January 31, 2008
A senior al-Qaeda commander was killed this week in Pakistan, according to Western officials and an Islamic radical Web site, marking a rare success in the flagging U.S. and Pakistani campaign to hunt down members of the network.Abu Laith al-Libi, the nom de guerre of a Libyan fighter who had served alongside al-Qaeda and the Taliban since the late 1980s, had become an influential field commander in recent years, overseeing many operations against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, officials said. The U.S. military blamed him for organizing a suicide attack that killed 23 people outside Bagram air base during a visit by Vice President Cheney in February last year.
The Western officials declined to give details of how Libi died. But there is evidence he was targeted in a missile strike that killed 12 people early Tuesday in a remote village in northwestern Pakistan.
Yeah, that's right. This is the guy who tried to get to Dick Cheney last year. Folks at Kos, DU, HuffPo and other "progressive" sites were upset that the assassination attempt was thwarted. So ask your favorite liberal how they feel about this success in the Crusade Against Islamist Terrorism, mentioning the attempt to kill the Vice president. You'll quickly find out if that if they are with us or with the terrorists.
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DAHLGREN, VA. — The Navy set a new world record for the most powerful electromagnetic railgun when it fired a test shot here Thursday morning.The gun fired an aluminum projectile at 10.68 megajoules. A joule is the work needed to produce one watt of energy for one second. A megajoule is 1 million joules.
Guests including Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Rear Adm. William Landay, head of the Office of Naval Research, witnessed the shot via a live video feed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren. The gun was launched from a control center after approximately four minutes of charging the electromagnetic rails. After the charge, the gun fired and witnesses saw a quick burst of flame as the projectile, traveling at 2,500 meters per second, or Mach 7, hit its target.
Damn -- that puts the lie to the old saying that "You can run but you can't hide". I do believe that running wouldn't even be an option, with the target truly being dead before it knew what hit it.
You can watch the video here -- just don't blink.
And I love the quote at the beginning.
"I never, ever, want to see a sailor or Marine in a fair fight."
Adm. Gary Roughead
Chief of Naval Operations
Bravo, Admiral -- and let's extend that wish to the Army and Air Force as well.
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I am therefore ready to do whatÂ’s best for the GOP and the USA.
A defiant Mike Huckabee said Thursday that there is “no way” he would drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, and he blasted the media for characterizing the race as a contest between Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.“If people think that I’m quitting, they need to get the message loud and clear. Somebody’s going to have to beat me,” said the former Arkansas governor. “There’s no way I’ll walk away.”
Do I have any volunteers to carry the stretcher after IÂ’m done with HuckaBubba?
[NOTE TO SECRET SERVICE: This is a satire.]
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), That said, I have to agree with the sentiments of Victor David Hanson, as expressed in the conclusion to his article about the difficulties raised by the Clintons creating an opportunity for GOP victory – and the possibility that my fellow conservatives will throw that victory away because of McCain’s tendency to stray off the ranch on some issues near and dear to conservatives.
The Democratic cat-fighters are doing their best to give away a once-sure general election, but the Republicans seem to be doing even more to ensure that they forfeit the unexpected gift they’ve been given.If Hillary Clinton does end up winning her party’s nomination, November’s vote may hinge on whether moderates and liberals are nauseated enough by the Clintons’ brawling and character assassination to cross over and vote for a decorated Republican war hero — that is, if his own flag-waving party doesn’t destroy him first.
Does this mean that I am in the tank for McCain? Hardly – I am still firmly behind Mitt Romney, and wish that I could have ever had a realistic hope of seeing Fred Thompson or Duncan Hunter get the nomination. But McCain may very well be my party’s candidate in a few months – and both party loyalty and love of country lead me to conclude that I may have to break my resolution to never vote for John McCain. After all, I may be faced with a choice between a moderately conservative candidate who takes some positions I find disturbing and unacceptable and atruly liberal one who is even less acceptable – how can I just stand by or act affirmatively in a manner that makes the less acceptable one our next president?
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ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Senator Hillary Clinton, in an interview with ABC News' Cynthia McFadden for ABC News' Nightline, was asked about President Clinton’s controversial comments about race and Senator Obama in the past weeks. Clinton apologized for her husband.“I think whatever he said which was certainly never intended to cause any kind of offense to anyone,” Clinton said, “if it did give offenses then I take responsibility and I’m sorry about that.”
"Can you control him?" asked McFadden.
“Oh of course,” Clinton replied.
She was so obviously in control in the 1990s, when she and Bill lied their way through Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Juanita Broderick, Katheleen Willey and Monica Lewinsky, not to mention Travelgate. The man has no self-control, and he clearly doesnÂ’t submit himself to the control of his wife (who should have gelded him). I guess this is just one more Hillary Clinton lie!
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A Houston firefighter who suffered serious injuries while fighting a Jan. 21 house fire took a turn for the worse this week, his wife said through a union Internet site."The doctors were thinking he was looking great over the weekend but he has taken a turn for the worse," said Irene Everette, wife of Brandon Everette, who is at Memorial Hermann Hospital. "We were told by the doctors to remain optimistic but there is no guarantee."
The message from Irene Everette was posted Tuesday on the Web site of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341 Web site.
Everette and two other men were fighting a mid-day blaze at a home on Gnarled Chestnut Court near Vermont Green Trail when a portion of the ceiling collapsed on them and dislodged Everette's protective air mask.
Everette, a 5-year department veteran, has been listed in critical condition since his lungs were damaged.
This week, his wife asked people to pray for improvement.
