Dean & Dems Meeting At Non-Union New Orleans Hotel

The Democrats and Howard Dean are planning a New Orleans based meeting to show their support and confidence in the city’s future:

AP

Smart politics on their behalf and they have a huge interest in rebuilding the base in the state which New Orleans makes up the largest portion. Without a strong dem base in New Orleans, Louisiana probably goes Republican.

The strange thing was where the meeting is taking place. It’s at a hotel that is non-union:

The group usually uses only union hotels but got a special dispensation from labor officials to book the downtown Sheraton, he said. Dean said the Sheraton was the only full-service hotel that was reserving rooms and could handle a convention that large.

First 30,000 job cuts by GM now a non-union hotel for the dems big kick-off prior to mid-term elections. The DNC platform and model is looking more suspect than ever.

No word on whether Dean also got a special dispensation so the meeting attendees could shop at Walmart while down in New Orleans…………………..

Kinsley - Phoney Critic Against the War

Michael Kinsley is back peddling on a unicycle while attempting to keep the defeatist banner of the left aloft, even though the winds of public opinion are blowing his “cut and run call” soundly down:

Kinsley

The defeatist strategy that Kinsley is promoting is that Iraq was a mistake and he attempts to recycle the ghost of Vietnam that haunts him and his fellow defeatists:

And now, thanks to Rep. John Murtha, it is permissible to say, or at least to ask, "Why not just get out now? Or at least soon, on a fixed schedule?"

Thankfully a majority of Americans don’t agree with Kinsley’s defeatist nature via the poll listed in this post

In fact 70% of Americans think that agenda based criticism from the left by politicians like Murtha and by columnist like Kinsley, “hurts troop morale -- with 44 percent saying morale is hurt a lot." It’s a fact and the America public knows it, and they are not going to let Kensley and the defeatists paint it in any other light.

The ghost of Vietnam that defines a journalist generation like Kensley’s hangs openly in his latest collum. He is without a doubt a “Phoney Critic Against the War”…………………………….

Huge Holiday Sales Start Reported Very Differently

The economic recovery seems to continue on a healthy pace and this holiday season, spending appears robust and very healthy per: here and here

Per Bloomberg:

U.S. retailers recorded sales of $27.8 billion over the holiday weekend, putting the industry on track for its second-biggest selling season since 1999, said the National Retail Federation.

Per USA Today:

In all, about 145 million shoppers swarmed stores and the Internet over the weekend and spent an estimated $27.8 billion — up 22% from the weekend a year ago — according to a survey of retailers by the National Retail Federation.

Holiday sales off to a pace that will be the biggest since 1999 and a 22% increase from last year is “huge” and very positive news! It is the latest measurement showing solid economic footing. So why then did the AP and NYT spin the news “completely” differently here and here

Both the AP and NYT listed almost the exact same data that the Bloomberg and USA Today articles listed, yet they come away with articles that see “lukewarm” forecasts and “trouble”? How can that be, did they not even read or understand the information that was listed and referenced in their own article?

Perhaps facts and reality are not the main objective with most left agenda MSM. Perhaps the more important objective is to paint a gloomy picture to influence opinion rather than reporting the news.

If such news organizations are reporting stories like this that completely ignore the facts, what makes anyone think that they are not doing the same with the rest of their coverage……………………….

Good night, how sad AP & NYT, how sad indeed................................

Catholic Church Enters Missouri Stem Cell Debate

The AP has picked up the Missouri "stem cell debate" story that the Catholic Church has now joined:

MO Stem Cell Debate

We shall see how it all plays out but the optimistic early vibes that the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures were putting out after their initial TV ads now seem to have a major player opposing the petition and a place on the ballot next fall..............................................

Murtha Doctrine Not Polling Well

This poll reported in WaPo shows that the most recent democrat attack on the war in Iraq using front man Rep John Murtha is failing and failing badly:

Poll

Per WaPo:

Democrats fumed last week at Vice President Cheney's suggestion that criticism of the administration's war policies was itself becoming a hindrance to the war effort. But a new poll indicates most Americans are sympathetic to Cheney's point.

Seventy percent of people surveyed said that criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale -- with 44 percent saying morale is hurt "a lot," according to a poll taken by RT Strategies. Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent believe criticism hurts morale, while 21 percent say it helps morale.

The poll was conducted by a bi-partisan organization:

The results surely will rankle many Democrats, who argue that it is patriotic and supportive of the troops to call attention to what they believe are deep flaws in President Bush's Iraq strategy. But the survey itself cannot be dismissed as a partisan attack. The RTs in RT Strategies are Thomas Riehle, a Democrat, and Lance Tarrance, a veteran GOP pollster.

The dem strategy of promoting the "Murtha Doctrine of Defeatism" is a loser and it was the dems last shot at making political points on Iraq prior to serious improvements in Iraq via the elections and troop reductions occuring because we can and its the right time, not because we have fallen to the defeatist ideology of the left.....................

---------------------Update-------------------------------------

I guess David Sanger & Thom Shanker of the NYT have not seen the latest polling data:

NYT

Or perhaps they have and it simply does not fit their agenda in reporting..........

Pension Funds Going George Soros

Watch your pension, the NYT actually does a good bit of reporting on this story:

Pension Funds Hedging

The Times reports that money from pension funds are flooding into "hedge funds":

Faced with growing numbers of retirees, pension plans are pouring billions into hedge funds, the secretive and lightly regulated investment partnerships that once managed money only for wealthy investors...................

Pension officials who have been shaken by market downturns and persistent deficits are attracted by hedge funds' promise of richer, or more consistent, returns. But the trend has caused some consultants and academics to voice cautions. They question whether hedge funds, with risks that are hard to measure, are appropriate for pension funds, whose sole purpose, by law, is to pay out predetermined benefits to retired workers................

Hedge funds are a bet against market trends as an upside if the core investment strategy fails. The worst reason ever for playing a higher risk with your investment when you are down is "attracted by promises of richer or more consistent returns". When return demands are huge like they are now on pension funds to make up the lag that can not be made up, this is scary to me. It's a higher liability vs. ability to pay scenario not an investment return scenario. The risk is huge and I agree with the Post that pensions should not be playing in the hedge fund landscape:

"It's very inappropriate when the company is offering a pension plan that is guaranteed by the federal government," said Zvi Bodie, a professor of finance and economics at Boston University who writes and lectures on sophisticated investment techniques and is enthusiastic about hedge funds in other contexts.

Hedge funds make large, sophisticated investments based on the premise that by swimming outside the currents of the markets, often betting against conventional wisdom, they can outperform other investments. Hedge funds became famous in the 1990's, when managers like Michael Steinhardt and George Soros made huge swashbuckling bets that sometimes produced returns of 30 percent or more.....................

Retirement funds and pension funds should be in blue chip stocks and bonds and positioned for a "sound" but reasonable return, not taking a chance on a flyer. If things are so bad in the pension world that managers a willing to leverage in hedge funds, people should be "really" concerned..................

Hedge Funds are for billionaire rapist whores like Soros, not pension funds that have to see retirees through their golden years...............................

Cindy Sheehan: I'm A Bigger Defeatist Than Murtha

Mother Cindy Sheehan returned to the Bush ranch after eclipsing her fifteen minutes of fame long ago, and desperately is trying to recapture another fifteen:

Another 15 Please!!!!

Now that the democrat party has officially joined the Sheehan defeatest hippy drum dance via Rep. John Murtha's "America is too weak to win" credo, it will be interesting to watch the MSM approach to this story. Will they distance Murtha and the dems from Sheehan or connect the dots? Come on, you know the answer to that question, there will be no dots connected by the MSM on this story. The worm has turned on Sheehan and they don't want to be a part of the fall out........................................

That's OK, the dots are being connected without the MSM participation on this story..................................

Murdoch - Newspaper River of Gold Has Run Dry

Murdoch says newspapers are dieing and he is right:

Murdoch

Per Murdoch the biggest of the world wide newspaper owners: " who once described newspaper classified advertising revenue as providing "rivers of gold", now says: "Sometimes rivers dry up".

Yes they do and yes they are.................................................

Murtha Says America Can't Win - We Are Losers

Charles Babington of WaPo is attempting to run cover for John Murtha's defeat statement as the spokesman for the defeatist party by way of this article:

WaPo Cover

WaPo wants to make the statement by Rep Jean Schmidt the main story when the "Big Story" is the cut and run exposure of the dems once again. Here is the statement that Schmidt made on the floor this past week:

"A few minutes ago, I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."

Might be a bit strong and Murtha did serve his county well long ago, but if the shoe fits now then it fits....................

