Here's a good one - BuyBlue.org.
Their mission?
Mission Statement: BuyBlue.org supports businesses that share our progressive values and ideals. BuyBlue.org uses our power as consumers to vote with our wallets, supporting businesses that abide by sustainability, workers' rights, environmental standards, and corporate transparency. At the same time, BuyBlue.org focuses sharply on businesses that violate the essential values of a sustainable, fair and profitable society through their policies and the politicians they support.
Their message?
Why was BuyBlue.org started? On the morning after the 2004 election, half of the country woke up in disbelief and disgust. Shortly afterwards it turned to anger and bitterness and many were entertaining moving to another country. It didn't take long for all of us to collectively realize that we had lost our country to the other side and we wanted, no needed to do something about it.
Did you catch that? "...realize that we had lost our country to the other side..."
"We" are the "other side" - not terrorists...not enemies of the United States..."US" - you and me
That, in a nutshell, captures the essence...the idiology...the anger and the hatred of the Looney Left. And they aren't finished yet with spending every waking hour trying to think up ways to punish "us".
So how does that pertain to "us", you ask?
Well, their list not only contains "blue" companies, but "red" ones too....
....so....playing by their rules, mind you...but in 'alternate universe' fashion... AVOID the blue companies and SUPPORT the red ones...maybe someone will come up with the same website for 'red' ones...
...and just in case they get wind of us tapping into their website and taking the information down, here is the list (remember the percentages come from the liberals, so the numbers represent the amount of support these companies gave to the Democratic Party):
Reddest Companies - (*My note: these are the stores to SUPPORT )
Best Buy Co., Inc. 0%
Cintas Corporation 0%
Dollar General Corporation 0%
Fruit of the Loom 0%
Lowe's Companies, Inc. 0%
Outback Steakhouse, Inc. 2%
CBRL Group, Inc. 4%
Geico 5%
Wendy's International, Inc. 6%
Darden Restaurants, Inc. 9%
Circuit City Stores, Inc. 10%
Saks Incorporated 11%
Dell Inc. 12%
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 12%
Kroger Co. 12%
Ahold USA, Inc. 13%
Hallmark Cards, Inc. 14%
American Greetings Corporation 15%
Adolph Coors Company 16%
Brinker International, Inc. 16%
Helzberg Diamonds 16%
Limited Brands, Inc. 16%
Marriott International, Inc. 17%
Shell Oil Company 17%
Target Corporation 17%
Southwest Airlines Co. 18%
The Home Depot, Inc. 18%
Campbell Soup Company 20%
YUM! Brands, Inc. 21%
Longs Drug Stores Corporation 22%
May Department Stores Company 22%
Continental Airlines, Inc. 25%
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC 25%
Guess?, Inc 27%
Ford Motor Company 28%
Safeway Inc. 30%
Northwest Airlines Corporation 32%
Sears, Roebuck and Co. 34%
Sprint Corporation 35%
Walgreen Co. 35%
Blockbuster Inc. 40%
Amazon.com, Inc. 41%
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 43%
AT&T Corp. 44%
Bluest Companies - (*My note: these are the stores to AVOID )
Aloha Air Group, Inc. 100%
American Apparel, LLC 100%
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. 100%
Borders Group, Inc. 100%
CompUSA Inc. 100%
Diamond Resorts International 100%
Foot Locker, Inc 100%
Fry's Electronics, Inc. 100%
Google Inc. 100%
Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. 100%
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. 100%
Loews Hotels Holding Corporation 100%
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. 100%
Powell's Books, Inc. 100%
Progressive Corporation 100%
Sonic Corp. 100%
Starbucks Corporation 100% (personal note: gulp! this is a difficult one, because I love Starbucks...but if I am asking you all to do it, I will suck it up and find another coffee bean-ery...)
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 100%
Trader Joe's Company, Inc. 100%
True Value Company 100%
Whole Foods Market, Inc. 100%
Costco Wholesale Corporation 99%
Amerada Hess Corporation 98%
Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc 97%
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts 93%
Sharper Image Corporation 93%
Signet Group plc 93%
Hilton Hotels Corporation 84%
Gap Inc. 78%
JetBlue Airways Corporation 75%
Netflix, Inc 72%
Triarc Companies, Inc. 59%
Brown-Forman Corporation 57%
eBay Inc. 57%
CVS Corporation 51%
UAL Corporation 51%
Kmart Holding Corporation 50%
Yahoo! Inc. 47%
Alaska Air Group, Inc. 45%
AMR Corporation 45%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I tell ya, keeping track of these loonies is almost a full time job...
Desert Rat
1/23/2005
Goodnight Johnny...
Johnny and Ed McMahon
Carnac the Magnificent
The Tonight Show with Carson, 1962-1992
Johnny Carson 1925-2005
DR
George W. Bush - Visionary
A social science that cannot speak of tyranny with the same confidence with which medicine speaks, for example, of cancer, cannot understand social phenomena as what they are. --Leo Strauss, On Tyranny
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. --Thomas Paine, The Crisis
INFORMED BY STRAUSS and inspired by Paine, appealing to Lincoln and alluding to Truman, beginning with the Constitution and ending with the Declaration, with Biblical phrases echoing throughout--George W. Bush's Second Inaugural was a powerful and subtle speech.
Bill Kristol, over at Weekly Standard says what I have been struggling with and mulling over ever since President Bush's inauguration speech last Thursday.
Whatever everyone is running around with their panties in a wad is beyond me.
Our country was founded on these ideals, and as far as I know, nothing has changed since then.
If anyone wants to take issue with President Bush, wait until his State of the Union speech. This was an inauguration speech which NEEDS to be visionary.
My gawd....if John F. Kennedy had said any of these words, everyone would be falling over themselves with gushing praise and adoration...
...and yet, if you look really closely...there are a lot of similarities...
Kristol has it right - this is going to go down in the history books as a great speech...
It will also prove to be a historic speech. Less than three and a half years after 9/11, Bush's Second Inaugural moves American foreign policy beyond the war on terror to the larger struggle against tyranny. It grounds Bush's foreign policy--American foreign policy--in American history and American principles. If actions follow words and success greets his efforts, then President Bush will have ushered in a new era in American foreign policy.
couldn't agree more...
DR
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. --Thomas Paine, The Crisis
INFORMED BY STRAUSS and inspired by Paine, appealing to Lincoln and alluding to Truman, beginning with the Constitution and ending with the Declaration, with Biblical phrases echoing throughout--George W. Bush's Second Inaugural was a powerful and subtle speech.
Bill Kristol, over at Weekly Standard says what I have been struggling with and mulling over ever since President Bush's inauguration speech last Thursday.
Whatever everyone is running around with their panties in a wad is beyond me.
Our country was founded on these ideals, and as far as I know, nothing has changed since then.
If anyone wants to take issue with President Bush, wait until his State of the Union speech. This was an inauguration speech which NEEDS to be visionary.
My gawd....if John F. Kennedy had said any of these words, everyone would be falling over themselves with gushing praise and adoration...
...and yet, if you look really closely...there are a lot of similarities...
Kristol has it right - this is going to go down in the history books as a great speech...
It will also prove to be a historic speech. Less than three and a half years after 9/11, Bush's Second Inaugural moves American foreign policy beyond the war on terror to the larger struggle against tyranny. It grounds Bush's foreign policy--American foreign policy--in American history and American principles. If actions follow words and success greets his efforts, then President Bush will have ushered in a new era in American foreign policy.
couldn't agree more...
DR
1/22/2005
The More Things Change...The More They Stay the Same...
as evidenced by this Thomas Nast 1877 political cartoon
after the 1876 presidential election...
The headstone reads: Here lies the democratic Tiger, greatly mourned by the bereaved filibusters.
The cartoon caption reads: "Another such victory and I am undone" Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus, the author of the quote, was a king of ancient Epirus, after whom the term "Pyrrhic Victory"-meaning a costly win-was named.
DR
NRO: Move On Already
"I think they stole Ohio"
"I think Kerry should have won"
President Bush [is] an "international terrorist"
"I'm not convinced that [Bush] won the election. My personal opinion of these people is that they have absolutely no regard for human life or the democratic process."
"I think that there was voter suppression, primarily in Ohio"
"One Nation, Under Fraud"
"I believe that the Republican party has consistently used fraud to get into office and to stay in office."
"I think Kerry did win, because the exit polls would verify that."
Daniel J Flynn over at National Review Online captures the essence of the left...still unable to accept the fact that George Bush won the first majority in a presidential election since 1988...
I have read it elsewhere and it really is becoming very clear that the self absorbed minds of these people simply makes it impossible for them to grasp that anyone...I mean ANYONE...could or did vote for Bush because EVERYONE they know voted for Kerry...
...fortunately that mindset resides mostly on the east and left coast...let's hope they stay there...
Hat tip HundredPercenter
DR
"I think Kerry should have won"
President Bush [is] an "international terrorist"
"I'm not convinced that [Bush] won the election. My personal opinion of these people is that they have absolutely no regard for human life or the democratic process."
"I think that there was voter suppression, primarily in Ohio"
"One Nation, Under Fraud"
"I believe that the Republican party has consistently used fraud to get into office and to stay in office."
"I think Kerry did win, because the exit polls would verify that."
Daniel J Flynn over at National Review Online captures the essence of the left...still unable to accept the fact that George Bush won the first majority in a presidential election since 1988...
I have read it elsewhere and it really is becoming very clear that the self absorbed minds of these people simply makes it impossible for them to grasp that anyone...I mean ANYONE...could or did vote for Bush because EVERYONE they know voted for Kerry...
...fortunately that mindset resides mostly on the east and left coast...let's hope they stay there...
Hat tip HundredPercenter
DR
Not Gloating! Not Gloating!
...ok, but this is the time of year that this Desert Rat is thankful
to be living in the desert...
oh, yea!
but, seriously, I can tell you that I probably would not survive
that kind of cold wx...I don't know how you guys do it!
DR
Ex-Ku Klux Klansman Forces Vote Delay
NewsMax reports: A day after ex-Ku Klux Klansman Robert Byrd forced the full Senate to delay a confirmation vote for the first African-American woman ever nominated as Secretary of State, White House chief of staff Andrew Card blasted Senate Democrats for playing "petty politics."
According to the Boston Herald, Card said that the insult would not soon be forgotten, warning Democrats that they "are poisoning any hopes for bipartisanship."
Even the New York Post is criticizing Byrd: On Saturday the New York Post blasted Sen. Byrd, openly questioning whether the former member of the anti-black terrorist group was motivated by racism.
"They say a leopard can't change its spots," the paper editorialized. "Can a one-time Klansman change his, umm, sheets? The way Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) acted this week, it's fair to ask."
Those Dems...crybabies all...they use filibusters, delay tactics, obstructionism...all because they don't know what the hell they are doing...or even what they stand for anymore...and they wonder why nobody takes them seriously?
DR
According to the Boston Herald, Card said that the insult would not soon be forgotten, warning Democrats that they "are poisoning any hopes for bipartisanship."
Even the New York Post is criticizing Byrd: On Saturday the New York Post blasted Sen. Byrd, openly questioning whether the former member of the anti-black terrorist group was motivated by racism.
"They say a leopard can't change its spots," the paper editorialized. "Can a one-time Klansman change his, umm, sheets? The way Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) acted this week, it's fair to ask."
Those Dems...crybabies all...they use filibusters, delay tactics, obstructionism...all because they don't know what the hell they are doing...or even what they stand for anymore...and they wonder why nobody takes them seriously?
DR
Vets Against Kerry Celebrate in D.C.
...oh, and speaking of John Kerry, there was an "Un-augural" reception at the National Press Club on Thursday, the same day that President Bush was being inaugurated...
Leaders of prominent "527" military service veterans groups, film producers, Web sites and authors who made substantial contributions to the veterans' revolt against Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid were honored by their supporters at an "Un-augural" reception at the National Press Club Thursday.
