Jeremiah's Helper

Monday Night I'll See President Bush

2006-11-03T12:11:00.000-06:00

This coming Monday night, I'll have both the honor and the priviledge of seeing President George W. Bush. The rally in Dallas will be the President's final one of the campaign season, where he will be the keynote speaker. He'll then go home to Crawford to vote Tuesday and watch the election results from his ranch.

Needless to say, the President always gets a warm welcome when he comes home, and I plan to do as much hoopin' and a hollerin' as any other loudmouthed Texan! I will of course give you a good report Tuesday.

Mother's Dementia

2006-11-02T23:00:00.000-06:00

It's times like these when I wish I were a good writer, because there are things I want to tell you, my dear reader, and I can't. I haven't the power of the written word to do the subject justice.

You see, my 89 year old Mother has dementia brought about by several strokes. Her mind, her very essence, is being slowly degraded and eaten away. Just as I don't have the power to properly describe what my family is going through, I don't have the power to help my Mother. I'm powerless.

Powerless in the face of a daemon so powerful, that it can wipe away the bond between Mother and Son, rendering me in her eyes at times no more than a stranger, at others giving me the persona of a long dead relative.

Powerless not to have my heart broken watching her looking out the window, waiting for Dad to get home with the kids. Powerless to console her when she remembers that Dad's dead, and grieves all over again.

Six months ago, my brothers and sisters and I were trying to keep the disease from destroying Mom, but now we're trying to keep it from destroying us.

As you can see, I've been reflecting quite a bit. I'm trying to take a step back, to be quiet, to listen for the beating of Angel's Wings, to see the Wisdom of the Situation.

And the Wisdom that I've gleaned is this. It is that things are as they are meant to be. She who dried our tears will now have hers dried by us, and all will be well.

I often revist the words of St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians, and with this, my dear reader, I will say goodnight:

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

There for but the Grace of God go I

2006-10-06T23:54:00.000-05:00

As a practicing retail pharmacist of 23 years, I always hate to read a story about a child being hurt by being given the wrong medication.

"SAN ANTONIO -- Rhiannon Garza knew something was wrong when she noticed the name of the drug on a bottle was different from what a doctor had written on a prescription script.

Garza then called a Walgreen's in the Medical Center, where she had the prescription filled, to double check whether the antibiotic for her 9-month-old son was correct.

"He gave us the OK, so I trusted his judgement," Garza said in an interview with KSAT 12 News."

This is the worst thing you can do. You've made a mistake, the patient asks you about it, and you blow them off!

"Garza said that the pharmacist never called her to apologize, and in the future, she's getting her prescriptions filled at a different pharmacy."

Not saying you're sorry really pisses people off.

As are most mistakes of this type, it was a systems error. Not enough checks in place, or something happened to put stress on the system. No pharmacist gets up in the morning and thinks, hey, I think I'll try to poison a 3 year old today. Now, I've made my share of errors in 23 years, but thank God all minor, and no one has been adversly affected. And my personal policy is that when I fill a prescription for a child, it's FULL STOP, check it again and once again. It's a really tough and demanding job, because everytime I pick up a bottle of pills, I could kill somebody.

Now that's responsability, but it's my life's work!

No Way to Treat a Wounded Warrior

2006-10-04T22:26:00.000-05:00

In Britian it seems that soldiers wounded on the battlefield are sent home, but put in a regular hospital! The Telegraph reported an incident in which an angry Muslim verbally accousted a paratrooper just back from Afganistan and wounded in bed! The article states:

A paratrooper wounded in Afghanistan was threatened by a Muslim visitor to the British hospital where he is recovering.

Seriously wounded soldiers have complained that they are worried about their safety after being left on wards that are open to the public at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

On one occasion a member of the Parachute Regiment, still dressed in his combat uniform after being evacuated from Afghanistan, was accosted by a Muslim over the British involvement in the country.

"You have been killing my Muslim brothers in Afghanistan," the man said during a tirade.

An officer in their military states, "It also does not do morale much good knowing that within 18 hours of being wounded you could wake up in a NHS hospital with a mental health patient on one side and an incontinent geriatric on the other."

I think the Blair government, as good an ally as it has been to us in the War on Terror, has much to answer for if this is how they treat their battlefield wounded.

Three Cheers for Charlie Rangel!!

2006-09-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

It's not often that I praise the Democrats, but must give praise where praise is due. Charlie Rangel, Democratic Representative from New York, has ripped into Hugo Chavez after said dictator's speech at the UN. Chavez called President Bush "the devil." I'll let Rangel take it from here.

"CONG. RANGEL CONDEMNS CHAVEZ'S ATTACK ON BUSH
WASHINGTON - I want to express my extreme displeasure with statements by the President of Venezuela attacking U.S. President George Bush in such a personal and disparaging way during his remarks at the United Nations General Assembly.

It should be clear to all heads of government that criticism of Bush Administration policies, either domestic or foreign, does not entitle them to attack the President personally.

George Bush is the President of the United States and represents the entire country. Any demeaning public attack against him is viewed by Republicans and Democrats, and all Americans, as an attack on all of us."

Well said Congressman!

Light a Candle For His Holiness the Pope

2006-09-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

I've got to admit that this business with Pope Benedict is more viscerally upsetting to me that the usual antics of the followers of the Religion of Peace and Love. Here they aren't threatening an author or a newspaper or a politician. This time it's the head of my Roman Catholic Church, a white haired old theologian who sits on the Throne of St Peter, the Vicar of Christ himself. I have read different places about calls for his execution, burning his effegy, and somewhere how he "worships a monkey on a cross." It's getting very hard to turn the other cheek. Lord, instead of turning the other cheek, when do we get to kick some ass like you did with the money changers in the temple?

One can only hope and pray that Pope Benedict does to Islamism what his predecessor Pope John Paul the Great of Blessed Memory did to Communism!

Terrorist Hiding Out in Texas?

2006-09-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

Bar the door Katie, we've had reports of a highly sought after Saudi (them again?) terrorist who was spotted in the Austin area. The FBI is circulating his picture and description, as well as offering $5 million, so he's no small fish. The blog Ace of Spades had a great post. The long and short of it is that a Pakistani journalist with ties to Al Queda has said in an interviewthat the terrorist has been given a mission by OBL to detonate a dirty bomm in the US. From the interview:

"Mir also said that bin Laden has assigned a man named Adnan Al-Shukri Juma to carry out a new attack within the US which is intended to be larger than the 11 September, 2001 attacks. According to Mir, Adnan Jumaa has smuggled explosives and nuclear materials into the US through the Mexican border over the last two years and is hiding somewhere in America where the FBI has not been able to locate him."

Now back to the Texas connection. A post on the above mentioned thread at "Ace of Spades."

Ok, I have a dilemma.
I am pretty sure this guy came to [a] property in [] Texas looking to rent a house.

I was just checking my records and it had to have been i[earlier] this year. [redacted]

He had a Mexican Consular ID, no valid TX info. He would not allow me to make a copy of the ID card. I wrote notes on the visitor card when he came in because he refused to fill it out.

I will be looking at my records from earlier this year to see if I can find the info. He measured the distance between the homes - had a "friend" go into the home and yell, to see if it could be heard from outside.
I remember this incident so well, due to the fact that it was one of the strangest things I have ever seen. He did not have a hispanic accent, and certainly did not appear hispanic. [Other parties] were in the office when he came in. I showed the photo of this guy to [another party present] a few minutes ago and her reaction was "Holy Shit []! That is the guy". The photo that took me so by surprise is the one with the goatee & mustache, which I saw on a different site. Looked just like that guy!

Will let y'all know if anything comes of this!

[some identifying information redacted for safety.]

Now all this could be baloney, but what better place than Texas to hide out. We're next to a very porous border and blending in with brown skin wouldn't take too much effort. Lastly, escaping back into Mexico would be easier than the crossing into the US. Texas, no better place to hide, but no worse place to be caught!

Kevin Joseph Frawley

2006-09-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

As a part of the project 2996, today I honor and remember the life of Kevin Joseph Frawley. Kevin was a special man, not because he died on September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center. No, none of should be remembered by the day or the way that we die, but by the way that we have lived our lives.

I'll let his sister, Frances A. Conklin, tell us about Kevin.

"Kevin Joseph Frawley, 34, was born a triplet, the fifth of six children. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1989 with a degree in Finance and began work at Euro Brokers in May 1994. He married Tierney on August 11, 2001 and is survived by his wife, mother, three sisters and brother.

Kevin tried, often in vain, to hide away the simple yet uncommon acts that made him great. Despite his efforts, goodness is impossible to conceal. If Kevin got word that your glass picnic table cracked at the most inopportune time, surely he would arrive at the party with a replacement tied to his Jeep. Or if Kevin found out his girlfriend’s cousin never received roses, surely he’d show up the next day with her first dozen. As always, a smile was the payment sought and received. All the “Kevin” stories follow the same theme. In life and in death, the selfless giver has been exposed.

But Kevin gave more than picnic tables and roses. He had his bag of tricks and he knew when to pull them out. He would leave you with words such as "Take care brush your hair" or in the case of a balding friend, "Take care brush your teeth." He was nothing if not quick-witted. A 6’2 man wearing a diaper to ring in the New Year -- both 1989 and 1999. On his wedding day, Kevin greeted his wife on the altar wearing fake teeth. Then there was the day to day - two stepping across the street or commenting, "I can’t wait until tomorrow" when asked why he would reply, "Because I get better looking every day." And this was every morning. You could count on him.

Kevin had a special every day prayer card. One line reads, "Let me be joy, be hope! Let my life sing." Find comfort knowing Kevin’s life did sing. He only held onto good memories of people and understood the nature of being human. He had a knack for recalling, "Each kindly thing, Forgetting what might sting."

If I had to think of one word to describe Kevin, it would be safe. Safe in every sense: physically, emotionally, mentally. There is nothing you couldn’t tell him, nothing you couldn’t ask of him. Everyone was family and everyone was friend. Our gentle giant, my quiet bear. With our hearts we make a liar of Father Higgins for in that place a man who is so much more than good lives on."

