RunningMate

Wha' Happen?

2006-11-08T13:27:00.001-06:00

I must have missed them. Where are the reports of voter fraud and disenfranchisement? Where are the lawyers filing suit? Where are the hanging chads? I MISS THE CHADS!!! DAMN YOU DIEBOLD!!!

So, evil neocons suddenly stopped defrauding our election system? Funny how different things look when you win, don't it?

Why Are There No Temperature Charts On Global Warming?

2006-09-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

One interesting thing you have to ask about global warming is WHY ARE THERE NO CHARTS to back up the claims? Why don’t scientists and newspapers paste chart after chart on the evening news showing historical data on just how dramatic the temperature increases are? The reason is because the data doesn’t support the claim.

Today, a scientist claimed that temperature is two degrees from being the warmest temperature in a Million Years. However – once again WHERE ARE THE CHARTS? Show me temperature and a timeline.

Below is a chart plotting temperature cycles of the Ocean over the past Million Years. What is quickly evident is that there are 12 Major Cycles over the past million years all of which are warmer than today’s temperature.

“We understand that the previous 12 temperature fluctuations are natural cycles, but we are absolutely convinced that the 13^th time is different, please send money so we can reverse it before you die...” Or at least that is the reality the scientist would like you to believe – which is believable if you ignore the previous 12 cycles.

The graph also shows that the scientist is correct - 2 degrees warmer and we are hotter than anything in the last million years. Todays temperatures are in the median compared to historical data. He could have also said that 2 degrees colder and we would be in the coldest ice age in a million years. But that statment doesn't get as much funding as Global Warming. That is why the article leaves out the graph.

Another graph of temperature fluctuations from a NASA website over the past 1000 years:

According to the data – temperatures were warmer 800 years ago than they are today. This is exactly why pro-global warming graphs do not predate the Little Ice Age. It isn't as alarming.

Historical Side Bar

There are two periods on the chart labeled as the “Little Ice Age” and the “Medieval Warming Period”. History becomes interesting when you put it in perspective with temperature. The "Renaissance Period" occured after the "Medieval Warming Period". The "Renaissance Period" is also braketed by two colder trends also known as the "Dark Ages" and "The Little Ice Age"? Think there is a connection between the fact that the "Great Famine" and "The Black Plaque", that killed one third of Europe’s population in the 14th Century, was also the beginning of the "Little Ice Age". Similarly, another wierd coincidence that the end of "Little Ice Age", when temperatures warmed back up to normal levels, is also known as the begining of "The Age of Englightment".

Temperature and a timeline proves one thing about our history: It is always easier to think when crops are doing well and the weather is warm. Convienent to keep scientific history out of focus by changing the names and removing the charts. But I digress. Temperature and a timeline also proves that we are not close to historical highs and temperature has ALWAYS been cyclical.

Don't Go Too Far Back

Pro-global warming advocates don't like timelines and charts. A long enought time line removes all alarm: we arent at historical highs and the globe is exiting an ice age. Even the recent NASA article stating that temperatures are higher than seen in a Million Years is short sited. The data used is based on tree ring data that stops at 1400 AD or the start of the "Little Ice Age"and concludes that "the latter 20th century is anomalous in the context of at least the past millennium."

They ignored data prior to 1400 AD, starting at the begning of a mini Ice Age, and assumed that the last million years looks similar to the last 600 or with the 1990s being the warmest on record. I believe approximating one million years with the last 0.06% of the data starting from an ice age is solid science. In summary - it is the warmest time in a million years if you ignore all days it has ever been warmer. Drum roll please; True. What else is missing from the NASA conclusion: a temperature timeline prior to 1850. Surprised yet?

Straight from the Global Warming Website is a temperature chart titled "Global Warming At a Glance" citing historical data all the way to… 1978! The EPA site is a little clearer: "A warming trend of about 1 °F has been recorded since the late 19th century. Confirmation of 20th-century global warming is further substantiated by melting glaciers, decreased snow cover in the northern hemisphere and even warming below ground." Oh. Only 100 years of data, melted ice and and 1 degree. Again - no chart beyond 100 years. The Union of Concerned Scientist has no charts at all, but they do have a table with data all the way back to 1944!

This is one of the rare times in history scientists seem to avoid historical data in order to prove historic highs. Just one simple plot required: Temperature and a Timeline. But don't go too far back or you might run into that pesky warm period known as the Renaissance Period.

Please, don't pay attention to reality or history. It doesnt show the same disasterous results as this well funded climate model or profitable climate movie. Another interesting fact: The same scientist releasing this current warning of just two weeks before mid-term elections was also the recipient of $250,000 dollars from the Heinz Foundation and released a similar warning known as "The Hockey Stick Theory" just one week prior the last preseidental elections. Patterns are so anoying if you go far enough back.

The Shell Game

Ten years ago the IT industry claimed that there would be an economic collapse at the Millennium once all the computers rolled over to 2000 – unless you paid them LOTS of money to fix it. The Millennium came and went without a whimper. Except the occasional laugh from a parking ticket dated 1900. And through the whole thing – all you had to do was type in 2000 into the computer and see if it would crash.

People have always made money scamming the population on cyclical events. They did it with the return of Haley's comet and eclipses. Not much has changed except the scale. Our technology has not changed one of the basic fundamentals of humans - our gullibility. Technology just changed the size of the audience. The Millennium bug was a scam. And global warming is starting to smell the same. Historical trivia: who was the Y2K spokesman then? (Clinton and Gore) Same ones asking for money now. (Clinton and Gore)

Every scam has a diversion. So where is the scam and where is the diversion?

You ready for this. The scam in global warming is NOT that the globe is warming. Of course the globe is warming. We are exiting the Mini Ice Age. All historical data back 1 Million years shows that the globe should be on a warming cycle for the 13th time. Honestly, you should be concerned if the temperature of the earth does NOT change. We know the globe is warming. Any attack against paying for global warming drops back to the argument that the globe is warming. This is the diversion. You are arguing a strongly proven historical fact.

The SCAM is not that the earth is at historically high temperatures - because it isn't even close to historical highs. This is why pro-global warming data doesn't go back further than the last hundered years. But pro-Global Warming says we are headed to higher temperatures than now - which historical data says is absolutely correct.

The scam is that Man is responsible for the increasing temperatures AND that man has the power to change it! So send money or die. The heart of the scam lies in man's arogance that we are so powerful that we can change the enviroment. So send money. It is called a shell game.

The real question is "How do you know man is changing the enviroment" not "Is the globe warming". But as long as we live in the most advanced civilization in history - our arogance allows us to imediatley accept we have the power to change the enviroment and instead argue the cost to reverse it. So send money to scientists and powerful organizations who have the power to change it. Y2K proves it works well, real well. If nothing happens - congratualtions are in order - we acted fast enough. But you aren't gettng your money back. If a disaster happens - it is proof we didn't act fast enough - send more moeny.

I have an easy request - before I cough up money to pay for global warming you have to convience me of two things 1) that it is not unusual and 2) that man is responsible. One easy chart should do it. It is after all just temperature and a timeline. Show me the chart! All those Millions and Millions of dollars and there is not one conviencing chart?

I'll take you to the ocean and convience you that I can make the ocean retreat in the next six hours and if you don't pay me you will die. I just hope you aren't around tommorow to witness the tide.

American Quagmire

2006-09-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

This weeks Iraqi style reporting of US News:

As the war on immigration rages on in American politics a Mexican illegal immigrant dragged an American woman to her death behind a vehicle. This comes just one week after Congress voted to build a 700 mile fence across the border. Another illegal immigrant was killed in attempt to cross the border while 16 being are held in custody. The administration denies its policies toward imigration are responsible for any of the recent deaths.

Similar local race relations are spurring violence where 100,000 evacuees from New Orleans are blamed for the violent crime rates that have increased in Houston “almost 14 percent in one district and homicides that have nearly doubled in another.” Violence seems to continue to escalate and the refuges are quoted as saying the “rate is going to go up if they don't get more free.” More Houstonians, predominately white middle class, continue take up arms as gun sales and concealed-handgun licenses have increased. Several months ago, embattled New Orleans mayor, a black American, asked the administration to fund continued National Guard presence against the local insurgency as the death toll and violence post Katrina continues to climb.

Elsewhere, race relations may also be responsible for the shooting of five Duquesne University basketball players. Basketball teams are typically comrpised of black athletes. Duquesne President Charles J. Dougherty said he hoped the second arrest would put the university on "the road back to normalcy and back to the safety and security that we have known for years on our campus."

President Bush and his administration have not spoken out on the recent immigration and racial related deaths or the escalation of violence. Nor will the President visit the memorials of any of the dead.

Blue Finger

2006-09-21T20:03:00.000-05:00

Perhaps American should take a cue from a fledgling democracy, Iraq, and use the Blue Finger to confirm single person voting. A judge in Georgia recently threw out a version of a law requiring voters to present an ID when voting.

“Opponents argue it disenfranchises poor, elderly and minority voters who are less likely to have a driver's license or other valid government-issued photo ID.”

