You'll love this one, dear Boomers

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD. WELL.....YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE!

MY NAME IS ALICE SMITH AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIR ST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME.

SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO.

COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.

THIS BALDING, GRAY HAIRED MAN WIT H THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE, AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH; I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

"YES, YES I DID. I'M A MUSTANG! ‘HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.

'WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?' I ASKED

HE ANSWERED, IN 1975. WHY DO YOU ASK?

"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.

THEN THAT UGLY,

OLD,

BALD,

WRINKLED,

FAT ASS,

GRAY HAIRED,

DECREPIT,

SON OF A BITCH ASKED....

'WHAT DID YOU TEACH???

Blame the above on Jimmy Mitchell!

From Brussels with facts

If you do not read another article this year, you must read "Meccania to Atlantis" by Takuan Seiyo in the Brussels Journal. Click here.

Part six is now available. If you have missed the previous ones the link can also direct you to them.

Here are some examples of part 6.

You have to be a moron, an ignoramus with no knowledge of history, religion, philosophy, social psychology, economics, geopolitics, strategy, statecraft, higher [and ipso facto Western (2)] culture not to be aware that you have seeded a future civil war, an economic calamity, a cultural wasteland, a major devaluation of social capital, a destruction of your own mother, your nation. Yet the people who have inflicted all this on us have very high IQs (3) and have all been educated at the very best universities.

Why is Christmas in Sweden greeted these days with flaming mayhem by imported Muslim barbarians, rather than with flaming glögg by Swedes? Why are there 2 millions irredeemably alien “refugees” (4) in Sweden, including 600,000 Muslims, when there are only 7 million Swedes proper?.......

For ours is not a disaster imposed from the outside, such as Hitler’s Germany inflicted on the rest of Europe, or Muslim jihad on Christendom. What we are witnessing is a voluntary self-destruction carried out by democratically elected political leaders on acquiescing populations that, largely, refuse to see The Emperor’s New Clothes even as his naked arse is at arm’s length from their faces....

Hence the process we posited at the beginning of this series: the convergence and gelling of Europe and the United States as an oppressive, socialist, anti-white racist, redistributive and economically crumbling police state – Meccania. The recent disinvitation of Vlaams Belang by the American Embassy in Brussels, hours before Barack Obama’s inauguration as President, shows where Obamerica’s European sympathies will lie: with the unhinged Greens, the rioting Muslims, the Lefto-Jewhaters, and the S&M Social Dhimmicrats.

As per Wilders, 54 million Muslims now live in Europe and 25% of the population will be Muslim just 12 years from now. Muslims will have reached a European voting majority by the end of this century. In every European city there are plans to build super-mosques that will dwarf every church in the region. “Clearly,” said Wilders, “the rather obvious, and ominous, signal is: «here WE rule»; right 'in your face'.”

What’s thrust in Europe’s face can be seen in these photos.

The Euro ruling elites don’t even try to disguise anymore that they deploy the immigration and naturalization of alien Muslim primitives, as a means to dilute and replace the vote of the autochthon population. “Muslim immigration is even a source of pride within ruling liberal parties,” said Wilders. “Academia, the arts, the media, trade unions, the churches, the business world, the entire political establishment have all converted to the suicidal theory of multiculturalism. So-called journalists volunteer to label any and all critics of Islamization as 'right-wing extremists' or 'racists'. The entire establishment has sided with our enemy. Leftists, liberals, Christian-Democrats are now all in bed with Islam.”

Mr. Wilders is now under an indictment of a Body Snatcher Inquisition Tribunal in Amsterdam, for his “hate speech.” And one should not forget in this context the tax-funded plan to invite more than 50 million African workers into the European Union (hat tip, Tiberge), with a job recruiting center already opened in the African state of Mali. Those who speak out against it will share Geert Wilders' cell in prison or in the poorhouse. .........

Great Britain wakes up daily to a routine of sexual perversion that may be the answered prayer of generations of under-loved and over-privileged public schoolboys in cold dormitories. For breakfast, it’s sodomized by a gang of its formerly-inferior colonials. For lunch, it enjoys a session of self-flagellation for the sins of Empire and fox-hunting. For dinner, it watches through peepholes in the MSM bordello.

If you missed it, go back up and read the part where a politican is likely to be put in jail for saying things about Muslims.

Be afraid, dear chums. Be very afraid.

Impeach Obama

Hussein has moved from stupid to dangerous.


From the Guardian.

State department officials have composed at least three drafts of the letter, which gives assurances that Washington does not want to overthrow the Islamic regime, but merely seeks a change in its behaviour. The letter would be addressed to the Iranian people and sent directly to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or released as an open letter.

I really wonder just what it is going to take for Hussein to finally understand that Iran does not intend to change. In their view there is nothing to negotiate, not even the terms of surrender. They talk only to buy time.

One draft proposal suggests that Iran should compare its relatively low standard of living with that of some of its more prosperous neighbours, and contemplate the benefits of losing its pariah status in the west.

If this is what passes as deep thought and diplomacy in our State Department, may God help us. Do these people think that Iran doesn't know this? Hells bells and dogs barking. I know the dummies who write such nonsense will never read this, but hey! Hillary! Hussein! Mitchell! Iran knows! They don't care!!!!!!

US concern about Iran mainly centres on its uranium enrichment programme, which Washington claims is intended to provide the country with a nuclear weapons capability. Iran claims the programme is for civilian purposes.
The diplomatic moves are given increased urgency by fears that Israel might take unilateral action to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.

It appears that Israel is our last hope

The scale of the problem facing the new American president was reinforced yesterday when a senior aide to Ahmadinejad, Aliakbar Javanfekr, said that, despite the calls from the US, Iran had no intention of stopping its nuclear activities. When asked about a UN resolution calling for the suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment, Javanfekr, the presidential adviser for press affairs, replied: "We are past that stage."

I just wonder how many times Iran has to tell us they aren't going to stop. Obama's response is past stupid and is now in the endangerment to the country stage. Impeachment is a political act. It is time that we start looking at removing Hussein before his actions allow millions to be killed or the country lost.

Link

Home Improvement Tips

With all the cold weather I thought you might be interested in how to use caulk.



Hat tip to whoever sent me this. My notes and memory have had a Senior Moment.

