I went through the hallway first turning all the chairs sideways to clear enough space to allow the walker through. Enter the bathroom and a ten year old is occupying the handicapped stall. She comes bouncing out and her older sisters apologize and note that the handicapped stall was the only one not occupied and she really had to go. Yeah and the handicapped parking space was the only one left and you were just going to be a minute. No ten-year old has to go that badly. Now after she has kicked out a couple of kids and her bladder prolapses, we can have a serious talk about needing to go badly. Anyway kids, I just wanted to give you a few hints on the care and feeding of your elders because one thing is for sure. You aren’t ever going to get any younger and with luck you will get much older. Treat the elderly very well and set the precedent for when you are. posted @ 05:12 AM MST [link] Wednesday, March 2, 2005Settling InMany of you have asked over the last couple of months why I wasn’t writing anymore. I was writing but I was not blogging. Okay, well sort of. I was writing lists. List after list of things I had to get done to pull off a complicated move. A move that would put two generations of my family under the same roof and allow us to take better care of each other and make more efficient use of whatever energy we have. The move is complete and we are settling in to our new digs and developing some routines. After a month of packing and unpacking two households and consolidating them into one, I am ready to tackle the problems of the world again on this page. Can you look at the pictures on TV of the Lebanese people demonstrating against their pro Syrian government and hearing that the government has resigned and not get a big Cheshire cat grin on your face? Can you hear that Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak is making overtures to open up their political system to multiple political parties and not think that something very big is unfolding before our eyes in the Middle East? Purple finger power is spreading. The brave Iraqis held a successful election and now everybody wants one in the Middle East. Purple finger envy fans the flames of freedom and GWB had the guts to strike the match to begin with and the US Military had the might to pull it off. God bless all of you. While I am sure there will be many bumps in this road, the dominos are starting to fall just as predicted. ….it must suck to be a democrat these days. posted @ 04:06 AM MST [link] Saturday, December 25, 2004Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas everyone and please take a moment today to say a prayer and a thank you to our soldiers who are not able to be with their families and friends today. May God bless you all. posted @ 03:15 AM MST [link] [Karma: 13 (+/-)] Sunday, December 19, 2004Special TimesThe holiday season is a special time of year to gather with friends and family. I am still a kid when it comes to Christmas only now it’s not the presents I look forward to; it’s the whole package. Seeing Christmas lights while out driving at night, decorating the Christmas tree and staring at it for hours on end each evening admiring its beauty, drinking a glass of egg nog full of a bazillion calories without a ounce of guilt, reading cards from lifetime friends a world away and catching up on their lives, celebrating a plethora of birthdays in this family, baking, listening to Christmas carols, it’s just a magical time. But the most special part of this wonderful season occurs today. It seems like just yesterday that we stood in our home surrounded by friends and family and took our vows in front of that Christmas tree. It seems like yesterday and it seems like my entire life at the same time. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t get up in the morning happy to see you. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t want to hurry up and get home to you. I can’t remember a day when you weren’t in my life and yet it seems like just yesterday. Either my memory is really getting bad, Mr. J, or you were always in my heart until the day you came into my life. I love you more than words could ever say. Happy Anniversary, my love. posted @ 03:34 AM MST [link] [Karma: 19 (+/-)] Thursday, December 9, 2004They just don’t get it.For the past month, I have been silently listening to dissection of the election results on a day-to-day basis by all the esteemed political pundits (choke and gag) and leaders of the Democratic Party (choke and gag). The two most prevalent theories as to why 60,000,000 Americans were dumb enough to put President Bush back at the helm for another term are: 1. Fear 2. The Republican Party was better at getting out their message in short sound bites that the average, dumb voter could understand. I am gleeful at these theories because as long as the loons of the left pursue this warped line of reasoning, there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that they will regain power anytime soon to get me killed, or rape my wallet again. Now if I could just get the Republicans to exercise some cash conservation, I might actually think my hard earned dollars were temporarily mine again. Their first explanation, FEAR, is my favorite because it demonstrates just how way out there these people are from mainstream America. (Mainstream = Hardworking Americans without a microphone and camera in front of their faces aka “fly over space” geographically not located on either left coast.) American voters were so paralyzed by fear of another terrorist attack that they took leave of their senses and returned the proverbial “devil you know” back into office. They just don’t get it, do they? Hint to liberals for future quandaries about how Middle America thinks: Ignore facts and come to a bizarre explanation that makes you feel good (doesn’t need to make sense only needs to feel good), turn 180 degrees from your conclusion and that’s what Middle America is really thinking. Fear is the friend of appeasement. You may not have noticed but the 43rd President didn’t graduate from the School of Appeasement. Appeasement has its root in fear because you are uncertain of the outcome and must negotiate a settlement that lets you feel good about the outcome and maintain some type of control over your victimhood. NEWSFLASH-60,000,000 Stupid American voters voted for George W. Bush out of COURAGE not fear. It takes courage to stand up and fight for what you believe in. Silly little things like: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It takes courage to stand up and do what is right regardless of the personal consequences. (“The world hates us now.”) It takes courage to go to extreme lengths such as war to maintain extreme rights such as freedom. It takes courage to take risks. It takes courage to make mistakes. It takes courage to sacrifice lives so that others may live peacefully. 60,000,000 Stupid American’s went to the polls armed with vast amounts of courage and said loud and clear: I will defend myself, my family, and my country (even preemptively) because I understand that all that needs to happen to let evil flourish is for good men to stand by and do nothing. I have the courage to do something about it. And on the second point-better at getting the message out? Duhhhhh, could it be a better message? No. (See hint for liberals for future quandaries above.) Footnote to celebrities looking into Canadian immigration as a result of the election. No “give me your tired, poor, or huddled masses yearning to be free” up north of us. One requirement is a college education to prove your academic, scholastic ability. Maybe if you tell them that you once played a character that had an education they will accept that. Kinda like Stupid American voters granting you expert status on politics based on your fame and following your endorsements. NOT! They just don’t get it, do they? Was that snarky? posted @ 04:34 AM MST [link] Tuesday, December 7, 2004Blogging StyleI followed a link from Vox ,who is a pundit blogger, and found out I am a snark. Oh well, everyone has to be good at something and all my teachers said I was a smartass, they must have been right and I am following my destiny.
posted @ 04:03 AM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Monday, December 6, 2004Lacking InspirationI am just unispired to write anything lately. When something tickles my fancy, I'll post. Until then, I am sorry but do check back periodically. posted @ 04:36 AM MST [link] [Karma: 22 (+/-)] Sunday, November 28, 2004Deficit Not A DilemmaI have been spending the long weekend relaxing, catching up on the honey do list, eating too much and reading. Thomas Sowell lays out tax reform with a simple, brillant clarity and is today's best read. posted @ 03:47 AM MST [link] Thursday, November 25, 2004Happy Thanksgiving posted @ 02:33 AM MST [link] [Karma: 27 (+/-)] Priceless 
posted @ 02:22 AM MST [link] [Karma: 15 (+/-)] Wednesday, November 24, 2004Hating AmericaThe Fox News Breaking Point special Sunday night called “Hating America” was very interesting and very depressing. John Gibson did a great job hosting it and took to task some of the crackpots from many different countries that have made America bashing a world sport. (John is also the author of a book on the same subject, which goes into much more detail.) It should run several times this week, try to catch it if you missed it. The fact that a lot of these countries have state owned media and are the recipients of billions of hardworking American tax dollars in aid is enough to make you toss your cookies at the ingratitude and ignorance of these people. The “I hate you but love your money” attitude needs a major adjustment and I for one would love to see my dollars spent elsewhere. And if this topic wasn’t depressing enough, the next absolutely takes the cake for tasteless behavior that crosses the line. A Scottish company, Traffic Management Limited, has just released a new video game on the 41st anniversary of the assassination of JFK that allows you to become Lee Harvey Oswald and take three shots at the Presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza. "It is up to you to send the President instead to a cruel and early death," says the game's instructions. Kirk Ewing, the managing director of this despicable company said about the game, "This new form of interactive entertainment brings history to life and will stimulate a younger generation of players to take an interest in this fascinating episode of American history." Bullshit. This game comes out shortly after the results of a Presidential election that the world was disappointed in and is a call to crackpots around the world to sharpen their skills and make history repeat itself. At least that is how I hope the Secret Service is viewing it. After last weeks visit to Chile where Chilean security forces created an extremely dangerous situation for the President by intentionally separating him from his Secret Service agents and refusing to allow his agents entry, the Secret Service can not afford to leave any stones unturned. I would be viewing that as a dry run at an attempt on his life, if I were them. The disgusting people behind this game should be shown the exact same courtesy and respect that they have shown the Kennedy family and the American people and be exposed as the soulless, mercenary bastards that they are. Now here’s the good news. This sick and depraved game is available over the Internet for a small fee per game. That allows a plethora of intelligence gathering and monitoring that would not be available if it were simply released on DVD and sold in retail outlets. It also allows the opportunity for hackers/crackers to play their favorite game of denial of service attack on the website and bring it down or steal credit card information from those sorry asses who actually pay to play, or infect the servers that the website www.JFKReloaded.com runs on and their players machines also. Not that I am advocating that type of illegal behavior mind you. I’m just being instructive on how some of the technologically adept might interact with “this new form of interactive entertainment” (which) “brings history to life and will stimulate a younger generation of players to take an interest in this fascinating episode of American history.” (Hat tip to Beebus in Oswego, NY for reminding me that I had not addressed this issue yet.) posted @ 04:46 AM MST [link] Monday, November 22, 2004Is it just me?The NBA has sanctioned the most visible players involved in a free for all with