Stokes County Ward Map

According to a source, the King folks are already crying about it. I think it's a pretty good map... I would like to see the school board elected from these same wards also.

UPDATE: Here's a message from the President of the King Chamber of Commerce:

Chamber Members,

Barry Amburn, our Chamber President ask that this be called to your attention:

Today's issue of the Stokes News shows that the Stokes County Commissioners are meeting tonight at 6:00 P.M. to discuss changing Stokes County from an at large election system to a ward system. The map shows that the two King precincts will be split into two different wards. As I understand it, this action was taken after a closed session late Monday night. I have not had a chance to confirm the last item, but the first two sentences are public record, at least. I don't understand how this move benefits Stokes County. I do, however, see that this is a way of diluting the strength of the King voter, making our vote less effective. I believe that the entire Chamber needs to have their attention drawn to this.
Barry

I like how Barry states something as fact, but then says he can't confirm it...

How does this not benefit Stokes County when the whole county will be represented on the board???

The Worst Big Government Conservative

By Jim Powell

A lot of conservatives seem to love Theodore Roosevelt, perhaps because he came across as a rugged individualist and a strong president. It didn't hurt that he looked great in a cowboy hat.

Yet TR did much to increase the scope of federal power, and saddle us with a federal income tax. Congress had enacted an income tax in 1894 but the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down the following year. With no political opportunities to reintroduce the idea, its promoters gave up. Then, in 1906, TR began giving speeches saying that America needed a federal income tax with ever steeper rates. He inspired Cordell Hull, Democratic congressman from Tennessee, to draft a proposed constitutional amendment permitting an income tax, and after it was ratified, an income tax bill. President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law in 1913.

Maybe we need to rename the BP... :-)

Rumsfeld Speaks, Democrats Screech

By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.

WASHINGTON --This week in his speech before the national convention of the American Legion, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld made an unconscionable faux pas. He defended our present policy in Iraq and our war on terror by citing historic events and quoting Winston Churchill and Georges Clemenceau. That is a rude way to discuss policy with one's Democratic opponents. The historical record is a particularly sore subject with the likes of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, who inveighed against Rumsfeld's speech as "reckless." History has not been going his way for a while. Reid's equivalent in the House of Representative, the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, spoke of the Secretary's impairment...and she was not referring to his golf swing. Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, accused Rumsfeld of questioning the critics' patriotism.

They Shot the Wrong Lincoln

In addition to supporting Democrat Joe Lieberman over Republican Alan Schlesinger in Connecticut, President Bush is supporting the Democrat over the Republican in Rhode Island, too. In the Republican primary, Bush supports Lincoln Chafee -- who votes with Bush on the important issues less often than Sen. Lieberman does -- over the only actual Republican in the race, Stephen Laffey.

Apart from Bush, the only person who hasn't figured out that Lincoln Chafee is a Democrat is Lincoln Chafee. As the expression goes, if Chafee switched parties, the average IQ on both sides of the aisle would go up.

It's hard to figure why Bush would support a half-wit like Lincoln Chafee. Maybe he believes his own poll numbers and is trying to help the conservatives by endorsing their opponents.

Ann Coulter

Bush supported Arlen Specter over a bona fide conservative as well. Does anyone else sense a trend here?

'Tomkitten's' 'first poop' goes on display in New York

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have yet to show their baby daughter off in public, but eager fans were given an unusual preview with the chance to see a bronze cast depicting her first solid stool.

The scatological sculpture - more doodoo than Dada - is purportedly cast from 19-week old Suri's first bowel movement and will be shown at the Capla Kesting gallery in Brooklyn, New York, before being auctioned off for charity.

And this, children, is why they call it "Hollyweird."

Schoolboy snares Miss Universe Australia for school dance

Finding a date for the school prom is often a daunting business for high school students worldwide. Not so for Jordan Avramides from Sydney, Australia.

At his formal end of year dance sixteen-year old Avramides will be walking in with the undisputed belle of the ball on his arm -- Miss Universe Australia 2006, Erin McNaught.

Way to go, kid.

Lighter News?

Fox News

Future CBS News anchor Katie Couric is looking remarkably thin in a new magazine spread. But it's not the result of some miracle diet.

The photo of the perky newswoman was digitally altered by editors of Watch magazine, which is owned by CBS. Executives say the photo department "got a little zealous," and CBS News President Sean McManus says he was "surprised and disappointed" by the manipulation.

But Couric says she prefers the original photo because "there's more of me to love."

Pricey Comments?

Fox News

Andrew Young, former U.N. ambassador under president Carter, recently charged that Jewish, Korean and Arab grocers "rip off" black Americans by overcharging for "stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables."

Those comments forced him to resign as head of a Wal-Mart advocacy group called Working Families for Wal-Mart, and now he is being sued as well.

The California Korean American Grocery Retailer Association is suing Young — and Wal-Mart itself — saying Young's false attack hurt their sales.

The Los Angeles Times reports the group is asking for $7.5 million in damages, as well as an unspecified punitive award.

Honest Assessment

Fox News

A Palestinian spokesman and member of Hamas has offered a refreshingly honest assessment of Palestinian problems.

Spokesman Ghazi Hamad calls life in Gaza "miserable and wretched," but he's not pinning the blame entirely on the Israelis.

The senior Hamas official says Palestinians have been "attacked by the bacteria of stupidity," saying: "The anarchy, chaos, pointless murders, the plundering of lands. What do all of these have to do with the occupation?"

Hamad continues, "We're used to blaming our mistakes on others. We are still trapped by the mentality of conspiracy theories," adding, "We have lost our sense of direction."

Plame Out

The ridiculous end to the scandal that distracted Washington.

By Christopher Hitchens

I had a feeling that I might slightly regret the title ("Case Closed") of my July 25 column on the Niger uranium story. I have now presented thousands of words of evidence and argument to the effect that, yes, the Saddam Hussein regime did send an important Iraqi nuclear diplomat to Niger in early 1999. And I have not so far received any rebuttal from any source on this crucial point of contention. But there was always another layer to the Joseph Wilson fantasy. Easy enough as it was to prove that he had completely missed the West African evidence that was staring him in the face, there remained the charge that his nonreport on a real threat had led to a government-sponsored vendetta against him and his wife, Valerie Plame.

In his July 12 column in the Washington Post, Robert Novak had already partly exposed this paranoid myth by stating plainly that nobody had leaked anything, or outed anyone, to him. On the contrary, it was he who approached sources within the administration and the CIA and not the other way around. But now we have the final word on who did disclose the name and occupation of Valerie Plame, and it turns out to be someone whose opposition to the Bush policy in Iraq has—like Robert Novak's—long been a byword in Washington. It is particularly satisfying that this admission comes from two of the journalists—Michael Isikoff and David Corn—who did the most to get the story wrong in the first place and the most to keep it going long beyond the span of its natural life.

Counting On Economic Incentives

By John Hood

Public officials who grant corporate subsidies claim that they’ve done the math, and that the taxpayers are net beneficiaries. Something is being left out of the equation.

Wednesday Funnies :-)

David Letterman: “Top Things Overheard Outside ‘Snakes On a Plane”’: What’s it about?; So I can’t bring a bottle of water on a plane but snakes are OK?; Hi, two adults and one snake, please; I didn’t care for the “Snakes in the Theater” promotion; Exact same thing happened to me last time I flew Delta; No, Mr. Gibson, I’m not Jewish.

Jay Leno: I got an invitation to [Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday] party. You see, it says you are cordially invited to the party. It runs from 8:00 to whenever Hillary shows up. ... President Bush said the United States is still under the threat of attack and will continue to be right up until Election Day. ... I don’t want to say President Bush’s approval rating is dropping, but I understand there’s a sign outside of Crawford, Texas, that now says, “Home of Cindy Sheehan.” ... There’s a hurricane watch for tropical storm Ernesto. Let me tell you something. These hurricanes are getting smart. They know a Hispanic hurricane has a better chance of getting into the country. ... This is finally a happy story in the Middle East. In the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants released those two Fox News journalists. They were released unharmed... The Palestinians said they just couldn’t take any more of the pro-Bush stories. ... The formation of the new international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon was dealt a setback when the French government only committed to sending 400 troops instead of the thousands of troops they originally agreed to send. Actually, it’s not their fault. It turns out the French only have 400 troops that can walk forward.

THE WILL TO WIN

DOES THE WEST STILL HAVE IT?

By DONALD RUMSFELD

August 30, 2006 -- NY POST EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is adapted from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's speech yesterday at the American Legion National Convention.

Our Schools Need Competition Now

This week's back-to-school ads offer amazing bargains on lightweight backpacks and nifty school supplies. All those businesses scramble to offer us good stuff at low prices. It's amazing what competition does for consumers. The power to say no to one business and yes to another is awesome.

Too bad we don't apply that idea to schools themselves.

Education bureaucrats and teachers unions are against it. They insist they must dictate where kids go to school, what they study, and when. When I went on TV to say that it's a myth that a government monopoly can educate kids effectively, hundreds of union teachers demonstrated outside my office demanding that I apologize and "re-educate" myself by teaching for a week. (I'll show you the demonstration and what happened next this Friday night, when ABC updates my "Stupid in America" TV special.)

