RadioBS

I moved to MT

2004-10-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

Go to Radio Brian Scott and check it out.

Lately....

2004-10-04T10:28:00.000-05:00

Wow… I never thought a web publishing program would bring this much stress and anger. Both MT and Blogger have made it a most unpleasant experience as of late. I almost wanted to stop blogging at one point during this weekend.

Blogger has been timing out and giving me an error when I want to republish the entire blog. On top of that, as of last week when I created a new post and published it wouldn’t show up on my blog unless I republished the entire blog, which would inevitably time out and give me an error message. I was happy I made the choice to move to MT.

MT is the publishing platform of choice in the blogsphere. So I purchased MT last week Thursday hoping that I would be up running and ready to modify the template in less than an hour or so. Then I tried to install and configure MT. It took me all of Friday evening, and all of Saturday evening to install it. Then I spent the better part of Sunday evening in the fetal position because I couldn’t get the “trackback/comments/archive/read further” links to work properly. I had nearly pulled every hair from my body (starting from the top down) when I got the help of a friend who after looking at my MT weblog config for a mere 10 seconds, fixed it. What a mixed blessing that was. Yay!! It’s fixed, but what a retard I turned out to be.

LIght posting due to...

2004-10-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

Due to blogger related issues such as not being able to publish the entire blog consistantly, I've decided to move to Moveabletype. I will post rather infrequently while I get this new site up and running. But there will be posting, just not as much .... So don't go away.

Kerry: The great debater?

2004-09-30T14:58:00.000-05:00

Just a quick thought and some questions about Kerry's debating skills. I've heard over and over again today (on talk radio) about how great Kerry is at debating. I'm sorry but I don't buy it. This guy has had 1.5 years of indirect debate against the president through interviews, press conferences, and campaign rally’s. At each of these events he has had the luxury of first choosing his words and then spending as much time as he wants clarifying them, a luxury he will not have tonight. This "great debater" has squandered his lead by having more than one position on the war in Iraq and painting himself as something he despised in the 70's. Wouldn't a "great" debater be "great" outside of the actual debate? What is it about the debate podium that will suddenly change this flip-flopping, un-centered liberal into a super human debater filled with clarity of thought and solid answers? Simply put, the location won’t change who he is. His objection to the red warning light at the 11th hour just before the debates, is a perfect example of how panicked he is about not having enough time to clarify himself.

The Jewish vote(R)

2004-09-29T09:42:00.000-05:00

Two days ago I expressed disbelief in how Jews vote in our elections. I couldn’t understand why Jews voted for Kerry, especially after making comments like he did to the Arab American Institute, where he called Israel's wall a “barrier to peace”. This wall has all but stopped suicide bombings. It helps keep woman, infants, children, sons, daughters and fathers safe from Palestinian terrorists who wish to murder them. In short the wall has been Israel’s best idea since unleavened bread.

Angered by Jewish complacency with the Democratic Party, I made this comment:

Thankfully, I stumbled upon this article from Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe in which he explains their robotic voting practices. Here are some excerpts.

”Increasingly, Party A (the Democratic Party – Brian Scott) is the political home of those who demonize Jews, such as the South Carolina senator who claimed that the war in Iraq was launched to ''take the Jewish vote.'' Conversely, Party B (the Republican Party – Brian Scott) has driven out the anti-Semites in its midst, and is now where the most ardent philo-Semites in American politics are concentrated.

Jews will almost certainly vote overwhelmingly for Party A - the Democratic Party - just as they have for more than half a century. They will do so notwithstanding the Democrats' willingness to indulge a race-baiting hustler like Al Sharpton. Notwithstanding John Kerry's uncertain trumpet in the war against radical Islamic terror. Notwithstanding the Bush administration's unprecedented support and friendship for Israel.”

He goes on to reason that in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was the conservatives that were the most anti-Semitic. I suppose I would have the same aversion to the conservative party to since that was the case. Ever since then it has been their tradition to vote for the Democratic party.

So tradition wins over intellectual honesty in the Jewish community. I wonder if they view it as something religious? Regardless, no matter how pro-Israel Bush may be (the most of any president) the American Jew will ignore the fact that Arafat visited the White House more than any other foreign leader during the Clinton administration, and That Kerry supports the U.N, (an anti-Semitic organization) and wishes to make them a “full partner” in US foreign policy.

I agree completely with Jeff when he says that it’s time for the Jewish people to look at the conservative party today. They need to ask themselves; “Who has the Jewish people’s best interest at heart?” I have no doubt the answer will come back a resounding, George W. Bush and the Republican party.

sKerry John Kerry

2004-09-28T11:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a fun day on the campaign trail. Bush took Westchester Ohio by storm and Kerry allowed his crowd in Wisconsin to take a much needed nap.

Bush had an especially fun day in Ohio which hosted one of his largest rallies to date. PBS News hour with Jim Leher suggested about 30,000 people at the rally while two callers actually there spoke to radio talk show host Sean Hannity and told him 50 to 60 thousand were in attendance. Actual numbers are probably between 40 and 50 thousand since 46 thousand tickets were handed out. And trust me on this, no one gets in without a ticket. Still, it’s an impressive number to be sure. I’ve been to one of his rallies and I can tell you honestly, the crowd gets worked up quite a bit as he approaches the podium. His fans treat him like he’s a political rock star.

Ohio, considered a battleground state, is leaning towards Bush over Kerry. Real Clear Politics averages a 5.8% Bush lead over Kerry. In fact most polls shows Bush leading now which has panicked Kerry into saying some very stupid things over the last week or two. Even today at his rally in Wisconsin, signs of him beginning to plead for a lifeline and say “uncle” are more evident then ever. The funny part about the beating Kerry is receiving is that it’s self inflicted. He keeps punching himself in the face. I say have at it John!

Kerry makes blogging fun too. All he has to do is open his mouth and try to differentiate himself from Bush, and there you have it, another topic to write about. At the heart of his problem is that he has no center, no core beliefs that dictate who he is as a person. A lot of conservatives are Christian and use God and his word as their anchor. Other conservatives hold a respect for the clarity of thought and well reasoned opinions based on strong moral values. If Kerry had this “center”, he would find that his opinion wouldn’t change as frequently as it does.

Liberals and non Christians view the conservative movement as being closed minded. They accuse us of seeing everything in black in white, and for the most part, that perception is dead on. Christians cannot be open minded so much that it would allow sin in their life. And for the non Christian and Christian conservative, to change their mind on an issue would offend their moral sensibilities. We will never feel abortion is okay, that homosexuals should be allow to marry, or that Hollywood holds the answer to life’s many problems.

Kerry on the other hand claims his many positions show a consideration towards all views, which to Christian’s means moral relativism. A belief that states that no one opinion is more right than the other. And since Kerry believes in moral relativism (I’m assuming due to his many stances on almost every issue) he is free to disagree with everything that Bush supports. Bush could support a completely altruistic cause like Operation Smile and Kerry would be against it for some reason. It’s sad really. Thankfully, people are really catching on to his bouncing opinions and blatant lies, and he knows it. Thus, the panic has set into Kerry and his campaign.

Today Kerry begged for mercy by expressing his desire to end the advertisement wars, an effective strategy used by Bush which has eroded Kerry’s lead so much so that most of the polls show Bush with a slight to substantial lead. No wonder John wants those ads stopped. Ironically, Kerry is spending millions of dollars making misleading and false accusations through those ads have had no affect on Bush, while a small group like the Swift Boat Vets for Truth are pummeling John month after month day after day with a much smaller pot to draw money from.

Kerry also said today that Bush ”has no record to run on”. Phla.. Pshh.. What? No record to run on? Lets see, just off the top of my head… tax cuts, the department of homeland security, 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, floods, hurricanes, Bill Clinton’s recession, helping to win the majority of the seats in the Senate during the 2002 senate race, endless speeches, California wild fires and blackouts, judicial appointments, he promotes a pro-life agenda, and has enacted faith based initiatives just to name a few. Again I ask you, how is it this man is considered an intellectual if I can best him?

For further understanding of Kerry’s many problems, here is an excerpt from Hugh Hewitt’s excellent blog. He explains Kerry’s propensity to stay away from on air journalists like Bill O’Reilly and what his unfavorable ratings mean.

Thankfully, this is not the only thing that makes him un-presidential. Kerry’s past 20 years in the Senate has yet to become a major issue in the campaign and he rather likes it that way I would assume. If the MSM (Main stream media) did their homework they would find the most liberal politician in the Sentate. He has opposed many of the programs that have kept this nation safe from our enemies, he missed Prime Minister Allawi's address to Congress, dodged 74% of the public Senate Intelligence Committee hearings (the closed door hearing numbers have not been release by Kerry), he did not take security briefings when offered, he criticizes the war effort which demoralizes our troops and encourages our enemies, and missed most of the votes on the Senate floor over the last year. That is what makes him un-presidential.

"[Kerry's] habit of soliciting one more point of view prompted one close adviser to say he had learned to wait until the last minute before weighing in: Mr. Kerry, he said, is apt to be most influenced by the last person who has his ear. His aides rejoiced earlier this year when Mr. Kerry yielded his cell phone to an aide, a move they hoped would limit his seeking out contrary opinions." Does this sound like a man of conviction to you? How is it he doesn’t know his own opinion on the matter? He can’t even be true to himself.
In a chart shown on Hewitt’s blog, it shows Kerry with an overall unfavorable rating across the board, from the age of 18 to the age of 61 and above. He then asked Michael Barone,

Yep. Kerry’s presidential hopes will suffer a much harsher fate than that of his mentor Ted Kennedy, who didn’t even get the nomination when he ran for president in 1980.

Kerry debates himself this Thursday not Bush.

2004-09-27T07:50:00.000-05:00

The debates begin this week Thursday, so I thought it might be interesting to get a better understanding of John Kerry's viewpoint on matters of foreign policy, the topic of the first debate.

Israel and Palestine:
Speaking to the Arab American Institute in Michigan (Oct 2003) Kerry sympathized with their "plight" saying he knew "how disheartened Palestinians are by the Israeli government's decision to build the barrier off of the Green Line – cutting deep into Palestinian areas. We don't need another barrier to peace. Provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israelis' security over the long term, increase the hardships to the Palestinian people, and make the process of negotiating an eventual settlement that much harder."

Then later while speaking in New York just before their primaries, Kerry said that "Israel's security fence is a legitimate act of self defense. No nation can stand by while its children are blown up at pizza parlors and on buses. While President Bush is rightly discussing with Israel the exact route of the fence to minimize the hardship it causes innocent Palestinians, Israel has a right and a duty to defend its citizens. The fence only exists in response to the wave of terror attacks against Israel.

How is it possible that Kerry is set to take the majority of the Jewish vote? It’s beyond my comprehension. How can Jews trust that Kerry has Israel’s best interest at heart when he speaks out against the very thing that is keeping Women, children, and babies safe from the rage of Palestinian suicide bombers? Kerry has said nothing and done nothing that would endear himself to the Jews.

I am a friend of Israel, but not a friend of stupidity. If Jewish Americans suffer from the same intelligence deficiencies that Kerry suffers from, they deserve each other.

The Vote to go to war:
Kerry says he "voted to threaten the use of force to make Saddam Hussein comply with the resolutions of the United Nations…" Everyone else understood the intent of the vote was to give the president the power to go to war except Kerry. How is it then he is still referred to by people as an intellectual? Even far left newspapers like the LA times understood the meaning of the vote when they ran the headline "Congress Backs War on Iraq." The truth is, John Kerry knew full well what he was voting for and voted in a way that he thought would be politically helpful to him. The resolution clearly states, "The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to … defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq." Everyone (except for John I guess)knew what that meant.

Funding the war in Iraq:
In September of 2003 John Kerry was in strong support of funding the war to ensure a victory and the safety of our troops. A bill was in the works to provide 87 billion towards the war effort, part of which would go towards body armor, an item highly coveted by our troops. The bill as it stood had nearly unanimous support throughout the House and Senate, but Kerry with the aid of Joe Biden, attached an amendment to the bill. When asked if he would vote for the $87 billion if his amendment didn't pass, Kerry said, "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible."Later, when asked about a Republican ad that attacks him for not supporting body armor for our troops, he made the now infamous statement: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it," My mother would have slapped my mouth for this kind of double talk. He didn't get his way, so he threw a hissy fit and voted against funding for the war and protecting our troops. Any attempts on his part to label it a "protest vote", is ignoring the bigger picture. It shows his willingness to be selfish and prideful when it come to matters of national security. Anyway you slice it, this guy is bad news for the war effort. Amazingly, He was one of 12 Senators that opposed the bill.

Going to war with Iraq:
Now John is trying to distinguish himself apart from Bush. Recently when Kerry was on The Late Show, David Letterman asked him if we would be in Iraq today had he been president. Kerry said 'no'. Before that, on the 21st of September, in a speech that would lay out his plan for Iraq's future, Kerry said that "Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama Bin Laden and the terrorists," and that "Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and, if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight. Further more "Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell. That was not a reason to go to war. We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure." And yet months before he made these statements he made this one: "those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein and those who believe we are not safer with his capture don't have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be elected president." It's ironic that he still claims to have only one position on the matter of Iraq which is in itself a contradiction. I expect more double speak from Kerry on this issue come Thursday's debate.

It is shocking to me that so many people could follow this man, and consider him honest and forthright. He has been everything but truthful during his entire campaign, from the primaries till today. By in large liberals believe in grey areas in almost every aspect of life. This grey area is considered to be a sign of intelligence in Kerry's circle of yes-men, which further demonstrates there inability to reason out a single issue to the point of being certain. To me it's obvious; he has a large group of people telling him what is politically expedient and helpful to him. He is not listening to sound moral judgment nor is he acting in the country's best interest.

Kerry to gain European support?
One of the points that Kerry has been trying to get across to the American people is that he will be able to create a stronger coalition to help carry the burden in Iraq. Regardless of the high number of countries in the coalition, John Kerry remains adamant that we are going it alone over there. The implication is that once he is president he can get France and Germany to help. And of course, the ones that are involved with us are insignificant. So much for Kerry’s diplomacy.

This just in from the Financial Times: No French or German turn on Iraq. In the article Gert Weisskirchen, member of parliament and foreign policy expert for Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party, stated that he "cannot imagine that there will be any change in our decision not to send troops, whoever becomes president," And Michel Barnier, the French foreign minister, stated that France, which has a poor relationship with Iyad Allawi, has no plans to send troops "either now or later".

* ahem * Kerry is toast. This is almost better than the swift boat ads. Something that he has been touting as his strength has effectively been ripped from him.

Debate Outcome:
Bush should have this debate in the bag. All Bush has to do is memorize every position Kerry has had since before the primary's and Bush will make the proclaimed "master debater" cry for mercy. Kerry is toast.

This post could have been so much longer... but I really have to go to bed. I'ts 2:15 in the morning. But before I go, here is something on the lighter side of Kerry's many mistakes...

Man of the people and football lover:

Football Fans for Truth

a Section 527 organization

Football Fans for Truth

It doesn’t sound like they’re ready to take on MoveOn.org any day soon, but hey, good luck gents.

Updated 09/27/04: Added commentary on the Jewish vote and French and German participation in Iraq.

Tahreeezah unleashed.

2004-09-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

Tahreeezah was recently at a fund-raiser where she touted her belief that Osama Bin Laden would be caught before the November election. Implying a belief in a conspiracy theory that Bush is just holding him or at the very least knows where he is, so that as soon as November rolls around Bush can roll him out and win the election.

said Heinz Kerry

Let me first state that I am completely biased here. I want Bush to win. But if he rolls out OBL just before the election, I guarantee you certain people will not look favorably upon it. I might even have a titch of disgust, which after about a nanosecond, would be replaced with joy and absolute glee. My only regret is that I will not have a gun to fire off into the air in the middle of a crowded street, and enough candy to pass out to everyone. I want to be able jump rhythmically in the air with about 3000 other happy people and scream cheers, hailing our great president Bush while holding the American flag for all to see. If Wahhabism had a flag and I would love to wrap a stuffed OBL in it and burn them in effigy.

Capturing OBL would shore up his base into a “lockbox” and increase the number of undecided into his camp. Regardless of how loud and frequent the “See I told ya so” and other loser statements that will be made, Bush will be elected to another four years.

Tahreeezah is a caged animal at this point. As the election draws closer her rhetoric will get worse and more frequent. She must be inundated with constant empty rhetoric by people in her party. So much so that it takes every ounce of strength in her to keep her mouth under control. She’s an absolute nutjob.

Here are just a few of her most recent idiotic statements.

only an idiot

Only an idiot wouldn't like this

scumbags

African-American

shove it.

too old to be bossed around.

You have to treat stepchildren like pets

let them go naked

Wow… now that’s ostentatious.

Random thoughts

2004-09-23T07:43:00.001-05:00

Update:The pictures actually mean something. Read to the end of the post to get to my point.

Update: Blogging late
At 2 in the morning this post read pretty well. After a good nights rest, I feel it needed some revising. I really need to write during the day.

A bit of gloating.
I love how Rathergate is about the forged memos and not about the accusations against Bush. As well it should be. The allegations are old and the possibility of a conspiracy between CBS/Burkette and the DNC is just too juicy to ignore.

