General Pace Is Incompetent Says Harry Reid

Reid labels military leader 'incompetent'

Reid has disparaged the war, the President, the Vice President, the senate, the house, Rumsfeld, Gates, Condi Rice, US intelligence, US corporations, the leadership of Iraq, the leadership of Afghanistan, Republicans, Conservatives, wayward Democrats, the lack of a surge, the surge, and now Gen. Peter Pace and Gen. David Petraeus, but he supports the troops, just not what they’re doing nor anyone who supports them.

Everyone else is wrong, but Harry.

Harry isn’t a typical liberal elitist, he is a dysfunctional man in a place of leadership, but at least he’s learned not to stomp his feet in public.

Unfortunately, Harry is getting people killed, terrorized and causing families just like ours to have their hope crushed. All because he is right and we are wrong.

Sad for him, sad for us.

UPDATE: Crotchety Old Bastard (He's earned the title) is not of mixed emotions.
UPDATE II: Correction: I Do HATE This Puny Man. I knew he did. He should.

Islam in America

Mosque

Toledo, Ohio

Pelosi, Reid, Democrats Sink To New Low

Iraq surge a failure, top Democrats tell Bush

Top US congressional Democrats bluntly told President George W. Bush
Wednesday that his Iraq troop "surge" policy was a failure.

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives
Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the president over Iraq by sending him a letter,
ahead of a White House meeting later on Wednesday.

"As many had forseen, the escalation has failed to produce the
intended results," the two leaders wrote.

"The increase in US forces has had little impact in curbing the
violence or fostering political reconciliation.

"It has not enhanced Americas national security. The unsettling
reality is that instances of violence against Iraqis remain high and attacks on
US forces have increased.

"In fact, the last two months of the war were the deadliest to date
for US troops.

I have no doubt they wrote this release before the surge began.

Even for Reid and Pelosi this is a new low in political hackery and they're marching on the bodies of troops, both alive and dead, toward their goal of power. They set their course and now they realize it has become a test of brinkmanship and a final roll of the dice on their part. The troops be damned. The security of the United States of America be damned. Freedom be damned. In fact, the truth be damned.

Shame on Pelosi, Reid, and the rest. Shame on those that have bought into their sham. Shame on each and every reporter and editor that support their lies.

To make people's effort worthless robs those people of their self-worth and that is what Reid, Pelosi and their enablers are doing to every person that wears our country's uniform. To play political games with the freedom of the 50 plus million people of Iraq, Afghanistan and others watching with hope, is more despicable than imaginable. The worst, though, is to knowingly lie, at the expense of those who hope for freedom and those fighting for that freedom, to the electorate to gain their tawdry goal of political power.

Reid and Pelosi are not the loyal opposition. They're not even loyal. They are not "citizen representatives", they are old, burned out hacks clawing for their political lives. I pray they fail.

I hate liars.

Drugs For The Droogs

"I was cured, all right..." .

Sex crime drug treatments planned

When one tears the fabric of society by heinous crimes they should be separated from society completely and forever, not used for political purposes as was Alex.

Reid Steps Up To The Bar

US Democrats preview new Iraq showdown

Reid said however that Democrats, saddled with a thin majority in
Congress, had raised unrealistic expectations about their ability to end the
war, among supporters who powered their takeover of Congress last
year.

"We set the bar too high,"

Actually sir, you set the bar so low so that even slime like you could get over it.

ADDED THOUGHTS: Jonn Lilyea at This Ain't Hell has some solid advice for Liberals.

Ron Paul Soars Past 2%

He's SMOKIN!

Poll: Romney emerges as New Hampshire front-runner

Camille Paglia Endorses Giuliani & Romney?

Don't run, Al. Don't!

Despite numerous polls claiming that registered Democrats like myself
are happy with their current field of presidential contenders, the Gore boomlet
betrays subterranean tremors of doubt. After two major televised debates by both
parties, only a Pollyanna on helium would believe that any of the top-tier
Democrats will definitely be able to defeat a leading Republican like Mitt
Romney or Rudy Giuliani.

dot dot dot

Right now, the Democrats' best hope may be for the Republicans to veer
right and nominate an erratic aging boy like the seedy Newt Gingrich or a
Hollywood caricature of vintage 1910 American small-town life like the
phlegmatically pithy Fred Thompson, whose homespun act feels tired and looks
tired.

So, Fred Thompson is a sluggish, but tersely cogent caricature as he reflects average American citizens who Ms Paglia finds tiresome in all aspects while Giuliani and Romney are the top tier candidates for Republicans. Oh, and Newt is an erratic aging boy who is seedy which is a Paglia calling kettle black moment.

But the TV pundits who rushed to proclaim Hillary the winner of the
second debate were off by a mile. Hillary excelled in the first half by the
greater specificity of her responses, but her gains were nearly wiped out at one
point by her bone-chilling mirthless chuckling (like a sound effect for the
Blood Countess in a horror film).

dot dot dot

For many Democrats like me, however, Hillary's history of
prevarication, rigidity and quasi-divine sense of election is profoundly
unsettling. And who exactly would be running the government -- that
indefatigable buttinski, Bill Clinton? Spare us! But Hillary's intricate
experience with the Washington bureaucracy makes Edwards (toward whom I've been leaning) and Obama (whom I may shift to) look like shaky tyros.

I am jealous that she thought to define Hillary as a Blood Countess sound effect. Paglia may lean herself to Obama, which I think unlikely and contrived, but she has made me lean towards Thompson.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks" which makes my kettle call the briar patch home.

Atheist Holiday

Shamelessly stolen from Tony Phyrillas' site. If you haven't visited, Tony covers more than just PA politics. He covers Conservatism and is darned good at it.

Judge Decries National Holiday for Atheists
In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.

The case was brought before a wise judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah... yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!"

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, "Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!"

The lawyer pompously said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?"

The judge said, "Well it comes every year on exactly the same date -- April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools' Day', consider that Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53 state, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.'

Therefore, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture he is a fool, thus April 1st is his holiday!"

e-mail

A drunk, who smelled of beer sat down, on a bus seat next to a priest.

The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick and a half empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.

After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, "Tell me, Father, what causes arthritis?"

The priest replied, "My Son, it is caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol and a contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and a lack of personal hygiene."

The drunk muttered in response, "Well, I'll be darned," and returned to his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, put his hand gently on the man's arm and apologized.