Considering the poor treatment these veterans got by John F'n Kerry and in the MSM, they had good reason to celebrate the fact that Kerry didn't get elected...
...well, my grandma always did say...every dog has his day...
DR
Leaders of prominent "527" military service veterans groups, film producers, Web sites and authors who made substantial contributions to the veterans' revolt against Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid were honored by their supporters at an "Un-augural" reception at the National Press Club Thursday.
Considering the poor treatment these veterans got by John F'n Kerry and in the MSM, they had good reason to celebrate the fact that Kerry didn't get elected...
...well, my grandma always did say...every dog has his day...
DR
Ketchup Heiress Teresa Makes Modest Tsunami Contribution
While Teresa Heinz Kerry, heiress to the Heinz Foods dynasty, has two factories in Indonesia and one in Thailand - countries heavily affected by the tsunami disaster, it appears that her donations to the tsunami relief fund are rather embarrassing.
NewsMax reported: Charities controlled by billionaire ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz have pledged a relatively modest $450,000 to tsunami relief in recent days, with Mrs. Heinz explaining she prefers to keep her charitable contributions local.
Heinz Endowments announced Saturday that it would contribute $400,000 to tsunami relief, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. And the Washington, D.C.-based Heinz Family Philanthropies will add another $50,000.
Given that some of 'her' employees were probably directly affected by the disaster, this is just another revelation about the generosity of Teresa...
NewsMax also noted that...while generous, the Heinz contribution doesn't come close to actress Sandra Bullock, who donated $1 million to tsunami relief. Or race-car driver Michael Schumacher, who pledged $10 million during a telethon on German television last week.
oh, and John Kerry hasn't mentioned if he is going to donate or not...
hmmm...
DR
NewsMax reported: Charities controlled by billionaire ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz have pledged a relatively modest $450,000 to tsunami relief in recent days, with Mrs. Heinz explaining she prefers to keep her charitable contributions local.
Heinz Endowments announced Saturday that it would contribute $400,000 to tsunami relief, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. And the Washington, D.C.-based Heinz Family Philanthropies will add another $50,000.
Given that some of 'her' employees were probably directly affected by the disaster, this is just another revelation about the generosity of Teresa...
NewsMax also noted that...while generous, the Heinz contribution doesn't come close to actress Sandra Bullock, who donated $1 million to tsunami relief. Or race-car driver Michael Schumacher, who pledged $10 million during a telethon on German television last week.
oh, and John Kerry hasn't mentioned if he is going to donate or not...
hmmm...
DR
Iraq refuses to say if Zarqawi detained
The rumors persist...Iraq Interior Minister: "I wouldn't like to comment for the time being," Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said when asked about rumors that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been arrested. "Let's see. Maybe in the next few days we will make a comment about it."
The election is eight days away...Zarqawi loyalists are still on the streets...
I will keep listening and watching and keep you updated...
DR
The election is eight days away...Zarqawi loyalists are still on the streets...
I will keep listening and watching and keep you updated...
DR
1/21/2005
Michael Moore's Bodyguard Arrested in New York for Illegally Carrying Gun
In what National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam called: "... the height of hypocrisy", a bodyguard who has protected filmmaker and gun-control advocate Michael Moore was arrested at Kennedy International Airport this week for allegedly carrying a pistol without a proper license.
A Lakeland, FL newspaper reports: In an interview last year with Playboy magazine, Moore called the National Rifle Association a "radical, freaky group.""Most Americans are with me on this," he said about stricter gun controls. "They understand duck hunters don't need Uzis and cop-killer bullets."
Well, that's interesting...Port Authority Police arrested Burk Wednesday after he presented a black, .40-caliber Mauser pistol at a United Airlines ticket counter while trying to board a flight home, police said....
Can somebody please give me Moore's definition of "cop-killer bullets"?...and, come to think of it, did anyone hear if Moore was duck hunting while in New York??
When asked to comment Thursday on the arrest of Moore's bodyguard, NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said: "Based on empirical evidence, this is the height of hypocrisy."
The AP noted that Moore won the Oscar for best documentary in 2002 with Bowling for Columbine, a scathing look at the US gun culture.
Sources said Burk arrived in New York with Moore on Jan. 11 for what was to be a short stay before they were to head to Michigan. It was not known how long Burk and Moore were together in the city.
Michael Moore's spokesman Mark Benoit said the filmmaker "wasn't there and had nothing do with this"....of course....
But the most interesting thing about this? I can't find it in the Main Stream Media...a Google search turns up Newsday in NY; Houston Chronicle; and reports from Australia, the U.K., Ireland, but nothing from major MSM sources...
dontcha just love the hypocrisy?
...apparently it is an epidemic...
DR
A Lakeland, FL newspaper reports: In an interview last year with Playboy magazine, Moore called the National Rifle Association a "radical, freaky group.""Most Americans are with me on this," he said about stricter gun controls. "They understand duck hunters don't need Uzis and cop-killer bullets."
Well, that's interesting...Port Authority Police arrested Burk Wednesday after he presented a black, .40-caliber Mauser pistol at a United Airlines ticket counter while trying to board a flight home, police said....
Can somebody please give me Moore's definition of "cop-killer bullets"?...and, come to think of it, did anyone hear if Moore was duck hunting while in New York??
When asked to comment Thursday on the arrest of Moore's bodyguard, NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said: "Based on empirical evidence, this is the height of hypocrisy."
The AP noted that Moore won the Oscar for best documentary in 2002 with Bowling for Columbine, a scathing look at the US gun culture.
Sources said Burk arrived in New York with Moore on Jan. 11 for what was to be a short stay before they were to head to Michigan. It was not known how long Burk and Moore were together in the city.
Michael Moore's spokesman Mark Benoit said the filmmaker "wasn't there and had nothing do with this"....of course....
But the most interesting thing about this? I can't find it in the Main Stream Media...a Google search turns up Newsday in NY; Houston Chronicle; and reports from Australia, the U.K., Ireland, but nothing from major MSM sources...
dontcha just love the hypocrisy?
...apparently it is an epidemic...
DR
1/20/2005
Sixteen: Yea - Two: NO
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has overwhelmingly approved the nomination of Condoleezza Rice to be the next secretary of state.
The vote was 16-to-two, with only Democratic Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer voting against Rice.
cartoon is from Cox & Forkum
DR
1/19/2005
You're Soooo Vain...
Rush Limbaugh provided these pictures of vain, vain John F. Kerry, who denied he used botox...if he was willing to lie about that, what else was he lying about....
gives me a chance to be grateful all over again...
DR
1/18/2005
Media's coverage has distorted world's view of Iraqi reality
All right, I've had enough. I am tired of reading distorted and grossly exaggerated stories from major news organizations about the "failures" in the war in Iraq. "The most trusted name in news" and a long list of others continue to misrepresent the scale of events in Iraq. Print and video journalists are covering only a fraction of the events in Iraq and, more often than not, the events they cover are only negative.
So goes the opening paragraph of a piece written by LTC Tim Ryan, Commander, Task Force 2-12 Cavalry, First Cavalry Division in Iraq.
For those of you that don't know, CNN's motto is 'the most trusted name in news'...HOWEVER..
How many remember the CNN scandal that broke almost two years ago? The one where Chief News Executive of the network, Eason Jordan, wrote an op/ed piece in the New York Times, entitled "The News We Kept to Ourselves". This scandalous revelation about a major 'news' networks operations was amazingly glossed over with scant attention paid to what Jordan had to say.
In a 'bless me Father, I have sinned' fashion, Jordan bared his soul...but he also revealed something about CNN that is alarming...they are dangerously selective about what they show as "news".
This author wrote at the time: By operating the way that they did, CNN ceased to do what journalists are supposed to do--report the facts so that the audience can make informed judgments about the world around them. By ignoring the truth, and sucking up to Iraqi leaders and officials, CNN became just another cog in the Iraqi propaganda machine.
And so we are back to Lt. Ryan's message.
Writes Ryan: From where I sit in Iraq, things are not all bad right now. In fact, they are going quite well...Final eradication of the pockets of insurgents will take some time, as it always does, but the fact remains that the central geographic stronghold of the insurgents is now under friendly control. That sounds a lot like success to me. Given all of this, why don't the papers lead with "Coalition Crushes Remaining Pockets of Insurgents" or "Enemy Forces Resort to Suicide Bombings of Civilians"? This would paint a far more accurate picture of the enemy's predicament over here. Instead, headlines focus almost exclusively on our hardships.
What about the media's portrayal of the enemy? Why do these ruthless murderers, kidnappers and thieves get a pass when it comes to their actions? What did the the media show or tell us about Margaret Hassoon, the director of C.A.R.E. in Iraq and an Iraqi citizen, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and left disemboweled on a street in Fallujah? Did anyone in the press show these images over and over to emphasize the moral failings of the enemy as they did with the soldiers at Abu Ghuraib?
Speaking about Fallujah and Najaf: Television and newspapers spilled a continuous stream of images and stories about the destruction done to the sacred city, and of all the human suffering allegedly brought about by the hands of the big, bad Americans...While the media was busy bashing the Coalition, Muqtada's boys were kidnapping policemen, city council members and anyone else accused of supporting the Coalition or the new government, trying them in a kangaroo court based on Islamic Shari'a law, then brutally torturing and executing them for their "crimes." What the media didn't show or write about were the two hundred-plus headless bodies found in the main mosque there, or the body that was put into a bread oven and baked. Nor did they show the world the hundreds of thousands of mortar, artillery and small arms rounds found within the "sacred" walls of the mosque. Also missing from the coverage was the huge cache of weapons found in Muqtada's "political" headquarters nearby. No, none of this made it to the screen or to print. All anyone showed were the few chipped tiles on the dome of the mosque and discussion centered on how we, the Coalition, had somehow done wrong. Score another one for the enemy's propaganda machine.
So goes the opening paragraph of a piece written by LTC Tim Ryan, Commander, Task Force 2-12 Cavalry, First Cavalry Division in Iraq.
For those of you that don't know, CNN's motto is 'the most trusted name in news'...HOWEVER..
How many remember the CNN scandal that broke almost two years ago? The one where Chief News Executive of the network, Eason Jordan, wrote an op/ed piece in the New York Times, entitled "The News We Kept to Ourselves". This scandalous revelation about a major 'news' networks operations was amazingly glossed over with scant attention paid to what Jordan had to say.
In a 'bless me Father, I have sinned' fashion, Jordan bared his soul...but he also revealed something about CNN that is alarming...they are dangerously selective about what they show as "news".
This author wrote at the time: By operating the way that they did, CNN ceased to do what journalists are supposed to do--report the facts so that the audience can make informed judgments about the world around them. By ignoring the truth, and sucking up to Iraqi leaders and officials, CNN became just another cog in the Iraqi propaganda machine.
And so we are back to Lt. Ryan's message.
Writes Ryan: From where I sit in Iraq, things are not all bad right now. In fact, they are going quite well...Final eradication of the pockets of insurgents will take some time, as it always does, but the fact remains that the central geographic stronghold of the insurgents is now under friendly control. That sounds a lot like success to me. Given all of this, why don't the papers lead with "Coalition Crushes Remaining Pockets of Insurgents" or "Enemy Forces Resort to Suicide Bombings of Civilians"? This would paint a far more accurate picture of the enemy's predicament over here. Instead, headlines focus almost exclusively on our hardships.
What about the media's portrayal of the enemy? Why do these ruthless murderers, kidnappers and thieves get a pass when it comes to their actions? What did the the media show or tell us about Margaret Hassoon, the director of C.A.R.E. in Iraq and an Iraqi citizen, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and left disemboweled on a street in Fallujah? Did anyone in the press show these images over and over to emphasize the moral failings of the enemy as they did with the soldiers at Abu Ghuraib?
