Marine Sees Himself On News One Year After Combat

by C. Dickson, 12-30-06

Ted Dickson, at 22, is now a freshman in college and enjoying every minute of it. Perhaps a little too much his parents think, but after four years in the Marines, the newly discharged Corporal and newly enlisted Guardsman was, for the moment, focused on his abs at Gold's Gym.

And then it happened, looking up, he saw himself with his Fire Team back on the streets of Husayba in Anbar Province, Iraq. It was November of 2005 and there they were. Adrenalin pumping, climbing over walls, battering down doors, and taking the town one house at a time.

The CNN news reader spoke over the video a few more seconds and it was over. There was still time to get on the treadmill before heading home for supper on this Friday December 29, 2006.

Ted and 3/6 I Co. 1st Plt. are in the CNN news clip "Iraq Troop Increase?" starting at 1:08 through 1:30.

For those curious as to why footage that old was used, this Hugh Hewitt audio "T.F. Boggs, Bill Roggio, Froggy Ruminations" may shed some light. Start at 10:32.

The World Has One Less Dictator

At this very moment, Saddam is answering for his crimes. He sees the TRUE face of justice -- and I don't mean at the hands of the Iraqis.

BDS at CNN Not on the D.L. for TGIF

The left-wing weekend crew at CNN’s web site is really outdoing itself on the last weekend of 2006. The 5th headline down says “Tornado Scare Sends Bush Running for cover.”


But if you look at the article, the headline is “President takes cover during tornado scare.” I’m no “journalist” but there is a world of difference between those two headlines – “taking cover” is not the same thing as “running for cover.”

For the record, this is what happened:

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush and first lady Laura Bush were moved to an armored vehicle on their ranch Friday when a tornado warning was issued in Central Texas, the White House said.The vehicle was driven to a tornado shelter on the ranch, and the president, first lady and their two Scottish terriers sat inside until the weather cleared, deputy White House press secretary Scott Stanzel said. They were never moved into the shelter, he said.
The president was "in the vehicle for about 10 minutes and then he went back to the house," Stanzel said, adding that other members of the staff at the ranch were sheltered as well.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 12:40 p.m. (1:40 p.m. ET). At 3:47 p.m. (4:47 p.m. ET), the watch was upgraded to a tornado warning, which lasted for less than an hour.


This trick of BDS-MSM (Bush Derangement Syndrome-Main-stream Media) is no different than the personal attacks the media made on Bush during the 9-11 attacks. Bush was criticized as running scared when the attacks happened because the media didn’t know his location. What was he supposed to do, immediately run back to DC where the attacks were happening? What is he supposed to do, stand out in the open and watch the cows fly by? MSM dopes!

Saddams Execution " imminent."

Looks like we will see the new year before Saddam Hussein will.
Some have even put the time as being 10pm EST tonight.

Hussein will be hanged along with two others, Barzan Hassan and Awad Bandar. All were convicted of killing 148 Shiite Muslims in the Iraqi town of Dujail nearly 25 years ago.
Haddad wouldn't disclose the location of the execution and said it won't be broadcast live on TV because of human rights issues.

Meanwhile, Giovanni di Stefano, one of Hussein's defense attorneys, told CNN the U.S. military officially informed him that the former Iraqi dictator has been transferred to Iraqi authorities for his execution and that a "credible source" told him Hussein will be executed "very shortly -- in the next couple of hours."

But attorneys for Hussein are seeking a temporary restraining order in a U.S. court to block the former Iraqi leader's execution. (Read the court filing (pdf))


For those who care, Saddams lawyers will be on Larry King tonight at 9pm. Gee guys, wouldn't want to be there with your client at his time of need would you?

Gold Star Mom Debbie Argel Bastian

We feel honored that the mother of Capt. Derek Argel left a comment on f22's post, To MSM: Let Freedom Ring! We have moved her remarks to the front page and added a few links.

"Thank you for your comments. I have had a few ugly ones from Phillyblogs.

All I can tell you is that some of us are making an effort to make a difference for our troops. We sent six tons of gourmet coffee and cookies in time for their Christmas.

We visited Iraq ourselves to hear comments from the troops, tell them that despite our loss, we are their family and support them. We met wonderful people that thanked us for the United States, President, Bush, and our son's lives.

My son was on a classified mission the day he went down. I did not even know he was deployed. I am proud of his service, all special ops, and regular service.

I encouraged our troops on Neil Cavuto not to pose with Kerry on his visit during the holidays. I am proud of all of these efforts, as I know my son would have done the same. Bless you for your post."

Debbie Argel Bastian
Proud mother of Capt. Derek Argel, USAF Combat Control, KIA Memorial Day, 2005, Diayla, Iraq
Debbie Argel Bastian

Thank you, dear lady. May God bless and keep you always.

To MSM: LET FREEDOM RING!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have tried to be patient. I have tried to be accommodating. I have tried to be “understanding” with those out there who feel that the actions of this country with regard to Iraq and Afghanistan are “illegal,” “immoral,” “imperialistic,” yada, yada, yada. I have been patient with the “Bush lied, kids died crowd,” hoping one day they would grow up and see the truth but, they have not. For two years on this site and others – I have encouraged open debate, and taken time away from my life to try and put a counter point of consideration for those who billed themselves as “open minded” and “looking at ALL of the facts, and making a decision based on…. etc. etc, etc.” Fine. They have had all the time they need to look at facts. I will continue to let them have “paralysis of analysis” and “information constipation” on a lot of other subjects, but this war is different. While they endlessly “examine the facts” people are dieing!
Those in the media who should be supplying facts and both sides of the story aren’t.
Or, even worse, they obscure what is important, with stupidity: moronic idiocy like this made the front “splash” page of Yahoo:

"SEATTLE - Researchers at the University of Washington say all that holiday baking and eating has an environmental impact — Puget Sound is being flavored by cinnamon and vanilla. "Even something as fun as baking for the holiday season has an environmental effect," said Rick Keil, an associate professor of chemical oceanography. "When we bake and change the way we eat, it has an impact on what the environment sees. To me it shows the connectedness."

Well, while they are worried about cake-flavored lakes, did anyone hear this story talked about in the MSM:

“LYERLY, Georgia (AP) -- After her son Justin was killed serving in Iraq, a grieving Jan Johnson resolved to see the place where he died and to better understand why it happened.
Johnson and her husband, Joe, who also served in Iraq, were among a group of seven parents who lost children in the war who were picked to travel to northern Iraq in November as a scout team for a bigger trip next year.
"I wanted to go see where my son died," she said. "You hear in the news how bad Iraq is, that it isn't worth saving. ... I wanted to go find out for myself."
Family members of U.S. casualties of war have made pilgrimages in the past to Vietnam and other war zones where their sons and daughters died.”

Now here’s the important part:

>“There, they said, their sons were treated as liberators and the parents welcomed as heroes. As guests of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the parents visited a parade of politicians and government ministers who thanked them for their visit -- and their sacrifice. Many told the families their sons were martyrs, a term that at first seemed offensive to some. "Until I understood the meaning of what a martyr was, it was kind of a slap in the face," Jan said. "But they weren't comparing them to suicide bombers. I realized they were comparing them to heroes." They traveled to outlying villages and were invited to sip tea with Kurdish dignitaries. One told them of his painstaking efforts to find mass graves and evidence of Iraqi abuse. Another took them on a tour of a prison camp that was transformed into a rose garden after Hussein's grip on the region waned.
Wherever they traveled, fellow mother Debra Argel Bastian of Lompoc, California, handed out wallet-sized photos of her son, Derek Argel, who was killed in a May 2005 plane crash near the Iranian border. One mother tucked the photo into a framed picture of her two sons and husband, who had also been killed during Saddam's rule. "Now your son is my son," the woman told Bastian.
She broke down crying.
"I needed to make that trip," said Bastian, who traveled with her husband, Todd. "All of us were very, very disappointed in the media coverage over the war. I had so many avenues that were telling me different, that there were good things happening in Iraq, that they were just reporting the bomb of the day."
Jan Johnson said she was touched by an unexpected meeting with a soldier who was part of the team that tried to rescue her son. "It brought Justin closer to me," she said.
The group returned home 10 days later, in time for some to attend Veterans Day parades.
Jan says she hopes to help lead another trip, possibly to Baghdad, with a larger contingent of families.
"We're crazy. We suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder," Jan said. "We're allowed to do stupid things."