"I'm sorry.... I should not have come down on you so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"

"I don't have arthritis, Father," the drunk replied. "I was just reading here that the Pope does."

Duh of the Day

Clinton Owes Lead in Poll To Support From Women

Gothic Revival

The Death Of Communist USSR

Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate West Berlin, Germany June 12, 1987

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for
the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to
this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this
wall!

Prosperity and freedom has a nice ring to it. Why are so many opposed to Iraq and Afghanistan having some?

Or for that reason, why are so many opposed to having some here in America?

Corzine And The Netherlands

New Jersey was originally named Albania.

That could explain a lot. Like New Jersey being a nether region.

Not The Same As Fish Eyes

If a Lobster loses an eye, it will grow another one.

Rome In A Day

Via Veritas et Venustas

Virtual Rome is coming soon.

This very cool.

Fred Dalton Thompson

Mark at Right Minded nails it.

There isn't ever going to be another Ronald Reagan for the same reason there
will never be another Vince Lombardi, another Mickey Mantle, or another Mother
Teresa. It's 2007 now, and not 1980. It is the responsibility of conservatives,
therefore, to stop looking for the next Ronald Reagan, and start looking for a
candidate in the present who can lead a conservative movement on the national
level. Considering the current lineup of Republican candidates for president,
there isn't one who could answer that calling. But Fred Thompson could.

UPDATE: Dalton? If Congress is the Double Deuce, Fred is the cure.

UPDATE: I was reminded that I wrote about this here.

Today's Episcopal World

Lapsed is to Episcopal

as

Slightly is to pregnant.

Grand Kleagle "Lil" Bobby Byrd

My ninth brief conversation with Senator Robert Byrd’s (D-WV) Grand Kleagle hood

There is good Goldstein. There is great Goldstein.

And, then, there is classic Goldstein.

Insightfully classic.

Oh, and a certain reverence for the irreverent

Roosevelt and Immigration

Since I am on the topic, an e-mail from my mother-in-law in Arizona.

Teddy Roosevelt, 1907

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who
comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he
shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage
to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.
But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American,
and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man
who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.
We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one
language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one
sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Outside of the Bull Moose Party stupidity, he was outstanding.

What It Means To Be An American

Via Bob's Blog

What it means to be an American.....
...
My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over
from Germany , Italy , France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan They were
defending the United States of America as one people.
...

My wife's father, whose parent's were Italian, served. My Father's family was from Wales and served, learning English as soldiers and teaching their families when they returned home.

According to my Aunts, my mother's family taught English to God, though I think that may be a stretch.

Bush Screws The Pooch, Again

States Finding Fiscal Surprise: A Cash Surplus

Budget surpluses have largely stemmed from higher than expected tax
collections — corporate tax revenues alone were 11 percent higher than budget
estimates — and booming local economies. There has also been some relief in
Medicaid spending, which fell from an 11 percent annual growth rate to something closer to 7 percent in the past few years.

My word, how can we stop this man before he strikes again?

Birds & The Bees, Sherrod Brown Has A New Honey

Sen. Brown, legislators look to protect Ohio's bees

''The bee population in Ohio is declining at an alarming rate and
Ohio's fruit and vegetable farmers are at risk,'' Brown said in a statement.
''This bill would support Ohio's farmers by protecting the bee population they
rely on to pollinate their crops.''

Uh, that may not be the case. The well known Honey Bees were immigrants as well as us. They came from Europe.

Many of the real experts, Honey Bee keepers are skeptical:

Many beekeepers are skeptical of the reports or at least how they're adding
up. For 100 years, beekeepers have logged periodic reports of sudden and
inexplicable bee die-offs.

People refer the latest die-off by its initials "CCD," but one Georgia
beekeeper instead calls it the "SSDD" crisis for "Same Stuff, Different Day."

"People have lost bees from the beginning of time," Sowers said.

Also, Honey Bees do not pollinate corn, wheat, rice, rye, barley, and all the other grain crops as Scare-ed Brown and others imply.

Nice try.

HT to Right Angle

UPDATE: I love this line in my swamped comment section.

The new brown shirts are green. Cheers - Dinah

FUGLY: The Moonies Will Hate Us

California Eco Homes Double As Moon Units

Nader Khalili's affordable and eco-friendly ceramic, domed homes could
one day house the first settlers on the Moon.

Will they call it Turtle Bay?

Immigration Bill Dead As A Dodo?

Don't believe it. At least not until you see a stake through its black little heart.

Another good sign might be Teddy Kennedy being allowed to take scotch breaks from his work building the wall. Weather near the Rio Grande can get stuffy in July.

To Whining Republicans Everywhere

I am not in Ohio. I am on the east coast for a few days doing political work. I have closed my company to do this.

We may win again in 2008. We may not.

To Peggy Noonan, the wimps debating in the "republican" dog and pony shows on TV and the pundits and "professionals" spewing their poison about Bush, a pox on you.

I am a not too old fool who believes. I fought the fight, in a small way, back when Reagan was organizing, and pissed off a bunch of Liberals, to become President.

Not one world will be shaken by my full time return to politics.

It will make me feel better because the whining by republicans about Bush and the whining by Liberals about Bush makes me sick.

The 11nth Commandment.

A movement was and is built by like minded individuals, not by a herd of of self serving whiners expecting people to listen to their individual bitching.

As a Republican and a Conservative, to me, you sound like little whinny Liberals desperately seeking attention.

How sad you have sunk so low.

Maybe in your "down" time you could sign up to be a poll watcher, a door-to-door worker, a phoner, a researcher, a treasurer, a manager, a "kitchen cabinet" advisor, a LTTE writer, a press person, a volunteer, a volunteer coordinator, a precinct captain, a spokesman, a committe member, a fund raiser, a sign placer, an office volunteer, a weekend phone answerer or maybe you can continue to pontificate.

Blogging is good, but blogging is benign in the heat of battle, unless you are a star.

Does Bush piss you off? Maybe Hillary will make you feel better or your blog more profitable.

Step up to the plate, at least in some small way, or STFU.

You may not shake the world, but you might make that bed of your's a bit more comfortable.

You know, to sleep in. Well.

Rant off.

He Of Cat Scratch Fever Voice and The Crying Man

Drudge:

IMMIGRATION BILL ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE IN SENATE... DEVELOPING...