Again taking the message of defeat forward as a policy was not what Schmidt did but rather it was done my Murtha and the Dems. America once again knows in very clear terms which party is willing to fight for the military and support the military and has the will to win the War on Terrorism, and those who don't have the will to see victory through.

The Murtha statement will define the 2006 mid-term elections. Either America will vote for candidates who say "we can not win" like Murtha did and turn over in cowardly defeat, or they will vote for those who say not only that we can win this war, we are winning this war and we "must" continue to win this war...............

Freegans Dumpster Dive for Thanksgiving Dinner

On the bizarre front, here is a strange one:

Dumpster Divers

These folks diving in dumpsters and scavenging for food are not homeless people, rather people who refuse to pay for food:

They call themselves "freegans," a play on the words "vegan"- vegetarians who avoid all animal products, including dairy - and "free." In an ideological rejection of consumer waste, they only eat food that's been discarded. And in New York City, at least, they never go hungry.

They are vegetarians who refuse pay for their non-meat meals, in fact some have not eaten a purchased meal in a very long time:

Although not all freegans are vegan, they all eat for free. Weissman said that with few exceptions he has not eaten store-bought food, either at home, in a restaurant or as guest of a friend, in more than 10 years.

The ranks have some people who would seem to come from a balanced sane position in life until you learn that they eat from dumpsters:

Madeline Nelson, the host of the freegan dinner party who says she recently left a job in corporate communications at a Fortune 500 company, says she's concerned about holiday over-consumption. "We are heading into wasting season," said Nelson, who's serving a semi-freegan Thanksgiving dinner to her family, including her 83-year-old father.

Lets leave a job with a Fortune 500 company to go dumpster diving for Thanksgiving dinner and then feed it to your 83 year old father? He must be very proud........................

I'm very thankful this Thanksgiving that I did not have dinner at one of the "freegans" dinner parties.............................................

Governor Bill Richardson Strikes Out

Governor Bill Richardson is coming clean on his false claim that he was drafted by a professional baseball team back in 1966:

Richardson

Per the AP:

For nearly four decades, Richardson, often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate, has maintained he was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics.....................

But an investigation by the Albuquerque Journal found no record of Richardson being drafted by the A's, who have since moved to Oakland, or any other team. Informed by the newspaper of its findings, the governor acknowledged the error in a story in Thursday's editions.

"After being notified of the situation and after researching the matter ... I came to the conclusion that I was not drafted by the A's," Richardson said. He said he had believed it was true based on an old program from an amateur team he had played for in Massachusetts.

Let me get this straight, "I came to the conclusion that I was not drafted by the A's".................I find it a bit hard to get the facts wrong on whether you were drafted by a professional baseball team or you weren't, even considering it was the 60's..............................

Sounds like we have a credibility issue with what Mr. Richardson says and what he maintains as the truth.......................

Syrian Forces Engaged By US Military?

DEBKA is reporting that American forces are engaging Syrian forces on the boarder:

DEBKA

Per their report:

Both sides have suffered casualties. US soldiers crossed over after Damascus was given an ultimatum Thursday, Nov. 24, to hand over a group of senior commanders belonging to Abu Musab al Zarqawi’s al Qaeda force. According to US intelligence, the group had fled to Syria to escape an American attack in Mosul. Syrian border guards opened fire on the American force.

Well, they have been harboring al Qaeda terrorist and providing support for the insurgency against the new Iraqi government, so it's probably about time. Closing off the Syrian border will stop the rat line and should also lead to another rat dictator's fall........................

Hewitt Straw Poll

Hugh Hewitt has up the latest straw poll and Rudy Giuliani maintains a solid early lead, with Rice still enjoying a majority of support as a Fantasy Candidate. Go vote:

Here

Blogs Are Dinner Table Forum of Change In China

Seems that its not only in America that blogs are changing the free flow of information and public opinion and removing the filter of the press, its happening in China and in a big way due to blogs per the NYT:

China Blogs

Per the article:

The new wave of blogging took off earlier this year. In the past, a few pioneers of the form stood out, but now huge communities of bloggers are springing up around the country, with many of them promoting one another's online offerings, books, music or, as in Mu Mu's case, a running, highly ironic commentary about sexuality, intellect and political identity.

"The new bloggers are talking back to authority, but in a humorous way," said Xiao Qiang, director of the China Internet Project at the University of California, Berkeley. "People have often said you can say anything you want in China around the dinner table, but not in public. Now the blogs have become the dinner table, and that is new.

Sounds like a very positive development, blog on China.......................

Terrell Owens Loses Arbitration Case

Per Fox Sports, the court has ruled that TO is in fact a turd:

Fox

TO the Turd lost his arbitration case:

For conduct proven to be a "destructive and continuing threat" to his team, an arbitrator ruled Wednesday that the Eagles were justified in suspending their All-Pro receiver for four games - and are within their rights to deactivate him for the rest of the year.

The Eagles will now look to trade or release Owens before next March, when he's due a $5 million roster bonus...................

Can you imagine a team agreeing to trade for the Turd TO?

Bill Haas Enters Blog Discussion About Him - Refreshing

On the Post Dispatch "Political Fix" blog there is a fascinating post going on right now. The reason I say it's fascinating is the political figure that the posting article focuses on has joined the dialog and is posting and having active dialog about the story:

STL Post Blogs

Bill Haas if a local STL annual political candidate and ex-school board member who also works for Wal-Mart and is defending his employer not only on the blog but at the screening of the movie "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price". Haas is a self described "liberal democrat" who is proud to work for Wal-Mart. In today's coverage of Wal-Mart by most of the MSM that would qualify as an oxymoron. Haas provides a personal and detailed account of his defense of Wal-Mart at the screening and in general, and the reasoning behind his defense. He also talks honestly about the things he does not agree with his employer about and his thoughts about how it should change.

The fact that a self described liberal is publicly defending Wal-Mart in this manner is refreshing enough for face value reasons, but the more impressive thing to me is that he is actively engaging on the post and blogging about it. He is providing lots of personal insights and reasons for his actions and opinion. Being an active participant in the article focused on him I think gives him a great deal of credibility. Although he and I don't have a lot in common from a political perspective, I do admire him on a personal level for the engagement he is demonstrating here.

If local political figures and candidates want to get on the front wave of the new media communication module and use it to their advantage, I say that they should take lessons and a hint from Mr. Haas...........................................

Also, what a wonderful job Lee Publishing has done this past year with the Post! With its compressive blog offering, we now have interactive discussions and like now sometimes with the person that an article was written about and insightful dialog. Well done, well done indeed Lee Publishing..................................

Chris Mathews - Terrorist Not Evil Just Misunderstood

For anyone who somehow did not believe that Chris Mathews was as nutty as a fruit cake, here is more proof:

Mathews

Mathews does not believe that Bin Laden and his terror network are evil, rather they just have a different perspective?:

If we stop trying to figure out the other side, we've given up. The person on the other side is not evil -- they just have a different perspective."

Well yes, like a perspective that believes it’s ok to crash planes into buildings and kill thousands of innocent people. Thats the whole point Chris they are nuts and evil and want to kill us and destroy our country……………………..

Mathews also proved once again he has a liberal bias that shapes his coverage of politics:

In a speech to political science students at the University of Toronto yesterday, the host of the CNBC current affairs show Hardball had plenty of harsh words for U.S. President George W. Bush, as well as the political climate that has characterized his country for the past few years.

Bloggers Little Green Football and Powerline are covering the latest Mathews unmasking………………

Powerline has a couple follow-up posts here and here after being contacted by Mathews.

Per Mathews email to Powerline:

I told the students that the way to deal with terrorists is the way Golda Meir did after the attack on the Israeli Olympic athletes: hunt them down and kill them one at a time and be rough about it. Every person in that room heard my say this. I don't know why the reporter chose to conflate my remarks about our need to get behind the forces in the Muslim world into my approach on how to deal with terrorists. Feel free to check with the University of Toronto students who invited me to speak.

Powerline is asking Mathews to provide a tape if he is serious about proving what was said and what was not said. Sounds like the only way to get to the bottom of this matter and I can’t imagine a journalist having issue with such a venue to prove what was said, unless of course he said it.

Why would anyone get their news from someone like Mathews unless of course they wanted to feed the same biases that define Mathews and his journalistic offerings.
Mathews has that Dan Rather quality for sure when it comes to agenda based reporting.............................

Iraqi Responsibility For Security Increasing

Speaking of promising returns from the investment being made in Iraq, here is some very positive news:

Times

Per the Washington Times:

Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who commands the Multinational Corps Iraq, said that 36 Iraqi battalions, about one-third of the total force, are now responsible for their own security sectors and can fight the insurgency. But they are not yet ready to operate totally independent of U.S. supply lines and tactical advice………

"Iraqi security forces are able to conduct operations in a large portion of their area with only limited coalition support," Gen. Vines told Pentagon reporters via a teleconference from Baghdad. "They do require our support at this time. That support will be increasingly less over a period of time, but a precipitous pullout, I believe, would be destabilizing."

