Memorial Day 2005

I never served in our military, but I have family who did. And I know people today who are, or have family, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We should remember them every day...but especially Memorial Day. They have given their lives or a portion of their lives for their countrymen. This is no small thing and should be honored. And respected.

Terrorists in Florida---the sequel

According the the AP (thru Yahoo News):

" FBI agents in Florida and New York arrested two men who prosecutors said were secretly recorded during a two-year sting operation pledging their support and loyalty to al-Qaida. Authorities said Sunday that Rafiq Abdus Sabir, 50, a Boca Raton physician, and Tarik Shah, 42, a self-described martial arts expert in New York, conspired to treat and train terrorists. Both are American citizens."

Oh, and of course the family says this couldn't possibly be true. American citizens. American Muslims. American traitors.

And yet the liberal weenies in this country pee in their pants over Christians.

Pity...or Praise...the French

Kinda hard to tell which to do at this point. Frenchies seem to have rejected the EU constitution. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, yet I can't seem to keep from smiling.

UPDATE
I just heard on MSM network news (well, it was ABC and I had my hands full and couldn't turn it off) about how this would be a bad thing because it will hurt America's war on terror since Europe would be divided. The "expert" was a liberal weenie and was therefore ridiculous. Face it, France and Germany (and Belgium, etc) were very much united in their anti-american obstructionism before the vote and will continue to be so well into the future.

More Bad News For Florida On The Election-2000, That Is

From the above post from Captain's Quarters, it seems Florida taxpayers will continue to pay for the extreme lies and dishonesty of the Democrats in the 2000 election. Not only did we pay millions for needless changes, now we have to pay millions more to correct the changes rushed through immediately after that horrendous election.

"Remember the hue and cry that ensued from the use of punch-card ballots in Florida for the 2000 election? After decades of use across the nation, we were led to believe that Florida voters suddenly became completely inept at punching ballots. New voting systems had to be bought, now, in order to save the poor incompetent dears from themselves. Anyone who balked or asked questions hated democracy, of course.

Unfortunately, millions of dollars later, those questions have not disappeared. Miami-Dade's new voting machines are heading for the scrap heap, a $25 million testament to impulse buying and a lack of proper time and effort for researching needs and requirements:
******
Perhaps some lessons can be learned from this fiasco, which will cost Florida residents another $12 million to correct, for the optical-scan ballots that require voters to fill in bubbles on a paper ballot (assuming we can trust them to use a pen properly)."

The Captain then listed 5 lessons that we had already learned, but which bears repeating anyway. He finishes with the following:

"Florida can thank all the hysterics from the aftermath of the 2000 election for wasting millions of dollars on the wrong technology. In truth, they could have saved 99% of that cash by simply printing signs that stated that voters should double-check their punch cards for fully punched selections before leaving the booth, and therefore put the onus for reliable voting processes where it belongs: on the voters themselves."

I'm afraid the Captain is contributing to the myth that Florida voters are the stupidest in the nation. I must take exception to that: the truth is that Florida DEMOCRAT voters were the stupidest in the nation in 2000. They still are boobs, but in 2004, that title went to other Democrat voters. Washington and Ohio, stand up and take a bow. Thank you for relieving us of the title!

Senators Graham and DeWine Cut A Deal....but for whom?

Patterico's Pontifications (above link) has an interesting take on the filibuster deal by the 14 "moderates," particularly DeWine and Graham. Patterico reported that "Fox News is reporting tonight that Sen. Graham and Sen. DeWine signed on to the [filibuster] deal at the explicit request of the White House, which wasn't sure that Arlen Specter would vote for the nuclear option if push came to shove." He then opined that "If this is true, it is yet another miscalculation by the Bush Administration. The GOP should have forced Specter to vote. Had he voted the wrong way, that would have been his last day as Judiciary Committee Chairman. He wouldn't dare."

I don't think that the White House was involved, but frankly I'm concerned. That would have been a miscalculation and a needless fumble. The nuclear trigger should have been pulled, regardless of the consequences. Sometimes you just have to do what's right. If anything it would have been Senator Frist's doing. I have my doubts about Frist's leadership abilities, but not his honesty. But I do wish Bush would do more to advance portions of his agenda and nominees, especially Bolton. And some mavericks should be punished. This particularly includes Specter, who never should have been made Chair. So many conservative Republicans badly misjudged his character. He appears more comfortable with most Democrats than with conservative members of his own party. And that was before his cancer.