The teachers union didn't like my "government monopoly" comment, but even the late Albert Shanker, once president of the American Federation of Teachers, admitted that our schools are virtual monopolies of the state -- run pretty much like Cuban and North Korean schools. He said, "It's time to admit that the public education system operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody's role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It's no surprise that our school system doesn't improve. It more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy."

When a government monopoly limits competition, we can't know what ideas would bloom if competition were allowed. Surveys show that most American parents are satisfied with their kids' public schools, but that's only because they don't know what their kids might have had!

As Nobel Prize-winning economist F.A. Hayek wrote, "[C]ompetition is valuable only because, and so far as, its results are unpredictable and on the whole different from those which anyone has, or could have, deliberately aimed at."

John Stossel

Call me crazy. I blame terrorists.

Who is A. K. Dewdney? He's an adjunct professor of biology at the University of Western Ontario, and he has pieced together the truth about what happened on 9/11. You may be familiar with the official version: "To account for the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush White House has produced a scenario involving Arab hijackers flying large aircraft into American landmarks," writes the eminent Ontario academic. "We, like millions of other 9/11 skeptics, have found this explanation to be inconsistent with the facts of the matter."

Instead, he argues, a mid-air plane switch took place on three of the jets. "The passengers of one of the flights died in an aerial explosion over Shanksville, Pa.," he writes, "and the remaining passengers (and aircraft) were disposed of in the Atlantic Ocean." Most of us swallowed "the Bush-Cheney scenario" because we were unaware that, when two planes are less than half a kilometre apart, they appear as a single blip on the radar screen. Thus, the covert switch. Instead of crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the flights were diverted by FBI agents on board to Harrisburg, Pa., where the passengers from all three planes were herded onto UA Flight 175 and flown on to Cleveland Hopkins and their deaths. By then, unmanned Predator drones had been substituted for the passenger jets and directed into their high-profile targets. The original planes and their passengers were finished off over the Atlantic.

Mark Steyn

The really amusing irony here is that even in the remote case that any of the conspiracy theories are valid, the conspiracy theorists are such a bunch of flaming nutballs, they provide an almost impeccable cover for the would-be dastards.

Gas may be headed back near $2

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The recent drop in prices at the pump could pick up steam, driving gasoline sharply lower in coming months, USA Today reported Wednesday.

'We'll be closer to $2 than $3 come Thanksgiving,' Fred Rozell, a gas analyst at at the Oil Price Information Service, told the newspaper.

This is great news, hope it last. :)

Conspiracy 101

Fox News

From the wonderful world of education: Democratic Gov. John Lynch is blasting a tenured professor at the University of New Hampshire for telling his students that the U.S. government planned and executed the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Lynch called psychology professor William Woodward's beliefs "completely crazy and offensive" and questioned why he's allowed to teach.

But the New Hampshire Union Leader reports the school's president is standing behind the professor, who is part of the conspiracy group Scholars for 9/11 Truth, as well as several anti-war organizations.

Woodward, meanwhile, says he hopes to teach a new class that would explore Sept. 11 in psychological terms.

Revised Opinion?

Fox News

GOP Sen. John McCain, who upset some supporters by speaking at Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University this year, now says he'd consider speaking at Bob Jones University in South Carolina — another conservative school he blasted in 2000 for its ban on interracial dating.

McCain tells The State newspaper in South Carolina that the school has made "considerable progress" since he ripped President Bush for speaking there during his presidential campaign six years ago.

At the time, McCain said if he were invited to speak he'd tell the university that its interracial dating policy "is stupid, it's idiotic, and it is incredibly cruel to many people."

Kerry's Theory

Fox News

John Kerry may have declined to contest the results of the 2004 presidential election in Ohio when he conceded the state to President Bush, but he's now suggesting that the state was stolen by Republican election officials.

In a fundraising e-mail for Ted Strickland, who's running for governor against Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Kerry writes that Blackwell "used the power of his state office to try to intimidate Ohioans and suppress the Democratic vote" and to "abuse our democracy and threaten basic voting rights."

Blackwell's spokesman says the facts contradict Kerry's claim, adding: "People will say anything for money."

Housing Hoax

Fox News

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is assuring the public that it still plans to demolish 5,000 units of public housing as part of it's revitalization plan for New Orleans, after a man claiming to be a senior housing official convinced a reconstruction conference that the agency had reversed its decision.

Forty-two-year-old Andy Bichlbaum managed to address the crowd from the same podium as Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco by impersonating a top aide to Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson, saying HUD had failed the city and would go to elaborate lengths to move displaced residents back into the vacant projects.

Bichlbaum claims the prank was meant to highlight HUD's failure to provide for New Orleans' poorest citizens. A HUD spokesman called the hoax cruel and "terribly sad."

Gov. Arnold tosses school moral codes

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tossed out all sexual moral conduct codes at colleges, private and Christian schools, daycare centers and other facilities throughout his state, if the institutions have any students who get state assistance.

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would require all businesses and groups receiving state funding -- even if it's a state grant for a student -- to condone homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality.

There is no exception for faith-based organizations or business owners with sincerely held religious convictions, critics note.

Contrary to what most on the left think, the idea of a separation of church and state as conceived by the founders was mostly meant to protect the church. I have no sympathy for the churches in California, they have brought this on themselves. No, not by ignoring the political process, as WND suggests, but by taking a bite out of the redistributionist apple.

On a side note, a pox on the pandering punditry of the right for attempting to sell Arnold as a "pragmatic" conservative. Watch carefully as they anoint Giuliani with the same snake oil next year. Watch also as the adoring throngs of GOP lemmings line up and say, "Please sir, I want some more."

In The Footsteps of Bin Laden - CNN Special

Jay S. Parsons opines:

After watching the CNN special about Osama Bin Laden, I am struck by the way Osama seems to be in essence a rich man's brat with a psychopathic homicidal slant. His arrogance and self-aggrandizement would be simply pathetic if he wasn't enthusiastically orchestrating the mass murder of innocent people to further his own situation. His business of promoting himself with propaganda upon flimsy evidence of doing anything meriting acclaim is laughable. His media appearances exhibit an attempt at romanticizing the particular condescending bohemian lifestyle for which he has acquired a taste. And putridly cool is his pseudo-intellectually pious demeanor and his subdued narcissistic attitude while basking in the limelight of numerous sycophants and fellow travelers. He is less the principled warrior, engaging in incrementalism with regard to his intended victims (at first eschewing civilian targets in favor of military targets, then, after experiencing no deterring denouncement among Muslims, callously expanding his deadly rhetoric and his calculated rapaciousness to all), and he is much more the merchant of death, organizing Al Qaeda along corporate lines with himself as CEO and pedaling death by the plane load through his loyal militant Islamic minions. Little by little he has learned how to manipulate the emotions of others and how to make airhead self-absorbed women swoon for his sake and how to make hate-filled wannabe men murder for his sake all under the guise and cachet of a religion; that skill is built upon some kind of talent, no doubt. Over the years, similar talent has been exhibited by the likes of Charles Manson. Come to think of it, Bin Laden might have some serious commonality with Charles Manson; although Charlie, a small-scale operator, hasn't had Bin Laden's rich-kid blues.

JonBenet suspect charges dropped

A man arrested in Thailand and accused of killing US child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey will not be charged with the murder, prosecutors say. The case against John Mark Karr was dropped after forensic tests found that his DNA did not match that discovered at the scene of the crime.

At least this creepy dude is off the street.

UNIFIL Not Neutral?

Fox News

The U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL has been criticized for doing little to stop the fighting in southern Lebanon. But one critic points out they did plenty: by advertising Israeli troop movements on the Internet.

Writing in the conservative Weekly Standard, Zionist Organization of America's Lori Lowenthal Marcus notes that daily postings by the organization listed precise information about IDF deployments and weaponry, even specifying the placement of Israeli safety structures, sometimes just 30 minutes after they were built.

Marcus claims UNIFIL also violated its mandate requiring "impartiality and objectivity," never once describing Hezbollah movements or locations in any significant detail.

Dumb People News... :-)

Woman Crashes When Teaching Dog to Drive

BEIJING

A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.

Saddam's cartoon capers

Yahoo News

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is being made to watch his appearance in cult cartoon South Park while he is behind bars.

Remembering the Gipper

“We’ve come to a moment in our history when party labels are unimportant. Philosophy is all important. Little men with loud voices cry doom, saying little is good in America. They create fear and uncertainty among us. Millions of Americans, especially our own sons and daughters, are seeking a cause they can believe in. There is a hunger in this country today—a hunger for spiritual guidance. People yearn once again to be proud of their country and proud of themselves, and to have confidence in themselves. And there’s every reason why they should be proud. Some may have failed America, but America has never failed us, and there is so much to be proud of in this land.”

Ronald Reagan

Our Worst Former President, Again

By Jed Babbin

Jimmy Carter is at it again. It was only about two weeks ago when the former president said, in an interview with the German magazine, Der Spiegel, that Israel was unjustified in attacking Lebanon. Now, speaking to the British Daily Telegraph, he's condemning British PM Tony Blair for being too compliant and subservient to President Bush.

RE: Reiner: Gibson come clean on 'Passion'

First, Reiner seems to have spent most of the last thirty years trying very hard to live up to the "Meathead" moniker. Based on the last two or three public utterances I've heard from him, he seems to be getting better at it.

