April 26, 2007
The Senate approved a $124 billion Iraq war spending bill yesterday that would force troop withdrawals to begin as early as July 1, inviting President Bush's veto even as party leaders and the White House launch talks to resolve their differences.The 51 to 46 vote was a triumph for Democrats, who just weeks ago worried about the political wisdom of a veto showdown with the commander in chief as troops fight on the battlefield. But Democrats are hesitant no more. And now that withdrawal language has passed both houses of Congress, even Republicans acknowledge that Bush won't get the spending bill that he has demanded, one with no strings attached.
Sad, isn't it, that the Democrats need to bring about the defeat of the United States military in the central front of the war on terror in order to achieve political "triumph".
Of course, a veto looms.
Which is appropriate, given the words of General Petraeus and the Iraqi government.
The top military commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, warned Thursday that an American troop pullback this fall would lead to an escalation in sectarian killings and worsening violence.“My sense is that there would be an increase in sectarian violence, a resumption of sectarian violence, were the presence of our forces and Iraqi forces at that time to be reduced,” General Petraeus said at a Pentagon news conference.
An Iraqi government spokesman criticized the U.S. Senate vote to begin withdrawing U.S. troops by Oct. 1."We see some negative signs in the decision because it sends wrong signals to some sides that might think of alternatives to the political process," Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press.
I'm sure glad that this crop of Democrats wasn't around on the worst days of WWII. We'd all be speaking German and Japanese.
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That is why 1800NoDrugs.com exists -- to provide you with a resource to turn to when faced with a crisis brought on by drug abuse. They can point you to a drug rehab facility that meets the needs of the addicted individual -- one that will hopefully help them achieve sobriety. And that, after all is the goal.
Paid Endorsement.
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D, 
P, 
,
A package left at a women's clinic that performs abortions contained an explosive device capable of inflicting serious injury or death, investigators said today."It was in fact an explosive device," said David Carter, assistant chief of the Austin Police Department. "It was configured in such a way to cause serious bodily injury or death."
The package was found Wednesday in a parking lot outside the Austin Women's Health Center, south of downtown Austin.
Nearby Interstate 35 was briefly closed, and a nearby apartment complex was evacuated while a bomb squad detonated the device.
Abortionists are among the scum of the scum of the earth in my book, a mere half-step above Osama. However, acts of violence are unacceptable in the pro-life cause, and I cannot remain silent when one occurs. I hope that the perp is caught, prosecuted, and given the maximum sentence.
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So protect your book research, family photos, and other precious data with Online Backup from IDrive-E.
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Nevada’s Pardons Board on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 46 illegal aliens in the Nevada prison system, clearing the way for the Parole Board to release them.But they won’t be let go. Instead, they’ll be released to federal immigration authorities who will deport them.
Supreme Court Justice Jim Hardesty suggested releasing many of the illegals, who may constitute more than 10 percent of the prison population, as a way to reduce overcrowding. He said there are 1,065 illegal aliens in the Nevada prison system, many are being held for nonviolent crimes.
David Smith, of the Parole Board, said 35 illegals have been turned over to federal authorities. But the group dealt with Wednesday wasn’t eligible for release because they hadn’t served their minimum sentences yet. Only the Pardons Board, which consists of the seven Supreme Court justices, the attorney general and the governor, has the power to make them eligible for parole early.
Hardesty said another 40 or so will become eligible for parole and deportation before June. Altogether, he said, the parole board should be able to turn over a total of 121 illegals by June 15.
But he said that’s just the first phase of the plan. He said another 186 inmates will be considered at the Pardons Board on May 29. He said the inmates on that list are also good candidates for deportation since their crimes are nonviolent. Once the Pardons Board commutes their sentences, the parole board can release them for deportation as well.
In the future, he said, the board hopes to develop a system that routinely hands over
illegals to the federal government for deportation.
And the great thing about it is that if they do return, they are parole violators who can be quickly and easily incarcerated if caught.
Round ‘e up! Ship ‘em back! Rawhide!
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NevadaÂ’s Pardons Board on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 46 illegal aliens in the Nevada prison system, clearing the way for the Parole Board to release them.But they wonÂ’t be let go. Instead, theyÂ’ll be released to federal immigration authorities who will deport them.
Supreme Court Justice Jim Hardesty suggested releasing many of the illegals, who may constitute more than 10 percent of the prison population, as a way to reduce overcrowding. He said there are 1,065 illegal aliens in the Nevada prison system, many are being held for nonviolent crimes.
David Smith, of the Parole Board, said 35 illegals have been turned over to federal authorities. But the group dealt with Wednesday wasnÂ’t eligible for release because they hadnÂ’t served their minimum sentences yet. Only the Pardons Board, which consists of the seven Supreme Court justices, the attorney general and the governor, has the power to make them eligible for parole early.
