The Best Sentence Money Can Buy

Apparently the "Show Me State" would be better described as the "Show Me The Money State". We've all seen the high-priced, high-profile attorneys available to defendants who can afford the bill. Seems they think (perhaps rightfully so) the more you pay, the better the defense. Well, the folks in Missouri have taken things to the next level.

A defendant in a murder trial agreed to pay the family of the victims $230,000. In exchange, the victim's family recommended the defendant only receive 10 years in prison. The other defendant is sitting on death row. I guess in Missouri, money does solve all problems.

Further Proof That Most Singers Are Idiots

This comes courtesy of Instapundit...

ANTI-AMERICANISM doesn't even impress the hipsters anymore. Just listen to the dismissive treatment of Green Day in the December issue of Q Magazine, which I just noticed:

On the roof of a photographer's studio in a corner of Hollywood so drab it gives Slugh a good name, the three members of Green Day are discussing whether or not to desecrate the American flag. Singer Billie Joe Armstrong, who is dressed in black shirt and skinny red tie, is cautious but keen, while bassis Mike Dirnt, who is bleached blond and much more aloof, is keener still.

"It means nothing to me," he sneers. "Let's burn the f*cking thing."

Only drummer Tre Cool, who is normally the designated prankster of the three and who comes across like Bart Simpson made flesh, offers the lone cautionary voice. "Isn't it, like, illegal?"

It is reluctantly agreed that Cool has a point. It's all very well being punk insurrectionists but there is an album to promote, and nobody wants to face jail time. In the end, a compromise is reached. The matches stay intheir box, and instead Armstrong spraypaints the word IDIOT across the flag in large capital letters, grinning at this apparently considerable fate of derring-do.

"Apparently considerable feat of derring-do." Ouch. Johnny Ramone crapped bigger than these guys, and everybody knows it.

But it's not working with the fans, either, as apparently Green Day's anti-Bush songs don't go over as intended. From later in the same article:

The next night, Green Day perform their new album in its entirety at the Henry Fonda Theater in downtown Hollywood to a partisan crowd of heavily tattooed fans who, in truth, care more about some good old-fashioned slam dancing than any political rhetoric. Afterwards, one beery fan happily confesses that the track Boulevard of Broken Dreams brought tears to his eyes. "It's about a girl, right?" he asks. And 47-year-old maintenance specialist Gary Lansdon hasn't quite heeded their message either.

"I'm a Democrat myself," he says, beaming brightly.

So he'll be voting for Kerry?

"Oh, no," he says, the smile fading. "No band will tell me what to do. I voted for Bush last time, and I'll vote for him again. He's doing a fine job."

"No band will tell me what to do." The article was written before the election, but the handwriting was already on the wall.

UPDATE: Steve Sturm has comments, and observes: "And, for what it's worth, you three idiots, it is NOT illegal to burn the flag. How can you guys even pretend to be intelligent and informed enough to tell other people how to vote when you don't even know that?"

Well, I guess it just seemed like, you know, it had to be, since it was, like, John Ashkkkroft's Amerikkka and everything.

"...Moved the entire island of Sumatra about 100 feet..."

You've probably heard by now about the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck in the Indian Ocean yesterday, the strongest quake on the planet in 40 years, and the fourth-largest quake ever. Massive tidal waves struck coastal areas from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. Right now they're saying over 12,000 people dead, and some entire coastal villages washed out to sea.

Here's what gets me, though. Drudge is reporting that the quake "...moved the entire island of Sumatra about 100 feet toward the southwest." An entire island, over 470,000 square kilometers, moves 100 feet. Wow...

Merry Christmas

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy your time with family and eat too much.

Was The Lone Ranger Racist?

If he'd been Canadian, maybe so. The Supreme Court of Canada has been asked to rule on whether the term "kemosabe" is a racial slur. A Nova Scotia woman of Mi'kmaq (is that Eskimo?) descent claims her boss used the term to refer to her and other co-workers. She's already been ruled against in their Court of Appeals, after judges spent an entire day watching Lone Ranger episodes on TV.

Political Diversity On Campus

More and more, conservative college students are using the courts to protect their rights to politically-free college classrooms. With so many professors and administrators emphasizing the "liberal" in liberal arts, right-leaning students have turned the tables on the liberals who used activism in the 60's and 70's to gain control on so many campuses.

A former liberal activist turned conservative agitator, David Horowitz, is at the forefront of this movement. So is the group Students For Academic Freedom (SAF). They provide a basic "bill of rights" for students, helping explain what is and isn't appropriate, and they offer suggestions for students seeking recourse for political bias they encounter on campus.

A web site I've mentioned before, NoIndoctrination.org, provides a forum for students to post experiences of political intolerance on campus. Some examples:

In a Georgia State University history class:
"...On the first day of class, the professor (who was British) made fun of President Bush, lamented the Bourgeoisie, praised Marx, said that workers should own the means of production (but did not admit that the stock market is for that purpose), and said the only way the problems of the masses are ever solved are through "Revolution", which she wrote emphatically and in very large letters on the board. "

In a course on Chinese religions at Vasser College:
"The most prominent bias was the professor's negative attitude towards President Bush, who he derided several times throughout the course. In two unique situations, he questioned us (the students) on our opinions towards war with Iraq and the death penalty -- it was quite noticeable from earlier comments and his tone that he was in opposition to both."

From University of California - Berkeley RA Training seminar:
"She referred to a hall with pictures of donors to a college as the "Hall of Shame" instead of the "Hall of Fame" because the donors were white."

Also from University of California - Berkeley, a Molecular and Cell Biology course:
"The professor dedicated 30 minutes of a 1.5 hour lecture to letting about 10 individuals speak out about the reasons students in this 700+ student class should dissent against the war."

From a Notre Dame Intro to American Gov't. course:
" [The professor] made it very clear from day 1 that he was a liberal democrat, and that liberal democrats were 'right' and 'the light side of the force'. His stated goal was to win students over to the cause of liberalism."

Turning The Tables On Anti-Christmas Crowd

Columnist Kathleen Parker wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and like most of us, she's had enough of the politically-correct crowd's attempts to stifle every mention of Christmas. A good read...

Good Financial Times

Despite the gloom and doom from the Left, the economic health of this country is excellent. In case you missed it, the stock markets had a very good day yesterday. The Dow closed at 10,759. That's the highest close since mid 2001. The S&P market was up yesterday, and all three (Dow, S&P, Nasdaq) are performing well.

The economy is getting stronger, as evidenced by the increase in our gross domestic product (GDP). That measure of economic strength grew by 4 percent during the third quarter of 2004, exceeding estimates. That works out to about $106.3 billion in new econimic business. Gross domestic product measures the value of all goods and services produced in the United States and is the broadest barometer of the country's economic health. Estimates for fourth quarter growth are 5.5 to 4.5 percent.

During the third quarter, consumer spending was up a whopping 5.1 percent. On the job front, 415,000 new jobs were created in October and November.

Just a little more good economic news to brighten the holiday season.

From Around The Web

The Mormans are preparing to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth, and things are starting to get interesting. Some are even starting to suggest (egad!) that he made up the whole golden tablet/"revising" the scriptures/polygamy is fun/we're all gods in embryo thing. As a genealogist, I've gotta give the LDS folks tons of credit. They have a tremendous belief in the importance of family and the family unit. Their contributions to family history research are unsurpassed. But when it comes to their beliefs about God, I just don't get it.

Meanwhile, Samsung has announced the development of its 102-inch plasma screen. That's a man's TV.

In Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica now has a coffee bar. No, it's not a Starbucks. In other news, you can now fire off an e-mail to Pope John Paul II. Wouldn't you like to see some of the spam he gets?

Still no official word on what caused the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (not that too many people actually care), but his associates are suspecting he was poisoned. They think the poison might have been administered last year - by handshake.

Even a tropical paradise can have its little drawbacks. Seems people in Hawaii are paying upwards of $200 for Christmas trees. Life is so unfair...

Split Christmas

Shannon and I are doing our first dual-family Christmas this year, trying to get together with her family and mine for all the holiday fun. With meals at her Grandma's on Christmas Eve, and my Granny's on Christmas Day, the diet must start on December 26th!

