KelliPundit

Myths of the Jena 6

2007-10-24T21:08:00.000-04:00

Few people know the facts of the Jena 6, other than what Jon Stewart tell them, and the MSM has done little resembling journalism to report anything further than recycled rumors and half-truths.

A local tries to clarify many of the myths that are being repeated as facts.

Read here.

Walk It Out: Gwen Verdon and Fosse

2007-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

The best video on YouTube in my opinion.

Someone had a lot of time on their hands, but I'm glad they did or I never would've known of this amazing dancer.

The video is from an Ed Sullivan TV show that aired sometime in the late '60s. Nope, I wasn't even born yet.

Vietnam vs Iraqi War: A Tutorial

2006-06-20T00:38:00.000-04:00

FrontPageMag has a must read. Here's a taste:

And the result of these attitudes can be seen in the way the Democrats and their media allies have conducted themselves throughout. For the Bush administration and the coalition troops in Iraq the battles have been for Baghdad, Fallujah, Mosul and Basra, all engagements with the enemy in the field. For the Democrats and their media allies it has been Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Haditha and Niger, all behind-the-lines battles against our troops and their commander-in-chief. For the Bush administration the chief prize has been Zarqawi, the beheader himself. For the Democrats it has been Scooter Libby. The Bush administration barely missed getting Osama bin Laden; the Democrats barely missed getting Karl Rove. The Bush administration’s strategy is to defeat the forces of terror. The Democrats are conducting psychological warfare aimed at American morale – the decisive factor in war.

And here are the numbers concerning the reality of underestimating the brutality of your enemy:

In other words -- in Kerry’s view -- when compared to the Vietnamese enemy, Americans were the greater assassins and terrorists to be feared, while the Communists were only resisting a foreign occupation of their country, and were not interested in massacring anyone. History has now shown how wrong Kerry was (and how right John O’Neill and the Americans who opposed him were). The Kerry Democrats in Congress voted to cut off military and economic aid to the South Vietnamese and Cambodian regimes. Within four months of the cut-off, both regimes fell. The victorious Communists in Vietnam and their protégés in Cambodia then proceeded to massacre more than two-and-half million Indo-Chinese peasants, just as Nixon and others had warned they would. A hundred thousand were summarily executed in Vietnam – twenty times what Kerry had assured Americans they would -- while a million fled, half of whom died attempting to escape.

These are the things the anti-war/Pacifist crowd would rather not think about and hope that you don't either.

I can't think of better reason to go and read it.

Denial and Self-Loathing

2006-06-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

For all our liberal friends who gaze at Canada as a beacon of hope for Amerikkka - James Lileks has an exercise for you:

You're an enlightened world citizen. Your T-shirt says "9/11 was an inside job." You're pretty sure we're living in a fascist state, that President Bush taps the Dixie Chicks' phones, Christian abortion clinic bombers outnumber jihadis, and the war on "terror" is a distraction from the real threats: carbon emissions and Pat Robertson. Then you learn that 17 people were arrested in a terrorist bomb plot. How do you process the information? Let's take it step by step.

Gosh, that's horrible, you think. But no -- that's what they WANT you to feel. Recall the prime directive: Question Authority (unless he's a college professor). The plotters must have been impoverished olive farmers radicalized by the removal of Saddam Hussein. Why, if someone came in and toppled your president, you'd go to their country and ... well, you'd thank them. Unless they did it for the wrong reasons! Then you'd blow something up. Like an SUV dealership. At night. Anyway, you understand; you care a lot about Iraqis these days. You think about Iraq more than China, to be honest, but it's not as if you'll scrape off your "Free Tibet" bumper sticker -- unless it's to make room for "Free Darfur." Or "Hands Off Darfur," depending.

It must ALL be read. Warning to libs: It's gonna leave a mark.

(Hat tip to Lori at Wizbang!)

Banned in Boston

2006-05-17T22:13:00.000-04:00

When I was living in Rhode Island I use to listen to talk radio during the afternoon commute on I-95. It was during my time in RI that Massachusetts's Supreme Court decided that Gay marriage would be legal. The radio host that I listened to everyday - who was not far left or right - made the statement (paraphrased) at the time: "Well folks I woke up this morning and absolutely nothing in my marriage with my wife has changed since gay marriage was made legal. I have yet to hear of a single reason why I should be concerned."

Well Dan, here it is. The only problem, is that no one predicted this consequence, that I ever heard anyway. And it is a million times worse than I ever imagined.

The article "Banned in Boston" is one of the most very important reads that have come along in quite a few months. And without reading it, you will never be able to intelligently argue your point either way.

Get busy.

Claiming ChickenHawk Status

2006-05-04T15:08:00.000-04:00

Absolutely priceless.

If you think that unless you or your loved ones are in Iraq fighting the war to have a valid opinion on said war, then you need to read the above link.

Really.

The Biggest Hypocrits

2006-05-04T11:21:00.000-04:00

Ted Kennedy has prove himself to possibly be the most hypocritical person on the planet.

Supporters of the offshore grid of 130 wind turbines, standing 400 feet above the water, say it would supply three-quarters of the energy needs of Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. By replacing use of oil, they say, it would sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kennedy opposes this, explains the buzz on Capitol Hill, because he does not want to despoil the pristine appearance of a natural resource dear to his family and the memory of John F. Kennedy.

Here's the thing though, next election year for Kennedy we'll see all of his Greenpeace, tree-hugging supporters lining up to vote for him once again - Like a bad addiction.

Dixie Dumb

2006-05-03T13:07:00.000-04:00

Karl Rove is now officially controlling the minds of all three Dixie Chicks.

Undeniable.

In "Lubbock or Leave It," Natalie Maines, a native of this West Texas city, sings: "I hear they hate me now/Just like they hated you./Maybe when I'm dead and gone/I'm gonna get a statue, too."

Holly, whose statue is in downtown Lubbock, was born here and died in a plane crash along with singers Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson in Iowa in 1959.

Holly's older brother, Larry O. Holley, said he doesn't know of anyone in Lubbock who hated his sibling.

"Older people in town thought rock 'n' roll was for kids," Holley said. "But no one hated Buddy."

What's really funny is Natalie's defensive statement at the end fails to give a single reason for the lyric AND insults her own hometown at the same time!

On the Chicks Web site Maines writes that the song "is not just about Lubbock, but about any small, hypocritical town."

Rove has obviously taken over all of the Dixie Chick's minds and is purposefully running their career into the ground.

That or the Chicks have absolutely no brain cells whatsoever.

UN and Fiction

2006-05-03T12:20:00.000-04:00

Well it is way too easy to talk about the United Nations living in a fantasy world. We all know that.

But now they've taken it a ridiculous step further. They've actually given an award to Geena Davis for an acting job - playing the first female U.S. president.

She is just giddy about it, I tell ya:

To the strains of "Hail to the Chief," actress Geena Davis accepted an award night for her television portrayal of the first woman president of the United States from an organization which is seeking to turn fiction into reality.

When the star of the ABC television show "Commander in Chief" got to the podium Tuesday, she was given a red, white and blue sash to put on over her gown, similar to one worn by Chile's first woman president, Michelle Bachelet. "This is the coolest thing I ever got! Wow I love it!," she said.

Yes, yes, yes. It is very courageous to be limo'd in to your job everyday at an overly-air conditioned studio, memorize your lines, hair and makeup, recite in front of camera.

You go girl!!

Of course it is nothing new for actors to get awards for going to work, but don't think the evening ended without the usual "Bush Sucks" rhetoric:

Filmmaker Rod Lurie, the creater of "Commander in Chief" also received an award and called the question of whether the United States is ready for a female president "insulting."

"From now on, my answer is, `Are we ready for more of what we have got?,'" he said.

"Females represent 51 percent of the country and it's absurd that they're not represented in the highest level of power, and not even given that opportunity," Lurie said.(emphasis mine)

Huh? Since when can't a female adult that is an American citizen not run for president? Anyone who meets the basic criteria (sex is not one of them) can run. I learned that around 2nd or 3rd grade I think.

Paging George Clooney...

2006-05-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

Sir, you have a nosebleed.

Not only does Clooney get a punch, but you get some great background info on Darfur.

Gay Books and Your Child

2006-04-25T12:34:00.000-04:00

Ace has a story about a Massachusetts teacher reading a fairy tale to a group of 20 seven year olds.

Nothing makes me more angry! I recently spent 2 years in Providence, RI - essentially a suburb of Boston - and I came dangerously close to unwittingly placing my child into this very same situation. My story can be read here: Charter School Perversion.

There is an overt push to normalize homosexual lifestyles to all ages of children. My son was 5 when he was nearly placed in the same scenario. My only clue was the use of the word "Multiculturalism" in the school's mission statement. If you think that that word simply means learning about other's cultures and 'getting along' you are way too naive.

It means much, much more.

And to get a bit off topic, it is the number one weapon we hand the terrorists to infiltrate our democracies and communities. We are open and welcoming to them; they take advantage of our freedoms to plot their Jihad.

Please read my story, and know that it can happen to you as well.

PROTECT YOUR CHILD!!

Louisiana Shout Out

2006-04-23T00:18:00.000-04:00

Okay, so now it's a reoccurring theme: "Shout outs" that is.

Seems as though an old post of mine is getting quite a bit of attention from lots of home folk here in Louisiana and corporate types in Texas.

I just thought I'd officially say welcome.

Blogging is a beautiful thing.

Are you ready to put me on your payroll yet? Imagine what I could do if I actually had a few minutes a day to devote to exposing the truth.

S.A. Shout Out

2006-04-23T00:08:00.000-04:00

I know that I've been away for a while, but recently in San Antonio for Easter Weekend, I promised some great friends that I'd give 'em a shout out from the net.

It was just wonderful to see Anthony and Lezli with their beautiful little one (and another one about to arrive any moment) at Church - My how we missed our church while we were in RI. We just wish we would've had much more time to visit.

Seeing our old pastor preach and visiting with Pastor Fridge and his lovely wife, Sharon, was like old times for sure. My boys were begging to move to Texas by the time we were rolling out of town after just a few days.

We'll be back soon, friends.

Shamu is some powerful whale!!

On Leakgate, The Washington Post Sides With......Bush!!

2006-04-09T20:58:00.000-04:00

Check out Newsmax's account of today's Washington Post editorial that outlines and sides with President Bush on the entire Leakgate affair!!! How 'bout them apples!

Who's Right?? Jack Murtha or Bob Kerrey

2006-03-25T12:01:00.000-05:00

Jack Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said on Meet The Press last weekend,

There was no terrorism in Iraq before we went there...None. There was no connection with al Qaeda, there was no connection with, with terrorism in Iraq itself.

Bob Kerrey, former Democratic Senator, and 9/11 Commission member, said the following this week with regard to new evidence linking the two,

This is a very significant set of facts,...I personally and strongly believe you don't have to prove that Iraq was collaborating with Osama bin Laden on the September 11 attacks to prove he was an enemy [of the U.S.] and that he would collaborate with people who would do our country harm.

One guy is speaking the rational truth and the other is pandering to the radical Left. Decide for yourself. Both ABC News and The Weekly Standard cover the issue in detail.

