Intereting Look at Democrats

The American Spectator has an interesting review of the Democratic Party:

No mention of Sen. John Kerry, who shared the dais with Clinton, and who has been busily working to elevate himself to leader of the opposition nationally. Kerry is said by advisers to have been surprised that Clinton did not highlight him as a party leader to be respected and supported.

But perhaps most telling about Clinton's comments, which were warmly received, was the lack of anything new compared to his remarks at prior DNC functions pre- or post-November election. "He has said this before in just about every Democratic Party setting he's attended," says a Democratic National Committee member. "I've heard this speech ten times in the past couple of years. There is nothing new, and it's unfortunate that he keeps giving it, because it's clear that our leaders aren't listening."
[...]
There are still so many doubts about Dean that that's the only thing Reid can say to allay concerns," says a Democratic Senate leadership source. "Dean is not the guy everyone wants. He has the backing of the state parties, but he's going to have to line up with the rest of the party leadership here in D.C."

South Koreans Responds

Like I have said before - we should key off the South Korean reaction to North Korea - you know the ones that are in immediate danger it the claims prove true not those living in Washington DC...

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's top policymaker on North Korea said Monday North Korea's claim to have nuclear weapons was unproven and Seoul's controversial engagement policy with the North would remain, at least for now.

North Korea explicitly said for the first time last Thursday that it had atomic weapons. The reclusive communist state also said it was pulling out of six-party talks aimed at ending a two-year impasse over its nuclear programs because of what it called U.S. hostility.

"There is no doubt that North Korea has 10 to 14 kg (22 to 31 pounds) of plutonium, but there is no evidence that the North has turned it into plutonium bombs," Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young told parliament Monday.

Anti-Kitchen Knife Laws Needed

If we are to believe the anti-Gun lobby - "making guns illegal will stop gun violence" - Japan needs an anti-Kitchen knife law... A seventeen year old goes into a school, yes school violence without a gun, and attacks teachers resulting in at least one fatality. Where is the petition I will sign it - who cares about the individual committing the crime let's condemn the tool used...let absurdity to demonstrate the absurd.

TOKYO (AP) — A 17-year-old boy armed with a knife burst into a public elementary school in western Japan on Monday, stabbing one teacher to death and slashing two others, police said.
No students were hurt in the attack in Neyagawa City outside Osaka, said Isoo Noda, spokesman for the Neyagawa City police, but the stabbings came as the latest in a series of rampages in Japan involving knives and children.

Police arrested a teenage boy who was a former student at the school in the faculty room, saying he used an 8-inch kitchen knife to stab two teachers and a school nutritionist. They found him smoking a cigarette in the room as frightened teachers looked on from afar, Noda said.

A 52-year-old male teacher was declared dead after the assault while a 57-year-old female teacher was seriously injured with knife wounds in her stomach, police said. The nutritionist, 45, was also being treated for injuries.

See there is a history of knife welding, ban them now! We need to ban them in the US too, before the evil begins here!

Also, in 2001 a Japanese man with a history of mental illness barged through several classrooms in Osaka in western Japan and stabbed dozens of children and teachers. Eight children died and 13 others, including two teachers, were injured. Mamoru Takuma was found guilty of the murders and executed last September.

In June, an 11-year-old girl led a 12-year-old classmate into an empty classroom in southwest Japan and slit her neck and arms, leaving the girl to bleed to death. The attacker told police the other girl had been posting unfriendly notes on the attacker's home page on the Internet.

Earlier this month, a man armed with a kitchen knife went on a stabbing spree in the children's department of a supermarket in central Japan, killing an 11-month-old boy and injuring a 3-year-old girl and an adult woman, police said.

My point, evil is evil and a determined individual will carryout their plan with whatever is available - a car, a knife, a gun, a robe, gasoline, etc. - we cannot ban everything, but we can prosecute the criminals to the fullest extent of the law and the harshest penalties allowed under the law - but currently we are told to feel the criminal's pain and ban the instrument of their demise.

Still Waiting on World Condemnation

Well like I have asked, "world outrage - where is it?" - I am still waiting on the outrage. Oh sure they are reporting on it, but you would think it was just another crime - folks these "peacekeepers" are alleged to have sexually assaulted and/or molested women and CHILDREN and this is not considered as outrageous or more so then Abu Ghraib? I simply do not get it - except that this does not lead to criticism of President Bush or the United States just the United Nations, so it's just a story.

Well at least men have been arrested even without world condemnation of this countries military or leadership - imagine that they are allowing the law to take it's course before any condemning accusations are made… Just think the United States system of law is one of the most envied yet the MSM and world opinion did not wait to let our system run its course before condemning the President, cabinet, military, and calling for resignations, why because along with an envied system of law we allow all peoples the freedom to criticize - ain't it great.

Six Moroccan soldiers serving as UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been arrested over sex abuse claims, Moroccan officials say.
The head of the Moroccan contingent of UN peacekeepers and his deputy have also been relieved of their duties. [Read story here]

Good Signs Continue

Like I said here and here - things are looking good and let us keep up hope. Here is another indication things are moving in the right direction.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved the release of 500 Palestinian prisoners in what Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called a goodwill gesture to bolster new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and build mutual trust.

In a further step to support peace moves after Sharon and Abbas agreed on a ceasefire at a groundbreaking summit five days ago, Israel let more than 200 Palestinian laborers enter from the Gaza Strip for the first time in months.

Top News -- North Korea

Well it looks like North Korea got it's wish -- they are now top news and have been for at least two days... Along with "blackmail" and discrediting the Presidents policies, as I discussed here, the wanted attention - like a spoiled child...

1. China Says It Will Seek North Korea Talks
   
2. China Tells U.S. It Will Push for N.Korea Talks
   
3. North Korea rallies support for Kim

I do find it amusing that experts are all over the networks criticizing the Clinton administration's attempt at bilateral talks using words like failure and embarrassment while reiterating the Bush administration will not nor should not budge on this issue -- but this fact falls on deaf ears where liberals are concerned; why, because they marching orders are "hate Bush and disagree with him at all cost" - besides Kerry and the democrats campaigned on bilateral talks with North Korea.

Are you Surprised

NEW YORK - The U.N. oil-for-food program chief under scrutiny for alleged corruption and mismanagement blocked a proposed audit of his office around the same time he's accused of soliciting lucrative oil deals from Iraq, according to investigators.

Let's Hope

Let us hope they prove ture to their word.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad reiterated their promise Saturday to halt attacks against Israel, but stopped short of joining an oral cease-fire pact reached four days ago between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

UN - World Outrage - Where is it?

Waiting for the outrage over the UN peacekeepers sexual abuse charges - for that matter where are the American haters, excuse me the American citizens demanding and investigation, demanding prosecution of the leaders, or demanding a "war crimes" hearing... Of course, jumping on this band wagon will show the inadequacies of the UN - you see where the American Military took action and is still taking action the UN does not have the authority and the it appears there is no "world outrage" demanding someone held accountable; go figure - guess America has to be involved for everyone to find their moral and ethical compass.

UNITED NATIONS — A scandal about the sexual abuse of Congolese women and children by U.N. officials and peacekeepers intensified Friday with the broadcast of explicit pictures of a French U.N. worker and Congolese girls and his claim that there was a network of pedophiles at the U.N. mission in Congo.
[...]
The U.N. has no power to prosecute peacekeepers or civilians. The organization can only repatriate individuals and waive their immunity so they can face trial at home. Whether they are punished depends largely on the politics and culture of their home country, and U.N. officials acknowledge that they have been lax in following up cases.

False Report

Seems this was not as bad as we were led to believe.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CNN)-- A Florida woman who reported seeing a newborn tossed out of a moving car made up the story and is actually the boy's mother, Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne said Friday.

Patricia Pokriots, 38, "made up an incredible story," but acknowledged what she had done while being questioned by authorities Friday, he said.

Easy Way Out - Quit

NEW YORK - CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan quit Friday amidst a furor over remarks he made in Switzerland last month about journalists killed by the U.S. military in Iraq.

Jordan said he was quitting to avoid CNN being "unfairly tarnished" by the controversy.

