I just watched the Conservative Political Action committee conference on C-Span. You know, I love my party, but a more geeky looking bunch cannot be found. Maybe there is a link between geeky looks and intelligence, I don't know. But smart wins out over looks to me any day anyway.
The one thing Dick Cheney said that brought groans was that there are more people working on filing and working on tax returns than there is in the American military. (At least I think that is what he said) And it is no wonder that brought groans. Good God, that is mind boggling.
The speeches were good and spelled out what the future of our party faces and how much we have won and how far we have to go.
On a side note, I noticed that all the black people in the room were either at the table to speak or in the audience. The serving staff was made up of what seemed to be Hispanics and some of Indian origin. I didn't see one black waiter.
Guess that blows Dean's theory, huh?
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Since I spent most of this week defending gays, I thought I might spend some time defending someone who was unfairly targeted for the dreaded "homophobia!" You probably heard all the hoopla over Dr. James Dobson, director of the Christian organization Focus on The Family out of Colorado Springs, Co. Supposedly saying that SpongeBob was gay. The media got it wrong on all accounts. This organization has been around for along time and like a lot of Christian organizations didn't really get involved in the political process until abortion became legal, and since that is a grave moral issue, felt they needed to get involved. Now with gay marriage being on the forefront, they are involved in that as well.
I first became aware of Dr. James Dobson from his secular child rearing books. I swear I would not have made it through parenting without reading his The Strong Willed Child. I recommend it to anyone with a stubborn difficult young child. He has written several more.
Dr. Dobson holds a Ph.D. in Child Development from the University of Southern California. He served for fourteen years as the Associate Clinical Professor of pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine, and for seventeen years on the attending staff of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the division of child development and medical genetics.
He is not a preacher. And what has always impressed me is that he does not take one dime from his non-profit organization Focus on The Family that he runs. He lives off the profits from his child rearing books. Although I am Catholic, I have always had a deep respect for him. He has never sounded 'wacky' or like some kind of TV evangelist. He and his wife and 2 kids always lived modestly and he has always practiced his faith in a kind and humble way.
The whole thing began when Dr. Dobson spoke during the inaugural week at a banquet hosted by the Family Research Council. He shared his concern over a video that was about to be distributed to 61,000 public elementary schools across the nation for use on the proposed "We are Family Day." March 11th.
The video featured nearly 100 favorite cartoon characters for kids. Not only SpongeBob, but Barney, the Muppets, Winnie the Pooh, and many others. Dr. Dobson said that nothing in the video was overtly sexual. What concerned Dr. Dobson was the organization sponsoring the video making a variety of explicitly pro-homosexual materials on it's Web site. One of the resources accompanying the video was a booklet which list it's allies as five of the largest pro-homosexual organizations in the nation including GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign. The Web site made available school lesson plans that suggested these questions of elementary age students:
*How are you affected by homophobia?
*How would you be affected by your sexual orientation were it different than it is now?
*How will understanding these definitions change your thinking about compulsory heterosexuality and homophobia?
And then a hand out entitled, "Talking About being Out" there was this:
*Do you know of any people in your school whose sexual orientation differs from yours?
*What are some factors that might encourage or discourage a person about being 'out' as homosexual or bisexual in this class or school?"
This is just a sampling. And remember. These are elementary school kids we are talking about, K-5th grade.
A few days after the controversy erupted We Are Family Foundation's web site deleted the majority of overtly pro-homosexual content. Then the founder of the organization, Nile Rodgers went on the "Today Show" and said that Dr. Dobson had the wrong site and that they had nothing to do with homosexuality. Dr. Dobson claims he has clear documentation of the materials before they were removed. But the media isn't interested in that part of the story, of course. Making Dobson out to look like a fool was their intent.
Dr. Dobson has made it clear by saying "...to teach children to respect each other and to accept those who are different. We are entirely supportive of that message. I have been teaching it for years." But he sees clearly here an agenda operating here to teach young children about sexual behavior in a certain way which may contradict what their parents are teaching them, or exposing them to sexuality before their parents feel they are ready to learn about it.
Dr. Dobson emphasized in his letter to supporters that "Every individual is entitled to respect and human dignity, including those with whom we disagree strongly. The problem is not with acceptance or kindness, certainly. But kids should not be taught that homosexuality is just another lifestyle or morally equivalent to heterosexuality." And I will add, unless the parents wish to teach that to their children. It is the parent's responsibility to know when and what to teach their children about sexuality, not the teachers. Certainly not in elementary school.
It is truly unfair for Dr. Dobson, a highly respected man, being targeted for being conservative and Christian and speaking his mind. The media tried to paint him as a religious wacko, when it was the "We are a Family Foundation" that was being dishonest by removing material from it's website in order to make Dr. Dobson seem confused on the matter.
I don't think we will be seeing the media correct it's protrayal of Dr. Dobson any time soon. I think they feel their mission was accomplished.
Quote of the day.
"You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room? Only if they had the hotel staff in here."
Howard Dean during a meeting with the Democratic Black Caucus Feb.11th, 2005. Reported by the AP. via Kevin at Wizbang
Because we all know that only BLACK PEOPLE work low level jobs as hotel staff.....My God! How insulting is that?
Well, here's a newsflash for Dean, the RNC could probably get that many black people in a room by HAVING A BUSH ADMINISTRATION CABINET MEETING.
I think it is time to form a new committee. The GABWAGTBUBDAC. That is the "Gay and Black We Aren't Going To Be Used By Democrats Anymore" committee.
Reporter's questions causing problems everywhere!
Mayor of London Ken Livingston sparked a "controversy when an Evening Standard reporter asked him for a comment at the end of a party celebrating the 20th anniversary of Chris Smith's decision to come out as the first openly gay British MP. The mayor asked the journalist: "Were you a German war criminal?"
The reporter, Oliver Finegold, revealed he was Jewish, and Mr Livingstone replied: "Ah, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard. You are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"via The Guardian
PM Tony Blair is asking Livingston to apologize and it seems Livingston is saying "your not the boss of me."
Imagine one of our politicians saying that? I guess Livingston should have just said "You are just doing it because you are a paid gay hooker, aren't you?"
And then it would have been fine. At least here it would be. Right?
It's disquieting at first, but eventually new senators get used to Senator Mikulski snapping flies out of the air with her tongue.
via Caption This!
ABC News business headline:
Stocks Down Ahead of Greenspan Speech
Dow, Nasdaq Trade Down After Posting Gains; Investors Prepare for Alan Greenspan Speech.
I am always amazed at the power this man has. It has to cross his mind sometimes that he could just go make some stuff up and just totally mess with the entire economy. What would happen if he gave his semi-annual report to the Senate banking committee completely drunk? Or starting quoting from Atlas Shrugged. what would the Dow do?
I'm in a wierd mood today, can you tell?
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The New York Times has this interesting article:
" The Pentagon predicts that robots will be a major fighting force in the American military in less than a decade, hunting and killing enemies in combat. Robots are a crucial part of the Army's effort to rebuild itself as a 21st-century fighting force, and a $127 billion project called Future Combat Systems is the biggest military contract in American history."