The Passion of the Christ is religious art in exactly the same vein as Michaelangelo's Pieta or his Cistene Chapel frescoes. It is like the paintings of the Flemish masters. As with that art, the intent was to make the words on the pages of scripture come to life. Gibson attempted to give a faithful portrayal of the events described in the Gospels from Gethsemane to Golgotha. In my opinion, he did a remarkable job.

One of the aspects of the passion story that has been soft-peddled in recent decades is the absolute brutality of Jesus' treatment at the hands of the Romans. Pontius Pilate was a sadistic butcher who had been warned by the Roman emperor Tiberius to lighten up on multiple occasions. Following the crucifixion of Jesus and other events in Jerusalem, complaints from Roman citizens about Pilate's sadistic tendencies prompted Tiberius to recall him to Rome. Gibson brought the brutality of that episode to viewers in a way that was almost physically painful.

Responsibility for the trial and execution of Jesus has been an item of contention for centuries. Gibson did a masterful job of portraying the implicit and explicit collusion between the Tetrarchy, the Sanhedron, and the Roman prefecture in accomplishing the public execution of a man who was acknowledged as a prophet of God.

The only way anyone could rationally assert that Passion was anti-Semitic would be if they also asserted that the Gospels are anti-Semitic as well. Maybe that is what Reiner believes, but if so, it makes little sense for him to insist that Gibson take responsibility for it. It is a fact that the Jews have Christ's blood on their hands. They handed him over to the Romans to be tortured and crucified. They had to djin up evidence of sedition in order to get the Romans involved. Their complicity is no less than that of someone who hires a hit-man to have someone killed. "Meathead" Reiner's assertions are exactly equivalent to those of every other race pimp who cries racism when bad behavior by members of an ethnic or racial group is reported.

The real question here is, why would anyone take anything Reiner says seriously?

Reiner: Gibson come clean on 'Passion'

Rob Reiner says Gibson must acknowledge 'Passion of Christ' anti-semitic

Mel Gibson's apology for making drunken anti-Semitic remarks isn't enough to redeem him, actor-producer Rob Reiner said. The actor also must acknowledge that "his work reflects anti-Semitism," particularly the 2004 hit movie "The Passion of the Christ," Reiner told Associated Press Radio.

I haven't seen "The Passion of Christ." For those who have, did you think the movie reflected anti-Semitism???

Emmy Parodies Planecrash Hours After Kentucky Accident

Hot Air Blog

This looks like a case of awful timing more than awful taste (and yes, we’re aware it’s a Lost parody); nevertheless, it’s going to be a night to remember for NBC, the Emmys and Conan O’Brien.

Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson to Build Movie Studio on the Moon :-)

Move Reflects Dwindling Career Options on Earth, Insiders Say

The Borowitz Report

Embattled actors Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson served notice to the entertainment industry that they intend to keep marching to the beat of a different drum by announcing today that they will build the first movie studio on the moon.

Industry insiders speculated that the actors' decision to build the first lunar movie studio was motivated in part by their dwindling career options on the planet Earth.

"Tom Cruise just got dropped by Paramount for being too crazy, which in the movie business is really saying something," said Buddy Schlantz, a veteran talent agent and observer of the Hollywood scene. "And Mel Gibson can't get arrested, except on the Pacific Coast Highway."

But in a press conference at Cape Canaveral today, the two actors denied that the state of their earthly careers had caused them to shift their attention moonward, with Mr. Gibson telling reporters, "The great thing about the moon is that it isn't controlled by one specific group of people, if you know what I mean."

When a reporter noted that the moon has no people at all, Mr. Cruise became argumentative: "Who told you that? Psychiatrists? Brooke Shields? That is such a load of crap!"

According to Mr. Schlantz, Mr. Cruise's departure for the moon could result in the first public appearance of his daughter, Suri Cruise.

"Like Paramount, Suri has been trying to put some distance between herself and Tom," he said. "If he leaves the planet, she'll come out of hiding."

If Kerry had been president in WWII...

Speaking of Chavez

The Ugo Chavez Traveling Circus

He has the potential to become a very powerful international figure...

I guess it depends on what is meant by powerful. He has the potential to make the gullible Western powers dance on the end of a string, like Saddam Hussein or Kim Jong Il, but he has very little power or potential power on his own. Venezuela doesn't have enough of a military to be concerned with. Even if he were to purchase or develop nuclear weapons, the wherewithal to deliver them here is beyond him. The only thing he could probably muster would be a strong opposition to any adventurism we might undertake.

...I think we should all be a little more concerned about (and aware of) the state of Venezuela.

Careful, the neocons will hear you. That's what got us into Iraq.

Really, the biggest threat Chavez poses is that someone will actually take him seriously. He is in the business of polemics. Anyone who takes him seriously will be forced to choose a side in the big, global football game. In the good old days, we had Presidents who would watch these clowns and then arrange for them to have an "accident" when they got too big for their britches. Now we have Presidents who screw around with the half-wits in the UN and who treat bellicose, tinpot dictators and rag-tag terrorist outfits as if they had equal standing with the bona fide nation-states of the world.

RE: Chavez says Israel's action in Lebanon "worse" than Hitler

Sometimes I think Chavez is just mad that he missed out on the Cold War. Last month he was in Belarus, stirring up the tired old Soviet Lukashenko. At the moment, no one really takes him seriously, which is a good thing. He's kind of the Howard Dean of international politics: most people know he's just venting to hear the lovely sound of his own voice. That makes him a useful idiot for the world socialists.

The guy may not be taken seriously enough. He has the potential to become a very powerful international figure and has the potential oil wealth to get him a lot closer to that goal. He's a close neighbor of ours, and I think we should all be a little more concerned about (and aware of) the state of Venezuela.

RE: A Night in the Life of an Illegal Immigrant

Sounds interesting. Does the $15 include round-trip transportation to and from your hotel or an airport shuttle? If so, what a bargain!

Chavez says Israel's action in Lebanon "worse" than Hitler

Visiting Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has denounced Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon as "genocide," likening its action to war crimes committed by Germany's Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

"Israel often criticizes Hitler ... but they have done the same thing, perhaps even worse," Chavez told reporters Friday in a briefing during his six-day visit to China.

Sometimes I think Chavez is just mad that he missed out on the Cold War. Last month he was in Belarus, stirring up the tired old Soviet Lukashenko. At the moment, no one really takes him seriously, which is a good thing. He's kind of the Howard Dean of international politics: most people know he's just venting to hear the lovely sound of his own voice. That makes him a useful idiot for the world socialists.

A Night in the Life of an Illegal Immigrant

Fox News

Tourists taking in Mexican culture can now experience what's being touted as an extreme sport in the central state of Hidalgo.

For the small price of $15, visitors can spend the night as an illegal immigrant crossing the Rio Grande led by a masked guide named Poncho. The mock journey is staged at Eco Alberto nature park, which was financed in part by the Mexican government but is communally owned.

It's there that participants begin their six-hour long migration, scaling walls, hiding in tunnels and riding blindfolded in a pickup truck.

Organizers say the purpose of the experience is to build empathy for migrants by embarking on a personal spiritual journey.

The 'Hole' Truth?

Fox News

The tireless work of the blogosphere has now raised serious doubts about an alleged Israeli aircraft attack on a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance on July 23.

The incident generated considerable news coverage and seemed to support allegations of deliberate Israeli atrocities. Numerous news agencies reported that the ambulance had taken a direct missile hit on the roof, in the middle of the Red Cross flag.

But comparisons of different photos of the vehicle and of similar vehicles suggest that the hole in the roof had been there all along, previously filled by a vent.

And a comparison by the photo weblog zombietime.com of a number of pictures of the ambulance showed considerable rust around apparent bullet holes, indicating that whatever damage had been done to it happened long before the current conflict.

What Part of the War on Terrorism Do Democrats Support?

By Ann Coulter

This year's Democratic plan for the future is another inane sound bite designed to trick American voters into trusting them with national security.

RE: RE: RE: No Comment Needed

Steve: ...Strother says as he munches down his Big Mac and fries.

I don't eat there.

RE: FDA Eases Limits on Plan B Sales

Are anti-Plan B-ers also anti-birth control? Just wondering.

Groups opposed to birth control are likely to be opposed to Plan B since it is just another form of contraception. I expect Roman Catholic advocacy groups and certain protestant groups are the likely members of the set that would oppose Plan B.

RE: RE: No Comment Needed

Yeah, right.

Too bad we still suck.

...Strother says as he munches down his Big Mac and fries.

FDA Eases Limits on Plan B Sales

From the AP:

Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription - but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials ruled Thursday, capping a contentious 3-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive.

Girls 17 and younger still will need a doctor's note to buy the pills, called Plan B, the Food and Drug Administration told manufacturer Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The compromise decision is a partial victory for women's advocacy and medical groups that say eliminating sales restrictions could cut in half the nation's 3 million annual unplanned pregnancies.

The pills are a concentrated dose of the same drug found in many regular birth-control pills. When a woman takes the pills within 72 hours of unprotected sex, they can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. If she already is pregnant, the pills have no effect.

Are anti-Plan B-ers also anti-birth control? Just wondering.

RE: No Comment Needed

Astronomers Vote to Strip Pluto of Planetary Status

Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930.

The new definition of what is — and isn't — a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

No Comment Needed

The Left and crime

The left's ideology on crime, including their disdain for property crimes, has spread across the political spectrum to all who wish to be considered up to date. That ideology is essentially the same on both sides of the Atlantic but in Britain it has achieved far greater unchallenged dominance.