Kevin soulds like he was a gentle giant, always ready to lend a hand. In those final minutes or hours, I'm sure he was trying to help others. I'm sure of it.

Attacks on Jews in Britian at High Level

2006-09-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Times of London reports in this piece that attacks against Jews in the UK are running near an all time high. What is more disturbing is that an all-parliamentary inquiry will state that anti-semitism in Britain is endemic, from the street to the university campus.

From the article:

"The July incidents “were more dispersed than usual”, Mr Gardner said. “It is usually a small number responsible for a large number of attacks, but these were very widespread across the country and included graffiti attacks on synagogues in Edinburgh and Glasgow.”

The attackers, when visible, are from across society, he said. “When it’s verbal abuse, it’s just ordinary people in the street, from middle-class women to working-class men. All colours and backgrounds. We hardly ever see incidents involving the classic neo-Nazi skinhead. Muslims are over-represented.”

That last sentence may be an understatement. Muslims are over-represented? By how much, one wonders?

Again, from the article:

"There have been several attacks in Golders Green and Hampstead Garden Suburb in North London, where there is a large Jewish population. La Maison du Café in Golders Green Road was targeted two weeks ago by two young men who threw chairs at the restaurant, punched workers and threatened to kill the owner, Ruth Cohen, with a knife.

Ms Cohen, 34, said: “They asked if it was a Jewish restaurant. They said they were going to kill me and called me a ‘dirty Jew’, a ‘stinking Jew’. One of them had a knife. A colleague came out. They started punching him and throwing chairs.”

This is all very disturbing, and I applaud parliament for bringing this to light. Our UK cousins have quite a problem on their hands.

What was that that line from Depeche Mode. "Never again is what you swore the time before?"

Add on. David Vance has kindly linked this to A Tangled Web, which is most appreciated!

Peanut-Brain Carter Blasts Tony Blair

2006-08-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

The Telegraph in the UK published an interview with former President Jimma Carter in which all teeth and no brain Carter blasts the UK Prime Minister. Carter laments:

"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than five per cent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."

Has the Democratic Party of the US taken it upon itself to meddle in UK politics? Have Democrats in the US grown brass balls since taking down Senator Lieberman in the primary and now gone futher afield? What do the Democrats hope to gain in casting dispersions on our ally Tony Blair?

Once again we see an unholy alliance between Democratic leadership and our enemies where both hope to do damage to the special relationship between the USA and the UK.

Brits Nab Thieves with Help from Dallas

2006-08-26T21:16:00.000-05:00

With the help of the internet, a man in Dallas helped bust some thieves in Liverpool, reports the Dallas Morning News. The unknown Dallasite was watching a webcast of Mathew Street in the Beatles quarter of the English town when he noticed a burglary in progress. He picked up the phone and called the police in the UK city, where the Bobbies dashed to the scene and arrested them.

Liverpool council spokesman said "Often people see a crime and look the other way. But this guy being how many miles away picked up the phone... It was very civic-minded of him, whoever he is."

All in a Texan's days work!

Yasser Asks a Question

2006-08-20T22:32:00.000-05:00

Yasser at Under Underground in Iran asks a question in this post. He thinks, probably rightly, that Iran is a very beautiful place. If there were peace between Iran and the West, what would stop tourists from going to Iran? My answer was simple: their treatment of women. Let him know what you think.

It's All About The Benjamins

2006-08-20T21:51:00.000-05:00

Did anyone think it funny that when Hezb'allah was handing out wads of cash in Lebanon it's all in American $100 bills? Named after an American Founding Father with a Jewish name!

Why Peace With Radical Islam Is Impossible

2006-08-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

I believe that peace with radical elements of Islam is impossible. Take Iran (please!). It is a rogue nation. The Americans and Europeans have been trying to draw it into the family of nations, the world order if you will. This is doomed to failure because the government of Iran utterly rejects the family of nations as
TOTALLY WICKED. They don't want to be drawn into this world order but want to replace it. A blind man could see it! The world that is presently constructed economically and politically is one of American hegemony and they want none of it. Just like Hitler and Napoleon, Ahmadinejad doesn't want to deal with the Anglo-Americans and our Anglosphere, our rule of law and way of life. He will do all he can to subvert and destroy it. And just like in 1801 and 1939, we Anglo-Americans are going to have to join together and defeat the threat.

Ahmadinejad the Blogger?????

2006-08-13T22:05:00.000-05:00

This just in from our WTF? department. The President of Iran has started his own blog.
The link to the Great Unwound is HERE.

Quote of the Day

2006-08-01T21:50:00.000-05:00

Definition of foriegn aid: Taking money from poor people in rich countries, and giving it to rich people in poor countries. Shimon Perez

Yoni Says IDF to Attack Syria

2006-08-01T18:50:00.000-05:00

Yoni the Blogger posts the following:

"I have just hung up the phone with a good friend of mine who has relayed the following info to me. The Syrian Army has passed the word down from Assad that today sometime between now current time in Israel is 11:30pm (23:30) and the morning Israel will attack Syria."

Yoni explained later on Hugh Hewett that he didn't think that Israel would attack Syria, but that the Syrians believe it. Since his post the Israeli commandos have gone into the hospital in teh Bekka Valley, just 6 miles from the Syrian border.

Pretty close!!!

Introducing Two Israeli Blogs

2006-08-01T18:30:00.000-05:00

I've come to like two new Israeli blogs. The first is Yoni the Blogger. Yoni is a former IDF soldier who speaks to contacts in the Israeli military 10 to 15 times daily. He lives in America now, and is a frequent guest of Hugh Hewett. I always go there for the inside scoop.

Secondly, a new addition to the blogging world, I introduce Katalan Saar of Israel. Just a sample of his/her? first post:

"As you can guys can hear in news Israel is always been shown as the bad side and were shown as "blood thirsty" which is not true.
We were attacked. U.N that should take some areas and the Lebanese Army which was not displayed in the southren boarder caused Hizbollah to grow up and becoming real threat to them and us (Israel and Lebanon). I know the Lebanese people suffer as much as we do everyday, we just have better protection..."

He or she, I must find out which, is living 17 years old and in a bomb shelter in Northern Israel. Take some time to say hi to the kid and offer a little support!

Addition: In introducing Yoni the Blogger I beat Little Green Footballs by 38 minutes! Come here to be cutting edge!!!!!

Why Don't Lebanese Speak Against Hezb'allah?

2006-07-31T23:26:00.000-05:00

The answer is simple, but let's let a Hezb'allah terrorist tell us.

"And even when the battle with the Israelis is over, he adds menacingly, Hizbullah will have other battles to fight. "The real battle is after the end of this war. We will have to settle score with the Lebanese politicians. We also have the best security and intelligence apparatus in this country, and we can reach any of those people who are speaking against us now. Let's finish with the Israelis and then we will settle scores later."

So for the people of Lebanon, Israel must wipe this odious terrorist scum from the face of the Earth.

I Support Israel

2006-07-30T22:50:00.000-05:00

Just in case there were any doubts that this humble blogger supports Israel in her war against the evil Hizb'allah, I proudly fly her flag. When will the world wake up to the fact that Israel is fighting our fight? When will the world of free nations come to the aid of a fellow democracy that is beset on all sides? When will even the feckless government of Israel take the gloves off and send in the ground troops? When??

Sunnis, Behold Your Shia Masters

2006-07-29T15:14:00.000-05:00

Ok all you looney tooney Sunnis out there. I know you're having a ball. You must be dancing in the streets now that Hizb'allah has managed to drop missles into Israel. They haven't hit much of anything, but they've gotten further than any Arab has in the past. Even old Arafat, may he roast in hell, never dreamed of what the Shia Hizb'allah has done. But I wonder what a Persian ascendancy will do in the land of Mecca? Not treat you very well I guess.

So my Sunni Brothas, if Israel wins, you lose, and if Israel loses, you lose.
Regards, Chas

Putting Allah back in Hezbollah

2006-07-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

Why do we have various spellings for the uber-terrorist organization Hesbollah? It seems that the correct Arabic spelling is Hizb'Allah, which literally means "Party of God." From Answers.com you can find out anything you could possibly want to know about the sorry bastards, but sticking to the word spelling:

"^ The name حزب الله is transliterated from the Arabic in a number of ways.Both Hizbollah and Hezballah are common transliterations into other languages with a Latin-based alphabet, such as French, Spanish, Italian and the Nordic languages. It may, however, also be written as Hizballah or Hisbollah, and the literal Arabic version Hizb Allah, which is used by Al Jazeera. "Hizb" (party) is the Modern Standard Arabic pronunciation, and "Hezb" is closer to Persian and to Lebanese dialect. The 'h' is pharyngeal in Arabic, but a normal 'h' sound in Persian. The "-llah" ending, originally "Allah", means "(the) God". The name is derived from a Qu'ranic aayat (verse) referring to those who belong to and follow the "Party of God". "

I personally would like to see it spelled Hizb'Allah to remind us that these terrorists scum kill in the name of Allah. Know your Enemy!!

Texas Leads Nation in Wind Power

2006-07-27T14:21:00.000-05:00

According to The Dallas Morning News Texas has pulled ahead of California as the #1 producer of wind power in the US. The article states:

"The capacity of windmills in Texas to produce electricity is up 19 percent so far this year, at 2,370 megawatts, according to the association.

That's enough to power 600,000 homes.

California has held the top wind spot for nearly 25 years. Experts say Texas' deregulated power market, hopes for more transmission lines, and big winds put the state ahead.

"The bottom line is, the Texas market rules have worked, at least with respect to wind. It's bringing on a lot of wind power," said Mike Sloan, managing consultant for the Wind Coalition, a wind industry association for Texas and surrounding states.

Still, wind energy makes up just 2 percent of the Texas power market."

I'm sure Al Gore will be heaping praise on Texas any minute now!

Much Like the French

2006-07-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

I'm sure this quote has made it's internet rounds, but it was too good to pass up. American rocker Teddie Nugent was asked by a Brit about his bow hunting habits.

Brit: "What do these deer think when they see you coming?" I ask him. "Here comes the nice guy who puts out our dinner? Or, there's the man that shot my brother?"