"... Their love was like forbidden fruit: tasty."

The annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest challenges entrants to pen the world's most atrocious first line to a novel. The winners included the bl;og title above , and these ditties...

"Tasty waffle?" Jim suggested alluringly, prodding me with the afore-mentioned breakfast food

My English teacher, Mrs. Robinson, always said to start in the middle of something interesting, so here's Peter encased in 50 cubic feet of Jell-O.

Critics are calling me a fat cat, viciously ignoring the fact that I've been working out.

I am pleased to announce that, although attitudes have improved immensely, the beatings will continue.

Know Who You're Giving Your Money To

I know it's probably considered extreme, but I just hate spending my money at stores or on products that indirectly benefit liberal political causes. That's why I won't buy Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and why I don't like Old Navy and Barnes & Noble. I don't want to knowingly support people and businesses that have a radically skewed vision of this nation.

The Libs themselves have helped me keep track of who I do and don't want to do business with. Through a web site called Choose The Blue, you can see just how much money the people you buy from are spending (2003-2004 election cycle) on political causes. Some examples, from the Retail Stores category from Choose The Blue...

Barnes & Noble - 98% of their donated funds went to Democratic candidates
Bed, Bath & Beyond - 93% to Democrats
Costco - 98% Democratic
Gap - 61% Democratic
Old Navy - 61% to Democrats

Circuit City - 96% to Republican candidates
Home Depot - 94% Republican
Sears - 76% To Republicans
Target - 73% to Republicans

There are tons of listings, from fast-food (Arby's, Starbucks and Sonic are heavy Blue) to car companies (all Red except Toyota). If you check it out, I hope your favorites fall on your side.

UPDATE : To address the comment posted by "Nemo", most of the information comes from the Federal Election Commission's web site (www.fec.gov) and from the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org). The liberal web site is posting it for their use, and I think it's priceless that we can use it to avoid their supporting businesses, if we choose.

Maybe Good News From PLO

It seems that since Yasser Arafat began his celestial sand-nap, there may actually be a chance for something resembling peace between the PLO and Israel. Mahmoud Abbas, a former Palestinian prime minister who now heads the Palestine Liberation Organization, told the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the Palestinian "use of arms has been damaging and should end."

Abbas has repeatedly called for an end to the violence against Israel, saying he doesn't believe that continued violence would achieve the goals of Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and establishment of a Palestinian state. Maybe there's some hope...

Good News From Iraq

As I've mentioned before, blogger Arthur Chrenkoff presents "Good News From Iraq" every couple of weeks. He brings us news that somehow doesn't make the cable or network newscasts. It's amazing how this news presents a far, far, far different picture about everyday Iraqi life and society than you'll get from CNN, CBS or the New York Times. Or, for that matter, from the Democrats...

Good News From Iraq
The Iraqi national elections are slated for January 30, and over 14 million voters are registered. Iraqis who fled the country during Saddam Hussein's rule are being allowed to vote as well. Thousands of candidates are running for provincial seats and seats in the National Assembly. Nations from Switzerland to China have pledged money, resources and/or people to help ensure the elections take place properly.

Iraqi women continue to acclimate themsleves to greater rights and freedoms in the new Iraq. Many nations and organizations from around the world are assisting the living victims of Hussein's genocidal legacy.

Iraq's museums are benefiting from the country's new leadership, with antiques and objects of historical significance being returned for display.

Christian churches and chapels are being rebuilt. Muslim organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have offered their help in raising the awareness of the issue and collecting funds.

Economically, the country is beginning to grow. Economic output in the first ten months of 2004 is almost 52% above 2003. Per capita income is also up over 50% from last year. The Iraqi currency, the dinar, has appreciated 27% against the U.S. dollar in the past year. $33 billion in Iraqi debts to the G7 nations have been written off, which may help bring in financial aid from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Kuwait is proposing a cut of 80% in the debt owed to it, and Russia will reduce what Iraq owes them from $10.5 billion to around $1 billion.

The Iraqi Stock Exchange has more than 70 companies listed, and anywhere from 100 million to 500 million shares are traded daily.

The largest industry in Iraq, oil, stands to grow. Already the fifth largest oil producer in the Middle East, Iraq plans to increase capacity by about 15% next year.

An employment boom is reported in some parts of the country, especially in the Kurdish north. In Samarra, economic activity was climbing to new heights, store fronts booming with goods for sale, market places bustling with movement, and decades old trash, rubble, and graffiti disappeared as it was being carried away by a robust and motivated work force. In Nasiriya, reports say more than 30,000 new jobs have been created in the last few months.

There's more going on, with water plants being brought back online, roads being build, trains being renovated and running again, electrical output increasing, etc.

There is so much we aren't hearing about in the press. Wonder why?

This Is A Hero

Meet Sgt. Rafael Peralta, a Marine from San Diego, California. He's my new hero. What this man did in the final few minutes of his life provides a lesson in what a true hero is.

Sgt. Peralta's unit was clearing a house in Fallujah when, entering a room, he was hit in the chest and face by by multiple rounds of AK-47 fire. Although mortally wounded, he was able to move out of the doorway, allowing other members of his squad to go after the terrorists who had shot him. In the chaos that ensued, one of the terrorists tossed a grenade into the crowd of Marines, rolling to a stop close to Peralta’s nearly lifeless body. The sergeant, nearly dead, reached for the grenade and pulled it into his chest, taking the full brunt of the explosion and saving the lives of several comrades.

This is what a hero is. This is what a Marine is.

I Don't Know What To Say...

This just might be the most outrageous story I've ever heard from a public school system. This is disturbing, disgusting and unbelievable.

A female senior at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Wisonsin was a victim of a sexual assault at the school by a male student - and she was suspended by the school when she reported it. She was suspended without explanation, even though an investigation led to a guilty plea by her attacker. Her record has still not been cleared, even after the guilty plea, and even after an assistant district attorney has intervened on her behalf. Her family is now suing the school system.

So even the victim of a sexual assault at Rufus King High School gets suspended?

Odds And Ends

Some interesting items from around the world, just in case you missed them...

Curse Of The Christmas Song
The U.K.'s Guardian has compiled the top ten singers & bands whose careers and/or lives hit the skids after releasing a Christmas song. Ooh, scary...

There's Always Room For Jello
A fourth-grader in Louisiana was suspended for bringing small, clear plastic containers of Jello to school to sell to her friends. Even though they contained no alcohol, the school charged her with selling a "look-alike drug" because the treats resemble "Jello shots".

Greatest Canadian Ever
Beating out Wayne Gretzky and Dudley Doright, actor Keifer Sutherland's grandfather has been named the Greatest Canadian in a national poll. Tommy Douglas founded and championed the Soviet-style form of medicare so cherished by pious Canadians, who don't mind waiting years for elective surgery.

Springer on AM
Trash talk show host Jerry Springer gets his own daily radio show on Cincinnati's WSAI-AM when the Clear Channel station flips from oldies music to liberal talk in January. Further proof that Clear Channel is killing the radio business.

Pork... The Other Lethal Weapon
An Oklahoma inmate charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon after stabbing another inmate with a pork chop bone.

Those Crazy Ivy Leaguers

My choice for best prank of 2004...

The "Harvard Pep Squad" ran up and down the aisles of Harvard Stadium at The Game Nov. 20. They had megaphones in hand and their faces were painted as they encouraged the crowd to hold up the 1,800 red and white pieces of construction paper they had handed out. It would read "Go Harvard," they said.

But the 20 "Pep Squad" members were actually Yale students. And when the Harvard students, faculty and alumni held up their pieces of paper -- over and over again -- they spelled out "We Suck" in giant block letters the whole stadium could read.

You simply must check out a video and pictures of the prank at their web site.

At The Beach In December

It's not what it sounds. I just returned from four days working at Jekyll Island. It was a company trip, all work and no play. Some good food, though, satisfied my seafood fix. From here through the holidays I shouldn't miss too many opportunities to post. Today, though, is all about catching up in the office.

