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.

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.

A life-sized cutout of an American soldier appears to guard patrons of 'Our Hero's Hometown Restaurant' in Wellsburg, W.Va. Owners Rodger and Sandy Plants have a son serving with the Army in Iraq. They have dedicated the theme of the diner to veterans.
Andrew Cutraro
Post-Dispatch
Cool huh?

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.

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.

This is an indication that there might actually be some hope for the democrats. Open your minds, consider for a moment, that maybe you were wrong. It's a start. via ColdFury

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

Mrs. Greyhawk gives her amusing take on the GI Joe doll story.
If you don't know what I am talking about go here.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....;-)

My 12 yr old wrote this poem for school and I thought it might be appropriate for today:


Through this war's violence

We need guidance

Best to cast away our wrath

We need peace

In our anger, release

We will find a path

Believe the Faith

And you'll be safe

from war

Follow the Lord

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.

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.

This Is The Time...

This is what I have decided after countless discussions with the left about this war. We are never going to agree. We are never going to change each other's mind. So let's go forward with what we have here. You may not like it, but Bush was re-elected. He is determined to bring democracy to the middle east no matter what reasons you may think he has.

The good news is we have freed the afghans from the Taliban and freed the Iraqi people from a brutal dictator and uncovered a UN scandal. We have killed untold number of terrorists and dismantled their network until all they have is suicide bombers and I'm thinking they will run out of those. We have not been attacked again on our own soil. The bad news is that we have paid a heavy price and it isn't over yet.

So to my liberal friends I say, what good is it to continue to argue why we went to war? It is done. You can believe Bush lied or didn't lie, but the above is true and you can't argue that. Nothing you and I say will change what is taking place in the middle east. Iraq will form it's own government. The middle east is changing and this distinct change has got to be for the better, because how could it have been worse? Tyranny and fear is just no way to live. But you and I would know nothing about that.
So you can continue to think the worst of this President just as we will continue to think the best.

For now I pray for all people in Iraq who seek freedom. I pray for people who are willing to risk their lives to vote. I pray for leaders who know that every day could easily be their last just because they chose to lead this fight for democracy over dictatorship. I pray for our soldiers and theirs who stand to protect and defend that right to vote. I pray for all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I pray that when all is said and done, their lives will not have been in vain. I pray that we have begun to stem the tide of evil that seeks to destroy us and all who disagree.

The time for blame is over. The time for hate is over. The time for wishing something different had been done is over.

We are here. And it is the time for prayer.

I just wanted everyone to know that there is something wierd going on with Holscan comments. To all the posts showing 0 comments, the comments are there, they have not been erased, so please continue your discussions. It seems also that once comments get past 100 or so the comment count starts to go down, but again, the comments are still there. I wanted to make sure you knew this because I feel some very good discussions are going on here and I don't want you to think they have vanished.

"Nearly 20,000 teens...say "yes Lord" in sign language during the Rally for Life and Youth Mass yesterday."-The Washington Times 

A Journey to Life.

Getting into pro-life work 20 yrs ago, I recognized at the time the mistake pro-lifers were making. First and and foremost they were totally naive to the nature of politics and PR. They didn't understand either one nor did they try to. It was simply a calling to them to reach out to women in crisis pregnancies and to educate the public on the horror of abortion and the sanctity of each and every child's life.

But the other side was very savvy on politics and PR. In the late 70's through most of the 80's most people believed that abortion was being used only for hard case such as rape, incest, and health of mother. When in fact less than 1% of all abortions occur for these reasons. Planned Parenthood was the master of PR. The owner and operator of the largest number of abortion clinics in the country. It runs a muti-million dollar industry that profits off the agony of women.

