Friday, January 28, 2005
Happy 18th Birthday for Favorite Daughter
Congratulations to Favorite Daughter on her 18th birthday. A big day.
Enjoy it, be safe, and have a great day. Hard for Favorite Mom and I to believe its been 18 years.
Posted at 4:51 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Enjoy it, be safe, and have a great day. Hard for Favorite Mom and I to believe its been 18 years.
Posted at 4:51 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Limited blogging for a few days
I’ll be occupied doing historical things. Sorry.
While I’m gone, check out these sites.
www.diplomadic.blogspot.com
www.instapundit.com
www.drudgereport.com
www.andrewsullivan.com
While I’m gone, check out these sites.
www.diplomadic.blogspot.com
www.instapundit.com
www.drudgereport.com
www.andrewsullivan.com
ABC News has responded
I received this email below on Monday night. At least they have responded. In the comments section of my first email, I've been told that the deletion of my email may have occurred due to auto forwarding. Thank you for that information. We'll give ABC the benefit of the doubt on that issue.
From ABCNews Support
Sent Tuesday, January 25, 2005 1:06 am
To
Cc
Bcc
Subject Re: Comments about your recent web solicitation for information about military funerals
Hello,Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your comments and are considering your opinion. Thanks for writing in.Thanks for logging on to ABCNews.com.
Regards,
Lindsay
ABCNews.com http://abcnews.go.com/
From ABCNews Support
Sent Tuesday, January 25, 2005 1:06 am
To
Cc
Bcc
Subject Re: Comments about your recent web solicitation for information about military funerals
Hello,Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your comments and are considering your opinion. Thanks for writing in.Thanks for logging on to ABCNews.com.
Regards,
Lindsay
ABCNews.com http://abcnews.go.com/
Monday, January 24, 2005
ABC News’ first response to my email
Says it all, don’t you think?
Your message To: support@abcnews.go.com; ABC Audience Relations Cc:
Subject: Comments about your recent web solicitation for information about military funerals
Sent: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:00:51 -0800 was deleted without being read on Mon, 24 Jan 2005 10:01:13 -0800
Update: See post above. ABC News has responded.
Your message To: support@abcnews.go.com; ABC Audience Relations Cc:
Subject: Comments about your recent web solicitation for information about military funerals
Sent: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:00:51 -0800 was deleted without being read on Mon, 24 Jan 2005 10:01:13 -0800
Update: See post above. ABC News has responded.
So, you mean that global warming is a good thing?
Good news. Human activity has “saved” the planet, not doomed it like the left wing environmental hand wringers and their Kyoto advocates have claimed.
“HUMANS may have unwittingly saved themselves from a looming ice age by interfering with the Earth's climate, according to a new study.”
Wonder if I can still get a good deal on the Volvo SUV from the Ktown dealer?
“HUMANS may have unwittingly saved themselves from a looming ice age by interfering with the Earth's climate, according to a new study.”
Wonder if I can still get a good deal on the Volvo SUV from the Ktown dealer?
It’s official. 24 January is the most depressing day of the year.
This must be true, because a British psychologist says so.
I thought it was just me today.
Global warming fanatics claim we are nearly at the tipping point of no return.
An AOL Finance article talks about our pending economic meltdown.
The Packers are not in the Super Bowl.
Airbus made a bigger plane than Boeing.
My BMW has paint on it that came from another car. Oh yeah, Favorite Daughter, we didn’t tell you about that, did we?
Whew, that cinches it. Time to buy something I don’t need (with my credit card) that was made in China, after I buy something to eat that is not good for me and causes cancer/heart disease/colon cancer, etc, etc, etc.
Then, maybe I will need some of the mental health assistance for which these blue staters below are clamoring.
I thought it was just me today.
Global warming fanatics claim we are nearly at the tipping point of no return.
An AOL Finance article talks about our pending economic meltdown.
The Packers are not in the Super Bowl.
Airbus made a bigger plane than Boeing.
My BMW has paint on it that came from another car. Oh yeah, Favorite Daughter, we didn’t tell you about that, did we?
Whew, that cinches it. Time to buy something I don’t need (with my credit card) that was made in China, after I buy something to eat that is not good for me and causes cancer/heart disease/colon cancer, etc, etc, etc.
Then, maybe I will need some of the mental health assistance for which these blue staters below are clamoring.
More on left wingers, anger, and depression
I recently blogged about the fact that blue states have a higher ratio of psychologists to population.
Now this new information appears about depression and mental states in the “bluest” part of California.
The UC-Berkeley press release can be found here.
According to Best of the Web, at the Wall Street Journal Online,
“The study (link in PDF) finds that the two counties with the lowest "mental health scores" are Alameda, which includes Berkeley, and San Francisco, which is coterminous with the city. (See page 30 of the PDF document, which is page 21 of the printed report.)
What else do these counties have in common? They are the California counties where John Kerry did best: 83% of the vote in San Francisco and 75% in Alameda. You don't have to be crazy to oppose President Bush, but it doesn't hurt.”
Am I the only one enjoying the fact that UC-Berkley identified this issue?
Now this new information appears about depression and mental states in the “bluest” part of California.
The UC-Berkeley press release can be found here.
According to Best of the Web, at the Wall Street Journal Online,
“The study (link in PDF) finds that the two counties with the lowest "mental health scores" are Alameda, which includes Berkeley, and San Francisco, which is coterminous with the city. (See page 30 of the PDF document, which is page 21 of the printed report.)
What else do these counties have in common? They are the California counties where John Kerry did best: 83% of the vote in San Francisco and 75% in Alameda. You don't have to be crazy to oppose President Bush, but it doesn't hurt.”
Am I the only one enjoying the fact that UC-Berkley identified this issue?
Sunday, January 23, 2005
My email to ABC News
Last week, ABC News solicited, on their web site, information about any military funerals to be held on Inauguration Day. I discussed this on my blog of 20 January.
Sunday, I sent the email below to ABC News.
I sent the email to these two addresses found on the ABC News website:
support@abcnews.go.com
NETAUDR@abc.com
I’ll post any response I receive.
----------------------------------------
To the Leadership of ABC News:
I am writing to express my total dismay and disgust at your recent solicitation on the ABC News website for information about military funerals on Inauguration Day. Your request was both insensitive and unprofessional.
Given the recent situation involving CBS News, I would have thought that your organization and your employees would be more sensitive to appearing political and less than objective. I see by your willingness to compare the anguish of a military family with the celebration surrounding the inauguration of a President that I misjudged your objectivity and professional ethic.
I do not watch ABC News as I live in Germany. I was advised that your network ran the story anyway despite your unwillingness to leave the request for information on your website after it was exposed by a blogger. I would have thought that if you felt strongly about the issue, you would have kept the request for information up on your website.
Your willingness to use the death of an American servicemember for your own partisan political purposes illustrates precisely why more and more Americans do not watch your network for information. You cannot be trusted to be objective and non-partisan. You continue to hide behind pontifications about journalistic freedom and ethics while you clearly lack objectivity and fairness.
If you would like to discuss this issue with me or I am incorrect in my statements, please contact me at my email address.
Regards from Heidelberg
Sunday, I sent the email below to ABC News.
I sent the email to these two addresses found on the ABC News website:
support@abcnews.go.com
NETAUDR@abc.com
I’ll post any response I receive.
----------------------------------------
To the Leadership of ABC News:
I am writing to express my total dismay and disgust at your recent solicitation on the ABC News website for information about military funerals on Inauguration Day. Your request was both insensitive and unprofessional.
Given the recent situation involving CBS News, I would have thought that your organization and your employees would be more sensitive to appearing political and less than objective. I see by your willingness to compare the anguish of a military family with the celebration surrounding the inauguration of a President that I misjudged your objectivity and professional ethic.
I do not watch ABC News as I live in Germany. I was advised that your network ran the story anyway despite your unwillingness to leave the request for information on your website after it was exposed by a blogger. I would have thought that if you felt strongly about the issue, you would have kept the request for information up on your website.
Your willingness to use the death of an American servicemember for your own partisan political purposes illustrates precisely why more and more Americans do not watch your network for information. You cannot be trusted to be objective and non-partisan. You continue to hide behind pontifications about journalistic freedom and ethics while you clearly lack objectivity and fairness.
If you would like to discuss this issue with me or I am incorrect in my statements, please contact me at my email address.
Regards from Heidelberg
Friday, January 21, 2005
You’re right, French foreign policy analyst, we don’t share the same values
Thomas Friedman, NY Times columnist, was in Paris on 20 January. He says all of Europe is a Blue State. Fine, I can handle living in a Blue State without being hysterical like Blue Staters living in a Red State. Thanks to Belmont Club for the link and the always great analysis. Anyway, Mr. Friedman quoted a French foreign policy analyst on American values.
"Europeans were convinced that Kerry had won on election night and were telling themselves that they knew all along that Americans were not all that bad — and then suddenly, as the truth emerged, there was a feeling of slow resignation: 'Oh well, we've been dreaming,' " said Dominique Moisi, one of France's top foreign policy analysts. "In fact, real America is moving away from us. We don't share the same values. In France it was a very emotional issue. It was as if Americans were voting for the president of France as much as for president of the United States."
My view on American values v. those of the French foreign policy analyst and his fellow travelers.
We don’t fight wars for oil
In a fight for freedom, the U.S. will be there and not shake down the local national population when the war is over.
Our unions are under control and do not dictate daily life within our country.
Our politicians are not accepted into a parliament and protected for life for the crimes of bribery and corruption.
We believe people should be safe in their homes and able to defend them with a weapon against criminal intruders. We don’t send them to jail vice the criminals who break into the house.
We believe that the government works for us, and that its influence should be limited.
We believe in equal opportunity, and have myriad systems and laws in place to protect minorities and provide the vehicles for success and upward mobility, despite our history of slavery and racism.
We believe that Israel, the only liberal democracy in the Middle East (for now), has a right to be there.
Meritocracy is the foundation of success in America, not elitism as practiced in Europe.
On any given day, the oppressed people of the world look to America, not Europe for their freedom. They know what our values are.
We know that freedom isn’t free. It costs the blood and treasure of a nation to obtain it and protect it. We will not depend on Europe or the UN to sustain our freedom.
We have a President who says this and a nation of citizens who mean it:
“We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies. ...
When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength tested, but not weary we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom”.
You are so right, French foreign policy analyst. We do have different values.
Let’s hope the CIA is wrong again
I don’t think it is, and the reasons for Europe’s collapse do not bode well for western civilization.
I wonder if this eventual demise of the EU is because of our different values? Nah, couldn't be that, could it?
One naval officer’s view of the relief effort
This officer on the U.S.S. Abe Lincoln is pretty candid about the number and attitude of UN officials and visitors. He does not paint a complimentary picture of the Indonesian military or the UN.
‘As I went through the breakfast line, I overheard one of the U.N. strap-hangers, a longhaired guy with a beard, make a sarcastic comment to one of our food servers. He said something along the lines of “Nice china, really makes me feel special,” in reference to the fact that we were eating off of paper plates that day. It was all I could do to keep from jerking him off his feet and choking him, because I knew that the reason we were eating off paper plates was to save dishwashing water so that we would have more water to send ashore and save lives. That plus the fact that he had no business being there in the first place.”
‘As I went through the breakfast line, I overheard one of the U.N. strap-hangers, a longhaired guy with a beard, make a sarcastic comment to one of our food servers. He said something along the lines of “Nice china, really makes me feel special,” in reference to the fact that we were eating off of paper plates that day. It was all I could do to keep from jerking him off his feet and choking him, because I knew that the reason we were eating off paper plates was to save dishwashing water so that we would have more water to send ashore and save lives. That plus the fact that he had no business being there in the first place.”
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Happy Inauguration Day
If you are depressed about President Bush being sworn in today – tough.