Teddie: "I don't think they're capable of either of those thoughts, you Limey asshole. They're only interested in three things: the best place to eat, having sex and how quickly they can run away. Much like the French."

The author of the above link adds: "And yes, he did make the comment in a May 2006 interview conducted by a British journalist Robert Chalmers for The Independent on Sunday, the expanded Sunday version of the UK newspaper The Independent."

Rock on Teddie!!

Some Like it Hot

2006-07-18T20:02:00.000-05:00

I like it hot too, but today's high of 107 was a bit much! It has now been over 100 for 8 straight days and water restrictions are in place due to the drought. In fact, Collin County has been declared the dryest in Texas. The lake where we draw water from as a city is down 11 feet. To translate that, you have to walk about 50 feet from the shoreline down to the present water level.

I now understand General Sherman's story that if he owned Hell and Texas, he'd live in hell and rent out Texas!

It IS shit what Hezbollah's Doing!!

2006-07-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

And president Bush said so. I probably would have said f-ing shit, but hey, I'm a bit poly-sylabbic sometimes. In a piece in the Times of London this episode is referred to as a gaffe. Hardly. It's a comment by a strong American president that can tell the difference between chicken salad and chicken shit, and isn't afraid to tell a friend so.

To My Friends in the United Kingdom

2006-07-06T22:11:00.000-05:00

As the anniversary of 7/7 comes around, I just wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Tomorrow isn't a time for politics, but of somber rememberance of all those who died save four, and for the hundreds wounded. Look not at a video held back and shown at a time calculated to cause the most hurt. Look instead to the brighter days that are sure to come in the land of hope and glory. God Bless.

The Body of Army Pfc. Menchaca Returns to Texas

2006-06-28T16:10:00.000-05:00

The Brownsville Herald reports on the return of the body of Pfc. Menchaca home to Texas. The people of this border town turned out to say "Adios" to their local hero and show support for his family and our country. Here is an interesting part of the article that give you a flavor of the Texas border:

"In addition to the police procession that accompanied Menchaca’s hearse, hundreds of Brownsville residents, some noticeably weeping, drove slowly to the city’s events center. From city officials to “Los Escondidos,” a biker group, every member of the procession carried his own American flag."

“By coming here I am showing my respect,” said Frank Garza, a former soldier. Even though he doesn’t know Menchaca’s family, Garza’s nephew, who is currently assigned to Border Patrol duty, will be driving in from Arizona for the funeral.

Like Garza, Adelaida Rey showed her support by waving a small flag from the side of the road. She brought her grandchildren along to share the experience.

“El estaba peleando por nuestro freedom, y por eso estamos aqui,” she said. “He was fighting for our freedom and because of that we are here.”

Although Rey speaks only Spanish, she carefully pronounces the word “freedom” in English. For the woman waving both Texas and American flags, it’s a word too important to be translated.

While the procession drove by, Rey’s grandchildren were as solemn as she was. “Es importante que lo vean,” she said. “It’s important that they see this.”

RIP Kristian Menchaca...

Texas Executes "Railroad Killer"

2006-06-27T21:46:00.000-05:00

Texas tonight executed a man that had killed at least 15 people, reports CNN. What made the case noteworthy was that he was a Mexican national who crossed the Texas-Mexico border as he pleased, to rape and murder in our country, then vanish back into Mexico. Border security anyone?

Interestingly enough, he also asked forgiveness from the victim's families and from God. That is now between him and The Almighty.

Savage Bastards!

2006-06-20T23:24:00.000-05:00

It pains me to comment on the report from CNN that the two young soldiers that had fallen into the hands of terrorists scum had been tortured and their bodies mutilated beyond recognition. May they rest in peace and may God have spared them much pain at the hands of those savages. Remember now that the USA is castigated daily for the treatment we meet out to alleged captured terrorists. You know, the volleyball, showers, medical treatment, and three square meals a day. Meanwhile, when our soldiers are taken prisoner, they're butchered in ways you wouldn't treat an animal.

I'm telling you ladies and gentlemen, it's time we got serious about this war and started FIGHTING, instead of endlessly worrying if a soldier accidently pisses on a Koran in Gitmo. This fight needs to be taken TO the enemy. Cut HIS belly open. We can't let the butchering of these boys go unpunished.

What's Up with National Public Radio??

2006-06-17T15:33:00.000-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I listen to NPR. I do have those "I can't get out of the car until I hear the end of this story" moments. But lately I've noticed that NPR is becoming slightly more, dare I say it, FAIR and BALANCED?!. In the past few days I've heard Ted Koppell say that whoever is elected in 2008 as President, we'll still be in Iraq. Yesterday I heard commentary by Rich Lowry of National Review that was a pretty long piece. Today an NPR regular was referring to "Islamists" in Somolia. Today NPR, tomorrow , the New York Times!

CNN Leads with False Headline

2006-06-16T20:49:00.000-05:00

Cnn is running a headline on its website that says something like Majority Want Iraq Pullout Timetable Set. However dig into the numbers, and 53% want this, with an error rate of +/- 3%. Now, I may be from Texas, but it sounds like the country is evenly split to me! No wonder many of us don't trust the MSM.

Dixie Loves the Chicks.....NOT!

2006-06-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

I've been following the Dixie Chicks and their upcoming concert tour. It seems that their former fans in Dixie are rejecting them en masse and the message of "we're ashamed the President is from Texas" bit. So far the cities that have been cancelled are Oklahoma City, Memphis, Jacksonville Fl, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Fresno, Las Vegas, Greensboro NC, and maybe Los Angeles.

Here is how the Chicks spin this on their website.

TOUR UPDATE:

Eight new cities have just been added to the first leg of the North American tour (see tour page). No shows have been cancelled. Some originally-announced late summer concert dates that were going to be put on sale the weekend of June 10 were not put on sale until a final determination is made if they are going to be moved to the fall. More tour details announced as they become available.

Four of these new venues are in Canada! Dixie my ass! In Dallas the concert goes on, but you can still get lower level seats.

And, thank you very much, this has nothing to do with censorship. It has to do with people deciding on who the want to spend their hard earned money on to see a concert. And evidently, it ain't the Chicks!

Too Damned Funny!

2006-06-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

Taken from National Review Online at the Corner is the following:

The Greatest Kos Posting Ever [John Podhoretz]

The poster's handle is CheChe. The text captures everything you need to know about the Angry Left:
I don't think I've ever seen such a look of misery and dejection on the face of my daughter as I just did a moment ago. She just couldn't understand why the President would be going to Iraq when so many things are wrong in this country. "Doesn’t Mr. Bush care about us anymore?" she asked pitifully.

I sat down with her on the sofa and (as calmly as I could) tried to explain to her why the President seems to be abandoning his country. "Honey, I think his boss, Mr. Rove, sent Mr. Bush out of the country in order to keep himself out of the newspapers. You see, he wasn’t sure if he was going to be arrested today or not, and so he planned Mr. Bush’s trip ahead of time just in case...”

I tried to keep my voice steady, but it became increasingly difficult - the rage and feelings of helplessness were just too much. I think my daughter could tell something was wrong. I found myself at such a loss for words - nothing made any sense; nothing makes sense anymore. I finally had to admit, "Honey, I just don't know - I don't know what's going on in this country anymore..."

When I finished her lower lip started to tremble and her eyes began to fill with tears, "Daddy" she said, "why are the Republicans doing this to the country?" Well, that was it for me: I finally fell apart. She just fell into my arms and we both began sobbing for several minutes.

For once she had to comfort me and get me back on my feet. Sometimes I just think it's too much, but seeing the strength in my young daughter's voice helped me to get through.

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: It would take a heart of stone not to laugh at the grief of Little CheChe.

June 6th Still Means D-DAY

2006-06-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

I've noticed D-day passing this year with only a bit of a mention on the evening news. More likely you'd hear that rubbish about "devil's day" of 6-6-06. My dad landed on Utah beach on D plus 9, as they said back then. He was a Master Sarg. in a medical evac hospital. He went through Ste. Mere Eglise and Carentan and all those other places WW II buffs know about.

And oh how he loved the English people! He lived with a family on Albert Lane in Henley on Thames before the invasion. Every year until he died in 1986, we always received a Christmas Card from Betty. The imagination could really go wild with that one, but I was impressed as a child getting a card from England.

So to Betty on Albert Lane in Henley-on-Thames, England, here's to old comrades 62 years later. For when you were in the spring of life, you and Dad helped free the world!

I'm Not Dead........Really!

2006-05-19T20:49:00.000-05:00

Haven't had time to blog since Mom had her stroke, actually two. My brothers and sisters alternate with me staying with her in the hospital. I spent a week there last night! It's quite sad really. Her body is somewhat OK, but the mind has checked out. She can hardly talk and her understanding has been affected. But with God's help, we'll go day by day, until He decides.

Slow Blogging For a Couple Days

2006-05-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a 12 hour work day tomorrow, and Mom has been sick. We think a light stroke. More to come later. Thanks for your patience with me, my dear readers!

Which Countries will Show "Flight 93"

2006-05-01T23:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a list of countries that will show "Flight 93" in 2006. Absent are any Muslim countries.....Imagine THAT!

Texas Senator Cornyn Excluded From White House

2006-04-26T11:33:00.000-05:00

Michelle Malkin
reports that a high level meeting was held at the White House with key legislators to hammer out an immigration bill. Notably not present was Senator Cornyn of my state of Texas and Senator Kyl of Arizona. They are both Bush supporters, however both are tough on illegal immigration. What a sham! Not including Senators from borders states when discussing border issues!!??

What's something about the Iranian people we should all know?

2006-04-25T12:11:00.000-05:00

From National Review Online:

" It sounds basic, but Iranians aren't Arabs. While Arabic is a Semitic language like Hebrew, Persian is Indo-European. There are so many Persian cognates: The Persian word for forest is jungle and the word for sugar cube is qand (like candy). Mother is madar, father is padar, and brother, baradar. It is important to know and understand Iranian culture. Iranian poetry is rich, and Iranian cuisine the best in the world. Still, while appreciating Iranian culture is important to derive a more nuanced policy, it is also important to not lose perspective: It is true that 80 percent of Iranians don't support their government and are pro-Western. But it's equally important to remember that how friendly and independent Iranians are doesn't matter; it's the guys with the guns who make the decision and who have for a quarter century isolated Iran."