Can you imagine the fear Mary Mapes is going through right now? They’ve made her the scapegoat, and I don’t think she’s going to take it lying down. Expect her to take a few swings as well. I guarantee you this is going to get a lot uglier. And I for one can’t wait to see how this unfolds.

Bush allegations
As for the allegations towards Bush’s guard status; that particular issue was put to rest during the democratic primaries. The fact that dems want to beat this dead horse even further just shows you their lack of real issues. They should know better than to bring a rubber band (Bush being AWOL) to a gun fight (The Swift Boat Vet ads.) Good luck J/J. Kerry is unrepentant for the way he conducted himself when he got back from Nam and everything in these ads is valid and hard to refute. Just look at how each day it’s a new giant angry accusation from him, and you’ll start to get a sense of how desperate he really is. Bush has a back door plan to reinsate the draft! Bush went AWOL! Bush missed an opportunity at the UN! I would not be in Iraq today! I would be in Iraq today! Etc etc etc. And yet, what always tops the news? What issues do we blog and read about? We are totally preoccupied with Rathergate and the Swift Boat Vet ads. Good.

I've got gas
It's starting to get a bit out of hand at the pump. It costs me about 30 bucks to fill the tank now. It hurts, but I’m sure this too will pass.

Mommy’s little rapist – Isn’t he sweet?
Anyone else feel like it's been a slow news day or two? I know Rather/Memogate is big, but it's also everywhere, know what I mean? What else is there? Well, lets see... An 11 year old rapes a 76 year old! This story... I can't even wrap my mind around this one. Sheesh man... 11! Mommy thinks he’s a good widdo boy though. She says she raised him right. Pflah... don't pee on my leg and tell me its raining lady. And while you’re at it, move away from old people. *shudder*

What does the Kerry campaign and South Korea have in common?
How about a man (Chung Byung-Man) who used to be in South Korea's National Intelligence Service? It seems as though the South Koreans have no love for the Bush administration and are trying to help in their own special way.

Democratic donors and fund-raisers

It’s entirely possible for the Kerry campaign to not have known about Chung. And I’m glad that some of the fundraisers became uncomfortable with him being there, but what was he involved in that alerted the fundraisers sensibilities? Why aren’t those who work for the Kerry campaign thoroughly screened before hand? Surely this guy would have raised a red flag had he been screened.

California crack is now legal in public
Can you believe this? Evidently naked yoga is now legal in SanFransico.

Can anyone tell me one yoga pose that wouldn't be considered lewd if done naked? For goodness sake, doing yoga in a private class is almost lewd. This is yet another case of how common sense and intelligence has been forgotten in the most liberal state in the union.

Next up for legalization in California is public-obese-naked-jumping-jacks, and nude Velcro wall jumping.

Moore discourages the left

2004-09-21T07:09:00.000-05:00

I’ve just started writing this at 11:30 at night with a near blinding headache due to the Lo-Carb diet I started on today. Since I have such a bad headache I feel as though I am in no danger of creating matters worse for myself by reading Michael Moore’s latest tripe.

And because I have no desire to subjugate y’all to the same blinding pain I’m in I’ve sanitized his message while keeping it’s original content in tact for your reading pleasure. I think after you read his latest you will find that Michael is spot on with this one...

Dear Friends, (liberals and democrats)

Enough of the handwringing! Enough of the doomsaying! Do I have to come there and personally calm you down? Stop with all the defeatism, OK? Bush IS a goner --

IF we all just quit

our whining and bellyaching and stop shaking like a bunch of nervous ninnies. Geez, this is embarrassing! The Republicans are laughing at us. Do you ever see them cry, "Oh,

it's all over! We are finished! Bush can

win!

Waaaaaa!"

Hell no. It's never over for them until the last ballot is shredded. They are never finished --

they just keeping moving forward

like sharks that never sleep, always pushing, pulling, kicking, blocking, lying.

They are relentless and that is why

we secretly admire them -- they just simply never, ever give up

Only 30% of the country calls itself "Republican," yet the

Republicans own it all -- the White House, both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and the majority of the governorships.

How do you think

they've been able to pull that off

considering they are a minority? It's

because they eat

you and me and every other liberal for

breakfast and then spend the rest of the day

wreaking havoc

on the planet.

Look at us -- what a bunch of crybabies. Bush gets a bounce after his convention

and you would have thought the Germans had run through Poland again. The Bushies are coming, the Bushies are coming! Yes,

they caught Kerry asleep on the Swift Boat thing.

Yes,

they found the frequency in Dan Rather

and ran with it. Suddenly it's like,

"THE END IS NEAR! THE SKY IS FALLING!"

No, it is not. If I hear one more person tell me how lousy a candidate

Kerry is

and how he can't win... Dammit, of COURSE he's

a lousy candidate -- he's a Democrat, for heavens sake! That party is so pathetic, they even lose the elections they win!

What were you expecting, Bruce Springsteen heading up the ticket? Bruce would make a helluva president, but guys like him don't run -- and neither do you or I. People like Kerry run.

Yes

, OF COURSE any of us would have run a better, smarter, kick-ass campaign. Of course we would have smacked each and every one of those phony swifty boaty bastards down. But WE are not running for president --

Kerry is

So quit complaining and work with what we have.

Oprah

just gave 300 women a... Pontiac! Did you see any of them frowning and moaning and screaming, "Oh God, NOT a friggin' Pontiac!" Of course not, they were happy. The Pontiacs all had four wheels, an engine and a gas pedal. You want more than that, well, I can't help you. I had a Pontiac once and it lasted a good year. And it was a VERY good year.

friends,

it is time for a reality check.

The polls are wrong. They are all over the map like diarrhea.

On Friday, one poll had Bush 13 points ahead

-- and another poll had them both tied. There are three reasons why the polls are b.s.: One,

they are polling "likely voters."

"Likely" means those who have consistently voted in the past few elections. So that cuts out young people who are voting for the first time and a ton of non-voters who are definitely going to vote in THIS election. Second, they are not polling people who use their cell phone as their primary phone. Again, that means they are not talking to young people. Finally, most of the polls are weighted with too many Republicans, as pollster John Zogby revealed last week. You are being snookered if

you believe

any of

these polls.

2. Kerry has brought in the Clinton A-team.

Instead of shunning Clinton (as Gore did),

Kerry has decided to not make that mistake.

Traveling around

the country

, as I've been doing, I gotta tell ya, there is a hell of a lot of unrest out there. Much of it

is not

being

captured by the mainstream press.

But it is simmering and it is real. Do not let

those well-produced Bush rallies

of angry white people

scare you.

Turn off the TV!

(Except

Jon Stewart and Bill Moyers

-- everything else

is just a sugar-coated

lie).

4. Conventional wisdom says

if the election is decided on "9/11" (the fear of terrorism),

Bush wins.

But if it is decided on the job we are doing in Iraq, then Bush loses. And folks, that "job," you might have noticed, has descended into the third level of a hell we used to call Vietnam.

There is no way out. It is a full-blown mess of a quagmire and the body bags will

sadly

only

mount higher. Regardless of what

Kerry

meant by his original war vote, he ain't the one

who

sent those kids to their deaths

-- and Mr. and Mrs. Middle America knows it.

Had

Bush

bothered to show up when he was in the "service" he might have somewhat of a clue as to how to recognize an immoral war that cannot be "won." All he

has

delivered to Iraq was that plasticized turkey last Thanksgiving. It is this failure of monumental proportions that is going to cook his goose come

this November.

So,

do not

despair.

All is

not

over.

Far from it. The

Bush

people need you to believe that it is over. They need you to slump back into your easy chair and feel that sick pain in your gut as you contemplate another four years of George W. Bush. They need you to wish we had a candidate who

didn't windsurf

and who was just as smart as we were when WE knew Bush was lying about WMD and Saddam planning 9/11. It's like Karl Rove is hypnotizing you --

"Kerry voted for the war...Kerry voted for the war...Kerrrrrryyy vooootted fooooor theeee warrrrrrrrrr..."

Yes...Yes...Yesssss....He did! HE DID!

No sense in fighting now...what I need is sleep...sleeep...sleeeeeeppppp...

WAKE UP!

The majority

are with us! More than half of all Americans are pro-choice,

want stronger

environmental laws, are appalled that

assault weapons

are

back on the street -- and 54% now believe the war is

wrong. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM OF ANY OF THIS -- YOU

JUST

HAVE TO GIVE THEM A RAY OF HOPE AND A RIDE TO THE POLLS. CAN YOU DO THAT? WILL YOU DO THAT?

Just for me,

please

? Buck up. The country is almost back in our hands. Not another negative word until Nov. 3rd! Then you can

bitch all you want about how you wish Kerry was still that long-haired kid

who once had the courage to stand up for something.

Personally, I think that kid is

still inside him. Instead of the wailing and gnashing of your teeth, why not hold out

hand to him and help the inner soldier/protester come out and defeat the

force

of evil

we now so desperately face.

Do we have any other choice?

Yours,
Michael Moore

Update: If you like funny stuff heres another one to read. I called it Un-American Pie. Maybe not as good, but I thought it was funny. Thanks to Spoons and everyone else thats linked to this piece as well.

Update:Nude Yoga anyone? California crack is now legal.

I'm sorry and thank you.

2004-09-20T22:13:00.000-05:00

For some reason I keep forgetting to bring this up. I apologize for not mentioning this sooner.

A little more than a week ago someone donated to my site and exceeded my desired goal of $1.00 by donating $10.00.

To my new sugar daddy/mommy... thank you. You have encouraged me. The donation was both unnecessary and unexpected. You made my day!

Rather late don't cha think?

2004-09-20T11:50:00.000-05:00

Drudge is now posting Dan Rather's statement on the false memos he ran in a 60 minutes interview that added to speculation on whether President Bush fulfilled his duties while in the National Guard. In it, he claims he can no longer vouch for the memos authenticity. Welcome to Earth Dan.

STATEMENT FROM DAN RATHER:

Obviously the honorable discharge Bush received is not enough evidence to convince many on the left that he fulfilled his duties as required. But when questions about an actual legitimate document comes to light, placing John Kerry's Silver Star into question, no further investigation is required. It also strikes me as odd that the anecdotal evidence used by Marian Carr Knox was extremely important to CBS's investigation. Dan even suggested, after the documents had been further scrutinized, that it was Marian’s opinion that carried the actual weight of the argument and not the faked memos.

CBS has yet to make a statement as to why the testimony of people like the Swift Boat Vets, people who actually served with John Kerry, are summarily dismissed or ignored, while Mrs. Knox is lauded as very credible.

This is why people don’t trust Dan Rather for accurate Journalism. In part it is because he made this rush to judgment and aired phony documents, but more precisely it is because he refuses to go after the other side (liberal/democrats) with as much enthusiasm. That is what makes him biased.

See Rather, Rinse, Repeat for more background leading up to Dan Rather's recent admission.

Update: - Internal E-mail from Andrew Heyward to CBS Employees.

Sorry Andrew, too late. You didn't authenticate the documents, you refused to look at the evidence that was provided to you, and you acted slowly in making these statements. You should be ashamed that your entire news organization was thoroughly schooled by bloggers in pajamas. In doing so you lost credibility and viewership. Not that I'm upset about that mind you. The fewer people that watch CBS, the better it is for the whole of America. Anyone that uses you for their single source of information is truly living in a fairytale.

Rush got it wrong today.
Today he suggested that people are missing the real story here. And that is; Who actually forged the documents. I'm sure I don't have to link any blogs for everyone reading this that that very question was asked early on, do I?

#$@ DSL modem woes.

2004-09-17T08:26:00.000-05:00

Well... as you can see. No pics yet again. My DSL modem is acting up this time. For some unknown reason I now have a new IP address yet again, even though the power did not go off. Grrrr...

I'm in the process of moving everything over to imageshack. That should clear up the problem. Everything should be right as rain by tomorrow morning.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Update: Grrr.. I have many images to move over to imageshack and its proving cumbersome. I have once again updated my links to refer back to my server which will have to do unless I loose my IP again in a short amount of time, which could very well happen. Expect fewer pictures per post. Maybe I’ll use one pic per post if I feel it adds to the content.

I've been really eyeing MT lately and might make that move sooner than later. We shall see.

Rather, Rinse, Repeat.

2004-09-16T07:24:00.000-05:00

Did you see Dan Rather on last nights broadcast of CBS Nightly News and on 60 Minutes 2? I’ve never seen such a sullen looking rich partisan journalist in my entire life. The guy looked beat. From what I understand he was in meetings regarding Rathergate right up until he went on air for the nightly news. By the time the cameras were on him, it looked like his best friend, dog, and credibility had died. It did, but he only has himself to blame.

His obvious bias is no longer the issue in my mind, it is whether he can honestly call himself a journalist, especially after last nights statement release and subsequent interview with Marion Carr Knox. The intent of both, no doubt, was to admit in some way that the documents are fake while retaining as much credibility as possible, as well as answer some of the questions looming over the scandal. Unfortunately for CBS, merely naming those that identified in the verification process feel short of solid reporting, leaving even more questions to be answered.

The handwriting experts

Not much can be said about the handwriting experts. This is their opinion and they are entitled to it. However for every expert that says the docs are true, you can find one that says they are fakes. The two experts (here and here) CBS retains as valid are those that stand by their claims that the documents are authentic, while the two that have distanced themselves from CBS have been marginalized by the network as having “played a peripheral role” only. So obviously it is not important to have unanimity between experts, just one or two that agree with the chosen direction of the report. Got it?

The Techs

In the statement released by CBS they make a damning admission in my opinion. In it they admit that they consulted four experts in handwriting and one in typesetting. But not until after last week Wednesday’s broadcast did they enlist the expertise of Bill Glennon, “a long time IBM typewriter service technician,” and Richard Katz a “computer software expert”, something that should have been done before going public the first time.

consulted prior to the broadcast

examine the documents after the broadcast

Bill Glennon

CBS:“They strongly refuted the claim made by some critics that there were no typewriters in existence in the early 1970s that could have produced such documents.”

Unfortunately for CBS, merely making assertions as to ones credibility is not enough. You need to be able to back up any and every claim made by the so called “expert.” So when Bill Glennon states that “the IBM model executive, D Executive or the C Executive, did proportional type spacing.” And that it also “would do proportional spacing from line to line.” As well as, “superscript printing for like the “th,” which you could.” Then CBS needs to reproduce the document with that typewriter and show it to the audience with as much accuracy as those reproduced by bloggers. It is simply not enough to satisfy people anymore just because someone says so. Both CBS and Bill’s credibility will remain in question until this document is produced.

Richard Katz

As for Richard's “strong” refutation…

RICHARD KATZ (IBM expert): If you were doing this a week ago or a month ago on a normal LaserJet printer, it wouldn't work. You just couldn't--there just--the font wouldn't be available to you. Not true. The font is available and many people have proven this by recreating the document and transposing it over the original. Result: Perfect match.

Go out of your way? I’m sorry but I type a lot during the day and evening and it is not a hassle to have to hit the backspace button. In fact this paragraph alone I used it about 6 times. Thank you gentlemen for proving the point. Microsoft Word can reproduce the same results as the document shows. This is hardly a strong refutation in my opinion.

One more question about Richard Katz. What type of software expert is he? Does he create fonts for Microsoft? Or does he write code for the new Tyco robot pup? Why should I accept him as a credible source when all we have about him is that he is a “software expert”?

The Star witness – Marion Carr Knox

CBS admits that the documents are fakes but that the content is true based on the testimony of Marion Carr Knox, the self describe right hand of Col. Killian. In her interview with Dan Rather she states, “I did not type those memos. And it’s not the form I would have used.” She goes on to say that, “there are words in there that belong in the Army, not to the Air Guard. We never used those terms,” and that even though she didn’t type the memos, “The information in those is correct.”

Later in the interview she makes an even stronger asserttion. She states, “It seems that somebody did see those memos, and then tried to reproduce and maybe changed them enough so that he wouldn’t get in trouble over it.”

This demonstrates another CBS credibility problem, by using one person’s testimony and not having the original documents to back up the story. Simply produce a copy of the originals or the originals themselves and some of the credibility problems plaguing CBS and Dan Rather will begin to fade. One person’s testimony hardly makes the case.

When CBS makes the claim that “a preponderance of evidence” was used, in that “many interviews, both on- and off-camera, with individuals with direct and indirect knowledge of the situation, atmosphere and events of the period in question,” were used, they then need to identify those individuals and get a signed affidavit saying they are willing to stand by their assertions. If they have anything less than that, it’s sloppy journalism.

CBS Homework:

1. I would like to know what type of software expert Richard Katz is.

2. Dan and crew will also need to replicate an exact copy of the forgery using the typewriter described by Bill Glennon. Anything less than point by point, line space by line space, font to font, tab to tab exact replication will fail to convince the blogsphere.

3. CBS needs to find copies of the originals or the originals themselves. Anything less is a forgery and shouldn’t be used as evidence. Hopefully that lesson is now seared – seared into them.

4. They need to produce the individuals with direct knowledge of the situation. I could care less if they have indirect knowledge. Give me more people to substantiate Marrion Carr Knox’s allegations using people as close to Bush as she was. Only first hand knowledge should be used in this type of reporting.

