McCain picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for VP

I'm stoked that John McCain has picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate!

Palin, 44, is the second woman to be picked as vice presidential candidate and the first in the Republican Party. She is widely popular in her home state, with approval ratings hovering above 80% since she took office in 2006.

Like McCain, Palin has developed a reputation as a political maverick who doesn't always toe the party line. As governor, she's pushed ethics reform and challenged the old guard of Alaska's long-dominant Republican Party, earning the ire of GOP elders but support from most voters.

"A maverick with a record of reform picks a maverick with a record of reform," an official in the McCain campaign said. "John McCain is putting Washington on notice that there is a shakeup coming"

The internet is buzzing this morning over the trivial "she came in second place at the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant." Personally, I don't care about that (but a Midweek Peek, perhaps?). I want to know if she's a solid conservative and from what I've read so far, that seems to be the case. Just a few highlights:

Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians.
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Palin has focused on energy and natural resources policy during her short stint in office, and she is known for her support of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
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Palin chairs the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate panel "that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment," the biography says.
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She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and takes part in two of Alaska's popular pastimes -- fishing and hunting.
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The biography touts her other achievements as governor as the investment of $5 billion in state savings, overhaul of educational funding and implementation of a program to help low-income elderly Alaskans.

It should probably come as no surprise, but it looks like Gov. Palin already has far more legislative experience and accomplishments than Barack Obama.

And from the perspective of beating the Democrats at their own game of identity politics, she's a smart choice. There's no doubt more than a few disenfranchised Hillary voters that will give McCain serious consideration now.

Obama's big speech: long on platitudes, short on credibility

I found it difficult to watch Barack Obama accept the Democrat nomination last night. Not just because I think he's a dangerous radical wolf in sheep's clothing, but because he's such a damned slick speaker. Whatever one thinks of Obama, one must admit the man knows how to give a good speech.

But honestly, I think that's where his qualifications end.

As I watched and listened, I kept hearing lofty talk of "promises" and common-ground phrases followed closely by clever populist euphemisms for "I'm gonna tax the hell out of y'all to do this."

"It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves -- protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America -- the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper."

For instance, he said "I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95 per cent of all working families." FactCheck.org counters that Obama voted in March 2008 to raise the taxes on individuals earning $41,500 a year and couples earning $83,000. Are 95% of "working families" making less than $83,000? Rob at Say Anything asks some interesting questions:

Why just 95% of working families? Why not all working families? Are there some working families that are getter than others? What has this 5% of working families done that Obama doesn’t think they deserve a tax break?

Also, what’s the definition of a working family? Poor and middle class families? Does that mean that rich families haven’t worked for what they have? Or even just upper class families?

Obama also made some pretty audacious claims, such as "I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow." Sounds good. But I'll leave it to Neal Boortz to smash through that empty promise.

Obama said he was going to eliminate capital gains taxes. These small businessmen generally don't pay capital gains taxes. They pay income taxes. Obama's plan is to raise the income taxes on these entrepreneurs. Telling the American people that he will cut their capital gains taxes is simply a charade; a charade the uneducated will buy.

Obama's wish list for the Democrats will come at a hefty price. Providing health care for the entire country will mean a massive tax hike for EVERYONE, not just the "evil rich" and people that Democrats don't like. Mark my words, you'll hear the word "contribute" thrown at you early in an Obama administration. Unless they plan on topping the Bush deficits, there's no way to increase government spending and decrease taxes. They will have to reach deeply into your pockets in order to give everyone a pony. A run-down, governmental-red-tape pony. Just look at the Post Office. Then imagine that, added to the way downtown public hospitals run, and you might approach the horrors that state-run healthcare will be under an Obama regime.

Of course, no speech from Obama would be complete without some absolute whoppers.

• "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell -- but he won't even go to the cave where he lives." [Dude, if you know where bin Laden is, kindly point him out. Otherwise, keep your teeth together. You've spent the last few years calling for retreat and have NO room to talk. - Ed.]


• We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. [The big difference, of course, lies in the method of reduction...prevention vs. murder. - Ed.]


• The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. [Um, sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Obama, but yes, we can. The Second Amendment is not subject to your faulty interpretation. - Ed.]

I found this next one particularly clever. It seeks to disarm those who have factual and issue-based problems with Obama's policies by pre-emptively attacking them.

• "... if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from." [A little bit of irony there at the end, coming from someone with no real record of achievements. - Ed.]

Hugh Hewitt nailed "The One's" most ridiculous talking point:

Obama sunk his own speech when he began to talk of how he would confront Russia and defeat al Qaeda. He doesn't have the qualifications to run a battalion, much less the entire military. No corporation would make Obama CEO, and few states would elect him governor on his resume. It is all talk, all wind.

I missed the beginning of Obama's speech and haven't yet watched it in its entirety because I just don't think I could stomach that much hopeychange bullsh*t in one sitting. So I'll have to go back and check out the full transcript in smaller doses for my own gastrointestinal safety. In the meantime, for some better analysis of Obama's platitude-laden acceptance speech, check out Michael Barone's Obama's Acceptance Speech Hit Some High Notes, but His Themes Won't Hold Up
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For those of you with an iron stomach (or a taste for Kool-Aid), check out the entire speech and judge for yourself.

Survivor of Weather Underground terrorism speaks out about Obama

I've already blogged a post this week about Obama's questionable friendship with domestic terrorist William Ayers, but because this article by John M. Murtagh is a first-person perspective from someone who survived one of Ayer's bombing attempts, it deserves a look. (h/t: Ace)

During the April 16 debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, moderator George Stephanopoulos brought up "a gentleman named William Ayers," who "was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He's never apologized for that." Stephanopoulos then asked Obama to explain his relationship with Ayers. Obama's answer: "The notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values, doesn’t make much sense, George." Obama was indeed only eight in early 1970. I was only nine then, the year Ayers's Weathermen tried to murder me.
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Early on the morning of February 21, as my family slept, three gasoline-filled firebombs exploded at our home on the northern tip of Manhattan, two at the front door and the third tucked neatly under the gas tank of the family car. (Today, of course, we'd call that a car bomb.) A neighbor heard the first two blasts and, with the remains of a snowman I had built a few days earlier, managed to douse the flames beneath the car. That was an act whose courage I fully appreciated only as an adult, an act that doubtless saved multiple lives that night.
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As the association between Obama and Ayers came to light, it would have helped the senator a little if his friend had at least shown some remorse. But listen to Ayers interviewed in the New York Times on September 11, 2001, of all days: "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough." Translation: "We meant to kill that judge and his family, not just damage the porch." When asked by the Times if he would do it all again, Ayers responded: "I don’t want to discount the possibility."

The entire article is pretty engaging, but I was particularly struck by the last paragraph because he effectively mirrored my feelings about Obama. Believe it or not, a few months ago I respected Obama and thought he'd make a better candidate than Hillary. Now that we've found out a lot more about his past and his radical beliefs, well, I'll let Mr. Murtagh say it...

Though never a supporter of Obama, I admired him for a time for his ability to engage our imaginations, and especially for his ability to inspire the young once again to embrace the political system. Yet his myopia in the last few months has cast a new light on his "politics of change." Nobody should hold the junior senator from Illinois responsible for his friends' and supporters' violent terrorist acts. But it is fair to hold him responsible for a startling lack of judgment in his choice of mentors, associates, and friends, and for showing a callous disregard for the lives they damaged and the hatred they have demonstrated for this country. It is fair, too, to ask what those choices say about Obama's own beliefs, his philosophy, and the direction he would take our nation.

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See also:

• Obama's history of meeting with terrorists
• Obama compares GOP Senator to terrorist bomber
• Which terrorists support which Dem for pres?

New Vets For Freedom ad: The Surge Worked

While Obama tries to pretend he's Martin Luther King Jr. redux in front of his "temple/monument" prop, Vets For Freedom is airing a new commercial about Senate Resolution 636 which is specifically worded to recognize "...the strategic success of the troop surge in Iraq and expressing gratitude to the members of the United States Armed Forces who made that success possible." Contrast this with the blindly partisan denials by Senator Obama and the Democrat party.

In July, after evidence was amassing that the surge was working, Obama said, "My assessment is that the surge has not worked."

Obama, then, was not only wrong about the surge; he was spectacularly wrong. And he continued to remain wrong even as mounting evidence of its success gave way to overwhelming evidence of its success.

But Obama is not alone. Virtually the entire Democratic party, including every Democrat running for president, opposed the surge. For example, Senator Joseph Biden--considered by some pundits a foreign policy sage--declared, a few days before the surge was announced, "If he surges another 20, 30 [thousand], or whatever number he's going to, into Baghdad, it'll be a tragic mistake."
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In April 2007, Senate majority leader Harry Reid declared the Iraq war "lost" and insisted, "This surge is not accomplishing anything."
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In February of this year, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer about the success of the surge in Iraq. "Are you not worried, though, that all the gains that have been achieved over the past year might be lost?" Blitzer asked.

"There haven't been gains, Wolf," Pelosi replied. "The gains have not produced the desired effect, which is the reconciliation of Iraq. This is a failure. This is a failure."

Nice support there, Dems. And yes, I am questioning your patriotism.

Meanwhile, our brave men and women in uniform continue daily to go about their mission of helping jihadists attain room temperature.

100 militants killed in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — A four-day battle that began with an ambush on a joint U.S-Afghan patrol in southern Afghanistan has killed more than 100 militants, the coalition said Thursday.

Militants wielding rocket-propelled grenades, guns and mortars attacked the joint patrol in the southern province of Helmand multiple times starting Monday, the coalition said. The combined force called in fighter aircraft for support.

Capt. Scott Miller, a coalition spokesman, said he couldn't provide further details, including a more precise location of the fighting, because the battle was continuing.
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More than 3,700 people, mostly militants, have died in insurgency-related violence so far this year according to an Associated Press tally of figures provided by Afghan and Western officials.

Man, I hope Allah has plenty of virgins ready!
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See also:

• Obama's Orwellian revision of his "failed surge" criticism
• al-Qaeda weakening, Pelosi in denial
• Good for America = bad for Dems

Immigration raid catches nearly 600 illegals

Good news in Mississippi.

