by Sunnydale

One day after Ron Paul grass roots supporters made political history by raising over 6 million dollars in a single day, the RonPaulReveres.com website released a new Ron Paul Canvassing DVD, selling over 60,000 copies in the first 72 hours. The DVD, also available for free online, introduces prospective supporters to presidential candidate Ron Paul's philosophy and key positions.

WASHINGTON - After a month’s worth of mostly negative media reports, his campaign’s decision to decrease his activity in the early nominating states and the rise of GOP rival Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani’s national standing has plummeted in the most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, providing more evidence that the contest for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination is wide open.

“The Nativity story of nearly twenty centuries ago is known by all faiths as a hymn to the brotherhood of man. For Christians, it is the fulfillment of age-old prophecies and the reaffirmation of God’s great love for all of us. Through a generous Heavenly Father’s gift of His Son, hope and compassion entered a world weary with fear and despair and changed it for all time. On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer, feasting, and great merriment. But, most of all, we experience it in our hearts. For, more than just a day, Christmas is a state of mind. It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate. It is present when men of any creed bring love and understanding to the hearts of their fellow man. The feeling is seen in the wondrous faces of children and in the hopeful eyes of the aged. It overflows the hearts of cheerful givers and the souls of the caring. And it is reflected in the brilliant colors, joyful sounds, and beauty of the winter season. Let us resolve to honor this spirit of Christmas and strive to keep it throughout the year.” - Ronald Reagan

Hat tip: Patriot Post

posted by Tina Grazier

Our military leaders, and those who serve under them, modestly go about their work, never seeking praise and seldom boasting of their accomplishments. Because of this, and because they deserve to be acknowledged, I am very pleased to refer you to an article at the Weekly Standard:

“Gen. David Petraeus, Man of the Year - Time magazine got it wrong,” by William Kristol

The counterinsurgency campaign that Petraeus and Odierno conceived and executed in 2007 was as comprehensive a counterinsurgency strategy as has ever been executed. The heart of the strategy was a brilliant series of coordinated military operations throughout the entire theater. Petraeus and Odierno used conventional U.S. forces, Iraqi military and police, and Iraqi and U.S. Special Operations forces to strike enemy strongholds throughout Iraq simultaneously, while also working to protect the local populations from enemy responses. Successive operations across the theater knocked the enemy--both al Qaeda and Sunni militias, and Shia extremists--off balance and then prevented them from recovering. U.S. and Iraqi forces, supported by local citizens, chased the enemy from area to area, never allowing them the breathing space to reestablish safe havens, much less new bases. It wasn't "whack-a-mole" or "squeezing the water balloon" as some feared (and initially claimed)--it was the relentless pursuit of an increasingly defeated enemy. ** That defeat has implications far beyond Iraq. In 2007, Iraq's Sunni Arabs fought with us against al Qaeda, and Iraq's Shia Arabs joined with us to fight Iranian-backed Shia militias. ** One additional point: Petraeus's counterinsurgency stands out not just for its conceptual ambition and the skill of its execution but for its humanity. There were those who argued that the U.S. military could not succeed in counterinsurgency because Americans were not tough and bloodthirsty enough. They said that brutality was essential in subduing insurgents and our humanity would be our downfall. ** They were wrong. The counterinsurgency campaign of 2007 was probably the most precise, discriminate, and humane military operation ever undertaken on such a scale. Our soldiers and Marines worked hard--and took risks and even casualties--to ensure, as much as possible, that they hurt only enemies. (emphasis mine)

submitted by TinmanB

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace.

In case you missed this earlier, this a real hoot, be sure to see how many days Congress works in this video:

http://www.funnieststuff.net/viewmovie.php?id=575

For those of you following this story here is the latest twist...

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Doolittle disclosed Wednesday that his attorneys are fighting a subpoena issued to him for office records dating back 11 years, and that he believes the investigation of him will be on hiatus for one to two years while the constitutionality of the subpoena is fought out in the courts.

Term limits are supposed to prevent legislators from amassing too much power. Does allowing lawmakers to spend more time in one house of the Legislature - which Proposition 93 would do - conform to the spirit of term limits? All week, Steve Westly and Steve Poizner debate term limits and Proposition 93.

For more information on this click here.

Dear Mike,

What a day! I am humbled and inspired, grateful and thrilled for this vast outpouring of support.

On just one day, in honor of the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the new American revolutionaries brought in $6.04 million, another one-day record. The average donation was $102; we had 58,407 individual contributors, of whom an astounding 24,915 were first-time donors. And it was an entirely voluntary, self-organized, decentralized, independent effort on the internet. Must be the "spammers" I keep hearing about!