Hardesty said another 40 or so will become eligible for parole and deportation before June. Altogether, he said, the parole board should be able to turn over a total of 121 illegals by June 15.
But he said thatÂ’s just the first phase of the plan. He said another 186 inmates will be considered at the Pardons Board on May 29. He said the inmates on that list are also good candidates for deportation since their crimes are nonviolent. Once the Pardons Board commutes their sentences, the parole board can release them for deportation as well.
In the future, he said, the board hopes to develop a system that routinely hands over
illegals to the federal government for deportation.
And the great thing about it is that if they do return, they are parole violators who can be quickly and easily incarcerated if caught.
Round ‘e up! Ship ‘em back! Rawhide!
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The words "Go to F...... Hell Jew Bastard" drip in 3-foot-high letters along the side of a house in northeast Salem. Neighbors and passers-by can't miss the message any time they drive west along the rural road.But getting Marion County to order the owner to paint over it is proving a chore because, despite its vulgar and violent message, it's protected free speech.
Well, here's some more free speech: Horse manure!While county officials sit around considering their options, the sideshow gets more attention daily.
The county's legal eagles are correct about the First Amendment. Because there's a possibility that Chadwick Michaels himself wrote the words on his home at 4063 Hayesville Road NE (he refuses to say), they're protected free speech. As intolerant and offensive as they are, they apparently don't meet legal tests for presenting an "immediate and imminent danger."
* * * As a journalist, the First Amendment is sacred to me. I don't take suppressing it well. So I accept that as miserable a message as it is, it's Michaels' right to say it.
Michaels is not shouting "fire" in a movie theater, so he shouldn't be muzzled. But he is advertising hatred on a big, two-story brown sign in a residential neighborhood of farms and fields.
Surely we can regulate that without trampling on the Bill of Rights.
Notice the hypocrisy, please. She acknowledges the theoretical right to speak – but demands censorship anyway. How liberal of her.
WARNING! PICTURE OF HOUSE BELOW FOLD.
more...
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OPEN TRACKBACKING AT Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Perri Nelson's Website, Big Dog's Weblog, basil's blog, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie Is Wired, , Pirate's Cove, Renaissance Blogger, The Pink Flamingo, High Desert Wanderer, OTB Sports, The Yankee Sailor, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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THOUSANDS of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles.
Flocks of sheep were marketed as fashionable accessories - available at $1600 each - by a company called Poodles as Pets.A real poodle retails for twice that much in Japan.
The scam was uncovered when Japanese film star Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.
She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.
Hundreds of other women got in touch with police to say they feared their new "poodle" was also a sheep.
One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.
Police believe there could be 2000 people affected by the scam.
One would have hoped that these people would have figured it out when the “dog” said “Baaaaaaaaaaaa!”
And I have to ask – was there an Aggie involved in this scam?
OPEN TRACKBACKING AT Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, Perri Nelson's Website, Big Dog's Weblog, basil's blog, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie Is Wired, , Pirate's Cove, Renaissance Blogger, The Pink Flamingo, High Desert Wanderer, OTB Sports, The Yankee Sailor, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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The father of a University of Oklahoma student who died after a homemade explosive he was carrying detonated near a packed football stadium said the placement of a memorial to the young man on campus wasn't his idea.A football fan attending OU's Red-White game on April 7 spotted a stone paver outside the student union with Joel Henry Hinrichs III's name on it.
"I was just kind of horrified," Jenny Clemons told The Oklahoman. "I don't think he has any business being out here."
The school's student affairs division arranged to have the stone placed, an OU alumni affairs employee said. Families pay for such memorials, which cost about $150, officials said, but Hinrichs' father told the newspaper the school offered to place the stone and never billed him.
Hinrichs, an engineering student, died Oct. 1, 2005, when his bomb went off as he sat on a campus bench not far from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where a night game was being played.
The FBI investigated whether the 21-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo., resident tried or intended to enter the stadium but reported finding no conclusive evidence.
Joel Hinrichs Jr., the student's father, said OU's dean of students, Clarke Stroud, offered to have the stone placed. In an e-mail, the father told The Oklahoman the dean "very kindly understood that Joel's act was one of loneliness, not of aggression, and offered to have the stone placed in the memorial courtyard; he also indicated that the wife of the university president might select a tree to be placed on campus, also in Joel III's memory."
Even if we presume (just for a minute) that Hinrichs didn’t intend to detonate the bomb at the game, the mere fact that he made it and detonated it in a public place is sufficient to make the memorial inappropriate and unseemly – and the appropriation of public funds for that purpose outrageous.
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Given the way the Constitution divides warmaking power between the president, as commander in chief, and Congress, as sole source of funds to support the armed services, it is essential that at some point Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be able to negotiate with the White House to determine the course America will follow until a new president takes office.To say that Reid has sent conflicting signals about his readiness for such discussions is an understatement. It has been impossible for his own members, let alone the White House, to sort out for more than 24 hours at a time what ground Reid is prepared to defend.
