Claudia Rosette asks, Why does America ask Israel to let its people get blown up? Good question.

Alright, alright. Let's deal with this Trent Lott silliness.
You can read a whole lot about today at National Review. Just click the link to the right. The Democrats and their willing accomplices in the press smell blood in the water. And there is no doubt that what he said was dumb, really really dumb.

Having said that, the Democrats need to be careful. They may well get what they are clamoring for, Ole Trent's resignation. Some of us on the right are hoping for just that. "Cuz some of us good ole boys on the right have long memories. And we remember Ole Trent's compromise/coverup at the Senate impeachment "trial." And we remember his "powersharing" with Daschle before Jumpin' Jim jumped ship. The list goes on. One person who gets it is Tom Daschle himself. He's been able to roll Ole Trent for a long time, and the Republican who replaces him might not be so willing to roll over and play dead. So, keep on screaming and playing the victim, black caucus. You may get what you wish for.

I absolutely love these new discoveries from Mars. In the midst of war, let's not
forget the true high ground. CNN.com - NASA: Water, water everywhere on Mars - Dec. 9, 2002

The real story of why Mary Landrieu won has alot more to do with Bill Clinton than she was comfortable telling.

It looks at this time like Mary Landrieu will pull out a squeaker. I think the fact that a Republican came so close should say some positive things for the future of the party in Louisiana, just as it does across the south. We'll see.

Thursday night my wife and 2 children had dinner at a local restaurant. We were helping our daughter celebrate passing her multiplication test that day, when the waitress came by. In an offhand way, she said, "Boy, math was my hardest test when I joined the marines."
She was young, just out of high school. My first grader was the first to speak. "Boy, you don't look like a marine."
Before my wife could shush him for such an honest, though impolite response, our waitress smiled, and showed her adolescent braces as she did.

"Oh I'm not a marine yet. I leave for Paris Island next month to start basic training."

In between serving other customers, she told us she had decided she really wanted to join the marines instead of the army.
She said she would get a better deal on college.

"And besides" she whispered, as she leaned toward us conspiratorially, "I read on the internet they are going to start up the draft soon, and I wanted to make my own choices before we became a police state."

I wish I could say I made a solid defense of the constitution, and how far we are from the police states she read about.
Instead, I stammered something about us not being a police state, and that I was proud she was joining the marines.
I paid our bill, and my first grader snapped her a salute on the way out the door. She smiled, and saluted back.

I've thought about that young woman alot over the past 24 hours, and the lessons I hope she learns in The Corps.
One of those lessons is the absolute committment of The Corps, and indeed of our military as a whole, to the founding documents of this country. They are sworn to defend The Constitution and what it represents. This document, and The Declaration of Independence that came before it, is what keeps us from becoming the "Police State' she read about. I wish her well, and though I didn't get her name, she will be in my prayers as the war goes on.

The next installment of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is out in theatres. An important line is kept in the movies. Here is its meaning, not much discussed outside Christian circles.

One of many reasons the Democrats lost the midterm election: From Algore.Gore’s TV War: He Lobs Salvo At Fox News

The Smoking Gun is a wonderful site for digging up dirt on your favorite celebrity....or politician.

Ummmm, Tom. The reason you lost is because folks didn't agree you.
By the way, who was threatening you, and why didn't you report all this before the election. Sound like the pressure has gotten to you. Perhaps you should resign. I know a nice Republican South Dakotan who would be perfect for the job, and wouldn't be all worried and distressed like you are these days.
CNN.com - Daschle says shrill talk spurs threats - Nov. 20, 2002

In Praise of Google
A wonderful piece on an indispensable web tool. And, a new feature on Google, Google News!!!. Whoo Hooo!!!!

A Tribute to the other Greatest Generation
James S. Robbins on Veteran's Day on National Review Online

Once again, Peggy provides the thoughtful answer to what went wrong for the Democrats last Tuesday.
OpinionJournal - Peggy Noonan

Possible Fraud In A Close Senate Race?
Byron York on South Dakota on Election 2002 on National Review Online

Before you go to the polls to vote for a pro abortion candidate, read this, and especially, look at the picture of the 17 week old baby that candidate is in favor of killing.
TIME.com: Inside the Womb

Peggy Noonan writes a wonderful look at what Paul Wellstone might say about the Political Rally/Memorial service this past week. click the link on the right.

Major links building between Iraq and the OKC bombing. Maybe we shoulda kept McVey alive a little longer. Then again, maybe not.

Required The Gang reading:
Little Green Footballs. Great blog! Lots of good info on terrorism and the coming theater of war called Iraq.

If real, this is a huge biblical archaeological find.

The first of three excerpts from Bill Sammon's book. Take the time to read all three segments. It once again reminds what we are fighting for, and why.
.Suddenly, a time to lead -- The Washington Times

Very good comparison of Bush with great leaders of the past. Victor Davis Hanson on War & Appeasement on National Review Online

As the disclaimer at the top says, this blog is very irregular. I've simply been too busy with life to do this lately. Thanks to all of you who have continued to check in though, especially those of you from the east coast of the US and from Israel. I'll continue to publish at widely spaced intervals. From the looks of the stats, many of you are using the links on the right to read the articles on your own. I'll add a few more as I get time.

How the Military Feels About Invading Iraq
Here's an interesting poll of the armed forces.

The Infantryman
This is a wonderful description of the modern soldier.

A Nonpolitical Site
I just love this site. It fascinates me that there are still pieces of a Silent Movie buried out there.

The Word on Torricelli
Mark Levine in National Review gives a good analysis of the travesty in New Jersey. Robert George backs it up in a companion article.
And here is the truth about Doug Forrester's new opponent, from Jewish World Review.

Weapons Grade Uranium Siezed on the Road to Iraq.
Any questions about running out of time, while the UN and the Democrats dither?

The New Republic on algore
Once again the center left magazine gets it right on the Democratic party, and most especially algore.

A Voice From The Past
Victor Davis Hanson teaches the classics. Here is a wonderful look at the present through the eyes of an ancient Greek general, Thucydides. Tough reading, but well worth it. This essay was originally published on 11/27/01.

Dick Morris on algore
Once again Dick Morris proves himself one of the most astute political analysts in the country.
Here's my favorite quote:

The way to get a Democrat to destroy his own chances of winning is to get his liberal constituency hot and angry and lead it to demand that its representatives stand up and be counted for a liberal, unpopular position. It was just such a quandary that led Mike Dukakis into his famous opposition to the death penalty in the 1988 election and that enticed Hillary ever leftward on health care in 1994.

And That Brings Us to Today
Tom Daschle had what's being called a meltdown on the Senate floor today. Here's a transcript, and here is the President's words that got Mr Daschle all hot and bothered.
This is not so much a response to Mr Bush, but a response to algore! It's about Democratic Presidential politics, and trying desperately to hold on to the Senate in November. It's also a response to multiple liberal pundits who are asking what the heck the Democratic stands for, and when will they start standing up for it. The latest is David Broder, Monday in the Washington Post. This follows on the heels of the devastating article a couple of weeks ago in The New Republic.

I wish I was an editorial cartoonist on days like today. The picture would be the HMS Titanic, with Joe Lieberman as lookout, screaming, "Iceberg Dead Ahead!" Algore as Captain Smith, screaming "Steer hard left!" and Tom Daschle as the helmsman turning the wheel as far left as it goes. This week, with algore and Daschle, we may well have seen the pacifist Democrats hitting the iceberg. Oh, and the name on the iceberg? Iraq.

The Contrast
An amazing contrast to Algore is the speech Tony Blair made before The British House of Commons. This is just an exerpt of the speech. Here is the complete Iraq Dossier directly from 10 Downing Street. Take note of the satellite photography of the chemical and biological weapons factories. And where does the money come from to pay for the proof presented by our friends the British? According to The Wall Street Journal, from The United Nations.
Here's the first paragraph:

Who is Saddam Hussein's biggest business partner?

