Friday, January 06, 2006
Bill O'Reilly vs David Letterman
Bill O’Reilly and David Letterman shared words the other night on the tonight show. Now I like David Letterman; he is clever, funny and popular, especially among the college crowd. I also like and respect Bill O'Reilly who I do not always agree with his opinion but I believe that he is fair and truthful. But did you hear what Letterman said to O'Reilly on the tonight show? He actually said that while he has never watched O'Reilly's show, "I have the feeling that about 60 percent of what you say is crap." What a guy. Nothing like criticizing something you know nothing about. [transcript video (real)]
Joint Chiefs chairman says anti-war remarks 'damaging to recruiting' and morale
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace let fellow Marine and Congressman John Al-Murtha have it in his press conference. It's about time.
At a Pentagon news conference, Gen. Peter Pace was asked to comment on Murtha's remarks, the Associated Press reported. Last year, Murtha advocated an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and told ABC News this week that if he were eligible to join the military he would not, nor would he expect others to do so. The congressman also has called the war "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion."
"That's damaging to recruiting," Pace told reporters. "It's damaging to morale of the troops who are deployed, and it's damaging to the morale of their families who believe in what they are doing to serve this country."
Pace mentioned he recently returned from Iraq and found good troop morale and a "quiet confidence" that U.S. efforts were on the right track, AP reported.
"When a respected leader like Mr. Murtha, who has spent 37 extremely honorable years as a Marine, fought in two wars, has served the country extremely well in the Congress of the United States – when a respected individual like that says what he said, and 18- and 19-year-olds look to their leadership to determine how they are expected to act, they can get the wrong message," Pace said.
At a Pentagon news conference, Gen. Peter Pace was asked to comment on Murtha's remarks, the Associated Press reported. Last year, Murtha advocated an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and told ABC News this week that if he were eligible to join the military he would not, nor would he expect others to do so. The congressman also has called the war "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion."
"That's damaging to recruiting," Pace told reporters. "It's damaging to morale of the troops who are deployed, and it's damaging to the morale of their families who believe in what they are doing to serve this country."
Pace mentioned he recently returned from Iraq and found good troop morale and a "quiet confidence" that U.S. efforts were on the right track, AP reported.
"When a respected leader like Mr. Murtha, who has spent 37 extremely honorable years as a Marine, fought in two wars, has served the country extremely well in the Congress of the United States – when a respected individual like that says what he said, and 18- and 19-year-olds look to their leadership to determine how they are expected to act, they can get the wrong message," Pace said.
Hillary Clinton Caught with Abramoff Cash
Uh-oh...despite the media's attempts to hide it, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has been caught with contributions from Jack Abramoff. This could put a dent in 2008...or not, since she donated it back to charity, which rights the wrong doesn’t it?
Jitters In DC Over Jack Amramoff.
The Jack Abramoff scandal has rocked K Street, and caused it to examine its relationships with every political on Capitol Hill. We're about to have us a scandal. John McCaslin reports
Thursday, January 05, 2006
It Was George Bush's Fault
There was one absolute certainty yesterday as the tragic story of the West Virginia mine disaster unfolded. By the end of the day the disaster was going to be blamed on President George Bush. After all everything bad that happens is his fault.
Well, it didn't take long. Jack Spadaro, who is the former head of the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, went on Hannity and Colmes last night to talk about the mining disaster in West Virginia that claimed the lives of 12 miners and left one in critical condition. He was asked what he made of the safety violations at the mine. His response: "This mine should have been closed."
When asked why, he said "There were too many serious violations and the record is very clear." OK that is a fair enough of a comment. So far, so good, just another interview with a mining expert on a cable news show, something we have seen all week. Then he took it to another level with the comment we were all waiting for.
When asked to explain further on why he thought the mine stayed open despite the violations, Mr. Spadaro actually had this to say: "I think it's because of the current Bush administration's policies toward mine operators and their reluctance to take the strong enforcement action that's sometimes necessary." That's right....those miners died because of, you guessed it, President George W. Bush's lack of enforcement action on mine operators. The president killed the miners!
To the left, everything is George W. Bush's fault. It doesn't matter what wrong is committed anywhere in the world...there is nothing the president isn't responsible for.
Well, it didn't take long. Jack Spadaro, who is the former head of the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, went on Hannity and Colmes last night to talk about the mining disaster in West Virginia that claimed the lives of 12 miners and left one in critical condition. He was asked what he made of the safety violations at the mine. His response: "This mine should have been closed."