Speaking about Fallujah and Najaf: Television and newspapers spilled a continuous stream of images and stories about the destruction done to the sacred city, and of all the human suffering allegedly brought about by the hands of the big, bad Americans...While the media was busy bashing the Coalition, Muqtada's boys were kidnapping policemen, city council members and anyone else accused of supporting the Coalition or the new government, trying them in a kangaroo court based on Islamic Shari'a law, then brutally torturing and executing them for their "crimes." What the media didn't show or write about were the two hundred-plus headless bodies found in the main mosque there, or the body that was put into a bread oven and baked. Nor did they show the world the hundreds of thousands of mortar, artillery and small arms rounds found within the "sacred" walls of the mosque. Also missing from the coverage was the huge cache of weapons found in Muqtada's "political" headquarters nearby. No, none of this made it to the screen or to print. All anyone showed were the few chipped tiles on the dome of the mosque and discussion centered on how we, the Coalition, had somehow done wrong. Score another one for the enemy's propaganda machine.
The enemy's propaganda machine...none other than our own Main Stream Media...
DR
Desert Rat Rules
I have deleted the numerous harrassing messages from one poster who goes by the name of 'Jason Smith'...I don't mind thoughtful postings, even if you don't agree with me...but I won't tolerate what I consider 'spam' postings every day or so...I am not using this blog to generate posts...if this stuff interests you and you want to drop a line, great...if it doesn't it won't hurt my feelings, don't stop by...message to Jason Smith - if you want to rant, get your own blog
DR
DR
Sour Grapes...
Yesterday John Kerry reiterated that he decided not to challenge the election results, but "thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote."
ya, uh-huh...
you see, Kerry has been 'standing back' and hoping that someone else would challenge the election...I think he has been hoping for something like what happened in Florida in 2000...and... nothing...
so, when Kerry was addressing a crowd during a MLK celebration yesterday, he also had this to say:
"Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, eleven hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes – same voting machines, same process, our America," he said.
I don't know about you, but this looks like the words of a sore loser...even though Kerry is trying sooooo hard to act like he isn't one...it isn't working...
DR
ya, uh-huh...
you see, Kerry has been 'standing back' and hoping that someone else would challenge the election...I think he has been hoping for something like what happened in Florida in 2000...and... nothing...
so, when Kerry was addressing a crowd during a MLK celebration yesterday, he also had this to say:
"Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, eleven hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes – same voting machines, same process, our America," he said.
I don't know about you, but this looks like the words of a sore loser...even though Kerry is trying sooooo hard to act like he isn't one...it isn't working...
DR
1/17/2005
The REAL Social Security Shell Game
I have been watching with great interest the ongoing debate about the president's call for Social Security reform and the reaction of the liberal left. It wasn't too long ago when it was the Democrats that were calling for reform and warning everyone of the impending crisis.
In August 2002 the Washington Post had an op-ed piece authored by non other than Bob Kerrey and Warren Rudman about the "Social Security Shell Game".
One paragraph in particular drew my attention: It is certainly fair to criticize reform plans on policy grounds. But it is fundamentally unfair to judge them against a standard that assumes the current system can deliver everything it promises. It can't. Today's Social Security system promises far more in future benefits than it can possibly deliver. The relevant comparison for any reform plan is with what current law can deliver, not what it promises.
So the question I pose today is this: What changed? What program was implemented after August 12, 2002, that so drastically changed how Social Security is operating that supports the complete 180 turn that liberals have taken since then?
I have actually been doing research on this because I clearly remember earlier times when one of the Democrat's mantra WAS that Social Security had a crisis and we'd better fix it NOW!
Clearly something huge changed and fixed that system that once gave the Dems free reign to scare seniors about what the Republicans were going to do to Social Security to make their benefits disappear into thin air...Right?
I must have been in a coma and just didn't realize it, because I sure as hell don't remember it!
In April 1998 in Kansas City, MO, President Clinton held what was called "The Great Social Security Debate", in which all participants spoke fervently about the need for Social Security reform.
Odd, isn't it that whenever one of their own sound the alarm, the liberal members of congress along with their compadres in the MSM rally to the battle cry. But just let that same message of the same crisis escape from the lips of a conservative and watch them do a 180.
It is an incredible thing to witness...and given the gravity of the situation and the real potential for disaster, I am shocked at what we are seeing play out on the national stage.
The Washington Times is reporting Democrats have assailed Republicans' call for Social Security reform, saying the program faces no serious woes for 40 or so years, but some analysts and observers say the system will face a real problem in barely more than a decade.
And quite frankly, nothing could be further from the truth.
Robert Bixby, executive director of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition, said, "2018 is when the system begins paying out more than it takes in.
"From the budgetary and economic perspective, that's the significant year," he said. "It clearly is a problem."
Obviously, the solution will have to be a thoughtful one, with models and worst-case-scenarios presented and worked through, but there is a need for fixing the Social Security system - and that fix needs to be put into place now, not 10 years from now.
John Palffy, president of JMP Financial, further explains the issue:
Privatization is fundamental to solving Social Security: It replaces the "pay-as-you" go scheme with a true savings program. By relying on savings, not unstable demographics, for retiree benefits, privatization will stabilize and secure future benefits and increase capital, productivity and wages.
Hopefully our representatives in Washington will step up to the plate and put aside their partisan politics to work on something as worthy and worthwhile as this.
Their constituents are depending on them to do what's right...to forget about their own egos and finally do something that is right for this country's citizens.
DR
In August 2002 the Washington Post had an op-ed piece authored by non other than Bob Kerrey and Warren Rudman about the "Social Security Shell Game".
One paragraph in particular drew my attention: It is certainly fair to criticize reform plans on policy grounds. But it is fundamentally unfair to judge them against a standard that assumes the current system can deliver everything it promises. It can't. Today's Social Security system promises far more in future benefits than it can possibly deliver. The relevant comparison for any reform plan is with what current law can deliver, not what it promises.
So the question I pose today is this: What changed? What program was implemented after August 12, 2002, that so drastically changed how Social Security is operating that supports the complete 180 turn that liberals have taken since then?
I have actually been doing research on this because I clearly remember earlier times when one of the Democrat's mantra WAS that Social Security had a crisis and we'd better fix it NOW!
Clearly something huge changed and fixed that system that once gave the Dems free reign to scare seniors about what the Republicans were going to do to Social Security to make their benefits disappear into thin air...Right?
I must have been in a coma and just didn't realize it, because I sure as hell don't remember it!
In April 1998 in Kansas City, MO, President Clinton held what was called "The Great Social Security Debate", in which all participants spoke fervently about the need for Social Security reform.
Odd, isn't it that whenever one of their own sound the alarm, the liberal members of congress along with their compadres in the MSM rally to the battle cry. But just let that same message of the same crisis escape from the lips of a conservative and watch them do a 180.
It is an incredible thing to witness...and given the gravity of the situation and the real potential for disaster, I am shocked at what we are seeing play out on the national stage.
The Washington Times is reporting Democrats have assailed Republicans' call for Social Security reform, saying the program faces no serious woes for 40 or so years, but some analysts and observers say the system will face a real problem in barely more than a decade.
And quite frankly, nothing could be further from the truth.
Robert Bixby, executive director of the nonpartisan Concord Coalition, said, "2018 is when the system begins paying out more than it takes in.
"From the budgetary and economic perspective, that's the significant year," he said. "It clearly is a problem."
Obviously, the solution will have to be a thoughtful one, with models and worst-case-scenarios presented and worked through, but there is a need for fixing the Social Security system - and that fix needs to be put into place now, not 10 years from now.
John Palffy, president of JMP Financial, further explains the issue:
Privatization is fundamental to solving Social Security: It replaces the "pay-as-you" go scheme with a true savings program. By relying on savings, not unstable demographics, for retiree benefits, privatization will stabilize and secure future benefits and increase capital, productivity and wages.
Hopefully our representatives in Washington will step up to the plate and put aside their partisan politics to work on something as worthy and worthwhile as this.
Their constituents are depending on them to do what's right...to forget about their own egos and finally do something that is right for this country's citizens.
DR
1/16/2005
Bush DOES Have a Mandate
I am sick and tired of the ignorant liberals claiming that President Bush doesn't have a mandate after this election.
What the hell are they talking about??
Bush got 51.50896% of the popular vote - after a mudslinging, name-calling, free-for-all!
In 1992 Clinton only got 43.283% of the popular vote...and in 1996 he only got 50.062% - this from the president the liberals continue to call "wildly popular"....and forgive me, Bob Dole is very sincere, but he really wasn't a very strong candidate...yet he got 41.298% of the votes while running against "Wild Bill"...and Ross Perot got 8.539%
Drunken murderer slob, Teddy "Kopechne" Kennedy, had this to say: In addressing the election results of Nov. 2 that saw his fellow Massachusetts Democratic senator, John Kerry, lose to Bush, Kennedy said he rejects the claim that the president won "even a miniature mandate for reactionary measures like privatizing Social Security, redistributing the tax burden ... or packing the federal courts with reactionary judges."
ya, Teddy...go pour another drink...
DR
What the hell are they talking about??
Bush got 51.50896% of the popular vote - after a mudslinging, name-calling, free-for-all!
In 1992 Clinton only got 43.283% of the popular vote...and in 1996 he only got 50.062% - this from the president the liberals continue to call "wildly popular"....and forgive me, Bob Dole is very sincere, but he really wasn't a very strong candidate...yet he got 41.298% of the votes while running against "Wild Bill"...and Ross Perot got 8.539%
Drunken murderer slob, Teddy "Kopechne" Kennedy, had this to say: In addressing the election results of Nov. 2 that saw his fellow Massachusetts Democratic senator, John Kerry, lose to Bush, Kennedy said he rejects the claim that the president won "even a miniature mandate for reactionary measures like privatizing Social Security, redistributing the tax burden ... or packing the federal courts with reactionary judges."
ya, Teddy...go pour another drink...
DR
Now THIS is Propaganda!
Jill Lawrence wrote over at USA Today this week about the Bad Republicans that 'assailed John Kerry' (she didn't exactly say his name) - but those Wascally Wepublicans ASSAILED him by calling him a flip-flopper!!
Why, there even was a photo of two people wearing large flip-flops proving how horrible it all was...
She even wrote: Having trouble? That's because Democrats generally don't have the stomach or the discipline to do it. Often they don't even effectively fight back when under attack themselves.
What????
uh, Ms. Lawrence, can I speak to you for a sec?
Perhaps you were in the loo while the liberal mouthpieces were saying this about the Republican candidate: liar, a moron, a coward, a military deserter, a puppet of Dick Cheney and the Jews, and another Hitler...did I leave anything out?
JamesTaranto at Opinion Journal goes on:
What are they going to say if they "get the stomach" to wage character attacks--that he's the original Hitler?
This is the sort of thing that drives conservatives crazy, but it actually illustrates why the liberal media are the Republicans' secret weapon. The Democrats are the victim of their own con game. They put out the most outrageous spin, which reporters like Lawrence dutifully regurgitate, and then Dems believe it because, hey, the "objective" media have reported it! It's as if Communist Party functionaries actually believed what was "reported" in the old Pravda.
...I have heard the word 'propaganda' thrown around lately...by liberals...the original propaganda-ists...anything that they have been labeling as such pales in comparison when you actually roll back the camera and re-play what went on...
word...for...disgusting word....
DR
Why, there even was a photo of two people wearing large flip-flops proving how horrible it all was...
She even wrote: Having trouble? That's because Democrats generally don't have the stomach or the discipline to do it. Often they don't even effectively fight back when under attack themselves.
What????
uh, Ms. Lawrence, can I speak to you for a sec?
Perhaps you were in the loo while the liberal mouthpieces were saying this about the Republican candidate: liar, a moron, a coward, a military deserter, a puppet of Dick Cheney and the Jews, and another Hitler...did I leave anything out?
JamesTaranto at Opinion Journal goes on:
What are they going to say if they "get the stomach" to wage character attacks--that he's the original Hitler?
This is the sort of thing that drives conservatives crazy, but it actually illustrates why the liberal media are the Republicans' secret weapon. The Democrats are the victim of their own con game. They put out the most outrageous spin, which reporters like Lawrence dutifully regurgitate, and then Dems believe it because, hey, the "objective" media have reported it! It's as if Communist Party functionaries actually believed what was "reported" in the old Pravda.