If the positive trends continue with the Iraqi forces, there are plans for measured decreases in American troops stationed in Iraq:

Fox

Per Sec of State Rice:

"The president has said that as soon as Iraqi forces are ready, we want to see a reduction in our own forces, and I think those days are going to be coming fairly soon when Iraqis are going to be more and more capable of carrying out the functions to secure their own future,"

The tentative plan calls for the reduction of troop levels from the current 18 brigade size by 3 brigades early next year. Per Rice it will be done the right way that does not destabilize the progress being made:

Any decision on when U.S. forces start coming home, Rice said, would be a "joint" one between Iraqi and coalition leader. She added that Bush will take his guidance from commanders in the field…………….

WaPo is covering the story as well:

WaPo

It certainly is not time to cut & run like the majority on the left side of the aisle are calling for these days, even the paper hawks of the party:

party of defeat

It’s not time to repeat the George McGovern defeat march, rather it’s time to let the Iraqis continue to move forward towards self government, and hope that they get it right:

No McGovern March

Giving Iraqis a chance to get it right is what we have been doing and there are many positive signs of late. In the end it will be completely up to them as to whether they succeed. But leaving now as things are just beginning to stabilize would be a terrible decision and a very irrational one..............

The Lebanese Model Would Be Fatal for Iraq

Looks like southern Lebanon is heating up again:

Lebanon Conflict

The largest military action since 2000 was carried out by Israel in response to attacks by Hezbollah. Israeli warplanes bombed a number of Hezbollah targets and bulldozed a Hezbollah command post in southern Lebanon:

The Israeli strike came a day after the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah fired mortars and rockets toward the Israeli-Lebanese border, wounding 11 Israeli soldiers and damaging a house in an Israeli border community. The shelling sent thousands of Israeli civilians into bomb shelters. Israeli return fire killed four Hezbollah guerrillas.

Israel also bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut with paper leaflets:

leaflet bombs

The Syrian withdraw from Lebanon has given hope to a country that has been torn apart by war and terrorism for over thirty years. That said the conflict that caused the Lebanese civil war still defines the country yet today as this article from the Cornell Library reports back in 1999:

Lebanon Civil War

The fatal flaw of the Lebanese Model is this:

The agreement, known after the town in Saudi Arabia where it was signed, Taif, set a 50-50 balance between Christians and Muslims in the Lebanese parliament and reordered the powers of the branches of government. But two major features of the Taif accord have not been implemented.

One was a plan to dismantle the sectarian structure of Lebanese politics, which has long been organized around parties beholden to one or another religious faction.
Not only is Lebanese politics still marked by sectarianism, said analysts, but the antagonisms among the various sectarian interests is greater than ever. None of the nation's major politicians is regarded as a truly national figure.

Rather, each represents mainly the interests of his own clan--Christian Maronites, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims or Druze.

When sectarianism is the guiding principle of a countries politics I think it is probably impossible for democracy to succeed. If 30 years of violence is not enough to cause a country like Lebanon to remove religion as the driving force of their politics and government, it is hard to imagine that democracy can succeed there.

Recent signs have shown a glimmer of hope in Lebanon, but unless true action follows then real change will not come.

The Iraqis should consider the Lebanese Model as they strive to bring democracy to their country. Per this ABC poll Iraqis supported democracy 49% compared to a Strong Leader for Life at 28% and an Islamic State at 21%:

Iraqi Support for Democracy

Unless Iraqis can put aside the interests of their clans, then they will remain in a cycle of sectarian violence that will only deepen and become worse. America and other countries have made a huge investment in Iraq and there are many positive signs of returns on that investment. However, the ultimate factor that will decide whether Iraqis succeed in building a democracy will be the Iraqi people’s ability to remove clan religious agendas from their core political process.

Violence and conflict will continue in countries like Lebanon and Iraq until the citizens realize that freedom of religion in a democracy means more than their individual freedom to worship as they wish. It means that everyone should be free to worship as they wish and to be able to do so without persecution.

It also means probably most importantly that particular religious agendas must be prevented from defining the political process and government. It appears to me at this point that followers of fundamental Islam will have a very hard time embracing the core requirement of democracy that requires “separation of church and state”.

The Lebanese Model can not be what the Iraqis follow if they are to succeed in building their democracy. Also, things in Lebanon won’t change until and unless they scrap the old model…………………………………….

Holiday Travel Can Make You Want To Jump

We are staying home this Thanksgiving and having a quite family holiday, but for those of you traveling you have my sympathies. Thanksgiving is the biggest travel date on the calendar and this year it is forecasted to be a record breaking pilgrimage per Fox:

Fox

An estimated 21.7 million Americans will take to the sky between November 19th and November 29th. Today there will be about 55,000 commercial flights in the US which will put 5,000 to 6,000 planes in the air at the same time.

Air travel has gotten bad no doubt and travel periods like Thanksgiving magnify the sometimes horrific event that has become air travel. That said this story seems like an extreme reaction even with the state of air travel today:

BBC

Per the BBC a drunk and sleeping pill impaired tourist tried to slip out the door of a plane while in flight at 20,000 feet and have a smoke:

Sandrine Helene Sellies, 34, who has a fear of flying, had drunk alcohol and taken sleeping tablets ahead of the flight from Hong Kong to Brisbane.

She was seen on the Cathay Pacific plane walking towards a door with an unlit cigarette and a lighter. She then began tampering with the emergency exit until she was stopped by a flight attendant.

Things have gotten bad on commercial flights but I don’t think they have gotten that bad. Ms. Sellies gives new meaning to the saying: “I’m going to slip out for a quick smoke”…………………….

Don't Let Cranberries Ruin Thanksgiving Dinner

There is no doubt that my favorite holiday from a dinning perspective is Thanksgiving. What a spread of great food that is pleasing from every sense: taste, smell and appearance. I can’t wait to partake tomorrow…………..

Rob Dreher of the Corner has a post up about Thanksgiving food and comments on the cranberry sauce mistake:

Dreher @ The Corner

Dreher is encouraging readers to make cranberry sauce from real cranberries and not use the canned version. It does not sound like that much work to whip it up from scratch, but even if you do go with the canned version, for god’s sake at least chop it up with a spoon so it does not look like a can sitting there…………..

I don’t know if there is anything that blows the whole visual presentation of a great Thanksgiving spread like cranberry sauce sitting on its serving dish with can lines and retaining the inside form of the can it was dumped out of……………………..

Cheney Refuses To Allow Dem To Rewrite History

VP Cheney is calling the Dems on the carpets for lying about their history and the factual history on Iraq per WaPo:

WaPo

He is correct, the Dem strategy is to forget about and lie about their role in history and press on with the "Bush Lied" on Iraq. Its the Clinton was right on the same intel but Bush lied knowing the same intel and we did not lie because we were lied to by Bush with the Clinton intel.................Gateway Pundit has a good wrap on the story and does a much more effective job of covering the story than Michael Fletcher and Jim VandeHei of the agenda based WaPo:

Gateway

Is it not sad that the MSM won't cover the facts of the story and TV Ads have to be purchased to correct the distortion of the day? Another example of the MSM "falling off the floor". Disgusting..................................

Woodward Pops Last Bit of Air In Plame-Gate Balloon

Woodward pops the last of the "Plame-gate" air out of the extreme lefts balloon:

Woodward

Unbelievable that the Nixon-Slayer would be the one, simply incredible. Here is the last rush of air:

Woodward again questioned the importance of the case. "When it all comes out - and hopefully it will come out - people will see how casual and offhand this was," he told King.

"Remember, the investigation and the allegations that people have printed about this story is that there's some vast conspiracy to slime Joe Wilson and his wife, really attack him in an ugly way that is outside of the boundaries of political hardball," Woodward said.

"The evidence I had firsthand - a small piece of the puzzle, I acknowledge - is that that was not the case."

Abu Ali Guilty On Plotting To Kill President

Plot to kill the President of the United States and get caught, then you looking at "life in prison":

Abu Guilty

The tortured by America and American allies sad sound did not play out with the jury:

The federal jury rejected Ahmed Omar Abu Ali's claim that Saudi security officers whipped and tortured him into a false confession..............

Juror Nancy Ramsden said the videotaped confession was a "very striking" piece of evidence. "It was almost sort of a joke for him," she said, referring to points in the tape where Abu Ali laughs and pantomimes the use of an assault rifle. Ramsden said the jurors agreed from the beginning they did not believe Abu Ali was physically tortured...................

