Intemperate Thoughts And Musings For Monday Morning

The combat death of NFL star turned Army Ranger Pat Tillman should remind us of all the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror. Whether it be in Afghanistan, Iraq, or some other theater or battle, they are all heroes. They've shown courage and valor in situations that civilians like me and you can never understand or appreciate. Take time to remember the lives lost, and pray for those still in peril. And whenever possible, let them know that you're proud of them and you appreciate their work.
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Last Thursday was Earth Day. I find it interesting that the enviro-weenie holiday is celebrated on Lenin's Birthday? Or that the inaugural Earth Day, April 22, 1970, was Lenin's 100th birthday?

Presidential pretender John Kerry last week made a big deal about owning an American car, the Chrysler 300M. Funny, though, that Kerry speaks out loudly against outsourcing of jobs, yet brags about owning an American car whose production was outsourced to Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Sales of new homes soared to record levels last month, up 8.9%. Here in the South, they soared by over 19%. Why am I supposed to be afraid of the economy, Mr. Kerry? Huh?

What does it say about a nation's people when they won't fight to defend their own land against terrorists, and they speak out against the brave American troops who are providing their only defense? We get rid of an oppressive, murdering dictator. We help establish them a ruling goverment with free elections and human rights protections. We help bring income to the people of Iraq. We help supply them with reliable sources of electricty, water, education, food and health care. We risk our troops' lives to root out and capture the threats to the Iraqi civilians. Then we see pictures of Iraqis jumping on burned American humvees, or refusing to serve as Iraqi police or soldiers because they might have to fight or arrest fellow Iraqis. If we weren't fighting for something bigger and more important than this, I'd love to see us pack up and leave. Let the Iraqi people either learn to fight for themselves, or (more likely) be enslaved by some new oppressive, murdering dictator. They seem pretty content with that, as disgusting as that sounds...

The NASCAR fans of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. showed the world yesterday what classless redneck jerks so many of them are. Peppering the track with Budweiser beer cans and bottles after a NASCAR ruling went against their driver, they lived up to the stereotype (beer-swilling, tobacco-chewing, tooth-missing hillbillies) that the racing circuit has been working hard to get beyond. Worse yet, in post-race interviews Earnhardt never spoke out against his fans actions, which gives the appearance that he condones their actions. Maybe Budweiser will try to seperate itself from these jerks. Don't hold your breath.

This from Jay Leno last week... According to a poll by babynames.com, the most popular baby names right now are Aidan for boys, and Madison for girls. The least popular baby names: Osama and Omarosa.

Just Fun Stuff Today

No political diatribes or comentary on breaking news today. Instead, a pant-load of fun, quirky and off-beat links.

Atlanta's Best BBQ - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's food critic takes a look at the best barbecue in North Georgia. Did your favorite make the cut?

Tacky Living - How to do it right!

Down With Whitey - Fighting Whitey with afro-charged fists of fury.

Rock, Paper, Scissors - The official strategy guide, with pictures, downloadable posters, etc.

What is YOUR Shakespearian Tragic Flaw? All his main characters had one. What's yours?

Dr. Seuss Went To War - During World War II, Theodor Geisel ("Dr. Seuss") was the chief editorial cartoonist for a New York City newspaper. Very interesting cartoons, though today he'd be vilified for his representations of Germans and Japanese.

What Do Your Co-workers Call You Behind Your Back? - Go here to find out. Apparently, my secret nickname is "towel boy"

The Knot Gallery - From the bowline to the sheepshank, this page gives a wide variety of knots and explains how to easily tie them.

Online Auction Museum Of Weird And Zany Sales - Where do these people come from?

The FBI's Most Wanted - See if anyone you know is in demand.

Unusual X-Rays - Just what the name says.

More Zero Tolerance Insanity And Other Stuff

You all know how much I hate stupidity, especially this kind...

A middle school in Miami is locked down for three hours after police recieve a tip saying a person with a rifle just entered the building. Turns out the perp was a 13-year-old seventh-grader, and the rifle was actually a rubber band shooter. A school system police spokesperson even admits the student only brought the toy to school to show a friend. Still, the boy was arrested and jailed, charged with felony for having a weapon on school property.

Meanwhile, in Savannah... a high school senior is attacked in the school cafeteria by a group of kids who came onto school ground from a nearby street . When he tries to protect himself, he's arrested and suspended. Nice quote from Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education President Hugh Golson: "It takes two to fight... back away and wait until there is an adult there." How do you "back away" when you're surrounded by a group of assailants? What an idiot...

