Networks Continue To Show Bias

Many attendees at the Republican National Convention are wearing small band-aids adorned with a tiny heart, colored purple. Obviously , this is in reference to questions raised about John Kerry's Purple Hearts from Vietnam, one of which was so serious it required, according to his doctor, a band-aid to cover it.

Well, the networks don't like anyone poking any fun at THEIR candidate. George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and Candy Crowley of CNN were unable to hide their bias. This courtesy of the Media Research Center...

CNN reporters, and George Stephanopoulos on the limited distribution ABC News Now network, acted aghast Monday night over how some delegates wore band-aids displaying a heart shape in the color purple, meant to make light of John Kerry earning purple hearts in Vietnam for superficial wounds. Just before 9pm EDT, CNN's Candy Crowley confronted one woman: "This is a man who went and served his country. Do you feel as though you're making fun of him?" She reminded the delegate of those serving in Iraq and asked: "Is this defaming of them?" A couple of hours later, Dan Lothian identified the culprit who created the band-aids, Virginian Morton Blackwell who, he emphasized, "is not a veteran." In between, Stephanopoulos lectured a veteran about how John McCain has called the attacks on Kerry 'dishonest and dishonorable.' Why do you think it's okay to wear a bandage like that?" Stephanopoulos couldn't believe anyone would doubt Kerry: "Do you really believe he didn't earn his medals or his purple hearts?" Peter Jennings turned to Newt Gingrich: "Did you squirm a little when you saw the guy wearing the purple heart?" Gingrich: "No. I think it's funny."

-- CNN. Back from an ad break at 8:55pm EDT, Wolf Blitzer went right to Candy Crowley on the floor with delegate. As she held up the woman's arm to show the purple heart on a band-aid, Crowley explained: "This is Donna Cain, she's a delegate from Oregon wearing a, as you can see, a band-aid with a purple heart on it which begs the question, we know this is about John Kerry. Any hesitation about putting this on?"

Cain said "none at all," leading Crowley to demand: "And where did you get it?" Cain simply said they were being handed out. Crowley wondered: "Well, what are they symbolic of to you? I mean is this, this is a man who went and served his country. Do you feel as though you're making fun of him." Cain rejected the idea, noting how Kerry made the Vietnam war more important than his own record.

Crowley next asked: "One of the things that the criticism of this is, that there are, you know, kids over in Iraq right now, some of them getting purple hearts. Is this defaming of them?"
Cain: "No it is not in any way defaming them, because I know people who have received purple hearts and I know that they're not boasting about their war record, they're proud of their serving their country and I mean I just met a woman who lost her husband yesterday in Iraq, and that's a whole entirely different mood."

Blitzer went to John King, asking: "Is this something you sense is authorized by the Bush-Cheney campaign?" King explained that Bush-Cheney campaign officials deny they had anything to do with it.

Jeff Greenfield soon observed that Republicans will contend the gimmick was just "lighthearted," but Greenfield warned: "I'm wondering whether the Bush campaign would just assume that these things disappear because they raise the specter of are you making fun of somebody who went to Vietnam and at some point was involved in some kind of very serious combat."

Several hours later, during an 11:30pm EDT half hour NewsNight, Dan Lothian checked in: "This is the band-aid, it was put out by Morton Blackwell who is a member of the Virginia delegation. He is not a veteran but he said he distributed some 300 band-aids with a purple heart in the middle to make a point against Senator Kerry. It was very controversial, denounced by the Democratic Party and also Republican officials. Ed Gillespie tonight, we are getting word now, has had a conversation with him, has told him that he should stop distributing these Band-Aids. He's agreed to stop distributing the band-aids and even has removed the one that he was wearing."

-- ABC News Now, the all news service from ABC News available via the Internet or through cable systems which carry the secondary channel from the HDTV frequency assignment for many ABC affiliates.

Around 9:50pm EDT, Peter Jennings set up Stephanopoulos, as taken down by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth: "There's something going on about purple hearts. You want to explain that to people and talk about it a little bit?"

Stephanopoulos, on the floor with a delegate wearing a 101st Airborne hat, with a band-aid on his face which ABC zoomed in on: "Well, I'm gonna have Tucker Watkins explain it. He's a delegate from Virginia, and you're wearing this band-aid on your cheek with a little purple heart on it. Tell us what that's about."

