Most Scientific Articles Are...

Wrong, wrong, wrong:

Most published scientific research papers are wrong, according to a new analysis. Assuming that the new paper is itself correct, problems with experimental and statistical methods mean that there is less than a 50% chance that the results of any randomly chosen scientific paper are true.

John Ioannidis, an epidemiologist at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, says that small sample sizes, poor study design, researcher bias, and selective reporting and other problems combine to make most research findings false. But even large, well-designed studies are not always right, meaning that scientists and the public have to be wary of reported findings.

If you want to read the actual study, you can find it here. Of course,if the article is correct, the study has more than a 50% chance of being wrong, in which case it would be..right. Which would be...wrong. Right?

Adopt a Town, or a Family

Nariel over at Ancient Eyes has come upon a great idea. Head over and read it, then pass it on.

Do You Believe We Are Fighting Evil People in Iraq?

Dennis Prager:

Because if you cannot answer it, or avoid answering it, or answer "no," we know enough about your moral compass to know that further dialogue is unnecessary. In fact, dialogue is impossible. Our understanding of good and evil is so different from yours, there is simply nothing to discuss. Someone who was asked a hundred years ago "Do you believe that whites who lynch blacks are evil?" and refused to answer in the affirmative was not someone one could dialogue with.

Read the whole thing before commenting.

Catastrophe: Eating Crow

I desperately wish my post from Monday, LJiC Bought the Hype, had been correct. It's now clear the hype was real, the catastrophe of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast not overblown, simply delayed. I was horribly, tragically wrong. One of the joys of blogging is seeing your opinions read worldwide. One of the nightmares is when your opinion is so wrong, like this one obviously was.

Few have reported more horrifically, and more eloquently on the disaster than Eye of the Storm:

Monday, August 29, 2005

We the writers of this blog humbly bow ourselves in respect to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families.
We cannot understand your pain.
The information we are giving you is filtered through our experiences.
What began as an adventure has quickly turned into heart-wrenching tragedy.
We joked, and may try to find respectful humor again before long, but we do so honestly as a need for distraction.

For those of you seeking information, the following is what we are comfortable passing on for now and we will try to do more as time passes.
-Every building in a low-lying area along the Coast experienced bad damage.
-The roads are mostly impassable or destroyed and the communications lines are spotty at best. This situation will persist for several days.
-Do not try to come here yet. Police, fire and rescue are beyond overworked. Looters are rampant. Hospitals have overflowed. Officials of all stripes lack the words to properly describe the devastation.
As much fun as its been to do this blog, Mike and I are going to be overworked before long. We want to help those of you seeking information but fear telling you the wrong thing, especially with this much destruction and confusion.
Thank you for reading us.

Read through this blog, as it's writers go from lighthearted to frightened to devastated. It's a fitting tribute to the power of this storm.
The pictures from this site are devastating as well, as is the wall to wall coverage on the Cable News channels. And it's likely to get worse. I'll continue to report as it comes in, humbled by the devastation.

Open Office: A Real Threat to Microsoft

I've been using Open Office for years now. It's a great alternative to the massively expensive Microsoft Office, and it's free. If you've got a broadband connection, give it a try. You won't be sorry.

Republican Incompetence

Bob Novak has a great column on Republicans shooting themselves in the foot, this time missing the opportunity to bring down Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. As they continue to alienate the conservative base, the rumor of a death wish for Republican majorities in the House and Senate continue to gain credibility....

Oil Climbs Thanks to Katrina

Off we go. Oil is already approaching $70, and will climb rapidly over the next week. As of 4:08 AM EST:

PETROLEUM ($/bbl) PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Crude 69.20 3.07 4.64 04:08

Have you filled your gas tank yet? Better do it soon.

Catastrophe Averted: LJiC Bought the Hype

Maybe that show Oil Storm on FX was the reason, maybe I've just become so darned bored with "Mother" Sheehan and her fellow travelers that my judgment was clouded. Maybe my mind just went right in the ditch with the whackos in Crawford.

Whatever the reason, I bought the doomsday, environmentalist whacko, Cable news hyped scenario. New Orleans underwater! Our economy crushed by the hurricane! The sky is falling! Oh no!!!!!

My apologies to my readers. None of that is going to happen, anymore than any of the other whacked out notions of the environmentalist left. I bought the hype hook, line and sinker.

Katrina is a bad hurricane, one of the worst in a long time. But the doom and gloom hype of the MSM is contagious, and in a sick way very exciting. But, as usual, the doomsday scenarios are wrong. It will make me even more skeptical in the future.

Big and Small in Afghanistan

The guns are the same size. I'm thinking that's what counts:

KABUL, Afghanistan ? Sgt. Sylvester T. Kincheon Sr., a 6 foot 11 inch computer technician, and Pfc. Melissa M. Telaak, a 4 foot 10 inch MP, stand in front of a Humvee with their M249 Squad Automatic Weapons at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. Both are on a year-long deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Yoshioka,

The Good News From Afghanistan

Thanks to my contact Spc. Flowers at Centcom for this link. One interesting part of the link is the somewhat frightening dialogue box that comes up before you can open the site. Very much worth reading.

Catastrophe: The Nightmare Scenario for New Orleans

There really is no other story today. Katrina continues to play out the scenario we've been dreading for years. Fill up your gas tanks today. By this time next week, $2.77 a gallon may seem incredibly inexpensive.

Catastrophe

Let's be very clear. The monster brewing in the gulf threatens all of us. The nightmare scenario of a Category 5 hurricane making a direct hit on New Orleans, with its oil wells and refineries is now in the making. Katrina is a Cat 4 ,and growing. And, as of 2:15 AM CST, it's track takes it right over New Orleans.

A taste of the looming disaster was presented on FX a few weeks ago. Oil Storm began with just the scenario shaping up for Monday morning. If you know how to pray, now would be a good time to put that knowledge to good use.

Baptists and Catholics

I'm tired of the news, bored by the same old same old. So, a joke. HT to Father Mark Tusken, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Geneva IL:

A young Baptist boy and a young Catholic girl were walking home from Church together. Both were dressed in their Sunday best.
They got to a stream that had flooded, making the crossing difficult.
The Baptist boy said, "My Mamma will whoop me up one side and down the other if I get my clothes muddy crossing that creek."
The Catholic girl said, " I won't be able to sit down for a week if I get my clothes muddy."
The Baptist boy had an idea, "Hey, what if we take off all our clothes, and hold them over our heads while we cross. That way they won't get wet!"
Well, that sounded like a fine idea to the Catholic girl, so that's what they did.
After they had crossed, and were standing in the warm sun drip drying, the little Baptist boy looked the Catholic girl up and down, deep in thought.
After a minute, he said, " Gee, I never knew there was so much difference between Baptists and Catholics!"

Cheers.