Update: Spoons linked to me and provided another link to Allah Pundit who gives further analysis. Thank you Spoons!

Update: This just in...

"Documents allegedly written by a deceased officer that raised questions about President Bush's service with the Texas Air National Guard bore markings showing they had been faxed to CBS News from a Kinko's copy shop in Abilene, Tex., according to another former Guard officer who was shown the records by the network."Now who lives in Texas near that Kinkos?

"There is only one Kinko's in Abilene, and it is 21 miles from the Baird, Tex., home of retired Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett, who has been named by several news outlets as a possible source for the documents."Who is Bill Burkett you ask? Find out here. Or better yet read this one from Townhall. No no no. Not those. This one.

Sorry but the power went out.

2004-09-14T14:40:00.000-05:00

My power went out at home, which is where my server is located, which is also where my DSL modem is located, which doesn't have a static IP address. So when the power goes out, I get a new IP address and all my pics go byby till I get a chance to fix each post. I should have everything up and running by tomorrow morning. I apologize for the inconvenience.

The President visits Michigan - Part 2

2004-09-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

I always thought it would be cool to go to a political rally and I was right. The rally started around 11:00am. Local politicians made their speeches in support of the president till about 12:45. We were then treated to the Bellamy Brothers who played a 20 minute set to show their support just before Bush showed up. Once He arrived and was greeted heartly, he spoke for about 40 minutes giving his stump speech which hits most of the basic platform points. If you’re interested, you can read the transcript here, or you can just read some of the highlights below.

Highlights - The President speaks about:

Jobs.

” The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That is lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s. Listen, there are some areas of our country that are still lagging behind, but we'll continue to promote a pro-growth, pro-small business policy, pro-entrepreneur policy for the next four years so people can find a good job here in America.”

Taxes.

“We have a changing world. And, yet, the fundamental systems haven't changed: the tax code, health coverage, pension plans, worker training were created for the world of yesterday, not tomorrow. So over the next four years we're going to transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared and, thus, truly free to be able to make their own choices and to be able to realize the great promise of this country.”

The complicated tax code.

“Let me tell you something else we've got to do about this tax code: we've got to change it. It's a complicated mess. It's full of special-interest loopholes. In a new term I'm going to bring the Republicans and Democrats together to simplify the tax code, to make the tax code more fair. We want more people working than spending time -- than the time they have to spend on filling out all these forms. Do you realize Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year on federal taxes. That's one complicated code that needs to be fixed and will be fixed.”

Social Security.

“if you're on Social Security today, nothing is going to change. I do not care what the D.C. politicians will tell you. Nobody is going to take away your benefits. And if you're a baby boomer, you're in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security.”

Iraq and the War on terror.

“Despite ongoing acts of violence, Iraq now has a strong Prime Minister, a national council, and national elections are scheduled in January. We're standing with the people in those countries, because when America gives its word, America must keep its word.

And by standing with them, we're also serving a vital and historic cause that will make our country safer. See, free societies in the Middle East will be hopeful societies, which no longer feed resentments or breed violence for export. Free governments in the Middle East will fight terrorists, instead of harboring them, and that helps us keep us safe.

So our mission in Afghanistan and Iraq is clear: We will help the new leaders train their police and their armies, so the people of Afghanistan and Iraq can do the hard work of defending freedom. We will help them -- we will help them move toward elections, we'll get them on the path of stability and democracy as quickly as possible, and then our troops will come home with the honor they have earned.”

Kerry’s new flip/flop.

“Here's the latest wrinkle. Here's the latest wrinkle -- I'm trying to figure out what he believes. He said: we're spending too much money in Iraq -- even though he earlier criticized me for not spending enough. One thing about his position is clear, if he had had his way, Saddam Hussein would still be in power and would be a threat to our security and peace in the world.”

American Sovereignty.

Listen, I want to thank our friends and neighbors -- friends and allies for their contributions. I've spent a lot of time doing that. I appreciate the fact -- we've got nearly 40 nations involved in Afghanistan, some 30 nations involved in Iraq helping us to spread freedom and peace. But I will never -- as I build coalitions over the next four years, as I continue to work with friends and neighbors I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries.

In conclusion.

“Four years ago -- four years ago, as I traveled this great country and your wonderful state asking for the vote, I made a pledge. I said that if you gave me a chance to serve, I would uphold the dignity and the honor of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for four more years.

God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all.”

We were standing pretty far away.

GWB

GWB

Me and my boy Eli

My wife Deb and Eli

This is us leaving. The kid with the light blue shirt in the foreground was a protestor that I confronted. His sign read: Who would Jesus bomb? I asked him why he didn't like Bush and he told me it was because he didn't have a job. I told him to go get one, and that if he really needed help I could direct him to the many help wanted signs I saw on the way to the Fair Grounds. He backed off that line and instead proceeded to give me the "war for oil" puke with a side of "We shouldn't be in Iraq" tripe, to which I reminded him that Saddam was part of the war on terror and that Iraq was a country that sponsered terrorism and blah blah blah blah blah blah... long story short, he's still young and stupid. Nothing I said to him was going to change the latter, so I just walked away.

Update: Dan over at Wat Dan Ook also has his pics up of the event.

Update: Janna over at De "Nederlandse Prinses" Openbaarde... The "Dutch Princess" Revealed... has put together a collection of some great photos of the event.

The President visits Michigan

2004-09-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

Today my family is going to a local fairgrounds to see President Bush. Full report when I get back.

The blogsphere remembers

2004-09-11T16:20:00.000-05:00

Bill Roggio from The Fourth Rail tells his story from that day and reminds us...

“We should be as angry today as we were when we first witnessed the horrors of 9-11. It should burn in us, it should motivate us to right these wrongs. Anger can be a very powerful motivator, but we must take care and not direct it to hatred. “

Dave from The Common Sense Chronicles links to a video showing the second tower being hit. It still hits me hard when I watch it. Thanks Dave for the banner (pictured left) as well.

Glenn Reynolds - ”I WASN'T HAPPY with the photos the MSNBC folks ran with my September 11 post over at GlennReynolds.com, so I asked them to make some changes. They did, and now there's an excellent slideshow and video links.

Jeff at Beautiful Atrocities does a great photo montage of the evil we are up against.

Last year Spoons documented his 9/11 experience. His reaction parallels mine.

”I remember 9/11 of being a day of "excitement", frustration, and rage. The frustration came at the slowness and inaccuracy of the reporting. They didn't know anything, but they had to fill the time. Speculation about the number deaths ran from 10,000 to 30,000 or more. They had no idea. I was frustrated that there was nothing we could do right away to fight back at whoever had done this. The rage came, too, and was maybe the strongest emotion at all. I desperately wanted my government to start killing terrorists. A lot of them. As quickly as possible. More than that, I wanted to to the killing. I wanted to find someone responsible and beat them to death with my fists, choke the life out of them. Actually, I still pretty much feel that way.”

Blogs of War has put together a superb post that links just about everything you need to remember today. Including: Links to The Victims, moments of silence, progress made, The President’s statement, Don Rumsfeld’s statement, essays, video, radio, newspapers, and a large number of bloggers with their tributes.

Michelle Malkin's consternation over the medias desire to be politically correct about who we are fighting against:

”The third anniversary of Sept. 11 is upon us. We remain at war -- and the media remain in denial.

How many times have you picked up a newspaper and read about terrorist attacks perpetrated not by Muslim terrorists, but by generic "militants" or "guerrillas" or "rebels" or, as Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes noted the Pakistan Times called them, "activists"?

We are not just in a war to preserve our way of life, we are at war against those that wish to deaden our senses and lull us to sleep with politically correct speech.

DJ Drummond at Stolen Thunder reminds us of the cost of an improper response.

"For comparison, 2,403 Americans were killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which began a war we fought for the next four years, including the use of Atomic weapons, and the occupation of two major nations for the better part of a decade, and troop bases which are still active in both countries. Nobody calls World War 2 "the wrong war in the wrong place", however.”

Michael Gallaugher over at The Christian Conservative writes:

”911 changed everything. It caused those who love America to love it more, and it caused those who hate America to hate it more. It caused those who love God to humble themselves, and it caused those who hate God to ratchet up their campaigns against Christian values in American culture. Prior to 911, the Bush and Clinton Administrations didn't take the threat of Islamic Terrorism seriously enough. Now, the worldviews of people on on all sides of the political-religious spectrum are so galvanized, it has caused some people to lose their rational minds.”

Cavalier's Guardian WatchBlog - ”We can talk about the pain of 9/11, but pain must become purpose. We have to renew our determination to continue as we have begun, until the job is truly finished. Despite all the ceremonies and candle-lighting, speeches and testimonials, the only fitting memorial to the victims of 9/11 and all the other terrorist attacks is to do our best to destroy terrorism at its root.”

Lileks - ”Of course some people are impatient with those who still recall the shock of 9/11; the same people were crowding the message boards of internet sites on the afternoon of the attacks, eager to blame everyone but the hijackers. They hate this nation. In their hearts, they hate humanity. They would rather cheer the perfect devils than come to the aid of a compromised angel. They can talk for hours about how wrong it was to kill babies, busboys, businessmen, receptionists, janitors, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers - and then they lean towards you, eyes wide, and they say the fatal word:

But.

And then you realize that the eulogy is just a preface. All that concern for the dead is nothing more than the knuckle-cracking of an organist who’s going to play an E minor chord until we all agree we had it coming.”

My Thoughts:

After 3 years of relative safety many have been lulled into a false sence of security. We hear of people complaining about those trying to protect our country as if they served no purpose or maybe a purpose more sinister than those that brought upon us the events of 9/11. They are called baby killers and murderers and our leaders are likened to Hitler and burned in effigy. But thank God, the majority of Americans refuse to listen to such vicious verbal rhetoric. Most understand that we are fighting to preserve the American way of life. A life most of us took for granted before 9/11 but now understand is worth fighting for.

Bush document forgery

2004-09-10T07:04:00.000-05:00

Why bother summarizing this when Power Line has everything you want to know about it and more. Read it.

My reaction: *ahem* I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you! Who would do such a thing!?

Here’s one possible answer. Or maybe this jerk. I don't want to leave out this guy or senior psychopath either. It could be the rageon Cajun. Hmmm. Lets just leave it as someone who is not a friend to the Bush administration.

Stolen Honor: Documentary - Watch them all

2004-09-09T11:33:00.000-05:00

F/911 has nothing on this documentary. Here you have POWs speaking out against John Kerry in a clear and unhyped fashion.

Whatch:Stolen Honor: Documentary

If you're not moved by Ralph E. Gaithers quiet strength your not human.

I don't have the right words to describe the pride I feel when I listen to Robinson Risner. What a man of integrity.

As for James H. Warner's testimony... It moved me to tears. Because of John Kerry's testimony as to the "atrocities" committed by our soldiers, the North Vietnamies felt that the POW's did not deserve the protection of the Geneva convention. They were treated as criminals and tortured. Listen closely to how long Mr. Warner was tortured and how.

h/t hewitt

Un-American Pie

2004-09-09T01:04:00.000-05:00

Cheney: Don’t vote for the porcelain twosome. If you do, their week stance on terrorism might provoke a terrorist attack.

Edwards: GASP!!!!!!! Oh yeah!? Well you are un-American for calling peoples attention to something we wanted to hide. How dare you!?

GWB: Vote for me. I’ll keep you safe. And if we are attacked I’ll make sure whoever is responsible is no longer breathing. In short, I agree with Dick.

Kerry: (in the most monotone voice possible) how dare you. I think we should supply our troops with what ever they need, including body armor and additional funding. But before I go on let me make a quick call. (Walks out of the room and picks up his cell)

Kerry to Jacques Chirac: (in the most monotone French voice possible) Hey Jacquey baby. Yeah its me. Umm, how do you feel about us arming our troops a little better? No? Yeah that would make the fight a little more even, and we do need the casualties to reflect poorly on the president… okay. No body armor. Thanks Jacques-ya-rock. Say “HI” to the rest of EU for me. Tell them to rest easy, their money is going to good use.

Kerry: That bill is no good! I cannot in good conscience vote to protect our soldiers and fund this terrible war. How dare you question my patriotism! I was in Vietnam and Cambodia!

McAuliffe to Kerry: Ah John…

Kerry: (monotone) Yessss minion.

McAuliffe: First, great job.

Kerry: I know.

McAuliffe: Second, the American people want to feel like they won’t be blown up.

Kerry: (monotone) Then I shall say I voted for the 87 billion, before I voted against it. That should confuse the crap out my millions of retarded followers. Have I told you how great my hair looks today?

Kerry: And may I mention also that "It is outrageous and shameful to make the war on terror an instrument of their politics in this race, I defended this country when I was a young man, and they chose not to. And I will defend this country as president of the United States. Let that be clear." I should also mention that truthful attacks like that make me look weak and unable to lead our country at a time of war. I’m not so sure that’s good for my campaign.

Swift Boat Veterns: Mr. Kerry, the way in which you conducted yourself during and after Vietnam was reprehensible. You were never in Cambodia and what the heck is that “V” next to your silver star for?

Kerry: (very monotone) I fought in Vietnam. Vietnam is where I fought. I fought the North Vietnamese in Vietnam. Vietnam. I’m proud of both my service and how I conducted myself after Vietnam. I was in Vietnam. How dare Bush use the truth against me in such an effective manner? They’re making it very hard to defend myself. Did I mention Vietnam yet? Vietnam. Me. There. I fought.

Bill Clinton to Kerry: From now on let’s just say you fought in a war. Your credibility with your war record is really crappy. Not a strong point John. In the future, lets try and use something about your career that will help Hillary even more… I mean you even more. Why not talk about the last 20 years in the Senate? Maybe from now on try just making ad-homonym attacks. Say things in a simple way that your voters can understand and will remember.

Kerry thinking to himself: (in a monotone voice) I know, since my voters are all non-intellectuals and as smart as 3 year olds, I’ll make mean things up about GWB using only his middle initial. It’ll be like sesame street. It might be too advanced for my voters, but I’ll give it a shot.

Kerry to voters: “The ‘W’ stands for wrong, wrong choices, wrong judgment, wrong priorities, wrong direction for our country.” (to himself now) Swish. Slam dunk.

McAuliffe to Kerry: Oh most high and lofty intellectual.

Kerry: Yes.

McAuliffe: Your down in the polls your braininess.

Kerry: (in a sleepy monotone voice) Of course, this is your fault. Idiots! They must not understand that my many contradictory stands on Iraq are indeed harmonious in my complex mind. Dang it! I’m too smart Terry. Somehow we need to get what I actually mean out to the people. But how?

Kerry: Has anyone seen my wife? No? Perfect.

To be continued…

Kerry’s growing phobia: Vietnam

2004-09-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

I’ve never seen such a confused bunch like the Kerry campaign in my entire life. In the late 60’s early 70’s it was people like John Kerry that spoke quite adamantly against the war in Vietnam, yet today they would like John’s four months in Vietnam to be enough reason for anyone to vote for him this November. In the same breath those that support John Kerry frequently refer to the war on terror as Bush’s Vietnam, which is supposed to be an indictment not a compliment on how Bush has handled the war so far. They quickly forget the apt reasons for being at war, and that Bush is a war time president. If Kerry can be proud of his service during his four months in Vietnam, then Bush should be able to tout his accomplishments during the last two years against the war on terror with at least the same amount of expectation.

Very early on in his campaign, John began to tout his war record with an enthusiasm that I consider bragging. My father-in-law fought in Nam and after that served in the National Guard till he retired 3 years ago as an E8 Staff Sergeant. To this day he refuses to speak about his experiences while in Nam. How could someone like Kerry feel so free and happy about his service in Vietnam, especially if it was tainted with war crimes? He has now admitted that the following was overstated and partly untrue.

“There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 calibre machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare, all of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this is ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.”I would like to know which part of this statement John feels is true or false. Should he be proud of his service if he admits to war crimes? Do we speak out against those that commit war crimes and denounce them as rogue soldiers more worthy of a dishonorable discharge than a bid for the presidency? Or does he admit that the pain he caused America in 1971, which precipitated soldiers being spat on (and worse) when they got home, a statement that helped divide a country, was a lie used to propel him into office? The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have an ad that punctuates the betrayal they felt hearing John Kerry’s words back in 1971.

Obvious lies like him being in Cambodia during Christmas, an event that was not just clear in his mind but seared – seared into him, will continue to haunt his candidacy. Not only did the SBVT (Swift Boat Veterans for Truth) call him on this lie, but also those vets that show support for him would not corroborate his account either. What followed was a campaign nightmare for Kerry who thought no one would dare investigate his claims. Kerry’s spokesmen began clamoring for a location that would “clarify” John’s *ahem* poor memory.

First, one campaign aide explained that Kerry had patrolled the Mekong Delta somewhere "between" Cambodia and Vietnam. But there is no between; there is a border. Then another spokesman told reporters that Kerry had been "near Cambodia." But the point of Kerry's 1986 speech was that he personally had taken part in a secret and illegal war in a neutral country. That was only true if he was "in Cambodia," as he had often said he was. If he was merely "near," then his deliberate misstatement falsified the entire speech. As for the ribbon/medal controversy I could care less if he threw ribbons or medals, the point is, he showed an obvious disdain for the very thing he now hails as his crowning achievement, an obvious contradiction that is bound to harm him.