Two problems with this argument: 1) ID’s are issued for free in Georgia. 2) A photo ID is required to do anything in this world. I suppose the poor and minorities are also disenfranchised from telephone service, electrical service, buying alcohol, opening a bank accounts, collecting welfare, seeing doctors or opening P.O. boxes to receive social security checks, because the rest of America has to show I.D.’s to do these things.

I push for the blue finger – the only citizen it disfranchises are fingerless people. Honestly, I feel voter fraud disenfranchises my vote as an American Citizen. But then again, college educated, white, middle class citizens don’t have civil liberty unions representing us… Guess that makes me part of the enfranchised?

Guns Make Green House Gases

2006-09-20T13:27:00.001-05:00

I heard a comedian the other day comment on the argument that “Guns Kill People”. He said, “If guns kill people, then I can blame all my spelling errors on my pencil.”

Well put.

Unfortunately this logic is being further applied – The State of California recently sued six American car manufacturers for damages caused by green house gases. Honestly, I think the liberal lawyers had the cojones they would step up and go after the cause for cars emitting exhaust, the bullets in this metaphor – the drivers. Sue the drivers.

The policy should be – buy a car but don’t drive it. Forget buying American – Millions will be spent defending against this law suit. One week after ford cuts 1/3 of its salaried employees they have to prepare against this case. (Hope the retained the lawyers.) This should strengthen foreign automakers status in Califronia. Next on the list is McDonalds for serving cows that also emit Green House gases and fines on public farting. Naturally, American Automakers are the problem – because Hondas and Volkswagens have a liberal exhaust filter.

Who wins – the lawyers driving their SUVs.

Toothpaste In Carry-On Is A Luxury

2006-09-18T20:36:00.000-05:00

Where does luggage go on a bus? – In the luggage compartment below the bus. Where does luggage go in a cab? – In the trunk. Pop Quiz: Where does luggage go on an airplane? … How about in the luggage hold below the aircraft.

Carrying all your luggage onto the airplane and placing it in the overheads is a luxury. The recent ban on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage is not a violation of rights, it is a common sense ban long overdo.

Look at the history:

Yousef, a Muslim extremist, exploded a bomb on a plane in 1996 with nitroglycerin smuggled in contact lens solution, detonated with a Casio digital watch and batteries smuggled in his shoes. That was a dry run for Operation Bojinka to blow up ten airplanes. Hamas, Muslim exteremists, were caught in France in the eighties attempting to blow up ten airplanes with liquids smuggled in liquor bottles. Recently, Muslim extremists were caught in a plot to blow up around ten airplanes with liquids smuggled in drink bottles.

If you had to implement one policy, and only one policy to prevent this from happening – what would it be? Aparently, racial profiling of Muslim extremists is not the correct answer. Neither is banning the flight of ten airplanes at the same time. Which leaves - banning liquids from carry on luggage.

The real question is why did it take revealing a bomb plot a fourth time before common sense said check liquids in carry-ons. I suppose the left would prefer ten planes actually fall out of the sky before banning liquids from carry ons. Because, nor more than four weeks after the attempt of terrorists to blow up a plane for the thrid time with liquid explosives the left prints that it is impossible.

Haruki Ikegami, the Japanese business man killed by Yousef’s bomb will be relieved. Apparently, he wasn’t really killed by liquid explosives on a plane because the task was a “highly dangerous and sophisticated task”. Which, eerily enough, is also part of the job description of a commercial airliner pilot.

I fly every week for work. I still take everything now, that I used to before the liquid and gel ban.

CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE.

When is the last time you say anyone use hair gel, toothpaste, perfume, eye liner or nail polish in their seat? (Although I have seen several that needed it.) Having access to these items ten inches above your head is a luxury. Shut up, stop whining and stand in line at baggage claim. Stop protecting terrorist capabilities to bring bombs on airplanes.

But the lunacy of blatantly ignoring the serial actions of Muslim extremist to kill means we aren’t really arguing about the right to carry toothpaste in carry-on luggage. That could only be a work of "fiction".

BACK!!!

2006-09-18T20:35:00.000-05:00

Back from a long hiatus.

lead, follow, or, oh never mind...

2005-03-17T12:25:00.000-06:00

Ya know, all this blathering by the media, especially the European media, about the President's recent appointments is REALLY PISSING ME OFF! I just read a Financial Times article (hat tip to Drudge) decrying the nominations of Paul Wolfowitz as the president of the World Bank and John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. The article states, “Mr. Bush has put forward two men who have been the most passionate advocates for the view that if the US leads, the rest of the world will follow and fall into line.” Well excuse-the-hell-out-of-me. When the “rest of the world” stands up and tries to lead we’ll consider following. Until then, shut the hell up and let us do what we do best.

The authors go on to say, “With the successful elections in Iraq in January, and the possibility of democratic reforms in Lebanon and Egypt, his claims that the war could trigger a broader transformation in the region look more plausible than they did several months ago.” Really? Ya think? Oh, don’t forget Afghanistan.

When will the media types finally wake up and take a big pull off a hot, steaming mug of Bush-was-right?

Securing the Indian Summer

2005-02-15T13:22:00.000-06:00

“Indian casinos pulled in $18.5 billion in 2004, a 10 percent increase over 2003.” – AP

“The Bureau of Indians Affairs would be sliced by $100 million to $2.2 billion. The reduction would come almost entirely from the agency's effort to build more schools.” – CNN

In simple math, Indian casinos have an increase of 1.7 Billion in one year. Bush's new draconian budget removed $100 Million from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The bureau still has a one year increase of 1.6 Billion with Bush's cut adding to a total of $20.7 Billion just between casinos and the US Government and they respond with school cuts? "What about the children!!!"

This qualifies as an Indian government surplus.

No lifeguard on duty.

2005-02-15T12:13:00.000-06:00

Two frenchmen and an englishman find a lamp and they rub it. The genie pops out and grants them one wish each.

Jaques is very patriotic, and says to the genie "I am worried about attacks on la France from our neighbours. I want a 20 foot high wall all around her borders." Paf! The Genie makes it so.

Next it's Pierres turn "I am still worried about attacks on la France from the air. Put a roof over the whole of her." Paf! And again the genie makes it so.

Jack, the English guy thinks for a minute, takes a sip of his beer and says to the genie, "Fill it with water."

Afghanistan's First Female What?

2005-02-15T11:51:00.000-06:00

“President Hamid Karzai is preparing to appoint Afghanistan's first female provincial governor, his spokesman said Tuesday, in another step toward reviving women's rights trampled by the former hardline Taliban government” – Associated Press. This is a tremendous stride, not only for regional women’s rights, but an action that alone represents the seriousness of Afghanistan’s newly elected government to embrace democracy, equality and representation.

The Global Women’s Issue Task Force for the National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO) is silent on the appointment. However, the NCWO has belligerently demanded that Iraq reserve 40 percent of all government positions for women. It was one hundred and forty-four years before women in the United States could vote. Isn’t it embarrassing enough that a Muslim country has already embraced women rights in their first democratic election, let alone attempting to upstage the United States in a working-mom feminist movement? We, after-all, only appointed our second female secretary of state this year.

NCWO further declares that for Iraq’s government “[t]o be at all credible, the U.S. commitment must extend to the entire Iraqi population”. There it is; the ever-feared "legitimacy of Iraq’s government" card, since they did oppose the Iraqi liberation. By similarity, I guess our government too fails the legitimacy test under Bush. Good news is that early signs in Iraq show that candidates in the upcoming presidential elections will be catering to the Iraqi soccer-mom vote, since, after-all, Iraqi women can vote and soccer players have been liberated from the torture chambers.

I am an optimist and believe that silence from prominent women’s organizations such as NOW and NCWO could only mean that they are saving energy for Afghanistan’s first men's pro-golf tournament: the Afghan National. Should be a good fight.

Hero Watch II

2005-02-14T16:01:00.000-06:00

Washington Army National Guardsmen, Spc. Gerrit Kobes, received the Silver Star for saving the lives of several soldiers while under fire. Why this won’t be reported is that the soldiers, which he risked his life under fire to save, were all Iraqi’s.

Hero Watch

2005-02-14T10:45:00.000-06:00

"Brad Kasal and another Marine who was killed in action at Fallujah, may become the first Marine Corps recipients of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War."

This man is a hero. And further proof that liberty, freedom and capitalism create a volunteer army that solider to solider has deeper veins to cause than any of these religious fanatics they are fighting. Please read his story. Thanks to Black-five for keeping his story posted.

Blood in the Water

2005-02-10T13:00:00.000-06:00

What are the depths of journalistic hypocrisy? Are reporters now to excuse themselves from stories do to personal history? There wouldn’t be any journalists left to cover Anti-Drug stories. Shocking News: "Journalist who wrote piece biased against drug-users caught smoking marijuana." Liberal bloggers have connected conservative reporter Jeff Gannon to male porn escort services. Gannon’s homosexual personal life is obviously hypocritical since he wrote on conservative family values. This belongs in the hypocrisy trophy case; right next to the student advocating his right not to wearin seatbelts that was killed in a car accident. But where's the story? Next breaking headline: Illiterate writer pushes No-Child-Left Behind.

