Iraq IS on the Road to Running Their Own Country!

Senator James Inhofe had an interview with Hugh Hewitt last Tuesday Thanks to Radioblogger for the following transcript.

Run up: Abdel Jassim is the NEW Iraqi Minister of Defense and Senator Inhofe had told Hugh the Minister stated, "I hate CNN!"
~~~~~
HH: I'm talking with Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, just returned again from his 11th visit to Iraq, just today, I imagine. Senator, I just want to pause on the defense minister of Iraq's reaction to CNN. I hate CNN. Did he tell you why he hates CNN?

JI: Oh, he said all they do is talk about negative things, things that are bad, and we have nothing but successes over here. And then he start enumerating the successes, which I can verify, because I'm there all the time. The number, out of 112 battalions, they have 62 of them. That's over half of them that are either level 2 or level 1. That means they can conduct their own combat. He made the statement, and this is one of the things that he says that CNN and some of the media keeps saying, they keep saying that America is leading them, and we're in the rear. And he said that's not true at all. We are leading, and America is offering support. In fact, of the last 500 special operations that took place, 75% of them were led by the Iraqis, not by the Americans. Only 25% were. Now if you go back, as I've done on almost a monthly basis, you can see how this changes. And a year ago, hardly any of them were led by the Iraqis. These guys...I was up in Fallujah during the last election, and they were so proud. They were going down there to vote, and they were targeted, because they were supposed to shoot any of the Iraqi security forces that voted. And they went down, they voted, and they came back, and they were real proud of it. And then, when I asked them the question, are you going to be able to take over the security of Iraq...it's kind of funny, because of the language problem, they said nein, nein. I thought that meant no, no, but that really means yes, yes.

HH: Oh, okay.

JI: So those guys are excited, and they're proud, and you talk to any of the...I challenge any of your listeners to talk to any of our reservists, or the Guard that comes back, and they'll tell you that these guys are learning fast, they're good soldiers, they're disciplined, and they're looking...well, in fact, Dr. Rubai, the guy that you need to watch, too, the national security advisor, he said that by the end of the year, he's going to recommend that the coalition forces cut down to 100,000. That's going to be a military decision, but this is an Iraqi saying that.

HH: Let me ask you about the allegations about death squads, especially from the minister of interior, going out and cutting down Sunnis, and then the reprisal killings. How big a problem, the sectarian violence?

JI: Yeah, I don't think it's happening. It's funny, you hear about these little conspiracies, and these things that are going on, and when you're over there, you don't see it. Now I'll have to say this, the one minister I didn't talk to was al-Balani, and he's the minister of interior. So I don't have a first hand handle on that.

HH: What about the reports you've received on the Haditha incident?

JI: Well, this is kind of interesting. As the more we look into it, and I'm not really the one looking into it, the more that comes out, are misrepresentations of things that may have happened a year ago, or happened six months ago, and they kind of put them all together in this one area, Haditha. Now another interesting thing that was said by Abdel Jassim, he said Haditha is a bigger story back in the United States than it is here. I asked him about it, and he said oh, it's not a big story here. And that's one thing that I think we need to know over here. We keep conjuring these things up as if they're big stories, but they're not over there. You want to know another one that isn't, Mr. Hewitt?

HH: Yes.

JI: All this thing about reconciliation that the Democrats talk about, oh, they're going to have to reconciliate between the Sunnis and the Shiias, and all that, well, the defense minister said that that is another American issue, that the reconciliation has already taking place, and we are Iraqis first. Now I didn't believe that, and so I stopped at...some...it's kind of a monument they have to the unknown soldier, and there were 9 honor guard people, very sharp soldiers standing there, and through an interpreter, I asked the guy that was leading that group, I asked him the question about the Shiias and the Sunnis. He said no, that's not...I'm a Sunni, my wife is a Shiia, and I can't tell you...I've spent the last nine days with these eight guys. I don't know which one is a Shiia, and which one's a Sunni. We're all Iraqis. And again, he claims that's an American issue, and I believe it is.

prying1 sez: "Everything you know is wrong Earthling! We must reprogram you!"

- It appears from what Senator Inhofe says that while all is not 100% well in Iraq things have moved along better than we know.

- I'm waiting for the day when the U.S. starts pulling out troops and the 'progressive' liberal socialists start shouting, "At last Bush is taking our advice! He is forced to listen to us! We were right!"

Sorry foil hat crowd. He is still following the plan you refused to believe in (much less admit existed) and it is working!!!

And why is it when the label 'liberal' gets bad connotations that these rectal apertures start calling themselves 'progressives'? Do they think they are fooling anybody?



Thanks again to Radioblogger - The MP3 of this interview is available on his site. His is a site you should visit daily. -


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The Mexican Election and Sweeping for Illegals

A couple news items I read today placed together for comparison.

Operation Return to Sender - 2,179 arrests of Illegal aliens. Some are child molesters, violent gang members and past deportees who re-entered the country illegally. A quick run through the Google News hits with the words 'Operation Return to Sender' we can see 150 from New England (5 from Danbury, CT), 75/Chicago, 39/El Paso, 116/New Jersey, 47/Orange County, CA and apparently all parts of the country were hit.

Homeland Security says roughly half had criminal records for crimes that ranged from sexual assault of a minor (Around 146 perverts) to assault with a deadly weapon, to abduction. 367 of the arrested aliens were members or associates of violent street gangs. 640 of those arrested were fugitive aliens who had been issued final orders of removal by an immigration judge but failed to comply.

Those arrested in the operation came from nations around the globe, including Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.


This operation began 26MAY06 and ended Tuesday 13June06. No indication when the next sweep will be. Perhaps after several have returned and the number of illegal criminals has refreshed above the 2179 arrested.
~~~~~
next story:
DEBATING U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICY - IN MEXICO ~ Alan Wall reports (Italics are Alan's words - Bold is the Candidates): On June 6th, 2006, there was a presidential debate in Mexico. Five candidates were in the debate, and they were given five topics to discuss.

One of the topics was "Migratory Foreign Policy"

The "migratory" part refers to U.S. immigration policy, not Mexican immigration policy!

(only 2 of the candidate's promises follow - There is more in the link above)

Calderon made three immigration promises:

"First, that all the money collected in the Mexican consulates in the United States stay there to help our 'paisanos'." Translation - more meddling by Mexican consulates.

"Second, I am going to promote a migratory accord with the United States so that those who are there and have been there five or six years can have legal residence."

Sounds like what President Bush wants. (the rattling sound is prying1 shaking his head yes)