I pulled this from NRO, which has a fine Q&A interview with an academic expert on Iran. Full article can be found HERE.

Prince Harry says "Let Me Fight, or I Quit"

2006-04-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Prince Harry, who is a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, has said he will hand in his uniform if he's not sent to Iraq with his men and allowed to fight, reports the The Mail on Sunday. Here's a young man, third in line to the throne in Britian, who has every creature comfort, demanding to go to the front with his men. Now THAT'S BALLS! He put it very earthily and well before by saying:

"There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," he has said here.

We've seen this great attitude here in the states as well from our own young men and women, who seem to understand what it means TO PROTECT YOUR COUNTRY more that our elected officials seem to.

So to Harry I say BRAVO!

The Euston Manifesto

2006-04-22T22:09:00.000-05:00

There are not many things liberal that I seem to agree with, but some libs in the UK have put together something pretty interesting, namely The Euston Manifesto . There are many liberal signatories to this manifesto, a word that is a dead give away for the left, who robustly calls for liberal minded people to seperate themselves from leftists. As my blog is dedicated to helping out those Jeremiahs crying out in a sea of leftism, why not help liberals who fit that definition?

There are three portions that really resonate with me:

Second paragraph-"No apology for tyranny."
We decline to make excuses for, to indulgently "understand", reactionary regimes and movements for which democracy is a hated enemy — regimes that oppress their own peoples and movements that aspire to do so. We draw a firm line between ourselves and those left-liberal voices today quick to offer an apologetic explanation for such political forces."

Sixth paragraph-"Opposing anti-Americanism. "
We reject without qualification the anti-Americanism now infecting so much left-liberal (and some conservative) thinking. This is not a case of seeing the US as a model society. We are aware of its problems and failings. But these are shared in some degree with all of the developed world. The United States of America is a great country and nation. It is the home of a strong democracy with a noble tradition behind it and lasting constitutional and social achievements to its name. Its peoples have produced a vibrant culture that is the pleasure, the source-book and the envy of millions. That US foreign policy has often opposed progressive movements and governments and supported regressive and authoritarian ones does not justify generalized prejudice against either the country or its people."

I'm thrilled that someone on the left and in the United Kindom finally said that! Bravo!

And lastly- "We repudiate the way of thinking according to which the events of September 11, 2001 were America's deserved comeuppance, or "understandable" in the light of legitimate grievances resulting from US foreign policy. What was done on that day was an act of mass murder, motivated by odious fundamentalist beliefs and redeemed by nothing whatsoever. No evasive formula can hide that."

With all that being said, I think that these are liberals I could do business with, to paraphrase Thatcher.

As I said, I don't agree with all of it, but I think it charts an interesting course for all of us who are(small d) democrats and who oppose leftists.

The Big Pharaoh

2006-04-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

I found a good blog in English out of Eqypt called The Big Pharaoh . I was attracted there by a post about the author going to Alexandria to be in a protest against the sectarian violence that occurred Good Friday between Muslims and Christians. The post has lots of good pictures and reminded me somewhat of the Rally for Free Speech in London a few weeks ago, in that ordinary citizens were standing up to be counted.

President's Popularity Tracks Gas Price

2006-04-19T22:50:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting graph from an economist's blog called Heavy Lifting. It's a bit hard to read from this picture, (click on it to bring it up) but the red line is President Bush's popularity rating, and the blue line is the inverse of the price of gasoline. Price goes down, popularity goes up. I know Americans tend to vote the pocketbook, but I didn't realize it moved like clockwork. The professor's going to do the same thing with deaths in Iraq as well. Interesting.

Global Warming + Texas = One Hot Tamale!

2006-04-18T18:05:00.000-05:00

It's getting ridiculous. By the middle of April, we here in north Texas have already broken 7 heat records. Both yesterday and today, the temp hit 101 F, with a rolling blackout throughout Dallas. On Easter, all the sweaty children were running around with their chocolate bunnies melting! I know you have to be tough to live here but damned.

Iranian Regime Tracks Bloggers

2006-04-18T11:46:00.000-05:00

As many of you have noticed, Jeremiah's Helper has expanded its view into Iran. Talk about Jeremiahs crying out in the wilderness! Now THERE are bloggers who really are worried about government agents coming after them in the night, as opposed to our cry-baby leftists here in the US who rant on about a theocracy.

The Guardian in the UK has an article that states:

"While the outcome of the recent arrests in connection with SMS messaging is not clear yet, what is certain is that SMS jokes have already put some people into serious trouble," wrote the website Rooz Online.
The clampdown is in line with the authorities' uncompromising stance on the internet and bloggers. Wary of modern communications as a means of spreading political dissent, Iran is second only to China in the number of websites it filters - using technology made in America.
Large numbers of the nation's estimated 70,000 to 100,000 bloggers have faced harassment or imprisonment. The regime has acknowledged monitoring text message traffic. It first admitted it had access to text traffic last December when a military plane carrying more than 100 journalists crashed shortly after take-off at Tehran airport.
The communications minister said text messages were kept by the government for six months and that messages sent by those on board in the moments before the crash could be used to investigate its causes.
The first arrests over text messaging were made in the run-up to last year's presidential election when several anti-regime student leaders were detained for urging a boycott of the poll after the regime had declared voting to be an Islamic duty. "I was arrested for one evening and they made it clear they knew every SMS I had sent and received," said Muhammad Hashemi, leader of the Tahkim Vahdat student movement."

Now that's scary stuff! Full article is here.

So, once again, great job to Yasser at Under Underground, which is how far down you have to go to stay under the regime's radar to stay out of trouble.

Also, I'll take this opportunity to highly recommend the book Reading Lolita In Tehran.

UNDER UNDERGROUND: When Mr. President fooled me!

2006-04-11T18:34:00.000-05:00

UNDER UNDERGROUND: When Mr. President fooled me! This is a link to a good post by our friend Yasser in Iran. He tells about how the announcement was made in Iran about their enrichment of urainium. A good on the ground report from that part of the world.

Steyn On Immigration

2006-04-10T14:12:00.000-05:00

Mark Steyn writes another fine column for the Chicago Sun-Times. The thrust of it is, I think, that the INS is so screwed up now, that there is no way it could possibly handle 10 million new illegals all at once. This paragraph is as beautifully written as it is sickenly true:

"Here's another place where family values stops: The rubble of the World Trade Center. Deena Gilbey is a British subject whose late husband worked on the 84th floor: On the morning of Sept. 11, instead of fleeing, he returned to the building to help evacuate his co-workers. A few days later, Mrs. Gilbey receives a letter from the INS noting that as she's now widowed her immigration status has changed and she's obliged to leave the country along with her two children (both U.S. citizens). Think about that: Having legally admitted to the country the terrorists who killed her husband, the U.S. government's first act on having facilitated his murder is to add insult to grievous injury by serving his widow with a deportation order. Why should illegal Mexicans be the unique beneficiaries of a sentimental blather about "family values" to which U.S. immigration is otherwise notoriously antipathetic?"

Stunning!! You would do yourself well by reading this article.

Alan, Are You There???

2006-04-09T23:42:00.000-05:00

Alan, I haven't heard from you in a good week. Hope that everything is going OK or you're on vacation or something.

Half a Million Take to Dallas Streets!!!

2006-04-09T19:07:00.000-05:00

On this picture perfect spring day, Dallas saw the largest protest march in Texas history. Police estimated the crowd at between 350 to 500 thousand people. Some excellent pictures are here. With marches like these, I see no political will in Washington to take any stringent measures to protect our borders. The immigrants, legal and illegal, have a political jugernaut rolling that seems like it would be hard to turn back, given the fact that they are supported by President Bush, big business, the churches, the democrats, and the list could go on and on. The Catholic Church, of which I'm a member, has yet again taken a political side, the other being against the war, to which I am opposed. In fact, the march started at our Cathedral, and the Bishop joined in. I feel a bit abandoned by both my government and my church.

Now, in reality, I never expected nor wanted our government to roust out 11 million people in this country and frog-march them to the border. I would be happy if Washington would just from this day forward, enforce border security. The 11 million here would then need to be dealt with in a reasonable way, but in such a way as to not reward their lawbreaking! Is that too much to ask? Protect the country and not reward lawbreakers? I guess it is.

ADD ON: Ol' Chas himself thought of going to the march with my camera to get a few pics for the blog. After reading this, I'm glad I stayed home and visited Mom!

...And a Rapist is Just An Undocumented Boyfriend

2006-04-07T19:06:00.000-05:00

Things just seem to be getting worse on the immigration front. Anytime the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate say they're close to a deal, you know you've just been sold out! Only the House Republicans are holding fast, no thanks to the leadership. This Sunday in Dallas, supporters of the "No Illegal Alien Left Behind Act" will be on the streets once again. They have learned their lesson about bad press however, and the call has gone out that only American flags will be shown in this march. No more of that reconquista stuff amigos, we are all goooood Americans. I don't doubt that most want to be, and just want to raise their families in the greatest country on God's green earth. I do however blame our feckless government for not enforcing our laws at the border, and producing a situation where the threat of mob rule by illegals usurpts common sense and our democratic process.

England Not Civil???

2006-04-04T11:58:00.000-05:00

I ran acrossed this interesting post on Drudge by Joan Collins on her native England. She laments:

"Recently, I have concluded that London is no longer the 'seat of civilised society' that the world once considered it to be, and is certainly not the safe city I grew up in.

A particular incident demonstrated the lack of respect and manners that is but a small example of the horrible, encroaching decay of the country that I love dearly.

My husband Percy and I were at a ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel -- a black-tie event attended by the socalled 'elite' of the city.

As Percy held the door open to let me through, a 6ft tall, middle-aged, horse-faced male pushed past me, trod on the hem of my dress and rushed outside to climb into the taxi that the doorman had waiting for us.