Get over it. You might read the transcript of his speech to understand what this nation is all about and why we are the greatest country in the world, regardless of what the left wing and its allies think.
From the President’s speech:
“There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom”.
“The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause”.
“All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.”
“The rest of the world will be watching with anxiety when President Bush is inaugurated Thursday for a second time, fearing the most powerful man on the planet may do more harm than good.
Many world leaders, alienated by Bush's go-it-alone foreign policy and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, would have preferred him to lose the U.S. election last November. Since his victory, they have been urging him to listen and consult more.
Mistrust also runs deep among ordinary people. Some 58 percent of people surveyed in a British Broadcasting Corporation poll in 21 countries said they believed Bush's re-election made the world a more dangerous place.
"Negative feelings about Bush are high," Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes which carried out the study, told the BBC. "This is quite a grim picture for the United States." "
Yes, ok, I do care what some of them think, but they really ought to worry about a few other issues, like Islamic Fascism, Iranian Nukes, and the continued growth and expansionist tendencies of Red China.
Nah, complaining about the U.S. and President Bush is more fun.
To celebrate the day, tonight Favorite Wife and I went to dinner at our favorite restuarant after we listed to the President’s speech on AFN.
Unfortunately, the lady who inspired me right after Election Day to begin this blog wasn’t there to share our happiness. We missed her. She was probably reading Reuters updates and scheduling an appointment with her mental health therapist.
Congratulations to President Bush and his team. Good luck with the second term.
Get over it. You might read the transcript of his speech to understand what this nation is all about and why we are the greatest country in the world, regardless of what the left wing and its allies think.
From the President’s speech:
“There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom”.
“The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause”.
“All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.”
That last quote was for Favorite Daughter and her friends in the Honors Program.
Of course, Reuters and its friends are not happy. But, who cares what these guys think? From Reuters – an objective news source.“The rest of the world will be watching with anxiety when President Bush is inaugurated Thursday for a second time, fearing the most powerful man on the planet may do more harm than good.
Many world leaders, alienated by Bush's go-it-alone foreign policy and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, would have preferred him to lose the U.S. election last November. Since his victory, they have been urging him to listen and consult more.
Mistrust also runs deep among ordinary people. Some 58 percent of people surveyed in a British Broadcasting Corporation poll in 21 countries said they believed Bush's re-election made the world a more dangerous place.
"Negative feelings about Bush are high," Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes which carried out the study, told the BBC. "This is quite a grim picture for the United States." "
Yes, ok, I do care what some of them think, but they really ought to worry about a few other issues, like Islamic Fascism, Iranian Nukes, and the continued growth and expansionist tendencies of Red China.
Nah, complaining about the U.S. and President Bush is more fun.
To celebrate the day, tonight Favorite Wife and I went to dinner at our favorite restuarant after we listed to the President’s speech on AFN.
Unfortunately, the lady who inspired me right after Election Day to begin this blog wasn’t there to share our happiness. We missed her. She was probably reading Reuters updates and scheduling an appointment with her mental health therapist.
Congratulations to President Bush and his team. Good luck with the second term.
Memo to ABC News – And You Wonder Why We Hate You?
What scum they are.
On its web site, ABC was searching for information on any funerals which would be held on Inauguration Day for American Servicemembers killed in action in Iraq.
You can imagine how ABC would have visually portrayed the two events.
From the ABC Web Page (which it has now, in shame I hope, taken down):
“For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20.
If you know of a funeral and whether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below[.]”
ABC took down their web page advertisement soliciting information on funerals.
I think this gentleman sums up how I feel about ABC’s disgusting little project…
“So here we have a public broadcaster who explicitly intends on using the death of at least one American serviceperson -- specifically in Iraq, so dead American soldiers or Marines in Kosovo or Afghanistan need not apply -- as a means to make a political statement about Bush's inauguration. If your son or daughter, sister or brother, or friend or neighbor isn't lucky enough to be buried on January 20th, don't bother applying, because ABC and Disney won't give a rat's ass about him or her.”
Little Green Footballs covers it as well.
I’ll post the email I send to Disney and ABC News later this weekend. This action by ABC is despicable.
On its web site, ABC was searching for information on any funerals which would be held on Inauguration Day for American Servicemembers killed in action in Iraq.
You can imagine how ABC would have visually portrayed the two events.
From the ABC Web Page (which it has now, in shame I hope, taken down):
“For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20.
If you know of a funeral and whether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below[.]”
ABC took down their web page advertisement soliciting information on funerals.
I think this gentleman sums up how I feel about ABC’s disgusting little project…
“So here we have a public broadcaster who explicitly intends on using the death of at least one American serviceperson -- specifically in Iraq, so dead American soldiers or Marines in Kosovo or Afghanistan need not apply -- as a means to make a political statement about Bush's inauguration. If your son or daughter, sister or brother, or friend or neighbor isn't lucky enough to be buried on January 20th, don't bother applying, because ABC and Disney won't give a rat's ass about him or her.”
Little Green Footballs covers it as well.
I’ll post the email I send to Disney and ABC News later this weekend. This action by ABC is despicable.
What a Senator!
No, not Kennedy. Boxer from California. She was in her prime protesting the election results the other day. I think she cried. On Tuesday, she challenged Ms. Rice’s integrity during Ms. Rice’s confirmation hearings.
I read somewhere that she intends to be the liberal voice of the Democratic Party, and this will allow Hillary to be the voice of moderation for the Democrats.
If you need further evidence of just how far to the left the Democratic Party has drifted, say this phrase over and over, “Hillary Clinton, Moderate Democrat.”
I read somewhere that she intends to be the liberal voice of the Democratic Party, and this will allow Hillary to be the voice of moderation for the Democrats.
If you need further evidence of just how far to the left the Democratic Party has drifted, say this phrase over and over, “Hillary Clinton, Moderate Democrat.”
Poor journalism, bias, and calling people CIA agents for 200, Alex.
What would possess a NY Times reporter, Sarah Boxer, to intimate that Iraqi bloggers were CIA agents?
Has the Times any shame? Standards? Concern for the welfare of anyone who may not support its deluded view of the world?
New Zealand Bear says it all below and provides additional links within the quote.
“The newspaper, which is quite upbeat about reporting all the bad Iraq news that's fit to print, had provoked a deluge of intrigue and vitriol. People posting messages on "web" "logs" accused the paper of irresponsibility, laziness, and --- common theme, here --- irresponsibility again.
Abruptly, the Times had managed in a single story to crystalize everything sordid and depressing about American journalism today.”
One thing for sure. Ms. Boxer (Jeez, there’s that name again. Is this problem hereditary?) is yet another brilliant example of left wing journalism (another is discussed below).
Where’s the liberal outrage over this “outing”? You know, the way they were outraged when Bob Novak supposedly “outed” Wilson’s wife? Right.
Chrenkoff has the best summary of the event and blog commentary.
Has the Times any shame? Standards? Concern for the welfare of anyone who may not support its deluded view of the world?
New Zealand Bear says it all below and provides additional links within the quote.
“The newspaper, which is quite upbeat about reporting all the bad Iraq news that's fit to print, had provoked a deluge of intrigue and vitriol. People posting messages on "web" "logs" accused the paper of irresponsibility, laziness, and --- common theme, here --- irresponsibility again.
Abruptly, the Times had managed in a single story to crystalize everything sordid and depressing about American journalism today.”
One thing for sure. Ms. Boxer (Jeez, there’s that name again. Is this problem hereditary?) is yet another brilliant example of left wing journalism (another is discussed below).
Where’s the liberal outrage over this “outing”? You know, the way they were outraged when Bob Novak supposedly “outed” Wilson’s wife? Right.
Chrenkoff has the best summary of the event and blog commentary.
Is this reporter providing intelligence to a potential enemy?
David Frum comments in his column at National Review about Seymour Hersh’s latest effort to undermine American security. “Read Seymour Hersh’s latest piece in the New Yorker with a yellow marker in hand. Can you count how many vital national security secrets – secrets that could potentially get US personnel killed – have been betrayed in just this one article by serving and former agents of the Central Intelligence Agency or by serving or senior and former military officers?”
After reading the piece, all I have to say is simply, I sure hope we are spying on Iran and its nuclear program. I expect nothing less from my government. Why don’t guys like Hersh get this simple point? Why do they hate their country so much as to undermine its security in this fashion?
After reading the piece, all I have to say is simply, I sure hope we are spying on Iran and its nuclear program. I expect nothing less from my government. Why don’t guys like Hersh get this simple point? Why do they hate their country so much as to undermine its security in this fashion?
34 Republican Scandals Worse than Whitewater?
In the interests of bipartisanship, collegiality, and fairness, I have linked to this article by Peter Dizikes, in Salon Magazine.
He claims that there have been or are now 34 scandals for your review.
Oops, can’t read the entire article? That’s because this left-wing mag wants you to subscribe to its online content. I tried to obtain a free site pass just for the privilege of reading the article, but alas, they made it too complicated.
He claims that there have been or are now 34 scandals for your review.
Oops, can’t read the entire article? That’s because this left-wing mag wants you to subscribe to its online content. I tried to obtain a free site pass just for the privilege of reading the article, but alas, they made it too complicated.
It took “Old” Europe 35 years to catch up to Boeing
From Jim Taranto’s Best of the Web, 18 January.
"All Hail the Mighty Weasel Bus
Agence France-Presse reports on the unveiling of Airbus's new plane:
The huge A380 superjumbo, which can carry up to 840 people on its two full decks, supersedes the ageing 747 by US rival Boeing as the biggest civilian aircraft ever made. . . .
"Good old Europe has made this possible," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told a packed hall in Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, southwest France.
That was a barely-veiled barb recalling the US dismissal of France, Germany and other EU states in 2003 as "Old Europe" because of their opposition to the war on Iraq.
Airbus chief Noel Forgeard made similar hints in his presentation of the A380 during a colourful spectacle featuring computer graphics, atmospheric theme music, dancers and fountains.
"The European states--so easily accused of weakness--backed this fantastic challenge 35 years ago and have believed in the A380," he said.
So these guys acting in concord took 35 years to come up with something bigger than a 747, and we're supposed to be overawed?"
"All Hail the Mighty Weasel Bus
Agence France-Presse reports on the unveiling of Airbus's new plane:
The huge A380 superjumbo, which can carry up to 840 people on its two full decks, supersedes the ageing 747 by US rival Boeing as the biggest civilian aircraft ever made. . . .
"Good old Europe has made this possible," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told a packed hall in Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, southwest France.
That was a barely-veiled barb recalling the US dismissal of France, Germany and other EU states in 2003 as "Old Europe" because of their opposition to the war on Iraq.
Airbus chief Noel Forgeard made similar hints in his presentation of the A380 during a colourful spectacle featuring computer graphics, atmospheric theme music, dancers and fountains.
"The European states--so easily accused of weakness--backed this fantastic challenge 35 years ago and have believed in the A380," he said.
So these guys acting in concord took 35 years to come up with something bigger than a 747, and we're supposed to be overawed?"
Another Ted Kennedy Whopper
Kennedy called the new Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, “Osama”. Well, interesting, mistaking the new Senator’s name for the scum behind 9/11.
Now, please read what Jay Nordlinger wrote in his National Review column about Kennedy’s mistake.
“By now, you surely know how Ted Kennedy referred to the new senator from Illinois, Barack Obama: "Osama bin . . . Osama . . . Obama." All I can say is, Thank goodness it was a prominent liberal who said this — an iconic, untouchable liberal. Can you imagine — can . . . you . . . imagine — if a right-winger had done this? The media outcry would have lasted a week, ringing with "How can you be so insensitive?" and "So, all the darker people look alike to you, huh?" and "So typical of the Right: Illinois elected a [partially] black senator, and you immediately equate him with Osama bin Laden."
Thank goodness it was Kennedy who said it. Perhaps this will evoke empathy with Dick Armey.”