War On Terror vs. War In Pacific

In his current column on TownHall.com, Oliver North shows the amazing similarities between the current War on Terror and the WWII War in the Pacific. Ideology, tactics, fanaticism... everything old is new again. Ollie also comments on the attempts by some to rewrite history and assign some of the blame for Pearl Harbor on the U.S. A highly recommended read.

Robots Heading For The Battlefield

Early in 2005, a new generation of armed robots will make their appearance in the theatres of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the ability to carry four 66-mm rockets or six 40-mm grenades, as well as an M240 or M249 machine gun, the robots come armed for duty.



Also ready for rollout, a robot ambulance. It's capable of carrying two soldiers on stretchers from the battlefield to a nearby medical facility. Wounded soldiers could be loaded into the REV (Robotic Extraction Vehicle) by other soldiers. But the REV also carries an electrically powered, 600-pound, six-wheeled robot with a mechanical arm that can drag a wounded fighter to safety if there isn't a flesh-and-blood soldier around.

Pretty cool...

Left Ties To U.N. Corruption

Do you know the name Marc Rich? He's was the fugitive financier indicted on 65 counts of tax fraud, tax evasion and racketeering, who fled the U.S. for Switzerland in 1986. In one of his last official acts, Rich was inexplicably pardoned by President Clinton as he was leaving office in January 2001. It was controversial for two reasons. First, technically he probably wasn't even eligible for a pardon. Secondly, his pardon seemed to be payback for huge financial donations from Rich's ex-wife Denise to Clinton's Presidential campaign and Hillary Clinton's run for the Senate.

Now, Marc Rich is back in the news...

As you've surely heard, several investigations are looking into the United Nations Oil-For-Food program. Billions of dollars intended as humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people were instead stolen by Saddam Hussein and his sons. Untold millions were paid in kickbacks to Kojo Annan, son of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Here's where Marc Rich comes in

Rich was a middleman for several of Iraq's suspect oil deals in February 2001, just one month after his pardon from President Clinton, according to oil industry shipping records obtained by ABC News. And a U.S. criminal investigation is looking into whether Rich, as well as several other prominent oil traders, made illegal payments to Iraq in order to obtain the lucrative oil contracts.

Rich's involvement in this growing scandal could pose problems for the presumptive Democratic candidate for President in 2008: Hillary Clinton.

Remind Me Again How Bad The Economy Is

Some very good economic news is coming out today, but I wonder how much play it'll get in the mainstream news outlets. Remember, the economy is supposed to be tanking under President Bush. The Libs would have you believe the only people doing well are Bush's cronies. Let's see what's going on...

Americans Earning More Money
October earnings, as announced by the Commerce Department, showed a 0.6 percent gain. That's a tremendous gain over September's 0.2 percent, and it's the largest increase in six months. That was also one-tenth of a point higher than economists had anticipated.

We're Spending More, Too
More income for consumers means more spending, and during October consumer spending went up a whopping 0.7 percent. That was three-tenths of a point higher than economists had predicted. When tied to inflation, the growth was a healthy 0.3 percent.

Manufacturing On The Rise
The Institute for Supply Management reports that, for November, manufacturing activity grew sharply. Activity is measured on an index scale, and a reading of 50 or higher on that scale indicates expansion. The November score was 57.8, which is up from 56.8 last November. A score of 57 was expected, indicating greater manufacturing growth than anticipated. This was the 18th consecutive month of manufacturing growth.

Stocks Rising
With very strong economic numbers and lowering crude oil prices, stocks have taken off. As of 3:00pm ET today, the Dow is sitting at 10,565 (up 136), the NASDAQ is at 2,131 (up 35), and the S&P shows 1,188 (up 15). Meanwhile, the price of crude oil on the New York marketver $3 a barrel.

Employment Up
For October, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 337,000 people. Unemployment remains relatively low at 5.5 percent. Construction employment rose sharply over the month, and several service-providing industries also added jobs.

Somebody please remind me why the Democrats said the economy was so bad...

Mean and Vicious

Do you know what happens when you cross Senator John Kerry when he's running to be commander-in-chief? Steve Gardner from Clover, South Carolina does. You see, Gardner was one of Senator Kerry's twelve Swift Boat crew members. He was outspoken in his opposition to Kerry's candidacy. He refuted much of what Kerry claimed to have happened in Vietnam. Free speech, right?

There's no free speech where Kerry and his followers were concerned. Gardner was threatened by John Hurley, the veterans organizer for Kerry's campaign. Hurley said, "You better watch your step. We can look into your finances." Gardner stood up to Hurley, and it cost him nearly everything.

Read the article, and you see even more clearly why Kerry had to be defeated.

Nice Long Break

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Between spending time with family, Christmas shopping, going back to GSU for Saturday's football game and spending time with my Sweetie, I haven't had one free moment to post anything here. I'll try to do better. Besides, it's not like you are paying to read this stuff...

More California Liberal Public School Bullsh....

As I think about the Thanksgiving holiday, and all the blessings in my life that I am thankful for (and SO don't deserve), I realize how fortunate I am to be a native Southerner. I am so proud to call Georgia my home. I believe I could make do just about anywhere, but I'd never be as happy as I am at home in Dixie.

Perhaps the place I would be most unhappy, the most heart-sick, the saddest of all, would be the San Francisco Bay area of California. Honestly, I do not believe I could handle the ultra-liberal, anti-religious, morally bankrupt mentality of so many of the people in that area. Here's an example, and it's an example that has me seething with anger as I type this.

A fifth-grade teacher at Stevens Creek School in Cupertino, California, has been banned from using the Declaration of Independence in his classroom because it references God. There's more. Also banned from the lesson plans are: George Washington's journal, John Adams' diary, Samuel Adams' "The Rights of the Colonists" and William Penn's "The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania."

The teacher has filed a lawsuit (read it here) in U.S. District Court. Don't expect a judgement in the teacher's favor anytime soon. This is the same part of California in which an appeals court declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because it has a reference to God. The knothead principal of the school, Patricia Vidmar, should be releived of her duties for such actions.

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most significant documents in this nation's history, perhaps second only to the Constitution. (If you haven't read the Declaration lately, or ever, please give yourself a refresher here.) The Declaration spells out the reasons the colonists were declaring independence from the government of Great Britain. It presents their theory of good government and individual rights. It lists grievances against King George III, and finally it asserts the sovereignty of the United States of America.

What does Patricia Vidmar find so objectionable in the Declaration? Apparently, lines like this (emphasis added by me)...

"WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation...

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

How did it come to the point where liberals hate the idea of religion so much that they will prohibit the study of such a great document?

A scary question: What's next?

Here's The Problem

President Bush nominates Condoleezza Rice to replace Colin Powell as Secretary of State. She's the first African-American female to ever be nominated for so high a position. Any reasonable person would think this nomination would go over well among the nation's women. It's another sign of female success and achievement. It should be celebrated, right?

Apparently not by the Lefties.

The staunchly liberal National Organization of Women (NOW) refuses to even acknowledge the nomination on their web site. Political cartoonists have been creating insulting, demeaning and racist cartoons aimed at Rice. Long, long, long-time reporter and columnist Helen Thomas has given, perhaps, the most vitriolic response to the Rice nomination. So much for the fairness and lack-of-bias of the mainstream media. Here's the report on that from Newsmax. (Warning: Graphic language!)

President Bush's decision to nominate Condoleezza Rice received widespread praise from both Democrats and Republicans.

But longtime White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas, now a syndicated columnist with Hearst, had nothing but contempt for Rice's nomination. The feisty 84-year-old reporter who started at the White House during the Kennedy administration had some unkind words to describe Bush and Condi.

NewsMax bumped into Thomas in the lobby of New York's Waldorf-Astoria as she waited for a lunch date.

Asked about the election result, the sharp-tongued reporter simply put her hand on her face and said, "My God, the man is a fascist -- a fascist, I tell you."

She warned that Bush's victory will mean one thing: more war. She expects Iran to be next.

But surely Thomas, a female reporter who succeeded decades ago in a "man's world," had some empathy about Condi's appointment.

