During one of my first classes upon returning to college to pursue my Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, my instructor asked the class how many of us had been victims of a crime, or had known someone who had been a victim of a crime. I was the only one who didn’t raise my hand. I considered myself incredibly lucky, neither I, nor any of my family or friends had ever been victims of crime.
That changed this past Tuesday.
I’ve been doing small repairs on my father’s house for about a month now, nothing major, just getting it ready to sell. It’s a big house, and too much for him to take care of on his own. The plan is to have it ready to put on the market the first week of July, so I’ve been working all hours to get it done as scheduled.
Because of the pressure (self-imposed) to get the job done, I was working into the early hours of Tuesday morning. It was around one a.m., and I had another bag of garbage/debris to take outside. As I opened the door, I was confronted by a man dressed all in black.
There was absolutely no time to think. I was acting on pure instinct when I tried to slam the door closed. As quick as I was, I wasn’t quick enough. He was able to get an arm through the door, and in the hand that stuck through the opening was a .44 Magnum. We struggled for what seemed like hours, though was probably no longer than a few minutes. At one point I even grabbed the barrel of the gun in an attempt to wrench it from his grasp, or at the very least keep it pointed somewhere other than where I was standing; to be honest I don’t know why I did it, again, it was simply instinctive. Despite my efforts he was gaining leverage, and soon his other hand came through the door, holding a second gun.
He now had half his body in the doorway, and in a matter of seconds he was through the door. I was now face to face with him. He was no more than two or three feet away, arms outstretched, with the barrels of both guns aimed directly at my head. I can’t tell you what the second gun was, other than that it was some type of automatic; the barrel of his .44 Magnum seemed mere inches from my head.
I was ordered into another room, and forced to the ground. As I lay face down, I felt a knee crash into the small of my back, and felt the cold barrel of a gun pressed into the back of my head. As I was being bound with duct tape, my assailant asked me why he shouldn’t just kill me for having fought with him. All I could say was, “it was instinct.” At this the gun barrel was pressed more forcefully into the back of my head, and he replied, and I kid you not, “your instinct gonna get you killed motherf*****.” At first I wondered what action movie he’d stolen that cheesy line from, then my thoughts turned more serious.
At this point, for the first time since this had started, I wasn’t sure whether I would be alive to see another day. As he left the room to search for valuables that had long since been packed up, I began to pray. I also thought of my father, who would be coming back down that day to see how the house was coming along, the thought of him discovering me dead was almost unbearable. I also thought of my sister and my brother in-law, and the beautiful nieces they’ve blessed our family with. I thought of my girlfriend, the woman who has brought the smile back to my face, and happiness to my life. I also thought of all my friends and other family members, with whom I have enjoyed, and endured, the good times, and the bad times. While my entire life didn’t pass before my eyes, the moments, and people, that matter certainly did.
Though I was bound, gagged, and blindfolded, I could hear the intruder’s movements throughout the house. He made a stop in the kitchen, even opening the refrigerator, evidently he had no desire for the salami, cheese, butter, or sour cream that occupied space inside. He moved on to the other rooms in the house one by one. The pickings were slim, almost everything has already been packed up.
My thoughts quickly returned to my current predicament, and I gave serious thought to attempting to break free. Had I known how easy it would have been to break free of the duct tape he used to bind me I would have. I certainly wanted to. My thoughts weren’t on escaping though, they were on getting my hands on some type of a weapon, surprising him, and bashing his skull in with it. Movement in the hallway cut short any plan I would have formulated.
His footsteps stopped in the doorway of the room I was in, and I could hear him breathing. He was but a few feet from me, and I could visualize him pointing a gun at my head, deciding whether or not to pull the trigger. Though I was bound and gagged, with my life in God’s hands, I felt the need to show him that I would not cower in fear, regardless of the consequences. Though I was also blindfolded, I lifted my head, and stared at where I believed him to be. After a few seconds I heard his footsteps recede, and the front door open.
I quickly broke free, and closed and locked the front door, just in case he was simply bringing something outside and would return. As I looked out the front window, I saw a vehicle drive away with its lights off.
The police arrived in force no more than two minutes after I called 911. They quickly put out a countywide APB, though they weren’t able to locate the vehicle or suspect. There were so many officers that arrived, I lost track, though at one time I counted seven. My hats go off to these officers, they were professional and courteous every step of the way that morning, and have continued to be so during the subsequent follow-up interviews.
All in all, very little of value was taken. He made off with a bunch of CDs and DVDs, as well as a portable DVD player. He also made off with some knives which were my father’s, and my father’s father’s; I don’t think any of them were worth anything, though I was partial to the Jim Bowie knife that I first eyed, and sharpened as a teenager. He also made off with the beer steins I had brought back with me from my tour in Germany.
What was most perplexing, was why this piece of excrement felt the need to make off with my cigarettes and lighter, and the remote to the television he’d left sitting on its stand. Sitting here writing this a day later it still pisses me off, though in retelling this part of the story I’ve had a few good laughs, something I sorely needed. All that was lost can be replaced, even if I have to take a trip to Germany to buy new steins.