Answer honestly; when was the last time you heard this or a story like it in ABC, NBC, OR CBS? WHAT WAS THE LAST PATRIOTIC, PRO-AMERICA, FLAG-WAVING, MOM AND APPLE PIE THING TO COME FROM THE MAIN-STREAM MEDIA?
Had you even heard of this before I brought it up? I’m telling you, the left and the MSM here behind the front lines are doing a dis-service to our armed forces. We are hindering their progress and welfare in this war, by “damning with faint praise,” all that they accomplish and strive to do, and at the same time championing every murderer, terrorist, and lunatic 3rd world leader they can find.

I am tired of it! I am sick to death of it. I could just break the computer.
I am not taking this any more. I will no longer entertain casually any more slams at our troops, the president, or this mission. I am a former soldier, and I hurt every time I see someone say or do some of the things that I read and hear. Some of our troops are very young and are out on their own for the first time. They have no concept of other wars to compare this to, and I hurt knowing that they will believe what they are doing is meaningless and the deaths of their friends for naught. I will not take this any more. Anyone who comes here with that attitude, be prepared for a war of your own. You are trespassing. And if you don’t like what you read and it bothers you that much, then GO AWAY! Democrat “Under-ware” will be glad to have you.

The Lee Brothers on 1140 WRVA Thursday, Friday, Monday!!!

Ring in the New Year with THE LEE BROTHERS!

LISTEN TO 1140 WRVA FROM 3-6 PM ON
DEC. 28TH, Thursday
DEC. 29TH, Friday
AND JAN. 1ST, Monday
AS WE WELCOME THE NEW YEAR!

streaming live at www.1140wrva.com

THANKS FOR LISTENING AND REMEMBER TO VISIT OUR GROWING AND CHANGING WEB SITE WWW.THELEEBROTHERS.COM

God bless America!
Scott Lee and Richard Lee

Retro-Wednesday: Boy Scouts Booed By Dems 08-2000

By the time Bill Clinton received the nomination for his first presidential bid I was pretty much over the Democrat/ic thing but was still open to cast a "mercy" vote from time to time depending on the circumstances and the candidate. Clinton didn't qualify needless to say.

I closed the door completely on the Dems in August of 2000 while watching a clip of the delegates at the Democrat/ic Convention boo and hiss the Boy Scouts as they came onto the stage as invited guests. The delegates who instituted this boorish demonstration were homosexual activists from California.

There was not one iota of outrage voiced in the media by the Democratic leadership afterwards for such disgusting behavior by adults. Earlier, Democrat/ic delegates for Hillary's senate bid spat on a Police Honor Guard (also invited guests) at their convention in New York.

Thankfully, the Clinton White House years were over but gone too were the wispy remnants of my respect for JFK's party.

Reference:
"Democratic delegates boo the Boy Scouts of America"
Source: THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Author: By Valerie Richardson
Date: 08-18-00

Update: My original post indicated the spitting incident occurred after the Boy Scouts were booed. The spitting actually occurred earlier on May 16, 2000 and I have edited the post.

Santa Delivers New Bat for MSM to Beat the Troops With

***UPDATE (2)***

A couple of points;

According to Charles at LGF, the original article the AP put out this morning has been rewritten.

Also LGF poster ‘Tumulus11’ has caught the AP admitting to doing an ongoing body count:
“Version One:
'BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military death toll in Iraq has reached 2,974, one more than the number of deaths in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, according to an Associated Press count on Tuesday.'

Version Two:

'BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 36 Iraqis died Tuesday in bombings, officials said, including a coordinated strike that killed 25 in western Baghdad. Separately, the deaths of six U.S. soldiers pushed the American toll beyond the number of victims in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.'
The Associated Press got caught pointing and counting. “

I can just envision a “hit” counter something like this:





** UPDATE: **
looks like I am not the only one who noticed the MSMs newest slam:
LGF: "'Grim Milestone' Watch"

*****
[original publication]

Doubtless by now you have heard the new drumbeat from the main-stream media regarding the military deaths in Iraq;

Associated Press:

Separately, the deaths of six U.S. soldiers pushed the American toll beyond the number of victims in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Via CNN:
The number of U.S. military personnel killed in the Iraq war stands at 2,977, including seven civilian contractors of the Defense Department, pushing the death toll above that of the September 11, 2001, attacks. An estimated 2,973 people were killed in the attacks on New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania.

Via Reuters:
The deaths of six more American soldiers in Iraq pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 2,978 -- five more than the number killed in the September 11 attacks -- as bombs killed more than 20 people in Baghdad on Tuesday.

Hours after the end of Christmas – and before the leftovers have begun, the MSM continues it’s all-out propaganda offensive on American forces by breathlessly reporting that more U.S. troops have died in the war in Iraq than civilians died on 9/11 – a curious connection, since these MSM-types responsible for doing al-Qaida’s propaganda in America claim there is no connection between 911 and Iraq.

So what is their point? Are they saying if you loose more troops to fight the terrorist enemy than these same terrorists killed in American civilian lives (in one action) that the whole effort is too high of a price to pay?

The mainstream media here will say or do anything to break the will of the American people and our soldiers in Iraq, and their newest tool – more soldier deaths than victims on 9/11 – is just one more way to achieve that aim. Who do they think they are helping with an endless, day-after-day body count of American soldiers dead?

For once, MSM, why don’t you give us a daily headcount of how many Islamic terrorist our troops put out of commission permanently that day? Why won’t they do a week-long special on how many more people have food, healthcare, running water, electricity, than were available at the start of the war? Why don’t you stress how hard it is to do this – and then show that our military is making GREAT strides in this area? It’s true. Isn’t this news, too.

The reality of the situation is this: we are fighting a war against an enemy who is using women and children as shields and who use sneak-attacks, bombs, and guerrilla warfare . They will not face our troops openly. Further, we are too civilized to use the same tactics against them. Nor are we permitted to use interrogation methods to find out information on who is attacking us, and where they are – each of which could have saved some of those lives the MSM is jabbering about. The lefty-MSM and spineless republicans and politicians have tied our hands so we can’t fight, and then complain about the number of times the enemy punches us.

Makes me sick!

May God help us, and our troops forgive us.

(Sorry, didn’t mean to rant.)

Goodnight Godfather

Before we get down to business, I wanted to make a short statement about the passing of James Brown on Christmas Day. I normally don’t get into Hollywood that much. Quite frankly, they don’t interest me a whole lot. While there are some good people in Hollywood (a few) but a lot of them are ruthless, over-indulged, sex and drug addicts, who aren’t the greatest people to go to, to get answers on life’s toughest questions.

With this said, I know James Brown could be a great example of what you shouldn’t do in a lot of areas in life. He was known as much for controversy in his personal life as he was for his great showmanship. The “Godfather of Soul” went through messy divorces, run-ins with the law, and had a very public drug addiction that cost him a lot. He had his failings as all people do.

But there is another part of his life where he shined at, and this was not so much as to his music, as it was as him being one of the first blacks to really make it big in show business. Most blacks up till that time never really had anything to show for all their hard work and big hits. The company’s that produced their records made more money than the artists of his time did. ‘The Godfather” was one of the people who helped turn this around. In the end, he became popular enough to begin to demand more for his work, instead of letting big conglomerate decide what he was worth. His music sold well, and the people who liked his music would show up at the concerts from all over; he was a star with draw-power. He learned to harness that power and use it to demand better than what racism and treatment of black entertainers at the time usually got. This, as is usually the case, became a light for others to follow. For that, those in his business who know, should be thankful. So, while those in Hollywood thank him for his music, they have something else to thank him for. Let’s see who remembers.