UPDATE: BTW good riddance.

North Korea Want One-on-One

I did not blog anything about the North Korean claim yesterday, but did make some comments about my opinion being it is "blackmail" plain and simply - now we have it; "We go a nuke you got to talk to us"... Interestingly they are only want bilateral talks, go figure same thing President Bush's opposition talked about - you think it is a move to discredit the President, you think?

Presidents have been second guessed for half a century in regard to North Korea - the premise of the second guessing is that those doing the second guessing assume North Korea is trustworthy - they are not - it is a totalitarian government based on terrorizing it's citizens and the dictator is a total self absorb nut. Of course, this fact makes it even more dangerous if indeed there is a nuke - anyway here is the story.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has demanded bilateral talks with the United States to defuse tension created by its announcement that it is a nuclear power, the communist state's U.N. envoy said in a South Korean newspaper interview published Friday.

Han Sung Ryol, a senior diplomat at North Korea's U.N. delegation in New York, was the first North Korean official to speak to outside news media since Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry defied the United States and its allies by declaring Thursday that it has nuclear weapons, its first public announcement that it has weapons.

North Korea said the weapons are a deterrent against a U.S. invasion and that it doesn't intend to join six-nation disarmament talks any time soon.

"We will return to the six-nation talks when we see a reason to do so and the conditions are ripe," Han told Seoul's Hankyoreh newspaper in a Thursday interview in New York. "If the United States moves to have direct dialogue with us, we can take that as a signal that the United States is changing its hostile policy toward us."

I really do not mean to trivialize this - but I do want to call a duck a duck - it is blackmail!

Ollie on Eason Jordan

Oliver North has a great take on Eason Jordan's asinine statement. Highlights:

And therein lies the problem -- not just with Jordan's calumny about our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines, but with his colleagues in the so-called mainstream media.

The CNN executive's slander went unreported -- and apparently unchallenged -- by other potentates of the press who heard him accuse America's military of deliberately targeting and killing journalists in Iraq. Worse still, other "leaders" in the Fourth Estate are now rushing to Jordan's defense. David Gergen, editor-at-large for U.S. News & World Report and moderator of the discussion in Davos, now says Jordan had recently been to Iraq, and was "caught up in the tension of the moment" and "deserves the benefit of the doubt."

Why? Aren't news reporters supposed to have a thirst for truth? Isn't there some standard of proof or corroboration required before someone in the "news business" makes such a horrific accusation? Furthermore, why should any member of the media in attendance be let off the hook for failing to immediately jump up and demand: "Prove it!" when Jordan made his unsubstantiated charges?

Such damning allegations, if true, would make Abu Ghraib look like petty larceny. Yet, Jordan has offered no evidence to validate the alleged war crimes -- nor, apparently, has he ever proffered any witnesses or evidence of such crimes in Iraq or anywhere else.
[...]
According to Rony Abovitz, the Forum-sponsored blogger who first broke this story to the world, Jordan "repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience and cause great strain on others." According to Abovitz, Jordan's charges met with approval among Arab attendees "who applauded and called him 'a very brave man' for speaking up against the U.S. in a public way amongst a crowd ready to hear anti-U.S. sentiments."

There is a lesson in all of this, and not just for CNN, but for all the media. Jordan's disparaging duplicity wasn't exposed by the barons of broadcasting or the potentates of print, but by "amateurs" -- bloggers -- the same "unwashed masses" who brought down Dan Rather. These e-mailing, Web-surfing, call-'em as you see-'em bloggers are the electronic equivalent of the pamphleteers who brought about our revolution.

Read the entire column here.

Yet Another Sick Story

I posted earlier this week, this is simply sad, adults killing children is a sick, sick, thing - even worse killing their own... I don't want to rehash what I have already written but we have to stop devaluing life especially children and stop teaching the next generation it is easy and OK to fix a mistake... Another sad story.

(CNN) -- A newborn baby boy who was tossed from a moving vehicle Thursday is in remarkably good shape, authorities say.

First hospitalized in critical condition, the Broward Sheriff's Office said the baby is continuing to improve and was in serious condition late Thursday

Thank God the child appears to be OK!

Excellent - Tort Reform

WASHINGTON — Congress is only days away from handing President Bush and business groups a big victory by curbing multimillion-dollar class action lawsuits.

Despite complaints the legislation could hurt consumers, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill 72-26 on Thursday. The House will take it up next week and send it to the president to sign into law.

Not sure if this goes far enough but it is a start!

Let the Crying Begin

Well the Democrats have hit a new low - they are now crying foul - where were their concerns for personal attacks during the confirmation hearings where people's integrity was challenged. How about the personal "racial" attacks prior to the confirmation hearings? Besides Senator Harry Reid needing tougher skin to be considered a leader the Democrats as a whole need learn the old "do unto others" rule - start by putting Kennedy on a leash.

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats demanded Thursday that President Bush order a halt to personal attacks on the party's leader, Sen. Harry Reid and expressed regret they had failed to mount a stronger defense for his defeated predecessor.

"This is a new Democratic party," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a news conference called to release a letter telling Bush to muzzle his "political operatives."

"...It says to the president, `you will not intimidate us'," added Schumer, who likened the attacks on Reid to political knee-cappings.

Dems - Change Your Rhetoric

Thomas Friedman says Democrats should stop suggesting everything happening in Iraq is bad - I agree complaining, gripping, or simply devaluing every action simply discredits any possibly valid point. However, I guess to my delight, Mr. Friedman will be disappointed if he believes the Democrats with their new leader Howard Dean plan to change their rhetoric - maybe after the loosing more seats in 2006 - I say keep the vile hate speech like Howard Dean's, "I hate Republicans and what they stand for", coming! Some hightlights:

I think there is much to criticize about how the war in Iraq has been conducted, and the outcome is still uncertain. But those who suggest that the Iraqi election is just beanbag, and that all we are doing is making the war on terrorism worse as a result of Iraq, are speaking nonsense.

Here's the truth: There is no single action we could undertake anywhere in the world to reduce the threat of terrorism that would have a bigger impact today than a decent outcome in Iraq. It is that important. And precisely because it is so important, it should not be left to Donald Rumsfeld.

Democrats need to start thinking seriously about Iraq - the way Joe Biden, Joe Lieberman and Hillary Clinton have. If France - the mother of all blue states - can do it, so, too, can the Democrats. Otherwise, they will be absenting themselves from the most important foreign policy issue of our day.

Good Deeds Punished - Rewarded?

I guess you all have heard the story about the two girls that made cookies for their neighbors - allegedly instead of going to a party where alcohol, drugs, and general parting would be taking place, I say allegedly because I do not know the "whole story" but if true I find it refreshing... Well they made the cookies and while secretly delivering them scared one of the neighbors who sued and won....[Read here]

These girls are now receiving donations to pay their fines... [Read here] I find this neat because if indeed the girls were doing the "right" thing and only wanted to perform an act of kindness, how disturbing is it for them to "get into trouble" - would kind of drive home the "don't do anything nice because it opens you up to a law suite" mentality, and that is sad.

The story goes on to say that the complainant is getting harassing phone calls - don't support the phone calls, but what did she expect? Although, every neighborhood I guess has a "mean old lady" - the neighborhood I grew up had one and she never figured out that your "hatred of children" actually kept us coming back to "annoy her" (i.e.: knocking and running, yelling in the street in front of your house late I night, generally anything to annoy her); guess they will never learn. Funny thing my parents keep telling us we misjudged the "mean old lady" until one day we were forced to perform "an act of kindness" and her "hatred of children" was exposed to the "adults in the neighborhood" who eagerly watched from afar; of course, believing they were right but learned instead the children of the neighborhood were correct... To each their own I guess?

Embryo Legally Human

Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) -- A county judge in Chicago has ruled that the parents of a frozen embryo which was accidentally destroyed at a fertility clinic have the right to file a wrongful death suit.

Legal experts say the case, which is drawing nationwide attention, could affect the debate over embryonic stem cell research, which involves the killing of human embryos to obtain their stem cells.

Cook County Judge Jeffrey Lawrence said in his decision that "a pre-embryo is a 'human being' ... whether or not it is implanted in its mother's womb."