Instead of reinforcing the important proposition -- defined by the Iraq Study Group-- that a military strategy for Iraq is necessary but not sufficient to solve the myriad political problems of that country, Reid has mistakenly argued that the military effort is lost but a diplomatic-political strategy can still succeed.
The Democrats deserve better, and the country needs more, than Harry Reid has offered as Senate majority leader.
The only question is, would Schumer or Durbin be any better?
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Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) proposed an amendment protecting freedom of religion: "Nothing in this section limits the religious freedom of any person or group under the constitution," the amendment read, but that, too, was defeated.
Why on earth would anyone refuse to vote for an amendment stating that the law is to be interpreted consistent with the requirements of the First Amendment – unless it is the intent of those backing it that the law be used to limit rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. The failure of the amendment is therefore reason enough to oppose this legislation.
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College Republicans at the University of Rhode Island won't have to apologize for sponsoring a satirical scholarship for white, heterosexual men.Instead, URI's student Senate says it will ask the Republican group to write letters to the 40 people who applied explaining that the scholarship was fake and that a newspaper advertisement for it was intended purely as satire.
Applicants were asked to write about what it means to be a "white, heterosexual American male" and to describe any adversity they had dealt with and overcome.
A student Senate committee had demanded an apology and threatened to cut off funding and other perks. But the entire Senate instead decided to ask the group to send clarification letters to the applicants.
Frankly, I find even that much of a sanction unacceptable, but acknowledging in writing what has always been acknowledged (that the scholarship was an act of satire) is not worth fighting.
Unfortunately, there does appear to be another element that is more disturbing.
The senate also added an amendment requiring the College Republicans to notify the governing body about its activities and events. The bill only allows the senate to act as an adviser.LaRocca originally opposed the bill when it was written in the committee, but changed her views after the amendments. "I still have my concerns that this may not happen the way we want it to, but I am going to try to look on the bright side and work on it in the best way that I can," she said.
Another amendment stated, "If the URI College Republicans fail to follow through with the actions outlined in this bill to the satisfaction of the senate, then their recognition status shall be revoked for one year."
Cavanaugh said not to worry about the College Republicans. "I guarantee that they are going to follow through with this," he said.
So the threat of derecognition remains over the head of the College Republicans because they engaged in a constitutionally protected activity. As such, I donÂ’t know that we can really say that freedom won.
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"If I never acted again I couldn't care less," Baldwin said in a pre-taped appearance for ABC's "The View," scheduled to air Friday.
I also couldn’t care less if Alec Baldwin never acts again – but then again, he hasn’t made a good movie since Hunt for Red October.
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A senior U.S. officer has been charged with nine offenses, including aiding the enemy and fraternizing with the daughter of a detainee while he commanded a military police detachment at an American detention facility near Baghdad, the military said Thursday.Army Lt. Col. William H. Steele was accused of giving "aid to the enemy" by providing an unmonitored cell phone to detainees.
Steele was the commander of the 451st Military Police Detachment at Camp Cropper, a U.S. detention center on the western outskirts of Baghdad, when the offenses allegedly occurred between October 2005 and February, military spokesman Lt. Col. James Hutton said.
Steele was being held in Kuwait pending a grand jury investigation, Hutton said.
The other charges included unauthorized possession of classified information, fraternizing with the daughter of a detainee, maintaining an inappropriate relationship with an interpreter, storing classified information in his quarters and possessing pornographic videos, the military said.Steele also was charged with improperly marking classified information, failing to obey an order and failing to fulfill his obligations in the expenditure of funds, the military said.
All of this is serious. All of it needs to be punished. But if Steel has provided “aid to the enemy”, doesn’t that fall within the scope of the definition of “treason” contained in Article III, Section 3 of the US Constitution?
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High school senior Allen Lee sat down with his creative writing class on Monday and penned an essay that so disturbed his teacher, school administrators and police that he was charged with disorderly conduct."I understand what happened recently at Virginia Tech," said the teen's father, Albert Lee, referring to last week's massacre of 32 students by gunman Seung-Hui Cho. "I understand the situation."
But he added: "I don't see how somebody can get charged by writing in their homework. The teacher asked them to express themselves, and he followed instructions."
Allen Lee, an 18-year-old straight-A student at Cary-Grove High School, was arrested Tuesday near his home and charged with disorderly conduct for an essay police described as violently disturbing but not directed toward any specific person or location.
So let’s see – writing an essay assigned by a teacher has gotten this boy arrested and sent to a different school, despite the fact that he made no threats towards anyone. Why? An over-reaction to the Hokie Horror.
I’m curious. Are we going to start arresting Hollywood types – directors, producers, screenwriters, actors – for their creation of “violently disturbing” movies and television shows?
