A Word From The Right (Old)

Change Of Address - URGENT

2004-07-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

Effective this afternoon, the URL for A Word From The Right is changing. The new address is:

rightword.blogspot.com

Everything's the same, all the old entries are there, it's just got a different URL. Oh, and the old comments will be lost. You can leave new ones, but hte old ones are gone. Sorry!

I wanted a URL that incorporated some aspect of the blog's name and mission. Also, I'm sick of the questions, comments and innuendo over "sneakysnake". So, please join me at the new site. Thanks...

Dumb Crooks And Other Funny Stuff

2004-07-08T10:07:00.000-04:00

Tokin' On The Train
If you're going to carry 17 pounds of cocaine on Amtrak, it might be a good idea to not smoke marijuana on the train.

At Least He's Honest
When asked why he robbed and beat an 81-year-old man, an English crook replied, "Because I'm a bastard."

W Ketchup
Because sometimes you just don't want Heinz.

Those Crazy Canuks
A blind University of New Brunswick student is kicked out because his guide dog only understands French.

Better Wind From Down Under
The Australian Braodcasting Company has a website which includes a feature in which children are encouraged to take part in a "Great Fart Survey", a "Great Baked Beans Fart Experiment", to submit poetry about bodily functions, and to teach kids how to break wind more effectively.

Will A Grinch Tag Be Far Behind?
A campaign is underway in Massacusetts to bring the Cat In The Hat to the state's license plates.

Windows XP

2004-07-08T08:23:00.000-04:00

Aside from my Dad's surgery, there's another reason I haven't been able to post much recently. The Windows ME operating system on my computer finally cracked. It's the first system failure I've ever experienced. With all the problems I experienced with ME, I decided to install Windows XP. What an experience!

The installation took two hours Tuesday night, most of which I was downstairs watching TV. I have to admit I like XP so far. The two biggest problems I've encountered... First, I was forced to uninstall and reinstall my Norton Antivirus, Firewall and System Works programs. No biggie, just time consuming. Second (and bigger), Outlook Express no longer works. I get an error when I try to open it. I've reloaded, uninstalled, reloaded, edited the registry, worked on tips from the web... nada. But, it's okay. I solved that problem, along with the security issued involved with Outlook Express and Internet Explorer by switching to Mozilla.

The look is almost identical to IE, functions flawlessly so far and seems more intuitive. Also, the Windows XP version (don't know about Mac OS X) includes an e-mail program that I like as well as Outlook Express.

It's just been a couple of days, but I recommed you check it out. Even if you haven't had any big problems with IE.

Good News

2004-07-07T21:45:00.000-04:00

Dad went home today, only five days after his first surgery! He still has one more surgery, probably in a month or so. So far, everything's gone exactly as it should.

Update On Dad

2004-07-05T21:49:00.000-04:00

The surgery was Friday evening, and went according to plan. His doctor said he was the perfect patient. Recovery has gone well, and hopefully he'll be going home tomorrow. In a month or so they will go back in and remove the portions of his liver that have been affected, and hopefully that will be the end of this.

Thanks again for all the cals, e-mails, well-wishes and prayers. You all are great!

Stil Waiting On Medical News

2004-06-28T11:52:00.000-04:00

We're still waiting to find out when surgery will be and what it will encompass, but Dad's doing well. After a bout with some unruly electrolytes, he's back to his normal self. Now it's a matter of scheduling surgery and keeping strong until the surgery. After that, recovery and return to work.

Thanks to you all for the prayers, calls and e-mails!

Kerry Gets It Wrong Again...

2004-06-22T23:13:00.000-04:00

At a campaign appearance in Columbus, Ohio, John Kerry made the audacious claim that there are more blacks in prison than in college in the U.S.

"That's unacceptable," Kerry said. "But it's not their fault."

Rather than the inmates, the former Boston prosecutor blamed poverty, poor schools, a dearth of after-school programs and "all of us as adults not doing what we need to do."

Unfortunately, Kerry has the facts wrong...

The US Department of Justice tells us the number of blacks incarcerated at mid-year 2002 (page 11, Table 13): 818,900 black men; 65,600 black women; total 884,500 blacks.

The US Census Bureau tells us the number of blacks in college during 2002: 802,000 black men; 1,476,000 black women; total 2,278,000 blacks.

So, Kerry says the 884,500 blacks in prison outnumber the 2,278,000 blacks in college.

Sadly, the media will never call Kerry on his lies. Yep, I said lies. This information is so easy to verify (we did it), that one can only deduce that Kerry intended to mislead people with this misinformation.

Also, what's this about those in prison not being responsible for their crimes?

Gore Can't Stand Being In The Shadows

2004-06-22T17:32:00.000-04:00

Apparently Al Gore is afraid he'll be forgotten, as so many former vice-presidents have been. He feels the need to keep shoving his mug in front of TV cameras. Now, the Drudge Report is reporting that, on Thursday, Gore will accuse the Bush Administration of intentionally misleading the American people by continuing to falsely claim a connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

Sorry, but it just ain't so. From Kerry, Dean and Kucinich down through Michael Moore and all the other Bush-hating leftists, this lie has been told and retold to the point that many people believe it. There's only one problem... Bush never claimed a connection between Saddam and 9/11. Not once. Ever. Period.

Now they are using the September 11th Investigative Commission's report, which stated no Saddam connection to 9/11, as their proof. The commission actually did say that, but they did not say there was no connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda. In fact, we know there indisputable ties (read this if you dare).

The 9/11 Commission has received new information indicating that a senior officer in an elite unit of Saddam's security services may have been a member of Al-Qaeda. Not just a member of Al-Qaeda, but one involved in the planning of the 9/11 hijackings. This is another in a long line of contacts and cooperation between the Al-Qaeda terror network and the government of Saddam Hussein.

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin let it be known that he warned the U.S. after 9/11 but before the invasion of Iraq that Saddam Hussein was preparing terrorist attacks on America and its interests abroad. Apparently the Russian intelligence community has very deep operatives in the terrorist communities.

When you look at the facts (not fear-mongering) with a clear mind and without bias, the truth is clear. The left is spreading lies, the media seems to be all too happy to spread them, and so many Americans are too dumb, lazy or indifferent to care.

As for Gore... just think of him for what he seems - the biggest sore loser around.
__________________________________________________________

Medical Update & Explanation

2004-06-20T18:40:00.000-04:00

As I've written before, there have been some family medical situations that have prevented me from updating this blog lately. I've avoided giving details until we knew some particulars. Now I can explain a bit of what we're facing.

For the past few months, my Dad has, little by little, been getting sicker. This is a man who hasn't been in a hospital as a patient since Eisenhower was President. We now know he has a small cancerous tumor on his pancreas. The doctors and the family are all upbeat, but it's still scary. Hopefully, the doctors will perform surgery this week to remove the main tumor, and check on any spread. I will let you all know how things go.

Thank you for your prayers and concerns!

A Tribute To Reagan

2004-06-16T13:18:00.000-04:00

There's a national movement I'm taking part in and I want to make you all aware of. In memory of President Reagan, and in tribute to his "shining city on a hill" speech, drivers across America are asked to turn their headlights on when and where ever they drive between now and July 4th.

It's such a simple way to help pay tribute to and honor the memory of a great American and beloved president.

Republicans and Democrats

2004-06-15T21:39:00.000-04:00

Republicans & Democrats

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman replied, "Your are in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be a Republican," said the balloonist.

"I am," said the woman. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded. "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air.

You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."

Reagan State Funeral

2004-06-10T16:40:00.000-04:00

I hope you had the opportunity to watch the state funeral for President Reagan last night. The solemnity and grandeur of the event, along with the incredible outpouring of love from the hundreds of thousands who lined the procession route, was unforgettable.

Being a TV geek (I work in the business, whadda 'ya expect?), I checked out the coverage on all the cable news networks. My channel of choice for most of the event was Fox News. Not because their funeral coverage was "fair and balanced", but because they let the ceremony speak for itself. As the caisson carrying the casket moved slowly through the streets, Fox News let the sound of the horses, the crowd and the soldiers tell the story. There were times when five to ten minutes would pass between people speaking.

One of the best comments I heard last night, oddly enough, came on CNN. I'm not entirely sure who the two gentlemen were, but the conversation went something like this...

Person #1: Is there anything we need to explain to our viewers around the world to help them understand what they're seeing here, this truly American event?

Person #2: Actually, I think they understand it quite well. In many nations around the world, people are accustomed to seeing funerals similar to this when monarchs or other royals die. The President of the United States is the closest thing we have to royalty, so this compares to what we might see, for example, in Britain.

...< Stepping Up On Soapbox Now >...

One thing disappointed me, though, here in Macon. While every other network station here covered the funeral, the local Fox affiliate did not. WGXA, "Fox 24", ran their nightly sitcoms instead. It saddened me not only because it seemed so thoughtless and disrespectful, but also because I used to work there.

Under previous ownership, and as an ABC station, we would always have carried an event like this. The current ownership, though, sees things differently. Apparently the income from the commercials they would not have aired means more to management than the impression this leaves in the minds of the viewers.

Sigh...

Is Not Drugging Your Child A Crime?

2004-06-09T15:02:00.000-04:00

Here's a scary story from New Mexico... Chad Taylor, the father of a child who had been prescribed Ritalin for Attention Deficit Disorder, may be prosecuted for child abuse for taking his son off the drug. Taylor said he was afraid of the side-effects his son was showing.

"He was losing weight, wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating," Taylor told ABC News affiliate KOAT-TV in New Mexico. "[He] just wasn't Daniel."

When the boy's teachers found out he was no longer taking Ritalin, the school district notified New Mexico's Department of Children, Youth and Families. Then a detective and social worker made a home visit.

"The detective told me if I did not medicate my son, I would be arrested for child abuse and neglect," Taylor said.

Now, Taylor faces jail time for child abuse. Child abuse? For choosing not to use a mind-altering medication on his child? When did parents lose the right to determine what's best for their children?

Incidentally, this isn't the first time the Rio Rancho school system has been the center of controversy. Here are other instances, courtesy OpinionJournal.com

May 2001: A 16-year-old freshman at Rio Rancho High was kicked out of school for possessing a tiny penknife.

May 2001: A senior at the same school was jailed for five days after a security guard found a hunting knife in his brother's car, which he had driven to school.

November 2003: A 12-year-old Rio Rancho student got an "in-school suspension" because a vending machine gave him two drinks when he paid for only one.

January 2004: A teenager at Rio Rancho Mid-High School was suspended for five days for bringing Gas-X, an over-the-counter drug, to school.

Liberal Hate

2004-06-08T08:17:00.000-04:00

As the nation remembers President Reagan, we think about the legacy he leaves behind. It's a chance to see just how important the man was in so many lives. Sadly, even in a time like this, the hate speech from so many in the "compassionate" left continues...

Liberal columnist Greg Palast said, "Ronald Reagan was a conman. Reagan was a coward. Reagan was a killer... Well, my friends, you can rest easier tonight, the Rat is dead. Ronald Reagan, good-bye and good riddance."

Vanity Fair columnist Christopher Hitchens, writing in the online Slate, said "He was as dumb as a stump... a cruel and stupid lizard."

UK singer Morrissey told a concert crown in Dublin, Ireland, that President George W. Bush should have died instead or Reagan.

To get a true picture of how many liberals think, take a look at some of the postings on their message board at DemocraticUnderground.com (WARNING - Terrible graphic, vulgar language! These are cut and pasted as they were posted.)

"It's people like him that make me hope there's a hell in the afterlife."

"he was so charming and grandfatherly for a nazi"

"F--- Ronald Reagan. He spent the entire 80s dancing on the graves of third world countries - about time someone danced on his."

"...worthless piece of s--t."

"Adios motherf-----r... blubbering about that worthless piece of s---, f--- them and the f---ing elephant they rode in on.
Good riddance to bad rubbish."

This is what passes for compassionate liberal thought on their main Democratic forum. These people have no idea what compassion means.

Speaking of which, staffers at the Democratic National Committee offices in Washington refused to lower their American flag to half mast. They only lowered it later when President Bush ordered all flags lowered. In the same story, we learn that Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi's office refused until late in the day West Coast time to prepare any remarks by the leader on the passing of the President or to send flowers to the funeral home.