"Third, Whoever wants to go and work for a period of months or seasons each year, will do it legally and with papers."
~~~~~
Calderon is calling for the U.S. and Canada to finance development in poor regions of Mexico. There might be some merit to that idea, but why should we pay for that if we're simultaneously allowing mass immigration from Mexico?

AMLO - Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known by his initials AMLO) - AMLO promised a no-meddling foreign policy:

"We are going to be careful not to meddle in the internal life of other countries
and other governments, because we are not going to permit that they meddle in affairs that are only the business of Mexicans."

That sounds good. But you have to understand that when AMLO says he won'’t meddle in the affairs of other countries, that rule doesn'’t apply to meddling in U.S. immigration policy.

Lopez Obrador said that, "the principal subject of the bilateral agenda with the Untied States has to be the migratory issue."

Nowadays, that would be true of any Mexican government, of whatever party.

AMLO continues,

"We are going to convince the members of the American government, and the Canadian government, that the best relationship between a strong economy and a weak economy is cooperation."

He wants to make a NAFTA accord that will help Mexico in "the growth of the economy in our country and to create jobs."

AMLO's proposal is actually quite similar to that of Calderon (see above). He wants the U.S. and Canada to finance Mexican development.

But, AMLO doesn'’t want us controlling our immigration policy:

"We have to convince them, persuade them that nothing will be resolved with walls, with raids, with the militarization of the border, with heavy-handed threats."

prying1 sez: We (the U.S. and Poor Mexican Peasants) are screwed! - Unless we can wake up the U.S. Senate and Congress to the fact that we currently have enough "guest workers" and that border security comes first the Poor Mexicans will have a government that has no incentive to change. Please note that no mention was made in the first story of terrorists captured.

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# News and politics -
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Typical Scene in an American Home

Husband and wife sitting in front of their individual personal computers.

Husband: How did that happen? Hmmm. Oh, I clicked the wrong button. Thats better. Gosh, well, I guess I'm talking to myself.

Wife: Oh, I'm sorry. Does it bother you that I have a one track mind?

Husband: You have a one track mind! I think not. At least you knew that I was talking.


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Religious Right is Misrepresented concerning STD/HPV Vacines!

Some disinformation is being spread by the anti James Dobson crowd. - Here is the skinny: Alternet.org has a story entitled, "Why the Religious Right Fights Cancer Prevention" (dated 13Jun06). When I read that my heart sunk. "Who on the religious right would do that?" was my question.

Alternet Quotes: Conservative groups have caused an uproar by opposing a vaccine for the second-deadliest cancer for women. - and - The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel approved a vaccine for the human papilloma virus (HPV) last week. The vaccine appears to be 100 percent effective at protecting against the most prevalent viruses that cause cervical cancer. While public health professionals view the vaccine as miraculous, many conservative organizations oppose it on the grounds that it might encourage promiscuity among adolescent girls. Now that the FDA has approved the vaccine, conservatives are already working feverishly to limit or even prevent its use. - end quotes -

Well, the Alternet article mentioned Family Research Council and also had a link to (Caution! Typical leftist profanity (f word) in the title of this link) a Feministing article who names a Dr. Finger and Focus on the Family.

Feministing Quote: He (Dr. Finger, a liaison between the CDC and Focus on the Family) has also said that if "people begin to market the [HPV] vaccine or tout the vaccine that this makes adolescent sex safer, then that would undermine the abstinence-only message." For the record, Finger would also be wary of approving an HIV vaccine, should one become available. - end quote -

Well I figured I'd go to the source and see what both organizations really say about Sexually Transmitted Disease vaccines.

Focus on the Family position statement (PDF reader needed) -

Recognizing the worldwide detriment to individuals and families resulting from HPV, Focus on the Family supports and encourages the development of safe, effective and ethical vaccines against HPV, as well as other viruses. The use of these vaccines may prevent many cases of cervical cancer, thus saving the lives of millions of women across the globe.

Therefore, Focus on the Family supports widespread (universal) availability of HPV vaccines but opposes mandatory HPV vaccinations for entry to public school. The decision of whether to vaccinate a minor against this or other sexually transmitted infections should remain with the childÂ’s parent or guardian.
~~~~~~~~~

Family Research Council statement:

The Family Research Council welcomes the news that vaccines are in development for preventing infection with certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV). We also welcome the reports, like those we've heard this morning, of promising clinical trials for such a vaccine. Forms of primary prevention and medical advances in this area hold potential for helping to protect the health of millions of Americans and helping to preserve the lives of thousands of American women who currently die of cervical cancer each year as a result of HPV infection. Media reports suggesting that the Family Research Council opposes all development or distribution of such vaccines are false.

Took me less than 10 minutes...

Other stories had the same spin with right/left politicians...

In none of the stories I read was there a mention or concern of contraindications...

For the full Merck release news story without the spin -Click Here-

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# Religion and Philosophy -
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The Eternal Atheist Jokes

Not to be outdone by Christians atheists have opened a brand new dial-a-prayer service.

Dial the number and nobody answers.

~~~~~

A young lad who's parents were atheists upset them recently by asking them, "Do you think God knows we don't believe in Him?

~~~~~

An atheist was fixing his house when he smacked his thumb real hard with a hammer.

"Jesus Christ!" he shouted.

Suddenly, in seconds, clouds blew overhead darkening the sky. The atmosphere seemed to thicken making it difficult to breath. An electric snap seemed to be in the very air around him and a gentle voice said, "Don't blame me. I wasn't holding the hammer."

~~~~~

A local Catholic priest and a Presbyterian pastor were fishing by the side of the road. They thoughtfully made a sign saying, "The End is Near! Turn around before it's too late!" and set it up so passing cars could see it.

A couple of cars stopped and the occupants chatted with the religious men. Both felt moved by the conversation, believed the holy men of God, turned around and went back the way they had come.

An atheist driving along quickly read the sign and shouted at them, "You religious nuts are all full of crap!", as he sped past.

A few moments later the priest and the pastor heard a big splash.

They looked at each other and the priest said to the pastor, "Perhaps we should have just written 'Bridge Out' instead?"

~~~~~

Two atheists were talking and one said, "I'll prove there is no God. If there is a God there must be a devil and I adjure him to come and take me to hell!"

Suddenly, a puff of smoke, and a repulsive demonic figure smelling of sulfur appeared and dragged the man kicking and screaming away into another puff of smoke. Both instantly disappeared.

The second atheist said, "Hmmm... Perhaps it would have been smarter to try having God to take him to heaven first."

~~~~~

There was a Christian lady who lived in an apartment next to an atheist. Everyday the lady prayed loudly enough that the atheist could hear her through the thin walls. The atheist thought, "She sure is crazy, praying all the time like that. Doesn't she know there is no God?"

One day, she ran out of groceries. As usual, she was praying to the Lord explaining her situation and thanking Him for what He was going to do. The atheist heard her praying and thought to himself. "Well I'll teach her a lesson!"

He zipped to the grocery store, bought a bunch of groceries, took them to her door, rang the door bell and then hid around the corner to see her reaction.

She opened the door, saw the groceries and began to praise the Lord with all her might. Jumping, singing and shouting "Hallelujah!"

The atheist then came out and told her, "You're nutty lady! God didn't buy you that stuff. I bought those groceries!"

Well, she broke out and started shouting and praising the Lord even louder.

When she finally quieted a bit he asked if she misunderstood what he had told her.

She said, "I knew the Lord would provide me with some groceries, but I didn't know He was going to have an atheist pay for them!"

~~~~~
Thanks to Cary for the following:

God Bless you all!

Legal Disclaimer: The aforementioned "blessing," while given freely, is in no manner warrented, guaranteed, or contracted to actually deliver a blessing, real or imagined, unless the blessee wishes to receive said blessing in the manner in which it was given; i.e., with the love and grace of God, in the Chrisitan belief system, with no expection of reciprocation.
~~~~~~

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Will Parental Guidance Be Enough?

What happens when they make a clean movie that has religious themes? Punishment of course. Hollywood has changed (or perhaps 'added to' is a better way to say it) the rules with which they rate the movies. The rules are pretty simple. They look for how much violence, sexual situations, nudity and bad language is in the film. But now!

Nehring The Edge Has the Story!

A Christian film has been given a harsher rating because of its open and continual references to Jesus Christ.

~~~~~~

After reviewing the upcoming Christian film Facing The Giants the MPAA has stated the film, since it refers to Jesus Christ in a "proselytizing" way, may be too offensive for some filmgoers.

prying1 sez: Just click the link above. Nehring has the complete skinny and all the links.

Should the PG rating for a Christian film be enough? Perhaps they should demand an atheist preach prior to and after the film.


~~~~~
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Abu Musab Al-Zarqawia Has Assumed Room Temperature

For lots of good links to videos, pics, stories and such - Check AubreyJ

He has it all!

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Thank a Veteran

Have you ever noticed how some greetings and statements become mindless, rote words with no meaning behind them. I thought of this while checking the comments on News, Views 'n Opinions. I had made a comment on Jon's post, I wish the MSM and Dems would wait - 3Jun06 - and was checking back to see if anything new had been added to the thread. There was.

I had thanked Jon for his service in the U.S. military.

He had replied:
Your welcome and thank you for saying it. I wish more people would thank our current men and women in the military that are in harms way and stop attacking them. They volunteered to defend our country and its freedom and just because these Anti-War pansy's don't like the fact that we are in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't mean they should be blasting our troops every chance they get.

This got me to thinking that I had really meant the thank you and every time I say it to vets I really mean it. I think about it before saying it and it is not like a, "How you doin'" sort of thing.

Then cruising around hitting my blogroll this morning I pass by I'm Thinking of the "O" Word... and Cary Cartter has posted Remembering D-Day - 6Jun06 -

I missed it.

I had heard nothing about the 6-6-6 day being the anniversary of the turning point of WWII. - I had heard quite a bit about it being the Devil's Day (see previous post) and such but not a word did I hear about it being D-Day. - I will say in my defense that I do not read newspapers and often times at work the shop is too loud for me to hear the radio. In condemnation I did not visit I'm Thinking of the "O" Word... for 2 days...

Cary will forgive me because the Bible tells him to.

I said all that to say this. I do not think that saying, "Thank you for your service!" will ever become a rote statement for me. If you hear me say it I will mean it.

I hope that the same goes for you and that you say it every time you meet a vet.

