Congress to give rewards to illegals

The so-called "economic stimulus package" was already a joke, but now it's getting downright disgusting. (h/t: Jenn of the Jungle)

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) today criticized the tax package passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress as a giveaway to illegal aliens. The package, among other shortcomings, would direct the Internal Revenue Service to issue checks of up to $600 to individuals and $1,200 to married couples, as well as rebates for any children. The legislation does not, however, contain any provision barring illegal aliens from taking advantage of these benefits.

“This package will stimulate one thing for certain: more illegal immigration,” said Tancredo. “It’s just the latest unfortunate example of American workers footing the bill for illegal aliens.”

The bill would allow so-called “Resident Aliens” to receive rebate checks. The Treasury department classifies someone as a “Resident Alien” based on how much time that person has spent in the United States. No proof of legal presence, however, is required. The IRS’ explanation of the term can be found at: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc851.html

“Worse, a large portion of this money will just be sent back to the home countries of illegal aliens,” concluded Tancredo. “So it might stimulate someone’s economy – just not ours.”

The bill was considered under a procedure in the House of Representatives that did not allow for any opportunity to amend the bill to restrict payments to illegal aliens.

Lou Dobbs explains how illegals could receive a tax rebate:

The text of the House passed bill contains language making "non resident aliens" _ illegal immigrants _ ineligible for the tax rebates. But every year, hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants use individual taxpayer identification numbers, known as ITINs, to file income tax returns with the IRS. These ID numbers are used instead of Social Security numbers. There are no exact statistics for how many illegal immigrants file tax returns, but this New York Times story from last year details the significant increase in use of ITINs. This story also lays out the issue.

Republicans who were involved in negotiating the bipartisan economic stimulus package would like to avoid the illegal immigration debate as the $146 billion bill comes to the Senate this week. Congressional aides say the problem is that the IRS is not a law enforcement agency, so it doesn't check immigration status when people file tax returns.

Buttweasels. All of 'em, buttweasels.
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UPDATE: Senate Expected to Fix Immigrant Loophole in Stimulus Bill

Democrats' desperate gamble

Playing the race card or gender card as a way of demagoguing their opponents is politics as usual among Democrats. Who'd have thought we'd see such intense competition to pander to their own base?

It sure is sauce for the goose!

You might be a Taliban if...

1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.

2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can't afford shoes.

3. You have more wives than teeth.

4. You wipe your butt with your bare left hand, but consider bacon "unclean."

5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.

6. You can't think of anyone you HAVEN'T declared Jihad against.

7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.

Check out the rest of this list and a lot of other "inconvenient truth" from the indefatigable Neal Boortz.

Midweek Peek 01.30.08

Megan Gale, rumored to be cast as Wonder Woman in the upcoming movie.

Religion of Peace update: Don't quote the Mullah. Or else.

First, it was supposedly offensive to show a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. Now, the perpetually-outraged followers of Islam have their burkhas in a bind because someone accurately quoted one of their religious leaders. Probably because the Mullah himself accidentally exposes Islam's violent, racist, and misogynic tendencies... and a non-Muslim noticed. Andrew Bolt writes:

In how much danger is free speech in Canada?

Observe: First a Scandinavian Muslim leader and jihadist, Mullah Kreker, boasts to a Norwegian newspaper that Muslim immigrants will change Europe by outbreeding everyone else:

We’re the ones who will change you . . . Just look at the development within Europe, where the number of Muslims is expanding like mosquitoes. Every western woman in the EU is producing an average of 1.4 children. Every Muslim woman in the same countries is producing 3.5 children.

No Muslim groups in Canada complain.

Next, Canadian columnist Mark Steyn quotes Kreker’s “mosquitoes” comment - and accurately.

This time, Muslim groups in Canada do complain -against Steyn. And it gets worse, as Steyn writes:

They’re objecting to a Canadian magazine quoting accurately the statements of leading Muslims. And at least two of Canada’s “human rights” commissions, to their shame, have accepted their absurd proposition that accurately quoting leading Muslims is somehow “Islamophobic.”

The complainants ... and their friends at the Canadian Islamic Congress are seemingly not interested in stimulating debate, but only in shutting it down, by making it more trouble than it’s worth for editors to run articles on one of the central questions of the age: Islam’s relationship with a dying West. In using quasi-judicial coercion to squash debate, they make one of the central points of my argument—that a proportion of Islam is inimical to western traditions of freedom—more eloquently than I ever could.

But worse than the complaints is that these attempts by Muslim “leaders” to stop writers from accurately quoting other Muslim “leaders” are now backed by government bodies which were meant to protect human rights, not to help newcomers destroy them.

Dhimmitude, coming soon to a government near you.

SOTU fun

Just a few observations about last night's State of the Union speech...

First off, I hate how practically every sentence is punctuated by Congress clapping and rising to their feet. It's just so fake. The political equivalent of dancing the Hokey Pokey. That said, I understand that it's a built-in part of the SOTU ritual, and an opportunity for both parties to literally demonstrate where they stand on the issues being addressed.

Even in this contrived setting, I found it sadly telling that most Democrats refused to clap or stand at any mention of victory in the war.

Why is President Bush still incapable of pronouncing nuclear?

Nancy Pelosi's lizard-like gaze was a constant distraction. Oh well, at least she didn't fall asleep like President Clinton at the MLK memorial service.

Once again, Democrats made it crystal clear where they stand on tax relief. They don't. Are you paying attention, middle-class America? (h/t: Bryan Preston)


President Bush's best line of the SOTU address was a real zinger, and very similar to what I tell any liberal in favor of higher taxes:

Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase. Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who would see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm, and I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.