Yes, I know it was a mistake any of us could have made. I frequently do. But…can you imagine if Dan Quayle had done the same thing?
Now, please read what Jay Nordlinger wrote in his National Review column about Kennedy’s mistake.
“By now, you surely know how Ted Kennedy referred to the new senator from Illinois, Barack Obama: "Osama bin . . . Osama . . . Obama." All I can say is, Thank goodness it was a prominent liberal who said this — an iconic, untouchable liberal. Can you imagine — can . . . you . . . imagine — if a right-winger had done this? The media outcry would have lasted a week, ringing with "How can you be so insensitive?" and "So, all the darker people look alike to you, huh?" and "So typical of the Right: Illinois elected a [partially] black senator, and you immediately equate him with Osama bin Laden."
Thank goodness it was Kennedy who said it. Perhaps this will evoke empathy with Dick Armey.”
Yes, I know it was a mistake any of us could have made. I frequently do. But…can you imagine if Dan Quayle had done the same thing?
Do we need to reform Social Security?
I caught a lot of grief (ok, a few negative comments) reference my earlier post about Social Security. So, read this debate and tell me what you think. I’d comment more, but I’m way behind on my Flat Stanley project.
Post Modern War – You Need to Kill Bad Guys, No Matter What the UN Thinks
Victor Davis Hanson writes, "Modern Western man is faced with this awful dilemma, from which he recoils: real peace and successful reconstruction are in direct proportion to the degree that an enemy is humiliatingly defeated and so acknowledges it—the aim being that he will come to feel that he cannot go on being what he has been."
The enemy must know it’s been defeated, and not believe it can revert to its former behavior.
The enemy must know it’s been defeated, and not believe it can revert to its former behavior.
When we can do this on questions concerning race in America…
…we will be much more able to discuss the issues and generate common-sense solutions.
"Look, the truth cannot be offensive. Perhaps the hypothesis is wrong, but how would we ever find out whether it is wrong if it is 'offensive' even to consider it? People who storm out of a meeting at the mention of a hypothesis, or declare it taboo or offensive without providing arguments or evidence, don't get the concept of a university or free inquiry."- Steven Pinker.
"Look, the truth cannot be offensive. Perhaps the hypothesis is wrong, but how would we ever find out whether it is wrong if it is 'offensive' even to consider it? People who storm out of a meeting at the mention of a hypothesis, or declare it taboo or offensive without providing arguments or evidence, don't get the concept of a university or free inquiry."- Steven Pinker.
Wanted – Human Shields – A Great Idea
So, where are all the left wing peace nuts when you really need them?
This warrior is asking for the locations of all the human shields who were so prominent in their willingness to die for Saddam in the Spring of 2003.
“Well, I think I have just the job for these globe-travelers: Iraq Election Poll Worker. They are familiar with the terrain and people, they have a self-professed desire to help and they seem very articulate. However, their biggest asset is bravery. If they are willing to hunker down between Coalition Forces and a bridge, standing between a foreign terrorist and a polling precinct should be no big deal. Any takers?”
Yes, now that the opportunity to protect the birth of democratic values is actually at hand, where are all those left wingers? Amazing how they wanted to protect the murderous thugs of Saddam at the expense of the Iraqi population but now, alas, they are nowhere to be found. What a shocker.
This warrior is asking for the locations of all the human shields who were so prominent in their willingness to die for Saddam in the Spring of 2003.
“Well, I think I have just the job for these globe-travelers: Iraq Election Poll Worker. They are familiar with the terrain and people, they have a self-professed desire to help and they seem very articulate. However, their biggest asset is bravery. If they are willing to hunker down between Coalition Forces and a bridge, standing between a foreign terrorist and a polling precinct should be no big deal. Any takers?”
Yes, now that the opportunity to protect the birth of democratic values is actually at hand, where are all those left wingers? Amazing how they wanted to protect the murderous thugs of Saddam at the expense of the Iraqi population but now, alas, they are nowhere to be found. What a shocker.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Army Values and the Warrior Ethos
In case you were wondering about Army Values after all the trials.
Stop worrying. This says it all.
http://www.army.mil/warriorethos
Stop worrying. This says it all.
http://www.army.mil/warriorethos
Moderate/Conservative Coup on America’s Campuses?
I sent this to Favorite Daughter tonight for her review and comment.
She tells me she’s a Libertarian. Ok, fine. I can live with that. I just asked her to help, in some small fashion, undermine left wing dominance at America’s universities.
I think the process may take longer than the time she will be in school, but one has to start somewhere.
She tells me she’s a Libertarian. Ok, fine. I can live with that. I just asked her to help, in some small fashion, undermine left wing dominance at America’s universities.
I think the process may take longer than the time she will be in school, but one has to start somewhere.
Does the reelection of President Bush mean that the country agrees with his policies?
A friend of mine emailed this weekend and asked me how I felt concerning the President’s comments that the voters had ratified his decisions by reelecting him.
In an article in the International Herald-Tribune, Brian Knowlton summarized the President’s comments from a weekend TV interview.
51% of the voters voted for him, so there is a simple logic to that in terms of the “accountability moment” idea. On the other hand, would I be correct in saying that of that 51%, some of them voted for the President not to ratify his decisions, but because they feared even worse results from a Kerry Presidency?
Whatever the President said about Iraq (and I did not see the interview), Kennedy obviously disagrees. “It was scathingly rejected by one leading Democrat, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who called it "ridiculous."
Hugh Hewitt paints Kennedy correctly in his blog on 17 January. “Teddy's continued peddling of the Iraq is Vietnam idiocy, as on yesterday's Face The Nation --"And this clearly is George Bush's Vietnam, Iraq is," Mr. Kennedy added-- not only encourages the Saddam rump and their terrorist allies to continue their effort to kill democracy in Iraq and Americans, it also fudges the record of Vietnam and the accountability of those who surrendered southeast Asia to Pol Pot and his less extreme but still deadly cross-border fanatical cousins.” But I digress.
Back to the President. So, in answer to my friend’s email, I’ll simply say, yes, the voters ratified some of President Bush’s decisions, and yes, the majority of the country believes that Iraq is a war worth fighting and winning, regardless of what Kennedy and his fellow left wingers believe.
In an article in the International Herald-Tribune, Brian Knowlton summarized the President’s comments from a weekend TV interview.
51% of the voters voted for him, so there is a simple logic to that in terms of the “accountability moment” idea. On the other hand, would I be correct in saying that of that 51%, some of them voted for the President not to ratify his decisions, but because they feared even worse results from a Kerry Presidency?
Whatever the President said about Iraq (and I did not see the interview), Kennedy obviously disagrees. “It was scathingly rejected by one leading Democrat, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who called it "ridiculous."
Hugh Hewitt paints Kennedy correctly in his blog on 17 January. “Teddy's continued peddling of the Iraq is Vietnam idiocy, as on yesterday's Face The Nation --"And this clearly is George Bush's Vietnam, Iraq is," Mr. Kennedy added-- not only encourages the Saddam rump and their terrorist allies to continue their effort to kill democracy in Iraq and Americans, it also fudges the record of Vietnam and the accountability of those who surrendered southeast Asia to Pol Pot and his less extreme but still deadly cross-border fanatical cousins.” But I digress.
Back to the President. So, in answer to my friend’s email, I’ll simply say, yes, the voters ratified some of President Bush’s decisions, and yes, the majority of the country believes that Iraq is a war worth fighting and winning, regardless of what Kennedy and his fellow left wingers believe.
Can the Democrats have a “Big Tent” on Abortion?
The pro-Abortion Party continues to demand a litmus test. I’m not sure the Republicans are very tolerant of dissent on this issue either, but, both parties should be aware that many people have mixed opinions about the issue and a woman’s right to choose, regardless of how they may feel about abortion.
I’m not sure how either political party can thrive or gain and maintain power by excluding huge blocks of the population over issues like abortion.
I’m not sure how either political party can thrive or gain and maintain power by excluding huge blocks of the population over issues like abortion.
Left Wing Media Ignorance about Red States
What a great job this reporter has with the Washington Post.
Plead ignorance about one part of the country as you attempt to comprehend how it could have possibly voted for Bush.
Submit the story idea to your editor.
Take the trip.
Write the story.
Then, bask in the new found knowledge about the indigenous peoples of the Midwest.
Hey, Boss. I don’t really understand the mentality of the people in Miami who voted for Democrats. Can I tour through South Florida, say, in March? Yes, I’ll do an info paper when my trip is complete.
Plead ignorance about one part of the country as you attempt to comprehend how it could have possibly voted for Bush.
Submit the story idea to your editor.
Take the trip.
Write the story.
Then, bask in the new found knowledge about the indigenous peoples of the Midwest.
Hey, Boss. I don’t really understand the mentality of the people in Miami who voted for Democrats. Can I tour through South Florida, say, in March? Yes, I’ll do an info paper when my trip is complete.
Go Hillary Go!
More psychologists per 100,000 people in Blue States
I just can’t make this stuff up. From The American Thinker.
‘The tens [sic] states (including the District of Columbia ) with the highest ratio of psychologists per 100,000 residents, were, with the exception of Colorado, all blue states which supported John Kerry (D.C, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, in rank order from one to ten). The ten states with the lowest ratio of psychologists per 100,000 residents, all were red states supporting Bush (Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana). Louisiana with the lowest ratio is listed first.”
Feel free to imply whatever you want from the paragraph listed above, starting with, I suppose that the 1-800 lines will be extremely busy on Inauguration Day.
‘The tens [sic] states (including the District of Columbia ) with the highest ratio of psychologists per 100,000 residents, were, with the exception of Colorado, all blue states which supported John Kerry (D.C, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, in rank order from one to ten). The ten states with the lowest ratio of psychologists per 100,000 residents, all were red states supporting Bush (Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana). Louisiana with the lowest ratio is listed first.”
Feel free to imply whatever you want from the paragraph listed above, starting with, I suppose that the 1-800 lines will be extremely busy on Inauguration Day.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Why do you want this President to name Supreme Court Justices?
Because the left-wingers on the court believe it’s permissible to use foreign legal standards to dictate American law.
I’ve seen this discussion before, but now, the stakes are higher. ‘Ol Justice Breyer has really let the cat out here.
Coming to a Supreme Court near you – European Union standards dictate American law. Let’s hope not.
I think American tradition, legal scholarship, history, and regard for human rights are a pretty good foundation for our laws. Yes, I know we have incorporated various aspects of European and British common law, but, I disagree that we need to look at their practices now for precedents.
I’ve seen this discussion before, but now, the stakes are higher. ‘Ol Justice Breyer has really let the cat out here.
Coming to a Supreme Court near you – European Union standards dictate American law. Let’s hope not.
I think American tradition, legal scholarship, history, and regard for human rights are a pretty good foundation for our laws. Yes, I know we have incorporated various aspects of European and British common law, but, I disagree that we need to look at their practices now for precedents.
Thank God John Kerry was not elected President of the United States
In this case, God did bless America.
While in the Middle East recently, Mr. Kerry meant some really interesting people.
He thinks the Arab world is frustrated and that some leaders who like suicide bombers have reason to be frustrated with us.
While in the Middle East recently, Mr. Kerry meant some really interesting people.
He thinks the Arab world is frustrated and that some leaders who like suicide bombers have reason to be frustrated with us.
Wal-Mart isn’t happy with your criticism
Sorry, Favorite Daughter, but everyone doesn't love Wal-Mart.
Favorite Daughter loves the place. Apparently the ladies go there just to hang out and test drive the toys.
Wal-Mart is a bit more concerned with bad things being said about their operations.
Favorite Daughter loves the place. Apparently the ladies go there just to hang out and test drive the toys.
Wal-Mart is a bit more concerned with bad things being said about their operations.
“After the Dan Rather scandal, American journalism will never be the same.”
Well, we hope not. The standards can only go up at CBS, don’t you think?
