When Is 18,000 Not Really 18,000 Lacy Clay?

Per the Post Dispatch Lacy Clay said this:

To date, we have suffered over 18,000 American casualties..................

What an accurate but false offering............Here are the facts per the DOD:

Total Deaths: 2,242
KIA: 1,753
Non-Hostile: 489

Wounded in Action Did Not Return: 7,683

Wounded in Action Returned: 8,923

47% (8857) of the 18,844 casualties returned to duty, 53% (9987)could not return.

Every person serving in our military is a hero and everyone who is injured or killed, are true and great heroes for protecting our freedom. However throwing out 18,000 plus casualties in a press statement is a very misleading statement by Mr. Clay in my view, without giving some qualification.

The Post Dispatch is having an active discussion about this matter on the blog if you are interested......................

State of The Union

First item of the State of the Union is that Lynn Woosley Congresswoman from San Francisco, gave Cindy Sheehan a gallery pass and she "was" attending the event. Fox just reported that she attempted to disrupt the proceedings before they even got going and was removed......................Certainly not a surprise and more to come on the events surrounding the Moonbats ejection....................

Has Sheila Jackson-Brown D-Texas, ever missed an opportunity to get her picture taken beside the President? She is front row leaning over so hard that she almost falls over to get a picture with Bush.................

President Bush:

We love our freedom and we will fight to keep it...............

We will never surrender to evil..........................

Iraq: only one option, stand behind our military in this vital mission................................

Iran: can not be allowed to gain nuclear weapons............................

Patriot Act: Call for it to be passed. Republicans stand and applaud - Dems stay seated ( remember they killed the Patriot Act ); Clarifies NAS; We will not sit back and wait to be hit again........Republicans stand in support and applaud, Dems sit and look queasy, because as Reid said, the Dems Killed the Patriot Act (Hillary Clinton scoffs).................Asks for bi-partisan support to protect our country and support our troops.........Some Dems stand on that one and applaud, but Lacy Clay of STL did not join them........

Tax Cuts: Make them permanent......................

Social Security Reform: tick......tick.....tick........Congress did not act and things to getting worse...............bipartisan politics should be set aside and the problem fixed........

Energy: apply technology to reduce our reliance on middle east oil a thing of the past........................

Education: Math & Science - double the financial commitment - Competitive Initiative announced........

Supreme Court: acknowledges new judges (Roberts & Alito); will continue appointing judges who do not legislate from the bench.............

Dem Response

Virginia Governor D - Tim Kaine: Dems working to eliminate partisan politics????? Is this guy serious???? Tim, did you tune in for the Alito hearing? Have you been watching your fellow Dems since Bush was elected in 2000??? Dems offering a better way for ending partisan politics, man that's rich...........................

Wrap

I think it was a good speech and think it did have a bit of an olive branch theme to it.................It will probably not be hot enough for those on the "hard" right, and will obviously be too hot for those on the "hard" left. I think it will probably play well for those in the middle and I think that was the intent, and that is what will make it a very effective State of the Union......................

Sheehan Update per Reuters:

Police at the U.S. Capitol arrested anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Tuesday, shortly before President Bush was to give his annual State of the Union speech, a police spokeswoman said.........CNN said Sheehan was arrested after unveiling a banner and was being held on Capitol Hill for about an hour, which would keep her away from the address, which was set to start at 9 p.m. EST.

Moonbats doing what moonbats do....................

St. Louis Suburb Maplewood Police Accused of Beating Suspect

The St. Louis Fox affiliate KTVI here in STL caught on video what appears to be extreme and excessive force by Maplewood police. The online video is available per KSDK however (?) here:

KTVI

Per KTVI:

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will determine if four police officers stepped over the line in punching and kicking a suspect on Monday. The alleged altercation followed a police chase that began in the St. Louis suburb Maplewood and ended in the city of St. Louis. Live television showed much of the chase, and the beating of the suspect. It was not clear how much resistance the man was providing. The suspect is identified as 33-year-old Edmond Burns, who was hospitalized. Three of the officers are from the Maplewood department. One was from St. Louis. Their names were not released. Authorities say the Highway Patrol will investigate. Maplewood Police Chief James White cautioned against jumping to conclusions based upon the video.

The video does not look good in terms of police actions. Maplewood Police Chief James White "cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on the video", and I understand that circumstances could have been in play that the video does not capture. That said the investigation should be done swiftly and quickly provide the facts to the public. Without information that is not obvious on the video it looks like extreme and excessive force. That can not be allowed and I will take a strong stand against that. Four police officers can take control of a suspect without beating them, and let the courts then do their job of deciding the degree of punishment. Punishment can not be administered at the point of arrest.

The job of a police officer is often thankless and requires the officer to put themselves in harms way for not a great deal of money. I respect our police officers greatly and appreciate all they do for us. That said the video looks like a beating with two officers on top of the man, a third officer onsite and available and the fourth applying what appears to be a beating, that the other join in on. If the suspect did not have a weapon that was putting the officers in danger, I don't see why the force applied was required. Again, the whole story needs to be provided quickly on why this happened.

Channel 5 KSDK just did a story on another person who has come forward about what he describes as a "beating" by the Maplewood police department. Like I said, this needs to be investigated quickly and fully......................

Dutch Pirates Defeated 72-25 - Cloture on Alito

Origin of Filibuster: The term filibuster -- from a Dutch word meaning "pirate" -- became popular in the 1850s, when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill.

The Kerry, Kennedy, Kos filibuster efforts against Alito failed miserably and cloture was approved by a 72-25 vote margin. The confirmation vote on Alito should occur tomorrow morning, and it will be final.

Lot's of good blog coverage out there on the cloture vote:

The Corner: has KayLo's Reid voted for cloture before he voted against it and now the Kos Kids are sharpening their sticks...............JPod's Disappointment that the fili did not happen and will not become a sharper stick for the dems to fall on......................and York's Kos Kid's melt down....................they are done with the DNC and forming their own party.....

Hugh Hewitt also highlighted the Kos Kids unhinging and has a link to Decision 08' who rounds out the Corner's highlights of the Kos Kids sharpening sticks, quitting the DNC and forming their own party, but apparently in Amsterdam (well it is Dutch):

Maryscott of Kos: We are f**ked.........

I have to apply the same line KayLo did for Reid to neighboring state Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Barack was against the filibuster before he voted for it......Barack Obama said this on ABC's This Week on Sunday:

"We need to recognize, because Judge Alito will be confirmed, that, if we're going to oppose a nominee that we've got to persuade the American people that, in fact, their values are at stake," Obama said. "There is an over-reliance on the part of Democrats for procedural maneuvers," he told ABC's "This Week."

Then he votes for over-reliance on "obstructionist" procedural maneuvers......................................Against obstruction before he voted for obstruction..................

Cindy Sheehan Senate Campaign Blog

Cindy Sheehan is testing the water for a possible challenge to Dianne Feinstein’s senate seat. This website is asking those who would support a Sheehan challenge to vote “I Want Cindy to Run”

Sounds like a “great” idea to me. Let’s put her front and center if she in fact represents the core of the Democratic Party. I think we would learn a great deal from a Feinstein vs. Sheehan primary……………………………

Stands at 5,597 votes in support of Sheehan’s run (including mine) as of today………..

Bush Approval Rating @ 50% per Rasmussen

Bush's approval ratings are back to 50% per the Rasmussen poll.

50% Approve - 49% Disapprove

82% of Republicans Approve - 25% of Dems Approve - 41% of Independents Approve.

Bush has moved up from a 45% approval rate on 1/10/2006 to the 50% as of today. A five point increase over 20 days.....................................

Kerry, Kennedy & Kos - The Dem Platform

John Kerry has a new "guest blogger partner" at Kos. Ted Kennedy has joined Kerry and like Kerry is endorsing the Kos agenda as the democrat agenda. In a few days we will know from the transparent roll call vote in the Senate on Alito, which democrats have joined the extreme Kos agenda and have declare it the democrat agenda. We also will know which newspapers and MSM organizations subscribe to the Kos doctrine by their editorials, columns, and calls on Alito. The St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial team are Kos Kids............

