Guest Post by Stalking Cat

Boycott The Drudge Report

I WAS an avid reader of the Drudge Report. He seemed a level headed conservative who posted stories the "Main Stream Media" would not touch. I will never read his site again. I am boycotting it.

Everyone who cares about the fight against Muslim terror should as well. Here
are my reasons:

Drudge greatly undermined NATO forces in Afghanistan in one foolish act

- entirely to gain himself notoriety. He quickly did what no fowl British tabloid has done and no scummy paparazzi caused - he focused the Taliban and Al-Qaeda on an individual in a war zone - Prince Harry. He also undermined a very shaky NATO alliance in Afghanistan.

Many Americans may not understand the outrage this has caused in the Commonwealth. I am a Canadian Citizen, part of the Commonwealth and my tax dollars have gone into protecting Prince Harry on his trips to Canada as well as training Prince Harry (He has recently trained at CFB Suffield, in Alberta). Even though his Uncle, Prince Andrew, served in the Falklands War and every member of the current Royal family has
served in the military at some point, many people are annoyed at the prestigious lifestyle the Royalty lives - with no real danger. Then comes Prince Harry, insisting on serving with his unit in Iraq.

Intense media pressure put an end to that, unfortunately. Since Prince Harry
wanted to serve his country so bad, the British military came up with a deal with the normally ravenous British tabloids to keep his service in Afghanistan under wraps. It only took Drudge to screw that up.

I do not think Americans are aware of how close NATO is to loosing Afghanistan, and it is mainly political. The United States has been bearing the brunt of the war, but it should not be the sole fighting force, nor is it. Both Britain & Canada have been there since the beginning and both nations are in the thick of the fighting with the
USA, and these three countries are the only nations out of 26 countries who dare face the enemy. This issue has become so serious, it almost caused the Government of Canada to fall last week! Canada is divided over its role in Afghanistan because the other 23 countries (Like France - SURPRISE! - Not.) will not support the combat missions in Afghanistan, they all want to be "safe". Because of 40 years of almost continuous Liberal rule, the Canadian military has been decimated to the point that
only the recent few years of Conservative rule could only supply them with more money and $4 Billion of new equipment and outfitting takes time to deploy. For the last few months, our Minister of Defense, Peter MacKay, has been unsuccessfully trying to rally other NATO missions to Afghanistan. The terms were small - 1000 troops. NOBODY has stepped up to the challenge. So far Canada is committed until 2011 but if new troops do not show up from other NATO country (as in anyone but the USA & Britain), Canada will withdraw from Afghanistan in 2009.

My step-daughter is a US Marine (She's the same age as Prince Harry), and was slated to go to Iraq this month, but her orders changed and she may be sailing for Afghanistan in April instead. This hits home personally if the US and Canada starts loosing its NATO support in Afghanistan.

Drudge has compromised the entire mission to Afghanistan. Not only did he put an end to a brave man serving his country on the front lines, Prince or not, he has demised Prince Harry's unit, and shaken the moral of the British army as well as the members of the Commonwealth to whom he is their Prince. Aftershocks will reverberate through an already shaken NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Drudge should be ashamed of himself! I hope he enjoys his 15 minutes of fame.

Stalking Cat

Looking for an Anti-War Explanation

I keep asking Obama supporters (who always seem to use the war as their reason for choosing him after his neophyte status is pointed out) how they as civilians, drinking lattes and attending palates classes, can vote for someone because he'll bring the troops home --when the troops don't want to come home. When the troops believe in their CIC and their mission and 100% believe they are making progress.

Their answer? "Well, some want to come home." Duh.

I just don't get how people here -that really have no idea what's going on there - would presume to pretend they do. Do you think for one second that I want even one more finger (let alone life) sacrificed for a Muslim country? Don't these anti-war fanatics realize that the pro-troop people love these guys and HATE the fact that they are dying for people that don;t seem to appreciate the sacrifice? Of course I want them all home, but it's not my call OR my right to have an opinion about what I don't know. I take my cues from the boots on the ground...what I am reading on Milblogs and in Stars and Stripes from the average enlisted. The second they want to come home and no longer think they're making a difference -I'll be right there behind them.

Military leaders are scared to death Obama might win, and I don't blame them. I wonder what Barack, his campaign and his starry eyed supporters would have to say about this soldier:

"...After completing two tours in Iraq, Sgt. Wayne Leyde won $1 million from a scratch-and-win lotto ticket on Tuesday.

Now that he's won, Leyde, a 26-year-old member of the Washington National Guard, says he's still going to volunteer to go back to Iraq for a third tour and won't spend any of the money in the meantime." (source)

Oh. My. God.

"Concerns" about McCain's birthplace being raised by the...New York Times.

"The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president? In the case of Senator John McCain of Arizona, the issue is becoming more than a matter of parental daydreaming.

Mr. McCain’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate for president and the happenstance of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 are reviving a musty debate that has surfaced periodically since the founders first set quill to parchment and declared that only a “natural-born citizen” can hold the nation’s highest office.

Mr. McCain was born on a military installation in the Canal Zone, where his mother and father, a Navy officer, were stationed. His campaign advisers say they are comfortable that Mr. McCain meets the requirement and note that the question was researched for his first presidential bid in 1999 and reviewed again this time around.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and one of Mr. McCain’s closest allies, said it would be incomprehensible to him if the son of a military member born in a military station could not run for president.