The article goes on to say:
"Robots in battle, as envisioned by their builders, may look and move like humans or hummingbirds, tractors or tanks, cockroaches or crickets. With the development of nanotechnology - the science of very small structures - they may become swarms of "smart dust." The Pentagon intends for robots to haul munitions, gather intelligence, search buildings or blow them up.
All these are in the works, but not yet in battle. Already, however, several hundred robots are digging up roadside bombs in Iraq, scouring caves in Afghanistan and serving as armed sentries at weapons depots.
By April, an armed version of the bomb-disposal robot will be in Baghdad, capable of firing 1,000 rounds a minute. Though controlled by a soldier with a laptop, the robot will be the first thinking machine of its kind to take up a front-line infantry position, ready to kill enemies."
Pretty cool, huh?
Beth My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and Hyscience are trying to draw attention to Terri Shiavo, the woman whose husband has been fighting to have her feeding tube removed. Her parents have been fighting him. Both sites have the videos of Terri responding to her parents, clearly not in a vegetative state. Hyscience has this:
"The husband, who is engaged to another woman by whom he has two children, has sought and obtained a court order from Sixth Court Court Judge George W. Greer to withhold the feeding tube from Terri which will cause her death by starvation and dehydration."
If you can, pass this on in your own blog or e-mail. Go to Terrislife.org
and see what you can do to help.
Warrior Update
Enough of being a part of the vast rightwing conspiracy to defend gays!
It is past time for a Warrior update:
Blackfive has some AWESOME pics from Afghanistan and Iraq including one as our Warrior "covers a door with his 9 mm pistol as the interpreter calls for the owner to come out at the home of a known criminal located in a village located on the outskirts of Bayji, Iraq, on Jan. 24, 2005."
Michelle Malkin follows the story of a "Marine who may face the death penalty for killing two Iraqi insurgents in the heat of battle in a terrorist-infested town near Baghdad." More here and here.
Trying to Grok puts it briefly and well:
"If the story actually happened the way LT Pantano says it did, then I'm about sick and tired of our soldiers and marines getting charged with murder in Iraq. If I may quote State of Fear...
If someone tried to kill you, you did not have the option of averting your eyes or changing the subject. You were forced to deal with that person's behavior. The experience was, in the end, a loss of certain illusions.
The world was not how you wanted it to be.
The world was how it was.
There were bad people in the world. They had to be stopped."via Mudville
who has it put together well with even more links.
MOSUL, IRAQ (February 15, 2005) – In yet another instance of disregard for the sanctity of Islamic holy places insurgents launched an attack on Multi-National Force Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) in northern Iraq today.
Read the Entire Entry...» via Stryker Brigade News
With the elections behind us we need not become complacent about the dangers our soldiers still face every day. Keep your prayers coming. This aint over yet.
The Jeff Gannon story that won't go away.....
This Jeff Gannon thing sure has the leftwing blogger's panties in a wad. Jeff over at PW has his funny but naughty (be warned!) take on it. Poor Jawa Report is being swarmed by moonbats! Wizbang discusses how the dems are so wrong on this. Just One Minute asks why the NY Times is listening to Kos on this.via BA. Ace has his take on it as well. Here is what I had to say about it Thursday.
It seems that what is driving the leftwing bloggers crazy is that we are sticking up for this guy. They have accused him of being a "gay hooker" and having something to do with the Plame/CIA affair. I haven't seen any evidence of either. Even if true, it doesn't mean he can't get a press pass. Ameriblog seems to have some racy pics of Jeff Gannon but I didn't bother clicking on them. The lefties seem to think that it is hypocritical for us to defend someone who doesn't espouse "family values."
When did we ever claim to be perfect? I don't like what this guy seems to be doing, but it is his life. I don't think a wild sex life posed a danger to the President at the press conference Gannon attended. Contrary to what lefties may think, we don't make sure a person is sinless before they enter the press room. If that were true, no one would be there.
Let's just get to the truth of the matter. What the leftwing bloggers are really mad about is the question Gannon asked. Saying that the democrats were "divorced from reality" was just too much for them. How dare he??? Only rude leftwing spun questions are allowed in there!!!!!
I know I am just adding to this. But we seriously need to let this one go. I am just wondering if Gannon is somewhere curled in a fetal position at his mom's house or racking up some serious $$$$ for dates. I am also wondering if he has any idea how much we are sticking up for his sinful ass...;-)
Monday, February 14, 2005
Love means loving you anyway.
I found this article in the Washington Post sad. Maya Keyes, daughter of outspoken, conservative, and former candidate against Barack Obama (D) for the Illinois Senate seat Allan Keyes, has openly admitted to being gay and is now estranged from her family. During the Presidential campaign I admired how Dick Cheney handled the questions about one of his daughter's sexuality. He made it clear that he loved her dearly, but still held to his own values. Not that the left or the media ever gave him any credit for it.
How difficult it must be to have this situation in your family. I guess I am lucky that I don't even have to deal with political differences in my family. They are all Republicans (although it took a few years for some to get there). At least we don't have heated fights over the holidays. I don't have any family members who are gay, but I have had friends, of course. But that is different. Especially when it is your child and you have raised them in such a way and you feel they are living differently from that which you have taught them. My kids are not on their own yet, but I know there is nothing they can do that would keep me from loving them.
When it comes to Christian faith, sexuality is a difficult subject. It is, of course, just as sinful to have pre-marital sex or to commit adultery as it is to have homosexual sex. So it would be as upsetting to me for my kids to live with someone of the opposite sex as it would for them to live with someone of the same sex. I would love them all the same. I would never disown them or not speak to them as it seems Alan Keyes has done with his daughter. (as a side note, I met Alan Keyes and his family a few years ago at a pro-life march. They were very gracious and nice.) His daughter, even though she has proclaimed to be a liberal, remains pro-life.
But what is worse than having to deal with different values in a family, especially religious values, is having to deal them as a public figure. It just must be AWFUL. Just like this Jeff Gannon thing, some people just feel that everything is open game.
In the end, we are all responsible for our own actions, sexual or otherwise. I can only teach my children what I feel is best for a happy life. They will make their own decisions. Loving them does not mean accepting everything they do or believe. If Alan Keyes and his wife have disowned their daughter then that is wrong. Christ had dinner with tax collectors and what could be WORSE than that????? Evil personified!!! My point being is that Christ knew that you can't love someone if you don't spend time with them. You can't get through things without showing them that you care. Oh, how the pharisees ranted about it! They just couldn't believe he would have dinner with sinners. Even the disciples questioned Christ speaking to the woman at the well, the woman who had had many men. He stopped the stoning of a prostitute. We all know what he said next. "Let those without sin throw the first stone." But hardly anyone speaks of what he said next to the prostitute. "Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more." Now that is a tough one. As Christians we are called to go and sin no more. But we do. And Christ just keeps forgiving us, when we asked for it. When we mean it. When we love Him.
Perhaps Alan Keyes and his family will always have to accept their daughter's lifestyle. Maybe they will have to learn to live with her decisions. I know that will be hard. But it isn't easy for her either. She loves her family. Being rejected must be horrible. I can't even imagine it in my own family. I don't know all the answers, but one thing I do know. Love always wins. It does. Loving someone, despite your disagreements. Showing them that love, not just saying it, always wins. Always.