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Oakland city officials today announced two new resolutions condemning recent federal immigration raids and formalizing the city's intention not to cooperate with the U.S. government effort to deport undocumented residents.The resolutions, one by Mayor Ron Dellums and the other by Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, both condemn the recent raids, which included one on Friday at an East Oakland manufacturer.
Both resolutions are also an effort to update Oakland's 1986 "City of Refuge" ordinance which only applies to refugees fleeing political violence in Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua and South Africa, De La Fuente said. His proposed ordinance would give refuge to any undocumented immigrant regardless of national origin.
The council president, Dellums, Police Chief Wayne Tucker, City Councilwomen Jean Quan and Jane Brunner, and other city officials appeared at a City Hall news conference to support both resolutions.
The measure by De La Fuente and co-sponsors Quan and Brunner would direct city departments and staff not to cooperate with any federal immigration investigation, detention, or arrest procedures. They will introduce the measure Thursday to the City Council Rules Committee, De La Fuente said.
"The City of Refuge declaration is just as relevant today as it was 21 years ago, if not more, as our federal immigration policies are still in need of comprehensive reform," said De La Fuente, a native of Mexico and one of the Bay Area's more prominent immigrant elected officials.
City of Refuge? Let’s call it what it is – City of Lawlessness. And let’s take it a step further – these actions are reminiscent of the actions of South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis of the 1830s – and no more legitimate.
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The surprise should be over this ignorant comment from its sponsor, Rep. Steve Gallardo (D-Phoenix)
"My amendment was not taking away gun rights; it was protecting students," he said.
Yep, just like being on a gun-free campus protected students at Virginia Tech last week.
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April 25, 2007
Congressman Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican, was locked in a close re-election battle last fall when the local United States attorney, Paul Charlton, was investigating him for corruption. The investigation appears to have been slowed before Election Day, Mr. Renzi retained his seat, and Mr. Charlton ended up out of a job — one of eight prosecutors purged by the White House and the Justice Department.The Arizona case adds a disturbing new chapter to that scandal. Congress needs to determine whether Mr. Charlton was fired for any reason other than threatening the Republican Party’s hold on a Congressional seat.
* * * There is reason to be suspicious about these events. Last week, all Attorney General Alberto Gonzales could offer was weak excuses for the firing — that Mr. Charlton had asked Mr. Gonzales to reconsider a decision to seek the death penalty in a murder case and that he’d started recording interviews with targets of investigations without asking permission from Justice Department bureaucrats.
Now wait -- you've got a US attorney bucking Justice Department policy and rebelling against top-level decisions coming out of Washington. That isn't a weak excuse -- that is a pretty good one, in my book. The guy was out of step with the priorities of the department. Indeed, that would be sufficient to get you or I fired from our jobs, and is legitimate reason for firing this US Attorney.
Now, if there is ANY ACTUAL EVIDENCE that the firing was improper, bring it on and present it -- I'll gladly support the resignation and prosecution of anyone involved in obstruction of justice. But until there is actual evidence of such activities, the only thing dubious is this NY Times editorial -- and the claims of partisan Democrats looking for a scandal.
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A revolt by lawmakers has blocked Gov. Rick PerryÂ’s effort to make Texas the first state to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.In a 135-to-2 vote that appeared veto-proof, the Texas House gave final passage on Wednesday to a Senate bill that bars the state from ordering the shots until at least 2011. Even many supporters of the governor resented Mr. PerryÂ’s proposal as an abuse of executive authority.
Indeed, it is the latter issue that is the problem for a great many of us here in Texas. It isn't that we are "pro-cancer" or "anti-woman", but rather that we insist upon the proper constitutional limits on the governor's power be abided by -- adnd Rick Perry blew right through those. We also have some concerns about the vaccine itself, the question of parental rights, and the possible quid-pro-quo that got the governor to issue this executive order.
More to the point, many of us are all for making the vaccine more widely available -- just not mandatory. After all, Merck's ads for Gardasil tell women to ask their doctor IF the vaccine is right for them.
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But what if you could be the LOW bidder and win? Or at least the person with the low UNIQUE bid?
Well you can be over at bid4prizes!
here's how it works. Once you register, you text your bid to a designated number using your cellular phone. They will text back if your bid is low, high, or a duplicate. Or you can bid online. Keep on bidding until you believe you have beat everyone else -- and PAY ONLY THE DELIVERY CHARGES AND TAXES OWED THE IRS! Otherwise, that item is free to you.
Think about the fun you could have right now bidding on that 2007 Scion, Samsung 50" Plasma TV, or other great prizes currently up for bid. Compete for that item that has caught your eye -- and maybe end up with it coming to your home for next to nothing! Sounds great to me.
Paid Endorsement.
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The Dow Jones industrial average surged past the 13,000 mark for the first time Wednesday, as U.S. stocks rallied on better-than-expected manufacturing data and strong corporate earnings.The close, 13,089.89, comes less than two months after a late February plunge in world markets sent investors heading for safer ground. The broader market has been rising almost uninterrupted since late March. If the trend holds, U.S. stocks are on track to finish April with the biggest monthly gain in more than three years.
