Girls just want to have fun. But they rarely do.

Every single girl in the world should read this opinion piece. I could have written this when I was single. The key sentence in the column that describes how I thought and was highly motivating for me was this:

I never want to be "her."

Who Cares What The World Thinks About America? I Care.

Have I mentioned that I think this Pope rocks?

I can't imagine loving a Pope the way I did Pope John Paul, but Pope Benedict is coming close. Here is what he said to a gathering of Germany's Muslim officials:

"Terrorist activity is continually recurring in various parts of the world, sowing death and destruction, and plunging many of our brothers and sisters into grief and despair.

"Those who instigate and plan these attacks evidently wish to poison our relations, making use of all means, including religion, to oppose every attempt to build a peaceful, fair and serene life together."

This comes after a visit Friday to Cologne's synagogue, where Benedict was warmly received by Jewish officials for his remarks urging better Jewish-Christian relations and warning of rising anti-Semitism.

This is what I like. I like people with different views getting along. I like us agreeing on certain basic widely held moral beliefs and then trying to understand and live with each other as best we can beyond that.

The word 'catholic' means universal. We now have a global economy and, like it or not, the United States citizens can no longer ignore the rest of the world. We like our way of life here. We don't like to talk about politics. (not the bloggers of course, but everyone else) We like our sports, our movies, our cars, and our homes. It is easy to become so busy in our lives we forget that our government leaders make profound decisions every day that affect how other people on this earth see us. And we need to care how they see us, whether we want to or not.

There is another source of information that affect how others see us as well. Our media. And I don't mean just the news. In fact, I believe that it is our celebrity media that affects the world view as much as just about anything else. Millions across the world saw Fahrenheit 9-11. They also believed the distortion and lies that were crafted in the movie. I saw on a special on VH1 that the show "The Jerry Springer Show" was translated and shown all over the world and other countries could not get enough of it. When I heard that, I thought that if I got my impression of what Americans are like from The Jerry Springer Show then I too would hate Americans.

From international popular shows like "Baywatch" and "Friends," and all our R rated movies, the impression given is that all Americans are hedonistic and immoral. I can certainly see why Muslim countries would think so. In America we just find these shows funny or entertaining. We know they don't represent who we are or what we care about.

The rest of the world must have really been shaking their head when we elected a Christian, down to earth, conservative President twice. At least Bill Clinton fit in with the stereotype that has been put out there by the media about Americans. But George Bush? How could that happen?

There are many ways to poison relations with others. The Pope points out the most egregious and brutal- terrorism, but there are many other ways we do it as well. When the media allows people like Cindy Sheehan to say thinly veiled anti-Semitic remarks and not condemn her because they sympathize with her. When any of us blame entire cultures or religions for the problems in the world.

We seem to have forgotten a simple gesture that I was taught as a child....kindness. We need to be kind to those we disagree with. We cannot reach out and change anyone's mind without kindness. Pope John Paul knew that. When he died I was shocked at how the liberal media gushed over him. I mean he was conservative as they come. He would never back down on any strongly held moral belief and no one in the liberal media agreed with one thing he believed in, yet they liked him.

Why? Because he was kind. Because he showed no ill will toward anyone. Because he clearly loved people, even those who disagreed with him. He proved that you don't have to compromise or back down from your values to reach out to those who don't share them.

Let's get back to a little kindness here. Let the soldiers fight. Let the protestors protest. Let the angry rant. But let us show compassion.

After all, it is love that saves us.

via Dr. Sanity

Say a Prayer Today.

I want to offer a prayer for Coretta Scott King, who is in the hospital after suffering from a stroke.

I have always had a lot of respect for her. She showed great grace after Dr. Martin Luther King's death. She never used her fame or her husband's fame to put herself in the limelight. She never let the left use her as campaign tool. She has always seemed to be in complete control of what she wanted to do.

Going to the GOP and DNC conventions showed that she wanted the black community to be involved in the political process in both parties. This could not have made the Democrats happy. But she never seemed to care about that.

In all these years I don't remember her saying anything negative. It would have been easy for her to be bitter. It would have been easy to lash out and become a loud self involved camera hound like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have. It would have been easy for her to blame white America for her husband's death, but she didn't do any of those things.

She has always carried herself with dignity and grace. She has honored her husband and his memory as only a true lady can. She is a shining example of how to handle being a part of history and the fame that comes with that.

Get well Mrs. King. This generation needs your example.