~~~~~~~~~~
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Capitalism Works in Hell!

Socialists! You are hereby put on notice that you will not escape capitalism even if you go to Hell and back. It truly is part of man's inherent nature. Yesterday saw proof of this by the goings on in Hell, Michigan.

On 6-6-6 the small town of around 72 people swelled to thousands as people decided to make a holiday of "The Devil's Day". Temperatures were in a humid mid 80's and trade was brisk. Chad Wines of nearby Pinckney, a sales clerk at Screams Ice Cream Parlor said, "We're making $1,000 every 12 minutes."

Merchandise was marketed in the spirit of the day. Small ice cream cones sold for 66 cents and a square inch of land in Hell, including an official deed, went for $6.66, as did a pizza at the Hell Country Store and a Bloody Cocktail at the Dam Site Inn.

John Colone, Hell's unofficial Mayor, said he wished they had thought of the party idea back in January instead of just a month ago. They were not as prepared as they should have been. Commemorative t-shirts that said Hell on the front and "Once in a Lifetime 6-6-6, June 6, 2006" on the back sold quickly. Around 3200 t-shirts by mid afternoon and at 4:30 a truck rolled up with only 500 more.

Everyone was in a partying mood except for a group of Christians that apparently had not learned how to market Jesus. Standing across the street and carrying signs they missed the opportunity to join the partygoers, to build friendships, relationships and discuss who the final victor is in the Book of Revelation. - I have to wonder if this group looked like they were sucking on lemons.

Here is more about the goings on in Hell on 6-6-6.

Once again a message to socialists. Your philosophy of government is not even accepted in Hell. Don't even try to bring it to Paradise.
~~~~~
Update: This little piece appeared on 6/20/2006 at the WZZM13 News Coverage website -

HELL, Mich. (AP) - The unofficial mayor of Hell is on the hot seat for a party some residents say got out of hand.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Livingston County hamlet to commemorate June sixth, 2006. Three sixes signify the devil according to some Bible interpretations.

Some residents have complained to Putnam Township officials about public urination, blocked roadways and other incidents during the celebration.

Event organizer John Colone has received most of the blame. He says he didn't know what kind of crowd to expect, but has agreed to apologize at Wednesday's township board meeting.
~~~~~~

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Another Comment on Hadiitha

Originally written as a comment to another blogger's favorable post on the nation.com's article, Why Haditha Matters -

Years ago - Vietnam Era - I had a friend that was in the Marines and in Nam. - When he came back he had all sorts of war stories to share. - Instead of IED's it was feces covered punji sticks and bamboo traps. He talked of the Viet Cong (North Vietnamese) giving grenades to children and having them bring them as a gift to American soldiers. He never had to do it but he knew people that had to shoot the children to save their lives and the lives of fellow soldiers. Not to mention the old grenade in the leftenants tent.

On night we got good and drunk and he finally opened up with me. All of the stories he had told me and our friends were BUNK. He had no war stories to tell so he made everything up just to sound like a bigger man than he felt he was. His job in Vietnam was basically garbage detail behind the lines.

By the time we finished our talk we both felt better. Although we have not seen one another for years I know we are still friends.

I have the feeling that Ricardo's friend might be similar to mine. That is, that he is embellishing his story a bit. -

Regarding 'the scores of dead civilians that lay on the sides of the roads he traveled', if true, does not say who killed those people. Yes! War is Hell and bad things happen to good people. But if we pull out now the same thing that happened in Vietnam after the Americans left would happen again. As the U.S. was pulling out it was fighting the last battle. The final helicopters pulled up and were shot at as they rose in the air. The people left behind, the South Vietnamese, were left to the amusements of the Communist North Vietnamese.

Hundred of thousands of innocents were killed by the North Vietnamese. Many fled on tiny boats only to drown. Some made it to Thailand, Singapore or Hong Kong. Some eventually to the U.S.. - Do the people of Iraq deserve to be left to the terrorists? Should the U.S. pull out now or continue going forward with the plan for a free, democratic Iraq? (I don't for a minute believe it will ever look like the U.S. as far as it's government goes but I think they deserve a chance to try self rule without terrorists running amuck all over the country.)

Stories like the one we had last weekend about the School bus kids massacred by terrorists and 50 kidnapped at Iraq bus stations - Gunmen round up victims at random Should tell us who is really the enemy here.

It is NOT George Bush or Rumsfeld. They are not the enemies! There are real evil persons in this world! Good people should be standing up against the terrorists and not the U.S. military. Our side is not deliberately killing innocents like the terrorists are doing. .

We do not know what happened in Haditha as of yet because the rumors go both ways. Are the people putting out the (mis)information on those killed in Haditha of the same persuasion as the terrorists who murdered the children taken off the busses last weekend? Could it have been terrorists who killed the man in the wheelchair? We (and the MSM) do not know the truth yet. Let's kick back a bit and wait for the results of the investigation before we string up U.S. Marines by the thumbs. There are a lot of good American over there trying real hard to help the country pull itself up by the bootstraps.

Lets not cut off their legs before they have a chance to stand up.


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Open Letter to the Today Show

The following email was sent by myself to the Today Show just a short time ago -

Subject line = Ignore those who stifle free speech. -

~~~Original follows~~~

I recieved the following email (see below) from Mediamatters.org asking me to tell you to not allow Ann Coulter or Bill O'Reilly on your Today program. -

I would prefer it if you allow people from both sides of the aisle/issues to be on your program because I believe most people are intelligent enough to decide for themselves who to believe or not. Those who call it 'hate speech' are simply mis-using political correctness for their own self centered reasons. They do this because they dislike what is being said. It hurts their side of issues.

Please ignore those who would like to stifle those in opposition to their viewpoints.
Continue having the great guest lineup from both sides - Thanks - Paul - prying1.blogspot.com -

~~~~~
Forwarded email follows
~~~~~


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Media Matters for America
Date: Jun 6, 2006 9:47 AM
Subject: Why is NBC's Today offering a platform for conservative hate?
To: XX~~~ZZ@gmail.com


June 6, 2006



NBC's Today has recently hosted a number of far-right ideologues. Just this morning, Ann Coulter was on and talked about her new book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism, which is rife with hate speech, including a section about the 9-11 widows in which she wrote: "These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles, reveling in their status as celebrities, and talked about by grief-arazzis. I have never seen people enjoying their husband's deaths so much."

Coulter has a long history of engaging in hateful rhetoric and misinformation, and yet Today still hosted her, giving her book free publicity and a degree of credibility it doesn't deserve. Indeed, this was the third time in eight months that Coulter has appeared on Today. Why?

Unfortunately, Coulter is not the only extremist recently appearing on Today. Earlier this year, Today hosted another right-wing ideologue, Bill O'Reilly, for the third time in just over three months despite the fact that, in his previous appearance on the show, he compared those who support withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq to Hitler appeasers before World War II.

We deserve better than this. Please click here to email Today's producers and urge them to stop giving a platform to radical right-wing ideologues like Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly. Ask them why Today repeatedly hosts such hateful, extremist pundits.

Email address for Today: today@nbc.com

Resources:
Conservative misinformation on Today
Conservative misinformation and inflammatory statements by Ann Coulter
Today hosted O'Reilly again despite smearing war opponents in last appearance
Today's All-Spin Zone: NBC gave O'Reilly forum to compare advocates of withdrawal from Iraq to Hitler appeasers
On NBC's Today show, O'Reilly joined the terrorists-for-Kerry chorus


Forward This E-mail To A Friend
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School bus kids massacred

I am amazed that the MSM would prefer to wage war against a few good men instead of the terrorists. The Online Sun U.K. has this piece

School bus kids massacred -
CHILDREN were dragged off school minibuses and slaughtered in a weekend of massacres in Iraq.

The youngsters were executed in the street by gunmen as 33 people were slain in a series of attacks.

Twelve students on their way to take exams were hauled off the bus convoy at a fake checkpoint.

Younger children and elderly men were among the nine other helpless Shia or Kurd passengers shot dead.

Four Sunni Arabs were spared.

A police official said: "The attackers dragged them out one by one and executed them."

He said it appeared some tried to flee but were gunned down as they ran.

Yesterday's attack took place in the early hours in the town of Ain Laila in the Diyala province, 80 miles north of Baghdad. The dead students were heading to the town of Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

One other passenger in the school convoy was wounded.

prying1 sez: What is the ultimate goal of these terrorists? Do they really believe that their god wants them to murder children? Is this sort of behaviour really condoned in the Koran and by the Islam religion?