Saint Valentine
"The first of the Saints considered to be St. Valentine was a Roman Priest or Bishop of the Christian faith, who was also a physician and practised his trade from his house. He was said to cure the sick of ailments, giving them special medicines or ointments. He was said to have done this out of the goodness of his heart sometimes refusing any payment whatsoever or accepting a loaf of bread or whatever could be spared by the sick.
One Day the jailer bought his daughter to see Valentine, so as to see if she could have her sight gained and Valentine was said to have rubbed an ointment on her eyes and told the jailer to bring her back once a week to have the ointment rubbed on her eyes. Every night he would pray under the dark of night for the sick to be cured. As a result of his beliefs he was arrested and thrown in jail. The jailer who could not do a thing went to see Valentine moments before he was to be executed at which point Valentine asked for a piece of paper and pen on the piece of paper it is said he was suppose to have written 'from your Valentine' and inside the paper also was a blossom of which it is said gave the girl her sight.
Today we celebrate St Valentine's day by exchanging gifts such as cards, candy, flowers, etc. The reason why we celebrate it on February 14 is this was the day on which it is said that St Valentine was executed". via womensforum.com
I will be receiving a new front loader washer and dryer for Valentines. No flowers or candy for me. Give me a new appliance any day. It isn't that I don't appreciate romance, but a practical much needed gift is more my style. Besides, I am even getting it in a champagne color.
A Valentine to Michael Moore.
I had a busy busy weekend. I have some sports overlapping and a Valentine dance for the whole family. You haven't lived until you have taught your 8 yr old to swing dance.
Anyway, Happy Valentines Day to everyone! I always have gotten my kids valentines with some sort of chocolate candy, but I waited until the last minute and ran to Walgreens last night. I feel so sorry for these young guys. They wander around the Valentine section looking like lost puppies. But they have such great things now. Like the chocolate roses on a stem wrapped in red foil. Sweet. And one of my favorites is the chocolate keys, that say "you have the key to my heart."
Well, do you think you can stand another look at Vanity Fair magazine? They did a piece on Michael Moore and it wasn't a valentine, I can tell you that. I think they sort of blame him for pushing the envelope in trying to bring Bush down and it backfiring on him. Just so you know, Michael's next hit piece is on the health care industry called Sicko. No, I am not kidding. Moore says, " It'll never be the same for the H.M.O's again." Although Moore won't be getting his must desired Oscar for Fahrenheit 9/11, he did receive the award for Best nonfiction film for the New York Film Critics Circle and a People's Choice award for favorite film. (although, I think that had to be rigged somehow. I mean really. Do you think regular people voted for this film as their favorite???) During the interviews the author of this piece (Judy Bachrach) has with Moore, it seems every time she mentions anyone in the industry critical of him, he goe off on a rant. Even Steve Grossman, a former Democratic National committee chairman, who also chaired Dean's failed campaign for President says while the film did help "create unprecedented unity and energy," he says, " it was in a deceptively small segment of the Democratic Party and base and then there is the law of unintended consequences." Meaning that it energized our base as well and people not involved in politics really don't like to see their President trashed, no matter who he is. Moore's reaction to this statement of Grossman? He said, "What I did, what MoveOn did, what Bruce Springsteen did--we prevented a Bush landslide." An interesting admission on Moore's part. Moore was so determined for a Kerry win that he flew to 63 cities in a little more than a month, encouraging young listeners on college campuses to register to vote. He also offered boxes of clean underwear and ramen noodles to students who promised to vote. An uninspired sort of bribery, don't you think? Perhaps he should have gone with thongs and popcorn. At least it would have been more interesting and tasty.
When Moore is confronted with how Bin Laden sneered in his last tape before the election saying Bush was "listening to a child discussing her goat." while thousands of Americans in the Twin Towers were incinerated, a scene highlighted in Moore's film and obviously what Laden was referring to, Moore doesn't find this credible. Moore asked, "Where did Bin Laden get the DVD player? How did he plug it into a cave?" Hmm... Dude, he was being filmed. By a camera. I think he had access to some electricity.
Moore loves to describe himself as a working class kind of guy. He reminds people he was born in the blue collar town of Flint Michigan. When asked about all the money he has made he says, "A guy like me, with a high school education, who is suppose to be working in a factory," he muses, "that chance to reach as many people as I have, that's something I do not take for granted." Sounds good, but the truth is that although he was born in Flint, he grew up in nearby Davison, a mostly white, middle-class community. And although Moore's father did work on the assembly line of a G.M. plant, he managed to send his three kids to college. Moore dropped out of college at the University of Michigan after one year. So it was Moore's choice to only have a "high school education," not because he couldn't have a college education. But it sounds better that way, doesn't it?
Moore worked for Mother Jones for five months in 1986, but was fired for "being ornery," said the boss. Moore sued for $2 million and got $58,000 in a settlement. He also worked for Ralph Nader for a short time before his film idea about G.M was inspired, Roger and Me. A New York film maker named Kevin Rafferty gave Moore considerable help with the film. Ironically Rafferty is George W. Bush's first cousin!
Moore seems especially mean in his humor to destroy those he disagrees with. After an intern died in the office of conservative Joe Scarborough (now a pundit on MSNBC), Moore registered the domain name JoeScarboroughKilledHisIntern.com.
You remember Lucianne Goldberg, friend of Linda Tripp during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal? She is a neighbor of Moore's and he set a what he called a "lucycam" trained on her apartment and put it up on a website called seelucianne.com, she says. The idea being that Moore wanted Goldberg to see how it was to have her privacy invaded. Lucy turned around and asked the National Inquirer if it wanted to paste an ad in her window, and made $1000 a week on the deal.
You have got to love that.
Remember Moore's awful portrayal of Charlton Heston in Bowling For Columbine? Heston was charmed by Moore, who, if you can believe this, is a member of the NRA. Heston felt he was being interviewed by someone on his side. Another interesting tidbit in that film is the part where Moore opens an account for a certificate of deposit at The North Country Bank and Trust in Michigan and was given a rifle within 15 minutes for doing so. The bank has insisted that that part of the film was staged and that there was no way for someone to get a gun in that time. One must fill out a ton of paperwork and wouldn't get the gun for 6 weeks. Moore says he has talked to the woman from the bank and threatened to sue. When the author of this article calles the woman she seems nervous and says she has been told not to talk, but the author asks, "Do you stand by your story?"
" Yes," she says.
"That the gun event was staged?"
"Correct."
"That it took something like 6 weeks to get a gun?"
"Correct."
The author then asks if Moore has threatened to sue her. The author seems to think it "seems peculiar for a man of the people to lob a bomb at one of his own."
"He did, yes." the woman from the bank says.
This Moore sounds like a hell of a guy, doesn't he? Keep in mind, this isn't The Weekly Standard here, this is Vanity Fair, a leftwing magazine if there ever was one.