And the Everettes are definitely in my prayers, and I hope all of you will join in on that, according to your beliefs and traditions.
The full post from Irene Everette is here.
And if you are able to help the family in a more tangible way, donations can be made to the Brandon Everette benefit account No. 232359 at shared branch credit unions, including Chocolate Bayou Community FCU; Transtar FCU; Chevron FCU; American Airlines FCU; Amoco FCU; Texas CU Service Centers; JSC FCU; Coastal Community FCU; Greater Texas FCU; First Community CU and others. For information, contact the association at 713-223-9166.
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Mitt Romney plans to buy TV ads in California and other Super Tuesday states, contradicting earlier reports that he was avoiding a costly campaign on Feb. 5, when 21 states hold Republican primaries and caucuses.
As Romney seeks to topple John McCainÂ’s momentum coming out of his win in the Florida primary and a host of big-name endorsements, top aides said RomneyÂ’s ad buys will be high-dollar.The campaign will determine shortly which states it will target beyond California.
Romney’s advisers had given him several options, ranging from spending $1 million for ads to $7 million. It was not immediately clear how much money Romney was willing to spend — or whether the multimillionaire would dip into his own bank account again. He already has poured at least $40 million into his presidential campaign.Romney will likely be the first GOP candidate on air in the Super Tuesday states, the broadest battleground of the primary season.
And that is, of course, the big question. Where does he advertise and how much does he spend. Should he focus on proportional states, winner-take-all states, and which ones does he view as competitive. Is it a small state strategy or a large state one? Lots of variables here – and we’ll know the results when nearly half the country votes in less than a week.
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January 30, 2008
Heck, I'm even shocked about this crap coming from a bastion of liberal lunacy like Berkeley.
Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley last night.Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.
"By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth," said PhoeBe sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. "I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand."
Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.
The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city.
In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.
While the Marines are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders", al-Qaeda and the Taiban are no doubt welcome as contributors to the city's diversity. And oddly enough, illegal aliens (who are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders under American law) don't get that sort of treatment in Berkeley. Frankly, Berkeley is an uninvited and unwelcome intruder in the United States.
So let's see -- rejection and condemnation off the troops. Opposition to their mission of protecting the country. Interference with recruitment. Granting preferential treatment to the fifth column that puts Americas enemies before Americas fighting men and women.
Yep -- damn straight I'm questioning the patriotism of the entire frickin' population of Berkeley.
And I love the fact that these morons are attempting to put a city ordinance on a higher plane than the constitutional responsibilities of the US government.
It is time for a Solomon Amendment to strip federal funds from places like Berkeley due to their official attempts to interfere with military recruiting. it is sedition, plain and simple.
And I repeat my comment from the other day -- has the time come for the United States to secede from Berkeley, and build a border fence around it to keep such undesirables out of the country?
H/T Malkin
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In a major boost for John McCain, Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney signaled Wednesday he's not ready to finance a costly campaign in the states holding primaries and caucuses next week.
* * * Several officials said that on the heels of a defeat in Tuesday's Florida primary, Romney's campaign was not attempting to purchase television advertising time in any of the 21 states on the calendar for Feb. 5.Instead, the former Massachusetts governor's current plans call for campaigning in California and other primary states, said the officials, who had knowledge of the internal discussions. There would be organizational efforts primarily for caucus states.
I'd expected Romney to run hard to a possible brokered convention. But if this is the strategy, it appears he is preparing to concede the race after Super Tuesday -- a rather surprising development. Does the polling data show that the primary voters are going to break that sharply for McCain that the extra effort many of us (especially those of us supporting Mitt from the beginning) had expected would be superfluous? Will Tsunami Tuesday be the last hurrrah for the GOP nomination process?
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Such incidents happen all the time when you are working with old vehicles. Imagine needing a Beetle engine. Over the years, parts have changed and technology has been updated. In such an instance, BFY Obsolete Parts is the best place to find Volkswagen and Porsche replacement parts.
At BFYObsoleteParts.com you can find almost any part that you need. You can browse their “Parts Book” or just use the search bar. And if you can’t find an item in their catalog just call them to check if it is available.
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And they might have a hard time of it in states they need to win, like Arkansas and Tennessee.
Not that the GOP candidates have much positive to recommend them in the eyes of the swing voters.
Beyond Super Tuesday, there may be trouble for the Democrats. Swing voters perceive both front-runners as too liberal, though Mrs. Clinton has support in Arkansas because her husband remains popular. But here in Maury County, which has voted Democratic and Republican in the last three decades, none expressed enthusiasm for Mrs. Clinton.Similar unease was voiced in Yell County, Ark., another place that has swung back and forth, where some were quick to say that Mr. ObamaÂ’s race was not prohibitive for them personally but could well be for others.
Only John Edwards, a fellow Southerner but now considered an also-ran, met with broad approval from independents who were interviewed in the Tennessee county; in Arkansas, Mrs. Clinton’s most ardent supporters in the undulating “Free State of Yell” — so called because of a history of electoral eccentricity — conceded that they knew plenty who were just as sharply opposed to her candidacy.
Former Bush voters disillusioned with the president said flatly they would not vote for Mr. Obama, while others expressed disappointment with the available choices. Meanwhile, Republicans, even those critical of Mr. Bush, said that the too-liberal Democratic choices left them more solidly than ever with their party, though none voiced great enthusiasm for the field.