After thinking about the DemocraticUnderground.com postings listed above, and wanting to show that similar minds think alike, here's another link I'd like to present. The Communist government-run Cuban state radio, Radio Reloj, said Reagan "never should have been born."

Isn't it amazing how much the vocal libs on the message board sound as bad, if not worse, than the voice of Cuban Communism?

Having A Monday

2004-06-07T18:29:00.000-04:00

We hit the road early this morning with the intention of shooting two stories for out TV program. The first in Reynolds (Taylor County) on the peach harvest, and the second was near Montezuma (Macon County), where we were scheduled to see sweet corn being harvested.

But today turned out to be your typical bad Monday. Not for myself or Rick, mind you, but for those we were planning to visit. At the peach packing house in Reynolds, a mechanical breakdown caused the packing line to shut down. At the corn field later, we learned strong winds had leveled a portion of the field a few days ago.

It's always frustrating when things go wrong at the beginning of the week. And so often we complain that we're "having a Monday." But it was somewhat refreshing today to see that other people have Mondays too.

Goodbye, Mister President

2004-06-06T18:22:00.000-04:00

President Ronald Wilson Reagan
February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004

Picture Of The Day

2004-06-04T13:30:00.001-04:00

The earliest known picture of a tornado, taken in 1884.

TGIF and other stuff...

2004-06-04T09:59:00.000-04:00

What a week! Heck, what a couple of weeks. As I mentioned in my last entry, there's been a family medical situation lately. Very scary. But we've gotten some encouraging news, and things seem to be a bit better. We've all finally been able to stop, take a deep breath, and realize there are other things do deal with. The situation goes on, but prayers and support have really helped. Thank you.

On with the "other stuff..."

There are 150 days until the general election. Have you decided on a presidential choice yet?

Before you cast your vote, think about the answer to these two questions. What is the most serious issue facing this nation right now? Which of the two candidates would most diligently address that issue? I put to you that the gravest threat to this nation, the biggest issue that we must face, is Islamic terrorism. The militants in this so-called "religion of peace" are the primary threat to life and liberty in the world today. According to NATO, in the year 2000, there were 22 major armed conflicts around the world. Of those, 20 involved Muslims.

We all saw what Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his associates did to American Nick Berg. There are no morals, no scruples, no conscience to this bunch. There is no reasoning with them. Their only goal in life is the killing of infidels. You, my friend, are an infidel in their eyes. These animals would have no more problem sawing off YOUR head than they did Nick Berg's. They would take great pleasure in killing you, me and everyone we know. What makes them that way? Does it really matter?

Imagine someone is planning to attack your home and kill your family. You don't know what their plans are, when or how they will attack, or who specifically to watch out for. The only thing you know is that they want you and your family dead, and they are working toward that end right this moment. What do you do?

That's the situation this country is in. The attacks on September 11 were just preliminaries. The terrorists want to kill tens of thousands. Even hundreds of thousands. Who do you want leading this nation?

The man who vows to root the terrorists out and destroy them wherever they are, or the man who says he would only go after the terrorists with the United Nations' approval?

The man who is dedicated to making this nation stronger and safer, or the one who would have our military only get involved when other nations say it's alright?

The man the terrorists fear most, or the man they know won't continue the war on terror?

You know which of these men is which. Ask yourself which of these choices is the best for America?

Oh, if you're one of those who believe the economy is the biggest problem facing this country, I beg you to read this column. The Democrats tried like mad to use the economy as a campaign issue, but even with their fabrications and twisting of numbers, they couldn't make our economy look bad. They only made themselves look stupid.

Our national economy is stronger and growing faster than it has in twenty years. Unemployment is down, and continues to drop. There are more jobs in this country than there have ever been, and it looks like there will be nearly 3 million new ones created this year. The stock markets are back to near record levels. Home ownership is at record levels. Estimates on the national deficit are dropping. More people than ever are saving money for retirement. Gas prices are up, but the average person's higher gas bills are offset by President Bush's tax rebate checks last year. The tax cuts the President pushed through Congress are spurring this economy, and it only looks to get better.

The biggest threat to the economic growth we are seeing is John Kerry and the Democrats' proposals to roll back President Bush's tax cuts. They can't stand the fact that the economy is strong and getting even stronger.
_________________________________

Quote Of The Day

"If you go back and read what he said in the campaign, he's just doing what he'd said he'd do. You've got to give him credit for that."

Former President Bill Clinton, launching his book tour in Chicago, speaking of President George W. Bush and his handling of the War On Terror.

An Explanation For My Absence Lately

2004-06-02T14:50:00.000-04:00

I realize I haven't filed many entries here lately. A family medical emergency has required a lot of my time, and may continue to do so for some time to come. The particulars aren't important. But it is something that's come on quickly, and we're still learning what and why.

Please continue to check in here, as I will share more information at the appropriate time. Please offer up a quick prayer for my family, especially for God's healing mercy.

Thank you,

Michael

Wednesday's Links

2004-05-26T14:02:00.000-04:00

'Spanky' the Clown Arrested on Child Porn Charges.

Porsche drivers have most affairs.

"Killer" swans attacking, drowning dogs in England.

The lead singer for the band "The Darkness"mistakes a 17 year-old fan for a music critic and verbally assaults her.

Italy passes laws protecting how "real" pizzas are to be made.

Media around the world reported Donald Rumsfeld banned camera phone use by soldiers in Iraq. One problem: it was a hoax!
-----------------------------------------------------------

Picture Of The Day

Distant galaxies form a dramatic backdrop for Arp 188, "The Tadpole Galaxy".

After Some Reflection...

2004-05-26T12:52:00.000-04:00

Perhaps I've been too hard, albeit unintended, on public schools and educators. I know so many people who work in public education, most as teachers. If any of my comments in this blog appear to show contempt for the work they do, I apologize. I will strive to be as fair as possible in any comments I make about public (government) education. However, I will continue to present stories of zero-tolerance inanity and other education-related issues, public school or otherwise. I shall do my best to let the stories speak for themselves. But you know me, I have little tolerance for stupid people. I will also endeavor to present stories that put schools and educators in a positive light. There are some really great schools and teachers out there.

Elementary school students in Ohio write letters to U.S. troops in Iraq, inspired by a local soldier who has been held captive there for over a month.

Teachers and parents at Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania collaborated on a plan to boost student achievement. They are focusing first on reading, which will make advancement in other subjects easier. Their plan has brought the school system a state grant to fund the project.

Last week, I told you about two columns Walter Williams wrote on educational ineptitude. Walter has another column this week, proposing what he calls "educational triage", allocating resources based on need as well as likelihood of success.

In Michigan, as many as 100,000 children are being home schooled. The kids are scoring quite high on standardized tests, and it it saving the state an estimated $600 million. An interesting read...

Lots Of New Stuff

2004-05-25T08:25:00.000-04:00

President Bush addressed the nation last night, laying out in fine detail his plans for the immediate future of Iraq. The full speech can be read here. His plan was well-presented and complete. As you should know, on June 30 the coalition will transfer full sovereignty to a government of Iraqi citizens who will prepare the way for national elections. In 36 days, we will become guests in that nation, with no governing authority. The final step, free national elections, will be held no later than January. Our military will remain in Iraq for some time, offering protection, training and leadership to the growing Iraqi military. Our time in Iraq is limited, but we're setting up a future of freedom for the Iraqi people that is permanent.

Incidentally, the Democrats last night insisted that Bush still needs to lay out a plan for the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq. Go figure...

A lot of people are talking about the new movie The Day After Tomorrow. Former V.P. and enviro-hack Al Gore is promoting the validity of the film's premise. Unfortunately, it just ain't so. While the film might make for good escapist fare, it certainly has no basis in scientific fact. Patrick J. Michaels is senior fellow in environmental studies at the Cato Institute. He solidly refutes any claims that the book is based on science. Read it before you see the film. By the way, the film is based on a book by Art Bell (a black helicopter, alien abduction and Loch Ness Monster conspiracy theorist) and Whitley Strieber. In Strieber's previous work, Communion, he explained that he was told of the Earth's upcoming apocalypse by aliens. Yeah, they're reliable...
--------------------------------------------------

Is the media biased? A new study by the Pew Research Center says... maybe so. The study polled 547 national and local reporters, producers, editors, and executives across the country. This study followed a Pew study of opinions of the general public.

In the study, only 7% of national journalists described themselves as "conservative," compared with 33% of the public. Thirty-four percent of national journalists called themselves "liberal," vs. just 20% of the public. A majority of national journalists (54%) called themselves "moderate," while 41% of the public did. So, while roughly 1 out of every 3 people considers themselves to be a conservative, only 1 out of 14 journalists is a conservative.

Asked about the media's treatment of President Bush, 34% of the general public said the media has been "too critical", 35% said "fair", and only 24% said the media isn't critical enough. Only 8% of the national press responded with "too critical", while 55% said the media was giving the president a pass.

The studies also questioned the general public and the media about moral issues. About 58% of the general public believes that a belief in God is essential to being a moral person. Of conservative journalists, 26% agreed. Of so-called moderate journalists, only 12% agreed. 85% of moderate journalists said belief in God isn't necessary for being a moral person. Asked if homosexuality should be accepted or discouraged by society, the responses from conservative journalists mirrored the general public. Among non-conservative journalists, however, about 90% overall were in favor of accepting homosexual lifestyles.

The report makes a thought-provoking read.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Thought Of The Day

"Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Blaming a gun for killing someone is like blaming a pencil when you misspell a word."

Educator Ineptitude

2004-05-19T12:44:00.000-04:00

Walter Williams has written a pair of columns about the current state of the education system in this country, including a look at the educators whose responsibility it is to teach our youing people. I'd strongly recommend you read them. The first column is here, and the second here. Williams doesn't make blanket judgements against all teachers. But he does present statistics that show concerns, and needs for improvement, in some areas. Some of the highlights...

In Tennessee, the success of some students has made other students feel badly about themselves. What're the schools' responses? Public schools in Nashville have stopped posting honor rolls. Some are considering a ban on posting exemplary schoolwork on bulletin boards. Others have canceled academic pep rallies, while others might eliminate spelling bees. Nashville's Julia Green Elementary School principal, Steven Baum, agrees, thinking that spelling bees and publicly graded events are leftovers from the days of ranking and sorting students. He says: "I discourage competitive games at school. They just don't fit my worldview of what a school should be."

Teachers have recruited students to write letters to the president protesting the war and participate in demonstrations against school budget cuts.

Very often, good teachers and principal are faced with the impossible task of having to deal with administrators and school boards who are intellectual inferiors and motivated by political considerations rather than what's best for children.

Retired Indiana University (of Pennsylvania) physics professor Donald E. Simanek says that "most teachers have learned 'methods and skills' of teaching, but don't have a solid understanding of the subject they teach. So they end up 'teaching' trivia, misinformation and intellectual garbage, but doing it with 'professional' polish.

A National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) publication shows average SAT scores by student characteristics for 2001. Students who selected education as their major have the lowest SAT scores of any major (964). Math majors had the highest (1174).

It's the same story when education majors finish college and take tests for admission to graduate schools. In the case of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), education majors have an average score that's the lowest (467) of all majors except for sociology majors (434). Putting this in perspective, math majors score the highest (720), followed closely by economics in third place (625).

Book Of The Day

2004-05-18T23:17:00.000-04:00

Maybe I should start a book club, like Oprah. Maybe this should be my first book...

Find Walter, The Farting Dog at Amazon.com...

Are These Evidence Of WMDs?

2004-05-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

It was announced yesterday that an artillery shell containing sarin nerve gas exploded in Iraq recently. Fortunately, US military bomb squad members who were there received only "minor exposure" to the chemical agent. We've also learned that mustard gas was found by US inspectors. Two banned chemical weapons... sounds like enough to warrant continued searching.

Funny how this news is being handled by the cable news outlets. The two stories linked above are from MSNBC and FOXNews. On FOXNews the story is linked on the main page, along with two other major Iraq stories. On the MSNBC site, you have to go to their News page, then find the link to their story under "International News". I've made quick searches of the ABC and CBS web sites and found the story, although neither thought it important enough to mention on their main pages. Even the BBC has a story, although it also took saerching to find it.

