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Posted by Tina
Can you enjoy the benefits of exercise without the pain of exertion? The answer may one day be yes — just take a pill that tricks the muscles into thinking they have been working out furiously. Researchers at the Salk Institute report they have found two drugs that do wonders for the athletic endurance of couch potato mice. - NYT
Good news for compulsive bloggers...LOL!
I know that some of you don't like to read long drawn out missives, so here's the executive summary.........
Congress and Military
John McCain 26 Years and 22 Years
Barack Obama 143 Days and 0
Summary Concluded!
Join us for a report from two Iranian American-activists just back from Iran. They will make presentations on the lies, myths and realities about life in Iran today, the continued U.S.BushCo-European aggression against the peace loving peoples of Iran and the danger of a new war being forced on them. They will discuss the plans for an emergency response (blocking entrances to military installations) in case of a U.S. or U.S./Israeli military escalation.
Iran is one of the most peace loving nations on earth with good will towards all and they are being victimized by the Bush Administration because of their vast oil reserves. U.S. Imperialist aggression for Iran's oil must be stopped! No more blood for oil.
Our two Iranian American-activists will also announce a plan how you can become a soldier for peace with training in Iran provided free by the Iranian Islamic Foundation for Enlightenment.
$5–10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds, we will also take I.O.U.'s) Wheelchair accessible. Call to reserve free childcare and as a special bonus children over 6 will be given a free coloring book, Why the Communists are our Friends. Children over 10 will be given our special bedtime story book, 101 Reasons Why Capitalism Must Die.
We have all the ANSWERS...just ask us!
Sponsored by the A.N.S.W.E.R.S. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racisms)
415-281-6545 • www.ANSWERScoalition.org • answer@ANSWERs.org
Isabella the dog nurses three 3-day-old white tiger cubs July 30 at the Safari Zoological Park near Caney, Kan. The cubs' mother abandoned them.
Posted by Jack
An investigation by the Navy has concluded that a fire aboard a nuclear-powered carrier that caused $70 million in damages was caused by a crew member smoking in an unauthorized area. Here, crew members aboard the USS George Washington battle the May 22 fire.
Note: The offending sailor has been advised he could be liable for damages and his release date from the service depends on the payoff date. Let's see at $1733 mo. with 1/3 going for damages the sailor should be elgible for discharge in May...2190.
"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it". - Barack Obama
SAN FRANCISCO—About a dozen members of an anti-illegal immigration group gathered Wednesday in front of San Francisco City Hall to call for the mayor's resignation over the city's sanctuary policy. But the protesters from the Minuteman Project demanding the City obey federal laws were drowned out by the nearly 200 professional protesters from the radical A.N.S.W.E.R. group yelling, "Go home, racists!"
(July 30) - The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance. Current laws targeting marijuana users place undue burdens on law enforcement resources, punish ill Americans whose doctors have prescribed the substance and unfairly affect African-Americans, said Frank, flanked by legislators and representatives from advocacy groups.
Ice drifts off Canada's Ellesmere Island on Sunday after separating from the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf. The shelf lost a sheet of ice that covers seven square miles. A scientist said the cause was a "different climate" that isn't rebuilding Arctic ice, though he stopped short of directly blaming global warming.
by Jack Lee
(PAID ADVERSTISEMENT) Got a heavy debt load on that new house you just bought? Are you thinking you made a mistake and deserve a break? Never fear Nanny-Mae is here!!! Never a qualifiying check, no points, no service fees, we're practically giving away money!
Before you go broke cause you made a bad decision pick up that phone and call me now, President George W. Bush, your authorized Nannie Mae agent, 1-800-BIG-LOAN. Se Habla Espanol.
Note: July 30 -- President George W. Bush signed into law legislation that gives special loans to over 400,000 homeowners facing foreclosure and extends a $25 billion dollar line of credit to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
When seconds count... the cops are just minutes away.
Posted by Tina
A secret nuclear bomb manufacturing center at Al-Zarqan Area in Al-Ahwaziya Region, which was first established in 2000, was discovered recently, highly reliable sources told Al-Seyassah. Sources from Al-Ahwaziya claimed Tehran has started building a secret nuclear plant for manufacturing atomic bombs in Al-Zarqan Area near Al-Ahwaz City in southwest Iran and its border with Iraq. – Arab Times (Kuwait City)
Despite expanding markets for organic farm products, Norwegian farmers are leaving the ecological branch of agriculture as fast as others are joining. They claim they can't make enough money at it. *** Those giving up blame the paperwork and bureaucracy they must contend with in order to document their operations. ''You get the feeling you're not being trusted,'' said former organic farmer Turid Wenche Åsum. - Aftenpost (Norway)
OSLO – Ruins recently discovered on Greenland may mark the Vikings' most northerly year-round hunting outpost on the icy island, a researcher said on Monday. Knut Espen Solberg, leader of 'The Melting Arctic' project mapping changes in the north, said the remains uncovered in past weeks in west Greenland may also be new evidence that the climate was less chilly about 1,000 years ago than it is today. - Reuters
Prosecutors indict Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on charges related to thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home. Stevens, the first sitting U.S. senator to face federal indictment since 1993, is running for re-election this year. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
People who have high IQs are less likely to believe in God than people of average and below average intelligence, according to Richard Lynn, emeritus professor of psychology at Ireland's University of Ulster. Lynn claims that the general decline in religious observance over the last century is directly related to a rise in average intelligence. The smarter we are the more likely we are to shun religious services?
Editors note: I'm wondering which religion has the smartest membership and which has the dumbest? My guess is Christians (includes Jews) are among the very smartest and I won't say who I think has the worlds dumbest members because they might chop my head off or drive a bomb laden truck into my house.
"There is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times. A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed..."
I received this in an email and thought it was worth posting in case some of you haven't seen it. Unfortunately I lost the artists name but if I recall correctly he was about 18 or 19 when he did the painting.
Posted by Tina
By now you have probably seen or heard the commercials by oil man T. Boone Pickens. He’s thrown a considerable amount of time and money into harnessing wind power and using natural gas to wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. His commercials, however, have been shown to include a few misleading “facts”. In fact, Steven Malloy at the popular website “junkscience.com” is asking the question:
Is T. Boone Pickens 'Swiftboating' America?
Formerly reviled for funding the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" campaign against Sen. John Kerry, he's now adored by the Left — unfortunately, for trying to gaslight the rest of us on energy policy. *** This column recently spotlighted Pickens' proposed plan to get America off foreign oil by substituting wind-generated electricity for natural gas-generated electricity and then using the natural gas to replace gasoline. *** Already having addressed the proposal's flaws — and Pickens' plan to profit at taxpayer expense from it — let's consider how Pickens' marketing shades the truth. *** On his Web site and in TV commercials, Pickens tries to frighten Americans about being "addicted to foreign oil." *** "In 1970, we imported 24 percent of our oil. Today, it's nearly 70 percent and growing," he intones. *** Aside from the fact that the Department of Energy (DOE) puts the import figure at a more moderate 58 percent, Pickens gives the impression that imported oil is scary because it all comes from the unstable Mideast. *** His TV commercials feature images of American soldiers fighting in Iraq and he likens the annual $700 billion cost of foreign oil to "four times the annual cost of the Iraq war." *** But hold the phone. Only 16 percent of our imported oil comes from the Persian Gulf — barely up from 13.6 percent in 1973, according to the DOE. Imports from OPEC countries are actually down — from 47.8 percent in 1973 to 44.5 percent in 2007.
Mr. Malloy's full article contains additional examples.
More information and opinion about Pickens’ plan can be found HERE and HERE.
Posted by Jack
Tennessee church shooting blamed on a mentally unbalanced man with a hatred for liberals. The shooting took place at the Unitarian Universalist Church during a childrens musical. No children were hurt, but as of today two adults were killed and at least 9 others were wounded.
Posted by Jack
With roughly 100 days before Election Day, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama holds his highest lead ever against GOP rival John McCain, according to a new Gallup poll. The survey shows Obama at 49 percent and McCain at 40 percent.
De Ja Vu....It was June of 1988 and Gov. Michael S. Dukakis held a 15-point lead over Vice President Bush in an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll, largely on the strength of overwhelming support for Mr. Dukakis among women.
“It is easy to vote on something that sounds good. It is hard to stand against it and say there is a bigger principle.” - "Dr. NO"
Posted by Tina
MONDAY PM - UPDATE:
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - An effort to break a Republican hold on U.S. election-year legislation that would aid medical research, help crack down on child pornography and advance other popular measures failed in the Senate on Monday. *** In a mostly party-line vote of 52-40, Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to clear a procedural hurdle and move toward passage of a package of 35 bills that enjoy wide support.
Apparently we Americans have a very good friend in the Senate. The Democrats in power have dubbed him “Dr. NO” but his actual name is Senator Tom Coburn, a physician in service to America from Oklahoma. His mission seems to be to hold our representatives in the Senate accountable, regardless of party, for the bills they pass and the money they propose to spend. The story comes to us via the New York Times hence the headline:
“Democrats Try to Break Grip of the Senate’s ‘Dr. No’,” by Carl Hulse
Congress has dealt for decades with catchall bills known as omnibus legislation. Now, for the first time, comes the Tomnibus. *** A product of Democratic frustration with the tactics of Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican and physician who has become the Dr. No of the Senate, the Tomnibus is a $10 billion collection of Coburn-blocked measures assembled by the Senate leadership in an effort to break his solitary grip on the legislative process. *** Engineered by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, the bill includes 35 of the most irresistible-sounding measures stuck on the docket, including the Mothers Act and the Protect Our Children Act. *** There are items to commemorate “The Star-Spangled Banner” and to try to curb pornography, cut drug use and help victims of Lou Gehrig’s disease. *** Officially known as the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, the catchall legislation includes a measure to improve life for victims of paralysis, which Mr. Reid calls the Superman bill in tribute to the late Christopher Reeve. *** The obvious intent is to apply a little legislative Kryptonite and embarrass Mr. Coburn into dropping his procedural objections to the measures while highlighting his willingness to put roadblocks in front of bills that have support from all corners — a textbook case of what Democrats view as extreme Republican obstructionism. *** Well, as they say, good luck with that. *** “I am not a go-along, get-along guy if I think it is the wrong way to go,” Mr. Coburn said, not stating anything his peers did not already know. “I am O.K. taking the consternation of my colleagues. I take my oath seriously.”