My favorite moment of the night, however, was Obama's huge "diss" of Hillary Clinton, refusing to shake her hand as she tried to make nice with Ted Kennedy.



For the first time in ages, she's not the coldest person in the room.

Hitler: Bloodthirsty Dictator, Die-hard Cowboys Fan

Very creative subtitles over film footage have Hitler ranting about the Cowboy's past season (and he looks disturbingly like Michael Palin in a few scenes).

Bill flushes Hill's campaign down the crapper

Hillary Clinton has got to be fed up with Bill. The former Philanderer-In-Chief's angry outbursts and finger wagging have helped her campaign about as well as they convinced America that he "never had sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." And his pathetic attempt to make the South Carolina primary into a race issue with Barack Obama has now blown up in their faces, to the tune of a 28-point loss.

Clinton advisor Linda Fowler nails one of the big reasons why Bill's campaigning for Hillary has proven toxic:

“Voters don’t like the idea of a co-presidency, and he became so high profile that he made people begin to see this as a possible co-presidency,” Ms. Fowler said. “It’s even more problematic because she’s a woman. It looks like she either needs him to fight the big battles for her, or she can’t keep the big dog on the porch.”

Sadly, Hillary's political version of "Battered Woman Syndrome" was in full display this weekend.

Clinton was asked on CBS television’s “Face the Nation” whether her husband was “out of control” after he took the Illinois senator, and the media to task, during a foul-tempered week-long campaign.”You know, my husband has such a great commitment to me and to my campaign,” the New York senator said.

“He loves me just like, you know, husbands and wives get out there and work on each others’ behalf.” [Um, 'scuse me? Husbandly love and commitment, from Bill Clinton? BWAHAHAHA! - ed.]

She blamed the tensions of the tight battle for the party’s presidential nomination

“Maybe he got a little carried away. You know, that comes with a hard-fought election,” she said.

"It also comes with sleep deprivation which, you know, I think is marking all of us, our families, our supporters," said Clinton, who herself is running low on sleep, as she jets back-and-forth across the country.

Tired. What an apt description of the Clintons.


Everything below the waist is kaput!

Religion of Peace update: Islamic prayer in Iowa statehouse for “victory over those who disbelieve”

Dhimmitude hits Iowa.

The Iowa Legislature started just over a week ago and some people were upset before the first issue was every addressed. When the session began, a Muslim Imam began the prayer in the Iowa Legislature. This is where the controversy begins. The prayer asked of “Victory over those who disbelieve,” and “Protection from the great Satan” among other things.

Pastor Steve Smith of the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City is among those concerned about the Muslim prayer. Rev. Smith admits that he doesn’t know about all the levels of Muslim but knows that the Jihadists believe those in the U.S. are the great Satan.

Here is the text of the opening prayer, as transcribed by Radio Iowa:

Imam Muhammad Khan of the Islamic Center of Des Moines spoke first in Arabic.

"I seek refuge in God against the accursed Satan in the name of God, most gracious, most merciful," Khan said in English. Khan made no specific mention of the war in Iraq or foreign affairs, but he called God the "master of the day of judgment" and asked for "victory over those who disbelieve."...

Is this guy actually praying for victory over America? Is he praying for a Shari'a-based government? Does anybody even look into the background of people invited to speak before the legislature?

Betcha dollars to doughnuts that an examination of this imam's mosque would reveal jihadi materials. It sure wouldn't be the first time these snakes used their houses of worship to distribute their hateful propaganda in their libraries, preach hate against all non-Muslims, hide weapons and explosives, and recruit new fanatics for jihad.

I say this only half in jest: when Obi-Wan Kenobi stated of Mos Eisley, "you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany," he obviously hadn't visted any mosques.

Why McCain doesn't deserve my vote

As sad as I am about Fred Thompson's withdrawl from the race, I flatly refuse to follow the conventional wisdom that's pointing to Senator McCain as the Republican candidate to beat. Although he served his country honorably during his time in the military, his congressional record is another matter entirely. I strongly disagree with his positions against the Bush tax cuts as well as his attempts to give full constitutional rights to captured enemy combatants and hamstring the efforts to gather critical intelligence needed to prevent terrorist attacks. I think his McCain-Feingold Act is an unconstitutional step into government censorship. And his recent attempt to force America to accept amnesty for 7-20 million illegal aliens might be the most glaring example of why he's unfit to serve as this nation's chief executive. Illegal immigration happens to be one of our most important domestic issues, and on that he repeatedly receives a failing grade from yours truly. Michelle Malkin brings the heat:

For all his supposed, newfound enlightenment about what most Americans want—protection against invasion, commitment to the rule of law, meaningful employer sanctions, an end to sanctuary cities, enforcement-by-attrition plus deportation reform, and an end to special illegal alien benefits that invite more law-breaking–The Maverick remains a Geraldo Rivera Republican. Like the ethnocentric cable TV host who can’t string a sentence about immigration together without drowning in emotional demagoguery, McCain naturally resorts to open-borders platitudes when pressed for enforcement specifics.

Instead of emphasizing the need for local and state cooperation with federal immigration authorities to prevent the release of illegal alien criminals or discussing 100 percent preventable crimes by illegal alien thugs who should never have been on American soil in the first place, McCain harps on open-borders sob stories. Several times over the past year, in response to citizen questioners who have expressed frustration with the lack of accountability for immigration law-breakers, McCain has responded: “I am not going to call up a soldier and tell him I am deporting his mother… I’m not going to do it. You can do it.”

But what if that mother had stolen an American citizen’s Social Security number to work here illegally? What if she had been previously deported, re-entered illegally, and had been convicted of previous crimes? What if she were part of a human smuggling ring? What if she had been working in a sensitive area—airport security, a military base, a port? Would he still refuse to abide by his constitutional obligation to provide for the common defense and secure the blessings of liberty for law-abiding Americans?