Good for the jury, at least some in this country can view the facts and threat facing this country and not get "bogged down" in the ghost of Vietnam...........

Blog Originally or Don't Blog At All

I have not posted much in the past weeks because it was "deer season" and I was out in the great and beautiful wild woods. The hunting is almost secondary to getting back in touch with nature and simplicity of life that that nature represents and it is in fact the most complicated and amazing thing on our planet. It was a refreshing and recharging diversion, and one I look very forward to every year.

I did kill a deer and it was a masterful shot. I also missed a deer on a less than masterful shot. So it is in the hunting sport...........................................

It was also nice to get away from the current events of the day. I enjoy blogging and staying active in the events of the day, but its also good to take a step back and but all that into perspective from time to time. One thing that I have been thinking about since reengaging with the blogosphere is that some take it "way" to seriously and other just follow the lead of their favorite "prime time bloggers" and regurgitate their offerings. I know I have, but I don't intend to any longer. If your going to blog have some interesting "original" stuff to say or your just another link I'd say....................................

I enjoy Hugh Hewitt, Powerline, Instapundit and others a great deal, but being a AA or AAA copy of such blogs is kind of a waste of time. Be original and have fun I say. Happy blogging...........................

Congress Protecting Pork

A majority in congress are circling the wagons to protect the pork:

Porkers

Instapundits "Pork Busters" is sure to give a less than favorable review of this congressional action and desire to keep the pork "fat' and "beefy"................

Murtha Re-Cycles 2004 Iraq Defeat Speech

Per MyWay, a Dem. House Rep who they call "influential" is calling for a pull-out from Iraq:

MyWay on Murthat

I particularly like this line:

An influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict.

Didn't every member vote for the Iraq war except Dennis Kucinich? I also like this part of the story:

It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region."

Is he serious? Did he poll the Iraqi people, or did he read the polling data from Iraq these past three years. Yes some Americans are getting a bit weak in the knees, but pulling out in defeat as Murtha is calling for would be like "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory". Maybe its a Vietnam thing, once you live it, then it begins to define you. I'm glad I don't have that ghost defining me............................................

The "Defeatist Message of Murtha" did not surface today, it has been around since May of 2004:

Murthat's Defeat Message via 2004

Per Murtha back in 2004:

"We cannot prevail in this war as it is going today," Murtha said yesterday at a news conference with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Murtha said the incidents of prisoner abuse in Iraq were a symptom of a problem in which U.S. troops in Iraq are undermanned, inadequately equipped and poorly trained.

"We either have to mobilize or we have to get out," Murtha said, adding that he supported increasing U.S. troop strength rather than pulling out.

The first hint should be that he appeared with Nancy Pelosi to make such a statement. Used and abused by the anti-war crowed like a cheap, wet, suit..............................

Per DeLay back in 2004 he hit the nail on the head on the start of the Dem roll over:

Republicans responded at their own news conference, with Majority Leader Tom DeLay, of Texas, saying that "this morning, in a calculated and craven political stunt, the national Democratic Party declared its surrender in the war on terror." He said Democrats "want to win the White House more than they want to win the war, and our enemies know it." Democrats, said GOP Rep. Michael Burgess, of Texas, "basically are giving aid and comfort to the enemy."

I think DeLays remarks are right on the money and that the Dem want to win the politics more than the war. Unfortunately some Republicans have joined their ranks and are one really sorry bunch....................................

Terrell "Turd Owens" TO Sues Eagles

Terrell Owens is suing the Eagles:

Fox Sports

Per Fox the Eagles suspended TO (Turd Owens) without pay for the next four games and afte that he is suspended for the reminder of the season "WITH" pay:

Rather, we should look at the CBA itself. Article VIII of the CBA covers "Club Discipline," and Section 1(a) of that article sets forth a "maximum discipline schedule" for various infractions. There are 13 listed, the last of which is "Conduct detrimental to Club." The first 12 simply state maximum fines. For "Conduct detrimental to Club," the schedule reads: "maximum fine of an amount equal to one week's salary and/or suspension without pay for a period not to exceed four (4) weeks."

The law seems to be clearly on the Eagles side and they seem clearly within their rights on this measure. If Turd Owens and the NFL Players Association wants to move towards the NBA down the drain movement, then they should really jump hard behind Turd Owens...............................

Is there a worse example for a professional athlete than TO? He exemplifies everything that is completely wrong with professional sports and professional athletes today. Time to flush this "turd" and send him on.........................................................

Bob Woodward A Government Mole Per Lefty Bloggers

The moonbats are flying fast and hard this "full moon":

moonbats

Per the dem underground, seems that there is a growing suspicion that Bob Woodward is a government mole:

Many have previously speculated about Bob Woodward's role as a "mole" for the government. Here is another piece of possible evidence showing his involvement with the dark side. Could this be an attempt to undermine the efforts of the Special Prosecutor?

More proof that the heads are exploding hard and fast on the left over the fact that the Plame investigation and the Fitzgerald GJ handed them less than a bone...........

Perhaps blogger C. Herrera @ "A Call To Action" is right and Woodward is a government mole. Probably recruited and placed by Nixon, play those tapes again man...................

WaPo on Georgia Voting ID's & Ghost Voters

Yes by all means it does seem extremely overboard to require voters to prove that they are in fact the person that they claim to be by showing a photo ID at the polling station:

Georgia Voter ID

Per WaPo (who along with the NYT are setting the low standard for confidential source reporting these days):

A team of Justice Department lawyers and analysts who reviewed a Georgia voter-identification law recommended rejecting it because it was likely to discriminate against black voters, but they were overruled the next day by higher-ranking officials at Justice, according to department documents.

But get this, WaPo has some "leaked" info via a memo (hold your hat this could get interesting) that points to scandal and underhanded efforts underway in Georgia:

But an Aug. 25 staff memo obtained by The Washington Post recommended blocking the program because Georgia failed to show that the measure would not dilute the votes of minority residents, as required under the Voting Rights Act.
The memo, endorsed by four of the team's five members, also said the state had provided flawed and incomplete data. The team found significant evidence that the plan would be "retrogressive," meaning that it would reduce blacks' access to the polls.

A day later, on Aug. 26, the chief of the department's voting rights section, John Tanner, told Georgia officials that the program could go forward. "The Attorney General does not interpose any objection to the specified changes," he said in a letter to them.

This is ridiculous and to require a photo ID is not only reasonable it is responsible in the current climate of heavy voter fraud. There is a huge amount of voter fraud going on and steps have to be taken to ensure that legitimacy of the voting process. Georgia and other states should appropriate money if necessary for free voter ID cards with a photo, and pass the law. It would be terrible for anyone eligible to vote to not have that opportunity. That has to be prevented from happening. However, asking for each voter to prove they are who they claim via a photo ID is completely reasonable.

There are lots of dead people voting and although a photo ID will not prevent every ghost from voting, it will prevent the wide spread fraud that is currently going on at the voting booths...............................

Woodward Moves Front & Center on Plame-Gate

Is it not richly ironic that the reporter who put "confidential government sources" and "confidential leaks" on the map with the Watergate story is now deep in the middle of Plame-gate and is one of the leading critics of the Fitzgerald investigation:

Woodward

Per Reuters:

Woodward testified under oath on Monday to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that a senior Bush administration official casually told him in mid-June 2003 about Plame's position at the CIA.

The surprise testimony appeared to contradict Fitzgerald's assertion that Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, was the first government official to divulge information to reporters about Plame. The disclosure could prolong the leak investigation as Fitzgerald pursues new leads in the case, lawyers said......................

Before publicly disclosing his involvement in the leak case on Wednesday, Woodward was a frequent critic of Fitzgerald's investigation in television and radio appearances. Woodward has described the case as laughable and Fitzgerald's behavior as "disgraceful" and has referred to him as "a junkyard dog."

One day before Libby was charged, Woodward said he saw no evidence of criminal intent.

This was a strange story months ago that seemed to be a bunch of noise about nothing and I still say it is. I agree with Woodward that the Plame identify was one of the worst kept secretes of all time and hardly merited a grand jury and the kind of stage drama it has received. However, the entry of Bob Woodward to front and center makes it even stranger and now it's starting to get interesting. Can you not hear that collective gasp from the MSM holding their breath and turning a dark shade of blue? One wonders if the MSM will turn on one of their most celebrated members and gut him like a fish as they did to Miller.................................

The filet knifes are out and being sharpened as we speak:

WaPo's Internal Message Board

LA Most Poluted City

LA has the worst smog and pollution via the EPA:

LA POLUTED

When LA and the west coast gets their bad gas in control then they can ask the rest of the country to follow their example, I say........................