The Silver Star he so proudly disdained, now seems to be the major focus in the on going Kerry Vietnam saga. The problem with Kerry’s Silver Star is that his DD 214 states he received a Silver Star with combat “V”, (V – stands for valor under combat fire) a designation that is never awarded with a Silver Star because it would be redundant.

Included in the Silver Star controversy is the issue of citations. In 1986 Kerry received a third citation for his Silver Medal, which carried the signature of then Navy Secretary John Lehman, who claims he had nothing to do with it. The investigation is not sitting well with John Kerry.

Fortunately this investigation couldn’t come at a worse time for John Kerry’s troubled bid for the presidency. Just after being counseled by Bill Clinton to drop the Vietnam issue, this investigation has made it “the issue”. I’m sure that angers John, but I don’t believe the inability to drop it is what angers him the most; it is what they might find in this investigation that has him worried and incensed.

If he is a man whose record is above reproach why would he be troubled by the bi-partisan investigation? Wouldn’t an investigation be the very thing he needs to clarify the argument? If he is honest and truthful then he has nothing to fear. John should be anxious for the investigation to begin so that he could use the eventual positive outcome in his arsenal of reasons to elect him president. I don’t see Kerry taking that approach any time soon.

Cleric supports targeting children

2004-09-06T07:24:00.000-05:00

This is a rather emotional post. I don’t believe this will edify anyone. I needed to vent.

Make no mistake; this is the type of animal we are at war with. And since these types of animals hate being called pig, I will choose to replace every personal pronoun and proper noun referring to him with the term Pig, Swine, Hog, Boar and other derogatory uses of those terms to more accurately describe him. Chechnya will be referred to as Hogland.

My apologies to Rajeev Syal for changing the original text of his piece.

the pig,

And now, in a major moment in cognitive dissonance Swine-boar-fart-pig reasons…

As for Russia – Keep the oil. Keep the land. Fry the terrorist-pig-swill-vomit herds. They have ruined their chances for freedom after the massacre in Beslan. Whatever demand they had for freedom should forever fall on deaf ears.

Note to the anti-war crowd: These pigs were trained by al-Qaeda. Read the account as it happened, then try and convince me we have no right to go into Afghanistan and Iraq. Do you want this brought here? Why was 9/11 not enough to convince you?

The following account was compiled by Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail from the site Logic and Sanity.

I do not want this to happen to my two boys or anyone else’s children. In the past, other generations have wanted to kill Krauts, Japs, Commies, or Charlie to preserve America’s freedoms and protect our way of life. After 9/11 and subsequent events there after, I struggle with my desire to kill a few terrorist towel heads. I will most certainly go if called.

A blogstorm over AP lies

2004-09-04T07:42:00.000-05:00

The AP can barely stand the 11+ point lead the president has since the convention. So what do you do when your political world is crumbling? You start fabricating lies about GWB. The bigger the better. Heres the original story as it ran.

Bush said at a campaign rally. Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them.

here is the story after some pissed off eye witnessess emailed and called the AP on the obvious lie.

Boston Globe is still running it with the boos.

If that gets removed I have it cached on my server.

The crowd reacted with applause and with some "ooohs," apparently surprised by the news that Clinton was ill.

And guess what... the world has picked up the lie and is running with it.

Here is a round up of noteable news sources propagating the lie.

Also, complete exhaustive coverage of this whole ordeal at Swimming through the spin.

Care to hear the audio?

If you have anything you would like to say to the AP... visit here. Contact information is at the bottom of the post.

Update 09/04/04: AP Retracts 'Clinton Booed' Story. Now lets see if the retraction gets as much attention as the actual story did.

h/t to Dave for the heads up on the update.

Keyes - The tactless non-politician

2004-09-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

I was gonna write "RNC day 3", but who could pass this subject up?

Alan Keyes is not a politician. Recently he had some rather harsh words towards homosexuals that could have been stated with a lot more tact than he chose to use. In a rather ironic twist, I was *ahem* defending him under the post "Okay…2" mere moments before it came out that he made these rather harsh comments. (Check comment field)

Here is what Keyes said.

The essence of

Could you imagine being his campaign manager? Yikes. I mean, this guy is not helping himself at all. Maybe he feels as if he can say just about anything without fear because, heck, what’s there to win? Certainly not Illinois.

*Deep frustrated sigh*

Okay, lets define some words first before I get into this:

Selfish: Concerned chiefly or only with oneself
Hedonism: A pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
Homosexuality:(2 meanings) 1. Sexual orientation to persons of the same sex. 2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex.
Phobia: A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous

Now lets deal with his statement.

"The essence of ... family life remains procreation. If we embrace homosexuality as a proper basis for marriage, we are saying that it's possible to have a marriage state that in principal excludes procreation and is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism."

I agree with Alan on gay marriage, in that I believe marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman. Based on simple science I have never known a woman to become pregnant without a man’s seed or a man to become pregnant at all. So his statement that part of the definition of marriage includes procreation is perfectly understandable and I agree with it.

However I do not agree with the second part of his statement. In fact I think his blanket statement including all homosexuals who wish to marry is completely off base. I no more believe that all homosexuals who wish to marry act in selfish hedonism (or the pursuit of self pleasure. See above definitions) than heterosexuals do. The term selfish hedonism does suggest promiscuity, a problem in both communities in my opinion. Neither is right. Neither should be looked upon as normal or okay behavior.

I know some of my friends might be concerned about what they just read, so let me further delve into my personal beliefs on homosexuality.

First, I do not apologize for being a Christian or defaulting to God's word when it comes to the matter of homosexuality. I am in complete agreement with Him when He calls it a sin. That is not a homophobic position. I no more fear, hate, or avoid homosexuals than I do my best friend. Anyone who labels me a homophobe is completely off base.

I actually get a little irate when this subject comes up, because I believe the definition of homophobia has been broadened to include anything negative about homosexuals. It’s so broad now that claiming it’s a sin is tantamount to hate speech in some places in our society.

But I digress. Many Christians, including myself, struggle with sin all the time. Some sins like lust will be a life long struggle with me. I can no more separate myself from the proclivity to lust after a beautiful woman than a gay man can over another good looking male. But I can ask for God’s help in the matter and hope to change. With his help, I can and will. What I am simply stating is that we are more similar in God’s eyes than many in our society would have us believe or want to believe.

That statement alone should raise the ire of many Christians. Oh well. What can I do? It’s the truth. Here’s another shocker for some of you, many gay people can be moral and nice. Some are even conservative!

I understand that people’s sexual preference do not make them so different that it would be impossible to find common ground with them. Or, so different that I couldn't be a friend with someone who is homosexual. In the limited conversations I've had with Jeff from Beautiful Atrocities, (great blog btw) I can unequivocally tell you I like who he is. Why should my beliefs keep me from being friendly with him or visa versa?

Socially this guy is really on the outs though; I mean he’s gay, white, male, and conservative. Not exactly the pinnacle of political correctness. And thank God for that! We need more like him out there to shake up the stagnating pot that is the prevailing homosexual stereotype.

So where do I stand now in regards to Alan Keyes, you might be wondering? He is making it tougher for me to endorse, and this recent issue speaks more about him than I think reparations and senatorial appointments do because of the tactlessness of the comments. But does this make him an unelectable candidate? It looks that way in Illinois. (Where even the dead vote.)

Maybe I should take a minute to espouse exactly what it would take for me to bail on Dr. Keyes and denounce him as a viable candidate. I’m hoping this settles the issue with my readers. I do not wish to make this blog, the Alan Keyes blog and respond to his every statement. So unless he quits the race or does the following, I will not be reporting on him again for a while.

If he decided to endorse infanticide and abortion like Barack Obama has, or greatly raise our taxes, or favor socialized health care, or repealing the right to free speech, or the right to bear arms, or agree with Kerry’s position (whatever that is) on the war on terror, or if he mad any demonstrative homophobic or racist comments, or if he denounced God, he would loose my support.

I recently sent Jeff from Beautiful Atrocities an invitation to write a response to my article above. Thankfully he as accepted. Below is his unedited response.

Jeff's response:

Camille Paglia

"Gays should quit bitching about Southern Baptists exercising their constitutional right to free speech about homosexuality, which is indeed condemned by the Bible, despite the tortuous casuistry of so many self-interested parties, including clerics. I have been warning and warning for years that the insulting disrespect shown by gay activists to religion -- which has been going on for 20 years virtually unchecked on TV talk shows, with their biased liberal hosts -- would produce a backlash over time."

Andrew Sullivan

Love blogging or Reason # 213,120,121 why I love my wife.

2004-09-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

For the past 9 months to a year our mounted microwave has slowly begun to die. We try and ignore the fact that the appliance is only 3 years old, but what do you expect from a crappy builder. He used the cheapest crap he could find and installed it in our house.

For a while now Mrs Scott has been looking for the “best” priced microwave we could find. We are not made of money so we decided to go with one that was featured in an ABC Warehoused flyer. I tried to warn my wife about the lousy greedy filthy salesmen this place is known for, but bless her heart, if that unit was available; she was going to get it.

She walked into ABC Warehouse with Eli in arm and Gabe in hand and asked a salesmen where the microwave was that she saw in the flyer. To which the man replied…

‘I’m sorry we ran out of those along time ago, in fact those have been backordered and wont be in stock for quite a while. Why not take a look at this other model which is only slightly more expensive?”

And immediately my wife did an about face and began walking out of the store.

And within a few feet of the salesman and loud enough for him to hear, Gabe asked, “Why are we leaving, mom?”

To which my wife loudly replied: “Because this is the type of store that tricks you into coming in with one price and then tries to sell you something more expensive."

She is awesome!

Note: The Microwave the salesmen suggested was approximately $100.00 more than one in the flyer.

RNC - day 3 - Zell was Amazing

2004-09-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

His speech was simply amazing. I have never seen a more passionate speech given by any other politician in my life. I will never forget it. It gave me goosebumps to watch a lifelong Democrat so fervently and convincingly defend GWB. It couldn't get any better. You could read the speech, but if you really want to know and experience exactly what I'm talking about you have to watch it.

Here is an excerpt from his speech.

Read the rest.

*The "read the rest" link is provided for only those who cannot hear. If you can hear, WATCH THE VIDEO!

Update 09/02/04: This anonymous writer REALLY doesn't like Zell or his speech. Read - Zell Miller backs Bush, and books himself a place in hell

Update 09/02/04: Actually... his speech was toned down from the original. Rumor has it his speech went through numerous rewriting and was final settled on moments before he spoke. I would love to have read the original. Maybe Drudge will get his hand on it sometime soon.

SwiftVets send letter to John Kerry.

2004-09-01T15:35:00.000-05:00

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

*snif snif* Smells like victory for GWB.

RNC day 1

2004-08-31T11:42:00.000-05:00

Last night was really fun to watch the RNC. Due to the lack (none) of coverage on the major networks however, I watched it on PBS. And even though PBS is quite liberal in its own right, they have my support and undivided attention over the next few days. I will not watch patronize and encourage the obvious media bias that is so prevalent on the major networks. Kudos PBS for playing fair. I encourage anyone that does not have cable or satellite to patronize PBS as well.

I was able to catch both Senator John McCain’s and Rudy Giuliani’s speeches. Both were spot on point, dynamic and fun to listen to. And despite the pre-convention questions about how moderate the opening night speakers were, there was nothing in their speeches that would leave you to believe the conservative party has abandoned its conservative base or ideals.

Last night was about our country’s security, the war on terror, and GWB’s abilitiy to lead us through difficult times. Senator McCain did a near perfect job defining what this war is about, our need to be in Iraq, and the president’s resolve to keep all American’s safe. But what I enjoyed most about the speech was his ability to punctuate a proper mindset during these difficult times. Something the left sorely needed to hear.

Both McCain’s and Rudy’s comments on 9/11will make it difficult for the left to object with. There can be no debate at what action he took following 9/11 and how on 9/14 he went to ground zero to encourage our nations heroes in their gruesome task of cleaning up the blood soaked destruction. Rudy described that day in an anecdote that is my favorite part of his speech.

He made a masterful speech outlining the president’s resolve and the reasons for the war on terror and the war in Iraq. And I would also agree with anyone that says those points are the most important parts of this speech. But, it is these little snippets of the president’s life that give people incite into he really is. President Bush is not only wartime president, but also a president who cares deeply for the citizenry of this great nation. That’s why I enjoyed this part of Giuliani’s speech the most.

One has to wonder if the choice for both McCain and Giuliani to speak last night back to back was not calculated by the GOP in some way. After watching those two masterfully made speeches I can easily see a McCain/Giuliani presidential ticket in 2008. That wouldn’t be my choice, but I can certainly see it happening.

Okay... 2

2004-08-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

Okay... I disagree with two things that Dr. Keyes believes in. The first is reparations and the second is reinstating Senatorial appointments. One has to wonder why Alan Keyes is taking these odd positions.

Statements like these remind me of the character Stewart on MadTV. Stewart is the freakishly large child (adult actor) who tries to gain attention by saying 'Look what I can do' and then performs a jump-twist-body jerk to add meaning for his call to attention. Recently Dr. Keyes made this ‘look what I can do’ statement. It certainly gained peoples attention, but it did nothing for his election bid.

The intention of appointing Senators by state legislature was to create a connection between the appointed Senator and their state as well as freeing them from having pressure from the populace. Unfortunately that only worked for a short while. Soon deadlocks were prevalent do to disputes in state legislatures leading to vacancies in the Senate. In fact, forty-five deadlocks occurred between 1891 and 1905. In one case Delaware went without representation for four years in Washington. Added to those disputes were no less than nine cases of bribery as well as intimidation tactics used to appoint state senators. It wasn’t till 1913 that the 17th amendment was enacted, and the following year elections were held.

Dr Keyes has not added any insight as to how repealing of the 17th amendment would solve some of the issues that occurred early in our history with senatorial appointments. Instead he has further ostracized himself from the Illinois voters by making it public that he wishes to take their right to choose their representatives. Not a winning position. Maybe he should stick to those issues people can identify and agree with.

And in case you are wondering: No, this hasn’t changed my overall opinion of him. Illinois would be far better off with Alan Keyes than with Barack Obama.

Zero Tolerance - Georgia Edition

2004-08-27T10:47:00.000-05:00

A Gwinnett County school administrator, and vigilant T-shirt policeman, nabbed "a student at Grayson High School...when he was spotted wearing [a] shirt that read 'Hempstead, NY 516'."

The administrator unfortunately only saw the first four letters of what was a reference to a Long Island town and its area code, and believed it to be a drug reference.

After being questioned by school officials, the boy finally convinced them to do a search on the Internet and see that there really is, in fact, a Hempstead N.Y. and was allowed to go.

Thank goodness he didn't hail from Pottstown, Pa. (610), or Weed, Calif. (530)!

(Via James Taranto's Best of the Web)

Rewriting History

2004-08-26T12:24:00.000-05:00

A recent educational program on "PA TV" has two senior Palestinian Authority [PA] historians going to great lengths to deny ancient Jewish history and erase the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel. At the same time they describe a fictitious ancient Palestinian-Arab history, creating a historical connection to the land that never existed.

This creative historical revisionism takes authentic Jewish history, documented by thousands of years of continuous literature, and replaces the word "Jewish" with the word "Arab".

But that's hardly new for the PA.

Their incessant denial of Israel's history and right to exist, and the invention of a fake Palestinian history have been backbones of the PA's indoctrination and education for years. (And our anti-Semitic, mainstream press has historically added fuel to the fire by twisting the truth.)

Check out the following main points of the "history" from their broadcast last week:

The Hebrews of the Bible have no connection to the Jews today.
The Hebrews of the Bible were Arabs.
The Prophets of the Bible were Muslims.
Biblical King Solomon was a Muslim Prophet.
Solomon's Temple was not built by Israelites but by Arab Canaanites. (This hogwash has to be seen to believe!)
The Canaanites are the forefathers of the Palestinians.
The Bible is legends based on what Jews imagined and not on history.
The Jews today are descendents of a 13th Century Khazar tribe with no history in the Land of Israel.
The location of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a Zionist invention.
Zionism is Racism.

Update: On Tuesday, it appears that Israel's own attorney general wants the country to consider applying to Palestinians the Fourth Geneva Convention safeguarding the treatment of occupied people.

While reasonable at first glance, this kowtowing to the World Court, would be tantamount to admitting its "Jewish settlement enterprise" (don't you just love Reuters) is illegal.

Update II: Michael Rosen over at Tech Central Station, argues that the International Court of Justice's contemptible condemnation of Israel's security fence may actually prove beneficial to Israel.

Italian Courage

2004-08-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

"Now, I'll show you how an Italian dies."

-- Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 36-year old murder hostage, said to his captors as the terrorists pointed a pistol at his head in an attempt to humiliate the former Iraqi oil line guard.

It doesn't appear that Italy will end up in The CSC's Flags of Shame anytime soon!

Clifford D. May reports that Italy's governing administration "views what is happening in the world not as French President Jacques Chirac and Michael Moore do -- but as most Americans do. Those who fear that America has no European allies should pay a visit to Rome."

For his part, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi views Iraq as "the frontline in the War on Terrorism."