So I guess it would appear that the state of the US economy is quite sound -- at least according to those whose money makes the engine of capitalism run.
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The Supreme Court put defenders of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law on the defensive on Wednesday in a spirited argument that suggested the court could soon open a significant loophole in the measure.At issue is a major provision of the five-year-old law that bars corporations and labor unions from paying for advertisements that mention the name of a candidate for federal office and that are broadcast 60 days before an election or 30 days before a primary. By a 5-to-4 vote in December 2003, the court held that the provision, on its face, passed First Amendment muster.
But a new majority may view more expansively the ConstitutionÂ’s protection of political messages as free speech, and invite a flood of advertising paid for by corporations and unions as the 2008 elections move into high gear.
The argument on Wednesday was over whether, despite the 2003 blanket endorsement, the law would be constitutional if applied to three specific ads that an anti-abortion group sought to broadcast before the 2004 Senate election in Wisconsin.
The ads, sponsored by Wisconsin Right to Life Inc., mentioned the state’s two senators, both Democrats: Russell D. Feingold, a co-sponsor of the McCain-Feingold law, who was up for re-election, and Herb Kohl, who was not. The advertisements’ focus was a Democratic-led filibuster of some of President Bush’s judicial nominees. Viewers were urged to “contact Senators Feingold and Kohl and tell them to oppose the filibuster.” The ads provided no contact information, instead directing viewers to a Web site that contained explicit criticism of Mr. Feingold.
A special three-judge Federal District Court here ruled that because the text and images of the ads did not show that they were “intended to influence the voters’ decisions,” they were “genuine issue ads” that the government could not keep off the air.
McCain-Feingold is bad law all the way around -- but this particular provision may be among its worst, effectively stifling the ability of the people to engage in political speech and to petition the government for a redress of grievances -- a two-fer of First Amendment violations. While I'd love to see the entire law declared unconstitutional, I'd settle for this provision. But then again, I've always been one who sees more political speech as better than less.
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But it was more than that. The Asheville area was already growing, and seemed to be a dynamic place with lots of entertainment, recreation, and dining opportunities for a "relatively) young couple looking for a place to become an older, retired couple in 30 or so years. After all, there is a lot to do there -- but it still retains that small city charm that so many parts of the South have always had. In some ways, I remain disappointed I didn't end up teaching down there.
One other nice feature was the availability of homes at a reasonable price. And I mean area new homes, Asheville existing homes, and condos and apartments galore. It was, and appears to remain, a good place to find a place to settle down in for life.
So take a look around – Asheville might just be calling you home.
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After responding to more than 70 questions with some variation on the words, "I don't recall," [Gonzales] demonstrated he is either a gross incompetent, a party hack or a liar.
Now let's see, if that makes the attorney general "either a gross incompetent, a party hack or a liar", what would answering "I don't recall" or some variation 50 times during testimony before a House committee make a Democrat? Oh that's right -- First Lady, Senator from New York, and the leading candidate for her party's presidential nomination!
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You see, early in our marriage, I promised my darling wife an Alaska cruise. She's always wanted to go, but finances have never made it possible. Between the expenses that were associated with our early married life, debt from our move to Texas, the first couple years in our new house, and her health issues, there simply has never been enough cash for me to do what she's always wanted -- take the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay.
Now there are lots of loans out there for you to consider -- whether you are after a personal loan or a secured loan. And while this year might not be the year for us to go, maybe next summer will be.
Paid Endorsement.
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Reuters has a couple of amusing photos from a mass gathering in the Palestinian territories. This one shows a guy brandishing a rifle in his right hand and shaking his left fist. At least one more rifle is visible among the crowd walking behind him.
This one shows another guy, holding a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher. Both photos have the same caption:
Palestinians attend a demonstration against violence in Gaza April 23, 2007.
We've often noted that many so-called pacifists seem to have a taste for tumult, but only in Palestinistan would a peace protester carry an RPG launcher. Or should we say only in Reuterville?
Gotta love those anti-violence Palestinians!
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Members of the Legislative Black Caucus called yesterday for a state police investigation into the display of what they called a racist banner in the Capitol that said a Latino lawmaker should be "hung from the tree of liberty for his acts of treason against the Constitution."The outcry came hours after several gun-rights proponents unfurled a banner saying that State Rep. Angel Cruz (D., Phila.) should be hanged for introducing legislation that would require people to register their guns and pay a $10 fee to the state police.
"People want to hang me for doing my job," Cruz said, adding that his bill was aimed at trying to reduce gun violence in his district.
"I am appalled by the actions by a group of demonstrators," State Rep. Jewell Williams (D., Phila.) said. "We will not tolerate people making threats against members."