Wal-Mart Predicts Big Spending Holiday

What will the economic news be this holiday season? Per Wal-Mart and that's pretty much the definitive point, it will be a very good "buying season":

Seasonal Sales

The good economic news keeps rolling on and up......................................

Republicans Setting Limits on Iraq for Own Seats?

Republicans set to cave on Iraq to save their seats? Sounds that way via Bloomberg:

Republican Caving?

I'll vote against Bond and Talent in Missouri if they are part of this "defeat statement"........................What a slap to the military effort that is moving into a successful position..............

Australian Terrorists Planned 15 Bombings

More details have come out today on the big terrorist attack that was prevented by Australian security forces:

Australian Terror Attacks

Per the AP:

The Sydney arm of an alleged Islamic terror network had stockpiled enough chemicals to make at least 15 large bombs.........................

The eight suspects, arrested in Sydney Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to manufacture explosives for a terrorist attack, had registered a series of company names to justify buying large quantities of industrial chemicals..............................

Even after this, there are those in Australia who think that the proposed "two week detention power" that the government is asking for should not be passed:

Federal lawmakers were expected to begin debating Prime Minister John Howard's proposed new anti-terrorism laws during Thursday's sitting of parliament.

The legislation, which has met with opposition from legal and civil rights groups, would let authorities hold terror suspects without charge for two weeks and monitor them with electronic tracking devices for up to a year.

Britain giving Blair 28 days instead of the needed 90 days, Dems in America rehashing the Patriot Act, and now a country that just dodged a major terrorist attack has some opposed to a "two week detention" request? Do you see the theme here? Complete idiots on the detention issue.............

No one want to give the federal government undue power but we have to give them time and the power to figure out if a suspect is a terrorist killer planning to kill hundreds or thousands of citizens.

The politics of attack against those fighting the War on Terror is shameful. Hopefully another horrible attack will not happen but if it does, those leading the current attack will be "COMPLETELY" on the hook for the tragedy that could unfold....

Azahari Husin Dead - Blown Up

Word this evening that al Qaeda's top leader in Indonesia and the most wanted terrorist in Asia, Azahari Husin is believed to have expired:

Star

The authorities have to do a DNA test because it appears that Husin might have blown himself up as the authorities closed in and a shoot-out erupted:

It is not known if the man, believed to be Dr Azahari, was shot dead or had killed himself. The Star previously reported that Dr Azahari strapped his body with explosives as he did not wish to be captured alive........

According to news agencies, local TV stations in Jakarta reported that Dr Azahari had blown himself up in an apparent bid to avoid being captured alive.

Azahari was a doctor believe it or not and seemed to have a special talent and attraction to bombs:

He was also said to be an expert in explosives and in bomb making. He had acquired the skills at one of al-Qaeda’s training camps in Afghanistan. He fled the country in 2001 together with several others when police launched a crackdown on Kumpulan Militant Malaysia and the Jemaah Islamiah.

Dr Azahari was allegedly involved in several bombings in Jakarta, including the J.W. Marriott hotel blast, as well as the Bali bombings in October 2002 and this year.

This is good news and another terrorist killer as been eliminated and moves on to their final place, enjoy hell Dr. Azahari Husin.............................

House of Commons Votes Down Blairs 90 Day Law

Has there ever been two World Leaders of more influential countries, who have had so much resistance against their efforts to make the world safer than George Bush & Tony Blair?

Per the BBC, the House of Commons today handed Tony Blair his first defeat within that chamber on a piece of law that he endorsed and promoted:

BBC

The measure was a proposal that would allow police to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days without charging them. The vote was 322 against vs. 291 for. Blair stated that police had told him that it was 90-day detention was “vital” and “compelling”.

After the vote Blair said that he hoped MPs “do not rue the day” that they rejected the measure. I think most people around the world have the same hope that we all “do not rue the day” this decision was made.

The same House of Commons later voted 323 vs. 290 to expand the current detention time from 28 days to 14 days. So your Prime Minister and his security agencies are telling you a few months after suicide bombers attacked you on your soil that they need 76 more days and you give them 14 more days? Unbelievable……............

To prove that it’s not only politically fashionable here in the US to undermine the “war on terrorism” for political points and gains, British minority leader and Tory leader Michael Howard called for Blair’s resignation after the defeated measure got voted down. Liberal Dem leader Charles Kennedy called Blair a “lame duck”.

I mean you have two different leaders here with different political ideologies that understand that this is a war, is above politics and it has to be won and it’s going to take hard and difficult measures to succeed. They can see it and have the resolve to do what is needed, but it seems that many are eager to put their own political and personal gains ahead of what needs to be done for the good of everyone.

Disgusting and I certainly hope that we all don’t rue the day that critical things that Bush & Blair are trying to do to win this war, get defeated or stalled. I do hope that history will show years from now that they were somehow able to get the critical things done and in place that ultimately lead to victory…………………………………..

Norman Podhoretz: Who Is Lying About Iraq?

Instapundit has a post up on the Norman Podhoretz commentary titled:

who is lying about Iraq?

It is a wonderful piece that absolutely hits the bull’s eye over the Intel leading up to Iraq and the current distortions that are being promoted by the left. Podhoretz cuts off all escape routes for the Dems and the media as he clearly recounts their very large and willing role in validation of the Intel that resulted in the Iraq War actions.

He points out the fact that the whole world agreed that Saddam and Iraq had WMD and were trying to restart a nuclear program. The point is clearly made that even if Bush wanted for some reason to tilt or influence the Intel he would not have needed to, everyone agreed that Iraq had WMD and that after 911 based on that understanding, something had to be done.

The piece quotes case after case of support for action on Iraq from those who now say Bush lied about the Intel leading up to the invasion. The credibility factor of the former supporters now turned critics is left in a shredded pile by Podhoretz. Joe Wilson’s steady string of lies are all listed and spelled out clearly in the piece, and his place as the true agent of agenda and misinformation are accurately captured.

Podhoretz closes with this:

And so long as we are hunting for liars in this area, let me suggest that we begin with the Democrats now proclaiming that they were duped, and that we then broaden out to all those who in their desperation to delegitimize the larger policy being tested in Iraq—the policy of making the Middle East safe for America by making it safe for democracy—have consistently used distortion, misrepresentation, and selective perception to vilify as immoral a bold and noble enterprise and to brand as an ignominious defeat what is proving itself more and more every day to be a victory of American arms and a vindication of American ideals.

He recounts all the facts, events and quotes that make this a very accurate and strongly persuasive piece. The history leading up to Iraq is known as are the factors. Podhoretz simply compiles them together to retell the history of what happened and who is now lying………………………………….

Rosenhaus Defend Terrell Owens

Lots of stories out there about sports agents that ride the backs of their players without doing much. I would not say that is the case for Terrell Owen's agent:

TO per ESPN

Could you imagine the humiliation of standing up in front of the public and defending TO? TO makes Randy Moss look like a "team builder". Man, leave any dignity and credibility you have at the door and jump in the mud with the pigs and wallow on........................

Drew Rosenhaus almost looked like he was about to break out laughing to me when he said, "There are players in the NFL that are arrested who violate the program when it comes to drugs and substance abuse and they are not punished as severely as him". Reason being Rosenhaus has gotten some of those offenders off........

TO had little to say but had his act going:

While Rosenhaus spoke to reporters and refused to answer several questions, Owens stood stoically alongside a burly bodyguard. He flashed his trademark smile and winked at a reporter who asked Rosenhaus what he's done for his client other than have him kicked off the team.

I have never seen two people in sports that deserve each other more than Rosenhaus & TO. Maybe TO will sign a football with his sharpie for Rosenhaus and serve it up with a white waiter towel. Bet they both would get one hell of a laugh from that tied stunt...................................................

Dems Want New Dots To Connect On Iraq Pre-War Intel

Looks like we have "Game On" in Washington now and the Republicans are about to hit back and hit hard at the regurgitated efforts of the Dems to have a Do-Over on the 911 Hearings and the Plame Gate investigation, and make things come out much more positive for their political interests. Per CNN:

CNN

"You're going to see heavy and direct engagement from this administration," according to a senior administration official, who said there would be "an increased presence and willingness to be more aggressive in responding to Democrats."

The Dems angle is: Libby was indicted and Plame Gate was loosely related to the intelligence leading up to the Iraq war, so Bush and the White House was lying..............................

A couple problems with that strategy:

- Libby was not indicted for exposing Plame (who it seems everyone in that circle knew was a CIA agent) or improper disclosure of classified information. He was indicted for obstruction of justice, perjury, and false statements to federal agents . Not a good thing but far from falsifying intel or lying about intel leading up to the Iraq War. It was a "very" hollow victory for the Dems who are falling all over themselves right now in rage. They wanted to be able to connect some dots but there are no dots to connect..........................