A playful Watkins responded: "I woke up this morning and I shaved myself and I cut myself accidentally, and I decided since I had that little accident, I needed a purple heart. So I wrote up a certification and awarded it to myself."

Stephanopoulos was not amused: "Now, you're making fun of John Kerry there, though."
Watkins continued his act: "No, I just, that happened today. I wouldn't make fun of John Kerry."

Stephanopoulos turned serious: "Let me tell you something. John McCain has talked about these ads raising allegations about John Kerry's military service. He's called it dishonest and dishonorable. Why do you think it's okay to wear a bandage like that?"

Stephanopoulos sensed a scandal: "Now, we've seen a few of them out on this floor. Where did you get them?" Watkins said he got them from another Virginia delegate, leading Stephanopoulos to seek assurance of no wider distribution: "So it's all in Virginia? It's not being brought in from the central party or anything like that?"

Stephanopoulos kept quizzing Watkins: "So what is it about John Kerry? He's got a lot of his boatmates who support him, but he's obviously angered a lot of other Vietnam veterans. Explain it in your own words." Stephanopoulos wrapped up: "One quick final question: Do you really believe he didn't earn his medals or his Purple Heart?"

Back in the booth, Jennings repeated McCain's admonition and then relayed: "I have to tell you that Terry McAuliffe, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has heard about the purple hearts this evening, and both parties are very quick to get out statements. Mr. McAuliffe says in terms of the purple hearts you've just seen, ‘It is inexcusable to mock service and sacrifice. Our servicemen and women put their lives on the line every day. If they are wounded in the line of fighting, it is because they are fighting on the front line for freedom.'"

Jennings turned to Newt Gingrich: "Did you squirm a little when you saw the guy wearing the purple heart." Gingrich wasn't so appalled: "No. I think it's funny..."

Tuesday Morning

Dog Owners Prefer Bush To Kerry
The American Kennel Club and BankOne surveyed American dog lovers and found that the owners of man's best friend are not evenly divided on the presidential candidates. Like regular church attendees, dog lovers prefer to run in George W. Bush's yard. Asked which candidate they'd trust to walk Fido, dog owners favored Mr. Bush 51% to 37%. Asked which candidate would be better for their pooch's happiness, 44% favored Mr. Bush over 37% for Mr. Kerry. But perhaps more troublesome for the Democrat is what happened when participants were asked which dog breed they most closely associated with each candidate. For Mr. Bush, two breeds tied at 20% each: the Labrador retriever, the most popular family dog in America, and the Rottweiler, often used as a guard dog. As for Mr. Kerry, 15% associated him with Labs--but 14% picked a poodle (the poll didn't specify a French poodle).

85364... Why That's Yuma, Arizona!
The famous Zip Code Man of Boulder, Colorado knows the city for every zip code in America. Can you say Rain Man?

Vote Selling
An Ohio man tried to sell his vote in the Presidential election on eBay. Yep, it's a crime.

Adrian Paul: The Next James Bond?
The producers of the James Bond movie series have reportedly created a short list of potential replacements for Pierce Brosnan. The list: Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Eric Bana (The Hulk), Rikki Lee Travolta (Camelot: Excalibur), Adrian Paul (Highlander), and Clive Owen (King Arthur). My choice would be Adrian Paul. Apparently, he's won quite a lot of fan polls asking who should be the next Bond.

There Once Was A Man Named Bill
The Clinton Impeachment, told in limerick style.

Excuse Me, But Your Bias Is Showing

We are seeing the undeniable liberal bias of the mainstream news media in the coverage of the Republican National Convention. The alphabet soup of news organizations (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN) are taking every opportunity to talk about and show convention protestors in the Big Apple. We've seen signs, banners, coffins and even bare bottoms. Apparently there's no protest too small or insignificant that it can't get some airplay.

Remember that during the Democratic Convention in Boston, the protestors were kept far away from the Fleet Center. They were given almost no coverage. Why? Because it was the Democratic Convention, and everything had to be kept on target. In New York, however, it's the Republicans. So, anything that reflects badly on the President or that makes the Republicans look bad is fair game.