Blog-investigation, hidden behind a rapture of personal self-destruction, includes fraternity pictures, past residences, and evidence he poured salt on slugs when he was 5. Journalism requires a degree of relevance and integrity. Gannon's peronal life may be devoid of it, but that doesn’t invoke open-season. Sadly, the liberal blogs, from the party of “tolerance”, are dripping with gay bigotry from “Gay frat-boy” to “buttboy”. Hypocrisy is using “tolerance” and "butt-boy" in the same sentence. In agreement, a liberal blogger did reply that the gay bashing crossed a line, since the left would never use racial slurs in describing Armstrong Williams. (Condelezza Rice however...)

Stick to the real story: How did he get a temporary white house press pass and possible CIA scoops on the Plame story in addition to getting paid to publish pro-Bush articles? Anything else is personal hypocrisy. You would think the Press Secretary would perform CYA background checks, if nothing else. (Cover-Your-Arse) It does no one good to have shady characters asking the President of the United States questions.

In jest, the self-protection of bloggers has begun as a right wing blogger, Life Like Pundits, has already “outed” himself and his love of actress Gillian Anderson, just to be safe. The personal destruction of a non-elected reporter must be checked. Holding a white house press pass should never invite a Salem-style hunt from disagreeing reporters. Anyone know Helen Thomas’s preference? (Anyone want to know?) A good story stands, independent of any personal history. If Al Capone were gay, he’d still be guilty ~ perhaps only trading a legacy of infamy with a party punch line of dying from syphilis after his stint in prison.

As my joint blogger, Mr. Right, points out, “[The left is] so beaten down with the success of the elections (here and abroad), economic upturns, positive vibes from France (shudder), etc. There is blood in the water." With this mob mentality of the left blogs, I think we'll call them "mlogs".

Don't Shoot Me... With That Gun, Try This One

2005-02-03T15:50:00.000-06:00

(I can’t resist.) John Kerry delivered the weapons they shot at him?

John Kerry, 2005 – “I hope the guy would come out of the woodwork and say, ‘I'm the guy who went up with John Kerry. We delivered weapons to the Khmer Rouge.”

John Kerry, 1986 - "I remember what it was like to be shot at by [the] Khmer Rouge. I have that memory which is seared – seared – in me."

Now, was he shot at before he delivered the weapons? I assume he waited until their ammo ran out before re-supplying them. The Swift boats were right about one Purple Heart. He WAS shoot at with his own weapon, we are in disagreement about who pulled the trigger.

Regardless of where John Kerry was Christmas of 1968; or that the Khmer Rouge didn’t exist until 1970 – 1971 when the exiled Cambodian King Sihanouk allied with the communist guerrillas, or that U.S. bombing campaigns of Cambodia didn’t begin until 1969, or that Nixon wasn’t president as Kerry remembers it, or that he was delivering weapons to the enemy,…. HE WAS THERE.

Sealing Bush's Fate

2005-02-01T17:30:00.000-06:00

Consistent dissent from the left over his policies, his decisions and his integrity, will sear President Bush’s legacy in history. The Iraqi elections are proving that it was not the legacy the left intended. Strength requires an opposition. The American left, European elites and United Nations are his opposition.

Acting unilaterally is being resilient, when you’re right.

Iraq’s liberation could have defined the United Nations as the pillar for freedom and strength for the next century. Germany and France could have brushed off last century’s tarnish and revived raw world power, a place that now resides only in their history. Bush’s victory and Iraq’s freedom could have been shared by all Americans. Instead of being rescued by the world, Iraqis are free only from the perseverance of a coalition lead by Bush and Blair.

History is written by the victor. In Iraq, victory is freedom. This victory never required the defeat of the Iraqi people, but only their liberation. Yet, the left selfishly stood against freedom, where victory meant continued oppression and slavery to a dictator. This should never be considered American. Oppression should never be a choice of the oppressed or of the left. Bush choose freedom as the only measure of victory. With this combination, you cannot be wrong.

It is not that Iraqis have Iraq back, but Iraq now has the Iraqis back. The silent majority is now unified in freedom; by a patriotic voice they have never heard unified before. Beyond liberation, it required one act of bravery from every Iraqi citizen; to vote. This is Bush’s legacy. And they have already heard.

Messopotamian
"Finally, we heard the speech of President Bush Loud and clear. All I can say is that this man has all the essential traits of character that distinguishes the great men of history; the insistence and utter conviction and the perseverance and steadfastness in the face of all doubters and detractors. [The election] was a message by the Iraqi people to the American people and their great president. It was the heart of Iraq answering the heart of America that voted to give the President the mandate to finish the task."

"Well, thank you Mr. President, we heard you; and I am sure you also heard us."

An Iraq’s Thoughts
"My grandmother in her late 70's went out in Baghdad and walked to the polling station for a reason. Not because its the perfect elections, not because she is in love with any of the parties but because for the first time nobody forced her. They went to the polls optionally."

Iraq & Iraq’s
"I felt afraid in the morning when I went to vote, now things are changed and I feel strong and ready to fight terrorists because I know for sure that the number of Iraqis who will stand behind me will terrify the terrorists and lead this country to prosperity."

"I can only say thank you all, for supporting us, we cant forget about the help we had, I hope we showed that we deserve that help. GOD BLESS YOU."

Hammorabi
"It is democracy which brings peace, strength and stability. Thanks to all our friends in the USA and on the top of them is George W Bush and we hope they continue to help us to rebuild our country and the structure of our democracy which passed its first step and more yet to come."

Vietnam-head

2005-01-31T23:32:00.000-06:00

Liberals desperately need America to loose another war, because the Vietnam vault is lonely. Less than twenty-four hours after 8 million Iraqi voted, they let the Gimp loose. Unearthed from the vault: Vietnam! Iraqi’s haven’t awakened from their hangovers and its already “Good Morning Vietnam”. What’s the liberal blitz formation for the Iraqi elections, but a 1967 article on Vietnam’s elections.

"United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 percent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday." - New York Times, 1967

With this much use, “Vietnam” will replace four-lettered words in the English language.

“Vietnam! I locked my keys in the car!”
“Honey! Your dog Vietnam’ed on the carpet again!”

From the mouths of eight-year olds at a playground soon, “Ted is a Vietnam-head!”

Freedom's Finger

2005-01-31T01:00:00.000-06:00

One blue finger. A finger dipped in freedom and dried in sacrifice. Who knew freedom's fashion would be one blue finger?

Iraqi Doctor
The happiest day of my life is 30th of January

Iraq The Model
I walked forward to my station, cast my vote and then headed to the box, where I wanted to stand as long as I could, then I moved to mark my finger with ink, I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all the world's tyrants. I put the paper in the box and with it, there were tears that I couldn't hold; I was trembling with joy.

Democracy in Iraq
It is such an amazing feeling to be able to have some control over the destiny of my nation, a feeling I have not known before! My voting was only a simple act, I went, I identified myself, got my finger stained, filled out a ballot, and dropped it in a box. It is not a complex or grand process to the eye, but it is one that I will forever remember and will recount to my children, and their children.

Free Iraqi
I cared no less about voting on a personal level. This was my way to stand against those who humiliated me, my family and my friends. It was my way to scream in the face of all tyrants, not just Saddam and his Ba'athists and tell them, "I don't want to be your, or anyone's slave. You have kept me in your jail all my life but you never owned my soul." It was my way of finally facing my fears and finding my courage and my humanity again.

The only things I can feel so strongly now are hope, excitement, pride and a strange internal peace. I have won my battle and I'm watching the whole Iraqis winning their battle too.

The Mesopotamian
I bow in respect and awe to the men and women of our people who, armed only with faith and hope are going to the polls under the very real threats of being blown to pieces.

My condolences to the Great American people for the tragic recent losses of soldiers. The blood of Iraqis and Americans is being shed on the soil of Mesopotamia; a baptism with blood. A baptism of a lasting friendship and alliance, for many years to come, through thick and thin, we shall never forget the brave soldiers fallen while defending our freedom and future. Thank God for giving us the chance.

Hammorabi - (Please visit for the pictures)
Today is the day in which the democracy and freedom born in the heart of the Middle East, in Iraq. Our thanks go to George W. Bush who will enter the history as the leader of the freedom and democracy in the recent history! He and his people are our friends for ever!

The Iraqis showed the world a lesson how to challenge the terrorists! Today only we may announce the victory!

Kurdo's World - (Please visit for the pictures)
All these fingers are up for you terrorist, anti-democracy, pro-beheading, suicide-bombers, Baathiest, Saddamist and anti-peace people.

In Kurdistan and Iraq now, people check each others index finger, "Oh you have a normal finger ?!! How come it is not blue ?! You are NOT democratic at all!"

Ironically, Al-Zarqawi, the head of the terrorists and co, means "The Blue", and the finger of every voter participated in this great event, is blue!