Good. If Voinovich votes for this, I'll not send him another box of Mr Pipp and Moon Pies. I'll send them to Sherrod Brown so his cholesterial does him in.

It's a toss up.

Big Stink Worsens Dirty Butt Syndrome

THE BIG STINK: LA RESIDENTS TOLD TO CUT SHOWERS AS DROUGHT DEEPENS

Sheryl Crow has not returned repeated phone requests for comment. Icky phone and one square suspected.

Bush Is Bush In Czech Republic

Gateway Pundit is all over the Democracy Conference in Prague:

"In my second inaugural address, I pledged America to the ultimate goal
of ending tyranny in our world. Some have said that qualifies me as a "dissident
president."

If standing for liberty in the world makes me a dissident, I wear that
title with pride."(Applause.)

Excellent post.

Iraq: Liberals Lie By Omission

From Signal 94 via MVRWC

Do You Know

Did you know that 47 countries have reestablished their embassies in
Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2
millionIraqi people?

Did you know that 3,100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are
under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new
schools have been completed in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20
universities, 46 institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently
operating?

Go read more. You won't read it in the MSM.

Letters From bin Laden

Bin Laden alive, wrote to me, Taliban leader says

Well, Mr Big Shot, Osammy wrote me too.

We've been staying in a pretty nice cave here in the Pamirs. It's nice
in the summer, but by Allah the winters really suck. If you think dialysis is a
prob in your cushy little Satan cell try it at 50 below with nothing but a Yeti
gussied up in lipstick to keep you warm.

Speaking of cells, I was having a little pep talk with Bakht Mohammad the other
day. Boy, (oops shouldn't say that) do I miss Dadullah. That was one ass-kickin mujahid. Too bad some weak tool of Satan turned him into a grease spot. So, Bakht Mohammad is telling me all about his big plans. Oy, that Mashugina is dumber than pajama boy (oops again), Abedinejad. Pelosi? Murtha? My you-know-what has more brain power than both of those Satans put together. One's dumber than a box of rocks and the other is 72 short of Heaven.

Democrats schemocrats. Pigs and monkeys. Useful, but oh so haram. If they
really want to help me, they could come clean (pun, get it?) and send us guns
and money. Yeah, then we'll let Allah deal with them last.

Gotta go, we're off for higher climes. Never know about the "people"
around here. Satan's money, you know. In fact Zawahri has been acting funny lately, whispering into his cell phone and when I ask him about it, he starts with the "secret plans" crap about dealing with the infidels. Oh, and don't get me started about that Jamil. I got his beautiful right here if you know what I mean.

Hasta la vista by Allah's will and so forth,
OlB

Cohen, Reagan and Thompson

I was going to write something concerning Fred Thompson and the Presidency. I like Thompson's approach to being President, which I read as; okay, if it's possible, but if it isn't that's okay as well.

I liked Ronald Reagan, in fact I liked him enough that I quit what I was doing and campaigned for him and when he was elected I moved to Washington to work in politics to indirectly and then directly support Reagan and his beliefs. Liberal denunciation of Reagan as a man and as an intellect exhibited their fear of the man. The media, the Congress and others whispered loudly that Reagan was stupid which sent me into fits of giggles and sometimes rage. Tip O'Neill tried to take on this "stupid man" and Reagan out thought him. What scared them the most was that Reagan didn't fit the mold. Reagan did what worried them the most. Reagan went directly to the people and told them the truth and told them what he wanted to do and why. In Washington, that was dirty pool because in Washington politicians are the "people" except they, as our "representatives, are a whole lot smarter and better people. They believe themselves Sonnenkinder.

Destiny chose Reagan because Reagan chose his own destiny at a time when a Reagan was very much needed by the country and deeply desired by the people.

Fred Thompson is not Ronald Reagan. Reagan was Reagan and Thompson is Thompson. Reagan became a politician and a damned good one. He had a passion based on deep intellectual and ideological beliefs that, full circle, created a fire-in-the-gut. His passion lit a room when he entered. I saw rooms stop when he entered. Even people who had never set foot in Washington knew that Reagan was the cure for the virus called politics.

As Patton would have had little effect at Waterloo because Patton's essential skill was destined to be used in another conflict, Thompson brings his essential skill to the present. A skill of common sense. Thompson is a Thompson that people can recognize and be comfortable with because he is not Reagan, but Thompson. No hidden agendas, no secret burning passion to reshape the essential America, because he likes America. He likes us. Thompson doesn't think America is wrong. Yes, we can do better, but we are a good people with good intentions who do good things in the larger picture of the world. That scares the living crap out of Liberals.

So now, Liberals have begun the tear down of Thompson by negating some of their earlier attacks on Reagan to better hone their attacks on Thompson. Reagan was stupid, but he was driven and passionate. Thompson is smart, but lacks passion because he is lazy and stupid about what America needs right now.

They have made Thompson important and for that Conservatives should thank Liberals. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

This ain't Hell nails it with his post on the estimable Richard Cohen's Washington Post article concerning Thompson.

WaPo’s Cohen: Thompson is no Reagan

I have nothing good to write for almost all of Washington Post’s
columnists, well except maybe Novak and Krauthammer, but this clown Richard
Cohen really writes some stupid crap sometimes. Take today’s column for
instance; Can He Find His Motivation?

Cohen, who also wrote “Wasted Lives“, in which he said our troops were
dying for nothing in Iraq and I criticized back in March, claims in this
piece that Thompson shouldn’t be allowed to be President for this
reason;

If Thompson’s name came up in some sort of free-association game, he would
be a genuine stumper: Thompson and what? There is no Thompson Act, Thompson Compromise, Thompson Hearing, Thompson Speech or Thompson Anything that comes to mind. No living man can call himself a Thompsonite. Instead, Thompson came and went from the Senate as if he were never there, leaving only the faint scent of ennui. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life up here,” he once said. “I don’t like spending 14- and 16-hour days voting on ’sense of the Senate’ resolutions on irrelevant matters.” As a call to action, this lacks a certain something.

Read the rest you lazy ......

Illegal Aliens. Illegal. Alien. Too Complicated For Some Republicans

Remember Jon, if you didn't bring enough weed for the whole class...

Backers of Immigration Bill More Optimistic

Congress's week-long Memorial Day recess was expected to leave the bill in
tatters. But with a week of action set to begin today, the legislation's
champions say they believe that the voices of opposition, especially from
conservatives, represent a small segment of public opinion. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who led negotiations on the bill for his
party, said the flood of angry calls and protests that greeted the deal two
weeks ago has since receded every day.

