Nancy Pelosi said something to the extent that Democrats are always right, Repbulicans are always wrong, blah, blah, blah. (She's still pretty shrill)
Wesley Clark had the audacity to include Bill Clinton in his list of "great wartime" presidents.
John Kerry "reports to duty" with one of the sloppiest salutes i've ever seen, the kind that wouldn't be accepted from a boot private let alone an officer. He also vows to give the military the "newest weapons and technology" despite having voted against every major weapons program, as well as the recent 87 billion dollar funding package for the Iraq war.
John Kerry's claim to be a "man of the people" is as authentic as "war footage" he shot of his exploits in Vietnam.
A bombshell new book written by the man who took over John Kerry's Swift Boat charges: Kerry reenacted combat scenes for film while in Vietnam!
The footage is at the center of a growing controversy in Boston.
The official convention video introducing Kerry is directed by Steven Spielberg protégé James Moll.
Moll was given hours of Kerry's homemade 8 millimeter film to incorporate into the convention short, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
"Kerry carried a home movie camera to record his exploits for later viewing," charges a naval officer in the upcoming book UNFIT FOR COMMAND.
"Kerry would revisit ambush locations for reenacting combat scenes where he would portray the hero, catching it all on film. Kerry would take movies of himself walking around in combat gear, sometimes dressed as an infantryman walking resolutely through the terrain. He even filmed mock interviews of himself narrating his exploits. A joke circulated among Swiftees was that Kerry left Vietnam early not because he received three Purple Hearts, but because he had recorded enough film of himself to take home for his planned political campaigns."
...
"On February 28, 1969, now in charge of PCF 94, Kerry came under fire from an enemy location on the shore. The crew's gunner returned fire, hitting and wounding the lone gunman. Kerry directed the boat to charge the enemy position. Beaching his boat, Kerry jumped off, chased the wounded insurgent behind a thatched hutch, and killed him. Kerry and his crew returned within days, armed with a Super 8 video camera he had purchased at the post exchange at Cam Ranh Bay, and reenacted the skirmish on film."
For all of his blustering, and posturing, propagandist Michael Moore backed out of an appearence of his propaganda film in Crawford, Texas. Which is probably a good thing since the residents of Crawford were ready to give Moore a Bush Country welcome.
Hundreds of people descended on this one-stoplight town a few miles from President Bush's ranch Wednesday night -- some to show their support and some to see a documentary criticizing his administration.
Carloads of people cruised down Main Street with many holding pro-Bush signs out their windows, passing by a building where more than 300 Bush supporters spilled out of a rally. Some yelled their disdain as cars carrying moviegoers turned down the road leading to the parking lot where filmmaker Michael Moore's (search) "Fahrenheit 9/11" was shown to a crowd of about 1,000 people.
"While we certainly do not agree with Michael Moore ... we do agree that it is important that we protect the right to be on a dissenting side of an issue," state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth said at the rally. She is the GOP congressional candidate for the 17th district, which includes Crawford (search).
Carol Bernhard and friends came from Austin (search) and held a huge sign proclaiming, "This is Bush Country."
She said she didn't plan to see the movie. "I'm not going to give that traitor any of my money," she said.
At the parking lot, the crowd sat in lawn chairs or on pillows on the ground to watch the film as some of the protesters stood at the entrance, chanting "No More Moore."
...
Moore initially said he would come to Crawford and discuss the movie after showing it. He even invited Bush, who is staying at his ranch this week, to attend.
But on Wednesday Moore decided to remain at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, saying his presence in Crawford would overshadow the film's message and detract from the convention.
In Moore's absence a local rancher left several hundred pounds of manure at the screening. No one seemed to notice the difference.
When your attitude, and undeclared campaign theme, is "anyone but Bush" I guess it doesn't matter where the money funding your campaign is coming from.
He is Stephen Bing, a wealthy film producer who, with little fanfare, has managed to steer a total of more than $16 million of his money to Democratic candidates and the supposedly independent groups that support them.
"To most of the people who track money and politics, they're like, who the hell is Steve Bing?" said Chuck Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog organization.
Bing is perhaps best known for sparking a tabloid frenzy when he publicly expressed doubt that he was the father of actress Elizabeth Hurley's baby. (A paternity test proved he was indeed the father.) He repeatedly has refused to say why he is funneling millions of dollars to the Democrats.
Lewis thinks it is cause for concern.
"We can identify who the big donors are, but how much do we really know about any of them?" he said.
In fact, Democratic Party officials said they knew nothing about the man who law enforcement officials tell ABC News is Bing's friend and business partner — Dominic Montemarano, a New York Mafia figure currently in federal prison on racketeering charges.
Montemarano has a long criminal record and is known to organized crime investigators by his street name, Donnie Shacks.
"Donnie Shacks' main activity was murder. No question about it. That was his main function for the Colombo family and for organized crime in general. He was one of the top hit men in the New York area," said Joe Coffey, a former NYPD investigator.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Bing paid Montemarano's legal fees after his most recent scrape with the law. Montemerano's lawyer said his client was an employee of Bing's.