If you have friends who are self defined democrat and they want to see the Kos agenda that is taking over the democrat-left of center party platform and what it is all about, tell them to check it out here at Kos & MoveOn. But make sure they read "all" the comments on Kos to get a real flavor for how their views match up with the team, and if they are a new era Kerry, Kennedy, Kos democrat.............................

A Note from R.J. Matson - Homage or Plagiarism?

Related to the orginal post on the R.J. Matson matter I posted on here

In the St. Louis Post Dispatch yesterday, the paper sort of weakly addressed the Matson Matter here

The lead in to the Letters to the Editor section stated: Comic controversy: Was it intentional?

Sounds promising, but all the paper does is run some letters from readers on the topic, no official comment of where this error officially stands within the papers standards. That is wrong and shows a lack of management leadership and lack of commitment by the paper to it's readers.

The headline is followed by a couple letters from readers, one saying proper credit had not been given to Mauldin and should have, one basically saying the cartoon was wonderful. Then the section has a Note from R.J. Matson, which I quote below (see R.J. its not that hard - even a blogger can do it):

I made an egregious error in not acknowledging Bill Mauldin after my signature in the Jan. 24 cartoon. My cartoon was intended to be an homage to the Mauldin original, which I consider one of the classic cartoons of the 20th century. I tried to make my drawing as similar as possible to the original, and I am pleased that many readers got the reference.

Like most other cartoonists, I occasionally appropriate famous images created by great artists to create my own cartoons. In our profession, it is a sign of respect, a fun way to acknowledge our debt to the masters who have inspired us. Knowing that Mauldin (who is one of my heroes) once worked at the Post-Dispatch, I had been looking forward to the opportunity to “quote” him in a cartoon since I started working at this newspaper last summer.
I had every intention of giving proper credit, but in the rush to meet a deadline, I simply forgot. With deep regret and profound embarrassment, I apologize for that oversight.

Matson admits that it was wrong, he made an error, and that he had intended to acknowledge on his cartoon the homage to Mauldin but did not. He uses words like egregious error, deep regret, and profound embarrassment, in his apology, so it would seem that he is indeed remorseful of his mistake. He should be and I will give him credit for doing so. That said, his statement about looking forward to "quote" Mauldin since last summer, makes the oversight even more bizarre to me. How do you look forward to doing such a thing in the paper Mauldin worked for at one time and when you decide to do the "quote - homage", you leave off the part that truly makes it a homage?

Well before this we knew that like the rest of the editorial page at the Post, Matson had extreme political leanings. What I think we now know is that like the rest of the editorial offerings at the Post Dispatch, even the comics are not above questioning for accuracy, and lack of fair and factual content. There is a reason that a product offering has such holes from the top of the page to the comic. Agenda journalism is fertile ground for just such a complete collapse in the Opinion pages of the Post.

This is just the latest example of why the readers of the Post Dispatch need to be very skeptical of what appears in the Opinion section and is penned by the Post editorial body. You would be wise to get information outside of the papers offering on the subjects which they editorialize.

Kerry Calls for Filibuster on Alito - MoveOn Pulls the Strings

John Kerry has taken his blogging position at Kos seriously. He is listening to his handlers and calling for a filibuster as they have bid. Per CNN:

Sen. John Kerry will attempt a filibuster to block the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. "Judge Alito's confirmation would be an ideological coup on the Supreme Court," Kerry said in a written statement explaining his support for a filibuster. "We can't afford to see the court's swing vote, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, replaced with a far-right ideologue like Samuel Alito."

Kerry made his filibuster announcement from Davos, Switzerland (perfect - very fitting). JK was in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and was working the phones in an attempt to gain support for his filibuster call. Senator Ted Kennedy (Kerry's sponsor) is in, but it appears the rest of the Dem pack are concerned about the move (I hate to say it but - good instincts). CNN is reporting that Alito has 55 Republicans and 3 Dems so he is at 58 now. To beat a filibuster Alito would need the support of 60 Senators. That said there is always the nuclear option of removing the filibuster which the Republicans reportedly have, and Alito appears to merit applying per the definition that was established by a bi-partisan group of Senators who established it. The current wisdom is that Alito has the 60 votes and this is a show move.

It would seem that John Kerry has the blessing of MoveOn and is their candidate for 2008 early on. He seems to have the support of Howard Dean, Soros Joe Trippi & the Eli Pariser gang that "Bought the Democrat Party", per Pariser's own comment given to Rolling Stone Here

"It's our Party," MoveOn's twenty-four-year-old executive director, Eli Pariser, declared in an e-mail. "We bought it, we own it and we're going to take it back." The group's new goal is sweeping in its ambition: To make 2006 a watershed year for liberal Democrats in Congress, in the same way that Newt Gingrich led a Republican revolution in 1994.

But many party insiders worry that an Internet insurgency working hand in hand with a former Vermont governor will only succeed in pushing the party so far to the left that it can't compete in the red states. "It's electoral suicide," says Dan Gerstein, a former strategist for Joe Lieberman's presidential campaign.

Well Gerstein was right and they are very left. The Owners of the DNC now have a base that is flat out bananas and think that Hillary is too conservative (I know - try to control the laughter). Don't believe it? Well check this out per Kos (12/18/05) who is an extension of sorts of MoveOn (they won't like that classification) and the top lefty website:

Hillary is doing what she needs to do, after years of being pilloried by the right she is distancing herself from the base (the special-interest groups). It's a strategy that makes a lot of sense...for her. But it is not a strategy that makes a lot of sense for us. We want to swing the pendulum back further than the centrism of Bill Clinton and the DLC. We think conditions are ripe for a big backlash against the GOP. But, we will not see that backlash unless the contrasts between our policies and Bush's policies are made as stark and obvious as possible. Hillary is not the right vehicle for that.

Kerry & Ted are looking like the stooges to do the MoveOn bidding on this one, and I would not be surprised if Dean or a like politician dropped in with the Owners approval after Kerry serves his practical purpose. It's red meat for the hard left. I think the Owners will use John for all he is worth and then toss him aside. 2004 showed he is not the horse that is going to win the race for the new Owners.

It should be fun to watch the DNC convention in Boston, well at least it is in Kerry's and Ted's home turf. Based on what we are seeing right now, if the DLC supported candidate is still alive and has any standing (I know the DLC is extreme but we are working in degrees here), it could be a slight repeat of the 1968 Chicago Convention. Enjoy Boston......................

R J Matson Plagiarizes Bill Mauldin In the Post Dispatch

R.J. Matson, a political cartoonist employed by the St. Louis Post Dispatch disgraced one of the most historical cartoons of all time in yesterdays paper. He plagiarized Bill Mauldin. It's bad enough that he plagiarized Bill Mauldin, but he did it "front & center" at the St. Louis Post Dispatch, which was Mauldin's newspaper from 1958 - 1962. Mauldin won a Pulitzer while at the post (his second) in 1959.

The cartoon that R.J. Matson plagiarized was the "jeep being shot" Mauldin creation that Amazon currently has as the lead on his book here

R.J. Matson is an "extreme left" political hack cartoonist who shills for the extreme left political hack editorials of the Post each week with a tie in cartoon that relates to their particular offering. The Post has a blog up addressing the Matson Plagiarism here.

I posted the following on the blog:

While the comment from Matson about intent gone wrong is reassuring to know, failure to follow through would appear to in fact make it plagiarism. Perhaps R.J. was too absorbed in his next “Bush Obsessed Bashing” themed cartoon and became distracted from preventing the plagiarism. As a correction how about having RJ Matson draw a cartoon of himself standing beside the Bill Mauldin original. He could have a rifle labeled plagiarism pointed at his foot, and show it going off…………………

I think that is a "perfect" correction to the plagiarism, serious I think it would gain Matson some credibility back......

The STL Today Online Editor (Kurt Greenbaum) thinks that's not fair and hides behind a liberal/conservative blind:

Sorry, but I don’t think that’s fair, Steve. He said he made an error. I’m not sure how this gets turned into a liberal/conservative issue.