It isn't that I believed them to be cold heartless monsters set out to destroy babies in the womb, I knew that they believed deeply that they were helping women at a terrible time in their life. They still believe that. But, they are wrong. When a wolf has her leg caught in the jaws of a steel trap, it will gnaw it's leg off because it sees no other option. I think this is how most women in crisis pregnancies feel. Isn't it more compassionate to gently help remove the steel trap and help the leg to heal so that the wolf does not spend her life knowing that there is something missing that was there before?

In the 70's I was pro-choice and had many friends who had abortions. What I couldn't understand was why they were not experiencing relief afterwards. I too had bought into the lie that it was just a blob of tissue, not a baby yet. It was later that I learned that abortions are not performed before 6 weeks. And it was later that I would see my daughter's heartbeat at 6 weeks on a special sonogram. The same heart that beats in her chest today. Same heart. Same child. I thought of my friends who had had abortions and now years later were having children of their own as well. They were looking at sonograms as well. Were they thinking of the child they aborted? Were they wondering why they were never told the heart was beating?

In these many years I have heard many post abortive women speak and their anguish is hard to hear. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece was on Fox News the other night describing the pain of her 2 abortions. She is an active pro-lifer now. Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of the infamous Roe v. Wade case is an active pro-lifer now, she describes how they used her in that court case and told her to lie and say that she had been raped. Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a former abortionist who spear headed NARAL (National Abortion Rights League) and was instrumental in the Roe v. Wade case, is now an active pro-lifer. He admits they lied about the number of women dying in illegal abortion.

The bottom line is that this is an issue that tears at the heart of us all. We all hate it. We hate discussing it. Arrows are thrown back and forth, but a true debate has never been put on the table for all Americans to see. In 1973 nine men decided a case that has divided this country since because we, the people, never got to decide how we felt about it. We never got the whole story.

I wonder if the democrats realize how much they lost in this debate. It is certainly one of the prime reasons I left the democratic party. At the very heart of what we believe in this country is right of every human being to live. Back in the 70's at one of the first Right To Life marches Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke and said "Never let them tell you that a fetus is not a human being, that is what they tried to say about the negro." Jackson changed his tune when he ran as a democratic nominee for President. But it didn't change the truth of his words.

Since 1973 we have averaged 4000 abortions a day in this country. And there is one question that is rarely asked. Are women's lives better for it? I don't see it. I see women in the past 30 yrs more prone to suicide, promiscuity, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, eating disorders, and depression. I don't see how this helped women. I only see heartache and regret.

Whether you agree or disagree with me, we do know that there is no celebration here. There is no good feeling. If we can agree on that, then let's work together on 2 things. Helping women to appreciate their fertility and the gift that it gives them. Not looking at children as burdens or birth control failures, but as the greatest gift we are given on this earth. Let us help women to understand that sex means something. And that even with all that we know to prevent having a child, it can still happen. Women need to carry that knowledge in their heart whenever they want to make love, so they will be ready to carry that child in their womb as well.

My daughter would wear a burka before I would let her wear this. Dresses like this are advertised in YM prom and Teen prom. These are for teenagers. ARRGGGHH!!!!! via Wizbang

And if you want more of an idea of what teen girls are looking at when they look at teen magazines, check out this. "Eye Candy Models." From Cosmogirl.

This is a portion of a little survey in Seventeen magazine to see if your ready to have sex.


True or False. Is it your boyfriend's job to talk about safe sex?

Do Condoms protect against pregnancy?

Should your boyfriend wear a condom during oral sex?

The survey brought me to this link. "It's your (sex) life." Directed toward teens. This particular link are the online resources. Notice that most are sponsered by Planned Parenthood which give all kinds of information on abortion referrals, but no crisis pregnancy centers. There is an AIDS, Herpes, Contraception, and a Gay and Lesbian hotline.

These are magazines that any 12 or 13 yr old girl can thumb through while waiting to get her hair cut.

And you Southpark Republicans wonder why we are so uptight.