After a recent private lunch with Democratic vice-presidential candidate Edwards, Bing also declined to answer questions about his relationship with Montemarano.
"The American people have a right to know who's funding their presidential candidates and their parties," Lewis said. "The Bing situation shows us how little we really know."
10 out of 10 mobsters say "Anyone But Bush."
Ted Kennedy thinks President Bush is to be feared, rather than you know, the terrorists who are trying to destroy our way of life. (He also admits that after 40 plus years in office, he still doesn't have "the hang of it")
Al Sharpton shows himself to be the vicious racist that he is when he states "I suggest to you tonight that if George Bush had selected the court in '54, Clarence Thomas would have never got to law school." (This despite the fact that President Bush has appointed more African-Americans to high ranking positions in his administration than Clinton, or any other president for that matter)
John Edwards is sick of the negative attacks this campaign, so i'm sure we'll see him telling the people in his party to stop comparing President Bush to Hitler, and Republicans to Nazis. I'm equally confident that we'll see him condemning the NAACP for saying President Bush would like to put the Nazi swaztika next to the confederat flag. (He also spoke of how he and Kerry will strengthen the military, which is ironic considering the fact that if Kerry had his way, the weapons systems the military relies on today wouldn't even exist)
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 you think the Hollywood elitists represent the "heart and soul" of America? Do you want US military decisions being made by the UN and France? If not, do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
And don't forget to check out the blogs listed above!
Howard Dean thinks that only Democrats built America. (I'm not sure if he did his trademark screech, I missed his speech so all I have to go on is the transcript of his speech)
Ron Reagan allows himself, or rather his father's good name to be used by the Democrats, while over-simplifying the process of stem cell research. (While also forgetting to mention that while the federal government won't fund it, there is no ban on stem cell research)
Barack Obama forgets that it's his party that is practicing the politics of cynicism.
Teresa Heinz Kerry tells us her name, and not much else. (I'm glad I taped her speech, if ever I have trouble falling asleep i'll just pop the tape in)
Oh, this should be good.
For the 30,000 Democrats gathering in Boston, Ralph Nader remains public enemy number two, behind only President Bush. Beneath the convention speeches, the delegate banter, the concern persists that the independent candidate will once again stand between a Democrat and the Oval Office.
Nader plans on coming to Boston Wednesday, if not to calm their concerns, then to crash a party he sees as celebrating the wrong ideals. If he can get credentialed, Nader said in a phone interview from his home in Washington, D.C, he hopes to shock Democrats inside the FleetCenter. And if he does, the highly scripted convention will face the one curveball it hoped to avoid.
"I would like to see the bazaar. I'd like to see the alcoholic-musical-political payoff bazaar of accounts receivable," Nader said. "I would like to be there at the convention to watch. I will try to get credentials… I may try as a syndicated columnist, which I've been for 35 years. Let's see if they are against reporters."
Well, if not reporters, Democrats are against Ralph Nader. And if the election of 2000 was four years ago to most of America, to ardent Democrats the scar of their narrow loss remains open.
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and now NASA. NASA? Yes, NASA is now apparently a part of The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. The Kerry campaign is accusing NASA playing dirty politics after photos of a goofy looking Kerry dressed in a space suit were "leaked."
Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill claims 'dirty tricks' by NASA after it released 'surprise' photographs showing the Dem presidential hopeful dressed in a space suit crawling through a rocket hatch.
Cahill, asked by FOXNEWS whether it was a dirty trick, said: 'Well, what do you think?' No photos were supposed to be taken, she said.
Begin Transcript:
HUME: I must ask you about this photograph that suddenly turned up and fell in our laps last night nobody thought it was come. nobody had reported on the event which led to-t but there he was, the senator, on all fours in this very peculiar outfit, which I guess NASA had given him. how did that come about?
CAHILL: Well, yesterday Senator John Glenn, obviously he was an astronaut in his previous life servings took a tour of a bio facility at NASA. It was just the two of them, and the NASA staff, and all of a sudden this is a leaked photo.
HUME: It was leaked?
CAHILL: Yes.
HUME: It was made by NASA, right?
CAHILL: Yes, it was.
HUME: So the campaign had no idea there would be any photographs.
CAHILL: None.
HUME: When it was agreed he would put on his the costume.
CAHILL: There was no press there. there was -- nothing. all of the sudden these photographs are out.
HUME: Do you smell a dirty trick here?
CAHILL: Well, what do you think?
HUME: That NASA is not a particularly political organization.
CAHILL: This was a tour, obviously that, Senator Glenn and Senator Kerry were taking at cape Canaveral, and all of the sudden these photographs appeared, and, you know, take it as you may.
HUME: Well, is there any concern that this photo might prove as embarrassing as the fabled tank photo did in 1988?
CAHILL: You know, I think probably NASA will release the photograph of senator Glenn, former astronaut, in the same –
HUME: In fact, there is a shot with a bunch of them in these outfits. he is not running, of course.