As we suggested the notion, a look of horror came over Thomas' face.

"I tell you, the women is a monster, a monster, a monster," she kept saying.

Asked why she was so angry with Condi, Thomas explained that the national security adviser had lied about the Iraq war and "thousands had died."

Thomas, to her credit, has asked tough questions of both Democrat and Republican presidents during her long tenure in the White House press corps, but some of her anger seemed more personal.

For decades, Thomas held the privileged front-row seat in the pressroom and usually got to ask the first question. Now she says she is back in the last row and "Bush is afraid to take my questions."

Fair enough, but the venom for Condi?

When NewsMax referred to some of Condi's positive achievements, Thomas kept interjecting "monster" to describe her. "The lady is a g-dd--n liar," Thomas said, adding that such prevaricators were commonplace in the Bush White House.

Nor was Thomas impressed that Condi, an African-American woman, had risen from segregated Alabama to become the most powerful woman in the nation.

Thomas rejected that, too, claiming that Condi's family had opposed Dr. Martin Luther King and that she and her folks had not supported the civil rights movement. In fact, Thomas then made the bizarre claim that Condi's family wouldn't even patronize black-owned stores.

Thomas had little substantiation for any of these allegations.

Nor for some very vague allegations about the Bush family, which she said would "stop at nothing" to deal with its enemies.

This old bag is an 84-year-old has been, who does nothing but spit venom toward all things non-liberal. Yet she's a perfect example of the problem with politics in America. Instead of celebrating the advancement of a minority woman to the highest reaches of government, the Left still spews hate.

They can't see, or maybe just can't accept, that they are out of step with most Americans.

Georgia Southern In Playoffs, On National TV

My Georgia Southern Eagles play their first round game in the I-AA playoffs against New Hampshire on Saturday at 6pm. That game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 from Paulson Stadium in Statesboro. Yeah, it's okay to finish watching the Georgia - Georgia Tech game, then flip over.





Photos courtesy GeorgiaSouthernFootball.com.

Fun Drive On That!

Interesting shots of the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge & Tunnel crossing the James River near Norfolk, Virginia. Reminds me of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which does this underwater plunge twice.



Photos courtesy of Roads To The Future page for Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel.

Who's Who In Public Education

Richard Bugbee is listed in the new issue of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, honoring him "as one of the nation's most respected teachers." Problem is, Bugbee is no longer teaching. The former Essex (Vermont) High school teacher is now sitting in prison, having pled guilty in August to having sex with one of his students, starting when she was 13 years old. Oops...

Goodbye Zell

Senator Zell Miller gave a farewell address on the floor of the Senate yesterday, and he again paid tribute to the man whose death put him in the senate, Paul Coverdell. He said he hoped Coverdell would be proud of the way he stepped in and tried to fill Coverdell's shoes. Miller's praises were sung by four Republican Senators: Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Sen. Jeff Sessions from Alabama, and Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana. Showing their usual amount of class, Senate Democrats refused to even acknowledge Miller's presence.

Here are the entire comments, courtesy of Senator Miller's web site.

Mr. President. I have listened with a grateful heart the generous words of my colleagues, the Senators from Kentucky and Alabama, and earlier this morning the Senator from Georgia.

And I will remember and cherish those words as long as I am on this earth. I thank each of them for their friendship. I see my good friend from Montana on the floor. I thank him, a fellow Marine, for his friendship. This means more to me than I have words to express.

I did not come to this Senate expecting events to unfold quite like they have. I guess I'm living proof that politics is not an exact science.

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, his friend Laertes is going off to college and his father Polonius is giving him some usual advice that you give when your sons go off to college.

After all the words of caution that I hope fathers still give their sons, Polonius ended with these words,

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, thou cans't not be false with any man." I've always believed that and I've tried to live that.

I have had a most blessed life - personal and political. Since 1959 voters in Georgia have been putting me in one office or another. And I am deeply grateful to them.

God has richly blessed my personal life - my wife, Shirley, has been the perfect partner for over 50 years. She has been my companion, my critic, my crutch. We have two wonderful sons, Murphy and Matthew, and our daughters-in-law, and our grandchildren and our great grandchildren. We are very, very blessed.

If he had lived, Paul Coverdell would be ending his second six year term. As I told some of my colleagues last night, not a day has gone by since I've been here that I have not thought of this good man who left us so suddenly and so tragically.

My most fervent hope during these four and a half years has been that Paul would be pleased with the way that I have served and finished out his term.

I know that Paul is pleased - as I am - that our mutual friend Johnny Isakson, one of the finest public servants I've ever known, will soon be our successor in this great body.

I also want to say what an honor it has been to serve the last two years with my colleague from Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss.

So now, as this page turns on the final chapter of my career as a public servant, I cannot help but remember how it was in that first chapter of my life.

Growing up in a remote Appalachian valley we lived in a house made of rocks my mother gathered from a nearby creek with only an open fire place for heat, no indoor plumbing, no car, no phone, no father.

On summer nights before the TVA dammed up the Hiawassee River and brought electricity to that Appalachian valley, after the moon had come up over the mountain and the lighting bugs were blinking, while the frogs croaked down at the creek, and the katydids sang, and every once in a while a whippoorwill's lonesome cry could be heard.

I remember after my mother had finally quit working and was getting us quiet and ready to go to bed, I remember we'd play a game.

The game would start when the headlights of that rare car would penetrate the darkness, maybe once every half-hour or so, on that narrow strip of asphalt across a big ditch in front of our house.

We'd stare as the headlights of the car as it made its way around the steep curves and finally over Brasstown Mountain.

We'd count and we'd see how long it took from the time it went by our house until its taillights just disappeared through that distant gap and it was no longer a part of the one and only world I knew.

It was often at this time my mother would laugh and she'd say, "You know what's so great about this place? You can get anywhere in the world from here."

That world has turned many times since I first traveled that narrow road through that gap and out of that valley. It has been a long road with many twists and turns, ups and downs, bumps and yes a few wrecks.

A road that twice carried me to the highest office of the ninth largest state in this nation, to all the continents and famous cities of the world and finally to the United States Senate.

And so I leave this Senate knowing that once again my mother has been proved right. One could get anywhere in the world from that little mountain valley - and back again. Everywhere I've ever been really was on my way back home.

I thank all of you. I thank my family, my very, very special staff who has stayed with me through thick and thin, I thank my friends, and especially my God - it has been one heck of a ride.

Thank you Mr. President.

Again, Zell makes us proud that he comes from Georgia.

What Can I Say... I Am A Guy

Especially for James, Jeff and Jason. I link you to the G.O.P. Babe Of The Week site. Beauty and brians... hmm.

You Know You're A Liberal If...

Blogger Carol Gargaro posted this fantastic list, part of which is below. See if anyone you know fits the bill...

You Know You're A Liberal If...

• If you think the answer to ANY crime, infraction, or injustice is counseling.
• If you think burning the United States flag should be Constitutionally protected but burning a cross should be outlawed.
• If you can actually believe everyone around Bill Clinton was lying, but Bill Clinton himself was telling the truth.
• If you think that the American Dream could have only been accomplished in the '60s.
• If you believe that the "700 Club" are a group of fakes or actors but the people on "The Jerry Springer" show are real people.
• If Sean Hannity makes no sense and Alan Colmes makes perfect sense.

... and the list goes on.

Dems In Therapy Over Loss

I might have taken a couple of weeks off from the political discussion, but the nuttiness went on without me. I read today where many Democratic voters are seeking psychiatric help in the wake of their party's tremendous losses on election day. Shrinks are diagnosing these poor unfortunates as suffering from "Post Election Selection Trauma," or PEST. They still can't accept the fact that they were on the losing end again. Rush Limbaugh went so far as to offer therapy via radio for these voters. Of course that really got the libs spinning on their eyebrows.

This is so incredibly typical of the way the left sees things. Can't you just hear them? "We didn't get the results we wanted, and we're traumatized!" Next thing you know they'll be asking for government to pay for their therapy sessions. After all, it was Bush and his Bushies that caused their mental imbalance. He should have to pay to fix them. There's nothing wrong with them that a torque wrench and a little shock therapy wouldn't cure.