Brian Maloney, the man behind one of the most popular blogs on the Internet, The Radio Equalizer, will be the guest Sunday evening at 9pm est on Pundit Review Radio.You can listen live at WRKO and call toll free at 877-469-4322.

An example of why I don't like to elect Southpark Republicans.

Will Blog For Money.

It's just a matter of time. They want us.

The crazy blog money is right around the corner. I just know it.

This sign was posted by a neighbor of Bush's in Crawford living closest to where the small white crosses are lined up. via Powerline

"Cindy Sealed The Deal."

I can't get over the reaction to this guy's decision to become a Republican. (via LGF) Check out the post and the comments. (read the comments on LGF too) It pretty much illustrates the left and right's differences.

Welcome Scott Randolph to our happy family. Here is his crucial excerpt:

"I actually felt myself become a republican today. It was around 10am, when I read the latest update of the Cindy Sheehan saga in CNN.com. I then shot over to read some blogs about it, and perused the comments in some of them, which was nothing but a long series of petty (albeit entertaining) partisan bickering.
Then it happend. The good little democrat in me tied the little noose around his neck and jumped off the stool. He just couldn’t take it anymore.

Take what? The whining. The constant whining by the extreme left about the reasons for war, the incompetence of this administration, and how we’ve all been lied to, and how we should pull out of Iraq immediately, because, *gulp* our soldiers were in danger.

Guess what folks….they signed up to join the Army, not the boy scouts. Anytime your orientation to a new job involves an automatic weapon, you should be smart enough to figure out there’s danger involved. I actually read some people’s comments about many of the soldiers over there being naive….they weren’t expecting to go to war, so, they should be allowed to go home. Wow."

Makes you feel better about the whole protest thing, doesn't it?

Children can just make you so proud sometimes.

I'm sooo glad stem cell research is bringing us such important advancements in medicine.
via Grouchy Old Cripple.

What Air America Scandal?

When Rush had his drug problem, we never heard the end of it.

When O'Reilly had his phone sex embarrassment, we heard every detail.

But when Air America takes $875,000 from a children's charity as a "loan" that it hasn't paid back and an Air America executive that also served as development director for the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club of the Bronx made a "diversion" of funds for the struggling leftists, we hear nothing but crickets from the MSM.

Want details of the glorious coverage when Air America started up and the silence as it dives into scandal? Go here.

Cindy Sheehan Leaves.

Sheehan left Crawford today after getting a phone call that her mother had had a stroke.

For the love of God, please bloggers do not make jokes about her mother.

I am wondering if her family will try and talk her into not returning to Crawford while they have her away from the leftwing goups.

No. No way. Not true. Really?

Just when I think I have seen it all. The Japanese have come up with a children's beverage called Kidsbeer, a nonalcoholic brew. And it seems to be selling well. It looks just like beer and is bottled like beer.

"Even kids cannot stand life unless they have a drink," reads the product's advertising slogan.

Wow. What an upbeat message!!!

Good Lord, are the Japanese that unhappy? They think kids need a drink?? I mean who can stand this life??? *shakes head*

Dead Al-Qaida Leader. Always good to hear.

Captain Ed gives us this spectacular news from the AP:

" Al-Qaida's leader in Saudi Arabia was killed Thursday during clashes with police in the western city of Medina, the Interior Ministry said.
Saleh Mohammed al-Aoofi was among six al-Qaida militants reported killed during police raids on numerous locations in the holy city and the capital, Riyadh, security officials told The Associated Press.
Al-Aoofi, a Saudi in his late 30s, and another militant were killed during one of seven police raids in Medina, the Interior Ministry said."

As Captain Ed points out:

" The Saudis have done a remarkable job in cleaning up al-Qaeda leadership since AQ attacked foreigners in Riyadh in May 2003. Shortly after that attack, the Saudis listed 26 known terrorist leaders wanted by their security services. With the death of Aoofi, 25 of 26 have either been captured or killed by the Saudis. They also captured 10 Islamist "militants" in Medina, and killed another in a separate raid in Riyadh. The Riyadh operation also turned up a number of weapons, bombs, and documentation."

I'm wondering, as Jeff at Protein Wisdom is, whether this news will carry the weight of a certain Crawford protest.

Thanks to Matt.

Why we have no respect for the ACLU.

School Board Compared to Terrorists?

"It's in the choice of words, but you decide.. is American Civil Liberties Union chief Joe Cook calling the Tangipahoa Parish School Board members a bunch of terrorists?