Your right Kurt it's not about liberal vs. conservative, it's actually about plagiarism. This is yet another low point for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. A current political hack cartoonist plagiarizes a legend who was employed by them at one point, and they refuse to address the severity of the matter. Instead they say its a right of center attack. No, its a question of credibility Kurt and the Post aint holding much these days.

Well just remember when reading the St. Louis Post Dispatch, plagiarism is just an error........................................

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

Homage vs. Plagiarism

This link to Grand Valley State University has a cartoon example that seems to fit into this discussion on the Matson cartoon. It also has a definition of plagiarism which states:

PLAGIARISM: using anyone else's ideas, words, graphics, music, or other material without giving them credit (citing the material). Paraphrasing and sampling, when the sources are not cited, are examples of plagiarism.

I did not see anything citing or giving credit to Mauldin’s cartoon. Some have suggested that the Mauldin cartoon was so famous and so well known that no citing was required on Matson’s offering. Is that true, do something’s require citing and some not? What is the line that separates the two?

What Sports Car Are You?

Via Instapundit and a link to Prof Bainbridge, here is a survey that is suppose to tell you what type of car you are. I'm suppose to be a Honda S2000.

I'm a Honda S2000!

You live on the edge, and you live for the adrenaline rush. You don't need luxuries, snob appeal, or superfluous gadgets. You put your top down, get your motor revving, and take all the curves that life throws at you at full speed. So what if you spin out occasionally?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Joel Stein's Calvin Urination Sticker

This will make the left of center folks proud:

LATIMES

I DON'T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on.

Well, Joel Stein of the LA Times attempts to urinate on our troops and our GWOT and puts the left of center position front and center.............................

Look for Joel to lead one of Cindy Sheehan's next marches and for him to be covered in pink...................................

Also, look for a majority of liberal journalist like Joel to root him on..............................................

Canada No Harbour for Socialist Americans

Conservatives Take Canada?

Looks like the conservative fire has spread to the Great White North of all places. Canada is going to turn conservative:

Canada

We will know in the morning but I don't think there is much doubt, the same liberal sad songs that were rejected here in 2004, are about to be rejected by Canadians today. Can you believe that Canada has also become conservative?

I guess the socialist who left after Bush's re-election in 2004 for Canadian have and issue. Maybe they could head to Venezuela and bunk with Harry Belafonte.............................

St. Louis Post Dispatch Attempts to Scold Subscribers

The Post Dispatch ran an editorial Op-Ed today that was just hilarious. It was an incredibly embarrassing attempt to redirect its subscribers from connecting the dots that OBL sounded like he was repeating the editorial points of the Post the past year in his recent tape:

Post

IT'S A MARK of how polarized this nation has become when the man responsible for the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans issues more threats and the first reaction by many people is to play politics with it.

If there's one thing on which this nation, right and left, Republican and Democrat, rich and poor, should agree, it's that Osama bin Laden is a war criminal, not a talking point. That four years and four months after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he remains capable of taunting this nation is an embarrassment. His words need to be condemned, not debated. His voice needs to be silenced, not analyzed.

Lets get this straight, Osma bin Laden produces his first tape in a year and his message is largely a reproductions of the views and opinions that we have been hearing from the left leaning politicians, reading in the St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial page and other liberal media organizations, and the Post scolds it's readers for connecting those obvious dot? You have to be kidding.......................

Instead of an immediate and serious self analysis of why the OBL message is a repeat of their own, the Post attempt to scold their subscribers for pointing out these obvious facts? The worlds number one terrorist is repeating to a large extent the analysis the Post has been printing for years in its product, and the Post is not deeply concerned with that? The Post has reached a new low, the product is pathetic, lacks any credibility, and is quite frankly an embarrassment to the region. Maybe we should check the Post's Op-Ed department for OBL, because based on what he said in his tape he could be writing editorials under a pen name at the Post.

Scolding readers for recognizing that their editorials sound like the source document that OBL used for his tape? Incredible.....................................

Osama bin Laden Sure Sounds Like a Democrat & Lefty

Well it's time to start comparing what we heard in the latest OBL video to what we have been hearing from the defeatist left for years now. It truly sounds like OBL could hold office within the DNC ranks or write Op-Ed column in most MSM newspapers. Lets start will Crazy Howard the Duck Dean, Chairman of the DNC:

OBL: But I plan to speak about the repeated errors your President Bush has committed in comments on the results of your polls that show an overwhelming majority of you want the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.. .And so to return to the issue, I say that results of polls please those who are sensible, and Bush's opposition to them is a mistake.

Howard Dean: "the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong.".................................."Bring the 80,000 National Guard and Reserve troops home immediately. They don't belong in a conflict like this anyway."......."Every day it becomes clearer that this was the wrong war at the wrong time."

OBL: And if Bush decides to carry on with his lies and oppression, then it would be useful for you to read the book "Rogue State," which states in its introduction: "If I were president, I would stop the attacks on the United States: First I would give an apology to all the widows and orphans and those who were tortured. Then I would announce that American interference in the nations of the world has ended once and for all."

Howard Dean: The people of this country must understand that this Administration has a far different concept of the role of America in the world. This concept involves imposing our will on sovereign nations. This concept involves dismantling the multilateral institutions that we have spent decades building. And this concept involves distorting the rule of law to suit their narrow purposes. When did we become a nation of fear and anxiety when we were once known the world around as a land of hope and liberty? ................... On day one of a Dean Presidency, I will reverse this attitude. I will tear up the Bush Doctrine. And I will steer us back into the company of the community of nations where we will exercise moral leadership once again. And not only will I seek to heal the divisions this President has caused in the world community, but I would also begin the process of healing the divisions he has exploited here at home.

OBL: And if you compare the small number of dead on the day that Bush announced the end of major operations in that fake, ridiculous show aboard the aircraft carrier with the tenfold number of dead and wounded who were killed in the smaller operations, you would know the truth of what I say.

Howard Dean: In a further sign of a lack of adequate staffing, the armed forces are now in the process of calling up members of the Individual Ready Reserves. These are often older reservists usually waiting retirement. They are typically in their mid-to-late forties, and have not been on active duty and have not trained for some time. Traditionally, they are only supposed to be called up during a time of national emergency. In 2001, President Bush authorized their call up but never rescinded this order even after he declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq in May of 2003.

OBL: This is that Bush and his administration do not have the will or the ability to get out of Iraq for their own private, suspect reasons.. . . There is no shame in this solution, which prevents the wasting of billions of dollars that have gone to those with influence and merchants of war in America who have supported Bush's election campaign with billions of dollars - which lets us understand the insistence by Bush and his gang to carry on with war.

Howard Dean: "George W. Bush is preventing entire nations from bidding on contracts in Iraq so his campaign contributors can continue to overcharge the American taxpayers," Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said while campaigning in Iowa Friday.

Howard Dean is the Chairman of the DNC and speaks for his party and most who have a left of center political view. Apparently he also speaks for OBL.....................

Much more to come because there is an overwhelming record of statements made by those on the left that matches OBL's statements spot on..............

Fathers 4 Justice Planned to Kidnap Blair's Son

Per Drudge, nut group planned to kidnap Tony Blair's son Leo:

Sun

Per the Sun:

SPECIAL Branch cops smashed a plot to kidnap little Leo Blair while monitoring a small band of fanatical dads, The Sun can reveal.
They stumbled across the startling plan as they investigated the activities of men on the lunatic fringe of the Fathers 4 Justice group.

Fathers 4 Justice per the Sun coverage, need to spend more time being quality dads and helping their kids develop into healthy human beings instead of dressing up as super heroes and protesting their visitation time with their kids.

Anyone who is part of this organization deserves less time with their kids I'd say.......................

US Senator Edward Kennedy's Owl Club

This does not need a whole lot of set-up or comment:

Kennedy's Owl Club

Per the Boston Herald:

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy — who ripped Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito for ties to a group that discriminates against women — says he’s going to quit a club notorious for discriminating against women “as fast as I can.”

See Ted quit as fast as he can.................