The United Nations. The same U.N. whose secretary-general, Kofi Annan, stands as one of the chief ditherers over removing Saddam. Here are the ingredients of a conflict of interest.

Continue the story. It will reinforce the President's case for possible unilateral action.

Oh Where to Begin, Where to Begin?
Well, let's start with Algore. He gave a speech on Monday. A left speech. A faaaar left speech. Here's Michael Kelly's comments. My favorite paragraph:

Gore's speech was one no decent politician could have delivered. It was dishonest, cheap, low. It was hollow. It was bereft of policy, of solutions, of constructive ideas, very nearly of facts -- bereft of anything other than taunts and jibes and embarrassingly obvious lies. It was breathtakingly hypocritical, a naked political assault delivered in tones of moral condescension from a man pretending to be superior to mere politics. It was wretched. It was vile. It was contemptible. But I understate.

He then proceeds to give examples to back up just how understated the above paragraph was.
There is no way I could say it any better.

Campus Politics
What a wonderful editorial on the far left radicalism of college professors and administrators. This site keeps track of the liberal agenda on college campuses across the country.

Your Iraq Questions Answered
Victor Davis Hanson answers the questions being raised. Worth reading, since you won't hear the answers in the mainstream media.
By the way, if you haven't picked up his book, An Autumn of War, what are you waiting for?

On Being an American
Daniel Henninger makes a strong case for bringing back the Melting Pot. And sadly, if you are under 30, you have no idea what that is.
That's the point.

Democrat Scandals
If you look close, you see this story is on page 5 of the Washington Post. Had this same almost three quarter of a million dollar fine been on the Republicans, what page do you suppose it would be on? And in what glaring 20 point headline?

A Just War
This is a well thought out exposition on the theology of a just war.
And here is a link to President Bush's resolution, speaking of just wars.

Proof We Are At War
A phrase has crept into our national vocabulary since 9/11/01. "Waiting for the other shoe to drop." We all know what it means, and we are all waiting, even as we go about our routine. Waiting, just a little anxious. Wondering when the shoe will drop....

An Historic Ten Days
Few of us are aware of just how much the debate has changed on Iraq in just ten days. Fred Barnes is right in calling it a masterful performance.

Email Problems
Unbeknownst to me, the email link was not working. I was beginning to think noone was writing, but boy was I wrong. Thanks to everyone who has continued to comment, complain, praise, etc..... I'm replying as fast as I can.

The Jews Kept McKinney and Company from Winning Their Primaries
And here I thought it was their idiotic, race baiting, anti American talk before the primaries.

The President's Poll Numbers
Remember the Clintonistas' cry during impeachment, "The American People want...." and then they'd bring out their polls. Well, where are the Clintonistas now?

Saddam Thinks Out Loud
Thanks to Michael Kramer

Iraq Could Have Nukes in a Few Months if he can just postpone the inspection, or stop the inspections, or get the French to stop it or the Arabs or.............

Now What Will The Environmentalist Whackos Show Pictures Of?The incredible shrinking ozone hole - smh.com.au

Assessing Just How Far We Have Come
Victor Davis Hanson has found his voice in Post 9/11 American Conservatism.

Media Shutdown
I never started this blog as a critique of Journalism.
Really, I didn't.
I started it to keep my friends and coworkers up to date on Current Events , get away from using the Company internet connection, and keep me reasonably sane all at the same time. But the mainstream, media in this country often becomes the story. Friday's shutdown of a major highway in Florida, and the media's feeding frenzy is a great example.

Supplements unwelcome in the European Union
This could cause Shaklee some sleepless nights. The European Union is working hard to show just how far the left can go toward government control at the expense of individual freedoms.

A Continuing Prayer
Courtesy of The Federalist
"Ever faithful God, in death we are reminded of the precious birthrights of life and liberty you endowed in your American people. You have shown once again that these gifts must never be taken for granted. We pledge to those whom you have called home, and ask of you -- Patience, to measure our lust for action; Resolve, to strengthen our obligation to lead; Wisdom, to illuminate our pursuit of justice, and; Strength, in defense of liberty. We seek your special blessing today for those who stand as sword and shield, protecting the many from the tyranny of the few. Our enduring prayer is that you shall always guide our labors and that our battles shall always be just. We pray this day, Heavenly Father, the prayer our nation learned at another time of righteous struggle and noble cause -- America's enduring prayer: Not that God will be on our side, but always, O Lord, that America will be on your side. Amen." --Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld offering prayer at the opening of Friday morning's White House cabinet meeting after 9-11

Peggy Noonan
Folks, I have Peggy linked on the right, but today's Peggy Noonan deserves a special mention. She's right. Mr. Bush is back from vacation, in a big way.

The Myth of a Republican Split on Iraq
Once again Charles Krauthammer has it right. Especially this excerpt:
It turns out that the disagreement among Republicans was less about going to Iraq than about going to the United Nations. It was a vastly overblown disagreement, because even the most committed unilateralist would rather not go it alone if possible. Of course you want allies. You just don't want to be held hostage to their veto. And as the first President Bush demonstrated when he declared that the United States would liberate Kuwait unilaterally if necessary, the best way to get allies is to let others know you are prepared to go it alone and let them ponder the cost of missing the train.

The President's Ultimatum
It wasn't just the words, but the delivery that changed the mood of the UN.

An Important Editorial from The New Republic
The New Republic is a long way from right of center. That's why this indictment of the Democrat's stand on Iraq is so important. The Democrats are on the wrong side of this, and it's fairly obvious that some are beginning to realize it.

The Left Speaks, Good Thing Few Are Listening
The rightward leaning liberal who drew my attention to this speech by Dennis Kucinich was correct. I quote, "What is he thinking?!?!?" I couldn't agree more.

The President's Speech Address to the UN
I've been off for a while. Trouble with my back and knees have kept me off the site. The speech today brought me back, if only temporarily.Here are some reviews of the speech, courtesy The National Review. The case has most assuredly been made. Over the next few days, even more details will be filled in. Stay Tuned.

Can't Cry Hard Enough
Somewhere around October of last year I came across this site. It's a moving tribute to the loss of 9.11.01. The song is haunting, and will tend to stay in your thoughts long after you turn off your computer.

Still More Evidence, From the New York Times of all Places
This story must have pained the New York Times to know end. There is little question that this paper has been biased in favor of no attack all summer. For them to print this tells me there is alot of evidence they have chosen not to print.

Mounting Evidence of Saddam's Nuclear Capabilities
Interesting story from the Washington Post. Hopefull Mr Bush will give more information on 9/12/02.

Commercializing the Moon
There is alot of activity going on in the private space travel world. In the end, this could be as big a story in the history books as the war on terror.

Where's the Anger
A comparison from the Jerusalem Post between Pearl Harbor a year later, and 9/11/01 a year later.
Here's a timely quote:
One conclusion, however, is already indisputable. Had it responded to Pearl Harbor as it did to September 11, the US would not have won World War II, and conversely, only by displaying the same selflessness, unity, and determination they showed 60 years ago, can Americans now triumph over terror.

History rarely repeats itself, but for freedom's sake, Americans must assure that it does.

Much of the answer lies in William Bennett's book Why We Fight. He makes the case that anger has become politically incorrect, even in a just cause. Worth reading.
William Bennett's website is worth a look too.

The Twin Shadows of Election ' 02
What a wonderful analysis of Bush's decision yesterday to get Congress involved. Here is a corollary to the story from the Boston Globe.

Iraqi Connection to The Oklahoma Bombing
Now here's a scary scenario.

Priscilla Owens, Down But Not Out
If you don't know who she is, and why this story is important, don't feel bad. The Mainstream media and other Democrats have worked hard to keep this below the radar.