When are people going to stand up, in great numbers, and admit that "zero tolerance" must be applied with common sense? Remember the nine-year-old in Birmingham, Alabama who was suspended indefinitely for bringing to school an inch-long plastic toy gun from a G.I. Joe doll? Unbelievable!
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I love this... Have you ever gotten horrible service in a restaurant, or been treated badly by a salesperson, and wished you could tell everyone about it? Now you have a chance. The following sites offer you the opportunity to publicize your bad experience for the world to see. Give names and details; vent your spleen. You can also search for complaints about business, or find all the complaints for a city or state.

complaints.com - Searchable, comprehensive site
TheComplaintStation.com
ripoffreport.com
consumeraffairs.com - I like their Rogues Gallery
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In Sports and Celebrity News...

Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker finds a dead body on his property.

New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law was arrested after leading police officers on a brief footchase. When they tried to arrest him, he told the two officers "not to touch him because he is a professional athlete."

Cincinnati Bengals requiring their players to take yoga class.

Apparently, Beckham did cheat on Posh after all. Europe mourns.

Also, John Stamos and his actress-model wife Rebecca Romijn-Stamos have split. Did anyone even notice?
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SPECIAL ATTENTION !!!

Please if you get a chance check out this blog. The Sarge is the First Sergeant of a 130-soldier strong heavy-lift helicopter company (based in Hawaii) now serving in Afghanistan. True, first hand accounts of what's really happening on the ground there. Also, check out his response to Andy Rooney's comments. Priceless. Thanks Sarge for what you do, and for all that our troops are doing. Y'all are my heroes.

Democratic National Convention Agenda Released

I've received this from two different people, with various events on each, so I've incorporated them into this definitive listing...

Democratic National Convention Agenda

3:30pm - Ice Cream Social, sponsored by National Public Radio
4:00pm - Autograph session with Al Franken, Richard Clark and Al Gore

5:00pm - Opening flag burning ceremony.
5:05pm - Opening secular prayers by Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.
5:10pm - Invocation by Jane Fonda.
5:12pm - Inspirational Reading by Richard Gere.
5:15pm - Anti-war songs by Barbra Streisand.
5:25pm - Buring of Rush Limbaugh in effigy
5:30pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
5:35pm - Tribute theme to France.
5:40pm - Collect offerings for al-Zawahri defense fund.
5:50pm - Tribute theme to Germany.
6:00pm - Anti-war rally (Moderated by Michael Moore).
6:20pm - Anti-war songs from the Dixie Chicks, introduced by Susan Sarandon.
6:30pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
6:35pm - Terrorist appeasement workshop.
7:00pm - Gay marriage ceremony (both male and female couples).

7:20pm - * Intermission *

7:50pm - Anti-war songs from Madonna.
8:00pm - Posting the Iraqi Colors by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins.
8:05pm - Re-enactment of Kerry's fake medal toss.
8:10pm - Appearance by Howard Dean (Performing 'Yeeearrrrrrrg!' - The Primal Scream Song).
8:15pm - Abortion demonstration by N.A.R.A.L.
8:40pm - "My America" - Group reading by Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi.
8:50pm - Excellence In Broadcasting Awards to Dan Rather and Andy Rooney
9:00pm - Buring of Senator Zell Miller in effigy.
9:15pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:20pm - Pledge of allegiance to the UN.
9:30pm - Multiple gay marriage cermony (threesomes, mixed and same sex).
9:50pm - Maximizing Welfare workshop.
10:20pm - 'Free Saddam' pep rally.
10:40pm - Buring of Geoege W. Bush in effigy.
10:45pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:50pm - "What A President Is" presentation by Martin Sheen.
11:00pm - Nomination of Democratic Presidential candidate.

Somebody Please Shut Andy Rooney Up

The old coot is at it again. When will this idiot retire and move to Florida. He's better suited to spend his days playing shuffleboard, feeding the pigeons and annoying the other old codgers in his retirement village.

Andy Rooney today said that our soldiers serving in the military in Iraq are not heroes. Following his comments on Jesus and Mel Gibson, it's apparent that Rooney is either out of touch with the real world, or he's completely slipped over to the dark side and has enveloped himself in the bright red blanket of ultra-liberalism. Here's a quote..

"...we should not bestow the mantle of heroism on all of them for simply being where we sent them."

Sorry, old man, but one of the things that makes them heroes is their willingness to lay their lives on the line, fighting to eliminate threats to our nation, even if they would rather be safely tucked away in their own beds back in the States. I'm sure the men who landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day, or who were forced to march on the road to Bataan, or who flew their B-17s over Germany through walls of flack and swarms of Luftwaffe fighters, would rather have been somewhere else.

Why won't this old horse do the right thing and just go out to pasture?

I'm Back... and Almost Well

This pesky ear problem has been hanging on for more than three weeks, but it seems to finally be losing the fight. When I get busy or distracted, I don't seem to notice it. Only when I think about it does it bother me too badly. I have to thank Allegra, Flozave and the antibiotic Z-Pack for my return to life.