Berlusconi has many times thanked America for spilling blood to "save us from Nazism, Fascism and Communism." What's more, in these troubled times, he believes, it only makes sense for Europe and the U.S. to be partners, rather than rivals.

Here are some other quotes May has gathered first-hand:

"We are committed to fighting the War on Terrorism. And though it is not easy to say in Europe these days, the other main task we have before us is to help spread democracy in the Muslim world. We have to stimulate, support and reinforce those in the Middle East who believe in democracy and human rights. They are there. They are not so hard to find."

"The problem is that European policy is unbalanced. So many Europeans lean to the Palestinian side, ignoring the terrorism inflicted on the Israelis and never seeing the Israeli perspective. Europe should play a role in the Middle East, in working for a peaceful settlement. But we can't do that if Israel doesn't trust Europe, and Israel doesn't trust Europe because of this unbalanced policy."
-- Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister

"Iraq today is a melting pot of terrorist tendencies. Every terrorist faction is represented there. International terrorists are experimenting in Iraq. We simply cannot let them defeat us. If we do, that will not be the last defeat we'll suffer.

Too many of our allies in Europe do not understand this."
-- A top aide to the Prime Minister

Recently, a group claiming links to al Qaeda tried to blackmail Italy. A deadline of Aug. 15th was set. Berlusconi ignored the demand and the deadline. Last week, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades issued a statement threatening to attack "all targets" in Italy, and warning Berlusconi that he would "pay with his head for the crimes his troops committed and are still committing in Iraq."

"They tell us, if you stay in Iraq we will hit you. They tell us, if you leave we won't hit you. But it's an illusion. If we avoid this fight now, that will only mean that our sons will have to do it later."
-- A Berlusconi spokesman

It's remarkable to hear such talk from European politicians -- such commitment about promoting freedom and representative government in the Islamic world.

Remarkable, because sometimes one could be forgiven for thinking that France is the only country on the continent.

Convicted Civility

2004-08-25T18:27:00.000-05:00

I hope Brian is enjoying his R&R. Why I'm in the "gang of three" is debatable for more than one reason. But I've chosen to discuss one of those reasons here on RadioBS, because this blog reflects the kind of content and attitude that I respect, though not always mimic.

I've been pondering the polarizing punditry so prevalent in this particular political period. Pondering in a mirror, that is.

Unlike the enjoyable posts on Wat Dan Ook and the powerful discourse on The Fourth Rail, I have occasionally engaged in a different kind of railing on The CSC.

Why?

The simply answer is that it's easy to do, requiring little effort towards developing a cogent argument. But the reasons may go deeper than just a newbie blogger shortchanging logic. Alexis Tocqueville writes,

"[Democracies, especially American democracy,] cannot form a precise code in the case of social graces...Thus one can say in a sense that the effect of democracy is not precisely to give men certain manners but to prevent them from having manners."

Robert Bellah states that,

"Cultures are dramatic conversations about things that matter to their participants...an argument about the meaning of the destiny of its members."

There is a lot of truth to these quotes, but I'm not about to blame culture or democracy for uncivil rhetoric. We each share individual responsibility in this regard.

The sad fact is that American citizens are shockingly shrill as they fight over "the destiny of its members." Possibly more now than at any time in our history. Charles Wilson laments the "name calling, shouting, crudity and lying [that] has become the norm in many quarters." And that "repeated screeds and rants have taken the place of factually based, well thought out, rational arguments in support of one's opinions."

At the same time, Bellah claims that of the three major strands of the American cultural conversation -- religious, republican, and individualist -- the first two were largely excluded from the public square during the latter part of the 20th century. Lately, however, those representing the religious and the republican have reasserted their views to the chagrin of the individualists.

We are dealing with foundational issues of social (e.g., Church and state, abortion, stem cell research, the definition of marriage and family), fiscal (e.g., privitization, job creation, pending entitlement failure), and "preservational" (e.g., War on Terror, immigration) importance -- problems that require more than just a passing concern while watching reality T.V.

So what's the answer?

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary, says it's "Convicted Civility" -- holding "onto strongly felt convictions while still nurturing a spirit that is authentically kind and gentle." But he also cautions that "being civil doesn't require us to approve of what other people believe" but to treat them with dignity.

Christians have another term for this tension between conviction and civility. It's what the Apostle Paul called "speaking the truth in love." His point, under the turmoil of a persecuting Roman government, was that in the midst of defending our convictions about truths, we should not forget that one of those truths is that we are to love all human beings, including "those who spitefully use you."

The bottom line is that we, I, must get both the content and attitude right.

The Apostle Peter challenges me to,

"Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear."

Brian has done a wonderful job at striking this balance, I aim to do the same at the CSC.

How to cut $121,000,000.00 from our tax burden

2004-08-24T05:43:00.000-05:00

I have never gone to an art museum, probably never will, but I realize the beauty in fine art. Like so many other things that the government has chosen to screw up art has become a outlet for the most disgusting and vile among us, all on the government dole. The National Endowment of the Arts (NEA - not to be confused with the other pile of dung The National Education Association)has funded the most reprehensible works imaginable. Why are people going to the NEA for funding instead of trying to find private businesses to commission them? Because they know that they would never get the funding for the crap they are pushing as art.

In an article written for the Frontiers for Freedom Institute, Jason F. Wright proposes an end to the funding of this government flop.

Lyndon Johnson created the NEA in 1965 against public opinion.

At the time, a mere one in twenty Americans believed the federal government should provide assistance to artists and their organizations. About the same felt that states and local governments should take that role, and the other 90% believed that either private industry should lead the cause or that no action was needed--period.

Johnson set it up with 2.3 million dollars. Since that time their budget has grown explosively to today's 121 million dollars.

In 2004 the NEA will receive 121,000,000 of our taxpayer dollars and next year it jumps another $18,000,000 to $139,000,000.

Instead of producing art that normal society will enjoy and gladly fund they are free to produce garbage and rake in a big check from the federal government.

They somehow argue that our friends Franklin, Madison, and Washington intended that in the year 2004 we would enjoy a constitutional right to federally funded pictures of the Virgin Mary covered with elephant feces.

During the greatest art periods the artists were commissioned by private businesses to create the wonderful works of art.

In the year 1506, Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, arguably the most beloved and cherished painting of all-time. Was it a labor of love? Was it paid for by benevolent Italians? Neither. It was commissioned by Florentine businessman, Francesco del Giocondo. He saw value in opening his own wallet and funding this now classic masterpiece.

It's time to let capitalism decide what will be regarded as acceptable art in our society. The free pass given to artists has got to end.

First Lady Laura Bush has come out in support of the NEA and I think she is dead wrong on this issue. I like Laura Bush, I really do. I think she is a classy lady and a great representative of what a First Lady ought to be. Her support of this baffles me though. Some of the things this organization has supported in the past I believe diametrically opposes the belief system she and her husband profess.

It is time to slay the NEA. A Goliath has been created, and only an army of David's can put an end to it. Hitting it in the forehead with a rock simply is not enough. We've got to flatten it, lop off it's head, and forgive LBJ for ignoring us in the first place. So, are you a David?

Activist Cash.

2004-08-23T05:20:00.000-05:00

First of all I would like to thank Brian for the opportunity to fill in for him while he is off gallivanting with his family. I have a big head... um big shoes to fill.

Ever wonder how much money activist groups are hauling in? Go to Activistcash.com and you can look up how much money they made, expenditures, their net worth etc...

You can also look up the endorsers and supporters. It also gives a good sampling of what direction these groups are taking. There is also a section called the Blackeye, that points to a person or idea that has harmed the message of the organization. Here is an example of the blackeye from the Greenpeace page:

Patrick Moore was one of a dozen or so activists who founded Greenpeace in the basement of a Unitarian Church in Vancouver. Within 7 years, the organization had footholds in over two dozen countries and a $100 million budget. As eco-activists in general found themselves suddenly invited into the meeting-places of business and government, Greenpeace made the decision to take even more extreme positions, rather than being drawn in to collaboration with their former enemies.

Moore broke with his comrades during this period, and has emerged as an articulate critic of his former brainchild. Referring to Greenpeace's "eco-extremism" in March 2000, he described the group in Oregon Wheat magazine as "Anti-human"; "antitechnology and anti-science"; "Anti-organization" and "pro-anarchy"; "anti-trade"; "anti-free-enterprise"; "anti-democratic"; and "basically anti-civilization."

Writing in Canada's National Post in October 2001, Patrick Moore offered the following critique: "I had no idea that after I left in 1986 they would evolve into a band of scientific illiterates.... Clearly, my former Greenpeace colleagues are either not reading the morning paper or simply don't care about the truth."

Ouch!! When one of your founding members calls you illiterates that's gotta sting.

There is also some interesting information on the Tides Center of Western Pennsylvania:

The Tides Center board of directors has been especially busy of late. In 2001 the first Tides "franchise" office (not counting Tides' presence in Washington and New York) was opened in Pittsburgh. This new outpost, called the Tides Center of Western Pennsylvania, was erected largely at the urging of Pittsburgh native Teresa Heinz (the widow of Senator John Heinz, the ketchup heir). Heinz pulls more strings in the foundation world than almost any other old-money socialite; she's presently married to U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA). The Tides Foundation has collaborated on funding projects with the Heinz Endowments (Teresa Heinz's personal domain) for over 10 years.

Check out the site there is a lot of good information on all the crazies out there, I recommend the Earth First! page. Pretty interesting stuff.

Meeting Alan Keyes - Part 2 - The Interview

2004-08-22T07:45:00.000-05:00

Listen to my interview with Dr. Alan Keyes

If that link doesn't work try this one:

Listen to Dr. Alan Keyes

Enjoy. Let me know what you think.

At first I thought I would write the entire thing out as a transcript and then include my comments. Forget that action. That would take me along time and I just don't want to do that. So instead I put together this 10+ minute little radio show that includes the interview with Alan Keyes. Hope you enjoy it.

After you finish listening, please feel free to comment. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you Spoons for your help in bringing more attention to my site regarding this particular issue.

Read Part 1 here. Post contains a description of the days events that lead to my interview with Dr. Keyes plus pictures from that day.

Meeting Alan Keyes - Part 1

2004-08-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

I got to meet Alan Keyes today. A couple weeks ago I learned that he was going to be speaking near where I work and being that I’m a political junky weblogger, I couldn’t (wouldn’t) pass up the chance to meet him.

Then a few days ago he came out in favor of “reparations”, which changed the reason why I wanted to see him. I wanted to get clarification on his position and ask him why the apparent change in mind. I was also intrigued to see if I could actually gain his attention during a day where I know every minute is used. I mentally prepared myself to chase after him if I had to in order get my questions answered. There would be no need to do that.

I decided to leave work at 10:00 in order to get the best seat in the house for a 12:00 speech. My thought was that I needed to pick a spot that was as close to him as possible. Yet in a place where I could follow him after his speech to see if I could solicit some answers. I totally misread what today was going to be like. This was a short notice function and there was virtually zero advertisement for it. No local radio stations announced him speaking and no churches announced it last Sunday. The result of an unadvertised showing is a small turnout. When I walked into the auditorium there were maybe 200 to 300 seats set up. I had imagined the entire gymnasium packed for his speech. I was a bit off.

I knew there was a luncheon to be had between 11:00 and 12:00 where Dr. Keyes would be speaking to local pastors. It was in the same building and it was RSVP only. I am neither a pastor, nor did I RSVP. But that didn’t stop me. I decided to be forward and ask the coordinator of the event if every seat would be filled in the luncheon. He was skeptical so I asked him if it would be alright if I could take a seat and crash the party. He was cool with that. I sat myself front table center aisle, as close the podium as possible. The luncheon had about 20 to 30 individuals in attendance. Dr Keyes was about 10 minutes late due to traffic and construction.

As he walked into the room I followed him over to where he was placing his coat, shook his hand and introduced myself, then asked if after his speech I could ask him a few questions. He was kind and said that would be okay. We then ate lunch. After quickly eating his box lunch, he spoke for about 20 minutes on the separation of church and state, and the defense of marriage. He did a masterful job in my opinion.

I sat within less than an arms reach of where he spoke. Had I wanted to I could have reached for his cell phone hanging on his belt loop, he was that close to me. He did not use the podium I thought he would use. I’m glad he didn’t. At one point during the speech he even gave me a very light slug on the shoulder to drive his point home to me and the rest. That was cool. If you know what I look like (think giant teddy bear football player) you would know why he felt comfortable doing that.

After his speech was delivered, and the pastors were let go into the auditorium, there was an allotment of 10 minutes given to local news radio media to ask questions of Dr Keyes. I followed right behind Dr. Keyes from where he stood during his speech back to where he previously ate his lunch. I then asked him again if it would be okay if I asked him some questions. He said yes, but in a minute, he had to use the washroom. He came back into the room at high noon and made a b-line right for me, which surprised the heck out of the guys with the big microphones. At first they thought maybe I was standard media too, but then they saw my crappy voice recorder and their attitude began to change. I ended up using 6 of the 10 scheduled minutes. By the 3rd minute the radio guys started to whisper between each other. After that their apparent dislike of me was clear. It didn’t bother me. I thought it was kind of cool.

I asked Dr. Keyes these questions of which I will paraphrase in order to save my hands from typing more than I have to.

1. I seems as though you changed your mind on reparations. Why?

Not quite 2. After restating his position on the matter, I tried to interrupt and ask him what the total population percentage wise would be included in slavery reparations. I didn’t get to ask that question. But I believe that if there is suddenly a great number of people living tax free, that would create a loss of revenue for the federal government, for which they would probably raise taxes to cover for the loss. Then again, how many actually pay taxes now, due to the earned income tax credit? Again, I did not get to follow this line of questioning with him.

3. If someone lives tax free for 40 to 80 years what will their reaction be once they have to start paying taxes again?

4. Did the GOP know his position on this issue before they petitioned him to enter into the Illinois Senate race.

I will post audio of this later this weekend. Let me know what you think. More to come between now and late Sunday evening.

More defense of Keyes at the Common Sense and here at radioBS - Updated 4:15pm!

2004-08-20T07:29:00.000-05:00

I felt my point was not fully understood in my last post, so check over at thecsc.net for addtional clarification on my position towards Alan Keyes.

My post is titled: Alan Keyes -- Still Best For Illinois

And when you're done with that check out what Thomas Sowell says about Alan Keyes. He recently wrote an article titled: Alan Keyes in Illinois

Today I get to see Dr. Alan Keyes make a speech on the defense of marriage. Hopefully I wll have an opportunity to ask him about his stance on reparations. Wish me luck.

Update: 4:15pm 08/20/04
I did get to meet and ask Dr. Keyes some questions. In fact I'm sure I ticked the local media off because I monopolized his time after his speech. I took nearly 6 of the 10 minutes alloted for questioning for just the media. More on that tonight.

I am more convinced than ever that this man is the right man for the job in Illinois, despite my obvious disagreement with him about "reparations". In short I agree with Sowell's assesment of him as described in his article.

(h/t to Steve at conservapundits for sending me the link to the Sowell article)

Anger over reparations and carpetbagging misguided

2004-08-19T07:45:00.000-05:00

In case you’ve been sleeping under a rock, Dr. Alan Keyes is running for the llinois Senate seat against Barack Obama. SurveyUSA published polling results recently showing Barack with a more than hefty lead. (Dr. Keyes is down 39 points)

Although there is time between now and the election, I’m not sure there is enough time to make up for such a large deficit. But stranger things have happened in elections. If he wishes to win, he must address two major issues to the satisfaction of 51% of the voters come November. It can be done, but he is marching up a steep slope for sure.

First, he recently stated that he was in favor of slavery reparations. A topic most voters feel is taboo. Maybe that’s an understatement. I’ve seen some pretty angry reaction to his recent comments. I can’t say I disagree with the concern most have, I don’t like the idea of reparations either, but I am far from angry about it. I’ll explain why in a moment.

In 2002 on his MSNBC show Renew America, Dr Keyes had this to say about the issue of reparations:

This is a perfect explanation of the conservative position. It is also a sentiment that most Democrats can agree upon with Republicans, except for black minority Democrats who are nearly unanimous in their support for it. It is an issue that divides us racially.

Then in an apparent change of mind, Dr. Keyes recently came out in favor of reparations. His plan would exempt decedents of slaves from having to pay federal taxes for a period lasting a generation or two.

It is that recent statement which sent his conservative base (and many others) into a tizzy of anti-Keyes anger. A sentiment I am perplexed by. I’ve heard that some believe these statements are about Dr. Keyes being opportunistic. I disagree. In fact I think this statement is the opposite of being opportunistic. In the same quote taken from his show Dr. Keyes acknowledges that repartitions are a racially dividing issue. He would not come out in favor of something he does not believe whole heartedly, especially since he understands the consequences. He would be angering the majority of the voters. Why do you suppose Barack came out against the issue? It’s not just because he wants to differentiate himself from Dr. Keyes, it is because Barack sees the “opportunity” to once again appeal to a greater number of voters than his opponent.

If conservatives are ready to abandon Dr. Keyes because of this issue, maybe they should ask themselves what chance this piece of legislation has of passing. I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest a 0% chance. It is an issue he both believes in but understands will never happen. People are wasting time and energy being angry about a non-issue. Especially when considering the alternative. Make no mistake Dr. Alan Keyes is a conservative’s conservative, save this one issue.