The neighbors have been especially kind to me, some of whom were here when I was growing up in this house, others whom I’d never met before. Everyone remarks about what a safe neighborhood this is, how they couldn’t believe that it had happened. And they’re right. This is a safe neighborhood. In all the years I lived here there was never even the hint of crime; the sounds of sirens were always heard in the far off distance.
I’m not sure what lessons from this I’ll learn, if there are indeed even any lessons to learn. Random acts of violence are unfortunately a part of life.
In the end I’m still alive, and for that I thank God; I truly believe he was watching over me. Tomorrow is another day, a day that will be filled with family and friends, and the love of a good woman. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
p.s. The-Right-Side will return to its normally scheduled ranting, raving, and dispensing of rhetoric over the weekend.
It should come as no surprise that the biggest spenders on Capitol Hill are Democrats. It should also come as no surprise that these same Democrats are among the most vocal opponents of tax relief.
A national tax watchdog group has found that the biggest spenders in the House of Representatives are also some of the most vocal about the country not being able to afford tax cuts for fear, they say, of running up huge federal deficits.
"Are we going to continue to give tax cuts or start investing in our future? We need to look at where we are going and begin to act responsibly," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., who is cited as the sixth highest spender in the House, having sponsored or co-sponsored bills with an estimated $1.7 trillion in new programs and increases over the 2003 fiscal year budget.
The other top spenders from highest to lowest are: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., with $1.75 trillion; Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y., with $1.73 trillion; Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., with $1.73 trillion; Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., with $1.71 trillion; Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., with $1.71 trillion; Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., with $1.69 trillion; Rep. Julia Carson, D-Ind., with $1.68 trillion; Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., with $1.68 trillion; and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., with $1.68 trillion.
But officials at the National Taxpayers Union, a conservative watchdog group that tracks member voting on tax issues, said the deficit argument is a red herring.
"To oppose the tax cuts out of fear of the deficit is problematic enough, but to use the deficits as a cover for their real agenda of much higher spending only puts taxpayers in double jeopardy," said NTU spokesman Pete Sepp.
NTU's BillTally survey on the sponsors and costs of legislation in Congress found that of the top 10 spenders in the House, all had voted against the 2003 tax cut packages, and seven of the 10 had voted against recent proposals to make permanent cuts for the 10 percent marginal income tax bracket.
"It is disingenuous for members of Congress who are voting to increase spending to then say they are against tax cuts" because of budget deficits, said Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste, which rooted out $22.9 billion worth of members' special interest, or pork, projects from 2004 appropriations bills.
I received my first spam comment today. Isn't that nice?
Telemarketers, e-mail spammers, comment spammers...there will be a special place in hell for these people!
The top U.S. administrator in Iraq handed full sovereignty to the new interim Iraqi government on Monday, two days before the June 30 deadline, Fox News has confirmed.
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer signed the legal paper in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Monday and presented it to the chief justice of Iraq, Midhat Al-Mahmoud.
What happens when the President of a local NAACP chapter makes a derogatory remark to an Irish-American City Councilman? Apparently, nothing.
The president of the city's branch of the NAACP has landed in a pot of hot water, rather than gold, at the other end of the rainbow, after angrily calling City Council Majority Leader Liam McLaughlin a "leprechaun" at the close of a public meeting Tuesday night.
McLaughlin, at 5-foot-10, certainly does not resemble a leprechaun, the diminutive, elfish creature of Irish folklore. As an active member of the Irish-American community in Yonkers, however, the Republican 4th District councilman is not taking kindly to being called one by Karen Edmonson, the president of the Yonkers branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
"If anybody else made some type of similar remark, everybody would be calling for their head," McLaughlin said yesterday, joining Councilman Dennis Robertson, D-3rd District, in calling for Edmonson to apologize and resign.
Edmonson, however, refused yesterday to even say the comment was derogatory.
"It's a Halloween term. It's nothing," she said after being told of complaints by
McLaughlin and Robertson.
Edmonson, who attended the council meeting with dozens of other parents to express concern about the $50 million school budget deficit next year in a public hearing, reacted angrily at its close, when City Council President Richard Martinelli would not allow Minority Leader Sandy Annabi, D-2nd District, to ask McLaughlin in public about the collapse of a deal to close a $12.5 million hole in this year's school budget.
"What about the $12.5 million?" Edmonson shouted as the meeting broke up.
McLaughlin, who has long been critical of the financial burden the NAACP's desegregation lawsuit has placed on the city's schools, responded to Edmonson by saying, "Why don't you ask the NAACP?"
"I'm asking you, you leprechaun!" she shouted back.
Of course Edmonson has refused to apologize, or even admit that the remark was offensive in the first place. Evidently, racist remarks are only racist remarks when they're aimed at people of color.
The list of prime-time speakers for the GOP convention continues to grow. In addition to Sen. Zell Miller (D), we can expect to see California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. John McCain, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
"Give Peace a Chance!" "Make Peace Not War!" These are liberals slogans that we all know and, well we know them. Oh, I almost forgot one..."When someone disagrees with your position don't engage them in a conversation, just spit on them, and if that doesn't shut them up just knock them to the ground!" Ok, I know that is a bit wordy for a slogan, (can you imagine that printed on a bumper sticker?) nonetheless, this seems to be the attitude of the new and unimproved "Angry Democrats."