paying spectators. Some are saying the penalties are too tough. I think they are too lenient. I would have suspended both teams for the rest of the year in their entirety to send a message loud and clear throughout the land that there are lines you do not cross. You do not cross them regardless of your anger, frustration, or lack of self-control. Owners, coaches, players and fans are responsible for this debacle and I would love to see every one of them smacked upside their financial heads to the point of real financial pain to make that point because it says something about the type of society we are becoming. We are the land of the free. Free to say just about anything and get away with it. Free to say it even if we know we shouldn’t say it. The lines that you do not cross are becoming non-existent and we as a society are not better off for it. The recent campaigns and media coverage of events in this world are prime examples of the verbal free for all that is running rampant minus the physical punches. I defend Teddy Kennedy’s right to stand up and bellow into a microphone that our President is a liar. I also defend the President’s right to sue the crap out of the moron for defamation and applaud the President’s restraint for not giving him a punch squarely in his glass jaw, something I personally fantasized about doing to hacks on both sides of the aisle during the long and arduous campaign season that was a media instigated feeding frenzy. Are we all being sucked into this twisted mindset? Are we all so damn important and narcissistic these days that there are no lines that shouldn’t be crossed anymore? Shame on all of us, if we are. posted @ 05:32 AM MST [link] Sunday, November 21, 2004Thank You Blackfive for this new websiteI hope you have followed the links to some of the other blogs and military websites. Hat tip to Blackfive for this link to a new website for me, "The Green Side". Want to know what went on in Fallujah? Read Dave's email to his dad here. posted @ 04:19 AM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Wednesday, November 17, 2004Rules of EngagementThis week’s Abu Gharib-like media fest is the NBC footage from Fallujah of a Marine that shot and killed a wounded terrorist. The Monday morning quarterbacks are quick to condemn this Marine, outrageously likening his behavior to that of the enemy. Like most hardworking Americans, I have zero qualifications to make any judgment of this young man. His actions will be judged by his peers, of which neither the media pundits nor most of us are, but I do think this young Marine has earned the right to everyone giving him the benefit of the doubt. As I sit on my cushy couch in my warm and comfortable den, watching my big screen TV and sipping a glass of wine, I can’t even begin to imagine what these soldiers have been through in the last week. Had I walked in their shoes and seen the situation through their eyes, I would probably wonder how any behavior could be deemed inappropriate when fighting for your life. Rules of engagement seem strange to me as someone who has never been on a battlefield. It is perfectly permissible for me to kill you under the rules of engagement, in fact that’s the goal. I can do this by pumping a couple of hundred rounds of bullets into you, blow you to bits, burn you alive and this is all well and good if I succeed in killing you. But if by some perverted stroke of bad luck, I only wound you, I am then obligated to haul your carcass over for medical treatment, wait for them to piece you back together and try to kill you again tomorrow when you are feeling up to it. All the while knowing that if I make any mistake and give you the chance to kill me while I am being such a good humanitarian, you will kill me. Huh? War is hell. War is the epitome of mans inhumanity to man. War brings out both the best and the worst in us. War is a necessary evil. Somehow defining rules of engagement in this setting makes it more like a game or sport. Kind of like the asinine lining up in columns and marching head on into the enemy to show whose cojones are bigger and die a dignified death. What were they thinking? Rules of engagement sanitize the sheer gut wrenching horror of war making it more civilized and less barbaric. It is uncivilized and it is barbaric but sadly sometimes it’s the last resort when you are dealing with people who do not value life, yours or theirs and I thank God daily for the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives so mine is better. This enemy has broken all the rules of engagement set up by the civilized world. Fight fire with fire. If their wish is to die, grant them it. Be merciful with a bullet in the head. Instead of this, “In the south of Fallujah yesterday, US Marines found the armless, legless body of a blonde woman, her throat slashed and her entrails cut out. Benjamin Finnell, a hospital apprentice with the US Navy Corps, said that she had been dead for a while, but at that location for only a day or two. The woman was wearing a blue dress; her face had been disfigured,” from the Times on Line. Read it, weep, and pray her death was quick and that our troops are strong and safe tonight. God bless you all. posted @ 04:08 AM MST [link] Sunday, November 14, 2004Thank God I'm RepublicanCheck out the parody on Tony Snow's website, Thank God I'm Republican. Scroll down to the "By Popular Demand" section on the bottom left side of the web page and turn up your speakers. Also just for fun, check out a new website for disenfranchised citizens at helpthemleave.com. posted @ 11:56 PM MST [link] [Karma: 19 (+/-)] Saturday, November 13, 2004It was a Good Week All in AllIt’s been kind of fun to just sit back and revel in all the good things that have happened in the last week. 1. Seeing Dubya reach the 60,000,000 votes milestone 2. Watching the Democratic Party implode 3. Seeing Yassar Arafat planted 4. Celebrating Veteran’s Day 5. Anticipating the end of the media vigil surrounding the Peterson case. Yes, life is good in the red states. Being a lame-brained, yokel certainly has its advantages. No introspection required here and 60,000,000 votes means never having to say you are sorry. Congratulations again Mr. President and give that evil genius Karl Rove a hug and a kiss from me. Listening to the hysteria ooze out of the Democratic Party representatives’ corpses this week has been a particularly satisfying experience. I am impressed with some of the creativity of the spin. How could this have happened? No, it wasn’t the evangelicals. No, it wasn’t gay baiting. No, it wasn’t fear mongering. No, it wasn’t moral values. No, it wasn’t stupidity. This happened because a majority of the voting population made up of every age group, ethnic background, race, religion, socioeconomic level, and educational level heard your message and rejected it. Learn from it. For those debating about whether or not they should move to Canada so they won't feel disenfranchised, debate no more….GO! For those of you contemplating secession, forget it. That requires war and you just don’t have the stomach for it. Speaking of corpses, Yassar Arafat is dead. Good. Good-bye and good riddance. A belated thank you to all of our Veteran’s. To those of you who suffered the slander of John Kerry’s rhetoric in the 70’s and again throughout his campaign, Welcome Home and Thank you! Your special day was November 2nd and again on the 11th. To all the brave men and woman who have fought and continue to fight to keep us free, thank you, thank you, thank you. Scott Peterson will soon fade from memory and a mention of his name will evoke, “Who?” As Martha would say, “That’s a good thing.” Had a wonderful visit with my daughter and son-in-law, too bad it went by so quickly. Yes, life is really good in the red states. posted @ 03:45 AM MST [link] Tuesday, November 9, 2004Slow BloggingMy beautiful daughter and her wonderful husband are in town this week, so blogging will be slow to non-existant. Grandkids aren't with them...much as we love them and miss them-it's adult fun this week! Our thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers around the world today and especially those in Fallujah. Keep up the good work and be safe. posted @ 03:05 AM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] Friday, November 5, 2004F#$&ing SpammersI was hit by spammers the last couple of nights and had to shut down the comments section. Please use the the Karma ratings to show your thoughts for now. If you want to comment, email me and I will post it. I just don't want to allow those spamming SOB's one second of free parasitic advertising, so I have to shut comments down until I clean up the mess and create a way to block them. Sorry for the incovenience. posted @ 04:22 AM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] Thursday, November 4, 2004Congratulations Mr. PresidentCongratulations Mr. President for a hard fought, well-deserved victory. I must admit that I wasn't sure that you could pull it off. Not that you didn't deserve to. You certainly did. Rather because you were not up against a single opponent; you were up against an army. You didn't just defeat the bloviated Boston blue blood. You're victory was against "Old Europe", the UN, the media, the pollsters, academia, the Hollywood “Intellectuals,” the hate America crowd led by Michael Moore, the rabid partisans of the disgraced Democratic party and the misguided 49% of American voters who cast their ballots for the elusive, elitist equivocator. All that is left for them now is to try to put the onus on you to “reach across the aisle.” You have the mandate, they don’t. By all means reach across the aisle as a magnanimous gesture. It’s the statesmen-like thing to do. And while your hand is out there reaching across that aisle, feel free to use it to smack them upside the head whenever the need arises. posted @ 03:39 AM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] Wednesday, November 3, 2004Thank You for Your Call Senator.Senator Kerry does the right thing and concedes the election. Now while you are on a roll, how about an apology to the Vietnam Vets you slandered? Thank you for not pulling a Gore. posted @ 08:49 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Woo Hoo It was longer than four years ago that I developed a sleep deprivation problem but I blame its continuance on the 2000 election. I fell asleep during the network coverage and woke up with the TV still on to hear that Al Gore had conceded and George W. Bush had won. Happy with those results, I returned to undisturbed slumber till later that morning. I flipped on the TV and found out Gore had withdrawn his concession and a battalion of lawyers had been deployed to contest the election. Post Traumatic Election Syndrome has continued since then, you always have the feeling that something important is happening but you’ll sleep through it. I dozed on the couch last night while waiting for the results unwilling to fall victim to PTES again. Gun shy from the 2000 Election, the networks just couldn’t bring themselves to call the election for President Bush and risk being wrong. Finally a bleary eyed crew at Fox said Ohio was red. Thirty minutes later MSNBC followed. The look on the faces of Chris Matthews and crew was more than just exhaustion, they were disappointed. Good. Then they must be pretty sure this will hold. Tried to stay awake and make sure Tom Daschle had gone down in defeat but had to wake back up again at 3:00 to see a smiling handsome John Thune being called Senator-Elect. Congratulations South Dakota!!! Hope is on the way. I wonder what the job outlook for obstructionists is? Oh well, that’s one unemployment number I will be happy to see go up. Colorado did well with their defeat of Amendment 36 but I sure wish Pete Coors had won. Good job Colorado on the Amendment. California, what are you thinking returning Boxer and passing Prop 71? Is there no cure for your fiscal foolishness. I hope Mr. Kerry will make the wise decision to concede later today and not give the trial lawyers a banquet to feast on. If he doesn’t, he will piss off a lot more than just the red states. No one wants to see a repeat of 2000. If the roles were reversed right now, the media would have declared Kerry the winner and put the pressure on the President to concede by citing the 3.5 million lead in the popular vote as making a statistical upset very unlikely. The debacle of 2000 gives them cover right now to appear fair and balanced. (Fox will be the first to declare the race for the President later today.) The two left coasts