If McCain refuses to enforce immigration law against illegal alien parents of soldiers, what about illegal alien soldiers who used stolen or fake identification to get into the military? And why only illegal alien parents of soldiers? Why not illegal alien parents of police officers, teachers, doctors, and store owners? McCain’s selective enforcement policy is the exact recipe for immigration anarchy that we have today.

RINO, indeed. Looks like I'm gonna have to throw my support behind Duncan Hunter or Mitt Romney.
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UPDATE: Sadly, Duncan Hunter is bowing out and endorsing Mike Huckabee. For true conservatives, this hasn't been a good week.

Dem S.C. debate roundup

I was gonna blog yesterday about Monday night's debate, but had to put it off a bit due to much more important personal priorities. What follows are my belated observations, two days late and several dollars short.
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With the maxim "know they enemy" firmly in mind, I spent some time watching the Democrats' South Carolina debate. And in general, they didn't disappoint, endlessly parroting the "change" mantra as they tried to tear each other down.
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I gotta wonder, why are these pinheads pretending that they're running against President George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan?
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The gloves are off. Obama: "There's a set of assertions made by Senator Clinton, and her husband, that are not factually accurate." Yeah, it's kind of a "no sh*t, Sherlock" statement when it comes to the Clintons and lying. But nice to see him calling them on it.
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Silky Pony: “There are three people in this debate, not two.”

Not true. There are only two relevant people in this debate, Mr. Edwards. But you did manage several times to brownnose your base quite well while effectively making the other two candidates look childish.
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Question to Hillary: "Given the military and political progress, are you looking to end the Iraq War, or to win it?"

Hillary: "I'm looking to bring our troops home."

Well, that clears up whether or not Hillary wants victory in a war she voted for. Great triangulation from the would-be Commander-in-Chief.
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I must admit to an evil chuckle upon hearing the audience boo Hillary. That's a guilty pleasure I'd have paid to see in person.
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Green collar jobs? PUH-leeze!
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Hillary speaks of "shared prosperity." It doesn't get more Marxist that that, folks. Last time I checked, American was a capitalist – not a communist – nation. Anyone who believes or wishes otherwise is free to leave immediately.
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Hillary bemoans the "great amount of damage that the next president will inherit from President Bush." Yeah, damage. A strong economy despite 9-11. No further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. And increasing victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lotsa damage there.

The most significant damage that the next president will have to deal with will be the extreme devisiveness, obstructionism, and partisanship that has marked the Democrats' behavior over the past 8 years. Care to explain Congress' abysmal approval rating since the Dems took the reigns?
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The "comfy chair" portion of the debate was totally contrived.
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Obama doesn't take the bait on whether or not Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would endorse him: “I don’t think Dr King would endorse any of us.” Although I totally disagree with almost every position he takes, I gotta admire Barack for refusing to pander. That's rare for a Dem.

Wait, I nearly forgot his "we have a woman, an African American, and John" comment. So scratch the above kudos.
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Best line of the night, from Obama to Hillary: "I'm not sure who I'm running against, you or your husband."

Sad, but true.
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One of my favorite moments of the night. Not only did Hillary get booed, she got smacked for trying to accuse Obama of not taking responsibility for his votes. Hillary Clinton lecturing on responsibility... must... regain... composure...laughing too hard... can't catch my breath...

New STAR TREK trailer

Saw this yesterday: the teaser trailer for the new Star Trek movie directed by J.J. Abrams (the guy responsible for Lost). The film is set to launch this Christmas. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Blog day off for anniversary

Ok, it's turned into two days off since I had to work all day yesterday to meet a deadline at the agency for whom I've been freelancing. But I'm taking today off to celebrate my anniversary with traci; someone who so totally "gets me" deserves my undisturbed attention on this special day. (I'll be back tomorrow with reviews of the Democrat debate as well as the new Star Trek trailer)

Bill Clinton "dreams" during MLK memorial

Since Democrats seem to be so successful at deluding people into believing they "care more" about minorities than do Republicans, it's refreshing to see the mask pulled back every once in a while. This time, Bill Clinton's blatant pandering got tripped up by his actual lack of interest. Not what one would expect from the "first black president", eh?

Religion of Peace update: Dhimmitude in Dallas

We've been seeing a lot of creeping dhimmitude recently in Britain and throughout Europe, but I didn't expect to see it here in Texas. It makes me sad that certain members of the Muslim community in Dallas have already launched a campaign of intimidation to silence those who would stand up against jihad. Jihad Watch explains:

This billboard design was submitted for the upcoming America's Truth Forum Symposium in Southlake, TX, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area:



This is the revised design that was eventually accepted and used:



Why the changes? The sales manager of a Dallas-area billboard company explained: “My boss wouldn’t go along with this type of advertising since we have an international clientele -- some of whom might be on the other side."

The other side? On the side of the jihadists?

Imagine an American billboard company in 1942 toning down an anti-Nazi billboard because, well, some of their clients are Nazis!

This is beyond ridiculous. We are AT WAR with radical Islam. The billboard isn't showing a regular Muslim and equating them to terrorists. It's showing an Islamic terrorist and addressing the problem of jihad and the efforts of militant Islamists who seek a worldwide caliphate through violence and intimidation.

How ironic.

Religion of Peace update: Jihad is anti-Islamic?

The dhimmification of Britain continues.

This is so ludicrous, it sounds like it comes straight out of the Orwellian "Ministry of Truth."

Government renames Islamic terrorism as 'anti-Islamic activity' to woo Muslims

Ministers have adopted a new language for declarations on Islamic terrorism.