Douglas Urbanski managed Moore's career for about 10 months in the late 90's. He says Moore was the only client he ever fired. He remembers asking Moore to describe himself. Moore said, "I think I should be the biggest star of a sitcom in America. I can write it, I can create it, I can act in it. I can be bigger than Jackie Gleason and I don't know why it's not happening... I am a movie star! I can write and direct movies!" The rest of the article (yes, it was a very long article) goes on to describe some of Moore's conspiracy theories, how his film and Mel Gibson's film The Passion of Christ, are a lot alike in many ways. This article paints a bizarre picture of a man deeply committed to being rich and famous while fooling himself into believing that he is doing it for a better cause. It is the mean things he resorts to that bothers me the most. He seems vindictive and bitter. I am wondering if his next film, Sicko, about the health industry is paving the way for Hillary and her presidential ambitions. It couldn't hurt for her biggest defeat, the federalization of health care, to be proven right. (At least by Moore's standards) Moore has tasted the sweet wine of fame and I can guarantee you we haven't seen the last of him. It says in the article that he wanted to change politics, and he isn't the kind to stop until he has done it.
Friday, February 11, 2005
An Inside Look at Dan Rather
Each issue of Vanity Fair Magazine always brings me an extremely interesting tidbit. I get the feeling that VF honestly doesn't think anyone on the right reads this magazine. The Editor Graydon Carter's years of over the top anti-Bush, anti-Republican rants may have driven all those even leaning to the moderate right away, so perhaps I am the only one.
Michael Wolf has an article on the demise of the nightly network news. He describes this year's annual CBS holiday press party when Dan Rather suddenly appears in the room. Wolfe says he seemed "stoic, willfully dignified, his face set, almost immobile." As Rather headed toward him Wolf wondered how to tactfully deal with Rather's professional disgrace. Wolf finally manages, "Really....how.....I mean....do you think it is that you have become such a......buzzword.....for the right wing.? "You tell me." Rather replied. Wolf said Rather stood "like an old soldier, stiff, stuffed, painfully erect."
How did he become a buzzword? Hasn't Rather always been what we deemed on the right as bias? This isn't new. We have ranted about Rather for decades. But this time Rather tried to put a fake document on the air, run a story that was false, and he got caught. But Rather, of course, doesn't see it that way.
"Civil Rights," said Rather. "Vietnam, Watergate. These were the stories we told. We're now being blamed for them."
Uhh...no. You are being blamed for never being fair politically. Your being blamed for letting your ideology come before your journalistic ethics. How many of us on the right were for Civil Rights? Against Vietnam? Horrified by Watergate? I think a great many of us. No, Dan, it wasn't the stories, it was the way you framed them. And it wasn't even those stories. It was all the stories in the years since. Decades of bias reporting that sent most of us to talk radio to TRY to get the other side of the story.
If it hadn't been for Rather, there would be no Fox News. Not because he paved the way, but because the marketplace demanded some fairness.
But even Wolf admits how pathetic that sounds:
"That we were back in the 60's was certainly pathetic. That we were blaming all our troubles on the great right-wing conspiracy was equally weak. Recalling all this was another way of saying that Rather, at 73, was not just a screwup, but misty with age."
Wolf then even admits what all in the network news business felt:
"I was or could be with just a little push, helplessly back in the cool and hegemonic and liberal network world. Our world. Our lost world. Our better world. When the news was the news. When we were young. When our side was winning. What had happened?"
Well, for one thing Mr. Wolf, the news wasn't "the news" and that was the problem. It was Dan Rather's version of the news. You even admit your side was winning. Should there have been "a side" in network news? Of course not. Which is why the right became so frustrated. I wish your world were lost, but it is still holding it's own, despite Rather. A better world? I'll just leave that one alone.
Mr. Wolf becomes brutally honest regarding the report on the memo scandal:
"Although the CBS report took special pains not to accuse the evening news of bias (a more dreadful sin than incompetence), surely Rather and company were thinking that they could kill the king."
He goes on:
"The king lives, however. Rather and the CBS's news division are dead. And their dying is for CBS's chairman, Les Moonves, something of a wet kiss."
But Wolf ends with an amusing belief. He says he doubts you could have a fruitful discussion about the value of the news with the CEO's of Viacom, G.E., and Disney "even on the best days-those without ominous calls from the Bush administration."
So the administration can strong arm those CEO's on the news, huh? An interesting but hardly realistic take I think.
There is no doubt that our voice is being heard now. There is no doubt that we have finally gotten our message out. But it took 2 decades of Rush and almost a decade of Fox News to get us there. And finally we have the bloggers, although not well known outside the internet and political circles, bloggers such as Instapundit, Hugh Hewitt, LGF, Powerline and Wizbang are no longer going to allow stories to go unchecked. Call them gatekeepers if you will. Most don't do it for money either, they do it for the love of politics, for the love of their ideas, for the love of truth.
You might call this a level playing field now.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Jeff Gannon....Who?
Ok, let me get this straight. If your a unknown reporter from a never heard from news organization and you asked the President a question in such a way that makes it obvious you are conservative and the leftie bloggers go insane investigating you, calling you gay (Kos, is there something wrong with that to you???) and because of all the invasion of your privacy, you quit your job and announce it at your website.
Ace of Spades gives us the Top Ten Reactions from Conservatives on this. (Very funny and has the guy's picture)
Insulted.org sums it up nicely quoting the hypocritical Kos. via Beautiful Atrocities
Are the leftie bloggers so desperate this days they have to swoop down on unknown journalists like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.
They are just never going to get over that Dan Rather thing, are they?
UPDATE: Kevin at Wizbang has more on this BIG STORY. Kevin also has a bit on the hypocrisy of the leftwing bloggers on this.
I'm sure you have heard all about the 27-year-old former teacher Pamela Rogers Turner who was arrested and charged with 15 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and 13 counts of statutory rape for having sex with a 13 yr old student. For some takes on it:
Wizbang , Diggers Realm, Protein Wisdom , Six Meat Buffett , and Angry In The Great White North.
To begin with, if I hear another man say he wished he had had a teacher like that have sex with him when he was 13 I am going to puke. Also, when looking through the bloggers on this I could not find a single female blogger who had blogged on it. If you know of one, let me know.
If you read the commenting section on those blogs you will see the VAST difference of opinion between the men and the women. Most men are just babbling about how hot she is.. ect. (I know, there are exceptions) The women are totally disgusted by it, as we all should be. Some, like Digger, are asking why a goodlooking young woman would not just find a man her own age? Why a 13 yr old? Digger thinks they must be crazy. I think they are just a result of our culture. We are a sex saturated culture and as I have said over and over again, we have done little to keep our children from it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the 13 yr old who started everything, or when she started it he knew just what to do. The amount of "instructional material" is readily available in every video store, most movies and music videos, not to mention the internet.
The 27 yr old woman grew up in a society that glorified sexuality. What is the difference between the pictures Britney Spears appeared in GQ and pictures in a 1975 Playboy magazine? Hardly any. How many R rated movies have sex scenes that would have been considered porn in the 1960's? Tons. One of the most popular TV shows of recent times is "Sex In The City." A show basically about slutty women sleeping with whoever fits their fancy. One show had the 30 something character having an affair with a college student who lived with his parents. The humor was all about his "young" interests like skateboarding and comic books, and his mom calling him to come home from her apartment while they were in bed, yet she just loved that young sex. Another show had one of the women characters lying about her age to bed a younger man while on spring break at the beach, and then she gets the crabs. She then gets a co-worker she doesn't like back by encouraging her to sleep with the guy.
Lovely stuff, huh?