For our sakes, I hope Ms. Noonan is correct. Great column on the aftermath of the Dan Rather and CBS debacle – fake but accurate.
For our sakes, I hope Ms. Noonan is correct. Great column on the aftermath of the Dan Rather and CBS debacle – fake but accurate.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Rothenburg o.b. Tauber
It takes a village only to keep track of your husband, not raise your kids
Bill Cosby writes about the role of parents in raising children.
In case you have forgotten, the title of this entry is a spoof on Hillary’s great line.
In case you have forgotten, the title of this entry is a spoof on Hillary’s great line.
Left Wing Educators work to damage math skills
If I had not seen attitudes like this during Favorite’s Daughter’s school career, I wouldn’t believe the context of this article, but alas, some of her textbooks were very interesting in what they covered and what they did not cover.
This school district apparently emphasized a bit too much multi-cultural and politically correct conceptually thinking in math class. Math test scores plummeted. Now the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction are scrambling to explain.
One parent wrote: “Since 1999, coincidentally the year that Jeffrey Young became superintendent, our schools have plummeted from seventh to 35th in the overall state MCAS rankings. Thus, with the implementation of Mr. Young's ludicrous anti-racist/anti-bias math in 2001, the current dismal scores on the sixth-grade math MCAS should come as no surprise.”
That was his conclusion because of this:
"In 2001 [Superintendent Jeffrey] Young, Mrs. Wyatt and an assortment of other well-paid school administrators, defined the new number-one priority for teaching mathematics, as documented in the curriculum benchmarks, "Respect for Human Differences--students will live out the system wide core of 'Respect for Human Differences' by demonstrating anti-racist/anti-bias behaviors." Bold type included by Bedrockguy.
It continues. "Students will: Consistently analyze their experiences and the curriculum for bias and discrimination; Take effective anti-bias action when bias or discrimination is identified; Work with people of different backgrounds and tell how the experience affected them; Demonstrate how their membership in different groups has advantages and disadvantages that affect how they see the world and the way they are perceived by others . . ." It goes on and on."
Could we save these topics for English, Social Studies, History, and Geography? Multicultural issues have a place in our schools - but Math? Don't think so.
This school district apparently emphasized a bit too much multi-cultural and politically correct conceptually thinking in math class. Math test scores plummeted. Now the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction are scrambling to explain.
One parent wrote: “Since 1999, coincidentally the year that Jeffrey Young became superintendent, our schools have plummeted from seventh to 35th in the overall state MCAS rankings. Thus, with the implementation of Mr. Young's ludicrous anti-racist/anti-bias math in 2001, the current dismal scores on the sixth-grade math MCAS should come as no surprise.”
That was his conclusion because of this:
"In 2001 [Superintendent Jeffrey] Young, Mrs. Wyatt and an assortment of other well-paid school administrators, defined the new number-one priority for teaching mathematics, as documented in the curriculum benchmarks, "Respect for Human Differences--students will live out the system wide core of 'Respect for Human Differences' by demonstrating anti-racist/anti-bias behaviors." Bold type included by Bedrockguy.
It continues. "Students will: Consistently analyze their experiences and the curriculum for bias and discrimination; Take effective anti-bias action when bias or discrimination is identified; Work with people of different backgrounds and tell how the experience affected them; Demonstrate how their membership in different groups has advantages and disadvantages that affect how they see the world and the way they are perceived by others . . ." It goes on and on."
Could we save these topics for English, Social Studies, History, and Geography? Multicultural issues have a place in our schools - but Math? Don't think so.
Was the Washington election stolen?
I haven’t really been closely tracking this, but it sure has been interesting to watch those new Democratic votes “appear” in King County, an urban, and Democratic, area.
A great website tracking the “election”.
Now, if this flip-flop had happened in the Republicans’ favor, big Media would be all over crying voter fraud. Jackson would be demanding justice, Moore would be filming, and Dan Rather would be finding more memos.
Seen any of that since the electoral board announced the Democrat won? Nah, didn’t think so.
Powerline talks about “The Issue that must be faced.” Voter Fraud. Not just in Washington state, but across the nation.
Maybe we should start wearing orange ribbons. Hey, where is Jimmy Carter? Bet Jimmy Carter would be there blaming America if a Republican had won this race.
A great website tracking the “election”.
Now, if this flip-flop had happened in the Republicans’ favor, big Media would be all over crying voter fraud. Jackson would be demanding justice, Moore would be filming, and Dan Rather would be finding more memos.
Seen any of that since the electoral board announced the Democrat won? Nah, didn’t think so.
Powerline talks about “The Issue that must be faced.” Voter Fraud. Not just in Washington state, but across the nation.
Maybe we should start wearing orange ribbons. Hey, where is Jimmy Carter? Bet Jimmy Carter would be there blaming America if a Republican had won this race.
Left Winger at MIT complaining about military retirees
This academic wrote in the New York Times (registration required, so I won't link to it) that the government is spending too much on retired military costs at the expenseof our active force and current operations.
I should have taken the time to dissect her leftwing ramblings. She couched it all in the current mantra of the leftwing, “Oh, we can’t take care of our soldiers because….”. Sure, like the leftwing ever cared before about our soldiers.
Now, the left-wing has seen the political cost of its scurrilous conduct during Vietnam and subsequent campaigns. Now, Democratic politicians think there might be some gain in praising the military. Put a timer on it, because the left wing will consistently demonstrate how it really feels about soldiers the deeper into the war we go. But I digress.
Anyway, I knew that all these highly paid retired general officers working for various think tanks would be able to answer this latest tirade against the retired military. So, I've let them do that here.
Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If you want a professional, highly trained and deployable force, don’t treat your personnel like corporate America and raid their health care and benefits after they retire. I would have thought a left-winger would understand that concept.
I should have taken the time to dissect her leftwing ramblings. She couched it all in the current mantra of the leftwing, “Oh, we can’t take care of our soldiers because….”. Sure, like the leftwing ever cared before about our soldiers.
Now, the left-wing has seen the political cost of its scurrilous conduct during Vietnam and subsequent campaigns. Now, Democratic politicians think there might be some gain in praising the military. Put a timer on it, because the left wing will consistently demonstrate how it really feels about soldiers the deeper into the war we go. But I digress.
Anyway, I knew that all these highly paid retired general officers working for various think tanks would be able to answer this latest tirade against the retired military. So, I've let them do that here.
Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If you want a professional, highly trained and deployable force, don’t treat your personnel like corporate America and raid their health care and benefits after they retire. I would have thought a left-winger would understand that concept.
That’s right, and WWII also created a training ground for all kinds of killers, didn’t it?
The basic premise of this report is sound, but is it realistic to assume this would not have happened in some other fashion?
The war in Iraq gathers the bad guys together and makes it easier to kill them. Yes, it also has the potential to generate more terrorists, but, then they were latent scum waiting to happen anyway.
The report’s other conclusions are a bit scarier in strategic terms.
China and technology. China and technology. China and technology.
Among the report's major findings is that the likelihood of "great power conflict escalating into total war . . . is lower than at any time in the past century." However, "at no time since the formation of the Western alliance system in 1949 have the shape and nature of international alignments been in such a state of flux as they have in the past decade."
The report also says the emergence of China and India as new global economic powerhouses "will be the most challenging of all" Washington's regional relationships. It also says that in the competition with Asia over technological advances, the United States "may lose its edge" in some sectors.
The war in Iraq gathers the bad guys together and makes it easier to kill them. Yes, it also has the potential to generate more terrorists, but, then they were latent scum waiting to happen anyway.
The report’s other conclusions are a bit scarier in strategic terms.
China and technology. China and technology. China and technology.
Among the report's major findings is that the likelihood of "great power conflict escalating into total war . . . is lower than at any time in the past century." However, "at no time since the formation of the Western alliance system in 1949 have the shape and nature of international alignments been in such a state of flux as they have in the past decade."
The report also says the emergence of China and India as new global economic powerhouses "will be the most challenging of all" Washington's regional relationships. It also says that in the competition with Asia over technological advances, the United States "may lose its edge" in some sectors.
“We liberals had better find the courage not to be intimidated."
I agree with him.
“Freedom of thought, community and faith, civil equality, and the rights of due process, are meaningless unless they are universally valid. They are also non-negotiable. As Salman Rushdie himself said shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, the things that the jihadists are against -- 'freedom of speech, a multi-party political system, universal adult suffrage, accountable government, Jews, homosexuals, women's rights, pluralism, secularism, short skirts, dancing, beardlessness, evolution theory, sex … even the short skirts and dancing … are worth dying for.' Rushdie's maxim holds true all the more in light of Theo van Gogh's murder. The viciousness of our enemies -- and they are our enemies -- remains undiminished. We liberals had better find the courage not to be intimidated."
His title says it all, “Against Jihad, tolerance is no weapon”. Right again. Against this team, tolerance will get you run over and thrown in the dustbin.
“Freedom of thought, community and faith, civil equality, and the rights of due process, are meaningless unless they are universally valid. They are also non-negotiable. As Salman Rushdie himself said shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, the things that the jihadists are against -- 'freedom of speech, a multi-party political system, universal adult suffrage, accountable government, Jews, homosexuals, women's rights, pluralism, secularism, short skirts, dancing, beardlessness, evolution theory, sex … even the short skirts and dancing … are worth dying for.' Rushdie's maxim holds true all the more in light of Theo van Gogh's murder. The viciousness of our enemies -- and they are our enemies -- remains undiminished. We liberals had better find the courage not to be intimidated."
His title says it all, “Against Jihad, tolerance is no weapon”. Right again. Against this team, tolerance will get you run over and thrown in the dustbin.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
How do you argue with Martin Gilbert?
Biographer of Churchill, one of my three personal heroes.
Here Mr. Gilbert provides a bit of perspective on today's leaders and events.
Here Mr. Gilbert provides a bit of perspective on today's leaders and events.
Delta Airlines - another success story in Atlanta
What is wrong at that airport?
A friend of mine is a Delta employee.
Flew back on a Delta plane from Europe last weekend. See the fun that was had in Atlanta, by my friend and countless other satisfied Delta customers.
"I experienced the "whole" passenger experience going through customs in the wonderful (not!) Atlanta. Took me 2 1/2 hours from the time I got off of the plane until I finally cleared customs. Missed my flight by 15 minutes like everyone else around me. Waited for my "one bag" for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Come on...we have got to do better than that! Made me a little more understanding of our passengers when they get on our flights connecting from international flight."
Yes, Delta does have to do better than that.
A friend of mine is a Delta employee.
Flew back on a Delta plane from Europe last weekend. See the fun that was had in Atlanta, by my friend and countless other satisfied Delta customers.
"I experienced the "whole" passenger experience going through customs in the wonderful (not!) Atlanta. Took me 2 1/2 hours from the time I got off of the plane until I finally cleared customs. Missed my flight by 15 minutes like everyone else around me. Waited for my "one bag" for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Come on...we have got to do better than that! Made me a little more understanding of our passengers when they get on our flights connecting from international flight."
Yes, Delta does have to do better than that.
Democratic Strategy for '08 - Get mean!
Like they haven't been before.
Jeez, I must have missed all those nice, pleasant characterizations of President Bush between 02-04, and of Republicans in general.
'All right, I'll be the first to say it: Whoever the Republicans put up for president in 2008 must be destroyed. Not beaten, not defeated, but eviscerated, disemboweled, torn limb from limb. He must become such an object of shame and derision that no Republican will want to speak his name for twenty years.'
Kind of a violent guy, isn't he? This guy is an editor for a left wing publication.
Now, imagine if the editor of moderate or conservative journal had written that. Oh my goodness, the wailing we would hear from the left wing. Yet, here this guy is, talking about physically gutting a human being, albeit a politician. Where' s the outrage from the left wing and fellow travelers? Go ahead, I'll wait.