Democrats in post-election therapy... reminds me of a great line from M*A*S*H's Frank Burns, "Anyone who needs psychiatry is sick in the head."

It's Condi

Word has barely circulated that Colin Powell is resigning as Secretary of State and Condoleeza Rice is already named as his successor. And a fantastic choice she is. Dr. Rice is one of the mation's premier experts on international matters. She will be an outstanding successor to Powell.

Stupid Lawsuits

A Pennsylvania woman is suing Norfolk Southern Railway because of minor injuries she received when she was clipped by a freight train while walking along the tracks. Her claim is based on the fact that no signs were posted warning that walking along the tracks might be dangerous. Doh! Her injuries? A broken finger and some cuts to her hand.

A Georgia couple who paid over $16,000 for a spray-on siding product for their house were dissatisfied with the results. So they created a web site to share their disappointment and to provide a forum for other unsatisfied customers to complain about the product. Apparently the folks who make the product are none too happy, and have filed a lawsuit to challenge the homeowners' rights to complain on their web site.

Frivolous lawsuits aren't limited to the United States. The McDonald's restaurant chain is being sued in Russia after a woman... you ready for this?... spilled hot coffee on herself. I wonder if Russia has a "loser pays" legal system.

Looking For A Career Change?

The Ten Most Dangerous Jobs In The World

The following list comes from Askmen.com

10. Bodyguard
When you are paid to serve as a human shield for a president, rock star or businessman, you know you have to say "I love you" to everyone every time you walk out the door. Kevin Costner was the most recent man to glamorize the profession, but there is no "bull" (bad pun) about it, "bodyguard" makes the list.

9. Coast Guard Search & Rescue
Few men and women put their lives on the line day in and day out like the Coast Guard. Even less do so for such unselfish purposes, as these workers help others who are in desperate need of assistance, making it all the more noble and virtuous.

8. Bomb Squad
Can you say kamikaze? How many professions do you know that come close to this one in terms of facing risk and danger head-on? I always wondered what the failure rate is for bomb squad school.

7. Armored Car Guard
I was walking down the street once, enjoying a nice summer evening when I heard, "Stop, stand back!" I looked straight ahead and realized that I was staring down the barrel of gun. Puzzled (more like tipsy...), I asked "what did I do?" Lo and behold, the bank guards were loading cash into the ATM, and they had full discretion to blow my head clean off...

6. Policeman
The men in blue: policemen. Often chastised, vilified, criticized... sometimes justifiably, sometimes unfairly. Regardless, most times, a policeman is a sign of peace, calm and reassurance. These men and women have some of the most stress-packed jobs in the world.

5. Firefighter
Whether you're fighting a fire in the forest, killing the flames in a residential area or running into a burning house to save children and animals, there is a reason why women fancy firefighters; they're peaceful and help everyone despite all odds.

4. Miner
American society has shifted from industrial to more service-oriented, so "miner" is less mentioned in such lists. But this does not change anything, as this is one profession that leaves health concerns down the road and takes lives when accidents happen.
3. Truck Driver
Truck drivers are special individuals who live on the road and travel non-stop in their mission to deliver goods worldwide. They have always faced tough road conditions, reckless drivers and sleepless nights, which can all lead to tragic circumstances.

2. Logger
Logging is dangerous year-round, but seasonal danger peaks in late summer and fall as most deaths occur in July, September and October. Many would rank this profession higher, as logging has been a perennial choice in top danger lists.

1. Alaskan Crab Fisherman
Ever wonder why crab is so expensive? Yes, the fact that the meat is rare is one factor, but another important and lesser-known fact is that the men and women who risk their lives fishing the crab in ice-cold waters face the highest on-the-job mortality rate. It's true, it's true.

New Interstates Wanted For Georgia, Southeast

With all the political rhetoric the last few months, this seems to have been somewhat under-reported. Elected officials across the Southeast are pushing for the construction of new Interstate highways, and some of the biggest proposals would have huge effects of Georgia.

Interstate 14
This route might have the greatest likelihood of actually being constructed. Connecting Natchez, Mississippi with Augusta, Georgia, the route would pass through the southern parts of Alabama and Mississippi, entering Georgia at Columbus, and passing just south of Macon on it's way to Augusta. Rep. Max Burns from Georgia, supported by nearly a dozen other Representatives from the three states, introduced House Resolution 4925, authorizing the construction. Companion legislation was intorduced in the Senate by Georgia Senators Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss. The route is referred to as the "14th Amendment Highway", in honor of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which provides for equal rights to all persons in the United States. It also has strong support from Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott.

Interstate 3
Proposed in the same legislation as Interstate 14, this route would connect Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee by way of Augusta and Toccoa, Georgia, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. It's route number, which doesn't fit into the Interstate Highway numbering scheme, is in honor of Fort Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division. The highway would connect Fort Gordon, Eisenhower Army Regional Medical Center, the Augusta Veterans Administration Hospitals, Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield and the Port of Savannah. The route through the mountains of North Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee would be very contentious, and could be the main sticking point in the approval process.

There has also been talk of an extension of Interstate 16 from Macon to Columbus, as part of a National Highway System High Priority Corridor. That seems unlikely, given the construction of the Fall Line Freeway, which is nearly complete between I-75 (at Byron) and Columbus.

It'll be interesting to see if these routes ever actually get built...

Whassat?

Timing is everything... the Associated Press has a story with this headline: Pilot Ejects After Fighter Plane Crashes North of Nellis AFB in Nevada.

A Little Rational Thought... For A Change

The Harrison County, West Virginia School Board has overruled the principal of a local high school over his punishment of a student who brought a BB gun to school. The student brought the gun to school to sell it to another student. The principal and teachers at the school wanted the student expelled for possession of a "deadly weapon."

To their credit, the school board actually spent time thinking rationally about the incident before passing judgement, and ruled that the lives of the school faculty weren't in danger. The student was suspended for 10 days and also received in-school suspension.

How Did I Miss This?

A Washington state school district cancelled its annual Halloween celebration out of fear that it would be offensive to witches. I kid you not...

Wedding Stuff

I'm not sure how anyone who has a full-time job can plan an all-out, full-scale wedding in less than a year. I see what my Sweetie is going through, and it's amazing how much she and her mom and friends are doing. It seems the is always something that needs to be ordered, reserved, bought or fitted. I can't wait for June to see how it all comes together! One thing we did finalize last week was the honeymoon. We're doing Jamaica! It's a Sandals Resort getaway. Everything we've heard about them sounds awesome, and since it's all-inclusive, it seems like the perfect way to go. Of couse, now we won't be buying a house until we retire.... :)

Fun Stuff

You'll see a link on the left side of this page to something called Geocaching. This is a fantastic activity made possible by the Internet and the affordable GPS receiver (available for under $100). Basically it's like a treasure hunt, using clues from the Geocaching web site and a GPS receiver to locate a container (the cache) or location. In that container you'll find a logbook, which you can sign and leave a short note, and miscellaneous trinkets. You can add to the collection, or swap one for another if you'd like. Here's an example of what a cache and its contents could look like.



There are many caches which don't have conatiners. Instead there's a task to perform, information to gather or a picture to take to receive credit for "finding" the cache.

Unlike traditional treasure hunting, the fun with geocaching is in the hunt, not necessarily the find. There are millions of people across the country placing and hunting for caches. In fact, as of 9:30 this morning, there are 1,109 caches within 100 miles of my home, according to the web site. This seems to be an activity with worldwide appeal, with caches being placed in over 200 countries. It's really a fantastic activity for families with small children, as it provides an activity for everyone to get involved in, and it gives the children an experience of discovery. It also gives them hands-on problem solving in a truly fun way. You might not always need the GPS receiver to a cache, but it's still handy.

Sure it's a bit geeky. Who cares?

Along these same lines, Geosnapper.com is a web site where folks with digital cameras and GPS receivers can upload pictures of unique or famous places, along with their GPS coordinates.