Among the dogmas of the left is that putting people in prison fails to reduce crime and that the social "root causes" of crime must be dealt with to prevent it beforehand and that "rehabilitation" through various programs "in the community" are more effective than locking up criminals.

None of this is new and the rationales for it go back at least two centuries. What is remarkable is how mountains of hard evidence to the contrary have been ignored, evaded, or simply lied about, on both sides of the Atlantic.

David Fraser's book "A Land Fit for Criminals" examines that evidence at length and exposes the fraudulence of the claims used to try to justify continuing to be lenient to criminals as crime rates have soared in Britain.

There are similar mountains of evidence against the left's crime dogmas in the United States and this evidence is similarly ignored, evaded or lied about by those on the left. It is just that the left faces stronger opposition here so that it has not achieved the pervasive dominance that it has in Britain -- yet.

Thomas Sowell

Burns' Big Mouth?

Fox News

Incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns is already in some political trouble in his Montana re-election fight and may be in some more with his conservative base.

Burns referred to his house painter as a "nice little Guatemalan man" and joked that one of his maintenance employees has refused to show his green card.

Burns has made illegal immigration a central issue in his campaign and a spokesman insists the workers are legal residents.

But conservative group The American Cause says, "A U.S. senator hiring illegal immigrants is not a joke," while a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform calls the senator's mockery "a pretty good indication of why we have 12 million people breaking the law."

Fed Up With Funding Hezbollah?

Fox News

A London-based Arab newspaper reports Iranians hit hard by recent wars and natural disasters are outraged over allegations that their government has pledged $500 million to support Hezbollah, saying they're still waiting on money to rebuild their own homes.

So-called "informed sources" tell Asharq al-Awsat that spontaneous demonstrations broke out in the western Khuzestan district, which sustained severe damage during the Iran-Iraq war, and in Bam, which was hit hard by an earthquake three years ago.

Protesters allegedly shouted anti-Hezbollah slogans and demanded reconstruction efforts at home, instead of in Lebanon.

Paranoid in Pyongyang

Fox News

North Korea says it has the right to attack the U.S. or South Korea without provocation, declaring the armistice ending the Korean War in 1953 "null and void."

In a statement, the military declared it "reserves the right to undertake a pre-emptive action for self-defense against the enemy at a crucial time it deems necessary to defend itself."

The announcement was likely prompted by annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which began on Monday. North Korea called those exercises "an undisguised military threat" and "a war action."

Wednesday Funnies :-)

David Letterman: “Top Bill Clinton 60th Birthday Plans”: The usual—bucket of KFC and a lap dance; Get cracking on second 2,000-page biography; Bust open a pinata full of Lipitor; It depends on what your definition of the word “plans” is; Thank Letterman for the $10 Radio Shack gift certificate; Pretending to be excited when Hillary wears one of her “sexy” pantsuits to bed; Hit on that cute AARP receptionist; Reminding Gore the cake is for everyone.

RE: The Fertility Gap

Mark Steyn has been writing for some time as well on the fertility gap between post-Christian Europe and the in-migrating Muslim hordes. He posits an Islamic conquest of Europe without a single shot fired.

Greenland's Melting Glaciers: Natural Warming?

Fox News

Environmental activists who point to Greenland's melting coastal glaciers as graphic evidence of man-made global warming may have to find another example. That's according to a new study which shows the glaciers have been shrinking since the 1880s.

Danish scientists analyzed 19th century maps and modern satellite images, finding that 70 percent of Greenland's glaciers have been melting regularly for more than 100 years, and shrunk the most between 1964 and 1985.

The scientists conclude that the melt is "the result of the atmosphere's natural warming," along with greenhouse gases which have "aggravated the situation."

New Clues About Who Leaked Valerie Plame's Name

Fox News

Official calendars for Richard Armitage, obtained by the AP, show the former deputy secretary of state held a private meeting with reporter Bob Woodward on June 13, 2003 — the same time Woodward has said an administration official talked to him about CIA employee Valerie Plame. Neither Woodward or Armitage would comment on the meeting.

The investigation into who leaked Plame's identity was triggered by columnist Robert Novak's revelation that Plame was a CIA operative. Novak said only that his source was a senior administration official.

It is also known that Novak met at the time not only with Armitage, but also with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The Fertility Gap

Liberal politics will prove fruitless as long as liberals refuse to multiply.

BY ARTHUR C. BROOKS

The midterm election looms, and once again efforts begin afresh to increase voter participation. It has become standard wisdom in American politics that voter turnout is synonymous with good citizenship, justifying just about any scheme to get people to the polls. Arizona is even considering a voter lottery, in which all voters are automatically registered for a $1 million giveaway. Polling places and liquor stores in Arizona will now have something in common.

On the political left, raising the youth vote is one of the most common goals. This implicitly plays to the tired old axiom that a person under 30 who is not a liberal has no heart (whereas one who is still a liberal after 30 has no head). The trouble is, while most "get out the vote" campaigns targeting young people are proxies for the Democratic Party, these efforts haven't apparently done much to win elections for the Democrats. The explanation we often hear from the left is that the new young Democrats are more than counterbalanced by voters scared up by the Republicans on "cultural issues" like abortion, gun rights and gay marriage.

But the data on young Americans tell a different story. Simply put, liberals have a big baby problem: They're not having enough of them, they haven't for a long time, and their pool of potential new voters is suffering as a result. According to the 2004 General Social Survey, if you picked 100 unrelated politically liberal adults at random, you would find that they had, between them, 147 children. If you picked 100 conservatives, you would find 208 kids. That's a "fertility gap" of 41%. Given that about 80% of people with an identifiable party preference grow up to vote the same way as their parents, this gap translates into lots more little Republicans than little Democrats to vote in future elections. Over the past 30 years this gap has not been below 20%--explaining, to a large extent, the current ineffectiveness of liberal youth voter campaigns today.

Since the Democrat party are such strong supporters of abortion, they are aborting away any potential new voters... No wonder they want illegal immigrants and felons to vote.

Annan Rejects Sanctions, Offers Talks with 12th Imam :-)

by Scott Ott

(2006-08-22) — As Iran’s president prepared today to reject international efforts to halt his nation’s uranium enrichment program, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan rejected calls for sanctions against the Islamic Republic and offered direct negotiations with the long-awaited 12th Imam.

RE: Skipping Church

Okay - now I have been forced to ask this: So?

Exactly.

I feel reasonably confident in saying that Jesus couldn't care less what you wear to church. And while most modern Christian music doesn't really do it for me, making a joyful noise is the real point, isn't it?

Traveling on the Taxpayers' Dime

Fox News

Former Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Sharpe James may have dropped his re-election bid earlier this year, but he stuck the city with the $6,500 bill for a five-day trip to Rio de Janeiro in the final week of his 20-year tenure.

What's more, the Newark Star-Ledger reports that his luxury hotels and fine dining in Rio were the tip of the iceberg, finding trips to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republican, Martha's Vineyard and Atlantic City all charged to a city credit card.

James says the trips were all official city business, but new Mayor Cory Booker called the spending an "egregious and unacceptable use of public funds."

Hezbollah Helped From West?

Fox News

Israeli intelligence has complained that Hezbollah terrorists had some help from the West in targeting Israeli soldiers after the IDF found 250 British night-vision goggles in a Hezbollah stronghold.

Turns out, the state-of-the-art equipment was shipped to Iran in 2003 under a U.N. program to combat rampant drug smuggling through the country's northern mountains. British officials are working to determine how the goggles ended up in Hezbollah's hands.

Meanwhile, an Israeli spokesman tells the San Francisco Chronicle the goggles were found in a highly sophisticated command and control center, saying: "We're talking here about hundreds of millions of dollars given by Iran to Hezbollah in the last six years."

Laying Down the Law... But Not Really

Fox News

A British law criminalizing the encouragement of political violence — passed in the wake of last year's London terror bombings — has yet to result in a single arrest, even as Islamic extremists continue to call on Muslims to kill British and American citizens.

The New York Times reports one London cleric still celebrates the deaths of coalition soldiers on his popular Web site, while yesterday, Muslim scholar Azam Tamimi glorified martyrdom "in defiance of George Bush and Tony Blair" before a crowd of 8,000.

One Islamic activist even encourages Muslims to attack bank employees because they charge interest in violation of Islamic law.

Opposition leader David Cameron blames Prime Minister Tony Blair for failing to enforce the provision.

John Kerry Rips Into Joe Lieberman

Fox News

Most Senate Democrats are supporting liberal challenger Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Senate race, but avoiding attacks on colleague Joe Lieberman, who's now running as an independent.

But not John Kerry.

Kerry ripped Lieberman this weekend for "making a Republican case" on the war in Iraq. Kerry told ABC's "This Week" that Lieberman is "out of step with the people of Connecticut," saying, "To adopt the rhetoric of Dick Cheney, who has been wrong about almost everything he has said about Iraq, shows you just exactly why he got in trouble."

Lieberman called Kerry "an old friend," but dismissed his remarks as "just plain politics by somebody who has ambitions of his own."