CAHILL: And the thing is this is a legitimate tour of a NASA facility, and this photograph appeared out of nowhere. we were surprised. we're not surprised now.
HUME: You don't have anyone in mind? do you think --
CAHILL: I don't.
END
I find it ridiculous that the Kerry campaign would claim that they didn't know any photos would be taken when Kerry himself is clearly seen mugging for the camera. I find it even more ridiculous that they would be accusing NASA of dirty tricks by “leaking” these photographs. Almost as ridiculous as Kerry looks in a space suit.
Al Gore is still whining about losing the 2000 election. (He doesn't want to talk about the past, but that's not going to stop him from doing so)
Jimmy Carter links the rise in violence in Isreal to anti-American sentiment in "the region." (As if the Palestinians needed an additional reason to kill Jews)
Hillary Clinton is still the shrillest spokeswoman the Dems have. (Though Pelosi is a close second)
And finally, Bill Clinton complains about the tax break he received thanks to President Bush. (Though he fails to mention whether his displeasure with the tax break led him to say, return the money)
If nothing else the speeches were mildly amusing in their ridiculousness.
I have nothing against "peace protesters," I think that they are delusional, but I have nothing against them. They of course have the right to speak their mind, and believe in a utopian world where everyone holds hands and sings kumbaya. What always strikes me as ironic, however, is just how violent some of these "peace protestors" are. A protest at the Democratic convention yesterday offered another example of not so peaceful peace protesters.
About 2,000 protesters gathered at noon on the historic Boston Common, site of many of the city's most memorable demonstrations. After about two hours there, they marched half a mile to the FleetCenter, where Democrats plan to nominate hometown candidate John Kerry for president on Wednesday.
"This is just the beginning of a week of protests," said Larry Holmes, spokesman for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a coalition of activist groups that staged the march.
Several blocks away, about 1,000 anti-abortion advocates gathered at Faneuil Hall, the historic meeting house where patriots gathered before the American Revolution, and set off on their own march to the FleetCenter.
The two groups crossed paths at an intersection and exchanged angry words. A brief scuffle broke out between some of the peace demonstrators and a man carrying a graphic anti-abortion sign. The man was pushed to the ground and his shirt was torn but he appeared unhurt.
Evidently their peaceful feelings don't apply to abortion protestors.
California now has a budget, and it is only 26 days late.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders agreed Monday on an estimated $103 billion budget, ending a 26-day standoff and overcoming a rift that widened after the Republican governor ridiculed Democrats as "girlie men."
While the agreement still needs approval from two-thirds of the Legislature, lawmakers are expected to embrace the compromise spending plan.
With billions of dollars in borrowing and one-time savings, the proposed spending plan does little to achieve the spending cuts the governor wanted in January -- but Schwarzenegger shrugged off criticism saying the process has produced a fair and workable plan.
"We were shooting for doing the best job for the people of California, and I think we have accomplished that," Schwarzenegger said at a late night news conference that capped an arduous day of almost nonstop negotiations.
"I said many times, when I was lifting weights and shooting or a 500-pound lift and maybe ended up at 495 -- I was still happy to get it done," he said.
Indeed, Republicans point out that the budget imposes no new taxes and may bring future savings through changes in the way the state does business.
...
The agreement ends what has been Schwarzenegger's rockiest patch in office and helps heal the wound caused earlier this month when the Republican governor, frustrated by the negotiations, ridiculed Democrats as "girlie men" beholden to special interests.
In a show, perhaps, that Democrats would not hold a grudge over the issue, Burton joked during the news conference that the breakthrough came when he and fellow senators "accepted the fact that we were really girlie men," he said.
Glad they finally saw it the Governators way.
Today, Ralph Nader sent a letter to John Kerry concerning Democratic efforts to block ballot access of the Nader-Camejo Campaign. The letter outlines an unprecedented and undemocratic campaign to keep an independent candidate off the ballot.
July 23, 2004
John Kerry
John Kerry for President
901 15th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Dear Senator Kerry:
When we last talked, I indicated to you that your Party underlings are maliciously trying to keep the Nader-Camejo Campaign off the ballot and that you were inviting a mini-Watergate if you do not put a stop to these actions. You told me that there were "some groups you controlled and some you didn't" and you would "look into the situation."
The Nader-Camejo Campaign is particularly concerned about the actions of the Democratic Party to limit the voters choices. In conversations with me, Terry McAuliffe has said he approved of these actions in 19 battleground states! Among the actions taken by the Democrats:
Harassment, threats and abuse of Nader-Camejo petitioners;
Attempting to spoil a ballot access convention in Oregon by sending Democrats in to fill the room and undermine the convention by swelling the numbers and then not signing the petitions;
Using Howard Dean to keep us off the ballot even though on July 9 in a debate with he said: "I refuse to participate in anything like that, because I don't appreciate that. Some of my former staff members are doing that. I told them I wasn't going to have anything to do with them." Yet, when the Nader-Camejo Campaign held ballot access conventions in Oregon Dean, according to reporters, called reporters on both days in order to suppress turnout.