Did you ever wonder where that dollar bill in your hand has been? Ever thought about where it might wind up after you spend it? If so, WheresGeorge.com is for you. This is the United States' only dollar bill tracker. It's quite simple. You log the serial numbers of your dollar bills on the web site, and print or stamp a small note on the bill telling other people to do the same thing. Through the web site, you can see where those bills wind up. A one dollar bill that I entered on May 15, 2001 here in Middle Georgia has been to: a Home Depot in Lilburn, Georgia; a Minute Market in Jacksonville, Florida; and was received in change by woman eating lunch with her son and husband at a Don Pablos restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May last year. Don't believe me? Check out this page.

If you decide to try any of these, let me know what you think.

Change Of Pace

I started this post intending to tear apart an Op/Ed piece in today's New York Times by Paul Krugman titled "No Surrender". It's yours to read if you'd like; it is just typical Democratic propaganda. But I'm so tired of all things political that I have no desire to get into it. That's why I didn't post a thing yesterday.

Now I want to post, but I want to avoid the political arena for a while. So look for a change of pace over for the next few days...

Give Them Space

This is obviously a tough time for the Democrats, and we have to expect that there will be some bitterness and hard-feelings from their side. After all, how could they have possibly expected these election results? They had celebrities and singers, foreign billionaires and documentary film-makers, comedians and newscasters in their corner. How do you go wrong with that crowd?

Maybe with time their anger will subside. Maybe they will even open their eyes and realize that their opinions actually don't mean anything more than ours. We can only hope. For right now, though, we must let them have time to heal.

Of course, just because they're down and depressed doesn't mean we should ignore them. Let's keep an eye on them. In fact, let's see just what they're saying here in the hours after Kerry's concession speech.

The Village Voice, in an article titled "The Dream Is Lost", has these comments:

"The dream has become a nightmare. Not only did George Bush win, but he captured the presidency by a margin of what now looks like 4 million votes. That's a clear mandate and a big green light for the right wing to push ahead with an ideological program.

"The dream of a secular, liberal democracy is lost: Christians are stronger than ever...

"Abroad, the United States can only continue to lose standing as Bush presses his military agenda. European alliances will continue to wither and more and more people around the world will start seeing America as an empire in decline."

Robert Borosage, writing at TomPaine.com, says:

"Some argue that the strength of the president’s evangelical base suggests America is headed toward a new era of prohibition and moral reaction. But John Kerry was the most secular of candidates. He championed science against the forces of moral reaction. He stood clearly for liberal social issues from civil unions to women’s right to choose. He was a liberal senator from Massachusetts, as the president delighted in repeating. Kerry’s campaign may mark the beginning of a reaction not by the right—but by the center and left against the forces of intolerance."

Techno-pop singer Moby, writing in his online journal:

"Can someone remind me why secession is not an option at this point?... one other option would be for us to all join the republican party en masse and make it socially liberal and fiscally conservative(as opposed to it's current 'socially puritanical/fiscally insane' status)."

The kind folks at DemocraticUnderground.com have restricted access to their discussion boards to registered members only. They do this every time the discussions get too heated (hate-filled?).

We'll check in with others later...

Time To Move Ahead

The election is finally over and the American people have spoken. With a loud and clear voice we have chosen President Bush as the leader we want in charge of our nation. Those of us on the Right need not and should not gloat. This race has been bitter and dirty, and in no way one sided. This nation is seriously divided along party lines. And there are some points we should keep in mind as we move ahead.






Look at the maps above. The red states in the top map are states won by the President; the blue states belong to Kerry. The second map breaks down yesterday's election results to the county level. Look at the number of counties won by the President. This map must be perticularly disturbing to the Democrats.

What is typically referred to as the "fly-over" section of the country belongs to the Republican Party. It's incredible. Except for the liberal bastions on the West Coast and in New England, and very low-income/high-minority counties in the Deep South and along the Mexican border, the vast majority of the country falls Republican. The Democratic Party, and it stands now, is looking less and less like a national party. Zell Miller pointed it out, and these maps agree: the Democrats are losing America.

As of now, President Bush has received 59,019,598 votes, which is about 3,540,000 more than Kerry. That's 8 million more than Al Gore received in 2000, and 11.6 million more than President Clinton got in 1996 (his highest total). He's also the first Presidential candidate to receive a majority of the popular vote since his father got 53% in 1988. That sounds like a mandate.

Now, we move forward.

Such A Peaceful Religion

Here we have more proof of what a peaceful, compassionate religion Islam is...

A Dutch filmmaker has been murdered by an Arab after releasing a film critical of the treatment women receive under Islamic rule. It's the second high-profile killing of a Dutch citizen critical of Islam. In 2002, a Dutch politician was shot to death just days before national elections, after making comments critical of Muslins and pushing for tighter immigration laws.

Vote Tomorrow; Other Stuff For Today

If you haven't taken advantage of early voting, go vote tomorrow. A lot of men and women have died so that we have the right to choose our own leaders. Don't let their sacrifices go to waste. Vote. 'Nuff said.

Other stuff...

Abandoned Middle Georgia Missile Bases
I have family from Twiggs County, Georgia. At one time, the Air Force had a nuclear missile base there, only about five miles from where my Mom grew up. The missiles were Nike Hercules rockets, with nuclear warheads, designed to take out entire squadrons of bombers. Here is a fantastic page about the base in Twiggs County and another in Peach County, containing pictures, maps, etc. from the bases. Many people living around these abandoned bases have no idea what actually went on there.

Georgia Haunt Hunt Team
In the spirit of Halloween (yeah, I know it was yesterday!), here's a group of science-based paranormal investigators. Lots of fun info about haunts around Georgia. Also, here are links to ghost hunters all across the country.

Leonard's Losers
Leonard and his Smart Pill Machine's powerful prognostication abilities provide a sneak preview of the weekend's biggest college and NFL games as only they can. You can even find them on your radio in some necks of the woods.

The Political Graveyard
Someone with a bit too much time on their hands has created a database of where dead politicians are buried. You know you wanna peek...

Georgia Sample Ballot

Here's a sample ballot for state-wide and national races in Tuesday's election, and the Bibb County sample ballot is here.

Early Voting Lines

All week, early voting has been taking place across Georgia. Here in Bibb County, lines have run as long as two hours. In Atlanta today, the wait was more than four hours. Call me naive, but I just don't get it. Predictions are for a 72% turnout on election day. Four years ago, the turnout for the Presidential election in Georgia was 70%. Here in Bibb County, that two percent different doesn't amount to much. That year, I only waited about five minutes to vote. Granted, I always go vote in the morning prior to work. Tuesday morning should be interesting. We'll see how it goes. A co-worker and I have a friendly wager on whether I can vote first thing and still be in the office by 8am. Lunch is riding on it, and I feel really good about my chances. We shall see...

Good News For Delta

Have to say congratulations to all the good people at Delta Airlines, especially my friend Scott. If you haven't heard, the pilots union agreed to a wage cut and concession package that could help to keep the airline from filing for bankruptcy. That's good news to the remainder of Delta's employees, who had been waiting to see if the pilots union would work to help save the airline or help kill it like they did Eastern Airlines so long ago.

(The unions didn't actually destroy Eastern, although they helped. If there was any single source of blame for the final ruin of the airline, that would be Frank Lorenzo. Look it up...)

Any Doubts About CBS's Liberal Bias? Hmm?

If you had any doubts about the rampant, blinding liberal bias in control at CBS News, this should pretty much settle the issue.

By now you've heard the reports about the 380 tons of explosives missing from the arms depot in Iraq. The story actually was first published and broadcast almost 18 months ago. The New York Times recycled the story and chose to print it yesterday morning as a kind of "October surprise" aimed at hurting President Bush just days before the election. Thankfully, NBC News had enough journalistic integrity to come forward and say that the weapons were missing when US troops first arrived at the depot on April 10, 2003. They knew this because they had a journalist embedded with those troops.