Frankly, I hear stuff like that a lot this year from folks in Texas. There isn't great enthusiasm for any of the GOP candidates, but there is discomfort with and opposition to the remaining Democrats. That party has moved to the Left of the voters (something I hear from Republicans and Democrats), but the GOP candidates are all flawed and rather uninspiring.
Frankly, I think that this year we could see "None of the Above" win if that option were on the ballot -- because voters would like a different choice.
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That's where Empire Stockbroker comes in. They offer Series 7 training, including classroom coursework, home study materials (such as their Series 7 Books), and an online testing program designed to help individuals pass their test the first time. They offer similar programs for other licensing tests in the field.I know I wouldn't want to have to take one of these tests more than once, especially with my job or a promotion on the line.
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First, there was this pair of zingers from Barack Obama, tagging both Clintons.
"I know it is tempting — after another presidency by a man named George Bush — to simply turn back the clock, and to build a bridge back to the 20th century," the Illinois senator said in Denver."... It's not enough to say you'll be ready from Day One — you have to be right from Day One," he added in unmistakable criticisms of Clinton, who often claims she's better prepared to govern, and her husband, who pledged during his own presidency to build a bridge to the 21st century.
Not that liberals are particularly known for providing much in the way of progress, despite trying to hide behind the title of "progressive" instead of liberal.
But Hillary Clinton also got her jab in.
"That certainly sounds audacious, but not hopeful," said Clinton, in a play on the title of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope." "It's not hopeful and it's not what we should be talking about in this campaign," said Clinton, suggesting Obama was abandoning the core of his campaign.
Not nearly as good, in my opinion -- how many people are really aware of the title of the book?
But most amusing was this comment made by the New York Senator.
n the AP interview, Clinton vowed to take the high road and warned that voters in the mega-primaries next week expect that."I'm going to continue to talk to people about what we need to do in our country to try to lift people up, to keep focused on the future to be very specific about what I want to do as president because I want to be held accountable," said Clinton.
Taking the high road? Being accountable? A Clinton? Since when?
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There are reasons some people reach and maintain a level of happiness in spite of adversity. According to some, one good way to do so is via the Sedona Method if you are seeking to incorporate this kind of emotional peace in your own life. These people will attest that it is not some kind of new-age psycho-mumbo-jumbo. It is really quite simple, involving the application of some common sense methods of maintaining good mental health.
The Sedona Method teaches how to get out of your own way so that you can enjoy happiness. After all, many people act in ways that tend to sabotage their health, happiness and success through negative thinking, beliefs and attitudes. It can be difficult to change these belief systems because they are so deeply ingrained. Emotions influence how we perceive everything around us and motivates us to act in certain ways. The Sedona Method helps you master your emotions and thought processes so that you take control of your own life, teaching you happiness habits.
In other words, the negative habits and emotional scars that are interfering with your ability to enjoy your life can be overcome with this simple method. Get the free CD and see if its something that you can benefit from.
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A Houston Chronicle blog asks readers to vote on the question: Is Angelina Jolie pregnant?Perhaps I have been in a coma for a decade or so and donÂ’t realize the scientific advancements that have made online polls powerful enough to make a celebrity with child! I can only pity Brad and Angelina as they wring their hands waiting on the decision from the Chronicle.
Will tomorrowÂ’s Chron ask whether it should be a boy or girl?
I understand that celebrity news might perk up the circulation of the local rag (which we just allowed to lapse), but this question is utterly ridiculous – hence the necessity of ridiculing it.
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Denmark's national library is to risk re-opening an international political storm by housing the cartoon images of the prophet Muhammad that provoked violent convulsions throughout the Islamic world two years ago.The royal library in Copenhagen - founded in the 17th century by King Frederik III and home to many historic treasures - has declared the drawings to be of historic value and is trying to acquire them for "preservation purposes".
The library, widely acknowledged as the most significant in Scandinavia, has agreed to take possession of the caricatures on behalf of the museum of Danish cartoon art, a spokesman told the Art Newspaper.
Congratulations to Denmark for taking a stand for freedom once again. They are standing before the surging barbarian horde, intent upon remaining free men and women rather than submitting to yoke of those who would enslave them.
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But not if you are dealing with zero tolerance.
Two teenagers have been kicked out of school for kissing on a school bus, and now their families are challenging the decision.Dominique Goyner and his girlfriend were expelled by the Richland County District Two school board in October for the rest of the academic year.
School officials told Jody Free her son was being removed from school for "sexual misconduct."
But Free saw the tape and says it showed the pair kissing for maybe two minutes. Had it been anything different, she said she would have supported the school's decision.
Her son said he knew he was breaking a rule but was shocked by school's response. He says he hopes the expulsion won't stop him from attending a military academy after graduation.
Was the lip-lock inappropriate. Yeah, probably. But an expulsion? That is insane! But I guess consensual kissing is the equivalent of forcible rape in the eyes of this South Carolina school board, and so the offenders need to be removed from school for the safety of their classmates.
Looks to me like the Richland Taliban Party has won control of that school board.
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John Edwards, the progressive Democratic candidate who made a populist, antipoverty message the centerpiece of his campaign, announced his exit from the presidential primary race on Wednesday, saying he was stepping aside “so that history can blaze its path.”Mr. Edwards announced his decision at the same place where he began his candidacy in January 2006 — the Ninth Ward neighborhood in New Orleans — using a row of homes that had been badly damaged from Hurricane Katrina as his backdrop. He did not endorse either of his two chief rivals, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, but he said he had spoken to them by phone and asked them both to continue drawing attention to the primary themes of his campaign.