Coburn says the Senate is shirking it’s duties by failing to carefully scrutinize bills before bringing them to the floor by unanimous consent. He also said:
“We ought not be borrowing and expanding the federal government unless we get rid of stuff that is not working,”
Amen to that! Head on over to the NYT using the link above to read the rest of the article. It’s a well written piece of journalism (the real kind – surprise!) filled with information that will increase your understanding of how the Senate operates.
by Tina Grazier
Quick…how many politicians involved in scandal, or supposed scandal, can you name in thirty seconds? Now, how many on that list are democrats and how many republicans? Chances are if you’re over thirty the list of republican names will be considerably long…the democrat side pretty short.
Is this because temptations that come with power and position only affect republicans? Is it because democrats are too angelic to become involved in scandal? Is it because democrats are more willing to expose republican scandals and create show trials to highlight them? Is it because republicans are reluctant to highlight democrat scandal? Is it because the media becomes a co-conspirator in efforts by democrats to discredit republicans? Is it because the media hide democrat scandals by omitting the “democrat” designation, excusing the behavior as a normal human failing, or by placing a 4 line story in the bottom left corner at the back of the real estate section?
How many Greenpeace activists does it take to change a light bulb?
Anger is a condition that works the tongue faster than the mind.
Love isn't supposed to hurt. Nearly one in 11 U.S. high school students is physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend every year, Reuters reports of a new survey of almost 15,000 teenagers conducted by the National Center for Injury Prevention.
Sprinkle rosemary extracts on your burger, and it can break up cancer-causing compounds that can form when the meat is cooked, especially when grilled. Rosemary, a member of the mint family, appears to be a cancer-prevention
by Tina Grazier
Racism used to be associated with angry murdering thugs hiding like cowards under pointy hooded garments…now apparently all it takes is a vote for a different (non-black) candidate. Recent examples:
New York governor David Paterson recently suggested at the national meeting of the NAACP that an Obama loss is a racist victory.
Andrew Greeley says that black Americans (all, apparently) and the rest of the world will "scream racism" if Obama is defeated by John McCain. Greeley says that "Only the innocent and the naive think that the November election will not be about race."
Joe Klein “hinted” at racism in a blog post when he said Obama’s polling slump following his foreign travels might be associated with presumptuousness: “The emerging conventional wisdom seems to be that the trip is a bit too grand, too...presumptuous and voters are wary of that. (And presumption, of course, always comes with the subterranean tinge of racism.) Maybe so.
The ugly thing about these cheap shots at American voters is that most Americans abhor racism and believe legitimate charges should be taken very seriously. Comments like those above water down and lessen the nature of legitimate claims and demean those victims who make them honestly. Shame! The vast majority of Americans will choose their new president based on character, platform, and credentials.
Posted by Tina
Here’s a quote from an article by Michelle Malkin (Attn Jack…this one’s for YOU)
“I believe in the sovereignty and security of this one nation, under God. I believe the primary role of government is to provide for the common defense and a legal framework to protect families and individual liberty. … I believe that no one owes me anything just because I live and breathe.” - William Russel
“Murtha Faces A Tough Challenge,” by Michelle Malkin – Daily News Record
A JAW-DROPPING political miracle may be on the horizon. No, I’m not talking about the second coming of the Obamessiah. I’m talking about the long-deserved comeuppance of troop-smearing, pork-feasting, scandal-tainted Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. *** The 18-term congressman’s challenger, staunch conservative Republican newcomer William Russell, raised nearly $670,000 in the second fundraising quarter. Earmark king Murtha scraped together a measly $119,000. Russell’s underdog campaign bested Murtha without the perks of incumbency, national name recognition, big PAC donations or mainstream media support. *** Even more amazing: The 45-year-old Russell, a Desert Storm veteran, former Army lieutenant colonel and Army reservist who survived the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, was not even publicly campaigning during the quarter. He is on active duty with the Army until after Aug. 1 and is barred from actively campaigning until then. *** If all that didn’t make this enough of an inspiring David and Goliath story: In February, a Pennsylvania judge ruled that Russell had failed to collect enough signatures to make the primary ballot. But Russell refused to give up on his goal of permanently redeploying Murtha from his entrenched seat of power in Washington. *** The GOP neophyte persevered on a shoestring budget and won more than 4,000 write-in votes in the spring to earn a spot on the general election ballot. According to Russell’s campaign manager and veteran GOP activist Peg Luksik, the bulk of contributions from about 16,000 donors in the second quarter were less than $50.
They are sharp...they are committed and disciplined...and they are coming home to wage a different kind of battle for the America we love. God bless 'em.
Posted by Tina
The majority of Americans are in favor of pursuing all possible avenues for producing energy, including alternatives, drilling, and nuclear. The only thing standing in the way is a small minority of extremists in the green movement and the politicians that are beholding to them. It is absurd that they continue to get away with holding Americans hostage considering high gas prices and a need to end our dependence of foreign oil. It is also absurd to set aside all economic considerations in a rush to pursue alternative solutions only.
The above might be considered an exaggeration, a figment of my imagination, or an expression of prejudice against “BIG GREEN”. But it is none of these. It is an opinion based on observations over several years of what BIG GREEN extremists do and say. One of the latest examples to confirm the validity of my observations is reported in the Wall Street Journal:
“Virginia Is Sitting on the Energy Mother Lode,” by Max Schulz - WSJ
Amid the rolling hills and verdant pastures of south central Virginia an unlikely new front in the battle over nuclear energy is opening up. How it is decided will tell us a lot about whether this country is willing to get serious about addressing its energy needs.
Posted by Jack
Jim Jubak and Tim Middleton over at MSN, must be brilliant...they think at lot like me! lol Check this out:
"Sweeping debt woes... Today's financial meltdown defies comprehension because so much of it is packaged into exotic derivatives, such as collateralized debt obligations and structured investment vehicles. These were bundles
by Jack Lee
Berlin - 25 July 08... Barack Obama's Berlin speech was full of rhetoric and gave no specifics. This is what many
of the 200,000 Germans thought after the 20 minute long diatribe. In his tired voice he flung cliché after cliche'
posted by Jack
Click this link to see a list of failed banks. Click here.
Tip: Did you know you can buy loans from the FDIC? When the FDIC takes over a failed bank they also manage the banks assets and this includes their loan portfolio. These loans can be sold to the public. A bank loan portfolio may include well secured commercial and private properties and sometimes excellent personal notes. The loans can range from under a thousand into the millions.
It is possible to buy a 1st deed of trust from the FDIC for a dscounted price and resell it to someone else for a profit or hang on to it and collect the interest plus principle.
An essay in pictures....
In 2007 Islam and Judaism's holiest holidays overlapped for 10 days. Muslims racked up 397 dead bodies in 94 terror attacks across 10 countries during this time... while Jews worked on their 159th Nobel Prize.
Posted by Tina
In case you missed Rush talking about it today please take a moment to read the excellent article by Andrew Klavan in the Wall Street Journal.
Here's a sample:
A cry for help goes out from a city beleaguered by violence and fear: A beam of light flashed into the night sky, the dark symbol of a bat projected onto the surface of the racing clouds . . .Oh, wait a minute. That's not a bat, actually. In fact, when you trace the outline with your finger, it looks kind of like . . . a "W." ** There seems to me no question that the Batman film "The Dark Knight," currently breaking every box office record in history, is at some level a paean of praise to the fortitude and moral courage that has been shown by George W. Bush in this time of terror and war. Like W, Batman is vilified and despised for confronting terrorists in the only terms they understand. Like W, Batman sometimes has to push the boundaries of civil rights to deal with an emergency, certain that he will re-establish those boundaries when the emergency is past. ** And like W, Batman understands that there is no moral equivalence between a free society -- in which people sometimes make the wrong choices -- and a criminal sect bent on destruction. The former must be cherished even in its moments of folly; the latter must be hounded to the gates of Hell.
Holy mind meld Batman…this is exactly what I told my husband upon leaving the theater. Great movie…great article…click on the link below and enjoy!
by Jack Lee
This week's economic news has been pretty rough and back here in California, where the national trend always starts, well, the news was absolutely the worst. We're still 15 billion in the hole and our State's budget in now weeks overdue with no resolution in sight. . . .
Posted by Jack Lee
"Foreclosures push all home values down by an estimated 6 percent, and will contribute to national prices declining another 15 percent by the end of 2009, Ethan Harris and Michelle Meyer, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. economists in New York, said in a report yesterday." Bloomberg News
Buyers are showing hesitation because this doesn't seem the best time to buy, home prices are still falling and they could be off another 15% by the end of 09. That could represent a $60,000 loss in a little over 18 months from now on a $400,000 home purchase. And if it were not buyers hesitating, we have lenders unsure who to lend to and that has the real estate market in bad shape!
Posted by Jack Lee
July 25 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. foreclosure filings more than doubled in the second quarter from a year earlier as falling home prices left borrowers owing more on mortgages than their properties were worth.
One in every 171 households was foreclosed on, received a default notice or was warned of a pending auction. That was an increase of 121 percent from a year earlier and 14 percent from the first quarter, RealtyTrac Inc. said today in a statement. Almost 740,000 properties were in some stage of foreclosure, the most since the Irvine, California-based data company began reporting in January 2005.
``Rising foreclosures are putting downward pressure on prices, increasing the possibility that homeowners will go upside- down on their mortgages,'' said Sheryl King, chief U.S. economist at Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York. ``That will cause more losses in mortgage portfolios and less willingness from investors to securitize mortgages and therefore fewer mortgages.''
About 25 million U.S. homeowners risk owing more than the value of their homes, according to Bill Gross, manager of the world's biggest bond fund at Pacific Investment Management Co. That would make it impossible for them to negotiate better loan terms or sell their property without contributing cash to the transaction.