really need to pay more attention to the fly-over space. The heart, soul, and brains of the country don’t live oceanfront. posted @ 04:13 AM MST [link] [Karma: 10 (+/-)] Tuesday, November 2, 2004Have you marked a ballot today?Just do it. posted @ 03:30 AM MST [link] [Karma: 6 (+/-)] Monday, November 1, 2004T Minus 24 and CountingWell tomorrow is the big day that American voters (both alive and deceased, both citizen and non-citizen, both real and fictitious) will cast their ballots and set the agenda for the next four years for all of us. My husband has been telling me for nine months that the President will take the election 60-40. I hope he’s right. I wouldn’t mind seeing the battalion of lawyers waiting to pounce on any perceived infraction of voting rules join the ranks of the unemployed on November 3rd. Regardless of who wins tomorrow, I would like to see as a top agenda item at both the federal and state levels some decent legislation that protects the integrity of our voting system. The stories we have heard for the past month are enough to make you scream. Counties ordering three times the number of ballots than registered voters to ensure they have enough. Either they are anticipating that every voter will spoil two ballots and finally get it right on their third attempt or there is something very fishy about this. Paying people to register voters that accept applications submitted by Mickey Mouse might seem funny to some but I ‘m just not laughing. The number of people double registered to vote in more than one state and who voted illegally in the last election is just a tell tale sign of what is to come. Why with all our technological advances is there no national database of registered voters to prevent this from happening? Anyway, tomorrow if you are a legally, registered voter, I hope you will cast one vote and only one for the candidate of your choice after you have educated yourself on the issues we face. I’ve heard that the networks will not call a state for a candidate until the polls have closed in that state. That’s better than 2000 and not good enough. Add to the above-mentioned legislation, that no results are revealed until polls are completely closed across the country. I once stood in the freezing cold of Colorado for over an hour to cast my vote for Ronald Regan’s re-election. When I finally got back into my car and turned on the heat and radio, they had already announced his victory. Why had I bothered? It was the wrong attitude. I had my say. It may not have been pivotal in deciding the winner of the election but my one small voice in the world was heard as one piece of the overall. Hang in there tomorrow and don’t let the media discourage you. Four more years! posted @ 03:18 AM MST [link] [Karma: 16 (+/-)] Sunday, October 31, 2004A Haunting We Will Go posted @ 03:38 AM MST [link] [Karma: 7 (+/-)] Saturday, October 30, 2004Hey Pig Shit, nice to see ya!Every time a rodent sticks its head out of its burrow increases the chances the hawk will swoop down and have it for lunch. Nice to see UBL pop out of his cave long enough to give John Kerry his political endorsement added to Yassar Arafat, Jacques Chirac, Kim Jong IL, Kofi Annan, Michael Moore, and the usual assortment of swill known as terrorists. If I were Kerry, I would slit my wrists over my never-ending list of endorsements by America’s greatest enemies. Okay UBL here’s my little tete-a-tete for you. Pardon my French…. “Your security is not in the hands of [Democratic presidential nominee John] Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands.” Congratulations! That remedial course in democracy you have been taking is really starting to pay off. Our security is in our own hands, always has been, always will be. Too bad for you, yours is in the hands of our military whose patience, persistence, and “strategery” will pay off. Of that, I have no doubt and patience is a virtue, now isn’t it? “Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked.” (I guess this goes to the mention of your not attacking Sweden but I think you should have said Switzerland instead. That would conjure up images of neutrality in everything except banking scams. Sweden conjures images of drugs, prostitution, you know the usual infidel behaviors you so despise in your righteousness.) Anyway, why haven’t you attacked that den of inequity Sweden? Funds a little low? Cave not sufficient for war room planning? Bored with just homicide bombers? Feeling a little constrained these days? Or are you saving it for me? BRING IT ON PIGSHIT! BRING IT ON. Yes, there will be casualties. Yes, because I respect life, I will morn the loss of life while your sociopathic soul will rejoice. But if the alternative is to lie down and let you mow over me, I’ll be damned if I’ll go down without a helluva fight. Your taunts give me resolve. Thanks for the infusion. That’s what we call American Spirit. Oh and by the way, that little vignette of anti-Semitism is a nice touch but I can’t help but wonder why such a small population of the world causes you people so much angst. Guess Allah isn’t so Akbar to you if you see little Israel as such a threat. Israel and women seem to be your biggest nemeses. My estrogen levels seem to produce more testosterone than you have. Have you checked between your legs lately to see if you still have testicles? Okay pigshit, back into your hole now. Be a good boy because don’t forget the hawk is still circling. posted @ 06:05 AM MST [link] [Karma: 3 (+/-)] Thursday, October 28, 2004Cursed and CursingThe last World Series I paid attention to was the AZ Diamondbacks vs. the NY Yanks in 2001. It was difficult to cheer for my home team against NY immediately following the devastation of 9/11. The victory was dulled by a sense of guilt that we had kicked NY while they were down. I thought I was going to feel the same way this year about Boston. First they would loose the series and then John Kerry would be defeated. And we would feel that we were kicking Boston while they were down. But the Sox have given a joyous gift to all of us. (St. Louis fans excepted.) With the euphoria of the Bambino Curse lifted, America’s cursory look at cursing, John "F’ing" Kerry, and subsequent dismissal will now seem trivial to them. Take him out of this ballgame. Four more years. Now onto important matters, read what Bill Gertz has to say about the legitimacy of the explosive NYT Al "Ca-Ca" story. posted @ 04:45 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Tuesday, October 26, 2004“One of the Great Blunders”I was a little bewildered yesterday when I read a NYT story about a missing stockpile of weapons in Iraq because like deja vu I thought I had already read that story some time ago. I had. This is a recycled story just in time for an election made to look like it was breaking news. I was also bewildered yesterday when I heard John Kerry talking about these weapons and the incompetence of this administration as if Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and George Bush had personally been assigned to keep those stockpiles secure and had failed. That job had been “outsourced”, as Mr. Kerry would say, by the administration to the US Military. So it must be the US Military that John Kerry thinks is so incompetent and failed to do their job. Now those are fighting words, Mr. Kerry, and you don’t want to go there. I have questioned Mr. Kerry’s judgment all along but this must be one of his greatest blunders. I am applying for the job of Commander in Chief and I am publicly insulting and denigrating those who would serve under me and who are sacrificing life and limb to keep our country safe. Is it any wonder we heard stories of fragging occurred in Vietnam? Is this a flip or a flop? So today, there were WMD and it's missing? I'm confused, I thought you said there weren't any WMD. Which is it? The problem was not that the administration failed to order those stockpiles secured, or that the US military was incompetent and failed to get the job done. The problem in securing these weapons was that we waited too long to go to war because they were already gone when we got there. So Mr. Kerry it wasn’t the wrong war, the wrong place, but you may be correct that it was the wrong time since our greatest fear may have already come true. Just for the record Mr. Kerry, you may be right about the wrong time but unfortunately for you; you were 100% wrong with your accusation that we rushed to war. Unfortunately for all of us, that screwing around time with the corrupt UN that you insisted on gave that brutal dictator enough time to stash his WMD somewhere else or destroy them but we may never know which one it is. So the moral of the story and headline of the NYT yesterday should have been: CONTAINMENT FAILED! Or BUSH SHOULD HAVE RUSHED TO WAR! But of course those headlines would contradict the wasted ink of the NYT headlines all along. I laugh every time I hear someone quote a story or statistic and cite the NYT as the source. The NYT lost any and all credibility long ago. If you believe a word that you read in that rag, you are an idiot. Please don't vote or reproduce. The attempts of manipulation by the media are a disgrace to anyone who considers journalism a profession. According to the Drudge Report this morning: “In an election week rush: **ABCNEWS Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 4 Times **CBSNEWS Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 7 Times **MSNBC Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 37 Times **CNN Mentioned The Iraq Explosives Depot At Least 50 Times But tonight, NBCNEWS reported: The 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives were already missing back in April 10, 2003 -- when U.S. troops arrived at the installation south of Baghdad! An NBCNEWS crew embedded with troops moved in to secure the Al-Qaqaa weapons facility on April 10, 2003, one day after the liberation of Iraq. According to NBCNEWS, the HMX and RDX explosives were already missing when the American troops arrived. "The U.S. Army was at the site one day after the liberation and the weapons were already gone," a top Republican blasted from Washington late Monday. ‘ You know, Americans love an underdog. It is absolutely amazing to me that the media, Hollywood intellectuals (I know, that’s an oxymoron), George Soros, 527’s, "Old Europe", the UN, the DNC, Kerry and Edwards have so blatantly jumped into bed together to oppose this President that they are making a sitting President the underdog in this race. Keep it up schmucks and it’s result will be good for "Four more years." Four more years has such a nice ring to it. PS-I believe Vicky Clarke is credited with embedding reporters with the troops. Brillant Vicky. The only way for the media to attack this is to say that when their reporters are there as news is being made, (when they see it with their own eyes, hear it with their own ears, and live it daily)-they report what we want them to report, not what they see, hear, smell and taste. While that may be true for a lot of the media, I don't think we'll be hearing that confession for quite some time. "Bless me father for I have sinned, ....." I thought I would just get them started. posted @ 03:52 AM MST [link] [Karma: 12 (+/-)] Saturday, October 23, 2004Iraq today.Please take the time to read Omar and Mohammed's article from a couple of days ago when they got their passports for the first time in their lives. The link is here. Quagmire my ass, this is one of the hundreds of accomplishments each day. posted @ 03:39 AM MST [link] [Karma: 10 (+/-)] Thursday, October 21, 2004I pledge allegiance...I haven’t had time to write this week because I have spent my early morning hours reading instead of writing. There are so many interesting and ridiculous articles out there to amuse myself with that the next thing I know, it’s time to go to work. But this morning an article caught my eye that I must comment on. A UK based newspaper, The Guardian, asked it’s readers to write letters to American voters giving us their opinion on our candidates for election. The article publishing the best of these letters is called, “America, let us love you again...” and pleads with President Bush supporters to rethink their votes. The letters are then being mailed to undeclared voters in battleground states. When I first read that the paper was proposing this I thought “Great idea, this will piss off voters and send them to polls in favor of the President.” If there is a great disconnect between the US and the rest of the world and it has nothing to do with failed diplomacy. It has to do with philosophy. Let me try to explain this to them with my own letter. Dear Guardian Readers: Thank you for your interest in our upcoming election. I know you feel that I should consider the wants and needs of the world body when I go to the polls on November 2nd but 228 years ago men you call traitors and I call founding fathers gave their blood and their lives so that I didn’t have to bend to your will anymore. Unhappy with the direction Europe was headed in, they left seeking a better life and they didn’t find it. They created it and made it. Throughout our short history, we have shed much blood continuing to defend the gift every citizen of this country was given by them and have done so in honor of their memory. The biggest slap in the face I could give to all the patriots of my country who have given the greatest of sacrifices would be to consider world opinion when casting my vote. I am duty bound as an American citizen to defend my country against all threats both external and internal. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America not the United Nations. I will do what I think is in the best interest of my country to keep her safe and strong knowing that a strong America also makes for a safer world. If you dislike my decision, so be it. Channel your frustrations and energy into making your country stronger and less dependent on my decisions. I thank you for your advice although I don’t recall asking for it. I think the title of the article, “America, let us love you again…” tells all like an unhealthy on-again, off-again affair that is not to be taken seriously. My vote is cast with the unwavering, unconditional love of my country. America, I love you. posted @ 04:15 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Tuesday, October 19, 2004Pictures Worth a Thousand WordsNeed help making up your mind on which candidate to vote for?. Scoot over to I have a crazy wife.com for Gary's pictorial candidate collage to solidify your decision. Kudos to Vox for this one. posted @ 04:48 AM MST [link] [Karma: 18 (+/-)] Monday, October 18, 2004T minus 15 and CountingWe are down to fifteen days before all the ballots (legal or not) have been cast in this election and then the challenges will begin by battalions of lawyers. I’m asking Santa Claus to bring word about who the 44th President is by Christmas. How’s that for optimism? The polls show the President up after the third debate that Mr. Kerry is said to have won. Interesting. All the pundits seem to think that the Mary Cheney bomb that Kerry dropped is the cause. I’m sure that didn’t help but I think it was something much more subtle than that. I think these words spoken by the President hit home. BUSH: “In 1990, there was a vast coalition put together to run Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. The international community, the international world said this is the right thing to do, but when it came time to authorize the use of force on the Senate floor, my opponent voted against the use of force. Apparently you can't pass any test under his vision of the world.” The President’s lead in the polls this week is not to be believed just as anything else being reported in the media in not to be believed. This is not the time for complacency. It is imperative that you get out and vote and it is imperative that on election day, when the networks suffer premature punditry and begin calling of states in favor of the candidates that people in the West still go to the polls and cast their vote. There is a lot of cheating that will go on with this election; unfortunately there is a long history of it. If it’s not close they can’t get away with it. posted @ 03:48 AM MST [link] [Karma: 15 (+/-)] Wednesday, October 13, 2004The Great Debates-Part Three(Since the debate tonight is in my neck of the woods, I had to fly out of work a little early to battle the normal rush hour gridlock we endure everyday before they made it any worse by closing down roads for the Presidential motorcade. I lucked out and beat the worst of it. Guess I used up all my luck for today and won’t need to check my Powerball ticket later tonight. Sigh.) The debate is underway. For those of us who pay close attention to politics it is painful to hear the same sound bites over and over again. It strikes me as strange that a member of Congress blames the Executive Branch of the government for lack of fiscal discipline by ignoring the pay as you go system since the President only signs what the Congress puts in front of him. Senator Kerry’s only defense on out of control spending is that he’s been too busy campaigning to earn his paycheck casting any votes of late. Bob Schiefer’s questions are interesting but most are so specifically targeted at one candidate that it is a misnomer to call the opponent’s answers a rebuttal. How does President Bush comment on some members of the Catholic Church saying that voting for someone who supports policies contrary to the church’s beliefs are as guilty as a certain candidate? Senator Kerry is giving some specifics of his health plan and it is as fundamentally flawed as every other government bureaucratic plan. It isn’t just opened for those who need it. It will incentivize businesses to drop healthcare benefits for their employees and put the burden of that expense on the taxpayer. Your company gets to keep the money they would have spent providing the benefit of healthcare insurance for you and you get to pick up the bill instead. Great idea, John! Thanks! Got any more great plans like that one? My inquiring checkbook wants to know. Senator Kerry keeps referring to “right here in Arizona”. Very smooth tactic. He also is the official scorekeeper as to his opponent not answering the question and then after pointing that out, goes back to a previous question, spends the majority of his time doing a re-rebuttal of the previous question and then throws in a few sentences on the current question amounting to not answering the question. Slick trick. The President keeps coming back to education on every question. He’s right; the long-term answer to a lot of these problems is to get a good education. I wonder how many people watching this debate are smart enough to see that? Give a man a fish and he’ll have one meal. Teach a man to fish and he never goes hungry. I think that’s the real difference between these two men. One believes in empowerment and one believes in entitlement. posted @ 07:36 PM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Tuesday, October 12, 2004Hot FunTwo fun-filled must reads today. PJ O’Rourke puts words in the President’s mouth and Zell Miller looks at Iwo Jima through the eyes of today’s media. Thanks to a co-worker of mine who shared this with me. I enjoyed it too much to not pass it on to all of you. Let's Pull Together... There is less than one month until the election, an election that will decide the next President of the United States. The man elected will be the president of all Americans, not just the Democrats or the Republicans. To show our solidarity as Americans, let's all get together and show each other our support for the candidate of our choice. It's time that we all came together, Democrats and Republicans alike. If you support the policies and character of President Bush, please drive with your headlights on during the day. If you support John Kerry, please drive with your headlights off at night. posted @ 04:18 AM MST [link] [Karma: 15 (+/-)] Sunday, October 10, 2004Take the Global TestHave you been scratching your head wondering what the Global Test is? Well wonder no more. Take it on line at Rand Simberg's Blog Transterrestrial Musings. posted @ 04:22 AM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] Saturday, October 9, 2004Aussies Give One Finger Salute to TerrorismCongratulations to the Aussie’s and Prime Minister John Howard on his re-election. The Aussie’s have been with us in every battle we’ve had throughout history surpassing even Great Brittan who has long been considered our greatest ally. The Aussie’s share the same strong spirit with Americans. When the going gets tough, the Aussie’s are there. By supporting the Prime Minister who took them to war, the Aussie’s are standing tough and flipping the bird at terrorists around the globe. The “down under” is tops in my list. A historic moment in Afghanistan occurred yesterday also. The first election was held although the results won't be known for some time yet because the donkeys will be bringing the ballots down from the mountains for quite some time. Despite a lot of hand wringing about terrorists disrupting and preventing the election, there were very few problems of some scattered violence. How can you not feel joy seeing this picture contrasted against life a few years ago under the Taliban? For all those who have given their lives in the War on Terror, thank you and this is why. Let freedom reign.  posted @ 04:53 AM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Friday, October 8, 2004The Great Debate-Part TwoTonight’s debate will be a townhall forum of undecided voters. I guess there really are people who have yet to make up their minds and then there are those who have made up their minds but like the elite status that “undecideds” play in a close election so they keep up the façade of the undecided. I have to tell you it irritates the crap out of me that people who can’t make a decision or who pretend to be something they are not, hold my future and yours in their hands. It equally irritates me that people who can’t be bothered to educate themselves on the issues blindly cast a vote on election day based on party affiliation or sound bites they caught on the news or headlines that are frequently deceptive and consider that sufficient knowledge to have an opinion and vote. I’d love to tell them that if they can’t live up to the responsibility that comes with the right to vote, stay the hell home and don’t vote but the opposition would cream you because they wouldn’t show such a display of character. So get educated and then vote, dammit! Don't vote and get your education afterwards. The debate is underway and the President seems like he is rested and feisty unlike the first debate. Kerry is smooth and on sound bite but is lacking the orange glow he had the last time. Wonder what his nails look like tonight? I wish someone would ask a how question instead of a what question. We know what you say you will do; you’ve repeated it a thousand times a day. How are you going to do it? Step by step, details and more details. The forum only allows the Cliff Notes version of all the campaign ads and is worthless. The questions are surprisingly not inane but there isn’t enough time to answer these questions. Dubya gave us the only laughs of the night. When told by Kerry that he owns a wood company, he was surprised to hear this and then asked if anyone needs some wood? Kerry droned on without any humor. No matter how the handlers try they just can’t humanize the guy. This was a good debate unlike the first one. I hope everyone with questions unanswered will take the time to seek them before they cast a vote. One more sideshow next Wednesday. You have time to do some homework in the meantime. Read the transcripts of the debates, hit their websites and check out the details they offer, talk it out with people who have made a decision. Just Do It! posted @ 07:38 PM MST [link] [Karma: 19 (+/-)] Thursday, October 7, 2004Two America'sI received this from a dedicated reader and thought you might enjoy it. Checkout the price tag for this dinner with John Edwards. Must be the other America that can afford it. posted @ 07:35 PM MST [link] [Karma: 17 (+/-)] Wednesday, October 6, 2004Bill's BackI was going to write a post about the Veep debate but there is something so much more important for you to read. Bill Whittle is back at ejectejecteject. com with a brillant essay on Deterence. There are two parts to it. It's long but make sure you read it all. Here's Part One. Here's Part Two. Print it out and give it to anyone you think is voting for John Kerry or an undecided voter who needs to make up their frapping mind. If you know someone who calls themself a Republican and has taken a leave of their senses and are contemplating a vote for Kerry beat some sense into them with this. PS-Cheney was brillant. posted @ 07:10 PM MST [link] [Karma: 1 (+/-)] Thursday, September 30, 2004The Great Debates Part OneHaving worked all day I am horribly embarrassed to be typing this without having gotten a manicure today. My