Democrats, Elections, and Ideas

By Manon McKinnon

Some Democrats have recently worried out loud about the growing strength of the far left wing of their party. They fear that the angry left is making Democrats unelectable. The victory of antiwar candidate Ned Lamont over incumbent Joe Lieberman in Connecticut's senatorial primary didn't help. Lamont won on a platform of retreat from war and appeasement of the unappeasable -- under the trusty leadership of the UN.

Remembering the Gipper...

“While America’s military strength is important, let me add here that I’ve always maintained that the struggle now going on for the world will never be decided by bombs or rockets, by armies or military might. The real crisis we face today is a spiritual one; at root, it is a test of moral will and faith.”

Ronald Reagan

Skipping Church

By John Railey, opinion columnist for the Winston-Salem Journal:

Sunday in the Bible Belt. The day to... do anything but go to church. Well, it's not quite like that, at least not yet, anyway. But, if a recent "You're the Source Question" on this page was any indication, people just aren't going to church as regularly as they once did, at least not in this area.
Maybe even more surprisingly, they're even being honest about it.

Maybe.

Or, maybe, more and more local churchgoers don't read your newspaper and participate in your polls, John.

I don't necessarily disagree with some of what John has to say here, but I fail to see a real point... except that the Journal may not be reaching a certain demographic of readers in the local area. Should this concern Journal advertisers? Just a thought...

Some churches blare "Christian hip-hop" and "Christian rock." Others have relaxed the dress code to the point that, after you leave, you have to dress up for Sunday lunch at McDonald's.

Okay - now I have been forced to ask this: So?

Such gimmicks attract plenty of people. Many megachurches are booming.

Yes and yes they are. I guess those involved in such didn't participate in the Journal poll.

And I feel about as in tune with God out on the water in my kayak as I do in church.

So maybe you should've expounded and ran with this point. Sounds interesting.

But, again, what's the big point here? Sorry, but it just seems like Railey had a deadline, was shooting for a word count, and didn't put enough thought into this one.

Welcome to Democracy

Fox News

Dozens of members of Afghanistan's parliament walked out of a session this week, outraged about their portrayal on a popular TV station.

The station aired real images of lawmakers yawning, napping, even picking their noses during debates.

The members stormed out of parliament after house leaders refused to bar the station's cameras.

The station director defended its coverage saying, "These are public figures at a public place. The media has the right to show what they do."

This sounds like what happens during N.C. general assembly sessions. :-)

Equal Opportunity Offender?

Fox News

Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young has resigned as the head of Working Families for Wal-Mart a day after ripping Jews, Asians and Arabs in a newspaper interview.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Sentinel, Young defended the retail giant for forcing so-called mom-and-pop stores to close saying, "I think they've ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it's Arabs."

Young later apologized for what he called "completely and utterly inappropriate" remarks, saying they "run contrary to everything that Wal-Mart is, and means, to communities."

I wonder where's the media outrage over these comments???

Fidel 'Light' Prepares for Possible U.S. Invasion

Fox News

Fidel Castro's brother, Raul, has spoken out for the first time since becoming acting president of Cuba, revealing that after his brother's illness he mobilized the country's armed forces against a possible U.S. invasion.

Castro tells the state communist newspaper: "We could not rule out the risk of somebody going crazy — or even crazier — within the U.S. government."

A State Department spokesman says the U.S. has no plans to invade Cuba and isn't impressed with the comments from what he called Fidel "light."

Panic for Rolling Stones as tour tickets go unsold

Daily Mail

Mick Jagger and his bandmates will never have to worry about where the next paycheque is coming from.

And that is, perhaps, something they should be grateful for judging by the apparent apathy surrounding tickets sales for the Rolling Stones's homecoming concerts in Britain this weekend.

THE 25-YEAR US-IRAN WAR

by Amir Taheri
Jerusalem Post
August 21, 2004

At a meeting in Teheran last week, the Islamic Republic's supreme guide Ali Khamenei took questions from some 150 "Islamic guidance" officials operating around the world.

According to those present, the ayatollah responded with well-rehearsed answers, often consisting of one-line slogans. One question made him hesitate: Is the Islamic Republic at war against the United States?

According to leaks, the ayatollah tried to get around the question by claiming that it was the United States that was at war against "our Islamic Revolution."

Leaving aside semantic subtleties, it is fair to say that the US has been at war with the Khomeinist regime ever since the mullahs seized power in Teheran in 1979.

Much of this war has been of the cold type. But its history also includes lukewarm and hot episodes.

Carter's Mogadishu Moment: Praise for "Saint" Ayatollah

by Amir Taheri
New York Post
November 2, 2004

November 2, 2004 -- AMERICANS will certainly have 9/11 in mind when they vote today. But they should keep another date in mind, too — one almost exactly a quarter-century ago: Nov. 4, 1979. A clear path runs to 9/11 from the day of the raid on the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the seizure of American hostages.

The 1979 embassy attack came at a time when the administration of President Jimmy Carter was trying to prop up the new Khomeinist regime in Tehran.

Tables Turned?

Fox News

Connecticut Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman — who's now running for re-election as an independent — now leads the man who beat him in the Democratic primary by 12 points in a poll of likely voters of both parties.

Lieberman tops liberal Democrat Ned Lamont 53 percent to 41 percent in a new Quinnipiac poll, winning the support of 75 percent of Republicans.

Meanwhile, Lamont is working hard to recast himself as a more moderate Democrat for the general election. In a Wall Street Journal article, Lamont says he believes in employer-based universal health care, which would "[provide] tax benefits to small businesses so they can provide insurance without risking bankruptcy."

But Lamont blasted Lieberman for the same tax benefit plan three months ago saying, "He generally has not embraced a lot of the Democratic goals."

Scandalous Past?

Fox News

The judge who ruled against the NSA secret surveillance program was accused of "judge shopping" a suit against the University of Michigan Law school in 2002 to preserve the school's affirmative action admissions process.

The Wall Street Journal reports Judge Anna Diggs Taylor tried to take the case away from Judge Bernard Freedman — who was suspected of being critical of affirmative action — and replace him with someone more favorable to the school's position.

She dropped that attempt only after Freedman publicly condemned her "highly irregular" efforts.

Iraq War Flip-Flop

Fox News

The White House is pointing the finger at commentator Joe Klein of TIME magazine, saying the critic has completely reversed himself on the war in Iraq.

In this week's issue, Klein writes that the president's "disastrous decision to go to war transformed Iraq into a terrorist Valhalla."

But just before the war, White House official Pete Wehner notes that Klein told NBC's Tim Russert that war was "the right decision," saying: "Saddam Hussein has to be taken out."

Klein argued that: "The message has to be sent because if it isn't sent now it empowers every would-be Saddam out there and every would-be terrorist out there."

Beverly Hill-Miller :-)

You need to hear this... Another classic Vernon commercial. :-)

Governor’s Races and the Republican Realignment

By John Hood

In an earlier NRO piece, I listed 14 states with important state-legislature campaigns to watch in 2006. The places where the two lists overlap — Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, and Oregon — thus represent key battlegrounds where the future of state-level public-policy initiatives such as fiscal restraint and school choice, and the fate of the Republican realignment of the past two decades, may well be decided. Right now, most left-of-center analysts of these races seem ebullient, while most right-of-center analysts either put on a brave face or change the subject. That’s telling. My guess is that incumbents of both parties will tumble, but the net result will be enough Democratic gains to erase the six-state GOP majority, if not flip it over.

The usual hedging statement is required at this point: lots of things could happen between now and November, including national and international events that either accelerate or arrest the overall Democratic momentum. Still, it wasn’t that long ago that some dreamed about a 2006 election cycle of improbable events such as two black conservatives winning governorships in Ohio and Pennsylvania, or Barry Goldwater’s nephew becoming governor of Arizona. Alas, they have indeed proved improbable.

The Democrats War on Wal-Mart

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MICHAEL BARBARO

DES MOINES, Aug. 16 — Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, delivered a 15-minute, blistering attack to warm applause from Democrats and union organizers here on Wednesday. But Mr. Biden’s main target was not Republicans in Washington, or even his prospective presidential rivals.

It was Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest private employer.

RE: NSA eavesdropping program ruled unconstitutional

I hate it when this happens.

I agree with her ruling, but for the wrong reasons.

The Bush Administration has used the excuse of the GWOT to abridge dozens of liberties. The problem with this ruling is its attempt to, yet again, expand this imaginary "right to privacy." The Constitution guarantees no such overarching right. Now we find ourselves having to accept an expansion of this imaginary right, which will find its way into precedence on a whole host of issues, in order to stave off the predations of the "we're at war, so shut up about your freedom" crowd.

Some days you just can't win.

NSA eavesdropping program ruled unconstitutional

From CNN:

A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the U.S. government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered it ended immediately.
In a 44-page memorandum and order, U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor -- who is based in Detroit, Michigan -- struck down the National Security Agency's program, which she said violates the rights to free speech and privacy.

Suspect says Ramsey death 'an accident'

A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old's death "an accident," a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case.

John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told a news conference in Bangkok.

"I was with JonBenet when she died," John Mark Karr told reporters afterward, visibly nervous and stuttering as he spoke. "Her death was an accident."

Asked if he was innocent of the crime, Karr said: "No."

Sutin Wannabovorn

Treason

Steve opines: "He presents an interesting dichotomy. On the one hand, there is no right more cherished here than the right to speak one's mind, especially in the case of criticizing the government. On the other, Carter's spewings are clearly seditious, if not treasonous. He gives verbal aid and comfort to groups of people who would harm ordinary Americans in pursuit of their battle against our way of government and our culture. I wonder how he sleeps at night."