This was a person who should, or at least looked like he should, have known better. The cause of his behaviour? The awful pervasive disregard that we have for civility today."

This is less than 100 years after the Titanic sinking, where 80 % of the men died, whereas 74% of the women lived, because men took seriously "women and children first." I hope I'm the type of man that would dress up and be prepared to go down like a gentleman, and not a modern one one who pushes past a lady to get into a taxi!

Communists Call for May Day Boycott

2006-04-04T06:31:00.000-05:00

The people who tried to paralyze the United States with anti-war marches are now going for the whole enchillada on May 1st, May Day. The Washingtom Times reports that A.N.S.W.E.R., a Communist front here in the States, wants to sock it to the Evil West once again by calling for a boycott of shopping, working, ect. Here is a quote from the article, and please notice the strange fellow travellers :

"The Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER) coalition, which organized the Los Angeles march to win "full rights for undocumented workers," is confident its new "national action" will prove successful.
ANSWER's steering committee includes the Free Palestine Alliance, the Partnership for Civil Justice, the Nicaragua Network, the Korea Truth Commission, the Muslim Student Association, the Mexico Solidarity Network and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It denounces as racism attempts to criminalize illegal aliens."

All I can say is take your best shot!

Let's Roll has become Let's Roll Over

2006-04-02T20:42:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy reading Mark Steyn. He has a way of really cutting through all the BS that we hear from media and the government. His latest piece in the Chicago Sun-Times once again reminds us that our officials in both Washington and London seemed determined to dish out the "Islam is a religion of peace" bit. From Jack Straw, to Rice, Bush, and Blair,Islam is just a little Easter lamb that woundn't hurt a fly.

"At a basic level the foreign secretary's rhetoric does not match reality. Government leaders are essentially telling their citizens: Who ya gonna believe -- my platitudinous speechwriters or your lyin' eyes?

To win a war, you don't spin a war. Millions of ordinary citizens are not going to stick with a "long war" (as the administration now calls it) if they feel they're being dissembled to about its nature. One reason we regard Churchill as a great man is that his speeches about the nature of the enemy don't require unspinning or detriangulating.

If I had to propose a model for Western rhetoric, it would be the Australians. In the days after Sept. 11, the French got all the attention for that Le Monde headline -- "Nous sommes tous Americains" -- "We are all Americans," though they didn't mean it, even then. But John Howard, the Aussie prime minister, put it better and kept his word: "This is no time to be an 80 percent ally."

How can we fight a war if we can't even say who the enemy is? The Aussies can and so can Steyn.

Jill Carroll's Statement

2006-04-01T20:37:00.000-06:00

As we all know Jill Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor has been released by Iraqi thugs. In her Statement Upon Release, she wants us to know that she was forced to say many anti-American things on camera and that she thanks the military for helping her. I like this part:

"Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not. The people who kidnapped me and murdered Alan Enwiya are criminals, at best. They robbed Alan of his life and devastated his family. They put me, my family and my friends--and all those around the world, who have prayed so fervently for my release--through a horrific experience. I was, and remain, deeply angry with the people who did this."

None of that "Peacekeeper" claptrap about US illegal wars ect. I recommend giving her statement a look

Mexia Movement

2006-04-01T20:01:00.000-06:00

Here's an interesting website of a fring Mexican group that encapsulates all the worst fears of Southwest America. It talks about the Southwest as "Occupied Anahuac" and kick the Anglos out, and "YOU are the illegal aliens in OUR country" ect. What's disconcerting is that all the pictures on the photo gallery are sources of pride for them! You'll see what I mean! And PLEASE scroll down about 3/4ths of the way and look at the Mexican and American flag on a flagpole. But beware, if you bleed red, white and blue, it'll piss ya off. Here we go to the WEBSITE.

H/T to Instapundit.

Iranian Bloggers Harrassed by their Government

2006-04-01T00:29:00.000-06:00

A post by a blog at the Weekly Standard shows how Iranian bloggers have come under some threat by their Islamic government. This post reminds us of the freedoms we enjoy in the West, cries about the rise of theocracy in the US notwithstanding. This of course reminded me of our Iranian blogger friend Yasser at Under Underground. Evidentally, his blog's name was well chosen.

The article states:

"Dozens of Iranian bloggers have faced harassment by the government, been arrested for voicing opposing views, and fled the country in fear of prosecution over the past two years.
In the conservative Islamic Republic, where the government has vast control over newspapers and the airwaves, weblogs are one of the last bastions of free expression, where people can speak openly about everything from sex to the nuclear controversy. But increasingly, they are coming under threat of censorship....

To bolster its campaign, the Iranian government has one of the most extensive and sophisticated operations to censor and filter internet content of any country in the world -- second only to China...."

So Yasser, you have my respect. You show us in the West what real blogging is all about.
Add On:

No sooner than I commend the guy, he writes this:

"The fact that United States is the biggest threat to humanity now, is something we all brush under the carpet."

This doesn't sound like his previous posts. Maybe he got invited down to the Ba Da Bing Mosque to make sure he was "thinking straight." We wouldn't want any accidents to happen. Or maybe he just thinks us Americans are asses.

No Blogging for a Day or two

2006-03-29T15:04:00.000-06:00

Well, my wife's in the hospital, so I'll either be scarce, or I'll be so nervous she'll make me stay home and blog more. Alison, you told us to get that fainting checked out, and you were damned sure right! Prayers are highly appreciated.....Chas

Astounding Admission by Time Reporter

2006-03-28T21:46:00.000-06:00

I was listening to Hugh Hewitt interview Michael Ware, Time's man on the ground in Iraq. Now read the following transcript closely:

"HH: But I do think that that distinction between Islamists and insurgents has been well understood, and for a very long time. And I'd look for you to tell me when were you misled about that. But more importantly, going to the Islamists, about whom...you'll agree with me, they're evil. Won't you, Michael?

MW: Well, I certainly...I mean, one has to be careful that as the Islamic army of Iraq reminded just last week on Al Jazeera, the insurgent groups study very closely everything that we hear, say and write. And given that we're within their grasp, one always must be diplomatic. Suffice to say, it's very hard to relate to the goals or tactics that the hard-line Islamists employ.

The reporter of Time Magazine has just admitted that he can't bring you the full story from Iraq because the enemy is listening and watching and he therefore fears for his safety! ASTOUNDING!

Or how about this:

"HH: Well, do you think the Russian people were better under Krushchev than they were under Stalin? Neither of us saw Kruschev or Stalin, but both of us...

MW: Yeah, I wouldn't have a clue, you know?

HH: You wouldn't have a clue? Really?

Time Magazine's main reporter doesn't HAVE A CLUE if Stalin was worse than Kruschev??? And this guy's reporting and opinions are being fed to the world as the inside story from Iraq???????

Chek out Hugh Hewitt here for more.

"Marriage Is For White People"

2006-03-28T19:03:00.000-06:00

Now before you get up my rear end, notice the above is in quotation marks. It's an article in the March 26th Washington Post written by an African-American woman, who laments the fact that marriage within her community at large has fallen so low, that it doesn't even seem like something that blacks do anymore. Here is a quote that is quite something:

"I was stunned to learn that a black child was more likely to grow up living with both parents during slavery days than he or she is today, according to sociologist Andrew J. Cherlin."

Well, before I go and say something Un-PC, I'll let the author tell the story.

Takin' it to the Streets

2006-03-28T15:39:00.000-06:00

Here in Dallas and Fort Worth many of our students of Mexican heritage figure it's such a pretty day, why don't we cut class and go down to City Hall to protest the impending Immigration Bill. They are American citizens, mostly, but their parents are not. Since they are here illegally, it's obvious (ahem) that the parents have instilled a respect for the rule of law in little Juan and Maria that they don't have themselves. The video is interesting. If nothing else you can see what nice weather we're having. But the pictures of the boneheads await, so let's get on with the SHOW.

Cool Google Website

2006-03-27T22:14:00.000-06:00

I know I'm new at this computer stuff, but this Google Site is really cool! It's satellite photography, where you can type in your address and zoom down to your house! I was able to clearly pick out my own car and stuff in the back yard. (I didn't know my neighbor 2 doors down had a pool!) I also went to Ground Zero in NYC, London, Paris, Belfast, Israel, Iraq. I could do this quite awhile, but I'll just post this so you can take a look. Here's the Site.

Boadica In Pink!!

2006-03-26T14:04:00.000-06:00

After 2,000 years in hibernation, Queen Boadica has arisen! For my American readers, Boadica was an ancient warrior queen in tribal Britian at the time of the Romans. She led her people in a revolt. It is said that in and around London, if you dig down to the right layer, you can find the charred remains of that time.

Now Boadica has arisen once more to the defense of her people. Our own Alison at Making Headlines has resurrected the fighting spirit of the British woman, although she might not realize it yet. Because, you see, she's pissed off. I mean cross-eyed, stabbed ass, can't see straight pisssssssssssssssssed off!

She went to the March for Free Speech Rally in London yesterday. First the Muslims got to it's organizer and "persuaded" him to Back Down. Then Muslim bully boys tried to take Alison's sign from her! Not hardly, MO FO. Jonz at Drunken Blogging describes the altercation with the pricks that tried to bugger a sign away from our Alison. Fuck them and the camel they rode in on! Oh and of course the police were there, evidently to save the Muslims of London from the hands of the right wing mob that espoused Jefferson, freedom of expression, freedom of speech and all of those things people naturally associate with Nazi Germany.

Not only that, but many so called blogs that espoused free speech are shitting on the march and the marchers for being iineffectual. Un-fecking-believable. I won't even sully this post by linking to these sunshine patriots.

The best news of all however, is that the story was picked up by BBC, which shows Alison holding her now world famous "Stop Toonophobia" sign. The story was also picked up by Associated Press, which mentions the sigh as well.

So to recap, Alison's web site was hacked and brought down, she was survielled by police, set upon by angry Muslims, pissed on by the right-wing, then had her picture on BBC and had her sign and story picked up by Associated Press and sent around the globe. Not bad for a weekend off to rest. Well done, Boadica, well done indeed!