Posted by Jack
25 July 08 0945 a.m. PST: The following is condensed from MarketWatch and is minutes old -- European financial stocks were in retreat after a profit warning from Munich Re and a prediction from Citigroup that the British economy was about to enter a recession. The pan-European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 fell 0.2% to 281.76 as a short-lived rally in the financial sector sputtered. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 closed down 0.2% to 5,352.60, while the German DAX 30 dipped 0.1% to 6,436.71. The French CAC 40 gained 0.7% to 4,377.18. Banks finished broadly lower after Citigroup slashed earnings estimates throughout the British banking sector by more than 40%.
Posted by Tina
Since this measure passed in 1978 with overwhelming support it has been blamed for every state funding problem under the sun including a collapsed Bridge in the 1988 Bay Area earthquake and a lousy coroner in the OJ Simpson trial in LA. But school funding, police and fire, the prison system, and healthcare are the biggest sticks used by politicians and big government progressives as they attempt to beat the taxpayer into guilty acquiescence over
Posted by Jack
24 July 0835 a.m.: Just in.... Adding to pressure on stocks and the dollar, the National Association of Realtors said resales of U.S. single-family homes and condos fell 2.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.86 million, the lowest level in 10 years. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected sales to fall to 4.95 million. Other data from the government showed a large rise in first-time jobless claims, which jumped 34,000 to 406,000 in the week ended July 19.
Thursday's currency trading looks like a contest of which currency has the worst economic fundamentals, as the euro, sterling and kiwi are all falling against the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen due to fresh evidence of deteriorating economic data.
Shares of Washington Mutual Inc. were among the hardest hit of bank stocks, with shares of the nation's largest thrift recently down 15.1%. The Seattle-based company, which late Tuesday reported a loss of $3.33 billion, is now down 32% so far this week. Bank of America was down over 5% by mid-day trading.
Shares of home builders fell in the wake of the data, with shares of Pulte Homes Inc. down after the builder reported a quarterly loss of $158.4 million.
Automakers took a big hit today with slumping sales and more layoffs expected. GM wad off over 7% and Ford was down over 13%! These are monumental swings in value and a clear indication of worse to come.
Posted by Jack
You wouldn't want to be driving in a new city without a map would you? Well, having a career management plan is exactly like having your map so you can move from what you are doing today to what you want to be doing tomorrow. A good career management plan helps you navigate your job or career change more effectively.
Posted by Jack
States are all running into financial trouble:
States are being forced to slash spending and cut jobs in order to close a projected $40 billion shortfall in the current fiscal year. That gap, more than triple the size of the previous year's, is the result of broad economic weakness at the state and local levels that could cause pain throughout this year and into 2010, a report found.
The democrats answer...we must raise taxes and block oil drilling!
Posted by Jack
Thinking of making a career move, thinking of going back to college? Better make the right choice to make sure it's worth your investment in time and money. College costs a lot these days and if the investment in your education pays low dividends then you may want to reconsider your career field. Here are the top 20 career fields with a BA degree from "Payscales" Special Report:
1. Chemical Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$61,800.00
2. Computer Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$60,500.00
3. Electrical Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$59,900.00
4. Computer Science
Average Starting Salary:$54,200.00
5. Civil Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$52,600.00
6. Economics
Average Starting Salary:$48,100.00
7. Finance
Average Starting Salary:$46,900.00
8. Accounting
Average Starting Salary:$44,600.00
Posted by Tina
While conservatives complain of media bias, successfully demonstrating that bias often proves difficult. The giving of cash, however, offers solid and significant evidence of political leanings and affiliations and that's what the following article does. The messenger of such “news” is often labeled a whiner but, when William Tate at the American Thinker backs the claim with research that causes such a label to lose much of it's weight. The article breaks out various categories of giving within the industry and includes links to sources. I hope you’ll be pleased that you bothered to read: “Big Media Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is,” by William Tate – American Thinker.
The New York Times' refusal to publish John McCain's rebuttal to Barack Obama's Iraq Op-Ed may be the most glaring example of liberal media bias this journalist has ever seen, but true proof of widespread media bias requires one to follow an old journalism maxim: Follow the money. ** Even the Associated Press--no bastion of conservatism -- has considered, at least superficially, the media's favoritism for Barack Obama. It's time to re-visit media bias. ** An analysis of federal election records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 margin over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans. ** And while the money totals pale in comparison to the $9 million+ that just one union's PACs have spent to get Barack Obama elected, they are more substantial than the amount that Obama has criticized John McCain for receiving from lobbyists: 96 lobbyists have contributed $95,850 to McCain, while Obama -- who says he won't take money from PACs or federal lobbyists -- has received $16,223 from 29 lobbyists.
Please consider this obvious bias as you watch and listen to political reports during this election…choose to be truly informed and do vote wisely.
Posted by Tina
I guess I shouldn’t be jumping up and down pointing my finger so much but when the story’s finally makin’ headlines, what’s a girl to do? It seems the head honcho’s over at Fannie and Fred's have not only been giving in to BIG temptation but have also been under all kinds of pressure from another BIG player:
“Freddie, Fannie Funded Jesse Jackson’s Pet Projects” – CNSNews
(CNSNews.com) - Mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have come under fire for making contributions to programs headed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson at a time when their own survival is at stake. ** The NLPC (National Legal and Policy Center) says the management teams of both companies made sizeable contributions to the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund Annual Conference, Jackson’s main fundraising event of the year. The conference took place June 28 through July 2 in Chicago. ** According to the conference program…Freddie Mac, as a “Platinum Sponsor,” paid $150,000. Fannie Mae paid $100,000 to be listed as a “Diamond Sponsor.” ** The NLPC noted that the contributions came at a time when the value of the companies’ shares had declined by approximately 85 percent.
Posted by Tina
By now we all know that several bigwig stars of the MSM have traveled with Barack Obama to cover the grand tour but apparently they aren’t getting the access they had counted on. NewsBusters reports on comments made to Chris Mathews during a Hardball segment:
“Andrea on Obama Trip: 'What Some Would Call Fake Interviews',” by Mark Finkelstein – NewsBusters
Andrea Mitchell might be a doyenne of the liberal media, but she has her reporter's pride and principles, both of which have been trampled by the way the Obama campaign has managed the media during the candidate's current trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. Mitchell let loose on this evening's Hardball, speaking of "fake interviews" and indicating we don't know the truth of the trip because we don't know what was edited out of the video that's been released. *** MITCHELL: Let me just say something about the message management. He didn't have reporters with him, he didn't have a press pool, he didn't do a press conference while he was on the ground in either Afghanistan or Iraq. What you're seeing is not reporters brought in. You're seeing selected pictures taken by the military, questions by the military, and what some would call fake interviews, because they're not interviews from a journalist. So, there's a real press issue here. Politically it's smart as can be. But we've not seen a presidential candidate do this, in my recollection, ever before. (emphasis per NewsBusters)
by Jack Lee
As a departure from our norm I wanted to bring you this brief summary of the Battle of the Somme. It has to be one of greatest testiments human fallability of all time. As you read the tragic mistakes made by trusted leaders contrast that against today's high expectation of surgical warfare fought without error and a bare minimum of friendly casualties. Try to imagine the reporting and the impact on our society a battle like Somme would have today.
The year was 1916; WWI had stalled into trench warfare where the combatants were often within yelling distance of each. Near the Somme River in the north of France two massive armies gathered along a stretch of land about 12 miles wide. Both sides dug rows of zig zag trenches and deep underground fortifications. Between the trenches was no man's land. It was devoid of trees, pock marked with shell holes and laced with an exaggerated form of barbed wire with sharp 1 inch spikes designed not injure but to snag just long enough for the opposing machine gunner to cut the trapped soldier in half.
The ancient tactics of cavalry charges and human waves used to overwhelm the enemy were about to become the monumental blunders of aging generals, still fighting the last war as old generals so often do.
The British plan called for an artillery barrage completely off the scale of anything previously experienced in war, 1.7 million shells were fired into the concentrated German lines. After this Hellish shelling it was assumed the German's would be virtually obliterated and resistance would be light. Then the combined forces of British and French could merely walk across the open area to occupy the enemy trenches.
What was not expected or factored into the plan was the fact that many of the artillery shells would not explode., As many as 1 in 3 failed, not because of sabotage, but because they were poorly assembled. On the British home front inexperienced workers, mostly women without adequate instruction, assembled the shells improperly. There was also a serious shortage of high explosive shells that could effectively tear apart the soldier stopping barbed wire directly in front of the German trenches, but the plan was taking on a momentum that could not be stopped for such minor events like artillery shells being mostly the wrong type for the mission. They were shrapnel
Posted by Tina
Turns out the government was one of the lenders making high-interest subprime mortgage loans:
“FDIC Faces Mortgage Mess After Running Failed Bank,” by Mark Maremont – WSJ
“Federal officials heap much of the blame for the subprime mortgage mess on lenders, claiming they recklessly made too many high-cost home loans to borrowers who couldn't afford them. *** It turns out that the U.S. government itself was one of the lenders giving out high-interest, subprime mortgages, some of them predatory, according to government documents filed in federal court. *** The unusual situation, which is still bedeviling bank regulators, stems from the 2001 seizure by federal officials of Superior Bank FSB, then a national subprime lender based in Hinsdale, Ill. Rather than immediately shuttering or selling Superior, as it normally does with failed banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. continued to run the bank's subprime-mortgage business for months as it looked for a buyer. With FDIC people supervising day-to-day operations, Superior funded more than 6,700 new subprime loans worth more than $550 million, according to federal mortgage data. *** The FDIC then sold a big chunk of the loans to another bank. That loan pool was afflicted by the same problems for which regulators have faulted the industry: lending to unqualified borrowers, inflated appraisals and poor verification of borrowers' incomes, according to a written report from a government-hired expert. The report said that many of the loans never should have been made in the first place. *** Hundreds of borrowers who took out Superior subprime loans on the FDIC's watch -- some with initial interest rates higher than 12% -- have lost their homes to foreclosure, data on the loans indicate.”
The article is long but well worth the read.