LAUREL, Miss. — The largest single-workplace immigration raid in U.S. history has caused panic among Hispanic families in this small southern Mississippi town, where federal agents rounded up nearly 600 plant workers suspected of being in the country illegally.

One worker caught in Monday’s sweep at the Howard Industries transformer plant said fellow workers applauded as immigrants were taken into custody.

Gee, I wonder why Americans would be happy to see illegal immigrants being arrested? Could it perhaps have to do with being fed up with...

• Brazen marches and protests where thousands of illegals boastfully thumb their noses at American citizens with impunity


• Arrogant boycotts demanding continued access to taxpayer-funded social services


• Petulant demands for benefits like in-state tuition


• Repeated and antagonistically disrespectful displays of the Mexican flag America's


• Racist and supremacist statements from illegal advocate groups like La Raza


• Outrageous calls for Mexican reconquista seizure of American land


• The disturbing increase of convicted criminal aliens and the lawyers who enable them to game our legal system and continue victimizing our citizens

Of course, no story of illegal immigration raids would be complete without the sob story element:

"We have kids without dads and pregnant mothers who got their husbands taken away," said Velez's son, Robert, youth pastor at the church. "It was like a horror story. They got handled like they were criminals."

News flash: they ARE criminals. If they are here illegally, they are in violation of U.S. law. Hence, criminals.

And before Obama tries to demagogue the raid (as he did when he pandered to La Raza in July), let's be clear that our law enforcement officials do NOT "terrorize" illegals nor treat them inhumanely:

About 100 of the 595 detained workers were released for humanitarian reasons, many of them mothers who were fitted with electronic monitoring bracelets and allowed to go home to their children, officials said.

About 475 other workers were transferred to an ICE facility in Jena, La. Nine who were under 18 were transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Speaking of law enforcement, I hope ICE officers (and the IRS) will be having a nice little chat with the employers of these illegal aliens.

Under the law, a company found guilty of employing illegal immigrants could lose public contracts for three years and the right to do business in Mississippi for a year.

The law also makes it a felony for an illegal immigrant to accept a job in Mississippi. A message was left with the district attorney's office after hours seeking comment on whether he would use the law to bring state charges against Howard Industries or the workers.

Worship at the Temple of Obama!

Now I see why Obama wants to accept the Democrat nomination at Invesco Field; his pompous ego wouldn't fit inside Denver's Pepsi Center.

DENVER (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple.

The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos' National Football League team plays.

Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington's Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party's nomination for president.

He will stride out to a raised platform to a podium that can be raised from beneath the floor.

Wow. Pretentious much?

A Greek temple for the Obamessiah; would that be called the O-cropolis? He couldn't possibly be overcompensating for his lack of presidential qualifications, could he?

Ok, ok, maybe he's not trying to sanction his cult of personality with a temple before which his delirious followers can genuflect. Maybe he's just being a little overly ambitious again, trying to evoke the image of being in the White House before the voters have placed him there (kinda like his presidential seal knockoff).

Ed Morrissey noticed this is another farcical Obama cult moment that seems to come straight from a Star Trek episode, this time from "Who Mourns for Adonis?"

The parallels are interesting, at least. Obama wants to treat us the way Apollo treated the Enterprise crew — as children who need do nothing but gather food and worship him. He promises them peace, tranquility, and happiness, as long as they agree to become his servants and relinquish their free will. In the end, Kirk and his crew destroy his power source and send him off to his fellow demigods in bitterness rather than allow themselves to become enslaved to Apollo.

Allahpundit think Obama's coronation plans aren't grandiose enough...

What about a giant plaster Lincoln head descending from the sky with Obama inside, and once it hits the stage he breaks through out of the top hat like the Hulk? Or how about the lights come up to reveal statues of Jesus, MLK, Gandhi, and The One — except his isn't a statue, it's really him and he was just standing perfectly still. Then he comes "magically" to life as the camera hits him. Awesome.

Obama asks DOJ to censor political ad

Sounds like Barack Obama is following the stellar traditions of Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Leon Trotsky, Nicolae Ceauşescu, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong-Il, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin; all of whom used the power of the government to silence any criticism of their "cult of personality".

DENVER (AP) - Barack Obama is striking back fiercely and swiftly to stamp out an ad that links him to a 1960s radical, eager to demonstrate a far more aggressive response to attacks than John Kerry did when faced with the 2004 “Swift Boat” campaign.

Obama not only aired a response ad to the spot linking him to William Ayers, but he sought to block stations [airing] the commercial by warning station managers and asking the Justice Department to intervene. The campaign also planned to compel advertisers to pressure stations that continue to air the anti-Obama commercial.

It’s the type of going-for-the-jugular approach to politics many Democrats complain that Kerry lacked and that Republicans exploit.

Obama’s target is an ad by the conservative American Issues Project, a nonprofit group that questions Obama’s ties to Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground organization that took credit for a series of bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol four decades ago...

...Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama supporters have inundated stations that are airing the ad, many of them owned by Sinclair Communications, with 93,000 e-mails. He called the ad false, despicable and outrageous.

I'd like to hear just what is false about Obama's admitted friendship with unrepentant terrorist William "I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough" Ayers?

Obama launched his political career at an event at Ayers' home in 1995, long after Ayers' participation in the bombings of the New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the Capitol building in 1971, and the Pentagon in 1972. And he continued to work with Ayers, appearing with him on the Woods Fund of Chicago panel until 2002.

That is despicable and outrageous, but hardly false. It's just not the hope and change we thought we knew.
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See also:

• Obama's history of meeting with terrorists
• Obama compares GOP Senator to terrorist bomber
• Which terrorists support which Dem for pres?

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UPDATE: Michelle Malkin calls it "Bullying You Can Believe In" and details Obama's intimidation and legal threats against his critics.

UPDATE: Jim Geraghty absolutely destroys Obama's lame "Ayers did that when I was 8 years old so it doesn't matter" excuse:

Why is McCain talking about the sixties? He isn't. He's talking about Obama's relationship with Ayers over the past two decades or so, and Obama's comfort working closely with a man who built bombs to kill American soldiers and cops.

UPDATE: Others blogging Obama's radical roots;
JustOneMinute, Jonah Goldberg, Hugh Hewitt, Allahpundit, Rhymes With Right, American Daughter, Atlas Shrugs, In One Ear, Real Clear Politics

DNC moonbat opening ceremonies

Let the games begin! The DNC convention began this weekend, and Democrats from around the country will now have a chance to "dance with the ones that brung 'em": namely, the extreme left of their party. Cindy Sheehan, Ward Churchill, Cynthia McKinney, and a crowd of other nutcases were there pushing their own particular brand of cognitive dissonance, captured in photos by Zombie stringer El Marco, whose site features MANY more photos of the liberal circus. (h/t: LGF)


These cretins openly support Muqtada al-Sadr (depicted on the left of this banner), the radical Shiite cleric whose "Mehdi Army" operated a torture chamber inside a mosque in Iraq.


Anarchists and communists alike seem to either be hiding their identities or anticipating pepper spray. Or perhaps they just can't stand each other's fetid reek.


Communists and socialists no longer worry about hiding their agenda, as they represent a vocal minority that is quietly accepted within the Democrat party.


No gathering of moonbats would be complete without a little Che worship and advocacy for illegal immigration.


The communists are an increasingly integral part of the Democrat party, as their philosophy is a natural extension of Democrat class-warfare rhetoric and collectivism.


Michelle Malkin posted some undercover footage of the Marxists revealing their penchant for absolute government seizure of all wealth, the elimination of private property, and unwashed hirsute women. Undercover correspondent Jason Mattera also posted on Hot Air the "weapons-grade stupidity" on display at the pro-abortion rally.

There's also a story in the Denver Post which chronicled the anemic turnout for the "Recreate 68" effort, the highlight of which was a quote that – to me – demonstrates the muddled thinking of the left's fringe:

Jennison and her husband, Steve, had driven up from Littleton to watch the convention activities unfold.

"We came down to see the pageantry," Steve Jennison said. "This is just like the pope coming to town."

Um, excuse me, but a gathering of dimwitted anarchists and Marxists who have no grasp of history is like a visit from the Pope? Riiiiiight.

Not everyone in Denver is operating with a double-digit IQ. There were a some present who were there to counter the madness by supporting our troops and the American way of life.




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Also blogging the DNC fanfare: Rocky Mountain Right, Moonbattery, People's Press Collective, The Pirate's Cove, Stop The ACLU, Atlas Shrugs

Victory in Iraq is almost official!

I saw this little tidbit today and was surprised it's not getting more play. It looks like we will soon be able to declare "mission accomplished," not for just removing Saddam Hussein and his regime, but for helping Iraq establish a new era of self-governance. Our military has done a fantastic job and after six years it's almost time to bring them home!

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Prime Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday that an agreement had been reached in negotiations on a security pact with the United States to end any foreign military presence in Iraq by the end of 2011.

"There is an agreement actually reached, reached between the two parties on a fixed date which is the end of 2011 to end any foreign presence on Iraqi soil," Maliki said in a speech to tribal leaders in the Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

"Yes, there is major progress on the issue of the negotiations on the security deal," Maliki said.

The Iraqi government has said it is proposing U.S. troops end patrols of Iraqi towns and villages by the middle of next year and U.S. combat troops leave Iraq by 2011.

But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a visit to Baghdad last week that no final agreement had been reached. The Bush administration has sought to steer clear of fixed timetables in negotiating the agreement.

Rather than running away from Iraq due to casualties from terrorist attacks, harassment from anti-war protesters, and leftists looking to score political points, our military has held steadfast to their mission and gallantly performed the herculean task of liberating Iraq. And as a further poke in the eye of the naysayers, they've lived up to President Bush's promise: "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." Kudos to the leaders in Iraq and America who have conducted this war according to conditions on the ground rather than political pressure.

Corps of Cadets "fish Fry" at Texas A&M

Yesterday was quite a long day. Not just for traci and me, who spent most of the day in the car driving to College Station and back, but also for traci's son, Chris, who just completed his Freshman Orientation Week. He's a freshman in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, where he will be studying to be an aerospace engineer in the U.S. Air Force. And here's an interesting little fact: the A&M Corps of Cadets form the largest uniformed body of students outside the U.S. military academies!