Stolen with love from My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. (Because it is so perfect) (click on image for bigger picture)

Here is the top story of today in USA today. Along with another suicide bombing in Baghdad outside the prime minister's headquarters, it seems we captured a top Al Qaeda aid. The following was on Al-Qaeda's website:

Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq said in a Web posting that "one of the young lions in the suicide regiment" carried out the attack against the party office of Allawi, "the agent of the Jews and the Christians."

Wait a minute! I thought Al-Qaeda had nothing to do with Iraq. The article even mentions the "wing" of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Someone notify the liberals! This will be a shock! And since USA Today is not Fox News, I'm thinking that maybe they might even believe it.

Of course, there is always the argument that we "lured" Al-Qaeda into Iraq with our annoying capture of a brutal dictator and insistence on bringing freedom to the region. But I am pretty sure that quote from above, the one about Allawi being the "agent" of the Jews and Christians, is about us.

So it really seems obvious now, no matter who you are or what you believe or who you voted for in our elections that Iraq has a choice to make that is very clear. Tell the U.S. to go, leave them to give in to these monsters who seem to not be terribly fond of Jews and Christians, or they can stand up and declare their country to be one of freedom with a voice that does not speak with car bombings and death.

The article goes on to say:

In an audiotape posted Sunday on the Web, a speaker claiming to be Abu Musab al-Zarqawi declared "fierce war" on democracy and said anyone who takes part in next weekend's Iraqi elections would be considered "an infidel."
"We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology," the speaker said. "Anyone who tries to help set up this system is part of it."

So when Bush kept referring to this as a war on democracy, I guess he was right. Let's say that together, shall we? President Bush was RIGHT. And there is that lovely word "infidel." That would be you and me. That would be even those looney protestors at the inaugural.

I don't know about you, but if I had to choose between guys who fly planes full of innocent people into buildings and car bomb at the drop of a hat or be an "infidel?" I'm choosing infidel every single damn time.

I don't care if we lured Al -Qaeda to Iraq or not. Would we rather have them hiding in Syria or Pakinstan waiting until we are comfortable again and maybe blow up some subways full of commuters next time? Does anyone in their right mind think they would have left us alone after 9-11? They would have grown and gotten stronger, there is little doubt of that.

Whether you want to face the fact or not. Al-Qaeda is in the palm of our hand. They are causing harm, no doubt. But there will be elections, there will be freedom, and there will be democracy. Why? How am I so sure?

Because we finally have a President that isn't going to sit back and wish it all away. We have a President that believes in freedom, not just for the lucky few, but for all people. And we have a President who was never willing to back down in the face of monsters, never willing to listen to partisan back stabbing, never willing to underestimate our enemy, and never stepping away from a fight that had to be won.

But most of all, understanding that the fight was never against one man or one country, but against a veil of evil that covers the middle east. Our President has lifted that veil and will not be deterred until this fight is finished.

This was such a perfect idea that I copied American Digest's entire post.:

Job Opportunies for Bluepers In Iraq

Lance Frizzell, a 2nd Lt Medical Platoon Leader with the Tennessee National Guard 278th Regimental Combat Team, currently serving in Northern Iraq posts an employment ad at:
Lance in Iraq: Wanted: Human Shields

Back in January '03, you may remember a group of Western liberals who volunteered to go to Iraq as human shields in case the US enforced UN resolutions that Saddam violated. Key graf:

"...they are willing to put themselves in the firing line should US and British forces bomb Iraq. They plan to identify potential bombing targets such as power stations and bridges and act as human shields to protect them."

"Well, I think I have just the job for these globe-travelers: Iraq Election Poll Worker. They are familiar with the terrain and people, they have a self-professed desire to help and they seem very articulate. However, their biggest asset is bravery. If they are willing to hunker down between Coalition Forces and a bridge, standing between a foreign terrorist and a polling precinct should be no big deal. Any takers? I've sort of lost track of the much-reported-on 'human shields.' I suppose they're off somewhere resting between gigs with the 'grief counselors.' Can somebody dig these people up and toss them on a plane?" H/T Beautiful Atrocities. (who has a fabulous new look btw)

Perfect. Really.