Young women growing up in a time and perhaps a home where there doesn't seem to be any sexual boundaries, certainly no moral or religious standards to abide by, where does she learn where to draw the line? How many daughters have watched their Dad dump their mom for a young woman close to their own age? (Or have an affair, as in Clinton's case)
Demi Moore lives with a guy not much older than her oldest daughter and everyone thinks that is just great.
The sad fact is that we have blurred the line so much in our culture about when sexual activity should begin and who it should be with, that our kids are getting the message that just about everything is ok as long as you use "protection."
Aren't we all tempted with desire? We desire things we know are wrong all the time. Part of being responsible is learning to control those desires. Look at the many that cannot control their desire for food to the point where their weight and health are in jeopardy. There are also many who cannot control their sexual desires to the point of putting their relationships (and criminal behavior) in jeopardy.
Some people refer to overeating as medicating themselves with food. I think many also "medicate" themselves with sex because, as Clinton put it, they can. Digger thinks this former teacher is crazy, I think she is just a product of our culture, a culture that does not protect kids, nor even see them as such in their teenage years.
I found this opinion piece in Arab News. I liked it for his objectivity. It seems to be more sincere and less poltitical. I copied in it's entirety.
Washington Finally Putting Its Trust in the People
Dr. Mohammed T. Al-Rasheed, comments@d-corner.com
"In an area ravaged by wars, we grew up thinking that peace is the most important thing in life. In the thirty years of the last century, we had the Lebanese civil war, the Arab-Israeli wars, the Iran-Iraq conflict, the invasion of Kuwait and the ensuing war, and finally we have Iraq today. We are not even counting your almost daily dose of bombs, explosions, and human madness on personal scale, not even traffic accidents.
We were also told that “security” is the most important factor that should rule our lives. For better security, we should tolerate a grievous lack of freedom and civil liberties. Like many, I went for this myth with reservations.
Then again, I really had no say in it personally. The great window of dialogue the Internet has opened brought with it dialogue of the type we do not and could not have.
I had thought education to be the most important thing in life — more important than peace. I guess it is an issue I would fight for. But today we see the world in a different way and the world sees us differently too. Our “peace” was basically worthless. Our security a myth and our lives a waste land that even T. S. Eliot can be proud of.
There is very little peace in Iraq today, but Iraq is free of Saddam. America is an occupier, yet many countries in the world have an American base in it. Every single pundit tells us that America should leave Iraq, yet no one says a word about those bases and what they do. Double standard on our part? Of course.
But all in name of peace. I cannot quote what King Philip of France told Henry II when offered some similar deal, but you can imagine it.
This business of peace at any price has made clear the fact that if America comes in to preserve the status quo, America is a dear friend. If, on the other hand, America comes with its own agenda, it is a villain. The dialectics of history have forced America from its earlier position into something different. Suffice it to say that America is finally putting its trust in the people themselves.
It might take a while, but the policy will bear fruit.
An Iraqi constitution that provides for democratic succession is the next step. I would also add a clause about mandatory age of retirement for officials at 101. I wouldn’t be averse to constructing a secure chamber where nutters can go blow themselves up without risk to others. All in the name of peace for those who cannot understand anything else."
What to do about North Korea? The New York Times is reporting that even though North Korea agreed to seal a plutonium-based nuclear program,
..." in 2002, an American official confronted Pyongyang with evidence that it had been cheating on its nuclear promises, maintaining a covert uranium enrichment program.
In response, North Korea expelled international inspectors from Yongbyon, announced that it was quitting the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and said it was building up what it ambiguously called its "nuclear deterrent." The six-nation disarmament talks started in Beijing in August 2003, but have not yielded any tangible results."
The article goes on to say:
".... in today's statement, Pyongyang (a North Korean Foreign Minister) zeroed in on Dr. Rice's testimony last month in her Senate confirmation hearings, where she lumped North Korea with five other dictatorships, calling them "outposts of tyranny."
As much as I admire Dr. Rice, I think this was a mistake on Dr. Rice's part. North Korean's leader Kim Jong is clearly unhinged. It would do Dr. Rice well to choose her words more carefully when dealing with this man. He has a huge ego and does not like to be insulted. Yes, we should not back down from being tough, but words mean things. It wouldn't hurt Dr. Rice to be a bit more diplomatic. I know that sounds simplistic, but we have all known people like this. If it takes a little ego stroking to get him back to the table, then we should do it. If you can't change a situation, you try and control it the best way you can. We simply cannot afford to get into any kind of conflict with North Korea now and Kim Jong knows this and is taking advantage of it. We need to send someone over there now that can do that ego stroking. I don't feel we are in danger. North Korea is known for blowing smoke. But our leaders need to watch how they say things and keep in mind who is listening.
LONDON (Reuters) - British heir to the throne Prince Charles announced Thursday he will marry long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman blamed for destroying his "fairytale" marriage to the late Princess Diana.
I hope they were being sarcastic with that fairytale thing. It was more of a nightmare marriage. I always think of a line I heard soon after Charles and Diana divorced. It said something like Prince Charles may be the only rich guy who threw out his trophy wife for his unattractive older mistress.
Not that I blame Charles (not that this matters in the big scheme of things anyway) but after reading and hearing so much about their lives, it should make one realize that it is not wealth, royalty, or fame that brings us happiness. Diana was beautiful and no one dressed more beautifully or was more loved by her fellow countrymen. But despite it all, she was sad and lonely most of the time.
And now it seems we will be treated to all the drama of her sons for years to come. I'm sadly guessing we will have more of the same kind of soap opera life for them.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
A little history of Ash Wednesday.
Ashes are an ancient symbol of penance predating Christianity. They remind us of our mortality. We come from dust and unto dust we shall return.
They are made from the burned palms of last year. Placing ashes on the head was an ancient penitential custom, as is evident in the Bible (e.g. Jonas 3:5-9)
From about the fifth century, sinners confessed their sins on Ash Wednesday. They did not receive absolution but were enrolled in the "order of penitents," signified by placing ashes in the form of a cross on their foreheads. They were then assigned public penance to be performed throughout Lent and on Holy Thursday morning they received absolution.
2005 Lenten Booklet
In the comments section below regarding the "Progressive Depot" promoted on Air America Radio website, one liberal questioned my assumption of the word "progressive" for "liberal," but as another commenter pointed out, we on the right are used to the "language" of the left. I had cited many ways the left uses different words to make their agenda sound better or get a different message across. The leftwing blog Interesting Times provided exactly what I was talking about:
"One bit of framing advice to Democrats has been to avoid using the term "War on Terror". Doing so just re-affirms the Bush conception of the war we are in. But how do you talk about this war without using this all purpose, commonly accepted term?
The first way is to divide the war into its component parts, thus highlighting the contrast between the different conflicts. Refer to it as the "War in Afghanistan" and the "War in Iraq". This highlights the fact that they are separate conflicts that need to be justified separately.
The second way is to re-emphasize the reason we got into this conflict in the first place. This all stared with the attacks on September 11th. Thus, any conflict we get into must be justified on the basis of redress for that attack. We are in a war that is a response to 9/11. Therefore, this is the "9/11 War".
He seems to be ignoring the fact that we are killing or capturing terrorists everyday in Iraq (or they are killing themselves) which clearly puts Iraq in the "War on Terror" category. But this is the kind of thing I was talking about in the "Progressive Depot" post. Change the words and make it sound better. Instead of abortion, say "women's reproductive health care." Instead of sex ed, say "life skills class." Instead of invasion of property rights, say " environmental protection."