...I have heard the word 'propaganda' thrown around lately...by liberals...the original propaganda-ists...anything that they have been labeling as such pales in comparison when you actually roll back the camera and re-play what went on...
word...for...disgusting word....
DR
Terrorism On Our Shores...
A New Jersey couple and their two daughters, aged 16 and 8, have been brutally murdered - apparently all four found with their throats slashed.
The father of a murdered New Jersey family was threatened for making anti-Muslim remarks online — and the gruesome quadruple slaying may have been the hateful retaliation, sources told The Post yesterday.
Armanious, an Egyptian Christian, was well known for expressing his Coptic (a modern description of Egyptian Christian) beliefs and engaging in fiery back-and-forth with Muslims on the Web site paltalk.com.
The married father of two had recently been threatened by Muslim members of the Web site, said a fellow Copt and store clerk who uses the chat room.
"You'd better stop this bull---- or we are going to track you down like a chicken and kill you," was the threat, said the clerk, who was online at the time and saw the exchange.
Apparently, these terrorists are so threatened by anyone expressing an opinion they resort to murdering and torturing...sound familiar?
The heartless killer not only slit Sylvia's throat (the sixteen year old daughter), but also sliced a huge gash in her chest and stabbed her in the wrist, where she had a tattoo of a Coptic cross.
There are those that say 'There is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist'...I beg to differ...
Who remembers the Dutch filmaker Theo van Gogh that was murdered in November?
Actually, I am surprised about the underplay of coverage on this attack by a muslim on what they call a 'non believer'. Van gogh,who had received threats over a controversial film he made about Islam, was shot and stabbed to death while cycling on an Amsterdam street.
Today, an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald about 'Europe's terror threat' struck a note, too.
"You want life, I want death," says a man claiming to be al-Qaeda's European spokesman on a video discovered shortly after last March's Madrid train bombings.
This is the mindset...this is what we are up against...
the editorial continues: Against such nihilism, the threat of punishment is powerless, and conventional warfare ineffectual. The sheer futility of standard deterrents when confronted by uncompromising extremism has rightly prompted Europe to follow a different course.
...and that, boys and girls, is exactly what President Bush has been speaking about ever since the terrorists dared slaughter over 3,000 innocents on September 11, 2001...
...that was the tip of the iceberg...the president has had the inner strength to pursue them to their shores...even at a high cost to him politically...
...but, really, what price can anyone put on freedom?
DR
The father of a murdered New Jersey family was threatened for making anti-Muslim remarks online — and the gruesome quadruple slaying may have been the hateful retaliation, sources told The Post yesterday.
Armanious, an Egyptian Christian, was well known for expressing his Coptic (a modern description of Egyptian Christian) beliefs and engaging in fiery back-and-forth with Muslims on the Web site paltalk.com.
The married father of two had recently been threatened by Muslim members of the Web site, said a fellow Copt and store clerk who uses the chat room.
"You'd better stop this bull---- or we are going to track you down like a chicken and kill you," was the threat, said the clerk, who was online at the time and saw the exchange.
Apparently, these terrorists are so threatened by anyone expressing an opinion they resort to murdering and torturing...sound familiar?
The heartless killer not only slit Sylvia's throat (the sixteen year old daughter), but also sliced a huge gash in her chest and stabbed her in the wrist, where she had a tattoo of a Coptic cross.
There are those that say 'There is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist'...I beg to differ...
Who remembers the Dutch filmaker Theo van Gogh that was murdered in November?
Actually, I am surprised about the underplay of coverage on this attack by a muslim on what they call a 'non believer'. Van gogh,who had received threats over a controversial film he made about Islam, was shot and stabbed to death while cycling on an Amsterdam street.
Today, an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald about 'Europe's terror threat' struck a note, too.
"You want life, I want death," says a man claiming to be al-Qaeda's European spokesman on a video discovered shortly after last March's Madrid train bombings.
This is the mindset...this is what we are up against...
the editorial continues: Against such nihilism, the threat of punishment is powerless, and conventional warfare ineffectual. The sheer futility of standard deterrents when confronted by uncompromising extremism has rightly prompted Europe to follow a different course.
...and that, boys and girls, is exactly what President Bush has been speaking about ever since the terrorists dared slaughter over 3,000 innocents on September 11, 2001...
...that was the tip of the iceberg...the president has had the inner strength to pursue them to their shores...even at a high cost to him politically...
...but, really, what price can anyone put on freedom?
DR
1/15/2005
A 'Non Story' ?
Right now a lot of liberal bloggers are backtracking, wondering how the focus shifted so quickly that THEY are now in the crosshairs...
...specifically, Markos Moulitsas Zuniga whose blog, the DailyKos, has clearly had a left bent and who CLEARLY supported Howard Dean in his presidential run...
...the problem? RightWingNews reports: there's a little blowback over the whole Armstrong Williams debacle for Kos who got sanctimonious over the whole thing and in effect said that until it was revealed who else -- if anybody -- the White House paid off, that...
"...we can assume every conservative pundit is on the White House's payola rolls."
why, it turns out that Markos was on the Dean payroll!
of course, Kos is trying to go with the 'non story' stance, but I don't buy it...
....I have been trying to imagine the howl...the outcry...the angry crowd gathering with pitchforks and a noose if it had turned out that a conservative blogger was on the take...
...can you just hear it? my god, the internet would have crashed from all the eager bloggers posting their vitriolic comments...
...but no, this was a liberal...a very liberal blogger...and now - if you look at Kos' page and the ensuing comments - they are going for the throat of the blogger that broke this story...
Kos himself is stirring the pot...his comments about Hugh Hewitt and Bill O'Reilly:
But dumb-fuck O'Reilly and dumb-fuck Hewitt didn't know about it, so "nobody" knew about it.
say what you will, Kos, the fact remains...you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar...
...and those comments you wrote about "assuming every conservative pundit being on the White House payola"?
...HA! how do you think that is playing from this vantage point?
Your credibility is zip...nada...you are toast, baby...
DR
...specifically, Markos Moulitsas Zuniga whose blog, the DailyKos, has clearly had a left bent and who CLEARLY supported Howard Dean in his presidential run...
...the problem? RightWingNews reports: there's a little blowback over the whole Armstrong Williams debacle for Kos who got sanctimonious over the whole thing and in effect said that until it was revealed who else -- if anybody -- the White House paid off, that...
"...we can assume every conservative pundit is on the White House's payola rolls."
why, it turns out that Markos was on the Dean payroll!
of course, Kos is trying to go with the 'non story' stance, but I don't buy it...
....I have been trying to imagine the howl...the outcry...the angry crowd gathering with pitchforks and a noose if it had turned out that a conservative blogger was on the take...
...can you just hear it? my god, the internet would have crashed from all the eager bloggers posting their vitriolic comments...
...but no, this was a liberal...a very liberal blogger...and now - if you look at Kos' page and the ensuing comments - they are going for the throat of the blogger that broke this story...
Kos himself is stirring the pot...his comments about Hugh Hewitt and Bill O'Reilly:
But dumb-fuck O'Reilly and dumb-fuck Hewitt didn't know about it, so "nobody" knew about it.
say what you will, Kos, the fact remains...you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar...
...and those comments you wrote about "assuming every conservative pundit being on the White House payola"?
...HA! how do you think that is playing from this vantage point?
Your credibility is zip...nada...you are toast, baby...
DR
1/14/2005
Court Rejects Challenge to Inaugural Prayer
A federal judge on Friday rejected a challenge brought by atheist Michael Newdow to stop the invocation prayer at President Bush's second inauguration.
I am so glad to hear this...
...my limited knowledge of Newdow leads me to believe that he is suffering from some kind of need to be noticed...
this is the same guy that sued to have the "under God" phrase removed from the Pledge of Allegiance...he sued supposedly on behalf of his daughter...
...however, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the decision on a technicality....it said Newdow could not lawfully sue on behalf of his elementary school-aged daughter because he did not have custody of the girl and because the girl's mother objected to the suit...
DR
I am so glad to hear this...
...my limited knowledge of Newdow leads me to believe that he is suffering from some kind of need to be noticed...
this is the same guy that sued to have the "under God" phrase removed from the Pledge of Allegiance...he sued supposedly on behalf of his daughter...
...however, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the decision on a technicality....it said Newdow could not lawfully sue on behalf of his elementary school-aged daughter because he did not have custody of the girl and because the girl's mother objected to the suit...
DR
Trousergate Probe Moves Closer to Clinton
more stuff that makes you go 'hmmmm':
oh THIS is rich - and it's not what you are thinking...get your minds outta the gutter...the 'trouser' part refers to Sandy Berger stealing classified documents and stuffing them in his pants...has nothing to do with Clinton or any White House aide...
NewsMax reports On Tuesday the New York Post revealed that prosecutors had finally begun probing Berger's removal of top secret documents from the National Archives in preparation for his testimony before the 9/11 Commission last year.
But in yesterday's follow-up story reporting Lindsey's interrogation, the paper failed to explain why the Trousergate grand jury has turned to him.
The answer: Lindsey and Berger were involved in preparing Clinton for his own testimony before the 9/11 Commission. In fact, last April 9, both the sticky-fingered aide and the notorious Clinton damage controller accompanied the ex-president to his 9/11 interrogation, according to Time magazine.
The obvious question grand jurors will want answered: Did Clinton, through Lindsey, know that Berger had stolen the top secret docs?
Another question undoubtedly on the minds of prosecutors: Who was Berger contacting when he told guards at the National Archives that he needed privacy to make a few cell phone calls, as reported by the New York Daily News just days after Trousergate broke?
"All I know is what he [Berger] said. He made a public statement," a tight-lipped Lindsey told the Post after testifying under oath yesterday....
hmmmm....
DR
oh THIS is rich - and it's not what you are thinking...get your minds outta the gutter...the 'trouser' part refers to Sandy Berger stealing classified documents and stuffing them in his pants...has nothing to do with Clinton or any White House aide...
NewsMax reports On Tuesday the New York Post revealed that prosecutors had finally begun probing Berger's removal of top secret documents from the National Archives in preparation for his testimony before the 9/11 Commission last year.
But in yesterday's follow-up story reporting Lindsey's interrogation, the paper failed to explain why the Trousergate grand jury has turned to him.
The answer: Lindsey and Berger were involved in preparing Clinton for his own testimony before the 9/11 Commission. In fact, last April 9, both the sticky-fingered aide and the notorious Clinton damage controller accompanied the ex-president to his 9/11 interrogation, according to Time magazine.
The obvious question grand jurors will want answered: Did Clinton, through Lindsey, know that Berger had stolen the top secret docs?
Another question undoubtedly on the minds of prosecutors: Who was Berger contacting when he told guards at the National Archives that he needed privacy to make a few cell phone calls, as reported by the New York Daily News just days after Trousergate broke?
"All I know is what he [Berger] said. He made a public statement," a tight-lipped Lindsey told the Post after testifying under oath yesterday....
hmmmm....
DR
NRO: Psst, the Deficit’s Shrinking
Here's some GOOD NEWS you definitely won't find anywhere in the MSM.
According to Larry Kudlow at National Review: This week’s Treasury report on the nation’s finances for December shows a year-to-date fiscal 2005 deficit that is already $11 billion less than last year’s.
As Kudlow stresses - don't look for this on tomorrow's headlines...
...it just ain't gonna happen...
DR
According to Larry Kudlow at National Review: This week’s Treasury report on the nation’s finances for December shows a year-to-date fiscal 2005 deficit that is already $11 billion less than last year’s.
As Kudlow stresses - don't look for this on tomorrow's headlines...
...it just ain't gonna happen...
DR
We Are Going to Politically Correct Ourselves Into Extinction
'There is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist. This is deeply offensive. Saying Muslims are terrorists would be covered by this provision'.