Kennedy went on to provide more hilarious fodder:

Meanwhile, Kennedy admitted to Hiller that he himself probably couldn’t pass Judiciary Committee muster. “Probably not . . . probably not,” Kennedy said.

The committee will vote on Alito’s nomination on Jan. 24, and the full Senate will begin debate the next day. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said he looks forward to a “fair up-or-down vote.”

Probably not senator, probably not.....................

Visit a Site That is Different From Yours Pollitically

I try to go on a blog site that does not share my same political perspective at least once a week - once a month at the worst, and talk with the folks there. I don't go there to "convert" or be "converted" I go there to see what they are talking about and let them know what is on my mind. I find it very informative, you learn a lot from doing this.......

I visited Crooks and Liars tonight. After a bad entry from me, throwing out the Alito Brag, we had some discussions. I lost the group that I originally engaged due to a thread misunderstanding ( ended up in a crazy place.....put what the hell we talk for awhile), but we had a moment of breaking down the wall and talking. I think that is important. If you have never tried going out and entering a new blog discussion and talking to people that you don't have the same opinion as, you should. It's healthy to do so...............

I think we all should take a step back and try to engage people who have a different political opinion whether it is online, at work, a friend, or what ever. Talking about our differences politically is a healthy thing, it leads to positive communications.....


Stanley and the Crook & Liars group, thanks, I enjoyed our conversations. We have different political views ( always will ) but we are all Americans living in the only truly Free Country in the world.......That is kind of IMPORTANT to PROTECT........That is why we could have the conversation that we had today................

al-Zawahri Dead Via Hell-Fire Missile?

Reports that Al-Qaida #2 might have caught a CIA Predator drone Hell-Fire missile on that mark that is just off center on his forehead:

Missile for al-Zawahri

Per MSM:

U.S. officials told NBC News on Friday that American air strikes in Pakistan overnight Thursday were aimed at the No. 2 man in the al-Qaida terror organization — Ayman al-Zawahri.

I have to believe that if U.S. officials are "telling" NBC that al-Zawahri was the target of the strike, that they know we got him.........................

However no confirmation yet:

While some remains were reportedly recovered from the site of the attack, there was still no confirmation Friday night that Zawahri was among the dead. An intelligence official told NBC that it does have a sample of Zawahri's DNA. “Anyone who tells you there is clarity on whether he [Zawahri] was killed ... do not take what they are saying as gospel,” a senior U.S. official said.

So no confirmation by this anonymous Intel source, but again it looks pretty promising if DNA kits are onsite.............................

Lets hope al-Zawahri's wasted remains are there and identified, I can't wait to drop the "?" off the title.............

Murtha's Flank Maneuver to Leave Sheehan & Join Bush

Drudge has a post up with the latest from Rep John Murtha (D-Pa.) which is an excerpt from his upcoming interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes:

Murtha & Wallace

Here is what Murtha has to say now:

Murtha believes the vast majority of U.S. troops in Iraq will be out by the end of the year and maybe even sooner.............

"You're going to see a plan for withdrawal," says Murtha, which he believes Congress will pass because of mounting pressure from constituents tired of the war that could affect the upcoming midterm elections..................

"I think the political people who give [the president] advice will say to him, 'You don't want a democratic Congress. You want to keep a republican majority, and the only way you're going to keep it is by reducing substantially the troops in Iraq.............................

Well it seems that Mr. Murtha is trying to channel the story of the Phoenix to resurrect him from his defeatist calls these past several months. After doing serious damage to troop morale with his call to retreat because we are "losing", Murtha now is trying to move towards the President. Here is what he tells Wallace:

"All of us want this president to succeed... I feel a mission here, with my experience, that I have to help the president find a way out of this thing."

The efforts that Murtha has been talking down and damaging are succeeding and the plan all along was to draw down the troops as that progress was made. The first free elections in Iraq in 50 Years was the point that we were working towards while Murtha talked the effort down. The timeline has always been that we would start pulling back after the elections and the Iraqis as a free country were able to take over their own affairs.

Despite Murtha's rhetoric the elections were a huge success and we are on the road to Iraq taking care of Iraqi matters. Americans will per the Bush plan continue to pull back and let the plan work as we win the peace. Not turn and run, and not leave until Iraq has the ability to defend their new democracy.

So Mr. Murtha now wants to "help" the President, the military and the war effort? It looks like a flank maneuver to switch teams and now join the success in Iraq that our military and administration are gaining speed with. Sorry Mr. Murtha, I don't think it works that way. We all still respect you for your service to our country in the past. However that service does not excuse what you have been doing in the present.

I'm glad you seem to have seen the light, but you were part of the movement going the other way. You can't simply change teams and jump into the reality team because you now realize that you were in the wrong movement. Check that, you can, and you are one of few people who can. Because of your service you can change, but you have to admit what you have done and publicly apologize for what that did to the effort. I can't speak for the men and woman who are doing the job, but from what I have read (and I have read a lot) that is what they have been saying.

If you don't then your place in history on this important matter will be marching stride for stride with the Cindy Sheehans of the movement you earlier committed to and walk away with their parade...................

Right of Center Bloggers Call for House Reforms

I think this will be a very interesting story to follow for the next couple weeks as the U.S. House Majority Leader is decided. The right of center Blogers, many being sites I visit daily, have put together a coalition of blogers who support cleaning up the Abramoff scandal, reforming the influence of lobbyist, that congress make themselves available to the new media, and what looks like an endorsement of John Shadegg:

Appeal From Right-Center Bloggers

Here are the highlights:

The new leadership in the House of Representatives needs to be thoroughly and transparently free of the taint of the Jack Abramoff scandals, and beyond that, of undue inlfuence of K Street.

I completely agree with that statement……………………………

the end of subsidized travel and other obvious influence operations. Just as importantly, we call for major changes to increase openness, transparency and accountability in Congressional operations and in the appropriations process.

I completely support that statement………………………….

we hope all would-be members of the leadership make themselves available to new media to answer questions now and on a regular basis in the future.

Simply the next step in the evolution and a very good thing....................................

And here is what looks like the endorsement without saying so:

As for the Republican leadership elections, we hope to see more candidates who will support these goals, and we therefore welcome the entry of Congressman John Shadegg to the race for Majority Leader. We hope every Congressman who is committed to ethical and transparent conduct supports a reform agenda and a reform candidate.

Redstate has an official endorsement up for Shadegg Here, Hugh Hewitt gave Shadegg & Dan Lungren props here here and not very favorable coverage for Blunt/Boehner here and some real bad coverage for Blunt here.

Instapundit Powerline Polipundit Malkin Captains Quarters and several other prominent right of center blogs have joined the Pork Busters coalition, calling for the above outlined changes and for the current leadership change in the House to be the catalyst for that change.

I agree with everything they are calling for, but can’t endorse Shadegg since I don’t know that much about him, and Blunt is from Missouri. If Blunt is not committed to cleaning up the Abramoff mess as it should be and truly reforming the lobbying process, then I could be persuaded to support a different Rep. It’s more important to me that the correct steps are taken on these issues than to have a Missouri congressman as Majority Leader and the changes not occur. I have some research to do.....................

I think it will be very interesting to see what impact and influence this group of prominent bloggers has on the reform & Leadership Election. The establishment of the party vs. the progressive bloggers trying to move the party back to its fundamental base? I hope the bloggers have influence and a return to the core principles results. Like I said it should be interesting……………………………………………..

Alito Hearing Proves We Need Senate Term Limitations

Alito did a great job and he will be confirmed. Not only did he school the attack dem senator machine on constitutional law, but even on the basics of government and civics 101. The performance of Kennedy and the gang was not only tactically poor, it crossed over to a nasty personal attack that lots of people are saying "channeled Joe McCarthy's ghost". I say that is not far off.................

The other strong sentiment that I have seen since the hearings is this one: "after watching the Alito hearing, there is no doubt that we must vote in term limits for the senate"...........................................

The lack of basic understanding of the constitution, constitutional law, and civics 101 by the democrats on the panel was worthy of such a call for "term limits".......