The highly anticipated film, Fahrenheit 9/11, came with more than just controversy at one Las Vegas movie theatre. Moviegoer, Richard Streeter, was one of the many who made his way to a theatre to see what the hype was about. After viewing the film, he was greeted outside the theatre by members of the Las Vegas MoveOn.org.
The group was handing out leaflets on the importance of the film. Streeter voiced his view on the movie, "I made the comment, apples and oranges -- Kerry, Bush -- one's no better than the other. You really ain't got much of a choice. This guy comes up to me and says, 'Oh yeah?' " Streeter was then spat on by the same man.
He attempted to call police to report the incident when he was told not to, "A guy standing next to him said why don't you drop it. I said, 'No, I'm calling the police. I'm exercising my right as a citizen, I've been assaulted.' "
But the horror kept on growing for Streeter as he walked to his car on the phone with police, "This guy turns, and totally by surprise takes his hand and bam! It was a big guy. Shoved me onto the ground, I hit my head." A police report has been filed.
Good ole liberal activism in action, brought to you by those crazy folks at moveon.org.
It looks like Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia will once again be crossing party lines as he's set to speak at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Georgia Sen. Zell Miller, the highest profile Democrat to endorse President Bush for re-election, will speak at the Republican National Convention later this summer, a congressional aide said Friday.
According to the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Miller will give his address on Wednesday night of the four-day convention in New York that begins Aug. 30. The Bush-Cheney campaign was expected to make an announcement Monday, the aide said.
Don't think the Dems are going to take this lying down though. . .
Miller drew a sharp rebuke from the dean of the state's congressional delegation, Democratic Rep. John Lewis, who called the senator's decision "a shame and a disgrace."
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
(Story from Newsday.com)
Just as his "Fahrenheit 9/11" opens nationwide, several filmmakers are readying documentaries aimed at debunking Michael Moore, and a new film festival is being planned that will feature such works as well as other movies well to the right of Moore's films.
Scheduled Sept. 9-11 in Dallas, the American Film Renaissance, as the festival will be known, has just been announced by co-founder Jim Hubbard, who said it is bankrolled primarily by some "big-time conservative donors."
It is about time. Conservative voices have been overshadowed by the liberals in Hollywood for far too long, and it is good to see someone going beyond the 'boycott' strategy and actually getting involved in promoting conservative films.
The festival will feature "Michael Moore Hates America" (which in all fairness should just be changed to 'Michael Moore Hates Republicans') and Michael & Me, Larry Elder's response to Moore's "Bowling for Columbine."
There is a lot being made over Dick Cheney's supposed use of the "F-Bomb" in an exchange with Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy this week. I don't get it.
How many of us can honestly say that we haven't used the word, whether in anger, exasperation, or disbelief? I certainly can't. So why is it a big deal? I have no idea, let me know if you do.
In typical leftist media fashion though, the back story to this exchange isn't being reported in most stories covering it.
Here's what happened, Sen. Leahy accused Vice President Cheney of malfeasance with regards to contracts given to Halliburton to help rebuild Iraq. It was a personal attack on the vice president's character and integrity. Then, as the Senate was gathering for its annual picture, Sen. Leahy approached the vice president. . .
CAVUTO: So let me understand, he comes up, he sees you, Mr. Vice — he's all nice, shakes your hand. And then what do you do, let into him?
CHENEY: Explain my unhappiness with the way he conducted himself. Part of the problem here is, that instead of having a substantive debate over important policy issues, he had challenged my integrity. And I didn't like that. But, most of all, I didn't like the fact that after he had done so then he wanted to act like, you know, everything's peaches and cream.
- FOXNews.com (scroll toward the bottom of the page for this part of the interview)
Sounds like a justifiable use of the "F-Bomb," if ever there was one.
It all started on Friday, May 14th with a small act of conservative pride. My socialist history teacher was on another kick about how articulate Noam Chomsky was, when I finally reached my limit.
And so began Operation Tiger Claw.
What follows is one student's fight to have his voice heard, a fight that would pit him against school administrators and students alike. I highly recommend you read the full account. It is a truly remarkable story.
(Salutes to RobBernard.com)
What happens in California stays in California. Wait, that's not how the saying goes. Not yet at least.
On Monday, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed a compact with five Indian tribes which will help California with a much needed infusion of cash, while greatly expanding the capacity of casinos in California.
The Good:
The state will receive 1 billion up front with up to $200 million a year in recurring income.
The Bad:
Tribes who enter into this compact with California are guaranteed unlimited slot machines.
I know that in the political arena this is considered a 'win-win' situation, California gets some sorely needed cash and the casino tribes get to expand to Vegas-like proportions, but I just don't like it.
Don't get me wrong, I’m not against gambling, or casinos per se. What bothers me is that we have allowed a small segment of our society, actually a sovereign nation, rights and privileges that no other segment is granted. The signing of this compact solidifies that inequity by extending to the signing tribes the exclusive right to operate casinos within California through 2030.