Funny What's Going On Over At ABC News

2006-03-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

ABC News is a funny place these days. First we find an e-mail from the executive producer of Good Morning America's weekend edition expressing that "Bush makes me sick". Next we find them reporting on evidence that, in fact , shows that there WERE operational connections between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. Interesting in sort of a schizophrenic way. Don't you think?

Good News From Iraq Seen By David Ignatius

2006-03-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

Liberal Washington Post opinion writer David Ignatius returned recently from Iraq with optimistic news. His piece is insightful and deserves your attention.

Just Because....

2006-03-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

It Takes 25 Minutes to Understand Canada's Failed Healthcare System

2006-02-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

Pour yourself a pint of Molson and spend 25 minutes watching an excerpt from "Dead Meat" from On The Fence Films. The film chronicles the utter failure of Canada's socialized medicine. It will appear in its entirety at the end of 2006. This short version played at this year's Liberty Film Festival. Hillary, are you watching?

Happiness Is Being A Conservative

2006-02-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

George Will's analysis of why conservatives are happier than liberals is deliciously insightful and a MUST read!

Quote of the Day

2006-02-22T23:44:00.000-05:00

Jay from Project Jay:

This is God's way of punishing me for being an Atheist.

La Politics

2006-02-22T19:52:00.000-05:00

The Dead Pelican reports that Mary Landrieu's numbers are slipping while David Vitter's are rising.

FEB. 22, 2006 4:00 PM CT

SURVEYUSA NEWS MEDIA TRACKING POLL

SENATOR VITTER

Do you approve or disapprove of the job David Vitter is doing as United States Senator?

58% APPROVE
35% DISAPPROVE
7% NOT SURE

SENATOR LANDRIEU

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mary Landrieu is doing as United States Senator?

46% APPROVE
49% DISAPPROVE
5% NOT SURE

HER APPROVAL RATING IN THE PAST MONTH DROPPED FROM 56% TO 46% (-10%), WHILE HER DISAPPROVAL RATING WENT UP FROM 40% TO 49% (-9).

Quick, let's hold an election. Before you know it all the dead folks in New Orleans that like to vote and collect state checks will be back in business again.

Arctic Monkeys Debut In U.S.

2006-02-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Today "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" goes on sale in the United States. The debut album by the Arctic Monkeys has a smart title and has done a smart bit of business in sales. I quoted, one Australian columnist January 31, 2006, who reported this album to be "the fastest-selling debut in British chart history."

Today at Rollingstone.com Barry Walters gives the lads a glowing review. Describing lead singer Alex Turner, Walters states that, "Turner's hyper-realistic observations help explain why his group inspires this much loyalty." I agree. Honest was my first thought upon viewing their videos at arcticmonkeys.com. Take a look. They might be street, but they're honest.

A Fox Guarding The Hen House?

2006-02-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

As I am sure you have heard, Dubai Ports World, a company in the United Arab Emirates, wants to buy a British firm operating six "major ports" in the United States. Brain Terminal posted an informative piece on this topic Saturday. I am in agreement with Mr. Maloney. Those opposing this measure sound "reasonable." One Miami company to be affected by the sale seems to agree. They filed a lawsuit late Friday, details here.

Besides obvious concerns over national security and common sense, I have a question. Was the White House thinking politically when handling this deal? Even if they could satisfy the outcry over this, why not provide better explanation? The democrats are making political hay over this, example here. An even better example. Who can blame them? I have questions, too. It is true that the ports have been operated by a foreign company, but not one that has such ties to terror. A few senators state the case, courtesy of FOX NEWS.

Then there's Michael Chertoff. Weathering the storm, a thankless job, but somebody's gotta do it. Have a look. Fox is covering this pretty well.

Hat tip: Brain Terminal.

Bush Tax Policy is Helping Black Americans

2006-02-19T12:36:00.000-05:00

Jerry Bowyer reports at National Review Online ( NRO ) that despite left-wing criticism of the Bush tax cuts as being favorable to the rich only, the amazing job creation in the U.S. since 2003 ( almost 5 million payroll jobs ) has reduced the black unemployment rate to 8.9%. This rate is lower than the 9.5% average between 1995 and 2000; a period that is regarded by Democrats to be the most glorious years of economic opportunity for poor blacks. If you believe that employment opportunity is the most effective way for the poor to lift themselves out of poverty toward the fulfillment of the American dream, then President Bush's tax-lowering; job-creating "strategery" is vindicated by this employment data. Of course, if you believe in condemning the poor to a life-sentence of unemployment and total dependence on welfare, then, like Kanye West, you probably believe that George Bush does hate black people.

We Can Be Too Open.

2006-02-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

Consider past rioting in France, the violence spurred by cartoons, and now these concerns in Britain. The Muslim Association of Britain represent themselves as 'moderate', according to author Scott Burgess. Please read and judge for yourself.

In light of threatening and inflamatory demonstrations in New York City, shouldn't we be a little more careful than this? This story is being covered by FOX NEWS.

Once human beings are killed over cartoons, Europeans feel threatened by Islamic "fundamentalists," and like-minded "fundamentalists" brandish signs reading "Islam will dominate"(linked above New York City), isn't it time for citizens to demand vigilance from our lawmakers? I do not want the United Arab Emirate operating our "major ports." These guys raise a few good points, to say the least.

Grand hat tip: Little Green Footballs.

Cartoon Chaos, It's Everywhere! It's Everywhere!

2006-02-14T12:47:00.000-05:00

What is one to do in a world where papers fear violence over editorial cartoons?

As evidenced in a post at Little Green Footballs today, one must publish cartoons! It is reasonable to be frustrated by the ridiculousness of recent violence. In the case of this German paper, the answer to threats of violence is to "put it out there." Free speech, gotta love it.

A mighty hat tip:Little Green Footballs

Sunday's Cartoon

2006-02-05T00:04:00.000-05:00

Continuing my daily cartoon posting for the sake of solidarity against the fanatics:
See here for a historical analysis on The Boston Globes contradictory stances on freedom of expression depending on the religion being criticized. Because let's be clear here folks. Mohammed has not been depicted in any degrading way in the cartoons that were published in newpapers. Valid points of criticsms of any religion are being illustrated in a way that would normally spark discussion. If someone challenged me on the merits of my religion, I would welcome a robust debate; why not these guys?

And LGF's ask: Where did all the Danish flags come from? Good question.

U.S. State Department Sides with Appeasement over Cartoons?

2006-02-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

Not so fast cowboys. LGFs has the transcript from the State Department briefing that the MSM and bloggers have been claiming that the U.S. sides with appeasement over the Danish cartoons.

It ain't quite so if you read the briefing transcript. Very different in fact.

Hit that LGF link and read the transcripted truth for yourself and decide. Lord knows we don't need the MSM doing any thinking for us.

There's a Robbing Going on in Louisiana

2006-02-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

My good friend GlenB sent me this link to a video giving you a close up view of the utter devastation that hit New Orleans and South Louisiana. It is not for the weak at heart.

A few colleges have managed to reopen but businesses are struggling to survive. The public school system is a complete mess and people lives have been destroyed. At my son's school this morning I met a couple who were forced from their homes by the hurricanes and have not yet gone back. They described how their complete support structure has disappeared. Family, friends and colleagues are scattered and nothing will be the same again for huge numbers of people.

It is no secret that Louisiana is beyond broke. Deep cuts are everywhere and all have been asked to sacrifice as it should be.

But what if I described an insane situation where the state is about to be asked to bond $30 million dollars to build and provide a service that is completely being provided by a private entity. Philanthropists and corporations are trying to build a Children's hospital in Shreveport, La and the group of this effort has not only offered the local state hospital a free-ride in using the equipment and facilities as a training hospital for their residents, but also offered them a substantial cash collaboration fee. A win-win situation right?

Here's the local paper's story today:

BATON ROUGE -- An LSU Board of Supervisors committee Thursday gave the green light to the LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport Foundation to finance, design and build a $35 million "free-leaning" children's hospital connected to Shriners Hospital for Children.

The meat of the story is at the end:

The $35 million in bonds include some bonds that are tax exempt to the buyer and some so-called "new market tax credit" bonds available only to nonprofits that provide federal income tax credit to the investors, Babin said. LSUHSC-Shreveport will lease the hospital space from the foundation, which will use the income to pay off the bonds.

In addition, Willis-Knighton has pledged $5 million -- $1 million a year for five years -- for operating costs, King said. "The LSUHSC in Shreveport has had a children's hospital-within-a-hospital since 1995."

King said those who supported the LSU-Shriners project include Charles Penn, chairman of the board of Shriners Hospital for Children-Shreveport; Dr. Donald Mack, a Shreveport pediatrician on the board of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., that has a cooperating affiliation with LSUHSC-Shreveport; and Dr. Bill Parker of Shreveport, president of the Northwest Louisiana Pediatric Society.

Joe Pain, administrator of Christus Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport, asked the committee to postpone approval of the LSUHSC-Shreveport Foundation project.

"We suggested that we weren't there to oppose their project but to suggest a better way," said Dr. John Ponthie, administrator of Sutton's Children's Hospital.

"We have repeatedly offered Sutton's Children's as a training site for LSU. And we would welcome collaboration with them, at no cost to the taxpayers of Louisiana," Croom said. "We're hoping with the right kind of input, somebody will realize that's a genuine offer that's best for the community. "Hopefully, some wisdom will prevail."

It boils down to good 'ol boy politics and loyalites and old grudges. An individual is attempting to get the state of Louisiana in $30 Million dollars of debt for a bargain of $5 million.

A private hospital will give you the same service for nothing and take care of ALL children regardless of insurance/financial status, and Louisiana is headed toward removing a significant amount of bonding capacity of the state to duplicate this service. Taxpayers beware!

BTW, in case you were wondering if LSUHSC-Shreveport needs help with their pediatric training program, consider that for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 only 10 other accredited programs had a 50% or lower pass rate on the Pediatric board exam.

Where are you Moon Griffon? Where are the investigative reporters asking hard questions?

Wake up Louisiana, your about to be 30 million dollars poorer for no reason. Can anyone think of another use of that money right now? I can.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I Present to You the Religion of Peace:

2006-02-03T19:36:00.000-05:00

Pictures via Michelle Malkin where there are even more.

Are ya feeling the peace yet?

While we're at it, here's my cartoon of the day:

An excellent post on this sudden dramatic awakening to what is at stake can be found here at The Face of Mohammed.

For 1400 years, Islam has waged war on all surrounding non-Muslim civilizations. During the course of history, Christianity was reformed, dictators lived, reigned and died, and totalitarian regimes emerged and vanished.

But Islam endured. Unreformed. And today, it imprisons more than 1 billion people, moderate and radical souls alike, in a huge gap of difference to the rest of us. Across political divides, across national boundaries, across various degrees of freedom, across race, people or religion, black or white, rich or poor; it stands out as our opposite. Only Muslim reformists seek to lessen the gap. And their voices are quickly silenced.

Go get it all.