I suppose you could call it spin, but I call it deception.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Thanks to everyone who responded on the three questions post. I can't wait to read some of the books, try and find some time to rent the movies, and listen to some of this music that I have never even heard of. But thanks most of all for the questions. Not only were they fun to answer, but they really made me think about some things.
You guys are great.
"Fool! Clinton would have had my bra undone moments ago." "Don't flatter yourself, girlfriend." via the ever funny Caption This!
Men + Sex = Stupid
I am convinced without a doubt that sex renders intelligent men completely stupid. Clinton is the poster child for this and now it looks like Bill Cosby could be following in his footsteps.
On Fox News this morning they are reporting that the young woman who is filing charges against Cosby for "drugging" her and then sexually molesting her, has taped phone conversations they had after the encounter. The news said that Cosby is saying that they did have sex, but that it was consensual.
When I say stupid, I am not just referring to the fact that these men were role models and famous and cheated on their wives. That is immoral as much as is it is stupid. I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that these men are intelligent. So how does one explain how someone who is famous, and every move is reported upon, cannot seem to control themselves even with the risk of total humiliation? But even more incredible is having PHONE CONVERSATIONS about anything intimate. Even Bill O'Reilly fell for that one. Had these men never heard of a taped phone conversation????? Did Nixon teach us nothing?????? How stupid can one be??????? Clinton even left messages on Monica's answering machine!!!!
I will say in Cosby's defense, (not that I wish to defend him) that what he has been preaching lately has never been about adult sexual moral behavior. He was preaching about parental responsibility, kids not dressing like a thug, and kids getting an education. He did say that 15 yr olds having babies is wrong, and we all know he is right about that. So, his preaching is really more about common sense and teaching kids to get to adulthood with an education and no children out of wedlock. Cosby has never claimed to be a Christian or religious in any way that I know of, so I don't think it is fair to paint him as being a hypocrite. He obviously feels that adults can make their own decisions regarding morality, but feels the inner city black community are not doing their job in parenting.
He may be cheating, but his message still rings true. He has probably lost a lot of credibility here and that is too bad, because his message badly needed to be heard from a man that the black community respects.
Now, I am relying on "innocent until proven guilty" here. If he actually molested this woman then he is a scumbag, but if it was consensual, then he is a cheater and it is disappointing, but it is even more disappointing that this important message might disappear along with his respectability.
Monday, February 07, 2005
I found this link at Air America Radio. It seems "Progressive Depot" has products and stores that give to "progressive" (read liberal) causes. I am not to happy that Old Navy is on there since they have great jeans that I love. I am also disturbed that Toys R Us, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Comp USA, Office Depot, and Apple computer were listed.
As long as I don't know, I can handle it. But once I see they give to causes I disagree with I can't bring myself to buy from them anymore.
Air America also talked about the candidates contending for the head of the DNC during a regional caucus in New York City. . Both Air America and this article described the crowd as "hissing" when Former congressman Tim Roemer discussed his abortion views. (he is pro-life, one of maybe two democrats in the country). They hissed. What is wrong with these people?
Hope for peace in the middle east.
"Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed a truce to end more than four years of fighting, both sides confirmed today.
Negotiators from both sides finalised the agreement during last-minute preparations for tomorrow's summit meeting between the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh."
More here.
This could be the beginning of sanity over there. It is hard to hold on to hope when nothing ever seems to change, but after what we have seen in Afghanistan and Iraq, it actually seems possible. Condi has a long road ahead of her, but I think she will turn out to be one of the most influential and world changing Secretary Of States we have ever had.
Liberal or conservative, this could be a win win.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Spongebob weighs in on Ward Churchill.
As does Ace and Jeff at PW.
More than you could possibly want to know about the subject here at PW's comment section.
PW also gives us Churchill's latest quote:
In an interview Ward Churchill gave with Satya magazine, he was asked about the effectiveness of protests of U.S. policies and the Iraq war, and responded: “One of the things I’ve suggested is that it may be that more 9/11s are necessary.” via CBS/AP
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Beth at My Vast Rightwing Conspiracy is passing this on from Raven's blog.
So, since I am busy. Have fun.
A. First, recommend to me:
A movie:
A book:
A musical artist, song, or album:
B. I want everyone who reads this to ask me three questions, no more, no less. Ask me anything you want.
C. Then, I want you to go to your blog, copy and paste this allowing your friends to ask you anything they want! (OK, I’m not going to insist on this part because I know this isn’t in most of my readers’ genre–hell, it isn’t even really in mine. But humor me just this once.)
See ya later tonight or tomorrow!
Friday, February 04, 2005
What the hip Jihad will be wearing this season. BA, you are too funny.
I could never quite figure out why anyone would oppose the new Social Security reform proposed by the President. He had promised those near retirement that nothing would change with them. He is giving younger workers the option of opting in or out of the new program, so it is totally voluntary. This young worker can put 4% of his now 6.2% payroll tax in private accounts. Everyone born after around 1955 does not think they will get their SS anyway. And I can tell you that I would be the first in line to get my money in a private account. There is simply no doubt that you can make more money there than in the government's program. So I kept thinking, what is the problem? And I found it in this story.
"That money is used to pay current benefits, so the government would have to make up the difference, presumably through borrowing."
Wait a minute. Why is the money currently going into the system paying benefits now? What happened to that person's build up of money that he put into the system for 50 yrs or so? Isn't that the money he should be getting? Not someone's money who is working now? Wasn't the purpose of SS to build up your own retirement account???? They took 6.2% for your whole working life and when you retired, they start paying you back what you "saved." So someone out there who is all savvy on this SS thing explain that one to me. What the hell happened to the money? Hmmm... I think I know. The government spent it. They are like a teenager. You give them $20, they spend every last dime. Then they borrow from their friends and come back to you and ask for more.
The mere fact that the government is having to use money going into the system now ( the money you and I are putting into it for our supposed retirement account ) to pay for the benefits going out presently is proof positive that the government has no business doing this. It cannot be trusted not to spend every last dime we give it and more.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis, a career infantry officer now in charge of developing ways to better train and equip Marines made these comments Tuesday while speaking at a forum in San Diego. According to an audio recording, Mattis had said, "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling."
He added, "You go into Afghanistan , you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."
The AP story titles this "Marine General Counseled Over Comments." The rest of the story is all apology and remorse...ect... via Yahoo News
What do you think?
Update: Here is Citizen Smash's take on it.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Today on C-span I watched Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz before a congressional hearing on the Iraqi elections. He had downloaded pictures from the internet and packaged them for the committee members to see of Iraqis voting, crying, and dancing in the streets. He spoke specifically of two Iraqi policemen who gave their lives saving others from suicide bombers. I was amazed and touched that his voice shook a bit as he described their sacrifice.