Posted by Tina
Jack, Here's an example of low standards and ethics in governement officials meeting up with criminals to create costly havoc in the mortgage industry and tough times for consumers:
“Ex-convicts active in mortgage fraud,” by Jack Dolan, Rob Barry and Matthew Haffman – Miami Herald
During Florida's housing boom, state regulators allowed thousands of mortgage professionals with criminal records into the industry -- costing consumers millions. *** State regulators allowed thousands of ex-convicts to enter a profession that gave them access to the most sensitive and personal financial information: credit cards, bank accounts and Social Security numbers. *** Those criminals went on to commit nearly $85 million in mortgage fraud, the newspaper found. They stole their customers' identities. They stole their money. They even stole their homes. *** From 2000 to 2007, regulators allowed at least 10,529 people with criminal records to work in the mortgage profession. Of those, 4,065 cleared background checks after committing crimes that state law specifically requires regulators to screen, including fraud, bank robbery, racketeering and extortion. *** During the peak of the housing boom, the Office of Financial Regulation ignored a state law enacted in 2006 that compelled it to perform nationwide criminal background checks on applicants. That failure allowed people convicted in other states -- and in federal court -- to peddle loans in Florida without any scrutiny.
Posted by Tina
The deputy to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was now a friend of the US and Israel, Iranian news agencies reported Sunday, July 20 -- a day after nuclear negotiations with the West came to nothing. ''Iran wants no war with any country, and today Iran is friend of the United States and even Israel. ... Our achievements belong to the whole world and should be used for expanding love and peace,'' said Iranian Vice-President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei… - Deutche Welle
Sounds like a “turn down the heat” game to me. Placing a bet on an Obama win and hoping that would facilitate desires to be less scrutinized…Iran would have a real shot at developing Nukes under cover. Ahhh yes…the illusion of peace and safety.
Posted by Tina
In La Marque, one shop is offering $5,000 signing bonuses and $90,000 annual salaries to skilled machinists. Even at those terms, it’s having to dicker with candidates from as far away as Chicago. In Texas City, refineries desperate to fill $28-an-hour jobs are snapping up college students before they’ve earned their process operator degrees. In Hitchcock, a petrochemical engineering and construction management firm is locked in a recruiting war with competitors
DEMAND has that effect on the markets. Anybody qualified that needs a good paying job should head on down to Texas for a look see.
Posted by Tina
The war has been fought in many ways and on many fronts as is indicated by this Spanish newspaper report:
“The Mossad secret service was involved in the operation to free hostage Ingrid Betancourt from Colombian rebels, AFP quoted a Spanish newspaper as reporting on Sunday. According to the report, American and French secret services were also involved. 'Mossad, the US, and French intelligence services worked for more than a year with the Colombian authorities to develop the plan,'” – Jerusalem Post (Israel)
In many ways, on many fronts…and NOT “unilaterally”!
Posted by Tina
The Shared Responsibility program aims to educate US and European cocaine users about the environmental damage of cocaine production. *** Millions of Americans use cocaine, but few of them consider the millions of acres of forest that have been cleared by coca growers in all corners of Colombia or the blue-billed curassow, a turkey-sized bird that is losing habitat to coca farming. *** Ana Maria Caballero believes that many recreational cocaine users are well-educated professionals who also recycle, drive hybrid vehicles, and buy fair-trade products, but that they just don’t understand what cocaine is doing to Colombia’s environment. *** Ms. Caballero works for Shared Responsibility, the Colombian government’s effort to raise consumer awareness of cocaine’s impact on one of the world’s most biodiverse nations. The project is led by Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón, who has more than a passing interest in narco-traficking – he was once kidnapped and held for months by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel. *** Colombia’s decades-old, drug-funded, armed conflict is complicated, says Caballero, but environmental devastation is apolitical. “When you talk about deforestation, when you talk about a specific species being threatened because coca is encroaching upon its sole habitat, there’s no political argument there,” she says. “It’s absolutely black and white. You are destroying natural treasures that belong to the world.” *** According to Shared Responsibility, 43 square feet of forest are cleared to produce one gram of cocaine, and coca growers have cleared an area the size of New Jersey…Clandestine cocaine laboratories, which use an array of toxic chemicals, pollute once-pristine waters in remote areas. And slash-and-burn clearing for coca farms is one of the country’s largest sources of air pollution. The clearing also accelerates global climate change, which is shrinking Colombia’s mountaintop glaciers.
The debate over legalizing drugs continues. This effort, to create awareness, has proven effective in the anti-smoking and green movements…will it work for (guilt ridden) eco-friendly drug users?
Posted by Tina
Corn prices fell, capping the biggest weekly drop in 12 years, after Argentina revoked escalating taxes on some grain exports, ending a dispute with farmers that had disrupted shipments. Argentina is the world's second-largest corn exporter. Futures are down 19 percent from a record in June. (Snip) This week, the price tumbled 11 percent, the most since July 1996.
Cutting (or ending) taxes that punish business helps businesses AND consumers!
Posted by Tina
GENEVA - The United States said on Saturday after inconclusive international talks with Iran's nuclear envoy that Tehran must choose between cooperation or confrontation and give up sensitive nuclear work. "We hope the Iranian people understand that their leaders need to make a choice between cooperation, which would bring benefits to all, and confrontation, which can only lead to further isolation," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement after the talks. - MSNBC
Will Iran choose a cooperative path or one fraught with confrontation and struggle? (Weren’t we just talking about that in terms of American politics?) Consequences that follow choices in life can be quite severe. Stubborn adherence to an uncooperative stance will always lead to confrontation. Iran is asking for trouble…begging for a fight and determined to be right. (Sounds a lot like many progressives in America.)
Posted by Tina
Mexico City - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that U.S. intelligence led Mexican forces to a small submarine captured this week packed with 5.8 tons of cocaine. Chertoff called the vessel's seizure Wednesday off Oaxaca state in southern Mexico ''a great example of our cooperation.'' ''We shared information with the Mexican navy, but the Mexican navy acted alone in actually executing the seizure,'' - AP
Posted by Tina
“Jerry Brown’s War on California Suburbs, by Joel Kotkin – WSJ
, Mr. Brown is taking aim at the suburbs, concerned about the alleged environmental damage they cause. He sees suburban houses as inefficient users of energy. He sees suburban commuters clogging the roads as wasting precious fossil fuel. And, mostly, he sees wisdom in an intricately thought-out plan to compel residents to move to city centers or, at least, to high-density developments clustered near mass transit lines. *** Mr. Brown is not above using coercion to create the demographic patterns he wants. In recent months, he has threatened to file suit against municipalities that shun high-density housing in favor of building new suburban singe-family homes, on the grounds that they will pollute the environment. He is also backing controversial legislation -- Senate bill 375 -- moving through the state legislature that would restrict state highway funds to communities that refuse to adopt "smart growth" development plans. "We have to get the people from the suburbs to start coming back" to the cities, Mr. Brown told planning experts in March. *** The problem is, that's not what Californians want.
This article both informed and inspired me as you will discover in my post, “Urban Sprawl Ain’t Bad”.
by Tina Grazier
One of the big issues for the “sustainable” crowd is URBAN SPRAWL. They hate it! Urban sprawl is said to create a “blight” on the landscape...the word is issued as if spit from the mouth. We are supposed to cringe at the very thought. Urban sprawl, they say, is responsible for the “excessive” use of cars...and cars, as we are told again and again, are responsible for THE deadly greenhouse gas emissions that are causing the entire planet to die. And there is only one thing to do...change everything and of course, do without!
Most who follow this line of thinking offer a twofold solution. First get folks to stop driving and take the bus or train. Next, in order to put a halt to the “sprawl,” we must give up our “sprawling” yards, “sprawling” houses and sprawling malls with their sprawling parkinglots. We must move into little boxes built one on top of the other…sitting right next to another stack of boxes…and another and on down the street. We won’t mind, they say, because we'll be able to walk or cycle to shopping, doctors, schools and jobs. (Rarely a mention of churches, but we won’t nit pick.) Some of the people who push this agenda are so bold as to tell us that since this plan is for our own good we will be forced into adopting it whether we like it or not…we might as well just give in and take our medicine…hmph!
Posted by Tina
The battle over fixing the problems in our schools continues as the numbers of kids dropping out continues to be way too high. Until now statistics regarding dropout rates were the product of guestimates. As the Los Angeles Times reports today the new numbers are accurate because they are based on individual pupil records and they are "dismal":
“California’s dropout count” - LA Times
California finally has a realistic picture of its high-school dropout rate, and it isn't pretty. Close to a fourth of our students fail to graduate, far more than the state has been reporting to the federal government. The number for Latino students rises to 30%, and for African American youngsters, it's nothing less than dismal: 41.6%. The figures make clear that the dropout problem isn't limited to pockets of the state; it is a cloud over all of California that threatens our civic and economic future. *** This year, for the first time, the state used student identification numbers to track those who went missing. And as unhappy as we are with the resulting figures, the state Department of Education deserves credit for ferreting out the truth. *** The data are available online. Dropouts are defined as students who left school and are not known to be enrolled in other programs that lead to a diploma. Not counted are those who can't be tracked, such as students who say they're leaving the state or attending a private school. *** Teachers cannot put an end to gangs or mend troubled families or solve poverty; yet all of these are elements of academic failure. *** But schools can and in some cases do make a big difference. San Jose Unified School District, for example, is an urban district with a 13% dropout rate. Yet despite the common wisdom that higher standards prompt more teenagers to drop out, San Jose pushes all of its students to complete a college-prep curriculum. Its Latino students are nearly twice as likely to do so as their counterparts across California, and their dropout rate, at 19.5%, is more than 10 points lower than the statewide figure and 15 points lower than L.A. Unified's.
Posted by Tina
Another costly, good intentioned, government idea...in the toilet:
“SEATTLE — After spending $5 million on its five automated public toilets, Seattle is calling it quits. In the end, the restrooms, installed in early 2004, had become so filthy, so overrun with drug abusers and prostitutes, that although use was free of charge, even some of the city’s most destitute people refused to step inside them. The units were put up for sale Wednesday afternoon on eBay…” - NY Times
by Jack Lee
(Remember the Everly brothers singing, "Bye bye, love, bye bye, happiness, hello, loneliness, I think I'm a-gonna cry-y. I think this should be adopted as our new State song.).