That statement was made by Iqbal Sacranie, general secretary of the MCB. MCB is the Muslim Council of Britain - a proponent of a government's proposed new law against incitement to religious hatred.
The problem? It looks like the bill will prevent anyone from speaking against Islamic extremists and the terrorists will have nothing to prevent them from doing what they do best...terrorism.
Give me a break, people...get your heads out of the sand...terrorism is real and it is heading directly for your front door...
...all of the wringing of hands over the war that President Bush has taken to the terrorists backyard - if that shrill opposition to the war doesn't stop - if you don't wake up and realize that we ARE living in a new, dangerous world with TERRORISTS that want to kill us...if you don't open your eyes, the next thing you will hear (because you obviously can't see because your eyes are scrunched shut)...the next thing you hear will be the call to Islamic prayer over the loudspeakers because the TERRORISTS will have converted the world to their way of life...
If this thing passes in Britain...God Save the Queen...because no one else will be able to do it...
DR
That statement was made by Iqbal Sacranie, general secretary of the MCB. MCB is the Muslim Council of Britain - a proponent of a government's proposed new law against incitement to religious hatred.
The problem? It looks like the bill will prevent anyone from speaking against Islamic extremists and the terrorists will have nothing to prevent them from doing what they do best...terrorism.
Give me a break, people...get your heads out of the sand...terrorism is real and it is heading directly for your front door...
...all of the wringing of hands over the war that President Bush has taken to the terrorists backyard - if that shrill opposition to the war doesn't stop - if you don't wake up and realize that we ARE living in a new, dangerous world with TERRORISTS that want to kill us...if you don't open your eyes, the next thing you will hear (because you obviously can't see because your eyes are scrunched shut)...the next thing you hear will be the call to Islamic prayer over the loudspeakers because the TERRORISTS will have converted the world to their way of life...
If this thing passes in Britain...God Save the Queen...because no one else will be able to do it...
DR
Hundred Percenter: Make Your Donations Count
Rather than give your money to questionable charities, where you aren't even sure if your money will go to victims instead of criminals and terrorists...why not follow HundredPercenter's advice and donate to a really worthwhile charity?
I think your money will be much more appreciated and put a much better use.
DR
I think your money will be much more appreciated and put a much better use.
DR
1/13/2005
And, What Part of This Picture Does Anyone Not Understand?
..the guy with OBL on his t-shirt probably can't wait for the Americans to come to their aid...more targets
DR
Why Wait?
The Indonesian government warned foreigners yesterday it could not guarantee their safety outside Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, closest to the offshore quake that created the tsunami, and yesterday said foreign soldiers delivering aid should leave by March...
why wait?
According to this report the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which serves as a key base for relief operations, had to move outside Indonesian territorial waters off Banda Aceh because Indonesians objected to US training flights.
HUH?
Oh, wait! I get it!
Why don't they just come right out and say it, rather than beat around the bush??
"Give us your damn money; leave the food, building supplies and medicine - and get the hell out"
Oh, but then I guess because they said some version of 'thank you' that makes it all okay??
DR
why wait?
According to this report the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which serves as a key base for relief operations, had to move outside Indonesian territorial waters off Banda Aceh because Indonesians objected to US training flights.
HUH?
Oh, wait! I get it!
Why don't they just come right out and say it, rather than beat around the bush??
"Give us your damn money; leave the food, building supplies and medicine - and get the hell out"
Oh, but then I guess because they said some version of 'thank you' that makes it all okay??
DR
MSM Whitewash
The fact that in most of the discussions about the CBS debacle, blogs are rarely - if even at all - mentioned is a focus at Front Page Magazine today along with a warning that this should not be overlooked or taken lightly.
These media leaders cannot face their own biases and their desperate grip on the spigot of information, and so they attempt to simply ignore the critical role that the blogosphere played in bringing this debacle to light.
When we talk about whitewashes, let's remember that history can also be rewritten to hand defeats to the victors and acquittals to the guilty. We can see this process happening before our eyes in the media right now -- and the blogosphere had better react to it.
A good point - hopefully everyone is listening...
DR
These media leaders cannot face their own biases and their desperate grip on the spigot of information, and so they attempt to simply ignore the critical role that the blogosphere played in bringing this debacle to light.
When we talk about whitewashes, let's remember that history can also be rewritten to hand defeats to the victors and acquittals to the guilty. We can see this process happening before our eyes in the media right now -- and the blogosphere had better react to it.
A good point - hopefully everyone is listening...
DR
It is good to record these for posterity
Didn't see it until today, but this a pretty complete list from RWN - The 40 most obnoxious quotes of 2004
DR
DR
1/11/2005
Honor Among Thieves...
Ha!
stole this from American Dinosaur, who stole it from Pirate's Cove, who stole it from The Reich-Wing Republican Joke Page....which was apparently supposed to be a joke...only trouble is, it backfired....
1) Conservatives are good, you are bad.
2) Conservatives are right, you are wrong.
3) Conservatives are sane, you are not.
4) Conservatives know humor. You do not.
5) Conservatives are humble. You are arrogant.
6) Conservatives are interesting. You are boring.
7) Conservatives tell the truth. You can't handle the truth.
8) Conservatives know all about you. You know nothing of conservatives.
9) Conservatives are the ultimate arbiter of politeness. You are rude.
10) The comments of conservatives are pointed. Yours are pointless.
11) The sayings of conservatives are full and sufficient. Yours requiredetails and citations.
12) Conservatives' unsubstantiated statements must be accepted as gospel.Yours must be immediately retracted.
13) Conservatives pin demeaning nicknames and constantly use them on theopposition. Your doing so only shows your desperation.
14) Conservatives are defined by their inconsistencies. Your inconsistency defeats your arguments.
15) Conservatives ape your tactics with no compunction. Your tactics areout of line.
16) Conservatives are secure in their omniscience. You are merely out toimpress.
17) What therefore God hath joined together, let conservatives put asunder that they may smite their enemies as "liberals."
18) Unless cornered, conservatives always must have last word.
19) Conservatives may hold grudges forever. You must get over it.
20) Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Pirate's Cove had this to say: If it is meant to be a joke, it doesn't work. Since, in this day and age, it is pretty much correct. Except 14. Not realistic. And 12. We do not make unsubstantiated statements....and I agree...
Other than that...the rest is pretty funny...and true.....
DR
stole this from American Dinosaur, who stole it from Pirate's Cove, who stole it from The Reich-Wing Republican Joke Page....which was apparently supposed to be a joke...only trouble is, it backfired....
1) Conservatives are good, you are bad.
2) Conservatives are right, you are wrong.
3) Conservatives are sane, you are not.
4) Conservatives know humor. You do not.
5) Conservatives are humble. You are arrogant.
6) Conservatives are interesting. You are boring.
7) Conservatives tell the truth. You can't handle the truth.
8) Conservatives know all about you. You know nothing of conservatives.
9) Conservatives are the ultimate arbiter of politeness. You are rude.
10) The comments of conservatives are pointed. Yours are pointless.
11) The sayings of conservatives are full and sufficient. Yours requiredetails and citations.
12) Conservatives' unsubstantiated statements must be accepted as gospel.Yours must be immediately retracted.
13) Conservatives pin demeaning nicknames and constantly use them on theopposition. Your doing so only shows your desperation.
14) Conservatives are defined by their inconsistencies. Your inconsistency defeats your arguments.
15) Conservatives ape your tactics with no compunction. Your tactics areout of line.
16) Conservatives are secure in their omniscience. You are merely out toimpress.
17) What therefore God hath joined together, let conservatives put asunder that they may smite their enemies as "liberals."
18) Unless cornered, conservatives always must have last word.
19) Conservatives may hold grudges forever. You must get over it.
20) Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Pirate's Cove had this to say: If it is meant to be a joke, it doesn't work. Since, in this day and age, it is pretty much correct. Except 14. Not realistic. And 12. We do not make unsubstantiated statements....and I agree...
Other than that...the rest is pretty funny...and true.....
DR
Bush names judge as Homeland chief
It's all over the place - President George W. Bush Wednesday nominated federal judge Michael Chertoff to be the new director of Homeland Security.
DR
DR
Sandy Berger Under the Microscope
Remember what some are now calling the "Socks Docs" incident? This story REALLY escaped much scrutiny and flew under the radar screen last year.
The New York Post is reporting today that a criminal probe into why former Bill Clinton aide Sandy Berger illegally sneaked top-secret documents out of the National Archives - possibly in his socks - has heated up and is now before a federal grand jury.
This whole thing has been troubling from the start. It reinforces the theory that many have about the Clintons and their complete disregard for the law as it pertains to them. They and 'their people' have demonstrated over and over again that, as far as they are concerned, the laws on the books were written for other people - not them.
Sandy Berger's disgraceful, treasonous, willful theft of and destruction of top-secret documents is HUGE. He was the former national security advisor! He knew what he was doing and should be charged accordingly...
...but, I also want to know how much the Clinton's knew of what he was doing...something just doesn't pass the smell test here...never has...
DR
The New York Post is reporting today that a criminal probe into why former Bill Clinton aide Sandy Berger illegally sneaked top-secret documents out of the National Archives - possibly in his socks - has heated up and is now before a federal grand jury.
This whole thing has been troubling from the start. It reinforces the theory that many have about the Clintons and their complete disregard for the law as it pertains to them. They and 'their people' have demonstrated over and over again that, as far as they are concerned, the laws on the books were written for other people - not them.
Sandy Berger's disgraceful, treasonous, willful theft of and destruction of top-secret documents is HUGE. He was the former national security advisor! He knew what he was doing and should be charged accordingly...
...but, I also want to know how much the Clinton's knew of what he was doing...something just doesn't pass the smell test here...never has...
DR
Morris: Hillary Clinton's Presidential Bid at Risk?
Dick Morris, former Clinton insider, has a column today about the indictment of David Rosen, Hillary Clinton's 2000 campaign-finance director.
If young David Rosen wants to take the fall for Hillary and join the likes of Web Hubbell and Susan McDougal, who chose to languish in prison rather than tell the truth, that is his decision. But don't ask us to believe something the average 8-year-old knows can't be true — that a gain to the campaign of $280,000 was beneath Hillary's notice.
Morris drives the point home: Hillary, detail oriented as she is, could not possibly have not been aware of what was going on...
DR
If young David Rosen wants to take the fall for Hillary and join the likes of Web Hubbell and Susan McDougal, who chose to languish in prison rather than tell the truth, that is his decision. But don't ask us to believe something the average 8-year-old knows can't be true — that a gain to the campaign of $280,000 was beneath Hillary's notice.
Morris drives the point home: Hillary, detail oriented as she is, could not possibly have not been aware of what was going on...
DR
1/10/2005
CBS Lies - Again
Found this report from the Dive Newswire, which has an international distribution of more than 4,000 business-to-business contacts, about a dive boat that helped CBS in their attempt to bring a story about coral damage from the tsunami.
This is what Dive Newswire has posted:
To those of you who saw Ocean Rover in the CBS News report about coral damage: do not believe what they are telling you! We are furious at CBS. One of their producers contacted us and asked if we could help them get to the Similan Islands to report on coral damage. They assured us the piece would be "fair & balanced."
Our Cruise Director Hans Tibboel described one specific divesite in Surin Island with the words: "it looked like a giant sandblaster was used". Again, Hans was describing only one divesite and made positive remarks about the actual lack of damage at other places. Of course, the CBS editor used the "sandblast" soundbite and hardly anything else.
Footage was also arranged in a "before & after" method that is not consistent with the real situation. All the beautiful "before" footage shown by CBS was actually filmed AFTER the tsunami.
Somehow the media just cannot help themselves and turn everything into a gloom & doom story. CBS should be ashamed of what they did here. We have talked to their producer since but of course she blames the New York editor. This is the way the media works. The way the news piece came out is 100% the opposite of what was promised to us. We urge fellow dive operators to be very careful in dealing with the media. These people do not let scruples get in the way of a juicy story. Shameful!
I mean - WTF??