“He was posted there on orders from the United States government,” Mr. Graham said of Mr. McCain’s father. “If that becomes a problem, we need to tell every military family that your kid can’t be president if they take an overseas assignment.” (Read the entire article)

We can only look forward to more of this frivolous fodder as the MSM continues to be blinded by the stars for Obama in their eyes. The Cult of hate-Bush has a leader! All hail Obama!

Straight From Blackfive...

...And you know, Matt is one of the coolest so you must do as he asks!

"...As if the Taliban and Al Qaeda, bad weather, and lack of support here at home weren't bad enough, the New York Times has published a one-sided view of the paratroopers tour in Afghanistan.

Conditions and morale are tough right now for paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Yes, they are having a tough time, but they are also succeeding in many ways.

Right now, I believe that they think that we've forgotten about them. At Blackfive, we have an email address and a physical address to get the 4.000 paratroops messages of love and support from home. As combat operations are gearing up for a big fight this spring, now is the time to send support." (Please Read Matt's whole post)

He has set up this email address: skysoldiers173rd@gmail.com to send you messages of support.

And you can also send snail-mail (cards/letters) to this address:
Leta Carruth
P O Box 100
Cordova, TN 38088
(No addresses or telephone numbers on letters please!)

Thank you!

Shamelessly Commandeering William F. Buckley's "Eulogy"

Over at the Couric & Co. Blog there is a "eulogy" to William F. Buckley written by Ward Sloane that is one of the most condescending, insincere, hypocritical, contrived piece of trite crap I have read in a long time...

I don't even know where to begin...Maybe with the first paragraph:

"As I read the first wires on the death of William F. Buckley this morning, I thought how appropriate that he should die during the year that the conservative movement seems fractured, a shadow of its once formidable presence."

And what a joke this is from a party that's stabbing each other in the Hillary and Obama camps:

"The conservative movement in this country is badly in need of somebody who can make a point without demeaning and demonizing liberals and moderates. Surely there are better “uniters” than Ann Coulter or Bill O’Reilly. Are there any conservatives who think that the Limbaugh-ization of conservatism may have something to do with its fractiousness? After all, one man’s hate is not necessarily another’s. This is not William F. Buckley’s conservatism.

The inability of conservatives to unite around a candidate before the primaries started this year is testament to the decline of the right. By the time Mitt Romney became the candidate, it was too late. Even he couldn’t unite the right." (Read the pathetic blathering for yourself)

I think in this case, when writing and honoring the legacy of the Father of Conservatism, it's much more appropriate coming from someone that doesn't loathe the movement...someone like the aforementioned Ann.
(How great is this: "When asked if he had "referred to Jesse Jackson as an ignoramus," Buckley said, "If I didn't, I should have.")

R.I.P. William F. Buckley

Evil America...Again

"...THE jury in Australia's largest terrorism case has been asked to consider the "evil" America has done, as a court judges 12 Melbourne men accused of plotting to commit "violent jihad".

Opening the defense case today, lawyer Remy van de Wiel, QC, told the jury America had suffered an enormous blow to its pride as a result of the September 11 World Trade Center attack.

Mr Van de Wiel described the attacks as "evil and shocking".

"But don't forget, America has done many evil things too," Mr van de Wiel told the court.

He also told the Victorian Supreme Court jury to be cautious about forming the opinion that Osama bin Laden, who it has heard was a hero to the leader of the Melbourne group, was responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

"To say this was all orchestrated by Osama bin Laden is also very silly," he said.

"He has never claimed responsibility." (source)

I wonder what percentage of Americans agree with this...

Served

"Republican presidential hopeful John McCain mocked Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday for saying he would take action as president "if al-Qaida is forming a base in Iraq."

"When you examine that statement, it's pretty remarkable," McCain told a crowd in Tyler, Texas.

"I have some news. Al-Qaida is in Iraq. It's called `al-Qaida in Iraq,'" McCain said, drawing laughter at Obama's expense.

Obama quickly answered back, telling a rally at Ohio State University in Columbus, "I do know that al-Qaida is in Iraq." (source)

Nobel Peace Prize Swap

As I finished up making a batch of Rice Krispie Treats last night and indulging in a square of the glorious goodness...I couldn't help but think of all the smiles they have evoked since their inception. How many sibling disputes have been laid aside, friendships repaired, depressions lifted and classrooms calmed after this treat was introduced to the situation?

I am quite sure the creator of this American dessert staple has brought more harmony and smiles than Jimmy Carter and Mohamed ElBaradei, Yasser Arafat, Kofi Annan, and Al Gore combined --yet where is her prize and recognition?

So after being snubbed since 1928, I hereby nominate Mildred Day be given the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize posthumously as soon as the rest of the world swallows their pride and admits that man isn't important enough to control weather and forces Al Gore to return his sham of an award.

Thank you Mildred for your ongoing contribution to peace, harmony and smiles. :)

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(One thing I have to say for Obama, I have never come close to feeling this way about ANY candidate...and doubt hope I never will...)