Maybe the Democrats can Finally "Lick" Reagan

The post office annouces stamp honoring Ronald Reagan.


Read article here.

Journalist Dies in Mogadishu (note to Eason Jordan)

Mr. Jordan - do you think the US Military was responsible for this death too? Just curious since you obviously don't know how dangerous your chosen career field is. Further, you do not know how much having a reporting present during a mission jeopardized the military members lives - I have been involved in missions of this type and I can assure you sir that I and the other military member do everything possible to ensure the journalist safety up to and including jeopardizing our own safety. Journalist compromise missions, they are a hindrance, and should feel honored and thankful to be allowed to accompany the military not to mention thankful for the added attention they get over and above the units members!

A BBC producer has died after being shot while making a series of reports in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. [Read story here]

I really was going to let this Jordan thing go and not say much about it - however, I remember being "ordered" to take a reported or assist a reporter and how much the "order" irritated me. I remember the added pressure we all felt having this journalist with us and the added attention we gave the journalist when dangerous situations presented itself, and for some idiot to make a claim like this and then go into hiding is the most reprehensible, no treasonous to the highest degree - a disservice to the military, the journalistic profession, and our country!

BTW: Keep up with the Eason Jordan story at Easongate.com.

Dems Loose Ground Over Iraq

Well with support for the war waning and the democrats rejoicing some conservatives felt depressed - this was when for/against totals were roughly 50/50. Now, more than "two-thirds" are either "very" or "somewhat" satisfied - what does this tell me; the majority of Americans were/are steadfast in their support for what we are doing in Iraq with a minority staunchly against and an even smaller number that goes as the news goes....The story:

(CNN) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the war on terrorism, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Tuesday.

Sixty-four percent of those polled said they were "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with the way things are going in the war on terrorism, while 35 percent said they were dissatisfied.

That is a significant change from October, when 53 percent said they were satisfied and 47 percent were dissatisfied with the war on terror.

Should Equal Better Customer Service

This is a neat idea - currently none of my Customer Service calls sound as if they are answered in the United States, but we will see if this will be a growing idea... I think it is good because the customer service representative can only be in a "happier spirit". The only downside I see is if you are working through something and a young child or someone the individual is caring for has an emergency - and that would not bother me personally, I don't think, I hope I am a bigger person then that.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - People who reach Esther DeJesus when they call Office Depot Inc.'s customer service center have no idea that she's sitting at home in a room decorated with pictures of Garfield and Betty Boop.

The Orlando, Florida, resident, who works on the retailer's account for call center contractor Willow CSN, is one of a new breed of customer service representative.

Rather than commuting to a crowded office, she puts in 37 to 40 hours a week at home and sets her own schedule.

Eason Jordan Should Talk of This

I have already posted, Michelle Malkin called Eason Jordan out for his ridiculous comments about US Military targeting members - maybe it would have been better had Mr. Jordan reported accurately on this:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Gunmen burst into the home of an Al-Hura TV correspondent in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, shooting him to death, an Iraqi army official said.

Looks like it isn't the US Military that is targeting media members!

UPDATE: USA Today has the story too.

It (See Previous Post) Could Stop This

McMINNVILLE, Tenn. A Tennessee elementary teacher has been charged with multiple counts of sexual battery and statutory rape for her alleged involvement with a 13-year-old male student.

I mean these teachers "carrying on" - to sound like an old man - with these children, yes kids, is getting ridiculous and has to stop!

They (See Previous Post) Should Look Here

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)— A Saudi woman was beheaded Monday after she was convicted of murdering her mother-in-law, the Interior Ministry said.
Noura bint Khalaf al-Harbi was found guilty of setting her mother-in-law, Noura bint Salem al-Harbi, on fire as she slept following a dispute, the ministry said in a statement. She was beheaded in the capital, Riyadh.

I support capitol punishment - but there might be a more human way of carrying it out - but then again if the blade is good and the swordsmen is great......

Get Ready for Humanitarian Groups Claiming ....

It appears a "young" terrorist died of a heart attack while in prison - of course, these claims will be hailed as facts, before all the facts are known. Watch I beat someone comes out before COB today…

KUWAIT CITY (AP) — The alleged ringleader of a terror group accused of attacking Americans and Kuwaiti security forces has died of heart failure while in prison, an Interior Ministry official said Wednesday.
Amer Khlaif al-Enezi, believed to be in his 30s, died Tuesday, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

If there was abuse it needs to be known, but I just want the investigation to proceed before a "reporter" misrepresents the truth (?) - you know all the facts!

Israel/Palestine This is Good!?

Well it last? Let us hope so!

Linda Chavez: If a picture is worth a thousand words, the image of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas reaching across the table to clasp hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon speaks volumes. Abbas looked almost professorial, with his horn-rimmed glasses and conservative business suit and tie, in stark contrast to his predecessor, Yasser Arafat. Gone were Arafat's trademark stubble, desert fatigues and keffiyeh, the checkered Arab headscarf that became all the rage among campus leftists a few years ago. And the sartorial symbolism is more than superficial.
[...]
Anyone who watched the televised summit, hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan, immediately grasped the difference between this and previous meetings of the two parties when Arafat was at the helm. In October 2000, Arafat met at Sharm el Sheik with then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. But President Bill Clinton ran the show during that round of talks, with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan present to give his imprimatur to the meeting. Nothing positive happened at the 2000 confab, despite Clinton's involvement. As The New York Times reported at the time, when the talks ended "all [Clinton] could do was read an agreement that neither Ehud Barak, the Israeli prime minister, nor Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, was willing to sign, to read aloud or to answer questions about."

But this week's summit seemed different. Of course the players had changed on both sides of the table. Not only was Arafat gone, but the hard-liner Sharon had replaced the moderate Barak -- yet it is Sharon who has pledged unilaterally to withdraw settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. And the United States, wisely, decided to stay away and let the parties talk directly.

Still, it is too early to declare Sharm el Sheik II an unqualified success. The symbols were right -- down to the flying of the Israeli flag, something missing at the 2000 Sharm el Sheik meetings. However, symbols only go so far. Abbas has the more difficult task and the most to prove. Sharon has announced that Israel will pull back its troops from Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah, and lift roadblocks that make it difficult for Palestinians to travel to jobs. The Israeli public will back Sharon, so long as a new wave of violence does not ensue.

Calling Eason Jordan Out

Michelle Malkin calls Eason Jordon, CNN executive, out -- rightfully so! I quote:

For the past week, Internet weblogs ("blogs") around the world have been buzzing about outrageous comments regarding American soldiers reportedly made by Jordan, the head of CNN's news division, at a World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland. (My reporting on the controversy, with extensive links to other bloggers, is at www.michellemalkin.com.) According to several eyewitnesses, Jordan asserted on Jan. 27 that American military personnel had deliberately targeted and killed journalists in Iraq. (Jordan has since disputed the characterization of his remarks.)

Why wasn't this headline news?

Great question; however, I am sure she knows the answer -- elite media circling the wagons to protect their own. Thought they would have learned from Rathergate -- see Easongate here. Why to go, and I hope this finally gets the coverage it deserves and Mr. Jordan gets what he deserves!

Are You Kidding Me

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Jurors and others in Judge Donald Thompson's courtroom kept hearing a strange whooshing noise, like a bicycle pump or maybe a blood pressure cuff.

During one trial, Thompson seemed so distracted some jurors thought he was playing a hand-held video game or tying fly-fishing lures behind the bench. The explanation, investigators said, is even stranger than some imagined: the judge had a habit of masturbating with a penis pump under his robe during trials.

This guy should go to JAIL without passing GO!

Letting the Fox in The Hen House

VANCOUVER (AFP) - Despite harsh US protests, a government clinic will doll out free heroin to hard-core addicts after it opens on Wednesday, a stone's throw from the US border.

The clinic in Vancouver will test, for the first in North America, whether prescribing heroin can cut overdoses, HIV (news - web sites) and hepatitis infections, and reduce hard-core junkies' dependence on crime to obtain the drug.