Christmas Morning -- Thoughts and Hopes

It's 10 minuets to 7am here in Richmond, VA and you can sit back and watch all the living room lights come on in the subdivisions and screams of joy as they do. By 8am the streets will be full of bicycles, pocket bikes, battery powered four wheel drives and who knows what else.

On days like today, I can see clearly what we are fighting a war on terror for. We do it so that each of these happy little faces will be able to experience Christmas morning till they grow up and can give a Christmas morning of their own for their children, and not have to have a childhood of hate and war, death and destruction, and false blame and needless despair.

Thankyou my Lord for coming into this world to save us, and may we all accept the gift of grace that you have offered us. Give us strength to fight the coming battles, so that the tradition of honoring You will go on without end, and the faces of the little one you love so much will be happy, safe, and know Your blessed name. Amen.

Political Porn Or Reality Check?

General Grievous' Dog sparked a firestorm on the lefty Virginia blog scene by posting pictures of the victims of Islamofascist beheadings in part to defend Virgil Goode. I would call it a Reality Check. Some may argue that what led up to the outpouring of indignation from the left were actually graphics he had created earlier poking fun at liberal bloggers. Some may not.

However that may be, the Dog has now been banned from the Virginia Political Blogs aggregator by its creator, Waldo, who has claimed the photos of American victims of Islamofascists are Political Porn. The VPB is Waldo's baby. He, of course, may do as he pleases.

I beg to differ with his (and many of his democrat/ic friends') concept of what constitutes political porn by way of illustration.

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE CONSIDER POLITICAL PORN:


No explanation necessary, I'm sure.


Now deceased, Rep. Gerry Studds(D) was discovered in 1983 to have seduced and had sexual relations with a 17 yr. old male page. He survived the scandal and served until 1996.


Rep. Barney Frank(D) - the one with his hand on his friend's patoot - hired a man he was paying to have sex with to also serve as Frank's aide. The "aide" ran a gay prostitution business out of Frank's home. Frank is still serving in Congress.


Moving on to the Senate; Ted Kennedy(D) (google Chappaquiddick if you are under 35) and Christopher Dodd(D) go back a long way together. One of their famous escapades, The Waitress Sandwich, involved a drunk Senator Kennedy throwing a young waitress onto Senator Dodd who was sprawled, also drunk, in a chair. Kennedy then threw himself on top of them both. Their dates (?!?) were in the restroom at the time. (Probably climbing out a window.) Penthouse Magazine and the Washington Times picked up the story. Both men still serve in the Senate.


The new Senator-elect from Virginia...
What? Oh. Sorry.


The new Senator-elect from Virginia, Jim Webb(X) has had a variety of occupations including lawyer and novelist. His novels are highly acclaimed and seem to follow the golden rule of budding bodice-ripper workshops, which is to insert stilted sex scenes every X number of pages. Webb has cornered the market on strippers and bananas, going so far as to carry the banana theme into his political campaign in '06. He has also imagined and written about what daddies with hard (or was it rippling?) muscles do to their little boys. He promises to continue writing while in the Senate. Webb will begin his first term as Senator in January of '06.


Another example of political porn, or what the dems consider highbrow entertainment, can be found linked (it's been there for at least 2 years that I know of) at the Virginia Democrats website. As head of his party in Virginia, Gov. Tim Kaine should get the credit for this one. Click on his picture. I wonder whose idea it was to make the sailors out to be gay?

And that, I think, illustrates what Political Porn is; cheesy, self-indulgent and narcissistic.

THE FOLLOWING ARE WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE CONSIDER THE REALITY OF ISLAMOFASCISM:
These are photos from the Beslan Massacre that began on Sept. 01, 2004. I could try to describe these scenes of horror with words. But the eyes are more powerful. The pretenders can play with words all they want and change their meanings. But look at these pictures. This is not political. This is our world. This is reality. This is what Islamofascists do.

Tom Delay Bloggin' Right

The Hammer is making his mark on the blogosphere at TomDelay.com.

"The blogosphere needs more conservatives," said Mr. DeLay, who sounded downright cheery in an interview this week as he described his plans to "fight in a different arena."

He continued: "My goal is to push the conservative cause and conservative thought. We need to use all media available to us
...

...beyond the blogging, he may soon be announcing other career moves. "We've got plans, but we're not ready to announce them," he said.
...

"Mr. DeLay said he was dividing his time between the Virginia suburbs outside Washington and Texas..." -- DallasNews.com

Hmmm, does that qualify him for membership in the Old Dominion Blog Alliance?

General Assembly 07: HJ 567 SOL's and Animal Safety

HJ567

Patron: Kenneth C. Alexander(D) House District 89, Norfolk

Summary as introduced:
Resolution; humane treatment of animals; report. Requests the Department of Education to include standards on animal safety and the humane treatment of animals in future revisions of the Standards of Learning. However, in the event that the Department of Education determines that such a revision of the Standards of Learning is not feasible, the Department shall propose alternative methods of achieving the objective of including instruction on the humane treatment of companion animals to children in the public schools through the character education curriculum.



That's not all. I predict some emotional hearings on this one. From the full text version of the resolution:

WHEREAS, the death of Dorothy Sullivan demands remedial action in tribute to her and those like her who met tragic ends or were injured because of misguided treatment of companion animals; and

WHEREAS, companion animals, properly treated, provide inestimable joy, comfort, solace, and companionship to their human keepers and the world at large; and

WHEREAS, children are our future and must be properly guided by society in their relationships with each other and the creatures around them;

Welcome to the Commonwealth Nanny State.

UCV Joins ODBA

F22strike and I are proud to announce UCV's membership in the Old Dominion Blog Alliance. Thank you, ODBA, for including us in the lineup!

Alton has an announcement here and a history of the alliance here.

It is good to see new bloggin' friends SWACgirl, Elle, J. Maxwell and Ward on the list, too.

Shedding Light on Bergers Classified Document Handling

Check out this article on Sandy Burgler's version of handling confidential government documents:

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton's national security adviser removed classified documents from the National Archives, hid them under a construction trailer and later tried to find the trash collector to retrieve them, the agency's internal watchdog said Wednesday.
*****
Berger took the documents in the fall of 2003 while working to prepare himself and Clinton administration witnesses for testimony to the September 11 commission. Berger was authorized as the Clinton administration's representative to make sure the commission got the correct classified materials.
*****

Brachfeld's report included an investigator's notes, taken during an interview with Berger. The notes dramatically described Berger's removal of documents during an October 2, 2003, visit to the Archives. Berger took a break to go outside without an escort while it was dark. He had taken four documents in his pockets.
"He headed toward a construction area. ... Mr. Berger looked up and down the street, up into the windows of the Archives and the DOJ [Department of Justice], and did not see anyone," the interview notes said. He then slid the documents under a construction trailer, according to the inspector general. Berger acknowledged that he later retrieved the documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office.
"He was aware of the risk he was taking," the inspector general's notes said. Berger then returned to the Archives building without fearing the documents would slip out of his pockets or that staff would notice that his pockets were bulging.
The notes said Berger had not been aware that Archives staff had been tracking the documents he was provided because of earlier suspicions from previous visits that he was removing materials. Also, the employees had made copies of some documents.
In October 2003, the report said, an Archives official called Berger to discuss missing documents from his visit two days earlier. The investigator's notes said, "Mr. Berger panicked because he realized he was caught." The notes said that Berger had "destroyed, cut into small pieces, three of the four documents. These were put in the trash." After the trash had been picked up, Berger "tried to find the trash collector but had no luck," the notes said. Significant portions of the inspector general's report were redacted to protect privacy or national security."

I'll bet Sandy "Burgler" was panic-stricken when he got caught. I'll bet he was having visions of Fort Marcy Park all morning.

I thought his story was that he got the papers "mixed up with his own" and t00k some of them home. This sounds more like conspiracy to me. [Bill] Clinton initally laughed the whole thing off, as though it were some stupid joke.