Further Outrages From The People's Republic of California
Home Schooling is a growing movement across the country. To get children out of failing schools is a wonderful goal. It provides freedom for parents to teach their own values to their children, and limits government control Guess that's why California wants to make it illegal. Check out this quote:
In August, the Chino district's Casas sent out another letter to families who, according to their affidavit, appear to be home-schooling. He invited the families to "enroll in the district's home-based independent study program, a viable alternative to classroom instruction."

Among the benefits, he said, are "using state- and district-approved textbooks" and "being enrolled in an approved" program, school and district.

Isn't part of the reason for home schooling to get away from State approved textbooks. Be sure to read the article, especially the part about "home visits." Chilling.

Politically Correct Bigotry
I laugh alot at where I'm from, a small town in Oklahoma.
I can.
I'm from there.
But when I heard about this new "reality" show from CBS, I was enraged. This article from National Review explains why. It also explains why I don't laugh when other people laugh about my state.
They can't.
They aren't from there.

Deja Vu All Over Again
The same arguments used in 1990 are being dusted off now as to why we shouldn't go into Iraq. Here is a reprise of the previous "reasons."

Missing Peggy
One of the things I keep hearing from those of us who survived The Great Internet Purge at work is how much they miss my reminders to read the latest Peggy Noonan. I miss sending them out. It provided a connection to folks at work that gave me a reason to show up every morning. There are, of course, other reasons to go to the job. But the email banter back and forth helped keep us connected across the isolation of the cubicles. I think companies will come to realize in the future that the cohesiveness and connection employees share through the internet is worth a little bandwidth.

We had our obligatory open team meeting after the firings. I said Companies across the United States are trying to figure how to deal with the internet, how to control employee use. I said five years from now The Great Internet Purge will never happen. by that time, the internet will be a normal part of life at work, much as it is at home. The benefits of connecting employees will be realized as outweighing the need to control its use to save bandwidth, and supposedly increase productivity.

In the meantime, life continues outside the company we work for. It's important we stay involved.

There's an ancient Chinese blessing. "May you be blessed to live in uninteresting times." I think about that saying alot these days. We are blessed in so many ways, but certainly we are not blessed to live in uninteresting times. We instead live on one of those cusps of history, that one day will be talked about in textbooks. We watch truly historic events every day, as the War against Terrorism plays out. That's why folks like Peggy Noonan, Michael Kelly, and, yes, even Rush Limbaugh are important. They give a running commentary on huge events, and at their best, give voice to our own thoughts.

Peggy is still here, as are we. She still provides words to the feelings we have about 9/11/01. She still makes us aware of the greater world outside our own, of which we are a part.

I guess that's why I still do this site, to make myself, and others, more aware of that greater world. Like the disclaimer says, it helps keep me sane.

Where's the Anger?
I've been wondering this myself.

Reasons to attack Iraq: From November 11, 2001.

Sean Hannity Hits a Home Run
Number 3 and still climbing. National Review does a great review of the book.

Mrs T's Chicago Triathlon Results
Congratulations to my 3 brother in laws and my sister in law on completing this thing. Here's where to type in the times. Pretty amazing.

Oklahoma's Other Religion
Well folks, it's that time of year. Contrary to a certain Christmas song, College Football season is the most wonderful time of the year! Here's a link to The Sooners. I'm not sure you really need to know about any other teams, but just in case, here's a link to other teams, all of which will rank below OU come January...
You can take the boy out of Oklahoma, but apparently you can't take Oklahoma out of the boy. Sigh.

Captain Kirk a Democrat???
Okay, Janeway I can see. But Kirk? No way! Can you really see James T Kirk hanging out with Daschle, Gephardt and Kennedy. I don't think so. Dubya, Cheney and Rumsfeld are much more his speed.

Toby and Bruce
Another review of both Springsteen and Keith. Nice comparison.

Cheney Begins to Makes the Case For War on Iraq

The Faith of Condoleezza Rice
What a wonderful look at the National Security Advisor to the President.

Media Bias on Parade
Here's what you need to do to really understand this post.
Read the first few paragraphs of either of these stories. Then come back.
New York Times
The Washington Post
Okay, done? Good.
Here's the lead paragraph from The New York Times story, since I have no doubt most of you skipped the articles : - ) :
The nation's secret intelligence court has identified more than 75 cases in which it says it was misled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in documents in which the bureau attempted to justify its need for wiretaps and other electronic surveillance, according to the first of the court's rulings to be released publicly

Question: When do you assume those 75 cases of being misled occurred? Well, obviously now since the court refused ASHCROFT'S request, right?
Wrong.
Here's the next quote from the same story, waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy at the bottom:

The opinion said that in September 2000, "the government came forward to confess errors in 75 FISA applications related to major terrorist attacks directed against the United States — the errors related to misstatements and omissions of material facts."

Yep, September of 2000. Who was in charge of the Justice Department at that time? A current candidate for governor of Florida, Janet Reno. Who was still President, why The Big Creep himself.

Final quote, from the LA Times, at the very bottom, literally the last paragraph of their story:

Justice Department officials also stressed that the 75 cases cited in the May ruling occurred before President Bush took office, and said that the problems were corrected by a succession of legal reforms within the department over the last two years.

They cited a speech given last year in which Lamberth credited Ashcroft for ensuring that all FISA applications were "well scrubbed" and free of inaccuracies that had plagued earlier applications. "The process is working," Lamberth said in the speech.

"A lot of the old problems had been remedied," Comstock said.

Lamberth was one of the Judges, Comstock is Mr Ashcroft's spokeswoman.

Point is, the mainstream media will do anything to bring down John Ashcroft, and the main target, George W Bush.
Even distort the truth.

Bad News For DemocratsNYPOST.COM Post Opinion: Oped Columnists: IT'S NOT THE ECONOMY, STUPID By DICK MORRIS

I know, I know. I said I wouldn't be back until Saturday. But this story about the defeat of Cynthia McKinney is just too good not to post.

Three whole days without blogging. I'm taking a break, folks. As the disclaimer says, this is intermittent, and family takes priority. I'll be back over the weekend. In the meantime, the links to Michael Kelly and Peggy are still active. See ya Saturday.

There's alot of promising research happening in the spaceflight industry these days, most of it coming from the private sector. BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Experimental jet 'a success'

Here's a study you won't find on the evenng news.Study Shows Link Between Mental Health Problems and Abortion -- 08/16/2002

Wal-Mart bans....Flags?
In such a well run organization as Wal-Mart, this story has to have caused some major upset stomachs in the board room.
Note to Wal-Mart execs: Buy the flags, and get this man on your payroll as a greeter FAST!!!!

Iraq Update

This weekend's Media herd is touting "leading Republicans" as saying they are against an attack on Iraq. Brent Scowcroft is one of those names you will hear frequently. The Washington Times had a great editorial on his predictive abilities in the past. Hint: He should not open his own fortune teller's shop.

Rush Limbaugh is quite correct in this editorial in the Wall Street Journal. Mr Bush is already authorized by Congress to go into Iraq.

The Saudis Have Never Been Our Friends
Take a tour of the relationship between the Nazis and the Muftis, later to become famous as the Saudi family. Both seemed to have a similar hobby, genocide.
Thanks to Little Green Footballs for the link.

Looks like the Administration has, as my 4th grader would say, taken a seat on the clue bus.

Who's angrier this election year, Republicans or Democrats?
The answer to that question could easily determine the course of the war, and therefore the nation for the next few years.

Staying Angry
It's easy to remain angry after reading the article on grounding the planes.
A good editorial makes you feel like the writer is speaking your thoughts. This one from National Review does just that.

Grounding All The Planes on 9/11 Part II
This is even more riveting than Part I yesterday.
The interactive presentation plays best at broadband speed, but is really worth the wait on a dial up.