It should be noted, however, that despite the signing of these compacts the issue of expansion and revenue sharing is not dead. The compacts must be ratified by the California Legislature, and then approved by the U.S. Interior Department. There will also be two separate ballot measures this November, both of which would make null and void the compact agreements, even if they win approval in the legislature and are approved by the U.S. Interior Department.
The first measure, which is being supported by several of the smaller gaming tribes would allow for unlimited slot machines if gaming tribes pay the meager 8.8% corporate tax rate. The second measure, which would address the issue of inequity but cost the state millions of dollars in revenue, would allow certain commercial interests to operate casino style establishments.
While the second measure is certainly more to my liking, I hate the idea that if passed it will once again allow tribal casinos to operate in California without requiring them to pay an equitable portion of their revenues to California.
At this time gaming tribes only pay $140 million in revenue to the state out of the estimated 6 billion dollars they generate each year, a proportion which is less than that which any other state with tribal gaming receives.
Today is Wictory Wednesday, the one day out of the week where Right minded bloggers ask their readers to do their part to help the President win re-election.
We all need to work hard to ensure that Kerry's pessimism doesn't carry the day in November. Do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
Whom do Democrats fear the most in this upcoming election? Well, if a recent meeting on Capitol Hill is any indication, the correct answer to that question is Ralph Nader.
At a closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol, lawmakers could be heard shouting at Nader to get out of the race. When the meeting was cut short by a floor vote, several of the members stormed out of the room.
Those of you with children will recognize this behavior as 'throwing a temper tantrum.' Don't get me wrong, I’m in no way implying that Democrats are acting like petulant children, not at all. Ah, screw it, yes I am.
The behavior of these Democrats is appalling, but not surprising in the least, considering they tried these same tactics during the 2000 election. Their protest that "A Vote for Nader is a Vote for Bush," shows their arrogance. It's almost as if they believe that they are entitled to the votes of a certain segment of the population.
The funniest part of this whole saga though is what Nader told reporters after this incident:
He told reporters that he tried to explain to caucus members that he will help elect presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry in November by splitting the conservative vote and siphoning support from President Bush.
I've read that statement several times now, just checking to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong. I'm not. Nader actually thinks he is going to split the conservative vote? I don't know a single person right of center that would even consider voting for Nader. This statement is very reminiscent of Kerry's declaration that many foreign leaders would rather have him as president. I'm not sure what these guys are smoking, but I’m quite sure it's a controlled substance.
(Story from CNN)
As I've noted in a previous entry, two crews from my Army Reserve unit are currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At this time they are eight months into what will more than likely be an eighteen-month deployment.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to talk to one of my fellow NCOs that is deployed with those two crews. It was good to hear from him, and find that the morale of our troops over there was still holding strong. After catching up on the news from our unit, who has been promoted, what is the new commander like, etc., our conversation turned to the security situation in their AO (area of operation for you nonmilitary types).
Our conversation reminded me of how dangerous the situation is over there, and by over there I mean the entire Middle East, not just Iraq or Afghanistan. As a part of a Heavy Boat Transportation crew, one would think that there would be very little danger faced. Unfortunately, an old enemy is beginning to make noise in the area that my unit is operating in, despite the presence of the vastly superior US Navy and US Coast Guard.
My friend related to me several stories of run-ins and show downs with an increasingly hostile Iranian Navy. Though there was never a shot fired, he said that they, the Iranian Navy, was becoming increasingly bold in these confrontations. From what he told me it seemed that it was only a matter of time before the situation over there escalated.
Which is why this morning's news that three British patrol boats, and their crews, had been captured by the Iranians did not come as a big surprise to me.
Iran has seized three UK navy vessels and eight crew members inside its territorial waters near the Iraq border, UK defence officials confirmed.
UK diplomats are now in close contact with Iranian officials both in London and Tehran over the incident on the Shatt al-Arab river.
The UK ministry of defence said the detained sailors were part of a Royal Navy training team heading to Basra.
Iran said the vessels had entered its waters without permission.
- BBC
The British Navy vessels were seized as they were on a routine training mission on the Shatt al-Arab waterway. The borders of both Iraq and Iran run down the middle of this waterway, and it is Iraq's main access to the Persian Gulf.
This latest round of muscle flexing by Iran, when combined with several other recent overtly hostile acts, and the emerging news that Iran has hidden some of its nuclear facilities is troubling. It would seem that Iran is testing our resolve in the Middle East, at a time when they believe our attentions are focused elsewhere. And to think, the liberal whiners moaned and groaned when President Bush labeled them as part of the "axis of evil."
The Polling Place is still open, but here are the results so far:
Who do you think John Kerry will choose as his running mate?
Sen. John Edwards 21.7% (5)
Sen. Dick Gephardt 52.2% (12)
Gov. Bill Richardson 0.0% (0)
Sen. Bob Graham 4.3% (1)
None of the above 21.7% (5)
Which sports franchise is the most hated?
New York Yankees 71.4% (10)
Oakland Raiders 7.1% (1)
Los Angeles Lakers 14.3% (2)
Dallas Cowboys 7.1% (1)
Other 0.0% (0)
If you haven't cast your vote yet, make sure you stop by The Polling Place and do so. More polls will be added soon!