But the fine, respected journalists at CNN have almost no mention of this on their site. It is referenced in one sentence, buried in a story about the slain Iraqi Council chief who was killed in a car bombing. Possible signs of WMD, and they bury it. Isn'tthat interesting...

Stupid School Administration Here In Georgia

2004-05-17T21:18:00.000-04:00

You've read my rants about zero-tolerance policies in schools, and how they seem to be enforced at the exclusion of intellectual thought.

Well, in Clayton County, Georgia, zero-tolerance seems to apply to more than just weapons and drug offenses. Apparently, they have a zero-tolerance policy covering self-defense.

At his Jonesboro middle school, Daryl Gray says he has been hit, called gay and even had his shoes urinated on in the school restroom. But in March, Daryl, a Jehovah's Witness who had not been in trouble before, struck another boy in the face with a pencil. The blow left a scar on the bully's face.

Daryl says the boy he struck in the face hit him on the head first during math class at Pointe South Middle School. Like Daryl, the boy who hit him was suspended for 10 days, according to Daryl's mother, Jeanette Gray.

But that boy was charged only with misdemeanor battery because his blow, unlike Daryl's, did not cause serious physical injury. Also, for fighting back, Daryl has been guilty in juvenile court of aggravated battery. The judge gave him probation and ordered him to pay over $300 in restitution to the victim.

So the victim of years of bullying, beatings, name calling and humiliation, finally stands up, and HE'S the one facing the biggest penalties?

"Just because I was trying to defend myself they want to say I'm guilty," Daryl said. "I feel like I'm going to continue to be abused at school and nobody's going to help me."

One voice of idiocy, Clayton County Schools Assistant Superintendent for Area 3 Linda Tanner, explained the system's policy concerning self--defense...

"Students cannot fight back... Violence is not the answer to bullying."

But Tanner also said students who are being attacked by bullies are only allowed to restrain their attacker or ask for help from a teacher.

Shouldn't the focus of punishment should be on the bully, not his victim? What the heck is wrong with the Clayton County School System?

Good Tuesday

2004-05-11T19:02:00.000-04:00

Some very good news to start today's entry. My Uncle Buddy has gone home today after undergoing heart bypass surgery last Wednesday. Apparently everything went well and he's doing fine!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Good Advice, But Can It Be Done?
Christopher Hitchens is a columnist for Slate and Vanity Fair, and a supporter of the Liberation of Iraq. On the topic of the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, he makes this very valid point...

One of two things must necessarily be true. Either these goons were acting on someone's authority, in which case there is a layer of mid- to high-level people who think that they are not bound by the laws and codes and standing orders. Or they were acting on their own authority, in which case they are the equivalent of mutineers, deserters, or traitors in the field. This is why one asks wistfully if there is no provision in the procedures of military justice for them to be taken out and shot.

Hand to Hand
"One of his friends was dead, 12 others lay wounded and the four soldiers still left standing were surrounded and out of ammunition," the Associated Press reports from Najaf, Iraq:

So Salvadoran Cpl. Samuel Toloza said a prayer, whipped out his knife and charged the Iraqi gunmen.

In one of the only known instances of hand-to-hand combat in the Iraq conflict, Cpl. Toloza stabbed several attackers swarming around a comrade. The stunned assailants backed away momentarily, just as a relief column came to the unit's rescue.

"We never considered surrender. I was trained to fight until the end," said the 25-year-old corporal, one of 380 soldiers from El Salvador whose heroism is being cited just as other members of the multinational force in Iraq are facing criticism.

El Salvador is part of what John Kerry calls the "fraudulent coalition."

Kerry's Purple Heart Doctor Speaks Out
Speaking of JFKerry, the National Review has located a doctor who treated Kerry for one of his purple heart "wounds". It makes for very interesting reading. Kerry claimed his boat had come under enemy fire. His shipmates said it never happened. Kerry's superficial scratch was "covered with a bandaid."

I Love A Good Quote
Blogress Ana Marie Cox, who goes by the moniker Wonkette, wrote:

About ten or so middle-aged folks (really!) and a youngster or two, interrupted Rumsfeld's Senate testimony for about 3 minutes. Chants of "Fire Rumsfeld! Fire Rumsfeld! Guess the New York Times editorial board had the day off."

Something A Little Disturbing
Now that the spring thaw has gotten into full swing in Alaska, they can finally get around to burying those who died sometime during the past winter. With temperatures in the Alaskan interior reaching 40-below during the winter, the ground becomes too hard to dig. This is one side of life in the great white north I didn't need to know about.

What A Legacy For Ol' Bill
A former pastor accused of sexually assaulting a church member denied wrongdoing Thursday, telling jurors he and the woman had a consensual affair that could be described as "a Bill Clinton thing."

Great Economic News

2004-05-10T08:45:00.001-04:00

Late last week new employment figures were released, and they continue to show what a growing, strong economy we have. Contrary to what the Dems would have you believe, this country is powering ahead full throttle.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 288,000 new jobs created in this country during April. That's on top of 337,000 in March. The economy has seen 625,000 new jobs created in the past 60 days.

Just remember these statistics when you hear Kerry or one of his handlers talking about the "2 million jobs lost" by Bush's Administration. More jobs exist in this country today than in January 2001 when Bush took office. We're on pace to see over 3 million new jobs created this year alone.

Unemployment numbers are also down, slipping from 5.7 to 5.6 percent. That's 188,000 fewer people drawing unemployment in April. Initial claims for unemployment insurance are at their lowest point since October 2000. The Institute for Supply Management, an industry group, has seen its manufacturing employment index jump to the highest level in 15 years, signaling growth in manufacturing employment of 50,000 jobs per month. With goods-producing employment having risen 124,000 in just the last two months, this forecast looks very good.

The Congressional Budget Office reports profits rising so fast that corporate income tax revenues are 45 percent above this time last year. It also reports higher payroll tax revenues consistent with expanding employment. Overall, the economic picture has brightened so much CBO now sees $30 billion to $40 billion more in federal revenue than earlier anticipated.

Finally, the most telling statistic is overall economic growth. The US economy has averaged 5 percent real growth over the last 12 months, and it grew 4.2 percent just during the first quarter of 2004. Very strong numbers, which rightfully should give President Bush a bump coming November.

Congrats Jason, and other stuff...

2004-05-07T13:25:00.000-04:00

The most important news of the week... My cousin Jason has proposed to his girlfriend Georgia, and the girl said yep! Congratulations you crazy kids!

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

In the spirit of that happy news, only fun stuff here today.

Apparently, my hometown of LaGrange, Georgia is a hotbed for UFO sightings. My family has been there since 1978 and I've never seen anything. Funny, I feel left out. More UFO sighting info from LaGrange and around the state can be found here and here.

For some unknown reason, David Letterman plans to tape his Friday, May 14th show at 4:00am.

Late in WWII, Germans launched a wacky plan to kidnap Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. Because most posing as U.S. soldiers couldn't speak English, they were told to run off faking an attack of diarrhea if approached.

Spank The Monkey and Spank The Penguin games. No they're NOT what you think, you sickos!

President Bush Speaks To Arab World

2004-05-06T13:55:00.000-04:00

Following the release of pictures showing some American soldiers humiliating Iraqi prisoners in a prison in Iraq, President Bush spoke to the Arab community yesterday on two Arab-languare networks. "'We don't tolerate these type of abuses," Bush told Al-Arabiya television, a satellite channel based in the United Arab Emirates. "There will be a full investigation."

Now we have to wonder about how the Iraqi people, and the Arab community as a whole, respond to President Bush's comments. We get our first taste from the web log of Omar Fadhil, an Iraqi dentist and blogger. He shares comments from posts to an Iraqi message board. Here's a sample of what's being said by Iraqis and others in the Middle East...

Here we have the president of the greatest nation on earth apologizes for what a small group of pervert soldiers did. And here, the American press proves that it's free to show the truth. We lived with similar pictures for years until they became the basics of every prison's daily life and we never heard an Arabic paper point them out. These are lessons from the western culture entering the hearts of Arabs, whether the Arab leaders liked or not.
Sa'eed - Diwaniyah/Iraq.

I think that president Bush was honest in what he said. Those abuses do not represent the American people. As a matter of fact, we can find cruel men with no morals in any country; that's why we should not judge a whole nation for the violations of a small group of people and I'm sure that these will get the punishment they deserve. Here I'd like to direct my question to the Arabic media: Where were you when Saddam mass-executed my people and used all kinds of torture against us?.
Reemon A'adel Sami - Iraq

I'm very happy to see Iraqis condemning the abuse and defending the rights of the prisoners and this is the first time they do something like this, which was impossible for them to do under the dictator's regime. I think that our Arab brothers should mind their own business and take a look at their own prisons.
N - Jordan

I think that President Bush's statement will find acceptance from some of the Arabs, while the majority will not be satisfied with his words whatever apologies they included just because he is BUSH and he is AMERICAN. I'm sure that the American officials are more upset by the event than the Iraqis themselves because this doesn't belong to their culture or their ethics as a civilized nation. I think that the event took more space than it actually deserves and the media are creating a mountain from a grain. It's enough for us to remember Saddam's doings to comment on what recently happened.
Sameer - Jordan

I highly recommed that you check out Omar's blog, especially if you'd like a first-hand look at life in Iraq. He apparently takes some flak because he looks upon the U.S. and the defeat of Hussein as... gasp... good things.

Unfit For Office

2004-05-04T08:34:00.000-04:00

John O'Neill is a highly decorated Vietnam Vet, and an expert of Senator John Kerry. I'm reprinting his letter from the Wall Street Journal as is. Before you decide to vote for Kerry, you really should read this.

UNFIT FOR OFFICE
(I was on Mr. Kerry's boat in Vietnam. He doesn't deserve to be commander in chief.)
BY JOHN O'NEILL
Tuesday, May 4, 2004 12:01 a.m.

HOUSTON--In 1971, I debated John Kerry, then a national spokesman for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, for 90 minutes on "The Dick Cavett Show." The key issue in that debate was Mr. Kerry's claim that American troops were committing war crimes in Vietnam "on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command." Now, as Sen. Kerry emerges as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency, I've chosen to re-enter the fray.

Like John Kerry, I served in Vietnam as a Swift Boat commander. Ironically, John Kerry and I served much of our time, a full 12 months in my case and a controversial four months in his, commanding the exact same six-man boat, PCF-94, which I took over after he requested early departure. Despite our shared experience, I still believe what I believed 33 years ago--that John Kerry slandered America's military by inventing or repeating grossly exaggerated claims of atrocities and war crimes in order to advance his own political career as an antiwar activist. His misrepresentations played a significant role in creating the negative and false image of Vietnam vets that has persisted for over three decades.

Neither I, nor any man I served with, ever committed any atrocity or war crime in Vietnam. The opposite was the truth. Rather than use excessive force, we suffered casualty after casualty because we chose to refrain from firing rather than risk injuring civilians. More than once, I saw friends die in areas we entered with loudspeakers rather than guns. John Kerry's accusations then and now were an injustice that struck at the soul of anyone who served there.

During my 1971 televised debate with John Kerry, I accused him of lying. I urged him to come forth with affidavits from the soldiers who had claimed to have committed or witnessed atrocities. To date no such affidavits have been filed. Recently, Sen. Kerry has attempted to reframe his comments as youthful or "over the top." Yet always there has been a calculated coolness to the way he has sought to destroy the record of our honorable service in the interest of promoting his political ambitions of the moment.

John Kennedy's book, "Profiles in Courage," and Dwight Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" inspired generations. Not so John Kerry, who has suppressed his book, "The New Soldier," prohibiting its reprinting. There is a clear reason for this. The book repeats John Kerry's insults to the American military, beginning with its front-cover image of the American flag being carried upside down by a band of bearded renegades in uniform--a clear slap at the brave Marines in their combat gear who raised our flag at Iwo Jima. Allow me the reprint rights to your book, Sen. Kerry, and I will make sure copies of "The New Soldier" are available in bookstores throughout America.