U.S. Mosques Preaching Anti-Western Ideals

I think many Americans are lulled into thinking radical Islam is limited to other countries and that once Muslims here taste what the West has to offer, they embrace it. It's easier to think that way. Easier to believe these are a few rogue ideologues who want us dead. Easier to believe that the Muslims here despise that way of thinking as much as we do. it's not in out makeup to be suspect of an entire religion. We don't want to be biased.

I got over that a few years ago. Unlike Europe (where they are now doing away with piggy banks lest Muslims be offended), I will not err on the side of political correctness... I am okay with the fact that I will no longer take my kids to the Philadelphia Zoo because it's morphed into a burqa-fest. I am capable of judging each individual I meet on their merits, but as a group...I'm suspect and will remain that way until given a concrete reason to think differently.

"An undercover survey of more than 100 mosques and Islamic schools in America has exposed widespread radicalism, including the alarming finding that 3 in 4 Islamic centers are hotbeds of anti-Western extremism.

The Mapping Sharia in America Project, sponsored by the Washington-based Center for Security Policy, has trained former counterintelligence and counterterrorism agents from the FBI, CIA and U.S. military, who are skilled in Arabic and Urdu, to conduct undercover reconnaissance at some 2,300 mosques and Islamic centers and schools across the country.

"So far of 100 mapped, 75 should be on a watchlist," an official familiar with the project said.

Many of the Islamic centers are operating under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian government and U.S. front groups for the radical Muslim Brotherhood based in Egypt.

Frank Gaffney, a former Pentagon official who runs the Center for Security Policy, says the results of the survey have not yet been published. But he confirmed that "the vast majority" are inciting insurrection and jihad through sermons by Saudi-trained imams and anti-Western literature, videos and textbooks." (source)

Riddle Me This Techies....

I watched a news report last night about a girl that used someone else's wireless to send a blackmail letter to her married ex-lover. The FBI knocked at the door of the man whose IP was used.

Wireless use is so widespread and will only continue to grow. Not only do many Americans live in twins, rowhomes, duplexes and apartment complexes, but you could probably ride around neighborhoods until you could grab a signal in your car.

I'm starting to feel this is another one of those situations where legislation will lag behind technological advances. What if my neighbor is picking up and using my wireless (the report said some signals can remain strong for 300 yds. or more) to view/download kiddie porn or any other number of nefarious material?

What protections are there? Is there a something the average person with wireless can do to protect their signal and their IP?

Hillary VS. Obama Ends in Stabbing

"...One man supports Hillary Clinton. His brother-in-law supports Barack Obama. Their difference in political opinions came to blows and then got bloody, police said.

Prosecutors say 28-year-old Jose Ortiz supports Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. He is now in prison because of what police say happened in a Collegeville townhouse Thursday night.

Ortiz's brother-in-law 42-year-old Sean Shurelds supports Clinton's rival, Barack Obama. Investigators said the two men got into a very heated debate over the candidates.

"Their verbal argument became physical. One began choking the other, and then the victim of the choking took a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother- in-law in the stomach," said Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

When police arrived, they found Shurelds, the Obama supporter, bleeding heavily. Ortiz, the Clinton backer, was all wet because authorities say he had washed the bloody knife and put in the dishwasher..." (source)

I know I always complain about political apathy in this country, but this might be taking political conviction a bit too far. Can you imagine this man is now going to jail for an allegiance to Hillary?! Sheesh.

Obama's Anti-Semitic Connections...

It's not the Muslim "Manchurian candidate" aspect of Obama that his campaign should be worried about, but the fact that many American Jews, that happen to be hardcore Democrats, don't trust him and are growing more wary as connections with known anti-Semites emerge. This is not hyperbole...In the past two weeks alone I have heard from quite a few of my Bush-loathing, farther-left Jewish friends--and each has said the same thing: "I will never vote for Obama." This aspect of his "Muslim connections" hadn't really dawned on me until then. Of course, affiliation with anti-Semitic ideology should bother all constituents...

Farrakhan, author of the the name "gutter religion" for Judiasm, endorses Barack:

"...Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan said Sunday that presidential candidate Barack Obama is the "hope of the entire world" that the U.S. will change for the better.
"A black man with a white mother became a savior to us," he told the crowd of mostly followers. "A black man with a white mother could turn out to be one who can lift America from her fall." (source)

And this in conjunction with former concerns about Barack's church.

"...During an interview titled "Guidance and Wisdom for 2008" with the Final Call News online edition, a Nation of Islam (NOI) publication, Farrakhan expressed his views on Obama, advanced his separatist agenda, and made threats against America. Some notable verbiage uttered by Louis Farrakhan is included for your discernment:

"Barack Obama has been very careful not to position himself as Reverend Jesse Jackson or Reverend Al Sharpton as a promoter of "The Black Cause." He has been groomed, wisely so, to be seen more as a unifier, rather than one who speaks only for the hurt of Black people."

"The (U.S.) government's aim has now come to the point of execution: It is an Executive Decision, at the highest order, that Black youth are a danger to the future of White people.

White people are vexed with our young people (blacks), particularly our hip-hop artists who are taking their young people (whites) away from the racist White Supremist idea. For these young people to be in love with Black sports figures; Black entertainment figures; and now, in admiration of a Black political figure (Barack Obama) signals the end-to them-of White Supremacy."