Why do I love my Father so much? I love my father because when I was growing up he acted like my father, very unlike many parents these days that would rather be their childrens' friend than their parent.
I didn't always get my way, or get what I wanted. My father didn't tolerate foolishness, or talking back. Sure, this meant that we clashed every once in a while, but more than anything I remember my father being fair and just.
In high school I was an average student, and of course my father always felt that I could do better. Yet he always tempered his disappointment with encouragement. In my father's eyes I could do, or be, anything I wanted to.
There were times when I did not understand my father, or the rules he and my mother layed down. There were times when I rebelled against him (oh the stories I could tell). He was strict, he was firm, but he was also always there for me.
It wasn't until I joined the Army that I understood what my father had been doing. He had been getting me ready for the real world, the world where throwing a tantrum wouldn't get me what I wanted. I had to work, and work hard, for what I wanted in life. As a young PFC serving in Desert Storm his words of encouragement and advice ("Son, remember. . . keep your head down, and your chin up!") helped me through some very trying times.
It was at this time in my life, while serving in the Army, that my father also became my friend. He had done his job as a father, and had done it well. He had lead by example, both with his words and deeds. The man I was becoming, and am now is in no small part due to his guidance and love.
Today, he is still my father when he needs to be, willing to dole out that fatherly brand of advice (even when it's not asked for) at the drop of a hat. He still worries about his children, my sister and I, though because of the job he (and my mother) did in raising us he shouldn't worry nearly as much as he does.
Someday, when I have children of my own, I hope to be the father to my children that my father was to me. I love you 'pops', Happy Father's Day!
Sgt. Hook, who is currently serving in Afghanistan, has launched Operation Shoe Fly, a noble endeavor to provide shoes to the children of Afghanistan.
During their many missions, Sgt. Hook and his fellow soldiers have noticed that most Afghani children are shoeless. When they pass out candy to these children they are rewarded with smiles, imagine if they were handing out shoes instead. Spread the word, and help Sgt. Hook and his 'crewdogs' spread some goodwill.
Keep up the good work Sgt. Hook. . . HOOAH!!
(via Insults Unpunished)
While I've only been doing my own blog for a little over a month now (Hey, yesterday was my one month blogiversary!) I have for quite some time enjoyed reading many other blogs. Today, one of my favorites has decided to call it quits.
I found Insults Unpunished through one of the first blogs I started reading on a regular basis, RobBernard.com. Insults Unpunished was quickly added to my daily read list. Today, Robert of Insults Unpunished has announced what will hopefully be only a "semi-retirement."
We wish him well in his future endeavors, and hope that his absence from blogging is short lived!
Clarification: Rob of RobBernard.com is still doing his part to blog the left into submission. Sorry about the confusion Rob :)
It was by pure accident that I happened to stumble upon the Dateline interview with Michael Moore, my first impulse was to find something close at hand to throw at my television. My second impulse was to just change the channel. In the end I did neither.
Though I despise Michael Moore, and everything he stands for, I felt compelled to watch as I was sure it would give me something to write about tonight. How right I was.
It's easy to say, without even having watched a single frame of his upcoming hack-film that it is nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign. Tonight, Moore confirmed that.
Lauer: "You accepted the Palm D'Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival. It's a huge honor, especially for a film like this. And you said, I think the quote was, ‘I did not set out to make a political film. The art of this, the cinema, comes before the politics.’"
Moore: "That's right. That's absolutely right."
Lauer: "I'm amazed you said it with a straight face."
As are most intelligent people Matt. Moore chose a political issue, focusing on a political figure, and he claims he didn't set out to make a political film? Is anyone buying this load? Anyone who is not a part of the lunatic fringe?
Lauer: "But you didn't set out to poke a sharp stick in the eye of the Bush administration and the Bush family?"
Moore: "That's part of what I'm doing. But most importantly, listen, if I just wanted to -- if it was just about the politics, if that was my primary motivation, politics, I would, you know, suspend what I'm doing right now and get out on a campaign trail."
Lauer: "Some people say that's what you've done."
Paging Captain Contradiction. Ok, so he didn't set out to make a political film, but part of what he set out to do was to "poke a sharp stick in the eye of the Bush administration and the Bush family." I'm surprised he's able to say anything with a straight face. It gets better. . .
Lauer: "The Weinstein brothers of Miramax bought the film back. And now Harvey Weinstein is a Democratic organizer. He does fund-raisers for John Kerry."
Moore: "Yeah."
Lauer: "And you've hired a couple of seasoned Clinton politicos to handle publicity and marketing for the film. So at this stage on, will you concede, it is now a sharply political movie with a very definitive point of view."
Moore: "It definitely has a point of view, that's absolutely correct. But I'm not a member of the Democratic Party. If you know anything about me, anybody who's followed me, I'm the anti-Democrat. I have railed against the Democrats for a long time. They have been a weak-kneed, wimpy party that hasn't stood up to the Republicans. They let the working people down across this country. I rallied against Clinton when he was in office. I didn't vote for him in ‘96. I didn't vote for Gore in 2000. This is not a partisan issue with me, this is not me trying to –"
Lauer: "Not a personal attack on the Bush family."