The second mountain Dr. Keyes has to climb is that he’s a carpetbagger. Up until recently his main residence was in Maryland. Being a carpetbagger is something he ridiculed Hillary Clinton for when she ran for NY’s Senate seat, and now he is doing the same thing in Illinois.

I’m not really in favor of carpet baggers, but I can certainly understand why he changed his mind. In April of 2002 Barack Obama voted in favor of legalizing live birth abortions in the state of Illinois. Dr Keyes explains that this is the pivotal reason for his decision to enter into the race.

It is hard for me to understand why anyone would abandon Dr. Keyes over a non-issue such as slavery reparations when issues such as the life of the unborn and now recently-born are at stake.

If Dr. Keyes is a conservative’s conservative, Barack Obama is a liberal’s liberal. His world view is in direct opposition to my own on a myriad of issues.

On education: B.O. wants even more money than is already allocated for students and teachers and will create an even deeper bureaucracy of Illinois publicly run schools. Illinois residence will end up footing the bill. A vote against Dr. Keyes is a vote for the NEA and their will over your own child, plus higher taxes.

Health Care: B.O. believes that Health care is a right. Need I say more? Maybe I should. No where in the constitution is health care listed as a right. Socialized medicine is a terrible idea. Just ask Canada. Women need to wait 6 months to a year to receive the results of their pap smear test. That’s a little long if you have cervical cancer. How about year long waits for head scans? Any takers? Not me. A vote against Dr. Keyes is a vote for Socialized medicine.

Dr. Keyes has more on Mr. Obama.

At the risk of sounding even more like and add for the Keyes campaign, I believe If Illinois ends up voting for Alan Keyes I have no doubt he will represent that state with honor and dignity. Everything I have ever heard or read about this man has been positive, except for the issue of reparations. I’m not willing to toss in the towel on that issue alone and neither should the voters of Illinois, even if it does make them angry.

Important note: This Friday, Dr. Keyes is speaking near my place of business. I will be in attendance to hear what he has to say about the defense of marriage in our country. But if given the chance I will (and I will try hard to make this happen) I will ask him about his apparent change of mind in regards to reparations. I will also ask him if the GOP understood his position on the matter before he accepted the invitation. Look for my full report on Monday.

480 lbs couch woman update

2004-08-18T13:55:00.000-05:00

Last week I spoke about Ms. Grinds. Heres an update on who she was, how it came to be that she became one with her couch, and the "love" (or lack thereof) of her immediate family.

What a tragic family. Ms. Grinds refused to take care of herself, and the others “in her life” refused to get involved. They are all (Ms. Grinds included) morally culpable in her death. That is why there is an investigation into criminal neglect.

Browser woes

2004-08-17T13:24:00.000-05:00

I just updated my Netscape browser to 7.2 and downloaded the latest Mozzilla (same animal really). I expected my page to come up normally, but instead it comes in all jacked up. Grrr. With 7-10% of my readers viewing my page with something other than IE, I’m not sure what I will do now. My page appears fine in the earlier versions of Netscape and Mozzilla however. If any of you have any suggestions as to how I can correct the problems let me know. Otherwise ditch the crap browsers and use IE only.

If you’re an elitist HTML code writer, and you think you’re the bomb at coding, don’t bother sending me your e-mails or comments about how I didn’t comply with industry coding standards. I just started learning this shiznit and I can’t be expected to know how to make all my code compliant. Don’t give me “Try using a validator.” In my opinion validators don’t work unless they tell me how to fix the problem. The free ones don't

*If you can’t read this message, it’s because you’re using a crappy web browser like Netscape and Mozilla. IE is free people. Use it. Most everyone else does.

Update: 8:00 pm
Okay... I just got home and tried Netscape 7.1 and everything is still screwed up. What the dilly changed between yesterday and today!?

Update: 8:13 pm
Grrr. It appears as though the Blogger search bar is required. It must be a script that looks for the "body" of the HTML code and then places it in front of that code. I was trying to go without the search bar but in doing so, it created a crappy blown apart page in Mozilla and Netscape. All is working fine now. Back to blogging.

GOP Convention prep.

2004-08-17T08:14:00.000-05:00

The FBI is starting to track and identify potential “problems” that might occur during the GOP convention. It seems as though some anarchist protestors (And I use that term loosely – domestic terrorist would be more apt.) would like to disrupt the whole convention, even to the point of evacuation.

So in order to keep up with the latent threats that are being made, the FBI has been tracking internet sites, talking with activists, and visiting homes of potential trouble makers to help stem the coming onslaught of mass protesting. Not only that, but the city has been slow in issuing permits to large groups.

Crybaby Donna Lieberman of the ACLU NY chapter feels this is not very nice of the bad ole establishment. If she doesn’t mention McCarthyism I’ll be upset.

"Political interrogation without suspicion of criminal activity harkens back to the bad old days of the McCarthy era," she said. "The FBI does not have a right to intimidate people for criticizing the government."No need to be upset I guess. The second these idiot kids are told to keep their pants on, obey the law, act civilly, and be good citizens they scream McCarthyism. Just how much brain matter would you need to remove in order to understand their cause?

John Young, a long time activist and hapless dumkuf started posting floor plans and maps of the Madison Square Garden area on his Internet site cryptome.org, which was not well received by the authorities, so they paid him a visit.

In November, two FBI agents arrived at his apartment and told him they believed information on his site "could be used to harm the United States," he said. "They were very polite," he said. "They made it clear that nothing I was doing was illegal."This hardly sounds like intimidation to me. Where do libs go for training anyway, EmptyRhetoric U? They will say just about anything in attempt to gain a political edge. Screaming McCarthyism at the drop of the hat is killing the weight the accusation it once held. It’s like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson screaming racism every time a white cop busts a black criminal.

The authorities are doing what they can within the bounds of the law. If protecting, anticipating, and preventing domestic terrorism is McCarthyism, I say bring it back.

Maybe the authorities should put them in a giant cage like they did to conservative protestors at their convention? I’m sure they would agree that is an acceptable means of dealing with them right? I think it’s a great idea. They can all move around in a giant circle screaming their stupid idiotic slogans with zero meaning from a distance that is acceptable to the GOP.

Or maybe they can all participate in a mock mass hanging within the cage? This tactic would gain the approval of both sides of the aisle right? The left would feel it’s getting it’s point across and the right would be happy to see idiot libs hang, even if it is just for show.

The last sentence is supposed to be a joke people. Try not to have a cow.

Saudi Rap, Tax crap, and "The Brian Song."

2004-08-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

Updated 8/16/04 3:35pm

Gangsta Saudi
In an apparent death wish, Saudi boys are starting to play dress up gangsta style. Any emulation of western culture in the Muslim world is viewed with contempt and anger.

The article is rather interesting. In it they denounce rap culture over and over again, so as not to confuse the fact they like the music, but not the lifestyle. I'm not so sure members of Whahabbi faith would see it that way. The kids know this too. They spoke “anonymously” to the Saudi Gazette, choosing instead to use their “street names” Q-2Pac, Snoop, Naz and Moe.

Not only do these kids reek with the common sense Allah gave them, but Allah is apparently okay with racial bigotry against the poor and white America.

”They want to dispel any misconceptions about them. They respect the traditions and values of the Kingdom and live by them. They are from privileged families and belong to respected tribes, and have nothing in common with the roots of poverty and oppression of the artists they admire. But what young Saudis are intrigued by is the image of glitz, glamour, success and fast cars of a rapper s life more than anything else.”

”Some rap music contains vulgar language and language that is against the Islamic traditions of Saudi society. The music at times refers to alcohol or violence in the lyrics of Eminem, a white American rapper who is generally unpopular with Saudi hip-hop fans.”This piece does present a larger question though; Does the embracing of western culture make you feel safer? Even though the trends to embrace certain aspects of western culture sound like a good idea, will it ever become pervasive enough to make a difference in the long run? Or will it be stifled by those in authority before it ever becomes a perceived problem by the Saudi family?

These kids aren’t that clueless. They know better than to embrace western culture in any way. They have every reason to be worried. Just look at what people can be arrested for in the Saudi Kingdom. Recently three men were arrested and jailed for “criticizing the political establishment of the Kingdom.” Stories like this make me proud to be a free American.

h/t www.billroggio.com

Taxe breaks for all not just for some.
The headlines can very misleading: "CBO Report: Bush Tax Cuts Tilted to Rich" and another by The Associated Press reads: "Study: Tax burden growing heavier for middle class." If you just read the headlines only like a good liberal then you would never reach the truth that EVERYONE got their taxes reduced over the last 3 years.

Look, if you're wealthy enough to pay taxes, your tax burden was reduced. Just because the "rich" (Whatever that means) got a larger tax deduction than maybe you did, does not mean you’re paying more in taxes.

So if you feel jipped or angry that Uncle MoneyBags got 1 or 2 more percentage points more a deduction than you did, you are simply being greedy. Be thankful that you got a tax deduction at all. It's not every day the government decides to let you keep more of your hard earned money.

It’s interesting to note that even though the headlines are misleading the article themselves tell the story right, as long as one is able to read past the leftspeak. Thankfully UPI newswire gets the headline right: “Lower taxes for all, not just wealthy”

The Brian Song
This is not supposed to be narcissistic. It actually mocks the name Brian. That’s not entirely true. It’s a song by Monte Python that was used for their movie, “The life of Brian.” It’s a hilarious tale of mistaken identity. Or, I thought it was funny once. Now if I were to see it again, I might think it blasphemous.

The fact they sing that Brian "grew grew and grew", well.... that just fits perfectly (I’m 6’-9” in case you haven’t been reading). My wife laughed and said I should blog it for people to hear. I'm cool with that. So without further ado...

Listen to the Brian Song
Song by the cast of Monty Python

Truth and Consequences

2004-08-13T07:49:00.000-05:00

I’ve given my brain a rest from the media bias and the partisan politics lately. I'm sure you could tell. So instead I wrote about things that I care about plus the occasional rant about tit for tat political nonsense headlines. But recently there were two articles written, one by Dick Morris, and the other by Gary Aldrich that so aptly explain the reason for my avoidance that I had to show you.

In Dick Morris’s latest Column he comes out swinging and hits a grand slam home run. He states:

Perfect! I couldn’t agree more. Stop the speculation, ask honest questions, and move on when you get a reasonable answer. Or ask more questions if you feel it is unreasonable. But stop the conspiracy theories! Whacked out theories does more harm than good. Dick explains:

Amen!

The second article by Gary Aldrich expresses my feelings towards the media and my frustration with it. Gary adds insight and understanding that rings so true, I nearly screamed “YES!” when I read it. The article I’m referring to is called “Former FBI Agent Warns Swift Boat Vets.” In it he explains what the vets are up against, and what the eventual outcome will be for them.

I do not apologize for the length of the quote.

Exactly! Now tell me; Aside from writing our blogs and talking about the issues on a daily basis, how do we make Truth the focus without sound partisan? How do you make truth more important than a candidate? How do you make reporters love truth more than their politician of choice?

Listen to radioBS!

2004-08-12T07:45:00.000-05:00

I decided to take the leap and get this thing started. Thanks for the prodding Dan!

I decided that this would turn out to be a glorified audio blog to some extent. I would still continue to write, but I would also record my show when ever I felt the urge. Last night, I felt the urge.

I apologize for the sound quality. A couple times it peaks out and I notice also that I do a bit of moving around. This will not always happen. The sound quality will only get better. I promise.

Hope you enjoy the show. If you have any problems streaming, some people have suggested taking the mms:// portion of the URL and changing it to http://. Give that a try. Or failing that try using my very helpful “RadioBS Windows Media Player Trouble Shooting Guide”.

Hope you enjoy the spot. Please feel free to comment. I would love to hear what you have to say.

Here is the link to the actual news story.

And in case you’ve gotten this far and still have zero idea of where the *link is, it’s located at the top of the page under “Daily Notes”.

*Windows media player is required.

Update: - 08/12/04 Last night the story headline read 600 lb woman. In last nights version the article mentioned that she had been on the couch for about 2 to 5 years. Today the story has been updated and revised to read a 480 lb woman who had been on the couch for 6 years.

If anyone finds yesterday's chached headline for this story, it would be greatly appreciated.

Listen to radioBS

Why I am a Christian

2004-08-11T07:45:00.000-05:00

You know what? I had an entire entry ready talking about how I became a Christian and it totally missed the point about why I am a Christian. It was a long one too. Maybe I’ll keep it for later.

This post is not about why you should be a Christian, although I believe you should trust Jesus as your personal savior. It’s not about making theological points to debate on, although I am sure it’s going to happen. This is about why I decided to become a follower of the triune God.

Many people would claim that I only acted on what I was taught as a kid since I was brought up in a Christian home. I would agree on that point to a certain extent. Being brought up in a Christian home removed any stigma or fear I believe someone non-believing would have towards Christianity. But being brought up in a Christian home did not make me a Christian. Nor did it make me want to become one.

When I was a kid, Sunday was never a good day in my book. I hated Sundays. Sunday meant no playing with friends, sitting in an overly hot (summer and winter) uncomfortable service where the preacher rarely spoke to my heart. It meant forced afternoon napping, boredom and a constant reminder that tomorrow was Monday, a school day. Nevertheless, I did learn what it was to be a Christian while I attended that Church. I learned of Christ’s death and resurrection, his miracles, creation, the fall of man, and our redemption. I also learned that the Bible was riddled with errors. Mom and Dad taught me that. Even at 13, it didn’t take that much of a leap for me to understand that my faith was built on something less than fact. Why would I want to be Christian if it meant abject boredom and belief in something based on feeling and not fact? My parent’s and friend’s inevitable disappointment in me kept me from denouncing God’s existence. So instead I held fast, said my prayers, went to church and memorized my Bible verses for Sunday School. I had hoped that one day someone would be able to answer my questions. For example: Why do we follow the Bible as God’s inspired word if there are errors in it? The best answer I could get is “You’ve got to have faith.”

When I turned 13 we visited a large church called Sunshine Community where Pastor Lew Vandermeer was preaching. It was at this church that I realized that the stuffy blahzay church that I belonged to was a “dead” church in my opinion. It fostered boredom and contempt for the Lord’s Day. I walked into Sunshine and immediately I could tell that many of the people there actually wanted to be there. They loved hearing the Word, singing songs with all their heart to God the creator, and stuck around after the service to talk to one another. The preaching given by Pastor Lew was dynamic and articulate. He made his service interactive by moving around the podium, looking directly at the audience, and asking questions which he would expect an answer for. He made the word of God come alive. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be? I was actually interested in coming to church now. It dawned on me that although I had many questions about God that needed to be answered, I saw too many people’s lives changed to discount his presence. I became convinced of God’s existence while attending Sunshine.

Sometime during the spring of 1988 I came to the conclusion that I was holding out on accepting Christ as my personal savior. I remember lying down on my bed struggling with the thought that I needed to be willing to give my life in its entirety over to God. I had to accept his will over my life and not my own. I did not want to do that. At first I resisted the call, because I didn’t want to stop swearing, lusting, listening to certain music, messing around with my girlfriends, etc, because I found that those sins were pretty dang fun. And yes, I did recognize them as sin. But I wasn’t about to give them up without a fight. It was then that the Holy Spirit reminded me of the ultimate sacrifice that Christ had made for me, and it made these “hold-outs” of mine seem like small sacrifices in comparison. It was on that point he won me over. I was acting quite selfishly and I knew it from the very start. That night I said my prayers, asked God into my heart and yielded to his will. I became born again and later that summer made a public profession of my faith.

I was not delusional that day. I know that many of the sins I had difficulty with then are still present today. The difference is how willing I was to let God change me towards his image. Before that prayer I was unwilling, afterward I wanted him to change me forever. He’s still working on me.

People are brought to Christ in many different ways. This is the way he brought me to him. I had to accept him with a child-like faith before he revealed to me that my faith is based on fact. It was five years ago that he began directing my life in such a way that many of the questions I had as a child and young adult were finally being answered.

He brought us to a Bible Church whose Pastor had a firm grasp of the Bible, it’s history, and it’s translations. Pastor Rich is a Man of God that God used to convict me of my sin again and again till it hurt. And he didn’t let up. God directed me to the Christian Research Institute, a Para-church organization that helps answer questions of faith, including the question of an errant Bible. Imagine my surprise when I found that it was inerrant (without error). I heard that for the first time 5 years ago. Why hadn’t anyone defended God’s word while I was growing up? I’ll never understand that. The information I found today existed 30 years ago. There is no excuse for parents to not know the answers to both easy and difficult questions. It is okay to say you don’t know the answer. But don’t stop there. Find out and get the info. It will go a long way in helping your kids. I wish I could write a book about all the answers and all the studying I’ve done over the last five years. Maybe someday, with some prodding from my heavenly Father, I will. For now, I will share some links to resources that helped mold who I am today. No longer is my faith reliant just upon the heart, it is routed in historical fact. It should have been that way from the beginning. These resources have worked to solidify my relationship with Christ and the reality of his existence so solidly that he is as real to me as the skin on my bones.