...or are they so f'n full of themselves they are going to report on anything 'their way' and the truth be damned??
DR
This is what Dive Newswire has posted:
To those of you who saw Ocean Rover in the CBS News report about coral damage: do not believe what they are telling you! We are furious at CBS. One of their producers contacted us and asked if we could help them get to the Similan Islands to report on coral damage. They assured us the piece would be "fair & balanced."
Our Cruise Director Hans Tibboel described one specific divesite in Surin Island with the words: "it looked like a giant sandblaster was used". Again, Hans was describing only one divesite and made positive remarks about the actual lack of damage at other places. Of course, the CBS editor used the "sandblast" soundbite and hardly anything else.
Footage was also arranged in a "before & after" method that is not consistent with the real situation. All the beautiful "before" footage shown by CBS was actually filmed AFTER the tsunami.
Somehow the media just cannot help themselves and turn everything into a gloom & doom story. CBS should be ashamed of what they did here. We have talked to their producer since but of course she blames the New York editor. This is the way the media works. The way the news piece came out is 100% the opposite of what was promised to us. We urge fellow dive operators to be very careful in dealing with the media. These people do not let scruples get in the way of a juicy story. Shameful!
I mean - WTF??
Here is a quote from a passenger who was there with CBS:
"I was quoted in the CBS story as saying that the diving looked like a bomb had gone off. I want to let everyone out there know that this was on ONE dive that I went on during the entire 11 day trip..." Dustin Silvester, Utah, USA
From Ocean Rover Diving Cruises (I realize they are also concerned about their diving business, but the fact that CBS has - once again - distorted the truth is not something that can be overlooked):
Much to our dismay there are many unsubstantiated news stories about “total destruction” of Phuket’s coral reefs. Even our own effort to bring a CBS team to the Similans for a first hand look turned into a nightmare when they broke their promise and turned it into yet another “spectacular disaster” story. Our crew and passengers were quoted out of context and our underwater video footage used incorrectly. Never again!
So, I guess one could say that CBS didn't learn its lesson last year? Are they determined to drive every viewer away from them?......or are they so f'n full of themselves they are going to report on anything 'their way' and the truth be damned??
DR
Takes The Guesswork Out of Trying to Identify Liberals..
This is great - a liberal using the free enterprise system
to take money from other liberals...
...and think of how great it is for us...no more guess work...
one look and we will KNOW...a freaking Liberal!
Heh...
DR
1/09/2005
Hail and Snow in Arizona
the storm that moved through Arizona last Tuesday
brought hail to the Phoenix area along with tornado warnings..
snow in the Grand Canyon...
and snow in Sedona...
all of these photos were shared by AZ residents
DR
"If their papers are no good, they won’t give them a job."
I was struck by that statement while reading an article in the East Valley Tribune.
The problem? Illegal aliens loitering around waiting for someone to offer them work.
The entire excerpt about the woman went like this:
Sylvia Salinas, who lives on Arizona Avenue near downtown and whose husband, Javier, is a day laborer, said the men don't use the center to get work because identification is required.
"It's a place to go to work, but only if you have papers," she said. "If their papers are no good, they won't give them a job."
Salinas said the men don’t bother anyone by simply standing on the street.
"I’ve never heard of anyone complaining about the men," she said. "Some of them have families to support. If they don’t want all of these people to stand out here they should build a building so they can all go there and get some work. You can try to get them off of the street, but it’s no good because there’s no help for them in Chandler."
And there it is...these people who sneak into this country illegally, work for cash, don't pay taxes...these freeloaders expect us, with an almost in-your-face-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it attitude, to foot the bill...AGAIN....and build them a building so they can continue to break our laws by remaining here illegally and living under the radar...
GIMME A BREAK!
DR
The problem? Illegal aliens loitering around waiting for someone to offer them work.
The entire excerpt about the woman went like this:
Sylvia Salinas, who lives on Arizona Avenue near downtown and whose husband, Javier, is a day laborer, said the men don't use the center to get work because identification is required.
"It's a place to go to work, but only if you have papers," she said. "If their papers are no good, they won't give them a job."
Salinas said the men don’t bother anyone by simply standing on the street.
"I’ve never heard of anyone complaining about the men," she said. "Some of them have families to support. If they don’t want all of these people to stand out here they should build a building so they can all go there and get some work. You can try to get them off of the street, but it’s no good because there’s no help for them in Chandler."
And there it is...these people who sneak into this country illegally, work for cash, don't pay taxes...these freeloaders expect us, with an almost in-your-face-what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it attitude, to foot the bill...AGAIN....and build them a building so they can continue to break our laws by remaining here illegally and living under the radar...
GIMME A BREAK!
DR
Aaron Tonken: "I Told Hillary Everything"
It's clear that Hillary's 'people' are now running around trying to do damage control...
...but...will it work?
Peter Paul, now in prison, is described as a former Hollywood Internet entrepreneur and partner of Spiderman creator Stan Lee, spent nearly $2 million to produce in August 2000 a Hollywood tribute to honor President Clinton and to help raise funds for Hillary Clinton’s 2000 U.S. Senate campaign. He was repeatedly assured that his expenses would be reported to the Federal Election Commission.
It turns out that Paul has been helping the Feds, providing information that ultimately led to the indictment of Hillary Clinton’s former Senate campaign finance chairman, David Rosen.
But wait, there's more:
Aaron Tonken is currently in prison for his role in organizing the event. Tonken, once apparently star-struck and power hungry, is now singing to the feds....and he wrote a book...
Writes Tonken in describing the departure of the Clintons the night of the gala: "Just before they got into the limo, I handed the president gifts from me, Stan Lee and Peter Paul: for him, a custom humidor and a handmade gold watch worth tens of thousands; for Hillary, a necklace that cost eight grand. The first lady disliked it and later sent it back.
"Before my car arrived, I had my last fond glimpses of this gathering of the rich and famous. I watched them drive off into the night. I may have been the ultimate outsider growing up, but not any more. Now I was in, and they were my people.
"But not for long. In less than three years I'd be busted. Instead of chronicling my stunning successes, Variety's Army Archerd would be writing about my criminal misdeeds; I'd be talking not to presidents and movie stars, but to the FBI and other federal agencies, handing over more than two dozen boxes of letters, e-mails, receipts and invoices, cooperating as the government pursued a multifaceted investigation into the corruption that lay hidden behind all the glitter."
Tonken's dose of reality includes one very key conversation he says he had with Hillary Clinton, revealing everything to her about the illegal fund raising/reporting activities - not because of a guilty conscience, but because he wanted credit for it...but the fact remains- Hillary KNEW:
Tonken later writes he explained what he was doing and how to the Senate candidate while the two were alone briefly in a van during a day of campaigning in L.A.:
"I'd spent odd moments alone with [Hillary] before, primarily in the evening at the White House. But this was my real shot to talk to her with no one else around, and what I wanted was to let her know how much I admired her, how much I was behind her, and most important, what I had already done for her. It was, quite by accident, the moment of truth. …
"I told her about virtually every penny I'd spent on her behalf. I let her know what I was doing and had done for each event of hers. I spoke about the money and what a pleasure and honor it was to spend it on her candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
"Once and for all, I wanted it clear in her mind who was the person really doing things for her. There was so much jockeying for position among those around her: Kelly, David, Jim Levin, and so on. People taking credit for stuff. I thought I might have been short-changed, and I wanted to correct that.
"I believed that once she knew the facts, she would see how valuable I was to her and welcome me into her inner circle. The whole thing was intended to be solely for my benefit. I never wanted to hurt her. I could tell she wasn't entirely comfortable with this conversation, and yet I couldn't stop. It wasn't until much later that I fully realized what I had done. Whatever protection her staff had built around her, however much in the dark they had kept her, that was over.
"Now she knew."
hmmm...very interesting indeed...
let's see how Hillary tries to wiggle out of this one....
DR
...but...will it work?
Peter Paul, now in prison, is described as a former Hollywood Internet entrepreneur and partner of Spiderman creator Stan Lee, spent nearly $2 million to produce in August 2000 a Hollywood tribute to honor President Clinton and to help raise funds for Hillary Clinton’s 2000 U.S. Senate campaign. He was repeatedly assured that his expenses would be reported to the Federal Election Commission.
It turns out that Paul has been helping the Feds, providing information that ultimately led to the indictment of Hillary Clinton’s former Senate campaign finance chairman, David Rosen.
But wait, there's more:
Aaron Tonken is currently in prison for his role in organizing the event. Tonken, once apparently star-struck and power hungry, is now singing to the feds....and he wrote a book...
Writes Tonken in describing the departure of the Clintons the night of the gala: "Just before they got into the limo, I handed the president gifts from me, Stan Lee and Peter Paul: for him, a custom humidor and a handmade gold watch worth tens of thousands; for Hillary, a necklace that cost eight grand. The first lady disliked it and later sent it back.
"Before my car arrived, I had my last fond glimpses of this gathering of the rich and famous. I watched them drive off into the night. I may have been the ultimate outsider growing up, but not any more. Now I was in, and they were my people.
"But not for long. In less than three years I'd be busted. Instead of chronicling my stunning successes, Variety's Army Archerd would be writing about my criminal misdeeds; I'd be talking not to presidents and movie stars, but to the FBI and other federal agencies, handing over more than two dozen boxes of letters, e-mails, receipts and invoices, cooperating as the government pursued a multifaceted investigation into the corruption that lay hidden behind all the glitter."
Tonken's dose of reality includes one very key conversation he says he had with Hillary Clinton, revealing everything to her about the illegal fund raising/reporting activities - not because of a guilty conscience, but because he wanted credit for it...but the fact remains- Hillary KNEW:
Tonken later writes he explained what he was doing and how to the Senate candidate while the two were alone briefly in a van during a day of campaigning in L.A.:
"I'd spent odd moments alone with [Hillary] before, primarily in the evening at the White House. But this was my real shot to talk to her with no one else around, and what I wanted was to let her know how much I admired her, how much I was behind her, and most important, what I had already done for her. It was, quite by accident, the moment of truth. …
"I told her about virtually every penny I'd spent on her behalf. I let her know what I was doing and had done for each event of hers. I spoke about the money and what a pleasure and honor it was to spend it on her candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
"Once and for all, I wanted it clear in her mind who was the person really doing things for her. There was so much jockeying for position among those around her: Kelly, David, Jim Levin, and so on. People taking credit for stuff. I thought I might have been short-changed, and I wanted to correct that.
"I believed that once she knew the facts, she would see how valuable I was to her and welcome me into her inner circle. The whole thing was intended to be solely for my benefit. I never wanted to hurt her. I could tell she wasn't entirely comfortable with this conversation, and yet I couldn't stop. It wasn't until much later that I fully realized what I had done. Whatever protection her staff had built around her, however much in the dark they had kept her, that was over.
"Now she knew."
hmmm...very interesting indeed...
let's see how Hillary tries to wiggle out of this one....
DR
1/08/2005
So...Did He Lose the Remote??
Watching contestants eat dead rats on NBC's gross-out stunt show "Fear Factor" so disgusted a Cleveland man that he has sued NBC for $2.5 million, saying he could not stomach what he saw.
Am I the only one in the dark about how NBC forces people to watch their shows...??
DR
Am I the only one in the dark about how NBC forces people to watch their shows...??
DR
1/07/2005
WA Times: Hillary Clinton's campaign aide indicted
The Washington Times tonight is reporting:
The national finance director for Hillary Clinton's 2000 senatorial campaign has been indicted on fundraising charges, the U.S. Justice Department said.
The indictment unsealed Friday in Los Angeles charges David Rosen with causing false finance reports to be filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The indictment alleges Rosen, an experienced professional political fundraiser, was responsible for all fundraising, planning and costs for an Aug. 12, 2000 fundraising event in Los Angeles for Clinton's successful campaign in New York.
While the event is alleged to have cost over $1.2 million, paid for with over $1.1 million of "in-kind" contributions, the indictment charges Rosen reported the in-kind contributions to be only around $400,000, knowing this figure to be false.