Typical...

Interesting Stuff

Dog's Best Friend
An alligator attacks a Florida man's dog. The man pulls out a pocket knife and attacks the gator. Dog is safe, man is safe, gator loses an eye.

High Costs Of College Football Tickets
USA Today shows just what it costs to buy football season tickets for the Top 25 schools. Can you say out of control?

Where You From? Dopeville?
A high school student outside Atlanta found himself in hot water for wearing a t-shirt featuring the name of the boy's hometown - Hempstead, NY. School administrator apparently quit reading after first four letters. Can you say overreaction?

Rate Your Professors
This website allows students to rate professors at colleges and universities across the country. Over 400,000 professors from 4,000+ schools are listed. They have a high school site, RateMyTeachers.com, as well.

Sad Max

Max Cleland continues to show that he has absolutely no class.

The decorated Vietnam Vet was beloved enough in Georgia to serve two terms as Lieutenant Governor before running successfully for the U.S. Senate. In 2002, though, he was voted out of office by voters in Georgia who were sick and tired of his ultra-liberal voting record. Endorsements by Terry McAuliffe, Tom Daschle and other liberal Dem leaders hurt as well.

Now it seems Max has sold his soul to the John Kerry campaign. What a sight, seeing Cleland in that sorry photo op at the Bush ranch in Texas delivering a letter from Kerry. Cleland has been actively campaigning against Bush, all the while collecting a paycheck courtesy of the President. Say whay?

Following his defeat in Georgia, Max Cleland was appointed by President Bush to the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank, which helps U.S. corporations in their overseas business. Cleland makes $136,000 from this "very cushy job", then spends his free time trying to undermine the man who got him the job.

The Democrats try to paint Republicans as evil for defeating Cleland in Georgia in 2002. In all actuality, it was Cleland who cost himself the job. His Senate votes were too liberal for his Georgia constituency and much like Senator Kerry, Cleland learned that it's almost impossible to win if you can't stand behind your record.

Changes And Additions To This Blog

As you've already noticed, I have made a few changes to the overall look of my blog. The text has been changed to make it a bit easier to read. I've also added some additional links on the sidebar to the right, and more are coming. There are icons for some of the blog directories where A Word From The Right is listed, and even one for Blog Catalog where you can rate this blog (please vote high!).

Please give me some feedback about the changes, or if there's something that still needs to be changed.

More School Stupidity...

Scholl is back in session, and that means a return of zero-tolerance insanity and other school stupidity...

ITEM ONE
A 15-year-old sophomore at Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina has been suspended for three days for... hugging a friend in front of the school. Apparently the school's student handbook says, "...it has been determined there will be no 'body contact' between individuals beyond the holding of hands."

The girl's mom says, "They said hugging leads to groping, groping leads to kissing, and you know what kissing leads to. And I said, 'It's not like my daughter wanted to have sex with him in the hallway. She was just saying hello.'"

ITEM TWO
Across the country teachers are breaking with an old tradition - marking students' papers with red ink. Calling it scary and unfriendly, a new generation of teachers are replacing red ink with more "soothing" colors like purple. "Red has a negative connotation, and we want to promote self-confidence," one teacher says. Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it? Instead of promoting self-confidence ,why not promote striving for the correct answers.

Not all teachers agree on the stigma attached to red ink. Carol Jago, a 30-year high school teacher in California, says, "Red is honest, direct, and to the point. I'm sending the message, 'I care about you enough to care how you present yourself to the outside world.'"

We need more teachers with this attitude. The reason kids go to school is to learn. They can't learn what's correct without also learning what's wrong. Red ink on a term paper or a test should have a negative connotation. It should let the student know they've made a mistake. Or have we gotten to the point where we can't point out students' mistakes for fear of hurting their fragile little feelings?

100th Post

When I began this blog on January 29th, I wasn't sure that I'd have anything meaningful to share or that I'd make entries very often. I shouldn't have worried. It's been 190 days, and this is my 100th post. That's an average of slightly less than four posts per week. The total would be much higher were it not for the family medical issues the past couple of months. Still, it's been a fun seven months. Let's see how far we can go...

Alice Cooper Blasts Rock/Political Ties

I'll let his words speak for themselves...