Using state employees, contractors and interns who work for the State of Illinois Democratic Speaker of the House to review and challenge signatures on Nader-Camejo ballot access petitions.
Hiring corporate law firms to harass our ballot efforts on frivolous and technical grounds.
I am writing to once again request that you disavow these actions and tell Democratic Party officials to stop their efforts to keep the Nader-Camejo Campaign off the ballot.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
The Dems can cry all they want about Republicans helping to get Nader on the ballot in Michigan, but until they stop attempting to subvert the Nader campaign i'm not going to have any sympathy for them. Nader may be irrelevant, but he has every right to run, without interference from the Democrats.
(Salutes to Rob for the link)
This past Friday, President Bush spoke before the National Urban League. All in all I think it was an excellent speech, and toward the end President Bush asked several very important questions.
Ours is a solid record of accomplishment. And that's why I've come to talk about compassionate conservatism and what I envision for the future. I'm here for another reason. I'm here to ask for your vote. (Applause.)
No, I know, I know, I know. The Republican party has got a lot of work to do. I understand that. (Laughter and applause.) You didn't need to nod your head that hard, Jesse. (Laughter.)
Do you remember a guy named Charlie Gaines? Somebody gave me a quote he said, which I think kind of describes the environment we're in today. I think he's a friend of Jesse's. He said, "Blacks are gagging on the donkey but not yet ready to swallow the elephant." (Laughter and applause.)
Now that was said a while ago. (Laughter.) I believe you've got to earn the vote and seek it. I think you've got to go to people and say, this is my heart, this is what I believe, and I'd like your help. And as I do, I'm going to ask African American voters to consider some questions.
Does the Democrat party take African American voters for granted? (Applause.) It's a fair question. I know plenty of politicians assume they have your vote. But do they earn it and do they deserve it? (Applause.) Is it a good thing for the African American community to be represented mainly by one political party? That's a legitimate question. (Applause.) How is it possible to gain political leverage if the party is never forced to compete? (Applause.) Have the traditional solutions of the Democrat party truly served the African American community?
That's what I hope people ask when they go to the community centers and places, as we all should do our duty and vote. People need to be asking these very serious questions.
Does blocking the faith-based initiative help neighborhoods where the only social service provider could be a church? Does the status quo in education really, really help the children of this country? (Applause.)
Does class warfare -- has class warfare or higher taxes ever created decent jobs in the inner city? Are you satisfied with the same answers on crime, excuses for drugs and blindness to the problem of the family? (Applause.)
Those are legitimate questions that I hope people ask as this election approaches. I'd like to hear those questions debated on talk radio, I'd like it debated in community centers, in the coffee shops. It's worthy of this country for this debate to go forward and these questions to be asked and answered.
The fact is that the Democrats do take their votes for granted, and have for years. In no small part because they have the blind allegiance of organizations like the NAACP. Which is one of the reasons why i'm glad President Bush refused to speak before that particular organization during this campaign season. The NAACP has ceased to be an independent organization, for all intents and purposes they are simply an arm of the Democratic party. The results would be the same as if President Bush was speaking at a Democratic party rally.
That they have become an arm of the Democratic party is the least of the NAACP's problems though. Their most serious problem is that they are quickly becoming a radical, and irrelevant organization.
How can Republicans, or anyone for that matter, take an organization whose leaders say that the president's idea of equal rights is flying a swastika next to Old Glory seriously? Quite simply, we can't. Thankfully President Bush had the courage to stand up to these racist hate-mongers, and refuse the invitation to speak at their convention.
You can read President Bush's full speech to the National Urban League here.
If you haven't seen JibJab.com's This Land Is My Land parody yet, you must have been hiding under a rock for the last week.
Check it out, though it takes shots at both Kerry and Bush it is hilarious. If you don't laugh i'll give you a free one week subscription to The-Right-Side.com.
Wait. It's already free. Watch the clip anyway.
John Kerry would like you to believe that he is "a man of the people." Forget that he and his wife own a fleet of SUV's, or property worth tens of millions of dollars. Forget that he and his wife are worth over half a billion dollars.
Fortunately Kerry's elitism can't help but shine through.
Sen. John Kerry spoke about the plight of the American worker when he traveled to Detroit earlier this week, a safe message for the blue-collar workers who build cars there.
So it was a little strange that the campaign picked as its press-pass logo for its Motor City tour the gleaming showcase car of a foreign auto company — Rolls-Royce — that makes cars priced far outside the financial reach of any middle-class voter.
"That's an insult to the auto worker, it's an insult to the American worker, it's an insult to mainstream America," said Sam Burwell from Corunna, Mich., a third-generation auto worker for General Motors. "It also shows who he's really in touch with: his European, elitist French friends and not Americans like me. A Rolls-Royce, for cryin' out loud."
Well said Sam. Don't let the spin fool you, Kerry is no more a friend of the middle-class than I am a Democrat.