Obama has surrendered

First the Taliban, and now Iran, has taken the measure of our Chosen One, aka Hussein the President, and found his words to be those of a weak leader and weaker man.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it would welcome President Barack Obama's offer of a change in U.S. policy provided it involved a withdrawal of U.S. troops from abroad and an apology for past "crimes" against Tehran.

Link

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The Taliban told U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday that his plan to close Guantanamo Bay prison camp was a "positive step" but peace was only possible if he withdraws U.S. forces from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Link

So they have done what is always done when a foe shows weakness. They have demanded more.

Eventually he will give them more.

They will demand more.

He will give them more.

As they come to see that they have him backed into a corner, they will launch more and more attacks. Including attacks in the US.

At that point we will have to decide to fight or surrender.

Millions will die as Iran and Pakistan give the terrorist nuclear weapons. Will we use nuclear weapons in response?

Hard to say, given that it is possible Washington will be wiped out by the terrorists.

Congratulations, Lefties.

And Obama believes in Global Warming!

On the sixth day God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said: “Today, I am going to create a land called Wisconsin ...”
“It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty; a land of countless glaciers, pure lakes, each one full of fish. It shall have tall majestic pines, peacefully flowing rivers, landscapes full of buffalo, tall grass, and eagles, beautiful blue skies, forests full of bear, elk and moose, rich farmland and fair minded people.”
God continued, “'I shall make the land rich in resources so as to make the inhabitants prosper and they shall be known as a most friendly people, people who practice being Wisconsin Welcome every day.”
“But Lord,” asked Gabriel, “Don't you think you are being too generous to these people of Wisconsin ?”
“Not really,” replied God “Just wait and see the winters I am going to give them.”

AND NOW YOU KNOW


Hat tip to Dave T!

Housing sales surge!

Home Sales Rise, but Prices Keep Falling By ALAN ZIBEL, AP

(Jan. 26) - Sales of existing homes posted an unexpected increase last month, closing out the worst year for the U.S. real estate market in more than a decade.

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales of existing homes rose 6.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.74 million in December, from a downwardly revised pace of 4.45 million in November.

The results were better than expected. December's sales had been forecast to fall to a pace of 4.4 million units, according to Thomson Reuters.

Buyers were taking advantage of dramatically lower prices, especially in distressed markets like California, Florida and Nevada, where foreclosures have swamped the market.

Uh, this is truly basic stuff. When prices go down, people who can afford the product and want the product will purchase the product.

The truly scary part follows.

The nationwide median sales price plunged to $175,400, down 15.3 percent from $207,000 a year ago. That was the lowest price since May 2003 and the biggest year-over-year drop on records going back to 1968.

"The economy just simply cannot recover as long as home prices continue to decline," said Lawrence Yun, the trade group's chief economist, who called on lawmakers to include tax credits for home buyers in the economic recovery package being considered by Congress.

no, no, No, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is what got us to where we are at! Helping people buy a home they can't otherwise afford means they will lose it when their income reverts to its usual level.

The truth is that realtors want to sell homes. Believe nothing they say about economics.

Link

AP Headline - Top Chefs Push Obama to Improve Food Policy

First we had this.

Then we had this.

And then we had this.

And finally we have this.

''He's the kind of diner who wants to taste all sorts of things,'' Bayless says. ''What I'm hoping is that he's going to recognize that we need to do what we can in our country to encourage real food for everyone.''

Phrases like ''real food'' and ''farm-to-table'' may sound like elitist jargon tossed around at upscale restaurants. But the country's top chefs, several of whom traveled to Washington for Obama's inauguration this week, hope that Obama's flair for good food will encourage people to expand their horizons when it comes to what they eat.

These chefs tout locally grown, environmentally friendly and -- most importantly -- nutritious food. They urge diners, even those who may never be able to afford to eat at their restaurants, to grow their own vegetables, shop at farmer's markets and pay attention to where their food comes from.

And here I thought he was busy saving the economy and setting terrorists free...

Oh, and is "Biggie size that" environmentally friendly?"

Is there no end to the BS surrounding this guy?

Link

H/T UrgentAgenda

What's that noise??

Hat tip to Jimmy M

Some Sunday night humor

Killed for wearing his pants too low.

I don't know what to say.

These are the people we think we can have discussions with?

ISLAMABAD: A teacher who once fought as a mujahideen against Soviet occupation forces in Afghanistan has been gunned down by the Taliban in
Pakistan's troubled Swat valley for not hiking up his 'salwar' or trousers above his ankles.

Though the Pakistani Taliban have not issued any edict for the salwar to be worn in this manner, there have been reports of the militants threatening men for not hiking up their trousers.

The militants say hiking up the trousers is essential for offering prayers.

Former mujahideen Amjad Islam, who was working as a teacher in a private school in Swat, was gunned down yesterday for not hiking his salwar above his ankles. The militants then went to Islam's house and gunned down his father, Ghani Akbar, a lawyer by profession.

Islam's body was later hung by the militants from a pole in the College Square in Matta town and local residents were warned not to touch it till Friday morning. The body was taken down and moved to Islam's house after a local jirga intervened.

Local residents said the militants had asked Islam to hitch his salwar above his ankles last morning. The teacher told them he was a former mujahideen and knew everything about Islam. He also said nobody could be forced to pull up his salwar above the ankles, The News daily reported.

Link to source article.

Hat tip to IamWilliamWallace.

Obama, Lobbyists, Waffles, Sweetie and Blackberry

This guy is just unbelievable. First he tells us he isn't going to hire ex-lobbyists and then does and when the press questions him, he doesn't like it.

President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.

Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a deputy defense secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.

"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."

Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder and staring him in the eye.

"Alright, come on" he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. "We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys - that's all I was trying to do."

Link to Politico.

During the primaries he shut down a press conference, and at another he complained they wouldn't let him eat his waffles.

He also removed access by a Florida TV station because of hard questions.

WFTV-Channel 9's Barbara West conducted a satellite interview with Sen. Joe Biden on Thursday. A friend says it's some of the best entertainment he's seen recently. What do you think?

West wondered about Sen. Barack Obama's comment, to Joe the Plumber, about spreading the wealth. She quoted Karl Marx and asked how Obama isn't being a Marxist with the "spreading the wealth" comment.

"Are you joking?" said Biden, who is Obama's running mate. "No," West said.

West later asked Biden about his comments that Obama could be tested early on as president. She wondered if the Delaware senator was saying America's days as the world's leading power were over.

"I don't know who's writing your questions," Biden shot back.