The indictment charges Rosen provided some documents to the joint fundraising committee's FEC compliance officer, but withheld true costs known to him and provided false documents to substantiate the lower figure.
DR
The national finance director for Hillary Clinton's 2000 senatorial campaign has been indicted on fundraising charges, the U.S. Justice Department said.
The indictment unsealed Friday in Los Angeles charges David Rosen with causing false finance reports to be filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The indictment alleges Rosen, an experienced professional political fundraiser, was responsible for all fundraising, planning and costs for an Aug. 12, 2000 fundraising event in Los Angeles for Clinton's successful campaign in New York.
While the event is alleged to have cost over $1.2 million, paid for with over $1.1 million of "in-kind" contributions, the indictment charges Rosen reported the in-kind contributions to be only around $400,000, knowing this figure to be false.
The indictment charges Rosen provided some documents to the joint fundraising committee's FEC compliance officer, but withheld true costs known to him and provided false documents to substantiate the lower figure.
DR
Maxine Waters Dedicates Objection to Michael Moore
I just heard it on KFYI's Barry Young show and had to research it for myself:
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that during yesterday's attempt to delay or even block the certifying of the Electoral College vote by congressional Democrats that
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, went so far as to thank the moviemaker on the floor of the House on Thursday, saying: "I dedicate my objection to Michael Moore."
Uh, yea, this is the same Maxine Waters that is facing charges that Waters' family members earned more than $1 million over the last eight years by doing business with companies, candidates and causes that she helped.
The Chronicle also noted: No moment better captured the acrimony on Capitol Hill than Sen. Barbara Boxer's challenge to President Bush's election.
The antics in the chambers of Congress on Thursday more resembled the San Francisco Board of the Supervisors than the world's most deliberative body.
There was no expectation -- even among the most venal Bush haters -- that the objection launched by Boxer and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio might alter the outcome of the election or impede Bush's inauguration.
So what was the point?
DR
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that during yesterday's attempt to delay or even block the certifying of the Electoral College vote by congressional Democrats that
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, went so far as to thank the moviemaker on the floor of the House on Thursday, saying: "I dedicate my objection to Michael Moore."
Uh, yea, this is the same Maxine Waters that is facing charges that Waters' family members earned more than $1 million over the last eight years by doing business with companies, candidates and causes that she helped.
The Chronicle also noted: No moment better captured the acrimony on Capitol Hill than Sen. Barbara Boxer's challenge to President Bush's election.
The antics in the chambers of Congress on Thursday more resembled the San Francisco Board of the Supervisors than the world's most deliberative body.
There was no expectation -- even among the most venal Bush haters -- that the objection launched by Boxer and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio might alter the outcome of the election or impede Bush's inauguration.
So what was the point?
DR
Another perspective...
just read somewhere on the internet the best description of Michael Moore I have ever heard:
"worthless tub of goat-felching pan-drippings"
the writer went on to comment: Micheal Moore should be rendered down into weapons lubricant; then he could at least serve his country in some useful capacity.
now that is some descriptive writing...
DR
"worthless tub of goat-felching pan-drippings"
the writer went on to comment: Micheal Moore should be rendered down into weapons lubricant; then he could at least serve his country in some useful capacity.
now that is some descriptive writing...
DR
Tsunami Aid Going to al Queda?
that's right...NewsMax is reporting exactly that:
Some of the massive U.S. aid package earmarked for Indonesian tsunami victims is going to a radical Muslim group with direct ties to al Qaida, including at least one terrorist leader who is accused of helping the 9/11 hijackers.
Laskar Mujahidin has reportedly dispatched 200 of its members to the hard-hit provincial capital of Banda Aceh, where they were seen Thursday unloading truckloads of aid at the military airport there.
But according to terrorism experts in the region, Laskar Mujahidin has links to terror groups outside Indonesia, including al Qaida, the Associated Press reported Friday.
The group was once headed by Abu Bakar Bashir, an Islamic cleric now on trial as an alleged leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the AP said. Some Jemaah Islamiyah members are believed to have helped the kamikaze hijackers who killed 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11.
Laskar Mujahidin also accepted aid offered by an emissary of Osama bin Laden, according terrorism expert Sidney Jones.
At a camp set up by the group, a sign was spotted Thursday that read, "Islamic Law Enforcement."
The group's terror ties have raised concern among other aid groups working to help tsunami victims, whose members are now afraid of being seen with Americans.
"Our teams are told that they should not fly in American army helicopters, since we're concerned that they could be a particular target," said Michel Brugiere, director of the French medical group Doctors of the World.
That last comment is very telling to me...and I remind you...don't think for a moment that any of the assistance the Americans are sending to tsunami victims will change any Islamic fundalist heart...
it won't happen...
now after reading this, I am worried about possible attacks on the very people that have gone there to help...
DR
Some of the massive U.S. aid package earmarked for Indonesian tsunami victims is going to a radical Muslim group with direct ties to al Qaida, including at least one terrorist leader who is accused of helping the 9/11 hijackers.
Laskar Mujahidin has reportedly dispatched 200 of its members to the hard-hit provincial capital of Banda Aceh, where they were seen Thursday unloading truckloads of aid at the military airport there.
But according to terrorism experts in the region, Laskar Mujahidin has links to terror groups outside Indonesia, including al Qaida, the Associated Press reported Friday.
The group was once headed by Abu Bakar Bashir, an Islamic cleric now on trial as an alleged leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, the AP said. Some Jemaah Islamiyah members are believed to have helped the kamikaze hijackers who killed 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11.
Laskar Mujahidin also accepted aid offered by an emissary of Osama bin Laden, according terrorism expert Sidney Jones.
At a camp set up by the group, a sign was spotted Thursday that read, "Islamic Law Enforcement."
The group's terror ties have raised concern among other aid groups working to help tsunami victims, whose members are now afraid of being seen with Americans.
"Our teams are told that they should not fly in American army helicopters, since we're concerned that they could be a particular target," said Michel Brugiere, director of the French medical group Doctors of the World.
That last comment is very telling to me...and I remind you...don't think for a moment that any of the assistance the Americans are sending to tsunami victims will change any Islamic fundalist heart...
it won't happen...
now after reading this, I am worried about possible attacks on the very people that have gone there to help...
DR
Mexican Government Produces a Guide for Illegal Aliens
Cover on the guide for illegals crossing the border into the U.S.
this page from the book describes how illegals should react when confronted by U.S. Immigration officers...
The Arizona Republic reports on the book the Mexican government is now handing out to its citizens:
"This guide is intended to give you some practical advice that could be of use if you have made the difficult decision to seek new work opportunities outside your country," the book says.
I'm sorry - painting the illegal entry into a country as a "difficult decision to seek new work opportunities outside your country" is just outrageous...in fact, I would say it is...ILLEGAL!
How can a government encourage and assist citizens of that country to illegally enter and hide inside a neighboring country??
The book is being distributed as a free supplement to El Libro Vaquero, a popular cowboy comic book, in five Mexican states that send many migrants to the United States: Zacatecas, Michoacán, Puebla, Oaxaca and Jalisco. The government plans to print 1.5 million copies.
The book comes with a yellow disclaimer saying it does not promote undocumented immigration, and it repeatedly warns against crossing illegally. But it gives no information about the steps for seeking a U.S. visa.
Vicente Fox, president of Mexico, continues to insist that these illegals aren't doing anything wrong by sneaking into this country, acquiring false documentation, working and getting paid but not paying any taxes - let me repeat that one - in most cases they not paying any taxes, yet these are the same people that are lining up for our government's 'free' (ie: paid with our tax dollars) programs - food stamps, health care, educating their children...
Said John Vincent, editor of a newsletter published by Virginia-based Americans for Immigration Control: "It really looks like the Mexican government is encouraging illegal immigration. It shows the contempt that the Mexican government has for our laws."
The Mexican government produces a similar book aimed at Central American immigrants who try to enter Mexico illegally. The book covers much of the same information about legal rights and repeats many of the warnings. It even shows a group of migrants struggling to breathe inside a truck.
But that book doesn't give the same kind of safety tips on crossing the border or advise immigrants on how to live peacefully in Mexico.
Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth is already voicing his protest in a letter to the Mexican ambassador in Washington, but from the lack of press coverage I have seen about this subject, I wonder how much good that will do...
Liberals insist on calling these people "undocumented workers" or "undocumented migrants" but what is the point of putting window dressing on something as serious as this?
I already noted the other day that the boys name, Jose, has surpassed any Anglo names in Arizona, but the underlying reality is this: More Arizona babies were born to Hispanic women in 2003 than to their White, non-Hispanic counterparts, another reflection of the state's fast-growing Hispanic population.
"Every demographer I've talked to thinks the majority of Arizona's population will be Hispanic by 2035 or 2045," he said. Olivas said he believes the minority-majority status will occur by 2035.
If all of those were here legally, going through the system to obtain legitimate documentation, I wouldn't have a gripe...
DR
1/05/2005
And Speaking of Relief Efforts...
Mark Steyn writes and notes that for all his bomblasting the U.S. about being 'stingy' and stating that our taxes are too low, Jan Egeland - of the U.N. - has done nothing more than...well, I will let Steyn tell you:
Yet, even though Mr. Egeland's office has a permanent bureaucracy dedicated solely to humanitarian relief work, a week after the disaster it didn't seem to have actually done anything other than fly in some experts to assess the situation. Reporters on the ground have noted the lack of activity in Colombo and Sumatra. But the U.S. government already had ships and troops and water and medicine on the way. (my emphasis)
'nough said...
DR
Yet, even though Mr. Egeland's office has a permanent bureaucracy dedicated solely to humanitarian relief work, a week after the disaster it didn't seem to have actually done anything other than fly in some experts to assess the situation. Reporters on the ground have noted the lack of activity in Colombo and Sumatra. But the U.S. government already had ships and troops and water and medicine on the way. (my emphasis)
'nough said...
DR
Malkin: A salute to the USS Abraham Lincoln
Michelle Malkin has written an inspiring column today about the U.S. participation in the tsunami relief effort.
One of the most touching series of photos available at the Navy's Web site features Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Savoy and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Davy Nugent preparing loaves of bread in the aircraft carrier's bakery for tsunami victims. The bakery produces between 600-800 loaves a day. Here are two fine, young American sailors -- representative of thousands of Americans in uniform like them -- lending their skills to help the suffering.
Aboard the carrier, every last crewmember -- from medical personnel to engineers to bakers -- is pitching in to help with the relief effort. The crew of about 6,000 has deployed at least 10 of its 17 helicopters to deliver supplies and aid to tsunami victims on the coast. Surgical teams from the carrier have set up triage sites on Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base in Banda Aceh, and are working with teams from Carrier Air Wing Two and the International Organization for Migration.
Makes me proud...
DR
One of the most touching series of photos available at the Navy's Web site features Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Savoy and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Davy Nugent preparing loaves of bread in the aircraft carrier's bakery for tsunami victims. The bakery produces between 600-800 loaves a day. Here are two fine, young American sailors -- representative of thousands of Americans in uniform like them -- lending their skills to help the suffering.
Aboard the carrier, every last crewmember -- from medical personnel to engineers to bakers -- is pitching in to help with the relief effort. The crew of about 6,000 has deployed at least 10 of its 17 helicopters to deliver supplies and aid to tsunami victims on the coast. Surgical teams from the carrier have set up triage sites on Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Force Base in Banda Aceh, and are working with teams from Carrier Air Wing Two and the International Organization for Migration.
Makes me proud...
DR
Jose Passes Michael
At least, it happened in Arizona.
What am I talking about? Well, just in case you missed the headline, until last year, in Arizona Michael was the most commonly used boy's name:
Jose and Emily were the most popular names for Arizona boys and girls born in 2004.That word today from the state Department of Health Services after a check of birth records recorded by December 29th.
Jacob, Anthony, Daniel and Angel (AHN'-hel) followed Jose to round out the top five names chosen for 46-thousand boys born in Arizona in 2004.