Let Me Count The Ways

2006-02-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

I found Jay Reding's post Suicide of the Democrats to be a spot-on description of our two party situation. I even heard Joy Behar on Wednesday's The View, bemoaning the power one party holds in this country. (I hate to admit this, but hearing her comments reminded me how important Jay Reding's post had been.) She obviously had not read Jay Reding. Only democrats can begin to fix what's wrong with the democratic party.

Drudge , yesterday, highlighted another example of what has gone wrong with the democratic party. You can read the article Drudge mentions at World Net Daily. Radical is not the word for this. I'd call it nuts. I can't believe that any moderate, or sane, democrat would endorse such statements, but silence does precisely that.

Cartoon Fall-out

2006-02-03T01:13:00.000-05:00

"The War is On" reads the title. And it seems that apologies are no longer in order over the Muhammed cartoons:

Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. “The war has begun,” he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on. [Ed: Note to Norway: See the thanks you get for allowing a terrorist to reside in your country as a 'refugee'.]

Islamist organizations all over the world are issuing threats towards Europeans. The Islamist terrorist group Hizbollah announced that it is preparing suicide attacks in Denmark and Norway. A senior imam in Kuwait, Nazem al-Masbah, said that those who have published cartoons of Muhammad should be murdered. He also threatened all citizens of the countries where the twelve Danish cartoons [see them all here, halfway down the page] have been published with death.

It is important, however, to stress again that there are Muslims of great courage. While it is risky to publish the Muhammad cartoons in Europe, it is even riskier to do so in the Middle East. Yet the Jordanian independent tabloid al-Shihan published three of the twelve Muhammad cartoons yesterday. The editor of al-Shihan, Jihad al-Momani, said he decided to publish the cartoons to show what the issue was all about. In an editorial under the headline “Muslims of the world, be reasonable” he pointed out that Jyllands-Posten had apologized for offending Muslims. He deplored that few in the Islamic world seem to be willing to listen to this. “What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?” the editor asked.

The spokesman of the Jordanian government, however, said that the editor had done a great mistake by publishing the cartoons and announced that the government is considering suing the newspaper. Before the day was over the paper’s owners had sacked Mr Momani.(emphasis mine)

This is the second editor to lose his job by my count. At least it is for one of the most fundamental human rights ever fought for. We're truly lucky in that we get to fight for this right in words and internet pages versus our brave soldiers in past and current wars who fight for this right with their blood and lives. "Publishing in Solidarity" is the least I can do.

However, it is my hope and prayer that Mr. Monani's calm, sensible words catch on and this can all end before anyone gets hurt.

Thursday's Cartoon

2006-02-02T23:45:00.000-05:00

Today's cartoon, as I continue to stand in solidarity with Denmark and all others resisting capitulation to the fanatics:

Here's a disturbing quote from Hamid Karzai on the controversy:

“Any insult to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is an insult to more than 1bn Muslims and an act like this must never be allowed to be repeated,” said Hamid Karzai, Afghan president, strong western ally and moderate Muslim leader.

Gunmen in Gaza surrounded the local European Union office and threatened to kidnap citizens of countries where newspapers had published the cartoons.

Back in Jordan a paper actually joins us:

Meanwhile, a Jordanian gossip tabloid on defiantly published three of the cartoons that have triggered outrage in the Arab and Muslim world.

"Muslims of the world, be reasonable," said the editor-in-chief of the weekly independent newspaper Al-Shihan in an editorial alongside the cartoons, including the one showing the Muslim religion's founder wearing a bomb-shaped turban.

"What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?" wrote Jihad Momani.

And this common sense from a guy actually named Jihad.

The brave French editor loses his job for reprinting the cartoons. Looks like his paper is owned by an Egyptian:

The issue opened divisions among European Union governments. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said EU leaders have a responsibility to "clearly condemn" insults to any religion. But French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said he preferred "an excess of caricature to an excess of censorship."

Sarkozy joined journalists in rallying around the editorial director of France Soir, who was fired by the newspaper's Egyptian owner. France Soir and several other newspapers across Europe reprinted the caricatures this week in a show of support for freedom of expression. (emphasis mine)

What's up with the Austrians? I guess anyone who threatens to name their arena Tookie Williams Stadium has pretty clouded judgement all around.

Even the BBC is standing in solidarity, on the sly that is. So that their viewers can understand what all the stink is about you see. Wink, wink.

London - The BBC broadcast irreverent cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed on Thursday to help audiences understand "the strong feelings" sparked by a report of a Muslim backlash provoked by their original publication in Denmark.

Whatever BBC. I'm just glad you did it.

Solidarity in Demand

2006-02-01T23:27:00.000-05:00

Earlier today I posted on the importance to standing strong in solidarity with those the fanatics would silence. The Radio Equalizer has an exclusive interview with Bill Handel, the DJ currently underfire from CAIR for making light of the muslim victims of a stampede during hajj on their way to a stoning.

What? Doesn't everyone get in a hurry for the stoning exhibitions? Please. Don't even act like you don't know. Just what will everyone be wearing? Some years it's the dressy black cocktail outfit or sometimes it's the bermuda shorts kind of thingy. It is just so hard.

Handel's response to CAIR is precious:

On his program yesterday, Handel said he would apologize, but only if CAIR agreed to denounce "all bombing or attacks where intended victims are innocent citizens," to acknowledge Israeli sovereignty and to verify that the group has never had connections with any terrorist group or sponsor.

If those conditions are met, "I'll be more than happy to apologize for offending people, I'll apologize all day long," Handel said in a live 12-minute response to CAIR's complaint.

In the RadioEqualizer's interview Handel had this to say:

I think this has given us an opportunity to really look at CAIR and see what they really stand for. And I also think this has given us an opportunity to look at ourselves and see what we really stand for.

The First Amendment is extremely important, and that's what we stand for. One other thing: try going to Google, type in "CAIR terror" and see what pops up!

Amen brother. I've never listened to this guy in my life, but I'm loving his thought processes here.

Look here to see those google results.

Spread the word to your friends and neighbors. Handel and Denmark standing up to these bullies is a refreshing turn of events.

Spines, spines, everywhere are spines...

(Well except for Bill Clinton that is! When do you think it's going to hit him that he clumsily jumped off the wrong talking point without properly vetting the breezy polling data? The old boy is getting rusty I tell ya!)

Still Unsure About The Patriot Act ?

2006-02-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

Has the Patriot Act helped to prevent terrorism? Deroy Murdock counts the ways at National Review Online.

Domestic Goddesses at the Cotillion

2006-02-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

Girl on the Right has this weeks cotillion up with lots of home-baking goodness. Go check it out.

A Cartoon a Day...

2006-02-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

Everyday I plan on posting a cartoon depicting Mohammed. They may be repeats from before if I run out of cartoons, but I intend to stand up to fascist fanatics in any way possible. Cox and Forkum has this brilliant point to make to the muslim world:

Newspapers across the world are starting to print these cartoons to make a stand, and Michelle Malkin asks how long until the U.S. MSM catches on that they too are being threatened in the same way as Denmark.

Grow a spine MSM!!

Cartoon of the day:

I encourage all bloggers to post a cartoon a day. This is what makes it all worth it - Standing up.

Score One For the Blogosphere

2006-01-31T17:42:00.000-05:00

This is great! A band called Arctic Monkeys has been referred to by one writer as the first Blog Band to hit it big before attracting the attention of the record industry. Arctic Monkeys launched a website to introduce their music. The group's album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not- is now the "the fastest-selling debut in British chart history." It will be released soon in Austrailia as well as the U.S.

I heard about this on CBS's The Early Show and the article is featured here . This kind of hype may be part of what the group refers to as "propaganda and bollocks," but it's getting them noticed in a big way. Arctic Monkeys will be worth watching.

The Autonomist Quoted on Fox News

2006-01-31T14:42:00.000-05:00

Our very own Rocco Dipippo, who runs the blog The Autonomist and also a co-contributer here, provided an interview with a Fox reporter and was quoted here. You can read Rocco's account at his site here.

Way to go Rocco!!

Standing in Solidarity

2006-01-31T14:24:00.000-05:00

As Michelle Malkin states, I am standing in solidarity with the Danish people and government. She has all the cartoons to view at her site. Here is my favorite cartoon which has caused thousands to protest and burn. Yada, Yada, Yada:

Too dog-gone funny if you ask me!

Those Cartoons

2006-01-30T23:43:00.000-05:00

Wondering what all the fuss is about with those cartoons from Denmark? Go here to see all of them. A few made me laugh out loud.

Freedom of Speech is under attack boys and girls. Go and take a look.

Hillary Clinton: A New Dialect?

2006-01-30T16:47:00.000-05:00

We're all aware of Hillary Clinton's "Plantation" remarks, but Mark Goldblatt exposes the true indignity of Senator Clinton's display. Goldblatt discusses the omission of "g" when lecturing her audience with, "You know what I'm talkin about." That omission is part of a dialect referred to as African-American English. (Rhea Paul,2001)

Where is it that people like Hillary get the notion to do such things? It could be her self-serving alteration of an essential linguistic tool. The linguistic term code switching refers to an often necessary action in which individuals speaking more than one language or dialect engage to make themselves better understood. The individual may use their native dialect at home and the broadly accepted standard in professional settings. According to my understanding of the concept, it is an effective device in allowing those of another culture to maintain their own cultural identity while navigating successfully in the mainstream. Properly done, the act of code switching enables one to perform optimally in all societal roles. Last time I checked Senator Clinton was not an African American. In fact, I believe that it is her warped sense of cultural concern that justifies putting on someone else's dialect. I believe that she views the ignorant masses as misunderstanding concepts like code switching. I assert that folks like Hillary misunderstand the concept completely.

Get Off The Line!!!

2006-01-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

Jeff at Beautiful Atrocities has a Sheehan post up that is full of chocolate treats for all of us. From voting on Ms. Thing's new designer to a link to NSA wiretaps that should not be missed by anyone.

Go get your dessert.

Good Information Without Noise

2006-01-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

Ever get tired of those poll numbers that get thrown around? When numbers sound surprising readers have questions. If you want a little information with your news, look no further than worldopinion.org. If you are not already a fan, allow me to share.

The site reports on international polls and is associated with the Program on International Policy Attitudes. It provides Methodology and Questionnaire information on all the reports. This is helpful and provides us readers a source for context and understanding. Often questions that plague readers of poll information go unanswered. Not here, my friend, at this site you may view results in full context. Happy Browsing!

(Hat tip: Little Green Footballs)

The Truth and Nothing But the Truth

2006-01-26T15:32:00.000-05:00

Oprah gets the details of James Frey's A Million Little Pieces and dosesn't let it go until Frey uses the "L" word. As you may read in Micheal Conlon's contribution to Reuters today, James Frey admits, "To lying."

I posted on this item earlier and I hold to my statement. I wish that he had included a disclaimer or noted changes to actual events and details. However, I expected the memoir to be part fiction. Call me cynical, but I took it with a grain of salt. It was a good read. I couldn't put it down. I would have been more upset at spending my money on a dull book proported to be a page-turner. Bottom line, it is better to be honest about what the book is. Frey is learning in a most public fashion that confession is good for the soul.