ADD ON:Here's a really cool website with lots of PICTS.

I'm the No Where Man

2006-03-26T12:09:00.000-06:00

I had a very odd feeling today. I was driving my 6 year old great nephew Daniel back to my niece's apartment, and driving home I had the oddest feeling. I had just stopped to get my second jumbo diet coke of the morning and I thought to myself how fake and disposable it was. I drove and drove, past strip mall after strip mall, and suddenly the whole thing seemed fake. I eat fake fast food in my car, driving past fake places. My car has become my living room, and the windshield is an ever changing portrait, a bad TV show, that keeps repeating.

And when I get home, I log on to the Internet, The Great No Whereness, existing everywhere and no where, and I communicate with people I actually know better than my next door neighbor (I've never met them, but my wife has!)

I think this was all elicited by dropping Daniel home. He is the child in my life. I was never blessed with my own. I guess that's it. When I'm taking care of Daniel, my life is focused like a laser beam. Nothing is more important on Earth than the safety of "The Child." I wouldn't care if half of humanity had to be blinked out of existance so that MY Child could live and be happy. Without that, everything is fake.

An Iranian Blog I Visit

2006-03-21T22:11:00.000-06:00

You might be interested in an Iranian blog that I visit every now and then called Under Underground. It is written in English, which may not be the Queen's, but it'll do. I have left a comment now and then, but Yasser doesn't seem to get into a give and take with posters. It may be because of his comfort level with English, or the fact that he does live in a totalitarian state. But it is interesting to get a glimpse, however faint, of someone's life in Terehan. Check it out.

Don't Block the Blog

2006-03-21T20:31:00.000-06:00

The don't block the blog here mentioned refers to blogspot being censored by ISPs in Pakistan because many blogs from the West contain the cartoons. I brought this up a week or two ago. However I now have concerns closer to our blogging world.

Our own Alison in London at Making Headlines seems to have had a dust-up with some British Muslim organization for outing their plans as to what kind of signs they were going to use at a London rally. Then all of a sudden, POOF!, no more making headlines! Somehow Alison had been whited out. A coincidence? I think not. Since the perpetrators of this Orwellian deed haven't the foggiest idea about the grit and pluck carried about by English women, I'm sure they were suprised with the speed with which our modern day Queen Boudica recovered her God given right of free expression on the web.

Please drop by her slightly "new" website and offer some encouragement! Keep up the fight Alison!

French Fried

2006-03-21T11:08:00.000-06:00

As most bloggers know, there has been unheaval in France, yet again. The country that was once the terror or Europe now seems to not be able to keep it's streets clear of burning autos.

The latest cause of the demonstrations was a law proposed by PM de Villipan that would allow a company to fire an employee under 26 without cause. This is very strange to the American Ear, where the law of creative destruction rules the day. De Villipan's hope was that if a company could hire and fire more easily, they would hire more people, not fearing either a life-time employee they didn't much need, or having to go through an expensive and lengthy process to sack him.

If young people in France where to join to real working world, where you you have to prove your mettle, work your ass off, and make something of yourself, they'd be better off. Unemployment in the Republique would go down from 25% in that age group, and they could become adults, instead of nursing at the tit of Paris all their lives.

Now we Americans are a hard working lot. Maybe too hard working. Europeans look at us in disbelief when we tell them we have to EARN VACATION. I worked for my company for 2 years before my 1st one week per year vacation. At 5 years, I got 2 per annum, 3 weeks at 8, and 4 weeks at 12. I have now worked for my company for 23 years, where I get 4 weeks paid vacation a year, plus 8 paid days off. I think the French get 6 weeks right off the bat!

Since I've only worked for 1 company in 23 years, I'm really an American anomoly. Actually, the company keeps getting bought and so I've technically worked for 4 different companies, and have never left the building!

So, note to French students. You're defending a system that is holding both you and your country back from growth. Grow up!

Rain Like I've never Seen

2006-03-19T22:29:00.000-06:00

When I asked y'all to pray for rain to put out the wildfires, I didn't realize the Lord would listen quite so well! In the last 48 hours, we have had about 10 inches of rain! The flash flooding that this has caused has killed at least one person and left some abandoned cars completely submerged on Dallas streets. Another inch or so tomorrow, then 30 mile an hour winds kick in. I suppose it beats wildfires though!

Massive Cyclone Hits Australia

2006-03-19T20:41:00.000-06:00

The state of Queensland took a hit from powerful Cyclone Larry. I'm sure I speak for Texas when I wish our allies down under minimal loss of life and property damage. I've seen first hand how a storm of this magnitude can disrupt the life of a family and of a nation. Cnn reports.

Check Out this French Blog

2006-03-18T22:41:00.000-06:00

Hold on, I know what you're thinking! A French blog? But this guy has video that's an absolute scream. The site is called 20sur20, and is done by this dude in Paris that really loves America, and wants to connect with an American audience. The video is professional and polished, he speaks English well, and talks about our two countries sitting in front of a small American flag. The blog is in French, which I can muddle through, but just click on "Bonjour America." Ready, set, GO.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Y'all

2006-03-17T14:02:00.000-06:00

Yes, happy St. Paddy's Day. A day to remember who we are and where our people came from. To people in Ireland, we Irish-Americans are "plastic paddys", people who prance around "thinking" we're Irish! So be it. We know who we are. It's been said that Europe has too little land and too much history, whereas America has too little history and too much land. That's our problem here. We, the sons and daughters of Ireland, whose parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents came from there have been cut off from our family history. Our people lived in Ireland for thousands of years. Are we to forget all that because our families have lived in the States for a hundred? Does that make us "plastic"?

So here's to our collections of Irish linen and Waterford crystal, corned beef and cabbage dinners, and green plastic tops hats. We're Irish, y'all!

Happy Birthday, Dad

2006-03-15T21:54:00.000-06:00

Today would have been my father's 89th birthday. Poor ol' Dad died 20 years ago last month. It just seems like yesterday. It's funny how the days seem to drag on endlessly, and the years fly by and slip away. Here's to you Dad, and thanks for making me the man I am today.

Trouble Finding Time to Post

2006-03-15T21:36:00.000-06:00

I have nothing but admiration for those people who are able to get on with the business of life, and still have time to post interesting things on their blogs. It seems that with me, if I'm not going under at work, the house and home are going down like the Titanic.

I just seem to have no energy. I know, I know. I work long hours, get no exercise, and only eat what is shoved at me through the car window. Why should I have energy? And to top it off, my better half says I'm spending way too much time at the computer, and she could be dead for days before I'd notice. Warning, Warning Will Robinson!!!! When the wife starts talking like that, plus the furnace filters haven't been changed since the last ice age, the car needs work, and you haven't finished the taxes yet, something's gotta give.

Does anyone else feel like this?

Texas Continues To Burn

2006-03-15T21:01:00.000-06:00

Texas, as well as some surrounding states are still being plagued by wildfires. Most are in the sparsely populated Panhandle region, but we did have one south of Dallas close enough to smell the smoke. In the latest round 11 people have died, and about 10,000 cattle and horses, unable to outrun the flames. The fire is pushed by 30 to 40 mile an hour winds and rushes about that fast. I was thinking about doing a little camping and horseback riding on my vacation in the Palo Duro Canyon region in that area next week, but that may now be off.

So far, since December 26th, about 5,800 square miles, or 15,000 sqaure kilometers have burned, an area larger than Northern Ireland! If you're the prayin' type, please pray for rain!

Cnn has a good link here.

Developing Story in North Carolina

2006-03-03T22:37:00.000-06:00

Fox News reports that an Iranian man drove into a crowd at a university in North Carolina. The man surrendered to police, and the FBI was called in after he allegedly made statements as to avenging American misdeeds against muslims. It will be interesting what they find. Link to story here.

I'm sooooooo glad we let him into the country, aren't you? (allegedly)

Add On: Alan at I-clock tells me the Fox Link has disappeared! Thanks Alan. Here's
another link at ABC News.

ADD ON: Michelle Malkin has been covering this quite well. So far, it dosen't appear that Mo here was part of a larger plot, but it was definately a terrorist act of one:

"A man who admits that he intentionally plowed into nine people on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus last week told authorities he was disappointed that more people were not around when he carried out the attack. In a search warrant released Tuesday, Mohammed Taheri-azar also told authorities that for two years, he had been thinking about some type of attack because "the United States government had been killing his people across the sea."
Taheri-azar said he had been carefully planning Friday's attack for two months and had rented the Jeep Cherokee that he drove on campus so that he could "run over things and keep going."
According to the warrant, Taheri-azar also told authorities he had been armed with pepper spray and a knife in the event that he was threatened or trapped."

He is charged with 9 counts of attempted murder and his bail was set at 5.5 million dollars.

Pakistan Blocks Blogspot

2006-03-03T22:16:00.000-06:00

That's right! Because some blogspot blogs carry "The Cartoons" Pakistan has block the whole thing. An interesting website in Paki is here.

It's a pity too. I bet Osama loves reading my posts.

A Must Read Post

2006-03-02T13:28:00.000-06:00

I don't know who this guy is, but you must read this post.

Mr. Bush, You're Losing Me

2006-02-28T20:23:00.000-06:00

Mr. Bush, you don't know me, but I helped you get to where you are. You see, I was one of the Texas Republicans that helped you defeat Ann Richards to become governor of Texas, your first elected office. I also voted for you twice for president. I supported you on the war. After 9/11, I realized we WERE at war and did what I could to support you as Commander in Chief and the troops in the field. I wrote letters to soldiers like you suggested and sent boxes upon boxes of gifts for them in Iraq. I've waited in long airport lines holding my shoes, all in the name of security.

But you're losing me Mr Bush, you're losing me and people like me, because you refuse to protect our borders, and you're turning over our ports to a foriegn country. Maybe I don't understand everything that the pundits and insiders know. Maybe the UAE is OK. I don't think it is, but if I voice this opinion, your administration says I'm Islamophobic. If I want the laws of the land enforced at the border, I guess I'm a racist too. Not as racist as the UAE is of course, when it comes to trying to boycott our ally Israel. How may Jews is Dubai World going to hire I wonder?