Get mean - see where it takes you. See you in '08.
Jeez, I must have missed all those nice, pleasant characterizations of President Bush between 02-04, and of Republicans in general.
'All right, I'll be the first to say it: Whoever the Republicans put up for president in 2008 must be destroyed. Not beaten, not defeated, but eviscerated, disemboweled, torn limb from limb. He must become such an object of shame and derision that no Republican will want to speak his name for twenty years.'
Kind of a violent guy, isn't he? This guy is an editor for a left wing publication.
Now, imagine if the editor of moderate or conservative journal had written that. Oh my goodness, the wailing we would hear from the left wing. Yet, here this guy is, talking about physically gutting a human being, albeit a politician. Where' s the outrage from the left wing and fellow travelers? Go ahead, I'll wait.
Get mean - see where it takes you. See you in '08.
Now, read this. Hillary’s money man indicted
Hillary's money man in 2004 was indicated for improper fundraising.
"Hillary Clinton's Former Campaign Finance Director Indicted"
Now, where did I put those Whitewater billing records? It never ends, does it?
See you in '08.
Get mean indeed. The Dems really do not want to go down that path. Let's focus on where we see the country going, education, the courts, foreign policy, you know, real issues. I will if you will.
This idiot thinks the U.S. caused the tsunami with a big bomb in Indonesia
Sigh. I guess people like this really do exist in America. Man, where are these people when I'm on the Hauptstrasse having a nice Scotch.
Fish in the barrel.
Fish in the barrel.
A lawyer's take on torture
A good article about a liberal lawyer's take on U.S. treatment of prisoners in the war against terror. We have some work to do, no doubt about it.
Yes, I used the L word. It's really not a bad word, I just don't use it often. I will never use it to describe a known Democrat or left winger, because that party and the left wingers have forgotten the honorable heritage of the word, "liberal".
Anyway, this is an interesting article. America really needs to talk about how we want to treat the scum we are fighting after we capture them. Torture is not our way and we need to make that known.
Yes, I used the L word. It's really not a bad word, I just don't use it often. I will never use it to describe a known Democrat or left winger, because that party and the left wingers have forgotten the honorable heritage of the word, "liberal".
Anyway, this is an interesting article. America really needs to talk about how we want to treat the scum we are fighting after we capture them. Torture is not our way and we need to make that known.
Are we fighting the wrong war?
I don't think so. You don't get to pick your wars very often. To me, the question really is, is the ultimate objective worthwhile? I think it is. I mean, its all about oil, and we all want $8 per barrel oil right?
But, the debate should continue, on the war, treatment of terrorists, and so on.
Fred Kagan has some interesting points.
But, the debate should continue, on the war, treatment of terrorists, and so on.
Fred Kagan has some interesting points.
Sure, let's reach out to left wingers
CBS, Mary, and Rather didn't learn a thing
From The Daily Standard:
And Mary Mapes understands it, too. "Indeed, in the end, all that the panel did conclude was that there were many red flags that counseled against going to air quickly . . ." she says now. "I am heartened to see that the panel found no political bias on my part, as indeed I have none."
Well, if the documents weren't forged and Mary Mapes acted with no political bias, then her firing would have been unjust and she really would be a scapegoat. But since there is abundant evidence that the documents were forgeries and that political attitudes were important in driving the story, the better conclusion is that the CBS Report is a whitewash.
Mapes has no political bias? Rather either? That's rich. Oh well, at least she was "terminated" and Rather is "stepping down".
And Mary Mapes understands it, too. "Indeed, in the end, all that the panel did conclude was that there were many red flags that counseled against going to air quickly . . ." she says now. "I am heartened to see that the panel found no political bias on my part, as indeed I have none."
Well, if the documents weren't forged and Mary Mapes acted with no political bias, then her firing would have been unjust and she really would be a scapegoat. But since there is abundant evidence that the documents were forgeries and that political attitudes were important in driving the story, the better conclusion is that the CBS Report is a whitewash.
Mapes has no political bias? Rather either? That's rich. Oh well, at least she was "terminated" and Rather is "stepping down".
Monday, January 10, 2005
Target on the movers!
Objective, fact based reporting - 4
Biased, politically motivated attacks based on fraudulent (fake but accurate) documents - 0
CBS today fired 4 individuals deemed responsible for Memogate last year (ok, three were "asked to resign" and one was "terminated").
The CBS report is here: http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/CBS_Report.pdf
The entire affair reminds me of some of the cadet history papers I used to grade. Here’s my thesis, now I need to find some facts that support that thesis. Oh, that fact is inconveniently in opposition to my thesis, so, let’s just ignore that one. Hey, this author supports my thesis, so, let’s use this fact regardless of whether or not it may be accurate.
Anyway, the CBS report says that Dan Rather is "stepping down." Regardless of how or why Rather is going, he is going.
Maybe we’ll next see Rather at some Democratic fundraisers for Hillary.
I wonder is mainstream media will learn anything from this - naaaaahhh.
A good ongoing summary of events at Ratherbiased.com
Please read Instapundit for more links and details. Hey, don’t go until you are done here!
Biased, politically motivated attacks based on fraudulent (fake but accurate) documents - 0
CBS today fired 4 individuals deemed responsible for Memogate last year (ok, three were "asked to resign" and one was "terminated").
The CBS report is here: http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/CBS_Report.pdf
The entire affair reminds me of some of the cadet history papers I used to grade. Here’s my thesis, now I need to find some facts that support that thesis. Oh, that fact is inconveniently in opposition to my thesis, so, let’s just ignore that one. Hey, this author supports my thesis, so, let’s use this fact regardless of whether or not it may be accurate.
Anyway, the CBS report says that Dan Rather is "stepping down." Regardless of how or why Rather is going, he is going.
Maybe we’ll next see Rather at some Democratic fundraisers for Hillary.
I wonder is mainstream media will learn anything from this - naaaaahhh.
A good ongoing summary of events at Ratherbiased.com
Please read Instapundit for more links and details. Hey, don’t go until you are done here!
A positive change for civil rights in America
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has seen the last of that biased, partisan chairwoman, Mary Frances Berry.
The new chairman, Gerald Reynolds, made an interesting comment. "We need to assume that the person sitting across the table from us, who disagrees with our position, is a good man or woman who merely has a different point of view."
Wow, good luck with that one. The main reason that any discussion of race in America is so difficult to conduct is because of one simple problem: any question deemed offensive by the left wing or their politically correct supporters brings a wrath of accusations of racism, sexism, and homophobia against the questioner. Given that environment, who wants to talk about the racial and sexual inequities in this nation?
Ill talk about this more in later postings, in conjunction with comments on how the NAACP has a chance to be a more relevant and useful organization with new leadership.
Back to the Civil Rights commission. Berry presided over a useful organization and drove it into the ground, making it a partisan, hateful organization of little use to any substantive review of the problems in this nation. As the former head of an Army Equal Opportunity Office, I was constantly appalled at her comments and actions over time. The government Accounting Office calls it "an agency in disarray."
This agency can play a major role in allowing Americans to discuss and address the major racial and sexual inequalities still extant in America today. I hope that it can, and will.
The new chairman, Gerald Reynolds, made an interesting comment. "We need to assume that the person sitting across the table from us, who disagrees with our position, is a good man or woman who merely has a different point of view."
Wow, good luck with that one. The main reason that any discussion of race in America is so difficult to conduct is because of one simple problem: any question deemed offensive by the left wing or their politically correct supporters brings a wrath of accusations of racism, sexism, and homophobia against the questioner. Given that environment, who wants to talk about the racial and sexual inequities in this nation?
Ill talk about this more in later postings, in conjunction with comments on how the NAACP has a chance to be a more relevant and useful organization with new leadership.
Back to the Civil Rights commission. Berry presided over a useful organization and drove it into the ground, making it a partisan, hateful organization of little use to any substantive review of the problems in this nation. As the former head of an Army Equal Opportunity Office, I was constantly appalled at her comments and actions over time. The government Accounting Office calls it "an agency in disarray."
This agency can play a major role in allowing Americans to discuss and address the major racial and sexual inequalities still extant in America today. I hope that it can, and will.
The Saturn V. What a machine.
Great Washington Post article on the quest to restore this rocket. It’s a shame that Favorite Daughter never saw it launch, live on TV, like I did.
Visiting Kennedy Space Center and taking the tour of the Saturn V area was akin to visiting the Vatican for me. Even more of an emotional experience. I spent my childhood watching and studying Apollo, not the Vatican.
The Saturn V brings back memories of when America’s space program reached for something more than a broke dick space station and an obsolete earth orbiter (please pardon my use of the term "broke dick" - but after growing up with Apollo, its been all downhill from there. I don’t care how long those Mars Rovers keep moving - no comparison).
I think I’ll go watch "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13".
Visiting Kennedy Space Center and taking the tour of the Saturn V area was akin to visiting the Vatican for me. Even more of an emotional experience. I spent my childhood watching and studying Apollo, not the Vatican.
The Saturn V brings back memories of when America’s space program reached for something more than a broke dick space station and an obsolete earth orbiter (please pardon my use of the term "broke dick" - but after growing up with Apollo, its been all downhill from there. I don’t care how long those Mars Rovers keep moving - no comparison).
I think I’ll go watch "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13".
Sunday, January 09, 2005
More European Left Wing hypocrisy….the environment
Hi. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Favorite Wife and I were in Garmisch,
just hanging out, recovering from the depression caused by the departure of Favorite Daughter back to college. Hope she’s confirmed payment on the
dormitory and class bills.
Thanks to my good friend Barney for giving me a new more time and fuel efficient route to Garmisch.
Last week, in the Herald Tribune, I read an article about how European companies are emphasizing their compliance with the Kyoto Treaty in an attempt to gain market share etc.
You remember Kyoto, the treaty which the entire U.S. Senate voted, 95-0, not to consider (including, I might add – John Kerry). Anyway, the article emphasized how U.S. companies might have to demonstrate compliance with Kyoto in order to compete overseas.
That’s ok. All is fair in love, war, and business. What ever the market decides. The customer rules, whatever.
However, please allow me to comment on the hypocrisy of Europeans beating us up on Kyoto while demonstrating some very "American" traits on the highway.
As we drove back from Garmisch today, I really noticed just how many Germans were driving the following: SUVs, Vans, Big BMW, Mercedes, and Audi sedans, and even bigger vans (did I mention SUVs and vans?). Last Friday, we were treated to a virtual convoy of big trucks, many of which now seem very 18 wheeler in size and obnoxiousness.
So…my question. If the Europeans are so darn worried about the environment, then how do they explain this gradual escalation in the size and number of their cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks?
Don’t get me wrong. I think a person should be allowed to drive whatever they want, no matter how large and gas guzzling. It’s the ‘Merican way. But, having said that, don’t give me grief for the environment when your country/state/supranational entity or whatever the EU is does the same thing.
just hanging out, recovering from the depression caused by the departure of Favorite Daughter back to college. Hope she’s confirmed payment on the
dormitory and class bills.
Thanks to my good friend Barney for giving me a new more time and fuel efficient route to Garmisch.
Last week, in the Herald Tribune, I read an article about how European companies are emphasizing their compliance with the Kyoto Treaty in an attempt to gain market share etc.
You remember Kyoto, the treaty which the entire U.S. Senate voted, 95-0, not to consider (including, I might add – John Kerry). Anyway, the article emphasized how U.S. companies might have to demonstrate compliance with Kyoto in order to compete overseas.
That’s ok. All is fair in love, war, and business. What ever the market decides. The customer rules, whatever.
However, please allow me to comment on the hypocrisy of Europeans beating us up on Kyoto while demonstrating some very "American" traits on the highway.
As we drove back from Garmisch today, I really noticed just how many Germans were driving the following: SUVs, Vans, Big BMW, Mercedes, and Audi sedans, and even bigger vans (did I mention SUVs and vans?). Last Friday, we were treated to a virtual convoy of big trucks, many of which now seem very 18 wheeler in size and obnoxiousness.