We all know about the big deficit in our fair state...15 billion and climbing. This is what happens when you bet on tax revenues to keep up with gluttonous spending. In the real world business ebbs and flows and families live on real income, not on what they think they will earn next year. So naturally when California businesses stumble and real estate taxes take a dive tax revenues are going to drop...uh, does this shock any of you? No, because you live in the real world, unlike those in Sacramento.
Surely not cutting back on spending??? Nay! They are proposing a time tested method for certain failure with real bad side effects. They are going to do the most unenlightened, unimaginative thing once again....raise taxes.
First, they are going to raise 9.7 billion with a tax hike on business aka the rich. This will increase the top marginal rate from 10.3% to 12% and that would make us #1 in the nation for high state income tax, twice the average state's rate. Now that is a plan sure to encourage more of our rich (aka business) to seek out more friendly states! Then they follow this up with a 9 billion dollar water bond and a 14 billion dollar state run health insurance plan along with the most expensive anti-global warming plan in the country.
by Jack
Well well, well, it seems 5 council members made a real big mistake and now it's going to cost the City of Chico and it's insurer at least $9.5 million bucks that it doesn't have to spare! According to the ER story, "The Chico City Council approved the $9.5 million payout to developer Tom Fogarty Tuesday night, ending his $48 million lawsuit against the city. Burkland said the settlement — $7.5 of which will come from city Redevelopment Agency money and $1.6 of which the city's insurers will chip in"
At the time this BAD decision was made all the liberal council members lined up against the two conservatives who were trying to tell them what they were doing was illegal and for their efforts the liberals more or less told them to shove it! Now their BAD decision has come back to haunt them...and the taxpayers. Think of what the City could have done with those millions and instead it's going to pay off a lawsuit? Voters in Chico better wake up and vote smart at the next election, we can't afford anymore lawsuits like this one that was so preventable!
Councilman Bertagna agreed settling the lawsuit was the best decision, but said he could not support the vote "based on such ill feelings to the decision made in the past." Councilman Wahl said the council had to choose between two bad choices: risking a $48 million lawsuit or forking over $9.5 million. "I think it's outrageous that we're even here," he said.
For more on this story click here.
by Nick
After spending a great deal of time arguing with Libby on these pages I have noticed something, there appears to be a fundamental difference in how each side presents their positions. I don’t mean style, both of us are very sarcastic and downright mean at times. The difference to which I am referring, is how contradictions are dealt with. Contradictions are pesky things, because they demand an answer. Something you believe doesn’t jive with reality, so what do you do?
Well if you are intellectually honest you are forced to give up old delusions in favor of a position which better reflects reality. If intellectual honesty is not your thing, then you simply gloss over the contradiction, or as many on the left tend to do now a days, claim that contradictions are perfectly fine, and should not cause the slightest bit of introspection. It is Post Modernism philosophy applied to political policy. The intellectually honest person finds a contradiction and changes their views to best reflect reality. The intellectually dishonest person demands that reality change to correspond to their views.
On Fannie, Freddie, and the candidates during this economically challenging election season.
Posted by Tina
Things “economic” are not always easily understood. So when I found an article that I just “got” it was like breathing fresh air after a couple of weeks of smoke! Mr. Rove has written such a piece, “Voters Want Economic Leadership,” in the online version of the Wall Street Journal.
If you crave some insight into the Fannie/Freddie mess, particularly in light of the coming election, I urge you to breath in the very readable and fair minded, Karl Rove:
Now with Fannie and Freddie at greater risk, Messrs. McCain and Obama need to think like would-be presidents instead of senators. That starts with ignoring former Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, who says reform isn't needed – this from a CEO who couldn't produce accurate accounting statements. The goal has to be to force the GSEs (gov. sponsored enterprises) into a position where they can no longer put taxpayer dollars at risk. *** A wag once said that Fannie and Freddie were political organizations masquerading as mortgage providers. They donate heavily to politicians who can shield them from regulation. This election the GSEs have given more than $800,000 to congressmen and senators who oversee legislation that affects them. They have also snapped up dozens of retiring lawmakers and staff as lobbyists and pay them lucrative salaries. Not bad for part-time, indoor work. *** Over the past decade, the GSEs spent at least $171 million on lobbying, which combined would make Fannie and Freddie the third-biggest lobby. This has fostered a network of co-conspirators, including the liberal low-income advocacy group Acorn, big-city mayors and some lenders. Any reform must avoid creating more slush funds for the GSEs to reward political allies at taxpayer expense, and prevent them from investing in "jumbo" mortgages on expensive houses. After all, these GSEs were created to help lower- and middle-income homebuyers, not the rich and famous.
You may recall my postings about the liberal organization “ACORN”. Community service work is supposed to be their “thing” but they have also been investigated for voter fraud. Some of these investigations have resulted in guilty verdicts.
from INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY...
No one likes war. War is a horrific affair, bloody and expensive. Sending our men and women into battle to perhaps die or be maimed is an unconscionable thought.
Yet some wars need to be waged, and someone needs to lead. The citizenry and Congress are often ambivalent or largely opposed to any given war. It's up to our leader to convince them. That's why we call the leader the Commander in Chief.
From the Wall Street Journal one hour ago....
The 1.1% monthly increase in the consumer price index for June was the fastest pace since a surge in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, due in large part to energy prices, while the core rate — excluding food and energy — came in at 0.3%. The year-over-year increase was 5%, the highest since 1991 when inflation was easing with that economic downturn.
The Fed braced for a summer surge in headline inflation due to rising commodity prices. Its policy statement after the June meeting indicated that officials expected inflation “to moderate later this year and next year.” That cast attention to the post-summer period, unlike the April statement that said inflation was expected to moderate “in coming quarters.” That suggested Fed officials would be holding their breath on inflation, hoping it comes down as expected due to slower growth creating slack in the economy. END
Editor's note: You know inflation has arrived when a Nobby burger, fries and a large coke costs $10!
by Jack
According to the latest Gallop poll Congress has 14% approval amongst voters. This is a new record low for Congress. In fact it is even lower than the low approval rating of former Czar Nicolas jprior to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
In contrast Bush gets a 34% approval rating, which means Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have made George Bush twice as popular as Congress! A remarkable feat that points to even more remarkable events to follow under an Obama presidency.
Posted by Tina
Lenore Skenazy has created a fun list for all you pricey gas guzzling consumers out there:
“63 Signs of Recession” – New York Sun
You know you’re in a recession when…
10. You give your son summer Spanish lessons by having him work in lawn care.
12. When you get into your Jacuzzi you throw a load of laundry in, too.
17. You brag about your new Apple. Then you go home and eat it.
Keep smilin' Pilgrims - November is just around the corner and unless we have another "chads' moment all bets will be settled.
Posted by Tina
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Volkswagen picked Chattanooga over rival sites in two other states for a new U.S. assembly plant expected to create about 2,000 jobs. Volkswagen Group of America Inc. said it will produce a new midsize sedan designed specifically for the North American consumer and invest $1 billion in the economy. – AP
VW will invest $1 Billion in the economy…so that’s what companies do with “profits”.
Intel also reported higher than expected earnings today and, following GW's call for drilling, oil fell a bit...just goes to show speculators drive in both directions.
It's raining but if we don't panic the sun'l come out...
Posted by Tina
Australian doctors have published in a medical journal the case of a 17-year old held for observation, suffering the first observed case of “climate change delusion phenomenon” (CCD). It seems that he suffered from fears that “due to climate change, his own water consumption could lead to days to the deaths of millions of people through exhaustion of water supplies”. This particular product of modern education techniques “was referred to the inpatient psychiatric unit at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne with an eight-month history of depressed mood…He also…had visions of apocalyptic events”. Where ever would he get such an idea? – Human Events
"Where ever' indeed! Is there an Algore in the house?
Posted by Tina
DENVER - At least 900 officers are being brought into Denver to help at next month's Democratic National Convention. Suburban Aurora will send the largest contingent, 300 police officers, or half the force. The Wyoming National Guard will send 22 members who are trained to detect nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. KMGH-TV Denver
The question is, are they worried about homegrown threats, plots hatched by overseas terrorist, or just the gaggle of lefty clowns planning to "Recreate 68"?
A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.'
by Jack Lee
CEO's doing whatever it takes to win, you've seen the scandals... they're selling their souls as they lie through their teeth to shareholders. The pathetic part is it's just not that uncommon anymore. It seems to have begun with the generation of baby boomers and it's been passed on to successive generation like a cancer gene.
We know why too. It's all about money. Money is taking precedence over all other things of value today... like ethics, honor and your good name.
Granted, there is extraordinary pressure on today's CEO's and CFO's to perform (after all they have to justify their mega-salaries) and they must be prepared to be creative to meet all expectations, even unrealistic expectations.
Here's an example that set the stage for one of American's most consumer costly corporate scandals of all time. CMS Energy was benign non-profit energy company on the east coast and in a smaller way it was much like California's own PG&E, that is until California lawmakers de-regulated unilaterally. This forced PG&E to divest of some of its own energy producing plants and rely more on the free market that included energy brokers like ENRON and it opened the door of opportunity for energy exploitation. There was now a legal way to earn more money at the expense of California's inept lawmakers!
Posted by Tina
"If we're serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities." – Barack Obama, quoted by AP
I have to congratulate the Senator for encouraging personal responsibility in the black community. His comments freflect new trends in the bklack community exemplified by the creators of the movie, “Barbershop” and in recent comments made by the great Bill Cosby. They are setting the stage for true freedom and independence:
CINCINNATI- Democrat Barack Obama insisted Monday that blacks must show greater responsibility for their actions. In remarks prepared for delivery at the annual NAACP convention, the man who could become the first black president said Washington must provide greater education and economic assistance, but that blacks must demand more of themselves. - AP
Although I disagree about more government handouts and aid, I must say his stance takes courage. My own opinion is that he could have made this speech to all Americans living in circumstances that don’t reflect the "American Dream." There are people of all races living in relative poverty, depending on government, and with kids that are receiving a poor education in the public schools.