...

Over the break, Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) were booed at their state party
conventions.

When the faithful boo, it is a good sign things are getting better. I mean they could've hissed or something. Yep, booing is definately better.

What part of "illegal alien" do these people not understand? Maybe they're thinking in Spanish. To help clarify how I feel about this bill I will write and call again. In English. I hope they have translators on hand.

I Don't Care For CAIR

This could hamper CAIR's propaganda campaign in the MSM and their employment of useful idiots for nationwide letter writing campaigns to make them appear as cute and cuddly as puppies. CAIR is dirty.

Islamic Groups Named in Hamas Funding Case

Federal prosecutors have named three prominent Islamic organizations in
America as participants in an alleged criminal conspiracy to support a
Palestinian Arab terrorist group, Hamas.

Prosecutors applied the label of "unindicted co-conspirator" to the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Society of North America, and the North American Islamic Trust in connection with a trial planned in Texas next month for five officials of a defunct charity, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.

Time to take out the trash.

Bill France Jr

1933 - 2007

His father may have been the architect of NASCAR, but throughout his life, Bill France Jr. proved to be the ultimate general manager.

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La

Louisiana Congressman indicted on corruption charges...

Hey, is the Pope Catholic?

UPDATE:

Boehner to call for ethics review of Jefferson

I like John Boehner, but can't he have a litlle heart here? I don't want Republicans to appear heartless after the love and understanding the Democrats displayed for Juris Prudence and Tom Delay. It might make us look bad. Wouldn't it? I mean 90K in the freezer and using the National Guard to drive you through a flooded New Orleans to pick up "papers" isn't really much.

Come on John. Please.

On the other hand, if he's found guilty, we're 2/3s of the way there aren't we? William Jefferson....

Communist FUGLY

The Renaissance style was regarded as the style most characteristic of Polish architecture and it was this that was to become Poland`s national form. However, in the course of incorporating the principles of socialist realism there were many deviations, to reflect Soviet architecture more, which resulted in the mutual resemblance of the majority of works and thus the general acceptance of the classicist form. From 1953 critical opinions were increasingly frequently heard and the doctrine was definitely given up in 1956.

Sgt Pepper

Since so many people have requested my input on the 40th anniversary of Sgt Pepper, here it is.

Never knew the guy, but I'm told he ran with a crowd that wanted to hold hands.

Me, I wanted satisfaction.

Flynt Gives Hillbillies A Bad Name

Hustler offers $1 million for sex smut on Congress

Hint, Flynt bought a mansion across the street from the Columbus School for Girls. He supposedly had a telescope to watch them play field hockey in skirts.

This is not a man who is the sharpest tool in the shed.

Oh, he isn't from Ohio. He belongs to Kentucky.

Kasich Is Good News For Ohio

John Kasich Continues his Tour on the Ohio GOP Rubber Chicken Circuit

From Right Angle Blog

Years ago, back when the earth was still cooling, one could see and visit with Kasich and Greg Lashutka at the Beck Tavern and it was fun. That was around the same time Greg was walking home from his work as City Attorney, spotted a burglar, chased him, caught him and held him for police. Being a tight end for Woody and the Buckeyes helped. It was a good thing that my house was within crawling walking distance of Beck Tavern.

Soon after that I went to work on statewide the F.A.I.R. issue (redistricting VS gerrymandering) and met Mike Stinziano through Hill, Zoog & (later) Stinziano, who was also a good buddy of Kasich's. Though very Liberal, Mike is a great guy, but to picture them together is a Frick and Frack moment on many levels. Many levels, but height stands out to the eye.

At the time of RR's second inaugural, I walked into the lobby of the Vista, heard my name called and there I saw John Kasich, but once the crowd of people separating us passed I then saw Mike and his wife who had been calling my name. They had good tickets to everything. I was working.
John Kasich works with all people and genially gets along with them (if they are serious, otherwise watch out), but never loses his inner compass. Both his intelligence and passion are intense.

John Kasich would be great for Ohio.

Simple, sensible and strategic

Mr. President:A plus B = C. A = September 11, 2001. B = Secure Borders. C =
Happy Conservative Base. Now you know your ABCs, next time won't you sing with me?

From Bob's Blog. Simple, sensible and strategic, eh? Yes. It is.

Friday Night House

Half timbered cottage

England

Wikipedia: From OSU With Love

Wikipedia formed by former Buckeye

Lindsay Betz

On the evening of Jan. 2, 2001, Larry Sanger's friend told him about
something called a wiki. Thirteen days later Wikipedia was launched.

According to dictionary.com, a wiki is "a collaborative Web site whose
content can be edited by anyone who has access to it."

Sanger, who received his master's and doctorate degrees from Ohio State and
taught in the department of philosophy until 2005, had previously been
editor-in-chief of a project called Nupedia.

Sanger said Nupedia was essentially a peer-reviewed online encyclopedia
written by experts.

"The problem with Nupedia ... was that it was not growing as quickly as we
thought a free encyclopedia project could grow," Sanger said.

He said when he heard about the wiki concept, he knew it could "supplement
the Nupedia project (because) it would create content more quickly and would be
more open to the general public."

He said the Nupedia community did not support the project, so he came up
with the name Wikipedia and it was launched under its own domain name.

"The whole idea of an encyclopedia that anyone could edit struck the
Nupedia community as a bad idea," Sanger said. "It was easy for anyone to get
involved instantly without even signing up and that was a pretty unusual
concept."

As Wikipedia's success grew, Sanger said, so did its problems.

He said he always thought Wikipedia would be developed together with
another more "mature" encyclopedia, such as Nupedia, that would edit the
Wikipedia content and release accurate versions of the entries."

As it turned out, Jimmy Wales, who pays the bills, decided he liked
Wikipedia and didn't like Nupedia so he let Nupedia die," Sanger said.He said he
stopped working for Wikipedia at the beginning of 2002 when the company told him
they could not pay his salary anymore. They did invite him to stay on as a
volunteer, but he declined."

I had come to the conclusion that I didn't want to have anything to do with
Wikipedia as it was being allowed to develop," he said. "The problem was that
there was no credible way whereby articles would become approved. We had talked
about an approval process for a long time but no action was ever taken on
it."