Loser's Blog
The history will record how Iraqis challenged even death today; Iraqis showed they are like the rest of nations willing for democracy, peace and justice... and [I] want to salute our new army and the multinational forces, with out them this dream wouldn't come true at all...

Roads to Iraq
Today I can walk tall, I can say I am Iraqi with a proud not only because I voted but also I fought against terrorist with my voting ballot. [T]o be honest I was very slow when putting the sign because I wanted to enjoy the moment, putting the ballot in the box was the most difficult emotional time, when I finished Iraqis (which I don’t know) came to congratulating me and shaking my hands.

Political Balance

2005-01-30T23:05:00.000-06:00

Don’t “overhype this election” John Kerry warns in an NBC interview. "This election is a sort of demarcation point, and what really counts now is the effort to have a legitimate political reconciliation,"

I use the “Reconcile” button in Quicken every two weeks to balance my checking and savings account. Hopefully the help menu on Iraq’s new website could explain “political reconciliation”.

Published on John Kerry’s website are the four cornerstones for his plan on “Winning the Peace” in Iraq, of which establishing a viable government and legitimate election is a top priority. He emphasizes successful elections because “[c]redible elections are key to producing an Iraqi government that has the support of the Iraqi people and an assembly to write a Constitution that yields a viable power sharing arrangement.”

Don't overhype John Kerry's plan. I believe John Kerry has yet to reconcile that the 2004 election is his demarcation point.

I Am Proud To Be An American

2005-01-28T14:20:00.000-06:00

Thoughts from Iraqis who voted early.

neurotic Iraqi wife

The feeling of euphoria, standing there waiting for the queue controllers to usher me in was beyond any feeling I felt before. Everyone stood there clapping as I made my way through to the registration station. My eyes watered, for that day was the first day ever I felt I have a voice in my own country's future.

This is the beginning of a new era for us. For the first time we are given a choice. For the first time there are names on the ballot papers,and not just the words "I agree" or "I disagree". The latter being the death sentence for anyone who ticked it.

Crowds and crowds of people started walking in at 730am on a Friday morning. It was simply beautiful. Families singing and clapping as they made their way through. I cant describe the feelings of jubilation. There were chocolates and sweets being distributed and one family brought in huge pots of rice and mutton and gave it to everyone in the center.
I guess thats all to report today, everyone was happy, chirpy and at the end of the day real real tired including moi. Most of all, EYES were exhausted searching in the massive crowds for the marked fingers, frowning if they dont see that mark, The Mark of Freedom......

Live From Dallas

Iraqis in Australia danced in the streets on Friday, twirling scarfs and singing, and proudly displaying blue ink on their fingers which told the world they had cast the first votes in Iraq's long-awaited election.

"People should not be afraid to vote," said Nassima Barzani, 68, proudly clutching a small Iraqi flag close to her chest as she waited to vote for the first time in her life.

Christian Assyrians from Iraq dressed in ornately embroidered traditional costumes with feathered caps began dancing, twirling and singing on a footpath. The beat of a drum and a high pitched flute added to the festive mood. Iraqis in business suits walked arm in arm after casting ballots before work, while some acted like giddy tourists, snapping photographs of the voting as an historic memento. "Iraqis are hugging each other, kissing each other, this is a wonderful day," said Abood. "I am born anew today."

IRAQ THE MODEL

On Sunday, the sun will rise on the land of Mesopotamia. I can't wait, the dream is becoming true and I will stand in front of the box to put my heart in it.

The Axis of Man

2005-01-27T17:38:00.000-06:00

While Boston snowplows work overtime clearing the highest snowfall in 113 years, Britain researchers conclude that global warming is ‘twice as bad as previously thought’. The one consistency of liberals is the ability to coincide warnings of global warming with historically low weather; similar to Al Gore’s global warming gaff on New England’s coldest day in fifty years.

The report is ridiculous. Simulations increased global temperatures by 11 degrees C resulting in a Hollywood “Day After Tomorrow” melting of ice caps, flooding and famine. Proof of the ridiculous is in the same article; “average global temperature rises of 11C are unprecedented.” 100 million years ago when dinosaurs walked the earth “the global mean temperature was about 6C higher than present,’” The greatest temperature swings in geologic history don’t exceed 7 degrees Celsius and they simulated 11 degrees C in fifty years. Global warming simulations are "twice as bad" when simulating twice the tempurature increase in Earth's history.

In the 1970’s liberals believed by 1980 “global cooling” would cause massive famines and invite an ice age. Newsweek marched out PhD’s from prominent universities with evidence: half a degree drops and increases in snow cover with “the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded, 148 twisters killed more than 300 people”. Newsweek warned, “that (no) government leaders anywhere are even prepared.” It was hundreds of years before man accepted Copernicus’s theories that Earth revolved around the Sun. In the information age, it only took thirty years for liberals to believe that Earth revolves around Man.

Selective ingorance is rampant. Liberal history books label the "Medieval Warming Period" the two hundred years of anomalous warm weather when Vikings, free of ice, roamed the oceans and settled Greenland. Is it coincidence that the Great Famine and The Black Plaque, that killed one third of Europe’s population in the 14th Century, was at the beginning of the 400 year "Little Ice Age”. And coincidentally, the Vikings also left Greenland as cold weather and ice settled back in the waterways. The 21st century must be labeled SUV Warming Period. Last year, Mount St. Helens, polluted Washington State more than every industry in the state combined. Twenty ice ages in history and liberals want a Kyoto treaty.

In the next post, I will talk about 11 year solar cycles, planetary precession, solar winds and other phenomena of orbital mechanics. Because after all, snowbirds fly 1200 miles south to the equator and lay in bathing suits on the beach and tan under the Sun. If you want to understand global warming, lower your SPF.

Yea, But Can You Sing And Dance?

2005-01-26T17:32:00.000-06:00

Today, the Senate confirmed Condoleezza Rice as the first African American woman as The United States Secretary of State. Congratulations for elevating your self to a position previously held by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Henry Clay. Congratulations for holding the highest position an African American woman has ever held in U.S. History.

Dr. King’s dream has been realized, when we live in a day that men, women, blacks or whites can hold an office regardless of race, color or creed. Both of George Bush’s Secretary of States are the first and second, back-to-back African Americans. The dream must be true, because there are no websites announcing Condoleezza at any of national organizations for minorities or equal rights.

The NAACP instead congratulated Oprah Winfrey as the 36th NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame Inductee. Most likely, 12 actresses and three Motown singers ago, the NACCP would have recognized Condeleeza’s advancement, but Oprah passes out free cars. Jessie Jackson’s Rainbow Push / Coalition celebrated Johnny Carson’s passing and starting the career of many African American’s on his television show. The celebration of actors by the NAACP and Jessie Jackson must be a coincidence. Similarly, the ACLU’s headlines cover support for displaying marijuana policy reform ads in public transit systems and opposition to Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General. The ACLU has not commented if a high Hispanic requires a 'green' card. Comparisons of Condeleezza’s press coverage with Barak Obama’s first month as a senator, one might mistake him for Captain of the Moon and the only great hope.

NOW, the National Organization of Women, yawned. After boasting for four years for Madam Albright why fawn over number two? NOW’s recent headlines include: NOW Opposes Attorney General Nominee Alberto Gonzales, NOW Activists Stand Up to Bush Agenda and NOW Calls for Resignation of Harvard University's President. With such firm opposition to men (Bush, Gonzales and Harvard's President), it is hard to miss what NOW supports (Women). Equally, the National Council of Women’s Organizations was busy updating their home pages permanent link to Augusta National to bother with silly Secretaries of State.

What's the last thing that...

2005-01-26T15:11:00.000-06:00

Goose - Beech Baron intersection at 185kt.

Goose 1

Goose 2

Goose 3

The geese's went to pieces...

Amazing that the pilot was able to get on the ground safely.

The Democratic Ideal by Joshua Muravchick

2005-01-25T13:52:00.000-06:00

An outstanding article, The Democratic Ideal by Joshua Muravchik, frames the spread of democracy with history and Bush’s principles. Excerpts from his piece show the originality and substance in his views:

“In 1775 there were no democracies. Then came the American Revolution and raised the number to one. Some 230 years later there are 117, accounting for 61% of the world's governments.”

“In the wake of 9/11, President Bush concluded that it was no accident that this region where democracy was uniquely absent was the epicenter of global terrorism, and it was here that he launched his campaign for freedom, of which last week's speech was a broader statement.”
“And for those who doubt that President Bush is earnest about his campaign for freedom, I refer them to Mullah Omar or Saddam Hussein.”

Inaugurate This

2005-01-24T15:40:00.000-06:00

Opponents write that Bush’s second inauguration speech as a vague utopia while even former staunch supports, as Peggy Noonan, claim his vision to be a “land somewhere between dreamy and disturbing”. Mr. Noonan continues, labeling the president’s call to America as being over the top.