When asked why, he said "There were too many serious violations and the record is very clear." OK that is a fair enough of a comment. So far, so good, just another interview with a mining expert on a cable news show, something we have seen all week. Then he took it to another level with the comment we were all waiting for.
When asked to explain further on why he thought the mine stayed open despite the violations, Mr. Spadaro actually had this to say: "I think it's because of the current Bush administration's policies toward mine operators and their reluctance to take the strong enforcement action that's sometimes necessary." That's right....those miners died because of, you guessed it, President George W. Bush's lack of enforcement action on mine operators. The president killed the miners!
To the left, everything is George W. Bush's fault. It doesn't matter what wrong is committed anywhere in the world...there is nothing the president isn't responsible for.
Alchohol Is The Answer
According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, there finally is a solution for homeless alcoholics. The answer? Free booze! No, you heard that right ... the study actually looked into what happened if you gave your average urban outdoorsman, which is a homeless person for those of you who don’t understand political correctness, alcohol. The results, according to those doing the study, were encouraging.
For several months 17 alcoholics in the study were offered a free glass of wine each hour from 7 in the morning to 10 at night at the Ottawa homeless shelter. Here are the so called encouraging results. Three people actually quit drinking. How about that! Three people died from their alcoholism...Now that’s encouraging, just a bit of a setback there. Eleven others reported decreased drinking as a result of the study. So naturally the conclusion is that free alcohol is the answer to alcoholism. And to think people have been bothering with silly little programs like Alcoholics Anonymous all this time!
Where’s the bar I got to kick this drinking thing!!!
For several months 17 alcoholics in the study were offered a free glass of wine each hour from 7 in the morning to 10 at night at the Ottawa homeless shelter. Here are the so called encouraging results. Three people actually quit drinking. How about that! Three people died from their alcoholism...Now that’s encouraging, just a bit of a setback there. Eleven others reported decreased drinking as a result of the study. So naturally the conclusion is that free alcohol is the answer to alcoholism. And to think people have been bothering with silly little programs like Alcoholics Anonymous all this time!
Where’s the bar I got to kick this drinking thing!!!
Is Housing Affordable?
So who is to blame for the high cost of housing in certain areas? Thomas Sowell says homes are actually affordable in most places...except where government drives up the price. Interesting as always.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Lobbyist, Abramoff Pleads Guilty
This story has the potential to set off an absolute political earthquake in Washington. Jack Abramoff, a DC lobbyist, pled guilty to several charges in federal court yesterday. Abramoff has admitted to making illegal campaign contributions. This story is about to send a political earthquake through Washington DC. It seams that he has spread a lot of money around Capitol Hill. The media has been mainly focusing on Abramoff's ties to Republicans in Congress,...but it looks like both parties are involved on this one, all the way to the top of the Democratic leadership.
CNN is reporting that Abramoff is providing thousands of e-mails to investigators in which he described influence peddling with members of Congress...in other words, the favors he was getting in return for the money he was donating to their campaigns. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Let’s be realistic. His type of thing happens all the time behind the closed doors of congress; Abramoff is the tip of the iceberg.
Remember Randy Cunningham? The California congressman who admitted to taking money from defense contractors in order to push their projects. Are we to believe, out of 535 members of Congress, that he was the only one that did such a thing? Is Abramoff the only lobbyist peddling influence to the highest bidder? I don’t and neither do investigators who are said to be looking at about 6 members in the Abramoff case. It should be interesting to see how this all turns out.
As I mentioned earlier this is not just a Republican scandal either. According to the AP, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid was one of his biggest customers. If that is the case the media will not be able to cover for Reid. Let’s see if they try though.
CNN is reporting that Abramoff is providing thousands of e-mails to investigators in which he described influence peddling with members of Congress...in other words, the favors he was getting in return for the money he was donating to their campaigns. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Let’s be realistic. His type of thing happens all the time behind the closed doors of congress; Abramoff is the tip of the iceberg.
Remember Randy Cunningham? The California congressman who admitted to taking money from defense contractors in order to push their projects. Are we to believe, out of 535 members of Congress, that he was the only one that did such a thing? Is Abramoff the only lobbyist peddling influence to the highest bidder? I don’t and neither do investigators who are said to be looking at about 6 members in the Abramoff case. It should be interesting to see how this all turns out.