So Mr Bush, I hope you at least start to entertain my concerns, and explain things to me and folks like me, cuz it's really rude not to dance with the one that brung ya.

US Deaths in Iraq by the Numbers

2006-02-26T13:11:00.000-06:00

I found an interesting website that breaks down the demographics of our soldiers killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While the service and sacrifice of our men and women in the armed forces that are sent into harms way can never be graphed, a look at the hard numbers can be helpful.

First, a couple of my observations. While young men and women in the 17-19 years old age range make up about 7% of our warriors worldwide, they make up about half of those killed in Iraq. Second, though the Marines make up 9% our our total forces, they accout for 30% of those killed in this war. Third, if you click on the map of the Unites States, you'll see that our fallen heros come from all over the country, with California losing the most, with Texas second.

OK, the link is HERE.

Our Soldiers Motives

2006-02-24T20:50:00.000-06:00

A recent thread on A Tangled Web started to bring up the issue of the motives of some of our soilders going off to war. Our own Jeriamiah, Mr. Vance, properly ascribed the motives to duty, honor, and country. Another poster thought it to be more in the line of a man feeding his family.

It seems as if those on the left have a very hard time understanding the man who leaves hearth and home behind to defend his country or others around the world. Surely America must be unjust, where the have-nots must join the military to get a job. Surely patriotism (what?) could not cause a man to leave his beautiful children at home and get killed in some God forsaken place.
Here is why one soildier went, and gave the last, full measure of devotion:

"Gonsalves took his work as a soldier deadly serious. He saw the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as critical fronts in the war on terror, as bringing freedom to oppressed peoples.

He fought hard to transfer from a Special Forces team working in South America to one in Afghanistan; he departed for that country Jan. 10.

"He couldn't get over there fast enough. He was ready. He'd been preparing his whole life," she said. "To be part of it, to do what he believed in."

And as opposed to an outspoken mother of a fallen hero, (whose name I won't mention here to sully an article about a true hero) here's what Mrs. Gonsalves has to say:

"God needed Chad, evidently, more than we thought we needed him," she said. "I just wish that before something happened to Chad, that he would have had the pleasure of slitting bin Laden's throat."

Amen, Mrs, Gonsalves, amen. And may your son rest in peace.

Frank Talk With a Muslim Friend

2006-02-20T20:42:00.000-06:00

A Muslim friend of mine and I got together for dinner and had a rowsing talk about the current troubles. The most suprising thing that he said was that Islam has an "ENEMY WITHIN." Coming from this guy, who acts more muslim than the Big M, this was quite an admission. He said that the talk around the mosque water-cooler was that even though the Danes went too far with the cartoons, the violence was unacceptable.

I pressed him on that further, and his answer was less than I hoped for.

Q: Why was the violence unacceptable?
A: Because all the cars and businesses being burned probably belonged to other
brothers (muslims).

Not quite the ecumenical outlook I expected, and I think he agreed that it shouldn't be done to anyone. He still believes that Islam is the only way to God, but I was getting the sense that the mood with the muslims at his mosque was one of a bit of shock that all this could come about within the ROP.

The fact that Muslims are beginning to talk about an enemy within their religion is a glimmer of hope for me. But just a glimmer.

Vox Populi Europa.."We Will Not Let Freedom Die"

2006-02-16T11:40:00.000-06:00

The people of Europe are in another two front war. This time the Eastern Front is the wave of Islamic extremism in their midst and on their streets. The Western Front is their own feckless, PC, Islamo-groveling "We feel your pain" governments. In fairness to those in Europe, this phenomenom is occurring here in the US, where calls to protect our borders falls on deaf ears.

There is an excellent piece in National Review Online by an Oxford prof who is looking at polling data from European citizens.

He says, "Violence pays, doesn't it?

Not necessarily. While Chirac condemned the "provocation," Charlie Hebdo reports a sudden jump in sales. And a cursory glance at newspapers' websites across Europe shows a strength of response from readers that their politicians have long failed to detect. The land is seething with rage. Not Muslim rage at Euro-insensitive newspapers, but Euro rage at the inability of their politicians and pundits to show courage in the wake of intimidation."

I remember telling a friend during the French riots, "European politics has just changed, and will be pushed to the right." It hasn't happened yet, but the underpinnings are there. The first order of business of a government is to "provide for the common defense, as stated in the preamble of the US Constitution. Yet Euro governments have been ignoring this. How can they "promote the general welfare" of their society if there is no Leviathan to keep the peace? What good is Kyoto if buildings are burning around you? If a citizen isn't safe on the streets of Paris or London or Rome, who cares about EU rebates. Not only are governments in Europe not protecting people, they are ACTIVELY AIDING those who wish to destroy society!

If European governmeents don't pull their heads out of the sand, right wing nationalist nativist parties will flourish. And Europeans KNOW what that means!
Update: The EU Parlement drafting language supporting Denmark.

The EU Observer has a nice article here.
Thanks to Alison at Making Headlines for the link!

A Legitimite Muslim Point

2006-02-10T22:02:00.000-06:00

A Muslim-American citizen expressed something on the radio I agree with. He said no one had the right to critisize an American paper for printing the cartoons, but the same wasn't true for Europe. The difference? He said that in America all speech is considered free because it is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. In Europe, however, different forms of speech are censored all the time.

Consider the police in Nuremberg, Germany. English football fans could wind up in jail for giving the "Seig Heil" or doing Basil Fawlty's Nazi goosestep. Yet, he says, when it comes to the cartoons, the Germans resort to the freedom of speech arguement.

Now instead of giving everyone a level playing field, giving everyone freedom of speech, the EU is considering passing laws that will put further constraints on press freedom.

Everyone must have freedom of speech, not freedom for me, but not for thee.

Don't Apologize for Freedom

2006-02-10T13:18:00.000-06:00

As usual, the regular citizens of the West have it mostly right about the cartoon wars, and our governments have it wrong. Joe Sixpack on the street knows the Islamist's threats must be stood up to and defeated, but our elected officals haven't gotten the memo. For the sake of tolerating the intolerant, the Declaration of Independence has been change from "all men are created equal" to Animal Farm's "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." Freedom of expression was a quaint old idea. The EU, Vatican, and US governments are in a race to see who can vote speech codes into law. Sweden shut dow a website showing the cartoons. In Canada, a university had the police sieze the student newspaper that contained them.
And all throught the West, the stench of fear and pissed government official's pants wafts through the air. That my friends is the stench of the death of our freedom.

Saudi Ambassador Speaking in Dallas Today

2006-02-07T10:27:00.000-06:00

The Saudi ambassador, Prince Turki al-Faisal, is speaking in Dallas today at a sold out luncheon. In pre-speech interviews, he said that Saudi Arabia had been blindsided by Pres. Bush's goal of weaning the US off of Middle Eastern oil. The prince said "If it means supplying America with oil in large volumes, we will continue to do that, along with other things."

Note to Americans. Even if we didn't get one drop of our oil from the M.E., if the world price of oil is $70, that's the price. Texans, or Alaskans, or Canadians aren't going to sell their oil for half price out of patriotism. It WOULD however give the American more leverage if the Saudis and Mad Mullahs didn't think they had us by the gas-hole.

Back to the ambassador. Commenting on the cartoons, he says " When it comes to figures like the prophet Muhammad, pbuh, or the prophet Jesus, pbuh, or other sacred figures in history, such depictions should be a taboo. I don't see how that should hurt anybody's freedom of speech."

Two things here. Just because the ambassador didn't call Jesus the Son of God as I believe doesn't mean I'm calling for his head. Secondly, Saudis shouldn't lecture Americans on free speech. They don't even have a concept of the meaning!

New Website You MUST See!

2006-02-05T20:58:00.000-06:00

There is a new website that is a must see. It is set up by some Muslim youths apologizing for the trouble with Denmark and Norway, and has set up a chat thread for discussions back and forth. I was struck by the different places the Muslims were from. The US, Egypt, the West Bank, Europe, and Canada. Maybe something's building!

The link is here.

British Muslims Want Police to Act Against Demonstrators!!!

2006-02-04T22:33:00.000-06:00

The Times of London is reporting a breath of fresh air amidst all the lunacy of the last week. The Muslim Council of Britian is calling on Scotland Yard to apprehend and charge those protesters in London carring placards that called for violence:

The Sunday Times - Britain

In London, Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the extremists should be prosecuted. “The Metropolitan police should now consider all the evidence they have gathered from the protests to see if they can prosecute the extremists,” he said.
“It is time the police acted, but in a way so as not to make them martyrs of the Prophet’s cause, which is what they want, but as criminals. Ordinary Muslims are fed up with them.”
The council, a moderate umbrella group, was speaking after the demonstration last Friday in which some protesters chanted the name of Osama Bin Laden and “You must pay, 7/7 is on its way” — a reference to the London suicide bombings.
Five hundred demonstrators brandished placards, including ones proclaiming “Behead the one who insults the Prophet”, “Down, down UK” and “Freedom go to hell”.
Bunglawala said: “Lots of innocent Muslims went to the demonstration not realising that it was organised by extremists. They were hijacked by them.”

Please get that last sentence. Innocent Muslims hijacked by extremists.

The innocent Muslims of Britian are asking, begging, HMG to crack down on the extremists in their midsts!!! They can see that the Muslims wing-nuts are taking advantage of the situation. Mr. Blair, it's time to act!

Link to article here.

Piglet Knows Best!

2006-02-02T22:24:00.000-06:00

Open Letter from Cindy Sheehan's Family

2006-02-02T18:34:00.000-06:00

I missed this back in August:

A letter sent to the Drudge Report by Cherie Quarterolo, Casey's aunt and godmother, the family states:

"Our family has been so distressed by the recent activities of Cindy we are breaking our silence and we have collectively written a statement for release. Feel free to distribute it as you wish. Thanks, Cherie
In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford, Texas, issue: Sheehan family statement:

The Sheehan family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan family supports the troops, our country, and our president, silently, with prayer and respect.

Sincerely,

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins."