Biden so disliked West's line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate's wife.

"This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election," wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign

Orlando Senteinel link

And if that didn't tell you who this guy is, view the video of him telling a reporter, "Hold on a second sweetie...."

Link to video.

That was very arrogant by a man who was getting the most favorable press treatment in history. But it was a clear indication of what was coming. And now we see it again.

His decision to keep his Blackberry again shows his arrogance. He apparently cares nothing about security...yes, it will be hacked and he will send some confidential information he should not...plus it can be used to spot his position within 100 feet... that's a real security problem. Not just for him..... but also for those around him. The Secret Service pledged to protect him, but that assumed he cooperates.

Worse, the base question was a hard news question. He used the press to hype his false claim about ethics and not hiring lobbyists, and then less than 24 hours later, hires one.

And the press is supposed to be his pal??

As Col Potter said, "Horse hockey."

UK: 44% of Muslims against integration

The canary was used for years by miners to indicate the presence of deadly fumes in their mines. Its lack of health was an early warning system of hidden and unexpected death. Today England and Europe is our "canary."



Perhaps a better title of this post would have been, "Are you really surprised?"

MUSLIMS want to create their own communities and remain segregated from British society.


A shocking 44% think they should be free to develop along separate lines.


But critics claim Muslims will create their own ghettos if they are left to their own devices.


The poll found religion has replaced race as the biggest equality issue, with six in 10 Brits thinking it is more divisive. Mass tension has grown following terror attacks from Muslim fanatics, including the 7/7 Tube bombings in 2005.


The war in Iraq has also added to divisions leaving many communities split.

Sixty percent means that the Brits, finally, are starting to get it. It is the religion that is driving the bus, not the race. That is why them yelling "Racist!" at all who oppose Islamic domination is so demonstrably wrong.

But critics are fuming Muslims are refusing to fit into our way of life.


English Democrats' chairman Robin Tilbrook said: "As far as I'm concerned, what we want to be about is having an integrated society.


"If people don't want to integrate, they shouldn't be here.


"It's not at all right to have what's really a sort of ghetto situation developing – it's going to lead to trouble.


"We can't have a single society with lots of different rules." Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "I'm not surprised because there are already Muslim enclaves all over the country. They keep themselves to themselves anyway."

Really? That observation is so obvious I find it difficult to believe he said it.

And isn't the question, "What shall we do it about it?"

Link

I have had a couple of debates here with self identified Muslims to say the same thing. They "love" America. but want to change it.

You write:

As for the love of this country. I love this country but not in the way the conservatives, like you, love it. When you love something or someone you care so much about, you do not want it/him/her to bring harm to itself/himself/herself or others.

I reply:

My comment was and is very simple. You appear to not love the country for what it is, but what you want to change it to. I repeat. Study some western history. Study some American history, Learn why and where our Constitution came from.

And understand that we do not think changing because some immigrants find our Constitution unhelpful is the thing to do.

Link to Conversation with a self-identified Muslim.

Salute to Heroes Inaugural Banquet & Ball - American Legion

The American Legion, as it has on every inauguration evening since 1953, hosted the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Banquet & Ball on January 20th. The quadrennial event is co-sponsored with fourteen veterans service and military service organizations and honors recipients of the Medal of Honor. Forty-seven of these heroes attended this year’s event which was held in the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel.

President Obama was invited but did not attend. Vice-President Joe Biden did appear, however, and was very warmly received. The new President’s absence was understandable considering the unprecedented logistical challenges presented by the vastly increased number of visitors to this inauguration and the necessary attendant security measures. The American Legion, as an organization, does not feel offended or “snubbed.”
Thank you,

Craig

Craig Roberts
Media Relations Manager
The American Legion
1608 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Yes, and the check's in the mail.

The Beamer is paid for.

I'm from headquarters and I am here to help you.

It's only a cold sore.

I will respect you in the morning.

.....and did I mention he didn't go see the wounded at the military hospital in Germany?

Anybody see a pattern here??

Hat tip to Grace.

The punishment of an 8 year old in Iran

These are pictures of the punishment of an eight year old boy in Iran who was caught stealing bread. Looking at him, he was undoubtedly very, very, very hungry.

His arm is to be crushed. If he survives the shock and expected infection the arm will be forever useless and he will always be branded a thief.

All for stealing bread. All because he was hungry and eight years old.

The pictures are shocking, disgusting, sickening. Remember them when Hussein and his minions tell you that we can deal with these people.







Thanks to Jimmy M for sending the pictures.

Hat tip and link to MetaCafe for the pictures.

The perfect description

Ever since Obama has been elected I keep reading how he is "my" President, or he is "our" President and how we must support him because of that.

Folks, he isn't "my" President and he isn't "our" President. He is THE President.

And I wish him and his family happiness and good health.

But that is the end of it. Based on what I have learned about him, especially in conjunction with the Democratic Congress, I strongly disagree on a host of issues. And I am not going to "support" him in his attempt to do things that I consider bad. Bad for me. Bad for the country. Bad for the world.

And over the past months as I have observed the fawning over an unproven politician by the press and millions of dunderheads that led us to this disagreeable state, I never could quite reach a good description of the witches brew that has delivered him to us.

But a lady reader from Canada has nailed it. Claudia said, "ignorance combined with vulgarity disguised as elitism."

Thank you, Claudia. That is the perfect description.

Body Art

Jimmy M sent this to me and about a dozen more under the heading of, "I will never complain about my kids again."

He has a point.

Pictures from Gaza

These pictures need no comments.






Hat tip to Larry P.

Iranian students sign up

Somebody forgot to tell them that The Chosen One is now in charge.

Tehran, Jan 20, IRNA -- Head of Student Basij Organization Reza Seraj said on Tuesday that 100,000 students have signed up to launch martyrdom seeking operations.

“Based on latest statistics, 100,000 students have signed up the list in `Labayk Ya Khamenei’ Martyrdom Seeking Battalions,” Seraj told a group of students outside former US Embassy in Tehran, dubbed as `Den of Spies’, on Tuesday.

Seraj said students are ready to fully obey the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's order for contribution to Gaza reconstruction.

Link

Hat tip Buffy at the Tennessean.

Hat tip Reuters for the illustrative pic.

Cause and effect

It seems that Sean Hannity has been busy pointing out that Chuckie from New York, aka the Senior Senator, bears some responsibiliy for the crash of 1549. Seems Hannity's reasoning is that Chuckie's ill considered attempt to help as backfired.