The sign says it all, but the story follows.
The 24-foot-long sign at Halftime Pizza across the street from Boston's FleetCenter isn't exactly welcoming to the Democratic National Convention: "Say!!!!! D.N.C. Thanks for Nothing!!! Go Bush."
Security measures and the availability of free food for delegates led Mark Pasquale, owner of Halftime, to shut his restaurant down for the week of the convention and erect the sign.
On Friday, WRKO-AM's Peter Blute and Scott Allen Miller reported how Pasquale has been confronted by city inspectors who have threatened to fine him unless he takes the anti-Dem sign down!
Pasquale told Blute and Scotto that while he doesn't want any trouble, he will continue to exercise his First Amendment rights by keeping the sign up in spite of any fines.
Give 'em hell Pasquale!
The day after Trousergate (as i'm now refering to the Sandy Berger situation) was brought to the medias attention, new allegations emerged that seem very damaging to Berger.
Former national security adviser Sandy Berger repeatedly persuaded monitors assigned to watch him review top-secret documents to break the rules and leave him alone, sources said Wednesday.
Berger, accused of smuggling some of the secret files out of the National Archives, got the monitors out of the high-security room by telling them he had to make sensitive phone calls.
Guards were convinced to violate their own rules by stepping out of the secure room as he looked over documents and allegedly stashed some in his clothing, sources said.
"He was supposed to be monitored at all times but kept asking the monitor to leave so he could make private calls," a senior law enforcement source told the Daily News.
Berger also took "lots of bathroom breaks" that aroused some suspicion, the source added. It is standard procedure to constantly monitor anyone with a security clearance who examines the type of code-word classified files stored in the underground archives vault.
The same archives monitors told the FBI Berger was observed stuffing his socks with handwritten notes about files he reviewed that were going to the Sept. 11 panel. It is prohibited to make notes about the secret files and leave with them without special approval.
Berger's attorney, Lanny Breuer, has denied the allegation that Berger hid papers in his socks
It would seem that Berger's taking of classified documents was not a "mistake" as he is claiming, but rather that he had made a calculated plan to remove the documents in question even before entering the National Archives.
The active Army is at 100 percent mission accomplished of its retention goal for the third quarter.
In addition, said Brig. Gen. Sean Byrne, chief of Military Policy, G1, said, in a media round table Friday, all 10 divisions are at or above 100- percent retention. He also said the aggregate number for the Army is 100 percent.
I came across AuthenticGOP.com while reading one of the many blogs I read on a daily (or almost daily) basis, though I can't remember which one. If you're planning on going to see Moore's propaganda film, or see Linda Ronstadt in concert, they have the perfect t-shirt for you.
As their website says, "Make a statement - Make a Difference - Make History." And make sure you get yours today!
They're supposed to be our friends to the North, but is a wave of anti-American sentiment poisoning the minds of the youngest of our Canadian friends? According to a recent survey, the answer to that question is a resounding YES!
In a recent poll, 40 percent of Canadian teens said the United States is a force for evil in the world, with 50 percent saying it’s a force for good and 10 percent reporting they were undecided on the subject. French-Canadians were even harsher, with 64 percent of them calling America a force for evil.
“What they’re reacting to is a sense that the U.S. is belligerent,” said the pollster who conducted the phone survey, Greg Lyle. “The U.S. is sort of bellicose, warmongering [and has] this sort of cowboy diplomacy.”
But former Canadian diplomat Martin Collacot says the teens are responding to cues from their government, the media and their teachers.
The anti-Americanism from the United States' northern neighbors seemed to peak when the Iraq war started.
In one incident, hockey fans in Montreal booed during the playing of the American national anthem. Then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s spokesman was caught on mike calling President Bush a moron. And while the streets of Quebec were filled with war protesters, a member of Parliament from the ruling Liberal Party was quoted as saying: “Damn Americans. I hate those bastards.”
America is a force for evil in the world? Right, because freeing the people of Iraq and Afghanistan from brutal, and murderous tyrants and thugs is certainly an evil undertaking.
Hitler was evil. Stalin was evil. Saddam is evil. The Taliban is evil. al-Qaeda is evil. That so many Canadians would put the United States in that same category shows just how out to lunch they are.
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.
Piss off the Hollywood elite, and re-elect a President with vision and courage at the same time. Do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
And don't forget to check out the blogs listed above!
Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. In a story that's just now emerging, former National Security Advisor to Clinton, Sandy Berger, is being accused of smuggling classified documents from the National Archives in his pants.
Sandy Berger is under scrutiny by the Justice Department following the disappearance of documents he was reviewing at the National Archives.
Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI agents armed with warrants after the former Clinton adviser voluntarily returned some sensitive documents to the National Archives and admitted he also removed handwritten notes he had made while reviewing the sensitive documents.
However, some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of Al Qaeda terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing, officials and lawyers said. Officials said the missing documents also identified America's terror vulnerabilities at airports to seaports.