Vietnam was a long time ago. Why does it matter today? Since the days of the Roman Empire, the concept of military loyalty up and down the chain of command has been indispensable. The commander's loyalty to the troops is the price a commander pays for the loyalty of the troops in return. How can a man be commander in chief who for over 30 years has accused his "Band of Brothers," as well as himself, of being war criminals? On a practical basis, John Kerry's breach of loyalty is a prescription of disaster for our armed forces.

John Kerry's recent admissions caused me to realize that I was most likely in Vietnam dodging enemy rockets on the very day he met in Paris with Madame Binh, the representative of the Viet Cong to the Paris Peace Conference. John Kerry returned to the U.S. to become a national spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, a radical fringe of the antiwar movement, an organization set upon propagating the myth of war crimes through demonstrably false assertions. Who was the last American POW to die languishing in a North Vietnamese prison forced to listen to the recorded voice of John Kerry disgracing their service by his dishonest testimony before the Senate?

Since 1971, I have refused many offers from John Kerry's political opponents to speak out against him. My reluctance to become involved once again in politics is outweighed now by my profound conviction that John Kerry is simply not fit to be America's commander in chief. Nobody has recruited me to come forward. My decision is the inevitable result of my own personal beliefs and life experience.

Today, America is engaged in a new war, against the militant Islamist terrorists who attacked us on our own soil. Reasonable people may differ about how best to proceed, but I'm sure of one thing--John Kerry is the wrong man to put in charge.

(Mr. O'Neill served in Coastal Division 11 in 1969-70, winning two Bronze Stars and additional decorations for his service in Vietnam)

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

Speaking of Kerry's military record, hundreds of former commanders and colleagues of Kerry, including 19 of the 23 who served directly with him, have signed a letter declaring him unfit to be commander-in-chief.

Back To School... For More Zero-Tolerance Crap

2004-05-03T08:52:00.000-04:00

Someone far more annoying than myself once said, "I believe the children are our future." Given the inherent truth in that statement, I wonder what life lessons our children are learning from situations like these...

An honor student has been expelled from school for possession of a weapon on campus. Her Mazda had broken down, so she drove to school in her mother's Dodge Durango. That day, officials at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida decided to conduct random testing of students' cars. Inside her mom's Durango - a stun gun. Now this honor roll student must finish the year in an alternative school, which will leave a glaring blemish on her final transcript. The girl's mother summed it up best... "No one is allowed a mistake anymore."

A seventh-grader in Katy, Texas was suspended and picked up a criminal record for taking a sip of Diet Coke. Unknown to her, a classmate had spiked the drink with alcohol. After learning this, the student left and eventually tried to explain to school administrators. Refusing to even hear her story, the school suspended her for 60 days, forcing her to attend an alternative school. They also reporter her to the police, who charged her with being a minor in possession of alcohol. Now she has a Class D misdemeanor on her record.

A 15-year-old student draws charicatures of President Bush, prompting the school board to discipline the student, then report him to the police and Secret Service.

In Fort Bend County, Texas, a 12-year-old has been arrested and charged with a third-degree felony - for writing on his school desk. The writing came off with a cleaning solution, but the criminal record is permanent.

There is one common denominator in the above stories. They are all public (a.k.a. government) schools. Not all public schools are embarrassingly bad. But, sadly, some are. And you will only see the above-mentioned kind of foolish, irresponsible and utterly inane conduct from government entities.

Private schools can be looked at like companies, and companies are dependent on customers for the money they need to operate. If parents are dissatisfied with their child's education in a private school, they can simply move the child to a better school. If the school doesn't meet the needs of the students, if it doesn't adequately educate them and prepare them for the real world, the school must improve or parents will take their children (and money) elsewhere and the school might cease to exist.

Public (government) schools are a different beast, dependent on GOVERNMENT for their money. Where do you think their priorities lie? I hope you aren't naive enough to think that students always come first. When there's no real accountability, and when there's no real threat from disappointed parents, education takes a backseat. Private schools realize that parents who can afford private school have a choice, and they work hard to keep students and please parents. Public schools know that there is no competition for their "free" education. No competition means no meaningful pressure to do their best.

"Students Are Our Top Priority" should be the mantra of all school employees. What a grand notion, putting students above CYA (cover your ---) petty politics. Unfortunately, it's the children who often get shafted when the mindless idiocy of Zero Tolerance comes into play. How ironic that those who are supposed to be protected by this horrible policy are often its innocent victims. School administrators and teachers too afraid or too damn stupid to think clearly and make a sensible, intelligent decision simply take the easy road. "I had no choice," they say. "There were no other options... zero tolerance, you know!"

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

While I'm on my soapbox about education, I just had to pass along this fantastic Q&A from USA Today. The CEO of Intel Corp. says the biggest threat to American employment is... education. American students aren't being taught math and science at levels comperable with most of the modern world.

"The longer kids stay in the system, the worse they do compared to their international counterparts. In fourth grade, our kids are roughly comparable. By eighth grade, they are behind. By the 12th grade, they are substantially behind other industrialized nations."

He says many teachers in those areas need to be better educated in the subjects they teach. I'm sure this will upset some of you who are involved in education, but it's something that had to be said.

Intemperate Thoughts And Musings For Monday Morning

2004-04-26T11:08:00.000-04:00

The combat death of NFL star turned Army Ranger Pat Tillman should remind us of all the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror. Whether it be in Afghanistan, Iraq, or some other theater or battle, they are all heroes. They've shown courage and valor in situations that civilians like me and you can never understand or appreciate. Take time to remember the lives lost, and pray for those still in peril. And whenever possible, let them know that you're proud of them and you appreciate their work.
----------------------------------------------

Last Thursday was Earth Day. I find it interesting that the enviro-weenie holiday is celebrated on Lenin's Birthday? Or that the inaugural Earth Day, April 22, 1970, was Lenin's 100th birthday?

Presidential pretender John Kerry last week made a big deal about owning an American car, the Chrysler 300M. Funny, though, that Kerry speaks out loudly against outsourcing of jobs, yet brags about owning an American car whose production was outsourced to Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Sales of new homes soared to record levels last month, up 8.9%. Here in the South, they soared by over 19%. Why am I supposed to be afraid of the economy, Mr. Kerry? Huh?

What does it say about a nation's people when they won't fight to defend their own land against terrorists, and they speak out against the brave American troops who are providing their only defense? We get rid of an oppressive, murdering dictator. We help establish them a ruling goverment with free elections and human rights protections. We help bring income to the people of Iraq. We help supply them with reliable sources of electricty, water, education, food and health care. We risk our troops' lives to root out and capture the threats to the Iraqi civilians. Then we see pictures of Iraqis jumping on burned American humvees, or refusing to serve as Iraqi police or soldiers because they might have to fight or arrest fellow Iraqis. If we weren't fighting for something bigger and more important than this, I'd love to see us pack up and leave. Let the Iraqi people either learn to fight for themselves, or (more likely) be enslaved by some new oppressive, murdering dictator. They seem pretty content with that, as disgusting as that sounds...

The NASCAR fans of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. showed the world yesterday what classless redneck jerks so many of them are. Peppering the track with Budweiser beer cans and bottles after a NASCAR ruling went against their driver, they lived up to the stereotype (beer-swilling, tobacco-chewing, tooth-missing hillbillies) that the racing circuit has been working hard to get beyond. Worse yet, in post-race interviews Earnhardt never spoke out against his fans actions, which gives the appearance that he condones their actions. Maybe Budweiser will try to seperate itself from these jerks. Don't hold your breath.

This from Jay Leno last week... According to a poll by babynames.com, the most popular baby names right now are Aidan for boys, and Madison for girls. The least popular baby names: Osama and Omarosa.

Just Fun Stuff Today

2004-04-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

No political diatribes or comentary on breaking news today. Instead, a pant-load of fun, quirky and off-beat links.

Atlanta's Best BBQ - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's food critic takes a look at the best barbecue in North Georgia. Did your favorite make the cut?

Tacky Living - How to do it right!

Down With Whitey - Fighting Whitey with afro-charged fists of fury.

Rock, Paper, Scissors - The official strategy guide, with pictures, downloadable posters, etc.

What is YOUR Shakespearian Tragic Flaw? All his main characters had one. What's yours?

Dr. Seuss Went To War - During World War II, Theodor Geisel ("Dr. Seuss") was the chief editorial cartoonist for a New York City newspaper. Very interesting cartoons, though today he'd be vilified for his representations of Germans and Japanese.

What Do Your Co-workers Call You Behind Your Back? - Go here to find out. Apparently, my secret nickname is "towel boy"

The Knot Gallery - From the bowline to the sheepshank, this page gives a wide variety of knots and explains how to easily tie them.

Online Auction Museum Of Weird And Zany Sales - Where do these people come from?

The FBI's Most Wanted - See if anyone you know is in demand.

Unusual X-Rays - Just what the name says.

More Zero Tolerance Insanity And Other Stuff

2004-04-19T08:25:00.000-04:00

You all know how much I hate stupidity, especially this kind...

A middle school in Miami is locked down for three hours after police recieve a tip saying a person with a rifle just entered the building. Turns out the perp was a 13-year-old seventh-grader, and the rifle was actually a rubber band shooter. A school system police spokesperson even admits the student only brought the toy to school to show a friend. Still, the boy was arrested and jailed, charged with felony for having a weapon on school property.

Meanwhile, in Savannah... a high school senior is attacked in the school cafeteria by a group of kids who came onto school ground from a nearby street . When he tries to protect himself, he's arrested and suspended. Nice quote from Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education President Hugh Golson: "It takes two to fight... back away and wait until there is an adult there." How do you "back away" when you're surrounded by a group of assailants? What an idiot...

When are people going to stand up, in great numbers, and admit that "zero tolerance" must be applied with common sense? Remember the nine-year-old in Birmingham, Alabama who was suspended indefinitely for bringing to school an inch-long plastic toy gun from a G.I. Joe doll? Unbelievable!
-----------------------------------

I love this... Have you ever gotten horrible service in a restaurant, or been treated badly by a salesperson, and wished you could tell everyone about it? Now you have a chance. The following sites offer you the opportunity to publicize your bad experience for the world to see. Give names and details; vent your spleen. You can also search for complaints about business, or find all the complaints for a city or state.

complaints.com - Searchable, comprehensive site
TheComplaintStation.com
ripoffreport.com
consumeraffairs.com - I like their Rogues Gallery
------------------------------------
In Sports and Celebrity News...

Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker finds a dead body on his property.

New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law was arrested after leading police officers on a brief footchase. When they tried to arrest him, he told the two officers "not to touch him because he is a professional athlete."

Cincinnati Bengals requiring their players to take yoga class.

Apparently, Beckham did cheat on Posh after all. Europe mourns.

Also, John Stamos and his actress-model wife Rebecca Romijn-Stamos have split. Did anyone even notice?
--------------------------------

SPECIAL ATTENTION !!!

Please if you get a chance check out this blog. The Sarge is the First Sergeant of a 130-soldier strong heavy-lift helicopter company (based in Hawaii) now serving in Afghanistan. True, first hand accounts of what's really happening on the ground there. Also, check out his response to Andy Rooney's comments. Priceless. Thanks Sarge for what you do, and for all that our troops are doing. Y'all are my heroes.

Democratic National Convention Agenda Released

2004-04-15T12:55:00.000-04:00

I've received this from two different people, with various events on each, so I've incorporated them into this definitive listing...

Democratic National Convention Agenda

3:30pm - Ice Cream Social, sponsored by National Public Radio
4:00pm - Autograph session with Al Franken, Richard Clark and Al Gore

5:00pm - Opening flag burning ceremony.
5:05pm - Opening secular prayers by Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.
5:10pm - Invocation by Jane Fonda.
5:12pm - Inspirational Reading by Richard Gere.
5:15pm - Anti-war songs by Barbra Streisand.
5:25pm - Buring of Rush Limbaugh in effigy
5:30pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
5:35pm - Tribute theme to France.
5:40pm - Collect offerings for al-Zawahri defense fund.
5:50pm - Tribute theme to Germany.
6:00pm - Anti-war rally (Moderated by Michael Moore).
6:20pm - Anti-war songs from the Dixie Chicks, introduced by Susan Sarandon.
6:30pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
6:35pm - Terrorist appeasement workshop.
7:00pm - Gay marriage ceremony (both male and female couples).