The world itself is now dominated by a new spirit. The passion for freedom is on the rise. Tapping this new spirit, there can be no nobler nor more ambitious task for America to undertake. - Jimmy Carter, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1977

What was Bush’s ‘over the top’ call to America: “Renewed in our strength - tested, but not weary - we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom," Surely, spreading freedom and fighting tyranny in the world must be new themes in an inauguration speech to be labeled ‘over the top.’

Human freedom is on the march. Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit. America must remain freedom's staunchest friend, for freedom is our best ally. Every victory for human freedom will be a victory for world peace. - Ronald Reagan, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1985

Surely, in Peggy Noonan’s world, no former president has made such broad declarations.

We will stand mighty for peace and freedom, and maintain a strong defense against terror and destruction. And the world’s greatest democracy will lead a whole world of democracies. - Bill Clinton, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1997

But only a review of former president’s inauguration speeches could compare. I did that review. In the last 40 years every president's inauguration speech has pitted freedom and democracy against tyranny and oppression. Every inauguration speech called on America’s freedom as the only path against tyranny. More importantly is that America's freedom resides in world freedom.

Our Nation's course is abundantly clear. We seek no dominion over our fellow man, but man's dominion over tyranny and misery. - Lyndon B. Johnson, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1965

No man can be fully free while his neighbor is not. - Richard M. Nixon, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1969

Since when did you have to defend yourself against a call of freedom? If you don't support freedom for the suppressed, you inversely support their suppression.

For a new breeze is blowing, and a world refreshed by freedom seems reborn; for in man's heart, if not in fact, the day of the dictator is over. The totalitarian era is passing, its old ideas blown away like leaves from an ancient, lifeless tree. - George H. Bush, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1989

I am sorry Peggy but you are wrong. America’s call to freedom is not new. America’s call to freedom is not ludicrous. Freedom’s call is American. Tolerance of tyranny is freedom's enemy.

Because we are free we can never be indifferent to the fate of freedom elsewhere. We do not seek to intimidate, but it is clear that a world which others can dominate with impunity would be inhospitable to decency and a threat to the well-being of all people. - Jimmy Carter, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1977

Our Nation can be strong abroad only if it is strong at home. And we know that the best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation. - Jimmy Carter, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1977

All presidents during your lifetime Peggy, embraced the same call at inauguration. I only hope that you too will believe again.

Great nations of the world are moving toward democracy through the door to freedom. The people of the world agitate for free expression and free thought through the door to the moral and intellectual satisfactions that only liberty allows. We know what works: Freedom works. We know what's right: Freedom is right. - George H. Bush, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1989

The continuous drive in American history to free suppressed people has not changed. Still, no one expected any former president to completely succeed that call during his administration.

The American covenant called on us to help show the way for the liberation of man. And that is today our goal. Thus, if as a nation there is much outside our control, as a people no stranger is outside our hope. - Lyndon B. Johnson, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1965

When John F. Kennedy graced history with “The only thing man has to fear, is fear itself”, there were no accusations of ‘over the top’. Is this line not over the top? Pundits didn’t attempt to derive JFK’s policies from man’s fear. So how now, can you feign to question Bush’s policies of embracing freedom?

A person can be expected to act responsibly only if he has responsibility. This is human nature. - Richard M. Nixon, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1973

Are so many so opposed to his principles that opposition to Bush includes opposition for freedom? Or is it that opponents fear Bush’s strength in action; then from that strength derive policy. I think both. On the heels of two peaceful democratic elections in Palestine and Afghanistan and on the eve of Iraqi elections, the daunting task of freedom is already in Bush’s legacy.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. – John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

It is not that the Middle East or China aren’t ripe for freedom. It is not that those currently under thumb of tyranny don’t desire the same freedom Americans embrace. I think that opponents of freedom in tyrannies are selfish. As recorded in history, we do these things because they are hard.

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. – John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

Bill Clinton got to celebrate in his inauguration speech that "for the very first time in all of history, more people on this planet live under democracy than dictatorship." Well, to Bush’s successor, I say, “Inaugurate this.” Bush's successor will, just as Bush did, to no accomplishment of the dissenters.

The Zero Yard Line

2005-01-20T18:09:00.000-06:00

Abortion is the zero yard line.

When a football team is making defensive calls on the zero yard line, they have already lost. Defensive plays on the zero yard line have only one intention; to minimize damage. But all sports fans know that the game was lost up field, well before the zero yard line.

This is not a good strategy in sports and an even worse one in life.

Each side of the abortion debate, pro-life or pro-choice, does not realize that they are actually on the same team. No matter the outcome, the reality is the same; there is an unwanted child. Instead of accepting the reality that they are on the same team and pinned on the zero yard line together; they insist on arguing defensive plays with each other.

Both pro-life and pro-choice opponents are making the same defensive call: What do you do with an unwanted child? While arguing about the child, both sides missed the key word: UNWANTED. That is why nobody believes they are on the same team.

Let’s review the up field plays that got to the zero yard line: unprotected sex; premarital sex; promiscuity; lack of family support; un-committed partners; financial instability; youth… The list goes on.

I will squelch criticism right now for those that think I am a staunch Christian preaching absolute abstinence before marriage. I am a realist. You won’t stop sex. So what are the up field plays I am talking about beyond abstinence? (Abstinence is still one hell of a defense).

Yes; sex education, protection and responsibility are plays. For any of these plays to work it requires social reinforcement. Social reinforcement that holds a stigma against blatant promiscuity and out-of-wedlock birth. Social reinforcement that keeps families together and reinforces responsibility. Social reinforcement that obligates families to provide support to mother and child. Social reinforcement that respects virginity and values waiting before sex. Social reinforcing that shares responsibility for protection and procreation, by both partners, before sex is ever discussed.

But our society finds these values obsolete, taboo, private or religious. But most of all, our current society finds them conservative and out-dated. In a society pressured for openness and liberal progressiveness, these topics are avoided.

Why can a complete stranger ask another their views on abortion, but that same person blushes when asked about condoms or promiscuity? The media makes abortion a prerequisite for holding office and every politician has a canned response. But that same politician hesitates when asked about the stigma of premarital sex or virginity. When did it become acceptable to talk openly about killing fetuses, but unacceptable to discuss virginity? It is the same conversation, just further up field.

Our social values need to move back up field where they belong and off of the zero yard line. Back up the field where values direct choices. When our society holds values as the only measure and family remains the foundation for support; then even an unplanned pregnancy doesn’t correlate to an unwanted child. When there are still options, the topic of abortion doesn’t even have to be discussed.

No child should be unwanted. In both the “Pro-life” and “Pro-choice” arguments the child is still unwanted. And that is why we have already lost.

Down, set, hut!

2005-01-19T15:00:00.000-06:00

While lurking the comments of one of my favorite blogs, I came across a very heated discussion that evolved into the role of religion in our government. There is something that has been being thrown about by the left seemingly forever: the separation of church and state.

Newsflash! THERE IS NO SUCH THING! To quote the greatest document ever written, the Constitution of the United States, the first amendment states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." How does this come to mean there shall be no mention or use of any religion whatsoever in anything even remotely government related?

Because the left needs religion out of government in order to further their agenda. Gay marriage and abortion are two of the larger issues that come to mind. Im not a bible-thumper by any means, but I do have an upbringing based in a Christian church. I feel that the bible is a guide to living a good, clean life not the word of God. I believe it was written, at a time when the knowledge of the workings of the world was extremely limited compared to our current understandings, to aid in adding stability to society. Some believe that abortion and homosexuality are a sin according to the bible. While I dont agree with the sin theory, I do feel that they are wrong. Not wrong in an incarceration sense, but wrong morally.

One thing they fail to realize is that nearly our entire system of laws can be distilled down into another long-standing document: the Ten Commandments. And that can be summed up with "do unto others..." But this really has very little to do with religion nowadays. The fact that it has been the foundation of Western Civilization and the thousands of years of history that go along with that is completely lost.

Abortion is a horrible act and I would never condone it, participate in it, or suggest it to anyone except to save the life of the mother (not the "health" of the mother, thanks Roe v. Wade). However, I don't like that the government, especially the federal government, is involved. But I don't really have a viable alternative, other than to overturn Roe v. Wade, so I shouldn't complain.

Homosexuality is a little less concrete, however, but still a moral issue. While I have gay friends and have no problem with someones sexual preference, I do have a problem with the wholesale application of the marriage label to a homosexual union. If the argument is "what goes on in the bedroom is my business," I take exception to that. Just because something happens behind closed doors doesnt make it ok. Newsflash again, THERE IS NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY! Go look in the constitution. It’s not there. There has to be a line drawn somewhere. If gay marriage is accepted as a constitutional right, even though traditional marriage is not a right but a privilege, the door is opened for any type of deviant behavior, sexual or otherwise. Thousands of years of societal evolution and cultural norms tell us what is right and what is not.

Discovery and I have a thought on these issues. Liberals argue at the goal line. The support for abortion and gay marriage is a late-arriving argument on the field of logic. Conservatives tackle the issue up field. The issue is family. Abortion and gay marriage dissolve the long-standing and accepted cultural definitions and values of a family unit. So while the left continues to stand in the end zone and cheer for the right for a woman to choose, the right remains firmly planted far up field, cheering for strong family values.