In future, fanatics will be referred to as pursuing "anti-Islamic activity".

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that extremists were behaving contrary to their faith, rather than acting in the name of Islam.

Security officials believe that directly linking terrorism to Islam is inflammatory, and risks alienating mainstream Muslim opinion.

In her first major speech on radicalisation, Miss Smith repeatedly used the phrase "anti-Islamic".

One passage said: "As so many Muslims in the UK and across the world have pointed out, there is nothing Islamic about the wish to terrorise, nothing Islamic about plotting murder, pain and grief. Indeed, if anything, these actions are anti-Islamic".

Another referred to enlisting the Muslim community against "anti-Islamic activity".

It follows a decision taken last year to stop using the phrase 'war on terror', first adopted by US President Bush.

Officials were concerned it could act as a recruiting tool for Al Qaeda, which is determined to manufacture a battle between the values of Islam and the West.

The strategy emerging across Government is to portray terrorists as nothing more than cold-blooded murderers who are not fighting for any religious cause.

I think jihadists themselves would take issue with those who would claim they don't fight for Islam.

But yeah, let's not deal with the truth, as it might cause Muslims to examine the dark and disturbing current of violence and misogyny that runs through their religion. Better to just kowtow to the forces of political correctness.

Robert Spencer asks some very pertinent questions about Islam and jihad:

Ms. Smith, your statement that "there is nothing Islamic about the wish to terrorise, nothing Islamic about plotting murder, pain and grief" certainly expresses a mainstream view. I have just a few questions. How do you propose to counter the recruitment among peaceful Muslims that is being conducted by these "anti-Islamic" Muslims, who quote the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Islamic law to portray their "anti-Islamic" behavior as not only Islamic, but the only true Islamic position? Wouldn't combating that call for a searching and honest examination of the actual contents of those texts? Aren't you making that examination a bit more difficult to do by pretending that it need not be done, and that the strife is already o'er, the battle done, and the "moderates" have beaten back the ideological challenge of the "extremists"? How can sincere Islamic reformers prevail when you act as if there is nothing in Islam that needs reforming? [emphasis added]

Chris Rock: How To Not Get Your Ass Kicked By The Police

Ya gotta love Chris Rock for his straightforward handling of what amounts to a large dose of common sense (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) for today's thug-wannabe youth culture. If a white comedian had suggested this, there'd probably be howls of racism. So thank goodness Chris Rock has the stones to say what needs to be said. It ain't about race, y'all, it's about behavior! (h/t: Ragnar Danneskjold)

Neal Boortz' immigration plan

I used to listen to the Neal Boortz show back when I lived in Atlanta, and now that I live in Dallas, I have to be satisfied with what I can get of his show over the internet.

Today, he discusses Huckabee's new 9-point plan to deal with illegal immigration and suggests one of his own, which is perhaps the best comprehensive immigration plan I've seen to date: It deals with the economic incentives which help drive illegals to this country; it holds employers accountable; it holds the immigrants accountable for their actions while allowing them an opportunity to make good on the promise of America; and – here's the unique part – it leverages the free market to deal with the situation rather than another bloated bureaucracy.

Here's a plan. I think it's an excellent one. It is not original with me. I've just cobbled together a few ideas and concepts from a few different sources. I've covered this before in the Nuze ... but being the repetitive sort ... here we go again.

Step 1. Enact harsh penalties against employers who knowingly or carelessly hire illegals. If a simple mistake was made, the penalty is low. If the illegal hiring was clearly intentional or through premeditated negligence, the penalty is harsh ... up to and including having your business shut down. The object here is to deny jobs to people who are in this country illegally.

Step 2. Deny all but emergency services to people who are in this country illegally. This includes no driver's licenses. Illegals also would not be allowed to enroll in any college or university that receives government money.

Step 3. Pass federal laws, or amend the Constitution if need be, to deny citizenship status to babies born to mothers in this country illegally.

OK .. at this point you have the illegals heading home. They can't work.
They can only get basic emergency services. The surroundings become decidedly unfriendly, and they go home.

But wait! Realistically we all know that there are many American industries that need these people to work. No problem. The second phase of this solution sets up a guest worker program .. so here are the next steps:

Step 4. Issue guest worker cards to foreign nationals who wish to come to the United States to work on a temporary basis. These guest worker cards can ONLY be issued by U.S. authorities in the countries in which the guest workers were born or of which they are citizens. No guest worker cards will be issued in the U.S.

Step 5. Establish a network of government-licensed staffing agencies. These staffing agencies will be established solely to handle the demand for guest workers. An employer will place an order with the agency for a specific number of workers with specific skills for a specific period of time. The agency will then work through it's counterpart in Mexico or elsewhere to arrange for the needed workers and to deliver them to the employer for the work.

Step 6. Either the agency or the employer will be responsible for housing for the temporary workers, as well as for any emergency medical services that may be needed.

Step 7. The temporary worker will be paid by the agency, not by the employer. The agency will bill the employer for all costs and will pay the temporary worker from the money received by the employer. There will be severe penalties for any business or individual who makes a direct payment to a temporary worker or an illegal alien outside of the agency regime.

Step 8. When the temporary work assignment is over there are no more payments made to the temporary worker. The worker is provided transportation back from whence he came. If he elects to try to stay in the country illegally... where's he going to work? Besides ... staying here illegally results in the permanent revocation of his temporary worker card.

Anyone have any problems with this plan? Any candidate is welcome to pick it up and run with it.

Mitt Romney has some similarly good ideas, and I particularly like Fred Thompson's "attrition through enforcement" idea as well as promoting English as the official language of the United States. But neither candidate deals with specifics of healthcare and housing of "guest workers" that are supposedly so needed in our economy. I wish one of them would either add some of these provisions to their existing plans, or hire Boortz as an advisor. Some common sense in the White House would be a nice change of pace.