7:20pm - * Intermission *

7:50pm - Anti-war songs from Madonna.
8:00pm - Posting the Iraqi Colors by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.
8:05pm - Re-enactment of Kerry's fake medal toss.
8:10pm - Appearance by Howard Dean (Performing 'Yeeearrrrrrrg!' - The Primal Scream Song).
8:15pm - Abortion demonstration by N.A.R.A.L.
8:40pm - "My America" - Group reading by Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi.
8:50pm - Excellence In Broadcasting Awards to Dan Rather and Andy Rooney
9:00pm - Buring of Senator Zell Miller in effigy.
9:15pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:20pm - Pledge of allegiance to the UN.
9:30pm - Multiple gay marriage cermony (threesomes, mixed and same sex).
9:50pm - Maximizing Welfare workshop.
10:20pm - 'Free Saddam' pep rally.
10:40pm - Buring of Geoege W. Bush in effigy.
10:45pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:50pm - "What A President Is" presentation by Martin Sheen.
11:00pm - Nomination of Democratic Presidential candidate.

Somebody Please Shut Andy Rooney Up

2004-04-12T15:52:00.000-04:00

The old coot is at it again. When will this idiot retire and move to Florida. He's better suited to spend his days playing shuffleboard, feeding the pigeons and annoying the other old codgers in his retirement village.

Andy Rooney today said that our soldiers serving in the military in Iraq are not heroes. Following his comments on Jesus and Mel Gibson, it's apparent that Rooney is either out of touch with the real world, or he's completely slipped over to the dark side and has enveloped himself in the bright red blanket of ultra-liberalism. Here's a quote..

"...we should not bestow the mantle of heroism on all of them for simply being where we sent them."

Sorry, old man, but one of the things that makes them heroes is their willingness to lay their lives on the line, fighting to eliminate threats to our nation, even if they would rather be safely tucked away in their own beds back in the States. I'm sure the men who landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day, or who were forced to march on the road to Bataan, or who flew their B-17s over Germany through walls of flack and swarms of Luftwaffe fighters, would rather have been somewhere else.

Why won't this old horse do the right thing and just go out to pasture?

I'm Back... and Almost Well.

2004-04-12T10:05:00.000-04:00

This pesky ear problem has been hanging on for more than three weeks, but it seems to finally be losing the fight. When I get busy or distracted, I don't seem to notice it. Only when I think about it does it bother me too badly. I have to thank Allegra, Flozave and the antibiotic Z-Pack for my return to life.

I had the chance to see Condaleeza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission last week, and she certainly impresses me with her knowledge, charisma and restraint. I'm sure some members of the committee, as well as most Dems, wanted to see Dr. Rice crumble from the questioning. Instead, she was strong and unfaltering.

Because the anti-Bush crowd didn't draw blood from Condi's testimony, they chose to demand the release of one of the President's classified daily intelligence briefings. They knew it would hold the evidence of Bush's neglect of our defense. The Administration released it. What did it reveal? Neal Boortz words it better than I could.

"The Bush administration caved to the 9/11 Blame Committee on Saturday and declassified that August 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Briefing. Immediately, the Democrats and their buddies in the media jumped on this as some sort of smoking gun... some indication that Bush knew that the Islamic terrorists were going to hijack airliners and slam them into buildings. Truth is, the memo is nothing of the sort. As much as Richard Ben-Veniste would like the memo to be a warning, it's not. There was no warning before the attacks of 9/11. Had there been, we could have stopped it. There wasn't, so we didn't.

"As the president correctly pointed out yesterday, the memo contained no actionable intelligence that would have prevented an attack. All it contained was historical information related to a possible attack. It also was entitled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US.' Unfortunately, it said nothing about when, where or how. Absent that crucial information, there was nothing the United States government could have done to prevent what happened. Nothing.

"Besides, what do these people propose President Bush should have done, anyway? People are reading history in the wrong direction here. Go back to before 9/11...and imagine this: on August 6, 2001, President Bush gives an address to the nation in which he announces that he just received a Presidential Daily Briefing that said Osama Bin Laden was determined to strike in the U.S. In response, he will be shutting down all commercial air traffic and attempting to root out all potential Al-Qaeda operatives. Can you just imagine the outrage? If you remember, the economy was in somewhat of a funk at that time. Think what a shutdown in air travel would have done, and think about the damnation that would be directed toward Bush. What if Bush had only called for drastic increases in airport security? The airline infrastructure wasn't prepared to handle such a thing in 2001. The delays would have been horrendous and the calls for Bush's hide just as large.

"There was a completely different public mindset prior to 9/11. Most Americans didn't recognize Islamic terrorism as the threat that it was. If Bush had taken some grave measures prior to 9/11 just because a memo said that Osama bin Laden might try to hijack an airliner, the public simply wouldn't have stood for it. Simply put, there was no public will to fight the war on terrorism before 9/11. That political environment did not exist.

"Yes, there were intelligence failures. There were legal and logistical reasons why the CIA and the FBI and other law enforcement agencies couldn't or didn't share information. If you want to place blame for these failures you're going to have to go back quite a few presidents. When, for instance, are we really going to look at the weakening of our intelligence structure under Jimmy Carter?

"The truly important thing here is what has been done after 9/11. There's a problem here though. Virtually all of the polls show very high marks for Bush's actions post-9/11. So, what's the point in highlighting the successes of the war on terror? It will only boost Bush's popularity. If your goal is to swing voter sentiment against Bush, you focus on what happened before 9/11, not after.

"Lost in all this is how the Clinton administration, which did virtually nothing to fight terrorism for 8 years, is getting a complete pass. Clinton turned down a direct offer to hand over Osama Bin Laden and yet Bush is the one that is being raked over the coals for somehow not doing enough. The reason is we are in an election year, and the Bush-hating Democrats want to politicize the tragedies of September 11th. Where's the outrage about that? The Republicans wouldn't be able to get away with that for a second.

"These 9/11 Commission hearings are becoming a partisan waste of time. Nothing is going to bring back the 3,000 people that died that day. All we can do is what we are doing now, which is to keep it from happening again."

Here's the complete text of the August 6, 2001 memo, courtesy FoxNews.

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

INTERESTING LINKS

PhotoshopContest.com - Graphic artists take a pre-chosen image and manipulate it however they like. Sometimes funny, sometimes profound, but usually just plain disturbing! There are some incredibly talented people out there, and this site is a showcase for them. You'll love it.

A new trend showing up in schools across the country - America-bashing in school textbooks.

What really happened at Chappaquiddick? This site presents lots and lots of information. Reliable? Who knows? Mary Jo Kopechne was left to die while Teddy Kennedy spent nine hours trying to find a way to save his political skin. That only leaves his story, and the evidence. Did you know that witness testimony suggested that she probably survived over two hours in that car before she passed away, while Teddy spent nine hours trying to hide his involvement? Why hasn't a new investigation been initiated using what evidence we have and today's incredible technology?

Funny food labels from around the world.

They're So Cute... And French Looking

2004-03-29T14:43:00.000-05:00

These are just too cute to not share. Mousepads dedicated to that European nation so fond of wine and cheese, white flags, and Jerry Lewis. I give you the Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey Mousepad
.

What Are Children Actually Learning From Their Textbooks?

2004-03-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

Remember back in school, reading something in a textbook that just sounded wrong? Maybe it was a math problem with an answer that seemed incorrect, or a picture with the wrong caption. That seems to happen a lot. Some parents and educators say it's happening now more than ever, as publishers place more emphasis on profits than on text accuracy. Here are a few examples of some of the errors in today's school textbooks:

A map of North America showing the equator passing through the southern United States

A photo of singer Linda Ronstadt labeled as "a silicon crystal"; a previous edition of the same textbook had listed her as a "vacuum triode"

Two fundamental concepts from physics, energy and force, confused for each other

The plural form of "foot" given as "foots"

Mixed up acceleration and velocity, important and very different (simply, think of velocity as an object's speed and direction, and acceleration as the rate at which that velocity changes)

Photos of the Statue of Liberty in four editions of one textbook are inverted

An elephant's vocal sounds are too high pitched to be heard by humans, according to one text.

Sections on the periodic table of elements giving incorrect information about some elements' physical states (gas, liquid or solid) at specific temperatures

Aspirin is described in one book as a "synthetic polymer"

A biology textbook shows a human embryo with "gill slits"

One history book refers to Sputnik, the first Russian satellite, as a ballistic missile

This list could go on and on. You would think that these errors would be caught in the editing stage of publishing. Apparently not. What about the people who review and approve books for school systems... shouldn't they catch this stuff? Well, here's an interesting piece from the December 2000 issue of the American School Board Journal. My favorite passage:

"...the late Nobel physicist Richard Feynman described, among other things, his experience on a California textbook-adoption committee. He recalled the high ratings one book received, even though its pages were blank. (The publisher missed the deadline for submitting text, but sent a cover with blank pages so the book still would be considered.) Textbook watchers say many state and district committees still select books without anyone actually reading them."

A hardbound book with blank pages receives "high ratings." Unreal.

For more textbook errors, see this page (courtesy PhysicsToday.org) or this page or this page

BEEN UNDER THE WEATHER... SORRY!

2004-03-26T08:18:00.000-05:00

This week I've been suffering from my semi-annual ear, nose and throat pain and discomfort party. That's meant my neglecting the blog. My apologies. I'm still do not feel up to ranting and raving, or scouring the web for interesting items to pass along, so I'm going to cheat. My longtime friend, and fellow Troup and Georgia Southern alum, Michael Wright send me an e-mail that I'm going to pass along to you, with a few parenthetical additions of my own. The words aren't his (I don't think), whoever wrote it certainly gives us something worth thinking about.

----------------------------------
The Worst President?

Liberals claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war. They complain about his prosecution of it. They point out that Iraq didn't attack the U.S. and we shouldn't have went to war with them. One liberal recently claimed Bush was the worst president in U.S. history.

Most of these claims come from liberals in the Democratic party. Being an Independent I decided to take a look at history and see if using that criteria who else could be called the "worst" president.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (a Democrat) led us into World War II against Germany, Italy, and Japan. Neither Germany or Italy ever attacked us; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year. That's 1 Democratic President, 4 years and 450,000 American lives

Harry Truman (a Democrat) finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,333 per year. That's 1 Democratic President, 3 years, and 55,000 American lives.

John F. Kennedy (a Democrat) started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. Lyndon B. Johnson (a Democrat) turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year. Finally in the 1970's Richard Nixon (a Republican) pulled us out of Vietnam. That's 2 Democratic Presidents, 1 Republican President, 13 years, and 58,000 American lives.

Bill Clinton (a Democrat) went to war in Bosnia WITHOUT United Nations or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. The Clinton administration was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions (World Trade Center in 1993, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, the USS Cole in 2000, World Trade Center again on September 11, 2001).

In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush (Republican) has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, and crippled al-Qaida. He's put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot. We have captured Sadaam Hussein, who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. We've lost about 600 soldiers, an average of 200 a year. Bush did all this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home. That's 1 Republican President, 2 1/2 years, and about 600 American lives.

Then the Democrats complained about how long the war on terror is taking, but...

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound! That was a 51 day operation!

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to locate the Rose Law Firm records... in her own office!

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police and give himself up after he had an accident while drunk and sank his Oldsmobile in the Chappaquidik River killing the young lady who was his passenger!

and finally...

It took less time for the U.S. military to take Iraq than it did to count the votes in Florida in 2000!!!

But for some reason the Democrats didn't complain about how long any of that took! Hmmm.....