Sanger said Wikipedia still does not have an approval process and anyone
who has an account can edit entries.

Although Sanger admits the reason Wikipedia has grown so quickly is because
it is a "radically open project," he said the accuracy of entries is an issue
because there is little to no input by experts.

Sanger is currently working on a project called Citizendium, which opened
to the public two months ago at citizendium.org. He said it is similar to what he originally
envisioned Wikipedia would be.

Citizendium is a wiki in the sense that anyone can become a member and edit
entries, but it also has many expert editors who correct and approve
entries."

We want a different kind of Internet community," Sanger said. "We don't
want another MySpace that's basically uncontrolled. We want a project that uses
real names and where people take responsibility for what they do."

Sanger said Citizendium is growing at a rate comparable to the rate
Wikipedia grew in its early days, and he hopes the growth will accelerate.

He said Wikipedia can be a good place to start looking for information
online, but should never be used when writing papers."

I think that Wikipedians themselves ... say that you shouldn't cite any
encyclopedia in papers for college work ... I would say that middle schoolers
should not (even) cite Wikipedia articles," Sanger said.

Good advice.

Boehner Reveals Lowlife Military Scam

Reports of Scam Targeting Military Families

Office of Congressman John Boehner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday May 31, 2007
MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica R. Towhey 202-225-6205

Boehner Warns of Scam Targeting Military Families

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today
warned of a scam targeting military spouses, preying on the fear that their
husband or wife has been grievously injured in Iraq.

According to a report, a person with an American accent calls a
military spouse identifying herself as a representative of the Red Cross.
The spouse is told that her husband or his wife has been injured in Iraq and
evacuated to Germany. The caller states that doctors cannot start
treatment until the patient's Social Security number and date of birth are
verified.

"It is unconscionable that someone could be so degraded as to prey
on the worst fears of a military spouse," Boehner said. "Identity-theft
scams, whether they are targeting military families or senior citizens, are a
danger to us all. We must be alert to phone calls, e-mails and letters
from strangers seeking personal and financial information. These scams
should be reported immediately to the proper authorities."

Representatives of the Red Cross contact military members or
their families directly only in response to an emergency message initiated by a
family member, according to a Red Cross release. Families of injured
troops are contacted by the Department of Defense regarding the service member's
condition.

It is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison for
an individual to falsely pose as an agent of the Red Cross to solicit, collect,
or receive money or material.

Military spouses who receive a phone call reportedly from the Red
Cross asking for personal and/or financial information should not reveal this
information. The call should be immediately reported to the local family
readiness group or military support organization.

Boehner represents Ohio's 8th District, which includes all of
Darke, Miami and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the
northeastern corner of Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress
in 1990.

Cold Sex

Children without sex is what the future holds, claims inventor of the Pill

The Pill gave us sex without children. Now Djerassi has turned that
concept on its head. He believes the developed world is heading towards its
next cultural revolution — children without sex.

The son is gonna be real unhappy bout this. Trust me. He will.

Beaten With A Fugly Stick

Mukesh Ambani' residence

Planned

Mumbai, India

60 stories

1 husband

1 wife

1 mother

3 children

600 staff

I'm thinking Legos, but uglier.

This could improve the image of the 60s, 7os & 80s. A tad.

Cynthia McKinney 2008 May Be Green

2006 "So, you know, 2008 has not been ruled out, some kind of effort.
Certainly now it is questionable as to whether that effort would come under the
banner of the Democratic Party. There’s no way that with the current crop of
candidates who are all supporting a military action against Iran and who none of
them support impeachment. They can not speak for me any longer.”

2004 "George Bush smirks at us and our Vice President sneers. The
smirk is for what they still have up their sleeves and the sneer is because they
know we'll let them get away with it…. After all, we let them get away with it
in 1963 (that's when John Kennedy's life was taken), and again in 1965 (when
Malcolm X was murdered), then twice again in 1968 (when snipers' bullets stole
Martin and Bobby from us).”

She can't help herself. She's just a giver.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's Class Warfare

"I have nothing against rich people... but what made America great is the
middle class."

Most Liberals, depending on the venue, vacillate between their canned adoration of the middle class and the poor as they who built America. What a crock of crap. Americans of all economic levels built and made America great, and yes, rich people are included.

Class warfare as a political tool.

Clinton credited the union movement with building the middle class. She
said she thinks it should be easier to join unions and said she supports a
union-supported method of organizing called "card check."

The union is negotiating its contract with MGM Mirage, Harrah's
Entertainment and other casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. The group's presidential
endorsement is expected to be key to winning Nevada January 19 Democratic
caucus.

Using "card check" intimidation instead of the secret ballot is a great way to build the middle class. It is kind of like "You'll eat your spinach and like it" except my parents didn't use weapons and violence on me.

I'm sure that Senator Clinton knows these economic figures, but like all progressives she lies ignores them and feeds pablum to those just trying to make ends meet for votes. The top the top 20 percent of earners pay more than 74 percent of taxes while the bottom 50 percent of income earners, on the other hand, pay less than 5 percent of income taxes, but why not lie when you gain votes by making achievers look evil.

The real tax increase is the swelling federal and state budgets that now underwrite expenditures of seemingly everything and everyone except the middle class and the rich, but with her socialist style health/welfare system, Senator Clinton hopes to buy the votes of the middle class. The tremendous rise in medical and medicine costs can be directly pinned to the extraordinary rise in governmental regulation, legislation and interference and lawsuits filed or threatened.

It's as if there is a coordinated plan to increase the cost of necessities to allow for an increase of governmental oversight and bureaucracy which means more tax increases all to make the government more indispensable. This all comes at a cost of making citizens powerless to control all of this largess and the departments that control it. As an experiment, try reading and tracking earmarks or any state or federal department's budget. Begin there. If you can get the information.

The real issue of "class warfare" as a political tool is that when it is successfully used the losers are the middle class and the working poor and the only winner is government and the bureaucrats that run it. That includes senators and representatives.

Weegee

Arthur Fellig (June 12, 1899 - December 26, 1968)

Fellig got the name Wegee because he had the uncanny ability to photographing crime scenes minutes after the crime and before the police had arrived. Weegee is Ouija as in Ouija Board. His photography was a gritty and stark recording of NYC and its violence, its street life, and culture. I often thought of Weegee's work as a modern Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

I will not show the more graphic photos, but for a more in depth look at his work go here and here.