Berger and his lawyer said Monday night he knowingly removed the handwritten notes by placing them in his jacket, pants and socks, and also inadvertently took copies of actual classified documents in a leather portfolio.
"I deeply regret the sloppiness involved, but I had no intention of withholding documents from the commission, and to the contrary, to my knowledge, every document requested by the commission from the Clinton administration was produced," Berger said in a statement.
I think the claim of "sloppiness" seems a bit disingenuous when you also admit to knowingly stuffing documents down your pants to sneak them out.
During a concert this past Saturday, Linda Ronstadt praised propagandist Michael Moore and dedicated her encore, Desperado, to him. The reaction she drew from the crowd following her remarks led to her being escorted off the Aladdin premises; Aladdin President Bill Timmins vowed she would not be welcome back.
Near the close of her performance, Ronstadt dedicated the Eagles hit "Desperado" to Moore, producer of "Fahrenheit 9/11," and the room erupted into equal parts boos and cheers.
She said Moore "is someone who cares about this country deeply and is trying to help."
Ronstadt has been making the dedication at each of her engagements since she began a national tour earlier this summer, but it has never sparked such a reaction.
Hundreds of angry fans streamed from the theater as Ronstadt sang. Some of them reportedly defaced posters of her in the lobby, writing comments and tossing drinks on her pictures.
Timmins told Las Vegas Sun gossip columnist Timothy McDarrah: "We live in a city where people come from all over the world to be entertained. We hired Ms. Ronstadt as an entertainer, not as a political activist.
"Whether you are politically on the left or on the right is not the point. She went up in front of the stage and just let it out. This was not the correct forum for that."
Timmins said she was wrong to bring her politics to the stage.
While I disagree with the actions of those few patrons that defaced the hotel's property by tearing down posters and such, I think they had every right to be upset by Linda's speech. They should have simply followed the example of the other several hundred (some coverage puts this figure at a few thousand) people that booed, and got up out of their seats and left the theatre. People don't go to concerts to listen to political speeches. People go to concerts to relax, spend time with family or friends, to have fun. Even political junkies such as myself enjoy some time away from anything to do with politics.
What I found even more disturbing than Linda's onstage remarks, were remarks she made during an interview several days prior to the concert.
"My career has befuddled other people, and it's befuddled me," admitted Ronstadt, 58, who finds her fans are polarized by her nightly on-stage salute to "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker Michael Moore.
"I've been dedicating a song to him – I think he's a great patriot – and it splits the audience down the middle, and they duke it out," she said.
"This is an election year, and I think we're in desperate trouble and it's time for people to speak up and not pipe down. It's a real conflict for me when I go to a concert and find out somebody in the audience is a Republican or fundamental Christian. It can cloud my enjoyment. I'd rather not know."
She'd rather not know yet she deliberately riles the crowd with her rhetoric and sits back and enjoys the scene.
Of course her hypocrasy isn't the most offensive part of that quote. That somehow her enjoyment would be "clouded" by the mere presence of Republicans or Christians is one of the most mindless things i've ever heard. I wonder if her enjoyment is equally clouded when she's spending the hard earned money those Republicans and Christians fork over to hear her sing.
Congratulations Linda, your membership to the Lunatic Fringe is now being processed.
As a soldier I can tell you that there is no better feeling than having a civilian walk up to you and thank you for your service to the country. Since 9/11 I myself have had countless encounters with civilians wanting to shake my hand, thank me for my service, or even have their pictures taken with me when I was in uniform. I've had meals and drinks paid for, and have been promised that I would be prayed for.
The sense of pride at having a complete stranger walk up and acknowledge your service and sacrifice is indescribable. Imagine how the following soldiers felt:
It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat.
What's your seat number, soldier?
It's 23-B, sir, the soldier told the businessman.
No, son, that's my seat. Yours is in first-class.
As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers.
And eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves with their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach.
That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29.
"The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip.
"There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers."
Flight attendant Candi Spradlin of Conway, Ark., said she was impressed with how passengers treated the soldiers.
"If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said.
The soldiers were so surprised they barely knew what to do, said Ms. Gammon, who lives in Frisco, Texas.
"They were so humble and thankful – they spent the whole flight saying thank you," she said.
"But we should have been saying thank you to them for what they're doing for us."
Thanks to *The Patriette* for the story.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for the governorship of California, he promised to shake up politics in the state capitol. Over the weekend Gov. Schwarzenegger did just that, as he took Democratic lawmakers to task after failing, yet again, to pass the state budget on time.
A day after he ruffled Democratic lawmakers by calling them "girlie men," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pressed ahead Sunday with another shopping mall attack but avoided repeating the reference.
The Republican governor didn't soften his theme otherwise, nor shy away from plucking famous lines from his movies to thrill the crowd, as he urged thousands of fans jammed into a food court to unseat Democratic legislators in November if they do not agree to his version of a state spending plan, now 19 days late.