We Are Known By the Company We Keep

A recounting of "Mother" Sheehan and those she has chosen to associate herself with. I realize those who veiw her as a hero would prefer not to think about the far left she is a part of, but this peice gives a great rundown on the fellow travelers with her.

And, finally, from Clifford May at Townhall.com. I don't often quote entire articles, but this one is important, and expresses my feelings about "Mother" Sheehan far better than I could:

August 25, 2005

Dear Cindy Sheehan:

I know you want to talk to President Bush about the conflict in Iraq, the war in which your son, Specialist Casey Sheehan, was tragically killed. I also know that while the President met with you previously, he is not eager to see you again – not now that you are affiliated with Moveon.org and supported by David Duke and handled by slick public relations professionals.

So let me suggest an alternative: Come visit with me. Our meeting probably won't get much publicity but I can promise you an interesting discussion. I'll invite to join us some of the many Iraqi freedom fighters with whom I've been working for the past several years – many of them women -- as well as democracy and human rights activists from Syria, Iran, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon and other countries.

You say you want to know, “What is the noble cause that my son died for?” They would answer: Your son died fighting a war against an extremist movement intent on destroying free societies and replacing them with racist dictatorships.

The Iraqis will want to tell you what life was like under Saddam Hussein – the mass murders of hundreds of thousands, the women and girls who were gang-raped by Saddam's cronies, the creative forms of torture that were ignored by the “international community.”

I know several Baghdadi businessmen whom Saddam suspected of disloyalty. He had their right hands amputated. Want to meet them? The doctors who were forced to perform these amputations are worth chatting with as well.

It's true, as you and others have pointed out, that we did not find Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction. But don't be misled into believing that Saddam never had any. Indeed, he used chemical weapons against the Kurds, slaughtering thousands in villages like Halabja, where mothers laid down in the streets and embraced their children in their final moments. We can show you pictures. We can introduce you to survivors.

Like you, I wish America's intelligence agencies had known more than they did about Saddam's capabilities. But Saddam's intentions were never in doubt.

Cindy, you've been calling for the U.S. to get out of Iraq at a time when our enemies in that country include the most aggressive and lethal branch of al-Qaeda, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Can you not see that if we were to retreat from Iraq now, it would be a historic defeat for the United States?

And it would be a huge victory for al-Qaeda. Zarqawi would view himself – not without justification – as a giant killer. Recruits would flock to him for the many battles that would, inevitably, follow. We could not expect to do better in those battles than we did in Iraq.

We will never be able to make ourselves inoffensive to the racist death cults that have declared war on us. When these barbarians kill brave Americans like Casey Sheehan we can't run and hide. Or rather we can – but that only invites the terrorists to hit us again. For years we didn't understand that. The consequence was Sept. 11, 2001.

Remember: We fled from Somalia in 1993. We left Saddam in power after the first Gulf War in 1991. We did nothing much after the Hezbollah bombing of our Marine barracks in 1983. Our response to the taking of American hostages in Tehran in 1979 was toothless.

In each of these cases – and too many others – we demonstrated to our enemies that there would be no penalty for humiliating and even slaughtering Americans. In each of these cases Osama bin Laden saw evidence that Americans are irresolute and weak; that America's military – for all its sophistication and technology – would prove no match for determined hostage-takers, decapitators and suicide bombers.

One more thing: Your slogan has been “America out of Iraq!” and also “Israel out of Palestine!” I wonder if you understand that you are calling for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from their ancient homeland. I wonder if you understand that more than half of all Israelis fled from places like Tehran, Cairo and Tripoli – and they are not welcome to return. I wonder if you understand that there is no way for Israelis to get “out of Palestine” that does not include genocide.

If you and your supporters are not, in fact, arguing for another Holocaust, would you be so good as to clarify your remarks?

Again, Cindy, I hope we can discuss all of this and more in my office with my friends –fighters for freedom who count on the support of freedom-loving Americans. Will you join us for lunch? Tuna or turkey?

Clifford D. May is the president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a policy institute focusing on terrorism and a Townhall.com member group.

Gates of Fire: An Iraqi Mission

If you read nothing else today, read this post from a true journalist in Iraq. Most especially scroll down to the pictorial definition of heroism toward the bottom. Truly amazing stuff!

You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy

There is no room for Silent Majorities these days. And military families are finally speaking up, and taking action against "Mother" Sheehan and her ilk:

Military families disturbed by a sea of crosses erected by anti-war protesters near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, have removed crosses bearing the names of their fallen children and transferred them to another site to show support for American troops in Iraq.
Anti-war protesters "never asked for my permission to put up a cross for my son for their cause," said Gary Qualls, whose son was killed in Iraq. "They are not respecting our sons and daughters."
The rival cross camps are evidence of a growing public backlash against the anti-war campaign of California activist Cindy Sheehan, who blames Mr. Bush for son Casey's death in Iraq and has called for immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gregg Garvey's son, Army Sgt. Justin Garvey, 23, was killed in Iraq in July 2003. On Tuesday, Mr. Garvey of Keystone Heights, Fla., removed two crosses bearing the name of his son that were posted at the Sheehan demonstration site -- dubbed "Camp Casey" -- outside the Bush ranch.
"I also picked up crosses of two colleagues [of his son], after their parents gave me permission to remove their crosses as well," Mr. Garvey said yesterday.
The crosses were erected by a group called Veterans for Peace as part of Mrs. Sheehan's protest that began Aug. 6.
"One by one, [Mrs. Sheehan's] crosses are coming down," said Mr. Qualls, whose son, Louis Qualls, 20, was a Marine reservist killed in Fallujah last fall.

Other sites bringing the curtain down on the three ring circus are Grassfire.org and Move America Forward. org. Both organizations are worth your support.

Iraq and Vietnam: Only the Protestors are the Same

Great editorial by Jeff Jacoby, including this reprint of an exchange between Matt Lauer and an American soldier:

Lauer: We've heard so much about the insurgent attacks, so much about the uncertainty as to when you folks are going to get to go home. How would you describe morale?

Chief Warrant Officer Randy Kergiss: My unit morale's pretty good. . . . People are ready to execute their missions, and they're pretty excited to be here.

Lauer: How much does that uncertainty of knowing how long you're going to be here impact morale?

Sergeant Jamie Wells: Morale's always high. Soldiers know they have a mission, they like taking on the new objectives and taking on the new challenges. . . . They're motivated, ready to go.

Lauer: Don't get me wrong, I think you guys are probably telling me the truth, but there might be a lot of people at home wondering how that could be possible with the conditions you're facing and with the insurgent attacks . . .

Captain Sherman Powell: Well, sir, I tell you -- if I got my news from the newspapers also, I'd be pretty depressed as well.

Lauer: What don't you think is being correctly portrayed?