Apple Releases World's Thinnest Notebook Computer

Steve Jobs just announced Apple's newest piece of techno-porn – the new Macbook Air – during his keynote address today at the Macworld Expo.

It measures an unprecedented 0.16-inches at its thinnest point and a maximum height of 0.76-inches. It's powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz, and includes as standard 2GB of memory and an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive. An optional 64GB solid state drive contains no moving parts for added durability.

Features:

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with 1280x800 resolution;
• 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache;
• 800 MHz front-side bus;
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM;
• 80GB hard disk drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100;
• Micro-DVI port (includes Micro-DVI to VGA and Micro-DVI to DVI Adapters);
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• one USB 2.0 port;
• one headphone port;
• multi-touch TrackPad with support for advanced multi-touch gestures including tap, scroll, pinch, rotate and swipe; and
• 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Sweet!

More pics and some hands-on observations available at MacRumors.com

What do Jack Bauer and Fred Thompson have in common?

Some over-the-top fun regarding Fred Thompson, courtesy of Right Wing News. (h/t: Moonbattery)

Why Huckabee's off my list

Although he seems sincere, Mike Huckabee's record is NOT that of a conservative. Sincerity alone won't cut it for me. If such were the case, I'd be pulling for Barack Obama.

Economically, Huckabee's a tax-and-spend "conservative" along the lines of President George W. Bush:

As governor of Arkansas, Huckabee dramatically increased state spending. During his two-term tenure, spending increased by more than 65 percent -- at three times the rate of inflation.

The number of government workers increased by 20 percent, and the state’s debt services increased by nearly $1 billion. Huckabee financed his spending binge with higher taxes. Under his leadership, the average Arkansan’s tax burden increased 47 percent, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, including increases in the state’s gas, sales, income, and cigarette taxes. He raised taxes on everything from groceries to nursing home beds.

He's in favor of a national smoking ban. Although I don't smoke, I don't believe it's the role of the federal government to tell people whether they can or not.

Huckabee's against school choice. He also would use the power of the federal government to override state law, particularly on marriage and abortion. And he's frighteningly homophobic, particularly his idea on isolating AIDS patients from the general population.

He supported tuition breaks for illegal aliens and a "path to citizenship" which is simply a fancy way of repackaging amnesty. That alone is a deal-breaker for me.

Plus, he has an abysmal record on granting clemency to murderers and dangerous criminals. He has issued more commutations and pardons than all of the six neighboring states combined.

Add to that the fact that he's whipping the evangelical Christians into a froth. I have no problem with the fact that he's a Christian, but voting for Mike Huckabee simply because he's a Christian is just as stupid as voting for Hillary Clinton because she's a woman, or for Barack Obama because he's black.

The feminist case against Hillary Clinton

Even without digging into Hillary's nanny-state socialism, feminist and Democrat Camille Paglia makes a compelling argument against Her Thighness: (h/t: Say Anything)

Hillary’s willingness to tolerate Bill’s compulsive philandering is a function of her general contempt for men. She distrusts them and feels morally superior to them. Following the pattern of her long-suffering mother, she thinks it is her mission to endure every insult and personal degradation for a higher cause—which, unlike her self-sacrificing mother, she identifies with her near-messianic personal ambition…

I remain concerned about her future conduct of high-level diplomacy. Contemptuous condescension seems to be Hillary’s default mode with any male who criticizes her or stands in her way. It’s a Nixonian reflex steeped in toxic gender bias. How will that play in the Muslim world?

… Hillary herself, with her thin, spotty record, tangled psychological baggage, and maundering blowhard of a husband, is also a mighty big roll of the dice. She is a brittle, relentless manipulator with few stable core values who shuffles through useful personalities like a card shark ("Cue the tears!"). Forget all her little gold crosses: Hillary’s real god is political expediency. Do Americans truly want this hard-bitten Machiavellian back in the White House?

Only slightly less serious is an analogy from one of the readers at
Crush Liberalism:

I heard that Deanna Favre (yes that’s Brett’s wife) has announced that her husband will be retiring at the end of this football season.

BUT that she will be taking over as starting quarterback next season for the Packers. After all, she knows all the plays and has traveled with her husband for 15 years so she has the experience needed!

Why Ron Paul is off my list

I always to try take a somewhat detailed look at each of the candidates whenever there's an election. Especially for president. I've posted on here a two different sites I've used to compare my views with those competing for the chief executive position. Usually, I'll also check into the websites of the candidates to read their "official spin" in addition to the soundbites I see on the news and in the debates.

I've read some things I really like about Ron Paul, such as his ideas on freedom, smaller federal government, free markets, greater personal responsibility, the Second Amendment, and border security as well as his strict Constitutionalist ideas to do away with the Department of Education, The Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Reserve Bank, the elimination of Medicare and Medicaid, US membership in the United Nations and NATO. I think his views about the abolition of federal drug laws are interesting, too.

But the past week has seen some very unflattering information come to light about Dr. Paul (such as The New Republic article, Pajamas Media's exposé and Ace of Spades HQ's sledgehammer to the forehead of the Paulites). And while mudslinging is by no means unique to the 2008 election, and the timing of the NR article was obviously timed to sink Paul before New Hampsire, the material is too disturbing – and too extensive – to ignore. Sultan Knish found plenty of evidence to prove that Dr. Paul wrote the newsletters he's now denying.

The January 1991 newsletter features the author mentioning another congressman as "my successor" and talking about his experience as "a flight surgeon in the air force" and then afterward launching into another tirade about Martin Luther King. Again this is Ron Paul’s record, not someone else. The author is clearly Ron Paul.