Moore: "Oh yeah. It's that. If you'd asked the question that way."
Thank you for clearing that up Michael, as if there had ever been any doubt that this was nothing more than a personal attack on the president.
Read the full interview at MSNBC here.
It looks like the liberal media is doing their usual 'spin' job again. All day long I've heard 'news' reports on television that the 9/11 Commission's latest report says that they found no ties between Osama bin Laden/al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein/Iraq. Print, and online media headlines are following suit:
From ABConline: "9/11 Commission finds no evidence linking Saddam Hussein to al-Qaeda"
L.A. Times: "No Signs of Iraq-al Qaeda Ties Found"
But, is that really what the commission's report says?
Not exactly.
"We have no credible evidence that Iraq and al Qaeda cooperated on attacks against the United States."
Did you catch that? The Commission found that there was no involvement by Iraq in the 9/11 attacks, which is not the same as saying that there was no tie between Iraq and al Qaeda at all. But, even this statement is suspect, which I’ll address later in this entry.
Immediately preceding that sentence the commission says this about Iraq and al Qaeda involvement:
Bin Ladin also explored possible cooperation with Iraq during his time in Sudan, despite his opposition to Hussein's secular regime. Bin Ladin had in fact at one time sponsored anti-Saddam Islamists in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Sudanese, to protect their own ties with Iraq, reportedly persuaded Bin Ladin to cease this support and arranged for contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda. A senior Iraqi intelligence officer reportedly made three visits to Sudan, finally meeting Bin Ladin in 1994. Bin Ladin is said to have requested space to establish training camps, as well as assistance in procuring weapons, but Iraq apparently never responded.
Well, they may not have provided weapons, but does that mean there were no ties? Put simply, no.
There have been reports that contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda also occurred after Bin Ladin had returned to Afghanistan, but they do not appear to have resulted in a collaborative relationship.
How does the Commission come to this conclusion?
Two Senior Bin Ladin associates have adamantly denied that any ties existed between al Qaeda and Iraq.
When I first read this I thought to myself "you've got to be kidding me." Unfortunately, this isn't a joke, the Commission is actually basing their findings on the word of two terrorists.
The report goes on to say:
With al Qaeda as its foundation, Bin Ladin sought to build a broader Islamic army that also included terrorist groups from Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Oman, Tunisia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Somalia, and Eritrea. Not all groups from these states agreed to join, but at least one from each did.
At least one from each did. Does not the fact that at least one Iraqi terrorist group has/had ties to al-Qaeda imply at the very least that there is an Iraqi - al Qaeda connection? According to the 9/11 Commission, 'apparently' not.
Can the 9/11 Commission be this blind? There are ties between Iraqi and al Qaeda officials that this report failed to address. Why did they not address the discovery of an Iraqi intelligence document that placed 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta in Baghdad just two months before the attacks? This would suggest that not only did Saddam and his regime have ties to al Qaeda, but also with those involved in the 9/11 attacks. This of course would seem to contradict the Commission’s statement that there was no cooperation between “Iraq and al Qaeda.” Unfortunately, this report leaves so many questions unanswered, and possible connections unexplored as to render itself useless with regards to the extent of Iraq's involvement with al Qaeda.
The media of course isn’t going to tell you this. They’re going to play to their agenda of discrediting the Bush administration and their assertions that there is a tie between Iraq and al Qaeda. So don’t expect them to print any information that doesn’t fit into their agenda.
Read the full report here.
I won't go in to detail here, let me just say that I couldn't be happier to see those evil Lakers get their hats handed to them by the Pistons.
Time to wipe those smug looks off their faces, they got destroyed. Shaq and Kobe, and the rest of the team should be embarrased. It wasn't even close, if not for one lucky shot they would have been swept.
Have I mentioned yet that they were annihilated? Or that I couldn't have been happier to see it happen?
The best part is that this was probably the last time we'll have to see these egomaniacs on the same court with each other. Unless of course Shaq volunteers to play on Kobe's prison team.
The phrase "One Nation Under God" will remain a part of the Pledge of Allegiance after the Supreme Court ducked ruling on the case before them on a legal technicality yesterday.
The high court ruled 8-0 that California atheist Michael Newdow, who was successful in lower courts with his challenge to the pledge, has no right to speak on legal matters on behalf of his daughter. Newdow had objected to the pledge because she recited the words in public school.
The girl's mother, Sandra Banning, had alerted the court that she and her daughter, who is not named in court papers, do not object to the pledge.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Clarence Thomas agreed with the outcome but wrote separately to say they would have decided it on its merits and found the pledge constitutional.
"Reciting the pledge, or listening to others recite it, is a patriotic exercise, not a religious one," Rehnquist wrote. "Participants promise fidelity to our flag and our nation, not to any particular God, faith or church."