Powell: Sir, I know it's hard to get out and get on the ground and report the news. . . . But for of those who've actually had a chance to get out and go on patrols . . . we are very satisfied with the way things are going here. And we are confident that if we're allowed to finish the job we started we'll be very proud of it and our country will be proud of us for doing it. . . .

Lauer: How would you feel about US forces being withdrawn before -- you're shaking your head -- before the insurgency is defeated?

Powell: Well, sir, I would just tell you . . . as long as we continue to have confidence that we are supported and people have our back, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

Lauer: So you would rather stay here longer and defeat the insurgency then be pulled out earlier . . .?

Kergiss: Yes, sir.

Wells: Absolutely.

"Don't get me wrong, you guys are PROBABLY telling the truth."
There can be no better example of journalism today than that statement by a face millions of Americans see every day. And no better example of the American soldier than these guys that defend Lauer's right to be an idiot.

Soldier's Angels: A Worth Cause

A great way to support our troops, one soldier at a time. The young men and women of our armed forces need to hear from us, and Soldier's Angels is a great way to make that happen.

Jackory's Listening Room

One of my favorite blogs is Jackory's Listening Room. Had lunch with Jackory while in Oklahoma, and loved every minute of it. He's been a good friend for a long time, and his growth in Christ the past few years is a marvel to behold.

No one does as much with graphics as Jackory. If you haven't visited his site recently, head on over. He's been my music expert for a long time, and should be yours too.

Google Earth

If you haven't downloaded Google Earth, you don't know what you're missing. Using the technology of keyhole, Google has taken satellite photography to a whole new level.

Atta and the Prague Connection

With the ongoing revelations of Able Danger calling in to question much of the 9/11 Commission report, the report from Czech intelligence of Atta in Prague meeting with Iraqis continues to gain credibility, while the credibility of the 9/11 commission continues to slip away.

Experimenting with Blogger for Word

Experimenting with Blogger for Word
This could be a great thing. It sure would put the blogger wysiwyg interface on steroids.
Let’s see how it works for real, though. We’ll link LJiC just for funnies.

We The People

Despite the wailing from the American Media, and their leftist allies, the Iraqi Constitution is taking shape:

PREAMBLE

We the people of Iraq, newly arisen from our disasters and looking with confidence to the future through a democratic, federal, republican system, are determined -- men and women, old and young -- to respect the rule of law, reject the policy of aggression, pay attention to women and their rights, the elderly and their cares, the children and their affairs, spread the culture of diversity and defuse terrorism.

We are the people of Iraq, who in all our forms and groupings undertake to establish our union freely and by choice, to learn yesterday's lessons for tomorrow, and to write down this permanent constitution from the high values and ideals of the heavenly messages and the developments of science and human civilization, and to adhere to this constitution, which shall preserve for Iraq its free union of people, land and sovereignty.

What a moving preamble. Appears they are making progress on the Islamic parts too.

Pat Robertson. Sigh

The White House, members of Congress, and other spokesman quickly disavow this stupidity.
In fact, I'll say very firmly that Robertson was foolish to say such silliness.

The media and the left wing bloggers are outraged, ourtraged I tell you! Pat Robertson called for the assassination of the President of Venezeula. See,see! All conservatives are warmongers and hypocrites! And Christians are the worst!

Yet Air America can suggest President Bush be assassinated, and no outrage appears
"Mother Sheehan" can spout her anti-American BS, and be praised for it as a hero.
Michael Moore can become wealthy with his anti-American propaganda, and be made rich.

I'm curious if any of the left wing bloggers have said anything about any of the above. Not likely.

So tell me again, who's the hypocrite here?

School Is Starting in Iraq

Centcom is making a concerted push through the blogosphere to get the good news about Iraq to the people. It's about time.

Yes, the MSM gets these press releases too. Shame they don't read them, or, God forbid, report them:

Children in Dobak Tappak village of Al Tamim Province received much-needed school supplies, clothing and toys from the Nahrain Foundation, a non-governmental organization that focuses on providing proper nutrition, decent clothing and medical supplies to Iraqi women and children. The foundation received its supplies as part of a joint effort between American donations and a Coalition forces-run program known as “Operation Provide School Supplies,” which accepts donations from private citizens and corporations in the U.S.

More than 600 children will return to renovated or rebuilt schools in Maysan Province when school starts this fall. This week, renovation on the Al-Eethnar Mud School was completed, and the Al Eethar Mud School was replaced at a cost of $87,000, benefiting 500 students who attend classes there.

In addition to reconstruction on schools, eight newly constructed schools in Wassit and Babil Provinces are receiving new furniture before the start of the school year. Each of the school projects will receive office desks and chairs, file cabinets and new student desks. Collectively, 400 three-student desks will be proportionally divided among the schools, based upon the number of students.

Hey, here's an idea. Maybe the journalists who are holed up in Baghdad could actually go to these schools and do JOURNALISM!

A New Poll For Republicans

If you're Republican, head over to Patrick Ruffin's site and vote, vote, vote. Interesting results. I think Guliani is still relying on name recognition, but we'll see.

The Definition of Insipid: Senator Dick

Great article on Senator Dick from Manuel Miranda. Unfortunately, the Republican Party is in such disarray here in The People's Republic of Illinois that it is unlikely any advantage will be taken of Dick Durbin's hypocrisy.

A Collection of Heresies: The ECUSA

I'm an Episcopalian...for now. But statements like these will quickly drive me and many others from the ECUSA. I'll still be an Anglican, but I think the time is fast approaching when being Anglican in the United States will not mean being Episcopalian.

The Space Elevator: It's Time Has Come

The space elevator is coming. The site above is an general overview. This site give more details.

Short Wave Radio on the Internet

I've always been fascinated by Shortwave radio. Now, thanks to Art Bell, I can listen to shortwave while blogging. You can too.

A Fascinating Mars Site

Remember the Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity? They are still operating, and sending back some amazing pictures. Charles Schultz's site shows some intriguing photographs from the Rovers which has NASA squirming...here's a couple:
Trilobites: can you tell which one is from Earth and which from Mars?
Sea Urchins
And my favorite, a possible spiral sea shell:

Bounce around the site. Some amazing planet out there, just waiting for us to explore it.

Sigh. The Vacation is over

A huge thank you to Gun-Toting Liberal for being guest host this week! His post, The Final Inspection, confirmed him as one of the top guys in the blogosphere.

Spent some time with Nariel (Ancient Eyes of for Current Times) and Kevin (The Wizard's Workshop). It was a great time, but much too short.

Managed to stay away from the computer, and for the most part away from the news as well.
But I'm back, and of course, Liberty never left, thanks to the help of The Gun Toting Liberal.

Gold Star Moms

Gold Star Moms. An important organization. Don't confuse this worthwhile group with the whacko brigade lead by Cindy Sheehan.

THE FINAL INSPECTION

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."

~ Author Unknown ~Blog ON...