I was also amazed to hear him speak of the Iraqi bloggers. He quoted specifically from The Mesopotamian on election day. I went to read his site tonight and he was writing about the brave Iraqi policemen who gave their lives. But it went even further than that:
" At one station there was a suicide attack and several people fell; when people of the neighborhood heard of this, the waiting line suddenly swelled to three times in size; people rushed out of their homes and came running to wait in line; it was their way to express their defiance and anger at this crime. The examples of bravery and courage are too numerous to recount. People took courage from each other, as people came out others watched and did not want to be left out. It was something incredible to watch. Yes this was a historic day, a day to remember until our dying day. With one stroke, in a single day, the silent majority spoke and answered all the pundits and doubters, and those who spoke on their behalf. Yet we have been telling you this all along; we have been telling you ever since this blogging movement started. Do you now see that we were not representing minority views, that we were not some CIA agents trying to make propaganda?
I find it difficult right know to write coherently; I just want to convey to you some of the tremendous feelings overwhelming my soul now."
Two things here. One, the fact that the people ran out and made the lines longer in defiance just...well, it just kicks ass. The second thing is that he has obviously been bombarded by the left describing him as a propaganda machine. The sincerity in the next line leaves no doubt. Please, go and read his blog. It may overwhelm your soul as well.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
My blogging maybe spotty for the next few weeks. I have 2 kids doing some pretty intense competition things and I am all into that. Honestly I do not see how working moms do it. I give them tons of credit. I am also busy getting scholarship stuff in for my Senior. It is crazy how they all want different things and the school will not allow you to take a certified copy of his transcripts, so everytime I get one or two ready I have to go to the school with all the stuff and pay for the transcript and they have to mail it. So I have to trust that they will do it in time!! And not lose it. His senior class has ONLY 721 students! It is so frustrating! I will tell you more about the other competitions later (if your interested at all) .
But as you all know, I get pretty passionate about some things and if something comes up, then I will be typing away at midnight. I am looking forward to the Presidents State Of The Union Address. He has alot to be proud of, but I'm betting there won't be too much bragging and what there is, his speech makers probably insisted. He is a humble man.
I just finished reading Karen Hughe's "Ten Minutes From Normal." An excellent book and if you really want to understand what kind of man Bush is just read the 9-11 chapter. Karen is very good at not getting too mushy or emotional. But 3 things stood out for me in this chapter other than what you know will be riveting. The first thing was about the morning of 9-11. I knew as soon as the 2nd plane hit that we were being attacked. I had called everyone in my family and my friends and my mom had asked me why I was so upset. "It is going to be ok." she said. "No, Mom..it is not going to be ok." I just knew that. But I called my best friend because she knows me so well and I told her that the thing that was frightening me the most was that the press had no idea where the President's plane was. I knew that information shouldn't be on the news of course, but I told my friend, "I will not be OK until I know where he is." Well it turns out that Karen Hughes was at home that day. After it was known what was going on she had talked to Ari briefly and told to get to the White House. On the way there she asked the operator to get her Air Force One. The operator said, "I'm sorry, We are unable to contact Air Force One." Karen said in all the time she had spent on that plane and seen the President make calls all over the world, and called the plane herself, never had she not been able to get through, unable to contact. She said that was the most afraid she had been that day. I can tell you that I am glad I didn't know that. I figured the press was being kept out of the loop for the obvious reasons, but if they had reported that his most personal adviser could not contact him I would have freaked. I was just so afraid that one or more planes were going to hit Air Force One. Thank God that didn't happen.
Anyway, the 2nd thing that struck me was that a few days after 9-11 there was another warning and security was evacuating the White House. Karen asked the President if they were leaving. He said, "I'm not letting them force me out of the White House." Everyone agreed to let non essential personnel go home and then the President turned to his Secret Service detail and said, "I'm not leaving," he told them tersely, "if a plane hits us, I'll just die. And Ferdi, I'm hungry," turning to his the mess steward. "I'll have a hamburger."
Reading this I thought this is exactly the kind of man I wanted in the White House. Unafraid. Unwillingly to give the terrorists even a little satisfaction in thinking they could scare or intimidate him.
I encourage you on the left to go to a local Barnes and Noble and just pick up the book and read the 9-11 chapter there in one of those comfy seats. You don't have to buy the book. But just so you can see from a personal view how this President handled this MAJOR crisis. I think you will be impressed.
The final thing that struck me is the unabashed faith of Karen. She relys on her faith and does not back away from writing about it. A few days after 9-11 the President called her and told her to be on call for a meeting the next day. The next day was Sunday, so Karen got up early and went to early Church so she wouldn't have to miss Church for the call (here that usually means about 7:00am). And guess who was already sitting there? Condi Rice. Here are the two most influential women in the President's life and knew they needed to be on call that day, so they get up early to make it to Church. Most of us will miss Church for a football game, not to mention a call from the President. But these two women knew where they gained their strength. They had their priorities straight.
One more final note, now that I think of it. Karen also describes her difficult decision to leave the White House and return to Texas. Here is a woman with a job thousands dream of. She loved it. But her son was unhappy and about to start High School. She knew he wanted to be back in Texas with his friends. Although he didn't complain. Her husband too, wanted to go back to Texas but both understood the importance of her job and encouraged her the whole way. But that still small voice that we of faith listen for, told her that her place was home in Texas. That it was important to spend more time with her son in his last few years at home. So, to the surprise of just about everyone, she went home. I admire her for that. I admire her for putting her family above her career. After reading her book, I admire her for everything that she is. A strong woman of faith, smart and determined to do what it is right.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Well, this is scary. Diggers Realm with a hat tip to HyScience says the border patrol found "a jacket with a patch depicting a plane flying towards a skyscraper with the words "Midnight Mission" and an arabic patch was found along the Texas-Mexico border back in December. Just more evidence of OTM's (Other Than Mexicans) crossing our southern border at will."
Read the WND article on it here. (Digger and WND have pics)
Since I live not too far from the Mexican border and in the same city as the Senior Bush, this makes me a tad bit nervous. I am for the guest worker program for reasons I have stated here earlier, but we do really need to get more serious about our border control here in the south.
The Washington Post.com has this: h/t Diggers Realm
"BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interior minister said Monday that insurgents used a handicapped child as one of the suicide bombers who launched attacks on election day.
Falah al-Naqib told reporters in Baghdad that 38 attacks were carried out on polling stations in Iraq on Sunday and that one of the suicide bombings was carried out by a disabled child."
The article went on to say:
"..... police at the scene of one the Baghdad blasts said the bomber appeared to have Down's Syndrome."
Yesterday I was in the car with my 16 yr old daughter and when I told her about that story on the radio, I thought I might have to pull over to calm her down. She has been aware of the beheadings and the bombings, but to her, using a child was just horror beyond what she could imagine. She said "Mom, we have to kill these people, we have too!! They are monsters. They are not human." I told her Bush was doing the best he could to get them. She said, "Thank God he won the election, no one seems to understand the evil we are dealing with here. Mom, this is Hilter like isn't it?" I told her, yes it was, but we have thrown around the term "Hilter" so much in this country that it has come to mean nothing but a biting insult. It is time for us to realize that these guys are worse than Hitler like. They hate and want to destroy, not just certain groups of people, but ALL those who disagree.
Then today I find out that the child they used was a Down Syndrome child. I am afraid to even tell my daughter. It would upset her for days. We have worked with down sydrome children, and sweeter souls on this earth you just cannot find. They are loving and trusting. Using that innocence to talk a child into this kind of horror and destruction is the worst kind of EVIL.