I believe Carter is one of the WORST ex-presidents we have ever had because of comments like he said in the article below. He's been saying stuff like this since he left the White House. He has done all he can to undermine the presidencies of Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and now Bush 43. What he said below IS treasonous because his words give aid and comfort to the enemy. It's sad that the rhetoric coming from Carter is the same rhetoric one would hear from Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, Iran and al Qaida.

"If not for the leftist worldwide press, Carter would be considered what he is: A bitter old man who can't abide the idea of fading into obscurity and who botched his days in the limelight so badly that he will forever be excoriated by history."

Carter will be bitter until the end...

Public Reports, Private Bias?

Fox News

An AP reporter covering the war in the Middle East from Beirut is also expressing his personal, anti-Israeli opinions on the Internet.

On his web log, Lebanese reporter Bassem Mrou claims Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert started the war against Hezbollah "under the pretext of the capturing of two Israeli soldiers" and called the war a failure.

He also includes a graphic accusing Israel of targeting children in Lebanon, while failing to hit the terrorist group.

This sounds like Jimmy Carter...

Saved by Silicone

Fox News

A 24-year-old Israeli woman is crediting an extra layer of protection for saving her life during a Hezbollah rocket attack which shot hot shrapnel directly at her heart. But it wasn't body armor that stopped the projectile, it was her breast implants.

Doctors say the shrapnel lodged in the woman's two-year-old silicone implants, just inches from her heart.

The woman didn't emerge completely unscathed, however. Her doctor says the shrapnel has been removed, but her life-saving implant had to be replaced.

RE: "The US and Israel Stand Alone"

Carter will probably always find a public outlet for his angry rantings.

He presents an interesting dichotomy. On the one hand, there is no right more cherished here than the right to speak one's mind, especially in the case of criticizing the government. On the other, Carter's spewings are clearly seditious, if not treasonous. He gives verbal aid and comfort to groups of people who would harm ordinary Americans in pursuit of their battle against our way of government and our culture. I wonder how he sleeps at night.

If not for the leftist worldwide press, Carter would be considered what he is: A bitter old man who can't abide the idea of fading into obscurity and who botched his days in the limelight so badly that he will forever be excoriated by history.

"The US and Israel Stand Alone"

Former US president Jimmy Carter speaks with DER SPIEGEL about the danger posed to American values by George W. Bush, the difficult situation in the Middle East and Cuba's ailing Fidel Castro.

In typical Carter fashion, it's America's and Israel's fault...

SPIEGEL: You also mentioned the hatred for the United States throughout the Arab world which has ensued as a result of the invasion of Iraq. Given this circumstance, does it come as any surprise that Washington's call for democracy in the Middle East has been discredited?

Carter: No, as a matter of fact, the concerns I exposed have gotten even worse now with the United States supporting and encouraging Israel in its unjustified attack on Lebanon.

SPIEGEL: But wasn't Israel the first to get attacked?

Carter: I don't think that Israel has any legal or moral justification for their massive bombing of the entire nation of Lebanon. What happened is that Israel is holding almost 10,000 prisoners, so when the militants in Lebanon or in Gaza take one or two soldiers, Israel looks upon this as a justification for an attack on the civilian population of Lebanon and Gaza. I do not think that's justified, no.

The Republican Devolution

By Philip Klein

A fortnight before the 1998 Congressional elections, House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted that Republicans, who had just passed a pork-laden spending bill, would gain from 10 to 40 seats. Instead, they lost three seats, as turnout among conservatives dropped 6 percent from the 1994 mid-term elections.

...

One thing is for sure. With an energized base of Democratic voters eager to take back Congress, Republicans cannot afford a drop in turnout similar to 1998. And if they do lose power, they'll have nobody to blame but themselves.

Obama Warns of Gas Guzzling Cars in Town Hall Meeting -- Leaves In SUV...

Drudge Report

Illinois Senator Barack Obama warns citizens at his 50th Town Hall meeting about gas guzzling, WPSD-TV reports.

It was among many points made to the standing room only audience at the Metropolis Community Center. Obama spoke on everything from DC politics to global warming.

He says part of the blame for the world's higher temperatures rests on gas guzzling vehicles. Obama says consumers can make the difference by switching to higher mileage hybrids.

Today the Senator said, "It would save more energy, do more for the environment and create better world security than all the drilling we could do in Alaska."

"After the meeting... Obama left in a GMC Envoy after admitting to favoring SUV's himself," claimed local News Channel 6.

Bluegrass Riffs on Medicaid

By John Hood

Kentucky is implementing a new approach to Medicaid that offers four benefits packages and makes significant use of co-payments. On this one issue, NC should look NW.

Dem angst escalates

By Alexander Bolton

A group of Senate Democrats is growing increasingly angry about Sen. Joe Lieberman’s (D-Conn.) campaign tactics since he lost the Democratic primary last week.

If he continues to alienate his colleagues, Lieberman could be stripped of his seniority within the Democratic caucus should he defeat Democrat Ned Lamont in the general election this November, according to some senior Democratic aides.

Stokes schools given money for program

By Sherry Youngquist
Winston-Salem Journal

Three elementary schools in Stokes County will share a $120,000 grant this year to provide free after-school programming for students who struggle with learning.

The program at London, Pine Hall and Sandy Ridge elementary schools will involve after-school tutoring and mentoring, as well as a new staff at each school who will look for ways to connect parents to classrooms.

The program will be a first in Stokes County. While some programs are offered after school through the YMCA, there has always been a fee, which has deterred students and parents who would most likely benefit.

Wednesday Funnies :-)

David Letterman: Top Mel Gibson Excuses": Did I say Jews? I meant Scientologists; Food poisoning from a bad knish; Uhh, hello? I'm famous; Shouldn't have been drinking with Hasselhoff; Any press is good press; I refer all questions to my Jew attorney; Tired of Britney Spears getting all the "crazy celebrity" attention; Oh like you've never gotten drunk and accidentally said, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world"?

Jay Leno: As I'm sure you've heard by now, the airlines are saying no more hair gels, shampoos, make-up or hair spray allowed in carry-on bags. Who's attacking us? Drag queens? ... They also said men cannot carry on shaving cream. Why? When was the last time you saw an Islamic militant guy with a can of shaving cream? ... On some flights the only thing airlines are letting you take on are a passport and cash. The passport, of course, for identification and the cash so they can sell you a bottle of water for $20. ... The terrorists called the liquid potion they were making, "Mother of Satan." Which is what Mel Gibson now calls tequila. ... See, that offends me, "Mother of Satan." Why did they have to bring Satan's mother into this? You can't blame the mom for the way the kids turned out. I'm sure Mrs. Satan did the best she could. ... Officials say the terrorists targeted United, American and Continental airlines. You know what that means. Even terrorists won't fly Southwest. It's just too cramped. There's no legroom. ... British authorities said they were able to detect the terrorist plot using a surveillance program that The New York Times hadn't got around to exposing yet. ... Now they're saying all this terrorist activity could lead to higher oil prices. When asked why, the oil companies said, "Cause everything leads to higher oil prices." ... In fact, the price of crude oil could hit 80 dollars a barrel. That's beyond crude. That's obscene. ... To give you an idea how expensive gas is getting, in Pennsylvania Amish country there has been a rash of horse and buggy jackings.

Hispanics Angered by Democratic Web Ad

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democratic political ad is under fire from Hispanics who say it unfairly compares Latino immigrants to terrorists.

Arrest made in JonBenet Ramsey murder case

The suspect was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday morning.

The suspect has confessed to certain elements of the crime that are unknown to the general public.

The suspect is expected to arrive back in the United States, possibly within the next two days, accompanied by an investigator from the Boulder DA's office.

The Boulder County DA's office has not confirmed the identity of the suspect, but is expected to have a press conference later today.

9NEWS.com will live stream the event.

Given that Thailand is the child sex trade capitol of the world, this story seems like it will have the horrific ending we probably all knew it would.

Does government stupidity know any bounds?

These are tough days for political satirists. Any satire about government boondoggles is soon upstaged by an actual government program that's more inane than anything comedians could invent. After the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed a compassionate piece of legislation called the Supplemental Terrorist Relief Act. It was to give low-interest loans to small businesses disrupted by the attacks, allowing them to rebuild. The loans were supposed to help hotels, retailers, and small service businesses in lower Manhattan.

But, as usual, the government passed your money out everywhere. Terrorist Relief Act loans went to Dunkin' Donuts shops in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Vermont, and Ohio. The manager of the Essex Junction, Vt., Dunkin' Donuts defended his loan, saying 9/11 affected his business. "Instead of getting probably a large coffee and a couple of doughnuts," Tony Silva said, his customers got "a small coffee and a doughnut."

The Patriot Act was supposed to provide federal funding to states to equip the fire, police, and EMS officers who serve at the front lines of a terrorist attack. But the congressmen who wrote the law apparently believed that patriotism starts at home. Money was allocated under a complicated formula where each state, regardless of its size or location, got an equal slice of the pie before risk was even considered.

John Stossel

Remembering the King...