ratty looking cuticles and un-filed nails may be too much of a distraction to continue but I’ll give it my best shot. I’m also feeling pretty pasty looking. Too bad I didn’t have time to slip into a tanning bed and refresh my summer glow. Guess I’ll just put on my jammies and blog this out. I knew John Kerry had to be a smooth talker because of his ability to marry very rich women and I have heard that he is an extremely skillful debater, which I concur he is. Does that make him a master debater? Anyway, I just can’t shake the feeling that the silver tongued devil will say anything with total disregard for the truth and with a total lack of character or conviction to avoid a pre-nup or to be elected President. He is the consummate politician but I don’t believe that to be an admirable trait. Politician and pathological liar are synonymous in my dictionary. (He just dropped the Halliburton and Vietnam words in the same answer. Hugh Hewitt’s drinking contest just took two big chugs.) Most of the answers were straight from the stump campaign speeches we have been hearing throughout the campaign season but I suppose for those who have just tuned in they may have heard something new. Yawn. I know I’m suppose to be impressed with Jim Lehrer’s expertise as a debate moderator but the questions seemed to play right into the stump lines. His first question to John Kerry was something along the lines of “Do you think you can do a better job than your opponent?” WHAT? What do you think the answer to this question is? No. No, I can’t do a better job but vote for me anyway. That’s not a softball question; it’s a whiffle ball question. The biggest difference in the approach these two men chose to take with the image they wanted to portray for this debate to me was that Senator Kerry’s tone of voice was that of a badgering prosecutor and President Bush’s voice was conversational. Kerry certainly is varsity eloquence and the President is a homeboy when he speaks but I found my blood pressure rising and I was tensing up when Kerry spoke because the tone of his voice was badgering my tympanic membranes. I get the same way when I hear Hillary screech. Senator Kerry managed to put the President on the defensive during this debate and that was a great accomplishment. The media preferring style over substance will probably declare Senator Kerry the winner of this debate. Maybe he did, if you can believe a word he said. posted @ 08:10 PM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] The Big Debate The debates start tonight and the first one is on foreign policy. This is an important debate because we hope to hear some type of coherent policy from John Kerry instead of just sound bites from stump speeches. The debate will last 90 minutes and my biggest concern is that listening to John Kerry dissect all the nuances of his thoughts out loud will bore me to death long before I can assemble his words into any coherent thought. I’ve heard his handlers have been working on short answers with him this week so we’ll see how they did. I think the theme of his answers will be that we need help to get Iraq under control and that he is a new beginning with the UN for America. Wipe the slate clean and start over with John-John. That might be true if countries operated on friendships and good old boys clubs. They don’t, they operate on self-interest. Let me make this point clearer. Countries don’t have friends, they have allies. Alliances are formed to advance common interests. If there is no common interest there is nothing in it for them. Some countries saw the attack on 9/11 as an attack against all Western civilizations because they see the bigger picture of the jihadists. Those countries joined the coalition without being coerced or bribed. Other countries realized that they too were vulnerable but other interests ranked higher in their priorities. Those countries are currently being investigated in the UN Oil for Food Scandal. These are countries that wanted us to wait or not invade Iraq at all, probably so the paper shredders in Baghdad could finish the job and conceal their illegal activity. Some countries thought we got what we deserved because we are arrogant and selfish in their opinion. You are never going to get those countries to help us no matter who is President unless you are willing to give them cash or power. Personally, I am unwillingly to deal with extortionists that will sell you down the river for a buck more from your enemy. President Bush created a doctrine that scares a lot of countries and some Americans also. Having stood on the emotionally devastating rubble of Ground Zero, he adopted a policy of preemption. It’s quite simple. When we see a threat, we will extinguish it with or without help or permission. No one will protect America better than America or have our best interests at heart. We will make the decision on the best intelligence we have and we will strike offensively at terrorist and sponsors of terrorism in an attempt to never be burying 3000 people ever again because we were still trying to put the pieces together to eliminate any doubt. It’s a risky policy because intelligence is not black and white. Interpreting the shades of gray is where mistakes are made. So it is inevitable that mistakes will be made no matter how prudent the interpretation. It’s a risk I am willing to take. The alternative is to bury more Americans and respond forcefully afterwards. John Kerry has said that he would respond forcefully to any future attacks. That was the oh so very international, civilized, polite but failed policy that lead to 9/11. I am unwilling to accept that again. Is the preemption policy ruthless? Maybe. We didn’t start this fight but we better be willing to finish it. I just don’t think Mr. Kerry has the mettle to do a full tour of duty in country and win this fight. posted @ 04:33 AM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] Wednesday, September 29, 2004Kim Jong Il Endorses John KerryWith supporters like this who needs detractors. I heard on the news last night that North Korea has decided to end any nuclear disarmament discussions until after the election in hopes that if Mr. Kerry wins negotiations will be easier for them. That just about says it all doesn't it? The WaPo has an article this morning about how Mr. Kerry is favored by Arabs, Muslims, and the French and many others. "Kerry's foreign fans say they like his attitude about consulting allies and respecting their views." Sounds like they think the UN would be deciding when America should defend itself to me. I applaud Rich Galen's mullings of today. I agree, we don't care. Here's the second part of the O'Reilly interview with President Bush that aired last night. Part Three is tonight. posted @ 04:38 AM MST [link] [Karma: 22 (+/-)] Tuesday, September 28, 2004Fox FeaturedHere are all the related articles to the Oil for Weapons, Palaces, Etc scandal under the auspices of the UN humanitarian relief program that Fox News has been reporting on. Part One of Bill O'Reilly's interview with the President aired last night and two more segments will air tonight and tomorrow followed by the first debate on Thursday. Busy week! Here's last nights transcript, if you missed it. O'Reilly asked straight forward questions and the President gave straight forward answers. Refreshing change from the usual political BS talking points and rhetoric. O'Reilly's biggest concern is our porous border. It is a big concern and his solution is to put the military on it. I just have a question for Mr. O'Reilly. Let's say we have enough military and INS personnel to line them up shoulder-to-shoulder encircling the 360-degree border to deter and prevent illegal aliens from entering our country, we don't, but lets just fantasize that we do. Are you willing to shoot them if they dare to push their way through? The military threat has power because of its known lethality. Take that away and the effectiveness is diminished. Is your order, shoot to kill anyone (man, woman or child) who tries to come across? How about a 25-foot concrete wall topped with Concertina wire encircling us like Israel? Would that be better? I can see the Malibu property rates plummeting with that one. We need to be more secure but how much are you willing to concede to the thugs who mean us harm? I believe we have a lot of room for improvement but I am unwilling to turn this country into Stalag 13 and grant even the smallest victory to the terrorists who mean to change my way of life. I am willing to go to great extremes to change their way of life, including ending it. That's their choice. posted @ 04:37 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Sunday, September 26, 2004Leopards don’t change their spotsOne of the few consistencies of the Kerry campaign has been the claim that Mr. Kerry would have better foreign policy than the current administration because he would be able to work more effectively with the leaders of other countries. So why do Mr. Diplomacy and his cohorts in the “inclusive” Democratic party insist on insulting the interim leader of Iraq and the leaders of the Coalition countries by calling them the Coalition of the Coerced and insinuating Mr. Allawi is a puppet? Oddly enough the puppet verbiage is exactly how the terrorists have been trying to portray the interim government of Iraq. Whose side are they on? I knew the terrorists were picking up the DNC talking points and using them against us via Al Jazeera but I didn’t realize the reciprocal nature until the DNC started using the terrorists talking points with our media here. What a small world. With only 37 days left until Election Day, another milestone in the Kerry campaign has been reached. They have finally settled on a central issue for the campaign, the War. With amazing accuracy they have also figured out which war is actually important to the American people. The War on Terror. So is it surprising to anyone that the man who began his political career criticizing the Vietnam War with blatant disregard for the soldiers still fighting it will end his political career on the theme that Iraq is a failure, wrong war, wrong place, wrong time with blatant disregard for the soldiers still fighting there. The signs were there early on but the inability to decipher any coherent message from the Kerry campaign kept most Democrats hornswoggled. Straight from the Democratic playbook of the Vietnam Era, Mr. Kerry voted for the war and then voted against the appropriations to fund the peace. Regardless of his reasons, (the latest being that it was a “blank check,”) the end result would have been the same without those appropriations. Helicopters would be rushing the last of the refugees out of our embassy in Baghdad and the slaughter would ensue afterward. Fortunately this time, the Republicans held a congressional majority and the appropriations were passed. History didn’t repeat itself but leopards still don’t change their spots. posted @ 03:19 AM MST [link] [Karma: -41 (+/-)] Thursday, September 23, 2004Hodge PodgePart Two of the UN Blood Money is posted this morning on Fox's website. Here's the link. Victor Davis Hansen eloquently writes about the decaying body of the UN today. I think that American dissatisfaction with the ineffectiveness of the UN will not just stop at tuning them out. With the amount of our hardworking American tax dollars that flow into their corrupt coffers, I see a day when the American people have decided that those funds are better spent at home and kick their sorry asses out of NYC. Personally, I consider the UN a national security threat from within our own borders. Note to Coloradans: Amendment 36 on your ballots is a NO vote unless your wish is to dilute your significance in national politics. Like it our not, the political system runs on a majority rule. Splitting your electrol votes may have the ability to affect the current presidential race but make your voice silent in future ones. This is classic divide and conquer. If you haven't made up your mind yet, consider this. Our Founding Fathers created a government that has withstood the test of time. They gave great consideration to its structure, including the inclusion of the electoral college. Do you trust the founding fathers judgement or this bills prime benefactor, Jorge Klor de Alva, whose goal is to destroy the electoral college? If Amendment 36 passes, no President would consider Colorado as a battle ground state in future elections and that would influence their decisions to as to where Federal funding for highways and