~~~~~

Then there is this bit of news too. - 50 kidnapped at Iraq bus stations
Gunmen round up victims at random - BAGHDAD -- Gunmen in police uniforms staged a brazen daylight raid on bus stations in central Baghdad yesterday, kidnapping at least 50 people, including travelers and merchants, and vendors selling tea and sandwiches.

~~~~~

Doesn't the MSM get it. We ARE at WAR with some very BAD people. These terrorists cannot have their behaviour explained away with politically correct terms. They need to be stopped and the MSM needs to get on the stick to do their part against them.

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MSM Continues War Against the Good Guys

Gindy gives us a link to a Michelle Malkin article called UK TIMES SMEARS OUR MARINES and is quite a read. - Thanks for the heads up Gindy -

prying1 sez:

In Michelle's article there is a link to the UK Times Story which has these lines in it.

- Quote -

A MEMBER of the US Marines unit accused of murdering 24 unarmed Iraqis said yesterday that his colleagues "were blinded by hate" and lost control before the massacre.
.....
Several members of the unit were young and inexperienced and may have snapped after seeing one of their colleagues killed by the bomb, Corporal Crossan said. "I think they were blinded by hate . . . and they just lost control." Corporal Crossan, who passed out soon after being hit by the bomb in al-Haditha on November 19 last year, said that the unit had a lot of new members.

- end quote -

Last Sunday (4Jun06) I had the opportunity to chat with a young member of the battalion that was involved in this incident. One thing he told me that bothered him was some of Marines talking to the press. The gist of his words were, they were not there, they do not know what happened. I asked him if he could give me any insight into what really happened. He said no and that all he knew was rumors anyway. He was not there either. There is a good man! One of many!!!


Please note that in the above quote from the UK Times that Crossan "passed out". Other news stories say that Crossan was knocked unconscious by the roadside bomb and was pinned under a truck... He didn't witness the shootings, but says emotions would have been running high.

Well Duh!

I do not know if Crossan's words were an interview with the press or how they got these quotes from him. I have to wonder what he said that was left out in the news story. - Anyone have a link to the entire piece instead of these snippets?

I still say we do not know what happened and the anti war faction of this planet is using bits and pieces to mold peoples opinions to be against the war on terror. For what purpose I can only wonder. Surely they don't want terrorists to rule the world.

Or do they???

Technorati Tags -
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Terrorism -
MSM -

Haditha, TheNation.com and the Truth???

The following is a comment I made in answer to another blogger who posted the Haditha article "Why Haditha Matters" from the Nation.com as if it were fact.

Please notice. In the second sentence of the article there is this: "The killings MAY have been in retaliation...."

That word 'MAY' is what is called a qualifying word. - It allows the writer to back out of his statement because he/she does not know the real answer.

Later in the same sentence they say this: " ...but this was not the work of soldiers gone berzerk"

Let's ask the Nation why, if they don't know the motive, they can so positively state the young Marines in question were 'not berserk'?

This entire article is posed with so called statements that assume guilt without any evidence. The marines cannot and will not talk until the investigation is over. This leaves them at a distinct disadvantage over the news media. For example they cannot and will not tell us if they were pinned down by small arms fire. Nor will they say if it was terrorists using women and children as human shields who murdered those innocents.

Haditha is a hotbed of terrorism. Not freedom fighters! Freedom fighters do not dress as women and bomb mosques. Neither does our Marines. Terrorists will lie too. It would mot hurt to question the motives of the doctor and reporter that helped to break this story. Try using the words, - Haditha Doctor, - in Google or Yahoo search engines.

Are the Marines guilty? Certainly we do not know. We should wait until the guilty verdict is hammered out by the judge and allow these young soldiers who volunteered their lives for this country the benefit of "innocent until proven guilty" as all Americans enjoy.

If they are found guilty in a military court (Not a kangaroo court) then they will be punished. Should our nation act like terrorists and punish these young men before the truth comes out? While the investigation is yet ongoing.

Does the MSM and its syncophants hate Bush enough to send some young men to jail for murder even if they are innocent? From the track record of many major news outlets (Dan Rather still won't admit the memo's were fake) I have to wonder.

Please, If you see a blog post lambasting the young Marines ask the poster if they really know the truth. If so how do they know it when the investigation is still ongoing? Lets work to knock down the mis-information the MSM is once again spitting out.

~~~~~

Update! - On Sunday I had a chat with a young Marine who just happens to be in the same battalion as those involved with the Haditha incident. I gave him assurance that the blogging community (at least those who prefer the truth over lies) are doing their best to knock down the incessant MSM coverage of the whole shebang. The truth will come out and I believe that once again the lefties will be made to look like fools. That is, if God is willing (I'm sure He is) and that the truth is not the venom the left is spewing.

I also asked what he could tell me of the incident and as I expected he would not answer at all other than to say he heard rumors but did not know the truth... He did say this is not the first time his battalion has been attacked like this. Kudos to him and all the rest of the Marines who are doing that which the left does not deserve but receives anyway. That is, a line of defense from murderous Islamic fanatics who could care less about political leanings. These young men and women deserve our applause!

Lets work to knock down the mis-information the MSM is once again spitting out. - Find a blog or news site that is repeating the ignorance and call them on it.
~~~~~~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Haditha -
MSM -
Terrorism -

Haditha, Talk Radio Politics, Hurricanes and Racism

All in one post - I've been overflowing for a while now and finally found time to get all this stuff out - Sorry for the length. I'm hoping you are a faasssst reader and not prone to narcolepsy. Leave a comment if anything strikes you as right or wrong...

First I'd like to mention the Haditha Affair that tops so many news reports. - The MSM and Representative John Murtha -(D-PA)- DO NOT KNOW what happened there and are putting the entire U.S. military force on trial because they hate Bush. - For an example The Nation dot Com has a piece called "Why Haditha Matters" in which they have these opening lines -

- quote - Enough details have emerged from survivors and military personnel to conclude that in the town of Haditha last November, members of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment perpetrated a massacre. The killings may have been in retaliation for the death of a Marine lance corporal, but this was not the work of soldiers gone berserk. The targets (children from 3 to 14, an old man in a wheelchair, taxi passengers), the hours-long duration of killings, the number of Marines involved, the careful mop-up--all amount to willful, targeted brutality designed to send a message to Iraqis. As Representative John Murtha has pointed out, the patently false story floated afterward, blaming the killings on roadside bombs, and Marine payoffs to survivors imply a cover-up that may extend far up the chain of command.
end quote -

Please note in the second sentence the word "MAY" which is a great qualifying word that means "WE DON'T KNOW"! - More details have been coming out that the Marines in question "MAY" have been pinned down by gunfire and the terrorists were holding women and children as human shields. I don't know and freely admit it. The MSM doesn't know and acts like they do.

"WE" will have to wait for a bit longer to hear what the full story is "AFTER" the investigation and not before or during.

In the meantime let's not place the entire U.S. military under suspicion and let's not declare that they dine on babies for dessert after they finish their MRE's. In other words let's not be part of any lies like John Kerry spouted during the Viet Nam War. Let's be patient and wait.

~~~~~

Hugh Hewitt, Radio Talk Show Host, Tetrarch of the Ozarks, Minnesota Master of the Horse, Commissioner of Hockey, Sheriff of Latin, Colorado's Warden of the Collegiate Peaks, and California State Sommelier had a segment today (6-1-06) where Hugh and Bob Mulholland, senior Phil Angelides advisor, got to discuss the coming California Governor elections. Phil Angelides, California treasurer and home developer is squaring off against Steve Wesley, state comptroller and E-Bay billionaire. Both are democrats looking to bump Arnold.

Now this shows why I love Hugh Hewitt (and his wonderful producer Generalissimo Duane) Not only do you get Great Radio but whenever you blog on whatever Hugh says Generalismo has it all typed out nice and neat and sometimes with MP3 links so that you get to relive the wonder and delight of existing in a world that is Pure Hugh Hewitt.

- Some of the dialog: - quote -

HH: Now, does Phil support the takeover of the schools in L.A. by Antonio Villaraigosa?

BM: He's...Angelides has only said that local schools ought to work with local government entities, and get that resolved.