All first-year cadets at A&M are known as "fish" by their upperclassmen, and yesterday was an event where the parents had a chance to come down and visit their new cadets, see their dorms and witness the beginning of their transformation from civilians into commissioned officers in the military. It's called "fish Fry," connecting the freshmen nickname with what is served for dinner.

The drive from Dallas is typically 3 1/2 hours, but on our way down we got stopped in some kind of nasty traffic snarl. Slowdowns aren't so much unusual, but this was an absolute standstill for the better part of an hour. Apparently, there was some kind of horrific accident, to the degree that they weren't even allowing cars to pass by on the shoulder or in the grass to bypass it. While we sat there wasting gasoline, three gigantic semi-sized tow trucks drove by us on the shoulder so there must have been several trucks involved. By the time we got there, we could only see one semi on its side and two of the other tow trucks were gone. I couldn't find anything in the news about it today, so I can only imagine what must have happened.


Luckily, we left early enough that we still made it in plenty of time for the Fish Fry. traci was absolutely ecstatic to be there, and her expressions throughout the day were absolutely precious. I don't think kids on Christmas Eve could look as excited.


We walked around the quadrangle at A&M where all the cadets have their dorms. Each one features a gigantic flag on the outside of the building and several large plaques designating which units are housed therein. We found Chris' dorm shortly before his unit came pouring out for the main formation. When they leave the building together, they have to run out with their hands over their heads, shouting at the top of their lungs.


After waiting a while for all the squads to form up, the units all marched by for review, much to the delight of the friends and family who had gathered in the quadrangle.


After the review, the battalion was dismissed to mingle with family. When we found Chris, traci was on the verge of tears (of happiness). She was SO proud!


We then got a chance to visit with traci's little fish (well, not SO little) and hear him describe – in a very hoarse voice – all they've been doing and learning over the past 5 days. For instance:

Instead of thinking, fish "cogitate," as in "fish Jones cogitates it's going to rain." Questions from upperclassmen are to be answered with one of the five fish answers, "Yes, Sir!" "No, Sir!" "No excuse, Sir!" "(Class Year), Sir!" or (said very quickly): "Sir, not being informed to the highest degree of accuracy I hesitate to articulate for fear that I might deviate from the true course of rectitude. In short, Sir, I am a very dumb fish, and do not know, Sir!"

We also got a chance the see their dorm rooms. They weren't as small as I thought they'd be – about the same size as my freshman dorm room – but they were still pretty spartan. Good thing though, they have their own sink in the room. That'll help in the mornings! But no doubt, things will be changing very drastically for fish Melton over the next few weeks.


During dinner, the cadets demonstrated their newly-learned A&M "yells" to everyone. They're not called "cheers", but that's essentially what they are. I look forward to seeing and hearing thousands of rabid Aggie fans doing these yells at future football games.


While fish Melton and his buddy were doing their yells, I just HAD to snap a quick picture of traci, as I thought her expression was just precious. She was so impressed and excited (I was too, of course, but I didn't have that "mommy" factor). I'm very proud of Chris' motivation, his dedication to his country, and his commitment to excellence. He's going to achieve great things!


After dinner, we walked around campus a little bit and fish Melton showed us a couple of the statues of A&M founding officers. Cadets and students place pennies on the feet of the monuments, a custom I had never seen before. But hey, I thought all the tradition was impressive. Sadly, it was time for us to leave. And I could tell fish Melton was going to sleep very well that night.

The drive back to Dallas was a beatdown, winding through pitch-black Texas roads. But at least the trip was uneventful and we got home safe and sound (with the help of some Metallica on the CD player). It sure will be interesting to see how these fish mature over the next few months, especially when we return to watch a football game soon. Gig 'em, Aggies!

Driving today, blogging later

Today, I'm taking traci to College Station to see her son. So I won't be blogging until later tonight. In the meantime, please check out some of the good folks in my blogroll, they're bound to have something awesome today (or scroll down and check out some of my stuff, I posted quite a lot this week).

Religion of Peace update: Yemen detains 9 people for converting to Christianity

Remember, the Qur'an tells us there is no compulsion of religion in Islam...except in Yemen, where apostasy is punishable by death. Oh, and also in Afghanistan. And Pakistan. And Iran. And Algeria. And Turkey. And Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sudan, and Mauritania. And, I nearly forgot, in Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Somalia, and Kenya. But other than that, there is no compulsion of religion in Islam. Yay.

SAN’A, Yemen – Yemeni police have detained at least nine people this year for converting from Islam to Christianity, a security official said Tuesday.

The nine were arrested between May and early August and remain in police custody, said the official.

Converting from Islam to any other religion is illegal in Yemen and can be punishable by death. But in previous cases, those arrested are usually released after they revoke their new faith and pledge to return to Islam. [Hrmm, I wonder what might motivate those "infidels" to disavow their beliefs and recommit to Islam? Surely it's not being forced on them! - Ed.]

Three of the nine were detained west of the capital, San'a, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He declined to provide details about the others.

A family member of one of the detained said he fears those arrested could face torture or abuse in prison. The family member, who declined to be named because of security concerns, said Hani el-Dahayni, 30, was detained in May after police stormed his office and confiscated computers and compact discs.

I guess they took too seriously that pesky hadith from Mohammed, "Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him."
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UPDATE: Author Brigitte Gabriel offers some insight into this disturbing trend of violent intolerance in her new book, They Must Be Stopped.

"Islam has created and unleashed an uncontrollable wave of hatred and rage on the world...Going forward we must realize that the portent behind the terrorist attacks is the purest form of what the Prophet Mohammed created. It's not radical Islam. It's what Islam is at the core...The time of moderation and watered-down religion is over ...It's not radical Islam. It's not Wahhabi Islam, it's Mohammed's original Islam."

Obama: live babies pose burden

The primary point of contention in any debate about abortion hinges on the point at which a fetus officially becomes a human being. For pro-life advocates, life begins at the moment of conception. For pro-abortion advocates, life begins at birth. That is how abortion before the moment of birth is justified.

But when an abortion is performed and the fetus is delivered alive, is it not at that point a living human being worthy of human rights?

Not according to Barack Obama. If the mother initially wanted it dead, it is to be killed in spite of its inconvenient birth.

And contrary to his disingenuous accusations that "folks are lying" about his position, Obama did in fact argue in the Illinois Senate numerous times against providing basic healthcare for babies who survive abortions.

The audio clip and transcripts have surfaced (Ed Morrissey has the entire passage, and Infidels Are Cool has the audio).

"I suspect that doctors feel that they would be under that obligation, that they would already be making these determinations, and that essentially adding an additional doctor, who then has to be called in an emergency situation to come in and make these assessments, is really designed simply to burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion."

Yeah, we wouldn't want to burden the doctor and the birth mother with the annoying fact that her child somehow survived their clinical murder attempt. Even if one was to argue in favor of abortion for the health of the mother, how would treating a live infant threaten the health of the mother?

The only folks lying are those trying to deny that Obama favors infanticide for convenience sake. How else can you classify unrestricted abortion on demand for all babies up to and past the point of delivery?

People, they took live babies at Christ Hospital in Illinois and put them in a closet to die. How much more horrific does it have to be? That's abandonment, neglect, and murder.

Would it help if they had fed them to wild dogs or smashed their skulls with a hammer? Perhaps the doctors in Illinois should be more professional and inject the baby's heart with poison after delivery, as they do to unwanted babies while they're still inside the mother. Then we could just call it post-birth abortion so everyone could feel better about this new "choice".

Sorry, I know that was over the top, but this is change I can't believe in.

Biden's case against Obama

Oddly enough, it looks like Joe Biden's 2007 description of Barack Obama as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" might actually land him the VP spot on the 2008 Democrat ticket.

But there have been some other (snort-worthy) quotes from Biden which seem to emphasize why Obama is not ready for the Oval Office.

On Aug 1, 2007, Biden slammed Obama for being a "Johnny-come-lately".

"We find it a little disingenuous that Sen. Obama is hailing this as a new bold initiative when he has neglected to join his colleagues in the Senate when the opportunities have been there to redirect our forces into Afghanistan" said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro. "It's good to see Sen. Obama has finally arrived at the right position, but this can hardly be considered bold leadership."

It's also worth taking a look at this ad from Biden’s failed run at the presidency in 1988, wherein he disparages inexperience and states that the White House is no place to learn on the job.

"The White House isn't the place to learn how to deal with international crisis, the balance of power, war and peace, and the economic future of the next generation.

What is this ad about?

As an ad guy – and a jaded one at that – I can usually see through the execution and tell who the advertiser is long before the TV spot is finished. But with this one, I have to admit I couldn't guess the message in advance. Very well done and it makes a good point. I don't believe it's necessarily persuasive, but at the very least I think it's engaging enough to inspire further thought. (h/t: California Faultline)

Haircuts for Denver's homeless?

More style over substance from the Dems (personally, I think they should have opted for baths and deodorant). (h/t: LGF)

...officials in Denver, worried about the impression that 50,000 visitors to the Democratic National Convention would get next week, were planning to hide the estimated 4,000 homeless people who hang around the city's downtown area.

They arranged for free movie passes and bingo games to get them off the street, as well as temporary housing and free tickets to the zoo and Museum of Nature and Science.

Now...Denver is even spiffing up the coiffures of its homeless. They're giving free haircuts to the homeless this week in preparation for the visiting crowds who'll arrive this weekend.

No, really.

According to Rick Sallinger of the CBS TV station, Denver Human Services has been handing out coupons for free homeless haircuts. [What a fine use of taxpayer dollars - Ed.]

And thus, John "Silky Pony" Edwards leaves his indelible mark on the Democrat convention.

Explaining Obama's punitive liberalism

As we head into this election season, I think it's important that each of us pull back from party politics and the cult of personality to take a good hard look at what we believe (or don't believe) as Americans before we cast our vote.