9/11/01 as Theater and Fantasy

This is a deep, deep article. It could easily be one of those watershed peices that change the course of the war on terrorism.
Here's a brief quote:

The terror attack of 9-11 was not designed to make us alter our policy, but was crafted for its effect on the terrorists themselves: It was a spectacular piece of theater. The targets were chosen by al Qaeda not through military calculation--in contrast, for example, to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor--but entirely because they stood as symbols of American power universally recognized by the Arab street. They were gigantic props in a grandiose spectacle in which the collective fantasy of radical Islam was brought vividly to life: A mere handful of Muslims, men whose will was absolutely pure, as proven by their martyrdom, brought down the haughty towers erected by the Great Satan. What better proof could there possibly be that God was on the side of radical Islam and that the end of the reign of the Great Satan was at hand?

It is important we break out of the purely Western view of warfare if we are take the battle to the enemy.

More Hypocrisy From The ACLU
Funny how the ACLU is the defender of Separation of Church and State, except here.

Anger in the Workplace Hits New Levels
This is interesting. Especially this quote:
Some 60% lost their temper regularly at work but although men shouted more than women (67% compared with 46%), women had the strongest desire to hit people who had upset them (51% compared with 39%).

Space Elevators
This was a great idea in Science Fiction, and hopefully will soon be reality.

Grounding All The Planes On 9/11
I'll never forget the quiet skies during that awful time. Here's how it happened.

Palestinians Reach Agreement On Terrorism:
Let It Continue
Nice to know the Palestinians can reach agreement on something, isn't it?

The United Way Takes a Hit Where It Hurts
You hear alot of stories about how the Boy Scouts are losing money due to their principled stand regarding homosexuals, supported by the Supreme Court. Rather you agree with the ruling or not, it's fascinating how you won't hear about this story in the Mainstream Media.

This is an amazing admission from Bill Clinton on his own failure to take custody of Osama when he had the chance. In the light of last week's Democratic propaganda peice from Time, this is even more hypocritical.
NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story

Inspecting in Iraq
Now, tell me why we would want to put ourselves through this nonsense again?

America Is Different, Thank God
OpinionJournal - Featured Article

When I took the job I currently hold, I told my supervisor there would be two days I would not be at work. One was when Billy Graham dies, the other was Ronald Reagan.
Looks like it may not be long now for Mr Reagan.

This makes a nice counterpoint to Peggy Noonan's look at the catfight between Joe Lieberman and Algore. And yes, David Limbaugh is indeed Rush's brother.

Dick Cheney and Haliburton

It really is possible to find out the truth, thanks to the internet. But you won't get it if you just listen to the mainstream media. If all you do is listen to NBC, ABC et al, you will find Dick Cheney and Haliburton are connected in a negative connotation. You may not anything about Haliburton, except possible that it was company Mr Cheney was working for. But those two words, Cheney and Haliburton, will have a negative EMOTIONAL connection, if your only news sources are American mainstream media sites.

I believe this is on purpose. Not in some conspiratorial way. But simple because most mainstream journalists are liberal, and are Democrats. Ann Coulter spends much of her time these days proving this point over and over.

But like Mulder says, The Truth is Out There. Most mainstream Journalism just doesn't choose to find it.
Here's an article to help break the connection.

Saudis Finally Speak Out Against Fundamentalist Religious Extremism
Isn't this a great story? And not a moment too soon. Ya never know when one of those scary Christians will crash another plane into a building.
Best of the Web from Friday does a great job on this hypocrisy.

Here's a related story from this week. The secular, mainstream media still hasn't figure out that this is a religious war for these terrorists, and that by definition means attacking other religions, especially Christians and Jews.

A Horrible Adoption Law
I haven't heard of a law that so disturbed me in a long time. Read the story. Talk about a horrendous block to adoption. Here's a link to the audio of the NPR story.

Gun Control and Violence: Perspectives from England
This story is by Glen Reynolds, aka InstaPundit. He's sort of the Godfather of Blogging. Good article, and a great blogsite. Worth checking out.

From the With Friends Like These...Dept
Saudi: U.S. Can't Use Kingdom to Attack Iraq (washingtonpost.com)

Always Remember, lest we forget the six million lost and lose still more.
The rising tide of anti-Semitism -- The Washington Times

Another wonderful example of the unbiased mainstream media.Black journalists jeer peer -- The Washington Times

Sooo, who' s got their resume ready to go for this one?
Yahoo! News - Wanted: Professional Hermit for Cave-Dwelling Duty

Dick Morris is absolutely correct about Algore.
In the midst of "United We Stand" Algore's motto is "Divide and Conquer."

Franklin Graham Carries on The Tradition
It's hard to be an Evangelical Christian in this culture. I admire Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, for sticking to his guns. I heard his interview with Sean Hannity on Tuesday night. He was polite, but stuck to his beliefs. He has a right to those beliefs, even though they may not be what Liberals want him to believe.

I also heard Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American Islamic Relations or CAIR the next night on Hannity. The contrast between him and Mr Graham was, to say the least, striking. Mr Graham did not, as this site claims, smear Islam. He did present facts about Islam that this organization would rather not have broadcast, however.
By the way, Sean Hannity is on WLS 890 in the Chicago area, from 9pm to midnight, Monday through Friday. This is a tape delay of his show done live earlier in afternoon.
He is also on at 8pm on The Fox NewsChannel Monday through Friday.
He is one of the up and coming conservative voices in this country, and a committed Christian himself.

Revolution in Iran
Take a look at this. Michael Ledeen asks an excellent question. Why is no mainstream media covering the growing unrest in Iran?
The easiest answer is that it would help President Bush and therefore Republicans in the elections this fall. Surely that's not the reason, surely not.

There are a couple of great editorials on the Wall Street Journal Opinion Page today. This one on the truth about the supposed "secret" detainees is especially worth reading.

War Plans
In the words of Stan Lee, 'nuff said.

Williams, and Kelly and Noonan, Oh My!

I've put permanent links to the regulars on the right. This leaves me free to blog about current events, especially when we go after Iraq either later this year, or early next year.

I want you to put this story together with Israel's claim that Al Quaeda is operating through Hamas. If Israel can't deal with the Palestinian terrorists, who can? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the only other country would be. Clue: The initials are USA. Yahoo! News - Rumsfeld doubts Israel can deal with Palestinian Authority
This concerns me for several reasons. We simply have our hands full right now. I hope this was simply one more example of Rumsfeld and company heading off the State Department, before Mr Powell does something stupid, again. I also wish the Bush Administration would keep it's cat fights between the State Department and Defense behind closed doors, but that's another sore topic entirely.

Saudi Arabia Supports Our Enemies, And Attacks Our Allies
That's a direct quote from a report released on Monday by the Rand Corporation. As the Opinion Journal's Best of the Web describes it:
The briefing was prepared by Laurent Murawiec, a Rand Corp. analysis. It's two steps removed from being actual administration policy--it's the advice of an outside adviser to an outside advisory board. But it does suggest that the administration at least has its eyes open about the Saudis. Ricks says the briefing "represents a point of view that has growing currency within the Bush administration--especially on the staff of Vice President Cheney and in the Pentagon's civilian leadership--and among neoconservative writers and thinkers closely allied with administration policymakers."
Well balanced article. Unusual for the Washington Post.

Well, I never! As my Grandmother used to say. That poor Palestinian refugee who was exiled to Cyprus is being picked on again. And after all that time he spent in the church in Bethlehem, too. I'm sure this isn't his fault.
Oh, and speaking of lies and not taking any responsibility for your actions, the ex philanderer in chief is at it again.

Here is what you need to know about the TIME article saying Clinton Had A Plan.
This is from today's Rush Limbaugh show.

On Monday, the Pew Research Center released a poll finding that the media has lost favor with the American public and is now down to pre-September 11th levels when it comes to respect and credibility. On the very same day, Time magazine comes up with this silly "useful idiot" story that the Clinton administration had an Al-Qaeda elimination plan all set to go and the Bush administration ignored it, leading to the September 11th attacks. Clearly this Time magazine piece is the result of the ongoing Clinton legacy rebuilding effort.