As for DeWine and Graham, my problem is with their explanations expressed when the deal was cut. They seemed too self serving then, and even more so now. So for now, I'll continue to make them the scoundrels and hope I don't have to eat my words later.

(Sigh) There have been times in my life when I thought I would make a good politician. I was very, shall we say, nuanced in my opinions and flexible in my positions. But I now realize I would be lousy at it.

I also want to recommend another blog, Media Lies (http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1117258151.shtml), who has excellent points on this topic. I intend to re-visit the site in the days ahead. Which brings me to a problem with reading some blogs; they can make your efforts seem inadequate.

Florida-A Terrorist's Wonderland

Florida has a lot of imported nut jobs and home grown whackos, and we are a real favorite of terrorists. Well, those of a 'religion of peace' bent. Sami Al-Arian, a former USF professor and practitioner of the peaceful religion, are in trouble. According to the AP (above link) "Al-Arian and his co-defendants are scheduled for trial June 6. They could get life in prison if convicted on charges that include racketeering, providing material support to terrorists and money laundering."

"The Tampa cell was primarily responsible for raising money and serving as a communications center for the Islamic Jihad during the mid-1990s, Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Furr told a judge during a pretrial hearing for former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian and three other men."

"This is an elitist, little group of people, all highly educated, trying to convince people to go kill themselves on their behalf," Furr said."

"Furr said Tampa was so central to the terrorist group's organization that at times when Islamic Jihad members in different countries could not communicate with each other, three-way telephone calls would be placed through Tampa."

The Sunshine State has many terrorist ties, especially with 9/11. And ol' professor Sami has been integrally involved. Just some of the latest good news from sunny Florida. Yes, we are blessed. (Thanks to lgf http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=15996_Al-Arian_Trial_Update&onlyfor the above link.)

Stupid Republican "Moderates" Screwed Us Again

Well, that was fast! Stupid Republican "moderates" screwed up and were screwed again, even faster than I thought. On Thursday evening, the Democrats made sure they filibustered John Bolton. Wait, wasn't this "deal" by the seven Rep. wimps supposed to make sure the Senate could get back doing their job and save the nation? Wasn't that what Lindsey Graham said, as he and the others were preening in front of their new masters, the main stream media? But, wait again, it wasn't really a filibuster...it was a request for more information. And that's not a filibuster; I know this because Reid told me so. But I agree with Frist, this is a filibuster, but I won't hold my breath to see if the moral morons like Graham and DeWine grow a pair and do something constructive. (Link is to Michelle Malkin's blog.)

Thomas Sowell Excerpts re: GOP Moderates

Thomas Sowell, in his 5/25 column nails it on RealClearPolitics.com. I'm just posting some excerpts. No way I can improve on perfection as shown by my previous post on the GOP's seven wimps, I mean moderates.

The Senate Democrats hung tough and the Republicans wimped out. The Republicans had the votes but they didn't have the guts.
******
Although the Republicans have more votes in the Senate, and also have Vice-President Cheney to cast the deciding vote in case of a tie, the Democrats stuck together. None of them went around wringing their hands in the media about how hard it would be for them to support their party if it came to a vote.
******
Some Republicans may take comfort from the fact that they still have the option of changing the Senate rules in the future if the Democrats violate the spirit of their deal. But, once you have had the votes to win and wimped out instead, there is little reason to think that the weak sisters and opportunists on your side will be with you the next time high noon rolls around.

Hear that, Lindsey Graham?

I Really Can't Stand (Some) Republicans-Part Two

Well, seven "moderate" Republicans cut a deal with seven "moderate" Democrats to avert a needed, but outcome unknown, confrontation in the Senate. So these 14 masterminds decided that in order to save the Senate traditions, they would form a group that would destroy the Senate traditions. These giants of moderation decided that making a decision on constitutionality of 60 vote for cloture on judge nominations is just too scary, so they would just "punt" to gain time to do the people's business in the Senate, whatever the hell that is.