To that end, here are two must-read articles which effectively detail several of the precise reasons why I cannot align myself with the Democrat party. (h/t: Say Anything)

• The Wall Street Journal's William McGurn delves into the issue of taxes and the irrational envy-driven motivation of modern Democrats


• Roger Kimball examines the doctrine of "punitive liberalism" and the apparent feelings of guilt which drive the quixotic goal of "fairness"

Both of these pieces make abundantly clear why Barack Obama has such widespread support among self-professed socialists and communists.

Religion of Peace update: Dead Muslim with pound of cyanide found in Denver

This isn't a new story, but I'm really fed up with the press whitewashing this dead guy as a "victim". Dude was a schizophrenic foreigner traveling in America with a POUND of sodium cyanide!

OTTAWA – An Ottawa man [translation: Somali-born Muslim - Ed.] whose mysterious death in a Denver hotel room is under investigation by the FBI was diagnosed with schizophrenia three years ago, his family revealed yesterday.

Preliminary autopsy results show Saleman Abdirahman Dirie, 29, may have died from exposure to cyanide, a rapidly acting chemical described by one expert as "the ideal terrorist weapon."

Denver police confirmed yesterday that the jar of white powder found in Mr. Dirie's hotel room contained sodium cyanide, the crystal form of the chemical...

In Ottawa, Mr. Dirie's sister told the Citizen that her brother suffered from mental illness, and she angrily rejected any suggestion that he was tied to terrorism or had any intention of harming Mr. Obama.

"He was not a terrorist," said the sister, who declined to give her name. "We don't want to hear that word, it hurts us. It is against our religion."

Yeah, there's no chance this guy was a jihadist, aside from the fact that he was a Muslim in possession of a pound of rapidly-acting toxin. No red flags there. And I'm sure it was a complete coincidence that a person posting under the exact same name made death threats like: "'Having the bible in one hand, and a bread in the other hand, is not a correct thing! Kill Them , Kill them, Kill them, that is my massage (sic),!' read the posting by Abdirahman Dirie on the 'Solmali's for Jesus' Blog."

Besides, there are NO verses in the Qur'an or the Hadith that endorse murdering non-Muslims, right? Sorry, back to the obligatory denials by Dirie's family.

Her brother, she said, had travelled alone to Colorado for a vacation. The family, she said, was devastated to learn that he had died in his Denver hotel room.

"He was just going on a trip," his sister said.

"He just told us he wanted to go on a vacation and then we heard our brother had died," the sister said.

Mr. Dirie's sister said her brother had been doing well since he began receiving treatment for his illness at the Royal Ottawa Hospital about three years ago.

"He was fine. He was just a normal person."

Her brother was taking his medication regularly when he left Ottawa, she said, and was not suicidal. She did not know how or why he would have come in contact with cyanide.

Yeah, I can't imagine how or why a mentally-unstable Muslim would be traveling without a passport in the U.S. and carrying a pound of sodium cyanide powder. Isn't that normal?

I'm glad this nutjob died from his own hatred and incompetence before he had a chance to harm or kill innocent American citizens.

Midweek Peek 08.20.08

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard

Obama's infanticide lies exposed

Note: Even if you're pro-choice, you owe it to yourself to read up on Barack Obama's extreme position on abortion as well as infanticide and his pathetic attempts to distort his voting record. I realize I'm not going to change anyone's views on abortion, but you should at least know where the candidate stands on this issue, specifically the facts surrounding Obama's cover-up which are linked toward the end of this post.
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There's a story I saw in the news yesterday that has bearing on the upcoming election. Specifically because it concerns the debate over when life begins. In this case, the five-month-old fetus (a.k.a. baby) was prematurely delivered and mistakenly declared dead...until it was discovered that the baby was actually still alive.

The Jerusalem Post – A couple from Kafr Yasif in the Galilee received the shock of their lives Monday when the wife's miscarried 610-gram fetus, which had been declared dead five hours earlier, was found to be breathing.

The baby girl, born during the 23rd week of gestation, still has an uncertain future. Hospital spokesman Ziv Farber said that any premature infant of that weight and age had only a 10 percent chance for survival. But five years ago, he added, "we had a baby weighing only 580 grams, and she survived."

The 26-year-old mother and her husband have a five-year-old son at home. When she gave birth after going into premature labor at the hospital, the doctor on the scene pronounced it dead and it was taken to the morgue.

The father, Ali Majdub, told Channel 2 that his wife realized the child was alive after asking to see her dead daughter one last time.

"When we unwrapped the baby to see her, she realized it was moving. I began screaming and ran with it toward the doctors," he said.

She was then rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit, where doctors are fighting for her life.

"I was in shock," the mother told Channel 2 last night. "I thought I wasn't hearing it right when they said she was still alive."

Dr. Moshe Daniel, the hospital's deputy director, said that in his 35 years as a physician, he had "never heard of such a case. It was like a medical miracle."

If Barack Obama had his way, babies that age who've survived an abortion attempt would be denied medical care so they would die, per their mother's wishes.

Lest you think I'm exaggerating, please check back to my post last week about Obama's radical position on abortion and his recent attempts to distance himself from his voting record.

It's also worth reviewing Obama's disingenuous attack this weekend against those who've pointed out his voting record.

...I hate to say that people are lying, but here’s a situation where folks are lying. I have said repeatedly that I would have been completely in, fully in support of the federal bill that everybody supported — which was to say — that you should provide assistance to any infant that was born - even if it was as a consequence of an induced abortion. That was not the bill that was presented at the state level. What that bill also was doing was trying to undermine Roe vs. Wade.

I guess that was not the bill he thought he knew.

Of course, his shameless attack came before he was confronted with the facts and forced to acknowledge his extremism...and his brazen lies.

Indeed, Mr. Obama appeared to misstate his position in the CBN interview on Saturday when he said the federal version he supported "was not the bill that was presented at the state level."

His campaign yesterday acknowledged that he had voted against an identical bill in the state Senate, and a spokesman, Hari Sevugan, said the senator and other lawmakers had concerns that even as worded, the legislation could have undermined existing Illinois abortion law. Those concerns did not exist for the federal bill, because there is no federal abortion law.

In 2005, the campaign noted, a "Born Alive" bill passed the Illinois Legislature after another clause had been added that explicitly stated that the legislation would have no effect on existing state abortion laws.

For your edification, here is David Freddoso's column laying out all the evidence concerning Obama's deception and the facts regarding his untenable position on infanticide.

Sen. Obama is currently misleading people about what he voted against, specifically claiming that the bill he voted against in his committee lacked “neutrality” language on Roe v. Wade. The bill did contain this language. He even participated in the unanimous vote to put it in.

Obama’s work against the bill to protect premature babies represents one of two times in his political career, along with his speech against the Iraq war, that he really stuck out his neck for something that might hurt him politically. Unlike his Iraq speech, Obama is deeply embarrassed about this one — so embarrassed that he is offering a demonstrable falsehood in explanation for his actions. Fortunately, the documents showing the truth are now available.

Personal accounts from registered nurse Jill Stanek who worked at the Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL and witnessed numerous occurrences of the grotesque "induced labor abortion" (a.k.a. live birth abortion) procedure conducted on 2nd and 3rd trimester babies and the subsequent starvation and abandonment leading to their eventual deaths.
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UPDATE: Allahpundit sums up Barry's squirming rather well:

To recap, Obama initially said he voted against the 2003 bill protecting born-alive aborted fetuses only because it would have threatened abortion rights due to its lack of a "neutrality" clause vis-a-vis Roe v. Wade. Minor problem: The bill did include that clause and State Sen. Obama was one of the committee members who made sure that it did – before he voted against it anyway. Meanwhile, the bill he voted against was identical to a bill that passed 98-0 in Congress which he claims he would have voted for if he had been a U.S. Senator at the time. How to reconcile the two positions? Simple: Since there are no federal abortion laws, the federal bill was essentially a symbolic gesture, whereas there are of course state abortion laws in Illinois that could have been affected by the state bill. Which is to say, he was prepared to take a stand on the issue if he knew that his stand would have ... no practical consequences whatsoever.

Ace quips:

Obama really does seem to prefer the sort of "lawmaking" which is entirely conducted on the plane of airy generalities, nebulous themes, and empty gestures, doesn't he? When asked to vote on a bona fide law (a law-type law, with actual legal effect, as opposed to the "thinky" sort of thought-experiment virtual "law" Obama prefers) he either courageously votes present or cries that it was unfair to ask him to vote on a law that actually might change the law.

And NRO's Ramesh Ponnuru drives some factual nails through the Obama campaign's feigned indignance:

Illinois law has rules — loophole-ridden rules, but rules — requiring treatment of babies who have “sustainable survivability.” If an attempted abortion of a pre-viable fetus results in a live birth, the law did not protect the infant. Nurse Jill Stanek said that at her hospital “abortions” were repeatedly performed by inducing the live birth of a pre-viable fetus and then leaving it to die. When she made her report, the attorney general said that no law had been broken. That’s why legislators proposed a bill to fill the gap.

Obama did not want the gap filled. He did not want pre-viable fetuses/infants to have any legal protection. In the Illinois legislature, he argued that providing them with legal protection would both be unconstitutional in itself — a violation of the Supreme Court’s abortion jurisprudence — and undermine the right to abortion.

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UPDATE: I don't know if it's sad, ironic, or both that Obama introduced a constitutional amendment in the Illinois state legislature that would have forced the state to adopt a universal health care system, citing dignity and human rights:

Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for the State of Illinois to ensure that every person is able to realize this fundamental right.

It would seem that Obama doesn't view infants as live human beings worthy of health care, a belief shared by many pro-abortion advocates.

Finishing my right sleeve

Last Thursday marked the end of a five-year journey to completely sleeve out both my arms in Japanese-style tattoos.

When I moved to Dallas in 1999, I decided I wanted to get a tattoo. At that time in my life, I was trying to decide whether or not to remain married. And regardless of what my decision would be, I resolved that I would no longer allow my inner self be suppressed, as I had tolerated for the previous eleven years. No matter what, I had finally had enough and wanted desperately to be myself again rather than only what others thought I should be.