Several European countries have run similar studies, but the clinic's proximity, 37 kilometres (23 miles) to the United States, has made Canada's trial especially controversial.

Slavery

Thomas Sowell takes a good look at the battle against slavery; some highlights:

The anti-slavery movement was spearheaded by people who would today be called "the religious right" and its organization was created by conservative businessmen. Moreover, what destroyed slavery in the non-Western world was Western imperialism.

Nothing could be more jolting and discordant with the vision of today's intellectuals than the fact that it was businessmen, devout religious leaders and Western imperialists who together destroyed slavery around the world. And if it doesn't fit their vision, it is the same to them as if it never happened.

Read the entire article here.

This is Simply Sad

More and more we are hearing of parents -- mothers no less -- killing there children... I want go deep into my beliefs why these things happen; simply say that we have done a great job devaluing human life especially the children. Oh there will be outrage at this today, but tomorrow you will see story where children are used as pawns to make a point -- yes pawns you know like objects -- not to mention how we have devalued life by executing the living yet unborn children -- really think about if you can erase a problem (a child) with an abortion why is it a stretch to think some less then stable would believe you could………………

ROSELLE PARK, N.J. - Police charged a woman Monday with fatally bludgeoning her 14-year-old daughter with a hammer and shovel as the girl slept.

Dems Hate to See This

WASHINGTON — Americans give President Bush his highest job-approval rating in more than a year and show cautious optimism about Iraq in a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll taken shortly after historic Iraqi elections.

Microsoft Does it Again

Well it is tax time and as usual I cash in on all the rebates offered by many software companies - this is the time of year I get my new finical programs, Anti virus program, Adware blockers, etc…

Well this year Money was a real pain - it would probably be great for a "new customer" but upgrading years of data and changing the way we get updates really caused me head aches. It assigns a new account for your online accounts that you are then suppose to "merge" into the one account. For example, by the time I set up my updates from bill payment services, banking services, and had my actual accounts in the MY file I had up to three accounts - now you merge.

Well it duplicated transaction over the last six or so months - not to mention that my bill pay service put pretty much every "check" I had written over twelve months. After the merge - I could have claimed bankruptcy. So I deleted the duplicate transactions; OOPS, the ones in the money file actually had categories assigned - the ones from the bank and bill m payment service didn't, causing the inability to track spending past yesterday….

Fixed this problem - but there is another - the bill payment service continued to update past "checks" unless the transaction I left in the "money file" had it's (bill payment services) link (actually this is not a bad thing since you want to be able to track the payment)…

Basically a real headache and I did voice my concern to support -to the point I wanted to know how to revert my file back to the older version. But being interested in "growing" I stuck with it and now believe I have it working properly! Send me an e-mail before you upgrade because what appears to be "an easy" fix ain't and the support has no clue what we are talking about with duplicate transactions which is the results of turning off online updates, which is required to establish new accounts, and turning them back on.

The set up was a pain - I will let you know how the program actually works!

Clinton on Peronal Accounts

From a Bill Clinton speech to the Democratic Leadership Council in 2002. [read it here]

Well one thing you could do is to give people one or two percent of the payroll tax, with the same options that Federal employees have with their retirement accounts; where you have three mutual funds that almost always perform as well or better than the market and a fourth option to buy government bonds, so you get the guaranteed social security return and a hundred percent safety just like you have with Social Security.

Interesting that democrats believe it such a bad idea now - huh, don't they know the one of their current demigods, supported the idea. Notice I said support -- this idea was out there well before Bill Clinton mentioned it and if it happens, I am sure the democrats who hate it now will try to take credit for it then. (Hat tip: QandO Blog)

Best Super Bowl Ad

Many are against "Beer Commercials", but they have great commercials -- and this is yet another winner...[here]

Men and Women are Different - Go Figure!

John Leo has an article that discusses "evidence" men and women are different -- amazing, isn't it -- more amazing is that this is news, that men and women of academia refuse to admit this. Even more amazing is there have actually been studies to determine this -- all they had to do is ask my wife, my parents, my grandparents, my grandparents, etc.

Could the recent flap over comments by Harvard President Lawrence Summers about women and science have ended differently? Oh, yes. Summers is bold enough to speak unfashionable truths now and then, but, alas, he is not inclined to stick to his guns very long. When the opposition howled, he buckled quickly and issued regrets and apologies. But suppose Summers had been the owner of a sturdier spine. He might have made a serious contribution. He could have said something like this:

Yesterday I spoke bluntly at a closed academic conference and offered some possible explanations of why women are less represented than men in the upper reaches of math and science. In addition to the cost of the time women spend in bearing and raising children, I said that innate sexual differences may be playing a role.

"This was a politically incorrect thing to say, but I believe it is true. An enormous literature on sexual differences has been piling up for 30 years or more. Everybody knows about this work, but it is one of the large elephants in the academic living room that nobody is supposed to notice. It is officially invisible. Careers can end if you see it.

"The literature points to one conclusion: The sexes are different. Males and females have different aptitudes, and they make choices based on those aptitudes. Males tend to outperform females on mathematical reasoning, mechanical comprehension and spatial ability, while females tend to outperform males in such areas as language use, reading comprehension, verbal fluency, verbal memory, spelling and mathematical calculations. On many verbal tasks, women as a group are decisively better than men and remain so all their lives.

"In addition, there is a persistent finding that men tend to prefer to work with 'things,' while women, more than men, prefer to work with people. This may sound like a stereotype to you. It is certainly true that when the doors to high-paying professions were closed to women, females gravitated, by necessity, to valuable but lower-paying 'people' fields like nursing and teaching. But now that the barriers are finally coming down, women are still opting in great numbers for 'people' fields. We have seen a great surge of women into law and medicine but far less female interest in engineering, math and the hard sciences.

Read the entire article here.

Isurgents Loosing

BAGHDAD, Feb. 6 - With a hero who gave his life for the elections, a revived national anthem blaring from car stereos and a greater willingness to help police, the public mood appears to be moving more clearly against the insurgency in Iraq, political and security officials say.

In the week since national elections, police and Iraqi National Guardsmen say that they have received more tips from the public, resulting in more arrests and greater effectiveness in their efforts to weaken the violent insurgency rocking the country.

This news and the story about Iraq "Fighting Fire with Fire" render Teddy's rant for more Iraqi support useless. Not that Kennedy's rant wasn't just an idiotic attack on Bush and the US Military to begin with or to imply that the Iraqi's were not already striving or motivated to provided a greater portion of the security, simply proves their ongoing dedicated and have been; to bad Teddy missed this.

This story indicates signs of the Iraqi population as a whole being dedicated to stopping the insurgents, ending the strife, and driving for their freedom… Good signs, all in all!

Super Sunday Prediction - Update

Well it was a good game and I thought for a moment my 10 point prediction was going to be accurate - by at least I got the winning team correct. Now what to do for a football fix until August/September?

Super Sunday Prediction

Well it is about thirty minutes before kick-off -- have watched the highlights of almost all the last 38 Superbowls; pizza is in the oven, and am ready for the "commercials" so I thought I would make my prediction... Although none of my "favorite" teams made it to the "big show", being a Cowboy fan I simply cannot go for the Eagles so I say Patriots by 10. Even without the Cowboy factor, I would still say Patriots. I feel the Indianapolis/New England game determined the champions and I pulled for Indianapolis...

Eason Jordan Update II

I decided to say a little about the idiotic comments made by Eason Jordon yesterday here, but now an entire blog dedicated to this man and his deplorable claims.



Easongate

Vietnam vs. Iraq

Congressman Steve Pearce explains how ridiculous it is to compare Iraq to Vietnam. Some highlights:

Unlike the decade-long Vietnam War, the present fighting is the chaotic aftermath of a three-week victory that toppled Saddam's ruling government. Iraq is not a divided country, but rather contains pockets of diehards surrounded by unsympathetic Kurds and Shiites, who, for the most part, support the U.S. effort to subdue the remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime. The enemy relies on a finite supply of stockpiled weaponry and cash, not daily infusions through a port like Haiphong or a steady stream of trucks rolling in supplies on the Ho Chi Minh trail.
[...]
America's longest war taught us another fact: Wars should be fought by military commanders in the battlefield and not from the White House and Congressional lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

This war is different because President Bush has shown leadership in allowing the military commanders to handle the fighting and achieving the battlefield objectives in Iraq in order for America to remain secure. A majority of Democratic Senators, including John Kerry and John Edwards, voted for the resolution authorizing the President to use force against Iraq.