The no endorsement strategy is interesting – it will likely boost Obama, while allowing Edwards to negotiate with Clinton for a possible position in the cabinet. Rumor has it that Obama has previously offered him the Attorney General slot in a future administration.
On the other hand, as we knew last night, Rudy is out of the race as well.
Rudolph W. Giuliani, the combative New York City mayor who rose to national prominence during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, formally ended his presidential campaign on Wednesday and declared that he would throw his support to the candidacy of Senator John McCain.“John McCain is the most qualified candidate to be the next commander in chief of the United States,” Mr. Giuliani said. “He is an American hero.”
Mr. Giuliani made his announcement at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., just hours before the candidates took the stage there for a debate. His decision, on a day that also saw the Democratic contender John Edwards bow out of the race, followed a devastating defeat for Mr. Giuliani in TuesdayÂ’s Republican primary in Florida. After a series of early primary losses, Mr. Giuliani had made a great effort to win over Florida voters, but finished in a distant third to Mr. McCain in the polling.
Standing next to Mr. McCain at a podium in the library, Mr. Giuliani said that “it is appropriate to make this announcement hear at the Reagan library because President Reagan’s leadership remains and inspiration both for John McCain and myself.”
I have to wonder what prompted the endorsement -- is Giuliani the presumptive VP candidate or Attorney General (or Secretary of Homeland Security, for that matter)? His place in the Republican coalition makes it imperative that McCain find someplace for him in that administration. Then again, I can't imagine any GOP administration following this election that did not include Giuliani -- something I cannot say for John Edwards on the Democrat side.
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That is the reason for title insurance. Title companies have already given you the assurance that there are no blemishes or blots on your title to the property – at least none that they can discover in the public records. The title insurance will then cover any undiscovered claims growing out of the unrecorded or overlooked circumstances that could threaten your investment.
After the purchase of title insurance, title insurance company protect you by defending your title in the face of subsequent claims, taking the matter to court if necessary. They also cover the cost of settling the claim if it proves to be a valid one. They are there to protect your title and help you maintain your possession of your property.
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January 29, 2008
And most importantly, I expected the final margin to be no more than two points.
Which is why I am shocked by the results of yesterday's voting -- McCain by 5 points.
Senator John McCain defeated Mitt Romney on Tuesday to win the delegate-rich Florida primary, solidifying his transformation to the Republican front-runner and dealing a devastating blow to the presidential hopes of Rudolph W. Giuliani.Republican officials said after Mr. GiulianiÂ’s distant third-place finish that he was likely to endorse Mr. McCain, possibly as early as Wednesday in California. They said the two candidatesÂ’ staffs were discussing the logistics of an endorsement.
The results were a decisive turning point in the Republican race, effectively winnowing the field to Mr. McCain and Mr. Romney, two candidates with very different backgrounds who have little affection for one another but share a similar challenge in winning over elements of the party suspicious of their ideological credentials.
This was a pretty decisive victory, and I have to agree that it does narrow the field to only two significant candidates. As noted above, reports indicate that Rudy Giuliani will be withdrawing today, while Huckabee's fourth-place finish likely shows him to have been a flash-in-the-pan, despite his plan to soldier on through Tsunami Tuesday next week.
What does this mean for the GOP race? A couple of things, as I see it.
First, John McCain is the obvious front-runner, and Mitt Romney needs to do spectacularly well in a week to regain his momentum and avoid becoming this year's Ted Kennedy to McCain's Jimmy Carter, carrying a hopeless fight to the convention floor.
Second, the endorsements that McCain has been lining up seem to be creating a pool of potential VPs and Cabinet choices. Either Thompson or Giuliani would be a good choice for VP (perhaps Thompson to appeal tot he conservatives), while the other would be a fantastic Attorney General -- assuming he didn't tap Ted Olson for that spot.. Duncan Hunter would make a fine Secretary of Defense.
However, all is not lost for Romney. He is running a credible campaign this year, and is not out of it yet. A strong showing on Tsunami Tuesday could revers the momentum shift of Florida -- and propel him to the Presidency. And he has been a strong enough candidate this year to be a force in 2012 if he does not win the nomination in 2008, which might well be a better place for Romney if he has presidential ambitions that extend beyond this November. Maybe he is this year's Reagan to McCain's Gerald Ford.
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After all, to do so would show that the only lie in "Bush lied us into war" is coming from the mouth of those defaming the President. The folks at Washington Hotlist make the case.
[U]nfortunately, many liberals have either ignored the story or have simply refused to put a legitimate portion of thought into what it alleges.
Saddam Hussein let the world think he had weapons of mass destruction to intimidate Iran and prevent the country from attacking Iraq, according to an FBI agent who interviewed the dictator after his 2003 capture.But wait, I thought George W. Bush made up those pesky rumors about weapons of mass destruction? After all, he needed to even the score for his daddy, whilst securing rich oil reserves. Right?
Typically, IÂ’d have my doubts about the political slant coming from CBS, but now that Dan Rather is gone, IÂ’ll take my chances. According to a CBS report, Saddam Hussein told the FBI that he did not anticipate a U.S.-led invasion over the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction.
<According to FBI agent George Piro, “For him, it was critical that he was seen as still the strong, defiant Saddam. He thought that (faking having the weapons) would prevent the Iranians from reinvading Iraq.”But, the most telling portion of the article:
“He told me that he initially miscalculated…President Bush’s intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998…a four-day aerial attack. He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack,” Piro said.So, not only did Hussein spread and then maintain his own lies about weapons possession, but also he was willing to place his people in danger pending a small-scale aerial attack. All for the sake of power and pride.