So…my question. If the Europeans are so darn worried about the environment, then how do they explain this gradual escalation in the size and number of their cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks?
Don’t get me wrong. I think a person should be allowed to drive whatever they want, no matter how large and gas guzzling. It’s the ‘Merican way. But, having said that, don’t give me grief for the environment when your country/state/supranational entity or whatever the EU is does the same thing.
Quote (s) of the Day – from Varifrank.com
Another commentary on European governments, real life, and support for those in need.
Allow me to provide the context. A group of European smart guys were making fun of George Bush in reference to the horrible tsunami disaster in South Asia. The italics mark the quotes from Verifrank.com.
" See, this is why George Bush is so dumb, there's a disaster in the world and he sends an aircraft Carrier..."
To which Mr. Varifrank.com replied:
"Hmmm, let's see, what would be the ideal ship to send to a disaster, now what kind of ship
would we want?
"Something with its own inexhuastible power supply?
Something that can produce 900,000 gallons of fresh water a day from sea water?
Something with its own airfield? So that after producing the fresh water, it could help distribute it?
Something with 4 hospitals and lots of open space for emergency supplies?
Something with a global communications facility to make the coordination of disaster relief in the region easier?
Well "Franz", us peasants in America call that kind of ship an "Aircraft Carrier". We have 12 of them. How many do you have? Oh that's right, NONE. Lucky for you and the rest of the world, we are the kind of people who share. Even with people we don’t like. In fact, if memory serves, once upon a time we peasants spent a ton of money and lives rescuing people who we had once tried to kill and who tried to kill us.
He concluded with this very undiplomatic comment (I’ve taken out the bad words):
"The day an American has to move a European out of the way to help in some part of the world it will be a great day in the world, you ______ ______ _______."
The conversation continued:
The room fell silent. My Hindi friend then said quietly to the Euros:
Allow me to provide the context. A group of European smart guys were making fun of George Bush in reference to the horrible tsunami disaster in South Asia. The italics mark the quotes from Verifrank.com.
" See, this is why George Bush is so dumb, there's a disaster in the world and he sends an aircraft Carrier..."
To which Mr. Varifrank.com replied:
"Hmmm, let's see, what would be the ideal ship to send to a disaster, now what kind of ship
would we want?
"Something with its own inexhuastible power supply?
Something that can produce 900,000 gallons of fresh water a day from sea water?
Something with its own airfield? So that after producing the fresh water, it could help distribute it?
Something with 4 hospitals and lots of open space for emergency supplies?
Something with a global communications facility to make the coordination of disaster relief in the region easier?
Well "Franz", us peasants in America call that kind of ship an "Aircraft Carrier". We have 12 of them. How many do you have? Oh that's right, NONE. Lucky for you and the rest of the world, we are the kind of people who share. Even with people we don’t like. In fact, if memory serves, once upon a time we peasants spent a ton of money and lives rescuing people who we had once tried to kill and who tried to kill us.
He concluded with this very undiplomatic comment (I’ve taken out the bad words):
"The day an American has to move a European out of the way to help in some part of the world it will be a great day in the world, you ______ ______ _______."
The conversation continued:
The room fell silent. My Hindi friend then said quietly to the Euros:
"Can you let your hatred of George Bush end for just one minute? There are people dying! And what are your countries doing? Amazon.com has helped more than France has. You all have a role to play in the world, why can't you see that? Thank God for the US Navy, they don't have to come and help, but they are. They helped you once and you should all thank God they did. They didn't have to, and no one but them would have done so. I'm ashamed of you all..."
He left the room, shaking and in tears. The frustration of being on the other side of the globe, unable to do anything to assist and faced with people who could not set aside their asininity long enough to reach out and help was too much for him to bear. I just shook my head and left. The Euros stood speechless.
Later in the breakroom, one of the laughing Euros caught me and extended his hand in an apology. I asked him where he was from, he said "a town outside of Berlin". He is a young man, in his early 20's.
I asked him if he knew of a man named Gail Halvorsen?
He said no.
I said "that's a shame" and walked away to find my Hindi friend."
---------------------------------------------
Incidentally, Gail Halvorsen was an American pilot in the American Air Force during the Berlin Air Lift. Came to be known as the "Candy Bomber" for throwing candy attached to little parachutes out of the plane to the German kids of Berlin. You remember, back in 1948-49, when we, the Allies, were saving the capital city of our former enemy from starvation and Communist tyranny.
Alas, the German media and its ignorant followers probably think that was an American PR stunt.
Remember, the UN guy is the one who turned this into a ballgame
He and his left wing buddies in the U.S media, the Democratic Party, and in Europe.
And now, we are keeping score, on you, your UN flakes and your buddies.
Read the Diplomad. Here’s an excerpt below:
"You don't want to hear about Aussies and Yanks working. You know all about that. You want to know about the UN. The UN, you ask, what about the UN? Gee, fUNny you should ask. I was just thinking about the UN. Yesterday the UN rep who flew up to Aceh solely for the event, held a press conference at which he criticized the US airlift of supplies. The little S.O.B sniffed that it was "uncoordinated" and that some villages were fed twice while others were missed and that no "assessment teams" were being sent. and AP have picked up the story, but my internet is so s-l-o-w, that I haven't been able to find it and link to it. Maybe tonight the internet will speed up and I can find it. I learn from colleagues who were there, no journalist asked the little twit just how many people the UN had fed, and if, indeed, "assessment teams" are what is needed why haven't the gadzillion UN assessment teams hanging out in the capital moved into these remote villages. I'm sorry but I detest these Vultures more and more.
What else is the UN up to, you ask? Oh the usual that you would expect from an organization with a dozen or so well-funded agencies supposedly devoted to emergency humanitarian relief . . . no, no, not feed people or provide them medical care, what do you think the UN is, the US military or something? What is wrong with you readers? Has The Diplomad taught you nothing? The correct response is put out a in New York claiming to be doing all sorts of things that others, e.g., US and Australia, are doing -- oh, and catch the dig at US helicopters."
Williams made a mistake in accepting this contract
A conservative columnist and media pundit apparently accepted a contract from the Department of Education to promote the No Child Left Behind act. Apparently this is a breach of journalistic "ethics".
Ok, have you stopped laughing about the term journalistic "ethics"?
Anyway, Mr. Williams erred in accepting this contract and not telling his readers and listeners that he had done so. Regardless of how much he supported this new law, journalists should not be accepting payment to promote anything. I hope he returns the money to the government.
I can understand how this could have occurred. In recent years, numerous Democratic politicians and members of the Clinton Adminstration have left government and worked as members of the print and TV media.
I am not suggesting that any of these individuals have done anything like Mr. Williams has done. But, the line between politics and media has become increasingly obscure.
Am I really supposed to believe that Clinton’s former wonder children are being objective when they interview people on TV or write columns? Sorry, I don’t. They are just accepting money to promote their opinions in a more legal, more journalistically recognized and accepted fashion. But, please, big media, quit trying to tell me that folks like that are "objective."
Ok, have you stopped laughing about the term journalistic "ethics"?
Anyway, Mr. Williams erred in accepting this contract and not telling his readers and listeners that he had done so. Regardless of how much he supported this new law, journalists should not be accepting payment to promote anything. I hope he returns the money to the government.
I can understand how this could have occurred. In recent years, numerous Democratic politicians and members of the Clinton Adminstration have left government and worked as members of the print and TV media.
I am not suggesting that any of these individuals have done anything like Mr. Williams has done. But, the line between politics and media has become increasingly obscure.
Am I really supposed to believe that Clinton’s former wonder children are being objective when they interview people on TV or write columns? Sorry, I don’t. They are just accepting money to promote their opinions in a more legal, more journalistically recognized and accepted fashion. But, please, big media, quit trying to tell me that folks like that are "objective."
Conyers (D, Mich) – Where did those turkeys go?
The WSJ is on it.
Turkeys were delivered to this gentleman's staff. Never to be seen by the needy, at least according to Detroit newspapers and the WSJ.
Mr. Conyers – Where did those turkeys go?
Turkeys were delivered to this gentleman's staff. Never to be seen by the needy, at least according to Detroit newspapers and the WSJ.
Mr. Conyers – Where did those turkeys go?
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Glad to see the Republicans did not "change" the ethics rules in the House
Leave the ethics scandals to the other party, and when you have one – deal with it in a public, forthright fashion and show no tolerance for impropriety.
My sense is that the Republicans did this all by themselves, and did not even need to react to hysterical Democratic hypocrisy about ethics. Right.
Now, please find another House Majority Leader. Mr. Delay must go.
As Lord Alexander said to General Eisenhower after Kasserine Pass, in reference to the II Corps Commander, "I’m sure you must have better men than that."
The Republicans do, and should find one in the House to replace Mr. Delay.
My sense is that the Republicans did this all by themselves, and did not even need to react to hysterical Democratic hypocrisy about ethics. Right.
Now, please find another House Majority Leader. Mr. Delay must go.
As Lord Alexander said to General Eisenhower after Kasserine Pass, in reference to the II Corps Commander, "I’m sure you must have better men than that."
The Republicans do, and should find one in the House to replace Mr. Delay.
Why does the New York Times have a problem with recruiting soldiers?
A recent editorial in the New York Times (yes, I do read left wing newspapers) criticized the fact that American high schools must provide contact info on students to military recruiters or risk losing federal aid. This requirement was included in No Child Left Behind Act.
The Times makes its obligatory comments about the need for recruiting but criticizes the fact that this bill, focused on children and education, contained this proviso, which some parents find offensive. What, expose my child to these military recruiters? Oh, the horror.
I sense the Times would have found reasons to criticize this proviso no matter what law contained it. If left wing educators and their supporters would not be so opposed to defending our nation, this administration would not have had to include this in any bill.
The Times makes its obligatory comments about the need for recruiting but criticizes the fact that this bill, focused on children and education, contained this proviso, which some parents find offensive. What, expose my child to these military recruiters? Oh, the horror.
I sense the Times would have found reasons to criticize this proviso no matter what law contained it. If left wing educators and their supporters would not be so opposed to defending our nation, this administration would not have had to include this in any bill.
I’m part of a 12 Step Program.
Really, I am. Unfortunately, I revert to Step 1 every time I see what else the French government is doing to undermine the United States in Iraq, Asia, and the rest of the world.
Good article in the New York Times by a French author about how the French came to be seen as they are by many Americans. The final two paragraphs, however, indicate how we should feel and act towards France.
"Americans themselves are sometimes confronted with this kind of absurd hostility abroad. Of all nationalities, they should be the first to stay away from it. After all, diversity and respect for other cultures are among the core values on which America was founded - and by which Americans thrive.
It did not kill the French to be hated for two years. But it did us no good, and did not help Americans much, either. So what about liking us again? For starters, just for two hours."
I promise, I’ll work on it. It’s all about respect. When does that kick in from the French government? Just thought I’d ask.
Good article in the New York Times by a French author about how the French came to be seen as they are by many Americans. The final two paragraphs, however, indicate how we should feel and act towards France.
"Americans themselves are sometimes confronted with this kind of absurd hostility abroad. Of all nationalities, they should be the first to stay away from it. After all, diversity and respect for other cultures are among the core values on which America was founded - and by which Americans thrive.
It did not kill the French to be hated for two years. But it did us no good, and did not help Americans much, either. So what about liking us again? For starters, just for two hours."
I promise, I’ll work on it. It’s all about respect. When does that kick in from the French government? Just thought I’d ask.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
I hope the Democrats in the Senate don’t do this. We are in a war.
Headline in Drudge Report on 4 Jan:
Dems consider torture show 'n tell at Gonzales hearing
Have the Democrats considered the impact of this stunt on the rest of the world? I do not disagree that Mr. Gonzales has some explaining to do, particularly as he aspires to be Attorney General.