Popes of Charity and Free Enterprise

2006-01-25T15:02:00.000-05:00

Both Pope Benedict and his predecessor Pope John Paul II called for charity in the Christian tradition, but both clearly reject socialism. Read excerpts from the encyclicals of both to understand why.

The Left's Effort To Silence the New Media

2006-01-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

Were it not for the rise of the New Media, including talk radio and the blogosphere, John Kerry would be president and a small group of leftwing media elites would still have the unchallenged ability to sway U.S. public opinion on every single issue.

The New Media's rise broke the Left's media monopoly. Ideas and political positions once mocked or ignored by the The New York Times and the "alphabet" networks that have historically danced to its leftwing tune, are now broadly disseminated by talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and routinely discussed by the thousands of political websites that dot the internet's landscape.

Though the New Media provides people of all political persuasions the opportunity to air their views and promote their ideas, it is the political Right that has most benefited from its use.

Today 1400 talk radio stations dot the U.S., the majority of them right-leaning and patronized by those hungry to hear Conservative ideas. In comparison, leftwing talk radio has been, so far, a dismal failure.

A less lopsided but similar situation exists in the blogosphere, where the popularity and effectiveness of rightwing blogs outstrips that of their leftwing counterparts. This strongly implies that the ideas and agendas of the Right appear more palatable than those of the Left when presented in the unfettered free-wheeling format of the New Media.

The New Media has broken the Left's choke-hold on what Americans see, hear, think and believe.

Now, the Left is fighting back in the only way it effectively can; trying to change the rules of the game by pushing laws designed to tightly regulate and ultimately neuter the New Media.

In a recent City Journal article, Brian C. Anderson writes about the Soros-funded campaign that led to Congress being hoodwinked into passing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform laws. He also exposes the growing effort by the Left to turn the current regulatory nature of the Fairness Doctrine into a set of laws tightly governing political blogs and talk radio:

"Small wonder, then, that House Democrats proposed two bills in 2005 to bring the Fairness Doctrine back - and as a law, rather than a mere agency regulation. New York Democratic representative Louise Slaughter, who introduced the first of the two bills, says that Right-ruled radio is a grave threat to American freedoms, 'a waste of good broadcast time, and a waste of our airwaves.' People 'may hear whatever they please and whatever they choose,' she tells PBS's Bill Moyers, in a statement as incoherent as it is illiberal. 'And of course they have the right to turn it off. But that's not good enough either. The fact is that they need the responsibility of the people who are licensed to use our airwaves judiciously and responsibly to call them to account if they don't.' In other words, people can't be trusted with freedom but need the supervision of a paternalist government."

Read all of Brian C. Anderson's important piece by clicking here.

Code Punked

2006-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

If you follow the blogs/news at all you should already know that the pro-Castro group Code Pink has been protesting outside the military hospital Walter Reed for a long time now. Thankfully, some red-blooded, pro-active Americans have been trying to counter Code Pink's nightly protests.

Well, mark a win for our side. Code Pink got Punked!

Actually, they got lazy or sloppy concerning the details of protesting. Whatever. Who really cares? Other than the fact they lost for the night!! Hooo Rah!

See the pictures/details from RedHunter.

(Link found via Ace of Spades)

The Faking New York Times

2006-01-16T13:29:00.000-05:00

Thomas Lifson fisks a picture from the NYTimes:

(Photo from Malkin's site)

As Michelle Malkin asks, "What's wrong with this picture?"

Lifson tells you in detail.

I hope you're not still paying for that Times subscription....

Left-Wing Economic Myths

2006-01-14T16:04:00.000-05:00

The Free Market Project ( through Media Research Center ) debunks 2005's 10 greatest economic liberal myths. Take a look at them. Note especially # 9. How many people in the U.S. know that fiscal year 2005 ( which ended on 9/30/2005 ) showed a REDUCTION in the deficit of almost 100 billion dollars ?!!

CNN's Larry King Live Allows James Frey to Tell It

2006-01-11T01:17:00.000-05:00

There has been controversy over the past week surrounding James Frey's best seller A Million Little Pieces. It all started with a search for a mug shot of James Frey. Once the speculation turned to scandal, Frey agreed to address the issue on Larry King Live Wednesday night.

I read the book and like so many others, I just couldn't put it down. I bought the book because one of my professors mentioned reading it. That and the book's reputation for being a 'page-turner' lead me to buy it. I wanted a good read and would have bought the book as a work of fiction, historical fiction, or whatever else. It was a good read. Transporting me to a place no one aspires to inhabit, Frey told the truth about hitting rock bottom. I think this is why the story is widely praised. Most people don't reach the depths Frey discusses, but those who've experienced the smallest version of it see reality in Frey's writing.

As chronicled in many interviews conducted by Jocelyn Noveck, there are varying reactions to the liberties taken in this best-seller. I wish that the book had carried some sort of disclaimer. I don't begrudge Frey the success of his book. I admire his ability to fashion a story that compells so many readers.

I, for one, do not want my money back.

Shifting Demographics

2006-01-09T00:37:00.000-05:00

Mark Steyn has an alarming essay detailing how the 'West' is being lost forever to changing demographics.

I can not overstate how much of an essential read this is. I really mean it. It's a little long, so print it and read it when you can.

Saddam's Terror Camps

2006-01-09T00:29:00.000-05:00

Saddam was in bed with terrorists.

THE FORMER IRAQI REGIME OF Saddam Hussein trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists from the region at camps in Iraq over the four years immediately preceding the U.S. invasion, according to documents and photographs recovered by the U.S. military in postwar Iraq. The existence and character of these documents has been confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD by eleven U.S. government officials.

The secret training took place primarily at three camps--in Samarra, Ramadi, and Salman Pak--and was directed by elite Iraqi military units. Interviews by U.S. government interrogators with Iraqi regime officials and military leaders corroborate the documentary evidence. Many of the fighters were drawn from terrorist groups in northern Africa with close ties to al Qaeda, chief among them Algeria's GSPC and the Sudanese Islamic Army. Some 2,000 terrorists were trained at these Iraqi camps each year from 1999 to 2002, putting the total number at or above 8,000. Intelligence officials believe that some of these terrorists returned to Iraq and are responsible for attacks against Americans and Iraqis.

Read the whole thing and then by no means, hold your breath while you wait for this news to show up in the MSM. Asphyxiation is a bad thing.

Stephen Hayes has led the way into this research and published a book The Connection that also detailed numerous links between Saddam and al-qaida.

Avoiding Poverty

2006-01-07T00:19:00.000-05:00

USA Today has a column on the importance of marriage as the 'great equalizer' for blacks in this country, not to mention, the quoted statistics are staggering:

According to testimony given last fall to a Senate subcommittee by Ron Haskins of The Brookings Institution, from 1970 to 2001, the overall marriage rate declined 17% but 34% for blacks. The overall rate for out-of-wedlock births is 33% compared with 70% for blacks.

These disappointing trends are critical because research has shown that marriage provides significant benefits for men and women. Most important, children who are raised by their married, biological parents do better across every measure of economic, social, health and educational well-being than children raised in other family arrangements. In fact, when comparing families of similar socioeconomic status, these black children have similar outcomes as their white counterparts. Marriage is the great equalizer.(/snip)

Kinte's dedication to his family is not unique. In 1890, 80% of black families with children were headed by married couples, according to sociologist Andrew Billingsley. That figure has dropped to 39%. In 1950, 64% of black males older than 15 were married compared with 68% of white males. By 1998, only 41% of black males were married. From 1950 to '98, the percentage of never-married black women doubled.

After reading the column it reminded me of something I had read in "Arrogance" about their only being three things that a young person has to do to essentially avoid poverty:

As a matter of fact, it wasn’t a conservative at all but William Galston, an assistant to Bill Clinton, who said that in order to avoid poverty, just do three things: finish high school, marry before having a child, and don’t have that child until you’re at least twenty years old. Only 8 percent of people who do all three of those things wind up poor, but a staggering 79 percent of those who fail to do them wind up in poverty. (emphasis mine)

Amazing information. You'd think someone would come up with a PSA or something to get the word out.

Also notice that not one of those three things require any cost whatsoever from a willing participant. Kind of makes you wonder about all of those billions in government programs....

UPDATE: I almost forgot. While we're talking about poverty and all, Ace reminds us how terrorism is rooted in poverty and something else.....I just can't think of it right now. Maybe a religion or something? (/sarcasm)

White-trash character in sit-com makes you think

2006-01-05T23:51:00.000-05:00

No it's not a mis-print. It's not a contradiction in terms. It is NBC's new comedy, My Name Is Earl. Thinking and sitcom TV usually do not go together, but Jason Lee (Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous) brings to life a character easily accessible to us all.

My favorite aspect of the show remains its handling of stereotypes and politically correct language. For example, on Earl's list of wrongs that he must make right, one item reads "stole car from a one-legged girl." This sounds just awful and it is awfully funny. He finds her to be "handi-capable" and finds her boyfriend with no legs "handi-capabler." This is detailed on the episode "Lost Dad the election," but is not off the list yet. This episode guest stars Beau Bridges and is a good choice for re-runs, especially since it satirizes aspects of our political system.

Earl discovers karma and decides to change his life for the better. "Do good things and good things happen to you. Do bad things and it will come back to haunt you." This is the least likely vehicle of morality that you will ever find. Earl, like the rest of us, is far from perfect. I admire his efforts and readily sympathize with him. Every episode begins with "I'm just trying to be a better person. My name is Earl."

As for me, I enjoy reading about issues of our day and I love blogs like Kellipundit, but I write pop-culture. It's the way my brain is wired. I appreciate columnists like Jonas Goldberg, but when it comes to my writing, everything comes out fluff. Well, it's serious to some of us. I'm just trying to be a better writer. I'm Angibegood.

Improved Mine Safety Record Under Bush

2006-01-05T16:10:00.000-05:00

The lefties have wasted no time in trying to blame President Bush for the tragedy at the Sago Mine in West Virginia. Well documented data from the CDC shows however that significantly fewer accidents have occurred between 2000 and 2004 as compared to an equal time period of 1995 and 1999. Read it for yourself here at the Real Clear Politics Blog.

Who Needs the Soprano's?

2006-01-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

Not when you've got this. Hands down some of the most bizarre, yet riveting, reading I've done in months. Not to mention it's essential reading for understanding the background story on Abramoff.