The Bush people deny this is true, but we'll have to spend the next few days refuting this - just as we did that hit piece on Cheney and Halliburton. To believe this Time piece, you'd have to believe that Clinton kept silent about this for 11 months, when we know he'd have released it on September 12th to defend himself against charges he failed to deal with bin Laden. You'd have to believe that at the same time Bill Clinton was immersed in the Marc Rich pardon, he was equally immersed in getting rid of Osama bin Laden.

You'd have to believe that Sandy Berger and all the other Clinton people who scream whenever Bush wants to drop a bomb, were the meanest, toughest hawks ever when they ran the show. You'd have to believe that Clinton - who refused to take custody of bin Laden two times when the Sudanese offered him and who never even bothered to visit the World Trade Center site (he only got as far as New Jersey) after the first bombing - understood the gravity of the threat these thugs presented. You'd have to believe that, as the piece notes, the same administration that weakened our ability to infiltrate Al-Qaeda by doing things like banning the CIA from hiring unsavory characters, had a real commitment to national security.

Senator Biden's Daughter
So, let's get this straight. President Bush's daughter is busted for underage drinking, and it's front page news. One of the most powerful Democrats in the Senate's daughter is arrested for trying to stop a police officer from arresting the punk that through a bottle at him, and its a personal, family matter.

Okay, I hate polls. I shook my head through eight years of Clinton polling. I lost all faith in any validity of polling. Having said that, here's a poll. Sigh.
The mirror image numbers between Clinton/Algore and Mr Bush are striking.

Gary Kasparov's editorial is just as aggressive as his chess style. And just as potentially effective.

There are alot of changes coming in how countries relate to each other as the war continues. Here is an example of something that will not be tolerated when the war heats up, as it surely will.

No Jenin Massacre
Now really, is anyone surprised?
And speaking of true massacres, here are some interesting quotes from Hamas, the terrorists that took responsibility for killing 5 Americans this week.

I begin to wonder if The House of Representatives expelled the wrong member. Or maybe its just that a few more need to be expelled, like this one, in of all places, Georgia.

There's alot of opinions converging on Iran these days. From Stratfor to National Review, the talk is that the mullah dictators are in trouble. This gives a summary.

Bloodbath at The Job
Well, most of The work Gang, including me, survived. Two people were let go, many of us got written warnings. Inappropriate internet usage. .It will make tomorrow a very sad, very weird, day.Both of you who were let go know the site, and there is a link to my email. Let me know how you are doing, and I will pass it on to everyone else. Not through the work computers, though. Everyone else will just have to find the site for themselves, with no work emails to help. Send me your home email addresses, and I will add you to the The Gang list I send from home.

Nothing else will change about the site, as most of what I was doing here was done at home anyway.

Life Goes On.

Here's Peggy A good one about her meeting with the Pope, closely connected to the one last week.

Too much good stuff on Best of the Web to choose from, so here's the whole darn thing.
OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today

In the midst of strike threats and another Cubs losing season its nice to read a baseball story like this
Boston Globe Online / Nation | World / With wood, they connect to the magic

This Is What Got Me Started
There are alot of weblogs, or blogs, out there. More all the time. They most assuredly fill a need in the journalism community, rather journalists like it or not.
How Weblogs Keep the Media Honest (washingtonpost.com)

Michael Kelley
The Anti-U.S. Tide Turns (washingtonpost.com)

This Is a Huge Story
Hadley Arkes on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act on National Review Online

Another win for School Choice
OpinionJournal - Outside the Box

F-16s dispatched to chase.....something
What the heck do you make of this? Art Bell, where are you?

Trust in a Climate of Distrust
This is a profound look at what has happened to trust in government.
This paragraph is especially poignant:
Where there is trust, the very whisper of mistrust would be enough to make a government official resign. In such a case the unusualness of suspicion's being directed at him would make him a distraction to his colleagues and his party and to government institutions in general. But where mistrust is the order of the day and scandal, or pseudo-scandal, has become routine, there is no trust to be undermined. Nowadays officials from the president on down are mistrusted from their first day in office by the opposition and the media, at least, and so there becomes no way of distinguishing between this routine mistrust and that which genuinely might require a resignation or a dismissal.

Where's Janet Reno When You Need Her?

I would suppose this will get a whole lot more press coverage than the hundred thousand that marched on Washington against abortion last year. Even if only a thousand show up. You Gotta (Dis)Believe

When Do Those FBI Reforms Start?
What a farce. Looks like the FBI still doesn't have it's act together. This is my favorite quote:
Former CIA ( news - web sites) counterterrorism expert Vincent Cannistraro said relying on the public to do intelligence work is dangerous.
"It may be looked on as a large resource for law enforcement. On the other hand, it does lend itself to massive cases of abuse," Cannistraro said. "When it comes to monitoring the Internet and exploiting it, you have to leave it to the professionals."
And who would these Professionals be? They obviously aren't at the FBI.

Meanwhile, Al Quaeda certainly hasn't stopped using the net. Here's a good summary of the threat, and some of the solutions.

What a wonderful book review. It's so nice to see the New York Sun on the internet.
The Myths of Communism

Religious Conservatives Against John Ashcroft
Last week the New York Times had a front page snowjob on Conservative Christians supposed dissatisfaction with the Attorney Journal.
There are "religious fundamentalists" who are unhappy with Mr Ashcroft, and view him as a significant threat. But it's not the mythical "Religious Right."

O'Neal vs Rubin
Smackdown on Meet the Press

Now This Kind of Protest Might Work
Thousands of Palestinians Defy Curfew (washingtonpost.com)

The Democratic Strategy: Pray For a Recession
.Most of the discussion at the Democrats' session Monday focused on the nation's economic woes, however.
In his call for economic action, Daschle cited the rescue of coal miners in Pennsylvania and the heroism of passengers of United Flight 93 who fought terrorist kidnappers.
"We can certainly overcome our current economic difficulties," Daschle said. "We can create jobs and get our economy moving. All we need is a realistic plan."

Right now the plan seems to be, hope the economy keeps going south and that more Americans suffer

Clinton and Nixon: At Least Nixon Kept His Hands Off The Interns
Looks like Nixon wasn't the only President to use the IRS against his enemies.

Son of Osama
This is the best evidence we've had that Bin Laden is really dead. The evil continues however.

More Muslims are Home Schooling
Now here's an interesting twist on the home schooling movement.

Bruce Springsteen has a new album, coming out of 9/11/01. Here is a review.

The Western Front looks at coming back to work in the buildings around Ground Zero. Life tries to get back to what it was before 9/11/01, but reminders keep popping up that life isn't normal, and never will be again. It's important to remember that, as the press goes after the Administration. Check out this story from the Washington Post. Fortunately there are sites like National Review. Check out the exchange between Rohrbacher and Lee, toward the middle of the article.

I find this story disturbing for a lot of reasons. Hearing Republicans talk like Democrats is always disconcerting, and usually means more caving in. This "Corporate Crime" bill is being lauded by the Press and other Democrats. You'd think by now the Republicans would know that's a bad sign, but they are so anxious to hold on to the slim majority they have in the House, they can't see what this does to the Conservative base that put them there in the first place. In a mid term election, your base is what keeps you in office. Tom Delay calling CEOs "Corporate Kingpins" does not play to that base, but to the media.

When Is It Wrong To Apologize?

Here is a good summary of the cause and some of the solutions to the problem of wildfires in the west.

What an amazing story. Here's the story from the Johnsburg, PA paper, The Tribune-DemocratThe Miners Are Found

The difference between Hamas and Israel
Read this and then tell me who is more concerned about killing innocent civilians.

Well. This is scary.
U.S. Embassies Alerted to Threats (washingtonpost.com)

I think Peggy Noonan has defined why I do this site. In my own way, I'm keeping notes on the strange times we live in. OpinionJournal - Peggy Noonan Days of Lore

Another creepy creature
Here's a picture of the The Snakefish. It's also called The Frankenfish. Apparently it eats any other fish around it, then gets out of the water and WALKS to the next pond, river, lake etc. Between this and the Amoebas, I'm not sure I want to even go near my kids wading pool. Jeez!