But, Senators Kennedy and Leahy, do you really want to embarrass the nation in front of the world just to score political points and defeat this nomination?
Please don’t do this. We are in a war of ideas. Your potential actions as described here will help the enemy (and I don’t mean the Republicans).
And yes, Ms. Applebaum, the right does care. In fact, a lot of moderates and conservatives are appalled at what has occurred. Our nation and our military need to address and prevent the abuses. In doing so, however, we need to be cognizant of what I said above.
It's national security, stupid!
A left wing blog that I read regularly is working on Democratic themes. Here is one below.
Start getting serious about national security and maybe some of your other important core issues will resonate with voters. But right now, your party needs to develop some backbone against the enemies of democracy and freedom.
It says, "We Won World War II". At the bottom is the Democratic Donkey.
I wish I could show the graphic, its pretty good.
But, message to the Democratic Party: You couldn’t now.
Start getting serious about national security and maybe some of your other important core issues will resonate with voters. But right now, your party needs to develop some backbone against the enemies of democracy and freedom.
So, we need to fix Social Security do we?
My thoughts.
1. Don’t privatize. Wall Street makes enough money managing our money now.
1a. Since the Republicans are the party of personal responsibility, let people be more responsible for their retirement by investing more of their money. Create some new type of IRA or increase IRA options.
2. I’m willing to pay a higher payroll tax now to ensure the money is there for SS and our future generations. Maybe the wealthy should pay a higher percentage than the less wealthy.
3. We should pay SS tax on all our income, not just the first 87,000. I always wondered what rich guy came up with that income cap.
4. Older Americans who do not need SS because they have invested well and are financially secure should not receive SS. The problem is defining "need".
5. SS is a safety net, not a right, for every American. If I do not receive SS when I’m older because I’m fortunate enough to have saved and invested well, so be it. If my great moneymaking and investment plans fail, or I’m hit with a personal financial calamity, or Favorite Daughter empties my vault (just kidding honey), SS should be there for me.
6. The campaign to modify Social Security will be a bloodbath for this administration. The Democrats, left-wingers, and their media allies will paint this effort in the most horrible terms. Get ready for a fight, and don’t fight unless you are prepared to win.
1. Don’t privatize. Wall Street makes enough money managing our money now.
1a. Since the Republicans are the party of personal responsibility, let people be more responsible for their retirement by investing more of their money. Create some new type of IRA or increase IRA options.
2. I’m willing to pay a higher payroll tax now to ensure the money is there for SS and our future generations. Maybe the wealthy should pay a higher percentage than the less wealthy.
3. We should pay SS tax on all our income, not just the first 87,000. I always wondered what rich guy came up with that income cap.
4. Older Americans who do not need SS because they have invested well and are financially secure should not receive SS. The problem is defining "need".
5. SS is a safety net, not a right, for every American. If I do not receive SS when I’m older because I’m fortunate enough to have saved and invested well, so be it. If my great moneymaking and investment plans fail, or I’m hit with a personal financial calamity, or Favorite Daughter empties my vault (just kidding honey), SS should be there for me.
6. The campaign to modify Social Security will be a bloodbath for this administration. The Democrats, left-wingers, and their media allies will paint this effort in the most horrible terms. Get ready for a fight, and don’t fight unless you are prepared to win.
A postive comment for Delta Airlines - don't faint
Delta Airlines is changing its pricing strategy
I received this email below from Delta.
Interesting how Delta personalized it just for Bedrock Guy.
Good luck to Delta. Hope this strategy change works.
___________
Beginning January 5, 2005, Delta will have a new nationwide fare structure that will make flying more convenient, simpler and more affordable than ever.
- Fares are up to 50% lower.
- No Saturday night stay required.
- Good 365 days a year within the contiguous 48 states.
- Just 8 fares: six for Coach and two for First Class.
- Favorite Daughter will not be adversely affected EVERY time she flies on this airline
And as a SkyMiles® member, you’ll continue to earn miles every time you fly. Plus, when you purchase your round-trip ticket at delta.com. You’ll probably find it even easier to earn Medallion® status with SimpliFares because First Class and premium Coach fares — which earn the most MQM — have been significantly reduced.
No problem — from now on with SimpliFares, the change fee is only $50, no matter what. And, when you purchase a ticket at delta.com, you can. Starting today, tickets purchased over the telephone from Delta Reservations will cost $5 more and $10 more per ticket if purchased at Delta ticketing locations (e.g. CTOs, airports).
SimpliFares is just one of the many measures Delta is taking to make it easier for you to travel with us. To take full advantage of SimpliFares the next time you fly, or for more information, visit .
Sincerely,
Paul MatsenSenior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
I received this email below from Delta.
Interesting how Delta personalized it just for Bedrock Guy.
Good luck to Delta. Hope this strategy change works.
___________
Beginning January 5, 2005, Delta will have a new nationwide fare structure that will make flying more convenient, simpler and more affordable than ever.
- Fares are up to 50% lower.
- No Saturday night stay required.
- Good 365 days a year within the contiguous 48 states.
- Just 8 fares: six for Coach and two for First Class.
- Favorite Daughter will not be adversely affected EVERY time she flies on this airline
And as a SkyMiles® member, you’ll continue to earn miles every time you fly. Plus, when you purchase your round-trip ticket at delta.com. You’ll probably find it even easier to earn Medallion® status with SimpliFares because First Class and premium Coach fares — which earn the most MQM — have been significantly reduced.
No problem — from now on with SimpliFares, the change fee is only $50, no matter what. And, when you purchase a ticket at delta.com, you can. Starting today, tickets purchased over the telephone from Delta Reservations will cost $5 more and $10 more per ticket if purchased at Delta ticketing locations (e.g. CTOs, airports).
SimpliFares is just one of the many measures Delta is taking to make it easier for you to travel with us. To take full advantage of SimpliFares the next time you fly, or for more information, visit .
Sincerely,
Paul MatsenSenior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Anti-American German Media and Dan Rather for 100 Alex
More left wing, anti-American spin from the German press.
Check out Davids Medienkritik. This is a great blog which reviews, daily, what the German media says about America. German media generally finds little good to say about the America.
(Note from the editor: But, Bedrock Guy, how would you know that, since your Deutsch is embarrassingly minimal despite so much time on station?)
I know this because I read Davids Medienkritik. :o)
Does the left wing German media get its marching orders from Dan Rather?
Hey, just asking. If you read this crap from the German media every day, wouldn’t you think that?
On the other hand, I haven’t seen any fake IBM typewritten memos over here lately (fake, but accurate – I just love that line).
Check out Davids Medienkritik. This is a great blog which reviews, daily, what the German media says about America. German media generally finds little good to say about the America.
(Note from the editor: But, Bedrock Guy, how would you know that, since your Deutsch is embarrassingly minimal despite so much time on station?)
I know this because I read Davids Medienkritik. :o)
Does the left wing German media get its marching orders from Dan Rather?
Hey, just asking. If you read this crap from the German media every day, wouldn’t you think that?
On the other hand, I haven’t seen any fake IBM typewritten memos over here lately (fake, but accurate – I just love that line).
The French are upset over prominent American role in tsunami relief effort
Note to French:
1) Tough
2) Who cares what you think?
3) Read below
'Memo to Le Monde and their ilk: Get over yourselves. You are a middle power, lucky to have a U.N. Security Council seat still, and with little resources to mount the kind of operations the U.S. is currently pursuing in places like Indonesia.'
Check the link above to view the scurrilous cartoon in Le Monde and read the entire essay. Thanks to Belgravia Dispatch.
1) Tough
2) Who cares what you think?
3) Read below
'Memo to Le Monde and their ilk: Get over yourselves. You are a middle power, lucky to have a U.N. Security Council seat still, and with little resources to mount the kind of operations the U.S. is currently pursuing in places like Indonesia.'
Check the link above to view the scurrilous cartoon in Le Monde and read the entire essay. Thanks to Belgravia Dispatch.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Delta Airlines lost her bags
Can you believe it? My poor Favorite Daughter.
After slugging her way from Germany to Atlanta, going thru Customs, standing in the Customs line from hell, and rechecking her bags, Delta does it again. Delta lost her bags.
So, on 3 out of 4 Delta flights taken by Favorite Daughter since I sent her to college in America, Delta has screwed it up.
However, maybe there is hope for this airline after all. Tonight, I called the Delta International Number (the domestic number was busy - love that). A very nice lady sitting in Salt Lake City cross referenced her baggage claim number and told me the bags were sent to Favorite Daughter’s college town on the late flight. So, I called Favorite Daughter and of course, she already knew that and had picked them up.
OK, I should have let her handle it, but, hey, there was a problem, that's what Army guys do - fix things (well, we break them too, but that's another story!).
While I'm still most irritated with Delta Airlines for its treatment of Favorite Daughter on 3 of 4 flights, I did send an email to Delta tonight which stated the following:
"Hi. I want to have Delta specifically thank Ms. _________, who works in International Reservations for Delta from Salt Lake City. Tonight, I called International Resv. because Delta domestic numbers were busy. Delta lost my daughter's bags as she flew from FRA to Tallahassee. Ms. _____ did a superb job as she assisted me in determining the location of my daughter's luggage. What a pleasant experience. She gained back some points for Delta, which has caused my daughter problems in 3 of 4 flights since I sent her to America for college."
OK, end of mission. Semester starts tomorrow. Mom and Dad still depressed over absence of Favorite Daughter, but, I'm sure we will figure out how to deal with our pain.
Tonight, an old friend asked me why I blog. I think I know now. It’s therapy and a great method of "expressing my feelings." Ooh, "expressing my feelings". I think I’ll go see if I can find a Supersized Double Latte with Skim Milk and Chocolate sprinkles in the shape of a Republican Elephant on top of the foam. I'm sure the Starbucks down the street can help. Jeez, Starbucks in Deutschland. Never touch the stuff.
After slugging her way from Germany to Atlanta, going thru Customs, standing in the Customs line from hell, and rechecking her bags, Delta does it again. Delta lost her bags.
So, on 3 out of 4 Delta flights taken by Favorite Daughter since I sent her to college in America, Delta has screwed it up.
However, maybe there is hope for this airline after all. Tonight, I called the Delta International Number (the domestic number was busy - love that). A very nice lady sitting in Salt Lake City cross referenced her baggage claim number and told me the bags were sent to Favorite Daughter’s college town on the late flight. So, I called Favorite Daughter and of course, she already knew that and had picked them up.
OK, I should have let her handle it, but, hey, there was a problem, that's what Army guys do - fix things (well, we break them too, but that's another story!).
While I'm still most irritated with Delta Airlines for its treatment of Favorite Daughter on 3 of 4 flights, I did send an email to Delta tonight which stated the following:
"Hi. I want to have Delta specifically thank Ms. _________, who works in International Reservations for Delta from Salt Lake City. Tonight, I called International Resv. because Delta domestic numbers were busy. Delta lost my daughter's bags as she flew from FRA to Tallahassee. Ms. _____ did a superb job as she assisted me in determining the location of my daughter's luggage. What a pleasant experience. She gained back some points for Delta, which has caused my daughter problems in 3 of 4 flights since I sent her to America for college."
OK, end of mission. Semester starts tomorrow. Mom and Dad still depressed over absence of Favorite Daughter, but, I'm sure we will figure out how to deal with our pain.
Tonight, an old friend asked me why I blog. I think I know now. It’s therapy and a great method of "expressing my feelings." Ooh, "expressing my feelings". I think I’ll go see if I can find a Supersized Double Latte with Skim Milk and Chocolate sprinkles in the shape of a Republican Elephant on top of the foam. I'm sure the Starbucks down the street can help. Jeez, Starbucks in Deutschland. Never touch the stuff.