2006 Predictions

2006-01-04T00:44:00.000-05:00

A few predictions for the new year:

The Republicans will pick up a few new Congressional seats in 2006.
Jay Rockefeller will be indicted for having leaked national security secrets to the press.
Tom Delay will be acquitted and will return to his post as House majority leader.
"Scooter" Libby will be convicted of perjury.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will be killed.
France will experience a series of summer riots, courtesy of its unassimilated Muslim immigrant population, that will make the Watts riots of the 1960s look tame in comparison.
Terrorist attacks in Iraq will drop off to the point where they no longer seriously threaten Iraq's stability. Nevertheless, Iraq's disparate factions begin moving towards the creation of at least two, and possibly three seperate autonomous states.
The MsM will continue to subvert the War on Islamist Terror. (obviously)
British MP George Galloway will be removed from Parliament after it is proved that he helped himself to Oil for Food cash.
Osama bin Laden will continue making low-budget videos from the comfort of his stable.
Saddam Hussein will be convicted and executed--Ramsey Clark, weeping, will throw himself on Hussein's grave.
The UN will continue doing nothing about anything, especially Iran's lust for nukes.
The Left will continue viewing the UN as the world's premiere moral authority. (obviously)
The flagging commie-led antiwar movement will continue fading, in spite of the MsM's attempts to keep it alive.
"Pinch" Sulzberger, already on shaky ground at the NY Times, will be forced to resign.
Iran's government will turn on itself. A bloodbath will ensue.
In the face of miserable polling data, Hillary Clinton will abandon her presidential aspirations. However, if a credible right-leaning third-party candidate appears, she will, no doubt, run.

Some not-so-serious predictions I'd like to see come true:

Ali G interviews Hillary Clinton on national TV. During the interview, he declares his intention to run for her Senate seat. He runs--and wins.
Noam Chomsky has "second thoughts" and begins collaborating with David Horowitz on a new book about the radical Left.
Justin Raimondo marries Eric Garris. Together, they begin writing light-hearted Broadway musicals about "Neocons," the Mossad, Israel and evil Jews.
Harry Reid gets caught on camera seducing a chicken. He is offered a job with PETA.
Kofi Annan resigns as UN chief. John Bolton takes his place.
The UN headquarters moves to France. John Kerry is appointed as its Secretary General.
Howard Dean informs John Kerry that the 2004 Presidential election is over and that he lost.
Cynthia McKinney marries Fidel Castro. She moves to the "Cuban Socialist Paradise," taking Jim McDermott, Jesse Jackson, Medea Benjamin and most of Hollywood with her.
Cindy Sheehan is appointed President of Columbia University. Hollywood scrambles to create a "reality series" based on the event.
During a speech calling for U.S. surrender in Iraq, Ted Kennedy spontaneously explodes, showering his audience with a mixture of pure-grain alcohol and 300lbs of bullsh*t.
The NY Times folds

National Review's 2006 Crystal Ball

2006-01-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

More than a dozen contributors to National Review Online ( NRO ) have come up with their predictions for 2006. Some are serious, many are comical. Ned Rice, who is an NRO contributor and a staff writer for CBS's The Late Late Show has some hilarious ones. I include a few for your pleasure.

* John Kerry announces that he's running for president. Puzzled, a reporter shouts out, ' Of what?'
* Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco orders the mandatory evacuation of the city of New Orleans.
* With strong bipartisan support Congress calls for a three-month embargo on Angelina Jolie adopting any more kids from the third world.
* Massachusetts amends their state constitution to ban heterosexual marriage.
* Elton John's new husband David Furnish announces that he is pregnant.
* Astronomers discover a tenth planet, which is immediately declared 'non-smoking' by the FDA.
* Tookie Williams' final children's book -- ' OK, So I Shot Those Four Mo-Fos ' -- is published posthumously and gets a glowing review in the New York Times.
* More gloomy economic news for President Bush as thousands of unemployment offices are forced to close.

The Brave Art of Salvatore Scuotto

2005-12-29T19:06:00.000-05:00

Salvatore Scuotto is an Italian artist from Naples who is famous for the nativity scenes he creates. His latest masterpiece is a nativity scene featuring naked women and transvestites standing near the baby Jesus. This highly respectful work, evidence of Scuotto's great sensitivity towards Christians, is currently on display at Rome's San Giacomo church where it has outraged church members who, strangely enough, view the work as blasphemous.

In defending the nativity scene, Scuotto says that, "Such scenes are a part of reality. The real scandal is when figures such as Bin Laden or George Bush are used in nativity scenes."

So Salvatore Scuotto has scored a "two-fer" with his latest work by bashing Bush and defecating on Christianity--how original! How cutting edge! In his mind he probably justifies the action by reasoning that real artists "push the envelope" by rattling conventional sensibilities.

Fair enough--I suggest to him a religious topic that will really rattle some sensibilities and "push the envelope" to its very limits: Mohammed's marriage to a nine-year-old girl.

Here's how the Koran describes that event:

[Scriptural Evidence] Volume 7, Book 62, Number 64: Sahih Bukhari [the most
venerated and authentic Islamic source] Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years.

So how about it, Sal?-care to exercise your artisitic powers by creating and displaying a graphic work of art based on Mohammed having sex with his pre-pubescent wife? (You can even play it safe by leaving gratuitous transvestites out of the depiction.)

Oh, wait--I forgot! If Salvatore Scuotto produced and displayed a work of art depicting Mohammed having sex with his child-bride, a reality--at least within the context of the Koran-- it's quite likely that the Italian authorities would cave in to the resulting Muslim outrage by arresting him for "hate speech." Either that or, for his own good, he'd be placed in protective custody.

It's so easy for artists to garner positive attention by desecrating things that are sacred to Christians. Christians usually protest such desecrations mildly, or not at all. And the Left is usually there to cheer on and, if necessary, defend the act of desecration.

Salvatore Scuotto--iconoclast, trend-setter, art hero, and ultimately a coward, knows those things well.

In Hoc Anno Domini

2005-12-24T23:05:00.000-05:00

An editorial with special meaning on Christmas written in 1949 by the late editor of The Wall Street Journal, Vermont Royster reads as follows:

When Saul of Tarsus set out on his journey to Damascus the whole of the known world lay in bondage. There was one state, and it was Rome. There was one master for it all, and he was Tiberius Caesar.

Everywhere there was civil order, for the arm of the Roman law was long. Everywhere there was stability, in government and in society, for the centurions saw that it was so.

But everywhere there was something else, too. There was oppression - for those who were not the friends of Tiberius Caesar. There was the tax gatherer to take the grain from the fields and the flax from the spindle to feed the legions or to fill the hungry treasury from which divine Caesar gave largess to the people. There was the impressor to find recruits for the circuses. There were executioners to quiet those whom the Emperor proscribed. What was a man for but to serve Caesar?

There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?

Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.

And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth.

So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders.

But it came to pass for a while in divers places that the truth did set man free, although the men of darkness were offended and they tried to put out the light. The voice said, Haste ye. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persudae men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.

Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter's star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.

And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Osama Wanted Bush Reelected?

2005-12-24T15:55:00.000-05:00

During the run-up to the 2004 elections, the Democratic Party and their MsM rump swabs made the point that Osama bin Laden actually wanted George W. Bush to be reelected, since Bush's war in Iraq served to drive new recruits into bin Laden's camp, thereby strengthening the Al Qaeda movement.

How killing and detaining Islamists, boxing-in their leaders, destroying their communication structure and robbing them of their finances strengthens their cause is anyone's guess, but leave it to the Left to float such illogic, especially when desperate to install a self-serving fraud into the Oval Office.

As it turns out, O.B.L. most certainly did not want Bush reelected, as the following NY Daily News article implies:

"WASHINGTON - Before he was captured last spring, Osama Bin Laden's top operational commander was solely focused on killing President Bush and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharaff, the Daily News has learned.

The capture last May of Al Qaeda's No. 3 leader, Abu Faraj Al-Libi, apparently thwarted plots to assassinate the two partners in the global war on terror, said a senior Pakistani official, whose information was corroborated by two senior U.S. counterterrorism officials.

'Al-Libi had one mission: Kill Bush and Musharraf,' the Pakistani official told The News. 'He wanted to kill Bush in the White House, preferably.'

'It was clearly something they wanted to do. There's no question about that. It's the holy grail of jihad,' a senior U.S. counterterrorism official confirmed." MORE

More Torture!

2005-12-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

The torture issue has new found its way into a place that I love: Late Night Television. Please, please Dave, tell me that it's not true:

David Letterman has been temporarily restrained by a woman who believes that he torments her over the airwaves using a secret code.

New Mexico resident Colleen Nestler filed court documents late last week, alleging that Letterman has been using code words, gestures and "eye expressions" for more than 10 years to convey his desire to marry her and train her as his cohost.

As a result of Letterman's alleged methods of torture, Nestler claims she has suffered from "mental cruelty" and "sleep deprivation," and has been forced into bankruptcy.

There's much, much more:

It's unclear from Nestler's complaint when her "relationship" with Letterman began to sour.

In her letter to the court, she claims she began sending Letterman "thoughts of love" after he began hosting The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS in 1993.

"Dave responded to my thoughts of love, and, on his show, in code words & obvious indications through jestures [sic] and eye expressions, he asked me to come east," she wrote.

Letterman upped the ante, she claimed, when he asked her to be his wife shortly before Thanksgiving in 1993.

In a teaser for his show, Letterman jokingly said, "Marry Me, Oprah," which Nestler rapidly deduced was a message intended for her.

"Oprah had become my first of many code names," she wrote. "...[A]s time passed, the code-vocabulary increased & changed, but in the beginning things like 'C' on baseball caps referred to me, and specific messages through songs sung by his guests, were the beginnings of what became an elaborate means of communication between he and myself."

Nestler did not reveal why she waited for so many years to take action against her tormenter. (We're guessing she was motivated by the recent revelation that she's not the only woman Letterman calls Oprah.)

Clearly, insanity is funny, but what is this judge doing? What a waste of courtroom time. Maybe there is no backlog for real cases.

La Quake

2005-12-20T22:45:00.000-05:00

Dang! I didn't feel a thing!

A Simple Question On the Patriot Act

2005-12-20T00:17:00.000-05:00

Leftists abhor the Patriot Act since it makes it harder for their Islamist allies of convenience to go about the business of taking down the the evil, capitalist, oppressive, racist, sexist source of all the world's problems: America.

In the eyes of leftists, America stands between them and their fantasy of affecting Heaven on earth. (Never mind the fact that past attempts at creating the socialist Utopia have resulted in the deaths of approximately 150 million people.)

Ask yourselves a simple question: Exactly who is made safer by killing the Patriot Act?

So far, the Patriot Act has taken 300 Islamic terrorists off the streets of America. One hundred seventy-nine of those have so far been convicted. The Patriot Act was vital to rounding up the Al Qaeda cell known as the Lackawanna Six, composed of six Yemeni Americans who were Al Qaeda members and, interestingly enough, registered Democrats.

What will the U.S. Representatives, who are working to kill the Patriot Act, tell their constituents if this country suffers another 9/11-type attack due to their recklessness? They have the nerve to risk the safety of all of us by removing the security layer the Patriot Act provides. Will they have the decency to resign their seats in Congress if America suffers a terrorist attack due to the death of the Patriot Act?

I think not--these egoists are more concerned with stroking their far-Left, wacko-Right, Deaniac/MoveOn supporters--the most vocal opponents of the Patriot Act-- than they are with protecting all legal citizens of America , as they have sworn to do.

By voting "no" on the Patriot Act, the numerous Democrats and few Republicans who did so showed America that they fear the Bush Administration more than they fear the animals that want to kill all of them.