Who Will Be Crying In A Couple Days When Alito is Confirmed

I can't help but think that the coming headline will be "Who's Crying Now", in a couple days after Alito is confirmed. Per Drudge Ted Kennedy and his fellow dems were so personal and so vial, Alito's wife left in tears at one point:

Drudge"

I'd love to only post on the masterful display of constitutional law that Alito has given the past three days without any notes, but the dems are so desperate that we have to talk about them a bit:

One senior Republican in the hearing room said of the situation: “After three full days of attacks against her husband’s character, Mrs. Alito had enough. Democrat behavior during this hearing has not only been wrong, it’s been embarrassing. Ted Kennedy is nothing but a bully.”

It must be extremely degrading and revealing for the left to watch Alito take Kennedy, Slow Joe Bidden, Durbin, Feinstein, Schumer, and Feingold, apart and make them look like complete idiots. The dems are getting a constitutional law lesson "ass kicking" from a man with no notes and they are being undressed. The personal attacks today that crossed the line will serve the RNC candidates well in 2006...........................

MSM Bands Together To Black-Out Jill Carroll News

I understand wanting to help a fellow human being in a really dangerous situation, I would do the same, but that has to be applied to everyone equally. Slate has a post up by Jack Shafer that is quite disturbing when you consider the black-out that the press collectively decided to impose in the Jill Carroll story to us the subsribers:

Editor & Publisher reports today on the successful efforts made by the Christian Science Monitor to impose a weekend-long "news blackout" on coverage of the abduction of its Baghdad stringer, Jill Carroll. Unknown gunmen took Carroll and murdered her translator, Allan Enwiyah, on Saturday morning in Baghdad.

Carroll's name didn't appear in the print editions of the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, or the New York Times, until today, Tuesday, Jan. 10. The Associated Press story naming her moved at 11:10 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, according to Nexis.

Jack Shafer echoes my sentiments when he says this:

Nobody can criticize news organizations for agreeing among themselves to embargo kidnapping information for few hours if it might save a colleague's life. And, obviously, the rules for covering kidnappings should be different in a war zone such as Iraq—where 36 reporters have been snatched since April 2004—than stateside. According to the Los Angeles Times, six of the kidnapped journalists have been killed. (These numbers pale in comparison with the Iraqi kidnapping count. The Post reports that 30 Iraqis are abducted each day.)

I know it's easy for me to meditate about this topic from the safety of my Washington office while journalists labor under the threat of death every day in Iraq. But the questions remain. If the press should spike news to help a colleague, how long an interval is decent? Should it be 48 hours, as in Carroll's case? Until the local press reports the story? Until the abducted person's employer confirms the news? Until the U.S. Embassy does? Or until the kidnappers make their announcement on the Web? I don't have any easy answers, just easy questions.

It's also not clear to me whether the same set of reporting rules currently applies to the kidnapping coverage of foreign journalists and to non-journalist foreigners in Iraq. It would be very bad news—pardon the pun—if reporters are more vigilant in protecting their own than they are non-journalists.

Everyone hopes that Ms. Carroll will be freed unharmed and she is obviously in a very dangerous situation. Everyone with a soul hopes this will not end in tragedy. That said, the press does not delay running stories about soldiers or non-journalist citizens who are abducted, and running it over, and over and over. Often framed with knifes at the person's throat. So why different rules for members of the press? This is should send off alarms to everyone, regardless of their political base.

The story here is that the press took it upon themselves to black out a news event, because the person involved was a journalist, applied different rules and they have not applied the same precedent when non-journalists have unfortunately found themselves in the same dangerous circumstances. Think about that, the press decided collectively as the press body to black out your news! I know of no other circumstance where a non-journalist was afforded a black-out who was in a similar circumstance and if someone has an example that proves that there is common precedent where the same black-outs have been applied to non-journalists, please educate me. It would help me understand what is happening here.

Lots of liberal MSM types are going bananas over the NSA story and the criticism that those like me are giving organizations like the NYT for publishing information that endangers millions of Americans. So let me get this straight, as tragic as it is, one journalist merits an elaborate media black-out and millions of Americans here at home don't? Have rules that we are now playing by when it comes to publishing the news accurately and without censorship changed? Has the MSM now agreed on a specific rule of news censorship and what they will feed and what they will not feed their subscribers? Based on their new unknown standards is their a new rule?

Jack Schafer being a professional journalist said it much better that I could here:

Sitting on newsworthy information is an unnatural act for most reporters—some would say unprofessional—and nobody can argue that the kidnapping of Jill Carroll isn't newsworthy. By effortlessly banding together across several time zones to squelch information in the name of protecting one colleague in Baghdad, American journalists placed themselves in a hypocritical position. Didn't their leading newspaper just publish national security information over the objections of a White House that protests that the story endangers the lives of millions of Americans?

Well maybe I did say it close to as well as Jack did, and said it over and over again, much earlier..............................................

Here are the MSM links on the story:

Go see what the NYT, WaPo, and the AP have to say about their censorship. It's not be reported, imagine that...............I guess the coverage on this by the MSM has been blacked-out also.............................

The CAP Strategy Against Alito is a Byrd CAP Strategy

Drudge has a headline up (no alarms) concerning the democrat strategy against the Samuel Alito nomination to the SCOTUS:

Drudge

The basic summary:

Senate Democrats have put into place a plan that includes one last push to take down the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito as he heads into his confirmation hearing next week, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. Senate Democrats intend to zero in on Alito’s alleged enthusiastic membership to an organization, they will charge, that was sexist and racist!

Democrats hope to tie Alito to Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP). Alito will testify that he joined CAP as a protest over Princeton policy that would not allow the ROTC on campus.

THE DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a Summer 1982 article from CAP’s PROSPECT magazine titled “Smearing The Class Of 1957” that key Senate Democrats believe could thwart his nomination!

The whole dem strategy is tied to an article written by the editor of the CAP magazine Fredrick Foote that states:

“The facts show that, for whatever reasons, whites today are more intelligent than blacks.”

Foote sounds like a racist to me. I certainly don't agree with that statement, nor does any non-racist person. I'm sure that Alito doesn't as well. If he states that he does then obviously I would be against his nomination. However, an article written in 1982 by the President of CAP, does not indict someone who was a member of the organization back in 1972, which was ten years before the person who wrote this article was the President of the organization and the article was written. For that matter nor does it indict those who denounced the views of the editor and joined the organization after the article was written.

That's like saying that all Germans in todays German military are Nazis and support the Nazis ideology, that everyone who worked for Enron is a crook and thought it was ok to embezzle money, and like saying that every democrat in the country supported Dick Durbin's claim that the American military was the equivalent of the Nazis, the Soviet gulags, and Pol Pot. There is no connection, it falls completely short of being bridged. I almost feel silly writing about it........................

Alito per the Drudge Report states he joined the CAP because of the organizations position that the ROTC should be allowed on campus and the Princeton policy at the time did not allow them to do so. Alito joined the ROTC in 1970 and CAP was founded in 1972, that timeline bridges completely and is rational..........................

Actually when the article in question was written, Alito was working for Solicitor General Rex Lee and arguing cases before the Supreme Court.

To show how progressive Alito was at the time in question, he lead "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society" task force in 1971. Here are some of those discriminatory policies that the Task Force promoted:

As a senior at Princeton University, Samuel A. Alito Jr. chaired an undergraduate task force that recommended the decriminalization of sodomy, accused the CIA and the FBI of invading the privacy of citizens, and said discrimination against gays in hiring ''should be forbidden."

The report, issued in 1971 by Alito and 16 other Princeton students, stemmed from a class assignment to study the ''boundaries of privacy in American society" and to recommend ways to protect individual rights.

Boy that sure sounds like a guy who was way behind the curve when it came to a white male in 1971 accepting people as equals who had a different skin color or sexual gender, let alone people who were homosexual...................................

If this is in fact the fundamental basis of the democrat attack and there is nothing else, it's weaker than "a pubic hair on a coke can".............

Perhaps the democrat strategy is to generate a second Borking lead by those who Borked Miers from within the republican party. Come to think of it, I think that might actually be the strategy here, they are trying to Bork Alito from within, by getting ultra-conservatives to discover Alito's "Boundaries of Privacy in American Society" involvement..................................Now it all makes sense.......