January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977

Blame Game

Fox News

Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is blaming her recent defeat in a Democratic run-off on the media and electronic voting machines, which she urged the black community to oppose because she says they're designed to steal elections.

In her first public appearance since losing to challenger Hank Johnson, McKinney also said she considers herself a "black political paramedic" saying, "The black body politic is near comatose."

McKinney was given a standing ovation before and after her remarks, but refused to answer questions from reporters.

Anti-Israeli Protests

Fox News

Anti-Israel protesters waved Hezbollah flags and pictures of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah at protests against the "Israeli-U.S." war in Lebanon over the weekend, while a few held signs equating Jews with Nazis.

One said: "Nazi Kikes out of Lebanon," while others urged protesters "to defend Hezbollah resistance against U.S.-Israel attack and occupation."

The rallies were sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R. — a left-wing coalition of radical groups whose previous protests have included Cindy Sheehan, among others.

In Washington, former Attorney General and current Saddam Hussein attorney Ramsey Clark drew cheers when he called for President Bush to be impeached, while in San Francisco, police used batons to break up a clash between protesters after a woman attempted to burn an Israeli flag.

Allen's Apology

Fox News

Virginia Republican Senator George Allen is apologizing for repeatedly referring to a 20-year-old Indian-American campaign volunteer as "macaca" — the name for a breed of primate that sometimes doubles in Europe as a racial slur against North Africans.

The Washington Post reports Allen singled out S.R. Sidarth, who is a volunteer for Allen's opponent James Webb, at a campaign event last week saying: "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." In fact, Sidarth was born in the state.

The Webb campaign called the remarks demeaning and insensitive. But Allen says he didn't know what the word meant saying it sounds similar to "Mohawk" — the name Allen's campaign staff had given to Sidarth because of his mullet-style haircut.

RE: Politicians take aim at Olmert

Steve opines: "The unspoken subtext of this is that these committees will also investigate whether Olmert was dancing at the end of the Bush Administration's strings. Other sources have indicated the we were "pushing" Israel to take action in Lebanon. I don't think they will be so much concerned with the actual fact of that, but more with what happened after we went schizophrenic on them and hid behind the UN."

"That leads to the other subtext, which is that there seem to be developing cracks in foreign policy in the Bush Administration along the lines of those that led Colin Powell to take a hike. Interesting developments ahead. The real question would be, what will we do should Israel heat things up again in Southern Lebanon?"

Another theory is that Olmert just choked... Bush gave him the green light to go in and demolish Hezbollah, but Olmert just froze. He had the support of his people, America, and even other Arab nations wanted him to go in and get rid of Hezbollah, but he didn't do it. I feel Bush ended up going to the U.N. because Olmert wasn't going to do anything and he (Olmert) wanted an U.N. resolution to save face. Sadly, these moves by Olmert will probably haunt Israel and the Middle East for many years to come.

Thousands Flock to Memphis to Remember the King

TUPELO, Miss. — They've come to pay their respects to the King, even though he's gone.

Thousands of fans have flocked to Memphis and this northern Mississippi hamlet to reminisce about the King of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, on the 29th anniversary of his death.

"He's not gone. It's been 30 years, but people still appreciate his music and what he did," said Laura Jackson, 22, of Baltimore, one of the many faithful to travel to the midsouth this week to convene with fellow fans of the singer, who died on Aug. 16, 1977.

U.N. Mulls Cease Fire in War on Terror Too :-)

By Scott Ott, Editor-in-Chief, ScrappleFace.com
News Fairly Unbalanced. We Report. You Decipher.

(2006-08-15) — Now that President George Bush has declared Hezbollah defeated by its acceptance of the terms of a U.N. cease fire in Lebanon, the United States today will press the Security Council to grant it a similar ‘victory’ over al Qaeda.

Politicians take aim at Olmert

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin called for the establishment of a committee to investigate the events of the war. Beilin said there were serious questions to be asked about the preparedness of the home front and how decisions were made leading up to the war.

The questions, he said, were "whether it was possible to prevent the kidnapping of the soldiers, whether the 'Pandora's Box' of Lebanon had to be opened and whether it was possible to reach a deal with Syria and avoid the Hizbullah threat."

Gil Hoffman and Sheera Claire Frenkel

The war in Lebanon doesn't seem to be over just yet.

The unspoken subtext of this is that these committees will also investigate whether Olmert was dancing at the end of the Bush Administration's strings. Other sources have indicated the we were "pushing" Israel to take action in Lebanon. I don't think they will be so much concerned with the actual fact of that, but more with what happened after we went schizophrenic on them and hid behind the UN.

That leads to the other subtext, which is that there seem to be developing cracks in foreign policy in the Bush Administration along the lines of those that led Colin Powell to take a hike. Interesting developments ahead. The real question would be, what will we do should Israel heat things up again in Southern Lebanon?

RE: City of Change: Black, non-Hispanic white populations drop while Hispanic numbers increase

If the city wants the middle class tax base that they depend on to stay put, maybe they could offer (at least temporary) tax incentives for buying downtown property and encourage further development of a plethora of empty blocks and empty buildings with great residential potential.

That's a good idea. Unfortunately, the current legal interpretation of the equal taxation clause in the State Constitution ties the hands of local governments. All political subdivisions (basically counties and municipalities) must levy taxes in the same way and at the same rates to every citizen and business entity. All that leaves open are the options of the heinous cash incentives (i.e. corporate welfare) and the use of certain "programs" aimed at getting around the clause. Unfortunately, the only one of the latter that has been upheld in the courts is the business incentive package that grants back some percentage of the taxes paid based on the number of employees hired and the dollar amount invested in the business. There is no way to provide individuals with local tax incentives.

Isn't it ironic how much trouble is caused by equalitarian altruism?

City of Change: Black, non-Hispanic white populations drop while Hispanic numbers increase

By Wesley Young for the WSJ:

Most of the people in Winston-Salem's newest large minority group don't have to worry about learning English or running afoul of immigration laws. New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that non-Hispanic whites appear to be a minority in Winston-Salem for the first time in the city's history. The bureau's figures for 2005 show that non-Hispanic whites made up 48.1 percent of the city's population that year.

The change came about as the city's Hispanic population increased by 10,222 people, and the city's non-Hispanic white population dropped by 9,226 since 2000, the estimates show. The black population in Winston-Salem also declined, by 3,210, but the Hispanic increase more than offset that drop, the estimates show.

"The bottom line for us is that urban America is getting more and more diverse," said Paul Norby, the city-county planning director. "I would say that the trend toward the increasing diversity of the population is something that is not unique to Winston-Salem. That same trend is happening in cities across the country."

It’s true that urban America is getting more and more diverse. That's fine. But, in Winston-Salem's case, its small tract of urban America is also becoming less and less representative of the socioeconomic breakdown of the greater area. That's why population numbers are falling, and — as much as I hate to say it — much of the blame falls on the city itself.

From the story: Because the numbers are estimates, it is possible that non-white Hispanics are still barely a majority. And non-Hispanic whites could regain their majority status, at least temporarily, if the city's 2003 annexation plan takes effect. One court challenge is all that is left before the annexation becomes official. If it does, the non-Hispanic white population should increase to almost 51 percent.

As this piece continues, lots of facts and figures are given. They essentially illustrate what's been said here before — most recently, I recall — by Steve. Many W/S residents are running for (and beyond) the city limits and the only way that the city can get the numbers back to how they were beforehand is to annex the areas where many of them have migrated to.

It may not have to be that way. Sure, many middle-class Americans are now used to (and enjoy) having a yard, mowing grass, cleaning gutters, etc. while dealing with some of the BS involved in living the suburban cul-de-sac life. But does Winston-Salem offer average-income families enough good options in residential property? Clearly, no. One look at the skyrocketing (and quite silly) prices of many W/S homes on the market reveals that quite well.

As people are being encouraged by the city to look downtown to live, work, and play — and hey, I'm awful tempted by the look, vibe, and possible convenience of those swanky/cool high-rise condos (no gutters to clean, for one thing) — the residences currently being built are priced quite high with (usually) only one to two bedrooms tops. For instance, posh One Park Vista has 1200 sq. ft. pads starting at a quarter-million and it goes up from there. Who can afford to live there (or can justify a small $250K living space)? A few well-to-do singles and a maybe a decent amount of retired, urbanite couples, that's who. And those who don’t find a rare gem of a home in town are most likely headed away from the city. This certainly doesn’t seem to encourage diversity, does it?

If the city wants the middle class tax base that they depend on to stay put, maybe they could offer (at least temporary) tax incentives for buying downtown property and encourage further development of a plethora of empty blocks and empty buildings with great residential potential. Secondly, instead of just reaching for the lofty goal of being a hip, mini NYC, they could encourage builders to construct a few affordable 3 bedroom/2 bath flats with a reasonable amount of amenities and ample parking. As enjoyable as living in town can be, Winston-Salem can't continue to be supported by the shrinking number of middle-class income earners and the few truly upper-middles who can justify the increased cost of living here.

That’s just my two cents.

Cynthia's Condemnation

Fox News

Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is condemning what she calls "some unfortunate remarks," including anti-Semitic slurs made by supporters after her loss to challenger Hank Johnson last week, but claims the men who made them were not formally associated with the campaign.

McKinney calls the men "errant individuals at and near my campaign office," but neglects to mention that the men were part of a security detail that escorted McKinney in and out of the office that night.