This from newshounds.

SH: Back in 2004, the New York Senator saw to it that a $200,000 earmark went to GeesePeace. Now, this is an animal rights group that devotes itself to saving Canada geese through non-lethal methods. Now, this was Schumer's attempt to solve the problem of overpopulation of geese, some of which live on Riker's Island. That's directly in the flight path of La Guardia airport. Now, the perilous result of this plan was seen on Thursday when the same breed of geese, Canada geese, downed US Airways flight 1549. Now, maybe our lawmakers should focus on preventing such tragedies rather than empowering groups that seem to care more about the birds than the safety of Americans.

Putting aside that crying over someone pointing out that the road to hell is often paved with good intentions is juvenile it is a fact that anything that adds to the health and vigor of large fowls increases the danger to aircraft taking off/landing through the increased size of the flocks.

This "road to hell paved with good intentions" is not unique or new. I must have been all of six when I first heard it and that was, dear chums, a long time ago.

But it is government driven by the ecofreaks of the Left that continue to set new levels of stupidity and self destruction. The desire for the environmental wackos to have cleaner burning gasoline led to the increased demand for corn to make ethanol which led to food shortages in the Third World which led to riots in Mexico and some deaths in Africa. It also led increased food prices in the US.

As a side effect, adding more acres devoted to growing corn released CO2 into the atmosphere as did the fuel used in the process.

In other places that used MTBE instead of ethanol it has been discovered that MTBE has seeped into the soil and ground water. MTBE is a cancer causing chemical raising concerns for future generations.

We have also seen dams with electricity generating capabilities torn down because of so-called endangered species. We in the Mid-south should have bitter memories of the Snail Darter fiasco. But beyond that, decreased water power led to more coal being burned which led to more pollution and CO2 in the atmosphere.

The energy policies of the Democrats is to not drill for new oil in the US which lays us open to whatever the Muslim world wants to charge for oil. The increases of last year drove the stake through the heart of the economy and has caused suffering to untold millions around the world, all so some ecofreaks can feel good.

The use of DDT was banned with no cheap replacement and thousands have died in Africa and Asia from Malaria. The Black Plague, spread by fleas previously killed by DDT is making a comeback, although since members of al-Qaeda have been among those struck down it appears that some good does come from this.

Yet with these examples in front of us we seem to be following Algore and Hussein almost blindly in their desire to shut down carbon usage, which will destroy the economy.

So did Chuckie from New York directly cause the crash? No, but he and the millions of dummies who put animals and birds ahead of the welfare of people contributed. Cause and effect, dear ones. Cause and effect.


The above expanded from my comment in the Tennessean.

Global Hawk UAV

This is a photo of the Global Hawk UAV that returned from the war zone recently under its own power. ( Iraq to Edwards AFB in CA) - Not transported via C5 or C17.....

Notice the mission paintings on the fuselage.

It's actually over 250 missions.... (And I would suppose 25 air medals).

That's a long way for a remotely-piloted aircraft.

Think of the technology (and the required quality of the data link to fly it remotely).

Not only that but the pilot controlled it from a nice warm control panel at Edwards AFB.

Really long legs- can stay up for almost 2 days at altitudes above 60k.
The Global Hawk was controlled via satellite; it flew missions during OT&E that went from Edwards AFB to upper Alaska and back non-stop.

Basically, they come into the fight at a high mach # in mil thrust, fire their AMRAAMS, and no one ever sees them or paints with radar. There is practically no radio chatter because all the guys in the flight are tied together electronically, and can see who is targeting who, and they have AWACS direct input and 360 situational awareness from that and other sensors.

The aggressors had a morale problem before it was all over. It is to air superiority what the jet engine was to aviation.

It can taxi, take off, fly a mission, return, land and taxi on it's own. No blackouts, no fatigue, no relief tubes, no ejection seats, and best of all, no dead pilots, no POWs?

Hat tip to Mike L!

"Free Speech" Born July 4, 1776 - Died January 20, 2009

"Inappropriate comments that may make other students, staff or families feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in school or on the bus will not be tolerated," Superintendent Kevin Bright said in an e-mail sent to parents Monday, Jan. 12.

The district, he said, expects students and staff to show respect for President-elect Obama and the incoming administration, as well as President Bush and the outgoing administration, and recognize that "while the election is a competitive process, our nation's greatness is displayed when all sides come together for a united country."

Huh? Last year it was diversity is good, now diversity is bad.

This whole thing continues to frighten me. It has never been the Right who forbade free speech, it was always the Left who supported "Speech Codes." It was never the Right who destroyed college newspapers and their stands, it was always the Left. It was never the Right who demanded that some crimes be deemed special and called "Hate Crimes," it was always the Left who claimed special status for some minorities rather than equal rights.

This whole thing with Hussein is spinning out of control. From an election that had McCain running off supporters who called Hussein by his middle name to newspapers banning writers for using the word Hussein to the Left claiming that it was racist for people to equate Hussein with Ayers, a self-identified terrorist and white male, to Comcast in DC making special TV channels available for all Obama, all the time to Verizon telling people to watch the big show....to this. A high school tells the students they must not criticize The Chosen One and that greatness is togetherness.

Huh? If someone had done this about Bush the Lame Stream Media would have been decimated by strokes and heart attacks brought on by uncontrolled rage, yet this barely makes a ripple...

Some, filled with paranoia, have been claiming that Hussein will take over the country.

Hell, he won't have to. The Left is giving it to him.

DaytonDailyNews source

Another Leftie demonstrates a lack of knowledge

I love it when Lefties make fools of themselves and give me an opportunity to demonstrate it. Following the bouncing ball….

Matt said...
You're stupid, OK? Could you provide a link to Verizon or Comcast's information about inauguration coverage? I have doubts about the voicemail you say was sent to you. Are you aware that changing of the president peacefully is really the biggest news this week? It's not just about Mr. Obama, but also about a democratic, peaceful transfer of power. This post of yours is not putting America First (tm).

ppjakaJim said...
Matt, you are the typical Leftie.

First, you do a personal attack by calling me stupid.

Now. I gave you two links to the sources which you evidently can't figure out how to use.

So who is stupid?

And electing and installing a new president is not news. We have done it 43 times before and this is the 44th.

(Yes, there was a world before you were born!)

What is news is Verizon, a telecommunications company urging its customers to watch.