More Sickness From the Cultural Left

2005-12-19T23:23:00.000-05:00

As if there wasn't enough subject matter to write plays about, playwright Megan Gogerty has penned an apparently non-judgmental musical about an incestuous homosexual pedophile.

Titled "Love Jerry," (a better title would be "Arrest Jerry") the play tells the story of Jerry, who has a sexual relationship with his nephew while trying to stay friends with the male child's father.

Described as "a delicate, often heart-wrenching piece of theater" by Variety magazine, the play features "lilting country songs" and refrains from demonizing the title character.

The Cultural Left's siren song of moral relativism hits a new low note when "Love Jerry" opens in Atlanta on Jan. 22, 2006.

Unions and War

2005-12-19T18:30:00.000-05:00

So what does the politics of the Iraqi War and a Faculty Labor Union at a state run University have to do with each other? Obviously a lot at the University of Rhode Island. I have obtained the following letter sent out by Frank Annunziato, URI/AAUP (American Assosicaton of University Professors) Executive Director:

From: Frank Annunziato, URI/AAUP Executive Director [mailto:fraaaup@etal.uri.edu]
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 1:23 PM
To: fraaaup@etal.uri.edu
Subject: Iraq War Resolution Vote...Reminder

Dear Colleague,

Just a reminder that you will have until 4:30 PM, Wednesday, December 21, 2005 to vote on the following resolution:

The URI/AAUP calls for the "speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the resources being spent on the war in Iraq be redirected to improve the lives of working men, women, and their families."

The URI/AAUP Executive Committee has voted in favor of this resolution and urges all our colleagues to vote "Yes."

The Executive Committee felt that the time has come for the URI/AAUP membership to take a stand on this war in order to convince our Congressional leadership to be more bold in demanding to bring our troops home. The resolution also calls for a reordering of our economic priorities from bullets and oil to education, health care, housing, rebuilding New Orleans, etc.

Only URI/AAUP national members may vote on this resolution. The Executive Committee felt that the AAUP does not have the authority to conduct a referendum among the entire faculty. That authority belongs to the Faculty Senate. However, the URI/AAUP can authorize a referendum among our membership.

To vote on this resolution, you must appear in person to the AAUP offices, 302 Roosevelt Hall. Nancy Murphy will have a ballot for you. After you vote "yes" or "no" you will place your ballot in a secure ballot box. We guarantee a secret ballot.

IF YOU ARE NOT A NATIONAL MEMBER AND WANT TO VOTE IN THIS REFERENDUM, YOU MAY JOIN THE AAUP AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING WHEN YOU COME TO OUR OFFICES TO VOTE.

The URI/AAUP Executive Committee hopes that all of you will show up to vote, regardless of how you may personally feel on this issue of national and international significance.

Dr. Frank R. Annunziato
Executive Director
University of Rhode Island Chapter
American Association of University Professors
302 Roosevelt Hall
Kingston, RI 02881-0819
(401) 874-2534

The arrogance that permeates from this letter is unbelievable. No balance. Just an assumption that everyone else shares your same disregard for an entire population to have the opportunity to live in freedom. Or to fight terrorists in a foreign land rather than our streets in our cities.

I guess liberals can't wait to jump on the latest insanity bandwagon that's circling Washington at any particular moment.

Now a question on the legality of the vote. I am still conducting research in this area and I am not a lawyer; but isn't it curious that state computers and state time can be utilized for such activities? Activites that, too many citizens, weakens our national resolve to win a war. A war that the majority of this country wants won.

These instances need to be exposed for all to see. So here it is.

The Captain Reviews The Fisa Act

2005-12-18T23:41:00.000-05:00

The Left's new attempt to tie the hands of the President, as he tries to protect America, necessitates a review of the FISA ACT. Captain's Quarters does a fine job. Read it and understand its importance.

New Orleans: Come See the Misery...$35 please

2005-12-15T22:18:00.000-05:00

Worse case of a Rubber Necking Scheme ever.

The buses will start at the edge of the French Quarter, then drive past the Superdome and Convention Center, where thousands suffered in the heat for days without food or water. The tour also may include the destroyed marina and neighborhoods like the flooded Lakefront, Gentilly and eastern New Orleans areas.

And for an extra 25 cents you can throw rocks at the folks shoveling sludge from their living rooms.

Only in New Orleans.

(Hat tip to my hubby)

The March of Freedom Continues in Iraq

2005-12-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Tonight is one of celebration. Iraqis, of all stripes, voted in today's parliamentary elections. The turnout was enormous. There was little violence and much joy in the streets of Iraq.

"This is the day to get our revenge from Saddam," said Kurdish voter Chiman Saleh, a Kirkuk housewife who said two of her brothers were killed by Saddam's regime," reports the AP.

Anyone with a heart and soul could not help feeling joy as news of a successful election came in from Iraq. It is a wonderful thing knowing that those once enslaved now taste Freedom.

Unfortunately, the Democrats proved that they have neither heart nor soul--as of 8pm this evening, I have yet to hear any prominent Democrat even mention today's historic event. The leftist Democratic Party leadership, a cowardly, egotistical, traitorous and unpatriotic lot, is once again on the wrong side of history and stewing in its failure to wreck the march of Freedom in the Middle East.

Iraqi blogger Alaa has some words for them, and for anyone else who doubts the universality of man's yearning for Freedom:

"Today was a tremendous moment of our history, a turning point and a real
milestone. Say what you like; things are not perfect; there are countless
problems; the “insurgency” is not going to disappear; the reconstruction
effort is in shambles; there is corruption and thieving everywhere; errors
and mistakes in everything. Yet despite all that, the political process is
proceeding like a dream and the tree of freedom is taking roots, and that
tree will continue to grow and grow and grow. The Iraqis are again
confounding all the "pundits" and "experts". But some just cannot understand
the true soul of a people. That this most profound revolution initiated by an act of liberation, by the daring praxis of the Americans, driven by some mysterious hand of the Providence, has touched the innermost womb of a nation, and that the present agonies of this nation are those of giving birth and new life. Oh no, that they cannot understand. Well then, let them witness surprise after nasty surprise that will confound their logic and demolish their arguments. But the word mongers will always find something to say, as wild dogs are always wont to bark all the more hysterically
as they are irked." MORE

To the Democrats' great consternation, today's events prove conclusively that Iraq is not, nor will it ever be, Vietnam.

Friends and Viewpoints

2005-12-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

I recently ran into an old friend and politics came into the conversation. This fella was pretty anti-war and anti-Bush. We exchanged emails and we began an email tennis match, if you will, of selected opinion pieces. After a few days of this I noticed that all of his columns were coming from one site, CommonDreams.org (and no, I will only link to them when I want to direct someone to a particular story). I always felt ickey reading their stuff, but did so to combat the misinformation and wrong assertions to my friend.

In this process, I made a conscious effort to send him not only columns from different sources, but from different partisan leanings as well. Thank you Hitch.

That night he claimed Libertarian as the closest party affiliation that described him....well, he is dreaming.

This Common Dreams site is a far, far Leftey whacked-out site. Noam Chomsky is listed under their 'View Points' and there are direct links to ACCORN, IndyMedia and Rethinking Marxism (I DID NOT make that one up folks).

So after a week or so of providing raw data, many, many columns and Blog posts from various sites, I've come to the realization that I'm in the middle of a disturbing situation.

Do I actually know someone who agrees with looney sites/people, ie, the Real America Haters? It is a bizarre situation.

I've challenged my friend in an email on 1) Did he realize these folks are supported by the one site he apparently reads? and 2) Does he agree with Chomsky and these other radical groups?

Well, as I await my answer I will definitely let you all know his reply and mean time, I'll be taking a hot, scalding shower.

Miracle in Iraq

2005-12-14T23:42:00.000-05:00

It has been less than two years since the U.S. deposed Saddam Hussein. Now, we witness millions of our fellow human beings experience their birthright, Freedom, for the first time.

The polls in Iraq open shortly. Seventy percent of eligible Iraqi voters are expected to dip their fingers in purple ink and vote.

Two years ago, this was unthinkable. Two years ago, the fate of 26 million Iraqis was in the hands of a miserable tyrant and his psychotic sons. Now, that fate is in the hands of the Iraqi people themselves. Within two years of deposing the tyrant Hussein, the U.S. has affected this beautiful thing.

It is nothing short of a miracle.

Something Smells

2005-12-14T14:12:00.000-05:00

Tony Snow writes of a little known investigation and calls for the full report to be revealed. Seeing how we paid for it, I think we should get to read it. Here's a little of what Tony has to say:

The pattern was set early on, when the White House sicced the FBI on Billy Dale, who had served as the director of the White House Travel Office since the days of John F. Kennedy. They mounted a baseless probe of Dale's finances, while chasing after his daughter, his sister and others. Dale was guilty of holding a job coveted by presidential pal Harry Thomasson. But rather than simply firing Dale, the Clinton White House chose to destroy him.

By all accounts, the 400-page Barrett report is a bombshell, capable possibly of wiping out Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential prospects. At the very least, it would bring to public attention a scandal that would make the Valerie Plame affair vanish into comical insignificance.

Democrats know this. Using provisions in the independent-counsel statute that permit people named in a report to review the allegations against them and file rebuttals, attorneys close to the Clintons have spent the better part of five years reviewing every jot and tittle of the charges arrayed against their clients and friends.

Will we ever know the full extent of the corrupt Clinton's? Probably not, but I sure as hell would like to read this report. Come on Hillary, it's for the 'common good'.

(Link found via Michelle Malkin)

Dean Pinked

2005-12-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen allow me to show you the proud face of the Democratic Party:

On a San Antonio Radio station Dean made the usual ass of himself. You know how some people get fashionably 'stuck' in a decade? Well Dean is politically stuck in the 70's. Can you count how many 70isms he can't get over?

"I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

Dean says the Democrat position on the war is 'coalescing,' and is likely to include several proposals.

"I think we need a strategic redeployment over a period of two years," Dean said. "Bring the 80,000 National Guard and Reserve troops home immediately. They don't belong in a conflict like this anyway. We ought to have a redeployment to Afghanistan of 20,000 troops, we don't have enough troops to do the job there and its a place where we are welcome. And we need a force in the Middle East, not in Iraq but in a friendly neighboring country to fight (terrorist leader Musab) Zarqawi, who came to Iraq after this invasion. We've got to get the target off the backs of American troops.

Okay. So let me see if I've got this. Zarqawi, who is in Iraq, needs to be fought by America from an imaginary American-friendly neighboring country. That'll work! The Brilliance!!

Dean didn't specify which country the US forces would deploy to, but he said he would like to see the entire process completed within two years. He said the Democrat proposal is not a 'withdrawal,' but rather a 'strategic redeployment' of U.S. forces.

So, if he were now in charge (Heaven help us all), the terrorists could now explain to all of their jihadists to sit tight and wait. Just two years guys, they'll be gone, & then the place is ours. Nothing like laying a plan out there for the terrorists to work around. Two years to terrorists is nothing.