While I was glad to hear that the Supreme Court struck down the lower court's ruling, (almost any ruling out of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that gets struck down is a good thing) I was disappointed that the (non)ruling left the door open to further challenges. On the bright side, I did take it as a good sign that three of the Justices chose to add that had they ruled on the merits, they would have found The Pledge of Allegiance constitutional as it is.
It seems that a young Fidel Castro once wrote to then President Franklin Roosevelt with a simple request. All he wanted was a crisp green $10 bill.
"Never I have not seen a ten dollars bill green American and I would like to have one of them," the future Cuban leader wrote.
His request was denied. Well, that explains why he hates us so much.
Today is Wictory Wednesday, the one day out of the week where Right minded bloggers ask their readers to do their part to help the President win re-election.
We all need to work hard to ensure that Kerry's pessimism doesn't carry the day in November. Do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
Today was the U.S. Army's 229th Birthday!!
Read President Bush's 2004 Army Birthday Message
Happy Birthday to all of the soldiers out there. You look pretty damn good for your age!
The first time I went skydiving was for my 30th birthday. I've been skydiving several times since then and can't wait until I have the opportunity to do it again. There is nothing quite as exhilerating as jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet and watching the ground rush toward you! Though I haven't done a solo dive yet, it is certainly something I plan on doing before i'm too old.
Which begs the question, how old is too old? Well for Bush 41, the answer to that question seems to be that there is no such thing as being too old to skydive.
President George H.W. Bush celebrated his 80th birthday with a 13,000-foot parachute jump over his presidential library Sunday, and said he felt the same thrill of prior jumps even though his hopes of skydiving solo were dashed.
"This was a real thrill for me," said Bush, wearing a black-and-gold jumpsuit. "I felt no fear ... for me to get a chance to jump with the Golden Knights is a dream."
Here's to hoping that when i'm 80, or 60 for that matter, that I still have the desire to live life to the fullest like President Bush. Happy Birthday President George H.W. Bush!
This past Friday, the World Tribune featured a story claiming the UN had new information on the whereabouts of Saddam's WMDs.
The United Nations has determined that Saddam Hussein shipped weapons of mass destruction components as well as medium-range ballistic missiles before, during and after the U.S.-led war against Iraq in 2003.
The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission briefed the Security Council on new findings that could help trace the whereabouts of Saddam's missile and WMD program.
The briefing contained satellite photographs that demonstrated the speed with which Saddam dismantled his missile and WMD sites before and during the war. Council members were shown photographs of a ballistic missile site outside Baghdad in May 2003, and then saw a satellite image of the same location in February 2004, in which facilities had disappeared.
It should be noted that none of the major news sources have picked up the story as of yet, believe me i've checked, so i'm not quite sure what to make of it as I don't know the source.
I for one think it's highly plausible; i've said from the beginning of the war in Iraq that I believed that his WMDs had been smuggled out, most likely to Syria, at the beginning of the war. If my blog had been up and running at the time you'd have read it here, but since it wasn't you'll just have to take my word for it.
In any event it certainly is an interesting story; if it is true I don't think the major media outlets will be able to ignore it for very long, even if they'd like to.
My alarm went off at 6:50 a.m. this morning. Plenty of time to grab a coke and make myself comfortable on the couch, blanket wrapped around me to stave off the early morning chill.
I sat and watched the state funeral, as former, and current leaders of the free world came up and praised President Reagan. I myself got choked up when I heard the emotion in former President Bush's voice when speaking of how much he learned from President Reagan. And found myself nodding when President Bush stated "We lost Ronald Reagan only days ago but we have missed him for a long time." How true this is.
Later in the day, as I watched the motorcade make its way to Simi Valley I was amazed to see drivers do willingly, what so many complain about daily. Traffic in the opposite direction was at a standstill, as drivers parked where they were to come to the centerline to watch the motorcade as it drove past them. As the motorcade approached its final destination thousands lined the street to pay their final respects to a leader they loved and respected, and to show support for a family that has suffered so much.
In a place chosen by the President himself, with its beautiful view overlooking the valley, the final tribute to President Reagan began. The eulogies by President Reagan's children were as heart wrenching as they were eloquent. Their stories showed that there was more to this great leader than what most had seen. Despite family differences through the years, this family had pulled together in time to rekindle a family bond that was obviously so strong. He was not just a great leader, he was a great father.
As the memorial came to a close, President Reagan's casket was brought to its final resting spot, accompanied by a bagpiper playing Amazing Graces. I watched as the flag that had accompanied President Reagan on his final journey was folded with military precision. The 21 gun salute sent shivers racing up and down my spine.
The strength that Nancy Reagan has shown during this very trying week is without question, remarkable. She was his fiercest protector, and his most loving supporter. And as she clutched the American flag to her chest and bent to kiss the President's coffin one last time, whispering "I love you," the emotions of her loss, and the trials of this past week overwhelmed her.
There were many powerful and solemn images from this past week of mourning and remembering that I will forever carry with me. None quite so powerful as the image of Nancy Reagan, surrounded by her family, openly grieving the loss of a man she loved so dearly.
He is home now. He is free," said his son, Ron Reagan. "In his final letter to the American people, Dad wrote, `I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.' This evening, he has arrived."
God Bless You Mr. President. You Will Be Missed.