Read the article here.

Maybe Adding to the Message

ANKARA (Reuters) - Russia must do more to show it is committed to "the basics of democracy" if it wants deeper relations with the West, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday.

The former Soviet specialist, on her first trip abroad as the top U.S. diplomat, arrived from Warsaw in Ankara, where she will pay a call on a key ally in the Muslim world and meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

"Obviously we have concerns ... it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press," Rice told a news conference in Warsaw, during a stopover en route to Turkey.

"These are all the basics of democracy."

I don't know; this story just kind of jump out at me after blogging Surprise Guest -- maybe there was an intent to send a message. What do you think?

Another Scary Resemblance

With all the attention my Scary Kerry post has been getting I thought many might be interested in another resempbance noticed by Quid Nimis -- click on the picture to go the site.

Kristof to Democrats "Mistake"

Nicholas D. Kristof -- Liberals are making a historic mistake by lining up so adamantly against Social Security reform.

It's impolite to say so in a blue state, but President Bush has a point: there is a genuine problem with paying for Social Security, even if it isn't as dire as Mr. Bush suggests.

As Bill Clinton declared in 1998 about Social Security reform: "We all know a demographic crisis is looming. ... If we act now it will be easier and less painful than if we wait until later." Mr. Clinton then made Social Security reform a central theme of his 1999 State of the Union address, saying, "Above all, we must save Social Security for the 21st century."

Not that I agree totally with Mr. Kristof but he makes a valid point, Democrats should listen and offer alternatives if need be -- instead of out right denying the problem and simply being obstructionist... But, why change now -- unless, maybe wanting a chance in 2006.

Surprise Guest

Appears there were some surprise guest at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, February 3; Mikhail Brudno and Vladimir Dubov, two partners of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Russia has been searching the world for these two men after getting on "Vladimir Putin's bad side".

The two partners, Mikhail Brudno and Vladimir Dubov, were allowed into the United States -- and the president's company -- despite Interpol notices filed at the request of the Russians.
The fugitive moguls' breakfast with the American president attracted the notice of the Russian press, which interpreted it as a slap against Putin on the day after Bush delivered a State of the Union address that renewed his vow to stand up for freedom around the world. In fact, Brudno and Dubov were just two of thousands of guests who packed the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom at the invitation of the event's independent organizers, and Bush may not have even known they were there.
[…]
The Khodorkovsky case is viewed in both Washington and Moscow as a Kremlin political attack on a rival. As Russia's richest man and head of its biggest oil company, Khodorkovsky had angered the Kremlin by financing opposition parties and advancing his own policy ideas. He was arrested in October 2003 and remains on trial on charges of fraud and tax evasion, while his Yukos Oil Co. was dismantled in December, with its most valuable assets effectively renationalized.
The case has soured relations between Moscow and Washington. Putin delivered a testy lecture to Bush when the American president raised the issue of Russian democracy during a lunch in Santiago, Chile, in November, and the two then did not speak again until this week when they talked briefly by telephone about the Iraqi elections. Bush will meet with Putin in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Feb. 24, in what advisers see as the first test of the president's inaugural vision of confronting "every ruler and every nation" about domestic repression. [read the article here]

I just found this story interesting especially with a meeting scheduled this month between Putin and President Bush. Before some simply jump to the conclusion that the President is irritating the world, you might pay very close attention to Democratic representative's comments in the article.

Rep. Tom Lantos (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, invited the two to an hour-long meeting Wednesday on Capitol Hill. "The proceedings against Khodorkovsky were outrageous," said Bob King, the committee's Democratic staff director. "By American legal standards, this is something that could never happen in the United States."

Masochist Child Abusers Caught

MIAMI (Reuters) - A fugitive Florida couple accused of beating and chaining five children, pulling out their toenails with pliers and starving them, were caught in Utah, a sheriff's deputy said on Saturday.
Doctors alerted investigators two weeks ago when the couple's 16-year-old boy, who weighed just 60 pounds, was treated at a hospital for head and neck injuries.

I am glad they were caught and will not share with you how I believe they should be treated.

More on North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has compelling evidence North Korea has a uranium-based nuclear weapons program and ending this activity is essential to resolving the nuclear dispute with Pyongyang, according to two key former U.S. officials.

Mitchell Reiss, until recently a senior Bush administration political appointee at the State Department, and Democrat Robert Gallucci, the Clinton's administration's top negotiator with North Korea, make their case in the March-April issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. A copy of the influential journal was made available to Reuters.

I have blogged about the US and South Korea trying to "jump start" the six-party talks, here. There is more information about the state of North Korea here.

Iraqi Police "Fight Fire with Fire"

The Iraq security forces are attempting to turn the tables on the insurgents by airing videos; using the primary tool the insurgents use to export their terror. In these videos, you see captured terrorist confessing their crimes and naming their coconspirators.

Of course, this technique is now up for ridicule by many human rights organizations, where are they when the insurgents behead, assassinate, terrorize. Oh that's right the insurgents want listen so these groups simply don't communicate because like the insurgents they know "media coverage" is all that matters and only comment when their voice will be covered on television - once again showing that law-abiding citizens are hampered because of their law-abiding nature…

My opinion, do what it takes within the limits of actual international law, not feel good laws described by these organizations, to ensure the safety of your people and your country -- fight fire with fire.

In the first week after the elections, the Iraqi Interior Ministry and the Mosul police chief are turning the tables on the insurgency here in the north by using a tactic - videotaped messages - that the insurgents have used time and again as they have terrorized the region with kidnappings and executions.

But this time the videos, which are being broadcast on a local station, carry an altogether different message, juxtaposing images of the masked killers with the cowed men they become once captured.
[...]
But officials in Mosul, short on manpower, apparently hope the psychological force of the broadcasts will help undermine the insurgency, making its fighters appear weak and encouraging citizens to call up with their reactions or information about those still at large. A program loosely based on "most wanted" crime shows in the United States is also being developed, a Mosul television official said.

"Because of their confessions and the disgusting things they did, we have reached our limit," said the Mosul police chief, Ahmed al-Jaburi. "There is no more patience."

If nothing more, the confessions, as they are called in the videos, offer a rare glimpse into how the gangs operate and plot their killings. The videos also try to divest the terrorists and criminals of their religious platform by challenging them with questions about Islam.

"These are men who do not fear God," an Interior Ministry official said at the beginning of one of the segments this week. He described the men as Iraqi and other Arab terrorists. "Our special forces will crush their filthy heads!"

"We are going to show you some men who have the blood of innocent people on their hands," the official said. "We are going to show you their confessions, say their names and those of their leaders, and we expect you to help us find them."
[...]
Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch said such tactics raised the issue of whether the people were tortured or otherwise coerced into making the statements. [Read the article here]

Note to Teddy -- wouldn't you say the Iraqi are attempting to defend their own country; I know you have been concerned about that recently.

Foreign Governments - Helping - 'Oh NO'

German Chancellor Schroeder advises Condi Rice "We have a lot of experience with building functional institutions for countries, not just ministries but institutions for civil areas as well and this is the kind of assistance that we would like to make available to the Iraqi government if it is desired".

Wonder if John Kerry, who indicates he knows the pulse of other governments, saw this coming -- and how do you believe Teddy and Boxer feel? Condi has been on the job a short while and has already gotten additional support from governments that were less then thrilled about our action in Iraq. Shucks Teddy, your wrong again -- the election went well, to your dismay, and now Condi is proving she will do what she said and be effective at it - pass the liquor.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder offered US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice more help from Germany in the rebuilding of Iraq's institutions and security forces following landmark elections there last weekend.

Rice came to Berlin on the second stop of her first tour abroad in her new post looking for more assistance for Iraq from countries like Germany who opposed the war.