Cross-Posted to The Gun-Toting Liberal

The Catholic Bigotry of the Left

A quick post from Kansas City:
Looks like Cindy Sheehan is still blathering away in Crawford, but the left has turned its sights to John Roberts' Catholicism. Wonder if they are digging up old tapes of the Republican opposition to JFK to help in the smearing?

The Legalization of Illicit Drugs - Yes or No (Weekly topic at BoP)

That was the topic of this week today over at the Balance of Power.

NOTE: Today's post was written by GTL, who is filling in for Mark who is on vacation and will be back on the 28th.

For those who are unfamiliar with the BoP; it's a multi-blogger project where a devisive issue is discussed amongst seven different bloggers. The bloggers hail from the left, the right, and libertarian ideologies, and deep respect is ATTEMPTED to be given to opposing points of view. New topics come out every Wednesday, and the discussion continues throughout the week in the comments sections of the posts.

This week's topic at the BoP is "The Legalization of Illicit Drugs - Yes or No". As you can imagine, the opinions were pretty strong; this week, coming from right winger Jay, of Stop The ACLU (this week's host); left-winger, Patricia, of Ancient Eyes for Current Times; myself; and right winger, Zaphriel, of Birth of a NeoCon. There were some strong opinions voiced, as you can imagine; but I must say there are definitely some surprises today. Pay the BoP a visit and weigh in yourself, or you can weigh in by using this comments section, if you'd prefer.

Here's a preview of the opening paragraph of Jay's topic:

Recently at my blog I posted on the subject of drug legalization or decriminalization, of which I received much flak from the normally supporting libertarian readers. They viewed this as an issue of liberty. An argument to have the freedom to do whatever one would want to ones own body, much like the argument the left have for abortion. However, I view drug addiction not as liberty, but as a form of slavery, and cannot see how one could equate the avocation of legal drugs with liberty at all.

And here's a preview of my response to Jay:

Jay, my friend, in my opinion, you deserved the flak from your civil libertarian guests.We spend BILLIONS of dollars chasing after potheads, trying them, and incarcerating them. By FAR the largest percentage of people who are incarcerated for "drug crimes" are there because they were involved with POT, not some other drug that has actually been proven to be dangerous.

Frankly, most people who've read my blog know full-well how I feel about the so-called "war on drugs", which I covered a little more in-depth last month with some actual dollar figures and truths, vs. myths. If you haven't read it yet, it's in my July 28th post entitled: The war on pot: is it worth $4 BILLION-PLUS per year to you? Give it a look.

Now, swing into the BoP to read the rest of mine, and Jay's points of view, as well as the other responses from Zaphriel, and Pat. There ARE some surprises.

Cross-Posted to the Gun-Toting Liberal, and Balance of Power

Oh yeah, THAT'S IT - let's just tag little babies as terrorists and prevent them from boarding planes thanks to secret Government "no-fly" list

Babies Caught Up in 'No-Fly' Confusion
By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer (source: Yahoo News)

NOTE: Today's post was written by GTL, who is filling in for Mark who is on vacation and will be back on the 28th.

Hey, it's good to see we're not allowing *some* "evil baby terrorists" to board our planes. Way to go, TSA; that's keeping our friendly skies safe!

"... WASHINGTON - Infants have been stopped from boarding planes at airports throughout the U.S. because their names are the same as or similar to those of possible terrorists on the government's "no-fly list."

It sounds like a joke, but it's not funny to parents who miss flights while scrambling to have babies' passports and other documents faxed.

Ingrid Sanden's 1-year-old daughter was stopped in Phoenix before boarding a flight home to Washington at Thanksgiving. ..."

Do you ever wonder if perhaps YOU are on this secret, Government "no-fly" list of over 100,000 Americans? How would you know? Other than trying to fly in peace just to be stopped, you wouldn't know. How would you get on this list? You would hope it would be pretty tough to do so, but let's face it; 100,000-PLUS Americans is a lot of names per capita. Can you end up on the list because you write a blog that disagrees with some donut munching G-man's own political viewpoints? Because you staunchly defend the 1st, and/or 2nd Amendments? Dislike the USA Patriot Act, or RealID? Again, who knows how you get on the damned thing?

But I do know THIS. I know that no matter how many times I read the Constitution, I just cannot find a single loophole for the Government to just slap my, or your names onto some list that prohibits our rights to travel freely, ESPECIALLY within our nation, but they do indeed do just that when they invent little "lists" like these. It truly sounds like the kind of thing that our Forefathers fled far away from to me.

Again, before you disagree with me on this, how do you know YOU are not on this list? You might very well be on it, so don't be so sure of yourself.

Cross-Posted to Gun-Toting Liberal

One Last Post Before Vacation: Christopher Hitchens

Here's hoping there will be more important things to post on when I return from Oklahoma. For now, Christopher Hitchens gives a wonderful cap to Mrs. Sheehan's antics in Crawford. And, apparently Mr. Hitchens and myself aren't the only ones unhappy with Cindy:

AUGUST 15--The next well-wisher approaching Cindy Sheehan at her tent encampment outside President George W. Bush's Texas vacation home may actually be a process server. That's because the California woman's husband--in a curious bit of timing--filed for divorce Friday afternoon (below you'll find a copy of Patrick Sheehan's complaint, lodged August 12 in Solano County District Court). With Sheehan, 48, entering a second week outside Bush's Crawford retreat, her husband's divorce petition cites "irreconcilable differences" for the demise of the couple's 28-year marriage (the Sheehans, the document states, have been separated since June 1). Along with a Vacaville home, Patrick Sheehan listed other "community assets" as "any and all benefits payable as a result of son's death," including a Prudential insurance policy and "benefits from the U.S. Government." From her roadside outpost, Sheehan, whose 24-year-old son Casey, an Army Specialist, was killed last year in Iraq, has become the face of the U.S. antiwar movement, telling reporters that she will not budge until Bush meets with her and explains "why our sons are dead." Noting that Bush has referred to the war as a "noble" pursuit, Sheehan told Reuters, "If it's such a noble cause, why aren't his daughters over there?" Patrick Sheehan's lawyer, Glen DeRonde, did not return a TSG call, so it is unclear whether the divorce complaint will be delivered to her in Texas or when she returns to her home east of San Francisco. (4 pages)

Her statements just keep getting more outrageous, such as this:

Anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq, is calling for Bush's "impeachment," and for Israel to get out of Palestine!

"You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism," Sheehan declares.

Sheehan, who is asking for a second meeting with President Bush, says defiantly: "My son was killed in 2004. I am not paying my taxes for 2004. You killed my son, George Bush, and I don't owe you a penny...you give my son back and I'll pay my taxes. Come after me (for back taxes) and we'll put this war on trial."

"And now I'm going to use another 'I' word - impeachment - because we cannot have these people pardoned. They need to be tried on war crimes and go to jail."