Fight on Illegal Immigration and the Numbers Part 2

Fire Ward Churchill Says UC Pres

DENVER — The president of the University of Colorado has
recommended that a professor who likened some Sept. 11 victims to a Nazi should
be fired, according to the professor and the school.

Ward Churchill, a tenured professor of ethnic studies, has denied
the allegations and threatened a lawsuit if he is dismissed.

CU President Hank Brown made the recommendation in a 10-page letter
sent to the chair of the committee that handles tenure issues. University
spokeswoman Michele McKinney confirmed published reports about the
recommendation Monday but said the school would not make the letter
public.

"I've got more faith in almost anything (than in the university
process)," he said. "A random group of homeless people under a bridge would be
far more intellectually sound and principled than anything I've encountered at
the university so far."

Ward " Strutting Bull" Churchill is a Tiny Goebbels.

39 Ways to Leave Your Lover

I was reading Sniper One, which I do everyday, and I came across his post on Azzam the American, aka Adam Gaddahn, who has posted some demands to America. It is a must read. I love the fact that this wackjob loves a band named Xenocide. In Sniper’s link to the source at Laura Mansfield I saw something else that is from 2003, but is posted periodically for any slacker jihadist needing a pep talk.

This was written by Mohammad Bin Ahmad Al-Salem:

39 Ways to Serve and Participate in Jihad…
The only solution is the greatest jihad
World peace no longer suits us.
No peace with the enemies--this is the law
And the creed in each Muslim heart.

I arrived at this premise--that jihad is the Muslim community's only
option and its clear obligation--after consulting with one of the brothers. I
decided to write a book about the practical actions that anyone can take to
serve the jihad and those who fight it, advancing the jihad no matter how
insolent the aggressors become(1).

A couple of my personal favorites:

31. Hostility and Hatred of the Infidels
32. Trying to Ransom Prisoners
34. Electronic Jihad
36. Raising Children To Love Jihad and Those Who Wage It

and:

A failure to engage in and prepare for jihad is considered a sign of
hypocrisy. The prophet said, "Whoever has died without fighting and resolving to
fight has died on a branch of hypocrisy."

Feeling perky now? If not read the whole thing so when jihad comes to your neighborhood you’ll be up to date on how to be part of “Kill the Jews and Christians Day(s)”.

Fun will be had by all!

SUCCESS:aLgOre Stops Global Warming, Solves Dirty Butt Syndrome

FREAK: Hail Piles Up 4 Inches Deep in Denver...

Freak snow,ice across Europe...

Argentina cold wave prompts record demand for electricity...

At least 16 dead and 1500 stranded as freak snow storm hits Nepal...

Cold Day in Hell TP Free...

Shared Prosperity or Socialism by Hillary Clinton

America's most shrill voice of the Nannanista Movement, Hillary Clinton, has finally come out of the closet. Her form of government will be the engine of the economy, not business and industry. Her form of government will control all facets of our life and that of business for a governmental guarantee of "fairness".

We Are All in It Together, Clinton Says

"Fairness doesn't just happen. It requires the right government
policies."

If you read her talking points, they are eerily similar to the main assistance points that Cuba gave the Sandinistas after they seized Nicaragua.

Government health care
Government vocational education
Government industry building and control

With Bush on the ropes and all of the whining by Republicans and Conservatives it is hard for some people to see where politicians like Clinton, Pelosi, Edwards, BarACK, et al want to take our country.

Clinton using these talking points to garner support in a vocational school is just more of the same old Liberal use of class warfare for political gain.

That Nannanistas pander for votes is nothing new. After all they believe the idea of "mother knows best" is a good one, but in their version, "mother" is the government.

Didn't Uncle Joe try this?

UPDATE: Gateway Pundit has more!
As does Don Surber. Hill should share. Not the love. Please.

Environmentalists Plus Government Equals Empty Gas Tank

Why Not Build a New Refinery?

Financing, permits, environmental concerns and the securing of oil supplies are all substantial hurdles for any company to construct a new
refinery.

"Clean" refineries are expensive, and despite recent profits the refinery business has traditionally been low profit margin business. The last refinery was built in 1976 in Garyville, La.

Mistress Mansion Open for Madding Crowd

Beach Club for All

Built in the roaring 20s by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst for Marion Davies, his blonde silent-film-star lover, the estate hosted stars like Cary Grant. Gloria Swanson and Clark Gable once roamed the 100 rooms of the Georgian revival mansion, and Charlie Chaplin enjoyed a splash or two in the 110-foot, Italian-marble saltwater swimming pool.

Today the swimming pool, along with the guesthouse known as the North House, are the only structures that remain of the jazz-age house of pleasure. But, with time and a lot of money, the site of the Marion Davies Estate will once again become a place of frolicking and fun, but this time not only for the elite.

Embezzling stripper off to jail in NASCAR case

Stripper gets 40 months for embezzlement

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A former stripper was sentenced to nearly three-and-a-half
years in federal prison Friday for attempting to embezzle more than $1 million
from a bank to start her own NASCAR racing team.

Moonshine, strippers and NASCAR. Is America great or what!

NYT's Salute to the Troops on Memorial Day

As Allies Turn Foe, Disillusion Rises in Some G.I.’s

Oh, and as usual, the NYTs doesn't slant the news. I mean, be fair, they just report what they hear. When they actually show up and take the earplugs out. Eating good food and drinking good whiskey does cut into the work day. If one was an actual reporter.

This is a disgusting, even by their standard, ploy to shape the news they see fit to print to the slant they want.

They dishonor America's soldiers and they dishonor America's fallen soldiers.

They have no shame. The arrogant bastards.

EXTRA, EXTRA: FREYSINGER FOR PRESIDENT

The EU is aghast! Good. They're called the "old world" for a reason. And it ain't the art.

Swiss move to ban minarets
“We have our civil laws here,” insisted Mr Freysinger. “Banning minarets
would send a clear signal that our European laws, our Swiss laws, have to be
accepted. And if you want to live here, you must accept them. If you don’t, then
go back.”

...

"I think Swiss Muslims will be angry and bitter over this," said Reinhard
Schulze, professor of Islamic Studies at Berne University. "And we know that
anger and bitterness among a community can lead to radicalisation, even to
militancy."

Or as Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs puts it:

Professor of Islamic studies Reinhard Schulze warns that any hint that Muslims
are not peaceful might result in violence.