The Bible
The Christian Research Institute - Hank Hanegraaff
RZIM - Ravi Zacharias
CARM - Christian Apologetics & Research Institute

Kerry Loves Edwards

2004-08-09T15:43:00.000-05:00

I figured since I once linked to the JibJab "My Land" cartoon, I should do this one as well. Just try not laughing.

Watch Kerry + Edwards

The wisdom of Hollywood

2004-08-06T07:50:00.000-05:00

Just recently it was announced that a few bands will be getting together to help defeat GWB this November. Whatever. I typically want to go see bands play their music not to speak out against someone. It won’t do them any good. But at least they can feel good about themselves for making the effort. They will be preaching to the choir. Do they honestly believe that their rhetoric will make all the difference in changing someone’s mind? I guess so.

I wish entertainers stuck to what they are good at; their art. I would love to be able to enjoy a movie with Tim Robbins in it, but each time I see his face on screen, I also see the face of a man claiming a “chill wind is blowing.” He has ceased to be the character on screen and has become Tim Robbins the activist trying to win an Oscar. I’m picking on Tim but there are way too many other actors to include in this post.

Too many in Hollywood use their fame to project their opinions on tens of people who actually care about what they think. They truly believe that their fame makes them qualified to make sound lucid decisions between trips to rehab for their drug and sex addictions, as well as their anorexia and bulimia. Using that logic, I wonder what the crackwhore downtown has to say about the election? Not only is she addicted to drugs, she is also a whore, so that places her on equal ground with a lot of other activist actors.

Wow, that was completely unfair. But man it was fun to say.

Don’t get me wrong, we conservatives are in no short supply of famous help either. Kid Rock, Tom Selleck, Kelsay Grammer, Bruce Willis and many more all support George W for president in 2004. And even though I relish in the fact that there are a few reasonable voices in Hollywood, I would still like them to pick a profession. Do they want to be a political activist, or would they rather be an actor? They should decide, because quite frankly, they damage their careers and cease becoming the character they wish to play or a band worth listening to.

Why I am a conservative – Part 1

2004-08-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

Subtitle: Why I’m not a Liberal Democrat.

I could never be a Liberal Democrat. They believe that morals, values, and truth are subjective terms. This line of thinking dictates that people should decide for themselves what their morality should be, that the truth is how they see it and each person's truth is equally valid. These statements are their foundation for their ill-conceived doctrine of tolerance. They are tolerant of everything except for those who are intolerant of their way of thinking.

This type of thinking is for the most basic Neanderthal mind. No thought is required after being indoctrinated with this mindset. All debate ceases to exist because they automatically assume that anything said has the same intrinsic value as their own opinion. There is no truth but your own. The fact that opinions can be wrong is of no concern to them.

In Chuck Colson’s book “How Now Shall We Live” he demonstrates the pervasiveness of this mindset when he described a speech he gave to a prominent State University. He imagined before he began his speech that what he was about to say, would provoke many questions and much debate, but instead it produced blank stares and no responses. So as his speech went on he made his stance even more definitive and more exclusionary to provoke a response. He did not get one. It wasn’t because he failed in brining his point across, it was because, as a professor told him earlier, the children had been so indoctrinated with moral relativism and tolerance, that his words were accepted as his (Chuck’s) truth, and no one else’s.

Understanding that mindset makes it easier to grasp why a liberal like John Kerry would say something like this:

"I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception." And then in the same breath say this:

"I can't take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist," he continued in the interview. "We have separation of church and state in the United States of America."You see? His statement that life begins at conception is not something he honestly believes is true for everyone all of the time. If he did, he would sign legislation banning the practice of all abortion because he would value life. He would support that unborn child’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This mindset unifies them. It is their rock on rollers. It is their single truth that they hold fast to. And since this is true, it is impossible to legislate conservative morality because it makes definitive statements like “Marriage is between a man and a woman”. To a liberal this is black and white thinking in a world where truth is subjective. How dare we impose our morality on them?

I wish that were the worst of it. Five years ago gay marriage would have been unthinkable. Yet here we are today. Why? Is it because truth has changed? Remember there is no truth except for what they currently feel is acceptable today. The goal post can and will move at their whim. Now, to them, the truth is that homosexual marriage should be allowed. Thousands of years of tradition will soon be cast aside. I have no doubt that once America has been sufficiently worn down enough, legislation like gay marriage will look down right conservative by comparison.

I could never be a part of this party as long as I’m a Christian. Although it does hold some tenants of Christianity, mostly because of the pervasiveness of our Judeo Christian upbringing, it regards truth and honesty with disdain. They believe Guns kill people, SUV’s kill people, babies are parasites, that your wealth should not be your own, minorities should have special rights, Christians are the scourge of America, America is the scourge of the world, Michael Moore tells the truth, terrorists are today’s minute men, we deserved 9/11, communism wasn’t a threat, dividing a nation is the highest form of patriotism, and flip flopping is misinterpreted intellectualism.

Stream the intro to my show.

2004-08-03T07:40:00.000-05:00

I worked on my lead in music for my upcoming radio show last night.

I chose POD's "Boom" to start off with. It trails off after about 35 seconds. I like the beat and the lyrics fit quite nicely I think.

In order to listen you will need windows media player. Please allow about 30 seconds to connect to my server.

If you have a problem, and cannot hear the intro please refer to The radioBS.net Windows Media Player Trouble Shooting Guide.

Listen to my intro

Crap-News-a-Palooza

2004-08-02T07:40:00.000-05:00

The curse of politics can drive my apathy to the heights of Mount Everest, especially in an election year. Yet I care deeply about our country so it’s almost impossible to not become engaged to some degree. I write this blog, I participate in debate, and I defend those in office I feel are worthy of re-election. But still, the politics in an election year can make a man like me, someone with deep conviction, want to toss it all away.

How many more nonsense headlines are there going to be? How many more inane non-stories will be commented on by bloggers (like me) and journalists before the November election? One more could send me into vomitous convulsions. It is out of this frustration that I decided to pull together headlines from the past year that I could have done without. Here's a small sampling of this year's non-issue headline festival I call Crap-News-a-Palooza. Let the game of political one-upmanship commence.

1. I’m more athletic and coordinated than you are.

Bush falls off bike – May 2004

Bush falls off a Segway – June 2003

Bush falls off bike again – July 2004

Kerry takes a spill on the slopes while snowboarding. – March 2004

Kerry falls off bike – May 2004

Kerry throws a wild pitch – July 2004

2. I can swear and not care better than you.

Kerry drops the F-bomb – December 2003

Cheney drops the F-bomb – July 2004

3. Your daughter(s) is/are more immoral than mine.

Kerry’s Daughter shows the full Monty at Cannes. – May 2004

Bush daughters drink under aged. – Old issue but resurrected in July 2004

4. Your military service is a joke.

Kerry’s medals vs. ribbons - April 2004

Bush’s service vs non-service – May 2004

5. My entrance was better than your entrance

Bush lands on carrier – May 2003

Kerry rides boat with former swift boat mates to DNC convention. – July 2004

6. Your party sucks so bad, influential people leave out of distaste for it.

Teresa was a republican once – July 2004

Zell Miller was a democrat once. – June 2004

Reporting and blogging on the non-issues does nothing to further political campaigns, yet each side tries to stay one step ahead of the other. It’s like they are positive that numerous voters will have decided to vote against Kerry because he threw a ball into the dirt, or against Bush because he fell off a Segway. If people vote against a candidate for any of the reasons I’ve listed above, they have a lot more to worry about than who the next president will be.

One thing is certain; Crap-News-Apalooza is not going away. Big headlines will be made from small issues, and much energy will be spent making straw men and knocking them down. But in the end, it is the issues that remain, and the issues on which the majority of America will be voting on. Lets focus on those and not the “white noise” of the non-issues.

I had to blog this. I had no choice. It defines irony to a T.

2004-07-29T15:40:00.000-05:00

The definition of the word irony.

Don't forget to read the caption below the picture.

Introspection

2004-07-29T07:45:00.000-05:00

If you’ve read my blog from the beginning you would probably know that I have a love for radio. I like it so much I decided to give it a try myself. I even bought the necessary equipment to do so. I’ve practiced, mixed, and recorded some of what I want to say, to see if I could fill air time. I can. That’s not a problem. My problem is what I’ve allowed my blog to become something I shouldn’t have. I coveted an audience of readers more than I did gaining knowledge. I was rejecting the one thing that would help me become a good broadcaster.

One might say that the material I blog is necessary to have in that bank of knowledge. I would agree. It is. However, instead of posting just that one article, I would use it to prove a larger point with other evidence, which I believe would make a more solid point than just listing one news article that happened during that day. And it also doesn’t help that there a million other blogs that do the same thing as I have been doing in the past.

So what am I saying? I’m saying I have to slow down and start reading more, gather more information, start piecing things together, and write articles that can add to your knowledge as well as entertain you. I know that means fewer postings but it will also mean higher quality work.

I want to write about, abortion, gay rights, teachers unions, zero tolerance, partisan politics, home life, morality, personal experiences, God and so much more at length, without the feeling of me being rushed to have something out every day.

I know this means that I will probably drop to zero hits per day, but taking the time to research and write about a subject intelligently, coupled with my desire to do radio, I feel is the right combination to being successful on the air.

So what if you like the way I post now? I would say tuff luck, but you need not worry. I also write for the Common Sense Chronicles and will most likely continue posting there in the same manner as I have been posting on my own blog. Maybe I’ll even kick it up a notch and begin posting there 2 or 3 times a week instead of just the once a week that I have been doing. We shall see.

Feel free to comment. Let me know what your thinking. I'd love to hear your opinions on this matter.

The Kerry Iraq Documentary.

2004-07-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

A masterpiece. Simply brilliant. You have to see this to believe it.

Instapundit

Dan slams DNC and weird Kerry

2004-07-28T07:51:00.000-05:00

Dan Rather is no conservative, so it took me by surprise when he had some negative comments about the DNC.

Now it’s official: This convention really is duller than those the parties held four years ago. Inside the hall, it’s scripted down to the nanosecond. Outside the hall, security is battened down tighter than the lug nuts on a ’55 Ford. Remember DNC 2000’s anti-globalism protestors and the Rage Against the Machine concert in the Staples Center parking lot? Nothing of that sort this time around — perhaps if they put an exercise wheel and a water bottle inside the so-called “protestor’s cage” (a.k.a. “Free-Speech Zone”)…. He also made mention of the latest Kerry Pic. See top right ‘pic of the moment.'

Yep.

When visiting the UK, don't forget your condoms, anti-bacterial cream, wart ointment, and penicillin.

2004-07-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

I thought the Liberal UK was enlightened? So much for "safe" sex.

It should be noted that Madonna brought each one of these diseases into the UK on her first world tour.

Bush moving ahead in the polls

2004-07-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

Bush is statistically in a dead heat, but ABC and the Washington post (hardly a rightwing cooperative) have released their latest poll showing Bush ahead by 2 points in a race against Kerry with Nader in the pool. When Nader is taken out of the mix Bush shows a 1 point lead over Kerry.

System still broken: Update on Terror in the skies

2004-07-27T11:12:00.000-05:00

13 of the 14 Syrians that got on flight 327 from Detroit to LA had expired visas.

3 of the 19 9/11 terrorists had expired visas.

A spokesman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that 13 of the 14 musicians entered the country May 30 and the visas expired June 10, but the men were not detained. The 14th musician is a U.S. resident and citizen. Then this:

I suggest anyone flying to get to the airport early, assess the situation, and not get on the plane if you feel you have good reason to be concerned. You're delayed, but you're alive.

US offers citizenship to 7000 Ahiska Muslims

2004-07-27T08:10:00.000-05:00

Muslims in the U.S.

Ummmm. Why? I have zero understanding of our immigration laws and what immigrants are granted upon entering the US, but doesn't this seem over board? They get free housing, furniture, training, life-long welfare for pensioners and the disabled. Unbelievable.

Who was Teresa Heinz

2004-07-27T06:55:00.000-05:00

Teresa used to be a republican that hated Ted Kennedy and the Dems. An old interview as been reveled with Teresa that will be aired and shown for all to see in the next few days.

What does this mean? Nothing. People change their minds and political affiliations all the time. What matters is who she is now. This is a big giant non-issue. Do you really think that enough people will switch who they are voting for because she used to be a republican? Doubtful.

Fight at the DNC

2004-07-26T09:53:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post I mentioned that the protesting at the RNC would come to blows.

If violence doesn't result from this, I'll be surprised. The liberal "peaceniks" won't stand for being protested peacefully. Lets see who throws the first punch shall we?I neglected to mention that conservatives would also be protesting the DNC. It was on Sunday, one day before the convention actually begins, that the fighting began. And guess who was at fault for the violence? The peaceful protestor or the "tolerant" liberal?

(holding the sign)

I think might get worse.

It is one thing to disagree with Bush's policy, but what the left's leadership have done goes beyond just strong disagreement. They have lied and fomented anger in their base so that they will be motivated to vote for them. And it is that same motivation that might result in violence at both conventions. It already has.

Wheres Sandy?

2004-07-26T07:50:00.000-05:00

Why is Sandy Berger off the front pages already? It's like it's an after thought. There are 3 reasons.

1. The 9/11 commission has already said they have seen everything. Anything that Sandy may have taken would not have any bearing on the outcome of the 9/11 report. To the press, this was the central issue. If Sandy had stolen something that prevented an accurate accounting of 9/11, the story would still be front page.

MR. RUSSERT

Meet the Press 07/25/04

Which leads me to believe:

2. The information gathered was not to protect Bill Clinton but to gather information about Bush for Kerry, whom Sandy was an advisor to. Why would the media want to harm their candidate by hounding on one of his advisors for breaking the law?

3. The DNC national convention. Whats amazing to me is that they are actually arguing about how much Bush bashing they want to do at the convention. They are afraid it will backfire on them with the American people. Maybe they learned their lesson from the 2002 Paul Wellstone Memorial.

Angry crowd walks out on Linda Ronstadt's encore

2004-07-23T19:13:00.000-05:00

She was more than free to dedicate the last song of evening, Desperado, to Michael Moore, and a large number of people used their freedom of expression to walk out because of it. Sweet.

Dave at the CSC interviewed by local news affiliate

2004-07-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

He even got to plug his blog. Now lets see if it gets on air. Congrats Dave.

CSC Post: They know whats best.

2004-07-23T11:30:00.000-05:00

I've commented recently at the CSC about a teacher asking his students to lick a condom in sex ed class. Gah! To find out what happened when the parents complained, read "They Know What’s Best" at the CSC.

The 9/11 Report

2004-07-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

Download the PDF version here: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Thanks to Wat Dan Ook for the follow through link

Snopes takes apart "Terror in the Skies" story

2004-07-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

Annie Jacobsen was on a recent flight with her husband when 14 Syrians on the plane began to act rather suspicious. Her interpretation of the occurrence was that a dry run was being made by the 14 men in order to piece together a bomb while in mid flight. Each person involved in the bomb making would carry small, seemingly insignificant pieces of the explosive, which would then be assembled in the bathroom of the plane. Annie remains convinced she witnessed a dry run. Snopes.com has it's doubts however.

The men she observed

That does not settle my fears. I have some questions.

It has been noted that these "Musicians" were not on the terrorist watch list. I'm not sure that strikes a whole lot of confidence in me. People can become murders after an entire life of living in peace. Is it possible that there are people not on the list that want to hurt us and fit the description of being a terrorist?

Is it possible that the Syrians on board had enough of the bomb puzzle to make one work? Would plastic explosives set off an alarm? Could guitar wire or laptop circuitry, be used to fabricate a bomb in mid flight?

If terrorist can learn to fly planes, is it so unreasonable that they could learn to play instruments?

I have to concede the possibility of this being nothing more than a normal situation blown out of proportion. However, when lives are at stake I’m willing to end whatever it is that is making me feel uncomfortable and deal with the authorities once we land.

Note: I think the last question was formed by a blogger or maybe a listener to one of the conservative radio talk shows. Either way I can't seem to find the source. If you know of the source, let me know and I'll give the appropriate acknowledgement

Howard Dean supported relaxing incest laws in VT

2004-07-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

When the subject of same sex marriages come up, the left promptly calls conservative arguments reactionary. After all, no one is asking for incestuous marriage licenses or licenses handed out to polygamists. Marriage should be for anytwo people that love each other, right? As long as they are two consenting adults why should they be refused this legal bond? All this talk about incest and such is just reaching for an argument.

Recently however, it has come out that Howard Dean tried to relax incest laws so that a woman could marry her maternal uncle, while he was Governor of Vermont.

The bill even got so far as to pass the house legislature 73-67, but was stopped once it reached the Senate. Thank God.

In 1983, a Vermont legislator named Elizabeth Edwards introduced a bill to allow a 65-year-old woman to marry her 86-year-old maternal uncle, despite incest laws banning the match. Edwards, a Republican (only in Vermont, kids!), figured that incest laws were primarily about preventing defective offspring, and her neighbors Ramona Crane and Harold Forbes were too old to bear children. "They're a super-neat couple who don't have any money, and they just have each other, and I think they should be able to get married if they want to," Edwards told United Press International for a February 23, 1983, story.They’re super neat couple? Canada wouldn’t even accept them. When Canada rejected them, the woman complained using a familiar argument:

"If it isn't legal anywhere, what good is it?"