And after talks with Rice in Berlin, Schroeder said Germany was prepared to extend its training programmes for the Iraqi police and military which are currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates.

"I have declared Germany's readiness to not just continue these projects but, if desired, to also expand on them," Schroeder told a press conference.
[...]
He hinted at past differences over the war when he said there was agreement between Berlin and Washington that Iraq needed to now move towards democracy and stability "regardless of what we thought about the military action in the first place". [Read the article here]

Amazingly, the world knows what the likes of Teddy, Boxer, and Kerry do not -- let's move forward with assisting democracy and stability and finish this thing in Iraq. Alas, it simply is not in them (Teddy, Boxer, Pelosi, Kerry, etc.), they know nothing about rebuilding, unifying, healing -- except the words -- their actions show they only know how to attack, tear down, and divide.

Iraq to UN - "Give us Our Money"

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters)- Iraq said it wanted its money back from the scandal-tainted U.N. oil-for-food program Friday as Secretary-General Kofi Annan vowed to get to the bottom of wrongdoing by U.N. staff.

"Huge sums of money which should have served the needs of the Iraqi people who were suffering at that time -- a lot of these resources were squandered and misspent," said Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Samir Sumaidaie.

Iraq, he said, should at minimum not have to pay for the independent probe set up by the United Nations from remaining oil-for-food funds. The inquiry panel has spent $30 million so far, with the approval of the Security Council.
[...]
The Iraqi ambassador said the United Nations received $1.14 billion to administer the program and wanted to see how much actually reached its destination or was squandered by outside contractors working for the world body.

"The question arises whether the secretariat is subject to its own political culture, which tends to subvert the will of the Security Council," said Sumaidaie. "This is serious."

Iraq wants their money -- and if peoples got rich or diverted funds from their ordinal humanitarian intent, I agree with them. Iraq deserves their monies so the "new" government can use the funds to help their people as intended...

President Bush has Done it Again

Well, President Bush has gone and done it again -- discussed God and Prayer, bet you thought I was going to rant about this. Nope, I think it is great; however, just waiting for those opposed, naysayer, the ones that say "freedom of religion" out of one side of their mouth and "the President expects a "theocracy"" out of the other side, to come out and attack President Bush for his openness about his belief that prayer is important... The below are excerpts from an article about the "National Prayer Breakfast":

"Prayer has always been one of the great equalizers in American life," he told thousands of faithful at the Washington Hilton & Towers. "Through fellowship and prayer, we acknowledge that all power is temporary and must ultimately answer to His purposes."
[...]
"As a 13-year-old child, Veronica witnessed armed men killing children in horrific ways," he said. "As she fled this madness, Veronica was left for dead atop a pile of bodies, until her grandmother found her."
She was brought to Pennsylvania, where a Catholic charity found her a home and a job in a nursing home. She is studying to become a nursing assistant.
"When Veronica told me of her story, it was through the kind of tears no young woman should ever know," Mr. Bush said. "And when she finished, she dried her eyes and said, 'Thank you, Mr. President, for my freedom.'
"I told her it wasn't me she needed to thank; she needed to thank the good hearts of the United States of America. The America that embraced Veronica would not be possible without the prayer that drives and leads and sustains our armies of compassion." [complete article here]

How can anyone read these comments and question President Bush's love of his country? Further, before I the rhetoric starts about invoking the "need for prayer" and the "important of prayer" I want to know where I might find the rhetoric when Hillary Clinton made similar comments (read here).

S. Korea do Their Part to Get Talks Started

South Korea, like the United States, has lightened their language toward North Korea in the newly released "Defense White Papers". Both America and South Korea are doing all they can to "jumpstart" talks with North Korea -- North Korea, however, does enjoy playing games; making request then backing down, acting as if it is ready for talks but changing their mind the following day. The South Korean people are used to this; however, American's memories are short and the US media seems to be shocked by this every time it happens (for examples see post here and here). Here are some highlights from a story about South Koreas language change:

SEOUL (Reuters) - For the first time in a decade, South Korea (news - web sites) has stopped labeling North Korea (news - web sites) its "main enemy" but its latest Defense White Paper Friday said it suspects the reclusive state of possessing nuclear weapons.

The tag of main enemy has angered the North in the past and the move to drop the label coincides with attempts by Seoul to coax the communist state back to six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

The Defense White Paper adopted the "main enemy" terminology in 1995, a year after a top North general said the communist state would turn Seoul into "a sea of fire" in the event of war.

"The existing expression of 'the main enemy North Korea' has been replaced by an explanation of the North's specific military threat, such as its conventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and its forward deployment of military power," the Defense Ministry said in briefing notes to the White Paper.

The North stopped using hostile language when referring to the South after an unprecedented summit between the two Koreas in 2000, the White Paper said, citing this as a reason for dropping the main enemy tag.

Again Nazi Comparison Invoked - Feel the Love?

Janeane Garofalo (Air Ameica Radio Host) compared Republicans actions to Nazis - Real Video here.

Media Research Center has the details on the "court" jester [Garofalo] that took place on MSNBC -- of course; no one at MSNBC was concerned by the Nazi salute comparison, go figure.

"The inked fingers was disgusting," Air America radio talk show host Janeane Garofalo declared on MSNBC in denouncing Republican lawmakers who, before and after the State of the Union, showed off an inked finger meant to demonstrate solidarity with Iraqi voters who dipped a finger in ink when they voted. To mock the display, Garofalo soon held up her hand in a Nazi salute as she predicted: "The inked fingers and the position of them, which is gonna be a Daily Show photo already, of them signaling in this manner [Nazi salute], as if they have solidarity with the Iraqis who braved physical threats against their lives to vote as if somehow these inked-fingered Republicans have something to do with that."

Eason Jordan Update

I have not blogged anything on this issue, but do find his deplorable comments cause for firing... Many bloggers that are much better writers then I shedding light on this issue, just look at Captains Quaters, or LaShawn Barbaer (here or here). Now after two days of bloggers shedding light on the asinine statements of Mr. Jordan The Washington Times runs an OP-Ed on the story.

In war, mistakes happen and innocents are often killed. For journalists covering the action, the risk is extremely high. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 36 were killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2004, some unfortunately as a result of U.S. fire. But were any of these journalists targeted for death, as CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan recently suggested?
[...]
In any event, it's an assertion Mr. Jordan has made before. In November, as reported in the London Guardian, Mr. Jordan said, "The reality is that at least 10 journalists have been killed by the U.S. military, and according to reports I believe to be true journalists have been arrested and tortured by U.S. forces." This is very serious stuff, if true. Yet aside from Mr. Jordan's occasional comments, there's no evidence to support it. Mr. Jordan's almost immediate backpedaling seems to confirm this. In a statement to blogger Carol Platt Liebau, Mr. Jordan said, "To be clear, I do not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists in Iraq. I said so during the forum panel discussion. But, nonetheless, the U.S. military has killed several journalists in Iraq in cases of mistaken identity." He added, "three of my CNN colleagues and many other journalists have been killed on purpose in Iraq." He didn't elaborate by whom.

"There's no evidence to support it." Imagine that, a reporter making a claim without any evidence -- simply based on their opinion, which it their own mind must be enough. I believe it is time for yet another reporter to "retire"!

Churchill Should be Fired

I have not blogged anything about this guy -- professor Ward Churchill. Mainly because I did not feel, I could put into words the total disgust I feel for what he said and obviously stands for. However, it appears the University of Colorado is starting the procedures to take proper action. Let's hear from all you that defend his freedom of speech, but let me tell you I defend his freedom of speech but I defend the University's freedom to say who represents them, and when Mr. Churchill made these despicable views public as a professor of the University he opened himself up for whatever action they choose... My opinion of course!

AURORA, Colo. - University of Colorado administrators Thursday took the first steps toward a possible dismissal of a professor who likened World Trade Center victims to a notorious Nazi.

Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano ordered a 30-day review of Ward Churchill's speeches and writings to determine if the professor overstepped his boundaries of academic freedom and whether that should be grounds for dismissal.

Also Thursday, the Board of Regents issued an apology for Churchill's remarks at a meeting and voted to support the university's review of Churchill.