Hillary is no better; after years of "searching" for her Rose Law Firm billing records, a great big box of them mysteriously "appeared" on a table in the White House.

More on that fiasco here, here, and here.

Quote:

"Prosecutors are trying to determine if Mrs. Clinton, while a private Arkansas attorney, assisted a series of fraudulent S&L land transactions in the mid-1980s carried out by her business partner, the late James McDougal. They're also investigating whether she lied about her work or tried to conceal documents in the Whitewater investigation that was begun during her husband's presidency. On Thursday, Mrs. Clinton's private lawyer described the second set of billing records, which were found last summer by Foster's widow, Lisa, in the attic of their Arkansas home. "These Rose Law Firm billing records for Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan, which were discovered by Mrs. Foster at her home in July of 1997, are virtually identical to the records produced by me" to Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr, attorney David Kendall said. "There are a few additional handwritten notations, and fifteen additional pages, in the set produced two years ago," Kendall said. Foster and former Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell were partners with Mrs. Clinton at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock. They directed the firm to print the billing records in 1992 when questions about Whitewater arose during Clinton's first presidential campaign. But when prosecutors subpoenaed them later on, the records had mysteriously disappeared. In January 1996, more than two years after they had been first subpoenaed, the records were turned over after a presidential secretary found them on a table in the White House living quarters. The 100-plus pages of billing records outline Mrs. Clinton's legal work for McDougal's Madison Guaranty S&L, including more than a dozen meetings with Hubbell's father-in-law, Seth Ward, an S&L employee who was paid more than $300,000 in disputed commissions. The first lady and Ward say they recall nothing of the meetings. Hubbell has testified that Foster was the last one he saw handling the billing records. "

Consider this a belated "Retro Wednesday Posting" for this week.

For God And Country

The Catholic Virginian's December 18, 2006 edition carried a wonderful piece by Camille Wurm about an event titled "For God And Country" at St. Gregory the Great Church in Virginia Beach, Va. It did not mention what day the program took place.

"Retired Air Force Col. Frederick Morgenstern spoke passionately about the Godly principles of liberty, opportunity and justice.

He brought tears to the eyes of even teenagers when he quoted Marine Chaplain O'Brian:
"It is the soldiers, not the reporters, who have given us the freedom of the press;
the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech,
and the soldier, who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag
who allows the protester to burn the flag."

This was a stand up and cheer concert for the honor of God and the United States Veterans. And the audience did just that."

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 12-20-06

Please note: The following references Walter E. Williams' article, The Fair Tax Book, published 12/13/06. --f.m.

by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous

I came across this article several weeks ago from one of my favorite columnists. Professor Williams has a very succinct way of conveying complicated topics and themes. If you are not a regular reader of his, you should at least check out his regular column at Townhall.

In this piece, Professor Williams tackles the Fair Tax, and as we would hope he describes some of the highlights and benefits that would be reaped upon its passage.

If enacted, the Fair Tax would eliminate: the federal individual income tax, alternative minimum tax, corporate and business taxes, capital gains tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes, and estate and gift taxes. These taxes would be replaced by a 23 percent sales tax on all goods and services sold at the retail level. The Fair Tax would be revenue-neutral in the sense that it would replace the revenue from current federal taxes; thus, it would change the way government is funded. Our current tax code is an abomination, and we desperately need that change. The time Americans spend simply complying with our tax code comes to 5.8 billion hours of record-keeping, filing taxes, consulting, legal and accounting services. Breaking those hours down to a 40-hour work week, it translates into a workforce of 2.77 million people. That's more than the workforce of our auto, aircraft, computer and steel manufacturing industries combined.

The Fair Tax has much to recommend in its favor, such as being a more efficient form of taxation. It would go a long way toward protecting our privacy and preventing Congress from using the tax code to micromanage our lives. The Fair Tax is an excellent idea, but only under three conditions: first, the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment that created the income tax; second, a provision fixing the tax at, say, 23 percent; and third, a constitutional amendment mandating that a tax increase requires a three-fourths vote of Congress. Notwithstanding any provisions within the Fair Tax, if the Sixteenth Amendment weren't repealed, down the road we'd find ourselves with a national sales tax and an income tax.

But, what I found to be the most interesting is the Professor William's take on the prospects of the passage of the Fair tax. Seeing it as a tremendous obstacle, Professor Williams is quite pessimistic in outlook. While we here at the Fair Tax Blogburst respectfully disagree with this synopsis, his underlying rationale for the difficulty of passage of the Fair tax cannot be ignored.

You say, "Williams, it sounds as if you don't trust Congress." I don't trust Congress any farther than I can toss an elephant. During the debate prior to ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment, congressmen said that only the rich would ever pay income taxes. In 1917, only one-half of one percent of income earners paid income taxes. Those earning $250,000 a year in today's dollars paid one percent, and those earning $6 million in today's dollars paid 7 percent. The lie that only the rich would ever pay income taxes was simply propaganda to dupe Americans into ratifying the Sixteenth Amendment.

Here's my prediction: The Fair Tax will never become law. The two most powerful congressional committees are the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance committees. These committees write tax law, and as such they are able to confer tax privileges on some Americans at the expense of other Americans. The Fair Tax would reduce or eliminate this form of congressional privilege-granting power and, subsequently, campaign contributions from the beneficiaries would dwindle.

The method used to finance the federal government is very important, but I've always argued that government spending is the true measure of its impact on our lives. If there were a Fair Tax, what's to stop Congress from deficit spending or inflating the currency? Deficit spending and inflation are simply alternative forms, albeit less obvious, of taxation.

You say, "What's Williams' solution?" My solution is an amendment limiting federal spending to a fixed percentage, say, 10 percent of the gross domestic product. You say, "Why 10 percent?" If 10 percent is good enough for the Baptist Church, it certainly ought to be good enough for Congress.

The question we must ask is "What makes Williams think that this will pass any easier than the FairTax?" The outcome is doubtful for the exact same reasons that Williams argues would doom the FairTax -- the committees which decide where certain monies are spent can also confer privileges on some Americans at the expense of other Americans. Limiting spending to 10% would eliminate much of the congressional privilege-granting power, and corresponding campaign contributions.

The one thing that the FairTax has behind it is the power of a grassroots organization. Ultimately, this is still a government of, by, and for the people. It is up to us to see that our representatives perform as we believe they should. It is up to us to insure passage of the FairTax bill. We must take Mr. Williams arguments for the FairTax and spread them as widely as possible, while ignoring his pessimism. Together, we can get this done.

And maybe in the meantime we can also cut spending, thus reducing the amount of tax required for the FairTax. Now isn't that an idea?

Video: We Trusted A Madman

Check out the video made by David Zucker, “We Trusted A Madman.”courtesy of LGF.

This should be mandatory viewing for incoming freshman Democrats – and even some Republicans.

The video is funny, but the point behind it is not. Those who are currently in charge had better start taking the threats from Iran and North Korea to the next level.

Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Deadly Serious

The latest JPT "Action Release" asks the questions that those in the MSM and the U.N. try to avoid:

"Why does a country that sits atop the world’s third largest oil reserve require 100,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium? Why does a country that denies wanting to make atomic weapons need to enrich such a large amount of uranium, especially since Iran does not have one atomic power plant at this time? These are questions we must ask ourselves in order to determine the gravity of the situation with Iran. " [Emphasis added.]