The establishment is baffled and worried, and well they should be. They keep asking me who runs our internet fundraising and controls our volunteers. To these top-down central planners, a spontaneous order like our movement is science-fiction. But you and I know it's real: as real as the American people's yearning for freedom, peace, and prosperity, as real as all the men and women who have sacrificed for our ideals, in the past and today.

by Nick F.

Fred Thompson Comeback.

For those of you, who missed the highlights of an otherwise disappointing debate in Iowa, please go to www.fred08.com. For those of you who share my affinity for the media, you will truly appreciate Fred’s performance.

This is the kind of thing that I have been trying to articulate about Fred Thompson. He doesn’t kowtow to the media and they HATE him for it! That is why despite a solid conservative record, and a very appealing style, the media has chosen to ordain Mike Huckabee “The Conservative Candidate” to challenge Romney.

But if you do consider yourself a conservative, and truly want to select a candidate who holds the same beliefs we do, than do a side by side comparison on the issues between Romney, Huckabee and Thompson. If you go to the “issues” section of the Fred Thompson web site there is one provided.

Look, I will support the candidate who gets the Republican nomination, but I am not willing to start settling just yet!

Fred Thompson’s campaign doesn’t excite me because he has the best network, or highest paid consultants. His campaign INSPIRES ME because I have a candidate who doesn’t force me to compromise my corps beliefs by casting a vote for him!

Romney and Huckabee with all their strong points require me to ignore issues which are near and dear to me.

Does anyone honestly believe that Romney would be touting his pro life/gun credentials if he was running for another term in Massachusetts?

Does anyone believe that Huckabee would really be tuff on crime or immigration when his record shows the opposite in Arkansas?

There is one conservative in this race whose record matches his rhetoric, one candidate whose presence and ability to articulate our principles makes him ideal for making our case to the nation, and that candidate is Fred Thompson.

I for one will not permit the media, of all things, to disregard a candidate who provides the greatest promise of a return to sound conservative governance.

So listen closely the next time you here someone running down Fred Thompson. You will notice that there is no mention of his policies or voting record, just the irrelevant claim that his campaign lacks “buzz” or “pizazz” or whatever adjective the media has now deemed as critical to holding the highest office in the land.

by Jack Lee

I'm back and just in time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I'm glad to see "Merry Christmas" is back in vogue after a long dry spell of doing "Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings".

I think we Americans too often become overly concerned with trying not to offend anyone's beliefs or heritage that we sometimes compromise our own, so I welcome back "Merry Christmas".

I've only been away for just one week on active military duty, but it was a really great experience. My TDA (temp duty assignment) was in Sacramento at the National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters, a mere 99 miles away but in another sense of military v. civilian, it is a world apart. There was a strong feeling of comradery that created a very positive “mission focused” attitude that can only be understood by those who have served. I guess the word “pride” sums it all up and I’m sure this feeling extends across all our armed forces. You won't find more patriotic people anywhere else. It was refreshing to be working among them even for a week because all this election stuff was making me too cynical.

The J8 section (where I was assigned) had the privilege of collecting donations for the many Children's Homes in the Sacramento area and the Guardsmen from other units will be distributing them on Christmas Eve. Individuals and area stores donated these gifts and they are all beautifully wrapped and ready to go! I'm sure there will be quite a few misty eyes during delivery. This is something that is pretty much a nationwide tradition among the armed forces, did you know that?

On my last day our commander walked through the facility just before noon, making it a point to greet all personnel. I was pretty surprised to meet the General to say the least! We shook hands, said hello and then he was off to the next cubicle. I wonder how many CEO's will be doing that? I don't know either, but it sure would be nice if they did.

In closing I just want to say there are men and women serving in uniform around the world that are making huge sacrifices for us that I can scarcely imagine, remember them (always) and what it means for you to be a good American.

We need more unity and less rivalry if we are going to make it another 100 years!

8 charged in StL voter fraud by Todd C. Frankel

Eight people have been charged with faking voter registration forms in St. Louis city and county in 2006, federal authorities announced today. ** The federal indictments were unsealed this morning. Some of the accused have not been arrested yet, so their names are being withheld. ** The eight people were employed as voter registration recruiters by ACORN, the not-for-profit Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. ACORN ran a voter registration drive for the general election in November 2006.

Many of you might recall another investigation of voter fraud involving ACORN in the Seattle area.

The “Lady” Plays the Part – by Tina Grazier

Clinton Campaigns With Family, GOP Voter - by PHILIP ELLIOTT - AP

(Hillary) Clinton…said "only through bipartisan work can a sense of fear and fatalism coming from the White House" be erased. ** "A lot of the problems that we face in America are not Democratic or Republican problems. They are American problems and I want us to start acting like Americans again," she said. "I want us to roll up our sleeves and solve our problems."