And what of that four-day attack in 1998? In political terms, the ineffectiveness of the preemptive strike Hussein recalled – and its very real and literal power to embolden Hussein (after all, it was the sole reason he believed the U.S. would wimp out) proves that many Democrats (cough, cough – Clinton) have no backbone when it comes to dealing with international criminals and their governments. Had Clinton actually done his job properly, we wouldn’t even be talking about this right now. Instead, he chose to start a job he didn’t intend to finish.
But wait, thereÂ’s more:
“Hussein had the ability to restart the weapons program and professed to wanting to do that, Piro said.“He wanted to pursue all of WMD…to reconstitute his entire WMD program.”
If you are sensible, you will take the following away from the aforementioned details: Saddam Hussein successfully tricked the American people (and portions of the international community) into believing that he had reignited his weapons program. He did so for political purposes, although he did actually hope to one day possess weapons he would have no doubt used against his enemies (America, included). Then, when the U.S. bought into his insanity and just so happened to have a president with enough sense to stop taking HusseinÂ’s threats for granted, America reacted.
Unfortunately for the left, this debunks many mistaken notions. Bush did not lie or manipulate information. He simply worked with the same evidence that John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and other leading Democrats consulted. They, too, voted for the war (not Bill, of course) based on the same intelligence information. And not for anything, but if they are going to allege being manipulated by a man whose intelligence they regularly degrade and belittle, then they are even more absurd than I previously thought – and consequently even more foolish then they claim Bush is.
Now lets look at that.
Saddam wanted the world to believe he had (or was working to acquire) WMDs. Saddam was willing to risk a Clinton-style bombing attack on his nation because he had become convinced that the United States lacked the will to do more, based upon the repeated weak-kneed response of Bill Clinton to his provocations during the 1990s. What's more, it was his goal and his intent to restart the WMD programs, and he was just waiting for the opportunity.
Now remember -- those are the assertions of Saddam to his interrogator -- words which exculpate George W. Bush, a man for whom Saddam had no love. They do a great deal to explain why EVERY MAJOR INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN THE WORLD believed Saddam was seeking WMDs.
So you can make the claim that "Bush lied" -- but only if you want to willfully ignore the facts.
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The body of a baby boy was discovered this morning in the grass near the side of a Galveston road, police said.The body, described as a child between 4-months and 6-months-old, was discovered about 10 a.m. near Seawall Boulevard and Ferry Road, Lt. Jorge Trevino said.
"A couple was driving on Cherry Hill and saw what they thought was a doll," Trevino said. But something looked odd and they stopped and discovered the body next to a child's car seat, he said.
Trevino said it appeared that the child may have been thrown from the car while sitting in the car seat.
I cannot fathom how one could kill one’s own child – much less dump the body like a bag of litter along the side of the road. There are so many of us who would love to hold that child and call him (or her) our own. I pray that the authorities quickly locate the responsible parties, and that they are soon sentence to death for this heinous crime.
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Margaret Truman, the only child of former President Harry S. Truman who became a concert singer, actress, radio and TV personality and mystery writer, died Tuesday. She was 83.Truman, known as Margaret Truman Daniel in private life, died at a Chicago assisted living facility following a brief illness, according to a statement from the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence. She had been at the facility for the past several weeks and was on a respirator, the library said.
Living 83 years has to be called a good long life – and this lady made the most of it. She crossed every facet of the entertainment industry during her lifetime, becoming a noted author of a series of entertaining mystery novels at an age when most folks are starting to slow down and contemplate retirement.
But my favorite story is this one – one which reminds us that every president is human, and that it is human nature for a parent to defend a child.
She made her professional singing debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947 and gave her first Carnegie Hall concert two years later. Critics generally praised her poise but were less impressed with her vocal talent.When Washington Post critic Paul Hume wrote after a 1950 concert that she ''is extremely attractive on the stage ... (but) cannot sing very well. She is flat a good deal of the time,'' her father fired off a note on White House stationery scolding Hume for a ''lousy review.''
''I have never met you, but if I do you'll need a new nose and plenty of beefsteak and perhaps a supporter below,'' the president wrote.
The note made Page One news -- but was not the sort of publicity an aspiring artist seeks. Years later she was able to laugh about it: ''I thought it was funny. Sold tickets.''
Yes, she was truly “Daddy’s little girl”.
To her surviving family, I offer my condolences on this great loss of a true lady.
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January 28, 2008
State Sen. Kyle Janek (R-Houston) has called a press conference tomorrow (Jan. 29) in Austin at which time, sources say, he will announce that the he is resigning his seat in the Texas Senate.JanekÂ’s sprawling District 17 takes in much of eastern Fort Bend County, including most of Sugar Land and Missouri City, as well as parts of Harris, Brazoria, Wharton, Galveston, Chambers and Jefferson counties.
When contacted Monday afternoon, Janek would not comment other than to say that the press conference would involve his future plans. Two state capitol sources, however, confirmed to FortBendNow.com that Janek has told some fellow senators of his plans and that he will give up his seat in the upper chamber effective March 10.
“He’s notified some of his (senate) colleagues and the state GOP leadership of his intention to resign,” one source who asked not to be named said. “He’s going to make it official tomorrow at the press conference.
The same source said that speculation is rampant about what Janek will do in the future.
This is a reasonably conservative district. It should stay Republican -- but the question comes down to when there will be an election to fill the vacancy. And since the district is more conservative than Janek, we should see a conservative win the seat.