Put another way, if you don't want rabid OSU fanatics who want the law to allow babies from Michigan to be eaten in your neighborhood, simple solution, ban all OSU games from TV, cable, radio and print. Problem solved. A Buckeye who can't watch, with almost religious hope, OSU beat Michigan into a pulp, will move out and other Buckeyes will not move in.

Simply put, Tressel is the imam and we answer to his call. No Tressel, no Shoe, no Buckeye.

Do you really think Fred Thompson would allow a minaret in his town? The first fatwah on any Americanism and he'd collapse it just by thinking it. Then his turban vision would set afire the fatwah issuer.

By chance, is Fred Swiss?

Honor

Memorial Day: A Day of Rememberance

BROADCAST FROM THE OVAL ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE, NATIONALLY, AND OVER A WORLD-WIDE HOOKUP
DECEMBER 9, 1941 -- 10:00 PM

...

And what we have learned is this:

There is no such thing as security for any nation -- or any individual
-- in a world ruled by the principles of gangsterism. There is no such thing as
impregnable defense against powerful aggressors who sneak up in the dark and
strike without warning.

We have learned that our ocean-girt hemisphere is not immune from
severe attack -- that we cannot measure our safety in terms of miles on any map
any more.

We may acknowledge that our enemies have performed a brilliant feat of
deception, perfectly timed and executed with great skill. It was a thoroughly
dishonorable deed, but we must face the fact that modern warfare as conducted in
the Nazi manner is a dirty business. We don't like it -- we didn't want to get
in it -- but we are in it and we're going to fight it with everything we've got.

I do not think any American has any doubt of our ability to administer
proper punishment to the perpetrators of these crimes. Your Government knows
that for weeks Germany has been telling Japan that if Japan did not attack the
United States, Japan would not share in dividing the spoils with Germany when
peace came. She was promised by Germany that if she came in she would receive
the complete and perpetual control of the whole of the Pacific area -- and that
means not only the Ear East, but also all of the Islands in the Pacific, and
also a stranglehold on the west coast of North, Central and South America. We
know also that Germany and Japan are conducting their military and naval
operations in accordance with a joint plan. That plan considers all peoples and
nations which are not helping the Axis powers as common enemies of each and
every one of the Axis powers.

That is their simple and obvious grand strategy. And that is why the
American people must realize that it can be matched only with similar grand
strategy. We must realize for example that Japanese successes against the United
States in the Pacific are helpful to German operations in Libya; that any German
success against the Caucasus is inevitably an assistance to Japan in her
operations against the Dutch East Indies; that a German attack against Algiers
or Morocco opens the way to a German attack against South America and the Canal.

On the other side of the picture, we must learn also to know that
guerilla warfare against the Germans in, let us say Serbia or Norway, helps us;
that a successful Russian offensive against the Germans helps us; and that
British successes on land or sea in any part of the world strengthen our hands.

Remember always that Germany and Italy, regardless of any formal
declaration of war, consider themselves at war with the United States at this
moment just as much as they consider themselves at war with Britain or Russia.
And Germany puts all the other Republics of the Americas into the same category
of enemies. The people of our sister Republics of this Hemisphere can be honored
by that fact.

The true goal we seek is far above and beyond the ugly field of battle.
When we resort to force, as now we must, we are determined that this force shall
be directed toward ultimate good as well as against immediate evil. We Americans are not destroyers -- we are builders.

We are now in the midst of a war, not for conquest, not for vengeance, but for a world in which this nation, and all that this nation represents, will be safe for our children. We expect to eliminate the danger from Japan, but it would serve us ill if we accomplished that and found that the rest of the world was dominated by Hitler and Mussolini.

So we are going to win the war and we are going to win the peace that
follows.

And in the difficult hours of this day -- through dark days that may be
yet to come -- we will know that the vast majority of the members of the human
race are on our side. Many of them are fighting with us. All of them are praying
for us. But, in representing our cause, we represent theirs as well -- our hope
and their hope for liberty under God.

Rosie O'Donnell. I Blame Ed McMahon

Which wag stated "Can you quote a yawn?"

Let's take a look at some Rosie moments that make all go fuzzy and warm all over, which, now that I think about that, makes me want to take a shower.

"You know what concerns me? How many Supreme Court judges are
Catholic?"

"You know, you can imagine in China it's like, 'Ching-chong, ching-chong.
Danny DeVito. Ching-chong, ching-chong-chong. Drunk. The View.
Ching-chong.'"

"There were 15 British sailors and marines who apparently went in to
Iranian waters and they were seized by the Iranians. And I have one thing to
say. Gulf of Tonkin. Google it."

"The British did it on purpose. (They went) into Iranian waters as the U.S.
military builds up on the Iranian border. We will be in Iran before summer as
planned."

"655,000 Iraqi civilians dead. Who are the terrorists?" She further
explained, "If you were in Iraq and another country, the United States, the
richest in the world, invaded your country and killed 655,000 of your citizens,
what would you call us?"

I do believe that it's the first time in history that fire has ever melted
steel. I do believe that it defies physics that World Trade Center tower 7 —
building 7, which collapsed in on itself — it is impossible for a building to
fall the way it fell without explosives being involved. World Trade Center 7.
World Trade Center 1 and 2 got hit by planes — 7, miraculously, the first time
in history, steel was melted by fire. It is physically impossible. To say that
we don’t know that it imploded, that it was an implosion and a demolition, is
beyond ignorant. Look at the films, get a physics expert here [on the show] from
Yale, from Harvard, pick the school — [the collapse] defies reason.

"Well, then, get away from the fear. Don't fear the terrorists. They’re
mothers and fathers."

"All right, but wait. When you go to war, we have the United–we have the
United Nations, and the United Nations is the one who says, as the world voice,
what they condone and what they condemn. And the U.N. had said we could not do it, and every other nation in the world, besides England, who’s on our side and
in our pocket, they said it was a bad idea. "

"I believe in state sponsored terrorism. I believe there is government
sponsored terrorism in every nation in the world, including ours."

"It was interesting to note that President Bush was flying to Virginia Tech
today and took him a week to get to ... Katrina to visit the victims [...] You
can’t pretend that it’s the same. How many people died in Katrina?"

"You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you
should go to prison."

"It was always my dream to give an old, bald billionaire a boner."

"Eat me."

Not a snowball's chance in Hell Rosie. Not even if you had a billion. Not even if you weren't bat crap crazy. Which you are. You need help.