As I mentioned earlier this is not just a Republican scandal either. According to the AP, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid was one of his biggest customers. If that is the case the media will not be able to cover for Reid. Let’s see if they try though.
The Quickest Way To End The Corruption
A new poll out CNN/USA Today/Gallup says that 49% of those polled think members of Congress are corrupt. Those who thought Democrats and Republicans were corrupt ran about even.
There is a way to end the corruption but not enough people want it to end. Why? Well, many Americans enjoy benefiting from the corruption of their representative of Congress. People love their legislators for "bringing home the bacon" in the form of some sort of pork barrel spending or project and reward them with their votes. How many times do Americans fall for the vote-buying schemes of one member of Congress or another?
When congress takes money from the achievers in society and gives it to those who did not earn it...that's a form of corruption. Of course they call it paying taxes and entitlements. There are Lobbyists and politicians who live off the social engineering of the tax code...that's the real source of corruption. And the one guaranteed way to shut it all down tomorrow would be to adopt the Fair Tax proposal.
Without the loopholes, tax credits and exemptions to pursue...the lobbyists on K Street would be out of business. And April 15th would be just another day. Imagine that!
There is a way to end the corruption but not enough people want it to end. Why? Well, many Americans enjoy benefiting from the corruption of their representative of Congress. People love their legislators for "bringing home the bacon" in the form of some sort of pork barrel spending or project and reward them with their votes. How many times do Americans fall for the vote-buying schemes of one member of Congress or another?
When congress takes money from the achievers in society and gives it to those who did not earn it...that's a form of corruption. Of course they call it paying taxes and entitlements. There are Lobbyists and politicians who live off the social engineering of the tax code...that's the real source of corruption. And the one guaranteed way to shut it all down tomorrow would be to adopt the Fair Tax proposal.
Without the loopholes, tax credits and exemptions to pursue...the lobbyists on K Street would be out of business. And April 15th would be just another day. Imagine that!
Department of Homeland Security Has Issued Guidelines for Cleaning Up After a Dirty Bomb
This should make us all feel better....the Department of Homeland Security has issued guidelines for cleaning up after a dirty bomb, or what they call an "improvised nuclear device."
The announcement follows the disclosure last month that the U.S. government has been monitoring radiation levels at more than 100 mosques, homes, businesses and other sites in and around the nation's capital and at least five other cities since Sept. 11, 2001. Law enforcement officials suspect terrorists have secreted nuclear or radiological weapons inside the country – part of al-Qaida's decade-long plot to detonate nuclear weapons in seven to nine major U.S. cities simultaneously in an operation it calls "American Hiroshima."
According to one source, Al-Qaida's prime targets for launching nuclear terrorist attacks are the U.S. cities with the highest Jewish populations, according to captured leaders and documents.
Maybe people will start to pay attention and take the threat seriously or not.
The announcement follows the disclosure last month that the U.S. government has been monitoring radiation levels at more than 100 mosques, homes, businesses and other sites in and around the nation's capital and at least five other cities since Sept. 11, 2001. Law enforcement officials suspect terrorists have secreted nuclear or radiological weapons inside the country – part of al-Qaida's decade-long plot to detonate nuclear weapons in seven to nine major U.S. cities simultaneously in an operation it calls "American Hiroshima."
According to one source, Al-Qaida's prime targets for launching nuclear terrorist attacks are the U.S. cities with the highest Jewish populations, according to captured leaders and documents.
Maybe people will start to pay attention and take the threat seriously or not.
The poverty hype
We hear all the time that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer....but as Dr. Walter E. Williams reports, poverty is nowhere near the problem it used to be. Read on.
With these sauce dispensing chopsticks you’ll never have to dip your sushi in soy sauce again. For $21 you can own two pairs of these chopsticks. What a deal from the department of silly products, soy sauce dispensing chopsticks
18 Tricks To Teach Your Body
If your throat tickles, scratch your ear. Experience supersonic hearing! Stop the world from spinning! Learn more here 18 Tricks to Teach Your Body.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Trust Us, The Tap Water Is Fine…
Never mind the bottled water were drinking, we just prefer it over the perfectly OK to drink tap water. Officials in the LA water department have been working for two years and spent 1 million dollars in a PR campaign to assure LA residents that their tap water is among the best and safe to drink. Well ... now it seems that we have learned that during those same two years the LA water department spent nearly $89,000 on bottled water for their offices.