Cook was asked about a meeting Monday, during which the school board spoke to all teachers and workers about policy for this year, and had been asked by the ACLU to remind teachers to be extra careful not to allow prayer at school functions. This is what the ACLU chief had to say:

"They believe that they answer to a higher power, in my opinion. Which is the kind of thinking that you had with the people who flew the airplanes into the buildings in this country, and the people who did the kind of things in London."

Tangipahoa school officials tell reporters it's ludicrous to compare the Tangipahoa school board's "fight for religious freedom and freedom of expression in schools" with terrorist motivated attacks."

Need I say more?

via Lone Star Times

Thanks to Jill for pointing out another idiotic pursuit of the ACLU. Have you noticed that the only thing the ACLU sees as wrong is anything having to do with religion.

I Wonder.

The images of the Gaza pullout are painful to watch. After reading the following from Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas’s overall leader in the Gaza Strip in The Jerusalem Post, I wonder if it will all be for nothing.

Zahar said: “Neither the liberation of the Gaza Strip, nor the liberation of the West Bank or even Jerusalem will suffice us. Hamas will pursue the armed struggle until the liberation of all our lands. We don’t recognize the state of Israel or its right to hold onto one inch of Palestine. Palestine is an Islamic land belonging to all the Muslims.”

via LoneStarTimes

"She Does Not Speak for Me."

There are always two sides to every story, isn't there?

It's hard to find a picture of my college guy, but here is one. His best friend (and my adopted son) on your right is now in the Navy training to be a Seal.

Off To College.

I got my son off to college yesterday. I actually did it without crying. I know he was ready to go. My last minute "do's and dont's" was enough to send him screaming away I am sure. He is a very laid back kid, so he just kept nodding thoughtfully, but I am sure he wanted to tape my mouth shut. Heck, I wanted to tape my mouth shut, but I just couldn't stop myself. After several warnings and tips I remind him to change his sheets every week or so and keep his dorm room locked at all times, he looks at me patiently and says, "Mom, do you think I am retarded?"

I think moms say things like "don't let anyone talk you into taking any kind of pills" so that if anything like that actually happens, we can always say, "well, I warned him of just that!"

Our conscience is clear.

I started cleaning out his room today. Not a good idea. I find reminders of his childhood everywhere. Goofy pictures that make me laugh, Halloween candy that was never eaten, shirts I bought that were never worn (too dweeby, I guess). I take a deep breath and decide to do this later.

I still haven't cried. I am always strong until the storm is over. I wait until everything is settled and right, and then I let go. Getting the other three off to a new school year has kept me busy.

Tonight could be the night.

Why we don't trust the media.

I have read 4 stories this morning about the "peace protest" of Cindy Sheehan. And none of them even mention the parents of fallen soldiers who went to Crawford to take their son or daughter's cross down from the protest saying "you don't speak for us." to Cindy.

And according to Google news there are 1,666 related stories. I wonder how many of them mention the parents of those fallen soldiers who support the war?? I wonder how many of them mention that Cindy Sheehan is tearing her family apart over this? They don't mention the husband who filed for divorce over this. They don't mention the brother of Casey who is angry at his mom over this. They don't mention the protest warriors, the pro-troop group that is also in Crawford.

The anti war media have found their mascot and they are doing everything they can to paint a sympathic picture of her.

Truth be damned.

That is why we don't trust the media.

Very Cool.

This is called "working together." Iraqis help our soldiers find bombs and our soldiers recover a kidnapped Iraqi 2yr old and return the toddler safely to the parents.

A Question.

Victor Hanson gives us this excellent commentary:

"The same people who castigate us for allowing the slaughter in Rwanda and Sudan and a dozen other venues now chide us for insuring that such brutality stops in Iraq. They chafe at the unforeseen consequences, mistakes, and inadvertent death that always and everywhere has accompanied the use of force. How many tens of thousands died unnecessarily in World War II, the “good war,” because of such contingencies? The tragic truth of action is that we have to accept those risks and accept that to achieve a future good we often have to risk a present evil. The only alternative is never to use force, and pacifism is a juvenile ideal refuted on every page of history."

Maybe one of my leftwing commenters can answer that question for me. Because I have always wondered it as well. Why is the suffering in Rwanda and Sudan so much more important to stop than the suffering of the Iraqi people?

via BigDog

Silly, but hilarious. Even funnier.

via Ace

Iraqi Women. Let the Iraqi govt. finally have some respect for them.