Anyway, the 7 Republicans included the usual RINOs, and of course that includes McCain, even though he is really only for himself. But it also includes a simpleton named Senator Graham of South Carolina. We in Florida recently had a bozo Senator also named Graham, but at least he was real Democrat, that is, he would screw over his state if it were in the best interest of the Democrat Party. He proved it in 2000. Anyway, back to this Graham. Lindsey seems to think he might be a presidential contender, so of course he has to screw his party for his own ambitions. I call him a simpleton because he seems to think this is a good plan. Yo, Lindsey, you will get no respect from the mainstream media when and if you decide to run. I mean, boy, they really love McCain, but only when he screws his party, but if he ever gets the nomination, he will find out that he will be equated with Hitler, etc. by those same media buddies. As far as the 2 Republican women Senators, they always seem to be more comfortable in the company of Democrats.

My Family Just Got Smaller

My wife and I just lost our little "boy" last night and I'm very sad. We never had children, so Yes, I'm talking about a dog, but he was a member of our family for 17 years. He was a (mostly) good boy and my little buddy. He was a pain in the ass, sure, so he and I fit together perfectly. He had a stroke in March, but it looks like cancer killed him. He was stubborn to the end and didn't give in easily. That's the way I plan on going out.

Nicky, I love you and miss you.

It's just Mrs. Right and me at home now. For the first time since 1977. We lost our sweet angel in May 1999 and our little girl in January 2003. Now our boy.

Even heartless conservatives cry.

At Least One Muslim Gets It

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal Online featured a message from Ali al-Ahmed, director of the Saudi Institute in Washington. He was stating the obvious about the hypocrisy of Muslims rioting over the supposed flushing of their holy book, while killing Christians and Jews and defiling their holy places and holy books. This is why I've referred to Islam being practiced by violent children. The truest believers of the most visible and radical sect are an unreasoning mob. They demand total respect for Islam, but have only disrespect and hatred for other religions. I'm sure much of it is due to their feelings of inferiority, either due to their backwardness or short penises. Hard to tell from their actions...could be both.

Anyway, Mr. al-Ahmed, who will probably be beheaded if he returns to Saudi Arabia, has excellent points. Too bad there are too few of Muslim adults like him. Excerpts from above link:

"As a Muslim, I am able to purchase copies of the Quran in any bookstore in any American city, and study its contents in countless American universities. American museums spend millions to exhibit and celebrate Muslim arts and heritage. On the other hand, my Christian and other non-Muslim brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia--where I come from--are not even allowed to own a copy of their holy books. Indeed, the Saudi government desecrates and burns Bibles that its security forces confiscate at immigration points into the kingdom or during raids on Christian expatriates worshiping privately.
***
The Bible in Saudi Arabia may get a person killed, arrested, or deported. In September 1993, Sadeq Mallallah, 23, was beheaded in Qateef on a charge of apostasy for owning a Bible. The State Department's annual human rights reports detail the arrest and deportation of many Christian worshipers every year. Just days before Crown Prince Abdullah met President Bush last month, two Christian gatherings were stormed in Riyadh. Bibles and crosses were confiscated, and will be incinerated. (The Saudi government does not even spare the Quran from desecration. On Oct. 14, 2004, dozens of Saudi men and women carried copies of the Quran as they protested in support of reformers in the capital, Riyadh. Although they carried the Qurans in part to protect themselves from assault by police, they were charged by hundreds of riot police, who stepped on the books with their shoes, according to one of the protesters.)
As Muslims, we have not been as generous as our Christian and Jewish counterparts in respecting others' holy books and religious symbols. Saudi Arabia bans the importation or the display of crosses, Stars of David or any other religious symbols not approved by the Wahhabi establishment. TV programs that show Christian clergymen, crosses or Stars of David are censored.
***
The lesson here is simple: If Muslims wish other religions to respect their beliefs and their Holy book, they should lead by example."

A Religion of Childish Rules

Forget a Martin Luther, how about just an adult in charge of the "religion of peace." This new religious squabble regarding the Indonesian Miss Universe contestant makes Jerry Falwell pronouncements seem reasonable. Speaking of which, do you think the MSM who take every opportunity to make fun of Falwell and his like will even mention the childishness and backwardness of the Indonesian state religion.

From SABC News through the lgf link above:

"Back home, conservative Islamic leaders in the world’s most populous Muslim nation have expressed outrage over Indonesia’s first participant in a Miss Universe pageant since former dictator Suharto imposed a ban in the 1990s on taking part in international beauty pageants.
The influential and largely conservative Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) said it may come up with a fatwa, or instruction, prohibiting Indonesian Muslim women from competing in the pageant in future. “It’s pornography, and for that it’s haram,” said Ma’aruf Amin, chief of the MUI’s Fatwa Commission, using an Arabic word that means outlawed by Islam. “This kind of pageant violates religious values, especially Islam, and Indonesia is known as a religious society, so one should not go into any activities that are not in line with religious values.”"