Williams was one of 10 Philadelphia-area lawmakers who appeared at a news conference yesterday afternoon to denounce the banner's language as a "terroristic threat" that raised the ugly specter of mob violence against African Americans.
Cruz, who is of Puerto Rican ancestry, is a member of the Black Caucus.
Now hereÂ’s the sign that so offended folks.
Now the language is provocative, but clearly not a threat – especially if one has any notion of the quote referenced by the phrase “the tree of liberty”.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Who was the hate-mongering terrorist who is responsible for such an evil sentiment being expressed?
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence an third President of the United States – generally credited as being one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. It refers to the reason why the right to keep and bear arms was and must be viewed as fundamental to a free society – that a free people must be armed to preserve their liberty in the face of tyranny.
So cool your jets, folks, and recognize that these demonstrators are simply more historically literate than you are. And to the demonstrators, might I suggest that you recognize your average lawmaker is not terribly bright, so it is probably best to assume that they won’t understand an appeal to the words of any president that predate “I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”
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On the eve of talks in Ankara today between top Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani and EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana officials familiar with the negotiations said the discussions, for the first time, could try to sidestep the deadlock over enrichment by trying to agree on a new definition of the term.Iran's defiance of a U.N. Security Council demand to freeze all activities linked to enrichment -- a possible pathway to nuclear arms -- has led to two sets of sanctions against the country. Although the punishments are limited and mild, they could be sharpened if the Islamic republic refuses to compromise.
The Europeans like to work with Muslim dictators because it is profitable – look a how they supplied Saddam Hussein with material in violation of UN resolutions. Why should we expect any change in their behavior now – after all, they have been appeasing tyrants since at least 1938.
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Hypocrites! What else can you call a group that complains that judges applying the Constitution and the clear (as mud) standards set out in Roe v. Wade to uphold an act of Congress are guilty of imposing their religion upon the American people – and then insist not only that THEIR religious values should be enacted but also that legislation be passed to forbid medical personnel from abiding by their own values?
A coalition of religious leaders took on the Catholic Church, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Bush administration on Tuesday with a plea to take religion out of health care in the United States.They said last week's Supreme Court decision outlawing a certain type of abortion demonstrated that religious belief was interfering with personal rights and the U.S. health care system in general.
The group, calling itself the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, said it planned to submit its proposals to other church groups and lobby Congress and state legislators.
"With the April 18 Supreme Court decision banning specific abortion procedures, concerns are being raised in religious communities about the ethics of denying these services," the group said in a statement.
"They are imposing their points of view," Barbara Kavadias, director of field services for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, told reporters in a telephone briefing.
She noted that the five Supreme Court justices on the majority in the 5-4 decision were all Catholic men -- Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Antonin Scalia.
All were appointed by conservative Republican presidents who oppose abortion, including President George W. Bush.
The group also complained about Catholic-owned hospitals that refuse to sterilize women who ask for it, refuse to let doctors perform abortions and do not provide contraception.
"Doctors, pharmacists and nurses are also increasingly exercising a so-called 'religious or moral objection,' refusing to provide essential services and often leaving patients without other options," the group said in a statement.
In other words, they not only want to disqualify Catholics and other conservative Christians from holding public office (or at least bringing their values with them), but they want to require that Catholic hospitals quit being Catholic and that Catholic and other conservative Christian medical professionals stop acting on their religious beliefs.
I think that this response says it best.
Marie Hilliard of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia said she had grave concerns about the report."There is no recognition of the true meaning of the separation of church and state, which mandates that the free exercise of religion, including that of the provider, be respected," she said.
And at the risk of offending these hypocritical religious bigots in pastor’s robes, may I heartily say “Amen!”
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On the heels of her obscene comments at a recent media event, an infamous feud with Donald Trump and countless politically sensitive remarks, Rosie O'Donnell is leaving "The View" at the end of her first season on the show.ABC said Wednesday it was unable to agree on a contract with the opinionated host, and she'll leave the show in June.
O'Donnell said in a statement that "my needs for the future just didn't dovetail with what ABC was able to offer me."
"This has been an amazing experience," she said, "and one I wouldn't have traded for the world."
And there are a whole bunch of folks around the blogosphere who are in mourning today – after all, what will they do for material once the Voice of Inanity is off the air?
But not to worry – ABC is going to try to get her back for a number of specials next year, so she may still be available to spew liberal stupidity while chewing the blubber fat with her brainless gal pals.
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To ensure robust debate, the U.S. Constitution protects members of Congress from lawsuits rising out of their legislative duties. But does that provide immunity from an aide's claims of discrimination?The U.S. Supreme Court took up a Minnesota case Tuesday that could answer that question.
The case involves former Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton, who was sued by staffer Brad Hanson for discrimination after he was fired in 2002.
Dayton said he dismissed Hanson, who directed his Minnesota office, for poor performance; Hanson claimed it was because he had a heart condition and needed time off.
A lower court allowed the lawsuit to proceed, but the case has never been tried, pending higher court rulings on whether it should be.