"We must wake up to the time and what must be done in such a time. It is not a time for integration; it is a time for us to separate from our former slave-masters and their children and go for self, do for self, and build a Nation under The Guidance of Almighty God."

"If the Muslim world will rise above this sectarianism of Shia and Sunni, and hold fast to Islam, for at the root of that rope is the bearing of witness that "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger." If the Islamic people will hold onto that rope, and be united around that, we can stop the West from any attempt to bomb Iran.

Or, if they (West) do, our (Islam) unified response would be devastating to the Western powers."

"But I warn the Government of the United States and all those who have power and will use it against the rise of our people:

I want you to keep your eyes on the weather. Allah (God) is going to demonstrate that there is another Power inside America and throughout the world other than your power, which will stop you from killing our people wholesale. If this Executive Decision is carried forth, it will mean the destruction of the United States of America." (Read the entire article)

Amidst all this the NYT is reporting that "Obama's coalition is expanding" and he is seen as the "candidate most likely to beat McCain." (source)

"Outercourse"

"...Teenwire.com, the Planned Parenthood Web site that says it was created "to provide medically accurate sexual health information for teens on the Internet," is advising teens that viewing pornography is a normal and "safer" way of enjoying sex.

In a 2007 article, "Birth Control Choices for Teens," the writer for the Planned Parenthood site tells readers about "Outercourse."

Under the subtitle, "lower-risk forms of outercourse," in addition to kissing, masturbation, erotic massage and body rubbing, or frottage, is "fantasy." (Red the entire article)

This article struck me as odd because just yesterday I was reading an article about Sex Addicts Anonymous and how the internet and subsequent easy access to pornography has added to the prevalence of this addiction and its progressive nature.

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Monday Blah...

I can't think of anything to post about. I looked through SO many stories last night and couldn't find anything that interested me enough to write about it. I couldn't even find a picture for Caption It (and usually I have 3-10 in a queue).

I don't give a crap about the Oscars and didn't watch. I thought about posting the story of the Marine in Iraq that saved the dog, but it somehow seemed trivial while people are dying.

I guess I should be pumped that there ARE some radical, Muslim ties to Obama. Dana has a post up about a Muslim organization that's backing the fledgling Senator. Liz watched an A&E special on the Antichrist and now believes he and Obama are one in the same --that would be a good post, but I didn't see the special. ((By the way, I'm in no way implying I think BO (haha) is a Muslim. I don't. When I call him Hussein Obama it's just like calling Hillary "Shrillary". I don't think Obama is a closet Muslim, just sympathetic to the terrorist contingent of them like every other far-left Democrat)).

The article that describes an eminent psychiatrist who makes the case that liberal ideology is mental disorder --as outlined in his new book, well that was good reading but do I need a whole post to state the obvious?

I guess I could tell you that my little one had a "non-Fiction" report due today and with NO input from me he choose James Madison over sports figures, mummies or dinosaurs...

Or how I hate that "sneaked" is a word and "snuck" isn't.

So, excuse my Monday apathy and we'll go with the "no news is good news" theory for today.

Nader Announces '08 Run

"...Ralph Nader is launching a third-party campaign for president. The consumer advocate made the announcement Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." He says most Americans are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties, and that none of the presidential contenders are addressing ways to stem corporate crime and Pentagon waste and promote labor rights.

Nader also ran as a third-party candidate in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. He is still loathed by many Democrats who call him a spoiler and claim his candidacy in 2000 cost the party the election by siphoning votes away from Al Gore in a razor-thin contest in Florida..." (source)

Nader, Kucinich and Paul are pretty interchangeable in my mind...

The Promise of Obama...

"...“If we could just come together across the boundaries” of political party, race, and other categories, he said the very next day, “there’s no problem we could not solve.”

But those “boundaries” are defined by votes on specific issues: immigration, Iraq, taxes, judicial nominees, and Medicare.

Obama’s roll call votes in 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been analyzed by the non-partisan journal Congressional Quarterly which found him to be a Democratic Party loyalist..." (Read the entire article)

(Cartoon H/T: Jinxie!)

NYT Already Helping Obama...

I was amazed (why?) watching the news teasers last night... They all but said that "an affair might effect McCain's chance at the White House before he was officially the nominee."

The NYT article the stories were referring to has a telling paragraph:

"...Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity..." (source)

If they had ANY credible knowledge or source claiming an impropriety by McCain they would have used it...instead they just imply it, with the buried disclaimer that "even the appearance" would be wrong.

Then the AP likens Cindy McCain to Hillary "standing by her man"... Yeah, except for the glaring difference that they was no dispute over whether Bill cheated, just over how many times...

**You can see how the Right'O'Sphere is feeling about McCain over at Right Wing News.

Michelle Obama's Gaffe

"...Barack Obama tried to play down his wife's statement, but it's not the sort of remark that can be spun away. To say that "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country," and trying to justify it as pride in a political campaign, carries a casually stark assumption that there's nothing within this country that's really worth praising..."

When I first read what Michelle (I told The Man the other day she would end up being a problem for Obama) said I was going to list as many things as i could that any American could be proud of...but this writer beat me to it...(well, sort of, he did very recent things and I would have gone a bit more grandiose).

The Mumia That Never Ends...

"...Pennsylvania's highest appeals court has rejected a request by convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal for a hearing into his claims that witnesses in his case perjured themselves.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a unanimous ruling saying the former Black Panther and radio reporter waited too long to file a post-conviction appeal in the matter.

Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting to death Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981. A federal judge in 2001 overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence but upheld his conviction..." (source)

If you've never looked though www.danielfaulkner.com, you should. There is a comprehensive section dissecting the "Mumia myths", a complete list of Mumia supporters, link and pictures.

("Fry Mumia" shirts available at Cafe Press)

CIC Hillary...?

"...On a conference call, top strategist Mark Penn just told reporters that in the next two weeks Hillary Clinton will go after Barack Obama on the issue of who is better qualified to be commander-in-chief...

The Clinton team was asked whether the not- qualified- to- be- commander- in- chief criticism of Obama was going too far, given that it would be used by Republicans against Obama if Obama is the Democratic nominee against John McCain. "We don't believe that he is the one who will face John McCain," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "This is a legitimate question that Sen. Obama would face if he were the nominee, and it is a question that he is facing as a result of criticism from Sen. McCain now, so I think it's perfectly appropriate." (source)

I was so depressed thinking about Obama as President that I hadn't even allowed myself to think of him as Commander in Chief...in charge of the decisions, lives and finances of our military. I think I have to agree with Mark Penn and say that the better of two nightmares would be CIC Hillary--at least as the first woman Prez, she would want to look tough and not fall into passive womanly stereotypes...

That? Oh, yeah, I forgot!

Let's see, you've got a box cutter (a box cutter, for gosh sake, of all things) in a hollowed out book called Fear Itself (as in "The only thing we have to fear is ...") and you FORGOT? Story about idiot here.

Don't forget, the words "I forgot" can get you out a world of trouble. Who would have thought this guy was a SNL fan?

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal." Let's suppose he says back to you, "You have committed a foul crime. you have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, 'I forgot'?" Two simple words: Excuuuuuse me!!"

Asians Most Effected by University Quotas

"...The long-running debate over affirmative action in college admissions just got more complicated, thanks to a new study that challenges the common assumption that whites are hurt most when colleges take applicants' race and ethnicity into account.

The study, published by the University of California-Los Angeles last week in the scholarly journal InterActions, suggests that it is mainly Asian-Americans � not whites � who are held to a higher standard when top colleges use affirmative action.

Where such institutions have been banned from considering applicants' race, the study finds, enrollment of Asian-Americans has increased while admissions of whites remained flat or, in some cases, declined. The study, an analysis of long-term enrollment trends at several exclusive public universities, found that the Asian-American share of enrollment increased:

•More than 15% at the University of Texas at Austin after a 1996 federal court ruling barred consideration of race in admissions.

•More than 15% at the University of Florida after Gov. Jeb Bush persuaded the state university system's governing board to vote in 2000 to end race- and ethnicity-conscious admissions.

•More than 20% at the University of California-Berkeley, more than 10% at UCLA and more than 30% at the University of California-San Diego after that state's voters passed a 1996 ballot measure barring the use of affirmative-action preferences by public colleges and other state agencies..." (source)

Here is an article that attempts to differentiate between what Affirmative Action has come to entail and quotas. After reading the article, I still see them as the same. Maybe it's just not clear to me how a law that guaranteed against racial discrimination morphed into an active program of, yes, social engineering. Asians are on the list of those purported to benefit from Affirmative Action, so this study should turn a few heads...

Clinton Campaign Trailer

Believe it or not, this trailer is parked at Hillary's Austin, TX, campaign headquarters.

Religion of Peace Ridiculousness

"...Mannequins in Sharjah [United Arab Emirates] shops should be headless and only model “decent” clothing, a Sharjah Municipality circular has stated.

The municipality has urged shopkeepers to abide by a ban that prohibits the display of mannequins with facial features, said a senior Sharjah Municipality official.

“The only clothes on display now should be decent and the mannequins should be headless,” said Khalid Al Jaberi, head of market control at Sharjah Municipality.

A circular was recently sent to all shops stating the heads of mannequins be removed and that they are forbidden to wear underwear, to uphold the traditional and religious values of the emirate.

The Sharjah Economic Development Department ordered 10 shops to close in March 2007 for flouting the rule, and instructed all shops and shopping centres to hire only female employees to sell women’s undergarments." (source)

These were made in China!!! ...Behead the infidel mannequins!!!!

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Kosovo?

For years I have corresponded with a Muslim woman in Busovaca, Bosnia that I supported through Women for Women International. I wanted to understand the war that she and her husband had barely survived, so I started reading Bosnia/Herzigova War "synopsis" sites. I still don;t really understand the dynamics of the whole thing. I mean I get the ethnic cleansing and the civil war aspect, but I don;t know what lead up to that... I don;t know if the hatred was based purely on race/religion with no provocation (like Darfur) or if it was more like Chechnya with much provocation and (seemingly) warranted retaliation...

So now that I read that Kosovo has declared its independence, I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I keep seeing flickr sites rejoicing in this development. The thing is, since the flickr pages are that of white Americans...I'm wondering what they know that I don't. Why are they happy? Why are they happy enough to post pictures on their site?

Now I know that ethnic Albanians are extremely pro-America. The woman I corresponded with was lovely (maybe someday I'll share some of her letters for those that think "the rest of the world hates us"), loved the American military and was heartbroken when the UN took over... But there must be more to it than that, right?