But the Democrat party has become the party of division; the party that evaluates according to race and class rather than the content of character. This socialized approach to equality is not the dream envisioned by our founders or by Dr. Martin Luther King”:
MLK: “We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. *** So we have come to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. *** I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. *** I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." *** I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” (all emphasis mine)
Posted by Tina
CHICAGO - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday criticized President George W. Bush's plan to lift a ban on offshore oil drilling, labelling it a part of a failed energy policy. "If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. - Reuters
Well, I guess it sounds good in a strategy session but what is Obama’s plan for reducing energy prices? Untried unproven alternatives that require years of infrastructur building? Bike riding? (Libby's choice)
Obama's party, the Democrat Party, is not just a by-stander in this…the Democrats run Congress. So I ask you…when it comes to high gasoline prices, what have Democrats done for ya lately? What is their consistent response to our calls for drilling?
That would be NO, NO, NO and the ever popular, NO, we don’t care about YOUR problems and needs!
Posted by Tina
WASHINGTON - In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President Bush on Monday will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president. But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well. The president plans to officially lift the ban and explain his actions in a Rose Garden statement, White House press secretary Dana Perino said. – AP
The president continues to call on Congress to act swiftly to open oil markets and help bring down prices. The democrat controlled Congress has refused. In fact some in Congress have said they like high prices because it forces people to drive less and use less energy.
This is another sleazy political tactic. First they tie the hands of oil companies to bring product to market and then they kidney punch them by continues blocking of production and blaming them for the high prices that inflate profits.
We've talked lately about greed, laziness and envy...what do we do about sleazy underhanded control freaks in Congress?
Vote wisely in November.
Posted by Tina
Paris - Forty-three nations, including Israel and Arab states, pledged Sunday to work for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction at the close of a summit to launch an unprecedented Union for the Mediterranean aimed at securing peace across the restive region. In a final declaration, Israel, Syria, the Palestinians along with countries across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa agreed to ''pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction'' - AP
This will be one to watch.
by Tina Grazier
I was suspicious last year when the economy, which had been humming along nicely, was suddenly in "crisis". The housing debacle came along and soon people were talking the economy down. It wasn’t long until whispers of “recession” turned into full blown accusations of a 1929 fall. Gasoline prices started to rise and banking, lending and investment companies were said to be in free fall. All of this going on when the country is still experiencing growth. What the heck is going on?
A Bloomberg article by David Scheer, “SEC to Probe Manipulation Through False Information,” caught my attention simply because of my suspicions:
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's inspections unit, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which monitors brokerages, and the New York Stock Exchange's regulatory arm are checking whether firms have controls in place to prevent the intentional spread of misinformation, the SEC said in a statement today. They will also look at whether employees have been adequately trained. ** U.S. regulators are already hunting for traders who may have sought to illegally profit from the credit crisis by falsely stoking panics about the stability of companies including Bear Stearns Cos., which collapsed in March amid speculation that clients were pulling business. ** Cox told the Senate Banking Committee April 3 the agency takes such manipulation ``very seriously'' and that lawmakers' hopes for a crackdown would be ``met or exceeded.'' In March, the Washington-based agency opened probes into whether hedge funds and other traders spread lies about Bear Stearns and Lehman after those stocks plunged, people familiar with the matter said at the time. ** Bear Stearns was forced to sell itself to JPMorgan Chase & Co. March 16 at a fraction of its previous market value.
by Jack
by Jack
Just got home from fire duty for a little rest. I've been working 11 straight days; many of these were 12 hours or more. One thing I've learned since the start of this mission is after about 80 hours of dispatching, working the phones, answering personnel questions, running messages, deploying, etc., with minimal time for sleep your brain slowly turns to mush.
My first reaction entering my home town of Chico...relief! I noticed the air is not quite as bad as when I left it 12 days ago, but it's still pretty bad. The sun still looks like an orange ball through all the smoke.
Back in Sacramento Butte County is often the discussion over chow breaks. We know the situation and we're very focused on doing everything possible to contain and suppress the fires. I transported two military helicopter crews to our Flight Ops at Mather this morning where they took another hop via a Black Hawk to Chico. The day before, I transported another air crew from Washington State that was leaving our flight ops for Chester. They are based out of Fort Lewis.
My job remains the same...mobilization, processing in soldiers for active duty and the occasional de-mob. Sounds boring, but it's really not, there's a lot of mini-crisis' to solve every day and that keeps us hopping. So far, so good too, we've stayed right on track. We've billeted everyone, deployed everyone and have kept track where everyone is assigned; considering the scope of this operation that's not too bad. That's a total team effort. Of course there have been hours that pass with almost no activity then pow, a log jam of activity until you are talking with a phone in each hand and a pen in your mouth, post it notes going up everywhere and somehow at the end of the rush it all gets done.
It's safe to say this is unlike any military mission I've ever had before, but then this is a very unique situation for everybody and I am taking due notice of those who have lost their homes or had to evacuate their homes. This is why we are here; you motivate us to do more than we thought we could and to keep on going.
Few of us at JFHQ will able to see the end result of our work, so I feel privileged to come home to where it's all happening and see the massive effort underway. I promised to take pictures of the fire camp and our air base back with me when I return.
In closing I'm sending you my best wishes and a prayer for your safety! I'll check back in when I can. Oh, and a very big thank you to Tina for all your great efforts to keep our blog meaningful with lively discussions from everyone, especially Nick, John, Dan and Libby!
by Tina Grazier
A recent Post Scripts entry resulted in discussion about the difference between open, free-market approaches to industry and government and a more closed controlled approach. In my reading today I came across an interesting article featuring Raul Castro of Cuba. His current dilemma clearly demonstrates the unworkability of closed controlled systems:
“Cuba lowers reform expectations” - BBC
President Raul Castro has given his most sombre assessment of Cuba's economic situation since he succeeded his brother Fidel in February. ** In a televised address before the assembly, Mr Castro said he would have to lift restrictions on salaries more slowly than anticipated. ** He said key reforms could be affected by global rises in food and oil prices. ** Raul Castro, 77, has raised hopes for change by taking steps to modernise Cuba's ailing state-run economy. ** Reforms have included removing salary caps to boost incentives for workers, and decentralising of agriculture to increase food production.
In a closed system the dictator decides how much you make and all but a select few go hungry and lose heart.
The free market is not perfect, as man is not perfect, and it certainly isn’t fair. But it is the best system ever devised by humankind. The free market encourages and supports opportunity, a space to live and grow our personal individual dreams. If “our dream” is to be a part of a collective, a free system will accommodate that desire. But a closed system will not tolerate, and cannot accommodate, free market dreams.
We are blessed to live in this republic where a free and open market is still possible and thriving. It is a treasure, hidden to many for lack of introduction. It is a treasure but it is being threatened from without and from within. A wise person will guard and protect the treasures he’s been granted.
Please, vote wisely in November.
Posted by Tina
A contrast: What works better BIG government or the FREE enterprise system?
GOVERNMENT:
Whether we drill or not we can be certain that others will:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday toured a new Arctic oil rig intended to boost Moscow's position in the intensifying competition for northern energy reserves. Putin also met ministers and top oil executives in the Severodvinsk shipyard to discuss prospects for developing more Arctic fields, which are estimated to contain up to a quarter of Russia's proven oil and gas reserves. – AFP
And then there’s always the ETHICS and DEPENDABILITY factors:
A United Nations program designed to combat global warming has started doing something no one expected: It is subsidizing fossil-fuel power plants that spew millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually. In the past year or so, 13 big plants in India and China that burn natural gas have won the U.N.'s blessing as aids in the fight against climate change. - WSJ
Now try FREE ENTERPRISE:
German luxury carmaker BMW has announced that it is preparing to launch a test series of electrically-powered Minis. If they pass muster, the vehicles would reportedly be bound for the green US state of California. Many automobile manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Daimler and GM, have already said they plan to build electric vehicles. (Snip) it would produce ''several hundred cars in the Mini series in coming months'' in Oxford, England, and convert them in Germany to run on electricity. – Deutsche Welle
Posted by Tina
Politicians will say just about anything to get your vote. Most of the time they don’t bother to take into consideration the things that have previously been said by the opposition…nobody pays attention and besides, we Americans have very short memories. The internet, however, has been a big help in this regard. So when I read the following statement made by Barack Obama about President Bush, I went in search of a few things I thought I remembered hearing the President say. Obama's remarks were meant to discredit the president and elevate himself. But he has blatantly misrepresented the President and in the process made himself seem ignorant and petty.
First the statements (all emphasis mine) made by Obama as reported in the article,
“Obama: Oil price is among most dangerous weapons,” by Klaus Marre – The Hill:
“The price of a barrel of oil is now one of the most dangerous weapons in the world,” Obama said in remarks prepared for a speech in Ohio. “Tyrants from Caracas to Tehran use it to prop up their regimes, intimidate the international community and hold us hostage to a market that is subject to their whims.” *** Obama criticized the Bush administration for having “narrowly defined security as fighting an open-ended war in Iraq,” instead of tackling other issues that are all tied to keeping the country safe. *** “In the interconnected world of this new century, new threats come from stateless terrorists, loose nuclear weapons, the spread of pandemic disease, an inability to compete with rising powers in the global economy, the threat of global climate change and our dependence on foreign oil,” the Illinois Democrat stated. *** Obama used Iran as an example to illustrate his point, saying that, if the country decided to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices could double to $300-a-barrel and the price of a gallon of gasoline could triple in the U.S. to $12.
Posted by Tina
London, July 10 : For past three decades, Europe has been following the trend of saying goodbye to air pollution and smoky chimneys but a new study has shown that cleaning up the skies has allowed more of the sun's rays to pierce the atmosphere, contributing to at least half the global warming that has occurred. - Britain News Net (UK)
Let this be a lesson to us. Meddling and tinkering comes back to bite on the butt every time. That's twice in one week. Does it get any better than this?