I like to describe myself as a nicer (and less intelligent) Ann Coulter. She says what she thinks, sometimes without restraint. (But isn't that what the left loved about Teresa Heinz Kerry?) Well, they hate it about Ann. But one of her gifts is to hit a point so well that no one can argue it. When it comes to the expense and extravagance of this Inaugural despite what terrible things were going on in the world, Ann reminds us that fun and partying has no political boundaries.

I guess the difference is that we didn't whine and protest during Clinton inaugural. (In full disclosure SOME of us did cry though) But my weeping was in private. H/T to my reader LLoyd Briggs

Have I mentioned this Iraqi blog? All kinds of good stuff if you want a feel from an Iraqi who is very glad America is there. 2Slick (who is back home btw!!!!!) mentioned him first. His blog was called "Liberal Iraqi." Which he meant to mean a free Iraqi, so since liberal has a different meaning here he has changed it to....Free Iraqi!

This is the New York Times article about him.

This is what he said about what the NY Times article said about him.

Chrenkoff gives us why we might feel a need to get the story from Iraq straight from an Iraqi.

Speaking of 2Slick, since he has been back people have been asking him what about Fallujah? To which he says this:

"To everybody who's been asking me about what's happening in Fallujah: It should be obvious. You're not hearing anything about it on the MSM. Draw your own conclusions. Remember when Najaf was the hottest topic of the day? Whatever happened to Najaf?"

I guess no news is good news? Welcome back 2Slick. Glad your home safe and sound!

Have yall seen this post over at Blackfive? It shows a photo from Yahoo News of soldiers talking to Kerry in Iraq on Jan. 5th. The woman soldier (Specialist Lacourse) in the middle of the photo is sending the POW hand signal for coercion....LOL!!!

Even funnier...this short video. If only it could always happen that way. via Blackfive.


Iraqi elections will proceed as planned. We will not back down in the face of monsters who seek to kill and destroy democracy.
To the soldiers who stand ready for this leap into freedom for the Iraqi people, God be with you. God be with those who brave their own safety to vote.

Imagine. We here in the U.S. just voted and our biggest fear were long lines. We never feared suicide bombers or kidnappings. There is no doubt that our cultures differ, but just as the yearning for our voices to be heard is the same, the taste of freedom for the Iraqi people will taste as sweet to them as it does to us.

A great moment. Sometimes the fight is worth it. We won. And the world won as well.  

"A fiery warning for the world Bush begins second term with pledge to end ' tyranny in our world'."

This is how The Guardian posts it's story on Bush's speech. Think about it.

"We are WARNING you! Freedom is coming, don't say we didn't WARN you because we did! So BE WARNED! You may just experience freedom in your lifetime. THIS IS A WARNING!!!!!"

The New York Times complains :
The President's Speech Focuses on Ideals, Not the Details

I suppose a long drawn out speech giving details that have to be worked out through Congress through compromise and such would have been thrilling I am sure. THEN the New York Times would have loved it, right?


The New York Times gives us this regarding the protestors:

"We think this is a significant achievement for the antiwar movement," said Brian Becker, national coordinator of a protest coalition called Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism, or Answer. "We have bleachers, a stage, a sound system, and we're right along the parade route. We feel we have succeeded."
Never before had the Park Service granted a protest group dedicated space for the inaugural parade, organizers said, and Mr. Becker's coalition filled it with thousands of people who were as close to Mr. Bush as those who came to cheer him.

Interesting, wouldn't you say? That this President is so confident with himself that he had no problem with protesters being along the parade route FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. You see, this President is all about freedom. Even for those who disagree with him. The article says he and Laura Bush even waved at them as they passed by.