Congresswoman McKinney denounced the racist remarks and proceeded to name Jews she admires, including members of the Israeli military who refuse to take part in what she calls the "occupation of Palestine."

To the BP readers...

Sometimes the rhetoric on the BP can get out of hand... I like the passion, but it does occasionally give me a headache. :-) With that in mind, here are some posting ideas that I got off The Sporting News website:

As you ponder posting, remember what coaches tell athletes in the big game: "Act like you've been here before." What do we mean by that, exactly?

- Keep your posts free of profanity and vulgarity.
- Attack the issue, not the writers or other users.
- Add to the discussion. Don't like a sport? Don't comment, just move on.
- Be creative

Nasrallah Rules

By Jed Babbin

This morning, Israeli forces will have ceased fire in Lebanon, forced by their government to accept a strategic defeat in the month-long war against Hizballah. Almost any military can recover from tactical losses, but nations are usually powerless to avoid defeat after losing a strategic battle. For World War II Japan, defeat was still three years away when the last of four aircraft carriers was sunk by Adm. Ray Spruance's dive bombers and torpedo planes in the battle of Midway. For Israel, defeat may come much sooner if it doesn't mend its prime minister's ways. Yamamoto had to explain his defeat to Emperor Hirohito, who left him in command. Olmert has to explain his to the Israeli electorate. They must be less forgiving because their time is measured not in years but in weeks or months.

Crocodile tears for Joe

By Bob Novak

WASHINGTON -- Mary Matalin, longtime Republican political operative and Vice President Dick Cheney's adviser, seemed near tears on the Fox News Channel Tuesday night as adverse voting returns for Sen. Joseph Lieberman came in from Connecticut. With Matalin a reliable indicator of her party's line, she began an outpouring of GOP grief over Lieberman's Democratic primary defeat. That was a remarkable reaction to a liberal senator who has given George W. Bush scant help on any issue other than Iraq, from which he now also has retreated.

Remembering the Gipper

"[The] ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away. They will go away because we, as Americans, have the capacity now, as we have had in the past, to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom."

Ronald Reagan

Riding the Weak Horse II

Military historian Victor Davis Hanson recently wrote that he detected a whiff of the 1930s in the air. And he is correct, there are a host of similarities between the bizarre appeasement practiced by Baldwin, Chamberlain, Dadalier, and Halifax and the inability of Tony Blair and George Bush to identify the enemy, much less wage effectual war against it.

Nor is Hanson the only one to draw a '30sanalogy. Robert Tracinski, in an excellent, if misguided article entitled Five Minutes to Midnight catalogs similar analogies attempting to equate the current situation with that faced by the Western Powers in 1936, 1938 and 1939. However, like the recalcitrant world democratic revolutionists, Tracinski follows the analogies to an incorrect conclusion in arguing that a strike against Iran is the correct next step required to fight the war on terms advantageous to the West.

Vox Day

'Mass Murder' Foiled

A terror plot is exposed by the policies many American liberals oppose.

Americans went to work yesterday to news of another astonishing terror plot against U.S. airlines, only this time the response was grateful relief. British authorities had busted the "very sophisticated" plan "to commit mass murder" and arrested 20-plus British-Pakistani suspects. As we approach the fifth anniversary of 9/11 without another major attack on U.S. soil, now is the right moment to consider the policies that have protected us--and those in public life who have fought those policies nearly every step of the way.

It's not as if the "Islamic fascists"--to borrow President Bush's description yesterday--haven't been trying to hit us. They took more than 50 lives last year in London with the "7/7" subway bombings. There was the catastrophic attack in Madrid the year before that left nearly 200 dead. But there have also been successes. Some have been publicized, such as a foiled plot to poison Britain's food supply with ricin. But undoubtedly many have not, because authorities don't want to compromise sources and methods, or because the would-be terrorists have been captured or killed before they could carry out their plans.

In this case the diabolical scheme was to smuggle innocent-looking liquid explosive components and detonators onto planes. They could then be assembled onboard and exploded, perhaps over cities for maximum horror. Multiply the passenger load of a 747 by, say, 10 airliners, and this attack could have killed more people than 9/11. We don't yet know how the plot was foiled, but surely part of the explanation was crack surveillance work by British authorities.

The Wall Street Journal

"Studies Prove": Part III

Often we hear that "all the experts agree" that A is better than B or that "studies prove" A to be better than B. But one of the reasons for this can be that only people who favor A over B are likely to get the money to conduct studies or be given access to the data needed for a study.

A few years ago, a book by William Bowen and Derek Bok paraded various statistics that they interpreted as proving the success of policies of preferential admission of blacks to colleges and universities.

A chorus of praise for this study was heard throughout the media and echoed in academia and among liberal politicians. The study was later cited in a landmark Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.

Not everyone thought this was a great study, however -- or even an adequate study. But no one was allowed access to the raw data on which the Bowen and Bok study was based. So no one else could run the numbers for themselves and reach their own conclusions.

Those who sought such data included Harvard professor Stephen Thernstrom, whose long and distinguished record of scholarship included being one of the creators of the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups. He was refused access to the data.

When only people with one set of views are allowed to do certain studies, do not be surprised if "studies prove" that set of views is right.

Thomas Sowell

RE: Rhetoric

Reagan was once a FDR Democrat who supported FDR's New Deal programs...

So did a lot of conservatives. The New Deal was very carefully wrapped in Keynesian economics to avoid all associations with socialism. Reagan wasn't the only person to eventually see through Keynes, either. The difference is that the neocons want to bring back Keynes and Marx as well.

I'm talking about the words you use... What you say about Bush are the same words that Moore, Franken and other left wingers say about him all the time.

I also use the same words that Jed Babbin, Vox Day, and Bruce Bartlett use. They aren't left-wingers. I use the same language that even Ann Coulter, John Stossel, and Thomas Sowell sometimes use about Bush. They're certainly not left-wingers. Your comment was pure bushbot polemic, meant to cast me in the same mold as the left-wing crazies. I've been seeing exactly the same thing from the bushbots over at Free Republic for years.

No, your rhetoric towards Bush and most Republicans bears more of a resemblance to the rhetoric of the far left...

It is equally accurate to say that the far left's rhetoric bears more of a resemblance to that of Libertarians and "conservatives" who don't worship Bush. It is also an equally pointless comparison.

Better Late Than Never?

Fox News

Controversial Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has finally called her Democratic primary opponent Hank Johnson to concede — 12 hours after Johnson declared victory.

But the drama of the race is far from over.

The Anti-Defamation League has condemned McKinney's entourage for anti-Semitic remarks during a scuffle with the media on Tuesday night, including blaming Zionists for the loss and telling a FOX News producer — who happens to be Jewish — to "put on your yarmulke and celebrate."

Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on Johnson to account for his claim that McKinney could be accused of being under the influence of terrorists because of the large number of donors to her campaign with Arab surnames.

Who Are Some Democrats Blaming for U.K. Terror Plot?

Fox News

Who's responsible for that terror plot to blow up planes over the Atlantic? Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says the plot "demonstrates the need for the Bush administration... to change course in Iraq."

Reid says: "The Iraq war has diverted our focus and more than $300 billion in resources from the war on terrorism and has created a rallying cry for international terrorists."

Meanwhile, some Democratic bloggers are blaming Tony Blair's alliance with President Bush for fostering terror in the U.K. And one blogger called the elevated alert level in the U.S. a Republican ploy to divert attention from Joe Lieberman's loss in Connecticut.

RE: 'Foxx Country' Mentality

Strother opines: "Actually, I'm registered unaffiliated; I'm 'moderate/liberal' depending on the subject and/or who's judging me."

You're a moderate/liberal Independent then. :-) When I say you're a moderate/liberal, I'm saying that based on your overall political philosophy in today's political climate.

"And I wasn't 'upset' with Foxx about her goal of making English the official language in America. I just felt that, at the time when she was making headlines with that exercise in futility, we had bigger fish to fry. Instead, she felt the need to kowtow to her base who'd rather worry about election day fodder."

With regard to the immigration debate, making English the official language was a big part of the debate because it goes to the idea of assimilation. How can immigrants reach their potential in America if they aren't required to learn English???

'Foxx Country' Mentality

Since you are a moderate/liberal Democrat, I understand your displeasure towards Foxx. If I recall, you were upset with her when she wanted to make English the official language in America

Actually, I'm registered unaffiliated; I'm 'moderate/liberal' depending on the subject and/or who's judging me. And I wasn't 'upset' with Foxx about her goal of making English the official language in America. I just felt that, at the time when she was making headlines with that exercise in futility, we had bigger fish to fry. Instead, she felt the need to kowtow to her base who'd rather worry about election day fodder.

RE: RE: Foxx's foe says primary is indicator

Strother opines: "I agree 100%, regardless of the fact that I'd like to see Foxx booted out on her ass. Talk about a politician towing the tired old party line. Either she’s a moron, or a disingenuous shill — a party line Kool-Aid drinker, speaking of Kool-Aid drinkers and all. Her success makes you wonder if 5th District NC residents prefer hearing want they to hear over simple honesty."

Believe it or not, Foxx has associated herself with the House conservative rebels on Capital Hill. Since you are a moderate/liberal Democrat, I understand your displeasure towards Foxx. If I recall, you were upset with her when she wanted to make English the official language in America... How dare she do that!!! :-)