The issue at hand is whether the staffing of one’s congressional office is an administrative act or a part of the legislative process. If the court holds that it is the latter, it seems to me that one could then infer that any activity or material in the office could be deemed a part of the “legislative process”, rendering those offices “safe zones” for stashing evidence of criminal conduct. On the other hand, a ruling for the plaintiff in this case would apply the laws of the land to members of both houses by upholding the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which gave congressional employees the same legal rights as other American workers (holding for Dayton would effectively strike down this law as unconstitutional).
DaytonÂ’s team is now arguing that the case should be deemed moot because he was able to stall the matter until he left office. That argument should not fly, because for four years Brad Hanson may have suffered the consequences of illegal employment discrimination, and he is therefore entitled to his day in court.
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"I do not stand alone," Dennis Kucinich said as he stood, alone, in front of a cluster of microphones yesterday evening.
The Ohio congressman, a Democratic presidential candidate, was holding a news conference outside the Capitol to announce that he had just filed articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney. But subsequent questioning quickly revealed that Kucinich had not yet persuaded any of his 434 colleagues to be a cosponsor, that he had not even discussed the matter with House Democratic leaders, and that he had not raised the subject with the Judiciary Committee.
Kucinich did have one thing: a copy of the Declaration of Independence. And he was not afraid to read it. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," the aspiring impeachment manager read at the start of his news conference. He continued all the way through the bit about the right of the people to abolish the government.
"These words from the Declaration of Independence are instructive at this moment," he said.
I looked at the resolution, and Kucinich wants to declare disagreements over policy and good-faith reliance upon the best available intelligence into a high crime or misdemeanor. On the other hand, he and his party couldn’t support impeachment of a president over perjury – an actual felony (AKA "high crime"). That tells you everything you need to know about the Democrats – they seek power at any cost, even the integrity of the US Constitution.
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On the other hand, the (relatively) moderate Arab states in region don’t want the US to withdraw from Iraq because of the very real, very negative consequences of such a course of action.
The so-called axis of moderate Arab states - comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan - dreads an early US withdrawal. First, because it would be widely interpreted as an American defeat, which would weaken these pro-American regimes while both energising and radicalising their populations.Second, if the US leaves, the emergence of a Shia regime in Iraq - in itself an offensive prospect to them - would only be a matter of time. Facing Arab antipathy, this regime would be likely to look eastward and forge close ties with its Iranian co-religionists. In the view of most Arabs, this would present a formidable challenge, setting in motion a series of dangerous events - an Iranian-Iraqi alliance; political and material support from Arab countries being offered to disgruntled Iraqi Sunni groups; retaliation by Iraqi forces; and the threat of broader regional involvement.
Third, a US departure risks triggering Iraq's partition. As some Arabs see it, the occupation is what holds the country together. So long as coalition forces are deployed, a full-blown breakup can be avoided.
But the no-faith (in our troops) based Democrats don’t care about the consequences of their strategy – except the hoped-for electoral success a perceived military defeat brings to their party. It must such, having to root against your country to get power for yourself. A patriot couldn’t do it.
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On the other hand, the (relatively) moderate Arab states in region donÂ’t want the US to withdraw from Iraq because of the very real, very negative consequences of such a course of action.
The so-called axis of moderate Arab states - comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan - dreads an early US withdrawal. First, because it would be widely interpreted as an American defeat, which would weaken these pro-American regimes while both energising and radicalising their populations.Second, if the US leaves, the emergence of a Shia regime in Iraq - in itself an offensive prospect to them - would only be a matter of time. Facing Arab antipathy, this regime would be likely to look eastward and forge close ties with its Iranian co-religionists. In the view of most Arabs, this would present a formidable challenge, setting in motion a series of dangerous events - an Iranian-Iraqi alliance; political and material support from Arab countries being offered to disgruntled Iraqi Sunni groups; retaliation by Iraqi forces; and the threat of broader regional involvement.
Third, a US departure risks triggering Iraq's partition. As some Arabs see it, the occupation is what holds the country together. So long as coalition forces are deployed, a full-blown breakup can be avoided.
But the no-faith (in our troops) based Democrats don’t care about the consequences of their strategy – except the hoped-for electoral success a perceived military defeat brings to their party. It must such, having to root against your country to get power for yourself. A patriot couldn’t do it.
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April 24, 2007
State education officials have approved a plan to let high school students whose TAKS tests burned up in a deliberately set fire to retake the exams, possibly as early as next week, officials said.The test results were destroyed when the fire heavily damaged Needville High School early Monday in rural Fort Bend County. The tests were administered last week.
"Once we determine a date when they are actually going to conduct the testing, then we will ship those materials out to them," Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Suzanne Marchman said Tuesday.
Marchman said the tests could be sent to Needville at the end of this week so that ninth-, 10th-, and 11th-grade students could take the state-mandated exams sometime next week.