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal."

In a very direct, unashamed way rocker Alice Cooper blasts his fellow rockers who are actively involved in politics and calling for President Bush's defeat. "Rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics," he said.

Hot Saucing?

This new form of corporal punishment seems to be gaining support, and I have to admit I like the idea. It's called hot saucing, and it sounds so clever. Your child won't respond to your directions? Just dab a drop of hot sauce on the child's tongue. Sounds like it works amazingly well. The idea is supported by many Christian parenting groups, who liken it to washing out a childs mouth with soap. It's distasteful and bothersome, but not dangerous.

I am a huge proponent of spanking and other forms of corporal punishment. Young children are not capable of complicated, deep intellectual thought. They do understand, however, the relatively simple idea of cause and effect. Disobey your parents, get a hot tongue. Simple enough. I like this notion because it delivers the effect quite well, but causes no physical injury to the child.

It's only my opinion, and we know how little that's worth, but I believe completely that parents who don't consider corporal punishment for their kids are being somewhat irresponsible. "Time outs" don't cut it. Punishment has to be strong enough that the child remembers, and desires to avoid, repeating it.

Spreading The Truth

It's a fact, sadly, that many of the mindless myrmidons who saw Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 9/11 believe every statement made in the film to be entirely true. Like sheep, some folks are easily led astray. Truth doesn't seem to mean much to Moore as he misleads, misrepresents and outright lies about the facts.

An outstanding source of truth and information to refute Moore's claims can be found at Fifty-nine Deceits in Fahrenheit 9/11. That number (59) seems to be ever-increasing. Dave Kopel has meticulously catalogued Moore's untruths, and presents the facts and documented support for refuting the lies.

One of the best-known "misrepresentations" Moore makes in the film involves a headline shown from the Bloomington, Illinois Pantagraph. The folks at Moorewatch.com explain what was done, with photos and documentation. Just one example of Michael Moore creating evidence to support a lie.

Premiering on Sunday, September 12th is the new documentary Michael Moore Hates America. This actually isn't a hatchet job on Michael Moore. To quote the Michael Wilson, the filmmaker, "It's a journey across the nation where we meet celebrities, scholars and average folks alike, and we find out whether the American Dream is still alive! In the process, we'll look at Michael Moore's claims about the country, its people, and our way of life." I whole-heartedly recommend this film, and recommend everyone see it (especially those who have seen Moore's film). Click here for a trailer for the movie.

One more thing... if you happened to see Moore's film Bowling For Columbine, here's a site for you.

Interesting Google Search

Google search the word "waffle", and look at the first entry that comes up...

More Good News

Just an update on Dad... He spent a lot of today sitting up in a chair, talking and watching a little television. He's still in ICU, but could make it to a regular room as early as tomorrow. His progress is good!

More Interesting Stuff

Stuntmen To Capture Falling Space Capsule
Using helicopters and flying nearly 2 miles above the ground, Hollywood stuntmen will attempt to catch a falling capsule jettisoned from an orbiting satellite.

Botox For Beagles?
A veterinarian in South America is offering plastic surgery for pets.

The Law Doesn't Apply To Jocks
A University of Maryland football player was acquitted by a judge of assaulting a cop, even though the judge said he believed the player was "guilty as sin." The idiot of a judge didn't want to ruin the jock's football career.

King Regis
Apparently the Guinness World Record people have decided that Regis Philbin has spent more hours on TV than anyone in history. My money was on Steven Seagal (his sorry movies are on ALL the time!)

I'm Not Obscene, I'm Just Drawn That Way
Spike TV to air adult cartoon Howard Stern: The High School Years.

Forget The Car, Just Steal The Engine
In West Virginia, thieves stole the engine out of a woman's Mustang sitting in her yard.

A Classic Mistake

Never give an opponent something to hang you with...

Every speech, every commercial, every piece of campaign literature supporting John Kerry's presidential bid mentions his time in Vietnam. Kerry has made those four months and 12 days (from more than three decades ago) the experience he seems to believe qualifies him to be Commander-in-Chief. By putting his Vietnam military experience out there, though, he opened the door for public scrutiny and investigation of that record. And did it ever come.