Oh, Ed McMahon's daughter told him about Rosie and he put her on his "talent" show. Shame on you Ed.

Time to Install a Pay Pal Button or Share the Love

Jackson Brewery/Metal Blast, Cincinnati, Ohio

Jackson Brewery/Metal Blast

308 Mohawk Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45314 Hamilton County

The property is 60,000 square feet of a potential mixed use development on a 50,000 square foot lot. It is permitted to be mixed use and can combine proposed residential, live work units, commercial uses including manufacturing. The building was constructed in 1860 and was originally used to brew beer. It is a culturally significant landmark within the community and holds a great deal of historic value.

Number of stories
3 levels above grade plus a partial attic2 levels below grade, stone vaulted rooms originally used to lager beer, can have direct access to grade, as the building is built in to a hillside.

Location description
The property is a landmark historic brewery building located in the Over the Rhine north historic district. Historic tax credits can be obtained, as well as new market tax credits. Property tax abatement for the cost of the improvements is available. The improvements may also be eligible for TIF district funding. The property is located near the university/ uptown area and the central business district, and offers panoramic views of the city skyline, spanning the entire basin area. A street car system is proposed to be located in the immediate vicinity, that will connect the CBD to the university/ uptown area.

Current owner is a local architect/developer who is active in the community and would prefer to stay on as a partner, he currently has plans for a 50 unit conversion as well as a 12 unit conversion that are available for viewing upon request. The asking price for an outright sale is $600,000. Please submit any proposals for joint ventures.

Contact
Katrina DellingerItzhaki Properties580 Broadway Suite 1107New York, NY 10012

(P)212-226-9000 x 30(F)212-226-1972

Katrina@ItzhakiProperties.com

aLgore: Weapon of Mass Distraction

Al Gore slams 'trivialities and nonsense' in news media

Former US vice president Al Gore on Friday criticized the "trivialities and nonsense" of celebrity gossip in the media and called on people to focus instead on issues like Iraq and climate change.

Gore, who is promoting his new book "The Assault on Reason," made the comments at a book signing in New York, where he was treated to a rock star reception by more than 1,300 cheering and screaming fans.

"What is it about our collective decision-making process that has led us to
this state of affairs where we spend much more time in the public forum talking
about -- or receiving information about -- Britney Spears shaving her head or Paris Hilton going to jail?" Gore asked.

He lamented what he described as the "destruction of the boundary between news and entertainment" and said the United States was "vulnerable as a democracy to mass and continuing distraction."

The guy that sweats like a perp on Meth and jets his circus around the world to wow devoted groupies and pimps for a statue from the Hollywood crowd now wants to draw the line between news and entertainment?

That's Chutzpah the size of a pair of brass bowling balls. Somewhat like, "A boy, having just been convicted of murdering his parents, begs the judge for leniency because he is an orphan."

Memorial Day Weekend and The Troops

This is something I try to always do. When there is no drink or food involved, without making a big deal out of it, I shake hands and thank them for their service.

Instapundit said: Last night while hanging out in the bar with Rand Simberg and Dale Amon (of Samizdata), I saw some British soldiers at the other end. I had the waitress send them a round of drinks. She wasn't supposed to tell them who did it, but apparently those guys are good at extracting information and their CO came over to say thanks. He said that it meant a lot to his men: they don't get a lot of support from the public in Britain and that they like it when they're in the U.S. for training, etc., because the American public is more supportive. I thought that was kind of sad, actually, but I was glad to do something for them. When I'm out and see military folks I often try to pick up their tab anonymously; this is the first time someone's blabbed. I encourage InstaPundit readers to do the same if the mood strikes you. I think it's appreciated, and not just because of the free food or drink.

If you haven't yet done this, Memorial Day Weekend is as good a time as ever to start. Thank them for their mission too. That way you won't be mistaken for a "troop supporting" Democrat or Ron Paul Libertarian.

Ron Paul and My Mis-Spent Youth.

When I started in politics, I read, listened and studied everything and everybody I could. I read the Washington Post AND The New York Times. In my family they were referred to as the Uptown and the Downtown Daily Worker. I read The Economist religiously and still had until a year or two ago when they went south in the smarts department. I even went to hear Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr speak once. Well, it was before he went to prison.

I first heard Ron Paul on the radio. I think it was around 1975. I was working in Manhattan at the time, had little money and the library and the radio were free. Given my background there were some things I liked, such as Paul was a Doctor, he had served in the military and he was more Libertarian than Republican. In many ways Ron Paul reminded me of my father.It was pre-RR.

Unfortunately, Ron Paul has gone south.

I could state a few reasons such as problems with ghost writers and non-interventionist foreign policy, but the Greater War on Terror and Iraq alone are issues enough to state, "lights on, nobody's home". The world is a smaller place and getting more dangerous. I would prefer that my children do not have to fight this war on their home turf.

But, he had to say this:

They’re not attacking us because we’re rich and free, they’re attacking us
because we’re over there.

Huh? Oh, his followers will whine about how he's right, the Constitution, blah, blah, blah. Lookit young'uns, I have read the Constitution. I have also read about the Barbary Pirates, so can it.

The above statement from Paul is way to close to "You started it", "Uh-UH, you started it", "Did not", "Did TOO".

Ron Paul is lowering the importance of the War on Terror and the issue that these people want to come here and kill us to the level of two fifth graders?

No wonder Andrew Sullivan agrees with Ron Paul.

Take'm to the woodshed.

I'm Also Glad This Week Is Over.

Remember, Even Reagan Had Bad Days

Iraq Roll Call Vote 05/24/2007

Question: On the Motion (Motion to Concur in House Amdt. to Senate Amdt to H.R.2206 )

Vote Number: 181 Vote Date: May 24, 2007, 08:26 PM

Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion Agreed to

Measure Number: H.R. 2206 (U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 )

Measure Title: Making emergency supplemental appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for agricultural and other emergency assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.

Vote Counts:
YEAs 80
NAYs 14
Not Voting 6

YEAs ---80
Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Brown (D-OH)
Bunning (R-KY)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Ensign (R-NV)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)

NAYs ---14
Boxer (D-CA)
Burr (R-NC)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coburn (R-OK)
Dodd (D-CT)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Obama (D-IL)
Sanders (I-VT)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 6
Brownback (R-KS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Hatch (R-UT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Thomas (R-WY)