Has to be, it would be insane for the democrats to attack someone for being a member of an organization that had another member who was a racist even though there was zero evidence or hint that the person in question was. It's not like the democrats have a senior leader in the Senate that was once a willing member of the KKK and made a personal decision to join an organization he knew had racist views that he himself shared. Thus the reason and purpose for joining said organization..................

Robert Byrd was writing this in 1945 per WaPo:

Byrd said in the Dec. 11, 1945, letter -- which would not become public for 42 more years with the publication of a book on blacks in the military during World War II by author Graham Smith -- that he would never fight in the armed forces "with a Negro by my side." Byrd added that, "Rather I should die a thousand times, and see old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels."

So only 27 years prior the membership in the CAP that the democrats plan to attack Alito for, their senior Senator was writing the above personal opinion filth and organizing a KKK chapter in W.VA? And their strategy is to link Alito to an article written by a member of the CAP in 1982, 10 years after he graduated from Princeton, and an opinion and article he has zero connection with???????

Yes, it must be a strategy to ignite another internal Meirs hit-job, because the CAP strategy falls far short of even reaching strategy status....................

________Update 1/7/2006________


Today WaPo covers the dem Bryd CAP strategy against Alito. One of the "worst" Op-Ed reporters (they all are Op-Ed reporters - that's how they do it at WaPo) on the staff (Edward M. Kennedy) takes the story on and his headline editor calls it "Alito's Credibility Problem". Oh I'm sorry Edward M. Kennedy is of course not a WaPo Op-Ed reporter, rather he is a democrat Senator from Massachusetts. Well it sounded the same as a WaPo reporter, and it is completely impossible to tell the difference between the two these days:

2. Membership in "Concerned Alumni of Princeton." In 1972, the year Alito graduated from Princeton University, a group of wealthy alumni formed Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) to resist the growing influx of female, African American, Hispanic and even disabled students who were changing the face of Princeton "as you knew it." The university's most famous alumnus of the day, basketball star and later U.S. senator Bill Bradley, was invited into CAP initially but quickly found it "impossible to remain a member" because of CAP's "right-wing" views. A special committee of alumni, which included future Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, accused CAP of presenting a "distorted and hostile" view of the university. Alito joined CAP about that time, despite its purposes and reputation, and remained a member through 1985, when he cited his CAP membership as another qualification to join the Meese inner circle.

In 1987, when he was nominated to be U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and in 1990, when he was nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, he did not mention his CAP membership to the Senate Judiciary Committee or to then-Sen. Bradley, who introduced him to the committee at the nomination hearing and endorsed him "100 percent." Bradley says today that had he known about Alito's long membership in CAP he would have had serious questions about it. Alito now says he can't remember anything at all about CAP.

Ted does not talk about the fact that Bradley joined after Alito had graduated and left...............He also does not talk about the "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society" that would have made Kennedy given the date, look anti-progressive...................................

Toyota Brings Back FJ SUV

This looks like my next vehicle:

Toyota FJ

The Toyota FJ is back and it's not only cool looking, its bad ass, functional, and has the genes to be true to it's line (check out the last photo of the elders). This is a real "old school" SUV design, before soccer moms became a big demographic within the SUV customer base, but it also has the functionality that you want for a $25,000 plus vehicle that you drive 95% on the highway. A price of $25,000 is pretty cheap actually, which also means that it looks like you are getting a good return for money for what the product provides.

I have not driven one of course since they don't come out until March of 2006 under a 2007 model badge, but I can already tell this is a vehicle that I will really like....................I'll let you know after I pick mine up.............

Pat Robertson & Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Two Nuts

Do you wonder like I do, that if God had to choose only one human to save of two very messed up human beings, who he would select? Which two seriously disturbed people am I speaking of, well lets try Pat Robertson & Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Both of these nuts made very inappropriate statements about the current medical condition of Israeli PM Ariel Sharon:

First lets look at statement made by Ahmadinejad here:

"Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Chatilla has joined his ancestors is final," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Iranian Students News Agency.

Within the past few months Ahmadinejad also said:

In the last two months, Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust a "myth" and said if Europeans insist it did occur, then they should give some of their own land for a Jewish state, rather than the one in the Middle East. He also called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

It was probable that Israel would take out the Iranian nuke program before the statements by Ahmadinejad over the past few months, now I think it's pretty much a certainty that will occur......................

Pat Robertson's statements were not quite as bad but they were way over the line

US evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for "dividing God's land" of Israel, igniting his latest trademark controversy........

"I prayed with him personally. But here he is at the point of death. He was dividing God's land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations or the United States of America." "God said, 'This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone.'"

I think it's safe to say that Robertson has no future in Middle East peace negotiations. This guy is seriously out of touch and I'd be as worried about Robertson having a nuclear bomb as I am with the prospect of Ahmadinejad having one..........Two total nut jobs...........................

Foamy the Squirrel Breaks Down Katrina Coverage

Here is a link to a clip of Foamy the Squirrel who has a recap report on Hurricane Katrina, and man does he make a lot of sense. Plowing through the BS and calling it like it was is what this feisty little squirrel does.

(caution not for young ears or for those with sensitive ones)

Foamy the Squirrel takes the MSM media and those reporters covering hurricane Katrina to task. I think Foamy the Squirrel should win some type of reporting award for his coverage and analysis....................check it out and see if you agree...........................

Furniture Mover Political Operative Russ Rice Front & Center Thank God

Anti-war hero Russ Tice is the "A" team for the anti-NSA team:

WaTimes

Who is Russ Tice? Take a look at this lefty blog's prop-up and I think you will have a very clear picture of comrade Tice:

buzz-buzz

Per Buzz Flash:

After speaking on Capitol Hill at an event for national security whistleblowers last week, Intelligence Analyst Russ Tice has been notified by the National Security Agency (NSA) that his security clearance is permanently being taken away and that he will be fired as of May 16, 2005. Tice is a member of the newly formed National Security Whistleblowers Coalition being led by Sibel Edmonds (see http://www.justacitizen.com for more about the Coalition).

In the past two years, Tice has endured unusually abusive retaliation from his agency. In April, after being put on administrative leave for 14 months, Tice was assigned to unload furniture from trucks at a warehouse, an obvious attempt to force him to resign. That assignment led to a back injury. Tice has since been on administrative leave. Tice also did a tour of eight months duty in the motor pool, where he was assigned to maintain agency vehicles (for example, filling them with gas, checking fluids, vacuuming and cleaning) and to chauffeur NSA officials, along with five other employees who were also being punished.............

A ultra left operative through and through.................If Tice is the best that hard left has then this will be delicious. I don't think he is the best they have but do think the best are running for cover right now and are serving Tice up..............................

USC vs. Texas Rose Bowl - Live Blogging

I had intentioned to blog the Rose Bowl live but did not get going at the start. Anyway here goes from 12:54 second quarter:

Bush Fumble: That was only the second fumble of the year for the Bush - White RB team all year and this one came because of an attempted lateral. It is looking like a big mistake that might lead to a Texas TD instead of USC going up 14 - 0. Texas is driving and at the USC 10 after the turn-over...............

Texas Fumble - Again: they got this one back but lost 20 yards and critical field position. It's a FG and 3 points instead of a TD and 7 points. 7 - 3 USC. (for two teams that are suppose to be the very best three fumbles in the first quarter and few minutes of the second quarter is not a great statement - Also both coaches going for it on fourth down the first few minutes of the game and not making it?)

USC Driving: Texas however just intercepted at the goal line. Ref called it incomplete but they are reviewing it now. No doubt a Texas int and should be Texas ball on the 20 yard line...........The ref got it right after the replay and there was indisputable evidence that Texas intercepted the ball. Texas ball at the 20 yard line. Without the Bush fumble and this take away, could very well be 21 - 0 USC at this point, but instead it's 7-3 USC.