Now that Kerry's record is being dissected and studied, a clearer and more truthful picture of his time in 'Nam is coming to light. The trouble for Kerry... the picture isn't too flattering. Kerry's fellow Swift Boat officers from Vietnam have spoken out in loud, strong numbers against him. They contradict the story he tells about his service, and they challenge him to prove his claims. I've mentioned their TV commercial previously (which everyone should see).

Kerry is now trying to silence his critics. He has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over the Swift Vets commercial. He's called on President Bush to condemn the ad and demand it be pulled.

This is so typical of the flip-flopping Snator from Tax-achusetts. He wants to run on his military record, but wants to prohibit any investigation or discussion of that record.

Friday Funnies

"Something's Not Right In Who-ville"
Seems an Oregon man thought it'd be a great idea to extort the widow of Dr. Seuss. He threatened to release drawings of the characters in graphic poses is she didn't pay the man $2.5 million. Do they serve green eggs and ham in the pokey?

Governor Joe?
Actor Joe Piscopo considering a run for Governor of New Jersey. Believes his acting career not nearly as embarassing as Jim McGreevey's extra-marital fling.

Day By Day

I thought things were going well on Monday with Dad, but I wound up having to return to Atlanta that night. I'm back now, for at least a day or two. Things are improving for him day by day, and hopefully will continue to do so.

Never Forget Why We're Fighting

It's been almost three years since the September 11th attacks, and longer since the attacks on the USS Cole, the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Pan Am 103, Beirut...

With the passing of time, the tragedies of the past seem to take on a more distant, unreal feel. We forget the outrage we felt, the anger, the desire for justice. I believe that's an insult to the families of those affected by these tragedies. We must never forget. Blogger Forty-Something wants us all to remember, and he's got a fantastic reminder of why we're fighting, and why we MUST win. (Thanks for Wild Bill at Passionate America for the heads-up.)

I'm Back... For Now

The surgery itself went very well. The liver is healing fine, and has already begun regrowing. There was a complication, however, during recovery. Dad developed some breathing issues, and they are still with him. He's still in the ICU at Emory, with a way to go yet. Doctors and family are all optimistic. To quote his surgeon, "He's not critical. Just guarded. His lungs just need healing and strengthening."

Thank you all for the prayers and good wishes. For those who visited, special thanks!

While he's at this stage, there isn't much I could do. I'm having to burn vacation days to be with them, and I have only a few left. So I'm back in Macon for a while, trying to get some work done. I'll also be posting on here (as time permits).

Last Post For A While

Dad's surgery is tomorrow morning, and since this is a more intense operation the recovery will be longer and a bit tougher. I'll be spending more time with him, so this blog will be out of my mind for a while. If all goes well, maybe I can update things in the middle of next week.

Thanks for all your kind words and prayers about him! See y'all soon.

Don't Mess With Family

Okay, so they might be very, very distant cousins. I still don't like people going after my "kinfolk".

A family in Britian has their seven-foot fir tree, which they decorated for Christmas, cut down and stolen in the middle of the night from their front yard. (The article features a picture of my long-lost relatives!)

More On Kerry's Vietnam Past

I've mentioned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth before. They're the former Swift Boat officers who served alongside John Kerry (for four months) in Vietnam. They don't exactly like Kerry, and the take great offense at the liberties Kerry has taken with the truth about his time in the service.

Now, they've come out with a scathing television commercial. They pull no punches. It's a fantastic commercial that shatters any "legacy" Kerry has from his time in Vietnam. I wonder just how much airplay this spot will get. This is the current link to it (hopefuilly it will work for a while):

http://www.swiftvets.com/anyquestions.mov

It's also currently playing on the front page of their web site, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Another Reason Bush Must Be Re-elected

In his new book, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) writes that, during President Bush's second term, the Republicans will push for the elimination of the Internal Revenue Service. The book, "Speaker: Lessons From Forty Years of Coaching and Politics," discloses a plan by President Bush and the GOP Congress to replace the burdensome federal income tax with a national sales tax.

Great news, and another reason President Bush must get a second term. I've been a huge supporter of a national retail sales tax for a few years. An excellent place to learn more about the idea of this "Fair Tax" is at the website FairTax.org

In his Federalist Papers, Number 21, Alexander Hamilton writes that the fairest route for raising money for the government is based on consumption.