HH: That's wishy-washy. Doesn't he have a spine?

BM: Well, first of all, he's the state treasurer. Second of all, he's not governor, yet. So...

HH: I mean, that's like the major issue in California, and the guy who wants to be governor can't say anything about it?

BM: No, he has said things about it.

HH: Well, but Bob, I mean, why would we elect another spineless Democrat? We had Gray Davis. We threw him out.

BM: If there is a movement, and there is by Mayor Antonio, why don't we get all that resolved before a governor or governor candidate says this is the way we should do it. I mean, the best thing about what a governor should do is listen to local concerns, local issues, and get that resolved. Now if the local entities, the mayor of L.A. and the other 26 or whatever it is mayors, as well as the school district, come up with a proposal, Angelides will look at that.

HH: Now since he is in favor of giving driver's license to illegals, that means they're going to be driving and using gas, which means California's gas is even going to go higher.

BM: They're already driving. What are you talking about?

HH: But they're going to be driving a lot more once they don't have to worry about not having a license.

BM: If they're driving already, and a police officer stops them for a tail light out, right now, the police officer says you have I.D? No. It's better to have I.D. so we can put them into the computer and check them out if they're wanted for anything, or just check them out so we can give them a proper ticket.

HH: If the police officer discovers they're illegal in the country, Bob, should they contact the authorities about that?

BM: Well, that's done at the local level, but again...

HH: What's Phil think?

BM: And some local entities have decided. But I go back to the big...

HH: What's Phil think?

BM: I go back to...

HH: Does he have an opinion on that? I mean, he doesn't have many opinions on anything.

BM: Well, yes he does. He wants to raise income tax on the 500,000...

HH: He wants to raise income taxes. Well, that's a surprise. But what...and he wants to keep abortion...

BM: $500,000 more...

HH: He wants to raise income tax. I heard that part. But now, I want to play that over and over again. - end quote -

Get more of this exchange with MP3 at radioblogger.com - (Go Generalissimo!!! - Keep on typing!)

~~~~~

Hurricane Season - June 1st - November 30th - If you plan on bagging one be sure to get your license - The environmentalists will not stand poaching hurricanes in or out of season. - For full rules and regulations on Hurricane hunting visit AubreyJ whose posting, - June 1st - Hurricane Season Starts Today - is comprehensive coverage. Bottom line is, IF YOU DIE DURING A HURRICANE DON"T BLAME THE GOVERNMENT!

~~~~~

Seattle Public Schools has a wonderful program to indoctrinate instruct students and teachers on the finer points of racism. Try this link to view the page they took down! - T.L. Stanley of New Rosemead Times fame tipped me off on the way Seattle School District defines the relationships between blacks and whites.

First let's get the dictionary definition of racism - 1:)The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. AND 2:) Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Now lets compare that with Seattle Public Schools definition of racism -
~quotes~
Racism:
The systematic subordination of members of targeted racial groups who have relatively little social power in the United States (Blacks, Latino/as, Native Americans, and Asians), by the members of the agent racial group who have relatively more social power (Whites). The subordination is supported by the actions of individuals, cultural norms and values, and the institutional structures and practices of society.

Individual Racism:
The beliefs, attitudes, and actions of individuals that support or perpetuate racism. Individual racism can occur at both an unconscious and conscious level, and can be both active and passive. Examples include telling a racist joke, using a racial epithet, or believing in the inherent superiority of whites.

Active Racism:
Actions which have as their stated or explicit goal the maintenance of the system of racism and the oppression of those in the targeted racial groups. People who participate in active racism advocate the continued subjugation of members of the targeted groups and protection of "the rights" of members of the agent group. These goals are often supported by a belief in the inferiority of people of color and the superiority of white people, culture, and values.

Passive Racism:
Beliefs, attitudes, and actions that contribute to the maintenance of racism, without openly advocating violence or oppression. The conscious or unconscious maintenance of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that support the system of racism, racial prejudice and racial dominance.

Cultural Racism:
Those aspects of society that overtly and covertly attribute value and normality to white people and Whiteness, and devalue, stereotype, and label people of color as "“other", different, less than, or render them invisible. Examples of these norms include defining white skin tones as nude or flesh colored, having a future time orientation, emphasizing individualism as opposed to a more collective ideology, defining one form of English as standard, and identifying only Whites as great writers or composers.

Institutional Racism:
The network of institutional structures, policies, and practices that create advantages and benefits for Whites, and discrimination, oppression, and disadvantages for people from targeted racial groups. The advantages created for Whites are often invisible to them, or are considered "rights" available to everyone as opposed to "privileges" awarded to only some individuals and groups.
~end quotes~

How does this sound to you? Like it is time to vote for vouchers? - Seattle Schools has removed the pages which tells me they either knew the pages were full of nonsense or that they were ignorant of what their webmaster was doing. Whichever or for whatever reason they removed the pages they did not fight to keep them up. That was a smart move. They could tell right away they would lose in round one.
~~~~
An article on the subject in the SeattlePI.com opinion pages was linked to by T.L.. -
~quote~
Are you salting away a little money for your retirement? Trying to plan for your kids' education? If so, Seattle Public Schools seems to think you're a racist.

According to the district's official Web site, "having a future time orientation" (academese for having long-term goals) is among the "aspects of society that overtly and covertly attribute value and normality to white people and Whiteness, and devalue, stereotype and label people of color."
~end quote~
This was culled from a great article by ANDREW J. COULSON and can be found at - Planning ahead is considered racist? -



Technorati Tags -
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Hugh Hewitt Bob Mulholland -
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Seattle Schools -
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Let's Steal the Elections Back

The Democrats in this country have nothing to offer their constituents so they seek votes in unsavory ways. - Tom Umberg of the California State Assembly is just one example of the truth to that statement. - Others can be seen in the following link to Gentle Cricket's blog post.

Quotes from Gentle Cricket's Blog:

Last month I wrote about AR2948 (What Constitution?, also at California Conservative), a bill written by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) in the California legislature that would undercut the Electoral process set forth in the constitution.
~~~~~
[AB2948] would ratify an interstate compact under which California's 55 Electoral College members would agree to support the winner of the national popular vote for President regardless of the outcome of the election in California" (San Francisco Examiner, 4/26/06)