They give a good assessment of Iran's nuclear ambitions:

"Currently, Iran has 164 centrifuges (called cascades.) Alone, it would take years to produce enough uranium for nuclear arms. According to Tehran, the next installation would be 3,000 centrifuges. This would produce enough uranium for a bomb within the year.
Last Wednesday, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) voted to suspend financial support for one of Iran’s nuclear reactors. It is this reactor at Buscher that would produce enough plutonium to produce an atomic bomb. The IAEA will continue to fund seven so-called “civilian nuclear projects.” This suspension of funding would also apply to the heavy-water reactor under construction near Arak.
The head of the Israeli atomic energy commission told me that the U.S. provided 30 cents on the every dollar that the IAEA funnels to Iran. This needs to be stopped.
It is not likely that the IAEA will reach any accord on sanctions against Iran in the coming days. Both Russia and China have been averse to agreeing to sanctions on Iran. Their concern is that Iran will leave the nonproliferation treaty. It seems to me that Iran is already in violation of the nonproliferation treaty. What would you call a determination to put 100,000 centrifuges on line, if not nuclear proliferation?
The reactor at Arak is of major concern because the spent fuel rods from that location can be used to produce plutonium, which can be used for nuclear bombs. And, in fact, small traces of plutonium have been found in barrels at a site in Iran.
We dare not ignore Iran’s nuclear ambitions. To do so would be to risk the lives of our children and grandchildren. "

In the meantime, the U.N. talks, and talks, and talks....

How Do You Write Idiot In Arabic?

There are just so many things about this "project" that are stupid, contemptuous, arrogant and just plain wrong. It sounds like a college prank of some sort but no, some uptight religious types got together and plastered signs in Arabic all over the GRTC buses and on a couple of campuses in the Richmond area. They supposedly translate into silly, innocuous words.


(translation: paper scissors rock )
(what they really wanted to say: stupid infidels ride buses)

From an article at DailyPress.com titled New Virginia Program Aims To Dispel Fears Of Muslim Community.

"As people see Arabic, they immediately make an association with terrorism," said the Rev. C. Douglas Smith, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center. "That's probably because since Nine-Eleven, not only is fear overwhelming us, but that's how we're being trained to think."

Hellooooo... I may be mad as hell about what terrorists did to my country on 911, but overwhelmed by fear? No, sir. And I don't know who trained Rev. Smith to think, but my coaches were a good Christian momma, Bishop Fulton Sheen and William Wallace. I win.

"The transit company has already fielded several calls from concerned riders, said Gretchen Schoel, executive director of A More Perfect Union. One woman Schoel described as a well-educated university employee placed a frantic call to the bus company's manager, suggesting the FBI be called in to investigate. Even after the signs' English translations were explained to her, she remained concerned that they might contain secret messages, Schoel said."

Ms. Schoel, are you mocking this woman? Frankly, since the reporter doesn't include any direct information from Greater Richmond Transit, I find no reason to believe the incident happened, much less in the manner described.

In fact, there doesn't seem to be any follow up with passengers or students.

In fact, this reads suspiciously like a *gasp* press release modified to look like journalism! Oh no, that can't be true.

Let's just blame it on the way I was trained to think.

"After World War II, when people saw Japanese script it was scary," she said. "But now we see it and it's fun, it's hip, it signifies a cool culture."
"That's a huge turnaround."

Good grief. That has got to be a misquote. AFTER World War II, when we had DEFEATED the Japanese up one side and down the other, they were anything but scary to Americans. Our GI's in the rehab years came home with Japanese brides and tons of ceramic geegaws. Nowhere is there a recorded incident of an American freaking out after hanging a bamboo calendar in their kitchen.

Bias toward the Muslim community is a continuing problem across the country and in Virginia, said Imad Damaj, president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs. "There's so many lazy, unexamined assumptions about all of us and how we react to people," Damaj said. "We need to challenge ourselves."

You lost me on lazy, Damaj. Hint: if you want to change the way people perceive you, do not insult them. You go right ahead and challenge yourself all you want, though. It's still a free country.

Hat tip to FreeRepublic.com

Tacky Christmas Lights Tour, Richmond VA

The McDonald's will be doing the Tacky Christmas Lights Tour in and around the Richmond area this coming Friday. Thanks to the Richmond Times Dispatch for maps and locations of the brightest and the best places to go!

While on the subject, I would like to nominate Charles at TwoConservatives for the Best Christmas Lights by a Virginia Blogger Award. His photos are great and he gives some brief descriptions of how he created the displays.

HO-HO-HO!

Pigeon Dancers In NYC

Testing out a bit of code. Enjoy the video if it works.




FreeVideoCoding.com

Courtesy Of The Red, White and Blue

Whether I'm cleaning house or cleaning blog (updating links & such tonight), it helps to have energizing music in the background.

Check out the video on Yankeemom's blog.

I first heard this song as we were driving home in June, 2002 after leaving our son with his recruiter the night before he left for Paris Island, S.C. I think I cried all the way back to Powhatan.

Toby Keith's dad lost his right eye during some training. Our son almost lost his left eye before he got anywhere near Iraq. He recovered enough vision to visit the Sand Box, tho'. His dad and I think he memorized the eye chart. Oddly enough, he could shoot a whole lot better after the injury.

Enjoy the song and video. I hope Yankeemom leaves it up forever.

Hat tip to Brat at Tanker Brothers.

Mike Wade Elected Chair of Henrico Co. Republicans

The Henrico Co. GOP elected Sheriff Mike Wade as their new chairman on Dec. 13th, 2006. Congratulations, sir!

Webb (X) to Vets: No Plane, No Show, No $, No Go

It seems Jim Webb (X) dissed the Vets in Hampton Roads before his famous tantrum in D.C. Also please note that this Veterans event was held on the Saturday after the election.

The Virginia Pilot Online:

The story starts this summer when local veterans groups in Hampton Roads invited Webb, then a mere candidate, to be part of the Nov. 11 Veterans Day festivities planned for Virginia Beach.

Back in August, well aware that he might be Virginia's next senator, Webb agreed to attend and give a speech. Priscilla Bede, the Virginia Beach doyenne of parade planning, launched into overdrive. With limos rented, hotel rooms reserved, programs printed, press releases flying and eager vets primed for Webb's speech, the newly minted senator backed out with less than two days to go, blaming his new Senate responsibilities

The Vets:

Patrick Callahan, combat vet and president of a local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, is one of the angrier bunch. "Ditching us was uncalled for and it will not be forgiven," he says. "I can't tell you the number of vets who came up to me and said, 'Where's Webb?' I just didn't have a good answer to give them

Count Larry McCauley, a Navy vet, among those who are more than a little miffed. "I did something I never did before - voted for a Democrat," he says, "He owes us. We busted our asses to get him elected."

The Senator-elect Webb (X):

However, the extension of the time period in the election results, which carried forward until Thursday afternoon, was an unpredictable circumstance. And the logistics involved in getting from Northern Virginia to the event and then back again (four hours drive time each way - there was never an offer by the event's organizers to fly me there, or otherwise take care of transportation expenses), would have eaten up the entire weekend.

And quite frankly I am rather perplexed that there would not be a greater understanding of the circumstances that caused me to miss it.

Oh, boo-freakin'-hoo!

Faux Education, Faux Artiste: Stan Murmur

Watching Channel 6 news in Richmond Tuesday night, I couldn't help but laugh at the story about Monacan High School art teacher, Stephen Murmer, who in his spare time is Stan Murmur, Butt-Print artist.

It seems his students and the administration have known this for some time.

I laughed again at the end of the clip as a well-starched female news reader ended the segment with a lame joke.

Featured in that news clip, though, was an astute, young, female student who stated Mr. Murmer's art seemed pornagraphic to her. You'd never know it from the newscast, so I dug around a bit.

The Richmond Times Dispatch had this sentence in the midst of its coverage: "Murmer operates a Web site showcasing paintings he makes with his rear and genitals."

They posted a cute little picture of a daisy-like flower with the on-line article. Channel 6 also featured a cute butterfly-type picture in their coverage.

However, "Stan Murmur's" website features (or did on Tuesday) several other pieces imprinted with male and female genitalia. His website also links to some really foul websites.

S. M.'s "work" is currently featured in a show in New Mexico titled "Vaginaesque".

He has also posted a photo on MySpace under the screen name Butt-Imprima o Artista of a young woman, naked from the waste down in the process of "printing" a canvas. (Think Twister-Gone-Wild.)

I'm not laughing anymore and now believe the female student I saw on Channel 6 was the only one interviewed or quoted in any of the media I've slogged through that had this guy pegged. Kudos to her for speaking up.