Your kidding, the government did this??? Why I am shocked!!!! I mean all my liberal friends keep telling me this kind of thing only happens when private corporations who only care about making a buck are in charge of things and that we need government regulations on everything to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
You know I couldn’t help but to think of the government ran public school system when I came across this story. The department of education spends millions upon millions of tax dollars every year to try and convince us that the education system is getting better. They even brag about mediocre schools that aren’t so mediocre in all actuality. But what do the public school teachers think about the quality of education at the schools they work in? Just like the employees at the LA Water Department they prefer the private sector product over the government’s version. That’s right, the vast majority of public school teachers send their kids to private schools. In fact public school teachers send their kids to private schools at a higher rate than any other professional group in the country.
The employees of the LA water department know the truth. So does the government school teachers ... and they're not buying their bosses propaganda.
Your kidding, the government did this??? Why I am shocked!!!! I mean all my liberal friends keep telling me this kind of thing only happens when private corporations who only care about making a buck are in charge of things and that we need government regulations on everything to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
You know I couldn’t help but to think of the government ran public school system when I came across this story. The department of education spends millions upon millions of tax dollars every year to try and convince us that the education system is getting better. They even brag about mediocre schools that aren’t so mediocre in all actuality. But what do the public school teachers think about the quality of education at the schools they work in? Just like the employees at the LA Water Department they prefer the private sector product over the government’s version. That’s right, the vast majority of public school teachers send their kids to private schools. In fact public school teachers send their kids to private schools at a higher rate than any other professional group in the country.
The employees of the LA water department know the truth. So does the government school teachers ... and they're not buying their bosses propaganda.
Speaking Of Public School Teachers and the NEA.
If you are a teacher in a public school or know someone who teaches in a public school you just have to read this article from today's Wall Street Journal. It's about the National Education Association (NEA) the largest teacher union in the country. For years the NEA fought hard to prevent the implementation of a rule that would require them to make the records of their political contributions public. Well they have lost their battle, and now we know why they didn’t want to disclose this information. You can go to this web site to get all of the details. But wait! The editorial board of the Wall Street Journal has saved you the trouble. Here are some of the details:
The NEA gave away more than $65 million dollars last year, virtually all of it to leftist, liberal groups. We're talking groups like Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Amnesty International, who accused our troops of prisoner abuse and compared the treatment of terrorist prisoners to a Soviet gulag, in case you forgot who they were. There was also a donation of $15,000 (pocket change to the NEA) to the Human Rights Campaign, this group, you may remember, lobbies for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights". How special. The Fund to Protect Social Security got $400,000. There was also money spent to fight charter schools in Florida. How dare Florida try to improve the quality of education through the use of charter schools? The NEA also spent money trying to "redirect Florida politics in a more progressive, Democratic direction."
Oh ... and then there's this. The WSJ article also reminds us of just what these union officials earn a year. The NEA has about 600 employees. Their payroll is $58 million. Get out the old calculator folks. That makes the average NEA salary about $96,670 a year. How many teachers make this much? Not many. The average teacher salary is roughly $48,000 a year, give or take some. Reg Weaver, the president of the NEA, makes $439,000 a year. Over one-half of the NEA employees make over $100,000 a year.
So are you disgusted by all of this yet? Sure you are. And you can rest assured that there are thousands of government school teachers out there who will be just as outraged as you when they learn how their dues money is being spent. But will anybody actually do anything about it? That is the real question.
The NEA gave away more than $65 million dollars last year, virtually all of it to leftist, liberal groups. We're talking groups like Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Amnesty International, who accused our troops of prisoner abuse and compared the treatment of terrorist prisoners to a Soviet gulag, in case you forgot who they were. There was also a donation of $15,000 (pocket change to the NEA) to the Human Rights Campaign, this group, you may remember, lobbies for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights". How special. The Fund to Protect Social Security got $400,000. There was also money spent to fight charter schools in Florida. How dare Florida try to improve the quality of education through the use of charter schools? The NEA also spent money trying to "redirect Florida politics in a more progressive, Democratic direction."