"There is no method of steering clear of this inconvenience, but by authorizing the national government to raise its own revenues in its own way. Imposts, excises, and, in general, all duties upon articles of consumption, may be compared to a fluid, which will, in time, find its level with the means of paying them. The amount to be contributed by each citizen will in a degree be at his own option, and can be regulated by an attention to his resources. The rich may be extravagant, the poor can be frugal; and private oppression may always be avoided by a judicious selection of objects proper for such impositions. If inequalities should arise in some States from duties on particular objects, these will, in all probability, be counterbalanced by proportional inequalities in other States, from the duties on other objects. In the course of time and things, an equilibrium, as far as it is attainable in so complicated a subject, will be established everywhere. Or, if inequalities should still exist, they would neither be so great in their degree, so uniform in their operation, nor so odious in their appearance, as those which would necessarily spring from quotas, upon any scale that can possibly be devised.

It is a signal advantage of taxes on articles of consumption, that they contain in their own nature a security against excess. They prescribe their own limit; which cannot be exceeded without defeating the end proposed, that is, an extension of the revenue. When applied to this object, the saying is as just as it is witty, that, 'in political arithmetic, two and two do not always make four.' If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds.This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them."

Hamilton says that a consumption-based system is most fair because we all have control over our purchases, and thus have control over how much, or how little, tax we pay. The wealthiest will make more purchases and will pay te most in taxes. The poorest, who purchase the least, will pay the least in taxes.

A consumption-based tax, such as a national retail sales tax, is applied to final purchases at the retail level regardless of the purchaser. The wealthiest pay the same sales tax on their items that the poor would pay on theirs. There are no loopholes for those who can hire the best accountants. You buy more, you pay more. You buy less, you pay less. Hence, a "fair tax".

Of course, it will take nothing short of a miracle to get this done. You can imagine what the hard-left libs will have to say about such a proposal. They will use lies and distortions of truth to argue against it.

Libs will say a national sales tax benefits the wealthy, because they no longer have to pay income tax. That argument doesn't wash for various reasons.

• First, they will pay the same tax percentage for all their purchases (homes, cars, yachts, groceries, etc.) that lower-income families pay.
• Secondly, it would do away with tax-shelters, loopholes and other means by which accountants have helped taxpayers avoid paying their "fair share".
• Third, a national retail sales tax would actually benefit the lowest income earners by exempting the basic necessities, and providing a monthly rebate for those estimated costs to each and every family determined by Health & Human Services to be living in poverty.

Hastert says, "People ask me if I'm really calling for the elimination of the IRS. I say I think that's a great thing to do for future generations of Americans...By adopting a sales tax... we could begin to change productivity. If you can do that, you can change gross national product and start growing the economy. You could double the economy over the next fifteen years."

Rep. John Linder (R-GA) has been a vocal supporter of a national retail sales tax, along with Rep. Steve King (R-IA), and Herman Cain, Georgia businessman and past candidate for the U.S. Senate.

"I believe that we need to stop tinkering with the 54,800 pages of Internal Revenue Code and IRS regulations," said Congressman Linder. "We are only creating a temporary fix to the fundamental problem that our tax system is flawed and needs to be overhauled. It should be abolished and replaced with the FairTax, a simple national retail sales tax."

King campaigned on the proposal during his first run for Congress in 2002, and has said he believes the measure would pass if President Bush were to get behind it during his second term. He also believes that once taxpayers understand the ramifications of the change, they will embrace it.

"We need to stop taxing productivity. As Ronald Reagan said, whatever you tax you get less of. I believe we should give taxpayers a one-year moratorium on withholding tax and let them keep everything they earn while trying the Fair Tax. Do that and they will never go back to the old system."

The only way such a progressive, meaningful and beneficial change to our tax system can occur is by supporting President Bush now and in November. If you are unfamiliar with the idea, look into it. I guarantee it will open your eyes.

More Great Economic News

The latest survey on the state of the American manufacturing industry shows the June-to-July period as the 14th consecutive period of "rapid growth". The Institute for Supply Management purchasing managers' index (PMI), based on a survey of industry supply executives, shows American factories to be in the longest continuous stretch of rapid growth in more than 30 years. Key findings include increases in new orders, accelerated production and employment gains.