Liberal Truth

2005-01-17T14:49:00.000-06:00

Denial is a stage of recovery and some liberals are actually recovering. Maybe those therapists are working. A diatribe about the true John Kerry from liberal blogger, AmericaBlog, sounds like a Republican before the election:

People didn't like Kerry. Hell, Democrats didn't like Kerry.

His history of waffling (and let's face it, he does waffle - his positions on gay issues were alone proof of that, let alone the old "I voted for it before I voted against it")? His war record?

But Kerry was just like Gore, the candidate WE HAD rather than the candidate WE WANTED.

Will he develop an actual opinion on the war on terror next time?

I hate to be so brutal about it, but how do you spend 20 years in Washington and not have a concrete point of view on the war on terror and especially the war in Iraq?
And while we're at it, someone tell Mrs. Clinton to take a hike as well.

This highlights the entire problem with the Democratic Party, the belief that they can fool the rest of the country with words rather than action. The "Us vs. Them" philosophy destroys a basic tenant of goverment ~ what the people need. When a group unites behind an idea they themselves don't believe, there is a major problem in philosophy. Why are we supposed to believe the next agenda or next candidate? Who are the tools of ignorance? This liberal may be one step closer to understanding what a "value vote" is.

The ends justify the means is a true mantra of the Democratic Party.

The Secret Life of Abu Ghraib

2005-01-17T10:22:00.000-06:00

Reuters reports the U.S. is conducting secret missions in Iran. Sssshhhhh, it’s a secret. Iranian’s probably can’t spell Reuters or have a subscription to the Boston Globe, so national security is safe. Press on with the secret missions.

The real secret, is the contest in the media to connect as many topics with Abu Ghraib as possible. Down in the article, Abu Ghraib pokes it’s head into news in Iran.

“The White House said Iran is a concern and a threat that needs to be taken seriously. But it disputed the report by Hersh, who last year exposed the extent of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.”

* Insert witty joke about liberals and media bias here.

Too Much

2005-01-17T09:18:00.000-06:00

On a crisp January day in 1997, William Jefferson Clinton continued with a lavish 30 Million dollar inauguration, heartlessly ignoring the 11,000 that had lost their lives in natural disasters in 1996. Economic losses from the previous year in the United States alone topped $60 billion. On that January day, 20 Million Chinese were still recovering from the worst flood of the Yangtze River in 150 years, while two million remained homeless. It is still unknown what personal donations the millionaire president, Mr. Clinton, has given to disaster recovery.

These headlines seem unfamiliar, because they were never written. They are now. I swear, a liberal would wake up in the morning after a one-night stand with the anti-Christ and blame his headache on Bush’s health-care policies.

In 1994, 800,000 thousand are massacred in Rwanda on Mr. Clinton’s watch. The left remained quiet. The U.S. responded to the tsunami in Indonesia with one of the largest relief efforts in history and the left wants the president to forgo his inauguration ceremonies, even after a $10,000 personal donation from the president. In unison, the left is exercizing Freedom of Speech.

Now that smoking a cigar it is no longer a presidential protest, the left is complaining about the cost of tobacco at an inauguration. Good thing Mr. Bush doesn’t drink.

Washington's Dead Horses

2005-01-14T15:38:00.000-06:00

Dramatizing the obvious as facts for reenforcement of a point, is fabrication. I call this reverse news.

Obvious from the Washington Post: “The al-Qa'ida membership that was distinguished by having trained in Afghanistan will gradually dissipate, to be replaced in part by the dispersion of the experienced survivors of the conflict in Iraq.” This is news? Usually, in a war, the survivors replace the dead on the battlefield, hence the “to be replaced in part by the experienced survivors”. Good thing the Washing Post isn’t fighting the war; or they’d be caught kicking the dead horse.

Lets go through a similar exercise to take positive news and simple conclusions to create reverse news.

Positive News #1: Afghanistan voted a democratic government three years after America removed the terrorist supporting Taliban.

Simple Conclusion #1: Terrorist training in Afghanistan has dramatically declined.

Simple Conclusion #2: Terrorists that survive become more experienced.

Reverse News in the Wahsing Post : “Iraq has replaced Afghanistan as the training ground for the next generation of ‘professionalized’ terrorists.”

Not news. Perhaps, Iraq has replaced Afghanistan as a training camp, because Afghanistan training camps are now closed for business. The Post missed the Afghan liquidation sale; where terrorists’ turbans were half-off. The definition of professional, is that your paid for services. I guess the financial supporters of ‘professional’ are immaterial. Otherwise, they would just be ‘amateurs’ terrorists.The story’s conclusion was written prior to the facts, reurgitating the same theme: nothing is good from the Iraq war. How else is this obvious news?

Hero

2005-01-14T13:58:00.000-06:00

When you hear about it, you know. When you see it, you understand.
A hero needs no introduction.

Please read his story.

Thank you, A Collection Of Thoughts, for sharing this.

U.N.comparable

2005-01-14T13:37:00.000-06:00

U.S. aid isn’t slow just because the left says it is. If it is slow, then compared to what?

In the past two decades, five or six disasters of the scale of Indonesia each killed over 30,000, leaving millions homeless and tens of thousands injured. There must be room for a comparison there somewhere.

Mud-slides and flooding in December 1999 buried entire towns in Venezuela killing 30,000, displacing approximately 114,000 and affect more than 600,000 people. Initial U.S. aid included $25,000 with an end of week adjustment of $350,000.

The U.N., stingy with criticism, remained silent. Twenty-five thousand dollars, certainly deserving of a paltry-like adjective, barely clears the bar tab of a bilingual U.N. intern. 50,000 people died in an earthquake in Iran in 2003; 33,000 died in an earthquake in Turkey, and no immediate U.S. financial aid surpassed 25 million. Consistently stingy, the U.N. mourned in silence...

So what changed? Follow the money.

Will everyone on the tour bus please look left and gaze upon a George Bush original: a second coalition of the bribed. By creating an international coalition to manage disaster relief in Indonesia, money earmarked for rescue, relief and reconstruction, remains within the coalition. The U.N. is in grave danger of losing its standard disaster relief allowance. Case in point: U.S. assistance in Venezuela eventually topped $8 Billion.

Smelling a possible original thought, the left marched in unison: His speech wasn’t quick enough. Not inspiring enough. Aid not fast enough. Bush sucks.

I’d also invite critics to locate a moving speech from Clinton, prior than Bush's three days mark, on a world disaster. But hypocrisy would not exist without inconsistency. (That speech doesn’t exist.) Let’s imagine Bush's rapid disaster speech delivered in six hours: “I feel your pain for the 10,000 reported dead and promise millions to assist”… Three weeks later the death toll pushes 170,000 dead and climbing, requiring the most assistance in recorded history… Now THAT is bad P.R.

Response saves lives. P.R. does not save lives. Who benefits from relief? The millions of survivors. How are they going to hear a beautiful speech when they’re homeless! What better P.R. then to show up with food, water, rebuild a home and national economy over the next decade while wearing an American Flag?

The most upsetting thing is that on the heels of one of the worst world disasters in history, the left couldn’t resist. You would think, for once, a tragedy could be large enough to stand alone, devoid of personal opinion and personal politics. Even I underestimated the left. At least I know the motives of the U.N. - money.

Chivalry is Dead

2005-01-11T15:11:00.000-06:00

My mother drives a public high school bus and told this story recently:

On my school bus, high school route, I have a rather effeminate boy and a butch girl, who is on the volleyball team, both at the same stop. I have been trying to teach my students manners and I tell all of them to let the ladies go first.

This morning at the stop, it was just the two of them and they both hesitated, not knowing whether to lead with their gender or inclination....

Grab a hand full of dirt, chivalry died of an identity crisis

You Made Me A General

2005-01-10T17:10:00.000-06:00

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him take the global test.

On January 5th 2005, the New York Times reports that “Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State, delivered what one U.S. official described as a 'stern warning' to the Syrian government.” To reinforce the warning, on January 8th, John Kerry visited Syria with the tenacity that could have made him president; “I leave here with a sense that we can improve our relationship.”

What?

The obvious question is why a Senator is visiting with the leaders of the last remaining Baathist government where remnants of Saddam’s government are waging war against the United States in Iraq. Excuse me, I meant ‘insurgency’, not war. It is only aiding and abetting the enemy when you have declared war. After all, Mr. Kerry, never served in a war either, it was a conflict.

The unobvious question is in the phrase, “we can improve our relationship”. I have to ask, what is this "we" stuff, Batman?

As the Associated Press reports “Kerry said he and Assad discussed Iraq, security, Lebanon and weapons of mass destruction.” What was it that Kerry proposed that “we” could do on the topics they discussed? I assume “we”, the U.S., can improve “our” relationship by not killing Syrian insurgents in Iraq? Perhaps, "we" should withdraw troops from Iraq and ignore the 14,000 Syrian troops in Lebanon. Is that what “we” can do?