In that same newsletter the author writes about his time running for President in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket. Ron Paul ran for President in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket. Here it is completely unambiguous that the author is Ron Paul and that he is expressing his own views about Martin Luther King.

In Feb of 1991 the author writes that he voted against "an expensive federal holiday for this man" referring to King. Of course Ron Paul famously voted against recognizing MLK day as a holiday.
[...]
If Ron Paul lied about authorship, then he's made a false statement during a presidential campaign right now, rather than having published a newsletter with racist statements two decades ago. Considering the evidence, he has to disprove his authorship before getting a pass on it. If he proves he is not the author, then we can begin examining what degree of knowledge and control he had.

Real the allegations for yourself. Personally, I've concluded that Ron Paul is either a crackpot and a racist, or a completely incompetent boob who allowed crackpots and racists to post in his name. Neither is a good choice for the Oval Office.

The evidence demonstrates exactly why there is such a freaky coalition of white supremacists, homophobes, and conspiracy kooks eager to throw their, um, let's just say enthusiastic support behind Ron Paul. LGF sums it up rather well:

The problem for Dr. Paul is that there was a lot of this stuff. It stretches credulity to the breaking point to believe he had absolutely no idea what was being published in his name for that long. Doesn’t pass the sniff test.

And the newsletter isn’t the only source of the odor. There are Dr. Paul’s numerous appearances on the whacked-out conspiracy radio show hosted by 9/11 Troofer Alex Jones—and there are all those Nazis and New World Order types hanging around, who somehow, somewhere got the impression that Ron Paul was their kind of candidate.

A question about Hillary's New Hampshire speech

So, crying on cue is obviously the way to dupe 39% of New Hampshire Democrats. Congratulations, Senator Clinton.

However, I have a questions regarding the speech she gave to her supporters after the votes were tallied.

"... I want especially to thank New Hampshire. Over the last week, I listened to you and, in the process, I found my own voice."

Um, excuse me, but haven't you been in politics in one form or another for over 25 years? Are you seriously telling us that you JUST NOW "found" your own voice? Or was that a Freudian slip that betrays the fact that you'll say or do anything you think people want to see and hear in order to win?

Michelle Malkin reminds us of the many various "voices" we've heard from Hillary over the past year.

Islamist Website Hacked: Jihadis Found Viewing Tranny Porn

This is just TOO good.

Dr. Rusty Shackleford reports on the results of a hack attack against a group of Islamist scumbags that reveals some of their less-than-pious online activities.

A group of Russian hackers recently infiltrated a website run by radical Islamists in Britain and uploaded a keystroke recording program which allowed them to follow the internet browsing habits of members. The website, called Islambase, is run by the followers of exiled British cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed. His followers are best known for a number of protests, including one in which followers urged the beheading of those who insulted Islam.

And guess what they found? Jihadis love tranny porn! Maybe THAT'S why they want 72 virgins when they die: what a wardrobe they'd have access to!

Midweek Peek 01.09.08

Monica Bellucci

Hillary's crocodile tears

Hey, what gives? Hillary's down in the polls, so she starts crying?

But then, Clinton began getting emotional: “It’s not easy, and I couldn’t do it if I didn’t passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country just don’t want to see us fall backwards,” she said.

Her voice breaking and tears in her eyes, she said, “You know, this is very personal for me. It’s not just political it’s not just public. I see what’s happening, and we have to reverse it.”

To paraphrase Tom Hanks in A League Of Their Own, "Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL POLITICS!"

I thought Hillary was supposed to be the smartest woman on the planet, pushing her toughness to the American people as one of the traits that make her deserving of the presidency. How is she going to weather the pressures of being president if she's already shaken up by a battle against her Democrat rivals? How will she react as president to challenges with far more at stake then her political aspirations?

When the chips are down, the Clinton weasel machine kicks into overdrive with a phony show of emotion bent at making voters feels sorry for her. It worked for Bill when he used to bite his lip and made his voice a little shaky. So it stands to reason that Hillary would make with the convenient waterworks when necessary. Sadly, it works with the dimwits on the Left who base their votes on their feelings.

Another woman in the group, Alison Hamilton of Portsmouth, New Hampshire said she, like most of the people in the group, had been considering Obama.

But after seeing Clinton become emotional, she said she was going to vote for Clinton.

“Her whole thing today really convinced me but that really did clinch it for me,” Hamilton said. “She’s very impressive.”

That's impressive? No, more like pathetic.

UK blogger to be arrrested for offending Muslims

You read that right. A British blogger is facing jail time for writing his thoughts about the overwhelming influx of Islamic immigrants into his country. (h/t: Blogmeister USA)

I am currently out of the Country and on my return home to England I am going to be arrested by British detectives on suspicion of Stirring up Racial Hatred by displaying written material" contrary to sections 18(1) and 27(3) of the Public Order Act 1986.

This charge if found guilty carries a lengthy prison sentence, more than what most paedophiles and rapists receive, and all for writing words of truth about the barbarity that is living in the midst of our children, which threatens the very future of our Country.

The cultural weapon in the hands of the modern Jihad within Great Britain, silencing the opposition using our own laws against us - The Dumb Filthy Kaffir's as the Moslem would say to his children behind closed doors.

What has become of my homeland, the land my forefathers fought and died for on the battlefields of the world when one of their children is forced into the position of facing years in prison for standing up for what is right and just within British society.

At least my words of truth have obviously now reached people's eyes and ears, with the powers that be now intent on silencing me - Third World Tyranny in a supposed 21st Century democracy!