"I am going to make you officially right now the terminators," Schwarzenegger said. "If they do not pass my budget on Nov. 2, I want you to go out there and go after those Democratic legislators. They are obstructionists. ... Go out there, vote them out of office, vote them out of office and we'll put new faces in there."
...
On Saturday, he angered Democrats by calling them "girlie men" because "they don't have the guts" to admit they are allied with "the unions, the trial lawyers" in the budget debate.
The state budget being 19 days overdue may not seem like a big deal to those that live outside of California, but it is unfortunately just another example of Democratic lawmakers unable, or unwilling to do their jobs. In the last 25 years, the Democrat controlled California legislature has been unable to pass a budget by the deadline 17 times. That's close to a seventy percent failure rate. Is it any wonder that this governor is up in arms?
The Democrats are of course outraged by the governor's remarks. They claim his remarks were sexist and homophobic, among other things. And cue the drama queen-like indignation from the Democrats. Whoops . . . I mean drama queen/drama king-like indignation, God forbid *I* offend anyone.
His comments were neither sexist, nor homophobic, the term "girlie man" refers to someone who acts in a wimpy manner. I'd say the lefts' assertion that the term "girlie man" is somehow sexist or homophobic is in itself sexist and homophobic. They seem to be the ones asserting a connection between the term and women and gays.
Senate President Pro Temp John Burton, (D-San Francisco) is of course seizing on the governor's remarks to threaten holding up the budget talks even further.
With more than manhood on the line, Burton said the remarks could set the budget process back another two weeks because of reaction within the Legislature's Democratic majority and key interest groups.
Which is a perfect example of what is wrong with the legislature, and Dan Burton. The only "key interest" group Dan Burton should be worried about are the people of California. And if he truly had their best interests at heart he'd stop dragging his feet and get this budget passed. You know, sometime before the next fiscal year starts.
Today, Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by five months of house arrest, in connection with her lying about a shady stock sale. She will also be on probation for a period of two years, and have to pay a $30,000.00 fine.
Defiant until the end Martha had this to say:
"Today is a shameful day. It's shameful for me and for my family and for my beloved company and for all of its employees and partners," Stewart told reporters on the steps of the courthouse, echoing statements she'd made moments earlier to the judge.
"I have been choked and almost suffocated to death" during this process, said the woman dubbed the "domestic diva" because of the vast home-and-living empire she built.
I think she earns her diva title with that last statement. "Choked and almost suffocated to death?" I half expected her to turn on the water works as she read her statement.
As shameful a day as it was for her, she still managed to put in a few plugs for her magazine and products during her statement to the press.
You'd think after being given the lightest sentence possible, Martha would suck it up and start serving her sentence. Unfortunately, she'll be appealing her conviction. Which means we're in store for several more months of having to listen to her supporters whine about how unfairly she's being treated. Which is usually followed by the equally nauseating "she's done so much for the America people" statements. Sorry Martha, but showing people how to set a damn dinner table doesn't earn you a get out of jail free card.
I guess her upcoming book, Decorating for the Price of a Pack of Cigarettes will just have to wait, at least for a few months.
Last week, during a fundraiser for the Kerry/Edwards ticket, Whoopi Goldberg made some rather crude and vulgar remarks about President Bush. Yesterday, Whoopi learned the consequences of her actions when Slim-Fast fired her from her position as company spokeswoman.
Comedian Whoopi Goldberg will no longer appear in ads for diet aid maker Slim-Fast following her lewd riff on President Bush's name at a fund-raiser last week, the company said on Wednesday.
Florida-based Slim-Fast said it was "disappointed" in Goldberg's remarks at last Thursday's $7.5 million star-studded fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
"Ads featuring Ms. Goldberg will no longer be on the air," Slim-Fast General Manager Terry Olson said in a statement, adding that the company regrets that Goldberg's remarks offended some customers.
The Kerry/Edwards people are still refusing to release the full transcripts of this event, despite numerous requests, for obvious reasons.
Whoopi's remarks notwithstanding, the most vulgar remarks came from the presidential candidate himself. While addressing the crowd, which included Jon Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Mary J. Blige, John Leguizamo, Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, Wyclef Jean, and Paul Newman, Kerry called them the "heart and soul" of America.
Ladies and gentleman, if these people represent the "heart and soul" of America, not only are we dead, but we're going straight to hell as well.
If the following had been an article about students cheating in the classroom I probably would have passed over it and not given it a full reading. Student cheating is unfortunately not all that uncommon. What caught my eye about the following article however, was who was doing the cheating.
Some say high-stakes testing is to blame for cheating in the classroom. But in this case, it's not the students getting caught — it's the teachers.
A recent study shows as many as 200 teachers in California were caught cheating to help their students perform better on rigorous new standardized tests, which are part of the President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" education plan, which calls for greater accountability among teachers.
Since the law was implemented, more teachers have been caught helping students cheat in about a dozen states around the country.
Is it any wonder our education system is in such trouble? Now, to be fair, all of the blame for the current state of the education system can't be laid at the feet of educators, parents must share some blame as well. This story just shows though, that the people we entrust with the responsibility of educating our children are failing miserably.