Seems, once again, the Left has hitched their star to, well let's just say it, a whack job.
I support her son, and what he died for. I don't support her, or her left wing exploitation of his death. Or the left wing media that continues to provide coverage of this travesty.

Like I said, hopefully there will be more important issues to cover when I return than this. Liberty Just in Case is in great hands with Gun-Toting Liberal, and I'll be back next week.

Building Tolerance: Muslim Sites to Bookmark

There are muslims speaking out in no uncertain terms against the terrorists. AIC is one of them.
Another is The Free Muslim Coalition. Both are sites worth visiting and supporting.

Another group is Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq. One of the major stumbling blocks to the creation of a constitution appears to be the role of women in Iraqi life. This site is working to keep women involved in a free Iraq.

And of course, one of my favorite blogs, Iraq the Model.

All are worth reading, and bookmarking.

The More Things Change: A Response to Nariel

Back in February of 2003, I wrote a post that is as relevant now as it was then. It's an answer to Nariel's questions about how I can be a Christian and yet still support the war, and the necessary decisions and actions of that war. This was also the first time I posted my own thoughts, rather than relying on the writings of others.

Most of the links no longer work, but the link to Peggy Noonan's pivotal peice We Are All Soldiers Now is still active, and required reading. Written November 2, 2001, its words of warning ring loud 4 years later.

But, Nariel specifically asks how I can reconcile Jesus' words about turning the other cheek to supporting war. Few articles have explained it better than this one by Darrell Cole in First Things in 2001. Charles Stanley gives a layman's version of Just War Theory here. I don't expect to change any minds with this, but hope it clarifies my position:

In Scripture, God clearly establishes the government’s responsibilities and authority over us, as well. In Romans 13:1 and 4, Paul writes, "every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. . .for it [the government] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil."

The government is ordained by God with the right to promote good and restrain evil. This includes wickedness that exists within the nation, as well as any wicked persons or countries that threaten foreign nations. Obviously, there are times when a country should not go to war; but there are also times when, if a nation does not do so, they suffer the consequences. Therefore, a government has biblical grounds to go to war in the nation’s defense or to liberate others in the world who are enslaved.

You may think, "Well, how do we reconcile that with what Jesus said about loving our enemies and turning the other cheek?" (Luke 6:27-30) In that passage, Jesus was speaking to us as individuals. If someone treats us badly, we should love him anyway. We can pray for our enemies, and do good to those who hate us. The way someone treats an individual is one thing; the way he treats an entire nation is a completely different issue. The Bible teaches that it is the responsibility of the government’s leaders to protect the nation against those who would destroy it.

And here, from Darrell Cole's book When God Says War is Right:

...pacifists also like to make much of Jesus' advice to "turn the other cheek" when struck (Matthew 5:38-41; Luke 6:29-30). But this passage becomes clear when we stop trying to interpret one small portion of Scripture without regard for the whole. For Calvin, the bessage was "best interpreted" by Paul, who enjoined us to overcome evil with good and to forgo personal vengeance. Thus we see-along with Ambrose, Augustine, Aquinas and Luther-that Jesus' goal is to restrain personal retaliation, not to restrain political force, which is, after all, an agent of His Father's wrath and love.

Few ideas are actually new, especially theological ones. The Early Church Fathers, and the founders of the Reformation dealt with issues of war and peace long ago. They are as relevant today as they were when they were written. And an important heritage for this generation, as we seek to win World War IV.

The Connection: Atta, Iraq, and Prague

Captain Ed continues to be all over the story that the 9/11 Commission apparently missed. The dots keep connecting, despite the left's best attempts to stop them.

Iraq the Model: Mohammed Responds to Cindy Sheehan

I've read few posts as moving as this one, written to Cindy Sheehan from Iraq, by an Iraqi:

A message to Cindy Sheehan
I realize how tragic your loss is and I know how much pain there is crushing your heart and I know the darkness that suddenly came to wrap your life and wipe away your dreams and I do feel the heat of your tears that won't dry until you find the answers to your question; why you lost your loved one?

I have heard your story and I understand that you have the full right to ask people to stand by your side and support your cause. At the beginning I told myself, this is yet another woman who lost a piece of her heart and the questions of war, peace and why are killing her everyday. To be frank to you the first thing I thought of was like "why should I listen or care to answer when there are thousands of other women in America, Iraq and Afghanistan who lost a son or a husband or a brother…”

But today I was looking at your picture and I saw in your eyes a persistence, a great pain and a torturing question; why?

Here's more:

Ma'am, we asked for your nation's help and we asked you to stand with us in our war and your nation's act was (and still is) an act of ultimate courage and unmatched sense of humanity.
Our request is justified, death was our daily bread and a million Iraqi mothers were expecting death to knock on their doors at any second to claim someone from their families.
Your face doesn't look strange to me at all; I see it everyday on endless numbers of Iraqi women who were struck by losses like yours.

Our fellow country men and women were buried alive, cut to pieces and thrown in acid pools and some were fed to the wild dogs while those who were lucky enough ran away to live like strangers and the Iraqi mother was left to grieve one son buried in an unfound grave and another one living far away who she might not get to see again.

We did nothing to deserve all that suffering, well except for a dream we had; a dream of living like normal people do.

And this:

We cried out of joy the day your son and his comrades freed us from the hands of the devil and we went to the streets not believing that the nightmare is over.
We practiced our freedom first by kicking and burning the statues and portraits of the hateful idol who stole 35 years from the life of a nation.
For the first time air smelled that beautiful, that was the smell of freedom.

And more:

You are free to go and leave us alone but what am I going to tell your million sisters in Iraq? Should I ask them to leave Iraq too? Should I leave too? And what about the eight millions who walked through bombs to practice their freedom and vote? Should they leave this land too?

A final plea:

But I am not leaving this land because the bad guys are not going to leave us or you to live in peace. They are the same ones who flew the planes to kill your people in New York.
I ask you in the name of God or whatever you believe in; do not waste your son's blood.
We here have decided to avenge humanity, you and all the women who lost their loved ones.
Take a look at our enemy Cindy, look closely at the hooded man holding the sword and if you think he's right then I will back off and support your call.

We live in pain and grief everyday, every hour, every minute; all the horrors of the powers of darkness have been directed at us and I don't know exactly when am I going to feel safe again, maybe in a year, maybe two or even ten; I frankly don't know but I don't want to lose hope and faith.

We are in need for every hand that can offer some help. Please pray for us, I know that God listens to mothers' prayers and I call all the women on earth to pray with you for peace in this world.

Your son sacrificed his life for a very noble cause…No, he sacrificed himself for the most precious value in this existence; that is freedom.

His blood didn't go in vain; your son and our brethren are drawing a great example of selflessness.
God bless his free soul and God bless the souls of his comrades who are fighting evil.
God bless the souls of Iraqis who suffered and died for the sake of freedom.
God bless all the freedom lovers on earth.