There were 13 arrests Thurs. night. The most interesting being a woman on Pennsylvania Ave nude but for red,white, and blue panties. Considering it was freakin freezing out there as well, I'm putting this one in the true nut category. The police had to use pepper spray to keep several demonstrators back from the barricades as well. But considering the seething hate among them, things went pretty well.

Slate gives us this sarcastic article: "Bush 2.0 His Latest Mission From God: Democracy."

Perhaps Slate should take a look at past inaugural speeches and see if there are references to God and such. They might be surprised. In fact, the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. might send them into a tailspin since Dr. King made it clear that God required equality and freedom for all people regardless of race. Do you think if Slate had been around back in the 60's that they would have had this sarcastic headline?

"King: His Latest Mission From God. Equality of the races."

Hmmmm???

Ah well, here is a quote to remember as we read these things:

Ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.
Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC)


The ending of Bush's speech was stirring however and reminded me of this quote:

"Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace."
Amelia Earhart (1897 - 1937), Courage, 1927


President George W. Bush:

"When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength tested, but not weary we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.
May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America."

We are ready Mr. President.

No blogging today. Kids sick. Guess I will be watching The Inaugural (Yay!) while making chicken soup and giving medicine.

Such is my life.

I'm just grateful to be able to do it.

While running on my treadmill this morning I watched the rerun of the 2004 MTV video awards. The entire show was a please go vote fest. P. Diddy showed up every 10 minutes or so reminding everyone to 'Vote or Die.' People in the audience were given t-shirts with the 'Vote or Die' slogan printed on them. People were holding signs that said "Choose or Lose." They tried really hard not to say anything overtly partisan, but when some of the music stars say things like "we need a change," it isn't hard to figure out which side of the ailse they come down on. When John Mellencamp begs you to vote, you KNOW who he wants you to vote for since he did performances for Kerry, for heaven's sake. You especially know if you saw or heard any of the interviews P.Diddy or Russell Simmons (Hip Hop mogul) gave during the Democratic convention.

If you have ever seen Simmon's house on MTV's 'Cribs,' then you know he has more money than God. I have NEVER seen such a house. Not even the multi millionare sports stars have nothing close. Finally at the end of the program during OutKast's song, they have dancers dressed up like normal people going into 'voting booths' on stage while red, white, and blue balloons come down like they do at conventions.

It gave me great satisfaction watching the show to know that all that money, fame, stardom, and media attention did not buy this election. All that star power, all that money, all that push from the richest well known music industry giants couldn't sway the American people.

That just ROCKS! (pardon the pun)

This is what you get when anything goes. When you don't draw a line about what is decent, then that line gets crossed, even by things liberals hate as much as we do. via Six Meat Buffet.

Well that's too bad, you pervert.

"the president has said no taxpayer money will be involved in financing the lavish festivities celebrating his second inauguration this week, including a parade, candlelight dinners and nine inaugural balls."via Reuters

So the liberals say big corporations with lobbying interest pay. But if the taxpayers funded it, then they would howl as well. There is no way to win.


" A leading U.S. hurricane researcher at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Dr. Chris Landsea, has resigned from the United Nation's International Panel on Climate Change. The reason: To protest the personal leanings of an IPCC lead author on the subject of climate and hurricanes.
That is no small matter. The IPCC is widely considered by the world's governments to be the most authoritative source for what we know about global warming. It periodically produces reports on the sate of the science of global warming, and is currently working on its Fourth Assessment Report." via Tech Central Station

Can we get politics and agendas out of global warming studies so we can maybe TRUST them???

During the first Inaugural of President Bush most conservatives were just relieved to be rid of Clinton at last. But Texans were ecstatic!!!! Not only did we suffer so during the Clinton years but we had to suffer through Texas Governor Ann Richards as well. When George Bush decided to run against Richards no one thought he could win. I didn't think he could win. Richards was very popular, extremely funny, and witty. But policy wise, she was a classic left wing liberal. Wrong on everything.