The missing explosives weren't breaking news as I said, although the NY Times tried to make it seem so. The story came back around because someone, apparently inside the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency, has pushed the story to the media again. The last time the weapons were known to be in the bunkers at the depot was nearly four months before the American troops arrived at the complex. They were officially declared missing a matter of days after the troops left, after they reported significantly fewer explosives than expected. So either 380 tons of explosives, needing more than 100 vehicles and dozens of men to move, either disappeared in the four months prior to the American troops' visit, or did so UNNOTICED in the days following. Common sense, coupled with the facts, tells us it had to be the former.

The NY Times chose to run the story ASAP, without vetting it out. Once refuted, they look extremely partisan. It looks worse for CBS now, though.

According to Drudge, CBS planned to hold the story until election night eve. This would allow for maximum possible effect with zero opportunity for the facts to be examined. Let me repeat that. Instead of reporting this so-called story as soon as possible (like the NY Times), CBS News was planning to sit on the story until Monday night, then hit the President with the charges when he would have no opportunity to respond. What the Ney York Times did was reprehensible, but CBS goes beyond that. The news division of CBS was blatantly, unquestionably, unashamedly trying to sabotage the Bush campaign on the eve of the election. More than reprehensible, that should be criminal.

What's Really Going On In Iraq

The mainstream media doesn't see fit to report all the positive stories coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Remember, bad news is bad for President Bush and good news is good for Bush. Hence you only see bad news on the network newscasts, CNN, MSNBC, and many major newspapers and newswires. The truth is, the good things going on there far, far outwiegh the bad.

Blogger Arthur Chrenkoff reports regularly on all the good news coming out of this part of the world. His blog is fantastic, so I've added a link to it over on the right. I encourage all of you to check it out, and here's the perfect intorduction for you. Read it, then go back and read the previous entries and see what we haven't been hearing about from CNN, Rather, Reuters and the AP.

Poll Numbers

With eight days left until the General Election, let's look at some of the most current poll numbers. The latest Zogby Poll of 1207 likely voters has President Bush leading Kerry 48% to 45%. The current TIPP poll shows Busj up by 6 points, Time Magazine puts Bush up by 5 points, and Fox News puts the President up by seven. The most recent ABC News/Washinton Post poll only gives the President a 1 point lead. The web site RealClearPolitics.com average the seven primary polls, showing the President with an average 3 point lead over Senator Kerry.

Looking at just Georgia numbers, President Bush is kicking butt and taking names. In the current SurveyUSA poll of Georgia likely voters, the President holds a 57% to 40% lead. The Zogby/AJC poll shows a 10 point lead for the President, while the latest Strategic Vision poll shows Bush up by 21 points (58% to 37%). Strategic Vision is a polling corporation that assists Republican candidates.

In the race to succeed Zell Miller in the U.S. Senate from Georgia, Republican Johnny Isakson has a commanding lead over his democratic challenger Denise Majette. The latest Zogby/AJC poll puts Isakson up by 18 points. The Survey USA poll gives him an 16 point advantage, while Strategic Vision has him up by 15. All those polls show between 6% and 10% undecided.

The Georgia 3rd District Congressional race isn't very tight, according to the latest Mellman poll. That poll, taken in early October, gives incumbant Jim Marshall a huge lead (53% to 24%) over his Republican challenger Calder Clay. The poll was done by the Mellman Group, which works for Democratic candidates.

In other races around the country...

In North Carolina, the race to succeed Senator John Edwards seems to be going the Republican way. Republican Richard Burr holds a slight five point lead in the latest Rasmussen poll over Democrat Erskine Bowles. During the summer, most polls showed Bowles with a double-digit lead. In the fall, Burr's advertising campaign highlighted Bowles' working relationship with former President Bill Clinton.

In South Dakota, Senator Tom Daschle seems in jeopardy of losing his seat to Republican challenger John Thune. This race has gone back and forth, with both candidates leading in various polls at various times. Currently, Rasmussen calls it a tie. The latest Zogby poll gave Daschle a thin 2 point lead.

In Illinois, Barack Obama holds a commanding lead over challenger Alan Keytes for that state's open U.S. Senate seat. The Chicago Tribune/WGN has Obama up 66% to 19%, and Rasmussen Poll puts Obama up 68% to 23%.

In South Carolina, Republican Jim DeMint is holding a small lead over Democrat Inez Tenenbaum in the race to succeed retiring senator Fritz Hollings. The Rasmussen poll gives DeMint a slight six point lead.

In Florida, President Bush and Senator Kerry are neck and neck in virtually all the polls. RealClearPolitics.com averages the main polls, and gives the President only about a one point advantage. Virtually the same cn be said about Ohio and Minnesota.

More Bad Press For Macon

As if there weren't enough negative press coming out of Macon, this story came out late last week... Teacher Katrina Ann Rucker, 30, is charged with battery and cruelty to children for allegedly beating a parent who tried to retrieve her daughter's book bag.

A Presidential Speech

Guess which President delivered the speech these quotes are taken from, and guess what other philosophy he was refering to...

Each period of our national history has had its special challenges. Those that confront us now are as momentous as any in the past... It may be our lot to experience, and in a large measure bring about, a major turning point in the long history of the human race.

The peoples of the earth face the future with grave uncertainty, composed almost equally of great hopes and great fears. In this time of doubt, they look to the United States as never before for good will, strength, and wise leadership.

It is fitting, therefore, that we take this occasion to proclaim to the world the essential principles of the faith by which we live, and to declare our aims to all peoples.

The American people stand firm in the faith which has inspired this Nation from the beginning. We believe that all men have a right to equal justice under law and equal opportunity to share in the common good. We believe that all men have a right to freedom of thought and expression. We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God.

From this faith we will not be moved.

The American people desire, and are determined to work for, a world in which all nations and all peoples are free to govern themselves as they see fit, and to achieve a decent and satisfying life.

In the pursuit of these aims, the United States and other like-minded nations find themselves directly opposed by a regime with contrary aims and a totally different concept of life.

That regime adheres to a false philosophy which purports to offer freedom, security, and greater opportunity to mankind. Misled by that philosophy, many peoples have sacrificed their liberties only to learn to their sorrow that deceit and mockery, poverty and tyranny, are their reward.

[That philosophy] is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice.

[That philosophy] subjects the individual to arrest without lawful cause, punishment without trial, and forced labor as the chattel of the state. It decrees what information he shall receive, what art he shall produce, what leaders he shall follow, and what thoughts he shall think.

Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights of the individual and his freedom in the exercise of those abilities of his.

[That philosophy] maintains that social wrongs can be corrected only by violence.

Democracy has proved that social justice can be achieved through peaceful change.

[That philosophy] holds that the world is so widely divided into opposing classes that war is inevitable.

Democracy holds that free nations can settle differences justly and maintain a lasting peace.

I state these differences, not to draw issues of belief as such, but because the actions resulting from the [That philosophy] philosophy are a threat to the efforts of free nations to bring about world recovery and lasting peace.

We have consistently advocated and relied upon peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.

We have encouraged, by precept and example, the expansion of world trade on a sound and fair basis.

Our efforts have brought new hope to all mankind. We have beaten back despair and defeatism. We have saved a number of countries from losing their liberty.

We are moving on with other nations to build an even stronger structure of international order and justice. We shall have as our partners countries which, no longer solely concerned with the problem of national survival, are now working to improve the standards of living of all their people. We are ready to undertake new projects to strengthen a free world.

In addition, we must carry out our plans for reducing the barriers to world trade and increasing its volume. Economic recovery and peace itself depend on increased world trade.

We will strengthen freedom-loving nations against the dangers of aggression.

Democracy alone can supply the vitalizing force to stir the peoples of the world into triumphant action, not
only against their human oppressors, but also against their ancient enemies--hunger, misery, and despair.

If we are to be successful in carrying out these policies, it is clear that we must have continued prosperity in this country and we must keep ourselves strong.

Slowly but surely we are weaving a world fabric of international security and growing prosperity.

We are aided by all who wish to live in freedom from fear--even by those who live today in fear under their own governments.

We are aided by all who want relief from lies and propaganda--those who desire truth and sincerity.

We are aided by all who desire self-government and a voice in deciding their own affairs.

We are aided by all who long for economic security--for the security and abundance that men in free societies can enjoy.