And, of course, what Janek's plans are now that he is leaving office. This one is quite curious.
UPDATE: The Houston Chronicle has more.
Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, who moved his family to Austin several months ago, will announce on Tuesday that he is resigning from the state Senate on March 10.His resignation will require Gov. Rick Perry to call a special election to fill the remainder of the term, which runs through January 2011.
The governor's office declined to comment, but the next uniform election date would be May 10, and a number of candidates could file for the seat in the heavily Republican district, which includes parts of Harris County and five neighboring counties.
Former Harris County Republican Chairman Gary Polland, who unsuccessfully challenged Janek in 2006, and state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land, said Monday they are considering the Senate race.
Howard said his first goal is winning the March 4 primary for his own House seat over two GOP challengers. Win or lose, he would be free to run for the Senate in a special election two months later.
But still no word on why, or his future plans.
And interestingly enough, not one Democrat mentioned as a possible challenger for the seat.
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Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney traded blistering attacks in Florida on Monday morning, a day before the stateÂ’s Republican primary.Mr. Romney questioned Mr. McCainÂ’s commitment to conservatism, citing a series of bipartisan bills Mr. McCain sponsored with Senate Democrats, while Mr. McCain accused the former Massachusetts governor of flip-flopping on major issues.
Mr. McCain, speaking at a shipyard in Jacksonville, swatted aside Mr. Romney’s charge that he is a “liberal Democrat” by saying: “He is consistent. He has consistently taken both sides of every major issue. He has consistently flip-flopped on every major issue.”
He cited Mr. Romney’s support as governor for a regional greenhouse gas emissions control program, for a lenient policy toward illegal immigrants and for campaign finance revisions, all positions he has reversed as a presidential candidate. “People, just look at his record as governor,” Mr. McCain said. “He has been entirely consistent. He has consistently taken two sides of every major issue, sometimes more than two. So congratulations.”
Now this sort of stuff has got to be dialed back and toned down if we are to have any sort of chance at unifying the party. Charges and counter-charges can't be papered over today like they were in decades past -- anyone with a modem can find them all on the internet, and I'm sure that the Democrats are archiving a great many stories full of juicy quotes. We need to let the Democrats continue their self-destructive race between Hillary and Obama while unifying around a consensus candidate -- and possibly a ticket with both of these men on it.
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Park West Gallery is one of AmericaÂ’s premiere fine art galleries. They conduct art auctions throughout the United States and Canada, dealing in the works of such diverse individuals as Chen Alexander, Friz Freleng, and Pierre-Aguste Renoir.
I find it particularly interesting that the company has expanded its horizons to include taking art and auctions onto the high seas. Park West at Sea holds auctions on cruise ships
Park West Art Gallery is a well-respected player in the field of art. If you love fine art, a stop by their site would be well-worth your time.
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But I want to offer some praise here. We may be seeing some growth on his part as a human being.
The date was Oct. 15, 1995, the place Washington, D.C. On the eve of the Million Man March, a rally organized by the Nation of Islam, the organization's youth minister was ready with rhetoric and venom.Angered by Jewish protests over a conference dedicated to "the black Holocaust," 24-year-old Quanell X told the gathering that offended Jews "can go straight to hell," then expounded on his sentiments to a Chicago Tribune reporter.
"The real deal is this: Black youth do not want a relationship with the Jewish community or the mainstream white community or the foot-shuffling, head-bowing, knee-bobbing black community," Quanell said. "I say to Jewish America: Get ready ... knuckle up, put your boots on because we're ready and the war is going down."
A dozen years later, Houston's best-known black activist says he has changed. He is not only older but wiser, no longer beholden to revolutionary politics or an angry young man's immature view of the world.
Now Quanell has something else to tell Jews: He's sorry. He was wrong, he says. And though it may anger some in his community — perhaps to the point of threats to his safety — he wants to make amends.
Toward that end, he toured the Holocaust Museum Houston on Monday afternoon in the company of its executive director and chair-elect. He appeared moved by what he saw and learned, much of it for the first time. Quanell later expressed sorrow that he would have chosen remarks offensive and threatening to people who endured the horrors of Nazi concentration camps.
"I apologize to every Jewish (Holocaust) survivor that may have heard anything I have ever said," Quanell said at the end of his tour, which culminated with his placing a stone at an outside memorial, a Jewish custom at a gravesite. "How could I say anything in a vile, malicious or repugnant manner to anyone who has been in one of these camps? I should have never threatened like that.
"I seek the forgiveness of every survivor who has heard the words I've said," he continued. "I did not say them in the proper manner to make the point I was trying to get across. I can see and understand how they might be utterly paranoid (of) a person such as myself."
I'm willing to presume the sincerity on the part of Quanell X. I'm willing to respect the words here and the possibility that thy are from the heart. And while I do not understand how a man can reach his mid-thirties in this country without an awareness of the fundamental facts of the Holocaust, I'm prepared to believe that he has learned something of value and has begun a process of change.
But I wonder -- when will we hear an apology for his armed body guards shoving a WWII vet to the ground for daring to question Quanell (or is it Mr. X? I'll follow the Chronicle's stylisic lead here) about his rhetoric and positions? When will he make amends (from his nice suburban home) for his public revocation of the "ghetto pass" of a Houston politician who dared to vote against the demands of Quanell X and his radical constituency? When will we get an apology for this call to violence against whites?
"If you feel that you just got to mug somebody because of your hurt and your pain, go to River Oaks and mug you some good white folks. If youÂ’re angry that our brother is put to death, donÂ’t burn down your own community, give these white folks hell from the womb to the tomb."
