Don't let the door hit you on the way out....

September 29, 2006 -- Billionaire liberal financier George Soros, who spent millions of his fortune trying to oust President Bush in 2004, yesterday said he hopes to stay out of politics from now on.

via LGF

Uh-oh!

More "put up or shut up" from House Republicans.

God it is so funny watching them make Pelosi and her team look like ninnies on defense.

Retorted Pelosi: "I think the speaker is a desperate man for him to say that. Would you think that anyone in our country wants to coddle terrorists?"

heh heh heh

UPDATE: Senate passes bill which permits the creation of military tribunals to prosecute terror suspects. There is little doubt the House will follow suit tomorrow. And the icing on the cake, Senate rejects stupid amendment from Specter which would have allowed terror suspects to file petitions for habeus corpus in court.

Bush seems to be implementing his agenda quite successfully. Several Democrats broke ranks on the tribunal bill.

I can't wait to hear more hyperventilating from the left about "fear". Apparently some Democrats in Congress think the voters are serious about this terrorism thingy.

UPDATE 2: 12 Democratic Senators voted yes on tribunals. Including Joe.

Teenagers. What are you gonna do?

I don't know. Maybe arrest them. Then let them go so the passengers can beat the crap out of them?

Jesse Ventura campaigns for Kinky Friedman in Texas.

Maybe not such a good idea?



What? Is Jesse going for the Battlefield Earth look here? Heh.

I love it...

7-Eleven is dumping Chavez' Citgo gasoline:

DALLAS - 7-Eleven Inc. dropped Venezuela-owned Citgo as its gasoline supplier after more than 20 years as part of a previously announced plan by the convenience store operator to launch its own brand of fuel.
7-Eleven officials said Wednesday that the decision was partly motivated by politics.
Citgo Petroleum Corp. is a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-run oil company and 7-Eleven is worried that anti-American comments made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez might prompt motorists to fill-up elsewhere.

Awesome. Go buy a Big Gulp or something today to show your appreciation.

via Blogs for Bush

(no, I'm not officially back. I just can't help myself)

OMG! This is so funny...

Iowahawk gives us some "commentary" by Keith Olbermann regarding Pres. Clinton during the Chris Wallace interview. Here is a snippet:

"He told the great truth untold about this administration’s negligence, perhaps criminal negligence, about bin Laden.
He was brave.
He was truthful.
His jugular swelled and pulsed with righteousness, causing his entire virile being became visually enveloped in a golden aura, as a choir of angels sweetly sang of his wrathful trying, beckoning the rapt listener forward into the warm, healing light of his all-cleansing presidentiality."

You have got to read the whole thing.

via Hugh Hewitt

Question for left-leaning commenters

What do you think Sandy Berger was doing in the National Archives?

Why did he hide documents in his pants and take them out?

What do you think he lost?

What do you think he put back?

Why did he do that?

The wit and wisdom of Zed

Don't be calling people names. That privilege is reserved for leftard trolls.

Maybe you should try looking in a mirror - uninformed bed-wetters.

How's traffic over at your place? Gettin' lots

But what I've seen in response to the thoughtful posts, and to what appear to be honest attempts to generate discussion, on the part of the folks we've mentioned, has been anything ranging from ignoring or belittling their comments with a couple of words (Big Dog's famous *rolls eyes,* for example) to flat out name-calling and the kind of name-calling and piling on usually associated with schoolyard bullies.

You're sick and twisted with no evident humanity

You are willing fools. You are to be pitied.

Anyone who needs any of the above to be clarified, is either really stupid, doesn't care, or is looking for an out.

You're too thick, or just being disingenuous.

You’re a traitor to the principles of this country.

WH declassifies the rest of the story

The parts NOT leaked by some traitor to the NYT.

The Iraq conflict has become the .cause celebre. for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for
the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.“

emphasis mine very own.

By the way, did anybody notice Bush mentioned this NIE was completed in April? And wondered aloud in Q&A why certain phrases would be leaked now?

BONUS: Information declassified just as Barbera Boxer dramatically called for a closed session of Congress to review this startling NEW information!

Bad day for Babs.

note: link times out... busy gummint site today. check again later.

European Union Official says Pope Deserved More Support

Political Gateway

BERLIN, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The president of the European Commission says he is disappointed the leaders of Europe didn't defend Pope Benedict XVI's remarks about Islam.

In Sunday's edition of the German newspaper Weltam Sonntag, Jose Manuel Barroso said Islamic extremists are a threat, but people cannot confuse tolerance with political correctness by putting others' values above their own, Deutsche Welle reported.

Barroso also said the problem does not not lie with the pope's comments, but with the violent reaction of extremists.

In a September address in his native Germany, the pope quoted the words of a 15th century Byzantine emperor that characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed -- particular the urging of Muslims to spread the faith through conquest -- as evil.

The comment was followed by demonstrations across the Muslim world demanding an apology.

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union.