Anyhoo, there are enough red flags popping up on this guy to stop a train.

I hope the Chesterfield Co. School Board does their homework and frees Mr. Murmer so he can pursue his art full time.

Failing that, perhaps he could work for the Richmond Public Schools where, no doubt, the School Board would give him a standing "O" for his endeavors.

Democrat Senator Tim Johnson in Hospital in "Serious Condition"

It’s being widely reported in the news this morning that Democratic Senator Tim Johnson has had a stroke. No details of his current condition have yet been released.
It is my hope that Senator Johnson has a full recovery from his illness, as I would wish so to anyone who may have suffered a debilitating health condition. I don’t know him personally, or his family, but I wish ill health on no one, and after a week or so, he may be deemed able to come back to his post in the senate. This would be fine with me. I am not so in-love with power that I would jump for joy at the fall of another person to illness -- and I accuse no one on the conservative side of doing so. Conservatives are NOT evil people and want to see everyone enjoy a long, happy life.

Word has it, that if the senator from South Dakota can not continue to serve his term in the Senate, that the governor, a Republican, could appoint another person to that seat – likely a Republican. This would turn the Senate over to the Republicans. As appointing someone to this seat is the right of the governor, if he so chooses to appoint a Republican, so be it. That is his right. In doing so, the Republican Party will have a second chance to go back and get right what they got wrong before the election.

If he appointed a Democrat, so be it. Nothing changes, and things go on the way they would have. The country will in this decade, get a look at what rule of law under a Democrat interpretation would look like. This alone (over time) will bring an end to Democrat rule.

What will be fun, will be the desperation and partisan bickering and harping of the Democratic political party, as they try and 1.) keep the Senator in office regardless of his health in order to keep power, and 2.) Watch them cry foul, complain, threaten, and file lawsuits if the South Dakota governor gets to appoint a new senator. Damning of fate and conspiracy theories will abound. I don’t doubt hard-core democrats who could care less about his real condition are already searching for traces of polonium.

Little Fish Wants Big Splash in Foreign Policy

Looks like US House of Representatives member Gregory Meeks is taking US drug enforcement policy and State Department relations into his own hands.


QNS. DEM. EL LOCO-BOUND
By GEOFF EARLE
December 12, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Queens Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks is flying to Venezuela this month for a tete-a-tete with leftist loudmouth President Hugo Chavez.
Meeks says he wants to urge Chavez - whom he says he meets with "all the time" - to sign an agreement to combat the burgeoning trade in illegal drugs.
He says he has no problem meeting with him so soon after Chavez sparked outrage by likening President Bush to the devil in a September speech to the United Nations and later calling Bush "an alcoholic" and "sick man."

They just can’t wait to get Bush out of office. Don’t look for this “meeting” to produce anything of substance; it’s another attempt by democrat unknowns to try and push themselves into the national spotlight, and maybe get the use of a good vacation spot – out of media prying eyes.

Hat Tip: lawhawk at LGF

FAIR TAX BLOGBURST 12-13-06

Why our Political Leaders Should Embrace the FairTax Plan

by John DeJong of NotMeUSA.com

The Fair Tax Plan (HR.25/S.25) has been out for well over a year now and yet there are still many people who have never even heard of it. One would think that a plan as bold and beneficial as this would be sounded from one coast to the next. Yet that is not the case. As a point of fact there are many liberal political leaders who continually ridicule the Fair Tax Plan whenever it is mentioned. They’re acting under the misguided belief that this wonderful plan favors the “rich”. That is the farthest from the truth as one can come.

The sad fact is that if any of these doomsayers would take the time to actually read the entire plan then they would quickly recognize it for what it is—the greatest social welfare program of all time. This belief Fair Tax proponents share is held because HR.25/S.25 will do more for the “lower income” wage earners in the U.S.A. than any other liberal program(s) in existence today.

You see, all consumers will receive an annualized rebate (in 12 equal monthly installments) on necessary living expenditures up to the poverty level. The size of the monthly rebate will be determined by the government’s published poverty level for a particular household size, multiplied by the tax rate. What this means is that for each person the monthly rebate will be increased in order to pay for the entire household costs for the basic necessities of life. This monthly rebate is given to all citizens regardless of age, sex, race, or income level.

This is how the Fair Tax would have worked in the year 2000. An individual would have received 100% of their pay check. That is if they earned $250 per week they would have taken home $250 per week. Plus, the individual would also receive a monthly check of $160 each month to help pay for their basic necessities of life.

That’s a tax-free income and another $40 a week for your own benefit. The best part of all is what the Fair Tax Plan will do for families. Back in the year 2000 a family of four would have received an additional $431 rebate per month for their livelihood. That payment will happen each and every month until the children become adults. When one considers all of the added values with the Fair Tax in buying used items like cars and homes tax free; there is no better way of helping others to live the American dream.

Is that not what we all want in these United States? Is it not the entire Democratic doctrine to bring equality among the masses? So then why do your democratic leaders refuse to back HR-25/S-25 and all that it will do for America? These are the questions that you must demand of all of your representatives to answer — Democrats and Republicans alike.

The above are just a few of many more questions to be asked and I will address them all in following articles. Until then you can download and read the entire 40 page Fair Tax Plan brochure at the Fair Tax Volunteer website. While you’re there you will also find tons of stuff and highly important political information on how we can all persuade our representatives into enacting the FairTax Plan. Of course you can also join the revolution while you are there.

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

Cpl. Joshua C. Sticklen, USMC

Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 2006 one of America's finest from Virginia Beach, VA will be laid to rest, Cpl. Joshua C. Sticklen, USMC. The Patriot Guard Riders will be on hand to honor him, his wife and family.

Cpl. Sticklen was featured in a 2004 Marine Corps magazine article in which he explained his role in creating terrain models, which give planners and commanders a realistic view of geographic areas. He was an intelligence specialist who enlisted in the Marine Corps Oct. 2002.

Sticklen’s awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal. --WVEC.com

For funeral information click here.
Patriot Guard Riders information for tomorrow click here.

Wisdom from the Troops to the American People

Thanks, Flora for linking to this. This was such a good write-up I thought it deserved front-page billing.

****
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/

Military News Troops Haven't Lost Faith in Rumsfeld
December 09, 2006 08:17 PM EST
By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service

BALAD, Iraq, Dec. 9, 2006 – As he prepares to enter his final week in office, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was greeted warmly here by the men and women in uniform he has led for the past six years.
Rumsfeld paid a surprise visit to servicemembers based in Iraq to thank them for their service. He met with troops on Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province and then with troops here.
In both places, the troops treated him like a rock star. The 74-year-old secretary flew aboard an Air Force C-17 from Washington. He worked through the night aboard the plane, but was still fresh enough to put in a full day speaking to and meeting the troops.
And they responded.
When he arrived to speak at Al Asad, he received a sustained ovation - punctuated by Marine OO-RAHs and Army HOOAHs. There were even a number of Air Force personnel who insisted on yelling "Airpower."
After the speech in Al Asad, hundreds of servicemembers lined up for pictures with Rumsfeld. Many offered support for the secretary who steps down Dec. 18. "It isn't a military problem out here," said one Marine gunnery sergeant speaking on background. "It's a political problem. No one in this country can challenge us militarily; we'd wipe the floor with them. The Iraqis have to 'cowboy up.'"
Many soldiers and airmen at Balad said that if they have the patience and they haven't lost faith, then the American people shouldn't either. "This is my second year-long tour," said a convoy commander at Anaconda Logistics Area. "Why am I more patient than someone sitting at home in 'Fort Livingroom?'"

Biographies:Donald H. Rumsfeld

Related Articles:
Rumsfeld Thanks Troops for Service, Calls for U.S. Patience--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

****

Emphasis added by me (proudly.)

Previous:
Terrorism In Iraq Does Not Equate With Civil War

Henrico Co. Republicans To Elect New Chair 12-13-06

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 at 7 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Room at the Henrico County Government Center, there will be a special meeting of the HCRC to elect a new Chairman.