- Joe Wilson was a political hack who went to Niger on the request of his wife with an agenda and came back with an agenda statement. He was more interested in an Op-Ed career with the NYT as it related to his findings than true intel for his country. Joe Wilson provides "lots" of dots, but they connect a picture that the Dems don't want to connect nor does the NYT...................

- The post war 911 Commission has done it's investigation and made it's report. No falsification of intel came out and the Dems want a do-over even though it was a bipartisan investigation. Guess they don't trust their own Dem officals on this one. Again no dots to connect so the Dems are trying to make up new dots........................

- The Niger Yellow Cake source Rocco Martino turns out to be a bad Italian agent who was possibly a double agent working for France French Italian Double Agent . So the info was bad but again no evidence of falsification by the Administration of the intel given by Martino. Everyone believed it was true at the time, everyone............

Bottom line, lots of mistakes were made with intel by lots of people and mostly by the CIA. The Dems want to paint a new picture that does not exist and make it one with lots of dots that they can then connect. Not going to happen, selective recreation of history is not an option. It's about time that the WH and Republicans came out and exposed the Dem agenda front and center in every debate being covered currently. .......................................

The off-year elections are over and the 2006 season has offically started, "lets get it on"...................................................

Dana Priest & Black Site Are A Real & Serious Leak

We just finished "leak light" with Libby and Plame with an outcome far less dramatic than the build-up. The Dems did not get what they wanted and they are falling off the cliffs right now with closed door Senate calls and request for a re-do on the 911 Hearings. Now it looks like we are about to get "Leak Heavy" and get down to some serious investigation into who in the CIA is releasing unlike in the Plame case, real and serious intelligence and damaging the US GWOT efforts:

Black Site Leak

This is a high intelligence leak that puts lots of people around the world in danger and could have very negative impacts on the efforts to protect Americans and others around the world. Per Reuters:

The CIA has asked the Justice Department to review a possible leak of classified information to The Washington Post for an article on a secret CIA global prison system, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, top Republicans in Congress called for a joint House of Representatives-Senate probe on whether classified material was leaked and national security damaged. "The leak of classified information contained in the Washington Post story has been referred to the Justice Department by the CIA," said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"It's illegal to leak classified information and classified information was leaked to the Washington Post," the official said.

The story revolves around the report that we have prisons overseas that are used to hold and interrogate Al Qaeda terrorists:

The newspaper reported last week that the CIA has been holding and interrogating al Qaeda captives at a secret facility in Eastern Europe, part of a global covert prison system established after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The WaPo story by Dana Priest that reported the leak is here:

WaPo

Per Priest's article:

The CIA has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al Qaeda captives at a Soviet-era compound in Eastern Europe, according to U.S. and foreign officials familiar with the arrangement.

The secret facility is part of a covert prison system set up by the CIA nearly four years ago that at various times has included sites in eight countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several democracies in Eastern Europe, as well as a small center at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, according to current and former intelligence officials and diplomats from three continents.

To her credit she and the Post were smart enough to hold back a bit an not publish the names of the Eastern European countries by name:

The Washington Post is not publishing the names of the Eastern European countries involved in the covert program, at the request of senior U.S. officials. They argued that the disclosure might disrupt counterterrorism efforts in those countries and elsewhere and could make them targets of possible terrorist retaliation.

That I don't think will be enough to save the paper and Priest from a very serious investigation into how she got the intel, and the liability that could be shared with the CIA source that gave it to her.

The American people have pretty much shrugged off the Libby & Plame issue that was not even a leak, as something "that should not have happened but it's really not a big deal". Bets are that Libby will not be convicted at trial based on the information known at this point.

This leak or the "Heavy Black Site Leak" will have a completely different impact I think with the public. Exposing highly sensitive information that directly puts Americans and our Allies at risk, will be viewed as a very negative development. Dana Priest, the CIA and WaPo are about to become "center stage" in a "real leak investigation" and who ever is responsible for breaking laws if they were and it certainly looks like there were, are going to pay a "HUGE" price...........

Vietnamese Man Latest Death From Bird Flu

A Vietnamese man has died of H5N1 Bird Flu, the 42nd Vietnamese to die from the disease and the 60th in the region:

Another Bird Flu Death

The only possible positive thing coming out of the story is that his family also ate the same chicken and did not get sick.........................

French Rioting Video And Screams of Allah Is Great

Via Little Green Footballs, a front line video of the rioting in Paris including the rioters screaming Allahu akbar ( Allah is Great):

Riot Video

Also on the post an article from M&C news with this quote from the rioters:

'Each night we turn this place into Baghdad'..................................

Vatican Supports Darwin's Evolution

The Vatican has issued a statement that defends evolution:

Vatican

Per the Australian:

Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said the Genesis description of how God created the universe and Darwin's theory of evolution were "perfectly compatible" if the Bible were read correctly…………….

His statement was a clear attack on creationist campaigners in the US, who see evolution and the Genesis account as mutually exclusive.
"The fundamentalists want to give a scientific meaning to words that had no scientific aim," he said at a Vatican press conference. He said the real message in Genesis was that "the universe didn't make itself and had a creator".

It does not appear that the Vatican or Catholic Church are big fans of the Creationist ideology………… ….I find that a bit strange for some reason……………..

Catastrophic Terrorist Attacked Stopped In Australia

The longest operation of counterterrorism conducted in Australia seems to have been successful and prevented a “catastrophic terrorist attack”:

BBC

Per the BBC:

He said six people had been arrested in Sydney early on Tuesday morning, while Melbourne police said another nine were arrested there. Just two days ago the government gave police greater anti-terrorist powers…………………

A federal police spokesman said some of those arrested had already been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation.

The report does not go into the detains of the terrorist threat as I'm sure they have not been released, only that an apparently big attack has been stopped, which is obviously the most important point.

The liberal opposition party in Australia has been accusing the John Howard government of exaggerating the dangers in order to get stronger anti-terror powers.

Guess we now know who was right on this matter once again…………………………

Aljazeera on the French Intifada

Aljazeera is focusing in on Sarkozy and what they are reporting as the incitement his comments caused:

Aljazeera

Per Aljazeera Sarkozy has political reasons for his rhetoric as well:

Since then, there has been evidence it has been fanned by tough rhetoric by Sarkozy, who has been preparing a bid to run in 2007 presidential elections on the strength of "zero tolerance" law-and-order policies.

The rioters agree with Aljazeera and say that Sarkozy is the cause of the Intifada:

It was calm for a long time here. If there hadn't been Sarko's words - 'power-hose,' 'rabble' - there wouldn't have been all this," a 22-year-old man in the northern tinderbox suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois said.

He makes us suffer, he's a racist. He's put fuel on the fire," Fatou, a 14-year-old boy of African background, said.

The news organization says the Intifada itself has been pretty harmless all things considered, you know a few fires, a few beatings a few gun shots fired:

A few shots have been fired at police - an unusual occurrence in France - but did not cause any injuries.

There have been no deaths so far, but at least two people have been badly burnt by Molotov cocktails: a fireman, and a handicapped woman unable to get off an ambushed bus.

A 61-year-old was also in a coma after being beaten in a public housing estate. (my update: the victim died today from the beating)

Seems that Aljazeera’s read is: this ain't no intifada brother………………………Which is not a very reassuring thought when considering what appears to be coming next…………………….

China Sends Army to Battle Avian Bird Flu

China has deployed the People's Army in their latest battle against the Bird Flu:

China

Not a good sign that this is a mild or non-serious outbreak when the following is unfolding:

"All the poultry in the region must be slaughtered by zero hour (midnight) on Sunday," Xinhua news agency said, quoting local officials.
As of Sunday morning more than one million poultry have been slaughtered, the China News Service quoted officials as saying...................

Soldiers also sealed off the affected areas while disinfecting pedestrians and vehicles leaving the premises. More than 30 roadside checkpoints have been set up and some 50 tons of disinfectants were used, the Liaoning Daily said Sunday......

Officials will also "launch a province-wide surveillance, not missing one village, one family or one poultry, and vaccinating 100 percent of the poultry, not counting on sheer luck, not leaving any shortcomings and not leaving any hidden dangers," Zhou said...............

Authorities in Beijing threatened to fine or jail anyone who refuses to comply with vaccination orders for pets and other animals...........

This would appear to be a serious outbreak and a serious situation based on the reaction thus far by the Chinese government…………………………………….

Newspaper Circulations Continue Plunging Lower

Drudge has the six month trend on newspaper circulations and he is calling it a “Blood Bath”, for obvious reasons:

Blood Bath

The San Francisco Chronicle is down 16.4%.............................................