I had the chance to see Condaleeza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission last week, and she certainly impresses me with her knowledge, charisma and restraint. I'm sure some members of the committee, as well as most Dems, wanted to see Dr. Rice crumble from the questioning. Instead, she was strong and unfaltering.

Because the anti-Bush crowd didn't draw blood from Condi's testimony, they chose to demand the release of one of the President's classified daily intelligence briefings. They knew it would hold the evidence of Bush's neglect of our defense. The Administration released it. What did it reveal? Neal Boortz words it better than I could.

"The Bush administration caved to the 9/11 Blame Committee on Saturday and declassified that August 6, 2001 Presidential Daily Briefing.  Immediately, the Democrats and their buddies in the media jumped on this as some sort of smoking gun... some indication that Bush knew that the Islamic terrorists were going to hijack airliners and slam them into buildings.  Truth is, the memo is nothing of the sort. As much as Richard Ben-Veniste would like the memo to be a warning, it's not. There was no warning before the attacks of 9/11.  Had there been, we could have stopped it. There wasn't, so we didn't. 

"As the president correctly pointed out yesterday, the memo contained no actionable intelligence that would have prevented an attack. All it contained was historical information related to a possible attack.  It also was entitled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US.'  Unfortunately, it said nothing about when, where or how. Absent that crucial information, there was nothing the United States government could have done to prevent what happened. Nothing. 

"Besides, what do these people propose President Bush should have done, anyway?  People are reading history in the wrong direction here.  Go back to before 9/11...and imagine this:  on August 6, 2001, President Bush gives an address to the nation in which he announces that he just received a Presidential Daily Briefing that said Osama Bin Laden was determined to strike in the U.S.  In response, he will be shutting down all commercial air traffic and attempting to root out all potential Al-Qaeda operatives.  Can you just imagine the outrage?  If you remember, the economy was in somewhat of a funk at that time.  Think what a shutdown in air travel would have done, and think about the damnation that would be directed toward Bush.  What if Bush had only called for drastic increases in airport security?  The airline infrastructure wasn't prepared to handle such a thing in 2001.  The delays would have been horrendous and the calls for Bush's hide just as large.

"There was a completely different public mindset prior to 9/11.  Most Americans didn't recognize Islamic terrorism as the threat that it was.  If Bush had taken some grave measures prior to 9/11 just because a memo said that Osama bin Laden might try to hijack an airliner, the public simply wouldn't have stood for it.  Simply put, there was no public will to fight the war on terrorism before 9/11.  That political environment did not exist.  

"Yes, there were intelligence failures.  There were legal and logistical reasons why the CIA and the FBI and other law enforcement agencies couldn't or didn't share information.  If you want to place blame for these failures you're going to have to go back quite a few presidents.   When, for instance, are we really going to look at the weakening of our intelligence structure under Jimmy Carter? 

"The truly important thing here is what has been done after 9/11.  There's a problem here though.  Virtually all of the polls show very high marks for Bush's actions post-9/11.  So, what's the point in highlighting the successes of the war on terror? It will only boost Bush's popularity.  If your goal is to swing voter sentiment against Bush, you focus on what happened before 9/11, not after.

"Lost in all this is how the Clinton administration, which did virtually nothing to fight terrorism for 8 years, is getting a complete pass.  Clinton turned down a direct offer to hand over Osama Bin Laden and yet Bush is the one that is being raked over the coals for somehow not doing enough.  The reason is we are in an election year, and the Bush-hating Democrats want to politicize the tragedies of September 11th. Where's the outrage about that?  The Republicans wouldn't be able to get away with that for a second.

"These 9/11 Commission hearings are becoming a partisan waste of time.  Nothing is going to bring back the 3,000 people that died that day.  All we can do is what we are doing now, which is to keep it from happening again."

Here's the complete text of the August 6, 2001 memo, courtesy FoxNews.

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INTERESTING LINKS

PhotoshopContest.com - Graphic artists take a pre-chosen image and manipulate it however they like. Sometimes funny, sometimes profound, but usually just plain disturbing! There are some incredibly talented people out there, and this site is a showcase for them. You'll love it.

A new trend showing up in schools across the country - America-bashing in school textbooks.

What really happened at Chappaquiddick? This site presents lots and lots of information. Reliable? Who knows? Mary Jo Kopechne was left to die while Teddy Kennedy spent nine hours trying to find a way to save his political skin. That only leaves his story, and the evidence. Did you know that witness testimony suggested that she probably survived over two hours in that car before she passed away, while Teddy spent nine hours trying to hide his involvement? Why hasn't a new investigation been initiated using what evidence we have and today's incredible technology?

Funny food labels from around the world.