Three Cheers for Wiki!

"...The Internet encyclopedia database Wikipedia has announced its refusal to remove photos of the Muslim prophet Mohammed, defying the demands of more than 180,000 people who cry foul at any depiction of the prophet.

An online protest called for the website to take down images of relics from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, all of which depicting the Islam prophet. The main argument was that the religion strictly and vehemently prohibits any depiction or representation of Mohammed.

Wikipedia replied to the cries by saying that the photos will not be taken down, and that those offended by their public display will merely have to adjust their computer settings to conceal the offending photographs..." (source)

Finally, someone that didn't cave!
And shame on those of you who denounce Wikipedia as unreliable...*I* am a reference on the Zombietime page!!! LOL

I Won't Say Who I Posted This For...

ahem*tesco*cough*solow*



(H/T: The ENFORCER)

Young Americans...FINALLY!

"...This spring, Pat Dollard's Young Americans will air on cable television, the result of years of work. But there's a good reason for the time it has taken: Pat Dollard is a man obsessed with reality, his reality of the war he experienced while embedded with the 3rd battalion 7th Marines in Ramadi.

...In an article written for Vanity Fair, Pat Dollard is excoriated as a pro-war cheerleader. Surprisingly, The New York Times also gave an unflattering portrayal of Dollard.

Despite the criticism from places both expected and not, Dollard's Young Americans will be a make or break endeavor.

At a studio in Santa Monica, Pat and his editorial assistant Donnie "dB" Bracamontes put the final touches on the third episode in the Young American series. Critics who complain Hollywood has not accurately portrayed Iraq will need to be careful for what they wish.

Dollard trumps the pretenders by giving such an engaging view of Iraq, I found myself watching the 30-minute episode half-way out of my seat. The episode showed the Marine response to a major bombing at the Ramadi glass factory. What follows is not just a CNNesque report on raw violence, but a pulsating pictorial of the effects of terror.

The first five minutes were exhilarating and frightening. I found myself nodding my head and anticipating what was going to happen, because I had been there before.

Dollard himself makes no pretense of objectivity, his website sells "Jihad Killer" shirts and during Young Americans the audience will hear Dollard's voice give on-the-spot editorials.

"You see, you liberals, this is what you're supporting!"

Young Americans debuts this spring on Showtime. You have been warned..." (source)

I am SO glad Showtime purchased this film (and even better that I just added the channel to my cable package about a month ago). I can't wait to see how it will all come together in the final cut, but I know Pat wouldn't be releasing it if it weren't perfect...

Bush Tube Top Anyone?

I wonder what all the Bush-hating AIDS activists have to say about all this?

"...Although around 2,000 Muslim demonstrators protested against Bush on the eve of his visit, many thousands more cheering, waving people lined his road from the airport on Saturday.

Banners across the route, decorated with Bush's image against a backdrop of Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, read: "We cherish democracy. Karibu (welcome) to President and Mrs Bush."

Others read: "Thank you for helping fight malaria and HIV." Dancers at the airport and at Kikwete's state house to greet Bush on Sunday, wore skirts and shirts decorated with his face.

Bush has spent more money on aid to Africa than his predecessor, Bill Clinton, and is popular for his personal programs to fight AIDS and malaria and to help hospitals and schools.

Bush has stressed new-style partnerships with Africa based on trade and investment and not purely on aid handouts.

His Millennium Challenge Corp. rewards countries that continue to satisfy criteria for democratic governance, anti-corruption and free-market economic policies..." (source)

Sexual Deviants Just Wanna Have Fun...

"... A warning for parents about a controversial program the Department of Mental Health isn't telling you about. The state [of Massachusetts] is taking mentally ill sexual deviants on field trips. And guess where they're going? To places filled with families and kids. Investigative reporter Mike Beaudet has more on the exclusive investigation..."

Watch the news report video.

Even though kids pack circuses, ballgames, aquariums, movies and apple orchards...the deviants apparently need the "stimulation".

(H/T: KB)

Dr. Phil's Wife...

The other day on Dr. Phil's show (No, *I* didn't watch it, my sis called to tell me) his wife (Robin?) told a guest that in ALL the years of raising her two sons ["she had NEVER raised a voice or a hand."]

Two boys and NEVER raised her voice? There are three explanations here as far as I'm concerned:
1) She has some 'Mommy's little helper'
2) Nannies raised the boys
3) She's a liar

I consider myself someone with tons of patience and it takes a lot to get me flustered, but I'm sure I yell at least once a day --sometimes it's not even in anger...just to be heard over all the other voices...

She could have said she "rarely" yells and okay, I'd buy that,...but to admonish a guest and emphasize NEVER?

Caption It...

I Need Your Help...

A good friend of mine called me yesterday to ask if I had any documentation that Democrats (both in Congress and the White House) HAVE and/or WILL cut spending to the military. He has been having this huge political back and forth with one of his acquaintances and the guy claims if he can give him any proof, that he could no longer support a Democrat for office. I know many of you have recounted stories from when you served under a Dem CIC, I am looking for a compilation of those stories --also links to quotes and/or refusals to sign bills...and I'll just send him the link to this post after everyone has had their say.

Strangest Thing I Never Knew...