Overall circulation was on average down 2.6% across the board for weekday editions and 3.1% down for Sunday’s edition. The previous six month period showed a 1.9 decrease in the weekly offering and a 2.5% decrease in the Sunday offering.

Circulation Trends


The spiraling decline in newspaper circulation not only continues, but accelerates…………..

Mark Steyn On French Intifada

Mark Steyn has an article up in the Chicago Sun-Times covering the French Intifada that is quickly becoming the European Intifada:

Steyn

Steyn points out that those rioting are technically French but:

it doesn't take much time in les banlieus of Paris to discover that the rioters do not think of their primary identity as ''French'': They're young men from North Africa growing ever more estranged from the broader community with each passing year and wedded ever more intensely to an assertive Muslim identity more implacable than anything you're likely to find in the Middle East.

Steyn also shoots holes in the argument that a neocon Bush strategy is at the root of all wrong in the Muslim world theory:

If you had millions of seething unassimilated Muslim youths in lawless suburbs ringing every major city, would you be so eager to send your troops into an Arab country fighting alongside the Americans? For half a decade, French Arabs have been carrying on a low-level intifada against synagogues, kosher butchers, Jewish schools, etc. The concern of the political class has been to prevent the spread of these attacks to targets of more, ah, general interest. They seem to have lost that battle. Unlike America's Europhiles, France's Arab street correctly identified Chirac's opposition to the Iraq war for what it was: a sign of weakness.

Is it simply a riot or is it in fact the start of something bigger? Well, ask those trying to stop the in violence what they think on that point:

''There's a civil war under way in Clichy-sous-Bois at the moment,'' said Michel Thooris of the gendarmes' trade union Action Police CFTC. ''We can no longer withstand this situation on our own. My colleagues neither have the equipment nor the practical or theoretical training for street fighting.''

Styen wraps it up with this prediction on whether the riots are a flash in the pan or the start of a bigger flame:

They're seizing their opportunities, testing their foe, probing his weak spots. If burning the 'burbs gets you more ''respect'' from Chirac, they'll burn 'em again, and again. In the current issue of City Journal, Theodore Dalrymple concludes a piece on British suicide bombers with this grim summation of the new Europe: ''The sweet dream of universal cultural compatibility has been replaced by the nightmare of permanent conflict.'' Which sounds an awful lot like a new Dark Ages.

After seeing the start of the French Intifada, I have a whole new perspective on why the French were and still are reluctant to partner up in the “war on terrorism”.

My God, they are already a hostage in their own country……………………………………….

Warnings About Avian Flu & Economic Impacts

I have to admit that I have not been giving the danger of the “H5N1 Bird Flu” much serious thought, but it appears that there is a growing concern that real danger of a pandemic is possible. Hugh Hewitt has been covering the story, and posts on the latest:

Hewitt

Per Hewitt via the WSJ Avian Flu News Tracker:

Authorities ordered all live poultry markets in China's capital to close immediately and went door-to-door seizing chickens and ducks from private homes, as the government dramatically beefed up its fight against bird flu.

Sounds like some pretty drastic measures………………..

Reading the AP story they made a point that I think could be a major driving consideration:

Another task is to compensate farmers for culls. If too little is offered, farmers may hide an outbreak of disease; if too much is offered, they may be tempted to deliberately infect their birds, said Brahmbhatt.

I don’t doubt for one minute that at the bottom layers of the poultry industry, the economic factors are in play that could and probably do prevent the culling of birds that are sick and need to be culled. Getting poor or struggling farmers to kill infected birds has to be difficult due to the economic impact it has on them personally. I also don’t doubt that if an economic program existed that made it more financially attractive to cull sick birds, that some producers could intentionally infect their livestock to gain the economic advantages.

The economic impact in total is already standing at 10 billion dollars, and a full scale pandemic could approach 800 billion dollars, aside from the estimated 1 million deaths to humans……………………………………..

St. Louis Post Breaks Big Anti-War Activist Fraud

The Friday change at the Editor position within the Post Dispatch seems to have paid "immediate" results. In today's edition the Post on the front page in the lead article at the top, the Post exposes an anti-war activist and media darling, as a liar and someone without any credibility. Gateway Pundit has a good recap on our home town papers article:

Gateway

The article exposes an anti-war con-man named Jimmy Massey. He has been telling of the atrocities committed by the American Military to everyone who will listen to his story. He as the support of the elite within the anti-war movement, and Cindy Sheehan has used him as her credibility factor for her movement. Her movement was over in late summer but this will pour a very cold dose of water on whatever coals were still simmering and prove once again that the Sheehan Carnival is more about Cindy Sheehan than about anything of substance or facts.......................................

Jimmy Massey is proof that the MSM is eager and will jump out of their skin for operatives like Massey who will tell their customers what a healthy percentage of the MSM itself wishes to promote. It is also a great example of why you should view such stories from the MSM with a healthy dose of skepticism. There is a strong degree of activist journalism within the MSM that wants to promote the message of Jimmy Massey and they will rush to publish stories of this nature and this angle. Readers beware......................

In my previous post I said that the departure of former Editor Ellen Soeteber was a great development for St. Louis in terms of removing a liberal activist from the reigns of the paper. I now wonder if this story had anything to do with her announcement to resign on Friday. I have no information that is the case but I wonder if it did. The reason I wonder is that the Post is an extremely liberal paper and this type of story just does not find it's way into publication usually at all, let alone in the form of a front page lead story. It will be interesting to see if there is any connection.

That said, I salute the Post for running a great article that needed to be run and will provide a great deal of information and insight into how the anti-war establishment has been conducting their business and have been trying to sway public opinion with false information and spinners of outright lies................

Congratulation to Ron Harris on breaking this important article that will have national and international impact. This was some top-rated journalism. Also congratulations to the new St. Louis Post Dispatch management for putting such an important article upfront and center. This is "watchdog journalism" watching the left side of the field an a piece that has been missing..........................

I may owe new Editor Arnie Robbins an apology, and if the product at the Post continues to enforce that I do in fact owe him an apology, then I will be very happy to give him just such an apology "loud and thankfully"......................

St. Louis Post Dispatch Liberal Editor Soetber Resigns

This is great news for the people of St. Louis and the subscribers of the Post Dispatch!!!!! Ms. Soetber was an "extremely" liberal editor that promoted and allowed an extreme liberal bias in the coverage of news, especially political new at the Post Dispatch. Her resignation is a sign that a more balanced and creditable grounding will now direct how the Post Dispatch reports news to their subscribers.

Post Editor Resigns

Soetber's replacement Arnie Robbins is as liberal and biased as Soetber, but one has to think that as revenue plunges and jobs are lost because of the papers liberal bias, he has a clue what needs to be done. If he continues on the failed route of liberal bias that Soetber promoted, more jobs will be lost at the Post and he to will be replaced. He does not impress me as the type of person who has the metal or impartiality to do what needs to be done at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. I give him less than 12 months.

We are probably two more editors away from a fair and balanced person in control at the Post Dispatch, but we are making progress. Excuse me for enjoying the moment and embracing the possibility that we could within the next few years have a relevant and credible newspaper here in St. Louis again. Can you image reading your home town St. Louis newspaper without it being a disgusting regurgitation of liberal talking points? Ahhh, what a refreshing thought and one that I think we could see soon.

Post management has to understand that the socialist agenda that they have promoted all these years is obsolete. It was in vogue back in the mid-sixties and early seventies but then America woke up and gained some perspective. America has move to the right and will stay there from the foreseeable future. Give your subscribers fair and balanced news without a political agenda and you will have a successful paper. Continue with the liberal agenda and more layoffs and a continued spiral of credibility will pore down the drain. I don't expect or want a paper that does not question the establishment or hide criticism that is warranted. I need and desire such news. However, don't stage it with liberal talking points that are agenda driven and come from a political bias. That agenda has fallen off the bridge and no one, I mean no one is willing to buy that crap any longer. I need a "Watch Dog" but the dog has to hunt both left of center issues as well as right of center issues. The Watch Dog has to hunt the "whole" field..........................

A "political hack" has resigned her position as St. Louis Post Dispatch Editor today and that can only make the paper a better publication and a better product. I hold out high hopes for the Post Dispatch in the coming years...........................................

French Intifada & Communist Argentina Riots Proof Bush Policy Correct

Watching the coverage of the Summit of America it was almost comical to see the Castro-Lennon-Chavez communist protestors wait for the press to gather near before they broke windows, destroyed property, or set things on fire. It is a very staged and choreographed event. It reminds me of the Cindy Sheehan event this summer. Come to think of it there must be socialist-communist American protest organizers down in Argentina helping with the event, because it has the same footprint.