I'm For This *** I'm Against That

I'm for "A Woman's Right to Choose"
I'm against "Partial Birth Abortion"
***
I'm for same sex union contracts
I'm against homosexual marriage
***
I'm for true religious believers (i.e, peaceful practitioners of any faith)
I'm against religious fervor
***
I'm for atheists
I'm against atheistic fervor
***
I'm for conservatives
I'm against nutjobs like Pat Buchanan
***
I'm for liberals
I'm against nutjobs like Ted Kennedy/Howard Dean
***
I'm for Republicans
I'm against RINOs like Lincoln Chafee
***
I'm for Democrats
I'm against Democrat asses like Harry Reid
***
I'm for our military
I'm against women in combat
***
I'm for George W. Bush
I'm against his laxness about our southern border
***
To be continued

Muslims Need a Martin Luther

Muslims are part of a great religion that suffers from lack of oxygen. There are too few religionists who will stand up and say that True Islam does not riot over stupid issues, but instead prays and works hard (and non-violently) so that the world will eventually accept Islam. But no, it appears to be a religion for very violent, and deranged, children. Somewhere there must be a Muslim grown up who will say that the religion must shake off its savagery. Yes, Islam needs a Martin Luther. But if one steps forward, I fear he will be beheaded.

As excerpted from lgf, Jeff Jacoby's recent column states the obvious, which must even so be said and understood. He writes:

"But what disgraces Islam above all is the vast majority of the planet’s Muslims saying nothing and doing nothing about the jihadist cancer eating away at their religion. It is Free Muslims Against Terrorism, a pro-democracy organization, calling on Muslims and Middle Easterners to ”converge on our nation’s capital for a rally against terrorism” — and having only 50 people show up.

Yes, Islam is disrespected. That will only change when throngs of passionate Muslims show up for rallies against terrorism, and when rabble-rousers trying to gin up a riot over a defiled Koran can’t get the time of day. "

Newsweek...As Pathetic as Time Magazine

Yes, Newsweek reported a lie, and people have died. As the above linked editorial shows, the lie was that a Koran or Korans were desecrated and flushed down the toilet at Guatanamo. Of course by the hateful American soldiers, why else would this rag find it newsworthy. Well, that was an "error" because Newsweek relied upon an unreliable source. This little tidbit caused riots in certain nations where "The Religion of Peace" is practiced (AND you better practice it, unless you want to be killed).

Speaking of which, why do the backwards countries of this world-where they will kill you for being of the wrong religion-seem to be Islamic. This religion seemed to have spawned in the dark ages and remained there. But then perhaps I'm wrong-or a heathen-or just too stupid to understand the peacefulness that comes from following the teachings of "The Religion of Peace." Yeah, that's probably it.

And Now, Another Good Word for Christians

Jonah Goldberg, a nice Jewish boy, is also not afraid of Christians. As his linked column about a recent 'Law and Order' episode says, "All right, enough already. The Christians aren't coming to get you."

Jonah knows, as all sane people know, that Christians may be a pain in the ass (as far as you are concerned) but they are not dangerous. They won't be storming your house to kill you or force you to convert. Unless you're a weenie liberal, you know this is true. And if you are a weenie liberal, you left your reason and intelligence behind a long time ago.

The complexity of what conservative Christians really believe is lost on the writers of "Law & Order" - not surprising for a Hollywood show about New York that blends both coastal sensibilities perfectly. The fact that more and more headlines are being ripped from "red" America creates challenges for writers - like having to plausibly depict midtown Manhattan as a hotbed of evangelical, anti-abortion fervor (as they have more than once). But such challenges are minor compared to the dilemma of making their paranoia seem real.

I grew up in New York City, I know New York City, and I have this to tell my fellow New Yorkers: You are perfectly safe from the Christians hordes. None of the stuff supposedly "happening in America right now" is actually affecting Dowd or Krugman or the "L&O" writing teams. Pharmacies in New York and L.A. are still filling prescriptions for the "morning after" pill, schools are still teaching evolution, abortion clinics are humming along. And don't e-mail me in a tizzy about gay marriage bans. Gay marriage didn't exist under Bill Clinton either.