"...There exists an ear wax gene that determines the type of ear wax that you will have. Native Americans and Asians tend to have gray, dry, and flaky ear wax while Caucasians and those from African decent tend to have moist, yellow to brown ear wax. The cause is believed to be in the sweat glands. Native Americans and Asians were believed to have less sweat glands due to colder climates then Caucasians and Africans..."

*phone rings*
MyBro: Hello.
ALa: Hey!
MyBro: Hey, I haven't talked to you in a while.
ALa: I know, and I'm calling with a really strange question.
MyBro: What?
ALa: Is Ruka's ear wax gray?
MyBro: What?
ALa: I read something today that said Whites, Blacks and Hispanics have yellow ear wax and Asians and Native Americans have dry, gray wax.
MyBro: Really? I don't know if she does.
ALa: But you're engaged!
MyBro: That doesn't mean I've ever seen her damn earwax!

From the Blogroll: Things You Shouldn't Miss...

Yes! Zombie has TWO PAGES of pictures posted from the 2/12/08 Berkeley City Council protest. You gotta love Zombie (s)he takes so many pictures that it feels like you were there. You really have to look through all of them... I think the Oompa-Loompa from the new Willy Wonka is Media Benjamin's new body guard...
Zombietime's Berkeley Protest Pics

Sean (Doc in the Box) posted a pic displaying some of the Valentine's Day cards his unit has received in Iraq. Luckily my 3rd grader's teacher is a OIF Veteran's wife, so they have done a lot for the troops this year...including V-Day cards.

AFSis, a Red Cross volunteer, warns of the dangers of "cool" lighters that look like toys to little kids (complete with pics). I agree with her assessment on "childproof" items. I can't tell you how many times I've struggled with something that's childproof and given it to one of my boys to open/figure out for me...

Skye, who blogs at Midnight Blue, went to CPAC and you will not believe all the people she met...including SSG David Bellavia (author of House to House). I'm exceedingly jealous.
You can look through all her photos on flickr. ...Lucky!

Hummers & Cigarettes has the "Top 10 Economic Myths of 2007" (compiled by the Business & Media Institute)

Matt at St. Blogustine is missing Reagan.

Where do our lefties stand?
Honest Partisan is supporting the first term, inexperienced Senator. The Riverboat Pilot is also hoping the candidate with the least knowledge and experience wins. Pax is also endorsing the candidate of The Dead and Oprah (and Ludacris). J Marquis is another one falling for the "change" speak. I think the Bourgeois Deviant is for Obama, but I can't swear to that and I can't tell who Courtney is supporting or we would have had a clean Obama sweep with the lefty bloggers linked here. Wow...and I thought I only linked the smartest of left-leaning bloggers. Imagine, the entire bunch so easily hornswoggled.

Zelda just might be one of the funniest chicks ever...

It looks like baby Wyatt Earp was born on Valentine's Day! 8lbs. 8 ozs. Yeah! Now, everyone go say Congrats to the proud papa and see the pic of little Kevin.

Captain America asks "If you could have a beer and talk with anyone in history, who would it be?"

Epiphany...

The past couple months (not here per se, but in real life) arguing with people about the candidates and having my head feel as if it might implode as so-and-so goes on about how excited they are about Obama because he's such an idealist... I've realized that I don't and can't make a bit of difference in the national scheme of things. And here, I'm preaching to the choir --whether we all agree or disagree at least we've read and we have an educated opinion.

But last night it hit me...my purpose. My goal. Something that might actually be achievable...

Ending the "zero tolerance" policy in schools.

I feel so strongly about this that it's consuming all my thoughts. I intend to make appointments to talk with a few administration types and I'll tell you more about it then, but suffice it to say that I believe the rise of bullying and school violence is a direct result of the zero tolerance policies that have been enacted around the country.

Zero tolerance has emboldened the "bad kids" and tied the hands of the "good" ones. It is the product of fear and lazy administrations and it denies children their basic right to self defense. Zero tolerance basically mandates "severe punishments for anyone involved in fighting, without regard to any details of the case. In practice this means that those who attack others and those who defend themselves are punished equally."

As I began to research this I was thrilled to see there are many websites detailing the insanity of the policy: This one was most compendious of the bunch --great if you need a bit of background on the subject...

"The notion that Zero Tolerance reduces fighting is flawed. It seems like these policies actually enable predators to attack more freely. Troublemakers usually don't care about getting punished -- those nerds getting beat up, on the other hand, generally have more respect for the school's policies and rules.

I'm probably being too cynical, but a part of me thinks that school administrators are well aware of this effect, and actively encourage it. After all, it's good to have someone who can unofficially keep things in line. Such troublemaking students could always be transferred to another school if they get too out of hand.

More realistically, it's probably just administrators being lazy and not wanting to deal with these issues. Almost every student has been violently harassed at some point in his life, and, many can relate to a story of school officials who just didn't care." (source)

Guess this means I finally have to join the PTA...

developing...

Stressful Cities...

The top 50 most stressful cities are listed (Here are the top 10):

1) Detroit
2) Cleveland
3) St. Louis
4) Riverside- San Bernardino, Calif.
5) Los Angeles
6) Chicago
7) Memphis
8) New York City
9) Philadelphia
10) Atlanta

You can see the rest of the list here.