I am not a bumper sticker kind of girl. I don't like them on my car. But I put those Bush stickers all over my mini van. I did what I could for the campaign ( I had 3 little ones at the time) and I told whoever would listen to vote for Bush. It was a nasty and dirty fight and the night Bush won was almost as sweet as when he later won the Presidency. The next day I made a poster that said "There is a God, George won!!" and taped it to the back window of my van. SOOOOO unlike me. But I was so happy.

The Clinton years had depressed me. It made me realize that Americans could be charmed away from the real issues. It made me realize what a visual star quality Americans liked now and the issues, they felt, never really changed much. And sometimes it seems that way. But changes do take place, just at a very slow pace. The democrats were very good at increasing taxes slowly and in different ways, where many Americans didn't realize how much of their paycheck was flying out the door to the government. Reagan shook us awake on that one. But it took his star quality to get there as well.

Bush had something more than star quality though. Bush had been a regular guy. Liberals like to paint him as part of American royalty like the Kennedys, but it was so different for Bush. Growing up in Midland Texas no one gets the feeling that your a part of royalty even if your dad is in the Senate. I'll tell a personal story that I think reveals a lot about Bush. The year before Bush ran for Governor I was driving over with my best friend to her mom's house who happened to live in the same neighborhood as Bush. The houses are expensive in this area. But not because of how big or plush they are, they look like normal middle class homes, but because of the location the land is very expensive. We passed by Bush's home and my friend said. "You know what is interesting? My mom says she sees George Bush mowing his lawn. You would think the son of a former President would hire someone to do that." Right then I was impressed with that simple thing that all of us do. Mow our lawn. I am sure Bush could have afforded it, but that is the kind of guy he is. His home in Crawford is big but I have seen pictures of the inside, and you can tell from the outside, it is not fancy or over adorned. It looks like a home you or I might have. No one can ever accuse Bush of being aloof or elite, no matter how much money he has. Part of the reason I think he won is that people sensed that he was more like us (certainly more than Kerry) and his down to earth quality was real.

So I watched every single part of Bush's first Inaugural. But his Inaugural address impressed me so much I kept a copy of it in my hope chest.
Here are my two favorite excerpts.

"...The stakes for America are never small. If our country does not lead the cause of freedom, it will not be led. If we do not turn the hearts of children toward knowledge and character, we will lose their gifts and undermine their idealism. If we permit our economy to drift and decline, the vulnerable will suffer most."

The "cause of freedom" now seem prophetic. At last the conversation is at least being discussed regarding the hearts and character of our children. And Bush did pull us out of recession that threatened our economy and considering what happened 8 months after he took office, it is a miracle that it was achieved.

But the quote Bush sited towards the end of his speech and then referred to at the end is the one that touched my heart. First Bush said:

"After the Declaration Of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?"

And then a few paragraphs later Bush ended with this:

We are not this story's author who fills time and eternity with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty; and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today: to make our country more just and generous; to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

The work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm."


Beautiful.

P.J. O'Rourke gives us a different inaugural address Bush might give. And I love it!

Here are excerpts from it:

MY FELLOW AMERICANS, I had intended to reach out to all of you and bring a divided nation together. But I changed my mind. America isn't divided by political ethos or ethnic origin. America isn't divided by region or religion. America is divided by jerks. Who wants to bring a bunch of jerks together with the rest of us? Let them stew in Berkeley, Boston, and Ann Arbor.

We are all sinners. But jerks revel in their sins. You can tell by their reaction to the Ten Commandments. Post those Ten Commandments in a courthouse or a statehouse, in a public school or a public park, and the jerks go crazy. Why is that? Christians believe in the Ten Commandments. So do Muslims. Jews, too, obviously. Show the Ten Commandments to Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians, or to people with just good will and common sense and nobody says, "Whoa! That's all wrong!"