The article starts by saying "some say high-stakes testing is to blame for cheating," which is complete nonsense; a lack of integrity is responsible for cheating. Without "high-stakes" testing how are we to know where students need help? Are we to continue passing, and graduating, students who are ill-equipped to enter the real world? Of course not, that would be irresponsible. But, that seems to be what some teachers are willing to do in order to keep their jobs, and their district's funding.
The one good thing though, is that at least some of the teachers caught cheating have been fired and have received jail time. Unfortunately, that leads me to infer that some of the teachers caught cheating still have their jobs. So much for total accountability.
Last week Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned the American public that terrorists were possibly planning to launch attacks during the upcoming elections. Today, he was justifying the release of that information.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Wednesday the warnings he gave the public last week about a possible terror attack before the elections have nothing to do with politics.
"We don't do politics at Homeland Security," Ridge said at a news conference, adding that the department's job is to transmit credible information to the public. Those who suggest otherwise have reached "rather cynical" conclusions, he said
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Some Democrats have accused the Bush administration of playing politics with information about terror threats. Ridge's news conference last week came the same day that Sen. John Edwards was named as the Democratic vice presidential pick.
Playing politics? Would they rather no information was released? Of course, that way, God forbid another attack occurs, they can claim the Bush Administration had knowledge of it and failed to warn the American people.
I guess we really know who's playing politics here.
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.
The far left has taken over the Democratic party...do you want the same to be said of our country? If not, do your part and donate, and/or volunteer to help re-elect President Bush.
And don't forget to check out the blogs listed above!
We can add the Philippines to the list of cowardly nations that would rather give in to terrorist demands than make a stand and do what is right.
The Philippines said Wednesday it had withdrawn some of its peacekeepers from Iraq and was coordinating a pullout, apparent efforts to meet the demand of kidnappers threatening to kill a captive Filipino truck driver.
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With a terror threat of its own, the Philippines has been relying on Washington to beef up its poorly armed military to battle Al Qaeda-linked groups in the restive Muslim south. There had been concerns that local Muslim militants, such as the Abu Sayyaf group, may be encouraged once the government has agreed to meet the demand of the Iraqi captors
"May be encouraged?" I'd say that was an understatement; it would not be surprising if we saw a rash of kidnappings in the Philippines in the very near future. This is a day of shame for the people of the Philippines, but if this is how the Philippine government plans to deal with terrorists it will not be the last by a long shot.
Despite the whining of those on the far left, the Patriot Act is working. That was the clear message that Attorney General John Ashcroft conveyed to the American people today.
The Patriot Act has been instrumental in the prosecution of hundreds of cases and is "Al Qaeda's worst nightmare," according to Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Ashcroft's comments came Tuesday at the release of a 29-page report that is part of a Bush administration effort to discourage Congress from weakening a law that critics say threatens civil liberties by giving authorities more latitude to spy on people. Key sections of the law expire at the end of 2005.
The report says that in the period starting with the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and ending May 5, Justice Department (search) terrorism investigations resulted in charges against 310 people, with 179 convictions or guilty pleas. The Patriot Act, Justice officials say, was instrumental in these cases.
Some specific examples were also cited:
— The Patriot Act allowed intelligence agents to share with FBI criminal investigators evidence that an anonymous letter sent to the FBI had come from an individual with Al Qaeda (search) ties. That letter began the investigation into an alleged terror cell in Lackawanna, N.Y., that has resulted in six guilty pleas.
— That same information-sharing authority was used against members of an alleged terror cell in Portland, Ore., that an undercover informant said was preparing for possible attacks against Jewish schools or synagogues. Continued surveillance under the Patriot Act of one suspect led to six others, who likely would have scattered or fled if the first suspect had been arrested right away.
— Terror financing provisions of the law were used in numerous cases, including charges against a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, on charges of being an unlicensed money transmitter. The same authority has been used to prosecute people illegally sending money to Iraq, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and India.
Powers permitted under the Patriot Act have also been used in investigations involving potential school bomb attacks, computer hackers, child pornography, violent fugitives and illegal weapons sales. In one case, Patriot Act electronic communications authorities allowed law enforcement agencies to identify a person who had sent 200 threatening letters laced with white powder in Lafayette, La., the Justice Department said.
Why anyone would be opposed to the Patriot Act when it yields results like these is baffling.
President Bush once again defended his decision to send troops to overthrow Saddam during a visit to Tennessee today.
"Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, we were right to go into Iraq," Bush said during a trip to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
"We removed a declared enemy of America who had the capability of producing weapons of mass murder and could have passed that capability to terrorists bent on acquiring them. In the world after September 11th, that was a risk we could not afford to take."
The president was in Tennessee to inspect a display of nuclear weapons that Libya turned over to the United States after agreeing to dismantle their nuclear weapons program. The agreement came only after the swift and decisive action President Bush took in dealing with the Taliban and Saddam Hussein.
I'd say the world owes President Bush a debt of gratitude.