Texas Driving: two first downs after the int from a combo of running and passing, and running the no huddle................Texas TE #18 Thomas is the go to guy thus far for Texas receiving............Texas Young just attempted a lateral at the 10 yard line and it worked for a Texas TD............Wait he was down, but no replay before the PAT so the TD stands. The PAT however is "wide right"............Texas 9 - USC 7........Young's knee was down and it should have been called dead at the 10 yard line......................

Texas Forces Punt: first really good defensive series of the game for either team with Texas forcing USC 3 and out...................low punt and a good Texas return to the 50 yard line..............Texas has the MoJo going right now and great field position............

Texas Drive: long bomb that hits off the USC DB's helmet and falls incomplete but almost caught by second Texas receiver...............Young just ran up the middle for 7 yards.........Texas converts first down with pass to TE #16 Thomas (over 50 yards receiving thus far).............Texas RB #25 Taylor just ran thirty yards through sloppy USC missed tackles for a TD.........Texas 16 - USC 7.............Texas is taking over just before half time...............................

USC Drive: 2:27 left first half.....Bush short pass and 7 yards...........Texas int but ruled incomplete (second missed call)..........Bush runs for 15 yards.......2:02 left.........Texas Defense already cramping in the first half - not a good sign..............Bush five yards and over the 50 yard line...........USC First down on best pass of the night by USC.................Leinart runs for 11 yards and first down - big hit on Leinart and time out USC..........Bush 10 yard reception pick up and out at the 13.........40 seconds left.............Leinart sacked at the 21 - timeout Texas 32 seconds left - timeout USC......Another sack this one a coverage sack...........17 seconds left.......last time-out..........USC FG attempt..................43 yard attempt...............It's good...................Texas 16 - USC 10...................2 seconds.........Half Time.............

1st Half Summary: A big let down so far............it's more like just a decent game between two top 10 teams played with a real sloppy edge................

Biggest USC Moment: TD after Texas went for it at the 50 on fourth down and did not make it....................

Biggest Texas Moment: Griffin int at the goal line to prevent USC from going up 14 - 3 and the Young TD lateral to Selvin Young after 80 yard drive........

Lowest USC Moment: Bush lateral - fumble that ended a USC drive to take a 14 - 3 lead.........................

Lowest Texas Moment: Brown going for it on fourth down at mid-field and not making it................lead to only USC TD of half................

Texas has the edge at the end of the first half because Bush has not gotten off on a big play (except the lateral fumble) and Leinart is not completing passes (13/21 148 yards, no TD's, 1 int). Texas could win this one inspite of Mack Brown.....

Worst Uniforms: Texas Band - good God those orange band uniforms with white cowboy fringe are a bit dated.........Did I really comment on Band Uniforms???? Well that tells you how good of a game it has been this far..........not a very good one...............

Hope it gets a whole lot better in the second half cause this has not been close to a great game so far...........................

Second Half

Texas 3 and out, Young went deep and missed a wide open receiver on a deep throw.............Texas punt and USC penalty put USC on the 38 yard line......

Second Half

Texas 3 and out, Young went deep and missed a wide open receiver on a deep throw.............Texas punt and USC penalty put USC on the 38 yard line......

USC Drive: USC converts 1st down across the 50 yard line...........big pass down to the 20 yard line by Leinart to White......if they get the passing game going then the MoJo will turn back to USC...........White strong stiff arm run down to the 3 yard line - good hard run..........White puts it into the end zone............USC 17 - Texas 16...........White has been the best overall player for USC so far, but Leinart is also starting to click. If that happens look out for Mr. Bush....................The MoJo has turned a bit......

Texas Drive: Young runs 7 yards with ease........No huddle = defensive subs..........Charles breaks a good 15 yard run...........Vince Young runs for 15 yards.......passes for 15 yards.......breaks a run off for 15 into the end zone for a TD..........a powerful run over USC defenders..........Texas back on top 23 - 17 and takes the MoJo right back.....

USC Drive: Bush returns KO to the 26 yard line...........Bird 10 yard reception 1st down on driving run after catch effort.......Ross Texas DB hammers USC WR - no gain......Davis 15 yard reception, first down at the Texas 45 yard line......25 yard pass puts the ball on the 25 yard line.......Bird another driving yards after catch to the 20 yard line ..........going for it on 4th down........White converts first down and scores from 20 yards................Now we have the game going I expected...........USC 24 - Texas 23..............

Texas Drive: David Thomas #16 makes another catch for 1st down at the 35 yard line - he is having a great game.......Young breaks off a 45 yard run to the 20 yard line - huge run and Young is a freak of nature with speed - size - arm.................10 yard pass 3rd and 5 to go..........# 16 Thomas makes catch but short of the first down......31 FG try from left hash..........missed it wide right - FSU & Penn State kickers are shaking their heads as well...............A very wasted drive after Young's efforts.....Young has 149 rushing yards with an average of 11.5 yards per carry.........White of USC is second in that category right now with 72 yards and an average of 6.5 yards per carry. He does however have 3 TD's......................

More cramp problems for Texas entering the 4th quarter...........Sounds like it is becoming a REALLY BIG Problem for the Texas Defense....We will have to see what role it plays in the 4th quarter..................

USC Drive: 1st pass play USC........13.19 after 8 yard pass play...........This is a BIG drive for both teams................White picks up 1st down on power fun.......LB #39 down but walking off..........Watch and see if defensive plays start dropping out on this drive for Texas............White runs for 8 more on a power run, ball on the Texas 40................12:05 left......White AGAIN for 15 more POWER yards, right up the middle in a huge hole, White just went over 100 yards.....................Bush just took it outside and broke it off for a 25 yard TD....................Power with White up the gut, wearing the Texas defense out, then lightening in a bottle got loose and highlight TD......................That might break Texas.....................USC 31 - Texas 23...............11:19 remaining.............

Texas Drive: Texas just had a instant review go their way on a fumble...............as close as it gets and could have gone either way.............keep it the call made on the field I say and the right call on a very close play.........Texas dodged a big bullet on that near fumble........................Big pass from Young to Pittman down to the 35 yard line............Texas is answering.....3rd and 5 with 9:49 left........Young runs it fumbles and Texas recovers............FG attempt upcoming............34 yards from left hash is good................Not what they wanted but puts Texas closer USC 31 - Texas 26......................USC did not break Texas on that series, we have another 9 minutes to play in a game that is still either teams to win...................................

USC Big Drive: 8:40 left.............Big pass for 33 yards to Kirtman plus a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty put it on the Texas 30 yard line..........strong run up the middle for White again for 9 yards..............Leinart TD pass 22 yards to Jarrett............Texas players are hurt but walking off...............the Texas defense is looking beaten down and really to fall....................USC 38 - Texas 26.......6:42 left...............USC can smell it and Texas is starting to look convinced that they are going to lose from the body language I'm seeing................Young has to lead them to a quick TD now or this one is over.......................

Texas Do or Die Time: USC is playing zone, big mistake I think......................Texas a couple passes and down to the USC 47............USC blitzed and should have intercepted Young's pass under pressure......................Thomas #16 has his 10th catch and puts the ball on the 23 yard line......Young runs it in for a 17 yard TD...........A big, fast, strong, elusive QB who has the Texas team on his back right now.............Texas won't break and Young is the reason why..............USC 38 - Texas 33...................Young has 182 yards rushing.................

USC 3:56 Left: run for 5 then pass for 10, run for another 5 then its over the 50 yard line with a 4th and 1 now with 2:13 left from the 44 and Texas held...................Turned over on downs................Texas has 2:09 for Vince Young to take them 55 yards for the winning TD...................

Destiny Drive for Texas & Young?: 3rd & 12 from the 42 yard line............face mask after Texas came up short on 3rd down and keeps the drive alive......First down Texas on the 45 with 1:20 remaining..........57 seconds remaining from the 37 yard line 2nd down.............Young runs to the 30 and gets out of bounds with 53 seconds left.................Pass to the 14 yard line with the receiver getting out of bounds with 45 seconds left..............Young rushes to the 9 yard line with 30 seconds left.........time-out Texas............9 yards when you have Young with 30 seconds left seems like a short piece of real estate....................3rd and 5 yards.....incomplete pass in the end zone.................4th down and 5 yards 26 seconds left..................Young runs it in on the right side for the go ahead TD, untouched...............Texas going for 2 points................what could be better? Young runs the 2 point conversion up the middle and converts..................Texas 41 - USC 38.........19 seconds left.....