Hunting Them Down

2004-03-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

As election year campaigning gets nastier, we can expect to hear more talks on President Bush's alleged failures in the War of Terrorism (note capital letters... it really is a war, and that's its name). In today's Washington Post, National Security Advisor Condaleeza Rice writes an open, detailed column recounting the administration's pre- and post-9/11 steps to destroy al-Qaeda. This is a must-read, especially if you are uncertain of our President's dedication to fighting terror. It's also a response to the sour-grapes, book-hawking fiction being spouted by former anti-terrorism consultant Richard Clarke. (Because you might have to register to see the article on the Washington Post's web site, I've reprinted it below.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
washingtonpost.com

9/11: For The Record
By Condoleezza Rice

Monday, March 22, 2004; Page A21

The al Qaeda terrorist network posed a threat to the United States for almost a decade before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Throughout that period -- during the eight years of the Clinton administration and the first eight months of the Bush administration prior to Sept. 11 -- the U.S. government worked hard to counter the al Qaeda threat.

During the transition, President-elect Bush's national security team was briefed on the Clinton administration's efforts to deal with al Qaeda. The seriousness of the threat was well understood by the president and his national security principals. In response to my request for a presidential initiative, the counterterrorism team, which we had held over from the Clinton administration, suggested several ideas, some of which had been around since 1998 but had not been adopted. No al Qaeda plan was turned over to the new administration.

We adopted several of these ideas. We committed more funding to counterterrorism and intelligence efforts. We increased efforts to go after al Qaeda's finances. We increased American support for anti-terror activities in Uzbekistan.

We pushed hard to arm the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle so we could target terrorists with greater precision. But the Predator was designed to conduct surveillance, not carry weapons. Arming it presented many technical challenges and required extensive testing. Military and intelligence officials agreed that the armed Predator was simply not ready for deployment before the fall of 2001. In any case, the Predator was not a silver bullet that could have destroyed al Qaeda or stopped Sept. 11.

We also considered a modest spring 2001 increase in funding for the Northern Alliance. At that time, the Northern Alliance was clearly not going to sweep across Afghanistan and dispose of al Qaeda. It had been battered by defeat and held less than 10 percent of the country. Only the addition of American air power, with U.S. special forces and intelligence officers on the ground, allowed the Northern Alliance its historic military advances in late 2001. We folded this idea into our broader strategy of arming tribes throughout Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban.

Let us be clear. Even their most ardent advocates did not contend that these ideas, even taken together, would have destroyed al Qaeda. We judged that the collection of ideas presented to us were insufficient for the strategy President Bush sought. The president wanted more than a laundry list of ideas simply to contain al Qaeda or "roll back" the threat. Once in office, we quickly began crafting a comprehensive new strategy to "eliminate" the al Qaeda network. The president wanted more than occasional, retaliatory cruise missile strikes. He told me he was "tired of swatting flies."

Through the spring and summer of 2001, the national security team developed a strategy to eliminate al Qaeda -- which was expected to take years. Our strategy marshaled all elements of national power to take down the network, not just respond to individual attacks with law enforcement measures. Our plan called for military options to attack al Qaeda and Taliban leadership, ground forces and other targets -- taking the fight to the enemy where he lived. It focused on the crucial link between al Qaeda and the Taliban. We would attempt to compel the Taliban to stop giving al Qaeda sanctuary -- and if it refused, we would have sufficient military options to remove the Taliban regime. The strategy focused on the key role of Pakistan in this effort and the need to get Pakistan to drop its support of the Taliban. This became the first major foreign-policy strategy document of the Bush administration -- not Iraq, not the ABM Treaty, but eliminating al Qaeda.

Before Sept. 11, we closely monitored threats to our nation. President Bush revived the practice of meeting with the director of the CIA every day -- meetings that I attended. And I personally met with George Tenet regularly and frequently reviewed aspects of the counterterror effort.

Through the summer increasing intelligence "chatter" focused almost exclusively on potential attacks overseas. Nonetheless, we asked for any indication of domestic threats and directed our counterterrorism team to coordinate with domestic agencies to adopt protective measures. The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration alerted airlines, airports and local authorities, warning of potential attacks on Americans.

Despite what some have suggested, we received no intelligence that terrorists were preparing to attack the homeland using airplanes as missiles, though some analysts speculated that terrorists might hijack airplanes to try to free U.S.-held terrorists. The FAA even issued a warning to airlines and aviation security personnel that "the potential for a terrorist operation, such as an airline hijacking to free terrorists incarcerated in the United States, remains a concern."

We now know that the real threat had been in the United States since at least 1999. The plot to attack New York and Washington had been hatching for nearly two years. According to the FBI, by June 2001 16 of the 19 hijackers were already here. Even if we had known exactly where Osama bin Laden was, and the armed Predator had been available to strike him, the Sept. 11 hijackers almost certainly would have carried out their plan. So, too, if the Northern Alliance had somehow managed to topple the Taliban, the Sept. 11 hijackers were here in America -- not in Afghanistan.

President Bush has acted swiftly to unify and streamline our efforts to secure the American homeland. He has transformed the FBI into an agency dedicated to catching terrorists and preventing future attacks. The president and Congress, through the USA Patriot Act, have broken down the legal and bureaucratic walls that prior to Sept. 11 hampered intelligence and law enforcement agencies from collecting and sharing vital threat information. Those who now argue for rolling back the Patriot Act's changes invite us to forget the important lesson we learned on Sept. 11.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the president, like all Americans, wanted to know who was responsible. It would have been irresponsible not to ask a question about all possible links, including to Iraq -- a nation that had supported terrorism and had tried to kill a former president. Once advised that there was no evidence that Iraq was responsible for Sept. 11, the president told his National Security Council on Sept. 17 that Iraq was not on the agenda and that the initial U.S. response to Sept. 11 would be to target al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Because of President Bush's vision and leadership, our nation is safer. We have won battles in the war on terror, but the war is far from over. However long it takes, this great nation will prevail.

The writer is the national security adviser.

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

Democrats Again Insult Our Military

2004-03-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

A resolution came before the House of Representatives today, House Res 561, honoring "the valiant service of the United States Armed Forces and Coalition forces." Unbelieveably, it passed only 228-195. Only two Democrats voted to praise our military for their work. Louisiana's Rodney Alexander and Tennessee's Lincoln Davis were the only Democrats who voted to honor the bravery of the troops.

The summary of the bill...

The House of Representatives:

(1) affirms that the United States and the world have been made safer with the removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime from power in Iraq;

(2) commends the Iraqi people for their courage in the face of unspeakable oppression and brutality inflicted on them by Saddam Hussein's regime;

(3) commends the Iraqi people on the adoption of Iraq's interim constitution; and

(4) commends the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Coalition forces for liberating Iraq and expresses its gratitude for their valiant service.

The fact that only two Democrats have enough character to support such a bill speaks volumes for the lack of character of the national Democratic Party.

If you know someone in the military, serving overseas or not, please pass along this information. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve to know who supports them and who just doesn't give a damn.

Today's Outrageous Government School Story

2004-03-15T15:01:00.000-05:00

...comes from Scottsdale, Arizona. A 17-year-old junior at Saguaro High School was suspended, then arrested and jailed, for wearing a baseball cap sideways. Marlon Morgan apparently was asked to turn the hat around, and when he pointed out other students wearing hats in the same manner, was suspended and promptly placed into custody by Scottsdale's finest. Gotta be tough with the sideways hat thugs, I guess...

In Other Happenings...
Two cousins, aged 70 and 85, kill each other in a duel over water rights in Mexico.

In Poland, a Benedictine nun is facing jail time for driving drunk... on a tractor.

An intellectually challenged crook in Winnipeg tried to break into a car... in the parking lot of the police academy.

Porn director takes day off to film PSA for Christian anti-pornography group.

A self-professed "vampire slayer" in Jacksonville, Florida shoots pizza shop worker.

2004-03-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

I know this has been around the web for a while, but I like it enough to keep it going.

WHY I LIKE COWBOYS

It used to tick me off when the Muslim detractors in the Middle East, or the socialist detractors in Europe, Hollywood and others called our President a cowboy, but the more I think about it, the more glad I am that he is.

When I was a kid, cowboys were my heroes. Well, I mean the ones in the while hats, not the black hats, who were usually bad guys.

There was Tex Ritter, Tom Mix, Buck Jones...

Hopalong cassidy, The Lone Ranger...

Red Ryder, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers...

Later, there was Marshall Matt Dillon, Big John Cannon, and the Cartwrights...

Paladin, Maverick and others...

Rawhide's Rowdy Yates...

What were the common attributes of these cowboy legends? Here are a few...

1. They were never looking for trouble
2. But when trouble came, they faced it with courage.
3. They were always on the side of right.
4. They defended good people against bad people.
5. They had high morals.
6. They had good manners.
7. They were honest.
8. They spoke their minds and they spoke the truth, regardless of what people thought or "political correctness," which no one had ever heard of back then.
9. They were a beacon of integrity in the wild, wild West.
10. They were respected. When they walked into a saloon (where they usually drank only sarsaparilla), the place became quiet, and the bad guys kept their distance.
11. If in a gunfight, they could outdraw anyone. If in a fist fight, they could beat up anyone.
12. They always won. They always got their man. In victory, they rode off into the sunset.

Those were the days when there was such a thing as right and wrong, something blurred in our modern world, and denied by many.

Now, that I am older, I still like cowboys..

They represent something good, something pure that America has been missing.

Many hate President Bush because he distinguishes between good and evil. He calls a spade a spade, and after 9-11 called evil "evil," without mincing any words, to the shock of the liberal establishment. That's what cowboys do, you know.

He also told the French to "put their cards on the table" (an old West expression), which they did, exposing their cowardice and greed.

The radical Muslims are wrong. In the Old West, might did not make right.

Right made right.

Cowboys in white hats were always on the side of right, and that was their might.

I am glad President Bush is a cowboy.

He got his man!

That's what cowboys do, you know...

2004-03-10T20:35:00.000-05:00

Now that we know it's going to be John Kerry running against President Bush in November, it looks like we're seeing the President begin campaigning. Now we'll have at least one candidate talk about the issues and lay out a plan for the next four years. That's something we've certainly missed from the Dems.

John Kerry today referred to Republicans as "the most crooked... lying bunch of people I've ever seen." This from a man whose party likes to forget the other 40 nations that are working in coalition in Iraq, copmplaining that we're over there alone.

A party that blames President Bush for the economy's so-called woes, while forgetting that the Recession began under Clinton and ended in late 2001, under President Bush.

A party that keeps claiming that 2 million jobs have been lost in America since President Bush came into power, while the US Bureau Of Labor Statistics says there are tens of thousands MORE JOBS now than in January 2001. The same party that wants to roll back and eliminate the President's across the board tax cuts, then raise taxes, even though the tax cuts have revitalized the economy. Stock prices are back up near record levels, hundreds of thousands of new jobs have been created this year, and unemployment is lower than it's been in many years.

I suppose Kerry, being a Democrat, is so accustomed to crafting and perpetuating lies that he hears them even where they don't exist.

2004-03-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

Hope your weekend was as full and rich as mine. I spent Thursday thru Sunday in Atlanta with work. First at an ag industry forum, then a work conference. Shannon attended part of the conference with me on Saturday. She was interested in seeing some of what my job involves. It was an opportunity to get dressed up and "hob-nob" a little.

A funny thing happened at the forum on Friday. We were asked by an ag industry group to shoot video of the Secretary meeting with the group. After about 30 seconds of shooting, one of her handlers decided we shouldn't be there. She told us that cameras make the Secretary uncomfortable. Odd, a national political figure who is uncomfortable in front of cameras. Besides, she hadn't cleared us to shoot video of her boss, so we really must go. We were asked to do this by the group she was meeting, and our obigations were to them, not the Secretary. We stayed as long as we dared, about another 3 minutes, before deciding to push the issue no further. Besdies, her boss knows our organization, and we rely on cooperation from government (especially her department).

By the way, if you love a good steak you have got to try the filet at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Without a doubt the best piece of beef I've ever had.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Are you a true child of the 80's? Look here to find out...

The Hubble Spece telescope continues to take some incredible pictures. This could be one of the best.

Super Tuesday

2004-03-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

Here in Georgia, and in nine other states, voters go to the polls today. Looks like JFKerry could all but lock up the nomination (think I've said that before) with a clean sweep today. Just a reminder of what people are supporting when they vote for Kerry, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, February 17, 2004 (registration required)...