Give 'em A Little Extra
That was my Father-in-Law's favorite phrase. In keeping with that, here's more on what is really going on with Dick Cheney and Haliburton.
Byron York on Dick Cheney & Halliburton on National Review Online

Major League Baseball's Deathwish
I've just started following this story. It looks reallly bad. And for the strike to hit around Sept 11 will just make it worse.
Baseball's issues give sponsors pause -- The Washington Times
Here's a story out of Brooklyn that illustrates what baseball is really all about.

What an awful story. Not real good for the Florida tourist industry either.
United Press International: Amoebas attack boy's brain

Here is the other story for the election summer. Priscilla Owen
You'll be hearing alot about her, most of it shrill, hysterical and distorted.
CNN.com - Owen raps interest groups at hearing - July 23, 2002

You keep hearing three words linked together this summer. Haliburton, Cheney and SEC probe. Innuendo is a wonderful thing in an election summer. Here's what is really going on. OpinionJournal - Featured Article

Traficant Update
House Expels Ohio Rep. Traficant (washingtonpost.com)

The headline reads
U.S. says taking Hamas revenge threat seriously
As Dani would say, Ya think?

Traficant Update:
Well, it's over. Only the second expulsion from the House of Representatives since the Civil War.
No more "Beam me up, Scotty!" Traficant put on quite a show. The more I hear him, the more I wonder....Is he guilty? When I hear the charges, and the certainty from the House members standing for conviction, I say, yep, he's guilty. Can ya tell I'm on the fence hear. Tonight was either a proud example of what makes this Republic tick, or a very dark day. It really isn't black and white to me. At least not yet....
Take a look at Mr. Traficant's website, while it's still there.

A preview of tonite's Trafficant show
USATODAY.com - Traficant promises grand finale if expelled

A Victory in the War on Terrorism
Cash crunch pushes Sri Lanka to peace -- The Washington Times

A review of the toll the stock market crash has taken on marriages.
Stocks’ decline roils marriages

What a fascinating look at Muslims in Europe. Partisan Review

I'm not so much impressed by her heroics, as saddened by her environment.
Philadelphia Daily News | 07/24/2002 | Erica is her own hero

Walter Williams gives a great summay of why vouchers are important.
TownHall.com: Conservative Columnists: Walter Williams

This is exactly what Conservative Episcopalians and Anglicans feared from the Archbishop of Canterbury-Elect. This could hasten the split that has been brewing for a while.
Here's another story, with more details about his leanings.

If you ever needed a reason for why President Bush opposed the UN World Court, read this from Drudge:

Palestinian Authority plans to accuse Ariel Sharon in front of International Criminal Court
Tue Jul 23 2002 22:55:55 ET

The Palestinian Authority will file a complaint with the newly established International Criminal Court over the Israeli air strike on Gaza City which killed 15 people, including civilians and children, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's top adviser said.

"We will ask the ICC for an urgent trial over the crime against humanity carried out last night by the occupation forces," Nabil Abu Rudeina said, in reference to the Israeli missile attack, which killed the leader of the radical group Hamas' armed wing.

MORE

"This will be a real test for this court. We hope the trial will start immediately, to look into Sharon's policies, which have destroyed the peace process and all international efforts to put it back on track," Rudeina told Agence France-Presse.

The ICC investigates and prosecutes alleged crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. Its jurisdiction began on July 1, but Israel is one of several countries which have refused to ratify its 1998 founding treaty.

Brent Bozell has it right.
You never heard the phrase "Judicial Watch" from any news source without the word "Conservative" in front of it. But not now. This is a great column.

Oh this was good! It's not often I print out a column, being the environmentalist you all know I am...ahem. Anyway, great column by Michael Kelly!!!!
Do Have a Nice Day (washingtonpost.com)

And here I thought Country music was safe.
It's not likely you will be hearing this song coming from my CD player.

Soooo, what are your plans for February 1, 2019?
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Space rock 'on collision course'

Let's say a Republican tried to do this. How many networks would the story have been on? And, what would have been the lead story on the Today Show?
Daschle seeks environmental exemption -- The Washington Times

This is one of those days when Best of the Web just has to be linked directly. There is just too much good stuff to link separately.
OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today

Well, this certainly makes sense. Frightening in many ways, but it makes sense.
Husbands forget spats, wives never do -- The Washington Times

Glass Houses, again
Joe Lieberman's reluctance

Remember that post about the Jewish Temple? One of the requirements for priesthood is to be a direct descendant of Aaron and Moses, a member of the Cohanim. . Looks like preparations were made to keep this tribe genetically intact....in India.
India's children of Israel find their roots - The Times of India

Bob Brinker had some good insights into the stock market on Sunday. He spoke at length about how both the media and the politicians are busily talking down the market for their own reasons. Bob Brinker's website is a great place to visit for some common sense, panic free information on the stock market and what will likely happen in the future.

World com has filed for bankruptcy.

Is anyone really surprised?

Here's a fascinating interview with the new Chief Information Officer for the FBI. Talk about a tough job. He is to be in charge of upgrading computer systems dating back 20 years. On the second page, he talks about his 3 primary goals. This is worth reading.

Goodbye Dad

Its not that there isn't alot of news out there. Check some of the links at the right for what's going on. Just a little too sad to write today. A good man died on Wednesday. Here's the link to the Obituary. Since it's unlikely they will keep it active for long, here it is as well. Few of the people reading this will know George Essig. That's a shame. He was worth knowing. I wish I had known him better.

Obituaries

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


George L. Essig

George L. Essig of St. Charles Mass of Christian Burial for George L. Essig, 84, will be held at 11 a.m. today, at St. Patrick Church, 408 Cedar St., St. Charles. The Rev. Joseph Linster will be the celebrant. Born July 30, 1917, in Bellwood, the son of George A. and Anna (nee Korrell) Essig, he died Wednesday, July 17, 2002, at his home. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Geneva. Mr. Essig's parents moved to St. Charles in 1921. George's father started the Essig Hardware Store in St. Charles, which was in business until the 1970s. George attended St. Patrick School and graduated from Marmion Military Academy in Aurora on an academic scholarship. After 60 years in the steel forging business, George retired as executive vice president of Federal Forge Company in Lansing, Mich. George and Mary Ronan were married on June 28, 1941, at St. Patrick Church, St. Charles. Throughout life, George's family, friends and business associates respected and loved him for his commitment to his Catholic faith, his positive attitude to "give 'em a little extra," a tremendous interest in people, and his love of learning. He is survived by his precious wife of 61 years, Mary; awesome children, Anne (Jim) Matteoni of Kansas City, Kan., Kathleen (Tom) Martinek of Greensboro, N.C., George (Theresa) Essig of San Diego, Calif., Stephen (Patricia) Essig of Naperville, Martin (Eileen) Essig of Mequon, Wis., Jane (Mark) Schoomaker of Calgary, Canada, Julia (Luis) Garza of Boulder, Colo., and Mary (Mark) White of St. Charles; 27 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his sisters, Esther Marie Essig, Shirley Essig Winston and Gladys Essig Barnes; and brothers, Raymond Essig and Wilfrid Essig. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jesuit Community of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626; Huntington's Disease Society of America, Generation 2000 Campaign, 158 W. 29th St., New York, NY 10011-5300; or to DuPage PADS, 705 W. Liberty, Wheaton, IL 60187. Arrangements were made by Norris Funeral Home, St. Charles. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For more funeral information, (630)584-2000 or www.NorrisFH.com.
Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from 7/19/2002 - 7/20/2002.

Had the opposite occurred, it would have been the lead story on all 3 networks, plus several hours of coverage would have ensued on CNN and MSNBC, with Phil Donahue cheering for the hecklers.