The next unobvious question is, “what weapons of mass destruction?” He insisted the United States lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and yet he flew all the way to Syria to talk about their weapons of mass destruction? Does a Syrian truck driver require a commercial driver license to move weapons of mass destruction that don’t exist?

I wonder if Kerry met with "Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the No. 2 official in Iraq under Saddam and now the most wanted Iraqi still sought by the United States", since he too has been traveling in and out of Syria in the last 18 months?

Mr. Kerry might have missed President Bush’s warning to the Syrians to stop “‘meddling’ in the internal affairs of Iraq. Washington and Baghdad both have said that key support for the insurgency in Iraq was coming from a half brother of Saddam Hussein and Baath Party leaders based in Syria.” (Associated Press).

Just two months ago, “in September, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and dismantle the Syrian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group. Syria, with some 14,000 troops stationed in Lebanon, is the main power broker in that country.” (Associated Press) Senator Kerry did not comment on what the U.N. could do to improve their relationship with Syria? I assume he needs 16 more U.N. resolutions before he decides Syria should improve "their" relationship instead of "we" improving ours?

The most touching segment, reported by the associated press, was “after Kerry left the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, 13-year-old Mustafa al-Nabulsi approached him with a drawing of the senator as a soldier in his Vietnam days.”

“You have made me much more important than I was, though. You made me a general,” Kerry said.

“I wish you were the president,” al-Nabulsi said.

“Thank you very much. So do I,” Kerry said.
Ah, a day in the life of John Kerry; I think, therefore I am. Two weeks after the worst natural disaster in modern times, Syria is an appropriate place to visit. With every diplomat in the entire free and unfree world visiting Indonesian victims, Syria is perfect for a Senator to play president and hope no one notices.

Hat-tip to Alarming News.

Irony Cracks A Smile

2005-01-04T13:16:00.000-06:00

Perfect irony pointed out at Powerline: Pablo Paredes, the Navy petty officer 3rd class who refused to sail with the USS Bonhomme Richard as a Conscience Objector, must be feeling proud now.

The Bonhomme Richard is in the Indian Ocean helping to relieve the suffering of tsunami victims.

The U.N.'s Finest

2004-12-23T13:53:00.000-06:00

From the World News: “HOME-MADE pornographic videos shot by a United Nations logistics expert in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sparked a sex scandal that threatens to become the UN’s Abu Ghraib.”

Abu Ghraib had adult male detainees in prison during warfare captured on Polaroid in embarrassing situations. The UN pornographic sex ring has teenage and preteenage girls bribed to have sex with jars of mayonnaise and jam resulting in 141 pregnancies in March 2004 alone. Of course, justice under the UN’s zero-tolerance policies, the guilty men were sent home. These videotapes and photographs were then distributed to Russia.

Yes, I see the comparison: Iraqi men have a silly photograph they get to frame and several hundreds of teenage girls have a child they get to raise alone. Maybe it’s because the guilty are French and Russian?

No better solution to rebuild a war-torn country than to procreate in it. Does the 700 Million designated for rebuilding the Congo pertain to child support? I suppose since it was French, Russian, Uruguayan and Canadian citizens involved under the U.N. this qualifies for the “global” test.

"I hold here in my hand..."

2004-12-23T13:25:00.000-06:00

Who needs proof of documentation anymore?

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) apparently has thousands of pages of documentation that finally prove that Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld directly ordered widespread abuse of foreign detainees. This is the silver bullet Dan Rather destroyed his career over. The Achilles heel John Kerry and all attempted presidential candidates spent 2004 crawling on hands and knees for. "Poof" It has arrived.

So I ask one question: Where is it?

Thousands of pages released to public record, and I can’t seem to Google just one page.

Dan Rather made accusations with fabricated documentation. So could this be a fabricated accusation with documentation? Did the internet bloggers and trolls scare MSM this much. Obviously not, because they are doing it again. "I hold here in my hand..."

Inmates Need Love Too

2004-12-22T17:41:00.000-06:00

Changing meanings.

Changing the meanings of words is part of the evolution to becoming a liberal. I discovered this, yet again, when posting on the website Talkleft.

Talkleft advocated visiting a criminal in jail over Christmas to express compassion for fellow humans. I suggested visiting the victim’s families. When I mention the word victim; I was vehemently attacked with "eye-for-eye" labels and return to dark-age-rule. Yet, the liberals don't see how they embrace the violent and evil people of the earth and disregard the true victims. Talkleft suggested I blog elsewhere since the site “advocates the rights of persons accused of crime." And here I thought they were in jail to protect everyone else’s rights? Silly me.

Chicago Sun Times columnist Carol Marin, posted by Talkleft, advocates visiting criminals in jail. Mrs. Marin cherishes sweet convict Guin Garcia, who fellow inmates named "grandma". Sweet “grandma” killed her boyfriend while on parole for murdering his child. What about the father's rights to justice? Did the father deserve a right to life? Two people dead and Mrs. Marin shells out compassion to sweet “grandma”?

Mrs. Carol Marin makes no mention of surviving family members. Is there another innocent grandmother surviving her slain son, a women who would have had part of her entire bloodline, son and grandson, eliminated by Guin Garcia. I suppose the surviving family can wait until next Christmas before the Chicago Sun Times graces their doorstep with Christmas carols. If Mrs. Carol Marin wants an education, try being a male and attempt to deliver Christmas presents to a battered women’s shelter. I have.

A measure of Talkleft’s compassion: Don't visit the battered women's shelter; instead bring turkey and stuffing to the husband for Thanksgiving. Don't go to foster homes for children whose parents were murdered; bring pound cake to the murderer. Don't go to therapy sessions for rape victims; send Christmas cards to the rapist.

It isn’t hard to forgive when you never accept the criminal act.

If you can differentiate the crime from the person, you are evolving into a liberal. When you can turn the criminal into the victim: a victim of culture, of the system, or of society; you may be a liberal or a defense attorney. There actually isn't even a point where the left seems to forgive and absolve the criminal of their act, probably because the criminal act is somehow irrelevant.

When you trivialize responsibility, black and white definitions loose their meaning. “Victim” becomes the motive for the act, not the beneficiary of the actual crime. “Victim” becomes synonymous with criminal rights. This is evident when the blogger Patrick Nielsen Hayden responded to me with: ‘Oh! And everyone in prison is there for doing something to a "victim."’ Victim is in quotes because it no longer has meaning.

My definition of justice never changed. Criminals should have a pillow, but I’ll never visit on Christmas. Protect criminal’s rights, but at least spread equal compassion to the innocent that are not in jail.

After president Clinton changed the meaning of “is”, with his testimony “It all depends on what the meaning of is is”, the simple sentence “He is a victim”, becomes tremendously confusing. It is understandable that the best time to find a defense attorney is after a crime. But, it was unexpected to find the best time to receive liberal compassion is after prosecution. And halfway through writing this, I realized the definition of “compassion” too has lost its meaning.
Time to get a new dictionary.

My Christmas Card List

2004-12-14T15:46:00.000-06:00

I found a post on Talkleft about an Arkansas man who drew Christmas cards to post his bail, JUST in time for Christmas. How sweet. What astonished me, besides this man’s life, was the flagrant hypocrisy of Talkleft’s readers. (If not apparent from the name, Talkleft likes blue states) If you are looking for lack of comprehension of moral authority: This is dripping of it.

At 31, his 16-year-old girl friend has his first child. At 34, with his wife now 19 and 5-months pregnant with their 3rd child, they are both arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine and manufacturing drugs in front of their children.

While in jail, this man decides to do draw Christmas cards after "visiting with prison missionaries". He is able to make the $30,000 bail after a Mennonite, who visits him in jail, sells the cards at his bakery for 2-dollars apiece. Talkleft’s bloggers posted how warm the story made them feel and how they cried when they read it.

Hypocrisy #1: This is a success story of faith-based programs.
Hypocrisy #2: The inmate discovered faith inside a government building.
Hypocrisy #3: He was drawing CHRIST-mas cards. (Not "happy holiday" cards)

Hypocrisy #4: The same threads I see on Talkleft vehemently belittle faith-based programs, the war on drugs and programs of abstinence, but "cry" and “feel good” when a thirty-four year old father to a 19-year-old mother of three, busted for making drugs, draws some Christmas cards.

Abstinence programs work before a child is having sex. Faith-based programs are inherently more successful before posting bail. Drugs really do harm more than the user. Why why was this child alone with a man twice her age at 15? You are not an adult just because you had a child. Why was this child alone with him, again, at 16 after already having his first child?

What is moral authority: Reading this story and knowing tough love parenting is right, knowing "where your kids" are is neccesary and wanting to teach abstinence with resonsibility. Moral authority is not: Labeling this a feel good holiday story.

Roe Effect Watch

2004-12-06T15:58:00.000-06:00

Daily kos has posted a chart to show that teenage parent rates are higher in red states than blue states, in an apparent attempt to tout the blue states true ownership of values. What becomes readily apparent, understanding Opinion Journal's publicized Roe Effect, is that teenage pregnancies in the red states are actually continued to birth. Hence the 'parent' part of teenage.