Once discharged from the Navy in 1970, he moved home to Newton, Mass., to make an unsuccessful run for Congress. Months later, Kerry became a leading voice in the nation's antiwar protest. He attended numerous rallies, including the Winter Soldier Investigation of 1971 in which 150 Vietnam veterans met at a Detroit hotel to trade stories of what they termed wartime atrocities by U.S. servicemen.

It was not the first time that Americans heard of war crimes. That same year, Army Lt. William Calley and 15 others were charged in connection with the 1968 attack on the Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai in which 347 villagers were slain.

On April 22, 1971, the day before he threw away [someone else's, claiming they were his] combat ribbons, Kerry testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivering a powerful message that... convinced many Americans their country was waging an immoral war.

Kerry's testimony was the lead news story on all three networks that evening, making him one of the faces Americans attached to the antiwar movement. Dressed in his combat fatigues and ribbons, he told Congress that U.S. soldiers had "raped, cut off ears, cut off heads … randomly shot at civilians … in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan." He later acknowledged that he did not witness the crimes himself but had heard about them from others.

The speech prompted the Nixon administration to open a file on Kerry, who was placed under FBI surveillance. It also brought him lasting enmity among some Vietnam veterans who say Kerry broad-brushed them as a group of maladjusted, dysfunctional losers.
Paul Galanti learned of Kerry's speech while held captive inside North Vietnam's infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison. The Navy pilot had been shot down in June 1966 and spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war.

During torture sessions, he said, his captors cited [Kerry's] antiwar speeches as "an example of why we should cross over to [their] side."

"The Viet Cong didn't think they had to win the war on the battlefield," Galanti said, "because thanks to these protesters they were going to win it on the streets of San Francisco and Washington."

He says Kerry broke a covenant among servicemen never to make public criticisms that might jeopardize those still in battle or in the hands of the enemy. Because he did, Galanti said, "John Kerry was a traitor to the men he served with."

Now retired and living in Richmond, Va., Galanti, 64, refuses to cool his ire toward Kerry.
"I don't plan to set it aside. I don't know anyone who does," he said. "The Vietnam memorial has thousands of additional names due to John Kerry and others like him."

This nation is engaged in a worldwide war on terrorism, requiring the young men and women in our armed forces to risk their lives to protect this great land. They have a commander-in-chief that they honor and trust. They currently have a president who supports their work, cares about their needs and admires their patriotism and dedication.
With so very much at stake, how could we in good conscience but their lives in the hands of someone whose own words were used by the enemy to torture American soldiers of war?

I hope you will vote today. I hope when you do, if you choose to vote on the Democratic side, you will keep in mind the image of American soldiers and pilots being held captive, beaten and abused by Viet Cong troops. Remember American POWs being forced to hear John F. Kerry proclaiming over and over that our troops and his comrades were war criminals, rapists and murderers. Please keep that in mind.

Good Monday Morning

2004-03-01T08:17:00.000-05:00

Two nice weekends in a row... I guess I've been living right.

Because Shannon and I tend to disagree over some education-related issues (in spite of her best efforts to enlighten me) I wanted to pass along some education-related links this morning.

First, the nation's largest teachers union is crying like a wet baby because Education Secretary Rod Paige referred to the NEA as a "terrorist organization" that uses "obstructionist scare tactics." He has nothing but kind words to say about educators. His comments were directed at the union's leadership. But it seems, in the liberal viewpoint, that a knock against a union leader is a knock against the union members. By the way, columnist Armstrong Williams says Paige was right on the money.

In Massachusetts, opponents of school vouchers seemed to present the best argument FOR school vouchers, in this article from the Boston Herald. Hint: If you plan on writing a letter defending government schools, try to spell 'school' correctly. Especially if you're a student in a government school. As one school board member said, "If I didn't think a charter school was necessary, these letters have convinced me the high school was not doing an adequate job in teaching English language arts.''

A nine-year-old in Birmingham, Alabama has been suspended indefinately for bringing a weapon to school. The weapon in question - an inch-long plantic toy gun from a G.I. Joe doll. More information is available about Sun Valley Elementary School, courtesy of greatschools.net.

A sixth-grader in Belpre, Ohio is suspended for bringing the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to school. More on his school, Belpre Middle School, here and here .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LINK OF THE DAY
The Urology Team, a medical practice in Austin, Texas, includes Dr. Richard Chopp, who "has a very special interest in Vasectomies." Good name for him.

General Stuff

2004-02-26T09:54:00.015-05:00

As infuriating as politics can often get, sometimes it can be just plain funny. The 1950s Democrats, led by Strom Thurmond and former klansman Robert Byrd, back in the 1950s, argued for the protection of the rights of states to decide their own laws and justice. The anti-civil rights crowd used states' rights to justify segregation and Jim Crow laws. The civil rights movement relied on federal legislative action to end those unfair, unjust laws. It took national, across the board action and a couple of Constitutional amendments to foment civil and societal equality. That's why it's so funny to see the liberal Democratic crowd reverting to the states' rights argument in their quest to make same-sex marriages legal.

The New York Times, a bastion of liberal propaganda, in a November 20 editorial, said "The ban [on gay marriage] is simply about prejudice... much like state laws barring interracial marriage."

The Wall Street Journal Opinion Editors asked, "If a refusal to sanction marriages between two men or two women is really as invidious as a ban on interracial unions, how can the Times advocate states' rights vis-a-vis the former?

There's something odd, too, about the notion that any constitutional amendment is an affront to states' rights. Approval of an amendment requires the assent of three-fourths of the state legislatures; it's hard to think of any federal procedure in which the states have more power. And in fact, the reason states' rights failed as a legal argument against civil rights is that Congress and the states had already amended the Constitution to provide black citizens with equal protection under the law (the 14th Amendment) and voting rights (the 15th)."

Personally I'm disinclined to change the Constitution on a whim. It's served us well these past two centuries, although some clarification and tweaking has been necessary. I would have trouble supporting an amendment defining marriage. But if you are interested, here's the text of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave's proposed amendment: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution [n]or the constitution of any State, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SENATOR KERRY FLIP-FLOPS (What? Kerry? No way!?!)
This also from the WSJ Opinion page...
Here's John Kerry, in an October speech to the Arab American Institute in Michigan:

I know how disheartened Palestinians are by the Israeli government's decision to build the barrier off of the Green Line--cutting deep into Palestinian areas. We don't need another barrier to peace. Provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israelis' security over the long term, increase the hardships to the Palestinian people, and make the process of negotiating an eventual settlement that much harder.

And here he is, quoted in the Jerusalem Post, a week before the primary in New York, where the Democratic electorate is heavily Jewish:

"Israel's security fence is a legitimate act of self defense. No nation can stand by while its children are blown up at pizza parlors and on buses. While President Bush is rightly discussing with Israel the exact route of the fence to minimize the hardship it causes innocent Palestinians, Israel has a right and a duty to defend its citizens. The fence only exists in response to the wave of terror attacks against Israel.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TODAY'S LINKS

MIRACLE DOG: More than a month after his owner's boat sank in rough seas at the southeastern tip of Alaska, one of the owner's dogs has been rescued from a nearby thickly-forested, uninhabited island. An eight-year-old Labrador retriever, it survived alone on the island until being found by friends of its late owner.

A couple left live ammo and three handguns in their oven before leaving on vacation. Upon returning the wife decided to cook and naturally turned the oven on. You can guess what happened next.

Prison inmates in Georgia find a way to take advantage of their situation - low income tax credits from the IRS.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here's why I love The Best Of The Web from the Wall Street Journal Opinion Page online. More great business names...

Today brings two more business names that don't exactly inspire confidence:

Rip's Cleaners of Palatka, Fla., and Flatt Tire Centers (slogan: "You too should ride on a Flatt") of Des Moines, Iowa. Bonita, Fla., has a Master Bait & Tackle shop; rumor has it Joycelyn Elders buys her fishing supplies there.

Denton, Texas, has a divorce law firm called Loveless & Loveless. The Lovelesses were more successful eponymists than Dr. Dennis Wiwi, who unaccountably chose obstetrics and gynecology as his specialty. But Benjamin Leak is, as you'd expect, a urologist, and Gary Peed is a plumber.

More funeral homes: Australia has a Life Style Funeral Co., while the House of Diggs, "once called Michigan's largest funeral home" according to the Washington Post, was run by Charles Diggs, who served in the House. Graves Funeral Home & Crematory is an excellent eponym, but the company that owns it, Newcomer Funeral Services Group, isn't. Pinellas County, Fla., has a Moss-Feaster Funeral Home.

Several readers pointed us to the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home in Peru, Ind., but we didn't get the joke until someone raised the question of what happens if someone other than Eddy dies.

A press release from the California Wine Club notes that "Bruce and Pam Boring founded the Ventura, CA-based Club in 1990 and travel the wine country to sample and select wines for their members." Well, they may be Boring winers, but at least they're not haughty or French-looking.

Where Has The Time Gone?

2004-02-23T15:45:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been ten days since I've added anything here. Shannon was down this weekend, so I had better things to do than sit down and write. We walked some of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, along the river in downtown Macon. If you get the opportunity, check it out. If it's constructed according to their plans, this thing is going to be incredible. Lots of families, kids and pets on the existing section now.

We also did some walking and talking at the Ocmulgee National Park (referred to here in Macon as "The Indian Mounds"). The weather was perfect, and we had a fun time. Shannon got her first introduction to Geocaching. I hesitated bringing her into the fold, so to speak, for fear that she might object to the nerdy-ness of the hobby. Maybe she faked it, but she seemed to enjoy herself. If you aren't familiar with Geocaching, it's like a giant scavenger hunt, with items to be found all over the world. Just here in Georgia, there are over 1,000 caches to be found. I warn you, it can be addictive.

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

From The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Web Page...

Readers keep sending us e-mails about scholars, medical professionals and others with funny names, so here's another list of them:

Astoria, N.Y., has an optometrist named Anastasios Fokas. Writes reader George Lenz: "We all got a laugh when my wife started going to a new optometrist and the receptionist said: "Dr. Fokas, Mrs. Lenz."

In Fort Collins, Colo., there's a urologist named Peter Standard. San Francisco dentist Les Plack "lives up to his name," Wired News reported in 2000. Let's hope Eagle River, Alaska, orthodontist Eldon DeKay doesn't live up to his.

If you needed your cornea reshaped, wouldn't you worry a bit if Dr. B. Stuart Trembly were conducting the procedure?

Along similar lines, would you go to a chiropractor named Alan Bonebreak? And then there's Stubbs Prosthetics & Orthotics of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Assembling the following list proved quite an undertaking:

the Bruce & Stiff Funeral Home, Appomattox, Va.; the Amigone Funeral Home, with 12 locations in the Buffalo, N.Y., area; Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Amarillo, Texas; the Cease Funeral Home of Minnesota; Knell Mortuary, Carthage, Mo.; and the Deadman Funeral Home of Manchester, Tenn.

It's not clear if that last one is related to the Dedman Life Sciences Building at Southern Methodist University. And check out this 1999 announcement from International Jeweler magazine:

The American Gem Society's Jewelers Education Foundation, Las Vegas, NV, has named Lynn Diamond, executive director of the Diamond Promotion Service, to its board of governors. Diamond was formerly editor in chief and associate publisher of National Jeweler magazine. She has received the American Defense League's Torch of Liberty Award and the ORT Community Achievement Award.

Finally, there's this twofer--come to think of it, their first names make it a fourfer--the authors of the 1997 book "The Imperial Animal" are Lionel Tiger and Robin Fox.

Not So Fast...

2004-02-13T09:07:00.000-05:00

Forget what I said Wednesday. This Democratic nomination might not be wrapped up just yet. Looks like there's a skeleton trying to crawl out of John Kerry's closet. It's another of the Drudge Report's exclusives. Seems JFKerry was stepping out on Mrs. Heinz Kerry with a 20-ish young woman who worked on his campaign. Apparently she's fled the country and the media spotlight, "hiding out" in Kenya. Drudge says news networks are feverishly working to confirm details and get the story out.

What will this mean to the Democrats, who so strongly supported Bill Clinton through his adultry scandal? A lot of seemingly moral and ethical people at that time were making excuses and refusing to condemn the man. Why should we expect them to take the right road now? Apparently what happens in the bedroom (or Oval Office floor) doesn't reflect on a Democrat's political character.