Annan Takes Action

The United Nation takes action in "oil-for-fraud scam". It is about time wouldn't you say?

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan is taking disciplinary action against the head of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq following an investigation of alleged corruption in the humanitarian program, a senior U.N. official said Thursday.

Nevertheless, exactly what will the action be? Will they simply say, "don't do it again" or "don't get caught again" or will their actually be some substantial penalties -- not the UN can dish out what is probably disserved.

At the time the contract was awarded, Stephanides was chief of the U.N. Sanctions Branch and deputy director of the Security Council Affairs Division in the U.N. Department of Political Affairs. He now heads the division. Malloch Brown did not say what disciplinary steps would be taken but said they would be announced early next week.

There is said to be some "convincing and uncontested evidence", but when has "convincing" evidence meant anything to the UN. Even with mass graves it takes years, to declare there is a problem much less actually accuse genocide

Volcker also said there was "convincing and uncontested evidence" that the selection of the three U.N. contractors for the oil-for-food program - Banque Nationale de Paris, Saybolt Eastern Hemisphere BV and Lloyd's Register Inspection Limited - did not conform to established financial and competitive bidding rules.

I appears it maybe as simple as Benon Sevan establishing a several million dollar retirement fund for services rendered, only kidding, we all know there is more then several million involved, much more, and many more then Sevan; but will we actually see real action out of the UN, I doubt it! The USA Today story here

Note of Thanks and Welcome

Big time thanks to Michelle Malkin for mentioning one of my post resulting in a major traffic spike. Welcome to all the new comers and I am hoping many will return frequently! Thanks again Michelle!!!!!

Do You See a Resemblance?

This is a picture of Senator John Kerry during the 2005 State of the union - I noticed a striking similarity.



Do you see any resemblance?

Christians Aren't Owed Anything

Chuck Colson has a good column warning Christians not to be obsessed with their perceived power -- we must remember power comes from God and as Christians should be cautious of pride... Pride and the pursuit of power have in the past and will paralyze any advances again. Some highlights:

And remember, Christians are just as susceptible to the seduction of worldly power as anyone else. The editors of Time may think religious voters ought to be lining up for our share of the spoils, but Christians know we should instead be falling on our knees, asking God to keep us humble. We ought to remember that the job of the Church is to bring biblical truth to bear in society, to win people to Christ, and to promote righteousness and justice. We should remember, as well, that throughout history, Christians have made the greatest inroads in society when we traveled, not among the politically powerful, but among the poor and the powerless. Think of the Wesleyan revivals or of Wilberforce and his reformation of morals in England.
[...]
We should also beware of allowing the world to define the Church. To the world, power is the name of the game. But Christians know that we are called to humbleness, obedience, and a loving attitude even toward our political enemies.

We should also beware of allowing the world to define the Church. To the world, power is the name of the game. But Christians know that we are called to humbleness, obedience, and a loving attitude even toward our political enemies.

So is Time magazine right? Does President Bush "owe us" for helping put him in office?

As one of the twenty-five leaders profiled in the magazine, let me answer: No. Instead of focusing on what we are owed, we need to remember what we owe to God and to our neighbor: to be steadfast witnesses to the truth, and always willing to serve. Let's follow the example of Christ-not demanding to be served, but serving others.

Read here.

"God Bless This Honorable Court"

But NO one else, the below is a story from Denver involving a conviction being thrown out because some jurors referred to the Bible during deliberation over the death penalty -- what is wrong you ask? That is what I thought! I guess the court is the highest authority accepted during trial, but I actually found it refreshing that some were so concerned about the decision that needed to be made they referred the "highest authority".

DENVER -- Jurors who sentenced a convicted killer to die did nothing wrong when they studied the Bible during deliberations _ including the verse that commands "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," prosecutors told the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday as they sought to have the man put back on death row.

A lower court threw out the death penalty given to Robert Harlan for raping and murdering a 25-year-old cocktail waitress in 1994. Defense attorneys challenged the sentence after discovering five jurors had looked up Bible verses, copied some of them down and then talked about them behind closed doors.

Adams County prosecutor Steven Bernard asked the justices to restore the death sentence, saying jurors should be allowed to refer to the Bible or other religious texts. He said a juror's religious beliefs aren't prejudicial or extraneous to a trial, prompting sharp questions from some of the justices.

"Don't we have a duty to make sure the death penalty isn't imposed under religious passion or prejudice?" Justice Gregory Hobbs asked.

Medal of Honor - Must Read

This is necessary to read about Sergeant Paul Smith -- awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq.
STORY here (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)

More SOTU Thoughts

Over all I thought the President, President Bush not Mr. Bush -- Ron Regan, did a good job. I agree with Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit) - the President looked more relaxed, comfortable, most likely because the Iraqi elections when so well, not sure I agree that all his (President Bush) eggs were in that basket as implied by Mr. Reynolds, but the President did appear very comfortable and very confident, not that he ever lacks confidence. Some quick thoughts below…

The President addressed some of my concerns over his first four years -- fiscal conservatism… I hope these suggestion come to pass or partially are enacted.

Now we must add to these achievements. By making our economy more flexible, more innovative, and more competitive, we will keep America the economic leader of the world. America's prosperity requires restraining the spending appetite of the federal government. I welcome the bipartisan enthusiasm for spending discipline. So next week I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: a taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely, or not at all.

I really would have liked more detail on the healthcare issues -- although I understand there are time constraints and believe Social Security was the chosen subject to concentrate on.

To make our economy stronger and more productive, we must make health care more affordable, and give families greater access to good coverage, and more control over their health decisions. I ask Congress to move forward on a comprehensive health care agenda - with tax credits to help low-income workers buy insurance, a community health center in every poor county, improved information technology to prevent medical errors and needless costs, association health plans for small businesses and their employees, expanded health savings accounts, and medical liability reform that will reduce health care costs, and make sure patients have the doctors and care they need.

On Social Security, I was glad the President nixed higher payroll taxes and thought it was a good technique to point out other's attempts to fix an "unbroken system", per Democrats. Moreover, I do believe the real problem Democrats have with personal accounts is they will not control or even have the ability to access the funds in these accounts.

All these ideas are on the table. I know that none of these reforms would be easy. But we have to move ahead with courage and honesty, because our children's retirement security is more important than partisan politics. I will work with members of Congress to find the most effective combination of reforms. I will listen to anyone who has a good idea to offer. We must, however, be guided by some basic principles. We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that task for another day. We must not jeopardize our economic strength by increasing payroll taxes. We must ensure that lower income Americans get the help they need to have dignity and peace of mind in their retirement. We must guarantee that there is no change for those now retired or nearing retirement. And we must take care that any changes in the system are gradual, so younger workers have years to prepare and plan for their future. As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the system a better deal for younger workers. And the best way to reach that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts. Here is how the idea works.
Right now, a set portion of the money you earn is taken out of your paycheck to pay for the Social Security benefits of today's retirees. If you are a younger worker, I believe you should be able to set aside part of that money in your own retirement account, so you can build a nest egg for your own future.
Here is why personal accounts are a better deal. Your money will grow, over time, at a greater rate than anything the current system can deliver - and your account will provide money for retirement over and above the check you will receive from Social Security. In addition, you'll be able to pass along the money that accumulates in your personal account, if you wish, to your children or grandchildren. And best of all, the money in the account is yours, and the government can never take it away.

President Bush did mention "the sanctity of marriage", but I am sure some will not be happy with the short comment -- but, is there a need? Think about it; several states passed laws and the courts, even with judges "legislating from the bench", have up held the "federal defense of marriage act". Everything cannot be done overnight and he did make mention of it; albeit enough to irritate both sides; one that he even stated it and the other because he did not dwell on it long enough.

Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be re-defined by activist judges. For the good of families, children, and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.

I thought it good that President Bush pointed out that judicial nominees, usually get the up-or-down vote and not a filibuster; however, when have Democrats been concerned with traditions of the Senate -- most don't even care about tradition of this country.