military bases go. It will go to states who have power in their solidarity. NO ON 36. Democratic Fear Mongering-This weeks talking point is "The Draft." I have heard it several times this week from various different sources. Democrats still caught up in the Vietnam Era with John Kerry are reaching back over thirty years ago to a time when the military had to drag young men into the service kicking and screaming all the way. Current enlistments into the military and reserve are running at or above their goals and this must leave the Hate America crowd baffled. They just don't get the post 9/11 world. You may have noticed from Gulf War One and Two, we fight very high tech wars now. This has the benefit of needing less boots on the ground. It has the drawback of requiring a lot of training which hinders our ability to quickly deploy new recruits. Six weeks of basic training, hand them a rifle, and ship them off as in the days of WWII, doesn't cut it anymore. Before we see any draft reinstatement, I think we will see the age limits on volunteers lifted to allow more recruits. Who would you want to go into a war with by your side? People who have made a committment to the profession and have volunteered or people dragged kicking and screaming against their will? The powers that be know this also and since the name of the game is WIN, I don't see them shooting themselves in the foot with conscripts who, like a younger Mr. Kerry, would be getting face time on the evening news screeching anti war rhetoric and building their futures crawling over the corpses of those who understood the cost of freedom. Shove it, Idiots and Scumbags! I have taken Mrs. Wannbe First Lady latest most memorable public comments and woven them into a campaign mantra. Kinda catchy isn't it? Such a class act. While I have been known to lower myself to vulgarity on a frequent basis, I insist the First Lady does not. Can you in your wildest dreams see Laura Bush publicly using the word scumbags? I have a pretty good imagination and I can't even imagine her using the word privately cuddled up on the couch with Dubya watching CBS evening news. If the stakes weren't so high in this election, I would be secretly hoping the Kerry/Edwards team would win the election and provide me four years of tremendous fun writing about their administration with a sarcastic, castrating wit. But alas, my practical side of wanting to see a safer world for my children and grandchildren prevails and I responsibly choose the role of security mom. Four more years. Then Hillary will provide me with enough fodder for my lifetime. Patience my dear woman, first things first. posted @ 04:55 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Tuesday, September 21, 2004At what temperature do brain cells die?Found this over at Blackfive's blog. Celsius 41.11 is a soon to be released movie that exposes the flawed thinking of the Michael Moore crowd. Rathergate continues with the long awaited apology from Danny Boy and the network. Today's twist to the story is the duper, who duped the network that didn't know they were duped, claims that he too was duped. He also admits to chit chatting with the Kerry campaign but this unimpeachable source says the memos were never mentioned. Now who is being duped? AP story on it. President Bush will speak today at the UN. I'll give him an A for effort. Why we waste our time on the brain dead, I don't know. You can't even shame the spineless jellyfishes into action. Fox news broadcast about the Oil for Food Scandal "U.N. Blood Money" on Sunday night was enough to boil your blood. Not surprisingly, France and Russia received billions in kickbacks and oil vouchers. They have not posted the second article yet, will post the link once it's out there. Come on Fox, get it in gear. Kerry continues not giving any serious interviews. His appearances other than stump speeches have been limited to The Daily Show, The Tonight Show, David Letterman, and today he will undergo a gruelling interview by Regis and Kelly. Since his campaign is a joke, I suppose that is appropriate. posted @ 03:46 AM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] Monday, September 20, 2004Detonation DysfunctionGood news from the Mosul area of Iraq this morning. A car bomb prematurely exploded before reaching its destination killing only the three occupants of the car. My prayer for them and all the homicide bombers who follow. May the shreds of your carcass roast on the skewers of hells fires. May s’mores of you follow to the same journey’s end. And may you all rest in pieces! posted @ 09:23 AM MST [link] [Karma: 21 (+/-)] Saturday, September 18, 2004Bring It On Kofi!Kofi Annan, worthless head of our good buddies at the UN, this week slipped up in an interview with the BBC last Thursday and said the US led war in Iraq was an ‘illegal’ war. Unfortunately for us, his pattern of empty words without action will probably prevail. Hey Kofi, if the war was illegal and the US and its coalition violated the UN Charter then you are duty bound to convene the Security Council to examine the evidence and redress the situation. If found guilty by the Security Council, you are duty bound to reinstate Saddam Hussein to power in Iraq and sanction the 33 UN member rogue states that participated in this illegal war. Come on, Kofi, it’s time to step up to the plate. I personally don’t think sanctions should be enough for blatantly violating the sacred UN Charter. I think you should kick us out. It would be the right thing to do. You could really punish us by packing up and moving to Paris. Au revoir, mon amies. Perhaps Kofi and company are too bogged down in the Oil for Food scandal cover-up to worry about rogue nations, genocide in the Sudan, or the War on Terrorism. Fox News will be running an hour long special Sunday night 9pm EDT about the Oil for Food scandal and how Saddam was probably funneling money from it to Al Qaeda. They are running a series of articles about it on their website. The first can be found here. The only amazing demonstration of testosterone and testicles that came out of the UN recently was yesterday, when the new envoy to the UN from Iraq, Samir Sumaidy, presented his credentials to Kofi and Company. Unfortunately, the envoy will have no vote until Iraq’s back dues are paid. “ A report issued by Annan earlier this week showed that Iraq lost its right to vote in the General Assembly due to its failure to pay membership dues for years. The right would be restored if Iraq pays 14.5 million US dollars in back dues or convinces the assembly that the outstanding is due to conditions beyond its control.” If I were Ambassador Sumaidy, I would argue that Iraq paid more than 14.5 million in dues through kickbacks in the Oil for Food Scandal, demand a refund and a regime change at the UN. posted @ 04:27 AM MST [link] [Karma: 15 (+/-)] Friday, September 17, 2004Surreal WeekMoveOn.org has a new ad depicting a defeated American Soldier. The only way that ad would be acceptable to most people who love this country and have an earnest appreciation for our military and the sacrifices they make, would be if the soldier in the ad is John Kerry, the quicksand represents his bid for presidency, and the arms up over his head represent his concession speech on November 2nd. Other than that scenario, the ad is despicable. I thought we had already seen the epitome of hypocrisy out of John Kerry but he apparently was saving it for his address to the National Guard this week. Having recently discovered that people who served in the National Guard are allowed to vote, he pandered to this crowd with a large serving of praise and concern for their service. I wonder how many of them found the speech a little disingenuous from the man who equated the Guard with draft-dodgers and criminals when Kerry said “I've never made any judgments about any choice somebody made about avoiding the draft, about going to Canada, going to jail, being a conscientious objector, going into the National Guard." How does this guy look himself in the mirror each morning? Rathergate continues with Dan blathering on that while the memos may have been forgeries, no one has disputed the substance of the story. You’re kidding aren’t you Dan? Either that or the fog of dementia has blinded you. Fortunately, the former viewers of CBS can see clearly and have shown it with their remotes by switching to a competitor, which has tanked CBS’ ratings. While many in the media are suggesting that CBS was duped, I don’t believe they were duped at all. I believe they blatantly tried to manipulate presidential politics and lost because in their egocentric world they failed to realize that their monopoly on informational gate keeping and shaping of public opinion was over. Why do I believe this over their being duped? Strike One, a documentary about deranged Vietnam Vets who weren't. Strike Two, a democratic fund raiser at which Mr. Rather was the speaker that sent shockwaves through the journalistic community. Strike Three -Fraudulent memos. You're Out of my giving benefit of the doubt category. Now reveal your sources. You have no obligation of confidentiality to someone who commits forgery and fraud. posted @ 05:53 AM MST [link] [Karma: 5 (+/-)] Tuesday, September 14, 2004Good RiddanceThe Assault Weapons Ban has expired. I'm sure there are a few collectors who are eager to add the new line of weapons to their gun cabinets. I'm also sure there are an equal number of gun abolitionists who are apoplectic over the ban expiring. Whether you are for the ban or against it, there remains one simple fact that most hardworking Americans know. Laws only affect those willing to abide by them, so we must automatically discount criminals from the population affected by the legislation. The ban didn’t keep assault weapons out of the hands of people most likely to use them. They will not be on every street corner starting today because their sale and possession is still governed by the National Firearms Act of 1934. Criminals will continue to purchase their weapons through the black market. The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban was mostly cosmetic and was just meant to make us feel better. I saw a Columbine Parent on the news this weekend pleading for the renewal of the ban and my heart broke for him as he stood holding back his tears and holding up his deceased sons shoes. How many existing gun laws did the two killers of Columbine violate that day already? Ten, fifteen? Does anyone really believe that if there had been one more gun law in affect at the time, it would have averted the massacre? Of course not. Columbine is just another example of bad people in this world do bad things. But I understand his need to try to take some action, any action in hopes of gaining some control over one of life’s events that no parent has any control over – dealing with the death of a child. The problem with feel good measures is that they can give a false sense of security. Living in the midst of a world being terrorized by extremists can we really afford to kid ourselves anymore? Good bye and good riddance to this feel good legislation and I wish the same for all future feel good legislation that will pour out of Washington after the election. It’s time to face the cold hard reality that there are bad people in this world and we must do something effective to eliminate them. posted @ 05:38 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Saturday, September 11, 2004Let Us Never Forget  posted @ 04:22 AM MST [link] [Karma: 11 (+/-)] Friday, September 10, 2004CBS’s Disgraceful Behavior Tops CNN’s this week, Film at Eleven.TV Journalism is rapidly flushing any remaining credibility down the toilet this week with two networks proclaiming to be political stooges for the Kerry campaign. MSNBC told Maria Shriver that she would no longer be able to cover political stories for them when her husband ran for Governor. To maintain any sense of journalistic integrity, they all understood that even a perceived conflict of interest could destroy their credibility. They did the right thing. So how is it that Paul Begala and James Carville are able to simultaneously keep their show Crossfire on CNN while advising the Kerry Campaign? Must be that CNN knows they have no credibility to put at risk. Judging from their ratings, it’s a consensus we all have reached. Not to be outdone by CNN, the veterans at CBS’ 60 Minutes are vying for the new Emmy category of “Most Blatantly Biased “News” Team” by accepting documents from the Kerry campaign that are forgeries and