What is news is Comcast, a cable TV company with no cable competition in most of, if not all, of its government regulated markets providing an "all Obama" channel.

As the author said, that's how it is done in dictatorships, not in Constitutional Republics. (In case you don't know, the latter is us.)

Now you would think that after being shown up so thoroughly Matt would cease making a fool of himself. Nope. He isn’t that smart.

Matt said: You're still stupid, dearheart. The inauguration of a president is news. It has happened several times more than 43, by the way.

Uh Matt, you need to learn to read. I wrote:
And electing and installing a new president is not news. We have done it 43 times before and this is the 44th. Uh, you see the point??

It was news every inauguration before Tuesday, and Tuesday is just as big as every one of the others.

Regarding your supposed voicemail from Verizon, I just don't buy it. Did you record the message? Is there any way someone else can verify this message? Has anyone else recieved a similar message? No, no, and no. I have doubts that it happened. What purpose would it serve to tell people they can watch the news? It doesn't.

So, you don’t buy it. Did I record it? Matt, do you know what a link is? I gave you a link to the guy who made the claim. Do you have the vaguest knowledge of how these things work? (He’s obviously a polysci major dear chums, don’t expect him to know anything about how anything works.)

Yes, Comcast and Verizon are covering the inauguration. So is literally every news organization in the world that can afford it. Why? Again, it's big news.

Matt, you don’t seem to be able to understand. But since you can’t read, that is no surprise. The issue isn’t that they are covering the inauguration, but that Verizon has called their customers and urged them to watch it and that Comcast has devoted a special channel. That is a worship service, not news coverage. BTW – Verizon isn’t in the news business.

You hate the guy. It's apparent in how suddenly an inauguration of the most powerful person in the world is not news to you and yours. You have the right to hate him, and I wouldn't attempt to stop you from hating. Just be honest about it, OK?

Hehe. What is obvious is that you are dumb as a rock. Now. If you want to comment you are welcome. But if it has another nasty personal attack I’ll edit out what I want and see if I can demonstrate how foolish you are.
Forewarned and all that.

Obama's prayer leader has terrorist links.

One of the religious leaders invited to address Barack Obama’s inaugural prayer service Wednesday heads an Islamic group named by federal prosecutors as a co-conspirator in a terrorism-fundraising trial in Texas.

Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, is scheduled to join Christian ministers and Jewish rabbis offering prayers for the new president and his family during a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, organizers announced Friday.

Mattson’s group calls itself “the largest Muslim umbrella organization” in North America. However, in May 2007, federal prosecutors included ISNA on a list of nearly 300 co-conspirators filed in a criminal case charging that the Holy Land Foundation of Richardson, Texas, funneled more than $12 million to Hamas.

The U.S. government designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 1995.

A trial in Dallas in 2007 for the foundation and five of its leaders ended with acquittals and mistrials. However, Holy Land and the five officials were convicted of all 108 charges in a second trial last year.

The standard excuse for things like this has become that Hussein's team has done a "poor job of vetting" whoever and whatever.

That works about one time. After that, and especially on this, and with Hussein using the forbidden word, Hussein, in the ceremony, it becomes that clear that Hussein is saying to the world, "In your face!"

Now all you "oh so reasonable let's correct the wrongs of the world people by voting for The Chosen One" can stand there with smelly brown stuff all over your face.

He was raised in the Muslim faith. He toured the Muslim world while in college and spent twenty years listening to Black Liberation Theology and its connections with Jew Haters.

What didn't you understand? Obviously you understood nothing.

Link to Politico

Verizon and Comcast go all Obama

The worship service has started.

Yesterday, I was all set to write a smug, self-congratulatory post regarding my tremendous wisdom in finally dumping Comcast a few weeks ago for the complete Verizon Fios package, including cable. With Comcrap now establishing an all-Obama channel, isn’t it finally time to make the switch?

Sadly, however, Verizon did something yesterday that I think is far worse: it left a rambling, pre-recorded message on my home answering machine imploring me to watch his “historic” inaugural, using a tone that assumed we are all liberal Democrats and Obamists.

That’s the worst aspect of the Obama cult/fad/American Idol victory (or whatever you believe this is really about): we are all compelled to participate. Like it or not, Obama is being shoved down our throats through a daily pressure campaign that permeates every aspect of our lives. Resistance is truly futile.

Between Pepsi cans, newspapers, magazines, television, clothing, bumper stickers and just about anything and everything else, there is no escaping their Messiah’s divine image.

That’s EXACTLY how it’s done in North Korea, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Cuba and other assorted basketcase banana republics across the globe. Is this still America?

You know, I think tomorrow that I will wander down to my local Verizon store, pay off the early cancellation fee and get a new provider. I don't need stuff like the above and I certainly don't need to spend money with them.

Link to above's source.

I would also do the same if I did any business with Comcast. But I don't. For those of you that do there is Direct TV. And soon, at least in Tennessee, ATT will be offering cable TV over your phone lines.

Details on Comcast:

Do you need Obama coverage 24 hours a day? In several markets, Comcast cable is launching an all-Obama, On Demand channel. (In D.C., it's channel 963).

Link to above's source.

Hat tip to Newsbusters.

Obama and Germany and Obama 2.0

This is the first time that we have seen a political organizatiion directed from the White House, separate from the National Parties and with no external controls.

At the risk of being called an alarmist, you have to go back to Germany under Hitler to find such a thing.

President-elect Barack Obama announced the formation of a new group known as "Organizing for America" that aims to continue the grassroots advocacy that the former Illinois Senator began in his presidential campaign.

"As President, I will need the help of all Americans to meet the challenges that lie ahead," Obama said in a video message e-mailed to supporters (and reporters) this morning. "That's why I'm asking people like you who fought for change during the campaign to continue fighting for change in your communities."

The new group will be the flagship of "Obama 2.0" as many people have taken to calling the transformation of the political organization created during the 2008 campaign.

Washington Post

The Nazi Revolution

Why hell froze over

This is an old one, but kinda cute. Jimmy M sent it to me so I decded to offer it as a bit of logical thinking.

HELL EXPLAINED BY

CHEMISTRY STUDENT

The following is an actual question given on aUniversity of Washington chemistry mid term.

The answer by one student was so 'profound' that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :


Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,' and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting 'Oh my God.'