Take a look at the enemy, Cindy. Take a look at the enemy, Nariel. The enemy does not reside in The White House. And the allies of Freedom aren't camped in a ditch outside Crawford, Texas. Our allies are the eight million men AND WOMEN who went to the polls for the first time, after years of torture, rape and death. To abandon them now, as Cindy Sheehan and her ilk are calling for, would condemn them to renewed tyranny. And her son, a volunteer who believed in his cause, truly would have died in vain.

The Lutherans Dodge a Bullet

By rejecting the ordination of gay bishops, and refusing to sanction ceremonies for gay couples, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has managed to escape the turmoil that is threatening to split the Episcopal Church in the United States. I suspect the battle is far from over, though, as the end of the article makes clear:

The ELCA task force still has a major project ahead: It is scheduled to develop a statement on human sexuality that will be presented to denomination's the 2009 meeting.

This report could touch off the powder keg all over again.

Reminders: Oral Histories of September 11th

Peruse these articles on the newly released tapes of that awful day. A reminder of why we continue to fight today.

The 9/11 Commission: UnABLE to Keep Us From DANGER

This has all the makings of a big, big story. Are we going to need 9/12 commission to investigate the failings of the 9/11 commission now?

And Speaking of Not Caring: Cindy Sheehan

Michelle Malkin continues her updates on the disgraceful behavior of Cindy Sheehan, camped out at her own little Woodstock in Crawford, TX. Here, from Drudge, is what the rest of her family thinks of her act:

Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish.

Thanks, Cherie

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement:

The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

Sincerely,

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

I think her son, who gave his life for his country, would feel the same.

I Don't Care: Doug Patton

Once in awhile, a peice sweeps the blogosphere. This essay attributed to Doug Patton speaks for many people, myself included:

Ask Me if I Care
Doug Patton

First, Newsweek pulled a Dan Rather on us, running a fabricated story just because they wanted it to be true. They told the world that an American guard at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention center had ripped pages from a prisoner’s Koran and flushed it down a toilet. As a result, innocent people died when practitioners of Islam rioted in protest in Afghanistan.

Oops, said Newsweek , it seems we can’t back up our story. Oh well, it’s probably true; we just can’t prove it. (Isn’t it convenient for Newsweek that the media now have “Deep Throat” to talk about so they can revel in their glory days and divert our attention from their criminal negligence.)

The lie heard round the world about the flushed Koran has caused convulsions in the Bush Administration and forced the Pentagon to launch an investigation of unfounded allegations contained in an unsubstantiated story. The results of said investigation are now in, and it seems there are at least five incidents of “mishandling” of the Koran at Gitmo.

Well, guess what? I DON’T CARE!

Are we fighting a war on terror or aren’t we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation’s capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning death that day, or didn’t they?

And I’m supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was “desecrated” when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don’t. I don’t care at all.

I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I’ll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg’s head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

I’ll care when the cowardly so-called “insurgents” in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I’ll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I’ll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

I’ll care when Clinton-appointed judges stop ordering my government to release photos of the abuses at Abu Ghraib, which are sure to set off the Islamic extremists just as Newsweek’s lies did a few weeks ago.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don’t care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don’t care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don’t care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being “mishandled,” you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don’t care.

And oh, by the way, I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s spelled “Koran” and other times “Quran.” Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and — you guessed it — I don’t care!

There's a reason some things sweep the internet. They strike an emotional chord, an unconcious knowledge that this is what I was thinking all along. Worth reading, worth remembering.

They Can Hear You Now: From Instapundit

This is chilling. I can feel a Gun-Toting Liberal like rant building on this one.

A Deafening Silence

Robbie over at Devilz Advocate put my feelings the past few day in perspective. Just not much to blog about this week. I think its the lull before the Roberts confirmation hearings next month....and the Anchoress agrees.

Mars: The Next Step

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launch was scrubbed today, but it looks like launch is a go for tomorrow morning. The MRO will give us our most detailed looks at the martian surface, and our best chance so far of finding life. Now, if NASA would just turn manned flight over to Virgin Galactic and company, and concentrate on exploration, we'd be in buisness.

Would You Go?

The space-faring tourists will travel with a Russian pilot. They will steer clear of the greater technical challenge of landing on the Moon, instead circling it and returning to Earth.

Eric Anderson, the chief executive of Space Adventures, said he believed the trip could be accomplished as early as 2008. Mr. Anderson said he had already received expressions of interest from a few potential clients.

The Soyuz vehicle to be used does not have the power to reach the Moon on its own, so the Russians have devised a plan to send up a booster. The Soyuz would dock with the booster, either in low Earth orbit or at the International Space Station.

I would. Anybody got a spare one hundred million laying I could have?

A Contest for Hillary?

We'll see. New York has to decide if they want to elect a Senator for two years, or six. Pirro is tough, and going after her husband, as the MSM tried to do today makes little sense considering who Hillary's hubbie is.

Intelligent Design: Guess We Know Where Journalists Stand

As of this posting, at 1:45 AM Sunday Morning, there are 58 stories about President Bush's remarks on Intelligent Design. Of those 58 stories, 3 take an objective, or supportive stance. 2 are from WorldNet Daily, a conservative website, and one is a comment on the Liberal Deathstar's rage that the evolutionary faith should be questioned.

The other 55 are either hostile, or at the least put the remarks in a very negative light.

While the jury may still be out on Evolution vs. Intelligent Design, there can be no doubt which side the MSM is taking. Objectivity, anyone?

Three Stories: Have You Heard Any of Them?

Below is my post for Balance of Power for Monday. I'm sure my fellow Bop'ers are already writing their responses:

Three huge stories broke last week. Here's a brief rundown on each one:

First, The Salem Broadcasting Network, home of such conservative talk show hosts as Laura Ingraham, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt, was accused of shifting funds from a Boys and Girls Club to its own coffers, to the amount of well over nine hundred thousand dollars. There are allegations that both Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh may also be involved in the incident. This shifting of funds apparently caused the bankruptcy and closure of the charitable facility. To date, there has been no apology from Salem, or any of its on air voices. Also, there is no evidence that the amount has been paid back. The scandal appears to be widening.

Second, Senator George Allen (R-VA), often mentioned for the Republican Presidential nomination, loaned $470,000 to a Union President with whom he was having an affair. Reports indicate that Senator Allen forgave the loan recently, while toying with the idea of running for Governor of his home state. The same Union has recently endorsed Allen for Governor. Both Allen and the female union President deny any connection between the forgiveness of the loan and the endorsement...

And finally, a significant report on voter fraud, intimidation and suppression in the 2004 election was released on August 2nd. The report, released by the bi-partisan American Center For Voting Rights, shows widespread intimidation of Kerry voters in the days before the election, including paid Republican operatives slashing the tires of Kerry's "Get out the Vote" vans the night befor the election in Milwaukee. Also reported was the fire bombing of a local Kerry Campaign headquarters in Philadelphia. The report details multiple convictions in many states of Republican operatives related specific voter intimidation charges. There is little evidence of the kind of widespread voter suppression and abuse charged by either the RNC Chairman at the time, or the current chairman however.