The warm folksy smartest woman in the world cannot maintain a consistent message. She (warmly) suggests a bipartisan effort…(viscously) bashes the current leader of the opposition party…and then (warmly) implies we “Americans” can all pull together…does she think we don’t notice?

Unless we could magically bridge the ever-widening ideology gap, the notion of a bipartisan love-fest is just silly. There is strife in the electorate because the country is deeply divided and has been for many years. I for one want NOTHING to do with the socialist policies of Hillary Clinton…and I firmly believe that socialist policies in American government cannot be supported Constitutionally. Our arrival at this current BIG government state is a result of leftist democrat ideas given life with the assistance of republican compromise. I think it’s time for democrats to “work together” and compromise.

Frankly this disingenuous claptrap bothers me greatly. It is not the stuff of good leadership. It might, however, qualify for Jerry Springer, the Enquirer, or “reality” TV.

The Clintons have raised a lot of cash. In fact the media reported early in the primary on the enormous amount of money being raised for Hillary’s run for the presidency. Now there are questions about how some of the cash has found it’s way into her campaign. Investors Business Daily comments on some interesting information reported in the New York Times regarding Clinton Foundation donations:

Some of the $500 million in secrets behind the Clinton Foundation and its ties to Hillary's presidential campaign are now revealed. The charity seems to be a clearing house for buying political favors. *** The New York Times, which has discovered the identity of 97 donors who together gave or pledged $69 million early on, reports some of the million-dollar donors sought changes in policies and two of them were under Justice Department probes. *** Clinton Foundation donations skyrocketed last year to $135 million *** The $31-million-dollar man turned out to be Canadian mining mogul and founder of Lionsgate Entertainment (distributor of Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11") Frank Giustra, who plans to give another $100 million, plus half his future earnings. *** Anheuser-Busch gave $1 million after the Clinton administration's Federal Trade Commission agreed not to regulate beer, wine and liquor ads.

And there is more…quite a bit more. Read the entire IBD article, “Tammany Hil” to see if you agree with the following IBD conclusion:

New York City's infamous Tammany Hall Democratic Party machine took bribes for favors while engaging in "foundation"-like activities such as financing hospitals and museums to cover up the corruption. Hillary Clinton has a lot of convincing to do to prove this isn't a similar racket.

This piques my curiosity...will MSM journalists, talking heads and celebrity guest hosts bother to notice? Do yourself a favor...notice whether or not they care.

“More flee state than move in,” by Sharon Bernstein - Los Angeles Times

California's population continued to grow modestly in the last fiscal year despite a significant exodus of residents to other states, according to a state report released Wednesday. *** California's population did grow in fiscal 2007 -- but the growth rested on births and the arrival of more than 200,000 immigrants from other countries. The shift dovetails with the state's weakening economy and is most likely related, said Howard Roth, chief economist for the Department of Finance.

MAKE EM COUNT SHOPPERS!!!

Posted by Tina Grazier

WASHINGTON — Congress approved $70 billion Wednesday for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a bitter finish for majority Democrats who tried to force a change in President Bush's war policy. ** The House's 272-142 vote also sent the president a $555 billion catchall spending bill that combines the war money with money for 14 Cabinet departments. ** Bush and his Senate GOP allies forced the Iraq money upon anti-war Democrats as the price for permitting the year-end budget deal to pass and be signed.

Jim McGovern, Democrat-Mass, complained that it was “…a blank check…one cave-in too many…an endorsement of George Bush’s endless war”

…WHAAAAAAA!

More likely it's many days late...and dollars short...but we’ll take it.

“The secret to winning at rock, paper, scissors,” by Gary Cleland, Telegraph (London, UK)

Scientists believe they have worked out the secret to winning at paper, scissors, stone. While most people are aware that stone blunts scissors, scissors cut paper and paper covers stone, there is a psychological element to the game which many players may have missed. According to New Scientist magazine, the way to win is to start with scissors. Research shows that stone, also called rock, is the most popular of the three possible moves in the game.

“Baghdad stock exchange set to share in digital age,” by Deborah Haynes, The Times (London)

Baghdad - Clutching a mobile phone to one ear, a stockbroker writes the price of a banking share in pen on one of many white boards that line the trading floor of the Iraq stock exchange. Behind him scores of suited traders, separated from him by a waist-high partition, squint at the boards trying to decide whether to buy or sell. ** By early next year this outdated trading scene will disappear as the exchange prepares to go electronic, creating a New York-style market.