President Reagan was the most influential leader of his time, helping shape the world as no other leader in recent memory has. During this past week tributes and remembrances of his life have been aired on all of the major networks and cable channels. Live coverage has allowed those who are unable to attend in person to witness each step in President Reagan's final journey. But has the coverage been excessive? Well, according to 'unbiased' Tom and Dan it has been.
Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw work for different networks but agree one thing —coverage of Ronald Reagan's death has been excessive, they say.
"Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life does go on," Rather told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"There is other news, like the reality of Iraq," said the "CBS Evening News" anchor. "It got very short shrift this weekend."
"I think just about everything is over-covered these days," said Brokaw
Dan, you mean the Iraq war that you and every other media outlet has been talking about every single night for the last year? And Tom, you say everything is over-covered these days, well, I don't remember you making these remarks during the coverage of the OJ trial, or the coverage of the death of Princess Diana.
So why do they care now? Well, it's simple, they just can't stand to see President Reagan, a Republican icon receive the attention that he is receiving. I'm sure that the outpouring of love and respect for this great man is turning their stomachs. They'd rather focus on the Abu Ghraib prison scandal two months after the fact. I bet you'll never hear them complaining about excessive coverage when it comes to that or any other scandal.
And they say there is no liberal bias in the media. "They" must be deaf and blind.
"Knowing this moment would come has not made it any easier," said Vice President Dick Cheney, referring to the 10-year-long struggle the former president suffered with Alzheimer's disease. "In this national vigil of mourning, we show how much America loved this good man, and how much we will miss him.
"Ronald Reagan spoke of a nation that was hopeful, big-hearted, daring, decent and fair. That is how he saw America, and that is how America came to know him. There was a kindness, simplicity and goodness of character that marked all the years of his life."
President Reagen will lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda until Friday, at which time his coffin will be flown back to California for a sunset burial.
Today is Wictory Wednesday, the one day out of the week where Right minded bloggers ask their readers to do their part to help the President win re-election.
Do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
They're not going to take it lying down. Citizens in Los Angeles gathered today in protest over the cowardly decision of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to pull the cross from the county seal.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Board of Supervisors' meeting room Tuesday to protest its plans to negotiate with the American Civil Liberties Union and remove a cross from the county seal.
People carrying signs comparing the ACLU to the Taliban lined Temple Street at Grand Avenue in front of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles.
Others held signs reading: "Jews for the Seal," "Anti-Christian Liberties Union" and "Stop the Cultural Cleansing. Stop the ACLU."
Many drivers, including one in a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department car, honked their horns in support of the protesters
In addition, as reported on the O'Reilly Factor, a private citizen in Los Angeles has filed a suit in federal district court in an attempt to prevent the county from removing the cross from the county seal.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Mr. Ernesto Vasquez, a County employee, who objects to the removal of the cross because it sends a government-sponsored message of hostility towards Christians in violation of the United States Constitution.
Thank God someone has the courage to stand against the onslaught of these liberal heathens.
Ted Rall calls himself "America's BS detector." Which must be annoying, what with that detector going off every time he opens his mouth or touches a keyboard. A month ago I’d never heard of Rall, today the very mention of his name is enough to throw me into a fit of rage. And that was before he spewed his latest invective diatribe.
Rall first came to my attention after disparaging the memory of Pat Tillman. Tillman is the football player who gave up a million-dollar contract to serve in the Army Rangers, after the events of 9/11 inspired him to give something back to the country which had given him so much. Rall characterized Tillman as the tool of a corrupt government in pursuit of an illegal invasion of Afghanistan. Idiot.
Today, Rall turned his sights on another American hero, Ronald Reagan. Iit was bound to happen, sooner rather than later. The leftist idiots just can't stand that all of America is taking this time to salute, and pay tribute to the man who reshaped the world. The man that brought hope and prosperity back to the American way of life.
"His clown-like dyed hair and rouged cheeks disgusted us. We hated him during the dark days he made so hideous, and, with all due respect, we hate him still."
Rall went on to say that President Reagan is "turning crispy brown right about now." "If there is a hell, this guy is in it."
I knew it was only a matter of time before the cowards on the left would come forth to spew their hatred toward one of the most beloved figures in American history. It's not just that they disagreed with Reagan's policies. It’s that Americans love, and respect President Reagan. President Reagan gave Americans hope, and restored our pride in what America represents. That seems to be one thing the liberal pansies of his ilk just can't stand.
But, in this case it is more than just that. Rall took this opportunity, a time when America is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved political figures to attack not just Reagan's policies, but Reagan himself. His statement about Reagan being in hell and deserving it, shows Rall to be the disgusting human being he is. And I use the term 'human being' loosely.
With his latest spewing Rall submitted his application for membership in the Lunatic Fringe. Membership Granted.
Two memberships granted in two days, at this rate the Lunatic Fringe is going to get their own page.
It is a love they openly spoke of. It is a love that a picture can convey more eloquently than words can.
What a remarkable woman. My thoughts and prayers are with her.
In an entry last night I posted a link to donate to the Ronald Reagan Memorial Fund, at that site you can also leave a message of