What Umberg fails to understand (or chooses to ignore) is the very important role the electoral college plays in regards to balancing powers between states. Much the same way that the Federal Congress is composed of two Houses with very different numbers of members, the Electoral College plays a vital role ensuring that the interests and individuality of each state are not compromised. There was a distinct reason why the framers of our constitution did not call for a popular vote to determine the Presidency in the constitution
~~~~~

(Also included in the post is reference to Senators Hillary (Cattle Queen) Clinton (D-NY) and John (Christmas in Cambodia) Kerry (D-MA), the two front-runners for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination, proposing legislation that would give felons the right to vote.)

After reading Gentle Cricket's posting I sent the following Open Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger:

- 5-31-06 -
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

This is an appeal from one Californian for you to veto AR2948 -

I found this in the Contra Costa Times:

quote - Assemblyman Tom Umberg, a Santa Ana Democrat who chairs the Assembly Election and Redistricting Committee, said the basic premise is understandable even to children.

"When you're in first grade, if the person who got the second-most votes became class leader, the kids would recognize that this is not a fair system," he said. - end quote -

Tom Umberg is disingenuous at best and devious at worst. The process of electing a class leader and the President of the United States are two different systems. - Apples and Oranges.

The current system has been working for generations and should not be tampered with by politicians who did not like the results of the last election.

I do know of two other Californians (One from Rosemead and the other from San Francisco) who are against this scheme that the duplicitous Tom Umberg has proposed - Their opinions can be found here. - http://thegentlecricket.blogspot.com/2006/05/california-undercuts-electoral-process.html -

It seems a shame that one party finds it moral to pull shenanigans like Tom Umberg's in order to win elections. I hope you will not fall into the immoral trap they have laid.

Please veto AB2948 - end letter -

prying1 sez: - This Compact proposed by Umberg is just part of the skulduggery Democrats are turning to. It seems a shame that some Democratic elected officials find it necessary to seek the votes of felonious criminals and Illegal Aliens in order to win elections. It seems a bigger shame that some people still vote for them.

Technorati Tags -
Politics -
California -
Fraud -

Finding The Hate Speech That Google Censors

Challenge to Lefties and Politically Correct Crowd: Find The Hate Speech...

I just finished reading some news articles that say Google 'News' crawlers have recently banned New Media Journal, MichNews.com and The Jawa Report" from the results they publish. Apparently these sites are no longer a Google News Resource because they are spouting "Hate Speech". Below is a link to a New Media Journal story that includes an email from Google explaining why they have removed them and gives links to 3 stories Google says contain hate speech. All 3 stories are related to the Muslum religion and terrorism.

Click here for the New Media Journal Story.

Frank Salvato, managing editor, contacted Google News when it was observed that the new opinion and news entries published for May 19, 2006 did not appear in any Google News or Google Search Engine query. He contacted Google Help and received this reply:

-----Original Message-----

From: Google Help [mailto:source-suggestions@google.com]
Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 11:56 AM
To: NewMediaJournal.us
Subject: [#58423255] Google News

Hi Frank,

Thanks for writing. We received numerous reports about hate content on your site, and after reviewing these reports, decided to remove your site from Google News. We do not allow articles and sources expressly promoting hate speech viewpoints in Google News (although referencing hate speech for commentary and analysis is acceptable).

For example, a number of the complaints we looked at on your site were found to be hate content:

http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/peck/05102006.htm
http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/stock/05082006.htm
http://www.newmediajournal.us/guest/imani/04222006.htm

We hope this helps you understand our position.

Regards,

The Google Team

Going through the articles all I could find was one reference to "dirty rag-towel wearing 'War Lords'" Unless you want to count lines like the following:
- quotes -
Story 1: I cannot open a paper or turn on the television without seeing mobs of Muslim savages celebrating in front of burning embassies, a school, a restaurant or those stupid tires they seem to think are so impressive to burn . And, don't you just love those scenes of men in black ski masks, racing through the streets, shooting guns in the air or standing behind some terrified captive getting ready to be-head him or her?

Story 2: Brave Muslim warriors would rather dress as women and blow themselves up killing fellow Muslims praying in a mosque than face an American soldier. Of course, that is not described as suicide by Muslims. Instead, it has been given the colorful label of 'martyrdom.' It is never explained by Islamic leaders how praying fellow Muslims in a mosque are a threat to Islam.

Story 3: It is due to Muhammad'’s way of life that Muslims act barbaric and run amuck and burn cars and Embassies each time someone draws a picture of the holy prophet. Behaviorally, the prophet of Allah hallmarks a cult. In other words, we cannot compare Islam to other religions because due to the prophets narcissistic manners, Islam falls in the category of a cult, not a religion. Yes, Islam is a cult founded by an Arab man from Mecca in Arabia, by the name of Mohammed, who lived from 570-632 A.D.. A huge problem is that cults are incredibly difficult to dismantle intellectually. The brainwashing is grandiose.
- end quotes -

Oh, There was this line too:

"Islam is killing people. Islam is killing non-Muslims and Muslims. Islam is killing old and young. Islam is killing Jews and Christians and Hindus. Islam is moving across the world like a dark, evil cloud. When will the free world realize that Islam is as Islam does?"

prying1 sez: I have to wonder (and I'm not the only one) if CAIR and the ACLU were behind the complaints and if Google is just bowing and groveling to their wishes. If so, where will it stop?

I will say that I do not think this is true censorship in the dictionary sense of the word. An editor spiking a story or the government coming in and threatening people to keep a story from being printed would be censorship. - For the government to come in and demand Google (a free enterprise) to list 'such and such a company' in their spider searches would be distasteful to say the least. The only thing I could agree to is that Google News users complain to the Google powers that be. Not enough people will care or even know about it to make a difference.

To quote Kurt Vonnegut Jr., "So it goes."

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Minutemen Are Building a FenceTo Stop Illegal Aliens

With private donations the Minutemen have gathered at a small Palominas, Arizona ranch to put up a fence. No thanks to the U.S. Senators (May they be defeated by the voters) that voted to build fences ONLY with Mexico's approval. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps is installing fences of barbed wire, razor wire & steel rail barriers along a 10-mile length of private land in southeastern Arizona. Connie Hair, Minuteman spokeswoman said the original design will be changed per the rancher's request.

There will be two parallel 14-foot high, 150-feet-long steel mesh fences. About 10 miles of fortified range fencing, including five-strand barbed wire fortified with vertical steel rail posts, backed by coiled concertina wire and behind that, angled and crisscrossed steel rails embedded in concrete to act as vehicle barriers. The rails also will be designed to keep cattle from reaching the concertina wire.

They will finish in less than three weeks. The cost is estimated at $100,000. They have raised $380,000 for more fences.

Stories - here (Uses term "undocumented immigrants") and here (Uses term "illegal immigrants") -

Technorati Tags -
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Minutemen -

I'm So Tired of Illegal Alien News 24/7

I'm almost ready to throw up my hands and say to heck with it. Lets send buses and vans down to Mexico to pick up every mother's son and drag 'em up north whether they want to come or not. And while we are at it lets put our National Guard on Mexico's southern border. Mexico's southern border is better guarded than ours is. Lets help Mexico's economy by allowing them to ship out every poor person so they only have rich people left. Except for the few peons they will need to clean their toilets. Lets ignore the fact thet terrorists can come across the border just as easily as a "Migrant Worker".

then there is this: - by Sher Zieve -
Senate Bill Destroys Illegal Immigration Reform

The new Senate version of the "Immigration Reform Bill" not only expands illegal immigration (and not just from Mexico) but, places even more constraints on the US Border Patrol. The Dodd-Specter Amendment to the bill now REQUIRES that Mexico be consulted about any proposed building of a US-Mexico Border fence. US citizens no longer have a voice or vote on the matter.

Not only have these apparently lunatic Senators (who are now part of the "Open Borders" crowd) decided that they no longer report to the US citizen-voters but, they have made the determination that "we-don't-need-no-stinkin'-borders".

Pressure from Mexico worked on the US Senate. Not surprisingly, Mexico's President Vicente Fox is said to be very pleased with the US Senate's version. Is Fox to be our next POTUS? Looks like US citizens may no longer even have to vote.

The Senate bill almost doubles the H1B visas; from 65,000 per year to nearly 1,150,000. It also includes a stipulation for a 20% increase annually. It "forgives" illegals who have stolen Social Security cards (can anyone still say "Amnesty"?). Note: US citizens found guilty of identity theft go to jail. The Senate bill states that illegals must be given "prevailing wages". Note: US citizens are not entitled to this stipulation. Illegals of Hispanic heritage are to be given a "path to citizenship", while they remain in the US. Despite false arguments to the contrary, they are being placed at the front of the line, ahead of others who have already been waiting for years.

There are too many insane provisions that are pro-illegals and anti-US citizens, included in the bill, to list here. But, you may view them at: www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:S.2611:

Have we finally lost our country to a group of fanatical US Senators who no longer listen to "we the people"? It would appear so.

Thank you Sher Zieve for asking that question - How many Voting Americans like the answer??? How many will be more careful next time they vote?

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Phat Mommy on "Save the Internet!"

I have not done ANY research on this subject. I will say. "I'm going on gut feeling here". That and a bit of knowledge of history. When I first heard about this program to "Save The Internet" I was reminded of what George Putnam (Check Bio here) has continually said about Hegelism. - Manufacture a problem where none exists, Fill the people with fear about it and then come riding in on a white charger with the solution. -

Shannon of Phat Mommy fame has this bit to say (Plus more at her site!) about the target="_blank">"Save The Internet" business.

When I first read the Save the Internet campaign, I admit it sounded logical to me. I mean, gosh, those big evil corporations are going to prevent little ol' me from reading my favorite blogs! No one comes between me and my blogs, people. But after a little more research, I'm not convinced anyone is trying to prevent me from accessing anything. And I'm definitely not convinced that government regulation is the answer.

Let's try to put the issue in plain English. Net neutrality is the concept that everyone should be equal in cyberspace. You can just as easily and freely visit The Amazon.com's of the Internet and you can the Mommy bloggers. The telecom and cable companies that own the pipelines over which internet info travels would like to offer faster delivery to those companies that are willing to pay a premium for it. That means Amazon.com could pay Comcast to push it's web site through at a faster rate. Result? You get a better experience at Amazon's site. If the technology is available, why shouldn't telecom companies profit from it? I may be missing something, but I have yet to see even a hint that some web sites would actually be blocked. Slower, relative to other sites, possibly, but not blocked.

By instituting regulations, Congress could actually hinder the development of new and exciting Internet technologies that we are not even aware of yet. Not to mention pave the way for {shudder} taxation.

prying1 sez: Go visit Shannon and leave a comment. Before they block her site by passing legislation to "Save The Internet"...

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Just in Time For Memorial Day!What is a Vet?

Sergeant Allen - A 25 year old Iraq veteran posts this question with an answer that might make you tear up a bit. - You have been warned.

- From Contact Right - What is a vet? -

Please post a bit on your blog and pass on this link - And don't forget to say "Thank you!" to a vet this weekend. (What the heck. Why not every day?)

Hat tip to Cary Cartter of I'm Thinking of the "O" Word...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S.
I thought I'd bring this up again -

Jordan Leigh has written a beautiful and moving song for our fallen soldiers and dedicated it to her brother Kenneth Schall who died while serving in Iraq. Listen to her song:
Soldier, I Thank You

I previously posted More on this song and Jordan Leigh here

Thanks again to Cary Cartter for the link to the beautiful song! I get some of my best posts from him!

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Military -
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Memorial Day -

Blogging About Hoaxes

Recently (like in the past year plus since I started blogging) I've seen quite a few times where a story hits the wires, Bloggers jump on it, hours or days later it turns out to be a hoax.
The Little Red Book story: A college student was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security for requesting Mao Zedong's Little Red Book on interlibrary loan. The story traveled around the world. The student later admitted it was a little red lie.

The Toy Doll, Hostage of Terrorists was a good one that didn't last long. An Islamic militant website posted a picture of a soldier being held at gunpoint. This had people going for a while until a spokesman for Dragon Models USA Inc. showed it was one of their Cody dolls.

CBS had their fake National Guard memos. More recently these was the Iran/Jews/Yellow Ribbon news that went through a couple cycles before being knocked down. The Jessie MacBeth Video story has caused many Mea Culpas from bloggers who ran with it. It was of a supposed U.S. Army Ranger and Iraq War Veteran that claimed he murdered indiscriminately in Iran. (see previous post)

Now we have an ABC News story that broke yesterday that says: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI, which is probing corruption in Congress, ABC News reported on Wednesday. - It was debunked shortly after it broke.

What gets me is the ABC news page is still up without an update or link showing the story to be false. - Anyone passing by while websurfing could see the story and not realize it is false. - Then take it home and blog with it. - Making them appear to be the fool.

I always hated seeing news stories with "Alleged" or "Suspected" when they have a picture of the guy with his hand in the cookie jar. - Now I understand why. - Stories can change midstream.

We have a story of a woman who was offered money for her baby by a couple of women. She allegedly turned them down and the couple of women are now suspected of stealing the baby from her.

I feel there is more to this story than the dribble of news we have so far. But if I post my real thoughts I might be subject to a lawsuit so...

The main point of this post is to tell other bloggers to be careful out there. Even the big boys get fooled. If you do post on a story that turns out to be bogus then update on the original post and maybe even write a separate "I'm Sorry" posting. Being transparent in your humanity will only cause people to trust you and your blog even more.

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Jessie MacBeth Story False & Leads to Dave Tikk's Comment

OK - Jessie MacBeth is a phony and a LIAR!

Who is Jessie MacBeth you say?

- Michelle Malkin has the story - quote - He's the latest cause celebre of the anti-war Left -- a "former Army Ranger and Iraq war veteran" who accuses his fellow troops of committing a litany of atrocities against innocent civilians.

--- A 20 minute film produced about him and shown on the Internet has been pulled - No explanation on the page left behind - but it had this phony lefty liar saying,

- "By my hand alone . . . almost 200 people were taken out by me. That's just a rough estimate. A lot of them at close range . . . they would actually feel the hot muzzle of my rifle on their forehead . . . we'd do stuff that would scare them first . . . beat 'em up or kick 'em or hit the wife . . . slaughtering 30-40 people a night sometimes, women and children . . . I was trained, you know, in all the Ranger school, 18 months of that crap . . . I got disappointed in my country . . . but I didn't say anything because I would have been locked up." ---

There's just one problem: According to Department of the Army spokesman Paul Boyce, there is no record of "Jessie MacBeth," a.k.a. Jesse Adam MacBeth, having served in either the Rangers or the Special Forces -- or in any part of the Army at all. Boyce told me Tuesday that a check on MacBeth's credentials came up empty. "At a minimum, this appears to have been concocted" and "some sort of hoax," Boyce said. Special Operations Command and the State Department have been alerted. - end quote -