Come to think of it...I'll bet we're in for a long run of humorous butt bites as the greens march along that arrogant meddling path.
Threat? What Threat? Progressives pooh-pooh the threat from Iran as so much macho driven blather, while “smarter” heads report real threats to the U.S. based on real activity in Iran
Posted by Tina
“Death To America?” by Investors Business Daily
Among the missiles Iran said it tested this week was a new version of the Shahab-3, one with a range of 1,250 miles and armed with a one-ton conventional warhead. ** Mohammed ElBaradei,… of the International Atomic Energy Agency, recently said Iran could have a nuclear warhead for the Shahab within six months.
Posted by Tina
Much fanfare accompanies even the slightest hint of impropriety when Republicans are involved but rarely is much made of democrats who are caught in nefarious goings on.
Just for fun, and I admit to tweak Libby a bit, here are three articles that place Democrats and MONEY in the corruption spotlight…
From the July National Review print edition, page six "The Week":
"The principle author of the Dodd-Shelby housing bill is Senator Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Banking Committee. Portfolio magazine has revealed that Dodd was one of two U.S. Senators who benefitted from Countrywide Financial's "Friends of Anhgelo" program (named for CEO Angelo Mozilo), under which Countrywide, the largest mortgage lender in the U.S., gave loans to the influential and powerful. ** ...the preferential loan rates Dodd received will end up saving him $75,000.00 The troubling nature of this arrangement becomes clear when one looks at the fine print of the Dodd-Shelby housing bill, which would allow mortgage lenders to dump their most radioactive subprime loans on the government. The bill is overwhelmingly slanted to protecting lenders, such as Countrywide, that lowered their standards dramatically during the housing boom and subsequently found themselves holding a lot of bad debt...."
Is Dodd sent to his room or banned for life for this infraction? Nope he’s rewarded with an even “sweeter” possible offer:
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's presidential campaign has requested information from Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd as part of its search for a possible vice presidential candidate. - AP
While aggressive evictions are making rent-stabilized apartments increasingly scarce in New York, Representative Charles B. Rangel is enjoying four of them, including three adjacent apartments in a sprawling penthouse overlooking Upper Manhattan, courtesy of one of New York’s premier real estate developers. Mr. Rangel, the powerful Democrat who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, uses his fourth apartment, six floors below, as a campaign office, despite state and city regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence. - New York Times
by Tina Grazier
When a person focuses all of his attention on one thing he’s bound to acquire a pretty distorted view. If he then, in a state of panic, insists on extreme plans and procedures based on this distorted view he’s liable to do some pretty bizarre things.
The following two paragraphs illustrate the insanity of paying obsessive attention to climate change and demanding immediate extreme fixes:
First the obvious beauty to be found on our thriving planet:
VERSAILL ES, France -- Alain Baraton is an untraditional gardener in perhaps the most traditional garden on the planet. He is the keeper of the Gardens of Versailles -- with hundreds of acres of flower beds as meticulously manicured as a beauty queen's nails and trees so ancient they bore witness to the French Revolution. - Washington Post
Next the insanity of the greens:
Argentine scientists are taking a novel approach to studying global warming - strapping plastic tanks to the backs of cows to collect their burps and farts. Researchers say the slow digestive system of cows makes them a producer of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that gets far less public attention than carbon dioxide in efforts to fight global warming. - Daily Mail (UK)
Oh my…leave the lovely cows alone for heavens sake…and go make yourselves useful! I suggest gardening.
Posted by Tina
The Senate easily approved legislation to overhaul government eavesdropping rules in terrorism and espionage cases and effectively granted immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in a secret domestic spying program, ending a contentious debate that has raged for more than two years. Among the 69 senators who voted "yes" on final passage was Barack Obama (Ill.), who had opposed the immunity provision. - Washington Post
Somebody is getting the message.
Posted by Tina
We're told that "the rich" are getting away with murder...not PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE in taxes! Is it true or just leftist bologna used to inflame the masses? Let's ask the IRS:
New data from the IRS will be out in a few weeks on who pays how much in taxes. My contacts at the Treasury Department tell me that for the first time in decades, and perhaps ever, the richest 1% of tax filers will have paid more than 40% of the income tax burden. The top 50% will account for 97% of all federal income taxes, while the bottom 50% will have paid just 3%. - Stephen Moore -WSJ
The rich pay 40% of the entire tax burden...lump in the not quite as rich (the middle class) and 97% of all federal taxes are covered. Half of the citizens of this country pay only 3% of the tax burden.
HALF pay ONLY 3%!!!. Does that half deserve to vote...I mean don't you have to particpate to be in the game.? Why should people who contribute so little have equal say in who becomes our president for instance...or whether or not we will drill for oil?
The so called "have nots" have gotten themselves a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.
And what about those paying the tab...why are they being criticized (and shamed) after working hard enough to NOT become a burden on the system?
Please vote wisely in November.
by Tina Grazier
It should be a fairly reasonable expectation that elected leaders will act in the best interests of the American people but sadly that is rarely the case. The current energy problem is no exception. As a citizen I want Congress to make laws and set policies that support people in getting on with their own lives. Instead they continually throw up road- blocks and detours impeding progress at every turn. Today they are setting a course to put the American people in a giant holding pattern as we wait for their dreams to materialize.
In the lofty dreamer’s mind it seems quite reasonable to “imagine” a world without oil. In the practical every day lives of most Americans it is unimaginable…we are, and will remain, dependent on oil. Every job depends on it. Everything we consume depends on it…and therefore being able to eat depends on it. The dreamers notion that we can just turn off a spigot and free ourselves from oil is both childish and silly.
Unfortunately our representatives in Congress prefer to dream than design a workable long-term plan for our energy requirements:
Posted by Tina
There are those among us who strongly believe that by electing agents of “hope” and “change” we will magically be freed from the terror threats we face. The rest of us think it wise to “know the enemy” and being good scouts, to also “be prepared”. Over the weekend I read a couple of very good articles that I think will assist us in both of these endeavors.
The first is a look back article from TownHall.com, “Hitler’s Favorite Jihadist,” by David R. Stokes. In the article he reviews a book that offers some interesting historical background:
We are not fighting a war on terror. We are fighting against a pernicious way of thinking. Terrorism is a methodology – a way to fight a battle. The technique itself is not the enemy. Our foes are people and regimes who, in the name of foul opinion, perpetrate destruction. Just like back in the 1940s.
Posted by Tina
As reported by "Politico," John McCain has released his economic plan for America in a document titled:
“Jobs for America: The McCain Economic Plan,”
The main points of the plan include the need for reasonable economic growth, comprehensive spending controls, and bi-partisanship in budget efforts. With these in mind the vision becomes:
“John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation's energy security, get the government's budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers.”
As they say, the devil is in the details, so how does he imagine these can be accomplished?
The following are excerpts from the plan:
by Jack Lee
As most of you already known I am on active duty for the fires in California and we're still spinning up units for deployment. This is only the second time in 27years the Guard has been activated for actual front line fire fighting duty and the previous time was last year.
Personnel in my unit have been rotating in and out so fast I barely get to know them and they are gone. Our Chaplain left today for field service and I just picked up an LAPD officer who flew in. He was activated for duty yesterday. He will join up with A Riverside County Deputy Sheriff who has also been called in for active duty. In fact most of the people I am currently working with have civilian jobs in addition to be members of the Guard. It's an interesting mix of people.
Most shifts are working 10-12 hours per day to keep up...even then it's hard because of all the demands made on their time. Logistics in fire fighting or war fighting is hard to imagine unless you have seen it up close and personal. It involves precision in every aspect from timing delivery to the exact composition of the order. So many hands are involved you would wonder how it all gets done right, but it does and repeatedly every day.
Currently I am sharing space in our computer room with a 1st LT., who is working in procurement and has been tasked with ordering 2000 pairs of Redwing boots that will conform to Cal Fire specs for safety. Apparently the military type boots won't work, they melt in high heat! There does not appear to be a quick end to the fire season and the ordering of the boots is just one of the clues. Another is the airlift of supplies.
I'm off to Mather Field next. In fact it looks like my time is up...gotta run.
Take care everyone!
Posted by Tina
The Bureau of Land Management announced that it's placing a two-year freeze on proposals for new solar-energy farms on federal lands, pending the results of ... an environmental impact study. - New York Post Editorial
Lease applications in the pipeline, which wouldn't be affected by the moratorium, cover more than 1 million acres….Still, such an environmental hiccup for one of America's prestige "green" industries does rather put the rest of the national energy debate in perspective. *** Consider the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where up to 16 billion barrels of oil could be extracted from a mere 2,000-acre footprint - but for politicians' carping about the "pristine natural beauty" of a wasteland no more inspiring than any of the deserts so primed for solar energy. *** The two-year solar freeze, moreover, pales in comparison to the 12 years since the country's newest nuclear power plant came on line - or the three decades since anyone's built a much-needed oil refinery.
What goes around...comes around. Ooooh...the sheer joy!
A lady walks into the drug store and asks the druggist for some arsenic.
The druggist asks "Ma'am, what do you want with arsenic?"
The lady say's "To kill my husband."
"I can't sell you any for that reason" says the druggist.
The lady then reaches into her purse and pulls out a photo of a man and a woman in a compromising position, the man is her husband and the lady is the druggist's wife, and shows it to the druggist.
He looks at the photo and says "Oh, I didn't know you had a prescription!"
Posted by Tina
The timing couldn't have been more perfect, just in time to make "Independence Day" an extra special day for three Americans and their families. We all owe a debt of gratitude to President Uribe of Columbia for the daring rescue of the three American contractors (along with Ingrid Betancourt and 11 others) that have been held hostage for five long years by the narco-terrorist organization FARC. An undercover Columbian Army unit wearing Che Guevera t-shirts infiltrated the FARC and managed to convince the local commander that the hostages were to be taken to Alfonso Cano, the supreme rebel leader. Without firing a shot the hostages were taken instead to safety with several rebels captured in the process, including one of the top commanders.