Why have you not heard of any of these stories, unless you read the much maligned alternative media? How could such scandals not be on the front pages of the New York Times each and every day? Why have there been no "special reports" hosted by Peter Jennings, Brian Williams, and whatever Dan Rather replacement is at CBS right now? Because each and every one of the scandals involve Democrats, not Republicans.

The radio network involved in the ongoing scandal is of course Air America, the left's answer to conservative talk radio. And the Senator involved is not George Allen, but Jon Corzine, the Democrat Senator from New Jersey. You may have seen them together last year on the Sunday morning talk shows. Both Senators Allen and Corzine ran their party's Senate re-election campaigns in 2004. And, the widespread voter fraud, intimidation and suppression was done by Democrats, not Republicans. Let me repeat that, since you won't hear it anywhere else. NOT REPUBLICANS. Or conservatives, to be more accurate.

If any of the above scandals involved the Conservatives I mentioned above, does anyone seriously question how much coverage it would have received? Had the report found Republicans engaging in organized voter fraud, wouldn't ABCCBSNBCCNNMSNBC have wall to wall coverage of the horror? They don't, though. Because it isn't Republicans, but Democrats convicted. Over and over, across the country, Kerry supporters engaged in active voter suppression and intimindation of Bush supporters.

Who hasn't heard of Rush Limbaugh's drug problem? It was story number one for days. Yet the Air America story has yet to be mentioned by the MSM. Any question why?

If you need more evidence of Journalism's left leaning bias, go here. The page chronicles poll after poll showing the ongoing lack of balance in newsrooms across the country, and the increasingly out of touch journalistic community.

But bias occurs on both sides. Everyone knows that. I mean the conservatives have FoxNews, and The Washington Times, and talk radio, right?

Wrong! If you combine all the so-called "new media" sources together, they don't hold a candle to the coverage, or non-coverage, provided by the MSM. The reality remains that a vast majority of Americans get their news from the very MSM sources that are most biased while claiming to be objective.

Well, so what? Does it really matter? Oh yes, it matters alot. A free press is the only non-governmental industry specifically named in The Constitution. The Founding Fathers understood clearly that the only way for a people to remain free was to remain informed. Journalists are supposed to fulfill that promise. As you can see from the three examples above, they are failing miserably.

Aren't you really just whining about life being "unfair?" Whining? Nope. For years, conservatives have known the bias of the MSM, and the control they had over the national agenda. Conservatives were forced to the back of the Journalistic bus, brought out only as token talking heads when needed.

That control is threatened today, threatened by the very forum you are reading. Blogs, and their older companion Talk Radio, have begun to shift the agenda. Dan Rather and CBS found that out the hard way, trying to influence an election with forged documents. Jordan Eason and CNN found out the same thing when Mr. Eason tried to run from some foolish, anti-American remarks. And most recently, my very own Senator Dick (D-IL) found out that the agenda had changed when he compared American soldiers at Gitmo to Nazis and Stalin and Pol Pot.

Yet, the biased agenda, and the denial, by the MSM continues. But it no longer continues in the darkness. Thanks to the power of the blogosphere, The Media Research Center , and such books as Coloring the News, Bias, Arrogance, Weapons of Mass Distortion and Blog, the MSM can no longer get away with their bias unchallenged. And the denials of such MSM journalists like Eric Alterman can't sweep away the reams of documented evidence. In fact, such denials in the face of the truth of liberal bias only make "journalists" like Alterman look increasingly out of touch with the "fly-over" country that used to buy his paper.

Three stories. Thanks to the New Media, they can be kept hidden no longer.

Updates:
Here's an update on the Air America story since I wrote my post for Balance of Power.
The Corzine scandal, and the deafening silence of the MSM on the voter report continue.

A Memo From the New York Times

Executive Editor Bill Kellar has released a length memo to the staff of The Liberal Deathstar. Mark Tapscott, of Tapscott's Copy Desk, has a review on Townhall, and more info on his blog. His suggestions are well worth reading, and heeding by the conservative wing of the blogosphere. Trouble is, the level of trust in the Old Grey Lady is so low, it's hard to believe they could actually make any changes. We'll see.

The Day the World Changed

We were discussing the Feast Days of Leviticus in my Bible study this morning. Father Mark held up a newspaper headline on the solemn remembrance occuring in Japan today as an illustration of the necessity of keeping certain days holy,lest we forget.

An elderly man named Dick, still very active in the Church, raised his hand, and said, "There wasn't anything left standing, only the chimneys, and the American safes." Father Mark said with some astonishment, "You were there?!?!?" as a hush fell over the room.

Dick was on a troop ship in the Pacific, preparing for the invasion of the Japanese homelands, sixty years ago today. Had the bomb not been dropped, I wonder if Dick would have been sitting there on a quiet Saturday morning. I wonder if he would have been one of the estimated 200,000 Allied casualties of that invasion. I wonder how many of us would have been sitting there, if a haberdasher from Missouri hadn't had the courage to take the lesser of two evils.

I didn't get a chance this morning to thank Dick for his service. But tomorrow's Sunday, and Dick is alway in Church, a far more peaceful place than where he was sixty years ago today.

Bob Novak Leaves CNN With a Bang

This video from Media Matters covers alot of the action. Worth seeing. I'm sure this will be a topic through out the day. By the way, Novak was suspended by CNN soon after the incident. He's been playing the role of lone conservative on CNN for awhile. I wonder if this, plus the whole Valerie Plame thing, plus having Crossfire and Capitol Gang cancelled finally got to him.

Can the New York Times Go Any Lower?

I honestly did not think the MSM could go much lower. After Rathergate, and their ongoing opposition to the war, I thought they were done. But now this:

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX THU AUG 04, 2005 11:35:09 ET XXXXX

NY TIMES INVESTIGATES ADOPTION RECORDS OF SUPREME COURT NOMINEE'S CHILDREN

**Exclusive**

The NEW YORK TIMES is looking into the adoption records of the children of Supreme Court Nominee John G. Roberts, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The TIMES has investigative reporter Glen Justice hot on the case to investigate the status of adoption records of Judge Roberts’ two young children, Josie age 5 and Jack age 4, a top source reveals.

Judge Roberts and his wife Jane adopted the children when they each were infants.

Both children were adopted from Latin America.

A TIMES insider claims the look into the adoption papers are part of the paper's "standard background check."

A standard background check?!?!? On his adopted children? This is repulsive. Leave that man's children alone, for God's sake!

Previously the WASHINGTON POST Style section had published a story criticizing the outfits Mrs. Roberts had them wear at the announcement ceremony.