From Christian Today

"I was disappointed there were not more European leaders who said 'naturally the Pope has the right to express his views'," Barroso was quoted as saying to the German Die Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

~snip~

Barroso said the caution on the part of European leaders was probably due to "worries about a possible confrontation" as well as a "certain form of political correctness".

"We have to defend our values," he said. "We should also encourage the moderate leaders in the Muslim world - and they're the majority - to distance themselves from this extremism."

Can it be the Europeans developing a backbone? Are they finally having enough of the muslims bullying them around and imposing their values on everyone else in Europe?

I hope so.

There'll probably be a fatwa issued for Barroso by tomorrow.

crossposted at Blue Star Chronicles

Cat Stevens Criticizes the Pope

Oh for CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

Now comes the once pop music star Cat Stevens AKA Yusuf Islam to criticize the Pope. Will the hypocrisy NEVER end?

Khaleej Times

LONDON, England - Yusuf Islam, the British singer known as Cat Stevens before his conversion to Islam, on Sunday added to the criticism of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent remarks about the religion.

Islam, known for his 1970s hits including “Father And Son” and ”Wild World”, said that the pope quoting from a medieval text, which attacks some of the Prophet Mohammed’s teachings as “evil and inhuman” showed the pontiff was not infallible.

Apparently, Cat was raised Catholic and converted to islam in 1977 following a near-death experience.

Toronto Daily

Raised Catholic and prominent convert to Islam, Cat Stevens, who now uses the name Yusuf Islam, said in an interview with BBC that the pope's words proved he was not "infallible."

"At one point, I used to believe that the pope was infallible," Islam said.

Cat Stevens, whose real name is Steven Demetre Georgiou, sold over 60 million albums, mostly in the 1970s. His most notable songs include "Morning Has Broken", "Peace Train", and "Moonshadow".

I had a crush on Cat Stevens when I was a kid. I was one of the 60 million that bought his albums. That irritates me now.

I'm thinking WHERE Cat, WHERE was your outrage when muslims cut off the heads of American Soldier's in Iraq?? Where was your outrage when muslims fire bombed churches because they didn't like what the Pope said? Where was your outrage when they slit Theo Van Gough's throat because they didn't like a movie he made?? Where was your outrage when they shot a nun in the back because they didn't like what the Pope said. Where was your outrage when YOUR chosen religion of peace beheads, hangs, buries alive anyone who does not behave in the manner they deem worthy?

Does any of that bother you? All you seem to be able to say is that you shouldn't be judged by how another muslim behaves. I have yet to hear you speak diapproval about girls being murdered for their families 'honor' after being raped. I have yet to hear you speak against the destructive riots or the bombings muslims have perpetrated in your own country.

Shut up CAT STEVENS. You got rich in the 1970s singing songs. That does not make you an expert on world events or religion. You have nothing worth while to offer.

Cat Stevens then and now.

crossposted at Blue Star Chronicles.

UN Condemns Swiss for New Asylum-Seekers Laws

Swiss Info

Swiss voters have approved tougher regulations on asylum and have limited immigration for citizens from outside the European Union.

~snip~

On asylum voters were evidently convinced by the government's arguments that harsher measures against asylum abuses were necessary to avoid social tensions and provide protection for those fleeing persecution.

~snip~

Justice Minister Christoph Blocher of the rightwing Swiss People's Party – who is at the forefront of the reform – warned of an increasing number of asylum requests and high costs for the country's welfare system.

~snip~

The amended law on foreigners in principle limits immigration for citizens outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (Efta) to highly skilled labour.

It also aims to encourage integration, in particular by language courses, while cracking down on human trafficking and marriages of convenience.

The cabinet, as well as three of the four main parties, are in favour, but opponents criticised the restrictions for family members of immigrants and harsh jail terms for illegal immigrants who refuse to leave the country.

The law passed by 80%. EIGHTY PERCENT. I think that means a large majority of Swiss want to have stricter laws on immigration.

Predictably, the U.N. is condemning Switzerland for passing these new laws.

William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said he regretted the outcome of the referendum. "It will now be necessary to ensure that the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees remain protected and that the new laws meet international standards," he said.

If only the U.N. would be as concerned about the laws meeting 'international standards' in the nations these people are fleeing. If those nations met 'international standards' than there would be much less a need for the nations that DO meet those standards to make EVEN MORE room for 'asylum-seekers'. Or you might call them 'illegal immigrants' or whatever you want to call people who come to these countries to try to better their lots in life or to take advantage of generous welfare systems paid for by the hard working tax payers of those nations.

It looks to me like the people of Switzerland are attempt to keep the country from being crushed under the weight of those seeking to take advantage of it's once generous welfare system. That's what happens when a system is abused.

Not to worry! Switzerland can always ignore the U.N. like everybody else does.

Crossposted at Blue Star Chronicles

Bin Laden joke.

I'm just popping in because with all this talk of Bin Laden's death (and I do hope it is true. Death by diarrhea, how appropriate, right?) I remembered a joke I posted in 2004. Enjoy.