The Year without a Winter

2006-02-02T13:13:00.000-06:00

January has finished up as the warmest on record here in north Texas. That may not be saying much, since Dallas was just settled 150 years ago, but it's still been pretty warm. Since winter started Dec. 21st, we have only had ONE HOUR when the temperature fell below FREEZING! I'm told this isn't due to global warming, but the fact that there is a west to east high level air stream blocking cold northern air from coming south. Right now I'm looking out the window to a totally blue sky and about 70 degrees . Why am I sitting here blogging, for heaven's sake!!!! I slept in, so I gotta shake the sleep off and get out there.

100th British Soldier Dies in Iraq

2006-02-02T00:05:00.000-06:00

British Cpl. Gordon Alexander Pritchard, aged 31, was killed in Iraq Tuesday. His convoy was hit by a roadside bomb near Umm Qasr in the south. Cpl Pritchard's death on the battlefield reminds us all in the USA that we are not in this fight alone, that we have brave allies that stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this 21st century fight against tyranny. He gave Queen and Country and the People of Iraq the last, full measure of devotion. Rest in Peace, Cpl. Pritchard.

Clinton Said What?

2006-01-30T22:04:00.000-06:00

In Doha, Qatar, former Pres. Clinton condemnded the Danish cartoons that have got the Muslim world all worked up. While the rest of the EU is standing in soladarity with the Danes and Norwiegens, Clinton panders to his Muslim audience. Clinton tells his audience:

"So now what are we going to do? ... Replace the anti-Semitic prejudice with anti-Islamic prejudice?" he said at an economic conference in the Qatari capital of Doha.
"In Europe, most of the struggles we've had in the past 50 years have been to fight prejudices against Jews, to fight against anti-Semitism," he said.
Clinton described as "appalling" the 12 cartoons published in a Danish newspaper in September depicting Prophet Mohammed and causing uproar in the Muslim world.
"None of us are totally free of stereotypes about people of different races, different ethnic groups, and different religions ... there was this appalling example in northern Europe, in Denmark ... these totally outrageous cartoons against Islam," he said."

So Mr. Clinton, this is how you defend freedom of the press? You're pathetic!!!

Add on: EU Office in Gaza stormed by gunmen, protesting the Danish cartoons, which portray Mohamhed. EU council stands with the Danes.

Tomorrow I go out to buy Danish ham and cheese.

See the "offensive" cartoons here.

Women in UK Want Abortion Restrictions!

2006-01-29T22:29:00.000-06:00

Perhaps in my previous blog on abortion, I gave the subjects on the UK too little credit for seeing the evils of abortion. Today's Observer has come out with an interesting poll.

"A majority of women in Britain want the abortion laws to be tightened to make it harder, or impossible, for them to terminate a pregnancy.
Evidence of a widespread public demand for the government to further restrict women's right to have an abortion is revealed in a remarkable Observer opinion poll. The findings have reignited the highly-charged debate on abortion, and increased the pressure on Tony Blair to review the current time limits.
The survey by MORI shows that 47 per cent of women believe the legal limit for an abortion should be cut from its present 24 weeks, and another 10 per cent want the practice outlawed altogether. Among the population overall, reducing the upper limit was the preferred option backed by the largest proportion of respondents, 42 per cent, made up of a 36-47 per cent split among men and women."

There's hope for Europe yet!

The Original Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

2006-01-25T13:54:00.000-06:00

Here's where Linclon drew much of his inspiration from. The Declarlation of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. "

That is a good place to start to understand conservative America. Our Creator gave us our rights. All men are created Equal. And finally, governments derive their power from the Consent of the Governed.

The Lincoln~Douglas Debates of 1858

2006-01-24T22:55:00.000-06:00

I have of late been reading a biography of Disraeli, but I'm going to set that aside while I take up a book about the Lincoln~Douglas Debates. These debates, held in Illinois on the eve of the Civil War, I think, have many lessons for us today.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free."

Can our government endure, half pro-choice and half pro-life,....half gay marriage, and half traditional marriage,...half at war, and half at peace?

Lincoln teaches us in the 21st century from the 19th that tradition is good, but making the moral and right stand is even better. And he did it in well thought out debates with an honourable opponent, in words that mean as much in Iraq or Iran or America in 2006 as they did in Illinois in 1858. He provides the grounds for freedom of the individual, that no man may own another (speaks to me today about a fetus) or be master over another (writing this down Islam?). Douglas may contend that a state may vote whether to have slavery, but for Lincoln, if ten thousand men vote aye, and it is wrong, it is still wrong.

So, I'm off to read! It's got to be 500 pages, so I got my work cut out for me.

Row v Wade Anniversary

2006-01-22T20:42:00.000-06:00

This 1st part of this story is mainly for my European readers. Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs Wade, which legalized abortion in this country. While in Europe, this subject may draw yawns, but in the US it is ground zero in the culture war and still contested. See here for some really good pictures of a pro-life march in San Francisco. Funny, but none of this was to be found at CNN.com!

Now for the Americans. Dallas has the shameful honor of being the city in which this case was brought and one of our citizens, Norma McCorvey, was Jane Roe . In the 1990's, she converted to Christianity and founded the pro-life ministry Roe No More. Whatever side of the fence you're on, I urge you to give that link a click, as Ms. McCorvey tells her story very powerfully. From just a political angle, you can not understand politics in America if you don't understand the ongoing fight over abortion.

Every day in America, 4000 children are killed by abortion. A Sept. 11th EVERY DAY. Now that's terrorism!

Update: A site with a few pics from the Washington March for Life. Why wasn't I there?! See here.

Update: Zogby Pollsters report on Fox:

"Timely Trend
Public support for abortion is declining: a trend that might explain why abortion advocates are so concerned over the balance of the Supreme Court. According to a new survey from pollster John Zogby, a 52-percent majority favors abortion, representing significantly lower support than in years past. Zogby points to radically different numbers as recent as seven years ago when the pro-choice majority was in the 65-68 percent range.
Another poll conducted by Hamilton College in collaboration with Zogby finds a conservative trend among high school seniors when it comes to abortion. While most students believe Roe v. Wade should be upheld, the majority supported restrictions on abortion such as parental consent. Two-thirds of the students said abortion was always or usually morally wrong."

Digital Book-Burning at Amazom

2006-01-20T14:09:00.000-06:00

National Review Online has pointed out that there is a campaign to try to sink Kate O'Beirne's new book Women Who Make the World Worse. It seems that left wing blogs are asking their minions to log on to Amazon and give the book a 1 star rating in an attempt to discourage books sales. But of course, this has made news on the net and is probably driving sales. How sad the left is, pathetic really. It can't win the battle for ideas, so it tries book burning instead. So much for diversity!

If you can stomach the comments about a conservative woman on a liberal website, check out this.

Memri's Bin Laden Translation

2006-01-19T23:03:00.000-06:00

Memri has translated Bin Laden's vile message to the people of America, and contrary to media reports, he's not offering a truce, he's asking for one!

"We have no objection to accepting a long-term cease fire under fair conditions which we will uphold. We are a nation forbidden by Allah to betray and lie. Both sides will benefit from such a cease fire, from security and stability, and we will build Iraq and Afghanistan which have been destroyed in the war. There is nothing wrong with this solution, except that it will prevent the flow of hundreds of billions [dollars] to influential individuals and to the merchants of war in America who supported Bush's election with billions of dollars."

Al-Qaeda must really be on the ropes. These "holy warriors" who with Allah's blessing were going to bring us to our knees, now offering to take a truce! The leftists in this country are going to go wild, because they're going to think that Bin Laden's being nice and reasonable, and it's big bad George Bush who keeps the war going.

Note to Osama. You don't kill 3000 Americans, fight us on 2 fronts, and think that you can pick up your marbles and go home. We're coming after you, you Islamonazi bastard, and we're gonna kill you, and feed you to the pigs.

Memri press release here

The Left Becomes Unhinged-Again

2006-01-17T16:26:00.000-06:00

Anti-war protesters tried unsuccessfully to stop a military fly over as a tribute to Martin Luther King at a march in San Antonio, Texas, as reported in the Kansas City Star. The article states:

"Protesters chanted during speeches Monday in disapproval of the inclusion of Air Force jets at the end of this military city's 20th annual march honoring Martin Luther King Jr."

Trying to shout down speeches at a MLK tribute? Is this what has become of the left in this country? MLK was against the Vietnam war, but not against the military. The article continues:

"Supporters of the flyover by T-1 training jets from the 99th Training Squadron from nearby Randolph Air Force Base pointed to the squadrons direct lineage to the Tuskegee Airmen, the countrys first group of black pilots."

So the protesters were against descendants of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who during World War II broke racial barriers and proved that they too could fight for the country they loved. But the pilot said it better than I ever could.

Far removed from the controversy was Capt. LeRon Hudgins, a 31-year-old black pilot, who flew one of the two T-1’s. “I don’t see how there can be a bigger tribute to the idea of equality,” Hudgins said. “For me, being in the 99th, and being a black pilot myself, I think it is tremendous tribute to some of the things that he fought for.”

The left in this country really needs to get a clue.

We Need India

2006-01-16T18:20:00.000-06:00

During the American Civil War, when Lincoln contemplated loseing some of the border states to the Confederacy, he said "I should like to have God on our side, but we must have Kentucky." I would like to paraphrase the saviour of the Union and say that in the War on Terror, we should like to have God on our side, but we must have India.

Indian nationials I've talked to always seem to get miffed with the USA, saying something like, we've been fighting the terrorists for 15 years in Kashmir, but the west didn't give a damned, b/c it was just us getting killed. There's a lot of truth in that, and we need to fix things for the following reasons:

It has the manpower to help with troop loads needed over the coming decades. A friend once told me that if all Indians lined the border with Pakistan, they could piss that country off the map.
India has treated it's Muslim population fairly well, which is why that even though India has the largest Muslim population on the planet, none the the Islamofacist terrorists has been Indian.
Now that India is coming online in the global economy, it should do well with it's English speaking population. It needs America as it's partner and customer.
And last but not least, it has a population of 1 billion, is the world's largest democracy, and is a nuclear power. More later...........