Originally, I had wanted to get a traditional-looking scroll with the words "Live Free or Die" due to my long time admiration for the historical motto by Patrick Henry. But after shopping around several tattoo shops and looking at a bunch of different artists' portfolios, I decided instead to get the word meaning unbound/unchained in Sanskrit. I liked the artistic look of the word form as well as the fact that it allowed me to have a somewhat-private meaning. At the time, I only got that one small word, not knowing I'd later come back and add to it.

In the following years, I would build on that small foray into body modification, adding several elements that became a half-sleeve on one arm, and then the other (the slow progress, of course, dictated by limited funds).

(Here's what it looked like in 2007, when the word had been built out into a half-sleeve)

Last year, I decided to go all the way and extend the artwork down to my wrists. Thursday's session was the end of that process.


Here, Casey was working on coloring/shading the first peony. He balanced the pretty orange hues with some magenta shading that really popped the whole flower rather nicely.


Did I mention that getting tattooed on the elbow is kinda no fun?


Here's the finished yellow peony on my elbow.


And here's the orange one. In Japanese-style tattoos, the peony represents good fortune and prosperity. I've also read that it symbolizes "a sort of gambling daring and even a masculine devil-may-care attitude." Sounds pretty good to me.

Also, the peony is a perennial, meaning that it seems to die out in the fall but comes back with new flowers in the spring, as though rising from the ashes like the phoenix. That made it a natural to add to my right sleeve (which I designed to have a rebirth theme since I had started it as I was going through my divorce). It features a koi fish on my upper arm, a dragonfly on the back of my tricep and a phoenix across my shoulder and chest.

I'll need to go back and look at all my pictures in order to estimate how many hours I've had in this sleeve, but I'd estimate it at about 25-30. It's been an enlightening process, not just in how to endure pain (and the odd desire to undergo the process time and time again), but one of self-examination as well. It's a bittersweet feeling to be finished with both arms. But I'm extremely happy with the result and am already planning what I want for a full back piece!

Obama self-edits before calling Clarence Thomas inexperienced

From this past Friday's Saddleback Church forum, here's the pot nearly calling the kettle, uh, uh, uh, inexperienced. (h/t: Allahpundit)


On why he wouldn't have nominated Clarence Thomas to serve on the Supreme Court:

I don't think that he... uh... ah... uh, uh, uh, I don't think that he was an exp... a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation... setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the Constitution.

Stuttering aside, that's the same reason I would give as to why Obama's not fit to be President.

As I began doing a little homework on Clarence Thomas' experience, I found that The Wall Street Journal was already a step ahead of me in comparing their qualifications for high office:

"So let’s see. By the time he was nominated, Clarence Thomas had worked in the Missouri Attorney General’s office, served as an Assistant Secretary of Education, run the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and sat for a year on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the nation’s second most prominent court. Since his "elevation" to the High Court in 1991, he has also shown himself to be a principled and scholarly jurist.

Meanwhile, as he bids to be America’s Commander in Chief, Mr. Obama isn’t yet four years out of the Illinois state Senate, has never held a hearing of note of his U.S. Senate subcommittee, and had an unremarkable record as both a "community organizer" and law school lecturer. Justice Thomas's judicial credentials compare favorably to Mr. Obama's Presidential résumé by any measure. And when it comes to rising from difficult circumstances, Justice Thomas’s rural Georgian upbringing makes Mr. Obama's story look like easy street."

Russia threatens to nuke Poland

Yet another reason why Barack Obama is consistently wrong on the issues.

MOSCOW – A top Russian general said Friday that Poland’s agreement to accept a U.S. missile interceptor base exposes the ex-communist nation to attack, possibly by nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported.

The statement by Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn is the strongest threat that Russia has issued against the plans to put missile defense elements in former Soviet satellite nations.
...
"Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent," Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of staff, was quoted as saying.

He added, in clear reference to the agreement, that Russia’s military doctrine sanctions the use of nuclear weapons "against the allies of countries having nuclear weapons if they in some way help them." Nogovitsyn that would include elements of strategic deterrence systems, he said, according to Interfax.

Russia's recent aggression against Georgia and this sabre-rattling against Poland make an even stronger case against BarryO's spineless disarmament proposals back in February.

• ...I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems...
• ...I will not weaponize space...
• ...I will slow development of future combat systems...
• ...and I will institute a "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure the quadrennial defense review is not used to justify unnecessary spending...
• ...I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons...
• ...and to seek that goal, I will not develop nuclear weapons...
• ...I will seek a global ban on the development of fissile material...
• ...and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert...
• ...and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals...

Do we really want a Commander-In-Chief who preemptively backs down?

Obama as The Taxman

Here's McCain's newest ad, this one hitting Obama on his faulty economic ideas. It's good to point out what would be the end result of Obama's policies – higher taxes – but the McCain campaign still needs to augment this communication with positive messages that educate the American voter on reasons to vote for McCain, not just against Obama.

Dems court pro-life voters with smoke and mirrors

This would be laughable execept for the sad fact that this stands a chance to successfully deceive those pro-life voters looking for an excuse to support Obama.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his supporters are working to win over voters who want to ban or reduce abortions with a call for measures to help women keep their babies.

The party's platform supports the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal and adds a twist, saying the party ``strongly'' backs a woman's decision to carry a pregnancy to term. The compromise language is the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations with abortion-rights groups and religious leaders on both sides of the issue.

The idea is to frame abortion as less of an either-or issue by discussing both the need to keep abortion legal and the desire to provide programs for expectant and new mothers. It may help Democrats woo evangelical Christians, a core Republican constituency that backed President George W. Bush by a margin of 77 percent in 2004.

The Democrats are hoping to dupe pro-life voters by finagling the empty language of their party platform to divert attention from some of Barack Obama's radical positions on abortion. In particular, his actions supporting late-term infanticide like this:

On March 30, 2001, Obama was the only senator to speak in opposition to a bill that would have banned the practice of leaving premature abortion survivors to die. The bill, SB 1095, was carefully limited, its language unambiguous. It applied only to premature babies, already born alive. It stated simply that under Illinois law, "the words 'person,' 'human being,' 'child,' and 'individual' include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development."
...
Under this bill, SB 1095, babies born alive during an abortion would have to be treated just like every other baby that is born alive and prematurely — not left to die as at Christ Hospital, but given treatment according to an acting physician’s medical judgment as to what is necessary and what is possible — the same standard that applies to any other human being.
...
Most people, whatever their view on abortion, agree that the Constitution at least guarantees the rights of born and living human beings. Barack Obama does not agree. For him, the Constitution exists primarily in order to guarantee the right to abortion, and other rights of human persons — born and alive — are secondary. Beginning with abortion rights as his premise, he draws as his conclusion the unfortunate but necessary legality of infanticide.

Here are some quotes on the specifics of his abortion position, including his 100% approval rating from the abortion lobbyists at NARAL.
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UPDATE: Allahpundit brings the heat:

In other words, even if a pre-viable baby is born alive during a botched abortion and is considered a "person," the state still shouldn't require doctors to treat it lest some wingnut judge seize on the idea to try to extend "personhood" to unborn fetuses still in the womb. Note that the Illinois bill explicitly addressed this concern by limiting itself to "born" fetuses so that it couldn't be used in this way as anti-Roe precedent. Not good enough for Obama. But say this for him: His liberal logic is consistent. If the mother's intent is to abort and the baby somehow survives the procedure, why should its stroke of luck (or the doctor's negligence) thwart her "choice"? She came there to kill it, she has a constitutional right to kill it, so she gets to kill it. Anything less would be insufficiently "progressive." Exit question: Never mind how Obama voted — how'd they get 40+ Democratic senators to oppose this?

Obama: the Communist Party's candidate of choice

When you see those Obama signs saying "Change," do you ever stop to wonder what the end result of that change will be? Well, wonder no longer, comrade. Just check out what the Communist Party USA has to say about Obama's candidacy. (h/t: Spion)

A broad multiclass, multiracial movement is converging around Obama's "Hope, change and unity" campaign because they see in it the thrilling opportunity to end 30 years of ultra-right rule and move our nation forward with a broadly progressive agenda.

This diverse movement combines a variety of political currents and aims in a working coalition that is crucial to social progress at this point. At the core are America's working families, of all hues and ethnicities, whose determination to move forward does not depend on, and will not be diverted by, the daily twists and turns of this watershed presidential campaign. They are taking the long view.
...
If Obama's candidacy represented nothing more than the spark for this profound initiative to unite the working class and defeat the pernicious influence of racism, it would be a transformative candidacy that would advance progressive politics for the long term.

The struggle to defeat the ultra-right and turn our country on a positive path will not end with Obama's election. But that step will shift the ground for successful struggles going forward.

One thing is clear. None of the people's struggles - from peace to universal health care to an economy that puts Main Street before Wall Street - will advance if McCain wins in November.

Let's keep our eyes on the prize.

Calling Obama a socialist is not hyperbole. LGF even points out that Obama's own official campaign blog site features a nice section for The Socialist Party complete with Leon Trotsky's picture and quote. Hey, Trotsky was all about change, too! (In all fairness, there are no postings there yet so I have no idea whether the page is authentic)

Still, if you're supporting a candidate who is proposing policy which fits the communist ideology enough to earn their enthusiastic endorsement, you really need to take a step back and consider what you're doing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you'd really rather live in a Marxist "utopia," there are already several from which to choose. I'm quite sure Venezuela, Cuba, China, or North Korea would love to have you.
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UPDATE: Nice Deb has compiled a pretty long list of Marxists, Socialists, and Communists who wholeheartedly support the Obamessiah for his big government, wealth-confiscation-and-redistribution ideals.

UPDATE: More proof of Obama's popularity among Marxists, as evidenced by the Marxist/Socialists/Communists for Obama page on his own website.

Max Boot: Stand up to Russia

Max Boot's op-ed in the LA Times yesterday puts some good historical perspective on the Russian invasion of Georgia.

It took the Red Army — excuse me, the Russian army — only two days to secure Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Now Russia is pressing its attacks into the heart of Georgia, threatening to cut the major east-west highway and vital oil pipeline. Moscow’s ultimate goal remains unclear, but it may well be to topple the democratically elected government of President Mikheil Saakashvili and replace him with a pro-Kremlin stooge. That is what the Russians did in Chechnya in 1999-2000.