It is my hope that Quanell X has turned over a new leaf and is out to promote harmony. But you have to understand my feelings, and those of many in this community, that we will have to "trust but verify" on this one.
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Senator Edward M. Kennedy implored Americans on Monday to “reject the counsels of doubt and calculation,” as he extended his endorsement and placed the aura of his family’s name around the presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.“It is time again for a new generation of leadership,” Mr. Kennedy said, speaking over a crowd of cheering supporters here at American University. “It is time now for Barack Obama.”
Let me do some math. I turn 45 in a few weeks. During my lifetime, there has never been so much as one second that Teddy Kennedy has not been a serving member of the United States Senate. Indeed, he assumed office a full sixteen weeks before my birth. He is part of a family that has turned dynasticism and nepotistic privilege into an art form.
I'll take his "new generation of leadership" comments seriously when he demands that all members of the Kennedy Klan, starting with himself, resign from public office and retire from public life.
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Picture this -- a place overlooking the Sea of Cortez, where you can soak up the sunÂ’s rays in Sonora.
Such places are the specialty of the folks at Oceano-Rentals.com, where you can book your very own Rocky Point vacation rental, complete with luxury beach-front accommodations.
Imagine -- a beautiful Santa Fe style house, loaded up with every amenity. Or maybe you want a townhouse near the beach. Or perhaps just a condo with an ocean view. Whatever you want, you can reserve it right now.
And best of all, you are dealing with a US-based company when you make the arrangements. All transactions conducted in American funds, so you won’t need to worry about exchange rates. You can even pick up your keys at their American office and continue your drive to Mexico – the office is right on your way through Arizona, only an hour from the border.
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And what a post I was directed to by Andrew Sullivan -- a rather thorough listing of various varieties of pizza, classified in so complete a manner as to virtually have them classified with phylum, genus, and species.
Last week on Serious Eats, community member HeartofGlass asked: "How many different kinds of regional varations of pizza exist?"
I figured I'd compile a list of all the styles I've eaten or heard or read about. Sorry it took so long, HeartofGlass. It's a long list, and it appears after the jump.
I’ve got to tell you – the listing itself is mouthwatering, with enough variety to fill a couple of weeks of dining pleasure (assuming you could do all the travel necessary to eat them all).
My personal favorite? The Stuffed Pizza.
Stuffed PizzaAnother Chicago specialty that is often confused with deep dish because of its similarity. It's assembled and cooked in a similar manner to deep dish, but it has a top layer of crust and is usually taller and more densely packed with toppings.
YouÂ’ll sometimes encounter this with a layer of toppings on top of that top layer of crust, for a great gastronomical experience. And the Deep Dish Pizza right above it in the listing is a near second in my book, and is done admirably down here in the Houston area at J. ChristopherÂ’s on Atascocita Road in Humble and Northpark Road in Kingwood, as well as at their sister restaurant, OÂ’BrennanÂ’s on Marina Bay Drive in League City (near Kemah).
And then there is this pizza heresy, a cursed concoction that I pray never to be confronted with again – Saint Louis-Style Pizza.
Saint Louis–Style
Might be mistaken for a Chicago thin crust at first, just on looks—and maybe for the fact that Saint Louis and Chicago are only a few hundred miles apart. But this style's very thin, crackerlike crust is unleavened. And it's topped with a special three-cheese blend (provolone, Swiss, white cheddar) called Provel that's used in place of mozzarella (and sometimes, but not often, in addition to mozzarella). Like Chicago thin crust, it's usually done party cut. Imo's Pizza is thought to be the originator.
Let me add that it is every bit as awful as it sounds, and is one of the few things that I do not miss about my years living in the St. Louis area.
Anyway, folks – dig in to your favorite!
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Andrew McCarthy points out that John McCain is permitted to go on television and make all the false attacks he wants against Mitt Romney free from legal penalty, but that it would be a crime for American citizens to buy a television ad to refute McCain.
I'm starting to think Sen. McCain should not be allowed to mention the other candidates' names within 30 days before a primary. I mean, he levels an allegation about Romney that's just flat not true, and if some organization wanted to run an ad calling him on it, they would be in violation of his "reform" of campaign finance regulations. What a racket!
Yeah, it is a scam – protecting politicians from the consequences of their own words and actions during the time period when citizens deserve the maximum possible information about them.
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January 27, 2008
A former San Antonio police officer set to be sentenced this week for allowing his live-in girlfriend to deal methamphetamine was hired by the department in 1994 despite being rejected two years earlier for reasons including a drunken driving conviction, a newspaper reports.Background investigators also concluded that Joseph Anthony Evans tried to hide a criminal trespass arrest, a hit-and-run conviction and an internal investigation of sexual misconduct at a corrections officer job. He'd also been rejected by Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
San Antonio police had also originally denied Evans a badge because polygraphs showed deceptive or inconclusive answers to questions ranging from illegal drug use to stealing from employers.
"Joseph Evans is not San Antonio Police Department officer material," investigator Ignacio Cantu wrote in a 1992 memo recommending rejection.
Good grief! Upon what basis would any police department ever hire this guy?
Oh -- maybe this one.
Two officials involved in the hiring of Evans, who is black, say other applicants recommended for rejection during the administration of Chief William O. Gibson also were let onto the police force when the department was under pressure to meet affirmative action goals.Sandoval, who retired in 1997, said he overrode other rejections from applicant screeners amid political pressure from City Hall to hire more black and female officers.