~~~~~

Being known for 'digging a little deeper' I thought I'd check out what the lefties were saying about "Jessie MacBeth". - Googled with quotes and clicked on the first hit up. - Which brought me to "Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches" who has, at the time of this posting, not updated to show the Jessie story to be bogus. Will he??? I wrote and gave him the link to Michelle's article.
~~~~~

Well from there I wandered about Jamail's blog for a bit, found a very lengthy and verbose article on Democracy in Iraq and came across this comment concerning the post and other comments. Dave Tikk answered the usual talking points continually found on so many lefty blogs so I thought it worth bringing to the light of day.

The following one liners are culled by Dave from other commentor's words.

- quote -

First, I appreciate the website posting my views as they seem different then most others on here. Please know my comments are part of what I hope are a 2 way street in learning from one another. I am sitting in the Persian Gulf trying to make sense of all this, especially those of you who are critical of what is happening in Iraq with respect to America's involvement. Below I will post some responses to the above comments to allow you to see how the other side thinks with the hope that some of you will respond back so that I may better understand you.

-"It seems to me that the United States has gone from being an exporter of democracy and freedom, to becoming the pimp of so-called democracy and freedom."

I say to this; If not the US then who? The former Soviet Union? Their system failed. How about the Iranians? They too have a failing economy. How about we let the Iraqi's do it themselves? They allowed Saddam to rule them for the last few decades and he killed between 1 million - 6 million of his own people. The US is the only country in the world that has both the ability and guts to go into a place like Iraq, arrest the murdering dictator and kill two of his equally evil sons and then make an attempt at securing the country so they may have a free election. Granted, not all this was done perfectly but I fail to see anyone else, except for a few coalition countries, making the attempt. The alternative was to allow Saddam to go on doing what he was doing. Again, we found no WMD, but aren't killing several million of your own people a WMD?

-"Jeffersonian? Hardly. But get a few people to get purple on their fingers, wave it in front of a camera, broadcast it on CNN, and ......voila!!! you've got Bush-style "democracy.""

To this I say; I understand there is a slant of propaganda from the US Press by doing this, but let's not forget, this is the same press that shows a car bomb, an IED, or a suicide bomber and calls it a "National Insurgency". Media call those isolated events "a quagmire of chaos". Sorry, several million more voted then the few thousand that blow things up. I take this as lessen for both sides. Don't believe what you see on the news. They will sensationalize anything to make their ratings look good. They are not sensationalizing voting or car bombers for our benefit, but for their own pockets.

-"It is shameful how Americans have forgotten, or perhaps never knew, what the word means. They don't know, or perhaps never knew, what "freedom" means."

I have just one comment here. How many people tried to defect to Iran, France, North Korea, China, Iraq, Cuba, or any African Country in the last 50 years because they were seeking freedom? Several million tried to enter the US because they all know where true freedom is. What they fail to see is that freedom comes at a cost and is hard work. The US system is not nearly perfect and has huge gaps in consistency at times, but it is the best thing out there, otherwise why do we have so many trying to cross our borders?

-"Not all are asleep to the growing lies and corruption that are destroying the fabric of all our forefathers stood and fought for. I believe a breaking point lies ahead and the real face of the Bush people will be exposed."

Who are you talking about? 52% of those who voted voted for the President. The other rest either didn't vote or voted for someone else. The "real face of the Bush People" belongs to more then 50% of the country. What "fabrics" are you referring to that our fore fathers stood and fought for? Religious freedom? Freedom of the press? Freedom to pursue your dreams? News flash.....There was none of this under Saddam and if someone like Zarquawi (forgive my spelling, no offense intended) is allowed to flourish, he will chop your head off unless you do exactly what he says you should do. Please enlighten us all on what freedoms the Iraqis had before the US showed up.

-"Bush's quote, "the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands," indeed has several interpretations. To me the statement sounds like a threat - an echo of the "either you are with us or against us" rhetoric."

You are exactly correct. This is a threat and one I hope we all back up. Because what you forgot was "those that are against us", fly fuel and passenger laden aircraft into buildings and kill people in America's back yard. North Korea, Iran, and China would like nothing better then to set up "indoctrination camps" in downtown America and do it at the expense of your head on a block if you don't attend the "meeting". People in those countries who would do us harm deserve to be talked with first, and when they don't listen, fail to give and take, and start blowing things up in Washington, DC, and New York, we (America) needs to make some threat and then, if required, back up those threats. Iran, China, North Korea, and the former Soviet Union all noticed the strength and precision of the US Military and will be more then happy to step up to the political forum to discuss our differences rather then resort to military action, terrorist acts, conventional war, or nuclear war.

-"Bush's statements sound to me as if he is threatening the citizens of the US if they do not support the war in Iraq."

Again, 52% of the voters voted for him. The entire US Military is volunteer. No one defects to Cuba. These things happen because no one feels threatened. If you feel threatened then I would say you are either misinformed or have no back bone so get out and vote for someone who doesn't threaten you.

Ok...I'll shut up now. Please give me constructive criticism on my thoughts. I only ask you base them on facts and with the intent to make the world a better place....Dave

Posted by: Dave Tikk at February 1, 2005 08:50 AM - end quote -

Unfortunately Dave Tikk's only contact point was an email address that is no longer functioning - He does mention sitting in the Persian Gulf on February 1, 2005 - Doing a Google Search on the name comes up with one hit, the page this was pulled from... Which makes me think the name was a pseudonym. The name might very well be phony!

Hmmmm. - Jessie MacBeth is a phony!
Hmmmm. - Dave Tikk uses a pseudonym (Phony???)!

One from the left. - One from the right.

Which one would you trust with your wallet or car keys?

Better yet. Which would you trust with your life?

I'll take the one that was sitting in the Persian Gulf thank you.



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The Essential President Bush

The Anchoress has a post that is must reading for both the left and the right.

A much-esteemed, long-neglected friend sent an email this morning, which was delightful to receive. At one point he mentioned this post from yesterday and wrote: I think (President Bush) has lost his bearings. But then, so did Moses from time to time, it's quite understandable.

That made me wonder a little - has President Bush lost his bearings, or have we? Is it President Bush who has broken faith with "his base" or have they?

When I read my friend's line, I thought of a line from Pride and Prejudice, in which Elizabeth Bennett says in new appreciation of Mr. Darcy, "In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was."

From this the Anchoress goes on to take us down memory lane. It is only a few years out of our recent past and she shows how soon we forget.

Thanks Anchoress!