Little Melissa comes home from first grade and tells her father that they learned about the history of Valentine's Day."
"Since Valentine's Day is for a Christian saint and we're Jewish," she asks, "will God get mad at me for giving someone a valentine?"
Melissa's father thinks a bit, then says "No, I don't think God would get mad. Who do you want to give a valentine to?"
"Osama Bin Laden," she says. "Why Osama Bin Laden," her father asks in shock."Well," she says, I thought that if a little American Jewish girl could have enough love to give Osama a valentine, he might start to think that maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit. And if other kids saw what I did and sent valentines to Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the place to tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't hate anyone anymore.
"Her father's heart swells and he looks at his daughter with newfound pride. "Melissa, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."
"I know," Melissa says, "and once that gets him out in the open, the Marines could blow the @#*@ out of him."

Bill Clinton on Opportunity

Regrets, I've had a few;
But a few more, than I'd rather mention.
I did what I wanted to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each carefree step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it myyyyyyyy way!

Still More Protesting the Pope

Here they are protesting the Pope by burning a KKKlansman in effigy.

I'm sensing some confusion here.

h/t SondraK
Crossposted Blue Star Chronicles

Protesting the Pope

An Al Reuters photo, which had the caption "A masked Egyptian man holds up a poster that reads, 'All of as are ready to die for Prophet Mohammad' during a protest against Pope Benedict's remarks in Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo September 22, 2006."

I just can't figure out why a KKKlansman is protesting the Pope in Arabic??


Maybe William has some answers.
Aljazeera story here
Crossposted at Blue Star Chronicles

The finger means I'm serious

See, he doesn't just use it when he's mad.

Look for the finger AND the red face. That's the mad one.

The French Say Osama bin Laden is Dead

There are rumors afloat that Osama Bin Laden is Dead ..... again.

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has no evidence to support a French newspaper report suggesting that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden died of typhoid a month ago, an intelligence official said on Saturday.

"We don't have anything to support it," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We've heard these things before and have no reason to think this is any different. There's just nothing we can point to, to say this report has any more credence than other reports we've seen in the past."

"These things seem to come and go every six months," he added.

The French regional daily L'Est Republicain reported that, according to a French secret service report, Saudi Arabia was convinced that bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan in late August. The French government has said it could not confirm the report and would investigate the intelligence leak.

Chirac is a bit taken aback that this information got leaked.

PARIS — President Jacques Chirac said Saturday that information contained in a leaked intelligence document raising the possibility that Osama bin Laden may have died of typhoid in Pakistan last month is "in no way whatsoever confirmed."

Chirac said he was "a bit surprised" at the leak and has asked Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie to probe how a document from a French foreign intelligence service was published in the French press.

I would hate to think he died a peaceful death of natural causes (however painful dying of typhoid might be, it would not be painful enough). Although, dying like that would not be the 'going down in a blaze of glory' that most jihadists seem to pray for. All the same, it would be nice for a GI to have the honor of putting an American bullet right between his eyes.

Frankly, I don't see what difference it makes at this point. Bin Laden is irrelevant to the whole war now. He was the master mind behind the 9/11 attacks and gained noteriety and honor among his people from that piece of evil. But he is no longer relevant to the War on Terror other than as a figure head. There are so many like him and so many willing to step up and take on the mantle of horrific murderer of us infidels.

Still, I wonder how many times this guy can die.

h/t: My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy


Ace of Spades thinks it legit.
I liked the Median Sibs pic of where osama might be ...
All Things Beautiful says: 'This may be the best present to Israel today for Rosh Ha-Shanah....The Day Of Judgment....How appropriate... '
Dr. Sanity is taking it with a grain of salt.
Planck's Constant is saddened?
Blue Crab Boulevard is also taking it with a grain of salt.
Strata-Sphere is wondering about that large funeral last month that we were all up in arms about that we didn't bomb.
Captain's Qtrs reminds us we've done the 'Ding Dong, Osama's Dead' thing before.
Yeah, Right, Whatever wishes he might have met a more Special Forces type end too.
The Pirate's Cove evaluates how the leftists are blogging this over at DU - it made my blood boil how easily they dismiss our military. I could go off on a rant about THAT - but will save that for later.
No Pasaran says take it for what it's worth.
Mary Katherine Ham has on-going updates and analysis.
ScrappleFace thinks this might explain the sulfur smell Chavez was talking about at the U.N. the other day!

Trackbacks:

• Old War Dogs trackbacked with Again?
• Right Truth trackbacked with Whitney Houston divorces Bobby Brown, Osama gets sick and dies

Crossposted at Blue Star Chronicles

See ya later...

As you can see from Dave's post below I have some guest bloggers sitting in for me while I go out of town. Along with Dave in Texas, there is BigDog, and Beth from Blue Star Chronicles.

I am not responsible in ANY WAY for anything they say ( especially Dave).....;-)

Have fun!

He's so cute when his face gets red and he points that finger

Goodness. WJC looks a little upset.

His hair looks great though.

Fox News Sunday. Chris Wallace said something to irritate him. Can't wait to see the whole thing.

UPDATE: He would make a GREAT Santa Claus.