purporting them as new smoking gun evidence in an assault on President Bush’s character. I have a few questions for CBS. First, who were the “experts” who examined and authenticated these documents? I ask this as a public servant so we all know whom not to call if we ever need a document authenticated. Second, did it ever dawn on you that when the Kerry campaign turned over this smoking gun to you that perhaps the death knell heard throughout the country on his campaign might have driven them to deception? After all, James Carville is now advising them. Thirdly, can you define the phrase “investigative reporting” and any minimum standards that may apply to it? The New York Times and other Kerry propaganda machines jumped right on this story with the zeal only attributable to a philosophy of “If it is potentially hurtful to President Bush then it must be true!” It took a couple of great bloggers over at powerlineblog.com to take a close look at the documents and question their authenticity to start the avalanche. Bloggers delivered another blow a couple of weeks ago to the “mainstream media” with the Swifties story they covered tirelessly and the MSM tried its best to bury. Forced to finally go to print with the story and attempt to minimize the damage caused by it, the MSM and the Kerry campaign failed to recognize the power of freedom of information that the Internet provides. Having had control of the information flow for so many years, it must come as a bitter pill to swallow. Turn about is fair play; their reporting has made me gag for quite sometime. I will tune into CBS to watch Dan Rather grovel and make his apology to the President for his unprofessional and substandard work. Oh and Senator Harkin, what station should I watch for yours? Could be their best ratings in a long time. posted @ 04:25 AM MST [link] [Karma: 13 (+/-)] Wednesday, September 8, 2004Save the ChildrenThe massacre in Beslan crossed an emotional line by making children primary targets and not collateral damage. It is almost incomprehensible that any person could be so deranged, so morally bankrupt, so filled with hatred that they are blinded to the sweet innocence of a child’s face. It’s hard to believe that people exist that don’t feel the universal need to comfort a frightened child who can’t comprehend what’s going on around them. It is hard to believe that people exist that could look at a baby, toddler, or child and then cold-bloodedly kill it. It’s hard to believe but these monsters do exist and are alive, active, and plotting around the globe right this minute. Take a minute of your busy life right now and understand what the consequences and implications of this latest terrorist attack against western civilization means. No one and nowhere is safe. Hospitals, day care centers, schools, churches, and shopping malls are all very soft targets. Try as they might, governments cannot possibly guard, protect, and defend every potential target. But you can help by becoming more aware of your surroundings. The attacks are not random acts of violence. It’s not one of our usual homegrown nutcases that goes postal without warning. These are carefully planned operations. They have done the surveillance and research over a period of time. In Beslan, they used construction workers to plant weapons at the site in advance. They knew the layout of the school. Contact your school principals and inquire about what measures they have taken to keep your children’s school safe. Do they have lock down drills? How often? What’s the visitor policy? Contact your day care administrators with the same questions. When you walk into a hospital look around. Do the employees have photo ids? Are entrances and exits monitored? Is security present on site? Are there cameras? Talk to the pastor of your church. Find out what they have done to deal with these issues. When someone new shows up at church welcome them, look them in the eye, shake their hand and watch them. Are they acting suspiciously? Are they more interested in their surroundings than the sermon? Now I’m not advocating that everyone turn into some paranoid schiz, what I am asking is that you proactively and pre-emptively keep thoughts of safety in your head and those around you. This Saturday is the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We have had numerous reminders around the world since then that this evil still exists. It amazes me that we have not had a direct attack again. But odds are greatly in the terrorists favor as they only have to get lucky once and we have to thwart them 100% of the time without fail. It’s not a question of if - it's a question of when. This week marks the loss of 1000 American Soldiers in the war in Iraq. As we take a moment to honor their service, lets not let their sacrifice be in vain. Join the fight with them by doing what you can. Look into the eyes of your children. Beslan gives new meaning to the words “Save the Children.” posted @ 05:21 AM MST [link] [Karma: 15 (+/-)] Tuesday, September 7, 2004Navy to Investigate Kerry MedalsApparently the Swifties have got Judicial Watch's curiosity up as they have asked the Pentagon for an inquiry into Mr. Kerry's military service awards according to an Australian Newspaper, The Age. Funny, I don't see anything on this from the American Main Stream Media. I wonder why? This could all be done and settled by the election, if Mr. Kerry would just sign a Form 180 and release his records. posted @ 04:53 AM MST [link] [Karma: 9 (+/-)] Monday, September 6, 2004Unfit for CommandI read, “Unfit for Command” this weekend and if nothing else, it leaves a lot of questions unanswered that need to be answered by Mr. Kerry releasing his complete military records via a Form 180. The Swifties have already forced a confession from Mr. Kerry that the “Christmas in Cambodia” is not true despite it being seared, seared in Mr. Kerry’s memory and recorded for posteritie's sake from the floor of the Senate in 1986. Mr. Kerry implies that while the President did everything he could do to not serve in Vietnam by joining the National Guard, he volunteered and joined the Navy. The after convention attack on Dick Cheney last week for “five deferments” must have been out of jealousy for successfully obtaining them as Mr. Kerry’s own deferment to study in Paris was turned down. Mr. Kerry then enlisted in the Navy. But Mr. Kerry did not enlist in the Navy; he enlisted in the Naval Reserve. From the book Unfit, “The Navy or the Coast Guard were considered good choices for reluctant young men who figured they were doomed to be drafted. Sailors could get into combat, but the risk of being assigned combat duty was less likely because the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong didn’t have battleships, submarines, or aircraft carriers. The top choice was the Navy Reserves where the duty commitment was shorter and a larger proportion of the period could be served stateside on inactive duty.” (p.23) From the Kerry website- "John Kerry enlisted in the Navy in 1966. After completing Naval Officer Candidates School, he began his first tour of duty on the USS Gridley, a guided-missile frigate in the waters adjacent to Vietnam. In 1968, John Kerry began his second tour of duty, and volunteered to serve on a Swift Boat, one of the most dangerous assignments of the war. Swift Boats patrolled the narrow inlets and canals around the Mekong Delta "to draw fire and smoke out the enemy," according to the The Boston Globe.” Why does his own website incorrectly state that he enlisted in the Navy? Why does his own website spin his tour of duty on the USS Gridley “a guided-missile frigate in the waters adjacent to Vietnam.” According to the Swifties, the first tour on the Gridley spent a total of five weeks off the coast of Vietnam and the entire rest of the tour was spent off the California coast and sailing to and from Australia. Is it a stretch for you also to think that “waters adjacent to Vietnam” include California and Australia? I’m beginning to have nightmares that this is another “It depends on what the meaning of is is.” Déjà vu, all over again. No matter how the Kerry campaign tries to discredit the Swifties, it becomes obvious to the reader that Mr. Kerry has some “s’plaining” to do. What’s in Mr. Kerry’s military records that he would prefer to let this controversy whittle away any goodwill with the voter’s he has, rather than execute a Form 180 and release his military records? The fact that an incomplete record is available on his website is of no value to inquiring minds who want to know. It’s just not good enough and we’re just not that trusting. Seared in my recent memory is the fact that you didn’t spend Christmas in Cambodia. Release your full military record, if you have nothing to hide. If you have something to hide, just keep doing what you are doing, it’s all we need to confirm our suspicions and give credence to the accusations that the Swifties have made against you. And while we are on the subject of releases….Hey Terezzzzza, how about your tax returns also? That would sure help bolster the confidence that no funny business is going on there in the Kerry camp, or would it? That’s for the voters to decide in the absence of full disclosure. posted @ 05:29 AM MST [link] [Karma: 5 (+/-)] Saturday, September 4, 2004Reality Check“Chechen rebels” my foot! They are Islamic terrorist and the media should plainly state it. The terrorists who took over that school and killed innocent women and children did so under the same pretenses as militant Muslim groups across the globe. They want an Islamic state under Sharia Law. Horse poop, they want world domination. If all they wanted were their own country, they would probably get it. But like Palestine, that’s not good enough. For Palestine, the big picture includes their own state and the destruction of Israel. And the bigger, global picture for these militant groups includes the destruction of all western civilizations. Allies and coalition partners of America’s War on Terrorism have been told they will be targets of attacks because they helped us in Afghanistan and Iraq and we have desecrated Muslim soil by invading Muslim lands and by our mere presence in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia. So why would Russia and France be targets? Shouldn’t they have some immunity for working so diligently to oppose us? Doesn’t that atone for some of their past transgressions? The dumb ass media keeps reporting that the French journalists are being held hostage because of France’s ban of Muslim headscarves in schools. The French didn’t “ban Muslim headscarves,” they banned all religious symbols (from any religion) in their schools. Their careless and irresponsible reporting would make you think that Muslim communities are suffering religious persecution and discrimination. They aren’t. But all of us will, if the militants are allowed to get their way. The only way they can win is if we choose to let them by sticking our heads in the sand and hoping it all goes away. Hope is not a winning strategy for a war and like or not, this is a war. The most important election of our lifetime will happen in eight weeks. The Time magazine poll is encouraging and discouraging. The President has picked up an eleven-point lead. That’s encouraging. What I find discouraging is that the highest percentage of the sampled population considers the economy the top issue at 25%, followed by the war on terrorism 24%, followed by Iraq 17%, moral issues such as gay marriage 16%, healthcare 11%. Let me help put this in perspective. 69% of the sampled population have their heads in the sand. To the 25% of the sampled population in this poll who think the economy is the top issue of this election, “It’s not the economy stupid” because IF WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR TERRORTIST ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY, WE WILL NOT HAVE AN ECONOMY TO WORRY ABOUT. You can spend your time now looking at all the different ways to stimulate the economy and who will do the better job between the candidates and your time will have all been wasted after the next attack and the economy tanks as a result. It has taken three years to overcome the devastation to our economy from the attack on 9/11. You protect the economy by preventing the attack. First things first, WIN THE WAR. The 17% who think that Iraq is the most important issue and not terrorism clearly don’t see the common thread between the two. Failed states that provide safe haven or reward financially the terrorist are part of the same problem. The problem is terrorism and it breeds in failed states. Saddam Hussein paid money to the family of homicide bombers to thank them for their service. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. The President meant it when he said you are with us or you are with the terrorists and he was right. Saddam is not the only one and he won’t be the last to be toppled. Don’t get caught up in the nitpicking minutia and political spin, keep your eye on the big picture. WIN THE WAR. To the 27% who consider moral issues such as gay marriage and healthcare the top issues, don’t worry. If we loose the war on terrorism these problems will all go away on their own. Gays would be executed and so would you because you are an infidel. Once you’re dead you won’t need healthcare benefits unless your healthcare benefits are going to include mortician services, which won’t be necessary FOR YOUR MASS GRAVE BURIAL. The voters of this country have a big decision to make. Are we going to fight this war the Neville Chamberlain way or the Winston Churchill way? My mom used to tell me, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.” Don’t listen to the rhetoric of politicians, look at their deeds. Look at the votes they have cast and the accomplishments of the incumbents. If you have made the first decision, to fight and win this war in the tradition of the victorious Allied forces of WWII, you have an assignment now. The job is not done. If you have not read Hugh Hewitt’s book “If It’s not Close They Can’t Cheat-Crushing the Democrats in Every Election and Why Your Life Depends on It” get it and read it. It is available at Amazon. Read it and implement it now, time is short. If you have read it, become a “Wagon Boy,” Your life and mine may depend on it. Donate to the President, now! posted @ 06:51 AM MST [link] [Karma: 16 (+/-)] Thursday, September 2, 2004Act FourOverture Tonight’s overture is an encore from last night. If you thought Zell Miller’s speech was raw meat, I hope you got to see him go after Chris Matthews afterwards. Chris tried his usual interviewer style of badgering the guest and then talks over them as they are trying to answer the question. Zell did what most of his guests wish they had done. He told him to shut up, beat him verbally to a bloody pulp, and verbalized a longing for the good old days when duels took care of obnoxious, opinionated know-it-alls. It was great! I hope it becomes standard operating procedure for Hardball guests. Maybe after a couple of trips to the woodshed, Chris and his Producers will wake up. If they would let their guests talk, their non-existent ratings might even go up. Act Four Highlights Not shown in prime time, about thirty minutes into tonight’s convention a large group of men took the stage. I think about twenty or so who were representing a group of 250. These men were all Retired Generals and Admirals endorsing President Bush and introducing the former Centcom Commander General Tommy Franks. It certainly upstaged John Kerry’s endorsements. General Tommy Franks opened up by saying, “I’m General Tommy Franks and I approved this message.” It was a good icebreaker and he added his endorsement of the current Commander in Chief. Tommy’s theme was that like it or not, we are going to have to fight terrorism. The question for the voter is “Do you want to fight them over there, or do you want to fight them here.” The Bush Doctrine says over there. John Kerry’s treating terrorism as a law enforcement issue means we fight over here. It’s the same policy that was in effect during both the World Trade Center attacks. Tommy Franks has made his choice. He wants to fight them over there and that’s why he is supporting the President. He ended with a salute to the crowd. For a man who has done that for thirty years, it seemed natural not like the rewind back thirty years ago phony reporting for duty one. Governor George Pataki told stories of the generosity of the American people to the citizens and workers following 9/11. He spoke of the courage of the construction workers and rescue workers during the aftermath of the tragedy and thanked them. He then turned to pointing out the accomplishments of this Administration. The chorus line was “AND HE DID.” He went after Mr. Kerry for his “Hope is on the way.” Mr. Pataki thinks it should have been “Hype is on the way.” He followed that with we’re going to win one for the Gipper not lose one with the Flipper. He has a strange but not unlikable speaking style. He got his point across very gently. President Bush made his entrance following a video narrated by Fred Thompson and without any introduction by just walking onto the stage. No surprise that he accepted the nomination. “AND NOTHING WILL HOLD US BACK” was the chorus of his speech. He laid out his plan for the future. Create jobs and keep the economy healthy by creating an environment conducive for business to thrive, tax reform, retraining of the workforce, health insurance co-ops that allow small businesses access to discounts that the large companies enjoy, health savings accounts that transfer with you when you change jobs, tort reform for medical liability (look out John Edwards you might be out of two jobs Nov. 3!), building an ownership society like the home ownership policy of his first term, Social Security reform for younger workers allowing them to invest a portion in accounts that will return more that the meager amount Social Security does now, continued education reform, welfare reform, faith based initiatives, protection of marriage, judicial reform. He did some pointing out of differences between the two candidates as to where they stand. For his policy on defending America, “Whatever it takes.” Short, simple, and honest. He talked about his decision to topple Saddam Hussein, which the pundits have been saying is a topic that's been absent from this convention. He joked about his short comings and spoke teary eyed talking about the American’s who have been lost in this fight and how much they loved liberty. “Here buildings fell and here a nation rose” was what he said about New York City and how it will be remembered. He ended speaking of going forward from here both domestically and fighting terrorism. It wasn’t filled with a lot of rhetoric but it was filled with some details of his plan. You know – plan – what the Democrats having been saying he didn’t have for the last four years on every imaginable topic. Anybody heard John Kerry’s yet? Four More Years. posted @ 08:49 PM MST [link] [Karma: 14 (+/-)] Wednesday, September 1, 2004Act ThreeOverture How did AIDS protestors get into the convention center to heckle Andy Card? The Secret Service has to have their livers in a quiver right now. They better get a tighter grip on security and plug some holes before tomorrow night when the Star of the Show makes his debut. On a brighter note, USA Today has told Michael Moore his services are no longer needed. Back to la la land for him. Act Three Michael Reagan, who was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, started out by thanking his father, mother, birth mother, and birth father for being pro life. Lucky for him that they were. He introduced a loving tribute to his dad. The Ronald Regan Tribute highlighted only Republicans speaking fondly of him. Surely they could have found a Democrat who had something nice to say at his funeral to show that he was respected and loved by more than just Republicans. I think they missed an opportunity they shouldn’t have. Mitt Romney, the Governor of Massachusetts, did a lot of John Kerry and John Edwards bashing. The crowd seems subdued tonight like they have been partying too hard too long. Mitt would do the applause pause and there wasn’t much to be heard. I’m tired tonight also but I’m not part of the infomercial props so straighten up you people. You have a job to do! Zell Miller got the crowd going with just his introduction. He filleted the Democratic Party from the inside out for the lack of bi-partisanship during wartime and the constant tearing down of the Commander in Chief. He eviscerated Kerry and Kennedy with a single swipe. He recounted all the “against” votes for military armament that Kerry has cast and then said “And this is the man who wants to be the Commander of our Armed Forces. Armed with what? Spitballs?” It was classic Zell. You gotta love him for saying what he thinks in no uncertain terms. Lynne Cheney gave the humanizing introduction for her husband. You mean he doesn’t have a satanic “H” tattooed on his chest? Halliburton is the root of all evil you know. Dick Cheney said he was glad that Zell was on our side and accepted the nomination of Vice President. He recounted the accomplishments of this Administration. Then he turned his attention to the opponents. With each example of how Mr. Kerry has been on the wrong side of history, the crowd booed as if they were at an old fashioned melodrama and the villain had just come on stage. With every mention of George Bush’s name, they cheered. Too bad Laura wasn’t there for the Ahhhhh the heroine should get. It would have been perfect. A new cheer of flip-flop was unveiled with arms swinging like a metronome. This could be the latest hot dance under development, the Twist, the Hustle, and now the Flip-Flop! Strangely, he never picked on John Edwards as if he wasn’t even worth talking about. The purpose of a convention is to define the differences between the candidates and to showcase the attributes of the party’s candidate. So far, the Republicans are doing a good job at answering the accusations that have been hurled at them dealing in today’s realities not thirty years ago. John Kerry was wrong then and he’s still wrong today. posted @ 08:15 PM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] Tuesday, August 31, 2004Act TwoOverture Got home late from work tonight so I didn’t get to see the lead-ins. I heard on the radio that Chris Matthews was attacked during his show. I thought at first it was by one of his guests whose frustration level at not being allowed to finish a sentence had finally caused them to go berserk but it turned out to be an just an anarchist. What was this guy thinking? Chris shares his political views. I’m watching the convention on CSPAN to eliminate the talking heads during important moments but I keep the remote close and am flipping over to MSNBC and Fox for a few laughs during the slow spots. Act Two The Lt. Governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, gave a great speech about the progress of minorities. He is the first black, Lt. Governor ever elected in Maryland. He made a point of detailing history for people who may not know it that it was a Republican President Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation starting the process in motion. And it was a Republican President Eisenhower who sent the troops to Arkansas to desegregate schools. And the Republicans in Congress got the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 despite the Segregationist Democrats opposition. Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar from the great State of Colleyfornia was next at bat. His speech was about the American Dream and how grateful he was to his new country for all the opportunities he has been given. His is a rags to riches story as an immigrant and yet he credits the greatness of America for his success. He used the “Girly Men” line to refer to those who are wringing their hands over the economy since our economy remains the envy of the world. He did a great job telling stories and giving all the credit to the President’s leadership. Jenna and Barbara Bush poked some fun at Grandma Barbara, themselves, their Dad, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Karen Hughes and they made a point of letting us all know they had a hamster too. They introduced their Dad who was at a ballpark. The President via satellite from Pennsylvania introduced Laura Welch Bush. First Lady Laura Bush giggles just like Jenna and Barbara do. She is such a lovely, loving woman. What a contrast to our last First Lady. She sang her husband's praises with love and admiration. She spoke of his character and determination. She provided a glimpse of the man that none of us see. She is a treasure. There has been a little Kerry bashing but there is obvious restraint being used against this very rich target. For the most part, the convention remains positive and that’s a welcome relief. posted @ 08:11 PM MST [link] [Karma: 8 (+/-)] |
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