~~~~~
Hat Tip to Okie on the Lam
~~~~~

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Tony Snow and Helen Thomas

Found this cartoon through Google Blog Search / Tony Snow (see post below dated Friday, May 19, 2006 re: Tony Snow and the tar baby) and thought it was pretty funny. With permission freely given from the cartoonist, Ken McCracken, I present it here. (Might need to right click and view image - Sorry -)

I also found this exchange on the - White House Press Briefing page dated May 19, 2006 - which I can only assume was between Helen and Tony (He calls the questioner "Helen" and it is in the same genre of questions she has been asking for 3 years)

- Quote -
Q The new Italian Prime Minister says that the President's invasion of Iraq was a grave error. As the new kid on the block, can you give me the latest rationale the U.S. has for invading Iraq?

MR. SNOW: There has only been one rationale, as you know, Helen, and this that Saddam Hussein had resisted -- what is the proper number, 17 United Nations resolutions -- and had refused repeatedly to permit weapons inspectors to do their work, and consistent with that. And also we had cited other concerns in terms of democracy and human rights. That case has never changed.

Also the case laid out and voted by the United States Senate --

Q He finds that as a justification to invade a country where we had choke-hold sanctions, satellite surveillance --

MR. SNOW: Helen, I'm not going to get in another argument about the -- this is a three-year-old argument and you're trying to re-argue the case. The President made his case back then. The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly.

Q He did not make the case.

MR. SNOW: Well, in your opinion he didn't make the case. He made the case. He laid out his reasons.

Q He made the case, in your opinion?

MR. SNOW: Yes.
- End Quote -

prying1 sez: Second verse, same as the first.


Update - May 24, 2006 - Q The President apparently has gotten several messages, underground, back-channel and so forth, through intermediaries for direct talks with Iran. Surely he is not going to blow a -- speaking of opportunities with Iraq, this is an opportunity to talk directly to Iran. And why doesn't the President do it? And don't give me the -- I'm sure the three other allies and so forth would be very happy if we talked directly to Iran.

MR. SNOW: Well, if you don't wish me to answer the question, then I'll just move to the next questioner.

Q I want you to answer after I've told you what my premise is. (Laughter.)

MR. SNOW: This from Secretary of State Helen Thomas. The position has always been clear. We are not going to divide --

Q If elected I will serve. (Laughter.)

MR. SNOW: Boy, that's going out everywhere today. ....

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Bored At Work - Funny Video Clip

This is a pretty funny 10 second clip on Google Video entitled "Bored at Work". - What cracks me up is no one looks up from their desks. -

Click here for the Bored at Work Video!

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Yellow Ribbons on Jews in Iran?Red Ribbons on Christians in Iran?True or False?update = false!

Hat tip to Hugh Hewitt - Iran passed a law concerning a dress code so people are not allowed to wear western clothing. Evidently the dress code part of the story is true but the color coding for religions is questionable.

Canada.com ran a story with the title, "A colour code for Iran's 'infidels'"

HotAir.com has posted updates on the story casting doubt on the report.

Original Story (first link) says: - The law mandates the government to make sure that all Iranians wear "standard Islamic garments" designed to remove ethnic and class distinctions reflected in clothing, and to eliminate "the influence of the infidel" on the way Iranians, especially, the young dress. It also envisages separate dress codes for religious minorities, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, who will have to adopt distinct colour schemes to make them identifiable in public. The new codes would enable Muslims to easily recognize non-Muslims so that they can avoid shaking hands with them by mistake, and thus becoming najis (unclean).
~~~~~
Religious minorities would have their own colour schemes. They will also have to wear special insignia, known as zonnar, to indicate their non-Islamic faiths. Jews would be marked out with a yellow strip of cloth sewn in front of their clothes while Christians will be assigned the colour red. Zoroastrians end up with Persian blue as the colour of their zonnar. It is not clear what will happen to followers of other religions, including Hindus, Bahais and Buddhists, not to mention plain agnostics and atheists, whose very existence is denied by the Islamic Republic.
- End Quote -
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HotAir.com (second link) says: - Israeli politicians are sounding some very dire notes, but as far as I know, no one's independently confirmed this morning's story in the National Post yet. Neither Stephen Harper nor John Howard had heard anything about it until today. And a friend of mine with contacts in Iran says he can't find anyone who thinks it's true. Liberal Catnip links to a report from Montreal radio quoting one expert as saying it's false.

On the other hand, Amer Taheri's story in the post this morning (which accompanied the main article that everyone's linking to) is awfully detailed to have been made up out of whole cloth. Taheri is a credible reporter, and he has oodles of contacts in Iran, so it's hard for me to believe he could have been suckered here. There's certainly no dispute that the Majlis did pass a law this week mandating a national Islamic dress code (which is bad enough); the question is whether that law carries any special requirements for non-Muslims.
- end quotes -
~~~~~~
At the time of this blogpost it seems it is still unconfirmed...

prying1 sez: It may be a trial balloon by the nutter that runs Iran designed to instill fear into the hearts of Jews, Christians and Zorastrians. It may have been the Post's sources were guessing what might happen under the new dress code. It may have been put out by expatriates of Iran in an attempt to show the world that Iran is not a fun vacation spot.

I'm going to hold off comment until the truth come out except to say I think the idea is pretty nasty. I'm hoping it is not true.

UPDATE: YNET NEWS dot COM SAYS FALSE - Iranian officials adamantly denied on Saturday reports claiming that the Muslim state was passing a law that would require minority members to identify themselves with various colored armbands ? and, reminiscent of the Holocaust, Jews would be forced to wear yellow badges.
~~~~~
Representative of Iran?s 25,000 Jews in the nation?s parliament, Maurice Motamed, the only Jewish MP there, told the western press that the report dealt a severe blow to the Jewish image in Iran. ?I was there when they discussed the law, and it was about the dress of Iranian Muslim women. Restrictions for minority or other religions were not mentioned,? Motamed said.
~~~~~ - end quotes -



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