The difference is that, while Chechnya had aspirations of nationhood, Georgia has already achieved it. Since the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991, it has been a fully sovereign country. More recently, as a result of the 2003 Rose Revolution, Georgia has become a democracy — admittedly an imperfect democracy, but with far greater rule of law than Russia. By crossing Georgia’s borders, the Russians have committed their worst violation of international law since the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

At a time like this, it is vital for the leaders of the West to stand together and make clear that this aggression will not stand. This is no time for weaselly statements of moral equivalence claiming that Georgia brought this war on itself or that Russia’s response is merely “disproportionate” — as if there were a “proportionate” level of aggression that would be justified. Whatever the details of the clash that began last week between Georgia and the breakaway, pro-Russia province of South Ossetia, there can be no excuse for Russia’s invasion. The presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland were on the mark in their demand that “aggression against a small country in Europe ... not be passed over in silence or with meaningless statements equating the victims with the victimizers.”

There's much more, and it's well worth reading the entire thing.

His follow-up piece today addresses the vicious response from Pravda (Russia's state-run propaganda machine) and cuts right through the bullshitski.

“There can be little surprise, therefore, that Russia responded to this unprovoked assault on its citizens by launching a military incursion into South Ossetia,” Lavrov continues, as if Russian troops and its Ossetian puppets have not been goading Georgia for years by incursions into its territory (which, by the way, still includes Abkhazia and South Ossetia, not recognized as independent states by any other country). The notion that Russia cares about the fate of ethnic minorities in the Caucasus is particularly rich, given the way Russian troops razed Grozny and killed tens of thousands of people in their vicious campaign to retain control of Chechnya.

Lavrov goes on: “Despite Georgia’s assertion that it had imposed a unilateral ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers and supporting troops remained under continued attack–a fact confirmed by observers and journalists in the region.” Of course, what the bulk of “observers and journalists” say is precisely the opposite–that the Georgians tried to stop fighting but the Russians wouldn’t stop their attacks. Even now that Russia has announced a ceasefire, reports from Georgia indicate that its troops continue attacking.

Racist grassroots anti-Obama ad

This is a little long, but well worth the time. It's an intelligent and entertaining Matrix/Star Wars kung fu lightsaber battle dramatizing the condescending way the Democrat Party treats black voters. (h/t: The Anchoress and Bookworm Room)

Midweek Peek 08.13.08

Scarlett Johannson appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"

Tim Kaine: Obama ended the war between Georgia and Russia

The cult of Obama is really shifting into overdrive.

Their latest edict? The Obamessiah has single-handedly stopped the Russian aggression in Georgia. This via Virginia governor (and Obama VP candidate) Tim Kaine:

"It was a bad crisis for the world. It required tough words but also a smart approach to call on the international community to step in. And I’m very, very happy that the Senator's request for a ceasefire has been complied with by President Medvedev."

That's right, according to him, Medvedev and Putin ignored President Bush, Sen. John McCain, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Pope Benedict, and a joint declaration of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish Presidents, and instead they (as Jonathan Leffingwell so aptly put it) "decided to act post haste when an obscure, inexperienced, wishy-washy, pansy #ss elitist junior Senator from IL requested (after botching his first two statements on the matter) the Russkies to back off?"

Brilliant.

Never mind the fact that Georgia is actually still under attack. Obama's Ministry of Truth says "two plus two makes five."

I suppose it's not that difficult to believe if you've already swallowed some of Obama's other arrogant claims:

"...this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick...this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal..."

I guess if St. Obama can stop global warming and heal the planet, ending a paltry little war with three press releases is small potatoes.

Obama fails his "3 a.m. moment" with Russia

As if America needed more proof that Barack Obama is not qualified to lead this country as Commander-In-Chief, the recent Russian crackdown in Georgia provides sharp contrast between the approaches of a McCain or Obama administration.

Last week, Russia staged a brutal de facto invasion into two breakaway provinces of the new Republic of Georgia; South Ossetia and Abkhazia. And leaders around the world have speaking out about it. Bush issued a direct rebuke of Russia's aggression:

US President George W. Bush sharply warned Russia to end its war in Georgia, saying a "dramatic and brutal escalation" of the bloody fighting could cripple Moscow's ties to the West.

In his strongest condemnation yet of violence that began late last week, Bush on Monday charged that Moscow may be aiming to overthrow the former Soviet republic's pro-Western government led by President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," Bush said in a hastily announced statement at the White House.

The US president, emerging from a crisis meeting with his national security team, urged Moscow to accept a Europe-backed peace plan calling for an immediate ceasefire and the pull-back of forces on all sides.

"Russia's government must respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Russian government must reverse the course it appears to be on and accept this peace agreement as a first step toward resolving this conflict," he said.

McCain was similarly strong and unequivocal in his statement of support for our stalwart American ally (they sent troops to Iraq and have aspirations of joining NATO) and his stance alongside our European allies.

"This afternoon I spoke, for the second time since the crisis began, with Georgian President Saakashvili. It is clear the situation is dire. Russian aggression against Georgia continues, with attacks occurring far beyond the Georgian region of South Ossetia. As casualties continue to mount, the international community must do all it can to avert further escalations. Tensions and hostilities between Georgians and Ossetians are in no way justification for Russian troops crossing an internationally recognized border. I again call on the Government of Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces from the territory of Georgia.

Given this threat to Euro-Atlantic security, I am pleased to see the United States, the European Union, and NATO acting together by sending a delegation to the region, in an effort to broker a cease fire. This is an important first step.

The United Nations has been prevented from taking any meaningful action by Russian objections. In view of this, I welcome the statements of democratic nations defending the sovereignty of Georgia and condemning Russian actions.

I strongly support the declaration issued by the Presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and their commitment that 'aggression against a small country in Europe will not be passed over in silence or with meaningless statements equating the victims with the victimizers'."

And what was Barack Obama's approach? He issued a weak statement which blamed both sides and essentially ran to hide behind the UN's skirt.

"I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict," Obama said in a statement. "Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full-scale war. Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected."

Obama called for direct talks among all sides and said the United States, U.N. Security Council and other parties should try to help bring about a peaceful resolution.

Who is advising this guy? Rodney King? "Can't we all just get along?" is not a sufficient foreign policy. Hoping everybody will play nice won't get the job done.

After being roundly criticized for his milquetoast approach, Obama attempted to beef it up a bit, but still displayed his naivety of basic foreign policy.

No matter how this conflict started, Russia has escalated it well beyond the dispute over South Ossetia and has now violated the space of another country. Russia has escalated its military campaign through strategic bombing and the movement of its ground forces into the heart of Georgia. There is no possible justification for these attacks.

I reiterate my call for Russia to stop its bombing campaign, to stop flights of Russian aircraft in Georgian airspace, and to withdraw its ground forces from Georgia. The Georgian government has proposed a cease-fire and the Russian government should accept it. There is also an urgent need for humanitarian assistance to reach the people of Georgia, and casualties on both sides.

The United States, Europe and all other concerned countries must stand united in condemning this aggression, and seeking a peaceful resolution to this crisis. We should continue to push for a United Nations Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate end to the violence. This is a clear violation of the sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Georgia – the UN must stand up for the sovereignty of its members, and peace in the world.

When faced with an international crisis, Obama chose to pass the problem to a group of talking heads who are virtually guaranteed to do nothing but sit idly by while Russia violently subjugates their pro-Western neighbor. The UN is not the solution here. One would think Obama would at least have advisers that could point this out to him: Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and could veto any UN move in Georgia.

Obama's statements also display an appalling ignorance of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 as well as the more recent history of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia. Conversely, McCain has been unafraid to voice his well-founded suspicions of the Russians. I may disagree with him on several issues, but I firmly believe that the events of the past week have demonstrated that his experience and approach make him a much better choice to lead America through the next four years.
---
UPDATE: Never fear, VA gov. Tim Kaine tells us the Obamessiah has already ended the conflict single-handedly.

Political Twitter aggregator

I just found Politweets, a Twitter aggregator for upcoming election. It finds and displays mentions of both Obama and McCain as they are posted by users on Twitter. If you're a political junkie like me, here's your overdose of information.

And if you're already on Twitter, check out Media Cynic's tweetstream, too.

Ozzfest '08 review

This month marks our triumphant return to live music. After having to sit out of numerous concerts over the past two years due to financial hardship, we scrimped and saved in order to get tickets to see Metallica headlining the only 2008 performance of the annual Ozzfest tour. And it was worth every penny.

It was over 100° at Pizza Hut Park out in Frisco, TX and although we had been to the venue before, we were doubtful that it would be able to accommodate the record crowds that this show would undoubtedly attract.

Turns out we were right.

Although there were plenty of decent but horrendously overpriced food vendors ($7.00 sandwiches and $4.50 bottles of water), the real deal-killer was the narrow walkway which rings the sunken stadium. Whoever planned the layout of the place didn't take into account what happens when lines of people waiting to buy food extend all the way across the main concourse. Can you say traffic jam?

Anyhow, just like at Starplex (where Ozzfest is usually held when it comes to Dallas), this place was also divided into three stages. One main stage in the actual stadium and two smaller stages set up in the parking lot area. The "Texas Stage" featured Rigor Mortis, Drowning Pool, The Sword, Destro, and Within Chaos. The Jagermeister Stage had Sevendust, Goatwhore, Devildriver, Soilent Green, Witchcraft, and Kingdom of Sorrow. Of those, we were only really interested in Sevendust and Drowning Pool. Truth be told, we were kinda sad that DP was relegated to the smaller stage while other bands like Cavalera Conspiracy, In This Moment, Apocalyptica, and Shadows Fall got to play the main stage. But since they didn't ask me to plan the setlist, there ya go.


Drowning Pool once again proved that no matter the venue, they can step up and knock everybody else into the dirt with their hard driving music and stirring patriotism. They had the crowd's enthusiasm despite the botched introduction by Ozzfest frontman "Big Dave."


Sevendust is one of our favorite bands, but their performance on the Jagermeister stage just wasn't up to their usual standards.