Because courts must always deliver impartial justice, judges have a duty to faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. As President, I have a constitutional responsibility to nominate men and women who understand the role of courts in our democracy, and are well qualified to serve on the bench - and I have done so. The Constitution also gives the Senate a responsibility: Every judicial nominee deserves an up-or-down vote.

Complete transcript of the speech here.

SOTU First Reaction

The most powerful moments came when Safia Taleb al-Suhail stood and displayed her figure and even more powerful was when Sergeant Byron Norwood's parents rose and later Safia Taleb al-Suhail hugging Mrs. Norwood... I felt these were great moments full of happiness, hope, sadness -- eloquent moments.



I felt speech was well delivered and detailed -- Social Security is the "hot topic", as if we did not know this! I maybe mistaken, but in my opinion this topic received the most "time" during the speech...

Just a first reaction...but I did think it was good maybe better than good; good for sure! Full text of the speech here

Driving w/ Cell Phone Condemns Elderly

I know the article and study was intended to demonstrate there should be tougher laws regarding driving while on a cell phone... First, I would like to say I am against any such laws -- all states already have laws that cover this (i.e. careless driving, inattentive driving, reckless driving, etc.) and in many cases can't enforce these, why would we want more laws? I believe it comes down to city and state revenue, while appeasing the "hot issue" people.

Back to my point -- pay close attention to the wording in the article.

"If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, his reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver," said David Strayer, a University of Utah psychology professor and principal author of the study. "It's like instant aging."

If you are advocating restricting younger drivers from cell phones using this study would you not have to investigate restricting driving by the elderly -- after all elderly drivers is the comparison made and if that is so bad to criminalize younger drivers with cell phones does it not by default criminalize the average "elderly driver". What will the AARP have to say about this? Will they defend their members? We will see!

Read the article here

Groundhog Day -- Long Winter

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and the news isn’t good. Video here.

Social Security a Diversion?

Now the Democrats are accusing President Bush of creating a diversion with Social Security - can they be serious? Of course, Democrats are experts on distracting attention form issues they wish to avoid, but accusing President Bush of acting the way they do is out of left field - or maybe they are just trying to justify their tactics, who knows.

Here are some reasons this accusation is untrue.

1. President Bush cannot be reelected - what would motivate him?


2. President Bush talked of this in his first campaign - seems he was a little slow it bringing it up


3. The Democrats actually want to avoid the Social Security issues - therefore they wish to distract by accusing President Bush of "diversion tactics"…

Story here. (Hat tip: David Limbaugh)

Will Not Fillabuster Gonzales

After threatening to filibuster the Gonzales' nomination, implying they had enough support to do so -- Democrat Leader Harry Reid said "there will be an up-or-down vote". Now does this indicate they did not have enough votes, changed their mind, or simply can't agree on a course of action?

WASHINGTON - Democrats won’t try to filibuster Alberto Gonzales’ nomination to be attorney general but will hold extensive debates in the Senate over his role in developing the Bush administration’s policies on treating foreign detainees, the Senate’s top Democrat said Tuesday.

Iraqi Election Must Have Meant Something

Besides already blogging the positive remarks from Around the World I wanted to provide more evidence that the Iraqi election actually meant something to the dismay of many "far left" liberals… The evidence is that the some are attempting to spin the successful election as a negative for President Bush - seriously!

The view that the elections are both the cause and effect of waning American influence in Iraq almost certainly contributed to the upbeat response in France and Iran, two of the countries where the U.S.-led invasion was deeply unpopular.

French president Jacques Chirac who led international opposition to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, told Bush on Monday that the elections constituted "a significant stage in the political rebuilding" of the country and a "partial defeat" for terrorists, according to the center-right daily Nouvel Observateur in Paris. The antiwar editors of Le Monde praised the courage of Iraqi voters and said it would be "indecent to reproach Bush for having offered free elections to the Iraqis. "

In Iran, the country that Bush has described as part of the "axis of evil," the headlines about the voting were almost unanimously positive, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. " Ballots defy bullets in Iraq," declared the Tehran daily Hashahri; "Terrorists fail," said Mardomsalari, a reformist newspaper. The vote "helps open a new chapter for Iraq," declared S. Sadeghi in a front-page commentary for the Iran Daily.

No, Bush's adversaries have not suddenly seen the neoconservative light. Rather, they believe that Iraqi voters have seized the elections as the best means of thwarting U.S. domination of the country. In the words of al Watan, a Saudi daily, cited in a BBC press survey, the hope is that the results, "will give the Iraqi authority a semblance of legitimacy and pave way for the withdrawal of the occupation."

Not to worry, so far the majority of the people I hear, some begrudged, know where the credit goes. Read the article here.

Is it a Toy?

There are suspensions that the solider the insurgents claim capturing is actually a toy solider - - It appears to me this suspension is correct and I pray it is. Have a look:
The below picture is what the insurgents posted

Here is a picture of the toy

What do you think? Notice that the "insurgents" photograph shows the solider wearing knee pads which are in the bottom left of the toy package and the vest looks identical - - of course, the head does look "weird" on the alleged solider; so what do you think?

If this is a hoax - - what does it tell us about the "terrorist"? Would you believe they are getting desperate to demonstrate they are not beaten, which by default indicates they actually believe they are beaten themselves. I am not sure, but if this is indeed a hoax, which I believe and hope it is, it does make you think!

Insurgents Claim Capturing a US Solider

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi militants claimed in a Web statement Tuesday to have taken an American soldier hostage and threatened to behead him in 72 hours unless the Americans release Iraqi prisoners.

The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of what appeared to be an American soldier in desert fatigues seated with his hands tied behind his back. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and he is seated in front of a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet."

UPDATE: (15:33) Appears the story and the picture maybe a hoax - - those dastardly terrorist, if this proves true they are now committing terror by fiction. See the update at Drudge.

Surprise - NY Times Misleads

Larry Kudlow points out how Louis Uchitelle writing for the New York Times misleads his readers about gross domestic product.

It’s not even remotely as important as the Iraqi election, but the New York Times’s impoverished coverage of the latest reading on U.S. gross domestic product deserves a mention. Both the headline and the thrust of the story by Times writer Louis Uchitelle suggest a big slowdown in economic growth. While this is statistically correct, it is analytically wrong. The main thought behind the story -- that the economy has registered its “weakest quarterly pace in nearly two years, held down by a surge in imports” -- is completely misleading.

Underneath the headline number of 3.1 percent real GDP was a huge 5.5 percent increase in private-sector output (less government spending and trade). Private consumption and business investment comprises 80 percent of GDP -- a factoid the Times never relates. In fact, the tell-tale number in this latest GDP report is the outsized 15 percent gain in business investment -- the single most important swing factor in economic activity.
[...]
Not for the Times. The left-leaning Uchitelle worked hard to make the worst out of a good story. He obsessively emphasized the trade-deficit drag on output, a factor that statistically reduced overall GDP by 1.73 percentage points. This Alice-in-Wonderland arithmetic is totally misleading. To back up his pessimistic overreach, Uchitelle found a Wall Street economist from Goldman Sachs named Edward McKelvey who said, “foreigners are continuing to eat our lunch.”

Read it completely here.

Good - No President Kerry

Daivid Limbaugh take a hard and enlighten look at John Kerry who seems unwilling to give up the fact his ideas were defeated in November...

Kerry said, "This election is a sort of demarcation point, and what really counts now is the effort to have a legitimate political reconciliation, and it's going to take a massive diplomatic effort and a much more significant outreach to the international community than this administration has been willing to engage in. Absent that, we will not be successful in Iraq."
This nonsense was bad enough during the election, but we can't let Kerry get away with this kind of inane, destructive rhetoric now. What in the world does he mean by a legitimate political reconciliation, a massive diplomatic effort, a significant outreach to the international community?
[...]
Kerry's gratuitous invocation of "multilateralism" yet again is only noteworthy because it is a classic example of the utter inability of this exemplar of nuance to cut through to the heart of an issue. It might be the most egregious non sequitur uttered by a public official in recent memory.
The only thing useful about Kerry's analysis is that it can serve as a sobering reminder of how fortunate the United States, the Iraqi people and all freedom-loving peoples of the world are that Kerry lost Ohio.

Read the entire column here.