We are aided by all who desire freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to live their own lives for useful ends.

Our allies are the millions who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

In due time, as our stability becomes manifest, as more and more nations come to know the benefits of democracy and to participate in growing abundance, I believe that those countries which now oppose us will abandon their delusions and join with the free nations of the world in a just settlement of international differences.

Events have brought our American democracy to new influence and new responsibilities. They will test our courage, our devotion to duty, and our concept of liberty.

But I say to all men, what we have achieved in liberty, we will surpass in greater liberty.

Steadfast in our faith in the Almighty, we will advance toward a world where man's freedom is secure.

To that end we will devote our strength, our resources, and our firmness of resolve. With God's help, the future of mankind will be assured in a world of justice, harmony, and peace.

These quotes are merely part ofthe entire speech. The philosophy alluded to sounds a lot like Islamic extremism, doesn't it? The speech sounds like it could have been delivered yesterday. But, it was actually delivered on January 20, 1949 by President Harry S. Truman. It was his inaugural address. That "philosophy" he mentioned over and over... communism.

Truman was a Democrat, but can you imagine a Democrat delivering that kind of speech today?

Incidentally, the word "freedom" was used in this speech 13 times. The word "liberty" was used 4 times. "Faith" is mentioned 4 times, "God" is named 3 times, and referenced again as "the Almighty." I challenge anyone to show me a speech from a Democratic President or presidential candidate from the past 20 years that includes such references.

Democrats For Bush

ABC News' political journal The Note (on August 11, 2004) stated, "we still can't find a single American who voted for Al Gore in 2000 who is planning to vote for George Bush in 2004. " Now with just 11 days remaining until the Presidential election, and because The Note never followed up on this, allow me to present some Democrats who voted for Gore in 2000 who support President Bush this time around.

Senator Zell Miller - This Georgia Democrat is perhaps the best known non-Republican supporter of President Bush. As he states in his book A National Part No More: The Conscience Of A Conservative Democrat, Miller trusts President Bush with the security of this nation and his family above any of hte Democratic leaders. Zell says the national Democrats have been taken down a road to ultra-liberalism, and it goes against the traditional principles of the Democratic Party he grew up in.

Ed Koch - The former mayor of New York City says, "I intend to vote in 2004 to reelect President Bush... The Democrats have decided that in order to get their party's nomination, they must pander to its radical left wing. As a result, the Democratic candidates, even those who voted to authorize the war in Iraq, have attacked the Bush administration for its successful effort to remove a regime that was a sponsor of terrorism and a threat to world peace.

Randy Kelly - The mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota says, "With just over 90 days left before the election I feel extremely confident that the message, priorities, and policies of President George W. Bush will better serve America and the people of Minnesota over the next four years."

George M. McKelvey - Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio endorsed President Bush fopr re-election, calling him a "friend" and a "kind, caring, God-fearing man."

Many Democrats who will vote for President Bush have alligned on the Internet and prepared websites explaining their rationale. Check out the following:

Democrats For Bush/Cheney 04
Democrats4Bush
Democrats For Bush Blog

Sinclair Backs Off... Some

Now Sinclair Broadcasting has decided that only some of the anti-Kerry video "Stolen Honor" will air on their TV stations prior to the election. Seems liek they're beginning to realize that, should Kerry actually win and become president, he might put them in the crosshairs. Remember, on FoxNews last week a Kerry staffer said, "I think they're going to regret doing this and they better hope we don't win." Sounds like a threat to me.

Remember, free speech is only protected if it's pro-Lib free speech.

What Great Ideas

A restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas has created a "No Cell Phone " area in therestaurant for patrons who don't want to be subjected to others' phone calls. This on the heels of a story about universities, churches and theaters outside the U.S. using cell phone blockers. What a great trend. The only thing perhaps more annoying than cell phone users in restaurants, churches or theaters is smoking in public places. And no, we aren't going to get into that...

More Zero-Tolerance Idiocy.. This Time In New York

A senior at Pine Bush High School in Pine Bush, NY has been suspended and charged with a crime for having a Civil War replica muskey in the trunk of his car. Here's the kicker... the musket was part of a Civil War re-enactment taken part in by the Pine Bush High School Civil War Club. The school called the cops, and the boy was also handcuffed and arrested.

Once again a public school overreacts, choosing to respond stupidly and thoughtlessly, rather than using common sense. Any sensible, moderately intelligent principal would have investigated the situation before summarily passing judgement and (consequently) looking like a fool. You ask questions, determine that it's a replica for the school's own Civil War Club, and hold it until the end of the day. Then you return it to the student, instructing him to leave it at home. Of course, if it's part of the school's own club, isn't it likely there are more of these around school somewhere?

Ever Read Food Labels?

Check out the labels on the food in your pantry and lok at the suggested serving sizes. Food manufacturers have been tweaking the numbers to make the calorie count (and other info) more appealing. John Stossel of ABC News recently did a story on these manipulations, and it's really surprising.

For example, one blueberry muffin, individually wrapped, was shown as having 215 calories. If you looked a little closer, that muffin also contained three servings. On a jar of pickles, the suggested serving size was three-fourths of a pickle. Eat seventy-five percent, then throw the last quarter of it back in the jar?

This web site gives real information about food labels, and a clear understanding of what to look for and what to avoid. It explains, for example, the difference between "low calorie", "reduced calorie" and "lite".

WTF ?

A moose was found hanging, alive, by its antlers from a power line south of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Had To Be "Steel Magnolias"

Man says sad movie led him to burn down his home
Associated Press

CORDELE, Ga. - A sad movie and a night of heavy drinking led a south Georgia man to set his house on fire, the man told police.

Charles Alton Adams, 32, walked into the Crisp County Law Enforcement Center shortly after midnight Thursday and told deputies he had burned down his mobile home.

He said that after watching the movie, he drank nine or ten beers and decided to set fire to pillows on his bed. Adams did not tell authorities the name of the movie.

"I have asked that question myself," said Crisp County Sheriff Donnie Haralson. "The whole thing just doesn't really make sense."

Haralson said Adams has been charged with arson. He remained in the county jail Friday morning as family members attempted to raise money for his bond.

Haralson said the doublewide home was gutted by the fire.

LATE NOTE: Found out the movie was "The Day After Tomorrow."

A Step Backward For Macon

A judge this morning threw out the recall effort against Macon mayor C. Jack Ellis, when a judge ruled that recall supporters failed to provide enough evidence that the mayor had misappropriated money or violated the city code. This is a shame, and a step in the wrong sirection for the city. Since Ellis took office, the city has gone from a $20+ million surplus to a constant struggle to make ends meet. Mayoral incompetence at best, (alledgedly) criminal activity at worst.

The folks at RecallEllis.com say they will continue the cause, and well they should. This mayor has done nothing for this city except drive it to near solvency. Oh, and make it a laughing stock in the eye of surrounding counties.

Blacks "Cheered When 9/11 Happened" Says Rapper

This is sickening, but should be shared. Hard to believe we create idiots like this...

Rapper: Blacks 'cheered when 9-11 happened'

Knight Ridder Newspapers
Oct. 14, 2004 03:08 PM

If Osama bin Laden ever buys a rap album, he'll probably start with a CD by KRS-One.

The hip-hop anarchist has declared his solidarity with al-Qaida by asserting that he and other African-Americans "cheered when 9-11 happened," reports the New York Daily News.

The rapper, real name Kris Parker, defiled the memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks as he spouted off at a recent New Yorker Festival panel discussion.

"I say that proudly," the Boogie Down Productions founder went on, insisting that, before the attack, security guards kept Blacks out of the World Trade Center "because of the way we talk and dress.

"So when the planes hit the building, we were like, 'Mmmm - justice.' "

The atrocity of 9-11 "doesn't affect us the hip-hop community," he said. "9-11 happened to them, not us," he added, explaining that by "them" he meant "the rich ... those who are oppressing us. RCA or BMG, Universal, the radio stations."

Parker also sneered at efforts by other rappers to get young people to vote.

"Voting in a corrupt society adds more corruption," he added. "America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place."