The U.N. and the EU - saving the world
I cannot compare my paltry blogging efforts to the work of The Diplomad, who is on the ground in South Asia. His/her comments illustrate the frustrations of dealing with the mindset inherent in organizations such as the UN and EU.
Despite them, aid will flow, hope will survive, and these communities devastated by nature will again flourish. Thanks to the men and women of the militaries and other goverment agencies making it happen in this great time of need.
Despite them, aid will flow, hope will survive, and these communities devastated by nature will again flourish. Thanks to the men and women of the militaries and other goverment agencies making it happen in this great time of need.
Doctors without Frontiers has plenty of money - to heck with the rest of you!
An Amazonian Comparison - U.S. wins again
Good article at Tech Central Station shows that the United States is not quite so stingy.
China - not even on the chart. Thought that Red China was so technologically advanced.
Now, where’s the chart on how much the Muslim nations in the world have donated to help the victims of this disaster? Anybody know of one?
I heard on the radio tonight that Muslim nations (particularly the oil based economies) have not been very generous.
Now, all you left wingers calm down. This is a battle of ideologies, not culture. Democracy, American style, wins again. Name one other nation that has a carrier battle group helping in this campaign. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Oh yeah, the European Union Battle Group. NOT!
Incidentally, America would never had made this some type of contest to see who could most help the victims of this disaster. The left wing, U.N. types, and their supporters did, the minute they called us stingy. So...enjoy the tally sheets.
America will do the right thing because, despite all the bad press coverage no matter what America does, this is what she does best, year after year. Magnanimous, compassionate giving of support in time of need. No headlines required.
But, since you asked, yes, it is the U.S. of A that's leading the way, supported in step by that great country, Australia.
EU? UN? Who? Arab League? Red China? Hello!
China - not even on the chart. Thought that Red China was so technologically advanced.
Now, where’s the chart on how much the Muslim nations in the world have donated to help the victims of this disaster? Anybody know of one?
I heard on the radio tonight that Muslim nations (particularly the oil based economies) have not been very generous.
Now, all you left wingers calm down. This is a battle of ideologies, not culture. Democracy, American style, wins again. Name one other nation that has a carrier battle group helping in this campaign. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Oh yeah, the European Union Battle Group. NOT!
Incidentally, America would never had made this some type of contest to see who could most help the victims of this disaster. The left wing, U.N. types, and their supporters did, the minute they called us stingy. So...enjoy the tally sheets.
America will do the right thing because, despite all the bad press coverage no matter what America does, this is what she does best, year after year. Magnanimous, compassionate giving of support in time of need. No headlines required.
But, since you asked, yes, it is the U.S. of A that's leading the way, supported in step by that great country, Australia.
EU? UN? Who? Arab League? Red China? Hello!
Flood this zone - left wing CNN media guy says stupid things
Now, you know darn good and well if a member of the Bush Administration or a conservative/moderate pundit had said this, the left wing hate mongers would be out in force decrying his or her sensitivity.
We’ll wait to see what happens.
We’ll wait to see what happens.
Lightweights? Oh Canada!
"There's little to say about the tragedy of Canada's response to the tsunami tragedy that hasn't already been said. A lot of excuses have been bandied about for why Canadian soldiers weren't sent, when Australia, Taiwan, Israel, and other countries despatched forces early, and the American military launched its largest operation in the area since Vietnam to try to save lives."
It's called, left wing, socialist, PC government. While the current goverment has been more friendly to the United States, that cannot be said during the period before and after 9/11.
Canadian Soldiers are superb. The heritage of the Canadian military is that of Vimy Ridge and countless other battles in support of freedom and democracy.
The track record lately, however, shows a military which needs help to do anything substantive, hence the commentary in the link. Here's hoping that someday, the Canadian military will be seen, again, as an ally to be feared and one you want on your flank in a tough fight.
It's called, left wing, socialist, PC government. While the current goverment has been more friendly to the United States, that cannot be said during the period before and after 9/11.
Canadian Soldiers are superb. The heritage of the Canadian military is that of Vimy Ridge and countless other battles in support of freedom and democracy.
The track record lately, however, shows a military which needs help to do anything substantive, hence the commentary in the link. Here's hoping that someday, the Canadian military will be seen, again, as an ally to be feared and one you want on your flank in a tough fight.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Favorite Daughter has left the building
And Favorite Wife and I are pretty depressed about it.
Favorite Daughter flew this morning.
A very interesting, and for the most part, enjoyable, 3+ weeks. After four months of empty nesting, we had this college person in our midst. Boy, do college people all sleep this much?
In many ways, she is still our high school daughter. But in so many other, very positive ways, she is now an adult and capable of making her own, correct decisions. The process is really quite remarkable to observe.
Good luck with second semester honey. We miss you.
Please, Delta, don't screw up this flight like you have the last two trips.
Favorite Daughter flew this morning.
A very interesting, and for the most part, enjoyable, 3+ weeks. After four months of empty nesting, we had this college person in our midst. Boy, do college people all sleep this much?
In many ways, she is still our high school daughter. But in so many other, very positive ways, she is now an adult and capable of making her own, correct decisions. The process is really quite remarkable to observe.
Good luck with second semester honey. We miss you.
Please, Delta, don't screw up this flight like you have the last two trips.
What has happened to the land of Winston Churchill?
A controversial play in Birmingham, England, has been cancelled, apparently because the local Sikh community was outraged over the story and the setting. The Washington Post has the story (sorry, lost the link). This outrage took the form of rioting and death threats against the writer.
The Post article stated that, "As the play was being performed on Dec. 18, hundreds of Sikh protesters attacked the building, throwing bricks, smashing windows and fighting with police. Citing the threat of further disruptions, the theater canceled the run, which started Dec. 9, but that was only the beginning of a much broader drama."
A professor of interreligious studies was quoted as saying, ""We are not against freedom of speech, but there's no right to offend."
Well, professor - WRONG. In a democracy, one has every right to offend. The parties involved then work out the differences in various forums, personal, legal, organizational, or regulatory. But, the parties resolve the issues peacefully. Rioting and thuggery are the tools of those who believe in anarchy and chaos, of those who choose fear and intimidation. Rioting over a play that offends you is not the method of one who believes in democracy.
So much for religious tolerance. Can we no longer "offend" zealots?
Of course, Britain is now a nation that puts you in jail if you defend yourself and your family during a burglary. What has happened to the land of Churchill? Tony Blair is just putting his finger in the dike. When Blair goes, and the true Labor Party takes power in Britain, it will be all downhill.
The Post article stated that, "As the play was being performed on Dec. 18, hundreds of Sikh protesters attacked the building, throwing bricks, smashing windows and fighting with police. Citing the threat of further disruptions, the theater canceled the run, which started Dec. 9, but that was only the beginning of a much broader drama."
A professor of interreligious studies was quoted as saying, ""We are not against freedom of speech, but there's no right to offend."
Well, professor - WRONG. In a democracy, one has every right to offend. The parties involved then work out the differences in various forums, personal, legal, organizational, or regulatory. But, the parties resolve the issues peacefully. Rioting and thuggery are the tools of those who believe in anarchy and chaos, of those who choose fear and intimidation. Rioting over a play that offends you is not the method of one who believes in democracy.
So much for religious tolerance. Can we no longer "offend" zealots?
Of course, Britain is now a nation that puts you in jail if you defend yourself and your family during a burglary. What has happened to the land of Churchill? Tony Blair is just putting his finger in the dike. When Blair goes, and the true Labor Party takes power in Britain, it will be all downhill.
The "military" is scared. Just ask Seymour Hersh.
The left wing journalist Seymour Harsh supposedly said that last month, during an online chat on the Washington Post net. He said that the military is afraid to tell the President the truth about Iraq.
"The military are scared of telling Cheney and Bush the truth and that will have to end within the next six months. They cannot deliver in Iraq what the president wants, and we'll have to start getting out. So I believe anyway."
Hearing a guy like Hersh talk about "truth" is always amusing. He's wrong again.
The latest example of how the military is making its analyses known is an article in the Washington Post. The article states that an Army Major on a planning staff spoke at an academic conference and circulated his work within various government channels. The article claims that MAJ Isaiah Wilson III wrote, "While there may have been 'plans' at the national level, and even within various agencies within the war zone, none of these 'plans' operationalized the problem beyond regime collapse" -- that is, laid out how U.S. forces would be moved and structured, Wilson writes in an essay that has been delivered at several academic conferences but not published. "There was no adequate operational plan for stability operations and support operations."
Now, this is just one Army Officer's review of the situation. This type of analysis is occurring throughout the military. This is the military culture. The American military reviews what occurred, analyzes what worked and what did not, and distributes the lessons learned. Army After Action Reviews can be brutal in their openness and honesty. We expect nothing less - nor should the nation.
Once again, left wing journalists have missed the mark. Their agenda takes precedence over accuracy.
"The military are scared of telling Cheney and Bush the truth and that will have to end within the next six months. They cannot deliver in Iraq what the president wants, and we'll have to start getting out. So I believe anyway."
Hearing a guy like Hersh talk about "truth" is always amusing. He's wrong again.
The latest example of how the military is making its analyses known is an article in the Washington Post. The article states that an Army Major on a planning staff spoke at an academic conference and circulated his work within various government channels. The article claims that MAJ Isaiah Wilson III wrote, "While there may have been 'plans' at the national level, and even within various agencies within the war zone, none of these 'plans' operationalized the problem beyond regime collapse" -- that is, laid out how U.S. forces would be moved and structured, Wilson writes in an essay that has been delivered at several academic conferences but not published. "There was no adequate operational plan for stability operations and support operations."
Now, this is just one Army Officer's review of the situation. This type of analysis is occurring throughout the military. This is the military culture. The American military reviews what occurred, analyzes what worked and what did not, and distributes the lessons learned. Army After Action Reviews can be brutal in their openness and honesty. We expect nothing less - nor should the nation.
Once again, left wing journalists have missed the mark. Their agenda takes precedence over accuracy.
So what is it about Christmas that so offends the left wing and its allies?
I know, Christmas is over, but this still needs to be said.
You may have been following the various forums in which once again, the attacks on Christmas have occurred across the U.S. Same type of lawsuits, same type of humorless, intolerant, "uncomfortable" individuals who complain about the inclusion of Christmas in their workplace, mall, or school event.
The debate this year has gotten a bit more press than usual, perhaps because O'Reilly at Fox has taken on the anti-Christmas crowd. While I'm a bit uncomfortable being on the same side of anything with O'Reilly, here are some of my questions:
Do the people uncomfortable with Christmas take the day off? If so, why?
Do the people uncomfortable with Christmas show the same intolerance for religious events with origins in other faiths? If not, why the intolerance for this event, Christmas, in their lives?
Do the people uncomfortable with Christmas believe that we should dispense with the entire holiday period? If not, why not? After all, would we really do anything in December if not for Christmas?
The continuing left wing attempt to de-Christmas the world is representative of so much of the intolerance shown to Christian cultures and traditions. I'm not particularly religious, but I know intolerance when I see it. I doubt the left wing would show such intolerance of other religious traditions and customs, or make such fun of people from other faiths if they defended their customs and traditions.
So...in the continuing attempt of the left wingers to show just how much they have in common with Red America, here's a left winger sarcastically discussing Christmas. Enjoy the intolerance and disgust for Christianity contained in his essay.
Mark Steyn, however, shows just how foolish are these left wing attempts to "purge" Christmas and turn us all into "Happy Holiday" types.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
The German media is blaming the U.S (again)
How come the lack of a warning system for tsunamis isn't the fault of the UN or the EU?
Wow. Is there anything in this world that cannot be blamed on the Americans?
These guys are almost as bad as CBS and Dan Rather. Notice I said "almost".
Wow. Is there anything in this world that cannot be blamed on the Americans?
These guys are almost as bad as CBS and Dan Rather. Notice I said "almost".
Next time some left wing British female says the UN should run things...