I'm stunned. Not because I can't believe certain Muslims want to silence any criticism of the violent jihadists among them, but because Britain has apparently submitted to Islamic demands and now refuse to tolerate anyone who speaks for freedom. It's political correctness (aka liberalism) taken to its (il)logical conclusion. This is true fascism.

Ironically, Lionheart is a known supporter of the British National Party, which Wikipedia describes as "a far right, white nationalist political party." So I must clarify that I am NOT supporting what Lionheart says on his blog, just his right to say it. Perhaps "Lionheart" will seek political asylum here in America. Regardless of his poltical affiliation, his country has been horrendously compromised by large-scale immigration, to the point where there are now "no-go" zones where it's not safe for a non-Muslim to enter!

Wake up, folks. The lie of multiculturalism has led to Dhimmitude in Great Britain. And there are still no shortage of useful idiots making excuses for radical Islam here in America and pushing for the same kind of "hate speech" and "hate crime" legislation.

Others blogging this outrage:
Atlas Shrugged
Van Helsing
It's Curtains For You
Instapundit
Always On Watch
Wolf Howling
Right Truth
Gates Of Vienna
Politically Incorrect
EuroMed

Islamic deception, in their own words

To the public, they claim Islam is a "religion of peace" and they condemn terrorism. But behind closed doors, when they think non-Muslims can't hear, these Islamic supremacists say something entirely different. (h/t: NAME)

It's all part of Taqiyya, the religiously-sanctioned doctrine of deliberate deception about religious matters that may be undertaken to protect Islam and its believers.

Hillary Clinton Down 10 points In New Hampshire

I'm no fan of Barack Obama, as his politics are about as far from me as possible and I think an Obama presidency would have us longing for the days of George W. Bush. But I have to admit an evil chuckle at seeing Hillary slip in the polls. (h/t: Wyatt Earp)

Obama opens double-digit lead over Clinton
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Two days before New Hampshire's Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama has opened a double-digit lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton in that state, a new CNN-WMUR poll found Sunday.

Obama, the first-term senator from Illinois who won last week's Iowa caucuses, led the New York senator and former first lady 39 percent to 29 percent in a poll conducted Saturday and Sunday -- a sharp change from a poll out Saturday that showed the Democratic front-runners tied at 33 percent.

Support for former Sen. John Edwards, who edged out Clinton for second place in Iowa, dropped from 20 percent in Saturday's poll to 16 percent.

Check out the airbags on her!

There's not much in the world that can't be made better by the addition of large boobs. Even inflatable fake ones.

This Takata airbag design is… interesting. Essentially, if you get in a car accident your face will be thrust quickly between two giant, inflatable ass cheeks. Or are they giant breasts? Depending on what you're in to, you could see it either way. In any case, I can certainly see how it would be more comfortable to mash your face into than a normal airbag, but is it worth the embarrassment when the paramedics arrive?

Screw the caucuses, pick your own candidate

Now that the ludicrous Iowa caucus is finished, it's on to New Hampshire as the race for the Oval Office picks up speed.

Those of you who read here regularly know that I love politics. I also love to fill out questionnaires and tests to analyze my opinions. I posted a good one last month.

Well, I've found a new one. And if like this stuff like I do, you'll really enjoy it. It's called Electoral Compass.

It's a simple, flash-driven site that takes you through a series of 36 questions on issues ranging from the economy, immigration, terrorism, abortion, gun control, and several other important and hot-button topics.

After you submit your answers, your views are mapped out on a grid cross-indexing your proclivity toward liberalism or conservatism in social and economic areas, and they tell you who you're closest to, and furthest from.

The various candidates are placed on the grid as well, and the interactive menu on the right allows you to isolate various issues to see where you happen to stand.

You can even isolate one or several issues, and the graph changes to accommodate, based on the candidates' positions in question.

And if you mouse over a candidate, it allows you to compare your views with theirs based upon linked news articles, debate transcripts, and other sources that allow you to dig into what they've said about where they stand. Cool!

Don't let some poll or caucus choose your candidate. Know what you believe, why you believe it, and vote your conscience in the upcoming primary!

Fred Thompson inspires

I've never watched the guy on "Law & Order," but I have to admit Fred Thompson has a way with words – obviously a great communicator. He's also the strongest and most principled conservative in the race. I believe him to be right on the issues (pretty close to most of my views, anyway) and he's quite possibly the best LEADER among the 2008 candidates. In this 17-minute message to Iowa voters, he lists his conservative views as well as proposed policies and makes the case for why he's the best man to be America's next Commander in Chief. (h/t: Blogmeister USA)

Personal Responsibility Smackdown

I love Neal Boortz, not just because he's a fellow curmudgeon, but because he absolutely tells it like it is.

Here's a good explanation why I skew more conservative than liberal...

If you squandered every opportunity for an education to end up an unemployable semi-literate loser, that's your problem, not mine. If you've destroyed your health with cigarettes and fast food ... then by what right do you demand that people who lived their lives more responsibly than you cover the cost of your medical care. You cry about your "right" to health care. You dare to claim a right to the services of another human being to correct problems you created for yourself? Further, if it is more important for you to spend your money on a cell phone, flat-screen televisions, the best new car, meals at expensive restaurants and fancy vacations than it is to spend your money on a health insurance policy .. then you should be on your own. Don't beg the government to steal from someone else so that you don't have to change your lifestyle.