The candidates are Don Miller (former HCRC Chairman) and Mike Wade (Henrico County Sheriff).

UPDATE 12-12-06 7:03 p.m.
Delegate Bill Janis endorses Sheriff Mike Wade.

You Be The Editor: BDS_Chavez

We're back with another fun filled edition. You be the editor and put in the photo caption.

Terrorism In Iraq Does Not Equate With Civil War

Army Maj. Gen. Caldwell is the chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq and makes some excellent points in Why We Persevere.

One of those points that should be considered by all the armchair generals ensconced in Fort Living Room stateside, is the absence of struggle to hold and maintain territory in Iraq by the various factions responsible for the bloodshed.

I don't see terrorist and criminal elements mounting campaigns for territory. Al-Qaeda in Iraq doesn't use roadside bombs, suicidal mass murderers and rocket barrages to gain and hold ground. Extremist Shiite death squads don't shoot people in the back of the head to further their control of the government. I do see random executions seeking to instill fear and insecurity. I don't see a struggle between armies and aligned political parties competing to rule.

I studied civil wars at West Point and at the Army Command and Staff College. I respect the credentials and opinions of those who want to hang that label here. But I respectfully -- and strongly -- disagree. I see the Iraqi people suffering from overlapping terrorist campaigns by extremist groups combined with the mass criminality that too often accompanies the sudden toppling of a dictatorship. This poses a different military challenge than does a civil war.

Hat tip to American Daughter Media

We Can Smell In It The Attitude Of James Baker

So says Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.



Translation: I smell a Rat.

Hat tip FreeRepublic.com

I Would Have Sat This One Out...

State Rep. Karen Carter has conceded and it looks like Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana's 2nd District will return to Washington. Whether he will do so with another freezer full of cash is unclear at this time. I would suggest an Igloo Cooler on wheels for travel, tho'.

After reading about them, I found two campaign commercials on YouTube, one from each candidate, both speak volumes about a profound moral myopia these two democrat/ics seem to be afflicted with.
William Jefferson's Ad
Karen Carter's Ad

This December election will be the last one for Louisiana as new legislation requires the state to drop its third world, free-for-all, non-partisan primary system instituted by a former Governor, Edwin Washington Edwards, now wearing soap on a rope at a federal correctional facility.

Back in 1991, thanks in part to the primary system he instituted, the corrupt, racketeer Edwin Edwards faced a run off with David Duke, neo-nazi kkk dude. I would have sat that one out too.

IYSSYS....redux

DC Protest Warrior
This is what I'm talking about folks. This woman is THIRD in line for the Presidency of the United States.
Note to the SS:For the next two years, President Bush and Vice-President Cheney should not occupy the same hemisphere, let alone the same room.

This will scare you

The New Speaker's Wisdom

Published: October 22, 2006

Nancy Pelosi condemned the new record highs of the stock market as "just another example of Bush policies helping the rich get richer".
"First Bush cut taxes for the rich and the economy has rebounded with new record low unemployment rates, which only means wealthy employers are getting even wealthier at the expense of the underpaid working class".

She went on to say "Despite the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq our economy is still strong and government tax revenues are at all time highs. "What this really means is" that business is exploiting the war effort and working Americans, just to put money in their own pockets".

When questioned about recent stock market highs she responded "Only the rich benefit from these record highs. Working Americans, welfare recipients, the unemployed and minorities are not sharing in these obscene record highs".

"There is no question these windfall profits and income created by the Bush administration need to be taxed at 100% rate and those dollars redistributed to the poor and working class".

"Profits from the stock market do not reward the hard work of our working class who, by their hard work, are responsible for generating these corporate profits that create stock market profits for the rich. We in congress will need to address this issue to either tax these profits or to control the stock market to prevent this unearned income to flow to the
rich".

When asked about the fact that over 80% of all Americans have investments in mutual funds, retirement funds, 401K's, and the stock market she replied "That may be true, but probably only 5% account for 90% of all these investment dollars. That's just more "trickle down" economics claiming that if a corporation is successful that everyone from the CEO to the
floor sweeper benefit from higher wages and job security which is ridiculous".

How much of this "trickle down" ever get to the unemployed and minorities in our county? None, and that's the tragedy of these stock market highs."

"We democrats are going to address this issue after the election when we take control of the congress. We will return to the 60% to 80% tax rates on the rich and we will be able to take at least 30% of all current lower Federal Income Tax taxpayers off the roles and increase government income substantially. We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest."

When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied "We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long ways to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as "Americans"

A Bush spokesman responded to this interview by saying "Mrs. Pelosi has set a new standard for the spin business".

Feeling smarter yet? She is as dumb as a "box of rocks!"
or as dangerous as a rattlesnake.

If she truly believes what she says, she's dangerous to the economy.

UPDATE 12/09/06 7:19 p.m.:
We posted this PELOSI PARODY, author unknown, before checking out the source. And yes it is a parody. While it is easy to believe these quotes came from a Socialist Democrat like Pelosi (and who hasn't heard lefties say these things?) we sincerely apologize if anyone's blood pressure (on the right or on the left) shot up a few degrees after reading it. Lesson learned. Mea culpa. -- the Blog Meister

Rep. Bobby Scott and the Cop Killer Caucus

Rep. Scott is the congress critter of one of our contributors and I know he will be interested in this tidbit. cough, cough

A socialist ghetto in France has renamed one of its streets after convicted cop killer and lefty celeb, Mumia Abu-Jamal (known as Wesley to his momma).

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the action. Among the 31 reps voting against it was Rep. Bobby Scott of VA. Thankfully, he was the only Virginian inspired to do so.

VCAP In The News

The Washington Times has published an article, Virginia Group Stays True To Message.

Virginia conservatives say they are galvanizing their base and raising money to elect candidates who share their core principles, even if that means campaigning against Republicans.
"We're looking at good, fiscal conservative candidates for 2007 and are very excited about getting them elected to the Virginia Senate, where we believe the real leadership problems exists," said Robin DeJarnette, executive director of the Virginia Conservative Action PAC (VCAP).

The article is worth the read. An unexpected bit of comedy is found on page 2, where Virginia's favorite state RINO senator describes himself as a conservative and tries to explain away his support and promotion of the huge, unprecedented tax increases authored by Dem Gov. Mark Warner, former presidential contender. Too funny.
Hat tip FreeRepublic.com

The Kurds Speak: "We are in no way abiding by this report"

Left adrift by the likes of James Baker once before, the Iraqi Kurds are in a more powerful position this time. Let us pray our leaders here are listening to them.

Excerpts of an email from Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani as written by the AP and posted on Forbes:

...
Barzani, president of the 15-year-old autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, also faulted the U.S. bipartisan commission for not visiting his region, saying that was a "major shortcoming that adversely influenced the credibility of the assessment."
...
Barzani also criticized the report's calls for a far-reaching amnesty to opposition groups and the reinstatement of Saddam Hussein loyalists in their old government jobs as part of national reconciliation efforts. Such calls, he said, rewarded "those who are against the political process and have conducted acts of violence."
...

F22strike has posted Part 1 of his take on the Iraq Study Group Report, describing it as, "rhetorical bubble wrap".

Great Santa Site

The "Scared of Santa Gallery" is priceless. This one is #55.



"My picture was taken at the local bank and I think it was free because I was a member of the Rusty Rooster Booster Club, a "start-them-early" savings program. I'm pretty sure I was six years old in the picture, and I'm pretty sure Santa just finished a heavy night of drinking." -- C. W., Chicago

Hat tip to Baritone News Network

ISGR Analysis and Commentary (secition 1)

Iraq Study Group Report; Analysis and Commentary
12/7/2006


So, as the entire world knows by now, the “Iraq Study Group Report” was released on yesterday. It was expected to be a tool of rebuke for President Bush and his cabinet, including former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld -- any compilation with such “stellar statesmen” on the cover like James A. Baker (the third), Leon Panetta, Charles S. Robb, and Vernon E. Jordan, is bound to produce something of Democrat fodder. The report didn’t disappoint. We could have made Bill Clinton into the entire study group and saved a fortune in fees, and benefits. The report was a 160 page “document dump” only rivaled by Saddam’s file cabinet explosion release to the UN at the beginning of the last Iraq war. As a matter of fact, based on the assumptions of the report they could have release the “Executive Assessment” and the “Assessment” and called it a day instead of stuffing the envelope with rhetorical bubble wrap.