This was part of the tribute to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, featuring a moving version of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."

HellYeah and Jonathan Davis from Korn also rocked the stadium, but were not as impressive as we hoped they'd be. We did, however, really get into Serj Tankian (although judging by some other reviews, I think we may have been two of the only people who enjoyed his set). Even outside of his work on System of a Down, he gives an spirited live performance and his musical skills are truly admirable.

Ozzy, the bloody Prince of Darkness himself, displayed his sense of humor in a hilarious, self-deprecating way; his set featured an video introduction where he was edited into several pop culture references:

Here he's dressed as Amy Winehouse singing "Rehab" in front of the judges on American Idol.


In this scene, he was dressed as a liquor-swilling Hillary Clinton campaigning on stage with Barack Obama.


This was a scene from the recent Will Ferrell movie, "Step Brothers."

Ozzy's set was high energy and featured songs spanning his entire career such as "I Don't Wanna Stop", "Crazy Train", "No More Tears", and "Iron Man". As much as I enjoyed them all, my favorite part of his performance was Zakk Wylde's hardcore guitar rendition of "Star-Spangled Banner."

Don't get me wrong, I love the Ozzman. But I was really there to see Metallica. And judging by the capacity crowd, I wasn't alone. By the time Ozzy finished his set (he ran over time by about 35 minutes), the previously mostly-full stadium was bursting at the seams with sweaty metal fans.


Metallica played thunderous versions of "Creeping Death," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Harvester of Sorrow" and "Sanitarium" that really got the crowd going. Then they cut loose with a new song called "Cyanide" from their upcoming album "Death Magnetic." To me, it sounded way better than the stuff they put out on the "St. Anger" album and I'm definitely looking forward to the September 12th release. Hey, judge for yourself...



It was great to see the kings of metal back in the Lone Star State. We also got to hear them rip through "And Justice for All" and "No Remorse." But by then, the full day of heat had really gotten to traci and we had to leave. She really wanted to stay for the rest of Metallica's performance; after all, they were the band we wanted to see most of all. But when I saw how bad she was feeling, and I knew it would be better to get out before the full crowds filled the walkways again.

After we made it all the way back around the stadium and into the parking lot, we heard the opening notes of "Nothing Else Matters," a song which holds a lot of personal meaning for both of us. It made a sad moment even more poignant. But at least we had gotten to see what we came to see. And on the upside, we beat the crush of traffic!

In all, it was a most excellent day. We hope Ozzfest comes back to Texas next year, and if so, we especially hope they'll have the good sense to return to Starplex.

Obama rickrolled

Salute the zero!

This is the new hand sign for the Obama campaign?

George Bush had his three-fingered W salute that supporters flashed when greeting him at presidential campaign events in 2000. And now, if a Los Angeles creative agency gets its way, Sen. Barack Obama will see fans meet him with his own salute like the one above. “Our goal is to see a crowd of 75,000 people at Obama’s nomination speech holding their hands above their heads, fingers laced together in support of a new direction for this country, a renewed hope, and acceptance of responsibility for our future,” says Rick Husong, owner of The Loyalty Inc.

You gotta be kidding me! That's straight out of the old Star Trek episode, "The Way to Eden" (the really lame one with the space-hippies!). (h/t: Hot Air)



Not to mention, it's the sign of a big ol' ZERO. As in, that's how much executive experience Obama has.

On second thought; a symbol with zealous cultish overtones, born from the hippie movement, symbolizing a great big hollow nothing?

It's perfect!

PLEASE use it, Dems. Please!
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UPDATE:Michelle Malkin has some other creative suggestions for hand signals for Obama supporters to signal their religion to each other.

New Fallout 3 trailer!

I love post-apocalyptic fiction, and the Fallout game franchise has been tremendously entertaining for me ever since the original was released in 1997. I've been anxiously awaiting the newest installment of the game, and it's looking like Bethesda Game Studios upcoming Fallout 3 isn't going to disappoint. The (p)reviews and gameplay demos seem very promising!

Time to buy an Xbox 360!

Are Team Obama's insults to America damaging his popularity?

This was Obama's answer to a 7-year-old's question regarding why he wants to be president:

"America is …, uh, is no longer, uh … what it could be, what it once was. And I say to myself, I don’t want that future for my children."

Perhaps he's wanting the kind of future recommended by his friends William Ayers and Rev. Wright?

I'm curious what he believes we no longer embody as a nation. And I'm curious why people want to follow someone who extends hollow promises with one hand while poking his finger in the eye of the country with the other.

Hot Air posted several other clips which demonstrate Barack and Michelle Obama's disturbing pattern of badmouthing America. I really wonder what their supporters see in such pessimism. It seems the "hopechange" meme only works when its proponents set the stage by denigrating the country and then offering Obama's empty rhetoric as the spurious cure-all.

Don't like Obama? "You may be a racist."

You had to know it was coming.

Never mind the fact that Barack Obama is half white and half black, the latter contribution to his racial identity is reason enough to bludgeon anybody who doesn't fall in line with his candidacy. According to the extreme leftists, there are no valid reasons to criticize or oppose their Obamessiah.

Peter Kirsanow at National Review uses humor to skewer the pathetic smears and put together a list entitled, "25 Reasons You May be a Racist." Here are a few of my favorites.

The tendency of Obama supporters to see racist impulses behind every criticism of their candidate has evolved into absurdity. Now even the first black president feels compelled to declare he's not a racist. By this measure, nearly every American is at risk of being branded a racist at some point in the campaign. To assess whether you're at risk just consult the list below ( apologies to Jeff Foxworthy ):

...

2.If you object to Obama raising your payroll, capital gains and estate taxes you...may be a racist.

3.If you'd prefer a president have at least some foreign policy experience you...may be a racist.

4. If you're in favor of drilling for oil and building nuclear power plants you...may be a racist.

...

6. If you wonder why Obama was hanging around William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn you...may be a racist.

...

8.If you don't want the majority of justices on the Supreme Court to be like Stephen Breyer you...may be a racist.

...

13. If you think the surge is working and that's a good thing you...may be a racist.

...

18. If you were proud of your country even before Obama's candidacy you...may be a racist.

...

24. If you don't want the president to meet without precondition with the leaders of state sponsors of terror you...may be a racist.

Oh, there's more. Check out the entire list.

Obama still hasn't returned those illegal contributions?

Yesterday, I posted about the illegal Palestinian campaign contributions accepted by the Obama campaign. Despite the fine spin control by HopeyMcChange, the story isn't going away yet.

Via The Wall Street Journal – Candidate's staffers insist Gaza brothers refunded, but men say, 'We did not receive any money back'

In response to a WND story, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign contends it returned $33,500 in illegal contributions from Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza, but the donors told Aaron Klein of WND today they have not received any money.

The Wall Street Journal reported it spoke to Obama officials who said the donations from three Palestinian brothers were received between Sept. 20 and Dec. 6 last year, and virtually all of the money was returned by Dec. 6. The campaign said, however, the refunds were not reported to the Federal Election Commission due to a technical error.

The Obama camp insisted the remaining $2,500 was refunded Monday and all of the refunds will be reflected soon in an amended report. The campaign said new controls are in place to prevent any similar attempts in the future.

But WND asked two of the brothers - Monir and Hasam Edwan - to respond to the campaign's claims.

"No, we did not receive any money back from the Obama campaign at any time," said Monir Edwan.

Chalk up two for the good guys

It's a busy morning for me, so I'll be brief. But here are two news stories that brought a smile to my face today.

• Last night, Texas defied the UN's world court and executed convicted rapist and murderer José Medellín

  Texas has executed Mexican-born condemned prisoner Jose Medellin for the rape and murder of two teenage girls 15 years ago.
  
  The state carried out the execution late Tuesday night after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his request for a reprieve in a split vote.
  
  The 33-year-old Medellin had claimed he was denied treaty-guaranteed help from the Mexican consulate when he was arrested.
  
  Texas authorities say he never invoked his consular rights until four years after he was arrested. By then, he had been convicted and condemned for participating in the attack on 16-year-old Elizabeth Pena and 14-year-old Jennifer Ertman.



• Osama bin Laden's driver has been tried and found guilty in a military tribunal

  Military jurors found Osama bin Laden’s former driver Salim Hamdan not guilty Wednesday on terrorist conspiracy charges but convicted him on the lesser charge of providing material support to terrorism.
  
  The split verdict marked a dramatic conclusion of the first trial before the special tribunals created by President George W. Bush to try suspects in the “war on terror.”
  
  Hamdan faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

Paris Hilton's political ad

Sadly, her energy policy is better than Obama's. And she's only 143 days shy of having as much legislative experience. Maybe the Democrats were too hasty in their decision for candidate...
---
UPDATE: The Washington Post levels a more substantive critique of Obama's ill-advised energy plan.

Modifying his previous opposition to tapping the reserve, Mr. Obama would swap more-expensive light crude held there for cheaper heavy crude "with the goal of bringing down prices at the pump." President Bill Clinton did such a swap in September 2000 -- yes, just before another presidential election -- and President Bush released oil in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Both moves led to drops in the spot price of crude but not the sort of relief at the pump that Mr. Obama promises. Even if they had, any relief from Mr. Obama's plan would be temporary while compromising a reserve intended to protect against disruptions in supply caused by wars, boycotts and the like.
...
Mr. Obama wants a surtax on net oil company profits above a "reasonable" level. The tax would be set high enough to raise $65 billion over the next five years, and the revenue would fund a one-shot tax rebate that Mr. Obama would like to give to families and individuals this year.

Making Exxon surrender money that is now falling into its lap would not necessarily affect its longer-term plans or incentives. Indeed, some of Big Oil’s "windfall" already will go to the government: The more profit the companies earn, the more corporate income tax they pay. But to add a five-year tax increase on top of that to pay for a one-year gift to voters would, indeed, increase the cost of doing business. That cost would be passed along in forgone investment in new production, lower dividends for pension funds and other shareholders, and higher prices at the pump—thus socking it to the consumers whom the plan is supposed to help.

Midweek Peek 08.06.08

Lucy Pinder

How do you use Twitter?