And a word for you welfare brood mares out there. That's right .. welfare brood mares .. it's time for someone to call you out for what you are. Perhaps one of the greatest social wrongs a person can commit in this country is to have a child that you cannot afford to care for. Do you really think that it's perfectly OK for you to get yourself knocked up, download your baby, and then tell the taxpayers "Hey, look what I did! Now you folks cough up the money I need to take care of this child." Yeah .. that's what America is all about .. and you're going to be right there in November to vote for Hillary, aren't you. In fact all of you are: the uneducated and unmotivated, the "I'm not responsible for my own health care" crowd, and the single moms. All of you want someone else to step in and take care of you after you've screwed up your own lives, and who better than Hillary, a woman more than ready to use the police power of government to reward you for your votes.
[...]
Historians have said that this country will start to slide when the people learn that they can vote largess for themselves out of the public treasury. Well, you've learned, and now you're heading to the polls later this year to vote for government as an instrument of plunder .. plunder for you .. plunder to pay you for your votes. It's all about you, your wants and needs. Look for the politician who promises to transfer the most wealth from the achievers to you ... and that's the politician who gets your vote. You don't care even a little bit about the type of America you'll leave generations to come ... it's all about you, right now, right here.

There's more, if you've got the spine to deal with it.

Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Boortz? And who's your candidate of choice?

Religion of Peace update: Dallas "honor" killings

Wow, the R.O.P. sure didn't waste any time in getting 2008 off to a bloody start, did they?

Although the Dallas Morning News makes passing mention of the religion of the murderer (as if there could be any doubt), the weasels at the Fort Worth Star Telegram whitewash the whole thing.

Police seek father in teen daughters' slayings
A domestic issue may have led to the shooting deaths of two teenage sisters Tuesday night who were found in an abandoned taxi, police said Wednesday.

Police continued their search Wednesday afternoon for the girls' father.

Shortly after 4 p.m., SWAT team members from Lewisville and the Denton County Sheriff's Department went into the suspect's home in Lewisville, after posting barricades outside and standing watch for about five hours, intermittently summoning anyone inside to exit. No one was found in the home, police said.

Yaser Abdel Said, the 50-year-old Lewisville father, remained at large, police said. He is accused of fatally shooting his 17- and 18-year-old daughters, police said.

Investigators did not describe the domestic issues or say who was involved.

"Domestic issues?" Is that the new doublespeak for Muslim "honor" killings? There is no honor in murdering someone – particularly one's own family – simply because they refuse to wear the hijab or follow a brutal religion based on oppression and violence. Especially against women (for example, the Yemen Times article "There Must Be Violence Against Women." h/t: JihadWatch). I can't fathom the pathological insanity required to slaughter one's own flesh and blood, especially when it's just to follow some arbitrary rules created by a pedophile in the 7th century.

Come on, CAIR, start your spin control. Meanwhile, Yaser Abdel Said has given Texans two more reasons to refurbish "Old Sparky."
---
UPDATE: I've looked into this extensively and must say in all fairness, the Qur'an does NOT mandate honor killings. However, the extremist practice is routinely overlooked in Islamic cultures due to their misogynistic view of women.

Robert Spencer offers some relevant perspective:

...Islam Said has said essentially the same thing: this has nothing to do with religion. It is a cultural matter. The Daily Mail glibly informed us yesterday that female genital mutilation "is not even mentioned in the Koran," and the same thing can be said for honor killing. So that means it is an un-Islamic cultural practice, right?

Well, it is not so easy as all that. It is interesting to watch Islamic spokesmen happily affirm that Islam encompasses every aspect of life, and then, when confronted by unpleasant aspects of the culture created by Islam, turn around and claim that such things are untouched by any aspect of Islam whatsoever. Well, which is it? Does Islam encompass all of life, and hence leave an indelible mark on the cultures of the societies that adopt it, or does it leave untouched large areas of life, in which pre-Islamic pagan practices continue?

Religion of Peace update: Pakistani cleric wants to nuke Britain

More of the tolerance of Islam from another of its religious leaders: convert or die.

A fanatical Pakistani cleric told The Sun yesterday of his chilling dream to turn the world Muslim – by force if necessary.

Qari Hifzur Rehamn, 60, spoke openly of imposing Islamic law’s stoning and beheading on Britain – as Pakistan was rocked by unrest over the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

He warned: “We want Islamic law for all Pakistan and then the world.”

“We would like to do this by preaching. But if not then we would use force.

Rehamn, 60, spoke in the Pakistani town of Kahuta as the call to prayer echoed over the dusty streets.

He is Imam of the town’s fundamentalist religious school or madrassa, where classes for kids as young as nine include Jihad or Holy War and barbaric punishments.

His teachings are frightening enough. But his mosque lies in the shadow of the secret bunker where Pakistan produces nuclear weapons.

And when asked if it would be right to nuke British infidels, he laughed and answered: “Probably.”

So what happens if Britain - or America - were to accommodate the Religion of Peace's demands?

Rehamn, in a flowing grey beard and turban, explained Islamic, or Sharia Law as we sat surrounded by some of his 250 students.

He said: “Adulterers who are married should be buried in earth to the waist and stoned to death.

“Homosexuals must be killed – it’s the only way to stop them spreading. It should be by beheading or stoning, which the general public can do.

“Thieves should have their hands cut off. Women should remain indoors and films and pop music should be banned.”

So what does he think of Britain? The dad insisted: “The nonbelievers must be converted to Islam. Morals in your society, with women wearing revealing clothes, have gone wrong.”

These aren't quotes from back in the 7th century, they're from a few days ago. Sadly, the followers of these doctrines still believe in such barbaric extremism. Does anyone seriously believe that diplomacy is possible with such zealots? Read the entire article. (h/t: Weasel Zippers, Infidels are Cool)

Midweek Peek 01.02.08

Danielle Riley

Huckabee Iowa hullabaloo

A fun parody of Mike Huckabee and his supporters (as well as Guiliani and Romney) that's not too far from wrong. (h/t: Stop The ACLU)