Further proof of the strength and growth of our economy. To quote the theme song of Queer Eye, "All things just keep getting better."

Great Words From Zell Miller

This comes courtesy of OpinionJournal.com....

SEE Y'ALL IN NEW YORK
BY ZELL MILLER

Twelve years ago, I delivered one of the keynote addresses on the first night at the Democratic National Convention in New York. It was a stinging rebuke of the administration of George H.W. Bush and a ringing endorsement of Bill Clinton. This summer I'll again be speaking in New York, but it will be to the Republican Convention that renominates George W. Bush.

Many have asked how I could have come so far in just over a decade. Frankly, I don't think I've changed much at all. At 72, I don't feel much need to change my opinions. Instead, the reason I didn't attend the Democratic Convention in Boston is that I barely recognize my party anymore. Most of its leaders--including our nominee, John Kerry--don't hold the same beliefs that have motivated my career in public service.

In 1992, I spoke of the opportunity and hope that allowed me, the son of a single mother growing up in the North Georgia mountains, to become my state's governor. And I attributed much of my success to the great Democratic presidents of years gone by--FDR (a hallowed man in my home), Truman and JFK. The link these men shared was a commitment to helping Americans born into any condition rise to achieve whatever goal they set for themselves.

I spoke of Americans who were "tired of paying more in taxes and getting less in services." I excoriated Republicans who "dealt in cynicism and skepticism." I accused them of mastering "the art of division and diversion." And I praised Bill Clinton as a moderate Democrat "who has the courage to tell some of those liberals who think welfare should continue forever, and some of those conservatives who think there should be no welfare at all, that they're both wrong."

Bill Clinton did deliver on welfare reform, after a lot of prodding from the Republicans who took hold of Congress in 1995. But much of the rest of the promise I saw in his candidacy withered during his two terms in office.

Today, it's the Democratic Party that has mastered the art of division and diversion. To run for president as a Democrat these days you have to go from interest group to interest group, cap in hand, asking for the support of liberal kingmakers. Mr. Kerry is no different. After Hollywood elites profaned the president, he didn't have the courage to put them in their place. Instead, he validated their remarks, claiming that they represent "the heart and soul of America."

No longer the party of hope, today's Democratic Party has become Mr. Kerry's many mansions of cynicism and skepticism. As our economy continues to get better and businesses add jobs, Mr. Kerry's going around America trying to convince people that the roof is about to cave in. He talks about "the misery index" and the Depression. What does he know about either?

And when it comes to taxes and services, you'd be pressed to find anyone more opposed to the interests of middle-class Americans than John Kerry. Except maybe John Edwards. Both voted against tax relief for married couples, tax relief for families with children, and tax relief for small businesses. Now Mr. Kerry wants to raise taxes on hundreds of thousands of small-business owners and millions of individuals. He claims to be for working people, but I don't understand how small businesses can create jobs if they've got to send more money to Washington instead of keeping it to hire workers.

Worst of all, Sens. Kerry and Edwards have not kept faith with the men and women who are fighting the war on terror--most of whom come from small towns and middle-class families all over America. While Mr. Bush has stood by our troops every step of the way, Messrs. Kerry and Edwards voted to send our troops to war and then voted against the money to give them supplies and equipment--not to mention better benefits for their families. And recently Mr. Kerry even said he's proud of that vote. Proud to abandon our troops when they're out in the field? I can hear Harry Truman cussing from his grave.

I still believe in hope and opportunity and, when it comes right down to it, Mr. Bush is the man who represents hope and opportunity. Hope for a safer world. And opportunity for Americans to work hard, keep more of the money they earn, and send their kids to good schools. All the speeches we heard this week weren't able to hide the truth of what today's Democratic Party has become: an enclave of elites paying lip service to middle-class values. Americans looking for a president who understands their struggles and their dreams should tune in next month, when we celebrate the leadership of George W. Bush.

It's Official

Shannon and I are engaged! I gave her the ring yesterday, and she accepted. We'll be getting married next summer, possibly the end of June. Great things really do come to those who wait.