"The Ultimate Sacrifice"

Caption It...

Happy Valentine's Day

Reading articles put me in a bad mood (as you'll soon see...) and I hate when the Blog does that. I have a lot to be happy about and today is supposed to be a day to focus on the ones that you love.

...My Dad stopped by last night with a little blue T&Co box, so that is helping to ease the pain ;)

Right Wing News has some crazy political Valentine's posted.

WTF?

Between THIS and THIS should I just start referring to him as President-Elect Obama?

Christians Burn Shrine in Mashhhad

Mashhhad, Iran, is the site for the burial places and shrines for all twelve of the imams revered by the Twelver Shia Muslims.

...But you know this isn't true, because if it was there would have been front page stories, riots, Molotov cocktails and embassies burning to the ground.

What ACTUALLY happened, you ask?

"...Palestinians yesterday tried to burn down Joseph's Tomb – Judaism's third holiest site – according to Palestinian security officials speaking to WND.

It marks the second time the Palestinians attempted to burn down the tomb, located near Nablus, the biblical city of Shechem.

Joseph's Tomb is the believed burial place of the biblical patriarch Joseph, the son of Jacob who was sold by his brothers into slavery and later became viceroy of Egypt.

Palestinian security officials in Nablus said yesterday they were called to the tomb to find 16 burning tires inside the sacred structure.

A Palestinian police official who inspected the site told WND today there was some fire damage to the tomb. He said the Palestinian Authority, fearing embarrassment, immediately formed a joint committee from the PA's Force 17, Preventative Security Services and Palestinian intelligence, to find out who was behind the fire..." (source)

Obama, The American Flag & Che Guevara

H/T: LGF:

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said that he won't wear an American flag pin on his lapel and he won't put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, but it seems he WILL hang flags of Communist Cuba and Che Guevara in his campaign offices... I know the Left won't care about this because they love him too too, but damn, that really bothers me. It's one thing to flirt with Communist ideology, but to hang an homage in the office of a candidate for president of the United States. To have the Cuban flag when Cuban refugees are trying to float here on empty milk gallons (Cubans that refer to Che as "The Butcher of la Cabaña")... I mean, I can forgive the dopey college kids with their "Viva la Revolución" shirts because they're just sheep following a fashion trend, but a United States Senator...?

PA's Fast Eddie & the Reverse Race Card

"...Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday's paper.

To buttress his point, Rendell cited his 2006 re-election campaign, in which he defeated Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, by a margin of more than 60 percent to less than 40 percent.

"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so," he said. "And that (attitude) exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool."" (source)

Here's the thing, what he's saying is probably true --and personally I think that's sad. People should shy away from voting for Obama because he lacks knowledge and experience and seems to embrace an ideological (yet impractical) socialism...not because he's a little Black. What DOES piss me off is the one word he snuck in there..."conservative." Maybe he forgets but it was the CONSERVATIVES that were backing Lynn Swann. He was the REPUBLICAN candidate. I think he meant to say the big burly prejudiced and chauvinistic labor union workers won't want to vote for a Black guy. Speak for your own Eddie...us Conservatives would have LOVED to have a Black man instead of you!!!

Showdown in Berkeley...

...And all I could think as I was reading this story was, 'I can't wait to see Zombie's pictures...' (There are some pics in front of the USMC recruiting office already posted)

"...Military supporters descended on Berkeley early Tuesday, demanding the famously liberal California college town rescind its vote that says Marine recruiters are "not welcome in this city."

The pro-military demonstrators were met by anti-war protesters who had camped out overnight, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown late in the day when the City Council is to discuss whether to revoke its previous vote.

"Their treasonous action, especially at this time of war right now, is not acceptable," said Mary Pearson, a spokeswoman for the group Move America Forward.

"It's very, very important for everyone to stand united ... to give our Marines and all of our military the greatest respect and honor that they deserve."

Before the sun was even up, about 300 demonstrators -- both pro-military and anti-war -- were already standing toe-to-toe in downtown. Many traded jeers and sneers." (source)

I can't find an article that says what decision the council finally came to (the met at 7pm PST last night), but this article is a colorful recap of the day (complete with "spicy words" like: "patchouli-oil-scented time warp", "burgeoning cultural war" and "poodles in pink sweaters and old hippies."

Religion of Peace Update

"... The growing use by terrorist groups of women — some disguised as expectant moms — to deliver deadly homicide bombs has prompted the Department of Homeland Security and FBI to issue a rare warning that such attacks could take place on American soil.

The joint security assessment cited recent female homicide bomber attacks in Baghdad — in which two women who appeared to have Down syndrome delivered a deadly explosion that killed 99 — as well as in Sri Lanka, Chechnya, India, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories as reason for the warning.

"Female suicide bombers may have an advantage over their male counterparts in accessing targets," the analysis cautioned. "The means to conduct a suicide attack vary widely, but a key element in maximizing the lethality of a suicide bombing is the bomber's ability to get close to the target."

The assessment also strongly warned that potential female homicide bombers could use "prosthetic devices that mimic the look of a pregnant woman." (source)

What do these women get when they meet Allah? Do they get 72 male virgins? Do they get the same honor and glory as their male "martyr" counterparts?

Once again I must ask where the feminist outrage is...not only using their women, but mentally disabled women?!