"The White House wants us to have a permanent commitment to Iraq. This is an Iraqi problem. President Bush got rid of Saddam Hussein and that was a great thing, but that could have been done in a very different way. But now that we're there we need to figure out how to leave. 80% of Iraqis want us to leave, and it's their country."

Yes, yes, yes the sanctions were going so well! France, Germany, Russia, and many U.N. officials (and sons!) were getting rich by selling out the Iraqi people. Meanwhile, Saddam kept on firing on our planes and free to do whatever he wished. Permanent commitment to Iraq....Only a deranged person could see having a democratic middle eastern country as an ally a bad thing. Let's continue with the 70isms.

Dean also compared the controversy over pre-war intelligence to the Watergate scandal which brought down Richard Nixon's presidency in 1974.

"What we see today is very much like what was going in Watergate," Dean said. "It turns out there is a lot of good evidence that President Bush did not tell the truth when he was asking Congress for the power to go to war. The President said last week that Congress saw the same intelligence that he did in making the decision to go to war, and that is flat out wrong. The President withheld some intelligence from the Senate Intelligence Committee. He withheld the report from the CIA that in fact there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction (in Iraq), that they did not have a nuclear program. They (the White House) selectively gave intelligence to the United States Senate and the United States Congress and got them to give the go ahead to attack these people." (all emphasis mine)

That last phrase is especially precious, don't you think? You know, that kite-flying, happy-go-lucky country without a care in the world. What plastic shredders? What torturing of 2 year old toddlers for intel? The rapes, the gassings and mass murder....

Also of note: "they did not have a nuclear program".. Somebody please tell Dr. Obeidi.

Somebody please get Dean a straight jacket. I think he prefers the pink ones.

(Link found via Michelle Malkin)

Ben and Me

2005-12-04T15:20:00.000-05:00

Ben Stein spoke recently at a local University here in Northern Louisiana.

Here he is with somebody, I'm not sure who:

Here are some of the things he talked about including his response to my question during the Question and Answer session.

He spoke a great deal about how we should all hit the floor every morning and thank God for the country we live in and the freedoms we take for granted every day. Gratefulness was a strong theme of his message: to our brilliant fore fathers, the men and women in the armed forces and their families who keep the candle burning for them.

He also went into depth on media bias and reporting on the war. One of his examples was how everyone knows Lyndie England's name and what she did, but how many people know the names of the 10 marines recently killed or the name of the Seal's dying on the hunt for Osama, or the names of firefighters who rescued people from the WTC or the names of the folks who prevented a plane from crashing into the Capital or White House.

There are brave, brave true heroes working hard everyday that gets no press. I agree with him that this is perverted.

He also told great stories of his father and his father-in-law. His father, who had been discriminated against back in the day because he was Jewish, never felt any ill will towards the people he ran up against. Ben said he had asked his father about holding a job at a fraternity house (that he was not allowed to join - at a University he was not allowed to attend) and how that made him feel. His father simply replied that he never had bad feelings toward those people, just thanked God with all of his heart that he was in a country where he could work and make money to support his family and pay his way through school.

His father-in-law, who was a brave, decorated soldier in WWII and Vietnam, was once asked by Ben why he went and fought in very dangerous positions. His father-in-law simply replied so that his children maybe would not have to fight. You could tell that these great men had a tremendous influence over Ben Stein and contributed a greatly to who he is today.

Now to my question to him during the speech:

KelliPundit: Recently the Israeli military has declared that Iran is getting too close to having a nuclear bomb and that time is running out. They've stated that if diplomacy doesn't work very soon, they'll be forced to use military force to stop this from occurring. What are your thoughts on what may happen between Israel and Iran?

Ben immediately replied that he does not believe that Bush will let them get the A-bomb. Then he interestingly started saying that his conversations with people who deal closely with the American intelligence of this situation have told him that they believe that Iran is bluffing and they are no where near having a nuclear weapon.

I certainly don't know who his contacts are but pray they are correct. Nonetheless, I thought his reply was extremely interesting and possibly revealing. Who knows? One thing for certain, time will tell.

Be sure and read his column Monday Night at Morton's as it displays his passion well. One of his funniest antidotes during the talk was when he stated that when he runs into Alec Baldwin or Barbara Streisand he alway asks, "Why are you still here? Is it the deposit on the U-Haul trailor that is preventing you from leaving? Because I'd happily take care of that for you!"

We're in a great country folks--Best in the World--Even the America Haters won't leave it. Deep down, buried under all their cynicism and empty sound-bites, they too know the truth.

UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post has a disturbing post on Iran and their path toward a nuclear weapon:

IAEA chairman Muhammad ElBaradei on Monday confirmed Israel's assessment that Iran is only a few months away from creating an atomic bomb.

If Teheran indeed resumed its uranium enrichment in other plants, as threatened, it will take it only "a few months" to produce a nuclear bomb, El-Baradei told The Independent.

On the other hand, he warned, any attempt to resolve the crisis by non-diplomatic means would "open a Pandora's box. There would be efforts to isolate Iran; Iran would retaliate; and at the end of the day you have to go back to the negotiating table to find the solution."

Not looking so good.

Hating Wal-Mart

2005-12-02T12:59:00.000-05:00

Well the Left does anyway. Living in Providence, RI, I had to drive to Massachusetts to do all of my shopping at any big retailers. It was maddening and not by accident. I had many conversations with neighbors over the lack of big retail shopping and you should have seen the darkness fall over their faces. It was like bringing up the option of inviting the Devil himself to dinner.

The nearest big retailers that were actually in the state of Rhode Island was in Warwick. Pretty far down I-95 from where I was living.

I bring this all up because the issue is getting a lot of play right now in the blogosphere. The Corner has a great entry. I really loved this from Democratic Leadership's Coucil Ed Kilgore:

In the southern small-town, rural and exurban communities I know best, and among the low-to-moderate income "working family" voters Democrats most need to re-attract, Wal-Mart is considered pretty damn near sacrosanct. And if Democrats decide to tell these voters they can't be good progressives and shop at Wal-Mart, we will lose these people for a long, long time.

Maybe it's different in...other parts of the country, but probably not too widely. And I defy you to find a credible political strategist in states with a big Wal-Mart presence who will tell you otherwise.

If you think we've been damaged as a party by culturally conservative working-class perceptions of us as people who want to take their guns away, you ain't seen nothing yet if we become perceived as the party that wants to take Wal-Mart away. Indeed, it's the one thing we could do, other than espousing actual racism, that might finally give Republicans a breakthrough among minority voters, who heavily shop at Wal-Mart where the option's available.

Heh, Heh, Heh....Go ahead and keep on demonizing Wal-Mart: It's great sport to watch.

Update: Kilgore direct link added. (Thanks to RightRI)

Fighting Corruption

2005-12-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite writers, Jack Kelly, has a plan that could clean up politics. Go get some Jack!

Democracy Creeping into Syria ??

2005-11-30T18:31:00.000-05:00

In today's National Review Online, Nir Boms describes the emergence of a strong democratic opposition to Bashar al-Assad and the Baathists in Syria.

The Syrian opposition, a term that was a misnomer just two years ago, now has over 20 visible outlets with an increasing number of political activists who meet regularly inside and outside Syria. The Syrian Democratic Coalition - a dynamic group of ten Syrian opposition organizations led by Farid Ghadry - held a recent conference in Paris with representatives from political parties, human-rights organizations, tribes, and religious groups.

The genie is out of the bottle.

Zarqawi's Last Stand ??

2005-11-21T18:22:00.000-05:00

Abu Mus'aab al Zarqawi is having a bad week. This weekend rumors arose that he may have been killed ( excuse me; blew himself up ) by U. S. forces in Mosul, Iraq. This remains to be determined pending DNA analysis. But even if he is still amongst the living; as Walid Phares points out in Frontpagemag.com ; his days may be numbered. Over 200,000 in Jordan came out to protest Zarqawi and Al Qaeda. Keep your eye on the ball people. Since the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq the following has taken place: Libya has turned in its nuclear components ( of course the U.N. had no idea Libya even had a nuclear program ); the Syrian Bathists have been purged from Lebanon inspiring a Cedar democratic revolution; Iran is surrounded by U.S. soldiers and our military intelligence; constitutions that are at least somewhat respective of human rights have been crafted in Afghanistan and Iraq; the A.Q.Khan nuclear network has been exposed and stopped; the corrupt Oil for Food program which was helping Saddam get rid of sanctions and lining his pockets while depriving his needy citizens of food and medicine has been revealed to the world; a Hashemite democratic revolution is now beginning in Jordan bringing along with it a condemnation of Zarqawi and Al Qaeda; and according to leading Middle Eastern experts the buzz in the region is excitement about Democracy! Do we really want to cut and run now?

Homework: Pretend to be Muslim

2005-11-18T13:02:00.000-05:00

Stop the ACLU has an infuriating post up on the Ninth Circuit protecting the right of Public schools to indoctrintate our children to the Muslim faith. The judges didn't even bother to issue a written statement, as long as it's not christianity, then bring it on.

Basically, it boils down to "Christians, shut up and don't dare breath Jesus's name, and by the way, why aren't you reciting your Koran verses? It's time for World history isn't it??"

As we prepare to endure our school's "Winter Holiday" this really makes me mad.

And don't think it can't happen at your school. I live in the bible belt in Northern Louisiana and have already experienced a similar situation. I went to pick my six year old up from school the other week and walked into a group of muslims explaining to a group of children, my child included, about Ramadan. I about threw a fit and jerked my child out of the group. I asked the speaker if they had covered honor killings or the oppression of women yet.

She tried to calm me down by explaining that they were only discussing fasting.

It's lying by omission folks. If you can't tell the whole story and truth then stay the hell away from my child.

If you are Christian, I challenge you this Christmas season to not be like Peter when he denied Christ; Say MERRY CHRISTMAS for the next 5 weeks. Because any other way means you've allowed the PC propaganda to infiltrate your brain. Clean it out and don't deny the reason for the season!

Link found via Ace of Spades.

The Flip-Flopping Democrats!!

2005-11-17T16:17:00.000-05:00

Disgusting hypocrites!!! Want proof? It's right here.

Hitch Says it All

2005-11-17T13:38:00.000-05:00

If you, by chance, need a reminder or a fresh way to battle the "Bush Lied, People Died" brigade, Christopher Hitchens has a treat for you. It is great, top to bottom.

Australian Wisdom

2005-11-13T19:33:00.000-05:00

John Howard is a very smart man.

PRIME Minister John Howard last night refused to back a multicultural Australia saying he preferred a cohesive, integrated society.

Asked if he liked the word "multiculturalism", Mr Howard said: "No, not particularly.
"Different people have different versions of what it means," he said.

"I'm in favour of drawing people from everywhere and when they come to this country I'm in favour of them becoming Australian."

Mr Howard said it was up to Australians to make immigrants feel welcome but newcomers had a responsibility to embrace their new home.

"It's their responsibility and particularly the responsibility of their leaders to encourage that process of integration," he told Channel 9's 60 Minutes.

Nothing much to add other than a link to an old post of mine detailing my personal dealings with a school hiding their true intentions behind the word multicultural.