As of this first publication, I have heard no outside commentary on the report. I have wanted to express my own opinion first, before listening to other sources, as a way of checking my own feelings on the lefts' approach to Iraq without hearing the professional pundits.

I have broken down the ISGR into three reports with commentaries. The first, I release here.


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ISGR “Executive Summary”; Commentary and Analysis

(section 1)

The “Executive Summary” (beginning on page xiii thru page xviii) is the Cliff Notes version of the entire report, describing the situation in Iraq and what they, the study group, deem to be necessary to correct the “challenges in Iraq.” The report takes a holistic view of the Middle East as a way to solve the “civil war” and insurgency against the American presence in Iraq; make Syria and Iran our friends, and solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and this will all go away. This is what they bill as the “External Approach.”

“The United States should immediately launch a new diplomatic offensive to build an international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region. This diplomatic effort should include every country that has an interest in avoiding a chaotic Iraq, including all of Iraq’s neighbors. Iraq’s neighbors and key states in and outside the region should form a support group to reinforce security and national reconciliation within Iraq, neither of which Iraq can achieve on its own.”(p.xiv)

This line of thought comes directly after this admission:

“Iraq’s neighbors greatly affect its stability and prosperity. Yet Iraq’s neighbors are not doing enough to help Iraq achieve stability. Some are undercutting stability.”[Emphasis added.](p.xiv)

So, what we have is a call for “international bi-partisanship.” First, this approach will not work because it is built on the faulty premise that there are no countries in the region that will benefit from a “chaotic Iraq.” This just isn’t true. Iran has a great interest in seeing American forces stuck fighting the insurgency in Iraq, since every soldier stuck there is one less soldier that Iraq might have to face over its nuclear program. It also serves as a training ground for their terrorists, who will use the same tactics in case of an Iranian occupation. Syria, likewise, has no interest really in seeing a democratic and fee Iraq pop up on its borders. Indeed, the mere fact that western powers had a hand in bringing it about has Syria carping about the government being illegitimate and a puppet of the west. They would never stop secretly trying to overthrow the government.

The ISG’s solution to Iran’s “lack of consensus for stability” is “to engage them constructively” (p.xv) by offering Iran protection for its nuclear program:
“Iran should stem the flow of arms and training to Iraq, respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use its influence over Iraqi Shia groups to encourage national reconciliation. The issue of Iran’s nuclear programs should continue to be dealt with by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council plus Germany. Syria should control its border with
Iraq to stem the flow of funding, insurgents, and terrorists in and out of Iraq.” (p. xv)

Translation: no unilateral action -- (hear us, America) or bi-lateral action (hear us, Israel) -- against the growing threat of a nuclear Iran. The UN Security council should deal with them. Problem is the UN never moves past talking and toothless sanctions, so nothing will be done.

Next, they move on to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
“The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle
East unless it deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability. There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon, Syria, and President Bush’s June 2002 commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This commitment must include direct talks with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians (those who accept Israel’s right to exist), and Syria.”(p.xv)
The US can and should complete its mission in Iraq and Afghanistan even if the “Road Map to Peace” is still in detour status. It would be just great if you could fix the un-fixable and bring peace to that region, but you have a better shot of finishing the Iraq and Afghanistan action long before you put an end to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. I would add that the problem with direct talks as they would institute it is that the Palestinians who would accept Israel’s right to exist are not the problem: it’s the OTHER Palestinians who don’t think Israel has a right to exist which are the problem – which is most of the Middle East – that’s the true difficulty of the situation.

Oh Good Grief...

S.4085
Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the rate of the excise tax on certain wooden arrows.

Sponsor: Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] (introduced 12/6/2006) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 12/6/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Pearl Harbor 12-07-41

USS Maryland & USS Oklahoma, Pearl Harbor Raid

IT MUST BE HARD IN IRAQ by Bob Lonsberry

I am posting Bob Lonsberry's column in its entirety because it expresses so well what I have been thinking and feeling. -- f mcdonald

It must be hard in Iraq.

To be in uniform, or working for an agency, carrying guns in the badlands, showing the flag.

It must be hard.

While a bunch of idiots in Washington run around like chickens with their heads cut off, reading reports and making speeches and posing for the cameras. A bunch of idiots, charged by the Constitution to lead, quantifying and debating a failure.

A failure secured in the halls of the Pentagon and the offices at the White House. The spirits of Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara come back to spill more American blood in a war without a purpose and a vision, a war won by heroes on the battlefield and lost by castrati in the Capitol.

It must be hard to roll out each morning for missions that the suits say aren’t working, for missions that will take lives, for missions that the civilian command can’t quite seem to figure out a purpose for.

After this many months and this many years to have the deciders in chief throw up their hands and ask for suggestions must be a hard thing to take. To have been faithful to orders and to have done your duty and to have the people you follow ask for a map and announce that they’re lost.

It’s not supposed to work that way.

It’s supposed to be Washington at Trenton and Lincoln at Gettysburg. Teddy at San Juan Hill and Ike at Normandy Beach. When the crap hits the fan and good guys are down on points the commander is supposed to call the play and inspire the troops and lead on, lead on, lead on.

He’s supposed to have the vision and know the way and be unflinching in purpose and view.

This isn’t the Oprah show. This is war. You don’t get points for admitting your mistakes and sending your problems out to a committee. You don’t treat it like it’s an eating disorder you can cry your way through and bounce back from with therapy.

It’s a damn war and right now while the Washington gasbags are poking each other in the rear there are American GIs running convoys and bagging Osamas and risking their lives.

And official Washington isn’t exactly sure why or how. Official Washington orders men to secure a place and then debates abandoning it. Hurry up and die, so we can pull out. Those are the marching orders.

It must be hard in Iraq.

Hard when the leader of the United Nations gets up and in his imbecilic way declares that people were better off under Saddam Hussein. When Europe curses you and NATO won’t help you and Britain says it’s time to come home. When the people who won congressional elections speak of your war in spiteful and gleeful terms. When the traitors in anchor chairs puff up over a “civil war” and daily deride your sacrifices.

It must be hard in Iraq.

Hard when the civilian leadership of your country is so dense and clueless as to not even consider the damage its waffling and sniping do to your spirits and morale. While men stand in front of mess hall TVs on a break between missions the idiots they watch debate their fate in nothing more than the context of opinion polls and the ’08 elections.

It must be hard in Iraq.

Hard to have the rug pulled out from under you. To stand there in front of the boots and the rifle and a buddy’s helmet and wonder what in the hell it’s all for, to see 19-year-olds with Purple Hearts who know more about this war than generals in the Pentagon and stuffed shirts in the Congress.

It must be hard in Iraq.

Hard to know where the country stands when its leaders are so confused and contentious.

It’s hard to die for nothing. It’s hard to lose your heart to a cause the new speaker says is a crime. In Vietnam it was the hippies who spat on the troops, now it’s the Congress doing the spitting.

And the administration doing the waffling. It’s a cluster f--- and a circle jerk and anything else you can think to call a bunch of buck passing, finger pointing incompetents. It’s almost as if they forgot they’ve got an army in the field and an enemy with satellite TV. It’s almost as if every stinking one of them is incapable of realizing what it does to a man in uniform to have his legs cut out from under him, to have his own country debating his failure, to have his own government cursing his mission.

It must be hard in Iraq.

Hard to keep faith with a cause the suits want to abandon. Hard to stay the course when the suits have already cut and run.

It must be hard in Iraq, to be abandoned like this.

- by Bob Lonsberry © 2006