But that's how the "paranoid style" works: Abstract or distant offenses are seen as personal threats. And the megalomania of the paranoiacs cannot process the possibility that important things might be happening that do not affect them. Your Darwin fish are safe, my friends.

And Happy Mother's Day, by the way

Like I said, I visited my Mom this past weekend. We had an enjoyable time together. If you're interested, I'll be pleased to expand. But I know hardly anyone reads this, and besides, everyone has their own stories. Just suffice it to say, I love my Mother, I know I'm not a particularly good son, I know I can be a better person. I had a good time with my family and thank my sister for making the Sunday dinner. It was great. I'm sorry I didn't see or call my other sister, but that's a different story. Maybe next time. I just want to say that I love my Mom and my two sisters. May we spend more time...all together...in the future.

Christians and Me - the sequel

See I told you so...I get along just fine with Christians. I visited my mother on Mother's Day....AND I went to church for the first time (maybe the only time) this year. It was to a Baptist Church, Southern Baptist that is, and I was welcomed warmly by everyone. Not a Christian theocrat in the place. Just a bunch of like minded people who gathered to praise their god in their own manner. No calls to jihad, no "kill the infidel whenever you find him," no "death to America and her Jewish masters!" Just regular folks, worried about their nation, to be sure, but also wanting to be true to the lessons of Christ. Which, by the way, is NOT to behead the unbelievers. And yet, Liberals claim to be fearful of them. Liberals are such pansies!

Christians and Me - we get along

Throughout this blog I insist that I'm not religious, but do consider myself a conservative. However, I have nothing against religious conviction (of the non-Islamist kind) and especially not against Christian believers. Christians don't scare me, but they make liberals, excuse me, "progressives" pee in their pants. Which is another reason to like Christians.

James Taranto (WSJ Best of the Web) says it perfectly (see above link from Tim Blair):

"I am not a Christian, or even a religious believer, and my opinions on social issues are decidedly middle-of-the-road. So why do I find myself rooting for the 'religious right'? I suppose it is because I am put off by self-righteousness, closed-mindedness, and contempt for democracy and pluralism--all of which characterize the opposition to the religious right."

Absolutely! As long as the leftist bigots hate Christians, I will always be pleased to hang around Christians. And get real, Christians built this country on Judeo-Christian principles and there has never been a theocracy here, even when virtually everyone considered themselves Christians. Since that is no longer true, you have to be a liar or a moral moron to believe that such a thing could happen today. UNLESS, of course, this nation get conquered by Islam, you know, that religion of peace.

I'll be attending a Baptist church this weekend with my Mom. I go to church with her no more than once a year. Yet I'm always greeted warmly. No one has attacked me or tried to forcefully convert me or tried to cut my head off. They may say a prayer for me, and frankly, I appreciate it because I think it's done with love. And to think such people scare pansy liberals. God help us when they return to power. They are too gutless to defend this nation. They prove it by their fear of Christians.

Another Floridian Leaves to Serve His Country

If my prayers would do anything, I would be praying for a lady with whom I work. Her husband, a Marine in the active reserves, has been called up and is leaving today for Iraq. She is a newlywed and recently moved to Florida. He's a Marine captain who had honorable service and who just recently applied for active reserve. He's been in training for a month and now will be in the Iraqi theater for another seven months. He does so willingly. After all, he is an American and a Marine. I wish the best for both of them. A safe and healthy return home.

The La La Times-worse than the NY Times?

The LA Times has twice in 2 days omitted important and exculpatory information from newswire stories on the lying Itailian communitist "journalist" who was "rescued" from the Iraqi terrorists. You remember, the one who said American soldiers deliberately tried to kill her by shooting at her car, but only wounded her and then made sure she got medical attention? Well, it turns out that satellite data shows that the car was speeding toward the soldiers at 60 miles per hour (at least twice as fast as her repeated lie). Two Reuters dispatches used by the LA Times included this information, but the "news" paper deleted it both times. I mean this would only show that our soldiers were truthful. Can't have that! (Thanks to the Patterico's Pontifications blog (above link), through Lucianne, for this information.)

That's not in the liberal anti-american, anti-military storyline that the LA Times routinely spews. They are in a close race with the NY Times for the most bigoted, biased, anti-American "news" rag. But right now, the LA Times is ahead.