We keep using that word, but what other word can we use to describe this???? If there were a worse description I would use it. Good God! People can moan and groan about this war and about the future of the middle east, but I think it is painfully clear that these terrorists must be sent to their death no matter what it takes. (And what a surprise awaits them there)
You can say Iraq wasn't the way to go, fine. But these guys were there in the middle east, and it is clear they are in Iraq now. I don't care which country we had to go to get these guys, this is the most necessary thing we will do in this generation. And if we have to go into Syria or othere places then we will! Let me be the first to say it! We cannot let these mutants hide! That is IT! I am sick of whining. THEY USED AN INNOCENT MENTALLY DISABLED CHILD. It doesn't get ANY worse than that. I say we do whatever it takes, go wherever we have to.
And whether you were appalled or not about what Ann Coulter said about converting those in the middle east to Christianity, you might want to think about the fact that we don't teach in our faith to kill and mutilate! And it is a freely chosen faith. It cannot be forced on anyone by it's very nature.
There seems to be a great spiritual need in the middle east and we have just let Islam grow like a quick growing vine. I say Ann is right. A little missionary work wouldn't hurt. Any religion would be better than this. It doesn't even have to be Christianity. Spread Buddhism! At least one of peace!
I am so angry about this child I can hardly type.
Monday, January 31, 2005
After surfing the net today, I think our culture is just wierd.
Several hundred fans greet Michael Jackson as he arrives for jury selection for his child molestation trial.
A celebrity makeup artist has filed a $25 million lawsuit against rapper Snoop Dogg, alleging he and several men in his entourage drugged and raped her two years ago.
Paris Hilton has published a memoir, "Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose," launched a jewelry collection and opened a nightclub in downtown Orlando.
Salem College, the small liberal arts school for women in Winston-Salem, N.C., recently offered a four-week course titled "Happy Girl/Broken Wing: Martina McBride as Text."
Portia De Rossi has given lover Ellen DeGeneres a Tiffany wedding band.
An auction house in Michigan this weekend had public bidding for Ku Klux Klan paraphernalia in a town once home to the Klan's grand dragon.
Click here for Suicide Bomber Barbie.
Am I right?
Fox News just announced that Hillary Clinton fainted at a speech and was taken to the hospital. We may all differ in what we believe but we are still called to care for one another. Take time to say a prayer for her.
Update: Fox is reporting that she was not taken to the hospital, but treated by medical personnel at the scene. It seems it may have just been dehydration from a stomach bug.
One of the advantages of going to elaborate gala's, other than dressing up real pretty, is being able to hear amazing speakers and getting to meet them. Saturday night we went to The Annual Wildcatter's Ball. The Speaker was James Baker, former Reagan Chief of Staff, Bush Senior's Sec. Of State, and later Bush Senior's Chief of Staff as well. These are just a few things he has accomplished. Here is his full biography. I know he took a lot of heat during the Reagan years, but what I remember most about him is his strength and dignity during the 2000 election mess. After the dinner I got to meet him and tell him how much I appreciated that.
I also asked him if he had heard of the political bloggers. He said he had. I told him that I was one and that there were many very good ones if he wanted to check them out to come to my website and click on the links. He asked what my blogger name was and wrote it down, so if we see a "JamesB" commenting on here, would that be too cool, or what?
The one thing he spoke of during his speech is not mentioned in his biography. He made his money by being an original "wildcatter." Which is someone who takes a chance on his own to find oil. He drilled 2 wells at his ranch and got lucky. And that is basically about all it was back then. Luck.
I have noticed on other sites when liberals argue, they put down the oil industry or accuse Bush of really only being interested in oil in the middle east. First and foremost it is important to know that the free flow of oil from Iraq might be good for the world, but the oil industry in the U.S. does not benefit from it. It brings the price of oil down. We would rather find oil here anyway. If oil is Bush's real agenda, he wouldn't have the Texas oil industry behind him on it, that is for sure.
Everytime you fill up your car, or heat your home on a bitter cold day, you should thank the oil industry. It seems to get a bad rap, but the people in it are the best people. From Engineers to Geologists, they work hard and go through more layoffs and then hiring back than just about any industry I know. It seems every time I got pregnant (4 times) our company would announce a layoff. We got lucky and that never happened to us.
Anyway, one of the great things about living in Texas and getting to go to some of the events is meeting some of the people I admire the most. I once even told Democratic Senator John Breaux from Louisiana why he didn't come over from the dark side. He answered "It's too late now for me, honey."
I asked Ken Starr what was the worst thing about the whole Clinton/Lewinsky mess. He said "The whole thing."
I asked Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey why he was leaving. He said "Those people there (Washington D.C.) are not normal." Heh.
I am not trying to name drop here. I have just been lucky to live in Texas where a lot of great politicians come from. And I am one of those who just go and introduce myself. I am not shy.
So before you get the idea that I actually have some kind of real life, these events only happen about twice a year. There were many times I had the opportunity to get more involved in the political process here, but I had these babies and I just couldn't leave them for any amount of time. I campaigned for Jack Kemp when he was running for the Republican nominee for President in '88 and I had just one little baby boy then and I knew I just couldn't get up every morning and kiss that little guy goodbye. So when I was done with that, I stopped the active campaigning. I just gave money after that. And I of course talked anyone who would listen to me into voting Republican. I did stay involved in pro-life activism, but not surprisingly, they don't care if you drag your babies along with you.
So, I think I will go turn up the heat. It's COLD today....;-)
Sunday, January 30, 2005
V is for Victory! via SondaK (via David B via Iraq the Model) VIA DOESN'T THIS JUST ROCK!?
These two quotes taken from 2 Iraqi blogs and I got them from Beautiful Atrocities. These lines just got to me.
From Free Iraqi-"Tomorrow my heart will race my hand to the box."
Is that beautiful or WHAT?
From Sun of Iraqi- "Do you know what I will do? I will buy new clothes & I will put the flowers around my neck to meet the democracy it is like my missing sweetheart whom I looking for her in my dreams."
Democracy is like the sweetheart in his dreams. That made me cry.
Today it looks like freedom to me.
DEMOCRACY ROCKS IN IRAQ!
And from the looks of the way they dance, that is one thing thing they have a much longer way to go on than to learn democracy.
But, hey, Thank God they dance.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
I find the Cosby story an interesting coincidence. He starts speaking out in ways that tick certain people and groups off, and here comes a story to discredit him.
It makes you wonder.
Did you see Sec. of State Condi Rice today on T.V. as she came to work and addressed state department employees? She is truly an accomplished intelligent lady full of grace and determination. If you want to check out her background go here. All I can say is wow. It is amazing what women can accomplish when we don't have to take care of you men....;-)
Even some democrats had some kind words: via Sacbee.com
"Rice is a "remarkable woman," said Feinstein, asserting that "she can be a strong and effective voice" for the United States as it addresses a host of world problems, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
"Lieberman said that Rice has the president's "trust and confidence" as the United States is "at war with Islamic terrorism."
It seems that only the future will tell us whether Rice's American foreign policies were a success or a disaster. But she will always be written in the history books as the first black woman to head the most senior of cabinet posts. But what makes that even more amazing is that her skin color nor her gender had anything to do with getting her there.
And that is as it should be.