The really funny thing is that they think this will have an effect on the American public and American policy. It and the French Intifada are having an effect but not the one both hoped that they would.

What is happening in Argentina & France is a resounding justification of our current policies and a huge reason to step up those actions......................

If you doubt that Chavez and Venezuela are a threat take a look at where one of the Madrid 3-11 bombers was hiding Madrid Bomber Yes they were in Venezuela................

Summit of Americas Update - Rioting Communists

Fellow St. Louis blogger Gateway Pundit has a very good post up recapping the Summit of Americas conference taking place in Argentina:

Gateway Pundit: Vicente Fox, Not Bush, Dampens Chavez's Marxist Party


The protesting party is basically a “who’s who” in socialist – communist protesting with a heavy South American focus. Cindy Sheehan however will be there for the party and a chance to get that spot light that she so greatly craves. And of course Che Guevarra had a prominent visual presence which is expected.

Made me dust off my favorite picture of Che for this post:

Che Guevarra

Carnival of College Football Week 10

Not exactly the best line-up of College Football, but there is a couple good match-ups. Here is how Trev Alberts ESPN unofficial replacement sees them:

Best Game
Miami @ Virginia Tech: Should be a great game. Will come down to turn-overs and who scores the most off turn-overs and special team field position and special team scoring. Points will be hard to come by. I think these two are really closely matched teams but I think Virginia Tech “should” win at home. Miami pulls the upset if their defense gets to Vick, hits him hard and often and throws him off his game. Pick Virginia Tech in a real close one……….

Second Best Game This Week (at the beginning of the year that is)
Tennessee @ Notre Dame: After getting beat by the Gamecocks and Spurrier, things have bottomed out at Rocky Top. Tennessee will be lucky to go to any bowl this year and the Citrus Bowl this year is out of the question ( remember Spurrier coined the saying “you can’t spell Citrus without UT - well you can this year ). I guess Tennessee could come out and play hard on the pride factor alone, but I got to believe that something will be missing from the orange and white. A good game the first half but then the Irish pull away in the second half and win by 14+ points………..

Wisconsin @ Penn State: I did not think that Penn State was for real this year but they have just found a way to win. I still don’t think they are a really good team but neither is Wisconsin. The Badgers defense is really bad and I think that makes the difference in this one with Joe Pa and Penn State winning on the ground with 275 +/- yards rushing…………………..

Cal @ Oregon: I’ll take the Ducks at home in this game between two average Pac 12 teams in a conference full of average teams except Southern Cal………………….

Missouri @ Colorado: Will the real Brad Smith play or the one that can’t hand the football off on a basic run play? If Smith plays his best Missouri would win going away. However they are on the road and Smith has been too inconsistent. I’ll take Colorado in this one. What will they win? The inside lead for the Big 12 North title and a chance to be humiliated by Texas later this year……………………………..

The Rest:

USC over Stanford (Stanford played USC hard last year……..)
Texas over Baylor huge
Alabama over Miss State
LSU over Appalachian State (Appalachian State? The Tigers lose BSC points over this scheduled opponent)
UCLA over Arizona (undefeated still but has played no one – zero)
FSU over NC State ( book the trip to the ACC championship )
Ohio State over Illinois big
Florida over Vandy ( could be close for a half )
Texas Tech over Texas A&M ( coaching change at A&M soon)
Auburn over Kentucky
BC over NC ( baseball score)
TCU over Colorado State

Could we have a week of no upsets with “every” favorite winning????? Probably not but this looks like the best week for it to happen if it is going to happen.

If I had to pick an upset who would I pick?

#1) Miami over V Tech
#2) Wisconsin over Penn State
#3) Cal over Oregon
#4) Arizona over UCLA
#5) Missouri over Colorado
#6) Kentucky over Auburn



That's how Trev Alberts unofficial ESPN replacement sees the old football bouncing this Saturday……………………………………….

Bush & Chavez To Have A Discussion

Sounds like communist Venezuela President Hugo Chavez thinks he has some balls. He told reporters that President Bush is afraid of him and that he might sneak up behind the President and scare him:

Chavez

Aside from the fact that Red Chavez would have a secrete service slug in his head if he tried such a stunt, he talks big in the press but is a sad puppy when its time to go. Chavez is so worried about getting a slug in his head that he had his military stage a mock US military invasion of Venezuela today:

US Invasion

Per the AP:

........on Thursday, the same day Venezuela staged a mock U.S. invasion of its own territory. The event is the latest exercise intended to prepare soldiers and civilian volunteers for what Chavez says is a possible attack by American troops.

If I was Bush I'd walk up to comrade Chavez and ask, "how did the US invasion exercise go"? Chavez would probably stammer and sweat his way into saying "great"! Then I'd say we were watching it also and we don't think it went so well and think that you are a 10 day exercise.

Here have a Che Guevara T-Shirt, the one of him dead on a board with a big hole in his chest. You can use it to wipe up the wet spot on the floor that you leaked Mr. Chavez........................

Libby Pleads Not Guilty - Time For A Trial

Grand Jury convictions are pretty easy (see Ronnie Earle), a criminal trial puts everyone on equal footing and provides the platform for a true trial. That said Libby has pleaded "not guilty" and has asked for a jury trial:

Libby

Per Libby's attorney Ted Wells:

"He wants to clear his good name, and he wants a jury trial," one of Libby's new lawyers, prominent trial attorney Ted Wells, said later outside the courthouse

The Libby grand jury conviction will not hold I'll say now. Can't wait to see Joe Wilson and Plame on the stand as well as the Vanity Fair folks...........

French Intifada Rages On - Sarkozy Is Cracking Down

The French Intifada is raging on this evening and spreading. It is also organized per French officials:

French Intifada

Seems that Nicolas Sarkozy is the only official who really has a clue that they have entered into a French Intifada:

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday that the riots in several Paris suburbs over the previous night were "not spontaneous" but rather "well organized."

"What we saw in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis overnight was not spontaneous, it was perfectly organized. We are looking into by whom and how," Sarkozy told French news channel i-tele.

The interior minister also said the government would not allow "troublemakers, a bunch of hoodlums, think they can do whatever they want" in the country.

As I posted earlier Sarkozy does not seem like your average Frenchman and I'd say he is exactly who should be in control of this. Sarkozy If things continue to go as bad as they are currently, look for Sarkozy to be the next President of France as they finally wake up from their silly dream..............................

Bush Has Them Right Where He Wants Them

John Hinderaker has a good post up at Powerline related to the currently Dem strategy:

Hinderaker @ Powerline

The post points out that the democrats are chasing their tail and running around in circles. You can see the glee in their eyes and their ally the MSM eyes as both think that "finally" they have the President weakened and try to move in and cut him down. In reality the President is appointing the next Justice and getting important policy passed in Congress.

It's a double downer for the dems. They don't have the President where they think they have him and he is effectively running initiatives through why they huddle in their cloud of powerless misunderstanding. A Rove stategy???????................................

Day Seven of French Intifada

Day seven of the French Intifada continued with escalated violence:

Intifada

Per Fox & the AP:

France's government faced mounting pressure Thursday as suburban unrest spread, with youths setting fire to a car dealership and public buses in battles with riot police, who reportedly came under gunfire.

Many in the French government however are still blaming France for the troubles:

Minister of Social Cohesion Jean-Louis Borloo said the government had to react "firmly" but added that France must also acknowledge its failure to have dealt with anger simmering in poor suburbs for decades. "We cannot hide the truth: that for 30 years we have not done enough," he told France-2 television.

Not all French officials however are blaming themselves:

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called a series of emergency meetings with government officials throughout the day Thursday, including one with Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been accused of inflaming the crisis with his tough talk and police tactics. Sarkozy has called troublemakers "scum" and vowed to "clean out" troubled suburbs.

They better check Sarkozy's papers, because he does not sound like a Frenchman to me……………………..

Another Judge Tossed In DeLay Trial

The rotation of judges continues in the DeLay trial:

Judges

DeLay attorneys were successful in getting the first judge Bob Perkins replaced because of his close affiliation with Democrats in Texas and his financial contributions to MoveOn.

Now Ronnie Earle has gotten Perkins replacement B.B. Schraub replaced because of his donations to Republican candidates.

Per Earle he believed that Schraub was a fair and honorable judge but this was all about pay back for Perkins getting tossed:

Still, Earle wrote that prosecutors believe Schraub to be "completely fair and impartial, with a sterling reputation of honesty and integrity. "However, as the recusal of Judge Perkins reflected, such is unfortunately no longer the standard in our state for the judiciary," he said.

This is going to be one nasty and very personal trial……………………………………………….