Hang'em High Redux

U.S. National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell on Friday said that Iran is two to three years away from having a long-range missile that could reach Europe and is continuing to produce low-enriched uranium, the raw ingredient for the fissionable material needed for a warhead.

As he prepares to leave office, McConnell told reporters that U.S. intelligence agencies lack enough evidence to prove Iran has decided to build a nuclear warhead, but he shares the alarm of outgoing CIA Director Michael Hayden that the possibility may come soon.

Said another way, "I believe they do and we should act to prevent it but I don't want to be destroyed by the Left and the Lame Stream Media the way Bush was."
Thanks Lefties. You have put another barrier up for those who are supposed to defend us. Confused? Think Jamie Gorelick and her Chinese Firewall that kept the CIA and FBI from sharing information.

Link

Hat tip to UrgentAgenda.

Obama will close GITMO

Now that Hussein has indicated that he will shut down GITMO, and I believe he will, the Left is pulling out all the stops in talking about who these people are. It appears that most of them stop just short of being Messengers of Peace.

Now I know that you know that the Left is as full of stinky brown stuff as a turkey before Thanksgiving, but I thought it might be interesting to look at the logic used.

A Seton Hall Professor of Law issued this.

From the report.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of the detainees are not determined to have committed any hostile acts against the United States or its coalition allies.

It is possible that they were members who had not yet committed a hostile act. And 45% were. As we look at all of these numbers it is important to remember that in any military type organization, only a small number are actual "fighters." The remainder are support people.

Only 8% of the detainees were characterized as al Qaeda fighters. Of the remaining detainees, 40% have no definitive connection with al Qaeda at all and 18% are have no definitive affiliation with either al Qaeda or the Taliban.

"were characterized" is a qualifier. Did the government report use it, or these writers. The Taliban and al-Qaeda are only two of the groups involved. Plus, 36% are not commented on. Since the bias is for defining the prisoners out of the "trouble" area, the lack of comment tells me they are a threat.

The Government has detained numerous persons based on mere affiliations with a large number of groups that in fact, are not on the Department of Homeland Security terrorist watchlist

So we are to believe that because DHS does not have them on a list, they shouldn't have been arrested. Let's see, the FBI doesn't have John's gang on a list so.....

Only 5% of the detainees were captured by United States forces. 86% of the detainees were arrested by either Pakistan or the Northern Alliance and turned over to United States custody.

So? If Pakistan captures bin Ladin, should we release him? (Yes, that's an overstatement, but no more than the implication of the 5% in the report.) BTW - Sudan did capture him and offer him to Clinton who said, "No." The refusal was based on some very narrow legal grounds. Does that tell you how these people think?

Finally, the population of persons deemed not to be enemy combatants - mostly Uighers - are in fact accused of more serious allegations than a great many persons still deemed to be enemy combatants.

So? I am not sure what that is supposed to prove beyond one group who is not thought to be bad as a group has more allegations than a great many persons who are not defined as a group. "If we had some ham we'd have some ham and eggs if we had some eggs, etc.

Now, what does the military say about releasing prisoners?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Tuesday that 61 former detainees from its military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appear to have returned to terrorism since their release from custody.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said 18 former detainees are confirmed as "returning to the fight" and 43 are suspected of having done in a report issued late in December by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Of course the Left doesn't want to believe these people.

Morrell said the latest figures, current through December 24, showed an 11 percent recidivism rate, up from 7 percent in a March 2008 report that counted 37 former detainees as suspected or confirmed active militants.

Rights advocates said the lack of details should call the Pentagon's assertions into question.

"Until enough information is provided to allow the press and the public to verify these claims, they need to be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism," said Jennifer Daskal, a Washington-based lawyer for Human Rights Watch.

They also won't believe this.

Citing a memo prepared for him by his staff, Hunter proceeded to discuss some of the at least 10 detainees who have been released from Guantanamo Bay, or Gitmo, only to re-join the fight against the U.S. coalition bringing democracy to Afghanistan

Among the names listed in the memo is Mohammed Yusif Yaqeb (search), also known as Mullah Shazada. Yaqeb was released in May 2003. He proceeded to become the head of Taliban (search) operations in southern Afghanistan and was killed one year later in a fight with U.S. forces.

Also named is Maulavi Abdul Ghaffar (search), released in 2002 and returned to Afghanistan. As a regional commander, Ghaffar helped carry out attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan until he was killed by Afghan forces in September 2004.
One of the more notable cases involved Mohammed Ismail (search), one of two teens held at Gitmo until he was let go last year. He was recaptured four months later fighting American troops in Afghanistan. The memo notes that at the time of his capture Ismail was carrying a letter "confirming his status as a Taliban member in good standing."

"One of the most publicized cases, Mr. Ismail, was released to great fanfare at Guantanamo," Hunter said. Ismail "did a press conference at which he thanked the United States for educating him, because we teach them to read and write at Guantanamo."

Currently, 545 detainees are housed at Gitmo, most of them members of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and their related terror groups. An additional 146 have been released and 62 have been handed over to other governments, according to the memo.

Link

Portions of the above were also posted on TalkLeft.

The British have a way with words

The Daily Mail ( UK National Paper) wrote this editorial about Obama on 1/6/2009. (for confirmation, Google "London Daily Mail Obama's Victory") Obama's Victory --

A British view

An editorial from the London Daily Mail

A victory for the hysterical Oprah Winfrey, the mad racist preacher Jeremiah Wright, the mainstream media who abandoned any sense of objectivity long ago, Europeans who despise America largely because they depend on her, comics who claim to be dangerous and fearless but would not dare attack genuinely powerful special interest groups.

A victory for Obama-worshippers everywhere. A victory for the cult of the cult. A man who has done little with his life but has written about his achievements as if he had found the cure for cancer in between winning a marathon and building a nuclear reactor with his teeth. Victory for style over substance, hyperbole over history, rabble-raising over reality. A victory for Hollywood , the most dysfunctional community in the world. Victory for Streisand, Spielberg, Soros and Sarandon. Victory for those who prefer welfare to will and interference to independence. For those who settle for group think and herd mentality rather than those who fight for individual initiative and the right to be out of step with meager political fashion. Victory for a man who is no friend of freedom. He and his people have already stated that media has to be controlled so as to be balanced, without realizing the extraordinary irony within that statement. Like most liberal zealots, the Obama worshippers constantly speak of Fox and Limbaugh, when the vast bulk of television stations and newspapers are drastically liberal and anti-conservative.

Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer said that just as pornography should be censored, so should talk radio. In other words, one of the few free and open means of popular expression may well be cornered and beaten by bullies who even in triumph cannot tolerate any criticism and opposition. A victory for those who believe the state is better qualified to raise children than the family, for those who prefer teachers' unions to teaching and for those who are naively convinced that if the West is sufficiently weak towards its enemies, war and terror will dissolve as quickly as the tears on the face of a leftist celebrity. A victory for social democracy even after most of Europe has come to the painful conclusion that social democracy leads to mediocrity, failure, unemployment, inflation, higher taxes and economic stagnation. A victory for intrusive lawyers, banal sentimentalists, social extremists and urban snobs.

Congratulations America !

Hat tip to Jimmy M

Yes. Children of all ages have got what they wanted.

It is to be seen if we want they have have got.

Where do we get such people as Susan Crawford?

That question used to be reserved for heroes. I now use it for Susan Crawford, a person so confused over the issues that she has decided not prosecute a terrorist because:

"We tortured [Mohammed al-]Qahtani," said Susan J. Crawford, in her first interview since being named convening authority of military commissions by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in February 2007. "His treatment met the legal definition of torture. And that's why I did not refer the case" for prosecution.

Listen to these terrible things that were done to him.

....interrogating him with techniques that included sustained isolation, sleep deprivation, nudity and prolonged exposure to cold, leaving him in a "life-threatening condition."

I would love to have a chat with her. The first thing I would say is:

"Susan. Torture is having to decide whether you want to burn to death in an office building or jump to your death."

Where do we get these people? I pray that we find out and send them back. The country cannot afford them.

Link

I am sure the Obama adminsitration will find a place for her.

Will Smith does propaganda for Obama

Hollywood film star Will Smith has staked his claim to play Barack Obama in a movie about his rise to become US President and America’s first black leader."

Don't you think it would be better to wait and see what he does before a movie is made? Making a movie now strikes me as pure propaganda.

And it is in the same vein as this. Link

Obama is not going to take over the country.

The country is going to give itself to Obama.

And isn't that always a dictator's path to power?

Israel attacks UN enclave

I wonder why??

Link

Weapons found in Mosque.
Hat tip to Larry P.

Waxman wants to pass GW law....

Stuff you couldn't make up, yet it's true.

WASHINGTON – The chairman of a key House committee says he wants to pass a climate change bill before Memorial Day.

California Rep. Henry Waxman said Thursday the environment and U.S. economy depend on congressional action to confront the threat of climate change. Waxman, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, spoke as he opened Congress' first hearing on climate legislation.

Link

That ranks right up there with Barney Frank telling us last July that Fannie and Freddie were okay on going...

These people have no shame....

Wicked: Coldest Temps In Over A Decade
First Day With A Low Colder Than -10 In Chicago Since 1999

Link

But if you want to find dumb in copious quantities.... visit the districts that elected this pair of know nothings... Now that is dumb.

In the meantime we have the following.

Here’s what you need to know: if an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) is directly related, i.e. causes changes in the Earth’s temperature, there would be a direct correlation between the two. As CO2 rose, we would see a comparable rise in the Earth’s temperature. This correlation does not exist.

Global warming liars, however, insist that CO2 builds up on the atmosphere over a 50 to 250 year period, but this is untrue. “Every year around April, increased CO2 absorption by plants in the Northern Hemisphere starts reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere,” notes Ashworth, “and the reduction continues until around mid-to-late August when plants start to go dormant.”

If you want to see the chart that shows CO2 lagging temperature increases, go this source and then click on the "paper on CO2 written by" Robert Ashworth link.

And it shows a simple truth. If CO2 causes global warming, the build up would occur before the warming. It doesn't.

Game. Set. Match. And would the stupid people please leave the stands? The clean up crew needs to clean up the mess you have made before it kills us all.

Torture, Waterboarding and Intelligence

The Left is now going into a tizzy with the expectation that Obama will immediately close GITMO, and even a bigger tizzy over what is to be done the prisoners held there. A secondary issue is that Newsweek, of all places, has now started hedging around over torture, or at least the accuracy of the results of what they call torture.

An example of this is posted in Talk Left. The following is an expansion of a comment I published there this morning. The Newsweek article is here.

Definitions - Waterboarding, sleep deprivation, loud noise, temperature extremes and insulting cultural mores are not torture.

Waterboarding is rigorous interrogation that should not be routinely used, but reserved for situations where the expected results are important, and should be supervised at the highest levels.

I provide that so someone can't later claim I am for actual torture. Having defined that, I will say again that information obtained, either true or false is helpful, and that all information can be vetted for accuracy. And even then the results may not be 100% accurate.

Let me provide an example.
“Son, where did you and Bob go last night?”
“Oh, we went to the movie.”
“Was it good? What’d you see?”
“Marley.”

Now you, knowing that Marley is no longer being shown at any movie theaters know that you have been lied to. It also lends credence to the information that someone has given you that they saw Bob and your son cruising in an area that is known to be used for street dope sales.

Intelligence information does not always consist of, a la Jack Bauer, "The bomb is in a trash can at 24th and Main!" It requires careful putting together of a mosaic of information to reach a conclusion.

But we all make decisions based on partial information on many things. Most of them are not important, some are more so.

The Doctor says, “We need to do exploratory surgery. Now, we have had good results, but there is some hazard…” Should you decline or decide to accept the risk to allow an early diagnosis and treatment?

And if you want to really see an example, just read the warnings and side effects of various drugs.

The Plame affair, to return more closely to the issues of intelligence, is instructive. Wilson was sent to Niger to determine if the reports that Iraq had purchased uranium was true. He reported to the CIA that Iraq had not, but that the ex-PM of Niger had said that they had sought to do so. The CIA found that this information was useful because it confirmed other information.

Wilson later claimed that the purchasing documents were false, although he admitted that he may have misspoke to the Washington Post because he could not known that since he had not seen the document. And they were false, but of course that wasn’t the point, said point being lost in all the brouhaha over Mrs. Wilson’s name.

The “attempt” to was correct and confirmed that Saddam was determined to produce nuclear weapons. We now know that he had not yet done so, but we also know that he had plans in place and was working towards doing that as soon as sanctions were removed.

Senate Intelligence Committee report.