Oh ... and then there's this. The WSJ article also reminds us of just what these union officials earn a year. The NEA has about 600 employees. Their payroll is $58 million. Get out the old calculator folks. That makes the average NEA salary about $96,670 a year. How many teachers make this much? Not many. The average teacher salary is roughly $48,000 a year, give or take some. Reg Weaver, the president of the NEA, makes $439,000 a year. Over one-half of the NEA employees make over $100,000 a year.
So are you disgusted by all of this yet? Sure you are. And you can rest assured that there are thousands of government school teachers out there who will be just as outraged as you when they learn how their dues money is being spent. But will anybody actually do anything about it? That is the real question.
Democrats Continue Crusade For Surrender In Iraq
The new Democratic spokesman for defeat, surrender and Islamic victory was on nightline last night and as always the Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha had some interesting things to say.
When the 37 year Marine Corp Vietnam Veteran was asked if he would join the military today...he said no, and went on to say that anyone who didn't want to sign up was justified in doing so. Ok, fine, I agree with that. That is why it is a all volunteer military. What I have a problem with is when you add this comment to other comments that Murtha has made in the recent past you get a we need to leave Iraq because we can’t accomplish the mission, our military is broken and not up to the task kind of anti war tune. When asked to comment on Murtha's remarks, the Pentagon hit the nail on the head: "We have an all-volunteer military. People are free to choose whether they serve or not." Amen!
If the Democrats' strategy for victory in 2006 continues to be trying to undermine every effort of our military, it is going to get them nowhere. Right now, Zarqawi has to be happier than a good ol’ boy with some moonshine ....He's got one of the dominant political parties in the United States making his speeches for him. Now that is a hell of a deal! The people of the United States can fail to understand this at their own peril, but: the policy of the Democratic Party under Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and John Murtha is one of unconditional surrender against Islamic terrorism.
When the 37 year Marine Corp Vietnam Veteran was asked if he would join the military today...he said no, and went on to say that anyone who didn't want to sign up was justified in doing so. Ok, fine, I agree with that. That is why it is a all volunteer military. What I have a problem with is when you add this comment to other comments that Murtha has made in the recent past you get a we need to leave Iraq because we can’t accomplish the mission, our military is broken and not up to the task kind of anti war tune. When asked to comment on Murtha's remarks, the Pentagon hit the nail on the head: "We have an all-volunteer military. People are free to choose whether they serve or not." Amen!
If the Democrats' strategy for victory in 2006 continues to be trying to undermine every effort of our military, it is going to get them nowhere. Right now, Zarqawi has to be happier than a good ol’ boy with some moonshine ....He's got one of the dominant political parties in the United States making his speeches for him. Now that is a hell of a deal! The people of the United States can fail to understand this at their own peril, but: the policy of the Democratic Party under Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and John Murtha is one of unconditional surrender against Islamic terrorism.
Oh Where oh Where Have All The Katrina Money Gone.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was quite critical of Bush and his response to Hurricane Katrina. Well, as it would turn out, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation raised around $400,000 for Katrina victims. How much of that money has it distributed? As of yet, not one single penny has gone anywhere. So they want to talk about a slow response do they? Of course since this posting contains negative comments about a group associated with black people, oops my bad, African Americans, it is, of course, racist and makes me a racist. I wonder if the Rev. Jesse Jackson will call me.
Bill Clinton: U.S. Ready for Female President
Bill Clinton says America is ready for the first female president. Sure, why wouldn’t we be, I mean it is 2006 right. Just as long as it isn't his vicious evil yelling and screaming wife. I don't think anybody is quite ready for that.
Why Tell The Truth When You Like The Lie Better.
Ted Kennedy was ever so quick to jump on the opportunity to ridicule the Bush Administration about a U Mass student who claimed that he was interrogated for hours by the Department of Homeland Security for trying to obtain a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's "Little Red Book."
One little problem, it never happened, but that hasn't stopped Uncle Teddy from pushing the lie. So why has Ted Kennedy not apologized for accusing the Department of Homeland Security of visiting the home of a college student and interrogating him for trying to get a book? Because the truth doesn’t matter to him, never has never will.
One little problem, it never happened, but that hasn't stopped Uncle Teddy from pushing the lie. So why has Ted Kennedy not apologized for accusing the Department of Homeland Security of visiting the home of a college student and interrogating him for trying to get a book? Because the truth doesn’t matter to him, never has never will.
A list of worries for 2006
Democrat Lee Hamilton, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, has a list of worries for 2006. Two of the big ones: radical Islam and the problem of illegal immigration in this country.
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