Columbian President Alviro Uribe has demonstrated with crystalline clarity his dedication to a free and democratic society for the Columbian people. His tireless efforts in the war on terror and against drug traffickers have been nothing short of brilliant:
“Hail, Colombia” – New York Daily News Editorial
It is because of Uribe's steely determination that one-time Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Bentancourt and three American anti-narcotics contractors were freed after being held for up to six years, along with 11 Colombian soldiers and policemen. *** And it is because of Uribe's courage in staging a cross-border raid into Ecuador a while back that the world knows, via a captured laptop computer, that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been working hand in glove with FARC to undermine Uribe. Who, by the way, happens to be democratically elected and wildly popular among his people. *** He should be equally popular in the U.S., as he has again proven to be a vital ally, a key line of defense against regimes that regard thugs as freedom fighters - indeed, that seem intent upon transforming the Andes into a western suburb of Tehran. *** If only Uribe could get a little show of gratitude from our Democratic-led Congress, which continues to block any discussion of a free-trade pact with Colombia - for partisan political reasons.
Find more articles on this HERE, HERE, and HERE
In depth articles can be found on the CounterTerrorism Blog (scroll down)
Speaker Pelosi, Your politically motivated resistance on Columbian Free Trade legislation is quickly becoming an embarrassment for the American people. Do your job please and see that this legislation is passed ASAP.
Posted by Tina
The media won’t cover the remarkable story going on in Iraq but the good news is available through our friends at The American Thinker:
“Victory in Anbar? What victory?” by Kyle-Anne Shiver – The American Thinker
Victory in Anbar Province, Iraq? If you Google, "Anbar + victory," all you will find is a bunch of outdated stuff from the years when coalition forces were taking a real beating from Al Qaeda Iraq and the Sunni insurgents, who were then still trying to take back control of the whole Country. The latest entry in Google's search engine, for "Anbar + victory" is from 2006. *** Anbar Province covers approximately one-third of Iraq, is west of Baghdad, and has borders with Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Anbar's towns, Fallujah, Ramadi and Haditha have been the sites of fiercely fought battles with Sunni insurgents and Al Qaeda forces. But when some of the worst Al Qaeda atrocities of the war were carried out against Sunni tribal families, these tribes eventually decided to turn on Al Qaeda and to work in tandem with coalition forces to secure the Province. *** In short, many facets of General David Petraeus' Counter-Insurgency methods have proven successful in Anbar and in the other 9 Provinces already turned over to Iraqi control.
by Tina Grazier.
President George Bush repeatedly told the American people that the war against terrorists would be fought in many ways and on many fronts. One important tool in such a war is tight lipped security regardless of what it might mean in terms of the president’s popularity. Security during a time of war is one of many essentials.
Opponents of the president, and of this war, have been adamant in their claims that no WMD were found in Iraq. They have used this claim to discredit and malign both the president and his staff…and they have gotten away with it even though there was irrefutable evidence that Saddam Hussein had WMD prior to the war. It’s time for a little reality check:
Posted by Tina
Over the course of several decades the meaning and intent of our founding documents have been compromised. The value of the words for many of our fellow citizens have been lost, forgotten or worse, never learned. It's important to revive our appreciation for these documents and thereby arm ourselves that we might restore and preserve the repubic for which our proud flag stands. Also on this special day it's also important to reflect on the cost of freedom. I hope you will follow the links below and read these fine articles.
“We still hold these truths” - Washington DC Examiner Editorial
On this Independence Day, it is worth taking time away from fireworks and picnics to contemplate, and rejoice in, two key phrases from the Declaration that gave this day its name. And we’re not talking about all men being created equal or about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those are worthy ideals, but they give no real-world prescriptions for free governance. Instead, the heart of the Declaration’s famed second paragraph comes right after those lofty sentiments. “To secure these rights,” the document states, “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” *** The first key phrase is: “To secure these rights.” Note that the government does not “give” rights, but secures rights. The rights — life and liberty among them — pre-exist the government, just as they pre-exist the mention of government in the Declaration. Government’s job is not to dispense rights like favors, but to secure and protect the rights to which mankind is entitled by “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.” Government is properly in the service of those rights, inferior to those rights, and has no reason for existence apart from preserving those rights.
“GW's War,” by Otis A. Glazebrook IV
Democratic republics never engage in war willingly. Wars are never popular for long. More often than not their wars are the result of a direct provocation or threat. ** Tyrannies, by contrast, wage war to obfuscate the misery of their exploited citizenry. *** So it was with GW's War. *** War, by definition, is a large scale, expensive and violent conflict. Whereby two sides of the conflict spend their available resources killing people and breaking the civilian's will to fight. It is never pretty. Although, the end result of a war can be glorious. ** There are times when Wars are justified and need to be waged. Someone needs to lead the nation and the military. *** So it was with GW's War. *** About one third of the citizenry thought GW's War needed to be waged, one third did not think the war was necessary and were in fact vehemently against it, the other third were indifferent to the whole concept. ** GW was a lousy speaker and had trouble rallying the citizenry. (you must read the article to get the full impact-it’s very good)
“Almost two centuries ago a group of disturbed men met in the small Pennsylvania State House [as] they gathered to decide on a course of action. Behind the locked and guarded doors they debated for hours whether or not to sign the Declaration which had been presented for their consideration. For hours the talk was treason and its price the headsman's axe, the gallows and noose. The talk went on and decision was not forthcoming. Then, Jefferson writes, a voice was heard coming from the balcony:
They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust. ** To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom; but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but hear. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death, not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever. ** Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would still implore you to remember this truth God has given America to be free.
As he finished, the speaker sank back in his seat exhausted. Inspired by his eloquence the delegates rushed forward to sign the Declaration of Independence. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words he couldn't be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room. ** Here was the first challenge to the people of this new land, the charging of this nation with a responsibility to all mankind. And down through the years with but few lapses the people of America have fulfilled their destiny.” - “Your America To Be Free” - Ronald Reagan 1957
Read his full commencement address to the Eureka College graduating class of 1957 at The Patriot Post
by Jack
These are just a few pics from Operation Lightning Strike at the combined headquarters for California's air and army components of the National Guard. Obviously I can't show you the sensitive areas of this military facility, but I can show you a few things. For starters, this is our chow area and what you are actually seeing about 1/3 of it. The food has been great and that is a big plus when you are working 12 -14 hours per shift around the clock. We even have a midnight dinner!
This is a rare scene where nobody is in the hallway. It's taken at 3 a.m. when staffing is light. The hall is located on the 2nd floor and it's about 3 foot ball fields long and makes a right turn and goes another 300 feet. As you can imagine the halls are jammed during the day and for most of the swing shift.
We had several of the temporary Sat communications units going to handle all the new radio traffic.
This area is what we jokingly call our internet cafe. It's more like a big closet. Like most of the rooms here, there are no windows, it's a security thing. We have 4 laptops available for personnel to check in with home since we now have a number of air crew here from all over the US. Shown here is my friend Chaplain Fowler from SoCal.
The lobby at JFOR just received this memorial for soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was 100% paid for by the Warrant Officers Association and donations from the public.
Wish I could explain more about what is happening down here, but my time is very limited. I'm headed back on duty at 6 a.m. till ? So, I'll see you all again when time permits!
Posted by Tina
“It ought to be commemorated,” said the man who would become our second president, “as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Day’s Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.” – John Adams, July 3, 1776
Please visit The Patriot Post
Posted by Tina
One of the Supreme Court rulings handed down last month apparently contains an error. The case in question is the death penalty child rape case:
“Supreme Court’s Embarrassing Error” – Clarice Feldman, American Thinker
A blogger, Caaflog, caught Justice Kennedy having made the biggest error in modern Supreme Court history that I can recall. In the death penalty child rape case, when he said that the death penalty for this crime was "against evolving standards" he overlooked, what a blogger found, that in 2006 Congress itself had made rape of a child a crime subject to the death penalty under the military code. ** No clerk or justice caught this error which is significant and completely undermines the justification for Kennedy's swing vote in this case.Indeed, the entire case it seems to me is of dubious precedential value having been based on a clear factual error of great significance. ** How can something be against "evolving standards" when Congress elected by the people of the land just endorsed it?
Good question. The link takes you to an updated version of the post that includes the rule that applies for consideration of a rehearing.
By Tina Grazier
The unofficial “Mom” to this blog, Miss Libby, has spoken…and that’s that!
We had better get used to walking or riding bikes, she says, because oil is finished. Forget about using your oven, your lawn mower, your water heater, your electric tools, your air conditioner, your power boat, your motor scooter or even your golf cart…oh, and you better get used to goin’ to bed at sundown ‘cause TV will certainly be out of the question and reading requires lights. Of course you can always read by candlelight but for those of us who are visually challenged that wouldn’t do for long. Also, we had better invest in warmer bedding...and clothing for winter...but only cotton or wool! We also might need to invest in a few of those sweet little Miss Scarlet “fans” for cooling ourselves in summer...hand squeezed lemon-aid anyone? Sorry if it’s a bit warm.
Libby's in good company though…she has Al Gore, various and sundry movie stars, and a few “scientists” on her side as well as…Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:
You may have guessed by now that Jack has been called into service in the effort to put out the fires in Northern California. He’s working some long hard hours as a fire crew coordinator down in the Sacramento area with the army. Our best wishes and prayers go out to Jack and all of the fine folks who are working so hard to get the job done.
Not sure when this thing will wrap up, but it looks like I won't be done for the 4th.
Just want to let you know all is well. I am pulling lots of hours, but the food is good! lol My crew has been processing in personnel and doing shuttle runs to the airbase and back to our CP. I work 12-15 hour days in a cubical with no windows so after a few days of this kind of stuff you forget if it is light or dark outside! I just found out the army installed an internet cafe down the hall from us, so I took a break to say howdy.
I'm hoping anyone reading this was spared any fire damage. We're doing the very best we can to help people, and that is a fact. We're practically living out of this place while we send fire crews out to contain priority fires. Of course when I say fire crews I mean our air and army guard units that have been trained by Cal Fire. These are mostly volunteers, very few had to actually wait to be activated, they wanted to be here to help.
Take care everyone...and have a happy 4th!
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