One top Washington official with knowledge of the NEW YORK TIMES action declared: “Trying to pry into the lives of the Roberts’ family like this is despicable. Children’s lives should be off limits. The TIMES is putting politics over fundamental decency.”

One top Republican official when told of the situation was incredulous. “This can’t possibly be true?”

Oh yes. It's true. And why should we be shocked that the New York Times would put politics over decency? What's shocking is that they, and the rest of the MSM, continue to propagate the lie that they are objective journalists. They are neither objective nor journalists. They are masters of propaganda, fearful that the one hold the left continues to have on the reins of government may be slipping away. Their fears can't come true quickly enough.

Voter Fraud, Voter Intimidation Confirmed Across the Country

Warning: Gun-Toting Liberal like rant coming:

The American Center for Voting Rights released a major, all encompassing report on voter fraud and intimidation in the 2004 election yesterday. It confirms significant voter fraud and voter intimidation, planned and orchestrated from the headquarters of a national party across the country. Ohio, Washington state and Wisconsin were prime areas for ongoing intimidation, including vandalism, and threats to potential voters. All three of these states were closely contested, and the evidence suggests all three would have had very different numbers had the voter intimidation and fraud been stopped.

I've been waiting for the headlines from the Media, for Chris Matthews to scream about the report on Hardball, for Wolf Blitzer to lead his show on the report. AP, UPI, Reuters to put this report all over the net. I've been waiting, and waiting.

And yet, everyone is silent. Dead, stone cold silent.

Terry McAuliffe, Howard Dean and company aren't talking.

Chris Matthews? Too busy trying to turn the nation against the Iraq war.

The political reporters? Too busy talking about how close THE LOSER came in the Ohio special election.


SOMEBODY TELL ME WHERE THE MEDIA IS ON THIS STORY!!!!!!!

Read through the report before commenting. Then comment away. Tell me where the voter intimidation was. Show me who was committing the voter fraud. , what charges have proven true, and which ones are shown to be orchestrated lies. , Where's someone from the Left to rant about Democrats, now that this report shows the planned deception and the hypocrisy? I want BIG, CAPITAL LETTERS from you.

This report is bi-partisan in every sense of the word. They aren't biased. Don't try to impugn their motivations, or somehow pawn this off as some conservative think tank. They are not.

Can you honestly tell me that if this report said the same things about Republicans that you would STILL NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT!!!!! I don't think so. It would be the only story on every network, the only thing being talked about across the blogosphere.

I can't remember being this mad in a long time. I'm sick of hearing the whining about voter disenfranchisement. Voters were disenfranchised all right. Conservative voters across the country. And the crime was perpetrated by the Democratic National Comittee.

So, comment away. But you'd better have read the report first.

Indeed.com: The Ultimate Internet Job Site

No place like this on the net for jobhunters. No more going from site to site, worrying you missed something. Indeed .com brings it all to one place, with a Google-like interface, and even suggestions for modifying your search. Great site!

The Repercussions of Senator's Frist's Stance

Coming out in favor of embryonic stem cell research was not the smartest political move for Bill Frist. This is just the first of many consequences for this potential Presidential candidate.

So, Who's Party is This Guy With?

If you aren't a political junkie, you slept peacefully night before last, blissfully unaware of a special election in Ohio. But, the election did occur, for a vacated House seat. The current Congressman took a job in the Bush Administration, leaving the seat open. Shouldn't have been a big deal. The seat has been solidly Republican for years. The Republican won the race 52% to 48%.

Take a look at the commercial run by one of the candidates. Go ahead. I'll wait...

Back already? My tea hasn't even boiled yet. Maybe you should watch it again..

Okay, now we're both ready. So, who's party do you think the candidate represented? If you said Republican, you'd be....wrong.

Yep, Hackett ran as a Democrat, but you couldn't tell it from the ad. Nowhere does he mention he's a Democrat. Also, nowhere does he mention that he called President Bush an SOB, or that he is a very committed Liberal.

Democrats who run as stealth candidates do a disservice to their party. But it says alot about how far to the right the country has moved when Democrats are forced to run someone like this in hopes of winning elections.

The Good News From Iraq

The first paragraph is important:

A foreign reporter recently asked Monsignor Rabban al Qas, Chaldean bishop of Amadiyah and Arbil, whether there is any good news coming out of Iraq. "Twenty-three Iraqis are killed every day in Iraq," the interviewer observed. "Nearly two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, there is no security as yet. Is there still hope in Iraq?" To which the monsignor replied:

What the media portray is true: explosions, killings, attacks. But if you see how much order, discipline, transport, displacements, and work have improved, there is a change for the better compared to one or two years ago. Now people understand there is a government, the structure of a new state. Thousands and thousands of allied and Iraqi soldiers are present. There is a constitution which is being drawn up, laws are being enacted.

The presence of authority is recognised. This was not the case before. And Al-Qaeda integralists and terrorists coming from abroad seek to penetrate Iraq precisely to destroy the beginnings of this social organization.

A war for the future of Iraq is going on, but that war is being fought not only with guns and explosives. Terrorists and insurgents are killing soldiers and civilians and sabotaging infrastructure, and the Iraqi and coalition security forces in turn are hunting down the enemies of the new Iraq. But every step towards self-government, every new job created, every new school opened, is a small victory against those who would want to turn Iraq's clock back three--or 1,300--years. Below are some of these stories that often get lost in the fog and smoke of war.

Every step toward self government weakens the enemy. Every step away from the mission strengthens them. It really is that simple.

Robert Novak Speaks Out

I think the Left is going to have alot of egg on their collective faces when the grand jury finally releases its information on the whole Valerie Plame fiasco. Bob Novak, who started the whole mess, has this to say at the end of a long defense:

The recent first disclosure of secret grand jury testimony set off a news media feeding frenzy centered on this obscure case. Joseph Wilson was discarded a year ago by the Kerry presidential campaign after the Senate committee reported much of what he said "had no basis in fact." The re-emerged Wilson is now accusing the senators of "smearing" him. I eagerly await the end of this investigation when I may be able to correct other misinformation about me and the case.

The only folks who will not eagerly await the end of the investigation are those on the left who have spent alot of time throwing false accusations around. We'll see.

Net Lingo

Okay, I'm pretty computer savvy. But, every once in awhile, someone uses a new acronym that makes me go "huh?!?!" and spend fifteen minutes trying to figure it out. Well not anymore! Now I have netlingo.com! Worth blogrolling just so you don't feel left out.
BBFN or
BBSL
or even
BBIAW
:-)

The Death of the Saudi King

King Fahd is dead. Let us hope that his death will allow the Saudis to attack the dangerous sect of Wahabism with force instead of words.. This sect has been at the heart of much of the terrorism around the world, and flows from Saudi Arabia. The odds on this happening are slim, but hope springs eternal.