USC 16 Seconds: it's over...............

Texas wins in a game that Young carried Texas on his back and Texas refused to quit when it looked like they were about to on defense but instead stopped USC on 4th and 1 at the Texas 44 yard line and gave Young the chance to win the game..........................Young's stats: passing 30/40 for 267 yards no TD's or INTs, rushing 20 attempts for 200 yards, total yards 467 yards,

Congratulation to Vince Young and the Texas Long Horns, they played a great game and refused to give in. It was a great college football season and I think the game just keeps getting better. Man I Love This Game..........................

Media Gets Another Big Story Wrong Again

Here we go again, more incorrect and inaccurate reporting by the MSM……………Just like it does so often and most recently on Katrina – New Orleans, which is eerily similar to this story:

False Headlines

Per E&P:

NEW YORK In one of the most disturbing and disgraceful media performances of this type in recent years, television and newspapers carried the tragically wrong news late Tuesday and early Wednesday that 12 of 13 trapped coal miners in West Virginia had been found alive and safe. Hours later they had to reverse course, often blaming the mix-up on "miscommunication."

I don’t know E&P, the same thing happened just a few months ago when the MSM was reporting all kinds of atrocities and huge death counts in New Orleans, when in the end it was false………………

WaPo not only reported the false story, but their reporter even seems to make-up details as she writes under the false headline on the front page per E&P:

The Washington Post story by Ann Scott Tyson, which appeared on the front page, opened: "A dozen miners trapped 12,000 feet into a mountainside since early Monday were found alive Tuesday night just hours after rescuers found the body of a 13th man, who had died in an explosion in an adjacent coal mine that was sealed off in early December”.

Later in the story, she even added this explanation: "The miners had apparently done what they had been taught to do: barricaded themselves in a pocket with breathable air and awaited rescue."

WaPo has since changed the headline and story of course: WaPo

It’s bad enough to report a false story on the front page, but for then the reporter to interject complete fiction as detail? As incredibly unbelievable that this is, all indications are that it is not the exception but rather the norm. Katrina and now this story prove that is the case.

This is just the latest example of the MSM not accurately reporting the facts, and enhancing a false story with details that simply are wrong. Does anyone really think that such reporting is limited to Hurricane and Mine Disasters?

If there ever was a time for the MSM to take a huge step back and find a way to return to their core function it is now. And that core function is to report the “facts” of the news world. The factual content of today’s MSM reporting is simply not credible. The MSM spends too much time trying to be a fourth branch of government, and while blindly pursuing this false role, their core product has spoiled into a rotten heap…………………………………………

An Iron Spicket Has Descended on Europe

Looks like the threat to Europe is not over, at least in terms of "fuel" for their economy:

Oil Issue in Europe

Per News Telegraph, fuel will tighten considerably in Europe via the Iron Spicket:

Russia took Europe to the brink of a winter energy crisis yesterday when it carried out a Cold War-style threat and halted gas deliveries to Ukraine, the main conduit for exports to the West. With a quarter of its gas supplied by Russia, Europe is facing serious disruption and price rises for as long as the dispute rumbles on. Moscow turned off the tap at 10am after Ukraine refused to sign a new contract with the Russian state monopoly Gazprom quadrupling prices.

US officials said the right thing, in public anyway:

The American State Department said that "such an abrupt stop creates insecurity in the energy sector in the region and raises serious questions about the use of energy to exert political pressure".

But I think that might be specific to allies in the region who have been helping on the "war against terrorism" and I think our interests will be much more focused on getting things squared up for them. For countries like Germany & France, it could be a long - cold winner full of hefty heating bills...........................

It's reported that the EU has called for an emergency meeting:

The European Union has called an emergency meeting of energy ministers on Wednesday.

I wonder what role they will be asking American to play in their crisis on this one......................Bail us out again even though we undermine the efforts to keep the world safe from terrorism? I'd have to tell them to take their energy bills like a "French Man" or "German Man", and neither is very positive.............

Rising Iraqi Fuel Prices Due to Insurgency Attacks

I wonder, since rising fuel prices have such a universal ability to help people of very different views find common ground, if the current fuel price increases in Iraq will lead to increased cooperation in removing the insurgency:

Iraqi Fuel Prices

Per the BBC:

Men marched along the main street protesting against a lack of basic services and the government's decision to raise petrol prices threefold 13 days ago. An overnight curfew was imposed.

The demonstration comes as Iraq grapples with a fuel crisis stemming from the closure of a major refinery in the north that has prompted panic buying of fuel and long queues at petrol stations. The refinery, in the northern town of Baiji, was closed 10 days ago following death threats to tanker drivers.

If the insurgency is responsible for the rising fuel costs and decreased supply, seems that everyone in the region has a very vested interest in taking care of that problem. It's pretty simple economics, end the insurgency attacks on the oil production and oil supply goes up. If supply goes up, prices for Iraqis go down and the more oil sold, the more money the government takes in to spend on redevelopment..............................

Iranian President - Establishing Israel Last Chapter of Holocaust

Here is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's latest installment on the history of the Holocaust:

Mahmoud

Per Mahmoud the last chapter of the Holocaust was the creation of Israel and ridding Europe of Jews:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's hard-line president who has said the Holocaust was a myth, now has charged that European countries sought to complete the genocide by establishing a Jewish state in the midst of Muslim countries.

"Don't you think that continuation of genocide by expelling Jews from Europe was one of their aims in creating a regime of occupiers of Al-Quds (Jerusalem)?" the official Islamic Republic News agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying Sunday. "Isn't that an important question?"

Ahmadinejad said Europeans had decided to create a "Jewish camp" as the best means for ridding the continent of Jews. He said the camp, Israel, now enjoyed support from the United States and Europe in the slaughter of Muslims.

Statements like this are precisely why we are drawing up military plans to deal with Iran

AP Reporting Increased Conscientious Objectors in Army

The AP's Martha Mendoza has an article out titled Some Soldiers Trying to Get Out of Army The headline editor I think did a much better job on this piece than the author as you will see if you read the article.

The body of the article appears to attempt to present a case for a movement of "conscientious objectors" within the Army who are refusing to return to Iraq. Mendoza tells the story of six soldiers who fit into this status and sets the article up with this statement:

Increasing numbers of men and women in uniform are seeking honorable discharges as conscientious objectors. Others are suing the military, claiming their obligation has been wrongfully extended. Many have simply deserted, refusing to appear for duty.

The stats however that Mendoza uses in her own article show nothing dramatic or what I would say to be even a minimum trend:

Requests for conscientious objector status, which can qualify someone for an honorable discharge, have steadily increased since 2000 - about 110 soldiers filed the complex paperwork in 2004, about four times the number in 2000. Of those, about half were approved. Those who were rejected either went back to the war or refused to serve. Some are now on the lam. Others have been court-martialed and done time.

So the number filing such requests went from 28 in 2000 to 110 in 2004, and that is a "steady increase" and merits an article that clearly is attempting to paint the picture that such requests are reflective of great sentiment of "disillusion" within the general population of the Army? That is more than a weak statistic for Mendoza to make the center piece of such an article. I'd say it reflects just the opposite of the argument Mendoza is attempting to put forth.

Given that this is the first war in 35 years that our troops have faced the level of dangerous and violent combat that has been present in Iraq, I think the number seems impressively low. Considering that the current Army troop levels are at 120,000 that would mean that statistically the number of Army soldiers filing for conscientious objector status has gone from 0.02% in 2000 to 0.09% in 2004. For the level to reach 1%, the total filing would have to register 1,200. Even if it were at 1% I'd say that still seems like a very low percentage. Given the factors in play, I say that an increase of 82 filings over four years is more of a positive trend than a negative one.

The American military men and woman are winning the war in Iraq, even with the MSM trying at every turn to report only the negative aspects, and in some cases like this trying to invent a negative story.........................................