It didn't. The crowd supported George Bush. This is why you heard nothing about it from the mainstream media.
Cheers drown out jeers at Bush Michigan speech -- The Washington Times

Well, had just a few minutes. The wake is at 4:00 pm, the Funeral tomorrow.
My father in law was born in 1917, he died in 2002. What a staggering amount of history he saw. When the dust settles, I may spend some time reflecting on the history seen in those years, and posting some thoughts. See ya!

I love the last paragraph of this report on the latest polls on Mr Bush:

The polls do agree on one important question: The Post found the president's job-approval rating to be 72 percent, while the Times placed it at 70 percent. Still, the two papers' surveys seem to be the product of alternate universes in opinion polling. And there is, unfortunately, no way to fully compare the two. While the Post's editors have posted the entire results on their website (you can read them here), the Times's editors have chosen not to release their full results. When it comes to the Times's conclusion that the poll shows "considerable peril" for the White House, you'll just have to trust them.


And we all know how fair and balanced the New York Times is, right?

Ann Coulter writes about one of the most influential women in the last half of the 20th century. You won't hear her mentioned in any feminist literature, except possibly with a profanity in front of it.

Here's Peggy for today, folks. I've barely had time to skim it.
The wake is tonite, the funeral tomorrow morning at 11.
For those of you at good ole' UBH, hope things are going well. I'll see ya on Tuesday.

A Third Jewish Temple

If you've read any of the Left Behind series, this is the kind of story that gives you the chills. There is a movement in Israel to rebuild the Temple. Here's a little history on the first two, and why the rebuilding of The Temple is important to both Jews and Christians. Also, a link showing the progress being made to get everything prepared for when it is built.

Here's an odd eye witness to the latest homicide bombings in Tel Aviv.

The House 911 Report

Congress spent a whole lot of money on this report. Of course, saying Congress spent money is alot like saying the sun will rise this morning, but anyway....
It's a strong report, stating publicly much that is obvious, but needed to be made official. The most striking section advocates HUMINT, human intelligence. In other words, real agents doing more than staring at a computer screen. This has been a long time coming. I hope the meat of the report, which is still confidential, has specific suggestions on how to bring back human intelligence to our intelligence services. Here is a decent summary of the report from FoxNews.

This is turning into a very bad week. First the asthma kicks up, and now my Father-in-law dies today. As the disclaimer says, family is a priority. I'll be in and out, so check in every once in a while over the next week or so. And yes, Lorrie, I will do my best to post Peggy Noonan on Friday.

The latest from Michael Kelly. Looks like The Washington Post changed the name of the column. Townhall.com titles this Those in Glass Houses. Now where have I heard that theme before????

Noone is doing a better job of dealing with the latest Democratic attacks than Byron York of National Review. This story was originally published in Spring of 1999. There has not been a better summay of Mr Bush's buisness dealings before becoming Governor of Texas. It leaves out alot of little detailes, but those have been filled in by Mr York in previous stories. Click the link to National Review for more on that.

And Another From The Glass Houses Dept, this time Mr Daschle's right hand man.

Corzine tied to stock scheme -- The Washington Times

Another Story From the Glass Houses Dept.

Those Democrats just keep throwing rocks....
By the way, doesn't Terry McAuliffe remind you of a used car salesman? I mean no offense to used car salesman, but really.....

Tony sent me this. It makes sense, in a sick sort of way.....
Some Investment Advice
If you had bought $1000.00 worth of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now
be worth $49.00.
With Enron, you would have $16.50 of the original $1,000.00.
With WorldCom, you would have less than $5.00 left.
If you had bought $1,000.00 worth of Budweiser (the beer, not the stock) one
year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the cans for the 10 cent
deposit, you would have $214.00.
Based on the above, my current investment advice is to drink heavily and
recycle.
Hard to argue with that kind of advice.

Another perspective on suicide bombings in Israel. It's not just Jews being killed, but Christians as well.
WorldNetDaily: Christians also victims of Islamic terror

These continuing horror stories out of Saudi Arabia are troubling. There are so many, from multiple sources, that I could post all day and never get through them all. This one from the Washington Times is a good summary.
Saudi friends? -- The Washington Times

I haven't seen Road to Perdition yet, but this review by John Podheretz sure makes me want to. It was made in Geneva, Illinois last summer, but because they completely redid the buildings, you may not recognize it. On the other hand, leaving the Starbuck's sign up may have been a bit out of place in a movie set in the 1940's. It'll be the only time you will see anything advertised for five cents in a Starbucks window though.

Something completely different. The kids and I did KFC the other night. This link will take you to a fast food calorie counter. It's very interesting, in a depressing sort of way.

This little story from Human Events is just plain fun. They ask Senators this question:

Given the 9th Circuit Court’s recent decision on the Pledge of Allegiance, would you vote to confirm an atheist to the Supreme Court?

The answers are priceless. My favorite is Zell Miller:


Given the 9th Circuit Court’s recent decision on the Pledge of Allegiance, would you vote to confirm an atheist to the Supreme Court?

Sen. Zell Miller (D.-Ga.): Nope.

Zell is a whole lot better Republican than most of the Republicans in the Senate.

What the heck? Spanish warships are headed for....Morocco???? Looks like a serious war is on the horizon between Spain and Morocco over several islands off the Moroccan coast. Stay tuned.

Well, Osama may be alive after all, at least according to this story out of Germany. It wouldn't surprise me, but it still makes me wonder where that mythical Fourth of July Video went to. Must have gotten lost in the mail or something....

I'm an Episcopalian. I grew up Southern Baptist, and still love that Faith Tradition. But I also very much love the Liturgy, and find the Prayer Book a wonderful comfort. That's part of why this story by Dr. Mullen (Dr Mullen is the rector of St. Michael's, Cornhill, in the City of London and chaplain to the London Stock Exchange) so deeply disturbing. The current Archbishop of Canterbury is an evangelical, and relatively conservative. It's apparent this new nominee will further divide the Anglican Communion.

For those who aren't privy to this family fight, a little explanation.
The Episcopal Church is primarily a very Liberal denomination. Many bishops and rectors jettisoned The Faith long ago, and embraced a fuzzy form of Christianity that leaves Christ out.

The denomination's most famous representative is John Shelby Spong. The link will take you to a critique of his theology from Probe. He is, in this writer's opinion, a heretic. .

There is in the Episcopal Church a guerilla war. Conservative Evangelicals are working hard to bring about change. We have looked to the Archbishop of Canterbury for some inspiration, or at least knowledge that attack will not come from that quarter. That may change, if Dr. Mullen is correct. I fear he is.

John Podheretz has it just about right. His analysis of the two political parties makes a lot of sense.Let's hope he isn't right about the conclusion of what he calls "the melodrama."

Take a look at this. I wish this mother had spoken out sooner, like before the father used his daughter to push his own atheist agenda to remove God from the Pledge. Ties in well wtith the story below it on the ACLU agenda.

About the best look at the true agenda of the ACLU I've read. Valerie will love this.
Michael Novak on U.S. Founding & Religion on National Review Online

Remember what I said the other day about Glass Houses? That tinkling sound is from Mr Gephardt's neighborhood
Gephardt's Loan Problems, from DrudgeReport

Here's the "more on that later" as promised on the latest Democratic attacks. Again, from the Wall Street Journal.

Easier reading than yesterday's peice by Byron York, but covers the same ground.

Oh, this is a good one from Peggy Noonan. Gotta tell ya, I've been feeling a little down of late. I think alot of folks have as they watch their stocks tank, hear new attacks on Mr Bush (more on that later) and see the New Economy melt right back into the Old Economy. It seems like the energy and patriotism we found after 9/11 just kinda melted along with the stock market.

This article makes a difference, and puts a little needed perspective back where it should be. Thngs are different, yet the same in a good way. Pat Tillman's enlistment makes me realize that.