AHN'-hel??
coming from a border state - and we ALL know what issues that presents...all I can say is....hmmm...
DR
What am I talking about? Well, just in case you missed the headline, until last year, in Arizona Michael was the most commonly used boy's name:
Jose and Emily were the most popular names for Arizona boys and girls born in 2004.That word today from the state Department of Health Services after a check of birth records recorded by December 29th.
Jacob, Anthony, Daniel and Angel (AHN'-hel) followed Jose to round out the top five names chosen for 46-thousand boys born in Arizona in 2004.
AHN'-hel??
coming from a border state - and we ALL know what issues that presents...all I can say is....hmmm...
DR
al-Zarqawi - Monster - Captured..?
Have been following this since yesterday...and even though it appears as if things are a little fuzzy right now...and of course the Pentagon has to be demure about it until they can actually show the monster in handcuffs...but I am beginning to see some signs of an echo on the news of the capture of al-Zarqawi...
you remember him...he is the monster that loves to behead Americans while the camera is running...
well, you might not recognize him because the coward always wears a hood so that no one can 'recognize' him...but he and his M.O. are clearly identifiable as he has slowly, painfully(for the victims), gleefully separated Americans and other foreigners heads from their bodies... remember Nicholas Berg?...
don't be fooled by the apparent attempt at trying to look innocent in this photo...this is a Bad Man...a REAL Boogie Man...the stuff nightmares are made of...
now, I don't know if this 'echo' is just a repeat-er of what I referenced yesterday from Matt Drudge, but here are a few of the news agencies that are now reporting the 'news':
The China Daily Kazakh Information Agency (Kazakhstan)
Itar-Tass News Agency (Russia)
Kurdish Media News
those were reported yesterday...and this morning Aljazeera has jumped on the message...
I will continue to watch this...but I am beginning to get the sense that it is real...
DR
1/04/2005
Under Iran's Islamic law a father need only pay blood money for killing his children
You read it correctly...and here all this time you thought I was exaggerating about the lack of value placed on a life under Islamic law...
Go ahead, read it for yourself HERE
This dude in Iran found out that his wife was having an affair so he killed the lover and the lover's sister. The murderer said this:
"I had beheaded sheep before and I felt Fatemeh (the sister of the lover) was a sheep so I cut her head off and chopped her body to small pieces. I placed her head in a tray which scared the life out of my children"
Oh yea, I forgot to tell you that when he realized that his two sons had witnessed the killing, he beheaded them...
It's the truth! Here, this is what they said:
After learning that his sons had witnessed Fatemeh's murder, Ismail beheaded them.
Seraj said Ismail received two death sentences for killing the adults. Under Iran's Islamic law a father need only pay blood money for killing his children.
And you know what? The wife got the death sentence for having a lover...
yep, that's right:
Masoumeh was sentenced to death for her affair with Ebrahim. Adultery is punishable by death in Iran.
what's the moral of this story?
Beats me! I just post this stuff........
DR
Go ahead, read it for yourself HERE
This dude in Iran found out that his wife was having an affair so he killed the lover and the lover's sister. The murderer said this:
"I had beheaded sheep before and I felt Fatemeh (the sister of the lover) was a sheep so I cut her head off and chopped her body to small pieces. I placed her head in a tray which scared the life out of my children"
Oh yea, I forgot to tell you that when he realized that his two sons had witnessed the killing, he beheaded them...
It's the truth! Here, this is what they said:
After learning that his sons had witnessed Fatemeh's murder, Ismail beheaded them.
Seraj said Ismail received two death sentences for killing the adults. Under Iran's Islamic law a father need only pay blood money for killing his children.
And you know what? The wife got the death sentence for having a lover...
yep, that's right:
Masoumeh was sentenced to death for her affair with Ebrahim. Adultery is punishable by death in Iran.
what's the moral of this story?
Beats me! I just post this stuff........
DR
Got a Court Date? Here's Your Next Excuse:
I really have been too serious lately, so I have decided to take a short detour into the ridiculous:
According to this report from Reuters:
Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri failed to appear before a British court Tuesday, complaining his toe nails were too long and he could not walk.
al-Masri, up on 10 charges of using public meetings to incite his followers to kill non-Muslims, really does have issues: "Hamza has physical difficulties. He is unable to walk. He has been perambulating barefoot around the prison," said defense lawyer Peter Hynes.
Prosecutor Adina Ekiel added: "He is complaining that his toe nails are too long."
.................I mean really....how do you follow something like that???
DR
According to this report from Reuters:
Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri failed to appear before a British court Tuesday, complaining his toe nails were too long and he could not walk.
al-Masri, up on 10 charges of using public meetings to incite his followers to kill non-Muslims, really does have issues: "Hamza has physical difficulties. He is unable to walk. He has been perambulating barefoot around the prison," said defense lawyer Peter Hynes.
Prosecutor Adina Ekiel added: "He is complaining that his toe nails are too long."
.................I mean really....how do you follow something like that???
DR
It's Not About How Much We Give...
...get used to it, people...the United States of America will always be an easy target for the nay-sayers, the hate mongers, the people that are jealous of everything we do...
...I keep hearing - from many varied sources -
"We just need to do _________" - you fill in the blank...
I tell you, it won't matter! It doesn't matter how much money we send; it doesn't matter how many aircraft carriers we send with food, medicine and building supplies; it doesn't matter how many people we send...those that hate us will always hate us and that's just the way it is.
In politics, when you rise in leadership, you become an easier and more enticing target with every inch up the ladder.
The same applies to the world leadership.
The U.S. is clearly the leader of the world.
When tragedy strikes, we are the first on the ground with aid - no matter what form it may take.
So, get used to it. The criticism will continue. We won't change a muslim heart if they are already down the road to extremism. We won't change the minds of those Euros that are chomping at the bit to send hateful messages about anything we do.
It really doesn't matter.
I posted it the other day, and I will say it again: We will continue to do what we do because WE ARE AMERICANS...
...we WILL continue to do the right thing...
..and that really IS all that matters...
DR
...I keep hearing - from many varied sources -
"We just need to do _________" - you fill in the blank...
I tell you, it won't matter! It doesn't matter how much money we send; it doesn't matter how many aircraft carriers we send with food, medicine and building supplies; it doesn't matter how many people we send...those that hate us will always hate us and that's just the way it is.
In politics, when you rise in leadership, you become an easier and more enticing target with every inch up the ladder.
The same applies to the world leadership.
The U.S. is clearly the leader of the world.
When tragedy strikes, we are the first on the ground with aid - no matter what form it may take.
So, get used to it. The criticism will continue. We won't change a muslim heart if they are already down the road to extremism. We won't change the minds of those Euros that are chomping at the bit to send hateful messages about anything we do.
It really doesn't matter.
I posted it the other day, and I will say it again: We will continue to do what we do because WE ARE AMERICANS...
...we WILL continue to do the right thing...
..and that really IS all that matters...
DR
URGENT: 'TARGET #1': al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq
That is what Matt Drudge is reporting right now...
Even though the Pentagon is not commenting at the moment, Iraqi Kurdistan radio reported it along with the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane's correspondent...let's just hope it is true...
DR
Even though the Pentagon is not commenting at the moment, Iraqi Kurdistan radio reported it along with the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane's correspondent...let's just hope it is true...
DR
1/03/2005
Code Pink Gives $600,000 to Terrorists
It is inconceivable, unbelievable...but, NO! it's true! Hundred Percenter Newswires is reporting just that.
In true Jane Fondaesque manner, a group called Code Pink has donated over $600,000 to the residents of Fallujah- most likely who are terrorists....She said: "It is a reflection of a growing movement in the United States ... opposed to the unjust nature of this war."
the picture of these idiots can be seen at Hundred Percenter...these women are Americans...these women refer to Saddam Hussein as "King Hussein"...
I already checked...there's no full moon right now...
I've heard and read enough today...
signing off...
DR
In true Jane Fondaesque manner, a group called Code Pink has donated over $600,000 to the residents of Fallujah- most likely who are terrorists....She said: "It is a reflection of a growing movement in the United States ... opposed to the unjust nature of this war."
the picture of these idiots can be seen at Hundred Percenter...these women are Americans...these women refer to Saddam Hussein as "King Hussein"...
I already checked...there's no full moon right now...
I've heard and read enough today...
signing off...
DR
When You Look Up the Definition of "Jerk"...
...this is what you will find.......
...this guy is a first class jerk...
Editor-in-chief of something called the Gadflyer, their "About Us" page reveals this:
The Gadflyer is a new progressive Internet magazine. As the name implies, The Gadflyer will be provocative, critical, and iconoclastic.
'Progressive' should be your first clue, but don't go scrambling for your dictionary - iconoclastic, as defined on dictionary.com:
One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions.
One who destroys sacred religious images.
this really is not surprising after I heard this schmuck on Scarborough Country tonight trashing President Bush for - in Waldman's words - "not stopping raking up brush on his ranch long enough to give a press conference on the tsunami" (I paraphrased, but the raking part was pure Waldman).
After hearing him I got curious, so found his website and...THESE GUYS ARE SCARY!!
One of the things I noticed was that there are a lot of 'contributors' that come from academia...I've said it before...no wonder our young people are so confused!
DR
When the World Dials '911' the United States Responds
Just heard that on Scarborough Country on MSNBC and I thought it was a great slogan...
Besides being the truth, it conjurs up the image of the U.S. being first in line of the first responders...
DR
Besides being the truth, it conjurs up the image of the U.S. being first in line of the first responders...
DR
U.S./World More Compassionate Than Survivors?
Apparently, that statement has some truth in it.
According to this article in the Guardian, a U.K. publication: A desperate group of starving survivors in one of the tsunami-hit Nicobar islands kidnapped the island's top civilian official and its police chief in protest at the inadequate relief operation, it emerged yesterday.
Why did they kidnap these guys? Because of this:
The survivors from Great Nicobar Island spent four days without food before trekking through the jungle to the wrecked headquarters settlement at Campbell Bay.
When they arrived they discovered the island's assistant commissioner and deputy assistant of police eating a plate of biryani, witnesses said.
The crowd of Punjabi settlers took the men hostage, demanding that they provide help to the hundreds of islanders who were starving in the jungle.
"The assistant commissioner was eating biryani in his guesthouse," one witness, Lilly Ommen, said. "The men arrived and pointed out that they were starving. They also said there were people stuck in the forest with nothing, as well as many dead bodies."
Biryani has been described as a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions...It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it. (my emphasis)
This worries me.
It reminds me too much of what apparently happened with the Oil-for-food program in Iraq - the citizens that the aid was intended for suffered and starved while a few select officials lived in the lap of luxury....
Hopefully this is an isolated incident...hopefully...
DR
(thanks to Matt Drudge for this link)
According to this article in the Guardian, a U.K. publication: A desperate group of starving survivors in one of the tsunami-hit Nicobar islands kidnapped the island's top civilian official and its police chief in protest at the inadequate relief operation, it emerged yesterday.
Why did they kidnap these guys? Because of this:
The survivors from Great Nicobar Island spent four days without food before trekking through the jungle to the wrecked headquarters settlement at Campbell Bay.
When they arrived they discovered the island's assistant commissioner and deputy assistant of police eating a plate of biryani, witnesses said.
The crowd of Punjabi settlers took the men hostage, demanding that they provide help to the hundreds of islanders who were starving in the jungle.
"The assistant commissioner was eating biryani in his guesthouse," one witness, Lilly Ommen, said. "The men arrived and pointed out that they were starving. They also said there were people stuck in the forest with nothing, as well as many dead bodies."
Biryani has been described as a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions...It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it. (my emphasis)
This worries me.
It reminds me too much of what apparently happened with the Oil-for-food program in Iraq - the citizens that the aid was intended for suffered and starved while a few select officials lived in the lap of luxury....
Hopefully this is an isolated incident...hopefully...
DR
(thanks to Matt Drudge for this link)
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