This is going to get interesting.

Smoking Gun

2004-02-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

Seems we've found a "smoking gun" in Iraq, evidence linking Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. This from William Safire in the New York Times (the Times is not, incidentally, a big fan of the President)...

"That Kurdish militia [the Pesh Merga] has for years been waging a bloody battle with Ansar al-Islam, the terrorist group affiliated with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and supported by Saddam Hussein in Iraq. It captured a courier carrying a message that demolishes the repeated claim of Bush critics that there was never a "clear link" between Saddam and Osama bin Laden.

"The terrorist courier with a CD-ROM containing a 17-page document and other messages was Hassan Ghul, who confessed he was taking to Al Qaeda the Ansar document setting forth a strategy to start an Iraqi civil war, along with a plea for reinforcements. The Kurds turned him over to Americans for further interrogation, which is proving fruitful."

Is this going to get much mainstream media attention?

Back From A Break

2004-02-11T17:40:00.001-05:00

It's been a few days since I've had the opportunity to write. What's going on...

Looks like it's all over but the crying in the race for Democratic Presidential nominee. John Kerry has pretty much locked up the nomination. This means things should start getting really interesting. Now that the Republicans have a specific opponent to focus on, the campaigning will begin in earnest. We're already seeing some of John Kerry's past coming out, and it ain't pretty.

First, there's the picture of Kerry in an anti-Vietnam War protest with old "Hanoi Jane" Fonda. Seems they became fellow protestors once he returned from service in Vietnam. This isn't sitting well with his fellow Vets. It's not sitting well at all.

Second, we have interviews Kerry gave after returning from Vietnam in which he said he wanted to "eliminate the CIA." He also stated his belief that control of the U.S. military should rest with the United Nations. "I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations," Kerry said.

Then there is the picture of a young John Kerry being arrested at one of those anti-war rallies.

On this page you'll find plenty of information about John Kerry's voting record on Defense Issues. Check it out... it's actually frightening to look at the list and see what tools our military would be without if Kerry had his way.

----------------------------------------------------
DID YOU KNOW?
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still survives.
----------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S LINKS

Survivor: The Comic Series

Shards O'Glass - As seen in their 2004 Super Bowl commercial.

The Forgetting - Web site for the PBS special on Alzheimers. If you've had a loved one experience it, you'll appreciate what this site offers.

It's Friday...

2004-02-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

What an ugly day outside - rainy, windy, just plain nasty. Supposedly it'll be a clear, cold weekend. Good news, though. Not only is Spring just around the corner, but so is spring Training. Pitchers and catchers report in two weeks. NASCAR gets started tomorrow night, and the Daytona 500 is next Sunday. It's so nice having football end one weekend and racing start the next. But it seems to me like this football season just flew by.

I'm in a good mood, so no rant today. Instead, some fun stuff...

In Germany, a cow escapes from a wedding (?) and
takes a stroll through a bank.

You really can buy just about anything on eBay.

The invention of Skittlebrau. The science of mixology, mixing beer with Skittles. Some people have too darn much time on their hands.

One of the funniest videos I've seen on the web. If you're a cat lover, don't worry. The cat's okay. If you're not a cat lover, it's funny as heck!

I have no use for this whatsoever, but it's still neat. The random name generator.

I'm probably wrong for finding this game fun... but I did! Click the snow monster and bat the penguin.

Rambling (Today's Links Are Below)

2004-02-05T10:30:00.002-05:00

(I started this entry with the idea that I’d write about the loosening of moral and ethical standards in society in light of a recent Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. As I wrote, it evolved into a something unexpected. Forgive me, but it’s more a stream-of-conscious, thoughts-on-paper kind of thing with no clear direction. Sorry!)

The Massachusetts Supreme Court recently issued an opinion clarifying their landmark November ruling that said denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples violated the state constitution. The idea of gay marriage has sharply divided supporters and detractors, especially in battleground states like Massachusetts.

In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney expressed his dismay at the decision. Here are a few of his comments…

“Contrary to the court's opinion, marriage is not "an evolving paradigm." It is deeply rooted in the history, culture and tradition of civil society. It predates our Constitution and our nation by millennia. The institution of marriage was not created by government and it should not be redefined by government.

“Marriage is a fundamental and universal social institution. It encompasses many obligations and benefits affecting husband and wife, father and mother, son and daughter. It is the foundation of a harmonious family life. It is the basic building block of society: The development, productivity and happiness of new generations are bound inextricably to the family unit. As a result, marriage bears a real relation to the well-being, health and enduring strength of society.

“Because of marriage's pivotal role, nations and states have chosen to provide unique benefits and incentives to those who choose to be married. These benefits are not given to single citizens, groups of friends, or couples of the same sex. That benefits are given to married couples and not to singles or gay couples has nothing to do with discrimination…

“It is important that the defense of marriage not become an attack on gays, on singles or on nontraditional couples. We must recognize the right of every citizen to live in the manner of his or her own choosing. In fact, it makes sense to ensure that essential civil rights, protection from violence and appropriate societal benefits are afforded to all citizens, be they single or combined in nontraditional relationships.”

Webster’s Online Dictionary defines marriage as, “(1) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law; (2) the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage ”

I may fall out of the mainstream conservative crowd when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. I’ve had the opportunity to know a few people living so-called “alternative lifestyles”, and personally I’m convinced that their sexuality was not a matter of choice. This is just who they are. I never made a conscious choice to be “straight”, it’s just who I am.

Why should we prevent people who love each other from expressing that love in a committed manner? Frankly, we should not. First, it is truly no one’s concern but the two persons in question. Second, in a world where commitments seem to mean less and less, if two people are truly willing to commit to each other we should honor them for it (regardless of gender).

Do I believe the traditional rights and benefits that married couples receive (spousal benefits, social security, etc.) also carry over to same sex unions? I want to say no, but that’s where I run into problems. In discussing this issue with Shannon, I wasn’t able to adequately defend my feelings. Governor Romney is correct: marriage is a universal social institution. As a lover of history, I am hard-pressed to say that such a concept needs to change after thousands of years. I’m also unable to accept the discrimination argument put forth by some homosexuals. Sometimes we have to accept things we don’t like, rather than arguing that someone is trying to oppress us because we can’t have everything our way. (Great argument, huh?)

I think an ideal solution, which is easy to offer up since I’m not directly affected, would be to allow civil unions, be they hetero- or homosexual, but not civil marriage. Allow the benefits of marriage to be conferred on these unions, but keep the understanding that marriage is between one man and one woman. If gay couples want the benefits, this should be perfectly acceptable to them. If it's just the word "marriage" that they want to apply to their union, that's different. This solution would allow traditional couples who don't choose to marry to still enjoy the same benefits of their married counterparts.

These arguments are so polarizing, how can we possibly find a settlement that most people on both sides can accept?
-------------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY'S LINKS

From Greenville, SC a man on a bicycle outruns policeman in patrol car.

If you thought gay marriage was a touchy subject, how about interspecies marriage.

Again from Greenville, SC... Man tries to rob liquor store boldly pretending that his hand is a gun.

What's Going On...

2004-02-03T12:04:00.000-05:00

Seems a jury in Escondido, California has ruled against a man who was suing the city for $1.5 million dollars after a cat scratched his assistance dog at the city library. He claimed the scratch TO HIS DOG caused him "significant lasting, extreme and severe mental anguish and emotional distress including, but not limited to, terror, humiliation, shame, embarrassment, mortification, chagrin, depression, panic, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, loss of sleep [and] loss of full enjoyment of life as well as other physical and mental afflictions and pain [and] suffering." He also claimed that, because the cat was black, the "attack" was a hate crime!

If you're looking for the perfect Valentine's gift, the Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, NY has the answer for you.

This might be taking the "honor system" one step too far. The city of East Point, GA Police Department has placed on their web site a Self Arrest Form, allowing criminals to turn themselves in for arrest. You've got to wonder what the results have been like so far...

The sun is shining again in Barrow, Alaska, ending their 66 day winter darkness.

In Kansas, a 33-year-old woman has been arrested after posing as a 13-year-old boy. Apparently, she's done this more than a dozen times all across the country.

The Day After...

2004-02-02T12:38:00.000-05:00

A pretty good game, no classic commercials, Janet and Justin's pitiful publicity stunt... what a night.

It wasn't the best Super Bowl ever, but the game did have us on the edge of our seats during the fourth quarter. Congrats to the Pats; they are certainly worthy of the championship trophy. While I think we were all rooting for the underdog Panthers, it was nice to see a close game. It was also sweet to the the Playstation 2 pregame prediction streak end.

The commercials were mediocre, with just a few worth mentioning (gaseous horses, a clydesdale mule and, our favorite, the beer fetching dogs.). We all agreed that the halftime show pretty well sucked, even with the infamous "wardrobe malfunction". Beyonce, though, impressed us with her rendition of the National Anthem.

As for our get together, we had a really great time. James made it up for the weekend, and Shannon (my lady) got to see what it's like when the guys get together for a big game. Pretty tame, actually, I believe she'd say.

TODAY'S LINKS

Unique Residential Properties Available - Be the first in your family to purchase a retired nuclear missile bunker and make it your new home!

Build Your Own Stonehenge - Why don't we have a henge in the US?

British automobile company invents first car that can "drive, swim and fly".

One Day Closer...

2004-01-30T08:20:00.000-05:00

The big game is Sunday - Pats and Panthers - and plans for the annual super Bowl party are taking shape. Still haven't heard from James, one of my college buds who makes the pilgrimage every year for the big event, but I'm sure he'll make it.

I like this Super Bowl match-up for a couple of reasons. First, I don't forsee a blowout. Carolina's defense should be strong enough to keep the game close for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers offense. Granted, the Patriots haven't lost a game since September. The second reason I like it... I don't care which team wins. Honestly, it makes no difference to me at all.

My prediction: New England 27, Carolina 20

We're also one day closer to November 2, Election Day. After watching last night's debate in South Carolina, I'm reminded of the line a colleague, a long-time journalist, likes to quote: "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."

Senator Kerry mocks the President's promise to build a "legitimate" global coalition. I suppose dozens of the world's most powerful nations working together aren't "legitimate" unless they have the United Nations' seal of approval.

Senator Lieberman, by far the most moderate of the bunch and possibly the fairest candidate they have, speaks in support of the war in Iraq. But just as I'm beginning to agree with him, he says, "The statements that this administration made before the war, the questions we now have about the intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, the failure of the Bush administration to be prepared for what to do after we overthrew Saddam have all unfortunately given a bad name to a just war."

Democratic and Republican Senators alike on the Senate Intelligence Committee, like Senator Edwards, saw the same intelligence information. Where were their complaints then? Former President Clinton has repeately said that, while he was in office, Hussein had WMD. Are we to believe that Clinton also had faulty intelligence as well? How could things have suddenly changed in January 2001 when President Bush took office? I guess we are to believe that when Clinton left office, Hussein decided to get rid of his WND programs.

These candidates, with the exception of Senator Lieberman, don't seem to understand that the majority of people in this country support what we're doing in Iraq. They know that Hussein needed to be removed from power, that there needs to be a free Arab nation, governed by the people of that nation and not religious zealots, in the Middle East. They also believe, unlike Governor Dean, that the world is safer with Hussein out of power and locked away. This line of debate won't work for them in November. It will fail them just like their arguments over the economy (which looked awful good the last time I checked, but more on that another time.)

Well, here we go...

2004-01-29T15:50:00.000-05:00

About me... I'm early 30s, well-educated and happily employed. I'm in love with a beautiful girl who I plan on spending my life with, if she will have me. (She doesn't want me talking about her on here. So don't tell, okay? Thanx!) Life seems to be going well.

I hope this weblog will provide me with a place to share my thoughts and opinions with you all, for whatever they are worth. It also gives me a way to pass along my favorite links, stories, etc. For example...

David Letterman's Top 10 List - An every day must-read.
Online 20 Questions - Amazing online version of 20 questions.
Virtual Bubble Wrap - Pop bubble wrap to your heart's content.