Here is the story about a very ,ahem, large problem in the Kane County, Illinois coroners office, as promised.
Corpulent corpses burden west suburban coroner

Here is a wonderful look at how taxes are hurting younger Americans. Great reading if you are under 50. if you are prone to rage attacks however, take a xanax before clicking on the link.

I promised some folks yesterday a story about the problems in the Kane County Illinois coroner's office. It was on the DrudgeReport for only a couple of hours, then poof, it was gone. I tried the Daily Southtown last night, and still couldn't find it. If I run across it, I'll let people know.

This is a major editorial statement from National Review. Yes, I know, a little boring, but worth plowing through. It supports my argument that Mr Bush is looking for ethics, the Media and other Democrats are only looking for new laws, and therefore more government involvement.
NR Editors on Corporate Corruption on National Review Online

I've sort of been on a soapbox about who is really to blame for the forest fires in the west. Here's more proof of who is destroying the forests. Hint: It isn't the Boy Scouts.
OpinionJournal - Scene & Heard

This has been bubbling out there for awhile. Remember the old line about people who live in glass houses?
NYPOST.COM News Columnists: DASCHLE SHOULD MIND HIS OWN BIG BIZ By DEBORAH ORIN

Okay, can we pleeeeaaaassse put this whole Democratic attack on Bush about Harkin energy to rest? Byron York, again, tells what is known. The questions being asked by Mr Daschle, Terry McAuliffe et al all come down to this: Is George W. Bush basically honest and ethical? The resounding answer, again and again, is yes. Again and again, they have attacked his integrity, his basic moral character.

The idea behind the attack is that since Clinton was attacked for eight years, primarily on the basis of his character, surely Mr Bush can be attacked on the same grounds. Here's the difference. Can you honestly say that William J. Clinton is basically honest and ethical? Deep down in your soul, can you honestly say that? Didn't think so. I don't know many people who can say that.

You can make that claim about George W Bush, and have evidence from the past 9 months to back it up. Can you make the same claim about ANY nine month period of the Clinton Administration? Go ahead, give it a shot.

Read the article by Byron York. Makes a whole lot of sense. More sense than Tom Daschle, etc.

Walter Williams takes a break from The Speech, to give an insightful look at how airport security fits into the "Civic Religion of Liberalism." I like that phrase.

The general idea behind this morning's editorials on The Speech from yesterday is that it was pretty good, but a little late.
Michael Kelly certainly thinks so, as does the lead editorial from The Wall Street Journal.

Well folks, Mr Bush gave The Speech today. The difference between Mr Bush and the Democrats is this:
Mr Bush speaks of ethics and integrity, Mr Daschle et al. speak of more laws.
The difference is striking, and profound.
Here's the heart of the speech, and a glimpse into the heart of the President.

Tougher laws and stricter requirements will help. It will help. Yet, ultimately, the ethics of American business depend on the conscience of America's business leaders. We need men and women of character who know the difference between ambition and destructive greed, between justified risks and irresponsibility, between enterprise and fraud.

Our schools of business must be principled teachers of right and wrong and not surrender to moral confusion and relativism.

Our leaders of business must set high and clear expectations of conduct, demonstrated by their own conduct. Responsible business leaders do not jump ship during hard times. Responsible leaders do not collect huge bonus packages when the value of their company dramatically declines. Responsible leaders do not take home tens of millions of dollars in compensation as their companies prepared to file for bankruptcy, devastating the holdings of their investors.

Everyone in a company should live up to high standards, but the burden of leadership rightly belongs to the chief executive officer. CEOs set the ethical direction for their companies. They set a moral tone by the decisions they make, the respect they show their employees and their willingness to be held accountable for their actions. They set a moral tone by showing their disapproval of other executives who bring discredit to the business world.

It starts at the top. "It" can be either the corruption, or the ethics that have made American Capitalism function.

Maybe there are still a few men like Ted Williams out there. What a great story.
Yahoo! News - NFL Player Gives Up Millions for Army

For those of you that keep hearing about Worldcom, but never really knew what they did or why they fell, this is a great primer. John C. Wohlstetter on WorldCom on National Review Online

Oh, what a wonderfully complete analysis of Saudi Arabia, and the desperate need for a change in our policy toward them.

It looks like the Media, and the rest of the Democrats are striking out again, according to the Gallup Poll. . Ah well, they will keep trying, I'm sure.

It's not often that The Washington Times mentions Schaumburg Illinois, and even less often in relation to a possible terrorist find.

Concise analysis of the "Pledge" decision, and the real problem behind it.
Dov B. Fischer on Pledge of Allegiance & Judges on National Review Online

Best obituary I've read on Ted Williams. It begs the question, How many of the current Major Leaguers have volunteered for the current war? They will certainly have the free time to serve their country if they go on strike again.
Geoffrey Norman on Ted Williams on National Review Online

We've all managed to move on after Sept. 11. At least we think we have. The Western Front reminds us that we have all changed since that day. He also gives a reminder that New Yorkers have probably changed the most.

If you have ever read The Lord of the Rings, and know anything about this World Court, you will love this article. It presents in sharp terms why the World Court is such an awful idea.

Is there really any doubt in your mind that Thursday's shooting at LAX was a terrorist attack? It's time we listened to Israel a little more, like in this column from the Jerusalem Post.

This story is front page in The Washington Post, but Space.com always gives more details.
Russia Proposes Sending Team to Mars

Rule Number One:
If the attack plan is printed in the New York Times, IT AIN'T THE PLAN THEY WILL USE!
U.S. Plan for Iraq Is Said to Include Attack on 3 Sides

A good summary of the Supreme Court decisions this term, by one of this country's foremost jurists, Kenneth Starr.
OpinionJournal - Featured Article

I came across this site called The Color of Thieves over the weekend. Great stuff, and obviously Wesley is also a fan of Peggy Noonan too.

Sign the petition for a constitutional amendment protecting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Millions of Americans-Protect the Pledge of Allegiance!

A good look at the need for protection of American citizens across the world.

After that last post, I had to go wash my hands. Now I'm back, with a great look at Tom Daschle's latest silliness. It's a shame he isn't running for reelection this year.

This is soooo hard for me. I can't stand this woman, I really can't. But I sure agree with Hillary on this one. I can't believe I wrote that. Sigh.

What a wonderful nation we live in when Ann Coulter's book Slander winds up Number One on the New York Times best seller list.

Michael Kelly is apparently off today, but Walter Williams is alive and well, spreading capitalism wherever he goes.

Folks, skip the usual specials on ABC and other stations, and watch this as part of your 4th of July celebrations.Here is the direct link to the PBS special to be shown July 4th evening.
Rediscovering George Washington | PBS

Here is a review of the special from National Review.

here we go. Enron didn't work, they found Bush wasn't stupid, so now they are going back to the drawing board. Byron York on Bush & Democrats on National Review Online

Military history is making a come back. It's about time.
Victor Davis Hanson on Military History on National Review Online

A gift for the 4th of July, an extra Peggy Noonan on a Wednesday! A Celebration of what is right and good in the United States of America.

Dick Morris has a fascinating look at the war in the White House, or rather the war inside the chief resident of the White House.

An analysis of the latest gallup poll on the upcoming elections. Good news if you are a Republican, not so good if you are a Democrat.

Take a look at what this man is really like. This is from the New York Times, which did it's best to present him in a positive light. He still comes off looking like a wacko.
'Under God' Iconoclast Looks to Next Targets

Here's a classic Opinion Journal with too many good links to print separately.

This is an editorial that needed to be written ten years ago. Greens Go Up In Smoke.I have yet to see a report in the mainstream media on the growing anger in Arizona and Colorado toward the misguided policies of the environmentalists. Even the summaries from the Arizona papers print the defense of the environmentalist, but fail to print the editorial condemning the policies. Scroll to the bottom of the link to see for yourself. I guess the fires have not come close enough to the editorial staff of the local newspapers.