A Soldier's Mom said it perfectly about the Iraqi constitution and the role of women:

"Wishing the draft Iraqi constitution had been done on time because every delay heightens the danger our troops and the Iraqis face from the terrorists… but was also glad to hear that the extension was a unanimous vote. I hope the drafters do not abandon the Iraqi women who are the strength and honor and spirit of Iraq… these women who must raise and protect their families under the direst of circumstances and are the hope with their children of the new Iraq and the Middle East – women who went to the polls in parity with Iraqi men. It would be distressing to me and many others I’m sure, if their legal standing was LESS under the new government than Saddam.However, despite the assertions of the MSM and the liberals – this is IRAQIS driving this – not Americans. While our ambassador and consultants can exert some pressure, it is up to the Iraqis themselves to assure that they HONOR their women and their role in Iraqi society and history. You cannot hope to join the 21st century of your women are forced to return to the 5th century."

Check out her blog too. She has a son in a dangerous area in Iraq and her attitude is awesome! Read her amazing experience at a Toby Keith concert. Too cool.

UPDATE: Good news! The news this morning is reporting that Iraqi women will have equal rights under the law. That issue has been settled.

The Media Should Be Ashamed.

Xenophon has this:

"...when 14 more 3/25 Marines were killed on August 3rd the media, both local and national, paid much more attention than any of the other incidents involving 3/25. Here in Ohio you could not escape talk of the fourteen Marines killed, and that is all the information the media had. They broke this story so fast that the Marines could not even notify the families before hand. This led to absolute panic among the 3/25 families. I was able to find out pretty early that the casualties came from Lima Company (based in Columbus, OH), and so began contacting as many family members from Weapons Company and Headquarters Company (based in Akron, OH and Brookpark, near Cleveland, OH, respectively) as I could to mitigate the damage. But the damage had been done. My phone calls were answered by crying wives and mothers, sitting in front of the TV hoping for any information, horrified that I was calling with the worst of news. This was media irresponsibility at its worst."

He continues:

"The media has every right to do this. We’re a country that enjoys the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. But does that mean that we cannot expect that the media will have the simple courtesy and consideration to allow the military to take care of our family before they announce tragedies of this kind? Especially when it comes to consideration for the families of those that serve." via Mudville

Amen to that.

The Rantings of The Left.

Mike Malloy of Air America wonders:

"Maybe the Unionists had it wrong in the late 1850s. Maybe there should have been a separation, a legal breaking apart of a society in which one half was moving toward progressive, liberal, scientific thought and the belief that justice had to be universal, and the other half drifting into racism, ignorance and a fundamentalist Christianity that demanded, among other perversions, subservience and silence from women"

Do reasonable people really believe this crap? All conservative Christians are racist, ignorant, and want women be subservant. It's such an absurd belief I can hardly believe even a leftwinger would say it. I expect this kind of ranting from Kos readers or at DU, but here is a "spokesman" for the left spouting this nonsense.

I use to hate it when Rush Limbaugh would always sarcastically joke about how lefties saw us. Using words like bigot, racist, and homophobe. But every day they seem to prove him right!

These over the top sterotypes (on both sides really) are starting to really get on my nerves.

Able Danger explained simply.

John Podhoretz from the Corner explains:

"It behaved disgracefully and in a nakedly partisan fashion, with former officials of the Clinton administration attempting to use the platform to damage the president's reelection chances. Then, after months of ludicrous conduct, out of nowhere came the brilliantly conceived and written report that set a new standard of eloquence and coherence for government documents, became a major bestseller and redeemed the commission's reputation.

Well, that didn't last long.

In a story filed at 7:10 PM, the Associated Press is now confirming all the particulars of what will now forever be called the Able Danger disaster. The 9/11 Commission staff did hear about intelligence-gathering efforts that hit pay dirt on the whereabouts of Mohammed Atta -- in 1999 -- and deliberately chose to omit word of those efforts.

And why? Because to do so might upset the timeline the Commission had established on Atta.

And why is that significant? Because the Mohammed Atta timeline established by the Commission pointedly insisted Atta did not meet with an Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague.

And why is that significant? Because debunking the Atta-Iraq connection was of vital importance to Democrats, who had become focused almost obsessively on the preposterous notion that there was no relation whatever between Al Qaeda and Iraq -- that Al Qaeda and Iraq might even have been enemies."

via Small Dead Animals.