But jerks take issue with every one of the Ten Commandments. Jerks are particularly offended by the first two Commandments. Of course people of faith, decent people, differ on interpretations of the first two Commandments.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." How many times, over the last few months, have we heard, "Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod, I can't believe George Bush won"?

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Let's be fair about this. We did see a lot of white, non-Hispanic Democrats in churches in 2004. But they were all running for president. And the churches were inner-city black churches. I happen to know that there are churches in the white, non-Hispanic suburbs where these Democrats live. Apparently jerks can't find them.

"Thou shalt not kill." Why, in the opinion of jerks, is it wrong to kill a baby but all right to kill a baby that's so little he hasn't been born yet? And why do the same jerks who favor abortion oppose the death penalty? We can imagine people so full of loving kindness that they can accept neither the abortionist nor the executioner. We can even imagine people so cold-hearted that they embrace them both. But it takes a real jerk to argue in favor of killing perfect innocents and letting Terry Nichols live.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." The jerks have begun praising marriage lately. But only if the bride and groom each have a beard.

Read the whole thing here.

You know this is a funny way of looking at the real problem of the democrats. They would do well to take a close look at it.

Bad news for liberals, good news for everyone else.

"the mostly American liberation of Iraq dropped the rate of violent deaths from 50,000 a year under Saddam Hussein to 6,825 a year with the Americans in Baghdad. What Kennedy has labeled as American “savagery” has REDUCED deaths from violence in Iraq by 87%." via The Conservative Voice. H/T Beautiful Atrocities

What I would have said If I were Dr. Rice.

After Barbara Boxer's political hate speech, which I have to say didn't surprise me, Dr. Rice handled herself as the lady and statesman that she is.
I am a lady as well, but I might have answered a little differently. This is how I would have handled Boxer's opening 'statement.'

Dr Rice:

I would like to say first that it is very easy to go through a public political figure's interviews and pull out of context sentences said over the years of such interviews. I am sure that if we went through your interviews Ms. Boxer we could find some contradictions even more glaring.

First I would say that to take a quote from me regarding the horrible tragedy of the Tsunami and imply that I saw that as some sort of a gift to us in able to make the United States look good is both despicable and irresponsible to say the least. To begin with that tsunami quote taken out of context in order to paint a certain picture of me shows your personal feelings towards me instead of the professionalism that should be shown during this hearings. It shows your political bias, your hatred of this administration, and your unwillingness to even show decorum when it comes to hearings that are given in order to confirm nominees. It is not a political soapbox where you can show off your posters and 'outrage' over things that have been discussed and answered in the public arena over and over.

I do not claim to be perfect. But at least I know that I am not a bitter, pitiful, and hateful soul that enjoys political theatre to the point where I will try and discredit a person who has shown nothing but honor and respect for this country.

As far as the war and WMD's and posters and the out of context quotes, I am hoping that the question and answer sessions will give Dr. Rice the opportunity to answer them fully (once again). Her short response to those things was well stated and she handled herself much better than I could ever have hoped to myself in the face of such hate.

To read the transcript of the opening remarks go here.

As you can see I have a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Under my blog name. I think I chose it because I feel that there should be something in every one's life that they feel passionate about. Something bigger than ourselves. Before blogging I was an avid writer of letter to the editors of newspaper and magazines. I also had an occasional article. The following was published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram in January of 1994. I repeat it here in honor of Dr. King.

In 1971 I was in the fifth grade in Jackson, Mississippi. Busing had just begun in order to help integrate the schools and I was bused to a formerly all-black elementary school across town. My best friend was a little girl named Sondra. I was white; she was black. I was well off; she was poor. She had seen a lot of abuse in her short life; I had seen none. But I loved her with a fierceness that only 10 year girls know.

One day, another little black girl whom I didn't know stabbed me with a pencil in the hallway. I told Sondra, and she wasted no time finding that girl on the playground. The girl told Sondra that she didn't like me or my blond hair and that I must think I was really something.