(Although I have to admit, that parent isn't an oft used word on liberal blogs. So it could mean that red states actually parent their children and blue states just deliver them, but that would be arguing semantics.)

The Daily kos describes this as an out of control "social condition". I guess, by the time daily kos realizes procreation IS the most important social condition, the Roe Effect will be in full effect. I believe this is evidence of liberals larger underling problem, the believe that proof of values can be found in a chart.

Cabinetry

2004-11-16T14:58:00.000-06:00

President Clinton's Second Administration Cabinet Changes

Secretary of State : Warren Christopher to Madeleine Albright
Secretary of Defense : William Perry to William Cohen
Secretary of the Treasury : Robert Rubin to Lawrence Summers
Secretary of Commerce : Mickey Kantor to William Daley
Secretary of Labor : Robert Reich to Alexis Herman
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development : Henry Cisneros to Andrew Cuomo
Secretary of Transportation : Frederico Pena to Rodney Slater
Secretary of Energy : Hazel O'Leary to Frederico Pena
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs : Jesse Brown to Togo West, Jr.

So why are the changes in President Bush's second cabinet a big deal?

Christmas

2004-11-10T10:48:00.000-06:00

Ya know, I had a thought this morning. (actually it's sorta lifted from a caller on a local talk radio show) I think that Christmas should only be celebrated in "Jesusland" and the "United States of Canada" should abolish all religious holidays, artifacts, establishments, etc. Put your money where your mouth is, you f'n lefties.

Please, Please, Please!

2004-10-28T11:39:00.000-05:00

Before you vote, consider this heart-felt plea!
...
I am a concerned senior citizen. When President Clinton was in office, I had a nice house, a good job with many benefits, health insurance and even 2 vacation homes. In short, things were good.

Since President Bush has been in office, I have lost my job and my health insurance. I have also lost 2 sons in Iraq.

To add insult to injury I am now homeless and have lost everything I once had. We must be willing to do whatever John Kerry asks us to do. We must remove President Bush and get a Democrat back in the White House.

Please consider my compelling personal story and vote John Kerry come election day.

Sincerely,
Saddam Hussein

(original author unknown)

99.9% Success Is Negative?

2004-10-26T10:09:00.000-05:00

The New York Times October surprise, released 1 week prior to the presidential election, is that 380 tons of munitions are missing in Iraq. The Drudge Report rapidly countered this story with an embedded reporter's account that the weapons were missing before the U.S. Military secured the facility.

I have taken numbers buried in a CNN Article that attempts to retract the original report of missing weapons by claiming a new twist. What I find amazing is in the numbers scattered in this article. The “missing” weapons cache of 380 tons is less than 0.09 percent of the tonnage already destroyed or waiting destruction. How can any media organization not claim negative reporting when the only report covered in the outlets is less than 1 percent of the story? Since when is 99.91 % success a negative report?

The second amazing thing is the same article claims the cache vanished and disappeared “after Saddam Hussein’s government fell”. In the same article, there is one month that the weapons were unaccounted. How can any intelligent news organization claim the weapons vanished in 24 hours after the fall of Baghdad, when they were unaccounted for one month?

There is only one relevant explanation: Negative media reporting to hurt President Bush.

TONS OF MUNITIONS REPORTED
Munitions Destroyed: 243,000 tons
Awaiting Destruction: 162,898 tons
Total Munitions Recovered: 405,898 tons
Munitions Unaccounted For: 380 tons

Percentage of Tonnage Media Reported Compared To Total Tons Recovered: 0.09%

NUMBER OF MUNITIONS CACHES REPORTED:
Munitions Caches Cleared: 10,033 caches
Munitions Caches Reported By Media: 1 cache

Percentage of Caches Media Reported Compared to Total Caches Cleared: 0.01%

WHEN DID THE WEAPONS GO MISSING?

March 2003 - IAEA and other U.N. inspectors left the country
March 19 2003 - War Begins
April 9, 2003 - Baghdad falls
April 10, 2003 - 101st Airborne arrives to find that the material already gone.

Period of Time Weapons Not Supervised: 1 Month
Period of Time Unreported By Media: 18 Months – 1 week prior to election
Period of Time Media Claims Weapons Vanished: 24 Hours

I Think I Can

2004-10-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

John Kerry guaranteed to prevent a future terrorist attack if elected president.

"I do know that America will be safe [from terrorist attack] under my leadership," Kerry boasted to NBC "Today Show" host Katie Couric. - Newsmax

Would it be unobservant of me to say that since September 11th 2001 Bush has?

Viet-America

2004-10-25T09:53:00.000-05:00

I voted early this weekend for President of the United States and was surprised to learn that the first screen gave me the option of languages: Spanish, Vietnamese and English. Let me repeat the first sentence differently: I was voting for President of the United States in Texas and had the option to vote in Vietnamese. I guess the hidden message in this is that Chinese and Dutch aren’t welcome?

I found the Department of Justice agreement-directing Harris County of Houston, Texas to “Protect The Rights Of Vietnamese- Speaking Voters”. (This of course being mandated by Congress in the SECTION 203 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT from 1975 and added expanded in 2002.) The rationale for this agreement is to “protect the rights of Vietnamese-speaking voters”.

Yes, voting is a right. Voting in Vietnamese is not a right. Understanding 12 languages when you vote is multicultural. The middle ground should atleast be a politically-knowlegeable Vietnamese citizen. I propose Houston pay for a Vietnamese translator during the presidential elections. It would only be civic.

When you take the oath of the United States as an American Citizen, it is recited in English. Citizenship is based on the ability to read, write and speak English; as a citizen. Not just when you recite the oath. From that day forward, official participation in the United States Government should still occur in English.

Honestly, I am for the United States being the melting pot of the world. My pride for this country is strengthened when the rest of the world is still risking life and limb to come to this country. This measurement of opportunity is real. You are welcome.

I of course, being me, thought about actually pushing the Vietnamese button because I could. But a casual glance around the room decided that none of local Presbyterian, brownie-baking poll workers could read enough Vietnamese to get me out of trouble.

I shouldn’t repeat the reply from my father, a two-tour Vietnam-Vet, when I asked what he thought about his son voting in a U.S. Presidential Election in Vietnamese…

I have posted this on a sister site in Spanish, Tex-Mex and Chinese in compliance with Section 504 of the Illiterate Foreign Citizen Act.

Post Turtle

2004-10-22T15:20:00.000-05:00

Lost the origin (sorry), funny still:

While suturing a laceration on the hand of an 80-year-old grizzled Texas rancher (whose hand had caught in a gate while working cattle), a doctor and the old man were talking about John Kerry's possibility of being in the White House.

The old Texan said, "Well, ya know, Kerry's one of them 'post turtles'." Not knowing what the old man meant, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.

The old man said, "Well, when you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."

The old man saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain, "You know he didn't get there by himself, he doesn't belong there, he can't get anything done while he's up there, and you just want to help the poor dumb bastard get down 'afore he hurts hisself."

Life's Bumper

2004-10-22T14:17:00.000-05:00

And another spotted (sorry, no image yet)..

Save A Terrorist
Vote JOHN KERRY!

Freedom's Passport

2004-10-22T12:48:00.000-05:00

Freedom is taken for granted. Only because it is foreign to the US not to have it. Watching it blossom in Iraq with people who have never lived with it is amazing. And what they rejoice in having are the little things. From 'iragthemodel.blogspot.com' is an example:

[L]ast week, I crossed the borders for the first time in my life. Countless numbers of Iraqi doctors, dentists, officers and professionals carrying Msc or Phd ended up in prison or even lost their lives for trying to get passports to get out of Saddam’s hell. No Mukhabarat asking why, where to and for how long, no 400 000 Dinars exit tax, no bribes to border guards...etc

The best part of the story that makes me feel good about myself is that I made this trip to serve my country.

It doesn't get better than that...

Jimmy's World

2004-10-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Carter attempted to dismiss the war in Iraq with this whopper historical interpretation on Chris Mathew's "Hardball".

"I think another parallel (to the Iraq War) is that in some ways the Revolutionary War could have been avoided. It was an unnecessary war.

Had the British Parliament been a little more sensitive to the colonials' really legitimate complaints and requests the war could have been avoided completely".

The heart of Jimmy's quote is that it based on universal truth and not on reality. You can't have a war if no one is fighting. This is true! This is the corner stone of elitist arguments.

Another example: Sally would not have been raped if her rapist did not rape her. This is universally true.

Opinions wrapped around universal truth don't have to exist in reality. Never mind Paul Revere's famous ride through Lexington screaming, "The British are coming!!" Never mind the Boston Massacre or Bunker Hill. Never mind the War of 1812. We would not have fought if the British were sensitive.

Now starts the corner stone against the War on Iraq. We would not be in Iraq if we did not invade Iraq. There would be no war if everyone were more sensitive. Careful, I am one sentence away from discovering world peace...