Kerry the workaholic.

2004-07-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

I know you've seen this aleady. I just want to make sure I have the link for future reference. Druge shows Kerry really working hard keeping his campaign promises.

Michael Moore sends an 'Open Letter to Bill Timmins, President Aladdin Casino and Hotel'

2004-07-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

The lefts inability to understand the real meaning of "freedom of speech" is mind boggling. Michael Moore continues in his fat stupid ignorance when he wrote this open letter to Bill Timmins after Bill kicked Linda Ronstadt out of his casino after she dedicated a song to Jabba the Moore.

What country do you live in? Last time I checked, Las Vegas is still in the United States. And in the United States, we have something called "The First Amendment." This constitutional right gives everyone here the right to say whatever they want to say. All Americans hold this right as sacred. Many of our young people put on a uniform and risk their lives to defend it. My film is all about asking the questions that should have been asked before those brave soldiers were sent into harms way.My brain is seizing. You could remove your brains, run over them with a tractor, beat it until it looks like tapioca pudding and you'd still be smarter than this (Moore) fat freak.

Michael, what government agency took Linda away after she made her comment in someone else’s private establishment? What of Bill's freedom of expression when he threw Linda out on her butt? Is he not extended the same protection, you fat lazy slime ball stupid jabba wookie?

The real meaning of freedom of speech.

At 6'-9" and 100% dutch... I kinda knew this was true.

2004-07-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

The Dutch

I didn't stop growing till I was 23. When I was in highschool I was 6'-6". By the time I was out of college, I was 6'-8". When I got married at 22 I finally reached my top of 6'-9".

Fun fact: My wife is 5'-3".

Second chances.

2004-07-22T07:54:00.000-05:00

"Mommy why are we here?"

"You not supposed to be here. I tried abortin ya when ya was in ma belly, cause you'd cost me to much money. Yet here ya is. At least I got Sixty grand cause that doctor done mest up when he was tryin ta kill ya. Now git."

still pregnant

That conversation may be a bit unfair. 3 months after the failed procedure she realized she was still pregnant. After alerting the doctor of his mistake, he offered to perform a late term abortion at no cost, which she opted out of. Thank God for that.

The baby was born healthy and without defect.

Update on possible Nuke find.

2004-07-22T07:33:00.000-05:00

Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Zero. Bupkis. No nukes found in Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi officials

When lies become truth

2004-07-22T00:10:00.000-05:00

A CBS poll recently sites that 87% of black voters will be voting for Kerry this November. That isn’t what bothers me. What bothers me is why they will vote for John.

African Americans’ strong dislike of incumbent President George W. Bush is one important factor in their vote choice. But so is the memory of the disputed Florida 2000 election and that controversy is also a cause of deep suspicion. Most African American voters say President Bush did not win the 2000 election legitimately, and for some, the events of 2000 have given them additional motivation to turn out this year. At the same time many black voters worry that there will be deliberate efforts to discount their votes this November.Lets first deal with the 8 to 1 statistic. That number represents about 13% of the black vote projected in Bush’s favor for this election. In 2000, Bush only took 11% of the black vote. As a friend of mine noted to me while writing this piece, this is not statistically significant for republicans to be excited about, especially when factoring in the margin of error.

While I agree with that assessment, any erosion of votes from the democratic ticket in the minority communities is not good for the liberal ticket. Especially now since this country is so evenly divided. All votes are coveted.

In John Kerry’s recent visit to the partisan civil wrongs group the NAACP, he reminded his minority voting base of the 2000 election.

Never again

The truth is the Justice department said that no Florida natives were denied the right to vote, only that there were some normal unintentional problems that may have occurred, but not enough that the final tally would have swayed in Gores favor. Yet the entire Democratic elite continue in their accusations that somehow Bush stole the election.

Other reasons include:

Estelle Holmes, a black Democratic Kerry supporter, helps us define additional reasons for the lopsided Kerry support.

Bush has cut educational funding

The truth on education spending:

Education

The truth on tax cuts:

The truth is that 100% of tax payers got their taxes cut. It boggles my mind how greedy and hypocritical people can be. When tax cuts are being given out by a republican congress and Whitehouse it’s never enough to the right crowd. When a Democrat is in office they can never take enough taxes from us.

It’s almost like there’s this belief that they didn’t get a tax cut at all. That's a balled faced lie, but that is what they believe right?

Tax cuts went to the rich, the middle class and the poor. As long as you paid taxes, you got a break. Not only that, but the tax cuts helped us get out of a recession. That’s good for everyone. Why is that forgotten?

Conclusion:

It's clear to me why the black community will vote for Kerry. It’s to bad they will be voting for a man who’s party has lied to them ad Nauseum ad Infinitum. What is most troubling is that they will follow blindly without verification of the so called “facts”. The lies have become truth to them.

House Nigga? Not Funny

2004-07-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

Here is another example of what the left views as humorous.

I guess if you're black and a republican you're not "really" black, since you're "acting" white.

Here is Dr. Condi Rice's Bio-data.

(h/t the evangelical outpost)

Nukes found in Iraq?

2004-07-21T11:17:00.000-05:00

The article is dated today 07/21/04

three missiles

Is there anything to this? The Iraq's Interior Ministry thinks the report is stupid.

Thanks to Wat Dan Ook for the heads up.

Clinton on Berger theft: "We were all laughing about it."

2004-07-21T07:59:00.000-05:00

I'm not. I'm sure you were Bill. I'm sure you thought breaking the law on a number of occasions was funny.

"I wish I knew who leaked it. It's interesting timing," he added.Sandy Berger gets caught stealing highly classified papers, the story breaks yesterday, and the timing is interesting to Bill?

Don't for one second believe that this story can be reduced down to election year politics.

This is one mans illegal dealings being spun by the spin master to plant a seed of doubt in your brain and convince his useful idiots that it’s a baseless attack. Bottom line: Sandy broke the law and the bad press he’s getting is due to his own failings and not that of the "Republican Attack Machine."

Personal Hope: This will reflect badly on Kerry since he was using Berger as an advisor. Berger being caught has nothing to do with politics, but I would be disappointed if the Bush campaign didn't use this to their advantage.

Reality Check: This won't matter to the democratic base. People have already made up their minds on this election. There would have to be a scandal of biblical proportions in order for Kerry to loose his base. Like if Kerry became pro-life and pro-American. What a scandal that would be.

Berger Questions: What was on those papers? Did the memos help protect Clinton or did they help Kerry against Bush? Was it both?

Doing My Duty. Getting Nader on the ballot in Michigan.

2004-07-21T07:42:00.000-05:00

Michigan has the needed signatures to have a Nader ticket, we just need them to be validated now.

The state Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment on the accusation, but says state Republicans deserve criticism for collecting 43,000 of the 50,000 signatures that may help Nader get on the state ballot. They say the GOP is helping Nader because it thinks he can take votes away from Democrat John Kerry.Big giant DUHHH! So what? Show your candidate is better than Nader and convince Michiganders to vote for Kerry. Don't wine about fair play. I'm sure the "legality" of signatures are being investigated.

Nader ignores the obvious.

I found this story at CBS news. In it Nader makes this claim:

Need more proof it’s the Republicans pushing a Nader ticket? My wife and I are registered Republicans. Two weeks ago my wife and I went to the zoo with our two boys. While walking back to our car a young man asked us if we wanted to help Bush. Of course we did. He explained what the petition was for and we liked the idea of having Nader take votes from Kerry, so we signed the petition to have him placed on the November ballot.

It made me feel warm and happy inside to know I did my part in getting Bush elected this November.

God bless America.

Thanks to Dave at the CSC for the heads up on this one.

Canada: Yes to Al-Jazeera and No to FoxNews.

2004-07-20T11:35:00.000-05:00

How odd is this?

Canada's increasingly strange government

Al-Jazeera is notably biased against America's war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and FoxNews does not hide the fact that they are on America's side. Who's side is Canada on? Why are they trying to foment hatred and anti-American sentiment towards us? It stands to reason that since Al-Jazeera is anything but fair in their reporting towards America, Canada is sending us a clear message: Truth doesn't matter when you hate freedom, democracy and capitalism.

Sandy Berger: Idiot Extraordinaire

2004-07-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

Sandy Berger, Clinton's ex national security adviser, and a Kerry advisor, is under investigation for stealing highly classified terrorism documents and handwritten notes from a secure reading room pertaining to the 9/11 commission.

Make no mistake, he did not accidentally put highly classified documents into his pants, jacket and leather portfolio. Sandy and his lawyer freely admit that he knowingly took them. They just can’t find them now.

I want to know right now what information Sandy and Clinton didn't want us to see. I doubt we will ever know what the docs said. It was most likely used as kindling to keep Sandy and Clinton warm while they each drank a snifter of brandy.

‘Thanks Sandy. You covered my butt once again. – Clinton’

Are we ever going to be free of the bungling Clinton administration?

Update: He stuffed the memos in his socks as well. I would love to know what those papers had on them.

Liberal hate

2004-07-20T09:11:00.000-05:00

Liberals have started up their own Media Research Center called Media Matters for America. The site is dedicated to dispelling the "lies" and "hate" of right wing talk shows.

I’m personally more frightened of liberal haters than conservatives at this point. Right now conservatives are on the upswing. We’ve won the majority of the seats in the Senate and the House, plus we have a conservative in the Whitehouse. Liberals are beginning to feel the heat.

My fear is that the left is beginning to feel like a cornered animal. Their vitriol and hate will grow as our country maintains it’s conservative values. At some point, their anger will be so great that they will lash out in mass.

Protesting the Protest

2004-07-19T08:47:00.000-05:00

When the GOP has their convention in New York, it won't go un-protested. In fact they've anticipated thousands showing up to show their disagreement with the republican platform and the Bush/Cheney ticket.

However, the New York chapter of the Protest Warrior group will be there as well to protest the protestors.

If violence doesn't result from this, I'll be surprised. The liberal "peaceniks" won't stand for being protested peacefully. Lets see who throws the first punch shall we?

the protest Olympics

For a good example of a protest warrior read this.

Two weeks of good news from Iraq

2004-07-19T08:20:00.000-05:00

A good piece from Arthur Cherenkoff at the Opinion Journal.

Porn for kids?

2004-07-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

Heres something that makes me see 20 different shades of red. White hot anger does not begin to describe my feelings on this. This would be reason number 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,001 why my wife and I have decided to home school. I'll first be damned before my kids get taught this type of thing without my permission.

without their parents

What Surplus? (updated)

2004-07-16T23:45:00.000-05:00

Why isn't this front page news everywhere? Oh yeah, it's an election year. God forbid any good news gets out about the economy. That would get in the way of the media's cause to have Kerry elected in November. After all the "Great Depression" rhetoric Kerry has been shouting from the mountain tops, you'd think that the "real" balanced media would be all over it. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting.

larger-than-expected

Here’s the other problem. This will be some conservative politico’s talking point on a news show and treated by the media, as biased information. Bush will then gloss over it in a stump speech somewhere once or twice with his unfortunate way of blandly stating facts and it won't sink in with anyone. You know what I mean. It'll be something to the effect of "We now have surplus of revenue. The tax cuts are working." and then he'll move on. Man this stuff pisses me off.

Update: Thanks to a fellow blogger for bringing this to my attention.

In a related story, it appears that our nation’s debt limit will have been reached by early October, and a new law will have to be signed in order to grow above the already 7.384 trillion maximum.

It should be noted however that even though raising the debt limit is going to happen, (unfortunately) it is also true that the tax cuts proposed by Bush have generated revenue that exceeded their expectations. More revenue came in than was bugeted for. It won't be enough to stop the passage of the law to raise the debt limit, but it is significant enough to use as proof that tax cuts increase revenue. Now if only the congress would stop spending our money like drunken idiots.

Whoopie proves me right.

2004-07-16T10:21:00.000-05:00

Whoopi is speaking out about being fired by Slimfast. In my first post I claimed she would cry about her freedom of speech being infringed upon.

(correction: it should have read Slimfast)

Here is how she is proving me right:

"America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal."

No it isn't you dumbass. You have the freedom of speech to say anything you want without the fear of being thrown in jail for what you said. Private institutions have every right to throw you out on your can even if you sneeze wrong.

And why would she chooses to tout EX-Sen. Max Cleland (D) , Joseph Wilson, and Richard Clarke as marytrs? Are you kidding me? 2 out of the 3 are proven liars. And why are libs still crying about Max Cleland? Get over it. He lost. It’s called politics.

Faux Wilson

2004-07-16T08:03:00.000-05:00

This article (here) in the Wall Street Journal does a great job chronicling Joe Wilson's deceits. My only question is, why lie? I don't get it. I consider my self-worth and character as something to be protected. I would never lie for a party (D or R) in order to win political votes. Yet that is what he appears to have done. The truth always has a way of bubbling to the top.

The piece ends with this statement:

Mr. Wilson's disinformation became the vanguard of a year-long assault on Mr. Bush's credibility. The political goal was to portray the President as a "liar," regardless of the facts. Now that we know those facts, Americans can decide who the real liars are.I'm willing to bet this doesn't make one bit of difference to the left. Remember, the left believes you can lie (But only if your a Lib/Dem) and still be an honest person. If you have the mere appearence of being a liar and you're a Conserv/Rep you're likened to Hitler and Saddam.

Martha - Gets 5 months in Jail

2004-07-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

If Martha Spends 1 minute in jail, it's to long. Don't get me wrong, I feel each person who commits a felony should pay for their crimes but doen't jail time seem a little harsh in this case? What about a fine, probation, and community service.

What she did:

"This is not somebody who made some inadvertent false statement," he said. "This is a case where a jury convicted a CEO for lying to two different government agencies. That's a big deal."And for that she will get 5 months in prison, 5 months of house arrest, and 2 years probation.

Cool. Um..... can I get one?

2004-07-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

New system would see through clothing to suicide vests & belts.... and stuff.

Oh so very stupid (Rated PG-13)

2004-07-15T15:32:00.000-05:00

The video linked at the CSC does not show blood or gore, but it does show how stupid a kid can be.

Poetic Beauty

2004-07-15T14:48:00.000-05:00

I love it when people put heart and mind together and come up with something like this:

by a skilled Iraqi artist

ATN - All Torture Network presents:

2004-07-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

And the Emmy will go to James Broline for his portrayal of Ronald Reagan.

Why is this torture? Because the headline (and because he will win, only because it's an election year) makes me want to gouge my eyes and ear drums out with a hot spoon.

The party's getting bigger and better.

2004-07-15T12:28:00.000-05:00

My friend The Outlaw Kyle is now a blogger! It's about dang time G!

Believe it or not.

2004-07-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

Today, for the first time in a long time, I've had actual work to do while at work. That is the reason for light posting today. The work load should lighten up in an hour or so. I haven't given up. Please return when you get the chance.

Till then, go over to my friend Dan's site, Wat Dan Ook. He didn't post for quite a while, but now is back full steam. A good site to visit frequently.

Weight Watchers looses dead weight: Whoopi!

2004-07-14T17:46:00.000-05:00

I'm willing to bet Whoopi and friends will scream censorship on this one. She was removed from Weight Watchers add campaign because of the comments she made at a Dem fundraiser. I can hear her now: "You know, we do have a thing called freedom of speech in this country." I can't stand stupidity. But I’m willing to bet money on this one.

Remember, no one is censoring her. WW is within their full rights to remove Poopie from their add campaign. She is still allowed to say whatever she wants without the fear of being arrested.

Which reminds me; I hate Hollywood. It's a freakin mindless zoo out there.

Read the whole story here.

First Things First?

2004-07-14T12:41:00.000-05:00

ChrushKerry.com has a good piece on JFK's promises for his first day in office. Can all this be done on day 1?

1.

“As president, on my first day in office, I will send a message to every man and woman in our armed forces: This commander-in-chief will ensure that you are the best-led, best-equipped and most respected fighting force in the world…But you will never be sent into harm’s way without enough troops for the task, or asked to fight a war without a plan to win the peace”2.

"I will send to Congress a health care plan that stops spiraling costs, covers every child in America, and makes it possible for every American to get the same health care as any member of Congress. Making health care a right and not a privilege is something worth fighting for."3.

when asked what his first act as president would be, Kerry replied that he would repeal the Mexico City Policy.4.

John Kerry, who said that if elected, his first act as president of the United States would be an executive order reversing President Bush’s on embryonic stem cell research.5.

"When I'm president the first thing we're going to do is start to raise that minimum wage to $7.00 an hour and allow people in America to be able to work and get out of poverty for the work that they do."Resource: CrushKerry.com

Nut job with no nuts

2004-07-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

I wonder if he spilt his beer.

shot himself in the testicles

Remember the Blood of Heroes...

2004-07-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

I believe I posted this once before. I'll probably do it again and again until a majority of Americans understand that our fight in Afghanistan and Iraq is about killing terrorists and removing evil regimes that support and harbor the same type of people that rammed planes into our buildings and killed over 3000 innocent men, women, and children! Why is that hard to understand?

It is important that we Remember the Blood of Heroes...

Moorelies.com

2004-07-14T07:32:00.000-05:00

Inoculate yourself against Michael Moore. Check this remarkable site out.

(h/t to Hugh Hewitt)