The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills is an annual statewide standardized test used to measure student and school performance.
Classes for high schoolers will resume Monday with students going to school on a staggered schedule, said Needville Independent School District Superintendent Curtis Rhodes.
"With the classroom space that is available, we will just kind of double up and share the classrooms," Rhodes said.
Only 19 instructional days remain in the school year.
Like they don't have better things to do with those last four weeks of school.
Shameful -- just shameful!
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Corporations have been prohibited since the early 1900’s from contributing to political campaigns. This ban and a similar one imposed later on unions prevents these wealthy entities from buying elections and elected officials. The Supreme Court, in upholding these bans, has recognized that Congress has a compelling interest in preventing the “corrosive and distorting effects” of corporate and union contributions.Corporations and unions have, not surprisingly, tried to get around the ban. One tactic they have used is bankrolling phony “issue ads”: commercials that purport to educate the public about a policy issue, but are actually intended to elect or defeat a particular candidate. Today’s case involves phony issue ads run on radio and television by a group called Wisconsin Right to Life, which accepted major contributions from corporations against Senator Russell Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin.
The ads attacked Mr. Feingold and WisconsinÂ’s other senator, Herb Kohl, for blocking President BushÂ’s judicial nominees, and urged the public to contact the two men to complain. Clearly the adsÂ’ purpose was to try to prevent Mr. FeingoldÂ’s re-election. Wisconsin Right to Life had made it clear that it was targeting him for defeat. Mr. FeingoldÂ’s opponents were using the issue of judicial nominees against him. The ads ran shortly before the election, while the Senate was in recess and no votes on judges were being held. And they did not provide contact information for Mr. Feingold and Mr. Kohl.
Let's be quite honest here -- these ads were really no different in content from the sort of things that regularly appear on the editorial pages of the New York Times (a corporation, don't you know) on a daily basis, urging a position and implicitly seeking to influence the behavior of politicians and the actions of voters. In fact, the corporation known as the New York Times offers endorsements -- specific directions to voters on who to vote for. But this corporate entity, the New York Times, is unrestricted, while issue-related groups like Wisconsin Right To life (which receives money from both individuals and corporations) is banned from speaking. Hardly seems reasonable -- especially since Wisconsin Right To Life is engaged in speech, the freedom of which is as firmly guaranteed by the First Amendment as is freedom of speech.
But I'm particularly disturbed by this closing line.
It would be disturbing if the court now changed the rules to make it easier for special interests to corrupt American democracy.
Actually, no it wouldn't be -- what would be disturbing is for the Supreme Court to turn the First Amendment on its head and decree that pornography, a crucifix dipped in urine and flag burning have more protection under the Constitution than measured and responsible speech on political matters and politicians.
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Paid Endorsement.
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On the edge of the Texas Gulf is a 370-pound football player who can execute a perfect forward flip.When he lands, the ground trembles.
The playerÂ’s name is Walter Thomas, and as he kicked his size 16 feet overhead Saturday morning, onlookers studied the sculpted giant with curiosity and awe. It was the kind of reaction Thomas usually elicits from professional football scouts.
“I feel like I’m a big secret,” Thomas said. “The secret of the draft.”
The National Football League draft, which begins Saturday, does not really have secrets anymore. Prospects are timed and tested, interviewed and investigated, over and over again. Entire dossiers are prepared for second-string players.
Thomas is as close as modern football can come to an old-fashioned sleeper. In the past two years, his only playing experience was at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss. He played in two games, both losses. Then he was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the Tate County (Miss.) Circuit ClerkÂ’s office, and never played college football again.
Judging by his credentials, perhaps Thomas should not be drafted. Judging by his dimensions, however, Thomas has to be drafted.
Big Walt, as he is known, is a 6-foot-5 defensive tackle who wears a size XXXXXXL jersey. He bench presses 475 pounds and squats 800 pounds. Weight lifters at the Galveston Health and Racquet Club stop their workouts to watch him.
Football teams everywhere are filled with big men, but many of them can barely move. Thomas has run the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, faster than some N.F.L. tight ends. He is the rare tackle who can catch a running back from behind.
Not only that, h is so nimble that he can do back-flips. He's a freakin' 6'5", 370 pound gymnast! And Lord knows we need some help on the defense (and the offense, and special teams) down here in Houston. But Thomas' record might not merit the use of a draft choice -- at least not before the sixth or seventh round. After all, he has made a mess out of his college career, and so enters teh draft as damaged goods with a big question mark attached.
But Walter Thomas is a local boy, from just 45 miles the next county over from Houston. People here remember his high school career. H has the potential to be a performer on the field -- and a sentimental favorite among the fans. I'd love to see him play here.
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On the other hand, my question is simple -- why would you go out with someone who was such a stranger that you would need to run a Google search on them in the first place? But then again, that is just me.
Paid Endorsement.
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