As UN Chief Inspector David Kay said, “….now believes that any weapons the Iraqis had were probably destroyed before 1998. "There were continuing clandestine activities but increasingly driven more by corruption than driven by purposeful directed weapons programmes," argued the 63-year-old former diplomat and sleuth.”

Guardian article.

How does the thought of a corrupt regime selling nuclear and biological weapons to al-Qaida sound?

But even prior to that comes the question, how should the prisoner be designated?
It is obvious to anyone, I believe; if the prisoner is a prisoner of war, then the GC rules apply. And if they fall into certain other categories the GC rules apply.
But these prisoners meet no category of the GC. They are not POW's. They are illegal combatants, terrorists, guerrillas. There is no nation state to return them to after hostilities cease. There is no army that they wear a uniform for. When you set them free they are apt to attack again.

Citing a memo prepared for him by his staff, Hunter proceeded to discuss some of the at least 10 detainees who have been released from Guantanamo Bay, or Gitmo, only to re-join the fight against the U.S. coalition bringing democracy to Afghanistan…….

One of the more notable cases involved Mohammed Ismail (search), one of two teens held at Gitmo until he was let go last year. He was recaptured four months later fighting American troops in Afghanistan. The memo notes that at the time of his capture Ismail was carrying a letter "confirming his status as a Taliban member in good standing."

"One of the most publicized cases, Mr. Ismail, was released to great fanfare at Guantanamo," Hunter said. Ismail "did a press conference at which he thanked the United States for educating him, because we teach them to read and write at Guantanamo."

Link to source.

It would be interesting to see what would have happened had the Bush administration designated these people POWs. Under GC rules they would be retained until hostilities ended, which in this undeclared war could be years and years.

If that had happened, would we now be seeing the Left claim they are not POWs and demand they have Combatant Status Review Tribunals to see if they should be released? (That is how the process works.)

Link to source.

I mention the above because until you decide that, you can go no further, unless you are of the opinion everyone is to be treated as a POW, except differently.

The "difference" is a requirement for a full up US type criminal justice trial with all the rules of evidence, etc.

The above, I believe, is a accurate statement of the beliefs of the Left.

The result of those beliefs, I believe, has now dawned on some of the media, as well as Obama and some of his staff. Said result is that guilty terrorists may well be set free to kill again. And that information obtained through rigorous interrogation is useful and is needed in what is a guerilla war.

So with Bush gone you are apt to see a good bit of twisting and turning as the realities of the world sinks in, and that the responsibility now rests with Obama. He will reap the success and he will reap the failures. So have all Presidents.

Bits and pieces and Dirty Harry and Bush and Monroe and Mathews

The Chosen one continues his march into the hearts of his countrymen, women and Chris Mathews. I read somewhere Chris will get to interview his idol. I am sure the questions will approach the intensity of a 14 year old boy interviewing Marilyn Monroe... leg tingle and all.

Hat tip to ellensplace.

Eastwood's latest movie, Dirty Harry on blood pressure medicine, continues to collect raves from the critics. The plot is familiar. Harry is a grump. Dummies bother Harry.
Harry kicks butt. Harry is tamed by wise and kind immigrants.......

Has Gollywood ever made a movie in which the immigrants are not wise, kind and hard working?

From the state of Washington, aka another place Democrats stole an election, Greg W sends a few jabs at lawyers. My personal favorite is this one.

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

I just wandered by the kitchen TV and heard Bob Betchel, Democratic something or other, saying kind things about Bush. You know you are totally beat when someone like Betchel says nice things about you.

Bush's press conference yesterday was somewhat interesting. He actually made a few hard points and defended himself.. To damn bad he didn't do that over the past eight years. I found this bit especially funny.

I appreciate — I do appreciate working with you. My friends say, what is it like to deal with the press corps? I said, these are just people trying to do the best they possibly can.

Yes, W. The best to prove that you were criminal, stupid and otherwise bad.

And then this one, speaking of Hussein.

And then he’ll come back and go through the inauguration and then he’ll walk in the Oval Office, and there will be a moment when the responsibilities of the President land squarely on his shoulders.

Yes, and that scares the hell out of me.

And it is hard to dispute that Bush just doesn't understand why the Repubs are in serious shape.

Q — that you think the Republican Party needs to be more inclusive. Who needs to hear that message inside the Republican Party?

THE PRESIDENT: You see, I am concerned that, in the wake of the defeat, that the temptation will be to look inward and to say, well, here’s a litmus test you must adhere to.

This party will come back. But the party’s message has got to be that different points of view are included in the party.

That's fine, W. But McCain tried to out Democrat a Democrat and as the saying goes, "You can't out piss a skunk." People don't vote for Democrat A vs Democrat B in the General election. The primaries were over months before.

BTW - I read somewhere that Hussein will be sworn in as Barack Hussein Obama. So much for "don't insult him by using his middle name," eh? I wonder if it is possible for all those on McCain's side who counseled him to run off people who called him, "Hussein" understand how stupid they were and how badly they got beat.

And just one more, and this one made me ache all over.

THE PRESIDENT: Gotcha. I have often said that history will look back and determine that which could have been done better, or, you know, mistakes I made. Clearly putting a “Mission Accomplished” on a aircraft carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message. We were trying to say something differently, but nevertheless, it conveyed a different message. Obviously, some of my rhetoric has been a mistake.

No, W. What you should have said back then was, "I was saying thank you to the ship's crew for a successful job. And if you have a problem with that, to heck with you."

George, dear George. You are the President who will go down in history as proving that you cannot pet snakes.

Climate of corruption.... Memphis style

Oh, the article won't tell you but His Honor is a Democrat.

$91,000 question: Private payment to mayor amid push for bus deal fuels federal probe
By Marc Perrusquia (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Monday, January 12, 2009

While he was publicly pressing for redevelopment of the Greyhound station property Downtown, Mayor Willie Herenton privately held an option to buy the land and eventually made more than $90,000 on the deal.

The payment, known to just a handful of close associates, is now the focus of a federal grand jury, according to an investigation by The Commercial Appeal.

Herenton's financial involvement in the deal -- pieced together by the newspaper using sources and a trail of records -- came after years of lobbying by the mayor's office to relocate the eyesore Greyhound station.

The lobbying resulted in the 2005 approval by the Memphis Area Transit Authority of a $16.5 million plan to build a new station near the airport to house both Greyhound and city buses.

For years, Herenton has walked a precarious line between his public duties and private business interests

Link to Commercial Appeal story.