* * * [Former police academy commander Larry] Birney said he remembers none of the episode. But he did recall that Evans wasn't the only rejected minority applicant whom Sandoval hired over his objections.
"I wouldn't say it was common but it wasn't uncommon, either. I can tell you horror stories," said Birney, who declined to talk further on the record.
See what happens when one puts the color of someone's skin over the content of their character. You loose the latter to get the former -- and in the process do harm to the very institution you were trying to improve.
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D; 
PP
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Gordon B. Hinckley, 97, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and an energetic grandson of pioneers who led his denomination during a period of great expansion in membership and facilities, died last night at his home in Salt Lake City, a church spokeswoman said.In 1995, after many years in leadership posts in what is often called the Mormon church, Hinckley became president. He was the 15th person to hold that post.
The president of the church is held in special regard by the members, who see him as a prophet of God "in the same way they revered the prophets of scripture," according to material posted on the church's Web site.
Hinckley underwent cancer surgery in 2006, but church spokeswoman Kim Farah said last night that "the cause [of his death] was incident to his age."
Despite his age, Farah said, Hinckley had remained active and was coming in to the office as recently as last week.
The church said it did not expect a successor to be formally chosen until after Hinckley's funeral "within the next few days."
One need not be a Mormon to respect the work that this man did on behalf of his church. During his tenure the number of temples around the world more than doubled -- indeed, it is said that Hinckley personally dedicated some 95 of the church's 124 active temples during his lifetime (some prior to assuming the leadership of the LDS Church, due to the age and health of his predecessors).
And yet what I find interesting about this man is the great love for this man held by the young people of his church, a love that I am told was widely reciprocated. When I visited the home of some dear friends who recently married, my wife and I noted that they had a small picture of Hinckley on their wall, along with a large plaque that included a list of several traits for upright living. I didn't make a connection between the two until my wife asked about the latter, and our friend told us that the plaque was a list of traits that Hinckley had advised young people to cultivate in their lives. It was profound in its spiritual simplicity, rather in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
1. Be grateful. Express appreciation to everyone who does us a favor or assists us in any way.
2. Be smart. The Lord wants us to train our minds and hands to become an influence for good.
3. Be clean. We live in a world filled with filth and sleaze. We cannot afford to let it touch us. We should not be disrespectful of the body which the Lord has given us.
4. Be true. Let us be loyal to the Church under all circumstances. The authorities of this Church will lead us in paths of happiness.
5. Be humble. The meek and the humble are those who are teachable.
6. Be prayerful. Look to the Lord for understanding and guidance, and walk according to His precepts and commandments.
As I've said in the past, I am not a Mormon and find myself in stark disagreement with much of its distinctive theology. But for all that, I am saddened by the passing of Gordon R. Hinckley, who by all accounts was a good and decent man, and I offer my condolences to his family and the members of the faith he led with great dignity and love.
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Unfortunately, some of you may need to. Indeed, the day may not be far off when my wife and I find it necessary to do so as she loses her mobility..
IÂ’m talking about the services of Mobility Works, a company known nationwide for their fine work in providing handicapped-accessible wheelchair vans for those who need them.
With locations in seven states, Mobility Works can help get you into the van that you or your loved one needs to make travel a practical possibility again. So if you have the need for such a vehicle, I urge you to visit their website at MobilityWorks.com for more information.
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More than half the states holding presidential contests next month on Super Tuesday allow unaffiliated voters to participate, giving millions of independents a chance to shape what is usually an insider affair among Democratic and Republican loyalists.Two of those states -- California and New Jersey -- together have nearly 6 million unaffiliated voters who will be allowed to cast ballots. Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and Alabama are among other prized catches with millions of independents eligible for the Feb. 5 contests.
The open voting is widely considered to benefit Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, who have fared well among independents in recent polls and primaries. It also is reflected in Obama's words, from his outreach to Republican voters to his recent credit to Ronald Reagan in the context of elections that represent shifts in political direction.
"Obama's trying to do two things at once. On the one hand, energize the liberal base, but also attract independents who are looking for a bipartisan problem-solver," said Jack Pitney, a former deputy research director for the Republican National Committee and a government professor at Claremont McKenna College in California. "That's a very difficult balance, and (Hillary) Clinton is trying to highlight the contradiction there."
Pitney and others said turnout will probably be high among independents because of the wide-open contests in each party. But it's tricky to predict the impact, they said.
I don't believe in open primaries. Call me old-fashioned, or just wedded to logical thinking, but it has always seemed to me that the nominee of the Republican Party should be picked by Republicans and that the Democrat nominee should be picked by Democrats. You know, just like the Libertarian nominee is selected by Libertarians, the Green nominee is selected by Greens, and the Communist nominee is selected by Communists (though today not the ones in Moscow). Independents, who are not committed to a party or its principles, don't belong involved in selecting a party's nominees. Members of one party should not be able to cross over with the intent of sabotaging the nominating process of an opposing party.
Why are closed primaries to be preferred? because party labels used to mean something much more significant that they do today. All too often, American voters complain that there is not a dime's worth of difference between the candidates put forward -- and that is largely because of the involvement of undiffused independents in the process. Rather than campaigns based upon wedge issue, a system of closed primaries would offer mores stark, substantive differences (and therefore choices) on policy matters. And that, in turn, would help end the current system in which matters of style matter more to voters than matters of substance.
Besides -- it is we partisans who are the backbone of any campaign. We should be making the decision for our parties, not those without a commitment to it.
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