Those of you who've read my blog for any length of time probably already know I'm a Twitter addict. Just look over to your right and you can see the little badge that shows my latest tweets here. Well, the good folks at Twitter have put together a video that taps into how other folks are using this handy little micro-blogging service.

Obama accepts $29k in illegal campaign contributions from Palestinians

It looks like BarryO's recent world tour was quite the successful fundraiser (if you want to count unlawful foreign donors).

Atlas Shrugged broke this story and has details of Obama's latest change / hope / judgment / campaign finance reform / illegal campaign contributions from two Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip, totaling over ten times the legal limit for what U.S. citizens are allowed to give.

There is a large contributor in the 'G's'. Largest. Name is Monir Edwan. City is Rafah and the State is GA. You'd think GA is for Georgia. IT'S NOT! There is no Rafah, Georgia. It's Rafah GAZA. Although election donor data indicate Georgia, USA.

Debbie Schlussel has details on a third contributor with possible Hamas ties.

And Then there were THREE. Looks like Pam missed one of the Edwans – Osama Edwan – also a Palestinian from "Rafah,GA" who illegally donated to Obama; lists himself as a "trader".

As we all know, it is illegal for any U.S. candidate for federal office (and most state and local offices) to accept campaign contributions from foreign nationals. It is also illegal for any U.S. candidate for President to accept more than $2,300 per election cycle.

So, why has Barack Hussein Obama accepted over $24,000 from Monir and Hosam Edwan in Rafah, Gaza? And why is he lying about it by noting on his official filings with the Federal Election Commission that Rafah is in Georgia? Rafah is the HAMAS-controlled city on the border of Egypt and is the site of the Rafah gate.

Wall Street Journal's Marketwatch lists the total contributions as $29,521.54. I'm curious why Palestinians would want to funnel nearly $30,000 to Obama's campaign. They obviously have some kind of vested interest. What is it they think BHO will do that McCain won't? Is this an investment in Obama's plan for America's retreat/defeat in the Middle East? And how is it that the poor, starving Palestinians (who are being victimized by those mean ol' Israelis) happened to have an extra 30k to send to an American presidential candidate? Oh well, it's just more "change we can believe in." *slurp* Mmmm, that's some goooood Kool-aid!

World Net Daily followed the money and tracked down the brothers.

A WND investigation tracked down the Edwans, who are brothers living in the Tal Esaltan neighborhood of Rafah, a large refugee camp in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The Edwans are a large clan that include top Hamas supporters.

Speaking to WND, the two brothers praised Obama and admitted giving the money online to his campaign. They said they are not U.S. citizens or green card holders but are citizens of “Palestine.”

The Edwans denied they are affiliated with Hamas. Palestinian sources in Gaza confirmed the Edwans in question are secular, but could not say whether they supported Hamas.

Monir and Hasam Edwan denied their financial transactions online – listed as donations in U.S. government election filings – were actual donations to Obama’s campaign. Instead they claimed they purchased about $30,000 in Obama T-shirts from the presidential candidate’s online store – a contention that did not hold up during a WND interview, when they changed their story several times.
...
But Edwan could not explain how he managed to get shipments of T-shirts into the Gaza Strip during the months he claimed to have purchased the merchandise, since Israel imposed a tight closure of the Gaza Strip starting in June 2007 that lasted until June 2008, when the Israeli government agreed to a cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza.

“We don’t want to cause any damage to Obama’s campaign,” was Edwan’s reply.

Stop the ACLU asks the next logical questions and states the obvious:

Has Obama returned the money? If he hasn’t yet, then why did he feel like he didn’t need to? And is he going to? Obama may be in a lot of hot water with this, and he should be. This kind of violation should be taken seriously and a full investigation needs to take place. If everything is as it seems (and the evidence certainly looks solid), and Obama so blatantly violated election laws, then Obama certainly shouldn’t be President. Period.

The story is slowly gaining traction; Reuters has picked it up and ABC is reportedly vetting the story as well. Others following the corruption: Ace of Spades HQ, CrossAction News, Gateway Pundit, Quipster, Say Anything, Weasel Zippers

Quote of the day

"For any voter trying to choose between the two candidates for commander in chief, there is no better test than this: When American strategy in a critical theater was up for grabs, John McCain proposed a highly unpopular and risky path, which he accurately predicted could lead to success. Barack Obama proposed a popular and politically safe route that would have led to an unnecessary and debilitating American defeat at the hands of al Qaeda."
~Frederick W. Kagan

Pelosi prevents debate and vote on domestic drilling

Under the guise of "saving the planet", House Speaker Dictator Nancy Pelosi ordered the Worst Congress in History to shut off the lights and microphones to prevent a debate and vote on what an overwhelming majority (69% to 81%) of Americans are demanding: an increase in domestic oil drilling.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi’s refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.
...
"This is the people’s House,” Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. “This is not Pelosi’s politiburo.”

This weekend on ABC's This Week, she floated some rehearsed talking points and couldn't even answer questions about her overbearing tactics.

SPEAKER PELOSI: This is a diversionary tactic from a failed energy policy… [Now THERE'S a Freudian slip! - R_V]

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But if you feel you have the better arguments why not give a straight up or down vote for drilling?

SPEAKER PELOSI: Because the misrepresentation is being made that this going to reduce the price at the pump. This is, again, a decoy, this is not a solution.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well but if you’re right, why not let it be debated out and have the vote?

SPEAKER PELOSI: We have a debate very single day on this subject. What you saw in the Congress this week was the war dance of the handmaidens of the oil companies. That’s what you saw on the Republican side of the aisle.

More class warfare rhetoric from a shrew who can't tolerate discussion of the issue nor heed the mandate of the American people. Just a reminder, this imperious stunt is from the demagogue who used to trumpet on her own biography:

Pelosi has pledged to restore integrity and civility to the People’s House and preside over the most honest and open Congress in history. As Leader, Pelosi authored principles for civility to reduce partisanship in House operations and to ensure the rights of the minority in all House activity.

Currently, her bio has been stripped of the embarrassing "most honest and open" hogwash, but for some reason the claim of civility and integrity remain. Yet another of her long list of failures.

Mexicans to protest execution of rapist & murderer because he's Mexican?

Somebody please explain to me why anybody would be protesting in favor of the animal who brutalized, gang-raped, and murdered two teenage girls? And why America should care about the feelings of those who would side with such a barbaric killer?

MEXICO CITY – The U.S. embassy in Mexico is warning Americans of possible protests next week when a Mexican man is scheduled to be executed in Texas.

In a public statement the embassy says it has received information that protests may occur next Tuesday, when Jose Medellin is scheduled to die. It urged Americans to avoid the protests.

The embassy says activists in Mexico could use the demonstrations “to incite anti-U.S. sentiment in general.”

The Friday statement noted that even peaceful demonstrations “can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.”

Medellin has been sentenced to die for his participation in the 1993 gang rape and beating deaths of two Houston girls aged 14 and 16.

It's going to incite anti-American sentiment to execute an illegal immigrant who lived here since he was six years old, only to savagely rape and murder two of our children? What does this say for Mexico? Why do some people insist on siding with race over behavior?

The details of this horrific crime made me sick to my stomach. Even the investigating officers said this was the most brutal gang rape they've ever encountered. The medical examiner in this case testified that Jennifer Ertman's (14) two front teeth were knocked out before she died and that two of Elizabeth Pena's (16) ribs were broken after she had died. The girls’ bodies were kicked repeatedly and their necks were stomped after being strangled with belts and shoelaces in order to "make sure that they were really dead."

After the U.N.'s world court questioned the Texas court for supposedly violating the Vienna Convention (Houston police didn't allow Medellin to contact the Mexican consulate because he didn't identify himself as a Mexican national), Medellin was given an appeal. And it was thoroughly examined before being rejected on merit.

Judge Cathy Cochran, in concurring with the appeals court's majority opinion, wrote that there is "no likelihood at all" that the inadvertent violation of the Vienna Convention harmed Medellin's defense.

"This was a truly despicable crime committed by ... deadly brutal young men who were deadly dangerous to anyone who might find themselves near them. All five were sentenced to death by separate juries after hearing all of the evidence in each of their individual trials.

"No matter how long the courts of this state, this nation or any other nation review, re-review and re-review once again the disgusting facts of this crime and these perpetrators, the result should be the same: These juries reached a reasonable verdict, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a sentence of death was the only appropriate punishment under Texas law."

The scumbags in question were given a fair hearing and multiple appeals. Certainly far more than what an American would get in a Mexican court. The facts of the case are not in question. The Mexican government is attempting to exploit a technicality to exonerate these monsters. They deserve to die for the atrocities they committed. And I'm glad that Texas will give them what they deserve. I only wish they could get the electric chair instead of the comparative cakewalk of lethal injection.

McCain mocks "The One"

Cue the soundbyte of Keanu Reeves in The Matrix; "whoa."

It seems as though McCain's constant hammering on Obama's arrogance and empty rhetoric is having an effect. They're now tied at 45% in the polls. But we're still a long way from November...

Too much to do

The second half of this week has just been a little too much. The agency where I've been freelancing pretty steadily for the past 10 months is considering hiring me full-time. And one of my supervisors decided he wanted to test me by throwing me into an assignment where the other creative teams have had over a week to work. So I've literally got 48 hours to do a week's work. Not that I can't, I just dislike having to continually prove myself when my portfolio (and the last year of work) speak quite well of my ethic and ability. Oh well, if it means I'll have a full-time gig with insurance, then so be it.

As if that weren't enough, my middle daughter (I have three) turned 17 this week so we threw a little party for her. It didn't take a ton of effort, but when added to the current situation it made for a very stressful end of the week.

This weekend, I get to spend time with my youngest daughter. And we're going to see the Texas Rangers play! Should be a lot of fun. It's been a couple years since I've seen a ball game in person. It's high time for some hot dogs, peanuts, and the great American pastime!

I need to read up on Pelosi's arrogant shutdown of Congress this week and the uncivil tone taken in the (non)debate on domestic drilling for oil as well as Obama's latest panderific flip-flop on the issue. I'll be back here either Sunday or Monday with more.