I remember Sondra saying, "No, no, she's not like that. She doesn't care if we're n*ggers."

I grew up in a time when that word was used freely and often to describe blacks, but I remember being shocked that Sondra would describe herself that way. I've always had a lot of self confidence. But Sondra was the strongest person I knew. It made me feel bad that she used that word.

Like most little girls, Sondra and I talked on the phone for hours, but we were never allowed to play at each other's house. It is sad to think that my best friend in the fifth grade never "slept over," never played with my dolls, never played dress up with me. We accepted it though. It was just the way things were.

Sondra and I went to different schools after that year, and I didn't see her again until four years later, when my 9th grade basketball team played her team. We were sitting across the gym from each other before the game. I heard someone scream out my name. I looked up and screamed her name, and we ran across the gym and hugged and danced around as only 14 year old girls can do. I'll bet we were quite a sight in the middle of the gym floor.

Sondra had grown about a foot, and here I was, this little bitty blonde thing being hugged to death by this tall, tough-looking black girl. I don't remember who won the game, but we grinned at each other the whole time.

We got caught up on each other after the game, talking for an hour making our parents wait for us. But in 9th grade your world revolves around your school and friends. We exchanged numbers but we never talked again.

I often wonder what happened to Sondra. I wonder if she pulled herself out of poverty. What kind of life did she make for herself? But, most of all, I wonder if she has a little girl like mine, a little girl who would never think twice about asking another little girl of a different color over to her house to play with her dolls or play dress up.

If that isn't a little of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream come true, I don't know what is.

I haven't blogged on the whole Rathergate Scandal because everyone else was doing a fine job at it. But as usual, the one I wish was my best friend, says it best; Peggy Noonan. Read the whole thing, but this was my favorite part:

"You can complain now, and your complaints can both register and have an impact on the story, as happened with bloggers and Rathergate. You can be a part of the story if you find and uncover new information. You can create the story, as bloggers did in the Trent Lott scandal. American journalism is no longer a castle, and you are no longer the serf who cannot breach its walls. The castle doors have been forced open. Other voices have access. Bloggers for instance don't just walk in and out, they have offices in the castle walls.

Is there a difference between the bloggers and the MSM journalists? Yes. But it is not that they are untrained eccentrics home in their pajamas. (Half the writers for the Sunday New York Times are eccentrics home in their pajamas.) It is that they are independent and allowed to think their own thoughts. It is that they have autonomy and can assign themselves stories, and determine on their own the length and placement of stories. And it is that they are by and large as individuals more interesting than most MSM reporters."

BLOGGERS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since in the previous commenters section I admonished those about the UN's way of preventing disease and pregnancy, I found an excellent post that reveals a bit of what we have lost in our search of sex without consequences, pleasure without responsibility, and the purpose and gift of sex to begin with. Read Here. (I can't get the trackback to work on the actual post, so scroll down to the Jan. 14th post (2nd one down now)

If you're smart and do not believe in God, this is excellent. (also can't trackback it, scroll down to the Jan. 10th post. It is right below the 14th one...Sorry!)
*Warning* you must be somewhat smart to read it....;-) In full disclosure, I needed to read it twice. But it was worth it.

Thanks to Jay for pointing out the link failure for me!

Here is an excerpt:

"When people choose to be skeptical about God, they are choosing to be skeptical about the existence of an Intelligence and a Wisdom that measures the truth and goodness of their own intelligence and wisdom. It was no accident, then, that people were also beginning to find ways to rationalize a lack of moral integrity. They were beginning to believe in themselves alone---to become self-consciously "self-centered"---and to lose the taste for God. And they had correspondingly more and more reason to desire that the road to God be capable of intellectual dismissal."

I think the part about finding ways to rationalize a lack of moral integrity is at the foundation of most of our societal problems. Today it seems that rationalization has replaced money as the root of all evil.