It has become a truly devastating policy not only to immigrants to foreign lands, but to those countries that have taken them in.

Alan Alda Defends The Conservative Agenda

2005-11-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

The joke amongst conservatives about NBC's West Wing is that it should be named the Left Wing, due to its consistent bias toward liberal arguements in their weekly White House fictional drama. Despite this, I find myself drawn to the show because each week it does deal with real world issues. Once in a great, great while they do give a fair shake to the conservative perspective. For example, in one episode the Mayor of Wash. D.C. made a compelling personal appeal to Pres. Bartlett to break with his Party and the teacher's union to allow a pilot vouchers program for students in his impoverished city. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between with conservative ideas being either ignored or( even worse !) disingenuously caricatured.

It was, therefore, with great trepidation that I watched Sunday night's live presentation of The West Wing which featured a one-hour debate between the Democratic candidate ( Jimmy Smits ) and his Repubican counterpart ( Alan Alda ). I grimaced when the first question dealt with illegal immigration and Alda's character presented the conservative arguement like the DNC would have. I hung in there, though, and was rewarded with a defense of conservative political positions on issues from foreign aid to energy policy that was more compelling than what comes out of The White House these days. Alan Alda was spectacular!!!! Russell Roberts of the conservative blog site Cafe Hayek agrees. Read his posting!!

Ronald Reagan Elected President 25 Years Ago Today !!

2005-11-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

The great Ronald Reagan was first elected President of The United States of America 25 years ago today!! Let's not forget his priceless contribution to our great nation. James Pinkerton reviews his economic genius today. Read it and spread the good word!

News Distortion - New York Times Style

2005-11-02T18:33:00.000-05:00

Michelle Malkin's piece on a grossly distorted article in the New York Times is enough to make anyone sick. The Times twists the words of a U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq to make it seem that he thought his mission was senseless. His uncle sent the complete letter to Michelle Malkin. His complete thoughts reflected feelings that are totally contrary to what the scandalous N.Y.Times conveyed. Read the account on an empty stomach.

Guardsmen Talking Truth in Iraq

2005-11-02T18:09:00.000-05:00

National Review has a nice link to an interview granted to CNN by two Kentucky National Guardsmen who just returned from Iraq that offer a very positive commentary on a mission that they see as being successful. Check it Out!

Liar ! Liar ! Pants On Fire !!

2005-11-02T12:49:00.000-05:00

Read Max Boot's piece in The Los Angeles Times and decide for yourself who the real liar is in the Joe Wilson case. Were the American people allowed to know the real story behind Wilson's coup d'etat ?

A Debate The Country Needs

2005-11-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

George Will's piece concerning the nomination of Samuel Alito to serve on The Supreme Court is a must read. The apparent beauty of Judge Alito is that he strives to let those issues that are not constitutionally mandated, be determined by the American people. Alleluia!!!!!!

Ground Zero: Rescued

2005-10-21T11:24:00.000-04:00

My good friend, Rocco at the Autonomist, had a column the other day at FrontPage that is a great read. Rocco interviews the Ground Zero Memorial committee member that blew the whistle on the anti-american hijacking of the site.

It is informative and moving while providing a few stories of individuals during the clean up/recovery time that you may have not learned of before.

SouthPark Funny

2005-10-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'll admit that I don't watch much TV anymore, hardly any to speak of. Life has gotten just too dog-gone busy. So when I saw this at The Corner I laughed out loud. Here is a some anonymous reader's recap of a SouthPark episode:

Stan accidentally flooded a town by crashing a boat into a beaver dam. The press estimated the death toll "in the tens of millions, which is significant in this town of 8,000." Furthermore, though some initially blamed the flooding on W, they settled on blaming global warming, which caused everyone to run around in circles screaming, "we didn't listen!!!" Excellent.

That'll take me through the rest of the day with a smile!

Better yet, go here for an even better recap of the episode. HA! It gets even funnier.

Able Danger Blowing Up

2005-10-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

The stuff that good movies are made of folks. A CIA/Pentagon coverup. Directors denying they were at meetings, stories of refusing to look at info. Then the cover-up by government officials is to destroy an honorable man.

Michelle Malkin has the whole story with lots of links.

GO READ IT ALL. While it will make you sick to hear about the negligent behavior at very high levels, it will make you proud as well to hear of a congressman standing up and making such a profound stand that is rarely ever done anymore.

Damn, who knew C-Span could be this exciting?

Bye Bye Big Charity

2005-10-15T00:14:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard, Big Charity in New Orleans will never reopen again. Not in it's old building anyway. Actually, word on the street is that there are no plans for it to ever reopen. The truth is is that the building was old and nasty anyway. And I do mean real nasty folks. Before Katrina hit the state was about to break new ground to build a brand new building for Big Charity. All those plans are gone now. Their patient population has moved on.

It is hard to imagine. The hospital was the largest trauma center in the state just a few weeks ago.

MSM Hyperventilation

2005-10-15T00:02:00.000-04:00

Just like a premenstrual, preteen girl, the MSM is throwing a hissy fit over what was described as a 'staged' question/answer session with some soldiers in Iraq. Michelle Malkin has a quote from a soldier that was there. Go read his words and thoughts.

The American Media: No Shame, No Ethics, No Truth.

Staging the News

2005-10-14T23:46:00.000-04:00

Good Golly! The video at the link is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. And I do mean laugh out loud funny.

Seems as though an NBC reporter for the Today Show staged a little scene in a 'flooded' street. Then, well, a bit of bad timing takes place that reveals the absurdity.

As you watch this, remember that the media is hyperventilating and sticking extra pins in their Bush Voodoo dolls over his not-so-staged question/answer session with some soldiers.

Oh yeah, that's it....the sweet, sweet smell of irony. And the extra hot fudge on top comes complimentary of the Today Show no less.

Link via Ace of Spades.

Southern Grace

2005-10-13T23:47:00.000-04:00

Ha! What a great way to greet your greatly incompetent mayor:
Gayle Williams, a New Orleans business owner, complains to New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin about the lack of help she has received since Hurricane Katrina struck. Nagin visited with evacuees Wednesday at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum shelter in Shreveport. Williams disagreed with Nagin about conditions in New Orleans. (Robert Ruiz/The Times)

I love it.

New Orleans Mayor Nagin recently visited local shelters to speak with evacuees. They are none too pleased and did not cut Nagin any slack:

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin received a less-than-warm reception from evacuees being sheltered in Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport.

Nagin, who has been criticized for failing to move out many of his city's impoverished black residents before Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, made Shreveport the first stop on his tour of American Red Cross shelters throughout Louisiana, including Monroe and Alexandria.

"I want to hear from them, find out what their needs are and get information to help them get back to New Orleans," he said.

What Nagin heard was a large dose of skepticism from evacuees concerning his ability to revive their city and bring them back.

New Orleans evacuee Avery Johnson left the building Wednesday to avoid hearing the mayor speak. "I just refuse to listen to any more lies. You hear them from FEMA, you hear them from Red Cross and I just didn't want to hear it from him."

Nagin's visit gave him the opportunity to hear firsthand some of the anger and frustration felt by displaced New Orleans residents. He met with them behind closed doors about 30 minutes before allowing the media entrance into the building.

With Nagin standing before the roughly 145 evacuees, one man asked where he would live after 18 months when his FEMA trailer expires. "We are working on that, too," Nagin replied with a slight grin.

When a La politician answers you with a 'slight grin', run people - RUN FAST.

I especially liked the end of the story:

Julius "Catfish" Holley lost his home in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, which was flooded by Katrina and again by Hurricane Rita three weeks later. He was rescued from his roof after Katrina, when his house was covered in 14 feet of water.

Holley described Nagin's visit as "political propaganda."

"Yes, the city has electricity, but not in the houses," he said. "They have water, but it has to be inspected before it's turned on. There are no grocery stores, no gas stations and no transportation in the 9th Ward.

"So why in the hell should we go back? It's nothing to go back for."

Ouch.

There is lots of local talk about how the entire political landscape of the state has changed. If you're not familiar with Louisiana, there is something you have to understand: The southern portion of the state (the democratic base) is the polar opposite with the northern portion (Bible Belt) of the state. It's almost like two different countries. I think you need papers to travel north and south of Baton Rouge. As we all know the entire southern portion of the state has practically been displaced. Landrieu, Blanco and Nagin has tons to worry about where their political futures are concerned. The next bout of elections are going to be very interesting.

A Terrorist's Letter Reveals Good News For U.S. Iraq Effort

2005-10-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

A letter, dated July 9th, 2005, written by Ayman al Zawahiri to Abu Musab al Zarqawi was declassified recently by the Bush Administration. It reveals a desperate tone by Al Qaeda's number-two in command for their effort to prevent a stable democratic governmnet to take root in Iraq. To review, Dr. Zawahiri is the Egyptian-born, long time Islamic terrorist whose resume includes, for example, 1. a participation in the assasination of Anwar Sadat; 2. a mastermind planner of the 9/11 attacks; and 3.( Democrats please skip this part. ) frequent meetings during the 1990's with Iraqi Intelligence in Sudan ( Al Qaeda's then home-court ) and in Iraq. Mr. Zarqawi, who was wounded in Afghanistan fighting alongside the Taliban against U.S. Forces and then retreated to Baghdad for medical attention; was later to take leadership in Ansar al Islam ( a radical sister-group to Al Qaeda that was supported by Saddam Hussein and was fully functional in Iraq BEFORE the Iraq War).

The lead editorial in today's Wall Street Journal summarizes Zawahiri's worries nicely, and is a must read for all Americans who are ready to throw in the towel on The Iraq War. The Weekly Standard has a complete English translation of his letter. Read it and seriously contemplate the stakes of winning or quitting this war.

Broad Support For New Iraqi Constitution

2005-10-05T16:27:00.000-04:00

The results of a poll conducted this September by The Iraqi Center for Development and International Dialogue shows widespread support for the new Iraqi Constitution; even in areas dominated by Sunni Arabs. Of the 3625 Iraqis questioned; 79% are in favor of the Constitution and only 8% are opposed. Hopefully, this is a sign that there may be building support from all ( including Sunnis ) for a transition to a peaceful state of affairs in Iraq.

Here Comes Rita

2005-09-23T15:09:00.000-04:00

I've spent my afternoon buying gasoline, water and food. It's a little windy here in Shreveport but we are bracing for about 15 inches of rain and the possibility of no electricity for an extended period of time. The laundry is being washed and the bathtubs will be full tonight before we go to bed.

But if it gets real bad, I'm taking my babies home and staying with my Mom and Dad. Ummm, they have generators. ;)

My Mom has already started getting people to call me to try and convince me to leave now. We'll see.

The renewed flooding of New Orleans breaks my heart. Insult to injury to say the least.

They are re-opening shelters here while locals are fleeing themselves.

From a storefront in Lake Charles:

(A message painted on the outside of The Brew Pub in downtown Lake Charles warns would be looters. (Shane Bevel/The Times))

This story also breaks my heart. Talk about Hell on Earth.

Here is a link for a satellite view of the storm. I'm in the top left corner of La.

Pray for Louisiana and Texas.