McCain, 2008.

Just wanted to comment a bit more about McCain and 2008. I saw McCain on Fox News Sunday, and all I can say is this guy is saying the right things. He knows his way around the media, he knows how to win, and I still think he is our only hope of beating Hillary. I know a lot can change before then, but we conservatives have to face the fact that the majority of the public does not care about politics and will vote on emotion and star power. That is just the way it is. And if we want to win, we have to choose someone who can deliver those things.

You can disagree with McCain on many things, but the fact remains that he is a TRUE military hero. He not only survived the 5 yrs in a POW camp, but he refused to leave when given the opportunity by the power of his dad. He would not leave his men behind. Who has that kind of courage today??? Compare his service and sacrifice to the Democrat's next best thing, John Kerry. It doesn't even come close. McCain is not only a hero, but he dismisses that word when it is spoken of him.

He not only has the star power we desperately need ( he had a TV movie made about him!! Which I guarantee will be replayed if he runs) but in the this war on terror he has the military background we need as well.

We have awhile, but something to think about any way.

Enough Already.

I have tried hard to give Cindy Sheehan latitude for all that she is saying because of the heartache she has experienced, but it is obvious now that she is being used by fringe groups to get the media to pay attention to leftwing talking points. I could take her barbs at Bush. I understood her reflecting her anger at her son for re-enlisting to Bush. But now she is spouting things about Israel and talking about not paying her taxes and even demeaning the people of Texas. Referring to a man living on the street where they are protesting who shot a gun in the air:

"Sheehan, 48, said she was not concerned with her own safety but has told others to be aware that "this could get physical, even though we are peaceful."
"I think we knew of the risks when we came down here," said Sheehan, of Vacaville, Calif. "I'm surprised we haven't had more of that since we're in Bush country." via My Way News

Parents in Texas have lost sons too. I heard a man on the radio this morning who drove to Crawford this past weekend to talk to Cindy. He had lost his son in Iraq in November. Even though she had told the press she would meet with the parents of fallen soldiers only, he said she would not meet with him. He seemed very nice. He told the radio host that he wanted to throw his arms around her and tell her he understood her pain. Although he believes that his son died fighting for a noble cause, he didn't want to argue that, he only wanted to comfort her.

So how can she criticize Bush for not meeting with her a second time when she won't even do what she said she would do and meet with the parents of other fallen soldiers who don't feel the way she does?

I think she made her point well. The truth is that to the general public she is now starting to look like a crackpot. Stopping now would at least give her the sympathy from the public she so clearly feels she needs, but continuing saying things that are ugly and untrue will only hurt her cause.

It's time to go home Cindy. Stop letting these people use you and your grief and fill your mouth with their talking points.

The Hillary Attack Machine Starts Up.

The New York Daily News gives us this:

"Democrats are in stitches over Jeanine Pirro's glitches - and they're spreading their mirth online.
Pirro's struggle to find a missing page of her speech during her campaign kickoff Wednesday against Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton became the fodder for a 45-second clip on the state Democratic Committee's Web site (www.nydems.org). The clip shows a confused Pirro saying "Hillary Clinton ..." and then falling silent as she struggles to find the next sheet.
The Democratic wags filled in the 32 seconds of silence that followed with the theme music to the game show "Jeopardy." At the end, the words "Without a Script, She is Speechless" fill the screen.
State Republican Chairman Stephen Minarik said it showed the Democrats were "resorting to the politics of personal destruction."

And so it begins. The Hillary attack machine. But since Pirro is pro-choice, pro-gay rights, anti-gun, and pro-affirmative action, I don't know what else they will be able to attack other than gaffs like these.

I Do. Do I know you?

Get this. It is now possible to meet someone, get to know them, flirt with them, and marry them without ever having to actually meet them.

I give you the first blogwedding.

If you work for CNN, you better not date a conservative, much less be one.

This from Mediabistro:

"What's happening at CNN reports rumors that Daryn Kagan has been passed over "for any and all promotion[s]" due to her relationship with Rush Limbaugh.TVNewser heard similar rumblings last week, and received this anonymous tip: "Daryn Kagan is very upset that because of her relationship with Rush she is being overlooked for any and all openings at CNN. Her current time slot is constantly being preempted by the O'Brien's on breaking news days. She is just gathering her paycheck now as she thinks she will not be there by the end of summer."