Clinton: Iraq has abused its last chance - CNN

December 16, 1998 Web posted at: 8:51 p.m. EST (0151 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- From the Oval Office, President Clinton told the nation Wednesday evening why he ordered new military strikes against Iraq. The president said Iraq's refusal to cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors presented a threat to the entire world. "Saddam (Hussein) must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons," Clinton said.

“UN extends US-led force in Iraq” - AP, by John Heilprin

United Nations - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq for one year, a move that Iraq's prime minister said would be his nation's ''final request'' for help. Authorization for the 160,000-strong multinational force was extended until the end of 2008 because ''the threat in Iraq continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,'' according to the resolution.

Hmmmm...Reid & Pelosi might be a little tense tomorrow. Do you suppose they know now who or what it is that "constitutes a threat to INTERNATIONAL peace"?

by Tina Grazier

Democrats in the California Assembly, working closely with the Governator, have passed legislation to reform the states health care system. The projected price tag is only $14.4 billion dollars...so, who picks up the tab? Hospitals, employers...and smokers, of course! The bill must also pass in the senate and be approved by voters next November before becoming law, but now would be a good time to start lobbying against it. The bills basics:

Of the 5.1 million people who are considered permanently uninsured in California, 3.7 million would be covered under the plan, according to Nunez's office. That includes children from low-income families, employees at small businesses that cannot afford to provide health insurance and Californians with pre-existing medical conditions who have trouble finding coverage. ** The bill would require all employers to spend a minimum amount on employees' health care or contribute to a state-run insurance pool. ** Nunez said employers would be assessed on a sliding scale, ranging from 1 percent to 6.5 percent of payroll depending on the size of the company. The cigarette tax would be between $1.50 to $2 a pack. ** Insurance companies, meanwhile, would have to provide policies to everyone and could no longer refuse coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Insurers also would be required to spend 85 cents of every dollar on health care services. ** Under the plan, all children, including immigrants, would be eligible for subsidized coverage as long as their families did not earn more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $62,000 a year for a family of four.

Just before Christmas, there was an honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus travelling in a lift of a very posh hotel.... Just before the doors opened they all noticed a £5 note lying on the floor.

Which one picked it up??

“Justice Clinton? - President Taft went on to the Supreme Court. Maybe Mrs. Clinton will park her husband there.” BY DOUGLAS W. KMIEC, posted on the Opinion Journal, WSJ online:

Hillary Clinton's commanding lead in the polls has diminished, and with Oprah Winfrey stumping for Barack Obama, she's called increasingly on the "star power" of husband Bill. But the ubiquitous presence of the former president on the campaign prompts a question: What will Hillary do with Bill if she is elected? ** it is widely anticipated that there will be one or more vacancies on the Supreme Court during the next presidential term.

Read the article...and please, vote wisely in '08.

Christmas card arrives late — by almost 100 years - Associated Press, by Staff Writer

Oberlin, Kan. — A postcard featuring a color drawing of Santa Claus and a young girl was mailed in 1914, but its journey was slower than Christmas. It just arrived in northwest Kansas. The Christmas card was dated Dec. 23, 1914, and mailed to Ethel Martin of Oberlin, apparently from her cousins in Alma, Neb.

Read the story HERE.

"My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here." - Al Gore

Record of emissions in the seven years between the signing of Kyoto in 1997 and 2004:

Emissions worldwide increased 18.0 percent.

Emissions from countries that signed the treaty increased 21.1 percent.

Emissions from nonsigners increased 10.0 percent.

Emissions from the United States increased 6.6 percent.

I think we've earned the right to "obstruct the progress" of this global tax and wealth transfer scheme.

Bravo to The American Thinker and hat tip Mark Steyn.

"Republicans have stood on principle to protect current and future generations of Americans, whether it polled well or not, and the success our troops are having in Iraq today is proof positive that our stance was the right one." - House Republican leader John Boehner

by Tina Grazier

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told Hawai'i Democrats last night that if a Democrat wins the White House next year the first tasks would be to heal the partisan divide and restore the country's moral authority around the world. Dean said President Bush has dismissed people who disagree with him politically both at home and abroad, governing by division and fear. "He was president of half the country," he said. "We can't do that as Democrats." - Honolulu Advertiser, by Derrick DePledge

I hate to break it to you Mr. Dean but…YOU ALREADY DID!

In fact your party, and the media that supports it, has been dividing the country for a long...long...long,long...long time. You have dismissed and created fear about republicans, Christians, businesses, the “unpoor” and countless other designated "groups". Wake up and smell the reality of your parties positions...they are divisive, hateful and rely on spreading fear to buy votes and manipulate toward an agenda...it's really sick!